Around the County
Published 10:56 pm Thursday, June 5, 2008
Everett: City’s planning awarded
Everett was among five Washington cities to win 2008 Smart Community Awards on Thursday.
Everett’s award for its 2006 Comprehensive Plan Update was in the comprehensive planning category. Bremerton, Newcastle, Kirkland and Sumner also won awards.
Navy officer retires
After 24 years of naval service, Naval Station Everett Executive Officer Cmdr. Don Leingang will retire at a ceremony set for 10:30 a.m. today in the station’s gymnasium.
Leingang, a native of Tacoma, was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Oregon State University in 1984. After several aviation tours he was assigned to Naval Recruiting District Seattle, then to Naval Station Everett in May 2006.
Leingang has worked closely with the Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce in developing the Military Family-Friendly Employment Initiative, which has received state and national interest.
Lake Stevens
Historical society invites public to meeting
The Lake Stevens Historical Society invites the public to its annual general meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Cavelero Mid-High School, 8220 24th St. SE.
Eric Erickson of Anacortes plans to present a program about the history of mills and logging in Snohomish County. Also on the agenda are election of board members and honoring of docents for the Lake Stevens Museum.
East County
Day-use fees waived for National Trails Day
National Trails Day is Saturday, and to help celebrate, the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest will waive fees for day-use sites.
These sites normally require a fee or recreation pass, such as the Northwest Forest Pass, Golden Access Passport or interagency pass. Revenue from recreation fees are used to maintain outdoor recreation sites.
More info: www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs.
Snohomish County
County hires new human services director
Ken Stark will start as Snohomish County’s new human services director on June 23. He will earn about $139,000 a year.
Stark is director of Gov. Chris Gregoire’s Mental Health Transformation Project and has worked since 1975 overseeing alcohol- and substance-abuse programs for King County and the state.
Gregoire called Stark “a dynamic visionary leader” in 2005.
The department has about 200 employees and a $69 million budget for veteran services and programs for mental health, substance abuse and emergency housing.
Stark will bring new direction and fresh perspective, County Executive Aaron Reardon said.
Citing a need for change, Reardon fired human services director Janelle Sgrignoli in December, ending her 24-year career with the department. She might be hired next week by the County Council to analyze a pending tax proposal.
Help judge county performance
Public meetings planned this month open the door to helping Snohomish County government be more effective and efficient.
The county’s statistical measurements need review, and meetings are planned from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 19. Meetings are planned on the first floor of the county administration building, 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett.
The county posts its stats at www.snoco.org by searching SnoStat.
To RSVP: E-mail sno.stat@snoco.org.
