Around the County

Published 10:58 pm Sunday, July 20, 2008

Everett

The Everett Yacht Club installs new officers

Everett Yacht Club’s new officers include:

Commodore Andrea Kirby

Vice Commodore Tom Evans

Rear Commodore Bob Sluder

Fleet Captain Tina Sauer

Treasurer Paul Hansen

Secretary Linda Simicich

Andrea Kirby is the second woman commodore in the Everett Yacht Club’s history.

Last year, the club celebrated its 100th birthday with publication of its centennial book, “One Hundred Years on Everett’s Changing Waterfront.” The book is still available for purchase.

More info: 425-359-6221

Skate America auditions set for flower sweepers

Auditions for flower sweepers for Skate America begin at 3:15 p.m. Friday at the Comcast Arena at the Everett Events

Center. The flower sweepers are the skaters who go on to the ice after each competitor’s performance and collect the plush animals and gifts that the audience throws onto the ice.

The skaters trying out are local skaters who have completed the application to audition and meet other criteria listed on 2008 Skate America Web site, www.2008skateamerica.com under the “volunteers” heading.

More info: Steve Baker, 425-772-6562.

Monroe

City’s transportation bond on council agenda

The City Council is scheduled to discuss details of a multimillion-­dollar bond issue for the November ballot at 7 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 806 W. Main St.

The bond, which could be $7 million, would pay for key road projects to alleviate traffic backups in the city. The owner of a $375,000 home could be asked to pay up to $120 a year — or $10 per month — in property taxes over the next 20 years, city officials said. It takes a majority vote from city voters to approve the measure.

More info: 360-794-7400.

Mukilteo

City considers purchase of Japanese Gulch land

Mukilteo leaders are considering taking a lead role in trying to buy and preserve a piece of land on the west side of Japanese Gulch — and they’re hoping to get the land for a cheaper price.

The city had planned to work with the Japanese Gulch Group, a Mukilteo-based conservation organization that signed a purchase agreement in May to buy the 8.76-acre property. However, the state constitution prohibits cities from forming financial partnerships on projects with nonprofit groups, city officials said.

The City Council plans to discuss the property at its meeting at 7 p.m. today.

An appraisal has been ordered by the city to see if the value of the land has changed with the sinking real estate market. If the city buys the land, the sales price must be close to the land’s actual value, city officials said.

The land was listed for sale at $9 million several months ago.

Earlier this year, the land was under contract by a California development company that was considering building an industrial park there. The Japanese Gulch Group bought the land after the company canceled its plans.

Snohomish

Work on AM radio towers is wrapping up

Crews are expected to complete work this week on an orange-and-white radio tower, which will rise 349 feet above the Snohomish River Valley. The tower originally was expected to be complete on Thursday, but a problem on the crane has delayed the work, said Andy Skotdal, whose family owns KRKO-AM 1380.

Three other shorter towers that stand 198 feet were built on Wednesday in the valley despite the strong opposition from area residents.

The four towers should increase KRKO’s broadcasting power from 5,000 watts to 34,000 watts during the day and to 50,000 watts at night, Skotdal said. With the new towers, the station will be able to reach listeners all the way from Tacoma to Mount Vernon during the day.

Edmonds

Sand sculpting contest hitting the beach

Show off your sand skills in a sand sculpting contest planned for later this month at Marina Beach Park in Edmonds.

The contest is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. July 31 at the park at 498 Admiral Way S. The event is sponsored by Nama’s Candy Store.

People are invited to compete as a team or to go at it alone.

Registration opens at 10 a.m. the day of the event at Marina Beach. Entrants will be judged at noon, with awards handed out at 12:30 p.m.

More info: www.ci.edmonds.wa.us/calendar.stm.