North County Update

Published 9:57 am Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Arlington

Officers become sergeants in ceremony

Five Arlington police officers moved up to the rank of sergeant in a ceremony Monday at the Arlington City Council meeting.

The officers taking oath of office were Dan Cone, Mike Keating, Mark Pennington, Kay Schander and Jon Ventura.

Keating has 21 years with the department and the other men have served nearly 10 years with the city.

Council OKs budget, hikes sewer hook-up fee

Arlington’s $74.5 million budget was adopted by the City Council Monday without public comment.

Sales tax revenues are down, a hiring freeze is on and the city is putting off building a new fire station.

Mayor Margaret Larson called the preparation of the budget “a painful process.”

Sales tax receipts, which account for about 36 percent of the city’s general fund revenue, are down significantly, city finance director Kathy Peterson told the council.

Maintenance and operations account for about half of the city’s expenses, Peterson said.

In addition, the city raised its fee to hook up to the sewer system from $5,690 to $8,400 per household. Industrial and commercial connection fees are adjusted proportionately, public works director James Kelly said.

The increased hook-up fee will help pay for the city’s wastewater treatment plant upgrade, Kelly said.

More info: 360-403-3526.

Spaghetti feed to benefit family

A dinner fundraiser for the Mark and Susan Lee family is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. today at Presidents Elementary School, 505 E. Third St.

Cost for the spaghetti feed is $7 a plate.

Donations also can be made to the Lee Family Fund at Bank of America.

The Lee family lost two foster children and all its belongings in a fire on Nov. 21 at their home near Arlington.

More info: 425-737-3269*.

Marysville

Chamber marks 100th anniversary

Mayor Dennis Kendall has proclaimed the week of Nov. 30 to Dec. 6 as Greater Marysville-Tulalip Chamber of Commerce Centennial Week to mark the 100th birthday of the business association.

The Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce and Tulalip Tribes merged in 1996 to become the first and, to date only, chamber of commerce in the nation to have partnered with a sovereign nation, according to the city. More info: 360-363-8800 or www.marysvilletulalipchamber.com.

Photo opportunities with ‘Santa Pony’

Kids may have their photos taken with a pony dressed like Santa Claus at the Equine Rescue Association on Sunday.

The pony will be available for photos from 1 to 5 p.m. at the group’s operation at 2415 116th St. NE on the Tulalip Indian Reservation. The cost is $8.

Proceeds will go to the Equine Rescue Association, a nonprofit, volunteer group that cares for abandoned and abused horses.

More info: 360 658-5494 or 425 367-3423.

Oak Harbor

Commemorate Pearl Harbor on Friday

Naval Air Station Whidbey Island plans to honor those killed Dec. 7, 1941, in the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Participating will be Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11 and the North Cascades Chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.

The public ceremony is set for 10 a.m. Friday at the Crescent Harbor Marina on the Seaplane Base.

More info: 360-257-2286.

Camano island

Island history program scheduled Thursday

A program about Camano Island history is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Camano Island Library, 848 N. Sunrise Blvd.

The program is set to include discussions of the 1800s Utsalady sawmill, the island’s resorts, ferries, bridges and family picnics on the beach.

Those who have copies of the Arcadia book about Camano Island by Karen Prasse and the Stanwood Area Historical Society are encouraged to bring the books along.

Those who attend are welcome to ask questions and share photographs and stories of their own.

More info: 360-387-5150.

Winter burn bans possible for island

Tighter health standards may prompt burn bans on Camano Island this winter.

In the past, the Northwest Clean Air Agency had asked residents in Island, Skagit and Whatcom counties to voluntarily limit wood burning during air pollution advisories. The state Legislature recently lowered the air-quality trigger that calls for a burn ban.

Households with no other source of heat are allowed to burn during a ban, but people need to request an exemption by e-mailing info@nwcleanair.org or mailing a letter to 1600 S. Second St., Mount Vernon, WA 98273.

More info: www.nwcleanair.org.

*Correction, Dec. 3, 2008: This article originally used an incorrect phone number for the Lee family fundraiser.