Around the County
Published 9:08 pm Sunday, January 18, 2009
Everett
Community Transit increasing vanpools
Community Transit plans to purchase 25 new vans for its vanpool fleet.
The new minivans, authorized by the Community Transit Board of Directors on Thursday, will bring the agency’s total to 419.
This makes Community Transit’s vanpool fleet one of the largest in the nation, according to the agency.
A vanpool is a group of five to 15 commuters who ride to work together in a van provided by Community Transit. The agency currently operates 357 vanpools, with new groups forming regularly.
The 25 new vans will be seven-passenger Toyota Sienna minivans, each to be purchased at a cost of $21,603. The total cost, including license, registration and fees, is estimated at $568,579. Most of the vehicle costs will be funded by state grants.
The new vans are expected to arrive in late March.
More info: www.communitytransit.org.
Edmonds councilman to serve on transit board
Edmonds City Councilman D.J. Wilson was selected Thursday to serve on the Community Transit Board of Directors.
Wilson is president of the Edmonds City Council and works as a public affairs consultant. Wilson was elected by a 2-1 vote of elected officials from Edmonds, Lynnwood and Marysville, who make up the “large cities” group of Community Transit.
Wilson is serving the one year remaining in the term for the position vacated by former Edmonds City Councilwoman Deanna Dawson, who resigned to take a job in Washington, D.C.
Dawson was also a Sound Transit Board member. Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon plans to select a Community Transit board member to replace Dawson on the Sound Transit board, according to Community Transit.
The nine-member Community Transit Board is made up of elected officials from Snohomish County and individual cities.
More info: www.communitytransit.org.
Lynnwood
Clinic offers low-cost cat neuter surgeries
Officials at the nonprofit Feral Cat Spay-Neuter Project clinic in Lynnwood are offering to neuter male cats and vaccinate them for rabies for $20 during January.
Cats do not have to be feral to qualify for the low-cost surgery and vaccination.
Surgeries at the clinic are performed by licensed veterinarians.
Reservations are required and can be made at www.feralcatproject.org.
More info: 425-673-2287, ext. 2.
Monroe
Help with the Relay for Life fundraiser
Organizers for Relay for Life, an event that raises money for the American Cancer Society, are hosting a party.
Learn about how to participate this year at the kickoff, planned for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the East County Senior Center, 824 Village Way.
More info: Call Cheri Hurst at 360-863-4517 or go to www.relayforlife.org/monroewa.
Rescue group needs feed for hungry horses
Second Chance Ranch, a nonprofit equine rescue organization, set up a flood relief fund to help horse owners who may have had grain and hay destroyed.
The ranch is holding a virtual “flake” sale at www.flakesale.com. Every $5 raised purchases enough to feed one horse for a day. Owners affected by the floods can visit the site and apply for a grant application.
More info: 360-861-8056
Snohomish
Dump flood debris
City residents affected by the recent floods may dump debris at the Stocker soccer fields at 25 Lincoln Ave. from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily until Jan. 31. Bring construction debris, appliances and hazardous household waste. The sites will be monitored and residents need to bring a utility bill or driver’s license.
More info: 425-244-5807.
Speeds reduced on flood-damaged Hwy. 9
Speeds are being temporarily reduced on about 1.4 miles of Highway 9 near Snohomish while repairs are made in the flood- damaged area.
The current 55 mph speed limit will be reduced to 40 mph. Electronic message signs will display the 40 mph speed limit until other speed limit signs are installed.
The lower speed limit might remain in effect through April 15.
Recent floodwaters damaged sections of the highway and some of the new lanes that are under construction as part of a widening project.
Drivers are using one lane of the existing roadway and one lane of the new roadway to travel the highway between Highway 96 and Marsh Road.
More information: www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr9/176thtomarsh.
