Front Porch: Tulip Festival starts

Published 1:30 am Saturday, April 1, 2017

Tulip traffic: The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival starts Saturday.

Delays getting to the blooming fields could be exacerbated this year by bridge construction on I-5, about a mile north of Starbird Road approaching Highway 534 at Conway. Northbound traffic is reduced to two lanes there, and the speed limit is reduced to 60 mph.

Alternate routes to the tulip fields for northbound drivers include Highway 9, which meanders north to the east of I-5.

The tulip fields cover a 15-mile triangle west of I-5 and south of Highway 20 in Mount Vernon.

Find an interactive map at www.tulipfestival.org/map.

Teen art contest: High school students are invited to submit work to the 2017 Congressional Art Competition.

Those who live in the 1st District can find details through Rep. Suzan DelBene’s offices. Search online at delbene.house.gov, or call 425-485-0085.

Submissions are due April 13 to DelBene’s Bothell office.

Those who live in the 2nd District go through Rep. Rick Larsen. Search larsen.house.gov, or call 425-252-3188.

Submissions are due by 4 p.m. April 28. Larsen has an Everett office.

Retiree meeting: The Retired Public Employees Council Chapter 6 meets next at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Carl Gipson Senior Center, 3025 Lombard Ave., Everett.

Meetings are open to all, but to join you must be a retiree in the state retirement system.

For more information, call Jim Brandley at 425-337-0884.