Our Towns
Published 10:41 pm Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Arlington
Emergency drills near casino
Firefighters, police officers, sheriff’s deputies and SWAT team members plan to practice drills at a vacant building near the Angel of the Winds Casino, north of Arlington, this week.
Throughout the week, they are scheduled to conduct routine drills to help them prepare for emergencies.
The casino is preparing to demolish the administration building in the next week as part of a planned casino expansion that is scheduled to begin soon.
Everett
Tax break for Elks condo OK’d
The City Council extended a decade-long property tax break Wednesday to a nine-unit condominium building that the Everett Elks are planning to build at 2802 Hoyt Ave.
The decision marks the first time a building with fewer than 40 units has qualified for the incentive program designed to spur high-density development downtown.
In March, the council changed the program’s rules to allow smaller condo and apartment buildings, with as few as eight units, to participate.
Buildings previously were required to have least 20-units to be eligible.
Demolition of Everett Elks Lodge 479 at the corner of Rucker Avenue and California Street is slated to begin next month.
Skotdal Real Estate is planning to use the tax break program to build a seven-story, 201-unit mixed-use building there.
Yacht Club celebrates 100
The Everett Yacht Club is celebrating its 100th birthday with a free pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Everett Marina parking lot, 404 14th St.
In addition to pancakes, club members will serve ham, sausage and eggs.
Port Commissioner Don Hopkins and an Everett City Council member are scheduled to speak at the event. Club members plan have copies of a new book on the Yacht Club’s history available for sale.
American Legion finds a new home
Nearly two years after a theft scandal left Everett’s American Legion Post 6 nearly penniless, the veterans organization has rebounded.
Legionnaires changed the name of the club to honor Sen. Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson and its member rolls have nearly doubled to 660.
At 6 p.m. Friday, the club is giving American Legion and Auxiliary members and their guests a sneak peak of its new clubhouse at 1212 California St.
Lake Stevens
Sirita’s Playground to open Sunday
A grand opening for Sirita’s Playground is planned for 3 p.m. Sunday at Lundeen Park, 10020 Lundeen Parkway.
The playground is being built in honor of Sirita Sotelo of Lake Stevens, who was killed by her stepmother two years ago at the age of 4.
Funds for the $14,000 playground came from the city of Lake Stevens; the Lake Stevens Rotary, Kiwanis, and Lions clubs; Aquafest; and other private donors.
Free root beer floats will be served by Lake Stevens High School cheerleaders, and T. Tator Tot The Clown will provide entertainment. Call the city at 425-334-1012.
Lynnwood
Arts Commission seeking artists
The Lynnwood Arts Commission is seeking artists to apply for 2008 exhibits at the Lynnwood Library Gallery.
The gallery features monthly exhibits beginning in January and continuing through December 2008. The application deadline is Sept. 28.
The Lynnwood Library is at 19200 44th Ave. W.
For an application or for more information, call Marianne Johnson at 425-744-6459 or go to the Lynnwood Arts Commission Web site at www.ci.lynnwood.wa.us/parks to download an application.
Marysville
Seniors can get a ride to the fair
Seniors may get a ride from the Marysville Senior Center to the Evergreen State Fair on Monday for $8.
Admission to the fair is free to anyone 62 or over. The $8 fee pays for the van ride. For departure times and more information, call the center at 360-363-8450. The senior center requests a call in advance to let them know which riders are 62 or older.
Mill Creek
Fall gardening session offered
Gardeners can learn about fall planting, pruning and other preparations at a public luncheon planned for next month by Mill Creek Christian Women’s Connection.
The $18 luncheon is scheduled from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Mill Creek Country Club at 15500 Country Club Drive. Men and women are welcome to attend.
Trevor Cameron of Wight’s Home &Garden in Lynnwood is expected to lead the gardening discussion.
Reservations and cancellations are required by Sept. 11. Call 425-337-6335.
Monroe
Council holds hearing on zoning
The City Council on Tuesday held a public hearing on a six-month moratorium for a general industrial area within the city’s downtown sub area. The moratorium puts a hold on most new development activities in the industrial area, while the council prepares temporary zoning regulations for the area.
Those new regulations are expected to be in place while the city finishes a new downtown sub-area plan in November 2008. The plan aims to revitalize the city’s downtown along Main Street, which used to be a commercial hub in the Skykomish Valley.
The public hearing on the six-month moratorium has been extended to a Sept. 4 council meeting. Call the city at 360-794-7400.
Snohomish
City turns down hotel study
The City Council on Tuesday decided not to spend $10,250 for a study to assess the need for additional lodging in town, City Councilman Larry Countryman said.
The study would have found out where and how a hotel and motels could be built in the city. But some people urged the city not to spend taxpayers’ money for such a purpose, Countryman said.
Snohomish, with a population nearing 9,000, has only one motel in town and a few bed-and-breakfast places.
The city built a new $391,000 visitor information center in 2005 to promote tourism in town. It has other plans to attract more visitors. City officials have floated an idea of building a boat dock at Kla Ha Ya Park in hopes of bringing boat tourists from Everett. City leaders and business people are also hoping that the Spirit of Washington dinner train would run between Woodinville and Snohomish.
Call the city at 360-568-3115.
Sultan
Council to discuss budget
The City Council plans to discuss how to deal with a projected budget deficit at 7 p.m. today at 319 Main Street. The city’s general fund, which pays for basic services, is expected to be about $450,000 short this year.
As a way to save expenses, the council is set to discuss whether to discontinue a contract with the Sno-Isle Regional Library System, which runs the library in Sultan. If that happens, voters could be asked to choose whether to have the library district annex the library and pay for its operation.
Call the city at 360-793-2231.
