Arlington: Library party will

The Arlington Public Library plans a celebration of children’s author Dr. Seuss at 7 p.m. Thursday at the library, 135 N. Washington Ave.

The party will feature games, readings, trivia and refreshments. It’s sponsored by the Arlington Rotary Club.

Bothell

Church trial

to close roads

Bothell United Methodist Church is hosting the church trial of the Rev. Karen Dammann of Ellensburg, who is charged with breaking church law by professing to be a homosexual.

Jury selection starts at 9:30 a.m. today at the church, 18515 92nd St. NE, and the trial begins at 1 p.m. The trial is expected to last up to four days and requires the city to close 185th Street NE from 89th Avenue NE to 92nd Avenue NE between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Detours will be marked.

The city is anticipating media coverage and demonstrations.

Darrington

Talent show will

benefit hospital

SMThe Darrington Hospital Guild presents its annual community talent show at 7 p.m. Friday at Darrington High School, 1075 Fir St.

Proceeds will help fund a new X-ray developer for the clinic.

Interested performers may Sandi McCaulley at 360-436-1264.

Edmonds

Writing contest

for youths open

The Edmonds Arts Commission sponsors its sixth annual Youth Writing Contest for students in grades 9-12.

This year’s theme is “The Dance.” Deadline for entries is April 9.

Cash awards are given for first, second and third place in poetry and fiction. All submissions must be original work not previously published outside the student’s high school.

Fiction entries must be 250 to 1,000 words.

Instructions and entry forms are available at all Edmonds high schools, by calling 425-771-0268 or e-mailing mcrae@ci.edmonds.wa.us.

Disability fair

coming Saturday

A disability fair sponsored by the Donor Closet, which recycles medical and mobility equipment to those in need and people undergoing financial hardships, will be 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at Armadillo Self Storage, 23031 Highway 99 in Edmonds.

All donations for items at the fair go to provide assistance to people with multiple sclerosis.

Everett

St. Patrick’s Day

concert tonight

There will be a free St. Patrick’s Day concert at 7 tonight at Arbor Place Assisted Living, 12806 Bothell-Everett Highway.

The Shoreline Youth Pipe Band and Dancers will perform traditional Highland bagpipe music and dances.

For more information, call 425-338-3227.

Housing opens

for mentally ill

Applications are being taken for Bridgeway Place, 1120 113th St. SW, newly renovated rental units for low-income adults with chronic mental illness.

The apartments offer single and shared leasing arrangements, with rents ranging from about $300 to $1,000 a month.

The complex includes a coin-operated washer and dryer, and has access to the bus system.

Established in 1981, Bridgeways is a nonprofit agency serving adults in Snohomish County with chronic mental illness.

For information, call Mona Ramos at 425-513-8213.

Bar to discuss smoking ban

White Elephant Bar and Grill in Everett will host a discussion about the proposed statewide smoking ban at 6 p.m. Thursday.

White Elephant owners Donna Kerns and husband John Troia are concerned about losing business if customers aren’t allowed to smoke in the bar.

A representative from the Entertainment Industry Coalition is scheduled to speak. The coalition has filed an initiative that would ban smoking in public spaces open to minors, such as family restaurants, but not in bars or nontribal casinos.

The coalition is opposed by Breathe Easy Washington, led by Kevin Phelps, chairman of the Tacoma-Pierce County Board of Health. Breathe Easy wants a ban on smoking in all public indoor spaces, including bars, restaurants and nontribal casinos.

White Elephant Bar and Grill is at 1912 Broadway.

Island County

Camano traffic ratings lowered

Island County commissioners have agreed to lower traffic standards for a portion of East Camano Drive

Traffic standards follow a grading system similar to school report cards. A level of service rated C would mean traffic can move at 55 mph with limited congestion, while a D rating means traffic slows to 50 mph and cars start to bunch up, said Joe Araucto, traffic engineer for Island County.

The commissioners reduced the traffic standard to D along East Camano Drive between Camano Hill Road and Monticello Drive. North of there, the road already is rated E, which is even worse, Araucto said.

State law required the commissioners to lower the traffic standards or impose a moratorium on new development in the area until the road can be improved to handle more traffic.

Such improvements would have required making East Camano Road four lanes instead of two lanes, but no such plans exist, Araucto said, and widening Highway 532 is still more than six years in the future.

Lake Stevens

Lions Club hosts its annual dinner

The Lions Club will host its annual corned beef and cabbage dinner 2-7 p.m. Saturday at Elim Lutheran Church, 11504 26th St. NE.

The dinner is a major fund-raiser for the club. The dinner includes raffle prizes, flowers for women and a band from 4 to 6 p.m.

Tickets are available from any Lions Club member or at the door.

Lynnwood

Multi-Cultural Family Fair set

The Family Support Center of Lynnwood, in partnership with the city, Community Mobilization, the Interfaith Association of Snohomish County and Edmonds Community College, are hosting the third annual Multi-Cultural Family Fair noon-4 p.m. April 24 at Cedar Valley Elementary School in Lynnwood.

Volunteers are needed to plan and support the event.

Cultural or heritage associations that would like to be represented can have a booth for free by calling Pam Graham at 425-670-8984.

Individuals and organizations interested in helping may call Graham or e-mail her at pgraham@lcsnw.org

Theater classes

for kids 8 to 12

The Lynnwood Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department is offering “Kids Love Improv,” a class for ages 8 to 12, 4-5:30 p.m. Thursdays March 18 to April 29 at 18900 44th Ave. W.

Students will learn classic improvisation and theater games, memory improvement, intuition and confidence on the stage and off.

A presentation for families of students is planned for the last day. Cost is $58 for residents and $60 for nonresidents. For more information and registration, call 425-771-4030.

Marysville

Chamber seeks photos for Web

The Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce seeks area shutterbugs to submit photographs to enhance the chamber’s new Web site.

The site will provide links to promote local businesses and tourist attractions.

All entries will receive prompt recognition on the Web site. Chamber officials are seeking photos of all types, including mountains, waterways, parks, gardens, wildlife and community activities or events.

Submit images by e-mail to Kathleen@MarysvilleTulalip >

Chamber.com, or by delivery or mail to the office at 8825 34th Ave. NE, Suite C, Marysville, WA 98271 (across from Wal-Mart in Quil Ceda Village. Images will be returned upon request.

Mill Creek

New child care

center to open

The YMCA of Snohomish County will offer child care services in Mill Creek at the YMCA Heatherwood Child Care Development Center in the Heatherwood Apartments, 13528 NE Creek Drive.

An open house will be 4-8 p.m. Thursday.

The center will offer infant care for ages 6 weeks to 11 months, toddler care for 1 to 2 1/2 years and preschool care for 2 1/2 to 5 years. Program hours will be 6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

The grand opening is April 1. For more information or to sign up, call 425-337-0123.

Monroe

Arts Council gets $2,500 for mural

The Monroe Arts Council, a volunteer nonprofit organization, was recently awarded a $2,500 grant for the River of Life Mural from EverTrust Bank.

The group is raising money to create the 138-foot long, 15-foot-high mural as its first project, which will be on the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store at Hill and Lewis streets.

The group hopes that the mural will be a community landmark and draw tourists to the city. To make a donation, go to www.monroeartscouncil.org or call 360-794-4477.

Mountlake Terrace

Free tax help

offered at library

AARP volunteer tax aides offer free tax assistance to individuals on a first-come, first-served basis 4-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Mountlake Terrace Public Library, 23300 58th Ave. W.

E-filing is available. For more information, call 425-776-8722.

Mukilteo

Friday is makeup

day for students

School will be in session Friday for students in the Mukilteo School District.

This is a makeup day for classes canceled due to snow in mid-January.

Chamber holds breakfast meeting

The Mukilteo Chamber of Commerce plans its general meeting 7:30-9 a.m. Thursday at the Pointe Restaurant, 11817 Harbour Pointe Blvd.

The event includes a buffet breakfast. Cost is $10 members and $12 guests.

Snohomish

Rotary presents one-person play

The Snohomish Rotary Club presents a one-person stage production, “Late Nite Catechism” at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Snohomish High School performing arts center, Fifth Street and Avenue D.

Tickets are $25, available at the door. For more information, call 360-568-5629.

Snohomish County

Farm group thanks partners

Snohomish County will take part in the newest program of Puget Sound Fresh, an agriculture marketing program that encourages people to buy products grown on local farms.

The program, started in 1998, has launched Puget Sound Fresh Partners, an effort to recognize restaurants, grocers and other retailers that take part in Puget Sound Fresh.

Participating retailers and restaurants will be given certificates indicating they are involved in the program.

Stanwood

Council to discuss library, scooters

The City Council meets at 7 p.m. Thursday at City Hall, 10220 270th St. NW.

On the agenda is a resolution supporting development of a joint campus with the public library and City Hall. The concept is based on ideas that came out of the Design Stanwood process to better plan and market downtown for tourism, business and civic uses.

Library officials are expected to present their ideas to the council in coming weeks.

Also on the agenda is the second reading of a new ordinance regulating motorized scooters.