Registration is open for two five-hour baby-sitting courses for kids 10 to 14 years old who want to learn how to take care of younger kids.

The courses will teach them how to feed and diaper infants and toddlers, how to handle bed and bath routines, how to set limits and deal with troublesome behaviors, and how to prevent accidents and respond to emergencies.

A certificate is given to participants who complete both days of training.

The class will run 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 24 and Jan. 31 at the Arlington Boys and Girls Club, 18513 59th Ave. NE. Cost is $30.

For more information, call City Hall at 360-403-3448.

Edmonds

EdCC could buy part of arts center

Under an agreement between Edmonds Community College and the Edmonds Public Facilities District, the college could take a percentage of ownership in the city’s new performing arts center.

EdCC will apply for a $1 million state grant and try to gather matching funds for a $2 million contribution toward the center’s $16 million cost. The district is in charge of renovating the former Puget Sound Christian College auditorium into the arts center.

The agreement would allow the college to stage performances at the venue and to be involved in its operations, officials said.

Everett

New Year’s dance offered for seniors

The community club at Lago de Plata Senior Mobile Home Park will hold a New Year’s Eve dance from 8:30 p.m. Wednesday to 12:30 a.m. Thursday. The dance is for seniors age 55 and older.

There will be live music by Jim Toivonen and prizes from local merchants. Tickets are $5 and attendees are asked to bring finger food to share. The mobile home park is at 620 112th St. SE. For more information, call 425-347-7017.

Island County

New plan set

for scenic byways

Island County has hired Otak, Inc., a Seattle planning and design firm, to work on a “Scenic Corridor Management Plan” with a 30-member committee from organizations and businesses throughout Whidbey Island.

Times and dates will be announced for a series of workshops to hear what people would like to see in that plan, which includes highways 525 and 20.

The plan will follow the Federal Highway Administration’s National Scenic Byway Program, which means transportation improvements need to consider scenic and historic values. A draft plan is expected by late spring.

For more information, call Island County Public Works at 360-679-7331. For more information about the byway program, visit www.byways.org.

Lake Stevens

Preschool

story time back

Che Lake Stevens Library has resumed its Preschool Storytime program.

Children ages 2-5 are invited to join in stories, songs and celebrating a new year and new friends beginning in January.

The program is at 11 a.m. Jan. 6 at the library, 1804 Main St .

Lynnwood

Center operator officially on board

The Lynnwood Public Facilities District board officially awarded a contract to SMG, based in Philadelphia, to manage the Lynnwood Convention Center.

Construction of the center is scheduled to start the first quarter of 2004 and be completed in spring 2005. SMG will oversee the first two years of activities and will operate the facility from 2005 to 2007.

Marysville

State Avenue speed limit up

Motorists may have noticed new speed signs on State Avenue between Grove Street and 100th Street NE.

The City Council has increased the speed from 25 to 30 mph.

City officials are reluctant to increase it beyond that because that section has many mid-block crossings that increase the danger for pedestrians with higher speed limits, city spokesman Doug Buell said.

Mill Creek

WSU extension seeks volunteers

The Washington State University Cooperative Extension in McCollum Park is seeking individuals to be livestock volunteers.

Eighty-hour winter training sessions begin in mid-January with applications due Tuesday. Training covers all aspects of raising and maintaining livestock. For more information or to get an application, call 425-338-2400.

Monroe

Christmas trees picked up today

Christmas tree collection in Monroe will begin today and run through Jan. 12.

All decorations and tinsel must be removed, and trees over 5 feet tall should be cut in half. Also, the tree stand and nails must be removed. Wreaths, swags and other bough decorations are not accepted. To make sure your tree is collected, place it next to the yard waste cart by 6 a.m.

Mountlake Terrace

City seeks to fill board positions

Mountlake Terrace has openings on its Community Policing Advisory Board, Planning Commission and Recreation and Parks Advisory Commission.

Applicants need only be city residents and be willing to meet once per month. For more information, or to request an application, call city clerk Virginia Olsen at 425-744-6206.

Mukilteo

Municipal code on city’s agenda

The Mukilteo Planning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 15 to discuss the city’s municipal code to consider a proposal to reduce the size of landscape buffers for some light industrial property.

The meeting will be at Fire Station 3, 10400 47th Place W., Mukilteo. Call 425-355-4141 for more information.

Snohomish

Manga drawing class offered today

Middle and high school students are invited to a Manga 101 drawing class today at 2 p.m. at the Snohomish Library, 311 Maple Ave.

Manga is the Japanese word for comic book.

This basic drawing class will teach young artists how to create faces, bodies and costumes in the manga style. For more information, call 360-568-2898.

Puppet show

on for today

Snapdragon Puppets will present “The Mousecracker” at 3 p.m. today at the Snohomish Library, 311 Maple Ave.

“The Mousecracker” is a heartwarming, all-mouse version of Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic “The Nutcracker.”

The show is brought to life through the magic of puppetry and the symphonic music from the Nutcracker Suite.

For more information, call 360-568-2898.

Snohomish County

VOA directory offers help

Volunteers of America in Snohomish County has published a directory listing health, welfare and recreation services.

The directory will be available in mid-January. There is a fee.

For an order form, contact VOA at 2802 Broadway, Everett, WA 98206.

Stanwood

Expansion plans for Warm Beach

Warm Beach Senior Community has applied for a permit with Snohomish County for a major expansion that would add 100 new senior housing units, a new community center, parking, drainage and open space on 51 acres.

The Soundview project would be built at 9107 201st St. NW at the northwest corner of the intersection with Marine Drive, several miles south of Stanwood.

Last year, neighbors on Beach Drive, downhill from the Soundview property, expressed concerns, particularly about drainage. The senior center has met with them to try to address those concerns.

The public has a chance to comment on the project to county planners until Jan. 5. Written comments should be sent to Snohomish County Planning and Development Services, 3000 Rockefeller Ave, M/S 604, Everett, WA 98201.