Arlington

Stop-smoking

class offered

A class for smokers who want to quit is being offered through the city’s Recreation Department. The class helps participants identify their reasons for smoking and helps them discover the roadblocks to quitting.

The class is taught by a registered nurse and pharmacist. Classes are 7-8 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 21-Feb. 11. Cost is $155.

For more information or to register, call 360-403-3448.

Edmonds

City seeks kids

for trip to Japan

The Edmonds Sister City Commission is accepting applications from students interested in visiting Japan this summer. Students 14-18 years old will stay with families in Hekinan, Japan, and go on day trips to local schools and points of interest.

Cost of the trip has ranged from $750 to $1,300 in the past, depending on airfare.

Information and application packets are available at the recreation center, 700 Main St. in Edmonds. For more information, call 425-771-0230.

Everett

Panel to review

policy on trees

The city’s Tree Committee will meet 4-6 p.m. Thursday in the Public Works Department conference room, 3200 Cedar St. in Everett.

The committee will review and update the city’s tree policy.

The committee meets every third Thursday of the month.

Howarth Park

road is closed

Because of downed trees and a mudslide, portions of Olympic Boulevard through Howarth Park are closed.

Beginning at the north end of the park at 1127 Olympic Blvd., the road is closed from the entrance to the park’s lower parking lot, and westbound to the top of the hill and the small parking area.

The lower parking lot will remain open, but is accessible only from the east gate area.

Granite Falls

Council to hear about scooters

Granite Falls City Council members will take the oath of office at their regular meeting at 7 tonight in City Hall, 206 S. Granite Ave.

At the meeting, resident Arch Bly will discuss new rules for motor scooters and for speed bumps on W. Alpine Street.

The council also will consider requests for new business licenses for Chiropractic Office and Olympic Barber Shop, and a boundary line adjustment for the Perrigoue family.

Island County

Workshops due

on voting system

The Island County Auditor’s Office has scheduled two more workshops to talk with residents about federally mandated changes that will affect the way votes are counted starting in 2006.

The county currently uses punch cards, but federal legislation after the 2000 presidential election controversy in Florida is forcing a change.

The goal of the workshops is to discuss the county’s options with residents.

A workshop for Camano Island residents is planned for 10:30 a.m. today at Camano Center, 141 N. East Camano Drive.

A workshop for Whidbey Island residents will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Bayview Senior Center, 14594 Highway 525 in Langley.

Lake Stevens

Library hosts family stories

All ages are invited to share stories, songs and rhymes at the Lake Stevens Public Library’s Family Storytime, 7 p.m. today at the library, 1804 Main St.

Lynnwood

Lobbyist hired

for tax fight

The City Council on Monday voted to spend $9,000 to hire a lobbyist who will wage the city’s fight against a proposed change in the way sales tax money is distributed to cities in Washington.

Under the proposal, the cities where goods are delivered rather than where they are bought would get the sales tax revenue from the sale. Lynnwood stands to lose $1.2 million to $1.7 million a year if the changes pass the Legislature because of the many retail outlets that deliver their goods to cities around the region.

Mill Creek

Councilwoman

gets accreditation

Mill Creek City Council member Mary Kay Voss recently received municipal accreditation from the Association of Washington Cities, making her the first Mill Creek Council member to do so.

Voss completed more than 30 hours of classroom credits to earn the accreditation. She was required to attend a variety of public policy courses, including sessions on budgeting, land-use planning, personnel and advanced leadership skills.

Voss is in her first term on the council and has been a resident of Mill Creek since 1997.

Monroe

Council work session tonight

The Monroe City Council has scheduled a work session at 7 p.m. today in the Fire District Training Room, 163 Village Court, Monroe. The Washington Cities Insurance Authority will give a presentation.

Mountlake Terrace

Concert begins

birthday bash

The popular musical group

Children of the Revolution will perform at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 23 in the Mountlake Terrace High School Theater as part of the city’s 50th birthday celebration.

Described as a Mediterranean "River Dance," Children of the Revolution brings to life elements of the Gipsy Kings, Santana and the Buena Vista Social Club, with singers and dancers from many nations including Greece, Spain, Turkey, Iraq, Brazil, Venezuela and the United States.

Concertgoers are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance at the Mountlake Terrace City Hall or the Recreation Pavilion, $10 adults and $7 for children under 12. Any remaining tickets will be sold at the door on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call 425-776-9173.

Mukilteo

Snow makeup

days scheduled

The Mukilteo School District announced Tuesday that it has reached an agreement with teachers and other school personnel to add Friday, March 19 and Monday, June 21, to the calendar to make up for the two days canceled last week because of snow.

Snohomish

Public hearing

on schools plan

The Snohomish School Board plans a public hearing tonight to take comments on recommendations from the district’s Citizens Facilities Advisory Committee. The meeting is at 7:30 p.m. at Centennial Middle School, 3000 Machias Road, Snohomish.

The committee of more than 35 people started its work in March, looking into the facilities needs at every school in the district. It was asked to come up with a plan for improving schools.

The plan calls for three bond issues over the next 10 years to cover costs of new schools and the remodeling of existing ones. The school board may make a decision on the plan at its next regular meeting on Jan. 28.

Snohomish County

Hazard plan

to be discussed

County residents who know about natural hazards or want to learn more are invited to a meeting to talk about the county’s Natural Hazards Plan. The plan will identify areas where floods, earthquakes, landslides and wildfires may hit, plus what should be done to increase public safety in those places. Two meetings are planned: 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, at the Arlington Boys and Girls Club, 18513 59th Ave NE, Arlington; and 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at the Monroe Fire Station, 163 Village Court, Monroe.

Stanwood

Folk dancing

at senior center

The Stanwood Senior Center is offering folk dancing classes from 7-9 p.m. Friday at the center at 7430 276th St. NW. Cost is $1, and classes are for all ages. For more information, call 360-629-7403.

Tulalip

Tribal planning

panel to meet

The Tulalip Tribes Planning Commission meets at 5 p.m. today at 6319 23rd Ave. NE. The meeting is open to the public.