Tax preparers stepped up

Those nice folks at Everett Community College and AARP who did your taxes for free had a very good year.

The volunteers completed 919 returns, up from 422 in 2007, EvCC’s Laura Little said. On Tuesday, tax deadline day, the preparers completed 55 returns.

“We had clients that brought in their returns done in other places just to double-check the numbers,” Little said. “Some came out just fine, and on others many credits and deductions were missed, so we amended the returns for them.”

Preschool offers rummage sale

Just like one special day when they ate green eggs and ham, the Snohomish Cooperative Preschool offers a special event Saturday.

The preschool hopes to make money for crayons and finger paints at a rummage sale from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Masonic Hall, 602 Ave. B in Snohomish.

The preschool’s core of active parents are all enrolled at Everett Community College. Snohomish High School students interact with the kids every day.

Many of the children come from single-parent homes, so don’t haggle too much at the sale.

Woodcarvers show their work

Quilceda Carvers of Marysville offer a woodcarving show called “Artistry in Wood” from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds, 14405 179th Ave. SE in Monroe.

Members Melba and Dale Gooch say this year’s show will feature the woodcarvings of Laura Fraser, who teaches the craft.

“It’s a great hobby, especially for retirees,” Dale Gooch said. “We have made long-lasting friendships with wonderful people we would not have met except for our carving club.”

Trafton School celebrates today

Celebrate Trafton School’s newly designated historic status at 1 this afternoon at the elementary school, 12616 Jim Creek Road, east of Arlington.

Trafton is now listed on the state and national historic places registers. It’s thought to be the oldest continuously operating small school in the state.

Clarification

Snohomish County employees who work for the building department will not lose their seniority or see their pay or benefits change if they are reassigned to another department. A story Wednesday on Page A1 about job cuts left it unclear whether employees would see those changes.