Our Towns

Arlington

Children’s author tells folk tales

Children’s author Margaret Lippert will share stories and talk about how she brings folk tales to life in picture books at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Arlington Library, 135 N. Washington Ave.

Lippert’s book, “Mrs. Chicken and the Hungry Crocodile,” has been nominated for the Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book Award for 2005.

The program is designed for kids ages 5 to 11.

Bothell

College president finalists picked

The Cascadia Community College Board of Trustees last week selected three finalists for the president’s post.

They are:

William Christopher, president of Portland Community College’s Rock Creek campus in Oregon, which serves about 10,000 students.

James Sorensen, president of Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Ore., which serves about 12,000 students.

Marsal Stoll, vice president for instruction and student services at Piedmont Virginia Community College in Charlottesville, Va., which serves about 10,000 students.

The board will interview the candidates April 13-15. There also will be on-campus forums where students, employees and community members can meet the candidates.

Cascadia, which serves about 8,500 students per year, began its formal search for a new president in November. Former president Victoria Munoz Richart left the 4-year-old college last June for a similar position at a community college in California. Brinton Sprague, retired vice president for student learning at Cascadia, has served as interim president.

Edmonds

Council will hold outreach meeting

The Edmonds City Council will hold a community outreach meeting at 7 tonight at the Meadowdale Clubhouse, 6801 N. Meadowdale Road.

The forum allows the public to address the City Council regarding any topic in an informal format.

The council will not take action. Council members will not be allowed to discuss any matters scheduled on future agendas as “closed record reviews” or matters in litigation.

For more information call 425-775-2525 or go to www.ci.edmonds.wa.us/.

Everett

Public hearing on Baker Heights

A public hearing on the future of Baker Heights is scheduled for April 4 at the Baker Community Center, 1401 Poplar St.

Baker Heights has provided housing for thousands of residents since 1943. A recent study found that renovation is not financially feasible.

Phase 2 of the study says all 247 public housing apartments should be replaced. The redeveloped area will feature market-rate rental units and owner-occupied homes.

A final report by the Everett Housing Authority says it will net $5.4 million if the changes are made.

The housing board is expected to make a decision April 25.

The city planning commission and City Council will later decide on the project.

Written comments may be sent to the Everett Housing Authority, P.O. Box 1547, Everett, WA 98206.

Granite Falls

Coalition looking for more mentors

The Granite Falls School District and the Granite Falls Community Coalition are looking for adult volunteers to serve as mentors to work individually with students for 40 minutes per week.

The program is designed to promote personal and academic growth, as well as self-esteem. Organizers are looking for adults 23 years old to seniors.

Thirty volunteers have stepped forward, and about 20 students are still on a waiting list until more can be found. The commitment is while school is in session, not summers or holidays.

For more information, call Jackie Morgan, 360-691-7718, or 360-691-1121 or e-mail jmorgan@gfalls.wednet.edu.

Applications also are available at Monte Cristo Elementary School, 1201 100th St. NE, or at the Granite Falls Community Coalition Center, 204 E. Stanley St.

Island County

Special meeting on jail funding

The Island County commissioners have scheduled a special session at 3:30 p.m. today at the annex building, 1 NE Sixth St., Coupeville.

The commissioners will consider refinancing construction bonds from 1997 and issuing $2 million in new bonds to help pay for a juvenile detention center.

Refinancing the 1997 bonds for a better interest rate could save about $300,000, said Elaine Marlow, the commissioners’ budget director.

The county is short about $2 million for the $6.2 million juvenile jail. The commissioners expected a shortfall of $800,000, but construction bids pushed the jail’s price tag higher than estimated, Marlow said.

Lake Stevens

Sewer district passes state audit

The State Auditor completed an audit of the Lake Stevens Sewer District for 2003 and found the system complied with state laws and regulations as well as the system’s own policies and procedures.

The auditor did not identify any conditions significant enough to report as findings. The auditor audits government agencies each year.

The sewer district, incorporated in 1957, is governed by a three-member board and provides sewer services to about 5,500 customers in the greater Lake Stevens area.

Lynnwood

City cleanup set for April 18-23

The city of Lynnwood’s annual Spring Clean-Up is April 18-23.

Single-family residents may have limited amounts of unwanted household clutter and yard debris picked up at their curb for no additional charge. For a pre-paid fee, appliances may be put at the curb to be collected and recycled.

Additional or bulky items may be brought to a one-day drop-off event, free for city residents, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. April 23 at the city utility maintenance center, 20525 60th Ave. W.

For more information call 425-775-1971 or go to www.ci. lynnwood.wa.us/.

Marysville

Volunteer soccer coaches needed

The city Parks and Recreation Department is seeking volunteer coaches for its Spring Soccer League for ages 7-14.

Practices and games are conducted on weeknights. League practices begin the week of April 11.

For more information, call Adam Eyer, athletic coordinator, at the parks office at 360-363-8403.

Volunteer finalist for national honor

Doreen Busch is one of 12 finalists for Catholic Charities USA’s national Volunteer of the Year award.

Busch began volunteering more than 13 years ago at Catholic Community Services’ Snohomish Family Center in Everett, working with the foster care program and crisis nursery.

Since 1996, she has helped with the agency’s volunteer transportation program, driving the elderly and people with disabilities to medical appointments and assisting with errands.

On average she drives 1,200 miles a month.

Monroe

PTA holds silent auction Friday

Salem Woods Elementary Parent Teacher Association presents Foolin’ Around for Funds, a silent and live auction featuring artwork created by students, at 7 p.m. Friday at the school gym, 12802 Wagner Road.

Admission if free. Desserts are available for $2. For more information call 360-863-4499, ext. 6938.

Mukilteo

Book group will meet next week

The Mukilteo Library Daytime Book Group will discuss “The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary” by Simon Winchester at an upcoming meeting.

The event is scheduled for 10-11:30 a.m. April 5 at the library, 4675 Harbour Pointe Blvd. For more information call 425-493-8202.

Snohomish

City hires new planning director

City Manager Larry Bauman recently announced the appointment of Corbitt Loch as the new planning director to replace retiring planning manager Dwight Hartman.

Loch will begin work Thursday. Loch previously served as planning manager and assistant city manager for Des Moines.

As planning director, Loch will manage planning functions as well as building inspection and fire marshal services.

Stanwood

Warm Beach has two April retreats

Warm Beach Christian Camps and Conference Center has two retreats scheduled later this month.

One is a “Contemplative Retreat,” led by Kathy Bence, a theologian who will guide participants through a period of silence and solitude. The retreat will be April 18-20 at the conference center, 20800 Marine Drive.

The other is an “Engaged and Pre-engaged Encounter” for couples contemplating marriage.

The weekend, April 22-24, will be led by three Christian couples who talk honestly about their marriages.

For more information about either retreat, call 360-652-7575 or visit www.warmbeach.com.

Tulalip

Tribes’ planning board to meet

The Tulalip Tribes Planning Commission will meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday at 6319 23rd Ave. NE.

The meeting is open to the public.