Our Towns

Arlington

Design your own centerpiece

The city is sponsoring a “Design your own Thanksgiving Centerpiece,” class by David Boulton of Flowers by George 7-8:30 tonight at 335 N. Olympic Ave.

Cost is $45. To register, call 360-403-3448.

Abuse group adds board members

Choice &Consequence, a nonprofit organization, has two new board members. The board oversees the operation of “The Real Inside Story,” a substance-abuse prevention program that uses displays of human organs to show the effects of substance abuse to students.

Deborah Parker was elected as treasurer. Tim Blair was elected vice chairman.

Current board members, Gordon McElroy, secretary and Rima Blackwell, president will serve for the next two years.

Edmonds

Gym open for pickle ball games

Open gym pickle ball is available 7:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays at the Frances Anderson Center gym, 700 Main St.

Cost of play is $3 for adults and $2 for children. For more information or to register for a league call 425-771-0230.

Everett

Grant keeps meals available

Senior Services of Snohomish County is working with two other local groups to reduce hunger and malnutrition among the homebound elderly and people of all ages with critical illnesses.

The two groups are Volunteers of America’s Everett Food Bank and Catholic Community Services’ Helpers Of People With AIDS program.

A $150,000 grant from Altria Group, the parent company of Kraft Foods, will continue home deliveries of meals and food to frail elderly and deliver fresh produce to 650 homebound elderly and people living with HIV/AIDS throughout the county.

Call 425-290-1264 for information.

Hospital’s plans to be discussed

The Northwest Neighborhood Association will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the third-floor piano lounge at Washington Oakes, 1717 Rockefeller Ave.

Because of construction on Rockefeller, please use the Oakes Street entrance.

There will be an update on Providence Everett Medical Center’s expansion plan, and residents will talk about uses for the 2005 grant money provided by the City of Everett.

For information, call Mary Jane Anderson at 259-2233.

Alley becomes walkway gallery

The city will unveil its new Colby Avenue Arcade project at 8 a.m. Tuesday at the walkway, 2816 Colby Ave.

The arcade is an artwork-lined walkway that connects Colby Avenue with the city-owned EverPark, a 495-stall parking garage.

Mayor Ray Stephanson, City Council members, partners on the project and featured artists will speak at the unveiling.

Island County

Transportation board meets

A regional transportation policy board of local elected representatives will meet with the public 10 a.m.-noon Tuesday at Oak Harbor City Hall, 865 SE Barrington Drive.

The board is comprised of state representatives and elected officials from Skagit and Island counties and their cities, ports, tribes and transit agencies.

The board prioritizes transportation projects and decides how and where to spend federal funding for regional projects. The meeting is a good opportunity for the public to comment on how roads, ferries and buses should be planned for the next 20 years.

Lake Stevens

Drainage District board meets

The Drainage Improvement District No. 8 Board of Commissioners will meet Tuesday.

The agenda includes a variety of applications, an update on an annexation request, and an update on the 2005 budget.

The board meets at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday for a workshop on vouchers and at 7 p.m. for the regular business meeting at the district offices, 1911 Vernon Road.

Lakewood

ROTC, USAF meeting Tuesday

Students and parents are invited to an informational recruitment meeting about ROTC scholarships and officer training for the U.S. Air Force Academy 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday at Lakewood High School, 17023 11th Drive NE.

Lynnwood

Take a boat trip to see Skagit eagles

A trip to watch eagles on the Skagit River is offered 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 4 by the Lynnwood parks department.

Experienced eagle watchers will take participants on a boat ride to watch the eagles in their annual winter return to the river.

The cost is $65 for Lynnwood residents, $70 for nonresidents. The price includes a hot meal. For more information call 425-771-4030.

Marysville

Planning board meets Tuesday

The planning commission will continue its work on updating the city’s comprehensive plan during its meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 1049 State Ave. The commission will focus on a review of land uses.

Mill Creek

Public hearing on budget Tuesday

The city will hold a public hearing on its proposed 2005-06 budget at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 15728 Main St.

City Council members have been debating whether to raise property taxes by 1 percent for either or both of the two years or leave it at its current rate. Another topic of discussion has been whether to dip into savings to balance the budget.

Copies of the proposed budget are available for review at City Hall and the library, 15429 Bothell-Everett Hwy.

For more information call 425-745-1891.

Monroe

Group offers free music class

The Monroe Arts Council is promoting “Sounds of Music,” a music appreciation series held monthly for children and young adults. From bagpipes to harps, professional musicians perform and give information about their instruments at this free event.

The next performance is set for 10 a.m. Dec. 11 at the New Hope Fellowship Church, 1012 W. Main. The Brass Notes, a local brass quintet, will perform.

To learn more about this program, contact Dee Jones at 360-794-8728 or see the Monroe Arts Council’s Web site at www.monroeartscouncil.org.

Mountlake Terrace

Rules adopted for the environment

New regulations to protect environmentally sensitive areas were adopted by the City Council last week.

The new rules increase the distance buildings must be from streams and wetlands, from 25 feet to between 65 and 150 feet for streams and from 50 feet to between 65 and 115 feet for wetlands.

Existing development is exempt from the new rules unless major improvements are being made to the property.

The ordinance may be reviewed at the planning department page of the city’s Web site, www.cityofmlt.com.

Snohomish

Guest teacher for knitting sessions

The Snohomish Senior Center has a guest teacher for its free knitting and crocheting session at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Instructor Sue Williams, of Country Yarns in Clearview has knitted and crocheted since childhood.

For more information, call 360-568-0934.

Snohomish County

Library board acts on budget, taxes

The Sno-Isle Libraries Board of Trustees will conduct a public hearing today on the 2005 budget and are likely to adopt the budget. The board also is expected to act on a resolution regarding a potential 1 percent property tax increase for 2005.

The board also will discuss facility ownership and responsibilities at the Freeland Library.

The board meets at 1 p.m. at the district’s service center, 7312 35th Ave. NE in Marysville. The meeting is open to the public.

Stanwood

Three groups get foundation grants

The Stanwood-Camano Area Foundation has awarded three community grants.

The Stanwood-Camano Food Bank received $1,500 to help pay for a new restroom at the new food bank location in west Stanwood.

World Ministries International was awarded $1,168 to buy a generator for a renovated mobile dental van that serves people in the community.

Lincoln High School received $482 for printing the color cover and for the binding of a World War II book that culminated a student oral history project.

The foundation has been active in local philanthropy since 1960. The community grants program started in 2001 after a bequest by Willard Gordon, a long-time area resident.

Tulalip

Planning board meets Wednesday

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