Our Towns

The City Council has scheduled its annual retreat for this weekend in Bellingham. The council meets in a weekend retreat with city staff and the mayor once a year to set goals and talk about issues in an informal setting. The meetings are open to the public, and no official action will be voted on.

The retreat will have three sessions: 1-5 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; and 8 a.m.-noon Sunday at the Hotel Bellwether, 1 Bellingham Way, Bellingham.

For more information, call 360-403-3441.

Bothell

Apply soon for tourism grants

Beginning Monday, the city will accept grant application packets for 2004 tourism and economic development grants.

In 1999, Bothell established the Tourism Promotion Fund Grant Program to support tourism, economic development and the promotion of projects and events in the city. Completed application packets are due by 5 p.m. Feb. 9.

If granted, applicants are required to cover at least 50 percent of the project costs. The program is open to eligible nonprofit and for-profit organizations and public agencies with a demonstrated ability to complete the proposed project and achieve project goals. Projects and events that receive a portion of the grant funds must take place in 2004 and be completed within the grant award year.

For more information, call 425-486-3256.

Edmonds

Prenatal yoga class starting

Edmonds Parks and Recreation Department prenatal yoga classes start today and Saturday, with other courses starting over the next few months.

No prior yoga experience is required. To learn more about prenatal yoga, call the parks department at 425-771-0230.

Everett

Call problems

in to public works

Residents who spot drainage grates blocked by ice, downed tree limbs or stop signs, non-functioning stoplights or sewer or water problems should call the 24-hour hotline for Everett Public Works, 425-257-8821.

City spokeswoman Kate Reardon urged residents who spot downed power lines to stay away from the wires and call 911.

Evergreen GOP women to meet

Bob Williams, president of the Evergreen Freedom Foundation, based in Olympia, will speak at tonight’s Evergreen Republican Women dinner meeting.

Williams will give a forecast of 2004 issues for the region and the upcoming legislative session. Evergreen Freedom Foundation is a nonprofit public policy research organization.

The dinner will be 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Lombardi’s Cucina, 1620 W. Marine View Drive. Cost is $10 for members and $13.50 for nonmembers.

To respond, or for more information, call Kathryn Stenger at 425-773-1622.

Island County

County drafts

junk ordinance

Island County is proposing a new ordinance regulating how much junk and junk vehicles residents can store on their property. In a summary of a draft of the proposed rules, planning director Phil Bakke wrote that parcels of an acre or less could have one junk car, 1- to 5-acre parcels could have two junkers, and parcels larger than 5 acres could have five junkers. Cars stored in garages or out of view would not count unless the number greatly exceeds the acreage.

A junk car is defined in the draft as inoperable, extensively damaged or lacking current registration.

Other junk does not have a specific maximum quantity. Bakke wrote that outdoor storage of junk is permissible “as long as it is secondary to the residence. … It is only when outdoor storage of junk becomes excessive and overtakes the residential property that enforcement action may be required.”

The planning commission will schedule a public hearing about the new rules, probably in February, Bakke said. For more information, call 360-679-7341; 360-321-5111, ext. 7341; or 360-629-4522, ext. 7341.

Lynnwood

Vets to discuss

the Korean War

It has been 50 years since the start of the Korean War, and the Lynnwood Senior Center is inviting anyone who was a member of the military during the conflict to attend a round-table discussion of wartime experiences 10 a.m.-noon Jan. 16.

Participants will include Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force, Coast Guard and merchant marines veterans. The event is free.

The Senior Center is at 5800 198th St. SW in Lynnwood. For more information, call 425-744-6464.

Marysville

Scouts to pick up Christmas trees

Scout Troop 80 will pick up Christmas trees left at the curb

9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Trees also may be dropped off during those hours at the Jennings Memorial Park ball field, 6915 Armar Road. A $5 donation is requested.

The trees will be recycled for use by the city Parks and Recreation Department.

Mill Creek

Ryan is mayor

for third term

The Mill Creek City Council on Tuesday decided to keep Mayor Terry Ryan for another two-year term, making him the city’s first mayor to serve three consecutive terms.

Donna Michelson was selected to a second two-year term as mayor pro tem.

Monroe

Book discussion group is coming

The Monroe Public Library will have its monthly book discussion group at 7 p.m. Tuesday at 1070 Village Way. This month’s selection is “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Register as soon as possible. The event is free. For more information, call 360-794-0292.

On Feb. 10, the group will meet to talk about “Lying Awake” by Mark Salzman.

Mountlake Terrace

Double collection of garbage today

Weather permitting, there will be a double garbage pickup today throughout the city.

Garbage is usually picked up on Wednesdays in Mountlake Terrace, but snow and ice stopped trucks from going out on Dec. 31 and Wednesday.

Mukilteo

City’s transit

rep is chosen

The Mukilteo City Council on Monday selected council member Cathy Reese to continue as the city’s representative on Community Transit’s board of directors.

She currently serves as the board’s vice chairwoman, but it’s not clear yet what position she will hold on the new board.

Snohomish

Library offers

Internet school

The Snohomish Public Library plans an Internet-surfing school at 10 a.m. today at the library, 311 Maple Ave. The event, designed for beginners, is free and open to people of all ages. The event will be repeated at 10 a.m. Saturday. For more information, call 360-568-2898.

Snohomish County

Koster named council chairman

County Councilman John Koster was unanimously picked by his fellow board members as chairman of the Snohomish County Council for 2004. The District 1 councilman replaces Gary Nelson, who will take over as vice chairman. The chairman chooses the chairmen of council committees and sets the council agenda.