Our Towns

Arlington

Council meeting over Lane rezone

The City Council has scheduled a special meeting to set a date for a public hearing for the controversial Island Crossing annexation proposal.

The council needs to call the special meeting because city staff are not allowed to set public hearings without council approval.

On Dec. 4, car dealer Dwayne Lane submitted an annexation petition with at least 50 percent of landowners and 50 percent of residents. Lane wants to relocate his downtown dealership to the Island Crossing location near I-5.

The proposal is opposed by environmental groups and some farmers, who are concerned about flooding hazards and losing agricultural land.

Most of the city’s elected officials have expressed support for the annexation, which would allow the city to retain Lane’s expected boost in sales taxes.

The special meeting will be at 7 tonight at the Arlington Boys and Girls Club, 18513 59th Ave. NE. At that meeting, the council will decide on a resolution to set the public hearing as part of the council’s regular meeting Monday.

Darrington

State audit finds nothing amiss

The state Auditor’s Office found nothing significantly amiss in a routine audit of Darrington’s financial activities for 2001 and 2002.

Darrington’s population of 1,307 is served by four full-time and four part-time employees. The annual budget in 2002 was $1.4 million.

Darrington is audited every two years, and state auditors have not issued any findings for six audits.

State auditors looked at accountability issues such as cash receipts, revolving accounts, payroll and billings. They also looked at legal compliance with budget requirements, the Open Public Meetings Act and competitive bids, among other things.

They also reported on the town’s revenues, expenditures, long-term debt and overall presentation of financial statements.

Edmonds

Criteria to be set for schools chief

An open process involving parents, staff and residents in defining the qualities and skills the district should be seeking in its next superintendent begins with community and staff forums today and Thursday.

Superintendent Wayne Robertson announced last month his plans to retire at the end of the school year. The school board is beginning a national search.

The forums for parents and district residents are 7-9 both nights at the district’s headquarters, 20420 68th Ave. W., Lynnwood.

The forums for district employees are 3-5 p.m. Today’s is at Edmonds Woodway High School. Thursday’s is at the district office.

For more information call Sylvia Soholt at sylvia@kasplus.com or leave her a voice mail at 425-670-7047.

Everett

Breakfast with the lawmakers

Sunrise Services Inc. and Work Opportunities will host a legislative breakfast on Thursday in Everett.

Sunrise and Work Opportunities serve approximately 1,000 individuals who are either developmentally delayed, have other disabilities or have been diagnosed with a mental health disease.

The purpose of the annual breakfast is to discuss with representatives the needs of these people. With state budget challenges, Sunrise and Work Opportunities believe it is imperative to pass on concerns of participants.

Program participants will showcase the strides they have made due to lawmakers’ support. The goal is to improve the quality of services the state provides to the participants and families Sunrise and Work Opportunities serve.

The event is not open to the public.

Island County

Drawings coming for gift baskets

The annual “Christmas in Coupeville” is in full swing, with gift basket drawings worth at least $500 planned for Sunday and Dec. 21.

Entry forms are available at approximately 50 businesses in town. No purchase is required.

One gift basket will be on display at the visitor and information center at 107 S. Main St., Building E., in Coupeville. The drawings are sponsored by the Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce. Call 360-678-5434 for more information.

Lake Stevens

Parks board cancels meeting

The city’s Park Advisory Board meeting normally scheduled for Dec. 24 has been canceled due to the holidays.

The board meets at the Lake Stevens Community-Senior Center.

Lynnwood

Senior center plans snow trip

The Lynnwood Senior Center plans a winter outdoor recreation meeting at 3 p.m. Thursday.

Anyone interested in cross-country skiing or snowshoeing this winter is encouraged to attend. The senior center is planning a trip to the mountains, and there will be information and sign-up for the trip at the meeting.

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

Convention

center update

The Lynnwood Tourism Advisory Committee will receive an update on the Lynnwood Convention Center at its meeting Thursday.

The meeting will start at 7:45 a.m. at City Hall conference rooms 1 and 2.

Marysville

Local author to sign books

Local author Donna Anders will be at The BookWorks 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Thursday signing her new book.

Her books are based on real events. The latest one, “Night Stalker,” is a psychological thriller.

The BookWorks is at 1510 Third St. Call 360-659-4997 for information.

Monroe

Smilemobile to be at hospital

The Smilemobile will be in Monroe 9 a.m.-3 p.m. this week at Valley General Hospital, 14701 179th Ave. SE. The Smilemobile provides dental exams for children of low-income families 13 and younger. It charges fees on a sliding scale for services.

For appointments, call hospital community relations at 360-794-1411.

Mountlake Terrace

Library to close for training day

The Mountlake Terrace Public Library will be closed Thursday for training. It will reopen Friday for regular hours.

For more information, call 425-776-7622.

Mukilteo

Mukilteo YMCA gets $3,000 grant

The YMCA of Snohomish County has announced that its Mukilteo family branch will receive a $3,000 grant from REI to strengthen the YMCA’s Earth Service Corps Program.

REI, a consumer cooperative founded by a group of mountaineers in 1938, has distributed more than $8 million since 1976 to fund conservation efforts around the nation.

The Earth Service program, which runs January through June, serves Kamiak High School students. The program is an environmental program designed to help teens make a difference in communities.

The grant will help fund several of Kamiak’s Earth Service Corps programs, including the environmental education unit, which teaches students about the environment through speakers and field trips; the wetlands cleanup unit, whose members keep the Snohomish River trails clean; and the recycling unit, which promotes recycling as a financially lucrative and environmentally healthy activity.

Snohomish

Church to host yuletide auction

There will be a yuletide auction at 7 p.m. Saturday at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 913 Second St.

The auction will feature Arts of Snohomish contributions and other donated merchandise including jewelry, home decorating items, antiques and more. The event is free.

For more information, call 360-568-4622.