Our Towns

A local group of artists is hoping to start a new holiday tradition with its first North Arlington Holiday Craft and Art Studio Tour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in the Bryant area.

Visitors can take a free self-guided tour by picking up a map at Favorite Pastimes, 315 N. Olympic Ave. in Arlington. The map has three art studios north of town, and also includes the Bryant Grange, where a craft bazaar is scheduled.

Space is available for a $10 guided tour. To make reservations, call 360-435-5866.

Edmonds

Council to set budget, tax rates

The Edmonds City Council tonight is expected to adopt its 2004 budget, as well as establish property tax levies for 2004.

The City Council also will acknowledge receiving a claim for damages in the amount of $520,000.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in City Council chambers, 250 Fifth Ave. N.

Everett

Fund-raiser for Meals on Wheels

Residents of Cascadian Place retirement community in Everett raised more than $5,500 at a recent fund-raiser for Meals on Wheels.

Residents donated and auctioned a sailboat cruise, a helicopter ride, theater tickets, a fitness club membership and more. Auctioneer Jim Anders donated his services. Pianist Gary Hatle provided entertainment. The Lighting Store of Everett, Les Schwab and Tully’s donated a sound system, dessert and coffee.

Senior Services of Snohomish County’s Meals on Wheels serves 250,000 meals a year to local seniors.

Island County

Thunder Ridge plan in place

The Island County Board of Commissioners has lifted its temporary hold on new construction in the Thunder Ridge development on Camano Island.

The board had declared the development a critical drainage area, which forced the developers and contractors, TR Camano, Inc., David Platter and Robert Cole, to agree with county engineers on a drainage plan for all the new homes and pavement. Developers plan to build 170 homes, and 60 have been built in five years.

The commissioners had determined the development lacked drainage, which they said was affecting homeowners downstream on the east side of East Camano Drive.

The county and the contractors now have a plan, and the contractors paid a $5,000 bond to guarantee the unfinished drainage work.

The plan gives the contractors until Feb. 12 to install a new drainage system.

Lake Stevens

Drainage board discusses budget

The Drainage Improvement District No. 8 board of commissioners will discuss a zoning permit for Morgan Townhomes.

Other agenda items include the district’s draft 2004 budget.

The commissioners meet at 7 tonight at the district office, 1911 Vernon Road, Lake Stevens.

Park Board meeting canceled

The city’s Park Board meeting normally scheduled for Wednesday has been canceled because of Thanksgiving.

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

Lynnwood

Talk provides tips for caregivers

A free two-hour presentation providing tips and tools for caregivers will be held 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 3 at the Lynnwood Public Library, 19200 44th Ave. W.

Discussions will teach people about how to stay mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually healthy while caring for a loved one with a chronic/long-term illness.

It is presented by the Family Support Center of South Snohomish County. For more information, call 425-670-8984, extension 4.

Marysville

Holiday bazaar starts Friday

Lavender Hills Farm will host the annual Lavender Hills Holiday Bazaar from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday. The farm is at 7508 108th St. NE.

Many hand-crafted items along with all things lavender and many collectibles will be sold. Hot apple cider and cookies will be served. For more information call 360-651-2086.

Planning panel holds workshop

The Planning Commission will conduct a workshop tonight on its capital facilities plan.

The commission also will have a public hearing on the plan Dec. 9.

The commission meets at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, 1049 State Ave.

Mill Creek

City tree lighting set for Monday

The city’s holiday tree lighting ceremony will be at 6:45 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 15728 Mill Creek Blvd.

Monroe

Local painter wins Canadian grant

Monroe painter Thu Nguyen was awarded a $10,000 grant from a Canadian arts organization, the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation of Montreal.

Awards are limited to candidates working in the following: painting, drawing, printmaking and sculpture.

Nguyen was born in Saigon, Vietnam, and came to the United States in 1975 as an orphan along with hundreds of other orphans flown over on cargo planes as part of project “Precious Cargo.”

She graduated from California State University, and has exhibited her work regionally and nationally.

Fore more information on Nguyen, visit www.thunguyenpaintings.com.

Mukilteo

Students out early on Wednesday

All Mukilteo School District students will be dismissed early on Wednesday to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday.

Students in first through fifth grades will be in school from 8:55 a.m. until 12:45 p.m.; middle school students will be in class from 8:20 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.; and high school students will be in class from 7:20 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Morning kindergarten sessions will run 8:55 a.m. to 10:28 a.m., and afternoon kindergarten sessions will be held from 11:13 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Call 425-356-1215 for more information.

Snohomish

Kids firefighters for a day

Several local students won the District 1 Fire Prevention Week Poster contest.

Gabriella Axelson of Seattle Hill Elementary School, Brionna Keller of Cathcart Elementary and Jake Reichard of Totem Falls Elementary will get to be firefighters for a day.

That will include riding on a fire truck, pulling hose and squirting water with firefighters, lunch with the crew and a souvenir photo.

Applicants were asked to draw a poster depicting the Fire Prevention Week theme, “When Fire Strikes: Get Out and Stay Out!”

Stanwood

Students sending supplies to Africa

Port Susan Middle School’s leadership class is collecting school supplies for a sister school in the African nation of Uganda.

Residents who would like to pitch in can bring items to the school’s lobby at 7506 267th Place NW.

Students will get to see the results of their efforts with a slide show in later months from the sister school in Uganda. The deadline for donations is Dec. 3.