Around Town

Newest officer hits the streets

Mill Creek’s newest police officer hit the streets last Friday, Dec. 22, just three days after graduating from the basic law enforcement academy.

Jeff Sortino graduated third in his academy class, both academically and overall, on Dec. 19. He’s previously worked in law enforcement for the federal government and most recently held a position with a private security firm.

Sortino began field training on Dec. 22.

Trail’s done

Anyone wanting to go for a walk without having to deal with cars going by can once again use the entire North Creek Trail.

Construction crews have completed installing benches, interpretive signs and landscaping. The only thing left for them to do now is to install some fencing along certain sections of the trail. The work was part of a project to repave a segment of the trail near Mill Creek City Hall.

Aftermath

City maintenance crews are keeping busy cleaning windstorm debris off main streets around the city. Once they’re done with main streets, like Bothell-Everett Highway and Village Green Drive, for example, they’ll get into your neighborhoods and clear away any remaining branches.

City hall reports that there was some minor damage to city structures, such as the rock wall and railing along Dumas Road. Damage repair and clean- up costs are estimated at $30,000.

Author at garden club

Marianne Binnetti, a best-selling gardening writer, will be the guest speaker at the next meeting of the Mill Creek Garden Club.

Binnetti is a northwest horticultural expert, dispensing gardening tips and answers on HGTV and the Discovery Channel. Plus, her weekly gardening column appears every Thursday in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Known for her lighthearted and fun approach to gardening, Binnetti’s syndicated column appears in more than a dozen papers. She also has a radio show on weekends on KIXI-AM.

She’s also written articles for magazines like “Better Homes and Gardens” and “Woman’s Day.” The author of several gardening books, her latest book is “The Best Garden Plants for Washington and Oregon.” Binnetti will have copies of her books for sale.

The event takes place at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9 at the Mill Creek Country Club, 15500 Country Club Drive. Membership is open to all interested gardeners. Annual dues are $25. Luncheon costs for members are $18 and $20 for guests.

For reservations or more information, call Marla Nulph at 425-918-1669 or Marlene King at 425-337-1316.

What did you read?

The Mill Creek BYOB (Bring Your Own Book) club meets at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3 in the cafe at University Book Store, located at the corner of 153rd Street SE and Main Street in Town Center. The club is one where people share rants and raves about books they’ve read, regardless of genre or topic. For more information call 425-337 -4822.

New Eagle Scout

Silver Firs resident Adrian Preston is now an Eagle Scout. Preston, a member of Boy Scout Troop 120, had an Eagle Court of Honor on Dec. 20.

Around Town is a weekly feature of the Mill Creek Enterprise dedicated to happenings in and around the community. Photos from the community can also appear in this space. For more information, contact John Santana at 425-673-6533 or send an e-mail to him at millcreek-@heraldnet.com.