Around Town

Many Edmonds Post Office habitues were saddened to hear of the death June 11 of longtime postal clerk Michael Julian.

Julian, 53, worked 22 years for the U.S. Postal Service, 20 of them in Edmonds. With his tall stature and wry humor, he was hard to miss at the downtown post office’s customer-service counter.

Julian moved to Arizona two years ago because, he said at the time, he wanted to be closer to family and spend more time on the golf links. He lived there only a year before being diagnosed with renal cancer, to which he ultimately succumbed.

Julian leaves his wife, Nancy, among other family members and friends.

A stitch in time

Basking in the light of a report showing a whopping 96 percent healing rate, The Wound Healing Institute at Stevens Hospital patted itself on the back this week with a special program for the medical community at the Edmonds Conference Center.

The number beats the national average of 90 percent, according to hospital spokeswoman Jolene Waggoner. This success translates into more people living free of chronic wounds and being able to avoid amputations, particularly in cases of diabetes.

Stage right

The leadership team for the Edmonds Center for the Arts has grown to three with the addition of Jan Steadman, the new director of marketing.

Steadman leaves a job in marketing and public relations for the University of Washington World Series at Meany Hall. Before that, she was with the Intiman Theatre in Seattle.

International flavor

Artists have until Thursday, July 20, to submit proof of qualifications for creating new public artwork in Edmonds’ Highway 99 International District.

An artist selected in the fall will be given a $100,000 commission for art to “brand” the section of Highway 99 from 238th Street to 224th Street that’s home to a cluster of international and ethnic businesses. Among the larger businesses there are 99 Ranch Market and Boo Han Plaza Oriental Market.

When she was penning the ultimately successful grant application for the artwork, Jennifer Gerend, former director of economic development for the city, said Edmonds’ International District is the biggest one between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C.

Just (be)cause

Not only did Edmonds climber Marc Levin experience the rush of summiting Mt. Rainier July 2 through 5, he also raised $5,525 for Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center through his participation in the Climb to Fight Breast Cancer.

For more information or to make a donation to Climb to Fight Breast Cancer visit www.fhcrc.org/climb or call 206-667-1398.

Food bank to hand out school supplies

Westgate Chapel’s food bank will hold its annual School Supply Outreach from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17. School supplies will be given to children in grades K-12 whose families are from Edmonds or registered with the food bank.

Most of the items are being supplied by the Westgate Chapel congregation. Target donated $100 toward the purchase of supplies. World Vision and Boeing employees will provide backpacks.

The public will have the opportunity to participate from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, when school supplies will be collected at the Edmonds QFC store, 22828 100th Ave. W.

For more information call Westgate Chapel at 425-775-2776.

Parks issue call for

astronomy buffs

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is recruiting volunteer interpretive assistance at Goldendale Observatory State Park in Klickitat County. Volunteers do not have to be local to participate.

Individuals, families, schools and clubs with an interest in astronomy are needed to help create new interpretive programs for the more than 24,000 annual visitors to the observatory. The park also needs guest interpretive speakers from colleges and universities and grounds-maintenance volunteers.

For more information call 509-773-3141 from 2-5 p.m. and 8 p.m.- midnight Wednesdays through Sundays, or e-mail Goldendale.Observatory@parks.wa.gov.

The state park is a five-acre educational facility on a 2,100-foot-high hilltop. The observatory houses one of the nation’s largest public telescopes.

BBQ, block party

benefits food bank

The public is invited to a community block party, barbecue and food drive from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, July 22, at Alterra Clare Bridge of Lynnwood, 18706 36th Ave. W. in Lynnwood.

Free hamburgers, hot dogs, salads and beverages will be served and a drawing for a television/DVD player will be held. Those attending are asked to bring non-perishable food for the Lynnwood Food Bank.

Alterra Clare Bridge of Lynnwood is a specialized assisted living community for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia.

Have an item for Around Town? Please e-mail information to Sue Waldburger at edmonds@heraldnet.com or by mail to 4303 198th St. SW, Lynnwood, Wash. 98036.