Around Town/Community Focus

Expect Marina Beach north on the Edmonds waterfront to be closed through May for paving and construction.

The south portion of the beach and off-leash dog-walking area will be accessible except for a five-day period later in the project.

Construction also will close until early June the Olympic Beach restrooms. Portable toilets have been brought in for public use.

Water at the fishing-pier cleaning stations will be unavailable until early next month.

Rainy weather may affect timetables so check the city’s Web site at www.ci.edmonds.wa.us for updates, suggested Brian McIntosh, parks director.

Walk Down Memory Lane

The newly completed historic survey of downtown Edmonds will debut at a free public reception and information night from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, June 9, in the Brackett Room on the third floor of City Hall.

Eighty-three buildings and sites of historical importance are highlighted in the survey, which was compiled by historical architect Susan Boyle of BOLA Architecture and Planning in Seattle. Copies of the 35-page document with commentary on Edmonds’ history and cultural heritage will be given to those attending.

Marching Orders

Trust Cliff Edwards, sexton of Edmonds Memorial Cemetery, to avoid re-inventing the wheel every time he preps for the Memorial Day observance at his workplace.

The innovative Edwards has tape-recorded locations of military-veterans’ grave sites to simplify annual placement of commemorative flags and crosses.

Edwards and his volunteer crew simply listen to directions (“Two steps west of John Doe…”) and plant the markers. But it still takes the crew a full day to mark the graves in preparation for the holiday.

In the Driver’s Seat

Edmonds is looking for volunteers interested in transportation issues to serve on the city’s new transportation committee.

Seven people plus the city traffic engineer will form the committee charged with making recommendations on transportation issues, contributing to the city’s Comprehensive Plan updates and helping get the word out to the public about transportation needs.

Applicants for the two-year terms must reside within Edmonds and be willing to attend monthly meetings.

Application forms are available by calling the mayor’s office at 425-771-0247. Deadline for applying is 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 27.

Easy on the Foam

Just reading the Edmonds’ hearing examiner’s agenda for May 19 was enough to trigger a caffeine rush.

Steve Guthrie applied for a conditional use permit to allow a drive-though espresso business in part of Summit Car Wash at 7525 212th Street SW.

If approved, figure on that baby boasting the mother of all steam wands.

Bloomin’ Important

In case you sneezed and missed it, Native Plant Appreciation Week was observed the first week of May.

Washington reportedly boasts more than 3,000 native-plant species. There’s no question of their importance in supporting ecosystems.

But for anyone planning to build near wetlands or other sensitive area, the greatest incentive to know bunchberry from begonias is the increasingly strict native-landscaping requirements counties and cities are demanding under their critical-area ordinances.#

Gentle(wo)men, start your research.

All Wet

Thanks to reasonable water levels in the mountain reservoirs, there looks to be no mandatory water rationing for Edmonds this summer.

That, according to public works director Noel Miller, could change so residents are encouraged to be prudent in turning on their taps and garden hoses.

Holy Rosary hosts

six-church concert

In celebration of its centennial, Holy Rosary Parish is hosting an ecumenical choral concert at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 22.

Choirs from Edmonds United Methodist, Trinity Lutheran, First Lutheran of Richmond Beach, Trinity Episcopal, Edmonds Lutheran and Holy Rosary will participate.

The free public event will feature the works of classic and contemporary composers, from Vivaldi to Michael W. Smith. A reception will follow.

Holy Rosary is located at 630 7th Ave. N. in Edmonds.

Chamber chews

on transportation

“Transportation Solutions: Facts &Myths” is the theme of a luncheon set by the South Snohomish Country Chamber of Commerce from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 1, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Lynnwood.

Speakers will be 2nd Dist. U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Washington; state Rep. Brian Sullivan, D-Mukilteo; Dave Earling, senior fellow of the Cascadia Center for Transportation and Regional Development; and Dave Dye, urban-corridors administrator for the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Cost of the luncheon is $32; $27 for Chamber members. Prepaid registration must be received by Sunday, May 29.

Register by calling 425-774-0507 ext. 01, sending an e-mail to info@s2c3.com or going online to www.c2c3.com.

USS Lincoln chaplain to speak

U.S. Navy Commander Paul Wrigley, command chaplain aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, will deliver Memorial Day messages at the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services Sunday, May 29, at North Sound Church in Edmonds.

The church is located at 404 Bell Street.#

The chaplain is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and served as a naval aviator and flight instructor until he left active service in 1983 to attend seminary. He is ordained in the Presbyterian Church of America.

Cmdr. Wrigley served in Operation Desert Storm and holds a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College. Prior to joining the ship that calls Everett homeport he was assistant wing chaplain for the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and group chaplain for the 3rd Force Service Support Group in Okinawa, Japan.