Briefs

City briefs for the cities of Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace and Brier can be sent to sessions@heraldnet.com or mailed to 4303 198th St. SW, Lynnwood, WA. 98036, attention Shannon Sessions. E-mail is preferred. Include contact number with area code for publication in the newspaper. Briefs are printed on a space-available basis.

Lynnwood Council elects new leaders

The Lynnwood City Council selected new leaders at its Monday, Jan. 12 meeting.

Lisa Utter, who served as Council president last year, was re-elected. Loren Simmonds was selected as vice president and will succeed Ruth Ross. Both Council members were nominated by Ted Hikel.

The Council President attends weekly meetings with city administration to coordinate the Council’s agenda. They also serve as the presiding officer if the mayor is not present.

Terrace tabs snowstorm costs

The Tuesday, Jan. 6 snowstorm cost the city of Mountlake Terrace about $3,000, which will be funded from the operation budget, according to public works director Larry Waters.

Waters said the biggest cost was overtime the city will pay to six employees who worked extra shifts. There were two shifts the day of the snowstorm, an evening one and a midnight one, and three extra people worked each shift. There were also costs associated with sand, chemicals and running five trucks, he said.

Waters said extra money is included in the operations budget to cover such snowstorms.

Meet about new parks in Lynnwood

Lynnwood officials have scheduled meetings to discuss the planning of two new neighborhood parks.

A meeting to discuss the 60th Avenue West Neighborhood Park will be 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, at Crossroad Assembly of God Church, 18527 60th Ave. W.

A meeting to discuss the park at 33rd Place West Park was rescheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, at Spruce Primary School Library, 17405 Spruce Way. The meeting was originally scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 6, but was rescheduled due to a snowstorm.

For more information, contact Laurie Cowan, parks planner, at 425-744-6478.

Vacancies on Terrace panels

Mountlake Terrace has openings on its Community Policing Advisory Board, Planning Commission and Recreation and Parks Advisory Commission. Applicants need only be residents of the city and be willing to meet approximately once per month.

Current vacancies include interim terms on the Community Policing Advisory Board, Planning Commission and the Recreation and Park Advisory Commission. There are also full terms expiring in June on the Arts Advisory Commission, Board of Adjustment, Library Board, Planning Commission and Recreation and Park Advisory Commission.

Applications for both current and upcoming vacancies will be accepted through 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13.

For an application, or more information on the city’s boards and commissions, call city clerk Virginia Olsen at 425-744-6206. Materials are also available at City Hall, Mountlake Terrace Library and the Recreation Pavilion.

Lynnwood buys new motorcycles

The Lynnwood City Council approved a bid to purchase five new 2004 Police Harley Davidson Motorcycles, for a cost of more than $23,000.

The city replaces the motorcycles each year, under a three-year replacement life cycle. Five 2001 motorcycles will be replaced with 2004 models. The bid was awarded to the lowest bidder, Eastside Harley Davidson of Bellevue, and requires the winning bidder not only to supply the new motorcycles, but to allow a trade-in for the same number of older cycles.

Lynnwood to fund signal system

Lynnwood Mayor Mike McKinnon has been authorized by the City Council to sign a contract with Totem Electric for close to $89,000 in order to build a Transit Signal Priority system in the Highway 99 corridor.

The project is part of an agreement with Washington State Department of Transportation and will enable antennas to be installed along a transit route to receive signals from transit vehicles that are then relayed to a traffic signal controller. This system is used for route identification

Comment on development

Lynnwood residents can offer comment concerning the city’s economic future.

An economic development action plan for the community has been approved, which will chart the course for family-wage jobs, healthy businesses and sustainable city revenues and should be completed by the end of 2004.

As part of this plan, city officials seek citizen input. To comment, call the economic development department at 425-670-6677 or e-mail econdev@ci.lynnwood.wa.us

Lynnwood police offer academy

The Lynnwood Police Department is offering a free 16-week Citizens Academy for residents.

The course is intended to give attendees a better understanding of police operations. Classes are from 7 to 10 p.m. every Thursday evening, beginning Feb. 19 and running through June 3.

For more information, or to request an application, call Trudy Dana at 425-744-6939.

Care givers workshop

The South Snohomish County Family Support Center is offering a free six week course titled Taking Care of You: Powerful Tools for Care giving to help family care givers care for themselves while caring for another adult, older relative or friend.

The classes are beneficial whether care givers are helping a parent, spouse, friend, someone who lives at home, in a nursing home, or in another part of the country. Groups meet 2.5 hours once a week for six weeks. This class will provide tools to: Reduce stress, communicate effectively with other family members, the doctor, the health team and paid help practice self-care, reduce guilt, anger and depression, make tough decisions, set goals and problem-solve.

Classes don’t discuss how to provide physical care for a family member but rather how the care giver can thrive while managing their care giving responsibilities. The Powerful Tools for Care giving classes are research-based &proven to reduce care giver guilt, anger and depression. Specially trained class facilitators co-lead the classes. Each facilitator has also experienced being a participant in the class. For more information call Pam Graham at 425-670-8984.

Developing Capable Young People

A research based, parent education free series, consisting of seven two-hour sessions. DCYP teaches participants how to communicate more effectively, how to use techniques that increase achievement and motivation, and how to better develop a sense of responsibility in youth. This motivating series is beneficial for anyone who wishes to strengthen the capacity to be a positive influence on youth.

Especially helpful for parents, foster parents, grandparents and other relatives raising children, teachers and others whom work with children.

Certificate and ongoing support available upon completion. Childcare and space for this class is limited so call to ensure your place. Sessions are from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. seven consecutive Thursdays starting July 10 and going through August 21 at the Family Support Center at 6330 195th St SW in Lynnwood. For more information call Pam Graham at 425-670-8984.

Free and safe fun for teens

The Neutral Zone, a non-profit organization which benefits at risk youth, continues its safe and supervised Friday and Saturday night programs from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Scriber Lake High School, 20525 52nd Ave. W in Lynnwood. The always free program for youth 12 to 20 includes free food, games, basketball, movies and more. Volunteers are needed. For more information call 425-344-6445.

Donate your old car for a local cause

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Snohomish County are starting a car donation program. Funds from the program will benefit the activities of the Boys and Girls Clubs. For more information call 1-800-246-0493.

Donate an old cell phone for safety

Project Donate a Phone is back on and the need is high, say officials for The Snohomish County Center for Battered Women.

The center is in need of old or new cellular phones, even ones with missing parts can help, Center officials said. Usable cell phones will be provided free to all women who use the center’s services. In case of emergency old phones can still be used to dial 911. The ones that can’t be used will be recycled to a business who has agreed to pay the non-profit organization for parts. To donate phones, drop them off at the Mountlake Terrace Police Department at 5906 232nd St. SW or to the Snohomish County Center for Battered Women at 1310 Pacific Avenue in Everett #5 (corner of Grand and Pacific) or Mr. Bill’s restaurant at the Everett Mall. More information call Terri or Vicci at 425-259-2827. The Center for Battered women are also looking for volunteers. For more information contact Darla Lewis at 425-259-2827, ext. 18.

Play dates for children -5

There is an ongoing play group from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursdays at Maplewood Presbyterian Church at 19523 84th Ave. W. This is a chance for parents to meet other parents and their children, under 5-years old to meet new friends. For more information call the Family Support Center in Lynnwood at 425-670-8984.

ESL conversation group in Lynnwood

There is an ongoing English as a second language class going on from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursdays at the Family Support Center in Lynnwood at 6330 195th St. SW. Practice English with a trained tutor and others in the process of learning English.

For more information call 425- 670-8984.

VFW meets first Thursdays

The Veterans of Foreign Wars, All – American Post 1040, Lynnwood meets the at 7:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month at the Alderwood Youth Club, 19619 – 24th.

For more information contact Post Commander Martin Spani at 425- 673-7702 or 425-774-7416 for information. All combat Veterans who earned a campaign medal are eligible for membership.

Go to a City Council meeting

Lynnwood City Council regular meetings start at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of the month.

Mountlake Terrace City Council regular meetings start at 7 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of the month.

Brier City Council regular meetings start at 7:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.

For more information in Lynnwood call 425-775-1971 in Mountlake Terrace 425-776-1161 and in Brier 425-775-5440.

Free car seat checks in Lynnwood

Motor vehicle crashes are the single largest cause of child fatalities in the country, officials said.

However, proper child seat safety can reduce the risk of injury or death by 70 percent, officials added, if the car seat is installed correctly. Lynnwood Police have recently nationally certified five technicians to help parents and care givers be sure their precious cargo is as safe as possible.

Free car seat checks are now available every Wednesday from noon to 8 p.m. by appointment, at the Lynnwood Police Station at 19321 44th Avenue West. Checks take about 30 to 45 minutes to complete and it is best to have the child there for the check. For more info. or to make an appointment call 425-744-6900.

Have a court date? Click here:

Citizens can now go to a new website, www.courts.wa.gov, and look up their court dates by clicking on “find your court date” and entering a valid name or case number.

All courts in Washington including Lynnwood Municipal and South Snohomish County District Court are on the site except for Seattle Municipal Court.

Given that court proceedings may be rescheduled at any time, official said, users are encouraged to call their local court the morning of their appearance. An automated court directory is also available online via the Washington Courts website, combined with a “Courthouse Locator” which provides maps and directions to every courthouse throughout Washington State. For the Lynnwood Municipal Court call 425-670-6668. For the South Snohomish County District Court call 425-774-8803.

Free blood pressure screening at library

Red Cross volunteers provide free blood pressure screening from 1 to 3 p.m. on the first and third Friday of each month at the Lynnwood Library at 19200 44th Ave. W.