Carpentry students build real house

The Rotary Club of Lynnwood recently celebrated the completion of its 34th House Project in partnership with the Edmonds School District’s Career and Technical Education Division, Edmonds Community College and local vendors.

During the course of a school year, students from the Edmonds School District build a home with proceeds from the home sale returning to fund the next year’s House Project.

The program provides real-world construction experiences to high school students, giving them an opportunity to explore educational options aligned with their interests and ambitions. Participating students can earn academic credits at both the high school and community college levels through the program.

Managed by the Lynnwood Rotary Community Foundation, the program is estimated to have touched the lives of more than 4,000 students throughout its 34-year history.

This year’s home is slightly smaller than in years past, says Lynnwood Rotary Community Foundation President Jean Hales. Measuring in at 1,348 square feet, the home is ideally suited to first-time homebuyers or a couple seeking to down-size.

The smaller size also allowed the students to see the project through to completion before the end of the school year, notes Hales who is also president of the South Snohomish County Chamber of Commerce.

Lynnwood’s Rotary is a member of Rotary International, an international association of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service, promote high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.

Lynnwood seeks oral history help

To commemorate Lynnwood’s 50th Birthday, the city of Lynnwood is organizing an Oral History Project. The goal of this project is to capture interviews, photos and stories about Lynnwood since its incorporation in 1959. The project will be presented in audio, visual and digital forms. A special project video will be shown at the 50th Birthday Closing Ceremony in April 2010.

The project is a partnership involving Lynnwood Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department, Alderwood Manor Heritage Association, the Historical Commission, Sno-Isle Libraries, Sno-Isle Genealogical Society, and the Office of Neighborhoods.

The City of Lynnwood is looking for residents who would like to volunteer to work on the Oral History Project.

To apply to be on the Oral History Project team, fill out an application at www.Lynnwood50th.org or contact Marcie Wirtz at 425-670-5750. The application deadline is June 30.

Last 4th of July event set at site

The city of Lynnwood will present A Star Spangled Celebration from 5:30 p.m. to 10:35 p.m. on Saturday, July 4 at the Lynnwood Athletic Complex, 3001184th St. SW.

The evening will feature a costume parade, an aerial fireworks display choreographed to music, a variety of live stage and field entertainment, an art mural, balloon artists, face painters, jugglers, inflatables, and food and dessert booths.

As a prelude to the event, a costume parade featuring residents begins at 5:30 p.m.

Lynnwood residents are invited to enter the costume contest and walk in the parade competing for “Most Patriotic” or “Best Birthday” themed costumes or “Most Festive Wheels.” The “Most Festive Wheels” contest is for the best decorated non-motorized vehicles such as bicycles, tricycles, wagons, strollers and scooters. Prizes will be awarded by category and age group and include passes to Woodland Park Zoo, EMP, Village Theatre and more. The Radio Disney Talent Team will be on hand to teach everyone the Cha Cha Slide for the parade walk.

Visit www.Lynnwood50th.org for contest rules and information. The celebration is sponsored by the city of Lynnwood, UniBank, H Mart, Alderwood and Safeway.

MLT offers pay-by-phone option

The city of Mountlake Terrace’s utility billing customers can now pay their bills by phone. To pay by phone, customers call the toll-free number 1-877-651-3860.

The system uses interactive voice recognition to process the payments. Payments can be made with a debit or credit card with a Visa or MasterCard logo, or with the customer’s checking or savings account.

The city also accepts online utility payments at www.cityofmlt.com, click on “Utility Billing Information &Payment” under “Most Requested Services” then scroll down to “Utility Links” and click on “Online Utility Payments”.

There is a $2 convenience fee for all phone and online payments, which covers the city’s bank processing fees. Offering the ability to pay by phone and online makes payment much more convenient for customers.

For more information on utility billing payment options, call the utilities department at 425-744-6214.

Water plan hearing July 1

The city of Lynnwood will hold a public open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 1 at the Lynnwood Library to answer questions about the Draft Surface Water Management Comprehensive Plan. To download the plan, visit www.ci.lynnwood.wa.us/SurfaceWater or call 425-670-5207 for more information.