City Briefs

LPD volunteers

are ‘pure gold’

A tentative count of volunteer hours from the Lynnwood police volunteer groups Citizens Patrol and VIPS for 2002, is “unbelievable” said Trudy Dana, crime prevention officer and coordinator for the two groups.

“Both Citizens Patrol and VIPS worked over 20,000 hours this year,” Dana said. “That figure is the equivalent of 10 people working full time for a year.”

Those hours include all of their shifts, training time and any extra time they gave for filing, compiling statistics and more.

“I was stunned when I figured out the final count,” Dana said. “It is absolutely unbelievable. They deserve congratulations and high praise.”

Dana often has other jurisdictions in and out of state inquiring about Lynnwood’s Citizens Patrol, which is in its eighth year of existence.

“Our volunteer program is unique. No one else does a Citizens Patrol that has the responsibility and abilities we have,” Dana said.

Lynnwood Police Citizens Patrol is a highly trained group of volunteer citizens who patrol the streets of Lynnwood acting as a second set of eyes for the police officers. The group recently added a bike patrol unit to its duties.

VIPS, among other things, make daily checks of Lynnwood residents’ homes who are out of town — a free service of the City of Lynnwood.

For information on how to help support the volunteer groups Citizens Patrol or VIPS, contact Trudy Dana at 425-744-6939.

Scouts Christmas tree disposal

Boy Scouts Troop 304 will have a curbside pickup of Christmas trees from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 29 and then Saturday and Sunday Jan. 4 and 5 within the city limits of Lynnwood.

A drop-off location will also be set up north of 196th St. SW between 58th Ave. W and 58th Pl. W behind the Citybank building.

Most single-family residents will receive a notice of this service, along with an envelope. Residents can place their tree out at the curb by 8 a.m. on any collection day. Checks can be made out to Troop 304 and placed in the envelope. Residents can either mail the check in the envelope, or fasten securely to the tree.

Note: All decorations, tinsel, tree stands and nails must be removed from the tree in order to be recycled. Flocked trees aren’t accepted at all.

VFW meets first Thursdays

The Veterans of Foreign Wars, All-American Post 1040, Lynnwood meets 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. 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.

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.

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.

MLT Crime Watch volunteers needed

Crime Watch is looking for new members. Retired citizens who would like to join the group can pick up an application at the Mountlake Terrace Police Department, 5906 232nd St. SW. Volunteers work an average of two hours a week and are provided with uniforms. This is a non-enforcement, non-confrontational patrol program, so no weapons are used. The volunteers in the Crime Watch program enjoy the camaraderie of the group and being able to give something back to the community, officials said. For more information contact Joie Worthen, Crime Prevention Coordinator at the Mountlake Terrace Police Department at 425-670-8260.

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.