Civic Almanac

Mountlake Terrace prepares to bulldoze the old City Hall after last summer’s roof collapse.

Citizen voices to Olympia

Legislators are returning to South County from Olympia to listen to citizens and provide an update on the state’s budget situation on Saturday, Feb. 20. The meetings will offer a chance to learn about the issues facing the 2010 Legislature — now in session through mid-March — and to share concerns and ideas about the issues being considered.

State Reps. Ruth Kagi and Maralyn Chase will host two local town hall meetings for constituents of the 32nd Legislative District including areas of northwest King and southwest Snohomish Counties, including Edmonds, Kenmore, Shoreline, Lake Forest Park and Woodway.

The first meeting will be 10 a.m. to noon at Third Place Commons in Lake Forest Park Town Center. The second meeting will be 1-3 p.m. at the Shoreline Historical Museum, 749 N. 175th St.

For more information, contact the legislator’s offices: Rep. Kagi, 360-786-7910; Rep. Chase, 360-786-7880

Sen. Paull Shin plus State Reps. Mary Helen Roberts and Marko Liias will host two town hall meetings for constituents of the 21st Legislative District including areas of Lynnwood and Edmonds.

The first meeting will be 10-11:30 a.m. at the Edmonds Woodway High School Theater. The second meeting will be 1:30-3 p.m. at Mukilteo City Hall, Council Chamber.

For more information, contact Liias’ Legislative Assistant Paige DeChambeau at 360- 786-7972 or dechambeau.paige@leg.wa.gov.

Even out electric bills

Snohomish County PUD offers a way for customers to even out the difference between higher winter electricity bills and lower summer bills.

The utility’s popular Budget Payment Plan is designed to make bill paying easier with equal payments each month throughout the year. The plan is available at any time of the year to customers with a zero balance.

Customers may apply for the payment plan by phone or in person at any PUD office. Customer service representatives are available to answer questions. For more information, call the PUD Customer Service Department at 425-783-1000.

COBRA extended

Workers who are involuntarily terminated from employment between Sept. 1, 2008, and Feb. 28, 2010, may be eligible for a 65 percent subsidy of their COBRA premiums for a period of up to 15 months. Involuntarily terminated employees who meet certain other requirements, and certain family members of those individuals, are referred to as “assistance-eligible individuals.”

For assistance-eligible individuals whose nine months of subsidy had already ended, the new law also provides an extended period for the retroactive payment of their 35 percent share during a transition period.

More information about the COBRA subsidy, including questions and answers for employers, and for employees or former employees, is on the COBRA pages of IRS.gov.

BUSINESS NEWS

Restaurants honored

Six Snohomish County food establishments were recognized Feb. 9 for excellent food safety practices. Two of the honored are from South County cities. Jose Alfredo Barajas, owner and manager of Ixtapa, Lynnwood, was selected in the full service category; Gil and Young Ha, owners and managers of U-Kawa Teriyaki, Mill Creek, were selected in the fast service category.

The program serves as a positive reinforcement of its restaurant and food service inspection program. A 24-member food advisory panel of industry peers considered 22 food service establishments nominated by health district inspectors. The panel includes restaurant owners, operators and chefs.

Tax manual online

The Department of Revenue has published Tax Reference Manual 2010 on its Web site.

Last revised in 2007, the 225-page report provides an overview of Washington’s tax system and summarizes state and local taxes. The manual can be found at dor.wa.gov/Content/AboutUs/StatisticsAndReports/2010/Tax_Reference_2010/default.aspx.

New appointments

The Washington Association of Mortgage Professionals’ new 2010 Board of Directors includes King County Chapter President Mike Young, of Cascade Pacific Mortgage, Edmonds, and Chik Quintans, Atlas Mortgage, Lynnwood.

Chamber events

• Get a first-hand look at some of the latest business technology in a recap from the recent 2010 Consumer Electronics Show from 7:45 a.m. to 9 a.m. Feb. 24 at the Embassy Suites Seattle North in Lynnwood. This is an opportunity to ask the experts questions and learn what software and hardware is the best fit for your business. Presented in part by Tyler Pruitt, editor of Format War Central, and recent Seattle PI’s “Geek of the Week.” Registration is $23 for South Snohomish County Chamber of Commerce members on or before Feb. 19, $28 after. Registration includes a light continental breakfast. For more information, call 425-774-0507 ext. 11 or e-mail info@s2c3.com.

• The Edmonds Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon is Feb. 25 at the Edmonds Yacht Club. Guest Speaker is Lesly Kaplan, managing librarian for the Edmonds Library. Monthly luncheons are open to all. Member fee is $17.50 with pre-registration/non-member fee and walk-in fee is $20. Reservations can be made online at www.EdmondsWA.com or by calling 425-670-1496 ext. 3.

• South Snohomish County Chamber of Commerce networking seminar, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 25, Chamber Offices, Lynnwood. For more information, call 425-774-0507 ext. 11 or e-mail info@s2c3.com.

• The Greater Edmonds Chamber of Commerce’s networking breakfast is held at 7:30 a.m. every Wednesday morning at Fairwinds-Brighton Court, 6520 196th St. SW, Lynnwood. The event is free to attend. Breakfast can be ordered for $8. For more information, call 425-670-1496.

Business Briefs

• Business partners David and Rani Bal celebrated the one-year anniversary of their Signs Now center, located in Mill Creek. As part of the celebration, open house guests were given a tour of the facilities.

• Steve’s Plumbing LLC will donate $5 from each service call this year to The Alderwood Boys &Girls Club. For more information, contact Steve or Rachel Egner at stevesplumbing@comcast.net or 425-774-0483.

• Mill Creek Skin &Laser Center celebrates its fifth anniversary with an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 25. The center is also having a “Kiss The Tree” contest, giving a chance to win a free Juvederm service. The winner will be announced at 7 p.m. during the open house. For more information or to RSVP, call 425-316-8200.

• Companies with five or less employees are eligible to name their own price on a one- to three-minute video that can be posted on the company’s Web site. White Owl Arts Video Production Services is making this available to Snohomish County businesses. Contact Diane for more information: 360-653-6726 or www.WhiteOwlArts.net.

• Lynnwood’s Little Gym has included a social media component to its ChildrensSuccess.com Web site. This element is designed for parents looking to recognize their children’s accomplishments and share milestones, questions and funny moments about their children. Stories posted to the site can be accompanied by photos or videos and can easily be shared through e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, Digg and other social media sites.

Good deeds

• Windermere Alderwood has presented a check for $2,500 to Concern for Neighbors food bank.

• Customers and employees of TOP Food &Drug in Edmonds contributed to a drive that raised $16,905 for World Vision’s efforts in Haiti.

• Pump It Up, Lynnwood, raised $1,000 to benefit World Concern Feb 2. during a fundraiser at their giant indoor inflatable playground.

• Curves, including Lynnwood and Edmonds locations, are collecting non-perishable food items and monetary donations throughout March. Members donating a bag of groceries or making a minimum $30 donation will receive a reusable grocery bag. Non-members will have the opportunity to join Curves for free.

CT leadership selected

The Community Transit Board of Directors selected Snohomish County Council Chairman Dave Gossett to chair the agency’s board at its meeting Feb. 4. Mukilteo Mayor Joe Marine was chosen as vice chair and Mill Creek Mayor Mike Todd was selected secretary.

The three will lead the new Community Transit Board, made up of elected officials selected from the agency’s member cities in January. Other board members include Lynnwood City Councilman Ted Hikel, Mountlake Terrace Mayor Jerry Smith, Snohomish County Councilman Mike Cooper, Stanwood Mayor Dianne White, Sultan City Councilman Steve Slawson and Marysville City Councilman Jon Nehring.

Board alternates are Edmonds City Councilman Steve Bernheim, Arlington City Councilman Chris Raezer, Monroe City Councilman John Stima, Snohomish City Councilman Tom Hamilton and Snohomish County Councilman Dave Somers.

Park reservations

Park and picnic shelter reservations for 2010 are open for Lynnwood and Edmonds residents.

Picnic shelter rentals are available at the following parks: Lynndale, North Lynnwood Neighborhood and Wilcox Parks. Rates are: under 100 people, half day $57, full day $85.50. For groups of more than 100 people, half day $89, full day is $101. Discounts are available for Lynnwood residents. Rental fees are due in full at the time of reservation.

For more information, call Lynnwood Parks and Recreation at 425-670-5732 or visit www.ci.lynnwood.wa.us/Parks.

In Edmonds, shelters are available at City Park and Hickman Park. Each is designed for a maximum of 100 people. The cost for each shelter is $100 per reservation. The Gazebo is $50 per reservation. Ball field reservations are $9 per hour with a three hour maximum. For more information, call 425-771-0230.

Construction updates

Interested in the progress of the Lynnwood Recreation Center construction? Call the project hotline at 425-670-5533 or visit www.ci.lynnwood.wa.us/RecCenterProject. To register for recreation classes call 425-670-5732 or visit www.ci.lynnwood.wa.us/Parks.

Public service

The Edmonds Sister City commission is accepting applications from adults interested in co-leading the annual student visit to Japan for the last two weeks of July. Chaperones stay with a host family in Hekinan and travel costs are paid by the commission. For an application packet, go to www.ci.edmonds.wa.us/siscity.stm and click on “Exchange Programs.” Packets are also available at the Anderson Center, 700 Main St. For more information, call 425-771-0230. Application deadline is Feb. 22.

PUD closure

As part of a conversion to a new customer information system, the Snohomish County Public Utility District will be closed to the public on March 1.

Customers should plan ahead if they believe they will need to call or visit a local PUD office on that day. Customers should also expect longer than normal wait times temporarily after the conversion.

The utility will not disconnect power on this date. In the event of a major storm, the PUD will delay the conversion process to another date. Thank you for planning ahead.