Community Focus

Reardon will seek

input in Edmonds

Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon will conduct a “Community Conversation” on priority-based budgeting at 7 p.m. Monday, May 17 at the South Snohomish County Senior Center, 220 Railroad Ave., Edmonds.

The meeting’s aim is to give citizens a chance to give input to Reardon on how they would prioritize county spending. Under its worst-case budget scenario, the county must close a $16.6 million general fund deficit in 2005.

Aiding the County Executive’s presentation will be the Snohomish County-based Strategic Listening Institute, which is recognized nationally for counseling clients on various forms of strategic listening. The Institute is providing technology that will instantly tabulate and display citizens’ views in response to questions posed by Reardon.

Community Conversations have also been conducted in Everett, Lake Stevens, Mountlake Terrace and Stanwood.

Flag disposal

ceremony planned

The American Legion Frank Freese Post 66, Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Post 8870, and the city of Edmonds will present a U.S. flag disposal ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 17 in Edmonds City Park.

State legislators and Snohomish County Council members will attend the ceremony, where worn and faded flags will be burned in a dignified method and in accordance to the United States Flag Code. The public is invited.

The American Legion Post is still collecting worn and unserviceable U.S. Flags for “honorable discharge” from service until May 17. Worn flags may be brought to any Edmonds fire station and deposited in receptacles at the front station entries. Receptacles are located at Fire Station 16, 8429 196th St. SW; Fire Station 17, 275 Sixth Ave. N.; Fire Station 20, 23009 88th Ave. W; and Fire Headquarters, 121 Fifth Ave. N.

For more information call 425-771-0215.

Get rid of your

expired flares

The Edmonds Flotilla 12 U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will collect expired flares and offer vessel safety checks at the Port of Edmonds April 10.

Auxiliary personnel will be on hand at the port launcher office located at the southwest corner of the Anthony’s restaurant building. Bring expired flares and get a free vessel safety check.

The Auxiliary collected more than 2,500 flares in 2003. The program has reduced false flare sightings by more than 40 percent in the Pacific Northwest, according to the Auxiliary.

Get registered for summer day camp

Registration is now available for the Edmonds Boys and Girls Club Summer Day Camp. Camp hours are 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Day trips are included in all camps, which are divided by grades 1-3, 4-6 and 7 and up.

For registration forms or more information, call 425-774-0630.

Empire Builder

marks 75 years

Amtrak will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Empire Builder at the train’s stops along the route, including Edmonds, beginning Friday, June 11.

The Empire Builder is an Amtrak passenger train that serves Chicago, St. Paul/Minneapolis, Minot, Havre, Glacier Park, Spokane, Portland, Seattle, and intermediate stations.

The kick off event will be in Seattle followed by community celebrations along the route. The train is scheduled to pass through Edmonds at 5:17 p.m. June 11. “It is one of Amtrak’s premier long distance trains,” according to a statement from Amtrak.

The train will stop for three to five minutes during which time an Amtrak representative will step off of the train and present the community with a special framed poster commemorating the anniversary.

Maplewood seeks exotic artifacts

Maplewood Presbyterian Church in Edmonds is putting on a Vacation Bible School June 28 to July 2.

Those at the church are looking for people in the community who could loan any artifacts from Philippines, Malawi, Guatemala, Peru and Pakistan. The Bible School will “travel” to those countries as its curriculum. Contact Joan Henjum at 425-778-5248.