Community Focus

Learn land use at city open house

The city is having an open house on updates to its comprehensive plan and critical areas regulations.

The meeting takes place on a drop-in basis from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 26 on the third floor of City Hall, 121 Fifth Ave. N.

The open house is a way for the public to learn more about the issues involved, including the downtown waterfront plan and the Highway 99 study; to see mapping of areas for lot size as related to the Growth Management Act; find out how to protect lakes and streams; and to provide feedback regarding a “visual preferences” survey of building types and building design.

For more information call the city at 425-771-0220 or go to http://www.ci.edmonds.wa.us

Help clean up around arts center

The Edmonds Public Facilities District (PFD) is hosting a community clean-up day for the grounds surrounding the Edmonds Center for the Arts from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 23 – rain or shine.

The Edmonds Center for the Arts is located at 410 Fourth Ave. N., Edmonds.

Volunteers should bring garden tools, lawn bags, and their imaginations to help spruce up the garden and lawn.

Edmonds Community College, Olympic Ballet, Cascade Symphony, and the Edmonds Jazz Connection All-Star Gala are all presenting events at the Edmonds Center for the Arts during May. For more information, see the Out and About section of this week’s Enterprise.

The former Edmonds High School was built in 1939. The PFD purchased the property in 2002 to renovate it as a performing arts center.

The Edmonds PFD is running a capital campaign to raise funds for renovating the historic theater and they have raised nearly 80 percent of the $16 million goal. When completed the Edmonds Center for the Arts will have a performing arts facility, meeting rooms, and gymnasium for the local and surrounding communities.

Preservation panel will do inventory

The Historic Preservation Commission recently hired Bola Architecture and Planning of Seattle to do the Historic Survey of Edmonds.

The survey is a necessary part of the process for the commission to help property owners receive special benefits for historic properties. Listing on the register is voluntary. The commission is seeking property owners of historic structures who wish to receive special benefits and be on the Edmonds Register of Historic Properties.

A grant from the state is providing the funding for the survey. The project is expected to take four months.

To qualify for the special incentives, properties need to be put on the Edmonds Register of Historic Places. Property owners can get information about having their property registered by contacting the Historic Preservation Commission through city hall.

The Historic Preservation Commission meets the second Thursday of every month at 3:30 in City Hall. The public is encouraged to attend. The members of the Commission are: Gregg Arnold, Ed Baker, Barbara Kindness, Chuck LaWarne, Darrell Marmion, City Council president Michael Plunkett and Stephen Waite.

Braille center sets

summer camp

The Louis Braille Center offers a unique summer school experience for children in kindergarten through grade 12 who are blind or visually impaired for children.

Braille Camp 2004 will offer instruction in Braille reading and writing, remedial math, crafts, music, and daily living and social skills. Lunch will be prepared by the students.

The camp will take place 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday, July 12 through 29 at St. Peter by the Sea Lutheran Church, 1212 Ninth Ave. N. Tuition is $250 and includes supplies and lunch. Tuition will be pro-rated for children attending one or two weeks of the three-week program. Full and partial tuition assistance is available. Transportation or car pooling are available.

For more information or to reserve a place for your child contact Carolyn Meyer of the Louis Braille Center at 425-776-4042 or lbc@louisbraillecenter.org .