Community Focus

Republicans to hold caucuses

Republicans across Washington are in preparation for Republican precinct caucuses on March 9. The precinct caucus is the first step of many to prepare the Republican Party for the 2004 campaigns.

Delegates of each precinct caucus will nominate delegates to represent their own precinct at the county or legislative district level. Those county and legislative delegates will then continue to select delegates at each level until the seats are filled to represent Washington state at the Republican National Convention this summer in New York.

Additionally, the process to create the platforms of the Washington state Republican Party and the Republican National Committee will begin at the grassroots level. The platform of the state party is based on those platforms created at the precinct level, which allows for a more genuine representation of the views and opinions of all Republicans at the state level.

For more information pertaining to precinct caucuses, contact the Washington State Republican Party at 206-575-2900 or you may contact the County Chair of your local Republican Party.

Firefighters

to fight Leukemia

Thirteen firefighters from Fire District 1 and Mountlake Terrace are training to make the 69-story climb to the top of the Columbia Seafirst Center in Seattle on March 7.

Running up 1,311 steps is challenge enough, but the firefighters will be wearing full bunker gear weighing 25 pounds and using breathing apparatus weighing another 25 pounds.

More than 800 firefighters from as far away New Zealand are expected to compete for the top time and raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America.

District 1 firefighters collecting pledges and training for the Firefighter Challenge are Kevin Fetter, Paul Cretella, Jim Starck, Mike Read, Brad Cheek, Brent Chomos, Chris Tompkins, Steve Francis, Brent Allen, Bruce Davis, Chris Lombard, Travis Winston and Scott Fitzpatrick. Firefighters Dennis Lunny, Terri Fitzgerald and Bryan Collins will be assisting the team.

Restore plants

at Brier event

A restoration planting event starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 20 at the City Light Woods Park on 236th St. SW, just west of 35th Ave. in Brier.

This event kicks off the installation of the Pioneer Forest, a major restorative-planting program (using mainly native species) for the north end of the park. The Brier Parks and Recreation Board hope to install more than 200 plants in one day. These plants will help stop soil erosion near the creek bed, as well as provide food and shelter for birds, board officials said. Bring the whole family and bring gloves and a shovel or trowel. This is also a chance to learn about the new informance center, home of the outdoor classroom project.

For more information call Dee Williamson at 425-771-2062 or visit the City of Brier website at WWW.CI.BRIER.WA.US. The event is sponsored by the Brier Parks and Recreation Board.

Eat chocolate

for good cause

The 12th Annual Chocolate Lovers’ Gala, Chocolate Sin-Sation, the major fund-raiser of the year for Snohomish County Center For Battered Women Shelters is at 5:30 p.m. on March 19.

As in the past, the event promises to be an exciting, festive and very Chocolatey!

The evening will begin with over 90 silent items up for bid, followed by dinner, the famous “Parade of Chocolate” and a live auction featuring the fun and creative combo, Emcee – Snohomish County Sheriff, Rick Bart and Auctioneer Extraordinaire, April Brown.

“‘Chocolate Sin-Sation’ is just what a dreary winter’s night needs,” said Margaret Bruland, Executive Director Snohomish County Center for Battered Women. “Wonderful gift packages from get aways to gotta haves, golf fun, theatre tickets, hotel stays, fantastic baskets and more will be going to the highest bidder.”

Invitations and tickets are available thru March 15. The event will be held at the Everett Event Center and ticket prices are $50 per seat.

Snohomish County Center for Battered Women is dedicated to ending domestic violence by providing a wide range of services to victims of domestic violence, including their children, and by facilitating change. Information on tickets or to donate to the auction call Vicci or Kae at 425-259-2827..

MLT applies

for block grants

As previously approved by the Mountlake Terrace City Council, two applications were submitted for Community Development Block Grant funding, administered through Snohomish County, said City Manager Connie Fessler.

The projects are sidewalk improvements along 223rd Street and street/sidewalk improvements on 60th Avenue.

The city was recently notified that Snohomish County’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) has recommended an award of $127,700 for the 60th Avenue Project. The 223rd Street project was not recommended for grant funding. The Technical Advisory Committee’s recommendation has since been forwarded to the County’s Policy Advisory Board (PAB). The PAB considered the recommendations on Feb. 25 and their funding recommendations were then submitted to the Snohomish County Council for final approval, Fessler said.

The Snohomish County Council is expected to take action in May. Formal acceptance of the grant by the City Council will be required, once final notice of the award is received by Snohomish County. In anticipation of the County Council’s approval, a neighborhood meeting has been scheduled for May 10 to review the 60th Avenue street and sidewalk improvements, as well as the Veterans Park trail connecting the area to the Civic Center and bird watching area. Meeting notifications will be mailed to neighborhood residents at the end of February.

Apply for Lynnwood festival funds

Applications for the City of Lynnwood Festival Fund grant program are now available through the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department. Funding for community festival projects for 2004 will be awarded on a competitive basis, subject to available funding. Applicants from eligible organizations, who demonstrate the ability to complete the proposed activity, can apply. The deadline for completed applications is Friday, March 12. Applications for the Festival Fund are currently available by contacting the Lynnwood Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department, 18900 44th Ave. W., Lynnwood, Wash. 98046-5008, or by calling 425-771-4030.

The Festival Fund was created to provide public support for community festivals and celebrations in Lynnwood that have a broad-based appeal and provide family-oriented activities. Funding for this program is made possible through a portion of the City of Lynnwood General Fund.

Detailed information about the grant program, eligibility, and program requirements are included in the application package. For more information, contact Katie Anderson, City of Lynnwood Parks, Recreation &Cultural Arts Department at 425-744-6445, or e-mail kanderson@ci.lynnwood.wa.us.

Lynnwood teen and National Security

Tanya Kaczka of Lynnwood was selected to participate in the National Youth Leadership Forum on Defense, Intelligence and Diplomacy recently in Washington D.C.. Having demonstrated academic achievement and an interest in a career related to national security, Kaczka, from Archbishop Murphy High School, joined about 400 other high school juniors and seniors from across the United States.

Don’t read below

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. For more information call Terri or Vicci at 425-259-2827.

Donate your old car for a local cause

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Snohomish County are starting a car donation program. Funds from the program will benefit the activities of the Boys and Girls Clubs. For more information call 1-800-246-0493.

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.