Downtown Edmonds street work

IN PHOTO | Town center gets toehold …

Downtown Edmonds street work

As part of the ongoing water main replacement project, Fifth Avenue South from Walnut Street to Elm Way will be under construction starting Feb. 6 and continuing into early March.

Daily updates will be posted at www.edmondswa.gov and on Twitter @edmondspw.

Construction will focus on connecting the newly installed water lines into the city’s existing system and replacing water services for a number of businesses and homes.

Street parking will be effected 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be some traffic delays.

Ballot drop boxes open for school levy election

Ballot drop boxes are now open at the Edmonds and Lynnwood libraries for the February special election.

The only item on local ballots is an Edmonds School District replacement technology and capital improvements levy.

The 24-hour drop boxes will be open until 8 p.m. Election Day, Tuesday, Feb. 14.

Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day.

Testimony open for Edmonds development

Edmonds’ Hearing Examiner will hear testimony regarding a 27-lot plan for the former Woodway Elementary site, 3 p.m. Feb. 9 in council chambers, 250 Fifth Ave. N.

Drainage, buffers and open space requirements will be expressly addressed in the session.

Coal train meeting

Sustainable Edmonds and the Sierra Club are hosting a meeting to explore the impacts of a plan for coal trains to pass through Edmonds and other towns in the region on their way to a depot in Bellingham. The meeting is 6:30-8:30 p.m., Feb. 1 at the Frances Anderson Center, 700 Main St., Edmonds.

For more information, email r_bisbee@msn.com.

United Way free tax preparation

Free United Way Tax Preparation sites staffed with IRS-certified volunteers are open throughout Snohomish County, including at Cedar Valley Community School, 19200 56th Ave. W, Lynnwood. This service is available for households earning $50,000 or less.

The Lynnwood site is open 5-8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday through April 14.

People should bring a picture ID; social security card or tax identification number for everyone on the return; W2s or other income statements from all employers, any 1099 forms; the name, address and tax ID number for your child care provider; records of student loan payments; record of payments for educational expenses such as college tuition; mortgage interest and property tax statements; a bank account number to receive your refund via direct deposit; last year’s tax return – if you have it; and if you’re filing jointly, both spouses must be present to file electronically.

For more information, go to www.uwsc.org/freetaxpreparationcampaign.php or call 211 for information and referrals.

Parks adds 100 acres to system

Snohomish County has completed purchase of 100 acres, near Maltby, from the University of Washington.

The land will be used for future baseball and soccer fields. The $9.7 million purchase will be paid for using Brightwater mitigation funds.

BUSINESS NEWS

Swedish/Edmonds honored

For the second year in a row, Swedish/Edmonds has been named a Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence by HealthGrades, a leading independent source of physician information and hospital quality ratings.

Swedish/Edmonds was one of only five hospitals in Washington state to receive this national honor. HealthGrades ranked Swedish/Edmonds as among the top 5 percent of hospitals in the nation for clinical performance based on outcomes.

Business Briefs

• The Lynnwood Chamber will meet 7:45-8:45 a.m. Jan. 26 at Fairwinds-Brighton Court, 6520 196th St. SW, Lynnwood. Go to www.TheLynnwoodChamber.com or Jim Smith at 425-218-2150

• The Edmonds Chamber’s networking breakfast is 7:30-9 a.m. every Wednesday at Fairwinds Brighton Court.

CIVIC NEWS

Join the conversation

Mountlake Terrace citizens, business owners and others from the community are invited to join city officials for a cup of coffee and hear first-hand what’s happening in the city, 6-7 p.m., Feb. 8 at the Recreation Pavilion, 5303 228th St. SW.

Come ask questions, provide input on city services or just listen to the conversation.

For more information, go to www.cityofmlt.com or call Community Relations Director Virginia Olsen at 425-744-6206.

Volunteer opportunities

• Edmonds Architectural Design Board seeks a member to fill the planner position. Applications are available at City Hall, 121 Fifth Ave. N, or call 425-771-0247.

• Edmonds Sister City Commission seeks members to participate in activities involving Hekinan, Japan. For applications, go to www.ci.edmonds.wa.us/siscity.stm or City Hall, 121 Fifth Ave. N. Deadline is 4:30 p.m. Feb. 15.

• Mountlake Terrace Planning Commission. For more details and applications, go to www.cityofmlt.com, click on For Residents/Advisory Boards &Commissions or contact Virginia Olsen, city clerk, at 425-744-6206 or volsen@ci.mlt.wa.us.

• Mountlake Terrace Library Board. For more details and applications, go to www.cityofmlt.com, click on For Residents/Advisory Boards &Commissions or contact Virginia Olsen, city clerk, at 425-744-6206 or volsen@ci.mlt.wa.us.