STAFF CHOICE: Get a jump on taxes
United Way of Snohomish County opens its free tax preparation sites Jan. 21. Trained and certified volunteers will be on hand to help low-income households complete basic individual income tax returns through April 15, with electronic filing for a quicker refund. No appointment necessary. Visit the local site at Cedar Valley Community School, 19200 56th Ave. W in Lynnwood, from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays or 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.
— Melissa Slager, Enterprise copy editor
SEMINARS AND EDUCATION
• Rick Steves’ Europe Through the Back Door travel classes:
– “Istanbul: Where East Meets West,” 6 to 7 p.m. Jan. 28 at the Travel Center Classroom.
– “Italy,” 10 to 11:30 a.m. Jan. 30 at Edmonds Theater.
Cost is free but reservations are required: online at www.ricksteves.com or call 425-771-8303, ext. 298.
• Upcoming Savvy Traveler seminars
The Savvy Traveler is offering the following classes at 112 Fifth Ave. S, Edmonds. For updates, please check www.savvytraveleredmonds.com. Space is limited; call 425-744-6076 for reservations.
– “Nepal,” 1 p.m. Jan. 23.
– “The Kingdom of Morocco,” 10 a.m. Jan. 30.
– “Silk Road Cities of Uzbekistan,” 1 p.m. Jan. 30.
• Pruning and dormant spraying 101
Wight’s nursery manager will explain how to prune and use natural dormant sprays to control insects and diseases during a first Thursday of the month Gardening Series.
The class is at 7 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Lynnwood Library, 19200 44th Ave. W. Another class is scheduled for 11 a.m. Feb. 27 at Wight’s Home &Garden, 5026 196th St. SW, Lynnwood.
For more information, call 425-775-3636.
• Coast Guard public boating classes
The Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla in Edmonds will be teaching two public boating classes for experienced and novice boaters. The first 12-week course, “Weekend Navigator,” focuses on getting the most out of electronics and navigating in the Sound and off shore. This course starts Feb. 9. The second, “Boating Skills and Seamanship,” is a study of all aspects of boating. The 12-week course starts Feb. 11. For more information, e-mail boatclasses@hotmail.com or call Mark Hawley at 360-668-0196.
• Free Toddler Play and Learn Group at MLT Library
The MLT Library is partnering with the Little Red School House to provide a Toddler Play and Learn Group. The group meets weekly at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays. Parents, caregivers and children ages 18 months to 3 years, are invited to come play, learn and socialize during this free facilitated play group. Activities include open play, making friends, art, stories and music.
The MLT Library is located at 23300 58th Ave. W. For more information, call 425-776-8722.
• Edmonds Backyard Wildlife Habitat Project
All are invited to the Edmonds Backyard Wildlife Habitat Project and Puget Sound Bird Fest social and planning meeting from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 28 at the Frances Anderson Center, 700 Main St., Room 206, Edmonds. Come and meet other bird and backyard wildlife enthusiasts in Edmonds. Find out about the community certification celebration planned for April, and what can be done to help Edmonds reach the goal for certification as a community wildlife habitat. Participate in a discussion of habitat and sustainability goals for Edmonds and learn about volunteer opportunities, including helping to plan the next Puget Sound Bird Fest in September. For more information, call Sally Lider at 425-771-0227 or Laura Spehar at 425-672-2150.
• County offers free arthritis seminar
Snohomish County’s Long Term Care &Aging Division will host a free seminar focusing on the effects of arthritis.
There are more than 100 types of arthritis that can affect one’s joints in the body. The Feb. 24 class will look at what individuals can do to keep joints healthy as well as treatment options for severe arthritis.
From 10:30 a.m. to noon at Compass Health’s Administrative Office, 4526 Federal Ave. in Everett, orthopedic surgeon Michael Codsi, of The Everett Clinic, will discuss easy ways to prevent pain or to treat pain that already exists. Codsi also works as the team physician for the Everett AquaSox.
To register, contact Joyce Frasu at 425-388-7377 or j.frasu@snoco.org.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
• Event for human service workers
Join us for an evening of celebration. Human service workers across Snohomish County are invited to enjoy live entertainment, great music, good food and each other on Feb. 12 at the Trinity Lutheran Church 6215 196th St. SW, Lynnwood.
Bring your TGIF attitude, a favorite food to share, and dress casual.
• Program celebrates Margaret Read MacDonald
A special program celebrating the 70th birthday and long career of Margaret Read MacDonald will be held at the Edmonds Library at 7 p.m. Jan. 27. MacDonald will tell some of her favorite folktales from around the world. This program is family friendly. Refreshments will be served.
MacDonald travels the world, telling and bringing back stories from such marvelous places as Mahasarakham, Kota Kinabalu and Rio. She is a folklorist, children’s librarian and the author of more than 55 books on folklore and storytelling.
For more information and photos, visit www.margaretreadmacdonald.com.
• Friends of the Edmonds Library meeting
Chuck LeWarne, noted local historian and Edmonds resident, will be the guest speaker for the Friends of the Edmonds Library meeting at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 28 in the Plaza Room of the Edmonds Library.
LeWarne has prepared a lighthearted talk, “From Bug to Usk: A Look at Washington State Place Names,” which is illustrated with slides of the welcoming signs of various towns in the state.
This is a great opportunity to test your own knowledge of some of the more unique names in our state and their origins.
The meeting will be preceded by a coffee social at 1 p.m. New members and interested public are invited to attend. For more information, visit www.edmondsfriends.org.
• Edmonds Chamber volunteer opportunities
The Edmonds Chamber of Commerce has positions open for volunteers at the Log Cabin Visitor’s Bureau in downtown Edmonds. The Log Cabin is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Volunteers at the Log Cabin provide visitors with information about chamber and city activities, events, lodging, shopping and dining in Edmonds, as well as information about living and working in Edmonds. This is a great way to get involved in the Edmonds community. All interested people should contact the Log Cabin at 425-776-6711.
YOUTH ACTIVITIES
• Dodgeball!
Lynnwood’s Teen Programs along with the Lynnwood Teen Advisory Group (LTAG) is hosting a Teen Dodgeball Tournament from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 29. Teens in grades 7–12 are invited to pre-register teams of six players. Soft “gator” dodgeballs are used in accordance with the National Amateur Association of Dodgeball rules.
The Teen Dodgeball Tournament will be held at Cedar Valley Gym, 19400 56th Ave. W, Lynnwood. Check-in and warm-up will begin at 6 p.m. and tournament play will begin at 6:30 p.m. A team captain or adult must register the team by Jan. 27. Cost is $6 per team. To register, contact the Lynnwood Recreation Center in person at 19000 44th Ave. W, Lynnwood, by phone at 425-670-5732, or online at http://recconnect.ci.lynnwood.wa.us.
For more information, contact Teen Programs Assistant Supervisor Jennifer Savage at 425-670-5524 or jsavage@ci.lynnwood.wa.us or visit www.ci.lynnwood.wa.us/teens.
• TACO trip to Skatebarn
Lynnwood’s Teen Programs’ Teen Adventure Camp Outdoors (TACO) is going to Skatebarn West indoor skate park in Renton from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 29. School is out and Skatebarn West is opening early just for TACO! Teens will get the entire skate park to themselves in the morning with a four-hour skate session of unlimited vert and rails.
Teen skateboarders and in-line skaters are invited to register for the trip. Teens need to bring a skateboard or in-line skates, a helmet and lunch or money for lunch. The pick-up and drop-off location is at the North Administration Building, 19000 44th Ave. W, Lynnwood.
To register, contact the Lynnwood Recreation Center in person at 19000 44th Ave. W, Lynnwood, by phone at 425-670-5732, or visit http://recconnect.ci.lynnwood.wa.us.
SENIOR ACTIVITIES
• South County Senior Center activities
Activities occur at 220 Railroad Ave., Edmonds. Contact Janice DeShon at 425-774-5555 for more information.
– Lunch: Provides an opportunity to catch up with and meet new friends while enjoying a delicious, hot, nutritionally-balanced meal. Offered weekdays. Must purchase tickets between 9:15 a.m. and noon the day of the meal. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Lunch is served 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Suggested donation is $2.50 for age 60 and older, $5.15 under 60.
– “New Drawing and Painting Foundations”: 9 to 11 a.m. Thursdays. Join Bob Park (BFA, MFA) and review traditional drawing and painting techniques with the goal of creating a realistic picture. Topics include rendering skills, perspective and color theory. All levels are welcome. The cost is $10 per two-hour session.
– “Enhance Fitness”: 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Join instructors Susan Bennett and Caroline Longsoldier for aerobic exercise designed for seniors. The cost for SCSC members is $30 and $35 for non-members per month. Class meets in the SCSC Ballroom.
– “Soft Exercise”: 10:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Join instructors Susan Bennett and Caroline Longsoldier for a 30-minute class designed to help seniors keep muscles toned for balance and energy. The cost for SCSC members is $20 and $25 for non-members per month. Class meets in the SCSC Ballroom.
• Senior volunteer opportunities
Feel wanted, valued and needed. Get free job training or use the skills from your former job. Make new friends.
The South County Senior Center is looking for volunteers. Jobs include sorting clerks and cashiers for the thrift store, receptionists for the front desk, drivers for day trips (CDL license not required), administrative office help, cosmetologists, special events/program planning, nutrition program and coffee bar workers, instructors for classes, publicity/marketing assistant, and membership/database updating.
Call the SCSC administration office at 425-774-5555 for more information.
• Community volunteers wanted
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), sponsored by Catholic Community Services, seeks persons over 55 for many interesting and meaningful volunteer opportunities in the community.
There are more than 400 RSVP volunteer opportunities throughout the county, just waiting to be filled.
RSVP enrollees receive free supplemental liability, accident and automobile insurance covering them while they perform their volunteer duties along with an ongoing personal recognition program and the chance to meet new people and learn new skills.
For more information, e-mail John McAlpine at johnm@ccsww.org or call 425- 257-2111, ext. 3374, or toll free at 1-888-240-8572.
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