NEWS BITES FOR APRIL 17, 2019





First challenger for Snohomish council
SNOHOMISH — Public Safety Commission chair Donna Ray set up campaign framework with the state this month to run for City Council Position No. 1. It is understood this seat will be vacated by Councilwoman Lynn Schilaty, who told the Tribune in February she doesn’t plan to run for re-election.
Ray helped create the block watch program for the Morgantown Neighborhood and works with the citywide Snohomish Coalition of Neighborhood Watch.
The formal election filing period is in May. Three City Council seats are up for election this year.


Planned Kelsey­/Blueberry intersection changes would add left turn lane
MONROE — The city plans to add a left turn lane on Kelsey Street for cars turning onto Blueberry Lane this summer.
The proposal also lengthens the left turn lane on Kelsey at U.S. 2. As part of extending the U.S. 2 left turn lane, a curb would be added that will restrict cars from turning left into or out of Denny’s or Rite Aid from Kelsey Street. The city is asking for state approval to extend the left turn lane across the railroad tracks.
Denny’s has two driveways; the one reaching U.S. 2 goes behind the building, past the “adult” coffee stand. Rite Aid has two driveways: Kelsey Street and U.S. 2.
The city wants to start construction in June and finish by August. The project will cost $490,000 from the city’s capital budget; it wasn’t selected for a state funding grant it sought.


STEM students celebrated
Forty-nine high school seniors were celebrated in Olympia on Friday, April 12 for making a commitment to pursue STEM university degrees or credentials. Two locally were:
Katherine Anderson from Snohomish High School, who reportedly plans to attend either the University of Hawaii Hilo or Eastern Oregon University to study biochemistry and wants to be involved in either Doctors without Borders or Engineers without Borders.
Alkasem Alzmar from Everett High School, who reportedly plans to attend Everett Community College and study mechatronics.
Other students receiving honors included from Arlington, Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace.


Madison Elementary library named for Joyce Stewart, a longtime supporter
EVERETT — The library inside Madison Elementary will soon be named after Joyce Stewart, who’s been a big fan of the Madison Huskies.
Stewart is the school district’s deputy superintendent, and will be retiring this June from a 37-year career in education, including 20 in Everett.
The school district noted Stewart regularly visits Madison’s library for literacy activities, to attend PTA events, and to support neighborhood meetings, and also has donated numerous books to the school library.


 South Everett library progress

EVERETT — Progress continues on the Evergreen Branch library, which closed in December for a remodel and expansion. The project adds 5,600 square feet to the library as well as improve parking. It could open this October, according to a timeframe from late last month.


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