The Hunter Challenge: Backpack Drive

 

Backpack 5 - Dan, Sue Hunter & TruckSusan & Dan McNeely, owners of North Creek Roofing got involved in a Backpack Drive headed up by the Liberty Road Foundation in 2013, but they soon realized that all of the backpacks were being taken to schools in the Tacoma area. Do tell.

So, in 2014 they still wanted to be involved in the backpack drive, but they also wanted to contribute to the local schools. They proceeded to team up with Heatherwood Middle School & this started the North End Backpack Drive. Sue says: “I was proud to head up & present to our local businesses, through the Mill Creek Business Association, and to commit to 85 backpacks. We were able to meet that goal, and actually beat it by 25 backpacks, raising enough to provide 110 backpacks! AND, this is where the story really begins.”

At the end of the backpack drive she received an email that said:

“Hi Sue,

“Our 10 year old son Hunter, has a “share” savings account where he uses as he chooses for people or drives that are of interest of him in helping or sharing with others. We picked up your flyer from the YMCA , he has chosen your drive to use his “share” money. He has currently $211.25 but I told him we’d help him and pay the difference to get 10 backpacks for kids/families in need.”

Backpack 7 - Hunter & Backpacks

This started the Backpack Drive for 2015 called the “Hunter Challenge” —   “Meet or beat Hunter’s 10!”. Hunter lives with his parents in Mill Creek, and they were able to help us deliver the backpacks last year.

You can go through North Creek Roofing or straight to Liberty Road Foundation. Every $25 will purchase 1 backpack filled with school supplies. There will be an opportunity to donate at the Mill Creek Festival at the North Creek Roofing booth.  A large corner of the booth will be dedicated to Hunter’s Challenge with the goal, where it stands and filled in each day with new numbers. Be sure to check out the “Hunter Challenge” video on the Liberty Road Foundation Website. Click on this link:  Liberty Road Events: Hunter’s Challenge  to view it, get more details & make a direct donation. Meet or beat Hunter’s 10! Backpacks purchased with funds raised will go to Heatherwood Middle School as that is the designated local school.

Click this link to download/print the flyer/form Backpack Drive Flyer-Mill Creek

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Free Landscaping Workshops

For those of you who are tired of all the same old lawn maintenance techniques & want to try something different, the Snohomish Conservation District & sponsor, City of Mill Creek will be hosting Free Landscaping Workshops in Mill Creek. Do tell.

Mark these dates on your calendar:

Saturday, June 20th 11:00 to Noon at the Lil Sprouts Nursery

Saturday June 27th 10:00 to Noon at Central Market in Town Center. This is the same day as the Mill Creek Garden Tour. Visit:  millcreekgardenclub.com for tour tickets while you are at it.

Get more info & be sure to RSVP @  millcreekwa.eventbrite.com

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City Manager Candidates Announced & Opportunity to Meet the Candidates

CITY MANAGER CANDIDATES ANNOUNCED & AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE CANDIDATES

At the April 7, 2015 meeting, the Council selected the final candidates for the Mill Creek City Manager position. There are a total of 5 finalists. The following are the names of each of the final candidates & a short bio for each.

City Manager CandidatesGeorge Korthauer Mr. Korthauer served as City Manager in Petoskey, Michigan, for 25 years, until retiring in 2009. A four-season resort community along the shores of Lake Michigan in the northern portion of the state’s Lower Peninsula, Petoskey serves as the region’s governmental, commercial, medical, educational, recreational, and arts and cultural center. It has a year-round population of 6,000, and the area is the summer home to many of the Midwest’s rich and famous. Petoskey has been listed in publications that include The Best Small Towns in America, The Great Small Towns of America, and America’s Best Places to Retire. Smithsonian magazine named Petoskey on its list of “The 20 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2013.” Since leaving Petoskey, Mr. Korthauer has served as CEO of Allied EMS Systems, a not-for-profit entity that has provided emergency-medical services through contracts with governmental units located in five counties. He also recently concluded a 12-month engagement as part-time Interim City Manager at Cheboygan, Michigan, a Lake Huron shoreline community of 5,000. Mr. Korthauer received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Western Illinois University and holds a Master’s of Public Administration degree from Roosevelt University in Chicago.

City Manager Candidates2Richard Leahy Mr. Leahy has 33 years of city management experience and is currently the City Manager of Woodinville, Washington. He previously served as City Administrator of Mukilteo, Washington for 12 years; and as a Deputy and Assistant City Manager of Paramount, California in Los Angeles County. He is proudest of his work in Woodinville with respect to the development and implementation of mixed-use regulations for the City’s Downtown. Stalled for almost 10 years before his arrival, he was able to help the City Council amend the Downtown Master Plan, adopt development regulations to implement the Master Plan vision, and negotiate a Development Agreement to construct the City’s first mixed-use project in the downtown. This $200 million development is under construction with the first phase scheduled to be completed this summer. Mr. Leahy has Masters of Public Administration from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of the Pacific.

City Manager Candidates3Rebecca Polizzotto Ms. Polizzotto has 20 years of municipal experience having served her community as a police officer, chief financial officer, chief operating officer and city manager. During her tenure with the City of Conyers, GA, Mrs. Polizzotto played a significant role in the Centennial Olympic Games having responsibility for the financing, sponsorship development and leasehold agreements for the Georgia International Horse Park, the largest and second most expensive venue of those Olympic Games. After marrying her husband, Mrs. Polizzotto returned to her home state of Alaska where she has spent the past 11 years working for the Alaska Attorney General’s Office. As a Senior Assistant Attorney General, Mrs. Polizzotto provides legal advice to State agencies in the areas of employee benefits and public pensions. Mrs. Polizzotto holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science, a Master of Public Administration Degree and a Juris Doctor. She currently resides in Juneau, AK, with her husband and their 10 year-old daughter.

City Manager Candidates4Donald “Pete” Rose Mr. Rose has 22 years experience as a City / County Manager and Administrator in Washington state. He has been the City Administrator of Lake Forest Park since 2012 and was the City Administrator in Woodinville. His other lengthy tenure was as the County Administrator of San Juan County from 2006 to 2012. Among his many achievements, he believes the most relevant to be the transformative process he has used in Lake Forest Park. When he arrived, the City’s budget had been in decline through the recessionary years. The result was staff furloughs. The City had little capacity to grow out of the doldrums. Yet now it is on an “all other things equal” path to be balanced through 2018. The effort began work in the 2012 budget when they did everything they could to hold the budget to the five year growth forecast of 1.4% — one of the lower growth rates in the region. In addition, he formed a benefits committee to examine other health benefit options. Management developed a budget tool that showed impacts of the represented and unrepresented groups’ impact on the budget by staying within or exceeding their “fair share” of the budget. It allowed the groups to manipulate key variables without a management filter. As a result, all three groups took a lower level of benefit support in exchange for small programmed pay increases and no furloughs. The effort was written about in the October 2013 edition of City Vision magazine. Mr. Rose has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Davis and a Master of Arts in government from Cal State University in Sacramento.

City Manager Candidates5Scott Somers Since 2009, Mr. Somers has been first the City Manager of Reedsport, OR, and is currently the County Manager of Clatsop County, OR. Mr. Somers has a number of achievements of which he is very proud. One of these was integrating the County Vision and Focus areas with the strategic plan. Before he arrived, the Board had adopted the 2012 Strategic Plan, which was essentially a list of capital projects that lacked broad overarching goals or long term vision for the County. Mr. Somers took those and aligned the recently adopted County Vision and Focus Areas. The result will help the Board and the budget process for years to come and will result in clear direction to staff. Mr. Somers has a Bachelors Degree from Arizona State University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Arizona.

Council is scheduled to hold interviews with each of these candidates on Friday, April 17th in executive session. Executive sessions are confidential and not open to the public. The Council is tentatively scheduled to make a selection on April 21st.

PUBLIC RECEPTION On behalf of the Mayor & the City Council, the public is invited to attend a reception to meet these candidates. The reception will be held at the City Hall Annex Building, 15720 Main Street at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, 2015. Each candidate will provide a short presentation on their background and interest in the position. Those in attendance will then have the opportunity to meet and talk with the finalists one-on-one. Snacks and coffee will be provided. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kelly Chelin, City Clerk at 425-745-1891.

WEST Coast Aquatics holds Swim-A-Thon

doTellLogoOn Friday, April 10th & Saturday, April 11th, WEST Coast Aquatics swim team will be holding its official 2015 Swim-A-Thon™ where competitive swimmers—ranging in age from 7 to 18—swim for 2 hours or up to 200 lengths of the pool to raise money to fund programs & to improve its facility.

Swim-A-Thon™ is a nationwide program, with 5% of money raised supporting USA Swimming. Last year, WEST Coast Aquatics raised more than $50,000, and was USA Swimming Foundation Gold Medal contest winner in its club size category, earning the most dollars raised amongst “small” teams. WEST hopes to raise $60,000.00 this year!

WEST Coast Aquatics provides a safe & positive environment for all levels of swimming from beginner to national-level competitive swimming. Swimmers as young as 3-years-old can learn the basics of swimming &™ water safety, progress through the WEST Coast Aquatics Swim School, to the pre-competitive team, and then onto the competitive team.

The pool is also used for senior water aerobics & general membership lap swim. Each summer, kids from the community enjoy the fun activity of the Summer Swim Team. In the fall & winter, the Henry M. Jackson High School & Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy High School swim teams practice at the WEST Coast Aquatics facility. Zumba classes, personal training, Taekwondo & swim team dry-land workouts take place in the gym. Do tell.

“Reaching the $60,000.00 fundraising goal will allow WEST to cover ongoing facility maintenance costs and help update our aging equipment,” says WEST Coast Aquatics president and head coach, Nick Chevalier. “We hope to get a new timing system and starting blocks so we can host more quality meets,” Chevalier adds. “Please help the our swim team achieve its goal!”

 

About WEST Coast Aquatics

WEST Coast Aquatics is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization focused on promoting fitness for life, healthy habits, and maximizing potential as athletes, students, and members of society.

Learn more about WEST Coast Aquatics and pledge support of these dedicated swimmers by making a donation at www.WestSwimTeam.com. Or drop-in and swim a few laps!

 

3 Local Relay For Life Events to Join Forces

rfl3_RGBAmerican Cancer Society’s Relay For Life of Edmonds, Mill Creek & Mukilteo will kick off their Relay season next week!

Looking to build upon the momentum these three local Relay events have gained in the past 5 years, planning is underway to recruit teams & start fundraising. Interested members of the greater South Snohomish community are invited to attend this Kick-off meeting at 6:30pm, Wed March 4 at the Courtyard by Marriott  – 4220 Alderwood Mall Blvd, Lynnwood, WA.

Relay for Life is a team-oriented event to celebrate cancer survivors, remember those who have been lost to cancer, honor those who are fighting cancer & fight back, by raising funds for cancer research & for local cancer support programs. Teams take turns walking around the track throughout the night, representing the reality that cancer never sleeps. This year’s combined event will be held May 30, 2015 at McCollum Park.

 The kick off meeting on March 4 is the right time to come find out more about this powerful local event, sign up a team, or volunteer to help organize & promote the event. Relay for Life is a great way to unite with people in our community who have been affected by cancer, and use your passion to save lives and create a world with more birthdays.

www.relayforlife.org

 

Holiday Bazaar & Toy Sale

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JUST BETWEEN FRIENDS HOLIDAY BAZAAR and TOY SALE @Gold Creek Community Church  4326 148th St SE in Mill Creek 98012

Mark Your Calendar for:
Friday, Nov 21st 9AM – 7PM & Saturday, Nov 22nd 8AM -3PM*

This is an event You Do NOT Want To Miss!

Great place to start your Christmas shopping — Everything from books, games, puzzles, toys (lots of toys!), movies, video game, infant items, winter coats, accessories, holiday dressy clothes, holiday decor & so much more!

There will also be 20 – 30 vendors showing off all their amazing items! Do tell.

Friday  November 21   9AM – 7PM
Saturday  November 22   8AM – 3PM*

* On Saturday from 12-3 there will be a half price sale. Everything without a star on the tag will be half off.

There will be no entry fee on either day, but we will be accepting canned food donations for our food drive!

THIS IS AN OPEN EVENT. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO INVITE YOUR FRIENDS!

Photo from Just Between Friends of Lynnwood.

 

Trunk or Treat in Mill Creek

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Mill Creek Parks & Recreation along with co-sponsor, Canyon Creek Church will be hosting the Annual Trunk or Treat Halloween Haunt on Friday, Oct 31st from 6:30 – 8PM. This will be held in the City Hall Annex Parking Lot, located at  15720 Main St Mill Creek, Wa 98012.

The event features a parking lot full of cars – whose trunks will be decorated & FILLED with candy. Children go from car to car “trunk or treating”. This event provides a safe environment for children & their families who wish to trick or treat, and is great community event for parents to enjoy a little social time while keeping an eye on their trick-or-treaters. Children ages 12 and under are invited to join the FUN.

Remember to bring your own bag for collecting candy.Do tell.

This event is Free, but please bring a non-perishable canned food item for the Mill Creek Food Bank. Thank you!

 

New Employee/ Position to Department of Community Development

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Eric Carter was recently hired by the City of Mill Creek as a Building/Right-of-Way inspector, which is a newly created position. His primary functions will be: Performing field inspections of buildings & public right-of-way, and administering the City’s building codes & engineering standards. Do tell.

Eric is a certified ICC Residential Building Inspector. He has 15 years of experience in the building trades; the last seven of which, were spent as site superintendent. He will work directly with contractors & homeowners. Eric is a long time native of the Mill Creek area, and is excited to begin his new job here at the City.

When not at work, you will find him spending time with his wife and children, or engaging in his favorite pastime of fishing the local rivers, trying to land “the big one.”

Mill Creek Employee Appreciation

The City of Mill Creek held its Employee Appreciation Luncheon on Wednesday, October 8th 2014.

Michele Miller
Michele Miller

The luncheon included employees, Council members & Board/Commission members.

This luncheon is held annually to thank all of the City employees & volunteers for their service to our City. Specifically, the City recognized Building Permit Coordinator Michele Miller for 20 years of service to the City!

Pam Olson
Pam Olson

 

 

The City recognized Recreation Manager Pam Olson for 15 years of service to the City.

The final award of the luncheon went to Recreation Assistant Brian Davern who was selected as the 2014 Employee of the Year.

Brian Davern
Brian Davern

 

 

Do Tell Mill Creek would like to thank all the City of Mill Creek Employees & volunteers for their hard work & dedication to making Mill Creek such a great place to live, work & play.

Cheers to Pam Olson, Michele Miller & Brian Davern!

Mill Creek Family Game Day

Come to the University Bookstore – Mill Creek this Saturday October 18th for an afternoon of fun! This is brought to you by the University Bookstore Reading Allowed program. The entire family is invited to come & try out all the hottest new games of the year. “Game night refreshments” will be served. Do tell.

Saturday, October 18, 2014 at 1PM University Bookstore located in the Mill Creek Town Center at 15311 Main St. Mill Creek, WA 98012  425-385-3530

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Who, what, where, when in Mill Creek, Washington