Candidates withdraw from local elections

A handful of candidates won't be running in this year's elections, after all. Below is a list of who has opted to withdraw and what that means in terms of the races:

• Jason Marley will no longer run for Snohomish County assessor, so incumbent Cindy Portmann will run opposed.

• In Bothell, three candidates have dropped from races. Bothell Mayor Mark Lamb will face just one opponent, Democratic precinct-committee officer David Vliet, after Justin Everett Gillebo dropped out. And Bill Evans will be unopposed for City Council Position 4 as both William Moritz and David Wickwire have pulled out of that race.

• In Mukilteo, Dan Kure has withdrawn from the race for council Position 4, leaving Tony Tinsley unopposed. Also, Linda Grafer faces only Pat Kessler for Position 6 as Rick Best has dropped from the race.

• In Snohomish, Chris Walsh will no longer try for the council Position 1 at-large seat, leaving Marc Crawford to face Lynn Schilaty.

• Northshore School District board member B-Z Davis withdrew from her re-election race, so parent leader Dawn McCravey will run unopposed.

• Brian McMahan has called it quits for Snohomish County Fire District 1's Position 4 seat, leaving Phedra Quincey to face Bob Meador.

Two new candidates filed during this week's special filing period for seats that drew no candidates during the regular filing period June 4-8.

Jamie Wright will run unopposed for Monroe School District's No. 5 seat, and Darrell Holm will run unopposed for the Darrington School District's No. 2 seat.

Everett

Vintage planes at Paine Field

The Snohomish County Airport at Paine Field will host the Wings of Freedom Tour of vintage B-17, B-24 and B-25 aircraft this week.

The planes are scheduled to arrive today and leave Friday and can be viewed on the terminal ramp. A free public social with refreshments will be held from 4-7 p.m. Thursday at the Paine Field Airport Administration office and terminal, 3220 100th St. S.W., Everett.

For more information and to reserve a flight on one of the planes, call 1-800-568-8924 or go to www.collingsfoundation.org.

Mill Creek

City to study noise, traffic levels

Complaints about increasing noise and traffic along Seattle Hill Road have prompted the city of Mill Creek to undertake a study of the corridor.

Noise measurements along Seattle Hill Road are now in progress. Consulting firm KPG of Seattle is performing the study.

The city also has put together a citizen-advisory group to gather public comments and present recommendations for the corridor. The group's next two meetings, which are open to the public, will be June 28 and Aug. 2. A communitywide open house on the recommendations will be held in August.

For more information, contact city project manager Scott Smith at scott@cityofmillcreek.com or 425-921-5708.

New hearing examiner named

The Snohomish County Council has appointed Barbara Dykes as the new county hearing examiner.

Dykes has been the chief civil deputy attorney in the Snohomish County Prosecutor's Office since 2003 and directed 27 lawyers. During her 17 years with the prosecutor's office, she has provided legal counsel to the County Council on matters including comprehensive planning and implementation of the state Growth Management Act.

The hearing examiner is an independent, quasi-judicial department of county government and has jurisdiction over a wide range of subject matter, including land-use applications and appeals.

Stanwood

Meeting on disaster preparedness set

The Stanwood Camano Island Disaster and Pan Flu Community Task Force will meet at 1:30 p.m. June 27 at the Stanwood Fire Station, 8117 267th St. N.W., to discuss preparedness for natural disasters.

Guest speaker Shari Mattson Cooper from the Region 1 Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Program will discuss crisis-communications issues specific to health emergencies. She will expand on ways citizens will receive messages regarding health emergencies and how they can help spread accurate information.

Chris Badger, emergency manager for Stanwood Camano Fire and Rescue, will discuss how local government and businesses will continue during an event.

Information: 360-629-3008.

Snohomish County

Nominations sought for Spirit awards

United Way of Snohomish County is seeking nominations for its Spirit of Snohomish County Awards. Annually, it selects one adult, one youth and a corporation that actively volunteer in the community. It also is seeking nominations for the Reeves/Sievers lifetime-service award.

Winners will be recognized at the Spirit of Snohomish County Breakfast on Sept. 12 at the Lynnwood Convention Center.

Nomination forms may be found at www.uwsc.org and are due Friday.

For more information, call 425-374-5518.

Marysville

Festival accepting vendor applications

Marysville's HomeGrown Festival, now in its 22nd year, is accepting applications from vendors selling art and crafts of quality as well as local produce.

The festival, sponsored by the Downtown Marysville Merchants Association, takes place Aug. 10-11 on Third Street in downtown Marysville.

For more information, or to apply, call Lowell Dudley at 360-658-0246, e-mail lowell@dudleysoffice.com or go to www.marysvillemerchants.com.

Bothell

Wedding-planning guide available

Bothell is becoming a popular place to get married, and that has inspired the city to produce a 20-page wedding-planning guide that tells brides-to-be the most special places for a special day.

The guide has information about caterers and florists, historic homes and patios with river views and flower-filled gardens that can contribute to a perfect wedding.

The free guides are available online at www.explorebothell.com. Click on "Bothell Brides" at the upper right.