Water supply projected to serve Everett 50 years

Everett and Seattle, two of the region's largest water suppliers, recently used scenarios developed by the University of Washington's Climate Impacts Group to project they will have adequate supplies to serve customers for at least 50 years.

The "middle-case" scenario projects a decrease in supply of 6 percent for Everett and 13 percent for Seattle by 2050, but no resulting shortages are predicted.

Everett's Spada Lake reservoir in the Cascades provides about 70 percent of Snohomish County's drinking water.

At least 36 other states expect to face water shortages within five years because of a combination of rising temperatures, drought and population growth.

Edmonds

Women's workshop set for Friday

Edmonds Community College will offer a series of 16 workshops on arts and culture, health and wellness, interactive-skill learning and teaching new tools at this year's Women's Conference.

It opens with a free public reception featuring Gloria Burgess, a poet, author and inspirational speaker, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday on the third floor library of Lynnwood Hall. The campus is located at 20000 68th Ave. W., Lynnwood.

The conference is from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and features workshops, vendors and community resource tables.

Rebecca Walker, feminist author and daughter of novelist Alice Walker, will give a workshop on writing a memoir. Debrena Jackson Gandy will give a workshop on the power of self-care.

Registration is $65 general and $55 students, in Room 202 of the Triton Union Building on campus.

The conference fee includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. For more information, call 425-640-1538 or go to www.edcc.edu/equity.

Snohomish

Library gets favorite's ranking

Former Seattle librarian and author Nancy Pearl, a nationally recognized figure among bookworms, listed the Snohomish Library as one of her 10 favorite public libraries in the country in USA Today last week.

Pearl, who became widely known for her popular "Book Lust" and a librarian-action figure made in her likeness, praised the natural light and nooks in the five-year-old Snohomish Library, located at 311 Maple Ave. in Snohomish.

The Snohomish Library was funded by a bond measure to replace the city's former Carnegie Library, which was built in 1910. The $8 million structure is three times the size of the old building.

"This is wonderful recognition for the Snohomish Library. It's a lovely library that reflects the community and the value that the Snohomish community puts on libraries," said Sno-Isle Regional Library System spokeswoman Mary Kelly. "We're very flattered to be included in Nancy's list."

The Snohomish Library was the only West Coast pick on Pearl's list. Lakewood

Superintendent goes to Bothell

The superintendent of the small Lakewood School District has accepted a job leading the Northshore School District in Bothell.

Larry François will leave Lakewood, near Marysville, after five years to become superintendent of Northshore. The Northshore district has about 20,000 students, eight times as many as Lakewood.

"It is clearly a huge step, and I'm going to miss Lakewood," he said. "It's a great community ... it's going to be difficult to say goodbye."

Northshore is dealing with the potential closure of an elementary school and balancing a large budget gap — both big issues that François will be faced when he starts July 1.

François will take over for interim superintendent Dolores Gibbons, who filled in after the death of the district's superintendent in September.

The Lakewood School Board met at a special meeting March 9 to discuss the process for selecting a new superintendent.

Mount Baker, Whatcom County

Mountaineers to hold ski event

The Everett Mountaineers family activities group is planning a March 14-16 event at Baker Ski Resort at Mount Baker, east of Bellingham. The outing is open to people who aren't members of the Mountaineers.

Family Snow Fun at Baker Lodge will begin at 4:30 p.m. Friday and continue through breakfast Sunday. Participants may come for any portion of the weekend for activities that include a snowman contest, cross-country or downhill skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, cake decorating and games.

The cost, including some meals, is $28 per night for adults, $10 per night for youths under age 14.

For more information, go to www.mountaineers.org or contact Judy Sterry at 206-366-2750 or jsterry60@comcast.net.

Granite Falls

Top teacher gets Senate accolades

A Granite Falls music teacher, recognized as a top teacher at both the state and national level, was recently honored by the state Senate.

A Senate resolution last month recognized Andrea Peterson for her "amazing ability to reach students who are faltering in the traditional classroom setting."

Peterson was chosen as the 2007 National Teacher of the Year, after being named Washington's Teacher of the Year in October 2006.

Peterson was the first teacher from Washington to get the National Teacher of the Year honor in more than three decades.

The resolution stated that Peterson "has served as the ambassador for education and representative of the teaching profession over the past year and has made the citizens of Washington proud."

Everett

Coupons offered for yard cleanup

Residents of 13 Everett neighborhoods are eligible for coupons worth up to $17 for the disposal of garbage and yard debris.

The city is offering the coupons through a pilot program started last year to spur residents into cleaning up their properties. Ten other neighborhoods were given coupons last fall.

Neighborhoods eligible are Bayside, Boulevard Bluffs, Cascade View, Evergreen, Glacier View, Lowell, Northwest, Port Gardner, Valley View-Sylvan Crest-Larimer Ridge, View Ridge/Madison, Westmont, Holly and Harborview-Seahurst-Glenhaven.

The coupons may be redeemed at the Airport Road Recycling & Transfer Station, 10700 Minuteman Drive, Everett.

For more information, call Jack Harris at 425-257-8988. For neighborhood association contacts, call Wendy McClure at 425-257-8717 or e-mail her at wmcclure@ci.everett.wa.us.

Times Snohomish County bureau staff.