Candidate update

In addition to the local positions listed in the last entry, Stanwood-Camano School Board director position 1 is also on the ballot. Patrick Patterson, current school board member, is running unopposed for that seat.

Candidates file for local elections

Quite a few local races are on the ballot this year.
Today is the cutoff for candidates to file for office.
The Snohomish County Council District 1 seat, currently filled by John Koster, is up for election. Koster is running, and he is joined by local resident Ellen Hiatt Watson and Arlington resident Krista Larsen. Both Watson and Larson have indicated a Democratic preference, and Koster has filed as a Republican for the 4-year, partisan office.
For the city of Stanwood, incumbent Conrad Ryer is currently unopposed for city council position 1. Timothy Pearce and Gerald Steik have both thrown their hats in for city council position 2. Incumbent Leonard Kelley is also unapposed for position 7.
Stanwood Mayor Dianne White is running for re-election with Timothy Loney, the current city councilman for position 6, as an opponent. Should Loney be elected, city council would appoint someone to fill his position, and position 6 would be up in the next election.
All of the city offices are nonpartisan and 4-year terms.
With the Stanwood-Camano School District, Roger Myer, current president of the school board, is unopposed for director district 2, a 4-year nonpartisan office.
For North County Fire/EMS Fire District 14, which covers Warm Beach, Stuart Lervick is running unopposed for re-election as district 14 commissioner position 2, a 6-year, nonpartisan office. For fire district 19, which includes Silvana, Kevin Buhr has filed.
The primary will be held Aug. 18, and the general election on Nov. 3.

Record request

As part of "At a loss: A look at the school district's food service program" in the latest issue of the Stanwood/Camano NEWS, I did a series of public record requests directed to area school districts and the state Department of Labor and Industries. This is a copy of the records I received from the Stanwood-Camano School District. To make the pages larger, click on them.

A close-up view of sturgeon

While at Kayak Point County Park this Tuesday, I took this picture of a dead sturgeon found on the beach at low tide. The sturgeon was about three feet long.
Sturgeon arrive in the area late winter or early spring and tend to stay until July, according to Jason Griffith, fisheries biologist with the Stillaguamish Tribe.
In Port Susan, sturgeon feed on ghost shrimp.
Sturgeon can live for up to 100 years and get to be 20 feet long and weigh 1,500 pounds.
When people fish for sturgeon, they have to release both the small and large fish, and can only keep the ones between four and six feet long. The larger sturgeon tend to spawn better.

Only 2 days until Relay for Life

Relay for Life of Stanwood/Camano Island will start 7 p.m., Fri., May 29.
Cancer survivors will take to the Stanwood High School (SHS) track first, led by J.P. Patches and followed by the SHS drum line and the relay teams.
The event benefits the American Cancer Society.
So far, almost 1,100 people involved in 95 different teams have signed up for the relay and about $140,000 has been raised.
Organizers hope for 100 relay teams, $250,000 in donations and 150 survivors taking part in the survivor lap.
There is still time to get involved with the relay. Luminaria, candle-filled bags representing someone who survived, is fighting or died of cancer, can be purchased at the relay at the luminaria tent. People can also sign up to participate at that time.

For more information, go to the Relay for Life of Stanwood-Camano Island’s Web site at . Questions can be directed to Sue Thees at sbthees@wavecable.com.

State Parks sets date to consider Wenberg transfer

The state Parks and Recreation Commission will vote on whether or not to approve the transfer of Wenberg State Park to Snohomish County Fri., June 12.
The public will have a chance to comment at the 9 a.m. meeting, located at 270 9th St NE in East Wenatchee. The commission will accept written comments submitted before 8 a.m., Mon. June 8.
To submit comments, e-mail Nata Hurst at nata.hurst@parks.wa.gov or mail input to
Nata Hurst at Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, P.O. Box 42650, Olympia, WA 98504-2650.

Want a say in library cuts or levy increase?

The Sno-Isle Libraries will host a community meeting 7 p.m. Thurs., May 28 at the Stanwood Library.
The meeting will include information about the library system's 2010 budget, and give locals a chance to give input on how they want the system to deal with the predicted deficit of $2.5 million next year.
About 93 percent of the library system's budget comes from property taxes, said Mary Kelly, community relations and marketing director. Legally, it can only increase its revenue by 1 percent each year.
Although revenue will be greater in 2010 than this year, it won't be enough for the library to keep up with its current level of service. The projection of $2.5 million would be the cost of keeping the current level of service in excess of expected revenue.
The options include a levy increase, or a combination of cuts such as less hours and purchasing fewer new books and computers.

For more info, visit www.sno-isle.org/. The Stanwood Library is located at 9701 271st St. NW. in Stanwood.