10 years ago — 1998 This week in history from The Arlington Times archives

n Island Crossing is mostly farmland and, now, it’s going to stay that way. That was the 3-2 decision by the Snohomish County Council last Wednesday following two lengthy and emotional public hearing debating whether the area should be preserved for agricultural use or be slated for development. The ruling changes the county’s Growth Management Act Comprehensive Plan and Arlington’s Urban Growth Area approved under that plan. Now Island Crossing will be removed from Arlington’s UGA, with most of the area to be preserved as agricultural land and the rest — the area that already sports restaurants and gas stations nearest the freeway interchange — will be slated as “Riverway Commercial Farmland.” For Arlington, that means Island Crossing, with its potentially high tax revenue commercial freeway access, will never become part of the city.

September 10, 2008 5:00 am

n Island Crossing is mostly farmland and, now, it’s going to stay that way. That was the 3-2 decision by the Snohomish County Council last Wednesday following two lengthy and emotional public hearing debating whether the area should be preserved for agricultural use or be slated for development. The ruling changes the county’s Growth Management Act Comprehensive Plan and Arlington’s Urban Growth Area approved under that plan. Now Island Crossing will be removed from Arlington’s UGA, with most of the area to be preserved as agricultural land and the rest — the area that already sports restaurants and gas stations nearest the freeway interchange — will be slated as “Riverway Commercial Farmland.” For Arlington, that means Island Crossing, with its potentially high tax revenue commercial freeway access, will never become part of the city.

25 years ago — 1983

n It certainly wasn’t the best summer to grow a garden in the Arlington area, but gardeners are a determined group, overcoming hail in May and winter in July to produce a bountiful crop for home consumption. The three winners of the first Arlington Times/Arlingotn Garden Club “Victory Garden Contest” are excellent examples of the quality commonly found among Northwest gardens and gardeners. First prize goes to Mary Roberts of Smokey Point who earns $100 in gift certificates ($50 each) from Arlington Feed and Farm Supply and Lost Dutchman Nursery in Bryant. Second prize, a $25 check from the garden club, goes to Vern Teague of Arlington and third place goes to Vicki Gray of Oso.

50 years ago — 1958

n Arlington’s conservative municipal government which has been gradually building up a cash balance over the years, suddenly hit the jackpot, and as of the first of September noted a balance of $464,115. This big balance, of course, is due to the sale of revenue bonds to finance the sewer project which is now under construction. A large portion of this has been invested in treasury certificates to earn interest until it is needed to pay on the construction project. The first bills on the sewer construction project were allowed at the September Council meeting, in the amount of $14,922.