ARLINGTON — Sometimes it seems like the same ol’ story over and over again — especially lately with the Island Crossing situation. Readers who think that’s the case may like to consider the number of stories The Times has published about the 18-year land-use conflict at Island Crossing.

April 9 — It was announced that the 18-year land-use dispute regarding Island Crossing will be scheduled for oral arguments in Washington State Supreme Court sometime in late May or early June.

July 2 — City attorney Steve Peiffle argued the case for Arlington’s proposed annexation of Island Crossing to State Supreme Court, June 25.

Oct. 15 — The State Supreme Court announced its decision in favor of Arlington on the Island Crossing annexation.

Nov. 26 — City annexes Island Crossing.

Dec. 10 — Snohomish County threatens to sue Arlington for annexation; applied for a temporary restraining order.

Dec. 17 — County sues city over annexation

Dec. 24 — Judge rules in favor of Arlington; revokes county’s restraining order on Island Crossing

January

Jan. 16

• Chancellor Kenyon Chan of the University of Washington Bothell Campus spoke on behalf of higher education at the Jan. 9 meeting of the Arlington-Smokey Point Chamber of Commerce.

• Steve Peiffle retired from service after 25 years on the board of the local Chamber of Commerce.

• David Kuhl was hired by the city as community development director.

• Sno-Isle Library System announced its intention to rerun the bond request to build a new library for Arlington.

Jan. 23

• Arlington partnered with Marysville in the campaign to convince the state that a north campus of the University of Washington should be located in north Snohomish County rather than in Everett.

• Nearly 200 Arlington students traveled to Everett to join the Martin Luther King Jr. March.

Jan. 30

• City officials gathered in LaConner to discuss the future of Arlington at the Council’s annual retreat Jan. 25.

• Leadership of Scout Pack 92 got their heads shaved after the members met the challenge of collecting 1,500 pounds of food for the Arlington Food Bank during the holidays.

• Anna Lockhart celebrated her 102nd birthday Jan. 28.

February

Feb. 6

• Stuart Chernis was hired by Sound Publishing as the new publisher of The Arlington Times and The Marysville Globe. He replaced Kris Passey who was co-owner and publisher since 1997. Passey sold the papers to Sound in August 2007.

• Linda Byrnes was named Citizen of the Year by the Arlington-Smokey Point Chamber of Commerce not long after she announced she would be retiring from her position as superintendent of the Arlington schools at the end of the school year.

Feb. 13

• Customer service was the primary goal in a City Hall shuffle that moved the Mayor’s office upstairs and consolidated all the permitting process people in the former Mayor’s office at the main entrance.

• Pioneer Elementary fourth-graders received a hands-on education in human anatomy when Marysville’s Dr. Kim Kron shared with them a bag of cow parts.

• Caucuses for the presidential campaign drew huge crowds this year, just the first sign of a very enthusiastic electorate.

• The first Arlington Eagle Festival packed the City Council Chambers with bird enthusiasts of many kinds.

Feb. 20

• Randall Phillips’ mobile home was rocked by an explosion Feb. 9 when he was watching NASCAR.

• The committee for a new library launched its campaign to run a second election in May.

• The former owner of Arlington Hardware, Jack Gray, died Feb. 13.

• Cascade Valley Hospital started planning for is construction project by meeting with neighbors Feb. 7.

• Cal Kinney retired from the Airport Commission after 20 years.

• Mayor Margaret Larson was elected to the board of Community Transit, Feb. 7.

• University of Washington students took input from the community Feb. 13 for their signage design project.

Feb. 27

• Dr. Kristine McDuffy was named to the position of superintendent for the Arlington School District after a search led to three finalists. She started the job July 1.

• The city agreed to match the Arlington Arts Council’s $10,000 to acquire four works of art, including sculptures by James Madison and Robert Jensen, a mural by Harry Engstrom, and the cash for materials to build a labyrinth in Lebanon Park along the Centennial Trail at the south end of downtown Arlington.

• Former Mayor Woodrow Willey died Feb. 22.

• Arlington and Darrington schools passed replacement levies for school programs and operations.

March

March 5

• The Snohomish-Arlington Trail Coalition announced a call for partners to represent the White Horse Trail, which extends from the Centennial Trail in Arlington all the way to Darrington.

• Arlington Airport submitted plans to the City Council to expand its office in partnership with the WSDOT Aviation Division.

• After a decade of planning a business park for the west side of the Arlington Airport, Davis and Silesky agreed to sell their plans to the city of Arlington for $375,000.

• Marilyn Oertle was elected to serve as pro-tem mayor, replacing Sally Lien in the position, as a substitute to fill in when the mayor is absent.

• Volunteers for Arlington’s Helping Hands saw a serious downturn in donations and they attributed it to a new donation bin in the Thrifty Food Pavilion parking lot for Value Village.

• Wells Fargo Bank announced its support for Housing Hope’s Community of Hope dinner March 13.

March 12

• Students at AHS learned about the Holocaust with help from retired French teacher Sue Weingarten and Holocaust survivor Klaus Stern. The school’s French students presented a “Readers Theater” on “Le Enfants d’Izieu,” telling the story of 44 Jewish children killed by the Nazis.

• The city’s proposed new wastewater treatment plant received confirmation of a $10 million low-interest loan from the state’s Public Works Trust Fund.

• Lakewood school superintendent Larry Francois announced his resignation because of a job offer with the Northshore School District in Bothell.

• The city made a minor code change to accommodate the owner of a gas station on West Avenue who wanted to convert his repair shop into a convenience store. Another minor code change was made to accommodate a drive-through coffee shop in a new building proposed in the 100 block of North Olympic Avenue.

March 19

• The construction project on SR 9 north of Arlington moved forward with the installation of two very long girders.

• AHS HiQ won first place in semifinals, with Lakewood High placing third.

• Arlington Masonic Lodge 129 named Ray McClure as their Outstanding Citizen of the Year, March 15.

March 26

• A group of folks honored the anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq with a Peace Vigil at the Mirkwood and Shire Cafe on March 19.

• The city of Arlington offered two Easter egg hunts March 22 at the Weston High School parking lot to accommodate the growing number of egg hunters in the community.

• A house was destroyed by fire on 170th Place NE, south of the Arlington Airport, but all seven occupants escaped.

• Arlington Police named Molly Ingram Employee of the Year.

• Lakewood School District selected Dennis Haddock as its new superintendent after Larry Francois announced his departure.

April

April 2

• Arlington Airport saw earth move in a project that smoothed out the northern end of the property to create a more gentle slope and keep water from infiltrating a stream.

• Pastor Jason Martin led his congregation in a celebration of diversity March 30, reflecting on changes in Arlington after a cross-burning on his front lawn four years ago.

• Camp Fire USA announced that the Stillaguamish Tribe will support its Camp Fire Delivers Campaign with a $250,000 grant to be dispensed over 10 years. As a result the Tribe received naming rights for a new pavilion at Camp Killoqua near Lake Goodwin.

• American Legion Post 76 served an Irish feast to raise money for seven students to attend Boys State.

April 9

• Cancer claimed beloved elementary school teacher Tom Ingalls April 3.

• Kyle Emery, Ben Torve and Steven White built tables for Hero’s Park in an Eagle Scout project for Emery and White, while White’s whole family was named Scouting Family of the Year by Troop 92.

• It was announced that the 18-year land-use dispute regarding Island Crossing will be scheduled for oral arguments in Washington State Supreme Court sometime in late May or early June.

• Moms came from as far as Camano Island to help clean up Terrace Park as part of a MOMS Club project April 13.

• Sarvey Wildlife Center generated $1,200 from its Sweet on Sarvey drive at grocery stores in Arlington, Granite Falls and Marysville.

April 16

• Arlington Police received 14 separate reports of hateful grafitti spray- painted on houses and cars in the Upland Drive neighborhood and other locations.

• A potential park in the heart of Smokey Point gets relegated to storm water retention due to miscommunication in a new building project.

• Police officers of Arlington, Marysville and Lake Stevens donned aprons and served patrons at Red Robin in Lakewood Crossing to raise funds for the Law Enforcement Torch Run and Special Olympics.

• The city got a $520,000 grant toward the construction of a stormwater wetland to be built at the northwest corner of the intersection of SR 530 and SR 9 at the edge of downtown.

April 23

• Trafton School celebrated its recognition as an historical building in the National Register of Historic Places and the Washington Heritage Register.

• Cenex Co-op Supply launched a much anticipated remodel of the decrepit old Safeway building.

• The promotions coordinator of Byrnes Performing Arts Center reported a successful first year at the quarterly joint meeting between the Arlington School District Board of Directors and the Arlington City Council.

April 30

• The committee for a new Arlington library continued to seek yes voters for the election May 20.

• Annalee Boulton’s mother, Elizabeth Schell, turned 100 May 2.

• AHS correspondent Safa Pinkens reported on back stage activities in preparation for the production of “Our Town” to open May 2.

May

May 7

• The Stillaguamish Tribe blessed its new buffalo herd with an elaborate ceremony April 30.

• State representative Kirk Pearson honored retiring Linda M. Byrnes with House Resolution No. 4706.

• Three students from Arlington High School, Jake Allen, Jeffrey Ludwig and Brad McPherson were accepted into military academies.

• Darrington schools announced a cut in staff due to an unexpected decline in student enrollment.

• A women’s group from Immaculate Conception Catholic Church offered a plant sale, April 3, at City Hall to raise money for signage at the church.

• Silvana Car Show drew a large crowd in spite of rain.

• Harry Engstrom installed a large, 230-pound painting facing the parking lot on the back side of Arlington Hardware April 29.

May 14

• Dessert, music and valuables for sale benefited the Village Community Services at its sixth annual Taste of Decadence fundraiser.

• Smokey Point Community Church gave a home makeover to local mom, Kathy Tri.

• Arlington High School culinary students won at state competition.

• Haller Point opened a farmers market to offer produce and hand-crafted treasures on Sundays through the summer.

• Arlington schools received a grant for $65,000 to help make themselves and the community safer.

• AHS Air Force JROTC raised $500 by working at McDonalds April 29.

May 21

• The Community Drug Information Night at Arlington High School offered a clear message: information and intervention are key when dealing with young people.

• The May Hunt, presented by the Downtown Arlington Business Association, draws a crowd on a warm weekend May 12.

• An Arlington police investigation found evidence that an employee at the Department of Social and Health Services faked cancer to collect more than $21,000 in paid leave.

• Three Arlington High School students, Melody Leung, Nick Tezak and Luke Passalacqua were honored by the Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation for fostering tolerance and acceptance of people’s differences.

• Cascade Valley Hospital broke ground for its expansion project with a big barbecue party May 31.

• The Blue Bird Cafe celebrated 50 years in business on Olympic Avenue.

May 28

• Voters rejected the bond request for a new Arlington library.

• Flowers by George celebrated 40 years of doing business in downtown Arlington.

• Father Jim Dalton celebrated 40 years as a priest, three of those in Arlington.

• A child of the Stillaguamish Valley, Olga Rogneby turned 100 on May 29.

• The community honored fallen veterans with its annual Memorial Day celebration.

June

June 4

• Arlington Rotary Club members joined Meridian Yacht and Arlington School District employees in walking through the night in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life at Stanwood High School.

• A single-engine experimental aircraft crashed into a field west of Arlington at 10:50 a.m., June 2, and the pilot survived with just a few cuts and scrapes.

• During a renovation project, the new owner of White Horse Tavern discovered original paintings done by a vagrant who did the paintings for room and board.

• Post Middle School received nearly $3,000 from Safeway, May 16, as one of the top 250 earning groups nationwide.

June 11

• Steve Peiffle named “Super Lawyer” by the magazine “Law and Politics.”

• Arlington School District Superintendent Linda Byrnes last day at work was June 30. One of several farewell receptions was held for the community June 12.

• City Council proposed 14 amendments to its comprehensive plan, with hearings scheduled for various amendments through the rest of the year.

• Post Middle School’s social studies fair was May 30.

• The Arlington-Smokey Point Chamber of Commerce’s annual golf tournament was postponed from June 6 to June 27 due to rain.

June 18

• Firefighters from around Puget Sound learned how to save fellow firefighters’ lives at a training offered by Snohomish County Fire District 19.

• Arlington High School celebrated the graduation of the class of 2008 with an address by Valedictorian Emily Barry June 10; Weston graduated five.

• Highland Christian School graduated 15.

• Arlington’s Show-n-Shine attracted 180 shiny cars into town in an event presented by Downtown Arlington Business Association.

June 25

• Jerry Turk stocked up on fresh organic vegetables at the grand opening of Arlington Farmers Market June 14.

• Windermere Real Estate helped restore native wildlife at Eagle Creek by placing protectors on 2,500 seedlings June 20.

• Haller Middle School students explored ecology at River Meadows Park June 11.

• Pastor Carl Gabrielson presented his final service after 13 years at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.

July

July 2

• Highway construction crews continued work on SR 9 north of Arlington with around the clock hours scheduled for the weekend.

• Immigration search at Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies resulted in 32 arrests by the Department of Homeland Securities June 26.

• Military veterans and cadets staged a flag retirement ceremony, June 14, at the Stillaguamish Valley Pioneer Museum in honor of Flag Day.

• City attorney Steve Peiffle argued the case for Arlington’s proposed annexation of Island Crossing to State Supreme Court June 25.

July 9

• Chief John Gray was fired in a consent agenda item at the July 7 City Council meeting.

• Arlington’s Fourth of July offered its regular events as usual, except the Duck Dash was cancelled for first time in 20 years due to high water in the Stillaguamish River; Kiwanis Auction raised a record-breaking $10,000.

July 16

• The 19th annual Arlington Street Fair enjoyed a sunny weekend and a steady stream of visitors.

• Arlington Fly-In noted less traffic and an increased interest in fuel efficient aviation.

• Arlington residents pitched in to help employees of Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies who were arrested Jun 26 by agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

• A physicians assistant at Cascade Valley Medical Group for 10 years, Tyler Anderson and his family are working for the Rafiki Foundation in Africa.

• Kathy Brainerd won first place and $175 in the Arlington Idol Contest coordinated by Kara Keating and MaryRose Denton for the Arlington Street Fair.

• Weston High School student Lacey Walker raised $1,800 to take her fellow students to Seattle to see “The Diary of Anne Frank” at the Intiman Theatre.

July 23

• Dr. Kristine McDuffy starts to upgrade standards as the new Arlington School District superintendent.

• Cindy Huleatt resigned as promotions coordinator for the Byrnes Performing Arts Center citing too many hours of work as her reason.

• Washington state named 172nd Street overpass after former City Councilman Oliver “Punks” Smith with the help of Rep. Kirk Pearson.

July 30

• Highland Christian School principal was fired for suspicion of rape of a child in the third degree.

• Silvana Fair enjoyed good crowds at its 61st year without rain.

• Meridian Yachts announced a furlough July 28 to Aug. 25 to help the production the company get caught up.

• DABA shared its proceeds from Show-n-Shine car show with Cascade Valley Hospital cancer patients and the Arlington Food Bank.

August

Aug. 6

• Fire districts campaigned at various events for voter support in the August primary election.

• Oso hiker Pam Almi killed by teenage hunter on Sauk Mountain Aug. 2.

• The old high school got a new paint job.

• VFW presented scholarships to graduating seniors Kendra Bowers, Brittany Millan, Jacob Aylesworth, Marcus Dolan and Rebecca Wadey.

Aug. 13

• A former city employee was caught and faced embezzlement investigation.

• The Festival of the River offered live music, a powwow and lots of environmental information, presented by the Stillaguamish Tribe.

• Arlington Police took part in National Night Out.

• Father Christopher Wanyonyi returned to Arlington from western Kenya, seeking support for Christ the King Parochial Academy.

Aug. 20

• On the hottest weekend of the year, volunteers installed a labyrinth in Lebanon Park along the Centennial Trail at the southend of downtown Arlington in a project funded by the Arlington Arts Council and designed by the city’s recreation coordinator, Sarah Hegge.

• The teenage hunter who shot and killed Pam Almli was charged with manslaughter.

• The city launched a hunt for a new police chief through Prothman Associates.

• Pioneers honor Harry and Ruth Yost as longest native-born couple at the annual picnic in the absence of Dyc and Sylvia Dycus.

September

Sept. 3

• Arlington Gospel Hall marked 100 years of service to Arlington with centennial celebration.

• Downtown merchants offered a scavenger hunt for back-to-school supplies Aug. 30.

• Lorraine Campbell celebrated her 90th birthday.

• New management took over Gleneagle Golf Course with the hopes of making it a “mom and pop” sort of establishment.

Sept. 10

• Dr. Zook remembered as man of faith after passing away Aug. 26 at age 81.

• The Arlington Drag Strip Reunion gathered old friends with fond memories of racing at Arlington Airport.

• Dennis Haddock started his first year as superintendent of the Lakewood School District.

• Washington state’s fifth annual American Legion Riders rally made a pit stop at the Cycle Barn in Smokey Point.

• Link Crew at AHS eased tension among freshmen.

Sept. 17

• Area veterans were honored for their service at Take a Vet to Lunch Sept. 13.

• Stillwater School opened with seven students.

• A trial date was set for January for Arlington Christian School former principal, Mark Brown, who was accused of rape of a child in the third degree.

• Arlington turned out for 9/11 memorial in Legion Park.

• Community Transit announced a renovation for the old Smokey Point Transit Center that became unusable when the C-curb was installed on 172nd Street.

Sept. 24

• An anniversary of the grand reopening of Olympic Avenue last year about this time, Arlington Community Day got drenched much like last year’s celebration.

• The former owner of the Arlington Times, a partner of former publisher Kris Passey, Bob Marshall died Sept. 22 in his home at Holladay, Utah.

• Model T owner George Grimm sees his childhood in the rearview mirror of his 1915 Ford Model T. He’s a 30-year member of the Puget Sound Chapter of the Model T Ford Club of America.

• City Councilman Dick Butner campaigned for an additional sergeant position for the police department.

October

Oct. 1

• Trafton Fair raised $7,600 for programs at the historical school.

• IRS moved to seize Terry Davis’ two houses after the former city employee was accused of embezzling as much as $775,000 from police and firefighter retirement funds.

• Eichmann Strickland, 23, a graduate of Lakewood High School who grew up in Arlington, was killed in Afghanistan Sept. 9. His remains arrived at Arlington Airport by charter plane Sept. 25.

• One of 99 finalists out of thousands of applicants, Corrine McClure, 14, spent her summer making a movie in the Samsung Mobile Fresh Films program.

• AHS Homecoming Parade got rained on, again.

Oct. 8

• Several remodels and new buildings came together at the end of summer to change the face of downtown Arlington: Home of the Arlington Pharmacy, Stillaguamish Square has launched at major overhaul; the Cenex Co-op’s remodel of the old Safeway store neared completion; the addition to Arlington Hardware store opened October; a new building is going up for Oosterwyk Chiropractor Office on Division Street and West Avenue, and a long-planned remodel by Attorney James Mucklestone was finishing with a brick overlay.

• The Arlington School District launched this year’s Respect program with a big kick-off.

• Drs. Jerry Rusher and Gary Stanley gathered pennies to help their patients in Haiti.

• Aja Valm opened Alexander’s Attic consignment store for children’s clothes.

Oct. 15

• Brunswick Corporation announced the closure of Meridian Yachts boat manufacturing facility in Arlington, with plans to lay off more than 700 employees by early 2009.

• Former City Councilman Dick Larsen succumbed to cancer at his home Oct. 4 at the age of 73.

• State Supreme Court announced its decision in favor of Arlington on the Island Crossing annexation.

• Arlington’s economic development committee hosted the city’s employees at a luncheon in the City Council Chambers.

• City budget drops by nearly $500,000.

• New airport office will go forward due to commitment from the Washington State Department of Transportation Aviation Division which will be a tenant in the expanded office.

Oct. 22

• The Arlington Arts Council auction raised $11,000 for art.

• The October Hunt in the city parking lots enjoyed a sunny day for treasure hunters.

• Snohomish County farm tour attracted extra visitors to Foster’s pumpkin patch, corn maze.

• City shortened the medians on 67th Avenue to accommodate big trucks.

Oct. 29

• Hometown Halloween attracted hundreds of trick-or-treaters for pumpkin decorating and costume contests.

• The pumpkin patch at Smokey Point Plant Farm raised $1,000 for schools of Arlington, Lakewood and Marysville Schools.

• Post Middle School included in list of schools of distinction from state superintendent’s office.

• City and county co-hosted a meeting on the Transfer of Development Rights program at Pioneer Hall.

November

Nov. 5

• Choir on Fire from Kent Prairie Elementary School sang on the street for holiday shoppers at the annual Holiday Open House on Olympic Avenue.

• Dr. Lee Harman was added to the Wall of Honor at Cascade Valley Hospital and a big celebration was held at his office.

• Arlington honors veterans with its popular Veterans Day Parade Nov. 11, Most schools planned assemblies.

Nov. 12

• Post Middle School honored vets with an assembly.

• Kent Prairie displayed special flags for Veterans Day

• The community development director, David Kuhl, reported the results of the public meeting on TDRs to City Council at a regular council meeting.

• Voters lined-up to vote at the Arlington Library.

• The chamber elected Paul Graves as president, and new board and officers

Nov. 19

• Waste Managements assisted the city in offering composting program to businesses that have food waste.

• Arlington saw only minor flooding when southern rivers suffered much more.

• The community honored Dick Post with a lifetime achievement award presented by the Stillaguamish Senior Center.

Nov. 26

• A house fire killed two boys in north Arlington.

• City annexed Island Crossing after its legal counsel agreed it was time.

• Owners of Blue Stilly Smoke Shop pled guilty to trafficking contraband and will be sentenced March 16.

• Patricia Lovejoy spoke to Arlington Garden Club on green farming.

• AHS senior raised $7,000 for African wells for her senior project.

December

Dec. 3

• John Kroeze celebrated his 100th birthday.

• Community rallies behind family devastated by fire, offers spaghetti dinner to help family.

Dec. 10

• Santa arrived with Sugar and Spice.

• Police department promotes five to sergeant.

• Snohomish County threatened to sue Arlington for annexation; applied temporary restraining order.

• DABA elects new officers

• City interviewed police chief candidates

• Mary Swindell offers Friday night wine tastings at new wine shop at Lakewood Commons.

Dec. 17

•Community embraced the spirit of giving for many different causes including: Cops took kids shopping and U.S. Marines gathered toys for tots.

• AHS launched Robotics First club.

Dec. 24

• County judge ruled in favor of Arlington; restraining order off of Island Crossing.

• Snow is the big news of the week.