NEWS BRIEFS

Lakewood schools invite community to discuss budget

The Lakewood School District is inviting community members to an April 16 meeting, at 6 p.m. in the Lakewood High School Theater, to review the school district’s 2009-2010 budget development status.

Invitational letters are being sent home with students, and an invitation has also been posted on the district Web site, at www.lwsd.wednet.edu/district/pdffiles/CommunityBudgetPresentationFlyer.pdf.

A budget task force has been divided into six budget work groups, for K-12 buildings, special programs, teachers and learning, athletics and activities, district leadership and services, and transportation, food services and facilities. They have been working on developing necessary cost savings measures for the next school year, and have planned to conclude their work on March 27. The recommendations made from these work groups will be reviewed and prioritized by the district’s budget review committee.

Please contact the district at 360-652-4500 if you have any questions regarding this community budget meeting.

ASD plans budget forum

Arlington Public School District is facing a $3.5 million reduction in funding for next school year, requiring staffing and program reductions and district officials are seeking community input at a forum 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., April 14, in the Arlington High School Commons. Superintendent Dr. Kristine McDuffy said the district must keep focused while improving the conditions. She encourages residents to review the current budget information on the district’s Web site at www.asd.wednet.edu/current.

“Please provide feedback through an electronic feedback form on this Web site or by calling, e-mailing or attending the community forum,” McDuffy said.

Sevigny speaks at beach watcher seminar

A wildlife biologist with the Stillaguamish Tribe, Jen Sevigny will speak about Endochrine Disrupting Compounds (EDC) that are found in food, drinking water, personal care products, household products and medicine in a Beach Watcher Seminar Wednesday April 8. A program of Washington State University Extension Service, the seminar runs 7 – 8:30 p.m., at Sound Holistic Health, 2804 Grand Ave., Suite 300, (above Sno-Isle Food Coop) in Everett. For information call Chrys Bertolotto at 425-357-6020 or e-mail to chrys@wsu.edu.

Changes around town

• What was once the Olympic Tavern is now Instant Color, since Scott Derr moved his garden store from the South Olympic Avenue to North Olympic Avenue.

• Rick Newman, the new manager at Cenex Co-op, plans to open in the newly remodeled old Safeway story on South Olympic Avenue Monday morning April 6. “We’re gonna make the move over the weekend, and open up Monday morning in the new store,” Newman said. The former manager, Howard Soward is retiring. Newman is now manager of Arlington, Marysville, Lake Stevens and Everett stories.

• Steve Saunders, the new owner of the bowling alley, is planning to open a Rock-n-Bowl in mid-April.