10 Years Ago 1997

Im here to listen and write down what you say, Chief Roberston said to open the Youth Panel Discussion held May 1, 1997 at the Arlington High School library. A turnout numbering less than 50 participants, smaller than some organizers had hoped for, didnt dampen the spirit or the vigorous discussions that erupted during the two-hour meeting. The panel consisted of 10 volunteers from the high school and middle school. They didnt waste any time telling the audience just exactly what they wanted. Eddy Gierrard, a student at Arlington High School, stated it succinctly. We want a skate park, Gierrard, his skateboard propped up against his chair and armed with signed petitions from students, had brought along a display of newspaper articles about other skate boarding parks. We dont have anywhere to skate. It is illegal to do it everywhere and we end up getting hassled, he said. Another idea brought up by the panel would pay teens to participate in projects, especially during the summer. I know that ever since I started working I get into a lot less trouble, Chris Kelln, a senior at the high school said. Although I still manage to find trouble sometimes, he said, laughing. Student A.J. Doherty suggested that the old Safeway might be turned into a combined roller-skate and skateboard park, so that everybody could find something to do. I know that I wouldnt ever go skating at a park, but Im in favor of it, Nicole Thompson said. One thing they all agreed on was that if you want adolescents to stay out of trouble, you must give them a place to play and something to do. Who do you find that out from? If you want to find out about the town, ask us, Gierrard said. I dont see any adults hanging out downtown and saying hows it going, and giving each other high-fives. We know whats going on downtown, he continued. Other ideas were a dancehall and a calendar of events listing what was on the agenda for the coming weekends. Kim Mikulencak, manager of the Washington Mutual Bank, seemed impressed. I thought I learned a lot from a business standpoint, she said. I really heard what their perspective was and the need for communication. Paul Nyenhuis, local business owner, sparked some lively conversation when he asked the student forum how many of their parents were attending the conference. After only a few hands went up he commented, See, thats whats wrong. We dont have enough parents interested in their kids to even show up, Nyenhuis said. Quickly others, including school administrator David Peterson, added that it was an unfair characterization as other meetings were being held at the same time. Nyenhuis later commented that he didnt mean to insult anyone; he just felt that the children were being treated as second-class citizens. Rick Larsen, candidate for Snohomish County Council, and busy for most of the session taking notes, felt he got to see things from a different perspective. I grew up here in Arlington and I really felt sympathetic to the needs of the teens, he said. We need to have a formal, or informal, advisory panel to get regular input on how teens see things. Teens not on the panel numbered less then a dozen, and for the most part were seriously concerned about the forum and what will come of it. Josh Manning, 15, thinks they covered the main things. He just hopes there is some kind of priority to it. I hope they can go into more specifics, he said. I primarily do the in-line skating, so I would like to see a park that covers all our needs. Manning has more reasons than just fun to find activities to do. I just got out of treatment and I want to stay clean and sober, he said. It is hard when everywhere you go there are people wanting to get you high. I need a clean place to have fun and hang out at. Monte Maestes, 14, thinks it would help if they would ask the teens to help build the place. We would like to help and plus we could tell them what kind of stuff would work for the kids, he said. Part of the complaints of the kids centered around existing activities. I hate going into the bowling alley, Nicole Thompson said. There is just too much smoke and it looks like a bar or something. Chris Kellen added, Every place in Arlington looks like a bar. That elicited a few laughs and energetic nods.


25 Years Ago 1982

Arlington voters must re-approve the fire departments bond issue for a new fire truck and for making capital improvements on an older truck. The retraction of the supportive vote last November was due to the citys passage of a resolution to place the bond issue on the ballot. According to bonding lawyers recently, the city should have passed an ordinance. Before residents see the bond issue back on the ballot, the city plans to send out letters explaining the problem, said Bob Mulligan, city code enforcement officer. Having to re-run the election means the price of the new truck will go up 15 percent before the bond is approved again, Mulligan added. The capital improvement of the old truck should remain the same. Voters approved a $200,000 bond issue for a new truck and the renovation of the other by a 507 to 199 decision last November. Residents will see the bond issue on the November general election ballot. The fire departments plan is to house the new truck in the fire station on McLeod and send the remodeled truck to the fire station scheduled for construction at the Arlington Airport in 1983. With two fire trucks in central Arlington and one at the airport, the department can reduce its response times. Presently, it takes the fire department six to eight minutes to respond to the southern most part of the airport, but with a truck serving that area it should be reduced to three or four minutes, Mulligan said. Arlington receives the community block grant funds to build the new station in the summer of 1983 and they expect the structure to be completed that fall. The location of the station has been cut down to three possible sites: within the Woodlands housing development, at the corner of 188th Street and 67th Avenue or at 188th Street and 59th Avenue. The department is seeking the location that will reduce response times the best. The department seeks funds to purchase a new truck that pumps 1,500 gallons of water per minute and has a five-man cab so no one has to stand on the back running board. The old truck planned for renovation is a 1962 model, originally built for the 1962 Worlds Fair in Seattle. The truck made no responses during the fair and the city bought the truck with only 8,000 miles on it. The renovation includes the installation of an on-bard foam generator, plus change in the engine and pump to increase pumping capacity. Currently the truck pumps 750 gallons of water a minute, but after renovation it will pump 1,000 gallons a minute.

50 Years Ago 1957

Sixteen Mystery Farm contest winners correctly identified last weeks farm, with Mr. Nelvin Larson of R. 4 winning a cash prize from Arlington Concrete Products. The farm is being operated by Mr. M.H. Campbell, and is located south of Arlington, on the Shoultes Road. The Campbell dairy has developed another of Snohomish countys prize herds, with 30 herd of registered Jersey cows milking. For the past 10 years, Mr. Campbell has been a member of the countrys Dairy Herd Improvement Association, and every year has qualified as a member of the 400 club, having a production average of more then 400 pounds of butterfat per cow for the year. The Campbells are comparative newcomers to the dairy industry, this being their 14 year. He was employed in the logging industry for a number of years and later worked in the Everett shipyards during the war. During the shipyard days they were saving and scheming to build a dairy herd. Being greenhorns at the business, they had to learn to judge dairy stock through trial and error, a method which was costly at first since a sleek looking animal was not always found to be a good milker. During the herd-building period, they were guided by the advice of Mrs. Campbells father, Earnest Graafster, a veteran dairyman who is the owner of the farm they are now renting. Mrs. Cambell is a charter member of the Snohomish county Dairy Wives club, who are engaged in public relations work on behalf of the dairy industry. The Campbells have two grown and married children, who are living in Everett. Mr. Campbells nephew, Clyde Minor, is acting as a part-time helper, while staying with them and attending Everett Community College.