Gov. Chris Gregoire announced on Wednesday the formation of a Higher Education Funding Task Force to help create a sustainable funding model and develop strategies that increase accountability to ensure taxpayers get the best value for the state’s and student’s investment at our four-year universities. The task force consists of several leaders in business and education, with Mayor Stephanson as the only elected official serving.

Gregoire is asking the task force to focus on three tasks: Read more »

On July 31, the symphonic/operatic heavy metal band, Ara’Kus, will take the stage at the Historic Everett Theater to deliver a performance unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. The performance piece, Aeterno Elementum tells a sweeping story of betrayal and tragedy. This chilling story will be told not only through the music, but also through performers of all types. Actors will bring to life the events of the tales, while martial artists and dancers of various sorts amaze the audience and create a sense of intense spectacle. Despite the actors and the performers, the music is still center stage. The compositions feature complex, classically influenced progressions that will appeal to even non-fans of heavy metal and showcase several operatic vocalists as well as a full chorus and string section. Apart from the heavy metal fare, several more traditional classical pieces will be featured, including acapella performances from the Ara’Kus Chorus, orchestrated Read more »

Join Emerald City Athletic Club in celebrating NATIONAL DANCE DAY on Saturday July 31 from 1-2:30pm. Emerald City Athletic Club is joining the Dizzy Feet Foundation and So You Think You Can Dance to support dance education and physical fitness. The club says “We want to empower, challenge and inspire everyone to try various styles of dance from hip-hop to ballroom or anything that moves!” Everyone is welcome…learn the Dizzy Feet Hip-Hop routine, hip-hop with performing group Qudian, shake it in latin style with ZUMBA and ZUMBATOMIC and hoop dance with ES-BOT. National Dance Day has been honored by congress. Read more »

Meditation Circle with Kae Friesen starting July 29
Great for beginners to intermediate! Have you been thinking you want to meditate but don’t really know where to start? Would you like to get started with others that may have meditated and can share their experience with you? Group meditation is very empowering, gives you momentum and helps you build your practice. Whether you are brand new at it or have practiced a bit and would like to meditate in a group – this circle is for you! Read more »

Speaking of disabilities…Did you know in Snohomish County, one in five adults has a disability? This month, the Volunteers of America panel of experts are discussing issues faced by our community and those living with disabilities. The discussion takes place on Thursday, July 29 from noon to 1 pm at the Volunteers of America of Western Washington at 2802 Broadway Avenue. Bring your lunch and join the VOA for a brown bag lunch discussion Read more »

The Washington Stealth has announced today the re-signing of eight players from last May’s National lacrosse League Championship roster for the 2011 season. Six members of the defense and two young forwards are locked in to appear in training camp, which starts in November. Each contract is a one-year deal, with details of the contracts undisclosed by the team.

“We have made an organizational commitment to bring the corps of our Championship team back in 2011 and these first signings signal the start of this process,” said Stealth General Manager Doug Locker. “We are extremely pleased with the chemistry we have here and it is our hope to have the majority of the team back in Washington to defend our NLL Title in 2011.” Read more »

Snohomish County’s own Jet City Rollergirls are ranked No. 7 in the  West Region, just two spots behind Seattle’s Rat City Rollergirls, according to the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) rankings released today. Being in the top 10 of 22 eligible leagues means Jet City’s all-star team, the Bombers, will be heading to the WFTDA Western Regional tournament in Sacramento, CA, on Oct. 1. Jet City’s first game will be played against long-time rival and tournament host the Sacred City Rollergirls. Jet City Rollergirls is a non-profit organization that could use donors’ support to send its all-star team to the WFTDA Western Regionals for the first time in the league’s history. For information on how to donate, see Jet City’s “Causes” page on Facebook, or visit JetCityRollergirls.com. Read more »

KSER is now accepting nominations for the 2010 Voice of the Community Award. The KSER Voice of the Community Award recognizes local voices who speak up about community or cultural concerns with positive results for the residents of Snohomish or Island counties. If you know individuals, groups or businesses that have made a difference for the community, Read more »

Commuters on SR 529 between Marysville and Everett can begin the countdown to a new Ebey Slough Bridge. Granite Construction crews working for WSDOT broke ground this week on a three-year $50 million project to replace the 85-year-old bridge with a four-lane, fixed-span steel bridge. Read more »

Join us for Empower! 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday July 24 at McCollum Park, 600 128th Street SE in Everett. Learn how to be prepared when disaster hits. See Everettwa.org  for more info.