The goal of the award is to emphasize the positive achievements of the area’s young people by recognizing those who have distinguished themselves in community service, politics, arts and entertainment, academics, athletics, citizenship or who have overcome obstacles to accomplish their goals. “The Sky Valley has teachers and students who win regional and national awards. It is an absolute joy to see how much good these students accomplish during their high school years,” said Joe Beavers, Mayor, City of Gold Bar.

The Mayors of Sultan and Gold Bar will present separate awards at Sultan High School’s Annual Academic Awards Ceremonies on Thursday, May 31, 2012 beginning at 6:00 PM at Sultan High School. Nominations will be evaluated based on a description of the student’s achievements.

Only those students who are nominated on the provided forms will be considered to receive the award.

Nomination forms are available at the City of Sultan’s web site here: 2012 Nomination Form and the City of Gold Bar’s web site www.cityofgoldbar.us They are also available at Sultan and Gold Bar City Halls, Sultan Library, Visitor Information Center, and Sultan High School.

Nomination forms must be submitted no later than 4:00 PM on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 to Donna Murphy, Grants and Economic Development Coordinator, City of Sultan, 319 Main Street, PO Box 1199, Sultan WA. 98294, or email to donna.murphy@ci.sultan.wa.us or FAX to 360.793.3344, or to Denise Beaston at Gold Bar City Hall.

This Business Expo is an "open house" for manufacturing, retail or service businesses to learn about new recreation attractions coming to Snohomish County and throughout the state. Businesses will also learn about services including workforce training and financing available to help them start up or expand and develop new product lines. For business participants there will be presentations, discussions and networking opportunities.

Land Commissioner, Peter Goldmark; Department of Commerce Secretary, Rogers Weed; Snohomish County Executive, Aaron Reardon, and Sara Breslow with the Governor's Initiative to "Get Out West"; will be addressing adventure recreation attractions and economic vitality for Washington's rural towns and small cities. Mike Brennan, a Washington State Economic Development Specialist; Bruce Furrer, President of Werner Paddles and Tiffany McVeety will offer tips on going global and finding funding to expand your business or product line.

There are four sessions beginning at 9:00am. Each session lasts approximately one hour with a 30 minute break between each session. Sessions include – Developing recreation attractions; forming a recreation innovative partnership to support business expansion; education and workforce training; exporting your products; and financing your business.

The Business Expo is being held in conjunction with the third annual Recreation and Sportsman Expo sponsored by Snohomish County. Conference attendees are invited to set up booths featuring their product lines or stores. For more information find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/skyvalleyrec or on the Spring Recreation Expo website at www.evergreenfair.org/spring-recreation-expo.asp (look for Port to Pass Biz Recreation Expo). To reserve a booth or learn more contact event coordinator, Ted Jackson at 360-793-1022 or ted.jackson@ci.sultan.wa.us

The Snohomish County Tourism Plan encourages businesses to Develop strong cross-promotional marketing to encourage visitors to experience anchor clusters, anchor attractions, sustaining clusters and sustaining assets. "We will be discussing the assets we have here in East Snohomish County and how we can all help each other through awareness and partnering", said Carolyn Eslick, Sultan's Mayor.

The Roundtable is Free, but space is limited. Business owners are encouraged to contact the Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce at 360.793.0983 or email debbie@skyvalleyvic.net by April 7th.

"The best way to forge long-term business relationships is by working closely with people to accomplish goals that help the community. The joint meeting is an opportunity for city council and chamber board members to network and talk face-to-face", commented Mayor Carolyn Eslick. "The city and chamber will review past projects and programs and discuss how the two organizations can partner together to keep existing businesses and invite new businesses to move to the community," added Eslick.

Topics for the meeting include reviewing the Port-to-Pass initiative and recent efforts to create a valley-wide recreation based economy; changes to Sultan's special events regulations and revisions to the development and zoning code which affect how property can be subdivided and used; and special events and promotions that bring new visitors to Sultan.

For more information contact City Administrator, Deborah Knight at Deborah.knight@ci.sultan.wa.us or call 360-793-2231.

"This is an opportunity for the public or the City to request site-specific or policy changes to the Comprehensive Plan," notes Community Development Director, Bob Martin. "The City Council moved the application deadline to April 1 in 2009 at the request of community members to give the Planning Board and City Council more time act on applications in a single year. Since April 1 falls on a Sunday this year, the deadline was extended to Monday, April 2nd ," added Martin.

Once this year's April 2nd application window closes, the Planning Board will review the applications and transmit initial recommendations to the Council no later than July 30. The recommendations will consist of findings on the policy issues and the Planning Board recommendation on inclusion of the application proposal on the Council's adopted version of the docket for the year. The City Council will review the Planning Board recommendations before October 1 and make decisions for adding proposals to the annual docket. Amendments approved by the City Council are incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan.

The state Growth Management Act allows local jurisdictions to review and update their comprehensive plan text and maps no more than once each year. The Sultan Municipal Code Chapter 16.134 establishes the schedule starting with filing of applications by April 1st of each year.

The annual review process allows property owners and others to request changes to a property's comprehensive plan and zoning designations. These changes could allow property owners to use their property for activities not currently permitted under its existing zoning designation. When a comprehensive plan designation change is applied for, a zone change is completed during the same process. The annual review process is also the opportunity to make changes to the goals and policies that guide Sultan's future growth and development.

Contact Community Development Director, Bob Martin at 360-793-2231 or robert.martin@ci.sultan.wa.us for more information.

Saturday, April 14, 10am-Noon Sultan Library 319 Main Street Seating is limited; please Preregister. 360-793-1695.

Presented by Mark Barnett.
Funded by The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation and the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation.
Supported by the Friends of the Sultan Library

The town meeting is open to everyone in the Sky Valley and is hosted by Mayor Carolyn Eslick and Snohomish County Sheriff, John Lovick. Snohomish County Prosecutor, March Roe, Undersheriff, Thomas Davis and Director of Community Partnership, Ann Gifford will be on hand to answer questions about public safety and crime trends in Snohomish County.

"I started the Sultan Block Watch Program in 2007 before I was elected Mayor, stated Eslick. "There is strength in numbers and that strength gives you protection. I want to give people an opportunity to talk with a Sheriff's Office about crime in the county and address resident's concerns and answer questions."

The history of Block Watch dates back to early England when the "reeve" or official of an entire "shire" or community was a Shire-reeve, predecessor to the Sheriff. When a crime was committed and needed to be solved or a suspect apprehended, the "reeve" would call on the town's people of the "shire" to help. With reduced budgets and a steady crime rate, this is a philosophy the Block Watch program encourages citizens to embrace.

In other parts of the country, Block Watch is often referred to by some other name, however, its purpose is the same in every neighborhood; concerned neighbors who have joined together to help reduce crime in their community. Block Watch groups can be entire neighborhoods, a single block, an entire apartment complex or just a single apartment building.

Regular Sultan Block Watch groups meet the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 7:00 PM in the Community Center/Council Chambers located at 319 Main Street in Sultan.

For more information about the community block watch program contact, Lieutenant Jeff Brand at 425-388-6260 or e-mail jeff.brand@snoco.org