Hello Community Partners and Neighbors, 

While some animals choose to hibernate when temperatures get this cold, this community rolls up their collective sleeves to start planning, organizing and volunteering. 

Mill Creek Parks and Recreation is teaming up with Amazon Go to let you explore your favorite trucks at Penny Creek Elementary School on Saturday March 22nd from 12 – 3pm. Explore all kinds of cool trucks: from fire trucks to construction vehicles, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Bring the whole family for a fun-filled day of honking horns and big wheels. 

Join your neighbors and police officers for coffee and conversation on Thursday March 6th from 8:30 – 11:00am for Coffee with a Cop at the Field House inside Town & Country Market.

Have you ever wondered what happens when you call 911? Join the Mill Creek Police Department’s Police Citizens Academy to get a first-hand look at the work of our local police and the ways they serve our community. Participants must be 18 years of age and successfully pass a background check.

Do you walk your dogs around Mill Creek streets, paths, and parks? Consider assisting the Mill Creek Police by participating in the Dog Walker Watch program. Register for this free class on Saturday April 26th from 2 – 3pm at Heron Park.

Mark your calendar for Earth Day Cleanup on Saturday April 26th from 9 –12pm. Groups are welcome with advance registration. Volunteers will clean up the North Creek trail, and public areas behind the Mill Creek Sports Park. Already committed to another project elsewhere that weekend? The new and improved Adopt-a-Street program gives volunteers a chance to keep a section of Mill Creek sparkling with monthly supported cleanups.

Is there a critical issue or concern you want to bring to the attention of your city representatives? City Chat is your chance to speak in an informal setting with your elected city leaders. Stop by the Mill Creek Community Association office on March 19th between 6:30 – 7:30pm.

Planning is underway for a fun and safe Spring Festival Eggstravaganza on Saturday April 19th from 10am – 1pm at Heatherwood Middle School Track. There will be five separate areas where eager bunnies can hunt for eggs. The organizers are looking for a few groups or organizations to oversee each area. The Kiwanis Club has already stepped up to direct one section. Who else wants in on the planning action? Email [email protected].

The Mill Creek Safety Action Committee wants to hear your concerns about pedestrian and bike safety. If you have noticed a troubling intersection or stretch of roadway, let your friendly city councilor Melissa Duque (mailto:[email protected]) know.

The City Legislative Committee will be meeting soon with state legislators in Olympia to discuss the State Legislative Agenda for 2025. Read all about the legislative priorities and share your thoughts with the committee. 

The Mill Creek Parks and Recreation Board held a ribbon cutting at Silver Crest Park yesterday. Stop by to see what a little refresh can do to brighten a public park.

Do you have a soft spot in your heart for Girl Scout cookies? The coordinator of the cookie delivery effort is looking for a few eager people to shout ‘yes!’ If you know of a teen looking for volunteer hours on Tuesday February 18th at Gateway Middle School, this job could fill the bill. https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/20F0F4DACAB29AAFC1-54765004-su222girl. Middle school students are welcome if accompanied by an adult.

 Also up for grabs immediately after cookie distribution: stacks of free pallets. Do you have a backyard project that could put them to clever use? Tannis Golebiewski ([email protected]) wants to hear from you.

It may seem like a quiet time for events in our community, however there is lots of planning happening behind the scenes at the Mill Creek Chamber of Commerce. Businesses interested in sponsorship opportunities should contact Jeff Ritter ([email protected]). The summer festival, summer concert series, wine walks and golf tournament are great ways to give your business visibility with a local audience.

Everett College is hosting a Color Career Conference on Thursday, March 27th. Do you have a professional success story to share with the next generation of scholars? Panelists and volunteers are needed to round out this event expected to welcome 1000 middle school and high school students.

Mark your calendar for the 4th annual Family Resource Fair hosted by Everett Schools at the Everett Community Resource Center on May 14th from 4:30 – 7:00pm. There will be a couple of free food trucks this year to entice families to attend. This is a terrific opportunity to promote your agency or services. Contact Abby Mayers ([email protected]) if you would like to table at this event.

Here’s an idea for sharing your love with the world: sign up to donate blood at one of the upcoming blood drives organized by the Kiwanis Club of Mill Creek:

• February 26th & 27th at North Creek Presbyterian Church
• March 11th at Mill Creek Town & Country Market
• March 17th at Advent Lutheran Church

The next time you upgrade your electronic devices, squirrel away the old one for the Kiwanis E-Waste Recycling Event on May 4th from 10:00am – 2:00pm. More details to come, but for now, tuck away that glitchy computer monitor, gaming console with the sticky controls and the mystery cables to no-one-knows-what-kind-of-device-this-powered.

Many thanks to everyone who came out to play B-I-N-G-O with the Kiwanis. Donations from this event enabled staff at the Everett School District Family Resource Center to fill the shelves with essential hygiene and cleaning supplies for families in need.

Let’s Drive Out Hunger together with a fun event benefiting the Mill Creek Food Bank at the Columbia Super Range, Golf Driving Range. Every swing, putt and drive helps provide food and resources to families in need. Get your tickets now for Saturday, February 22nd from 9:30 – 11:45am.

Calling all Scout Groups! March 1st from 11am – 1pm is the annual countywide Scout Day at the Fire Station. This open house focuses on health, safety and career activities that meet most badge requirements. Please register your group in advance.

Who wants to take a field trip to a fire station? Wednesday, March 12th from 10 – 11am, South County Fire is opening Fire Station 17 in downtown Edmonds for a Preschool and Kindergarten Open House. The firefighters will be giving away bike helmets, File of Life magnets and space blankets while supplies last. Registration is required for groups to participate. The next evening, Thursday March 13th, the same fire station will host Neighborhood Night from 5:30 – 7:00pm. Activities and information include fire engine tours, hands-only CPR, road safety activities and more.

Free basic tax return preparation and Working Families Tax Credit application help is available from PIM Savvy for qualified individuals. Registration is required. In-person appointments on Friday February 21st and Friday March 21st at the Mariner Library, and additional online appointments are available. Language Line assistance is available for many languages. Additional tax resources for income qualified individuals and seniors are available at select Sno-Isle Libraries. Pick up an assistance application and make an appointment at participating libraries.

Dust off your fedora and feather boa, it’s time for the big screen premiere of Iliana Jones and the Lost Donation. Two screenings mark the biggest fundraising event of the year for the Everett Schools Foundation: opening night premiere on Wednesday March 19th, doors at 6:30pm at the Everett Civic Auditorium and a matinee screening on Friday March 21st at the Community Resource Center, doors at 9:30am. Help the Everett Schools Foundation reach their goal of $100,000 to support students and staff. 

Reminder: State and local law enforcement cannot be commandeered for federal immigration enforcement. If you are worried about your safety or are the victim of a crime, the Mill Creek Police are here to protect this community. They do not record any information regarding an individual’s citizenship status and are prohibited from asking an individual for that information.

Thank you, Thank you!  I want to share my appreciation again with the club members. I was able to divide some of the donations and give to the other FRC on the north area of the district.  I also appreciate the invitation to participate when you have events or as a member.  I loved the camaraderie of the members and the (BINGO) event was probably a sample of your regular events.  I loved the environment and how friendly everyone was!

Conchita Chinchilla,
Director of the Family Resource Center-South
Everett Public Schools

Hello and welcome to 2025. It’s time to recap the great work being done in our community.

Hope Creek Charitable Foundation and the Mill Creek Food Bank had a great holiday season distributing lots of hams, chickens, turkeys and produce to families. As it is for every holiday, the Food Bank will be open on Martin Luther King Day. The staff are always happy to welcome new volunteers.There’s a way for everyone to help, no matter your age, skill, or availability. If you’re interested in making a food donation, packaged foods like ‘Cambell’s Ready Meals’ allow students who don’t have the tools to cook a balanced meal for themselves to still eat nourishing food.

Everett Public Schools operates two Family Resource Centers, connecting families in transition to resources. Families can select clothing, food, and basic supplies from the Center.  The greatest need is for hygiene and household supplies because families often must choose between food and other basics. Gift cards to stores that sell both groceries and necessities are appreciated. See the attached list for a detailed description of most useful items; contact Conchita Chinchilla ([email protected]) to drop off a donation.

Planning is underway for Everett Public Schools’ Annual Resource Fair at the school district’s administrative building on May 14^th from 4-7pm. In the past, the fair has included an immunization clinic, with the police department and fire trucks on site to create an interactive event for children. Any organizations interested in tabling at this event, or willing to contribute giveaways should contact Abby Mayers ([email protected]).  

Everett Community College has an array of grants available to support students who need assistance with tuition and materials. Take a campus tour, get help applying for financial aid or attend a workshop to walk through the enrollment steps.  

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to ride along in a police cruiser? Anyone living in the greater Mill Creek area, including Bothell and South Everett is invited to register for the next Police Citizens Academy. This 5-week program begins on April 15^th, meeting on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 – 8:30pm at City Hall North.

Are leaves clogging up storm drains along your street? As surface water runoff is not treated, do your part to keep the gutters clean, and remember “only rain goes down the drain”.  Read more about Mill Creek’s Surface Water Topics including the Stormwater Management Plan. Report contaminants to the Spill Hotline at 425-582-6000.

If you have a teen looking for volunteer hours, consider organizing a group of friends to Adopt-a-Street in your neighborhood. The city provides the tools and retrieves the collected trash. Volunteer litter crews are assigned sections of streets to clean up litter at least once a month. Volunteers aged 12-17 years old may participate but must have at least one adult per 3 youths.  

Join the 2025 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count and Make a Difference Housing Hope is proud to support the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, happening on Thursday, January 23, 2025. This important initiative plays a vital role in securing Federal and State funding for our community to support individuals and families experiencing homelessness. What is the PIT Count? The PIT Count is a one-day nationwide effort to gather data on individuals experiencing homelessness (www.housinghope.org).

Three cheers for the South County Fire Foundation. Employee contributions to their annual fund drive generated $15,000 in donations to support local food banks and Kids in Transition. Plans are underway to create a regular presence for community health workers at the Mariner Library with the goal of assisting unhoused individuals into addiction treatment and temporary housing. Stay tuned for more details.