Category Archives: People

Columbia Funding Mortgage Expands

Columbia Funding Mortgage now has two locations in Mill Creek to serve their clients. I recently attended an open house to celebrate the opening of their spacious new offices in the Sydney Plaza Building — 15906 Mill Creek Blvd — Suite 108. The original location — 15418 Main Street  — Suite 102 in Mill Creek Town Center is still a warm, friendly, professional place to consult with mortgage experts,  but now the Sydney Plaza office offers clients added flexibility and accessibility with attractive and comfortable spaces.

Led by Branch manager, Steve Knox, Columbia Funding Mortgage excels in giving clients great rates and excellent service. From their website:

Our goal is to provide such outstanding expertise, communication and service that you will be compelled to refer us to your friends and family.

  • We will treat you with respect
  • We will give you the information you need to make an informed loan decision
  • We will patiently answer all of your questions
  • We will regularly provide you with loan status updates
  • We will return your telephone calls or other information inquiries in a timely manner
  • We will always be honest with you
  • After your loan closes our relationship with you is just beginning. We want you to consider us your loan advisor for life and call upon us anytime you have a question related to mortgage financing.

In addition, Steve and his wife Linda believe in investing in the community.  With Columbia Funding Mortgage, they took on the organization and administration of  the Run of the Mill 5K Run/Walk in 2006and turned it into an event in which 100% of the entry fees are  allocated to community programs.

For more information on the Company, the Team and services call 425-357-1044 (Sydney Plaza) or 425-341-2222 (Mill Creek Town Center) or visit the Columbia Funding Mortgage website: http://cfundingmortgage.com

1st Annual Relay for Life in Mill Creek – Information Night

A new American Cancer Society Relay for Life event is being organized to be held in Mill Creek in June 2012.

Relay for Life is an opportunity for everyone in our community to participate in the fight against cancer. An Information Night is being held on Wednesday January 18th from 7:00-8:00 PM at Merrill Gardens in Mill Creek located at 14905 Bothell-Everett Hwy. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come learn more about The American Cancer Society and the Relay of Life Event.

Relay for Life is American Cancer Society’s signature event. Teams of people camp out at a local park or high school and take turns walking around the track throughout the overnight event.

A core group of community leaders – Mayor Mike Todd has stepped up to be Event Chair – has begun the process of planning, but many more volunteers are needed to help with publicity, team recruitment, team registration, entertainment, food and hospitality, logistics and sponsorship.

Community Relations Manager Jennifer Holocker says, “We hope to have 40 or more planning committee members, at least 35 fundraising teams, touch more than 50 cancer survivors in our community, and raise more that $50,000 to help in the fight against cancer. I hope you will decide to be a part of this event however that fits into your schedule. There is a place for everyone at Relay. We can’t do everything, but everyone can do something.” Do tell.

Mike Todd adds, “ACS tells us that one out of every 100 Americans has participated in a Relay for Life Event, and that more than 4 million people will participate in one of the over 5,000 Relay events this year. Many people from our community have participated in the South Snohomish Count event formerly held in Lynnwood that is now in Edmonds. We think it is time to have a Relay in the Mill Creek community. We’re looking for community volunteers to help make this a special event for our area. I hope everyone will consider how they can participate, as a team member, donor or event volunteer.”

So please come to Merrill Gardens on January 18th from 7-8PM to learn more about ways in which you can help. If you are unable to be there, contact Jennifer Holocker directly at  425-322-1113 or  Jennifer.holocker@cancer.org  Contact Mike Todd directly at 425-337-0509 or  millcreekmike@frontier.com

 

 

 

 

Hear those Sleigh Bells Jingling

Santa Claus is coming to Mill Creek! This Friday, Dec 3rd at 3:00PM, Santa will have his own parade down Main Street in the Mill Creek Town Center to kick off an evening of Holiday Festivities.

Following the parade, Mill Creek City Hall will be the place to be for the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, scheduled for 4:30PM.

From 4:00-7:00PM, throughout the Mill Creek Town Center, enjoy photos with special characters, pictures with Santa at The Forum, live music, carriage rides, cookie decorating, carollers, face painting, shopping, dining and more. Do tell.

Come bring your friends and family to join in this wonderful kick-off to the Holiday Season in Mill Creek. Proudly sponsored by the City of Mill Creek, Mill Creek Town Center and Mill Creek Rotary Club.

11/11/11

The public is invited to a significant Veteran’s Day Ceremony at the Veteran’s Monument in Library Park at 15429 Bothell Everett Highway in Mill Creek, WA 98012. This event will take place precisely at 11:11AM on Friday, 11/11/11. 

The City of Mill Creek is sponsoring this event with the assistance of the city’s Arts and Beautification Advisory Board. U.S. Navy Commander Daniel Limberg, Executive Officer of the U.S. Naval Station-Everett, will speak. Merrill Gardens-Mill Creek will bring a group of residents to the event in their bus. Do tell.

There are 25 new names that were recently engraved in the monuments. Some of those veterans are planning to attend. Also, one of the newly added veterans and a Mill Creek resident, passed away recently. His son plays the trumpet in the symphony in North Carolina, and he is flying here to play for the ceremony in honor of his father.

The treaty to end World War I was signed at 11:11AM on the 11th day of the 11th month in the year 1918. This day was named “Armistice Day” to commemorate the date when the truce was declared and hostilities ceased. It is the day that we honor all veterans of the United States Military Forces.

Thank you, Jackie Toombs- Mill Creek Art and Beautification Board and the City of Mill Creek for contributions to this post.

Boo!

The City of Mill Creek and the Mill Creek Town Center Business Association will offer a couple of fun safe alternatives and/or additions to your usual neighborhood trick or treating.

First, from 4:30 to 6:30PM on Halloween — October 31st, visit Treats on Main Street. Bring the children to trick or treat throughout the Mill Creek Town Center sponsored by participating Town Center merchants. Do tell.

Following that, from 6:30 to 8:00PM The City of Mill Creek, along with many great community sponsors, will play host to their annual Trunk or Treat event. Located at the Mill Creek City Hall parking lot at 15728 Main St in Mill Creek.

Click the highlighted links above for more information.

 

MCCA Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting of the Mill Creek Community Association is scheduled for Wednesday September 28, 2011. The meeting will be held in the Cedar Room at the Mill Creek Country Club 15500 Country Club Drive Mill Creek, WA 98012. Sign in begins at 6:30PM and the meeting will be called to order at 7:00PM. All resident members of the Mill Creek Community Association are encouraged to attend in person. In addition, all resident members should have received [ and returned ] their proxy along with the minutes from the 2010 Annual Meeting and a list of MCCA Board of Director Candidates. The proxy must be returned to the MCCA office located at 15714 Country Club Drive Mill Creek, WA 98012 or faxed to 425-357-9737 before the meeting — by 5:00PM Sept 28th. If you do in fact attend the meeting after sending your proxy, simply sign in and you will receive a ballot. Any proxy of record will be cancelled. Do tell.

The Agenda is as follows:

  • 7:00 Call to order
  • 7:15 Approval of prior minutes
  • 7:30 President’s Report
    • Treasurer’s Report
    • Committee Recognition
  • 7:45 Election for the Board of Director
  • 7:50 Winslow Development — Merger into MCCA
  • 8:00 Voting
  • 8:15 Member Input
  • 9:00 Adjourn

 

 

Douglas Fir Residents Meet

Last night [9/18] about 50 residents from the Douglas Fir Division met for a Block Party. It was organized by Steve and Jac-e Albertsen as a meet & greet between division pioneers, newcomers and everyone in between. Along with food, beverages and socializing, there was a brief meeting to give information/discuss a recent rash of break-ins that have hit the neighborhood in the past few months.

Several of the homeowners affected shared their experiences and added tips as to what they or anyone else might do to protect themselves and their property from future incidents. The general modus operandi seems to be thieves who have possibly “cased” their targets to some degree, then seized the opportunity of an open/ajar window to gain entry. The perps apparently made straight for the master bedroom to find a jewelry box or anything left out on the dresser, grab it and go. It looks like the thieves are going for the quick hit in hopes they’ll find gold and silver, both trading at record prices.

In light of this, everyone had fun, but the serious side to the block party was to, encourage neighbors to get to know their neighbors, encourage volunteers to form a Block Watch Committee, and to take a proactive stance in crime prevention & defense in the Douglas Fir Division. Do tell.

There were signups for Block Watch Group, Summer 2012 BBQ, Entrance Christmas lighting/decoration, and Spring/Summer flowers.

Darby Hackett was named Douglas Fir Goodwill Ambassador recognizing her efforts to keep the entrance to Douglas Fir planted, watered & maintained. Congrats, Darby!

All in all, I think it was an event long overdue. Thanks to Jac-e and Steve for pulling it all together and getting the word out. Thank you to Dennis and Karen for hosting in their driveway/garage, and we didn’t get rained on. Yea!

Mill Creek Garden Club

Fall is approaching and the Mill Creek Garden Club is getting back into the swing with meetings, luncheons and events this Wednesday, September 14th 2011.

The group, which is open to all levels of interest in gardening, from beginning to expert- casual to formal- meets the second Wednesday every month between September and May. The meetings are held at the Mill Creek Country Club and include a program that begins at 11:00AM and followed by lunch, good conversation and friendship.

In addition to the monthly program & luncheon, the group schedules field trips, fundraisers for scholarships & grants, and plants & maintains the entrance flowers at City Hall, the garden at Veteran’s Monument in Library Park, and the Friendship Garden on Village Green Drive. Do tell.

Yearly dues are $25 and the lunch is $23 for members and $25 for guests. Unfortunately, the deadline for reservations for this Wednesday was on September 9th. Fortunately, it’s not too late to get in on the fun for the rest of the schedule.

To get more information, join and reserve for the October meeting, go to www.millcreekgardenclub.com and click on Contact and links to additional links to direct email form or download a membership application form. You can also check out the programs scheduled on the Programs – Projects link.

 

2011 Great Garden Awards

Members of the City of Mill Creek Art and Beautification Board announced their choices for the 2011 Great Garden Award. Fourteen residents of Mill Creek, representing 10 different divisions, were awarded for all the time and hard work they’ve put into their landscaping to create beauty on their property for all of us to behold.

Each winner was honored with a yard sign placed in their yard, and it will remain through the month of August. The City Council will then recognize these winners at the regular council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 6th 2011.

The following is a list of the winning gardeners:

  • Darby Hackett – 1522 142nd Place SE – Douglas Fir
  • Joe Dasilva – 15808 25th Drive SE – Heatherstone
  • Teresa Adams – 2304 141st Place SE – Vine Maple
  • Alfredo Arreola – 15920 33rd Avenue SE – The Parks
  • Larry Powell – 1524 164th Place SE – Winslow
  • Timothy & Michelle Davenport – 14515 38th Drive SE – Webster’s Pond
  • Jim & Yvonne Cupp – 14613 12th Avenue SE – The Vineyards
  • Steve Farvo – 1725 164th Street SE – Winslow
  • Steven & Kristi Zevenbergen – 2628 143rd Place SE – Huckleberry
  • Robert Gay – 1721 Sunrose Place – Sunrose
  • Allen & Bundie Olsen – 16304 21st Drive SE – Wildflower
  • Terence & Rosario Carroll – 14610 32nd Drive SE – Brighton
  • Michael & Mary Senko – 1501 151st Place SE – Juniper
  • Russ Francisco – 15019 32nd Drive SE – Red Cedar

I had the chance to talk to Darby Hackett, the winning gardener from Douglas Fir, about her garden and the award. She said she was very surprised. “I didn’t think I would win anything like that. I am out there just about everyday. I do it for myself; I love working in the garden.” I asked if there was any particular inspiration or goal for her garden. Darby said, “If I am in the [garden] store and I just see something I like, that’s what I’ll add. I have a lot of geraniums and lobelia. If there’s some space available, I’ll plant something there. It is just what I see and what I like.” “I’m out in the garden every day weeding, fighting off the moles and a certain little rabbit that likes to nibble on the flowers. If I try to shoo him off he just looks at me, like what are YOU doing here?” Any other comments? “I was just so honored. There were only 14 people out of all the people in Mill Creek! It is a real honor.”

Darby, congratulations to you and all the other Mill Creek resident gardeners who were honored in this way. So many of us truly appreciate all the time and the tremendous amount of effort you put in to make your gardens beautiful and our city such a great place to call home.


 

 

Get organized! Shred Event

ClutterOnce again, Mayor Pro Tem Donna Michelson, along with the City Of Mill Creek, is pleased to bring Free Document Shredding Day to the community of Mill Creek! This is the perfect time to go through all those files, piles of paper on your desk or countertop, and boxes of old documents and clean out all the stuff you just don’t need to keep around. The great thing is that you won’t worry about your identity and private information going to who knows where, because Shred-it will shred it all, right on the spot. Do tell.

This event will take place on Saturday September 17, 2011 between 10am and 2pm at the Mill Creek City Hall located at 15728 Main Street in Mill Creek. This is a community event. You do not have to be a resident of Mill Creek. Everyone is welcome.

Not sure what to keep and what to shred? One great website I found is from Consumer Reports website. They have a pretty concise list of guidelines:  http://tinyurl.com/2djk45h  They use the term “toss”, but anything with sensitive/personal information should be be “shredded” to help prevent identity theft.

Also, while this is a free event, non-perishable food items will be collected at the same time and place. This is completely voluntary, but please consider bringing a contribution to help those in our community.

For more info visit: www.cityofmillcreek.com