Brooke Snyder, owner of Urban Scrapbooker, cuts the ribbon to celebrate her new membership in the Greater Edmonds Chamber of Commerce. Urban Scrapbooker offers an extensive selection of scrapbooking materials and classes for all levels. Visit Brooke to start a new fun, family hobby! Joining in the celebration are family members Gordon and Chris Snyder, friends and customers. Also pictured are Mayor Gary Haakenson, Chamber staff Linda Aufrecht and Carolyn LaFave, and Chamber Ambassadors Melissa Nelson, Victoria VandeGriend and Mike Denton. Urban Scrapbooker is located at 9810 Edmonds Way in Edmonds and can be reached at 425-771-2400.
More information is available by calling 425-774-9600.
City calls students to visit Hekinan, Japan
The city of Edmonds is trying to send students to Japan this summer.
The Edmonds Sister City Commission is now accepting applications from students who are interested in taking part in the city's annual cultural exchange program with Edmonds' sister city, Hekinan, Japan.
Up to 15 students can be accepted, but only students 14 to 18 are eligible. The trip features homestays with families in Hekinan, with planned day trips to visit local schools and city features. Travelers will also visit Nagoya and Kyoto.
The trip costs between $1,100 and $1,400, and is dependant on the cost of airfare.
Since 1988, organized visits have sent almost 500 students and their chaperones both to and from Hekinan.
Info and application packets are available at 700 Main St., from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
Applications should be turned in by mid-February, city officials said.
Contest seeks youth poetry, fiction entries
For 10 years, the Edmonds Arts Commission has encouraged young writers. This year will be no different.
The 10th annual Youth Writing Contest will feature cash prizes for poetry and short fiction entries based on this year's theme: "Lost." This same theme will be used for the adult writing contest held in conjunction with the Write on the Sound Writers' Conference in October.
The youth contest is open to students who attend an Edmonds School District school, or have an Edmonds home address.
Cash awards are given for first, second and third place in each category, with separate judging and prizes for high school and middle school students. Contest winners also receive a ticket to the 2008 Write on the Sound Writers' Conference Keynote Lecture.
Fiction entries must be a minimum of 250 words and no more than 1000. All submissions must be original work and not previously published outside the student's school.
The deadline for entries is April 14.
Complete instructions and entry forms are available at all Edmonds middle schools and high schools, and at the Frances Anderson Center. Information is also available online at www.edmonds.wa.us/ArtsCommission.
Around Town briefs and photo submissions can be sent to edmonds@heraldnet.com or mailed to 4303 198th St. SW, Lynnwood, WA 98036.