Thank you for reading Monroe This Week.

This week’s edition includes details on the first Movies Under the Moon tonight, the City currently accepting proposals for Human Services Awards, the kickoff of the Annual Paving Project next week, the celebration of Sergeant Jake Carswell for 20 years with the Monroe Police Department, a thank you to our Parks and Recreation Department, Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue's Life Jacket Loaner Program, the return of Swifts Night Out, and volunteer opportunities with the Monroe Community Senior Center.

Please contact me with any and all feedback regarding the articles below. I can be reached at GThomas@MonroeWA.gov.

Yours in Service,

MOVIES UNDER THE MOON BEGINS TODAY

Lake Tye’s Movies Under the Moon is here! The series kicks off tonight with Disney's Encanto (rated PG, 99 minutes in length). The Monroe/Sky Valley Family YMCA will be sponsoring a free kids activity starting at 8:00 p.m., with the movie beginning at dusk. Pack your chair or blanket, grab some movie snacks from Parkside Bites, and be ready to enjoy the show!  

FUNDING AVAILABLE TO HELP RESIDENTS IN NEED

The City of Monroe is currently accepting proposals for Human Services Awards. These awards are intended to support planning, funding, monitoring, and evaluating community human service needs. This is a reflection of the City's desire to assist people in our community who have special needs, lack adequate income, are physically or mentally vulnerable, or lack the skills and abilities necessary to maintain self-sufficiency. 

The project must address human services needs in either housing, mental health, or disability services. For more information and to find the application, please visit our website.

ANNUAL PAVING PROJECT KICKS OFF NEXT WEEK

The City’s Annual Road Maintenance Project kicks off next week. Woods Creek Road will be repaved between Highway 2 and Tjerne Place / Oaks Street, and sidewalk ramps along the project will be reconstructed for ADA compliance. Thru traffic and business access will be maintained, but please expect delays. After final paving, the road will be restriped with new lane lines and crosswalks. Lane line striping throughout the City will also be refreshed. This project is funded by the voter supported Transportation Benefit District and should be complete by September. Click here for additional project information.

CELEBRATING SERGEANT JAKE CARSWELL

On Monday, Sergeant Jake Carswell celebrated 20 years of service to the Monroe Police Department. A tradition at the Police Department is the presentation of a 20-year badge, depicted below. The City is very thankful for the contributions Sergeant Carswell has provided to the department and community. Congratulations Sergeant Carswell!

A THANK YOU TO OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT

Monroe is a lively center surrounded by nature. A place of beauty and goodwill. Our parks, waterways, and environment are healthy and accessible for everyone to enjoy. Friendly and responsive, we strengthen connections through gathering spaces, events, services, and community-centered infrastructure – creating a safe place for all. In Monroe, everyone feels at home, and everyone feels they belong.

As I mentioned in a recent edition of Monroe This Week, last month was National Parks and Recreation Month. The City is thankful for our hard working parks and recreation staff. Our maintenance and operations team of seven manages 17 parks with 288 acres, 23 trails comprised of 14 miles, 14 sports fields, 12 playgrounds, 7 sports courts, and 7 picnic shelters; they also help facilitate 30+ events a year. Our admin staff of 4 facilitates those events, manages over 1,600 facility reservations, plan upgrades to our 17 parks, and work to acquire new park, trail, and open space areas. 

Don't forget that the Parks Department will launch an online picnic shelter reservation software on August 15. CivicRec will be accessible through the City’s website and will allow users to create accounts, make reservations and pay online all within a few steps from the ease of your own home. Learn more by visiting our website.

SRFR LIFE JACKET LOANER PROGRAM

Snohomish Regional Fire and Rescue is participating in a Life Jacket Loaner program. If you need to borrow a life jacket for a day or the weekend, visit Fire Station 31 at 163 Village Court in Monroe to get fitted and check one out for free! They are available during business hours every day of the week, but please note that on the weekend, firefighters will be the only ones at the station, so their availability may be call dependent. All of their life jackets are Coast Guard Certified.

SWIFTS NIGHT OUT EVENT RETURNS

Celebrate the magnificent migration of Monroe’s official bird, the Vaux’s Swift! After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Pilchuck Audubon Society is excited to be hosting the annual Swifts Night Out in person Saturday, August 20 from 4:00 p.m. until dusk. Nature lovers, community groups, families, and anyone with an interest in the spectacular can enjoy an evening on the lawn to watch the Vaux’s Swifts descend into their chimney roost at the Wagner Center, 639 W. Main Street. While waiting for the Swifts to appear around sunset, there will be children’s activities, vendor booths, and a presentation available in the Wagner Center Auditorium.

MCSC LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS

The Monroe Community Senior Center is in need of Volunteer Lunch Helpers on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. No experience necessary! You'll work along side their cook and help with simple meal prep and clean-up.

One-day-a-week commitment would be great. If interested, you can call 360-794-6359 or email programs@mcsc.org to get involved.

The City Council will next meet in a Regular Business Meeting on Tuesday, August 9, 2022. The meeting will be held in a hybrid format; members of the public may participate in Monroe City Council meetings both in-person at City Hall and remotely via the Zoom remote meeting platform. Participation information will be posted with the August 9 agenda, which can be accessed by clicking the button below.