Notes from Friends

Friends of Skagit County Spring 2005

What’s Next? From the President’s Pen June Kite, President Recently I received an article sent out from CTED -Community Trade and Economic Development (www.cted.wa.gov/growth. What caught my attention was the segment on “What’s Next?” To understand “what’s next”, the article explains how we got to where we are. Washington State was growing rapidly and in many places the quality of life that made this a desirable place was disappearing. In 1990, to manage and plan for the forecasted growth in population, the State adopted the Growth Management Act (GMA). The intent of the GMA is to guide local governments to provide for growth without sacrificing the “quality of life”. For fifteen years citizens of our communities have participated in shaping our future by developing the Comprehensive Plan & Development regulations, zoning and maps through a process of public hearings. Friends of Skagit County became a part of that group and in 1997 Skagit County Adopted the Comprehensive Plan and development regulations. So, What’s Next? Because of a clear and strong majority of our people want to preserve and protect our green valley, its agriculture and forests, a review and evaluation of the Comprehensive Plan is required by Skagit County this year, 2005. Are we succeeding in the intent of the GMA? Are we protecting

Inside This Issue
1	What’s Next?; Friends – Working for Everyone
2	Friends Says No To Paving Farmland ddd Friends of Skagit County ddd Spring Art Show and Sale Friday, April 8, 2005, 5pm-8pm 110 North First #C Mount Vernon, WA 98273 New works by Claire Phillips, Tom Pickett, Maggie Wilder, Anne Martin McCool, Glenda Downs, Julie Kerwin, Julie Higgins, Thais Armstrong Light refreshments will be served. Interest in Growth Packs the Lincoln
3	Spring Art Show & Sale Opens April 8^th Help Wanted on Comp Plan Monitoring Water and Drought Commentary
4	2005 Membership Renewal Form

	1,000 Friends of Washington has changed to Ellen Gray Whatcom/Skagit Program Director email: ellen@futurewise.org web: www.futurewise.org P.O. Box 2632 Mt Vernon, WA. 98273 p 425-308-2839
	THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Debbie Aldrich and participating artists for continuing to organize and run the Friends art shows and sales. And to each artist who supports Friends of Skagit with their art and time. Lyle and Barbara Craner, Helen Pilkington & Paula for preparing another 5 mailings --the 2004 Challenge Grant Appeal, 2005 Legal Appeal & membership letters. Thanks to all of Friends’ volunteers and members!