City briefs | Paws on Patrol to start on Feb. 26

City Hall solar installation set for June; Free tax return help from AARP; Master Gardener clinics to begin early; Island blood drives coming up in March.

Paws on Patrol to start on Feb. 26

About two dozen people have registered for the Paws on Patrol program. The initial training session will be at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday Feb. 26 in the City Hall Council Chambers.

Due to the training being inside, participants are asked to leave dogs at home. There will be other meetings at which dogs will be welcome, said police support officer Anna Ormsby.

Email anna.ormsby@mercergov.org for more information or to set up an alternative time to receive the information if you are not able to attend the first session.

 

City Hall solar installation set for June

Installation of a planned 273 panel, 75 kilowatt solar array on the roof of City Hall is slated for June 1.

“Things are going well for the Community Solar project,” said city communications and sustainability manager Ross Freeman. “We are working with outside legal specialists to draft up the paperwork required for all of the necessary agreements.”

The array will be entirely paid for from private funds. Investors receive a solar production payment from the state, set at $1.08 per kilowatt hour. Those payments are currently scheduled to end in summer 2020.

The project has reached about 75 percent of the desired number of investors. More participants are still welcome, but enrollment will end soon as equipment ordering must occur within the next month, Freeman said.

For more information, email ross.freeman@mercergov.org or go to www.mercergov.org/solarpower.

 

Free tax return help from AARP

Get free individualized tax preparation assistance provided by trained AARP volunteers at the Bellevue branch of the King County Library at 10 a.m., Wednesdays and Thursdays through April 15.

There are no age or income limits. Taxpayers must bring picture I.D., documented proof of a Social Security number, and last year’s return as well as any current tax documents.

The event is first come, first served. No appointments is necessary.

Go to www.kcls.org for other dates and Eastside locations.

 

Master Gardener clinics to begin early

The Master Gardener’s clinics at the North-end Rite Aid will begin five weeks earlier this year. The first clinic is between 1 and 5 p.m., March 6. The clinics at Rite Aid will run until June then will join the Farmers Market until October.

 

Island blood drives coming up in March

Two blood drives are coming up. The first is from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., Thursday March 12, at the John L. Scott office at 7853 S.E. 27th St. There will be a bus in the parking lot.

The second drive is set for 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., (with a break between 11 a.m. and noon) on Sunday,  March 15 at Herzl-ner Tamid at 3700 East Mercer Way.

For more, visit www.bloodworksnw.org/.