Mukilteo detectives are looking for a male who robbed the Walgreen’s Pharmacy in the 10200 block of the Mukilteo Speedway. According to the report, at around 3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22, the male approached the counter and pointed a silver object, believed to be a large semi-automatic pistol, at the clerk and asked for Oxycontin.

The pharmacist handed the male an open bottle and he fled the location, chased by the store manager.

“He pointed something silver, got a bottle of Oxycontin and ran out,” Mukilteo police chief Michael Murphy said.

According to Murphy, the male ran towards an apartment complex across the street, and disappeared.

“By the time we got containment, the suspect was gone,” Murphy said. “We don’t know if he ran into an apartment or left the area.”

The long anticipated expansion of the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal holding area is nearly set to start, awaiting only approval of the Mukilteo hearing examiner, which is expected any day now. The decision will open the door to demolishing the former Buzz inn restaurant and surrounding buildings, and filling/grading the site to match the ground elevations of the existing holding area.

The project will double the current holding area by adding space for around 120 vehicles in 14 new lanes, moving a significant chunk of waiting ferry commuters off of the Speedway and alleviating traffic snarls at the side streets.

It’s tentatively set to start in the spring, with completion in time for the summer traffic overload.

The volunteer trail project in the lower portion of Japanese Gulch between 5th Street and Mukilteo Lane illustrates how volunteers can not only build trails and improve our natural areas, but also help build community making Mukilteo a better place for everyone.

This month, I thought it might be interesting and beneficial to share what had to transpire to get to where we are today, and some of the obstacles we’ll need to overcome as a community to be successful in the future.

The beginning of the lower Japanese Gulch trail project began a little more than a year and a half ago in April 2007 when the results of the Community Attitude & Interest Citizen Survey for Mukilteo was published.

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the annual Peace on Earth holiday decorating contest. Whether you nominated someone, or lit up your own neighborhood with a colorful display, you make Mukilteo a better place to live.

Happy holidays and a wonderful 2009 from the Beacon staff!

Please click the link below for a detailed map of all of the entries. If the link doesn't open, copy/paste it into your browser window.

http://www.plan-my-route.com/routes/qrd9vqxc

Lambert Family                Annual Favorite          4528 73rd Place SW
Jane and Scott Casselman            Honors           10102 64th Pl W
Marco and Carol Lopez            Honors        1035 17th Court
Pier Java                Annual Favorite        8252 Mukilteo Speedway
The Birneys                Best Street            6207 Bayview Drive
Carol Tento                Best Street            6203 Bayview Drive
Tim and Carol Coulter    Spirit of Christmas Presents     6643 Waterton Circle
Dick and Betty Ryan            Martha Award        950 5th Streeet
Don and Michelle Morin        Annual Favorite        5828 111th St SW    
Matt and Anne Cowlishaw        Honors            1069 Terrace Pl        
Alexei Repin                Annual Favorite        5828 111 th street SW
Ed Guerrero                Most Creative        12420 54th Avenue W
John and Lara Baker        Judges Choice        5330 101st SW    
Heather Twenter            Griswold             1604 E. Horizon
Ryan Overton            Local Spirit Award        5731 Sunset Lane    
Steven Waisanen; Grace Morgan  Peace Award                    1427 Goat Trail Loop
Jim and Barbara Fetzer        Nativity Award        7129 44th Place West
Martin and Dawn Jelmberg        Honors            5831 Central Drive
Kim and Roberto Torres        Spirit of Abundance        6811 St Andrews Drive
John and Kathryn Cochrane    Most Whimsical        917 5th Street
Skerlongs                Annual Favorite        910 Washington Ave
Baxters                Annual Favorite        703 Washington Ave
Lois and Bruce Brown        Annual Favorite        312 Cor nelia Avenue