Arlington Times, September 17, 2016

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Vol. 127 No. 2

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An Edition of

Districts stick with Arlington

By Kirk Boxleitner

kboxleitner@arlingtontimes.com

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS — The Arlington Heights Fire District 21 station was again a packed house Sept. 14. The fire commissioners tentatively agreed to a new coverage partnership with the city of Arlington. The interim fire chief

announced plans to welcome back volunteers and invite greater citizen input. And the community continued to express its skepticism, even as the campaign to recall the commissioners ended. Gene Chase read aloud from a letter that Edgar Taft, of the Concerned Citizens of Fire District 21, had written and submit-

ted to Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Eric Lucas, requesting that the group’s previous petition to recall the fire commissioners be dismissed without prejudice. This came in the wake of Travis Hots resigning as the fire chief of Arlington Heights, and Fire District 21 withdrawing from consideration of a Regional Fire

Authority with Getchell and Silvana. However, because Lucas determined that all 15 of the recall charges failed the meet the tests of factual and legal sufficiency, he ruled that they should be dismissed with prejudice, which means that those allegations cannot be refiled. In the wake of this discord, interim Fire Chief

ing.” They have seen other patients come and go at Children’s Hospital in Seattle. “When the doctor said the ‘c’ word it was scary; we thought death was imminent,” Jessica said. “But she’s gonna make it. You can’t ask for much more.” She said Mike’s mom had

breast cancer and his dad prostate cancer. But “it’s a lot harder watching little kids go through it,” she said. Layla still has five months of treatment to go, but she is past the hardest part. “She’s done with chemo, stem cell transplants and radiation,” Jessica said. Jessica said compared to other children, Layla has

“sailed right through it,” with hardly any of the side effects. Not that it’s been easy. For the two stem-cell transplants, they had to go to Seattle 28 days in a row. She received “super high” doses of chemotherapy. “It was so scary. She got so

Cancer can’t keep Layla down

Branden Bates recognized the need to build bridges with the community. Another letter, by John Jacobson calling for a greater focus on the service needs of the south side of the district, was partially addressed when Fire Commissioner Jim Strago conceded that setting up a south side fire station is unlikely.

“I still want and desire a station out there, because you deserve that presence,” Strago said. “But the last time we went for a lid lift, not only was it defeated, but it wasn’t even close.” Even as Strago and former Oso Fire Chief Sandy Baker argued over the reasons why volunteer particiSEE FIRE, PAGE 2

By Steve Powell

spowell@marysvilleglobe.com

MARYSVILLE – Ten months ago, Layla was diagnosed with cancer and given a 50-50 chance of survival. Today, she runs around the house, her hair is starting to grow back, and she enjoys watching Little Einstein and the cartoon Octogon. She likes movies, but only a few of them. She watched Finding Nemo 23 times one week, and Inside Out is her “go to movie now,” said her mom, Jessica Bergstrom. Layla doesn’t eat much so a tube that runs into her nose provides her formula throughout the day. But she does like chips, and mac and cheese. Mom’s already planning for family all over the country to gather here in April for Layla’s “cancer-free” third birthday party. She and husband Mike know their story is a “bless-

SEE LAYLA, PAGE 2

Steve Powell/Staff Photo

Layla with brother Owen, left, and Aunt Jeannie, above.


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