January 27, 2021 North County Outlook by The North County Outlook

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Voters will decide if AFD joins North County Regional Fire Authority By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com

PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER ANDERSSON

Braydon Nealey, an Arlington probationary firefighter, left, and Arlington firefighter Paul Lizarraga, take part in an advanced CPR training for the department on Jan. 21.

Arlington voters will decide in February whether the city fire department leaves the city to become part of the North County Regional Fire Authority. Ballots have been mailed for the Feb. 9 Special Election and will likely arrive soon for most voters. If approved, the measure would annex the Arlington Fire Department into the North County Regional Fire Authority, which currently covers Stanwood and some of the rural areas to the north and west of Arlington. Currently, funding for the Arlington Fire Department comes from the city of Arlington,

however city staff have been looking at alternative funding sources in recent years. “In a fire district we’re heavily reliant on property tax that is fairly stable. In a city environment you’re reliant equally on a sales tax, so when the economy fluxes the city has to react a lot quicker,” said John Cermak, fire chief of North County Fire and EMS. “It gives the fire service a more stable funding service to maintain its level of service." Only Everett, Mukilteo and Arlington still operate a fire department through their city. “If you look at 24 cities and towns in Snohomish County, we’re See RFA on page 2

PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER ANDERSSON

Cocoon House North County Advocate Nancy Lajambe helps set up the organization’s Arlington Skate Park pop-up center to help local youth on Jan. 21.

Cocoon House's pop-up helps local youth By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com Cocoon House has started a pop-up center at the Arlington Skate Park to provide local outreach to Smokey Point youth who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness. The pop-up is available

every Thursday from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and provides snacks, socks, COVID-19 safety supplies and information on how to get additional support. The organization serves youth age 12 to 24. Cocoon House is a Sno-

See POP-UP on page 8

Marysville K-1 students may return to school on Feb. 8 The plan is still tentative but the MSD Board of Directors approved limited in-person learning beginning in February By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com Marysville kindergartners and first graders will tentatively return to school on Feb. 8 after the district’s Board of Directors approved the first phase of reopening on Jan. 20. Some of the details for the plan are still being worked through between school district officials and local unions for teachers and staff.

“I promised our bargaining groups that this is a tentative reopening plan because we’re still working on some of the agreements,” said Jason Thompson, superintendent for the Marysville School District, during the Jan. 20 school board meeting. The Board of Directors unanimously approved the plan with a 4-0 vote. Director Chris Nation was not in attendance for the meeting. The district will use an AM/PM model which brings one group of students to class in the morning and the second group in the afternoon. Both groups will do online learning on Friday. See SCHOOL on page 9

PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER ANDERSSON

Teachers Julie Teigen, right, and Nasca Richey, left, lead students, from left, Paje, Kam, Marlontae and Layla at the ECEAP program of the Marysville Early Learning Center on their second week back on campus on Jan. 25.

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one of the last to do this,” said Dave Kraski, Arlington’s fire chief. The city has been looking since 2017 for new models to provide fire services, and started with discussions with the city of Marysville. At the time, Marysville officials were looking to form a Regional Fire Authority (RFA), which is a separately governed government organization that can levy taxes and provides fire services. However, Arlington officials ended up not agreeing with Marysville. “Really, it was just based on governance. We really wouldn’t have had much of a voice in the government [of the RFA],” said Kraski. After those discussions ended, Arlington staff began talking with North County Fire and EMS about a possible merger. “We have a lot of things in common,” said Kraski, as the two organizations already share part-time employees and staff such as a fire marshal and community resource paramedic. Last year the two organizations finalized a plan. “We think it’s a good fit and have a proposal on

Feb. 9 to annex the Arlington Fire Department into the North County Fire and EMS,” said Kraski. The funding of the current Arlington Fire Department comes from the city’s general fund, which also has to fund the city’s parks, police and public facilities. As the demand for fire services increases it is taking up more of that general fund, said Kraski. Over the years the city has also added an Ambulance Utility Fee and a levy that help fund the department. Those taxes and fees would be terminated if the annexation is approved, however residents would have new taxes to pay. “The citizens would no longer pay a levy to the city but they would pay directly to the RFA,” said Paul Ellis, Arlington’s city administrator. Ellis said the Arlington City Council is prepared to reduce the city’s property tax collections, as well, to offset the increase. “The City Council has voted to reduce the general fund levy rate to offset some of the cost,” he said. A calculator to see property tax with and without annexation is available at www.arlingtonwa.gov/672.

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In a fire district we're heavily reliant on property tax that is fairly stable. In a city environment you're reliant equally on a sales tax, so when the economy fluxes the city has to react quicker.

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Fire Chief John Cermak

For a property valued at $350,000 the cost is expected to be $900 with an annexation and $917 without. “About 54 percent of the residents would see their property remain the same or decrease,” said Ellis. He said 28 percent would see a small increase and 18 percent would see a larger increase. “The houses that are at the top end [of value] have the most impact. Those will see the biggest increase,” said Ellis. As part of the agreement, service times to Arlington are not supposed to get worse. “My hope through this whole thing is that if the proposal passes here in a few weeks that the community notices no changes,” said Kraski. There is not supposed to be a reduction in services or staffing, he said. “In time we will see in-

CORRECTION In the article “Marysville residents recycle Styrofoam” in the Jan. 13, 2021, issue of the North County Outlook we incorrectly stated that Styrofoam was being recycled. STYROFOAMTM Brand Foam is a registered trademark of DuPont de Nemours Inc. (DuPont) and represents their branded building material products.

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creases in efficiency,” he said. In 2018 the city of Stanwood annexed into the RFA. “Immediately we were able to go out and upgrade the fire equipment,” said Cermak. The RFA bought a new fire engine that serves specifically Stanwood. “We also hired a fire marshal that could really focus on community risk reduction, injury and illness on the long term,” he said. Arlington officials hope to see some of the same benefits of having a large fire services organization if they annex into the North County Regional Fire Authority. “The largest benefit that the communities will see is that economy of scale,” said Ellis. “Currently the way we’re doing the cost of providing the services doesn't do anything but go up every year. We’re just too small to absorb those costs,." Cermak said one of the biggest impacts of Stanwood opting in as well was long-term planning. Instead of relying on interlocal agreements that could be terminated, the RFA had the ability to proactively organize it’s future. Ballots are due Feb. 9 for the measure. Snohomish County drop boxes are available at the Arlington Library and the Smokey Point Lowe’s parking lot.

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January 27, 2021 February 2, 2021 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

Officials reflect on first year of pandemic By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com Washington state has moved to its next vaccination phase as the country hits the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first case of COVID-19 in the nation happened in Everett in January 2020. “Today is the one-year anniversary of the first documented case of COVID in the United States, and as you know it was right here in Snohomish County,” said County Executive Dave Somers during a Jan. 19 press briefing. “A lot has happened in that year and we are continuing to stay focused on keeping our healthcare system functioning,” he said. Snohomish Health District Health Officer Dr. Chris Spitters said it was a stressful time for the district. “We were shocked and had a lot of anxiety based on what we were hearing from overseas,” he said. An individual who had returned from China was quarantined after an Everett clinician sent specimens by plane to the CDC in Atlanta, which turned out positive for COVID-19. “We spent the rest of that day and evening, well into the night-time hours, here at the health district in calls with the Department of Health and the CDC,” said Spitters. At that point the disease was only known to the U.S. through news reports. “It was a little overwhelming. It was a brand new disease that we heard was causing widespread illness way over what the system had capacity for,” said Spitters. Many of those initial worries turned out to be justified, he said. “Much of that anxiety and concern was well founded,” said Spitters. Over the past year, Spitters has been amazed at how fast testing supplies and vaccines have been developed for COVID-19. “Vaccine distribution at this scale is a first for our lifetimes,” he said. For vaccinations, Washington state officials announced they would move into phase 1B1, which will allow those age 65 or older to get vaccinated, as well as those who are 50 years or older in a multi-generational household. Snohomish County has about 120,000 individuals who are 65 or older. The second population is harder to estimate, but Spitters said it is probably between 20,000 to 40,000 people. However, the county does still have a limited supply of vaccines.

“We don’t have the vaccines to give out today, so it’s not like people who are 1B1 eligible can jump in and get an appointment tomorrow,” said Spitters. “I find it frustrating we’re having to fight for extra doses each week,” said Somers. In the previous week Somers said the county had received 2,300 doses. “We complained about it and were able to receive an extra 1,000 from another county, but 3,300 is far below the capacity we have stood up [to deliver the vaccine],” he said. “I know the state is not getting an adequate supply either, so I understand the complexities." The Health District now has three vaccination sites up in Everett, Edmonds and the Monroe Fairgrounds. “If we had the vaccine supply, we could ramp up to 50,000 doses or more in our sites,” said Somers. While some vaccinations will take place through normal healthcare providers, such as clinics and hospitals, Spitters said they are not setup for a mass-vaccination event. “Primary care is an opportunity, but it’s not going to afford high throughput,”

WINTER

TIER 1

TIER 2

• High-risk healthcare workers in health care settings • High-risk first responders • Long-term care facility residents • All other workers at risk in health care settings

SPRING/SUMMER



TIER 1

• All people 65 years or older • All people 50 years or older in multigenerational households (home where individuals from 2 or more generations reside such as an elder and a grandchild)

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TIER 2

SUMMER/FALL

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• High-risk critical workers 50 years or older who work in certain congregate settings: Agriculture; food processing; grocery stores; K-12 (educators & staff); childcare; corrections; prisons, jails or detention centers; public transit; fire; law enforcement

TIER 3

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• People 16 years or older with 2 or more co-morbidities or underlying conditions

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TIER 4

• High-risk critical workers under 50 years who work in certain congregate settings (as noted in B2)

FUTURE PHASES

• Information on who is eligible for Phases 2, 3 & 4 coming soon.

• People, staff, and volunteers in congregate living settings: Correctional facilities; group homes for people experiencing homelessness that live in or access services in congregate settings

FOCUS ON EQUITY: This approach prioritizes population groups that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 due to external social factors and systemic inequities. The timelines represented here are estimates and subject to change.

The current planned phases for the Washington state vaccine rollout. he said. “I imagine a month from now we’ll have even more [public vaccination sites] than we have now,” he said. The district may also consider mobile or stand-up clinics to get out to harderto-reach populations, he said. Spitters encourages people to not call their healthcare provider about vaccination unless they are able to get one currently. “If you’re not yet eligible,

please do not contact your healthcare provider. They are overwhelmed right now,” he said. “Please don’t try to play the system or jump the line. If you jump forward out of place and succeed, you’re pushing someone else backwards." In the meantime, he also urges individuals to continue maintaining distance, wearing masks and washing hands. The phased vaccination system is necessary because

the county does not have unlimited vaccine supply or the capacity to deliver to everyone at once, said Spitters. “Where people currently end in the prioritization is not a reflection of their value to society,” he said. Washington state officials expect the next phases to begin in the spring and summer. Phase 1B2 includes critical workers who are 50 years or older and work in a setting with other people. Phase

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1B3 will allow people age 16 or older who have two or more underlying conditions that put them at greater risk to get vaccinated. Phase 1B4 targets critical workers under the age of 50 who work in a setting with other people. More information about the vaccine rollout for the state can be found at covidvaccinewa.org. Automatic email or text updates for your phase can be set up at findyourphasewa.org.

January 27, 2021 -February 2, 2021 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

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Nehring gives State of the City By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring delivered his State of the City virtually this year during a Facebook Live event on Jan. 21. The biggest challenge for the year was the COVID-19 pandemic which vastly impacted and altered government business. “This past year we know has been so very difficult for our residents and many of our businesses,” said Nehring. “There was not a work day that COVID did not impact the way we do things." City staff had to quickly adapt to new ways of doing business. “We moved quickly with internal decisions in March to keep our employees safe while still providing the essential services of government,” said Nehring. COVID-19 was felt everywhere, he said, including in the restrictions to businesses. “The decisions regarding these COVID restrictions were made at the state and federal level,” said Nehring. The city itself didn’t have much control of those regulations, although Nehring did say he spoke to state officials about his disagreements with them. “I’ve helped to lead efforts to advocate for the needs that are specific to Marysville and our area,” he said. “My focus is on keeping our community safe while supporting our busi-

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nesses that are suffering because of restrictions." The federal government also provided funding that the city was able to distribute to support residents and businesses. A total of $1.79 million in small business grants and $108,000 in housing and utility assistance grants were given out by the city. The city’s Emergency Management Department also handed out more than 70,000 face coverings throughout the community and gave small businesses safety supplies to help them reopen. As the vaccine rollout continues, Nehring said many of the vaccines will be given out through the private sector, either at a local healthcare clinic or pharmacy. For those who don’t have a dedicated provider, the Snohomish Health District is also starting up vaccine sites. Currently they have three sites. “I’ve offered some of our land if they want a vaccine site put up on public land here,” said Nehring. Nehring also gave updates on other parts of the city such as public safety. He welcomed the new Police Chief Erik Scairpon and said the department will likely be hiring a new assistant chief soon as current Assistant Chief Jeff Goldman retires. A second evidence technician could also come to the department soon. The embedded social worker team has assisted 160 people into some form of in-patient treatment since they began in 2018. The program partners social workers with police to go out and provide assistance to individuals who are homeless and experiencing drug abuse problems. “Not everybody we get

into treatment makes it all the way through,” said Nehring, but so far 93 out of the 160 have graduated from treatment. The Marysville Municipal Court also had to change this year because of COVID-19. “As with everything else, our Municipal Court was closed in March but they quickly pivoted to new models,” said Nehring. Most hearings today are still virtual, he said. In terms of growth, Marysville continues to receive new businesses and infrastructure. Businesses like Bindi Hot Yoga, Fieldstone Memory Care, and Marysville Self Storage entered the city in 2020 and more additions are planned for 2021 such as a UPS Package Center, Glint Carwash and Old Dominion Freight Lines. The city is still advertising their Cascade Industrial Center with Arlington, which they hope will attract manufacturing jobs to the area. The city’s growth management plan is currently under review by staff and Marysville residents. “They reviewed our existing growth planning framework,” said Nehring, and have provided input on how they want the city to handle future growth, which is expected to come. “They gave us some really needed and solid input as we begin this plan update,” he said. Marysville’s downtown master plan may also be updated soon. “Our downtown has seen some nice revitalization and clean up over the last few years,” said Nehring, and the city wants to expand what they consider the downtown area and look at future planning for it. Transportation projects

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also continue for the city, including the recently completed First Street Bypass that connects 47th Avenue to State Avenue. “That supports traffic flows that will come from the new traffic that will come from the new interchange at SR-529,” said Nehring. State Avenue is also be widened to five lanes from 100th Street to 104th Street. “The most difficult and expensive section of that is the new bridge where the roadway crosses Quil Ceda Creek,” said Nehring. That project is currently under construction. One final piece of construction is the city’s new Civic Center being constructed next to Comeford Park. “It’s been under a construction for a full year now. We’re still expecting to stay on track for completion for the first quarter of 2022,” said Nehring. Nehring said the city is continuing with parks and recreation projects despite the challenges of last year. “COVID threw a wrench into a lot of our really popular events,” he said. “However, we created new ways to engage with the public, even during the pandemic year." The renovated Cedar Field was finished, allowing little league baseball to continue further into the season for Marysville with its artificial turf. Olympic View Park is also under construction and could be completed by late February. “This is a new park in the Sunnyside area that features plazas overlooking the Qwuloolt Estuary,” said Nehring. The full State of the City address is available at the city’s website at facebook. com/MarysvilleWashington.

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Florists can help couples achieve their wedding day vision.

How to find your wedding florist Weddings join the lives of two loving individuals so they can share their future with one another. Various elements help make weddings both momentous and magical. Some weddings adhere to themes that are designed to make an impression and showcase couples’ personalities. Floral arrangements are key components of wedding themes, as they help to establish ambiance at both the ceremony and reception. Flowers can easily help couples

achieve a desired vibe, whether that’s rustic, romantic, modern, or even whimsical. Skilled florists may use a variety of flowers and foliage, as well as dramatic displays to help create the couple’s wedding day vision. According to an internal study from the wedding advice and planning resource The Knot, which surveyed more than 27,000 couples who got married in 2019, the average cost of wedding flowers was $2,000 in 2019. However, the cost of floral arrangements can

vary depending on the scope of the arrangements and choice of flowers, including whether they’re in season or not. “Find the florist you’re most comfortable with,” said Kathy Johns, comanager of Kathryns Flowers Plus, which has been a fixture in Marysville since 1976. She recommended couples should talk to at least two florists to make sure personalities, vision and deSee FLORIST on page 7

Did You Know? A first dance song at the wedding reception often sets the tone for the upcoming festivities and can exemplify just how newlyweds feel about each other. Couples may agonize over which song to choose, but there are many different resources available that can help couples narrow down their options. Spotify, the popular streaming music service, has compiled a list of the most popular wedding songs for 2018, based on global respondents. Their top pick was "Perfect," by Ed Sheeran, a song that many might suspect was composed with wedding dances in mind. Sheeran's "Thinking Out Loud," Etta James' "At Last," John Legend's "All of Me," and Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love" filled out the remaining top five spots on Spotify's list.

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January 27, 2021 -February 2, 2021 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

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How to host a socially distant wedding It’s likely that few people heard of “social distancing” prior to 2020. That changed as the novel coronavirus COVID-19 spread rapidly across the globe and the world found itself in the midst of a deadly pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines social distancing as keeping a safe distance of at least six feet between yourself and other people who are not from your household. Public health officials continue to champion social distancing while acknowledging the fatigue that many people have experienced as the pandemic stretched on for months. Though much of the world hit the proverbial pause button, life went on during the pandemic. Perhaps nowhere was that more evident than at the altar, where many couples still tied the knot, albeit in scaled back ceremonies that adhered to social distancing guidelines in their communities. Officials at the Marysville Opera House, which is owned by the city, keeps up-to-date with the

governor’s mandates. “We always keep an eye on that,” said Chris Taylor, cultural arts supervisor for the city of Marysville. As of Jan. 18, Phase 1 of Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery allows for indoor worship services of 25 percent capacity. For weddings and funerals, ceremonies are limited to a total of no more than 30 people. Indoor receptions, wakes, or similar gatherings in conjunction with such ceremonies are prohibited, according to information from the Washington state Governor’s office. Should Snohomish County move to Phase 2, then indoor receptions and similar gatherings have to follow venue requirements. Eating and drinking requirements apply and dancing is prohibited. Because of the limitations, Taylor said the price to rent the Opera House has been adjusted accordingly. “You’re getting the best bang for your buck.” Engaged couples who have yet to tie the knot no doubt recognize that planning a socially

Couples can follow some simple steps to host a socially distant wedding. distant wedding will not be the same as organizing more traditional ceremonies and receptions. While planning a socially distant wedding presents some unique challenges, couples can take certain steps to ensure their big day is

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memorable and safe. n Spread the socially distant word. Let guests know what they’re in for should they decide to take part in the festivities. Many people have strictly followed social distancing guidelines, while oth-

FILE PHOTO

ers have been reluctant to do so. Couples intent on keeping themselves and their guests safe from COVID-19 should emphasize that their weddings will be socially dis-

See HOST on page 7

Information to include in your wedding evites Paper invitations remain the invite of choice for weddings, and rightfully so. Paper invitations give wedding guests an idea of just how formal the ceremony will be and make for great mementos the happy couple can revisit for decades to come. Though milestones like weddings are worthy of elaborate paper invitations, many other types of parties and gatherings can utilize evites to get the word out. Evites may not be governed by the guidelines of more formal paper invitations, but evite designers should still make sure to include certain information so guests learn

FILE PHOTO

While paper invitations remain the most popular, many couples are gaining in popularity. all they need to know about the festivities. Why? When designing an evite, include the reason for the party. For example, let guests know if a backyard barbecue is doubling as a birthday party. Some guests might not know this if the evite doesn't state it, and they might feel awkward if they fail to show up with a gift. When? Less formal get-togethers may not be on tight schedules, but evites to such affairs should still dictate when parties will begin and an estimate of when they will end. If hosting a game watch or a movie night, use the evite to remind guests when the game starts or when you want to start the movie. Ideally, let guests arrive in advance of the main event so they have time to get settled. Where? Include the full address of where the party will be held. If you're hosting at home, try to include some information about where guests can park their vehicles. If you're host-

ing the party at a restaurant or another public place, include parking information about those places as well, especially if parking is limited. In such instances, look into nearby parking alternatives, such as parking garages, and include that information on the invitation as well. What to eat? Evites are not restricted by space like more traditional paper invitations. So if you're hosting a party at home, use the evite to inform guests about the foods you will be serving. This gives guests with dietary restrictions a chance to make other arrangements if the foods you will be serving don't align with their diets. RSVP Make it as easy as possible for your guests to respond to your evite. Evite templates typically allow guests to click "Yes," "No," or "Maybe." Also, you should ask guests to give their final responses by a certain date. Evites make it easy to invite friends and family to gatherings big and small.

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tant affairs so there’s no confusion come the big day. n Stream the wedding online. Stream the wedding online for those guests who won’t be in attendance. By the end of 2020, millions of people had already “attended” weddings via platforms like Zoom, so loved ones may be experienced virtual guests by the time couples walk down the aisle in 2021. Couples who may need some help planning virtual affairs can visit the virtual wedding coordinators at Wedfuly.com, who recently partnered with Zoom to help couples bring their ceremonies online. Taylor said the opera house has an in-house Wi-Fi and couples can bring their own equipment to stream online. “We’re doing everything we can to give prospective couples what they need,” Taylor said. n Pare down the in-person guest list. Couples who planned large weddings prior

to the pandemic can still invite all of their loved ones to witness the festivities online, but pare down the in-person guest list to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. Limit in-person guests to immediate family and those people who are part of your social distancing bubble. With the restrictions in place, Taylor said “the opportunity of having an intimate wedding is out there.” n Plan a party for down the road. Couples can still celebrate their nuptials with family and friends down the road. Plan a post-pandemic reception and let guests know you will fill them in on the details once social distancing restrictions have been lifted. Socially distant weddings may require couples to take some unusual steps as they try to tie the knot while keeping themselves and their loved ones safe. For more information about the Marysville Opera House and the social distance rules that affect the Opera House, call 360-363-8400.

Happy couples planning to tie the knot in 2020 confronted a challenge they likely never saw coming. While many couples fear inclement weather on their wedding days, 2020's prospective brides and grooms had to contend with something far more fearful than rain clouds. The outbreak of the novel coronavirus that began in the winter of 2019-20 and was ultimately declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization put many couples' wedding plans in peril. In an effort to stop the spread of the virus and protect those most vulnerable to it, governments across the globe placed restrictions on social gatherings, including weddings. Those restrictions prompted some couples to postpone their nuptials until 2021, while others tied the knot at considerably smaller ceremonies than they initially planned for. Couples planning to tie the knot in the months ahead can still do so, but the WHO recommends they take certain precautions as they organize their ceremonies and receptions. n Confirm local regulations.

Restrictions related to COVID-19 differ greatly by region. Areas that were not hit hard by the virus may not have as many restrictions in place as those that were devastated by the outbreak. In addition, cities or regions whose responses to the virus have been successful may have relaxed restrictions more than areas that are still struggling. The WHO notes the importance of checking local guidelines prior to planning an event, and that's especially important for couples who hope to get married in towns or cities where they do not currently reside. For more information, check the Washington Department of Health's COVID-19 web page at https://www. doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19 and the state's "Healthy Washington - Roadmap to Recovery" at http:// bit.ly/3ohlnMi. n Keep guests up to date about precautions. Include detailed information about the safety measures that will be implemented during the wedding on your wedding website. Insert a card detailing this information into your invitation envelopes

as well so all guests know what to expect when they accept the invitation. In addition, remind guests of the safety precautions throughout the ceremony. n Provide sanitary supplies. Make sure hand sanitizer, soap, water, and masks are readily available for all guests. Social distance markers also can be placed on the ground throughout the venue to make it easy for guests to stay six feet apart from one another. n Choose an outdoor venue. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the COVID-19 virus spreads very easily through person-to-person contact and that the risk of spreading the virus is greater when spending time indoors. Couples can mitigate some of that risk by tying the knot outdoors and then hosting an outdoor reception where tables are kept at least six feet apart. Weddings will be different until the world puts COVID-19 in its rearview mirror. In the meantime, it's up to happy couples to keep their guests safe come the big day.

FLORIST

pieces for wedding celebrations. Types of floral arrangements include bridal bouquet, bridesmaids’ bouquets, maid of honor bouquet, corsages for mothers/ grandmothers, boutonnieres for groomsmen and fathers/grandfathers, flower girl headpiece, petals to sprinkle, table centerpieces, altar arrangements, pew or chair decorations, and cake decorations. n Go easy on aroma. Tread lightly when selecting blooms that have strong aromas. They may be beautiful, but many people are sensitive to smells. Allergies also may be exacerbated by flowers with strong aromas. Discuss options with the florist before proceeding. n Explain your budget. Research the average cost of floral arrangements and let the florist know what you can afford. This can help the florist narrow down options or make substitutions that fit your theme and your budget. Couples can take certain steps as they choose floral arrangements for their weddings. Cost should not be the only factor in the decision, even though it is an important one. Johns recommends choosing a florist around six months before the wedding, with the latest such a decision could be made is three months before. It takes time to design the flower arrangements and to get the materials needed. “Leave it to a professional and they’ll take good care of you,” Johns said. For more information about Kathryns Flowers Plus, call 360-659-6552.

Unbelievable

Continued from page 5

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January 27, 2021 February 2, 2021 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

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sign goals are compatible. It is essential for couples to spend time vetting potential florists to find one who will produce their desired vision at a price that fits their budget. These guidelines can make the process go more smoothly. n Establish your theme early on. Floral arrangements will complement and enhance other elements of the wedding, including color scheme and the wedding theme. If your wedding theme ties into a specific season, you will work with the florist to find blooms and other pieces that coordinate. For example, winter weddings with white, ice blue and silver color schemes may coordinate with white ranunculus flowers, dahlias, dusty miller foliage, and viburnum berries. Johns said couples have to realize that not every flower is available year around, but she’ is able to work with them to get the look they desire for their wedding, but with a different flower. n Bring swatches and photographs to consultations. It is easier to explain color palettes to a florist with examples in hand. Show the florist the types of arrangements you prefer and have actual fabric swatches from bridesmaid gowns or groomsmen vests so that colors can be complemented. n Create a list of desired items. Florists may sell items a la carte or have packages of common floral

Communities

January 27, 2021 -February 2, 2021 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

www.northcountyoutlook.com

M-PHS Black Student Union produces virtual MLK Day assembly By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com For Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Marysville-Pilchuck High School Black Student Union produced a virtual assembly for the school about Black people’s experience in Marysville. The M-PHS Black Student Union talked with students and community members about their experience to share to the school. “There is an overarching celebration of diversity and

I see this in community and see in this school,” said Nicole Marcus, the junior class counselor at M-PHS and the Black Student Union advisor. “We celebrate the message of inclusivity." Local Black people talked about both the positives and negatives of living the community. “I’ve met some amazing teachers and leaders who really just push me and motivate me whenever I need it,” said Josiah Frank,

Sun, Moon and Tides in Snohomish County Wednesday, January 27, through Tuesday, February 2

Wednesday, January 27 Sunrise 7:42 am • Sunset 5:02 pm

Sunday, January 31 Sunrise 7:37 am • Sunset 5:08 pm

Thursday, January 28 Sunrise 7:41 am • Sunset 5:04 pm

Monday, February 1 Sunrise 7:35 am • Sunset 5:11 pm

5:37am 11:09 am 3:11 pm 10:38 pm

6:03 am 11:40 am 3:55 pm 11:18 pm

High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

11.28 ft 7.21 ft 9.93 ft -1.5 ft

11.49 ft 6.87 ft 10.88 ft -1.74 ft

Friday, January 29 Sunrise 7:40 am • Sunset 5:05 pm 6:29 am 12:14 pm 4:40 pm 11:58 pm

High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

11.66 ft 6.4 ft 10.15 ft -1.71 ft

Saturday, January 30 Sunrise 39 am • Sunset 5:07 pm 6:56 am 12:52 pm 5:29 pm

High Tide Low Tide High Tide

11.82 ft 5.76 ft 10.07 ft

12:38 am 7:25 am 1:34 pm 6:21 pm

1:19 am 7:56 am 2:20 pm 7:20 pm

Low Tide High Tide Low Tide High Tide

-1.33 ft 11.96 ft 4.98 ft 9.82 ft

-0.53 ft 12:04 ft 4.08 ft 9.4 ft

Tuesday, February 2 Sunrise 7:34 am • Sunset 5:13 pm 2:02 am 8:29 am 3:10 pm 8:26 pm

Low Tide High Tide Low Tide High Tide

0.66 ft 12.03 ft 3.12 ft 8.9 ft

Source: NOAA for their Marysville/Quil Ceda Creek station NOT FOR NAVIGATION North County Outlook assumes no liability for damages arising from the use of these predictions. They are not certified to be correct, and they do not incorporate the effects of tropical storms, El Nino, seismic events, continental drift or changes in global sea level.

co-president of the M-PHS Black Student Union. “Moving to Marysville there are a lot of people here willing to hear about certain topics I want to speak about and they’re willing to learn,” said Jenasis Lee, president of the Marysville Getchell Black Student Union. JJ Frank, executive director of the Marysville YMCA and a local Black man, said that many in the community have been willing to work with him on anti-racism efforts. He spoke positively of last summer’s March against Racism in response to the killing of George Floyd. “Seeing the city of Marysville and Tulalip come together against racism was a really positive experience for me,” he said. “There’s always been issues around race and me battling racism, but what I have tried to do most of my career is work with those who are against racism." There are still problems

for Black people trying to live in the community though. “It’s kind of sad we still have to see those naïve remarks being put on a group of people just because of the amount of melanin they have in their skin,” said Josiah Frank. Lee said she has had her driver’s license for two years and got pulled over by police officers five times. “I get followed around in grocery stores,” she said. “Sometimes you get called out by a teacher like ‘oh, Jenasis knows about this topic because she’s black.’” Eneille Nelson, principal for Kellogg Marsh Elementary and the Marysville School District’s only Black principal, said she is originally from Mississippi where there were many more Black people. “In this area you don’t see as many. Even with teachers. I came up with many African-American teachers in my career but

here, rarely,” she said. The fact that the Pacific Northwest is predominantly white can be hard, said Josiah Frank. “It’s a lot different. There’s some friends that really don’t care about race, but I know there’s people that heavily rely on what race you are and judge you based on what race you are,” he said. Individuals also reflected on Martin Luther King Jr. and his contributions to today’s society. “It means I have the opportunity, and my kids have the opportunity, to be whatever they want to be,” said Nelson. JJ Frank said it reminds him of the effort and fight required for change. “A lot of people don’t realize Dr. King was jailed, he was stoned, he was stabbed and ultimately assassinated standing up against racism. So it does take a lot of sacrifice to stand against hate,” he said.

POP-UP

Nicolas Quijano, director of services at the organization. “It’s our way of connecting to the youth in a specific area." Staff had to pause their street outreach programs early in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic but began them again in June 2020. The Arlington pop-up is one of Cocoon House's newer efforts. “In Arlington Skate Park we have been doing pop-

ups for a couple of weeks now,” said Sarah Allen, outreach specialist for Cocoon House. “We like to spread the word and awareness about our organization." The pop-up center provides free snacks, cold weather gear, personal protective supplies, hand sanitizer and a variety of other items, said Allen. “There is really a smorgasbord of supplies,” she said. The pop-up is an oppor-

Continued from page 1

homish County nonprofit that focuses on supporting youth who are homeless or housing unstable. Staff at the organization have done outreach in the Smokey Point area but haven’t had a dedicated pop-up center there. “We want a consistent re-occurring location, so youth will know where to go if they need help,” said

COURTESY PHOTO

Alianna Banks, M-PHS Black Student Union copresident, talks about her experiences for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Alianna Banks, M-PHS Black Student Union copresident, also was hopeful with how much King was able to do. “Just the fact that he was able to stand up for his people and how he affected everybody. It’s really heartwarming to see how much he did for everyone and just the rights he fought for,” she said.

tunity to connect with the local community as well, said Allen. “I already have a connection with two youth, and you can really build that trust there,” she said. “If someone is in trouble, they will hopefully call our Safe Place number. They might not need it now, but they might in the future." Cocoon House provides resources across the county for youth between ages 12 to 24, said Quijano. Cocoon House offers both general shelters and shelters specifically for pregnant teens or teen parents. The organization also provides services, including to those not residing in their shelters, that range from helping youth to find housing to resolving issues that are creating housing instability. “We make sure that they are given the support to overcome barriers,” said Quijano. Allen said Cocoon House is one of the only organizations to continue providing in-person services at this time as well. “It’s really important for our population that we can meet with them in-person and do it safely, as well,” said Quijano. Allen said she is happy to be out there to support local youth. “It really is easy to stereotype or make assumptions about youth because of the way they dress and act,” she said. “This is really a great opportunity to work with the youth and create a better relationship."

Communities

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SCHOOL

“What our families are saying to us is that they want their kids back. So I appreciate our staff is working hard to create this plan,” said School Board President Vanessa Edwards. Pearson said the district's online learning has improved since last spring, but still presents a sub-par option compared to in-person learning. “We still have kids that are lonely, they’re disconnected and they’re living through trauma in their homes,” said Pearson. The Snohomish Health District has given the okay for elementary students to return to schools. “The only guidance

Continued from page 1

School Board members said have received many messages urging the reopening of schools and for safety of students and staff. According to Christopher Pearson, executive director of elementary schools at the district, 75 percent of parents were ready to send their students back to school in a survey sent out in November. In a more recent survey that number may have increase to around 85 percent, although Pearson said they had not fully got that data back yet.

they haven’t given out is for secondary students,” said Thompson. The health district still requires safety measures for elementary students though. The Marysville School District is planning daily health screenings, re-arranging classrooms and hallways to maintain six feet of separation and other safety measures for the schools. “The whole reason for this closure was medical safety, so we want to follow the medical officials,” said school board member Jake Murray. The Snohomish Health District has approved the

plan on paper but they do not have the workforce currently to inspect school districts, said Thompson. “They are so busy and they are not overstaffed there. Right now, the real challenge for them is the vaccine rollout so they are not making visits,” like they were earlier in the pandemic, he said. Thompson noted that the district is still receiving pressure from labor unions to properly follow safety measures though. “In working with our labor groups they know all our protocols and what we need to do. So even if the health district isn’t checking on us, our labor groups

will,” he said. Board member Paul Galovin voted to approve the reopening plan but added he wanted to hear more from union members as well. “I would like to hear more from labor leaders, but I know this plan is tentative and I will hear their voice soon,” he said. For teachers and staff, returning to in-person learning may mean more risk and work. “Everyone is making accommodations to get our kids back to school,” said Edwards. She notes that the reopening plan is still tentative and situations have

I hope the groundhog sees the...

Newspaper Fun! www.readingclubfun.com

Time to Rhyme!

H D Y L E P P O P F P J

C A B X F A O U E H R A

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11. it is said that when the groundhog pokes out of his hole and sees the sun there will be six more weeks of winter, but when he sees clouds, ________ is near 12. where the groundhog lives

Why did the groundhogs cheer when they came out of their burrows and saw only clouds? Use the alphabet code to fill in the blanks and find out:

F K E X W K T E A M S

Hey, let me shine! 2 squirrel

Is Winter Almost Over?

Off to watch the Super Bowl...chicken wings, potato chips, veggies and dips...yay! A Z E X V E L C M J A C

...sun so we can keep having winter fun.

Groundhog Weather Forecaster?

Do you think that a groundhog can predict the weather? On February 2, some people 3 Find and circle the ten words will get up very early to watch the that rhyme with “ground.” Zz z z groundhog come out of its home.They count 5 f r o d will stand around the groundhog's hole w n n ed ou m 7 in the ground and study the sky. As soon wound as they see the groundhog poke out of its pound crowned hole they will snap pictures. Who do you groane d think will see the funnier sight...the people hound h c u o r c or the groundhog? browned und o s Read the clues to fill in found poun the crossword puzzle: ce crow 1. a long winter's nap Our whole d 2. a warm-blooded creature family doesn't round 3. another name for the groundhog weigh a pound! 4. curls into this to sleep 5. something people believe in or think will happen without facts or proof 6. the groundhog's ________ pumps 12 more slowly when it hibernates 7. the groundhog is part of this family Look 8. young are born in this month at the 9. males are about two feet long and weigh about mound twelve pounds; females are _______ of dirt! 10. to tell about an event before it happens

Find and circle these football terms: tackle Look at touchdown referee him bound offense kickoff off to watch defense field goal the game! teams quarterback huddle

changed quickly over the last year. “With everything that is going on, this plan may change as well,” she said. The district began planning for a reopening in summer and took the first steps on Jan. 18 by bringing ECEAP students at the Marysville Early Learning Center back to campus. Since September about 100 students have also been brought on campus as well. “The planning really hasn’t stopped since the end of June. It consists of a lot of work relating to health and safety protocols and trying to identify the best models and supports for our kids,” said Pearson.

Are you awake, Mr. Groundhog? I don't mean to hound you, but maybe you can predict the winner of the Super Bowl, too? Hello!

Football Fever

January 27, 2021 February 2, 2021 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

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January 27, 2021 -February 2, 2021 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

Opinion

www.northcountyoutlook.com

Our Best Friends

Our Favorite Quotes

Squeak

"The point in history at which we stand is full of promise and danger. The world will either move forward toward unity and widely shared prosperity - or it will move apart." Author — Franklin D, Roosevelt Submitted by North County Outlook editor Scott Frank.

RAVE RAVE: Thank you to Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring for giving his State of the City address last week. The pandemic made 2020 a challenging year for everyone — people, businesses and the city — and we are looking forward to 2021 being better for all. Just a reminder, don't forget to shop locally because when you do a portion of the sales tax you pay is returned to the city and used to fund the many vital programs and services the city provides.

This is Squeak who is the Best Friend of Mike who has had him for 12 years.

Send us photos of you and your pet The North County Outlook has a weekly feature titled Our Best Friends. Community members can send us photos of them with their pets and we will elect one to run in that week’s issue. To submit a photo, please send it to editor@northcountyoutlook.com. Please include the names of the people and pets in the photo.

RAVE: I urge everyone to support Arlington's Proposition 1 on the Feb. 9 Special Election ballot which would annex the Arlington Fire Department into the North County Regional Fire Authority. Voting "Yes" would stabilize funding and enhance resources for these vital services. You have until Feb. 1 to register or update voter information online. For more information go to https://snohomishcountywa. gov/224/Elections-Voter-Registration.

North County Outlook is published every other Wednesday and mailed direct to households and businesses in Marysville, Arlington, Smokey Point, Tulalip and Quil Ceda Village. Letters to the editor, community news and story ideas may be e-mailed to editor@northcountyoutlook.com, or sent to the mailing address below. The Publisher reserves the right to edit material for content, grammar, taste, style or length, and all submitted items are published at the sole discretion of the Publisher. News Deadline: Friday 5PM before publication editor@northcountyoutlook.com

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Weekly Puzzle CLUES ACROSS 1. Gather a harvest 5. Federal Republic of Germany 8. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! 11. “The Little Mermaid” 13. The common gibbon 14. Volcanic island in Fiji 15. Mother of Perseus 16. Egg cells 17. Teams’ best pitchers 18. Credit associations 20. Advance 21. Hair styling products 22. Benign tumors 25. Arriving early 30. Called it a career 31. __ Paulo, city 32. Avoid with trickery 33. Easter egg 38. Veterans battleground 41. Lack of success 43. Thing that causes disgust 45. Deep, continuing sound 47. Ancient kingdom near Dead Sea 49. You might put it in a fire 50. Partner to “oohed” 55. Actor Idris 56. Slippery

57. Plant of the bean family 59. One point north of northeast 60. Patti Hearst’s captors 61. Places to hang clothes 62. Midwife 63. Of she 64. S. Korean statesman CLUES DOWN 1. Cool! 2. Amounts of time 3. Aboriginal people of Japan 4. Popular veggies 5. Wedding accessory 6. Deep, narrow gorges 7. Dry cereal 8. Competitions that require speed 9. Cain and __ 10. Snake sound 12. Type of amino acid (abbr.) 14. Pattern of notes in Indian music 19. Satisfy 23. Misfire 24. Nearsightedness 25. Indicates before 26. Increase motor speed 27. When you hope to get

there 28. Indicates position 29. Where rockers perform 34. Substitute 35. __ juris: of one’s own right 36. Earliest form of modern human in Europe: __-magnon 37. Adult female bird 39. Do away with 40. Lens 41. Flattened appendage 42. Post or pillar in Greek temple 44. A medieval citizen of Hungary 45. Spiritual leader of a Jewish congregation 46. Abba __, Israeli politician 47. Sew 48. Evergreen trees and shrubs having oily oneseeded fruits 51. Swiss river 52. Grayish-white 53. A way to illustrate 54. College basketball superpower 58. Midway between south and southeast

Communities

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January 27, 2021 February 2, 2021 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

Sno-Isle Libraries provide checkout laptops, Wi-Fi

Legal Notices LEGAL NOTICE

By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com Sno-Isle Libraries is now providing check-out laptops and WiFi hotspots to help local residents maintain internet access. The laptops and hotspots are available at all Sno-Isle Libraries, including the Marysville, Arlington and Lakewood/Smokey Point libraries. Checkout is for one week, which can be renewed for an additional week if no other library clients have placed a hold. The initiative began because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused internet access to be even more vital for community members than it used to be. “Sno-Isle Libraries started Laptops to Go and Wi-Fi Hotspots to Go in order to fill the needs of customers who are doing more things from home and online than they were one year ago,” said Kurt Batdorf, Sno-Isle Libraries communications specialist. “Laptops to Go can help those customers who may need faster technology in the short-term to help with connectivity, school projects or job searches and online applications." The Wi-Fi hotspots provided as part of the package are also meant to help those who have slow or limited internet. Providing computer technology to the public is an integral part of the library systems, however as the COVID-19 pandemic has closed libraries that access has been cut off. “The public computers in our community libraries were very pop-

SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR SNOHOMISH COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MARK T. HIGGINS, Deceased, NO. 21-4-00016-31, PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS, RCW 11.40.030

Arlington Library Circulation Supervisor Amy Stefany delivers a Laptop to Go bag. ular when our libraries were open. Knowing that, we wanted to find a way to meet that need creatively until we can reopen community libraries to the public,” said Batdorf. The first program to help reopen that access began in October, when Sno-Isle Libraries started to loan laptop computers for use in the parking lots of local libraries. That service will continue to be available as well as checkout laptops and WiFi hotspots now. “We hope our customers are using Laptops to Go and Wi-Fi Hotspots to Go to help them ease some of the difficulties and complications in the face of the coronavirus pandemic,” said Batdorf. The checkout process for laptops is similar to the pickup of any physi-

3 5 7 S U P E R S T I T I O 12 U N

There is no CD or DVD drive so customers who want to listen to music or watch media will have to stream it instead. “The laptops do not come with data access like a Google Chromebook. That means customers will need to provide their own internet access, whether that’s at home or on a public Wi-Fi system,” said Batdorf. Free Wi-Fi is available outside of Sno-Isle Libraries buildings. The Wi-Fi Hotspots use a cell signal to internet speeds may be weak if cell signal is weak in an area. The program is funded in part by $96,000 given from the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation and $50,000 received from the federal coronavirus relief bill passed in March.

cal material such as a book. Clients need to have a valid Sno-Isle Libraries card with a barcode though, so online-only library accounts do not qualify for the program. The checkout laptops come with a power cord, instructions on how to use them, a webcam, a microphone and speakers. They are also configured with software similar to what is on typical library computers, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, image editing software, sound editing software and Adobe Reader. “As for limitations, customers will not be able to save files on the laptop’s desktop or hard drive, although they can save files to an external USB drive of their own,” said Batdorf.

Are you awake, Mr. Groundhog? I don't mean to hound you, but maybe you can predict the winner of the Super Bowl, too? Hello!

PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER ANDERSSON

The personal representative named below has been appointed as personal representative of this estate. Any person having a claim against the decedent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to the personal representative or the personal representative’s attorney at the address stated below a copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the court in which the probate proceedings were commenced. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) Thirty days after the personal representative served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(1) (c); or (2) four months after the date of first publication of the notice. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim is forever barred, except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.40.051 and RCW 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the decedent’s probate and nonprobate assets. DATE OF FIRST PUBLICATION: January 20, 2021. Personal Representative: Nadya A. Smith Attorney for Personal Representative: Steven J. Peiffle, WSBA #14704 Address for Mailing or Service: P.O. Box 188, 103 North Street, Arlington, WA 98223

Court of probate proceedings and cause number: Snohomish County Superior Court, Cause No. 21-4-00016-31.

Crossword answers from page10

Groundhog Weather Forecaster?

1 2 Hey, let me shine! M W O O D C H U C K I Why did the groundhogs cheer when they came out of their burrows and 4 B A L L saw only clouds? Use the alphabet code to fill in the blanks and find out: B 6 Zz z z M M Q U I R R E L H T H E Y K N E W A R E ) ^ { N 8 A P R I L T H A T 9 S M A L L E R Ahhhh...I’m T + ^ T ^ What's that ready for I sound? Do I springtime S P R I N G O hear cheering? 11 weather! & ( N S 10 } ? { P F W A S R O + ( I R N E A R D E R G R O U N D } + { G C A Has Arid Ten words that rhyme with "ground:" S found the sound, pound, found, mound, crowned, Weather Superstitions and Forecasts? groundhog? T frowned, wound, round and browned

's t I ! Yay dy. clou

1. E, 2. A or C, 3. B, 4. A or C, 5. D, 6. G, 7. F, 8. H

and hound.

January 27, 2021 -February 2, 2021 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

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www.northcountyoutlook.com

n WHISTLING GARDENER

Starting plants from seed - read the packet January is seed and other growstarting time and ing tips including like a lot of things when to harvest. in life, it’s not alFor the most part, ways as easy as you don’t need to we professionlook anywhere als make it look, By Steve Smith else. (nor I might add For starters, is it the kind of activity that use a good quality “seed you can walk away from for starting” soil mix that is a week or two, like knitting). finely screened and has good To be successful you have to drainage. Not all seeds are show up on a consistent ba- fussy about the soil (espesis and pay attention to what cially the larger ones like is happening. beans and corn) but for There are hundreds of on- seeds that are no bigger than line resources that can help the end of a pin, it is critical a newcomer learn all about to have very fine soil that the ins and outs of growing you can “dust” over the top plants from seed, but the of them in order for them to first place I always look is actually germinate. Many the seed packet. There you seeds veritably need light to will find the essentials such germinate and if they are too as when to sow, how deep deep, they will not grow. to bury the seed, how long it Soil moisture is also very takes for germination, when critical and probably the to transplant into the garden, single most factor that leads

to failure. Think of a “wrung out sponge” that is moist to the touch but has no free water that can be squeezed out of it — maintain that level of moisture throughout the entire germination process. As the plants grow, you can give them a little more water. Also, make sure there is good drainage in the pots or flats that you are using. Too much or too little moisture will both spell disaster. Soil temperature is another factor that can effect germination. Cool season crops, like lettuce and spinach, are happy with 45° to 55° soil while cucumbers and basil need at least 60° and would truly prefer 75° to 85° temperatures. Obviously, those kinds of temps are challenging to create for your seeds and the best way is to use a heating mat under

your containers — just be sure to turn it off once your seeds germinate. Most seeds need some level of light to germinate, and once they are up, the brighter the better. High light will produce short, stocky and strong stems whereas low light will give you weak and spindly stems. Thinning is critical. For starters, don’t sow your seeds too densely. Mixing a teaspoon of seeds with a teaspoon of fine sand is the easiest way to spread them out. After they have germinated, continue to thin if needed. “Hardening off ” is the process of acclimating your tender young seedling to the brutal reality of the outside world. This is done by slowly holding back on the water, lowering the temperatures, and generally slowing down

COURTESY PHOTO

If you are starting plants from seeds you should always read the packet and carefully follow the directions. the growth. Some seeds are happier being directly sown into the garden (like carrots), while others like tomatoes and cucumbers are happy to be started inside and transplanted outside when appropriate. If you only need a few plants, then transplants probably make more sense even though they are a little bit more expensive.

There is nothing quite as magical as watching a row of seeds germinate and transform into tiny little plants. If you follow these tips along with the few basic guidelines found on the seed packets, you should have success.

Steve Smith is the owner of Sunnyside Nursery in Marysville and can be reached at sunnysidenursery@msn.com.