Oct. 13, 2021 North County Outlook by The North County Outlook

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October 13, 2021 - October 19, 2021 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

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n WHISTLING GARDENER

When is a crocus not a crocus?

let-shaped flowOn the ers approximateshelves of garden ly 5 to 6 inches centers in the tall, usually month of Octoplanted in groups ber you will find under deciduenticing selecous trees or in tions of tulips, By Steve Smith daffodils, alliums, crocus, rockeries (and sometimes snow drops, and assorted even in casually cared for other lesser-known bulbs - lawns), you are probably all of which, if planted this observing Colchicum aumonth, will start bloom- tumnale. This is a bulb in ing in late winter and on the lily family that sends into spring. Collectively, up flower stalks in October we refer to these as spring and usually blooms for 2 to blooming bulbs. There is 3 weeks, depending on the however, a couple of ex- weather. After the flowers ceptions. Mixed in with fade, 8 to 14-inch upright these spring bloomers are leaves will then sprout in two bulbs that will actually groups of 6 to 8 and rebloom in the fall, one of main green until they go which is blooming in yards dormant in early summer. all around the Puget Sound In the following October, the whole process starts all as we speak. If you have happened to over again. Colchicums are an innotice in your neighborhood clusters of pink gob- teresting bulb in that they

are considered poisonous if eaten but have been used for hundreds of years as a treatment for gout. An extract from them called colchicine is also used in the horticultural field to develop polyploid varieties that have multiple sets of chromosomes, the results of which often leads to desirable traits such as larger more colorful flowers or double blooming ones or simply overall stronger performers. I recall experimenting with colchicine way back when I was in college in the late 60’s. As to where to plant colchicums, they are quite happy interspersed among low groundcovers such as vinca, creeping jenny, ajuga, creeping thyme, or sedums — all of which will help hold up their some-

COURTESY PHOTO

The Crocus sativus is a great addition to any garden.

what floppy flowers. The pink-purple flowers contrast nicely with the silver leaves of lambs ear and

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combine well with purple asters, pink chrysanthemums, and plants with purple foliage. They seem to tolerate sun or partial shade exposures and need reasonable drainage or they will rot. Other than that, they are a “plant and forget it” type of addition to any garden. Along with colchicums, you can also find a true crocus called Crocus sativus or saffron crocus that looks a lot more like the traditional spring bloomers we all look forward to after a dreary winter, only it blooms in the fall. Saffron crocus has been cultivated commercially for over 3,500 years for its prized stigmas that produce a spice for flavoring foods and also a dye for coloring fabrics. The plant has purple to lavender flowers that appear in fall for a 1 to 2-week period when the saffron spice can be collected from the bright red stigmas. If you are thinking that you would like to start growing your own saffron,

just remember that it takes 150 to 200 flowers to make one gram of saffron. So either plant a ton or plant to just enjoy their beautiful flowers. Saffron crocus should be planted 4 inches apart and 4 inches deep in welldrained soil with moderate levels of organic matter in full sun. The corms will multiply each year and can be divided to produce more plants. Plant them in borders, walkways, rock gardens or in mass plantings. You can find both of these fall bloomers on shelves at garden centers during this month, but they are always in short supply so it is best to get them early. Get some started this fall and you can enjoy them for many years to come. Stay safe and keep on gardening! Steve Smith is the owner of Sunnyside Nursery in Marysville and can be reached at sunnysidenursery@msn.com.

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October 13, 2021 - October 19, 2021

MARYSVILLE • ARLINGTON • SMOKEY POINT • LAKEWOOD • TULALIP • QUIL CEDA VILLAGE

Clothing drive held for M'ville students in need MPD begins pilot program By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com Local real estate agents and other volunteers helped to gather donations of warm clothing for Marysville children in need on Oct. 9 and 10. The Real Estate Solutions Group from the local Keller Williams office owned by Anton Stetner collected donations for the two days at the Marysville Kohl’s. “We are doing a clothing drive for kids in the Marysville School District,” said Lisa Fauquet, one of the volunteers for the clothing drive from the Keller Williams office. Staff at the office wanted to help after learning the magnitude of the problem in local schools. “We found out there are 440 students that are registered in the Marysville School District who are in transition and don’t have stable homes,” said Fauquet. “It’s very overwhelming to

think about the kids in our district that don’t have stable homes and the availability of warm winter clothing." Fauquet said the office has many parents who have students in the district. “It came together when we discovered that there was a need. We’re somewhat involved in the Marysville School District and the owner of our team at Keller Williams Real Estate Solutions Group has three kids in the district and he and his wife have done a lot of things to help,” she said. Volunteer Ricky McCaig also has a child in the district and said he came out in part because of that. “I just wanted to support the team,” he said. “As part of the Real Estate Solutions Group I wanted to show my support for the community and do what I can do." The drive went well with many people donating.

See DRIVE on page 2

for body cameras

By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com

PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER ANDERSSON

Volunteer Ben Church puts some of the donations into the bin during a warm winter clothing drive for Marysville students on Oct. 9.

The Marysville Police Department has begun a pilot program for body cameras to see how they could be implemented by local officers. The program began the week of Sept. 26 and is expected to run between 60 to 90 days. They have 10 cameras which are each spending time with a variety of officers. The city currently doesn’t have dash cams on their cars so the cameras would be the first recording program for the department. “We’ll be rotating them among our offices to get them on as many people as possible,” said Jim Lawless, assistant chief with the Marysville Police Department. Marysville police offi-

COURTESY PHOTO

Marysville Police Department patrol officer Dylan Burnett affixes a body camera to his uniform on Oct. 8.

cials have wanted to bring body cameras to the department for a few years. “It’s not only Marysville, but a lot of departments around the country are looking at body cameras,” said Lawless. The primary benefit of the cameras is to increase

See MPD on page 2

Fire Station 48 opens in Arlington By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com North County Fire and EMS has a new Fire Station 48 which is now open and will provide a better facility for local firefighters. The new location will be at Airport Boulevard and 43rd Avenue, while the previous was located at 18824 Smokey Point Boulevard. “The old Fire Station 48 was established in 2008, and we’ve leased the facility since then,” said Dave Kraski, deputy fire chief with North County Fire and EMS. “The plan was not to be there for that long, but we were." The city of Arlington began planning to construct the new facility when they still managed local fire services. “The idea has been in the works for years, but we really started aggressively pur-

suing it a couple of years ago,” said Kraski. The city of Arlington took out bonds to construct the new facility. The city will remain owners for a short period before that debt and ownership is transferred to North County Fire and EMS, said Kraski. A new facility was necessary because of the growing Smokey Point area and because their lease at the old facility was not going to be picked up again. “Our landlord was not going to renew our lease for the facility we were using,” said Kraski. Kraski said officials from the city and fire department looked at four to five different locations before settling on the Airport Boulevard land. They were hoping to maximize response See STATION on page 2

PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER ANDERSSON

North County Fire and EMS firefighter/EMTs Joe Oxos, left, and Ali Hendricks pull an ambulance stretcher out at the new vehicle bay of the recently finished Fire Station 48 on Oct. 8.

Communities

October 13, 2021 - October 19, 2021 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

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Strawberry Festival organizer honored for service By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com Long-time Strawberry Festival organizer Carol Kapua was recognized for three decades of volunteering during her retirement party on Oct. 9. Kapua has spent most of the last 31 years as a volunteer with Maryfest, the local nonprofit organization that puts on the annual Marysville Strawberry Festival. “The first meeting she went to for the Strawberry Festival, she became the secretary,” said current Maryfest president Gail Frost. After that Kapua spent many years on the board and served for three consecutive years as president as well. “She has been a float driver, a parade director and helped out where needed, which was everywhere,” said Frost. Kapua said she has enjoyed the

friendships she made during her time volunteering. “I have had a good run at this. It has been a lot of fun and I’ve made a lot of friends,” said Kapua. “The organization has been fun because you become a festival family." Current Maryfest secretary Alice VanBeek said she was glad to have Kapua around to teach her. “Carol has been my mentor and I’ve learned so much from her,” said VanBeek. It is largely because of Kapua’s work that the Strawberry Festival joined the Northwest Festival Association. “That’s a big thing to be involved with the Northwest Festival Association and it’s because of Carol that we were able to do that,” said Frost. The Strawberry Festival float and royalty usually visit 22 to 25 parades each year and Kapua often helped with those visits.

DRIVE

STATION

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“People’s reactions have been fantastic,” said Fauquet. She hopes the drive will also help community members begin to realize how many students are in need of help in Marysville. “I think there’s a lot of people like ourselves who were unaware of this fact. I had worked for the school district in the past and was still shocked to find out about the amount of kids in the district that don’t have stable housing,” said Fauquet. “And that was last year’s numbers and I’m really concerned what this year will look like." The donations are being given directly to the school district to help with their programs that assist students who are homeless or do not have stable housing.

times to the surrounding areas. “So we looked at the major roadways we could use and what would be the fastest,” he said. The new location will serve North County Fire and EMS for decades. “This building should be able to serve this location for 50 years,” said Kraski.

MPD Continued from page 1

transparency with police interactions, he said. “It helps to show our interactions between the public and police and gives you an unfiltered view from either side,” added Lawless. The cameras are “meant to protect both the public and the police officers,” he said.

“For many years I was able to do almost all of them,” she said. In the festival community, the Marysville Strawberry Festival volunteers helped others as well. “We were always known as the go-to festival for some extra help, and that was because of Carol,” said Frost. Kapua helped other communities, such as Oak Harbor, begin their own festivals. “She helped several other festivals, especially by helping them get hotel/motel tax grants [tax funds available to help create events to draw in tourism],” said Frost. Kapua decided to step down from volunteering because with upcoming surgeries she likely won’t be able to physically keep up. “I only want to wish the festival well. I enjoyed being a part of it and it was nice to be able to give

The space in the new building is one of the biggest advantages of the new facility. “We were really running out of room in our old facility,” said Kraski. He said that facility could only hold about two vehicles and had space for three firefighters/paramedics at a time. “There’s a lot more square footage in this building and it will hold more people,” said Kraski.

The program could also help the department with recent police reforms passed by the Washington state legislature which requires video and audio recording when taking statements. That requirement would be simpler to meet with body cameras, said Lawless. “So far it has been going great,” he said. “We have received nothing but posi-

PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER ANDERSSON

Longtime Maryfest volunteer Carol Kapua, left, and current Maryfest president Gail Frost, talk about Kapua’s three decades of service to the organization on Oct. 9. back for so many years,” she said. “It’s time for me to do a new chapter of my life,” she said. Kapua also thanked her family

The current plan is to have five staff members stationed there normally, he said. “This new building actually allows us to consolidate two of our other stations,” said Kraski, so the department is gaining some additional efficiency. The second station that could be consolidated is Station 47, which is near the Arlington Airport as well. “It’s a very pretty station and

tive feedback from both the public and the police officers." The pilot program is meant to assess how the Marysville Police Department would work with the city’s IT department and the prosecutor’s office to make the body camera program work. “Mostly, we will be looking at the work flow process,” said Lawless. Marysville police officials have hoped to bring body cameras to the department for a while. “There have been various obstacles for that, such as budgetary or disclosure

and friends who have supported her throughout the years while she was helping with the Strawberry Festival.

we’re happy to be there,” he said. Crews began using the building in October, although there is still a lot of set up that has to be done at the location. “It’ll probably be the end of the year until we’re fully in there,” he said. He also wanted to thank HB Hansen Construction who got the construction complete on time “even with the COVID supply line shortages,” said Kraski.

issues,” said Lawless. “We recently took another look at it and put together a plan to start a pilot program for body cameras." The funding for the pilot program came from the body camera vendor. “They provide the equipment free for the trial program,” said Lawless. If the Marysville Police Department wants to move forward after the trial, the program would need further funding. “We’re seeking some grant opportunities,” said Lawless, although he added that even if those grants are received, some fund-

COURTESY PHOTO

One of the body cameras that is part of a new pilot program in the Marysville Police Department.

ing from Marysville’s budget would still probably be needed. “We’ll likely request some funding from the [Marysville City] Council,” said Lawless. “We are hoping to outfit every one of our commissioned police officers and our custody officers."

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October 13, 2021 - October 19, 2021 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

Local COVID rates remain high despite decrease By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com After reaching a record peak in Snohomish County, COVID-19 cases have slowed slightly but remain at a very high level overall. The county saw 1,634 new COVID cases in the week of Sept. 26 to Oct. 2, down just a bit from the 1,693 cases the previous week. “We remain in a high transmission category according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s parameters,” said Chris Spitters, Snohomish Health District health officer during an Oct. 5 press briefing. The COVID-19 twoweek average daily case rate per 100,000 people is at 394, still higher than any point in the first, second or fourth waves of the pandemic in the county. Hospitals were nearing their limit in previous weeks, but have not reached a crisis point. “They remain struggling, but they’re coming down off a peak,” said Spitters. In the week ending Oct. 2 there were 77 hospital beds used for COVID-19 patients, which represents a decrease from previous weeks which reached above 100. Whether the downward trend will continue remains to be seen. “Certainly the previous waves have come down in a similar fashion, so maybe that is the case going into the fall,” said Spitters. “Whether we come down a little bit and plateau or go down a lot, there is a prediction there will be another wave in December." Hospital capacity could be stressed again if a COVID-19 wave comes at the same point as influenza season. “We had a very light influenza season, basically

Obituaries Donald Joseph Evola Donald Joseph Evola (83) was born on January 24, 1938 to Dominick and Maria Evola in Brooklyn, NY. He went home on September 27, 2021. He had a deep Christian faith and loved to share the Lord with all. He also loved to ride his motorcycle, and came to live in Arlington, WA 2001. He is survived by his wife LeeVonne Joyce, his brother Russell, and his 5 sons Don, Jeff, Jonathan, Joshua, and Jordan, and his grandchildren. Services will be Sunday, 10-17-2021 at 2 p.m. at the Crystal Tree Village, 16600 25th Ave. NE, Marysville, WA in the Club House.

none, last winter,” said Spitters. The social distancing and masking measures meant to fight COVID likely reduced traditional influenza spread, he said. “We do expect with people working, gathering, traveling again that we will see a flu season, and in sync with a COVID surge that could throw hospitals into a worse state than they have been recently,” said Spitters. He encouraged everyone to get their flu vaccines this year, especially if they are an at-risk population. The county also hit a big milestone with the COVID-19 vaccine, giving out their one millionth dose last week. That means about 490,000 residents are fully vaccinated with 42,000 residents who have started the process. Seventy-five percent of the eligible population have received at least one dose. “We strongly recommend everyone who started to finish their series,” said Spitters. Jason Biermann, Snohomish County director of emergency management, said that the county’s pandemic response group had begun downsizing before

the delta variant but is still around. “We do have more work to do, we still need folks to go out and get their shots,” he said. The group is ready to begin new vaccination efforts if needed for younger kids or for a booster shot directive. “We are looking at contingency plans as different groups of folks become eligible,” said Biermann. Snohomish County officials also hope to look toward recovery and have recently hired Michael Fong to serve as the chief recovery and resiliency officer. Fong previously has helped to organize Seattle’s recovery effort for the pandemic and will help the county distribute it’s funds it will receive from the 2021 federal pandemic relief bill. “I really believe we have the opportunity to make significant and transformative investments to help everyone recover from the pandemic,” said Fong. He believes that spending will include “major investments in the area of childcare, housing and behavioral health support.” One of the signature

projects that the County Executive’s office hopes to complete is a “one-stop” employment center. “To ensure a familyfriendly cross-sector approach to assist families

who have suffered negative impacts because of COVID,” said Fong. Those funds will also likely be given to local businesses. “Expanding access to

broadband, as well as direct, targeted support to small businesses,” said Fong. More details about how the funds will be spent will be available in the coming months, he said.

October 13, 2021 - October 19, 2021 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

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n WHISTLING GARDENER

When is a crocus not a crocus?

The Crocus sativus is a great addition to any garden.

what floppy flowers. The pink-purple flowers contrast nicely with the silver leaves of lambs ear and

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October 13, 2021 - October 19, 2021 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

You can grow fresh veggies in the winter By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com Spring and summer may be the seasons most often associated with gardening but people who love to grow their own vegetables can do so even when the weather outside is frightful. Fall is a great time to plant garlic so it can be harvested in the middle of next year. “It sets up in the spring for really healthy garlic,” said Mark Lovejoy, who owns Garden Treasures Farm and Nursery with his wife, Patricia. He recommended people should plant garlic during months that end in “r.” Because the climate in the Pacific Northwest is neither too hot nor too cold, winter protection such as straw or frost blankets isn’t necessary, Lovejoy said. Garlic scapes appear in early-tomid June and bulbs can be harvested two-to-three weeks later. Garden Trea-

sures produced a blog on the ins-and-outs of growing garlic and it can be viewed at gardentreasurescsa.wordpress.com/2019/09/14/agrowing-garlic-guide-forgarlic-lovers/. Lovejoy said it takes planning to successfully grow vegetables throughout the winter. Potatoes should be planted in June and can be harvested as needed through the winter. They should be harvested before they have a chance to resprout. “The best place to store them is in the ground,” Lovejoy said. He recommended other root vegetables such as carrots and beets should be planted by mid-July. Squash should be harvested and cured to be stored over the winter. Lovejoy said squash should be stored for two weeks at a temperature between 60 and 70 degrees to develop a thicker skin. The squash

should then be stored longterm between 50 and 60 degrees. Growing vegetables in winter requires a different approach than growing in spring and summer, as gardeners must be ready to prevent damage from frost if temperatures get especially chilly. For example, the experts at Michigan State University Extension note that gardeners may need to utilize floating row covers to protect sensitive crops from frost. Gardeners interested in planting winter vegetables can speak with a local garden center professional about which crops to plant and what to do if temperatures push winter vegetable gardens to the brink. Lovejoy said to check temperatures. Extended periods where temperatures drop below 25 degrees means adding protection for crops such as frost blankets or straw. Generally the ground will be between

PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER ANDERSSON

Fall is a great time to plant certain vegetables. 30 and 32 degrees. “Your crop doesn’t freeze underground.” He added that landscape trees, hedge trees and laurel bushes should be planted by December to lessen the effects of transplant shock. Waiting until spring and the erratic temperatures that

occur can cause problems with relocating trees. Though it’s up to gardeners what they want to plant, the following are some popular winter vegetables that can make for wonderful, fresh additions to any dinner table even after the traditional gardening sea-

son has come and gone: arugula, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, collard greens, endive, parsley, parsnips, kale, radishes, rutabagas, spinach and Swiss chard. For more information, go to www.gardentreasuresfarm.com.

Popular renovation projects during the pandemic Spending so much time at home during the pandemic led many homeowners to spruce up their homes. According to HomeAdvisor’s 2021 State of Home Spending report, spending on home improvements increased by an average of $745 per household in 2020. In the face of travel restrictions and social distancing guidelines, many homeowners pivoted in 2020 and spent money they initially intended to use for vacations on home improvements. Though many such projects required the services of a professional contractor, others, including the most popular project among the 5,000 homeowners who participated in the HomeAdvisor report, were do-it-yourself endeavors. That not only gave homeowners’ homes a new look, but also gave them something to do during quarantine. The following are the five most popular home improvement projects of 2020 according to the HomeAdvisor report. Interior painting: Just under 35 percent of participants reported taking on an interior painting project in 2020. Interior painting projects can be perfect for DIYers, but homeowners also can trust this task to skilled professionals. Bathroom renovations: Real estate professionals routinely report how much prospective buyers love updated bathrooms, so it’s

no surprise that roughly 31 percent of homeowners who took part in the HomeAdvisor report indicated they renovated their bathrooms in 2020. Flooring: Floors took on a lot of extra traffic during the pandemic, so it shouldn’t be too surprising that flooring projects were popular in 2020. More than one-fourth of participants told HomeAdvisor their homes were updated with a new floor during the pandemic. Landscaping: With no-

where else to go to escape the daily grind in 2020, many homeowners took to their yards. Twenty-four percent of those homeowners reported making their backyard retreats more appealing by repairing or upgrading the landscaping outside their homes. In fact, the average homeowner reported completing 3.4 landscaping projects in 2020. Kitchen: Another project that makes sense given the circumstances, kitchen renovations were the fifth most popular home im-

provement project in 2020. Restaurant closures and social distancing guidelines led many people to dine in more often than they otherwise would, and just under

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October 13, 2021 - October 19, 2021 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

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n GUEST OPINION

Housing affordability a pressing issue Housing affordability is one of the most pressing issues in Snohomish County and the Greater Puget Sound Region. As home prices in King County skyrocket, demand for affordable housing in Snohomish County is growing, which pushes prices up. We also know that government fees and regulations increase the cost of building homes. That cost is passed on to homebuyers. Home ownership is a critical element of economic mobility, the ability of people to climb the economic ladder. By putting home ownership out of reach for many individuals and families, we are limiting opportunities for our residents and our economy overall. To help address this issue, I have proposed four pieces of legislation at the local level which would allow for a more diverse array of housing options and would reduce bureaucratic red tape in the review process which often leads to increased costs to the homebuyer. The first proposal would make changes to the regulation of detached accessory dwelling units (DADUs) in unincorporated Snohomish County. DADUs, commonly referred to as “mother-inlaw apartments”, provide housing options for all ages. This includes young adults as well as elderly relatives who prefer to live in close proximity to family. The draft ordinance associated with Motion 21-297 would ease restrictions on DADUs to make them more attainable for more property owners in unincorporated Sno-

Nate Nehring homish County. The Council referred this issue to the Planning Commission and Planning and Development Services (PDS) on Sept. 15. The second proposal would encourage production of more “missing middle” housing by allowing higher building densities in certain urban areas of the County. It also would address displacement issues often caused by development by granting density bonuses for the preservation of existing housing. The Council passed Motion 21-309 on September 15th which refers the issue to the Planning Commission and PDS for their consideration and recommendation. The third proposal would authorize development agreements for new subdivisions in Snohomish County. These agreements are common in many local jurisdictions and allow flexibility to encourage innovative developments. If approved, the key change would involve adding flexibility in situations where an application meets the intent of the adopted planning policies in a way not anticipated by specific development regulations. The Council passed Motion 21-308 on Septem-

ber 15th which refers the issue to the Planning Commission and PDS for their consideration and recommendation. The final proposal in this suite of housing affordability legislation would allow for categorical exemptions to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), thereby eliminating a largely redundant part of the permit process. These exemptions would apply in situations where the use is roughly equal to what is called for and already studied in the comprehensive plan. This option was granted to local governments by the State Legislature under House Bill 2673, which passed 98-0 in the House and 43-4 in the Senate. Motion 21-334 was adopted today by the County Council and refers the issue to PDS for their consideration. This suite of legislation, if adopted, will help create more affordable housing in Snohomish County. I look forward to taking action on these ordinances following input from the Planning Commission and PDS. If you have thoughts on any of these or on housing affordability issues in general, please reach out to me at nate.nehring@snoco.org. Nate Nehring is a member of the Snohomish County Council and represents District 1 which includes Arlington, Darrington, Granite Falls, Marysville, Stanwood, and unincorporated north county. He can be reached by email at Nate.Nehring@snoco.org or by phone at (425) 512-4810.

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Our Favorite Quotes "October is the fallen leaf, but it also a wider horizon more clearly seen. It is the distant hills once more in sight, and the enduring constellations above them once again."

Author — Hal Borland

Submitted by North County Outlook editor Scott Frank.

n LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Nate Nehring’s commitment to the future – Outreach to our youth I have really appreciated having Nate Nehring represent us on the Snohomish County Council. We can all see his commitment to youth and outreach in our community — I especially appreciated his series of classroom discussions and forums with Snohomish County students throughout 2021. I am genuinely excited to see the fruit of this in Snohomish County, as he encourages our youth to be involved in civil political discourse and to contribute to the solutions to our collective problems. This is just one of the many reasons that I will be casting my vote to re-elect Nate as our District 1 Snohomish County Councilmember. Noah Rui Marysville

Strong values for Snohomish County — Re-elect Councilmember Nehring Nate Nehring is a man of great charac-

ter, and I think anyone familiar with Nate can attest to that. It is of vital importance that we retain those in office who truly care about their constituents and who hold the strong values our community shares. During his time on the Snohomish County Council, Nate has always been willing to hear my concerns and address them to the best of his ability. In the rare instances in which he cannot be of direct assistance, he will always put me in touch with the right person. Nate has the ability to work cohesively with others, regardless of their political party affiliation. If you look at Nate’s track record, you can see that he often will work across party lines to implement pragmatic solutions for our county. It is this kind of leadership we need in elected office. That is why I am voting to re-elect Nate Nehring to the Snohomish County Council. Krista Morehead Granite Falls

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North County Outlook is published every 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 before publication 5PM editor@northcountyoutlook.com

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Weekly Puzzles Fun by the Numbers Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. See Sudoku answers on page 7

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Legal Notices LEGAL NOTICE SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR SNOHOMISH COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF LORRAINE LENZ, Deceased, NO. 21-4-01763-31, PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS, RCW 11.40.030) THE CO-PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES NAMED BELOW have been appointed as co-personal representatives 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 co-personal representatives or the co-personal representatives’ 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 co-personal representatives 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: October 13, 2021. Co-Personal Representative: Karen Brunson Co-Personal Representative: Bradley Lenz 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. 21-4-01763-31.

LEGAL NOTICE SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR SNOHOMISH COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATES OF DANNY S. PENNINGTON and SARAH PENNINGTON, Deceased, NO. 21-4-01764-31, PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS, RCW 11.40.030 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: October 13, 2021. Personal Representative: Jonathan Pennington Attorney for Personal Representative: Tanner K. Olson, WSBA #52879 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. 21-4-01764-31.

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Communities

October 13, 2021 - October 19, 2021 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com Community organizations and the city of Marysville are working to help spread the word about Domestic Violence Awareness Month this year. “It’s a National Domestic Violence Awareness month, so the community decided to do a little more than usual this year,” said Connie Mennie, communications administrator with the city of Marysville. City officials and some

staff at local businesses will be wearing purple shirts on Tuesday in recognition of the month. “It was good to see a good chunk of people wearing them this Tuesday,” said Mennie. Marysville residents are encouraged to wear their own purple shirt if they want as well. In addition they can donate to help fund care kits for domestic violence victims in Marysville at marysvillewa.gov/1007. The effort is also meant

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Here in Marysville the police respond to about 85 domestic violence calls each month, and that number has gone up this year.

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Connie Mennie

to increase awareness of resources and services available. Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County is the biggest provider of services for the Marysville area.

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“They serve all of Snohomish County, and here in Marysville we have worked with them in the past. We wanted to support them more this year,” said Mennie. “Probably one of the most important things they do is provide a 24/7 hotline for people in distress,” she said, which is available at 425-25-ABUSE. The local nonprofit organization also provides an emergency shelter and confidential counseling, among other services. The month is also meant to highlight the scope of the problem. “Here in Marysville the police respond to an average of 85 domestic violence calls each month, and that number has gone up this year,” said Mennie. “Year-to-date it is 11 per-

cent higher than it was last year,” she said. Community organizations hope the awareness month can improve access to and knowledge of the resources available. “We know that it is a difficult topic for people to talk about, but it affects everyone in our community,” said Mennie. “We want to make it easier or at least help people be more aware of the resources that are out there." The city of Marysville came together with multiple community partners to help raise awareness during the month of October. Those partners include Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County, the Marysville Fire District, the Center at North Marysville, Soroptimist International of Marysville, the Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce, the Marysville Boys & Girls Club, the Marysville Community Food Bank and the Marysville Area Pastors Association. More information about Marysville Domestic Violence Services is available at marysvillewa.gov/552.

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Sports

October 13, 2021 - October 19, 2021 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

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Lakewood hosts Hole in the Wall Invitational By Nathan Whalen nathan@northcountyoutlook.com

More than 4,000 cross country runners representing 117 high schools from five states came to Lakewood High School Oct. 9 to compete in the annual Hole in the Wall Invitational. “The weather was great, and we were able to get all the races in before the rain,” said Jeff Sowards, who is the co-head coach of Lakewood’s cross country team along with Cullen Cantwell. Saturday’s race was the first time the invitational was run in-person since 2019. Last school year’s race was organized virtually during the spring due to COVID-19. Sowards said there were fewer teams participating this year, but more runners.

“People were ready to get back to do something normal this year,” Sowards said. He added that 51 of the schools were ranked in their home state. Runners came from Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, Idaho, and California. There were teams from farther away planning to attend, but COVID-19 issues prevented them from participating. “Hopefully when COVID passes, we’ll be able to expand a little bit beyond the Pacific Northwest,” Sowards said. Races took place throughout the day. James Crabtree, from Sherwood High School in Oregon, posted the best result, and a new course record, with a time of 14:45. Chloe Foerster, from Jesuit High School in Portland, posted the fastest girls time of 17:01, which

PHOTO COURTESY OF JIM LASHUA

Runners competing in the Men's Elite begin their race at the Hole In the Wall Invitational that took place Oct. 9 at Lakewood High School.

Sowards said was within a couple seconds of the girls’ course record. Jesuit was first overall in both the Elite Men’s and Women’s divisions. Locally, Arlington’s Aiden Emerson placed eighth in the 5,000-meters Men’s Elite with a time of 15:22. “That’s a pretty good day against some really good teams,” Arlington cross country coach Mike Shierk said. Arlington’s Brandon Moore ran 15:47, Kiyoshi Hall ran 16:10, Ryan Rushton ran 16:46, Kellen Langford ran 17:01 and Jadon Chesnutt ran 17:50. Overall, Arlington’s boys cross country team placed sixth in the Elite Division. In the Women’s Gold Division, Sophia Cushman placed 27th with a time of 19:31. Sophie Gaudin ran 20:29, Olivia Wyatt ran 20:38, Jaiden Cochran ran of 20:52, Brooke Henkin ran 21:27 and Sadie Harris ran 21:35. Shierk said in a follow-up email that Cushman is poised to compete really well at State and the girls team is poised to return to state as well. Five of the team’s top six girls ran personal records at the invitational. The goal of the girls is to be a state-caliber team. Shierk said the Hole in the Wall is a great place for runners to participate in a more stressful competition. “You learn how to deal with some big, big dogs.” For Lakewood, Gavin Darrah posted the fastest time for the Cou-

gars placing 55th in the Men’s Varsity Gold Division running 17:07. Jarron Ransford ran 17:13, Matthew Hatch ran 17:31, RJ Lydon ran 17:33, and Joey Heisley ran 17:38. The Cougars placed 16th in the Boys Varsity Gold Division and sixth in the Girls Varsity Silver Division. Kayla Schueller placed 32nd for the Cougars running 21:01. Liv Graham ran 21:05, Kayly Barrett ran 21:48, Kylie Sahatdjian ran 21:51 and Natalie Neiffer ran 22:11. Sowards said Neiffer, Graham, Schueller and Lydon set personal bests during the Hole in the Wall. The Cougars had 29 runners competing Oct. 9 and 16 of those set personal records. Lee Hall of Marysville Pilchuck ran 19:41, Luke Pusateri ran 20:01, Malakai Childress ran 20;17 and Tyee Eliason ran 20:17. For MP girls, Rachel Turral ran 23:25, Cana Cross ran 23:54, Imajine Moses ran 26:24 and Alivia White ran 31:23. The Hole in the Wall has been organized annually since 1984, when there were about a dozen teams participating. Sowards credits students, school employees and community members who help run the race. “The volunteer spirit of the Lakewood community is just great,” Sowards said, highlighting the efforts of Monica Rooney coordinating the volunteers and Larry Delaney who is the emcee for the Hole in the Wall.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JIM LASHUA

Lakewood’s Daniela Sanchez runs the Hole in the Wall Invitational.

He said 125 volunteers and 25 alumni helped run the invitational. Athletes from other Lakewood High School sports teams helped and the Jazz Choir sang the National Anthem. “They know how to put on a top-notch race,” Shierk said. “It’s one of the better meets we attend.” Arlington has a league meet Oct. 13 against Stanwood, Shorewood, Shorecrest and Archbishop Murphy. Lakewood competes in the Northwest Conference Championships Oct. 20 while Arlington, Marysville Pilchuck and Marysville Getchell participate in the Wesco Championships Oct. 23. District 1 Championships take place Oct. 30 and the state championship are scheduled for Nov. 6