Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Thursday, December 20, 2007 Marysville coffee drinkers pay it forward One person's good deed begets another, and another ... By Scott Pesznecker Herald Writer MARYSVILLE -- Lindsey Molstad of Stanwood was pleasantly surprised Wednesday afternoon when a man in a sports car with Texas plates paid for her vanilla latte and her daughters' hot chocolates. She wasn't the first to receive the holiday cheer. At the Starbucks on 116th Street NE in Marysville, a chain of more than 350 people bought coffee for the people in line behind them -- either in the drive-through or inside -- starting with a woman who first came in about 8 a.m. "I think it's awesome," said Molstad, 28, who had just picked up her daughters on her way home from work. "I feel really bad because I ordered drinks for my kids, and the person behind me only had one." Starbucks employee Michael Smith of Marysville was working the drive-through window when the first woman drove through and paid for the next customer. When he explained to the next person what happened, that customer decided to pass the good will along, Starbucks shift supervisor Sarah Nix said. Then the next person followed suit. And the next person. And the next person. Once the chain picked up, Smith refused to leave the drive-through window. He saw it as a special trust given to him by that first customer. "I'm really worried they're going to stop," he said Wednesday afternoon, after the chain surpassed 250 people. During the holidays, it's not uncommon for customers to occasionally buy coffee for whomever is next in line, said Nix, who used to work at the Starbucks in Lake Stevens. But she's never seen anything like this. "I'm really shocked," Nix said. "This makes Christmas so much nicer, knowing people care." Some customers went above and beyond paying for the next person, giving $15 or $20 to the coffee shop. Any extra money that isn't used to pay for drinks is planned to be used for Starbucks' holiday toy drive, Nix said. Randy Davis, 49, of Camano Island read a newspaper at the Starbucks while sipping a cup of coffee someone else paid for. He said he's bought coffee for strangers before, but he's never heard of so many people paying it forward. "It's a lot of people," said Davis, a science teacher at Marysville-Pilchuck High School. "It's kind of cool. It's neat to see that people still appreciate stuff like that." Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.

1. Everett teen remembered as standout at school 2. Machinists see little progress in Boeing contract talks 3. At Russian-style bath house in Everett, clients can wash cares away 4. Boeing labor union slogans 5. Everett dance school closing 6. Monroe prison inmates put in lockdown 7. Event planner: what to do for the Fourth 8. UPDATE: AquaSox GM says it won't happen again 9. Foster kids get break on camp fees 10. Report on Lake Stevens Marine's death to be contested 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Announcing the winners of the E-prizes • Shoreline CC tennis program gets reprieve • Snohomish County tumbles to Seattle • Meadowdale graduate leads Bellingham into title game • Sports Scene • Hoopfest champs • Sports Briefs • Know the dress code before you head out • Lillibridge gets first major league hit • Warbird¿s history keeper • (No heading) • Arlington Fly-In marks 40th anniversary this year • Paul Allen's rare Flying Heritage Collection becomes latest aviation att ... • Business Briefs - July 2008 • July 1998: Cogswell eyed future growth • 787 'powers up' all systems • Glider clubs merge at Arlington Airport