Aina de Lapparent Alvarez

Jayden Hill, 15, an incoming sophomore at Monroe High School is reflected in the screen of a cellphone on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Come fall, Monroe students must silence their cellphones in class

Elementary and middle school students won’t be allowed to use phones in schools. High schoolers will have more leeway.

 

Aurora Echo, owner of Wildly Beloved Foods, begins making cavatelli pasta with one of her Bottene pasta machine on Thursday, June 27, 2024 in Clinton, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Whidbey artisanal pasta maker shares her secrets

For Aurora Echo of Wildly Beloved Foods in Clinton, “sharing food is so ancient; it feels so good.”

 

Charcoal’s grilled pork belly with fish sauce caramel, pickled carrot and daikon slaw steals the show at Crave! Northwest food festival at the Lynnwood Event Center on Friday, June 21, 2024, in Lynnwood, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Food festival hopes to make Lynnwood an annual destination

Food entrepreneurs shared ideas, tried new foods and found inspiration at the Crave! food festival — which aims to become an annual event.

 

36 hours after final show, Everett radio host Charlye Parker, 80, dies

When Parker got into radio, she was a rarity: a woman in a DJ booth. For the past 12 years, she hosted weekend country music shows at KXA.

Crave Spokane Valley 2023 (Courtesy of CraveNW Media Relations)

Sold out Spokane food festival coming to Lynnwood

The event Friday night at the Lynnwood Event Center will feature “foods from around the world.” The goal is to make it annual.

Crave Spokane Valley 2023 (Courtesy of CraveNW Media Relations)
Junelle Lewis, right, daughter Tamara Grigsby and son Jayden Hill sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” during Monroe’s Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

On Juneteenth: ‘We can always say that there is hope’

The Snohomish County NAACP is co-sponsoring a celebration Saturday near Snohomish, with speakers, music and food.

Junelle Lewis, right, daughter Tamara Grigsby and son Jayden Hill sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” during Monroe’s Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Woodside Elementary Principal Betty Cobbs on Monday, June 17, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Everett’s first Black principal retires after 51 years

In her office, Betty Cobbs kept a black-and-white photo of herself at age 5: “I am right there, with dreams of becoming an educator.”

Woodside Elementary Principal Betty Cobbs on Monday, June 17, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Sam Schrantz waves a transgender pride flag during the Stanwood-Camano Pride event at Freedom Park in Camano, Washington on Saturday, June 1, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

She was a ‘lone soul’ before starting a Pride event for rural Snohomish County

In recent years, groups have led celebrations in Stanwood, Arlington, Lake Stevens and elsewhere — cities where “we absolutely need to find each other.”

Sam Schrantz waves a transgender pride flag during the Stanwood-Camano Pride event at Freedom Park in Camano, Washington on Saturday, June 1, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Lawrence E. O’Donnell holds a photograph of himself when he was a consultant and a part of a project removing “the annex” from Everett High School in 1995 at his brother Jack’s home in Everett, Washington on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. O’Donnell is third from the right. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Everett High renames library after its biggest fan, Larry O’Donnell

O’Donnell has been a student, teacher, counselor, dean, vice principal, principal and consultant. At 86, he’s still learning.

Lawrence E. O’Donnell holds a photograph of himself when he was a consultant and a part of a project removing “the annex” from Everett High School in 1995 at his brother Jack’s home in Everett, Washington on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. O’Donnell is third from the right. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Gerry Davis holds an empty picture frame which she intends to put a photo of her sister Mary at Hillcrest Park in Mount Vernon, Washington on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Film shines light on missing Tulalip woman’s story — and larger crisis

“Missing From Fire Trail Road” spotlights the unsolved case of Mary Johnson-Davis. It premieres Saturday at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.

Gerry Davis holds an empty picture frame which she intends to put a photo of her sister Mary at Hillcrest Park in Mount Vernon, Washington on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Students Mary Chapman, left, and Nano Portugal, right, work together with a fusion splicer and other equipment during a fiber optic technician training demonstration at Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Sno-Isle students on the path to becoming fiber professionals

The state will roll out $1.2 billion to close gaps in internet access. But not enough professionals are working to build the infrastructure.

Students Mary Chapman, left, and Nano Portugal, right, work together with a fusion splicer and other equipment during a fiber optic technician training demonstration at Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Pablo Garduno and the team at Barbacoa Judith’s churn out pit-roasted lamb tacos by the dozen at the Hidden Gems Weekend Market on Sunday, April 28, 2024, at Boom City in Tulalip, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Eating our way through Tulalip’s Hidden Gems weekend market

Don’t miss the pupusas, pit-roasted lamb tacos, elotes and even produce for your next meal.

Pablo Garduno and the team at Barbacoa Judith’s churn out pit-roasted lamb tacos by the dozen at the Hidden Gems Weekend Market on Sunday, April 28, 2024, at Boom City in Tulalip, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
A “No Shooting” sign on DNR land near Spada Lake is full of bullet holes on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, along Sultan Basin Road near Sultan, Washington. People frequent multiple locations along the road to use firearms despite signage warning them not to. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

County pumps the brakes on planned Sultan shooting range

The $47 million project, in the works for decades, has no partner or funding. County parks officials are reconsidering its viability.

A “No Shooting” sign on DNR land near Spada Lake is full of bullet holes on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, along Sultan Basin Road near Sultan, Washington. People frequent multiple locations along the road to use firearms despite signage warning them not to. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Pet detective Jim Branson stops to poke through some fur that Raphael the dog found while searching on Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Everett, Washington. Branson determined the fur in question was likely from a rabbit, and not a missing cat.(Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Lost a pet? Pet detective James Branson and his dogs may be able to help

James Branson, founder of Three Retrievers Lost Pet Rescue, helps people in the Seattle area find their missing pets for $350.

Pet detective Jim Branson stops to poke through some fur that Raphael the dog found while searching on Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Everett, Washington. Branson determined the fur in question was likely from a rabbit, and not a missing cat.(Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Anthony Brock performs at Artisans PNW during the first day of the Fisherman’s Village Music Fest on Thursday, May 16, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

At downtown Everett musical festival: ‘Be weird and dance with us’

In its first night, Fisherman’s Village brought together people who “might not normally be in the same room together” — with big acts still to come.

Anthony Brock performs at Artisans PNW during the first day of the Fisherman’s Village Music Fest on Thursday, May 16, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish residents Barbara Bailey, right, and Beth Jarvis sit on a gate atop a levee on Bailey’s property on Monday, May 13, 2024, at Bailey Farm in Snohomish, Washington. Bailey is concerned the expansion of nearby Harvey Field Airport will lead to levee failures during future flood events due to a reduction of space for floodwater to safely go. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Harvey Field seeks to reroute runway in floodplain, faces new pushback

Snohomish farmers and neighbors worry the project will be disruptive and worsen flooding. Ownership advised people to “read the science.”

Snohomish residents Barbara Bailey, right, and Beth Jarvis sit on a gate atop a levee on Bailey’s property on Monday, May 13, 2024, at Bailey Farm in Snohomish, Washington. Bailey is concerned the expansion of nearby Harvey Field Airport will lead to levee failures during future flood events due to a reduction of space for floodwater to safely go. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Tlingit Artist Fred Fulmer points to some of the texture work he did on his information totem pole on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at his home in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

11-foot totem pole, carved in Everett, took 35 years to make — or 650

The pole crafted by Fred Fulmer is bound for Alaska, in what will be a bittersweet sendoff Saturday in his backyard.

Tlingit Artist Fred Fulmer points to some of the texture work he did on his information totem pole on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at his home in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Andy Gibbs, co-owner of Andy’s Fish House, outside of his restaurant on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

City: Campaign can’t save big tent at Andy’s Fish House in Snohomish

A petition raised over 6,000 signatures to keep the outdoor dining cover — a lifeline during COVID. But the city said its hands are tied.

Andy Gibbs, co-owner of Andy’s Fish House, outside of his restaurant on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Ayden TheBoy-Jones, left, Kenco Hinrichs and Jalen Morrical work together on a VEX Robotics project at Tulalip Heritage High School on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Skills, not As, are what count at Tulalip, Everett alternative schools

In 2022, Tulalip Heritage High School changed its approach to a “Big Picture” model. Teachers now ask students what they want to learn.

Ayden TheBoy-Jones, left, Kenco Hinrichs and Jalen Morrical work together on a VEX Robotics project at Tulalip Heritage High School on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A memorial for Jenzele Couassi outside of the Don Hatch Youth Center on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 in Tulalip, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

After Marysville girl’s death, family grapples with ‘so much unspoken stuff’

Jenzele Couassi, 16, was always there for others. She also endured bullying. Her mother said: “We have to make it safe for our kids in America.”

A memorial for Jenzele Couassi outside of the Don Hatch Youth Center on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 in Tulalip, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)