Eric Schucht

Brian Geppert holds a birdhouse made of skis at his home in Lynnwood, Washington on Saturday, March 11, 2023. Geppert started a recycling program for the greater Seattle area, which has saved hundreds of skis from their demise. He turns the skis into functional art for the home, such as coat racks, bottle openers, bookends, shelves, candle sconces, toilet plungers, beer flights, and more. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Boeing engineer turns old ski gear into household essentials

If Lynnwood’s Brian Geppert isn’t on the slopes, then he’s turning skis into coat racks and bottle openers.

 

Mukilteo Coffee Roasters co-owners Beth and Gary Smith in 2017. (Kyle Jensen / South Whidbey Record)

Mukilteo coffee roaster, 69, had personality as big as ‘thunderstorm’

“I knew at the first sip that this is what I wanted to do,” Gary Smith said. The founder of Mukilteo Coffee Roasters died this month.

 

Willow Mietus, 50, poses for a photo at her home in Coupeville, Washington on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. Mietus bought a former Frito-Lay truck to sell her dyed yarn out of. She calls it "The Wool Wagon." (Annie Barker / The Herald)

The Wool Wagon to hit the streets of Whidbey Island

A self-described “professional yarn temptress” from Coupeville is setting up shop in a modified truck.

 

Lexi Angel, 30, poses for a photo cosplaying as Pinkie Pie from "My Little Pony: Equestria Girls" at Catalyst Café in Everett, Washington on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Angel is speaking on a panel called "Body Positivity In The Cosplay Community" at this year's Emerald City Comic Con. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Annual nerd migration draws locals to Emerald City Comic Con

Geeks from across Snohomish County are in the tractor beam for the state’s big comic and pop culture convention in Seattle.

Lexi Angel, 30, poses for a photo cosplaying as Pinkie Pie from "My Little Pony: Equestria Girls" at Catalyst Café in Everett, Washington on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Angel is speaking on a panel called "Body Positivity In The Cosplay Community" at this year's Emerald City Comic Con. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Kelly Matthews, 36, left, Tonka, 6, center, and Nichole Matthews, 36, pose for a photo in their home in Lynnwood, Washington on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023.  The twin sisters work as freelance comic book artists and illustrators. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Drawing interest: Twin sisters never gave up on making their mark

Lynnwood sisters, Kelly and Nichole Matthews, got their big break a decade ago and now draw comics full time.

Kelly Matthews, 36, left, Tonka, 6, center, and Nichole Matthews, 36, pose for a photo in their home in Lynnwood, Washington on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023.  The twin sisters work as freelance comic book artists and illustrators. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Rowen Scout, persona Stoat, snags an ice spell from the ground during a warmup round of "heavy object" at a weekly meeting of the Amtgard LARPing group The Hollow on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, at McCollum Park in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Knights of Mill Creek: In live-action fantasy game Amtgard, nerds rule

They dress as fantasy characters and whack folks with fake weapons in this fantasy game. Or maybe they just show off their crafting.

Rowen Scout, persona Stoat, snags an ice spell from the ground during a warmup round of "heavy object" at a weekly meeting of the Amtgard LARPing group The Hollow on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, at McCollum Park in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Left to right, Northwest Room Librarian Lisa Labovitch, 41, and contributors to HistoryLink, an online encyclopedia on Washington history, David Cameron, 81, and Louise Lindgren, 79, pose for a photo at the Everett Public Library in Everett, Washington on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Local historians spotlight ‘unsung heroes’ of Snohomish County’s past

The Northwest Room at the Everett Public Library is a treasure trove for the state’s online encyclopedia, HistoryLink.org.

Left to right, Northwest Room Librarian Lisa Labovitch, 41, and contributors to HistoryLink, an online encyclopedia on Washington history, David Cameron, 81, and Louise Lindgren, 79, pose for a photo at the Everett Public Library in Everett, Washington on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Lori Johnson, director of the Washington State Food Truck Association shows off a box of fresh malasadas during the grand opening of the GoodBelly LLC food truck on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Fried dough on the go, from a woman who’s on the go

A decade after immigrating to the U.S., Alice Tum has mastered the art of making Hawaiian-style doughnuts and sells them from her own food trailer.

Lori Johnson, director of the Washington State Food Truck Association shows off a box of fresh malasadas during the grand opening of the GoodBelly LLC food truck on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
A selection of gnomes along with the gnome of the month and calendar on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022 in Sultan, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Gnome of the Month Club accepting new members

For $30 a month, you too can receive a surprise garden gnome in the mail, courtesy Ryan Tiland of Sultan.

A selection of gnomes along with the gnome of the month and calendar on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022 in Sultan, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
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9 Snohomish County crafters to check out this holiday season

From puzzle cubes to Mickey Mouse ears, locals have found a market online for niche products.

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Nigel Lindsey of Revolution by the Barrel adds a sage leaf garnish to his spin on a New York sour while demonstrating his mobile cocktail service Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022, at Think Tank Cowork in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Traveling bartender wants to start a ‘Revolution by the Barrel’

Everett mixologist Nigel Lindsey works to hold cocktails to a higher standard.

Nigel Lindsey of Revolution by the Barrel adds a sage leaf garnish to his spin on a New York sour while demonstrating his mobile cocktail service Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022, at Think Tank Cowork in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Andy Illyn with a selection of his greeting cards, Cardstalked, that are sold at What’s Bloomin’ Floral on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Adventure-seeking cop finds new thrill in greeting cards

Mukilteo assistant police chief Andy Illyn unwinds by turning puns and dad jokes into greeting cards.

Andy Illyn with a selection of his greeting cards, Cardstalked, that are sold at What’s Bloomin’ Floral on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lisa Laidlaw, owner and baker at House Balthazar, holds a plate of macarons in the kitchen Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, at House Balthazar in Monroe, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Monroe’s tiny House Balthazar makes macaron magic

Lisa Laidlaw left her corporate job to bake French macarons with big flavors.

Lisa Laidlaw, owner and baker at House Balthazar, holds a plate of macarons in the kitchen Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, at House Balthazar in Monroe, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Nicole Pelham, owner and player, of the Seattle Spartans runs through drills during practice Saturday morning in Shoreline, Washington on September 3, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Everett women’s football team owner wants sport to become ‘mainstream’

Nicole Pelham owns the Seattle Spartans, formerly known as the Everett Reign. She wants to grow the sport, but challenges abound.

Nicole Pelham, owner and player, of the Seattle Spartans runs through drills during practice Saturday morning in Shoreline, Washington on September 3, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mike Marinez, owner of Mike’s Plumbing, at his workshop on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

It’s a dirty job, but this Edmonds man is up to do it

A plumber’s work is sometimes gross, says Miguel “Mike” Marinez, but for him the rewards outweigh the rats.

Mike Marinez, owner of Mike’s Plumbing, at his workshop on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Jon Meggison from Lynnwood has more than 20 films under belt and stars in the indie film "Conjuring The Beyond”. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Lynnwood to Hollywood: Local actor finds success on the big screen

Jon Meggison learned to act from YouTube tutorials. Now, he works with actors like Danny Trejo.

Jon Meggison from Lynnwood has more than 20 films under belt and stars in the indie film "Conjuring The Beyond”. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Lucy Mason, circa 1959. (Courtesy of Everett Clinic)

Everett Clinic’s first woman physician, Lucy Mason, dies at 92

Mason began her career at a time when being a medical doctor was almost exclusively a man’s profession.

Lucy Mason, circa 1959. (Courtesy of Everett Clinic)
Bruce Johnson has an exhibit on the history of clowns at the Lynnwood Library in Lynnwood, Washington on August 11, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Clown historian takes the funny business very seriously

Bruce Johnson, a.k.a “Charlie the Juggling Clown,” wants to pass his craft down to future generations.

Bruce Johnson has an exhibit on the history of clowns at the Lynnwood Library in Lynnwood, Washington on August 11, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Josh Haazard Stands inside his workspace, the HaazLab, where he creates a variety of cosplay props and other creative gadgets, on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, at his home in Monroe, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

This contraption crafter turns junk into sci-fi weaponry

Joshamee “The Chief” Haazard is a costume prop maker in Monroe. He transforms trash into treasure.

Josh Haazard Stands inside his workspace, the HaazLab, where he creates a variety of cosplay props and other creative gadgets, on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, at his home in Monroe, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
"Freedom Pig" ran wild in Arlington for close to a week. A group effort led to it's capture. (Photo provided)

Ham on the lam: ‘Freedom Pig’ finally caught in Arlington

An escaped pig was on the run for a week. The search brought the community together.

"Freedom Pig" ran wild in Arlington for close to a week. A group effort led to it's capture. (Photo provided)