The Snohomish County Council contests are the hottest election races this fall.

To help inform voters, The Herald is sponsoring “Coffee With the Candidates” at 7:30 tonight at the new Snohomish County Administration Building at Pacific and Oakes avenues. Park in the county garage or on a side street and proceed to Public Meeting Room 2. Participants will be allowed to ask the candidates questions.

The coffee starts after the Silvertips begin to play across the street at the Everett Events Center, and will end before the hockey game, so traffic should not be a problem.

PUD offers free generator classes

Those who followed news of the recent hurricanes may have heard the tragic stories about folks who didn’t use their generators properly.

The Snohomish County PUD is offering free safety classes on generators, covering such aspects as transfer switches, plug loads and electrical safety.

A common mistake homeowners make when using portable generators is to plug them into their home wiring systems without first installing a transfer switch. This can create feedback into power lines, endangering line workers and others.

You don’t have to register for the classes. All begin at 6 p.m. Here are dates and locations:

* Nov. 15, PUD office in Monroe, 120 E. Fremont St.

* Nov. 16, PUD office in Snohomish, 807 Rainier St.

* Nov. 17, PUD office in Everett, 2320 California St.

* Nov. 29, PUD office in Stanwood, 9124 271st St. NW.

* Nov. 30, Lynnwood Library, 19200 44th Ave. W.

* Dec. 1, Marysville Library, 6120 Grove St.

Does anyone know the Hooper family?

A collage of family photos dating to the 1920s was found along with diary information on a Camano Island hillside.

The photos apparently show the Hooper family, including Willard, Wilda, Mark, Ross and Marcia.

It looks like Willard Hooper retired from the Boeing Co.

Bob Day found the family items in a plastic sack along the road. It anyone knows the family, please call 425-339-3451.

Call us

If you have an item for FYI, call Kristi O’Harran at 425-339-3451. If you have a news tip or an idea for a local story, call the city desk at 425-339-3428, or e-mail newstips@heraldnet. com.