Dressed for temperatures in the 30s, Jack Wilson (right) pulls ahead of the biking group known as the Big Shots as they ride from Arlington to Lake Cassidy via the Centennial Trail on Dec. 4. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

The Northwest Chorale performs G. F. Handel’s Messiah at Edmonds United Methodist Church on Dec. 9. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Army veteran Brian Seguin, of Everett, holds a candle at a vigil in remembrance of deaths this year within the area’s homeless population outside the Snohomish County Courthouse in Everett on Dec. 21. (Ian Terry / The Herald)

A 12-foot statue of “Sultan John” — or T’seul-Ted — is seen in Sultan on Dec. 15. A new pedestrian bridge planned in Sultan will mean the statue will need to be temporarily moved. (Ian Terry / The Herald)

Elisabeth Strom and her husband, Steve Strom, kiss their son Hugo, who was born on the way to the hospital Dec. 2, at 30 weeks. He weighed 3 pounds, 11.6 ounces. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

The Granite Falls High School girls basketball team rallies after practice on Dec. 19, as they prepared for their tournament trip to Alaska. (Kevin Clark / The Daily Herald)

Barbara Diaz, 25, picks out toys at Christmas House at the Everett Boys & Girls Club on Dec. 15. Diaz, who has two girls and a boy, ages 4, 6 and 8, had three brain surgeries in the past year. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Dennis Kloke, Stanwood varsity head coach, addresses his team during a timeout against Everett High at Stanwood High School on Dec. 13. (Kevin Clark / The Daily Herald)

South Kitsap’s Devon Gentz and Kyle LaCoursiere of Lake Stevens work for an advantage at Lake Stevens High School on Dec. 21. (Kevin Clark / The Daily Herald)

Snohomish’s Kyra Beckman (34) takes a shot during a game against Glacier Peak at Snohomish High School on Dec. 19. (Ian Terry / The Herald)

Snohomish’s Maya DuChesne (14) goes up for a shot as Glacier Peak’s Haley Grambo (1) defends during a game at Snohomish High School on Dec. 19. (Ian Terry / The Herald)