Win or lose, Everett benefits from contest

In previous years, the All-America City Award competition got so techno-savvy, city presentations included hundreds of well-wishers back home participating via satellite. Organizers have cut out all the high-tech stuff this year and have asked cities to keep it basic (not boring, just grassroots). But team Everett, many of whose members left for Kansas City, Mo. Wednesday morning, should be in no doubt of this city’s support, satellite or no satellite.

Some of us who have paid attention to the city’s efforts to put together a presentation showcasing how Everett’s leaders and residents have worked together to improve life for so many, are feeling a little depressed about having to stay behind. Oh well, maybe next year. Until then, we’ll have to live vicariously through those who are charged with telling the judges about some of our city’s biggest bragging rights: Wiggums Hollow, Cocoon House and Everett Station. The projects are enchanting, life-changing and dazzling, respectively.

While we can’t imagine the judges would deny the city an All-America title this year, the experience of being selected and mingling with other cities should be enough to make the visit worthwhile to our team. Everett city spokeswoman Dale Preboski has attended the event several years in row, by herself at first, to get ideas from other innovative people about how to improve things and to see what all the excitement was about. The stories of team members from other cities across the country were so touching, she came home inspired. We could do this, she told officials here.

Many of the faces at Monday night’s final rehearsal were familiar — city leaders, representatives from the Everett Police Department, educators and community activists. Others weren’t so familiar. This was hardly a clique of who’s who in Everett. In fact, most of the team members only knew a couple of other people, Preboski said. By Saturday evening, they should be fast friends (less than a week isn’t enough time for traveling companions to drive each other nuts).

Meanwhile, the rest of us send our best wishes and wait to hear the good news.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

toon
Editorial cartoons for Saturday, Feb. 8

A sketechy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

bar graph, pie chart and diagrams isolated on white, 3d illustration
Editorial: Don’t let state’s budget numbers intimidate you

With budget discussions starting soon, a new website explains the basics of state’s budget crisis.

Comment: Democracy depends on support of local journalism

A state bill provides funding to support local news outlets through a modest tax on tech businesses.

Comment: Love is intoxicating; romance doesn’t have to be

Navigating sobriety while dating, with Valentine’s Day coming up, is possible and fulfilling.

Comment: State attempt at single-payer health care bound to fail

Other states have tried, but balked when confronted with the immense cost to state taxpayers.

Forum: Requiem for a lost heavyweight: Sports Illustrated

SI, with Time and NatGeo, were a holy trinity for me and my dad. Now, it’s a world of AI clickbait.

Forum: Political leaders should leave trash talk to ballplayers

Verbal intimidation is one thing on the basketball court; it shouldn’t have a place in our politics.

The Buzz: Why, no, we have complete trust in Elon Musk

But whatever he and Trump are doing to the country, could they please wish it into the cornfield?

Curtains act as doors for a handful of classrooms at Glenwood Elementary on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Schools’ building needs point to election reform

Construction funding requests in Arlington and Lake Stevens show need for a change to bond elections.

FILE- In this Nov. 14, 2017, file photo Jaìme Ceja operates a forklift while loading boxes of Red Delicious apples on to a trailer during his shift in an orchard in Tieton, Wash. Cherry and apple growers in Washington state are worried their exports to China will be hurt by a trade war that escalated on Monday when that country raised import duties on a $3 billion list of products. (Shawn Gust/Yakima Herald-Republic via AP, File)
Editorial: Trade war would harm state’s consumers, jobs

Trump’s threat of tariffs to win non-trade concessions complicates talks, says a state trade advocate.

A press operator grabs a Herald newspaper to check over as the papers roll off the press in March 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald file photo)
Editorial: Push back news desert with journalism support

A bill in the state Senate would tax big tech to support a hiring fund for local news outlets.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Friday, Feb. 7

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.