Julie Muhlstein

At home in Edmonds, Catherine Fransson talks about her memoir “Loving the Enemy,” which centers on her relationship with her late father. A retired high school teacher and pastor, she is also a classical pianist. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

A daughter made peace, late in her father’s century-long life

“Loving the Enemy” is a touching memoir by Edmonds writer Catherine Fransson, who was once Miss Everett.

At home in Edmonds, Catherine Fransson talks about her memoir “Loving the Enemy,” which centers on her relationship with her late father. A retired high school teacher and pastor, she is also a classical pianist. (Dan Bates / The Herald)
Dennis Kelly, of Mercy Watch, is wowed by a donation of $11,600 from 100+ Women Who Care About Snohomish County. In the parking lot of Everett’s Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church Tuesday, Sue Rieke presents the symbolic check while Janet Bacon, the women’s group founder, and Kelly talk about the donation. (Dan Bates / Herald Photographer)

With their $100 gifts, Women Who Care making big difference

Mercy Watch, a group providing street outreach, is latest recipient with a donation topping $11,000.

Dennis Kelly, of Mercy Watch, is wowed by a donation of $11,600 from 100+ Women Who Care About Snohomish County. In the parking lot of Everett’s Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church Tuesday, Sue Rieke presents the symbolic check while Janet Bacon, the women’s group founder, and Kelly talk about the donation. (Dan Bates / Herald Photographer)
Dan Bates / The Herald                                Diane Grossenbacher, office manager at Lynndale Elementary School, will celebrate her 15th actual birthday and turn 60 on Saturday, leap day. Third- and fourth-graders on Wednesday give her an early birthday card and had fun answering math questions related to leap year.

Leap of fun: School staffer turns 60 on her 15th birthday

A Lynnwood elementary school office manager makes a math lesson out of her every-four-years celebration.

Dan Bates / The Herald                                Diane Grossenbacher, office manager at Lynndale Elementary School, will celebrate her 15th actual birthday and turn 60 on Saturday, leap day. Third- and fourth-graders on Wednesday give her an early birthday card and had fun answering math questions related to leap year.
The Eclipse Lumber Company along the Snohomish River in Everett burned down May 7, 1962. Now the site is near the Towns at Riverfront, a development of nearly 200 townhouses. (Historic Everett photo)

Harry Stuchell’s death, at 95, a reminder of mill town past

Today, the site of the Everett family’s Eclipse Mill is near about 200 new townhouses along the river.

The Eclipse Lumber Company along the Snohomish River in Everett burned down May 7, 1962. Now the site is near the Towns at Riverfront, a development of nearly 200 townhouses. (Historic Everett photo)
Chris Walsh and his wife, Carol, talk outside the Delta Rehabilitation Center about their plans to close the care facility long known as the Snohomish Chalet. Chris is the owner and administrator of the nursing home that cares for people with severe brain injuries. Carol has worked as a nurse there for many years. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Delta Rehabilitation, home to brain injury victims, to close

“There’s no replacement,” head of care facility agency says of place once known as Snohomish Chalet.

Chris Walsh and his wife, Carol, talk outside the Delta Rehabilitation Center about their plans to close the care facility long known as the Snohomish Chalet. Chris is the owner and administrator of the nursing home that cares for people with severe brain injuries. Carol has worked as a nurse there for many years. (Dan Bates / The Herald)
Greats become art in EvCC’s African American history project

Greats become art in EvCC’s African American history project

“Celebrating Black Excellence” event brings students together to paint and highlight contributions.

Greats become art in EvCC’s African American history project
Shirley Nysether died Sept. 28, 2019. In her memory, the Nysether Family Foundation has donated more than $270,000 to the Assistance League of Everett.

Gift of more than $270,000 secures Assistance League’s home

The Nysether Family Foundation donation pays off a loan for the nonprofit that runs Operation School Bell.

Shirley Nysether died Sept. 28, 2019. In her memory, the Nysether Family Foundation has donated more than $270,000 to the Assistance League of Everett.
Edmonds girl, 4, has beauty that’s ‘more than skin deep’

Edmonds girl, 4, has beauty that’s ‘more than skin deep’

Harper Foy was born with harlequin ichthyosis, a skin condition that’s 1 in 500,000. She’s a fighter.

Edmonds girl, 4, has beauty that’s ‘more than skin deep’
Marysville’s Phil Jubie holds a book of poetry by John Greenleaf Whittier that once belonged to his great-uncle, Edwin Ritchie. Jubie would love to know the story behind the book’s inscription, from someone named Lulu. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Who was Lulu? 114 years later, a Valentine’s gift won’t tell

A sweet message in a vintage book of poetry has a Marysville man pondering the life of his great-uncle.

Marysville’s Phil Jubie holds a book of poetry by John Greenleaf Whittier that once belonged to his great-uncle, Edwin Ritchie. Jubie would love to know the story behind the book’s inscription, from someone named Lulu. (Dan Bates / The Herald)
Dan Bates / The Herald                                 At Tuesday’s grand opening of the ChildStrive offices in Everett are (from left) Everett City Council President Judy Tuohy, ChildStrive CEO Jim Welsh, administrative operations director Leann Denini, Rebecca Mauldin, development and communications director, and other staff and visitors.

With new digs, ChildStrive sticks to mission of helping kids

The agency that was once Little Red School House still has programs on Casino Road and in Lynnwood.

Dan Bates / The Herald                                 At Tuesday’s grand opening of the ChildStrive offices in Everett are (from left) Everett City Council President Judy Tuohy, ChildStrive CEO Jim Welsh, administrative operations director Leann Denini, Rebecca Mauldin, development and communications director, and other staff and visitors.
Everett Reads! pick ‘An American Marriage’ explores injustice

Everett Reads! pick ‘An American Marriage’ explores injustice

Author Tayari Jones, a favorite of Barack Obama and Bill Gates, will speak in Everett on Feb. 15.

Everett Reads! pick ‘An American Marriage’ explores injustice
Snohomish High School students Ethan Martez, 16 (from left), Deanna Westerinen, 16, and ASB President Riley Yeoman, 18, meet Wednesday to talk about Sage, their Spanish teacher’s therapy dog. The much-loved 5-year-old golden retriever has been banned from class after attending for years. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Teachers’ dogs kicked out of classes at Snohomish High School

Students launch a petition drive to keep canine pals, including one therapy pup with a staff ID tag.

Snohomish High School students Ethan Martez, 16 (from left), Deanna Westerinen, 16, and ASB President Riley Yeoman, 18, meet Wednesday to talk about Sage, their Spanish teacher’s therapy dog. The much-loved 5-year-old golden retriever has been banned from class after attending for years. (Dan Bates / The Herald)
Rico Baumgardt, a 21-year-old au pair from Germany, plays with year-old Owen Hertl as Owen’s sister, Bianca, 4, creates artwork at a kid-size table in the Hertl family’s Edmonds home Monday. Next month, Baumgardt will return home after a year with the family. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

In Edmonds home, German au pair became as close as family

“We really are forever changed,” says mother of two whose baby son needs tube feeding and extra care.

Rico Baumgardt, a 21-year-old au pair from Germany, plays with year-old Owen Hertl as Owen’s sister, Bianca, 4, creates artwork at a kid-size table in the Hertl family’s Edmonds home Monday. Next month, Baumgardt will return home after a year with the family. (Dan Bates / The Herald)
Tyler Wheaton, 41, spent about a month in the Everett Gospel Mission’s accute respite care recovery center. Now staying at the mission and part of its Passport program, he hopes to leave behind homelessness and other struggles. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Healing and help at Everett Gospel Mission’s new respite care

Providence partners with shelter to provide medical aid in a safe place for people who are homeless.

Tyler Wheaton, 41, spent about a month in the Everett Gospel Mission’s accute respite care recovery center. Now staying at the mission and part of its Passport program, he hopes to leave behind homelessness and other struggles. (Dan Bates / The Herald)
Emanuel Popa owns two adjacent 1903 houses on South Ann Street. The original Monroe homes of the family that ran Buck’s Shingle Mill, they may be demolished to make way for apartments. Popa is willing to give them away to anyone who wants to pay to move them. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Old and free: Monroe mill operators’ 1903 houses up for grabs

Current owner plans apartment complex on property, but pair of dwellings could be moved to new site.

Emanuel Popa owns two adjacent 1903 houses on South Ann Street. The original Monroe homes of the family that ran Buck’s Shingle Mill, they may be demolished to make way for apartments. Popa is willing to give them away to anyone who wants to pay to move them. (Dan Bates / The Herald)
A remembrance etched in stone: Everett teacher loved nature

A remembrance etched in stone: Everett teacher loved nature

An arboretum group raised money for a sculpture installed in Andy Sudkamp’s honor. It’s now a gift to city.

A remembrance etched in stone: Everett teacher loved nature
Larry Jubie’s near perfect 1967 Mecury Caliente, shown here at his Everett home, is one of only four made. He sold the car Thursday at an auction in Arizona and is donating the proceeds to the Providence General Foundation.

Everett man sold rare ’67 race car to aid Providence hospital

Larry Jubie’s more than $80,000 gift will help Providence General Foundation support construction.

Larry Jubie’s near perfect 1967 Mecury Caliente, shown here at his Everett home, is one of only four made. He sold the car Thursday at an auction in Arizona and is donating the proceeds to the Providence General Foundation.
In her Mill Creek area home, Joni Earl, former Sound Transit CEO, and author Bob Wodnik talk about the transit agency’s decades-long effort to bring light rail to the region. Wodnik, a former Herald writer, has written “Back on Track,” a new book about the battles for light rail. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Light rail’s tenacious supporter: Joni Earl at center of book

In his new history of Sound Transit, former Herald writer Bob Wodnik delves into complex battles.

In her Mill Creek area home, Joni Earl, former Sound Transit CEO, and author Bob Wodnik talk about the transit agency’s decades-long effort to bring light rail to the region. Wodnik, a former Herald writer, has written “Back on Track,” a new book about the battles for light rail. (Dan Bates / The Herald)
Everett’s Jerry Garner is president of the Northwest Packer Backers, a fan group that supports the NFL team from his home town of Green Bay, Wisconsin. The group has been a generous supporter of Christmas House. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Packer fans show generous spirit with Christmas House gifts

Everett’s Jerry Garner, a native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, is president of Northwest Packer Backers.

Everett’s Jerry Garner is president of the Northwest Packer Backers, a fan group that supports the NFL team from his home town of Green Bay, Wisconsin. The group has been a generous supporter of Christmas House. (Dan Bates / The Herald)
Shellie and Brian Starr unfold a big American flag at their Snohomish home Thursday. It was flown over the USS Theodore Roosevelt on April 20, in honor of their son, Marine Cpl. Jeffrey Starr, who was killed in Iraq in 2005. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Gold Star parents’ hearts are with those who are serving now

For family of Snohomish Marine, new troubles tied to Iraq and Iran stir memories of son’s sacrifice.

Shellie and Brian Starr unfold a big American flag at their Snohomish home Thursday. It was flown over the USS Theodore Roosevelt on April 20, in honor of their son, Marine Cpl. Jeffrey Starr, who was killed in Iraq in 2005. (Dan Bates / The Herald)