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Kamiak’s Ally Boulger (4) pitches during a 4A softball game between Kamiak and Jackson at Kamiak High School on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in Mukilteo, Washington. Jackson won, 9-0. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Kamiak’s Ally Boulger (4) pitches during a 4A softball game between Kamiak and Jackson at Kamiak High School on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in Mukilteo, Washington. Jackson won, 9-0. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Jon Kim freestyles during a RTHMZ rehearsal Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, in Lynnwood, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Moving with love: Lynnwood’s RTHMZ dances to their own beat

The team brings together dancers from across styles to raise the bar of what’s possible in the local scene.

Jon Kim freestyles during a RTHMZ rehearsal Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, in Lynnwood, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The sanctuary of Zion Lutheran Church is seen on Monday, April 1, 2024, in Snohomish, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

100 years later, bell still tolls at Snohomish church

For a century, congregants have gathered at the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church. For Marvin Lauterbach, the church is home.

The sanctuary of Zion Lutheran Church is seen on Monday, April 1, 2024, in Snohomish, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Binita Shrestha, new co-owner of Boston’s Restaurant & Sports Bar, sits in her restaurant on Monday, March 18, 2024, in Smokey Point, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

New pizzeria owner took the scenic route from Nepal to Marysville

Binita Shrestha “wanted to be everything.” At 50, she can check off Korean beauty pageant contestant and restaurant franchisee.

Binita Shrestha, new co-owner of Boston’s Restaurant & Sports Bar, sits in her restaurant on Monday, March 18, 2024, in Smokey Point, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Royalwood Estates Mobile Home Park residents Patsy Gilbert, left, and Elna Olson, right, give a brief tour of the mobile home park on Monday, March 11, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

‘Nowhere else to cut’: Seniors face 14% rent increases, in homes they own

After a bill to limit rent increases failed, Snohomish County residents like Susan Lockyer are feeling pinched by outside investors.

Royalwood Estates Mobile Home Park residents Patsy Gilbert, left, and Elna Olson, right, give a brief tour of the mobile home park on Monday, March 11, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Sen. Patty Murray meets and greets following a discussion at Everett Fire Department’s Station 1 about the city’s opioid crisis Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Congress approves $5M for Everett’s opioid crisis, child care needs

The money will support the city’s alternative crisis response and the YMCA of Snohomish County.

Sen. Patty Murray meets and greets following a discussion at Everett Fire Department’s Station 1 about the city’s opioid crisis Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Students work on cutting pieces of paper for a mural during the "Afternoon of the Arts" program, where students spend part of the day on an art project at Utsalady Elementary on March 22, 2024 in Camano, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

‘Afternoon of the Arts’ makes time for creativity in Camano school

Once a month, Utsalady Elementary shuts down for students to do nothing but make art for hours. Arts advocates want to expand the program.

Students work on cutting pieces of paper for a mural during the "Afternoon of the Arts" program, where students spend part of the day on an art project at Utsalady Elementary on March 22, 2024 in Camano, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Jimmer DeGroot stands along the line of weber grills in his front yard on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Grotto, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Why are there 24 Weber grills lined up on the highway to Stevens Pass?

Just ask Jimmer De Groot. He expresses his love of grills through his art. And it’s now a bit of an obsession.

Jimmer DeGroot stands along the line of weber grills in his front yard on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Grotto, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Brandon Hailey of Cytrus, center, plays the saxophone during a headlining show at Madam Lou’s on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Lynnwood-based funk octet Cytrus has the juice

Resilience and brotherhood take center stage with ‘friends-first’ band.

Brandon Hailey of Cytrus, center, plays the saxophone during a headlining show at Madam Lou’s on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)

Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
A car pulling an empty trailer drives eastbound along Highway 530 in front of the Oso mudslide site on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019 in Oso, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

A brief timeline of the Oso mudslide

Ten years ago, the deadliest slide in U.S. history struck between Arlington and Darrington. Here’s a look back.

A car pulling an empty trailer drives eastbound along Highway 530 in front of the Oso mudslide site on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019 in Oso, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
University of Washington geomorphologist David Montgomery studied the Oso landslide. He was at his office in Johnson Hall on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, in Seattle, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

What geologists learned from Oso, and what they wish they knew in 2014

Too often with natural hazards, it takes a tragedy, geologists said. Now the state allocates millions to mapping landslides.

University of Washington geomorphologist David Montgomery studied the Oso landslide. He was at his office in Johnson Hall on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, in Seattle, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Carvings with words of tribute are displayed at the Oso Landslide Memorial on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, in Arlington, WA. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

New memorial means ‘everything’ to survivors, 10 years after Oso slide

At the 2-acre site, bronze and steel sculptures rise against the backdrop of the slide, making use of shadows and light — tragedy and hope.

Carvings with words of tribute are displayed at the Oso Landslide Memorial on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, in Arlington, WA. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Fresh coffee beans at Vista Clara Coffee on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Fresh coffee beans at Vista Clara Coffee on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Titania ThunderLily, center, holds the maypole as Pagan revelers wrap red-and-white ribbon around it for a Beltane festival in May 2023, at the Aquarian Tabernacle Church in Index, Washington. Beltane celebrates the height of spring. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Pagan church finds ‘sacred space between the worlds’ on Index riverfront

At the Aquarian Tabernacle Church, rituals with ancient roots celebrate Pagan gods, the Earth and “the smell of smoke in our hair.”

Titania ThunderLily, center, holds the maypole as Pagan revelers wrap red-and-white ribbon around it for a Beltane festival in May 2023, at the Aquarian Tabernacle Church in Index, Washington. Beltane celebrates the height of spring. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Leri Harper at her home on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Everett woman paid sewer bill for 23 years, unaware she had septic tank

Records showed the city signed off on a sewer connection in 1973. This year, Leri Harper had to spend $20,000 to fix it.

Leri Harper at her home on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Steve Hall talks about how high the water reached when the road was washed out on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

After culvert bursts, 23 Tulalip Reservation residents stranded

In a neighborhood along Mission Creek, residents must now go up and down ladders to get to the outside world — with no solution in sight.

Steve Hall talks about how high the water reached when the road was washed out on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A table setting inside the Grouchy Chef on Sunday, March 3, 2024 in Mukilteo, Washington.(Annie Barker / The Herald)

Mukilteo’s one-of-a-kind Grouchy Chef is hanging up his apron

Takayuki Masumoto, “who absolutely brooks no nonsense from his patrons,” is looking for a buyer. Name not included.

A table setting inside the Grouchy Chef on Sunday, March 3, 2024 in Mukilteo, Washington.(Annie Barker / The Herald)