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After finishing his breakfast, David Black, right, a long-time customer with high praise for the Balas, takes Shabbir Bala’s hand to thank him before leaving Boondockers on their final day of operation Wednesday. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Local News

Customers will miss the Balas and Boondockers in Marysville

Shabbir and Ruqayya Bala are immigrants and Muslims, longtime restaurateurs and business owners, proud Americans and parents whose…

At PAWS in Lynnwood, Jack, a young beagle mix from Texas, chews on a comfort creature while waiting for adoption. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Local News

Animals from Texas shelters find new homes here

They weren’t lost in Hurricane Harvey, but newly arrived dogs and cats at the PAWS shelter are still,…

Bill Jaquette, 75, of Marysville, rows along the shoreline of the Snohomish River on Wednesday. Jaquette, well-known as a public defender in Snohomish County, is also a serious rower. He has written a book titled “Rowing on the Snohomish.” (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Local News

River journal marks seasons of a remarkable life

Winter, spring, summer and fall, Bill Jaquette puts oars in the water. He glides upriver on the Snohomish…

Following about 25 years as an Evergreen State Fair judge and contestant, Laura Elhai is the 2017 Fair Honoree. This year, she heads the American Heritage exhibit on the 1950s and judged baking and canning. Here, Elhai sets a crock pot of fermented sauerkraut on the table in a 1950s era kitchen display. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Local News

State fair honoree has seen both sides — judge and contestant

As a girl, Laura Elhai never set foot in the Display Hall at the Evergreen State Fair. A…

A harbor seal holds an Atlantic salmon, an escapee from Cook Aquaculture’s fish farm, near Cypress Island on Aug. 21. Thousands of non-native fish got loose when the fish farm’s net pen broke Aug. 19. This photo was taken by Annie Thomas, a Western Washington University student from Maltby.

Local News

Escaped salmon reported seen throughout Puget Sound region

It’s an environmental emergency. It’s an opportunity. It’s both. The escape of thousands of Atlantic salmon from net…

The countless hours Jim Mathis spent creating and enjoying a garden with his wife, Susan Hansberry, has given the Vietnam veteran, who suffers from cancer, a feeling of peace and help with his PTSD. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Local News

Vietnam veteran with cancer finds solace in his garden

MARYSVILLE — Jim Mathis thought joining the Marine Corps would make childhood dreams come true. He signed up…

Mayumi Smith, director of Nippon Business Institute at EvCC since 1990, walks in the lovely Nishiyama Japanese Garden outside the institute this week, just a day away from retirement. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Local News

Her ‘dream job’ building bridges with Japan comes to an end

In a tranquil place she worked to create, Mayumi Smith gazed at the Nishiyama Japanese Garden. It’s part…

Don and Jan Jensen (far right and far left) with Sara Thomas and Zack Demars, both 2017 Cascade High School graduates and winners of scholarships awarded in honor of the Jensens’ son Brett, who died in 2002.

Local News

Brett’s Run/Walk helps scholarships for Cascade graduates

Brett Jensen would have turned 35 next week. A top student, ASB president and athlete in Cascade High…

From left, four of seven members making up the Tulalip Tribes board of directors are Theresa Sheldon,Teri Gobin, Bonnie Juneau and Board Chairwoman, Marie Zackuse. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Local News

‘Lifegivers’: Tulalip Tribes honor their strong women

Four women are making history. With Marie Zackuse as chairwoman, for the first time there’s a female majority…

Monte Wolff has memories to share as he returns this weekend to attend his 60th Lake Stevens High School class reunion. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Local News

After 60 years, Monte Wolff and his classmates are reunited

When Monte Wolff packed his bags to attend his 60th Lake Stevens High School reunion, he also brought…

Southbound drivers get a glimpse of a new state highway sign near Everett Mall Tuesday that designates the William P. Stewart Memorial Highway. Last year, Highway 99 was renamed to recognize Stewart, an African-American Civil War veteran who settled in Snohomish County after serving with the Union Army.

Local News

New Everett highway sign honors black Civil War soldier

Far from Virginia, where strife begotten of a white supremacist rally exploded in deadly violence, traffic buzzed past…

Almost as if out of an early ’60s magazine ad for the new Lincoln Continental, Vicki and Ron Selia park alongside Lake Cassidy to show off their newly acquired 1961 model that was once owned by actress Mary Pickford. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Local News

Couple’s Lincoln once belonged to silent film star Mary Pickford

It’s not a person, but they call it “Mary.” The nickname for Vicki and Ron Selia’s 1961 Lincoln…

At the 2017 Northwest Wake Surf Open, held July 14-16 on Lake Tye in Monroe, about 95 amateur and professional wakesurfers of all ages competed for $10,000 in prize money. The event was sponsored by INT League. (Courtesy INT League/Photo by Burton B. Cooper)

Local News

A vintage waterskier catches the new wave — wakesurfing

It looked easy enough. On vacation, I made an attempt at what’s becoming the hottest water sport around.…

At the conclusion of their liquidation sale Friday, longtime owners Bob and Paula Adrian will close the doors for good at Flowers by Adrian after 65 years in business. Friends and customers are welcome to stop by the shop at 2101 Colby between 2 and 5 p.m. Friday for what the Adrians are calling “beers not tears.” (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Local News

Everett florist shop to close its doors after 65 years

It was 1952. Bob Adrian was 4 when his mother opened a flower shop in the family’s north…

The Nickerson family from left, Olivia, Willow, 3, Ryleigh, 10 (holding photo of Rowan, who died at 7 months), Aubrey, 12, and Joshua. Losing the littlest one to SIDS has been heartbreaking for everyone. But, knowing two other babies are living because of Rowan’s donated heart valves has provided some comfort. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Local News

Baby Rowan died of SIDS, but her heart valves saved others

She was named for a tree, the rowan or mountain ash. And just as a tree supports life,…

After giving him a haircut Thursday, Paroba College of Cosmetology and Barbering student Sommer McKenzie removes the full beard, along with some years, from the face of Rick Young, who has been staying at the Everett Gospel Mission the past month. In the background, fellow student Davonte Peterson holds a mirror for Matthew Clark, 50, who gives a thumbs up to the new haircut. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Local News

Homeless Connect provides services, resources to those in need

Shakarra Borchgrevink, a mother of four little boys, has taken shelter with family and friends. In decent weather,…

Standing near the podium, a Red Cross Hero holds her award at the annual breakfast in December 2015. The Red Cross is seeking nominations through Friday for its 2017 honors recipients. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Local News

Red Cross is looking for everyday heroes to honor

Reluctant heroes — perhaps an annual American Red Cross event should be rebranded with them in mind. This…

Hawthorne Elementary School Assistant Principal Valerie Yob reads and talks books with youngsters Thursday during one of her and teacher-librarian Liz Trujillo’s summer book days at Wiggums Hollow Park in north Everett. From left, the kids listening to Yob are Eliana Puterbaugh, 4, Alysah Burkett, 8, Isaiah Burkett, 5, Micah Burkett, 6, and Leah Burkett, 10. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Local News

At Everett park, fun in the sun includes reading books

On a summer day, they could be zipping down a slide, climbing a playground ladder, or walking the…

Michael Gardner, 45, of Snohomish was recently scammed out of $3,000 by callers who said he’d be arrested for missing jury duty. Gardner, who owns a tattoo business in Everett, wants to warn others to beware of official sounding callers. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Local News

Jury duty scam a costly lesson for small business owner

Michael Gardner was suspicious, but fear took over. Part of him thought the call he got late last…

The opening page of “Sting Like a Bee,” a Muhammad Ali biography, shows on the cellphone of a user of the Cloud Library ebook kiosk recently installed at Everett Station. The Everett Public Library’s kiosk is available for anyone to use without charge. In the background are images of books available on the kiosk, including “Sting Like a Bee.” (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Local News

Everett Library offers free reads for the road

Here’s what I learned at Everett Station: Muhammad Ali, when he was Cassius Clay, spent his first money…