The Chat

Rose Johnson, 80, is a member of the Everett Area Newcomers Club, which meets and dines once a month at Sno-Isle Tech’s student-run Le Bistro Restaurant. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Old-timers can join the Everett Area Newcomers Club

Everett group welcomes women for friendship and fun at multiple meet-ups.

Rose Johnson, 80, is a member of the Everett Area Newcomers Club, which meets and dines once a month at Sno-Isle Tech’s student-run Le Bistro Restaurant. (Dan Bates / The Herald)
Lilia Smith, 62, a retired Boeing worker teaching line dancing classes at the Stanwood Senior Center on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018 in Stanwood, Wa. Smith lost 98 pounds, going from 270 to 172 pounds. She credits it to TOPS, Take Off Pounds Sensibly. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Stanwood woman is kicking up her heels 98 pounds lighter

Lilia Smith ‘Took off Pounds Sensibly’ with the weight-loss support group TOPS.

Lilia Smith, 62, a retired Boeing worker teaching line dancing classes at the Stanwood Senior Center on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018 in Stanwood, Wa. Smith lost 98 pounds, going from 270 to 172 pounds. She credits it to TOPS, Take Off Pounds Sensibly. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
The conclusion of an epic, cross-country adventure

The conclusion of an epic, cross-country adventure

At 74, the Woodway man completed his 4,800-mile paddle and bike trip “from sea to shining sea.”

The conclusion of an epic, cross-country adventure
At 19, he was ‘Baby’ this year on the Pacific Crest Trail

At 19, he was ‘Baby’ this year on the Pacific Crest Trail

The Herald chats with Cameron Hill, who hiked the entire 2,660-mile trail from Mexico to Canada.

At 19, he was ‘Baby’ this year on the Pacific Crest Trail
UW Bothell professor leads off science pub talks at McMenamins

UW Bothell professor leads off science pub talks at McMenamins

If you like dirty talk and drinking beer, then head to the bar on Aug. 29. Dan Jaffe is the featured speaker at the free… Continue reading

UW Bothell professor leads off science pub talks at McMenamins
An Everett tattoo artist joins the elite at Seattle expo

An Everett tattoo artist joins the elite at Seattle expo

Like many artists, Mike “Kodiak” MacKenzie has family members who like to show off his work. In this case, though, instead of hanging it on… Continue reading

An Everett tattoo artist joins the elite at Seattle expo
Mukilteo gym owner went from styling hair to styling bodies

Mukilteo gym owner went from styling hair to styling bodies

Gloria Leonard used to style hair. Now she styles bodies. For Leonard, 56, co-owner of Immortals Fitness in Mukilteo, it all started with her own… Continue reading

Mukilteo gym owner went from styling hair to styling bodies
Pinball wizard from Mukilteo wins the world championship

Pinball wizard from Mukilteo wins the world championship

Raymond Davidson is a pinball-playing machine. The 24-year-old from Mukilteo won the World Pinball Championship held June 3 in Copenhagen, Denmark. With that win, he… Continue reading

Pinball wizard from Mukilteo wins the world championship
He’s been keeping the official score at AquaSox games for 20 years

He’s been keeping the official score at AquaSox games for 20 years

Patrick Castro graduated from Mountlake Terrace High School in 1969 and retired in 2005 as the choir teacher at Snohomish High School. He leads community… Continue reading

He’s been keeping the official score at AquaSox games for 20 years
Adrian Patayon has a book signing on May 24 hosted by Arc of Snohomish County, an organization that supports people with disabilities and their families. Patayon, who has cerebral palsy and deals with depression and alcoholism, is the author of the book “Adrian’s Aloha Song.” (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Everett author hopes to inspire others with disabilities

Adrian Patayon doesn’t want you to pity him. He was born with cerebral palsy. He walks with a limp, has slurred speech and his hands… Continue reading

Adrian Patayon has a book signing on May 24 hosted by Arc of Snohomish County, an organization that supports people with disabilities and their families. Patayon, who has cerebral palsy and deals with depression and alcoholism, is the author of the book “Adrian’s Aloha Song.” (Dan Bates / The Herald)
Cascade High grad Dave Peterson a craftsman in jazz guitar

Cascade High grad Dave Peterson a craftsman in jazz guitar

Dave Peterson, like this writer a 1973 graduate of Cascade High, went on to earn a degree in music composition at Western Washington University and… Continue reading

Cascade High grad Dave Peterson a craftsman in jazz guitar
Teacher at Lynnwood school gets ‘Today’ show makeover

Teacher at Lynnwood school gets ‘Today’ show makeover

Lynnwood third-grade teacher Jill Walzer got ambushed when she and two friends were in New York City over spring break. It happened when she was… Continue reading

Teacher at Lynnwood school gets ‘Today’ show makeover
Arlington man podcasts about his mountain wanderings

Arlington man podcasts about his mountain wanderings

Rudy Giecek practices what he podcasts. And podcasts what he practices. The avid hiker has done more than 50 episodes since creating the Cascade Hiker… Continue reading

Arlington man podcasts about his mountain wanderings
The latest book by Michelle Kilmer, author and digital sales lead at Barnes & Noble Alderwood.

Mill Creek author writes stories for the zombie obsessed

At most bookstores, the authors are inside book jackets. At Barnes &Noble Alderwood, Michelle Kilmer is there in the flesh. Which might be a weird… Continue reading

The latest book by Michelle Kilmer, author and digital sales lead at Barnes & Noble Alderwood.
Our social media guy explains Facebook’s Snapchat-type tool

Our social media guy explains Facebook’s Snapchat-type tool

Ben Watanabe is The Herald’s social media news producer. Know what a producer is? Many people don’t. They associate the term producer with broadcast news,… Continue reading

Our social media guy explains Facebook’s Snapchat-type tool
460 hungry kids? This Everett lunch lady has it in the bag

460 hungry kids? This Everett lunch lady has it in the bag

Lisa Gaines, 52, is a lunch lady. She’s also a breakfast lady. She arrives at 6:30 a.m. at Challenger Elementary School in Everett to get… Continue reading

460 hungry kids? This Everett lunch lady has it in the bag
Heather Jean Uhl in a meijipunk ensemble fashioned from vintage textiles and inspired by the bakeneko, a transforming cat, of Japanese folklore. (Photo by Garrick Uhl)

Club adviser illustrates Japanese culture for EvCC campus

Heather Jean Uhl Heather Jean Uhl, 34, is a faculty librarian at Everett Community College and adviser to the Japanese Club, which provides cultural activities… Continue reading

Heather Jean Uhl in a meijipunk ensemble fashioned from vintage textiles and inspired by the bakeneko, a transforming cat, of Japanese folklore. (Photo by Garrick Uhl)
Covenant Art Glass owners, Colleen and Stan Price have a lot to smile about these days, including the biggest selection of art glass they’ve ever had. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Couple’s Broadway shop opens window to stained glass

Colleen and Stan Price bring glass to the masses. They have spent decades sharing their passion for stained glass at Covenant Art Glass, where they… Continue reading

Covenant Art Glass owners, Colleen and Stan Price have a lot to smile about these days, including the biggest selection of art glass they’ve ever had. (Dan Bates / The Herald)
Your sports car is no match for this Bothell biker’s wheels

Your sports car is no match for this Bothell biker’s wheels

When Dave Bain goes to Costco, he never has any trouble finding a parking space. He goes by bicycle. An electric bike with pedal assist… Continue reading

Your sports car is no match for this Bothell biker’s wheels
Camano Island 5-year-old Jovee Holmes was one of the top four female finalists in PETA’s Cutest Vegan Kids of 2016 contest.

Tiny busker from Camano Island promotes animal welfare, veganism

Recognize this girl? She’s a pint-sized violinist busker. She plays her violin on sidewalks around the area, collecting money for animal causes. Jovee Holmes made… Continue reading

Camano Island 5-year-old Jovee Holmes was one of the top four female finalists in PETA’s Cutest Vegan Kids of 2016 contest.