What's Up With That?

A photo illustration of iconic Herald reporter Andrea Brown's "What's Up With That?" junk drawer. (Kate Erickson & Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Columnist Andrea Brown says goodbye after 12 years: What’s up with that?

For the past decade, she’s dug up Snohomish County’s weirdest, most fanciful characters. And more than a few Bigfoots.

 

A dog sticks their head out the window as a part of a Wandering Rover Field Trip at the Everett Animal Shelter in Everett, Washington on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Doggy dates: Wandering Rover at Everett shelter gives dogs a day out

The program offers people the opportunity to try a dog before they adopt or to simply get their Fido fix.

 

Animal Chaplain Shel Graves has her dog Lily pose for a photo in her home office on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Is your dog or cat grieving? There’s an animal chaplain for that

Chaplains offer spiritual care for beings of all species: “Absolutely, animals do feel grief and loss.”

 

Homeowner Ryan Anderson sits on the bunk beds in the ferry quarters at Ferry Cove, the latest feature in the 5-bedroom waterfront vacation rental in Clinton. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

This Whidbey rental is like walking onto a state ferry

This 5-bedroom beachfront Airbnb has rooms patterned after “The Parent Trap,” “The African Queen” and the ferry Tokitae.

Homeowner Ryan Anderson sits on the bunk beds in the ferry quarters at Ferry Cove, the latest feature in the 5-bedroom waterfront vacation rental in Clinton. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Left to right, the McCaffery family including Ruby, Chellce, Tyler and Jay pose for a photo at Ruby's Espresso in Everett, Washington on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

New owners, dress code for ex-Hillbilly Hotties coffee stands

Longtime patrons of a Snohomish County bikini barista chain have been asking: “Why are you wearing clothes?” New management wants to be family-friendly.

Left to right, the McCaffery family including Ruby, Chellce, Tyler and Jay pose for a photo at Ruby's Espresso in Everett, Washington on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Two new figures have appeared alongside the figure known as the Lake Stevens Bigfoot-Moss Man-Sasquatch along the Stevens Creek stream on Lundeen Parkway on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Secrets of Bigfoot breeding in woods of Lake Stevens revealed

The two new hulky moss figures are the handiwork of an artist named Steve, creator of the original.

Two new figures have appeared alongside the figure known as the Lake Stevens Bigfoot-Moss Man-Sasquatch along the Stevens Creek stream on Lundeen Parkway on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mountlake Terrace maintenance crew Ty Burns begins demolishing “the bunkers” on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Eyesore no more: After decades, Mountlake Terrace bunkers bite the dust

The bunkers held a storehouse of history, much of it moldy, outdated and unwanted.

Mountlake Terrace maintenance crew Ty Burns begins demolishing “the bunkers” on Monday, June 10, 2024 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Louise Grevstad, 79, with her free ice cream outside of Safeway on Thursday, May 30, 2024, in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Edmonds woman screamed — and got her free Safeway ice cream

Louise Grevstad, 79, was shut out from deals because she doesn’t have a smartphone. She didn’t think it was fair. So she went to the media.

Louise Grevstad, 79, with her free ice cream outside of Safeway on Thursday, May 30, 2024, in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Left to right, Angelo Sarmiento, Jona Sarmiento, and Carlisle Sarmiento prepare to cut the cake during a first birthday party at Costco in Lake Stevens, Washington on Friday, May 31, 2024. Jona’s water broke in the store a year ago (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Lake Stevens ‘Costco baby’ celebrates first Costco-themed birthday

Jona Sarmiento was walking by the rotisserie chickens when her water broke. Now her baby is six times the weight of a roasted bird.

Left to right, Angelo Sarmiento, Jona Sarmiento, and Carlisle Sarmiento prepare to cut the cake during a first birthday party at Costco in Lake Stevens, Washington on Friday, May 31, 2024. Jona’s water broke in the store a year ago (Annie Barker / The Herald)
A Mukilteo Speedway sign hangs at an intersection along the road in Mukilteo. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Mukilteo Speedway name change is off to a bumpy start

The city’s initial crack at renaming the main drag got over 1,500 responses. Most want to keep the name.

A Mukilteo Speedway sign hangs at an intersection along the road in Mukilteo. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Mukilteo Police Chief Andy Illyn and the graphic he created. He is currently attending the 10-week FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. (Photo provided by Andy Illyn)

Help wanted: Unicorns for ‘pure magic’ career with Mukilteo police

“There’s a whole population who would be amazing police officers” but never considered it, the police chief said.

Mukilteo Police Chief Andy Illyn and the graphic he created. He is currently attending the 10-week FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. (Photo provided by Andy Illyn)
A giant Bigfoot creation made by Terry Carrigan, 60, at his home-based Skywater Studios on Sunday, April 14, 2024 in Monroe, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

The 1,500-pound Sasquatch: Bigfoot comes to life in woods near Monroe

A possibly larger-than-life sculpture, created by Terry Carrigan of Skywater Studios, will be featured at this weekend’s “Oddmall” expo.

A giant Bigfoot creation made by Terry Carrigan, 60, at his home-based Skywater Studios on Sunday, April 14, 2024 in Monroe, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Graham Kerr, 90, leans down and kisses his new wife, Nancy, during Senior Expo on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at Hotel Indigo in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

‘Galloping Gourmet’ celebrity chef Graham Kerr is a Stanwood newlywed

The 90-year-old shared his love of Nancy, God and Costco at the Everett senior expo last month.

Graham Kerr, 90, leans down and kisses his new wife, Nancy, during Senior Expo on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at Hotel Indigo in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / 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)
Glen Olin, 83, in front of the last home he will ever build on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 in Everett, Washington. Olin retired “sort of” after more than 60 years of building homes. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

After 61 years building homes, Glen Olin is retiring, again

Olin, 83, built homes for regular people and those with gobs of money. His first house in Everett sold for $12,000 in 1963.

Glen Olin, 83, in front of the last home he will ever build on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 in Everett, Washington. Olin retired “sort of” after more than 60 years of building homes. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Sydney Vo and Azul Rangel, juniors at Mariner High School, stand in the entrance hallway at Mariner on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. The two have won the Congressional App Challenge in Washington’s Second District for the second year in a row, this time for the creation of HopeHorizon. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Mariner High teens crack congressional coding contest — again

This is the second year in a row that an app by Sydney Vo and Azul Rangel won in the state’s Second District.

Sydney Vo and Azul Rangel, juniors at Mariner High School, stand in the entrance hallway at Mariner on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. The two have won the Congressional App Challenge in Washington’s Second District for the second year in a row, this time for the creation of HopeHorizon. (Ryan Berry / 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)
Cousins Penny Leslie and Sidney Baker work together on a mural inside a jail cell at the Mukilteo Police Department on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

No more staring at blank canvas in Mukilteo police holding cells

Bright murals now adorn the walls. The artwork is intended to calm and relax detainees.

Cousins Penny Leslie and Sidney Baker work together on a mural inside a jail cell at the Mukilteo Police Department on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ryan Carlson’s goose Bubba honks at cars outside his home on Monday Feb. 5, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

What’s honkin’ on this Everett thoroughfare? Have a gander

Henrietta and Betty, a goose duet, entertain passersby in the yard between Colby Avenue and Evergreen Way.

Ryan Carlson’s goose Bubba honks at cars outside his home on Monday Feb. 5, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
A group of friends hang out in a banya, a Russian sauna that is typically more humid and hotter than a traditional sauna, at Banya by fgm on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

At Banya, spa with 200-degree sauna in Everett, stress just melts away

A banya in Russian refers to a hot room or sauna. You can also plunge in the cold pool. Or play chess and eat piroshki.

A group of friends hang out in a banya, a Russian sauna that is typically more humid and hotter than a traditional sauna, at Banya by fgm on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)