What's Up With That?

Jaxen McInnis, the creator of the Snackin Shack, in his transformed garage on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Bite into Everett’s Snackin Shack, a sweet tooth museum of offbeat treats

Jaxen McInnis, 26, said his limited edition snack obsession started two years ago with Lady Gaga Oreo cookies.

Jaxen McInnis, the creator of the Snackin Shack, in his transformed garage on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Daniel Weiss, 73, inside his “tin room” at his home that holds the majority of his expansive tin collection on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023 in Mountlake, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

1,400 antique tins, with stories to tell, line wall of Terrace home

Daniel Weiss built a collection of tins with lard, tobacco, tennis balls, razors — you name it, it’s for sale in Mountlake Terrace.

Daniel Weiss, 73, inside his “tin room” at his home that holds the majority of his expansive tin collection on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023 in Mountlake, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Shannon Kringen poses for a photo with her jeweled car at 2411 164th St SW in Lynnwood, Washington, on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

A gem on wheels: This rhinestone car dazzles from Seattle to Bellingham

Artist Shannon Kringen, known as “Goddess Kring,” decorated her car to express her colorful style.

Shannon Kringen poses for a photo with her jeweled car at 2411 164th St SW in Lynnwood, Washington, on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Mike Cramer in his home office filled with his sports memorabilia and card collections on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

It’s in the cards: Edmonds trading card magnate Mike Cramer tells all

Cramer, 70, founded Pacific Trading Cards in what started as a boyhood crush on a Babe Ruth card. His new book tells the story.

Mike Cramer in his home office filled with his sports memorabilia and card collections on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Barb Denton smiles and laughs with her Jeep Cherokee Laredo that she has driven for 32 years on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

‘Red Dragon,’ stolen from Sea-Tac, mysteriously returns home to Everett

Barb Denton’s rig of 348,000 miles was found three miles from home, intact, with a half-tank of gas and an empty bag of Oberto sticks.

Barb Denton smiles and laughs with her Jeep Cherokee Laredo that she has driven for 32 years on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The city of Mukilteo is having a naming contest for its new $75,000 RC Mowers R-52, a remote-operated robotic mower. (Submitted photo)

Mukilteo muncher: Name the $75,000 robot mower

The city is having a naming contest for its new sod-slaying, hedge-hogging, forest-clumping, Mr-mow-it-all.

The city of Mukilteo is having a naming contest for its new $75,000 RC Mowers R-52, a remote-operated robotic mower. (Submitted photo)
Spouses Franchesca and Don Simpson talk about their baby girl’s “chubby cheeks” and “button nose” as Kelly Fox RDMS RVT performs a live-view 3D ultrasound on the expecting mother Saturday, August 26, 2023, at Wonder Baby Ultrasound Studio in Everett, Washington. The Simpsons are expecting their first child in October. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Glamour shots in utero? Everett studio offers HD ultrasound keepsakes

For curious parents, these glimpses are exciting, but not medically endorsed.

Spouses Franchesca and Don Simpson talk about their baby girl’s “chubby cheeks” and “button nose” as Kelly Fox RDMS RVT performs a live-view 3D ultrasound on the expecting mother Saturday, August 26, 2023, at Wonder Baby Ultrasound Studio in Everett, Washington. The Simpsons are expecting their first child in October. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Mukilteo City Council member Jason Moon poses for a photo with his campaign sign along Mukilteo Speedway in Mukilteo, Washington, on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

He’s unopposed for Mukilteo City Council, but running a campaign anyway

Appointed, then uncontested, Jason Moon wants people to know who he is. So he put up campaign signs.

Mukilteo City Council member Jason Moon poses for a photo with his campaign sign along Mukilteo Speedway in Mukilteo, Washington, on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Roger Bel Air teaches a beginners pickleball clinic at the Frances Anderson Center on Monday, July 31, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Edmonds pickleball crusader teaches the game in prisons and gyms

Roger BelAir, 76, goes behind bars every chance he gets. Around here, he teaches at rec centers.

Roger Bel Air teaches a beginners pickleball clinic at the Frances Anderson Center on Monday, July 31, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Guam Grub owner and head chef Julita Atoigue-Javier, center left, stands behind the counter with her brother-in-law Angelo Javier, left, and sons Timothy, 13, and John, 21, right, on Thursday, August 10, 2023, at the Everett Mall in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Say hello — or ‘Hafa Adai’ — to Guam Grub at Everett Mall

Chamorro cuisine is a heaping melting pot of cultures and tastes. For some in Everett, it brings back tastes of home.

Guam Grub owner and head chef Julita Atoigue-Javier, center left, stands behind the counter with her brother-in-law Angelo Javier, left, and sons Timothy, 13, and John, 21, right, on Thursday, August 10, 2023, at the Everett Mall in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
A pear from the Fowler Pear Tree at Barbara Brennen Dobro Park in Mukilteo, Washington on Wednesday, Aug. 09, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Pick a pear at pocket park the size of a pear tree in Mukilteo

Barbara Brennan Dobro Park, site of a historic tree, is among the tiny gems to explore near the waterfront.

A pear from the Fowler Pear Tree at Barbara Brennen Dobro Park in Mukilteo, Washington on Wednesday, Aug. 09, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Michael Durkee, 15, left, holds a tape measure for Jeff Forbes, 60, right, at the Wayside Chapel along U.S. 2 in Monroe, Washington on Saturday, June 24, 2023. Michael Durkee, 15, is leading the effort for his Eagle Scout project. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Tiny Wayside Chapel near Sultan gets a super Scout makeover

The 7-by-11 foot chapel built in 1962 is open all hours for weddings, piety and curiosity, thanks in part to a pair of Eagle Scouts.

Michael Durkee, 15, left, holds a tape measure for Jeff Forbes, 60, right, at the Wayside Chapel along U.S. 2 in Monroe, Washington on Saturday, June 24, 2023. Michael Durkee, 15, is leading the effort for his Eagle Scout project. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Angelo and Jona Sarmiento, along with 7-week-old Carlisle, stand in front of the Costco where Jona went into labor with the couple's first child in late May on Friday, July 14, 2023, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Oh, baby! Mom’s labor started at Lake Stevens Costco

Jona Sarmiento often returns with baby Carlisle, now 2 months, for milestone photos from the watershed event.

Angelo and Jona Sarmiento, along with 7-week-old Carlisle, stand in front of the Costco where Jona went into labor with the couple's first child in late May on Friday, July 14, 2023, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
From left: Avery Martin D.C., Sarah Kotlerman D.C. and CEO Anna Martin, all of Averio Health Institute, wear giant cardboard vertebrae made out of banana boxes while demonstrating how they plan to claim the Guinness World Record for largest cardboard costume on Saturday, July 15, 2023, in Mount Vernon, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

World’s largest cardboard spine? Arlington aims to host record backbone

A 5K fun run is Saturday in Arlington for a Guinness World Record attempt to promote the state’s first chiropractic school.

From left: Avery Martin D.C., Sarah Kotlerman D.C. and CEO Anna Martin, all of Averio Health Institute, wear giant cardboard vertebrae made out of banana boxes while demonstrating how they plan to claim the Guinness World Record for largest cardboard costume on Saturday, July 15, 2023, in Mount Vernon, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a poster featuring eight federally listed species that have been put on the road to recovery. The eight portraits were painted by Lake Stevens native Cal Robinson, a public affairs specialist at the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife office. (Cal Robinson/USFWS)

Lake Stevens artist’s portrait subjects: endangered mammals, fish, more

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife portraits were created by Cal Robinson, 34, to honor 50 years of the Endangered Species Act.

To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a poster featuring eight federally listed species that have been put on the road to recovery. The eight portraits were painted by Lake Stevens native Cal Robinson, a public affairs specialist at the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife office. (Cal Robinson/USFWS)
Challenger Elementary 3rd grade teacher Ian Brown holds his comic book “I Hate Math” in his classroom Thursday, June 1, 2023, in Everett, Washington. Brown wrote and illustrated the book while on a roughly half-year sabbatical from teaching duties. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Everett teacher’s ‘I Hate Math’ comic book is based on a true story

Instead of torturing his third grade students with math, Ian Brown is trying to make it funny and fanciful.

Challenger Elementary 3rd grade teacher Ian Brown holds his comic book “I Hate Math” in his classroom Thursday, June 1, 2023, in Everett, Washington. Brown wrote and illustrated the book while on a roughly half-year sabbatical from teaching duties. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Dave "Bronco" Erickson stands next to the pink-and-purple 1991 Subaru Justy hatchback “Pork Chop Express” car that he is seeking to re-home for $500. The car has been on Whidbey Island for years, mainly as yard art. (Andrea Brown / The Herald)

For sale: Whidbey’s fabled ‘Pork Chop Express’ gets great smileage

Asking price is $500 for the 1991 Subaru Justy, a three-cylinder econobox with 65K miles and a transmission as rare as hen’s teeth.

Dave "Bronco" Erickson stands next to the pink-and-purple 1991 Subaru Justy hatchback “Pork Chop Express” car that he is seeking to re-home for $500. The car has been on Whidbey Island for years, mainly as yard art. (Andrea Brown / The Herald)
Firearm discovered by TSA officers at Paine Field Thursday morning, May 11, 2023, during routine X-ray screening at the security checkpoint. (Transportation Security Administration)

3 guns caught by TSA at Paine Field this month — all loaded

Simple travel advice: Unpack before you pack to make sure there’s not a gun in your carry-on.

Firearm discovered by TSA officers at Paine Field Thursday morning, May 11, 2023, during routine X-ray screening at the security checkpoint. (Transportation Security Administration)
Librarian Phillip Buffington, 54, pulls up to the Everett Public Library on his fixed-gear bicycle at the conclusion of his morning commute from Capitol Hill on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Everett librarian on 60-mile bike commute: ‘Totally rational behavior’

Phillip Buffington, 54, pedals from Capitol Hill in Seattle to Everett Public Library. It sure beats driving, he says.

Librarian Phillip Buffington, 54, pulls up to the Everett Public Library on his fixed-gear bicycle at the conclusion of his morning commute from Capitol Hill on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Daniel Wehnert, left, and Angela Wehnert, right, pose for a photo at High Rock Castle in Monroe, Washington on Sunday, April 9, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Crowns, robes, thrones come with stay at Monroe castle on 19 acres

The new owners of the medieval marvel say, “We want everybody to feel like royalty here.” The regal bed and breakfast sleeps eight.

Daniel Wehnert, left, and Angela Wehnert, right, pose for a photo at High Rock Castle in Monroe, Washington on Sunday, April 9, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)