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After tax bills hit farms that branched into being venues, lawmakers intervene

SNOHOMISH — A wedding at a farm can be the perfect backdrop, but those farms that converted their barns into regularly booked wedding spaces or other uses got put on the back foot this summer. The barn’s not agricultural anymore, so the land around it is not allowed to be given a special lowered property tax rate named Open Space. The tax fee for changing the land use out of Open Space is seven years of back taxes plus a 20% penalty. At least a handful of farms in the Snohomish River Valley received sizable tax bills last summer. Local lawmakers noticed. They have a new bill to clarify the rules, and the county assessor is on board.

Election for Monroe mayor to succeed Thomas shaping up between Fulcher, Cudaback

MONROE — A race to succeed long-serving Mayor Geoffrey Thomas has begun as City Councilwoman Heather Fulcher and former City Councilwoman Patsy Cudaback have organized campaigns.

Recovery to recreation: ElderPlace PACE program in Everett attends to needs without nursing home

Providence ElderPlace PACE in Everett is the only Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) in Snohomish County, a federal elder care program that serves people age 55 and older, and it is making important strides in helping with health and recovery.

Snohomish City Council considers city fireworks ban March 4

SNOHOMISH — The City Council may decide as soon as March 4 whether to make fireworks illegal in town starting as soon as 2026. A public hearing on altering fireworks laws is set for the March 4 council meeting. The council meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the Snohomish Carnegie Building.

New Community Officer at Snohomish PD is link between public and department

SNOHOMISH — After a handful of years without an Outreach Deputy in Snohomish due to the previous officer retiring and staffing levels being low, the position is finally filled by Deputy Taylor Davis. He began Feb. 1.

County health officials target increase in illegal food carts

Snohomish County health officials are stepping up enforcement against unpermitted food carts and stands, which have been operating illegally and raising public health concerns.

Model train fans fill Fairgrounds

Model train fans fill Fairgrounds

Architects directed to lower Snohomish Civic Campus pricetag

SNOHOMISH — The city has asked its contracted architecture firm for its future Civic Campus for design revisions that decrease the total pricetag, Mayor Linda Redmon shared with the City Council last week.

EvergreenHealth would like to expand facilities to Snohomish

SNOHOMISH — EvergreenHealth, which runs the hospital in Monroe, has a long-term plan to open a walk-in urgent care facility in Snohomish, the hospital’s top brass told the City Council last week.

New coronavirus in bats transmissable to humans ID’d

Scientists in China identified a new infectious coronavirus in bats that can be transmitted to humans.

He swims the Snohomish for rehabilitation

SNOHOMISH — Rain or shine, below-freezing temperatures or above, Snohomish resident Fred Mydske still makes his way to the river for a swim. After facing a sciatic nerve injury a couple of years ago with advice to ice it, Mydske turned to the Snohomish River to ease some of his pain.

Everett mayor delays deadline on Hope ‘N Wellness center to relocate

EVERETT — The city has extended its cease-and-desist deadline on Hope ‘N Wellness, a resource center downtown near Pacific and Rucker avenues that assists hundreds of primarily homeless individuals. Instead of Feb. 28, it’s now April 30, as brainstorming continues about how to relocate the indie social services organization without losing it.

All school meals would be free if legislative bill passes

State Rep. April Berg’s House Bill 1404 in the State Legislature would make all public school meals free for students starting in fall 2026 for any student who asks. Local school districts are in support.

Snohomish crosswalk safety campaign reports its findings

SNOHOMISH — Earlier this month, the Snohomish Public Safety Board conducted a creative, weeklong pedestrian safety campaign aiming to highlight drivers’ blindspots and remind motorists when to yield to foot traffic.

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