Ever wonder what an arborist does? David Bigelow spends his days in the great outdoors, where his primary concern is safety for himself and his crew. Because one wrong move could spell disaster.
If you’re a fan of ramen and phô, you’re in luck: This is the place to be. Enjoy a short history of the food locally, as well as a few suggestions.
Tattoos have never been more popular, and Amanda Marie decided to change careers when she fell in love with them. Good choice.
Will the deaths from fentanyl ever stop? From firsthand accounts, what others are doing to fight the addiction, and a doctor offering lifesaving medical treatment, there is hope.
New York Times best-selling author Kobi Yamada, who calls Snohomish County home, believes everyone has potential. See how he’s made a career of it.
Local writers and booksellers recommend their favorite books.
Jenn Barker Publisher Tina Novak Advertising Sales
A Day in the Life
By David Pan
For arborist David Bigelow, nothing beats the fresh air in the Pacific Northwest.
A certified arborist and tree risk assessor, he gets plenty of it spending his days high above the ground chopping and trimming trees from Burlington to Kent and across the water to Camano Island. He never knows what the day will bring. And that’s part of the appeal.
“I’m outside and somewhere different. It’s the variety of it all. No two trees are the same. No two people are the same. Every company is different. Every crew member is different.” A dictionary definition of an arborist could be someone who works on or deals with trees. Of course. But an arborist is also a person who cuts and climbs trees, as well as someone who handles the management of trees.
Bigelow fits all of those definitions, including the International Society of Arboriculture’s: an individual trained in the art and science of planting, caring for, and maintaining individual trees. He tackles both hands-on work in the field, consulting and risk assessment work, and office work. He spends the majority of his time pruning or removing dead or dangerous trees. As a tree risk assessor, a job that requires additional training beyond arborist certification, the rest of his time finds him evaluating and assessing a tree’s risk rating. Many municipalities require a tree risk assessment before you can remove a tree.
Weather reports
While some check weather reports to see if they need to add a few extra minutes to their morning commute, it’s more important for Bigelow to know what the day’s conditions are going to be like.
Depending on the job, tree, and location, the weather can play a huge factor in how his day goes. It also helps him to know cities’ weather patterns. For example, the winds in Mukilteo are different than in Snohomish.
“My goal, if I’m doing a removal and it’s in Mukilteo or Edmonds somewhere on the bluff, where I’m getting the wind off the water, I want to have the top out by lunchtime. If I wait until the afternoon and the winds start getting stronger, it makes my job a lot more difficult.” He typically draws the line when the winds are severe – 40 mph or higher. Wind can take parts of branches and deposit them 100 feet away on a whim. Air quality and high temperatures also can impact a workday.
“If there are real bad forest fires and the air quality is really poor, sometimes we won’t work. It’s just not worth it. If it’s 110 degrees outside, we don’t work.” The time of the year makes a difference. Trees are more brittle in the winter. He said he learned the hard way that a branch is not going to be as solid in the winter as it is during the summer. He also learned the hard way that trees can be unforgiving of errors in judgment. Eight years ago, he was 35 feet up in a tree and, as a safeguard, he secured a tie-in point to bear loads as he ascended. The tie-in failed.
“It was a bad decision on my part. I looked at it and said, ‘This is going to
Talon Johnson photo
Arborist David Bigelow stands on a branch of a fir tree he and his crew are removing.
hold me.’ When my rope moved because of an obstruction, it put more leverage on a weak point of the tree.” He fell out of the tree and broke his arm, but the fall could have been far worse. “It could have killed me. It could have broken my neck.” The incident taught him a valuable lesson. That day, the temperature was 100 degrees. “I was tired and dehydrated. It’s given me an appreciation that your brain needs water to work. If you’re dehydrated, you’re going to make stupid decisions.”
Different options
Bigelow’s business is booming. The Everett resident is so busy sometimes that he’s had to tell a referral company, which offers him jobs, that he has all the business he can handle. His services are in demand from municipalities, insurance companies, tree service companies, businesses, homeowners associations, and individual homeowners. He began a recent week on an inventory of trees on a hillside and an environmentally critical area for a Bellevue homeowner. The next day, he pruned trees near a cell tower at the 145th Street exit on Interstate 5 in Seattle. Then, a homeowner in Snohomish wanted to remove three cedar trees in the middle of the backyard. The homeowner retained all of the trees bordering the property but wanted the other ones – 3 to 4 feet at the base – to be removed. Before he cuts down any tree, though, Bigelow must be up to date on the latest codes. Each city has its own rules and regulations on tree removal. “I have to know how to find that information because they change it all the time. There really isn’t a standard. So you really have to know where you are working.”
Another job in Renton didn’t go as smoothly when Bigelow ran into governmental red tape. He was working on removing a high-hazard tree overhanging a house. The tree was on a slope; a creek ran through the bottom of the slope. Half of the tree had already failed and struck the house several years ago. The other half was at risk of a repeat occurrence. He called the City and asked what his buffer zone to the creek should be. “I think it took me two and a half months to finally get approval.” He wasn’t happy with the delay. “I’m the guy who has to climb this tree. ‘Can we move this along?’ The longer it takes to get approval, sometimes the more dangerous the tree is. They don’t get safer the longer you wait.” Though he removes a lot of dead or dangerous trees, Bigelow would rather save a tree by pruning or otherwise mitigating the risk rather than removing it. He offers clients several options. “That’s just part of being a professional. Sometimes you can prune a tree. Sometimes you can install a cable or brace system to help support a defect in the
David Pan photos
David Bigelow pulls up his climb line with a throw line on a pruning project in Marysville.
David Bigelow prunes branches off a bigleaf maple tree estimated to be 90 years old in Marysville.
“
Y ou gain respect for your limitations. Trees are very big, and people are very small.”
structure of that tree. Sometimes we do removal because the tree is decayed. If there’s a defect in the tree, the sooner it can be addressed, the more options you have.”
A homeowner contracted Bigelow to assess a tree the arborist had determined had a 40-inch cavity, or defect. Loads against the defect would increase the chance of the tree’s failure. So he offered three options. The first was to retain and monitor the tree, but it would continue to be high risk. The second was to install a cable and bracing system to attempt to hold the tree together. The third option was removal – resulting in zero risk.
So it goes without saying that tree removal can be a complicated and lengthy process, especially in the city.
“I guess the fun saying is, ‘When in doubt, rope it out.’ You can’t just cut a tree into pieces and let it land where it’s going to land. A lot of our work is in the urban environment. And in the urban environment, everything’s expensive, and you don’t want to break anything.”
Safety first
T his year is Bigelow’s 12th as an arborist. The 43-year-old has the scars to prove it. “My hands are like one giant scar,” he said. Scars also line the lower part of his body. And while arborists wear protection against chainsaws, the back of his pants do not offer it.
Most crew members (a crew typically runs from three to nine members) are younger than him – in their 20s and 30s. Bigelow started his arborist career in his early 30s, older than most in the profession. “That kind of saved me some wear and tear, where most guys that are my age don’t want to go out and climb trees every day. But that’s something you gain with experience and getting older – your patience. You gain respect for your limitations. Trees are very big, and people are very small.”
Aside from his fall from a tree, Bigelow hasn’t had any other close calls. His experience has helped keep him safe
and avoid the serious injuries and accidents others go through. Being in the right state of mind helps him make sound decisions to help keep him safe. Sometimes it’s as simple as not taking unnecessary risks. “That’s part of the experience –knowing what is taking a chance versus having another option to accomplish the same thing.”
Nobody does anything worth doing on their own. He compares his crew to a football team. The team has a coach and Bigelow is the quarterback; he plays with a group of guys for the coach. “It’s my job to call the plays, either based on what the coach tells me or what I think is the right direction at the time. But plays can change, and you can make a play from the ground, but once you get 10 feet up in that tree, you might change the play completely.”
Experience is knowing what play to change to. “Just because I came up with a plan at 8 o’clock when we showed up at 9 o’clock, it’s my prerogative to change that to accomplish the best outcome.”
Worker safety is the most important part of that outcome. “Roofs can be fixed. Fences can be rebuilt. You can’t rebuild a person.” n
Talon Johnson photos
David Pan photo
Branches and other debris are ground up into sawdust by a grinder.
David Bigelow uses a chainsaw as part of a tree removal project.
David Bigelow cuts down a tree.
Craveable noodle icons: Slurp it Up
There are an amazing number of high-quality phô and ramen restaurants locally
By Maria A. Montalvo
The ultimate comfort food has to be noodle soup. Nothing heals what ails us better or faster than slurpable noodles and savory, umami-rich broth. Everything from the common cold to heartbreak responds to this utterly satisfying and soothing combination, and soupy noodles have filled bellies and calmed worries for millennia.
The oldest evidence of noodles is more than 4,000 years ago in China – archaeologists actually found an earthenware bowl with petrified noodles! Recipes for noodles were written down during the Han Dynasty more than 2,300 years ago. Made from wheat dough, with various accompaniments, they became central to the Han diet. (The world had to wait another 400 years for noodles, or pasta, to appear in Mediterranean countries.)
And as much as American chicken noodle and minestrone soups have their place, when it comes to iconic noodle soups, phô and ramen will always reign supreme. Even speaking of phô and ramen together could imply that they share some history or origin, but in fact, these
two dishes come from different parts of the world and followed very different paths to become today’s craveable versions of themselves. These bowls of complex flavors, aromas, and textures are at the center of culinary habits of people everywhere, especially here at home in Washington.
Like so many of our favorite foods, both phô and ramen resulted from a mashup of culinary traditions. Phô’s roots are clearly embedded in Vietnamese culture and history. While food historians may quibble over its origin, most agree that phô emerged
Aedrozda photo
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in northern Vietnam late in the 19th century and reflect Chinese, Vietnamese, and French influences.
Ramen, on the other hand, developed in Japan after Chinese immigrants brought noodle-making to the country early in the 20th century. The word “ramen” is derived from the Chinese “lamian,” which means hand-pulled noodles, but those noodles quickly evolved into a uniquely Japanese dish.
Apart from their origins, each of these noodle soups has a number of elements that make them truly unique, from the type of broth to the toppings.
PHÔ: Phô’s flavor is simple and elegant
– a clear broth with ginger, onions, and spices and a gentle sweetness from fish sauce and sugar. Vietnam may have incorporated the beef from France (French colonists took all of the best cuts of beef and left the majority for the locals) and the noodles from China, but since then, phô has evolved into something distinctly Vietnamese.
The original and traditional phô is made with beef and beef broth, but there are regional variations like chicken (phô ga), seafood (phô hai san), vegetarian (phô chay), and even sour phô. Today, diners can order pork, bean sprouts, tofu, and more as their main protein, but those delicious accompaniments remain steady – more bean sprouts, Thai basil, lime, cilantro, and sliced chiles and onions. If you do not get a cream puff on the side, you are missing out.
Phô must have those thin, flat rice noodles, known as bánh phô, the translucent, silky noodles that absorb the broth and have a gentle chewiness. The noodles are traditionally hand-cut, but these days machine-cut noodles are more standard. Phô noodles tend to be cooked more than ramen noodles, making them softer and easier to chew.
RAMEN: Ramen noodles are firmer than phô, making them ideal for easy slurping without the noodles breaking. That said, those ridiculously curly and fun-to-eat noodles are not standard in ramen, and the unifying feature of ramen noodles is the dough. Ramen noodles are made
and ramen come in many recipe varieties. Spring rolls are also a common side dish.
from wheat flour, water, and kansui (alkaline water), which give them that firm texture, regardless of shape.
Ramen broth was also developed to offer a bit more intense flavor than a phô broth. Ramen’s four main variations impact many of the senses – intensely salty (shio), savory and soy-forward (shoyu), hearty and robust (miso), to intensely creamy and porky (tonkotsu). Proteins in ramen run the gamut, from braised pork belly to fermented bamboo shoots.
Ramen toppings are also more loosely interpreted, with common toppings including nori, green onions, fish cakes, corn, mushrooms and, of course, a soft-boiled egg. The variety of toppings can turn each bowl of ramen into a unique culinary adventure. All of this fun with ramen meant that ramen shops began to pop up across Japan 10 years into the 20th century and across the world by the 1950s (especially once Chef Momofoku Ando invented a shelf-stable ramen noodle).
PhÔ and ramen in south Snohomish County
The number of high-quality, high-flavor phô and Vietnamese restaurants in south Snohomish County outshine so many other regions across the state or even the western United States.
Joanna Wielgosz photo
Maria A. Montalvo photos
Phô
Highway 99 alone offers SO many options that it is difficult to reduce the list to a select few. Ramen shops may be a bit harder to find, but they are out there. Besides, while getting a real bowl is hard to beat, sometimes the add-hot-water pack is the only choice.
PhÔ
Phô Café on the Mukilteo Speedway is a spot worth slowing down for. Their menu offers a small but deliberate set of options for phô, as well as bun (vermicelli noodles), rice dishes, and bahn mi sandwiches. It is also known for its eggs and spring rolls. Once you try them, it will be clear why. Phô Café is about the food, and you will be happier once you try it. 8410 Mukilteo Speedway, Mukilteo.
Than Brothers in Edmonds makes phô as it should be, and also gives you a bit of flexibility to personalize the bowls of goodness to your liking. The vegetarian bowl has bright green fresh broccoli, mushrooms, tofu (perfectly seared), and carrots, but all versions leave patrons happily eating and slurping the broth and noodles. It would be unthinkable not to mention the mini-cream puff that comes free with every bowl – one of the best in town. 22618 Highway 99 in Boohan Plaza, Edmonds.
Rise & Shine Bakery is quite simply, the best Vietnamese restaurant on Highway 99. Visit Rise & Shine for something sweet or savory, for the most delectable sandwich or a steaming bowl of phô, or for the perfection of their pastries. 23030 Highway 99, Edmonds.
Phô 84 has a large variety of dishes, from the tame to the adventurous. Their phô contains a version of that fragrant broth that makes the world quiet down, and it comes with all of the requisite garnish (bean sprouts, jalapenos, more fresh cilantro, and sweet chili sauce), chicken or tofu, and perfectly cooked noodles, onions, and fresh cilantro. 6815 196th St. SW, Lynnwood.
Phô & Chill’s menu is extensive, so phô is not the only choice but one among many wonderful choices. This is a small storefront in a small strip mall, but you won’t want to miss it. Try their huge assortment of Vietnamese classics, and enjoy their fun milk teas and desserts. This restaurant wants you to have a great meal and have a great time while you are at it. 14007 Highway 99, Lynnwood.
Phô Time in Mill Creek is a nice little spot for some big flavors. The charming restaurant is bright, and the service always kind. Their menu features Southern-style phô (a richer, slow-cooked broth, with flat noodles and charred onion, ginger, and aromatic spices), as well as banh mi, select chef specials, and an impressive array of beverages that will make the whole family happy. Also, try the iced coffee. 914 164th St. SE, B-10, Mill Creek.
Ramen
S
ensen Ramen will take you to this location between Mukilteo and Mill Creek. Their four delicious ramen options are flavorful and special, served with pork belly meat, soft-boiled egg, bean sprouts, mushrooms, spinach, seaweed, a fish cake, and green onions. Katsu, soba, and sushi options are delicious, too. 17424 Highway 99, Lynnwood.
Yua Ramen is located next door to the Ranch 99 Market on Highway 99 in Edmonds. Quite welcoming and bright inside, stylish in its décor, the focus is on the food as soon as you sit down and read the menu. The variety of soups and ramen options is impressive (more than a dozen), but anyone not in the mood for
noodles can order one of their wonderful rice dishes or from their generous appetizer menu. 22511 Highway 99, No. 105, Edmonds.
Ranch 99 Market is an adventure on so many levels. When it comes to ramen, where else can patrons find dozens and dozens, perhaps hundreds, of varieties of packaged ramen? Any flavor profile or style is available. This is also the market to find the rarest of ramen toppings, like those fermented bamboo shoots. There is also a food court at Ranch 99 that cannot be missed. 22511 Highway 99, Edmonds.
Ashiya Sushi & Ramen, just west of Mill Creek by Martha Lake, is another spot to find ramen and much, much more. Their extensive menu goes well beyond ramen, with Japanese favorites from udon to yakisoba and even donburi, a rice-bowl dish of fish, meat, and vegetables simmered together and served over rice. Working your way through this menu will take some time, and it will be time well spent. 1233 164th St. SW, Lynnwood.
How to make phô and ramen at home
Both of these dishes require some skill in the kitchen to create the depth of flavor that we come to expect from our favorite restaurants. Interestingly, there is a growing movement to improve on store-bought products and create delectable phô and ramen bowls in your own home.
Most Americans likely remember when all we could afford (or perhaps wanted) in our early 20s was the multipacks of ramen that averaged out to as little as 19 cents a meal. Over the past decade, though, roommates and friends trying to have a nice meal and save a bit on groceries have begun to upgrade that little ramen flavoring packet with some extras.
At-home ramen creations are cool, as you can see on TikTok or Instagram. The “Ramen Rater” in Edmonds has transformed and rated packaged ramen for more than 20 years (Check out his website: theramenrater. com, and leave yourself a lot of time to read through his clear obsession with the noodle soup).
The options for taking the dried noodles and flavor packets to the next level are not as complex as they would seem. Simple pantry staples like miso paste, curry paste or powder, and even ponzu can brighten ramen broth. Anyone can turn a bowl of noodles into more of a rib-sticking meal by adding grilled vegetables – spinach, sprouts, cabbage, any kind of peas, shredded carrots, or any meat you have in the house, including thinly sliced chicken or beef, and even deli meats. Of course, a fried, hard, or soft-boiled egg would make any dish taste better, and ramen is typically served with an egg.
Adding a dash of fish sauce, lime juice, and fresh herbs will take your home-improved ramen to the next level. Some of the ramen variations out there actually sound kind of good, like Aloha ramen with Spam, pineapple, and a fried egg, or a Thai-inspired chilled ramen salad with peanut butter and coconut milk.
Phô is not quite as easy to recreate in your own kitchen, but in a pinch, most grocery stores have ingredients that make it possible. The traditional proteins and vegetables are readily available these days, as are the correct rice noodles (although the trick is cooking the noodles to the right texture). Most difficult, though, is that phô broth. It is a broth so complex that only a few of the ready-made phô broths even come close.
Peace through noodles
Ramen chef Momofoku Ando famously said: “Peace will come to the world when the people have enough noodles to eat.” He is so right. Noodles make people happier than most other foods.
Phô and ramen share a place in culinary history as iconic noodle soups, and yet, the distinctions are what make them so darn fabulous.
South Snohomish County is fortunate to boast some of the best phô and ramen restaurants in the United States, and there are no shortage of opportunities to go on a flavor journey any day of the week.
Choosing between phô and ramen is not so much about which bowl of noodles is better, since they are both utterly delicious, but rather depends on your mood, your cravings, your level of creativity, or maybe even the change in your pocket. n
Momofoku Ando – who created Top Ramen and Cup Noodles – once said noodles could bring about world peace.
Artist's Corner
About the Artist: Tattoo artist extraordinaire
Amanda Marie lives in Mukilteo and owns a tattoo shop in Edmonds, the first to be located in that city’s downtown. She learned that Edmonds is Washington’s first certified Creative District, so felt it was the perfect place to showcase the art of tattooing. There are so many different beautiful styles of tattoo artwork, but she said her focus is “illustrative blackwork.”
Amanda originally was on track to study medicine, but that all changed when she pursued a tattoo apprenticeship. In 2015, she completed her first tattoo, a jellyfish on her ankle over a few scars from being stung by a jellyfish in Japan. She worked at her dream shop, Seattle’s well-known Slave to the Needle, before deciding to venture out on her own.
“I feel so lucky to spend my days drawing lady faces, animals, and flowers. I am even more grateful that I have amazing clients who choose to wear these drawings on their bodies forever. One of my favorite parts of being a tattoo artist is being able to stumble upon these tattoos in the wild and reconnect with the clients who visited my station in the past.”
Amanda Marie, Mukilteo
On the FRONT lines
Opioids, including fentanyl, continue to take lives.
But some are trying to do something to halt the deaths
By Brian Soergel
To learn about the stats and locations of drug overdoses in Snohomish County, all you have to do is look at the county’s Opioid Overdose and Prevention Data Dashboard. The Snohomish Health District maintains the dashboard as part of ongoing efforts by the Snohomish County Opioid Response Multi-Agency Coordination Group, a countywide effort to improve outcomes for those who use and abuse drugs. It shows that all opioid-related overdoses have continued to rise since 2017, with easy-to-obtain fentanyl the major culprit. When used properly, the prescription synthetic drug can aid in surgery, long-term pain relief, and end-of-life hospice care. But outside of those uses, the drug – much more potent than heroin – can cause dramatic respiratory depression, leading to death.
According to a report released in March, Snohomish County ranked highest in the state for fentanyl deaths. The Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office reported in August that 255 of the 327 overdoses it saw in 2023 involved fentanyl. Behind all the numbers and dire warnings, of course, are individual stories. A top executive who lost his brother to an overdose. The county sheriff, who says a change in law has led to more arrests. A local caseworker, who saved a life with Narcan, which can reverse an opioid overdose. Two mothers who lost sons to overdoses, who decided to help others gain information and resources. Another woman, who herself faced addiction, now offers hope through her nonprofit. In addition, what steps are local school districts taking?
The life-saver
On her way to pick up some items from Walgreens, Erika Farris spied a group of people hovering over an unconscious woman on the pavement. Farris, a caseworker in Everett working with those struggling with addiction, moved in to take a look.
Erika Farris
“I immediately sensed it was an overdose,” she said. Thankfully, she carries Narcan in her car. Farris retrieved the Narcan, sprayed two doses into the woman’s nose, began CPR, and told a bystander to call 911. The woman woke up. “A woman who worked at the Walgreens said she was glad I was there because the store was out of Narcan.” Farris had never had to administer Narcan, but had been trained many times. Although she wasn’t positive the woman was overdosing, she remembered in her training that Narcan can’t harm someone if administered properly. “I think at the moment I didn’t even realize it, but a bystander told me, hey, you just saved this woman’s life. Oh my gosh, it was awesome.”
Colibrie photo
The schools
The rise of fentanyl has caused school districts to update website policies, invite guest speakers, and – of course – train staff on the proper use of Narcan for a suspected overdose.
Diane Bradford, Mukilteo School District’s director of communications and public relations, said she is not aware of any fentanyl overdoses at the district’s schools. “We have shared information with families in the past from the district,” she said. “Schools also provide information and resources to students and families.” The district’s high school health curriculum does cover preventing and treating substance abuse, but it is more broadly focused than just fentanyl. A few years ago, the Kamiak High School visual communications class made a video that included interviews with parents who had lost children to fentanyl.
“As a precaution, we have expanded Narcan from high schools to all schools – even middle and elementary schools – which is above the state’s requirement to have it in each high school. Since we put those in place two years ago, we are not aware of any usage.”
In 2023, the Edmonds School District invited Snohomish Health District to speak with staff leadership at their respective leadership meetings on drug use in Snohomish County, opioid concerns, and Narcan. “We also had evening sessions for staff and families last fall on the topic, as well,” said Curtis Campbell, ESD communications director. “Our nursing staff completes training for the school administrators and any other designated staff that the administrator identifies on the use of Narcan in schools. We currently have it in all school buildings.”
The district has policies and a procedure related to drug abuse and opioid overdose. It offers online resources to support families and students on the dangers of fentanyl and other drug abuse. This includes the district’s comprehensive safety plan, particularly the preventive measures section. In addition, resources are available on a newly revamped website that the district heavily promotes, Report/Family Support. Campbell said there were two instances of naloxone (Narcan) being administered at schools last year for opioid overdoses, although he noted he did not know the type of opioids those may have resulted from.
Everett Public Schools is also taking steps to address the danger of opioid use – including fentanyl – communications director Harmony Weinberg said. “We understand the importance of addressing the fentanyl and opioid issue and are committed to ensuring the health and safety of our students. In partnership with the Snohomish County Health Department, we have ensured that each of our elementary and middle schools are equipped with at least one dose of Narcan, and our high schools have multiple doses of this life-saving opioid reversal medication.”
In addition, the district has designated responders at its schools trained to distribute or administer opioid reversal medication. “We are also continuing to raise awareness of the dangers of fentanyl through our substance use Intervention specialists, who work closely with students in our high schools,” Weinberg said. “We collaborate regularly with local law enforcement to address prevention efforts, and we remain vigilant and
‘ Fentanyl everyone by surprise'
Physician advocates for proven drugs for treatment
By Brian Soergel
Snohomish County leads the state in per capita opioid overdoses, and Everett is ground zero. That’s where Dr. Tom Robey comes in. He’s an emergency medicine physician at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett and principal investigator for emergency department-based substance use disorder trials. He works closely with local partners, including Swedish Edmonds.
Outside of Providence, you might spot Robey, or his team, on the streets in a white Ford Transit van. Washington Health Care Authority and opioid settlement funds administered through the City of Everett enable him to bring medication to those on the streets using drugs – it’s stuffed with boxes of Narcan, which can counter fentanyl overdoses – while also offering services and treatment options for the unhoused.
“N arcan is the best way for people to look out for their neighbors.”
The program is called Emergency Mobile Opioid Team Everett (EMOTE), which Robey hopes to expand to other locations. It has two peer counselors with lived experience now in recovery to connect with people struggling with addiction and homelessness. The peers have real-time access to prescribers and other services and can transport clients to detox centers or help with telehealth appointments with local behavioral health agency Conquer Clinics.
Robey, whose calling is providing safety net services in the ER and beyond, notes that addiction has complicated causes that have genetic, physical, social, and economic factors. To him, opioid addiction is a disease affecting the brain and not an isolated fault of character. This has long been the prevailing scientific consensus regarding addiction, but as Jan Hoffman wrote in The New York Times in September, some behavioral scientists now see personal choice and that users must have some fault.
It’s healthy to talk about the causes of addiction, Robey said. “But focusing on culpability distracts from the brokenness of the disease and the way forward out of this epidemic. If we acknowledge it as a medical situation with medication that works, hopefully that can reduce the stigma and the lack of information out there about what’s going on.”
Although the Snohomish Medical Examiner’s Office tracks the number of overdose deaths, Robey said those numbers are a small number of the total. He is encouraged by the latest numbers showing opioid deaths – the majority from fentanyl – while very high, have decreased slightly in 2024 compared to a peak in summer 2023.
“Some of our efforts might be behind that. It might also be that the
Brian Soergel photo
committed to educating our students and staff on this critical issue.”
The sheriff
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office was one of the first agencies in the state to train its deputies in administering Narcan. Today, police officers are also trained, including those in Mukilteo, Edmonds, and Mill Creek. “In the early days, we had a network for tracking the uses of fentanyl so we could see where it was around the county,” said Sheriff Susanna Johnson. “I still remember thinking, what is this fentanyl? So yes, even at our jail, deputies carry Narcan on their person.”
drug-using population may have more experience about what’s going on, too. Fentanyl took everyone by surprise, just in terms of its lethality and its potency. Now, what I’m really surprised by is fentanyl’s affordability. It is the cheapest deadly drug I think we’ve ever had.”
In addition, the easy flow of fentanyl from Mexican cartels overwhelmed the county in the 2020s, adding to the overdose increase.
Building
tolerance
Because of fentanyl’s highly addictive properties, new users may initially feel a jolt of euphoria, but the way the drug interacts with the body over time changes such that people eventually don’t feel high. “They don’t feel that euphoria after they’ve been using for months. What people feel is the lack of withdrawal, and so they’re using it just to get back to that threshold where they can feel normal. It’s not unusual to see folks in the ER using 50 pills a day. They might need some pills just to get to a point where they can interact with people, so they can go get food, so they can arrange their shelter for the night.”
When arriving at the jail, officers test inmates to determine what drugs they may have in their systems. The Snohomish County Health Department and the county’s federal partners use the data to gain insight into drug usage trends. “Today, the best way to know what’s going on on the street is seeing what’s coming to the jail. It’s fascinating because we know the diagnostic rate, it’s fascinating because we’re seeing fentanyl drop and methamphetamine increase.”
According to the journal Addiction, fentanyl is indeed increasingly mixed with stimulants like methamphetamine, as well as the sedative xylazine, approved for veterinary use and known by its street name, “tranq.” “People who
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Robey advocates for those addicted. “There’s an element of brokenness in our community and the health-care system at large, and that’s what drives me to do the things that I’m doing. Very few of the people I take care of want to use drugs. It’s just that with fentanyl, it’s so hard.”
Robey is a strong supporter of immediate medication-assisted treatment for those addicted to fentanyl and other opioids, using drugs that work on “reward pathways” that remove withdrawal symptoms without generating euphoria. In addition to connecting patients who come to the ER to treatment programs, he will often begin buprenorphine (sometimes given as brand names Suboxone or Subutex) treatment while a patient is in the ER. Buprenorphine helps treat withdrawal and reduce cravings. Not everyone succeeds with a single medication; methadone and naltrexone are options that work for other patients.
Robey trained as an emergency medicine resident at Yale-New Haven Hospital with Dr. Gail D’Onofrio, known for research in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) introduction in the emergency department.
“Many are now championing increased access to MAT in Snohomish County, and my residency training at Yale helped me see how the ER could be a meaningful part of addiction treatment. We were giving buprenorphine to patients who came in who’d overdosed or who had an opioid-use disorder. We started their treatment in the ER because these are folks who don’t generally seek medical care anywhere else or have been turned away because of stigma. They’ll come to the ER for something else, and if you screen and find out they have an addiction, why not give them medicine for the addiction?”
Sublocade is another form of buprenorphine for treating addiction. It’s an injectable form of buprenorphine that lasts for a month. “It’s amazing, but we’re still battling the government and insurance to get it paid for in the hospital because it’s expensive. Some say that there’s not enough evidence it works. Well, how much evidence do you need? There’s plenty of very good evidence that it works.”
D’Onofrio agrees. “There is no controversy. It is evidence-based practice,” she said, referring to the American College of Emergency Physicians’ consensus report in the Annals of Emergency Medicine. “It is not an option. It is a requirement. Both the emergency department and van community service are good options.”
‘Warm handoff’
I n addition to administering medication while a patient is in the ER, Robey supports what he calls the “warm handoff,” which introduces a patient to the next provider in the health-care system. It can emphasize to patients that they’re being cared for and that their life matters, he said. “It’s great to be able to refer patients with next-day
Bill Trueit photo
Snohomish County Sheriff Susanna Johnson: “Today, the best way to know what’s going on on the street, is seeing what’s coming to the jail.”
appointments to other local providers directly from the ER, like Ideal Option or Conquer Clinics. I believe addiction is an emergency. Most people don’t want to be addicted, and they don’t know how, or they’re not ready to engage in how to treat that addiction.
That’s where having an ER doc or nurse who is willing to have that conversation comes in. All you have to do is be willing to have the conversation: ‘Hey, do you want to talk to me about your addiction? We might have some things that could help here.’”
While Robey helps save lives in the ER and the EMOTE van, those not in the medical profession can do one simple thing to possibly save neighbors from overdosing on fentanyl.
“Narcan is the best way for people to look out for their neighbors. I recommend that people carry it in their car or purse. You’re much more likely to see someone who needs it when you’re out in the community, rather than when you’re in your home. Even I am more likely to use Narcan in the community than in the hospital.” n
are trying to stay away from fentanyl will purchase meth, and there’s fentanyl in it as well,” Johnson said. “And that creates that addiction component. Some are just not getting what they’re looking for.”
Johnson points out that it’s not true those taking fentanyl, or any other opioid, are immune from arrest even if seen using it on the streets. She said part of the prior state Supreme Court’s State v. Blake decision ruled that felony drug possession was unconstitutional, citing due process. Last year, however, the Legislature recriminalized drug possession as a misdemeanor but added that diversion services must be offered twice before prosecution.
“When we see people using, we’re making those arrests. In this state, we don’t have possession by consumption. So we would actually have to see you using it and possessing it. So now we’ll make an arrest for that possession that used to be a felony. Now in Washington, it’s a gross misdemeanor. So they’ll be booked, but the very first time they’re charged with that, they’re offered diversion, and the diversion is treatment. But if they decline that, the next time they could be prosecuted.” Like most law enforcement in the county, fentanyl use has only increased the amount of time that police have to deal with drug issues – whether it’s somebody under the influence, assault, or property crime.
“It affects our neighborhood,” Johnson said, “and there is a contributing factor (fentanyl, alcohol, and drugs in general) that makes behavioral health worse.”
Susanna Johnson
Brian Soergel photo
The EMOTE van brings Narcan and referrals for service to those on the streets using drugs.
The executive
Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers is intimately aware of the dangers of fentanyl. His younger brother, Alan Paulsen, struggled with addiction and contracted HIV and hepatitis. “He wanted to be clean. But the thing with addiction – it never leaves you. It’s every day. When he passed away last year, he had fentanyl in his system.”
Paulsen died from an overdose in March 2023. He struggled through life and turned to drugs to numb his pain, Somers said. “I loved him dearly; we had a good relationship. He was funny, smart, and good with his hands. He called me a few days before he passed. It was my birthday, and he wanted to wish me a happy birthday.”
It can be easy to objectify those who fall under the grip of addiction, Somers said. “You can say these are people who just made bad choices – they just need to clean up. There are bad actors out there, but it’s not that simple. We have to keep our streets safe and the rest of it, but every person is an individual and you have to get to the underlying causes. Many are re ally good people who are self-medicating for physical pain.”
In 2022, Somers announced that Snohomish County, using ARPA funds, would purchase America’s Best Value Inn in Edmonds and Days Inn in Everett to convert them to time-limited “bridge” housing, including mental health and substance use disorder services. Both needed extensive cleaning due to drug exposure. Somers said they plan to open in 2025.
In April, Somers and Snohomish County awarded $77,800 to 11 organizations providing recovery services for people experiencing opioid use disorder in Snohomish County. Supporting community-based organizations is one of the strategies developed by the Multi-Agency Coordination (MAC) Group. The County is using funding received from the One Washington opioid settlements.
And in July, Somers proposed a public safety sales tax that would add 2 cents per $10 purchase. Among other things, it would help to hire more law enforcement officers to hold cartels, drug dealers, and criminals accountable and establish a secure withdrawal management facility in Snohomish County to provide more capacity for those who need to get clean.
The hope
Although her nonprofit organization is called Hope Soldiers, Lindsey Arrington wants to provide more than that. She wants results.
“One of the things that we do differently is we help people find their identity and purpose in life,” she said. “We help people find freedom from addiction and mental health struggles, and we help them figure out what their purpose is. People are looking for meaning in their lives; we help connect people to opportunities to find that.”
The former executive assistant for the City of Mukilteo has herself struggled with addiction, using pills and heroin. She became homeless at a young age.
After getting clean, she founded Hope Soldiers more than a decade ago. “There were several overdoses that happened at my high school, and nobody was talking about it,” said Arrington, who attended Jackson High School in Mill Creek. “Nobody was doing anything about it. So I started
“Y ou can say these are people who just made bad choices … Many are really good people who are selfmedicating for physical pain. ”
Brian Soergel photo
Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers speaks at the annual “A Night To Remember, A Time To Act” in Everett. It’s held on Overdose Awareness Day.
planning an awareness event, and the PTA at Jackson told me that I needed to turn it into a nonprofit. I knew that I wanted the name ‘hope’ in the title. Honestly, I woke up one morning and it just came to me. I wanted there to be some symbolism around the silent battle people face with addiction and mental health.”
When she spoke at local schools in Hope Soldiers’ early days, she focused on opioids such as OxyContin and heroin. These days, it’s fentanyl. “It has a really big hold on people. It’s so cheap.” A recent presentation at Everett Community College, “Facing Fentanyl Together,” focused on the drug.
“I knew that I wanted the name ‘hope’ in the title. Honestly, I woke up one morning and it just came to me. ”
“We help people find support and services, whether it’s housing, mental health, whatever it is. We provide this helping hand to people and stay with them throughout their entire journey. Most clients we work with have several years of recovery, living a successful life according to what success looks like for them. It’s incredible to be able to give hope to people, that they do have a purpose in life. And that’s what we’re about: giving people hope.”
Hope Soldiers gets most of its funding through merchandise sales and occasional fund-raising. Arrington recently applied for a Snohomish County grant for the first time in 13 years. “I know there is funding,” said Arrington, who has three children, “but it’s more about connecting with people, engaging with them, making sure that they have a person who helps them feel like they’re not alone. And so that’s really what it’s all about.”
The moms
Debbie Warfield and Cathi Lee are connected by their grief. But also by their determination to help others by sharing that grief. Warfield’s son, Spencer, died from an overdose 12 years ago. Lee’s son, Corey, died nine years ago the same way.
Left: Participants could light candles at an overdose awareness event in Everett. Above: Lindsey Arrington, center, created Hope Soldiers in part because she felt there wasn’t enough being done after several overdoses at her high school.
Brian Soergel photos
Debbie Warfield, left, and Cathi Lee, began an overdose awareness event after their sons died from overdoses. Lee’s son, Corey, is pictured behind her balancing on a wall. Next to that picture is Warfield’s son, Spencer.
So they founded “A Night To Remember, A Time To Act,” bringing community members together around International Overdose Awareness Day each summer. It’s a time to honor the lives lost to overdose, advocate for change, defeat stigmas surrounding addiction, and offer hope and support to the community and those who are struggling. August was its eighth anniversary.
They held the first event at Silver Lake Park in Everett, but have since moved it to the Snohomish County Plaza in Everett.
“
T“There was not a lot of information at the time to help,” Warfield said. “We felt very secluded, shameful. We didn’t know how to help our sons. We went to medical facilities, treatment facilities, and pretty much were always sent home to deal with it. And if our sons continued to use, they would be dead.”
here was not a lot of information at the time to help. We felt very secluded, shameful. We didn’t know how to help our sons.”
Spencer never had a chance to try any type of treatment before his overdose. “It’s just so sad to think that there was treatment out there, but we weren’t aware of it. He was aware of methadone but felt like it was just trading one drug for another. So he wasn’t interested in trying anything like that. It’s been our goal for the past eight years to shed light on addiction, and that people who are addicted come from loving families. They’re no different than anyone else. This can affect anyone.”
Lee’s son died in 2015 in his college dorm room just before Thanksgiving. “We spent two weeks in a hospital,” she said, “and had to make the horrific decision that no parent ever wants to make. There were a lot of misconceptions and negative stigma around addiction and drug use. Our son was young. He was in high school when he first started using drugs and alcohol; he didn’t fit the stereotype of an addict. We were told he was just having fun. He would get out of it. He was just partying. He was experimenting. We fought his addiction alone. Many of our friends and family never even knew the extent of his addiction until he overdosed.”
Shortly after her son died, Lee met Debbie. “She was doing a forum on opioids with the Snohomish County Health District. I was fresh with my grief, and I remember hearing Debbie’s story about Spencer and literally started bawling. I knew I needed to meet Debbie because her story was almost identical to mine: good kid, good family, same desperate need for resources that just were not available.
“After going to a couple of dinners and lunches and, frankly, having some heated conversations about feeling like it just wasn’t fair that we didn’t have the resources that we desperately needed, we decided that we would start ‘A Night to Remember.’ Partly for healing, at least for me, but mostly so that others don’t have to go through the same grief and heartache and feeling of aloneness and hopelessness that we did.”
The most recent event featured plenty of resources and compassion for those either struggling with addiction or parents and friends who simply wanted more information. “We’ve hosted a lot of programs and speakers over the years,” Lee said at the August event. “My hope is that all of you leave tonight with the support and facts and hope for you and your loved ones navigating addiction and recovery.” n
Inspires WHAT
YOU?
Bestselling author from Edmonds believes in your potential
By Brian Soergel
What inspires you? A sunset? A child’s giggle? The everyday experience of being alive?
New York Times best-selling author Kobi Yamada has inspired many of all ages through his books and pop-up window cards.
So what inspires Yamada? “So much inspires me,” he said. “Simple things like a walk in the woods, seeing someone doing something selflessly, unbridled laughter, brilliant ideas, spontaneity, barre classes, travel, and spending quality time with people I love. I think inspiration is everywhere and all around us.”
Yamada, 56, lives in Edmonds with his wife, PAWS CEO Heidi Yamada, and their two children. He is the president of Compendium, where fulfillment centers in Everett and Louisville, Kentucky, ship books, journals, greeting cards, and a variety of children’s products nationwide. All of Compendium’s products can be found in major chains such as World Market and Barnes & Noble, as well as in specialty shops such as the Nature Together in Mukilteo, the Edmonds
“What Do You Do With an Idea?” established Kobi Yamada as a best-selling author as it introduced a young child whose creative idea turns into a speckled egg with a golden crown and birdlike legs.
Bookshop and the Papery in Edmonds, and Nothing Bundt Cakes in Mill Creek and Lynnwood.
“We have a wonderful team of creatives at Compendium. It is one of my great joys to be able to work with such skilled and dedicated people. No product, including my books, is ever created by one person. Everything we make is a collaborative effort. Each product is the result of many people contributing their gifts and talents.”
Compendium’s creative staff lives locally, but since the pandemic has gone completely remote. “As a way to combat the isolation of remote work and to foster culture and community, our entire staff gathers in person once a month to do fun activities and spend quality time together.”
Compendium’s picture books have been translated into about 40 languages. Many have children and animals as the main characters – Yamada said they are children’s books that can inspire all ages. “I believe our picture books are for readers of all ages. In addition to kids, I’ve heard from thousands of adults who have been impacted by our books. I don’t believe things like creativity, imagination, resiliency, or courage are age-specific. These are life skills we should want to grow and encourage all the days of our lives.”
Each of his books has a different focus, but the collective goal is the same. “It’s my hope our books will inspire a deeper discussion. When we share insights and ideas – especially with people of different backgrounds or generations – meaningful moments and wonderful connections can happen.”
Compendium was founded in 1985 by Dan Zadra; at the time, it only did business-to-business work. Yamada arrived in 1992 and led efforts to create products for the gift and
“T here is not enough darkness in all the world to put out the light of even one small candle. ”
book markets. One of the more popular items remains the small ThoughtFulls Pop-Open Cards. Example: One called “Hope” includes 30 messages, including Robert Alden’s “There is not enough darkness in all the world to put out the light of even one small candle.”
Yamada released his debut book, “What Do You With an Idea?,” in 2014, illustrated by Mae Besom, now with a 10th anniversary edition. The book established Yamada as a best-selling author, as it introduced a young child whose creative idea turns into a speckled egg with a golden crown and birdlike legs. That book led to many other books whose titles offer a suggestion of what’s inside. For example: “What Do You Do With an Idea”; “What Do You Do With a Problem”; “Chasing Dreams;” and “Because I Had a Teacher,” among many others.
And Yamada’s books are reaching new audiences on the stage. “What Do You Do With an Idea?” was adapted by Christina Pippa, with music and lyrics by Sharon Kenny, for the famed 92nd Street Y this August and September. That followed his “Maybe,” also adapted by Pippa, that debuted early last year at Stages Theatre Company in Hopkins, Minnesota.” Yamada attended the premiere of “Maybe” and a staging of “What Do You Do With an Idea?” in September.
Pattern interruption
So what does Yamada do when he’s having a bad day or not feeling inspired? “I might listen to unfamiliar music or tune into a podcast as a pattern interrupter. These can be helpful in providing a different perspective or another lens in which to see a situation. But I find the best reset for me is getting out into nature. We are very fortunate in the Pacific Northwest, where nature is so accessible.”
Compendium photo
Brian Soergel photo
Kobi Yamada poses for a picture at the Edmonds Library. Below, pop-up cards are a popular item.
Yamada is home in Edmonds
After previously living in Seattle, Yamada is settled in Snohomish county. “My wife became the CEO of PAWS in Lynnwood in 2020. We moved to Edmonds from Seattle that year so she could be closer to her work. Edmonds was our first choice. We appreciated the small-town feeling and its gorgeous location on Puget Sound.
"Since living here, Edmonds has only exceeded our expectations. We love how intentional and community-oriented it is here. We feel very fortunate to have found this special place to call home.” n
Compendium photos
Kobi Yamada’s numerous books have made The New York Times bestseller list. An artic fox plush is a companion to “Why Not?”
NEED A GOOD BOOK?
By Brian Soergel
Everybody loves recommendations. What’s good on Netflix? Or you hear a great new song and share the Spotify or YouTube link with a friend. Word of mouth is golden. When it comes to books, recommendations are even more important. Books can take time to read, and you don’t want to waste time on bad books.
Here are a few recommendations
Of course, most readers have their particular tastes: Mystery, romance, humor, and all of the various subgenres of nonfiction: politics, history, current events, biography, etc. You can get recommendations from The New York Times bestseller list, or see what’s popular on Amazon.
All great, but what are a few south Snohomish County residents reading?
The Beacon wanted to know: What book in the present or the past, fiction or nonfiction, would you recommend that inspired you in some way?
Michelle Bear, Edmonds Bookshop owner
“Sipsworth,” Simon Van Booy (2024-fiction)
For readers of Shelby Van Pelt’s “Remarkably Bright Creatures,” this story sneaks up on you with a found community, as the main character finds one when she unexpectedly becomes caretaker to a little mouse.
“James,” Percival Everett (2024-fiction)
Lest you think I am too sentimental – and I certainly can be – another recommenda tion is “James” by Percival Everett. The intentional use of language (both Percival’s and the character James) is so interesting. And the perspective shift is necessary.
“Bear,” Julia Phillips (2024-fiction)
A contemporary retelling of the “SnowWhite and Rose-Red” fairy tale, this story of sisters (and ultimately a wild bear) set on a Washington state island will have you understanding living a life with a lot of boundaries. And that ending!
“North Woods,” Daniel Mason (2023-fiction)
A story of a tract of land in New England as told through who has lived there from Puritan times to perhaps the not-distant future. Reads as short stories, but each is connected to the next. I loved all of the characters.
Elaine Mattson, Edmonds Bookshop employee
“The Bright Sword,” Lev Grossman (2024historical fiction)
An eager young adventurer convinces the rem-
nants of the knights of the Round Table to go on new quests in pursuit of – well, they’re not exactly sure what to hope for: A new king? To get the old one back? A new Camelot, or the same Camelot, or just a Camelot they can survive in?
We meet many lesser-known knights (and wannabe knights!), learn their stories, and join them as they try to save remnants of the vaunted Round Table and Camelot itself. Talk about your rag-tag bunch of misfits. I loved this!
David Brewster, former Edmonds Bookshop co-owner
“The Horse,” by Willy Vlautin (2024-fiction)
Al Ward is down on his luck, holed up in the mountains, late in life, looking back at his days as a touring musician and nights full of regrets. One morning he awakes to find a blind horse, motionless in the Nevada winter, who just may show the way to redemption.
“The Oceans and the Stars,” Mark Helprin (2023-fiction)
This is a stirring account of war, politics, and love. This book is full of believable conflict and heroism, with unforgettable characters and a charming love story added in.
Alan Biné, Beacon Publishing columnist
narration, I got to picture in my mind’s eye the characters’ various predicaments and solutions, both their highs and lows.
Chuck Wright, Beacon Publishing columnist
“The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store,” James McBride (2023-historical fiction)
This is a touching and poignant story about Jewish, African-American, and European immigrants coming together to help each other live better lives. Since I am blind, I listened via audio book. And while listening to the wonderful
“The Giver,” Lois Lowry (1993-dystopian young adult fiction) This was a real eye-opener. I’m still thinking about when the Giver shares his knowledge with a 12-year-old boy, Jonas, and begins to lose his memory. I thank Lowry for motivating me to think about who I should empathize with. This Newberry Award-winning classic is appropriate for those 12 and up. I encourage anyone to search for it, read it, and think about what the protagonist – the Receiver of Memory –teaches us.
“Babbling Books” recommendations
Finally, this summer, the Edmonds Bookshop’s “Babbling Books” in-store event featured two past owners of the store: Mary Kay Sneeringer and Susan Hildebrandt. They may have their all-time favorites, but they each recommended six books from the past three years.
A selection of recommended reading lines the shelves of the Edmonds Bookshop.
Susan Hildebrant, left, and Mary Kay Sneeringer recently hosted an event where they recommended a few favorite books. Both were previous owners of the store.
Brian Soergel photo
By David Pan
It should come as no surprise that people love their pets. The 2023-24 National Pet Owners Survey, conducted by the American Pet Products Association, found that 66% of U.S. households own at least one. It should also surprise no one that people have strong feelings about their pets.
A 2023 Pew Research Center survey reported that 97% of pet owners considered their pets as part of the family, and 51% also said they thought of their pets as much a part of their family as a human member.
Recognizing the importance of pets in their residents’ lives, Edmonds and Mukilteo police departments have hosted pet first aid classes. Edmonds Police community engagement coordinator and former animal control officer Tabatha Shoemake organized the first of her city’s one-day pet
GrumpyBeere photo
David Pan photo
Animal control officer Andrea Scinkovec uses a stuffed animal as part of the pet first aid class she taught last summer in Edmonds.
Preparing for the unexpected
First aid classes help pet owners respond to emergencies
What people expect to learn in the classes:
There is an extensive range of topics that include mouth-tosnout resuscitation; chest compressions; heat stroke; choking; bleeding; cuts and stabs; first aid kits; snake bites; what to do when pets swallow dangerous items; when to induce vomiting and when not to; and how to perform the Heimlich maneuver.
David Pan photo
Edmonds Police community engagement coordinator Tabatha Shoemake organized the City’s first pet first aid class. Shoemake was Edmonds' animal control officer for 14 years.
class this summer. Mukilteo Police animal control officer Shanita Duke, an 18-year veteran of the department, has taught pet first aid classes since 2018. Mukilteo resumed its one-day classes last spring after suspending them due to the pandemic.
When both police departments posted class information on their respective Facebook accounts, residents quickly signed up.
“
T here were people who had medical issues with their dogs they wanted to make sure they were equipped to handle. ”
“There were people who had medical issues with their dogs they wanted to make sure they were equipped to handle,” Shoemake said. “There were also dog walkers. We’ve had a few of those who wanted to be prepared for whatever came up, any incidents that came up. But the majority of people were just animal lovers.”
Duke was a vet tech for 16 years in Arizona before moving to the Pacific Northwest. She was convinced there was a need for pet first aid classes through her work as
Animal control officer Andrea Scinkovec demonstrates a first aid technique on a stuffed animal.
David Pan photo
an animal control officer. She is a pet CPR- and first aid-certified instructor.
“After I started going on enough calls and seeing how people didn’t know how to handle their dogs in an emergency, I thought it was important to put my vet tech skills to good use and to teach people this is what you can do in an emergency.”
Shoemake and Duke say pet owners need to try to stay calm during an emergency,
“K nowledge is the key. If you have a roadmap on how to administer care, it makes it more comforting. ”
admittedly easier said than done. People often panic when their pets are in distress.
“Knowledge is the key. If you have a roadmap on how to administer care, it makes it more comforting,” Shoemake said. People often get emotional when it comes to their pets, Duke said, but the calmer they can stay and focus on what needs to be done, the better chance their pet is going to make it through the crisis.
Mukilteo’s interactive classes include videos, lectures, and hands-on instruction.
Edmonds’ class is similarly structured and, depending on the number of attendees, also offers hands-on instruction. Both use dog CPR dummies for CPR and breathing training. Duke also brings in a live dog for hands-on activities, such as getting a feel for the femoral pulse or practicing putting
David Pan photos
Mukilteo animal control officer Shanita Duke and Winston, her Bullmastiff (center), demonstrate first aid techniques, including how to muzzle a dog (upper left and right middle). Duke plays around with Winston’s mouth (left middle) and his paws (top right). Duke uses different stuffed animals as props (bottom photos).
a wrap on an animal.
What can people expect to learn in the classes?
There is an extensive range of topics that include mouthto-snout resuscitation; chest compressions; heat stroke; choking; bleeding; cuts and stabs; first aid kits; snake bites; what to do when pets swallow dangerous items; when to induce vomiting and when not to; and how to perform the Heimlich maneuver.
It’s critical for people to approach an injured animal safely and to avoid getting bit, Shoemake said. She noted that often, when animals are choking, people stick their hands in the animal’s mouth.
“But the first thing the animal is going to do when it’s trying to get something out is bite down. So protecting oneself is important because if you’re injured, you can’t help the animal.”
Duke teaches techniques on how to appropriately muzzle an injured animal. There are ways people can and should restrain a dog – with a leash, gauze, or a towel – and situations when they should not.
“You would never muzzle a dog that’s obviously been hit by a car and is bleeding from the mouth. You’d never muzzle one that’s vomiting,” she said. “But any dog that’s injured and in pain can bite, even your dog – and it doesn’t mean they’re vicious or anything. It’s a reaction. They’re scared. They’re hurt, and that’s the first thing they’re going to do a lot of times.”
Summertime is when pets suffer heat stroke or heat exhaustion. Edmonds police respond to numerous reports of dogs left in vehicles. Many people don’t realize when they come to the city to attend an event, such as Taste Edmonds or the Edmonds Arts Festival, that pets are not allowed, so people leave their dogs in their vehicles.
is. What the normal eating and drinking, urinating and defecating habits are. People are pretty attuned to their family pets. They can tell when something is just off. Always, when in doubt, call your vet and ask for advice.”
Duke encourages people to involve their pets in their emergency preparations. Pet owners can have their dog get used to having its feet and paws handled or tolerating someone poking around in its mouth.
“The more you can do that kind of stuff with your dog, the more they get used to it.”
Shoemake said people should call 911.
“But at no time should someone take it upon themselves to break a window or something like that to try and get a dog out. We give our officers training on that.”
Duke sometimes has to dispel potentially dangerous misconceptions. Some people think they should douse a dog suffering from heat stroke or heat exhaustion with cold water. “You don’t want to do that because it just reverses the process and sends them into shock. They think they should give a whole bunch of cold water at once, which you shouldn’t do. The best thing you can do is stick them in air conditioning and get them right to the vet.”
The question of whether a pet should be taken to a vet is complicated. If people have concerns, they should call their vet, Duke and Shoemake said. The more information a pet owner provides, the better. “Know your dog. Know what’s normal for your dog,” Duke said. “Know what your dog’s normal temperature is. What the normal respiration
The high interest in pet first aid classes doesn’t surprise Shoemake and Duke. Shoemake has had pets all her life; she currently owns two Rottweilers. Duke’s parents never let her have a dog growing up; she got her first dog at 25. Her first was a Bullmastiff, and she’s been partial to the breed ever since. She currently has two Bullmastiffs (a mother and father), two of their daughters (from a litter of six), and a pit bull rescue.
For Duke, the most rewarding part of the job is taking animals away from people abusing them. In the seven cases she’s been involved with, she had a 100% success rate.
“I have been able to persuade the people that I had cases against that it was in their best interest to voluntarily relinquish custody of their animals.” Shoemake has fond memories of her 14 years in the field as an animal control officer.
“There’s nothing like a little bit of fur heaven. Animals are always happy greeting you, and you can’t get enough of that. Even when they’re not happy, usually you can figure out why.” n
Nguyenhanstudio photo
WHEN STRIKES DISASTER
Don’t forget your pets –both small and large, house and pasture
By David Pan
Those in the Pacific Northwest typically don’t have to deal with extreme weather events – tornadoes and hurricanes come to mind – like the rest of the country.
But many experts say it’s simply a matter of time before a major earthquake – that’s the one we have to worry about – strikes the region. Severe storms that have knocked power out in parts of Snohomish County for days are just a taste of what might be coming. Snohomish County Emergency Management’s “Disaster Preparedness Guide 2024” urges residents to be prepared to be on their own for two weeks.
And don’t forget about your pets – Mukilteo Animal Control Officer Shanita Duke advises owners to prepare a go-bag. “Make sure you have enough supplies in case the big earthquake hits so you have enough for your animals to get them through, too.”
At the top of her list is a first aid kit, whether it be for a dog, cat, bird, or something else (hamster, snake?)
Pet owners should be able to grab a go-bag in an instant. A typical bag should include a collar, leash, vet information, family member contacts, and a small amount of food and water (don’t forget the pet dish). A carrier or crate should be easily accessible, as well as a litter box and litter. You can use a small cage or a cat carrier for birds. Pack a photo of your pet and proof of ownership with microchip/tag information. In the event your pet becomes separated from you, you will need proof of ownership to retrieve your pet from a shelter in many cases.
Duke also suggests the following basic items:
• Pet first aid book
• Phone numbers for your vet, along with information for the nearest emergency clinic and poison control hotline
• Muzzle or roll gauze
• Hydrogen peroxide (to induce vomiting)
• Blanket
• Towel
• Ice pack
• Petroleum jelly
• Digital thermometer
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• Scissors
• Sterile nonstick gauze pads
• Sterile saline solution
• Tweezers
• Cotton swabs
House pets aren’t the only animals to be concerned about in a natural disaster. Many residents in rural areas have chickens, goats, pigs, horses, and other livestock.
The Humane Society of the United States suggests contacting the state Department of Agriculture and county extension services well in advance to learn how they can help in an evacuation. If evacuation is not possible, these agencies may be able to provide on-site assistance.
Poultry should have access to high perches if they are in a floodprone area, as well as food and clean water. Residents may want to consider removing all barbed wire and rerouting permanent fencing so animals can move to high ground in a flood and to low-lying areas during high winds.
Other suggestions include:
• Install a hand pump and obtain enough large containers to water your animals for at least a week – municipal water supplies and wells are often contaminated during a disaster.
• Consider alternate water and power sources. A generator with a safely stored supply of fuel may be essential if you have electrical equipment necessary for the well-being of the animals.
• Secure or remove anything that could become blowing debris.
If evacuation is not possible, residents need to decide to confine large animals to an available shelter or leave them out in pastures. Owners may believe animals are safer inside barns, but in many circumstances confinement takes away animals’ ability to protect themselves.
This decision should be based on the type of disaster and the soundness and location of the sheltering building.
More information: humanesociety.org n
Brigitte Werner photo
Season to Taste
Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce
Ingredients
• 2 pounds ground chicken
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 3/4 cup diced shiitake mushrooms
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, grated
• 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh grated ginger
• 1/2 cup hoisin sauce
• 1/2 cup water chestnuts, diced
• 3 green onions (both white and green parts), chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, grated
• 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped, for garnish
• 1/4 cup crushed peanuts, for garnish
• iceberg or butter lettuce, for wraps
IPeanut Sauce:
• 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 2 tablespoons chili garlic sauce
• 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
Directions
n pan, saute ground chicken in sesame oil until cooked through. Drain if mixture is watery.
Add shiitake mushrooms and onion; saute until mushrooms have softened and appear caramel colored.
Add garlic, ginger, hoisin, water chestnuts and green onions. Let chicken mixture simmer on low.
To make peanut sauce: In saucepan over medium-low heat, mix peanut butter, brown sugar, lime juice, chili garlic sauce, ginger and soy sauce until smooth, warm and thinned slightly. Fold into chicken mixture. Stir until combined and simmer on low until peanut sauce is evenly distributed. Garnish with fresh cilantro and crushed peanuts. Serve in lettuce wraps.
Serves: 4
This recipe courtesy of Parker’s Plate on behalf of the Georgia Peanut Commission
Orange Shrimp Quinoa Bowls
Ingredients
• 1 cup quinoa
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoon white miso
• 1/4 cup butter
CDirections
ook quinoa according to package instructions. Set aside.
In medium bowl, whisk orange juice, hot sauce, honey, soy sauce, vegetable oil, lime juice and miso until combined. Pour one-quarter of liquid into separate bowl. Set aside. Add shrimp to remaining mixture
and marinate 15 minutes.
Heat large skillet over medium heat with butter. Add shrimp, salt and pepper. Cook 2 minutes on each side until pink.
Add mushrooms and cook until tender.
In two serving bowls, divide quinoa,
• 1 1/2 pounds shrimp, peeled, deveined and tails removed
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 cucumber, sliced in half moons
• 5 green onions, sliced
• 1 avocado, sliced
• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
• 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
bell pepper, cucumber, onions, avocado and shrimp. Sprinkle sesame seeds and cilantro over both bowls.
