SUMMER 2025
‘This is a Da ron house’: Mukilteo homebuilder has left his mark
O ce workers have options for engaging their pups during a work day
Case manager helps domestic violence victims reclaim their lives
MackBenekisaninstitutioninEdmondsforhishand-painted signsonrestaurantwindowsandotherbusinesses.Thatledto steadyworkataniconicSeattlerecordstore.
Ifyouwanttoget t,readon.Thereareplentyofpersonal trainersaroundwhowillhappilytailoraregimenforyouto getbetterhealthandstamina.Plus,weo ersometips.
Whatdoyouthinkofwhenyouthinkofyourpubliclibrary? Ifyouhaven’tbeeninawhile,youmayhavetothinkagain. It’sadigitalworldnow,andlibrarieshaveadapted.
Yourfurrybestfriendmayloveyou,butitdoesn'tparticularly enjoybeingathomewithnoonearound.Doggiedaycares canbethesolutiontokeepyourpethappy.
Althoughyoumaynotrecognizehiswork,MikeDa ron’s buildingsarepartofMukilteo’sidentity.He’sgotacolorful storytotell,andweweregladtoshareit.
NavDhaliwalsupportsdomesticviolencevictimsontheir roadtorecovery.Herownexperienceshelpedshapeher careerwithDomesticViolenceServices.
“I was painting Santas on windows for Christmas when someone said, ‘Oh, you’re an artist. Paint me a sign.’” After much frustration and a couple of stints in commercial sign shops, it turns out he was pretty good at it. But when technology transformed the sign industry –think digital – he stuck with his chosen artwork, grabbing a brush and a can of paint.
“I was painting one of the numerous windows I did over the years for Edmonds’ Pancake Haus when a local graphic artist saw it, and felt I was a perfect t for Matt Vaughan of Easy Street Records in West Seattle.” So Vaughan met Benek for lunch at Pancake Haus, a meal that led to many sho’ cards (hand-lettered advertising signs for store windows, tempera on card stock) for Easy Street.
“J ohn Bennett from Luna Park Cafe saw my work, which led to many years of sign work for his business and further references to other south end businesses looking for retro sign work. Quick, hand-drawn sketches are an integral part of these jobs which, at almost 80 years I still do. Happily, I have befriended several young sign artists who are interested in preserving the craft of hand lettering.”
By Maria A. Montalvo
Just like everything else these days, much of the personal fitness industry lives online. Wellknown fitness celebrities are online influencers or fitness app personalities. Many fitness buffs have a favorite trainer on Peloton or iFIT. Believe it or not, one-on-one, face-to-face personal training with a real-live person is still a thing, and to many, it is the most rewarding way to sustain a fitness journey. While an app can tell you what exercises to do, working with a trainer offers a tailored approach, professional knowledge, and accountability. Imitating someone doing a pushup is not the same as being taught how to execute one correctly. Most Americans have started and given up on workout regimes. The injuries. The pendulum swings. The mistakes along the way. We can also get frustrated when workouts no longer translate to changes on the scale (reaching the dreaded plateau). Or after a couple of weeks going to the gym, we realize we do not know what to do beyond running on the treadmill or lifting a few weights.
Here in south Snohomish County, personal trainers
are helping your friends, neighbors, and family members walk with that li le extra bit of confidence or spring in their step. The Beacon interviewed five local trainers to learn more about the art and science of personal training.
The beautiful Pacific Northwest as motivation
Before ge ing into the nuts and bolts, we asked local trainers about using our community as inspiration. After all, our slice of the world offers such a wealth of rewarding outdoor spaces we can benefit from when we incorporate wellness into our daily lives.
Breezy Olson of Summit Fitness in Lynnwood said our beautiful environment is one of the things that keeps her exercising. “I love the outdoors and nature. My family and my pup and I utilize all the parks, beaches, nature trails, and hikes that we can. I tell my clients I’d much rather they do their cardio outside instead of inside on a treadmill.”
Similarly, Tina Bagoshvili from Harbor Square Athletic Club in Edmonds, shared: “The Pacific Northwest offers many incredible hiking trails to explore. My workouts in the gym prepare me for hiking season. The
stronger I am, the more adventurous and challenging hikes I can take on.” She takes clients hiking to empower and motivate them. ”Climbing to the top of a mountain is tough,” she said, “but reaching the top is beyond rewarding, especially when you get to do it with your community.”
Rick Buyce is a trainer with the City of Edmonds at Frances Anderson Center.
“I like to be in the outdoors hiking and doing photography. I am not in the shape I was in my 20s and 30s. Working as a personal trainer helped me recognize the benefits of it for me and for my clients.”
Kelvin Thomas, the founder of Studio 373 in Mukilteo, points to his local community and his love of gardening and woodworking as motivation for him as both a trainer and an active participant in his own wellness.
Inspiration also comes from our community, and Mukilteo, Edmonds, and Mill Creek are all community-minded places.
Bobby Sorensen, owner of The Movement Society Fitness and Performance
“Climbing to the top of a mountain is tough, but reaching the top is beyond rewarding, especially when you get to do it with your community.”
in Mill Creek, puts it best: “Participating in outdoor events like charity runs, school fairs, community festivals, or wellness workshops are great ways to connect with others. When I’m feeling strong and balanced, I’m more motivated to give back and create positive spaces for others to thrive in.”
Wellness at all ages
The trainers agree: There are myths and bad information out there about health and wellness. Personal trainers create fitness and workout plans tailored just to you – your goals, age, fitness level, and preferences. “There are basic things we can do at any age to be healthy,” Thomas said. “Exercise allows us to remain confident that we are physically able to do the things we love.”
Buyce works primarily with 55-plus clients and appreciates the big impact training can have, and it is “a great group to work with, commi ed to ge ing work done. I also like to talk to people about their stories.” Buyce happily told the story of a client in her 70s who gained strength and more confidence.
“She was an avid walker, but did not do any strength training, and came in for regular sessions to get stronger. She now knows her way around a gym. We tweak her workouts once a month.”
Similarly, Thomas has clients aged from 30 to 89. His Fit Over 50 class helps people maintain strength, balance, and vitality. One client wants to stay fit to continue training German shepherds, while others wanted help overcoming a diagnosis like Parkinson’s. “People may think it is too late for them, but it’s not.”
little inspiration
The trainers interviewed for this article had more than one inspiring story about clients who had exceeded their trainer’s expectations and their own.
Sorensen recalled clients who once struggled with chronic back pain, barely able to lift weights, now confidently deadlifting 135 pounds. Sorensen and Thomas both pointed to the disbelief and pride their clients feel when they achieve their first strict pull-up, a milestone they thought was out of reach.
Bagoshvili worked with a client for more than a year who was recovering from major surgery. Her first goal was simply to move be er, but as she gained strength, her goals progressed. “She has told me that she has never felt healthier in her life, even when she was a college athlete. You would never guess how much she has been through and overcome. She is an inspiration to me in so many ways.”
As inspiring as any of his clients is Thomas’s own story. He came to personal training after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. “In my recovery, I went to the gym and started to get energy, despite the radiation treatment. I had a passion for helping people understand fitness.”
All of the trainers interviewed agreed that it was important to find a trainer with experience or certifications, but most important is ge ing a personal recommendation. Here are some tips from Bobby Sorensen, owner of The Movement Society Fitness and Performance in Mill Creek. Consider:
1
ASSESS YOUR GOALS
Before you even start looking for a trainer, clarify what you’re trying to achieve. Are you focusing on strength, weight loss, flexibility, injury recovery? A trainer who specializes in the specific area you’re targeting will be more helpful than one with a general approach.
2
ASK FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
Friends/family: Personal referrals can be invaluable. If someone you trust has had a great experience with a trainer, it’s a good sign.
Doctor: If you have specific health concerns (e.g., chronic pain, cardiovascular issues, etc.), it’s a good idea to ask your doctor if they have insights on trainers with experience working with clients who have medical conditions or limitations.
Online: Look for reviews on websites, social media, or even the gym’s website. Some trainers will also provide references from past or current clients.
3 RESEARCH CREDENTIALS AND CERTIFICATIONS
It’s important that any personal trainer you consider has experience and training, and is commi ed to continuing education. Also look for certification by a reputable organization, like: ACE (American Council on Exercise), NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association), NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine), or ISSA
4 EVALUATE EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE
Consider whether the trainer has experience working with clients who have similar goals, body types, or any health conditions you may have. If you’re training for something specific (e.g., a marathon or competition), look for someone with experience in that area.
5 CONSIDER PERSONALITY AND COMMUNICATION STYLE
A great trainer should be motivating, communicative, and able to adjust their approach based on your personality. Some people prefer a drill-sergeant style, while others thrive with a more laid-back, encouraging trainer. You should feel comfortable with your trainer and feel like they understand and support your goals.
6 TRY A STRATEGY SESSION (OR CONSULTATION)
Many trainers offer free consultations or a first session at a discounted rate. Take advantage of this to get a feel for their training style and see if it aligns with your preferences. It’s a great opportunity to ask more questions and gauge how comfortable you feel working with them.
7 LOCATION AND SCHEDULING
Consider practical factors such as their location relative to you, or if they offer virtual sessions. Are their hours flexible and aligned with your schedule? How much do they charge per session, and does that fit your budget?
8 DECIDE WHETHER TO WORK OUT ON YOUR OWN FIRST
If you’re completely new to exercise, it might be helpful to work with a trainer right from the start, as they can teach you proper form and avoid injury. If you already have some experience, you might want to try working out on your own for a while to see where you need guidance before hiring a trainer. Some people prefer a coach from day one, while others find that they can build a foundation before seeking professional help.
Having a personal trainer is most successful when it is, well, personal. It can be a long-term journey or a follow-up from recovery or a jumping-off point into a healthy fitness routine. In the words of Bagoshvili, “Personal training is truly personalized to each person and should be used in a way that serves each person best.”
Sorensen believes that “fitness is often seen as an individual pursuit, but it’s so much more powerful when we support each other.” From celebrating wins to ge ing through tough times, a trainer can be a partner. “It’s about creating a space where people feel seen, supported, and motivated to push beyond their limits – together,” he said.
Often the hardest part about maintaining a commitment to exercise and a healthy lifestyle is motivation. “There are so many obstacles in life that keep us from achieving our health and fitness goals,” Olson said. “If I get to know a person and know what’s going on in their life, it makes it easier to work through those obstacles and help them be successful.”
Incorporating a healthy lifestyle into our daily habits supports myriad personal benefits, from improved physical and mental health, more energy, and a more positive relationship to fitness. Motivation looks different for everyone, so choose a path for your fitness journey and hopefully that will make all the difference.
“People can get motivated for a class reunion or wedding,” Thomas said. “But it is important to set long-term goals, like building strength or maintaining independence.” He recommends you train with someone else, like a spouse, partner, or friend, to be even more motivating than the trainer alone.
Make it your own experience
F
inding a trainer who can motivate you is important because habits stick.
“When I see a former client who has taken the knowledge and tools they learned with personal training and maintain their success, that makes me love my job,” Olson said. “Personal training may seem like a significant financial commitment, but our trainers suggested asking to establish a cadence or plan that work for your budget.” Also, look around. Group classes, like those at Frances Anderson Center, can be as low as $5.
“
People can get motivated for a class reunion or wedding. But it is important to set longterm goals, like building strength or maintaining independence."
The road to wellness is not a straight line, and perhaps that is one of the best reasons to consider working with a personal trainer. As Sorensen said, “There are those moments where life gets in the way, motivation wanes, or injuries crop up. That’s when having a fitness coach or trainer can be a game-changer.”
To reach any of the personal trainers mentioned in this article:
• Breez y Olson at Summit Fitness, Lynnwood: summitfitnesspersonaltraining.com, summitfitness.breezy@gmail.com
• The Movement Society, Mill Creek: mvmntsociety.co, info@mvmntsociety.co, 425-225-4200
• Rick Buyce, Frances Anderson Center, Edmonds: reczone.org
• Kelvin Thomas, Studio 373, Mukilteo: 425923-0346
• Tina Bagoshvili, Edmonds: harborsquare.com, info@tinatoneup.com
Local libraries are not what you might remember them to be
By Brian Soergel
In 1999, sociologist Ray Oldenberg wrote about a “third place,” a term he created to describe a gathering place separate from the home and workplace. That now describes your local library. We’ll get to that in a bit. Libraries still stock books, of course. But smart libraries know change is needed to meet a world where digital everything is the dominant form of information and entertainment consumption. Artificial intelligence has only accelerated that consumption, while providing a two-way dialogue to learn and create.
Demand for e-books has exploded. They can be accessed through Libby, a mobile app, which uses a user’s library card number to connect to a library account. The app serves as an e-book reader.
One way libraries help meet consumer expectations is through metrics – in other words, becoming smarter in measuring and identifying what people are interested in. “The online world helps us with that a lot,” Sno-Isle Libraries Executive
Director Eric Howard said. Sno-Isle has 23 libraries in Snohomish and Island counties, including in
Mukilteo, Edmonds, and Mill Creek. For example, demand for e-books has exploded. They can be accessed through Libby, a mobile app, which uses a user’s library card number to connect to a library account. The app serves as an e-book reader.
“Using metrics allows us to track preferences on a different level than before,” Howard said.
“Public libraries have always claimed they’re for the public. But it hasn’t always been done well; that’s something that’s always at the forefront of our minds. How do we welcome everyone in and make this a space for you and everybody in the community?”
Back to the third-place idea. Having noted the
“Public libraries have always claimed they’re for the public. But it hasn’t always been done well.”
Above: Edmonds
Library added an expansive meeting room as part of its renovation after a devastating flood forced a rebuild.
Clockwise from top: The Edmonds Library’s children’s area features low chairs and tables and a structure to kids to play in. Middle: Computers are plentiful at the new Mill Creek Library. Right: Readers can dig into a book near a fireplace at the Mukilteo Library.
Sno-Isle has 23 libraries in Snohomish and Island counties, including in Mukilteo, Edmonds, and Mill Creek.
importance of digital offerings – including streaming movies through Kanopy and Hoopla – libraries realize they must do more than offer everything digital. After all, what good is a library’s physical space when downloads and consumption can be ordered from your phone, tablet, or computer from the comfort of your home?
“
We like to take the space of being kind of information specialists. We’ve told staff to use it. That’s the best way to know what’s working and what’s not working, so we can take that space of being the experts on how to handle this new technology and better understand it."
Howard said what is echoed nationwide is the need for public space. When the Edmonds Library saw the opportunity for a reimaged space after a devastating water leak three years ago, it jazzed up the children’s area, added meeting areas, and reduced the size of bookshelves to offer pleasing views of Puget Sound. In Mukilteo, Edmonds, and Mill Creek – the la er also recently remodeled – the call has been for three types of meeting rooms: study rooms, conference rooms, and program rooms that bring the community together for presentations and musical performances. Yes, music. With all this community going on – including in the children’s area – it can get a bit louder in your local library these days.
And AI? How does that help the third-place concept? “We like to take the space of being kind of information specialists,” Howard said. “We’ve told staff to use it. That’s the best way to know what’s working and what’s not working, so we can take that space of being the experts on how to handle this new technology and be er understand it. It’s still too early for us to really say how we are going to be playing in that space. But it’s safe to say we are going to become more and more of the experts in the community to help our businesses utilize it be er, to help our patrons make sense of it be er in whatever area that they apply to in their lives.”
Two counties strong
Sno-Isle Libraries’ 2024 Community Report backs up the public’s desire for digital offerings. It saw 3.36 million physical items checked out from its 23 libraries; that number was 5.24 million for digital items.
More numbers from last year: 9.4 million website visitors; 1.69 million Wi-Fi connections; 313.5K public computer sessions; 4,120 laptop and Wi-Fi hotspot checkouts; 20,007 visits to the Bookmobile; and 1.1 million printing jobs. And 149,265 people a ended 5,867 in-person and online library events.
The libraries are overwhelmingly supported by property taxes, to the tune of 87.3%. Grants account for 9.5%, with donations, board-approved bonds, and other avenues contributing 3.2%. The report notes that Sno-Isle had $80.6 million in expenditures and $77.8 million in revenue.
So what’s popular at your local library? One offering that Howard particularly wants parents and guardians to know about is Brainfuse, which offers free one-on-one tutoring. “I love to make more parents aware of it,” he said. “It’s phenomenal.”
Here’s more information on how you can take advantage of your library.
People love the Mukilteo Library. It has the third-highest number of visitors among SnoIsle’s 23 libraries.
“Every table and seat can be filled on weekday afternoons,” Mukilteo Library Manager Jane Crawford said, “with many students from the nearby middle and high schools using the welcoming spaces to gather after school. Families, tutors, teachers, people working remotely, and many more utilize the library.”
It can be even busier on Sundays and Mondays, when City of Evere libraries are closed. There are times when every public computer and in-libraryuse laptop are in use.
Like many libraries in the Sno-Isle system, taking advantage of computers and printing capabilities is among their most popular services. There is a $7 weekly printing credit for library customers; Chromebooks, laptops, and Wi-Fi hotspots to take home; and free 24/7 Wi-Fi inside the library and in the parking lot.
Reservable rooms are another popular feature, Crawford said. Many Sno-Isle Libraries have multiple meeting room spaces. At Mukilteo Library, you can reserve the study space or the meeting room with a capacity of up to 80 people.
Not all learning and discovery takes place inside the library. Those with a library card can borrow a Discover Pass from Sno-Isle Libraries and visit Washington’s state parks or wildlife areas. Crawford said the passes are extremely popular. They can be checked out at the customer service desk or placed on hold through the library catalog. Passes can be checked out for two weeks and can be renewed if there are no holds.
In addition, Crawford pointed to programs that highlight the variety of interactive programs at Sno-Isle Libraries. A local environmental group, Sound Salmon Solutions, recently partnered with the Mukilteo Library and Mukilteo School District for a hands-on conservation project to restore coho salmon populations in Big Gulch Creek. The creek runs adjacent to the Mukilteo Library, which also features a wildlife habitat educational garden. Sound Salmon used the library grounds and garden as an outdoor classroom to teach local elementary students about the salmon’s life cycle while identifying native plants and understanding the importance of healthy ecosystems.
“The highlight came when students, teachers, and community members gathered at the creek to release the salmon fry (young salmon that can feed on their own), celebrating their contribution to local wildlife preservation and fostering a deeper connection to their environment,” Crawford said. At the children’s library program Salmon Tales in February, 52 people heard salmon stories, did salmon yoga, and created salmon art. The program repeats in July.
The Edmonds Library’s remodeled space has proved to be a hit with residents. Erin Peterson, Edmonds Library assistant manager, said 9,500 new cards were issued to customers in 2024, and the library’s busiest days are Tuesdays and Saturdays.
“With our newly remodeled space and large meeting room, the Edmonds Library is a popular community meeting and co-working space. Our various nooks with comfy chairs and tables equipped with device chargers are popular with both students and people looking for a remote work destination. Our free, bookable public meeting room and study room are available to library cardholders and can be booked on our website.”
Children’s services are also popular in Edmonds. There are books, of course, but also a play structure for climbing and soft, kid-level seating. Kids and their caregivers are regular customers. Storytime sessions can be packed – they include baby, preschool, and toddler versions.
Like Mukilteo, Edmonds’ copy machines and business center with computers and free Wi-Fi are wellused. “Since Edmonds is a Creative District, there are many artists in town,” Peterson said. “Library staff had fun helping a local artist use our copy machine to create a scan of their oversized artwork so they could submit it to an art show.”
The Mill Creek Library recently underwent a repair project and focused on reopening with more space to be more of a third place in the Mill Creek community. “In the bright and open flex space, children’s programming continues to bring our community into the library, and we can also host more adult and teen programs,” librarian Christa Werle said. “Intergenerational art and writing programs balance financial literacy and free legal services for adults. Drop-in chess and teen lounge time are growing in popularity, and our amazing Friends of the Mill Creek Library support all these programs.”
The community uses the library for tutoring, group homework on evenings and weekends, occupational therapy sessions for babies and young children, supervised custody visits, and more, along with more seating, more tables, and more charging stations. “Sensory kits, available in this space, provide items designed and curated with children on the autism spectrum or youth with sensory processing difficulties in mind. These kits have been inclusive and beneficial for everyone.”
The Mill Creek Library processes many holds for online books and physical books. “Our local collection is curated based on our community’s interest, but Sno-Isle has a floating collection, so our community can find what they need. Our print and copy services are well used, and multiple library staff members are on hand to help with library equipment and software.”
Werle offered a few customer stories:
• “An international doctorate student wrote his dissertation and printed the many copies necessary in the Mill Creek Library and named our staff in the acknowledgement.”
• “We are seeing an increase in people using the public computers for job applications and skills retraining. Recently, a library staff member ran into a customer at Lowe’s, where the customer had go en the job that our staff member helped them use library resources to get.”
• “A couple visited the librar y as a family to thank us for helping them use the computers, equipment, and government websites to get the necessary visas so they could be together again.”
Mill Creek library page Arica shared a “discovery” story that brought her and a customer joy:
“One day, a patron hesitantly asked me if we had any books about music, as she was unsure if that was something we had. I took her to the adult nonfiction section and showed her what we had. She then exclaimed: ‘Wait, you guys have sheet music? Wow, that’s really cool!’ She then chose some books of sheet music to check out.
“As someone who comes from a musical background, I was pleasantly surprised as well when I first started working as a page to see that Sno-Isle Libraries has some sheet music. It’s not an item people typically think of libraries carrying, but it can be an incredibly valuable resource for music teachers, students, and amateur and professional musicians.”
By Lauren Salcedo
The quarantine days of 2020 brought many challenges, but one bright spot was the rise of the “pandemic puppy” phenomenon. People around the world adopted dogs after finding themselves working from home.
Now, five years later, many companies that once allowed employees to work from home are ordering them to return to work in-person. So what do people do with their pandemic puppies?
Many consider enrolling their pets into so-called doggy day cares, facilities aimed at caring for and engaging dogs in socialization activities on a daily basis while their owners are free to work throughout the day. The dog-care industry has been around for several decades and, despite a period of uncertainty during peak COVID months, is now back in full swing and seeing an increase in clients as a result of fewer work-from-home employment opportunities.
This established business in Edmonds has more than 10,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space next to the Edmonds Marsh. “While it’s important to understand that not all dogs are ideal candidates for day care, you can be sure we will do what we can to find the best fit for your furry family member,” say owners Wade and Jessica Anderson.
It has five groomers on staff. Pricing varies, from $41.50 for up to five hours and $51.50 for five to 11 hours. It also offers behavioral assessments, nail trims, the Bordetella vaccine for kennel cough, and anal gland expression.
At this Mukilteo location, dogs have a 16,000-square-foot space – with five yards – where they can run, walk, or just sit around. Puppies? There’s a Puppy Preschool for the li le ones (or biggish young pups) between the ages of 12 and 36 weeks.
Camp Canine is not a place where you just drop off your dog,” said general manager Brenda Pedroza. “We take the time to give individual a ention, create play groups based on your pet’s preference of friends, create a strong family dynamic and practice some of the best cleaning protocols in the industry.”
Camp Canine is $43 for a half day, $53 for a full day.
Becky Buchanan, owner of the Bothell location, has been in the dog-care industry since the early 1990s when she was a dog walker in Sea le. She bought the property shortly thereafter. She initially focused on dog boarding, but also offered day-care services, and has since leaned into the day-care side of her business even more since the pandemic.
“People stopped traveling as COVID kicked off, so boarding changed and we actually closed for a couple months,” she said. “But after that, we started to offer day-care services to the essential workers, nurses, really anyone that needed us.” Since then, their services have gained in popularity. They have a waiting list.
The typical day for dogs at Camp Happy Paws involves canine clients exploring the camp’s 5 acres.
“Camp Happy Paws is in the woods. We have open grassy
fields, trails that are wooded, fallen logs, playgrounds built out of wood,” said Buchanan. “We might blow bubbles or have sprinklers. We have acres of trails, fields to play in and they just play, romp, wrestle. It’s an outdoor nature camp for dogs.”
Camp Happy Paws is $40 a day.
D oggy day care has been a great solution for full-time government employees Isabella and Sam Montalvo, Bothell residents and parents to Sadie, a 3-year-old chow chow-miniature pinscher mix, and Molly, a 2-yearold Australian shepherd.
“We teleworked when we first got Sadie. Sam was at home and I would go to work about once a week,” said Isabella Montalvo quoted for this article. Over the past few years, they had to increase their time in the office, and as of March both are back to working full-time in-person.
“It was first a li le scary, because we love our dogs, and their routine is our number one priority – especially having an Aussie,” said Montalvo, who also mentioned that they moved from an apartment to a home with acreage in Snohomish to accommodate their dogs’ needs.
After considering other dog-care options, such as hiring a dog walker through Rover (a website specializing in dog walkers), the Montalvos decided on Camp Happy Paws for Sadie and Molly. “We have been going to camp for almost two years, and I want to say how much we love it. Our dog Molly was rehomed, so when I was considering taking her into our household, the first person beside my partner and my parents to encourage me was Becky.”
Sadie and Molly have different personalities – Sadie is low energy and people-oriented, while Molly is described as a “wild child” with lots of herding-dog energy. Both find success at Camp Happy Paws, which they a end four days a week. “I think a lot of folks are considering what to do with their COVID dog,” Montalvo said. “We tell all our co-workers about camp and share photos. It’s definitely given us a lot of peace of mind. We love camp.”
Montalvo also mentioned that not only do the dogs get a chance for exercise and socialization, but they are also supported in their training goals. It’s like a child-care team. We all need to be on the same page, with the same standards,” she said. She described a time when Camp staff struggled with Molly’s recall. But not for long. “Now her recall is impeccable.”
Some folks have been fans of Camp Happy Paws a long time. Leslie Dale, a Bothell resident, first learned about it 25 years ago when searching for somewhere to take care of her black lab, Maggie. “Back then, it was like, ‘Oh my gosh this is the coolest thing!’” she said, noting that doggy day care was a fairly new
“We might blow bubbles or have sprinklers. We have acres of trails, fields to play in, and they just play, romp, wrestle. It’s an outdoor nature camp for dogs."
concept in those days, and it seemed to be a perfect fit for her family. “I was a young mom. I had a brand new baby and toddler and an older child, and that originally drew me.”
Now, Dale works fulltime in sales and has a chocolate lab named Bruin, a dog with lots of energy. When thinking about what to do with Bruin during the work day, she immediately thought of Camp Happy Paws. “I knew it was a great place and had a puppy that would be a great fit. But it had changed; it had evolved into something bigger and be er. It is just a great thing for dogs. I never looked at another day care.”
A constant is its sign. “It reminds me of when you’re sending your kid to camp. Driving across the threshold, it says ‘Camp Happy Paws,’” Dale said. “The first time I went back 25 years later, there was that big
wood sign. I saw the li le wood house that’s the office, and it all kind of came rushing back.”
Now Bruin a ends camp three days a week, though she is currently a ending daily while Leslie recovers from surgery to repair a foot injury, ironically caused by walking Bruin. “She is so young she needs to be run every day, and I can’t walk. I couldn’t even drive her,” Dale said. She spoke with Buchanan, and they came up with an arrangement where Dale’s son can drop Bruin at camp and one of the workers can drop her back off at home.
“It has been a huge blessing. It would be a nightmare if I didn’t have that. It’s a godsend, really. You know that saying, ‘It takes a village,’ and it really does. Bruin has been going there since she was so young, and she knows them so well – they are her second family. I’m really, really grateful.”
“It has been a huge blessing. It would be a nightmare if I didn’t have that. It’s a godsend, really. You know that saying, ‘It takes a village,’ and it really does."
By Paul Archipley
“Mike, if you don’t quit working here, I’m gonna have to shoot you.”
Mike Daffron had faced his share of hurdles over the years when dealing with City officials about his building projects. But former Mukilteo Police Chief Roger Stam’s “threat” was a first. Stam was a no-nonsense cop whose approach to law enforcement was, shall we say, unorthodox. His reputation included a story, perhaps apocryphal, about him dealing with a pair of scofflaw teenagers when a call came in about some other crime that was more important. Stam allegedly handcuffed the teens together around a telephone pole and told them to stay put while he took off.
A sequoia Da ron planted in a tiny greenbelt between the Mukilteo Speedway and Lincoln Avenue towers above the lighthouse in the distance. When he planted it in the 1980s, he told City o cials it was a bush. This tree is now the centerpiece for the City of Mukilteo's annual tree lighting of its Merry Mukilteo Event.
Of course, Stam was kidding about shooting Daffron. Maybe. Daffron recalled another, perhaps mythical story about Stam ge ing annoyed with a ferry lane motorist who repeatedly cut the line, even after Stam ordered him out of it several times. Finally, Stam walked up and yanked him out of the car through the driver’s side window.
But Stam and Daffron knew and respected each other. A more delicate approach was called for. City officials had all-but given up trying to bully Daffron into stopping work on his project. They refused to approve a needed permit.
Already well known in the community for the unique and beautiful homes he had built for more than a decade, Daffron had branched into his first commercial project. He was converting a house on
Mike Da ron ‘marched to his own drummer’
Asequoia Daffron planted in a tiny greenbelt between the Mukilteo Speedway and Lincoln Avenue towers above the lighthouse in the distance. When he planted it in the 1980s, he told City officials it was a bush.
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Helping demonstrate the girth of the sequoia that serves as the City of Mukilteo’s o cial holiday tree, three of the photographer’s grandkids wrap around the trunk, which has a circumference of 21 feet at its base. Pictured are, from left, JP, 9, Mason, 5, and Lily, 2. When he planted it, Da ron told City o cials it was a bush.
the southwest corner of Lincoln Avenue and Fourth Street into a restaurant. Today it’s home to Sound Pizza. A vacation rental sits up top.
The standoff between Daffron and City officials was about parking. Although there was plenty of street parking, they said he didn’t have enough onsite parking.
Directly across the street was the old Rosehill School, home to City Hall and the library. Because it was a public facility, City officials said they didn’t have to abide by the same parking requirements as a commercial operation.
Problem was, Rosehill also housed several private businesses, including a day care, dance studio, counseling
“He was always so generous. He said, ‘I want you to have a real cafe.’ He believed in us before we totally believed in ourselves."
Da ron gave Mukilteo’s Old Town a village feel when he built Lincoln Courtyard, just up the hill from the Lighthouse. The grey house on the left was the first building in the project. At one time it was the Mukilteo School District superintendent’s home. Today it houses Sound Pizza with an apartment upstairs. Keeping to his philosophy to preserve trees as much as possible, he worked around the giant cedars and firs that tower over the mixed-use development.
services, and others. Daffron argued that wasn’t fair. So the City kept threatening and Daffron kept working.
That’s when they decided to sic Stam on him. Daffron basically told Stam to take his best shot. The chief backed down. Ninety minutes later, City officials conceded defeat, and Daffron got his permit.
Visitors to Mukilteo’s waterfront neighborhood now enjoy the village feel that Daffron created in the area around that first project, the Lincoln Courtyard.
Winding pathways and lush landscaping complement the mixed-use buildings, which feature apartments above shops, services and restaurants. As with all his projects, Daffron believed in minimal alteration of the existing landscape, and would leave towering evergreens in place whenever possible. He’d rather build around a tree than remove it.
He would expand the original Lincoln Courtyard across Fourth Street, again redeveloping, incorporating, and blending existing homes or buildings with new structures that retained that comfortable, village feel.
The old Rosehill School has since been replaced by the modernistic Rosehill Community Center, which Daffron doesn’t much like. But his influence and impact around the center remain. Besides the mixed use developments, he provided needed landscaping on public property at his expense.
For instance, some of the Kwanzan cherry trees he planted along Lincoln Avenue still stand. The City later added more along 3rd Street. Daffron also thought the scraggly, Charlie Brown-like tree in the tiny greenbelt at Lincoln and 3rd that the city used as its official Christmas tree was an embarrassment. He snookered city officials when he convinced them to let him replace it with three bushes.
In truth, they were sequoias. Two of the three survived. One was transplanted to 92nd Street Park, where it thrives; the other towers about a 100 feet and serves as the city’s official Christmas tree now.
The road less traveled
D
affron didn’t seem destined to become a builder. Following college at Western Washington University in Bellingham, he became an art teacher at an Edmonds School District middle school. But his family history hinted at a different path.
His grandfather, Frank Hargraves, was a developer in early Mukilteo, building and pla ing lots in areas that would become among the town’s most prized neighborhoods. “Olympus Terrace was his project,” Daffron said. “Bluff lots went for $3,000 apiece.”
His mother, Francis, also interested in architecture, designed the family home on 92nd at 53rd Street, and his father and grandfather built it.
Even as he embarked on a teaching career, Daffron had an itch to build. “I always wanted to build my own house,” he said. At that point, he wasn’t thinking about changing careers. He just wanted to scratch that itch.
So, in 1972, he built a home in the woods on 52nd Avenue West. It featured an architectural style that would become Daffron trademarks, such as cedar shingle siding, to be er blend in with the surrounding forest, small windows on sides facing streets, and big windows on sides facing forest.
A devotee of minimal development footprints, he thought stripping acres of forest and then throwing up the mini-mansion tracts that other developers were building was wrong-headed. Daffron’s houses are small, ranging from 800 to 1,500 square feet, typically two bedrooms and two baths, with only a one-car garage.
Typically modest, Daffron said, “There’s so many things I’d change today. Most of the houses I built were basically a box with a couple of hangouts to build some interest. But it was nice when people appreciated what I was doing. I don’t understand clearing a lot, cu ing down the trees, then building a house and replanting new trees. You should leave it as natural as you can.”
When Larry’s Pharmacy shut down in the 1990s, Da ron remodeled the existing building and added an adjacent one. The old pharmacy now houses the Cabernets & IPAs restaurant, left, while the new building on the right includes businesses downstairs and an upstairs apartment with possibly the best view in all of Mukilteo.
When he finished his house, he talked an editor at the Sea le Times into featuring it as Home of the Month in the Real Estate section. It was scheduled for January. The night before the open house, it snowed, and Daffron figured no one would show up.
But show up they did. Lots of them, including a couple from Bellingham who bought the architectural plans and replicated it there.
Daffron lived in that first house five years, selling it to a couple, who live there still, for about $45,000.
That first effort made the itch worse, and Daffron retired from teaching. “I figured I’d be locked in for life if I stayed any longer.”
Along with new homes — he would build nearly 60, one at a time, over three decades –– Daffron developed a 3-and-1 lifestyle plan. He would work three years, then he and his late wife Leah would travel for a year. “That didn’t work out,” he lamented.
For many years, Daffron worked with a sidekick, Mike Krajack, who rode up on his Harley one day hoping Daffron would give him a job. Krajack had zero experience, saying he wanted to learn the craft so he could build his own house. Daffron sent him away, but Krajack persisted, and on his third try, Daffron gave in.
“It took about a week, and he was be er than me at everything,” Daffron said, laughing. “He was fast, he had good ideas, and – as a bonus – he was a good storyteller.”
Although retired, Daffron’s architectural vision and development philosophy live on.
Elizabeth Erickson, Daffron’s wife and a well-known real estate agent in Snohomish County, said agents still market him when one of his houses goes back on the market, telling prospective buyers, “This is a Daffron house.”
Besides establishing a recognizable style, Daffron became known for his generosity. As he was building the Lincoln Courtyard, he approached Gary and Beth Smith, who were operating a fledgling coffee operation at the back of the old Cheers
Two restaurant by the waterfront.
“He was always so generous,” Beth Smith said. “He said, ‘I want you to have a real cafe.’ He believed in us before we totally believed in ourselves.”
With Daffron’s encouragement and support, they opened the Mukilteo Coffee Cafe in 1990, which became the Old Town’s go-to gathering spot. On weekends, as many as 25 people would line up to order. The Mukilteo Coffee Roasters would go on to become a global coffee company, known for working with a family of farmers in several countries who share the Smiths’ goal of producing delicious, sustainably grown coffee.
Smith said Daffron became a treasured “sounding board” for her and her late husband Gary, and it began with him convincing them to open that cafe. “We really felt like he built that for us,” she said. It was Gary, a much-loved character and friend to everyone he met, who got tired of two Mikes – Daffron and Krajack – both responding every time he called their name while working on his future cafe. So he dubbed them Happy Mike (Daffron) and Hippie Mike (Krajack).
Years later, after the Smiths expanded and moved their coffee business to Whidbey Island, Daffron would stop in occasionally for a cuppa joe and visit. One day, the Smiths were gone and a new barista was behind the counter.
“So I ordered a cup of coffee, and when he rang it up I told him Gary always comped it for me,” Daffron said. “He said, ‘I can’t do that.’ I told him, ‘But I’m Happy.’ He said, ‘I don’t care how happy you are, you still have to pay.”
Hard-nosed and helpful
Brian Sullivan, former Mukilteo mayor, state legislator and current Snohomish County treasurer, also enjoyed those early days at the courtyard. Following a handful of previous restaurant owners in that first building conversion, Sullivan opened Riley’s Pizza, which became a popular meeting place for the civically- and politically-inclined. But some Old Towners resisted the changes Daffron brought. Riley recalled Daffron deciding an old yellow house on the property couldn’t be saved, so he prepared to tear it down to make way for the future Mukilteo Coffee Cafe.
The house’s tenant was unhappy he’d have to move out. “He drew a circle on the wall in his living room,” Sullivan said. “Then another inside it. Then another. And another. Then he pulled out a .357 Magnum and started shooting.” As they demolished the house, the two Mikes pulled a number of bullets out of the wall. A few reportedly hit a house across the Speedway.
Later, Sullivan would buy a pair of buildings at the courtyard as Daffron began divesting his holdings. “He was a hard-nosed landlord,” Sullivan recalled. “But loyal to the businesses there.”
Longtime architect Fred Baxter is among those who appreciated Daffron’s philosophy and style. Although the Washington State University graduate launched his architectural firm in Sea le, Baxter had family roots in Mukilteo, including an aunt who taught at Rosehill School. When he and his wife Jennifer bought a home on the hill above Old Town, Baxter started looking for office space nearby.
It was kismet. Daffron had an open space at the Lincoln Courtyard, and Baxter moved in. “He was working on the courtyard at the time, and it was good exposure for me,” Baxter said. “I learned quite a bit from him. I had the architectural degree, but I learned from him.”
In typical Daffron fashion, he was generous with his time and expertise, helping Baxter build his business, including referring clients to him. Plus, Baxter noted, in the 10 years he rented his office in the Courtyard, Daffron never once raised his rent. Reminded of that point recently, Daffron laughed, “Tell Fred he owes me back pay.” Like others, Baxter appreciated Daffron’s minimalist style. “He marched to his own drummer,” he said. And he tried to incorporate Daffron’s vision in his own designs.
But not too much.
Whenever owners of a Daffron house wanted some remodel work done, he would refer them to Baxter. “They’d always say, ‘I love my Daffron house,’” Baxter said with a laugh. “Then they’d say, ’Can you add another garage?’ Or ‘Can you enlarge my kitchen?’”
When Daffron began building commercial projects, he needed investors. Old friends Gary Eveland and Tom Nielsen joined in, along with a few minor partners, and the END Group was born. Besides the Lincoln Courtyard, other notable projects the END Group developed includ-
ed the old Larry’s Pharmacy on the Northeast corner of Lincoln and Third Street.
The first house Da ron built, in 1972, reflects the look that would become his signature style –minimalist in size and footprint and blending into the surrounding woods with such features as cedar siding. He and his late wife, Leah, lived there for five years before selling it for $45,000 to a couple who still live there.
“He was a hard-nosed landlord. But loyal to the businesses there."
Daffron converted a bland brick-and-concrete storefront into a restaurant with a courtyard, adding an adjacent office that became an early home for The Beacon. Next to it he built another mixed-use building where Erickson operated her real estate office downstairs, and rented out a small apartment upstairs with the best view in town.
Daffron owned several other Old Town properties that he had planned to develop, but increasingly stringent zoning, stormwater regulations, and other rules made it near impossible to build the way he wanted. So he began selling off his remaining parcels.
Baxter, a perfectionist who appreciated Daffron’s philosophy but also more accepting of the hurdles, said these days there is no way around using up virtually the entire property footprint to meet code and make a profit. “I like to think of them as Daffron buildings on steroids. I just added another form to his formula.”
Both Daffron and Erickson have retired. They’re enjoying life in several homes they own, including on Whidbey Island; Victoria, British Columbia; and perhaps Daffron’s favorite, Lopez Island. In the ’70s, he bought several acres on the waterfront there and began building that getaway, a piece at a time. It’s there that the couple can relax and rejuvenate, away from the hustle and bustle. It also gives them the space to face Daffron’s newest challenge. The 81-year-old has Lewy body dementia, a neurodegenerative disease for which there is no cure.
People who know Daffron all describe him in similar ways: thoughtful, caring, compassionate and fair. He was known to bend over backward to help tenants who were struggling, even le ing some live in one of his houses or apartments rent-free for as long as necessary.
He didn’t, however, hesitate to stand up to those he considered unfair, greedy SOBs. A favorite story involved a condominium project going up next to undeveloped land he owned in central Mukilteo. Much to his chagrin,
developers had clear-cut their property before construction, felling grand, decades-old trees.
But they screwed up when they accidentally cut down a stand of trees on Daffron’s property. They were mainly alders – considered “weed trees” – but still, it was the principle of the thing. He went to the builder and pointed out their mistake. By law, illegally cu ing down trees resulted in triple damages to the property owner, so
Daffron told them, “You owe me $5,000 for the timber.” They blew him off, saying, ”We’ll see you in court.”
Daffron had a be er idea. When the project was finished, and the developer started advertising an open house, Daffron printed a stack of signs that stated, “High crime area, please be careful.” He wasn’t lying. There actually had been a recent uptick in crime, he said, generally low grade and non-violent, but still. So he may have exaggerated, just a bit. Stam probably would have approved.
Daffron posted the signs on his remaining trees. He said prospective buyers drove up, saw the warnings, and turned around. The builder fought back. “They’d come at night and take the signs down,” he said. “I’d put more up the next day, and they’d come back the next night and take them down.” Daffron got a ladder, and posted the signs 30 feet up in the trees, frustrating their countermeasures.
“A week later, they asked to meet,” he said. A Bellevue lawyer drove up in a fancy Porsche and told Daffron, “We’ll ruin you.”
“I told him to go for it, and walked away. A block later, the lawyer caught up and said, ‘The check’s in the mail.’ They paid me $5,000 for a bunch of alders.” An American novelist once said, ”Sometimes, the only way to get justice is to take it for yourself.” Daffron did, and Mukilteo is the be er for it.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE MANAGER:
‘When you’re young, no one tells you what’s normal’
By David Pan
Four years ago, Nav Dhaliwal’s life changed as she worked in home health care, specializing in hospice and dementia care. One day, opportunity came knocking when Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County (DVS) realized her background could help her empathize with clients. Now Dhaliwal – the nonprofit’s lead transitional/rapid
rehousing case manager – helps domestic violence survivors find safe housing. She’s making a difference in the lives of families who often come to DVS during one of the worst times of their lives. It took a long time to be able to share a deeply personal story of surviving domestic violence. Today, she speaks freely about the history in her immediate family to show others they’re not alone.
“I was abused as a child. But the thing is, when you’re
young, no one tells you what’s normal. There’s no handbook for discerning love from harm, especially when you grow up surrounded by others who carry similar wounds, whose bruises are brushed o as discipline, whose tears are swallowed before they hit air.”
Before her career change, Dhaliwal remembers talking in passing with people and relating to what they were going through. “I felt like if I could share my story and aid survivors, they wouldn’t feel so alone. Unfor tunately, during my upbringing and my personal relationships, I didn’t know that resources were available, and I wonder how that would have changed my own history.”
Coming from an Asian family, Dhaliwal said she was taught to be gentle and pleasing. Stepping out of line wasn’t just defiance – it was shame, the kind that stains generations. When she left home as an adult, Dhaliwal carried the trauma of her childhood into her 20s.
“I entered rooms that felt familiar in their volatility, where the raised voices and withheld affections echoed everything I thought I’d outgrown. It took a moment of quiet despair. No big explosion, no rescue. Just stillness. Reflection. And the realization – I get to decide who has access to me.”
Dhaliwal started to choose peace over approval, silence over reaction. She stopped responding to apologies that morphed into blame. She let the phone ring. She let people go.
Healing wasn’t linear for Dhaliwal. She describes it as a spiral with each turn bringing up some new ache to soothe.
“But with each boundary I’ve set, I’ve come closer to myself. I understand now. The forgiveness I needed wasn’t theirs to give. It was mine to forgive myself for surviving the only way I knew how – to release the generational guilt I never consented to carry, and to rewrite the story so it ends with choice, with advocacy, with love that is safe. Today, I show up for myself. And I show up for others so that they too may feel held, safe, and powerful in this world.”
Dhaliwal’s clients may be fleeing a life-threatening situation at home. The abuse might not be physical, but just as damaging – emotional, verbal, or financial. Many domestic violence survivors are also concerned about their children’s well-being. Whatever their motivation for reaching out to DVS, Dhaliwal is there to help, to empathize, and to listen.
DVS is a private, nonprofit organization providing emergency shelter and comprehensive, confidential services to victims of domestic abuse in Snohomish County since 1976. The only program of its type in the county offers a support line, legal advocacy services, confidential shelter, housing, and support groups. The state and federal government fund DVS; its housing programs are run through the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Dhaliwal’s clients are either referred to her by the DVS community navigator or through the organization’s support line. They may be in imminent danger or still living with their abuser without a safe place to go.
When she meets with new clients, one of the first questions Dhaliwal asks is about their safety.
Some people may move to one of DVS’s four confidential transitional units; others remain in their current housing situation until Dhaliwal finds them other housing arrangements. The decision is based on the client’s needs.
Since Dhaliwal has talked to her colleagues about her clients before they meet, she already has an idea of their background and circumstances.
“Unless they’re more forthcoming, I find that it can be kind of repetitive and harmful to have them continue to repeat their trauma. So, we just try to come up with an action plan.”
To encourage her clients to start thinking, she asks them about what the
“But with each boundary I’ve set, I’ve come closer to myself. I understand now.
The forgiveness
I
needed wasn’t theirs to give. It was mine to forgive myself for surviving the only way I knew how – to release the generational guilt I never consented to carry, and to rewrite the story so it ends with choice, with advocacy, with love that is safe. Today, I show up for myself. And I show up for others so that they too may feel held, safe, and powerful in this world."
“There’s no handbook for discerning love from harm, especially when you grow up surrounded by others who carry similar wounds, whose bruises are brushed off as discipline, whose tears are swallowed before they hit air."
three most pressing issues they are facing in order to be housed.
M oving into a new place is a stressful time; Dhaliwal recognizes that her clients might need a day or two to decompress. “For many of them, this is probably the first time they’ve had peaceful sleep in years.”
Dhaliwal assists clients who may need help with the very basics of securing a new place to live. Some may not have leased before and need to learn about the rental
process. Others are taking the first tentative steps to independence and self-sufficiency. They may not have been allowed to work, drive a car, or spend their own money. They need assistance in budgeting and reconnecting with the community. Some clients are already employed but want to find a be er job. Depending on their needs, DVS offers employment assistance or refers clients to other agencies in the community.
After checking her email and appointments for the day, Dhaliwal might visit a client in one of DVS’s transitional units before heading into the office. She usually sees two or three clients a day out of the 14 cases she handles each month. “It’s a lot of touching base with landlords, checking in with clients, just making sure that everything is going smoothly, and more often than not, I find myself just having long conversations with my clients about their progress because often they’re so isolated that they don’t have anyone to sit down and speak with when they get some time.”
alleviates having those move-in costs, those expenses we don’t think about when we rent a new home.”
The DVS housing program lasts up to a year. Some clients’ employment improves, so they exit the program based on income limits. Other families stay for the full year. DVS provides another six months of case management after a year; even if it is not assisting with the financial rental subsidy, the organization provides clients with resources. “We understand that
Dhaliwal added that it’s important to allow clients to share their progress and their concerns; part of her job is to find resources to help them address those concerns. Having good problem-solving skills is essential, as many clients come in with high barriers to housing, such as employment issues, past-due rent, or evictions due to financial abuse. “We try to provide support to and advocate for clients. It’s a mixture of talking to the property manager and ensuring that clients have access to resources when they become resilient and self-sufficient.”
DVS’s transitional housing units are furnished with new dishes, toiletries, and other household items. Dhaliwal might drop by with an extra package of diapers during a visit. “If you had to leave all your belongings behind, you would come into a space that was prepared for you. Aside from our furniture, they get to take all of those things with them to their new home, which also
the transition to independent living can be difficult, and we want them to maintain housing stability,” Dhaliwal said.
Though DVS offers different services, housing is its main emphasis. “You need to get the clients out of dangerous situations. The concerning thing is that sometimes clients feel like they cannot afford to live on their own; they will keep themselves in these cycles and jeopardize their own safety, just for a stable home or stable shelter.”
It comes as no surprise that working with domestic violence survivors is a stressful occupation. Dhaliwal said that people might come in to the job with the best of intentions, but find they are not able to cope with the inevitable challenges. “It’s not for the weak. We tend to have a high turnover. It really is a high-needs job. You have to be able to compartmentalize – leave your work
and not take that home with you. And it can be difficult, especially when meeting people in crisis. You try to remain as calm as you can. But some of the cases are devastating. So, it’s hard to be compassionate, and then separate yourself, and it can be overwhelming for some people.”
DVS offers training and support for employees. Dhaliwal won’t hesitate to take an extended break if she’s feeling overwhelmed. It’s OK for her to ask if she can take a long lunch or have a co-worker step in and take a meeting with a client.
Dhaliwal has a Monday through Friday work schedule, but certain cases will push her workday into the evening or weekend. “There are so many variables that come up in a year, whether they’re in our transitional unit or their own apartment. When you’re coming in crisis, and something happens, and you don’t have control or the skills yet to address it, it will feel immediate, and you need that a ention. So, if I can provide it, I will.”
The first thing Dhaliwal typically does after arriving home is to pet her dog. She might prepare and eat some comfort food, read, or watch TV. She finds that having non-work conversations with friends also helps her unwind. Even after four years at DVS, she still has to remind herself not to bring her work into her home life. “There are some weeks where I need to reassess that – where I need to go back to my core components of separating that work.”
DVS’s training is helpful, but until someone has lived that experience and engaged with clients, they don’t know what is going to affect them. “Sometimes, it’ll blindside you.” But by becoming healthier emotionally and mentally, she said she is be er able to support her clients.
If there is one overriding principle with her job, it’s a singular focus on the client.
Unbiased compassion is an essential job skill, she said. “We all have our lived experiences and implicit bias for how things should go, our perceptions of scenarios. But they are not our lived experiences. They’re not our stories. It’s le ing the survivors share their stories, affording them the space to guide their journey.” And those journeys can have positive endings. Dhaliwal wouldn’t cite the details of specific cases due to confidentiality requirements. “I find every case rewarding.”
Her favorite part of the job is si ing down with a client at their last meeting and giving them their graduation paperwork. “They’ve completed the program, and that realization that hits them when they look back on their progress from day one to just how terrified they were when they were going through the day-to-day – they don’t notice that progress. Si ing back and recounting all of that is really satisfying. You can just see them light up because they don’t always notice it.”
CChamomile-Infused Jasmine Rice goes great with Feta Roasted Salmon and Tomatoes. With floral jasmine notes pairing nicely with earthy chamomile for an easy yet elegant feast that’s ready in just half an hour. With its mild flavor, salmon offers a pleasing starting point for those easing their way into incorporating more seafood into their diets.
Servings: 4
Salmon Recipe
Ingredients
•
• • 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano or dried dill weed
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
•
• • 1 cup (4 ounces) crumbled feta cheese
Directions
2. In medium bowl, toss tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, oregano or dill weed, salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
Ingredients
• 1 cup Jasmine Rice, uncooked
• 4 bags chamomile tea, divided
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
•
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Directions
1. Add 1 1/4 cups of water, rice and 3 tea bags into a saucepan. Bring surface to be rippling, the edges bubbling and white foam. rice paddle.
4. Transfer rice to large bowl.
5. Tear remaining tea bag; mix half with 2 tablespoons butter and melt in microwave to infuse butter.
6. Mix infused butter, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon chives, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; fold into rice and serve.
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AIRPORT
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ARTS / MUSEUM / THEATRE
Edmonds Driftwood Players
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Schack Art Center 2921 Hoyt Avenue Everett, WA 98201
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AUTO GLASS
John’s Auto Glass
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BANKING
1st Security Bank
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EDUCATION
Edmonds College
20000 68th Ave. W.
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Multiple Intellingences’ Academy
3616 South Road, Suite A1
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The Learning Connection
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HEALTHCARE
Sirius Healing
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HOME IMPROVEMENT
Extreme Steam Carpet Cleaning
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Northlight Custom Builders, LLC
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INSURANCE
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LANDSCAPING
Edmonds Garden Rescue Edmonds, WA 98020
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MED SPA
RD Med
631 5th Street, Suite 202 Mukilteo, WA 98275
425-879-3640
vagaro.com/rdmed
OPTICAL EYEWEAR
K’s Optical
23020 Edmonds Way, Suite 114 Edmonds, WA 98026
425-542-8400
ksoptical.net
ORTHODONTIST
Pellegrini Orthodontics 827 128th Street SW, Suite B Everett, WA 98204 425-374-8218 everettbraces.com
PUBLISHING
Barbara Kindness Communications Edmonds, WA edkbooksanddistribution.com
REAL ESTATE
Aranka Fruehauf
Windermere Real Estate North, Inc.
Mukilteo, WA 98275
425-478-7270
HomesByAranka.com
Coldwell Banker Bain 512 Bell Street
Edmonds, WA 98020
coldwellbankerhomes.com/ wa/edmonds/agents wa/mill-creek/agents
RESTAURANTS
Johnny Mo’s Pizzeria 558 Main Street, Suite 200 Edmonds, WA 98020 425-835-0911 johnnymos.com
Ristorante Machiavelli 316 Main Street Edmonds, WA 98020 425-774-0650 ristorantemachiavelli.com
RETAIL
Best Kept Secret
3616 South Road, Suite B-2 Mukilteo, WA 98275 425-822-6600 mukilteosamplestore.com
SENIOR LIVING
Chateau Bothell Landing 17543 102nd Avenue NE Bothell, WA 98011 425-485-1155
chateauretirement.com
Chateau Paci c 3333 148th Street SW Lynnwood, WA 98087 425-787-9693
chateauretirement.com
Chateau Valley Center 4450 Davis Avenue S Renton, WA 98055 425-251-6677
chateauretirement.com
Cogir Senior Living 10605 NE 185th Street Bothell, WA 98011 425-600-7457 21500 72nd Avenue W Edmonds, WA 98026 425-504-8342
14905 Bothell-Everett Hwy Mill Creek, WA 98012 425-361-0963
cogirseniorliving.com
Quail Park of Lynnwood 4015 164th Street SW Lynnwood, WA 98087 425-287-5742
quailparko ynnwood.com
Seniors Helping Seniors Shoreline, WA 98155 206-542-4743 snokingseniorcare.com
ABOUT THE COVER:
Children's books are always popular at the library, but they o er so much more than just books thes days.
Cover photo courtesy Sno-Isle Libraries
