Choose Monroe Summer 2023

summer 2023

Volume 6 | Issue 2

Peter

(206) 914-4248

katie@colibrinw.com

Writer: Adam Worcester

Photographers: Dan Evans, Jake Campbell, Nichole Gaertner

At the base of the Cascade Mountains, the City of Monroe is a place of beauty and goodwill. I invite you, your friends, and family to venture out of your homes and to explore all Monroe has to offer.

Our community is filled with families and children of all ages. As we officially start mid-year break, let us introduce you to local businesses and organizations that offer programs to help keep kids active and engaged through the summer months (page 6). We will also introduce you to two local nonprofits offering camps this season. One for children who may require additional care and support and a

second offering a Sports Scholarship program for young athletes (page 24).

Parents and adults, we have something for you as well. Grab some friends or family and head out on the Monroe Brewery Tour (page 18). This is just a taste of the spirits offered in Monroe (page 22). Pair these spirits with a delicious meal from a variety of cuisines offered throughout our city (page 14).

Our community is truly a safe place for all. In Monroe, everyone feels at home, and everyone feels they belong.

Mayor Geoffrey Thomas

Monroe chamber of commerce 125 South Lewis Street, Monroe, WA

Whether you are an existing Monroe resident, or new to our area, the Monroe Chamber of Commerce has information on all our city’s events, recreational opportunities, and travel information.

Stop in for your free hiking guide, souvenirs, dining and lodging information, Washington maps, or anything and everything Monroe. Also, don’t forget to pick up your Monroe Brewery Tour Cup after completing your tour (page 18).

The Monroe Farmers Market is held every Wednesday, starting May 31 through September 27, from 3:00pm–7:00pm in the Monroe Galaxy Theater parking lot located at 1 Galaxy Way. Also enjoy our FREE family-friendly concerts every Friday in July at Lake Tye Park starting at 6:00pm. Bring your four-legged friend to the Wiggly Walk Dog Palooza September 23 at Sky River Park 12:00pm–4:00pm. Finally, don’t miss our favorite Monroe Fair Days Parade the last Saturday in August along West Main Street starting at 11:00am. Always check the events calendar on www.choosemonroe.com for the latest information or subscribe to our weekly Newsletter and stay up to date.

Monroe Library

1070 Village Way, Monroe, WA

Summer Fun at the Monroe Library

This summer, introduce the kids in your life to the magic of their community library through our Summer Reading program. Participating kids and teens get a free book after reading (or being read to) for 10 hours. Libraries and books are a way to unite people of every age, and from all walks of life.

Monroe Library will host fun summer events, from regularly held events like Family Storytime to special one-time only experiences. On July 27 at 2:00pm, come see Who Stole the Queen of Hearts’ Tarts?, an interactive performance from Last Leaf Productions, featuring characters from Lewis Carroll’s classic story. In “Dogust,” join us for Shelter Pet Portrait Painting. PawsWithCause will host two painting parties, including one for kids under 13, on August 1 and 8 at 2:00pm.

Visit the Monroe Library today to connect with endless possibilities. Come to hang out, get personalized recommendations, and join us for fun events all summer long.

Find your library at www.sno-isle.org.

snohomish regional fire & rescue 163 Village Court, Monroe, WA

Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue (SRFR) serves 160,000 residents in Lake Stevens, Monroe, Clearview, Maltby, and unincorporated southeast Snohomish County. SRFR responds to an average of 17,000 calls per year with highly-trained personnel and state-of-the-art rescue programs.

As we approach the summer months, many of us are planning trips that will allow us to enjoy all of the open water the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Be sure that as you plan for your trip, you don’t forget one of the most important pieces of gear…your life jacket! When swimming, boating, or paddling on open water, it is important to always wear a life jacket. Safe Kids Snohomish County says, “It’s not enough to simply wear a life jacket. It must fit correctly in order to be effective.” Memorial Day through Labor Day, you can come to Station 31 (163 Village Court, Monroe) to rent a life jacket for the day. Go to www.SRFR.org to learn more about our life jacket loaner closet or scan the QR code below.

As you and your family safely enjoy the water this summer, enter to win a prize by playing our Summer Safety Bingo! When you complete 5 summer safety activities in a row, you will be entered into a drawing for a prize at the end of summer! Download the Summer Safety Bingo card by scanning the QR code at right.

We hope everyone has a safe and wonderful summer and we are so excited to see you at the following community events!

• July 11 & July 14: Water Safety Camps – Lake Tye (Registration Required at www.SRFR.org)

• October 14: Fire Prevention Week Open House – Monroe SRFR Station 31, 12:00pm – 4:00pm

transportation benefit district

Keeping Monroe's Roads Safe and Strong

If you haven’t given a second thought to road conditions when driving through Monroe, then tax dollars are doing their job. Not long ago, the City of Monroe faced a shortfall in paying for road maintenance, which lead to deteriorating conditions like cracks and potholes. To help address this issue, the city established the Monroe Transportation Benefit District (TBD) in 2012 and Monroe’s voters approved a 0.2% sales tax to fund the TBD in 2014. Since then, more than $8.1 million has been invested in Monroe’s street system to preserve, rehabilitate, and reconstruct the roads that residents and visitors use every day.

Transportation Benefit Districts (TBDs) are governed by the rules established in state law. A TBD is an independent taxing district that can raise revenue for specific transportation projects, usually through vehicle license fees or voted sales taxes. For Monroe, its TBD revenue is from sales tax.

Roads like Fryelands Boulevard, Old Owen Road, 179th Avenue SE, Woods Creek Road, Foye Lane, North Madison, McDougall, West Main, Monroe, Roberts, Orr, and Pike streets have all benefited from this transportation improvement program. In all, between 2016 and 2021, more than 14 miles of roadway have been paved (the equivalent of 38 football fields) and close to 200 curb ramps have been upgraded to meet accessibility standards.

Learn more at www.monroewa.gov (Search: Transportation Benefit District).

Sky High

It’s recess time at Sky Valley Academy. Preschoolers spill out of a classroom onto the mats of the main gym, where they tumble, bounce on trampolines, swing on ropes, and swan dive into foam-block pits.

BY ADAM WORCESTER

Teacher Zoey Moya attends to her flock like a mother hen, guiding, cajoling, helping, cautioning. It wasn’t that long ago Moya herself was a Sky Valley preschooler. Now she works there along with her mom and aunt.

“I’ve basically grown up here,” Moya says. “This was my first job, when I was 14 or 15. It felt effortless to come back to.”

Moya exemplifies alumni of the academy, which has been serving the Monroe community for almost 30 years. Not all are teaching preschool, but many can be spotted helping at the front desk, volunteering for a summer camp, watching a gymnastics meet, or dropping off and picking up their offspring. “It’s like a family,” Zoey says. “There’s a feeling of being close.”

Kia Pemberton was Zoey’s Sky Valley preschool classmate. She also later taught at the academy, and has now signed up her son, Waylon. “What I really like is the majority of the preschool teachers have their own kids here,” Pemberton says. “It’s a very closeknit, very safe, very comfortable atmosphere.”

When Sky Valley started as a class at the Sultan Boys & Girls Club, founders Jennifer Sonneveldt and her sister Jody Harcrow used old wrestling mats donated by Sultan High School. Jody’s husband, Rick, crafted wooden beams. There were four initial students: Jennifer’s two children and a pair of neighborhood friends.

Today Sky Valley Academy occupies 18,000 square feet, with classes for children ages 18 months to 18 years, and has competitive gymnastics squads. There are 800 kids in the gymnastics program and 120 enrolled in preschool. And it’s still growing.

“We could probably double (the enrollment) we have now,” says Jennifer. As soon as construction crews are finished knocking out a rear wall to connect the main gym

with a smaller one housed in an adjacent building, “It will give us way more usable space.”

Sonneveldt is an ex-high school gymnast who launched Sky Valley after having a dream. Literally. “My husband was washing the car,” she recalls. “I said, ‘I had a dream last night that I was coaching

gymnastics.’ He said, ‘You should do it.’ I thought about it. I worked at Albertson’s. I had two kids. I never thought it would work.”

Her high school gymnastics coach in Lakeland, CA, also influenced her decision. “She had a huge influence in my life,” Sonneveldt says. “She said, ‘Jenn, you’re a leader. You can lead them astray, or you can lead them down the right path.’”

Sonneveldt reached out to Harcrow, who lived nearby. The sisters posted flyers and handbills all over town and participated in Sultan Shindig Parades to promote their new venture. But after Sky Valley outgrew the Boys & Girls Club, and then the old Valley Rally Fitness Center building, Harcrow left to pursue other ventures. “She

said, ‘This is your dream, not mine,’” Sonneveldt says.

Twelve years on, Sky Valley Academy continues to thrive. It has academic classes from ages 2 through 4; tumbling, Ninja warrior and Parkour classes; recreational and team gymnastics; summer camps; and open gyms. It also hosts Friday Parents’ Night Out and can be rented for birthday parties and special occasions. It

used to include cheerleading, which was recently dropped in favor of a stronger focus on gymnastics.

Parents are attracted to the combination of traditional half-day preschool plus a half hour of ageappropriate gymnastics, which allows caregivers more time to shop or run errands between drop-off and pick-up. Students are taught beginning skills on vault, bars, beam, floor, and trampoline, as well as how to use a tumbling pit and scale the rock wall. But parents can opt for classes only, without gymnastics.

All preschool classes have accredited teachers, and curriculum meets state core standards. There is an emphasis on prewriting skills, STEM activities, cultural exploration, and literature. Students are exposed to sign language, and even learn beginning Spanish. “We don’t do childcare, we do school,” Sonneveldt says.

Still, some of the most important lessons are learned on balance beams, bars, and floor mats. After a fall or misstep, gymnasts have to determine their reaction. “One of the biggest keys is what can you do about that?” says Sonneveldt. “One of the biggest influences we have on

One of the biggest influences we have on kids is building character, building self-esteem.

kids is building character, building self-esteem. If you build that when you’re little, it carries you through.”

While gymnastics classes are coed, many boys tend to opt for the Ninja warrior and Parkour classes. The former teaches the fundamentals of navigating obstacles while building agility, speed, cardio health and overall body strength. A main goal is to climb the warped, 14-foot tall wall at the rear of the gym. Parkour concentrates on efficient movement around obstacles.

Sonneveldt coaches team gymnastics, one of about a dozen academy instructors. The Sky Valley Flight program fields competitive and recreational gymnastics squads – for both boys and girls -- and hosts meets at each level. There are typically two credentialed meets for serious competitors each fall, and six meets for recreational gymnasts. She also teaches a pair of preschool gymnastics classes. “I need to stay active,” she says. “It keeps me relevant.”

Sonneveldt says she’s not ready to retire. She’d like to add new

classes to fit the needs of Monroe’s fast-growing population. Down the road she hopes to sell Sky Valley to employees, but in the meantime, she’s having too much fun. She drops in on classes, answers phones at the front desk, promotes the academy in elementary schools, and helps out wherever she’s needed.

As Moya’s preschoolers frolic around the gym, Sonneveldt watches with a grandmotherly sense of pride. All preschoolers get to use the gym during open play time,

whether they are taking gymnastics or not. There are hula hoops on hand, and a large parachute that can be broken out.

“We don’t think as parents how important it is for them to have free play,” Sonneveldt says. “One of the key things to running a gym, it’s so important being a role model and having staff being role models.”

“I want them to have a good take on it,” she says, gesturing toward the children. “It’s something that changed my life.”

local kids activities

High Flight Gymnastics and Athletic Center

13675 Roosevelt Road NE

www.highflightgymnastics.com

Trampolines, inflatables, a rope swing, a rock wall, gymnastics, cheer, and tumbling classes, open gyms and playtimes, monthly Parents Night Out (PNO) events, birthday parties, and summer camps galore!

High Flight offers all this and more at its 18,000-square-foot facility. Founded in 2019, its motto is to help children “gain confidence and strive for their goals.” There are private gymnastics lessons for all levels, as well as competitive gymnastics teams.

Jitz Life & Fitness

111 West Main Street www.jitzlifeandfitness.com

From simple self-defense to competitive Jiu Jitsu, Jitz has classes for all ages. It features four categories – self-defense, Muay Thai kickboxing, wrestling/ submission wrestling/no gi, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Head instructor Danny Melillo has won medals in multiple international competitions. “His main focus,” states the Jitz website, “is preparing his students to become better people and helping them achieve whatever goals they are striving for and anything else along the way.”

Jump, Rattle & Roll

17631 147th Street SE Ste 6

www.jumprattleroll.com

Need a place for your kids to play for a couple of hours? Look no further! An assortment of inflatables and climb-ables provide a safe, fun space for kids age toddler on up to let their bodies jump, rattle, and roll!

There’s a new laser maze, and the entire 8,500-square-foot play space can be booked for parties and events. A unique twist: party-goers can rent snack machines and giant games for their celebration.

Master Ji's Taekwondo

High Flight Gymnastics and Athletic Center

Jitz Life & Fitness Jump, Rattle & Roll

Master Ji’s Taekwondo

17150 West Main Street

www.masterjitkd.com

Master Ji’s mission is to help students achieve their objectives, whether to just stay in shape or to compete at the highest levels, “through the lessons and skills of Taekwondo.”

Hwan Ji is a former Taekwondo trainer for the South Korean Marines and has won national and international championships. Classes range from “Little Kids” (age 4-6) all the way up to competitive teams. A yoga class is also available.

Monroe/Sky Valley Family YMCA

14033 Fryelands Blvd SE

www.ymca-snoco.org

Did you know that the YMCA has a swim team? Or personal fitness training? Or virtual classes? It even offers “Kids Night Out” events throughout the summer: drop off your charges, then relax and enjoy your evening.

Of course, there’s plenty of daytime fun too. The Y has weights, cardio equipment, a swimming pool, sports courts, gym, kids’ activity room, childcare, and a jaw-dropping array of classes and camps.

NorthWest Sport Taekwondo

223 South Lewis Street

www.nwsporttaekwondo.com

“Train with passion, fight with honor, live the sport.” Its motto summarizes what Northwest Sport is all about: Taekwondo. Its instructors total more than 30 years’ experience and have won many national and international competitions. They aim to build not only strong bodies, but “a foundation built to instill confidence, leadership, and individual drive that defends against the pressures we face in our everyday lives.”

Body Therapeutic Healing Center

117 W. Main Street, Monroe WA

Hellerwork Structural Integration Bodywork Injury Treatment / Lymphatic Drainage

Occupational Therapy / Insurance Accepted Also Featuring Massage Therapy by Michelle Taylor, LMP, Wellness Rising Within Colleen Barker - Energy Healing

Janaki Rose. OTR/L

360-863-2701 or 206-799-6771

Stress & Tension Relaxed Balance

Monroe, Index and Seattle

Northwest Sport Taekwondo

Master Ji's Taekwondo

Platinum Dance Center

14582 172nd Drive SE www.idance247.com

“I don’t know but I’ve been told If you keep on dancing you’ll never grow old.”

Platinum owners Rachael Park and Jessica Vick would agree with the Steve Miller Band. They bill the center as Monroe’s premier dance studio, with recreational and competitive classes for students ages 2 to 18.

Lessons include pre-dance, ballet, tap, Latin, jazz, lyrical, musical theater, and combos, which look toward “the sole purpose of bringing dance into the Sky Valley Community and in turn taking dancers out into the vast world of dance.”

Stray Dogs Club

365 Butler Ave. www.straydogsclub.com

Here, practicing martial arts is more than a hobby; it’s “a way of life,” according to its website, the club will become a student’s “second home.” Stray Dogs offers mixed martial arts classes –Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, wrestling, and Kids’ MMA – as well as a self-defense class.

All new customers get a free trial class, and military personnel, first responders, corrections workers, and senior citizens get a free whole month!

T3MA TS Martial Arts

19915 US-2, Suite B-1 www.t3ma.com/monroe

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes are tailored for pee wees (ages 3-6), youth (7-14), adults (15+), and females of all ages. Students indicate their desired intensity level with colored wrist bands. There is specialty training for students wanting to compete in local and national tournaments.

Besides learning valuable selfdefense skills, the studio promises students will acquire confidence and discipline while having “a ton of fun.”

Let’s Play Café

214 North Lewis Street www.letsplaycafe.com

Nostalgic for your 1970s/80s childhood? Let’s Play Café is the place for you! There’s a video arcade replete with new pinball games such as Rush and classics such as Pac Man, and a game room featuring board and fantasy offerings to play and purchase.

Bring the whole family and spend an evening playing Catan, or ditch the kids and indulge yourself in Dungeons & Dragons. Parties can be booked for groups of eight to 90 people.

Let's Play Café

Stray Dogs Club

Platinum Dance Center

Monroe Boys & Girls Club

261 Sky River Parkway

www.bgcsc.org/clubs/monroe-club

Since 1946, the Snohomish County Boys & Girls Club, located in Monroe, has provided youngsters ages 5-18 with “a safe and positive place to spend their time before and after school and during the summer,” boasts its website.

A flat membership fee entitles access to a multitude of programs, classes, camps, and activities, including organized sports leagues, all guided by the Boys & Girls Clubs’ philosophy to do “whatever it takes” to ensure kids have a bright future.

Skyhawks Summer Sports Camps

City of Monroe Parks

www.monroewa.gov/863/SkyhawksSummer-Sports-Camps

The City of Monroe partners with Skyhawks to offer week-long day camp programs for kids ages 4 to 12. Campers can choose from basketball, soccer, cheerleading, tennis, lacrosse, Mini-Hawk (soccer, baseball, flag football) and Multi-Sport (soccer, baseball, flag football) options.

Skyhawks has been running nationwide summer camps for more than 25 years. Sessions are offered at local schools and parks from June through August. Participants receive free T-shirts, merit awards, and a ball or pom-pom.

Kid’s Country Child Care and Learning Center

14943 North Kelsey Street

www.kidscountryinc.com

Discover, grow, and explore are the three keywords at Kid’s Country, which has programs for children ages six weeks to 12 years, as well as a summer camp for 5- to 12-year-olds.

In the main K-5 classrooms students lead most activities, balancing STEM schoolwork with outdoor games such as kickball and soccer, plus arts, crafts, and reading projects. Children are placed in classes that best meet their individual needs.

Kid's Country Child Care and Learning Center

Monroe Boys & Girls Club

Dine Local

bella balducci ' s mediterranean cuisine

19565 US-2 • www.bellabalduccis.com

Stepping into Bella Balducci’s feels like entering a Greek café. Warm colors, bright flowers, and faux grape vines create an inviting, relaxing vibe.

Bella’s is a family operation started by three brothers. Their father, spouses, and other relatives all help with the business, inspiring its motto “You will enter as guests…and leave as friends.”

The menu spotlights Italian, Greek, and Mediterranean dishes. There are no frozen ingredients, and soups are made daily from scratch. Besides traditional gyros and kabobs, diners can choose exotic entrees such as salmon piccata and shrimp scampi.

Kevin, one of the trio of Bella’s owners, cites customer care, employee care, and food quality as the restaurant’s calling cards. “First, it’s all about the customers... we do everything to make sure everyone leaves happy. Second, taking extra special care of our employees, who deliver on our vision. Third, food quality,” he says.

benjarong thai restaurant

19480 US-2, Ste. D-1 • www.benjarongmonroe.com

Benjarong is a style of hand-painted Thai porcelain featuring multicolored enamels laid over a white porcelain base. Benjarong literally means “five colors” (black, white, red, yellow, green) but its artworks can have three to eight colors, occasionally more.

At Benjarong Thai, its namesake art adorns walls and fills empty corners. There are huge portraits and murals, and even decorated ceiling panels above the bar. Porcelain statutes greet visitors as they walk in the door.

“The detail and beauty of Benjarong is reflective of the incredible workmanship, artistry and detail in the hand-crafted design,” the restaurant’s website states. “We at Benjarong Thai Restaurant pay the same kind of attention to the delicate balance and fine flavor of our traditional Thai cuisine.”

Phad Thai is a specialty, says manager Panu Pathomporn, and is offered with non-traditional ingredients such as calamari and duck. There is also a kids’ menu including corn dogs and chicken nuggets.

Feel like Asian food? For tasty Chinese, Vietnamese, and seafood fare, Saigon Kitchen has been a Monroe staple for years.

Its extensive menu offers more than 100 choices, ranging from pho to Saigon seafood (prawns and scallops stir-fried with vegetables) to chicken nuggets and fries. No entrée costs more than $13, and there is a wide array of affordable lunch and dinner combination plates.

The Yelp website is best to use, as the restaurant doesn’t have its own. A provided website link is for a namesake restaurant in Ithaca, New York.

Customer reviews praise the modest prices, friendly staff, and to-go service. “They have a unique variety of Vietnamese and Chinese,” a recent reviewer posted. “They have great signature Saigon tofu dishes and their crispy chicken is excellent. Their owner is hardworking and on point. Good drink prices too. I avoided this place for years, thinking it would be a typical dive. I was wrong, they know how to cook.”

tuscano ' s italian kitchen

14919

Connor Perry doesn’t hesitate when asked what makes his restaurant special. “It’s the people,” the co-owner says. “The people we have here create a fun, welcoming atmosphere. There’s a genuine small-town feel.”

Diners come for more than the atmosphere, of course. Tuscano’s boasts Piccante chicken wings that are “hands down the best wings we’ve ever had,” according to a recent customer review. It serves brick oven-fired pizzas (barbeque chicken is popular), pastas (eight-layer lasagna!), classic Italian dishes such as Steak Marsala and Pollo Con Fresca, daily specials, fresh salads, and mouthwatering desserts. The bar menu features Northwest wines, 24 rotating tap craft beers, and a full spirits selection.

Tuscano’s hosts local live music about once a month. Five big flat-screen TVs regularly broadcast sporting events. The restaurant can host private parties, and partners with various community organizations to stage “dine out” nights, in which 15 percent of each sale that evening goes to the community partner.

BY ADAM WORCESTER

A BREWERY TOUR

If you’re a beer lover, you’ll love Monroe The city boasts a young, vibrant craft-brewing scene and a fine selection of atmospheres to sample its frothy beverages. In addition to several taprooms offering a rich variety of local beers, the city houses four breweries that craft their own specialties: Bugu, Crooked Label, and Dreadnought.

Since each nascent brewery is less than four years old, the Monroe Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring an informal tour of these establishments to encourage residents to check them out. Just stop by one of the breweries, enjoy a refreshment (or not), and pick up a stamp card. Once you have stamps from all three breweries, bring your card to the Chamber for a free plastic souvenir cup. Ready? Let’s get started!

Dreadnought Brewing Company

Proceeding in alphabetical order, we begin at Bugu, named after a scale to measure the bitterness of individual beers. It’s tucked in a strip mall between an Army recruiting center and a healthsupplement store.

Owner Kipp Strong, a retired Seattle Police sergeant, founded Bugu in 2021 after friends praised the beer he was producing from home brewing kits. His youngest son, Bradley, who has a craft brewing certificate from Skagit Valley College, flavors the beverages. His oldest son, Ian, is a graphic designer whose artwork covers the walls of the small brewery. Strong and wife Deb cashier, serve, and do a little of everything.

Bugu keeps two regular beers on tap – an American IPA and a hazy IPA – while rotating six others, a mix of ales, stouts, and porters. Friday nights feature a four-pack special: $20 for four 16-ounce cans. The brewery does not serve food but encourages customers to bring in outside meals.

The Strongs are huge baseball fans, and sports-themed art adorns the walls (including Ian’s customdesigned baseball cards). Two large screens broadcast games; there are drink discounts for Mariners’ home runs, Kraken goals, and Seahawks’ forced turnovers. Not into sports? A variety of classic table games are available to play. Bugu also hosts regular “Paint Your Pet” nights, where an artist turns Fido’s photo into a painting while you wait.

“This has always been kind of a dream of mine,” says Strong, who had been home brewing for 15 years. “We’re just enjoying the ride right

now. We’re building a customer base. We know their names, they know our names, we know their stories. People are still discovering there’s a brewery in a strip mall in Monroe.”

here, and romantic relationships have been started.

The next stop on the tour takes us to Crooked Label, housed in a former boat repair shop near the Monroe Senior Center, Library, and Sky River Park. If it’s Saturday night there will be live music, often open mic. If the weather’s nice outdoor seating will be open. The whole family is welcome, pets included. A long wood table in the middle of the room fosters a welcoming atmosphere, with strangers seated side-by-side. Owner Dan Haff says business deals have been struck

“I work hard to introduce people to each other and to make connections,” Haff says. “We are all striving to find a place of acceptance and love. Crooked Label Brewing Company provides this daily.”

Four beers are always on tap – a blonde ale, a red ale, an IPA, and a stout – and four rotate depending on the season. Inside, a TV broadcasts sports events, and artwork from local creators is displayed on the walls. The only food is bar snacks, but outside fare is welcome.

Haff learned brewing from his friend Adam Hoffman, once an owner of Adam’s Bistro and Three Pines Brewery in Monroe. He had

Bugu Brewing Company

some free time and asked Hoffman if he could watch and learn how beer is made. Within a few years he was head brewer at Three Pines.

When Hoffman sold the businesses, Haff accepted two customers’ offer to use roughly 1,000 square feet of their boat repair shop to start Crooked Label. He commutes from his North Seattle home to run the business but says he will soon find a place in Monroe.

One customer compared Crooked Label to “Cheers,” the bar in the 1990s TV sitcom “where everybody knows your name.” The idea is that you come in as a stranger and leave as a friend. “We strive very, very hard to do that,” says Haff.

Bugu Brewing Company

14751 North Kelsey Street, Ste. 107 www.bugubrewing.com

Crooked Label Brewing Company

773 Village Way

Crooked Label Brewing Company | Monroe WA | Facebook

Dreadnought Brewing company

16726 146th Street SE, Ste. 153 www.dreadnoughtbrewing.com

it is recognizable by the fenced beer garden outside its front door.

We scoot now to Dreadnought. Set in a block of nondescript warehouses not far from Lake Tye,

Inside, the brewery divides into two separate spaces. The front is bright and cheerful, with tables, three TV screens, a bar, stage for live music, and a throwback Galaga pinball machine. Following a short corridor, the back of the establishment is less well-lit, with a table set among storage supplies next to two big brewing tanks.

There are 15 beers on tap, and more are coming soon – in addition to wine and root beer. “We look to have an option for everyone in the family,” owner Jake Hoveland says. Its top sellers at the moment are a pair of IPAs, New Day Hazy and Free Bird.

Also on the way: a huge projector for sporting events and movie nights, water misters for the beer garden, and hopefully a kitchen by mid-summer. Until then, rotating food trucks serve Dreadnought from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesdays, when there is also open mic live

Crooked Label Brewing Company

Dreadnought Brewing Company

music beginning at 6:30 p.m.

“We are excited to be coming into the summer season and to have one of the sunniest patios in Monroe,” Hoveland says. “We are located right near Lake Tye, which makes Dreadnought a perfect stop after a nice walk with the dog and family.”

That concludes our 2023 Monroe Brewery Tour. Only one stop remains: the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, located at 125 South Lewis Street, to pick up our plastic souvenir cup. It’s not much, as prizes go, but the container symbolizes the aspirations of the tight-knit brewing community. “We want to make Monroe to beer, what Woodinville is to wine,” Crooked Label’s Dan Haff says. “We want to do a festival pretty soon.”

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CHANGE A CHILD’S STORY.™

CASAs are volunteers who are 21+ appointed by the Court to give a voice to children who have been impacted by abuse or neglect. Children fare better with a CASA volunteer by their side. Studies have shown:

local monroe spirits

Route 2 Taproom

19837 US-2

www.route2taproom.com

Founded by beer lovers, Route 2 prides itself on its rotating selection of fine Pacific Northwest craft brews. Recently featured are from Pullman, Tukwila, Gervais, OR., and San Leandro, CA., among others.

The taproom also has classic pub-fare food (burgers, sandwiches, soups, salads, wraps, and appetizers), as well as live music, game nights, and themed trivia nights. Owners Stephanie and Frank say they are “intently driven” to provide customers top-notch food and beverages.

Lewis & Main Restaurant & Brewery

104 North Lewis Street

www.lewisandmain.com

Lewis & Main pairs local craft beer and wine with American Farmhouse cuisine, including Waygu burgers, duck breast, grilled chicken, ratatouille, and steak. Its mission is to “provide a relaxing, safe and clean haven” where patrons can “make lasting memories together.”

Recent beer selections included Chuckanut Kolsch, bourbon barrel stout, and Sumerian pilsner. Specialty cocktails included a chocolate martini and maple old-fashioned. Pick-up orders are available from 5:00-9:00 p.m.

King Lake Cellars

22819 King Lake Road

www.kinglakecellars.com

King Lake is a boutique winery that produces an annual maximum of 1,000 cases and does not sell in stores. Customers can join its wine club to receive monthly bottles and discounts or call to arrange direct purchases.

Its winemaker is a former geotechnical engineer, so King Lake wines are “steeped deep in the earth in the most literal and figurative sense possible.” The tasting room is open 12:00-6:00 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday.

Burnt Barrel Whiskey Bar

King Lake Cellars

Lewis & Main Restaurant & Brewery

Route 2 Taproom

Burnt Barrel

Whiskey Bar

102 East Main Street

www.facebook.com/ burntbarrelwhiskeybarmonroe

With more than 20 different menu cocktails, you’re bound to find something that tickles your taste buds at Burnt Barrel. Two customer favorites are the Whiskey Sour, featuring housemade Rosemary simple syrup, and the Dirty Shirley, with white whiskey and raspberry liqueur.

Burnt Barrel curates whiskey from local distilleries such as Jalapeno Scotch, Washington Apple, and Tennessee Fire Apple to craft cocktails. It also serves snack plates of gourmet meats, cheeses, nuts, and crackers.

The Lodge at Sonneveldt Vineyard

27722 Fern Bluff Road

www.thelodgeatsonneveldtvineyard.com

When Scott and Jennifer Sonneveldt discovered a 110-yearold grape vine growing up the side of a dilapidated barn on their new 12-acre hilltop property, they decided to open a winery.

Being new to the Monroe scene, their website is under development. The Lodge doesn’t want to become “too commercial,” Jennifer says. It mostly holds weekend wine tasting and karaoke events, where winebibbers can relax and soak in stunning Cascade views.

Burnt Barrel Whiskey Bar

The Lodge at Sonneveldt Vineyard

boosting futures: Exploring new programs to support kids and families

BY RACHEL ADAMS, CITY OF MONROE HUMAN SERVICES COORDINATOR

This summer, Miracles and Memories Academy, Monroe’s nonprofit community respite program supporting families of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is eagerly preparing to host its highly anticipated second annual summer day camp for individuals with disabilities and their siblings. This inclusive and exciting summer activity provides a specialized and nurturing environment for children who may require additional care and support.

Miracles and Memories Summer Camp is a holistic program designed to create unforgettable experiences while fostering personal growth, resilience, and self-confidence in children. The camp offers a wide range of activities that cater to diverse interests and abilities, including outdoor adventures, sports, creative arts, and interactive workshops. Through these activities, campers have the

opportunity to develop important life skills such as teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and effective communication.

At Miracles and Memories Summer Camp, dedicated and experienced staff members serve as positive role models, ensuring that every child feels supported and encouraged throughout their journey. The camp takes pride in its inclusive approach, welcoming

children from all walks of life and providing equal opportunities for participation. This fosters a sense of belonging, acceptance, and camaraderie among the campers, creating a truly enriching and empowering experience for all.

The camp will take place during the months of July and August, allowing ample time for children to engage in a variety of activities and forge lifelong memories. For more detailed information about the camp’s philosophy, offerings, and registration process, interested individuals can visit the Miracles and Memories Academy website at www. miraclesandmemoriesacademy.org.

In addition to the Miracles and Memories Summer Camp, Take the Next Step, a well-respected nonprofit organization, and Monroe’s Family Resource Center, offers an exciting opportunity for young athletes in Monroe through its Sports Scholarship Program. This program aims to provide valuable

With the Miracles and Memories Summer Camp and the Take the Next Step’s Sports Scholarship Program, Monroe is truly a community dedicated to nurturing the potential and wellbeing of its youth.

opportunities to talented athletes who face financial barriers hindering their ability to pursue their passion.

The success of this program was made possible through an American Rescue Plan Award, provided by the City of Monroe in 2021. Take the Next Step was awarded $10,000, enabling them to provide 61 Sports and Activities Scholarships to the Monroe community. The positive outcomes and impact of the pilot program has paved the way for an ongoing partnership. Pursuit Fitness will now partner with Take the Next Step to continue the Sports and Activities Scholarship program.

The motivation behind offering these scholarships was rooted in the understanding of the positive impacts that being involved in a sport or activity can bring. Take the Next

Step has witnessed firsthand the transformative power of participation, with children who have experienced loss or faced challenging circumstances finding solace and support through activities such as Ju Jitsu, soccer, or cheerleading.

Take the Next Step aims to facilitate access to these activities for Monroe’s low-income families and individuals facing extenuating circumstances, enabling them to reap the benefits of participation and find community support. The Scholarship Program provides valuable opportunities for students to explore various interests and passions, including art classes, robotics, music, and more. The purpose of the Scholarship Program is to remove financial barriers that may hinder students’ ability to pursue their interests.

For more information and details about the application process, individuals can contact Sarah Lunstrum at sarah@ttns.org.

With the Miracles and Memories Summer Camp and the Take the Next Step’s Sports Scholarship Program, Monroe is truly a community dedicated to nurturing the potential and well-being of its youth. These programs not only create opportunities for growth and achievement but also promote inclusivity, equality, and a sense of belonging. By investing in the future of young residents, Monroe is setting a shining example of the transformative power of how participating in positive activities can shape the lives of children and foster a stronger, more vibrant community.

Custom Picture Framing CONSERVATION & PRESERVATION

Our design team are fellow local artists that will help you create the perfect design! Artwork and mementos are kept safe in-store during the building of your custom frame.

This custom frame measures out to 46”x17”. The frame is a mixture of classic and contemporary style. It includes a colormatched mat, custom cut specially for the artwork title in the front. Museum glass was used to prevent glare and reduce UV damage.

Municipal Campus Changes Coming Soon

A"lively center surrounded by nature. A place of beauty and goodwill” are the opening phrases in Monroe’s Comprehensive Plan “Imagine Monroe” Vision Statement adopted in 2021. These aspirations, along with others, have been integral

to the planning and design of the remodel of City Hall and Municipal Court.

City services have occupied the campus currently located on West Main Street since 1977. The buildings, originally built for a car

dealership, have not had significant upgrades in over 30 years, which now present life-safety and accessibility deficiencies. A 2019 evaluation of the campus concluded it was less expensive to remodel the existing building than to build a new municipal campus.

With more people and businesses calling Monroe home, city infrastructure needs to support more demand for city services. The expansion and remodel of City Hall and Municipal Court, currently known as the Administrative Wing of the Monroe Municipal Campus, allows for stronger connections through gathering spaces, events, services, and community-centered infrastructure.

Construction costs, estimated at $17 million, will be funded through

Top: Monroe Municipal Campus has been located on W. Main Street since 1977.

Left: City Hall is temporarily relocating to 14841 179th Ave. SE; Municipal Court is temporarily moving to 769 Village Way.

councilmanic bonds which commit the city to pay the debt within existing revenue over the next 40 years. The revenue source to pay the debt is the first quarter percent Real Estate Excise Tax (REET). Councilmanic bonds are not a property tax increase.

BRINGING THE OUTDOORS INDOORS

Interior earthtone colors of grey, blue, and green, reflective of the natural landscapes of mountains, forests, and waterways – Monroe’s best scenic features- will be a noticeable difference to visitors. Exposed wood beams and interior planters with rocks will give a sense of being outdoors when indoors. In contrast to the current lobby of City Hall, the redesigned lobby will have expanded counters, more seating, and better lighting. City staff will be organized to improve interdepartmental coordination, enhancing internal and external customer service. The City Council Chambers will have more seating, improved audio-visual equipment, better acoustics and multi-purpose room capability.

Municipal Court services will be provided from a new space located between City Hall and the Police

Department, becoming a part of the Justice Wing of the campus. Unlike its current situation of using the Council Chambers, it will be a dedicated area with more space and improved security.

Accessing the campus will be easier with more parking, including accessibility spaces, and new pathways leading to various entrances. Native landscaping and public art will greet campus visitors.

CITY HALL AND MUNICIPAL COURT MOVING TO TEMPORARY LOCATIONS IN JULY

City Hall and Municipal Court employees will temporarily relocate during construction. City Hall is moving to 14841 179th Avenue

Southeast, Suite 320 (Sky River Medical Center). Monroe Municipal Court will operate from 769

Village Way, the current location of the Public Works and Parks and Recreation departments. Relocation is expected in mid-July with construction beginning in late summer/early fall. The remodel is anticipated to be completed in 18 to 24 months.

During construction, City Council meetings will be held at the Monroe School District Administration Building, 14692 179th Avenue Southeast. City advisory board meeting locations will be posted to the City’s online calendar.

The Monroe Police Department, 818 West Main Street, is not moving. Public access will be available during the remodeling of City Hall and Municipal Court. Project updates, frequently asked questions and more information can be found at www.monroewa.gov.

• Local business information & coupons

• Local area maps & brochures

• Multilingual visitor services sta

• Hiking information

• Trip planning assistance

• Lodging & dining information

• New resident welcome packets

www.choosemonroe.com

With more people and businesses calling Monroe home, city infrastructure needs to support more demand for city services.

Events Calendar

Wednesdays through September 13

Monroe Farmers Market

1 Galaxy Way 3:00pm-7:00pm www.choosemonroe.com

july

July 7

Music in the Park: The Soul Searching Band Lake Tye Park 6:30pm www.choosemonroe.com

July 9

Shakespeare in the Park Sky River Park 5:00pm www.lastleafproductions.com

July 11

Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue Water Safety Camp Lake Tye 10:00am-2:00pm www.SRFR.org

July 14

Music in the Park: Stacy Jones Band Lake Tye Park 6:30pm www.choosemonroe.com

July 15

Figure 8 Nationals Evergreen Speedway www.evergreenspeedway.com

July 15

Rainbow Bingo Monroe Community Senior Center 5:00pm www.mcsc.org

July 21

Music in the Park: Brickhouse Lake Tye Park 6:30pm www.choosemonroe.com

July 22- 23

Summer Showdown Evergreen Speedway www.evergreenspeedway.com

July 28

Music in the Park: Hair Nation Lake Tye Park 6:30pm www.choosemonroe.com

July 28 - 30

NW Peruvian Horse Show

Evergreen Equestrian Park www.nphclub.xom

July 29

Snohomish Conservation District’s Family Science Fair Lake Tye Park 10:00am-12:00pm

august

August 1

National Night Out Against Crime Lake Tye Park 5:30pm-8:30pm

August 4

Movies Under the Moon: Minions: The Ride of Gru Lake Tye Park Dusk

August 5

Lake Tye Triathlon Lake Tye Park 8:00am www.laketyetri.com

August 5

War of the Wings Evergreen Speedway www.evergreenspeedway.com

August 11

Movies Under the Moon: The Croods: A New Age Lake Tye Park Dusk

August 12 Walk to Remember Sky River Park 9:00am

August 18

Movies Under the Moon: Top Gun: Maverick Lake Tye Park Dusk

August 19

ARCA 150 Evergreen Speedway www.evergreenspeedway.com

August 19

Swifts Night Out Wagner Performing Arts Center 4:00pm www.pilchuckaudubon.org

August 24- 29

Evergreen State Fair

Evergreen State Fair Park

www.evergreenfair.org

August 25

Movies Under the Moon: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Lake Tye Park

Dusk

August 26

Monroe Fair Days Parade & Market Main Street

11:00am

www.choosemonroe.com

August 26 - 27

Fairfest 3on3

Galaxy Theaters

www.fairfest.org

August 31 - September 1

Evergreen State Fair

Evergreen State Fair Park

www.evergreenfair.org

september

September 9

Belonging: Monroe Celebrates Culture Sky River Park

12:00pm-6:00pm

September 10

Rainbow Color Run

Sky River Park

September 15

Spaghetti & Silent Auction Fundraiser

Monroe Community Senior Center

5:00pm

www.mcsc.org

September 15 -17

Sky Valley Stock & Antique Tractor Show

Evergreen State Fair Park Yellow Lot www.skyvalleyantiquetractor.com

September 16

SV Mental Health and Awareness Day Lake Tye Park

September 20

Harvest Market 1 Galaxy Way 2:00pm-6:00pm www.choosemonroe.com

September 23

Wiggly Walk Sky River Park

12:00pm www.choosemonroe.com

Some event dates and times may be subject to change. Please contact the Event Organizer or the Monroe Parks Department at (360) 863-4519 to confirm.

october

October 14

Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue Fire Prevention Week Open House Station 31 12:00pm-4:00pm www.SRFR.org

October 21

Octoberfest Cosmic Bingo Monroe Community Senior Center 5:00pm www.mcsc.org

October 28

Mexican Family Festival (Rodeo) Evergreen State Fair Park

October 31

Downtown Trick or Treat Main Street Monroe 3:00pm-6:00pm www.choosemonroe.com

november

November 2- 3

The Great Junk Hunt Evergreen State Fair Park www.thegreatjunkhunt.com

November 4

Holiday Bazaar Monroe Community Senior Center 9:00am-2:00pm www.mcsc.org

November 4

Rotary Barn Dance The Lodge at Sonneveldt Vineyards www.rotaryofmonroe.org

November 11-12

Oddmall: Emporium of the Weird Craft Show Evergreen State Fair Park www.oddmall.com

November 17

Drive-thru Thanksgiving Dinner Monroe Community Senior Center 5:00pm www.mcsc.org

November 26

Light Up Monroe Travelers Park 5:00pm www.choosemonroe.com

december

December 15

Drive-thru Christmas Dinner Monroe Community Senior Center 5:00pm www.mcsc.org

December 16

Monroe Community Band “Seasons Greetings” Concert Wagner Performing Arts Center 7:00pm www.monroecommunityband.org

Imagine Monroe

In December 2021 the Monroe City Council adopted a new vision statement to better reflect the needs, priorities, and values of our community:

Imagine Monroe: A lively center surrounded by nature. A place of beauty and goodwill.

Our parks, waterways, and environment are healthy and accessible for everyone to enjoy. Our historic downtown and business districts are thriving and full of locally owned businesses and locally sourced products. We can find everything we need with regional connections and with a variety of choices for work, housing, dining, shopping, arts, and activities.

Friendly and responsive, we strengthen connections through gathering spaces, events, services, and communitycentered infrastructure - creating a safe place for all.

In Monroe, everyone feels at home, and everyone feels they belong.