Everett Daily Herald, February 19, 2021 by Sound Publishing

Exploring Snohomish & Island counties

WASHINGTON NORTH COAST MAGAZINE · SPRING 2021

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Contents

WHAT’S INSIDE DAY IN BOTHELL 8 AMcMenamins and Main Street make the city a destination.

BYZANTINE THRILLERS

HERON HAPPENINGS

CREEPY CRAWLERS

22 ANDY BRONSON / COAST

Mark Rice (left) and his father-in-law, Ed Ness, play shuffleboard in the Woodshed bar at McMenamins Anderson School in Bothell.

ON THE COVER

Bayernmoor Cellars’ vineyard grows 6 acres of pinot noir grapes on a southern-facing hillside selected for its sun exposure and soil composition. BAYERNMOOR CELLARS

Big blue birds raise babies on the Everett waterfront.

Bugs inspire Snohomish printmaker’s art.

PARK PATROL Meet a senior ranger in Snohomish County parks.

MAKING FINE WINE

ART OF THE STREET

MINDFUL BALANCE

THE Q IS NEW

HERITAGE CATTLE

OLIVIA VANNI / COAST

Graffiti painted along Rucker and Everett avenues.

Arlington author’s novels set in long-ago civilization.

Stanwood family makes pinot noir from grapes grown here.

Take a tour of downtown Everett’s graffiti murals.

Barre3 teaches a fitness trifecta in Edmonds and Mill Creek.

Tulalip Tribes open new casino in Snohomish County.

Snohomish rancher keeps ancient breed alive.

IN EVERY ISSUE 4 6 50

Editor’s Note Everett Sketcher Why I Love It Here

KEVIN CLARK / COAST

Tawni Dillon leads a virtual class from the Barre3 Mill Creek studio.

WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021 3

SPRING ISSUE: Estate pinot noir in Snohomish County

fter a Dry January, I was excited to visit Bayernmoor Cellars near Stanwood for a private tasting of their pinot noir. I sat at a bar right next to the window into the state-of-the art winery’s barrel room, where about 60 barrels of wine were aging. Owners Larry and Kim Harris had me taste three 2018 vintages that have yet to be released — the Clonal Selection Precoce, the Clonal Selection 777 and the Reserve — all from the Puget Sound American Viticultural Area. What makes Bayernmoor Cellars stand apart is that it’s one of, if not the only, winery in Snohomish County with an estate vineyard — meaning they grow their own wine grapes. Puget Sound is Washington’s only AVA west of the Cascades. It was recognized in 1995. Only about 1% of the state’s wine grapes are grown over here. The other 99% are grown in the Columbia, Yakima and Walla Walla valleys, as well as the Columbia Gorge, Red Mountain, Rattlesnake Hills, Wahluke Slope, Horse Heaven Hills and Ancient Lakes AVAs, among others. In the wine tasting, I could tell the difference between the two pinot noir clones — precoce and 777 — growing in the Bayernmoor vineyard. The 2018 Clonal Selection Precoce has a fruity and floral nose. It has a light mouthfeel, but a long finish. I picked up notes of dark cherry and strawberry. It’s a wine I can see myself sipping while preparing dinner. The 2018 Clonal Selection 777, in comparison, had an earthy and tobacco nose. It was heavier in the mouth, with a rich bouquet of raspberry, cinnamon and rhubarb. This is a wine I’d pair with dinner. The 2018 Reserve is a blend — it’s 12% precoce and 88% 777. The Harrises wanted a blend of pinot noir that offered the best balance of both grapes. It’s a more complex wine. It’s tart up front like the precoce, but has the deeper finish of the 777, with aromas of strawberry, rhubarb, fig and violet. You’ll get to taste those 2018 vintages when Bayernmoor’s new tasting room opens in May at the Woodin Creek Village in Woodinville. The wine-and-dine destination features 13 of Washington’s top wineries. In this issue of Washington North Coast Magazine, you’ll read about Curt Labitzke’s printmaking art. The Snohomish artist is working on a series about the bugs that fascinate and frighten us — think spiders and moths, ticks and mosquitoes. What’s more, Labitzke also teaches printmaking at

ANDY BRONSON / COAST

Sara Bruestle visits Bayernmoor Cellars northeast of Stanwood.

the University of Washington. Take a tour of Everett to see about 20 murals in alleyways and parking lots that were painted in conjunction with the Schack Art Center’s “American Graffiti: From the Streets to Canvas” exhibit. As you go from mural to mural, you’ll understand how graffiti as an art form has shaped self-expression in the United States. Or stop by the new Quil Ceda Creek Casino in Tulalip, which opened in February. The 126,700-square-foot casino has 1,500 gambling machines, 192 types of slot games and 16 table games — plus eight restaurants and three bars. There are even plans to build a hotel at the new Q. There’s also our feature on Bayernmoor Cellars’ pinot noir. Larry and Kim Harris teamed up with Washington State University’s Skagit County Extension to determine which grapes would grow near Stanwood. Their property proved to be ideal for pinot noir, so they planted 6 acres of prococe and 777 on a southern-facing hillside selected for its sun exposure and soil composition. I could go for another taste of that 2018 Clonal Selection Precoce. It was my favorite of the three.

Sara Bruestle

Editor editor@washingtonnorthcoast.com

4 WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021

Exploring Snohomish & Island counties

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THE EVERETT

SKETCHER

Grand Avenue Park When the cherry blossom trees along Grand Avenue pop, you know that spring has arrived. I watched and waited for the perfect moment to catch them in full bloom. Grand Avenue Park is one of the best places in town to watch the sunset. It’s a prime spot because it’s on a bluff overlooking Jetty Island, Possession Sound, Hat Island, Whidbey Island and the Olympic Mountains. But in the springtime, I think the park itself has the best view, with its pink trees.

The 5-acre Grand Avenue Park, which stretches from 16th Street to 19th Street, is my favorite of the 40 parks in Everett — but I’m biased since it’s the closest to my house. The lawn invites a game of Frisbee, and the breeze off the water makes the park a great place to fly a kite. Plus, the Grand Avenue Park Bridge, which opened in 2020, allows for easy access to the Everett waterfront. — Elizabeth Person

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The historic riverside town has become a booming 21st century tourism destination

The Shed Bar is one of seven cocktail lounges and restaurants at McMenamins Anderson School in Bothell.

ANDY BRONSON / COAST

STORY BY GALE FIEGE

f you grew up in south Snohomish County, you probably remember the welcome sign periodically vandalized by kids. “Welcome to Bothell, for a day or a lifetime” became “Welcome to –––hell, for a day or a lifetime.” Far from hellish, Bothell is a great place to be a local tourist. The city straddles two counties, part historic downtown and part suburb. The Snohomish County part is suburban. To experience Bothell’s revitalized and thriving downtown, you’ll have to cross the line to King County. Find a place to park and get ready to walk. If your visit is in the morning, grab a big breakfast at Alexa’s Cafe, 10115 Main St. If it’s lunchtime or you’re there

IAN TERRY / COAST

The Hillcrest Bakery on Main Street has been a Bothell institution for generations.

8 WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021

IAN TERRY / COAST IAN TERRY / COAST

Hop and Hound owner Eric Schaffer calls for the tap house’s mascot, Charlie the coonhound, bounding down the stairs.

for supper, the family-owned Chantsnee Thai restaurant, at 10107 Main St., has some of the best Thai food around. The Dutch and German treats at the old Hillcrest Bakery, 10010 Main St., are worth the stop, too. If you need a brew in the meantime, stop in at The Hop and Hound, just off Main at 18116 101st Ave. NW, to fill your growler. Julio’s Restaurant, also a stone-throw off Main at 10023 NE 183rd St., wins raves for its Mexican fare. The Ranch Drive-In, just around the corner at 18218 Bothell Way NE, looks like a

Perched on a hill east of downtown Bothell, the University of Washington-Bothell campus makes for relaxing strolling.

set for a 1950s teen movie. And there’s The Cottage, a fancy bistro, just off Main Street at 10029 NE 183rd St. While you are walking along Main Street, check out the historical marker in front of The Bine Beer & Food at 10127 Main. A clothing store at the site stood in for a shop in Hyannis Port when actress Jaclyn Smith filmed a scene there for the 1981 TV movie “Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy.” The Fourth of July parade is a big deal in Bothell. Residents claim space for the parade way in advance. A few years

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IAN TERRY / COAST

A bridge across the Sammamish River connects Bothell with the Sammamish River Trail. The bridge recently was replaced with an upgraded span that retains its iconic shape.

IAN TERRY / COAST

Figures from Bothell’s past, including (from left) Carlton John Ericksen, Gerhard Johan Ericksen and Carlton “Bud” L. Ericksen, are immortalized near the intersection of Main Street and 101st Avenue NE.

ago, we saw parade-goers’ chairs chained together along Main Street in February. You’ll also find entertainment at the Northshore Performing Arts Center, 18125 92nd Ave. NE, which brings in top professional acts. Call 425-984-2471 for ticket information. Bothell’s biggest draw is McMenamins Anderson School, an adult playground on the site of a former school at 18607 Bothell Way. It boasts a hotel in the art deco brick school building and seven bars and restaurants scattered across the campus — including a cozy getaway in the former principal’s office. When you’re not drinking and dining, you can see

IAN TERRY / COAST

A cyclist cruises down the Sammamish River Trail.

first-run films in the 134-seat movie theater and take a dip in the 112-foot-long saltwater swimming pool. Opened in 2015, Anderson School was the Portland, Oregon-based McMenamin brothers’ first hotel project in the Puget Sound region. Their unique business model repurposes old, sometimes decrepit buildings into one-of-a-kind entertainment destinations. McMenamins incorporated Bothell’s history into its remaking of the Anderson School. Like most older cities in the region, Bothell was once a logging town, and the sleepy Sammamish River was a working waterway on which logs — and passengers aboard steamers in the days before good roads — were moved.

10 WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021

The Park at Bothell Landing, 9919 NE 180th St., includes several historical buildings where on Sunday afternoons you can learn more about the history of this burg — the hometown of Sen. Patty Murray. It’s also where you’ll find the city’s official symbol: the foot and bike bridge over the river. A new span that meets current structural and accessibility standards while retaining the iconic arched shape was recently installed. Like that “mom in tennis shoes,” you need comfortable shoes to walk along the Sammamish River Trail, which connects with the lengthy Burke-Gilman Trail. If you want to bicycle the trail instead, you can rent one at Bothell Ski and Bike, 8020 NE Bothell Way. Consider taking a swing east into wine and beer country in Woodinville. Or put in your kayak or canoe and paddle to Lake Sammamish or Lake Washington. A nice walk starts at Bothell Landing and heads east along the river to the North Creek Trail, where you head north to the burgeoning University of Washington-Bothell campus. Nearby,

ANDY BRONSON / COAST

A lifeguard watches over swimmers in the pool at McMenamins Anderson School.

the Beardslee Public House, 19116 Beardslee Blvd., is a good place for a bite and a brew. Climb up the hill and walk west on NE 180th Street to the beautiful old Pioneer Cemetery at 108th Avenue. At this point, you’re just a short distance to Main Street, with time to explore more of the city.

Back in the car, on your way to the Snohomish County line, stop at Russell’s Restaurant & Loft, 3305 Monte Villa Parkway, for a special occasion. Or, if barbecue’s your thing, head to Carolina Smoke, 24118 Bothell-Everett Highway. As the old motto says, Bothell is a welcoming place.

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George Vasil, author of “The Lance,” in his home office in Arlington.

Arlington author’s novels explore Byzantine Empire power struggles

STORY BY PATRICIA GUTHRIE

f you need an escape from 21st century political intrigue, you might consider immersing yourself in 11th century political intrigue. An Arlington author has written two books and is working on a third that will take you there — the Byzantine Empire. For George Vasil, a family physician with The Everett

•

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Clinic in Lake Stevens, the Byzantine Empire is a wondrous world he discovered as a boy browsing his family’s World Book encyclopedias. Also known as the eastern Roman Empire, the territory and 1,000-year reign is the backdrop for three novels by Vasil: “Emperor’s Eyes,” published in 2012, “The Lance,” published in 2019, and a third, as-yet untitled work set to

12 WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021

be published in 2024. Vasil’s books are historically correct in terms of time and place; it’s the plot and characters that make them fictional. Set in and around Constantinople, now the city of Istanbul, his books provide an armchair traveler’s snapshot into a vast and powerful civilization that flourished from 330 to 1453. Reading them, Vasil said, could provide the history class many Americans failed to take — or just plain failed. “The Byzantine Empire is a subject about which few North Americans or Western Europeans know,” Vasil said. “Yet this empire existed for a thousand years and played a pivotal role in European and Western Asian history. “It experienced a glorious rebirth while Western Europe crawled out of the Dark Ages. The Byzantine culture was a unique fusion of ancient Greece, ancient Rome and Christianity.” In his first book, “Emperor’s Eyes,” Vasil’s narrative describes Medieval times in its magnificence and regales the cosmopolitan, colorful city of Constantinople, a vibrant trading center linking Asia and Europe. Readers march alongside the emperor’s army, experience luxurious imperial palaces and follow the tale of separated lovers, cavalryman Justin Phillipos and his new bride, Eleni. Set in the 11th century, the plot revolves around treason, subterfuge and a band of insurgents set upon overthrowing the government. Both sets of Vasil’s grandparents were of Greek ancestry. He remembers they all spoke of the magnificence of the Christian cathedral Hagia Sophia, completed in 537, and considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture. “They revered it,” he said. Spectacular in size and artistry,

George Vasil wrote “The Lance” as an antidote of sorts to Dan Brown’s bestseller, “The Da Vinci Code.”

the sprawling structure, now called the Grand Mosque, sets the stage for Vasil’s second novel, “The Lance.” Readers time travel to April 1204, when the city of Constantinople is sacked by soldiers of the Fourth Crusade. The story then jumps ahead to April 2004 after an earthquake has shaken the ancient city, now known as Istanbul. A lance engraved with the words Longinus and Dominus was hidden by a monk in the wall of Hagia Sophia during the siege. Some 800 years later, tremors shake the lance loose, and it’s discovered by Turkish archeology student Mehmet Yakis. The lance is believed to have pierced the side of Jesus during his crucifixion. The lust to own it propels a diverse cast of characters — including college students, doctors, a ruthless billionaire and former Nazi SS officers — into a hapless and often hilarious chase that ends when all are shipwrecked together on a tiny unchartered Greek island.

Part of his motivation for penning “The Lance,” Vasil said, was writing an antidote of sorts to the best-selling book and blockbuster movie, “The Da Vinci Code,” which has been widely criticized for historical inaccuracies and questionable Christian references. Through repeated trips to Greece and Turkey and thoroughly studying New Testament and Byzantine history, Vasil takes pride in what he says is a true representation of time and place in his books. “Those who enjoyed ‘The Da Vinci Code’ should enjoy ‘The Lance,’ ” Vasil said, adding that the novel shows that “God is too big to be contained in an earthly object.” When he isn’t writing, Vasil, father to three sons and grandfather of two, sets aside at least one week a year to assist at medical missions, including in Ethiopia, Niger, Haiti, Afghanistan, Liberia, Lebanon, Armenia, The Gambia and Cameroon. He also traveled to Mauritania in 2019 to meet one of three children he sponsors through World Vision. He volunteers at Lahai Health, a Christian ministry that provides free health services for the poor in Snohomish. Vasil now works part time, which gives him more time to work on his third novel. That story is set during the Third Crusade, which took place from 1189 until 1192. In it, leaders of England, France and the Holy Roman Empire tried and failed to recapture Jerusalem from the Muslim sultan Saladin. The Crusades are notorious for their sectarian bloodshed, but Vasil’s novels strive to uplift. “The books have an emphasis on forgiveness and redemption,” he said. “Even the most evil acts can be forgiven and the most evil people can be redeemed.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR George Vasil, of Arlington, has been a family medicine physician at The Everett Clinic since 1987. His passion for history, particularly for the Byzantine era, has led him to travel extensively and write three novels.“Emperor’s Eyes,” 444 pages, $23.95, and “The Lance,” 282 pages, $20.99, are self-published through iUniverse and available at Amazon. The third book, an as-yet untitled work, is set to be published in 2024. Go to facebook.com/vasiltalesauthor to read Vasil’s blog highlighting his passion for the Byzantine era. WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021 13

GREAT

BLUE BREEDERS Herons raise the next generation atop pilings on the Everett waterfront

A group of young herons await a meal as a parent shows up at the nest with food.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MIKE BENBOW

or years, I’ve wanted to photograph nesting great blue herons. Herons are neat birds and they’re beautiful in flight. Their slow, deliberate wing beats make them appear to move in slow motion, especially as they maneuver their way through a colony of nests filled with young herons. Great blue herons are one of the most easily recognized birds in Washington. Large, gawky and with a bent neck and long legs, they can turn on a dime from patient, motionless stalkers to lightning-fast predators. They do most of their foraging along rivers and lakes, or in wet meadows, waiting for prey to come by. Unlike many birds, they typically raise their young in colonies, often building their nests near other heron pairs in trees, as high as 100 feet above the ground. So I was pretty excited

A nesting heron waits for eggs to hatch, which takes about a month.

14 WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021

Young herons are fed fish regurgitated by their parents.

when I heard of a nesting colony of herons, called a rookery or heronry, along the Everett waterfront. For the past several years, these birds have built nests on top of pilings that can be seen from the Port of Everett Marina parking lot at 10th Street. In some areas, heron colonies can grow into hundreds of birds, but this one only has a few dozen. That’s probably a good thing, because large colonies can attract predators such as bald eagles, which will attack the nests and eat the young. That hasn’t been the case in Everett. In Washington, the birds nest once a year. In warmer areas, it might be twice. The males pick the nesting sites in February and March, and the females choose their mate. The males gather most of the nesting materials, and the females arrange the nest. Often nests are reused, so it’s more of a case of just adding some new sticks. The females lay two to six eggs. Both parents incubate the eggs. Together, the herons raise the young after the pale-blue eggs hatch in just under a month. The baby herons stay in the nest for about 60 days until they can fly. Unlike their parents, who sport a shaggy ruff at the base of their necks and a black eyebrow that extends back to black plumes emerging from the head, juveniles have a dark crown with no plumes or ruff, and a mottled neck.

A heron takes advantage of low tide to search for stray sticks below the pilings on which a number of birds built nests.

For the past few years, I’ve spent quite a few hours watching the herons raise their young. The rookery along the waterfront is a great location because the adults don’t have to go very far to find food. Herons have a varied diet: snakes, amphibians, small fish, other birds and small mammals such as rodents. They

WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021 15

A hungry young heron gnaws on its parent’s beak.

Ready to present a small stick to its mate, a heron arrives at its nest on the Everett waterfront.

A great blue heron tends to a couple of pale-blue eggs that were laid before the bird finished building its nest.

spend about 90% of their time watching and wading along waterways and picking up available food along the way. Most of the herons in the rookery fly a short distance away and patrol the mudflats, snatching small fish out of the water with their dagger-like beaks. The herons return to their nest every few hours, feeding their young by regurgitating their catch, often putting the food right into their babies’ mouths. Or they will drop it at their feet. The young herons encourage their parents to feed them by gnawing on their parent’s beak. And as the youngsters mature, the adults show up

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A heron chick is tended to in its Everett waterfront nest.

less frequently with food. The males frequently return with more than food. They will bring sticks to add to the nest, usually presenting them to the female to do the actual arranging. The presentations are fun to watch, because the awkward-looking adult herons are careful and cautious with babies in the nest, often hovering and descending carefully like hummingbirds to ensure they don’t jostle the young birds. Adult herons have wingspans of about 6 feet. So adding a stick that’s several feet long can make a careful landing more difficult than it sounds. As the babies grow and take up more and more of the nest, the adults will often land on a nearby piling. While female herons choose partners to help raise their young, the pairings do not endure. They find new mates every breeding season. Herons live around 15 years, although the oldest on record was 24 years old. When observing great blue heron rookeries, keep in mind that you should remain at least 1,000 feet away, to avoid disturbing the birds. If that happens, the herons can abandon their nests. We have a nice thing going on the Everett waterfront. I look forward to watching great blue herons breed there for generations.

WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021 17

KAY MARTINEZ-LABITZKE

A printmaker and painter, Curt Labitzke also is chairman of the Printmaking Program at the University of Washington.

Snohomish print artist Curt Labitzke’s work focuses on bugs that fascinate and frighten us S TO RY BY A N D R E A B R O W N

WHO: My name is Curt Labitzke. I’m 62 years old and have been making art for more than 40 years. In addition to being an artist, I also teach printmaking at the University of Washington where I have been the chairman of printmaking since 1984. I grew up in a family of makers. My mom is a quilter and stained-glass artist, and my dad was an illustrator and designer for a large advertising firm in New York City before

going freelance in the mid-1970s. He was also a painter, mostly aeronautical scenes from World War II, but also images from our vacations to the Poconos in the summer, like covered bridges and landscape scenes. The first real art job I had was assisting my dad by tracing, copying, enlarging and reducing images by hand, all pre-computers and even Xerox copiers. Once pencil sketches were finalized to scale, he would paint them in. My next art job was in junior high school, painting album covers of my friends’ favorite bands on the backs of their well-worn denim

18 WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021

I’m a print artist who specializes in making hand-pulled intagliostyle prints using an etching press. I became fascinated with this 15th-century technique as an undergraduate student. — CURT LABITZKE

“Colourful Flea”

or simply making up something that looks like it could be real. I do work with other subjects as well, in particular the human figure and a long-standing series of imaginary portraits inspired by the Baroque and figurative works from my travels in Italy. This includes ancient frescoes from places like Pompeii and early Roman portraits in paint and stone.

jackets. This kept me busy through high school and taught me many useful reproductive drawing and painting skills.

WHAT: I’m a print artist who specializes in making hand-pulled intaglio-style prints using an etching press. I became fascinated with this 15th-century technique as an undergraduate student. As a freshman, I was majoring in forestry, but needed a core class credit in the humanities to graduate. I happened to be taking a drawing class my freshman year, since I thought it would come naturally and be easy. It was not. I struggled with a class taught by one of my early mentors, which involved drawing everything from live roosters to complex arrangements of thousands of objects stacked on top of each other in precarious ways. Every day, I would walk past the printmaking studios to get to my drawing class, peer inside and watch others using the press and laying out inks, which always had this comforting and appealing sweet smell. By the next semester, I had changed my major to art. I had no idea where making prints would take me, but I knew I loved it and still do today. WHEN: I try to be in the studio every day. I tell my students to make art from their life experiences, and for me this has always been inspired by travel, nature and my background in the sciences, as

“Small Fly”

brief as it was. My interest in insects and botanical subjects began in school while helping my now-wife collect insects for an entomology class she was taking the first summer we met. Forty years later, I found one of our old bug box collections and started looking at them more carefully, which is partly how I got to where I am now. My source of inspiration is through direct observation and referencing a collection of entomological and botanical antique prints I have accumulated over the years. My bugs are my own invention, often combining favorite parts of different creatures

WHERE: I make most of my work at my studio just outside of Snohomish, where we live on a small piece of wooded property. My ideal was always to find a way to integrate my artistic practice into my life, something I feel strongly about. My commute to work these days is about 15 steps, which means I can find time to be in the studio all times of the day. Currently I teach a remote course entitled “Printmaking Without a Press” from my kitchen via Zoom, which at first was quite challenging, but has become very rewarding. I also offer study-abroad opportunities for students, having taught more than 25 programs over the years in Rome, Florence, Spain, London and Paris. These trips and the artworks along the way have contributed greatly to my own work in many ways. I show my work at The SAM Gallery, Zinc Gallery in Pioneer Square and The La Bottega Gallery in Laguna Beach, California. Folks can also visit the studio in Snohomish to see the newest works.

WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021 19

“Spider in Amber”

WHY: I’m not really sure why, but why not? I don’t think art or art making has to be justified or defended. At the moment, it’s all about spiders, fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and all the little creatures we have a fear and fascination of. I mostly tend to be interested in parasitic pests and how we learn to co-exist with them. I read once that every creature on the planet has benefits to the environment with one exception, the mosquito. But still, my work over the past two years has been focused on spiders and mosquitoes. I’ve probably made more than 1,000 prints over this time. The spider has always held a fascination over us: It lives in our stories, our dreams and our collective consciousness. I’m fascinated by how pervasive the spider is in our culture and how often it is used as a reference for everything from persistence and patience, to creativity and work ethic. I really enjoy these references; just think of Spider-Man, Harry Potter, “The Hobbit,” “Charlotte’s Web,” “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” and “Little Miss Muffet,” to name a few. Not to mention folktales, mythology and all the wonderful archaeological artifacts throughout all cultures that reference the spider, my favorite being the large earthen spider found on the Nazca Lines of Peru. In my spiders, I hope the viewer finds their own references and ways to live with them. Not everyone sees the same things when viewing an image, which is what makes art so fascinating. And not everyone wants a 3-foot spider on their wall, but there are those who are attracted to them as well. HOW: It doesn’t matter how, it just matters that you do. I have chosen printmaking, and in particular intaglio printing, for

“Moth”

many reasons, some of which I know; others still seem to be a mystery. As I mentioned earlier, the smell of oil-based inks and the thought of seeing an image for the first time seem to be enough. My prints are developed in three stages. First, there is the research and development stage, where I usually reference other found images and objects using them to create a series of drawings in full scale. Next, these drawings are transferred and carved into Plexiglas plates using a variety of hand and power tools. The spider images are carved quite deeply, sometimes right through the plate and out the back side. All the plates in the series are designed to nest or print over the top of each other, enabling me to register them to each other, creating spiders made up of combinations from different plates.

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This last series contained 11 carved plates, so there are lots of different combinations possible, often creating images that look like they are moving, similar to stop-motion photography. The Plexiglas plates are printed by pushing ink into the deeply carved areas and wiping the surface of the plate clean using rags and paper. A variety of rollers are also used to deposit inks in flat planes on the top surface of the plate. The plates are then run through a press and printed onto papers that I usually build by collaging, taping and gluing smaller pieces of paper together to create irregular, worn and sometimes tattered surfaces which act as documents of the process. I’d like these prints to feel like they came from the back room of some forgotten natural history museum or collection from hundreds of years ago. I suppose I’m really interested in making future anthropological or archaeological

objects reminiscent of fossils or artifacts. I’ve always thought burying these printed objects in a time capsule for future generations to find would be the perfect place for them to end up. As I tell my students: Keep on printing.

FAVORITE PRINT: “Colourful Flea” has a special place in my heart. It is a multicolor print made using an intaglio process called viscosity printing that involves using multiple rollers with different colors over a deeply etched, hand-drawn image of a flea. This particular process is known for creating spontaneous and surprising color effects through the ink films mixing directly on the surface and often yields unexpected color combinations. In my work, I tend to select colors that emulate more of a natural environment or are drawn from observation, but in this print the extravaganza of color seems to change the idea of what a flea is into something playful and beautiful.

“Ant”

MORE: See more of Curt Labitzke’s art at facebook.com/curtlabitzke or email curtlabitzke@gmail.com to set up an appointment to visit his Snohomish studio.

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Chelsea Kapica, senior park ranger, Snohomish County Parks

Senior park ranger Chelsea Kapica stands among old pilings at Picnic Point Park in Edmonds. Picnic Point is one of her favorite county parks. STORY BY SAR A BRUESTLE

helsea Kapica is a senior park ranger with Snohomish County Parks. As a park ranger, Kapica takes pride in serving and protecting the visitors and the parks to which she is assigned — and right now, that’s the southern region. Her team oversees more than 30 parks and trails, in green spaces that stretch from Edmonds to Index, and from Everett

•

PHOTOS BY ANDY BRONSON

to Bothell, as well as many Snohomish County Conservation Futures Program properties. You may find her rescuing ducklings from a drain in Narbeck Wetland Sanctuary, clearing problem trees in McCollum Park or maintaining the trails at Heybrook Ridge. What made you want to become a park ranger? I have always loved hiking, fishing,

22 WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021

backpacking and otherwise spending time outdoors. I landed my first parks job with Washington State Parks in 2010. From then on, I knew I wanted a career in parks. I like that I am able to help someone everyday, whether it’s providing park information, helping find lost children or pets, clearing trails of downed trees or just being a safe presence for park visitors. It is rewarding. Every day is different, too,

Kapica walks across a fallen tree limb as she patrols the beach at Picnic Point Park.

which makes work fun and keeps it interesting. Tell me more about your job as a Snohomish County park ranger. Right now, I’m assigned to the southern region of Snohomish County. It is nice working for a local parks system, because you build relationships with the community that visits the parks. Many of our visitors — a lot of them daily visitors — take just as much of a vested interest in the preservation of the parks as we do. The south region has many beautiful areas that are hidden gems in the hustle and bustle of the county, such as Picnic Point Park in Edmonds, North Creek Park in Bothell, Bob Heirman Wildlife Park in Snohomish, Southwest County Park, also in Edmonds, and Paradise Valley Conservation Area near Maltby. My day-to-day responsibilities consist of responding to public concerns, addressing hazards, patrolling the parks and general maintenance. That can be picking up litter and clearing downed trees to make sure the parks are safe and clean for the public. Right now, I’m helping to clear trees of concern at McCollum Park in Everett to keep them from becoming a hazard. I also provide interpretive guidance at the Narbeck Wetland Sanctuary in Everett. And I help with recruiting for our

department. Yes, we are hiring. Let’s get into your background. I graduated from Skagit Valley College with an associate degree in environmental conservation with an emphasis in parks resource management. While in college, I had a summer job as a park aide for Washington State Parks, where I worked at Rasar State Park near Concrete, Bay View State Park and Deception Pass State Park. As soon as I turned 21, I enrolled in the Parks Law Enforcement Academy, also at Skagit Valley College. (There’s an age requirement to get into the academy.) After graduation from the academy, I was a volunteer general ranger at Mount Rainier National Park at Paradise. Then I received a call from Snohomish County offering me the local opportunity I had been hoping for. I have been with Snohomish County Parks for almost seven years. It’s been a great experience. What is your favorite park or trail in Snohomish County? One of my favorite parks in our system is Heybrook Ridge Trail in Index. It is one of our easternmost parks and is a well-maintained trail that is about 3.3 miles roundtrip that provides pretty spectacular views of Mount Index and the Skykomish River Valley. It is always a treat to hike, patrol or do maintenance work

out there. Tell me an interesting story from being on the job. I once received a call from a woman who was distraught that some baby ducklings had fallen through a storm drain at Narbeck Wetland Sanctuary in Everett. She could see them about 6 feet down in the drain. Luckily, it hadn’t rained, so the drain was fairly dry. When I arrived at the park, I saw the ducklings and called Snohomish County PUD. They sent two employees over who helped open the drain. I climbed down and brought the ducklings back to safety, and they waddled into the brush by the pond where their mother and other siblings were waiting. That team effort made for a great story. We were glad to help. How has being a park ranger changed because of COVID-19? My job as a park ranger has not changed too drastically during the pandemic. We are still working on lots of projects and patrolling our parks. There was a strange period of time when we had to close the parking lots and restrooms of parks in 2020 due to state guidelines. However, during that time, we were able to get a lot of projects and park improvements done that our workload before COVID-19 had made difficult to get to. A lot of our parks got some beautiful upgrades in that time. When we did reopen, a lot of the visitors I spoke to said that they had never been to our parks before COVID. Lots of people were finding public spaces where they could recreate and enjoy nature while socially distancing at the same time.

More about Chelsea Chelsea Kapica, 29, of Stanwood, has been with Snohomish County Parks for about seven years. Since 2018, she also has served as an adjunct instructor with the Parks Law Enforcement Academy at Skagit Valley College. She leads taser instruction and assists with the instruction of defensive tactics. A Mariner High School grad, Kapica’s favorite parks include Picnic Point Park in Edmonds, Heybrook Ridge in Index and Kayak Point County Park near Warm Beach.

WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021 23

Bayernmoor Cellars near Stanwood makes award-winning pinot noir from grapes grown right here

BAYERNMOOR CELLARS

Bayernmoor Cellars sits on a sunny south-facing hillside near the Pilchuck Glass School in north Snohomish County.

STORY BY SAR A BRUESTLE

t was crisis time in the Bayernmoor Cellars vineyard in the foothills northeast of Stanwood. Half of the pinot noir grapes growing in Larry and Kim Harris’ vineyard last year hadn’t finished ripening by the first freeze in late October. After a cooler than average year, the Harrises rushed to save the 2020 vintage before a cold snap hit. They typically harvest half of the grapes, wait two weeks, then harvest the other half. Last year, they harvested all 4 tons in just six hours. “We were hoping to let them stay on the vine longer, and continue to ripen into late October, but then the weather shifted,” Larry Harris said. “We were going to get temperatures down in the 20s, so we decided to go ahead and harvest before they were ready.” The award-winning Bayernmoor Cellars sits on more than 100 24 WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021

ANDY BRONSON / COAST

Owners Kim and Larry Harris at Bayernmoor Cellars northeast of Stanwood.

BAYERNMOOR CELLARS

Bayernmoor Cellars makes pinot noir from estate-grown grapes, and other varietals from Eastern Washington fruit.

acres of family-owned property near the Pilchuck Glass School, just south of the Skagit County line. In addition to pinot noir made from grapes grown on the premises, Bayernmoor makes cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay and rose with grapes from top vineyards in Eastern Washington. What makes Bayernmoor Cellars stand apart is that it’s one of, if not the only, winery in Snohomish County with an estate vineyard — meaning they grow their own wine grapes. Most Western Washington wineries ferment grapes grown east of the Cascades, as most of the fruit prefers a warm, dry climate. Bayernmoor’s vineyard grows 6 acres of pinot noir on a southern-facing hillside selected for its sun exposure and soil composition. Why pinot noir? It turns out that the climates of Puget Sound and Burgundy, France, are strikingly similar. They have about the same average monthly temperature and average monthly rainfall. The growing season is April 1 through Oct. 31. “Our climate lines up pretty well with the climate of Burgundy,” Larry Harris said, adding that the French region is synonymous with pinot noir. “Pinot noir likes a cooler climate.” Those 100 acres near Stanwood hold a lot of history. The building that houses Bayernmoor Cellars? It’s been a barn, a family home and now is a state-of-the-art winery. In 1988, Jim and Kate Beisecker — Kim Harris’ parents — purchased the land from a dairy farmer. They renamed it Bayernmoor Farm, built a home and raised a family there. The original farmhouse and barn still stand on the property. The name Bayernmoor pays homage to the family’s German and Dutch roots. It seemed to fit the winery as much as the farm. “After Larry and I got married, the family started talking about what we’d like to do with the property,” Kim Harris said. “We wanted to put the land to work, because up until then it was just our home. We had horses off and on,

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Kim and Larry Harris do a barrel tasting. They moved to Bayernmoor Farms, the family compound, in 2012.

but we hadn’t grown any crops.” But what to grow? The Harrises were the ones to suggest a vineyard. After they both graduated from Santa Clara Law School, Larry and Kim enjoyed wine tasting and touring in California’s Napa and Sonoma valleys. The Beiseckers were sold on the idea. “None of us was excited about typical agriculture like corn or wheat,” Larry Harris said. “And wine wasn’t such a far-off dream,” Kim Harris said. “My parents love wine, especially my father, and we love it as well.” In 2010, the Harrises teamed up with Washington State University’s Skagit County Extension to determine which grapes would grow near Stanwood. WSU’s research, which included heat-unit studies and soil testing, confirmed the property was ideal for growing pinot noir. “We wanted to do a red — and pinot noir is one you can grow over here on the west side of the mountains,” Larry Harris said. “They helped us pick out

BAYERNMOOR CELLARS

Pinot noir is a red wine grape that can grow in Western Washington.

two different varietals of pinot noir clones — precoce and 777.” Precoce is often referred to as a clone, but technically it isn’t one. Precoce is a mutation of pinot noir that is thought to have occurred in

26 WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021

Germany in the 15th century. Also known as pinot Madeleine or fruhburgunder, the mutated grape ripens two weeks sooner. Which explains the Harrises’ harvesting schedule of half now, half later.

BAYERNMOOR CELLARS

Bayernmoor Cellars sits on more than 100 acres of family-owned property.

Clone 777 is perhaps the most famous of clones cultivated in France in the 20th century. It’s one of the “Dijon clones,” named after the French town in Burgundy. After transplanting pinot noir vines to the farm, the Harrises moved from Snoqualmie to Bayernmoor in 2012. All three generations of the family live in the house the Beiseckers built in 1997. Larry and Kim have two daughters — Maddie, 16, and Sophie, 13 — who help their grandparents tend to the horses and gardens. An attorney, Larry, 47, is the founder and owner of Athorus, a patent law firm with offices at Bayernmoor Farms. A former attorney herself, Kim, 45, manages Bayernmoor Cellars’ tasting rooms. One tasting room is at the winery; another is scheduled to open in Woodinville in May. In 2017, the Harrises hired one of the top winemakers in Washington to make Bayernmoor Cellars wines. Brian Carter of Brian Carter Cellars was twice named Winemaker of the

The family working together, taking care of the fruit, taking care of the property, taking care of the animals and taking care of each other. It feels the way life should feel. — LARRY HARRIS

Year by Washington Magazine and is the only three-time recipient of the Pacific Northwest Enological Society’s Grand Prize. After making Bayernmoor’s pinot noir for three years, Carter is now the winery’s consultant on that grape. He has been training the Harrises in harvesting, crushing and pressing, fermentation, clarification, aging and bottling. He visits the Stanwood-area winery a few times a year to check in.

“Pinot noir is a very demanding grape,” said Carter, who maintains his role as the executive winemaker for all other Bayernmoor varieties. “It doesn’t tend to do well in warmer climates, so there’s almost no pinot noir from Eastern Washington grapes. I’ve tasted a few over the years — there have been very few — and most of them haven’t been very good.” Carter’s tutelage has helped the Harrises make the transition from suburban to country life. “I enjoy the vineyard,” Larry Harris said. “The family working together, taking care of the fruit, taking care of the property, taking care of the animals and taking care of each other. It feels the way life should feel.” The Harrises’ daughters, Maddie and Sophie, help in the vineyard whenever needed. They put nets over the vines to keep birds from eating the crops. They weed for mustard seed so it doesn’t take over the grapevines. They also harvest the grapes when it’s time.

WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021 27

ANDY BRONSON / COAST

The Bayernmoor Cellars family, from left: Maddie Harris, 16, Sophie Harris, 13, Larry Harris, Kate Beisecker, Jim Beisecker and Kim Harris. With them is Lucy the Labradoodle.

“It’s the one day we let them skip school to help with the harvest,” Larry Harris said. The Harrises don’t expect Bayernmoor Cellars to turn a profit for another three years. By then, they project they’ll have the funding to expand operations. They plan to add a third variety of pinot noir — clone 667, another from the Dijon series — at that time. “This is not a four- or five-year return on investment — it’s more of a 10- to

12-year return,” Larry Harris said. Production in 2019 was just under 1,000 cases of wine. Their goal is to get up to 6,000 or 7,000 cases within the next 10 years. It will help when the building housing their winery is finished. They’re in the middle of putting in the infrastructure needed to do all of their winemaking on the estate. “We’re bringing more and more of the fruit that we purchase from Eastern

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Washington here to be processed,” Larry Harris said. “What doesn’t come here now goes down to Brian’s place in Woodinville. He makes our wines there for us under his license.” The winery is also where the Harrises plan to hold private wine tastings for wine club members. But the draw will be their Woodinville tasting room, scheduled to open in May in Woodin Creek Village, 17255 135th Ave. NE. The new 1,700-squarefoot space will feature a bar, lounge,

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dining room and patio. Bayernmoor Cellars wines will be paired with a menu created by Chris Weber, the head chef at The Herbfarm in Woodinville. Also with tasting rooms at Woodin Creek Village will be Alexandria Nicole Cellars, Ambassador Wines of Washington, Brian Carter Cellars, Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, Columbia Winery, DeLille Cellars, Matthews Winery, Novelty Hill-Januik Winery, Patterson Cellars, Rocky Pond Winery, Truth Teller Winery and Warr-King Wines. The Harrises will never forget that first sip of their estate pinot noir. It was a 2017 vintage. “I knew we were on to something special because it reminded me of the Burgundy taste of pinot noir,” Larry Harris said. “I was like, ‘This is what we want, this is what we are after.’ It has the profiles of the classic Old World Burgundy wine flavors that you typically don’t see in wines made in Oregon and California.” The 2020 vintage was a different story. Since half of the pinot noir harvested last year wasn’t as ripe as they’d like — it was the clone 777 that needed more time — those grapes will be made into sparkling wine at Oregon’s Hood River

Vineyards. Bayernmoor has never made a sparkling wine before. “They’ve had to pivot and make a sparkling wine because it wouldn’t be a very interesting red wine,” Carter said. “It would be too pale and not have a lot of character to it. Sparkling wine is usually picked at lower sugar, anyway.” “If they have a cooler vintage this year, like they did in 2020, then they’ll have a backup plan,” he added. Bayernmoor Cellars isn’t just a winery to owners and operators Larry and Kim Harris — it’s a family legacy. They hope to pass the winery and vineyard on from generation to generation. “Hopefully, we’ll establish something that can survive for several generations,” Larry Harris said. “Not just through us, but through our kids, and through their kids.”

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If you go Bayernmoor Cellars, 125 316th St. NE, Stanwood, is open by appointment only due to COVID-19. Call 360-209-6441 or email contact@bayernmoor.com to make a reservation. Go to bayernmoor.com for more information.

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Apexer examines his graffiti installment at the Schack Art Center.

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EVERETT’S A CANVAS FOR THE NATION’S MOST TALENTED STREET ARTISTS STORY BY STEPHANIE DAVEY

aintings of two young faces cover the back of the shaped self-expression in the United States. building. Between them, the word “FOREVER” is During Grill and Chill, business owners could either get a painted in bright orange, pink and green. mural for free or choose a theme for $500. Large murals typiStars surround the graffiti portraits of Breonna cally cost thousands of dollars. Taylor and Jatarius Tolbert. Tolbert was inspired by protests over the summer against Jatarius looks toward the sky. The painting is based on a racism and police brutality following the deaths of George photo from his obituary. His mother owns the restaurant inside Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Ahmaud Arbery in Brunsthe building, Grandma’s in da Kitchen. It’s at the corner of wick, Georgia, and Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. Hewitt Avenue and Marine View Drive. “I wanted something that spoke to unity and togetherness, Sharon Tolbert fell to her knees when she saw the painting of and spoke to what was going on,” she said. “Then they took it her son. from there.” “I couldn’t believe it, I just started crying, there was my baby,” They decided on a portrait of Taylor, who was fatally shot by she said. “That was one of the best days I could truly speak to. police on March 13, 2020, at her apartment. She was 26. It’s such a blessing to go out in the back and have him with me.” Tolbert did not know her son would be included in the The mural was completed piece. Her husband, Robert, during an event called Grill arranged it with the artists. and Chill, where about 60 Their 17-year-old son was graffiti artists from around accidentally shot and killed the U.S. visited Everett for by a friend six years ago in a few days in the summer. Tacoma. It was co-hosted by Jason Jatarius used to talk about Grim, owner of Everett’s owning a restaurant with his JAG ArtWorks, and a graffiti mother. Tolbert opened her group called Graffaholeks Southern-style eatery about a Northwest. year ago. The event was held in “He’s right there with me conjunction with “Amerievery step of the way,” she can Graffiti: From the Streets said. “I felt accepted and that to Canvas” at the Schack Art the artist just took the picture Center in Everett. “American and got every single detail, Graffiti” was a groundbreakANDY BRONSON / COAST they took their time, they put ing exhibit that explored how A mural on the building that houses Grandma’s in da Kitchen their heart and passion into it.” graffiti as an art form has Tolbert shut down her honors Breonna Taylor and Jatarius Tolbert. WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021 31

OLIVIA VANNI / COAST

Keger steps back to look at his work in an Everett parking lot.

restaurant for a time during the pandemic. At this point, she’s trying to stay open. Soon the building may be for sale, she said, adding that she’s working on buying the restaurant. “I’m trying to stay in the building that I have,” she said. “Just because my baby’s picture is back there, just because I’ve worked so hard.” She has only heard positive feedback about the mural. She hopes people start to look at graffiti as an art form, not as vandalism. Grim, the owner of JAG ArtWorks, would like to see the same thing. He wants local graffiti artists to have more time and space to practice their skills without fear of legal problems. In some cases, graffiti can lead to felony charges. With Grill and Chill, Grim tried to show what people could create if they had that kind of freedom. He plans to push for a free wall in Everett, where artists can paint without getting in trouble. He estimates at least 1,000 graffiti artists live in the Seattle metro area. “If you give them time and space, they’re going to blow your mind,” he said. On a recent rainy Thursday morning, Grim walked into an alleyway behind his shop near the intersection of Colby Avenue and Wall Street. Around a corner, one of the cinder block walls is covered with a painting of a man who is smiling. A halo hovers above his head. It’s a portrait of a late graffiti artist named Dream. The piece was completed by three artists, including one who goes by King 157. This kind of work usually stops others from painting nearby,

SUE MISAO / COAST

Street art near Ed’s Transmission in Everett.

Grim said. “If it’s actual graffiti done by actual graffiti artists like this, nobody is touching it,” he said. “If you went over a King piece, you would never be allowed to graffiti again because everyone would hate on you.” Grill and Chill is a national event that is hosted in a different city each year. Everett was chosen because it’s near Seattle and has open walls to paint on that big cities don’t always have anymore. Grim also has good relationships with building owners, who gave permission to paint on the structures. “The way I sold it to everybody was like, ‘Hey, do you

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STREET ART IN EVERETT

OLIVIA VANNI / COAST

Keger paints the final touches on his work in Everett.

want something that looks good or for people to keep tagging your walls?’” Grim said. “‘Because it’s only going to keep increasing, you might as well have something that looks really good.’” He found 130 walls that could have been painted in north Everett. Around 20 were actually selected. SUE MISAO / COAST He’s already got plans to Nrvek won the Scrap Can Battle during host another graffiti event this year. He said he hopes Everett’s Grill and Chill event. to turn it into an annual happening. Grim worked closely with Carol Thomas, advancement development director at the Schack. Thomas also hopes to see more street art in Everett. She still runs into pieces downtown she has never seen before. “It brings delight and SUE MISAO / COAST surprise at every turn,” she A toothy fish is painted near the Rubatino said. “It’s kind of a little Refuse parking lot on Hoyt Avenue. bit of serendipity. What it does, is it stitches the city together with art.” One of Grim’s favorite pieces is in an alley near the corner of Hewitt and Oakes avenues. It has a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle theme, where graffiti covers two floors of the building. It took 12 artists to complete it. Grim describes it as “slimy, sewer-style stuff.” It shows green liquid pouring out of pipes, with graffiti lettering near the street. Turtles and other characters cover the side of the brick building, built in 1910. 34 WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021

In conjunction with the “American Graffiti: From the Streets to Canvas” exhibition, the Schack Art Center and JAG ArtWorks brought new street art to downtown Everett last summer. About 60 artists from all over the U.S. painted murals around town. If you missed them, take yourself on a tour of alleyways and parking lots near these landmarks. ■■Schack Art Center, 2921 Hoyt Ave. ■■JAG ArtWorks, 2940 Colby Ave. ■■El Paraiso Restaurant, 2801 Colby Ave. ■■Alexandra’s Salon, 2910 Hoyt Ave. ■■ONB Automotive Repair, 3002 Grand Ave. ■■Grandma’s in da Kitchen, 2831 W. Marine View Drive ■■La Casse Construction, 2726 Rucker Ave. ■■Everett and Rucker avenues ■■The Wright Stuff Antiques, 2818 Wetmore Ave. ■■C&G’s Antiques, 1810 Hewitt Ave. ■■Law Offices of Nicholas Fisher, 1812 Hewitt Ave. ■■Sidekicks Grill & Lounge, 1709 Hewitt Ave. ■■Engineered Sports Therapy, 2205 Wall St. ■■Western Facilities Supply, 2914 McDougall Ave. ■■Espresso Avenue, 1807 Everett Ave. ■■Ed’s Transmission Service, 1811 Everett Ave. ■■Word of Truth Christian Center, 2822 Hoyt Ave. ■■Rubatino Refuse Removal Inc., 2812 Hoyt Ave. ■■Big J Mini Mart, 1806 Broadway ■■Marion’s Barbershop & Shave Parlour, 2011 19th St.

SUE MISAO / COAST

moved to the street level. He started to get more business, and customers asked for graffiti products. “That’s why we started specializing more in graffiti,” he said. “Now 75% of our sales are spray paint for street art, murals, graffiti, what have you.” About a year ago, he moved to the new location at 2940 Colby Ave. Grim keeps an eye on all the new street art around downtown. He hopes to preserve it. When people think of graffiti, many picture violence and gangs. But that’s not how it is, Grim said. “Graffiti, it’s an art form, and it’s a cultural art, there’s a huge culture around it,” he said. “They’re artists. These people are artists.”

Graffiti adds a pop of color near Ed’s Transmission on Everett Avenue.

Grim became interested in graffiti growing up in Los Angeles. “I was a tagger, so I was just a straight-up vandal,” he said. “I would go around and write on buses and tag seats and everything. I was just a little kid, though, so it seemed fun and edgy at the time.” He moved to Everett about eight years ago after getting a job in the area. Once here, he got more serious about street art. A few years ago, he started to buy art supplies for himself in bulk for wholesale prices, and sold what he didn’t use. He opened his store in 2018. His first shop was on the upper floor of a building on Hewitt Avenue, in a space for artist studios. It wasn’t long before he

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STORY BY JANICE PODSADA

•••

PHOTOS BY KEVIN CL ARK

Julia Giordano uses weights during a Barre3 exercise class in the Edmonds Barn on Fifth Avenue.

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Barre3 workouts combine strength conditioning and cardio, with an emphasis on listening to your body

ast March, Gina Drake opened a new Barre3 fitness studio in Edmonds, only to close it 10 days later due to COVID-19 restrictions. “It was hard — I had spent years trying to open a studio and then immediately had to close,” said Drake of the former hardware store she helped transform into a 2,500-square-foot space with changing rooms, shower facilities and a play area for children. Classes continued, however, livestreamed first from home, then the studio, a deck and, lately, a barn. “We’ve decked it out with lights,” Drake said of the barn. “It’s all open, we’re spread out, we all wear masks. People need to keep moving and this is a way to get together safely.” It was a quick pivot — or, in the language of dance, a quick detourne — shifting from in-person classes to online, Drake said. Classes livestreamed from instructors’ homes included moments in which the family dog rolled on the floor, children popped into view or grabbed Mom’s leg. By June, instructors were allowed to return to the studio and, one at a time, livestream from there. “The sound was better, it was better lit, and you didn’t have the kids and the dogs,” said Drake, who assembled a blooper video of the home classes. The name Barre3 refers to the ballet barre, a standard studio feature that helps with balance but isn’t a workout requirement. “’Three’ is a symbol for balance and stability, like a triangle,” Drake said.

WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021 37

It’s not so much about losing weight or being thin. You always come out of your class in a good headspace for the rest of the day. — ANDREA CHAPLIN

Tawni Dillon, fitness instructor at Barre3, leads a livestream exercise class in Mill Creek.

In 2008, Sadie and Chris Lincoln of Portland, Oregon, co-founded the Barre3 franchise. Two years later, Barre3 got a major publicity boost when Madonna became a devotee. Today, there are two Barre3 studios in Snohomish County — the new Edmonds business, and another in Mill Creek. Sadie Lincoln describes the Barre3 fitness routine as a fullbody workout that combines strength-conditioning, cardio and mindfulness. That last feature is open to interpretation. Drake envisions mindfulness as connecting with your body. “Say your knees are feeling tension that day, or you’re tired,” she said. “We encourage clients to make modifications.” For Barre3 aficionado Andrea Chaplin, mindfulness is about regulating the pace and intensity of your workouts. “Instructors do a good job to push you harder, but at the same time, they encourage you to listen to your body,” said Chaplin, a Bothell resident and mother of two. “There is always a way to dial back the workout if you’re not feeling good or you have pain. You can make it as high intensity or low intensity as you want with modifications.” Instructors regularly offer advice on how to modify a routine, Chaplin said. “It doesn’t feel like boot camp. You can go at your own pace — a pace that’s comfortable,” she said. Chaplin, who admits to not “being big into aerobics, being on a treadmill or going to the gym,” was drawn to Barre3

Barre3 owner Gina Drake leads an exercise class in the Edmonds Barn.

because of that flexibility. Other classes and regimens failed to motivate her. “It offers a consistent workout — you know what to expect going in, but how instructors do the class every time is different,” Chaplin said. “The choreography, the warm-up might be different. There is consistency, but it feels fresh and new every day.” For Drake, making the online classes fresh and engaging was a challenge. She realized the classes needed to be shorter.

38 WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021

Thus was born the 30-minute burst, geared toward clients working from home or tending to the kids. The burst is an up-from-your desk, away-from-your-keyboard class that packs a full workout into a half-hour livestream. Drake doesn’t recommend the burst for beginners. “It moves really fast,” she said. Instead, they should opt for a traditional 45- or 60-minute classes until they get the hang of it. Drake discovered Barre3 several years ago when a friend mentioned that a Seattle studio offered free child care. The mother of a 2-year-old at the time, the freebie was the selling point, Drake said. What hooked her was a welcoming community of young and old, and a philosophy that wasn’t hung up on six-pack abs. “I knew right away I wanted to open a studio,” Drake said. Marne Whitney opened a Barre3 studio in the Mill Creek Town Center in 2014. Before becoming a owner, Whitney, a competitive tennis player, faced a second surgery on her spine. Her sister recommended she give Barre3 a try. The workouts were “easy on the joints,” like physical therapy, but fun and set to music, she said. “I just kind of fell in love with the workout and I loved the brand,” said Whitney, a part-time criminal defense lawyer. The need for a second surgery went by the wayside, she said. “I have not had a problem with my neck since then,” Whitney said. Whitney’s approach to mindfulness at her Mill Creek studio includes 10 minutes of slow stretching and mindful breathing. “It’s a great way to end class … it really resets your brain and body,” said Whitney, whose clients range from 18 to 70. Like her Edmonds counterpart, Whitney had to shift gears when the pandemic struck. The Mill Creek studio closed in March, and livestream virtual classes commenced. Members logged in through a private Facebook page for access. In the fall, Whitney reopened the studio and began offering a handful of limited-capacity classes. Instructors and students wore masks and complied with strict protocols, including temperature checks, she said. Virtual classes continued for those who weren’t comfortable with in-person workouts. “We were like a hybrid fitness facility,” Whitney said. But when Gov. Jay Inslee barred indoor services at restaurants, bars and gyms in November, the studio returned to an all-virtual format. “We stream all of our classes live through the Facebook page, daily at noon,” Whitney said. Chaplin was one of Whitney’s first clients when the Mill Creek studio opened. Chaplin, 39, says she’s in better shape than she was 10 years ago. “I just feel stronger overall,” she said. “It’s not so much about losing weight or being thin. You always come out of your class in a good headspace for the rest of the day.” Chaplin looks forward to the day when in-person classes can safely resume. But virtual classes have been a saving grace. “I can still have 45 minutes or an hour to take time for myself,” she said. “It’s felt like a lifeline during COVID.”

Dillon welcomes clients for a Saturday morning livestream exercise class in Mill Creek.

If you go Barre3 Edmonds, 2012 Fifth Ave. S., Edmonds. Find class schedules at online.barre3.com/studio-locations/ edmonds. Call 425-361-1317 or email edmonds@barre3. com for more information. Barre3 Mill Creek, 15021 Main St., Mill Creek. Find class schedules at online.barre3.com/studio-locations/ mill-creek. Call 425-585-0308 or email millcreek@barre3. com for more information.

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A state -of-the -art bu the ven ilding n erable ow ho Quil C uses eda Cr eek Ca sino

STORY BY A ARON SWANEY

• PHOTOS BY OLIVIA VANNI

ecades before the Tulalip Resort Casino opened, the Quil Ceda Creek Casino a few miles away was the place to go for gambling in Snohomish County. In contrast with the resort casino and its high-end restaurants and posh hotel, the Quil Ceda Creek Casino was the place to celebrate your mom’s 67th birthday or your brother-in-law’s promotion at Best Buy. If the resort casino is a high-heeled stiletto, the Quil Ceda, or the Q for short, was a pair of loafers — comfy, sturdy and fits just right. All that changed in February, when Quil Ceda Creek Casino opened its new location just off Exit 199 in Tulalip. After one final night of gambling, the former Quil Ceda Creek Casino closed for good after nearly 40 years — only to have the new location, just across the street, open eight hours later, with a ceremonial blessing from Tulalip Tribes.

40 WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021

The main entrance at the new Quil Ceda Creek Casino in Tulalip.

WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021 41

The Keg Bar at the new Quil Ceda Creek Casino will feature local craft beer and Northwest wines.

By the numbers 126,700 square feet 1,500 gambling machines 192 types of slot games 16 table games 76 video screens 11 restaurants and bars 1,752 parking stalls

The Landing is the casino’s fine dining restaurant, focusing on farm-to-table fare.

Though the new location is bigger, sleeker and more state-of-the-art than the old Q, the designers did their best to keep the old casino’s fun-loving aesthetic and simple, down-home charm. “We weren’t looking to replicate the resort,” said Lorraine Cebollero, vice president of marketing at Tulalip Resort

Casino, adding that the old casino eventually will be torn down. “We wanted that cozy ambiance and places where folks could feel at home.” Tribal officials did not disclose the casino’s construction cost. In designing the new casino, management went to the experts. They brought together focus groups of

42 WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021

hundreds of Q regulars to find out what they wanted in a new venue. What they found helped shape the new Quil Ceda Creek Casino. “The regulars told us that they like the resort for what it is,” Cebollero said, “but they loved the comfort and intimacy of the Q. They felt like it was an extension of their family. They said it didn’t feel too bright or clean. It was a place where you could get tucked into little corners and really enjoy yourself.” Keeping that intimate feeling in a building that more than doubles the square footage of the previous property was tricky. The designers used variations in the casino’s ceiling to create a

The Kitchen host seven different restaurants, offering customers a wide range of cuisines.

feeling of intimacy. Also despite 50% more gambling machines, more room between the units gives the place a less-congested feel and creates spaces to get lost in. The casino added 500 gambling machines, bringing its total to 1,500, and three more table games, including two new ones: EZ Baccarat and Craps with Fire Bet. Outside of gambling, the new Q offers casual and full-service dining, a live entertainment lounge and three full-service bars. The Kitchen, the casino’s casual eatery, is a food hall concept where customers can check in, choose what they want to eat and pay quickly and efficiently before sitting down to dine. Cebollero said they wanted variety, but didn’t want a food court, which has plenty of options but is clunky and frustrating for customers who want diversity in food options, she said. The food hall approach is much like a food court in appearance — frybread station here, burritos over there and

steak and burgers in the middle — but customers can pick and choose what they want and pay only once. There are seven restaurants in The Kitchen: Bake ‘n Brew; Breakfast 24/7; Burgers, Steaks and Fish; Pestos; Between Break; Frybread & Soup and World Flavors. The Kitchen incorporates green design, such as windspeed ovens and induction technologies, reducing energy consumption and waste. Also, catalytic converters dissipate grease into water and CO2, making overhead vents obsolete. “From the front door to the back door and beyond, the restaurants at the new Quil Ceda Creek Casino will be the ‘greenest’ in the Northwest,” said Belinda Hegnes, interim executive vice president of Quil Ceda Creek Casino. The Landing, the casino’s fine-dining restaurant, will focus on farm-to-table fare from local farms, while also showcasing uniquely designed paddles by tribal artists. The casino will have three bars,

including the Keg Bar, which will feature local craft beer and Northwest wines. Smack dab between the Keg Bar and The Landing is The Stage, the casino’s entertainment venue. With enough seating for nearly 200 guests, The Stage has one large, well, stage with a giant LED screen background, and is flanked by a pair of 19-foot-wide curved video walls. Cebollero said that local musicians and comedians will grace the stage, as well as more well-known acts. A six-floor parking garage with spots for nearly 1,070 cars, stands next to the casino. There are plans to build a hotel on the new site. But for now, the Q will have to leave that to its big sister to the north.

If you go The new Quil Ceda Creek Casino, 6221 31st Ave. NE, Tulalip, is open 24/7. Go to quilcedacreekcasino.com or call 360-7161700 for more information.

WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021 43

ANCIENT

CATTLE

Snohomish rancher raises a rare breed of British horned livestock that’s been around since the 13th century

Two of Burt DeGroot’s ancient white park cows relax in a pasture on Ebey Island between Everett and Marysville.

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Burt DeGroot gets a reaction from one of his cattle. He’s raising about 90 of the rare livestock.

STORY BY SAR A BRUESTLE

hen you see Burt DeGroot’s cows for the first time, you might feel like you’re visiting a zoo. You’re not that far off. DeGroot, of Snohomish, owns a rare breed of ancient white horned cattle. They’re known for their distinctive appearance and grazing preference. Like a lone zookeeper, DeGroot, 64, doesn’t have a ranch or any ranch hands. He’s a one-man show. DeGroot loads and separates the cattle by himself. Without his own land in Washington, he rents pastures for grazing on Ebey Island, Camano Island and Whidbey Island. His kids call him the “Cow Whisperer” — but he said that’s just the nature of the breed. They are docile, easy-calving and surefooted. “They’re the easiest cattle I’ve ever worked with,” he said. “They’re common-sense cattle. They listen like sheep and they follow you.” In 1989, there were only about 20 purebred cows of breeding age in North America. Now, just 30 years later, there are about 1,300 breeding cows in the U.S. and Canada. The ancient cattle were listed as threatened by the

•

PHOTOS BY KEVIN CL ARK

American Livestock Breeders Conservancy in 2012. “I guess once you get close to pushing 2,000 of them, they don’t call them ‘endangered,’” DeGroot said, adding that the Livestock Conservancy only counts DNA-tested cattle. “But that can go backwards real quick.” Ancient white park cattle have been documented in Great Britain since the 13th century. In fact, there are still several herds roaming the British Isles that date from that time. Descriptions of their distinctive white coats and U-shaped horns pop up in historical documents. Their island-based origin isolated the cattle, therefore making them more genetically distinct than other heritage breeds. The wild cattle had “park” added to their name when they were fenced in, or “emparked,” by Henry III. A few ancient whites were evacuated to Canada from England just before World War II. Winston Churchill ordered the “national treasures” be sent to North America for safekeeping. Their calves were born at the Toronto Zoo. Over the years, Churchill’s cattle were moved from Ontario to the Bronx Zoo in New York, and then to King Ranch in Texas, where they were maintained as a

WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021 45

DeGroot is breeding the cattle to maintain the genetics of the ancient population and increase their numbers.

closed herd for 40 years. In the 1980s, the cattle were dispersed to establish several conservation herds in the U.S. and Canada. One of those conservation herds is B Bar Ranch in Montana. DeGroot purchased 11 ancient white park cattle from B Bar Ranch in Montana in 2013. With conservation in mind, DeGroot is breeding the cattle to maintain the genetics of the ancient population and increase their numbers. “I just like history, so I thought I’d get a few of them,” he said. “If I can help bring the breed back, I can not only raise some great beef, but have a story behind it. I thought if I could do something like that, it makes it more worthwhile.” In 1989, breeders formed the Ancient White Park Cattle Society of North America to monitor the status of the population. These breeders work to conserve some genetic variants that are now rare or have disappeared in the British population. Members have agreed to reach 200 breeding cows before the cattle could be sold to other breeders. After that, they’re able to sell 10 cows and 1 bull. Which is exactly what DeGroot bought from the ranch in Montana. DeGroot has been around cattle all his life. He grew up milking cows on his family’s dairy farm in Lynden. Then he moved to Idaho and trimmed dairy cows’ hooves for 12 years. He kept his ancient white park cattle in Idaho for a

time. But when he got a job in Snohomish, he took his cows with him. Since 2013, DeGroot has recorded 117 cow births. He has about 90 cattle in his herd today — four bulls and about 86 cows. About 50 of his cows are due to have calves in April. His population has multiplied 13 times in eight years. He started with 11 cattle in 2013, counted 38 animals in 2015 and, at his most, he had 143 ancient whites in 2019. “They do multiply very fast,” he said. “They’re like rabbits.” The breed is identified by its white coat accompanied by colored points — black around their eyes, ears, nose and hooves. A few of the cattle are born solid black, expressing a recessive gene for color that runs through the population. DeGroot has three black cattle. “Every one in 12 will be born black,” he said. “But the white is the strongest gene, and so the black ones will end up having all white calves.” Even rarer in America is another recessive gene that, when expressed, the cattle are born with red-colored points. DeGroot has been trying to breed in the red traits for years. He doesn’t have one yet. “You might see one in 250 cattle,” DeGroot said. “If I get one, nobody is going to touch it, because it is rare.” He’ll plans to take some of his cows to B Bar Ranch soon to try once more to breed calves with the coveted “red ears.”

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We’re going to try to get a bull that will throw me some red ones, because they are purdy. It gives you something to talk about.” — BURT DEGROOT

A ancient white park calf rests in the Ebey Island pasture. Since 2013, DeGroot has recorded 117 cow births.

“We’re going to try to get a bull that will throw me some red ones, because they are purdy,” DeGroot said. “It gives you something to talk about.” Ancient white park cattle also are athletic and lean in appearance. The cows can range in size from 1,000 to 1,200 pounds when mature; the bulls between 1,500 and 1,800 pounds. The light-colored, black-tipped horns curve out and then up in a U shape. The cows’ horns continue to twist as the animals age, while the bulls have shorter horns that curve forward with age. The ancient breed should not be confused with the American white park, a polled beef breed developed in the U.S. after World War II, or the polled dual purpose British white. In addition to raising his own cattle, DeGroot works as a farmhand for Sno-Valley Farms Inc. in Snohomish and sells corn seed as an area manager for Fraser Seeds based in British Columbia. Don’t ask DeGroot to sell you a purebred cow unless you’re planning to start your own herd. He won’t sell her for the meat nor if you have plans to cross breed her. “There is very limited supply of these cattle,” he said. “You have to keep in mind that not that long ago they were almost gone.” As a heritage breed, ancient white park cattle don’t have as many issues as the more common breeds. They don’t have calving problems, they don’t need their hooves trimmed, they don’t escape electric fences and they

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DeGroot discovered the ancient white park breed in a Seed Savers catalog.

don’t need to feed as much. What’s more, they don’t need to be sheltered in a barn. The only drawback he can think of? Ancient whites don’t mature as fast as their commercial counterparts. An angus steer can go to the market in 20 months. An ancient white won’t be ready for another six months. Even then, DeGroot said the marbled meat is worth the wait. “What can I say? They’re a rare breed,” he said. “They’re a joy. I never thought I’d have animals that were a joy to take care of — not a chore, but a joy.” DeGroot’s on the look out for more pastures in Snohomish and Island counties to rent so he can expand his herd of ancient whites. As it is now, he doesn’t have the acreage to keep more than 100. Most herds are kept on pastures 24/7, where they are free to roam and graze, without shelter or supplementary feed. Aggressive grazers, these cattle actually prefer rough terrain — think blackberries and thistles. “I’ve sold some because I don’t have the space,” he said. “If I had a place to put them, I probably wouldn’t have sold any of them because they’re still on the threatened list.” Where are his cows? Some of DeGroot’s cattle are at home on Bell’s Farm, a family operation that’s been around since 1946. Most famous for its strawberries, the Coupeville farm also offers pasture-raised lamb, mutton, pork and — more recently — beef. Owner Kyle Flack found out about DeGroot’s cattle via Craigslist. He was interested in ancient white park cattle

The heritage breed is identified by its white coat and U-shaped horns.

for their demeanor and diet. He planned to run cattle and sheep together — meaning they’d graze as a mixed herd. As a bonus, the cattle deter coyote attacks. “They’re very protective of their young,” DeGroot said of the white cows. “They’ll run a stray dog, deer, coyote off the field.” Flack, 33, said he wasn’t interested in commercial breeds like black angus. An ornery breed, Flack figured they’d be just as much, if not more, trouble as the coyotes. He was willing to take any heritage breed — after all, the cows he wanted are rare — but he was lucky and got his top pick. He purchased five cows from DeGroot two years ago, followed by another 20 last year. Bell’s Farm now has 28

48 WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021

cows and 31 ewes. Ever since he purchased the cows, Flack hasn’t had any coyote problems. “When I had just sheep grazing, I had to really be on guard for coyotes,” Flack said, adding that none of his animals are housed in barns. “But my cows will actually line up and face down any coyotes lurking around the fence. They’re a comfort.” DeGroot didn’t find out about the breed via Craigslist. He saw an ad for ancient white park cattle in a Seed Savers catalog in 2011. That’s right, Seed Savers Exchange isn’t just about saving seeds. “I got the Seed Saver magazine and was like, ‘What is this?’ ” DeGroot said. “ ‘I’ve never seen a cow like this before.’ ” He said that’s the reaction he got when neighbors saw his white cattle grazing on his family’s farm in Lynden. He took them there to give birth in 2013. “They said, ‘Burt, what is this stuff? What are these cattle? I’ve never seen them before,’ ” DeGroot said. “I said, ‘No you haven’t!’ They said, ‘These cattle look like they came out of a zoo.’ I said, ‘They did come out of the zoo.’ ”

SOUNDVIEW SCHOOL Ethical, rigorous, and compassionate.

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More information Are you interested in purchasing heritage beef or starting your own herd? Burt DeGroot can be reached at 208-5735294 or camanograssfedbeef@gmail.com.

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WASH I NGTON NORTH COAST MAGA ZI N E | SPR I NG 2021 49

Why I love it here

CYNTHIA ANDREWS

KEVIN CLARK / COAST

Cynthia Andrews outside Homage Senior Services in Lynnwood.

y best career move was turning 50 years old. But I didn’t know it at the time. When I turned 50, I literally thought that life as I knew it was coming to an end. But, to my surprise, that is when I started living. No one told me life after 50 is fun, adventurous and enlightening! I thought I was the only one who figured out this secret, so I launched a podcast, wrote articles and began public speaking all about “Living It Up After 50.” I like to refer to myself as an aging enthusiast. What is an aging enthusiast, you ask? Well, for me, it’s all about loving the aging process. Not just recognizing and accepting it, but thoroughly enjoying it. We’ve all heard the saying “Old age isn’t so bad when you consider the alternative” — but it’s more than just not dying. It’s about living life to the fullest every day. I moved back to Everett four years ago, and it’s proven to have been a great decision. I grew up in Everett — I attended Whittier Elementary School and Everett High School (Go Seagulls!) and Everett Community College, where I worked as an African American student adviser after graduation. My family moved here when I was 9. I still remember the smell of the pulp and paper mills and the haze from the smokestacks that swirled overhead as us kids played. I’ll never forget that stink. It reminded me of cooking collard greens.

I stood out growing up here because there weren’t many African Americans in 1970s Everett. That experience shaped my life. I learned to stand up for what I believe in and support many causes. I raised my three children to have the heart to do the same. My mission to support older adults has continued in Snohomish County. I’ve been the senior marketing and communications manager for Homage Senior Services for three years. I am the editorial lead of the organization’s monthly publication — also titled Homage — distributed with The Daily Herald, as well as a lead advocate for legislation affecting older adults. Also a member of several committees on aging, I’m doing all that I can to address the aging issues of our communities. Did you know that by the year 2030, the population of people 60 years and older in Snohomish County will have doubled? Some are aging in place, and others are moving here. I have a great love for our beautiful parks and waterways, where active seniors can get out and enjoy nature. I love that there’s a lifestyle around arts and entertainment here — especially because I love to dance. Most of all, I love that my family is close by. I have the opportunity to watch my nine grandchildren grow up in a place that I will forever call home. This is the true fountain of youth. That’s why I love it here.

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More about Cynthia Cynthia Andrews, 60, is the senior marketing and communications manager for Homage Senior Services. She was the executive director for Central Area Senior Center in Seattle from 2006 to 2013. Andrews serves on the boards of the Snohomish County NAACP, Seattle Girls Empowerment Foundation and the Seattle chapter of The Girl Friend Inc. She also is the host of the Blog Talk Radio show “Living It Up After 50.”

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