January 26, 2022 North County Outlook by The North County Outlook

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Make a statement with your wedding cake By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com Wedding cakes have changed since the pandemic started. “A lot of couples wanted to go convenient,” said Jessi Graves, owner of Simply Caketastic in Marysville. She bakes three-tofive wedding cakes a week during the season that can start as early as May and go into October. She’s seeing couples go with a small cutting cake that would be for the wedding party and then cupcakes for the guests. The cake would have a top tier for a couple to hold on to until the first wedding anniversary. “It’s a lot easier and people really liked the idea.” A lot of couples are getting married outdoors either in a barn or a beautiful field and some want the cake that will help serve as a backdrop for the natural surroundings. “A lot of people are liking the look of organic,” Graves said adding cakes will be decorated with some kind of greenery such as

ferns or eucalyptus and a tree round used as a cake stand. Brides and grooms may pour over every detail of their weddings, but few components of the festivities may be as fun, especially for foodies, as deciding what the wedding cake will look like. Couples who want to deliver show-stopping visuals often express some measure of their creativity and personalities through statement wedding cakes. Many couples now eschew the classic three-tiered white cake in favor of a dessert that garners instant attention. Whether the cake is brightly colored or hand-painted, a towering architectural marvel or shimmering in metallics, couples are opting to make a statement with their confections. Apart from clever cake-toppers, here are ways to stand apart when dessert is served. nAccording to the Perfect Wedding Guide, a rising trend in cakes is to cover a white or naked cake with translucent glaze tinted in the couple’s wedding colors. This ar-

tistic expression can be especially stunning in boho-chic weddings. nStatement tiers also are popular. The cake may be traditional in nearly every way, but couples then set the cake apart by featuring an elaborate design or a different hue in one tier. nMartha Stewart Weddings advises that more than just color can be used to make a statement. Lifelike sugar flowers can really set cakes apart. Guests may not be sure if they can consume all aspects of some cakes. But delicate sugar flowers taste as good as they look. nHand-painted tiles on a cake are another way to add panache. A bride and groom may be inspired by a European vacation or the stained-glass effects of religious windows and want to add that feel to the tiers of the cake. Graves said couples sometimes go in the opposite direction going with a big cake with layers, pillars fountains and butter cream. Those styles of wedding cakes were popular in the 70s and 80s and are a trib-

ute to their parents. nSometimes a statement comes by way of texture. Even an all-white cake can be dressed up with interesting textural effects. Ruffles, lace, embossing, and 3-D rosettes are different textural components that can be incorporated in cake designs. nCouples also may want to tell their unique stories with cake. Individual tiers designed to reflect various milestone moments from the couple’s relationship can be quite engaging. nCapitalizing on the trend of edgier weddings, couples may opt for darker hues on their cakes — even a black tier — or nontraditional geometric shapes to the cake itself or its design elements. Graves said getting a cake maker is one of the last vendors couples should contact. They should have a caterer, venue and a guest count established. She encourages people to have a budget in mind for the wedding cake. “It depends on what they want

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Wedding cakes come in a variety of styles. to spend on it,” Graves said. “It’s more of making sure of what’s important on wedding day.” She has been making wedding cakes in the Marysville area for more than a decade. For more information, check out www.simplycaketastic.com, or call 360-653-3113. “We’re just happy to see people getting out and have weddings again,” Graves said.

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Picture perfect wedding day photography tips By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com Few things document weddings more effectively than photographs. Carefully curated wedding albums and portraits hung on walls serve as daily reminders of a couple’s special day. Photography is often left in the very qualified hands of professional photogra-

phers. However, couples can help make their photos really pop. These picture pointers from industry insiders can help couples put their best smile forward. “What I kind of find is helpful is to schedule an engagement session ahead of time,” said Michael Curtis, owner of Michael Curtis Photography based in

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Arlington. An engagement session helps the couple develop a rapport with the photographer, practice posing for photographs which will make them more comfortable on the wedding day. Another thing couples should consider is having a hard copy of their photos. “Another thing bride and grooms overlook is having prints made or a wedding album,” Curtis said. “Having printed images is a great way to go.” He added that photos

can get lost if they are stored in the cloud and electronic storage formats change and become obsolete over the years. There was a time when photos used to be stored on DVD or disks. Leave ample time A carefully orchestrated timeline can ensure photos are the best they can be. Why? Because a couple who is relaxed and not overwhelmed will notice that attitude translates to their photographs. When planning wedding timelines,

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couples should leave ample opportunities for getting dressed, chatting with the wedding party and going through various photography settings to grab great photos, advise the experts at Martha Stewart. Couples should also factor in the amount of time it takes to travel between wedding locations as well as the time it takes to set up and tear down gear, Curtis said. Put together a short list The photographer will have his or her ideas of which shots to cover, but a couple with specific goals in mind should relay that information to their photographer. For example, if a grandparent is getting up in years, request some solo photos of that person so you can look back on happy times together. Certain couples want to be snapped posing with a beloved pet. Putting that on the list helps

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ensure it will happen. Curtis said he will also send out a questionnaire for the bride and groom to fill out. Play your style safe A wedding day is not a time for the bride or groom to try a dramatic new style, according to photographer Amanda Lamb. Resist the urge for a daring cut or color. It’s also likely not the place to try out new facial hair or heavy makeup. A couple unaccustomed to the way they look may be shy in front of the camera. Curtis encouraged people to have a phone consultation with a potential photographer. A couple should check out a photographer’s images online. Not only critique the image quality, but also the photographer’s style in processing photographs. He added that a lot of trends in photography come and go over time. Delve into the details Prepare wedding details, like gowns, shoes, accessories, etc., in advance to save time once the photographer arrives, suggests Desi Mendoza, a pro from Dez and Tam Photography. Invest in a beautiful hanger for the wedding gown as well, because you may want to photograph that on its own. Going with a professional means going with someone who has a top-quality camera as well as a back-up camera and familiar with wedding venues in the area. A photographer will also take the time needed after an eight-hour wedding shoot to winnow down the thousands of images they shoot and edit into a package a newly married couple will cherish.

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Vol. 15 No. 19 n January 26, 2022 - February 1, 2022

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MARYSVILLE • ARLINGTON • SMOKEY POINT • LAKEWOOD • TULALIP • QUIL CEDA VILLAGE

Community gives back on MLK Day By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com Youth and community volunteers gathered to create care kits and backpacks for those in need at the Marysville YMCA on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The day is often called the MLK Day of Service as individuals are encouraged to go out and do service in their community. JJ Frank, executive director of the Marysville YMCA and one of the even organizers, said the day is really focused on one of King’s most famous quotes: “Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others? '” Multiple different kinds of care packages were made, including kits for Marysville seniors stuck in isolation, for homeless individuals and for victims of domestic violence. See MLK on page 2

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Tulalip Bay Fire District firefighters in a training exercise.

Tulalip Bay FD levy on Feb. 8 ballot By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com

PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER ANDERSSON

Volunteers help create some care packages during the MLK Day of Service on Jan. 17 at the Marysville YMCA.

Voters in the Tulalip Bay Fire District will decide on a property tax levy measure this February that would fund local emergency response services. Ballots have been mailed out for the Feb. 8 special election and completed

ballots can be dropped off at any of the Snohomish County ballot boxes. Tulalip has a ballot drop box at 6722 Totem Beach Road near the youth center. The levy measure would increase the district’s levy collections from $1.23 per $1,000 of assessed property

See LEVY on page 2

MSD, Tulalip boards discuss issues ____ The two boards discussed the MPHS mascot and the superintendent hiring process By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com Members of the Tulalip Tribal Board and the Marysville School Board met on Jan. 21 to discuss ongoing work between the two groups. The Marysville School District’s Board of Directors has seen a big turnover in the last year with four new members. Board president Paul Galovin is the sole member who has more than a year of experience.

“The purpose of this meeting is to bring these two boards together, hopefully for the start of a very strong and positive relationship,” said Marysville School District Superintendent Chris Pearson. The two boards discussed the Marysville Pilchuck High School mascot issues as well as the hiring process for the next superintendent. The district is being required by state law to change the mascot at MPHS unless receiving a resolution from a local tribe allowing the use of Native imagery. The Tulalip Tribes did deliver a letter after a public vote allowing the mascot, although legally that

wasn’t sufficient to meet state law. “That happened at our semiannual meeting which doesn’t carry the legal weight of our general council,” said Misty Napeahi, a Tulalip Tribal Board member. The tomahawk symbol is contentious in the Tulalip Tribes with many for and many against its use as a mascot. “It’s a symbol, or a mascot, that is creating a lot of division in our communities and we feel that is it important to help our constituents understand the issues with that mascot,” said Napeahi. “There’s probably going to be two sides, maybe even three, on this issue, which is what makes it

“

The purpose of this meeting is to bring these two boards together, hopefully for the start of a very strong and positive relationship.

____

Chris Pearson

such a tough issue,” said Tulalip Tribal Board member Mel Sheldon Jr. Sheldon said he was uncomfortable setting a precedent of holding a second vote when the first already took place. The semi-annual meeting the

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vote took place at had less attendance than normal, likely due to COVID, but it still had enough to meet the Tribes’ constitutional quorum amount. Because of COVID the Tulalip

See BOARDS on page 4

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MLK Continued from page 1

Fifty-two of the care packages were made for Marysville’s Grandview Village retirement community. “Some of the seniors living there have been isolated for 18 months now,” said Frank. “Some of our elementary school students wrote some personal letters that we put in as part of those packages." LINC NW, a Marysville-based nonprofit organization, also helped with the event. “We had previously been working with Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County and the police department to build support backpacks,” said Ryan Brown, executive director of LINC NW. Volunteers helped to assemble more of those backpacks with hygiene kits and other necessities. Sometimes during a domestic violence incident, victims will need to spend a night or more at a hotel and the backpacks provide supplies to help those individuals. “It is a way for officers to support the victims,” said Brown. Finally, community members helped to build cold weather kits that could be given to homeless individuals to help them through winter weather. “So they have a hand warmer, gloves, socks and things like that,” said Brown. About 20 backpacks for victims of domestic violence and 30 winter care kits were assembled as part of the event. “It was a wonderful day,” said

LEVY Continued from page 1

value to $1.50 per $1,000. “The last levy we ran was in 2018 and we got it passed at a rate of $1.50 per $1,000 [of assessed property value],” said Ryan Shaughnessy, fire chief of the district. “So we’re asking for a renewal at the rate of $1.50 per $1,000." In Washington state fire districts are limited in the total amount they can increase their levy collections each year.

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Volunteers help pack away some care packages assembled by community members during the MLK Day of Service on Jan. 17 at the Marysville YMCA. Brown. “We were able to socially distance outside and it only rained for a little bit.” A number of groups came out to support the event, including the Marysville Pilchuck High School Black Student Union, Marysville Getchell High School students and the Marysville Fire District. “Right now we have to find ways to work together because there’s a lot of people who are in need,” said Frank. Donations to provide the supplies for the kits were provided by the Marysville Soroptimists, the Marysville Fire District and the YMCA.

“Our maximum allowed increase for what we collect is only 1 percent each year, and that can’t keep up with rising costs,” said Shaughnessy. Because of those restrictions and the fact that home values tend to rise each year, the property tax rate tends to decrease if no additional measure is proposed to voters. The annual one percent increase in collections is also typically not enough to keep up with the rising costs of wages, health insurance and equipment.

“One way we can keep Dr. King’s dream alive is working together, especially during this pandemic, to meet the needs of people who have been isolated,” said Frank. Brown said the goal of LINC NW is to help community groups connect. “Being able to partner with the YMCA and establish that sense of volunteerism is really what the heart of MLK Day of Service is about,” he said. Frank hopes the YMCA can host more service projects, like the recent MLK Day of Service, possibly on a quarterly basis, he said.

“This is really about continuing our operations. The cost of doing this business has increased, just like it has for all businesses, over the last four years,” said Shaughnessy. Due to COVID the district has changed a lot about how they operate, said Shaughnessy, including providing more paramedics. He said they would like to be able to continue with those efforts. While the levy is largely about maintaining the current level of operations, Shaughnessy said the district hopes to add a paramedic position if the levy passes. They also hope to begin saving money to eventually remodel their current station, which is not up-todate on seismic standards and is becoming older. “We’re constantly out

for repairs these days,” said Shaughnessy. “So we do have to start saving some money to eventually get this station up to the current seismic standards,” he added. The Tulalip Tribal Board have given their support for the levy. “We have an official letter of support from the Tulalip Tribal Board,” said Shaughnessy. Shaughnessy wanted to recognize Tulalip residents who have typically come out to vote to fund the district in the past. “We’ve always had an overwhelming amount of support from the community here,” he said. Shaughnessy said those with questions about the levy are welcome to call or email him or any of the commissioners. Contact info is available at tulalipbayfire.org.

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January 26, 2022 - February 1, 2022 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

COVID hospitalizations reach new peak in county By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com Snohomish County continues to see unprecedented COVID numbers as the hospital occupancy in the county nears 100 percent. “As of this morning there is only one intensive care unit bed and 26 regular beds available in Snohomish County hospitals, so occupancy is virtually 100 percent,” said Snohomish Health District Health Officer Dr. Chris Spitters during a Jan. 18 press briefing. The reported cases went down to 11,927 during the week of Jan. 2, which is a decrease from the previous week of 13,383 cases. The current surge eclipses previous waves, as before December 2021 there had never been a week in the county with much more than 2,000 reported cases.

Projections from the University of Washington predict that Jan. 2 will be the peak of the current surge, according to Spitters. “Hospitalizations, however continue to rise, with 222 beds, which is about 30 percent of all beds available, filled with COVID patients,” he said. “This is double the prior peak which was around 110 to 120." The peak in hospitalizations typically comes two weeks after the peak in case rate. “The situation with the healthcare system is likely going to get worse before it gets better,” said Spitters. Hospitals are running out of space and any increase will likely mean less time and care for all patients, even those not dealing with COVID. “Do we reach a point where we

have no beds left? With two weeks to go I hope that is not the case, but it is conceivable. At that point it is something to be managed between the healthcare system and the state,” said Spitters. “You have to move in to crisis staffing where normal patient-tostaff ratios are stretched greater to do the most good for the greatest number of people,” he added. Assistance is being sent to some hospitals around the state. “Last week Gov. [Jay] Inslee announced deployment of non-clinical National Guard personnel to several hospitals around the state, including Providence Regional Medical Center here in Everett,” said Spitters. Those who are dealing with emergency medical situations should still go to a hospital, but those who can delay a hospital

visit should consider doing so. “We encourage people to use the emergency room only for true medical emergencies. Please don’t go there if you just have a mild respiratory illness and want to get a COVID test,” said Spitters. People in legitimate need of help should still seek out medical treatment though. “If you do have an emergency such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, an injury, severe abdominal pain, symptoms of stroke or something like that, do not delay going to the emergency room,” said Spitters. Additional testing resources are still being set up by the county and the Snohomish Health District. County executive Dave Somers said it is sometimes difficult to navigate.

“You can’t have resources sitting around and doing nothing and we do stand some of that down without knowing what’s coming next,” he said. COVID tests will likely miss the height of this recent surge, but are still necessary, said Somers. “That testing capacity is important for getting us back on our feet,” he said. “There is an inevitable lag because we can’t predict [the next surge].” An additional mass vaccine site that is capable of providing vaccinations to anyone over the age of 5 has also been set up near the Everett Mall. More information about that site is available at snohd.org/ everettmallvax. “In Snohomish County, almost 75 percent have initiated vaccination and it’s about 67 or 68 who have completed it,” said Spitters.

Marysville State of the City set for Feb. 1 By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring will give his State of the City address to the public in February. The address will be given at the Marysville Opera House at 1225 Third St. on Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. The event is free to the public. “The mayor has done the State of the City address for several years and will continue this year,” said Connie Mennie, communications manager with the city of Marysville. “People can come inperson or watch it live on the city’s Facebook page,” she added. Last year’s event was held online while previous years it has been held at the Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce or at the Marysville Opera House. “This is a blend of both of those options and gives people a choice,” said Mennie. “We’re just trying to make it available to as many people as possible." Nehring plans to speak about what has been happening in the city over the last year. “The address highlights the city’s accomplishments of 2021 and it also looks forward to what the city hopes to do in 2022,” said Mennie. That includes topics such as new investments in policing and the effects of law enforcement reform at the state level. “That has been a topic of interest for a while,” said Mennie. Marysville has made investments in recreation projects over the last few years that will be touched on as well.

“At the city level we have also opened up some new parks and trails,” said Mennie. Transportation and infrastructure is always an important duty of cities, said Mennie, and some up-

coming projects will be discussed. The biggest road project this year was meant to be a new I-5 interchange that would connect to SR-529 and the downtown area, although the project’s fund-

ing has hit a roadblock because of inflation and supply chain problems which Nehring plans to discuss at the event. “There is a lot going on as the city is getting bigger,” said Mennie.

The event is typically held over an hour, with the address lasting 40 minutes and the final 20 minutes being reserved for questions from the audience. City staff plan to take questions again this year.

“You can ask questions at the Facebook Live page or at the event,” said Mennie. “We generally have the department directors there as well and they are able to help with questions if needed,” she added.

January 26, 2022 - February 1, 2022 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

Communities

Renaissance Unmasked art exhibit comes to Shack

The exhibit from the Onyx Fine Arts Collective features work of Black artists from the Seattle area

By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com

A collection of art from Pacific Northwest artists of African descent is now showing in Snohomish County at Everett’s Schack Art Center. The exhibit will be available until Feb. 17 and is free for all ages. The center is at 2921 Hoyt Ave., Everett. The collection comes from the Seattle-based Onyx Fine Arts Collective, a Seattle-based organization that runs an annual juried exhibition. “Onyx is a nonprofit, all volunteer organization. We don’t own or buy the artwork we display,” said Earnest Thomas, president of the organization. Artists of African descent from the Pacific Northwest submit each year to the exhibit. This year there were 93 submissions and 72 pieces accepted. Thomas said the organization only has limited exhibition space and therefore can’t accept every piece of art every year. This year’s exhibit is titled ‘Renaissance Unmasked: The Re-Birth of Black Brilliance.’ Local Black artists have

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contributed a number of different art pieces to the exhibit. “I’ve come to find that artists’ own experience will be brought out in their visual communications,” said Thomas, who is an artist himself, although not a formally trained one. “It helps to bridge the communications gap in our communities,” he said. There is often a preconceived notion that Black artists will only produce pieces that simply portray Black people, said Thomas. “Go with an open heart and an open mind,” he said. “There is a huge range to the art styles.” Pieces at the exhibit range in their medium, subjects and the colors that they use, said Thomas. The exhibit comes to Everett in a partnership between the local center and the Onyx Fine Art Collective. “We were approached by the Shack Art Center and they asked if we wanted to travel our exhibit down to their center,” said Thomas. The collective was started a little more than 16 years ago after the two most prominent Black artists from the Seattle area passed away in the same year. “This begged the question about who else in the African American community was doing artwork in

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An art piece titled ‘King Basquiat’ by Myron Curry that is being featured at the Everett’s Schack Art Center.

Seattle,” said Thomas. They found a couple of Black women at first but hoped to promote the broader community. “We thought there must be more than two artists out there,” said Thomas. From those beginnings the organization expanded each year, to eventually having more than 500 participating artists on their mailing list. More information on the Onyx Fine Arts Collective is available at onyxarts. org.

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BOARDS Continued from page 1

Youth Council, who have opposed the tomahawk symbol in the past, were not able to attend either. “We have a golden opportunity where there was a lot of information missing on our end and at the Tribes' end. That information could have been used when bringing up a vote,” said Galovin. “We would hope that this kind of an issue gets less surprise and more voices." The Tulalip Tribal Board also hopes to have their voices heard during the district’s search for a new superintendent which is scheduled to be completed in mid-February. Tulalip officials hope that they have the opportunity to talk and meet with the new superintendent. “I would just continue to advocate that we have space in there that it is a little different than a public meeting so we can provide some context for this district,” said Rochelle Lubbers, chief administrative officer for the Tulalip Tribes.

Board members have said there have been times when they don’t feel their input was taken into consideration. “When Becky Berg [Marysville’s superintendent from 2013-2018] was brought in they had three candidates and brought them to the Tulalip Tribal Board. We recommended a different candidate at that time,” said Napeahi. She said they hope to meet the new superintendent regardless, but don’t want to make a formal recommendation if it’s not going to have weight. “What’s hurtful for our relationships is when we our told our voices are going to be listened to,” and then they are not, she said. School Board member Keira Atchley said the board members want to take the Tulalip Tribal board’s input and hope to explain directly if they come to a different decision. “At least we can walk through that and we can all meet at the table,” she said. “We don’t’ want to leave you guys out."

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Weddings

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January 26, 2022 - February 1, 2022 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

Make a statement with your wedding cake Wedding cakes have changed since the pandemic started. “A lot of couples wanted to go convenient,” said Jessi Graves, owner of Simply Caketastic in Marysville. She bakes three-tofive wedding cakes a week during the season that can start as early as May and go into October. She’s seeing couples go with a small cutting cake that would be for the wedding party and then cupcakes for the guests. The cake would have a top tier for a couple to hold on to until the first wedding anniversary. “It’s a lot easier and people really liked the idea.” A lot of couples are getting married outdoors, either in a barn or a beautiful field, and some want the cake that will help serve as a backdrop for the natural surroundings. “A lot of people are liking the look of organic,” Graves said, adding cakes will be decorated with some kind of greenery such as ferns or eucalyptus and a tree round used as a cake stand.

Brides and grooms may pour over every detail of their weddings, but few components of the festivities may be as fun, especially for foodies, as deciding what the wedding cake will look like. Couples who want to deliver show-stopping visuals often express some measure of their creativity and personalities through statement wedding cakes. Many couples now eschew the classic three-tiered white cake in favor of a dessert that garners instant attention. Whether the cake is brightly colored or hand-painted, a towering architectural marvel or shimmering in metallics, couples are opting to make a statement with their confections. Apart from clever cake-toppers, here are ways to stand apart when dessert is served. n According to the Perfect Wedding Guide, a rising trend in cakes is to cover a white or naked cake with translucent glaze tinted in the couple’s wedding colors. This artistic expression can be especially stunning in boho-chic weddings.

n Statement tiers also are popular. The cake may be traditional in nearly every way, but couples then set the cake apart by featuring an elaborate design or a different hue in one tier. n Martha Stewart Weddings advises that more than just color can be used to make a statement. Lifelike sugar flowers can really set cakes apart. Guests may not be sure if they can consume all aspects of some cakes. But delicate sugar flowers taste as good as they look. n Hand-painted tiles on a cake are another way to add panache. A bride and groom may be inspired by a European vacation or the stained-glass effects of religious windows and want to add that feel to the tiers of the cake. Graves said couples sometimes go in the opposite direction choosing a big cake with layers, pillars fountains and butter cream. Those styles of wedding cakes were popular in the '70s and '80s and are a tribute to their parents.

n Sometimes a statement comes by way of texture. Even an all-white cake can be dressed up with interesting textural effects. Ruffles, lace, embossing, and 3-D rosettes are different textural components that can be incorporated in cake designs. n Couples also may want to tell their unique stories with cake. Individual tiers designed to reflect various milestone moments from the couple’s relationship can be quite engaging. n Capitalizing on the trend of edgier weddings, couples may opt for darker hues on their cakes — even a black tier — or nontraditional geometric shapes to the cake itself or its design elements. Graves said getting a cake maker is one of the last vendors couples should contact. They should have a caterer, venue and a guest count established. She encourages people to have a budget in mind for the wedding cake. “It depends on what they want

COURTESY PHOTO

Wedding cakes come in a variety of styles.

to spend on it,” Graves said. “It’s more of making sure of what’s important on wedding day.” She has been making wedding cakes in the Marysville area for more than a decade. For more information, check out www.simplycaketastic.com, or call 360-653-3113. “We’re just happy to see people getting out and have weddings again,” Graves said.

Picture perfect wedding day photography tips Few things document weddings more effectively than photographs. Carefully curated wedding albums and portraits hung on walls serve as daily reminders of a couple’s special day. Photography is often left in the very qualified hands of professional photographers. However, couples can help make their photos

really pop. These picture pointers from industry insiders can help couples put their best smile forward. “What I kind of find is helpful is to schedule an engagement session ahead of time,” said Michael Curtis, owner of Michael Curtis Photography based in Arlington. An engagement session helps the couple

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develop a rapport with the photographer, practice posing for photographs which will make them more comfortable on the wedding day. Another thing couples should consider is having a hard copy of their photos. “Another thing brides and grooms overlook is having prints made or a wedding album,” Curtis said. “Having printed images is a great way to go.” He added that photos can get lost if they are

stored in the cloud and electronic storage formats change and become obsolete over the years. There was a time when photos used to be stored on DVD or disks. Leave ample time A carefully orchestrated timeline can ensure photos are the best they can be. Why? Because a couple who is relaxed and not overwhelmed will notice that attitude translates to their photographs. When planning wedding timelines,

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couples should leave ample opportunities for getting dressed, chatting with the wedding party and going through various photography settings to grab great photos, according to the experts at Martha Stewart. Couples should also factor in the amount of time it takes to travel between wedding locations as well as the time it takes to set up and tear down gear, Curtis said. Put together a short list The photographer will have his or her ideas of which shots to cover, but a couple with specific goals in mind should relay that information to their photographer. For example, if a grandparent is getting up in years, request some solo photos of that person so you can look back on happy times together. Certain couples want to be snapped posing with a beloved pet. Putting that on the list helps

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January 26, 2022 - February 1, 2022 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

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Wedding flowers becoming larger than life Couples in Snohomish County who are getting married are favoring a more organic look when they are choosing flowers for their wedding. “We have some brides wanting a more natural look of going into a field and picking a bouquet,” said Jodi Sugg, owner of What’s Bloomin Now, in business for nine years and operating in the Smokey Point area. She is seeing a lot of brides want to see a fuller bouquet with fewer flowers and more greens. Couples are also using arbor-based pieces that feature such eye-catching details as wooden arches. Instead of long piece of fabric as a table runner, Sugg said she will hand tie greenery, such as eucalyptus that has a pleasing aroma, along the length of the table. Such natural-looking details often help complement the wedding locale. “A lot of venues are so beautiful to begin with.” A traditional cascading bouquet remains popular, Sugg said. Such bouquets

feature bolder colors and jewel tones such as purples and blues. During the holiday season in December, she designed a Christmasthemed bouquet with reds and greens. Since the start of the pandemic, she is seeing smaller weddings with couples sometimes having two ceremonies; the first is a small ceremony in front of a justice of the peace and the second being a larger one. Sugg encourages couples to “not think about individual flowers, but an individual look.” Like other industries, during the pandemic, Sugg said the floral business is experiencing supply chain issues and it’s uncertain what flowers are available. The blooms brides and grooms choose and how they decide to display them can say much about the couple’s style. Many modern couples are opting for statement pieces with their flowers to rival the big and bold ideas they’re incorporating elsewhere into their occasions, such as in cakes

and clothing. In fact, floral designer Tom Uberuaga says traditional hurricane vase centerpieces are outdated and only focus the eye on the middle of the table. He prefers guests enter the wedding and have their senses stimulated by flowers from all angles. Large flower installations, as well as blooms popping up in unexpected places, are some of the hot trends for couples to keep their eyes on. Floral chandeliers There’s no need to worry about seeing over table centerpieces or flowers getting in the way of photo moments. Thanks to hanging flowers and floral chandeliers, flowers are quite literally moving up in the world. Hanging floral pieces can add instant drama and make a large visual impact. Florists can hang flowers from beams over tabletops to increase visual impact, whether as individual baskets, single stems or floral swags. Hanging floral chandeliers are dramatic but naturally expensive. Think about a large installation that forces

guests to look up into a sea of greenery and flowers. The smell and the sight can be breathtaking. Welcome wreaths Why should wreaths only be reserved for front doors and holiday decor? A welcome floral wreath can be placed by the entryway to a chapel or reception hall with a heartfelt sentiment that shows guests how much they’re appreciated. Fairy-tale flowers A floral curtain of hanging flowers can line a chuppah or drape the altar in beautiful blooms. Couples who would like a fairy-tale entrance also can make their debut as a couple by coming through a flower curtain at the reception. Martha Stewart Weddings says a cascade of flowers and greens can be romantic and elegant. Dance floor blooms Who says flowers have to be overhead or on a table? With a plexiglass dance floor, or one made from some other transparent material, flowers can be underfoot, creating a magical floral carpet.

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There are a wide variety of options when it comes to wedding flowers Floral necklaces Brides needn’t carry their bouquets, they can wear ethereal and whimsical floral pieces around their necks or on their waists instead. Sugg said couples should have an initial meeting with a florist around six months before a wedding. “I like to see what their thought process is,” Sugg said. Couples should prepare

for the meeting. They should bring pictures of what they like to have as well as swatches of their bridal gown and tuxedo to see what colors complement the wedding wardrobe. She said there are instances where couples have worked together to decide on flowers. “A couple of grooms helped in picking the flowers,” Sugg said.

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Cleo

"All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible." Author —T. E. Lawrence Submitted by North County Outlook editor Scott Frank.

RAVE RAVE: A big thank to everyone who turned out at the Marysville YMCA to volunteer their time during the recent MLK Day of Service. It's a great way to help others in our community and to remember and honor the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. RAVE: I encourage everyone to support the Marysville School District's Educational Programs and Operations Levy, and the

North County Outlook is published every Wednesday and mailed direct to households and businesses in Marysville, Arlington, Smokey Point, Tulalip and Quil Ceda Village. Letters to the editor, community news and story ideas may be e-mailed to editor@northcountyoutlook.com, or sent to the mailing address below. The Publisher reserves the right to edit material for content, grammar, taste, style or length, and all submitted items are published at the sole discretion of the Publisher.

Cleo enjoying the outdoors with her person, Randy Anderson.

Send us photos of you and your pet The North County Outlook has a weekly feature titled Our Best Friends. Community members can send us photos of them with their pets and we will elect one to run in that week’s issue. To submit a photo, please send it to editor@northcountyoutlook.com. Please include the names of the people and pets in the photo.

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Technology and Capital Projects Levy that are on the Feb. 8 special election ballot. It's important that we support our children and a "Yes" vote will provide them with the educational opportunities they deserve.

RAVE: I look forward to the ArlingtonStillaguamish Eagle Festival Feb. 4-5. There is a wide variety of fun and educational activities that my whole family will enjoy. Hope to see you all there.

Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sue Stevenson Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scott Frank Staff Writers . . . .Christopher Andersson, Nathan Whalen Display Ad Sales . . . . . . . . . . Carole Estenson, Jim Jackson Graphic Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Christina Poisal Office Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leah Hughes-Anderson Contributing Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Smith

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n WHISTLING GARDENER

Bare root trees, roses have arrived

Bare root plants are It is finally time to just that, plants that get the new gardening have no soil on the roots season started. Spring and hence their roots are will be here before we bare. Before these plants know it and it’s good arrived at the garden to be ahead of the center, they were growgame instead of playing By Steve Smith catch-up for the rest of the year. ing quite happily on a farm someWhile January may feel too early where, perhaps as far away as the to think about planting, I can as- Midwest. Last fall, a farmer with sure you that garden centers are a fancy piece of equipment cut busy bringing in new stock in an- off half of their roots and yanked ticipation of us all getting ‘the bug’ them right out of the ground. All to get back outside. January is the remaining soil was washed off and perfect month to start shopping they were then stacked, graded, for roses, fruit trees, berries and and stored in a cooler until it was grapes, along with other shrubs time to be shipped. In the past when they arrived at that are dormant this time of year. Most of these plants are sold as the garden center, they would be what is known as “bare root”. Let heeled into a sawdust bed where they would stay until purchased me take a moment to explain.

or until they started to leaf out (usually the end of March for the northwest). In today’s garden centers, you will rarely find sawdust beds anymore. Bare root plants are instead now potted up at the time they arrive, which makes them easier to care for. As a customer, at some garden centers, you now have the option to have the tree removed from the pot and placed into a plastic bag for immediate planting when you return home — this saves you money and makes transport a whole lot easier. In a perfect world, you should already have the planting spot decided, dug and ready to receive the new tree before bringing it home. In the case of roses and other shrubs that came into the nurs-

ery bare root and were recently potted up, when you go to plant them expect the plants to fall away from the rich soil in the container. Don’t panic. You can blend this soil along with some transplanting fertilizer into the hole and everything will be fine. In my opinion, the biggest disadvantages of bare root trees are that they are only available January through the end of March and that they are only ordered once a year. If you have your heart set on a certain variety of fruit tree or rose, you should definitely shop early. When they are gone, that’s it for another 12 months. When I purchased my garden center over 30 years ago, we sold a wide variety of plants directly out

of a sawdust bed in the bare root state. Over those 3 decades, the trend has moved to growing berries, grapes, rhubarb, and many shrubs in containers, which gives you a more established plant that may even produce its first season. Thankfully, you can still find trees, especially fruit trees, in a bare root state. Now is the time to take advantage of that option. Check them out at your favorite local garden center where you can find the best selection of regionally appropriate varieties and the expertise to help you make them grow.

Steve Smith represents Sunnyside Nursery in Marysville, and can be reached at sunnysidenursery@ msn.com.

Lakewood tops Archbishop Murphy 66-65 By Nathan Whalen nathan@northcountyoutlook.com A competitive game with multiple lead changes saw Lakewood top Archbishop Murphy 66-65 on Jan. 22. Lakewood coach Anthony Wiederkehr complimented Archbishop Murphy and how they have improved throughout the season. “Every time we made a run, they responded,” Wiederkehr said. “It was actually incredibly even.” The first quarter saw the game knotted up at 14-14, and at halftime the Cougars led 28-27. Lakewood was leading by one point, 49-48,

at the end of the third quarter. “I bet there were 15 lead changes in the game,” Wiederkehr said. At one point during the third quarter, Lakewood was up by nine points then Archbishop Murphy went on a 10-0 run. With about 90 seconds to go in the fourth quarter, Lakewood found themselves down by five points. Junior guard Mason Weller and senior forward Blake Conyers each scored threepointers putting Lakewood ahead by one point, Wiederkehr said. Conyers scored 30 points with 11 rebounds against

Archbishop Murphy. Wiederkehr said the Jan. 22 game was the third time in four games Conyers scored 30 or more points. Senior guard Justice Taylor scored 12 points, had nine assists and nine rebounds, which is short of a triple double. “That’s really hard to do in high school,” Wiederkehr said. The Jan. 22 victory against Archbishop Murphy was the second game in as many nights for Lakewood. Jan. 21 saw the Cougars travel north to face Lynden Christian. Lakewood came up short 83-51. “I thought they played really well,” Wiederkehr

said. The Cougars were even with Lyndon Christian during the first quarter but were down by 14 points at halftime and the Lyncs pulled away in the second half. Wiederkehr noted that Lynden Christian is the top-ranked 1A team in the state and Lakewood was returning to competition after having several weeks of games canceled. Five games were canceled or postponed in January and three games were canceled or postponed in December. He said he feels the team is starting to get their feet under them. Lakewood has five games in seven days to finish the season with

only one taking place at home. The Cougars travel to Mount Baker Jan. 28 and Marysville Getchell Jan. 29. Lakewood’s home finale takes place Feb. 1 against Meridian and then they

travel to Lynden Feb. 2 and Squalicum Feb. 3. “We’re just trying right now figuring out what we’re doing offensively and defensively to get into the playoffs,” Wiederkehr said.

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