Nov. 25, 2020 North County Outlook

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A Special Supplement to North County Outlook • November 25, 2020

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November 25, 2020 - December 1, 2020

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

Surging COVID-19 cases cause Search continues for return of business restrictions missing Tulalip officer Officer Charlie Cortez has been missing since Nov. 17 after his Tulalip Tribal Fish and Wildlife boat capsized

The local economy has struggled through the pandemic and will now have to face a return of restrictions

By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com

By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com Snohomish County and Washington state continue to see unprecedented COVID-19 numbers and are now seeing a return of some lockdown measures.

The Snohomish Health District reports the COVID-19 two-week average daily case rate at 280.8 per 100,000 people as of Nov. 14.

That eclipses the previous two-week average record of 186.8, which was set the previous week.

Health district officials See COVID on page 7

PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER ANDERSSON

Kassidy Aldrich, manager for the Creamery Co. in Marysville, cleans the front counter on Nov. 20.

The search continues for Tulalip Tribal Fish and Wildlife officer Charlie Cortez, presumed dead after his boat capsized near the Tulalip Bay on Nov. 17.

As of press time on Nov. 23, county and tribal crews were still working to look for Cortez.

On Nov. 17 Officer Cortez and Tulalip Tribal Wildlife Boat Captain Shawn Edge were conducting a patrol and investigating potential poaching, according to Niki Cleary, Tulalip Tribal Police Public Information Officer.

During their return trip

COURTESY PHOTO

Tulalip Tribal Fish and Wildlife officer Charlie Cortez.

to Tulalip Bay the boat had to battle with a changing tide, a river surge and dangerously high winds.

The vessel capsized at 8:47 p.m. and both officers were thrown into the water at that time.

At 11:47 p.m. Edge was found near Hat Island Marina, having survived for

See CORTEZ on page 2

Police collect coats for local children

By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com

Marysville police officers continued their annual coat drive on Nov. 21 to collect warm clothing for local kids in need.

The drive was started by a local detective who coached baseball and brought in players from the local Venom Baseball league to gather coats for families.

Players from Venom Baseball still volunteer to help during the event.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to get together with our community and support folks in their greatest time of need,” said Chief Erik Scairpon, with the Marysville Police Department.

The coats are handed out at the Marysville Toy Store, a program put on to provide holiday gifts to local families in need every year.

“This year we have 1,700 families registered for the toy drive, which has exceeded all prior years of demand,” said Scairpon.

The coat drive was scaled back this year because of the pandemic.

“We usually do four or five independent coat drives during the season, but because of COVID we’ve brought that back to one,” said Marysville Police Commander Mark Thomas.

See COATS on page 2

PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER ANDERSSON

Damon Gilbert hands a donation of coats to Marysville Police Officer Dave White during the Marysville Coats for Kids drive on Nov. 21.

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November 25, 2020 - December 1, 2020 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

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COATS Continued from page 1

They usually try to gather 600 to 800 coats, and are still trying to reach that mark this year, said Thomas.

Those who wish to donate to the coat drive can still drop off coats or monetary donations to the Marysville Public Safety Building on Grove Street.

There will likely be more families requiring help with things like coats this year, said Scairpon.

“It goes without saying that this year has been tough on all communities, but certainly our community here has been affected by the pandemic. I know folks are out of work and I think that’s one of the reasons the need is even greater this year,” he said.

Scairpon said he hopes the event can help local children in need.

“While we have beautiful weather today I know kids are going to need coats so they can get out and play,”

CORTEZ Continued from page 1

about three hours in 50-degree water.

The boat itself was found between Hat Island and Jetty Island.

Multiple agencies responded with a coordinated search mission, including Tulalip Tribal Police, Tulalip Bay Fire and the Snohomish County Sheriff ’s Office.

The search area covered Edmonds to Deception Pass, as Officer Cortez could have been swept a long distance due to winds if he was wearing a personal flotation device.

“Later Wednesday [Nov.

PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER ANDERSSON

Marysville Police Sergeant Rick Sparr carries some of the donated coats during the Marysville Coats for Kids drive on Nov. 21. he said.

Many local youth with Venom Baseball again came out to help with the drive, such as Booth Seigel.

“We did it last year and we were handing out flyers,” he said. “We wanted to help people without coats."

18], the Incident Command received new information and agreed on more focused search areas, utilizing drift, tide, current, and wind to determine where Officer Cortez would most likely be found,” according to Cleary.

The U.S. Coast Guard suspended their search on Wednesday, but local agencies continued to search.

On Thursday teams continued with assistance with sonar provided by Pierce County, the Seattle Police Department and the Snohomish County Sheriff ’s Department.

“NOAA began mapping the shelf near Jetty Island, and the U.S. Navy brought in sea bots out of Langley

Booth said he had fun last year competing between other groups.

“We actually had a competition last year between who could give out the most flyers,” he said.

Scairpon said he enjoys efforts like the drive that get

___

police out to meet the community.

“I appreciate the opportunity for the community to support us,” he said. “We really care about the food bank. The work they do is tremendous and we’re happy to be a part of that."

“

We will continue to search. Please keep the family and community in your thoughts and prayers while we work to bring our fallen officer home.

____

Niki Cleary

and Bangor, which map up to 500’ in-depth,” said Cleary.

Friday, the search was focused on the area where the vessel is believed to have capsized between Everett and Tulalip.

“NOAA again scanned the area with their cuttingedge technology while

”

Tulalip Tribal Police and Snohomish County Sheriff ’s office co-coordinated grid searches,” said Cleary.

An aircraft was launched Friday during the lowest tides to search some of the estuary and small island areas near Tulalip Bay. Search crews are rotating to manage fatigue and resources, said Cleary.

“We will continue to search. Please keep the family and community in your thoughts and prayers while we work to bring our fallen officer home,” she said.

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November 25, 2020 - December 1, 2020 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

Arlington approves 2021-22 budget ___ “

By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com

The city of Arlington's 2021-22 budget will retain reductions to departments made this year in order to hold through the uncertain economic times of COVID-19.

The COVID pandemic makes it difficult to project sales tax revenue, one of the main sources of funds for cities.

Earlier in the pandemic Arlington staff prepared for reductions as they expected reduced sales tax funds.

"Back in the spring of this year I worked with our directors and did some budget reductions," said Paul Ellis, city administrator for the city of Arlington.

That included a 10 percent reduction in the budget of every department.

Ellis said most of that came from reducing travel and training expenses, although the city didn't cut any mandatory training.

There are also staff members who were not replaced.

"We had some positions that people have vacated and were waiting to be filled," said Ellis, and the city hasn't begun hiring for those yet.

"We carried those budget reductions into the 2021-22 budget," said Ellis.

The economic forecast does look a little better now than it did this spring. And it is still hard to say, and we're not in a good shape, but it is better.

____

Paul Ellis

On Nov. 16 the Arlington City Council approved the next biennium budget, which included no new discretionary programs and kept the cautious budgeting of earlier this year.

"We were really following the regional economic forecasts and bracing for some impacts down the road," said Ellis.

How large an upcoming recession will be is still up in the air though.

"The economic forecast does look a little better now than it did this last spring.

And it's still hard to say, and we're not in a good shape, but it is better," said Ellis.

The City Council has the ability to amend the budget later, and if the situation improves they can add new expenses to it.

Ellis expects they will take another look at the budget next year.

"We think we'll have a better idea by the spring.

We will have a first quarter

”

picture for the year," he said.

Although no new projects were added as part of the budget, facility and road projects that were started this year will continue.

"We still have some capital projects that are being funded through grant funds," said Ellis. "Those will still move forward."

However, new hires and new projects have been put on pause.

"There are some discretionary items that we are holding off on," said Ellis.

Arlington staff hopes to fill empty positions eventually.

"Some of the positions that are empty right now, often due to retirement, are pretty key positions," said Ellis, such as some parks and communications positions that are currently empty.

Ellis said the city does like to keep their staff upto-date on a variety of training as well, and want to resume those non-mandatory

COURTESY IMAGE

Arlington's projected spending of their general fund in their approved 2021-22 budget. training when possible.

No one was laid off in the new budget because any incoming recession is not expected to be as lengthy as the 2008 recession.

"It's not very cost effective to lay off staff and then

re-hire them in short order," said Ellis during the Nov. 2 City Council meeting.

During the last recession the city of Arlington used most of their reserve funds.

"While the economy was good the council has been

building it back up," said Ellis, and the approved 202122 budget is not expected to eat into those funds that much.

"We're trying to preserve that fund and be cautious with our budget," he said.

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November 25, 2020 - December 1, 2020 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

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AHS benefit concert Marysville firefighters will support food bank food drive goes virtual AHS students will live-stream a concert to raise funds to purchase a food truck for the food bank

By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com Arlington High School students will be live-streaming a benefit concert in December to help the local food bank raise funds for a food truck.

The free virtual concert will benefit the Arlington Community Food Bank. It will be broadcast at theahseagle.com on Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m.

The singer, Blue Moon Boy, makes kids music, so families with young children and encouraged to tune in.

Many students got behind the idea of helping the Arlington food bank after they met with officials who ran the organization and met with them in September.

"The food bank director gave us a lot of information on how much of our community is food insecure," said Anne Hayman, an English and journalism teacher at Arlington High School.

Since the pandemic about 60 percent of the community has had trouble getting enough food, said Hayman.

"That works out to be 18 in a class of 30," said Hayman.

"Some students have acknowledged that their families are struggling to make ends meet right now," she said, which is a fact that has helped encourage students to support the cause.

"Before COVID one of the things there were trying to do is raise funds for a food truck," said Hayman.

The Arlington Community Food Bank covers the 98223 ZIP code, which extends far out into the county into areas near Silvana and Darrington.

"There are so many people who need the food bank but are unable to get there," said Hayman.

Arlington students from the school's drama depart-

ment, journalism department and leadership decided that the food truck would be the project they wanted to support.

"As a group we sat down and figured out ways to raise that money," said Hayman.

The first event to support the food bank will be the benefit concert broadcast out of the Byrnes Performing Arts Center.

Journalism students are preparing to run the broadcast.

"This is a way to get set up in the streaming world as well," said Hayman, who added that journalism students hope to broadcast school sport later this year.

"We'll have a couple of the drama students doing a sort of telethon," during the concert.

Blue Moon Boy is the stage name for teacher Ben Ballew, who will provide the children's music.

"He is an incredibly entertaining and charismatic guy," said Hayman.

"He does it just because he loves music," she said.

The donation link will also be at theahseagle.com.

The annual community service tradition for the Marysville firefighters union will continue this year with an online drive

By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com

Money is going straight to the Arlington Community Food Bank.

Arlington students hope to do one event or promotion each month to support the food bank.

For January that could be a live-streamed video game tournament, although that plan may be changed or pushed back to a later date and for February the plan is likely a drama production, said Hayman.

The students have been excited to something productive for the community, she said.

"The students are really looking for something positive to do," said Hayman, "even if is from their homes and planned through Zoom."

Marysville firefighters will continue their tradition of collecting for the Marysville Community Food Bank with a virtual drive this year.

Funds can be donated at gofundme. com/f/marysville-firefighters-food-drive.

Donated money goes directly to the Marysville food bank.

"This is put on every year by the Marysville Professional Firefighters Local 3219 [the local firefighter's union]," said Ben Williams, a Marysville firefighter and the organizer of this year's virtual drive.

He said local firefighter's have been holding this holiday season drive for more than 35 years now.

"This is a deep part of our union's culture," he said.

Firefighter's usually go out to the Marysville Safeway as part of the drive.

"Each year we have four different shifts and each shift will go out for a day and stand in front of the Safeway," said Williams. "At the end we have a friendly competition to see which shift raised the most."

Santa Claus comes out for the drive and they get to meet a lot of local residents.

"It's a fun way to go out there and sup-

port the community," said Williams.

Last year the effort raised $4,723 in cash and 1,754 pounds of food, and is typically one of the larger holiday drives for the food bank, according to Williams.

"It's a fun thing and everybody looks forward to it," he said.

The COVID-19 pandemic makes collecting safely more difficult though, and local firefighters would likely be unable to go out even if they wanted to.

"None of the stores were going to allow it this year because of COVID," said Williams.

"We were very disappointed. This has been a stronghold for us."

Local firefighters didn't want to let the tradition end though.

"We wanted to brainstorm the best way to do it," and decided on a virtual drive on the crowdfunding website gofundme.com.

Williams said the drive has supported Marysville in the past and firefighters wanted to continue that.

"I think that this has had a large benefit to the community as well," he said. "We expect there to be more need this year because of COVID as well."

The Marysville Community Food Bank provides a great service to the community and Williams said that Marysville firefighters want to support that.

"There's no reason anybody should be going to bed hungry," he said. "As union members we have good working conditions and we feel that it is important to give back to the community."

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New program meant to help businesses adapt during COVID

By Christopher Andersson christopher@northcountyoutlook.com The NW Innovation Resource Center's new Project ReInvent is meant to help businesses and recently unemployed individuals adapt to the COVID pandemic.

The resource center serves the Puget Sound area and usually provides programs to help entrepreneurs gain the skills or equipment they need.

"Over the last 10 years we've developed quite a few programs that help people pursue new ideas for themselves," said Diane Kamionka, executive director of the NW Innovation Resource Center.

The organization typically provides support for project management and running a business. Those same types of programs could help small businesses attempting to branch out from their typical markets, said Kamionka.

"We realized that many businesses that are unable to operate as they usually

have right now could benefit from some of the same programs," she said.

There are many different businesses that have reduced demand at this time because of the COVID pandemic and could use help pivoting to new directions.

"If you have a small machine shop and your customer base is diminished because of the economy," said Kamionka. The Project ReInvent program is meant to show business owners how they can put together some new avenues to pursue for your business.

Kamionka hopes the program can support the local economy and retain more jobs.

"It would help those small businesses that are not able to maintain their workforce at this time," she said. "We're creating a new focus for them and hopefully building some more resiliency."

The program is also meant to help recently unemployed workers.

"We're also helping dislocated workers who have always wanted to try something or start a business but never had the time," said Kamionka.

Those workers can share their skills and take workshops on how to manage their own business.

"If there are those out there able to start a business or create a product with their idea, that generates more workforce as well," said Kamionka.

The program is from the NW Innovation Resource Center and WorkForce Snohomish is collaborating with the organization.

"They have a large responsibility for the dislocated workers in the county," said Kamionka.

The program officially started on Nov. 9.

"What we've done is

taken a series of our programs that would normally be done face-to-face and recorded them," said Kamionka.

Those videos will provide the basic foundation of information, after which participants will receive more personalized help.

"After that we can help the individual one-on-one in ways to pursue their ideas," said Kamionka.

Local governments have been supportive of the initiative, said Kamionka.

"The Snohomish County government has also been very supportive of the program," she said. "The cities and mayors have all been very positive as well."

Business owners or individuals looking for more information can go to nwirc. com/programs/project-reinvent/.

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November 25, 2020 - December 1, 2020 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

5

Arlington expands COVID relief grants The city of Arlington has expanded its Business Rent and COVID-19 Relief Grant with funding from Snohomish County Businesses must meet the eligibility criteria: have a physical location in Arlington city limits (not including home occupancy businesses), have a current City of Arlington business license, have 50 or less full time employees (including owner, not including parttime employees), have been negatively impacted by COVID-19, are applying for eligible lease/rent/mortgage payments or other qualifying expenses, be at least 51% majority owner in the business, and have a business recovery/sustainability plan.

Businesses who have received a City of Arlington Business Rent Relief grant or Snohomish County

Small Business Relief, Recovery, and Resiliency grant are ineligible for this grant.

The city has $117,000 to distribute to qualifying small businesses for grants up to $3,500 to cover expenses related to COVID-19. E ligible costs include payment or reimbursement of existing and current lease/ rent/mortgage payments, or increase in expense related to COVID-19, improvements necessary to meet safety requirements, or other COVID-19 related expenses. Documentation of expense is required.

The grant application is open and closes November 30 at 10:00 a.m.

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ASD Board earns award for second year in a row The Arlington Public Schools Board of Directors has been named a Board of Distinction by the Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA) for the second year in a row.

The board members were recognized on Nov. 19 during the WSSDA Annual Conference. This is the third time the Arlington School Board has been recognized with this honor.

Of the 295 school district boards in the state of Washington, Arlington was one of 25 boards to earn this honor for 2020.

The Boards of Distinction program is designed to encourage boards to examine their practices as governing bodies and how their actions and decisions impact the success of students.

National research on the Washington State School Board Standards shows a correlation between board actions and student outcomes. Those recognized as Boards of Distinction have reviewed their decisionmaking and shown how that is tied to positive student outcomes.

“An ongoing focus of the school board is to eliminate barriers, increase access to learning, and close opportunity gaps that exist for our students,” said Dr. Chrys Sweeting, Superintendent.

“One of the ways the district addressed this was by investing in technology to ensure every student has access to a Chromebook computer. This is critical when a majority of our students are currently engaged in distance learning. We are honored to receive the Board of Distinction award.”

“I think every school district deserves an Award of Distinction right now,” agreed Judy Fay, Board President. “Amid chaos, teachers, staff, parents, and students are finding order and creating new ways of teaching and learning. I am honored to be a part of this new process with Arlington Public Schools.”

The Board consists of Mike Ray, Sheri Kelly, Judy Fay, Mary Levesque, and Marc Rosson. High school student advisors include Faith Graf and Madeline Andrich.

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Wednesday, November 25, through Tuesday, December 1 Wednesday, November 25 Sunrise 7:30 am • Sunset 4:20 pm

Sunday, November 29

Thursday, November 26 Sunrise 7:32 am • Sunset 4:20 pm

Monday, November 30 Full Moon Sunrise 7:37 am • Sunset 4:17 pm

2:03 am 7:37 am 1:44 pm 9:04 pm

3:09 am 8:34 am 2:11 pm 9:31 pm

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High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

7.7 ft 3.8 ft 10.7 ft 2.7 ft

8.5 ft 4.5 ft 10.6 ft 1.0 ft

Friday, November 27 Sunrise 7:33 am • Sunset 4:19 pm 4:01 am 9:25 am 2:37 pm 9:56 pm

High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

9.2 ft 5.2 ft 10.5 ft 0.3 ft

Saturday, November 28 Sunrise 7:34 am • Sunset 4:18 pm 4:45 am 10:10 am 3:03 pm 10:21 pm

High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

9.8 ft 5.7 ft 10.4 ft -0.3 ft

Sunrise 7:36 am • Sunset 4:18 pm

5:23 am 10:51 am 3:29 pm 10:49 pm

5:58 am 11:32 am 3:57 pm 11:20 pm

High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

10.4 ft 6.2 ft 10.2 ft -0.9 ft

10.8 ft 6.6 ft 10.0 ft -1.2 ft

Tuesday, December 1 Sunrise 7:38 am • Sunset 4:17 pm

6:32 am 12:12 pm 4:27 pm 11:54 pm

High Tide Low Tide High Tide Low Tide

11.1 ft 6.9 ft 9.8 ft -1.5 ft

Source: Mobile Geographics LLC NOT FOR NAVIGATION North County Outlook assumes no liability for damages arising from the use of these predictions. They are not certified to be correct, and they do not incorporate the effects of tropical storms, El Nino, seismic events, continental drift or changes in global sea level.

6

November 25, 2020 - December 1, 2020 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

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Our Favorite Quotes

Our Best Friends Snow

"Pride slays Thanksgiving, but a humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow. A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves."

Author ­— Henry Ward Beecher Submitted by North County Outlook editor Scott Frank.

n LETTER TO THE EDITOR Thanks for letting voters decide on annexing to North County RFA

directly to the Fire Authority. This stabilizes funding for fire/EMS as call volumes and costs increase.

Arlington firefighters already partner with the Fire Authority on certain positions, programs and services. Annexation would make these cost-saving measures permanent, provide more emergency resources for city residents and improve training opportunities for firefighters.

Thank you for considering our request,

Firefighters want to thank the City Council for placing annexation of the Arlington Fire Department to North County Regional Fire Authority on the February election ballot for voters to consider. Annexing to the Fire Authority would protect the quality and level of emergency services for city families and businesses.

Now, our fire department has to compete with all other city services for funding. With annexation, property owners would pay a dedicated fire and EMS levy

COURTESY PHOTO

This is Snow. A 10-year-old full-blooded Newfie. She recently gained her Angel Wings and we miss her greatly. Mommy and Daddy are Jenean and Doug Hoban.

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.

Captain Greg Koontz, President Arlington City Firefighters, IAFF Local 3728

North County Outlook is published every other 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.

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COVID

Continued from page 1

have put a daily case rate of 25 per 100,000 people as the target for a safe re-opening of the economy.

Before the recent three-week surge, the highest the two-week average case rate got to was 129.1 cases per 100,000 people, which was set in March.

Marysville’s rate continues to be even higher than the county’s rate, as they are almost at 450 cases per 100,000 people.

The last update for Arlington, posted in early November, showed 117 active cases in the city.

As a response to the COVID-19 surge around the state, Gov. Jay Inslee recently announced new restrictions for restaurants, gyms and other businesses that took effect on Nov. 15.

Schools, childcare and court systems did not receive any new restrictions.

Restaurants are closed for indoor service and can serve a maximum of five people outside.

Retail and grocery stores are limited to 25 percent capacity.

Religious services are limited to 25 percent capacity or 200 peo-

ple, whichever is fewer, and face coverings are mandatory for those events.

Gyms and other fitness facilities, bowling alleys, museums, zoos and theaters are closed for indoor service.

Private indoor gatherings of people outside your household are prohibited unless everyone involved has had a 14-day quarantine or a 7-day quarantine with a negative COVID-19 test.

Outdoor gatherings are still allowed under the new restrictions as long as they are limited to five people or fewer and done with face coverings.

For business owners that have lived through the initial lockdown, it is tough to see progress slip away.

"There's one half of me that really wants to be positive and use this as a pivot point to find creative ways to be a part of the community,” said Rickelle Pegrum, owner of The Creamery Co. in Marysville. "The other half of me is just very frustrated."

The end of summer saw many positive trends for the economy, said Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring, but those are further away now.

"It's tough to go through this the first time, but now also to go back,” he said. "There's a lot of fear that some may not be able to make it through."

Many businesses have been hoping for a further loosening of restrictions, but with COVID-19 cases at record highs that doesn’t appear to be in the immediate future.

"No one planned to have a pandemic go on this long and it's very tough,” said Arlington Mayor Barbara Tolbert.

The restrictions are hard on many different businesses. The Stillaguamish Athletic Club had been a slow reopening process and had allowed clients back in the gym, but now that has been reversed.

“With the new restrictions we are once again closed to our members but the pool is able to operate with water classes, swim lessons and lap swimming,” said Rob Dickson, owner of the Stillaguamish Athletic Club.

For small business owners, the year has been a stressful one.

"Being a small-business owner is tough even in the best of times,” said Pegrum.

"I slept for four hours last night

November 25, 2020 - December 1, 2020 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

just because I couldn't shut my head off," thinking of ways to expand or make up some lost funds during the pandemic, she said.

Local businesses have lost revenue which makes it difficult to keep their workforce, as well.

“Business-wise, we have had over 50 percent of our members either cancel completely or asked to have their account suspended until further notice,” said Dickson. “We have also gone from 40 employees to about five. We feel very badly for them as they are also struggling financially."

City officials are still trying to support the local economy with outreach and financial assistance.

"The business owners that I've talked to have been struggling to get through this,” said Nehring.

Tolbert said that local business owners and city officials meet often.

"Business owners have had concerns with childcare, about the affordability of doing digital business,” she said. "We've been trying to do everything we can at the city to help."

Both Marysville and Arlington recently received county funds to support businesses.

"We're trying to do everything we can to get grant money out,” said Nehring. "We encourage business owners to go to our website to see what is available."

Arlington’s grant application process is still open with a deadline of Nov. 30 to apply. The city can provide up to $3,500 in grants to businesses located in Arlington that have not received a grant yet and have had hardships because of COVID-19.

Application for the grant are available at arlingtonwa.seamlessdocs.com/f/rentgrant.

Pegrum wanted to thank Marysville residents for their help in March.

"I'm hopeful and really grateful for our community. They really rallied behind us that first time and there's no reason to think they won't again,” she said.

She appreciates the support of the city as well.

"They really did help lift us up,” she said.

Nehring said that the pandemic is a danger to both people and the local economy.

"We're concerned all around, about both the business community and people's safety,” Nehring said.

Legal Notices LEGAL NOTICE SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR SNOHOMISH COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF FRANCES R. SCARFONE, Deceased, NO. 20-4-01722-31, PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS, RCW 11.40.030 THE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE NAMED BELOW has been appointed as personal representative of this estate. Any person having a claim against the decedent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to the personal representative or the personal representative’s attorney at the address stated below a copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the court in which the probate proceedings were commenced. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) Thirty days after the personal representative served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(1) (c); or (2) four months after the date of first publication of the notice. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim is forever barred, except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.40.051 and RCW 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the decedent’s probate and nonprobate assets.

DATE OF FIRST PUBLICATION: November 25, 2020.

Personal Representative: Ida Click Attorney for Personal Representative: Bradley E. Neunzig, WSBA #22365 Address for Mailing or Service: P.O. Box 188, 103 North Street, Arlington, WA 98223 Court of probate proceedings and cause number: Snohomish County Superior Court, Cause No. 20-4-01722-31.

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November 25, 2020 - December 1, 2020 NORTH COUNTY OUTLOOK

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n WHISTLING GARDENER

A gardener's list of things to be thankful for

FILE PHOTO

Spring bulbs are just one of the many things The Whistling Gardener is thankful for.

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Here are a few ery month of the of my thoughts year. on things to be W i n t e r thankful for this blooming plants Thanksgiving...

- I am thankB a t t e r y ful for the many powered tools By Steve Smith plants that will - Many of you bloom in our may know that I love my mild winters and carry us leaf blower for all the work into the spring season. No it can do in places where matter what time of year it is difficult to rake with- it is, there is always someout removing all the gravel thing coming into bloom or mulch. Over the years in this part of the country.

I have probably owned As I have said often, “It’s just about every incarna- so easy to have year ‘round tion of a gasoline powered interest that there is just no yard care tool ever manu- excuse for a boring yard”. factured. While they were Colorful foliage - I am fast and efficient, they thankful for all of the colalso came with noise and orful conifers and broadair pollution challenges. leaved evergreens that This year I have upgraded brighten up the gloomy most of these tools to bat- gray skies of winter. Glittery powered units that are tering golden yews, cedars, clean and quiet and I am cypress and Cryptomeria. extremely thankful for this Golden yuccas and boxnew technology. I highly leaved honeysuckle, varrecommend that you try iegated hollies and Pieris. some of them out.

Blues, bronzes, reds and Fall Color and Seasons oranges, every color of the - Growing up in southern rainbow is represented in California didn’t afford the plants we can grow in me much exposure to fall this mild climate zone. The color, or seasonal changes variety is astounding! for that matter. Living in Spring bulbs - You the northwest seems to can’t grow tulips, daffodils be just the right combina- and other similar bulbs in tion of fall foliage color tropical climates unless you and seasonal variations. I refrigerate them for three am thankful for our sea- months first. We have just sons that bring change but enough winter chill that all also order to my gardening we have to do is plant them world. They give me some- in the fall and up they come thing to look forward to ev- in the spring, all on their

own. Bulbs are truly a miracle of spring, for which I am very thankful for.

Pansies - I am thankful for pansies - those little troopers, that just like the energizer bunny keep going and going and going.

Regardless of what Mother Nature dishes out, they hang in there and keep smiling all the time. Their smaller cousins the violas are just as playful and a delight to have in the garden.

When it comes to durability in the garden, nothing beats a pansy.

Gardening tools - I am thankful for two-wheeled wheelbarrows, kneepads, back supports, SPF 50 clothing, mosquito repellents, Tilley hats, Hula Hoes, Cape Cod weeders and Hori-Hori knives, and all of the little gadgets that I use to make my gardening experience more enjoyable and productive.

Bulk compost - I am thankful for the companies that manufacture bulk (or bagged for that matter) compost from our food and yard wastes. They are providing us with an invaluable ingredient for successful gardening, along with helping the environment which benefits us all.

Finally, I am thankful for all of you fellow gardeners that are such good stewards of this planet we inhabit. Keep up the good work of nurturing your little plot of paradise and producing such beauty and nourishment for all of us to share and enjoy. Stay safe and keep on gardening!

Steve Smith is the owner of Sunnyside Nursery and can be reached at sunnysidenursery@msn.com.

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