Home + Work: How my dad’s cancer changed my path

In June of 2010, a month after his 61st birthday, my dad was on the phone with his boss, the mayor of Richland, and he lost his train of thought so completely that he had to hang up, ending the conversation abruptly. He called my mom to tell her about this bizarre thing that had…

Playtime: STEM Camp, floorball and roller derby

“Ready, set, schedule!” read the subject line of an email that came from the Edmonds School District sharing the 2023-24 Family and Community Calendar, among other information. I have already learned, forgotten and remembered that the next school year starts on Sept. 6 (Sept. 11 for kindergarteners. I was going to follow the directions and…

Fitness corner: Don’t let yourself quit

I have been working on this column for weeks. Not this one, exactly, or you wouldn’t be reading it. I’ve started and partially written multiple variations on various topics, even as my brain has provided and discarded many more ideas. Nothing is clicking. I am aware that my writing flow becomes compromised in challenging times….

Art Beat: All about Jazz Walk, plus an author talk you won’t want to miss

Saturday, June 3, 5 p.m. to midnight Headquarters – Coldwell Banker Bain of Edmonds  108 5th Ave. S., Edmonds The Edmonds Jazz Walk is only two weeks away. Order your tickets yoday and save. Get tickets before Tuesday, May 30 to save $15. Pre-sale price: $35 for adults $25 students (under 18) At the door:…

Playtime: Spray parks opening soon, plus $2 movies and artsy camps

Last weekend, my oldest and I took a trip to an out-of-state college for a tour of the campus and the department he is currently considering. It is wild that you can drive somewhere afraid your baby might not try something and then drive home trying to wrap your head around the fact that they…

Art Beat feature: Hilltop Elementary unveils a mural of belonging

“This is the first time we have ever done an outside assembly,” Hilltop Elementary Principal Melissa Somoza told the sea of waiting students. “Hopefully, you know why you’re here today, this started because of you.” The courtyard at the Lynnwood school was full of students, staff and representatives from the Edmonds School District gathered for…

The Writer’s Desk: The key lies in the details

A few years ago, I took a one-week poetry workshop at Kenyon College with David Baker. In that short summer class Baker shared a semester’s worth of his knowledge with the dozen or so of us new and accomplished poets. I was, and still am, a fledgling poet, yet I periodically take poetry workshops in…

Healthy eating: Garden-fresh rhubarb crisp

My garden is bursting with rhubarb right now. I absolutely adore how beautiful it looks in my garden.  It’s actually a vegetable that most people think is a fruit. Only the stalks are. It’s full of fiber, Vitamin K1 and Vitamin C too!  It’s also is a great source of anti-oxidants. Additionally, its sour taste…

Under the weather: First heat wave of year expected over weekend

Be careful what you wish for! Up to this point, the main weather complaint I’ve heard regarding weather is that people wished that it would start to warm up. After all, we’ve only had two 70-degree days on the books at Paine Field this year, both of which occurred at the end of April. Climatologically,…

Playtime: Comic Book Day, fitness expo and a high school job fair

This week brought Star Wars Day, May the 4th, as a play on “May the force be with you.” We like to celebrate by bringing out some Star Wars-themed items to display next to our year-round Star Wars items including Baby Yoda, who sits with our indoor cactuses ,and our original Yoda, who was designed…

Home + Work: Springtime blossoms provide a lesson in work/life harmony

I’ve written off spring for the majority of my life. It has always seemed like the least exciting of the seasons to me. I’ve rushed past it, wishing summer to come sooner. I’ve welcomed it begrudgingly, just happy to be rid of the snow. But now, at age 32, I (Emilie) am finding a newfound…

The Local Music Scene for May

Celebrating a Lifetime Achievement Award Edmonds resident Billy Stapleton has many awards through his musical career (including Best Slide Guitar Player) but this most recent one was a big one, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Washington Blues Society. This award-winning guitarist is still going strong, playing in three bands and continuing to push the…

Restaurant news: Explore bold world of Brazilian food at Lynnwood’s Fogo de Chão

I recently had the opportunity to attend the opening of a new Brazilian dining experience at Alderwood Mall called Fogo de Chão. The name Fogo de Chão means “ground fire,” and refers to the traditional gaúcho method of roasting meats over an open fire. It was a night to remember and it is an exciting new place to enjoy…

Under the weather: First 70-degree days of the year expected this weekend

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but at the time of writing this on Thursday evening, it’s sunny… and warm! If you pay any attention to weather (and if you’re reading this, I’d think you do), you’ve probably heard that it’s supposed to be nice this weekend. I know it’s been a hot topic (pun…

Art Beat: Mental health arts festival, poetry reading and comedy festival

With recent budget cuts to the school district arts programs, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of sadness as I put today’s column together. Art Beat readers especially know the value of art, music, dance, and theater. I hope as a community, we can press on to support local artists. Mindfest 2023: A free…

The Writer’s Desk: Bad decisions make great stories

When a protagonist makes a bad decision, it creates conflict for himself and others, and this tension is what makes us want to keep turning pages. Events alone are not stories. A series of events can become a story, but there must be motivation, struggle and resolution. Example: A girl and her brother head to the…

Under the weather: More April showers expected over the weekend

Besides a couple sporadic spring-like days, it hasn’t felt too much like spring so far, especially over the month of April. Whoever coined the adage “April showers brings May flowers” has been spot on — at least for the first half of the phrase. For the first 19 days of the month, we’ve had 2.1…

Art Beat: Gearing up for summer, plus salvaged art and a violin concerto

This week, as I’ve run into readers around town, they bring up how amazing Saturday’s Little Lies concert was! Not only was the show great, but I was thankful for the five minute drive to the venue and the close parking spot. I’m already counting down the days until they play at Taste Edmonds this…

Healthy eating: Everything But the Kitchen Sink Curry

The flavor profile of this curry is a taste of digestive health. Let’s begin with cumin, a spice traditionally associated with healthy digestion. Research indicates that cumin stimulates the pancreas to secrete digestive enzymes. A teaspoon of cumin has 15%t of your daily iron needs, along with powerful antioxidant activity (in one animal study, cumin…