Lynnwood Recreation Center hosting free workout party April 22

Lynnwood Recreation Center is inviting residents to a free workout party Saturday, April 22 so they can sample the center’s exercise classes. They’ll be providing snacks and hydration. Participants need only bring a friend or just themselves to join. The center recommends that people be there by 8:25 a.m. to secure a spot. Event schedule…

Mental Health Arts Festival debuts May 7 in Mukilteo

May is Mental Health Awareness month, and Mental Health Matters of Washington is presenting its first MINDfest Mental Health Arts Festival on Sunday, May 7. The event will run from 12:30 to 6 p.m. at the Rosehill Community Center in Mukilteo. The theme of the free community event is Celebrating the Mind and Nourishing the Soul….

Edmonds College receives $200K Verdant grant for counseling services

The Edmonds College Counseling and Resource Center (CRC) will adopt a Mental Health and Wellness Expansion Project, thanks to a $204,000 grant from the Verdant Health Commission. With the grant, the CRC is able to support two full-time counselors, which will help to significantly increase the amount of free, accessible, social justice-oriented, mental and behavioral…

Liias bill to increase access to HIV medication heads to governor’s desk 

A bill sponsored by 21st District State Sen. Marko Liias to increase access to HIV medication unanimously passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday.   The Washington Department of Health receives grant funding from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Grant Program to operate the Early Intervention Program (EIP).   EIP provides crucial support to Washingtonians living with HIV,…

Healthy eating: Tasty and nutritious soup pairs white beans and kale

Yes, kale has a good publicist, but it can stand up to its claims. Kale is high in vitamin C, calcium, and potassium. A study by Harvard researchers found a strong association between participants’ levels of optimism and their levels of carotenoid antioxidants (found in green and orange vegetables such as kale, sweet potatoes, collard…

Frozen organic strawberries and a tropical fruit blend recalled because of Hepatitis A risk

Several brands of frozen organic strawberries and one tropical fruit blend are being recalled following a hepatitis A outbreak that’s sickened at least five Washington residents. Scenic Fruit Company of Gresham, Oregon has announced a recall of frozen Kirkland Signature Organic Strawberries sold at Costco, PCC Organic Frozen Strawberries sold at PCC Community Markets, Vital…

Verdant Health Commission Board Meeting agenda for March 22

The Verdant Health Commission (Public Hospital District No. 2, Snohomish County), a community-owned hospital district, will host its February public board meeting on Wednesday, March 22 at 5:30 p.m. All public board meetings are in a hybrid format with the option to attend in person at the Verdant Community Wellness Center (4710 196th St. S.W., Lynnwood….

Asian Service Center holding second nutrition seminar March 25

The Asian Service Center is sponsoring the second in its series of nutrition seminars at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 25  at the center, 22727 Highway 99, Ste. 201, Edmonds. The seminar will focus on the impact of the spring season on our bodies and what kinds of diets are best for spring. The seminar will…

Lynnwood awarded WellCity designation acknowledging commitment to employee health

The City of Lynnwood is among this year’s recipients of the WellCity Designation awarded by the Association of Washington Cities (AWC). AWC is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan corporation that advocates on behalf of cities and towns, provides training and pooling programs such as the AWC Employee Benefit Trust. AWC recently released a list of local…

Healthy eating: Quick and easy cookie recipes

We’re in the midst of Girl Scout cookie season. Everyone has their favorites and this year there is a new raspberry-flavored cookie that apparently rivals the popularity of Thin Mints (and is being resold by entrepreneurs on the internet for exorbitant prices). I’m offering two cookie recipes that are a wee bit healthier. One cookie…

State grants soon available for hospitality, lodging businesses affected by pandemic

Washington state businesses in the hospitality and lodging industry that suffered business losses due to the pandemic are invited to apply for a new round of state grant funding, the Washington State Department of Commerce said. The application portal opens on March 14 at wahospitalitygrants.com. An informational webinar is scheduled for Monday, March 13. To learn…

Reminder: Verdant Community Wellness Center hosting free health screening clinic March 7

The Verdant Community Wellness Center will be hosting a free health screening clinic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, at 4710 196th St. S.W. in Lynnwood. Walk in or register for a 30-minute appointment with a registered nurse. Residents can take advantage of free blood pressure, A1C/pre-diabetes/diabetes testing, and/or depression screening. Walks-ins are…

Masking requirements to end April 3 in health care facilities

Effective April 3, the Washington State Department of Health said it will end its mask requirement for health care, long-term care and adult correctional facilities. In Washington, COVID-19, RSV and influenza disease rates and hospitalizations have continued to decline since the end of last year, the Department of Health said. The end of Washington’s universal masking…

On National Tooth Fairy Day: Lost tooth now valued at $6.25

The value of those wiggly teeth is on the rise in 2023. In celebration of National Tooth Fairy Day Feb. 28, the Tooth Fairy released the findings of the annual Original Tooth Fairy Poll, sponsored by Delta Dental. It shows a whopping 53% increase for kids in Washington state and the western U.S. – equating…

Asian Service Center offering free Healthy Nutrition workshop Feb. 25

The Asian Service Center, a new Edmonds-based nonprofit formed to provide support and advocacy for Asian communities in Snohomish County, is hosting a free Healthy Nutrition workshop from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 25. The workshop will focus on six steps to maintain vibrant health. The location is 22727 Highway 99, Ste. 110, Edmonds….

Verdant Health Commission board meeting agenda for Feb. 22

The Verdant Health Commission (Public Hospital District No. 2, Snohomish County), a community-owned hospital district, will host its February public board meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 22 starting at 8 a.m. All board meetings are hosted in a hybrid format with the option to attend in person at the Verdant Community Wellness Center, 4710 196th St. S.W.,…

Healthy eating: Warm up this winter with spinach artichoke spaghetti pie

I recently joined PCC Community Markets as a cooks’ assistant for their culinary classes. I enjoy helping with the classes because I learn about cuisines and cultures that I may not be as familiar with in my own everyday home cooking. I learn at least one new tip during every class. The classes give me…

State Department of Health launches second annual science contest for high school students

The Washington State Department of Health’s Washington Tracking Network (WTN) has launched its second annual WTN Youth Science Contest. The contest provides a unique opportunity for high school students across Washington to develop their science and communication skills while working with health and environmental data from their own communities. “It’s important for students to learn how to…

Compass Health to host Building Communities of Hope Gala fundraiser March 25

Compass Health will present keynote speaker Dr. Gregory Jantz of Edmonds’ The Center – A Place of Hope during its sixth-annual Building Communities of Hope Gala fundraiser on March 25. At the event, Jantz will speak on the importance of building strong emotional resilience and its impact on creating a renewed and restored future. Proceeds from this…

Lunar New Year 5K fundraiser Feb. 26 to benefit health foundation

The International Community Health Services (ICHS) Foundation is hosting a fundraising 5K run Sunday, Feb. 26. The run will take place on Shoreline’s Interurban Trail, but participants are also able to participate remotely by logging their results online. The race begins at 9 a.m. Feb. 26 and tickets are $35. More information and registration can…

Verdant awards $4.3 million in community health grants

The Verdant Health Commission announced Thursday it has awarded $4.3 million in grants to 31 community organizations offering programs and services that address Verdant’s strategic priorities: mental health, health care access and food security. “This funding will ensure that health-elated programming is available and accessible for the community, said Commissioner Karianna Wilson. “By working together…

Eye care product linked to antibiotic-resistant infections

Washington State’s Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating a cluster of antibiotic-resistant infections that may be linked to EzriCare Artificial Tears. The infections have been caused by a variant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium that is commonly found in water and soil and can infect the eyes, lungs,…