Everett, Wash.
Published: Friday, May 15, 2009

Cafe's regulars zip to help owner, friend

Customers of Zippy's Java Lounge have organized a fundraiser to help its owner with looming medical bills.

By Julie Muhlstein
Herald Columnist

 Behind the counter at Zippy's Java Lounge, chatting and making lattes, smoothies and artichoke-pesto quesadillas, Marilyn Rosenberg looks like the picture of health.

Why wouldn't she? At 44, she bikes from home to the downtown Everett coffee shop she opened in 2005. She eats mostly raw foods. She's a runner.

"I feel really well," said Rosenberg, whose Internet cafe is named after her Dalmatian. The dog is a fixture at Zippy's, where the decor is a nod to the breed's snazzy spots.

What customers greeted by Rosenberg don't see is the weight of worry. She's shouldering big medical bills and a rare genetic condition. In 2008, Rosenberg traveled to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. There, she discovered she has Gardner's syndrome, a disorder that causes countless polyps in the colon and commonly leads to colon cancer.

Her condition requires Rosenberg to be vigilant about monitoring, including having frequent colonoscopies. She is now goes for treatments to the University of Washington Medical Center. Although she has insurance through LifeWise Health Plan of Washington, her plan has a $1,700 deductible. Beyond that it covers 80 percent of expenses.

"Health care, it adds up so quickly. It costs me $2,500 to $3,000 for a colonoscopy. And I needed a biopsy last week," said Rosenberg, who still owes the Mayo Clinic $10,000. More than a year after her treatment, the Mayo Clinic bill is due, she said.

Even with sales suffering from the tough economy, Rosenberg keeps smiling -- partly because Zippy's is more than a business. For some customers, it's a gathering place and second home.

In just four years, the narrow cafe at 1804 Hewitt Ave. has become such an institution that loyal customers have come to the rescue. A group called Friends of Zippy's Commons is holding what it calls the "Yard Sale of the Century" from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in a big building a few blocks down the street at 2114 Hewitt Ave.

"I'm so thankful for all the help," Rosenberg said.

Mary Ford, an organizer of Friends of Zippy's Commons, said the group has an interest "in keeping and making Zippy's a common ground for everybody to meet and be part of the community."

The cafe hosts musicians, poets on open-mike nights, a stitchery group, and regular meetings of Green Everett, a grass-roots environmental organization. "Marilyn is such a great host for all of that," Ford said.

Ford, Jim and Dana Strickland and a half-dozen other Zippy's fans have spent weeks gathering furniture and antiques, clothes, sporting equipment, holiday decorations and other items to be sold Saturday. There will be a bake sale, and $5 raffle tickets will be sold for the chance to win a new bike.

"We would like to make a couple thousand dollars and be able to hand that over to her," Ford said.

Steve and Denise Liedlich wandered into Zippy's for lunch Wednesday. Three years ago, Steve Liedlich came in one night to hear some live music. Denise Galasso happened to be there. "We just started talking, and two and a half years later we were married," Steve Liedlich said.

"I'll come here when maybe I don't feel so great, and the energy always makes me feel better," Denise Liedlich said. "Marilyn is very inspiring."

"I hang out with the Green Everett folks," said Mike Dahlstrom, another customer. "Zippy's would be greatly missed. It's not just coffee and eats. It's unique to Everett."

"When times are tough, people need to partner up and help each other out," Ford said. "Especially in the times we're all experiencing now, it could happen to any of us."

Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460, muhlstein@heraldnet.com.

Sale to help cafe owner

A big indoor rummage sale is set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday to help pay medical bills for Marilyn Rosenberg, owner of Zippy's Java Lounge in downtown Everett. The sale is at 2114 Hewitt Ave., east of Broadway in Everett. The event includes live music, a bake sale and raffle for a new bike. Donations may also be mailed to Friends of Zippy's Commons, 921 Colby Ave., Everett, WA 98201.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA