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The access loop trail on the Old Sauk Trail on Monday, May 27, 2024 in Darrington, Washington. (Ta'Leah Van Sistine / The Herald)

10 accessible trails to explore this summer in Snohomish County

For people with disabilities, tree roots and other obstacles can curb access to the outdoors. But some trails are wheelchair-friendly.

The access loop trail on the Old Sauk Trail on Monday, May 27, 2024 in Darrington, Washington. (Ta'Leah Van Sistine / The Herald)
People walk along Olympic Avenue past Lifeway Cafe and Olympic Theater that currently hosts Lifeway Church on Friday, July 7, 2023 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Arlington churches waged covert ‘battle’ against Pride event, records show

Sermons, emails and interviews reveal how an LGBTQ+ nonprofit became the target of a covert campaign by local evangelical leaders.

People walk along Olympic Avenue past Lifeway Cafe and Olympic Theater that currently hosts Lifeway Church on Friday, July 7, 2023 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett Herald staff gather and talk in the newsroom after layoff announcements on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

‘This breaks my heart’: Roughly half of Everett Herald news staff laid off

A dozen journalists learned their jobs were eliminated Wednesday, in a move new owners Carpenter Media Group said was meant to ensure long-term success of the newspaper.

Everett Herald staff gather and talk in the newsroom after layoff announcements on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Woodside Elementary Principal Betty Cobbs on Monday, June 17, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Everett’s first Black principal retires after 51 years

In her office, Betty Cobbs kept a black-and-white photo of herself at age 5: “I am right there, with dreams of becoming an educator.”

Woodside Elementary Principal Betty Cobbs on Monday, June 17, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
HRT Rescue Technician Andy Toyota gives the thumbs-up to crew members in the Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue helicopter shortly before takeoff during an interagency training session held by Northwest Regional Aviation on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at the Arlington Airport in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

From around state, authorities simulate ‘terrorist attack’ in Arlington

Teams from King County, Snohomish County and elsewhere converged for a multi-faceted scenario Thursday at the Arlington Municipal Airport.

HRT Rescue Technician Andy Toyota gives the thumbs-up to crew members in the Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue helicopter shortly before takeoff during an interagency training session held by Northwest Regional Aviation on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at the Arlington Airport in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ross Haddow, right, stands alongside fellow Rotary Club member Shawn O’Donnell, left, as the two await extra hands to help move Haddow’s giant pumpkin on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at Haddow’s home in Edmonds, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Herald photographers, writers take home 7 awards at SPJ contest

The winning entries were headlined by a giant pumpkin photographed by Ryan Berry. Record flooding coverage also netted two honors.

Ross Haddow, right, stands alongside fellow Rotary Club member Shawn O’Donnell, left, as the two await extra hands to help move Haddow’s giant pumpkin on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at Haddow’s home in Edmonds, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Left to right, Angelo Sarmiento, Jona Sarmiento, and Carlisle Sarmiento prepare to cut the cake during a first birthday party at Costco in Lake Stevens, Washington on Friday, May 31, 2024. Jona’s water broke in the store a year ago (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Lake Stevens ‘Costco baby’ celebrates first Costco-themed birthday

Jona Sarmiento was walking by the rotisserie chickens when her water broke. Now her baby is six times the weight of a roasted bird.

Left to right, Angelo Sarmiento, Jona Sarmiento, and Carlisle Sarmiento prepare to cut the cake during a first birthday party at Costco in Lake Stevens, Washington on Friday, May 31, 2024. Jona’s water broke in the store a year ago (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The best time to dig for razor clams is about two hours before or after low tide. On Thursday, March 14, 2024, Mocrocks Beach in Moclips, Washington, had a -0.3 tide at 10:12 a.m. By 9 a.m. the beach swarmed with clammers thumping their digging tubes against the sand to stir the razor clams into showing where they were hiding. (Brenda Mann Harrison / Special to Sound & Summit)

Roadtrip to Moclips: razor clam digging with fries and grunge

We joined thousands of clammers in search of the tasty shellfish. Kurt Cobain’s memorial and Big Tom burgers were stopovers.

The best time to dig for razor clams is about two hours before or after low tide. On Thursday, March 14, 2024, Mocrocks Beach in Moclips, Washington, had a -0.3 tide at 10:12 a.m. By 9 a.m. the beach swarmed with clammers thumping their digging tubes against the sand to stir the razor clams into showing where they were hiding. (Brenda Mann Harrison / Special to Sound & Summit)
Pippin the Biewer Terrier sits in the lap of her owner Kathy West on Monday, May 20, 2024, at West’s home in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Marysville’s ‘top dog,’ on 48-kibble-a-day diet, shines at Westminster

Fame hasn’t turned this Biewer Terrier’s head or nose: in her spare time she’s a lap dog, hiking buff and bunny chaser.

Pippin the Biewer Terrier sits in the lap of her owner Kathy West on Monday, May 20, 2024, at West’s home in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Pablo Garduno and the team at Barbacoa Judith’s churn out pit-roasted lamb tacos by the dozen at the Hidden Gems Weekend Market on Sunday, April 28, 2024, at Boom City in Tulalip, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Eating our way through Tulalip’s Hidden Gems weekend market

Don’t miss the pupusas, pit-roasted lamb tacos, elotes and even produce for your next meal.

Pablo Garduno and the team at Barbacoa Judith’s churn out pit-roasted lamb tacos by the dozen at the Hidden Gems Weekend Market on Sunday, April 28, 2024, at Boom City in Tulalip, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Gayle Jones leads a praryer during a ceremony for the healing pole students spent the last year carving along with Tulalip carver James Madison at Archbishop Murphy High School in Everett, Washington on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.  (Annie Barker / The Herald)

‘A source of healing’: Archbishop Murphy unveils Coast Salish healing pole

“I’m happy to have representation of my culture here at AMHS being one out of 15 Native American students,” said Amaya Hernandez.

Gayle Jones leads a praryer during a ceremony for the healing pole students spent the last year carving along with Tulalip carver James Madison at Archbishop Murphy High School in Everett, Washington on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.  (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Sisters Anika Yechuri, 21, and Nithika Yechuri, 18, perform during the Desi Dance event at Everett Community College on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

EvCC celebrates ‘a sense of belonging’ at first Desi Dazzle event

Dozens of people gathered for dancing, cuisine and more on a sunny afternoon to celebrate South Asian heritage in Everett.

Sisters Anika Yechuri, 21, and Nithika Yechuri, 18, perform during the Desi Dance event at Everett Community College on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Biologist Kyle Legare measures a salmon on a PUD smolt trap near Sportsman Park in Sultan, Washington on May 6, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Low Chinook runs endanger prime fishing rivers in Snohomish County

Even in pristine salmon habitat like the Sultan, Chinook numbers are down. Warm water and extreme weather are potential factors.

Biologist Kyle Legare measures a salmon on a PUD smolt trap near Sportsman Park in Sultan, Washington on May 6, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Emma Corbilla Doody and her husband, Don Doody, inside  their octagonal library at the center of their octagon home on Thursday, May 2, 2024 in Sultan, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Is this Sultan octagon the ugliest house in America?

Emma Corbilla Doody and Don Doody bought the home for $920,000 last year. Not long after, HGTV came calling.

Emma Corbilla Doody and her husband, Don Doody, inside  their octagonal library at the center of their octagon home on Thursday, May 2, 2024 in Sultan, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Ayden TheBoy-Jones, left, Kenco Hinrichs and Jalen Morrical work together on a VEX Robotics project at Tulalip Heritage High School on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Skills, not As, are what count at Tulalip, Everett alternative schools

In 2022, Tulalip Heritage High School changed its approach to a “Big Picture” model. Teachers now ask students what they want to learn.

Ayden TheBoy-Jones, left, Kenco Hinrichs and Jalen Morrical work together on a VEX Robotics project at Tulalip Heritage High School on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mountain goats graze in the alpine of the Buckhorn Wilderness in the Olympic Mountains in July 2017. (Caleb Hutton / The Herald)

Almost all mountain goats died after airlift from Olympics to Cascades

Federal authorities moved hundreds of goats to the North Cascades. Tracking showed most died within five years. Now, tribes are trying to save the population.

Mountain goats graze in the alpine of the Buckhorn Wilderness in the Olympic Mountains in July 2017. (Caleb Hutton / The Herald)
FILE - In this May 26, 2020, file photo, a grizzly bear roams an exhibit at the Woodland Park Zoo, closed for nearly three months because of the coronavirus outbreak in Seattle. Grizzly bears once roamed the rugged landscape of the North Cascades in Washington state but few have been sighted in recent decades. The federal government is scrapping plans to reintroduce grizzly bears to the North Cascades ecosystem. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

Grizzlies to return to North Cascades, feds confirm in controversial plan

Under a final plan announced Thursday, officials will release three to seven bears per year. They anticipate 200 in a century.

FILE - In this May 26, 2020, file photo, a grizzly bear roams an exhibit at the Woodland Park Zoo, closed for nearly three months because of the coronavirus outbreak in Seattle. Grizzly bears once roamed the rugged landscape of the North Cascades in Washington state but few have been sighted in recent decades. The federal government is scrapping plans to reintroduce grizzly bears to the North Cascades ecosystem. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)
A giant Bigfoot creation made by Terry Carrigan, 60, at his home-based Skywater Studios on Sunday, April 14, 2024 in Monroe, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

The 1,500-pound Sasquatch: Bigfoot comes to life in woods near Monroe

A possibly larger-than-life sculpture, created by Terry Carrigan of Skywater Studios, will be featured at this weekend’s “Oddmall” expo.

A giant Bigfoot creation made by Terry Carrigan, 60, at his home-based Skywater Studios on Sunday, April 14, 2024 in Monroe, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Owner Fatou Dibba prepares food at the African Heritage Restaurant on Saturday, April 6, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Oxtail stew and fufu: Heritage African Restaurant in Everett dishes it up

“Most of the people who walk in through the door don’t know our food,” said Fatou Dibba, co-owner of the new restaurant at Hewitt and Broadway.

Owner Fatou Dibba prepares food at the African Heritage Restaurant on Saturday, April 6, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Graham Kerr, 90, leans down and kisses his new wife, Nancy, during Senior Expo on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at Hotel Indigo in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

‘Galloping Gourmet’ celebrity chef Graham Kerr is a Stanwood newlywed

The 90-year-old shared his love of Nancy, God and Costco at the Everett senior expo last month.

Graham Kerr, 90, leans down and kisses his new wife, Nancy, during Senior Expo on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at Hotel Indigo in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)