Photography

Tala Davey-Wraight, 3, is thrown in the air by her dad Oscar Davey-Wraight, one of the Summer Meltdown headliners also known as Opiuo, during Cory Wong’s set on Thursday, July 28, 2022 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Some growing pains, lots of nostalgia as Meltdown returns at new venue

Summer Meltdown is in its 20th year. Attendees of the four-day festival converged on the new riverfront grounds Thursday.

Tala Davey-Wraight, 3, is thrown in the air by her dad Oscar Davey-Wraight, one of the Summer Meltdown headliners also known as Opiuo, during Cory Wong’s set on Thursday, July 28, 2022 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A Volunteers of America Western Washington crisis counselor talks with somebody on the phone Thursday, July 28, 2022, in at the VOA Behavioral Health Crisis Call Center in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

‘One call for all’: 988 mental health hotline quadruples Everett staff

Calls to the new Everett center have jumped 47% since the three-digit number rolled out. Gov. Inslee toured the facility Thursday.

A Volunteers of America Western Washington crisis counselor talks with somebody on the phone Thursday, July 28, 2022, in at the VOA Behavioral Health Crisis Call Center in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Nickel Bros successfully move Bill Liles’ home onto a barge to make its way out to Hat Island on Thursday, July 21, 2022 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Island-bound homes are rollin’ down the river

Remote work has spurred an uptick in homes being relocated to Hat Island. One firm is bringing in three by barge this month.

Nickel Bros successfully move Bill Liles’ home onto a barge to make its way out to Hat Island on Thursday, July 21, 2022 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

GALLERY: Glacier Peak hosts 7on7 prep football tournament

Local teams and some out-of-area schools get in summer work as the start of fall practice draws ever closer.

Teenagers tube the waters of the Pilchuck River Wednesday afternoon in Snohomish, Washington on July 20, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Heat wave to be a scorcher, especially for inland Snohomish County

Officials share tips on how to beat the heat, prevent fires and stay safe at your favorite swimming hole.

Teenagers tube the waters of the Pilchuck River Wednesday afternoon in Snohomish, Washington on July 20, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
People sit in lawn chairs and watch a Looney Tunes short on Thursday, July 14, 2022, at the Blue Fox Drive-In Theatre in Oak Harbor, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Get off the couch, or bring it, for a night at Blue Fox Drive-In

Kids get in for $1 at the Whidbey Island outdoor theater, one of few still standing in the state.

People sit in lawn chairs and watch a Looney Tunes short on Thursday, July 14, 2022, at the Blue Fox Drive-In Theatre in Oak Harbor, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Inside the Edmonds Library that is currently under renovation after water damage from a burst pipe on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Waterlogged library stays shuttered indefinitely in Edmonds

A burst water pipe wreaked catastrophic damage, but most books were unscathed. A reopening plan is set to be released next month.

Inside the Edmonds Library that is currently under renovation after water damage from a burst pipe on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tom Nechville and Linda Leavitt jam together in the shade on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at Darrington Bluegrass Music Park in Darrington, Washington. Nechville and Leavitt, both now living in Oregon, are visiting the festival for the first time this year. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

They’re strumming, picking, and jamming again in Darrington

After a two-year hiatus, the Darrington Bluegrass Festival returns. The music tradition is turning 45.

Tom Nechville and Linda Leavitt jam together in the shade on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at Darrington Bluegrass Music Park in Darrington, Washington. Nechville and Leavitt, both now living in Oregon, are visiting the festival for the first time this year. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Compressed Cube Tensegrity Sculpture is one of the first sculptures seen from the east parking lot Thursday, May 5, 2022, at Earth Sanctuary in Clinton, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

For $7, take a walk on the spiritual side of Whidbey Island

The 72-acre nature preserve has sculptures and sacred spaces. “It is contemplative, peaceful and magical.”

Compressed Cube Tensegrity Sculpture is one of the first sculptures seen from the east parking lot Thursday, May 5, 2022, at Earth Sanctuary in Clinton, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Officials gather outside two of Everett’s electric buses to discuss the new BattGenie system on Monday, June 27, 2022, at the Everett Transit bus yard in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Old batteries get new life as Everett Transit backup energy

Company BattGenie set up a container with dozens of used electric bus batteries that charge during non-peak times.

Officials gather outside two of Everett’s electric buses to discuss the new BattGenie system on Monday, June 27, 2022, at the Everett Transit bus yard in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
A quilt titled “Wheel of Fortune” hangs on the fence at one of the Mukilteo garden-quilt tour homes on Thursday, July 7, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Garden tours are blooming in Mukilteo, Edmonds and Mill Creek

The July tours feature quilts, artists and musicians in addition to pretty plants galore.

A quilt titled “Wheel of Fortune” hangs on the fence at one of the Mukilteo garden-quilt tour homes on Thursday, July 7, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Beth Larsen, an environmental planner with Snohomish County, opens the gates at a new protected habitat area on Thursday, July 7, 2022, south of Mill Creek. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Wildlife finds a new home at mitigation site near Mill Creek

Public works crews planted trees and piled up “woody debris” to mimic nature. It’s to make up for environmental impacts.

Beth Larsen, an environmental planner with Snohomish County, opens the gates at a new protected habitat area on Thursday, July 7, 2022, south of Mill Creek. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The AquaSox’s Noelvi Marte looks up to the sky while rounding the bases after a long homer to center field during a game against the Vancouver Canadians Wednesday, July 6, 2022, at Funko Field in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

GALLERY: AquaSox rally in 8th to defeat Canadians

Everett scores twice late and comes from behind to beat Vancouver 6-5.

The AquaSox’s Noelvi Marte looks up to the sky while rounding the bases after a long homer to center field during a game against the Vancouver Canadians Wednesday, July 6, 2022, at Funko Field in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
A group gathers near a blending pit, which is where cow waste and other biodegradable material begins its journey towards becoming energy in a digester Friday, June 17, 2022, in Monroe, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Cow pie power! Monroe manure-to-energy project expands

Qualco has been turning cow poop into electricity since 2008. A new generator could turn on by mid-August.

A group gathers near a blending pit, which is where cow waste and other biodegradable material begins its journey towards becoming energy in a digester Friday, June 17, 2022, in Monroe, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
James Berntson shows how his farm uses a trellis system to control tomato plants on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at Radicle Roots Farm in Snohomish, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Backyard business: Snohomish farm thrives on less than one acre.

James Berntson grew Radicle Roots Farm using smart crop planning and organic practices.

James Berntson shows how his farm uses a trellis system to control tomato plants on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at Radicle Roots Farm in Snohomish, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Alissa Long gets a group photo of some of the graduates during a Second Chance Foundation graduation party on Sunday, June 26, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

These grads have something ‘priceless’: Degrees and lived experience

Meet three women whose degrees are just as valuable as their experience with addiction, incarceration and homelessness.

Alissa Long gets a group photo of some of the graduates during a Second Chance Foundation graduation party on Sunday, June 26, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
John McKeon stands in front of a mobile headquarters vehicle while discussing the funding needs of Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, at the search and rescue headquarters in Snohomish, Washington. McKeon said a priority for the group is to find money for new covered parking for a number of vehicles that do not have a garage to be parked in. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue wants rescuing

They’re asking for nearly $1 million in federal recovery dollars, but funding has been hard to come by.

John McKeon stands in front of a mobile headquarters vehicle while discussing the funding needs of Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, at the search and rescue headquarters in Snohomish, Washington. McKeon said a priority for the group is to find money for new covered parking for a number of vehicles that do not have a garage to be parked in. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Mike Kersey with Aiya Moore, daughter of Christina Anderson, right, talk about the condition of Nick’s Place in Everett, Washington on June 17, 2022.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

‘We’re all good people when we get clean and sober’

Who has fentanyl taken from us? A messenger who saved lives. A “street mom.” A grandpa who loved his grandkids “999 trillion times.”

Mike Kersey with Aiya Moore, daughter of Christina Anderson, right, talk about the condition of Nick’s Place in Everett, Washington on June 17, 2022.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Officials tour the future site of the Faith Family Village Wednesday morning at Faith Lutheran Church in Everett, Washington on June 29, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Everett eyeing Sievers Duecy city land for new shelter village

If approved, it could be near another new village for families at a church — and the third shelter of its kind in the city.

Officials tour the future site of the Faith Family Village Wednesday morning at Faith Lutheran Church in Everett, Washington on June 29, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Ryan Elting, conservation director at the Whidbey Camano Land Trust, talks about the important ecosystem the shoreline provides Friday, June 10, 2022, at the site of the Keystone Preserve near Coupeville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

In ‘emergency acquisition,’ 226 acres of Whidbey Island’s farmland, forest saved

The beachside Keystone Preserve, south of Coupeville, is the Whidbey Camano Land Trust’s largest purchase at $9.1 million.

Ryan Elting, conservation director at the Whidbey Camano Land Trust, talks about the important ecosystem the shoreline provides Friday, June 10, 2022, at the site of the Keystone Preserve near Coupeville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)