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Category: Exploring Everett

Everett, Washington is in the middle of something big. A $1 billion waterfront transformation. A Boeing workforce that built the world’s largest commercial jets. A port city with a downtown that’s finally catching up to its potential. A Navy presence at Naval Station Everett. A comedy and arts scene punching above its weight. And neighborhoods — Riverside, Silver Lake, Downtown, Bayside — each with their own identity and story.

Exploring Everett is Tygart Media’s hyperlocal coverage vertical for Snohomish County’s largest city. We cover the waterfront redevelopment, Boeing and Paine Field, city hall, the food and arts scene, real estate, neighborhoods, and everything in between — written for people who live here, work here, or are paying attention to what’s coming.

Coverage categories include: Everett News, Waterfront Development, Boeing & Aerospace, Business, Arts & Culture, Food & Drink, Real Estate, Neighborhoods, Government, Schools, Public Safety, Events, and Outdoors.

Exploring Everett content is also published at exploringeverett.com.

  • Everett Reactivates Flock Camera Network After SB 6002 Becomes Law

    Why did Everett turn its Flock license plate cameras back on? On April 22, 2026, the City of Everett confirmed it had reactivated its network of 68 Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras after Governor Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 6002 on March 30, 2026. The new state law — the Driver Privacy Act — exempts ALPR footage from the Public Records Act, which had led a Snohomish County judge to rule in February that Everett’s footage was public record and forced the city to pause the network. Most of Everett’s cameras came back online April 7, though a Superior Court hearing on May 14 will test whether the earlier ruling stands.

    What just happened with Everett’s Flock camera network

    On Tuesday, April 22, 2026, the City of Everett confirmed that its network of automated license plate reader cameras operated by Flock Safety has been reactivated. The cameras had been paused since February after a Snohomish County Superior Court judge ruled that Everett’s ALPR footage qualified as a public record under the state Public Records Act.

    According to city officials, Mayor Cassie Franklin directed the Everett Police Department to restart the cameras in early April. Most of the network was back online by April 7, 2026, according to the city. The city filed a motion in Snohomish County Superior Court on April 3 asking the judge to vacate the February ruling in light of a new state law signed just days earlier.

    The state law that changed the picture

    On March 30, 2026, Governor Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 6002, known as the Driver Privacy Act. The law explicitly exempts ALPR footage from Washington’s Public Records Act. That single change reshaped the legal footing for every Washington city operating — or considering — a Flock network.

    SB 6002 also includes new guardrails that apply to every ALPR network in the state. According to the final bill text:

    • Agencies can retain ALPR data for no more than 21 days.
    • ALPR use is limited to specific categories of investigation.
    • Sharing data with federal agencies is prohibited.
    • ALPR collection is restricted near schools and health care facilities.

    The law’s stated purpose is to balance law enforcement access to license plate data with driver privacy — especially for people who might be targeted if their movements became discoverable through a public records request. The ACLU of Washington has objected to the law’s 21-day retention period, calling the provision unacceptable; the organization says the original version of the legislation contemplated a 72-hour retention window.

    What Everett Police say the cameras have done

    Everett launched its Flock network in October 2024 under a two-year, $550,000 grant-funded contract signed in June 2024. The city operates 68 ALPR cameras across Everett.

    According to Everett Police, in the months between the October 2024 launch and the February 2026 pause the cameras were used in more than 250 arrests, along with stolen vehicle recoveries and missing-person locates. The city points to those numbers as the case for bringing the cameras back.

    City spokesperson Simone Tarver addressed the restart directly. “This new state law ensures that we can protect the privacy of residents — including victims of domestic violence, harassment, and stalking — from anyone who may have had the intention of misusing this information,” Tarver said. She added that “the strategic and responsible use of technology remains a priority for the City.”

    How Everett got here: a 6-month timeline

    The Everett Flock story has moved quickly through the courts and the Legislature. Here is the sequence of events, drawn from court filings, city statements, and state records:

    • October 2024: Everett launches 68-camera Flock network.
    • February 2026: A Snohomish County Superior Court judge rules that ALPR footage is public record. Everett pauses its network.
    • March 5, 2026: Everett files an appeal of the public records ruling.
    • March 30, 2026: Governor Ferguson signs SB 6002 (the Driver Privacy Act).
    • Early April 2026: Mayor Franklin directs EPD to reactivate cameras.
    • April 3, 2026: Everett files a motion in Superior Court to vacate the February ruling.
    • April 7, 2026: Most of Everett’s cameras are back online.
    • April 22, 2026: The city publicly confirms the reactivation.
    • May 14, 2026: Hearing scheduled on Everett’s motion to vacate.

    The May 14 hearing is the next legal checkpoint. If the court grants the motion to vacate, the February public-records ruling goes away. If it does not, Everett and Flock opponents will continue to argue in court about what, exactly, SB 6002 does to a case that was filed before the law existed.

    The federal data-sharing question

    One detail from the Flock rollout has drawn separate scrutiny. Public records reviewed by reporters showed that from April to June 2025, federal agencies — including U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations — queried Everett’s Flock network. The access was possible because Everett, like many departments on the platform, had Flock’s “nationwide lookup” feature enabled until July 2025.

    EPD spokesperson Natalie Given described the feature. “While national look up feature was enabled, outside agencies would have had the ability to query all networks with the feature enabled en masse, including Everett’s,” Given said.

    Former Everett Police Chief John DeRousse confirmed that Flock’s user agreements restrict use to legitimate law enforcement purposes and prohibit civil immigration enforcement and First Amendment-protected activity. Under SB 6002, sharing ALPR data with federal agencies is now legally prohibited — a shift that formalizes what department policies had already required in many cases.

    Where other Washington cities stand

    Everett is not the only Washington city working through the Flock question. Each city has landed in a different place:

    • Mountlake Terrace canceled its Flock contract in December 2025 before the cameras were even installed, citing community division and public-records concerns.
    • Lynnwood terminated its Flock contract in February 2026, roughly seven months after installation, after resident pushback.
    • Stanwood is appealing a similar public-records ruling and reactivated its network on April 1, 2026.
    • Everett reactivated and is pursuing its motion to vacate, with the May 14 hearing as the next step.

    Those four trajectories — cancel, terminate, reactivate-and-appeal, reactivate-and-move — capture the range of policy responses a Washington city can take in the post-SB 6002 environment.

    What this means for Everett residents

    For most residents, the practical changes under SB 6002 are easy to summarize. ALPR data from Everett’s cameras can now be held for no longer than 21 days before deletion. Federal agencies cannot receive Everett’s data. ALPR collection locations near schools and health care facilities are restricted. Public-records requests for raw footage will be refused under the new exemption.

    What the cameras still do: read license plates as vehicles pass, flag plates against hot lists (stolen vehicles, Amber Alerts, felony warrants), and log timestamps and locations that Everett Police can query during an investigation. That operational picture has not changed. The governance around it has.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Are Everett’s Flock cameras back on?

    Yes. The City of Everett confirmed on April 22, 2026 that the cameras have been reactivated. Most of the 68-camera network was back online by April 7, 2026, after Mayor Cassie Franklin directed the Everett Police Department to restart the network in early April.

    What is SB 6002 and why does it matter?

    Senate Bill 6002, also known as the Driver Privacy Act, was signed by Governor Bob Ferguson on March 30, 2026. It exempts ALPR footage from Washington’s Public Records Act, sets a 21-day retention limit, prohibits sharing data with federal agencies, and restricts ALPR collection near schools and health care facilities.

    Why were Everett’s cameras shut off in February?

    A Snohomish County Superior Court judge ruled in February 2026 that Everett’s ALPR footage was a public record under the state Public Records Act. The city paused the network in response to the ruling while it evaluated its legal options.

    How many Flock cameras does Everett operate?

    Everett operates 68 Flock ALPR cameras across the city under a two-year, $550,000 grant-funded contract that was signed in June 2024.

    Can federal immigration agencies access Everett’s ALPR data?

    Under SB 6002, data sharing with federal agencies is now prohibited. Records show that federal agencies queried Everett’s network between April and June 2025 using Flock’s “nationwide lookup” feature, which Everett kept enabled until July 2025. That access is no longer permitted under state law.

    What happens at the May 14 court hearing?

    Snohomish County Superior Court is scheduled to hear Everett’s motion to vacate the February 2026 public-records ruling in light of SB 6002. If the motion is granted, the February ruling goes away. If not, litigation continues.

    How long can Everett Police keep ALPR data under the new law?

    SB 6002 caps retention of ALPR data at 21 days. The ACLU of Washington has said this window is too long and that the original version of the legislation called for 72 hours.

    Have any Washington cities walked away from Flock?

    Yes. Mountlake Terrace canceled its contract in December 2025 before installation. Lynnwood terminated its contract in February 2026. Stanwood and Everett have both reactivated their networks under SB 6002 but are still working through prior legal challenges.

  • Everett EMS Levy Goes to August 2026 Ballot: What the Lid Lift Means

    What is Everett’s August 2026 EMS levy ballot measure? On April 22, 2026, the Everett City Council voted to send a property tax levy lid lift to the August 4 primary ballot. If voters approve, the city’s emergency medical services (EMS) levy rate would rise from $0.36 per $1,000 of assessed value back to $0.50 per $1,000 — the rate voters originally approved in 2000. The typical Everett homeowner would pay about $80 more per year. The levy funds roughly 78 firefighter-paramedic positions inside the Everett Fire Department.

    What the Everett City Council actually did on April 22

    On Wednesday, April 22, 2026, the Everett City Council voted to place a property tax levy lid lift for emergency medical services on the August 4 primary ballot. The measure would restore the city’s EMS levy rate from its current $0.36 per $1,000 of assessed value back to the $0.50 per $1,000 cap that Everett voters first approved in 2000.

    This is not a new tax. Washington state law limits how fast regular property tax collections can grow — no more than 1% per year, regardless of how fast property values rise. Over time, that 1% ceiling has pushed Everett’s effective EMS rate well below the ceiling voters originally said yes to. A levy lid lift asks voters for permission to reset the rate back up to the original cap.

    How much it costs a typical Everett household

    According to the city, the average Everett homeowner would pay approximately $80 more per year if the measure passes. The exact dollar impact depends on a home’s assessed value, because the rate is applied per $1,000 of assessed value. A home assessed at $500,000, for example, would pay roughly $70 more annually — $250 at the new rate versus $180 at the current rate.

    Renters don’t pay property tax directly, but the cost is typically reflected in rents over time. Commercial property owners also pay the levy and may pass costs along to tenants.

    What the EMS levy actually funds

    The EMS levy is one of the primary funding sources for Everett’s emergency medical services — the ambulance, paramedic, and first-response medical calls handled by the Everett Fire Department. The levy currently supports about 78 positions inside the department, according to city documents presented at the April 22 meeting.

    When residents call 911 for a heart attack, a car crash, a fall, or an overdose, the people who arrive are paid largely through this levy. Everett Fire Department responds to thousands of medical calls per year — the overwhelming majority of its total call volume is medical, not fire.

    Why the levy is on the ballot again

    Everett Fire Chief Dave DeMarco addressed the City Council on April 22 in support of the measure. According to his statement, the EMS fund has remained solvent but call volume has grown and the cost of labor and medical supplies has risen since the last lid lift.

    “The fund has remained solvent throughout this period of extraordinary growth, also a global pandemic and increasing demands for service,” DeMarco told the council. “However, to remain stable and meet the growing emergency medical services needs of our community, the restoration of the levy is necessary.”

    The city notes that call volume at the Everett Fire Department is higher today than it was in 2018, when voters last restored the $0.50 rate. Labor and medical supply costs have also increased in that period.

    Everett’s levy history: 2000, 2010, 2018, 2026

    Everett voters have approved EMS levy lid lifts multiple times over the past 25 years, each time restoring the rate to the $0.50 per $1,000 cap that was originally authorized in 2000. The pattern is consistent:

    • 2000: Everett voters approved a permanent EMS levy at $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value.
    • 2010: Voters approved a lid lift restoring the rate to $0.50 after state law had allowed it to drift downward.
    • 2018: Voters approved another lid lift restoring the rate to $0.50.
    • 2026: The current measure, scheduled for the August 4 primary ballot.

    The recurring nature of these votes is a direct consequence of Washington’s 1% property tax cap, which applies to most regular levies statewide and was established by Initiative 747 in 2001.

    What “levy lid lift” means in plain English

    A levy lid lift is a ballot measure that asks voters for permission to raise a regular property tax levy back up to a previously authorized cap. It does not create a new tax. It also does not authorize a rate higher than what voters previously approved.

    Without a lid lift, state law caps year-over-year growth in a regular property tax levy at 1%, even when property values and service costs rise faster than that. For a service like EMS — where labor costs, medical supplies, and call volume all outpace 1% inflation in most years — that ceiling gradually erodes purchasing power. A lid lift is the reset button.

    What happens next

    The measure now heads to the Snohomish County Auditor for placement on the August 4, 2026 primary ballot. Ballots typically mail to registered voters roughly three weeks before election day. A simple majority (50% plus one) of voters in the City of Everett is required for the lid lift to pass.

    If the measure passes, the higher rate would take effect in the 2027 property tax year. If it fails, the current $0.36 rate would remain in place, and the city would face a funding gap inside the EMS fund — a gap that would need to be closed either by reducing EMS service levels, shifting costs to Everett’s general fund (which is already projecting a $14 million gap in 2027), or returning to the ballot with a revised measure.

    How this fits into Everett’s larger 2027 budget picture

    The EMS levy vote does not directly close the city’s projected $14 million 2027 general fund gap, which was outlined at Mayor Cassie Franklin’s 2026 State of the City address. EMS is a separate, voter-approved fund. But the two pictures are connected: if the EMS levy fails, rising medical-response costs could eventually spill over into the general fund, compounding the gap.

    This is the second major voter-facing budget decision Everett has surfaced in 2026. The first was the regional fire authority and library regionalization discussion raised as part of the 2027 budget conversation. The EMS levy is the first of these budget levers to actually reach a ballot.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When will Everett voters decide on the EMS levy?

    The measure is scheduled for the August 4, 2026 primary ballot. Ballots typically mail to registered voters roughly three weeks before election day. A simple majority is required for the measure to pass.

    How much more will I pay if the EMS levy passes?

    The city estimates an average homeowner would pay approximately $80 more per year. The exact amount depends on your home’s assessed value, because the rate is charged per $1,000 of assessed value. The rate would rise from $0.36 to $0.50 per $1,000.

    Is the EMS levy a new tax?

    No. The EMS levy was originally approved by Everett voters in 2000. The 2026 measure is a levy lid lift, which restores the rate back to the cap voters already authorized. It does not create a new tax and does not raise the rate above $0.50 per $1,000.

    What does the EMS levy pay for?

    The levy funds emergency medical services provided by the Everett Fire Department — ambulance, paramedic, and medical first-response calls. The levy currently supports approximately 78 positions inside the department.

    Why is this the third time Everett has voted on the $0.50 rate?

    Washington state law limits regular property tax levy growth to 1% per year, even when costs and property values rise faster. Over time, that cap pushes the effective levy rate below what voters originally approved. A lid lift is required to reset the rate back up to the authorized cap. Everett voters previously approved lid lifts in 2010 and 2018.

    What happens if the EMS levy fails in August?

    The current $0.36 rate would remain in place. The city would face a funding gap inside the EMS fund, which would need to be closed by reducing service levels, shifting costs to the general fund, or returning to the ballot with a revised measure.

    Does this affect the stadium vote or the 2027 budget gap?

    Not directly. EMS is a separate, voter-approved fund and does not close the projected $14 million 2027 general fund gap. But rising medical-response costs could eventually spill over into the general fund if the EMS levy fails.

    Who can vote on the Everett EMS levy?

    Registered voters who live inside the City of Everett are eligible. Voters outside Everett city limits — even elsewhere in Snohomish County — do not vote on this measure.

  • Thornton A. Sullivan Park at Silver Lake: The 35-Acre Everett Park Most Locals Still Underuse

    What is Thornton A. Sullivan Park?

    Thornton A. Sullivan Park at Silver Lake is a 35.3-acre City of Everett park at 11405 Silver Lake Road. It wraps the south end of Silver Lake and offers a swimming beach (no lifeguards), a 9-hole disc golf course, three picnic shelters, self-serve kayak and paddleboard rentals, a playground, waterfront trails, and Silver Hall for events. The park is open 6 a.m. to dusk year-round. Small electric or gas motors (8 horsepower maximum) are allowed on the lake.

    The Everett park most locals drive past

    Silver Lake has a neighborhood named after it, a shopping district named after it, and a highway exit named after it. What it doesn’t have — in most Everett residents’ mental maps — is the 35-acre park wrapping its south shore that most people haven’t actually walked since they were kids.

    Thornton A. Sullivan Park at Silver Lake is that park. If you live anywhere south of 41st and want a day outside without driving to Mukilteo or over to Jetty Island, this is the answer most Everett locals haven’t fully reckoned with.

    The basics

    • Address: 11405 Silver Lake Road, Everett, WA 98208
    • Size: 35.3 acres
    • Hours: 6 a.m. to dusk, every day
    • Cost: Free for day use
    • Phone: City of Everett Parks, 425-257-8700
    • Parking: Free on-site lot

    No lifeguards are on duty. Life jackets are available to borrow at the beach.

    What’s actually here

    A real swimming beach

    This is the big one. Silver Lake has an honest-to-goodness sand beach at the park — not a ramp, not a pier, an actual walk-into-the-water beach with a sand playground area right next to it. On hot summer weekends this is the default Everett family move for anyone who doesn’t want to fight traffic to a saltwater beach. Because the lake is smaller than a Sound beach, the water warms up faster in the spring, which makes this one of the first genuinely swimmable places in Everett each year.

    The city posts water safety reminders prominently: no lifeguards, wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket if you’re not confident, and swim with a buddy. Drowning risk climbs sharply in summer across all Western Washington lakes — this park takes the messaging seriously, and so should visitors.

    A 9-hole disc golf course

    Thornton A. Sullivan has one of the better natural-terrain disc golf courses in Snohomish County. It’s 9 holes, forested, free to play, and busy on weekends. Beginners and veterans share the course. If you’ve never played disc golf, this is the most forgiving place in Everett to learn — the fairways are generous enough that first-timers aren’t constantly hunting lost discs.

    Self-serve kayak and paddleboard rentals

    Whenever Watersports operates a self-serve kayak and paddleboard rental kiosk at the park. It’s app-based — you rent from your phone, grab the gear, and return it when you’re done. The kiosk operates from sunrise to sunset, every day, with no reservations required. For an Everett family that wants to paddle without owning the equipment or hauling it anywhere, this is the simplest entry point to lake paddling in the city.

    Silver Lake allows small motorized boats — electric or gas motors up to 8 horsepower. That cap keeps the lake quiet and swim-friendly while still allowing a fishing skiff.

    Three picnic shelters

    Camp Patterson Picnic Shelter, Silver Lake Beach Shelter, and the Silver Lake Dock Shelter each anchor a different section of the park. They’re reservable through the City of Everett. The main shelter seats up to 64 for large family gatherings or birthday parties.

    Silver Hall

    If you need to host an indoor event at the park, Silver Hall is 1,018 square feet with a 40-person capacity. It includes restrooms and a kitchen with a stove, oven, microwave, and refrigerator. Reservations go through the City of Everett Parks department.

    Trails and waterfront access

    The park has a loop trail system around the southern lakeshore with multiple waterfront viewpoints. The loop is short enough to walk with a toddler and long enough to actually count as a walk. There’s a concrete table tennis table in the sand area — a small detail, but the kind that tells you someone who used this park as a kid designed it.

    Fishing

    Silver Lake is stocked and open to fishing with a valid Washington fishing license. The park’s waterfront viewpoints and the dock area are the most common fishing spots.

    When to go

    Spring (April–May): The best time for walking the trails and playing disc golf. Water’s still cold for swimming, but the park is quiet and the weather is starting to turn.

    Summer (June–August): Prime swimming and paddling season. Weekends get crowded — plan to arrive before 11 a.m. if you want a shaded picnic spot or a shelter without a reservation. Weekdays are dramatically quieter.

    Fall (September–October): Disc golf weather is excellent through October. The trees around the disc golf course turn and the park empties out.

    Winter: The park stays open at 6 a.m. to dusk year-round. Trails are walkable in most weather. The disc golf course plays cold but plays fine.

    How the park got here

    Thornton A. Sullivan Park is named for a long-serving parks commissioner whose work shaped the Everett parks system for decades. The park has been Everett’s primary lake-access park since the city acquired and developed the site, and it’s been expanded and renovated in phases over the years. Today’s 35.3 acres include the southern arc of Silver Lake’s shore, the beach, the wooded disc golf corridor, and the meadow zone around the picnic shelters.

    What makes the park distinct in Everett’s park system is that it’s one of the only city parks built around a lake — not a viewpoint of Port Gardner Bay, not a city block retrofit, but a park where the water is the point.

    Who this park is for

    Families who want a swim day without leaving the city. Disc golfers who want 9 holes they can play after work. Paddlers who don’t own a kayak. Anyone hosting a birthday party in Everett who doesn’t want to pay for a venue. Seniors who want a flat, walkable loop with benches. Kids who want a playground with a beach attached.

    If you’ve lived in Everett for a decade and haven’t been to Thornton A. Sullivan in five years, you’ve probably forgotten how good this park is.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where is Thornton A. Sullivan Park in Everett?

    The park is at 11405 Silver Lake Road, Everett, WA 98208, wrapping the south end of Silver Lake in the Silver Lake neighborhood of south Everett.

    What are the hours of Thornton A. Sullivan Park?

    The park is open from 6 a.m. to dusk every day of the year. There are no lifeguards on duty at any time.

    Is there a swimming beach at Silver Lake?

    Yes. The park includes a sand beach with designated swimming area. There are no lifeguards, so swimmers are asked to wear Coast Guard-approved life jackets (available to borrow) and swim with a buddy.

    Can you rent kayaks at Thornton A. Sullivan Park?

    Yes. Whenever Watersports operates a self-serve kayak and paddleboard rental kiosk on the lakeshore. Rentals are app-based, available sunrise to sunset, with no reservations required.

    Is there a disc golf course at the park?

    Yes. The park has a 9-hole natural-terrain disc golf course. It’s free to play and open during park hours.

    Can you have a motorized boat on Silver Lake?

    Yes, but only small motors — electric or gas motors up to 8 horsepower are allowed. That keeps Silver Lake quiet and swim-friendly while allowing fishing skiffs.

    Can you reserve picnic shelters or Silver Hall?

    Yes. Camp Patterson Picnic Shelter, the Silver Lake Beach shelter, the Silver Lake Dock shelter, and Silver Hall are all reservable through the City of Everett. Silver Hall seats 40 and includes a kitchen; the largest picnic shelter seats up to 64.

    Is fishing allowed at Silver Lake?

    Yes. A valid Washington State fishing license is required. The dock and waterfront viewpoints are the most common fishing spots.

    Related

  • Living in Riverside: Everett’s Oldest Neighborhood Is Also One of Its Most Overlooked

    What is the Riverside neighborhood in Everett?

    Riverside is Everett’s oldest neighborhood, running from 19th Street south to Pacific Avenue and from Broadway east to the Snohomish River. It was first platted in 1891 and is home to Garfield Park, Riverside Park, Summit Park, JJ Hill Park, and Judd & Black Park — more public green space per square block than almost any other Everett neighborhood. Residents are automatically members of the Riverside Neighborhood Association and pay no dues.

    Everett’s first neighborhood, still writing its story

    Most Everett guides start downtown. Riverside was there first.

    The eastern-most part of the neighborhood was platted by the Mitchell Land Company and filed on September 23, 1891 — the third plat in Everett, just weeks behind the first two, and months before the main plat of the city itself. Everything east of Broadway and west of the Snohomish River that sits between 19th and Pacific traces its street grid back to that filing. By the time Everett incorporated in 1893, Riverside was already a neighborhood with a name, streets, and a working river on its eastern edge.

    That matters, because Riverside is the neighborhood that most directly connects modern Everett to its sawmill-and-railroad origin story. The Snohomish River isn’t a view from Riverside — it’s the eastern property line. Stand at the top of Summit Avenue and you’re looking at the same ridge workers climbed home to after a shift at the waterfront mills a hundred and thirty years ago.

    Where Riverside actually is

    If you’re new to Everett, the boundaries are easy to hold in your head:

    • North: 19th Street
    • South: Pacific Avenue
    • East: the Snohomish River
    • West: Broadway

    Broadway is the western artery — the wall that separates Riverside from the Bayside grid to the west. Everything between Broadway and the river is Riverside. That’s a rectangle roughly a mile wide and a mile and a half tall, cut through by Everett Avenue, Hewitt Avenue, Pacific Avenue, and a whole lot of quiet residential streets that most Everett residents have driven past without ever knowing they were there.

    Six parks in one neighborhood

    Riverside’s quiet superpower is parks. For a neighborhood this small, the park inventory is remarkable — and most of them are the kind of parks only locals know about.

    Garfield Park (23rd & Walnut)

    The anchor park. Baseball fields, a playground, a walking track, pickleball courts, basketball, tennis courts — all in one footprint. Garfield is the park where Riverside kids grow up, Little League seasons happen, and pickleball players have been quietly organizing for years. The city has an active renovation plan in motion, and we’ve covered the Garfield makeover separately.

    Riverside Park (Everett Avenue & East Grand)

    A viewpoint park at the east end of Everett Avenue overlooking the Snohomish River and the Cascade foothills beyond. There’s a little free library here. The view at sunrise is arguably the best unofficial viewpoint in Everett — and one that almost no tourist guide mentions.

    Summit Park (Summit Avenue)

    The highest point in Riverside. On a clear day you can see the Cascade Mountains from Summit, which is why generations of Riverside families have walked up there to watch the Fourth of July fireworks.

    JJ Hill Park (Hewitt & Broadway)

    A pocket park at the western edge — small, but it does the job of breaking up the Hewitt-Broadway intersection with a patch of green.

    Judd & Black Park (Hewitt Avenue & Maple)

    Another small neighborhood park — the kind of place where locals walk their dogs on the way back from the grocery store and nobody else stops.

    The Snohomish Riverfront

    Technically not a city park, but functionally one — the Snohomish Riverfront Trail system runs along the eastern edge of the neighborhood, and the Lowell Riverfront Trail extension sits a short walk south. Snohomish County has been acquiring former Puget Sound Energy corridor parcels since 2020 for the Snohomish River Trail Phase 1, which will eventually knit the whole riverfront together from Everett to Snohomish.

    The neighborhood association that actually runs things

    The Riverside Neighborhood Association is one of Everett’s most active. Residents are automatically members — no sign-up, no dues. The association uses mini-grants from the City of Everett to fund community programs, organize events, and lobby on neighborhood infrastructure questions.

    That “automatically a member” structure matters. It means the neighborhood association isn’t a small club of the same ten people — it’s a framework that lets anyone on any Riverside block show up to a meeting and count. If you just moved in, you already belong.

    What it’s like to live here

    Riverside’s housing stock is older than almost anywhere else in Everett, which means you get the good and the quirky. Craftsman houses with original woodwork. Mid-century ramblers. The occasional Victorian holdout. Streets that don’t quite line up with the rest of the city because they were laid out before the modern grid was imposed. Mature trees that give the neighborhood a canopy most Everett neighborhoods haven’t had time to grow.

    It’s also one of the most walkable non-downtown neighborhoods in the city. Hewitt Avenue runs through it. Everett Avenue runs through it. You can walk from central Riverside to downtown Everett in fifteen minutes and to the riverfront in ten.

    The demographic profile tilts toward a mix of long-time residents and younger households who’ve figured out that Riverside offers Everett’s most house for the money once you get east of Rucker. Rentals make up about half the housing stock, but owner-occupancy is higher here than in many central Everett neighborhoods.

    What long-timers say

    The thing longtime Riverside residents repeat, almost verbatim, is that the neighborhood is underrated — and they’d prefer to keep it that way. It doesn’t have the waterfront cachet of Bayside. It doesn’t have the lake of Silver Lake. What it has is history, parks, the river, and a neighborhood association that actually meets and actually gets things done.

    If you’re reading a Riverside neighborhood guide, you’re probably already the kind of person who would fit in here.

    Getting around

    Broadway and Rucker handle the north-south traffic. Hewitt, Everett, and Pacific handle the east-west. I-5 is a five-minute drive west. The Snohomish Riverfront Trail is a walk east. The Everett Transit Station is a mile south, which puts commuters on a Sound Transit bus to Seattle without needing to drive to a park-and-ride.

    For the riverfront trail connection specifically, the Mill Town Trail loop ties the Port of Everett waterfront to Riverside Park via East Grand Avenue — a continuous six-plus-mile walking loop that uses Riverside as its eastern anchor.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where is the Riverside neighborhood in Everett?

    Riverside sits between 19th Street and Pacific Avenue on the north-south axis, and between Broadway and the Snohomish River on the east-west axis. It’s directly east of Bayside and directly north of the Port Gardner / Pacific Avenue corridor.

    Is Riverside really Everett’s oldest neighborhood?

    Yes. The first plat in what is now Riverside was filed in September 1891 — earlier than the main plat of Everett itself. The neighborhood’s eastern blocks trace directly back to that filing.

    How many parks are in Riverside?

    Five official city parks sit inside the neighborhood: Garfield Park, Riverside Park, Summit Park, JJ Hill Park, and Judd & Black Park. The Snohomish Riverfront Trail corridor runs along the eastern edge, adding a sixth functional green space.

    Does Riverside have a neighborhood association?

    Yes. The Riverside Neighborhood Association covers the entire boundary area. Residents are automatically members, there are no dues, and the association uses City of Everett mini-grants to fund neighborhood programs.

    Is Riverside a good place to live in Everett?

    For buyers and renters who value walkability, older housing stock, mature trees, and proximity to both downtown Everett and the Snohomish River, Riverside is among the strongest options in the city. It sits outside the price pressure of the waterfront and the density of downtown while keeping a short walk to both.

    What’s the history of Garfield Park?

    Garfield Park is one of Everett’s oldest named parks, anchored at 23rd and Walnut. It has grown into a multi-use facility with baseball fields, a playground, a walking track, pickleball, basketball, and tennis — and the city is currently advancing a formal renovation plan for the park.

    How do I join the Riverside Neighborhood Association?

    You already did. If you live inside the Riverside boundaries — 19th Street to Pacific Avenue, Broadway to the river — you are automatically a member and can attend any association meeting or event without signing up or paying dues.

    Related

  • Richard Marx’s After Hours Tour Lands at the Historic Everett Theatre May 8 — And This Friday Night Is Already Running Out of Seats

    Richard Marx — yes, that Richard Marx, the guy who held down the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in the late ’80s like it was his personal lease — is bringing his After Hours Tour into the Historic Everett Theatre on Friday, May 8, 2026 at 7:30 PM. One night. One of the most historically loaded rooms on Colby Avenue. And according to Bandsintown’s listing for the show, ticket availability is already down to a sliver.

    If you came up on “Right Here Waiting” on the car radio, if “Hold On to the Nights” was your slow-dance song, if “Endless Summer Nights” is permanently wired into your summer memory — this is the kind of show that only makes sense to skip if you truly hate joy. It is also, genuinely, one of the more unexpected bookings Everett has landed this spring.

    Here is everything worth knowing before you click buy.

    The Show at a Glance

    • **Who:** Richard Marx — five-time No. 1 Billboard hitmaker, After Hours Tour
    • **What:** Richard Marx live, supporting his January 2026 jazz-infused album After Hours
    • **When:** Friday, May 8, 2026 — 7:30 PM
    • **Where:** Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Avenue, Everett, WA 98201
    • **Tickets:** Official box office and links through everetttheater.org and theeveretttheatre.org; also listed on Bandsintown
    • **Availability:** Bandsintown’s listing for the Everett date showed very limited inventory remaining at time of publish

    If you have ever talked yourself out of a show because “we’ll grab tickets closer to the date” — do not do that here.

    Why This Booking Is a Big Deal for Everett

    Let’s zoom out for a second. The Historic Everett Theatre is not a 5,000-seat amphitheater. It is an intimate, roughly 800-seat room with 1901 opera-house bones — a building that’s been hosting touring artists since vaudeville was the dominant American art form. An artist with Richard Marx’s catalog — the kind of catalog that would sell out rooms five times the Everett Theatre’s size in bigger markets — playing a venue this small and this historic is the entire reason we keep telling people to watch this theater’s calendar.

    Between this booking, Canned Heat with Big Brother and the Holding Company on April 29, Trio Los Panchos on May 7, and Corduroy’s Pearl Jam tribute on May 9, the Historic Everett Theatre is quietly putting up one of the most stacked weekends in its modern concert history. Richard Marx on a Friday and a tribute to Pearl Jam the very next night in the same 1901 room — that’s not an accident of scheduling. That’s a room that’s been carefully programmed by people who know what they’re doing.

    About the After Hours Tour

    After Hours is Richard Marx’s jazz-infused studio album, released January 16, 2026. According to Marx’s interview with Billboard and his official tour site, the record was cut entirely live with a 24-piece ensemble — full takes, no studio patchwork, the way jazz records used to be made. The album’s lead-up singles included:

    • **”Big Band Boogie”** featuring saxophonist Kenny G
    • **”All I Ever Needed”** — a jazz-infused ballad featuring trumpeter Chris Botti
    • **”Magic Hour”** — co-written with Marx’s wife, Daisy Fuentes

    The tour officially kicked off April 16, 2026 and moves through Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada through the year, including headline stops at Red Rocks and the London Palladium. Marx is also joining Rod Stewart for select dates on Stewart’s tour, and the two released a duet version of “Young at Heart” in 2026.

    The Everett Theatre show sits in a tight West Coast run. According to the official tour site, it is sandwiched between the Elsinore Theatre in Salem, Oregon (May 9) and the Holly Theatre in Medford, Oregon (May 10) — meaning Everett is the northernmost stop on that West Coast swing. This is the room and the date for the Puget Sound region. There is no closer option.

    What to Expect from the Setlist

    Tours built around a new jazz record still tend to honor the hits. On Richard Marx’s recent runs, the setlist has braided the new After Hours material with the songs everyone in the theater actually came to hear: “Right Here Waiting,” “Hold On to the Nights,” “Endless Summer Nights,” “Hazard,” “Satisfied,” “Should’ve Known Better,” “Now and Forever.”

    Here’s the career footnote worth appreciating while you’re there: according to his Wikipedia entry and Billboard’s own historical chart data, Richard Marx is the only male artist in history whose first seven singles all reached the top five of the Billboard Hot 100. That is an absurd statistic. That is a “you were extremely good at this” statistic. Sitting in a theater built in 1901 watching the guy who did that perform them live with a band — that’s the kind of thing you tell people about at work on Monday.

    Historic Everett Theatre: The Quick History

    If this is your first time inside the Historic Everett Theatre, here’s the context that makes the night hit harder:

    • **1901** — Opens as the Everett Opera House, hosting opera, vaudeville, and legitimate theater. Early-20th-century performers to grace the stage included Lillian Russell, Al Jolson, Eddie Foy and the Seven Little Foys, and George M. Cohan.
    • **1923** — A fire tears through the building, destroying the interior and collapsing part of the front wall.
    • **1924** — Rebuilt and reopened as the 1,200-seat New Everett Theater.
    • **2000–2004** — Restored to its current form. The room now operates as a classic movie screen, concert venue, and stage-production house, seating roughly 800.

    In other words: the same room that hosted Al Jolson in the 1910s is hosting Richard Marx on May 8. That lineage is not a marketing line. It is the physical building. That matters.

    Getting There + Logistics

    • **Address:** 2911 Colby Avenue, Everett, WA 98201
    • **Start time:** Doors typically open an hour before showtime; show at 7:30 PM
    • **Parking:** Colby Avenue street parking plus nearby downtown Everett garages — the Everpark Garage is one of the closest options for downtown events
    • **Box office / ticket links:** everetttheater.org and theeveretttheatre.org both route to the official ticketing. Show is also listed on Bandsintown for tracking
    • **Food and drink before the show:** Downtown Everett’s Hewitt Avenue is a four-minute walk. Tony V’s Garage, Lucky Dime, the restaurants along the Colby/Hewitt corridor — any of them will put you inside the theater well before the 7:30 curtain

    The Honest Verdict

    If you are the kind of person who already has tickets, you didn’t need this article. You’ve known for weeks.

    If you are the kind of person who wasn’t paying attention — this is your nudge. Five No. 1 Billboard hits. A brand-new jazz record cut live with a 24-piece ensemble. A 125-year-old theater that Al Jolson once played. Tickets already showing as limited availability. A Friday night in Everett.

    It is not complicated. Go.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Q: What time does Richard Marx go on at the Historic Everett Theatre?

    A: The show is scheduled for Friday, May 8, 2026 at 7:30 PM. Doors typically open around an hour before showtime.

    Q: Where is the Historic Everett Theatre located?

    A: The Historic Everett Theatre is at 2911 Colby Avenue, Everett, WA 98201, in downtown Everett.

    Q: Are tickets still available for Richard Marx in Everett?

    A: At time of publication, Bandsintown’s listing for the Everett date showed very limited inventory remaining. Check everetttheater.org, theeveretttheatre.org, or Bandsintown for the current availability — this show may already be sold out by the time you read this.

    Q: What tour is this show part of?

    A: This is Richard Marx’s After Hours Tour, supporting his January 2026 jazz-infused album of the same name. The Everett date sits in a West Coast run between Salem, Oregon (May 9) and Medford, Oregon (May 10).

    Q: Will Richard Marx play his old hits or just new jazz material?

    A: Based on setlists from the tour, Marx is braiding material from the new After Hours album with his catalog of Billboard hits including “Right Here Waiting,” “Hold On to the Nights,” “Endless Summer Nights,” and “Hazard.”

    Q: How big is the Historic Everett Theatre?

    A: The current seating capacity is roughly 800 seats. That makes this show an unusually intimate setting for an artist of Richard Marx’s commercial stature.

    Q: Is the venue all-ages?

    A: The Historic Everett Theatre hosts all-ages concerts as a general rule. Verify at the box office if you’re bringing younger family members.

    Q: What’s the best place to eat before the show?

    A: Downtown Everett’s Hewitt Avenue corridor is a short walk. Tony V’s Garage, Lucky Dime, and the Colby/Hewitt dining cluster all work if you want to grab dinner and walk to the theater.

  • Jetty Island Ferry Returns July 8: Your Complete 2026 Guide to Everett’s Best Free Beach

    Q: When does the Jetty Island ferry open in 2026?
    A: The Jetty Island passenger ferry runs July 8 through September 6, 2026, Wednesday through Sunday. Reservations are required and cost $4 per person Wed-Thu and $7 Fri-Sun. Children 2 and under ride free. The ferry departs from Jetty Landing at 10th Street and W. Marine View Drive in Everett.

    Jetty Island Ferry Returns July 8: Your Complete 2026 Guide to Everett’s Best Free Beach

    Mark July 8 on the calendar. That’s the day the Jetty Island ferry season officially starts in 2026, and that’s the day Everett’s two-mile-long sandy island park becomes accessible again to anyone who can get to the marina. The ferry runs through September 6 — exactly two months of the only beach in Western Washington that actually feels like a beach.

    If you’ve never made the trip, here’s the short version: Jetty Island is a man-made, two-mile-long sandbar just off the Port of Everett, separated from the mainland by a narrow channel. There’s warm water on the inner shoreline (the channel side warms up in the summer sun), wind for kiteboarders on the outer shoreline, miles of walking, and almost no infrastructure. Bring what you need, take what you brought. That’s the deal.

    The 2026 Ferry Schedule

    The passenger ferry runs Wednesday through Sunday from July 8 through September 6, 2026. Operating hours by day:

    • Wednesday and Thursday: 10 AM to 5:45 PM
    • Friday and Saturday: 10 AM to 6:45 PM
    • Sunday: 10 AM to 5:45 PM
    • Monday and Tuesday: No ferry service

    The ferry departs from Jetty Landing, which is right next to the boat launch at the corner of 10th Street and W. Marine View Drive in Everett. There’s parking near the launch, but on a hot weekend in August it fills up fast. Get there early or be prepared to walk a few blocks.

    Reservations Are Required (Yes, Even on Weekdays)

    This is the part that trips up first-timers. You cannot just show up. All ferry rides require advance reservations through the Port of Everett’s reservation system. Walk-up tickets are not sold at the dock.

    Pricing for 2026:

    • Wednesday-Thursday: $4 per person
    • Friday-Sunday: $7 per person
    • Children 2 and under: Free

    Applicable taxes and a small booking fee apply at checkout. Reservations open up at portofeverett.com — and for prime weekend slots in July and August, they go fast. If you know you want to be there a particular weekend, book it the moment the schedule goes live.

    What You Need to Know Before You Go

    Jetty Island is intentionally left rustic. There are no concessions. There is no drinking water. There are vault toilets and that’s it. Pack:

    • Water — more than you think you need. Two miles of beach in August sun without shade is a long day.
    • Sunscreen and a hat — there is genuinely zero shade on most of the island.
    • Snacks/lunch — and a trash bag. Pack out what you pack in.
    • Wind layer — even on hot days the outer beach gets a steady afternoon wind off the Sound.
    • Beach toys, a kite, or a paddleboard — the channel side is calm and warm enough for all-day water play.

    Pets are allowed, but they need to stay on leash. There’s no lifeguard service. Watch the tide schedule — at extreme low tides the channel between the mainland and the island gets shallow enough to expose long stretches of mudflat, which is fascinating to look at and miserable to walk through.

    Why the Ferry Closes Early on Hot Days

    This is the one operational quirk to plan around. When the island reaches maximum capacity — which happens on hot weekends in late July and August — the ferry can stop running new round-trips early. The return ferries still operate to bring everyone back, but if you show up at 2 PM on a 90-degree Saturday and the ferry is paused, your reservation may not get you across. Earlier is better.

    Inclement weather can also cancel ferry service. The Port posts updates on the day-of through their site and social channels.

    The Things People Don’t Realize About Jetty Island

    The water is actually warm. The channel side, sheltered from the Sound, gets shallow and sun-heated through the day. Kids can wade for hours. It’s the warmest swimming water you’ll find anywhere in Snohomish County.

    It’s a kiteboarding hotspot. The outer shoreline catches a consistent westerly afternoon wind in summer, and the local kiteboarding community treats Jetty as one of the best spots in the region. If you’ve ever wanted to watch the sport up close, head to the south end of the island in the late afternoon.

    The bird life is wild. Jetty is on the Pacific Flyway and is a Snohomish County designated wildlife area. Bald eagles, herons, oystercatchers — bring binoculars if you’re into that.

    You can paddle there. If the ferry is full or you’ve got your own kayak or paddleboard, the channel from the marina is short, calm, and well within reach for a casual paddler. Bring a leash for your board and a PFD.

    Getting to Jetty Landing

    Jetty Landing is at 1700 W. Marine View Drive, right next to the Port of Everett’s 10th Street boat launch. From I-5, take exit 193 (Pacific Avenue) and head west until Marine View Drive, then turn north. The boat launch parking lot is signed.

    Everett Transit’s Route 7 stops within about a half-mile walk if you’d rather not deal with parking. On weekends the bike racks at Jetty Landing fill up too, which tells you something about who knows what they’re doing.

    What to Do After the Beach

    Coming back from a Jetty day around 5 or 6 PM puts you right at the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place — which has the best dinner options in the area and is about a five-minute walk from where you’ll dock. Tapped Public House, Rustic Cork, and the new Sound to Summit taproom on the south side of the marina are all right there. The Net Shed Fish Market & Kitchen is another great option for a casual dinner with a view.

    Make a day of it: ferry over for a morning swim, beach lunch, kite-watching afternoon, then dinner on the waterfront when you get back. That’s an Everett summer Saturday done right.

    The Big Picture: Jetty Days 2026

    The Port of Everett’s Jetty Island Days programming runs alongside the ferry season July 8 – September 6, with naturalists, environmental education programs, and family activities scheduled throughout. The full programming calendar typically goes live in mid-June. Watch portofeverett.com for the schedule.

    This is a free island park (the only cost is the ferry ride). It is a genuinely unusual asset for a city the size of Everett. And once you’ve been once, you’ll find a reason to go back every summer.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When does the Jetty Island ferry open in 2026?
    July 8, 2026.

    When does the ferry season end?
    September 6, 2026.

    How much is the ferry?
    $4 per person Wednesday-Thursday, $7 per person Friday-Sunday. Children 2 and under ride free.

    Where do I make ferry reservations?
    Through portofeverett.com. Reservations are required — there are no walk-up tickets.

    Where does the ferry leave from?
    Jetty Landing at 10th Street and W. Marine View Drive in Everett, next to the Port of Everett boat launch.

    What days does the ferry run?
    Wednesday through Sunday. No ferry service Monday or Tuesday.

    Can I bring my dog to Jetty Island?
    Yes, dogs are allowed but must be on leash.

    Is there food on Jetty Island?
    No — bring your own food, water, and pack out all trash.

    Can I kayak or paddleboard to Jetty Island?
    Yes. The channel from the marina is short and calm in good weather. Wear a PFD and use a board leash.

    Are there bathrooms on the island?
    Yes, vault toilets only. No running water.

    Can the ferry be canceled?
    Yes, the ferry may close due to weather or when the island reaches maximum capacity on busy days. Check portofeverett.com for day-of updates.

  • Bryce Miller Is Pitching at Funko Field Friday Night — And the AquaSox Are Quietly Putting Together a Pretty Good Homestand

    Q: Is Bryce Miller pitching for the AquaSox?
    A: Yes — Seattle Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller is scheduled to make a rehab start for the Everett AquaSox on Friday, April 24, 2026 at 7:05 PM PT at Funko Field. He’s working back from a spring training oblique injury and his fastball has already touched 98 mph during his Tacoma Rainiers rehab outing on April 18.

    Bryce Miller Is Pitching at Funko Field Friday Night — And the AquaSox Are Quietly Putting Together a Pretty Good Homestand

    Two pieces of good news from down at Everett Memorial Stadium this week, and they line up perfectly. The AquaSox just took the series opener from the Spokane Indians 5-2 on Tuesday night behind a vintage Taylor Dollard pitching line. And on Friday night, the headliner: Seattle Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller is starting his rehab assignment for Everett, with first pitch at 7:05 PM at Funko Field.

    If you’ve been on the fence about which game in this six-game homestand to grab tickets for, the schedule just answered the question for you.

    Bryce Miller’s Rehab Start: What to Know

    Mariners EVP Justin Hollander confirmed Miller’s Friday rehab assignment with the AquaSox earlier this week. The 27-year-old right-hander is working his way back from an oblique injury sustained in spring training. He made his first rehab outing on Saturday, April 18 with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers — 1.2 innings, two strikeouts, one walk, three runs on four hits, but more importantly, his fastball touched over 98 mph. The arm is fine. The body just needs reps.

    Friday night is his second rehab outing, this time at the High-A level. The reason for moving him down to Everett rather than keeping him in Tacoma: the AquaSox affiliate gives him a chance to get reacclimated to PNW pitching conditions before bumping him back up. His rehab assignment will continue to fluctuate between the Rainiers and AquaSox until he’s ready for a Mariners rotation slot.

    For Everett fans, this is the rare night where you can watch a current major-league starter on the mound at Funko Field. Miller has been with Seattle since 2023, holds a career 24-21 record with a 4.01 ERA, and his best season came in 2024 when he went 12-8 with a 2.94 ERA across 31 starts. He also pitched for Everett in 2022 — 3-3 record, 3.24 ERA across 15 starts — so this is a homecoming of sorts.

    Tickets for Friday night are available through AquaSox.com, the MiLB app, or by calling the AquaSox Front Office at 425-258-3673. Expect a crowd.

    The Series Opener: Taylor Dollard Was Filthy

    Tuesday night the AquaSox got the kind of starting pitching performance they’ve been waiting on all season. Right-hander Taylor Dollard — who’d been working through some early-season struggles — fired five shutout innings, allowed just two hits, struck out seven, and walked one. It was his best start of 2026 and the kind of outing that resets a season.

    “He definitely set the tone with really good momentum throughout that game,” manager Ryan Scott said after the win.

    Dollard himself was characteristically measured: “The process is right, and we’re kind of getting there. Baby steps.”

    The bullpen kept the shutout intact. Wyatt Lunsford-Shenkman threw one hitless inning with two strikeouts. Christian Little added two scoreless frames and three more strikeouts. Closer Brock Moore allowed a two-run homer to Spokane’s Jacob Humphrey in the ninth but locked down the save.

    The Offense Is Finally Showing Up Late

    The AquaSox played five scoreless innings on Tuesday before catcher Josh Caron pushed across the first run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth. Then they exploded for four in the eighth — sparked by walks, RBI hits from Luke Stevenson and Axel Sanchez, a Curtis Washington Jr. sacrifice bunt, and a Luis Suisbel sac fly.

    And here’s the trend worth tracking: the AquaSox have now scored 16 runs in the eighth inning over their last six games. Whatever they’re doing in the dugout between innings six and eight is working. They’re 8-8 on the season and heating up at the right time.

    The Rest of the Homestand

    The Spokane series runs through Sunday. Here’s what’s left:

    • Wednesday, April 22: Game 2 vs Spokane, 7:05 PM PT — Student Discount Night, GESA Credit Union Military Pride Offer, Tulalip Bingo & Slots Baseball Bingo
    • Thursday, April 23: Game 3 vs Spokane, 7:05 PM PT
    • Friday, April 24: Game 4 vs Spokane, 7:05 PM PT — Bryce Miller rehab start, Fireworks Night
    • Saturday, April 25: Game 5 vs Spokane, 7:05 PM PT
    • Sunday, April 26: Game 6 vs Spokane, 1:05 PM PT

    Friday is the headliner, but Saturday’s a 7:05 PM PT start with the weekend energy at Funko Field, and Sunday’s afternoon game closes the series — a good fit for families who don’t want to be out late on a school night.

    Spokane Has Been Tougher Than Their Record Looks

    The Indians come into this series at 6-10 but they’ve been competitive game-by-game. Their April 5 walk-off 10-9 win over Everett earlier this season was one of the wilder games of the High-A West season so far. Tuesday’s Jacob Humphrey ninth-inning homer kept the comeback flame alive even in defeat. The High-A West has been chaotic top to bottom this April, and any series with Spokane has the potential to swing on a single inning.

    Prospect Watch on the Roster

    The four Mariners prospects to keep your eye on this homestand:

    • Luke Stevenson — Catcher, opening to do real damage. Had the RBI double in the eighth inning Tuesday.
    • Felnin Celesten — The shortstop the Mariners signed for $4.7 million in 2023. Premium tools, still finding his rhythm at High-A.
    • Lazaro Montes — Big-bodied corner outfielder with massive raw power. The kind of prospect Funko Field crowds notice immediately.
    • Colton Shaw — Right-hander who already had a standout 6IP/7K/0BB performance in the home opening series two weeks ago.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What time is Bryce Miller pitching for the AquaSox?
    First pitch is 7:05 PM PT on Friday, April 24 at Funko Field (Everett Memorial Stadium).

    How long will Miller pitch?
    Rehab outings typically build pitch count gradually — expect Miller in the 50-65 pitch range Friday based on his Tacoma outing length and his place in the rehab schedule.

    Who won the AquaSox-Spokane series opener?
    Everett won 5-2 on Tuesday, April 21. Taylor Dollard threw five shutout innings with seven strikeouts.

    What was Taylor Dollard’s pitching line?
    5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K. His best start of 2026.

    Where are tickets for the AquaSox?
    AquaSox.com, the MiLB app, or call the AquaSox Front Office at 425-258-3673.

    What’s the AquaSox record this season?
    8-8 after Tuesday’s win.

    Are there fireworks Friday night?
    Yes — Friday, April 24 is fireworks night at Funko Field.

    Who else is on the AquaSox roster worth watching?
    Luke Stevenson (C), Felnin Celesten (SS), Lazaro Montes (OF), and Colton Shaw (RHP) are the headline Mariners prospects on the current roster.

    What is Bryce Miller coming back from?
    An oblique injury sustained during 2026 spring training.

    How fast is Miller throwing?
    His fastball touched 98+ mph in his April 18 Tacoma rehab outing.

  • Silvertips Open the Western Conference Final at Home Thursday Night — Everything You Need Before Puck Drop

    Q: When is Silvertips WCF Game 1 vs the Penticton Vees?
    A: Game 1 of the WHL Western Conference Final is Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 7:05 PM PT at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett. Game 2 follows Saturday, April 25 at 6:30 PM PT, also in Everett. Everett enters the series 7-0 in the playoffs after sweeping past Tri-City and dispatching Kelowna 4-1 in Round 2.

    Silvertips Open the Western Conference Final at Home Thursday Night — Here’s Everything You Need Before Puck Drop

    This is the part of the playoff run where Everett gets to find out exactly how good it is. The Silvertips are perfect through two rounds. The Penticton Vees just punched the last ticket to the Western Conference Final after eliminating Prince George in six. The two best teams in the WHL’s Western Conference start their series Thursday night in Everett — and if you’ve been waiting for a reason to get to Angel of the Winds Arena this spring, this is it.

    Game 1 is Thursday, April 23 at 7:05 PM PT. Game 2 is Saturday, April 25 at 6:30 PM PT. Both at home. The series then shifts to Penticton for Games 3 and 4 on Monday and Tuesday. If a Game 5 is needed, it comes back to Everett.

    How Everett Got Here

    The Silvertips finished the regular season with 117 points on a 57-8-2-1 record — the franchise’s best regular-season showing in 12 years. Then they swept Tri-City. Then they took out Kelowna in five games, with Landon DuPont’s overtime winner 29 seconds into OT closing out Game 5. They’re 7-0 in the postseason.

    Through those seven games, they’ve outscored opponents 40-9. That isn’t a typo. The defense has been a brick wall and the offense has been opportunistic when it needs to be — and a sledgehammer when it doesn’t.

    The Goalie Matchup Is the Story

    Anders Miller has been ridiculous. His .948 save percentage in this postseason is the best in WHL history for any goaltender with nine or more playoff games. His goals-against average sits at 1.55 — the league lead. He held Kelowna to one goal in Game 5 with 30 saves on 31 shots. He’s the most important reason Everett is here.

    Penticton’s AJ Reyelts is no slouch either. He’s posted a 2.44 GAA and a .914 save percentage in the playoffs. And the part that should make Silvertips fans pay attention: Reyelts went 1-1-1-0 with a .929 save percentage against Everett in the regular season. He has seen these guys, and he has shut them down before.

    The Players to Watch

    For Everett, the names you already know are doing what they do. Landon DuPont leads all WHL defensemen in playoff scoring with 13 points (3G, 10A) — and his shot from the point is the kind of weapon that decides series. Matias Vanhanen has 14 points (7G, 7A) and has been Everett’s most consistent forward in the postseason. Carter Bear has 10 playoff goals and a habit of scoring shorthanded when the team needs it most. Julius Miettinen has eight playoff goals — second most in the entire postseason — and he’s also a Seattle Kraken prospect, which means there are NHL eyes on every shift.

    For Penticton, the load is being carried by Jacob Kvasnicka (13 points, 7G, 6A), Ryden Evers (11 points), and Louie Wehmann (11 points). Kvasnicka, notably, is the only Vees skater drafted by an NHL club. Evers is also a Seattle Kraken prospect, so Saturday and Thursday nights are essentially a Kraken pipeline showcase between the two benches.

    The Regular-Season History Gives the Vees a Little Hope

    This isn’t a series Penticton should walk into terrified. The two teams played four times in the regular season. Everett won the season series 3-1, but the one Vees win was a 7-0 road shutout that handed the Silvertips their first regulation loss after Everett opened the year 10-0-1. The teams scored 15 goals each across the four meetings.

    So Penticton has both proof of concept and proof of vulnerability — they know what it looks like when the Silvertips lose, because they’re the ones who made it happen.

    What’s at Stake

    The winner of this series goes to the WHL Championship — the Ed Chynoweth Cup Final — and from there to the Memorial Cup. Everett hasn’t been to a Conference Final since the 2017-18 season. They haven’t won a league championship since 2017. The pieces are all in place this year, and the bracket has set up about as cleanly as a top seed could ask for.

    For the Vees, this is their first WHL Conference Final since making the jump from junior A to the WHL. A team that didn’t even exist at this level a few years ago is now two series away from a Memorial Cup berth.

    Getting to the Game

    Doors at Angel of the Winds Arena open about an hour before puck drop. The arena is at 2000 Hewitt Avenue in downtown Everett, with paid garage parking next door and street parking around the perimeter. Tickets for Game 1 and Game 2 are still available through the Silvertips’ official site and Ticketmaster as of Wednesday night, though lower-bowl options are getting thin for Game 2.

    If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to come back to a Silvertips game, this is it. The team hasn’t been this good in over a decade. The arena is going to be loud. And the Western Conference Final only happens here every few seasons — when it does, you don’t miss it.

    The Full Series Schedule

    • Game 1: Thursday, April 23 — Penticton at Everett, 7:05 PM PT, Angel of the Winds Arena
    • Game 2: Saturday, April 25 — Penticton at Everett, 6:30 PM PT, Angel of the Winds Arena
    • Game 3: Monday, April 27 — Everett at Penticton
    • Game 4: Tuesday, April 28 — Everett at Penticton
    • Game 5 (if necessary): Friday, May 1 — Penticton at Everett
    • Game 6 (if necessary): Sunday, May 3 — Everett at Penticton
    • Game 7 (if necessary): Tuesday, May 5 — Penticton at Everett

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What time is Game 1?
    Game 1 is Thursday, April 23 at 7:05 PM PT at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett.

    Where can I buy tickets?
    Tickets are available through everettsilvertips.com and Ticketmaster. Lower-bowl seats for Game 2 are getting limited — check early.

    Who are the Penticton Vees?
    The Vees are a relatively new WHL franchise that made the jump from junior A. They beat Prince George in six games to advance to the Western Conference Final.

    What is Anders Miller’s playoff save percentage?
    .948 — the highest save percentage in WHL playoff history for a goaltender with nine or more games played.

    Who leads the Silvertips in playoff scoring?
    Matias Vanhanen leads with 14 points (7G, 7A). Landon DuPont leads all WHL defensemen in playoff scoring with 13 points.

    Can the Silvertips win the Memorial Cup this year?
    They have to win this series first, then the WHL Championship, but they enter the Conference Final as the strongest team statistically in the entire CHL postseason.

    When was the last time Everett made the Western Conference Final?
    The 2017-18 season. The last WHL Championship was 2017.

    Is there a Game 5 in Everett?
    Yes, if the series is tied or close after Game 4. Game 5 would be Friday, May 1 at Angel of the Winds Arena.

  • What the Navy’s New FF(X) Frigate Means for Naval Station Everett

    What is the FF(X) frigate and does Everett still have a shot at it? The FF(X) is the Navy’s replacement frigate class, unveiled by Secretary of the Navy John Phelan on December 19, 2025, after the Constellation-class program was cancelled. It will be based on HII’s Legend-class National Security Cutter design and built at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi, with additional yards to be added through competition. The Navy has not announced homeports for the new class. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Everett) is lobbying Navy leadership to route the new frigates to Naval Station Everett, citing the same Pacific access that won Everett the original Constellation assignment in 2021.

    What the Navy’s New FF(X) Frigate Means for Naval Station Everett

    For four years, Naval Station Everett’s growth story was tied to one class of ship: the Constellation-class guided-missile frigate. Twelve of them were supposed to arrive between 2026 and 2028, bringing an estimated 2,900 sailors and civilian personnel with them and cementing Everett’s status as the Pacific Northwest’s frigate homeport.

    That story ended on November 25, 2025, when Secretary of the Navy John Phelan announced the Constellation program’s cancellation. It was replaced on December 19 by a new story — one whose final chapter hasn’t been written yet, and whose setting is still up for grabs.

    The New Frigate: FF(X), Based on a Coast Guard Cutter

    In a video posted on social media on December 19, Phelan announced his direction for the program: “I have directed the acquisition of a new frigate class based on HII’s Legend-class national security cutter design, a proven American built ship that has been protecting us interests at home and abroad.”

    The design choice matters. The Legend-class is the National Security Cutter, the Coast Guard’s largest surface asset — a 418-foot hull that HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding has been delivering on schedule for more than a decade. By starting from a mature, in-production American design rather than adapting a European parent hull, the Navy is betting it can avoid the design-instability problems that sank the Constellation.

    The Constellation’s design problems were severe. It was originally intended to be about 85% common with the Italian FREMM frigate it was based on. By the time the Navy walked away from it, the final design had only about 15% commonality with the parent FREMM, had grown roughly 500 tons heavier than planned, and had pushed delivery of the lead ship from a 2026 target to April 2029 — a three-year slip that added more than $1 billion in costs.

    The FF(X) aims for a ship in the water by 2028. Ingalls in Pascagoula, Mississippi will be the lead yard. The Navy has said it will run a competition to select additional yards, which keeps the door open for industrial base expansion elsewhere.

    The Open Question for Everett

    Neither the cancellation announcement nor the replacement announcement addressed homeports. Navy spokesman Capt. Ron Flanders told The Daily Herald that decisions on where the first two Constellation-class ships — FFG-62 Constellation and FFG-63 Congress, both still under construction at Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Wisconsin — will be based “won’t be made until much closer to a ship’s commissioning date.”

    The same silence applies to the new FF(X). No homeport has been announced. No assignment schedule has been published. For a station that spent four years preparing for a frigate-driven future, that silence is the central fact to navigate.

    Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Everett), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, has moved quickly to make Everett’s case. Larsen has publicly described the station as “uniquely situated” for new frigates because of its direct access to the Pacific and its existing pier infrastructure, arguing the same rationale that won Everett the original Constellation homeport assignment in 2021 applies just as well to its replacement.

    Why Everett Was Picked the First Time

    The 2021 homeport decision was not arbitrary. The Navy’s 2024 Environmental Assessment on homeporting Constellation-class frigates at Naval Station Everett found no significant environmental impact and documented the station’s suitability in detail: deep-water piers already built to handle larger combatants, shore power capacity for modern ships, proximity to the open ocean without transit through restricted inland waters, and established training ranges in the Puget Sound operating area.

    That infrastructure has not moved. The same physical and operational reasons that made Everett the logical choice for 12 Constellation-class frigates still apply to any new surface combatant the Navy wants to homeport in the Pacific Northwest. What has changed is the political geography around the decision, not the maritime geography.

    The Local Response: Military Affairs Committee Rebooted

    The community response was to get organized. In January 2026, the Economic Alliance Snohomish County — led by CEO Ray Stephanson — announced it was rebooting the Snohomish County Military Affairs Committee specifically to advocate for the station’s long-term future. The committee’s first meeting was held on February 23, 2026, with Snohomish County Council member Nate Nehring (R-Arlington) among the confirmed participants.

    The committee’s role, as described in its charter, is to serve as “a coordinated regional voice that understands both the national security implications and the local economic impacts” of decisions affecting the station. In practice, that means:

    • Resuming regular visits to the Pentagon to brief Navy leadership on Everett’s capabilities
    • Tracking Navy contract opportunities so Snohomish County businesses can bid on them
    • Coordinating with the Washington congressional delegation on authorization and appropriations language

    Stephanson described the cancellation as undermining years of work to establish Everett as a key Navy asset, and framed the committee’s purpose as protecting the station’s relevance in future budget cycles.

    What Current Operations Look Like

    Amid all of this, the day-to-day mission at Naval Station Everett has not changed. The installation remains home to guided-missile destroyers — including USS Momsen, USS Shoup, USS Gridley, USS Kidd, and USS Sampson — along with USS Rafael Peralta and other Arleigh Burke-class ships, plus two Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers and two U.S. Coast Guard vessels.

    The station continues to conduct routine operations and periodic training exercises, including the April 20–28, 2026 exercise in which community members observed blank-ammunition noise, temporary gate-access changes, and additional small-boat activity near the waterfront. The Navy emphasized that the exercise was routine and not in response to any specific threat.

    The Fleet & Family Support Center continues to run its full program calendar, including the 2026 Career Transition Series that wrapped in March and the MWR Mountaineering Program that returned for 2026. For Navy families stationed in Everett right now, the frigate-class question is a long-horizon issue; the day-to-day quality-of-life infrastructure is intact.

    The Economic Stakes

    The cancelled Constellation homeporting plan carried concrete economic numbers. The 2024 environmental study estimated the 12-ship assignment would bring 2,900 sailors and civilian personnel to the Everett area while displacing roughly 3,100 existing personnel through reassignments elsewhere in the fleet.

    Those numbers are now holding patterns, not commitments. Whether a similarly sized workforce arrives with the FF(X) — or with whatever combination of new-class surface combatants the Navy ultimately assigns to Everett — depends on homeport decisions that haven’t been made.

    For the local economy, the waiting period is the hard part. Housing demand assumptions, school enrollment planning, and business investment decisions that were anchored to the 2026–2028 frigate arrival timeline have to be re-baselined. The Economic Alliance has told local stakeholders that the rebooted Military Affairs Committee is the single most important vehicle for keeping Everett in the running.

    What to Watch

    Three data points will tell the story as it develops:

    • Where FFG-62 Constellation and FFG-63 Congress are homeported when they commission. If either is assigned to Everett, it signals the station is still in the Navy’s Pacific frigate rotation.
    • The FF(X) competitive yard selection. Additional yards beyond Ingalls would broaden the industrial base and, potentially, strengthen the case for Pacific basing.
    • The FY2027 and FY2028 shipbuilding appropriations. Homeport language sometimes appears in the committee report language accompanying defense authorization bills, even before formal Navy assignment.

    None of those data points are available yet. Everett’s job between now and when they are is to make the case — as the Military Affairs Committee, Rep. Larsen, Sen. Patty Murray, and Sen. Maria Cantwell are all actively doing — that the Pacific Northwest’s only deep-water Navy installation belongs in the Navy’s long-term surface combatant plan.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What happened to the Constellation-class frigate program?
    On November 25, 2025, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan announced the program’s cancellation. The first two ships — FFG-62 Constellation and FFG-63 Congress — will finish construction at Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Wisconsin, but the next four planned ships were cancelled. Cost overruns exceeded $1 billion and delivery of the lead ship had slipped to April 2029.

    What is the FF(X) frigate replacing it?
    The FF(X) is a new frigate class based on HII’s Legend-class National Security Cutter, which is currently in service with the Coast Guard. It was announced by Secretary Phelan on December 19, 2025, with the stated goal of having a ship in the water by 2028. Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi will be the lead yard, and additional yards will be selected through competition.

    Will the FF(X) be homeported at Naval Station Everett?
    The Navy has not announced homeports for the new class. Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Everett) is lobbying Navy leadership to route the new frigates to Everett, citing the same Pacific access and pier infrastructure that supported the original Constellation assignment.

    What is the Snohomish County Military Affairs Committee?
    It is a regional advocacy committee led by Ray Stephanson of Economic Alliance Snohomish County, rebooted in January 2026 after the Constellation cancellation. Its first meeting was February 23, 2026. The committee coordinates with elected officials, union leaders, and community groups to advocate for Naval Station Everett’s long-term future.

    Is Naval Station Everett reducing operations?
    No. The Navy has not announced any plans to reduce the station’s operational footprint. Current destroyers and cruisers continue to deploy and return, the Fleet & Family Support Center remains fully operational, and routine training exercises continue on schedule.

    Who is the current commanding officer of Naval Station Everett?
    Capt. Stacy Wuthier is the commanding officer. For official inquiries, the station’s Public Affairs Office is the point of contact; media questions about program or basing decisions go through Navy Region Northwest and the Pentagon.

    Where can military families find resources in Everett?
    The Fleet & Family Support Center at Naval Station Everett offers the full range of Navy family programs, and the installation’s MWR programs run year-round. The Snohomish County Veterans Assistance Program office at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue in Everett supports transitioning service members and veterans. The Everett Vet Center at 1010 SE Everett Mall Way, Suite 207 offers counseling services.

  • Boeing Out-Delivered Airbus in Q1 2026 — And Everett Is About to Add the Capacity to Keep Doing It

    Q: Did Boeing out-deliver Airbus in the first quarter of 2026?
    A: Yes. Boeing handed over 143 commercial airplanes in Q1 2026, beating Airbus’s 114. It’s the first quarterly delivery win for Boeing over Airbus since 2019, before the 737 MAX grounding. The 737 MAX accounted for 114 of the 143 deliveries — and Everett is the next factory adding to that single-aisle output.

    For the first time in seven years, Boeing handed over more commercial airplanes in a single quarter than Airbus did. The Q1 2026 scoreboard read 143 to 114 — and the most important number for Everett isn’t either of those. It’s 114, the number of 737 MAX jets Boeing delivered in three months, roughly 80% of the company’s commercial total.

    That’s the line Everett is about to plug into.

    What just happened on the delivery line

    Boeing delivered 143 commercial aircraft in Q1 2026. The mix, per the company’s own monthly disclosures and reporting from Aerotime and AIAA: 114 single-aisle 737 MAX jets, 15 widebody 787 Dreamliners, eight 777s, and six 767s. Defense, Space and Security delivered another 30 — Apache helicopters, KC-46 Pegasus tankers, and P-8 Poseidons — bringing the all-up Boeing total to 173 aircraft for the quarter, a 10.9% increase over Q1 2025.

    Airbus delivered 114 commercial aircraft over the same three months. The 29-airplane gap is the first time Boeing has finished a quarter ahead of its European rival since the first quarter of 2019 — the last quarter before the second 737 MAX 8 crash and the 20-month grounding that reset the entire competitive map.

    Boeing reports its full Q1 2026 earnings on April 22, 2026, and CEO Kelly Ortberg has already publicly framed the year as a recovery story rather than a victory lap. Production rates, not quarterly delivery totals, are the metric the company is being judged on.

    Why Everett is the load-bearing wall of this comeback

    Three of the four commercial models Boeing delivered in Q1 — the 767, the 777, and the 787 (final assembly in Charleston, but with significant Everett-built components) — flow through or originate from the Everett factory at Paine Field. The KC-46 Pegasus tanker, also assembled in Everett, drove a meaningful share of the defense deliveries. The factory’s 105th KC-46 rolled out April 3, on pace for 19 tanker deliveries in 2026.

    What Everett does not currently build is the 737 MAX — and that’s the next chapter.

    Boeing’s North Line, the new 737 MAX final assembly line being stood up at the Everett factory, is on track to begin production this summer. According to the company’s own April 2026 update, construction and tooling are complete, and CEO Kelly Ortberg has personally toured the line. The remaining work is hiring and training — hundreds of new and transferred teammates from Renton, Everett, and Moses Lake who will assemble 737-8, 737-9 and 737-10 jets in a building that has spent its entire history building widebodies.

    The production rate math, in plain English

    Here’s why the North Line matters for any future quarter that looks like Q1 2026.

    The FAA formally lifted Boeing’s 737 MAX production rate cap in March 2026 after the company sustained quality metrics at its Renton plant. Boeing has confirmed a steady rate of 38 MAX per month as of late March. CEO Ortberg has signaled the company will step that up in five-aircraft increments — getting to 47 per month is the near-term target Boeing has guided publicly.

    Anything above 47 per month, the company has said, will be built in Everett on the North Line. That’s the structural change. Renton was the world’s only 737 factory for decades. Now Everett gets to be the second.

    Industry analysts at AirInsight have noted Boeing is publicly aiming for combined output of 53 MAX per month by year-end 2026, with longer-term ambitions toward 63. None of that is possible without the North Line in Everett.

    What Q1 looked like for Snohomish County workers

    Translate the headline numbers down to ground level and you get this: every 737 MAX delivered to a customer in Q1 2026 represented work for thousands of people across the Puget Sound aerospace ecosystem — Renton final assembly, Auburn fabrication, Frederickson composites, Moses Lake, and the dense web of Snohomish County suppliers documented in the 600-company aerospace supply chain that surrounds the Everett factory.

    Q1’s 114 MAX deliveries were entirely Renton’s. The next year’s deliveries will be a mix. By 2027, if production rate goals hold, Everett will be building a meaningful share of the 737 MAX volume Boeing’s customers are waiting for. That’s net new aerospace assembly work for the city for the first time in a generation — narrowbody, not widebody, but assembly work all the same.

    For Everett, the spillover is what it always has been: jobs anchored to the factory feed housing demand south of Boeing Boulevard, lunch traffic at every restaurant within five miles of Paine Field, gym memberships, school enrollments, and the property tax base that pays for fire, libraries, and parks. The North Line ramp-up is the first major Everett-specific Boeing growth story since the 777X line was set up — and unlike the 777X program, the 737 MAX has a delivery backlog of more than 4,500 airplanes Boeing has already booked.

    What to watch in Q2 and beyond

    A few things Everett readers should keep an eye on between now and the next quarterly delivery report:

    The Lufthansa 777-9 first flight. Boeing has targeted April 2026 for the first flight of a production-standard 777X out of Paine Field, with Lufthansa as the launch customer. That milestone moves Everett’s marquee widebody program closer to certification, with delivery now slipped to early 2027.

    North Line first conformity airplane. Boeing’s stated process is to build a small number of “low-rate initial production” and conformity aircraft on the North Line before fully integrating the line into the broader 737 MAX flow. The first North Line airplane will be a defining Everett milestone.

    SPEEA’s October 6 contract expiration. The engineers’ and technical workers’ union is in active bargaining preparation. Anything that disrupts engineering support on the factory floor would slow down the very rate ramp Q1’s deliveries depend on.

    737 MAX rate increase to 47/month. That’s the target Boeing needs to hit before any of its monthly deliveries shift to Everett. Watch the FAA’s monthly production data as it’s published.

    The bigger picture for Everett

    Q1 2026 wasn’t a fluke quarter. Boeing’s commercial backlog at the end of March stood at more than 6,000 aircraft, with the 737 MAX accounting for roughly three-quarters of that order book. The company’s challenge is not finding customers — it’s getting airplanes out the door fast enough to keep them.

    That’s the problem Everett is being asked to help solve. The North Line going hot this summer isn’t a feel-good ribbon cutting. It’s the only path Boeing has publicly identified to push 737 MAX production above 47 a month, and 47 a month isn’t enough to clear the order book on the timelines Boeing’s customers are demanding.

    For the city of Everett, the stakes are simple: Boeing’s recovery is Everett’s recovery. Q1 2026 was the first proof point that Boeing can out-build Airbus again. The next proof point lands in this city.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How many planes did Boeing deliver in Q1 2026?

    Boeing delivered 143 commercial airplanes in the first quarter of 2026: 114 737 MAX, 15 787 Dreamliners, eight 777s, and six 767s. Boeing’s defense unit delivered another 30 aircraft, for a total of 173 across the company.

    Did Boeing actually beat Airbus on deliveries?

    Yes. Airbus delivered 114 commercial aircraft in Q1 2026 to Boeing’s 143. It is the first time Boeing has out-delivered Airbus in a single quarter since 2019, before the 20-month 737 MAX grounding.

    Where is Boeing building 737 MAX jets right now?

    Currently in Renton, Washington. A new Everett “North Line” is on track to begin 737 MAX production this summer at the Boeing Everett factory at Paine Field. Once the North Line is integrated into the production flow, anything above 47 MAX per month will come out of Everett.

    What does the Everett factory build today?

    The Everett factory currently produces the 767 (commercial freighter and KC-46 Pegasus military tanker), the 777, and the 777X. The 737 MAX North Line will be a new program added to the building this year.

    How many KC-46 tankers has Everett delivered?

    Boeing delivered its 105th KC-46 tanker on April 3, 2026, with another 18 scheduled for delivery from Everett in 2026.

    What is Boeing’s 737 MAX production rate goal?

    Boeing’s near-term target is 47 jets per month, with combined Renton and Everett output potentially reaching 53 by the end of 2026. Long-term, the company is publicly aiming for 63 per month, though the timeline is uncertain.

    When does Boeing report Q1 2026 earnings?

    April 22, 2026. The earnings call will give a clearer picture of the financial story behind the delivery numbers, including any updated guidance on 737 MAX rate ramp and 777X certification.

    What does this mean for Everett’s economy?

    The North Line ramp-up represents Everett’s first net-new Boeing assembly program since the 777X. The 737 MAX has more than 4,500 airplanes on backlog, and Everett’s share of that work translates directly into local jobs, housing demand, and tax base growth in Snohomish County.