Tag: Everett

  • NAVSTA Everett Mental Health Resources for Navy Families

    NAVSTA Everett Mental Health Resources for Navy Families

    Where can NAVSTA Everett Navy families get mental health help during Mental Health Awareness Month 2026? Five no-cost resources cover almost every situation: dial 988 then press 1 for the Military and Veterans Crisis Line (24/7), call the Naval Station Everett Fleet & Family Support Center at 425-304-3735 for short-term counseling, walk into the Everett Vet Center at 1010 SE Everett Mall Way Suite 207 (425-252-9701) for combat-trauma support, schedule mental health care at the Everett VA Clinic at 220 Olympic Boulevard, or contact the Snohomish County Veterans Assistance Program at 425-388-7255 for emergency help. None of them require a referral to start.

    May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and for the more than 6,000 Sailors and Navy families who call Naval Station Everett home, the month lands at the end of a difficult run. PCS season is heating up. Five Arleigh Burke-class destroyers cycle through deployment workups. The shipyard delays around the FF(X) frigate program have introduced fresh uncertainty about who is moving where and when. The Department of Defense’s most recent published research, summarized in Mental Health Awareness Month coverage from Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families, shows that 11.7% of active-duty service members now carry at least one mental health diagnosis — a roughly 40% rise between 2019 and 2023.

    The good news for NAVSTA Everett families: the local resource network is denser than most people realize, and almost all of it is free. Here is what is open, who it is for, and how to reach it during May 2026 and beyond.

    If you or someone you love is in crisis right now

    Dial 988, then press 1. That is the Military and Veterans Crisis Line, staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by responders trained in military culture. Active-duty Sailors, Reservists, retirees, veterans, and family members can all use it. You can also text 838255 for the same service in text form, or chat online through veteranscrisisline.net. The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense built the line specifically because too many service members and families hesitated to call a civilian crisis line. You don’t need to be enrolled in VA care to use it. You don’t need to be retired or separated. You don’t need a diagnosis.

    If the situation is medical and immediate, the closest emergency department to the gate is Providence Regional Medical Center Everett on Pacific Avenue, which has a 24/7 emergency department and behavioral health response capability.

    Fleet & Family Support Center: short-term counseling, no medical record

    The Fleet & Family Support Center (FFSC) at NAVSTA Everett is staffed with licensed counselors who hold master’s or doctoral degrees in social work, marriage and family therapy, or psychology. The Center provides individual, marriage, and family counseling on a short-term basis to active-duty service members, spouses, dependents, and retirees. The phone is 425-304-3735, and the email is ffsp.cnrnw@navy.mil.

    FFSC counseling does not generate a medical record and does not feed into a security clearance review. Many Sailors who hesitate to seek help on the medical side because of clearance worries find FFSC’s non-medical model is the bridge that gets them talking to someone. The Center also runs deployment readiness counseling, financial counseling, and relocation support, and it operates a satellite office at NAVSUP FLC Puget Sound Smokey Point.

    Military and Family Life Counselors (MFLCs): embedded, free, and confidential

    MFLCs are Department of Defense contracted licensed clinical counselors who rotate through installations and provide non-medical counseling to service members and families. Naval Station Everett has MFLC coverage, and the Centers for Deployment Psychology notes that DoD requires MFLCs to be licensed clinical providers. The conversations stay off the medical record, off the chain of command, and off the security clearance process. Sessions can happen at the FFSC, at child development centers, on base in private spaces, or off-base by mutual agreement. Ask FFSC at 425-304-3735 about current MFLC availability when you call.

    Everett Vet Center: combat trauma, MST, and family bereavement

    The Everett Vet Center is a different VA program than the medical clinic. Vet Centers are community-based, walk-in friendly, and exist primarily for combat veterans, military sexual trauma survivors, and bereaved family members of service members who died in service. Counseling is free, confidential, and not part of the standard VA medical record. The center is at 1010 SE Everett Mall Way, Suite 207, Everett, WA 98208, open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The phone is 425-252-9701.

    For Sailors and family members who served in any combat zone, who deployed in support of contingency operations, or who experienced sexual trauma during military service, the Vet Center model is often the gentlest entry point into help. There is no enrollment process. You can call to make an appointment or, in many cases, walk in.

    Everett VA Clinic: mental health inside the medical system

    For VA-enrolled veterans who want mental health care integrated with primary care, the Everett VA Clinic at 220 Olympic Boulevard offers outpatient mental health services. The clinic is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Existing primary-care patients can reach mental health scheduling at 800-329-8387 ext. 74241. The full VA Puget Sound mental health line at Building 101 in Seattle is 206-277-4709, available Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

    If you are a Sailor preparing to separate, ask about the VA’s transition mental health services before you leave active duty. The earlier you get into the system, the easier the handoff.

    Snohomish County Veterans Assistance Program: emergency support that ladders into care

    Sometimes mental health and money sit on the same shelf. The Snohomish County Veterans Assistance Program at the Drewel Building, 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, Everett, provides emergency financial assistance, housing vouchers, and care coordination — and connects callers to mental health and substance-use assessment at a VA medical center when those needs come up alongside the financial crunch. The phone is 425-388-7255, and walk-in hours are Monday through Friday, 8 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. Honorably discharged veterans, their widows, and qualified dependents are eligible.

    Free mental health care from outside the federal system

    Two national programs supplement what NAVSTA Everett families can get on base or through the VA. For substance-use or mental-health referral, SAMHSA’s National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) is a 24/7 civilian entry point. Military OneSource (1-800-342-9647) provides up to 12 free non-medical counseling sessions per issue per year for active-duty members, Reservists, Guard, and family. Give an Hour connects service members, veterans, and family members to a national network of licensed volunteer mental health providers who offer pro-bono care. Neither requires a VA enrollment.

    For spouses and parents specifically, USO Northwest runs family programming throughout May and connects families to peer support that is unique to military life — the kind of context a civilian therapist may not have.

    What Mental Health Awareness Month looks like at NAVSTA Everett in 2026

    The NAVSTA Everett Fleet and Family Readiness calendar typically clusters mental-health programming throughout May, including resilience workshops, parenting classes, and information tables in the Navy Exchange and Galley. The Region Northwest Suicide Prevention team folds Mental Health Awareness Month into its broader prevention rhythm. If you are stationed at NAVSTA Everett and want to know what is on the schedule this week, check the FFR calendar or call FFSC.

    The harder lift for May 2026 is for families whose Sailor is in workups or already deployed. Deployment compresses everything — sleep, money, parenting, marriage, the unspoken weight of waiting. The 988 line, FFSC’s deployment counseling, and the MFLCs are all built for exactly this. None of them require a referral. None of them require you to wait for things to get worse.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Will going to FFSC counseling affect my Sailor’s security clearance?
    FFSC short-term counseling is non-medical and does not generate a medical record. It is generally considered separate from the security clearance review process. The Department of Defense has publicly stated that seeking mental health support is not by itself a basis for clearance denial, and recent SF-86 questions narrowly target only certain conditions. Talk with FFSC if you have specific clearance concerns.

    Do I have to be enrolled at the VA to use the Everett Vet Center?
    No. Vet Centers are a separate, walk-in program. You do not need to be VA-enrolled to receive Vet Center counseling. Eligibility is built around combat or contingency-operation service, military sexual trauma, or bereavement of a service member who died in service.

    Are MFLC sessions free?
    Yes. Military and Family Life Counselors are paid by the Department of Defense. Sessions are free, non-medical, and confidential within Department of Defense guidelines.

    How fast can I get into FFSC counseling?
    Initial appointments at FFSC are generally available within days, not weeks, particularly for active-duty members and family members in distress. Call 425-304-3735 to schedule.

    What if my Sailor is on deployment and I need help here in Everett?
    FFSC supports family members of deployed Sailors. So do MFLCs, Military OneSource, USO Northwest, and the Navy Family Ombudsman program. The 988 + 1 line is always available.

    Can I bring my kids to a counseling session?
    FFSC and MFLCs both provide family counseling that includes children. Some programs run age-banded child and adolescent sessions. Ask when you book.

    Is there help for Sailors who left the Navy years ago?
    Yes. The Vet Center, the Everett VA Clinic, the Snohomish County Veterans Assistance Program, Give an Hour, and the 988 + 1 line all serve veterans regardless of how long ago they served.

    What if I need help outside business hours?
    The 988 + 1 line is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Providence Regional Medical Center Everett has a 24-hour emergency department. The Crisis Connections Line for Snohomish County is 1-800-584-3578.

  • Gyro Guys Halal Grill: Late-Night Mediterranean in Everett

    Gyro Guys Halal Grill: Late-Night Mediterranean in Everett

    Quick answer: Gyro Guys Halal Grill at 12025 Hwy 99, Suite G in South Everett is a fully halal-certified Mediterranean grill serving gyros, kebabs, falafel, and hummus with generous portions. Open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. The hummus specifically has its own reputation.

    There’s a specific kind of relief that comes with finding a place that’s open late, serves actual food, is fully halal-certified, and is legitimately good. Gyro Guys Halal Grill on Hwy 99 is that place for South Everett’s international corridor — and it’s been building a reputation quietly for a while now.

    This is not a drive-through gyro shack. This is a Mediterranean grill running a focused menu — gyros, kebab plates, falafel, hummus, Greek fries, wraps — with fresh ingredients, full halal certification, and portions that reviewers consistently describe as generous. For Everett’s growing Muslim community and for everyone else who’s figured out that halal Mediterranean food is simply good food, this matters.

    What’s on the Menu

    The menu is intentionally focused: gyro plates, kebab plates, falafel plates, hummus, wraps, and Greek fries. Gyro Guys is not a restaurant trying to be all things. It knows what it does well.

    The gyro meat earns consistent praise from reviewers — well-seasoned, properly cooked, not dry. The rice on the plates draws specific notice for its flavor. The hummus gets called out repeatedly as a dish in its own right, not just a side detail — the kind of hummus that makes you reconsider what a chickpea dish can actually taste like when someone cares about it. The falafel is crispy and holds up, which matters when falafel so often goes soggy fast.

    The Greek fries are worth trying on the first visit. In the Mediterranean context, that typically means fries with oregano, lemon, and sometimes feta — a simple upgrade that transforms the base product.

    The Halal Certification Is the Real Thing

    Gyro Guys Halal Grill is fully halal certified. In South Everett — where there’s a significant Somali, East African, and South Asian community for whom halal certification is a requirement, not a preference — that distinction matters. Full certification separates this from restaurants that describe themselves as “halal-style” without the actual verification. The owners have confirmed all meat is halal.

    For people who don’t require certification but care about sourcing and preparation standards: halal operations tend to run tighter kitchens on protein handling and freshness. That’s a quality argument as much as a religious one.

    In the broader South Everett food landscape, Gyro Guys joins a growing set of options serving Everett’s international communities well. Jallo’s Jollof Rice on Casino Road, Birrieria Tijuana’s halal-certified beef on Casino Road, and Tabassum’s Uzbek street food at Beverly Food Truck Park are all operating in adjacent international food territory. The south side of Everett has a genuine international food scene worth exploring systematically.

    The Late-Night Equation

    Monday through Thursday, Gyro Guys closes at 11pm. That’s already later than most of Everett’s sit-down options. Fridays and Saturdays they run until midnight. For a city that doesn’t exactly have an overbuilt late-night food infrastructure, that makes Gyro Guys a genuinely useful part of the map — especially on the south side, where late-night options thin out quickly.

    Online ordering is available at gyroguyshalal.com for pickup and delivery, which means you don’t have to leave your couch on a Friday night when nothing else is open.

    Practical Details

    Address: 12025 Hwy 99, Suite G, Everett, WA 98204

    Hours: Monday–Thursday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm | Friday–Saturday 11:00 am – 12:00 am (midnight) | Sunday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm

    Phone: (425) 309-7719

    Online ordering: gyroguyshalal.com

    Halal certification: Yes — fully halal certified.

    Price range: Reasonable, generous portions — specific prices are best confirmed at the restaurant or their ordering site.

    Parking: Strip mall lot on Hwy 99 — easy, free.

    Best for: Late-night dinner, halal-required dining, South Everett weeknight meals, delivery nights.

    The Bottom Line

    Gyro Guys Halal Grill is doing what South Everett’s international food corridor needed — a fully halal Mediterranean grill with late hours, strong portions, and a focused menu executed well. The hummus is reason enough to go. The gyro plates and kebabs make it a full meal. The midnight weekend hours make it an actual option when alternatives have shut down. If you’re on the south side after 9pm and want real food, this is your answer.

    Want to round out a south Everett food tour? Pair it with Dumpling World on SE Everett Mall Way or Ubuntu Bar & Grill’s South African braai on Hardeson Road. The south side of this city has a serious international food scene and most people in North Everett haven’t found it yet.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where is Gyro Guys Halal Grill in Everett?

    12025 Hwy 99, Suite G, Everett, WA 98204 — in a strip mall on the Hwy 99 corridor in South Everett.

    What are Gyro Guys Halal Grill’s hours?

    Monday–Thursday: 11am–11pm. Friday–Saturday: 11am–midnight. Sunday: 11am–11pm.

    Is Gyro Guys Halal Grill actually halal certified?

    Yes — fully halal certified. The owners confirmed all meat is halal. This is distinct from “halal-style” restaurants without full certification.

    What should I order at Gyro Guys Halal Grill?

    Gyro plates, kebab plates, and hummus all receive strong reviews. The Greek fries and falafel are also worth trying. The hummus is a standout dish on its own.

    Does Gyro Guys offer online ordering?

    Yes — pickup and delivery available at gyroguyshalal.com.

    Is Gyro Guys Halal Grill open late in Everett?

    Yes — midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, 11pm every other night of the week.

  • Yummy Banh Mi Everett: Hewitt Ave’s Best Vietnamese Lunch

    Yummy Banh Mi Everett: Hewitt Ave’s Best Vietnamese Lunch

    Quick answer: Yummy Banh Mi at 1606 Hewitt Ave in downtown Everett serves Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches and bubble tea seven days a week. It’s one of the better lunch values on the Hewitt corridor — fast, affordable, and consistently worth it. Open Mon–Fri 11am–7pm, Sat–Sun 11am–6pm.

    There’s a version of this review that spends three paragraphs explaining what a banh mi is. We’re not going to do that. If you’ve been Everett-based and haven’t developed a banh mi habit yet, that’s the real story — and Yummy Banh Mi on Hewitt is the place to fix it.

    First: The Colby Location Is Closed

    For the record: there was a second location called “Yummy Bahn Mi 2” at 2803 Colby Ave. That location has closed. The only active Everett restaurant is at 1606 Hewitt Ave. Don’t drive to Colby looking for it.

    The Hewitt Ave location has been running consistently, and the review page has a solid community of regulars who’ve made it part of their weekly rotation. It doesn’t need a flashy concept or a line out the door to tell you it’s working.

    What to Order

    The banh mi is the anchor. These are Vietnamese sandwiches on crispy French baguettes — a product of colonial culinary history that the Vietnamese took and made definitively their own — with pickled daikon and carrots, fresh cilantro, sliced jalapeños, and your choice of protein. At around $12, you’re getting a complete, satisfying meal that actually holds you.

    The yakisoba dishes are on the menu at a higher price point for those who want something heartier. The bubble tea and milk tea menu is the other anchor: Vietnamese iced coffee and taro milk tea are both worth trying. The Vietnamese iced coffee milk tea version specifically bridges the strong-sweet-condensed-milk tradition of Vietnamese cà phê sữa đá with the boba format in a way that makes sense for both cultures it’s drawing from.

    For a bubble tea plus banh mi lunch, you’re looking at a bill that makes the whole Hewitt Ave experience feel unusually affordable — especially relative to The Independent Beer Bar pints or Colby Club cocktails a few blocks away.

    Where This Fits on the Hewitt Corridor

    We’ve written extensively about the Hewitt Avenue food and drink corridor. R Harn Thai at 2011 Hewitt opened earlier in 2026 and is already building a following for its khao soi and kra prau. Katana Sushi at 2818 Hewitt is the block’s Japanese anchor. The Loft Coffee Bar, Luca Italian, The New Mexicans, STRGZR — the Hewitt strip has more culinary range per block than most Puget Sound corridors outside Seattle.

    Yummy Banh Mi has been here longer than most of them. The Vietnamese sandwich shop with bubble tea at lunch prices is a category anchor on this street — it serves a different need than a Thai dinner spot or a craft beer bar, and it fills it well. Credit where it’s due.

    Compared to Other Everett Vietnamese Options

    Everett has strong Vietnamese representation. Quán Ông Sáu on Pacific Ave is the standout for Southern Vietnamese home cooking — full sit-down, pho, cơm tấm. Pho To Liem on Casino Road is the neighborhood pho institution. Yummy Banh Mi is doing something different: the sandwich format is faster, cheaper, and more grab-and-go. It’s the weekday lunch format and the entry point for people who aren’t ready to sit down for a full bowl. All three belong in your rotation for different occasions.

    Practical Details

    Address: 1606 Hewitt Ave, Everett, WA 98201

    Hours: Monday–Friday 11:00 am – 7:00 pm | Saturday–Sunday 11:00 am – 6:00 pm

    Phone: (425) 259-2876

    Price range: Banh mi sandwiches approximately $12 | Yakisoba approximately $17 | Bubble teas and milk teas approximately $8 — prices subject to change, confirm with the restaurant.

    Parking: Street parking on Hewitt Ave or nearby side streets, typically available on weekdays.

    Best for: Weekday lunch, grab-and-go dinners, bubble tea runs, affordable Hewitt Ave meal.

    The Bottom Line

    Yummy Banh Mi does what it says it does, does it well, and does it at a price that makes it a real regular option. On a corridor increasingly full of cocktail bars and dinner spots, it’s the accessible working-lunch anchor the neighborhood needs. If you haven’t been in, go. If you went once and forgot, go back more often.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where is Yummy Banh Mi in Everett?

    1606 Hewitt Ave, Everett, WA 98201 — on the Hewitt Avenue corridor in downtown Everett.

    What are Yummy Banh Mi’s hours?

    Monday–Friday: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm. Saturday–Sunday: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm.

    How much does a banh mi cost at Yummy Banh Mi Everett?

    Approximately $12 for banh mi sandwiches, $8 for bubble teas and milk teas, $17 for yakisoba dishes. Confirm with the restaurant as prices may vary.

    Is the Colby Avenue Yummy Banh Mi still open?

    No. The Yummy Bahn Mi 2 at 2803 Colby Ave is permanently closed. The only active Everett location is at 1606 Hewitt Ave.

    Does Yummy Banh Mi Everett have bubble tea?

    Yes — Vietnamese iced coffee and taro milk tea are both recommended flavors.

    How does Yummy Banh Mi compare to other Vietnamese restaurants in Everett?

    Yummy Banh Mi focuses on the sandwich and bubble tea format — faster and less expensive than full-service pho restaurants like Quán Ông Sáu or Pho To Liem. All three belong in your rotation for different occasions.

  • Cracken Coffee Roasters: South Everett Specialty Coffee

    Cracken Coffee Roasters: South Everett Specialty Coffee

    Quick answer: Cracken Coffee Roasters at 520 128th St SW, Suite A3 in South Everett is an in-house specialty roaster with a 4.7-star Yelp rating and a devoted local following. The honeycomb latte — made with Dalgona honeycomb toffee that melts into the espresso as you drink it — is the best reason to go. Open Monday–Friday 6am–4pm, Saturday 8am–3pm, closed Sunday.

    We’ve spent a lot of ink on downtown Everett’s coffee scene. Butter Notes Cafe on Broadway. The Loft Coffee Bar on Hewitt. Makario Coffee Roasters. Sobar on Colby. All worth your time. But South Everett has its own answer, and it’s been there the whole time. Cracken Coffee Roasters is an in-house specialty roaster tucked into a strip mall near the Paine Field corridor, and it’s built a passionate following without needing a headline location or a dramatic sign to announce itself.

    This is the coffee shop for people who actually care about coffee.

    What You’re Getting Into

    Cracken is in Suite A3 at 520 128th St SW — and the exterior gives absolutely nothing away. If you’re looking for the kind of coffee shop with a dramatic façade, you’ll drive past it. That’s partly the point. The regulars who’ve made it their third place want it exactly like this.

    Walk in and you’ll find a serene, comfortable space with reliable WiFi, solid seating for working, and a vibe that leans firmly toward “third-wave roastery” over “cozy neighborhood café.” The baristas know what they’re doing and they’re not rushing you — but they’re also not performing a café character for you. The coffee does the talking.

    The Honeycomb Latte Is the Move

    The honeycomb latte is the drink that put Cracken on the radar for most people outside its core regulars, and it deserves every word of praise. Here’s what makes it different from a flavored latte: the topping is actual Dalgona honeycomb toffee — the caramel-crunch candy variety — that sits on top of the drink and slowly melts into the espresso as you work through the cup. The result is layered: smoky caramel on the way in, bold espresso in the middle, then something genuinely complex as the toffee and coffee fully integrate at the bottom of the cup.

    We’ve had flavored lattes at dozens of Snohomish County coffee shops. This one is different. The construction of the drink — the toffee as a melting architectural element rather than a syrup add-in — is thoughtful in a way that most “specialty” coffee drinks aren’t.

    The Rest of the Menu

    If you’re not in a honeycomb mood: the signature “Cracken” is a dark chocolate mocha with orange peel — bitter, rich, citrusy, more balanced than it sounds. The peppermint and hazelnut lattes both have their own loyal fans. The matcha is well-made and doesn’t skew too sweet. On the food side, the cinnamon rolls are legit, and the chocolate-filled croissants are among the better pastries in a South Snohomish County coffee shop. Both sweet and savory pastry options rotate through the lineup.

    The In-House Roasting

    This is a roastery first, café second. Cracken sources and roasts its own beans in-house, which means the coffee has a more direct line from origin to cup than most cafés can offer. The roasting operation is what produces the consistency you’ll notice after a few visits — not the same flavor note every time, but the same level of care at every step from roast to pull. That’s rarer than it sounds in a county full of cafés pulling espresso from regional wholesale accounts. If you’re the type to buy whole beans to take home, ask what’s on the roasting table.

    Practical Details

    Address: 520 128th St SW, Suite A3, Everett, WA 98204

    Hours: Monday–Friday 6:00 am – 4:00 pm | Saturday 8:00 am – 3:00 pm | Closed Sunday

    Phone: (425) 244-3766

    Parking: Strip mall lot — easy, free, abundant.

    WiFi: Yes, available.

    Price range: Mid-range specialty coffee pricing, consistent with independent roasters across the Puget Sound area.

    Best for: Solo work sessions, focused coffee exploration, picking up beans to take home.

    The Bottom Line

    Cracken Coffee Roasters doesn’t need to be flashy. It’s built its following on quality — from the in-house roasting to a honeycomb latte people make specific drives for. STRGZR Coffee & Kitchen downtown has the scratch-food angle locked up. Cracken has the roastery-craft angle. Different tools for different mornings. If you’re in South Everett and haven’t stopped in, go. This is the real deal.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where is Cracken Coffee Roasters in Everett?

    Cracken Coffee Roasters is at 520 128th St SW, Suite A3, Everett, WA 98204 — South Everett near the Paine Field corridor, inside a strip mall.

    What are Cracken Coffee Roasters’ hours?

    Monday–Friday: 6:00 am – 4:00 pm. Saturday: 8:00 am – 3:00 pm. Closed Sunday.

    What is the best drink at Cracken Coffee?

    The honeycomb latte is the standout — Dalgona honeycomb toffee that melts into the espresso as you drink. “The Cracken” dark chocolate mocha with orange peel is a close second. Both worth ordering on separate visits.

    Does Cracken Coffee roast their own beans?

    Yes. Cracken Coffee Roasters is an in-house specialty roaster sourcing and roasting its own beans on-site.

    Does Cracken Coffee have WiFi for working?

    Yes. WiFi available, comfortable seating, quiet atmosphere — well-suited for solo work sessions.

    Is Cracken Coffee open on weekends?

    Saturday only, 8:00 am – 3:00 pm. Closed Sundays.

  • Everett Stadium Site Survey Begins: 15 Parcels to Acquire

    Everett Stadium Site Survey Begins: 15 Parcels to Acquire

    Q: Has construction work actually started on the Everett stadium?
    A: Yes — the city has awarded a $200,000 limited early work agreement to Bayley Construction to begin site surveying on the 12.5-acre downtown parcel. Meanwhile, the city needs to acquire 15 separate properties before groundbreaking, with 2 purchase-and-sale agreements signed, 4 pending, and 8 in active negotiation.

    Ten days after the Everett City Council voted to release $10.6 million in design and acquisition funding for the new downtown stadium, the physical work has begun.

    Bayley Construction, the Mercer Island-based general contractor selected as part of the DLR Group/Bayley design-build team, has received a $200,000 limited early work agreement to begin site surveying on the stadium’s 12.5-acre parcel on Everett’s downtown east side, between Angel of the Winds Arena and Interstate 5. This is the moment when the stadium shifts from a city council decision to a job that has people on the actual ground.

    At the same time, the city is working through an acquisition list of 15 separate properties it needs to purchase before any heavy construction can begin — and the status of that acquisition is more complex than a single timeline suggests.

    The property acquisition scorecard

    Before Bayley can do much more than survey, the city needs to acquire 15 parcels that sit within the stadium’s footprint. Here’s where that stands as of early May 2026:

    • 2 parcels: Purchase-and-sale agreements signed. Finalized and done.
    • 4 parcels: Agreements pending. Terms are agreed upon; paperwork in final stages.
    • 8 parcels: Active negotiations. The city is in conversation with owners; no agreements yet.
    • 1 parcel: Being formally added to the acquisition list. Not publicly identified.

    Of the $10.6 million the council approved April 29, about $5.6 million is earmarked specifically for property acquisition. The remaining funds cover continued design work with DLR Group, permitting, and other pre-construction costs.

    The math on 15 parcels averaging out to roughly $370,000 each reflects a mix of small commercial lots, surface parking, and light industrial parcels scattered across the stadium footprint east of Angel of the Winds Arena. The 2 signed agreements and 4 pending deals suggest the more straightforward cases are closing first. The 8 active negotiations are the ones worth watching.

    DLR Group and Bayley Construction: who’s building this

    The design-build team selection was completed before the April 29 vote. The city used a Progressive Design Build process, and DLR Group/Bayley Construction scored highest among the finalists.

    DLR Group is the global architecture firm with a Seattle office that’s been doing the stadium design work. Their renderings show the open-air design: 5,000-seat capacity, a covered premium club area with seating for 200 and standing room for 400, and ADA-accessible sight lines throughout.

    Bayley Construction is the contractor that will build it. Headquartered on Mercer Island, they have prior experience in sports facility construction including the University of Washington Husky Ballpark. The $200,000 early work agreement for site surveying is the first physical contract they’re executing — before the full design-build contract, which will come back to the City Council for approval within the next several months.

    The site: 12.5 acres east of Angel of the Winds Arena

    The stadium site is approximately 12.5 acres on the eastern edge of downtown Everett, directly adjacent to Angel of the Winds Arena and roughly a half-mile west of Interstate 5. The proximity to the arena has been deliberate — city planners have been thinking about the two facilities as a combined entertainment district, not just adjacent buildings, capable of drawing people downtown for multiple reasons on the same block.

    The AquaSox opening target of April 2027 creates the deadline that’s driving everything: a September 2026 groundbreaking is required to hit that date. That’s roughly four months away from where we stand today.

    The $25 million gap that still needs to close

    Even with the $10.6 million approved and the design-build team conducting survey work, the stadium project still carries a funding gap. Total project cost is now approximately $118 million. Current committed or anticipated funding falls roughly $25 million short — a gap the city is working to close through state funding requests, naming rights negotiations, and other sources being tracked by Council Vice President Paula Rhyne’s Finance and Administration Committee.

    We’ve covered the four-step pathway from the April 29 vote to groundbreaking in earlier coverage. What’s new today is that while the governance process continues upstairs at City Hall, the physical pre-development process is starting on the ground. That’s the right posture for a project with this little margin in its timeline.

    Three milestones to watch

    Whether the September 2026 groundbreaking timeline holds will come down to three things:

    1. Property acquisition progress — specifically whether the 8 parcels in active negotiation move to signed agreements by early summer. A holdout owner or legal challenge could push the timeline. The city has eminent domain authority, but using it adds time and cost.
    2. Final design-build contract approval — that City Council vote will include the full contract value and a revised cost estimate. If DLR Group’s number has moved from the $82 million design-to-budget figure, that’s significant news.
    3. The $25 million funding gap — naming rights negotiations and state funding requests have to land before groundbreaking. The FAC meetings are where this closes or doesn’t.

    We’ll be tracking all three. The survey work starting now is the right signal — the city isn’t waiting for the funding gap to close before beginning the physical pre-development sequence. That discipline matters when you have 11 months between today and Opening Day 2027.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Who is building the Everett downtown stadium?

    The design-build team is DLR Group (architecture, Seattle office) and Bayley Construction (general contractor, Mercer Island). Bayley has received a $200,000 limited early work agreement to begin site surveying — the first physical contract on the project.

    When will the Everett stadium break ground?

    The city’s target is September 2026. That timeline requires acquiring 15 parcels, closing a roughly $25 million funding gap, and approving the full design-build contract — all within approximately four months.

    How many properties does the city need to acquire for the stadium?

    15 parcels total. As of early May 2026: 2 purchase-and-sale agreements signed, 4 agreements pending, 8 in active negotiation, and 1 more being added to the list.

    How big is the new Everett stadium?

    The new multipurpose outdoor stadium will seat 5,000 with a covered premium club area seating 200 plus 400 standing. The site covers approximately 12.5 acres east of Angel of the Winds Arena in downtown Everett.

    How much will the new Everett stadium cost?

    The current total estimate is approximately $118 million. The April 29 council vote released $10.6 million, of which about $5.6 million is for property acquisition. A funding gap of roughly $25 million remains to be closed.

    When will the AquaSox play their first game at the new stadium?

    The target is April 2027 — but that requires the September 2026 groundbreaking timeline to hold through property acquisition, final contract approval, and gap funding closure.

  • Valley View Everett: Hilltop Neighborhood Guide & Homes

    Valley View Everett: Hilltop Neighborhood Guide & Homes

    What is the Valley View neighborhood in Everett like?
    Valley View-Sylvan Crest-Larimer Ridge is a small, tight-knit hilltop neighborhood in southeast Everett with approximately 680 residents. The neighborhood sits on a plateau with panoramic views of the Cascade Mountains and Snohomish Valley. It has only one road in: 75th Street Southeast, over an Interstate 5 overpass. Homes sell in an average of 12 days — far faster than the national average of 55 — with a median sale price of $675,000.

    There’s only one road into Valley View. That one fact explains everything about it.

    You cross the Interstate 5 overpass on 75th Street Southeast, and then you’re in. Quiet, curved streets. Cul-de-sacs that dead-end into tree canopy. Homes with views of the Cascades to the east and the Snohomish Valley below. The plateau that the City of Everett officially designates as Valley View-Sylvan Crest-Larimer Ridge doesn’t announce itself. It doesn’t need to.

    Valley View is one of the last neighborhoods in the desk’s coverage rotation — and one of the most distinct in south Everett.

    A Triangle on a Plateau

    The City of Everett groups three sub-areas — Valley View, Sylvan Crest, and Larimer Ridge — as a single neighborhood because that’s how residents experience them: one continuous, well-kept plateau community in the southeast corner of the city, roughly five miles from downtown Everett. The city’s official neighborhood page is at everettwa.gov/559.

    The shape of the neighborhood is almost literally triangular, defined on two sides by natural terrain and on the third by Interstate 5. The highway that most Puget Sound drivers barely register is, for Valley View, the defining boundary — the feature that keeps the neighborhood separate and quiet. Only one way over: 75th Street SE. Nobody passes through Valley View en route to somewhere else. Everyone who’s there chose to be there.

    The Housing Market Tells the Story

    Homes in Valley View sell in an average of 12 days — versus a national average of 55. The median sale price over the last year is $675,000, down 9% from the prior year’s peak, which actually makes this one of the more watchable entry points into a south Everett plateau neighborhood if you time it right.

    Most of the housing stock was built between 1940 and 1969 — mid-century bones, established lots, mature trees, real yards. A number of more recently built homes fill out the mix. The neighborhood ranks in the top 15% of highest-income neighborhoods in America and in the top 10.9% of family-friendly neighborhoods statewide — a combination of high homeownership rates, above-average school quality, and low crime.

    Who Lives Here

    Roughly 680 people call Valley View-Sylvan Crest-Larimer Ridge home, making it one of Everett’s smaller neighborhood units by population. That scale matters: neighbors actually know each other here. The intimate headcount is part of why the neighborhood consistently appears on lists of Everett’s most community-oriented places to live — there’s enough density to sustain a real association, but not so much that faces blur.

    English is spoken in about 68.8% of households. Vietnamese, Spanish, Arabic, and Tagalog are the next most common languages — a reflection of the broader southeast Everett demographic mix that runs through Pinehurst-Beverly Park, Cascade View, and Evergreen. The neighborhood’s diversity is baked in quietly, without being its defining public identity.

    The Neighborhood Association

    Valley View-Sylvan Crest-Larimer Ridge has an active neighborhood association that meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM at the South Precinct Police station, with no meetings in July, August, or December. For new residents, this meeting is the fastest way to understand what’s actually happening in the neighborhood — what’s being proposed, what longtime residents care about, who to call when something comes up.

    The City of Everett’s Council of Neighborhoods coordinates across all neighborhood associations, and Valley View-Sylvan Crest-Larimer Ridge is fully part of that structure.

    Parks and Getting Outside

    Rotary Park sits close to the neighborhood — a fishing and recreation park with a public boat ramp, one of the few spots in south Everett where you can launch a kayak or fish from shore on a weekday morning. For longer trail time, the Japanese Gulch Trail offers a forested escape with wildlife and quiet that surprises people who don’t know it. Forest Park — Everett’s 197-acre crown jewel with trails, an animal farm, and playgrounds — is a short drive north.

    The neighborhood’s own streets double as walking routes given the near-absence of through traffic. If your definition of a neighborhood park includes “my street at 7 AM with almost no cars,” Valley View delivers consistently.

    Schools

    Valley View-Sylvan Crest-Larimer Ridge is served by Everett Public Schools, which posted a record 96.3% graduation rate for the class of 2025 — one of the highest rates in Washington State. Jefferson Elementary and Eisenhower Middle School serve families in this portion of southeast Everett. The district’s strong college and career readiness programming and the proximity to Everett Community College give Valley View students real post-secondary options close to home.

    What to Know Before You Move

    Valley View-Sylvan Crest-Larimer Ridge is not for people who want city energy immediately outside their door. There are no coffee shops on the corner, no walkable commercial strip. The appeal is something else: real quiet, genuine mountain views, neighbors who wave, and a housing market that’s been overlooked because the neighborhood doesn’t advertise itself.

    The one-road-in geography is a feature for most residents — it keeps the plateau private. I-5 access via 75th Street SE puts you on the freeway in under two minutes. Community Transit serves the area for riders who don’t drive.

    For families comparing south Everett seriously — looking at Glacier View, Cascade View, or Pinehurst-Beverly Park — Valley View belongs on the list. It’s the one most people drive past without ever knowing the plateau exists above them.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where exactly is Valley View in Everett?
    Valley View-Sylvan Crest-Larimer Ridge is in southeast Everett, approximately five miles from downtown. The only road access is via 75th Street Southeast, which crosses an I-5 overpass into the neighborhood.

    What is the City of Everett’s official name for this neighborhood?
    The city designates the combined area as Valley View – Sylvan Crest – Larimer Ridge, recognizing the three sub-areas as one neighborhood unit. The official page is at everettwa.gov/559.

    What is the median home price in Valley View?
    The median home sale price over the last 12 months is $675,000 — down 9% from the prior year. Homes sell in an average of 12 days, well below the national average of 55 days.

    Does Valley View have a neighborhood association?
    Yes. The Valley View-Sylvan Crest-Larimer Ridge Neighborhood Association meets the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM at the South Precinct Police station. No meetings in July, August, or December.

    What schools serve Valley View?
    The neighborhood is served by Everett Public Schools. Jefferson Elementary and Eisenhower Middle School serve the area. EPS posted a record 96.3% graduation rate for the class of 2025.

  • Dr. Ian Saltzman: Everett Schools Superintendent Profile

    Dr. Ian Saltzman: Everett Schools Superintendent Profile

    Who is the superintendent of Everett Public Schools?
    Dr. Ian B. Saltzman has served as superintendent of Everett Public Schools since summer 2019. A 30-year education veteran who came from Palm Beach County, Florida, Saltzman leads a district of more than 21,000 students across 27 schools. Under his leadership, EPS achieved a record 96.3% four-year graduation rate for the class of 2025 — the highest in district history and well above Washington State’s 84% average.

    He flew across the country for a job he wasn’t sure he’d get. Seven years later, Ian Saltzman is one of the most decorated school leaders in Washington State.

    In April 2026, Dr. Ian Saltzman received the Elson S. Floyd Award at the Economic Alliance Snohomish County’s annual meeting — recognition given to “a visionary leader who, through partnership, tenacity, and a strong commitment to community, has created lasting opportunities to improve quality of life and positively impact the regional economy.” The award is named for the late Elson S. Floyd, former president of Washington State University and a nationally recognized figure in higher education.

    It’s a fitting honor for a superintendent who has spent seven years doing something many people doubted was easy: turning a mid-sized, economically diverse Pacific Northwest school district into one of Washington’s strongest graduation performers — without the wealthy zip codes that make those numbers easy elsewhere.

    The Road to Everett

    Before Saltzman was walking the halls of Everett’s 27 schools, he was a middle school special education teacher in Palm Beach County, Florida. He spent his entire 30-year career in one Florida district — rising from classroom teacher to principal at four different campuses, from elementary through high school. By 2016, he was serving as the district’s south region superintendent, overseeing 59 schools.

    When the Everett School Board launched a superintendent search in 2019, Saltzman was among 35 candidates. He was selected unanimously after a marathon of interviews that included students, teachers, and principals. The unanimous vote spoke to something the board saw clearly: a leader who had done the work at every level.

    He brought to Everett a philosophy he’s held since the classroom: produce “great learners and great citizens.” Simple in language. Harder to execute across a community of 21,000 students from dozens of language backgrounds, neighborhoods spanning the entire east-west corridor of the city, and an economy still reshaping itself.

    What Seven Years Have Built

    The clearest measure: the graduating class of 2025 achieved a record 96.3% four-year, on-time graduation rate — the highest in Everett Public Schools history. Cascade High School’s Class of 2025 graduated at 96.6%. Washington State’s average: 84%. EPS isn’t performing like a district with obstacles; it’s performing like a district that figured something out.

    Saltzman has overseen a string of successful levy campaigns that kept program funding intact through tight budget cycles — no small feat in a political environment where school levies often fail. He’s secured grant funds that expanded career and college readiness programming. And he navigated EPS through COVID-era disruption that knocked other districts’ outcomes backward for years after reopening.

    His membership in Chiefs for Change — a national bipartisan organization of education leaders recognized for driving results in complex districts — signals that peers and policymakers far outside Everett are paying attention.

    Credentials Worth Knowing

    Saltzman’s credentials match his practice. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in special education from Florida State University — a foundation that, by his own account, shapes how he thinks about meeting every individual student’s needs. His specialist and doctoral degrees in educational leadership came from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale.

    The special education training shows up in how he approaches the district. The question, for Saltzman, isn’t whether students can succeed — it’s what systems need to change so they do.

    What’s Ahead in 2026

    With the Elson S. Floyd Award on his shelf and graduation metrics at a record high, Everett Public Schools heads into the 2026-27 school year with real momentum. The district’s SchooLinks college-and-career-readiness platform transition is underway ahead of a statewide September 2026 deadline. Summer Academy and Career Link programming are expanding. The proximity to Everett Community College and WSU Everett creates a direct pipeline that Saltzman has worked to strengthen from the high-school side.

    For a community that’s watched Everett change fast — waterfront development, Boeing’s North Line expansion, Sound Transit in motion — having a stable, experienced hand running the district matters. Schools are neighborhoods. And in Everett, under Saltzman, they’ve been getting better.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How long has Ian Saltzman been superintendent of Everett Public Schools?
    Dr. Ian Saltzman became EPS superintendent in summer 2019 and has served in the role for nearly seven years as of 2026.

    Where did Ian Saltzman work before Everett?
    Saltzman spent his entire 30-year education career in Palm Beach County, Florida. His final Florida role was south region superintendent, overseeing 59 schools.

    What is Dr. Saltzman’s educational background?
    He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in special education from Florida State University, and specialist and doctoral degrees in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University.

    What was the Elson S. Floyd Award given for?
    The Economic Alliance Snohomish County gives the Elson S. Floyd Award to “a visionary leader who through partnership, tenacity, and a strong commitment to community has created lasting opportunities to improve quality of life and positively impact the regional economy.”

    What is Everett’s graduation rate?
    The Everett Public Schools graduating class of 2025 achieved a 96.3% four-year, on-time graduation rate — the highest in district history and above Washington State’s 84% average.

  • Everett Sports Friday: WHL Final & AquaSox Doubleheader

    Everett Sports Friday: WHL Final & AquaSox Doubleheader

    Q: What’s happening in Everett sports on Friday, May 8, 2026?
    A: Two major sporting events are happening in Everett on Friday, May 8 — the Everett Silvertips host the Prince Albert Raiders in WHL Championship Final Game 1 at Angel of the Winds Arena at 7:00 PM PT, and the Everett AquaSox host the Hillsboro Hops in a daytime doubleheader at Funko Field starting at 12:05 PM. It is the most action-packed single sports day the city has seen in years.

    Put this one on the calendar with a red marker. On Friday, May 8, 2026, Everett is hosting two major sporting events at the same time — a WHL Championship Final Game 1 and an AquaSox doubleheader — less than two miles apart. If you have ever wondered whether Everett is a real sports city, tomorrow answers the question.

    Here is everything you need to know to make the most of it.

    Event 1: AquaSox vs. Hillsboro Hops — Noon Doubleheader at Funko Field

    • When: Friday, May 8 — first game starts at 12:05 PM PT
    • Where: Funko Field, 3900 Broadway, Everett
    • Tickets: milb.com/everett or box office day-of

    The AquaSox play a rare midday doubleheader to open the weekend portion of their 6-game home series against the Hillsboro Hops (Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate). Two regulation games starting at noon means you get your baseball in the afternoon, leaving your evening completely open for whatever is happening seven blocks over at Angel of the Winds.

    The Frogs came into this homestand hot — they swept their first two games of the series and the roster is playing confident baseball. The prospect names driving attention right now: Felnin Celesten (back-to-back NWL Player of the Week, team-leading 26 hits), Luke Stevenson (Mariners No. 8 prospect, .500 OBP in April), and Brandon Eike (6 HR on the season). Noon baseball on a sunny May Friday in Everett with this group is exactly what minor league baseball is supposed to feel like.

    The doubleheader format means games are shorter — typically 7 innings each. Plan for 2.5 to 3 hours total. A noon start should wrap by 3:00-3:30 PM, giving you four hours before the WHL Final face-off.

    Event 2: Silvertips vs. Prince Albert Raiders — WHL Final Game 1 at Angel of the Winds Arena

    • When: Friday, May 8 — face-off at 7:00 PM PT
    • Where: Angel of the Winds Arena, 2000 Hewitt Ave, Everett
    • TV/Stream: TSN (Canada) / Victory+ (US streaming)
    • Tickets: Available at everettsilvertips.com/playoffs — check the Ticket+Drink combo offer

    This is the one. After a franchise-best regular season (54 wins, 111 points, two straight Scotty Munro Trophies), a sweep of Portland, a five-game win over Kelowna, and a sweep of the Penticton Vees in the Western Conference Final, the Everett Silvertips are in the WHL Championship Final for the first time since 2018. Their opponent, the Prince Albert Raiders, eliminated the defending WHL champion Medicine Hat Tigers to get here.

    The Silvertips have never won the Ed Chynoweth Cup. This roster — built around 16-year-old Landon DuPont (leading WHL defensemen in playoff scoring), goaltender Anders Miller (12-0-1, .936 save percentage), Matias Vanhanen (19 playoff points), and Julius Miettinen (18 playoff points) — is the best chance this franchise has ever had to change that. Angel of the Winds Arena at Game 1 of a WHL Final is not a normal Friday night hockey crowd. It is an atmosphere.

    The Ticket+Drink combo offer is available through the Silvertips playoff ticket page — good way to get both games at a slight discount if you are making a night of it.

    The Fan’s Guide to Doing Both

    This is completely achievable. Here is one way to structure the day:

    • 11:30 AM — Arrive at Funko Field. Grab a hot dog, find your seat, enjoy the pregame atmosphere.
    • 12:05 PM — First game of the doubleheader begins.
    • ~2:00 PM — Second game of the doubleheader underway.
    • ~3:30 PM — Baseball wraps. Head downtown. Eat something. The area around Angel of the Winds Arena has food options along Hewitt and in the transit hub.
    • 5:30-6:00 PM — Doors open at AOTW. This is a WHL Final — do not show up late.
    • 7:00 PM — Puck drops. The Silvertips and Raiders start playing for the Ed Chynoweth Cup.
    • ~10:00 PM — Game ends. You either watched an Everett win or you are already thinking about Game 2 on Saturday.

    Funko Field is at 3900 Broadway. Angel of the Winds Arena is at 2000 Hewitt Ave. The drive between them is under five minutes; it is walkable in about 25 minutes if you want to stretch after the baseball. Parking is available near both venues. If you are driving between the two, the afternoon gap gives you plenty of time — this is not a sprint.

    Why This Day Matters

    There are moments when a city’s sports calendar aligns in a way that only happens once in a while. Everett is not a huge city, but tomorrow it has two professional-level sporting events happening simultaneously in venues seven blocks apart. The AquaSox are a legitimate prospect showcase for one of baseball’s most interesting farm systems. The Silvertips are playing in the WHL Championship Final with a roster capable of winning it.

    And on Saturday, the AquaSox have Star Wars Night at 7:05 PM and the Silvertips play WHL Final Game 2 at 6:00 PM — so the weekend has two more major events lined up right behind Friday’s doubleheader.

    Whatever you choose to do tomorrow: buy the tickets, get to the venue on time, and remember this stretch of Everett sports for a while. It does not come around every year.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What time does the AquaSox doubleheader start on May 8?

    The AquaSox vs. Hillsboro Hops doubleheader begins at 12:05 PM PT on Friday, May 8 at Funko Field. Both games are typically 7 innings in doubleheader format.

    What time does WHL Final Game 1 start on May 8?

    WHL Championship Final Game 1 starts at 7:00 PM PT on Friday, May 8 at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett.

    How far apart are Funko Field and Angel of the Winds Arena?

    About 1.5 miles — a 5-minute drive or a 25-minute walk. The afternoon gap between the doubleheader and the WHL Final face-off gives fans plenty of time to move between venues.

    Where can I get WHL Final Game 1 tickets?

    Tickets for the Silvertips WHL Championship Final are available at everettsilvertips.com/playoffs and through Ticketmaster. A Ticket+Drink combo offer is available through the Silvertips playoff ticket page.

    What other events are happening in Everett sports this weekend?

    Saturday, May 9 features AquaSox Star Wars Night at 7:05 PM at Funko Field (limited-edition jerseys, character meet-and-greet, postgame fireworks) AND Silvertips WHL Final Game 2 at 6:00 PM at Angel of the Winds Arena. The full sports weekend runs Thursday through Sunday.

    Related Everett Sports Coverage

  • AquaSox Star Wars Night 2026 Recap: Jerseys, Fireworks & Funko Field

    AquaSox Star Wars Night 2026 Recap: Jerseys, Fireworks & Funko Field

    Q: What happened at AquaSox Star Wars Night on May 9, 2026?
    A: The Everett AquaSox hosted the Hillsboro Hops on Saturday, May 9 at 7:05 PM at Funko Field for Star Wars Night (milb.com/everett) — featuring limited-edition Star Wars-themed jerseys auctioned for charity, a pregame character meet-and-greet on the main concourse, postgame fireworks set to Star Wars music, and a Silvertips WHL Final Game 2 happening the same night less than two miles away at Angel of the Winds Arena.

    There are good sports Saturdays, and then there was May 9, 2026 in Everett. The AquaSox brought Star Wars Night to Funko Field (official AquaSox site). The Silvertips play WHL Championship Final Game 2 at Angel of the Winds Arena. And the downtown is fully, completely alive with baseball fans, hockey fans, and lightsaber-wielding kids who talked their parents into the whole deal.

    If you only do one AquaSox game all year, this is the one to do. Here’s everything you need to know about Star Wars Night at Funko Field on Saturday, May 9.

    The Game

    • Who: Everett AquaSox vs. Hillsboro Hops
    • When: Saturday, May 9 at 7:05 PM PT
    • Where: Funko Field, 3900 Broadway, Everett, WA 98201
    • Tickets: Available at milb.com/everett or the Funko Field box office

    The AquaSox head into Saturday riding a hot homestand. This is a 6-game home series against the Hillsboro Hops — the Arizona Diamondbacks’ High-A affiliate — and the Frogs came in rolling after a strong road trip to Tri-City. The AquaSox prospect pipeline is genuinely exciting right now: Felnin Celesten (back-to-back NWL Player of the Week honors, .295 season average and team-leading 26 hits) and Luke Stevenson (Mariners Hitter of the Month for April, .500 OBP) give you real reasons to pay attention beyond the promotions.

    The Star Wars Promotions

    Limited-Edition Star Wars Jerseys — Auctioned for Charity

    The players will take the field in limited-edition Star Wars-themed game jerseys — and you can own one. The game-worn jerseys are auctioned online, with proceeds benefiting AquaSox Charities presented by Kendall Automotive Group. If you have been waiting for a piece of AquaSox memorabilia that is actually unique, this is your moment. Check milb.com/everett for auction details and bidding information.

    Star Wars Character Meet & Greet

    Show up early. A pregame character meet-and-greet runs on the main concourse before first pitch, and characters will be available for photos throughout the game. Specific character appearances vary, but if you are bringing kids (or you are an adult with strong opinions about whether Han Solo shot first), arriving 45-60 minutes before first pitch gives you the best shot at photos without the crowd.

    Postgame Fireworks — Star Wars Edition

    The night closes with a postgame fireworks extravaganza set to Star Wars-inspired music. Stay for all nine innings (the AquaSox have been fun to watch at home), and you get a full fireworks show over the Funko Field outfield as your exit music. The combination of a warm May night, decent baseball, and a John Williams soundtrack feels like something that should cost more than a regular AquaSox ticket. It doesn’t.

    The Bigger Picture: Why This Homestand Matters

    This AquaSox roster has been one of the more interesting Mariners farm teams to watch in recent years. The prospect watch for this homestand centers on a few names:

    Felnin Celesten — The outfielder won back-to-back Northwest League Player of the Week awards and is hitting .295 with the team’s best runs total. His feel for the strike zone and his ability to put the ball in play make him one of the more watchable prospects in the NWL right now.

    Luke Stevenson — The catcher won the Mariners’ Hitter of the Month Award for April with a .321 BA, .500 OBP, and .982 OPS. He is currently ranked as the No. 8 Mariners prospect in the system, and he had 20 walks last month. That kind of plate discipline at High-A is a real organizational signal.

    Brandon Eike — Six home runs on the season and still climbing. Every time Eike connects, the Funko Field scoreboard becomes a brief conversation about whether this is the at-bat you tell people about later.

    Brock Moore — The bullpen arm won the team’s Bullpen Award for April with 8.1 innings, 20 strikeouts, 1 walk, 4 saves, a 2.16 ERA, and a 0.48 WHIP. That WHIP is not a typo.

    The Saturday Context: Silvertips WHL Final Game 2 Is the Same Night

    Saturday, May 9 is arguably the most sports-dense day Everett has had in years. While the AquaSox are playing Star Wars Night at Funko Field, the Everett Silvertips are hosting Prince Albert in WHL Championship Final Game 2 at Angel of the Winds Arena at 6:00 PM — about 1.5 miles away. The two venues are close enough that a motivated fan could theoretically watch part of one game and make it to the other, though we are not responsible for the decision-making quality late in that particular evening.

    The WHL Final is not a normal sporting event. The Silvertips have never won the Ed Chynoweth Cup in franchise history — 2004 and 2018 were heartbreaks. This roster, with goaltender Anders Miller’s historic .936 playoff save percentage and 16-year-old Landon DuPont leading WHL defensemen in postseason scoring, has a genuine chance to close this thing out. Saturday’s Game 2 is huge in a way that is hard to overstate for longtime Everett hockey fans.

    Which event should you choose? That’s not our call. But if you have the flexibility: both venues are accessible, both events are special, and the combination of a WHL Final game and AquaSox Star Wars Night in one Saturday in Everett is the kind of thing you remember when your kids ask why you liked living here.

    Getting There

    • Funko Field address: 3900 Broadway, Everett, WA 98201
    • Parking: Multiple lots adjacent to the stadium; arrive 45+ minutes early if attending the character meet-and-greet
    • Transit: Everett Transit routes serve the Broadway corridor; check everetttransit.org for Saturday service
    • Tickets: milb.com/everett or the box office day-of (subject to availability)

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What time was AquaSox Star Wars Night on May 9?

    First pitch was Saturday, May 9 at 7:05 PM PT at Funko Field, 3900 Broadway, Everett (milb.com/everett). The pregame character meet-and-greet started before gates opened. This page is retained as a May 9, 2026 event archive.

    How do I bid on the AquaSox Star Wars jerseys?

    Game-worn Star Wars themed jerseys are auctioned online through AquaSox Charities presented by Kendall Automotive Group. Visit milb.com/everett for auction details and bidding instructions.

    Are there Star Wars characters at the AquaSox game?

    Yes — a pregame character meet-and-greet runs on the main concourse before first pitch, with characters available throughout the game for photos. Arriving 45-60 minutes early is recommended for the best meet-and-greet access.

    Is there a fireworks show at AquaSox Star Wars Night?

    Yes — a postgame fireworks extravaganza set to Star Wars-inspired music follows the conclusion of the game on Saturday, May 9.

    What other sports happened in Everett on May 9?

    The Everett Silvertips hosted Prince Albert in WHL Championship Final Game 2 at Angel of the Winds Arena at 6:00 PM PT the same night — about 1.5 miles from Funko Field. It was a remarkable sports Saturday for the city.

    Who were the AquaSox prospects to watch in May 2026?

    Felnin Celesten (back-to-back NWL Player of the Week), Luke Stevenson (Mariners No. 8 prospect, .500 OBP in April), Brandon Eike (6 HR), and reliever Brock Moore (0.48 WHIP in April) are the names driving the most excitement in the system right now.

    Related Everett Sports Coverage

  • 2026 WHL Championship Final: 5 Keys for Silvertips

    2026 WHL Championship Final: 5 Keys for Silvertips

    Q: Can the Everett Silvertips finally win the WHL Championship?
    A: The 2026 Silvertips are the most talented team the franchise has ever sent into a WHL Final. With a historically elite goaltender, two first-round defensemen, and a forecheck that doesn’t let you breathe, they have every tool to close out Prince Albert in this series. Game 1 is Friday, May 8 at 7:00 PM PT at Angel of the Winds Arena.

    The Everett Silvertips have been to the WHL Championship Final three times. In 2004, they came close. In 2018, they came close again. Both times, the Ed Chynoweth Cup went somewhere else.

    Tomorrow night, they get a third shot — and this time, the roster has no excuses. The 2026 Everett Silvertips swept Portland in Round 1, beat Kelowna in five in Round 2, and swept the Penticton Vees in four games in the Western Conference Final, finishing the regular season with a league-best 54 wins and 111 points — their second consecutive Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s best team. They are 12-1 in the playoffs heading into the WHL Championship Series. Their goaltender has been the most statistically dominant postseason goalie in WHL history by at least one measure.

    Their opponent, the Prince Albert Raiders, got here by eliminating the defending WHL champion Medicine Hat Tigers in a wild six-game series — winning the clincher 7-6 in hostile territory. They have two teenagers quarterarting their defense who are playing like veterans. They have a power play that fires at the worst possible times. They are not here by accident.

    This is the matchup. Game 1 is Friday, May 8 at 7:00 PM PT at Angel of the Winds Arena. The series follows a 2-3-2 format, with Games 1 and 2 in Everett, Games 3-5 in Prince Albert, and Games 6 and 7 (if needed) back home. Here are the five things that will decide whether the Ed Chynoweth Cup finally comes to Everett.

    1. Landon DuPont Has to Be the Best Player on the Ice

    Let’s start with the big one. Landon DuPont is 16 years old and already widely projected as a potential top-five pick — possibly No. 1 overall — in the 2027 NHL Draft. He had 17 points in 13 playoff games heading into the Finals, leading all WHL defensemen in postseason scoring through the Conference Finals. He is the engine of Everett’s power play, distributing from the blue line with the reads of a player ten years older.

    On the other side, Daxon Rudolph has been the story of the WHL playoffs — 23 points (9 goals, 14 assists) in 15 games, leading the entire WHL in postseason scoring as a 17-year-old defenseman. He was named WHL Player of the Month for April and quarterbacked the Raiders’ power play through their entire run against Medicine Hat. Two elite teenage defensemen, playing the biggest games of their lives. Whoever wins that battle wins the series.

    The edge goes to DuPont. He plays with composure that defies his age, and in the Penticton series, he was the one who consistently solved defensive zone problems before they became crises. But Rudolph is no afterthought — and if Prince Albert wins two games in Everett, his name will be part of the reason.

    2. Anders Miller Is Not Just Good — He’s Historic

    If you want one reason to feel genuinely confident about Everett’s chances, look at the guy in goal. Anders Miller, a mid-season acquisition, is carrying one of the most statistically dominant postseason runs in WHL history. Through the playoff rounds leading into the Finals, he went 12-0-1 with a 1.79 GAA, a .936 save percentage, and one shutout — ranking among the WHL playoff leaders in wins, GAA, save percentage, and shutouts simultaneously.

    No goaltender who has played nine or more games in a single WHL playoff has ever posted a higher save percentage than Miller did through the conference finals, per QuantHockey. That is the sentence coach Steve Hamilton gets to walk into this building with on Friday night.

    Prince Albert’s Michal Orsulak is fine — he made the saves he needed to make in a wild six-game series that sometimes produced 13 combined goals in a game. He is not in Miller’s statistical neighborhood right now. For the Silvertips, goaltending is the one position where they have a significant advantage entering this series, and that advantage can cover a lot of ground.

    3. The Power Play Battle Could Decide It in Four-Minute Swings

    Both teams run dangerous power plays. Everett’s man advantage runs through DuPont at the half-wall, with Matias Vanhanen (19 playoff points, the WHL’s scoring leader among Western Conference teams through the conference finals), Julius Miettinen (18 playoff points), Carter Bear, and Rylan Gould rotating around him. Gould has four power-play goals in these playoffs. When everything is clicking, this unit is one of the most dangerous man advantages in recent WHL playoff history.

    Prince Albert answers with Rudolph quarterbacking a unit that includes 16-year-old rookie Brock Cripps — who had three goals and 10 assists in 11 playoff games with a plus-8 rating — plus Braeden Cootes, who scored his sixth playoff goal in the clincher against Medicine Hat. The Raiders’ top power-play unit has been converting at a high rate all postseason.

    Discipline matters enormously here. Everett showed one exploitable tendency in the conference finals: the Silvertips allowed three empty-netter goals when opponents pulled their goalie late. If Prince Albert finds themselves trailing by one late in a game, they have the composure to make it interesting. Both teams need to avoid taking bad penalties early — power plays in tight WHL Final games can redirect an entire momentum shift.

    4. Can Prince Albert’s Young D Handle Everett’s Forecheck?

    Everett’s forecheck is the thing that opponents have struggled with all season. Bear, Miettinen, and Vanhanen are not finesse players — they are physical and relentless on pucks, and they generate sustained offensive zone time that wears defenses down. The Silvertips create turnovers in the offensive zone regularly, and once they have zone time, they cycle with patience until the right opportunity opens up for DuPont or one of their high-skill forwards.

    Rudolph’s offensive instincts mean he can turn a defensive-zone retrieval into a scoring chance with a single pass — giving the Raiders a quick-exit option that neutralizes sustained pressure better than most teams their age. Cripps alongside him means there’s always a second option out of the zone. But the Silvertips have faced experienced forechecks all playoffs and have only lost once in 13 games. Getting outworked in the corners isn’t something Everett’s opponents have been able to do consistently.

    In a long series, Everett’s forecheck may grind the Raiders’ young D into mistakes late in games. In Everett, in front of 8,000 fans at Angel of the Winds Arena, that forecheck pressure is going to feel different than anything Prince Albert has experienced this playoffs.

    5. The Weight of History — And Why This Time Is Different

    Everett has been here before, and that is either the motivating chip or the weight that breaks a team. In 2004 and 2018, the Silvertips reached the WHL Championship Final and came away without the trophy. That scar shapes the narrative heading into this series. The Raiders, meanwhile, have won the title twice — 1985 and 2019 — and they know what it takes to close.

    But this Silvertips group has something the 2004 and 2018 teams didn’t: a head coach who has been here before. Steve Hamilton, named WHL Coach of the Year this season, served as an associate coach on the 2013-14 Edmonton Oil Kings team that won the Memorial Cup. He understands high-leverage moments. He has managed this roster through adversity — including a blown 3-0 lead in Game 4 of the Kelowna series that required a third-period comeback — without the wheels coming off. Two Scotty Munro Trophies in two years says something about how this organization approaches the regular season. It is time to find out if that translates to the Final.

    The honest assessment from outside the green-and-silver glasses: Everett is the better team. Home ice, elite goaltending, the deepest offensive roster in the series, and a coaching staff that has been building toward this moment. Prince Albert is capable of stealing games — they eliminated the defending champions — but they need Orsulak to be considerably sharper than he was in a high-event Medicine Hat series, and they need Rudolph to keep performing at the level that has made him the most talked-about teenager in the WHL this spring.

    Prediction: Everett Silvertips in 5. The Silvertips are simply too deep, too well-coached, and too experienced in high-leverage games to let this one slip away. Get to Angel of the Winds Arena tomorrow night. This is what Everett hockey has been building toward.

    Game 1 Details

    • When: Friday, May 8 at 7:00 PM PT
    • Where: Angel of the Winds Arena, 2000 Hewitt Ave, Everett, WA
    • TV: TSN (Canada) / Victory+ (streaming)
    • Tickets: Available at everettsilvertips.com/playoffs
    • Series format: 2-3-2 (Games 1-2 in Everett; Games 3-5 in Prince Albert; Games 6-7 in Everett if needed)

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What time does WHL Final Game 1 start?

    Game 1 of the 2026 WHL Championship Series starts at 7:00 PM PT on Friday, May 8 at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett.

    Where can I watch the WHL Final if I can’t attend?

    Games are broadcast on TSN in Canada and streamed on Victory+ in the United States. Check everettsilvertips.com for the latest broadcast info.

    Have the Silvertips ever won the WHL Championship?

    No. This is Everett’s third WHL Championship Final appearance — they appeared in 2004 and 2018 without winning. This is the first time the Silvertips have faced the Prince Albert Raiders for the Ed Chynoweth Cup.

    Who are the key players to watch for Everett?

    Landon DuPont (17 pts in 13 playoff games, potential 2027 #1 NHL draft pick), Matias Vanhanen (19 playoff pts), Julius Miettinen (18 playoff pts), Carter Bear (13 assists through conference finals), and goaltender Anders Miller (12-0-1, .936 SV%, 1.79 GAA) are the names to know.

    Who are the key players for Prince Albert?

    Daxon Rudolph (23 pts in 15 playoff games, WHL playoff scoring leader) and Brock Cripps (3G-10A in 11 games, plus-8) form a precociously talented defensive pair. Braeden Cootes is the key forward. Goaltender Michal Orsulak has made big saves in big moments all playoffs.

    What is the WHL Final series format?

    The 2026 WHL Championship Series is best-of-seven with a 2-3-2 format. Games 1 and 2 are in Everett, Games 3-5 are in Prince Albert, and Games 6 and 7 (if needed) return to Everett.

    Does the WHL Championship winner go to the Memorial Cup?

    Yes. The winner of the 2026 WHL Championship advances to the Memorial Cup, hosted in Kelowna, B.C., from May 22 to May 31.

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