Tag: Local Guide

  • Harborview-Seahurst-Glenhaven: Everett Neighborhood Guide

    Harborview-Seahurst-Glenhaven: Everett Neighborhood Guide

    Q: What is the Harborview-Seahurst-Glenhaven neighborhood in Everett?
    Harborview-Seahurst-Glenhaven is an official City of Everett neighborhood on the northwest side of the city, about four miles from downtown. It combines three adjacent sub-communities — Harborview, Seahurst, and Glenhaven — into one neighborhood association area. It’s known for quiet streets, Puget Sound views, and one of the most consistently active neighborhood communities in Everett.

    Ask most Everett residents where Harborview-Seahurst-Glenhaven is, and you’ll get a pause. It’s not a neighborhood that shows up in conversations the way Riverside or Silver Lake does. It doesn’t have a landmark event or a famous street. What it has is something harder to describe until you’ve been there: a view of Possession Sound that stops you mid-sentence, a quietness that still feels like a city neighborhood, and a housing market that has quietly become one of the stronger performers in Snohomish County.

    It’s also the last official City of Everett neighborhood to get its own spotlight on this desk. That ends tonight.

    Three Neighborhoods, One Community

    Harborview, Seahurst, and Glenhaven are three distinct sub-areas that the City of Everett officially groups under a single neighborhood association. They share a western edge along Puget Sound, a school pathway through Everett Unified, and a geography that sets them apart from most of Everett’s other neighborhoods: they sit high above the water, tucked into the bluffs northwest of Casino Road, with views that most visitors don’t expect to find in a working-class Pacific Northwest city.

    The neighborhood sits roughly four miles west of downtown Everett. That distance is real — most daily errands require a car, and residents know it. But the trade-off is a quieter, more residential character than you’d find in Twin Creeks or the area around Evergreen Way.

    What Makes It Feel Different

    Harborview-Seahurst-Glenhaven earns a B+ safety rating from neighborhood data services, which puts it among the safer areas in Everett. Residents consistently describe it using the same words: clean, peaceful, safe, dog-friendly, family-oriented. The neighborhood has a population of approximately 4,700, with an average household income above the national average at around $124,000 — a profile that reflects the mix of longtime owners and newer buyers who have discovered the neighborhood in recent years.

    What drives people here, more than anything, is the water. Stand at Harborview Park on a clear morning and you’re looking at Possession Sound, the Olympic Mountains across the water, and Mount Baker to the northeast. That view is not incidental — it’s the defining feature of this part of Everett, and it explains why a neighborhood that requires a car for most errands has held value the way it has.

    Harborview Park: The Neighborhood’s Anchor

    Harborview Park sits at 1621 W. Mukilteo Blvd. and is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is free. The park is small — a few grassy areas, benches, dirt walking paths, and a viewpoint — but what it offers is disproportionate to its size. On a clear day, you can see across to Whidbey Island, watch ferries cutting through the sound, and, if the timing is right, catch a sunset that lights up the Olympic Range in pink. Dog owners treat it like a local secret, and on weekend mornings it functions as an informal neighborhood gathering point.

    The paths are accessible to walkers and, where maintained, to wheelchairs. It’s not a destination park the way Howarth Park is — but that’s part of its appeal. Harborview Park is for the people who live near it, not for the people driving across town to visit.

    Howarth Park: Your Other Backyard

    Residents of Harborview-Seahurst-Glenhaven are close enough to Howarth Park to claim it as a second neighborhood park. Howarth is a 28-acre park on the bluff above the sound with a playground, picnic tables, a tennis court, trails, and a viewpoint. It’s also where the neighborhood holds its National Night Out Against Crime celebration each August — a picnic with law enforcement that draws families from across the neighborhood association. If you’ve only ever seen Howarth Park driving by on Beverly Boulevard, you’ve missed it. The local’s guide to Howarth Park is worth reading before your first visit.

    Schools: A Complete K–12 Path

    Students who grow up in Harborview-Seahurst-Glenhaven move through Everett Public Schools on a consistent pathway. Elementary students attend View Ridge Elementary, which earns a B+ from Niche and serves kindergarten through fifth grade. Middle school continues at Evergreen Middle School, a B-rated school that offers nine sports teams for seventh and eighth graders. High school diplomas come from Everett High School, which earns a B rating overall.

    This is the same school pipeline that serves much of western Everett, and it’s one of the reasons families with children in elementary school have been drawn to the area. For families considering the neighborhood, the Everett School District’s record 96.3% graduation rate and its range of career and technical programs make the district itself a draw, not just the neighborhood.

    Community Life: Events That Actually Happen

    The Harborview-Seahurst-Glenhaven neighborhood association puts on three annual events that have become genuine community anchors. In the spring, there’s an Easter Egg Hunt and scramble. In August, the National Night Out Against Crime celebration at Howarth Park brings neighbors together with a picnic and law enforcement engagement. And in the winter, there’s an annual holiday potluck at the local fire station.

    These aren’t large-scale events. They’re the kind of neighborhood programming that happens because people know each other’s names and decide to keep showing up. For a neighborhood of under 5,000 residents, three consistent annual events is a meaningful sign of community health.

    The neighborhood association also receives notification support from the City of Everett’s neighborhood alert system, meaning residents get city communications specific to their area — construction notices, utility work, public meetings that affect the bluff.

    The Housing Market in 2026

    The median sale price for homes in Harborview-Seahurst-Glenhaven over the last 12 months is approximately $775,000, up about 10% from the prior year. That’s a significant number in the context of Everett’s overall market — and it reflects what happens when a neighborhood with views, safety, and good schools starts getting attention from buyers who have already been priced out of waterfront markets further south.

    Homes here tend to be mid-century to late-century builds — not the new construction you’d find in Twin Creeks or the townhouses going up near Cascade View. The inventory is tighter because turnover is lower. Residents tend to stay.

    If you’re comparing this neighborhood to its neighbors: Pinehurst-Beverly Park to the south has more transit access and is closer to Casino Road’s amenities. Boulevard Bluffs to the north is more isolated but commands similar views. Harborview-Seahurst-Glenhaven sits between them in price and character.

    Who Belongs Here — And What to Expect

    This neighborhood is for people who want quiet without leaving the city. It’s for dog owners, for families with elementary-age kids who want to stay in the EPS district without being on a major arterial, for retired couples who moved here for the views and never left. It is not for people who need walkability for daily errands — there’s no grocery store you can reach on foot from most of the neighborhood, and the bus routes are limited.

    What it gives you instead is a neighborhood that feels settled. The streets are maintained, the neighbors know each other, and on a clear evening you can stand at Harborview Park and watch the light go down over the Olympics while the sound turns silver below you. There’s no marketing language that makes that sound better than it is.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where exactly is Harborview-Seahurst-Glenhaven in Everett?
    It’s on the northwest side of Everett, roughly four miles west of downtown. The neighborhood sits on the bluffs above Possession Sound, northwest of Casino Road and north of Pinehurst-Beverly Park.

    Is Harborview-Seahurst-Glenhaven safe?
    The neighborhood earns a B+ safety rating, which is higher than much of Everett. Residents consistently describe it as peaceful, quiet, and family-friendly.

    What schools serve Harborview-Seahurst-Glenhaven?
    Students attend View Ridge Elementary (K-5), Evergreen Middle School (6-8), and Everett High School (9-12), all part of Everett Public Schools.

    What is Harborview Park like?
    Harborview Park at 1621 W. Mukilteo Blvd. is a free, dog-friendly park open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. It features walking trails, picnic areas, benches, and views of Possession Sound, the Olympic Mountains, and Mount Baker.

    What is the median home price in Harborview-Seahurst-Glenhaven?
    The median sale price over the last 12 months is approximately $775,000, up about 10% year-over-year.

    Does the neighborhood have an active community organization?
    Yes — the Harborview-Seahurst-Glenhaven neighborhood association holds three annual events (Easter Egg Hunt, National Night Out in August, and a holiday potluck) and is recognized by the City of Everett’s neighborhood association program.

    How does Harborview-Seahurst-Glenhaven compare to other Everett neighborhoods?
    It’s quieter and more car-dependent than central Everett neighborhoods, but has stronger views, higher safety ratings, and a more settled housing stock than most of the city. Compared to Boulevard Bluffs to the north and Pinehurst-Beverly Park to the south, it’s a middle-ground in price and character.

  • Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Everett 2026: Tickets & Guide

    Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Everett 2026: Tickets & Guide

    You’ve got 18 days. Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow-N-Fire is coming to Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett on Saturday May 30 and Sunday May 31 — and if you haven’t locked in tickets yet, this is your reminder. Three shows, a lineup loaded with fan favorites, and a brand-new truck making its debut. Here’s everything you need to know before showtime.

    Show Schedule

    DateShow Time
    Saturday, May 3012:30 PM (matinee)
    Saturday, May 307:30 PM (evening)
    Sunday, May 312:30 PM (matinee)

    Three shows across the weekend, so there’s a time that works for every family schedule. The Saturday evening show at 7:30 PM is the big one — the arena lights down, the glow effects kick up, and the crowd is typically largest. The matinee shows are great for families with younger kids who might be fading by 9 PM.

    The Trucks You’ll See

    This is a stacked lineup. Here’s who’s rolling in:

    • Mega Wrex — the dinosaur-bodied classic
    • Bigfoot — the original monster truck, still doing it
    • Bone Shaker — Hot Wheels’ skull-and-flame icon
    • Tiger Shark
    • HW 5-Alarm
    • Gunkster
    • Skelesaurus
    • Rhinomite — making its live debut at this tour

    Plus: FMX freestyle motocross riders and a transforming robot. It’s not just monster trucks — it’s a full sensory experience built for the full family, even the adults who claim they’re just “taking the kids.”

    The Pre-Show Party

    This is the hidden gem of the Hot Wheels event. The Pre-Show Party gets you floor access 2.5 hours before the show starts — meaning you can get up close to the actual trucks, take pictures, and let the kids see what these machines look like at ground level before the dirt starts flying.

    If you have younger kids (or a big monster truck fan of any age), the Pre-Show Party ticket is worth it. Check Ticketmaster for availability and pricing on pre-show access.

    Tickets and Where to Buy

    Tickets are available now through Ticketmaster and AXS:

    You can also check the Angel of the Winds Arena event page for complete details.

    What to Know Before You Go

    Ear protection is a must for young kids. Monster trucks are loud — like, legitimately ear-splittingly loud — and the arena amplifies everything. Pick up foam earplugs or kids’ ear defenders before the event. They’re often sold at the venue but bring your own to be safe.

    Arrive early for the best dirt-side views. The floor of Angel of the Winds transforms into a legitimate dirt track for this event. Floor seats get you close to the action; upper deck gives you the best angle for jumps and aerial tricks. Both have their merits.

    Parking is at Angel of the Winds Arena at 2000 Hewitt Ave, Everett, WA 98201. The arena is well-signed from I-5. For downtown Everett visitors, you can combine the show with a meal on Hewitt Avenue or at the Waterfront before or after the event.

    The Saturday evening show is a date night option too. Glow-N-Fire, as the name suggests, leans into the pyrotechnic and lighting spectacle. The evening show is the full-throttle version of the experience, with the glow effects doing their best work in a dark arena.

    The Rhinomite Debut

    Worth calling out separately: Rhinomite is making its live debut on this tour. Hot Wheels fans who track the new vehicle announcements have been waiting to see Rhinomite in action at full speed. Everett is one of the first stops. If you’re a gear-head or a collector, that’s a genuine reason to be in the building.

    A Big Weekend at Angel of the Winds

    May 30-31 falls just after the potential WHL Final Games 6 and 7 window (May 17-18 if needed) and about a month before the Washington Wolfpack’s home schedule heats up. After the spring sports season wraps, Hot Wheels rolls in to keep the arena buzzing through the summer.

    Angel of the Winds has had a remarkable run of events this spring — from the WHL playoffs to Washington Wolfpack football to Skate America in November. Monster Trucks fits right in. It’s the kind of event that reminds you why having a 10,000-seat arena in Everett matters.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When is Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live in Everett in 2026?

    Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow-N-Fire comes to Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett on Saturday May 30 (12:30 PM and 7:30 PM) and Sunday May 31 (2:30 PM).

    Where can I buy tickets for Hot Wheels in Everett?

    Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com and AXS.com. You can also check the Angel of the Winds Arena website directly.

    What trucks will be at the Everett Hot Wheels show?

    The lineup includes Mega Wrex, Bigfoot, Bone Shaker, Tiger Shark, HW 5-Alarm, Gunkster, Skelesaurus, and the debut of all-new Rhinomite, plus FMX riders and a transforming robot.

    Is the Pre-Show Party worth it?

    For families with younger kids or true monster truck enthusiasts, yes. The Pre-Show Party gets you floor access 2.5 hours before the show to get up close to the actual trucks before the event begins.

    Where is Angel of the Winds Arena?

    Angel of the Winds Arena is located at 2000 Hewitt Ave, Everett, WA 98201. Parking is on-site and well-signed from I-5.

    Related coverage: Angel of the Winds Arena May–November 2026 Events Guide | Washington Wolfpack Host Beaumont May 23

  • WHL Final Game 3: Silvertips Beat Raiders to Take 2-1 Lead

    WHL Final Game 3: Silvertips Beat Raiders to Take 2-1 Lead

    PRINCE ALBERT, SK — The Everett Silvertips stole home-ice advantage on Tuesday night at the Art Hauser Centre, grinding out a gritty 3-2 win over the Prince Albert Raiders in Game 3 of the 2026 WHL Championship Final. Silvertips forward Julius Miettinen supplied the game-winning goal as Everett clawed to a 2-1 series lead. Everett went on to win Game 4 in the same building and then clinched the series — and the first Ed Chynoweth Cup in franchise history — with a 7-2 win in Game 5 on May 15, 2026.

    Last refreshed: October 20, 2026 (Pacific).

    The Rudolph Factor

    The storyline going into Game 3 was the suspension of Raiders defenseman Daxon Rudolph, one of Prince Albert’s most important offensive contributors and one of the top NHL draft prospects in this year’s class. The TSN-reported one-game ban took a key weapon off the Raiders’ blue line — and the Silvertips made them pay.

    Rudolph had been a presence all series for the Raiders, and losing him for a road game in a building that’s become a Silvertips fortress was a serious blow to Prince Albert’s chances. The ban was for one game only, so Rudolph was eligible to return for Game 4.

    Miettinen: The Finnish Record-Setter

    Julius Miettinen continues to write himself into WHL playoff history. The Silvertips forward has now set the record for the most playoff points by a Finnish player in WHL history — a remarkable accomplishment for a player operating at peak level in the biggest games of the year.

    His game-winning goal on Tuesday was another chapter in what has been an incredible 2026 playoff run. In a tight game that could have gone either way, Miettinen came up with the decisive marker. That’s what elite players do. That’s why the Silvertips are in this series.

    The WHL also honored Miettinen in the WHL Championship Edition of its Weekly Awards — recognition that came alongside defenseman Brock Cripps of the Raiders and Silvertips goaltender Anders Miller. Even in a week where Everett won a game, the league acknowledged how good both teams have been.

    Miller on the Road

    The Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert holds roughly 2,800 fans and it gets loud. Really loud. The Raiders faithful showed up expecting to see their team take a 2-1 series lead, and instead watched Anders Miller stand them up.

    Miller came into Game 3 with a .936 playoff save percentage across 13 playoff games — the best playoff numbers in WHL history for a goalie who has played that many games. He had already gone 8-0 on the road in these playoffs before Tuesday, and he backed it up again at the Art Hauser. Silvertips fans have spent all spring watching Miller make impossible saves in impossible buildings, and it’s starting to feel inevitable.

    This is now a 15-2 playoff record for the Silvertips. They have lost exactly two games in two months of playoff hockey.

    How the Series Looks Now

    The series narrative has shifted decisively. Here’s where things stand:

    • Game 1 (May 8, AOTW): Raiders 4, Silvertips 2 — Orsulak and Cootes stole home ice
    • Game 2 (May 9, AOTW): Silvertips 6, Raiders 2 — Miettinen’s 4-point night, Bear twice
    • Game 3 (May 12, Art Hauser): Silvertips 3, Raiders 2 — Miettinen GWG, road steal
    • Game 4 (May 13, Art Hauser): Silvertips win — Everett takes a 3-1 series lead
    • Game 5 (May 15, Art Hauser): Silvertips 7, Raiders 2 — Everett clinches the Ed Chynoweth Cup, 4-1
    • Games 6/7 (May 17/18, AOTW): Not needed — the series ended in five games

    Everett did go up 3-1 in Game 4 — a series lead that proved insurmountable. Rudolph was eligible to return for Prince Albert, but it changed nothing: the Silvertips closed the series out in Game 5.

    What It Means

    The Silvertips had never won the Ed Chynoweth Cup — they lost the final in 2004, their first season, and again in 2018. This team — 57-8-2-1 in the regular season — made its case as the best Everett team ever. And in Game 3 they took the lead in the WHL Final on the road, in a building they had never played a game in before that week, against a team that had home ice advantage.

    Two more wins followed — Game 4, then the 7-2 clincher in Game 5 — and the Cup belonged to Everett for the first time in franchise history.

    How the Series Ended

    Series result: Everett wins the 2026 WHL Championship Final, 4-1. The Silvertips won Game 4 at Art Hauser Centre on May 13 to go up 3-1, then clinched the Ed Chynoweth Cup with a 7-2 win in Game 5 on May 15, 2026 — Shea Busch scored a hat trick in the clincher and Julius Miettinen was named WHL Playoff MVP. It was the first WHL championship in franchise history, capping a 16-2 playoff run. Games 6 and 7 were not needed.

    The series never came back home — Everett finished the job on the road in Prince Albert, and Angel of the Winds Arena never got its Game 6. The Cup came home to Everett anyway.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What was the series score after Game 3 of the 2026 WHL Championship Final?

    After Game 3, the Everett Silvertips led the Prince Albert Raiders 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. Everett went on to win the series 4-1.

    When was WHL Final Game 4?

    Game 4 was played Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert (7:30 PM MT / 6:30 PM PT, on TSN in Canada and Victory+ in the U.S.). Everett won to take a 3-1 series lead.

    Why was Daxon Rudolph suspended for Game 3?

    Rudolph received a one-game WHL suspension that was first reported by TSN. The specifics of the infraction were not disclosed, but it kept the Raiders’ top defensive prospect out of Tuesday’s game.

    Who scored the game-winning goal in Silvertips Game 3?

    Julius Miettinen scored the game-winning goal for the Silvertips in the 3-2 win.

    What is Anders Miller’s WHL playoff save percentage?

    Miller entered Game 3 with a .936 save percentage across 13 playoff games — the best playoff SV% in WHL history for a goalie with that many games played.

    Related coverage: Tips Even the Series With 6-2 Game 2 Win | Anders Miller’s Road Test | WHL Final Heads to Prince Albert: Full Schedule

  • NAVSTA Everett Housing Crisis: VOAWW Shelter & Resources

    NAVSTA Everett Housing Crisis: VOAWW Shelter & Resources

    For NAVSTA Everett families: The new VOAWW Pallet Shelter Village on Sievers-Duecy Boulevard — 20 units for women and children, opened April 27, 2026 — is part of a growing Snohomish County civilian safety net that Navy spouses and dependents should know exists. Military families experience housing crises at rates above the civilian average, often triggered by PCS transitions, deployment, separation, or financial hardship. The civilian resources described here do not require active-duty status, rank, or command referral to access.

    Military families understand housing pressure in ways the civilian world rarely talks about openly. PCS orders arrive with 30 days notice. Base housing waitlists run months long. A deployment can change the calculus of whether a family stays in Everett or moves back to extended family. A separation — whether from the military or from a spouse — can leave a Navy wife with children in a city she didn’t choose, navigating a rental market where Snohomish County’s April 2026 median home price is $750,000 and rental vacancies are tight.

    Everett’s civilian safety net has grown significantly in the past two years. The newest addition — VOAWW’s 20-unit Pallet Shelter Village for women and children, which opened April 27, 2026, off Sievers-Duecy Boulevard — is the piece most military families haven’t heard about yet. This guide maps the full picture. For the complete guide to the shelter itself, see the VOAWW Pallet Shelter complete guide.

    Last refreshed: October 20, 2026 (Pacific).

    The VOAWW Pallet Shelter: What It Is

    VOAWW operates the new Pallet Shelter Village on city-owned land off Sievers-Duecy Boulevard in west Everett. Twenty units, each housing one woman and up to three children, opened April 27, 2026. Each unit has a lockable door, climate control, and secure storage. The surrounding village has a community kitchen, showers, restrooms, and a playground. Stays are up to 12 months, with wraparound recovery and job support from VOAWW. Funding came from City of Everett ARPA dollars and a $250,000 Snohomish County match — total project cost $2.7 million.

    Who can access it: any woman with children experiencing homelessness in Snohomish County. There is no military-specific restriction, but also no military-preference track. Referrals through VOAWW or 211.

    Why Navy Families Should Know This Exists

    The NAVSTA Everett Family Support ecosystem — Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) at 425-304-3735, the Command Financial Specialist program, unit ombudsmen, and Military Family Life Counselors (MFLCs) available without referral — is the first-line support system. Use it. But when a Navy spouse finds herself in a housing crisis that extends beyond what the military support chain can resolve — particularly if a marriage has ended, if a sailor is deployed and the family’s housing situation has collapsed, or if financial crisis has made the current arrangement unworkable — civilian resources become the path forward.

    The Full Snohomish County Resource Map for Military Families in Crisis

    VOAWW Pallet Shelter Village (Sievers-Duecy) — Women with children, transitional, up to 12 months. Referrals through VOAWW (voaww.org) or 211.

    Everett Gospel Mission — West Everett, with a $30 million expansion underway adding 172 shelter beds. Emergency shelter, meals, recovery support, transitional housing. See the complete Gospel Mission guide.

    211 Snohomish County — Dial 2-1-1 or text your zip code to 898-211. 24 hours, multilingual. Real-time referrals to all housing resources in the county.

    Snohomish County Veterans Assistance Program — 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, Everett. Emergency financial assistance for veterans and families, including rent and utilities. County-funded, not VA benefits. Does not require service-connected disability.

    Everett Vet Center — 3311 Wetmore Avenue, Everett. Counseling, readjustment support, and referrals. Specific expertise helping veterans and military families navigate civilian systems after separation or during family crises.

    HousingHope — Snohomish County’s largest homeless services and affordable housing nonprofit. Family housing programs, rapid rehousing assistance, transitional units. No military restriction.

    FFSC Everett (Fleet and Family Support Center) — 425-304-3735 at NAVSTA Everett. Financial counseling, crisis intervention, relocation support, and civilian resource referrals. Works with Navy spouses even during deployment. No command referral required.

    For the broader 2026 NAVSTA mental health resource map, see Mental Health Awareness Month at NAVSTA Everett 2026.

    A Note on Privacy

    Military families sometimes hesitate to access civilian resources out of concern it will be visible to the chain of command or affect a service member’s career. Civilian resources — VOAWW, Everett Gospel Mission, 211, Snohomish County Veterans Assistance, HousingHope — have no connection to the military reporting chain. Accessing them is confidential. The FFSC also operates under client confidentiality rules and does not report to command except in specific safety situations. If you are unsure, ask the FFSC intake counselor about their confidentiality policy before sharing information.

    Frequently Asked Questions for Navy Families at NAVSTA Everett

    Can a Navy spouse access the VOAWW Pallet Shelter if her service member is deployed?

    Yes. The shelter serves women with children experiencing homelessness regardless of military status. Deployment status of a spouse does not affect eligibility.

    Does accessing civilian housing resources affect a service member’s security clearance?

    Accessing civilian homelessness resources is not a reportable event for security clearance purposes. Consult with a JAG officer or legal assistance attorney if you have specific clearance concerns.

    How long can a family stay at the VOAWW Pallet Shelter?

    Up to 12 months, with wraparound services from VOAWW. This is a transitional shelter, not emergency overnight housing.

    What if the shelter doesn’t have availability?

    Contact 211 (dial 2-1-1) for real-time referrals to other available resources in Snohomish County. The FFSC can also assist with emergency housing referrals.

    Does the Snohomish County Veterans Assistance Program serve active-duty families?

    The program primarily serves veterans. Active-duty family members in crisis should start with FFSC, which can facilitate access to emergency funds and make civilian resource referrals.

    Is the FFSC confidential?

    The FFSC operates under client confidentiality rules and does not report to command except in specific safety situations. Ask the intake counselor directly about their confidentiality policy.

  • Everett Pallet Shelter: VOAWW Guide for Mothers & Children

    Everett Pallet Shelter: VOAWW Guide for Mothers & Children

    Quick facts: On April 27, 2026, the City of Everett and Volunteers of America Western Washington (VOAWW) opened a 20-unit Pallet Shelter Village for women experiencing homelessness with their children, on city-owned land off Sievers-Duecy Boulevard in west Everett. Each unit houses one mother and up to three children. Residents can stay up to 12 months with wraparound recovery and job support. Funding: City of Everett ARPA dollars plus a $250,000 match from Snohomish County. Total capital and grant operational expenses: $2.7 million. This is Everett’s third Pallet shelter project and the first built specifically for families with children.

    On April 27, 2026, a ribbon was cut on a piece of city-owned land off Sievers-Duecy Boulevard in west Everett, and 20 addresses came into existence. Not mailing addresses. Living addresses — places where a mother and her children now have a lockable door, a bed, a community kitchen a short walk away, and up to 12 months to work on what comes next.

    This is VOAWW’s third Pallet shelter project in Everett. It is the first one built specifically for women and their children. Here is what is on site, how a family qualifies, who paid for it, and what this means for Everett’s broader effort to address homelessness among the most vulnerable households in Snohomish County.

    Last refreshed: October 20, 2026 (Pacific).

    What Is On Site at Sievers-Duecy

    Twenty Pallet structures are installed on the enclosed, managed site. Each unit is a modular shelter built by Pallet Shelter, the Everett-based company whose structures were deployed in more than 70 cities before the company shut down in September 2026 — the villages it built remain in service. Each unit is designed for one mother and up to three children — a sleeping space with climate control, secure storage, and a lockable door. The lock matters more than it might seem: most emergency shelter beds available to families in Snohomish County prior to this opening were in congregate settings with no private door.

    • Detached restrooms and a separate shower facility — enclosed, year-round
    • A community kitchen and gathering space — hard-walled, where residents can cook and meet with case workers
    • A playground — the feature that signals most clearly who this village is for

    The site is enclosed and access-controlled. VOAWW manages the site and provides on-site services.

    Who It Serves and How Long Residents Can Stay

    The shelter is for women and their children. Residents can stay up to 12 months — transitional, not emergency. The distinction matters: emergency shelter is measured in days or weeks. Transitional shelter at 12 months gives VOAWW’s case managers enough time to work with a family on housing search, employment, recovery support, and the practical paperwork that reconnects people to stable housing.

    VOAWW provides wraparound services including recovery assistance and job support. Their 2026 service footprint includes more than 315,000 service requests annually across their full program portfolio. Referrals go through VOAWW directly or through the 211 system. For a broader look at VOAWW’s full Everett service map, see Where to Get Help in Everett in 2026.

    Who Paid For It

    Funded through City of Everett American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars, with a $250,000 match from Snohomish County. Total capital and grant operational expenses as of end of 2025: $2.7 million. The city provided the land — city-owned property off Sievers-Duecy Boulevard. The ribbon cutting was attended by Everett City Council President Don Schwab, VOAWW Executive Director of Housing Services Galina Volchkova, VOAWW CEO Brian Smith, and Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin.

    Everett’s Third Pallet Shelter: The Full Picture

    Everett has now opened three Pallet shelter projects. The Sievers-Duecy village is the first built specifically for women and children. The Pallet company itself was an Everett story: founded here in 2017, with structures deployed in more than 70 cities nationally before the company shut down in September 2026. The Pallet model — modular structures, enclosed sites, transitional time frames, wraparound services — has become a consistent component of Everett’s homelessness response strategy.

    The Sievers-Duecy location matters geographically. West Everett — the corridor around Casino Road, Sievers-Duecy Boulevard, and the neighborhoods running toward Merrill Creek — has a significant concentration of low-income households and historically has had the highest demand for human services access in the city.

    What This Means for Snohomish County’s Homelessness Response

    Single mothers with children are among the most difficult households to serve in the existing shelter system. Congregate shelters frequently can’t accommodate families. Hotel diversion programs are expensive. Rapid rehousing requires affordable rental vacancy — which Snohomish County’s market, with its $750,000 April 2026 median and tight supply, frequently doesn’t offer. A 20-unit transitional village gives 20 families a stable enough platform to work on the next step.

    For the broader network, the $30 million Everett Gospel Mission expansion underway adds 172 additional shelter beds. For NAVSTA Everett military families who may need these resources, see the Navy family housing resource guide. Also see the complete Everett Gospel Mission guide.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where is the VOAWW Pallet Shelter in Everett?

    On city-owned land off Sievers-Duecy Boulevard in west Everett. The site opened April 27, 2026.

    Who is eligible for the VOAWW Pallet Shelter?

    Women experiencing homelessness with their children. Each unit accommodates one mother and up to three children.

    How long can families stay?

    Up to 12 months, in a transitional model with wraparound recovery and employment support provided by VOAWW.

    How do families get referred to the shelter?

    Through VOAWW directly (voaww.org) or through the 211 system — dial 2-1-1 or text your zip code to 898-211.

    How was the shelter funded?

    City of Everett ARPA dollars plus a $250,000 match from Snohomish County, on city-owned land. Total capital and grant operational expenses: $2.7 million as of end of 2025.

    What is the Pallet Shelter company?

    An Everett-based company that manufactured modular shelter units deployed in more than 70 cities nationwide before shutting down in September 2026. The Sievers-Duecy units were built by Pallet Shelter and installed on the city-owned site — and the villages Pallet built remain in service.

    Is this Everett’s only shelter for families with children?

    It is the first Pallet shelter village in Everett built specifically for mothers and children. Other resources for families in Snohomish County include Everett Gospel Mission, Cocoon House (youth), and 211 for referrals to all available resources.

  • Everett EMS Levy 2026: Costs, Impact & Initiative 747

    Everett EMS Levy 2026: Costs, Impact & Initiative 747

    The bottom line for Everett residents: Everett voters approved the EMS levy lid lift (Proposition 1) in the August 4, 2026 primary — about 75% voted yes in the reported results. The measure restores the EMS property tax rate from approximately $0.36 to $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value for the 2027 and 2028 levy years — about $80 per year, or $6.67 per month, for a $500,000 home — and funds approximately 78 firefighter-paramedic positions at Everett Fire. The reason this is on the ballot is a 2001 state law called Initiative 747, which caps how much property tax revenue cities can collect per year at 1% growth.

    The August 4, 2026 primary ballot included a measure asking Everett voters to approve a levy lid lift for Emergency Medical Services — and voters approved it. Here is what was decided, what it costs, and the part most explanations skip: why this keeps ending up on the ballot. For the full structural explanation of Initiative 747, see the complete Initiative 747 guide.

    Last refreshed: October 20, 2026 (Pacific).

    What Voters Were Asked

    Voters were asked to restore the EMS property tax levy rate — not raise it above what was originally voter-approved, but restore it to that level. The rate had drifted down from the original voter-approved figure over the past 25 years because of a state law (Initiative 747, RCW 84.55.010) that limits how much cities can collect. The approved lid lift brings the rate back from approximately $0.36 per $1,000 of assessed value to $0.50 per $1,000.

    In dollars: for a home assessed at $500,000, the difference is about $70 per year. For a home at $750,000 (near the current Snohomish County median), it is about $105 per year. To calculate your exact increase: multiply your assessed value by $0.00014. Find your assessed value at snohomishcountywa.gov.

    What the Money Funds

    EMS levy funds go specifically to Everett Fire Department’s emergency medical services operations — the firefighter-paramedics who respond when you call 911 for a medical emergency. According to the City of Everett, the lid lift funds approximately 78 firefighter-paramedic positions — the staffing the approved measure now supports. EMS calls make up the majority of Everett Fire’s call volume. Unlike fire suppression, which can be partially handled by mutual aid agreements, medical calls require local personnel on scene fast.

    Why This Is on the Ballot: Initiative 747

    Initiative 747, approved by Washington voters in 2001, limits how much property tax revenue any local government can collect from existing properties each year to 1% growth. EMS costs — paramedic wages, pension contributions, ambulance equipment, fuel — grow at 3% to 7% per year. The 1% limit does not keep up. Over 25 years, the gap has grown large enough that a lid lift is needed to restore the funding relationship voters originally approved. This is why you have also seen library levies and fire service questions — same mechanism, same law, different service. For the current Snohomish County fiscal context, see the Everett $14 Million Budget Deficit Guide.

    What Approval Means

    The EMS levy rate restores to $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value for the 2027 and 2028 levy years. Approximately 78 firefighter-paramedic positions are funded at Everett Fire. Annual property tax bills increase by the difference between $0.50 and the previous EMS levy rate, multiplied by assessed value divided by 1,000.

    What a No Vote Would Have Meant

    The rate would have stayed at approximately $0.36 per $1,000, the funding gap between EMS levy revenue and EMS costs would have kept growing, and the City would have needed to address that gap through general fund allocations, service reductions, or a future ballot measure. Voters chose the restoration instead.

    Key Dates

    • Mid-July 2026: Voters’ Pamphlet mailed to all Snohomish County households
    • August 4, 2026: Primary election — Everett voters approved Proposition 1, the EMS levy lid lift (Washington is a mail-in state; ballots arrived approximately 18 days early)
    • 2027–2028: The restored $0.50 rate applies to those levy years

    Frequently Asked Questions for Everett Residents

    How much will my property taxes go up now that the EMS levy passed?

    Approximately $80 per year for a home assessed at $500,000, starting with the 2027 levy year. Multiply your assessed value by $0.00014 to get your specific annual increase.

    Is this a new tax or a restoration of an existing one?

    A restoration. Voters approved the original EMS levy rate. Initiative 747’s 1% cap caused the rate to drift down over 25 years. The lid lift restores it to the voter-approved level.

    What would have happened to EMS if the levy had failed?

    The rate would have stayed at approximately $0.36 per $1,000 and the gap between EMS revenue and costs would have continued to widen. The City would have needed to address the gap through general fund allocations or a future ballot measure. The levy passed, so that path was not taken.

    Why can’t the City Council just fund this without a vote?

    Because Initiative 747 (RCW 84.55.010) requires voter approval to raise the levy rate above the 1%-cap-adjusted level. The Council does not have the authority to lift the lid on its own.

    When did ballots arrive?

    Approximately 18 days before August 4, 2026. Washington is a mail-in state; ballots mailed automatically to all registered voters at their registered address.

    How do I find my home’s assessed value?

    At the Snohomish County Assessor portal, accessible through snohomishcountywa.gov.

  • Everett EMS Levy: How Initiative 747 Forces a Ballot Vote

    Everett EMS Levy: How Initiative 747 Forces a Ballot Vote

    Why does Everett keep putting things on the ballot? Because of Initiative 747, a 2001 Washington voter initiative (RCW 84.55.010) that caps how much property tax revenue any local government can collect from existing properties each year — at 1%. Since fire, EMS, library, and city services cost more than 1% extra each year, the gap between what the levy produces and what services cost grows continuously. When the gap becomes large enough, cities and districts ask voters to restore the original rate in a “lid lift” election. Everett’s EMS lid lift on the August 4, 2026 primary ballot is the third such vote for emergency services since the original EMS levy passed in 2000.

    If you live in Everett, you have noticed something: the city keeps asking you to vote on funding for services that already exist. The EMS levy on the August 4, 2026 ballot is the latest. Before it was a library question. Before that, fire services. The question most residents ask is: why does this keep happening? Why can’t the City Council just fund these services without going back to voters?

    The answer is one law: Initiative 747. Understanding it takes about ten minutes, and once you understand it, every levy on every Everett ballot for the rest of your life will make immediate sense.

    The 1% Problem

    In November 2001, Washington voters approved Initiative 747 by a wide margin. The law is codified at RCW 84.55.010. Its core rule: cities, counties, fire districts, library districts, and other taxing districts may not increase the amount they collect from existing properties by more than 1% per year without going back to the voters for approval.

    That seems reasonable until you look at what cities actually spend money on. The Everett Fire Department’s biggest costs are firefighter wages, paramedic salaries, pension contributions, health insurance, fuel, and ambulance equipment. Those costs do not grow at 1% per year. They grow at 3% to 7% per year, sometimes more. The arithmetic is relentless. If your revenue is capped at 1% growth and your costs grow at 4%, after ten years you have a 30-point gap. After 25 years — which is roughly how long Everett’s original 2000 EMS levy has been in place — the gap is enormous.

    The EMS levy rate has dropped from the original voter-approved rate to approximately $0.36 per $1,000 of assessed value today. The lid lift on August 4 asks voters to restore it to $0.50 per $1,000. For the average Everett homeowner, that is roughly $80 per year. That restoration funds approximately 78 firefighter-paramedic positions at the Everett Fire Department. For more on what this means for your specific tax bill, see the Everett Resident’s Guide to the August 4 EMS Levy.

    A Brief History of I-747

    Initiative 747 emerged from a sequence of Washington property tax limitation measures. In 1971, the legislature set the regular levy cap at 6% or inflation. In November 1999, Initiative 695 changed the levy limit. In November 2000, Initiative 722 rolled back some levy increases. Then in November 2001 came I-747, which set the 1% cap that has governed Washington property taxes ever since.

    In 2007, the Washington Supreme Court ruled I-747 unconstitutional on technical grounds (Washington Citizens Action of Washington v. State). But the legislature reinstated the 1% cap in a special session within weeks of the ruling. It has been in state code ever since. Most recently, Senate Bill 5770 in the 2025 session would have raised the cap to 3%, but it did not pass. The 1% cap appears stable for the foreseeable future.

    How the Lid Lift Actually Works

    When a taxing district wants to raise its levy rate above the 1%-cap level, it must ask voters to approve a “levy lid lift” under RCW 84.55.050. A lid lift can be temporary or permanent. Here’s the specific mechanism: each year, a district’s maximum levy is the higher of (a) the prior year’s actual levy plus 1%, or (b) the “highest lawful levy” — the highest rate the district was ever authorized to collect. A lid lift restores it from the current depressed rate back up to the voter-approved rate.

    Two important nuances: First, the 1% cap is on revenue from existing properties, not on individual tax bills — your bill can rise faster than 1% if your assessed value increases faster than the average. Second, new construction is excluded from the 1% limit, which means growing cities collect more from new buildings without a vote. In a built-out city like Everett where most development is infill and renovation, the new-construction exception doesn’t close the gap by much.

    The August 4, 2026 Vote

    The measure on the August 4, 2026 primary ballot would restore the EMS levy rate from approximately $0.36 per $1,000 of assessed value to $0.50 per $1,000. For a home assessed at $500,000, that is about $80 additional per year — roughly $6.67 per month. The Voters’ Pamphlet goes to Snohomish County mailboxes in mid-July. For the electoral context alongside other August 4 races, see the Snohomish County 2026 Primary Voter Guide.

    Why This Will Keep Happening

    Even if voters approve the August 4 lid lift, they are not solving the underlying structural problem — they are resetting the clock. The new $0.50 rate will begin eroding again at 1% per year while costs continue to grow at 3-7%. In another 15 to 25 years, the gap will be large enough to require another lid lift vote. That is not a criticism of the levy or the city. It is simply what Initiative 747 produces: a permanent structural gap between revenue growth and cost growth for every taxing district in Washington.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is Initiative 747 and what does it do?

    A 2001 Washington voter initiative (RCW 84.55.010) that caps how much property tax revenue local governments can collect from existing properties at 1% growth per year without voter approval.

    Why does Everett keep putting levies on the ballot?

    Because service costs grow faster than 1% per year, so the gap between what the levy produces and what services cost expands continuously. When it becomes large enough, the city asks voters to restore the rate in a lid lift election.

    What is a levy lid lift?

    A voter-approved measure that restores a taxing district’s levy rate from the I-747-reduced level back to the voter-authorized maximum. It does not raise taxes above what voters originally approved; it restores them to that level.

    What does the August 4, 2026 EMS lid lift specifically do?

    Restores Everett’s EMS levy rate from approximately $0.36 to $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value — about $80 per year for a typical Everett homeowner — and funds approximately 78 firefighter-paramedic positions at the Everett Fire Department.

    Was Initiative 747 ever overturned?

    The Washington Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional on procedural grounds in 2007, but the legislature reinstated the 1% cap in a special session that same year. It has been in state code ever since.

    Will the EMS levy raise my property taxes permanently?

    A lid lift restores the voter-approved rate and holds it there. Under I-747, the restored rate will then be subject to the 1% growth cap going forward — meaning it will begin to erode again over time.

    Where can I read the Voters’ Pamphlet?

    Via the Snohomish County Auditor at snohomishcountywa.gov/190/Elections and the City of Everett at everettwa.gov. The pamphlet mails to all Snohomish County households in mid-July 2026.

  • Everett-Delta Transmission Line: Developer Capacity Guide

    Everett-Delta Transmission Line: Developer Capacity Guide

    The short version for developers: Snohomish County PUD’s new Everett-Delta 115-kV transmission line — 3.5 miles, connecting the Everett Substation to the Delta Switching Station near SR 529 / Marine View Drive — is expected in service by the end of 2027. It adds the upstream transmission capacity PUD needs to connect the wave of new waterfront, downtown, and north-Everett developments at full load. If your building opens before the line is in service, confirm your electrical service agreement and any interim capacity arrangements with PUD now. If your opening is in 2028 or later, you are in the planned capacity window.

    If you are developing, building out, or opening a business in Everett’s waterfront, downtown, or north-end corridor in 2026 or 2027, there is one piece of infrastructure that affects your electrical service capacity, your connection timeline, and your ability to run the systems your tenants and customers will expect. It is not a building permit. It is a power line.

    Snohomish County PUD’s new Everett-Delta 115-kilovolt transmission line is the upstream electrical capacity that the Millwright District, the downtown stadium, the Mosaic Apartments, and every other project in the corridor runs on. PUD held public open houses on May 7, 2026. Here is the business-owner and developer version of what you need to know. For the full project overview, see the complete Everett-Delta transmission line guide.

    Last refreshed: October 20, 2026 (Pacific).

    The Capacity Problem the Line Solves

    Every large building in the waterfront corridor pulls electrical load. A 300-unit multifamily building with heat pumps, EV charging infrastructure, and commercial amenity spaces runs approximately 1 to 1.5 megawatts of peak demand. A restaurant with commercial kitchen equipment adds another 100 to 300 kilowatts per tenant. Stack the Millwright District Phase 2, Mosaic Apartments, the downtown stadium, and the Sage Investment Group conversion on top of projects already open at Waterfront Place — and you have a concentration of new load the existing north Everett transmission system was not designed to absorb.

    PUD’s language for why the line is being built is precise: “increasing electrical demand in the northern regions of the service territory” and “prevent the electric system from experiencing low voltage should local power be interrupted.” For a developer or building owner, that translates to: the existing infrastructure is operating with reduced headroom, and this line restores it.

    What Goes In Service and When

    The line connects PUD’s Everett Substation (west of I-5, between McDougall and Smith avenues) to the Delta Switching Station near SR 529 and West Marine View Drive. With the route now chosen, PUD’s next steps are detailed engineering, permitting, right-of-way acquisition and construction. The new poles will be Steel Blue — the color chosen in a PUD vote that ran June through August 31, 2026. PUD estimates the line will be in service by the end of 2027.

    The Practical Timeline Issue for Your Project

    If your building or commercial space is targeting an opening in 2026 or early 2027, you are opening before the Everett-Delta line is in service. For large-load projects — multifamily, high-load commercial anchors, destination restaurants with significant kitchen/HVAC load — confirm directly with PUD whether your project falls within the pre-line capacity envelope or whether there are interim arrangements needed.

    If your project is targeting a 2028 opening or later, you are timing well. PUD will have the upstream capacity in place and your service connection request goes into a queue that includes the new transmission headroom the Everett-Delta line creates.

    The Reliability Dimension

    Beyond raw capacity, the Everett-Delta line adds N-1 redundancy to the north Everett corridor. Once in service, PUD can reroute power around a failed line segment, maintaining voltage and continuity. For a restaurant, hotel, or high-density residential building where a power outage is a direct revenue and habitability event, this is a meaningful change in risk profile.

    The New Substation Implication

    PUD’s project documentation states the Everett-Delta line will “support at least one new substation in the Everett area” tied to the city’s 2044 Comprehensive Plan. The substation location has not been publicly announced. Developers planning projects in the 2028–2032 window should monitor PUD’s system improvements page for updates — the new substation’s location will directly affect which parts of the corridor have the most available service capacity after the line goes in. For the broader economic context, see the April 2026 Snohomish County market report.

    How to Stay Current

    PUD maintains a project page at snopud.com under System Improvements. For project-specific electrical service questions, PUD’s business services team handles large-load connection requests.

    Frequently Asked Questions for Developers and Business Owners

    Does the Everett-Delta line affect my electrical service connection timeline?

    For large-load projects opening before the end of 2027, yes — confirm your connection capacity with PUD. For projects opening in 2028 or later, the line adds upstream capacity that makes connection approvals more straightforward.

    When does construction begin and when is the line in service?

    PUD estimates the line will be in service by the end of 2027, following detailed engineering, permitting, right-of-way acquisition and construction.

    What load can existing north Everett transmission support now?

    PUD has not published a specific available capacity figure. Contact PUD’s business services team for a load study or capacity assessment for your specific project.

    Will there be construction disruption near Marine View Drive?

    Some work in the corridor is expected during the 2027 construction period. PUD will provide specific construction routing details as the project advances through permitting.

    Where is the new substation PUD mentioned?

    The location has not been publicly announced. PUD’s documentation states the line will support at least one new substation tied to Everett’s 2044 Comprehensive Plan. Watch snopud.com system improvements for updates.

  • Everett-Delta Transmission Line: 2027 PUD Grid Upgrade

    Everett-Delta Transmission Line: 2027 PUD Grid Upgrade

    What is the Everett-Delta transmission line and why does it matter? It is a new 3.5-mile 115-kilovolt power line Snohomish County PUD is building to connect the Everett Substation (west of I-5 between McDougall and Smith) to the Delta Switching Station (north of the SR 529 / West Marine View Drive interchange). Construction begins spring 2027; in service by summer 2027. It is the electrical backbone that makes the entire Everett waterfront, downtown, and north-end building wave possible — the Millwright District, the downtown stadium, Mosaic Apartments, and every heat pump, EV charger, and commercial kitchen going into new buildings along the corridor all depend on this line having enough capacity.

    Most of the coverage of Everett’s development boom focuses on what’s being built: the Millwright District’s 300-plus waterfront apartments, Skotdal Real Estate’s seven-story Mosaic Apartments on Pacific Avenue, the downtown stadium breaking ground in September 2026, the Sage Investment Group converting the 9602 19th Street SE Econo Lodge into 124 studios, and the Port of Everett’s continuing Restaurant Row expansion. What rarely gets covered is what has to be true underground and overhead before any of those buildings can function at full electrical load.

    That’s what the Everett-Delta transmission line is about.

    Snohomish County PUD held two public open houses on May 7, 2026 — 4 to 5:30 p.m. and 6 to 7:30 p.m., both at PUD headquarters at 2320 California Street in Everett — to explain the project to residents. Here is what those open houses covered, and why this infrastructure decision matters for every household, business, and development project in the corridor.

    What the Line Actually Is

    The Everett-Delta project is a new 115-kilovolt transmission line, approximately 3.5 miles long, connecting two existing PUD assets at opposite ends of the city’s growth corridor. On the south end: the Everett Substation, located just west of Interstate 5 between McDougall Avenue and Smith Avenue, north of 36th Street. On the north end: the Delta Switching Station, sitting just north of the State Route 529 and West Marine View Drive interchange in north Everett.

    A 115-kV line is what the utility industry calls mid-tier transmission — not the bulk transmission highways that BPA operates at 230kV and 500kV, but the layer that connects the high-voltage backbone to the local distribution substations that actually serve neighborhoods. It’s the difference between having electricity available somewhere in the region and having it available at the right voltage, in the right quantity, at a specific address on Pacific Avenue or Marine View Drive.

    PUD’s stated reasons for building the line now: increasing electrical demand in the northern regions of the service territory; the need to keep voltage stable if local power is interrupted; delivering more electricity from south to north to ease strain on the current system during peak hours; and supporting at least one new substation in the Everett area tied to the City of Everett’s 2044 Comprehensive Plan growth projections.

    The Development Connection

    The geographic overlap between this line and the Everett development map is not a coincidence. The line runs through or adjacent to the same West Marine View Drive corridor where the $113 million Port of Everett waterfront pipeline project, the Edgewater Bridge reconstruction, and the Port’s terminal investments have all been stacking up. The Millwright District Phase 2’s 300-plus apartments are in this zone. The downtown stadium site — with a September 2026 groundbreaking target — is within the service territory of the substations this line feeds.

    Every new building in this corridor carries electrical load. A 300-unit apartment building with heat pumps, EV charging stations in the garage, and full commercial kitchen and amenity spaces runs roughly 1 to 1.5 megawatts of peak demand. A commercial development with restaurant tenants adds more. Multiply that across the Millwright District, Mosaic Apartments, the stadium, and the pipeline of projects in the Imagine Everett comprehensive plan, and the aggregate load growth is significant — exactly the kind of growth that forces a utility to invest in transmission before the buildings open, not after.

    PUD’s 2044 Comprehensive Plan projection shows Everett absorbing a significant share of Snohomish County’s population growth over the next two decades. The Everett-Delta line is the infrastructure that makes that projection electrically possible, not just politically aspirational. For more on the waterfront development pipeline this line serves, see What 15 Years and $350 Million Built: The Port of Everett Story and Everett’s Downtown Stadium in 2026: The Complete Guide.

    Timeline: When This Gets Built

    • May 7, 2026: Public open houses at PUD headquarters, 2320 California Street, Everett
    • Environmental review and permitting: Ongoing through 2026
    • Spring 2027: Construction begins
    • Summer 2027: Line in service — approximately six months of construction

    What It Means for Existing Everett Customers

    The most direct benefit for existing residential and commercial customers is grid reliability. The Everett-Delta line adds a second transmission path into the north Everett grid, which means that if the existing line fails during a storm or equipment outage, the system can reroute power without causing a widespread outage. PUD’s language — “prevent the electric system from experiencing low voltage should local power be interrupted” — is describing what engineers call N-1 contingency planning: designing the system so it continues to work even if one element fails.

    For neighborhoods in the 36th Street to Marine View Drive corridor — including Bayside, the north waterfront, and the areas near PUD headquarters — this is a direct reduction in outage risk during major weather events. Also see the broader development context in Skotdal’s Mosaic Apartments: 102 Art-Infused Homes on Pacific Avenue.

    What It Means for Businesses and Developers

    If you are developing or planning to develop in the Everett waterfront, downtown, or north-end corridor, the Everett-Delta line affects your project in two practical ways.

    First, PUD’s ability to grant electrical service connections to new large-load customers depends on transmission capacity upstream. The Everett-Delta line adds that upstream capacity. Second, the summer 2027 in-service date matters for your construction and opening timeline. Buildings opening in fall 2027 or later are in good shape. Projects with 2026 or early 2027 openings should confirm with PUD directly whether interim capacity arrangements are needed.

    PUD’s project contact information is available at snopud.com under System Improvements.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the Everett-Delta 115kV transmission line?

    A new 3.5-mile power line Snohomish County PUD is building to connect the Everett Substation (near 36th Street and I-5) to the Delta Switching Station (near SR 529 and Marine View Drive). Scheduled to go in service by summer 2027.

    Why is PUD building this line now?

    To support growing electrical demand in the Everett area, prevent low-voltage conditions during local power outages, deliver more electricity from south to north during peak hours, and support at least one new substation tied to Everett’s 2044 Comprehensive Plan growth projections.

    When does construction start and when will the line be in service?

    Construction begins spring 2027. The line is targeted to be in service by summer 2027, with construction taking approximately six months.

    How does this affect the Everett waterfront development projects?

    Every new building in the waterfront and downtown corridor adds electrical load. The Everett-Delta line adds the upstream transmission capacity PUD needs to connect new developments at full load without imposing service restrictions or connection queues.

    Does this reduce the risk of power outages for existing Everett customers?

    Yes. The line adds a second transmission path into the north Everett grid, enabling rerouting around a failed line segment rather than causing widespread outage. This is N-1 contingency coverage.

    Will there be construction disruption near Marine View Drive?

    Some work in the corridor is expected in spring-summer 2027 as the line connects near SR 529 and Marine View Drive. PUD will provide specific construction routing details as the project advances through permitting.

    Where can I get more information about the project?

    Snohomish County PUD maintains a project page at snopud.com under Community & Environment → Our Energy Future → Reliability → System Improvements → Everett-Delta Transmission Line.

  • Belfair Senior Center Guide: Inside The HUB in North Mason

    Belfair Senior Center Guide: Inside The HUB in North Mason

    When people move to Belfair or North Mason from somewhere with a larger city infrastructure, one of the first practical questions is: where is the support system here? What happens when someone needs a senior center, a community organization, a place to borrow a wheelchair, or a volunteer who will drive your parent to a Bremerton appointment?

    The answer, for 25 years, has been The HUB Center for Seniors at 111 NE Old Belfair Highway.

    Last refreshed: October 20, 2026 (Pacific).

    What The HUB Is — and Why It Works Differently Here

    The HUB is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that exists specifically to support independent living for seniors and people with disabilities in North Mason. It was incorporated in 2001, ran entirely on volunteers for its first 15 years, and built its permanent home on Old Belfair Highway in 2016 after Belfair community members — including lead donors Les and Betty Krueger — raised the funds to make it happen.

    That origin story matters if you’re new here. The HUB wasn’t built by a county program or a state grant. It was built by neighbors who recognized that North Mason doesn’t have a large hospital, doesn’t have the density of senior services you’d find in Bremerton or Tacoma, and that the SR-3 corridor is a real logistical barrier for people who can no longer drive it alone. The community built the solution it needed.

    Today The HUB employs 32 people, holds $2.49 million in assets, and operates a calendar that runs six to seven days a week depending on the program.

    The Services: What You Actually Get

    For newcomers trying to understand what The HUB provides, the clearest way to think about it is in three layers:

    Neighbors Helping Neighbors is the volunteer service network — the original 2001 mission, still running. Rides to appointments, grocery help, caregiver referrals, utility bill assistance, home heating support. The program has served more than 900 people in North Mason. If you or someone you know needs this kind of support, call (360) 275-0535.

    The Medical Lending Library is free, open to anyone of any age, and requires no membership. Wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, crutches — you walk in during center hours and borrow what you need. If you recently moved here and have a family member recovering from surgery or managing a new mobility limitation, this is a resource most newcomers don’t know exists until they’re standing in a Bremerton medical supply store paying rental fees.

    The Center Calendar runs Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday mornings bring free live music open to the whole community. Family BINGO falls on the first Friday of the month. Fitness, painting, writing, cooking, and health events fill the rest of the week. The Great Room and commercial kitchen can be rented for community events and private fundraisers.

    The HUB SHOP: The Thrift Store That Funds Everything

    At 111 NE Old Belfair Highway Suite A, The HUB SHOP — Sales Helping Other People — runs Monday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It’s a full-service thrift store where proceeds fund HUB programs. For newcomers setting up a household in North Mason on a budget, it is one of the better-stocked thrift options in the area, and every purchase directly supports a local nonprofit.

    North Mason’s Support Infrastructure: How It All Fits

    Getting oriented to North Mason means learning which institutions hold the community together. The HUB is one of the most important. Mason County’s median age is among the highest in Washington state, which means the pressure on senior and disability services here is real and growing. The HUB has been the community’s primary response to that pressure for 25 years.

    If you’re new to the area and want to understand the community you’ve moved into, walking through The HUB’s doors on a Monday morning — when the live music is playing and the coffee is on — is one of the better starting points. The full 25-year history of The HUB in Belfair is worth reading. For more on getting oriented in North Mason, the newcomer’s guide to Tahuya State Forest is another entry point into the outdoor and recreation infrastructure that defines life here.

    Frequently Asked Questions for North Mason Newcomers

    Is there a senior center in Belfair?
    Yes. The HUB Center for Seniors at 111 NE Old Belfair Highway has served North Mason since 2001. It offers social programming, a free medical lending library, volunteer services including transportation, and caregiver referrals.

    Do you have to be a senior to use The HUB?
    No. Many services, including the medical lending library and community events like live music and BINGO, are open to anyone. The Neighbors Helping Neighbors program serves adults with disabilities of any age, not just seniors.

    Where is The HUB in relation to downtown Belfair?
    It’s on Old Belfair Highway, just off SR-3, on the left side heading away from the Belfair Town Center. It’s easy to miss if you’re not looking for it — but it’s been there since 2016.

    How far is The HUB from the Belfair Town Center?
    Less than a mile. It’s on Old Belfair Highway, a short drive from the SR-3/SR-300 intersection in Belfair.

    How do I get involved with The HUB as a newcomer?
    Call (360) 275-0535 or stop in during center hours (Monday–Thursday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., and Fridays 10 a.m.–2 p.m.). Volunteer opportunities, program participation, and community rentals are all available. Website: hubhappenings.org.