MY EVERETT NEWS

Good news for hockey fans in Everett as the Everett Silvertips today announced an extension of their contract with the Everett Public Facilities District to play Comcast Arena at Everett to through the 2018 season.

The Everett Silvertips Hockey Club, Global Spectrum, and the Everett Public Facilities District today announced an extension to the club’s Comcast Arena at Everett lease agreement that will run through the 2017-2018 Western Hockey League season. The new five-year renewal comes on the heels of the club’s initial lease agreement, which spanned ten seasons since the inception of the Silvertips and the construction of Comcast Arena at Everett in 2003.

“We are pleased to renew our lease and continue to be a part of the fabric of the Everett community,” said Silvertips President Gary Gelinas. “We have a community that supports us both on and off the ice, a market where we have built a loyal hockey following and the best fans in the WHL. Our commitment to meeting the needs of our fans and Arena partners will be unwavering as we continue to establish the Silvertips as a top program in the WHL.”

“We are very excited about the years ahead and will do our very best to continue to make this community proud. We wish to thank the EPFD, Global Spectrum and Comcast Arena for their continued support and look forward to working as a partner over the term of this lease and beyond.”

The Silvertips recently completed the 10th Anniversary season of WHL hockey in Everett, a season which culminated in our 10th consecutive WHL playoff appearance. Since the first home puck drop in franchise history at the then-Everett Events Center on October 4, 2003, the ‘Tips have played over 400 regular season and playoff home games in downtown Everett. The team has also hosted scores of preseason contests, tournaments and other team events at Comcast Arena and the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center.

“The Everett Public Facilities District is pleased to renew our partnership with the Everett Silvertips Hockey Club and to continue to provide the ultimate game day experience for their fans,” stated EPFD’s Board President, Gary Weikel. “The Silvertips organization has done a tremendous job building a solid fan base and community support in the area over the past decade. We know the fans will be thrilled to continue enjoying first-rate hockey competition for years to come right here in Everett at Comcast Arena.”

Comcast Arena has presented one of the WHL’s toughest environments on the ice for visiting teams over the past ten years. Nearly 2.4 million fans have enjoyed Silvertips hockey in the building since 2003, good for an average attendance of 5,840 fans per game over the life of the franchise. That fan participation has contributed to the team’s performance, where the Silvertips have enjoyed a .600 all-time winning percentage on their home ice.

Tickets go on sale Friday morning for the Aug. 16th show.

Comcast Arena Everett has announced their latest concert. It’s something they’ve been working on for the past few months and now it can be revealed…Big and Rich are coming to Everett. The duo is best known for their hit “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy.” Tickets go on sale Friday morning and are priced between $41.50 and $71.50. Here’s the official press release…

Hold on to your hats because Big & Rich, aka country music’s Technicolor Cowboys, are bringing their Party Like Cowboyz tour to the Comcast Arena. You can become a Cyber Club member and beat the box office with our special pre-sale.

Big & Rich are truly at their hell-raising best when performing live. Their tours pack arenas with a flying circus of sight, sound and spectacle, a traveling renaissance fair of the mind, complete with raised glasses and boot-stompin’ beats. The Party Like Cowboyz Tour will be no exception.

The multi-platinum selling duo of Big Kenny and John Rich writes and performs music that pushes the boundaries of country music to create an experience that’s rebellious, rollicking, and always fun.

For those looking for dining options, a pre-show dinner package is available for this event. For reservation information call 425-322-2629.

Free Flu and Whooping Cough shots plus free ice skating on January 26th

Just got word from the Snohomish Health District that an Everett woman has died from the flu. Here’s the release from Kristin Kinnamon at the Snohomish Health District…

Influenza hitting elderly hard in Snohomish County

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. – The Snohomish Health District reports five Snohomish County residents have died in the last month from the severe influenza (commonly called the “flu”) that is circulating throughout Western Washington. All but one death was in people over age 70, and all had underlying medical conditions in addition to confirmed flu.

The latest flu-related death was of an Everett woman in her 70s. The health district confirms and reports deaths through the previous week, Jan. 19. Previously the health district confirmed flu-related deaths in a Stanwood man in his 90s, a Bothell woman in her 40s, an Everett woman in her 80s, and an Edmonds woman in her 80s.

Nation-wide, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reports that more than 90% of flu season deaths have been in people over age 65. Older people are also more likely to be hospitalized as a result of this year’s H3N2 flu strain. To date, 71 hospitalizations related to flu have been reported in Snohomish County.

The Snohomish Health District has also received reports of flu outbreaks at nine longterm care facilities through Jan. 19, compared to one facility reporting flu in the 2011-2012 flu season. Facilities must report whenever at least two residents have flu symptoms and at least one has tested positive for influenza.

“Even when vaccinated, the elderly are more at risk to flu because their immune systems are weaker than in younger people,” explained Dr. Gary Goldbaum, health officer for Snohomish Health District. “That’s why flu vaccination is so important for people of all ages – so we don’t spread flu to people who are most vulnerable.”

State Health Officer Dr. Maxine Hayes sent a letter to long-term care facility managers urging them to encourage employees to get vaccinated to protect patients and themselves from the flu. Visitors to these facilities should get the flu vaccine and delay visits if they’re sick.

People who are at high risk of serious flu complications –seniors, pregnant women, young children, and people with asthma, diabetes, or heart disease – should contact a health care provider immediately if they develop influenza-like symptoms, including cough, fever, sore throat, and body aches. Antiviral treatment works best when started as soon as possible after you get sick.

For those who are healthy, flu shots are still recommended to protect yourself and others, along with frequent hand washing. Children’s flu shots are subsidized by the state. Adult flu shots are covered by most health insurance and are available in providers’ offices as well as community clinics, pharmacies, and the Snohomish Health District clinics.

A free vaccination clinic for uninsured adults is scheduled for 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26 at Comcast Skate Arena, 2000 Hewitt Ave., Everett, Wash. The clinic is sponsored by the South Everett-Mukilteo Rotary Club and coincides with a free skating event for the public in the main ice rink. Flu and whooping-cough shots for adults will be available.

During last year’s flu season in Snohomish County, 39 residents were reported hospitalized and there were two deaths related to flu. Only lab-confirmed deaths are counted, and not all hospitals report flu-related admissions. The CDC estimates that up to 49,000 people die from the flu each year.

“This flu season appears to be the worst since H1N1 in 2009, when more than 100 people were hospitalized in Snohomish County,” said Goldbaum. “However, the current flu strain is most severe in seniors, while H1N1 caused deaths in younger people. We also have plenty of vaccine matched to the current strain this year.”

To learn more about the flu and vaccination, visit the Snohomish Health District website at www.snohd.org.

Established in 1959, the Snohomish Health District works for a safer and healthier Snohomish County through disease prevention, health promotion, and protection from environmental threats. Find more information about the Health Board and the Health District at http://www.snohd.org.

America’s Got Talent live show has been cancelled…

A lack of shows has been plaguing Comcast Arena Everett and now there’s more bad news as another budgeted show has been cancelled. Here’s what was posted on the Comcast Arena at Everett website this afternoon…

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the America’s Got Talent Live All Stars Tour has been postponed indefinitely. Refunds will be made automatically to all credit card purchasers. Tickets purchased through the Comcast Arena Box Office can be returned to the Box Office for refund.

The show had been scheduled at Comcast Arena at Everett for April 14th.

The Washington Stealth kick off their 4th season in Everett Saturday night at Comcast Arena.

Washington Stealth Lacrosse opens its 3rd season in Everett Saturday night in Comcast Arena at Everett. The Stealth had a great opening season in 2010 and did well in 2011 but had a much tougher season last year. This year’s tag line, “Like Hockey with Balls” is causing a bit of attention but Stealth loyalists say it’s the fastest way to explain how lacrosse games work to people who haven’t seen one yet. Tickets are on sale at the Comcast Arena box office or by calling 425-374-7290. Here’s a preview from the team’s website…

EVERETT, Wash. – After a pre-season of bolstering a veteran lineup that has enjoyed NLL championship game appearances in two of the past three seasons, the Washington Stealth are poised to make a run back to the top of the NLL as the team faces the defending champion Rochester Knighthawks in the season opener, Saturday at Everett’s Comcast Arena. Game time is 6:45 p.m.

Bigger, faster and stronger, coach Chris Hall’s squad is teed-up to turn the page in 2013 and make a run at the post season. A run that begins with the defending league champions, which have dominated the all-time series against the Stealth 11-4 dating back to the organization’s time in both San Jose, Calif. and Albany, N.Y.

For Hall, the Stealth’s success in the coming year — and Saturday night’s opener, will rely heavily on the output of his veteran forwards Lewis Ratcliff, Rhys Duch and Athan Iannucci, along with a retooled defensive unit.

As two of the most potent threats for the Stealth, Ratcliff and Duch accounted for two thirds of the offense in last February’s meeting with Rochester in New York, which the Stealth dropped 15 – 12 after giving up a slim lead in the fourth.

“There is a lot less taken for granted this year,” said Ratcliff, who despite finishing 2012 with a team best and seventh ranked league wide 36 goals to go along with 40 assists, wasn’t satisfied with the finish.

“Last year showed us how tough the league is,” said Ratcliff. “There is a new hunger and attitude in working our way back to the top.”

Bavasi will replace Mark Olson on the Everett PFD board.

Yesterday Everett Mayor Ray Stephenson announced the appointment of Bob Bavasi to the Everett Public Facilities District Board of Directors. Last night the Everett City Council approved the appointment. Bavasi is a familiar name in Everett sports circles. He and his wife Margaret brought professional baseball to Everett in 1984 with the Everett Giants. In 1995 the team was re-named the Everett Aquasox. Bob and Margaret sold the team in 1998 but have remained active in the Everett area while pursuing sports opportunities thru Bavasi Sports Partners. Bavasi will replace former Everett City Council member Mark Olson whose appointment expires at the end of this month. “The Mayor called and asked me to do it,” said Bavasi. “If the Mayor asks, you should say yes. I like the people they have serving on the board and I think it will be fun.”

The Everett Public Facilities District developed and owns Comcast Arena at Everett. The PFD is a municipal corporation and is managed by a five person board of directors whose members are appointed by the Everett Mayor and confirmed by the Everett City Council. The Public Facilities District contracts with Global Spectrum to manage the arena. Comcast Arena at Everett has been facing some tough financial times of late. For the last month the Public Facilities District has been interviewing candidates to replace General Manager Kim Bedier who resigned from Global Spectrum in October and now manages the Tacoma Dome and all public facilities for the city of Tacoma. Today Gary Weikel, President of the PFD board, announced that Jeff Schumacher, who had been managing the Sun National Bank Center in New Jersey, has been selected by Global Spectrum to manage Comcast Arena at Everett. While already on the payroll from afar, Schumacher will be moving to this area and physically taking over in Everett the first full week in January.