March 28, 2024

0 Comments

WSP Alert for 4-Year Old Ariel Garcia as Endangered Missing Person

Emergency messaging went out by the Washington State Patrol for 4-year old Ariel Garcia in Everett.

Garcia was last seen in the 4800 block of Vesper Dr in Everett, WA at approximately 7am on Wednesday March 27th.

The Everett Police Department (EPD) is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 4 year old Ariel Garcia. He is a Hispanic male with brown hair and brown eyes. There is no current clothing description.

His mother has been located, but Ariel’s whereabouts are unknown at this time.

If you have any information involving this vehicle between 11am and 2pm between Everett and Vancouver, WA, call 911.

Continue reading...

March 28, 2024

0 Comments

Everett Man Receives 3 years of Mental Health Treatment After Drive-By Kitten Shooting

Kitten lost its eye in a drive by animal cruelty shooting on Lombard Ave

A year ago we reported on Blayne M. Perez, a 35-year old Everett resident, being prosecuted with 8 criminal charges for animal cruelty.

The Everett man’s criminal charges stemmed from a resident’s January 2022 report to Everett police that a neighbor repeatedly shot birds and squirrels then displayed the dead animals around his property. A Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officer responded later and observed Perez shooting from his property into trees and the sky.

In February 2022, police served a search warrant and found numerous animal carcasses on display at the property. Further investigation determined that Perez was deliberately cruel in his treatment of the animals while they were still alive. Necropsies showed that multiple birds died from blunt force trauma inflicted on them after Perez shot their wings, preventing them from escaping.

In April 2022, neighbors reported seeing Perez continue to shoot birds and squirrels around his neighborhood. When officers spoke with neighbors, many said they removed their bird feeders to avoid further animal deaths.

On September 25, 2022, a couple informed Everett police that a man drove by and shot their kitten. A witness saw part of a license plate, which matched a car registered at Perez’s address. Law enforcement also previously observed Perez driving a car matching the witness’ description. Perez was arrested later that day.

The kitten suffered significant injuries, including the loss of an eye, and incurred several thousands of dollars in veterinary bills. The kitten’s retina was damaged beyond repair, necessitating surgery to remove his eye. Metal fragments were surgically removed, including below his right ear. His right mandible (lower jaw) was fractured, extending to the temporal mandibular joint.

Ferguson filed eight felony criminal charges against Perez in March 2023: seven for first-degree animal cruelty and one charge of first-degree malicious mischief. In October 2023, Perez pleaded guilty to three of those felony counts.

On Wednesday, March 27th, 2024, a Snohomish County Superior Court judge sentenced Perez to three years of community custody for mental health treatment. If he violates the terms of community custody, even once, the court will send him to prison for three years and four months.

The judge ordered that Perez to pay $9,174 in restitution to the owners of a kitten that Perez shot in the eye and another $1,700 in fines. The judge also imposed a lifetime ban on Perez possessing or residing with any animal, and he must not have contact with the kitten’s owners.

The Attorney General’s Office Environmental Protection Division’s criminal prosecutors recommended Perez serve a prison sentence of three years and four months. They also recommended he pay $1,700 in fines and $9,174 in restitution.

My office will not stand for cruelty to animals,” Ferguson said. “My office will help protect pets and wildlife through environmental criminal prosecutions like this one.” Assistant Attorneys General Scott Halloran and Kelsey Force handled the case for the Attorney General’s Office.

Under state law and the Washington State Constitution, the Attorney General’s Office does not have authority to initiate criminal prosecutions, unless it receives and accepts a concurrent authority from a county prosecutor or at the governor’s request. The Attorney General’s Office accepted concurrent authority from the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney in this case.

The Attorney General’s Office’s enforcement of animal cruelty laws is supported, in part, by a grant from the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

Continue reading...

March 27, 2024

Comments Off on Bugs & Blooms Event This Weekend at Bayside Neighborhood

Bugs & Blooms Event This Weekend at Bayside Neighborhood

Click on poster to expand

The Everett Bayside Neighborhood will be hosting a Bugs & Blooms Event this weekend. It is a free event and includes a number of activities.

The event takes place this Saturday March 30th from 11am to 2pm at Clark Park (2400 Lombard Ave) in Everett.

Here’s what you can expect:

  • Talks from Bats Northwest, Master Gardeners, and SnoKing Beekeepers Association talking about good yard care and the importance of pollinators.
  • Caerulean Candle Company will be selling candles.
  • Tacos Penachos will be selling tacos
  • Little kids can enjoy a birdhouse making station and a messy seed bomb station.
Continue reading...

March 26, 2024

Comments Off on Everett Naval Station Training Exercises Coming Up

Everett Naval Station Training Exercises Coming Up

Sunset over Naval Station Everett.

Naval Station Everett will be conducting a security training exercise in the harbor around the Everett base on April 2nd to 5th and April 8th to 9th, 2024.

The exercises are scheduled to occur each day between 9am and 4pm.

During the exercise, those near the base may hear mass warning announcements from the base’s outdoor speakers.

The training will include security boat maneuvers in the harbor and the firing of blank rounds to simulate gunfire. No live ammunition will be used.

The Navy regularly conducts training exercises to maintain and improve security and emergency response qualifications. These exercises help prepare for a potential real emergency.

For more information about the exercise or future notifications, contact Naval Station Everett Public Affairs.

Continue reading...

March 25, 2024

Comments Off on PUD Breaks Ground on Next Community Solar Project

PUD Breaks Ground on Next Community Solar Project

Snohomish County PUD was joined Friday, March 22 by partners from the City of Everett, Connect to Casino Road, the Department of Commerce, and others, to officially break ground on its newest community solar project, “El Sol al Alcance de tus Manos” or “the sun at your fingertips.”

Construction will begin this month on the project that will be built in south Everett and generate funds that will assist PUD customers having trouble paying their bill.

Partially funded by the Washington Department of Commerce’s Clean Energy Fund (CEF), the south Everett solar project will be built adjacent to Walter E. Hall Park and will direct solar generation benefits to Project PRIDE, the PUD’s customer-funded income-qualified program that currently serves 500 customers annually.

“This project is a great example of how partnerships at the local, state and federal level can allow us to power more homes and businesses with clean energy and help our most vulnerable customers at the same time,” said John Haarlow, PUD CEO/General Manager. “We’re looking forward to completing construction this year and then gathering the community in summer of 2025 to celebrate.”

When completed, the solar array will have a capacity of 400 kilowatts DC, generating enough electricity to power approximately 30 homes. Instead of selling energy units to customers, the PUD will donate funds generated by the new south Everett solar project to its Project PRIDE program.

L to R: Everett Economic Development Director Dan Eernissee, Everett Public Works Director Ryan Sass, Everett Government Affairs Director Jennifer Gregerson, Everett Council Member Paula Rhyne, Everett Council Member Liz Vogeli, Council Member Ben Zarlingo, PUD Commission President Sid Logan, PUD Commission Vice President Tanya Olson, PUD CEO/General Manager John Haarlow, Department of Commerce Solar Section Supervisor Jill Eikenhorst, Connect to Casino Director Alvaro Guillen, PUD Program Manager Suzy Oversvee, PUD Assistant General Manager Customer and Energy Services John Hoffman

Project PRIDE, which is administered by St. Vincent de Paul, provides one-time grants for families and individuals who need help paying their energy bills. Project PRIDE will receive an estimated additional $22,000 in annual energy credits through the community solar project.

“Engaging community members in the project, including inspiring and selecting the name “El Sol al Alcance de tus Manos” has been a priority for the PUD,” said Suzy Oversvee, Program Manager. “We hope that this project can serve as an example of how through partnerships we can increase access to the benefits of solar and other clean energy technologies for all community members.” The PUD signed an agreement with the City of Everett to build the new community solar project Everett Water Utility property near Walter E. Hall Park in south Everett. Locating the solar array at this location will enhance energy resiliency in a dense urban community with heavily loaded electric circuits in the summer.

“Climate action is incredibly important to the City of Everett and we are proud to partner with the PUD on this great project that is both good for the environment and our community,” said Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin.

In helping site the solar array, the City of Everett has played a crucial role in facilitating connections with community members and working with the PUD to make improvements to the surrounding property to enhance nearby pedestrian paths and plant additional trees to mitigate those that must be removed to accommodate the solar panels. When the project is completed, art created by young people connected with the Casino Road neighborhood will adorn the fence and help integrate the project into the community. The PUD has hired three local artists, Yessica Marquez, Luisana Hernandez, and Ruben Trujillo to prepare the overall design of artwork for the fence.

The PUD was awarded a grant worth $878,037 under the Washington Clean Energy Fund 3 Low- Income Community Solar Deployment Program to help pay for the project. Washington State’s Clean Energy Fund is managed by the Washington State Department of Commerce, which supports the development, demonstration and deployment of clean energy technology.

The cost to build the project is approximately $2.2 million. The PUD is pursuing additional state and federal tax incentives available for low-income community solar projects.

For more information, visit this link.

Continue reading...

March 25, 2024

Comments Off on Will Topgolf Be the New Anchor Tenant at The Everett Mall?

Will Topgolf Be the New Anchor Tenant at The Everett Mall?

One of Topgolf’s recently opened locations.

All indicators point towards Topgolf being the unannounced, secret, anchor tenant at the Everett Mall when The Hub @ Everett opens.

We’ve heard from three different readers who claim they have inside information. The mayor also announced, in her State of the City:
In the next few days, I look forward to announcing a top new entertainment anchor that will be coming to the Everett Mall.

Topgolf Renton Location Interior

The choice to use the word “Top” seems unnatural, likely a pun towards Topgolf.

The only Topgolf location in Washington State is in Renton, which opened in the summer of 2022.

That location is right next to Boeing’s Renton Facility. The Everett mall would only be 3.8 miles from the Boeing Everett Facility.

If you aren’t familiar with Topgolf, this is how they describe themselves:

Never been to a Topgolf venue? Think of it as a modern golf experience where anyone – including people who have never picked up a golf club and those who want to perfect their swing – can participate in the sport in a relaxed, no-pressure environment. You’ll take aim at giant targets on the field while playing virtual courses or Topgolf’s signature games like Angry Birds. And just so you know, Topgolf celebrates the bad shots just as much as the beautiful swings.

Portland Topgolf Range

Looking at Topgolf’s other locations and upcoming openings, it’s possible Everett could be its 100th outdoor location. Topgolf typically employs around 300 people they call “Playmakers.”

Hopefully we’ll hear more over the next few days to confirm if it will be Topgolf and where in the mall’s plans Topgolf would live.

Looking at project plans, there may be enough room in the remainder of the Sears structure, or something could be happening to the gym or the Burlington building. It’s also possible it would be a newly built structure.

Continue reading...

March 22, 2024

Comments Off on Everett Mall Being Redesigned – See Renderings of The Hub @ Everett

Everett Mall Being Redesigned – See Renderings of The Hub @ Everett

Rendering of the New Everett Mall

During the State of the City address, Mayor Cassie Franklin announced Everett Mall will be redesigned. Brixton Capital, the owners of the mall, announced the new version will be called: “The Hub @ Everett.”

Construction is underway as Brixton redevelops much of the mall, making the space more walkable and open. They believe it will bring in a variety of new, exciting tenants.

The mayor also mentioned a new entertainment anchor tenant will be coming to the mall soon. “This tenant will be transformative—attracting visitors from throughout the country and beyond for positive, family-friendly fun!”

Construction is expected to be completed in 2026. We built a slider below so you can see what the Everett Mall looks like now, versus what it will look like in the new design (just grab the slider and pull it left and right).

Old Everett Mall New Everett Mall

 

As you can see, the roof is coming off in the center and you’ll be able to drive through and park in areas that used to be indoor. The building is actually shrinking, which allows for more parking and more accessible storefronts from the outside. Less is more in this design.

The renderings look more like the modern malls or shopping areas you see in other places. It reminds me of the redesign Totem Lake Mall (now called the Totem Lake Village) underwent in 2016. Oddly enough, it has a Trader Joes at it as well.

Here are more renderings of what the New Everett Mall, or “Hub” will look like:

 

Continue reading...

March 21, 2024

Comments Off on Highlights of the Everett Mayor’s State of the City Speech

Highlights of the Everett Mayor’s State of the City Speech

The Everett Mayor’s 2024 State of the City event was different this year. The event took place in Everett Mall, packing in hundreds of local business leaders and city staff in the hallways of a building that was once far more popular. Fittingly, Mayor Cassie Franklin delivered each section of her speech by sharing the […]

Continue reading...

March 21, 2024

Comments Off on What You Need to Know About Everett’s New Automated Traffic Cameras

What You Need to Know About Everett’s New Automated Traffic Cameras

Warnings are up and the first automated traffic cameras have been installed. In April, traffic violations will be issued to those speeding in the Horizon Elementary school zone along Casino Road. Six more camera locations will be added at different intersections in the city, focusing on red light violations. Cameras take two pictures of your […]

Continue reading...

March 19, 2024

Comments Off on Everett 4th of July Parade Seeking Entries, Volunteers, & Sponsors

Everett 4th of July Parade Seeking Entries, Volunteers, & Sponsors

Independence Day is around the corner and the Everett 4th of July parade committee is hard at work to put on the cherished event for 2024. But they can’t do it alone. The Everett 4th of July Parade committee is seeking parade entries, volunteers, & sponsors. Parade committee chair Jonathan Nelson, shared with My Everett News: […]

Continue reading...