MYEVERETTNEWS.com

This in Wednesday from the Everett Silvertips and Everett Community College on a partnership to house players for this season.

Everett Community College’s Trojan mascot with the Everett Silvertips mascot, Lincoln. Photo credit: EvCC

The Everett Silvertips, proud seven-time U.S. Division champion and two-time Western Conference champion of the Western Hockey League, are the sole residents of a section of a student housing building, ensuring an insulated environment to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Access to that section of the building is reserved for players and student housing resident assistants only. Other EvCC students living on campus are currently residing in the college’s other student housing building. Under EvCC COVID-19 rules, no guests are allowed in student housing without prior approval.

“The Silvertips are tremendously excited to move forward with Everett Community College as an exclusive housing partner for the 2020-21 WHL season,” said Silvertips general manager Garry Davidson. “The pandemic has forced us, along with many others in this situation, to consider creative options to allow a return to play and do it in a safe manner. Everett Community College has been a terrific association from the beginning since this idea was introduced, and has enthusiastically committed to an environment that ensures the safety of our players. In turn, we commit to be the best guests possible, and reside in a responsible and respectful manner.”

The Silvertips billeting program is expected to resume at a later date, to be announced. The program is paused to respect the guidelines of local health and safety protocols.

“Our billets – like our fans – are a lifeblood of our organization. We’re excited to activate the program again when it’s safe to do so, and will provide further details at that time,” Davidson said.

EvCC is excited to welcome the team to student housing, said EvCC President Daria Willis.

“This is the exact reason why community is our middle name. We are thrilled to have this partnership and I wish them the very best success this season,” she said.

EvCC Student housing occupancy is low due to COVID-19, with many international students unable to travel to the United States to attend college, so the partnership is beneficial for the college.

“We are incredibly excited to partner with the Silvertips for the upcoming WHL season,” said Mike Bowers, EvCC interim Dean of Student Development. “While many of our students continue to study remotely, helping hockey safely return to Everett is a way for us to contribute to our community and provide a much-needed distraction as we continue to work towards an eventual return to normal from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The WHL has developed an extensive set of protocols, to not only provide a safe environment for players and staff, but to protect individuals in the community. The WHL will implement an ongoing weekly private antigen testing strategy. Enhanced screening for all WHL players, billets, team staff and officials will take place on a daily basis, including regular temperature screenings as well as symptom monitoring through the WHL Athlete RMS Mobile Application.

When participating in games and practices, WHL players must wear gaiter-style masks while on the bench. WHL Officials will be required to wear gaiter masks when on the ice. WHL coaches and other team personnel will be required to wear masks at all times, including while conducting practice and while behind the bench during games.

As the WHL returns to play in Washington state, due to local health circumstances caused the coronavirus pandemic, no spectators will be permitted to enter WHL facilities until further notice.

The Silvertips will open the 2020-21 regular season on Saturday, Mar. 20 against the Spokane Chiefs at 6:05 p.m. Streamed opening night coverage will be offered for free via WHL Live, with full season packages and single-day passes available at https://watch.chl.ca/.

ABOUT THE SILVERTIPS AND THE NHL

A total of 19 players have suited up in an Everett Silvertips jersey and advanced to play in the National Hockey League, since the Silvertips joined the WHL in 2003-04. Entering this season, the Silvertips have elevated 27 players to be selected by teams in the NHL Entry Draft, including eight over the previous three seasons. By the end of the 2019-20 season, all three Silvertips in the 20-year old category earned NHL entry level contracts: Bryce Kindopp (Anaheim), Wyatte Wylie (Philadelphia), and Jake Christiansen (Columbus).

The Seattle Kraken, an expansion franchise scheduled to play 30 miles away from Everett at Climate Pledge Arena, will make their NHL debut in the 2021-22 season.

Follow the Silvertips: Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |   Snapchat (evt_silvertips)

ABOUT EVERETT COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND STUDENT HOUSING
Everett Community College educates more than 18,000 students every year, with most students at the main campus in north Everett. Students come to EvCC to affordably start their four-year degrees, earn certificates, train for a new job, experience hands-on training in professional and technical programs, learn English, develop basic skills, finish high school, train for a promotion, or to learn just for fun. For more information, visit EverettCC.edu.

Student housing is available for local college students. For more information, visit EverettCC.edu/Housing or call 425-259-8945.

Editor’s Update 9:00 PM Wednesday March 3rd: Tonight the Everett City Council got a briefing on the No Sit-No Lie ordinance. Prior to the briefing the Council got an earful of opposition to the idea. First during council comments Liz Vogeli broke away from past protocol and presented a power point presentation outlining why she wanted one other council member to move the amendment off the agenda and do away with the requirement that a the No Sit-No Lie ordinance be tied to the operation of the pilot pallet shelter project Here is her power point.

Strike the pallet Amendment

No council member made a motion but the entire public comment period was comprised of people against the proposed ordinance. At the briefing City Attorney David Hall explained the ordinance saying the intent of the ordinance is not to criminalize homelessness. Hall says this is part of the city’s holistic approach to the homelessness issue. He said the area is a tiny portion of the city. Hall says the ordinance does not prohibit people from providing goods or services, those groups simply need to get a permit from public works.

In Council comments both Vogeli and Roberts expressed opposition to the ordinance with Roberts saying he struggled with the connections with the pallet shelter project and no sit-no lie ordinance. What happens if the no sit-no lie is not adopted or is invalidated? Pallet shelter would have to find new location. Not comfortable with connection.

Other councilmembers agreed with Liz Vogeli’s request for clarification on the connection between the No Sit-No Lie and the Pallet Shelter Pilot Shelter Project. If the ordinance is struck down does that kill the pallet shelter within a week, month or before the planned 13 month period? The City Clerk has been asked to clarify the language used two weeks ago. The issue will come before the council for a vote on March 17th.

The No Sit-No Lie area is split between Council Districts 1 and 2 shown in blue.

The ordinance is a companion to the proposed pallet shelter pilot project behind the area of the Everett Gospel Mission on Smith Street under Interstate-5.

Courts have ruled that police can’t keep people from camping on a sidewalk if they don’t have a place to take those people for shelter. The pilot project hopes to give people who have turned down previous offers of shelter due to having a pet, a partner or concerns for their property an alternative to what has currently been available in Everett while also providing relief to business owners who have been dealing with issues created by people living on the sidewalk in that area of Everett for the past several years.

Tonight is just the briefing and first reading but the council is expected to hold a public hearing and conduct a vote on the No Sit – No Lie Ordinance at their meeting on March 17th. Here is the link to the proposed ordinance.

The City Council meeting is being held online and begins at 6:30 PM. You can view online at the City’s website or on Comcast Channel 21 or Ziply Fiber Channel 29. You can listen by phone at 425-616-3920 ID: 724 887 726#

People are now being allowed back inside both branches of the Everett Public Library

First a message from Library Director Abigail Cooley:

We know the people of Everett depend on the wide variety of services the Everett Public Library provides which is why we are excited to welcome customers back into our buildings, beginning Tuesday, March 2. Both locations will be open at 25% capacity for limited services, including browsing and computer use. We will continue working with the City of Everett, Governor’s Office and Snohomish Health District monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and follow their guidance.

When you visit the library again, you’ll notice that our spaces and services look a bit different. We have made these changes to keep you and our staff safe. While we are looking forward to seeing people in person, we encourage customers to use our curbside pickup  and to keep your visits brief. Read on to see what you can expect when library buildings reopen.

Here is what you need to know to plan your visit:

TO ENTER THE BUILDING, WE ASK THAT YOU:

• Wear a face covering that covers both the nose and mouth for the duration of your visit
• Maintain social distancing
• Maintain occupancy limits
• Keep your visit brief

 
WHILE YOU ARE IN THE BUILDING, YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO:

• Use a water fountain, eat or drink
• Use a meeting or study room
• Attend events
• Buy books from our book sale
• Donate books

Here are some of the safety procedures currently in effect:

The Everett Public Library is working hard to keep you safe. To keep our customers and staff healthy, the following procedures have been put in place.

Please observe the following policies during your visit to the Library:

• Face coverings are required for all staff and customers.
• Social distancing protocols are in place.
• Hand sanitizer stations are available throughout the buildings.
• Customers and staff are asked to stay home if they are feeling ill.
• High touch surfaces are regularly cleaned throughout the day.
• The building is regularly disinfected.
• Returned library materials are quarantined for a minimum of 24 hours.
• Contactless pick-up of materials is available with curbside pickup.

Cleanup for the Boeing Everett Plant site extends to the headwaters of Powder Mill Creek, at lower right. Photo courtesy WA Dept. of Ecology. Click to enlarge.

The Boeing Company will complete soil and groundwater cleanup work at its Everett aircraft plant, under a draft set of studies, plans, orders and other documents available for public comment from the Washington Department of Ecology. The comment period runs through April 19, 2021.

Boeing has conducted nearly two decades of work to study contamination from past operations, evaluate cleanup options and carry out preliminary cleanup work, known as interim actions. The cleanup plans now available for comment build on the earlier efforts.

State and federal laws, first adopted in the 1980s, require practices to prevent releases of dangerous wastes. Past releases to soil, groundwater, surface water and sediments have included solvents, fuels, oils, heavy metals, and polychlorinated biphenyls.

On-site and off-site cleanup areas

The cleanup involves several locations on Boeing property and an area, north of the property, where a plume, or area, of contaminated groundwater affects the upper reaches of Powder Mill Gulch in Everett. Groundwater seeps that form the headwaters of Powder Mill Creek contain solvents at levels above surface water cleanup standards. The creek flows through Mukilteo and into Puget Sound.

Boeing’s interim actions included underground heating of an area on its property that was a source of groundwater contamination affecting the creek. The heat converted liquid solvent into vapors that were captured by a recovery system. Plans for the final cleanup in this area include bioremediation, or injecting nontoxic nutrients that help bacteria in the soil break down the remaining solvent.

In Powder Mill Gulch, Boeing has been pumping out groundwater, treating it and releasing it into the creek. Plans for the final cleanup include a dynamic groundwater recirculation system throughout the plume area. The system will re-inject the treated water back in to the ground to flush more contaminants toward the extraction wells. The company will continue to monitor the groundwater plume that moves from Boeing property toward the gulch.

The groundwater and creek are not sources of drinking water, but signs at public trails in the gulch warn people to avoid contact with the creek water for them or their pets.

Some areas of contamination on Boeing property will be confined in place because they are under buildings that are in use. These sites will be monitored to confirm that pollutants remain isolated from the environment until the cleanup can occur.

Work on accessible sites, including the Powder Mill Gulch groundwater plume, will continue until pollution levels fall below state cleanup standards.

Boeing conducts the work under a Corrective Action Permit, which has come up for renewal. Ecology proposes to reissue the permit, and the draft renewal also is available for public comment.

Documents available for review and comment:

All documents are available on Ecology’s website as PDF files.

·      Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study/Supplemental Feasibility Study: A two-volume report presenting a comprehensive study to locate, map, and measure the site’s contamination, completed in 2012; a study of cleanup approaches for each contaminated area, completed in 2016; and a study of cleanup options for Powder Mill Gulch, completed in 2019.

·      Enforcement Order: An order drafted by Ecology for the Boeing facility and Powder Mill Gulch groundwater and surface water cleanup.

·      Agreed Order: Submitted by Boeing, with Ecology review and approval, for the cleanup of one contaminated area of the site.

·      Draft Cleanup Action Plan (dCAP): An overall plan for cleanup of the site.

·      Draft Permit: Boeing’s Everett facility operates under a federal permit for long-term storage of hazardous waste. While Boeing no longer stores such waste long term, Federal regulations require that the hazardous waste permit remain in force until all waste-related activities are complete, including cleanup. This permit must be renewed every 10 years.

·      Draft Public Participation Plan: Explains how Ecology will keep the community informed about the cleanup process, and how people can get involved.

·      Draft State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Checklist and Determination of Non-Significance: Ecology’s review of the cleanup plan under SEPA, which determined that the cleanup activities would not be likely to cause harmful environmental impacts.

How to comment:

·      Ecology’s online comment app

·      Email to: paul.bianco@ecy.wa.gov

·      Mail to: Boeing Everett Comments; Paul Bianco, Site Manager; Dept. of Ecology; 3190 160th Ave. SE; Bellevue, WA 98008-5452

For more information:

·      Ecology’s website provides background on the site and includes links to all documents