This time of year has also been difficult for many people as we recognize the 10-year anniversary of the Oso Landslide. The landslide happened on March 22, 2014 at 10:37am and was the deadliest landslide in United States history which tragically ended the lives of 43 people. Many in Snohomish County were at the forefront of the emergency response efforts in coordination with other local, state, tribal and federal agencies. I know that the day and following weeks and months were a tremendous amount of physical and emotional labor as the response efforts turned to recovery efforts.
On the 10-year anniversary, the county held a Remembrance and Site Dedication event at the site near Steelhead Haven community in Oso. I attended to show my respect for those who have passed, their loved ones, emergency responders, and all who have suffered from this event. It was a somber event as survivors shared their stories and family members shared tributes to their loved ones. The memorial art was beautiful and I hope that the site brings healing to all who are able to visit.
For more information about the event, the Slide Memorial, the event itself, or how to support these efforts, please visit www.slidememorial.com.
L-R: Senator Wagoner, Representative Eslick, Councilmembers Nehring, Dunn, Peterson, and Low, County Executive Somers, and Dayn Brunner the MC for the Event
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A photo of the Oso Slide Memorial. Photo Credit and Copyright to Snohomish County Parks
As we come up on tax day (April 15) many families are eligible for a tax credit through the Working Families Tax Credit program. This program provides payments of up to $1,255 to individuals and families who meet certain eligibility requirements. For more information on this program or to see if you qualify, please visit https://workingfamiliescredit.wa.gov/.
Washington residents can file free tax returns online directly with the IRS without going through a third party. More than one million Washingtonians are eligible for this new tool called Direct File. You can start your return and complete it any time before the April 15th filing deadline by visiting directfile.irs.gov to determine eligibility. Once your identity is verified, you can sign in securely. Taxpayers who are ineligible will be directed to Free File on IRS.gov.
Filing your taxes can be complicated, especially if you have a change in employment or the makeup of your household in a year. The Sno-Isle Libraries have “Tax Time” help to help you walk through various forms and filing requirements and to answer questions. Appointments are not required but are recommended and will receive preference over walk-ins. Please visit this website to see the dates/times help is available at their various locations, including community locations that are not specifically a Sno-Isle Library. The site also has a list of filing options and additional IRS Resources.
I’ve seen a number of employment opportunities come across my desk recently that I’d like to share with you. Some are for permanent job placement, but as we come up on summer months, there’s quite a few summer internships and seasonal jobs available for young people who are looking for an entry-level job over the summer. See below for an employment round up!
Lynnwood Regional Job Fair
On Wednesday, March 27, WorkSource is hosting the 2024 Lynnwood Regional Job Fair at Edmonds Community College from 4-7p. The event will feature over 30 employers and is free to attend. Attendees are asked to pre-register at this link, but registration is not required. If you have any questions about this event, please email Izzy Sanders at izzy.sanders@edmonds.edu and put "Lynnwood Job Fair" in the subject line.
Construction & Maritime Hiring Event
On Thursday, April 11, WorkSource and Workforce Snohomish is hosting a hiring event specifically for the construction and maritime trades. The event will be hosted at Sno-Isle Tech Skills Center in Everett and is geared towards individuals looking for positions as a laborer, carpenter, plumber, landscapers, ship and boat building, and more. To register to attend, please click this link.
County Parks and Recreation Temporary Employment
The County has a number of positions available for seasonal and temporary work – mostly to help with providing maintenance at our fairgrounds and parks which are especially active in the summer. There’s additional work for legal interns and work with our IT Department. I can attest that the county is a great place to work!
UW-Bothell Digital Summer Internship
My alma Mater, UW-Bothell is seeking partner organizations to host students for a digital internship program. The internships should teach entry-level skills like programming, marketing, data analytics, and graphic design. Students would work about 20 hours per week and receive a $3,000 stipend through the university. If you have opportunities available, please complete the Digital Scholars Project Proposal by April 5.
Jetty Island Days Day Laborer
The City of Everett is now accepting applications for people to spend their summer providing exemplary customer service on Everett’s beloved Jetty Island. The temporary positions include staffing the kiosks to help visitors travel to and from the island, or as an Interpretive Park Ranger who provides specialized or educational programing. Here’s the link to the City of Everett’s job page and you can search for “Jetty Island” or sort by “Day Laborer”. Applicants must be 18 years of age.
Internships with Congressman Rick Larsen’s Office
Congressman Rick Larsen accepts applications for interns to work in both his Everett and Washington DC offices year-round. Applicants must be undergraduate students who have completed at least one term, graduate students, or recent graduates. Internships are paid and full-time. For more information on qualifications and how to apply, please visit: https://larsen.house.gov/helping-you/internships.htm/
PSRC Summer Planning Academy
The Puget Sound Regional Council is accepting applications for their Summer Planning Academy. High school students who are curious about how cities grow, change, or develop can apply to take part in the four-session academy. Students must live in King, Pierce, Kitsap, or Snohomish County and attend a local high school. Sessions will begin and end at the PSRC office located in downtown Seattle and lunch will be provided. If you know of a high schooler who is interested in city or regional planning, please encourage them to apply today. Students who complete the academy will be given a $500 scholarship.
The month of March is celebrated as Women’s History Month (or rather, Women’s HERstory Month!) and March 8 was International Women’s Day. It’s a great time to celebrate all that women have contributed to our society and acknowledge how much of that work has been invisible or under-recognized. The county council recently passed Resolution 24-007 titled “Recognizing March 2024 as Women’s History Month and March 8, 2024, as International Women’s Day in Snohomish County.” I had the honor of presenting the signed Resolution at the 14th Annual International Women's Day and Seattle Entrepreneur’s 1st Expo to Ayesha Khan who organized the event along with a great team of sponsors. It was a fantastic event to uplift all women in our community and it was a pleasure to be able to join.
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Presenting the Council's Resolution Recognizing Women's History Month to Ayesha Khan at the International Women's Day Event |
Veterans living in the 1st Congressional District interested in advising U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene on current issues and policies are encouraged to apply to her Veterans Advisory Board. Chosen applicants will act as liaisons for the veterans’ community. The board concentrates on local and statewide issues impacting veterans that can be addressed at the federal level. The board also makes recommendations on bills to cosponsor and introduce. Applications will be accepted until April 8, 2024. For more information, click here. You can contact Ben Studley with questions by emailing: benjamin.studley@mail.house.gov or call 425-485-0085.
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This month I attended the State of City addresses in both Everett and Mukilteo. I appreciated hearing from both Mayor Marine in Mukilteo and Mayor Franklin in Everett about the great work that their cities are doing to provide a better quality of life for the residents. I was personally touched to be recognized for the financial support that I’ve been able to give to several city projects in both cities. The county receives funding from a number of sources outside of sales taxes and property taxes. One of these sources is through a real estate excise tax (REET) and comes to the county for use on special capital improvement projects through public partnerships. Councilmembers generally have about $150,000 per year that we can allocate for projects in our districts and I’ve been honored to help fund projects like improvements to the parking lot at the upper Japanese Gulch near the Mukilteo Community Garden, or the Hannabrook Trail Improvements in Everett.
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With April Provost, Cynthia Andrews, and Demi Chatters at the Everett State of the City Address |
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With Mayor Joe Marine and Mukilteo City Council President Louis Harris after the Mukilteo State of The City Address |
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Community Transit is launching the much-anticipated opening of the Swift Orange Line on March 30th, with a fun-filled community celebration. A ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. kicks off the festivities at the Lynnwood Transit Center. Commuters can then take the Swift Orange Line to Edmonds College for a block party to enjoy food, fun, and music from 12-3 p.m.
The new 11-mile bus rapid transit (BRT) line provide fast, frequent service between Mill Creek and Lynnwood. Key destinations along the way include the Mill Creek Town Center, the Alderwood Mall, the Lynnwood City Center and Edmonds College. The BRT line will also easily connect commuters to the Swift Blue and Green Lines and Sound Transit’s Link 1 and 2 Lines. Community Transit plans to renovate McCollum Park Park & Ride in Everett and Edmonds College Transit Center in Lynnwood as part of this project. For more information on the upcoming celebration, visit this link.
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The 2023 Auditor’s Office at a Glance report is now available. It features accomplishments from 2023 as well as plans for this year and beyond. Through direct services and partnerships with other agencies and organizations, the Auditor’s Office provides key services to Snohomish County residents and customers, such as voter registration, conducting elections, providing animal services, and issuing marriage licenses. The Auditor’s Office recently earned a national award for its efforts in distributing information to voters about the county’s secure, accessible, and accurate elections. For more information, visit this link.
The last admission to the Northwest Stream Center's elevated boardwalk normally occurs at 3pm, but on Sunday, April 14 from 6-8p, the boardwalk will be open to the public as dusk descends and spring unfolds, for A Luminous Spring! Come explore the interpretive trail after the sun sets, and take an enchanted, tea-candle-lit stroll through the forest and wetlands. Complimentary tea and apple cider will be available at the Visitors Building. Tickets are available on the website.
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