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This has been a busy and challenging year so far. It’s also been a year for our community to show its resilience, generosity, and compassion.
I am grateful to all who have given their time, talents, funds or supplies to help strengthen our community. To the public employees who have worked tirelessly in the face of uncertainty, thank you for your dedication, skills, and service mindset. To the community organizations who have collaborated to meet urgent needs, thank you for your important work and ongoing partnership. To the many individuals who have volunteered, donated or simply made time to be there for someone who needed a shoulder to lean on, thank you for being part of what makes Snohomish County the best place to be.
The Sheriff and I recently held a food and funding drive to help meet urgent food security needs. Our employees and community brought in more than $4,000 in less than two weeks, along with 244 pounds of nonperishable food items. Our partners at Volunteers of America tell us that equals 1,782 meals for our neighbors in need. For anyone looking for food resources this holiday season, more information is available on our Food Resources website.
As a reminder, County offices will be closed this Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Day. I wish you a happy holiday weekend and I thank those employees who are working over the holiday to serve our community.
A special World AIDS Day event is planned for Monday, Dec. 1, to raise awareness, honor those lost to AIDS-related illnesses, and show solidarity with people living with HIV.
The event begins at 4:30 p.m. at the Snohomish County Health Department, 3020 Rucker Ave. in Everett, with refreshments, displays and activities. At 5:30 p.m., participants will depart from the Health Department toward the AIDS Memorial. The walk is uphill and takes about 10 minutes. The memorial is just behind the Snohomish County Courthouse in the plaza west of the Mission Building at Pacific and Wetmore avenues.
I invite you to join us in remembering the many loved ones whose lives have been touched by HIV and AIDS. December 1 marks 20 years since the Snohomish County AIDS Memorial was first dedicated, and the beautiful artwork on the memorial was recently restored. Two decades after it was unveiled, this shared space is as important as ever, and the work being done on education, prevention and treatment for HIV and AIDS remains vital.
Since Nov. 12, Snohomish County has been monitoring updates and working with state and federal partners addressing a leak reported on the Olympic Pipeline near Snohomish. It’s a reminder that emergencies can occur at any time, and responding to them requires involvement from a variety of partners. Some emergencies are seasonal like flooding, others are unexpected like a leak, and still others could be abruptly devastating like a major earthquake.
I appreciate the interest of state and local leaders in learning more about how Snohomish County approaches emergency management. I was pleased to join Congressman Larsen at DEM to meet with the team there in October, along with experts from Public Works and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources who talked about funding, flooding, snowstorms, and more. Then in early November, a plan for an entirely different seasonal hazard – our first Community Wildfire Protection Plan – was formally adopted.
Sometimes, emergency management means responding to one emergency while simultaneously planning for the next one and the one after that. It takes a dedicated team to lead those response and planning efforts, and it takes all of us to help keep our community safe. I encourage residents to take some time to learn about the hazards in their part of the county and how they can be prepared.
 The DEM team smiles for a photo during a recent visit by Congressman Larsen.
Mobility is extremely important to safety and quality of life, and all residents should have pedestrian access. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Public Right-of-Way Advisory Committee for Snohomish County Public Works is seeking members. The committee provides feedback and recommendations to the county about ADA compliance in the public right-of-way. Candidates can submit letters of interest for any of five open positions by Dec. 31.
The committee is comprised of 10 positions that are non-paid, with a two-year term. The group meets with Public Works staff for up to two hours, at least twice a year. The spring meeting is planned to be in-person and the fall meeting online.
Prospective volunteers should submit a letter of interest that includes their name, address, and contact information along with the preferred method of contact or communication. The letter should also include a brief summary of their qualifications or an explanation of how they would bring value to the committee. Please send letters to SPW-TESSupport@snoco.org, or contact Chellcie Wilson by phone at 425-388-3610 (for TTY dial 711 first) if an different format is needed.
Volunteers appointed to the committee will be notified by the end of February 2026, with their first meeting expected in March. More information: www.snohomishcountywa.gov/ADAPROW
 A paved stretch of the interurban trail.
I hope you’ll join us in Monroe for the Holiday Spark at the Evergreen State Fair Park. From December 4 to December 7, this free holiday event at the Fairgrounds will feature a holiday bazaar, carolers, inflatable decorations and costumed characters, pony rides, rentable igloos, bingo, Mr. and Mrs. Claus, fire pits, and much more.
There is no cost for admission. Food will be available for purchase, including Fair classics like scones, burgers, chicken fingers, and fries, and tasty hot drinks like coffee and cocoa. You can look forward to a holiday craft in the Longhouse, activities and story time at the Western Heritage museum, a winter walk and “snow” on the hour, and outdoor firepits for s’more roasting.
Cold weather clothing and nonperishable food items can be donated at the event to benefit the Snohomish County Food Bank Coalition.
More Information
When: 5-8 p.m. on Dec. 4-5 (Thursday-Friday), 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 6 (Saturday), and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 7 (Sunday).
Location: Evergreen State Fair Park, 14405 179th Ave SE, Monroe
Cost: No cost for admission and most activities are free. $5 parking available on the grounds, or park elsewhere or use transit. Food for sale. Some activities have a cost.
Learn more: www.evergreenfair.org/298/Holiday-Spark-at-the-Evergreen-Fair-Park
 Lights on at last year’s Holiday Spark
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