I will admit that I did not vote for the legalization of marijuana here in the state of Washington. While I have many concerns about this law one of my biggest is giving criminals even more…

Imagine my excitement when I saw a story on MSN.living about hospitals around the country that are now allowing family pets to visit their loved ones in the hospital. At our house, our pets are a…

I will admit that I’ve been glued to the news reports regarding the Oso mudslide that took place on Saturday, March 22, as I am sure many of you have. This devastating tragedy happened at a…

We are fortunate to live in a country where education is considered a top priority. We are even more blessed to live in a community where our children are given the opportunity to go to schools where…

I’m not sure if it’s my age or social networking that has made me aware of the extreme amount of adversities that people seem to be facing lately. It seems I can’t go a day without hearing of…

A 20-year-old boy and his 22-year-old sister were called home to Pocatello, Idaho last month while serving church missions in other states. The two young missionaries were told that their entire…

Dear Editor, Are you looking for ways to keep the kids busy this summer? Need an inexpensive activity that keeps them physically active, where they can learn new skills and build new friendships? Then take a look at the Lake Stevens Soccer Club and o…

I received a press release last week that, if I’m being honest, made my skin crawl a little bit. I opened the email from the Snohomish County Health District and the title read “Big jump in gonorr…

It seems that homelessness has made its way to all sorts of places, even Lake Stevens for that matter. While we don’t have a huge homeless population, and I mean those who are actually sleeping on…

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about perspective and how it can affect our attitude and our appreciation, or lack thereof, for all that we have. Maybe these thoughts have been running through my mi…

It seems that new apps for teens and tweens are showing up almost daily. One of the apps that has been in the news quite recently, and not for good reason, is Ask.fm. The website, which can also be…

Years ago I had a friend who was fighting cancer. At that time she was bitten by a mosquito and contracted malaria. Because of her cancer treatments and their affects on her body’s immune system,…

It’s time to put away those Christmas lights, throw out that Christmas tree and start the New Year with fresh ideas and new goals, right? Well, not so fast! I know that many of us have those extra…

Growing up I always wondered why “These are a Few of My Favorite Things,” from The Sound of Music was considered a Christmas song. I think that maybe I’ve figured it out. Each holiday season, fr…

It is against the law to text while driving in Washington State and despite the overwhelming evidence of the dangers of texting while driving it seems that people are still doing it. The surprising st…

One thing you can say about the people who live in Lake Stevens is that they are always there to give each other a helping hand. In the last couple of months there have been several fundraisers for…

Ballots have all been counted and the results are in, except for the heated Lake Stevens Fire Commissioner race, which will most likely go into a recount soon. And while it wasn’t a year for what…

If you’re trying to get a FHA home loan or want to get your passport for a trip you are planning out of the country, now is not the time to do it. The federal government, as of the time the…

The Snohomish Health District sent me some information last week regarding suicides in Snohomish County. I was surprised to see that approximately 80 people take their own lives in Snohomish County…

I was lying in bed cuddling with my two-year-old little girl when I received a phone call from a friend. She was frantic asking me if I’d seen the television that morning. I said no and flipped…

Does being put on Medicaid, the government’s entitlement program for the poor, actually save lives or improve people’s health? This is a question that has not been answered until very recently. In 2008, Oregon lawmakers decided they had e…

At a time when too many politicians are obsessed with their poll numbers and their legacy, Pew Research says Gerald Ford will go down in history as just an “average” president. An “average” rating would devastate most elected…

Each year after IRONMAN has left the majestic beauty of Lake Stevens and the Pacific Northwest it seems there are those who are a bit unhappy with the bike course – I mean drivers, not…

What’s up these days with people just throwing out their old “stuff” and hoping that someone will come by and pick it up off the street? In the last few months I have seen multiple…

I love living and working here in Lake Stevens and I feel blessed to be a part of a community that comes together for the good of others. Over the last few weeks I have been honored to witness the…