Snohomish Tribune
Dairy farming is in transition in Snohomish County
SNOHOMISH — Sam and Tara Demulling have a small enough dairy herd that they named their cows Holly, Blossom and Kim Cowdashian.
On 12 acres of land, the Demullings in 2019 founded House on the Hill Farm off of Machias Road. They have three Jersey cows and around 20 goats, and offer raw milk from their farm stand.
“We want to keep it to a manageable size,” Tara Demulling said. “When you’re on a small acreage, you have to keep your facility small.”
She said the family farm sort of evolved into a dairy farm. Acquiring their first cow in 2019, and their first calf in 2020, they realized an issue. “At three gallons a day, we had more milk than what we knew to do with,” Demulling said. They got a license to sell their milk, following the same licensing requirements as all other dairies.
They own and operate a dairy farm in an area that has seen a reduction in dairy farms in recent decades. (Continue reading)
Bob’s Corn’s future as a farm assured permanently
SNOHOMISH — As the Ricci family prepares for the harvest and designing their popular corn maze at Bob’s Corn and Pumpkin Farm, they have the comfort of knowing their farm will remain in agriculture.
Bob and Sarah Ricci worked with the Washington Farmland Trust to place a conservation easement on their more than 200-acre farm nestled near the Snohomish River off Highway 9. (Continue reading)
Mark Perry, Athletic Director, wraps up career at Snohomish High School
SNOHOMISH — Snohomish High School Athletic Director Mark Perry is retiring after spending 40 years shaping the lives of students and athletes. With a tenure that included stints coaching the varsity football and wrestling teams, Perry will finish his career at the end of the school year.
“I’ll miss being with the players and students. I’ll miss the camaraderie with the students,” Perry said adding it’s time to retire and he is looking forward to spending time with his four grandchildren as well as hunting and fishing. (Continue reading)
Northwest Catholic
Students ‘Ignite’ their passion for service, social justice
BELLINGHAM – After serving migrant farmworkers for six days in July, high school students from five states learned another important lesson by washing each other’s feet.
It was “an act of humility,” Tricia Cavanaugh, a theology teacher and campus minister at Holy Names Academy in Seattle, said a few days after the ceremony. “We’re lowering ourselves to serve one another,” she added, referring to the tradition from Holy Thursday Mass.
The group of 29 students traveled to Whatcom County to participate in Ignite, a leadership, spirituality and social justice project organized by the Seattle-based Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center and the Archdiocese of Seattle’s Agape Service Project. (Continue reading)
‘Healing pole’ that Archbishop Murphy students, staff helped carve is dedicated
EVERETT – A carved pole bearing a wildcat, the mascot of Archbishop Murphy High School, and the signatures of students and teachers was dedicated May 15.
“I just wanted to create something that is positive,” said James Madison, a member of the Tulalip Tribes who led the effort to create the healing pole as the inaugural “artist in residence” at Archbishop Murphy in Everett.
“The vision,” said principal Alicia Mitchell, “was building community as we came out of the pandemic.” (Continue Reading)
Ukrainian refugees find new home with support from Kirkland parish
KIRKLAND — After warfare destroyed their home in Mariupol, Ukraine, a family of four is settling into their new home in the U.S. through the efforts of parishioners at Holy Family Parish in Kirkland.
“They are very proud people. We’re not adopting them. We’re guiding them to get on their feet on their own and be independent,” said Carmen Zullo, one of the Holy Family parishioners participating in the Ukrainian “Welcome Circle” program of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services.
When the family — father, mother, 9-year-old daughter and grandmother — arrived Sept. 8 at the condo that had been secured for them, they thought they would be sharing the space with others, Zullo said. (Continue reading)
St. Louise students live corporal works of mercy through funeral honor guard
BELLEVUE – At the conclusion of Sharon Haggerty Anderson’s funeral in 2020, students from the parish school lined the sidewalk outside St. Louise Church, remaining at attention as the family, carrying her urn, and some 400 mourners walked by.
“It’s such a warm send-off when you’re leaving the church after the memorial,” said Haggerty Anderson’s daughter, Maureen Haggerty Blum.
The students are participants in St. Louise School’s honor guard, a ministry of presence at the funerals of people with a connection to the school.
Being in the honor guard helped eighth-grader Becca Blank realize how tiny things can help.
“You don’t realize it means that much to people,” she said. (Continue Reading)
Holy Week sees priest island-hop through San Juan County to celebrate Masses
SAN JUAN COUNTY – A pair of priests have a unique challenge during Holy Week — bringing the sacred liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter to Catholics on four islands in the Salish Sea.
Based at St. Francis Parish on San Juan Island, Heralds of Good News Fathers Watson Paramasivam and Rajasekar Savarimuthu serve their flocks on Orcas, Lopez and Shaw Islands with the help of the Washington State Ferries system and a charitable seafaring parishioner.
“We both share the ministry. He helps me and I help him,” said Father Paramasivam, priest administrator of St. Francis, which has about 250 households, including a growing Hispanic community.
“On all islands, the population of people attending Mass [has] increased,” Father Paramasivam said. (Continue Reading)
Camp Casey Conference Center
Outdoor Education for All
Spring is outdoor education season at Camp Casey. School districts from all across Washington State bring their fourth, fifth, and sixth graders to Whidbey Island to learn about the outdoors, gain practical life skills, and immerse themselves in the natural beauty at Camp Casey. In 2024 alone, Camp Casey is hosting 10 school districts and over 1,500 students from Seattle to Spokane.
One of those schools is just a 35-minute drive away! Fourth graders from South Whidbey Elementary School trekked to Camp Casey in late April for an overnight adventure.
More than 80 students and three teachers learned about the history of Camp Casey and Fort Casey as well as the unique ecology of central Whidbey Island.
“We hope we bring up another generation who care about conserving and stewarding our natural resources,” said Susie Richards, Principal at South Whidbey Elementary. The visit to Camp Casey is consistent with the school’s theme for the year of farm, forest, and sea. (Continue reading)
Youth Groups Enjoy Winter Weekend at Casey
Two youth groups travelled to Whidbey Island in order to spend a January weekend at Camp Casey exploring their faith and strengthening their relationships.
The groups, Northwest Baptist Church from Bellingham and Trinity Lutheran Church and Schools from Lynnwood spent the weekend holding their respective winter retreats at Camp Casey.
Northwest Baptist Church brought more than 20 youth and five adults for a weekend retreat where they stayed in Company Quarters G and utilized Classroom B for their meetings. Steve Wilson, youth director at Northwest Baptist, said the Company Quarters provides a great option for their teens, with girls sleeping upstairs and the boys downstairs. (Continue reading)
North County Outlook
Local teams excel in softball tourney
Arlington, Marysville Getchell and Marysville Pilchuck softball teams kicked off the District 1, 3A tournament with first round victories on May 13.
Marysville Pilchuck topped Mount Vernon 7-6 in eight innings, Marysville Getchell topped Meadowdale 11-4 and Arlington topped Mountlake Terrace 13-3 in five innings. The three schools played at Phil Johnson fields in Everett.
“It’s special to know there’s so much talent,” Arlington head coach Hayden Fields-Raught said of the success the Arlington and Marysville schools in the first round. (Continue reading)
Getchell takes inaugural Berry Bash 6-1
Softball players from both Marysville high schools played a game on the city’s Little League field.
The inaugural Berry Bash, which took place at Cedar Field near downtown, saw Marysville Getchell top Marysville Pilchuck 6-1 during a well-attended, brisk evening under the lights April 3.
“Both teams played hard,” Marysville Getchell coach Mike Moran said. “We had hits early when we needed them.” (Continue Reading)