Life + Culture

Investing in Home

Expanding your Home with a little Help from a Friend Article by Michelle W. Parnell | Photography by Omega Garage Solutions For many homeowners, the garage serves as extra storage, even an afterthought when, in actuality, it is one of the first spaces of the home that families enter at the beginning and end of each day. The garage entrance also often serves as the main point of entry to a home for visiting family and friends. With that in mind, remodeling a garage is more than just an...

March 2024

Finance + Legal Services

It is Never Too Late

Financial Education, an Investment in your Family's Future Article by Michelle W. Parnell | Photography by Dawning Memories Bengt Johnson’s passion for financial literacy began as a young man growing up in Annapolis, Maryland. The son of a Naval Academy professor, he learned early in life about making and managing money through books. “I remember getting a book called  Good Cents: Every Kid's Guide to Making Money ,” shared Johnson. “It was written for kids and had about 100 different ideas...

March 2024

Arts + Culture

Advice from a Local Expert

Preparing for our Golden Years with a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Article by Rebecca Porter Q: What is a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM)? A: A HECM loan allows homeowners who are 62 years of age or older to borrow money by tapping into the equity that exists in their home. Q: Are there restrictions that dictate how a HECM borrower can use their loan proceeds? A: The proceeds are not only non-taxable but can be used for any purpose, such as supplemental retirement income, funding...

March 2024

Finance + Legal Services

Have a Dream?

4 Reasons to Invest in Small Business Article by Courtney Evans Embarking on a small business can be an exhilarating and potentially rewarding endeavor. Ensuring the stability of your business hinges on making intelligent financial decisions upfront, preventing potential challenges and steering clear of unforeseen debt. When discussing investments and finances, opening a business may not immediately come to mind. However, could it be a smart financial investment? Here are 4 reasons why you...

March 2024

Real Estate

Most Trusted Advisor

Tanya Mock helps make Snohomish your home Article by Michelle W. Parnell | Photography by Life N Light For almost twenty years, Tanya Mock has built a network of trust, respect, loyalty, and longevity in real estate. As the owner and Managing Broker of Compass Snohomish, a boutique brokerage, Tanya leads a group with a diverse wealth of knowledge and expertise in luxury real estate. “I have an exceptional team of brokers, lenders, and marketing coordinator that has developed organically over...

February 2024

Home + Design

VanderBeken Remodel

Turning Houses into Homes Article by Kelly Bone | Photography by Life N Light Humble beginnings. That’s how Ron and Jen VanderBeken describe the commencement of their business, VanderBeken Remodel. After meeting as elementary school teachers, Ron and Jen decided to switch gears in 2006 when Ron took a full-time job with Jen’s father - a local builder. But when the company fell apart in 2007, they weren’t sure where to go next.   “Nobody was hiring in the industry,” said Ron. “We really had...

February 2024

Home + Design

Craft a Piece of Your Home

With Snohomish Board & Brush Article by Courtney Evens | Photography by Board & Brush Discover the hidden gem of Snohomish – Board & Brush, your local studio offering instructor-led DIY home decor workshops. Nestled between Starbucks and Blazing Onion at Snohomish Station, this quaint art studio provides the perfect avenue for residents to embody their inner DIY and refresh their home aesthetics with personalized wood décor. Say farewell to expensive transformations and welcome a reasonably...

February 2024

Home + Design

Master Builders Rampathon

Giving Freedom One Ramp at a Time Article by Teresa Coy | Photography by Master Builders Association, VanderBeken Remodel   Every summer ramps are built for people who need to access their homes by the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. (MBAKS) Q: Who is the Master Builders Association (MBAKS)? A: Founded in 1909 and headquartered in Bellevue, MBAKS is the nation’s oldest and largest local homebuilders' association. Our purpose is to make home happen because we...

February 2024

Food + Beverage

Lovely Innovations

Where the Love of Cultures, Food, and Family meet. Article by Michelle W. Parnell | Photography by Dawning Memories Growing up, Chef Victoria Balas explored ethnic cuisine on many levels with her parents through diverse dining experiences. At nineteen, she married into a family with a strong Hungarian heritage and fell in love with her new family’s traditions and dishes. Then, through her work with a world relief organization, Balas experienced what she calls a culinary revival. “I traveled...

January 2024

Local Services

For the Love of Community

One Couple's Answer to Building Community Article by City Lifestyle | Photography by Dawning Memories When Erin and Bill Webster arrived in Snohomish in 2019, they instantly felt that they had found home. When asked the question, “What brought you to Snohomish?” Bill will tell you, “We were destined to arrive here. We made an offer on a house on a Friday, they accepted on Monday. It was the only house we made an offer on, and we were under contract by Tuesday, it was serendipitous.”   2020...

January 2024