Self.com has released it's 2006 survey ranking the nation's 100 healthiest metro areas for women. This year the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA metropolitan area has ranked 18 out of the top 100.Our local area scored high points for healthy eating habits, the amount of park space available and is among the five best states for access to birth control and abortion.We didn't fare so well for weather with 78 fewer days of sunshine than the average. Seattle-Belluevue-Everett has the fewest hospital beds per capita of anywhere on SELF's list and is among the 10 highest for drinking rates. 01/14/2007

Things are happening in Everett WA and the momentum is picking up...First, everyone needs to know there are two very major events taking place between now and 2012.Downtown Everett WA is being revitalized --- real estate is changing ownership as well as changing its character. What once was, a busling bayside center of retail activity, promises again to attract residents and visitors to our city like never before.  Beginning with the Everett Events Center (http://www.everetteventscenter.com/) a couple years back, which many originally opposed, now it ranks in its class, as the #2 event center in the country!  It all started with The Everett Silvertips (http://www.everettsilverstips.com/)  making the everett center its headquarters and home.  It didn't hurt that this rookie team became d... 01/04/2007

Everett Washington is changing and if you haven't heard the Port of Everett is going through a major development project that will change the landscape of the current port forever, Port Gardner Wharf. Once only a marina the port now is going to include residential condos, retail outlets as well as giving the marina a much needed face lift. The whole area is going to feel like a totally new place; especially viewing the site plan, for everyone and it will no longer be recognizable from its current look. 01/03/2007

The city of Everett plans to invest $250,000 on the city's image according to an article in the Everett Herald today. The council is looking to further improve the city's image through a series of campaigns that include a new logo amongst other items to demonstrate their vision to being a leader in the global environment. Some highlights the article mentioned are: Everett is Washington's second fastest growing city with a population of 101,100 and Everett hosts companies like Boeing, Sony and Yahoo.The desire to improve Everett's image is not with out due cause; the city has been plagued by and far from lack luster appeal since its early days and nicknames like the "City of Smokestacks". That image has stuck with Everett for quite sometime but there are more problems facing the council ... 12/21/2006

Last night was the Everett Yacht Club's Lighted Boat Parade and there was such spectacular display of boats that numbered into the twenties. The evening started with the Yacht Club judging all the entrants for their respective categories and for the overall award. Just after dark boats started to gather in the channel out in front of the Yacht Club and form a large train for the judging process. From the water we could see all the entrants and the secret weapons they were using to gain the attention of the judges. It was wonderful display of lights and lights there were and some boats had more lights than you could count. We were one of those people and with over 6,000 lights on board we literally glowed on the water.After each boat was judged they made their way into the East part of t... 12/10/2006

I have been blogging about our Lighted Boat Parade in Everett, WA for the past week and in one the posts Sharon commented about trying to get a parade and/or round up all the people who either have, will attend or participate in their local parade. Sharon's (St. Pete Real Estate) parade is on Friday December 8th and mine is on Saturday December 9th and Charles of Las Vegas Real Estate is going to try and attend his as well. If you have a parade and would like share pictures please leave a comment in this blog and at the end of the month I will combine all the events into one big post featuring all the people who took pictures.If the Rain Gods could give this an feature to get the word out that would be sweetness :)United States Parade Schedules - Sharon's Saint Petersburg, FL December 8... 12/07/2006

Tonight dad and I put more lights on the boat and the total is over 6K. It looks awesome and from the picture you can kind of get the jist of our work...a tad over board but goingbigger is something that runs in the family. Tomorrow we are getting fuel, hooking up his new GPS PC I built, double check the batteries (the Northern Lights generator powers the lights not the batteries) and make sure it is clean and tidy for all the guest on the trial run Friday night. I am too excited for Saturday. Some of my buddies that live by me in Kirkland are coming up to join in the festivities :) I am making a webpage for the images and videos that will be taken of the Everett Yacht Club 2006 Lighted Boat Parade. I think it will turn out pretty well and will have to remember to bring the battery char... 12/06/2006

Tonight I met up with my dad to help put up more lights and can we say "Christmas Vacation"? There are about 5000 thousand lights on the boat with a 10 foot Christmas tree on the bow. We were testing everything out so we don't blow any breakers and the generator can keep up with all the power draws.Last year, minutes before the parade and competition, the boat was blowing breakers and we couldn't figure out why. Dad went into the engine room to locate the problem. While down there though he noticed the bildge was filling up with water and the pumps where working way to hard. After pulling off the generator cover the water problem was discovered. A hose had coroaded and came off. That was an eays fix but the problem of blowing breakers was still giving us problems and people were already... 12/05/2006

This Saturday night the Everett Yacht Club is hosting their annual Lighted Boat Parade at Dusk. This year the contest is going to be quite impressive the word on the water is that Kelly Barnett, current champion, is going down. But information from the Barnett camp is that 5K lights are going to be hard to beat.After last years contest was one of the big light displays for the Everett Yacht Club. I contribute it too dad going over the top and blowing away the competition. It seems to have given new life to the event and inspired other to "get crazy" with their lights.Last night, I went to visit my dad on his boat to check out the current status and it is looking great! There is a big tree made of lights on the bow and more lights will be added tomorrow and Wednesday when I show up to co... 12/04/2006

Every year the Everett Yacht Club hosts a lighted boat parade where entrants decorate their powerboats and sailboats with all sorts of holiday decorations. Everett Washington is home to the second largest marina on the West Coast makes for a pretty extensive lighted boat parade. Washington has a extensive marine tradition that is still as vibrant today as it was in yesteryears. The Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands offer many opportunities for boaters and people that want to get out an enjoy a gem of the Northwest. Last year I helped my dad decorate his 48' Egg Harbor for the parade and cruise. It took us a better part of a weekend and a lot of trial and error. On the night of the parade we were adding lights like crazy, picture Christmas Vacation on a boat, and overloaded the on-boa... 11/09/2006

Everett, WA, 25 miles North of Seattle, originally an old mill town, is now an "All American City" with over 97,500 residents. Everett has sister city relationships with Sovetskaya Gavan, Russia; Iwakumi, Japan; and Kligo, Ireland.Everett is the sixth largest city in the State of Washington and is home to the County Seat Government, Snohomish County.Everett is surrounded to the West by the saltwater shoreline of Port Gardner Bay and Possession Sound with the Olympic Mountains crowning the picture. To the Northeast and East are the shores of the Snohomish River, the majestic Cascade mountain Range, Mt. Baker to the North and a peek of Mt. Rainier to the South.     Everett has a growing economy with government, business and community partnerships in the arts and education. Our labor force... 10/24/2006

I just attended a breakfast meeting this morning held by The Housing Consortium of Everett and Snohomish County. Here are some scary statistics:  "It would take close to four waiters, each with a median annual income of $18K, pooling their resources, to afford a single-family home in Snohomish County.""It would take at least 3.5 house cleaners, each making nearly $20K a year, pooling their resources, to afford a single-family home in Snohomish County.""It would take at least 2 teachers, each making $34K a year, pooling their resources, to afford a single-family home in Snohomish County.""It would take at least 1.65 roofers, each making $42K a year, pooling their resources, to afford a single-family home in Snohomish County.""A police officer making $63,000 a year cannot afford a house i... 10/19/2006

Many Seller's have asked me how to get the highest price for their home. Here are a few hints.Getting the Highest Price in the Shortest Time In order to get the highest price in the shortest time, you need to know how to market your home. The better you market your home, the more offers you will get. And the more offers you get, the more choices you have to get the price and terms you want. The most important factor of marketing your home is pricing it right. Your price should be adjusted to reflect the market, and the property's worth. The key is to get many people checking out your property at a fair price instead of having no buyers because your price is set to high. Another important factor is the condition of your home. Make sure that your home looks ready to be sold. Fix any defec... 10/08/2006

Buying or selling real estate is one of the most significant investments an individual will make. Homeownership is not only a matter of pride, but it's an essential factor in planning for financial security in the retirement years. The real estate market is ever changing. Staying informed about local issues and their impact on buyers and sellers is critical. Communicating this in a fast, clear and accurate way is a part of my service as your Realtor. Snohomish County is my specialty, from the Historical District to Down Town Condos and all the fabulous homes in between. This fast growing, high demand area is the new "Central Park" of the West Coast. Whether you are buying or selling, I am the skilled negotiator you will need to close the transaction. So call me today! 10/05/2006

I thank AR for giving us an opportunity to take ownership of how we conduct our business. There are reasons we all market differently, and sometimes things work differently for different people. When my coworker ask me a question I am usually busy (like all people are) so I try to answer them to the point so they can use this info right now. Then they scurry away.What they probably don't want is the lengthy explanation of how I derived to that conclution and share that piece of advice. And, because I didn't give all the details I did't get to claim ownership of that opinion, After all you can walk down the hall and get many different opinions and they really don't mean any thing cause no one got to take the time to explain it and own it.One of my difficaulties in finding my internet voi... 09/22/2006

I farm the community I live in. A big part of that is I walk it everyday with my dog, a beautiful big black great dane. We talk to every one, she draws a crowd and she loves the attention. Well, a couple days ago she had a mild stroke during our walk. She became wabbly and wouldn't move. We were only a block away, I couldn't  carry home a 150 lb dog in distress. About 10 minutes went by before a neighbor drove by and seen the dog and I. He stoped and offtered to go to my house and get my spouse and the truck. In minutes we had her loaded and she is reovering well now.Word about this has spread like wild fire. Everyone knows, and people I haven't even talked to have stopped and asked about her. She is the star of Rucker Hill in Everett. Of course it would be in bad tast to hand out my ca... 09/22/2006