Mayor's corner

Summer flew by this year with all the activities and growth happening throughout the city! Last month we welcomed the Everett Farmers Market to their new home in downtown Everett, and it has been exciting to see so many more people enjoying our wonderful, walkable downtown on the weekends.

There is still so much to look forward to this year and beyond. Progress at the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place continues: Hotel Indigo opened this month along with the Jetty Bar & Grille, with housing and other amenities coming in the next four years. With the Grand Avenue Park Bridge going into place this month, easy pedestrian access to our beautiful waterfront is just around the corner. Construction also began on Riverfront Development this month, with lots of exciting amenities and housing in the works.

I hope to see many of you out and about enjoying the fall scenery and all of the fun upcoming events that this time of year brings.

Grand Avenue Park Bridge is movin' on up

The time has come to MOVE! THAT! BRIDGE! The City of Everett’s contractor, Interwest Construction Inc., will close West Marine View Drive for 10 days for the preparation and placement of the Grand Avenue Park Bridge: Tuesday, Sept. 17 through Thursday, Sept. 26. The closure will occur between 13th and 18th streets, the area where the bridge span was constructed and is now staged. The City’s traffic engineering staff is working to ensure there will be continuous access to all parts of the waterfront. Learn more and get project updates at everettwa.gov/GAPB.

Get your garden ready for rainy weather

Join Everett Public Works’ fall gardening series to ready your lawn and garden for the rainy season! Learn about lawn alternatives to combat moss and manage stormwater runoff on Oct. 3, and get all your gardening questions answered by experts on Oct. 10. Once filled with knowledge, get inspired by touring some of Everett’s beautiful rain gardens on Oct. 12 and learn about the rebate program to build a rain garden of your own.

The City’s rain barrel program also returns this fall to help residents catch rain and water gardens the natural yard care way. Build your own rain barrel at the "Make it, Take it" workshops on Sept. 19 and Oct. 8, or purchase a pre-made barrel at a rain barrel sale on Sept. 28 and Oct. 19.

Bring your bag to reduce plastic use

Everett’s reusable bag ordinance goes into effect on Sept. 30 and Everett Public Works wants to help you prepare. Visit the Public Works utility billing counter at 3101 Cedar St. to sign a pledge to use less plastics and get a free reusable bag while supplies last! Visit everettwa.gov/BringYourBag to learn more about the ordinance.

Feast and dance with the senior center

Save the dates and join the Carl Gipson Senior Center for their fall event season. First, stop by the senior center on Oct. 5 for OktoberFEAST to learn about local senior-oriented resources and business while you feast on goodies and prizes. Then, grab your favorite blue jeans and dance the night away with Neil Diamond tribute band, Cherry Cherry on Oct. 11! Enjoy dinner or just the show while you sing and dance along to your favorite Diamond hits. All proceeds benefit the annual USO Veterans Day Dance.

Community events

Everett Beer Week is Sept. 6-14, celebrating Everett’s own craft breweries and other establishments all around the city. Visit everettbeerweek.com for the full event lineup.
Businesses and residents rethink the use of public space on International PARK(ing) Day on Sept. 19, turning parking spots into people spots for a day! Join the fun and enjoy creative uses of space downtown.
September is National Preparedness Month – are you and your loved ones two-weeks Everett-ready? Everett Emergency Management encourages residents to be ready with two weeks of food, water, and emergency supplies that will help them through an emergency or disaster. Learn more and get prepared.
Schack-toberfest, the Schack Art Center’s glass pumpkin festival, returns Sept. 12 through Sept. 22. Enjoy this urban patch filled with more than 1,000 colorful glass pumpkins handcrafted in the Schack’s own glassblowing studio, learn how to make your own and enjoy free activities for kids on Sundays.