Latest news with #BillKaczaraba
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Whooping cough cases continue to surge in Seattle, and across Washington
This story was originally published on After a year of more than 2,000 whooping cough cases in Washington, the surge continues, especially in Seattle. As of March 8, Washington had 590 recorded cases of whooping cough this year, a sharp increase from just 80 cases last year. According to public health officials, the metro area has seen 111 cases since the beginning of the year. Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious disease. It starts with cold-like symptoms, including a runny nose, sneezing and mild cough. Within one to two weeks, severe coughing spells begin, often ending with a distinctive 'whoop' as air is inhaled, Dr. Edward Leonard, a board-certified infectious disease specialist at Overlake Clinics Infectious Disease, wrote on the Overlake website. Whooping cough is spread through the air when a person with whooping cough sneezes or coughs and others breathe in that air. People can be contagious for at least two weeks after cough starts. The Washington State Department of Health wrote vaccines are the best way to protect yourself from whooping cough. Here are the vaccines as listed in the Overlake site: For Children: Five doses of the DTaP vaccine are recommended by age six, starting at 2 months old. A Tdap booster is recommended at age 11 or 12. For Adults: Get a Tdap vaccine if you have never received one. Get a booster dose of Td or Tdap every 10 years to maintain protection. During Pregnancy: Pregnant individuals should get a Tdap vaccine between weeks 27 and 36 to pass protective antibodies to their baby. Follow Bill Kaczaraba on X. Send news tips here.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Yahoo
Survey says this Washington city is the perfect place for some good shut eye
As Americans grapple with exhaustion and sleep deprivation, there's one Washington city emerging as the ideal destination for a restful retreat. According to a recent survey by the travel planning website KAYAK, 85% of Americans reported feeling sleep-deprived over the past year, with 55% expressing a desire to book a vacation focused on improving their sleep in 2025. Fortunately for Washingtonians, they don't have to travel far. Leavenworth, a charming Bavarian-style village, has been ranked the top U.S. destination for a 'sleep-cation' — a vacation dedicated to quality sleep and relaxation. The village's limited noise pollution and abundant accommodations with spa facilities make it an ideal spot for catching up on much-needed rest, Kayak said. 'Rest and relaxation are no longer afterthoughts but are becoming the main event,' Dr. Angela Holliday-Bell, Sleep Specialist, Coach and Speaker, wrote on the the KAYAK website. 'We're in a time where burnout is at an all-time high and people are struggling to achieve restorative sleep in their home lives.' People who wanted gold, timber, and furs soon settled in the town, and by 1890, Icicle Flats was born. The area exploded with the arrival of the rail line near the turn of the century. Leavenworth's transformation into a Bavarian-themed village began in the 1960s as a strategic move to boost tourism. The town faced economic decline after the Great Northern Railway re-routed its tracks. To revitalize the area, community leaders decided to remodel the town center to resemble a German Bavarian village, complete with alpine architecture and themed festivals. This initiative proved successful, turning Leavenworth into a popular tourist destination known for its unique charm and scenic beauty. Mammoth Lakes, California and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee were ranked No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, in the U.S. Split, Croatia and Canmore, Canada were the top two cities for 'sleep' in the world. For more information on sleep getaways, visit the KAYAK website. Follow Bill Kaczaraba on X.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Everett park could get hundreds of thousands of dollars in upgrades
This story was originally published on Everett's Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park could receive a $345,000 renovation if the City Council approves the project. According to a council summary reported by The Everett Herald, the park, at Colby Avenue and 13th Street, is due for an upgrade. It was built in 2007. The plans include demolishing the current playground, installing new equipment, and expanding the play area. Options include swings, new turf surfacing, a chain-link fence, and new benches. The arbor and gazebo will remain. Rantz Exclusive: King County Executive proposes defunding over $85 million from public safety Currently, the park is .4 acres and could see an expansion of 500 square feed. The hours are from 6 a.m. to dusk daily. The public has already had a chance to comment on the plans and the city council will vote on Feb. 12. If approved, renovations will begin in the fall. Politics: WA Senate Democrats propose stricter regulations for ballot measure initiatives Everett plans to use capital improvement funds to demolish old equipment and install new material. Bill Kaczaraba is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here. Follow Bill on X, formerly known as Twitter, here and email him here.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Super-class ferry Elwha finds new life in Everett
The Super-class ferry Elwha was born in the bustling waters of Puget Sound. Built in 1967, the Elwha was the last of the four Super-class ferries constructed for the Washington State Ferries (WSF) system. Now, the Elwha will have a more dignified retirement than the original plans of sending it to the trash heap in Ecuador. Her retirement in April 2020 marked the end of an era, but her story was far from over. After a previous sale attempt fell through, Everett Ship Repair, a local shipyard and maintenance partner of WSF, purchased the Elwha for $100,000, according to the WSF website. Washington State Ferries terminates sale of Elwha: Klahowya, gets $200,000 anyway They envisioned a new life for the vessel as a floating office and warehouse space. On a crisp January morning, a tugboat from Western Towboat Co., aptly named Mariner, arrived to tow the Elwha to her new home in Everett. The ferry made her maiden voyage on June 16, 1968, initially serving the Seattle-Bainbridge Island route. For the first four years of her career, the Elwha faithfully transported passengers and 144 vehicles across the waters, becoming a familiar sight to many. In the fall of 1972, she was replaced by the Walla Walla on the Seattle-Bainbridge Island route and began her role as a maintenance relief vessel. Throughout the 1970s, the Elwha filled in for other Super and Jumbo-class ferries during their maintenance cycles, showcasing her versatility and reliability. In the 1980s, the Elwha found a more permanent home on the Anacortes-San Juan Islands-Sidney, British Columbia route. This route became her primary assignment, and she served it with dedication until her retirement in 2020. The Elwha's career was not without its challenges. On October 2, 1983, she ran aground in Grindstone Harbor near Orcas Island, carrying 100 passengers. The incident was initially blamed on a steering component failure, which was later found to be caused by Captain Billy Fittro going off-course to give a visitor a view of her waterfront home. The collision caused $250,000 in damage and forced the ferry out of service for several weeks. The rock she struck was later named 'Elwha Rock' in her honor. Elwha On The Rocks: Washington ferry crash inspired song and drink In December 1990, a winter storm with hurricane-force winds descended on the Puget Sound region while the Elwha was out of service for routine maintenance, according to The storm ripped her mooring lines, repeatedly slamming the partially adrift ferry into the concrete pier, resulting in millions of dollars in damage. And so, the Elwha's story continued, not as a ferry but as a floating office and warehouse, a testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of those who saw potential in her sturdy frame. The Elwha, once a symbol of travel and adventure, now stood as a beacon of transformation and new beginnings, proving that there are always new horizons to explore even in retirement. Bill Kaczaraba is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read his stories here. Follow Bill on X, formerly known as Twitter, here and email him here.
