Snohomish County announces appointment of new Health Department Director

EVERETT—Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers has appointed Kim VanPelt as the new Health Department Director. VanPelt comes to Snohomish County from Tucson, Arizona, where she served as Deputy Director for Programming and Development at the Pima County Health Department since 2022. Her work there included oversight of community engagement, health prevention and promotion, public policy, […]
CA, OR, and WA form new West Coast Health Alliance to counter Trump’s CDC overhaul

OLYMPIA — In a move to counter the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines coming from the Trump administration, the governors of Washington, California, and Oregon will be launching a new upcoming West Coast Health Alliance. Joint statement from Governors Gavin Newsom, Tina Kotek, and Bob Ferguson: “President Trump’s mass firing of CDC […]
Snohomish County Starts Search for New Health Department Director

SNOHOMISH COUNTY—The search for a new Health Department Director begins today, June 27. Dennis Worsham, the current director, is departing to take up the role of Washington State Secretary of Health, as announced by Governor Bob Ferguson earlier this month. Worsham will assume his new position on July 7. In a message to Health Department […]
New mass vaccination site to open Tuesday as Omicron surge continues

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash., January 17, 2022 – New site to expand testing and vaccination availability is set to open in partnership with the Snohomish Health District, Washington State Department of Health (DOH), Washington State Emergency Management Division (EMD), and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “It is our commitment as a State to work together across […]
Verdant awards over $1 million to local nonprofits

LYNNWOOD, Wash., December 22, 2021 – Verdant Health Commission recently approved more than $1 million in grants to local nonprofit organizations in support of community health through its recent competitive application process. The requests granted by the Verdant Board of Commissioners will support 10 different programs run by various local nonprofits, totaling in $1.27 million. […]
5th wave hits county… Delta strain!

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash., August 17, 2021 — A county-wide increase of 1,168 new COVID cases since August 9th for a cumulative total of 42,580 since January 2020. A total of 642 people have died, an increase of 3 deaths within the same period. ICU capacity is at 90% with 75 people currently in county hospitals […]
Mass COVID vaccination sites closing in County

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. – Mass COVID vaccination sites are closing after six months and more than 318,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines are being administered. Vaccination against COVID-19 remains vital. Vaccine supply has stabilized, demand is down, and other providers such as clinics or pharmacies are in a position to keep up with the need for […]
Verdant approves $2.5M in community health grants

LYNNWOOD, Wash. – June 28, 2021 – During the Verdant Health Commission’s recent funding cycle, the Board of Commissioners approved more than $2.5 million in health grants. These funds will be put directly into South Snohomish County to address community health and well-being needs. The grants listed below will support 14 different multi-year projects or […]
Snohomish likely to revert to Phase 2 next week

UPDATES 1:56 p.m. May 1, 2021: Mukilteo School District has confirmed that in-person instruction will still continue unless directed otherwise. However, Athletics may be impacted. 9:15 p.m. April 28, 2021: Washington Education Association President, Larry Delaney, has confirmed that he doesn’t see a change to current school operations if the county were to revert to […]
Coronavirus vaccines bring collective sigh of relief and reason to celebrate at leisure care community

By Erin Freeman | Lynnwood Times Staff 2020 proved to be a difficult year for older adult communities in Snohomish County, with loomingisolation, restrictions on visitation and the loss of loved ones in the wake of the coronavirus. But things are beginning to look up for Washington’s 65 and older population, with the state’s recent […]