About

My Edmonds News publisher Teresa Wippel, center, cuts the ribbon for her business at the Edmonds Yacht Club in February.

Founder and Publisher

Teresa Wippel
With the launch of My Edmonds News, I have come full circle in my career. Three decades ago, I graduated from Seattle University with a journalism degree and a list of aspirations, all guided by an inherent desire to make the world a better place. Like many new journalism grads, I started out working for community newspapers,  then moved to a small-town daily and a big-city wire service before ending up in public information, community relations and assorted other communications jobs. I admit to being one of the few people I know who still subscribes to a daily newspaper, and I have watched with sadness as the newspaper business has faded into the background. It’s clear, however, that journalism is not dead — it has simply reinvented itself to accommodate how people now prefer to receive news and — more importantly — how they want to participate in their community.

I grew up in a small town in Eastern Washington, where neighbors watched over each other and were always there to lend a hand or an ear. It was the earliest form of social networking, before Facebook or Twitter! I have found that same small-town connection with my neighbors in Edmonds, where my husband and I have lived for 27 years. With two children in college, I am grateful that my kids were able to grow up in such a friendly place – and I look forward to spending many more years here.

I have named this site “My Edmonds News” in hopes that Edmonds residents adopt it as their own: to report news their neighbors need to know, to share ideas or even to offer a helping hand.

I look forward to your ideas and your feedback.

Sincerely,

Teresa Wippel, Founder, My Edmonds News

Contributors

Lara Alexander, Edmonds Family and My Edmonds Food columnist

Lara Alexander

Edmonds mom Lara Alexander writes about ideas for low-cost and free family activities around town — from holiday events to arts activities to school happenings. Edmonds Family appears exclusively in My Edmonds News once a month on Fridays, giving Edmonds parents and grandparents a summary of family-friendly events for the coming month.

She also writes a weekly column, My Edmonds Food, focusing on the Edmonds restaurant scene and other local places where great food is available.

A Pacific Northwest native, Lara keeps busy chasing after a toddler, growing and cooking good food, and writing about it all. You can find more of her writing on her blog at www.food-soil-thread.com. If you have Edmonds-specific family activities for possible inclusion in Lara’s column, email them to family@myedmondsnews.com. You can also follow Lara on Twitter @foodandsoil.

Florine Gingerich, Edmonds School Board correspondent

Florine Gingerich

School board correspondent Florine Gingerich has a son who attended the Edmonds public schools, where she volunteered in roles ranging from pouring juice in kindergarten at Madrona K-8 to serving as president of the Edmonds-Woodway Music Boosters. With her husband, Doug Purcell, she practices law at Purcell & Adams, PLLC, a South County firm emphasizing business law, real estate and estate planning. Visit them at purcelladams.com, or contact her at fgingerich@purcelladams.com.

Harry Gatjens, citizen-at-large correspondent

Harry Gatjens

Edmonds resident “Citizen Harry” Gatjens provides regular reports to My Edmonds News on the workings of the Edmonds city government, including the 2010 Citizens Levy Committee and the Citizens Technology Advisory Committee. Gatjens, an accountant, also offers insight into the workings of the city budget. Contact Harry at citizenharry@gatjens.com.

David Kaufer, Edmonds Kind of Dad columnist

David Kaufer

David Kaufer is a fun-loving Super Dad of 5-year-old twin sons, an insane Oregon Ducks fanatic (follow him on Twitter @DavidKaufer), advocate for green/sustainability and autism issues, and connoisseur of Northwest microbrews. He and his wife Renee moved to Edmonds in 2005 to raise their family (and enjoy the gorgeous views).

Karen Rosenzweig, Smart Marketing social media columnist

Karen Rosenzweig

Starting in January, Karen Rosenzweig will write about how companies, entrepreneurs and restaurants can increase their customer base and gain visibility through Twitter, Facebook, blogging and other social media tools. Karen is a social media consultant/trainer and owner of One Smart Cookie Marketing. A resident of downtown Edmonds, she has a particular passion about helping her community and local businesses master the use of social media tools. She has expertise in working with restaurants and food-related businesses, but has also had great success conducting Twitter workshops (follow her tweets @KarenRosenzweig), sharing Facebook business page tips/tricks, creating blogging strategies, and unleashing the power of LinkedIn profiles to solopreneurs and small business owners. Contact Karen at karen@onesmartcookiemarketing.com.

Amber Salinas, photographer

Amber Salinas

Amber Salinas owns Amber Salinas Photography, a studio in downtown Edmonds, and is a part-time photographer for My Edmonds News. An Edmonds native, Amber graduated with a bachelor of arts in professional photography from the Brooks Institute. Amber is passionate about animals and food, and also enjoys time communicating via Facebook and Twitter (follow her tweets @ ASalinasPhoto). You can often spot her running around Edmonds with a camera or at her studio on 516 Main Street.

Michael Schindler, Edmonds Military Wire columnist

Michael Schindler

Michael Schindler, Navy veteran, and president of Edmonds-based Operation Military Family, is a guest writer for several national publications, author of the book “Operation Military Family” and “The Military Wire” blog. He is also a keynote and workshop speaker who reaches thousands of service members and their families every year through workshops and seminars that include  “How to Battle-Ready Your Relationship” or “What Your Mother-in-Law Didn’t Tell You.”

Schindler received the 2010 Outstanding Patriotic Service Award from the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs.

Quint Turner, sports contributor

Quint Turner

Quint Turner grew up listening to Dave Niehaus and is tuned to all things sports. An Edmonds resident, Quint is a freshman at Meadowdale High School, where he plays tennis and pursues soccer, basketball and baseball in his free time. If there’s a competition nearby, Quint will be there.

James Young

James Young, Designing Landscapes columnist

James Young is the owner of Blue Wheelbarrow Landscapes in Edmonds. James believes that his background as a former Boeing engineer gives him a fresh perspective on designing and building landscapes.

Elaine Mattson

Elaine Mattson, Edmonds Booktalk columnist

Edmonds native and book lover Elaine Mattson has worked at The Edmonds Bookshop off and on since she was 12 years old, and has also worked at a book wholesaler, a book publisher, and for the book publishing division of a large local software company. She shares her monthly picks of best books with My Edmonds News readers.

Ellen Chappelle

Ellen Chappelle, Artfully Edmonds columnist

Ellen Chappelle covers the local arts scene for My Edmonds News. She brings a life-long interest in the arts and many years of writing experience to the task, detailing upcoming performances, local art events and stories of Edmonds artists. A theatre and journalism major, she has toured with a professional theatre company and performed on a cruise ship. She has also served as the Pacific Northwest Regional Editor of Dog Magazine and the Seattle Dogs Examiner for Examiner.com. Since then, Ellen has been busy writing and editing for artists and small businesses, publishing an informational site for dog owners and creating handcrafted jewelry. Please keep her posted about all things artistic in Edmonds by emailing her at  arts@myedmondsnews.com.

Laura Spehar

Laura Speehar, Environmental Advocate columnist

Laura Spehar is a Montessori teacher and environmental educator. She is a WSU Master Gardener, Beach Watcher and Carbon Master, and holds certifications in wildlife habitat and native plant stewardships. She received the National Wildlife Federation’s National Conservation Service Award in 2010.

Allison Pascoe

Allison Pascoe, My Edmonds News intern

Allison Pascoe grew up in what once was the small town of Marysville, but has recently grown to a map dot before she moved to Seattle to go to school. She will graduate from the University of Washington this June with a degree in Communication and English. Allison’s free time is often spent with friends, playing tennis, soccer, or waterskiing.

Carl Brecht, Edmonds Real Estate News columnist

Edmonds resident Carl Brecht has been licensed to sell real estate since 1977 and currently works at Coldwell Banker Bain in Edmonds. With a background in both residential and commercial sales, Carl has worked throughout the U.S. and in Germany, has owned his own brokerage and has spent two years in law school, studying property and contract law. He can be reached at carlbrecht@cbbain.com or at 425-368-8246.