rita cipalla

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to decimate businesses, arts and cultural organizations across the state, every once in a while there comes a silver lining. That was the case this fall when a business in Burien, Wash., forced to close …

When Beverly Paladeni Riter retired from a career in public health in 1995, there were no rocking chairs or fuzzy slippers awaiting her. Instead, the mother of three put her nursing talents to use, volunteering with the American Red Cross …

In the early 1990s, a group of residents began lobbying Seattle city government to add another sister city to its roster – this time, one from Italy. It would be a first, since at the time Washington State did not …

For nearly 40 years, he’s been an international cult figure, with his royal blue coveralls, bright red hardhat with a white M emblazoned on the front, bushy mustache and startling blue eyes. In fact, a 1991 poll discovered that more …

When science writer and Puget Sound resident Eric Scigliano was commissioned to write a book about climate change, he was excited to have the opportunity to travel to Alaska. His research would take him to a remote spot on the …

The great wave of Italian immigration, which began in the 1880s and lasted until 1920, brought more than four million Italians to America. About 75 percent of them settled in cities on the East Coast, including lower Manhattan, Boston, Philadelphia …

A year into the pandemic, perhaps no business sector has been more gravely affected than the hospitality industry – from restaurants and bars to hotels and inns. Without commitment, determination and a huge dose of creativity, it’s been nearly impossible …

The Aquilini family knows how to grow a successful business, whether it be a professional ice hockey team or a Washington State wine.  Through its conglomerate Aquilini Investment Group, headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., family members own the National Hockey League’s …

If you’re looking for a family whose roots in the museum and art world run deep, you’d be hard-pressed to find one with more extensive experience than the Bufano family. Some might say a bit of showmanship rubbed off as …

This spring, cities and counties statewide were forced to shut down, or slow down, their economies to control the spread of the virus. Consumer demand fell because of stay-at-home orders, rising unemployment and overall economic uncertainty. A report from Downtown …