The City Council took a break from the usual ordinance grind this week to honor something more straightforward: a local business that has actually stayed open, kept serving people, and made it to year five.
Councilors recognized Sam Amado, owner of Weigh Better U Fitness Studio at 153B Main St. in Santana Plaza, for the business’s fifth anniversary in Everett.
Ward 2 Councilor Stephanie Martins presented the citation, which she co-sponsored with Councilor Holly Garcia on behalf of the full Council.
“Tonight, Councilor Garcia, myself, and the entire Council are very excited to celebrate the fifth anniversary of an amazing organization and the individual who runs it in the City of Everett,” Martins said at the meeting.
Martins laid out the basics plainly enough. Weigh Better U has “proudly served” Everett for five years, she said, “providing accessible, inclusive fitness and health programs for individuals of all ages and backgrounds.”
She also noted that Amado is not some parachuted-in wellness consultant with a logo package and a speech about “transformational spaces.” He’s from Everett and worked for the city for nine years, including six as recreation director.
That matters. Everett talks plenty about health, youth programs, and quality of life. Here’s a business doing some of that work in real life, on Main Street, with actual classes and actual people showing up.
Martins said the studio was founded in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic with a mission to rebuild health, connection, and confidence through fitness and education. That may sound like ceremonial language, but in this case there is at least something concrete behind it.
Amado said the studio’s work goes beyond workouts. “We teach CPR, we get people living a healthier, more active lifestyle,” he told the Council. “It’s not just about fitness, it’s about building [connection] and feeling like you have the independence to be able to even save someone in the event of an emergency.”
Garcia added her own endorsement and, unlike a lot of public praise at the podium, this one came with a little specificity. “I’ve actually taken some a few of your classes, and he is the guy to see if you’re looking to get in shape,” she said.
Amado accepted the recognition without dragging it into self-promotion. “Thank you so much for the opportunity to be up here and be recognized by my community,” he said. “To be raised in a town where I’m now raising my children and I’m able to give back to my community and collaborate with the city – just to give back is really something special for me.”
Not every council item needs to turn into a culture war or a social media scrum. Sometimes a local business owner sticks around, helps people, teaches useful skills, and earns a public thank-you.
For once, the citation matched something real.