Portrait of a community

State Route 28 will take you to North Creek and, if you’re not careful, right by it. When driving northwest from the Northway, slow down after the Ski Bowl and look for the right onto 28N. At the four corners, turn left onto Main Street.

Slow down even more. In fact, pull over and park. If you go by North Creek’s mosaic at more than a walking pace, you will miss the story of a community.

The mosaic is a work of art in glass, stone, shells and tile. It covers a 220-foot-long retaining wall, 4 feet high at the south end and 11 feet at the north end. The afternoon sun makes it shine, and passing cars