A bounty of crops from Terra Verde Farm featured at the Bellingham Farmers Market. Photo credit: Amy Fontaine.
For Amy and Skuter Fontaine, farming isn’t only a way of life but a way to forge meaningful relationships with those around them in the greater Whatcom County community. The owners and farmers of Terra Verde Farm have been growing organic vegetables for the last eight years on their nine and a half acres out in Everson, WA. This year marks the start of a new adventure for the Fontaines, as they have taken a foray into organic berry growing, even operating an organic U-Pick blueberry farm.
Amy, who has been farming since she was 19 years old, says she couldn’t be happier with how Terra Verde has grown (pun intended) throughout the years. She worked for Cedarville Farm for six years before starting Terra Verde. Terra Verde got its start with just a half-acre on Cedarville Farm’s property.
As time has gone on, Terra Verde is no longer the tiny half-acre plot it once was. Over the last eight years, Terra Verde has leased ground from Dusty Williams of Broadleaf Farm in Everson and bumped up from just a half-acre to nearly 10, which has allowed Amy and Skuter to grow a greater number of delicious organic vegetables.
Blueberries from Terra Verde’s first crop of organic blueberries grown on their new site. Photo credit: Amy Fontaine.
The main wholesale crops at Terra Verde would be the “brassica” type of crops. These crops include cabbages, cauliflower, kale and various types of salad greens. Amy says in addition to brassicas, they have recently been intensively growing a good amount of onions. Terra Verde isn’t afraid to experiment though. They have tried other less popular crops such as turmeric, jicama and ginger.
“We have had trials with many different crops and have grown as many as 50 kinds,” Amy says. “It was interesting trying to grow crops that aren’t really grown in this part of the country. We had the best results with the ginger out of the three crops.”
As of December 2016, the Fontaine’s now grow on two separate sites at their Everson property. Their main vegetable growing site is on one side of the Nooksack river and the site where they live and have their new organic U-pick blueberry farm is on the other.
“It would be great if we could just build a bridge over the river,” Amy laughs. “But, realistically it is only a five-minute drive for us to get between both sites.”
The organic U-pick blueberry farm stand at Terra Verde Farms in Everson. Photo credit: Amy Fontaine.
This is the first year at Terra Verde that they have grown berries. So far, blueberries are the name of the game. The Fontaines use four acres of the seven-acre plot of land they live on to grow them. The organic U-pick berry farm isn’t their only use for the berries though. They also wholesale them just as they would their other crops. Terra Verde’s organic U-pick blueberry farm is open on Wednesdays and weekends.
Amy says she was surprised to find out just how much four acres of blueberries really was. She says they still haven’t even come close to utilizing the whole acreage and will keep the U-pick farm open as long as the season and weather permits. Customers have shown interest in other berries and in the future Terra Verde may grow raspberries at their new site.
“We have a couple plans for the acreage we haven’t used,” Amy says. “We have three acres of pasture left and may start growing asparagus, different types of berries or keep it for perennials and infrastructure.”
A bounty of crops from Terra Verde Farm featured at the Bellingham Farmers Market. Photo credit: Amy Fontaine.
Amy says they are fortunate to be able to grow their crops on such fertile land. One of the main reasons their organic produce tastes so good is because of the land they grow it on. When rotating organic crops frequently, it takes a lot of ground and is not always super convenient, she says. The fact that their land is so fertile expedites this process.
Terra Verde is part of a 50 person CSA program which is broken into distinct “season” sections. These “seasons” are cordoned into three separate six-week long sessions. Each week members receive a box of fresh goodies made up of organic fruits and vegetables at a retail value of $23.00 per week.
Terra Verde regularly attends the Bellingham Farmer’s Market and their produce is proudly carried at Community Food Co-op. You can also find their produce in various restaurants around Whatcom County. So don’t worry, there are many opportunities to get hold of some of their organic produce.
Community & Continuing Education staff get into the fun. Photo credit: James Zyon.
Ulli Schraml is the Associate Director for International Programs (IP) at Whatcom Community College (WCC). Back in 2001, as part of his commitment to expose IP students to American culture, he thought they might enjoy the experience of Trick-or-Treating.
To avoid the logistical nightmare of directing them to go from house to house ringing neighborhood doorbells, not to mention the confusing looks that a college-aged person would surely evoke from the homeowner, he reached out to several administrative and department offices on the WCC campus that were in different buildings. Each office committed to provide candy to the students. (Candy is always appreciated no matter what age you are, right?)
The WCC Business office is bringing their A Game. Photo credit: Marla Bronstein.
That first year, the students went office to office, stopping at each with baskets to collect candy. Some offices stepped it up a bit further, with staff dressing up and decorated workspaces. The early years also included a pumpkin carving contest.
“The event provided a safe alternative to general trick-or-treating for all staff, students, faculty and their families,” said Marisa Ellis, Public Information Officer. “Basically, anyone who was part of the campus community in some way was invited.”
Lucas Nydam, the Office of Student Life Coordinator, spoke of the goals of this year’s event. “For the past few years, The Office of Student Life participated in the event by judging the participants in the decoration competition. This year, Student Life is fully hosting the event. We hope the students and the campus community will feel a sense of belonging and have fun.”
Community & Continuing Education was the 2016 winner with their CarnEvil theme. Photo courtesy: Community & Continuing Education.
Marisa added, “It also provides a unique opportunity for students and staff to engage in a really different way. People get so creative. We find hidden talents and they make all their decorations by hand, typically out of paper. They bring items from home and repurpose materials from previous years. It’s very impressive.”
In the past five years, the decoration competition has reached a whole new level, with the winning decorated office receiving a pizza party for their staff. The pizza party is but a fraction of the value of bragging rights. For some staff members, this competition is serious business.
Every department and administrative office in the college is invited to be a trick-or-treat location and/or be part of the costume and decoration competition. Rumblings of early planning and Halloween strategy can take place well before October. Themes and decoration ideas are held as top secret by competing departments.
Community & Continuing Education staff get into the fun. Photo credit: James Zyon.
Each office decides their own theme, topic and costumes, and the creativity is expressed from Community Ed to the Business office, to Registration and Advising.
Rachel Myer has been Program Coordinator with Community & Continuing Education (ComEd) since February of 2015. “Halloween is my favorite holiday, so I was excited to find that we have a few other Halloween fanatics in the office with a penchant for competition! In 2015 we went for a general ‘spooky’ Halloween theme and received an honorable mention. In 2016 we decided upon a carnival theme and transformed the office into our ComEd CarnEVIL complete with circus tent, ticket booth, ring of fire, house of mirrors and mystic reading room. Last year a lot of planning and effort went into the decorations and we were very proud of how it turned out. We were even more excited to be recognized as the winner!”
The Halloween event promises to be a great time. Photo courtesy: Office of Student Life.
I asked Rachel if she was willing to divulge any plans for this year. “We’ll be defending our title, so the stakes are high. I cannot reveal any secrets about our theme this year.” You’ll have to stop by to find out!
In the past only students, faculty, staff and their families were invited to see the decorating and visit all of the Trick-or-Treat participants. The good news for the public is that this year, the Trick-or-Treating and decoration viewing experiencing is open to the public for the first time. Visit from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 31. A list of the offices and departments will be available online at the Student Life website or on their Facebook page. They will also be available in person at the Office of Student Life and Development, Community & Continuing Education, Laidlaw Information Desk and the WCC Library.
Bring your own bag to collect your Trick-or-Treats. All ages welcome!
You're one of the family at Mount Baker Theatre. Photo credit: Damian Vines Photography.
Bellingham’s historic Mount Baker Theatre (MBT) first opened more than 90 years ago as a luxurious movie palace. It is also the only survivor of five similar movie palaces built in Whatcom County between 1914 and 1930. As the centerpiece of Bellingham’s Downtown Arts District, MBT sustains the regional community through its arts education programs and substantial economic impact.
MBT’s iconic 15-story tower once dwarfed all other buildings in the Bellingham skyline. Photo courtesy: Mount Baker Theatre.
But exactly how has it been able to survive and thrive over these past 90 years? We put together this timeline to give you the inside scoop on it happened. Hint: the city and county as well as hundreds of volunteers, businesses and other donors have contributed materials, labor and dollars to save, restore and renovate MBT along the way. Through tremendous community effort, MBT has evolved into the premiere Pacific Northwest cultural tourism destination that it is today.
The Making of the Historic Movie Palace (1927-1930)
The first elaborately decorated movie palace opened in Harlem in February 1913. Between 1914 and 1922, over 4,000 movie palaces opened. The late 1920s saw the peak of the movie palace, with hundreds opened every year between 1925 and 1930, including MBT in 1927 – built by West Coast Theatres and controlled by William Fox of 20th Century Fox Studios.
Architect R.C. Reamer created MBT’s imaginative Moorish-Spanish motif in the classic style with extravagant ornamentation. This created a feel of eclectic exoticism where visual styles collided willy-nilly with one another. You’ll see a mix of French Baroque, High Gothic, Moroccan, Mediterranean, Spanish Gothic, Hindu, Babylonian, Aztec, Mayan, Orientalist, Italian Renaissance and (after the discovery of King Tut’s tomb in 1922) Egyptian Revival.
The building was completed after only one year, employing several different contractors and over 80 craftsmen experienced in stone masonry, carpentry and plaster casting. In addition to motion pictures, MBT had the latest in projection room equipment and gadgetry, a flying screen and a top-of-the-line Style 215 Wurlitzer theater pipe organ that remains today.
The historic marquee has been restored and continues to announce each of MBT’s performances. Photo courtesy: Mount Baker Theatre.
The Slow Decline of the Movie Palace (About 1930-1984)
MBT was to be one of the last grand vaudeville/silent movie palaces built in the entire Pacific Northwest. Later in its opening year, The Jazz Singer became the first talking motion picture to show widely, which eventually led to the end of the vaudeville era and a shift toward film and television. The Great Depression also began in 1929, instantly ending investment in lavish movie palaces.
Following World War II, television and suburb migration caused quite a decline in movie ticket sales. Most movie palaces owned by Paramount Pictures closed in 1948 as a result of a lawsuit, along with many more independent theaters who found themselves short on customers. The ones that survived, like MBT, were converted to multiple screen venues or performing arts centers that operated as regular theaters, showcasing concerts, plays and operas.
During this period, MBT remained quite unchanged. Long-time MBT Manager (1951-1986) LeRoy Kastner prevented several attempts to redecorate, leaving the original design untouched except for minor changes of carpet and paint.
In 1971, the state legislature attempted but failed to acquire MBT for Western Washington University. By 1978, MBT was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The historic Mount Baker Theatre in 1927. Photo courtesy: Mount Baker Theatre.
The Community Saves MBT (1983)
In the early 1980s Fox sold the theatre to a Canadian firm that planned to divide the theatre into multiple screens. Vigorous public protest squashed that effort but the building was also in need of significant repair and at one point became slated for demolition. Bellingham architect James Zervas was instrumental in rallying the community to save it.
In November 1983, the community developed a partnership between the city, county, state and local businesses and citizens, making MBT a city-owned facility managed by the Mount Baker Theatre Corporation, a 501(c)(3) citizen-based nonprofit.
From that point forward, MBT’s ongoing operations have been covered by a mix of show-related revenue streams, support from Members, sponsors and volunteers, various grants, and in the late ‘90s the hotel-motel tax was increased specifically to support MBT. Capital investments and improvements throughout many phases of renovation were fueled by over $14 million in private donations in addition to regular operating streams.
The Mount Baker Theatre has been an important piece of the Bellingham community for nearly 100 years. Photo courtesy: Mount Baker Theatre.
First Renovation (1991 – 2003)
Several important changes occurred during this time period. A Historic Community Theatre Development Grant in 1991 allowed for safety repairs to the auditorium lights and restoration of the marquee and tower lighting. Other donations and grants provided for painting of theater walls including the restoration of the old paint in the lobby. Smoking had been allowed in previous decades so significant effort was invested in restoring the beauty of the original plaster ceiling to its original colors. A women’s restroom was added downstairs and the seats were reupholstered. A truss and fly system was installed on the stage and the orchestra pit was covered with an apron.
Phase I Renovations (2003-2004)
The Bellingham community has been enjoying entertainment at Mount Baker Theatre since it opened to the public 90 years ago. Photo courtesy: Mount Baker Theatre.
Phase I began with the purchase of small storefronts that were part of the theatre building and resulted in the addition of the Harold and Irene Walton Theatre, a versatile 200-seat studio theater with state-of-the-art acoustics, sound and lighting. The newer space accommodates events ranging from meetings to full stage productions.
Renovation of the exterior of the building was carried out with careful respect for the original design and included restoration of the original sandstone façade and tile parapet.
This phase also included upgrades that patrons don’t see. Dressing rooms, green room, wardrobe, production office and storage areas were improved as well as stage access. More than $4 million was invested in MBT during this phase.
Phase II Renovations (2008)
Today area residents enjoy great performances at Mount Baker Theatre. Photo courtesy: Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism.
MBT was closed for nine months during Phase II which included renovation of the theater and lobby spaces, a new ticket office and administrative space, acoustical upgrades, lighting upgrades and an upgrade of the mechanical and electrical systems. Air conditioning was added to the balcony area to improve comfort and air flow.
In 2008, infrastructure was upgraded including electrical, heating and ventilation systems, as well as fire and security systems. Lighting, sound and projection technology had also been upgraded over the past two decades.
State capital funds of $197,000 and a federal Housing and Urban Development grant of $120,280 awarded to the city were part of the more than $4 million spent on this phase of renovation and restoration. Much of the remaining funds came from the Bellingham-Whatcom Public Facilities District, an independent municipal taxing authority created by the state that receives 0.033 percent of sales tax collected in Bellingham and Whatcom County.
The sumptuous interior of the Mainstage Theatre and lobby make any trip an other-worldly experience. Photo credit: Damian Vines Photography.
Upgrading the Mighty Wurlitzer (2013)
MBT’s incredible Wurlitzer pipe organ was maintained for decades with the help of local volunteer organ aficionados, formally organized as the Mount Baker Theatre Organ Society. Their final act before disbanding the group was to raise funds to support the digitization of the organ. They turned over those funds to MBT with the understanding that the work would be done and the organ would continue to be played. In 2012-13 the organ was professionally converted to digital. The air still goes through each historic pipe, but now an infra-red laser beam reads electronic signals instead of the original—and degrading—electrical wiring. One of the top ten functioning organs in the U.S., the magnificent instrument is still played by traveling organist Dennis James several times a year during silent films at MBT.
Phase III Still to Come
More than 17,000 children from the region attend a MBT Education Program production each year. Photo courtesy: Mount Baker Theatre.
Although no dates have been set, MBT would like to extend the current main stage from 26 to 42 feet and expand the orchestra pit to accommodate a 45-piece orchestra. Additional earthquake improvements would also be included in this Phase. These changes would accommodate large productions. They would also allow MBT staff the space they need to work more efficiently and comfortably and allow for more full productions with fewer modifications.
Continuing a Legacy of Service to Pacific Northwest People and Economy (2008 to present)
Mount Baker Theatre is truly the pride of Whatcom County. Photo courtesy: Mount Baker Theatre.
Although MBT recently celebrated its 90th birthday, it’s still an active, thriving performing arts center in excellent shape. The community treasure’s three transformed venues currently support more than 400 events and 110,000 visitors annually including more than 17,000 Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan and upper Snohomish Counties’ public, private and home school communities via MBT’s educational programs. These visitors contribute approximately $90,000 from admissions and other taxes to the local economy each year.
In addition to hosting world class entertainment like traveling Broadway shows and legendary music performers, MBT also serves the local community. Local groups and organizations have access to the restored building and professionally-managed stage to make their events incredible. Through the Community Spaces program, the Encore Room is often free of charge to arts-related local nonprofits. Whatcom Symphony Orchestra, area performing arts schools, film festivals, Bellingham Technical College and speakers from various civic and community groups use the spaces each day.
As a community-owned Pacific Northwest performing arts and education center, MBT is a stunning example of how history can be preserved while serving the demands of modern, continuously changing economy, technology and society.
Want to become a part of the story? Visit Mount Baker Theatre’s website for information on Membership and giving, volunteering or scheduling a free tour of Bellingham’s historic hub for live performing arts.
Fall may be my very favorite season. The weather is just perfect—not too hot, not too cold. There is a delicious fall scent in the air. The kids are back in school and sports. And the promise of the holiday season is just around the corner. Perhaps the best part of all is that we are lucky enough to live in a great place for fall fun. Take a look at all these great things to do this weekend in and around Bellingham—Oct. 13—15. And don’t forget to check our full events calendar for all the great local happenings.
WhatcomTalk aims to be your source for positive information and events happening in Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden and throughout Whatcom County. If you have a suggestion for a post, send us a note at submit@whatcomtalk.com. For more events and to learn what’s happening in Bellingham and the surrounding area, visit our events calendar. To submit an event of your own, visit our events calendar and click on the green “Post Your Event” button.
The Chrysalis Inn & Spa is the perfect venue for an intimate wedding party. Photo courtesy: The Chrysalis Inn & Spa.
I love weddings. And, like most people, I have been to a lot of them, big and small. I’ve celebrated in halls and hotels, Elks Lodges and American Legions, fire stations and VFWs. I’ve danced in rustic barns and under white tents, in flower gardens and on open fields. A few years ago I even attended a surprise wedding in the privacy of a friend’s backyard.
The Chrysalis provides fabulous food, drink and ambiance. Photo courtesy: The Chrysalis Inn & Spa.
For me, a quick “I do” under a trellis followed by an outdoor barbeque is equal to a formal church service followed by a four-course sit-down meal. Each is a rite of passage. Each is a celebration of the coming together of two people and their families. Each is inevitably followed by hours of lively fun.
For all my love of weddings, however, I opted out. I eloped. And it was romantic and quiet and private. It was just the two of us on a Wednesday afternoon at the county courthouse. We walked to a nearby restaurant and ordered champagne. We ate dinner at a favorite tavern. I danced to the juke box. It was perfect for us. But as years pass, one regret is slowly forming. Six years ago I couldn’t face the planning, logistics and public vow-making. But now I realize that having our closest family and friends from near and far in the same room would have been worth the effort. Now it almost seems like a lost opportunity.
Almost. Because we do have an anniversary every year… and because I’ve also realized that a wedding, or a vow renewal, doesn’t have to be monumental undertaking with a hundred or more guests.
When you choose The Chrysalis as your wedding venue you have use of the terrace and the living room, with the area’s best ocean views. Photo courtesy: The Chrysalis Inn & Spa.
I’ve been asking around about the best place to hold a special event. My key words are: simple, intimate and elegant. The top of everyone’s list is: The Living Room and Terrace at The Chrysalis Inn & Spa in Bellingham. To better acquaint myself with their wedding accommodations, I found some couples who chose to be married at The Chrysalis.
Heidi and Samantha Thomson-Daly of Seattle were married at The Chrysalis in August of 2016. As I spoke with Heidi, she was clearly reliving that “beautiful summer Saturday,” when the couple assembled 30 guests for an outdoor ceremony on the terrace overlooking Bellingham Bay.
She described an idyllic scene of family and friends sipping “pink bubbly” and signature cocktails in what she called an “inspiring and peaceful venue” with stunning ocean views. There were passed appetizers followed by a four-course dinner, and the couple forwent the traditional wedding cake for a choice of house-made desserts from Keenan’s at the Pier. The only decoration added to the already-exquisite Living Room were handmade garlands, but Heidi stressed that the room really needed no extra embellishment. It was perfect.
For Heidi and Samantha, The Chrysalis was, indeed, perfect. But not just because of its elegant rooms, waterfront location or fabulous food, but because it has been a place for relationship milestones. Their first special getaway as a couple was a weekend stay at The Chrysalis, and they would return multiple times thereafter. It was during one of these stays that they were engaged to be married. Clearly, there would be no better place for them to exchange their wedding vows. And there wasn’t.
The Chrysalis Inn & Spa is the perfect venue for an intimate wedding party. Photo courtesy: The Chrysalis Inn & Spa.
For another perspective I spoke with Deb Pelham, a bride-to-be for the second time, who was in the midst of preparations for her upcoming Chrysalis nuptials. She and her fiancé Mitch Bubb were initially planning to be married at Boulevard Park, where they met, but unreliable weather deterred them. They quickly settled on The Chrysalis, which Deb referred to as the “obvious choice” because of its proximity to Boulevard Park and because it is, “lovely and elegant, but not pretentious at all.”
Deb is an easy-going bride-to-be—not at all how movies and television portray a soon-to-be-wed woman. Her choice of The Chrysalis, which she refers to as “a little oasis,” vanquishes stress. “If it’s nice, we’ll get married on the Terrace, if not, in the Living Room,” she says happily.
She and Mitch have been a couple for nearly three years and are planning a quiet, intimate wedding with only family and a few “very, very close friends.” There will be 18 guests total and Mitch’s son and daughter will take part in the ceremony. The wedding will go from afternoon to evening, with dinner and drinks, conversation and celebration. And while all of the other guests will return home, Deb and Mitch will stay all weekend, as a short honeymoon of sorts. They’ll use the spa and do plenty of walking along the waterfront, things they would normally do. But now they’ll do them as newlyweds.
These couples prove that a wedding doesn’t have to be an overblown bash to have an enormous impact. And I know from experience that elopement isn’t for everyone. But a place like The Chrysalis Inn & Spa gives you a little bit of both. You can have an extraordinary celebration in an intimate package, all tailored to you and your partner.
This house-made bone-in ham is savory and scrumptious. Photo courtesy: Old World Deli.
Old World Deli is one of the crown jewels of the Bellingham food scene. Celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, it is clear that the deli has withstood the test of time. This is especially remarkable when you consider the turnover rate most restaurants in Bellingham experience. There are several reasons Old World Deli has made a name for themselves in everybody’s favorite city of subdued excitement. Not only is the deli known for their delicious sandwiches and exquisite wines, but they serve up house-made meats perfect for any feast. From the pancetta to the pastrami, duck breast to duck confit, General Manager and Salumist Zach Holmes prepares his cured meats with care and consideration.
Old World Deli’s Zach Holmes is a meat artist. Photo courtesy: Old World Deli.
Zach has been working at Old World Deli for eight years, but didn’t venture into meat curing right away. It took some time before he was ready to try his hand at crafting the meats you find in the deli’s cold case today. Zach explains that before there was pancetta, before there was smoked ham, before there was the deli’s mouth-watering (yes, seriously) bacon, there was sausage. Smoking sausage tends to be the starting point for any budding salumist, and for Zach it was no different.
“At first, I started smoking sausage in house. After I had got that down, we started talking about how to move things forward so we could smoke and cure different kinds of meats,” Zach says.
What originally started out as smoking a few sausages for some menu specials became much more. Zach’s knowledge of aging, curing and smoking meats grew and, with it, the amount of options offered at Old World Deli. It was an added bonus that he had the support of owners Anna and Christos Adams along the way. They encouraged Zach to try different things and watched as their selection of house-made products grew.
Old World Deli’s house-made porchetta is simply mouth watering. Photo courtesy: Old World Deli.
Currently, you can find house-made meats of all varieties at the deli. Zach has stocked the deli with duck confit, fresh sausage, bacon, corned beef, roast beef, kielbasa, pates and rillettes. What started as a small project has grown into something entirely different, bigger and, well, tastier. There really is a difference in the flavor. It’s obvious from just one bite that you aren’t eating the lunch meat found on aisle three in your local supermarket.
The pancetta is vibrant and floral. The roast beef hearty with a hint of spice. The bacon is – you guessed it – mouth-watering. Meticulous preparation goes into the process of crafting each of these house-made meats. It doesn’t just happen overnight. Meat must be brined, rubbed, aged, cured and smoked depending on the different type of meat. Each of these different styles of meat has its own specific recipe.
Try a house-made kielbasa! Photo courtesy: Old World Deli.
For example, Old World’s bacon is cured for four days, then dry aged for a week and finally smoked before it goes to sale. No meat has the same process. Zach uses various methods for each respective meat.
“We do it because it tastes good,” Zach says. “It just tastes better when you make these meats yourself. It’s a process but I am more than happy to do it and our customers love it.”
The newest addition in the meat department at Old World Deli is their smoked ham. It has been used in a few of their different menu items, such as the Grilled Panini #1. In this sandwich, Old World Deli’s house-made smoked ham is paired with a cherry sauce and mashed potatoes on sourdough. It tastes a whole lot like Thanksgiving, which as far as I’m concerned means there is a whole lot to be happy about. The smoked ham is delicious but is only available as Zach makes it – so get it when you can.
What’s better than bacon? Old World Deli’s house-made bacon! Photo courtesy: Old World Deli.
The idea for this meat actually came from one of Zach’s customers. They had been buying meat from Old World Deli for a while and suggested that Zach try making a smoked ham. Zach was interested in the endeavor and decided to tackle it. The result was a smoked ham packed with flavor that is the perfect sandwich stuffer.
“We’re always trying new things,” Zach says. “We like to experiment with different ideas in the kitchen and see how our customers like them. We want people to be aware that we make a lot of our meats in house.”
In addition to buying house-made meats from the cold case, you can find some of their meats exclusively in their various menu items and specials such as their Cuban-braised pork, smoked chicken thighs in grapefruit juice and chilis, porchetta and house-smoked barbeque brisket.
Old World Deli is located at 1228 N. State Street in Bellingham. The deli is open Monday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Instead of a costly trip to the ER, visit the PeaceHealth Same Day Care Clinic. Photo courtesy: PeaceHealth.
I have a lot of trouble with at-home medical triage. I mean, I know when to call 911, but there are all those illnesses that cause super-high fevers and wheezing coughs in my little girls. Then there are the accidents that result in a deep, blood-gushing cut on my husband’s hand or a clean, inch-long gash on my toddler’s forehead. My medical knowledge is nil and I often find myself oscillating between, “It’s nothing,” and, “It’s catastrophic internal bleeding.”
The PeaceHealth Same Day Care Clinic is there to help when you’re in need. Photo courtesy: PeaceHealth.
But what am I supposed to do when so many of these illnesses and accidents seem to happen either on weekends or after business hours when the doctors’ offices are closed? And, really, when your finger has been mangled by an immersion blender in the middle of making dinner are you going to calmly call your doctor’s office to see if they have an opening, like, NOW? No. You are not. You are going to dash out your door and quickly find someone to sew it up.
Luckily, that someone will be ready for you at the PeaceHealth Same Day Care Clinic, a walk-in clinic that focuses on same-day needs such as general illnesses and minor injuries. Rather than an hours-long wait at a hectic ER after your husband has power-drilled through his thumb, or a few-days wait for an opening at your primary care doctor for your unmitigated ear pain and sinus pressure, you can simply walk in and be seen by an experienced medical team of doctors and nurses. And if your situation requires further treatment, the Same Day Care Clinic, as part of PeaceHealth, is in the unique position to get you headed to where you need to go more quickly. If you need to see a specialist, they can make that call.
From my point of view, the most compelling reason to use the Same Day Care Clinic is to avoid an ER at all costs. An ER visit is expensive and time-consuming. And if it’s not an emergency, why go there? For the most part, people seek out the emergency room because they do not realize there are other options for immediate care. Dr. Susan Kranzpiller, one of the care providers at the Same Day Care Clinic, jokingly considers the clinic one of the best-kept secrets of Whatcom County—and she would like that to change. She highlights that the clinic is open to the public, not just PeaceHealth patients, and treats everybody from newborns to the elderly without an appointment.
Instead of a costly trip to the ER, visit the PeaceHealth Same Day Care Clinic. Photo courtesy: PeaceHealth.
Sara Wells, a family nurse practitioner at the clinic, stresses the convenience of same-day services. “People work,” she says forthrightly, pointing out that not everyone can take off a day – or in some cases even a few hours – from work to visit their primary care provider during normal business hours. The Same Day Care Clinic fits better into working people’s schedules. Starting in early October, the clinic will be open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. With these expanded hours, the clinic provides easy access to care for people who do not feel their best.
But what, exactly, is the line between a visit to the emergency room and a visit to the Same Day Care Clinic? PeaceHealth has created a very useful document for this exact quandary. To help with your at-home triaging, please see their Scope of Services.
I have consulted it several times. I think maybe I’ll just tape a copy to my fridge.
A stop at Rutledge Corn Maze can include a visit to their pumpkin patch to pick your perfect jack-o-lantern.
Fall is certainly here. And, if you aren’t clutching a pumpkin spice latte, chances are you’re scrolling on your phone, looking for the perfect fall outing. While there are many local options throughout gorgeous Whatcom County, this might be the year to look a little farther afield. If you are seeking a fall road trip or are simply hitting the road for a soccer tournament, consider heading south to explore the beauty at the other end of the Puget Sound – Thurston County. While you are there, experience a favorite local fall tradition at Rutledge Corn Maze in Tumwater.
The Rutledge Corn Maze welcomes visitors with challenging routes that include checkpoints along the way with facts about Thurston County.
The Rutledge family has owned and farmed their land in Thurston County for generations. And, while it has gone through many different iterations of farming, the family holds true to their roots, still growing corn. Only now, this corn provides entertainment for all ages throughout the fall season.
“Our family migrated here across the Oregon Trail in the 1800s and we’ve been farming in the area ever since. That’s the short version,” Robby Rutledge says laughing. His grandfather was a cattleman and an employee at the Olympia Brewery. However, raising corn was much easier than raising cows, he quickly realized. For thirty years, you could find Grandpa Rutledge selling the family’s fresh corn at The Olympia Farmer’s Market throughout the season.
ThurstonTalk’s Jessica Hoppe got a birds eye view of the maze from a helicopter with Robby Rutledge.
In 2000, the Rutledge family decided to convert their enterprise to a corn maze. At the time, corn mazes were nearly unheard of and the Rutledges were at the forefront of the growing trend. Initially, designs were cut into the fields after the corn had matured. This was labor and resource intensive.
“We were the first corn maze in the world to be planted in the maze pattern (instead of cutting the pattern after the stalks matured),” says Robby. Maze Play, a company who specializes in GPS, computer-aided planting, takes the Rutledge design and loads it into their software. The tractor can plant the five acre parcel in roughly eight hours. “It’s really down to a science. Sometimes I don’t have the design down fully, maybe I only have a few pictures but the result is always better than I thought it would be,” says Robby.
Themes over the years have included the Washington State Capitol Building, the Statue of Liberty, an image of Marshawn Lynch, a design based on Twilight – Breaking Dawn and a design in partnership with O’Bee Credit Union. This year, the design highlights a Thurston County treasure.
The maze is planted using GPS guided tractors, ensuring an accurate design each year.
Partnering with Experience Olympia & Beyond – the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater Visitor and Convention Bureau – this year’s maze features the Thurston Bountiful Byway logo. “We’re trying to bring more attention to this wonderful sixty-mile stretch of farmer’s markets, wineries, farms and other great local attractions,” says Robby.
The Byway is a “must-see” if you are visiting Thurston County. While you don’t need to do the entire loop, checking out a section or a variety of stops along the route will give you the flavor and feel of the region. The Rutledge Corn Maze is one stop on this scenic loop that includes wineries, pumpkin patches, shops, restaurants, parks, distilleries, farms and more.
Moira Davin, director of marketing and communications for Experience Olympia & Beyond, headed up the collaboration and sees the maze as the perfect way to share they Byway. “Featuring the Byway in the corn maze is a great way to spread the word about all the great fall events along the Bountiful Byway,” says Davin. “Families can share memorable moments while they pick a pumpkin, take a hay ride, sip award-winning apple cider or find their way through a corn maze.”
During the summer months, the Rutledge family carefully tends to the growing stalks, ensuring a successful design come fall.
The maze includes checkpoints highlighting different attractions along the Byway. As a visitor, you’ll learn some of the lesser known facts about the state capitol region through a series of stops. You might find one that sparks your interest, and a visit, after you are done.
Rutledge Corn Maze is also full of family fun with the Farmer Joe Mystery Game for the youngsters, pumpkins, treats, a Haunted Maze at night for the brave souls in your group and Zombie Paintball for the adventurous. Both the Rutledge Corn Maze and the Bountiful Byway seek to create positive activities families can enjoy together, making their partnership this year a no-brainer.
A stop at Rutledge Corn Maze can include a visit to their pumpkin patch to pick your perfect jack-o-lantern.
“We hope that the Byway corn maze will inspire visitors to explore the other fall festivals along the tour, most not far from Rutledge, and experience all the Byway has to offer all year round,” adds Davin.
To learn about all the fun, fall events along the Bountiful Byway in addition to the Corn Maze, visit the Byway’s events page and wind your way through our beautiful backyard.
The Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center (WDRC) invites the community to join in honoring eight individuals and organizations who have helped build peace in Whatcom County at the 15th Annual Peace Builders Awards, presented by Peoples Bank. Awards will be presented at the gala on November 17 at 5:30 p.m., in Bellingham Technical College’s Settlemyer Hall.
The recipients of the 2017 Peace Builder Awards are:
Downtown Bellingham Partnership, Collaboration: For their commitment to foster relationships and nurture unity among businesses and the community at large.
Portage Bay Partnership, Creative Conflict Resolution: For creative conflict resolution efforts between the Lummi Nation and Whatcom County Dairy Farmers, resulting in a cooperative approach to improve water quality.
Bridge Builders, Cultural Connections: For their efforts to foster understanding and spaces of communion and connection between all faiths in Whatcom County.
Lindsey Karas, Sterling Meadows Apartments, Empowerment: For her steadfast commitment to the wellbeing of youth in the Sterling Meadows community.
Karen Aislinn, Healthcare: For building peace through exceptional emotional and social support for her patients and their families.
Whatcom Community Foundation, Organization: For its Project Neighborly initiative, bringing the community together to promote connection, neighborliness and understanding.
Opportunity Council’s Homeless Outreach Team, Program: For building peace by creating connections and meeting basic needs of some of our community’s most vulnerable.
Stephanie Lewis, Whatcom County Community Links, Public Servant: For helping youth and families reduce conflict, connect, collaborate and link with community resources.
In addition to the awards ceremony, event guests will enjoy hors d’ouevres, a chef-inspired dinner, silent auction, dessert dash, live music and youth poetry from our Peaceful Poetry Youth Contest. Tickets start at $50 and may be purchased online at whatcomdrc.org or by calling 360-676-0122.
The team at VibrantUSA are dedicated to their clients and to their community. Photo courtesy: VibrantUSA.
It’s that time of year again! The fall season is upon us, the holidays are just around the corner and it’s annual enrollment time for Medicare beneficiaries. VibrantUSA is ready for that annual enrollment period with information, answers and guidance for their clients.
The team is dedicated to finding the best options for their clients. Photo courtesy: VibrantUSA.
VibrantUSA does things just a little differently for their clients. With a focus on the senior population, they concentrate on Medicare year-round. They are very well suited to answer all of the questions about changes and coverage each year brings.
“Everything we do at VibrantUSA is about serving our clients,” says Marsha Neal, VibrantUSA Vice President. “We will always be the advocate for the person sitting in front of us.”
The annual enrollment period is the window of time each year that beneficiaries are allowed to evaluate and make changes to their Medicare insurance plans. During this annual election period, which runs October 15 to December 7, it is very important for those on Medicare to review their current plans to ensure that the plan continues to meet their needs.
“Our core base is Medicare,” says Kailie Roosma, Operations Manager at VibrantUSA. “We know what the components are and what our clients are asking for when it comes to health care needs.”
Neal goes on to explain that the focus of VibrantUSA is strictly Medicare and individual healthcare. They are dedicated to finding the right options to match the needs of each of their clients.
VibrantUSA conducts seminars on Medicare and other options. Photo courtesy: VibrantUSA.
People enrolled in a Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription drug plan should have already received a notice from their carrier describing any changes to their plan benefits, premiums or service areas. All of these changes should be reviewed very carefully to ensure they are understood and that the plan is still the best option for each individual.
“We do a lot of hand holding during this process,” says Neal. “There’s a lot of uncertainty, but we’ve got this. We will always be able to help you understand what’s going on with your plan.”
Change is always in the air when it comes to healthcare as both Neal and Roosma explain. This year is no exception with a new Medicare Advantage plan available. But, not all providers will be contracting with all of the available plans, so it is important for seniors to know all of the options available to them when it comes to health care.
Imbedded in Whatcom County, VibrantUSA is a strong part of the community it serves with many of the agents and staff living here, shopping here and raising families here. The agents that represent the company are dedicated to educating clients and finding the right solution to match their healthcare needs. And, because of this community connection and service-oriented approach, these salaried agents are completely unbiased when it comes to choosing the most appropriate plan for their clients.
“Our agents truly enjoy helping people. They put their clients first,” says Neal. “They work from an educational standpoint with clients to ensure they are empowered with information to make the best choice possible for their needs.”
The team at VibrantUSA are dedicated to their clients and to their community. Photo courtesy: VibrantUSA.
Agents participate in a three to six-month training process, which Neal oversees, when they first join VibrantUSA. With this emphasis on education, these agents have the information on health care options to ensure they are doing the right thing for their clients.
The outreach doesn’t stop there. Working with medical clinics, VibrantUSA offers Medicare 101 seminars to educate physicians and potential clients on how to navigate and understand Medicare options and processes.
“We do a lot of outreach,” says Roosma who also is a board member for Elder Service Providers. “We put a lot of time into our community through involvement with organizations such as the Chambers of Commerce and their events, and sponsoring Meals on Wheels.”
Building great relationships and credibility with local clinics and physicians has positioned VibrantUSA for growth based on the need for complete and accurate information about Medicare in these times of ever-changing health care plans and options.
“This is our community,” says Roosma. “We create relationships with our clients and help them make the best choices when it comes to their health care options.”
It is important for Medicare beneficiaries to remember that all enrollment must be completed by December 7, 2017. For the information you need to make the best decision for your health care, give VibrantUSA a call.
Submitted by Barron Heating, AC, Electrical & Plumbing
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