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The Great Washington ShakeOut—Drop, Cover, Hold On and Get Two Weeks Ready

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LocalTalk Contributor
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Submitted by: The Washington Military Department

Washington residents have a chance to practice their earthquake readiness on Oct. 19 during the Great Washington ShakeOut – a time when communities, families, businesses and schools practice their drop, cover and hold on skills and do on more thing, such as adding to their emergency supplies.

The Washington Military Department is educating people on how to be prepared. Photo courtesy: Washington Military Department.

The Washington Emergency Management Division is no longer recommending residents be three days prepared but, instead, be two weeks ready – in case of a big earthquake. Some communities may need even more emergency supplies.

Chris Reykdal, the state superintendent of public instruction, will join students in the White River School District in Buckley for their drill and will talk emergency preparedness with school leaders. More than 600,000 students, teachers and school staff have signed up for the annual ShakeOut event.

“We live in one of the most beautiful states in the country,” Reykdal said. “But living here has seismic risks. It’s crucial for students to know how to respond if there is an earthquake. I’m excited to be at White River and see how students practice their drop, cover and hold skills.”

ShakeOut Washington will teach people how to handle a massive earthquake. Photo courtesy: Washington Military Department.

Last year, more than 1.1 million residents signed up for the state’s largest earthquake drill. Registration at shakeout.org/washington isn’t required, but helps us tally up how many are participating. In addition, tsunami alert sirens will be tested on Oct. 19 at 10:19 a.m. using the real sound of the siren, not the Westminster Chimes that typically happen during the monthly tests. NOAA weather radios set to receive the required monthly test will also activate during this test. The tests will happen across every coastal community in the state, except for Sandy Point in Whatcom County, which has opted out of the test. The state works with local jurisdictions to install the All Hazard Alert Broadcast sirens on the coast. Five new sirens are being installed this month in Seabrook, Ocean Shores, Bellingham, Port of Chinook and Raymond bringing the total number of coastal sirens to 69.

Preparedness will be key in surviving the next big earthquake to hit the Pacific Northwest. That means being prepared for what you need and where you live – with up to two weeks’ worth of supplies and an emergency “go” kit. For those living on the coast, know your evacuation routes and the warning signs for tsunamis – including how NOAA Weather Radios work and the coastal sirens.

Education and preparedness are key in handling natural disasters. Photo courtesy: Washington Military Department.

This is Washington State’s sixth year of participation in the Great ShakeOut initiative.

New this year, middle school and high school students are creating videos to show the best ways to drop, cover and hold on. Prizes are being awarded by our partners at the Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup. The deadline to submit is Oct. 13. More information found here.

Question and answer sessions with earthquake experts will be done using Facebook Live and Washington Emergency Management’s Nextdoor account in the days before ShakeOut. On Oct. 19, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., earthquake preparedness experts from the Washington Emergency Management Division will join scientists with the Washington Department of Natural Resources and the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network to gather online for a Reddit Ask Me Anything – an online Q&A. The public is invited to ask questions at https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/.

We also encourage participants to take photos of themselves participating in the drill and post those photos to social media using the hashtag #ShakeOut or tag our Twitter account at @waShakeOut.

Preparedness tips are available here.

Tips in Spanish can be found here.

PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Recognized as Blue Distinction Center of Excellence for Maternity Care

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LocalTalk Contributor
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PeaceHealth St. Joseph
PeaceHealth Lactation Consultants are there to support mothers, babies and families. Photo courtesy: PeaceHealth.

Submitted by: PeaceHealth Medical Group

PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center is now recognized as a Blue Distinction Center of Excellence for maternity care by the Blue Cross, Blue Shield Association. This distinction was earned through demonstrating quality care, treatment expertise and better overall patient results.

Blue Distinction Centers of Excellence for Maternity Care demonstrate expertise and a commitment to quality care for vaginal and cesarean section deliveries. A Blue Distinction Center demonstrates better overall patient satisfaction and a lower percentage of early elective deliveries.

The PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Birth Center Manager, Gallit Eni, RN, said, “This recognition as Blue Distinction Center of Excellence reflects the hard work and dedication of our caregivers. It’s exciting news for the new moms who receive maternity care from us.”

Healthy Eating Webinar: Make Mealtimes a Piece of Cake

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LocalTalk Contributor
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PeaceHealth Registered Dietitian Jendy Newman has the tools to stop picky eating in its tracks. Photo courtesy: PeaceHealth.

Submitted by: PeaceHealth Medical Group

Do you have little ones in your family who are finicky eaters? Do mealtimes often turn into battles that begin with kiddos taking negotiated bites, and end with parents holding up a white flag and surrendering in complete exhaustion?

If this scenario sounds all-too familiar, help is on the way.

PeaceHealth Registered Dietitian Tok-Hui Yeap is ready to help you resolve picky eating habits in your kids. Photo courtesy: PeaceHealth.

Two of PeaceHealth’s experienced nutrition experts hope to take some of the stress and frustration out of planning meals and packing lunches and snacks by empowering adults with tips and strategies that can be used to persuade youngsters — from toddlers to teens — to eat healthier.

PeaceHealth Registered Dietitians Jendy Newman and Tok-Hui Yeap will lead a free, one-hour webinar — open to all in the community — Wednesday, Oct. 18, from noon to 1:00 p.m.

During the event, “Picky Eaters: Six Strategies for Helping Kids Eat Healthy,” Newman and Yeap will cover a variety of topics including how adults can model good nutrition and put helpful mealtime routines in place. In addition, they’ll offer tips for success and details about how and when to access additional help and resources. Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions.

PeaceHealth’s experts agree that establishing healthy eating habits in children early on can have long-term benefits.

PeaceHealth Registered Dietitian Jendy Newman has the tools to stop picky eating in its tracks. Photo courtesy: PeaceHealth.

“It is a great opportunity to promote a positive parent–child feeding relationship that will benefit not only improved nutrition for years to come, but also improved parent-child trust and problem-solving skills that can improve family life overall,” said Newman.

“It’s important to teach young kids healthy eating because it provides them a strong foundation for a healthy body and mind that lasts a lifetime,” added Yeap.

To register for the live webinar or to receive a recording of the event to watch later, visit PeaceHealth’s Healthy You website.

About PeaceHealth:

PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, Washington, is a not-for-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. PeaceHealth has approximately 16,000 caregivers, a group practice with more than 900 providers and 10 medical centers serving both urban and rural communities throughout the northwest. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. The Sisters shared expertise and transferred wisdom from one medical center to another, always finding the best way to serve the unmet need for healthcare in their communities. Today, PeaceHealth is the legacy of the founding Sisters and continues with a spirit of respect, stewardship, collaboration and social justice in fulfilling its mission. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.

Two New Providers Join PeaceHealth Medical Group Bellingham Practices

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LocalTalk Contributor
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Alethea Robbins has joined PHMG’s Obstetrics and Gynecology team. Photo credit: Mark Turner

Submitted by: PeaceHealth Medical Group

PeaceHealth Medical Group (PHMG) welcomes these new board-certified providers to Bellingham practices.

Juie Terry has joined PHMG’s Same Day Care Clinic. Photo credit: Mark Turner.

Julie Terry, MD, became a member of PHMG’s Same Day Care Clinic team of providers. Dr. Terry earned her medical degree at the St. Louis University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. She then went on to complete the St. Louis University Family Medicine Residency Program at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville, Illinois. Dr. Terry is a veteran and served more than seven years as a physician in the U.S. Air Force. Prior to joining the PHMG team, Dr. Terry provided outpatient primary care and preventative health services, as well as inpatient newborn care, at Associates in Family Medicine in Bellingham. Dr. Terry believes in respect and effective communication between a patient and provider. She welcomes questions from her patients and, when appropriate, tries to involve them in decision making about their health.

Alethea Robbins has joined PHMG’s Obstetrics and Gynecology team. Photo credit: Mark Turner

Alethea Robbins, ARNP, became a member of PHMG’s Obstetrics and Gynecology team of providers. Alethea earned her degree as a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner at the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Nashville, Tennessee. Prior to joining the PHMG team, Alethea served patients as a nurse practitioner with WOMEN Obstetrics & Gynecology in Nashville. She has an interest in integrated medicine, cervical cancer screening and management, sexual health, reproductive health and fertility. Althea went into practice to serve and empower women and believes, “Health is multifaceted and I wish to work with women to improve their health holistically.”

More information about these PeaceHealth providers can be found using the “Find a Doc” tool at www.peacehealth.org.

Atwood Ales Farm Brewery Releases Estate Fresh Hops Ales

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LocalTalk Contributor
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It doesn't get more local than Atwood Ales. Photo courtesy: Atwood Ales.

Submitted by: Atwood Ales

Atwood Ales Farm Brewery in Blaine is set to release two fresh hops ales produced using hops harvested from their own hopyard, just hundreds of feet away from their brewhouse. Flashback to early September, when several groups of volunteers assisted the Smith family with the hand-harvesting and processing of nearly 60 hops plants. While the bulk of the harvest was dried and packaged in order to supply a large portion of the brewery’s hops needs for the coming year, dozens of pounds of freshly picked Tettnang and Centennial hops made their ways into two different ales that will be released on Saturday, October 7 at the Bellingham Farmers Market and subsequently to bottle shops, tap houses, markets and restaurants in the Puget Sound region.

Atwood Ales uses hops harvested from their own land. Photo courtesy: Atwood Ales.

“We use as much as we can from our farm,” said Monica Smith, director of sales and marketing, “and we anticipate that this year’s hops harvest will fulfill about 60 percent of our hops needs for the coming year.” The small, artisanal brewery churns out unique French and Belgian inspired farmhouse-style ales, saisons and sours that are much less hop-heavy than the IPAs and pale ales typically associated with the Pacific Northwest. Focusing on farmhouse-style beers allows brewer Josh Smith to stretch their small hops crop pretty far. “If we were brewing IPAs, our hops would be gone in a matter of months,” said Josh, “but because of the styles we brew and how we choose to use hops in our brewing process, we’re able to incorporate our estate grown hops into almost every beer we brew.”

In addition to growing hops on their farm, the Smith family also grows a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs that they use in their farmhouse ales. They also forage for other ingredients, such as nettles, flowers and berries. What they can’t grow on their property, they try to source locally when possible, including using Skagit Valley Malt as the base for all of their beers. “With Off the Bine, our new fresh hops pale ale, we’ve taken local beer to another level by using 100% locally grown and processed ingredients from within 50 miles of our brewery,” said Monica Smith. Off the Bine uses their estate-grown Cascade hops in the kettle and estate-grown fresh Centennial hops, picked less than 18 hours before use, in the whirlpool and hopback.

The new batch of Atwood’s continually rotating saison, Mo’s Saison, is made with estate-grown fresh Tettnang hops this time around. “Tettnang aren’t exactly the first hops that come to mind when you think of fresh hops beers,” said Josh Smith, “but they’re a fitting choice for use in a saison, where the spicy and herbal notes play well with the yeast character of the beer.” While this beer does incorporate some European character malts and Yakima Valley hops, over 90% of the ingredients in Mo’s “Freshies” Saison were sourced within 50 miles of the brewery, including Skagit Valley Malt and Atwood’s own estate-grown hops. Mo’s Saison was selected as a finalist for “Best Saison in Washington” by Seattle Magazine in July 2017.

About Atwood Ales Farm Brewery:

It doesn’t get more local than Atwood Ales. Photo courtesy: Atwood Ales.

Atwood Ales Farm Brewery, Blaine’s first and oldest brewery, is located in a 100-year-old barn on a family-owned and operated farm, just 18 miles north of Bellingham. Opened in spring of 2016, the farm grows ingredients for the on-site brewery, which produces a variety of ales inspired by French and Belgian farmhouse brewing traditions. While the brewery is closed to the general public, Atwood Ales’ bottle-conditioned beers are available every Saturday at the Bellingham Farmers Market and in bottles and on draft at select locations around Puget Sound, from Vancouver, BC to Tacoma, WA. Learn more at atwoodales.com.

Mo’s “Freshies” ABV 5.8% Fresh Hops Saison 750ml Bottle Conditioned & Limited Draft

A new, harvest-season riff on our rotating saison, brewed for my beautiful wife. We’ve taken our light and refreshing saison and added a completely reasonable amount of our fresh, estate grown Tettnang hops to the boil, whirlpool and hopback. The fresh hops bring lots of green grass to the game, as well as the traditional spicy, herbal flavors associated with this hops variety. It’s most definitely NOT an IPA, and you’ll be tasting the mild spice and fruit character from our house saison yeast alongside the fresh hops character. *Mo’s Saison – Finalist, “Best Saison in Washington” – Seattle Magazine, July 2017

Off the Bine ABV 5.5% Estate Fresh Hops Pale Ale 500ml Bottle Conditioned & Limited Draft

This classic American pale ale uses only classic American ingredients, grown within 50 miles of our brewery. Brewed using 100% Skagit Valley malts and 100% estate-grown Cascade and Centennial hops. Our fresh hops pale ale utilizes our Cascade hops for bittering, flavor and aroma additions in the kettle and our fresh Centennial hops for whirlpool and hopback additions. Our estate grown hops travel a distance of just 100 yards from our hopyard to our brew kettle and were hand processed by our family and a group of dedicated volunteers. Like our other beers, this one is about striking a balance of flavors while still featuring our best estate-grown ingredients. Farm to table, bine to glass.

Bellingham’s northwater Staff Take a Leap

By
LocalTalk Contributor
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Birch Bay, as seen from the sky. Photo credit: Jeffrey Duncan.

The team of Bellingham’s northwater restaurant, located at the Holiday Inn & Suites, recently engaged in a team building activity of the most extreme kind—skydiving. Check out this great video to see it for yourself.

What To Do This Weekend around Bellingham—Oct. 6—8

By
Events Editor
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pumpkin patch bellingham
Take your pick from pumpkins at Stoney Ridge farm.

There’s telltale nip in the air. Fallen leaves are crunching beneath our feet. The rain is steadily returning and the trees are a vivid hue of gold and red. It’s official—fall is upon us. And what better time to get out there and have some fun? Fortunately, we live in a great place for fall fun. There are plenty of fun things to do this weekend in and around Bellingham—Oct. 6—8. And don’t forget to check our full events calendar for all the great local happenings.

Up Next Weekend:

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.

Enjoy the Port of Bellingham’s Many Beautiful Parks

By
Sara Holodnick
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Squalicum Harbor is a beautiful area in which to relax and connect with friends and family. Photo courtesy: Port of Bellingham

Have you been outside enjoying our local parks this summer? Those of us who live and play in Whatcom County value our time outdoors but sometimes we forget all of the work that goes into making that time possible.

Zuanich Point Park is simply radient when in bloom. Photo courtesy: Port of Bellingham.

If you’ve spent time walking your dog, having a picnic or flying a kite this summer, there’s a good chance you took advantage of one of the many beautiful spaces maintained by the Port of Bellingham and their small and mighty maintenance crew.

The Port of Bellingham Park System’s 14 designated parks total more than 22 acres of public space:

  • Fairhaven Marine Park

    The dedicated maintenence crew makes the Port of Bellingham’s parks shine. Photo courtesy: Port of Bellingham.
  • Tom Glenn Commons
  • Marine Life Center
  • Squalicum Promenade
  • Zuanich Point Park
  • Commercial Fleet Interpretive Center
  • Cow Beach
  • Little Squalicum Beach
  • Marine Drive Trail
  • Blaine Seafarers Memorial Park
  • Blaine Promenade
  • Blaine Public Fishing Pier
  • Lone Tree Park
  • Airport Viewpoint Park

Port parks include picnic areas, kite flying opportunities, playgrounds, walking, biking and rollerblading trails, viewpoints, beaches, interpretive areas and fantastic perennial gardens. Plus the Port plants approximately 800 bulbs per year, as well as 3,500 annual flowers.

Squalicum Harbor is a beautiful area in which to relax and connect with friends and family. Photo courtesy: Port of Bellingham.

“I think it’s surprising to many people that we maintain 14 designated parks,” shared Port of Bellingham Maintenance Manager, Carol Williams. “There’s a lot of work that happens on a daily basis to maintain all the space. If you’re out walking on the promenade by the Bellwether or Squalicum Harbor, you might not think about what it takes to maintain that.”

In fact, the Port employs five full time maintenance technicians and an average of 16 seasonal employees to care for their parks and other properties. “Not only do they care for the parks, but also all of the Port owned real estate properties along the waterfront,” shared Williams. In addition, that small crew maintains the grounds at Bellingham International Airport, the Amtrak Station and more. In short – it’s a lot of space.

“Just the Downtown Waterfront alone is 237 acres,” explained Williams. The landscaping, beautification and sign maintenance of these many spaces is all provided by the Port’s maintenance team. The Port of Bellingham has received numerous Whatcom County in Bloom awards, as well as the Gold Leaf Award, recognizing the outstanding beautification efforts throughout the Port properties.

The Port of Bellingham’s small but mighty crew keeps the parks looking their best. Photo courtesy: Port of Bellingham.

But you might not realize that you may have a personal connection to the Port of Bellingham because of the many big milestone events that are hosted at their properties. “Five hundred events a year go through our public facilities, just for people’s personal events,” shared Meetings and Events Supervisor, Tiffany DeSimone. That’s thousands of people attending hundreds of graduation parties, celebrations of life, bar mitzvahs, weddings and retirement parties annually.

“An average of 145,000 people a year use those public spaces, which doesn’t include the public parks where people take their dogs for a walk or to fly a kite,” continued DeSimone. The Port is thankful for the community’s support and use of the parks and facilities.”

Not to mention all of the public events that happen across the Port of Bellingham Park System, such as Ski to Sea, Bellingham Traverse, Bellingham SeaFeast, Haggen Family 4th of July and countless fundraisers and benefit walks. All of this is possible thanks to a dedicated group of local port employees who take great pride in making sure these areas are safe and well-kept for people to enjoy.

The grounds crew gets an early start to keep Port parks looking and working their best. Photo courtesy: Port of Bellingham.

“The small but mighty staff live locally and are invested in the community,” said DeSimone about the maintenance crew. “These people really care about the facilities and that community members get to use them. They are raising their children here and working for the greater good. They help make Bellingham an exceptional place to live, work and play.”

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