Peer Mentoring at Sehome High School Helps Students form Connections to Education

By

Abigail Johnson - Intern from Sehome High School

-

Mentor meeting at round table — Mentoring gives students a chance to catch up on school work. Photo courtesy: Sehome HIgh School.

The Bellingham School district, like every school district, is on an unceasing mission to increase graduation rates at the local high schools. Every year, new programs and initiatives are put in place. In 2011, a new student-to-student tutoring program, called “peer mentoring,” was brought to Sehome High School in an attempt to increase student retention. Underclassmen in need of extra academic support were given upperclassmen tutors to meet with once a week. Together they work on homework, study for tests, and complete missing assignments.

Healthy snacks, often donated by local businesses, are provided at each meeting. Photo courtesy: Sehome High School.

Since then, Sehome’s peer mentoring program has continued working hard to keep students in school but its focus has shifted from pure academics to the development of relationships. Student mentors now complete extensive applications so they can be matched with a mentee that shares some common interests. And although many students like to spend their hour of peer mentoring puzzling out biology homework or studying for an upcoming algebra final, it’s not uncommon or frowned upon for students to simply hang out or play a game of ping pong.

The program’s shift is partially due to the addition of Sehome’s after school Student Learning Center, which is an entirely academically-focused tutoring service, and partially due to the program’s change in leadership.

Amy Brewster, Student Success Coordinator at Sehome, took charge of the program last year. According to Brewster, mentoring is about forming connections. “We feel that if we can get kids more connected with the school, they’ll be more likely to stick around, they’ll want to stick around,” says Brewster. “The goal is to get students to be happier to come to school.”

Students meet with mentors in the cafeteria every Wednesday. Photo courtesy: Sehome High School.

Every student has a unique story and unique hardships. There is no all-encompassing program that will take away all of the obstacles that may be keeping students from coming to school. “Some kids might fail a class or two their freshman year, lose their footing, and lose interest,” says Brewster. “Kids might feel like there’s nothing they can do about it. But there’s really a lot they can do.” A mentor’s job is to help students discover or regain interest in school and, ultimately, in graduating. Peer mentoring is special because it can be whatever the student needs it to be. It can be a place to become more academically confident, or learn time management. It can be a place for a mental break. It can be a place to see a familiar face, and be with someone that will listen, and give advice. It could even just be a place to get a free snack. “It’s about having a whole-person, social connection,” says Brewster, “I have kids in the program who have never talked to anyone at school before, and now they’re eating lunch with their mentor.”

Peer mentoring is special because it can be whatever the student needs it to be. It can be a place to become more academically confident or learn time management. It can be a place for a mental break. It can be a place to see a familiar face and be with someone that will listen and give advice. It could even just be a place to get a free snack. “It’s about having a whole-person, social connection,” says Brewster. “I have kids in the program who have never talked to anyone at school before and now they’re eating lunch with their mentor.”

Mentoring gives students a chance to catch up on school work. Photo courtesy: Sehome HIgh School. — Mentoring gives students a chance to catch up on school work. Photo courtesy: Sehome High School.

The program speaks for itself. In sharing her experience with Sehome’s peer mentoring program, a freshman mentee recognizes its social and academic value. “It’s different than having a tutor because you have a better friendship. I have a lot in common with my mentor. She knows me and has taken all the classes I’m in.”

This student’s mentor, in her senior year at Sehome, understands the importance of this connection in the larger context of her mentee’s high school career. “Having a mentor inspires underclassmen to form relationships with upperclassmen and bridge that gap,” she says. “That can be really important in high school. I like being a mentor because as a senior I don’t have many opportunities to interact with underclassmen.”

“Mentoring is for kids who need five more inches of connection,” explains Brewster. Often times, that connection can be the difference between dropping out and graduating.

Launching Success Supplies Community Support and Fun

By

Jennifer Dodge

-

When Jen Zimmermann and Kristen Krumdiack purchased Launching Success from the previous owners in 2013, they knew exactly where they wanted to take the longtime teacher resource supply and toy store. And, as employees already, they also knew the previous owners wanted only to sell to someone who cared as much as they did about the business and the community.

“Our goal is to partner with families on the growth and success of their kids,” says Kristen. “We have a huge variety of things that can reach kids on an educational and imaginative level.”

As you enter the store, located just off the Meridian on Prince, you feel as though you’ve walked into an incredible world of books, toys and teacher resources that is expansive and colorful beyond what you see from the street.

“Probably the biggest change we’ve made was the logo,” Jen says. “We wanted our brand to really reflect the array of products and services we offer.”

From science-related projects like ant hills, volcano kits, math games and puzzles to Legos, costumes and board games, Launching Success has virtually everything from education-based books and toys to create that environment of learning through the imaginative play of children says Kristen.

“We have quality materials, games, and toys so kids can thrive,” Jen says as describes the vast array of items carried in the Launching Success store.

Jen, a former teacher, brings the educational and teaching knowledge and resource to Launching Success while Kristen, a CPA, focuses on the accounting and vendor relationships. Both women have that practical knowledge and passion necessary to complete this dynamic team.

“We have a great team,” says Jen. “We also hire students from the Education Program at Western Washington University. These students understand the education process, they know how to work with the various resources and they are learning to work with parents and kids.”

Kristen describes how the customer service skills learned at Launching Success help these employees and future teachers become better communicators with parents and in the classroom with students. Each member of their team provides a level of service that ensures that every person walking through the doors has the information they need and the right product for their child or even grandchild. Jen and Kristen, with enthusiasm and smiles, tell the stories of grandparents coming into the store looking for just the right item for their grandkids.

A long-time supporter and supplier of teaching resources and toys, Launching Success is also a great place for workshops, summer programs and even themed birthday parties for the kids in the community.

At a price of only $125 for an hour and a half hour party, Launching Success will plan, set up and clean up your child’s birthday party. All you have to do is bring the kids and the food.

“It’s a different type of party,” says Jen as she recalls the variety of themes they’ve created from arts and crafts to Lego themed parties. “We plan everything.”

The summer activities at Launching Success feature fun programs with arts and crafts. Create a stepping stone and shrinkable creations or try out a science lab and dinosaur excavation.

Launching Success helps families find the best resources and supplies. Jen explains they work hard to build relationships with all of their vendors. “They know who we are and we know them,” she says of the relationships they have cultivated.

Vendor relationships are important because it ensures a quality product delivered to their customers. “We stand by our products and the vendors we work with stand by their products,” Kristen says. “If something breaks, it will get fixed. As a parent, that’s important to me,” adds Jen.

Jen and Kristen describe their roles as community partners with various schools and other organizations supporting kids. Launching Success works to support the community through non-profit organizations focused on kids.

You’ll also see them at local teacher conferences as vendors and sponsors and even at a local school for Math Night with a booth and math games to entertain kids and parents.

Launching Success is more than a teacher resource store or a toy store. Launching Success, with an emphasis on the education, is truly a family partner in creating success for kids through imaginative play and exploration. Stop in to see all they have to offer children and teachers in our community.

Launching Success
133 Prince Avenue in Bellingham
360-527-2641
Open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Sponsored

The Whatcom Dream Helps Families Climb the Ladder Toward Financial Stability

By

Sara Holodnick

-

community-toy-store — The Whatcom Dream offers a variety of services, from Financial Literacy classes to their annual Community Toy Store project that serves families who face financial hardship during the holiday season. Photo courtesy: The Whatcom Dream.

Thomas Wilson and Jeff Littlejohn started The Whatcom Dream in an apartment complex laundry room in 1999. The goal of The Whatcom Dream was to help Whatcom County residents reach their dreams by providing financial education, support, encouragement and opportunities to “ladder-up” in their lives socio-economically. The complex was located in the highest crime block in Bellingham at the time: The 1800 block of Texas Street.

Trudy Shuravloff's experience with generational poverty strengthens her role as Executive Director of The Whatcom Dream. Photo courtesy: The Whatcom Dream. — Trudy Shuravloff’s experience with generational poverty strengthens her role as Executive Director of The Whatcom Dream. Photo courtesy: The Whatcom Dream.

Trudy Shuravloff was a single mom living in the neighborhood when she heard about the classes offered by the nonprofit. She had grown up in poverty and found herself living in the same circumstances as an adult.

“I was born in Spokane to a single mom,” Trudy shared. “I was also a single mom, and just was repeating the things that had worked for her. My mom taught me the best she could, but I didn’t know anything different.”

She joined one of The Whatcom Dream’s Financial Literacy classes and began to learn new skills to stop subsisting and start thriving. In addition to learning how to effectively manage her money, the classes gave Trudy an opportunity to see herself in a new light. “They taught me that I’m a leader in my own right in my neighborhood.”

Eventually Trudy ended up going to college and getting a Human Services degree. Her education and experience growing up in poverty became valuable assets that led to her to become the Executive Director of The Whatcom Dream – a role she had never imagined for herself.

“I’m just a girl from the neighborhood making my way,” Trudy said. “And now I teach other people how to do that too.” But the nonprofit isn’t trying to fix people or do things on the behalf of those living in poverty. Instead it aims to support individuals in their unique journeys toward financial stability.

“Often there’s an assumption that poverty culture is bad,” Trudy shared. “It has beautiful things to it and things that are not so beautiful. How we get healthier – no matter where we come from – is having a diversity in our friends and in our support system.”

The Whatcom Dream offers a variety of services, from Financial Literacy classes to their annual Community Toy Store project that serves families who face financial hardship during the holiday season. Photo courtesy: The Whatcom Dream.

The Whatcom Dream increases that diversity by bridging the gaps between lower, middle and upper-income individuals and families in Whatcom County. They do this through Financial Literacy courses, Poverty Culture IQ classes and Poverty Simulations that are intended to give participants a common language to understand people from a variety of backgrounds.

“We try to promote a spirit of openness and learning,” Trudy explained. “Let’s try on each other’s lenses. We each have a tendency to think that the world is as we see it, but we’re all filtering our current experiences through our past experiences.”

Discussions about economic & social mobility tend to focus around how we move individuals and families to a point of being self-sustaining, often describing people living in poverty as burdens to society. Trudy explained that, in low-income neighborhoods, reliance upon the community can be seen instead as a strength. “If you’re a person in poverty looking at self-sufficiency of the middle class, it can look a little bit selfish,” shared Shuravloff. “There’s nothing wrong with the idea of self-sufficiency but it clashes with the culture of many people living in poverty.”

There are many ideas about the best ways to move people toward financial stability. The Whatcom Dream believes that getting individuals and families stable enough to buy homes is the best, most reliable way to end generational poverty.

“The key is home ownership,” shared Trudy. It can be a slow process, but she sees the ripple effect of home ownership beyond the family who lives there. “When people become a stakeholder in their neighborhood they won’t put up with the crime that they put up with before because there’s a sense of ownership.” But a crucial part of home ownership is having enough homes for people to buy.

Trudy Shuravloff is working to help others break the cycle of poverty. Photo courtesy: Trudy Shuravloff.

“In Bellingham we have a problem with housing right now. We have to be creative about how we infill. We want to maintain the character of our neighborhoods and make them nice places to live, and at the same time meet the needs of people for housing.”Trudy eventually bought a house in a

Trudy eventually bought a house in a middle class neighborhood herself, but she ended up moving right back to where she started on Texas Street after only five months. “I love my neighborhood and I love the relaxed boundaries in lower-income neighborhoods,” she said. “I was lonely in my middle class neighborhood, but I’m very happy here.” Through her work with The Whatcom Dream she is able to help encourage people from diverse backgrounds to live next door to each other instead of being separated by socioeconomic status.

“I love my community and I don’t yearn to move out of it,” Trudy said. “I feel like I’m growing where I was planted. It’s affordable, I feel very safe and I have all of my friends there. They’ve got my back and I’ve got their back. That is something I never want to give up.”

The Whatcom Dream offers ongoing classes and other opportunities for education to people from any background. Courses charge a modest fee to support the work and encourage folks who enroll to be invested and show up regularly, but there are scholarships available for those who are unable to pay. Go to http://thewhatcomdream.org/ to enroll in a class, donate, or volunteer.

Mount Baker Theatre Resident Ghost Judy is Blushing in Anticipation of The Irish Rovers and We Banjo 3

By

Ghost Judy via Lorraine Wilde

-

The Irish Rovers will celebrate 50 years of playing together. Photo courtesy: Mount Baker Theatre.

I wouldn’t really say that I “haunt” the theatre. I’m more of a friendly spirit. Everyone calls me Judy. I’ve been floating through this historic palace ever since it opened. I try to help tidy up and enjoy people watching the theatre’s interesting visitors. The truth is, I don’t ever want to leave. Why would I when I get to see so many incredible shows and performers from all over the world?

Although I try to stay out of the way, I haven’t been able to completely avoid the notice of several MBT ushers and projectionists. Some say they feel gusts of cold air or see balls of light when I pass. I occasionally rustle a skirt when I’m in a hurry, and I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve been heard calling out the names of a stage hand or projectionist when I’ve developed a crush.

Speaking of crushes, my heart is starting to beat fast when I think about the return of The Irish Rovers with We Banjo 3 this February 26. Have you seen them perform? I can’t help but fly in circles through the mezzanine when the Celtic super group The Irish Rovers play their cheerful tunes. I can hardly believe they are a celebrating more than 50 years of playing together.

I’m also so excited that they’ll be joined by We Banjo 3, a crew of talented — and handsome — young Irishmen who’ll play traditional Irish, folk, Irish American, and Celtic tunes from their award-winning albums. It’s like they are all connected telepathically when they play their energetic and sincere songs. If only I could stomp my own boots during the show. Perhaps I’ll push cups off the shelf in concessions or jingle the crystal chandelier instead.

I’m blushing at the thought of being transported by their music to the beautiful Irish countryside. I truly cannot wait for them to arrive.

For more information about this performance and other upcoming MBT shows, visit MBT online, and get a sneak peek at the performance by watching the video here.

Free HPV Vaccines for County Residents Ages 19-26

By

LocalTalk Contributor

-

Submitted by: Whatcom Community College

Whatcom Community College (WCC) nursing students will partner with the Whatcom County Health Department to provide free HPV vaccines for Whatcom County residents ages 19 to 26 at 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10 in rooms 107 and 108 of the Syre Student Center on WCC’s campus. There is no fee for qualified adults who meet the age requirement and are un-insured or under-insured. No appointments are necessary; participants should expect registration and vaccination to take 30 minutes.

According to the Washington State Department of Health, about 14 million people in the United Stated become newly infected with human papilloma virus (HPV) each year. Initial HPV infection is most common in people in their teen years or early 20s. Both men and women can get HPV and can spread it to others without realizing they have the virus. HPV can lead to cancer.

The HPV vaccinations are made possible in part by a grant from the Group Health Foundation. For more information regarding the event, contact Grace Kolodychuk, WCC nursing program, gkolodyc@whatcom.edu.

Fast Facts:

No fee, no insurance required for Feb. 10 event on WCC’s campus.
Human papilloma virus (HPV) can lead to cancer.
Initial HPV infection most common in teens to early 20 year olds.

Gordy Tweit – Capturing the Spirit of Time

By

Dondi Tondro-Smith

-

Gordon Tweit has called this house home for eighty-five years. Photo credit: Dondi Tondro-Smith.

Someone said it was impossible, but little Gordy was undeterred. As a child, Gordon Tweit took his first photo with a square Kodak camera. Before the towering trees were tall on Donovan Avenue, he stood on his front porch during a storm and vowed to capture lightning. He got the shot that night, some eighty years ago and has been photographing Bellingham’s natural wonders, events and culture ever since. Known as Fairhaven’s unofficial archivist, Tweit was the official pharmacist at Fairhaven Pharmacy on Harris Avenue until 1991. Now, at age ninety, he’s seen his coastal haven’s evolution through a myriad of lenses.

Big band music floated in the background of Tweit’s living room as we sat on antique green couches to discuss his life. In 1941 Gordy began as a delivery boy for the pharmacy. By age 18, he was stationed in the Navy on the Aleutian Islands of Alaska as a quartermaster in charge of steering the ship.

Gordon Tweit sits on the front porch where he captured a bolt of lightning, with his Kodak camera, when he was just ten years old. Photo credit: Dondi Tondro-Smith.

Later, as a student at Western Washington University, young Gordy returned to work at Fairhaven Pharmacy on weekends and summers to satisfy his requirements. In those early years, he liked helping people trouble shoot with their own cameras as much as he enjoyed filling prescriptions and taking photos himself. By 1952, he was a young pharmacist working full time and, like his predecessors since 1889, he worked and managed the store before purchasing it from Rene La Case. Tweit finally sold the business to Rob Johansen in 1991, but stayed on in various capacities until the store finally closed its doors in 2015.

For 126 years, the pharmacy provided a place to answer people’s questions- be they physical aliments or otherwise. “Everyone wanted advice back then, not necessarily pharmacy advice … That’s what pharmacies were in those days,” Tweit remembered. One could pay the telephone and electricity bill, get the telephone number of the man who sold wood, have a flashlight fixed, fill a made to order prescription and do the grocery shopping in one fell swoop. There were deliveries made in the dead of night, political meetings held in the basement and a sign that hung, well before Tweit’s day, guaranteeing information of every kind.

Eliza Island looked like this before development and the Pacific American Fisheries Company. Photo courtesy: Gordon Tweit.

The kind of service Tweit gave his customers is almost inconceivable today. As evidence of this loving attention, he keeps a letter postmarked from 1962 in the nightstand drawer beside his bed. On the back of the envelope, scribbled in pencil, is the word “SAVE”. The letter is addressed to Mr. Tweit from Edward R. Murrow, a broadcast journalist most notable for his coverage of WWII. Murrow thanked Tweit for the red roses he sent to Murrow’s mother in the hospital and for being a pallbearer at her funeral. The note goes on to express how fond Murrow’s mother was of Tweit and the deep gratitude the Murrow family felt for the “kindnesses” he’d bestowed over the years.

That spirit of kindness was shown to the children of Bellingham every Halloween. Tweit is well known for the annual photos he took with his Minolta camera. For forty-nine consecutive years, he photographed each child who stopped by the pharmacy, freely distributing full-size candy bars at the same time. Tweit began hanging the 5×7 photos of the costumed children in the display windows only to give the photos away to those who wanted a souvenir of their holiday fun. “I once took 800 Halloween portraits in a single day,” Tweit recalled, “but the norm hovered around 525. And those kids never forgot.”

This fundraiser tribute honored Gordon Tweit for his many contributions to the Whatcom Maritime Association. Photo credit: Dondi Tondro-Smith.

He’s donated the cameras he used- well over a hundred cameras- to the Whatcom Museum. Among his favorite photos are the ones he’s kept in Halloween photo albums and the collection of ship photos displayed in his hallway.

Fairhaven Pharmacy may be a thing of the past, but Tweit’s legacy of giving will continue. Anyone who drives down 12^th Street notices Gordon Tweit’s name stenciled on the back of the iconic building he used to call his office. The photographs of Bellingham he’d taken and acquired, used to hang on those walls. Since the pharmacy closed in 2015, his collection of medical books and maritime memorabilia has been distributed to a myriad of organizations and the Western Gallery. His shots of Chuckanut Drive were used to celebrate the road’s centennial and one of his photos of Lake Samish was used as a front cover for a book about the picturesque lake.

Tweit (originally spelled Tveit- there’s no W in Norwegian) is a Norwegian name dating back to Tweit’s paternal great-grandparents who arrived in Bellingham in the 1890’s. Tweit has preserved the legacy of his great-grandfather’s livelihood, working for the Pacific American Fisheries on Eliza Island, through collected photos and an assortment of the original tin can art of PAF’s salmon. On the island, Tweit’s great-grandfather worked side by side with his cousin’s grandfather to build barges, salmon tender boats and ships for the PAF.

Tweit’s collection of PAF tin cans has recently been donated to the Whatcom Maritime Association. Photo credit: Dondi Tondro-Smith.

His collection of PAF tin cans has recently been donated to the Whatcom Maritime Association, as well as many photos displaying the maritime history and heritage of the region. Executive director Steve Paus, has known Tweit since 1991, but knew his mother as the cook at Lowell Elementary when he was a student there.

Tweit was a founding member of their organization and in Paus’ words, “Gordy was a very generous donor of funds as well as all of these wonderful artifacts he gave us after the closure of the pharmacy. You would see him at the pharmacy and walking around the streets of Fairhaven taking photographs and at all kinds of events. He was always there. He’s really the spirit of Fairhaven and the community. He loves Fairhaven and Fairhaven loves him.”

President and Founder of Anthony’s Resaurants, Budd Gould, Awarded 2017 Executive Excellence Award

By

LocalTalk Contributor

-

Anthony's Restaurants 2 — Founder and President, Budd Gould, has been awarded the 2017 Executive Excellence Award in the CEO of the Year category from Seattle Business Magazine. Photo courtesy: Anthony's Restaurants.

Submitted by: Anthony’s Resaurants

Anthony’s Restaurants is proud to announce that Founder and President, Budd Gould, has been awarded the 2017 Executive Excellence Award in the CEO of the Year category from Seattle Business Magazine. The award ceremony and Gala took place yesterday evening at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle.

The Executive Excellence Awards program is the Pacific Northwest’s premier c-suite leadership event. It recognizes select Washington state senior executives who have demonstrated extraordinary, consistent leadership in guiding their companies or not-for-profit organizations to success. Budd’s dedication to the strategic growth of Anthony’s over the past 40 years and maintaining the health of the company are just a few of the core values that he has instilled into the company and just one of the many reasons why Budd was chosen as a recipient of this award.

“It is such an honor to receive this Executive Excellence Award and to be among so many esteemed members of the community,” says Budd. “Building this company has been such an immeasurable joy and I could not have done any of it without the hard work and support of my team. On behalf of our entire team at Anthony’s, we are truly grateful for this recognition.”

Budd has been an active leader in the Pacific Northwest restaurant and seafood industry for more than 40 years. A native Seattleite, Budd is a graduate of Queen Anne High School and the University of Washington. After earning his MBA from Harvard University, he returned to Seattle and founded Mad Anthony’s Inc. in 1972. Since the opening of the first HomePort restaurant on the Kirkland waterfront in 1976, Budd has opened 28 more Anthony’s restaurants all across Washington State, with one in Oregon and most recently in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho.

Some of the past recognition Budd has received includes the National Restaurant Association and Washington Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Neighbor Award, the Oregon Restaurant Association’s Good Neighbor Award, The Junior Achievement Puget Sound Business Hall of Fame, South Seattle Community College Foundation’s Benefactor of the Year and the University of Washington Business School Alumni Leadership Award.

Seattle Business magazine delivers insight into the key people, enterprises and trends that drive business in the Pacific Northwest. In their fifth running year of the Executive Excellence awards, they seek out examples of the most outstanding executives, the most inspiring leaders and the most thoughtful mentors.

Anthony’s Restaurants owns and operates a family of privately held restaurants in locations throughout the Pacific Northwest. From classic ‘to-go’ eateries to casual dining and relaxed dinner houses, Anthony’s core commitment to fresh Northwest seafood and meat, complemented by local produce, Northwest wines and microbrews, is the foundation for each restaurant. To ensure Anthony’s commitment to purchasing only the highest quality fresh seafood, Anthony’s opened its own seafood company in 1985, located at Pier 91, Seattle. Anthony’s is proud of its continuing commitment to quality and value, which has made it the place for fresh Northwest seafood throughout the Pacific Northwest. Learn more at http://www.anthonys.com

Nowicke Estate Presents $144,000 Bequest to Everson Library Friends Group

By

LocalTalk Contributor

-

Library Manager Eileen Shaw and Everson Friends Treasurer Christel Bronsema with Nowicke Bequest Check for 144K resized — Library Manager, Eileen Shaw, and Everson Friends Treasurer, Christel Bronsema, were thrilled with the generous donation. Photo courtesy: Everson Library Friends.

Submitted by: Friends of Everson Library

The 33rd annual Silver Tea at Whatcom County Library System’s Everson McBeath Community Library was all about silver and gold. Staff and Friends of the Library were on hand to dole out tasty cookies and piping hot tea while local musicians played and sang. There was a warm buzz around the room, as neighbors caught up with neighbors. There were several older people in attendance who had been brought there by friends and family. Two individuals were overheard to exclaim how much they enjoyed socializing and experiencing local culture at the library.

The gold part of the day – besides the golden glow of friendships old and new – came in the form of a presentation of a check to the Friends of the Everson Library, on behalf of the estate of Fred D. Nowicke. The Whatcom County Library Foundation had recently received over $4,000 from the estate for use at the Everson Library. At the Silver Tea, a trustee for the estate presented a second gift to the Friends of the Everson Library – a check for over $144,000! To say that everyone was amazed and thrilled is an understatement.

Several Friends officers were on hand along with Everson Library Manager Eileen Shaw. Treasurer Christel Bronsema accepted the check, which must be used for capital improvements. “What a wonderful bequest from the Nowicke family to the Friends of the Everson Library,” said Bronsema. “We are so grateful for their heartfelt thoughtfulness and incredible generosity.”

The Friends will be working closely with WCLS staff and administration, the City of Everson, which owns the facility, and local community groups such as the Lions Club to determine the best way to honor this generous legacy.

“Listening to the description of Fred Nowicke and his wife Evelyn, it is clear that they loved books and reading and treasured the Everson Library,” said WCLS Executive Director Christine Perkins. “Reading brought a lot of joy to their lives and the library played a significant role.”

Originally from the Chicago area, the Nowickes eventually landed in Everson, where Mr. Nowicke worked as a butcher. After retirement, the couple continued to read avidly, and their home bookshelves had books several layers deep. Their friends mentioned the couple’s deep intellect and their sense of fun. Former Everson Library staff member Susan Johns remembers visiting them at their home and having good conversations about books.

“It is extremely touching that they chose to recognize the library by making such a major gift,” said Perkins. “The Friends, so active in the creation of the Nooksack Valley Heritage Center, can’t wait to get to work!”

northwater Welcomes Christy Fox as Executive Chef

By

WhatcomTalk Editor

-

christy fox — Photo credit: Photiio Portraits.

Opening soon for breakfast, lunch and dinner, northwater at Bellingham’s brand new concept hotel, Holiday Inn & Suites, plans to feature regionally focused food from the Pacific Northwest. Behind the creative menu, boasting memorable flavor profiles, is Executive Chef Christy Fox.

Christy brings her years of passion with food to northwater which enables her to create a diverse menu that embraces the many cultures of the Pacific Northwest. Utilizing the best of what the region has to offer and by working with local farms and artisans she is crafting a menu to serve a wide range of exciting and interesting foods to please the palette. It’s important to her to include many choices for people with food sensitivities so everyone can experience northwater. “I am looking forward to providing taste tempting meals that offer a wide range of dining experiences, a quick business lunch, a leisurely dinner or happy hour with friends,” states Chef Fox.

bellingham holiday inn — Executive Chef Christy Fox prepares a regionally focused menu for the new concept restaurant, northwater, at Holiday Inn & Suites. Photo credit: Photiio Portraits.

Situated across the parking lot from the Bellingham airport, northwater offers an inviting atmosphere that strives to bring the outdoors inside with homage paid to all aspects of water, predominant in our unique corner of the world. Styled with comforting slate blues, etched glass and a water feature, northwater creates a feeling of balance and community with plenty to keep the senses alive. It’s the perfect place to relax before checking in for your flight or waiting for arriving family and friends. Locals and visitors alike can enjoy a memorable meal full of fresh ingredients and exquisite flavors served by a team of friendly professionals.

The restaurant will introduce the freshest of coffee to the area, roasting their own northwater brand daily in their custom roasting room on site. Enjoy with your meals and also buy a bag to take with you!

Future plans include the unveiling of the northwater whiskey society, a platform where connoisseurs can develop their knowledge of the spirit by attending special tastings with specially designed pairing menus to compliment a vast variety of whiskeys.

At northwater, you can look forward to creative specialties from Chef Christy’s imaginative culinary expertise. For Christy, the work she continues through northwater will come from her love of the region and local offerings paired with 25 years’ experience as a chef. For Christy, food is about community. “It’s about gathering,” Christy shares. “It’s about bringing people together and enjoying great food and drink in that moment in time.”

Holiday Inn & Suites Bellingham / northwater is located at 4260 Mitchell Way. www.northh2o.com

Kjell Redal: Multimedia Storytelling to Leave You in Awe

By

Jade Thurston

-

Redal navigates his drone over downtown Bellingham to capture iconic buildings such as the Whatcom Museum. Photo courtesy: Screenshot from Above Bellingham.

Kjell Redal was in high school when he went on a family trip to southern and eastern Africa. Here he saw local people going about their day-to-day lives. He had a “crappy point and shoot” camera and, with that, he realized his passion for telling a story through an image.

Redal, 22, is currently a student at Western Washington University, but it didn’t start there. From Boulder, Colorado, Redal made his way to Canada to begin college. When there was no journalism program offered at his school, Redal said he found WWU.

Kjell Redal, 22, says his outdoor pursuits and travel experiences help define who he is. Photo credit: Andrew Jernberg.

“I love the area and the natural landscape around here, the mountains mostly,” Redal said.

Beyond the local landscape, Redal was hooked by a particular track in WWU’s journalism program: visual journalism.

“I am passionate about accurate, engaging and immersive multimedia storytelling, which I think constitutes journalism at its best,” Redal wrote on the “about” section of his website.

Recently, Redal displayed his storytelling talents in his “Above Bellingham” video, shot entirely with a DJI Phantom 3 4K drone. The video has been widely shared on social media and played 130,000 times on Vimeo.

Redal navigates his drone over downtown Bellingham to capture iconic buildings such as the Whatcom Museum. Photo courtesy: Screenshot from Above Bellingham.

“Above Bellingham” features aerial shots of individuals walking, running, hiking, biking, boarding, skiing, rowing, swimming and even backflipping their way around Bellingham and surrounding areas. These clips took two seasons to compile and the video was formed after three full days of editing, Redal said.

“When I think about making videos, I think of creating content that appeals to everyone. Not in my journalism – because you just can’t do that – but with a video platform,” Redal said. “You have to have the quintessential icons of a city, but also think about what looks best from a drone. It’s kind of a balancing act.”

Redal captures cliff jumping, along with many other outdoor activities, from an aerial view. Photo courtesy: Screenshot from Above Bellingham.

The most challenging part about creating something like “Above Bellingham” is simply getting the drone to certain destinations, such as Mount Baker. After all, ski touring is complicated enough considering the extensive equipment and avalanche gear an individual must bring along. On top of that, Redal carries a separate drone backpack that latches to his main pack. “It’s this massive, unwieldy thing that hangs off my back and anytime I ski into a turn it’s pretty challenging,” Redal said.

Skiers stand and celebrate atop the snowy mountains as Redal’s drone soars overhead. Photo courtesy: Screenshot from Above Bellingham.

Redal personally takes part in about half of the athletics displayed in “Above Bellingham,” with skiing being his main winter activity. Cliff jumping is also up there in Redal’s favorites. As far as adventures go, Redal said he has spent the most time exploring the three regions of Bellingham, Boulder and Bozeman, Montana.

Before “Above Bellingham” Redal made a video on his hometown titled “Above Boulder,” which also earned a high number of views.

Redal releases his drone in a variety of landscapes to piece together a range of video content. Photo credit: Andrew Jernberg.

“I didn’t really plan this B-theme,” Redal said. “There’s a lot of towns that would be sweet to continue doing it with a B-theme. But there’s also a lot of other cool cities that don’t start with a B, so we’ll see.”

With about a quarter and a half left of university, Redal is enthusiastic for what lies ahead. Currently, he is in the process of sending out job applications and keeping an open mind for opportunities. To view Redal’s many work experiences and qualifications, visit his interactive resume for computer or mobile.

“I’m kind of branding myself as a multimedia journalist,” Redal said. “I’m constantly working to have all the tools of a storytelling toolbox to communicate effectively and engage accurately.”

STAY CONNECTED

Business

Trending Now

Editor Picks