After spending six months perfecting a solo, a violinist from Sehome High School performs it in front of judges. Photo credit: Jeremy Davies.
Every January, young musicians from Island, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties gather at Bellingham High School to showcase their talents and hard work in the SJMEA Senior Solo and Ensemble Contest. High schoolers that thrive in band, orchestra or choir are given the opportunity to perform self-selected pieces and receive feedback from an adjudicator. The winners of each category get the honor of proceeding to the state competition in April.
By participating in ensembles, students improve communication and listening skills in addition to sharpening their musical technique. Photo credit: Jeremy Davies.
Although it is certainly encouraged by parents and music teachers, the beauty of this competition is that it is ultimately driven by the sheer self-motivation of the students. Kate Rose, senior violinist at Sehome High School, says that the kind of students who are drawn to the competition come together to form a unique kind of community. “Everybody there has something in common: the capacity to fully appreciate music,” Rose says. “It becomes clear that so many people do it for the pure joy of playing music. That’s a cool thing to be a part of.”
The contest goes beyond the joy of playing. It gives students an experience vastly different from what they are familiar with in the classroom. According to Rose, this exposure is greatly valuable. “It’s a chance to work with someone new and get fresh feedback,” she says. “You learn to get feedback from different types of people. A judge could tell you to play something in a way you’d never considered before.”
In addition to working with judges, students performing with ensembles must also learn how to work with fellow musicians. “It’s a chance to work with a group you chose and to work with different people,” Rose says. Once students form a group, it’s up to them to decide on a piece, and to schedule and carry out group rehearsals. The ensemble experience cultivates the maturity required to listen to all members of a group, give and receive constructive criticism, and make compromises.
After spending six months perfecting a solo, a violinist from Sehome High School performs it in front of judges. Photo credit: Jeremy Davies.
On top of the seven categories devoted to ensembles, the contest boasts 29 solo categories, including seven woodwind categories, five brass, four percussion, four strings, six vocal, piano, guitar and harp. Rose sees the value in solos as well. “You do have to sacrifice a piece of your individuality when playing in a group. That’s why it can be amazing to hear people play solos. People put all of their passion and energy into it. It’s a full expression of their personality.” Rose says that because of this, watching classmates perform is one of the best parts of the contest.
Spectating isn’t only limited to participating students, however. This event is open to the public. High school students perform all day on Saturday, January 28. The junior level competition will occur on Saturday, February 4. Friends, family and lovers of music are all encouraged to attend in support of some of Bellingham’s finest, most passionate students of music.
Large has fun with his cast including the star of Episode III, "Ganamazol's Gambit," Elle Viane Sonnet. Photo credit: Damian Vines Photography.
Whatcom County professional filmmaker Wilson Large is moving forward on the next phase of the successful locally-produced and directed adventure-comedy-fantasy web series, Dark Darkness. With four episodes of Season Zero under his belt, now touring at festivals and winning awards, Large is motivated by the support of local businesses and artists to begin pre-production on Seasons One and Two. He plans to expand both scale and budget while continuing to keep it local.
Snakeman of Episode IV “Snakeman’s Solitude” is played by Jordan Donovan. Photo credit: Damian Vines Photography.
An Epic Journey
Dark Darkness was first inspired by a 2007 serial play by Ben Eisner at Bellingham’s Idiom Theatre (now part of the new Sylvia Center for the Arts). The story is both an odyssey and an homage inspired by some of the best science fiction/fantasy comic books, board and video games, and films. “I call it Saturday morning cartoons for the YouTube generation,” explains Large of Season Zero.
The web series follows four flawed but powerful “Dark Lords” who must become reluctant allies as they solve a mystery that will clear their names of a murder they didn’t commit. They must ultimately learn how to be friends in order to survive. “The underlying message is that even Dark Lords can be compelled to do positive things,” adds Large.
Large had been immersed in Bellingham’s filmmaking community since before 1998 when he bought the Bellingham video production company, Camcord and Company, which he changed to Camcord at Large.
When the serial play was first presented on stage, Large was going through a personal odyssey of his own. His sister, Autumn Gariss, had been battling cancer off and on since 2000. “Real life in 2007 was a hard time for me and my family,” remembers Large. “Going to the weekly play of Dark Darkness was one healthy way to escape that personal sadness. I was really engaged by the clever, funny, complex characters.”
The director, cast and crew are constantly in action on the set. They are seen here filming Episode III “Ganamazol’s Gambit.” Photo credit: Damian Vines Photography.
At the time, Large had no idea that he was about to embark on a decade-long journey of his own. Autumn’s passing in 2008 hit Large hard. “Her way of dealing with the cancer was to never acknowledge that dying was an option,” remembers Large. “She had a child and so many unfulfilled dreams. Losing her inspired me to go after my own dreams because she couldn’t. Since then, pursuing Dark Darkness has been my way to stay connected to her energy, her passion, her desire to fulfill her own dreams.”
In 2011, Large changed the name of his company to Current Media Productions and sold it to local filmmaker Jordan Donovan, who owns and operates it today. Over time, Donovan and Large became close friends. Large continued to make commercials and training videos via his company, One World Productions, all the while writing and developing Dark Darkness and his team of local film artists.
The first episode of Large’s passion project, Season Zero’s “Ronald’s Summoning,” debuted in mid-2012. Episodes II and III came out in 2014 and 2015 and eventually Donovan was cast as Snakeman in Season Zero’s Episode IV “Snakeman’s Solitude,” which appeared in January 2016.
Wilson Large attended Rose City Comic-Con in Portland, Oregon with (Cat Lady) Brandi Sheppard, Large, (Stanzi) Collene Ames, Makeup Assistant Izabella Kornelis, and a friend. Photo courtesy: Wilson Large.
Getting Noticed
Large’s drive to fulfill his dreams has garnered attention and accolades. Several episodes were screened and won awards at film festivals in Bellingham and Seattle as well as Vancouver Web Fest in B.C., Canada. In October 2016, Episode IV “Snakeman’s Solitude” was an official selection at the 24th Annual Raindance Film Festival in the Web Fest UK division in London, England. Large attended the festival with his wife, Joanna, who also played a sorceress in Episode I. While in London, Large was also a panelist in the Web Fest Panel: Successful Crowdfunding. “It was a big honor. I made some great contacts and had the privilege of pitching to studio executives and distributers. I got some valuable feedback that really improved my pitch,” notes Large. “I learned a lot from my co-panelists while sharing my own experience.”
In November 2016 Large took Dark Darkness to the American Film Market (AFM) annual conference in Santa Monica, California. Filmmakers who attend learn about the industry, network, and pitch their projects to the feature film industry’s global leaders, decision makers, and experts. “Going to AFM was confirmation that Dark Darkness is a marketable product,” explains Large. “The reaction from distributers and production partners was very positive and supportive. It was great to see the faces of marketing professionals light up. They get the material and can see its potential.”
Built on a Foundation of Local Support
Large was confident taking the project outside Whatcom County because of the tremendous support the project has received within it. His local productions spanned the past four years and have involved more than 90 Washington State artists, most residing in the Bellingham area. The project also has included the skills of connected and incredibly experienced Los Angeles filmmakers who have retired to Whatcom County or who commute back and forth including CSI: NY’sJesse Collver, set designer Mel Cooper, and production designer Garvin Eddy.
Large has fun with his cast including the star of Episode III, “Ganamazol’s Gambit,” Elle Viane Sonnet. Photo credit: Damian Vines Photography.
“We’ve also secured Mel Damski as the director of either future episodes or a full-length feature,” adds Large. Damski lives in Bellingham and is known for his work directing dozens of movies and hundreds of hours of series television including M*A*S*H (1972), Boston Legal (2004), Psych (2006), and Scorpion (2014).
Large is in the planning phase for the future of Seasons One and Two of the series with a projected budget of $1.2 million. He will pursue fundraising and state incentives for the project as either a continued web series or a full-length feature film. “We have several distributers eager to help us deliver a feature-length version. Their letters of intent will help us as we move forward,” explains Large of the development process. “We’ve set up D4 Productions, LLC and are officially accepting additional investors.”
Several of the principal cast and crew are shareholders in the new venture with 33% still available to outside investment. Large continues to work as a commercial producer and editor via his company One World Productions.
Dark Darkness is also expanding to include much more than a film. “It’s such a big universe,” notes Large. “We’re in talks and developing spin-off web series, a board game, comics, and books. It’s turning into an intellectual-property, trans-media franchise. It’s very exciting for us.” The board game is being developed by Dark Darkness creator Ben Eisner with his brother Tim by their Portland-based company, Weird City Games.
Even though Dark Darkness’ seems to be blasting off, Large plans to keep future productions in the Whatcom County area. “I love the vibe in Bellingham because the filmmaking community here is talented, collaborative and supportive,” explains Large. “We’re excited to use as many locals as possible to dive into the next phase with the Dark Darkness Universe.”
ReUse Works keeps items out of the landfill and offers skills training to the community. Photo courtesy: Ragfinery.
Submitted by: ReUse Works
In 2005 ReUse Works launched our first training business, Appliance Depot – an innovative business model that provides job training for low income residents of Whatcom County by tapping into the appliance waste stream. Since its inception, 400 residents have received job experience and training. These hard-working individuals have helped salvage, repair and sell appliances.
Jun D. Mariano disassembles a donated appliance to salvage reusable parts. Credit: Celina Tate.
In the eleven years since Appliance Depot opened its doors, we’ve made a significant impact on our local economy and environment:
40,000 appliances diverted from the waste stream
10,500 appliances saved for reuse by low income households
3000 tons of scrap metal recycled
$3 million revenue generated by converting trash into treasure!
In 2014 ReUse Works added a new venture to its training and reuse program: Ragfinery. Ragfinery built on the success of Appliance Depot’s business model, utilizing discarded textiles as source material to provide jobs, job training, resources for artists and education about creative reuse.
In two-and-a-half years, this textile reuse center has made a big impact:
27 worker trainees have gained essential skills for entering or re-entering the workforce
400,000 pounds of textiles have been diverted from the landfill. YES, 400,000 POUNDS!
4,200 community members have recycled textiles
600 people have learned new skills at our fun upcycling workshops
Here is some of the feedback we’ve been receiving from the community:
Ragfinery also helps people channel their creativity. Photo courtesy: Ragfinery.
“My head just spins with creativity when I visit your shop!” Margaret said. “Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for what you do.”
“I am so excited by Ragfinery and what it is doing in, and for, Bellingham,” Kathleen said. “Having access to such wonderful fabrics, that are about to be dumped into the landfill is so great. Learning how to use fabrics, and turn them into art pieces is really expanding my artistic and sewing horizons. Classes are great and building community is an asset to the northwest.”
The long-term goal of ReUse Works is to make our operations for both Appliance Depot and Ragfinery financially sustainable. While Appliance Depot became self-sustaining in 2010, over the last two years scrap prices disappeared, leaving a significant hole in our budget that appliance sales alone cannot cover. Over the long-term, our hope is that scrap prices will return. In the meantime, in order to provide life-changing job training opportunities and continue our sustainable business model, we need the financial support of our community.
Ragfinery is still in the development phase, working toward being self-sustaining in the next two to three years. Our staff, trainees, volunteers, students and customers are passionate about what we do. We’ve tapped into something very special with this program, and it is truly a community supported endeavor.
You can help provide job training opportunities and care for the environment by supporting ReUse Works. Photo courtesy: Ragfinery.
You can help provide much needed job training opportunities for those struggling to find work and make a positive impact on our environment by keeping valuable resources out of the landfill. Your support helps ReUse Works continue to help others in need and to lessen our community’s impact on the earth.
Would you consider donating to help us achieve our mission? You can either donate online at ragfinery.com, call us at 360-527-2646, send a check in mail (address below), or swing by Ragfinery or Appliance Depot to drop off a donation. Your donation is greatly appreciated and will be used to purchase the tools and to pay for the infrastructure needed to keep our operations running. We thank you in advance for your support!
Meet Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Holiday Port Festival on December 2, 3 and 4. Photo credit: Mark Turner | TurnerPhotographics.com.
Only two more days left until Christmas! Whether this statement fills you with hope and joy, or mounting angst at the thought of all you have left to do, one thing is true: Santa Claus is coming to town. (Ok, so “true” may not be the right word to use there, but you know what I mean). At this point in the holiday season you’re probably bursting with joy, bursting to get it over or just bursting to get the kids out of the house and have one blessed moment of piece. However you’re feeling, here are a few fun ideas to keep you busy. Be sure to check our calendar for a full list of all the fun Whatcom County happenings this weekend.
Get in a last minute word with Santa and have some added holiday fun at one of his many holiday appearances around town.
Get into the holiday spirit and experience a piece of history with Whatcom Museum’s Deck the Old City Hall. If you haven’t seen it yet, you don’t want to miss out on this classic holiday experience.
Get your holiday shopping done and support your local artisans at the Holiday Festival of the Arts. This great event also offers live music and art workshops for children. You’ll love seeing all the amazing things these talented artists have created!
If you’re still scrambling to come up with the perfect holiday gift idea, check out this advice from Mount Baker Theatre’s resident ghost, Judy.
Forget about all the work and hassle of cooking and sit down for a nice Christmas Eve dinner at Pierside Kitchen. Celebrate by the sea with a prix fixe menu designed by Executive Chef Bruno Feldeisen.
Experience the joy and magic of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker.” Audiences can expect the same grace and virtuosity that has made it a community favorite. Plus this is Northwest Ballet’s 18th consecutive season, so you know they’ve got it down pat.
Get inspired by Bellingham local and Girls Rock Camp superstar, Morgan Paris Lanza. Think about ways you can initiate positive change in our community in the coming year.
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.
Bellingham author Jeannette Dashiell pens women's fiction set in Manhattan. Photo credit: Patricia Herlevi.
While many people dream of becoming an author, local author Jeannette Dashiell literally wrote her first novel after experiencing her characters in a dream. She had no prior writing experience, even if writing her first novel was a dream come true.
Jeannette Dashiell’s debut novel takes place at a Manhattan restaurant. Photo credit: Patricia Herlevi.
I met with Dashiell at Village Books. For someone who recently suffered the tragedy of losing a daughter, Dashiell appeared vibrant and even enthusiastic on her journey as an author. She says that writing the novel provided a healing experience. She channeled her grief into the creative process.
“I had never thought to write before this dream came to me. In fact, in the beginning, I wrote just to get through the day. It was my way of distracting myself from the overwhelming pain of losing my daughter. It wasn’t until much later that I thought to myself, ‘Why not give it a shot? Put the story out there for others to read. What’s the worst thing that might happen? People might not like it, big deal. After what I’ve gone through there’s nothing that can faze me,’” Dashiell says.
The characters, a group of women who formed a book club that met at Franc’s restaurant in Manhattan, holds a resemblance to Dashiell’s Books and Booze club that also meets on a regular basis. But the author says that the characters in her novel came to her through a different avenue—as dream characters.
Local author Jeannette Dashiell hangs out in the literary paradise, Village Books. Photo credit: Patricia Herlevi.
“I wanted to see this group of book club women again,” Dashiell recalls. “I wanted to join them in the booth at Franc’s and listen as they told stories of their lives while drinking bottomless bottles of wine. I wanted the laughter and quips to continue. I wanted to know how they found resolution and triumph over their obstacles. I wanted to know the ending.”
For most authors, it’s not enough to dream about writing a novel which in fact is an arduous task in itself. Successful authors create space in their lives to piece a novel together or they carve out time in their day to sit down to the task. Dashiell is no exception and she fought with distractions.
“I’d like to say my writing process is pretty structured, but I can’t,” Dashiell says. “Don’t get me wrong. I do set certain days aside each week for writing. However, a friendly head nudge from our older dog Molly or the pawing of our rambunctious younger dog Lola can quickly lure me away for a game of fetch in the backyard.”
Jeannette Dashiell literally pursued her dream of writing a novel. Photo credit: Patricia Herlevi.
What began as a dream and a healing balm for the author’s grief of losing her daughter Hannah, transformed into a delightful read that qualifies as quirky women’s fiction.
“I am happy to say that I have heard from lots of readers that say they really connect to and like the characters in my book,” Dashiell says. “And they wish they could be part of the book club seated at Franc’s each month.
“Each character has attributes and quirks that I can relate to: Melissa with the challenges and rewards of parenting and Diane’s journey to begin living again after the tragic of loss of her husband. Sarah’s necessitate to have things in order, Kathy’s strong will to defend those in need, Ali’s fight against our society’s obsession with youth and beauty, Rita’s commitment to her marriage and Bette’s realization that a woman can have it all.”
Now that the writing bug has bitten Dashiell, she started writing her second novel following the character Franc and her family. It’s part of a series.
Debut novelist Jeannette Dashiell channeled grief through a creative process. Photo credit: Patricia Herlevi.
“This next book also continues the story of third generation restaurateur, Frances Giuliani as she continues to struggle with her feelings for the general manager, Derek,” Dashiell says. “Her strict rule to never get involved with someone she works with is quickly becoming less strict. The complexity of Frances’ dilemma is compounded by her well intentioned, yet overbearing mother Sophia whose sole mission in life is to find her daughter a husband.”
In the course of our photo shoot, I worked on recreating Franc’s restaurant atmosphere at the Colophon Café and at Village Books. And while only some of the photos turned out due to the low-light ambiance, I enjoyed meeting the author behind the independently-published novel, “An Evening at Franc’s.”
It takes courage to grieve the loss of a loved one. And it takes courage to write a novel. But it helps to have cheerleaders on the sideline.
Bellingham author Jeannette Dashiell pens women’s fiction set in Manhattan. Photo credit: Patricia Herlevi.
“With the encouragement and support from family and friends I sat down to the computer and began to write the story in my dream. My writing soon became a lifeline through my consuming grief,” Dashiell says.
It took a little patience, waiting for the sun to peek beneath the clouds for this sunset portrait on Chuckanut Bay. Photo credit: Mark Turner/Turner Photographics.
Mark Turner, owner Turner Photographics, recently discussed his path to becoming one of Whatcom County’s premier environmental photographers. “My original career goal was to be a photographer,” Turner says. “In fact, I still have the negatives from my high school days of working on the school newspaper.”
These Russell Hybrid Lupines and ‘Fireglow’ Euphorbia grow in Turner’s front yard garden. Photo credit: Mark Turner.
Turner remembers taking his earliest photos when he was around the age of seven or eight years old. “I remember being in the garden with my dad and grandma,” he says of the memory. Turner grew up in a family of gardeners.
His first camera was a box camera, the same camera he used when taking those memorable photos of his family in the garden. He describes his excitement when he upgraded to a camera with a flash when he was nine. This was the camera he used to create memories on a trip to Europe when he was eleven years old.
Turner has always had a love for nature that is vividly apparent in the way he photographs his outdoor portraits, native plants and gardens. “I’m really an interpreter of the landscape,” Turner says. “It’s about where you put the camera.”
Turner began his photography business in 1993, producing note cards with images of Northwest landscapes. Eventually he grew the line of note cards to include 48 individual images.
Turner captured this old-growth Western Red Cedar trunk framed by Western Hemlocks along the Boulder River Trail near Darrington. Photo credit: Mark Turner.
Yet, with changing technology, the market for note cards diminished and Turner turned his attention to constructed landscapes and gardens, keeping with his love of nature. He began making important connections with gardeners and going on garden tours while connecting with book publishers. As a result, Turner’s work appears in books from Timber Press, Audubon Field Guides, Lone Pine Press and Cool Springs Press. Turner also has a presence on stock photo sites.
Turner describes his love of the natural world as a place of peace and comfort for him. “I listen, breath and enjoy an understanding of the relationships among natural organisms.”
When he’s creating his work, whether it be nature or family portraits, Turner is continuously looking at compositional relationships. “For example, I look at the environment and the placement of the flower in the meadow,” he explains. “Or the patterns between the old growth tree and the young tree in the light.”
Mark Turner is adept at photographing scenery, people and a combination of the two. Photo credit: Mark Turner.
Turner immersed himself into the Native Plant Society of Washington and Oregon and went on field trips and study weekends where he cultivated relationships with experts. After two full years and 40,000 miles of driving for each book, the guides were complete.
As a self-taught botanist, Turner approached the creation of the guides from the perspective of an artist with the scientific knowledge necessary to understand these native plants. Often books like these are created by scientists whose photography may be hit-or-miss.
Along the way Turner learned that creating the books and photographing gardens was about solving problems by finding the best specimens and creating a space around them. It’s that understanding of environmental relationships that helped create the end result.
Turner takes this same approach to the creation of family portraits. He is a firm believer in the idea that the environment chosen by a client must have meaning to them. This environmental relationship is reflected in the portrait he creates with them. Watching families in their favorite places, Turner works to capture the relationship between family members and the meaningful location. “You see the comfort level in people when they are in a place that has meaning to them,” he says. “Generally, people are automatically uncomfortable with having their picture taken. I want them to feel good about themselves and feel comfortable and relaxed. Ultimately, I want them to have a good time.”
That’s where the understanding of the environmental relationship comes in to play. That comfort level is reflected most often when a family is in a place of meaning to them.
Mark Turner took this family portrait on the abandoned railroad trestle at the south end of Lake Whatcom. The family lives just up Blue Canyon Road and chose this location for the meaning it has to them. Photo credit: Mark Turner.
When Turner meets with a family for the first time, his goal is to get to know them, ask a lot of questions and understand what is important to them. With this information, Turner is able to translate that into a comfortable session. The connection between nature, family and environmental relationships is what creates the connection between a family and their portrait.
“It goes beyond the training as a photographer,” Turner says. “I’ve really learned it is about the subject, whether it be a beautiful garden or native plant or a beautiful family.”
Habitat for Humanity utilizes teams of 10-12 people, such as the Women Build program, to construct the homes. Photo courtesy: Habitat for Humanity.
Ever thought it would be fun to hammer and nail or learn how to use power tools? Alyssa Carpenter thought it would be a fun idea when she signed up to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County at the Lynden Home and Garden Show. She soon received a call to see if she would be interested in taking on a leadership role with the Women Build program. Now she works with teams of women to help build homes and raise funds for the families struggling with poverty who benefit from the organization.
Alyssa Carpenter helps build Habitat for Humanity homes through the Women Build program. Photo courtesy: Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County.
Habitat homes are generally built in 12 to 15 days, spaced apart by a day a week. Teams of 10 to 12 volunteers show up on their build day and work on the home together. “I really like Women Build because construction is generally a male dominated industry,” Carpenter shares. “It was really cool to see so many women out there building and taking charge. It was a great bonding experience.”
John Moon, Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County adds, “Women are actually really good builders. They are meticulous builders and careful builders and they know how to ask questions.”
“It’s really empowering, getting comfortable with learning how to use the power tools,” Carpenter shares. “And it’s funny because in Ferndale this past summer they built Star Park in a week. It was like a marathon build. You had to sign up. If you had a red name tag it was because you were comfortable with power tools and if you had a blue name tag, maybe you weren’t. Right away I said, ‘Oh yeah, I’ll use those power tools’ and it was because I’ve used them on the Women Build projects before.”
At the beginning of a Habitat for Humanity build day, time is taken for volunteers to learn a particular skill that will be used during that day’s build, so someone who hasn’t used that tool before can easily pick up the new ability and then apply it during the day. “It’s a little scary at first but then you use it over and over on the build day and you become a pro,” Carpenter shares. “If you have questions you just ask the Construction Manager.”
Habitat for Humanity homes, built by volunteers such as the Women Build program, greatly enhance the well being of the partner families who come to own them. Photo courtesy: Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County.
Habitat for Humanity was started decades ago by Millard and Linda Fuller. It now has projects all over the world with about 35 affiliates in Washington State. The Whatcom County affiliate is currently working on the 37th home since its inception in 1988. Based on standards such as not profiting from the poor and giving “a hand up, not a hand out,” home owners through the program contribute 500 hours of sweat equity alongside volunteers. They also provide the $500 down payment on the home and continue to pay its mortgage, financed at a 0% interest rate.
In addition to the affordable mortgage payment, Habitat for Humanity homes are built to be energy efficient and produce a very low monthly maintenance cost. “You can heat these homes with the wattage of a hair dryer,” Moon shares. “That’s less than $20 a month.”
For our community, the charity’s “What Will You Build” pamphlet states that “42 percent of Whatcom County Residents earn less than the basic cost of living.”
John Moon, Executive Director, and Alyssa Carpenter, Women Build leader, stand next to the insulating model that helps keep Habitat for Humanity homes energy efficient. Photo credit: Theresa Golden.
“Typically, the habitat client is a single mom with kids working a job and a half,” Moon explains. “What we’ve found though working with single parents, but typically single moms, is that it’s incredibly empowering. Given the right nurturing atmosphere, when you’ve built your own house, you feel like you can do anything.”
Owning their own home not only moves a struggling family into a safe environment, it also means the children can continue education without the risk of moving or changing school systems. In addition, the home can be passed on for generations allowing permanent home ownership to extend down the family line. “With that major goal of elevating the poor out of poverty forever, the building of the home actually has become the greatest tool in our tool box,” Moon shares.
When it comes to volunteering for the organization, there are many ways to get involved. The Whatcom affiliate operates the Habitat for Humanity store where volunteers can work as cashiers, receive donated materials, price merchandise or drive a truck to pick up donated items. Volunteers are also needed in the office for data entry, mailings or reception. For building homes, individual volunteers can help out or preexisting community groups can decide to team up together. There are also youth builds where kids ages 5 to 25 can build on the home. And there is the Women Build program. “Just come out and try it,” Carpenter shares. “Don’t let the intimidation factor keep you away.”
Habitat for Humanity utilizes teams of 10-12 people, such as the Women Build program, to construct the homes. Photo courtesy: Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County.
Moon adds, “No matter what you feel your skill level is, it doesn’t matter. You don’t have to have any skills. You just have to have a willing heart to help.”
If you would like volunteer contact Janet Straka, Programs Manager, at volunteer@hfhwhatcom.org.
The Habitat for Humanity Store can be found at 1825 Cornwall Avenue in Bellingham. Merchandise is available for sale. Items for the store can also be donated by individuals or businesses.
Dr. Laurie Brion uses her Smart Trips activities as a time to rebalance and chill. Photo credit: Evantide Photography.
Encouraging people to make more of their trips by walking, biking, taking the bus or sharing a car ride is the purpose of Whatcom Smart Trips, a community program created over ten years ago.
Susan Horst, Director of Mobility Programs, Whatcom Council of Governments says, “Nineteen thousand people have participated over the last ten years. We’ve gotten thank you notes from people who have participated and really seen and lived the benefits. It’s a great community program.”
Darlene Edwards makes Whatcom Smart Trips activities a way of life each day. Photo credit: Evantide Photography.
From the Trip Diary that keeps track of your Smart Trip activities to instruction for school children in building independence, to helping seniors get around town, there’s definitely something for everyone in this program. Not to mention the health benefits you receive from simply getting out and moving with others.
Darlene Edwards of Bellingham participates in Smart Trips. “It literally saved my life,” she says of her experience. “It got me motivated and keeps me motivated.”
Edwards describes how she got involved in the program. As an instructor at Bellingham Technical College for over twenty years who sat behind a computer, Edwards knew it was time to get moving for better health. She started with walking to and from the library each day. Then she discovered Smart Trips and liked the ability to see her progress using the Trip Diary.
Edwards walks along a bus route in case she gets tired and needs to just hop on to get home. “The bus drivers are so nice,” she says. “I know they will always get me home safely if I need it.”
Edwards utilizes the WTA buses as a matter of practice each day. She takes the bus anywhere she needs to go and then incorporates a walk into her daily journey.. “Smart Trips and WTA have taken away the fear of being too far from home to walk back,” she says.
Dr. Laurie Brion uses her Smart Trips activities as a time to rebalance and chill. Photo credit: Evantide Photography.
By logging her activities into the Trip Diary, Edwards keeps track of her miles, calories and even how many car trips and gas she’s saved. “I like the incentive. It tells me how much I’ve done and how great that accomplishment is.”
As a result of incorporating the Smart Trips program into her life, Edwards feels great and enjoys staying motivated and moving. “I dropped 50 pounds!”“It takes the stress away,” she continues. “It’s about taking that first step and keeping it going.”
Dr. Laurie Brion, with Unity Care NW, also participates by incorporating biking to work into her schedule. She recognizes the importance of fitting physical activity into her day. “My bicycling Smart Trip helps me stay mentally sharp and happy,” she says. “It’s a great time to chill and rebalance, keep oxygen flowing to my brain and it makes me feel good about myself.”
When you sign up for Smart Trips, you can make use of the Trip Diary by tracking your trips made by walking, biking, sharing rides or taking the bus. The Trip Diary tracks your activity including money saved, calories burned and distance traveled.
The Whatcom Smart Trips Summer Camps teach kids how to navigate the city on their own. Photo credit: Kirsten Wert.
According to Horst, since this community program began , over 19,000 people have made over 3.1 million Smart Trips saving over $7.4 million. In addition to money saved by individual participants, the community saves on health care costs. The increase in physical activity, experienced by Smart Trips participants, leads to reduced heart disease, depression, anxietydementia and arthritis pain..
And, there are other incentives as well. Once participants have made ten trips, participants receive a discount card for use with local businesses. For every 100 trips, you receive a thank you gift. Also included are monthly and quarterly drawings for those who consistently make Smart Trips.
Through Smart Trips, you have access to educational materials on virtually any topic related to walking, biking and busing around the city, making it easy to get started. Materials include information such as Smart Trips Maps, cycling for adults and kids and even how to haul your groceries when you’re taking the bus. These are all free of charge to anyone participating in the program.
Smart Trips even offers basic bicycling skills for elementary school children as well as a more advanced education program that includes navigation, taking the bus and reading maps for middle school children. A summer camp that involves teaching how to get around the city and ends with a scavenger hunt leaves participating kids with a sense of independence and responsibility when it comes to traveling the community on their own. The Seniors program gets our community seniors out for a fun, social trip while learning to navigate the city by bus.
Out for some fun, Bellingham seniors learn how to use the WTA bus system to get around town through Whatcom Smart Trips. Photo credit: Kirsten Wert .
Over 200 employer partners including Peace Health, Family Care Network and Unity Care NW want to be a part of the program because they really want to do the right thing. They are able to create their own incentive programs tied directly to participation in Smart Trips.
“The benefits are endless with Smart Trips,” says Horst. “And what a great way to connect with the community while you walk, bike, take the bus or share a ride.”
To become a participant in the Smart Trips programs simply sign up for the Trip Diary online and get moving.
Friends of the Lynden Library receive Outstanding Friends Award. Pictured (from left) is Joan Van Wyckhouse, Connie Orfanos, WCLS Deputy Director Michael Cox, Nancy Rouke (holding blue sign), Arlene Carlson, Alice Dusenberry, Judy Gauer (holding wooden plaque), and WCLS Executive Director Christine Perkins. Photo courtesy: Whatcom County Library System.
Each year, Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) honors one local Friends of the Library group or individual with an award for Outstanding Service. This year the award was presented to the Friends of the Lynden Library (FOLL) for their work to support the Lynden Library through the past year.
Lynden Library Branch Manager Dianne Marrs-Smith, nominated her the Lynden Friends for the award. “Our Friends group works every day to keep their in-library book store, 2nd Hand Prose, fully stocked and looking attractive for our patrons,” said Marrs-Smith. “This year, the Friends made roughly $15,000 between the book store and book sale events.”
Friends of the Lynden Library receive Outstanding Friends Award. Pictured (from left) is Joan Van Wyckhouse, Connie Orfanos, WCLS Deputy Director Michael Cox, Nancy Rouke (holding blue sign), Arlene Carlson, Alice Dusenberry, Judy Gauer (holding wooden plaque), and WCLS Executive Director Christine Perkins. Photo courtesy: Whatcom County Library System.
In her nomination, Marrs-Smith praised Friends President June Hahn, Leslie Williams, Connie Orfanos and Nancy Rourke for their dedication, generous support, and hard work. The money FOLL raised was used for special library programs and for landscaping around the building. “We will also make a few upgrades to our workspace this year with the Friends assistance,” said Marrs-Smith.
The Lynden Friends have purchased and will install a Little Free Library in honor of Serena and Bob Haugen. Serena and Bob were presented with the 2007 WCLS Outstanding Friends Award in its inaugural year in honor of their long-time volunteering and outstanding service as Friends’ Book Sale caretakers.
WCLS Deputy Director Michael Cox presented the Friends with the engraved “Traveling Plaque” to be displayed for the next year at the Lynden Library. “Our Friends groups are our biggest advocates,” said Cox. We thank the Lynden Friends for their hard work and dedication.”
Felix Elles creates a fire with 100 mirrors and a repurposed satellite dish. Photo credit:
Dondi Tondro-Smith.
The coconut fiber is smoking. The fire comes all at once. Felix Elles quickly claps out the flames he’s ignited. Having harnessed the power of the sun into a single high-powered beam, he’s captured the rays and the children’s undivided attention. With one hundred small mirrors adhered to the inside of a repurposed satellite dish, he calmly warns them, “If you stand in the way of the light beam for too long, you can catch your clothes on fire.”
A retired Western Washington University adjunct faculty of physics and astronomy, Elles donates his time to tutor a five-year-old boy and six-year-old girl every week at the Community Food Coop Café bakery. Each class brings a new set of scientific concepts- spinning tops, bubble prisms, levitating elements, throwing sound waves, and creating current through cutie oranges. Mr. Felix, as the kids call him, wows the small table with experiments focused on the excitement of discovering how science answers our most fundamental questions regarding how and why the world works.
We met Elles a few months ago at the café over warm tea and his collection of handmade tops. Some of the tops had strings and others were finger top models having been modified through the laws of physics to spin for up to twenty-minutes at a time. Elles, now in his early 70’s, shared, “There are a number of things in life I think are magical: Tops are one, magnets are another, as well as lighter than air balloons. Tops were a spin off of physics for me,” he said. “Fascination with tops is common across all ages and cultures.”
One of Felix Elles’ homemade tops was constructed to spin for timed experiments and extended fun. Photo credit: Dondi Tondro-Smith.
In a day when students learn computer code, Felix Elles can still send Morse code; in fact, he’s quite fast at it. The midday sun shined bright as he showed the children how to tap their names out in dots and dashes on several different types of telegraph devices. Teaching youth Morse code is a stark departure from the distinguished naval cryptography career in which Elles was once assigned to highly classified operations in Germany during the cold war era.
Having grown up in a naval family, he spent his childhood on bases throughout the United States, his family finally settling on Whidbey Island in 1968. Elles recalls, “I remember being six or seven years old and my father, if he wasn’t at sea, would take me with him to the base and he’d give me an old radio chassis to take apart or some other electronic. I picked up a real enjoyment for playing around with that stuff.” With a quick mind and a minor in German, Elles enlisted in the Navy as the Vietnam War heated up. After coding school he remembers, “I had my 15 minutes of fame, but the rest was pretty boring.”
Kaia Tondro-Smith learns how to tap out Morse code. Photo credit: Dondi Tondro-Smith.
Not everyone starts out with such a clear vision of what they’ll be when they grow up. “I had a lot of part time jobs when I was younger that allowed me to pursue other fun interests,” he recounts. “When I moved to Whidbey I had the dull job of cleaning switches for the phone company.” Elles remembers a day off work when he was getting some dental work done. When he realized he’d rather be at the dentist getting his teeth drilled than do the repetitive work of cleaning switches, he instantly gave thirty days notice and went back to Western to further his studies.
From the time he was in high school though, Elles had already formulated a bucket list. 1) Go sailing on the ocean 2) Learn to fly, and 3) Find out what sex was all about. By the time Elles was 21, he was married, had completed two research cruises in oceanography, one short cruise on a Navy destroyer, and by age 22, he’d earned his pilot’s license in Germany. Mission(s) accomplished.
Felix Elles demonstrates the light spectrum of bubbles. Photo credit: Dondi Tondro-Smith.
Elles seems to have studied everything. He began with Chemical Oceanography, which led him to Physics and Astronomy. He admits, “It’s a pretty broad background. Some might even say, a mile wide and an inch deep.” But this broad understanding of the physics and chemistry of the natural world informed the teaching abilities he’d later use as a professor.
When Elles first started teaching at Western he was in the science education department. There he observed students who struggled with relating scientific topics to everyday life. For instance, most students would think about trees in terms of wood boards alone. Elles would point out the fact that Georgia Pacific used wood to make vanilla and alcohol, that wood was used in many applications like tissue and cellulose insulation, not to mention to build boats and airplanes. In building and constructing objects like boats or telescopes, and many other devices from scratch, Elles has a grounded way of teaching based on his own wide ranging experiences. This teaching style is extremely applicable even to the youngest of students.
Children conduct electrical current with cutie oranges- enough to power a small clock. Photo credit: Dondi Tondro-Smith.
Elles grew up in a time when he could still fix his own car and remembers the days before scientists knew what the moon was made of, before plate tectonics or images of the Earth’s weather patterns were seen from space. Since then, he’s studied across many disciplines, been a sailor, an astronomer, assisted as a lab technician in experimental studies, operated as a hired pilot, still plays both the tuba and trombone in the symphony orchestra and knows more about the natural universe than most humans.
Felix Elles redefines what constitutes a classic renaissance mind. The fact that he’s sharing his knowledge with the next generation of young people is as magical as the science experiments he still dreams up and shares over tea and tops.
Kevin Wiebe is a Ferndale native. Although he graduated from Ferndale High School, he admits he wasn't a model student. His teachers and administrators...
