Sewing, along with the “resourcefulness mindset,” while mostly absent from the average household for a few generations, is making a comeback. The reasons for renewed interest in the needle and thread are widespread — from a desire for self-expression to being able to create clothes that fit well, to hit television shows like “Project Runway,” and a handful of environmental, economic, and social justice concerns.
Locally, the non-profit organization Ragfinery is tapping into that growing trend. With a shop full of donated fabric, scraps, and garments along with a calendar full of workshops to help crafters learn what to do with them, Ragfinery is banking on Bellingham’s creative bent and environmentally responsible leanings to create a successful business model.
Sewing Bootcamp at Ragfinery is a great way to develop a useful skill and fun hobby. Photo courtesy: Ragfinery.
“As far as we know we’re the first non-profit of our kind in the US,” says Ragfinery Manager, Shan Sparling. “At the heart of it all, though, is getting people on sewing machines.”
Sewing Bootcamp
This February, Ragfinery offers its first installation of a new “Sewing Bootcamp,” where students learn the basics of sewing by upcycling old clothes into new items. The class is held over three consecutive weekends and is taught by veteran seamstress Brigitte Parra, who also designs and creates many of the upcycled garments and bags for sale at Ragfinery.
“Once people learn how to use a sewing machine they get hooked,” Sparling says. “We get more and more people coming through our doors who have realized they can have a fun and satisfying experience making high quality and affordable clothing that really expresses their personal sense of style.”
ReUse Works (the parent organization of Ragfinery and Appliance Depot) Executive Director, Duane Jager, created Ragfinery two years ago using Appliance Depot’s successful “jobs from waste” model.
Sewing Bootcamps are set for February. Contact Ragfinery to learn more about the workshops and how to sign-up for an upcoming class. Photo courtesy: Ragfinery.
“Essentially, we’re tapping into the waste stream to create jobs, support the local economy, and protect the environment,” Jager says. “The textile industry is the second most polluting industry behind oil. If we can get folks to create and mend their own clothing, that’s a huge success.”
Ragfinery accepts clothing and fabric donations that are then either repurposed into upcycled items or sold by the pound to local artisans. All sales support job training for transitional populations, which happens on-site.
If you have questions about Ragfinery’s workshops or community endeavors, call 360-738-6977 or visit Ragfinery.com.
Enrollment is open for Leadership Whatcom, a program of the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce and Industry designed to cultivate the next generation of community leaders.
Leadership Whatcom is a community leadership training program that brings emerging and established leaders together to develop leadership skills while gaining unique insights into the multifaceted issues facing our county.
The class of 20–25 business professionals from various industries, nonprofits and municipalities participate in the 10-month program that includes interactive workshops hosted throughout the county to introduce Leadership participants to area industries and government leaders. Classes meet one day each month for 10 months with no classes in July and August for summer vacation.
The program focuses on practical leadership skills that help build bridges across generations, differing perspectives and sectors of the community. In addition, participants will collaborate with Leadership Whatcom alumni in order to build a program that utilizes the strengths of its graduates to mentor its students.
“The revamped program has received very positive feedback from the Leadership Whatcom class of 2015,” said Guy Occhiogrosso, President/CEO of the Chamber.
2015 Leadership Whatcom alumni Iris Maute-Gibson of Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center said, “As a young professional, Leadership Whatcom was the perfect opportunity. Our diverse cohorts challenged and supported each other through bolstering leadership skills, as well as our sense of place here in Whatcom County. This program will benefit me at work, at home, and in the community for decades to come!”
2015 Leadership Whatcom alumni Becky Raney of Print & Copy Factory added “Leadership Whatcom is a powerful program that brings people together to learn many different aspects of Whatcom County. We came together to learn how to listen, work together, ask questions, accomplish goals and apply forward thinking to support our communities for a strong future.”
Enrollment for the program is $1,000 for Chamber members and $1,200 for non-members and requires a 10-month commitment. Applications for the 2015–16 Leadership Whatcom Class are available at bellingham.com.
For more information on Leadership Whatcom, including information on sponsorship opportunities and how to apply, please contact the Chamber offices at 360-734-1330. You can also go online to the front door of the community, bellingham.com, where you will find general information on individual class sessions as well as an electronic copy of the application. Deadline to apply is February 12, 2016.
After a childhood deprived of outdoor recreation and play, Yuki Shepherd is making up for lost time. Photo courtesy: Yuki Shepherd.
If you’ve been up to Mount Baker any weekend in the past year, you may have spotted Yuki Shepherd and her husband, Rob. Yuki, a bookkeeper at Pacific Continental Realty, and Rob have been camping on the mountain in their camper van every weekend since they first learned to ski together in February 2015. Yuki, whose favorite hobbies are skiing, knitting and beer tasting, loves the life of adventure that she and her husband have cultivated together. But Yuki’s love for the outdoors and exploration didn’t start in Bellingham; it started a world away in Osaka, Japan, as the big dream of a small child.
Yuki grew up in Japan with her parents, two brothers and sister. In this family of six, life was very different for one child in particular. “I was an unhealthy child,” Yuki says. From age 8 to 22, Yuki struggled with kidney disease and was hospitalized for her condition when she was just 10 years old. Given a strict diet, Yuki was not allowed to engage in physical activities, not even in school where she often observed other children enjoying sports. Growing up, Yuki remembers her siblings going camping and learning to ski at the Osaka YMCA — something Yuki longed to try, but her protective mother prohibited it.
Unable to enjoy the activities of her peers, it was always a dream of Yuki’s to get out and do something.
And do something she did. In her early 20s, Yuki’s health improved and she decided to start saving money so that she could start traveling. At age 26, she boarded an airplane bound for New Zealand.
Yuki always wanted to learn to speak English, so during her time in New Zealand, she enrolled in language school and stayed at a youth hostel. It was also in New Zealand that Yuki got her first taste of outdoor life while hanging out on beaches and watching the stars at night. On Saturdays, she would wander around the craft markets where she saw a woman knitting Cowichan-style, kiwi bird-patterned hats. Yuki fell in love with the hat and became inspired to learn how to knit.
As Yuki continued to learn English, she also discovered other hobbies and interests and continued to explore the outdoors, enjoying activities like hiking and even sea kayaking. She also loved meeting tourists. The concept of people taking time for themselves to travel was eye-opening and ultimately life changing for her. “I started to have a different idea about my life,” she says. “I wanted something else.”
After a childhood deprived of outdoor recreation and play, Yuki Shepherd is making up for lost time. Photo courtesy: Yuki Shepherd.
Yuki’s time in New Zealand, however, was cut shorter than planned when her mother called asking her to return home. Yuki’s sister was pregnant and she wanted Yuki to help raise the baby. Yuki bought the kiwi bird hat she fell in love with and gave it to her newly born niece as a present. Leaving New Zealand was hard, but being able to help raise her niece is an experience Yuki is grateful for.
Back in Japan, Yuki was eager to continue practicing her English, so she decided to participate in a pen pal exchange program. Yuki was matched with an American named Rob Shepherd. “He was very patient,” Yuki says. For about a year they wrote and talked on the phone. One year later, the two pen pals lost touch — but only temporarily.
At the time, Rob was working extensively on a business plan and Yuki was traveling three hours round-trip each day and, at times, working 14 hours on top of that. Some days she was too tired to return home and would stay in a hotel near her work to sleep. Just when Yuki thought she couldn’t take it anymore, she received a surprise call from Rob. Yuki asked him suddenly, “Can I visit you?” She didn’t know where he lived, but Rob agreed to meet her in Seattle. For four days, Yuki enjoyed the tours Rob led her on. They visited the Space Needle, the Seattle Aquarium, museums, restaurants and more. “Everything was very new, having food and taking time for conversation; I felt so fortunate.”
Rob Shepherd keeps warm on the mountain with the sweaters Yuki knits for him. Her lifetime goal is to knit her husband a 100 sweaters. Photo courtesy: Yuki Shepherd.
Heading back to Japan, Yuki knew where she wanted to be. It took her six months to train her replacement at her job before returning to the United States to be with Rob. The two married three months later, and shortly after Yuki visited an American doctor who issued her a clean bill of health. Yuki’s new life in the United States was off to a bright start, but life in a new country with a new husband didn’t come without its own set of challenges.
Marriage was a culture shock for both Yuki and Rob who were both familiar with very different customs. Communication was difficult as well. To find some common ground, the two decided to focus on what they enjoyed doing together — outside adventure.
Yuki and Rob decided to rent a camper van and camped on the Olympic Peninsula. However, Yuki’s sensitive reaction to mosquitos made it difficult to spend extended periods of time in the woods. This led the couple to purchase a sailboat. Rob claimed that sailing wouldn’t be as buggy, although Yuki recalls seeing a few mosquitos out on the water.
In search of the perfect outdoor activity, the adventurous couple eventually became interested in learning how to ski. This took them to Mount Baker where they enjoyed their first ski lesson. The pair was immediately hooked.
Weekends spent on the slopes were what Yuki and Rob enjoyed most. When lack of snow in 2015 caused the ski resort to close earlier than normal, this didn’t deter the couple from enjoying their favorite activity — they would hike whatever distances necessary to find skiable areas. In the spring and summer, when the snow melted, they continued to frequent the mountain, substituting skiing with hiking.
Rob and Yuki Shepherd have camped every weekend for almost a year up by Mount Baker in their camper van. Photo courtesy: Yuki Shepherd.
Working Monday through Friday and camping on the weekends has proved itself to be a kind of ritual for Yuki and Rob, and they have no plans of stopping anytime soon. February 2016 will mark the couple’s one-year anniversary of camping every weekend on Mount Baker together. For Yuki, this life of personal challenge and outdoor activity after a childhood of illness has been very significant. “I just want to see how far I can go,” she says. “That makes me excited every day.”
Like many folks in Bellingham, I drink a lot of coffee. After draining my French press every morning, I’m usually ready for a recharge by early afternoon. The words “double tall nonfat cappuccino” roll off my tongue like, well, foam from a pitcher. Lately, however, I’ve been working on expanding my caffeinated horizons and trying some new and different brewed creations.
Here’s a sampling of some of my favorite local coffee shops, where I tried to step out of my caffeine comfort zone by taking the advice of their wise baristas, who offered some amazing alternatives to my usual fare.
Lettered Streets Coffeehouse
Beautiful lattes are made to be savored at the Lettered Streets Coffeehouse.
This is my home-office-away-from-home. I love the historic building and the cozy rooms with large windows overlooking Dupont Street. Instead of my customary cappuccino, I tried one of their signature lattes, which the Lettered Streets baristas make beautifully. Starting with a smooth, medium-bodied Guatemalan roast — made exclusively for them by Onyx Coffee — and finished with a frothy work of art, it was almost too pretty to drink. Almost. This is a smooth, not-too-milky cup of coffee that is best savored slowly while composing emails or collaborating with clients.
Barista Jackie Stowers pours her heart and soul into each drink she creates at Tony’s Coffee Shop in Fairhaven.
Since I start every morning with a cup of Tony’s Songbird Blend, it’s safe to say I’m a big fan. I also love their coffee shop in Fairhaven, where I normally order a cappuccino so rich and foamy I have to dig deep with my spoon to find the espresso. But this time, I asked barista Jackie Stowers to change up my order. She recommended an Americano, which she served up with a rich crema, the flavorful froth created when air bubbles combine with the coffee’s soluble oils. This rich, buttery, caramel-y drink is made with Tony’s Carmelita roast, along with a large dose of skill by Jackie. As she says, “A good coffee drink takes time, energy and love.”
Pure Bliss barista Elise Hill serves up a decadent salted caramel mocha using house-made ingredients.
Known primarily for their amazing desserts, the folks at Pure Bliss understand that nothing goes better with a rich slice of cake than a cup of coffee. And sometimes, the coffee becomes the dessert. Such was the case when I ordered a salted caramel mocha during my last visit. Pure Bliss uses its house-made caramel sauce and chocolate ganache to enhance the Moka Joe’s ¡Si Se Puede! espresso blend, which is topped with whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa powder. As I reclined on the café’s pink velvet couch, sipping this creamy, rich, and intense cup of magic, I was struck by how well the flavors worked together. Yes, it was sweet, but not overwhelmingly so. Had it been a couple hours later, I would have opted for a shot of Baileys to go with it. Now that’s what I call a happy coffee.
Italian-style coffee is the specialty at Caffé Adagio in Bellingham.
As its name suggests, Caffé Adagio serves up Italian-style coffee. And though I’m trying to break out of my cappuccino box, I couldn’t resist their version. The smaller, more intense brew brought back memories of sidewalk cafés in Rome, where cappuccinos are the afternoon standard. Adagio uses a Caffé D’Arte espresso blend, a bit less foam than other shops, and serves it in a 6-ounce cup, making this oh-so-Italian concoction a bit stronger than the typical cappuccino. And the café’s large space is lined with windows and filled with light — perfect for meeting friends or cozying up on the couch by the fireplace.
Caffé Adagio 1435 Railroad Avenue
Bellingham, WA
360-671-1198
Black Drop Coffee House
The Black Drop Coffee House is a popular place with local coffee aficionados.
The Black Drop repeatedly wins people’s choice awards, and with good reason. They start with great beans from Maniac Roasting, and their friendly baristas are clearly passionate about serving a stellar cup of coffee — each and every time. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, which I was on a recent chilly afternoon, check out their specials board. I opted for the Bee’s Knees, a latte with rose, honey and house-made vanilla. I was a little dubious about the rose flavoring, but it was subtle enough to not overpower the drink, which was rich and creamy, with just the right amount of sweetness. The Black Drop is usually bustling, which makes it a fun place to meet friends — or just pull up a bar stool and people-watch while you savor your personally crafted cup of joe.
Trapeze barista Lily Welle creates a café con panna, her personal favorite pick-me-up.
Located in the Public Market alongside Terra Organic and Natural Foods, Trapeze offers coffee and a healthy selection of sandwiches, soups and salads from its large deli counter. It’s a great spot to grab a bite and a cuppa before hitting the grocery aisles, and with hundreds of used titles from Mt. Baker Books lining the walls, it’s an easy place to linger. I asked barista Lily Welle for her coffee recommendation, and she immediately sold me on their upside-down version of the café con panna. Two shots of Poverty Bay espresso are poured over a healthy dollop of whipped cream, dusted with cocoa powder and cinnamon, then drizzled with honey. I have to say, it was delicious. The sweetness of the whipped cream and honey nicely offset the strong espresso, and the consistency was melt-in-your-mouth creamy.
There are many other great coffee shops in Bellingham — indeed, all over Whatcom County — serving up creative concoctions alongside the classics like my trusty cappuccino. And thanks to our thriving coffee culture, I can continue my caffeinated quest indefinitely.
The innaugural Bellingham Music Film Festival (BMFF), taking place April 1–3, 2016, is now accepting submissions of music-inspired films. Taking place April 1–3, 2016, BMFF is a celebration of music through the medium of film. Films can range from music videos, animations, and shorts to feature length documentaries and narratives. By participating in this festival, filmmakers and music lovers alike will have the opportunity to enjoy curated films and music, network, and win awards, all while supporting local non-profit organizations.
Filmmakers must submit no later than February 1 to be considered. More details about the FilmFreeway submission process can be found on the festival website: bellinghammusicfilmfestival.com.
Bellingham, Washington, nestled between Vancouver and Seattle in the Pacific Northwest, has always been a hub for music and film. BMFF celebrates the union of the two by screening exclusively music-related films and connecting this community on a global scale. The aim is to help strengthen our own community by providing outward exposure for local artists and an incoming perspective from worldwide talent.
A wide range of film formats will be exhibited, but the heart of the festival will be powered by bands and live music. No matter the venue, category, or artist, we will be witnessing the power of music — the ultimate goal of Bellingham Music Film Festival.
There will be two cash prizes for Judge’s Choice and People’s Choice. The overall Judge’s Choice will be announced at the end of the festival celebration on Sunday night and the People’s Choice will be announced via social media shortly thereafter. Winners will also be chosen in each category and will receive trophies during the festival.
Films and music will be playing at the music venue, Make.Shift Art Space and the independent theater, Pickford Film Center in Bellingham, Washington. All proceeds are going towards these participating non-profits, including the local video store Film is Truth, which is transitioning into a non-profit organization.
Learn more about the non-profits behind the festival at:
"Forest of Words" is illustrated with teen art published in Whatcomics, another WCLS publication which highlights teen artistic talent. Photo courtesy: Whatcom County Library System.
Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) invites teens in grades 6-12 to submit their original poetry for the 2016 edition of the county-wide teen poetry anthology “A Forest of Words.” Published each spring by the Whatcom County Library System, teens explore themes drawn from their own lives, including those of humor, longing, race and loss. Accepted poems will be published in a book and each poet will receive a copy. The books are also available for checkout from any public library.
“Forest of Words” is illustrated with teen art published in Whatcomics, another WCLS publication which highlights teen artistic talent.
“Involving teens not only as readers and consumers of media, but as creators of books and art is really exciting,” said WCLS teen coordinator Tamar Clarke. “To be a published poet at such a young age really inspires teens to continue to create, invent and engage in the larger world.”
Teens can submit their original poetry online at wcls.org/teens or at any local public library. Poems are due February 14, 2016. For more information, contact Tamar Clarke, WCLS Teen Services Coordinator at 360-305-3600.
To solve crucial community issues in Education, Income, and Health, United Way of Whatcom County is currently looking for programs and organizations who are working toward the same community-level goals. By opening up their Community Impact Fund and expanding their partners they can more effectively address specific local issues and create measurable change.
Currently United Way of Whatcom County is looking for programs that improve education, income and health in our community. If you have an innovative program based on best practices to achieve results, your program could qualify for funding. Interested organizations must fulfill certain criteria and are required to RSVP and attend the United Way ofWhatcom County’s Grant Seeker Technical Assistance Meeting at 10:00 am on Wednesday, January 20 (RSVP required) in order to have the opportunity to apply for funds. The meeting will take place at United Way’s office in the large conference room at the Whatcom Center for Philanthropy on the 2nd floor of the Washington Federal Building, corner of Champion and Cornwall.
United Way’s three focus areas embody the building blocks of a strong life and of a strong community. With evidence showing the increased connection between good health, educational success, and income level, United Way of Whatcom County sees the value in strengthening these areas for all of us.
“It takes a variety of programs and people to move the needle on important community issues. We know that there isn’t one program that can do it all which is why we will be working with an assortment of programs using different techniques and different focuses, but ultimately working towards the same goals in our key areas,” said Peter Theisen, United Way of Whatcom County President/CEO.
There will be an application process for United Way funds, specific funding priorities, and a focus on programs using evidence-based practices. This will allow United Way to streamline activity in the community and ensure results through shared goals and aligned resources. Working with a variety of partners on the same issues creates community-wide change and extending funding to more partners, along with working with current partners, will ensure that new or existing programs will have the opportunity to be part of this movement.
By engaging with the community over the past several years and participating in research such as the Community Health Assessment and the Whatcom Prosperity Project, United Way of Whatcom County has developed three goals in each of their focus areas and is now looking to work with new partners and programs, as well as long-time partners, that are working specifically on affecting the following goals in Education, Income, and Health:
EDUCATION
Creating Stable/Healthy Families & Kids
Achieving School Readiness
Increasing High School Graduation
INCOME
Increasing Financial Stability
Supporting Workforce Preparation
Increasing Safe & Stable Housing
HEALTH
Ensuring Healthy & Active Living
Increasing Health Care Access
Increased Safety and Abuse Prevention
“We have been able to accomplish so much in the past two years since opening up our funding and we are truly excited at the possibilities for community impact that this new direction has made possible,” said Theisen, “Focusing our efforts on specific goals and aligning with programs that are using evidence-based practices creates a stronger community and ensures a more efficient use of our donor dollars.”
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Five students from Whatcom County were among the record 152 cadets, who graduated from the Washington Youth Academy on December 19 — more cadets than any previous class in the history of the Academy, established in Bremerton in 2009.
Cadets from each corner of the state attend the free residential school, geared at teaching teens discipline and helping them recover credits so they can go back to high school and earn a diploma or seek an alternative path to finish their high school education, such as a GED or by joining Running Start.
Cadet Candace Stewart of Mount Baker Sr. High School stands at attention at the Washington Youth Academy.
Cadets from Bellingham were Tanesha Brester of Squalicum High School and Lisabel Hernandez-Morales of Sehome High School; from Sumas was Candace Stewart of Mount Baker Sr. High School; from Ferndale was Anthony Hall of Ferndale High School; and from Lynden was Abel Sanchez Nava of Meridian High School.
There were actually more cadets that went through the commencement ceremonies than actual beds in the bunkers with 50 beds in each of the three platoons, prompting cots to be setup in the hallway for the entire 5-and-a-half-month cycle.
Youth Academy Director Larry Pierce credited the high retention rate to a robust application and interview process helping find strong candidates for the program, as well as a healthy, two-week acclimation period, where candidates can get more of a feel for the strict discipline needed for the voluntary program and decides it’s not for them.
“This is our 14th class and our largest one to date,” Pierce said, adding that the Washington Youth Academy has achieved “one of the top graduating rates in the nation.”
Abel Sanchez is one of the five Whatcom County teens that graduated from Washington Youth Academy on December 19.
“The cadets became teammates and they changed together and prevailed together and they’re here today and as proof of that, they’ll walk across the stage and commence from the youth academy back to their home lives.”
The highest number of credits possible for the 22-week session is 8 credits. Comparatively, a full year of high school is 6 credits. Remarkably, 133 students earned all 8 credits. Before students entered the Academy, the test of Adult Basic Education put the students’ grade level at 6.7 – not quite 7th Grade. Near the end, a new test showed the average grade level for students at 9.2 for a gain of 2.5 grade in just 22 weeks. Only seven cadets began the program with enough credits to be classified as Seniors but 102 completed the program with Senior classification.
Students had an average GPA for Academy courses of 3.4, which is B+.
All of the cadets also received Community Emergency Response Training, which will help them and their communities help during disasters. Cadets also donated 7,992 hours of community service to the local area.
“I’d offer you a challenge: Take the lessons you’ve learned here and apply them back in your community,” Congressman Derek Kilmer told the cadets at commencement. “Take the leadership skills you’ve learned and be a positive influence in the lives of your friends, your family, your school and your community.”
Lisabel Hernandez-Morales, a Sehome High student, graduated from the Washington Youth Academy with four other Whatcom County teens on December 19.
The mission of the Washington Youth Academy is to provide a highly disciplined, safe and professional learning environment that empowers at-risk youth to improve their educational levels and employment potential and become responsible and productive citizens of the State of Washington. The Washington Youth Academy is a division of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program. Established under authority of both federal and state law, the WYA is a state-run residential and post-residential intervention program for youth who have dropped out of high school or are at risk of dropping out.
The next class starts on Jan. 16, 2016. Applications are still being accepted for female candidates. Applications for male candidates will likely be wait listed until the cycle after that starts in July. Learn more about the program online http://mil.wa.gov/youth-academy and watch a four-part documentary on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6wkS7NMl5KYr0EQUQDpudQ/videos ).
In 2015, WhatcomTalk.comshared countless stories about the people, businesses and organizations that make Whatcom County such a vibrant place to live, work and play.
Here are the top 10 stories from the year, as selected by you, our readers.
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...
