Micah Evangelista Has a Passion for Skiing—and Capturing It on Film

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Micah Evangelista on Mt. Baker courtesy Joe Kunesh feature — Micah on Mount Baker. Photo credit: Joe Kunesh

Micah Evangelista, who turns 25 on March 7, was born and raised in the small town of Glacier, nestled at the foot of Mount Baker in the heart of the North Cascades. He and his family members—mom, Julianne; dad, James; and brother, Mattias—are all enthusiastic skiers.

“My folks met in Jackson Hole, Wyoming,” Micah says, “where they began to fall in love—not only with each other but also with the mountains. Eventually they made their way to Glacier, where they discovered the mysterious Mount Baker.”

Micah’s father volunteered on the ski patrol, so naturally Micah and his brother were taken to the mountains as soon as they were old enough.

“Learning to ski wasn’t a conscious decision for me,” Micah says. “It was a natural part of my upbringing. I now consider myself lucky because I don’t have any recollection of the multitude of crashes and crying fits that I had as a baby, face down in the snow. They had me strapped into my dad’s backpack only weeks after birth.”

A lifelong skier, Micah developed a passion for making skiing videos at 11 years old, and went on to study visual journalism at Western Washington University. Photo credit: Cameron Munn

His mom, Julianne, says that Micah was skiing on the leash with his dad at age 2, and by 3 and 4 he had a strong snowplow stance and could rip down blue and black runs. Micah and his brother Mattias began to progress as skiers, and around 10 and 13 years old, respectively, started filming each other with their parents’ handycam.

“We would ask our dad to tag along to the little jump we built, where he’d help document our first attempts at trying backflips, 360s, and other tricks.”

Micah continued to develop a love for making videos and the process that went into it. “When I look back at some of the first videos we made I can’t help but cringe,” he admits. “But those experiences are what shaped who I am today.”

Studying visual journalism at Western Washington University taught Micah valuable skills in storytelling and video editing.

The seed for his recent film project, “Bourn,” was planted in a class at WWU, in which students were tasked to create a multimedia project about home and what it meant.

Micah Evangelista on the slopes at age 12. Photo courtesy James Evangelista

“This project allowed me to scratch the surface and start thinking about how much the town of Glacier and Mount Baker have shaped who I am today,” Micah says.

In the fall of 2019, he reached out to longtime friend Doug Jambor—who had begun a career as a filmmaker—to see if he’d be interested in being involved on this film project.

“Doug hadn’t been skiing a ton the previous few years, so he was immediately stoked to get on board and get out into the mountains with me,” says Micah. “The idea was that he would film me skiing exclusively at Baker for the season and together we would make a short video out of our explorations.”

These kinds of videos, often known as “season edits,” are usually a collection of ski footage from a skier’s winter, a sort of highlight reel.

Micah Evangelista recently completed “Bourn,” a 14-minute film about skiing Mount Baker. Photo credit: Joe Kunesh

“I knew I wanted it to be slightly more filmic than just ski action, though,” he says. “I hoped to subtly tell the story of what my home meant to me beyond just a few minutes of ski action. I wanted the video to be sentimental but also have really strong skiing in it.”

The beginning of the pandemic cut the 2020 ski season and they felt they didn’t have enough footage to feel really proud of the project, so they decided to turn it into a two-year film. Micah knew that with the extra time they could add more story and really bring the project to life.

“This last winter we hit it hard and got a lot of ski footage that I’m really proud of,” he says.

The resulting film, named for the street where Micah grew up, “feels like the culmination of so many learning experiences piled into one 14-minute video. When I watch it, I can’t help but feel all of the time and energy I’ve put into growing as a skier, brother, student, filmmaker, and son.”

Micah did almost all of the skiing shown in the film, along with a few guest appearances from friends, so he was spending more time in front of the lens than behind it. The main filming credit goes to Doug, though they also had help from other cinematographers, such as Mattias.

Micah was skier, director, producer, and also did all of the video editing.

“I’m pretty comfortable on the video editing side of things after my time in the visual journalism major at WWU,” he says, “so I spent much of my summer working on this project.”

Micah flying high on Mount Baker. Photo credit: Joe Kunesh

And while sorting through two years of footage was exhausting and mentally taxing, Micah is happy with the end result. “Our budget was literally zero for this project; we didn’t make a dollar off of it,” he says. “Doug and everyone else who helped me did it for free and solely out of passion—and that’s something I think is really special.”

Micah also says that he owes everything he’s accomplished to the support he’s received from his family—and he hopes that sentiment is felt by viewers.

“I asked my mother, Julianne, if she would help me tell that story, and together we discussed a lot of the moments and mindsets that have shaped who I am today,” Micah says.

Julianne says she was touched that Micah wanted to collect old family videos and incorporate them into “Bourn.”

“We had lots of laughs and bloopers and fun recording my section of the movie,” she says. “[I] was impressed and proud when he took all my mistakes and made it look so nice in the end.”

“I think it’s easy to let our passion slip through our fingers as we get older and the reality of life and its natural stressors start weighing on our shoulders,” says Micah. “At the end of the day, I decided that since I have only this one life to live, I’m not going to look back and wonder what could have happened had I pursued my love for skiing. Whether I make money or not, I’m going to keep pursuing these things because it’s truly what I love to do.”

Micah’s advice? “Don’t be scared about the possibility of failure. Whatever your ‘thing’ is—the thing that excites you the most—give it your best shot and just go all in. Something good will come of it.”

Featured photo by Joe Kunesh

Puget Sound Energy Helps Make a Difference Through Its ‘Powerful Partnerships’ Program

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LocalTalk Contributor

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Submitted by Puget Sound Energy

Puget Sound Energy is committed to working with organizations that are taking steps to address their own sustainability goals while doing amazing work in their communities through its “Powerful Partnerships” program. This year, PSE will distribute $127,000 across 11 nonprofit organizations over its 6,000 square mile service area.

The “Powerful Partnerships” program is now its sixth year and in total has worked with 70 organizations including donating a total of $705,000 to date.

PSE will partner with these organizations to educate their clients, employees and donors on ways to save energy and money on their bills, decrease their carbon emissions as well as safety and emergency preparedness.

“The goal of this grant is to develop strong community partnerships by helping organizations achieve their sustainability goals both internally and within their communities,” said PSE Senior Vice President & Chief Customer Officer Andy Wappler. “Our commitment to the environment is stronger than ever, so the partnerships we focus on this year speaks to our commitment to help both the environment and communities to secure a better energy future for all.”

One of PSE’s partners this year is Kulshan Community Land Trust, an organization that helps families go from the uncertainty of renting to flourishing in the stability of their own home.

“Puget Sound Energy has already been a great partner to Kulshan Community Land Trust and I’m so grateful for our 2022 Powerful Partnership,” said Dean Fearing, Executive Director at Kulshan Community Land Trust. “I also appreciate PSE’s commitment to clean energy. The Powerful Partnership grant will enable us to better serve our community, providing opportunities for families and individuals with low to middle incomes to own an affordable home.”

Kitsap Community Resources (KCR), is another PSE Powerful Partner this year, and it is committed to creating hope and opportunity for low-income Kitsap County residents by providing resources that promote self-sufficiency and stability.

“Kitsap Community Resources is incredibly excited to partner with PSE to continue to improve sustainability and help Kitsap County residents who need it most,” said Michelle Graff, Employment and Training Division Director at KCR. “PSE, through their outreach team, truly models the name of the Powerful Partnerships program; collaborating for new ideas, leveraging additional resources, and sharing the same values to create thriving communities.”

PSE is committed to working together to create a clean energy future for all while setting an aspirational goal to be a Beyond Net Zero Carbon company by 2045. PSE will target reducing its own carbon emissions to net zero and go beyond by helping other sectors to enable carbon reduction across the state of Washington. Partnering with community organizations like these helps PSE engage more people in that mission.

The 2022 partners include the following:

Bellingham Musician Tracy Spring Is a Woman for All Seasons

By

Margaret Bikman

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For many of her songs, Bellingham songwriter and guitarist Tracy Spring draws upon her travels exploring the beauty of the Pacific Northwest with her dad-and-uncle outdoor photographers Bob and Ira Spring. She holds happy memories of harmonizing with her mom and sister on long car trips.

“Particularly memorable music exposures,” she says, “were Tlingit and Inupiat stories, song and dance in Southeast Alaska, and in the Arctic villages of Ulquigvik, Kotzebue and Nome.” Alaska remains one of her favorite places to visit, kayak, and perform.

Tracy has shared the stage with Doc Watson, Cris Williamson and Tret Fure, and The Tannahill Weavers, among many others.

Tracy attended Western Washington University’s Fairhaven College in the mid-1970s, where she cut her performance baby teeth in the college’s stairwells. She then played as a duo with friend Karen Reitz for many years. In the 1990s, Tracy played festivals and folk clubs with her original songs, which were often written and arranged in alternate guitar tunings. She also started teaching guitar, songwriting, and stagecraft in individual and camp settings.

Bellingham’s Tracy Spring has begun several projects to see her through the pandemic, since live performances are minimal. Photo credit: TR Ritchie

Tracy’s Seattle-based women’s trio, Christel, Spring and Carper, ran from 1999 to 2001 and created “Of This World,” in 2004, a lasting legacy recorded by Peter, Paul, and Mary for their final album, “In These Times.”

During the first decade of the 2000s, Tracy wrote and co-produced four soundtracks for the Washington State Combined Fund Drive, a side benefit of her work with a non-profit raising funds for international relief and development.

Since 2010, Tracy has produced her fifth album, created choral arrangements, and toured with emphasis on folk festivals, progressive church services, and ‘small is beautiful’ house concerts. “Indoor performances are currently on hold,” she says, “but I will once again book shows as soon as it’s safe to do so.”

The Bellingham songwriter and guitarist is a frequent performer at regional folk festivals, like this one in Alaska. Photo courtesy Tracy Spring

Her songs—my favorite is her third album, “Life and Art,” from 1995—are about people finding love for the first time, in despair because of loss, experiencing joy, seeking how to better our world, and reaching for balance in their lives.

Tracy is currently in the midst of several projects to help see her through the pandemic, since options for performing live are minimal.

Pandemic project number one is a children’s book and music video that Tracy will publish later this year, the first in her “Grandmother’s Tales” series. “It’s a collaboration with Bellingham multi-media artist Bob Paltrow,” she says, “based on my whimsical song, “Love Doesn’t Care Who You Love.”

A Kickstarter campaign will launch soon to fund Bob’s 28 full-color illustrations and pre-press production work.

Tracy attended Western Washington University’s Fairhaven College in the mid-1970s and cut her performance baby teeth in the college’s stairwells. *Photo courtesy Tracy Spring*

“Bob’s vivid imagery and uplifting, inclusive lyrics show how the gift of love, regardless of the form it takes, is the most powerful force we can wield to make ourselves, and the entire planet more healthy, whole and happy,” Tracy says.

Pandemic project number two is The June & Farrar P roject, which came about when multi-dimensional artist Skye Burn contacted Tracy in 2020 about the possibility of working with her on a project inspired by her grandparents, Farrar and June Burn.

As a Fairhaven College student and caretaker of the Outback Farm in the 1970s, Tracy lived above the farm in one of two cabins built by Farrar Burn in the 1930s. “I resided in June’s study cabin,” Tracy says, “where she wrote articles for the Bellingham Herald and Farrar played his original music.”

As a student at Western Washington University’s Fairhaven College in the 1970s, Tracy Spring resided in June Burn’s study cabin on the Outback Farm. Photo of June Burn courtesy of Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Libraries Heritage Resources, Western Washington University

In 1941, June Burn authored “Living High: An Unconventional Autobiography” about the free-spirited homesteading adventures she and her musician husband had in Bellingham and beyond.

“Thirty-five years after she wrote it, I read it,” says Tracy. “Their story and philosophy of life resonated deeply with me then, and still does today.”

“Nearly 40 years after writing and playing my songs in June Burn’s cabin, and after a year of helping Skye formulate and articulate its scope, I am the artistic director for the June & Farrar Project. We have launched a GoFundMe campaign to fund my position and keep the work moving forward. For updates, please visit www.facebook.com/groups/juneandfarrar.

Pandemic project number three is the “Masako’s Guitar” music video.

“Luthier Rob Goldberg wrote that he was restoring a vintage guitar with a remarkable story attached to it,” Tracy says. “I was inspired to take a deep dive into studying the history of its former owner, the late Masako Tada.”

Telling the story of Masako’s Guitar and its connection to the internment camps during World War II is one of Tracy Spring’s projects during the pandemic. Photo courtesy Rob Goldberg

In the wake of the Pearl Harbor bombing and Executive Order 9066 in 1942, 120,000 Japanese-Americans were forcibly removed from their homes, livelihoods, and communities, allowing to take with them only what they could carry.

“Masako courageously carried her guitar,” says Tracy.

To commemorate the strength and resilience of Masako and so many others, Tracy’s music video will use historical photos to document this sad chapter of history, as well as recent photos taken while visiting the Minidoka National Historic Site.

Pandemic project number four is to continue the music of her beloved partner, TR Ritchie. After a performing songwriter career that spanned more than four decades, Ritchie returned to his Northwest roots in 2012. In December of 2013, it was discovered that he had inoperable cancer. Less than two months later, he was gone, leaving behind a tremendous legacy of beautiful songs, images, and poetry. TR faced his illness and mortality with grace and dignity.

One of Tracy’s projects is to continue the musical legacy of her late partner, TR Ritchie (pictured right). Photo courtesy Rob Goldberg

Ten days before he passed, friends gathered at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship to sing his songs back to him, and witness his reading of his poem, “No More Words.” Footage of that extraordinary evening was captured, combined with interviews, and produced as a documentary by Peabody Award-winning filmmaker and TR’s long-time friend Dennis Dougherty, which debuted at the Kerrville Folk Festival in 2016.

For updates on Tracy’s pandemic projects, visit www.tracyspring.com.

The Science and Benefits of HOCl Brought to You by BrioGlobal

By

Kathryn Millhorn

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Since the beginning of 2020, scientific revelations have captured the forefront of most news mediums. For the last two years, we’ve been bombarded with information about viral strains, immunology, biology, chemistry, vaccines, and even warnings about hidden toxins in our commonplace cleaning products. Information overload is a real thing and given that most of us have forgotten our high school science classes, basic level comprehension of pandemic-related subjects has never been more important. Briotech understands this and wants to help by providing a platform dedicated to the science and education of hypochlorous acid (HOCl).

Their first video, An Introduction to the History of HOCl Presented by the Drs. Jeff and Christine Williams’ Center of HOCl Excellence, debuted on their new BrioGlobal YouTube Channel on December 2, 2021.

Both book and channel hope to inform consumers and health-conscious researchers of all ages about this amazing science. Photo courtesy Briotech

BrioGlobal Chief Medical Officer Dr. Eric Rasmussen notes that: “The pandemic has moved people online. It has transformed how our world relies on the internet and where we go for news and education, and we’ve seen YouTube become a major source for that information. So, for us, it’s easy and flexible, and it’s a great tool to deliver messaging directly from our trusted BrioGlobal doctors and scientists.”

“As part of Briotech’s mission to make a positive impact in people’s lives around the globe by making HOCl universally available, we created the Center of HOCl Excellence as an educational platform centered on providing information on the history, science, production, and use applications of HOCl,” says company co-founder Cynthia Varela. “The videos we’re producing are created from content of ‘The Handbook of HOCl – A User’s Guide to Hypochlorous Acid and Its Everyday Applications,’ a book we wrote and completed in 2021. Our videos will follow chapter segments of our handbook in layman’s terms with new subjects released intermittently over this next year.”

As the handbook’s dedication page conveys, the company has devoted both written word and video releases to, “the curious minds, young and old, who embrace inquisitiveness and foster inspiration to bring positive change to this world,” Rasmussen explains. “We wrote it as an educational effort to help those who might know rather little chemistry or biology to learn how remarkable the human body is. We want to share our understanding of how microscopic cells produce beneficial chemicals when they’re stressed, and how those chemicals can stimulate an astonishing range of important reactions like fighting off invaders and restoring balance during healing. The handbook is the format that our videos will expand on, and just as everyone at Briotech contributed to the writing in our handbook, so will everyone have a voice in our video releases.”

This image depicts the biochemical events that take place in phagosomes of white blood cells after ingesting bacteria (top left) which triggers the production of HOCl (top center). The attack on the bacterium quickly leads to its destruction, and fragments and waste products are ejected by a reversal of the phagosome forming process (top right). Photo courtesy Briotech

When Varela and fellow co-founder Dan Terry first heard about HOCl, “it seemed incredible,” she recalls. “A natural molecule that’s produced inside our bodies, that works to defend us from pathogens, and that can be manufactured outside the body safely for a broad range of beneficial uses? The idea of this seemed almost too good to be true. So, we began educating ourselves and the more we learned, the more it became clear how adoption of this molecule could positively impact health, healing and sanitizing efforts around the world.”

Since then, their work in making beneficial and readily available products that can be used in homes, schools, hospitals and even the far-flung jungles of Myanmar has garnered them several production breakthroughs, and their work to share their knowledge with customers, governments and policy-makers has always remained a top priority.

The BrioGlobal staff looks forward to having “The Handbook of HOCl” released in early 2022, along with monthly video releases on their BrioGlobal YouTube Channel throughout the year. “We aspire to build adoption and instill confidence for use of HOCl everyday—by everybody around the globe,” says Varela. “We hope to raise awareness of safe and natural alternatives for today’s essential disinfection and sanitizing requirements, and to shine the light on the education of HOCl as an important component of our human immune system and as a component that when synthesized outside the body in a pure and stable state, still provides effective defense.”

BrioGlobal is releasing a new book, An Introduction to the History of HOCl, as well as informative YouTube channel. Photo courtesy Briotech

Truly gentle yet powerful, Briotech products prove useful for a variety of situations. “From topical applications like sunburn relief to pet care, and odor control, and surface area disinfection, HOCl is a resource that we think belongs in every first aid kit, in every bathroom, and on every kitchen countertop,” says Rasmussen. “HOCl is not bleach, and it’s not dangerous. It’s a simple and natural molecule that’s made in every infection-fighting cell we have and, as such, contributes to the well-being of every human on the planet. Now we can synthesize that simple molecule precisely and purely, at industrial scale. That’s important and life-affirming information that we want to share.”

The jargon used to convey the biology and chemistry behind viral pandemic concerns can seem overwhelming if you’re not a scientist. However, thanks to the medium of YouTube, the BrioGlobal Center of HOCl Excellence helps bridge that knowledge gap with a video series that is both enlightening and engaging.

Follow Briotech on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for new product launches, BrioGlobal video release dates, and to read the research behind their important work. For product purchases, please visit their website directly, or shop Amazon and Home Depot.

Sponsored

Tax Season Begins Today: Tips for Filing This Year

By

LocalTalk Contributor

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Submitted by Northside Tax Service

Tax season has officially begun! This time of year can be stressful, but having all your tax documents ready, educating yourself about tax changes, and getting help from a reputable and experienced tax preparer can help ease the burden.

Gather your tax documents as they arrive

One of the most important things when filing your taxes is making sure you have all the necessary information and documents to file. Many taxpayers will be receiving their tax documents this month. The most common tax documents include:

W-2s for wages and tips
W-2G for gambling winnings
1099-G for certain government payments such as unemployment
1099-K for gig workers such as Uber and Lyft
1099-NEC for nonemployee compensation
1099-MISC for miscellaneous income
1099-INT for accumulated interest of at least $10
1098 for mortgage interest
1098-T for college tuition expenses
1095-A for health insurance from the marketplace
Letter 6475 regarding your 2021 Economic Impact Payment (stimulus check)
Letter 6419 regarding your 2021 Advance Child Tax Credit payments

There are many more forms and documents that you may receive, so make sure to keep an eye on your mail and email. If you file without reporting all your income, you may need to file an amended tax return or face penalties and interest. Mistakes on your tax return may also delay your refund.

What to know for filing in 2022

Due to the ongoing pandemic, temporary changes have been implemented that may help you minimize your tax liability and get a bigger refund. Here are some of the changes that may benefit you this year:

Recovery Rebate Credit: If you didn’t receive the third stimulus payment that was issued March through December last year, you may be able to claim the Rebate Recovery Credit on your tax return. The IRS will send you Letter 6475 to let you know if you are eligible to claim this credit.

Advance Child Tax Credit Payments: The IRS began sending out advances on the Child Tax Credit beginning in July last year. If you received payments, you will be getting Letter 6419 to help you reconcile these payments on your tax return.

Child and Dependent Care Credit: For 2021, the Child and Dependent Care Credit is fully refundable and allows for a credit of up to 50% of your qualifying expenses. The maximum credit amount for one qualifying person is $8,000 and $16,000 for two or more qualifying persons.

Earned Income Credit: The EITC provides a tax break for low- to moderate-income workers. This credit was expanded last year by lowering the minimum age from 25 to 19 (18 for qualified homeless or former foster youth and 24 if a student for at least 5 months of the year), eliminating the maximum age limit of 65, and increasing the maximum credit amount for childless workers.

Charitable Donations: Taxpayers taking the standard deduction who donated cash to a qualifying organization may be able to deduct up to $300 for individuals and $600 for married filing jointly. Also, those who itemize may be able to deduct up to 100% of their Adjusted Gross Income this year, up from the usual 20% to 60%.

Need help filing your taxes?

The filing deadline is April 18 this year, but it’s advantageous to begin filing your taxes once you receive all your tax documents so you aren’t rushing at the end to get it finished.

Working with a knowledgeable and experienced tax preparer can help you file an accurate tax return and claim the credits and deductions available to you. If you’re on the lookout for someone to help you file your taxes this year, Northside Tax Service has a qualified team of tax preparers.

Northside Tax Service offers drop-off/curbside service, online tax prep, and in-office appointments. Give them a call at 360.922.0235 or visit their website, www.nstax.net, to see if they’re a good fit for your needs.

Whatcom County Health Department Announces Expanded Testing Capacity

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LocalTalk Contributor

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Submitted by the Whatcom County Health Department

The Whatcom County Health Department announces expanded COVID-19 testing capacity through its partnership with Northwest Laboratory. The new slots are limited to people with COVID-19 symptoms or who are close contacts of a confirmed case, and can be scheduled by calling 360-778-6075 (Monday through Friday except for holidays, 9am 3 p.m., no voicemail).

“We’re grateful to Northwest Laboratory for their diligent efforts to increase their testing capacity,” said Cindy Hollinsworth, Communicable Disease and Epidemiology Manager for the health department. “These new appointment slots will help us get more people tested in a shorter timeframe, which has been a challenge during the Omicron surge.”

Whatcom County residents also have two new options for obtaining rapid at-home COVID-19 tests. Four free tests can be ordered from the federal government through covidtests.gov or by calling 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489). In addition, up to five free tests can be ordered from Washington State Department of Health at sayyescovidhometest.org or by calling 1-800-525-0127.

A Historical Look at Bellingham’s Oldest Churches, Part 2

By

Matt Benoit

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Bham Historic Churches Part 2 First Church Christ Scientist Old — The modern-day Majestic Ballroom began in 1916 as a branch of the First Church of Christ Scientist. Fred Jukes photo courtesy of Whatcom Museum

While many newer churches provide plenty of room and modern convenience for today’s worshippers, they often lack the reverence of ornate religious architecture seen in many older ones.

In Bellingham, many of these old churches still stand. Some continue their roles as religious institutions, while others have been adapted to more secular use. Here’s a look at several more of the area’s historical churches. (Read part one here.)

Church of the Assumption – 2116 Cornwall Avenue

This local Catholic parish was established in 1889 by Aegidius Junger, the German-born Bishop of Nisqually. Its first church building was constructed at the intersection of State and Cedar Streets but, as with other churches of its day, growth brought about the need for expansion.

Bellingham’s Cornwall Avenue had plenty of cable car wires above it when The Church of the Assumption was built in the mid-1920s. J.W. Sandison photo courtesy of Whatcom Museum

In 1906, Father Leo Ferland worked to purchase property along Cornwall Avenue, then known as Dock Street. It was another seven years, however, before the Church of the Assumption would actually move there, after its Catholic school was built by Father James Barrett. The school was staffed by Dominican sisters from 1913 to 1972.

The iconic brick church that sports the city’s tallest steeple, however, was constructed between 1920 and 1921 at a cost of around $200,000 (about $3.17 million today). Unsurprisingly, the church acquired substantial debt in completing its new home, and the Great Depression of the 1930s did it no favors. The church was officially dedicated on October 12, 1921, but it would not be fully paid for until 1949.

The church underwent exterior repairs and cleaning in 2018, leaving it in great shape for its 100th birthday in 2021. Photo credit: Matt Benoit

In 1962, a gymnasium and parish center building were constructed, giving the church a multi-use facility for everything from sporting events to festivals. Since the turn of the 21^st Century, the church has seen several improvements: in 2000, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and gathering space was added, along with other repairs.

In 2018, the church roof was replaced, along with re-glazing of many of the building’s stained-glass windows. Brick repair and cleaning also was conducted, leaving the church gleaming anew into the future.

The Church of the Assumption conducts four weekend Masses, including one in Spanish, as well as daily Masses and other Catholic services.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church – 2117 Walnut Street

This modern day Columbia neighborhood church started its life as Whatcom St. Paul’s in 1885, after Women’s Guild of the Church of the Messiah members organized various entertainment options for fundraising, including “Mrs. Jarley’s Wax Works.”

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church has a long history in Bellingham. Its current church building was finished in 1927. Clyde Banks photo courtesy of Whatcom Museum

Thirteen hundred dollars later, on land donated by mill owner Henry Roeder, a wooden church was built. Its first service, delivered by Reverend John Hoffman Birkhead, took place May 10, 1885. Other Episcopalian parishes were established in Sehome and Fairhaven, but the merging of these communities into Bellingham led to the merging of the churches, too.

The Fairhaven church, St. James, operated the local St. Luke’s Hospital from 1892 to 1904, when it was conveyed to St. Paul’s. The parish operated the hospital for the next 34 years, before deeding it to the community in 1938.

In the mid-1920s, plans for a new church structure began. Eventually, architect F. Stanley Piper was hired to oversee the construction of a Gothic cruciform design with seating for up to 500 worshippers. A spot at the corner of Eldridge and Walnut Streets was chosen, and was ideal at the time.

St. Paul’s is still a striking landmark in Bellingham’s Columbia neighborhood. Photo credit: Matt Benoit

Groundbreaking took place in July 1925, with construction handled by Chisom, Selene and Standen. A cornerstone was laid that September. The new church was completed and dedicated on September 27, 1927, at a cost of $45,000 (about $720,000 today). Its light-colored tapestry brick, fir flooring and 16 stained glass windows were a welcome sight to church-goers.

In 1950, a religious education addition—named Stimpson Hall—was made to the church’s north side, and included a library and clergy offices. The year 1956 brought the church its most famous visitor: Eleanor Roosevelt. The former First Lady attended the christening of her four-month-old godson, and also gave a speech at the Leopold Hotel while in town.

St. Paul’s second addition, completed in 1996, is Haggen-Clark Hall. It includes a commercial kitchen, sports hall, and multiple levels of class/meeting rooms. Today, St. Paul’s original 1885 building still stands, and is still used by the church.

First Church of Christ, Scientist – 1027 North Forest St

Better known today as “The Majestic Ballroom,” a rentable event location, the Beaux-Arts Classical Revival style building was constructed in 1916 for the local denomination of Christian Scientists. Mary Baker Eddy established the church in Boston in 1879, with a foundation of belief centered on prayer as a means to solve problems micro and macro.

The modern-day Majestic Ballroom began in 1916 as a branch of the First Church of Christ Scientist. Fred Jukes photo courtesy of Whatcom Museum

Designed by architect George F. Dunham, the structure features Tuscan columns standing over a large portico at the entrance. By the late 1970s, the building was a Pentecostal church. Today, the local First Church of Christ, Scientist branch meets in the 2700 block of Lakeway Drive, near historic Bayview Cemetery.

The Majestic, meanwhile, is host to all manner of weddings, dances and concerts, secular and otherwise. Its top floor covers 4,500 square feet, with oak flooring and high ceilings. Below is another 2,000 square feet of dance floor, with an area for a full bar. If the Majestic’s cream-colored walls could talk, they would likely have a lot to say.

The Majestic as it sits today along North Forest Street in Bellingham. Photo credit: Matt Benoit

Summit Place Pulled Out All the Stops for the Holidays

By

Steven Arbuckle

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When you’re in the business of making people’s lives as fulfilling as possible, like Summit Place Assisted Living is, the series of holidays that close out the year become a fun way to challenge yourself and your team. Executive Director Jozef Bosman and Life Enrichment Coordinator Fred Kamperman love to share the food, fellowship, and festivities as one year ends and another begins.

Kids of all ages get excited to see the big guy and his sack full of presents. Photo courtesy Summit Place

“We really deck the halls,” says Kamperman. The team puts up three or four different trees, 15 to 16 feet tall, and a wreath on everyone’s door. “We also have a door decorating contest the residents get involved in, all competing against each other. They really outdo themselves, better than what I can do for them.” Other contests include making gingerbread houses and a series of different theme days, like Christmas colors day, and ugly sweater day.

Since the “ugly sweater” phenomenon has only been popular for a few years, some might find it surprising that it’s also caught on with the retirement crowd. But the residents of Summit are definitely on board. “They’ll say, ‘I don’t think it’s an ugly sweater, I think it’s very beautiful.’ But really, anything with a competitive edge to it? They are all in,” says Bosman.

Decorations become a friendly competition, as each resident tries to outdo all the others. Photo courtesy Summit Place

No winter holiday would be complete without a real focus on a special, hot, filling meal, and the Summit staff are fully prepared, according to Bosman. “We really go all out with our menus. For Christmas there was prime rib, twice baked potatoes, steamed vegetables, and about four different desserts. We really make sure we make it a big deal.”

Along with cheerful decorations and eating a bit too much, the year-end holidays are also characterized by the spirit of giving. “Downstairs we have a day care, Generations Early Learning, for ages 1 to 4. Families down there adopt the Summit residents, and we also adopt the children, so we’re exchanging gifts back and forth,” Kamperman says. “The children came around Christmas caroling outside the windows, and we have washable markers so that the residents and the kids can draw on the windows and play tic-tac-toe.”

One of the handful of trees that graced the rooms and halls of Summit Place during the holidays. Photo courtesy Summit Place

This year, a friend of Summit Place was able to pull some strings and bring one of the North Pole’s helpers to visit, as well. “We had Santa’s horse come around and visit the windows. The residents really enjoyed seeing that,” says Kamperman. “We also highlight things like Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, and make sure we cover the different educational aspects. We have residents that come from Norway, Sweden and Portugal, so I highlight the different cultures and traditions so everyone gets to know each other a little better.”

The festivities don’t end on Christmas morning—Kamperman and his crew still have New Year’s Eve to think about. “Of course, we don’t stay up that late, but we are doing New Year’s in Paris this year,” he says. “I have a big Eiffel Tower that I light up, and we’re all going to wear French berets and have champagne.”

Residents let their personalities shine through when they decorate the doors to their rooms. Photo courtesy Summit Place

Even while he’s organizing a hot buttered rum happy hour or a social event, Kamperman is also filling another role in the halls of Summit Place. “Fred’s the eyes and ears for all of us. He is known as the fun guy, so residents will share with him, and if there’s a concern, he can let us know. If he notices that somebody has had a decline or needs some assistance, either myself or our nursing staff can step in,” says Bosman. “If someone is showing a little depression because, for example, they lost a family member, we make sure we spend a little extra TLC and time with them to make sure they’re feeling okay.”

Kamperman describes his role at Summit as keeping an eye on the small details, to help make sure that people’s lives are fulfilling in the big picture. And that means paying attention to a lot of different aspects of daily life. “Mental, physical, and emotional—those are my three big focuses. And I make sure that we cover each of those every day,” he says. “For example, I do stretch classes to get some physical activity in. I have 90-year-olds bending over and touching their toes! To make sure they’re mentally involved, I do things like word games.”

Caring—and a touching moment between two people—goes a long way to making the holiday season special. Photo courtesy Summit Place

Fortunately, he doesn’t need to attend to all of these needs all by himself. “I make a lot of partnerships with different organizations, like the Humane Society. I have them coming in every two weeks with animals—I just had them come in with bunnies for everyone to cuddle and hold,” Kamperman says. “The Assistance League dropped off some beautifully wrapped presents for our residents. And Fred Meyer gives us flowers. If something happens to one of their bouquets, it’s too labor intensive for them to pull them apart. So they give them to us and we make new bouquets.”

“Basically,” Bosman adds, “if they’re here we want to make sure they’re having the best times of their life. We had a resident move in a little while ago who said she wishes she had moved in earlier. People are sometimes reluctant to change their lives, but she said that this was the best Christmas. She sort of gave up on Christmas because she was always at home alone. But we made sure she had her presents, Santa and his horse came to visit—it was wonderful to be able to give her a great Christmas again.”

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City of Bellingham’s ‘Small and Simple’ Grant Program Helps Neighborhoods Thrive

By

Kristin Noreen

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Cordata-garden-plots — Standard Community Garden plots. Photo courtesy Cordata Neighborhood Association

We all know that Bellingham has grown in the last few years. When most of the housing in your neighborhood is fewer than five years old, how do you preserve a neighborhood identity? How do you make new neighbors feel part of it? Those questions faced the King Mountain Neighborhood Association (KMNA) in 2021 when many new housing developments sprang up in response to the city’s housing crisis.

The KMNA, which has been active since the neighborhood was annexed to the city in 2006, met to tackle this issue. Ideas to reinforce a neighborhood identity included art installations, community food gardens, flower beds, and trail maintenance. The association settled on three things: Welcome signs for all road entry points to the neighborhood, professionally made sign boards to announce association meetings and other events, and two Little Free Libraries to promote social interaction and an exchange of culture between neighbors. These items came in under the $5,000 limit of the City of Bellingham’s Small and Simple Grant Program. The association applied for the grant and received the award in October.

“Welcome signs were the highest priority,” says KMNA board president Callum McSherry. “Some newcomers to the area don’t even know they are in a neighborhood. A sense of neighborhood identity opens the door to engagement with the community.”

The new Telegraph Townhomes, in King Mountain, will soon have a new Little Free Library thanks to the Small and Simple Grant Program. Photo credit: Cathi LeCocq

The items for the Small and Simple grant application were selected with the goal of a successful proposal, compliant with all conditions of the grant program. Funding will be sought from other sources for other desired items.

Neighborhood association funding takes a lot of an association board’s energy. Each of Bellingham’s 25 recognized neighborhood associations receives a stipend of $500 per year from the city, and KMNA uses the stipend to administer its website and maintain email communications with members. There is also a PayPal donation page for the association that McSherry “would like to see much more activity on.”

Small and Simple grants are available to any of Bellingham’s recognized neighborhood associations. The grants of up to $5,000 are awarded in an annual competitive process. The program, on hiatus for 10 years, resumed in 2019. The city awards as many grants per year as the total program budget allows; not all proposals reach the $5,000 limit. In 2021, 13 applications were received and approved. Applicants pay for the projects up front and submit receipts for reimbursement.

The thriving Cordata Community Garden. Photo courtesy Cordata Neighborhood Association

“Because of COVID-19, some of the projects have not been completed and those grants were extended into 2022,” says Janice Keller, Mayor Seth Fleetwood’s communication director. “This extended time of COVID has been challenging for our neighborhood associations as they try to maintain connections and build community, in most cases without holding their traditional in-person events, activities, and meetings.”

Applicants must convince the city that the sponsored projects will make “real, substantive, and positive changes” in the neighborhood. Examples of allowable projects are listed in the project guidelines on the city’s website, but applicants may suggest other ideas. Common requests include bike racks, graffiti removal, emergency survival kits, and landscaping/beautification projects.

The Cordata Neighborhood Association (CNA) received a grant to improve its Community Garden in 2019. Their highly successful garden was built in 2009. The majority of housing in Cordata is in apartment or condominium complexes, where residents don’t have land to garden. The Community Garden has 54 plots, and there’s always a waiting list.

Raised garden beds make gardening accessible for people with disabilities. Photo courtesy Cordata Neighborhood Association

Kate McDonald from the CNA says they used the grant money to help build a few more plots with raised beds for people with disabilities, “because we want the garden to be available to everyone.” The grant money will also help with maintenance that needs to be done on the 12-year-old facility.

The garden has received more grant assistance from the Whatcom Community Foundation, which has its own programs and requirements. “The Western Washington University Extension Office has been a huge help to us with planning and advice,” McDonald says. She is especially proud of the fact that the individual gardeners contribute their surplus harvest to collection bins for several local food banks and hunger assistance organizations. “We make a significant contribution to feeding our community.”

A neighborhood association’s logo helps “brand” a neighborhood, contributing to local identity. Photo courtesy Cordata Neighborhood Association

For 2022, the CNA has applied for another Small and Simple grant to add more Little Free Libraries to its existing network. “We don’t have a library branch in Cordata,” says McDonald. “We want one here, but until we get one, the Little Free Libraries provide a book exchange option without having to leave the neighborhood.”

Funding for neighborhood association projects can be hard to raise from individual members, especially in lower- and middle-income neighborhoods. In an increasingly disconnected world, the Small and Simple Grant Program allows Bellingham neighborhoods to enhance community and nurture a sense of home.

‘Small Island Big Song’ Voyages to Mount Baker Theater

By

Kelley White

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9 Small Island Big Song ft. Putad — Photo courtesy Small Island Big Song

Music, art, and expression are the ties that bind the human race and define us as a species, forming a connection that runs through every person, regardless of history or identity. Island nations of the Southeastern Pacific and Indian Ocean recognize the connection their cultural art can bring to every corner of the world as they open their hearts to others through Small Island Big Song, a multimedia production centered around a shared musical and artistic foundation. Mount Baker Theatre Executive Director John Purdie is proud to present Small Island Big Song on MBT’s historic stage, welcoming a production steeped in artistry and brimming with a message that can’t be missed.

Mount Baker Theatre presents “Small Island Big Song,” an artistic and moving expression of island music and culture, *on Thursday, February 3*. In-person and streaming options are available. Photo courtesy Small Island Big Song

“Small Island Big Song is a musical collaborative from across the Southeastern Pacific and Indian Ocean,” says Purdie. “They have explored collaborative approaches to music, how music is a display of culture, and how music is made. They discovered a shared focus on the Earth and the ocean and human’s relationships with the [two], as well as the impact of global climate change.”

The performance is a multimedia presentation by a diverse group of island nation representatives using music, AV projections, and spoken word to transport their audience deep within oceanic cultures. “One of the things that multimedia allows them to do is shoot video and record audio from all of these different places where they’re drawing collaborative music from,” Purdie says. “You can instantly transport from one place to the next, jumping between a lot of different locations. A picture paints a thousand words and having a visual to go along with the music creates a more powerful, blended experience.”

Tarika Sammy performs in a Small Island Big Song production at the Etnosur Festival in Spain. Photo credit: J. Ortega

Small Island Big Song creates the opportunity for artists to share their experiences with the audience in a way that resonates with everyone. “We were struck by their message,” Purdie says. “Our location has a strong connection to the ocean and the Earth, as well as a strong connection to Indigenous Peoples. The mission of the Theater is to enrich the region’s culture through dynamic performance, so we saw this as an opportunity to serve the breadth of our community.”

MBT is facilitating local connections for Small Island Big Song with Washington State Poet Laureate and Lummi Nation member, Rena Priest, and others from the Lummi, Nooksack, and Swinomish Nations. An important aspect of the show is welcoming local Indigenous representatives to take part in the performance and showcase their rich ancestry.

“Our ancestors were bridge builders, they found strengths in forming allies in unity,” says *Small Island Big Song performer and* Taiwanese artist Tai Siao-chun, better known as Sauljaljui. “Our generation must keep walking this path to continue the essence of our core values.” Photo courtesy Small Island Big Song

Additionally, local musician J.P. Falcon of the Blackfeet Nation is tentatively scheduled to perform a song with Small Island Big Song on the MBT stage. “He will be contributing a song they learn and play along with him, which will be a great collaborative moment,” says Purdie. “I think what the performers who created this show are trying to get across is the interconnection; showing the importance of collaboration and how one can connect with music across all languages.”

Global climate change is a major theme throughout the Small Island Big Song production, shedding light on the unique perspective only island nations understand.

Songwriter and performer Emlyn is known as the princess of the new generation of female artists in Mauritius. Photo courtesy Small Island Big Song

“The Island nations are the ones getting hit first,” Purdie points out. “Losing them affects us all, which emphasizes that we are all interconnected.”

Bringing their perspective into the conversation is as important to the show as it is vital to their mission. “In our pre-tour planning discussions with them I realized they are excited about the opportunity to both share what they have learned from their exploration of other island cultures and to learn about other local cultures as they go around on their tour,” says Purdie.

Musicians performing for the Small Island Big Song production. Photo courtesy Small Island Big Song

The experience of Small Island Big Song reinforces the bond between people and the world, creating a moving expression of tangible culture.

“The arts have been scientifically proven to help people develop a deeper sense of empathy for other people and experiences,” Purdie says. “It helps us see how other people live and how other people are experiencing the world, and it helps us understand what we have in common. This is an opportunity for people to learn and grow together and the best way to prepare for this [performance] is to come with a sense of inquisitiveness, a sense of curiosity, and an openness to considering the messages while enjoying the music.”

Small Island Big Song will embark on their North American tour at Mount Baker Theatre on Thursday, February 3. Tickets for seats are now available here and a link will be up and running soon to purchase tickets for streaming the event at home. Don’t skip the opportunity to be a part of an extraordinary production that continues to grow and bridge cultures with transcendent artistry and musicianship.

A map of the island nations participating in the Small Island Big Song multimedia production.

Featured photo of Putad courtesy Small Island Big Song

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