Due to a sudden and significant increase in COVID-19 patients, PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center is expanding its COVID bed capacity to meet the demand and asking for the community’s help in minimizing the transmission and severity of infections.
The uptick coincides with the spread of the highly contagious omicron variant, first detected in Whatcom County on Dec. 10.
“We are extremely concerned to see these numbers, and urgently ask community members to take the precautions that we know will help keep hospitalizations down,” said Dr. Sudhakar Karlapudi, chief medical officer for PeaceHealth’s Northwest network. “At the top of that list are receiving a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot if you have been vaccinated already and, of course, getting your first dose if you have so far chosen not to.”
While two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines are highly effective against the earlier strains, including delta, they have proven much less so with omicron, Dr. Karlapudi said. A booster shot, however, appears to dramatically increase protection against omicron.
“Early studies on the omicron variant are finding that it causes less severe symptoms than previous strains, which is good news,” he said. “However, the flip side is that omicron is extremely contagious, causing varying levels of illness among both the unvaccinated and vaccinated. We are preparing for the potential for a large surge in hospitalizations.”
Dr. Karlapudi noted that this preparation includes careful case-by-case review of all scheduled surgical procedures. Beginning Monday, Jan. 3, and at least through this week, a majority of cases are likely to be rescheduled to ensure adequate resources to care for the increasing number of COVID-positive patients. Affected patients will be notified.
While getting vaccine is the most effective step you can take to avoid serious illness and hospitalization, simple precautions are also important:
Avoid any event or gathering that may attract a large number of people and where you cannot maintain a safe distance.
If you are planning to travel or attend a gathering with people who may be unvaccinated or especially vulnerable, consider getting a COVID-19 test.
Wear a mask whenever you are in an indoor public space or crowded outdoor area, or with people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown. The CDC recommends a mask made of at least two layers or more of washable, breathable fabric that completely covers your nose and mouth. The mask should also fit snugly against the sides of your face and not have gaps. The CDC also suggests having a mask with a nose wire to help you get a secure fit and prevent air from leaking out of the top of the mask.
Maintain physical distance of at least six feet from people who are outside your immediate family or social circle.
“It is essential that our hospital maintain the capacity and resources to provide a high level of care to all patients who need it, whether they are coming to us with COVID-19, a heart attack or a traumatic injury,” Dr, Karlapudi said. “We need the community’s help to ensure we can continue to do this by protecting themselves and each other against COVID.”
Featured photo courtesy Whatcom County Health Department
LaFeen's Family Pride Donuts has been a Bellingham institution since it opened in 1984. Photo credit: Matt Benoit
Over the last nearly 40 years, Bellingham has seen its
share of doughnut shops come and go. But through it all, one humble shop—tucked
into the corner of a small shopping plaza in the Whatcom Falls neighborhood—has
held plain and glazed through thick and thin.
LaFeen’s
Family Pride Donuts, opened in 1984 by the LaFeen family, continues to
crank out countless bear claws and Bismarcks. Since 1996, it has been owned and
operated by Chan Samuth, a Cambodian immigrant who learned the ways of the
doughnut trade in California.
“We don’t do anything special, but we’ve just kept on
going,” says Samuth, 58, of LaFeen’s longevity. “We’re always there.”
A Journey
into Sweetness
The path to maintaining Bellingham’s longest-running
doughnut shop began far away and long ago for Samuth.
Chan Samuth hand-makes apple fritters during a recent shift at LaFeen’s. Samuth has owned the Bellingham doughnut shop since 1996. Photo credit: Matt Benoit
In 1975, the despotic regime known as the Khmer Rouge came
to power in Cambodia, beginning an authoritarian rule that would ultimately
result in the genocide of an estimated 2 million Cambodians. That year, Samuth’s
family decided to leave Cambodia, fleeing on foot into Thailand.
The following year, a 12-year-old Samuth found himself in
Minneapolis, Minnesota, a place his parents found a bit too cold to raise their
family. They moved several more times, to Puyallup, Washington, and Beaverton,
Oregon.
After graduating from high school, Chan moved to
California. His eventual foray into fried dough was inspired by Ted Ngoy, a
Cambodian refugee who built a multi-million doughnut empire in California and
became known as the “Donut
King.”
LaFeen’s offers patrons several very large doughnuts, including the always-popular and footprint-shaped “Bigfoot” buttermilk bar. Photo credit: Matt Benoit
Samuth operated a doughnut business for about five years in
the Golden State. While going through a divorce in the mid-1990s, one of
Samuth’s brothers, then living in Lynnwood, Washington, saw that LaFeen’s was
for sale and convinced him to move to Bellingham and buy the shop.
Early on, there were setbacks: the eatery was robbed
several times in 1997, but Samuth says the crimes actually raised the shop’s
profile and increased its local support.
Over the years, LaFeen’s has remained a city staple. Untold
numbers of children and adults have flocked here, at all hours and in all seasons,
for legendarily large pinwheel turnovers, fruit-filled fritters, and the footprint-shaped
buttermilk bar better known as a “Bigfoot.”
Things
That Go ‘Yum’ in the Night
Besides tasty treats, one thing that may explain LaFeen’s
long-standing community presence is the fact it always seems to be open.
In fact, LaFeen’s is open every day of the year except for
about four days at Thanksgiving and another 9 or 10 around Christmas, Samuth
says. Its doors are unlocked around 6 a.m., and aren’t locked again until 10
p.m. most days—and 11 p.m. on weekends.
The deep-fryer at LaFeen’s sees heavy usage, as the shop puts out an estimated 2,000 donuts a day. Photo credit: Matt Benoit
LaFeen’s has remained open during snowstorms, and even
during power outages, Samuth says. No matter how dismal the weather, if a
craving remains and a body is willing, nobody will be denied their doghnuts.
Unlike many doughnut shops, which typically operate on an
‘early to rise’ schedule of baking fresh pastries in the hours before dawn,
Samuth comes in every day around 5 p.m. to make his doughnuts. With help from
several of his nine employees, some of whom are high schoolers gaining valuable
job experience, Samuth makes doughnuts until about midnight, provided nothing
goes wrong.
He strives for consistency in his products, he says, and no—he
never really gets tired of making them.
The sugary goodness of donuts are never out of reach at LaFeen’s. Photo credit: Matt Benoit
“I didn’t like it when I was younger,” he says. “Now that
I’m older, it’s not so bad.”
An ardent coffee drinker, Samuth says he has at least one
doughnut every day. His choice depends on his mood, but often favors apple
fritters, turnovers, or raspberry bear claws. Having remarried, his two
children, ages 7 and 10, prefer the classic sprinkled cake doughnut.
LaFeen’s goes through several hundred pounds of dough
daily, says Devin Sluys, one of LaFeen’s long-time employees. And despite the
doubling of prices for essential ingredients in the last year due to pandemic
and supply chain issues, LaFeen’s still pumps out an estimated 2,000 doughnuts
a day. From Wednesday through Sunday, they usually sell out.
Samuth’s brother—the one who convinced him to buy LaFeen’s
a quarter-century ago—also owns and operates a second LaFeen’s shop in
Burlington, which opened about eight years ago.
LaFeen’s Family Pride Donuts has been a Bellingham institution since it opened in 1984. Photo credit: Matt Benoit
Although LaFeen’s may lack the novelty of Portland’s Voodoo
Doughnut or the high-profile branding of a Krispy Kreme, it is perhaps the
quintessential doughnut shop for a city that bills itself as being full of
subdued excitement.
Like the constancy of the seasons or the ocean tides, you
can count on LaFeen’s to offer up a sweet respite from the chaos of a bad or
busy day. Samuth knows his customers have come to expect it.
And he doesn’t take it for granted.
“I feel very lucky,” he says. “Our customers—they’re very
nice. Very generous. It’s just a beautiful community.”
Increasingly, capital investors are seeking to understand
the impact of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) influences on
financial operations and long-term growth projections. Sustainable Accounting
Standards Board (SASB) reports are a valuable framework that provides
visibility and accountability for modern-day sustainability standards and
expectations.
Recently, First Fed released their first SASB report to provide increased transparency on ESG initiatives. One year away from their 100th year, local community bank First Fed understands the role sustainability plays in ensuring a thriving local economy. CEO Matt Deines discusses the company’s sustainable practices, and the bright future ahead for First Fed.
“Our company values include positivity, respect, and initiative,” says First Fed CEO Matt Deines. “We want to maintain a positive outlook, that tomorrow is going to be better than today. Photo courtesy First Fed
“We’ve been focused on sustainability and elements of environmental and social governance for some time. Some initiatives were implemented long before sustainability was a buzzword,” says Deines. “It’s important to promote positive change and development in the communities we’ve served for nearly a century.”
First Fed supports a forward-thinking philosophy within the economy of their region, improving upon the idea that contributing to your communities is essential to success.
“Our company values include positivity, respect, and initiative,” emphasizes Deines. “We want to maintain a positive outlook, that tomorrow is going to be better than today. We act respectfully—whether to individuals, our communities, or the environment. We take initiative to make improvements where we can. Considering our values, it makes sense to proactively support ESG initiatives.”
The number one priority of First Fed is contributing to
both the economic and environmental health of its locality, paving the way for
progression and productivity.
“It’s something we have taken to heart, particularly as it pertains to service and being good stewards to our environment,” continues Deines. “But we also apply the same standards in terms of lending, helping people with homeownership, life events, and with their basic finances. In many ways, we’ve become part of the fabric of the very communities where we do business. It is a great honor.”
The success of any company starts with the health and longevity of their workforce, a notion First Fed recognizes and respects.
“First Fed is a family, and we care about one another,” says Deines. “We have some hiring principles that differentiate us, outlined by the mnemonic device HEAR. It stands for: Hire the best people, Empower them, hold them Accountable, and Reward them. Those are the values that we live by.”
With an array of impressive incentives and benefits for employees as well as a strong communication system, First Fed strengthens the bond between good service and accountability. Deines also recognizes the reason diversity and inclusion is so important in maintaining a positive workforce.
“It’s an awareness and emphasis on how we can be better citizens in the community, better corporate citizens, and stewards,” Deines points out. “Diversity makes us stronger. Diverse perspectives can lead to better solutions which ultimately drives more sustainable operations.”
Diversification of staff and management is one of the
many spotlights in the report. Recent hires and new board members exemplify
First Fed’s commitment to diversity and becoming a more inclusive company.
“Over fifty percent of our senior team is female,” notes
Deines. “In the last year, we were excited to welcome a third female board
member as well as a Native American board member.”
Aside from diversity and inclusion, First Fed has also
implemented simple yet impactful changes in their operations pertaining to
environmental sustainability.
“We’ve been focusing on providing new digital services and increase digital delivery of our traditional services,” Deines says, “so that we can expand our reach into communities that may be underserved.”
Per the SASB report, Deines is proud to showcase a variety of newly sustainable practices within First Fed, such as the implementation of e-records and e-signature technologies. So far, digital transformation efforts have resulted in significant waste reduction including approximately 51,000 gallons of water consumption, 41,000 pounds of carbon emissions, and 2,800 pounds of paper waste.
“We’ve made good progress on our goals of using less paper and increasing automation,” explains Deines. “Also, we have put a greater focus on online and mobile banking tools for customers and enabled more team members to work remotely. So we’re all spending less time in cars.”
First Fed leads the pack in its commitment to achieving a higher efficiency in banking services and maintaining sustainable practices for their community and environment.
“It’s important that we continue to be innovative in our product development while being responsive to the needs of our customers and our prospective customers in our market,” concludes Deines. “In doing this, we believe that the community banking model is viable for years to come.”
The sky is the limit for First Fed, a financial institution championing a better way to do business.
“My
pipes froze! How will my heat pump work? What should I do when…?” With
wild winter weather events understandably come a flurry (pun intended!) of
questions regarding plumbing, HVAC, and general home maintenance. From keeping
your faucets dripping to clearing snow from your heat pump, the experienced
team at Barron Heating AC Electrical & Plumbing
compiled a series of frequently asked questions that address many of these common
sub-freezing-related topics. When the temperature drops, these FAQs are a
great first stop for preventing equipment failure or plumbing damage, while
also providing steps to follow if you’ve already run into trouble.
Pacific Northwest winters are typically mild, but every so often, mother nature throws us all for a loop. Photo courtesy Barron Heating
Q: How can I help prevent my pipes from freezing?
A: There are a few easy steps that can be taken to
reduce the chances of pipes freezing in extended cold weather. Opening the
cabinet doors under the sinks in your home is one—this allows warm air to reach
the pipes and prevents these areas from getting too cold. Another smart step is
to keep your faucets dripping. This allows water to continually move in the
pipes, making it much less likely to freeze. And if you have a crawlspace, make
sure that vent covers are in place! Plugging vents prevents cold air and
especially wind from blowing into the space, keeping the crawlspace above
freezing.
Q: If my pipes freeze what should I do?
A: While applying heat is recommended, first and
foremost, never use an open flame to try to defrost pipes. After taking all the
preventative measures listed above, open your faucets and try to heat the area
where the pipes are located. Space heaters can be used to heat the space if it
is safe to do so. Heating pads or hair dryers are also a helpful option, as
they can be used to directly apply heat to the pipes where they are frozen.
Q: What do I do if a pipe bursts?
A: If a pipe bursts in your home, turn off the main
water line. Once the main line is shut off, open all faucets to drain the water
out of the system. Leave the faucets open until you can have a professional
make the repair and restore water service to your home.
Q: Do my crawlspace conditions play a role in pipes
freezing?
A: The condition of your crawlspace can dramatically
affect the protection of your water pipes. When the plumbing in your crawlspace
is installed between the floor joists, for example, it should be properly surrounded
by insulation. If that insulation is insufficient or damaged, it can lead to
frozen pipes.
Q: How will my heat pump work when temperatures are below
30° F?
A: The answer to this question is heavily dependent
on what type of heat pump you have in your home. Heat pumps are an exceptionally efficient way
to heat and cool in moderate climates like the Pacific Northwest. But in
extreme temperatures like we are experiencing this winter, it can be
challenging for heat pumps to keep up with the heating demands of your home.
This is especially true if your house is lacking insulation or air sealing. If
you have a central air system with a heat pump, there is generally some sort of
backup heat, whether it’s natural gas, propane, or electric. These systems
sense the outside temperature and adjust to the most efficient and effective heating
process. When it becomes cold enough to warrant a switch, the backup heat
source will either take over or supplement your heat pump. We recommend setting temperature and keeping
constant throughout the cold spell. It is more efficient and easier for the
heat pump to maintain then to have to catch up.
If you have a mini-split heat pump, we recommend following
the “set it and forget it” philosophy. The thermostat should be set and left at
the temperature you are comfortable as the remote is not the sensing device.
When the outside temperature drops below the rated temperature of the unit, the
system will continue running, but at a decreased output. Supplemental heat
sources like a fireplace, electric heaters, or radiant heat are great ways to
complement a mini-split system.
Q: What do I do if the condensate on my furnace freezes?
A: Condensate is a byproduct of the high efficiency
heating process that needs to be expelled (or drained) for your furnace to
function properly. Condensate is most often drained to the exterior, but in
cases of extreme cold, that drain can become frozen and blocked.
If the condensate line becomes frozen, warming the piping
with a hair dryer or heat gun can melt the blockage and allow for the
condensate to flow. It is important to note that condensate is acidic, however,
and should not come in contact with skin.
To reduce the chances of your condensate line refreezing,
the exterior portion of the PVC piping can be insulated with weatherproof
materials. Ice melt can also be spread underneath the drain line exit point to
prevent ice from building up on the ground.
Q: How should I take care of my heat pump outdoor unit in
cold temperatures?
A: Any snow or other debris that may restrict airflow
should be cleared. Beyond that, the heat pump outdoor unit should not need
further attention. Never put anything inside of the unit, as it can damage the
equipment.
Pacific
Northwest winters are typically mild, but every so often, mother nature throws
us all for a loop. From extreme high temps to extreme lows, flooding, and snow,
Barron Heating AC Electrical
& Plumbing strives to be a team of knowledge and support that this
community can rely on. With unprecedented demand for equipment, labor, and weather,
we’re
prioritizing our customers in an effort to provide the quality service we’re known
for. Thank you for your patience as we navigate this final chapter of
2021 together—it’s keeping us all on our (frostbitten) toes!
First Presbyterian's Garden Street location has had some memorable moments, such as the time an angry citizen shot several loads of birdshot through the church's largest stained-glass window. J.W. Sandison 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 churches.
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.
Garden
Street United Methodist Church – 1326 N. Garden Street
The church now known as Garden Street United Methodist resulted
from the merger of two episcopal churches—Trinity Methodist and First
Methodist.
First Methodist began in 1883, holding its first service in
a one-room schoolhouse along Maple Street. At just 14-feet-by-22-feet in size,
the building held seven people for the sermon, delivered by Sehome
Hotel operator and Reverend B.A. Hill.
Garden Street United Methodist Church, built between 1910 and 1912 at a cost of $75,000, began life as Trinity Methodist Church. J.W. Sandison photo courtesy of Whatcom Museum
A year later, First Methodist purchased property at Clinton
and I Streets, constructing an actual church. Trinity Methodist formed in 1890,
building its first structure at the location of the current one.
By 1909, Earl Noftzger was Trinity’s pastor. His dynamic
style and youth increased membership, and it wasn’t long before expansion was
needed. That November, plans by architect Alpheus Dudley were approved for a
new brick and stone structure.
In March 1910, the prior church was demolished and
construction began. For several weeks, worshippers met at the Central Hotel,
then migrated to a barn-like tabernacle at the corner of Holly and Garden
Streets. The Trinity Methodist cornerstone, laid in October 1910, is still
easily viewable today.
A photo of the church’s cornerstone laying ceremony on October 23, 1910. The cornerstone can easily be glimpsed today. Photo courtesy Richard Drath, Garden Street United Methodist
The structure was dedicated in June 1912, but its budget
hit $75,000 (about $2.1 million today). Because the church took a strong stance
on prohibition, some pro-saloon businesses pulled their construction pledges,
leaving Trinity $15,000 in debt (about $425,000 today).
A merger was floated, but First Methodist didn’t want to
share Trinity’s debt. However, in 1917, Trinity found itself without a
minister, and First Methodist faced an unsustainable financial future. The
timing was right, and Garden Street Methodist was born. The old First Methodist
church was sold and its sale put towards debt.
Today, the church is undergoing another change, bidding farewell to religious services and awaiting a new tenant. Photo credit: Matt Benoit
In 1932, the church finally became debt-free, and its mortgage
papers were ceremonially burned. Repairs to the church auditorium were made in
the mid-1930s, and they were needed: at one point, a large chunk of plaster
broke off from the ceiling, barely missing the minister below.
The 1940s improvements included an enlarged fellowship
hall, remodeled kitchen, and new communion table. In the mid-1950s, the
church’s pastor was giving a sermon in which he told parishioners they needn’t
fear hellfire. About that time, a motor burned out in the ventilation room,
creating a smelly cloud of smoke; the pastor assured his flock it wasn’t a
planned effect.
By 1964, membership exceeded 1,200, having absorbed Eureka
Methodist in 1962. Thought was given to selling the building and moving, but its
location was still ideal. Instead, two homes were bought and cleared for an educational
wing next door; it was completed by 1970.
The interior of Garden Street United Methodist, circa 2021. Photo credit: Matt Benoit
By 1983, the church was enjoying financial prosperity
following several 1970s bequests and donations, and renovation work again
commenced. Interior redecoration, an enlarged choir loft, and a new stairway
between the street and basement were among the upgrades.
The church remained at Garden Street until November 2021, when
the property was put up for sale. The congregation again moved temporarily to a
hotel—this time, Lakeway Drive’s Four Points Sheraton, where they meet each
Sunday at 10 a.m. They also livestream services on YouTube.
United Methodist’s stained-glass windows, handmade over a century ago, will remain when a new tenant takes over the building in 2022. Photo credit: Matt Benoit
Richard Drath, Chairman of the church’s board of trustees,
says they’re still working on finding a longer-term worship space. In the
meantime, the historic building will be taken over by a tenant agreeing to use
the existing building, ensuring its handmade stained glass windows and many
other flourishes remain.
First
Presbyterian Church – 519 E. Maple Street
The building located at the corner of High and Maple Streets
was built for congregants of the Church of New Whatcom, founded in June 1884 by
Scottish preacher Beveridge Knox McElmon.
The church held services in a schoolhouse until 1889, when
work parties of church members and neighbors built the wooden church at a cost
of $3,000 (roughly $90,000 today). It featured Queen Anne style architecture, with
Gothic windows and a bell tower with a pyramid-shaped steeple.
Constructed in 1889, First Presbyterian Church’s wooden structure still stands at the corner of High Street. J.W. Sandison photo courtesy of Whatcom Museum
For a congregation of less than 20 members, it was huge.
Dedicated on November 10, 1889—one day before Washington became a state—the
church was rocked by controversy in 1891 when member Annie Llewellyn was
accused of “laxness” of religious duties, selling whiskey and operating her
store on Sundays. She publicly repented for her sins, but her daughter Lizzie would
not, and was subsequently excommunicated.
In 1896, W.A. Mackey had assumed ministerial duties,
building a manse (residence for a minister) onto the church. In 1899, the
church added seating and several gas jets for better lighting, and expanded the
basement for Sunday School purposes.
Expenses of the era were minimal, but so were budgets. The
church’s janitor was paid no more than $5 a month (about $165 today);
unsurprisingly, the position was often vacant. In 1906, the church acquired a
pipe organ from a company in Vermont. Despite a 25 % discount, the instrument
cost more than the church’s entire annual budget. Donations of more than
$3,000, however, completely covered costs.
In 1908, First Presbyterian added electric lighting and
boasted a congregation of more than 200 active members, plus over 300 Sunday
School attendees. But they were out of room.
The building, which has hosted a martial arts school and alternative library, is now an events venue called Karate Church. Photo credit: Matt Benoit
Faced with expanding the current church structure or
knocking it down for a larger-capacity temporary tabernacle while a new
location was sought, the church decided against both options. In 1910, they
acquired a vacant lot along North Garden Street, just a block away, and
remained in the Maple Street location until early 1911, when their new church
basement was completed enough to move in.
The church bell, as well as the organ, were carefully
removed and installed in the new church, and the old building was sold for
$2,500 to a Lutheran congregation. The structure underwent some kind of
renovation in 1928, according to property tax records, and its exterior has
remained largely unaltered since.
By the 1970s, the former church was hosting a martial arts
school. Although long gone, the side of the building still features most—but
not all—of the school’s lettering, and reads as a “School of Elf Defense.”
In recent years, the building was the site of Bellingham’s Alternative Library. Currently, it is used as a
performance and events venue, known by the name it acquired in the‘’70s: Karate Church.
First
Presbyterian Church – 1031 N. Garden Street
Designed by architect Alpheus Dudley, the current home of
Bellingham’s First Presbyterian Church
(FPC) was constructed between 1910 and 1912, at a cost of $67,000 (about $1.8
million today).
The 1910 Bellingham appearance of popular evangelist Billy Sunday (who held revival
meetings at the current location of the downtown Rite-Aid on Cornwall Avenue)
helped provide additional enthusiasm for the new church, and many congregants
donated time and money to craft its Cherrywood pews and stained glass windows.
First Presbyterian’s Garden Street location has had some memorable moments, such as the time an angry citizen shot several loads of birdshot through the church’s largest stained-glass window. J.W. Sandison photo courtesy of Whatcom Museum
The window at the front of the building—depicting a Holman
Hunt painting of Christ knocking on a handle-less door—was a memorial
to Reverend James Thompson, the pastor of Fairhaven’s Presbyterian Church.
Thompson was one of 96 people killed in the March 1910 Stevens
Pass avalanche, to this day the deadliest avalanche in United States
history.
The church was officially dedicated on the afternoon of March
3, 1912. An estimated 650 people attended the first evening service. FPC’s
support of reform issues sometimes upset community members; during one Sunday
evening service, a man fired two rounds of birdshot through the Thompson
memorial window, allegedly upset over the church’s support of alcohol prohibition.
From September 1918 to January 1919, the church was one of
many forced closed due to the
Spanish Flu pandemic. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, FPC
remained financially stable, and in the midst of World War II, in 1944, some 44
members served their country. One of them, Laurence Klein, was killed during
the Normandy beach landings of D-Day.
First Presbyterian, Circa 2021. The church hosts services each Sunday at 9:50 a.m. Photo credit: Matt Benoit
In 1946, the church’s production of Handel’s “Messiah” likely set
the building’s all-time attendance record. An exact headcount wasn’t
established, but the pastor that night estimated 800 to 900 people in a space
meant for 650.
As the building aged, maintenance woes occurred. Right
before the 1950 Easter Sunday service, the pipe organ blower malfunctioned,
forcing two church trustees to hand-operate the organ bellows during the
service. A new pipe organ was installed in the mid-1960s.
In 1955, renovations included a new roof and fresh coat of
paint. A proposed change to make the church exterior pink was roundly rejected
in favor of traditional white. Though First Presbyterian saw dwindling attendance
numbers by the late 1980s, it made a healthy comeback in the 1990s and into the
21st Century.
In 2003, Reverend Doug Bunnell came to FPC, overseeing
subsequent renovations that included a wheelchair-accessible ramp, elevator,
larger lobby, and new bathrooms. As of December 2021, FPC hosts in-person
services every Sunday at 9:50 a.m.
It’s Christmas season 2021 and the pandemic’s shadow has lifted enough to allow Assistance League of Bellingham to approach nine Whatcom County and Bellingham care centers with good cheer and carefully chosen gifts for those without family or friends. It is a season that provokes a multitude of emotions for people, comforting for some and difficult for others.
For the Care Center Support group of Assistance League of Bellingham, the overwhelming sense is one of caring and hope. And this year in particular, after a struggle of reduced funding due to COVID, we need that caring more than ever.
To answer that need, a group of 32 members fulfilled the wishes
of 173 residents with their special requests.
One might often wonder what would be your Christmas request if your living circumstance was in a care center without family or friends? We found the resident requests varied from special music and DVDs, sport memorabilia, and room décor, to the necessities of everyday life such as a blanket to warm a body that is constantly cold.
One such necessity that brought a smile was a single request for
a new pair of shoes with brown shoelaces; a gift that would bring comfort to
tired feet. We could envision him taking
off his old worn shoes—setting them aside—and slipping his feet into the shoes
of soft leather with brown shoelaces—and feeling absolutely rejuvenated!
To add to their delight, little unique gifts of the holiday
season filled the Christmas gift bags.
Again this year, the Pieceables Quilt Guild shared the love in their hearts and talents to make a generous donation of 88 handmade lap quilts to be included in the gift packages.
The photo below illustrates an artful exhibit of the beautiful combination of color, intensity, and scale of the many quilts.
When we spread the beautiful designs of the quilts before us, we
discovered they fulfilled the requests of all recipients but two—one of music
and one of the Seattle Seahawks. With no hesitation, the quilters promised they
would meet the need in time for our Christmas delivery.
We are so grateful—the Pieceables Quilt Guild’s generous spirit symbolizes all that is beautiful in this season of Christmas.
In addition to the quilts, Assistance League of Bellingham
provided fleece throws upon request. As the recipient wraps the gifted quilt,
fleece, or blanket around their body, it is a gift that goes beyond an offering
of warmth to one of enduring connection.
To bring a smile to the faces of those who are alone is the message and act of kindness so needed. This is also the timeless message of the members of Bellingham Assistance League that caring for those around us is the true meaning of the season.
Not only during the Christmas season but throughout the year, Bellingham Assistance League brightens the spirits of residents in local care centers with notes and cards and it is those moments of shared happiness that sustains our support.
All photos courtesy Assistance League of Bellingham
After days of heavy rain, Christmas Day in Bellingham
dawned cold and sunny in 1910. The city streets were quiet as people celebrated
the holiday with friends and family. It was a calm capstone to a busy holiday
season.
By 1910, many Christmas traditions were already well
established, from Santa Claus to Christmas trees. And, of course, gift giving.
As today, the holidays were important for businesses. Also, like now, technology
proved popular, with the Victrola music player and Kodak’s Brownie camera
selling well. Amateur shutterbugs could also send their black-and-white photos
to the city’s Chemical Art Painting Company to have them painted with colors to
send to relatives for the holidays.
Clothing and accessories were the most popular gifts,
especially handkerchiefs, gloves, and scarves, both handmade and from the
department store. Candy was also a big seller, though the prices look cheap to
modern readers. Wilson-Nobles-Barr sold gumdrops (twenty-five cents for three
pounds) and peanut butter squares (fifteen cents per pound). The Palmetto
Palace of Sweets attracted customers by offering a free candy cane for each fifty-cent
purchase. They also sold strings of candy beads for decorating Christmas trees.
In fact, Christmas was such a time of promotion that the
Bellingham Herald published a special sixty-four page “Christmas Number”
edition of their newspaper on Sunday, December 18. This issue was jam-packed
with holiday shopping advertisements, as well as Christmas-themed short
stories, history, world traditions and recipes. Written with the support of the
Chamber of Commerce, the paper was filled with information about local
businesses and industries. The Herald editors encouraged people to send
the issue to friends and relatives, to encourage people to move to the city.
Candy was a popular holiday gift in 1910. Imperial Societé Chocolats, seen here in a December 23, 1910 advertisement from the Bellingham Herald, were available at local drug stores. Photo source: Washington State Library
As now, many people also focused on helping the less
fortunate during the holidays. For example, Bellingham’s public schools
collected items for the city’s Associated Charities, a group of private
charities that worked together to coordinate their efforts. The students
collected hundreds of cans of fruit and vegetables, boxes of apples, clothes,
coats, books, and toys.
The city’s two
hospitals—St.
Joseph’s and St. Luke’s—got into the holiday spirit to cheer up
their patients. They decorated their windows with wreaths, distributed gifts to
patients, and had carolers visit. The Salvation
Army
raised money to provide families in need with baskets for the holiday meal and
served a holiday dinner to single men at their headquarters at West and Holly
Streets. They also held a Christmas tree party at their hall, where gifts of
clothes, shoes, and toys were distributed to children whose families were
having a hard time.
As the holiday neared, people put up decorations. The
Fourteenth Street School sold holly from the bushes on their grounds (three
cents per piece), but some did not want to pay and snuck onto the grounds to
cut branches during the night. School janitor John Tiedje even found a new
(now-ruined) pair of expensive ($1) scissors left on the grounds near the
bushes by a holly burglar.
Santa brings gifts of oranges for Christmas stockings in this advertisement from the December 16, 1910 issue of the Bellingham Herald.
Photo source: Washington State Library
Many groups got into the holiday spirit. The Fairyland Rink
held a Christmas masquerade on December 24, offering prizes. Admission to the
roller-skating rink cost ten cents and skates twenty-five cents. Clubs, church
Sunday schools, and residents held Christmas parties. Many of these were
covered in the “Social and Personal” section of the newspaper.
On December 19, the Herald described a party held by
the Aftermath
Club:
“The children’s Christmas program of the Aftermath club,
given this afternoon at the clubhouse, was one of the merriest occasions of
holiday fun thus far given. The clubhouse was decorated entirely with Christmas
effect, even to a large Christmas tree. The entertainment of the afternoon was
partly given over to a cantata [“The Way Out” about Santa and Mrs. Claus
visiting a grandmother and her grandchildren]….Between the two acts Miss Hinda
Hand and Miss Ingrid Udness sang a duet. The refreshments were very attractive
to the children’s fancy, tiny dolls, dressed in red, stood upon each cone of
ice cream, and pretty candles adorned the cakes served. Each child present
brought a toy which will later be given to the poorer children of the city, and
each member brought a toy which was put into a large Christmas pudding, from
which the children drew.”
Santa and his sleigh from a Montague & McHugh Store advertisement in the December 18, 1910 issue of the Bellingham Herald. Photo source: Washington State Library
As Christmas approached, people finished the last of their
shopping and decorating. The tree usually went up the night before. While electric
Christmas tree lights had been invented decades before, they were prohibitively
expensive (and required an electrician) for all but the very rich. Many people
lit their trees with candles (a tradition the author’s grandfather’s family
maintained into the 1940s, even after they got electricity on their farm).
Bellingham also took pains to keep all the jolly from
getting out of hand, closing saloons on Christmas day. “A good many Christmas
joys, unfortunately,” wrote the editors of the Bellingham Herald on
December 23, “will be counterbalanced by the headaches and other pains of
tomorrow, following the excessive eating of today. Let this send a warning to
be moderate in your enjoyment of the good things this season.”
Whether or not they had been moderate, when Christmas was
over, many breathed a sigh of relief. As the Herald wrote on December
25, 1910: “The bundle-bearing brigade, having dumped its load of parcels at the
foot of the Christmas tree in order to help Santa Claus out in his game of
bluff, may now breathe a sigh of relief and prepare to save up some coin of the
realm.” There was another Christmas to look forward to, after all.
Jake,
a central character in Michael Christie’s novel “Greenwood” believes the following about
trees: “That even the most impenetrable mysteries of time and family and
death can be solved if only they are viewed through the green-tinted lens of
this one gloriously complex organism.”
“I’ve
always loved the epic family saga that features a family tree diagram at the
beginning of the book, to help the reader keep track of who is related to who,”
says Christie. “And while I wanted to attempt to write a book in this
tradition, I also aimed to question the idea of what a family really is, and to
suggest that maybe the metaphor of the single tree is ultimately insufficient
to the task of capturing the infinitely complex relations of a family. And that,
yes, maybe we should think of human relations more like interrelated forests.”
Michael Christie is the author of the 2022 Whatcom Reads selection, “Greenwood.” Photo courtesy Whatcom County Library System
“Greenwood”
is the 2022 Whatcom READS selection and is described by the Whatcom READS
selection committee as: “Set in the Pacific Northwest, Michael Christie’s
“Greenwood” opens in the near future in one of the last surviving old-growth
forests in the Gulf Islands of British Columbia. The narrative skillfully
navigates a cross section of generations, themes, and times. As Christie peels
back those layers, he exposes the heartwood of what it means to struggle, survive,
and thrive; in essence, what it means to be human.”
Whatcom
READS celebrates reading, readers, and strong communities through the shared
experience of one book. Entering its 14th year, Whatcom READS is presented by
all the public and academic libraries in Bellingham and Whatcom County—Bellingham
Public Library,Bellingham
Technical College,Northwest Indian College,Western Washington University,Whatcom Community College, andWhatcom County Library System.Village Books is a community partner and donates 10% of
sales of the book to Whatcom READS. The book is available in print, eBook, and
eAudiobook through all of the aforementioned libraries, and is also available
as a book club kit through the Bellingham Public Library featuring 10 copies
and suggested discussion questions.
Christie,
an award-winning author who is a former carpenter and homeless-shelter worker,
divides his time between Victoria and Galiano Island, British Columbia, where
he lives with his wife and two sons in a timber-frame house that he built.
Christie
will be in Whatcom County for several Whatcom READS events taking place March 3-5,
2022.
“As
I wrote the novel, I found it astounding how entwined tree metaphors are with
the way we understand ourselves and our own stories,” he says. “I suppose I’m
suggesting that it’s our deep interrelatedness, both to our families—this
includes our ancestors and those we chose to be related to—as well as to our
communities and to our environment and the plant and animal worlds that is the
most important aspect of our being.”
Both
of Christie’s parents died while he was writing the book, and his two sons were
born.
“It
would be very difficult for me to disentangle the loss of my parents and the
birth of my two sons from the creation of this novel. These four events
happened over an eight-year period, which felt like a flash,” Christie says. “But
in my simultaneous feelings of crushing grief and overwhelming joy, I ended up
spending a great deal of time considering what a family really means and began
to truly accept the fact that lives both begin and end. And that our time on
this Earth is not unlimited and should be savored and valued. I didn’t know it
at the time, but I was working my way through all this as I wrote, and I’m in a
much better place after completing the book.”
Michael Christie’s novel “Greenwood” is the Whatcom Reads 2022 selection. Photo courtesy Whatcom County Library System
For
his own reading, Christie likes books in print, but doesn’t judge those who
like the portability and ease of the digital format. “But,” he says, “there
really is something about the physical book that feels like a sacred presence.
One that I love to keep on my shelves, like an old friend.”
Christie
grew up in a house full of books. His mother regularly took him to their public
library branch where he read for hours, which he says is probably where his
connection to libraries comes from.
“‘Greenwood’
is brimming with important books and journals and slipcases and letters and
telegrams and libraries,” he says. “This was no accident; a book about trees is
also a book about paper.”
About
six years ago, Christie and his wife acquired some land on Galiano Island.
Trees were brought down to clear the site for their house, which they had
milled into lumber to use to build. “I’d done some construction in my younger years,
but had never built an entire house before,” Christie says. “I threw myself
into it and made plenty of mistakes and learned a whole bunch of things along
the way.”
The
house is now complete, and Christie says he finds great joy in it every day.
The
author grew up in Thunder Bay, Ontario, a small city on Lake Superior a
two-hour drive north of Duluth, Minnesota. “It was a cold, rugged, and pretty
remote place to grow up,” he says, “with a massive swath of trees and lakes
surrounding it, and pretty much nothing else.”
His
current Galiano Island home, on the surface, could seem very different from
Thunder Bay. “It’s stunningly beautiful and temperate [for Canada],” Christie
says. But in some ways, the two places are quite similar. “Galiano attracts a
certain kind of person; one looking to live in an unconventional way. And I
only realized lately that I’m most attracted to these marginal places. The
edges are always where the interesting stuff happens.”
Christie
says he was completely obsessed with trees while writing the book—and quite likely
still is.
“I
live among some pretty majestic specimens, so it’s hard not to be,” he says. “The
complexity of a single tree is something that science is only beginning to
understand. What could possibly be more amazing? They make sugars and oxygen
from sunlight and carbon dioxide and water, creating zero waste. And at the
same time, they reproduce themselves and provide us with fruit and a wonderful
building material? Imagine if our scientists invented something that incredible.
They would win the Nobel Prize!”
One
of the highlights of Whatcom READS each year is the program’s community events,
which take place in conjunction with the selected book.
“With
“Greenwood,” we can explore together questions of climate change, family,
Pacific Northwest botany, intersectional environmentalism and so much more,”
says Committee Chairwoman Ann McAllen. “The list of community programs is rich
and varied, but it all starts with the book.”
Aspiring
local writers have already submitted their work to the Whatcom WRITES challenge and will share their entries in February at Village
Books. And Allied Arts of Whatcom County invites artists in all media to the Art Challenge, which will be on view when Christie is
scheduled to visit in March.
Christine
Perkins, executive director of Whatcom County Library System says that authors
are always impressed when they see what their book has inspired. “It’s a
special moment for them to realize that they have fostered this creativity in
others.”
The City of Bellingham is pleased to announce the opening of the Young Adult Winter Shelter, an emergency shelter program that will operate temporarily at Civic Field during the winter months, in partnership with Northwest Youth Services and Whatcom County.
The program is offered as an overnight-only shelter for up to 25 young adults 18 to 24 years old. The shelter will operate out of the City’s Civic Field locker room. The program started Monday, December 13, and will operate during the winter months through March 1, 2022, offering a low-barrier shelter option to young adults regardless of gender identity.
“Our winter shelter for young adults is another step forward in our collaborative work to expand shelter options that are healthy, safe and offer services to help people find permanent housing,” Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood said. “Young adults are a vulnerable population among people experiencing homelessness. We are pleased to partner with Northwest Youth Services and the county to provide age-appropriate services that we hope will lead to safety and healing, stability and permanent homes.”
In addition to providing emergency shelter at the Civic Field facility, services including meals, showers and restrooms, basic medical supplies, age-appropriate resource referrals, and some service navigation support will be provided.
“The overall goal with operating a winter shelter is to cultivate a temporary safe, welcoming, and healing environment for young adults, during the most critical months in our community,” said Jason McGill, Executive Director of Northwest Youth Services. “In addition, this will be an opportunity to ensure that young adults are connected to other services that Northwest Youth Services offers, so they are able to either jump start or continue on in their healing journey.”
The Young Adult Winter Shelter joins other new shelter services available in Bellingham this winter, including Base Camp‘s overflow shelter and Gardenview Tiny House Village.
Intake of guests into nightly stays at the Young Adult Winter Shelter will be made on-site at Civic Field, at the locker room located at 1355 Civic Field Way. Check in will occur at 7:30 p.m. daily, and Northwest Youth Services’ staff will be available overnight to support guests until they leave at 8 a.m. Doors to the shelter will close every night at 10 p.m.
Referrals into this program will be made by Northwest Youth Services’ street outreach team and through other existing Northwest Youth Services’ community programs. Additionally, other community emergency housing providers will be able to direct young people to the shelter. The program will have capacity to shelter up to 25 individuals at one time.
The program is operated by Northwest Youth Services and funded through a joint partnership by the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County.
“To offer a safe space for young adults to access during the harshest weather months in our community, we knew that we could not achieve this alone,” McGill said. “Partnering with the city and county was critical. Not only did the city and county offer the necessary resources, but they also ensured that the process to achieving this critical service was a priority.”
Funding for the Young Adult Winter Shelter was approved by the Bellingham City Council at the Oct. 25 regular meeting. The program is funded in part by revenue raised by Washington State HB 1590, the recently passed affordable housing sales tax.
The Young Adult Winter Shelter joins other Northwest Youth Services’ programming specifically targeted towards supporting youth in the community, including the Positive Adolescent Development shelter serving youth between 13 to 17 years old, and the Ground Floor Day Center, which supports’ the needs of homeless youth during the daytime hours.
Community members interested in partnering with the City, county, and community providers to make a positive impact are invited to engage with and support this effort. Northwest Youth Services’ welcomes community support through donations and volunteer service. Visit nwys.org for information about how to get involved.
Northside Tax Service staff from left to right: Michael Langley, Mary Carlson, Danyel Cammon, Marny (Debby) Barrau, and Crystal Sprague. Photo courtesy Northside Tax Service
As this year draws to a close and the next begins anew, it’s
the perfect time to review your discretionary spending and create opportunity
to benefit your community and yourself. In light of recent catastrophic
flooding and with the holidays in full swing, consider charitable donations to
local non-profit organizations while making smart choices for this upcoming tax
season. Crystal Sprague, Registered Tax Return Preparer, ITIN Acceptance Agent
and Notary Public of Northside Tax Service in Bellingham, discusses the best
ways to benefit you and your community when donating to charity.
Where to begin when so many need help? Sprague suggests a
simple solution: focus on what you love and cherish in your community. “Start with
an organization that touches your heart,” she says. “Find the organizations you
are most aligned with and go from there.”
Northside Tax Service focuses on its community and neighborhood’s wellbeing. Photo courtesy Northside Tax Service
When donating, understand the types of charitable giving.
“There are two different types of charitable contributions,” says Sprague. “Charitable
contributions as gifts to non-profit organizations that are tax deductible, and
donations to individuals without being tax deductible.”
Cash and Checks
Deductible contributions can be broken down further into
cash, non-cash, and volunteerism.
Cash donations are 100% deductible, but there are helpful guidelines to adhere to. “If you’re doing cash donations, it must be done [using] literal cash, check, debit, or credit card,” Sprague says. “If it’s $250 or more of a single donation, you have to have a letter [from the organization].” It’s essential that you attain documentation of all cash donations to show the IRS when itemizing.
When donating by paper check, the most important rule is to keep your receipts. “With checks, always have your receipt,” says Sprague. “If [an organization] sends you a letter and they want you to donate a specific amount, you want to keep a copy of that letter to provide to your tax preparer with the date and the check number, as well.” Regardless, Sprague makes it clear that any donation over $250 by cash, credit, debit, or check must have a letter provided by the organization to which you donated that amount.
Northside Tax Service welcomes you to enjoy accurate and comprehensive tax assistance. Photo courtesy Northside Tax Service
Non-Cash
Non-cash donations are contributions of items for which you
can get a receipt.
“Say you collect a bunch of household items you are going
to give to Goodwill or Value Village, or wherever you are dropping off
donations, and you get a little receipt from them,” Sprague says. “You need to
make a list of what you have donated, and you need to give it a valuation. There
are books on how to value your used goods or you can use the valuation based on
how much it would sell for inside of Goodwill or Value Village for that type of
an item.”
Once again, it is imperative that you document and compile
a comprehensive collection of your receipts for non-cash donations. “Staple your
receipt to your list, write down the date that you donated it, and then use
that to give to whoever does your taxes,” says Sprague. “If you donate more
than $500 a year of non-cash donations, there are forms you have to fill out
with your tax return.”
Volunteerism
Deducting volunteer-based contributions can be tricky.
Basically, items that have a dollar amount used to volunteer your time are deductible—but
your time is not.
“Any expenses you used for that volunteerism, you can
deduct,” Sprague says. “For example: if it was a bake sale or something to that
effect, you can take off the ingredient expense and you can take off the
mileage for traveling to it, but your time is not deductible. Most people do
not claim those expenses, but you can. It is hard to prove that to the IRS if
you get audited.”
Things to Keep in Mind When Donating
One of the most important factors to charitable giving is
verifying that you’re contributing to a reputable organization. The IRS website
has a handy tool you can use to look up an organization of your choosing and
double check that it is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. It’s vital to remember your
donations to 501(c)(3) organizations are deductible, whereas amounts given to
causes not under that specific non-profit designation cannot be deducted on
your taxes. That helpful link is found here.
This year, the IRS has a change from previous tax seasons
that will most likely be temporary but is also worth noting if you claim
standard deduction.
“You can deduct $600 for a married couple. That is
different this year; most people in the past had to itemize and give up other
standard deductions to give donations,” says Sprague. “Last year, for 2020, it
was $300 for single or married couples and this year it is $300 for single and $600
for married that can be taken right off their taxable income. Again, you want
to make sure you have those receipts.”
Northside Tax Service staff from left to right: Michael Langley, Mary Carlson, Danyel Cammon, Marny (Debby) Barrau, and Crystal Sprague. Photo courtesy Northside Tax Service
Also, those who itemize may be able to deduct up to 100% of
their AGI (Adjusted Gross Income) while, in previous years, it has been 20% to 60%.
Any way you slice the pie, it’s a year of opportunity
coming out of the pandemic. Sprague and her colleagues at Northside Tax Service
are ready to sort out your taxpaying and assist you in accurately crediting
your charitable contributions.
As a local tax service dedicated to supporting their regional businesses and neighbors, Northside goes that extra mile for its community. Before tax season starts, find the time to contribute to local non-profit organizations and make sure your money is benefitting the communities you know and love.
