Professor Jim Lortz Leaves a Legacy at WWU

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Professor Jim Lortz recently retired from Western Washington University’s College of Fine and Performing Arts (WWU-CPFA), where he taught acting, musical theatre, voice and diction classes, and contemporary literature studies for 32 years. Conservatively, more than 7,000 students received classroom instruction from Lortz during his WWU tenure, including five summer programs when he stood in front of a lecture room with 200 eager actors each session.

At his retirement, WWU-CPFA created the Jim Lortz Theatre Enrichment Fund, an endowment to continue Jim’s legacy of enhancing students’ theatre education and experience. They don’t do that for just anyone—and Jim is far from “just anyone.”

Born and raised in Deer Lodge, Montana, Jim first stepped foot on a performance stage at the age of six, appearing in a school talent show with two friends,“Paul Wallen and Rex Kendall. “We sang “Que Sera, Sera” and were very serious,” Jim recalls. “They [the audience] were laughing.”

Jim’s was 9 when his father passed away. “Dad was a big ham. Not a kosher ham,” he jokes. He has one sibling, Rick, an older brother by three years, and the two maintain a close relationship. Sadly, Jim lost his mother when he was 27, seven years before he was hired to teach at Western.

Jim first came to Seattle in 1979 after receiving his undergraduate degree from the University of Montana. He found himself working as an actor at the Bathhouse Theater in the Greenlake District. “My life has been about luck,” he says. “The Bathhouse people were wonderful people to work with. They taught me to think differently.”

Jim grew up in Deer Lodge, Montana, and his family owned property on Lake Inez. Here he is at age 4, before he began to stretch his performance wings. Photo courtesy Jim Lortz

He returned to Missoula for a short while to work at the Montana Rep. When he was ready to come back to the Pacific Northwest, a friend at The Bathhouse told him about the teaching job at Western. In 1989, he interviewed and was hired. “How, I do not know,” he quips. He became tenured. “I’m sorry my mother didn’t get to see me teaching. She always thought I’d be a good teacher.”

Jim has also participated in theater and other projects outside of his work on campus. He acted in and directed a number of shows at the Bellingham Theatre Guild. Two favorite stage memories came from those experiences. He performed in “Man of La Mancha” as Don Quixote, and says, “I could play him forever”—even though the experience also resulted in his favorite memory forgetting his lines.

“I forgot the lyrics to “The Impossible Dream” and had to make up the whole song,” he says. “The audience looked stunned. I imagined they were thinking, ‘This isn’t the version Ed Ames did.’”

Jim has a pretty powerful sweet tooth. Here he is adoring one of his favorite treats, flan. Photo credit: Marla Bronstein

A favorite directing memory at BTG was during the run of “1776,” when the lead actor got sick and ended up in the hospital. “There was no one else to stand in for him, so I did it,” says Jim. “We cut 15 minutes off the show, and we didn’t skip anything.”

In addition to his local theater participation, Jim took five different groups of WWU students to Great Britain on a “Brit Tour” over their spring break, enabling them to see plays on the West End and in Ireland.

When two former WWU students created a summer camp in Binghamton, New York, Jim spent several weeks there, working with middle school and high school-aged youth, directing their shows.

He has directed over 100 musicals, his favorites being “Falsettos,” “Sweeney Todd,” and “Fun Home.” Two favorite musicals he’s seen on Broadway—14 times each—but never directed are “Once” and “Kinky Boots.”

Jim’s favorite thing about theater—teaching, acting, and directing—is that “it’s about “touching life. Being involved with that energy, that’s universal, that means something to somebody. Reaching out to connect to an audience and make them different from when they came into the theater.”

What will he miss most about teaching? “Watching the kids grow.”

One personal thing that he’d like people to know is that he has Parkinson’s Disease. “It’s okay to talk to me about it, to ask about it; don’t treat it as a big elephant in the room,” he says. He shared his experience with Parkinson’s on stage in 2010 with “Stories from Jim and Jo,” created by Ian Bivins and Pam Kuntz, which also featured MS patient Jo Pullen.

Jim’s life has been blessed with many special people in his life. He considers Professor Mark Kuntz, MFA—former chair of CPFA and a directing faculty member—one of his mentors. “He makes me appreciate choices and try different things.”

One of his lifelong best friends is Jerry McGarrity. The two have been friends since meeting in college in 1975, when Jim was a junior and Jerry entered as a freshman. Most recently, the two performed with The Neighborhood Playhouse in “Frog and Toad.” They only did two performances. “I could do that play forever,” Jim says. “Jerry will always be Toad to my Frog.”

Jerry McGarrity (right) is one actor who can always make Jim break character onstage. “He does it on purpose,” says Jim. “He’ll get a twinkle in his eye and keep going.” Photo courtesy the Neighborhood Playhouse

Noemi Ban was another of Jim’s very best friends for many years. They first met when Jim directed “Diary of Anne Frank” at WWU and learned that Noemi, a Holocaust survivor, would speak to groups about her experience. “Every time I ran into her at Fred Meyers, I’d help her with her groceries and help her out to her car, and we became friends.” One eventual result of their friendship was the powerful film, “My Name Is Noemi,” released in 2009.

In preparation for this article, I reached out to a few of his colleagues who shared how much Jim meant to them and the community.

Jim and Noemi travelled to Germany together four times. “I was embraced by her and her family. Noemi was in my life to teach me some lessons. One was that Parkinson’s is not such a bad thing compared to other things in life.” Photo credit: Marla Bronstein

Rich Brown, PhD, Professor of Acting and Movement – Chair, Theatre & Dance: “Jim Lortz is the heart of the department with every interaction. He always wants to give the students just what they need at every interaction.”

Ryan Dudenbostel, DMA, Associate Professor of Music and Director of Orchestral Studies: “I first came to know Jim Lortz in 2003. I was 20, and assistant-conducting a production of “Sweeney Todd” at Western. Jim was kind enough to indulge my naivety. He never expressed doubt about my capabilities. It’s hard to express the sense of privilege and responsibility I feel in leading “Cabaret” and doing right by this fellow artist and teacher to whom I owe so much.”

Pam Kuntz, Dance Program Advisor, Senior Instructor: “Jim sees people. Jim invites his students to share of themselves. He does this with patience and compassion. He creates a safe space for artists to learn to be vulnerable, to be vulnerable, an essential quality for a performing artist.”

Jim frequently invited Noemi Ban to talk to the cast and crew of shows that were based upon the Jewish experience during WWII. Photo credit: Marla Bronstein

Maureen O’Reilly, Emeritus Professor of Theatre: “Jim Lortz is a sextuple threat (we often talk about a performer as triple threat…singer, dancer, actor)…Jim is that plus director, choreographer, and supporter of other peoples’ work. As he would say: ‘It’s all good.’”

Erin Emry, Admin Services Manager, CPFA and former student: “The first time I met Jim I sensed that he was sincerely interested in me as a person. I was drawn into a close friendship with him immediately. With Jim, I am able to be my most vulnerable self, without feeling judged—just supported and loved.”

Beth Leonard, MFA, Emeritus Professor of Theatre: “There are few people I admire more than Jim Lortz. He is a master teacher who cares not only about imparting information based often on a lifetime in this business but always cared about the students themselves; their worries and challenges as well as successes. Obviously, I admire this irreplaceable human being. Jim means more to me than he will ever know and having him in my life is simply one of the blessings I received by coming across the country to become part of the Department of Theatre and Dance.”

Conservatively, more than 7,000 students received classroom instruction from Jim Lortz over the course of his WWU tenure. Photo credit: Lizanne Schader

Steve Ban, retired physician and Noemi Ban’s oldest son: “He and my mom had a unique and deep relationship. He was instrumental in making her feel important and that she was contributing to Holocaust education in a real way. It was so important to her, being a lifelong teacher. Jim helped steer her towards the kind of presentation that furthered her goal, including having the film made. On his retirement, my mom might say, ‘it’s about time you relaxed and not work so hard.’ And she would acknowledge and thank him for helping her and giving her life meaning and making it more useful and relevant.”

After the lights came down for the final curtain of Jim’s recent staging of “Cabaret,” a number of friends and former students gathered at the Ferry Building for a ceremony to honor him. At the end of a short presentation, the entire crowd took to their feet to sing the final verse of “What I Did For Love” from “A Chorus Line” to our teacher and friend, Jim Lortz.

“Kiss today goodbye, and point me t’ward tomorrow. We did what we had to do. Won’t forget, can’t regret, what I did for love… what I did for love… what I did for love.”

A more fitting lyric couldn’t be found.

Featured photo by Lizanne Schader

From Mountains to Roads, CorePhysio Helps Bikers Heal, Stay Healthy

By

Matt Benoit

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CorePhysio-Biking-Physical-Therapy-2021-Frank-Kingman-Mountain-Bike — CorePhysio PT clinician Frank Kingman knows a thing or two about helping mountain bikers prevent and heal their injuries—he's had a few himself. Photo courtesy Frank Kingman

Whatcom County is home to some of the best mountain bike trails and triathlon scenery in the entire country. And from daily road bike commuters to hardcore trail hounds, there’s no shortage of riders out there pedaling with purpose.

Inevitably, anyone who crushes enough miles on their bike will experience an injury, either from an accident, overuse, or suboptimal cycling mechanics. Fortunately, CorePhysio—Bellingham-based physical therapy experts—has multiple clinicians who are also passionate riders, from the streets of Fairhaven to the trails of Galbraith Mountain.

In addition to bike fitting, both Kingman and Palmer can address any biking-related physical therapies, cross-training, and ride recovery education. Photo courtesy CorePhysio

Two of those clinicians, Evan Palmer PT DPT MTC and Frank Kingman PTA have particular interest and experience in helping bikers prevent and heal from injury. Palmer joined the practice in 2021 after six years as a sports and orthopedic physical therapist in the Bellevue area, and Kingman—a former engineer—officially became a clinician in June 2021, having graduated from WCC’s PTA program after four years at CorePhysio as a clinical aide.

Both ardent mountain bikers, the duo have seen—and experienced—the gamut of bicycle injuries, from overuse issues with knees, hips, ankles, and feet to traumatic crash injuries like broken shoulder blades and collarbones.

Among non-crash injuries, Kingman says the repetitive motions of biking ensure a weakness or impending issue will make itself known.

“If you’ve got something that’s not quite balanced in the way that you’re riding, and you go out on a couple-hour ride and pedal a few thousand times, your body may present with discomfort that can definitely be addressed with skilled physical therapy,” he says.

CorePhysio’s Evan Palmer is a PT clinician who conducts clinical bike fitting—a precise way of ensuring the healthiest melding of patient and bicycle. Photo courtesy CorePhysio

Fit for a King

One of the ways to ensure healthy riding is to look at receiving a clinical bike fit—something a bit different from a traditional fitting done at a bike shop.

Palmer, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, conducts clinical bike fitting at CorePhysio. He begins this process by performing a comprehensive assessment of a client’s musculoskeletal system, examining the range of motion of their joints, in addition to muscle length and strength.

Having completed a full physical therapy evaluation, Palmer than examines clients as they ride their bike on a stationary trainer, similar to conducting a gait analysis of someone running on a treadmill. Palmer takes measurements of the client athlete, fine-tuning ergonomic and gear adjustments, to optimize the biomechanics of their pedal stroke and position on the bike.

Kingman, who is interested in becoming certified to conduct clinical bike fitting, compares riding an ill-fitting bike to wearing the wrong size shoes or using skis that aren’t the right length: you need to use your equipment properly to get the most out of it.

“I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for people to get an appropriate bike fit,” he says.

Being an avid mountain biker helps Palmer achieve a high level of trust with his patients. “I can empathize with their pain,” he says. Photo courtesy CorePhysio

Recovering Right

Another focus of cycling-based physical therapy is riding recovery: what do you do after your ride is done?

For many Bellingham area riders, recovery often consists of little more than a beer with friends, forgetting to properly care for the muscles you’ve just strenuously worked, Kingman says.

Preventing injury and pain means being sure to stretch muscles after a ride, including using a foam roller, exercise ball, or other devices. Simple exercises like extending your back over a ball can help lengthen muscles that may have been in a flexed position for hours on the bike, Kingman adds.

Palmer points out that proper sleep is also paramount for muscle recovery. Cross-training is also beneficial, as the repetitive and sometime linear workout of a bicycle leaves some muscles underused.

For instance, if you’re not clipping your feet to your pedals, you’re probably not using your hamstrings as much as you think, Kingman says. Additionally, being seated on a bicycle means certain muscles might not get stretched as much as they ultimately should for proper strength conditioning.

Finding out what underused areas can help achieve balanced conditioning, both men say, is critical for overall strength and flexibility.

“I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for people to get an appropriate bike fit,” says Kingman, seen here being fitted by Palmer. Photo courtesy CorePhysio

Finding Trust

Being mountain bikers helps Kingman and Palmer to establish good rapport with their clients, establishing a high level of trust because both sides of the exam room understand one another, especially when it comes to injuries.

“I know what it feels like,” Palmer says. “I can empathize with their pain.”

In general, both clinicians say they encounter very little resistance to the professional advice they give, as most local riders are committed and motivated to heal properly and achieve longevity in their sport.

“We want cyclists who are injured to get back on their bike as soon as they possibly can, if that’s what they want,” Kingman says. “We’re going to do everything we can to give you the tools and the information on how to do that, and we’re going to be incredibly honest about it.”

And because mountain biking is often a very technical craft, seeing a cyclist-clinician at CorePhysio means their familiarity with local trails allows them to make “trail prescriptions”—advice on the best trail given a patient’s particular issues.

Rooty, chunky trails that are hard on upper bodies, for instance, might be a poor idea for someone healing from a shoulder injury, Kingman says, allowing him to direct a patient to a smoother trail option.

Whether a rider’s focus is dealing with a pain, strain or sprain, or a focus on performance enhancement, CorePhysio can help, says Elizabeth Hampton, CEO of the company and an avid bicyclist.

The practice’s lead personal trainer, Luke Galloway, works closely with clinicians to help clients achieve their personal recovery goals, as well as with his personal training clients on overall sports-specific strength and conditioning.

“Our clinical and personal training teams are accustomed to challenging clients who are very high-level in performance training, as well as those who are new to the sport,” Hampton says.

In addition, the practice has board-certified pelvic health specialists, meaning any issues with an area critical for sitting comfortably on a bike seat can be addressed. It is not unusual for cyclists to experience symptoms, ranging from numbness to pain in their pelvis or sitting bones during longer rides. Ensuring optimal bike fit, as well as skilled treatment is key to promptly address all factors and prevent symptoms from becoming chronic.

In one study, up to 6.9% of mountain bikers were reported to have experienced concussion. CorePhysio’s concussion management program incorporates the latest research and are experienced with helping post-concussion clients recover fully so they can return to daily life, including riding, successfully and safely.

All in all, CorePhysio is a physical therapy practice of bikers helping bikers, and they look forward to helping in any way they can.

“Being able to serve the community of cyclists is something that we’ve always loved,” says Hampton.

Featured photo of CorePhysio PT clinician Frank Kingman courtesy Frank Kingman

Mount Baker High School FFA Finds Success on State and National Stage

By

Tony Moceri

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5th place at FFA Nationals in Indianapolis. — The Mount Baker High School FFA team poses after placing 5th place at the national competition in Indianapolis. From left to right: Eli Freeman, Jorey Johnson, Nico Johnson, and Michael Weber. Photo courtesy Todd Rightmire

Future Farmers of America (FFA) has a rich history that dates back over 100 years—and Todd Rightmire has led the Mount Baker High School group for 29 of them. He is now also joined by Corrina Davis and Tamara Whitcomb, who help coach.

Mount Baker has one of the most active FFA chapters in the state, boosted by how active other Whatcom County schools are. The local competition is steep, bringing up the game of all participants and resulting in success at the state-level competitions.

FFA grew out of the desire to promote agricultural education and, throughout the years, has involved raising a lot of animals. Raising animals is still an important and often favorite piece of FFA, but it has grown into much more.

“I tried to dispel the myth that you have to raise a pig or raise an animal to be in FFA,” says Rightmire. “Nothing could be further from the truth.”

The Mount Baker High School FFA agriculture mechanics team after wining the state competition in Moses Lake, Washington. Left to right: Todd Rightmire, Jorey Johnson, Nico Johnson, Eli Freeman, Michael Weber, and Collin Favro. Photo courtesy Todd Rightmire

Students can participate in a wide range of career development events including, but not limited to, agriculture mechanics, employment skills, extemporaneous speaking, floriculture, food science, forestry, natural resources, prepared public speaking, and veterinary science.

Mount Baker generally has around 100 FFA members, accounting for approximately 20% of the student body. “About 20 to 25% of our members raise animals, that means 75 to 80% don’t,” Rightmire says.

Students get involved for a variety of reasons. Being part of the program means gaining skills that will prepare them for whatever they choose to do after high school, as well as having fun along the way. FFA does a lot of travel, offers scholarships, and gives access to opportunities that are hard to come by outside of the program. “They see what we do in the community,” says Rightmire, “whether it’s the booster club auction, kids making money at the fair, or trap shooting.”

Nico Johnson (left) and Michael Weber doing a copper plumbing exercise at Lynden Christian High School in spring 2021. Photo courtesy Todd Rightmire

While there is a lot of fun, success at the career development events takes hard work and dedication. Rightmire equates being in FFA to adding another class to the student’s workload. They meet one day a week after school, and those seeing success from their participation study a couple of hours a week at home. The learning that’s done is no doubt beneficial, but the process itself is where Rightmire really sees the growth. “Kids find out that things aren’t given to you; you need to earn it,” he says.

Mount Baker’s most recent agriculture mechanics team put in the effort and saw their hard work pay off. The team recently returned from Indianapolis, where they placed fifth in the country at the national event. To qualify for nationals, they had to win the state event, which took place in Moses Lake last spring.

The top four scores on a team counted in the competition, and the Mount Baker team performed well. Jorey Johnson took first place, Eli Freeman was second, Michael Weber was third, Nico Johnson was ninth, and Colin Favro was eleventh overall. The top four competed at the national event and the fifth went as an alternate, should something happen to one of the other competitors.

Jorey Johnson works on an electrical practicum. Photo courtesy Todd Rightmire

Because of COVID, the national competition schedule was pushed to September of 2021, which meant some participants had already graduated. This was the case for Johnson, Webber, and Freeman, but they’d put in years of work and, with the previous year’s competition canceled, this was the one opportunity to show what they could do. Johnson and Webber, who both study mechanical engineering at the University of Idaho, came back to Mount Baker to practice with Freeman, who attends Whatcom Community College, and Johnson and Favro, who are still in high school.

The skill development tests involve complex math tests and things like laying out and building a grinder stand and assembling a dissembled Caterpillar skids steer piston pump. From the math to the practical pieces, these challenges are no joke and take hours of hard work to accomplish.

“These kids are math geniuses,” Rightmire says. “They run circles around me in math, and they can quickly conceptualize and understand things.”

It was clear during our conversation that Rightmire is proud of how the group prepared and performed and was happy they had the opportunity to go to Indianapolis. The trip for the students was paid for by FFA funds, which are raised in a variety of ways, including selling their metal art at this year’s Deming Log Show.

The FFA booster club also does fundraisers throughout the year, raising money to help the program. If you are interested in helping the Mount Baker FFA, students are always looking for people to sponsor their animals, and they will have their annual auction on March 12th, 2022.

Soccer Player Cole Kulhanek Is Willing To Do Whatever It Takes To Reach His Goals

By

Tony Moceri

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Cole Kulhanek rolling bthe soccer ball down the field — Goalie Cole Kulhanek rolls the soccer ball down the field. Photo credit: WIDTH Photography

What began as a child looking up to his father quickly turned into passion for a sport. Cole Kulhanek remembers, at age 6, watching his dad play goalie in a rec soccer game. Wanting to be just like him, Cole decided that he, too, would play soccer and be a goalie. That desire has led Kulhanek to a life dedicated to the sport of soccer. And, at just 17, he’s already achieved levels of play few will ever reach.

Kulhanek is in his fifth year playing with the Seattle Sounders Academy. When he started with the team, as a middle schooler, he would leave school in the middle of the day to reach practice on time. Eventually, the schedule of training—or games—six to seven days a week became too much. With the goal of playing soccer at the next level, he decided to leave Sehome High School and move to Issaquah, where he lives with teammate Cody Baker and his family.

Kulhanek now attends an online high school that balances school with his rigorous training schedule. This approach isn’t traditional, and it can be challenging to be away from his family, but he’s choosing to do what’s best for his soccer career.

Kulhanek has stuck with the goalie position, which brings with it all the pressure of being the last line of defense for his team.

Cole Kulhanek in action as goalie. Photo courtesy Cole Kulhanek

“It’s pretty difficult because you’re kind of in your own mental zone; nobody has the same position on the team,” Kulhanek says. “It can be a pretty lonely position throughout the game, but it’s also fun sliding around in the mud.”

While most high school students would be nearing the middle of their senior year and looking forward to the spring soccer season, Kulhanek has set himself on a different path. Playing at the high level offered by the Seattle Sounders Academy has drawn attention from colleges, and Kulhanek has committed to Grand Canyon University. Eager to keep progressing, Kulhanek put in the extra work to graduate from high school early. He’s just wrapping up his final classes and will graduate at the end of 2021.

Not wasting any time, he begins college on January 3rd, a few weeks before his 18th birthday. Heading to college early is a big deal for Kulhanek, as it would be for any teen, but he’s more excited than nervous. Having already lived away from home, he feels he’s prepared for the transition. He’s excited to be on campus and get comfortable with both his classes and his team so that when the time comes, he’s ready to perform on the field.

Cole Kulhanek with his Sounders Academy teammates. Photo courtesy Cole Kulhanek

Kulhanek had options when choosing which college to play for, but Grand Canyon University stood apart because of the team’s mindset. “Other schools were more individual, and everybody wanted to go their own path,” Kulhanek says. “But at Grand Canyon University, every player wants the collective to win, not just win individual accomplishments. There was really a sense of togetherness.”

While Kulhanek is excited to get on the field and play for Grand Canyon University, his ultimate goals stretch beyond college. “To go to the highest level possible, that’s always been my goal,” he says. “Just to push myself as far as it can go. My goal is to be professional at least some time in my lifetime, whether that’s in the next two years or four years. I’ll try to pursue that as long as my body can handle it.”

If he does get the opportunity to play professionally before completing his degree, he will go without hesitation but won’t lose sight of his education. He plans to major in business and sports management. Should his soccer career pull him away from in-person education, he plans to complete his degree online and knows of other professional soccer players doing the same.

Goalie Cole Kulhanek rolls the soccer ball down the field. Photo credit: WIDTH Photography

Kulhanek has hopes of one day returning to the Sounders organization as a professional goalie, but is willing to go wherever necessary to fulfill his dream. There are other MLS teams and lots of soccer around the world where he would gladly take a roster spot as a goalie.

“We’re the only position that can’t be moved to another one, and there’s only one that plays, so there are very few that are kept on a roster each year,” Kulhanek says.

Grand Canyon University’s soccer season begins summer of 2022. Kulhanek will have to earn a starting spot but keep your eyes out for him as there’s no doubt he will be working hard to be on that field.

Check out some of Kulhanek’s 2020 highlights:

Puget Sound Energy Rolls Out New Public EV Charging Station in Bellingham

By

LocalTalk Contributor

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Submitted by Puget Sound Energy

In an effort to provide a fast, convenient and green way for drivers to charge an electric vehicle, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) has added a third charging station in its service area.

PSE’s electric vehicle program, “Up & Go Electric,” has installed a public charging station in Whatcom County at the Cordata Community Food Co-op, located at 315 Westerly Rd in Bellingham. The charging station features two Level 2 charging ports and two DC fast charging ports that the public can use 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week.

“We are proud to support the City of Bellingham in its commitment to sustainability and expanding charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in our region,” said Will Einstein, Director of Product Development and Growth at PSE. “Partnering with local businesses like the Community Food Co-op to provide public charging that is fast and accessible to all drivers, helps meet the growing demand for more electric vehicles while reducing carbon emissions in our state.”

The Up & Go Electric program opened public charging stations in Lacey and Kent, over the last two years, and plans to open more stations in other counties where infrastructure is needed to help meet customer demand for more charging options. In addition, PSE is currently installing charging stations at workplaces, multifamily residences, and community-based service providers through other “Up & Go Electric” pilot programs.

“I’m very excited about this partnership with PSE because sustainability is one of our core values,” said Donna Nygren, Cordata store manager. “In the 12 years that the Co-op has been open we’ve seen significant growth in north Bellingham. This electric charging station is a step in providing valuable and sustainable infrastructure in the area.”

Fast and convenient

The station is located near Highway 539 and Interstate 5 and has two Level 2 and two DC fast charging ports to accommodate charging by four EVs simultaneously. The DC fast chargers in particular can fully charge an EV in less than an hour.

A greener way to charge

Driving an electric vehicle charged on PSE’s grid can cut annual transportation-related CO2 emissions in half compared to a comparable gas-powered car. PSE’s Up & Go Electric public charging stations are an even greener way to charge because electricity purchased at the station is matched with 100 percent renewable energy through its Green Power program, setting our stations apart from other public charging options.

Easy to use

All drivers – not just PSE customers – can use the new Up & Go Electric app to take advantage of simple mobile payment options, monitor their charging session remotely, and more.

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 our customers like this helps PSE engage more people in that mission.

PSE Up & Go Electric wants to make it as easy as possible for our customers to save money and help the environment by electrifying their transportation. To learn more about electric vehicles and Up & Go Electric, visit pse.com/electricvehicles.

The media is invited to a ribbon cutting event:

Thursday – Dec. 9, 2021
2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Community Food Co-op Cordata
315 Westerly Rd, Bellingham, WA 98226

Whatcom Community Foundation Resilience Fund Flood Resources Update

By

LocalTalk Contributor

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Submitted by the Whatcom Community Foundation

As of December 3, Whatcom Community Foundation through its Resilience Fund, and working with Whatcom Strong, has made 22 grants totaling $816,000 to 15 organizations working on the ground in the communities impacted by flood. The Resilience Fund is our community’s emergency bounce-back fund. It puts philanthropic (i.e. private) dollars to work providing emergency assistance, such as financial support, food or childcare, to our community’s most vulnerable neighbors as fast as possible in a crisis, whether a pandemic, a flood or other disaster. Every dollar raised here stays here and 100% of all donations made to the Resilience Fund are currently being granted for flood relief.

Whatcom Strong is one trusted resource for all information regarding Whatcom County flood relief. Their Online Resource can connect people to the help they need or can provide. You can sign up to volunteer where help is needed most and donate to help our neighbors.

Total costs associated with the floods are currently estimated at $50 million and may go higher. Right now, there simply is not enough money to give people everything they need to return to pre-flood conditions. Philanthropy, such as the Resilience Fund, is the fastest and most flexible money available in a crisis: it is private money for public good. Philanthropic dollars are critical to help stabilize people, and they are nowhere near enough to solve the long-term challenges associated with a disaster. Lasting solutions for housing, infrastructure and business recovery hinge on local, state and government relief and recovery funding.

Primary organizations that have received funding to date are: Sumas Advent Christian Church, Valley Church (Nooksack), Haven Church (Everson), First Reformed Church of Lynden, Ferndale Community Resource Center, Food banks in affected communities, Catholic Community Services, among others.

These funds are making it possible for these organizations to distribute:

Direct aid (checks and gift cards) for necessities like food, shelter, gas
Food, via area food banks
Storage and cleanup supplies, such as bins, work gloves, fans. “We are so grateful to those who have donated to the Resilience Fund and humbled to be a part of disbursing that funding. We’ve focused our efforts on families in the Nooksack area that had flood waters inside their homes. The need is overwhelming, but this support has been a boost to people, letting them know they are not alone – that people care,” said Kyle Hopkins, Lead Pastor, Valley Church in Everson. The Whatcom Community Foundation not only steps up when disaster strikes. Its day-to-day work is to connect people, ideas, and resources so that everyone in Whatcom County can thrive. The Foundation has been serving Whatcom County for 25 years and has invested nearly $52 million toward community health, happiness and prosperity since 1996.

Broadway Star Kristin Chenoweth To Grace the Legendary Mount Baker Theatre Stage

By

Kelley White

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Mount Baker Theatre Kristin Chenoweth — Mount Baker Theater is an icon at the heart of Bellingham's arts community. Photo courtesy Mount Baker Theatre

Strike up the band and let the show begin! This year rings in Mount Baker Theatre’s 95^th anniversary—and nine decades in showbiz calls for a celebration worthy of its vibrant legacy! Executive Director John Purdie dishes on the theatre’s 95^th Anniversary Benefit Concert led by none other than stage dynamo and Broadway darling Kristin Chenoweth.

Mount Baker Theatre is an icon in the Whatcom arts community and one of the last theatres of its kind left standing in America.

Emmy and Tony award winning songstress Kristin Chenoweth is coming to Bellingham this spring! Photo credit: Krista Schlueter

“There are two major elements to our history,” says Purdie. “When it was erected in 1927, it was built as an exotic silent film palace and Vaudeville stage—it was the age of opulence.”

In the roaring twenties, Vaudeville theatres dominated the entertainment industry and were built in abundance across the country. Nowadays, they’re nearly extinct. The only elements behind keeping their structures from dying out are the communities responsible for maintaining them.

In arts-loving Bellingham, Mount Baker Theatre is adored by its community and lovingly conserved as it continues to host the best shows in town. It’s a Bellingham icon that’s adapted over the years to weather the changes of the 20^th and 21^st centuries.

“Mount Baker Theatre is both a stage and a film theatre,” Purdie says. “We have leveraged both of those to survive all these years.”

Bellingham’s Mount Baker Theater is set to celebrate its 95th anniversary. Photo credit: Damien Vines Photography

Purdie proudly regards community efforts in keeping MBT alive and well. “We just raised over three million dollars to do some roof repair, and we took all of the terracotta tiles off, cleaned them, replaced the copper gutters, and then put the tiles back down. Plus, we painted the exterior and installed a brand-new sound system and projector,” he says. It is an extraordinary effort for such an extraordinarily deserving Washington destination in.

After celebrating MBT’s 90^th Anniversary five years ago, MBT’s Board and staff realized they wanted to make the 95^th as magnificent and unforgettable as the theatre itself. Who better to grace the Mount Baker Theatre stage than Kristin Chenoweth, a veritable icon in the legendary world of performing arts?

Emmy and Tony award winning Chenoweth will perform her “For the Girls” concert based on her most recent album for one night only at MBT. She will be accompanied by a five-piece band and back-up singers, flawlessly delivering hits from a variety of legendary female stars in showbiz including Ariana Grande, Barbara Streisand, Dolly Parton and more!

Chenoweth is a tour de force, owning the stage and delighting her audiences wherever she performs. “She’s not just an amazing performer,” Purdie says. “She’s got personality to beat the band and she just fills the stage despite her seemingly petit frame.”

It will be a night of pure magic and a chance for guests to dress up and splash out on a once-in-a-lifetime affair. “Kristen Chenoweth is performing live in only a handful of places across the country,” says Purdie. “We are thrilled she accepted our invitation! It’s going to be a truly memorable night for everyone.”

Kristin Chenoweth will perform “For the Girls” one night only at the Mount Baker Theater in Bellingham. Photo courtesy Mount Baker Theatre

Dedicated fundraising by the nonprofit organization running MBT continues to allow its legacy to thrive. The 95^th Anniversary celebration is a benefit concert but is meant to be more of a celebration of the theatre than anything else.

“There will not be a pitch during intermission. We just want to celebrate coming out of the pandemic,” Purdie says. “Every once in a while, we pull out all the stops and generate the funding needed to bring in something incredibly special. We are asking people to help support the theatre by buying a ticket and making a gift while purchasing.”

For those wishing to lend more support, MBT is offering “Golden Circle Tickets” among the first four rows from the center of the theatre. Priced at $350 each, these limited tickets grant exclusive access to Chenoweth’s soundcheck, light appetizers from Lombardi’s Italian Restaurant, popular drinks from the Snowy River Cocktail Co., and early entry on event night—to name just a few elements.

Purdie is excited for what the future holds at Mount Baker Theatre, and every year it continues to emanate more excellence while staying true to the heart of Bellingham’s art community. “It is an honor to work in this building,” he says. “The sense of stewardship for the theatre reminds us we inherited this building and it’s our job to maintain and pass along this treasure.”

Be a part of history and purchase your ticket to a grand night of showmanship and theatrical enchantment!

Mount Baker Theater presents: Kristen Chenoweth “For the Girls” on Saturday, April 23, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. Purchase your tickets and grant the theater a birthday gift here.

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Comcast Is Providing Free Public WiFi in Whatcom County Through December 31, 2021

By

LocalTalk Contributor

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Submitted by Comcast

Comcast in Washington is helping Whatcom County residents connect to the Internet while they continue to recover from November’s storms. Today, the company announced it is providing free access to its 2,936 public Xfinity WiFi hotspots in Whatcom County to anyone who needs them, including non-customers, through December 31, 2021.

Comcast’s public WiFi network is the largest of its kind in the nation, and three times larger than that of any other provider. The company has more than 71,000 public Xfinity WiFi hotspots in Washington state and 1.5 million public Xfinity WiFi hotspots nationwide. The WiFi network is available in outdoor and business locations, all of which can be found online at www.xfinity.com/wifi.

Comcast has a history of making its public hotspots available for free in individual markets to help communities stay connected after local emergencies like severe weather conditions throughout Washington in recent years. Normally, the XFINITY WiFi hotspots are available on an unlimited basis to Xfinity customers and for two hours every month to non-customers.

The company has invested more than $12 billion to expand and evolve its network since 2017. Since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis in the United States, network teams have worked around the clock to triple network augmentations, install new hardware, and upgrade network software – to expand capacity and ensure that it could meet the rapidly growing needs of its customers. Comcast performs nearly 700,000 diagnostic speed tests daily which show that, on average, it is meeting, and most times exceeding advertised speeds across all of its service areas.

Dermatology Through the Ages With PeaceHealth’s Dr. Amy Hopkins

By

Kelley White

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Our skin is our armor and our barrier, the first thing that people see, an entirely visible trait, and a physical link directly to our emotions. Managing our skin can be comprehensive and involve a range of treatments and routines. Dr. Amy Hopkins of PeaceHealth Medical Group Dermatology discusses average skincare for every major stage in life, from infancy to the golden years.

Dr. Amy Hopkins of PeaceHealth Medical Group Dermatology. Photo credit: Mark Turner

Infancy

Infancy is a time for new skin to begin maturing and establishing natural processes. One of the most important lessons from dermatologists on soft, new baby skin is to be gentle and kind to the surfaces, practicing good hygiene and regular moisturization while keeping in mind potentially drying practices such as the use of too much soap.

One of the most common conditions for infants is diaper rash, a red and often inflamed rash in appearance. “There are many different causes of diaper rash,” says Dr. Hopkins. “Everything from contact with urine and stool, to contact dermatitis, to a moist diaper environment if the diaper is on for a prolonged period can cause this particular type of rash.” Avoiding these conditions can greatly improve your baby’s chances of avoiding an uncomfortable diaper rash.

Another common and oftentimes uncomfortable skin condition in children is eczema. “Eczema or atopic dermatitis can be seen in up to 20% of infants and children,” Dr. Hopkins says. Interestingly, eczema affects both younger children and adults on different areas of the body but can easily be treated with similar methods.

Eczema is prevalent in young children and can be uncomfortable and itchy. Photo courtesy PeaceHealth

Hopkins suggests finding any thick cream from your favorite brand. “The thicker the ointment, the better,” she says. “If it is in a tub and you have to scoop it, that’s a really good sign.”

Eczema can be a prominent skin condition throughout infancy and early to middle childhood. Dr. Hopkins encourages bathing only when necessary, staying away from harsh soaps, and maintaining a moisturized skin barrier from irritants and abrasions to avoid exacerbating any symptoms.

The Teenage Years

As children transition into teenage years, their skin begins to grow susceptible to many changes due to a variety of factors, not the least of which are hormonal. Teenage skincare can be tricky, but Dr. Hopkins employs treatment plans that work in accordance with her patients’ expectations and desires.

“The emotional and psycho-social effect of acne plays a huge role in treatment,” Dr. Hopkins says. “Subjectively, two different teens will come in with different levels of acne, but their expectations or the impact on their life might be quite different—these are the guiding factors of treatment. There really is a broad range of treatment and people fall on the spectrum depending on how they are affected both physically and emotionally.”

Teenage acne can be painful and negatively impact a patient’s social and emotional wellbeing. Photo courtesy PeaceHealth

The social ramifications of skin conditions take priority for teenagers, thus affecting treatment plans, but Dr. Hopkins emphasizes the importance of sticking to a regimen.

“The range of treatment starts from routine washing of the face, then moves to topical treatments, and then finally, oral treatments,” says Dr. Hopkins, “I like to remind patients that it’s really important for them to stick to a regimen, and to remember it takes a really long time for acne to improve.”

In some cases, Dr. Hopkins says it can take 3 to 6 months for half of a patient’s acne to improve and another 3 to 6 months before it is hopefully gone—for the most part. It’s good to remember that acne often follows us into adulthood, and to keep sticking to a regimen that works best for your skin.

Sun Protection

As an adult, it’s also imperative to protect your skin from the sun. In fact, it is one of the most important things you can do for your skin in your adult years.

“In general, I recommend sunscreens that are physical blockers, or mineral blockers—that includes active ingredients like zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide,” Dr. Hopkins says. “These minerals function as metals that physically block the broad range of UV light from the sun.”

Chemical sunscreens have also been proven to be effective, but it is a good practice to keep in mind they are often used as a combination of active chemicals to achieve the same efficacy as physical blockers. Overall, sun exposure can have many negative impacts on our skin, such as discoloration, peeling, and, in some cases, cancerous growths.

Dr. Hopkins encourages patients to be aware of warning signs for skin cancer and to understand the difference between the three main types. “The three main types of skin cancer are melanoma, which is the most serious type of skin cancer that can metastasize,” says Dr. Hopkins, “The other two main types are basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are most often due to the sun and do not often affect health otherwise. We remove them because they can grow larger, but they don’t often spread to other areas of the body if we catch them early.”

Follow the ABCDE’s of melanoma when examining worrisome spots on your skin. Photo courtesy PeaceHealth

When examining your own skin, if there is a worrisome spot, it’s important to remember the “ABCDE’s” of melanoma. “If it is Asymmetric, that is a warning sign,” Dr. Hopkins says. “B is border irregularity or jagged edges, C is for color change, D is for a diameter of more than 6 millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser), and E is for evolving—anything that is bleeding, growing tender or changing.”

Older Age

As the golden years approach, it’s essential to keep our skin moisturized and help it retain a natural barrier. Xerosis or “dry skin” can be one of the most familiar challenges for aging skin.

“As we age, the skin does not hold on to lipids as well, which means the barriers are leakier,” says Dr. Hopkins. “Skin can’t keep in the moisture as well, so we have to build that barrier back with thick emollients.”

An emollient is used to relieve dry skin and create a protective barrier. Photo courtesy PeaceHealth

Once again, Dr. Hopkins suggests thick creams and ointments, preferably any kind that you can apply from a tub like Vaseline, Cetaphil, or Eucerin. Dr. Hopkins also recommends applying an emollient after a shower or bath to seal in the body’s natural moisture. As ever, it’s essential to be kind and gentle to your skin, no matter what stage of life you are in.

At PeaceHealth, Dr. Amy Hopkins and her associates strive to administer the best care they possibly can, helping their patients improve skin health and simultaneously enriching emotional and mental wellbeing. “I want to empower my patients,” says Dr. Hopkins. “I want to help give them the confidence in knowing how to take care of their skin, and what dangerous signs to look for, so that they’ll have the knowledge they need to help themselves and know when to seek medical care.”

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Meet The People Behind Your Meal at Bellingham’s Thai House

By

Kristin Noreen

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Thai House 2 copy — Current staff with Jenny and Nimnual (bottom left). Photo credit: Dale Boe

Back in the 1990s when the Asia-Pacific Trade Conference was held in Seattle, comedian John Keister quipped, “The Thai Prime Minister was impressed that there were more Thai restaurants in Seattle than in his own country.” The Thai food craze took the U.S. by storm in the late ’80s and early ’90s, and at least in the Pacific Northwest, Thai and “Pan-Asian” restaurants now outnumber Chinese restaurants.

It seems that everybody loves Thai food, but how much do we know about the people who serve it to us? I’ve been going to the Thai House weekly for 16 years, and the owner and servers feel like family to me. Indeed, when one of the servers had her daughter’s wedding reception there and the restaurant was closed for the party, the door opened as I walked away and I was pulled inside by my sleeve—“Don’t be silly, you’re family, get in here!” said owner Nimnual Boe.

Jenny, a server, once brought me back an adorable pair of plaid pants after traveling home to Thailand for a visit. We now exchange small treats every time I go in for takeout.

Still, how much did I know about these folks? How much do any of us know about the lives of our gracious Thai hosts? I decided to interview Nimnual (NIM-new-all) to learn how a woman born in Thailand grew up to be the owner of the Thai House in Bellingham.

Thai House owner Nimnual Boe in her happy place. Photo credit: Dale Boe

Nimnual was the 10^th of 12 children. Opportunities were limited in rural Thailand, and one of Nimnual’s sisters, Amorwan, emigrated to Seattle in the 1980s. Amorwan opened the Thai House in Mount Vernon, taking advantage of lower rents and less market saturation, and then opened a Thai House in Bellingham in 1990, in the space currently occupied by Taste of India (across Telegraph Avenue from its current location).

Nimnual visited her sister in the U.S. in 1990 and was inspired by her success. She moved here with her two children in 1994. She wanted to be a bookkeeper, but while she learned English and got acclimated to her new country, Nimnual worked part-time for her sister as a server in both the Mt. Vernon and Bellingham locations, and part-time in the Haggen Chinese Express kitchen. By the time she was ready to attend Bellingham Technical College, she decided she enjoyed cooking more than bookkeeping and began studying for her Culinary Arts degree.

Thai House is located at 187 Telegraph Road. Photo courtesy Thai House

While working at the Thai House, Nimnual had a flirty customer named Dale who kept asking her out. Nimnual was not interested. Finally, Dale asked if she’d go out with him if he washed dishes in the restaurant for a day. Thinking he wasn’t serious, she said yes. The next day, when she showed up for work in the Mt. Vernon location, she found Dale in the kitchen, wearing an apron and washing dishes. She held up her end of the deal, and they were married a few months later.

“I never want to get on her bad side,” Dale says with a devilish spark in his blue eyes. “She has so many friends, and they’d all stick up for her and run me out of town.”

Amorwan decided she was ready to move on in 2002 and sold the Mt. Vernon restaurant. Nimnual bought the Bellingham location from her. Nimnual opened a food stall in the Bellingham Farmers Market as well, in the well-founded hope that people would come to the restaurant after sampling their food there. Like her sister, she has a mind for marketing, and she often has food stalls at local festivals. One year when she did the Bluegrass Festival, a large group of musicians came to eat at the restaurant and staged an impromptu live music event.

Jenny has been a server at Thai House for 16 years. Photo credit: Dale Boe

Amorwan has made a career of opening Thai restaurants in Idaho and California, then when their success becomes stable, she sells them and moves on. Nimnual has found a home with her Thai House and loves to use it to foster community. The restaurant has provided starting jobs for family members and other Thai immigrants while they learn the language and get settled.

Jenny, the server I’ve known the longest, told me about her immigration experience. Jenny grew up in a poverty that few U.S. citizens can imagine. There were no job opportunities in her village, and she remembers coming home from school to spend the evening making cardboard boxes. They bought cardboard in rolls and cut out the boxes with box knives, gluing the flaps and drying them in the sun. This is what her family did together, every minute that wasn’t occupied with school or cooking and cleaning.

Thai House celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2015 with an event at the Bellingham Farmers Market. Photo credit: Kenn Rich

Jenny grew up to sell clothing in an open market, and later got a job with an international cosmetics company. She had two children, and then started working for an insurance company. “I was surprised to have extra money,” she says. “I had never had money left over before.”

She visited her aunt in the U.S. and later decided to move here. “I could not believe I had a choice,” she says, her eyes wide. Jenny works long hours at the Thai House, but she enjoys it, and is grateful for the opportunity to earn money. After 16 years, she’s still working to learn the language. She converses easily but says, “When a customer uses a word I don’t understand, I look it up or I ask. I want to learn all the English.”

Thai House staff and family. Photo credit: Dale Boe

For the restaurant’s 25^th anniversary in 2015, Nimnual had a huge festival that included Thai musicians and dancers at the farmers market and in the restaurant. She has hosted members of the Thai Consulate in her home. At the Lunar New Year, she hosts a meditation session for monks who visit from monasteries in Olympia and Woodinville.

As much as she loves being part of the Thai-American community, Nimnual thinks it’s important to be part of the whole local community, as well. She loves gardening and participates in gardening groups. She grows lots of fruit and slips plums and apples from her garden into the take-out bags of her regular customers. She returns to Thailand to visit family every year, but she also wants to see other parts of the world, and travels when she can. She took a European tour with her daughter a few years ago.

There’s a story behind every Thai meal served in the U.S. Learning those stories after all these years of taking their hospitality for granted has enriched my connection with my favorite restaurant and given me a new appreciation for the immigrant experience.

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