Getting Your Child Vaccinated for COVID-19

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Submitted by the Whatcom County Health Department

Kids ages 5-11 are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccination! It’s natural and normal to ask questions about the big decisions you make on behalf of your children. Getting your child vaccinated against COVID-19 is no exception. That’s why we’ve put together some answers to questions you might have about getting your child vaccinated for COVID-19.

Is it safe for my child to get vaccinated against COVID-19?

Medical experts agree that getting 5-11 year olds vaccinated against COVID-19 is a safe and healthy choice to protect your child. Researchers, pediatricians, epidemiologists, and other experts conducted extensive testing and a review of the evidence for safety and effectiveness recommending the use of this vaccine for children. Scientists studied how the vaccine worked in over 4,500 children who ranged in age from six months old to 11 years old. They looked at how well the vaccine worked, and they looked for any adverse reactions or side effects.

The independent FDA and CDC committees reviewed and discussed the data from the clinical trials. After looking at that evidence, those groups of experts determined the Pfizer vaccine to be safe—and effective—for kids aged 5-11.

Is the vaccine for kids the same as the one for adults?

The vaccine that is available for use in kids who are 5 – 11 years old—the Pfizer vaccine—is the same vaccine as the one used for adults, but the dosage used for younger kids is smaller. The vaccine dose for kids ages 5-11 is one-third the dose for older children and adults. This is partly because their immune systems are so strong and responsive so they don’t need as large a dose as older kids and adults. Researchers in the clinical trials chose a smaller dose for children that would be effective and safe for their bodies.

Are there any side effects for kids?

With any vaccine, there’s always a risk of side effects. Since side effects from vaccines usually happen a short time after getting vaccinated, scientists are able to look for side effects during clinical trials.

Your child might experience some mild side effects in the days right after they get their shot. They might have a sore arm, feel tired, or have some swelling or inflammation near where they got their shot. These side effects are normal and are a sign that the vaccine is doing its job to train their immune system.

There have been cases of heart inflammation—myocarditis or pericarditis—after being vaccinated for COVID-19 with an mRNA vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer). However, myocarditis and pericarditis after COVID-19 vaccination is quite rare. Most cases have been in teen and young adult males, usually several days after vaccination. Myocarditis can also be a complication of having COVID-19, and the risk of heart inflammation is much greater after COVID-19 infection than after vaccination. Public health and medical experts agree that the benefit of getting vaccinated is greater than the risk of heart inflammation.

If you have questions about getting your child vaccinated against COVID-19, talk to your child’s health care provider, just like you would for your other health concerns.

But I thought kids weren’t at as great a risk from COVID-19 as adults? Why should they get vaccinated?

Although it’s true that COVID-19 is less severe for most children than for adults, that doesn’t mean kids are safe from COVID-19. COVID-19 is an unpredictable virus. We know that older adults and people with chronic health conditions are more vulnerable, but healthy, younger adults—and children—have also become seriously ill. We also know the vaccine works, with very little risk.

The risk of severe COVID-19 infection in kids isn’t zero. It’s true that children tend to have milder symptoms, but severe cases that require hospitalization do happen. Unfortunately, more kids have been hospitalized since the Delta variant caused case rates to skyrocket again.

Recent real-world studies are starting to show that the COVID-19 vaccine works well to prevent older kids from being hospitalized for COVID-19. A recent CDC study found that full vaccination reduced adolescent’s risk of hospitalization from COVID-19 by 93%

The risks associated with COVID-19 infection don’t end at the hospital. We’re learning more and more about long-haul COVID-19 in kids. Researchers are still studying this, but it’s clear that some children, even children who have relatively mild COVID symptoms, can have long-haul symptoms, like trouble breathing, brain fog, or tiredness. Experiencing those symptoms even for a few weeks or months is hard on a child’s body and can keep them out of school and limit their ability to do the things they love every day—like visiting grandparents or playing with friends.

Vaccines of all kinds help kids get a healthy start in life. They protect kids from many diseases that our parents and grandparents suffered from, like measles, polio, and whooping cough. But now kids don’t have to suffer from those illnesses, and they also don’t need to suffer from COVID-19.

Where can my child get vaccinated?

You can find a provider that can vaccinate 5-11 year olds at VaccineLocator.doh.wa.gov. Make sure you get an appointment, and call ahead or check the provider’s website to confirm availability for 5-11 year old doses.

Since many vaccine providers aren’t able to vaccinate young children, and because the dosing is different, there aren’t as many providers available to vaccinate 5-11 year olds as there are for everyone else. In the early weeks of the roll out for 5-11 year olds, there also may be a limited supply, so we ask everyone to be patient and plan ahead for their child’s vaccination.

Despite these challenges, there are a few options for pediatric COVID-19 vaccination this week:

We will be offering pediatric COVID-19 vaccines alongside the pop-up clinic in the Old Lynden Middle School Cafeteria at 516 Main Street in Lynden on Friday, November 5, between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. The link to register for this clinic will be ready to share tomorrow, November 4, at around noon. We’ll post the link on our Facebook page, local vaccine clinic list and on our new pediatric COVID-19 vaccine page.
- We’re holding more pediatric vaccination clinics in the coming weeks and will announce the locations, dates and times on our social media channels and vaccine page.
Nooksack Valley Drug will also have vaccines this week and is able to vaccinate 5- to 11-year-old kids. You can make an appointment at NooksackValleyDrug.com.
PeaceHealth is another regular Pfizer carrier that’s able to vaccinate 5-11 year olds, and you don’t need to be an established patient at PeaceHealth to make an appointment. To make an appointment at PeaceHealth this week, call 1-833-375-0285.

Governor Inslee Encourages Parents and Guardians To Get Their Children Vaccinated

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LocalTalk Contributor

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Submitted by the Office of Governor Jay Inslee

“Parents can breathe a sigh of relief that their younger kids can now be vaccinated against the deadly COVID-19 virus. This gets us a step closer to having the entire population of Washington eligible for the vaccine. And a step closer to finding our way out of this pandemic.

“Western States Scientific Safety Advisory Group met yesterday to review the CDC emergency use authorization (EUA) and confirmed the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.

“In a letter sent to me and my fellow member governors, they state that, ‘The Workgroup carefully assessed the safety data for the vaccine, including the absence of any severe adverse events among vaccine recipients in the clinical trial. Reactions were mild, self-limited, similar to those seen in adolescents and adults and with other vaccines routinely recommended for children and were less common in those ages 5-11 years than in those 16-25 years.’

“This review on top of the CDC’s authorization demonstrates that the benefits of the Pfizer COVID vaccine for children far outweighs the risks.

“Now that younger kids can join older children, who have been eligible, the challenges of cases in schools should be more manageable. Ideally this means less transmission, fewer absences and healthier kids and educators.

“I encourage parents and guardians to get their children vaccinated. Vaccine appointments and clinics can be found at https://vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov/.“

Ramona Abbott: From Shy to Stage

By

Margaret Bikman

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Ramona rehearsing — Ramona Abbott will narrate an adaptation of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" for Bellingham Symphony Orchestra's Holiday Joy concert December 4 and 5 at Mount Baker Theatre. Photo credit: Damian Vines

Ramona Abbott’s parents raised her to believe that she could do anything she set her mind to.

“They were totally involved in all of my school and extracurricular activities and taught me young about the importance of community involvement,” she says.

Though no one who knows her now believes it, Ramona was a very shy child, with an utter terror of public speaking and performing. Picking up the flute joining singing groups helped her start to overcome those terrors.

Her career path has been full of twists and turns. She started in the engineering world as a drafter and designer, and then transitioned into engineering leadership—all without an engineering degree or an MBA.

“My interests have always been too varied to commit to one path,” she says, and then laughs. “The line between Renaissance Woman and flibbertigibbet is a thin one.”

Ramona Abbott is marketing and communications manager for Bellingham Symphony Orchestra. Photo credit: Damian Vines

After going back to school at The Evergreen State College, she returned to the world of engineering as a supervisor and manager, coordinating design teams across the western United States.

She and her husband, Ken Kutner, moved to Bellingham in 2001, just as things were slowing down economically, and she began consulting and teaching management, supervision, leadership, and other business skills, both as an independent contractor, and as an adjunct professor at Bellingham Technical College. One thing led to another, she says, and in fine Bellingham tradition, volunteering to write articles for the Mount Baker Theatre turned into a marketing job there.

After a few years, she moved on to her current job with the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra (BSO), in marketing and communication. She’s also filled in as interim executive director—twice.

During her time at college as a returning student, Ramona hand-painted clothing and made jewelry to help support her scholastic efforts and learned that she enjoys creating far more than selling her own products. (Her other occupations hand avocations have included jewelry design; she’s the woman behind Wrist Rocks.)

Ramona Abbott has shown her acting chops at Bellingham’s iDiOM Theater and the Upfront Theatre. Photo courtesy Ramona Abbott

“It’s an irony that I ended up in marketing,” she says, “but it’s far easier to promote things other than oneself, at least for me.”

When the couple moved to Bellingham and designed their house and outbuildings, a studio was first on her list.

“I’d been working out of small rooms, or areas, for years, and I wanted a full creative space in which to play,” she says. “In addition to jewelry, I also create beaded mirrors, hats, and am starting to dabble in miniatures. I’ve participated on and off in the Whatcom Artist Studio Tour since moving to Bellingham. My studio is my working space, my play space, and my dream space.”

Ramona had been involved in some theater projects when she was young, but it wasn’t until coming to Bellingham and getting involved with the Upfront Theatre and the iDiOM that she really got back into acting.

“Improvisation was new to me, and rapidly became a favorite art form,” she says. She also studied at Second City Chicago and iO Chicago and performed at those venues in student shows.

One of Ramona Abbott’s joys was welcoming oboist Alex Klein as a soloist with Bellingham Symphony Orchestra. Photo credit: Yaniv Attar

With her degree in history and writing, Ramona has enjoyed writing for a couple of “48-Hour” festivals at the iDiOM and the Sylvia Center for the Arts, on top of acting.

“All of this has led to a fair amount of video work—commercials, short films, and web series,” she says. “It’s a constant surprise to me how much this formerly painfully shy kid loves, loves, loves being on stage.”

Ramona believes that leadership is natural to some and thrust on others.

“Leadership is, at its most basic, helping others achieve more than they think they can by creating opportunity, supporting their efforts, removing obstacles, and energizing their sense of purpose,” she says. “With a big dose of vision, creativity, and tolerance for failure in the spirit of learning thrown in.”

Ramona Abbott will narrate an adaptation of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” for Bellingham Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Joy concert December 4 and 5 at the Mount Baker Theatre. Photo credit: Damian Vines

Few things give her more delight than helping others attain and hone these skills, which serve folks well in any walk of life, whether or not in formal positions of leadership.

Ramona Abbott will be the narrator in this year’s Bellingham Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Joy concert at 7:30 p.m. December 4 and 3 p.m. December 5 at Mount Baker Theatre.

“Luckily,” she jokes, “I can still read an orchestral score—or think I can; we will soon see!” She’s preparing for the narration by tapping into her musical muscle memories and learning the piece completely.

“This is a narrated piece,” she says, “so it’s not like I’ll be reciting from memory, but knowing any material well allows for far more dramatic freedom in expression that brings the work alive.”

Gail Ridenour, executive director of the BSO, has known Ramona for about five and a half years.

“From being someone who I can rely on for anything—even filling in for me on maternity leave—to being a joy to work with, I don’t know what we would do without her at the BSO,” Gail says. “It’s rare to find someone like this.”

Ramona’s parents, both classical music aficianados, are deceased but, she says, “they would be busting their buttons with pride and joy about this event. My performing with the BSO in this concert brings my artistic life full circle, and I’m thrilled and honored to have been selected to narrate this classic piece.”

How (and When) Do We Become Most Vulnerable to Scams? New AARP Report Findings Help Foil the Fraudsters

By

Stacee Sledge

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Think fraud is an issue only other folks need to worry about? Think again. A recent AARP study shows that we all must take the risk seriously. An estimated nine in 10 Americans—that’s 229 million people—encountered a fraud attempt last year. And 33 million people lost money to a scam in 2020.

Social isolation and a relative lack of social and family support can play in fraud victimization. Victims report more experiences of loneliness and less social and family support than non-victims. Photo courtesy AARP of Washington

Fraud reports skyrocketed during the pandemic, just as technology and business sophistication allowed scammers to cast even wider nets to snare unsuspecting victims. Fortunately, AARP and allies are working hard to keep up with the explosion of scams and schemes—and keep you informed on how to spot and thwart potentially sticky situations.

“Consumer advocates have long struggled to identify exactly who is most likely to become a fraud victim,” says AARP Washington State Director Doug Shadel. “The truth of the matter is that scam artists are master manipulators of emotion, and anyone can experience a scam, regardless of age, income or education. Our research has shown that it isn’t necessarily who you are that matters, but how you are when the pitch is made.”

AARP’s July 2021 report, “A Moment’s Notice,” pinpoints specific environmental and emotional factors that are present in nearly all successful attempts to defraud consumers.

“The truth of the matter is that scam artists are master manipulators of emotion, and anyone can experience a scam, regardless of age, income or education.” – AARP’s Doug Shadel

These findings offer a new opportunity to stay a step ahead of the scammers, by helping consumers understand when and how any of us can lose money to fraud, given the right scammer and the right moment in time.

Risk Factors

AARP’s study identified three risk factors that can create vulnerable moments when targets of scammers may be more susceptible to criminal schemes: emotions, environment, and exposure.

Emotions

Victims of fraud reported significantly more and stronger emotions than non-victims at the time of fraud encounters. And more victims than non-victims reported feeling out of control during encounters with scams—which is precisely the goal of the criminal.

Environment

Coping with changes, like loss of a job or death of a family member, may impact a person’s response to fraud. Stressful life events can lower defenses, which may make it harder to spot a scam.

Exposure

Significantly more victims than non-victims experienced multiple exposures to fraud. Many victims also reported being more open to solicitations from strangers and making remote purchases at a pace that significantly exceeded that of non-victims, which may have caused additional fraud exposure.

“The scammer’s goal is to target those vulnerable moments and to get their target into a heightened emotional state so that they’re easier to persuade and control,” says Shadel. “When our emotions take over, we become more susceptible to fraud—it’s not weakness, it’s human. But if we pay special attention and take extra precautions during those moments in our lives, we can gain the upper hand in recognizing and avoiding scammers’ attempts.”

The AARP’s report identifies four key areas that may limit the likelihood of a scam’s success.

Fraud prevention education should include the role of emotion and stress: Bolster current fraud education efforts that focus on cognitive learnings, by including content that addresses how heightened emotions can weaken our defenses to scams.
Encourage the use of protective factors that can limit exposure to scams: Encourage the wider use of protective service like call blocking, credit freezes, protective software, online monitoring of accounts, and password management.
Strengthen social support networks: One of the most important findings of AARP’s study was the role that social isolation and a relative lack of social and family support can play in fraud victimization. The study found victims reported more experiences of loneliness and less social and family support than non-victims.
Underline the fact that “fraud can happen to anyone:” AARP’s research shows that no one demographic characteristic is the primary source of fraud susceptibility. “An individual can have a PhD in psychology, be a millionaire or a senior partner in a law firm and still lose money to scams,” Shadel says. “If consumers think that older people, uneducated people, low-income people, or some select ‘others’ are the only ones susceptible to fraud, that may give them a false sense of security, which paradoxically can lead to greater susceptibility.”

AARP Fraud Watch Network & Tip-Off Page

Where to start to stay safe from the scammers? A free resource, the AARP Fraud Watch Network equips consumers with up-to-date knowledge to spot and avoid scams. It connects those targeted by scams with AARP’s fraud helpline specialists who provide support and guidance on what to do next. Anyone can call the helpline at 877-908-3360. The Fraud Watch Network also offers free, facilitated peer discussion groups that seek to provide emotional support for those experiencing fraud; and advocates at the federal, state, and local levels to enact policy changes that protect consumers and enforce laws.

Visit AARP’s Tip-Offs page to learn how to spot a con before they spot you. The page also keeps a regularly updated list of the top five robocalls scams taking place in Bellingham, including audio samples of scam phone calls.

Whatcom READS Announces Community Programs and Conversations That Explore 2022 Book Selection, ‘Greenwood’ by Michael Christie

By

LocalTalk Contributor

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Submitted by Whatcom County Library System

The 2022 Whatcom READS selection is the generational saga Greenwood by Canadian author Michael Christie. With trees as a guiding metaphor, Greenwood charts a family’s rise and fall and the “hopeful, impossible task of growing toward the light.”

“We think local readers will enjoy not only author Michael Christie’s writing and the book’s inventive structure but also the themes found in Greenwood,” says Whatcom READS committee chairwoman Ann McAllen. “Whatcom READS invites our community to read and discuss the same book. With Greenwood, we can explore together questions of climate change, family, Pacific Northwest botany, intersectional environmentalism and so much more. The list of community programs is rich and varied, but it all starts with the book.”

Borrow Greenwood as a book, eBook, or audiobook from the library or purchase it from Village Books, which donates 10 percent of each sale to Whatcom READS.

Author Michael Christie. Photo courtesy Whatcom County Library System

Visit whatcomreads.org to learn more about Greenwood, author Michael Christie and the free community programs that enrich the reading experience.

Community events inspired by the 2022 Whatcom READS selection, Greenwood

Most programs are online. On-site events have limited participation. Pre-registration is required. Find more information and register at whatcom.reads.org.

Mushrooms of the PNW – Sustaining People and Soils
All fungi have an important role in the ecosystem. Myecilia of mushroom store incredible amounts of carbon underground. In this richly illustrated presentation, author and researcher Daniel Winkler will help you identify mushrooms while steering you clear of dangerous look-a-likes.
ONLINE

7-8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 8

Botany of the Pacific Northwest
There are over 3,000 native plant species in Washington state yet many people can’t tell a fir from a hemlock or a calyx from a corolla. By putting names to these plants, we can begin to understand the important role each one plays in keeping our planet healthy and well fed.

ONLINE

11 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Dec. 11

Climate Fiction and Climate Change Literature
Professor Stephen Siperstein will explore how climate change literature, and particularly climate change fiction (also known as cli-fi), can be a source of radical hope in our burning world.

ONLINE

11 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Jan. 22

Wood Songs
Local luthier Devin Champlin discusses musical instrument making and the treasured woods that are used in the craft.
ONLINE

7-8 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 27

Tapping Bigleaf Maples for Syrup: How the Impossible Became Possible
Some of the rarest and tastiest maple syrup is tapped right here in Whatcom County — sustainably! Hear this Acme farm’s history — and future plans — from owner Neil McLeod and others during an intriguing on-site tour. Space is limited; pre-registration is required.
11 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Jan. 29

Directions will be sent to registered participants.

Poetry reading with Washington State Poet Laureate Rena Priest
Join Washington State Poet Laureate Rena Priest for a poetry reading focused on the themes in this year’s Whatcom Reads selection, Greenwood.
ONLINE

7-8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 3

Intersectional Environmentalism: The Key to Fighting Racism and Climate Change
Communities of color and low-income communities have carried the heaviest burden of environmental injustice, but these communities have been excluded from the conversations, including science policy and outdoor recreation. Scientist Emily Pinkney shares how to combat the racism embedded within the environmental movement, resulting in more impactful solutions for the planet.

ONLINE

7-8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 10

Introduction to Forest Bathing
Join April Claxton, Among the Trees PNW, for an introduction to Forest Bathing. This is a slow walk with guided exercises using our senses to connect to the forest. Most of our time together will be spent in silence at a local park. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required.

10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Feb. 12 and Saturday, Feb. 19

Event details will be sent to registered participants.

A Million More Trees for Whatcom County? YES!
In this interactive Q&A webinar with Executive Director Michael Feerer, you’ll learn the why, who, what, and where and how of Whatcom Million Trees Project’s exciting initiatives to plant one million trees in Whatcom County over the next five years.

ONLINE

6:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 17

The Woodstock Farm Story – and its Fruitful Future
Discover the storied history of this wonderful 16-acre City of Bellingham waterfront park along Chuckanut Drive, and its orchard planting in-progress that will enhance local food resiliency while keeping the character of this special site.

ONLINE
6:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 24

Don’t miss!

Author events with Michael Christie

The author visits Whatcom County to discuss the book and his creative process. Event details and locations will be announced.

March 3-5

Allied Arts Whatcom READS Challenge

Submit your original artwork inspired by Greenwood for display at the Allied Arts Gallery in Bellingham.

Submission deadline is March 1-2. Exhibition is March 3-31. Learn more at alliedarts.org/whatcom-reads-art-challenge.

Whatcom WRITES

Attend a reading by local writers whose work was selected for the 2022 Whatcom WRITES anthology. Pre-registration is required for both events.

In-person at Village Books in Fairhaven

2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20

Online

2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27

About Whatcom READS

Northwest Washington’s premier annual literary event, Whatcom READS celebrates reading, readers and strong communities through the shared experience of one book. Entering its 14^th 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 and Whatcom County Library System. Village Books is Whatcom READS’ community partner. Learn more at whatcomreads.org.

About Michael Christie and Greenwood

Michael Christie is also the author of the highly regarded novel If I Fall, If I Die and the linked collection of stories, The Beggar’s Garden. His work has been nominated for the Scotiabank Giller Prize and Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize. His essays and book reviews appear in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Globe and Mail. A former carpenter and homeless-shelter worker, the author 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.

Here’s how the Whatcom READS selection committee describes the book: “Set in the Pacific Northwest, Michael Christie’s GREENWOOD opens in the near future in one of the last surviving old growth forests. 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. This rich, well-paced tale delivers poignant writing with interesting characters.”

Whatcom Community Foundation Marks 25 Years of Community Philanthropy

By

Matt Benoit

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Since 1996, the Whatcom Community Foundation (WCF) has helped make our region a better place to live, work and play.

The organization’s charitable contributions have helped fund numerous projects over the years, including Bellingham’s Depot Market Square, Fairhaven Village Green, and vital improvements to the Mount Baker Theatre. Outside of Bellingham, important community structures like the Ferndale Library, Blaine Community Center Pavilion and East Whatcom Regional Resource Center came to fruition thanks to the WCF.

Twenty-five years after the philanthropic non-profit began with an initial contribution of around $1 million, WCF has now grown to include assets in excess of $50 million, having awarded another $50 million in grants.

While money makes everything possible, the true currency of any community foundation is connection, says Mauri Ingram, WCF’s president and chief executive officer. From local non-profits, businesses, and government to individual donors and volunteers, it’s quality relationships that allow a community foundation to flourish.

“One of the things I’ve always been most grateful to our founders for is that they always truly put the community first,” she says. “This has always been about the job of ‘What role can the community foundation play so that we, as individuals in this community, can actually be better at being a community?’”

The Depot Market square was one of Whatcom Community Foundation’s earliest projects. Photo courtesy *Whatcom Community Foundation*

WCF funds several hundred organizations annually through a variety of funding mechanisms.

Their permanent assets, or endowed funds, are invested and grown to provide indefinite returns to the community in the form of grants and direct contributions that WCF gives out based on need and opportunity. Other funds are marked for specific, one-time usage by donors and distributed accordingly.

“We often talk about the community foundation as a Swiss army knife,” Ingram says. “We’ve got a lot of tools available. We are a very versatile thing for the community to access, and it’s really just about what roles the community wants us to play.”

Navigating a Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic brought many dark days for local communities and their non-profits, many of which help those of us who—whether due to ethnicity, race, geography or other factors—were furthest from opportunity even before the pandemic.

An Americorps worker prepares mixed-berry dressing in Bellingham School District’s central kitchen as part of the 2020 Farm to Freezer program. Photo credit: Mataeo Gillis

When the pandemic struck in March 2020, WCF went completely remote and has mostly stayed that way. In addition to adapting to a pandemic-changed world, the organization tackled how best to help the initial community response to COVID-19, significantly ramping up fundraising, grantmaking and other efforts.

Working with Chuckanut Health Foundation and the local United Way chapter, WCF created an online portal with a simplified grant application process to speed up how easily organizations could receive funds.

“It felt great to be able to just make things happen really quickly,” Ingram says.

A group of grantees, donors, board members and staff — back when the Whatcom Community Foundation celebrated giving making in person. Photo credit: Lee Eberhardt

In addition, WCF created a virtual roundtable for non-profit executive directors to connect and support each other during the pandemic’s early phases. The organization also worked with Whatcom County to help coordinate food security issues. Bringing together local food banks and school districts, as well as the Opportunity Council and other emergency food providers like Miracle Food Network, WCF helped coordinate emergency food acquisition and delivery.

The foundation also helped with other grant-making and CARES funding coordination. During the first 18 months of the pandemic, WCF issued more than $3.2 million in COVID-related grants to about 70 different organizations. WCF also hosted the Keep Music Live campaign, which resulted in nearly $1 million in COVID relief to independent live music venues across the state.

A Flourishing Future

A quarter-century in—and with a sizeable bequest about to significantly enhance the foundation’s grant power—WCF continues growing alongside the geographically and demographically diverse community it serves.

This includes continuing to learn from rich partnerships with other community foundations, including the Lummi Nation’s Lhaq’temish Foundation.

Mauri Ingram, Lhaq’temish Foundation Executive Director Candice Wilson, and former Unity Way of Whatcom County CEO Peter Theisen at the kick off of the All in WA campaign, a coordinated, statewide relief effort launched in May 2020. Photo credit: Michèle Waite

Recently, WCF supported several projects that continue to enhance the county’s culture and equity, including campaigns for the arts and waterfront redevelopment through the Millworks Project, which WCF is collaborating on with Mercy Housing Northwest.

The latter project is especially exciting, Ingram says, with focus on more affordable housing, greater childcare availability, and effectiveness of local food systems.

“The way we’ve been doing a lot of things—as a community or as a society—it’s just time to take a fresh look and figure out how we can make them work better for more people,” she says. “This project is very much about that.”

A Project Neighborly grant resulted in a potluck at Alderwood Elementary. Photo courtesy Whatcom Community Foundation

The Project Neighborly grant program is another high-water mark for WCF. Launched on Election Day in 2016, amid the culmination of the divisive 2016 presidential campaign, the Neighborly initiative is for exercises in building community, bringing together those who might otherwise not talk or listen to each other. Ingram says they plan to re-launch the program, which was put on hold in 2020 due to the challenges of the pandemic.

“I think it’s so easy for people, especially in a pandemic with a lot of division from a lot of different areas, to get focused on fear and anger,” she says. “Those are not the things that move us forward. This is our invitation to the community to say, ‘What are your ideas about bringing people together to know one another, in a spirit of curiosity and neighborliness?’”

*Photo courtesy Whatcom Community Foundation*

As the WCF moves forward into its next 25 years, their mission of providing equity and betterment to Whatcom County will remain steadfast.

“We’re here for the community, and by community, we mean the people who are here,” Ingram says. “Thinking about everything that we do—whether it’s the way we communicate, who we involve, where we go, how we think about things—all of that is just rooted in this fundamental respect and appreciation for every individual that’s here. We’re continuing to work at learning how we can realize that goal.”

Sponsored

A Smoky August Adventure to Vendovi Island

By

Tony Moceri

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It was a smoky August morning, and a couple of friends and I had planned to head out into Bellingham Bay to drop some crab pots and paddleboard while the pots soaked. With our summer days numbered, we chose to risk the lung damage and set out through the haze, commenting on the spectacular colors the smoke created. We had gone on a couple of paddles together in the past and didn’t want to miss this opportunity.

In 2020, Anthony Petz and Matt Twining joined me on my trip from one end of Lake Whatcom to the other, and we had dropped anchor and paddled around Sinclair Island on another day trip. We planned to do something similar on this day but had no actual plans. As we discussed where to go, Petz asked Twining to grab the anchor, only to realize it had been left behind.

I assumed we would just beach the boat or MacGyver something when Petz remembered that Vendovi Island had a dock where boaters could tie up. We decided to head that way, which was the start of exploring an island with an interesting history that I had never before heard.

Owned by the San Juan Preservation Trust, Vendovi Island, located in Skagit County, is named after a Fujian prisoner, Ro Vendovi. He was aboard an 1841 naval expedition that became so fond of its captive that Captain Charles Wilkes named the island after him. The island was eventually settled and became a sheep farm in the 1880s and a religious settlement in the 1930s. Prior to the island’s written history, it was a seasonal home to the Coast Salish people, who used the island for farming.

The boat dock is located in a little cove on Vendovi Island. Photo credit: Tony Moceri

After docking, we had no idea where to go or what to do. We’d gone out to paddleboard, but now found ourselves on an island we knew nothing about. At the top of the boat ramp, a sign told us the island’s history, informed us of some flora and fauna, and mapped out the area’s hiking trails.

We decided that when finding oneself unexpectedly on Vendovi Island, that is the time to explore it. We walked past the old homestead, which apparently is still home to some island caretakers, but saw no one as we hiked the .8 miles to Paintbrush Point, going past John M. Fluke Island Cemetery on the way. From Paintbrush Point through the fog of smoke, we took in the southerly view of Guemes Island and Samish Island, with Padilla Bay in between.

From front to back: Tony Moceri, Anthony Petz, and Matt Twining on Paintbrush Point. Photo credit: Tony Moceri

Heading back towards the dock, we wandered paths, not knowing where we were headed but assumed that being on an island, we would eventually find our way back. The hiking on Vendovi is easy with just little bits of elevation gain. The trails wind through the forested island, offering views of the surrounding bays and neighboring islands.

After finding our way back to the boat, we hopped on our paddleboards to circumnavigate the little island we’d just explored. The rocky shore off Vendovi Island offered great views from the paddleboard of Dungeness and Rock Crab scurrying along the shallow bottom. Starfish of various colors clung to rocks, and the occasional fish came into view.

Signposts on Vendovi Island mark the different paths and sights to see. Photo credit: Tony Moceri

To our surprise, Vendovi Island—at least on this day—was home to more seals than any of us had ever seen. They barked at us from shore and stormed into the water in a flurry of activity. Ensuring we were behaving ourselves, the seals would surround us, observing from a safe distance. We were relieved that seals are not aggressive towards humans, because if they’d wanted to knock us off our boards and make us their next meal, they certainly had the numbers to do so.

Fortunately, we were just their day’s entertainment—as they were ours. We finished our loop around the island and returned to the dock to find two large boats now docked next to our little Boston Whaler. We offered to trade boats, but they declined, so we loaded up the paddleboards and set off to locate the set crab pots.

A smokey view from Paintbrush Point looking at Samish Island on the left and Guemes Island on the right. Photo credit: Tony Moceri

The first pot garnered no results. The second pot, filled to the brim with clawed creatures, offered two keepers an acceptable prize to go along with a fun adventure. With pots secured and the smaller crabs back in the water to grow for next time, we made our way across Bellingham Bay and into the harbor.

Vendovi Island is a gem in the Puget Sound, preserved for wildlife. The well-maintained dock and trails offer access to soaring eagles, jumping fish jumping, and barking seals. The easy trails make the hiking accessible to all ages and abilities and lead to picturesque views. I will undoubtedly return—with luck, on a day that’s free of wildfire smoke.

A Splash of Thanksgiving Brio With Chef Vic Vegas

By

Kathryn Millhorn

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Few holidays are as joyful as Thanksgiving. No gifts to buy or special events to attend, it’s just a long weekend with family and friends celebrating each other. After the long months of COVID-19, reuniting around the table is the ultimate way to give thanks, and Expert Chef Vic Vegas, of TV’s Bar Rescue, is working to bring Briotech cleaning and disinfecting products to restaurants, kitchens, and food suppliers so everyone can enjoy a safe holiday meal.

Vic Vegas cooking inside of Saint Jude’s ranch with his daughter two years ago, which is the last time he cooked there for Thanksgiving. Photo courtesy: Vic Vegas

On Bar Rescue, Chef Vic does more than simply cook. For the past eight years, host Jon Taffer relied on him to help him turn around failing establishments. “He calls me in for the food and kitchen side of things—menu rebuild, creation, sanitary, and safety—to literally put all the food, health, safety, and training procedures into play.”

Having started from the ground up, as a restaurant dishwasher, Chef Vic had a simple goal: “to observe and absorb as much as possible.” He aimed to, “choose and work with the right companies head on to gain experience in restaurants that many will visit in this lifetime.” His strategy paid off, “I have worked at several amazing establishments and this journey has allowed me to become the chef you know today.”

Chef Vic first crossed paths with Briotech thanks to their mutual friend, Yolanda Christensen of Free to Fly. Having worked in a variety of food service positions, he’s heard all the misconceptions and old wives’ tales about how to keep things clean. “There isn’t a price on safety,” he stresses. “Yes, we have to watch our dollars, but safety is always first.” He now partners with Briotech to put their highly-effective Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl) products to work every day.

Briotech is partnering with Chef Vic Vegas to show how their products are a natural fit for the kitchen. Photo courtesy Vic Vegas

HOCl is a natural antimicrobial made from only salt and water. Known for use as an antiseptic and disinfectant, HOCl is recognized for its non-hazardous, safe for human and animal profile, and has been used in hospitals, schools, foodservice and other industries for many years.

“Though Briotech products are currently distributed into a variety of markets, our partnership with Chef Vic represents our first initiative focus within the foodservice industry,” explains Briotech’s President and CEO, Rick Lockett. “We believe it is critical to bring more effective solutions—that do not bear the negative impact of alternative harsh chemicals—to restaurants, bars, and foodservice workers who play such a key roles.”

“As our world reopens and restaurants begin operating at full capacity, it’s important that patrons feel safe while dining by knowing their surroundings have been tended to for infectious pathogens of all sorts,” Lockett continues. “Our Brio-Technically Certified program will be the visible sign of our commitment to a sanitary space.”

Lockett and his team will roll out their Brio-Technically Certified program at Chef Vic’s Las Vegas-based restaurants and expand from there. They’re also partnering on educational videos in support of their initiative. “We are very excited to work with Chef Vic on this project,” says Lockett. “His passion for the industry is real and evident and he truly wants to help other entrepreneurs, chefs, and staff around the country to create better environments for work and entertainment. As Chef Vic says: ‘Safety first!’, and around food, nobody wants to use harsh chemicals that aren’t food contact safe. Keep the kitchen, staff, and patrons safe, and let them all focus on what they’re there for—amazing food!”

The BrioTechnically Certified system will roll out at Chef Vic’s Las Vegas restaurants and expand from there. Photo courtesy Briotech

Several of Briotech’s products are an ideal fit for the kitchen and dining room. Briotech Sanitizer + Disinfectant is on the EPA List N: Disinfectants for COVID-19 and is a no rinse, food contact safe product that kills 99.99% of viruses and bacteria. BrioPro Cleaner + Degreaser is their heavy duty, bio-based electrolyzed cleaner and degreaser. It powers through heavy grease and grime, oil, adhesives, and tough soils that accumulate on stovetops, appliances and countertops in industrial settings and in commercial kitchens.

The company’s Surface + Air Cleanser is a multi-purpose concentrate formula for broad-based cleaning and odor removal on surfaces and in the air, and their newest product, just released for pre-sale, is BrioCare Abrasia Gel, a hypochlorous skin cleanser for superficial abrasions and minor scrapes and scratches that inevitably happen on a daily basis. You can shop for Briotech cleaners on their website, on Amazon, or at Home Depot, and enjoy their presence on Facebook by staying up-to-date on company announcements, sales and specials, science tidbits, and new product launches.

Outside of work, Chef Vic Vegas spends time bringing awareness to the ministry of St. Jude’s Ranch for Children. A member of their Community Advisory Board, he assists in fundraising and helps further their mission of, “Transforming the lives of abused and at-risk children, young adults and families by empowering them to create new chances, new choices and new hope in a caring community.”

This year he’s excited for the Thanksgiving holiday. “We all know cooking for me is number one,” admits Chef Vic. “It turns out I do most of my cooking for others before the actual holiday, but this year is special because I get to cook for the kids up at Saint Jude’s on Thanksgiving day; something I couldn’t do last year because of COVID restrictions.”

“It’s been a long and strong journey for me, and sometimes I feel we have to climb mountains not only for ourselves, but so we can see what’s up there for others, to let them know,” says Chef Vic. “That’s what I think we’re doing here. We’ve been brought together to take what I do in this industry and infuse it into the amazing safer world that Briotech is creating. I see a future of us working together to bring awareness, convenience, and confidence through cleanliness and safety in all establishments.”

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Library Honors Native American Heritage Month by Sharing a Film Screening With Althea Wilson, Nov. 4

By

LocalTalk Contributor

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Submitted by the Bellingham Public Library

To recognize and celebrate Native American Heritage Month in November, Bellingham Public Library is honored to feature a screening of the film “Revitalizing Cultural Knowledge and Honoring Sacred Waters: The Documented Oral History of Life on the Nooksack River,” with Tli’nuk’dzwidzi, Althea Wilson, Lummi tribal member, documentary film maker and Northwest Indian College educator. DVD copies of the film are being catalogued and added to the Bellingham Public Library collection. The entire community is invited to attend the event via Zoom link: cob.org/sacredwaters, on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021 at 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Pre-registration is not required.

Althea will be presenting about the film and its significance, and she will be joined by a panel of esteemed Lummi tribal members connected to the film. Please join us for this special opportunity of learning and connecting.

About the film

For the Lhaq’temish (Lummi) People, the ebb and flow of the Nooksack River shapes daily life. To explore the meaning of this relationship, Tli’nuk’dzwidzi, Althea Wilson, interviewed Lummi community members about their life along the river. The memories shared in the film are more than stories; they are the ethnology of a deep and sustained connection between the Lummi people and the land and water. This connection with the river — and the larger environment — sustains the community and shapes their collective identity.

Althea Wilson family. Photo courtesy Bellingham Public Library

About the Film Maker

Tli’nuk’dzwidzi, Althea Wilson, is a Lummi tribal member who earned her bachelor’s degree in Native Environmental Science at the Northwest Indian College. This documentary film project is her culminating work and was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (#1461441). It is the first of several films by Althea about Lummi’s connection to the natural world. She earned first place in the undergraduate division at the 2018 Salish Sea Ecosystems Conference for this research project. Althea works at Northwest Indian College as the Bachelor of Science in Native Environmental Science Curriculum Development Coordinator.

*Althea Wilson. Photo courtesy Bellingham Public Library*

Event Details

Revitalizing Cultural Knowledge and Honoring Sacred Waters: The Documented Oral History of Life on the Nooksack River

November 4, 6–7:30 p.m., pre-registration not required

Zoom Link: cob.org/sacredwaters

Barron Heating’s Clean Energy Approach Part of Wider Trend in Local Home Construction

By

Matt Benoit

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Thanks to the readers of Bellingham Alive magazine, Barron Heating AC Electrical and Plumbing recently received the gold award for “Best Clean Energy Company” in the magazine’s annual “Best of the Northwest” issue.

The honor comes on the heels of receiving the bronze and silver awards in that category in 2019 and 2020, respectively—strong proof of Barron’s continual commitment to energy efficiency in heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical systems for both commercial and residential buildings.

Barron continues to see across-the-board growth in demand for electric heat pumps, high-efficiency furnaces and water heaters, and solar energy arrays. Photo courtesy Barron Heating

“Our team is incredibly proud to represent environmental stewardship in the community,” says Brad Barron, the company’s chief operating officer. “It’s great to see recognition of what we’re doing in regard to energy efficiency.”

As Barron approaches its golden anniversary as an HVAC services provider in 2022, the company has seen across-the-board growth in demand for electric heat pumps, high-efficiency furnaces and water heaters, and solar energy arrays.

In addition to things like cost savings and environmental awareness, the continuing shift towards the concept of residential electrification—the use of high-efficiency systems and building practices—is being driven by changes to state and local building codes.

In February 2021, the newest version of the Washington State Energy Code took effect. The code effectively doubles the number of energy credits required per home for new construction. Implementation of the new code was delayed several times, giving Barron time to diligently strategize with collaborating home builders on how to maximize energy credits and give customers the most energy-efficient solutions for their homes.

“The demand is outpacing the supply of both product and labor right now,” says Brad Barron. “We’re always looking for opportunities to bring people into the trades.” Photo courtesy Barron Heating

“We’ve looked at the ways to select the best and right mechanical systems for each project, based on what’s important to the customer,” Barron says. “It’s been exciting to see the innovation that has been available to clients that we have, as a result of the conversations we’re having with them, the architects, the designers, etcetera.”

Barron’s approach to meeting a new code also closely aligns with the company’s three pillars of focus: comfort, health, and energy efficiency. Brad Barron says this new energy code is likely a preview of what’s to come in the following years and decades. By 2035, the Bellingham City Council hopes to have existing city homes retrofitted in ways that further the goal of clean, electric energy use for residents.

In HVAC, electrification means installing electric heat pumps, whether they’re ductless or not.

“Heat pumps can be incredibly highly efficient,” Barron says. “And you don’t have to do anything different with your home if you have a duct system.”

Year over year, Barron adds, the trend towards electric heat pumps is continuing, especially with mini-split, a.k.a “ductless” systems. These ductless systems are particularly popular and feature a single outdoor heat pump that provides heating and cooling through multiple indoor “heads” that can provide equipment-based zoning for different parts of a home. Barron has been installing ductless systems for close to two decades and was one of the first adopters of the technology in the region.

Regarding electric power production, Barron’s solar division has been booming in recent years, installing a growing number of solar arrays throughout Whatcom County. The power produced from these systems offsets the cost of the system over time by greatly reducing or even completely eliminating a homeowner’s electric bill.

Barron recently received the gold award for “Best Clean Energy Company” in Bellingham Alive magazine’s annual “Best of the Northwest” issue.

The coupling of heat pump and solar technology can have even greater results. A more efficient way to create and distribute hot and cold air means that the size of a home’s solar array can be reduced, further saving homeowners on solar panel costs while still providing the energy and bill-saving benefits of their new HVAC system.

Barron has also seen an uptick in customers moving away from traditional electric water heaters. Instead, many are choosing to install heat pump water heaters. Brad Barron says many customers choose to install all three high-efficiency systems for maximum savings.

In utilizing its great network of builders and designers, Barron is proud to be a multi-trade service provider, allowing the company to be a one-stop shop for all parties involved in a new home construction project.

“We want builders to be able to do what they do best,” says Barron. “How can we, as a partner, help them with their challenges? One of the ways is by saying, ‘Hey, you actually don’t have to change the way you build the house. We can bring all of these energy-efficient and energy-producing technologies to the table and take care of that for you.’”

And as new, more efficient homes are planned, the need for quality trade workers to build them isn’t going away.

“All of these homes—both existing homes and new construction homes—all of these mechanical systems that we’re installing are going to require folks to do that work,” Barron says. “We’re going to need skilled technicians, skilled electricians, and skilled plumbers to be able to do that.”

As new, more efficient homes are planned, the need for quality trade workers to build them isn’t going away. Photo courtesy Barron Heating

Barron Heating continues to look for and encourage applications from thoughtful and passionate people interested in becoming apprentices in their HVAC, plumbing, and solar divisions. As exciting, ever-more efficient solutions grow both at Barron and in the community, it’s as important as ever.

“The demand is outpacing the supply of both product and labor right now,” says Barron. “We’re always looking for opportunities to bring people into the trades.”

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