PeaceHealth Medical Director Shares Tips on Staying Healthy for the Bellingham Bay Marathon

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Bellingham-Bay-Marathon-Peace-Health — Photo courtesy PeaceHealth

On September 22, the Bellingham Bay Marathon and its various distances — marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K — will again bring together more than 2,000 participants.

As presenting sponsor of the event, PeaceHealth is also responsible for staffing the race with medical volunteers, who are stationed at the three medical tents located at various places along the race route.

These medical volunteers include doctors, nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, certified nursing assistants, and other medically-trained staff. It’s PeaceHealth’s goal to have at least one doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant at all three medical stations for every shift of the 2024 event.

Dr. Robert Rush — the medical director for trauma, acute care surgery and surgical quality at Bellingham’s PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center — is also the Bellingham Bay Marathon’s medical director.

He shared with WhatcomTalk.com the following tips on how to stay healthy for the upcoming event —and hopefully avoid a visit to the medical tent.

Dr. Robert Rush is both the medical director for trauma, acute care surgery, and surgical quality at Bellingham’s PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center. He’s also the medical director for the Bellingham Bay Marathon. Photo courtesy PeaceHealth

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

There will be no shortage of water stations along the race routes, and with dehydration being among the most common but also potentially serious issues in long-distance races, stopping at each of them is paramount.

“Drink at EVERY water point,” says Dr. Rush. “I can’t emphasize that enough. Even if you don’t think you’re thirsty.”

Staying hydrated before, during, and even after the race, is critical, Dr. Rush adds. Common symptoms of dehydration include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and headache, among others. The symptoms can appear suddenly and rapidly worsen, depending on the extent of dehydration someone is experiencing.

Electrolyte beverages can also serve as a good addition to water, especially for more rapid rehydration.

“Before a race, both active and static stretches are important, but especially the more active ones, where you’re moving your muscles and stretching at the same time,” Dr. Rush says. “Afterwards, it’s more of the static-type stretches, and just walking, that are helpful.” Photo courtesy PeaceHealth

Take Your Time Training

While the amount of training someone will do prior to running a race will vary considerably based on their individual fitness level and the length of the route, Dr. Rush recommends training for a full marathon should start at least three months prior. Consulting with a trainer or personal healthcare provider, or reviewing marathon preparation literature is also a good idea prior to undertaking a particular race goal.

“There is no substitute for getting your body ready,” Dr. Rush says. “Doing a progressive mileage increase over the preceding months leading up to the marathon is the most important training to prevent most injuries.”

Strive for Consistency

Whether it’s your food and hydration regimen or what you’re wearing, it’s important to have a consistent training routine established prior to race day — and stick to that on race day.

“You want to train in the shoes that you’re going to run with — you don’t want to be breaking in a new pair of shoes on race day,” says Dr. Rush. “You want to train with the nutritional support you’re used to. Otherwise, you could cause yourself some gastrointestinal upset. Or, with shoes, you may end up having some blistering you weren’t prepared for.”

That consistency includes remembering to properly stretch.

“Before training sessions and a race, both active and static stretches are important, but especially the more active ones, where you’re moving your muscles and stretching at the same time,” Dr. Rush says. “Afterwards, it’s more of the static-type stretches, and just walking, that are helpful.”

PeaceHealth medical volunteers include doctors, nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, certified nursing assistants, and other medical assistants. It’s PeaceHealth’s goal to have at least one doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant at all three medical stations for every shift of the 2024 event. Photo courtesy PeaceHealth

Balance Your Diet

It’s a good idea to increase the amount of carbohydrates in your diet a day or two before race day to build up stores of glycogen in your liver that can be expended during the race, says Dr. Rush.

Regardless of your race-friendly diet, it should be built up to gradually and remain mostly balanced. Pastas are always a good choice for carbs. After your race is run, Dr. Rush says focusing more on hydration than meal choice is generally a good idea. Eating a heavy meal after your race, he adds, is not.

Water stations during the event will also provide nutritious, energy-dense snacks.

Prevent Discomfort

In addition to racing in comfortable shoes, Dr. Rush notes that chafing, burning, and blistering are common ailments for distance runners. They frequently occur on the feet, ankles, groin, and nipple areas, and can be quite unpleasant.

Dr. Rush recommends applying jellies or creams to the nipple and between-leg areas for chafing prevention, and for knowing the hot spots on your feet prior to the big event. Preventing blisters and burning can be done by applying moleskin — a heavy cotton fabric that can both prevent blisters and protect existing ones.

Swag for runners will be given away at the Expo/packet pickup. Photo courtesy PeaceHealth

Don’t Get Too Hot…Or Cold

Among the more serious concerns for medical tent volunteers are hypothermia — when your core body temperature gets too cold — and hyperthermia, when you get too overheated. Regardless of the condition, the primary method of treating these issues is proper fluid intake.

“When you’re hypothermic, you want to get your core temperature up and increase the volume of your blood a bit to circulate and help keep you warm,” says Dr. Rush.

Past marathons have seen both cold, rainy conditions and temperatures well above average, so being prepared for either is important. Check the weather in the days prior to the event and consider proper protection from both sun and rain, heat and cold (sunscreen, rain jacket, hat, or cap).

If suffering from hypothermia, Mylar foil heat blankets will be available at all the medical tents for warming purposes.

In Case of Emergency

While medical tents will be stationed at three locations along the marathon route — Rayhorst Road south of Ferndale, at Squalicum Creek Park, and at the Depot Market Square finish line — there are plenty of places where runners can encounter problems.

If you’re out on the course and witness a serious injury or illness occurring and it’s not directly in front of a medical station, Dr. Rush says the best course of action is to call 9-1-1 immediately. Medical tent volunteers, who are also knowledgeable in CPR and equipped with AED devices, will also call 9-1-1 if the situation necessitates.

With all these things in mind, PeaceHealth wishes you a safe, healthy, and successful Bellingham Bay Marathon.

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Peoples Investments Promotes Aaron Redd to Financial Advisor in Whatcom County

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LocalTalk Contributor

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Peoples Bank is proud to announce the promotion of Aaron Redd to Peoples Investments Financial Advisor. Aaron will be serving customers in the Whatcom County area.

“We are thrilled to have promoted Aaron to his new role as Financial Advisor. He is very knowledgeable about the investment climate and has a customer-focused mindset. He is an excellent addition to our team of Financial Advisors on the Peoples Investments team,” says Seth Anderson, VP Investment Manager at Peoples Investments.

Aaron is a graduate of Western Washington University, where he received a B.A. in Finance and a minor in Communications. Aaron understands the complexities of the changing financial landscape and is committed to making recommendations that serve his customer’s best interests.

Since the foundation for any financial plan begins with the objectives of the individual or business, Aaron engages customers in an ongoing conversation about their financial needs. Developing and implementing financial strategies is one of his greatest passions in his role as an LPL Financial Advisor.

About Peoples Bank

Peoples Bank is a locally owned and operated, independent full-service community bank with $2.4 billion in assets. Headquartered in Bellingham, Washington, Peoples Bank has been serving the community for 100 years and operates 23 locations throughout Washington. Reflecting its strong financial management practices, dedicated employees, and long-standing customer relationships, Peoples Bank was awarded a superior five-star rating from BauerFinancial, a leading independent bank rating firm. Learn more about Peoples Bank at www.peoplesbank-wa.com. Member FDIC.

Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer (member FINRA/SIPC). Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. Peoples Bank and Peoples Investments are not registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives of LPL offer products and services using Peoples Investments, and may also be employees of Peoples Bank. These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from, and not affiliates of Peoples Bank or Peoples Investments. Securities and insurance offered through LPL or its affiliates are:

Peoples Bank (“Financial Institution”) provides referrals to financial professionals of LPL Financial LLC (“LPL”) pursuant to an agreement that allows LPL to pay the Financial Institution for these referrals. This creates an incentive for the Financial Institution to make these referrals, resulting in a conflict of interest. The Financial Institution is not a current client of LPL for brokerage or advisory services. Please visit https://www.lpl.com/disclosures/is-lpl-relationship-disclosure.html for more detailed information.

The Dance Studio Makes Its Move

By

Margaret Bikman

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The-Dance-Studio-Bellingham-Washington-owners — Photo courtesy The Dance Studio

Brittany Burton pretty much grew up in The Dance Studio — founded by her mother, Wendy Setter, in 1979 — but she didn’t know it would ultimately be her life’s passion.

“I grew up dancing in as many classes as I could and eventually joined a traveling dance troupe through The Dance Studio,” says Burton, now 41.

Burton started training to be a teacher at 13, explored the world, and took on multiple career paths, but says that The Dance Studio “always tugged at my heart and pulled me back to Bellingham.”

She purchased The Dance Studio in 2011.

Wendy Setter is proud of what her daughter has accomplished since taking over the business. “She’s taken The Dance Studio to a very professional level and kept the family feeling for all her students. She creates a fun space for all involved in the performances at Mount Baker Theater.”

Brittany Burton (top left) grew up in The Dance Studio founded by her mother, Wendy Setter (top right). Her children (also shown) have followed in both women’s dancing footsteps. Photo courtesy The Dance Studio

A Big Move

The Dance Studio is now taking big steps and will move soon from its space at 1820 Cornwall Avenue to the former Deals Only building at 2331 James Street.

Not only will the new space have more dressing rooms and more dance space, but it will also have more parking.

After teaching and training hundreds of dancers, young and old, in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical/contemporary, musical theater, hip hop, and adagio, one thing seems to be consistent about The Dance Studio is the encouragement and positive environment the teachers provide.

The new space — formerly Deals Only on James Street — has wrapped up construction and is set to open September 16, 2024. Photo courtesy The Dance Studio

Wonderful Teachers

Amber Manning, 28, started dancing at the studio when she was 5 years old and stayed there until graduating high school.

“There’s a big focus on positivity and growing as both a dancer and a person,” she says. “I felt like every one of my teachers cared about me both as a dancer and as an individual; a lot of them helped shape me to be the person I am today.”

Abby Carr, 26, is thankful that “after seeing my poor teeball performance at age 3, my parents immediately enrolled me in ballet class at the studio, taught by Wendy Setter.”

Now working as a counselor, Carr looks says she’s “convinced that this daily space in the studio, where my mind and body were integrated, was so beneficial for my mental health as a high-schooler.”

A dance class taking place in the previous studio. The new space opens September 16, 2024. Photo courtesy The Dance Studio

Kennedy Faris, 24, first became part of the dance studio when she was 2 years old in ballet classes with Wendy Setter, who taught her tap, tumbling, and beginning ballet.

“Each teacher I had saw something special in every student and helped me fulfill some dreams of mine and pushed me to do my best,” Faris says. “I remember looking up to the ‘older girls’ and Brittany telling me I would have one of those special solos in a performance.”

Many years later those dreams came true and Faris remembers Brittany watching her from backstage as I performed her first solo. “Not only is it a fond memory for me, but for my family, friends, and others to think back to that moment and know how much it meant to me,” says Faris. “Brittany and all the teachers believed in their students.”

Rachel Lucy Cecka says her daughters met lifelong friends and received support and encouragement from trustworthy adults who cared about their well-being.

“While they also had school and sports,” she says, “they benefited from having a place outside of those spaces where they could grow and develop. During COVID, The Dance Studio was a lifeline for our youth who were middle and early high schoolers during the year school was shut down.”

Andrea Scatena, moved to Bellingham in November 2022 to begin a new job as a project manager for Family Care Network. In her younger days, she danced professionally with a tap company and taught dance and movement to children of all ages and abilities. After the pandemic, she started searching for a place to resume dancing. She was referred to The Dance Studio by a friend and has been there ever since.

“All adult classes are included in annual performances, which is quite unusual for a studio,” Scantena says. “Why should performing stop when you become an adult? I appreciate this aspect, as there’s a lot of personal growth [in] preparing for a performance.

Burton is proud to offer adult classes — and performances. “Being able to provide multiple opportunities for dancers to perform on the incredible mainstage of Mount Baker Theatre is priceless. Whether they stick with dance or move on to other activities and interests, that experience creates confidence and empowerment to guide them through their future endeavors.”

A Home To Many

Lena Rollins, 27, became involved at the dance studio when she was three or four years old, taking a ballet tap class combo class with Wendy Setter. Not only was she in multiple stage productions, Rollins traveled with The Dance Studio in high school to Australia, Finland, and Japan and taught ballet, tap, and contemporary to a range of ages and abilities at the studio while studying dance at Western Washington University.

“The Dance Studio is a home for so many of us,” she says. “We lost our teeth there, cried there, made our best friends, did our first pirouette!”

Rollins says Britt is the heart of this home.

“She welcomes dancers in and inspires us to be our most authentic, creative selves. It’s one of the places that feels the most special and dear to me. It’s the place I go back to when I am homesick, lacking creativity, and want to reconnect.”

Burton stresses that it’s never too late to find your passion.

“We have so many opportunities for adults to dip their toe into the dance world, whether they danced years ago or not at all,” she says. The Dance Studio offers five adult tap classes, adult ballet, adult contemporary and hip hop.

“We also have a new elementary-aged boys class to get our next generation inspired and involved in dance in an easily accessible way,” she says. “Dance is such a wonderful way to create friendships, get connected, and just feel great. I am beyond grateful to lead The Dance Studio.”

For more details, please visit https://thedancestudio.net/ or call 360.734.1595

Mountain Pacific Bank Celebrates Bellingham Grand Opening on September 18th

By

Matt Benoit

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Although it’s been operating regionally for nearly two decades, many Whatcom County residents probably haven’t heard about Mountain Pacific Bank.

That’s likely to change, however, with the grand opening of its first Whatcom County branch. Located at 2200 Rimland Drive Suite 110 in Bellingham’s Barkley Village neighborhood, the new branch will hold grand opening festivities on Wednesday, September 18 from 3 to 6 p.m.

The event will include free cake, Hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and a 4 p.m. ribbon cutting ceremony featuring Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce President Guy Occhiogrosso. There will also be a prize giveaway.

“We want people to come in, see our new location and get to know our staff,” says Mark Duffy, the bank’s founder, president, and chief executive officer, who will be present along with the bank’s management and board of directors.

Mountain Pacific Bank President & CEO Mark Duffy. Photo courtesy Mountain Pacific Bank

Community Banking, Done Right

Despite the fact that Mountain Pacific — which opened its first branch in Everett in July 2006 — is one of several growing community banks in Washington State, the number of banks headquartered in the Evergreen State has steadily declined.

Between the Great Recession and a continuing series of mergers and acquisitions, the number of banks based in our state will be just 32 by early next year, Duffy says. That’s down from nearly 100 such institutions when Mountain Pacific was founded.

“They’re becoming rarer and rarer,” Duffy adds of community banks. “But we’re continuing to thrive in this market, and we’re excited for our future.”

Although most community banks all promote excellent customer service, Duffy says Mountain Pacific gets no shortage of compliments for the service and perks they provide their customers.

“We have very customer service-oriented staff, and we give them all the tools to provide great service,” Duffy says. “When you call to talk to somebody, you’re talking to somebody in either Bellingham or Everett. There’s a difference there. I know it’s not easy for people to switch banks, but if they do, they will not regret it.”

The latest Mountain Pacific Bank branch celebrates its grand opening in Bellingham’s Barkley Village on September 18, 2024. Photo courtesy Mountain Pacific Bank

Mountain Pacific caters to both personal and business customers, but operates with a strong commercial focus that helped it expanding from a single bank and $16.5 million in capital to five branches and over $700 million in assets.

After its initial Everett branch, Mountain Pacific added a Lynnwood location in 2008, a Ballard branch in 2015 (which focuses on maritime lending), and a Burlington branch in 2019.

In addition to generous certificate of deposit rates, the bank offers the holder of any checking account no-cost ATM fees — at their banks or elsewhere.

“We don’t charge a fee,” he says. “And if you go to another bank and use their ATM, and they charge you their fee, we will reimburse that up to $30 in fees monthly.”

Mountain Pacific also offers mobile branch banking — not just the cellular kind, but a literal vehicle that visits businesses to pick up their commercial deposits. It saves businesses the headaches of time and traffic, Duffy says, and has been greatly appreciated by businesses that make use of the service.

A Busy Bellingham Future

The new Bellingham branch, which had a soft opening at the end of July, employs six people, including a commercial lender and loan assistant.

Duffy says they wanted experienced local bankers in expanding northward and got them with people like branch manager Christina Murray. Two members of this new branch are already well-known in the Bellingham community, Commercial Loan Officer John Cruikshank, and Customer Service Manager Tamara Carrington.

The bank hopes to add additional commercial lenders to the Bellingham branch as things progress.

Mountain Pacific has particular expertise in business and commercial real estate loans, as well as construction financing of both commercial and single-family homes.

“We’re excited to be up in Bellingham,” Duffy says. “We like the North Puget Sound, and we’d always planned to come up to Whatcom County and have our footprint be from Snohomish County to the Canadian border.”

For more information on Mountain Pacific’s new Bellingham branch, call 360.685.8477 or email info@mp.bank.

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Bellingham Celtic Festival Brings Celtic Culture to Life This September

By

Merrick Parnell

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San Miguel Fraser at The Blue Room — San Miguel Fraser performs at The Blue Room. Photo credit: Doug Plummer

Downtown Bellingham is set to host festivities celebrating Celtic culture through music and workshops with the Bellingham Celtic Festival. Held from September 19 to 22, the event will transform the downtown area into a vibrant cultural showcase.

With shows and experiences held at popular spots like the Blue Room, Honey Moon Meadery, Boundary Bay Brewery, and Uisce Pub, you’ll find a range of activities to enjoy, including music, workshops, and pub sing-alongs. It’s a great opportunity to explore Celtic traditions and enjoy what Bellingham has to offer.

Origin of the Bellingham Celtic Festival

The festival began as the Bellingham Irish Festival in 2015. As it grew, it evolved into a broader Celtic festival. In 2023, the Mount Vernon-based nonprofit Celtic Arts Foundation, known for producing the Skagit Valley Highland Games and hosting year-round events at the Littlefield Celtic Center, officially launched the Bellingham Celtic Festival.

The festival draws attendees and performers from both local and international locations. “Folks attend the festival from all over the Pacific Northwest, and some from further afield. Many performers and instructors are international, traveling from Scotland, Ireland, Spain, and Canada,” says Cayley Schmid, director of the Celtic Arts Foundation. “We also feature musicians from the vibrant Bellingham Celtic music community.”

An Irish tune workshop with Nathan Gourley at the Blue Room. Photo credit: Doug Plummer

Events at the Bellingham Celtic Festival

The festival will feature ticketed events at the Blue Room on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, showcasing talented touring performers and instructors. Other downtown venues will host pub sing-alongs and Celtic music workshops. A full list of events is available on the festival schedule page.

Organizers encourage everyone to attend. Whether you’re a Celtic festival veteran or a newcomer, there’s something for everyone.

“You don’t have to know anything about Celtic music or culture to enjoy the weekend. Folks can wander between events, many of which are free to attend,” Schmid says. “In just a few blocks, you can listen to a session, enjoy some whisky, learn a Gaelic song, and perhaps meet a wandering musician. Enjoy the wonderful businesses downtown while celebrating Celtic music and community.”

San Miguel Fraser performs at The Blue Room. Photo credit: Doug Plummer

How to Fully Enjoy the Bellingham Celtic Festival

Check the schedule and highlight your top events to make the most of the festival. Events are à la carte, so check each listing to find out which are all ages, ticketed, or have food available for purchase.

There is no printed program, so downloading a free app is the easiest way to navigate the weekend. From there, you can ‘star’ events you want to attend, buy tickets, and learn more about the performers and instructors,” says Schmid. The festival’s schedule page lists instructions for finding and downloading the app.

Musical Acts at the Bellingham Celtic Festival

The festival will feature a diverse lineup of musical acts, including Hildaland, Magill, Murray, Goff, and The Faux Paws.

Hildaland

Hildaland, featuring Orkney, Scotland fiddler Louise Bichan and Indiana mandolinist Ethan Setiawan, will perform at the festival for the first time. Their music blends Scottish, old-time, and Swedish traditions with contemporary compositions.

“We’re excited to be back in Bellingham and catch up with everyone, hear some other artists, meet new people, and perform new music we’ve created since we were last in town,” Bichan says. “We love coming out to the Pacific Northwest to play and can’t wait to be part of this great festival.”

Magill, Murray, and Goff

Fiddler Andrew Finn Magill, a North Carolina Arts Council Fellow, has appeared on MTV, TEDx, PBS, and NPR. Alan Murray, a sought-after Irish accompanist, has toured with bands like Lúnasa and The Battlefield Band. Piper and flutist Ivan Goff has performed with Riverdance, collaborated with Sting, and is now part of the Irish supergroup Danú.

The Faux Paws

The Faux Paws blend diverse musical traditions, defying easy classification. Known for their dynamic and irreverent style, they take risks with their music, shifting seamlessly between influences while maintaining a compelling groove.

Get Celtic in Bellingham This September

In September, the Bellingham Celtic Festival will bring Celtic culture to life in downtown Bellingham. Running from September 19 to 22, the festival offers something for everyone, whether you’re a longtime fan or just curious. Be sure to check the festival schedule, download the app, and immerse yourself in this exciting celebration in the heart of downtown Bellingham.

Work, Rest, Recharge: Plan a Bleisure Trip to Port Ludlow in Jefferson County

By

Kristina Lotz

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Whether you are burned out from work, want a team building retreat or want to balance a vacation with the family while keeping up with work, Port Ludlow is a great choice for your next bleisure trip in Jefferson County. Planning a workcation is easy when there is so much to do within a short radius!

Port Ludlow Resort from a distance — The Port Ludlow Resort is ready to welcome you for a relaxing bleisure trip this fall. Photo credit: Kristina Lotz

Port Ludlow Resort: Bleisure Travel Made Easy

All you have to do is look at the Andrews Suite to see why Port Ludlow Resort is perfect for your next business retreat or workcation. The Andrews Suite has a meeting table with a large screen, kitchen area, full bathroom, lounge area and a great balcony with killer views of the harbor that beat a city block any day! Next door, The Olympic Room has a large meeting space with multimedia at your fingertips and another balcony. Both balconies have chairs and gas fires. And they have two more epic meeting spaces allowing for groups up to 50.

large meeting room with a big table and chairs. Large windows are in the background — Big windows not only offer plenty of natural light in the Port Ludlow Resort meeting room, but the view of the South Sound is spectacular! Photo credit: Kristina Lotz

But they don’t stop at just great meeting spaces. General Manager Dan Ratigan says they organize activities to help your team rest and recharge while connecting with each other. Your team can participate in a top chef competition, complete with a plaque to the winner; learn how to make cocktails; watch a cooking demonstration; or go on a scavenger hunt or geocaching adventure. “We have a long list of activities we can do,” shares Dan. “We have teams come back year after year and we want them to be able to change it up if they choose.” Though Dan says the top chef competition is one of the favorites, many groups do it yearly. “They spend all day deep in serious meetings,” he adds, “and need to unwind with some fun.”

people preparing food at a big table — The Port Ludlow Resort goes above and beyond to offer fun team building activities including a ‘Top Chef’ competition or cooking classes! Photo courtesy: Port Ludlow Resort

Not all groups that come for team building or bleisure trips to Port Ludlow are businesses. They have a group of 45 knitters that comes every year to learn how to knit. Last year, Dan took groups of 15 knitters at a time, taught them about farm-to-table and then took them to a local farm. “We petted the goats that were milked to make the cheese we ate,” Dan explains. This is because the farm is one of the suppliers to The Fireside Restaurant at Port Ludlow Resort.

Where to Eat in Port Ludlow

Speaking of food – no matter what your work, rest, recharge stay looks like, it’s not complete without a delicious meal. Port Ludlow Resort makes it easy with The Fireside Restaurant. With this farm-to-table establishment, everything from the carrots and coffee to the bacon and fish comes from the immediate area. “I’ve bought fish that literally got off the boat and came here,” shares Dan, “That’s about as fresh as you can get.”

They offer breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as Happy Hour on some days. Have an early morning Zoom meeting? Breakfast can be delivered to the Andrew Suite.

steak and potatoes on a white dish — The Port Ludlow Resort’s restaurant is farm-to-table fresh and delicious. Let them know any dietary or allergy restrictions and they will accommodate. Photo credit: Kristina Lotz

If you head out exploring, there are some other great options in the area! Check out Gear Head Deli for the best sandwich you will ever have – even with gluten-free bread! The current owners are retiring, but they are hoping someone will continue to make their sandwiches just like they do.

If you are looking for small bites and some adult beverage tasting, check out local cideries and wineries. Eaglemount Wine and Cider is open in the fall and winter on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. “We have ciders, meads, and wines all crafted at our farm,” shares owner Trudy Davis. “Ciders and meads are made with local, sustainably-grown, Peninsula apples, pears, rhubarb, etc., from our farm and other small farms in the area. Award-winning wines are made with Washington-grown grapes.”

Finnriver Farm & Cidery’s Chimacum Cider Garden is a great cidery to visit, with events including music, paint & sips, happy hours and more year-round. They are open every day but Tuesday.

Alpenfire Cider is also a great stop. In fact, these three make a great tour of the Jefferson County countryside, showcasing the fruits of the land. Alpenfire was the first organic cider orchard in the West. Their tasting room is open seasonally on Saturdays only from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment.

woman sitting in a chair on a ground level balcony with a laptop on her lap — Private balconies off the meeting rooms are a perfect place to sit and relax with a cup of coffee or meal from the The Fireside Restaurant. Photo credit: Kristina Lotz

Bleisure Travel Activities in Port Ludlow Area

The point of bleisure travel is to unplug and spend some time doing activities you love. Ebikes are available to rent at Port Ludlow Resort, making it easy to pedal off on an adventure. If the water is calling you, the Port Ludlow Marina, located right next to the Resort, offers kayak, standup paddleboards and watercraft rentals.

people in inflatable boats and kayaks near the shore in Port Townsend — Nearby Port Townsend is a fun place to explore on your bleisure trip in Jefferson County. They have water craft rentals, whale watching, bike rentals, shopping and more. Photo credit: Kristina Lotz

Another option for e-bikes is The Broken Spoke in Port Townsend. From there, you can ride or drive your e-bike rental to the start of the Larry Scott Trail and follow the beach into the forest. Are you a Pacific Crest Trail fan? Then don’t miss the Olympic Discovery Trail, its part of the Rail-Trail initiative and will eventually connect to the Larry Scott Trail.

Hikers will love nearby trails, like the Port Ludlow Falls Interpretive Trail and Mount Walker. Be warned – Mount Walker is definitely for those in good shape – it’s a 2-mile 20% incline, but the view is incredible! During summer months, when the gate is open, you can also drive to the viewpoint.

Looking to swing your club? Port Ludlow Resort has its own, world-class, 18-hole golf course just 1.5 miles from the Inn.

And, if your co-worker happens to have four legs, you’re in luck. Port Ludlow Resort is dog-friendly, complete with a doggie menu at the restaurant when you sit on the outdoor patio with your bud. Many other places are dog-friendly, including Eaglemount, the nearby trails, and Discovery Bay Golf Course! Dogs are actually allowed on the green at Discovery, so bring your furry co-worker on your next workcation trip.

Find more things to do in Port Ludlow on your bleisure trip in this article.

One last tip: Avoid crowds and construction by planning your trip in the fall and winter – Jefferson County really shines during these seasons. Even better, avoid traffic by planning a long week Thursday to Monday or a mid-week bleisure trip and your trip up the Hood Canal will be a breeze! To learn more about your next adventure, visit the Enjoy the Olympic Peninsula website.

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William and Laura Rink: Bellingham Authors Inspired by Local and Personal History

By

Anna Diehl

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william-and-laura-rink-full-photo — William and Laura Rink both do much of their writing work from home, close to Lake Whatcom and Bellingham's city limits. Photo credit: Anna Diehl

William and Laura Rink are a Bellingham couple with a fine distinction: both are published authors, exploring history that has touched their lives and local surroundings.

Laura Rink has published poetry and essays influenced by nature, everyday life, and the writing process. She is currently writing a family memoir on the Armenian genocide, which her grandmother and two great aunts survived.

“I would say on a small scale, my work has been well received,” says Laura. “We have a really supportive community in Bellingham; there’s a lot of support [here] in a business that can be pretty competitive. I feel like there’s a lot of collaboration, a lot of support. People want to lift each other up.”

William Rink cofounded the Bellingham Railway Museum, covered in a previous WhatcomTalk article before its closure in 2020. He and founding member Karl Kleeman authored The Early Railroads of Whatcom County and Washington Territory, available at Village Books. More recently, he has written Telephone and Telegraph Stamps books, which catalogue rare postage stamps of this genre.

“Anytime we do a presentation on our local history book, railroad books, everybody just loves it,” William says. “It’s cool information about the area we live in and it’s always well received.”

Laura Rink

A longtime member of Red Wheelbarrow Writers (previously covered in WhatcomTalk), Laura has long pursued writing as a hobby.

“For me it’s like third grade,” says Laura. “Little House on the Prairie, you know: write about your life. I remember dressing up as Laura Ingalls Wilder and Louisa May Alcott in elementary school ; I always wanted to be a writer. For me, most of it, it was just something I did on the side.”

Laura Rink has started a monthly blog that describes her writing inspirations from other works and nature around us in the Pacific Northwest. Photo credit: Anna Diehl

Laura keeps a monthly blog on her portfolio. Her upcoming memoir on the Armenian genocide elaborates on her MFA thesis, balancing family history with the wider historical context from fiction and nonfiction.

“That has been like Peter Balakian’s Black Dog of Fate,” she says. “He wrote a memoir about his Armenian grandmother and parents. I did my critical paper for school on his book and others, about how to write and how to find the story in silence. Because my grandmother never really talked about it.”

William Rink

Working closely with Whatcom Museum and Washington State Archives at WWU, William has documented highly specific local history and United States stamps that no previous books had catalogued.

“I started out in advertising,” says William. He was a design major in college and became a graphic designer, working in advertising and even starting his own agency. His first book came out 10 years ago. “A colleague of mine approached me and we co-authored The Early Railroads of Whatcom County and Washington Territory. That led to another book in the series, and then my own on one of my hobbies, which is stamp collecting.”

William Rink is also a member of the Great Northern Historical Society and continues to present on local railroading history with Bellingham Railway Museum colleagues. Photo credit: Anna Diehl

William’s writing inspirations also started with personal history from a young age.

“Trains have always been a passion of mine since I was a kid,” he says. “We took a train across the country from California to Kansas and that made a big impact on me.” His grandfather got him into stamp collecting when he was young. “I started collecting telegraph stamps, which were kind of train-related, and that led me to telephone stamps. I’ve always been a history buff.”

Community Collaboration

William and Laura have supported each other’s work in big and small ways, each being the other’s final reader before submission.

“We’re both home all the time and that’s huge, giving each other quiet time and space,” says William. We proofread each other’s work.”

Both authors remain actively involved with local organizations and events, including critique groups for fellow authors.

“Advice to aspiring authors looking to get published?” says Laura. “Work on your craft, work on your writing. It’s competitive out there. There are a lot of really good writers. I think your writing needs to be top quality and you need to find the things that only you can write. For me, it’s like not looking at what is selling, it’s looking at what can I bring to this that’s authentic with me.”

Readers can follow the Rinks’ work at their personal websites and public events from Village Books, the Whatcom Writers and Publishers, and Allied Arts’ Holiday Festival.

Let’s Cook! A Look Back at Bellingham’s 1913 Mary Haines Cooking School

By

Jennifer Crooks

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Informal cooking “schools” were popular in the early 20^th century. In August 1913 the American Reveille and Bellingham Herald newspapers brought Mary Lewis Haines to teach free classes.

During this time, the American diet was rapidly changing as food production became more processed and mechanized. A group of college-educated women brought together new technology and advances in nutrition science. New York’s Mary Haines was one of these “domestic scientists.” Later called home economists, the women researched, wrote, and taught. Some worked in schools while others, like Haines, toured the country giving lectures and demonstrations. And they revolutionized how people ate.

In Bellingham, classes were held at the Walk-Over Shoe Store in the Exchange Building, 1248-60 N. State Street. Haines stood in the front of the classroom on an elevated platform transformed into a kitchen. A woman was hired to assist and wash dishes.

Haines’ classes were geared towards young women and inexperienced cooks. Her focus on simple, economical, and “healthful” food reduced the cost of living, especially using leftovers and inexpensive meat cuts. Good home cooking, she argued, was the foundation of a thriving society.

Students were encouraged to ask questions or put them in the question box. They were told to bring a notebook and pencil to write down recipes as well as a small dish and spoon to sample recipes.

Mary Lewis Haines was a domestic science expert and author who taught in Bellingham in a busy August 1913. The circus and marathon were also in town. “It is the first time,” she joked, “I ever had to hold my own against a circus.” Photo from the Tacoma Daily Ledger, September 25, 1913, courtesy Washington State Library

Week 1

Haines opened her school on Wednesday, August 6, with “Twenty Ways to Cook Hamburger.” 150 women attended. The next day she made meat croquettes with leftovers, “sunshine” cake with butter icing, and boiled rice. On Friday she fixed “veal bird,” steak creole, steak country style, onions stuffed with nuts, and “potato surprise” using leftover mashed potatoes.

Week 2

Classes resumed on Monday, August 11. Haines introduced her specialty, “two-hour bread.” It was, she promised, equal to “what mother used to make” — but less work. She also demonstrated devil’s food cake, stuffed pork tenderloin, and medallions of halibut with perigueux sauce.

The next day she served corn oysters, raspberry shrub, “frite” of chicken, and Northwest Fruit Cake “dedicated to the ladies of the Pacific Northwest.” She also made two-hour bread from Roman Meal.

August 13 brought chicken a la king, potato cake, fruit gelatine with dressing, and potatoes au gratin. Audiences learned the next day how to make chicken croquettes chicken supremes from leftovers, as well as poor man’s rice pudding and steamed pudding.

Haines ended the week with fruit gelatine, rice cheese croquettes and “porcupine pudding” using leftover cake for the body and almonds for the quills. The instructor billed her macaroni a L’Italiene as the “ideal meal,” and made pumpkin pie by audience request.

Mary Haines demonstrated local products like Vittucci’s Virgin Olive Oil at her school. Ad from American Reveille, August 26, 1913. What questions Haines could not answer, she fielded to her audience. “I do not pretend to know all there is to learn about cooking,” she told them. “In fact, I hope to never be able to say that I have nothing left to learn.”

Week 3

Haines opened the class on Monday, August 18 by remaking her two-hour bread. She covered salad dressings, cheese mayonnaise, and spaghetti royale. She also demonstrated planking leftovers and how to make celery stuffed with cheese mayonnaise.

The next day she shared recipes for halibut cutlets with sauce tartare, mint jelly to serve with lamb, white fruit cake, marshmallow fudge frosting, sandwiches and onions stuffed with nuts served with cream sauce. She also made two-hour bread again. On August 20 she made cream puffs, German pot roast, boiled mayonnaise, onions stuffed with nuts and served with cream sauce, raspberry pie, and fruit meringue pie.

The next day she demonstrated boiled fruit cake, lamb kidneys country style, boiled mayonnaise, chicken salad and marshmallow trifle. Haines ended the week by making meat pie using leftovers, pineapple tapioca dessert, salmon souffle and shrimp salad. She also served “soft gingerbread,” using a recipe given to her by a Bellingham woman. She liked to collect new recipes!

A recipe for “Sunshine Cake” from “Helpful Hints for Housewives.” Haines demonstrated it at her cooking school.

Final Week

Haines’ final week began on Monday, August 25 with lemon pie, halibut en blanquette, cheap mock angel food cake, and fruit punch. She also made regular angel food cake and lemon pie “by request.” The next day she demonstrated “cheap” layer cake, fruit rock from Roman Meal, sandwich royale, chocolate triangles, and fried chicken Spanish style.

On August 27 Haines made cheap layer cake, English walnut cakes, veal oysters, and surprise beef biscuits. The next day she roasted nuts as a meat substitute and made oyster sausage, sweet potato balls, and “Palace salad.”

Haines held a bread baking contest on her last day, Friday August 29. Free 10-pound sacks of Bellingham Flour Company’s “Quality Flour” brand were offered to contestants. They could use any recipe they wanted. Over 100 loaves were entered, baked fresh that morning. Local women judged the results.

“There was not a loaf there that the maker could be ashamed of,” Mary Haines proclaimed.

The six top winners got free flour and their recipes printed in the newspaper. The first three also won cash. Young women had their own contest.

At the end, the judges voted three cheers for the contestants — and another for Mary Haines.

Haines Returns

Haines would return to Bellingham — that “hospitable little city” as she called it — in December to sell her brand new book, “Helpful Hints for Housewives.” It was published by the Recorder Press of Olympia.

Although Mary Haines’s time in Bellingham was short, her students had learned much. Women like Haines, with her emphasis on science and education, helped transform American cooking into what it is today.

“Try to get away from the beaten paths in cooking,” she told her audience. “Learn to experiment with the familiar dishes that you have all grown tired of. You will find that cooking is not so monotonous when you vary it from the ways you have been cooking for so long.”

Feature images created by AI

Announcing the 2024 Peace Builder Award Recipients

By

LocalTalk Contributor

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Submitted by Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center

The Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center (WDRC) invites the community to join us in honoring seven remarkable individuals, projects, and organizations who have helped to build peace in Whatcom County. Each of this year’s award winners represent unique and important efforts to build trust, promote healing, resolve conflicts, and contribute to a more peaceful community. Please join us in congratulating these amazing community members and uplifting their work!

The recipients of the 2024 Peace Builder Awards are:

Public Service Award: Allison Williams
For her tireless work to support parents and perinatal health in Whatcom County

Education Award: Roots of Empathy
For their innovative work in building young people’s empathy

Inclusion Award: April Katz, The AIROW Project
For their vital work to foster greater belonging and accessibility through adaptive recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities

Social Justice Award: Whatcom CARE
For their collaborative approach to building an anti-racist educational network in Whatcom County

Youth Award: Trusted Adult Workshop Youth Leaders
For their inspiring work to create and train trusted adults in support of youth mental wellbeing and safety

Volunteer Award: Whatcom Penpal Project
For their principled endeavor to increase understanding and connection between individuals incarcerated in Whatcom County Jail and other community members

Healthcare Award: Jessica Dubek
For her impactful efforts to meet basic needs through increased dental care access for low income and rural individuals

Attend the 2024 Peace Builder Awards Gala on October 25

The 2024 Peace Builder Award winners will be recognized at the 21st Annual Peace Builder Awards Gala, presented by Peoples Bank and Puget Sound Energy, from 5:30pm to 8:30 pm on October 25th, at Four Points by Sheraton.

At the Peace Builder Awards Gala, in addition to the awards ceremony, guests will enjoy dinner, a virtual silent auction and dessert dash, live music, and poetry readings by the winners of the 2024 Youth Peace Poetry Contest. Early Bird tickets are available until September 15th at: whatcomdrc.org/peace-builder-awards.

information can be found at www.whatcomdrc.org or by calling 360.676.0122.

Assistance League of Bellingham Offers a Path to Literacy

By

LocalTalk Contributor

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Submitted by Assistance League of Bellingham

Perhaps in the bank of your childhood memories you can recall your bedtime routine, when you felt safe and loved as you had your favorite book read to you. You might not have understood all the words, but you loved the variety of sounds and emotions and pictures. Not just at bedtime but throughout your day, if books were accessible in your home, you were one of the fortunate children.

For other children from economically disadvantaged families, too often their life offered no accessible books nor a happy bedtime story, but sleep came as an escape from reality.

Fortunately for all children, school offers an opportunity to open the world of reading and with it an opportunity to expand their life experience.

Transforming Lives • Strengthening Community

Through the work of our program, Books and Beyond, Assistance League of Bellingham responds to our mission by coordinating with local school districts as well as other local nonprofits for the promotion of literacy programs.

The program is divided into three segments:

1. Some members tutor children in the classroom.

2. Another group works with the distribution of used children’s books that are donated to the chapter.

A moment of appreciation: In looking through the books donated for distribution, it is often a welcomed experience when we come across inscriptions.

“Today a reader. Tomorrow a leader.”

“This was my favorite book when I was your age. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!”

3. And finally, the committee works together to determine how to buy new books for other nonprofits and for the classroom or library of public schools within Whatcom County.

For the years 2024-25, Assistance League of Bellingham has allocated the following total funds for new books:

For Bellingham and Whatcom County Elementary Schools: $7,750.00
For Bellingham and Whatcom County Middle Schools: $4,400.00

The financial support for this program is primarily funded by you, our customers, who shop at our Thrift & Gift Shop. As we are an all-volunteer organization, every dollar received is returned to the community.

It can be hard to quantify the true value of an excellent book – especially for those who love reading. It can be like trying to measure the value of a good friend. But like a good friend, a book whether it is new or old, enriches one’s life with sustaining experiences.

Working Together…Making a Difference

Assistance League of Bellingham has been successfully making a difference in Whatcom County for 42 years.

You can support us by:

making a donation on Assistance League of Bellingham’s website
mailing a check to: Assistance League of Bellingham, P.O. Box 2998, Bellingham WA 98227
shopping on our eBay site by clicking on this eBay direct link to alb_thriftshop.
shopping at our Thrift & Gift Shop, 2718 Meridian Street, Bellingham WA 98225
becoming an Assistance League of Bellingham member volunteer

Learn more about us at www.assistanceleague.org/bellingham

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Week 1

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Attend the 2024 Peace Builder Awards Gala on October 25

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Working Together…Making a Difference

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