Bellingham's downtown waterfront will be a gathering place for all. Photo courtesy: The City of Bellingham.
Happy Dog Appreciation Day Whatcom County! This Sunday, take a minute to snuggle up with your furry friend. And Saturday happens to be “Kiss and Make Up Day” – a great opportunity to mend any broken bridges. In between, there are plenty of fun things to do. Here are a few ideas of what to do in and around Bellingham August 24—26. And don’t forget to check out our full events calendar for all the fun happenings in Whatcom County.
WhatcomTalk aims to be your source for positive information and events happening in Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden and throughout Whatcom County. If you have a suggestion for a post, send us a note at submit@whatcomtalk.com. For more events and to learn what’s happening in Bellingham and the surrounding area, visit our events calendar. To submit an event of your own, visit our events calendar and click on the green “Post Your Event” button.
BTG President, Dee Dee O'Connor, and Vice President of Production, Sean Walbeck, take a seat on the in-the-works set of La Cage Aux Folles. The play premiers September 7. Photo credit: Hannah Zoe.
A special flame in Bellingham history still burns brightly thanks to the tireless efforts of a community of volunteers and thespians. Tucked in the Lettered Streets neighborhood in a renovated Episcopal church, the Bellingham Theatre Guild (BTG) is a beacon for those who love the warmth and familiarity of seeing their friends and neighbors perform on stage.
Founded in 1928, the Theatre Guild was designed to give local actors and directors a chance to execute avant-garde material. Oftentimes during that period, the shows that were available were limited to popular touring acts or those approved by theater conglomerates. The monopoly held by these large syndicates kept local playwrights and European performances off American main stages. The BTG, our local chapter of the Little Theatre Movement, could circumvent the rules and hold public performances as long as the actors weren’t paid and the theatre was a non-profit.
The Murray Robe (inspired by Broadway’s Gypsy Robe) is a new tradition to the BTG. A momento from each production is ceremoniously affixed to it and celebrated backstage. Photo credit: Hannah Zoe.
Today, in its 90th season, the Bellingham Theatre Guild is alive and well. Their success hinges directly on their team of committed volunteers, who complete every task from set design to ticket sales.
Each season, the BTG hosts five to six plays, with additional special performances and events in between. With upwards of 1,200 people seeing each production, their member board is highly conscientious about choosing acts that will appeal to both new and recurrent audience members. “We try to pick plays that will reach out to the variety that comes with that amount of people, run by directors we’re really excited about,” says the Guild’s Vice President of Production, Sean Walbeck. “That’s part of the joy and the nervousness of the Theatre Guild, taking risks and hoping the plays we choose strike audience’s hearts the way they’ve struck ours.”
The Guild is opening their season in September with performances of La Cage Aux Folles, a comedy centered on the farcical circumstances of a gay couple trying to hide their sexuality and their nightclub’s drag events from their conservative houseguests.
Sean Walbeck holds the scripted invocation used during the cast’s Murray Robe ceremony. Photo credit: Hannah Zoe.
While every play is open auditioned and never pre-cast, the director for La Cage Aux Folles invited talent directly from Bellingham’s drag community to participate. “Almost every show has somebody new on our stage,” says the Guild’s board President, Dee Dee O’Connor. “If you volunteer to put in the commitment to act, we volunteer to put on the play.”
The Bellingham Theatre Guild has a loyal member base, with over a third of their audience being season ticket holders. Perhaps unbeknownst to many attendees, their presence is an integral part of the power of live performance. “In theater, the art form is really about the connection and the energy between actor and audience—the way they feed each other,” says Sean. “It’s not until the play is aired in front of an audience that the actors get sharper. They can see when they get laughs and fine-tune the performance until it evolves into a finished piece.”
The Bellingham Theatre Guild has owned, and operated out of, this renovated Episcopal Church on H St. since 1949. Photo credit: Hannah Zoe.
Sprinkled in amongst main performances, the Guild holds intimate, special events. A reader’s theater series, called Lend Us Your Ears, is turning out to be a new favorite. Actors perform from scripts, relying on their voices and gestures in lieu of sets. In the end, it gets more actors and directors involved, while providing a pay-what-you-will scale for interested audiences.
For local directors and play-writes, the annual Bellinghamster’s One Act Theatre Festival is the perfect opportunity to test their material. The event features 12 to 16 shorts over the course of a week. “It’s always fun, always interesting and a great opportunity to see snapshots of people’s favorite plays or original material,” says O’Connor. “They essentially do all the work and produce their own shows, we just provide the stage.”
To wrap up a busy season, the Guild members have fun putting on their Bentley Awards— the theater’s own mini Tony ceremony. Members have the opportunity to vote for their favorite plays and actors, always a contentious issue for those with an opinion. “It’s one of the ways we like to give back to our community, we give them something to complain about!” quips Sean.
The BTG community holds their annual Bentley Awards ceremony where members vote on their favorite actors and performances. Photo credit: Hannah Zoe.
The opportunities to become involved in the BTG are seemingly endless, especially for the creatively inclined. Dee Dee O’Connor, now Board President, began as a stage hand volunteer. “If you have the wherewithal and commitment, and are interested in theatre, it’s an amazing opportunity to learn from and get started,” she says.
It’s difficult to describe the magic of a place that one really should just see for themselves.
Tickets for BTG events are available both online and at their box office. For information on upcoming auditions or volunteer opportunities, visit their Facebook page for more information. “Our shows are definitely cheaper than iMax,” reminds Sean. “And way more 3D.”
A small, cozy church is available for intimate weddings. Photo credit: Jessica Hamilton.
Sue Brand is a five-year volunteer at the Ferndale Heritage Society. “Every Saturday was bath day,” she says. “The father got into the tub first, then the mother, the oldest child down to the baby. By that time, you might not to be able to find the baby in all the dirt.” This is where the saying, don’t throw the baby out with the bath water came from.
The Shields family was in danger of losing the baby in the bathwater. Living in a cedar planked home built in 1885 – now known as the Shields House – they had 11 kids and 2 parents. That’s 13 people using the same bathwater once a week.
The General Store is often open and running for tour guests. Photo credit: Jessica Hamilton.
You can still visit the Shields House today, which is available to walk through during a tour and is fully furnished in a turn of the century style.
If you’ve ever wondered about Pioneer Park, the cedar plank cabins located in Ferndale, just ask a member of The Ferndale Heritage Society. This group of dedicated volunteers spends over 4,000 hours a year keeping the history alive. It’s a cause they feel passionate about.
“One three-year-old girl spent 45 minutes in the Foster house looking at tools and butter churners,” says Tom Brand who has volunteered with his wife Sue for the last five years. The little girl then said, “these are awesome.”
“The responses from kids are great,” says Tom.
The Pioneer Park sign hangs outside of the gates to the old town. Photo credit: Jessica Hamilton.
In 1901 an organization known as The Old Settlers Association bought four acres of land to preserve the cedar trees and host their annual picnic. Some came all the way from Birch Bay with their wagons and horses. They set up camp in the cedar forest for two or three days of fun, food, debates, storytelling and music. The land is now known as Pioneer Park and the picnic is still going on today. This year marked the 123rd year of The Old Settlers Weekend picnic held in July.
Today 12 cedar cabins stand on the property in Pioneer Park. They have been relocated from various sites all over Whatcom County, many of them donated. They’re relocated by the Old Settlers Association and the Ferndale Heritage Society. Workers number the logs for transportation and recreate the homes piece by piece in their original form on top of concrete pads. Pioneer Park now has the largest collection of cedar cabins in the world, occasionally attracting international visitors.
The cabins illustrate a time when people had amazing skill and strength. In 1895, Mr. Foster built what is now known as the Foster house. The home was constructed from 24-inch-thick, extremely long cedar planks that run vertically along the house. It’s two stories high. Not only did Mr. Foster build this home completely by himself, he was 70 years old at the time. How he accomplished this feat is unknown.
A picture of the very first Old Settlers Weekend hangs in the Foster House. Photo credit: Jessica Hamilton.
Volunteers for the Heritage Society dedicate thousands of hours to preserving these stories and teaching them to others. Volunteers dress in costume, tell stories and recreate pioneer living for school children who come in buses from as far as Mount Vernon. Kids get to hand dip candles, grind grain and make rolls they can eat before heading back to school.
Sue loves to see “the kids eyes get wide” as they see the candles get bigger and bigger with each dip. They even get to take the candles home as a keepsake.
“Kids need to connect with the past and history,” says Sue. “Generations of people who remember this as kids now bring their kids.”
A beautiful antique gum ball machine was once used as one of the first methods of gambling. Photo credit: Jessica Hamilton.
Louise Sager is one of the Ferndale Heritage Society’s four original founders. She has enough vintage clothing to fill a department store. She has collected pieces from every time period since the late 1800s. “I have 1,500 pioneer dresses, 50-60 wedding dresses; my husband said it was him or the clothes,” Louise recounts. They opted to sell a few acres of land to build a two-story climate-controlled barn closet. Now her husband and her clothes can coexist comfortably. Louise occasionally uses her clothing to put on fashion shows to raise money for the society.
The Ferndale Heritage Society puts on fundraisers to cover the cost of keeping the cedar homes in top shape. The Olde Fashioned Christmas is a special annual, authentic and non-commercial event put on by the Society. Volunteers spend over 800 hours putting up lights, decorating each cabin and preparing homemade cookies, hot chocolate and crafts for kids. It’s a truly magical weekend event that is attended by roughly 2,000 people every year. Some families come up from Seattle, saying it’s the best event they’ve ever been to.
A small, cozy church is available for intimate weddings. Photo credit: Jessica Hamilton.
The Ferndale Heritage Society have found friends and fellowship. Whole families are welcome too. Louise’s six-year-old great-grandchildren help out, while the oldest volunteer is 89 years old. And they’re always looking for more helping hands in a variety of areas.
Having a nice backpack is a big deal for kids - just look at those smiles. Photo courtesy: Blue Skies for Children.
Five young faces beam with happiness as they don brand new backpacks they selected themselves. This is a magical place decorated with children’s novels, a gourmet play-kitchen and a bulletin covered in thank you notes. Two families wait at the entrance; two adults with five girls ranging from elementary to junior high and another woman with a young boy and girl.
“Are you here for backpacks?” a chipper voice inquires. This is Myah Dawkins, one of the program coordinators at Blue Skies for Children and acting gatekeeper to the piles of donated backpacks. She escorts the kids into a back room, which glistens with zippers and a rainbow of colorful fabrics.
These backpacks will make their new owners very happy. Photo courtesy: Blue Skies for Children.
Blue Skies for Children’sBack to School Backpack Program runs from the beginning of August until September 27. “Everything inspires me about this work,” says Executive Director Julie Guay. “The kids that come in are the most fun and they get so excited when they see a backpack they really love. They grab the color they want and they’re all smiles. That’s very inspiring.”
As if on cue, five girls walk out of the back room proudly carrying backpacks of varying sizes, styles and colors. They each look complete with their new backpacks and blazing smiles.
Guay explains that Blue Skies for Children is expecting 500 to 600 children to request backpacks, which they collect year-round for this event. “We serve all school districts in Whatcom County and support all requests from Skagit County,” Guay explains. “We serve homeless, low-income and foster children from the ages of 6 to 18.”
The Back-to-School Backpack Program was formally established in 2016 and has thrived. This year they’re going above and beyond by setting up a table at Carl Cozier on August 24 from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. If a young person qualifies for free or reduced lunch, they can stop by and scoop up a backpack. The program supplements Bellingham School District’s efforts to provide school supplies.
Having a nice backpack is a big deal for kids – just look at those smiles. Photo courtesy: Blue Skies for Children.
Blue Skies for Children truly lives up to its mission of raising hope and self-esteem by sponsoring enrichment programs and other essentials. Before summer even began, Blue Skies for Children was hard at work making sure children had shoes so they could run, jump and play the sunny days away. Over 603 pairs of athletic shoes walked out the door this spring.
As summer turns to fall, Blue Skies for Children will continue their work with the Winter Warm-Up Distribution Program, which provides children in need with a new or gently used coat, hat, gloves, scarf and/or blanket. This program is dependent on donations of new or gently used items.
Randy and Kathy of LaserPoint Awards love supporting Blue Skies for Children’s efforts. Photo credit: Kali Klotz-Brooks.
Creating programs that rely on community support is key. Blue Skies for Children is thankful for supporters like LaserPoint Awards & Promotional Solutions or CTK Church who recently conducted a backpack drive, delivering 360 backpacks to Blue Skies. CPI Plumbing is currently conducting a social media campaign to collect backpacks.
From shoes and backpacks to winter gear, Blue Skies for Children is an unsung hero. They raise hope in young hearts and minds every day of the year, contributing to improved self-esteem. They give everything to this work.
If you would like to donate a backpack or volunteer, contact Blue Skies for Children at 360-756-6710 Monday through Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and make a difference in a young person’s life today.
It’s time to support your community again, and Whole Kids Foundation is here to help. Whole Kids Foundation, a nonprofit founded by Whole Foods Market, has been supporting local community and school gardens since 2011. The School Garden Grant program provides funding and resource support to schools wanting to establish or grow their school gardening programs.
The Whole Kids Foundation shows kids where food comes from. Photo courtesy: Whole Kids Foundation.
At Whole Kids Foundation, we know that the more kids know and feel connected to their food, the more curious they become about how things grow or taste, and the more willing they are to try new foods. This is why we believe in edible garden learning spaces! Created in partnership with FoodCorps, the Garden Grant program provides a $2,000 monetary grant to support a new or existing garden. School gardens give children the valuable opportunity to learn and apply math, science and health concepts in a dynamic, interactive setting. Teachers and or community members curate these learning opportunities by either integrating lessons into curriculum or introducing lesson plans created by the United Heart Association.
The benefits of school gardens are long lasting. School garden programs not only promote healthy lifestyles in children, but have also been shown to improve children’s behavior and performance at school and improve their attitudes and appreciation for the environment. Gardens serve as great outdoor classrooms for any number of subjects, including science and ecology, math, creative writing and art. School gardens are wonderful spaces for kids with different learning styles and abilities to work in groups and engage in hands-on, cross-disciplinary education.
Kids learn a lot from a school garden. Photo courtesy: Whole Kids Foundation.
We all know it takes a village, and your grant request is just the start of something great! Last year in New Orleans, the organization United Health Group celebrated grants for 15 new school gardens. The Louisiana Community has thoughtfully repurposed much of the land destroyed by hurricane Katrina and community gardens have become an aspect of that development. This is not Louisiana’s first round of grants and the benefits received have become catapults for youth development and leadership training. The gardens yield not only food for the several aspects of the community, but have become symbols for growth and intentional eating habits.
The Garden itself is just the start. Whole Kids Foundation provides grants to raise awareness of food access issues at several points that it impact a child’s life, including:
Kids appreciate food more when they know where it comes from. Photo courtesy: Whole Kids Foundation.
Salad Bar grants that ensure that leafy greens and mixed color veggies are highlighted during lunch breaks
Honey Bee Grants which teach children about the bigger picture and deeper understanding of where food comes from.
The Get Schools Cooking program, which aids in removing processed foods from lunch counters in favor of handmade meals.
Healthy Teacher grants that provide learning opportunities for teachers that turn into demonstrated change in their classrooms
Curious about writing your first grant proposal? The Whole Kids Foundation provides resources to guide you through the process. We have provided grants for thousands of schools throughout the United States, Canada and the UK. Whole Foods Market believes that what we feed our children, and what we teach them about food in school, shapes how they learn and grow. The public health issue of childhood nutrition is real, and our youth are in need of support from you. We encourage everyone to apply at WholeKidsFoundation.org.
Starting September 1, 2019, you can submit a garden grant request at WholeKidsFoundation.org and help bring garden education and passion to a local K-12 school or Non-profit organization.
The large rocks begin their journey south of the Bellingham Shipping Terminal. Cranes load them onto barges before they leave on their journey. Photo courtesy: The Port of Bellingham.
A jetty at the mouth of the Columbia River was badly damaged after being pummeled by 30-foot Pacific Ocean waves this winter. Now Bellingham is coming to the rescue. Huge rocks are being plucked from Bellingham’s coastline and shipped south to be added to the structure.
The Columbia River jetty system consists of three large rubble mounds, together totaling more than nine miles in length. The jetties make the sometimes treacherous channel safer for ships traveling between the Pacific Ocean and Columbia River while minimizing navigation channel maintenance and protecting the coastline.
According to the Merchant’s Exchange of Portland, the ships at the mouth of the Columbia River are typically carrying grain, automobiles, petroleum, logs or shipping containers. Vessels arrive from all over the world to bring valuable goods to and from the United States.
Without the jetty system, it would be impossible for cargo vessels to travel in and out of the river. The jetties are crucial for the continued flow of billions of dollars’ worth of commerce that moves through the Columbia River each year.
Towering waves and intense winter storms are common in this estuary, often damaging the jetties. If a critical section of the jetties is severely damaged during a storm, built-up sand could spill into the navigation channel and shut down commercial shipping.
Not only does the Columbia River jetty system benefit our state’s economy, it saves lives and ensures public safety.
You can see the boulders piled up near the facility, but they won’t be there for long.
The 60,000 pound stones are being hauled onto barges and sent south along the rocky Washington coast to Fort Stevens State Park at the mouth of the Columbia River.
After some maneuvering, the rocks will find a new home in the jetty system. More than four thousand of them are needed to bulk up the jetty for several more decades of use.
Who’s behind the operation?
Mike Hogan, a spokesman for the Port of Bellingham, said the Port is only indirectly involved as some of the rocks are being sourced from local quarries. A Chico, California-based marine contractor, J.E. McAmis, is largely behind the project led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
Jeff Henon from USACE tells the Chinook Observer that once the large rocks arrive at Fort Stevens State Park, crews load them onto tractor trailers by crane. The rocks are so big, Henon says, crew members often make more than 40 trips a day to move the cargo from the barge to Cape Disappointment where another crane crew waits to offload them.
Quality Rocks
To ensure strength, durability and functionality, each rock must undergo a quality inspection. Crews use spray-paint to mark rocks that pass the test and a crane operator then moves them to the work area. Now, they’re ready for business.
A custom-toothed excavator helps workers place the stones on the jetty, their final resting place. There, they will help protect the inlet from unpredictable weather, creating a safer waterway.
A Long Lasting Plan
Mike Hogan says the project is expected to last throughout summer 2018 and possibly 2019, too.
“The idea with this is that hopefully we don’t have to go back there for another 50 years,” says Jeff Henon. That means Bellingham may be a part of the Columbia River jetty system for decades, if not centuries, to come.
The jetty currently being repaired, the North Jetty, is the second in a round of an entire rehabilitation of this system. Crews completed repairs on the first jetty in 2017 and repairs for the South Jetty are slated for 2019, expected to require multiple years of work.
Nimmi at home in Fiji. Photo credit: Nimmi Johal-Samra.
Nimmi Johal-Samra first volunteered at an at-risk youth center in California’s Bay area. On her first day, she walked in, turned on the radio and taught a Zumba dance class. No one joined her. But she didn’t give up.
Nimmi at home in Fiji. Photo credit: Nimmi Johal-Samra.
She kept coming back until slowly the teens began to trust her. Nimmi worked with girls from rough backgrounds and difficult home lives. The girls connected with and confided in her, and she became a mentor to them.
One night, Nimmi found a girl on the streets who was homeless and had run away from a bad situation. Nimmi found her a shelter and helped her receive job training to get on her feet. Nimmi still gets emails from some of the girlscurre saying how much they miss her since she moved to Whatcom County.
Nimmi credits her love for community service to her parents and their unfaltering devotion to giving back. She says she’s been given so much that she wants to benefit others with her good fortune. Her dedication to helping is contagious and inspiring.
Nimmi’s father was a community leader in Fiji; everyone in the village came to him for help. Her family helped build temples and worked as government civil servants. Her father later joined the parliament before immigrating to Canada. In between, her parents found the time to have 10 children, who are now spread all over the world. All are actively involved in community service in a number of ways. One brother has taken on his father’s role as the Fijian community’s unofficial advisor.
Nimmi working at a senior day at the park in Ferndale. Photo courtesy: Walgreens Ferndale.
Inspired by her parents, Nimmi dedicated herself to community service. She finds a way to fit it into every aspect of her life, including her job at Walgreens.
As a beauty consultant, Nimmi supported a proposed program for beauty consultants and pharmacists to help chemo patients with skin care. She wants them to feel like their healthy, beautiful selves again.
Nimmi was awarded the highest honor among Walgreens staff – the Champion of Champions award – for her in-store community work. The RVP even invited her to an event recognizing youth in community.
Nimmi’s projects and volunteering locations are diverse. She uses her specialty as a beauty consultant every week at Louisa Place assisted living community and other local senior centers. She gives women advice on how to care for their skin, new trends, makeup and exercise. Most importantly, she’s a friend to the seniors. She volunteers at the Ferndale Food Bank (they’re always looking for more volunteers), the Lighthouse Mission and as an ambassador for the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce, helping to plan events and fundraisers.
Nimmi taught a dance class to youth at a teen center. Photo courtesy: California Dance Fitness.
“Nimmi is a hidden gem in Ferndale,” says Ann Serwold, executive director of the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce. “When she became interested in the Chamber and volunteering as an Ambassador, we gained a cheerleader, mentor and friend. She volunteers for everything she has time for and she tells people about us every chance she gets.”
Nimmi’s next project is to build a school for pre-k and kindergarteners in Fiji. She owns a piece of family land there, which was recently split between her and other family members. On her property, she will build and run a school with other volunteers. She’ll also build housing for the volunteers.
Nimmi volunteered for Pioneer Days in Ferndale. Photo credit: Drez Images.
Nimmi plans to use her own money that she’s saved and invested throughout her career. She says modestly that it’s easy to build homes and schools in Fiji. But, for most people, it’s not easy to spend savings on a project this large or put life on hold to do so. Nimmi is taking a yearlong sabbatical from work and her local volunteer efforts. She’ll also be away from her husband and home for months at a time. Her dedication is evident in her sacrifices.
“Having her leave for a year will certainly be our loss but her cause is such a great thing for Fiji,” Serwold says. “We wish her the best and look forward to her return!”
Nimmi has also created a scholarship program for one lucky Fijian girl and hopes to raise money for more students to have the same opportunity. “We’re put on this earth to do something,” she says. “What are you going to do with it? Don’t take your life for granted.”
“If I can just help one person a week, then they help one person per week and everyone does it, imagine what could happen,” says Nimmi. How many people could you help in a lifetime?
Nimmi worked with Habitat for Humanity in Solano county. Photo credit: Drez Images.
It bothers her when people brag about their houses and nice cars. “If you’re so lucky to have these things, what are you doing with them for good?” she asks. Even just 45 minutes a week will change everything for someone in a retirement home who doesn’t have any other visitors.
Nimmi believes that by showing kids what it means to volunteer, they learn that in doing so, they get to be good stewards in their community. They learn communication, life and job skills and grow strong relationships. It gives them that strong sense of community that leads to being better citizens overall.
So, start giving back now – there’s no time like the present.
Crisp, refreshing seaside air. Stunning mountain and water views. Three-hundred acres to explore at your leisure. In other words, the perfect backdrop to host a holiday gathering for your friends, family or coworkers.
The Victoria Ballroom at Semiahmoo Resort. Photo credit: KIPMAN Creative.
Atmosphere plays an integral role in the success of any event, and the ambiance at Semiahmoo Resort, Golf and Spa makes it easy to bring people together. Whether you’re planning a company party or an annual retreat for friends and family, you can rest assured that your holiday celebration will be a night to remember.
With more than 35,000 square feet of versatile event space, a fantastic culinary team and best-in-class amenities, Semiahmoo Resort can cater to your every whim, whatever style of event you have in mind.
With your unique needs in mind, Semiahmoo is standing by to help you plan a seamless holiday party. Given the unequaled amount of activities and amenities available, they’ve redefined what it means to host an event. Hit the links with your colleagues, indulge in post-event relaxation at The Spa or engage in a little team-building. Do what you love best, or embrace new adventures.
The resort is located on the Semiahmoo Spit in the middle of Drayton Harbor and Semiahmoo Bay. Photo courtesy: Semiahmoo Resort.
Let the holiday party planning begin, and for a limited time enjoy a delicious meal at just $38 per person and overnight accommodations as low as $129 per night.
With an idyllic seaside locale and unparalleled service, your guests will truly enjoy the magic of the season at this iconic Washington state seaside resort.
Offer expires September 30, 2018. Advanced reservations required. Based on availability. Valid on new reservations only for events Sunday through Thursday, between December 1 and January 31. Minimum of 25 guests required. Price does not include tax or gratuity. May not be combined with any other offer.
The YWCA Bellingham most graciously extends heartfelt thanks to The Chrysalis Inn & Spa for the generous July donation of $2,190 to help continue the legacy of providing the most basic human right of housing to one of the most underserved and vulnerable populations – that of women facing personal crisis and homelessness. The donation will assist with expenses to renovate designated residential rooms in preparation for incoming residents.
YWCA Bellingham makes a difference in local womens’ lives. Photo courtesy: YWCA Bellingham.
For 103 years it has been the mission at the YWCA Bellingham to empower women who feel powerless, to include and value those who’ve been victimized by violence and racism, and to simply love those who felt they didn’t matter. These amazing women really do the rest.
The Chrysalis Inn & Spa, a locally owned hotel, spa & restaurant on Fairhaven’s waterfront, has been giving one percent of monthly spa revenues to a local non-profit since February of 2017, now totaling over $35,000.
For August, one percent of spa revenues will be donated to the Whatcom Center for Early Learning which provides comprehensive, family centered early intervention services to children ages birth to three with developmental disabilities and delays.
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center has been named the National Hospital of the Year by the Mended Hearts. The award will be presented at an official ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. at the PeaceHealth St. Luke’s Community Health Education Center (HEC), 3333 Squalicum Pkwy, Bellingham.
The award recognizes the hospital’s outstanding support of Mended Hearts- Bellingham (Chapter 382) in its efforts to inspire hope and improve quality of life for heart patients and their families through peer-to-peer support and educational opportunities.
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center was selected out of over 460 hospitals in North America for the honor. A national selection committee looked at a variety of criteria analyzing the hospital’s contributions to Mended Hearts programming to determine that St. Joseph had come out on top. This included hospital support of visits between Mended Hearts volunteers and heart patients in hospital units and its catheterization (cath) lab; provision of spaces for meetings, events, visitor supplies and literature; volunteer coordination; volunteer recognition; provision of speakers and personnel for Mended Hearts events and in-kind support.
Mended Hearts- Bellingham was formed in 2012. It’s grown to over 130 members and greatly expanded beyond its initial structure as a peer-to-peer visitor program. In addition to hospital heart patient visits and regular member events, it informs and educates local members of the community with free monthly seminars on a variety of topics related to cardiovascular health. It’s also grown with the addition of the Young Mended Hearts, a group for heart patients in their teens up to their forties.
“We’ve become an organization that is a valued resource for information and education on coronary heart disease in northwest Washington. This is due to the strong partnership between our chapter and the hospital, its administrators, staff and medical providers,” said Mended Hearts-Bellingham President John Heinemann. “The support of the hospital, including time, money, energy and use of its physical plant, has greatly extended our reach and allowed us to broaden our impact in the community at large. It’s really allowed us to flourish.”
Dale Zender, chief executive of PeaceHealth’s Northwest network, added, “It’s a symbiotic partnership for both organizations. PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center and the Mended Hearts work together to improve the overall heart health of our community.”
Zender also acknowledged the important role PeaceHealth caregivers from various departments have played in earning the award. “This award is a testament to the skills, time, energy and passion that our caregivers have dedicated to this program,” Zender said. “They’re fully invested in making Whatcom County a more hopeful place for heart patients and their families.”
The awards ceremony on Sept. 8 is free and open to the public. Marlyn Taylor, assistant regional director for Mended Hearts, Western Region, will be on hand to officially present the award to representatives from PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center and Mended Hearts-Bellingham. A regular chapter meeting will follow at 11:00 a.m. with John F. MacGregor, MD, of PeaceHealth Medical Group Cardiology, as the featured speaker. Refreshments will be served.
