Spreading the Wealth: First Federal Community Foundation Grants $300,000 to Whatcom County Non-Profits

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First Federal Community Foundation- FFCF Skookum — Skookum Kids, a local non-profit dedicated to improving outcomes for children in foster care, received a $25,000 FFCF grant to renovate their indoor play area. Photo courtesy: First Federal Community Foundation.

There’s real need in our community – for everything from affordable housing to after school programs. For almost 100 years, First Federal has stuck by their communities through thick and thin. The First Federal Community Foundation awards generous grants and donations to relieve some of the financial strain that non-profits and charitable organizations encounter.

The Cardiovascular Center at PeaceHealth St. Joseph received $100,000 to fund improvements in their Electrophysiology Lab. Photo courtesy: First Federal Community Foundation.

First Federal began their legacy as an idealistic, friendly, small-town bank. Picture the Bailey Brothers Building & Loan from the classic It’s a Wonderful Life. Founded in 1923, the First Federal Savings and Loan Association survived the Great Depression while still offering loans and making community donations. Even through subsequent years of financial uncertainty, the bank has consistently made charitable giving a priority.

When the Savings and Loan Association became a publicly owned corporation in 2015, the board of directors wanted to ensure the bank’s giving spirit wouldn’t be lost. So, a foundation was formed. The board gifted approximately $12 million of cash and stock to open the new First Federal Community Foundation (FFCF). The gains sustained by reinvesting those funds has allowed FFCF to award over $600,000 annually to worthy causes.

“It’s a huge commitment for a company that has just gone public to fund a new foundation and give that much capital,” says the foundation’s Executive Director, Karen McCormick. “They wanted to make sure their legacy of giving back to the community continued well into the future. That was really the emphasis behind the founding of the foundation.”

Lydia Place was the recipient of a $25,000 grant from FFCF in 2017, which was used to help fund the renovation and expansion of their headquarters. Photo courtesy: First Federal Community Foundation.

Any non-profit or charitable organization located in the same county as a First Federal branch is eligible to apply for FFCF grants. Whatcom County has First Federal branches in both Barkley Village and Fairhaven, and approximately $300,000 has been awarded to 12 local organizations since 2016 in Whatcom County alone. In total, the foundation has given $2,366,500 in grants to non-profit, charitable, government and tribal agencies in Whatcom, Jefferson, Kitsap and Clallam Counties.

“The thing we care about most is the breadth of impact,” says McCormick. “How many people are going to benefit from the gift? To the extent that there isn’t a broad impact, we then look at the extent to which it improves the lives of those with low to moderate income, or an otherwise disadvantaged population.”

FFCF also provides Community Support grants, which offer financial aid for organizations who focus on a wide array of needs including arts, education and social services. While these non-profits typically receive smaller grants, between $5,000 and $25,000, it’s a broad category with many opportunities for positive impact. Two local children’s advocacy organizations, Skookum Kids and Brigid Collins Family Support Center, both received Community Support grants last year to improve their facilities. Our local Boys and Girls Club also received $10,000 for their summer lunch program.

Skookum Kids, a local non-profit dedicated to improving outcomes for children in foster care, received a $25,000 FFCF grant to renovate their indoor play area. Photo courtesy: First Federal Community Foundation.

As Whatcom County grows, we’re experiencing an increased demand for affordable housing. FFCF is responding with grants that focus on this need. Affordable Housing Grants begin at $25,000 and are only limited by the foundation’s budget, with preference for large capital projects that make a major impact.

FFCF gifted our local Habitat for Humanity $50,000 last year to help construct 54 new townhomes to house 120 low-income working adults and their children. “We’re looking to help organizations who create decent, safe and affordable housing for those with low to moderate income, for either purchase or rental,” says McCormick. “Habitat for Humanity has a very ambitious program and we are very proud to have been able to give them some of the funding they need for this project.”

While FFCF focuses on gifting large grants, First Federal still gives independent donations. “This is truly neighborhood giving,” says McCormick. “The bank will consider donation requests for anything between $25 and $5,000 to anyone looking for a donation, whether it’s to support their local sports team or sponsorship of an event. It fills the gaps in small individual donations that the foundation does not make, but the bank itself will.”

To see all the ways First Federal Community Foundation grants are used and to learn about the types of grants they offer, visit their website at firstfedcf.org.

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Bellingham Sportsplex Cools Down with New Ice Skates and Events

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Matt Benoit

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Ashlyn Pickering first skated at the Bellingham Sportsplex when she was five years old. It was a friend’s birthday party and afterward, she begged her mom for lessons. That Christmas, mom delivered: lessons from the Sportsplex’s “Learn to Skate” program. Now, 11 years later, Pickering is skating competitively and the Sportsplex is a big part of her life.

The Bellingham Sportsplex is open year-round. It’s an excellent place to cool off on hot days and a place to seek refuge from blustery weather come winter. Photo credit: Matt Benoit.

“The Sportsplex has been a really great community for me to grow up with,” says the 16-year-old Squalicum High School student. “It’s always been there, throughout everything that’s ever gone on in my life. The staff is really friendly. I just feel at home when I’m there.”

The Sportsplex, featuring Bellingham’s only ice rink and indoor soccer field, is home base for Whatcom County’s Bellingham Figure Skating Club, Whatcom County Amateur Hockey and Whatcom Speed Skating Club. It also hosts home games for the Bellingham Blazers and Western Washington University hockey teams, as well as the Bellingham United soccer team. In addition, the Sportsplex sees everything from pole vaulting practice to bocce ball games, among other activities.

“Our facility is going non-stop,” says Keri Ferguson, director of the Bellingham Sportsplex Skating Academy. “There’s so much opportunity for our community here.”

Blades of Glory

Rental skates are available for both ice skating and hockey, and lessons are available for both sports. Photo credit: Matt Benoit.

The Sportsplex has undergone recent improvements. Chief among them are the purchase of new rental skates. The new skates are made possible by a $2,500 grant from the Lummi Indian Tribe, which should allow for about 40 new pairs of skates, Ferguson says. To her knowledge, these are the first new rental skates the Sportsplex has seen in over a decade.

“They’re a really nice quality boot,” she says of the new skates, which are a stylish red and black. “I think people are going to be really excited to come in and try them out.”

Pickering is also a Sportsplex skate guard tasked with monitoring the rink and handing out rental skates during public sessions. She’s especially excited.

“The new skates offer really good ankle support and nice, new blades,” she says. “That’ll make it easier on new skaters.”

Rink management hopes to make more new skate purchases in the future – not just for ice skating but for hockey as well.

The Greatest Ice Show

The Sportsplex is home to Bellingham’s only ice rink, in addition to an indoor soccer field. Photo credit: Matt Benoit.

In addition to new rental skates, the Sportsplex is also generating excitement with its annual ice show, to be held Saturday, August 25. This year’s show is called “The Greatest Ice Show,” and features music from the 2017 musical film “The Greatest Showman,” inspired by P.T. Barnum’s creation of the Barnum and Bailey Circus.

The show features Pickering and the rest of Bellingham’s most talented ice skaters, plus several national champions and Northwest ice aerialist SueEllen Quick. Pickering has a solo skate and is also in several group numbers, featuring many of her friends, all of whom spend their fair share of time at the Sportsplex.

“We’ve been working on the show for a while,” she says. “We’re all really excited. I think it’s going to be one of the best shows yet.”

Ferguson is also excited; she says the event is a fun, family-friendly event that’s not to be missed. There are two performances on August 25, one at 1:30 p.m. and another at 5:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased from the Sportsplex website and are $10 each. Children five and under are free.

Opportunities Abound

Numerous skating and hockey clubs spend their time on the ice at the Bellingham Sportsplex. Photo credit: Matt Benoit.

Ferguson and Pickering, along with other members of the Sportsplex’s fantastic ice rink staff, play integral roles in helping community members learn to enjoy ice skating. The facility’s skating academy offers a variety of classes, camps and seminars throughout the year, including the popular “Learn to Skate” program.

“Learn to Skate” teaches a variety of skills to anyone age three and up, with camps in the spring, summer and winter for school-age children. The next camp runs December 17 through 20. Adult sessions are also offered, with no age limit. Ferguson recently watched a 76-year-old man out on the ice.

“Ice skating is a lifetime sport,” she says. “So whether you start as a child or an adult, it’s just an awesome experience. Gliding around the ice, it’s almost like a feeling of flying.”

Ferguson is a former national championship figure skating competitor and double gold medalist. She says excelling at ice skating takes discipline forged in commitment and determination, along with good instruction and a little bit of talent.

Pickering certainly meets the criteria. Splitting her time between Bellingham and Everett, Pickering practices up to three hours a day during the summer. During the school year, she’ll hit the rink early each morning and oftentimes again following a day of classes, for a total of about two hours a day.

All that practicing has led to ice skating competitions across Washington State. Pickering is also a junior coach for “Learn to Skate,” passing on her skating enthusiasm and knowledge.

“It’s awesome,” she says. “It’s such a great community. It’s really good, helping other people enjoy the love of skating just like I did when I was younger.”

Pickering wants to start giving private lessons while continuing to skate competitively. Although she doesn’t see herself prepping for the Olympics, her choice of college will likely be somewhere with an ice rink and a collegiate skating team.

To those who’ve never ice skated, she encourages trying it, saying it’s unlike anything you’ve ever done before.

“It’s just such a freeing feeling, when you’re just gliding and skating along,” she says. “I would just come to a public skate and see how you like it.”

The Sportsplex is open year-round. Public skating sessions are held Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:00 to 4:45 p.m.; Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

“Home School Skate” sessions are held Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. during the Bellingham School District school year, and are also open to the public. Special skating events, such as Halloween and Christmas-themed public sessions, are held each year.

Prices range based on age and session, plus the cost of skate rental. For more information, see the Sportsplex website.

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What is a Queue Jump Lane?

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LocalTalk Contributor

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Bus and Bus rider photos for Whatcom Transit Authority (WTA) — Photo courtesy: Whatcom Transportation Authority

Submitted by: Whatcom Transporation Authority

Have you ever found yourself sitting at a stop light, waiting for the light to turn green, when a WTA bus appears to jump the gun and run a red light? If so, you’ve probably just witnessed a “Queue Jump Lane.”

This illustration shows how a queue jump works. Photo courtesy: WTA.

A queue jump lane is a traffic control device that gives special preference to certain vehicles at certain intersections. To help WTA buses stay on time, the City of Bellingham installed transit queue jump lanes on Lakeway at Lincoln and on Alabama at James Street.

Here’s how they work:

At these intersections, there’s a “Turn Only” lane on the right. Though it’s Turn Only for cars, WTA buses are allowed to go straight. A specially timed signal here can detect the presence of a WTA bus and give it (and it alone) a green light before the lights turn green for the other lanes. This head start allows WTA’s bus to “jump the queue” and reach the travel lanes before the cars waiting at the light.

Dog Days at the Pickford this Weekend

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LocalTalk Contributor

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dog days at the pickford — There's nothing better than the dog days of summer. Photo courtesy: Pickford Film Center.

Ruff week? Need a little puppy love? Look no further. Pickford Film Center is delighted to celebrate International Dog Day on Sunday, August 26 with a whole weekend of pawsitively exciting events and screenings for dog lovers in Bellingham.

Join us Saturday, August 25 for the NY Dog Film Festival, presented by Tracie Hotchner and the Radio Pet Lady Network. Plan for a fun afternoon of dog-photo contests, tabling by various organizations with dog-friendly information and services, temporary tattoos and more. Doors open at 11:30 a.m., and screening begin at 12:00 p.m. with two different programs, “Life with

Dogs” and “Who Rescued Whom?” and a 15 minute intermission between. Tickets are only $5, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Whatcom Humane Society! For more information, check out the Facebook Event Page.

The day after, Sunday August 26—the bonafide International Dog Day—catch a one-night only screening of Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs, featuring an exclusive recorded conversation between Anderson and Bob Balaban after the show. And, as thanks fur supporting WHS and independent filmmakers everywhere, bring your ticket stub from NY Dog Film Festival and get free pupcorn at Sunday’s screening! Fur’real? Jump on the waggin’ this weekend to celebrate dogs!

Looking for more pet-friendly events at PFC? NY Dog Film Festival’s cousin, NY Cat Film Festival, will be screening at the Pickford on Saturday, September 1. Check out our website for exciting, affordable and eclectic events hosted all year long.

Chara Stuart and Chelsea Messer: Mother/Daughter Realty Team

By

Kenneth Clarkson

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NICHOLAS GRAVES, BELLWETHER, HEADSHOTS, BELLINGHAM — Chelsea and Chara make a great team. Photo courtesy: Nicholas Graves.

Chara Stuart and Chelsea Messer have many memorable stories and clients from their time in realty. All are important to this mother/daughter team but one memory stands out – when they successfully helped a family who had been displaced after a fire.

Chelsea and Chara make a great team. Photo courtesy: Nicholas Graves.

It was the family’s home of 35 years. They thought it was their “forever” home. “Their home was not their only loss,” Chara says. “Prior to us meeting, they had relocated and purchased a home within the watershed of Lake Whatcom, learning after the fact that they could not run their business in the watershed. This was also after they had made significant capital investments in what they thought would be their forever home. Their business was both their passion and their retirement income. They were forced to relocate, in order to continue their business. Our search was for very specific real estate; in a very fast market with limited inventory.”

Their search was a success. The family was overwhelmed by Chelsea and Chara’s genuine care, diligence and strategies to solve their problem. The clients praised the women for their hard work, saying they’d never experienced that level of care and dedication at some of the Fortune 500 companies they had worked with.

“When a client has a real problem with serious consequences and dire needs, it’s deeply satisfying for us to help them solve their problem,” Chara says.

Known by many of their clients as “C2,” Chara and Chelsea believe working together as a mother/daughter team allows them to be extra responsive to their clients’ needs. “This includes the process of asking good questions, listening and observing the nuances of what our clients express, and helping them form and identify their true needs and priorities,” Chara says.

When not finding “forever” homes for their clients, both Chara and Chelsea can be found outside, taking advantage of Whatcom County’s beautiful wild spaces. They also love to travel. These activities help them gain perspective, refresh their gratitude and support both their mental and physical health.

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North Cascades Institute Leadership Adventures: Changing Lives through Growth

By

Anna Black

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Diablo Lake, seen here from the shores of the Cascade Mountain Institute, is a teal paradise in the hidden reaches of Whatcom County. Photo credit: Anna Black.

North Cascades Institute is located in the North Cascades National Park, an hour and a half from Bellingham. As you round a bend, the teal water of Diablo Lake comes into view. It’s breathtaking.

It’s the shade you often see in Caribbean images – a stunning blue-green with dappled shady shores. And here it is, right in Whatcom County. The water is glacier-fed and the color comes from the glacial flour (or rock flour), which results from the rock grinding to particulate against the ice. It suspends in the water causing the stunning color. The water, as you might expect, is glacier cold.

As the group arrives back at camp they cheer and congratulate one another. Photo credit: Anna Black.

If you come to the institute for one of their many educational programs – from basecamp to family getaways to a multitude of partnerships – you’re bound to learn something new. This applies to everyone equally. For example, their resident raven, Elvis, (whose mate is affectionately named Priscilla) has learned to unzip backpacks and lift out the lunch bags he knows he’ll find within.

The Youth Leadership Adventures program is something special. The North Cascades Institute takes a “come as you are” approach to outdoor education and this tone allows students to feel like they can be themselves. Students come from all over the state after achieving admittance to this competitive program, where they backpack, canoe, survive and thrive in the backcountry for 8 or 12 days, depending on which program they attend.

Students of the Youth Leadership Adventure at Cascade Mountain Institute arrive back at the main camp to fanfare and cheers. Photo credit: Anna Black.

I visited with one group just after they returned from a 12-day forest adventure, during which they completed a 14-mile round-trip hike with strenuous elevation gain rising from their base camp to Desolation Peak. The all-day trek had begun at 3:00 a.m. The hike forced them to dig deep and consider their bodies in new ways, to consider what they were capable of. This feat of endurance left many with a staggering feeling of accomplishment. They were aglow with confidence and personal achievement.

One student imagined she would tell her kids and grandkids how she thought she would never make it, that she was going to “pass out” from the strain. But after accomplishing the task – which she swore she couldn’t do – she discovered her own determination and realized she’s capable of great things.

Visitors are invited to spend time on the lake learning about this unique ecosystem. Photo credit: Anna Black.

That’s what this program is all about.

Trip educator Charlee Corra has earned the students’ affection and respect. Those I spoke with raved about her leadership and manner. She met them where they were, never attempting to make extroverts out of introverts, and instead helped them feel more like themselves.

Corra explained that growth is not change; it’s becoming more of what someone already is. The students grow but they don’t really change. This concept, that everything a person can be is already present, assumes greatness. It assumes the best of everyone. How can a student help but grow under these conditions?

The program focuses on education. They teach students about the ecosystem, natural history and the importance of stewardship, in addition to providing daily leadership opportunities. Students serve as camp leader twice during their stay, responsible for organization and decision making.

The students of the Youth Leadership Adventures Group appear to have made friends for life. Photo credit: Anna Black.

The program is beautifully diverse. Sixty percent of participants are people of color and there’s an emphasis on providing access to marginalized and disadvantaged communities. They work hard to include participants from all walks of life. In fact, 81 percent of participants are in an outdoor program for the first time and, though 77 percent live near the park, this is 60 percent of the students’ first time in North Cascades National Park. Of the 78 participants, 50 percent qualify for free and reduced lunch programs and, thanks to generous donors and sponsors, 86 percent received scholarships. The median amount paid by the students is just $80.

If the amount of gear required to participate seems daunting, fret not; it’s all provided, from hiking boots to backpacking gear. Partnerships and donations allow the institute to fully outfit every participant with high quality equipment for the duration of the program.

We were treated to clean and comfortable lodging in modern ecological buildings. The food was delicious and healthy with vegan, gluten-free and other options. Attention is given to every detail from water use to local ingredients. The mushrooms were wild-harvested, fresh and absolutely delectable. Some of the best food in Whatcom County is hiding up at the institute.

People from all walks of life can find fellowship, camaraderie and encouragement for growth at North Cascades Institute. The youth came away from the program ready to conquer the world. And after meeting these passionate, brilliant, bright people, I hope they do.

Diablo Lake, seen here from the shores of the Cascade Mountain Institute, is a teal paradise in the hidden reaches of Whatcom County. Photo credit: Anna Black.

Photo credit: Anna Black.

Neighborhood Notes: Peter James Opens Nature Photography Gallery

By

Anna Black

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Peter James shoots twenty-thousand images every year but that this year he only selected ninety of those to print. Photo credit: Anna Black.

Photographer Peter James opened his original gallery and studio on Holly Street in 2003 after a visit to Bellingham turned into a permanent stay. James, then visiting from Detroit and planning to move to Portland, was out taking pictures of the area when he stepped over the train tracks down on Chuckanut Drive, fell and broke a rib and his camera. During the ten-day wait for his camera to be repaired, James got to know Whatcom County. He became so enchanted with the region, he decided to stay.

Sixteen years after the train track incident he moved his studio and gallery out of the Holly Street location to build a stunning new space in the Orca building on Mill and 12th Avenue in Fairhaven (with grand opening festivities from 4:00 – 9:00 p.m. on August 23).

Peter James, owner of the eponymous gallery, hopes the new space helps connect visitors to the unique nature of Northwest Washington. Photo credit: Anna Black.

The space is expansive, bright and overlooks Fairhaven landmarks such as Village Books. James outfitted the space to suit his unique aesthetic; the gallery feels like a walk in our beloved Northwest ecosystem with a curated eye. The prints on the wall, ranging from two feet to eight feet wide with a price range of $220 to $6,000 dollars are printed on aluminum panels with a high gloss finish. These images are the result of James’ trips all over the Pacific Northwest.

Listening to stories of how he captured each image is like listening to a man in love. From the Fairhaven waterfront to Lummi Island to the Olympic Peninsula—complete with a disappearing pond—James evidences the magic of the Northwest in a way which, he hopes, inspires viewers to connect with nature.

In addition to the gallery experience, James offers a full-service on-site and on-location studio prepared for family portraits, business needs and even wedding services. James’ studio, once a solitary effort, now includes a team of photographers and others, including James himself, Kalie Presteen (studio photographer), Alex Pullen (wedding specialist) and Louisa Firethorne (digital design, video editing and graphics wizard). And, what’s more, he says he’s ready to add another studio photographer to the mix as soon as he finds the right fit. Forming a team allowed James to focus his efforts on nature photography and the gallery while expanding other areas of the studio.

The new gallery opens up from the entrance toward the large windows, inviting visitors to come further into the space. Photo credit: Anna Black.

“I shot over twenty-thousand images last year and selected only ninety,” James says. He printed these in limited runs of 100 per image. James’ limited edition nature photography is now available exclusively printed on aluminum panels. When asked about the switch, he explained that the frame-and-glass method of displaying photographs creates a glare which diffuses the light and reduces the contrast and color of the print to such a degree that the image cannot be seen at its best. Moving the work to aluminum panels offers several advantages over other methods. The metal scales in a way which allows him to print in large format without a loss of sharpness or vibrancy so people can better connect to the work—and through the work, with nature. He wants viewers to feel as if they’re present in the scene, standing in the wildflowers, listening to the trees.

The gallery is housed in Fairhaven’s new Orca Building. Photo credit: Anna Black.

The other advantage to the metal prints is that, even at their largest, they’re lightweight and can be hung on an average wall without supreme feats of engineering—something which would be impossible in such sizes for a glass-and-frame structure. The prints are waterproof; inks infused into the metal plate and the glossy coating offer both durability and stain resistance. Should something, say spaghetti, inadvertently get splashed on the panel, a soft cloth and water will clean it up easily.

James notes that a frame can be a burdensome added expense which is unnecessary in aluminum panels so excluding it means clients can afford a larger print. The mounting method causes images to seem as though they’re floating on the wall, sitting not quite an inch away on hidden mounting hardware which only adds to the dreamy element of the images themselves. Prints come in standard format and panoramic.

The piece on the wall is one of James’ favorites. Photo credit: Anna Black.

Overall, James doesn’t include humans or their infrastructure in his nature work. Though he does have a nautical series which includes boats, the majority of his prints at this time focus entirely on spaces that are undeveloped. He prefers to let nature be the purpose of the work. He hopes his love of these spaces is infectious and “the gallery can act as a kind of hub for nature lovers” in Fairhaven.

To evidence this intention, for every photo James sells, he plants 100 trees through the Trillion Trees Campaign which he cofounded with his wife iMa. Additionally, to offset wood use and impact of the new space, James planted 1,000 trees.

The gallery will be open 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. If you hope to catch James himself, assuming he isn’t out shooting, you can do so Tuesday – Friday from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The Squalicum High School Mentor Program Presents Unity

By

Katauna Loeuy Intern from Squalicum High School

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Squalicum High School mentor program 1 — Students dancing and socializing at the freshmen tailgate for the class of 2021 hosted by the mentor program. Photo courtesy: Katauna Loeuy.

Squalicum High School’s Link Crew Mentoring Program welcomes incoming freshmen with open arms in hopes of inviting newcomers into an all-inclusive environment. Upcoming ninth graders are first introduced to their mentors at freshmen orientation, which is only a few days before the school year begins.

A team of mentors and their freshmen toured the school dressed like girl scouts for fun. Photo courtesy: Katauna Loeuy.

Upperclassmen within the link crew are divided into groups of two and each pair is assigned a small group of between eight to twelve freshmen which the mentors will guide throughout the year. During the summer before school begins, mentors prepare for orientation with a variety of activities, as well as a themed tour of Squalicum in which mentors provide their incoming ninth graders with plentiful information about the new learning experience.

Casey Tran, an incoming senior at Squalicum High School, is also a current mentor in the program. “My favorite memory is freshmen orientation because it’s so fun to dress up as something fun and give tours around the school,” Tran says. “I remember as a freshman when we all dressed up like cookie monsters and thought that it was so fun and I hope to make the same impact on my freshmen to overall make their freshmen year fun.”

Besides the skits, cheers and spirit-filled energy at orientations, mentors also meet with their ninth graders once a month to check in on the development of their year. Freshmen follow-ups allow new students to reflect on their current status throughout the year, while mentors provide each group with support and advice to guide them on the right journey throughout their high school experience.

During freshmen orientation, leadership organizes many skits to add humor through the day. Photo courtesy: Katauna Loeuy.

Mentors embed real-life lessons within their activities – like effective communication or teamwork – in order to give freshmen insight on problem-solving skills to challenges in their own lives. This program gives new students immense knowledge on how to be successful from the beginning to the end of their high school experience.

Amy Flores, another incoming senior and current mentor at Squalicum High School says, “The mentor program helps incoming freshmen ease into high school knowing what to expect and having a friend or mentor along the way to guide them through this new experience. We use our past high school experiences paired with fun activities to connect and advise about high school which ranges from time management, asking for assistance on assignments or working with others. These experiences don’t just help them through high school, but these same things can help them in college, in future jobs and generally in life.”

Mentors in training prepare supplies for activities. Photo courtesy: Katauna Loeuy.

Squalicum’s link crew is selected the spring before freshmen orientation. Students must attend training throughout the summer to better prepare for follow-ups and orientation, and develop leadership skills. Not only do mentors need to organize activities for each event, they are required to plan an academic celebration every quarter for freshmen who receive a 3.5 grade-point average or above.

“For mentor and link class, we have two projects we have to do per quarter which is one that benefits the freshmen,” says Tran. “For example, during finals week my partner and I created a study sheet with candy and another time we baked cookies for them.”

Mentors are expected to take on a variety of responsibilities involving leadership and organization. This program not only offers incoming ninth graders support during their first year of high school, it also teaches upperclassmen how to take initiative and be a role model to younger students. “I remember how rocky my freshmen orientation was as a mentor,” says Flores. “I did the activities out of order, I couldn’t get my words out for some reason and it just didn’t feel like I was presenting my best self. I felt at ease though when my freshmen looked up to me and welcomed me with open arms no matter how nervous I was.”

Students dancing and socializing at the freshmen tailgate for the class of 2021 hosted by the mentor program. Photo courtesy: Katauna Loeuy.

Despite the nerves, this program offers guidance to incoming ninth graders and leadership opportunities to juniors and seniors who have already overcome their freshmen year fears.

Entering a new learning environment with an abundant amount of upperclassmen can be terrifying and confusing, but the mentor program gives students a trustworthy individual to guide them every step of the way. Mentor and link crew ensures no one stands alone. The jump between middle and high school can be intimidating – as can any new chapter of one’s life – but this program offers reassurance that students will have many opportunities to flourish in their new environment. What a great way to build unity within Squalicum High School.

What To Do In and Around Bellingham August 17—19

By

Events Editor

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It’s going to be a great weekend with plenty of fun things to enjoy. Here are a few ideas of what to do in and around Bellingham August 17—19. And don’t forget to check out our full events calendar for all the fun happenings in Whatcom County.

Cheer on WWU Men’s Soccer as they take on British Columbia.
Rock out at Friday Night Farm Tunes at BelleWood Acres.
Check out Corvettes Unlimited Show & Shine at BelleWood Acres.
Meet the Star Wars Ship Creator in person!
Go on a hike.
Experience Atwood Ales Farm Brewery Tour.
Check out the Drum Circle.
Teenagers can attend Teen Program: Toshokan.
Go on a State Street History Tour.
Go camping.
Enjoy Fairhaven Family Story Night with the Bellingham Storyteller’s Guild.
Set sail on a Schooner Zodiac Salmon Dinner Sail.
Experience a Good Time Girls Downtown Sin and Gin Walking Tour.
Spruce up your home with a pop of color.
See the Pacific NW R/C Tugboat Regatta.
Be afraid – very afraid – at the Screening of “It! Terror from Beyond Space.”
Enjoy Gallery Tours at Jansen Art Center.
Check out Storytelling with Felted Puppets.
Partake in a Contemporary Dance Class.

Up Next Weekend

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.

Busking: The Art of Bellingham’s Living Statue

By

Karen Hanrahan

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Photo credit: Karen Hanrahan.

Have you ever meandered through downtown Bellingham or the Fairhaven Historic District and stumbled upon the statue lady? She’s a lovely, if unexpected, sight and her portrayals of “living art” are actually a form of traditional busking. A busker entertains on the street for gratuities or donations by playing music, juggling or, in this case, performing as a living statue.

Our busker is the mother of four sons and originally from California. She holds a degree in anthropology from Oregon State University and is a design and illustration artist.

Busker heads off to one of her favorite people watching spots. Photo credit: Karen Hanrahan.

Her inspiration to become a living statue came from a TED Talk titled “The Art Of Asking” by Amanda Palmer. At the time, she had been a school lunch volunteer and worked for Acme Farms and Kitchen. She was looking to create a “job” that was uniquely her own, something that truly suited her talents and interests, and that would allow her to interact with the community at large. She also needed the freedom and flexibility to work “within the guidelines of her life.”

It took her awhile to make this idea a reality. One day she went shopping at Value Village. On the way she said, “Okay, if there’s a bride’s dress that fits me, then this is it – this is my new beginning.” On that day, she did find a bride’s dress and had a gift card to pay for it.

Her original hand-made costumes are designed to look like metal by coating the fabric with liquid-latex and acrylic paint. She covers her face or any exposed skin with theatre grade pancake make-up that washes off easily with soap and water. Everything she uses is non-toxic.

Busker applies base makeup before adding bronze pressed powder to her face. Photo credit: Karen Hanrahan.

Her first statue portrayal was a silver bride. Her second was a field worker in copper with a hat of flowers – she wore that one out. Her current costume is bronze colored, representing the Victorian era of the real statues of J.J. Donovan and Dirty Dan Harris in Fairhaven. For her newest copper creation, the Queen of Crowns, she wears a medieval gown, veil and crown, and carries a sword.

After her first day busking, she knew she’d found something she loved. Her on-the-job training in street performance consisted of lots of experimentation. She learned to exaggerate her gestures and use non-verbal communication with body language. She spent a lot of time people-watching to get a sense of what her audience wanted to see.

She arrives at her performance site on bicycle with her costume and other gear loaded on a small trailer. She applies her make-up and gets into costume and character street-side for everyone to see. She then spends up to eight hours interacting with her audience. Sometimes she poses on the sidewalk and other times uses a plastic milk crate to add height to her statue. Breaks to stretch are important.

Standing on a crate gives the living statue a taller appearance. Photo credit: Karen Hanrahan.

Sometimes she has an emotional interchange with someone. “Some people think they’re invisible,” she says. “But I see them from my crate, or I see them as me when I’m not a live statue.” She tries to affirm their presence with her eyes.

She usually feels safe on the street, but there’s also a degree of vulnerability. Once a person reached into her container of donations and helped himself to some cash. She said, “Hey!” and startled him. Then he asked, “May I have this?” and she gave him some money. Another passerby put something in the container and took money as a trade, except this busker wasn’t interested in what the person was trading!

Occasionally someone has tried to knock her down. She has learned to be very aware of her surroundings, and of people who seem to watch her too closely. In those few instances, she was prepared to defend herself if needed, but someone always came to her aid. Those experiences were difficult at the time, but are now funny stories to share.

She has performed in many cities where busking is common including: Seattle, San Francisco, Sacramento, Santa Cruz, San Diego and Avalon on Catalina Island. Bellingham is her favorite place to perform. Our statue lady notes that busking is not the same as panhandling. Panhandlers ask for money via signs and are not performers. Her street performance is a tax-paying, licensed Bellingham business.

Our busker prefers to keep her identity a secret. Photo credit: Karen Hanrahan.

Half of her earnings as a busker come from people who see her on a regular basis. She loves the interactions with those who are taken by surprise and those who seem to treasure their souvenir photos of her.

Our “Statue Lady” prefers to remain an anonymous work of art. She hopes that you’ll come see her perform very soon.

Hours:

Fairhaven Historic District – Corner of Harris and 12^th
by Fairhaven Fish & Chips.
Wednesday and Friday, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Occasional Sunday afternoons
Bellingham – Corner of Holly and Railroad
Thursday and Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Photo credit: Karen Hanrahan.

A home-made wig of yarn and paint becomes the living statue’s hair. Photo credit: Karen Hanrahan.

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