On the Road to Recovery: Christi Brown Heals at Still Life Massage and Float

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Christi Brown 1 — Christi Brown is healing thanks to her dedication, hard work and Still Life Massage and Float. Photo courtesy: Christi Brown.

On December 4, 2016, Christi Brown was on her way to get some butter for her famous holiday cookies. An avid baker, she always loved giving treats during the Christmas season. As she turned left at the intersection before the grocery store, a semi-truck failed to stop at a stop sign. Christi’s pickup smashed into it, totaling her vehicle and shattering her windshield.

restorative therapies at Still Life Massage — Medical massage accounts for 90 percent of Still Life Massage and Float’s massage practice. Photo courtesy: Still Life Massage and Float.

Luckily, neither of the drivers were going too fast; the crash could’ve been much worse. But Christi still walked away with lingering injuries that affect her to this day. After being officially diagnosed with a concussion, she needed to heal herself both physically and mentally.

“I knew at that point I needed to focus on myself,” Christi says. “I had never tried frequent massage therapy before, but thought it would be a great way to heal.”

Christi searched online to find the right massage clinic and discovered Still Life Massage and Float. From her first appointment, she knew she made the right decision. Their staff treated her like family, working with her to find specific treatment methods best for her condition.

At first, Christi was concerned that massage treatment might affect her adversely, as she also suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. She battled the debilitating joint disease for 32 years and the accident significantly added to her pain.

Fortunately, one of Christi’s massage therapists had a son who also dealt with rheumatoid arthritis, so she knew how to tailor Christi’s massage treatment to heal both her concussion symptoms and arthritic pain.

The space-age looking floating tank provides mental and physical relaxation. Photo courtesy: Still Life Massage and Float.

After just a few visits to Still Life Massage and Float, Christi’s pain began to dissipate. Her concussion symptoms also began to disappear.

“Unfortunately, I can’t reverse all the damage that has been done due to the accident,” Christi says. “But I can heal it, and the staff at Still Life can help me do that.” For the first time, Christi has both the tools to heal her pain and hope for her future.

The treatments Christi received at Still Life Massage and Float even allowed her to phase off conventional medicine she’d been prescribed by doctors. The conventional medical professionals she worked with after her accident put her on a regimen of pain pills and prescription medications, but massage therapy worked just as well – and there were no negative side effects.

In addition to healing her body, Christi is also working to heal the mental trauma she suffered from the accident. “It took me the longest time to get the courage to drive through that intersection again,” she says. “And still, every time I’m on the freeway, I find myself planning an escape route when I approach a semi-truck.”

Christi Brown is healing thanks to her dedication, hard work and Still Life Massage and Float. Photo courtesy: Christi Brown.

Christi had frequent nightmares about the accident and she avoided baking even simple recipes because it reminded her of that early December day. But with the help of massage therapy and a mental health counselor, all of these things are again becoming possible. The combination of the two therapies has allowed Christi to regain her confidence, and heal both her body and mind. It took her a great deal of time and effort, but she’s baking again.

Christi recommends massage therapy to anyone who thinks they may need it. She wants people to know it differs for everyone. Speed and manner of healing all depend on a person’s individual makeup. The staff at Still Life Massage and Float can determine how to best help you heal with compassion. Their personalized regimen will set you on the path to healing and tranquility.

“When I started, I said I needed to take care of myself,” Christi says. “And I believe the treatment I have received did that. It boosted both my physical and mental health.”

Still Life Massage and Float is located at 19 Bellwether Way #101 in Bellingham. Operating hours are 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Stop by and see how they can help you heal.

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Q&A with Bellingham’s Verdelux Chocolates

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Kenneth Clarkson

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Verdelux Bon Bombs 1 — Verdelux's Bon Bombs can be found at Satori. Photo courtesy: Verdelux.

Bellingham’s Verdelux Chocolates creates fine edibles and topicals for the recreational cannabis market. At Verdelux, the focus is on crafting the perfect mix of consistency, potency and taste, for each individual edible they sell. Their Illumination candies are made in small batches following the tradition of Victorian confectionaries, using a brass drop-roller style of manufacturing which is quite rare.

Verdelux is known for their Bon Bombs. Photo courtesy: Verdelux.

Verdelux sources ingredients from select Washington State farms that try not to use fungicides and pesticides, unless absolutely necessary. You can find Verdelux edibles at Satori Bellingham and other recreational marijuana stores in Washington State.

WhatcomTalk sat down with Verdelux Co-founder Chris Lin to chat about which edibles have been the most fun to create, what it takes to work at Verdelux, and what may be in store for the future.

WhatcomTalk: What’s the hiring process like? Do you look for employees with skills in both the confectionery and marijuana industries?

Chris Lin: There’s no single path for us to find talent. Some arrive through referrals, some through targeted job searches. Some are even our own friends and family. Although edibles (and now topicals) are what we’re known for, there’s a great support team that amazes me at how easy and natural they make their jobs look to the outside.

We are a company with several areas, so having a culinary background isn’t necessary if you’re looking to join us in the marketing, extractions, fulfillment or accounting departments, for example. Having a culinary background in a working kitchen or coming out of school certainly does help give an applicant a leg-up on the production side, though. If you want to remain in our company long-term, what’s most important is passion, adaptability and being able to learn new things.

Verdelux makes Lush, soft jelly chews. Photo courtesy: Verdelux.

WhatcomTalk: What’s your best-selling edible? What was the process like creating that item and why do you think it sells so well?

Chris Lin: All Verdelux products sell nearly equally with respect to the time they have been offered on the market, but if you drill into each product category type, the CBD Milk Chocolate is our fastest Bon Bomb Flavor, Hawaiian Mix for our Lush jelly chews, and Melon and Peach are the best-selling flavors of our Illuminations hard candies.

WhatcomTalk: Which product was the most fun to create?

Chris Lin: At the risk of sounding trite, they have all been fun to develop and nothing ever happens without the amazing teamwork in our company, and all of the farms we’re grateful to work with. It’s a combination of problem-solving, self-awareness, creation and cooperation.

Specifically, Illuminations – or just the idea of a hard candy being an offering – seems so obvious now, but it was a real question at the beginning. We didn’t know whether we’d be a full-line confectionary or stay strictly in chocolate. Business being the Darwinian beast that it is meant that we could blame the authorities for throwing a wrench into our planned product lines or we could adapt and evolve new appendages to our business strategy. That was a turning point for us, and from there we made Lush, which is our entry into the really competitive world of soft chew edibles. In this case, we call it a “jelly.” Because of this we now can offer the market items for every budget, and yet the same care, passion and dedication go into everything we make so you can be confident you’re getting a great Verdelux product and experience.

Verdelux’s Bon Bombs can be found at Satori. Photo courtesy: Verdelux.

Our Salvation (salve + elevation) topical was really satisfying to create because I wanted something that specifically could give me relief from insect bites. They are pure torture for me and the prescription creams I was getting weren’t making the painful itch go away at all. After a series of trials, I settled on a formula that has been very effective at making me forget about my itchy bites. But I wanted to know if there was potential elsewhere, and it turns out it’s great for eczema, works like a charm as a lip balm and nourishes chronically dry areas like elbows and knees. I’ve even been told some people use it to relieve them of knee, hip or back pain. Also, I just love the way it smells: sweet warmth from styrax benzoin (a tree native to Indonesia) and freshness from both tea tree and eucalyptus.

WhatcomTalk: How long have you been working with Satori?

Chris Lin: From the moment they opened their doors in Bellingham. They have a mission to really support Whatcom area canna-businesses, and we are proof of that, especially since there isn’t a shortage of very competitive options available in edibles. We have been exceptionally represented by Satori and enjoy the great mutual respect we have for each other.

WhatcomTalk: What’s one type of edible you’ve always wanted to make?

Chris Lin: I can unequivocally state the one thing I have always wanted to make is already being made: the Bon Bombs. It’s a hunk of jaw-breaking chocolate that reminds me of the really dense six-segment chocolate bars we used to have to sell for baseball team fundraisers as kids. Bon Bombs are pure chocolate pleasure, nothing else but your teeth crushing away at perfectly hand-tempered chocolate as it turns into a silky butter-like finish.

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Unity Care NW Creates a Culture of Health

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LocalTalk Contributor

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rsz_unity_care_nw_creates_interfaithint-91 — Unity Care NW offers a variety of medical services. Photo courtesy: Unity Care NW.

Submitted by: Unity Care NW

As a health care provider, Unity Care staff is committed to increasing the years of healthy life in the people and communities we serve. Our staff works every day to help our patients avoid illness and improve their health. We recognize, however, that the health care services we provide to our patients account for just a small part of what determines whether they are able to live a healthy life.

Unity Care NW believes in creating a culture of health. Photo courtesy: Unity Care NW.

We typically think about health as being the result of our family history, our health habits and our behaviors. There are many other factors, however, that contribute to poor or good health. Familiar recommendations for improved health include regular exercise a healthy diet, adequate sleep, reducing stress and getting an annual check-up. There are many other factors, however, such as housing insecurity, food insecurity, environmental quality, income, loneliness, domestic violence and social connection that affect a person’s health. There is a direct relationship between these environmental factors and our health. The overall health of our community is also directly related to the cost of our health care system. When our health suffers, the cost of health care increases.

What can we do to improve the health of our community? In 2014, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation decided to take a look at these external factors. They focused their work on creating a “Culture of Health.” The first step was to identify “the ways in which our culture makes it more difficult, not less difficult, to make health choices; the ways in which our culture reinforces policies and practices that are not promoting health; and the ways in which our culture defines health very narrowly, rather than broadly, and not in terms of people’s overall well-being.”

In August, Unity Care NW will join community health centers across the country in celebrating Natio

Don’t miss National Health Center Week. Photo courtesy: Unity Care NW.

nal Health Center Week, August 13-17. National Health Center Week is an annual event recognizing the mission and accomplishments of the nation’s community health centers over the past 50 years. Community health centers got their start in the 1960s as part of President Lyndon Johnson’s “War on Poverty.” Today, a national network of community health centers provides affordable, quality health care to over 27 million Americans. They are committed to improving access to health care, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay, and breaking down barriers to care.

We are excited to take the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s work as a focus point for the week and delve into our local “culture of health.” We will be hosting two exciting events that complement each other well. We hope that we can further this conversation about how we can make our community a healthier place for everyone.

Unity Care NW is committed to the health of Whatcom County. Photo courtesy: Unity Care NW.

On Tuesday, August 14, we will welcome the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to Bellingham. Beth Toner, Senior Communications Officer with the Foundation, will join us in an “armchair discussion” to provide her perspective on the ways that we can create and sustain a “culture of health” in our community. The conversation will be guided by Mauri Ingram, President and CEO of the Whatcom Community Foundation. An audience Q&A session and a reception will follow. The event will be held from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the brand new Sylvia Center for the Arts.

On Thursday, August 16, we will screen “Ola: Health is Everything” at the Pickford Film Center. This documentary, produced by the Hawaii Primary Care Association and the Hawaii State Department of Health, is described as “a film about health, hope and the power of communities to heal themselves.” It tells the story of communities in Hawaii that are identifying innovative solutions to create a “Culture of Health.” We will be joined by Matthew Nagato, the film’s writer, producer and director, for a post-screening Q&A session. A reception will start at 5:00 p.m., followed by the screening at 5:30 p.m.

A culture of health is important for the whole family. Photo courtesy: Unity Care NW.

We look forward to celebrating National Health Center Week and a week of thoughtful discussion about the health conditions in Whatcom County.

Both of these events are free and open to the public. To RSVP for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation event, call us at 360-594-6617 or email development@ucnw.org. Free tickets to the screening of “Ola: Health is Everything” are now available at the Pickford Film Center box office.

United Way Announces over $850k in Grants to Local Non-Profit Programs

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LocalTalk Contributor

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Submitted by: United Way of Whatcom County

Over 30 non-profit leaders convened at the Whatcom Center for Philanthropy where United Way of Whatcom County President/CEO Peter Theisen announced new grant awardees. After a competitive grant round in which United Way was seeking partners to live united against financial instability in Whatcom County, 11 local non-profit programs were selected for new one-year grants. This is in addition to 23 programs who are in the midst of previously awarded three-year grants.

“We utilized support from our board and over 35 community volunteers to thoroughly evaluate the programs applying for funding this year. We’re excited to welcome two programs new to United Way that will increase our investment in vocational supports and parenting supports, providing us greater opportunities to create economic mobility and to break the cycle of poverty in our local communities,” said Theisen.

Goodwill’s local Job Training Education Center and Adult Basic Education Program is one of these new partners. They serve over 750 students per year and offer support with job searching, the application and interview process, adult basic education classes and job training courses for both hard skills and soft skills.

“Our community needs job training and education now more than ever. The economy is rapidly changing and many people are being left behind. Individuals with barriers to success – such as lack of English proficiency, computer skills, basic skills or a high school diploma – may find it difficult to find or keep a job,” said Sara O’Connor, Goodwill Regional Director of Job Training and Education Centers. “With United Way of Whatcom County’s support, we’ll be able to better prepare Whatcom County residents for employment and further education so they can get on a path to moving out of poverty.”

United Way’s model fosters collaboration across a diverse mix of non-profits in our community. Funded partners participate regularly in events that create connections within the human services field.

“Our partnerships with non-profits add value above and beyond the direct funding,” stated Theisen. “Our network of partners have achieved much more by working together than we ever could independently.”

“The Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center is thrilled to partner with United Way; it represents an unparalleled opportunity to work in concert with other service providers to break the cycle of poverty in Whatcom County, while at the same time increasing awareness of and access to our broad array of services for those in need,” said Moonwater, Executive Director of WDRC, who will be receiving a grant for their Parenting Support Program from United Way for the first time this year.

United Way of Whatcom County is looking at financial instability from multiple angles. In addition to a focus on economic mobility and breaking the cycle of poverty, a portion of their new one-year grants are going to programs providing basic needs – such as food and housing. Altogether, United Way partners are expected to serve over 50,000 individuals in Whatcom County this year.

Total Community Impact Grants for the 2018-2019 fiscal year amount to $852,737, with an additional $173,935 anticipated in donor designations to specific non-profits. These investments in our local community are made possible through the companies and individuals who support United Way of Whatcom County’s annual giving campaign. The workplace giving model made popular by United Way and introduced to Whatcom County over 50 years ago is still responsible for the success of many non-profits who are made more efficient through the support offered by United Way.

Over 100 businesses host United Way workplace campaigns each year. The top five largest workplace campaigns contributing to the grants awarded this year are: 1.) BP Cherry Point Refinery; 2.) Whatcom Educational Credit Union; 3.) Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery; 4.) PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center; and 5.) Samson Rope.

“They’re our champions. We couldn’t do it without their display of corporate social responsibility and the generosity of their employees,” said Theisen.

To learn more about United Way of Whatcom County and how you can give, advocate or volunteer, visit UnitedWayWhatcom.org.

Learn to Savor the Harvest with a Food Preservation Workshop

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LocalTalk Contributor

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Submitted by: Sustainable Connections

Sustainable Connections announces a free workshop on August 16, led by Tiffany Bell from Ten Fold Farm, to learn the ins and outs of food preservation.

Gardeners, produce lovers and community members are invited to the Community Food Co-op Connections Building from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. to learn how to preserve their in-season abundance from a local farmer and food preservation expert, Tiffany Bell.

A part of Sustainable Connections’ Squatch Food Waste Program, the workshop will teach individuals about the food preservation techniques that work best for produce that is overabundant in our area. It will dive into pickling, fermenting and freezing, and end with a delicious live demo. Get ideas on how to squatch food waste and never let a tomato go moldy again!

This event is free, but space is limited so attendees must RSVP.

What: Food Preservation Workshop
When: Thursday, August 16, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Where: Community Food Co-op Connections Building, 405 E. Holly St., Bellingham
Cost: FREE
More info: https://sustainableconnections.org/events/foodpreservation/

Mayor Announces Second Annual City Center Awards

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LocalTalk Contributor

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Scenic Whatcom County mountain — When engaging in outdoor recreation, participants should take care to respect Whatcom wildlife. Photo credit: Justin Pedigo | FC Photography.

Submitted by: Monea Kerr, Mayor’s Office

Mayor Kelli Linville honored four businesses at the second annual City Center Award Ceremony on July 12 at the Pickford Film Center. These awards showcase and recognize some of the outstanding achievements and exceptional private projects that have led to the revitalization of Bellingham’s City Center Neighborhood.

“One of the best things about Bellingham is our great downtown, and preserving our historic buildings will keep it that way for years to come,” Mayor Kelli Linville said. “That’s why I’m so grateful for the revitalization efforts put forth by our City Center Awardees and other businesses downtown that preserve and protect what connects us to Bellingham’s unique past.”

The Mayor selects property owners, businesses and/or organizations as awardees based on a set of criteria that includes outstanding restoration, rehabilitation, or renovation of an existing building; creating unique residential and commercial spaces within existing buildings; activating adjacent public spaces; and other actions that improve the quality of life in Bellingham’s City Center.

The 2018 Mayor’s City Center Awards were presented to the following organizations/businesses:

Hamlet Hotel – 1220 Railroad Avenue

Categories:

Adaptive reuse of a historic building
Created second-story short-term rental units

To learn more about the Hamlet Hotel, watch a short video showcasing their work.

Co-op Bakery Café – 405 E. Holly Street

Categories:

Adaptive reuse of an existing building
Expanding existing downtown business
Bringing vitality and activity to the streetscape

To learn more about the Co-op Bakery Café, watch a short video showcasing their work.

Camber – 221 W. Holly Street

Categories:

Exterior and interior improvements
Bringing vitality and activity to the streetscape?

To learn more about Camber, watch a short video showcasing their work.

Faithlife – 1313 Commercial Street

Categories:

Exterior and interior improvements to historic buildings
Expanding an existing downtown business
Bringing vitality and activity to the streetscape

To learn more about Faithlife, watch a short video showcasing their work.

For details of the awardees or more information, please visit the Mayor’s City Center Awards webpage.

Brigadoon Service Dogs: Puppy Raising with a Purpose

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LocalTalk Contributor

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Brigadoon Service Dogs 2 — Raising a puppy is fun for the whole family. Photo courtesy: Brigadoon Service Dogs.

Submitted by: Brigadoon Service Dogs

What is better than a puppy? Their unbridled enthusiasm, their endless curiosity, and the unconditional trust and love they provide with each look, lick and snuggle. The answer is, it is hard to beat the preciousness of a puppy.

There’s lots of puppy love to go around. Photo courtesy: Brigadoon Service Dogs.

Puppyhood is an integral time in a dog’s life. It is when they absorb all of the information that will make them who they are in adulthood. This time is never as important for a dog than for a service dog. As service dogs are required to accompany their handler into a wide variety of situations staying calm and composed amid crowds, noises and new experiences, starting a puppy off right is vital.

Brigadoon Service Dogs is a local Whatcom County non-profit that raises and trains service dogs for veterans, other adults and children with physical, developmental and behavioral disabilities to promote an independent and enriched life. Community volunteers are an integral part of the work they do, and one of the most important roles at the organization is that of Puppy Raiser.

Volunteer Puppy Raisers take in a Brigadoon service dog to-be for six months to a year. Their job is to lay the foundation for that puppy’s journey through teaching basic skills like loose leash walking, crate training and common cues like down and sit. Most important though is ensuring that the puppy is exposed, during this formative time, to a variety of environments, people, noises and experiences.

Raising a service dog is meaningful work. Photo courtesy: Brigadoon Service Dogs.

One of the main reasons people interested in puppy raising decide not to move forward is they are worried about the emotional investment they will have in the dog only to have to give it up when the dog is ready for its next stage of training. Nancy Taylor, one of Brigadoon’s volunteer puppy raisers who is raising her sixth puppy, a golden Labrador named Sir, for the organization says, “I often hear from others that they would never be able to give the dog up after raising it. I always respond by saying it’s hard every time. I love them but living with a disability is even harder and that changes my focus. What I am doing is helping to change lives.”

While raising a puppy is hard work, the pay-off is big. Puppy raisers get the immediate benefit of having a puppy to play with, teach and love, a wonderful community of supportive and passionate puppy raisers to engage with, skill development from a professional dog trainer and the knowledge that they are molding a dog that will one day change someone’s life in a deeply profound way.

Raising a puppy is fun for the whole family. Photo courtesy: Brigadoon Service Dogs.

Puppy raisers are asked to provide food for their puppy, veterinary care (if possible), attend puppy raising classes and purchase and read the “Puppy Start Right” book.

For more information on becoming a puppy raiser contact Brigadoon Service Dogs at 360-733-5388 or e-mail denise@brigadoondogs.org. If you are unable to become a puppy raiser, but still want to support our work, we gladly accept donations.

Enjoy Movie Magic at Lynden’s Hot Thursday Nights

By

Matt Benoit

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Hot Thursday Nights-Sugar Shack — The Sugar Shack ice cream truck will be one of many food vendors at the "Hot Thursday Nights" night market, held prior to each film. Photo courtesy: Sugar Shack.

Outdoor movies held a sort of magical quality during my childhood summers. Maybe this was because you could smuggle in as much candy and food as you wanted and nobody cared. Maybe it was because I was sharing a cinematic experience with parents and friends. Most likely, it was both.

Face-painter Cynthia Poppe will provide children with the chance to get colorful. Photo courtesy: Cynthia Poppe.

Although Whatcom County bid farewell to drive-in movies long ago, you can still enjoy a film beneath the stars at downtown Lynden’s “Hot Thursday Nights” on July 26, August 2 and August 9. The three dates were chosen because they fit nicely between the Northwest Raspberry Festival (July 20-21) and the Northwest Washington Fair (Aug. 13 -18).

In addition to showing a movie each Thursday night, there will be numerous entertainment options including live music and performance art, a night market of local food and craft vendors and – last but not least – watermelon bowling.

Chuck Robinson, Lynden Downtown Business Association board member, says the idea began last summer, when four films were screened downtown on Friday nights, similar to what occurs at Fairhaven’s Village Green. But with a number of conflicting events on any given Friday, the Lynden DBA chose to shift the event to Thursdays with several fun activities before each film.

“The whole idea is to create a fun time in downtown Lynden for those three nights and, in some ways, re-introduce people to downtown Lynden,” Robinson says.

The 2017 blockbuster “Wonder Woman,” starring Gal Gadot, shows August 9. Movie poster by Warner Bros. Pictures.

For live music, Lynden DBA is partnering with Jansen Art Center, which already features Thursday night performances. The center’s open patio doors allow music to spill onto Front and 4^th streets until just before 9:00 p.m., when the movie begins. Scrub Hubner will perform July 26, along with Terry Palmer and Friends on August 2 and Queen’s Bluegrass on August 9. Other live performance art will include Bellingham Circus Guild, featuring juggling lessons and unicycle demonstrations, on July 26 and August 2, and Infinity Dance Company, performing August 2 and 9.

Performances will accompany a night market, similar to Bellingham’s popular night market, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Local business vendors will include: I Wood 4 You, Sarah Stamps Art, Lularoe, Grandiflora, Made by Heart, Threads by Teresa, the Lynden Tribune and Two Girls + a Bus.

Food vendors will include Chow Gourmet Hot Dogs, Sugar Shack ice cream, a popcorn booth set up by the Lynden DBA and a cotton candy booth supporting Backpack Buddies – a non-profit providing food to low-income schoolchildren. In addition, several other non-profits will be present, including the Lynden Library and Lynden Community Center (LCC). The LCC will offer a free community dinner, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on August 9, for 100 people. Reservations must be made in advance.

July 26 will feature “Wonder,” a heart-warming and inspiring story about a 5th grader adjusting to life at a new school in spite of facial disfigurement. Movie poster by Lionsgate Entertainment Corp.

And in case the market isn’t appealing enough, Robinson says the Green Barn will likely provide a chance to use watermelons like you’ve never used them before with watermelon bowling. This activity has been enjoyed in Bellingham, with great acclaim.

As for the movies, they’ll be projected onto the west wall of JoFish Seafood and Grill, which faces 4^th Street. A parking lot will serve as the theater seating area.

So, what’s being shown?

July 26 will feature “Wonder,” a 2017 film about a boy with a misshapen face who wears a space helmet to conceal his physical flaws while adapting to the social challenges of his new school. “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” in which Spider-Man must balance high school life with being a superhero, will play August 2. August 9 will wrap up “Hot Thursday Nights” with the 2017 blockbuster “Wonder Woman.”

Robinson says the films are all family-oriented movies that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

The Sugar Shack ice cream truck will be one of many food vendors at the “Hot Thursday Nights” night market, held prior to each film. Photo courtesy: Sugar Shack.

In addition, the Lynden DBA is encouraging local downtown businesses to have extended hours during “Hot Thursday Nights,” with special events or deals for customers. On July 26, Village Books & Paper Dreams will hand out stickers and bookmarks relating to “Wonder,” along with glow necklaces and bracelets for families who stop by before the movie begins. In addition, Hats Off will decorate superhero-themed cookies. C Street Soaps, a new downtown business, will offer build-your-own soap specials. The Lynden Pioneer Museum will also be giving special evening tours. Forge Fitness will offer social dancing, dance instruction and a performance by Rumba Northwest at their facility between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m.

“There’s a lot of people in Lynden who work in Bellingham, come home to Lynden and don’t get downtown in some cases, because there’s not a lot of businesses open in the evening,” Robinson says. “So we’re thinking, at least for these evenings, to give people some acquaintance with the downtown and have a fun time down there. It’s summertime and a great time to be outdoors in the whole county, but certainly up here in Lynden. It’s a great time to do something downtown.”

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The Big Time and Beyond: MBT Hosts Events of All Sizes

By

Hannah Zoe

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MBT hosts- MTB interior — Inside MBT, the Harold & Irene Walton Theatre and the Encore Room provide rehearsal, performance and event space to small productions and performance art organizations. Photo credit: Hannah Zoe.

At Mount Baker Theatre (MBT) you can attend a professional panel discussion one day, then don a feather boa and fishnets for the Rocky Horror Picture Show the next. You can watch stomach-churning adventure films, then revel in holiday nostalgia during a children’s play. It may seem unlikely, but I did that exact circuit last fall at MBT. Our local theatre is extraordinarily flexible in its diversity of events and patrons experience the space in many different ways.

Children’s backpacks line up during the Missoula Children’s Theatre Summer Camp. This year, the youth are performing The Pied Piper and The Secret Garden. Photo credit: Hannah Zoe.

The historic theatre is Whatcom County’s premier venue for everything from large touring comedy acts to our resident Whatcom Symphony Orchestra. “We’re passionate about bringing world-class entertainment to Bellingham, so part of our mission is to ensure local access to professional touring entertainment,” says Amy Guerra, MBT’s Associate Executive Director. “Our venue is rented by commercial event promoters to host traveling shows and events, bringing some big names to our little town.”

While they can draw a crowd, MBT isn’t limited to big-time acts. The venue offers all levels of entertainment. With three event spaces, they effectively present anything from small author talks, to dance recitals, all the way up to those glitzy Broadway performances.

The 200-seat Walton Theatre is easily overlooked if you only attend MBT for large events. This little black box, tucked on the west side of the main theatre, can be configured in any way. It’s surprisingly adaptable to events ranging from film screenings to intimate theater performances. The space is personal enough to draw audience members into the drama of the stage and – with state-of-the-art acoustics and lighting – it’s also unmistakably professional.

Bellingham’s historic Mount Baker Theatre is home to both traveling broadway plays and local children’s theatre.

If you’re headed to MBT for a small, more interactive event, you’ll likely find yourself in their Encore Room. This reception hall is used as a versatile rehearsal space and for informal exhibitions by local nonprofit performing arts organizations. Thanks to MBT’s Community Spaces Program, this space is free for nonprofit use.

Interactive author talks are also commonly held in the Encore Room, bringing touring writers to Bellingham. This spring, Village Books hosted such an event in the space, showcasing seven distinguished poets who performed readings from their collections.

MBT’s Main Stage is known for touring music acts, local ballets and Broadway musicals, but it also hosts Bellingham’s favorite film events. Several adventure film series, perfect for our local outdoor enthusiasts, come through each year. The annual Banff Mountain Film Festival is a perennial favorite. It’s always a packed-house. People can’t wait to see jaw-clenching, stomach-churning powder shots and big waves.

The touring Missoula Children’s Theatre comes to town every summer. Their camps engage local youth in the joys of performance art and help them build social skills and confidence. They rehearse their plays over the course of a week, then perform them for the community on MBT’s Main Stage at week’s end.

Inside MBT, the Harold & Irene Walton Theatre and the Encore Room provide rehearsal, performance and event space to small productions and performance art organizations. Photo credit: Hannah Zoe.

The Wade Bennett King Education Series provides performance admission for students from regional elementary schools as part of MBT’s Education Program. “The program reaches youth in five counties and we hosted just shy of 20,000 students in the 2017-2018 year,” says Guerra. “Our Educational Scholarships supported over 2,100 participants who wouldn’t have otherwise been able to attend, and we’re committed to that program again for this upcoming school year.”

Over the course of a year, Mount Baker Theatre hosts between 400 and 500 events, with over 100,000 attendees passing through its halls. With such a diversity of performances, there’s sure to be something to captivate any age or interest. “It always strikes me that people only interact with this place in the context of the one event they attend,” says Guerra. “The building changes look, feel, audience and purpose by the minute, and most people don’t experience that if they just attend one or two certain kinds of things.”

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Drayton Harbor Days Maritime Festival: Ahoy, Matey!

By

LocalTalk Contributor

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Blaine Harbor 3881 — Blaine Harbor is the heart of the seaside town of Blaine. Photo courtesy: Port of Bellingham.

Submitted by: City of Blaine

Both Sea Dogs and Landlubbers are welcome Saturday and Sunday, August 4 and 5, to Drayton Harbor Days to celebrate everything maritime! Festivities will take place at Blaine Harbor Boating Center, 235 Marine Dr. just off I-5 exit 276. Come early Saturday at 8:30 a.m. to join in the 5k Run to the Border (letsmoveblaine.org for more details) and enjoy a hearty pancake breakfast served from 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. at the Blaine Community Center. Stroll through the exhibits and arts and crafts booths for treasures along the waterfront on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Aye-Come Pirate with Us! Dress in your pirate best and join the Shady Isle Pirates who will be performing sea chanteys and historical reenactment amongst the crowd at the Blaine Boating Center. Be in a pirate parade, participate in a pirate costume contest where both kids and adults will have a chance to win a bounty of prizes! Pirate Daze will entertain kids with free pirate-themed games, activities, as well as arts and crafts at the Marine Park Playground from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Pirate activities are sponsored by Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Rec District. For more information visit www.bbbparkandrec.org or call 360-656-6416.

Boats will be on the move both days featuring the Tall ship Lady Washington offering tours and a variety of sailing excursions on August 3 – 5. Reservations are recommended, for tickets visit www.historicalseaport.org or call 800-200-5239. Revel in an exhibit of authentic handcrafted model boats and ships on display at the Boating Center.

Take a voyage back in time aboard the Historic Plover Ferry along the 32’ ferry’s original route to Semiahmoo Spit since 1944. Sailings are on the hour from Blaine Harbor both Saturday from 12:00 – 8:00 p.m. and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Relive the rich history of Blaine’s cannery and fishing days with a visit to the A.P.A. Museum at Semiahmoo County Park open both days.

This year’s 16^th annual Prestigious George Raft Race will commence at 1:00 p.m. Saturday. The rafts built from recycled floatable materials, along with the crews colorful costumes and hilarious antics make this race as much fun to watch as it is to participate! Those joining in the race will paddle their homemade rafts starting from the Blaine Public Boat Launch to the finish at the Blaine Harbor Visitor Dock. This event is modeled in part from Devonshire’s River Lyn annual raft race that has taken place in England since the middle ages. All participants will receive ribbons and the first place winner will take home bragging rights and a one-year ownership of the coveted Prestigious George Raft Race Trophy.

Cap off Saturday’s adventures by watching a movie under the stars. The movie “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” will began at 9:00 p.m. at Blaine Marine Park, sponsored by the Blaine Chamber of Commerce and the Salishan Neighborhood Association.

The fun continues on Sunday with exhibits and arts and crafts vendors, kids’ scavenger hunt, Plover Ferry rides, model boat displays as well as the annual Pet Contest. Bring your pets, dressed up in costume or to show off their latest tricks at the Blaine Boating Center at 1:00 p.m. for a chance to win a prize! Have fun exploring in the 2nd annual: Finding Blaine, a quest through Blaine to discover hidden items.

For More Information:

Blaine Visitor Center at 360-332-4544, www.blainechamber.com
Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Rec District #2, 360-656-6416, www.bbbparkandrec.org
Port of Bellingham, Blaine Harbor Office, 360-647-6176.

Event Sponsors:

City of Blaine, Blaine Chamber of Commerce, Port of Bellingham-Blaine Harbor, Salishan Neighborhood Association, Drayton Harbor Maritime, Blaine-Birch Bay Parks and Recreation District 2.

Hamlet Hotel – 1220 Railroad Avenue

Co-op Bakery Café – 405 E. Holly Street

Camber – 221 W. Holly Street

Faithlife – 1313 Commercial Street

For More Information:

Event Sponsors:

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