Hotel Bellwether is bringing back the popular live music series, “Blues, Brews & BBQ,” for Summer 2018. Every Thursday, Hotel Bellwether will host a local band, provide a wide selection of delicious BBQ offerings and showcase beer the way only Bellingham can!
Make your Thursday nights great at Hotel Bellwether. Photo courtesy: Hotel Bellwether.
The Details:
Our Blues, Brews and BBQ series will take place every Thursday from June 14 to Sept. 13. Doors will open at 5:00 p.m., with the headliner playing from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
How much does it cost?
Admission to Blues, Brews & BBQ events will be either $7 or $10, depending on the band. The price will be posted on Hotel Bellwether’s Facebook page days before each event. The first show, on June 14, will be $7 and will feature The Shannanagins. Most food options will cost anywhere between $7 and $17.
What will the food be like?
The BBQ side of Blues, Brews & BBQ will include a variety of options, all cooked on-site over all-natural mesquite lump charcoal by the talented folks at the Hotel’s restaurant, the Lighthouse Grill. You’ll be able to purchase cheeseburgers, ribs, bratwursts, a bucket of crab, as well as other seafood and BBQ options. Entrée purchases come with house-made potato salad, fruit salad and coleslaw.
Will it be just Blues bands?
Blues, Brews and BBQ events will feature a variety of music genres, including two nights where Hotel Bellwether goes Country and hosts Miller Campbell, a rising star born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, whose debut album “Sweet Whiskey” released in 2017 to great success.
Is it always only on Thursdays?
There’s nothing better than blues, brews and BBQ! Photo courtesy: Hotel Bellwether.
No! Hotel Bellwether will host two special Blues, Brews & BBQ events – one on Wednesday July 4 to celebrate our Independence Day, where you’ll have a spectacular view of the fireworks over Bellingham Bay, and one on Tuesday, July 31, when Hotel Bellwether will host the LowDown Brass band, who is on a special tour from Chicago!
I can’t make any of those dates. Are there other times for Live Music at Hotel Bellwether?
Hotel Bellwether hosts several musicians and bands on Friday and Saturday, as well as Jazz music on Sunday. During these times, you can take advantage of the Lighthouse Grill’s six-day a week happy hour!
Surf Bowls at Big Love Juice are filled with many delicious fruits, acai and coconut. Photo courtesy: Lisa Thomson.
You know the feeling you get when you walk into a healthy restaurant or health food store? That slightly overwhelming sensation of it being beyond your price range – or your taste-bud range, for that matter.
The Big Cedar Juice Flight features a little bit of each juice so you can try them all. Photo courtesy: Lisa Thomson.
At Big Love Juice they are ditching the health-food stigma, creating a new normal that feels bright, fresh and inspired. This establishment provides tasty and affordable options for all, meeting the variety of ways people are choosing to eat these days.
Big Love’s goodness will soon be even easier to get. The opening of their JuiceBar at South Bay Suites in historic Fairhaven is scheduled for June 14, a day that coincides with their fundraiser for Our Treehouse, a local Bellingham non-profit that Big Love Juice wants to recognize as real warriors in our community. Both the downtown Bellingham and Fairhaven restaurants are conveniently located off the South Bay walking trail. If you want, you could get a juice at the downtown location, take a nice 2.5 mile walk to Fairhaven and grab a brunch bowl for lunch. Buy a Warrior juice on June 14 at either or both locations and part of the proceeds will go to Our Treehouse.
The Toasty Toast Bowl features two pieces of homemade Big Love toast topped with their almond coconutbutta and edible flowers. Photo courtesy: Lisa Thomson.
It’s all about inclusivity at Big Love Juice; not just for customers, but staff as well. Everyone is welcome, appreciated and relevant. This is apparent as soon as you enter the flagship location inside the historic Herald Building. Here you’re greeted by a staircase to the upper seating area. No matter where you decide to sit, make sure to check out this spot. Here you’ll find “The Wall.”
“The Wall,” is an area of the juicery where staff can display their personal passions, endeavors, adventures and more. In essence, each team member can display whatever interesting or meaningful photos they want. This mural of personality shows Big Love employees aren’t just staff members. They’re an important part of a tight-knit group – a team in essence – with a message: that although eating well means different things to different people, our nutritional habits don’t have to divide us. Rather, in the right space, they bring us together creating an inclusive vibe which fosters health and well-being.
“We want to create a sense of community here,” says Desirae Tarris, Positivity Influencer at Big Love Juice.
Big Love Juice’s new location is bright and customer-centered. Photo courtesy: Big Love Juice.
You may be wondering what a Positivity Influencer is. Don’t worry, I was too. Tarris says her role is to influence the level of positivity in her team and environment. She oversees day-to-day operations, educating both employees and guests on Big Love Juice’s mission and menu items. Creating new language that speaks to their vision is as big a part of Big Love Juice as creating unique food and beverages.
Big Love makes all their juice and food in-house using organic, local, natural, healthy ingredients. Their juice is raw and cold pressed, and you can really taste the difference. Feeling hungry? They also offer a variety of delicious bowls, toasts, salads, granola and their own baking.
Big Love Juice’s new fairhaven location is the perfect spot to relax and unwind. Photo courtesy: Big Love Juice.
Staples at Big Love Juice are their assortment of 100% organic cold pressed classic juices and surf bowls. Start your day with the classic Big Love. This good-to-go juice combines beet, carrot, lemon, apple and celery. A 12-ounce drink costs $6.49 and 16 ounces is $6.99.
Surf bowls are Big Love’s take on acai bowls. The new menu launching next week has the Peace & Love bowl which contains acai, coconut, blueberries, coconutbutta, apple, cranberries, edible flowers and candied pecans. If you really want an energizing start to your morning, get a juice and a bowl. At only $8.99 per bowl you can afford to treat yourself and start your day off right.
“We take pride in everything we make and always craft our food and juices with love and passion,” Tarris says. “We want to inspire people to use good healthy food as fuel; food that fuels your soul and your passions.”
Samish Bay Yogurt Granola Bowl. Photo courtesy: Big Love Juice.
The new Riptide Surf Bowl. Photo courtesy: Big Love Juice.
A delicious Big Love Juice. Photo courtesy: Big Love Juice.
Peoples Bank awarded Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County (DVSAS) a $25,000 Peoples Bank Impact Grant. The grant will be used to furnish a new 11-bed shelter opening this summer that will house single, female-identified survivors. This is the second Impact Grant awarded by Peoples Bank. Last year a $25,000 grant was awarded to Skagit Habitat for Humanity for the purchase of a new utility van.
“Shelter is the last resort for many survivors. By the time they come to DVSAS, they have likely been through at least one traumatic and emotional event,” said Jessica Heck, Development Director, DVSAS. “We will use these much-needed funds to purchase high-quality furniture and bedding, provide a fully-stocked and functional kitchen, and offer new towels and bathroom amenities at our newest shelter opening this summer. These comforts allow us to create a welcoming, comfortable and operational environment, and most importantly, give our clients hope. We are so grateful to Peoples Bank for making this possible.”
The Safe Housing Program operated by DVSAS originally included one 21-bed, shared residence for female survivors and their children who were homeless or about to become homeless due to domestic violence. Upon taking over the program in 2014, it was clear that more beds were needed to meet the demand of the county. In late 2015, with a mortgage from Peoples Bank, DVSAS purchased two additional buildings to serve as safe shelters. In July 2017, DVSAS opened a four-bed, shared residence for single female survivors. The new 11-bed shelter opening this summer is DVSAS’s third shelter in Bellingham. The Safe Housing Program also serves male survivors, housing them in safe hotels.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline defines domestic violence as a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship. It can happen to people who are married, living together or who are dating, and can affect people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels. DVSAS runs the only domestic violence and sexual assault-specific programs in Whatcom County. Last year, DVSAS served nearly 2,300 clients through its 24-hour helpline, walk-in support center, advocacy counseling, legal advocacy, shelters and other essential services. After staying at DVSAS shelters, clients consistently report having higher resiliency skills, more access to social services, and a better outlook on the future.
Peoples Bank Impact Grant
Peoples Bank Impact Grants are designed to provide a maximum of $25,000 to a single organization for a specific project, use or identified purpose that will have a long lasting, positive impact on the community. Approximately 50 community organizations submitted applications for the grant in 2018.
“We are humbled by the many high-quality applications we received on behalf of nonprofit organizations providing critical services in our communities,” said Michelle Barrett, Executive Vice President, Chief Retail Banking and Marketing Officer at Peoples Bank. “We are very proud to award our 2018 Impact Grant to DVSAS so it can expand its services and continue its important work helping survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault find safety, support and hope.”
In addition to the Impact Grant, Peoples Bank donates hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to local and regional nonprofit organizations providing valuable services in the arts, child and family services, education, health and social services, and civics. For more information about Peoples Bank community giving, please visit peoplesbank-wa.com/about-us/community-giving.
About Peoples Bank
Peoples Bank is a locally owned and operated, independent full-service community bank with over $1.6 billion in assets. Headquartered in Bellingham, Washington, the Bank was founded in 1921 and operates 23 branches located throughout Washington. In its most recent rating, Bauer Financial, a leading independent bank rating firm, awarded Peoples Bank its highest five-star superior rating. This rating recognizes Peoples Bank’s strong financial management practices, dedicated employees and long-standing customer relationships. Learn more at https://www.peoplesbank-wa.com/.
About DVSAS
Based in Bellingham, Washington, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County (DVSAS) supports individuals affected by domestic violence, sexual assault and sexual exploitation, and leads the community towards ending these abuses of power. DVSAS envisions a safe, equitable community, free from the oppressions that lead to gender-based violence, where all individuals feel valued and respected. Learn more at https://www.dvsas.org/.
A hospital room at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center became the setting for a wedding on Wednesday, May 6, as Toby Boxold (groom) and Phosy Takatsuka (bride) professed their love to one another.
Toby Boxold (groom) and Phosy Takatsuka (bride) professed their love to one another at PeaceHealth on May 6. Photo courtesy: PeaceHealth.
It was an island-themed celebration— complete with Hawaiian leis, a personalized ceremony, vows, rings, cake and lots of happy tears.
Chaplain Rev. Tessie Mandeville officiated the ceremony and opened by stating these compelling words, “We are here together, in this hospital room, having a wedding ceremony on a gorgeous day because illness cannot stop love, and love, in and of itself, offers its own deep healing.”
For Boxold, who recently received the news that he has cancer throughout his body, the wedding was a bright light during a difficult time. He reported that he couldn’t believe how seamlessly it all came together. “Everyone has been incredible,” he said. “I just feel so blessed.”
The wedding was memorable for all. Photo courtesy: PeaceHealth.
Mandeville shared, “Our inpatient palliative care team began working with Toby when we were asked to consult given his recent diagnosis and prognosis. We often see a lot of intense and sad patient situations and we love coming alongside our patients and families to support them.”
She added, “With Toby and Phosy, we also got to be part of something really magical and wonderful. It’s not often our team gets to facilitate weddings! And, it really was a team effort because everyone on our team played a part in getting this accomplished—the social worker, notary, chaplain, nurse and doctor. We could not be more pleased with having the honor of being part of this special day.”
On the day after his wedding day, Boxold proclaimed, “I’m still elated. I feel like I’m levitating.”
Between 25 and 75 people stop by and take a peek at the sky every month at Boulevard Park. Photo credit: Marla Bronstein.
If you live in North America, perhaps you were one of the lucky ones who traveled to witness the total solar eclipse in person, not on TV, like I did. My friend Alice went to Oregon to personally experience the complete eclipse. She said when she was in that physical space where the world went dark and she could see it with her own two eyes, she sobbed at the spectacle.
According to Wikipedia, there won’t be another total eclipse visible in North America until April 8, 2024. Fear not! Just about every day, there are lots of cool things in the clear sky that you can see with your own eyes – even better if you have a telescope. If you don’t have your own, there’s a WACO group in town that can help you out.
Jeff Aspnes shows off his Lunt Solar System telescope with solar filter to look at the sun. Photo credit: Marla Bronstein.
“WACO” is the Whatcom Association of Celestial Observers. This group has been in existence since 1988. I attended their first “Telescopes in the Parks” event for 2018 in May. They will do this once every month (when it’s not cloudy, on the first quarter moon from May through September), as they have done for the past ten or so years, according to long-time member Dennis Hoofnagle.
Telescopes, some owned by WACO members, were ready for viewing on the far end of Boulevard Park. Casual passers-by and intentional visitors patiently waited their turn to take a peek in the various telescopes. Owners answered questions while adjusting the scopes’ position after every few people. (You know planets are always moving, right? They’re like two-year-olds.) Astronomy buffs were happily chatting and sharing their knowledge.
Hoofnagle is the current Vice President of WACO and has called Whatcom County home since 1968. He confessed he has always been interested in the stars and planets. Years before he heard of WACO, he would buy copies of Astronomy Magazine at Fred Meyer’s. One day in the early 1980s, he discovered the back of the magazine had a listing of astronomy clubs around the country. He was pleased and surprised to learn there was a Bellingham club. He called them up and joined right away. “I have always been curious about a lot of things, but I didn’t have my own telescope until I joined the club,” he said.
Telescopes aren’t always round. This box telescope has a 10″ mirror at the bottom, reflecting the most light of all the telescopes that night. Photo credit: Marla Bronstein.
His name might sound familiar if you were one of the 2,000 recipients of the free pairs of eclipse glasses he gave away for people who wanted to look at the recent total eclipse. Hoofnagle was one of many who made the trek to attend a large star party in Oregon to watch the total solar eclipse. He said a woman behind him was weeping. (It might have been Alice.)
Jeff Aspnes is a member of WACO who has been coming for a couple of years. His favorite part is this monthly gathering at the park. “It can change your life looking at the planets,” he said. That evening, Jeff had set up a special solar telescope pointed towards the setting sun, which happened to have a clearly visible mushroom-shaped solar flare. “It’s at ten o’clock,” he directed to a young man as he peered through the eyepiece. “It’s as big as the Earth.”
I was not the only person who wandered by that evening. On a regular event evening, anywhere from 25 to 75 people will stroll in, take a peek, maybe ask questions, have a short conversation and go on their way. A couple of intentional visitors included Kathy and Marcus, who recently moved to Bellingham. Marcus heard about this evening’s event through social media. Knowing his wife’s passion for space, he planned a date for dinner and stargazing. Another young woman turned from the telescope, and as she floated away, tears were falling. “It’s just so amazing. I don’t know why I’m so emotional about this,” she said.
Maia looks through Jeff’s solar filtered telescope. Photo credit: Marla Bronstein.
“A lot of people have never seen the moon this close – it’s startling.” Hoofnagle said.
The monthly gathering goes until 9:30 p.m. The darker the sky, the more dramatic the moon views get and it’s a bit easier to see some of the brighter stars and planets.
Maia is 10 and is homeschooled. She has looked through telescopes before. She said the coolest part of looking at the sun at this event was “seeing the mushroom.” Maia invites other kids to come to “Telescope in the Park” events because “it’s cool to look at the sun and the planets.”
20-year-old WWU sophomores Megan and Walker told me they were at Boulevard to do homework and enjoy the sun. After looking through the telescopes, she added, “We got to enjoy the sun a different way.”
This is the schedule for 2018 Telescopes in the Park. Photo credit: Marla Bronstein.
The next gathering is scheduled for 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on June 14, when Jeff will present a slide show that he promises will take you on a journey through the universe. This event will be held in the front auditorium of the WECU building at 5659 Barrett Road in Ferndale. And don’t forget to wander by Boulevard Park during one of their Telescope in the Park nights. You can also contact WACO here for updates.
Contacts, blister packs and foil covers can be brought to Binyon Vision Center for proper recycling. Photo courtesy: Binyon Vision Center.
More than 30 million people in the United States wear contact lenses – and the resulting waste generated can circle the Earth three times over every year. Unfortunately, the small plastic containers often get filtered out of municipal recycling centers and sent to landfills. Whatcom County contact wearers now have a solution. Binyon Vision Center is reducing waste by becoming a ONE by ONE Recycling Center.
Binyon Vision Center is a ONE by ONE Recycling Center. Photo courtesy: Binyon Vision Center.
Binyon Vision Center has partnered with Bausch + Lomb, an eye health company, and TerraCycle to provide contact wearers a place to recycle opened blister packs, top foil, plastic and used contact lenses. “We take care of shipping everything and making sure it gets recycled properly,” says Bruno. “It has come up for our patients as a concern since daily contact lenses do generate a lot of waste.”
“Daily contact lenses are definitely the healthiest and most beneficial for patients’ eyes in a lot of cases – dry eyes, allergies,” says Caitlin Bruno, Binyon’s office manager, “so it’s nice that the environmental impact concern of daily contact users has an answer.”
The solution came to Binyon Vision Center’s attention through their Bausch + Lomb representative. Since the program’s 2016 inception, more than two million used contact lens materials have been recycled through the ONE by ONE program, saving more than 14,000 pounds of waste.
And the benefits don’t stop there. As a thank you for communities’ dedication to “eliminating the idea of waste,” for every qualifying shipment of two pounds or more, a one dollar per pound donation is made to Optometry Giving Sight, an organization dedicated to providing eye exams and glasses to impoverished nations. In April 2018, Bausch + Lomb reported that more than $14,000 had been raised for Optometry Giving Sight through the ONE by ONE program.
Contacts, blister packs and foil covers can be brought to Binyon Vision Center for proper recycling. Photo courtesy: Binyon Vision Center.
TerraCycle offers a range of free programs funded by conscientious companies, as well as for-purchase recycling solutions for almost every form of waste. They focus on helping people recycle hard-to-recycle items. Their free programs include food wrappers, drink pouches, Febreze products and, of course, contact lenses.
Once waste is received by TerraCycle, contact lenses and blister packs are separated by composition and cleaned. The metal layers of the blister packs are recycled separately and other components are melted into plastic that can be remolded to make recycled products.
“Because of hearing patients’ concerns and our own concerns, it was a no-brainer to join this program,” says Bruno, “You don’t need to be our patients; if you’ve got a lot of contact lens waste, you’re more than welcome to drop it by here too.”
Binyon Vision Center recommends contact lens wearers place a separate waste receptacle close to where they insert and remove contacts. You could even double-down on your recycling skills and use an empty tissue container or shoe box. Go the extra mile for young contact wearers with a box-decorating party to celebrate your contribution to recycling.
Adirondack chairs like this can be made from recycled contact lens packaging. Photo courtesy: Binyon Vision Center.
Recycling contact lens waste is easy. When you open and insert a new contact, simply empty the saline solution down the drain and place leftover waste products in the dedicated (and possibly decorated) receptacle. When you’re finished with your contacts, dispose of them in your container as well. You don’t even have to clean contact lens waste before putting it in your designated container. Once your container is full, bring it to Binyon Vision Center for disposal.
Protecting our communities and wildlife, and preserving the environment for future generations is important. And taking these small steps helps. Contact lenses are designed to help people see better. Help Binyon Vision Center make it a world worth seeing by recycling your contact lenses materials today.
Children have plenty of play options at Launching Success, including while they're in the store with their parents. Photo credit: Matt Benoit.
In a time of seemingly endless technological distractions, from social media to streaming video content, there are still places where the old-fashioned idea of “playtime” is alive and well – where the beckoning blue light of electronic screens can’t be found.
The building blocks of development must be nurtured with hands-on learning and playtime. Photo credit: Matt Benoit.
One of these places is Launching Success, a learning-based toy store that’s been part of the Whatcom County community for 15 years.
Jen Zimmermann, in her fifth year of store co-ownership, encourages both parents and children to more frequently disconnect from their devices and re-connect with each other. “I feel like, sometimes, families don’t always know what to do with each other anymore,” she says. “If we’re not engaging in some kind of technology or media, then what do we do together?”
Fortunately, Launching Success has a plethora of solutions. The store is filled with non-electronic options, from science and slime kits to hand puppets and crafts. “Our focus is quality play,” says Zimmermann. “How do you encourage quality play? How do you empower kids through these toys, not technology?”
Change in Play
Launching Success offers plenty of outside activity suggestions, including Frisbees, kites and even some drones. Photo credit: Matt Benoit.
Zimmermann says the widespread use of social media and smart technology seems to be reaching a younger and younger audience, as compared to a decade ago. If children use that technology often enough, in lieu of face-to-face interaction, it can cause issues. “You’re not engaging with someone when you’re on your phone,” she says. “You’re watching things, listening, but you’re not engaging back and forth.”
Zimmermann has parents come into the store saying their children are struggling in school, unsure of how to behave in social situations or how to adequately understand their own emotions. Even among her employees, the youngest seem less likely to answer the store phone when it rings; they’re accustomed to texting as their primary form of phone-based communication.
Although technology has given us the ability to interact far more and over greater distances, it still hasn’t changed the need for humans to understand one another in face-to-face situations. “It’s a shift in play and a shift in learning,” says Zimmermann of more frequent technology use among children.
Science-based play kits, like these, are popular items at Launching Success. Photo credit: Matt Benoit.
As a mother of three, with kids ranging from age 10 to 20, Zimmermann has noticed behavioral playtime differences between her oldest and youngest daughters. When her college-aged daughter was 10, screen time was less ubiquitous. Her daughter had one hand-held electronic device: an iPod.
Today, Zimmerman’s 10-year-old has three devices: a Kindle Fire, her mother’s old tablet and her older sister’s iPod. She’s sometimes more apt to engage with her tablet than with other people. To overcome this tendency, Zimmermann encourages her daughter to play outside and engage in activities with her, even if it’s just kicking a ball around the yard.
Her daughter enjoys plenty of non-digital activities: she likes bike riding, playing with Legos, doing arts and crafts, and helping her mom garden. She recently finished painting a wooden bird feeder for the backyard. “We want kids to be problem-solvers and creative thinkers,” Zimmermann says. “We want them to come up with solutions on their own by using something other than an electronic device.”
Ways to Play
Launching Success has hundreds of options for getting your kids off their devices and into some old-fashioned playtime. Photo credit: Matt Benoit.
Zimmermann has many suggestions for old-fashioned family playtime:
Play a card or board game with your children
Go outside and throw a Frisbee
Fly a kite
If you’re a bit older, show your grandkids the art of playing with a “foxtail softie,” a foam ball with a nylon tail that’s very fun to throw around
Take a walk by the water or in the woods
No matter what you do, the point is to spend quality time interacting with your children. Give them opportunities to engage with you, allowing them to work on their social, emotional and motor skills, all while having fun.
In addition to a vast array of “analog” toys, Launching Success also holds in-store events where children do arts and crafts and take part in games. For a non-electronic solitary activity this summer, children can sign up for the store’s summer reading club. Parents can also request to receive mail-out quarterly toy catalogs.
Children have plenty of play options at Launching Success, including while they’re in the store with their parents. Photo credit: Matt Benoit.
For parents like Kim Howland, it’s all more than enough reason to shop at Launching Success regularly. “The quality toys they offer encourage discovery, imagination, thinking and learning,” she says of the store. “They offer the kind of toys that really add value to our playtime. That play value is very important to our family.”
Launching Success Learning Store is located at 133 Prince Avenue in Bellingham, off the Guide Meridian. The store is open 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sundays.
Sehome won its fourth consecutive 2A Scholastic Cup championship. The Lyncs girls' soccer team helped by claiming the state academic title. Photo courtesy: Sehome High School.
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association announced its annual Scholastic Cup champions – one for each of the six high school classifications. Two of the recipients call Whatcom County home as Sehome captured the overall title in the 2A ranks and Lynden Christian earned the 1A championship.
The Sehome boys’ cross country team joined the Mariners girls’ squad as 2A state champions this year. Photo courtesy: Sehome High School.
The Scholastic Cup is a year-long competition which recognizes the top school in each of the six WIAA classifications (4A, 3A, 2A, 1A, 2B and 1B). The award is based on academic, athletic and sportsmanship excellence with points being awarded for a school’s finish in each of the athletic and academic state championships.
The Mariners and Lyncs are joined by Camas (4A), Interlake (3A), Saint George’s (2B) and Almira Coulee Hartline (1B) as this year’s Scholastic Cup champions.
Picking up a Scholastic Cup has become habit for Sehome, which won its fourth consecutive title and sixth overall.
“Clearly our coaches really understand the importance of competing hard, but also making academics a priority for the kids,” Sehome athletic director Colin Cushman said. “This is a shared award for the entire Sehome community.”
The Lynden Christian girls’ golf team captured the state academic title this year, helping the Lyncs win the 1A Scholastic Cup. Photo courtesy: Lynden Christian High School.
The Mariners finished with 1,435 total points for the year, easily outdistancing runner-up Selah, which collected 1,140 points. Bellingham was third with 1,105, marking the Red Raiders best placing since winning the Scholastic Cup in 2014.
Sehome’s final point count is the school’s second highest during its four-year run. The Mariners won Scholastic Cups in 2017 with 1,490 points, in 2016 with 1,380 and in 2015 with 1,425.
Sehome now has six titles all-time, the most for any 2A program. Mercer Island (9), King’s (9) and Bear Creek School (8) are the only schools with more Scholastic Cups.
Sehome won athletic state championships in both boys’ and girls’ cross country and academic titles in girls’ soccer.
The Mariners received points in 12 athletic activities, including a second-place finish at state in boys’ tennis, and in 15 scholastic categories, where they finished second in state in band, boys’ golf and boys’ wrestling.
Squalicum won the girls tennis title in the 3A classification after the team finished with a combined 3.982 GPA – the highest for any spring sports team regardless of classification. Photo courtesy: Squalicum High School.
“Our seniors do a great job of modeling what it means to be a Sehome Mariner when our freshmen walk in the door,” Cushman said. “We do our best to teach and model for all of our kids the Mariner Core Covenants – grit, integrity, trust and commitment. We believe that when we focus on these covenants and the important life lessons that are learned through athletics, that winning will take care of itself.”
Bellingham finished third overall in the 2A classification, highlighted by state academic championships in football and girl’s gymnastics. The Red Raiders were also state academic runner-ups in dance/drill, boys’ soccer and boys’ tennis.
While Sehome registered its fourth straight title, Lynden Christian picked up its first 1A Scholastic Cup championship, winning the crown in lopsided fashion.
Last year, the Lyncs finished second overall in the standings after Freeman edged Lynden Christian by a mere 15 points to claim the title.
Things were not nearly as close this time around as Lynden Christian posted 1,500 points. Freeman was a distant second with 1,075, while King’s came in third with 895.
The Lynden Christian fastpitch team had a combined GPA of 3.780 – the highest among 1A programs. Photo courtesy: Lynden Christian High School.
“It’s a wonderful way to cap off the 2017-18 school year for our school and our students,” Lynden Christian athletic director Brenda Terpstra said. “We have come in second a few times, so this is very exciting. We value winning the Scholastic Cup because it’s an award that cannot be won without the work of all of our students, teachers, coaches and directors inside and outside the classroom in our sports and activities such as band, orchestra, choir, drama.”
The Lyncs notched points in eight athletic events, led by state championships in both boys and girls basketball.
Lynden Christian scored in 15 academic categories. The girls’ golf and fastpitch teams both closed out the spring sports season by earning state academic titles. The Lyncs had an average GPA of 3.886 for their girl’s golf team, while fastpitch finished with a 3.780.
In addition, the Lyncs won state academic championships in boys’ cross country and orchestra and were second in state academically in band, choir, drama, girls’ track and field and volleyball.
Sehome won its fourth consecutive 2A Scholastic Cup championship. The Lyncs girls’ soccer team helped by claiming the state academic title. Photo courtesy: Sehome High School.
“This is only my second year with these seniors, but what a great group of students,” Terpstra said. “They have been positive leaders and have left LC a better place. We are excited to see what the next chapters of their lives will bring, and we look forward to watching them use their gifts and talents as an influence in their communities.”
Squalicum finished 12th in the 3A ranks. The Storm finished with a trio of state academic titles in girls’ basketball, girls’ soccer and girls’ tennis, which saw its 13-member team finish with a combined 3.982 GPA – the highest for any spring sports team regardless of classification.
This little piggy can't wait to enjoy his food scraps! Photo courtesy: Ten Fold Farm.
Okay, you caught us – nothing is that easy. But Ten Fold Farm and Sustainable Connections are working on a Food Recovery Initiative that aims to eliminate food waste in Whatcom County. How does this save the world? Mark Peterson, Sustainable Business Manager at Sustainable Connections, reported that in a study researching how to decrease human impact on the global climate, reducing food waste was number three on the list.
According to Mark, humans waste about 40 percent of our global food supply. And, it’s not just food we’re wasting, it’s the resources that went into growing that food, as well. That includes land, water, fertilizer, soil, transportation, fuel and countless hours of labor by the farmers and everyone involved. Instead of allowing these resources to be wasted, The Food Recovery Initiative takes excess food product from local restaurants and businesses and redistributes it to local shelters, farms or manufacturers.
Besides helping decrease our contribution to global food waste, the Food Recovery Initiative also supports local farmers, contributes to the humane treatment of farm animals and creates a more sustainable, connected local economy. So, by buying a berry – or whatever food you prefer – from a farm participating in the Food Recovery Initiative, you are in part saving the world.
The initiative, managed by Sustainable Connections, aims to create partnerships between businesses and farmers to reduce food waste and eventually eliminate food waste altogether. Modeled after the Food Waste Pyramid, the initiative essentially recycles food waste based on its usability. The first step on the pyramid is to simply cut down on making excess food. In the event you do have extra, here are the steps the Food Recovery Initiative wants restaurants to go through before tossing it out.
Feed the Hungry
Find Ten Fold Farms produce at local farmers markets. Photo courtesy: Ten Fold Farm.
On top of the pyramid is feeding hungry people. If restaurants have leftover meals suitable for human consumption, the portions are picked up by local hunger relief networks to feed people in need. Some participants include the Miracle Food Network, Northwest Youth Services, The Lighthouse Mission and Catholic Community Services. These non-profits are conducting daily pickups from local restaurants around Whatcom County and feeding people who would otherwise go hungry.
Team Up with a Farm
For non-edible leftovers like food scraps, wilting produce or foods past their expiration date, grocery stores and restaurants can team up with a local farm (like Ten Fold Farm) to use the scraps as animal feed. This not only helps local farmers financially, but also supports the humane treatment of animals.
While standing next to a pen of cheery pigs, Ten Fold Farm Owner Tiffany explains, “You could sustain yourself off oatmeal and some vitamins for every meal, but would you be happy about it? The food scraps keep my animals happy; they don’t want to eat boring grain every day, either.”
And happier animals mean healthier animals. Donated food scraps increase the quality of nutrition the animals get. In the end, the better the pigs get fed, the better the consumers get fed, too.
Getting scraps makes farm animals happy and healthy. Photo courtesy: Ten Fold Farm.
Non-edible scraps can sometimes be turned into oil or fuel by local manufacturing companies or, if there are no other uses, composted or put in the landfill.
The Food Recovery Initiative started in June of 2017. Ten Fold Farm was one of the pioneer participants and had been doing food recovery partnerships with local restaurants since before the initiative came into effect. Owners Tiffany and Chris have picked up scraps from northwater restaurant at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites since it opened in 2017 and last year took in over two tons that would have otherwise been thrown in the landfill.
Tiffany ran into Mark Peterson at a Farm to Table event hosted by Sustainable Connections and the two got talking about what Ten Fold Farm was doing to reduce food waste. After many conversations and meetings, Mark began creating a network of other restaurants and farmers that could implement the same practices Tiffany started. This network is now part of the Food Recovery Initiative.
For now, farmers are responsible for picking up scraps and then washing and returning the scrap buckets, but Mark is hoping to add a delivery infrastructure in the near future. Though it does take some extra effort on her part, Tiffany says it’s worth it to keep her animals happy and create strong community relationships.
This little piggy can’t wait to enjoy his food scraps! Photo courtesy: Ten Fold Farm.
“When you’re dropping off product to a restaurant, your interaction is very professional and to-the-point. But when you pick up food scraps, it’s an entirely different level of connection,” she says. “You talk about the farm or about the animals and have real conversations.”
Tiffany fondly remembers a northwater scrap pickup after a litter of piglets was born. The northwater employees not only had her regular scraps, but set aside a special bucket of strawberry tops and other special treats for the baby pigs. It’s relationships like this that build community and keep the county thriving. Plus, it made the piglets happy, too.
The Relaxation Room at The Chrysalis Inn & Spa is the perfect spot to unwind before your spa treatment beings. Photo courtesy: Chrysalis Inn & Spa.
It’s a bit ironic that nobody could use a world-class spa treatment right now more than Sandy Sallee. After all, she’s the spa director at the Chrysalis Inn & Spa. But when she went on her first solo backpacking trip of the year, things took a bad turn, and she found herself in need of some healing and rejuvenation of her own.
With the introduction of online booking it has never been easier to book a treatment session at The Chrysalis Inn & Spa. Photo courtesy: Chrysalis Inn & Spa.
While trekking through the Chuckanut Wilderness on a cool May evening, Sandy’s foot caught on an embankment, rolling and fracturing her fibula. She was four miles away from her car. Alone and in pain, Sandy needed to get back to her vehicle to get help. A seasoned backpacker of 15 years, Sandy had never been in this situation, but she knew what she had to do – hike back four miles on a broken bone. She was able to complete the descent to her car and, eventually, to the hospital where she received x-rays confirming the broken bone.
Fast-forward a few days, and Sandy is now in the rehabilitation stages of her leg treatment. But she isn’t completely taking it easy. Sandy’s still working, helping Chrysalis Inn & Spa guests find rejuvenation and restorative relaxation methods at the beautiful location nestled on Bellingham Bay.
“Our spa is unique in that we are completely locally owned,” Sandy says. “Our location and our hardworking staff combine to provide guests with a certain healing energy that gets them feeling their best.”
The Chrysalis Inn & Spa is both professional and down-to-Earth. You can expect first-rate service, but the atmosphere isn’t stuffy or stuck-up. Here, you can unwind and have all your needs met.
Guests undergo hydrating manicure and pedicure treatments at The Chrysalis Inn & Spa’s nail room. Photo courtesy: Chrysalis Inn & Spa.
And now it’s easier than ever to successfully secure a reservation at the Chrysalis. Their new online booking system lets you book your spa treatments with just a few simple clicks. “Our new online booking system is really easy to use,” Sandy says. “This way, if you’re unable to reach a staff member by phone, you can schedule your time with us on your computer or mobile device.”
Sandy says there’s nothing quite like receiving comment cards from satisfied guests. Spa clients can leave comment cards for their specific massage therapist or the greater spa staff as a whole. For Sandy, it’s even more memorable when first-time customers leave satisfactory reviews.
Things don’t always go as expected. Sandy recalls a time when a guest came in for a facial treatment and immediately called back, very upset, because her ring was missing. The staff at the Chrysalis worked to set things right.
Sandy and her team searched the entire spa as well as the parking lot to find the ring. Erin, the guest’s esthetician, even took apart their vacuum cleaner to see if the ring was hiding inside.
The Relaxation Room at The Chrysalis Inn & Spa is the perfect spot to unwind before your spa treatment beings. Photo courtesy: Chrysalis Inn & Spa.
Fortunately, the guest called back later that day because she found her ring – it wasn’t at the spa at all. She was very appreciative of the extra effort the staff put in. “We’ve had people lose jewelry in the spa before, due to it going into our laundry,” Sandy says. “We’ve even taken apart the plumbing to find jewelry. We switched to robes without pockets and that’s helped.”
For Sandy, the best part of working at the Chrysalis is the people – the staff she gets to work with on a daily basis and the guests that make their job worthwhile. There’s a nurturing and positive energy at the Chrysalis, making each day on the job a fun and relaxed experience. Soon she may just book a restorative treatment of her own.
You can easily schedule your own spa treatments using their online booking system. Arrive to your appointment early and take advantage of their steam room, showers and relaxation lounge accompanied by views of pristine ponds and tranquil waterfalls.
Kevin Wiebe is a Ferndale native. Although he graduated from Ferndale High School, he admits he wasn't a model student. His teachers and administrators...
