Experience Enchanting Acts at the Mermaid Festival in Grays Harbor

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Mermaids, fire dancers and unicorns, oh my! Meet magical creatures and learn incredible stories at the 2024 Mermaid Festival in Grays Harbor. Photo courtesy: Rachel Novak

Dive into a world of underwater fantasy and fun at the Mermaid Festival happening April 6-14, 2024, at the International Mermaid Museum at Westport Winery Garden Resort, halfway between Westport and Aberdeen on the Washington Coast. At the festival, in addition to meeting mermaids, you will see aerial acrobats take to the skies and even meet unicorns. The entire family will enjoy free entertainment at the multi-day festival that runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes free admission to the museum’s incredible exhibits until 6 p.m. daily. Talented local performers and artists will leave you breathless.

Meet These Incredible Talents at the Mermaid Festival 2024

Una the Mermaid

Say “Shell-o” to Una the Mermaid at the 2024 Mermaid Festival! Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Una has deep ties to the ocean she calls home. Since the mid-2000s she has been donning a mermaid tail – made by herself! – and performing for humans in her 900-gallon traveling tank inspired by the circus wagons from the late 19th Century. You won’t want to miss her underwater performances at the Festival!

two little girls visit a woman dressed as a mermaid who is in a tank full of water — *Meet Una the Mermaid at the free Mermaid Festival in Grays Harbor. Photo courtesy: Una the Mermaid LLC*

Being a mermaid is not easy! The temperature of the water, the water treatment plan, muscle cramps, and learning how not to blow bubbles when interacting with humans are just some of the challenges. “Being an underwater performer comes with many challenges, but if we mermaids are successful, we make it look easy!” Una shares.

“Each visitor will have an opportunity to take unlimited selfies and receive a special ocean treasure,” says Una about her upcoming performances during the Mermaid Festival. “Guests will also have an opportunity to meet the quirky Ziggy Maelstrom, a sea traveler and mermaid handler. He will share his knowledge of ocean mythology and mermaid facts!”

PNW Unicorns

Crystal Steagall is bringing the PNW Unicorns to delight visitors of all ages at the Mermaid Festival in Grays Harbor. “The unicorns bring tons of smiles – kids love them, and even the grown-ups can’t help but grin,” she shares. “It’s really nice how they add a touch of magic to everyone’s life, which is exactly why I do unicorn meet and greets – to spread joy and enchantment wherever they go!”

two white horses with unicorn horns on are greeted by guests at the Mermaid Festival in Grays Harbor — *Meet the PNW Unicorns this April at the free Mermaid Festival in Grays Harbor. Photo courtesy: PNW Unicorns*

The PNW Unicorns will greet guests daily as part of the free entertainment at the Mermaid Festival. The PNW Unicorns are both rescue horses, and helping nonprofits is a big part of why Crystal does what she does. “Bringing individuals closer to horses helps them recognize the importance of keeping these beautiful animals safe and supporting animal nonprofits in their mission,” explains Crystal.

Rachel, the Sailing Siren and Firedancer

Rachel Novak is a Performance Freediving International freediving and mermaid instructor, a PADI Divemaster and a mermaid performance artist. “For anyone without a diving background, freediving is the sport of diving using only one breath to explore the underwater world,” Rachel explains. Her career has taken her to some amazing depths, including underwater stunt work for the blockbuster film “Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever.” She has also held the titles of Sea Queen of Nevada and Miss Mermaid Nevada.

two woman dressed as mermaid swim in the ocean near some rocks and a huge school of fish. — *Rachel Novak is a mermaid instructor, but she will be wowing crowds at the 2024 Mermaid Festival with her fire dancing skills. Photo courtesy: Rachel Novak*

If that wasn’t cool enough, she has been a fire dancer since the age of 16, traveling around the world, including being a featured fire entertainer in “Celestia,” a circus show in Las Vegas and earning the title Fire Entertainer of the Year 2016. Her routines include the art of spinning fire around her body using props, including poi, staff, hoops or fans. Rachel will be wowing the crowds at the 2024 Mermaid Festival with her fire dancing four times daily.

“I love coming to the International Mermaid Festival because it is an incredible way to connect with mermaid enthusiasts, the local mermaid community, and to support an organization that uses art and fantasy to educate people about our oceans,” Rachel says. “As a freediver and scuba diver, I love being in the ocean, and the International Mermaid Museum plants the seeds for people to learn more about our oceans so they can explore them and protect them.”

Vertical Axis

Amanda Thorton and her partner in life and in the sky, Nick Perry, make up Vertical Axis! They both have over a decade of experience in aerial arts, and their expertise is quickly proven in the silks. They will be part of the free entertainment at the Mermaid Festival 2024. Watch their breathtaking aerial acrobatics performance as they flip, fly, and dive through the air in fluid movements that create the illusion of swimming through the air! It makes sense, as Amanda often dons fins as a mermaid, too.

Nick Perry and Amanda Thornton perform on silk ropes. Amands does the splits while Nick stands next to her. — *The husband-and-wife duo that make up Vertical Axis will leave you breathless as they soar through the air at the Mermaid Festival in Grays Harbor. Photo credit: John Cornicello*

“You can expect high-energy music, exhilarating aerial acrobatics, goofy energy and touching moments,” shares Nick. “Audiences are always welcome to cheer, yell and whoop along as we fly through the air!”

“We think it’s incredible to have a place in Westport that is dedicated to our favorite sea creatures,” adds Amanda. “Getting to share our story and performance with an audience that shares our love of whimsy and mermaids is the greatest treasure!”

Brianna Tibbets

“I always love attending events where the idea is to bring together people who are passionate about something,” shares Brianna Tibbets, an author of children’s fairy tales and contemporary fantasy. And it’s this reason that keeps her coming back to the Mermaid Festival in Grays Harbor. “The Mermaid Festival brings together all kinds of people who share a love for mermaids, ocean adventures, and creative arts. I always have a wonderful time talking to people about what they love, and the Mermaid Festival is a great place to do just that. It’s also such a joy to see young kids running around in face paint, glitter, and sparkling mermaid scales. It’s a really fun event that I’m grateful to keep getting invited back to!”

At the 2024 Mermaid Festival, you can meet author Brianna Tibbetts, purchase her books and get them signed. Photo courtesy: Brianna Tibbetts

This year, meet Brianna at her author’s table, where she will have a few of her books on hand to buy and will be signing copies, including “The Knight in Battered Armor,” a children’s book, “Wags, Woofs, and Wonders,” an anthology of magical dog stories, and “Head Over Tails,” a contemporary fantasy romance that is now out of print – the Mermaid Festival will be the only place to get a physical, signed copy!

Olive the Alchemist, Mermaid Instructor

Olive Teague—known as Olive the Alchemist—has been a mermaid her whole life. “My parents started me early with Infant Self-Rescue lessons,” she explains. I stayed in competitive water sports through college and was privileged to train beneath a variety of Olympic and Olympic Qualifying athletes, including Michael Phelps.”

She spent 2016-2020 as a professional mermaid character with Walt Disney World Entertainment. “I developed a passion—maybe an addiction—for that blurring line between ‘this is just a person in a costume’ and ‘mermaids are real, and they ARE just people in costumes,’ Olive shares. In 2021, she started Alchemy Aquatics Entertainment LLC and The Seattle Mermaid School. Here, she teaches people how to safely swim with mermaid tails.

woman dressed as a mermaid swimming through kelp — *Dream of being a mermaid? Come talk to Olive the Alchemist and her guild in Grays Harbor at the 2024 Mermaid Festival! Photo credit: Brett Stanley*

As part of the free entertainment at the Mermaid Festival, the entire Alchemist’s Guild will be there daily. Visit their booth to find Seattle Mermaid School merchandise, learn about their classes and more. Pick up a collectible brochure with the singing locations of each mermaid at the Festival. Olive the Alchemist will be found on the Main Throne at the Mermaid Museum entrance for signatures and photos.

“The magical thing about the Mermaid Museum is that it brings people from all these different walks of life together and creates a magical and enriching experience for all who enter its doors,” shares Olive.

Don’t miss the 2024 Mermaid Festival happening at the International Mermaid Museum in unforgettable Grays Harbor County.

International Mermaid Museum’s Mermaid Festival
April 6-14, 2024
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. (free admission to the Museum until 6 p.m.)
1 South Arbor Road, Aberdeen

Go to the Mermaid Museum website to see the entertainment schedule. In addition to the performers the festival hosts an array of artists, food vendors, and activities for all ages during the event.

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Kris Carroll Creates New Worlds With Special Effects and Costumes

By

Steven Arbuckle

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Kris-Carroll-Bellingham-Washington-artist-sculptor-costumer — Carroll holds a Mardi Gras-inspired headpiece, standing between a Victorian-era ladies suit and a “glam” version of Jason Vorhees, protagonist of the "Friday the 13th" movies. Photo credit: Steven Arbuckle

By day, one can find Kris Carroll working at a hospital, helping produce images that guide doctors and patients through diagnoses and treatments. By night, she might be in a cabin in the woods, with fake blood and guts flying in all directions. Or maybe hovering around a mannequin, putting together a whimsical, magical costume. Wherever she is, there will also be evidence of this creative’s life of diverse interests and experiences.

Carroll was born in Grants Pass, Oregon. Her father was a career Navy man, so her family moved every three years. Though they saw some far-flung locales like Hawaii, they lived mainly in the Northwest.

When she was in the sixth grade, Carroll’s father took her to a screening of the classic 1931 film Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi. She never truly recovered from the experience. “Then came Godzilla, and I loved the size of these big kaijus,” she says. “I loved all the monsters and the scary stuff, and I loved Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.”

Turns out her taste for the unusual also had a medical aspect. Fascinated by anatomy books, Carroll begged her parents to get her a Visible Woman, a model of a woman with transparent skin, which featured a skeleton and complete set of removable internal organs. It’s possible she knew then that her life might vary a little from the common. “My sister was getting Barry Manilow records, and I’m getting the Visible woman, you know? I was never really a doll person…unless the doll came apart.”

Carroll created a full set of internal organs to fill this skeletal torso so an Anacortes hospital could test out its newest imaging technology. Photo credit: Steven Arbuckle

At 18 years old, Carroll followed her interests to Lake Washington Voc. Tech. in Kirkland, Washington, where she studied to become a medical assistant. Over the next few years, she learned she had a talent in X-ray technology and at the age of 28 returned to school to specialize in X-rays and CAT scans. She continues to work in that field today.

Her Mother’s Influence

Carroll’s mother sewed a lot, as the family was on a fixed income. “She sewed all of our Halloween costumes, and I always thought it was great that she could make us anything we wanted,” Carroll says. “She never taught me to sew, but I think it was always in my DNA, because after she passed, I bought a machine and kind of picked up what she had done.” Carroll learned to customize her clothing, and to make pieces from scratch. She also learned she could stretch her budget by disassembling products and finding alternative sources for material.

She recalls entering a costume competition with a boyfriend and looking into clown costumes. She found the jumpers she wanted for $250 apiece, but recognized they could be made from $40 worth of fabric. She began to learn a whole new set of skills and added them to her repertoire. Notably, she learned to make “appliances” — sculpted fake body parts, like ears and noses — that could truly transform a person’s appearance.

A rogues’ gallery of characters from Carroll’s imagination line up with her take on Freddy Krueger (far left). Photo credit: Steven Arbuckle

Armed with an airbrush, Carroll painted these appliances to look extremely realistic, and soon was sweeping the awards at any costume contest she entered.

“You have your normal costumes that people recognize, or they think are funny,” she says. “And then, if you bring in something that’s outlandish and huge, like with stilts and all that, people kind of lose their minds.”

Bringing It All Together

A similar venue where people enjoy losing their minds is Bleedingham, the long-running annual festival that celebrates short horror films made mostly in the local area. It wasn’t long before Carroll’s talents were noticed by the folks who manage the competition and the crews that produce the films. She has enjoyed being a part of that world for several years now, and her house is full of bloody and irreverent creations crafted for those movies, as well as a collection of awards she’s won for her contributions.

Carroll has won multiple awards at the annual Bleedingham film festival. Photo credit: Steven Arbuckle

Outside of Bleedingham, Carroll has worked with a number of other independent filmmakers, both in Bellingham and regionally. The zombies, demons, and horrific wounds she’s created are joined by masks, suits of centurion armor, and whimsical creatures from every corner of the imagination.

Not one to miss out on an opportunity, Carroll has also been involved with projects that combine her artistic talents, her love of gross and gory effects, and her medical background — all at the same time. She’s made appliances that allow healthcare workers to practice stitching up wounds on silicon, with layers that represent skin, fat, and muscle to make the training realistic. One particular project found her filling a simulated torso with realistic internal organs — heart, lungs, stomach, spleen, and more — that allowed technicians to hide items among and inside of the organs, so they could test a scanner to be sure it could identify those foreign objects.

Putting on a Show

In addition to sculpting what’s inside the body, Carroll has put together an impressive array of costumes to adorn people’s outsides. A love for Carnival celebrations around the world and a visit to Mardi Gras in New Orleans inspired a series of gowns, capes, and headpieces in brilliant colors, dripping with beads, jewels, and feathers. She also dreams up relatively straight forward period costumes, like a Victorian lady’s suit, and plenty one-of-a-kind characters, like the 1950s-inspired Bee Lady, who not only has a beehive hairdo but the face of a bee, as well.

Victorian clothing, a “glam” Jason Vorhees, Batman’s Joker and, well, whatever that may be on the right, ha! Photo credit: Steven Arbuckle

Lucky audiences have caught pop-up fashion shows at local bars Rumors and the Grand Avenue Ale House, and Carroll is more than happy to show off her wares anywhere she’s invited. She also sells some of her creations, since there’s only so much room in her home to store them. Interested parties can message her through her “Gemini Sfx” Facebook page.

A Love for Travel

Alongside the glamour and gore on display at Carroll’s house are artifacts she’s gathered while indulging in another passion: travel and adventure. A mammoth’s rib bone hangs on a wall near the tibia of a buffalo that lived in the Pleistocene era. There’s a friend’s photograph of her in diving gear on the ocean floor, taking her own picture of a bull shark that is frighteningly close to her, and another photo of a Komodo dragon, ambling towards Carroll across the sands of its native Indonesia.

Another photo shows her in India, playing a flute to set a dancing cobra, as well as a pair of cheetahs in Africa that engaged in a hunt while she watched. And she’s not finished yet — Carroll’s list of future travels include a few things she wants to see before it’s too late. She’d love to visit Churchill, Manitoba, to see a polar bear before their habitat vanishes, and Borneo to see for herself the last of the orangutans.

In between excursions, it’s worth keeping an eye out for Carroll’s latest creations, whether at a local pop-up “fashion show,” on the silver screen, or through whatever type of event she cooks up next.

A couple of zombies share a shelf with a headpiece inspired by the costumes worn at carnival celebrations. Photo credit: Steven Arbuckle

Comcast Boosts Speeds for 37,000+ Xfinity Internet Customers in Whatcom County

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LocalTalk Contributor

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Submitted by Comcast

As the need for data increases in ever-connected households in Whatcom County, Xfinity is ensuring customers can stream, surf, and share on a network and service they can rely on today and in the future. More than 37,000 Xfinity Internet customers in Whatcom County who subscribe to value-focused products — Connect, Connect More, Fast and Prepaid — are getting faster speeds starting this week at no additional cost.

“For the second time in about a year and a half, we’ve made our Xfinity Internet packages faster in Washington. This keeps up with our nearly 20-year history of increasing internet speeds,” explained Rodrigo Lopez, the Senior Vice President of Comcast’s Pacific Northwest Region. “People watching live sports online, playing video games, and using other apps that need a lot of data are using the internet more than ever. Plus, with the potential that funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program will not be renewed, we’ve really focused on making our internet faster, especially for our more affordable plans, so all our customers can enjoy these new features.”

Starting today, new and existing customers throughout Whatcom County can take advantage of the following speed increases:

Connect: 75 Mbps to 150 Mbps
Connect More: 200 Mbps to 300 Mbps
Fast: 400 Mbps to 500 Mbps
Xfinity Prepaid: 50 Mbps to 200 Mbps

Value Beyond Fast Speeds in Washington State

The speed increases rolling out today are made possible by Comcast’s fiber-based network which has been built to deliver an exceptional Internet experience, ubiquitously, to the more than 2.8 million homes and businesses across Washington. Fast speed is an important feature of a comprehensive connectivity experience that also combines this powerful network with sophisticated hardware and software to deliver incredible benefits to consumers:

99.99% Reliability – Fast Internet speeds won’t matter if you don’t have a reliable broadband connection. Xfinity has 99.99 percent reliability, and the Xfinity network utilizes artificial intelligence to keep customers connected by fixing issues before they even affect homes.
Cybersecurity – xFi Advanced Security, included for free for customers who lease an Xfinity gateway, protects connected devices from malware and other threats at the gateway before they reach connected household devices. Since launching xFi Advanced Security, Xfinity has stopped more than 10 billion cyber security threats.
Next-Level WiFi – Next-generation Xfinity gateways deliver advanced WiFi capacity to power hundreds of devices in homes and more than a billion devices each year across Comcast’s network.
- Later this year, Comcast will introduce its latest gateway, the XB10, the first to incorporate unified DOCSIS 4.0, WiFi 7, and AI technologies. The XB10 will be capable of delivering symmetrical multi-gig speeds over WiFi and connect up to 300 devices.
- WiFi Boost Pods work with Xfinity gateways to extend WiFi coverage to hard-to-reach areas of the home. The latest WiFi extender, Storm-Ready WiFi, is Xfinity’s most powerful device to date and helps maintain a strong connection even if the power goes out. Visit an Xfinity store or visit Xfinity.com to learn more about Storm-Ready WiFi.

Keeping Washington Customers Connected

The federal government recently announced that the Affordable Connectivity Program could end as early as April if it does not receive additional funding. The speed increases rolling out today will help to ensure those who may be affected by the end of ACP will continue to have access to fast, affordable, reliable Internet options.

Xfinity Promotional Offers – ACP participants who are existing Xfinity customers or new to Xfinity can take advantage of current promotional offers. Customers are encouraged to call 1-800-Xfinity to learn more about what offers may be available in their area. Teams are ready to work with customers to move them to a plan that fits their budget and connectivity needs if they will no longer be able to afford their current tier of service without the $30 ACP benefit.
Internet Essentials – Xfinity customers benefitting from ACP are automatically eligible to enroll in Internet Essentials for as low as $9.95 a month or Internet Essentials Plus, which doubles the speed of traditional Internet Essentials for $29.95 per month. Both services provide fast and reliable home Internet with no credit checks or cancellation fees and come with equipment included.

To learn more about Xfinity’s Internet and connectivity solutions for customers, click here.

Spring Forward With Puget Sound Energy’s Home Efficiency Tips

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LocalTalk Contributor

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sunset clouds — Photo credit: Stacee Sledge

“The Big Dark” is over! As the sun is starting to stay up longer in the evening it’s also time to start your spring cleaning list, which Puget Sound Energy is here to help with.

Daylight Saving Time starts Sunday, March 10. Puget Sound Energy (PSE) wants to remind customers it has energy saving rebates aimed at keeping project costs low, reducing your carbon footprint, and even lowering your energy bills.

Whether your home improvement needs are big or small, PSE recommends using these energy saving tips:

Clear the way for efficient heating and cooling.

Spring is a great time to clean heating return registers and replace furnace filters. Looking to upgrade your heating system? Ductless heat pumps come standard with heating and cooling! Whether you need help deciding which equipment works for your home or are considering specific options, PSE offers rebates on a variety of home heating equipment.

Take advantage of the latest home technology.

Devices like smart thermostats allow you to control and keep tabs on home heating usage from anywhere – and this year you can also take advantage of a $75 rebate on select models on the PSE Marketplace. Plus, you can enroll in PSE’s Flex Smart program, which offers additional incentives for you to join others to save energy during times of peak energy demand.

Receive a $500 instant discount on electric hybrid heat pump water heaters.

Heating water is the second-highest use of energy in your home. We’re making it easy to buy efficient heat pump water heaters at participating Lowe’s and Home Depot locations.

Seal in the savings with home weatherization and insulation.

Proper insulation can help keep cool air in and summer heat out. You can also lower your energy bill by preventing heating or cooling loss through unseen leaks and seams with air sealing. New higher rebates for 2024 mean your weatherization project could be very low to no cost.

Make an energy saving plan.

The more you know, the more you can save. Understanding how much energy your home uses and assessing your home’s efficiency is the first step in staying comfortable year-round. Update your home’s profile in your pse.com account, and use the Analyze My Usage tool to get customized energy saving tips and make an energy savings plan for your household.

Want to learn more? Check out the PSE Marketplace for instant rebates. For additional tips to increase the energy efficiency of your home and learn about PSE’s other rebates, visit the PSE Rebates page. To get started on a project today, find a safe and dependable Recommended Energy Professional (REP) at the PSE website. PSE is here to help, there are more energy efficiency tips the PSE website.

Barron KARES Supports Nonprofits With Monthly Donations

By

Matt Benoit

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Barron-Heating-Barron-Karing-Kamper — Brad Barron's 1979 Volkswagen Westfalia Camper is part of Barron Heating's Barron KARES initiative, helping donate funds to local non-profits and charities on a monthly basis. Photo courtesy Barron Heating AC Electrical & Plumbing

As a long-standing business in Whatcom County, Barron Heating AC Electrical & Plumbing CEO Brad Barron says the company’s culture can be described by ‘four Cs of Caring’: co-workers, customers, community, and company.

If they take care of their coworkers, customers, and community, Brad says, the company will do just fine. Doing so means abiding by their core values, which include being a people-first, relationship-focused organization that emphasizes being mindful, trustworthy, and growth-oriented.

“When we look at our core values, it’s important to realize how we participate as a company within our greater community,” says Brad. “As business leaders, we need to help steward the resources to focus in on the parts of our community that are most vulnerable.”

With that in mind, the company has launched Barron KARES, a philanthropic initiative focused on providing a different charity or nonprofit a percentage of select sales each month. The acronym’s letters stand for kindness, appreciation, response, empathy, and service.

“All of those words, to us, mean something,” Brad says.

Brad and John Barron are proud to helm a Whatcom County business that emphasizes giving back to the community and those in need. Photo courtesy Barron Heating AC Electrical & Plumbing

Making a Tangible Difference

When Barron’s leadership team discussed how they specifically wanted to contribute to nonprofit organizations, they settled upon a $110 donation from sales of equipment like tankless water heaters, heat pumps, solar installations, generators, and more.

That dollar amount is especially meaningful to company owner John Barron, who was inspired by a high school wrestling coach to always exceed expectations and give 110% effort. In total, the aim of Barron KARES is to donate at least $10,000 each month to a worthy recipient.

In February, Barron KARES partnered with Skookum Kids — a Northwest Washington nonprofit focused on children in foster care. The organization licenses foster parents, places children in loving homes, cares for them at emergency shelters, and supports families rebuilding after time apart. In the last eight years, Skookum has seen more than 800 children at its emergency shelters.

“They’re really able to take kids that are probably in one of the most vulnerable — if not the most vulnerable — parts of their lives and give them a safe space to land,” says Brad. “They provide the families that raise those foster kids the resources to do it well. Just a really, really amazing organization.”

While Brad doesn’t yet know the exact dollars and cents raised for Skookum in February, he noted the amount is in excess of $10,000, exceeding the monthly goal Barron had set – a big thanks to both long-standing and first-time customers who partnered with Barron in February when they invested in new HVAC, Electrical, and Plumbing systems.

The official logo for the Barron KARES initiative features Brad Barron’s 1979 Volkswagen, known as the Kindness Kamper, along with the words that make up the acronym. Photo courtesy Barron Heating AC Electrical & Plumbing

Looking Ahead

In March, Barron KARES will support the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, a nationwide nonprofit with the goal of raising awareness and treatment of those affected with multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic neurological condition that effects the central nervous system. In MS, overactive immune cells cause inflammation that damages the fatty layer that insulates nerve fibers. The result is scarring throughout the central nervous system, which prevents nerve signals from transmitting properly.

Not only is March MS Awareness Month, but Barron’s decision is a very personal one: Vivian Barron, the co-founding matriarch of Barron Heating, suffered from relapsing remitting MS. This form of MS (there are several, which vary in progression) features episodes of debilitation followed by periods of dormancy. Vivian suffered with this for most of her adult life, from age 33 until her death at 82 in 2017.

“She was the bravest and most loving, kind woman,” Brad says. “Being able to honor her and get after helping that foundation to find a cure is something we’re proud to do.”

Since notice of the Barron KARES initiative began, community members have responded with suggestions for more than three dozen nonprofit and charitable organizations that may end up being chosen for monthly donations.

“It’s been a really amazing response,” says Brad. “It’s humbling to see how committed our community is to helping those in need, and it confirms why we’re doing what we’re doing. The need is real, the need is large. And as a leader in business, we bear a responsibility to take care of our community. It’s very validating.”

One of Brad’s personal vehicles will also be part of the Barron KARES initiative. His beige 1979 Volkswagen Westfalia Camper is becoming the “Kindness Kamper,” complete with an official logo. Brad will drive the vehicle to personally deliver the final funding amounts to each of the nonprofits who are chosen in the fundraising campaign.

“Our marketing team did a really neat job,” Brad says. “We’re really leaning into it. Hopefully in the future, if someone sees my bus with the ‘Kindness Kamper’ logo driving by, they know exactly what I’m going to do.”

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The History of Bellingham’s Lost Drag Strip

By

Matt Benoit

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Bellingham Drag Strip Oct. 1954 feature — Road Gents member Bob Plumb shows his hot rod to oil company executives during a county visit to tour Ferndale's General Petroleum refinery in October 1954. Bellingham Herald photo courtesy of Phillips 66 refinery

On August 16, 1953, National Hot Rod Association founder Wally Parks stepped onto a stage at the southwest corner of the Bellingham airport. He was there to dedicate a new drag racing facility that was like many of its era: opened to curb street racing by providing a space for hot rodders to operate safely.

Just five years later, however, the facility was no longer being used, its potential never fully realized. So, what happened to Bellingham’s drag strip?

In the years following World War II, many American boys and men took interest in the hobby of hot rodding — the building, tuning, and driving of souped-up vehicles for maximum performance and competition. By 1957, Life magazine estimated about 15,000 hot rod clubs existed across the United States.

But in many places, hot rodders received mixed reviews. Some considered them to be little more than reckless ruffians, while others saw hot rodding as a cohesive community with potential for the personal and professional growth of those involved.

The March 1957 issue of The Texas Outlook asked readers: Were hot rodders “hoodlums or heroes?” The potential dangers of illegal street racing led many to conclude the former. Some people, though, surmised that if hot rodders drove in dedicated, off-street spaces, things might be safer for everyone.

The circled area shows the approximate location of the drag strip, which now sits on publicly-inaccessible airport property.

Wallace Parks — an auto writer and enthusiast who helped launch Hot Rod and Motor Trend magazines — had this in mind when he created the NHRA in 1951.

The organization was founded to “promote safety, sportsmanship, and fellowship among hot rod enthusiasts through the organization of clubs and associations,” its mission statement read. In addition, the NHRA existed to sponsor educational and safety programs to better regulate hot rodding, hopefully leading to “more favorable acceptance by the press and public, and greater benefits to its active participants.”

Cooperation

By 1953, hot rodding had a real presence in Western Washington, with an estimated 750 members belonging to organized clubs under the auspices of the Western Washington Timing Association.

In Whatcom County, there were at least four such clubs: the Lynden Road Knights, Sumas Road Angels, Blaine Axle Snappers, and Bellingham-based Road Gents. Each club had regular meetings, membership dues, and road reliability tests. The Road Gents even had a recreational league basketball team at one time, competing on the courts of Whatcom Middle School.

Members of the WCTA work to clear vegetation from an airport access road that would eventually become home to a drag strip in 1953. Photo credit: Hot Rod magazine

In the summer of 1953, the creation of the Whatcom County Timing Association gave these clubs a formal way to co-exist; by August, the WCTA reportedly had about 45 members, most between the ages of 16 and 25.

Local government, citizens, and law enforcement were still concerned about street racing, however. Discussions between WCTA members and its advisor, Police Sergeant Art Reynolds, along with Bellingham Mayor Sig Hjaltalin, city council members and Police Chief Bill Breuer, led to a joint effort to build a drag strip.

County commissioners — led by E.R. Haxton — decided an old Army access road at the southwest corner of the airport would do, and a five-year lease of the property was made between commissioners and the Road Gents. The terms were generous: an assessment of $1 per WCTA member per year, for the length of the lease.

WCTA members slashed and burned heavy brush along the access road, and Bellingham and county engineers donated time to lay out the drag strip. C.V. Wilder Construction provided heavy equipment for a foundation, with Larson Logging donating tile pipe for drainage. Ferndale’s General Petroleum (GP) refinery agreed to pave the strip.

Members of Whatcom County’s Road Gents pose with Bellingham Mayor Sid Hjaltalin, NHRA’s Wally Parks and others at the track’s August 16, 1953 dedication. Photo credit: Hot Rod magazine

It was a half-mile long — with a quarter-mile for racing and another quarter for stopping — and 32 feet wide with plans to widen to 40, according to the Bellingham Herald. The track was reached by driving Wynn Road and making a right on to West Bakerview Road (now known as Country Lane) where it met the airport property.

The Big Day

On the afternoon of August 16, a crowd of several dozen people turned out for the strip’s formal dedication. It lasted about 30 minutes and featured speeches and live band music, but no racing due to the track’s unfinished nature.

In addition to NHRA Founder Wally Parks and Director Bud Koons, Bellingham’s mayor and a host of city and county dignitaries attended, as did GP Vice President Clarence S. Beesemyer. So did 1915 Indianapolis 500 winner Ralph De Palma, then a public relations consultant for GP. Wally Markwood — the WCTA president and a Diehl Ford employee — happily posed for photos with the rest of the Road Gents.

A few dozen people attended the unfinished track’s dedication, which lasted 30 minutes and featured speeches and live music. Photo credit: Hot Rod magazine

That evening, nearly 300 people reportedly attended the world premiere of “The Cool Hot Rod” at the Hotel Bellingham. Directed by Hollywood’s Sid Davis (who also attended the track dedication), the 26-minute film tells the story of a young man who finds his path through the hobby of hot rodding.

Slow Goings

By April 1954, the Bellingham Herald described the race track as almost complete. It was still unpaved but had the timing lights and clocks necessary to hold races.

The Road Gents, meanwhile, continued weekly meetings in the recreation room of the Bellingham Police Department. By this time, Whatcom County hot rodders allegedly numbered about 175, according to a Herald article.

National publicity was given to the track in the July 1954 issue of Hot Rod magazine, with an article written by Parks. In early October, asphalt was finally laid down, and executives from Socony-Vaccuum (now ExxonMobil) stopped by the new track for a look.

Over a year after the track’s dedication, it was finally paved with a half-mile of asphalt. Photo from Bellingham Herald archives

Though it’s unclear when the first event was held, racing was happening and being advertised by the spring of 1955. A small Herald ad for a Memorial Day event — with admission costing just 10 cents — noted that seat belts were required to race.

The track continued hosting races in 1956 and 1957, though it’s unclear how often. The Road Gents also continued to have a community presence, taking part in the 1956 Blossom Time parade (now Ski to Sea) and holding regular meetings in various places, including the YWCA, Hotel Leopold, area auto body shops, and members’ homes.

Demise

While the track surface was known to be adequate, the rest of the area was not. The drag strip lacked acceptable access and return roads, a pit area, or even spectator parking, according to a May 1958 Herald article. Depending on the weather, the article said, everything surrounding the track either turned to mud or dust.

Because the WCTA operated as a non-profit group that supervised and regulated the track, its coffers were lacking. When the city and county offered to donate gravel to improve the track area, they didn’t include the cost of hauling and spreading it. While WCTA members offered to handle the labor, they were allegedly unable to afford the cost of trucks and equipment.

A Bellingham Herald ad promoting an event at the airport drag strip, which hosted racing between 1955 and 1958.

Although racing was held at the track as late as May 1958, no further mentions of the track being used appear in the Herald after this date; the five-year lease on the facility would have also expired that summer. In August 1959, when a barn fire near the airport made news, an article described the nearby track as “unused.”

By the early 1960s, local hot rodders were getting their drag racing kicks to the south. Skagit County’s Bay View drag strip utilized an airport runway, was NHRA-sanctioned, and attracted legitimate racers. The same thing happened at the Arlington Airport, which saw frequent drag racing through 1969.

Since the airport drag strip’s demise, Whatcom County has not seen another true drag racing facility realized. Markwood, the former Road Gents president, died in 2019 at age 90. Though it’s unknown how many former Road Gents are still alive, the number is likely very small.

The track site, meanwhile, does still exist as an airport access road. It sits beyond a metal gate at the end of Country Lane, though trespassing on airport property to reach it isn’t advised.

Do you have more information on the Bellingham Drag Strip? Contact WhatcomTalk’s Matt Benoit at submit@whatcomtalk.com.

Cafe Blue: The Small Fairhaven Coffee Shop That’s Home to a Large Community

By

Steven Arbuckle

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Micah-Jones-Cafe-Blue-Fairhaven-Washington — Jones balances his passion for his work with a welcoming, casual air. Photo credit: Steven Arbuckle

Cafe Blue has been meeting Fairhaven’s coffee needs for years, but long-time regulars may have noticed a change in July of 2023, when former barista Micah Jones took over the shop. Others have caught on to the new atmosphere, and the tiny coffeeshop has become a destination for people who appreciate the efforts to create an even more welcoming and inclusive vibe.

Originally from Puyallup, Jones had such a positive high school experience that he was inspired to move to Bellingham to study secondary education at Western Washington University, so he could reproduce and expand on the effects his teachers had on his school career. The idea was to become a principal and help recreate the culture that had helped him thrive. Unfortunately, the reality of paying for his own schooling proved overwhelming, and Jones left after three years. But he didn’t give up on Bellingham, jumping fully into the coffee scene that already had a strong hold on him.

The shop is a riot of colors and textures, with curios, oddities, and mementos everywhere. Photo credit: Steven Arbuckle

A Place To Make a Home

Jones quickly learned he didn’t need to become a principal to affect peoples’ lives. He developed such solid relationships with his regulars that, when he moved from one coffee shop to another, some customers would move along with him. He learned more about himself with each experience, and more about what he did and didn’t love about the business.

Soon Jones found himself at home at one of his favorite jobs so far, working behind the counter at Cafe Blue, under the ownership of Lily Lovell and Kyle Hooper. Jones describes working for them as “a dream,” and says he wouldn’t have done as well as he did without their guidance and support.

The longtime Cafe Blue décor has been updated to reflect its new era. Photo credit: Steven Arbuckle

While working a shift in December of 2022, Lovell told Jones they planned to sell the cafe. “My heart sank to the bottom of my feet,” Jones says, “because this place means so much to so many people.”

His shock became a dream come true when Lily asked whether Jones would like to buy the business from them. “It probably took 30 minutes to sink in,” he says. “I was 23, had no business experience, and wasn’t prepared for that to come up.” But he was all in and spent the next seven months learning everything he could about the different aspects of owning and operating a business.

Improving on a Good Thing

For Jones, creating a sense of community is a top priority, so he worked to preserve what Cafe Blue had already built while adding a flavor all his own. Customers may notice they spend a little longer in line here than at other shops, but the payoff comes in the human connection with the folks behind the counter. A favorite example is that each customer is asked the “Question of the Day,” which might be thoughtful or light-hearted, and always makes an opportunity for real conversations at the counter.

Even when the cafe isn’t crowded with customers, there’s no shortage of delightful distractions. Photo credit: Steven Arbuckle

He also wants to be true to himself, which means honoring his background as a Black business owner in a predominantly white area, and as a second-generation American, since his mother is a native of Yap, an island nation in Micronesia. He also grew up queer in what he describes as “a very Christian household,” and knows how it feels to not belong.

To create a community, he poses a variety of questions: “What would it take to make a place have meaning for me? Do I see myself reflected in this place? What is a tangible thing we can do to make a person’s stay here better?” This helps him, and the staff, be mindful of everyone who comes through the door, and strive to let them know they are invited.

This traditional Yapese lei on display in the shop was presented to Jones at his high school graduation. Photo credit: Steven Arbuckle

A Responsibility to Each Other

Jones doesn’t talk about Cafe Blue without including another community, the one assembled behind the counter with him, and the responsibility he feels towards them.

“The cafe does not operate without the staff we have here, and I cannot give enough praise to what they do on a daily basis. It’s an honor to be able to have committed individuals who understand what needs to be done, and also take it and make it their own,” he says. “It doesn’t matter where you are in life, or what you look like. Because of who we are, people in marginalized communities can see themselves in this space, and we definitely draw them to us. It’s a tall order, but it’s also a big deal that we exist.”

Cafe Blue
1319 11th Street in Fairhaven
Hours:
Monday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday–Sunday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
www.instagram.com/cafebluefairhaven

Discover the Wonders of Whatcom County With a Discover Pass

By

Anna Diehl

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discover-pass- chuckanuts — While some hikes in the Chuckanuts have public parking, others under State Parks and WDFW management require Discover Passes. Photo credit: Anna Diehl

Throughout Washington State, the Discover Pass allows parking access for state parks and other recreational lands. This pass can unlock coastal, riverside, lakeside, forest, and mountain destinations across the Whatcom County map.

Annual passes typically cost $30–$35 (depending on dealer fees). They are available to buy from select retailers, hunting and fishing license vendors, park pay stations, and online.

In addition to the Washington State Parks system, the Discover Pass provides parking access at recreational lands managed by other state agencies. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) designates hunting, fishing, and wildlife preservation areas. The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages not only hilarious social media, but conservation sites and mountain roads across the county.

The pass’ website offers a list of Discover Pass Free Days. Every other time of year, the Discover Pass is your ticket to adventure in Whatcom’s wilds.

State Parks

Whatcom County has three state parks where visitors can park with their Discover Pass, or buy one or a One-Day Pass at pay stations.

Larrabee State Park has the distinct honor of being Washington’s first state park, established in 1915 by Frances P. Larrabee in her husband Charles X. Larrabee’s memory. Built along Chuckanut Drive, it offers access to Fragrance Lake, the Interurban Trail, and other trail systems throughout the Chuckanut Mountains. At the park proper, visitors can enjoy campgrounds, picnic shelters, forest hikes, and walks or shellfish harvesting on Chuckanut sandstone beaches.

Birch Bay State Park abuts conservation areas such as the Terrell Creek Marsh estuary and 60-acre Birch Bay Conservancy Area. Founded 1954, the park welcomes visitors to swim, paddle, windsurf, and walk or bike along Birch Bay Drive. With WDFW permits, visitors can go fishing, crabbing, and shellfishing. The park also offers a campground with over 147 tent sites and 20 hookup sites, plus education at BP Heron Center.

Peace Arch State Park is unique internationally as both a state and provincial park at the Canadian border. The 1921 monument by Sam Hill commemorates 100 years of peace with Canada, and has seen historic peace protests for over 100 years since. Visitors can walk between borders within park boundaries, enjoying bay views and picnic facilities.

Peace Arch State Park offers rentable facilities such as American Kitchen, as well as facilities for snacks and souvenirs. Photo credit: Anna Diehl

Recreational Lands

The DNR’s closest nearby state forest lies just south of the county line on Chuckanut Drive. Blanchard State Forest and Samish Overlook are renowned statewide for hiking, biking, and hang gliding and paragliding opportunities, as well as spectacular views of the San Juan Islands and Skagit Valley.

In the Chuckanuts, the WFDW offers Discover Pass parking along Cleator Road. Hikers, bikers, and horseback riders can take Two Dollar Trail 1.7 miles to Fragrance Lake or travel up Cleator Road alongside motorists to enjoy island and mountain views from Cyrus Gates Overlook.

Most DNR recreational lands in Whatcom County lie east of Lake Whatcom and west of the North Cascades. Many overlook the Twin Sisters and Mount Baker. Canyon Lake Community Forest, Van Zandt Dike, Stewart Peak, Slide Mountain, and Sumas Mountain offer hiking, biking, and wildlife viewing access by peaks strewn with old growth forests and streams. East of Acme, South Fork Park offers hiking and equestrian trails by active farmland.

The WDFW has also designated several water-access sites where fishers, boaters, and other recreationists need a Discover Pass to park. Sites along the Nooksack River are named Ferndale, Harksell Road, Hof, De Groot, Proctor-Rupke, and Nugents Corner.

Other water-access sites may allow public parking, but require passes for visitors to use boat launch or shore fishing facilities. The WFDW monitors Lake Terrell, Tennant Lake, Wiser Lake, Lake Fazon, Silver Lake, Toad Lake, Squalicum Lake, Lake Whatcom, Lake Padden, Lake Samish, and Cain Lake.

Wildlife Areas

The WDFW also maintains Wildlife Areas of interconnected habitats across the county.

The Lake Terrell, Intalco, and British Petroleum Wildlife Area Units preserve wildlife in cooperation with nearby refineries. The BP site offers waterfowl and pheasant hunting, the Intalco site the 2-mile Intalco Archery Range with 29 shooting stations, and Lake Terrell access for boating and fishing.

The Discover Pass allows visitors to park in natural areas where they can often spot diverse wildlife such as these geese at Lake Terrell. Photo credit: Anna Diehl

The Nooksack and Tennant Lake Wildlife Areas intersect from the Discover Pass trailhead parking on Marine Drive to Tennant Lake itself. The 1.5-mile Tennant Lake to Marine Drive Trail allows for hiking, biking, and wildlife viewing by riparian habitats undergoing restoration. At Tennant Lake, visitors may enjoy Fragrance Garden, its watchtower and interpretive center, a lakeside boardwalk trail, seasonal deer and waterfowl hunting, and access to Hovander Homestead Park.

By Old Samish Road in the Chuckanuts, the Pine and Cedar Lake Unit offers mountain lake fishing and camping (without fires). Visitors can enjoy steep, scenic hikes on the 2.5-mile Pine and Cedar Lakes Trail, but no horseback riding or biking to preserve wetland habitats.

This observation tower at Tennant Lake is popular for viewing wildlife in the WDFW-protected areas. Photo credit: Anna Diehl

Finally, the Lummi Island Wildlife Area Unit takes visitors to the remotest part of western Whatcom County. Protecting peregrine falcon nests, it is accessible only by foot traffic from Lummi Island Heritage Land Trust parking. Pets are not allowed.

To respect recreational lands and their preservation of wildlife, always remember to heed regulations and leave no trace.

Bellingham Bells Seek Host Families for Summer 2024

By

LocalTalk Contributor

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Bellingham Bells host family — Photo courtesy Bellingham Bells

Submitted by the Bellingham Bells

The Bellingham Bells are currently accepting applications for host families for the 2024 season.

During summer 2024, 35 collegiate baseball players will call Bellingham home as they compete for the Bells. The 2024 Bells roster spans the entire nation and includes players from UCLA, Stanford, University of Washington, Washington State University and more.

“Our host families are some of the best in the Pacific Northwest,” says Bells’ general manager Stephanie Morrell. “The way players are welcomed in every year contributes to the great experience they have in Bellingham. Relationships last beyond the summer, often for a lifetime. Families stay in touch with players long after they take the next step in their professional career.”

Players will begin to arrive as early as May 24^th and will continue to trickle in depending on the completion of their academic calendar. Players will stay through the summer season, which concludes in mid-August. During the three-month season, players will spend approximately half of their time on the road.

Basic requirements for host families are to provide a clean, non-smoking, safe and pleasant environment for the player and to provide meals when players are in town. We ask that players have a private room with their own bed, as well as access to a bathroom, kitchen, and laundry area.

All host families will receive complimentary tickets to all home games for each member of the family living at home, as well as a 50% discount on registration for Bells’ Coaches Camps for each (age appropriate) child living at home. Host families will also receive special Bells merchandise, a 20% discount on all Bells team merchandise throughout the season, an invitation to a host family celebration, and a special day at the ballpark where the team and the community will honor host families.

For more information about how you can be involved in our host family program, and to apply, please visit www.bellinghambells.com/community/host-family-information. Prospective hosts can also contact Bells’ general manager Stephanie Morrell at (360) 746-0409 or stephanie@bellinghambells.com

Collecting Stories of the Terminal Building, 1888–2023

By

LocalTalk Contributor

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Fairhaven-Bellingham-Washington-Terminal-Building — Photo credit: Stacee Sledge

Submitted by Village Books and Paper Dreams

Village Books and Paper Dreams in Fairhaven is inviting submissions of writing, artwork, poetry, memories, and photographs from the community in remembrance of the Terminal Building, Bellingham’s oldest commercial structure, which was lost to fire on December 16, 2023.

Until the Terminal Building burned down on December 16th of last year, it was the oldest surviving commercial building in Fairhaven. Following this tragedy, we’ve heard from so many community members and from the owners of the building their desire to share their feelings, impressions, stories, memories, anecdotes, and histories of the building. We want to be able to capture those and more.

With the blessings of Terminal Building owners Kirke and Jim Hestad, Village Books invites anyone who would like to share their words, images, or artwork to add them to the collection. We’ll gather them all together and arrange to share them with one another–perhaps some in a public reading so we can share them together, perhaps in a publication to commemorate the special place it held, and holds, in our community. The Terminal Building was more than a building. It was an integral part of our community, bringing us together in so many ways with so many memories. Let us now come together again to mourn its loss and celebrate it.

Please send your submissions to terminalbuilding@villagebooks.com or mail them to Village Books and Paper Dreams to the owners’ attention. Or bring them in-person. We’re always glad to see you.

For more information, email terminalbuilding@villagebooks.com.

Meet These Incredible Talents at the Mermaid Festival 2024

Una the Mermaid

PNW Unicorns

Rachel, the Sailing Siren and Firedancer

Vertical Axis

Brianna Tibbets

Olive the Alchemist, Mermaid Instructor

Her Mother’s Influence

Bringing It All Together

Putting on a Show

A Love for Travel

Value Beyond Fast Speeds in Washington State

Keeping Washington Customers Connected

Making a Tangible Difference

Looking Ahead

Cooperation

The Big Day

Slow Goings

Demise

A Place To Make a Home

Improving on a Good Thing

A Responsibility to Each Other

State Parks

Recreational Lands

Wildlife Areas

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