First Federal Community Foundation awarded a major grant of $100,000 to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation on November 1, 2017. The gift is part of a capital campaign to raise $677,130 for improvements to the Medical Center’s Electrophysiology Lab. The electrophysiology (EP) lab upgrades supported by this grant will substantially improve the cardiac imaging that is critical for diagnosing and treating electric activity of the heart.
“These modifications and upgrades to the Cardiovascular Center’s EP Lab will significantly improve the quality of life for patients and their families,” said Karen McCormick, executive director of the foundation. “We are delighted at the opportunity to partner with PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation in their commitment to providing exceptional health care to our community.”
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center’s Cardiovascular Center performs more than 21,000 diagnostic imaging procedures each year. Housed within its Cardiovascular Center, the Cardiac Electrophysiology (EP) Lab cares for more than 1,600 patients each year throughout Whatcom County and its surrounding areas.
“We are committed to transforming cardiovascular care for Pacific Northwest residents,” said Jennifer Fix, Gift Officer for PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation. “We extend our deepest gratitude to First Federal Community Foundation for the many ways this generous gift will touch our patients, their loved ones and our clinical caregivers.”
About the First Federal Community Foundation
First Federal Community Foundation is a private 501(c)3 charitable corporation funded with a gift of cash and stock from First Northwest Bancorp, the parent company of First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Port Angeles. The Foundation provides funding for community support, affordable housing, economic development and community development in communities where First Federal operates a full-service branch.
About First Federal
First Federal is a subsidiary of First Northwest Bancorp (FNWB). First Federal is a Washington-chartered, community-based savings bank headquartered in Port Angeles, WA. First Federal is currently serving Western Washington through 12 banking centers; located within Clallam, Jefferson, King, Kitsap and Whatcom counties. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender.
Staying up to date with colonoscopies is important for early detection and peace of mind. Photo courtesy: PeaceHealth.
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. In 2000, then President Bill Clinton declared the first month of spring to be remembered for more than just the end of winter; moving forward, this month would promote colon cancer awareness and honor those who battle it.
Dr. Steve Ho is highly trained in the fields of gastroenterology and endoscopy. Photo courtesy: PeaceHealth.
Colon cancer can be a touchy subject. A lot of people have misconceptions and are put off by what doctors must do to pinpoint and treat those suffering from the disease. Dr. Steve Ho sat down with us to discuss the importance of maintaining a healthy GI tract, colonoscopies and the greater world of gastroenterology and endoscopy.
This extensive education is important. According to Dr. Ho, the fields of gastroenterology and endoscopy are some of the most versatile in medicine, because both procedural and cognitive elements are involved. For example, Dr. Ho can work with a patient from the very beginning, diagnose their problem and then treat the issue with a surgical procedure, if need be. He enjoys his job because he’s involved in every step of the medical process.
“Since I was young, I’d always wanted to be a physician, but wasn’t sure exactly which field until I was in medical school,” Dr. Ho says. “It was in medical school that I realized how interesting, exciting and unique gastroenterology and endoscopy were.”
A diet rich in whole foods is key. Photo courtesy: PeaceHealth.
Gastroenterology involves the study of multiple organs and, contrary to popular belief, not just the intestines. Gastroenterologists study the esophagus, stomach, rectum, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts and liver, in addition to the colon and small intestine. The main job of a gastroenterologist is to help patients manage, combat and cure diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver. Gastroenterologists use an endoscope to look inside the body, most commonly during a colonoscopy.
According to Dr. Ho, many people have misconceptions about colonoscopies and what exactly gastroenterologists do. As he ponders these misconceptions, he can’t help but laugh. “The average person thinks all we do in our field is deal with poo – but that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
In reality, before Dr. Ho and his colleagues perform endoscopies, the colon must be clean. Dr. Ho’s patients are put on a regimen to encourage good bowel movements and clean out the area. This way the medical team can effectively search for polyps and detect signs of colon cancer.
The presence of polyps can indicate a higher risk for colon cancer. It’s recommended that average risk patients (anyone without a history of colon cancer in their family) get their colon checked when they turn 50. But, if you happen to be an at-risk patient with a family history of colon cancer, you should get screened earlier.
“It’s always important that people get their recommended screenings,” says Dr. Ho. “I think now is an especially good time since March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Maybe we can get more people to come in for screenings and set an example for others.”
Staying up-to-date with colonoscopies is important for early detection and peace of mind. Photo courtesy: PeaceHealth.
It’s natural to be uncomfortable with the idea of a colonoscopy, but don’t let this deter you from getting checked for colon cancer. Dr. Ho wants it known that there are other ways for gastroenterologists to screen for colorectal cancer. Although colonoscopies are the most common – and may be the most effective – way to check, he says they will find alternative methods if you aren’t okay with receiving one.
“Colon cancer is the most preventable form of cancer,” Dr. Ho says. “I strongly encourage people to get checked. If you get checked and we find polyps, we can remove them from your body before they become cancerous.”
The field of gastroenterology isn’t always so certain though. Many diseases of the GI tract have similar symptoms. It takes thorough and careful examination to determine what exactly each individual patient is experiencing. This is why seeing a trained professional like Dr. Ho is so important.
Fortunately, there are many things people can do at home to keep their GI tract healthy and avoid GI tract disease. Dr. Ho recommends maintaining a healthy diet full of fiber, fruits and vegetables. Cut processed foods from your diet and get plenty of exercise. A healthy diet and physical activity go hand in hand in maintaining optimal GI tract health.
“I like to tell my patients to think of their body as a house and to think of their GI tract as the plumbing,” Dr. Ho says. “In your house you want to make sure everything is fixed, that everything is working – especially something as integral as the plumbing.”
Photo courtesy: A-1 Builders and Adaptations Design Studio.
An 1890s “Painted Lady” home on Bellingham’s Eldridge Avenue recently underwent major renovations – and if you’ve driven past this colorful Columbia neighborhood gem, it’s likely caught your eye.
The Eldridge home was in need of some updates. Photo courtesy: A-1 Builders and Adaptations Design Studio.
Pam Pearsall purchased the historic Bolster Home in 1981. It was constructed by Boston bricklayer Jim Bolster who used the structure as a way to prove to others that building with brick could be elegant, as well as fire-proof. Bolster also built downtown’s Bellingham National Bank Building.
“I love this old house,” says Pam, who lives in what used to be the home’s detached garage, converted in 1994 to a comfortable living space. As Pam aged, stairs became more difficult, so she created her own peaceful, nature-filled oasis, situated above a babbling stretch of Squalicum Creek. The main home has long housed renters.
Maintenance and renovation of a historic home never ends, and in 2015 Pam knew it was time to update one of the bathrooms and paint the exterior again. She called A-1 Builders, whose founder, Rick Dubrow, had worked with Pam in 1983 to renovate the home’s attic.
The front entrance was a special project. Photo courtesy: A-1 Builders and Adaptations Design Studio.
“The home’s color had faded, there were holes in the siding, birds living in the walls and missing sections of window covered with Styrofoam,” says Justus Peterson, A-1 Builders estimator and project supervisor. “It was in need of major rehabbing.”
A project that started as some window replacements, a bathroom upgrade and exterior paint eventually turned into two bathroom renovations, 34 new windows, decks, handrails, fences and a total front porch renovation.
Before exterior renovations began, the entire home was surrounded by scaffolding and tented. This was primarily for lead paint removal and employee safety and comfort, but also to protect the structure, materials and the tenants’ rooms, which could otherwise be exposed to the elements for many months.
Pam Pearsall’s historic Eldridge home was badly in need of new exterior paint – the third time she’s had it done since buying the home in 1981. Photo courtesy: A-1 Builders and Adaptations Design Studio.
As the crew removed existing windows, they found extensive damage to framing. “It was just powder,” Justus remembers. “We had to reframe all the openings and air seal everything. The project grew tremendously.”
Maggie Bates, design manager for A-1 Builders and Adaptations Design Studio, researched the Queen Anne Victorian style to ensure the project was done correctly. “Pam’s a very creative person and she called us in when she needed expert help,” says Maggie. “But this is her vision, absolutely.”
As Pam requested more changes, the scope of the job grew. “The project went on a long time and we worked hard to make it as painless as possible for her,” says Maggie.
The home was wrapped in tenting to assist in lead paint removal, employee safety and comfort, and to protect the structure from the elements during many long months of work. Photo credit: Stacee Sledge.
Pam spent two years perfecting the home’s elaborate seven-color paint scheme, ultimately incorporating new white vinyl windows as one hue. The Victorian style of home is often painted in bright colors, but the ones Pam chose are particularly vivid, including shades of purple, teal, yellow and pink.
Replacing stained-glass windows with vinyl was a difficult decision, but the promise of energy efficiency convinced Pam – also, noticing that her favorite Victorian Painted Lady books showed many older homes switching to vinyl.
“In the end, preserving the old stained-glass windows wasn’t possible and we all grieved a little bit over that loss,” says Maggie. “Creating a weather-tight shell was a good choice that allowed the integrity of the overall structure to be preserved.”
The silver lining to a tough decision was that the simple windows allowed other details like the re-creation of the intricate trim and bright color palette to take center stage.
This was a fun project for all involved. Photo courtesy: A-1 Builders and Adaptations Design Studio.
Maggie secured the permit documents, created drawings and submitted applications. Anything that needed to be permitted needed to be done to code, so her challenge was to marry the creativity of the project, as envisioned by Pam, with meeting the code.
“I felt like a facilitator of her creativity,” says Maggie. The only place I felt I needed to step in and give advice and drawings was on the front entrance.”
Maggie meticulously re-created the canopy over the front door, giving it a beautiful, structural brace. She swapped an oddly placed pipe railing with a spiral design, dreamed up by Pam, leading down to the street.
“We had to hand draw it and incorporate it into the concrete, which was very complicated,” says Maggie. “And then we had to add a graspable rail that was both compliant and beautiful.”
“The whole front is where my heart sang while I was working on it,” she continues. “Every inch of it.”
Pam watches the grand unveiling in November of 2017. Photo courtesy: A-1 Builders and Adaptations Design Studio.
The A-1 Builders team painstakingly re-created the scrollwork on the home’s exterior, restoring falling apart and chipped details above all the windows.
“We took one piece that was intact and went over it with a graphite pencil, laid it on the paper, cut it out, and then transferred that to the wood,” Justus explains. They then jigsawed each piece, hand-sanded and reapplied them.
Local company Price & Visser Millwork re-created the original Queen Anne door, complete with hand-cut rosettes. They also re-used existing stained glass in the door’s new design.
“They did all of the exterior millwork, replicating all of the trim,” says Justus. “It’s beautiful work; they did a phenomenal job.”
Pam spent two years perfecting the home’s elaborate seven-color paint scheme. Photo credit: Stacee Sledge.
Work began on the house in September 2016, with two bathroom projects, and then rolled into exterior work the following February. The new home was unveiled – quite literally, as the crew dropped the tenting – in November 2017.
“We had the scaffold guys get up there and get everything loose except for two wires, so they could cut it and the thing would just drop,” says Justus.
Throughout the project, passersby would stop and ask what was going on with the house. They watched the progress – though most of it was hidden underneath tenting – for over a year. When A-1 Builders finally took it down, people came out with cameras, cyclists braked, cars stopped.
“Pam got in her car across the street so she could watch it,” Justus remembers. “When it came down, it was so cool. And she needed that; she’d invested so much of herself in it and you could really see that sense of ownership and pride – the passion she has for the house.”
Maggie Bates meticulously re-created the canopy over the front door and swapped an oddly placed pipe railing with a spiral design dreamed up by Pam. Photo courtesy: A-1 Builders and Adaptations Design Studio.
Justus and Maggie are quick to praise all of the subcontractors that were instrumental in completing this project.
One sub, Greggerson Painting, referred to the project as a giant coloring book.
“They took so much pride in this project,” Justus says. Even with the job complete, one of Greggerson’s guys, Jared, has been known to come by on his lunch hour just to admire the finished work.
“The relationship that all of our folks had with Pam is super special,” says Justus, speaking of the A-1 Builders and Adaptations teams, as well as the subcontractors. “She’s a phenomenal human being to work with and we really enjoyed her a lot.”
And Pam? She couldn’t be happier with the final results – and the folks who helped transform her beloved home.
“The major changes to my day-to-day and the new colors in my life are wonderful,” she says. “And working with A-1 helped keep my sanity intact. Having people and noise in one’s life for over a year can get to a person, but the crew was delightful to work with.”
“This is more than a house, it’s a home,” she continues. “And this is the swan song. I’m not going to paint it again.”
Subcontractors:
Photo courtesy: A-1 Builders and Adaptations Design Studio.
Growing Alliances was the recipient of The Chrysalis Inn & Spa’s February spa donation in the amount of $1,910. Growing Alliances is a Bellingham non-profit that employs at-risk and foster youth to grow food in urban agriculture, which is then sold, donated or cooked for group meals.
While growing food, the crew simultaneously participates in weekly workshops on job skills such as public speaking and resume building, as well as workshops on the history, politics and economics of the U.S. food system. The Growing Alliances’ team works with each youth so that by the time they graduate the program, they are better equipped with the resources and connections they’ll need to reach their academic and/or career goals.
This year the organization will hire six to 14 youth to work at the plot they share with Northwest Youth Services at 1815 Ellis St.
The Chrysalis, a locally owned hotel, spa & restaurant on Fairhaven’s waterfront, has been giving one percent of monthly spa revenues to a local non-profit since February of 2017 and will continue to do so through 2018.
March’s donation recipient will be Whatcom Literacy Council, who has been dedicated to increasing the literacy skills for adults in Whatcom County since 1978.
PeaceHealth’s St. Joseph Cardiovascular Center has an award-winning, nationally recognized program with a comprehensive range of heart care services. Photo courtesy: PeaceHealth.
For the second year in a row, PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center has received a Partners for Clean Air Silver award by the Northwest Clean Air Agency. The award recognizes businesses in Island, Skagit and Whatcom counties that demonstrate at least three years in a row of perfect compliance with air quality regulations. Of more than 400 businesses registered with the Northwest Clean Air Agency, St. Joseph is one of only 39 to earn the Silver award.
The medical center has closely monitored possible pollution from the hospital’s fuel-burning functions.
Additionally, the medical center switched from fluorescent fixtures and incandescent lighting to LED sources whenever possible and stationed duty engineers in outlying locations to limit travel and minimize environmental impact.
“This award is a public and official acknowledgement of the work that we do every day,” said PeaceHealth St. Joseph Facilities Manager Donald Johle. “We are very conscientious of our work for patient care, but we’re also deeply committed to responsible environmental stewardship.”
In a Fairhaven restaurant kitchen, husband and wife Norman and Kristen Six are prepping fresh herbs, onions and meats for the day. The gleaming silver kitchen is the staging area for delicious dishes that will soon be served to eagerly awaiting guests. This is also the last leg of the journey for Lovitt Restaurant’s high quality, farm-to-table meat.
Lovitt Restaurant curates dishes that are as good for you as they are delicious. Photo courtesy: Lovitt Restaurant.
Coupled with the impressive skills of Chef Norman, Project Meat is the not-so-secret ingredient to Lovitt’s exceptionally flavorful entrees. This is not your average commercial meat. The philosophy behind Project Meat is a focus on the individual animal. Farmers interact with all animals providing individual attention to each and creating a low-stress lifestyle for all.
“Our meat tastes better, even with nothing on it,” says Kristen. “If you did a taste test of our ground beef and grocery store ground beef, ours would have a much beefier flavor before adding all the spices.”
“Commercial lamb tastes a great deal like beef to me,” adds Norman, “but there’s no confusing Project Lamb; it really stands out with delectable flavors.”
One of the most exciting aspects of visiting Lovitt Restaurant is its menu’s endless possibilities. With Project Meat, they purchase whole animals in October, then formulate a continually evolving, one-of-a-kind experience based on supply, customer preference and artistic creativity.
“We really do entertain ourselves with the menu,” Norman says. “Our menu is about moving through all the animals the way we need to. Whole pigs, lambs, steers – we have to move through all those cuts. That guides us.”
The restaurant is family friendly with a fun kids’ area. Photo credit: Kali Klotz-Brooks.
Not only does Lovitt’s meat taste better, it’s actually better for you. “You are what you eat and that’s true for the animal as well,” Norman explains.
One interesting thing for meat lovers to be aware of is that sometimes this meat looks different. Project animals, who are USDA-approved, enjoy a healthier lifestyle than the creatures whose meat is more commonly seen in stores. The bacon, for example, is much pinker than what people are used too. That’s the beauty of naturally-raised pigs.
For over a decade, the Six family has learned how to use the whole animal to its fullest potential. They’ve switched to cooking bases like coconut, animal and olive oil for most of their entrees, creating a healthier meal as a result.
“My family and I eat here,” Norman says. “One of the main reasons we do this – if not the main reason – is to eat like this. We really like eating well and this provides us, ourselves, with excellent meals. We eat here three meals a day.”
Project Meat animals are raised differently, resulting in much better tasting and healthier meat. Photo courtesy: Lovitt Restaurant.
Eating at Lovitt really is eating the best home cooked meal possible. Norman explains that they focus on keeping the menu priced affordably so people can eat there at least twice a week. The family wants to keep their quality, healthy food accessible to people from all backgrounds. Lovitt is not meant to be a “celebration” restaurant that people visit once a year on a big occasion, but a sit-down, take your time experience with an excellent meal.
Lovitt offers options for vegans and meat lovers alike. With delicious entrees, soups, salads, desserts and a brunch menu, there’s something for everyone. But Lovitt doesn’t just serve an exceptional meal – they’re making an impact with every dish served. “We are true believers this is a way to save the world,” says Norman. “We’re saving the world one hamburger at a time.”
The economic-viability of Project Meat helps support farmers and reduce the carbon footprint of shipping animals and their products around the country. An even greater and more immediate impact is how this meat affects the person eating it.
“I was right at the edge of needing cholesterol medication,” says Norman. “A few years later, my cholesterol numbers collapsed to the numbers you would find in a lifelong vegan. Really, really low. I had a combined cholesterol of 52 and it had been 160. Nothing changed except I started eating really good meats and dairy.”
Lovitt is located in Fairhaven on Harris. Photo credit: Kali Klotz-Brooks.
The health impact of eating good meat and fresh greens can be seen all over Lovitt’s main menu and its children’s menu. Since having kids, Norman has become obsessed with what young people eat. Lovitt provides a place where parents can dine and kids can have fun while enjoying healthy food of the highest quality. Bringing the family in for brunch could really boost your energy levels to finish the day strong.
“We eat our burgers when we feel worn out and afterwards we feel better,” says Norman. “It’s never heavy. It’s like your body absorbs the energy immediately. If you’re feeling tender and you need to recuperate, you can have a steak here and afterwards you’re healthier and energized.”
The future of Lovitt is in the hands of the people. Norman is proud of the restaurant they’re running and hopes to be giving back in this way for years to come. He would like to expand the restaurant’s hours to provide greater access to more of the community and help create an even bigger impact for local farms and individual health. He’s investigating the possibility of cooking classes so community members can take home the farm-to-table mentality and pass it on to those around them. In this way, he hopes to help create everlasting change.
You’ll taste the difference. Photo courtesy: Lovitt Restaurant.
“The knowledge of how to make food from scratch is not a very common thing,” Norman says. “It’s a great gift to give to your kids if you can give them the skills of cooking.”
Until then, the doors of Lovitt Restaurant are open to locals and visitors alike. Here you’ll find Norman and Kristen, always offering the purest flavors of farm-to-table, made with the love of a family.
Even if the weather isn’t bright, the eggs will be! Connect with community and take part in a Whatcom County Easter egg hunt. Whether on land, in water or on top of mountains, there’s an Easter celebration sure to put a smile on your kid’s face – and fill up their basket!
North Coast Gymnastics Gym-Wide Egg Hunt
Saturday, March 24 at 10:00 a.m.
Don’t chance the weather – head indoors for the gym-wide egg hunt at North Coast Gymnastics. The preschool hunt will begin at 10:00 a.m. and tickets are $6 per child. The school age hunt will begin at 12:30 p.m. and costs $10 per child. You can see more details on their website.
Easter Fun Fair at North County Christ the King Church
Besides the egg hunt, this event also offers face painting, a bounce house and family photos. Photo courtesy: The Lettered Streets Covenant Church.
Saturday, March 24 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
North County Christ the King Church will transform into an Easter Fun Fair complete with live music, wagon rides, crafts, face painting, a dunk tank, games, prizes and tons of candy! Plus, it’s free for the entire family. See their website for more information.
Bellewood Acres Easter on the Farm
Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Bellewood Acres Easter on the Farm activities last all weekend long! Tickets are $12 and include the egg hunt, petting zoo, goodie bag, family selfies with Mr. Ears, bunny trail and apple bin train ride through the orchard. Pony rides, face painting and duck races will also be available for a separate fee. Brunch is $12 for children and $28 for adults. For more information and tickets, visit their website.
Golden Egg Hunt at Mount Baker Ski Area
Saturday, March 31 at 9:00 a.m.
More than 11,000 Easter eggs will be hidden on the slopes of the Mount Baker Ski Area filled with candy, raffle tickets, prizes and a grand prize specific to each age group. Plus, some eggs will contain clues to the location of the Golden Egg, which offers a 2018-19 season pass to the lucky winner. This event is free, suitable for children of all ages and eco-friendly, thanks to their new compostable Easter eggs. The main hunt will begin at 9:00 a.m. and age specific hunts will begin at 9:30 a.m. Check out their website for the full schedule and more details.
Whatcom New Life Assembly Egg-Stravaganza
After filling up on brunch, families head out to search for the hundreds of eggs hidden on the front lawn. Photo courtesy: Semiahmoo Resort.
Saturday, March 31 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Besides egg-related puns, the Egg-Stravaganza at Whatcom New Life Assembly Church in Ferndale will feature an egg hunt, food, pony rides and prizes – all for free! Egg hunt registration will begin at 10:00 a.m. but the festivities will continue until 1:00 p.m. For the full schedule, check out their event page.
Lettered Streets Covenant Church Community Egg Hunt
Saturday, March 31 at 10:00 a.m.
The Lettered Streets Covenant Church Community Egg Hunt is celebrating it’s 10-year anniversary! Activities will include an egg hunt with a special hunt area for toddlers, crafts, a bounce house, face painting, snacks, family photos and prizes for parents. The event will take place at Fouts Park and is free of charge.
Arne Hanna Aquatic Center Egg Hunt in the Pool
Saturday, March 31 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Being indoors won’t keep you from getting wet at this egg hunt! Bring your suit and towel to the Arne Hanna Aquatic Center and collect the floating eggs in the pool. Tickets cost $6 and can be purchased at the door. For more information you can visit their website.
The C Shop Annual Easter Egg Hunt
Every year thousands of children search the slopes at Mount Baker in hopes of finding the legendary golden egg. Photo courtesy: Mount Baker Ski Area.
Saturday, March 31 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Along with a huge egg hunt, The C Shop Candy Shop will be offering horse-drawn carriage rides from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. This event is free and more details can be found on their Facebook page.
The Bellingham at Orchard Easter Egg Hunt is the perfect way to make your child’s day and enrich the lives of seniors. There will be plenty of candy, Easter bunny photos, face painting, balloon art, games and prizes. To find out more about this event please contact The Bellingham at Orchard Memory Care Residence.
Semiahmoo Resort Brunch & Egg Hunt
Happy Easter Whatcom County!
Sunday, April 1 at 9:30 a.m.
Enjoy delicious food, a visit from the Easter bunny and a huge egg hunt at the Semiahmoo Resort Easter Sunday Brunch and egg hunt. Tickets can be reserved by calling 360-318-2090 and cost $47 for adults and $18 for children ages six to 12. Children five and under are free.
Boundary Bay Brewery Brunch & Egg Hunt
Sunday, April 1 at 10:00 a.m.
Fuel up before the egg hunt with a family friendly brunch at Boundary Bay Brewery! Brunch will begin at 10:00 a.m. and the hunt will begin at 11:00 a.m. in the beer garden. Check their website for prices and the brunch menu.
Puget Sound Energy has 40 cleaner vehicles hitting the streets this month. The new fleet vehicles were converted into gas/electric hybrids. The upgrade is expected to reduce each van’s carbon footprint by 20 percent and increase fuel economy as much as 25 percent.
“We know our customers value the environment, so we were excited for the opportunity to reduce our carbon footprint through our fleet vehicles,” said Wayne Gould, Director of Corporate Shared Services at Puget Sound Energy. “This is another step for PSE to invest in the development of cleaner alternatives and technologies.”
PSE is working with XL Hybrid to do the conversion which adds an electric motor and advanced lithium-ion battery pack, as well as control software to the vehicle.
The system lets our vans save fuel by allowing the electric motor to slow the vehicle down as it comes to a stop, while at the same time charging the hybrid battery. The energy stored in the battery is then used to help move the vehicle when the driver accelerates.
The upgrade is part of a bigger plan to outfit another 20 fleet vehicles from petroleum to a hybrid system this year. All of the converted vehicles have the potential of reducing PSE’s carbon footprint by about 1.3 Million pounds of CO2 annually.
The conversion of these vehicles is in line with PSE’s commitment to reduce its carbon footprint by 50 percent by 2040.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day Whatcom County! This day has it all—fun, food, decorations and festivities—with none of the work. Here are a few ideas of what to do in and around Bellingham for St. Patrick’s Day weekend. And don’t forget to check out our full events calendar for all the fun happenings in Whatcom County.
WhatcomTalk aims to be your source for positive information and events happening in Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden and throughout Whatcom County. If you have a suggestion for a post, send us a note at submit@whatcomtalk.com. For more events and to learn what’s happening in Bellingham and the surrounding area, visit our events calendar. To submit an event of your own, visit our events calendar and click on the green “Post Your Event” button.
Lynden triumphed in the Class 2A state boys tournament, giving the town of Lynden three high school state basketball titles this season. Photo courtesy: Lynden High School.
The distance between Lynden High School and Lynden Christian High School is a little more than a mile. The gap, however, between these two schools and the rest of the state, in regard to high school basketball, is significantly larger.
At least that was the case this season.
Both schools sent their boys and girls basketball programs to the Yakima SunDome to participate in the state tournament at the start of March with the Lions battling it out in the Class 2A ranks, and the Lyncs competing against the best squads the 1A division had to offer.
James Marsh (No. 10) defends for Lynden during the Class 2A state championship game. The Lions defeated W.F. West, 57-53 to take home the state title. Photo courtesy: Lynden High School.
When all was said and done, the two schools headed back home with a combined three state titles and one sixth place.
Lynden Christian won both 1A state championships, while Lynden captured the boys 2A title and saw its girls team, which had won state the previous year, take home the sixth-place trophy.
Not bad for a town with a population hovering around the 14,000 mark.
“Someone told me they weren’t sure anything like that had ever been done before,” said Brady Bomber, Lynden Christian girls basketball coach. “I haven’t done my research yet, but even if it has, it really is a special accomplishment for the town.”
Bomber, now in his fourth season with the Lyncs, notched his second state 1A championship in the last three years after Lynden Christian defeated Cashmere, 50-48, in the title contest to cap a perfect 28-0 season.
The Lyncs won their second state title in the last three seasons with a come-from-behind 50-48 win over Cashmere in the title contest. Photo courtesy: Lynden Christian High School.
Sam VanLoo paced the Lyncs in the finals, scoring 15 points and pulling down a game-high 12 rebounds in the win.
Lynden Christian, which also received 10 points from Isabela Hernandez and eight each from Riley Dykstra and Riley VanHulzen, trailed by six points in the fourth quarter in the title game. This was one of the few deficits the Lyncs faced all season, but they gradually chipped away at the Bulldogs’ lead before reclaiming the advantage for good in the closing minutes.
“It was actually a really emotional pre-game for us,” Bomber said. “Not so much because they were nervous because of it being the state championship game, but more because this was going to be the last time they were going to play together as team. This was really a close-knit team that tried to embrace every moment they had together this season from team meals to bus rides.”
The Lyncs, who entered the 1A girls tournament as the top-seeded team, flexed their muscles in the first two rounds, hammering Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) by 23 points in the quarterfinals and fifth-seeded Medical Lake by 24 in the semifinals.
Lynden triumphed in the Class 2A state boys tournament, giving the town of Lynden three high school state basketball titles this season. Photo courtesy: Lynden High School.
It marked the 12th 1A state title for the Lynden Christian girls, who also defeated 3A state champion Gig Harbor during the regular season, and the team’s first undefeated season since the Lyncs went 29-0 in 2008.
While the LC girls needed a fourth-quarter rally to notch their state crown, the Lynden Christian boys captured their 1A state championship rather easily, hammering second-seeded Freeman, 82-45, in the title contest.
The Lyncs (27-1) received 27 points from Cole Bajema, 18 from Andrew DeVries and 17 from Luke Bos as they picked up the program’s fifth 1A state title and their first since 2012.
Lynden Christian advanced to its first championship game since 2015 after defeating The Northwest School, 73-69, in double overtime in the semifinals. Bajema once again led the Lyncs, scoring 27 points and grabbing 16 rebounds.
The Lynden boys (23-6) won their third 2A state title since 2007 after knocking off W.F. West, 57-53, in the finals.
The Lynden Christian boys went 27-1, winning the Class 1A state title with a 82-45 victory over Freeman in the championship game. Photo courtesy: Lynden Christian High School.
Lynden also defeated Columbia River (44-33) in the quarterfinals and Mark Morris (67-43) in the semifinals.
“This was a fun group,” said Lions coach Brian Roper. “It was a challenging season as our leading scorer [Clayton Whitman] broke his wrist in the jamboree. We probably had five or six different starting line-ups but when Clayton came back healthy, our team took off and won nine of our last 10, including the last four games.”
Whitman, one of five starting juniors on the team, and Christian Zamora both hit for 17 points in the title game.
While the Lynden girls came up short in their bid to become the first back-to-back 2A state champion in 10 years, the Lions (19-10) were able to place at the state tournament for a fifth consecutive season after finishing sixth.
The Lynden Christian High School girls basketball team capped a perfect 28-0 season by winning the Class 1A state championship. Photo courtesy: Lynden Christian High School.
“One of the neat things this season at state is that the LC band played for us when they didn’t have a game,” Brian Roper said. “They even wore green headbands. It was cool – that type of thing moves things to a friendly rivalry and builds community.”
The LC boys knocked off Lynden, 67-64, during the regular season. With both programs claiming state titles, should we expect the already intense rivalry to get even more heated next season?
“That game is always packed, always intense, and there needs to be no more incentive,” Roper said. “Having said that, two defending state champs playing in a gym that seats nearly 3,000 people is a good thing for high school basketball.”
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...
