The Bellingham Sock Monkey Project makes monkeys for all age ranges from babies to teenagers. Photo courtesy: A Comfort Kids Project.
With a backpack, pajamas and the clothes on her tail, a soft and colorful sock monkey has left the only home she’s known and waits to meet her forever friend. It’s not long before she is chosen by a child who has also been displaced, just like her, and together they set off with their backpacks to begin their journey into foster care.
Over 272 kids have been given these handmade sock monkeys. A Comfort Kids Project: The Bellingham Sock Monkey Project was founded by June Fraser Thistle in 2013 after she heard how children’s journeys often begin when entering the foster care system.
“I’m so inspired by these kids,” June says. “They are fearless and their resilience and bravery is beyond anything I have ever witnessed.”
The founder of A Comfort Kids Project, June Fraser Thistle, helping a monkey be fitted into its hat. Photo courtesy: A Comfort Kids Project.
June began by making knitted clothes for the sock monkeys but her home soon became filled with all kinds of monkey business as the helpful paws of volunteers created piles of monkeys, clothes and backpacks. “It’s really difficult to keep up with the demand,” June says. “In other words, in our community there are a lot of children in need. [The monkeys] are such a big hit I’m scrambling sometimes to keep up.”
A single sock monkey takes a volunteer about eight hours to make. The Bellingham Sock Monkey Project often holds critter building workshops and other events to help produce enough sock monkeys for the number of kids in need. The project is always looking for volunteers who like to sew on sewing machines and by hand, whether it’s from home or at one of the workshops. The network of monkey-makers and contributors span over eight states and two Canadian provinces.
A little girl plays with a sock monkey made by the Bellingham Sock Monkey Project. Photo courtesy: A Comfort Kids Project.
“These sock monkeys are sometimes the very first thing the children own that is totally theirs,” June says. “When we tell them they can have this monkey for the rest of their life that’s not a concept they understand. The kids have been so transient, toys get left behind. You never take them with you. So the idea that no matter where they go this is their critter forever, their forever friend, has been amazing.”
June has watched the monkeys work their magic for every child that enters Skookum House, a home that welcomes children entering foster care from across western Washington for the first 72 hours.
While the Bellingham Sock Monkey Project is working toward expanding and receiving a non-profit status, most of the funding comes from June’s wallet and volunteers’ pockets.
Each monkey is made from a pair of brand new socks and fluffed with a specific kind of stuffing that increases the critters’ longevity through washes.
The Bellingham Sock Monkey Project helps make sock monkeys and sometimes dresses them in special Seahawk gear. Photo courtesy: A Comfort Kids Project.
In addition to supporting local kids, these monkeys have traveled with people to Haiti, Costa Rica and June hopes they will find their way to Seattle as well. “I would love to have enough monkeys to send to group homes in Seattle,” she says. “I think those kids could benefit from having the monkeys.”
Volunteers even make special Seattle Seahawks monkeys who wear monkey-sized jerseys or Seahawks colored tutus. Someday the Bellingham Sock Monkey project wants to connect with the Seahawks to collaborate and send sock monkeys along with the players when they visit kids in the hospital.
“There are several expansion areas for us,” says June. “It’s just all about having the critters built and ready to go, and sometimes it’s just all about money. I tested the waters to see, ‘Was this really going to be a big hit for the kids?’ and it’s still providing the same level of joy I was hoping it would, and we’re going to keep doing it!”
The future for the kids and their monkeys is bright. After a turbulent time there is comfort in knowing you have a friend by your side.
In addition to sock monkeys, the Bellingham Sock Monkey Project also dabbles in other stuffed critters like puppies, bunnies and sometimes elephants! Photo courtesy: A Comfort Kids Project.
The Bellingham Sock Monkey Project makes monkeys for all age ranges from babies to teenagers. Photo courtesy: A Comfort Kids Project.
Nick, Sarah, and Henry form a fantastic farming trio. Photo courtesy: TwoFish Photography.
Gone are the days where you had to travel deep into the countryside to find local produce. Now a simple trip to Community Food Co-op can yield locally produced organic goods. This remarkable modern convenience is available thanks to the hard work of local farmers. Out in the county, incredible people are dedicating their lives to an amazing cause – increasing the sustainability and strength of our food supply chain.
As I journeyed out to Spring Time Farm, the weather was like most mid-winter days in Whatcom County. It could be summed up in one word: gray. The clouds were gray, the road was gray, the rain was gray and even the Sumas and Nooksack Rivers had their own silvery-gray tint. If the wind itself could have a color, I imagine its bite would leave small gray marks.
Spring Time Farm’s flowers are organic and beautifully vibrant. Photo courtesy: TwoFish Photography.
It was this wind that turned my hand to ice as I stepped out of my car at the end of Spring Time’s gravel driveway. I found myself amidst a cluster of old dairy farm buildings and a lovely, classic Washington farmhouse. Up to this moment I had only been in contact with Sarah Robinson, but it was her partner, Nick Spring, that I met first.
Shaking hands with Nick, I noticed that he was considerably taller than I had pictured him. He held himself with the relaxed slouch of someone caught between moments of weed pulling and crop tending. The soft, friendly smile paired well with Sarah’s energetic, heartwarming grin. Immediately, it was obvious that these were exactly the type of people from whom I hoped I was buying my local vegetables and flowers.
I was taken on a tour through the populated area of their recently purchased 37 acres. The rain was absent for now, but you could feel the water pooling overhead. As their dog, Henry, bounded over puddles and trampled the clover they had planted for ground cover, I got a taste of the work this couple have been putting into their farm and what they have planned. In just a year, they have already constructed two large double-layer poly greenhouses. One is used as their propagation shed and currently holds the very first lettuce crops of the season. The other is already lined with what will soon be thousands of colorful flowers.
Nick and Sarah plan on building a new washing station as their farm expands. Photo courtesy: TwoFish Photography.
As I watched Sarah split dahlia tubers (a necessary yearly task as the bulbs multiply), Nick filled me in on the wonders of farm life and the foundation behind their dream. Born a second generation Italian-American, Nick’s grandparents owned the original Spring Time Farm well before Nick was born. His father showed no interest in farming, but a generation later Nick and Sarah have taken up the task of renewing the Spring Time Farm name while continuing the tradition of hand grown goods.
In her black Carhartt overalls, working methodically on the dahlia tubers, it was hard to believe Sarah was as new to this as she claimed. Occasionally, Nick would help her with a particularly large or hardy root ball and it was easy to see how their partnership flourished.
Nick has a decade of farming experience, but it was Sarah that established flowers and bouquets as a valid and profitable part of their business. Focusing mostly on organic spring flowers, Spring Time Farm brings vibrancy and beauty to a time of year normally starved of color in the north.
Nick, Sarah, and Henry form a fantastic farming trio. Photo courtesy: TwoFish Photography.
The majority of the five acres they will cultivate this season will go towards vegetables, the bulk of their business. From “Arugula to Zucchini,” a phrase Nick readily admits to hearing from someone else, Nick and Sarah manage anywhere from 60 to 80 individual vegetable species.
Their diverse selections come from their pasts, which means they sometimes carry less common Japanese vegetables from Nick’s time farming in Japan. Nick told me of a time he tried growing Spigariello because of his Italian heritage but, like any business, more niche products have to make way for vegetables that are always high in demand like carrots and lettuce.
Cultivating Spring Time Farm has been a lot of work, but it has also been incredibly rewarding. Nick and Sarah assured me that they love their farming life and are excited to continue to grow and expand. Unquestionably, I believe in them. With Nick and Sarah providing the brains and endless hours of toil, and Henry providing the undeniably good looks, Spring Time Farm is carving out their own chunk of the local, organic food market.
As I left the farm I sang loudly along to the radio. The sun broke through the clouds and magically my world of gray became a world of color and beauty.
The first weekend in March has arrived! Let’s make it one to remember. Luckily, there are plenty of fun things happening. Here are a few ideas of what to do in and around Bellingham March 2—4. 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.
The spicy and sweet Mayan hot chocolate is a delicious treat to enjoy at the cozy Caffe' Adagio. Photo credit: Cassandra Darwin.
I have a confession to make: I live in Bellingham and I do not like coffee. It’s shocking to many that a grown person can live their best life in a city with coffee shops on every corner, without enjoying a cup of java every morning. I just never developed the taste for it. But there are some days when I really need a delicious hot drink to warm up. This is when I treat myself to a tasty mug of hot chocolate. Here are some special spots around town where you can enjoy a unique hot chocolate experience.
Caffe’ Adagio
This is the place that started my quest to find all the best hot chocolates in Bellingham. Caffe’ Adagio is located downtown on the corner of Railroad Avenue and Champion Street. I was meeting someone here for the first time and the Mayan hot chocolate on the menu caught my eye. This mug is served with an artful design on the frothy top. The Mayan hot chocolate is special because it has some spice to it. It was creamy and rich, but with a mild heat that builds as you drink more.
The menu at Forte Chocolate has options ranging from extra rich to light: truffle shots, sipping chocolate and hot cocoa. Photo credit: Cassandra Darwin.
I’m looking forward to going back and ordering breakfast or lunch with another Mayan hot chocolate.
Forte Chocolates
If you find yourself needing a sweet treat while running errands at Bellis Fair Mall, make a stop at Forte Artisan Chocolates, located near the mall’s center. Their menu has options ranging from extra rich to light: truffle shots, sipping chocolate and hot cocoa. With a variety of flavors and milk choices, you can personalize this hot chocolate experience for any mood or taste.
I enjoyed a sea salt caramel hot cocoa made with whole milk and chantilly whipped cream. It tasted sweet and creamy, and the hint of sea salt was delightful. This shop also offers hand-crafted chocolates made by Master Chocolatier, Karen Neugebauer. The beautiful truffles are perfect for gifting and the shop sells hot cocoa mix to take home, as well.
Evolve
“CHAI”colate sipping chocolate from Evolve is a blend of 85 percent dark organic chocolate, house made chai spices and assam black tea steeped with either almond, coconut or cows milk and a sprinkle of organic cane sugar or drop of honey. Photo courtesy: Evolve.
Evolve is new to me but came highly recommended. They locally create a mix called Sipping “CHAI”colate, which is superb, especially when consumed along with artisan truffles. You can find this and more at their shop in Village Books. Their “CHAI”colate is a mix of 85% dark organic chocolate, house-made chai spices and assam black tea steeped with either almond, coconut or cows’ milk and topped with a sprinkle of organic cane sugar or drop of honey.
Pure Bliss
Anyone who knows dessert as well as I do knows about Pure Bliss. Their display case of delights includes a rotating selection of cakes by the slice, cupcakes, cheesecake, cookies and muffins. Pure Bliss uses local Edaleen dairy in all of their hot chocolates along with a house-made dark chocolate ganache. I like to stop in during happy hour to get a hot chocolate and a slice of cake to share, or take a walk there after a downtown dinner date.
Chocolate Necessities
At Chocolate Necessities you can decide between drinking chocolate or the more rich Italian sipping chocolate. Photo credit: Cassandra Darwin.
Also located downtown, Chocolate Necessities has been satisfying Bellingham’s chocolate cravings for over 30 years. This shop has a selection of truffles and gift-worthy chocolate, as well as gelato. As far as hot chocolate goes, this location offers both drinking chocolate and Italian sipping chocolate, so you can decide how rich you want your experience to be. Drinking chocolate flavors include: Belgian milk, caramel milk, white, 60 percent dark and 70 percent dark. The richer Italian sipping chocolate is a blend of chocolate and cream and can be used as a topping for a scoop of gelato.
Mallard Ice Cream
On those summer days when it’s simply too warm to enjoy a hot drink, you need to make a stop at Mallard Ice Cream for a Mexican Hot Chocolate Ice Cream. Located downtown on Railroad Avenue, my family frequently stops here after having dinner at Fiamma Burger a few doors down. A scoop of this ice cream is the perfect warm weather alternative for a mug of hot chocolate.
Pure Bliss uses local Edaleen dairy in all of their hot chocolates along with a house-made dark chocolate ganache. Photo courtesy: Pure Bliss.
All of these locally owned shops are perfect to stop in for a cup of hot chocolate and a bite to eat. I have a couple that I still need to taste test — can’t wait! Please feel free to reach out if you know of a place that should be added to the list. But no matter where you sip, one thing is for sure — there’s nothing like a perfect mug of steamy hot chocolate.
After making a conscious shift in her life, Heather Simpson has found success in both her personal relationships and business. Photo courtesy: Heather Simpson.
“There are so many ways we are called on as women to be leaders; in our personal relationships, with our families, in our business and professional lives, our health, wellness and with our money.”
–Heather Simpson
Bellingham native Heather Simpson believes she found success through life’s challenges and has since committed to encouraging and empowering other women to seek the same. Her goal: to bring an environment of support, inspiration and education to the Bellingham community.
Simpson recognizes that everyone faces different struggles, as hers got her to where she is today. “The past few years have been very transformative for me,” Heather says. “They’ve been filled with hardships, tears and a lot of growth.”
Heather Simpson created the She Leads Me conference to give women a supportive community in which to become their most authentic self. Photo courtesy: Heather Simpson.
Heather was left to support herself, navigating divorce, a looming home foreclosure and raising two young children alone. “During that experience, I went through so much self-doubt,” Heather says.
“I made a choice to take action, take responsibility and lead my life where I want it to go.” Heather changed her mentality and was able to save her house from foreclosure, making a conscious shift to build a life she is now proud of. She found encouragement through friends, family and career mentors. “When you’re surrounded by people that only lift you up, instead of trying to rip you down, it makes everything so much easier,” she says.
Heather found success in business by launching two Bellingham companies and eventually becoming the CEO of a real estate firm. She’s recently made another transition; continuing as a real estate Broker with the Muljat Group in addition to establishing She Leads Me.
Heather knows the importance of surrounding yourself with people who lift you up rather than bring you down. Photo courtesy: Heather Simpson.
Throughout her journey she sought female mentorship to counterbalance the masculine energy she encountered in many leadership roles. “I had a really hard time finding the community I was searching for,” Heather says. She recognized that many women, like herself, could benefit from mentorship from other females. Heather wants She Leads Me to kick start a community of female leaders who excel in all facets of their lives together.
She Leads Me provides a sounding board for ideas, the foundations for growth, support from like-minded women and also encourages action. Heather poses the questions, “How are you showing up to the challenges you face? What if we all showed up and took ownership and led? How would that impact our lives? How would that impact our relationships? How would that impact our ecosystem? How would that impact the lives of others?”
Trying to find balance in life is difficult, especially for women. Heather has invited experts from all over the U.S. to help attendees center themselves with positive support. Photo courtesy: Heather Simpson.
Featuring speakers from across the U.S. to discuss topics from health, wellness, love and relationships to business and finance, She Leads Me addresses leadership in all areas of life. It aims to empower women to investigate and take the initiative to achieve their own goals.
Heather Simpson is passionate about helping others make a shift that will lead them to their own version of success. She Leads Me is a full-day event, allowing the speakers to dive deep, encourage attendees to make meaningful connections, learn from each other and become leaders of their lives.
Attend She Leads Me and leave with the power to create a positive ripple effect, motivate new leaders and build up an empowered community.
She Leads Me
Friday, March 30, 2018
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Hotel Bellwether, Bellingham
Grace Harbor Farms is a family affair, run by Tim, Grace and their son, David. Photo courtesy: Grace Harbor Farms.
A relationship without kids has taken on a whole new meaning for Grace Harbor Farms, one of Community Food Co-op’s long-time suppliers. When consumer demand for their high quality goat and cow’s milk products outgrew their farm’s ability to house a herd of goats and cows of adequate size, they switched to becoming a processor-distributor business. They now purchase their milk from local farms that share their vision of local milk production practices.
One of the very first Grade A dairy micro-processors, Grace Harbor now buys 100 percent of the goat’s milk they process from the local goat farm that sold them their first Saanan baby goats, also referred to as “kids.”
Grace Harbor Farms yogurt is rich and creamy. Photo courtesy: Grace Harbor Farms.
They use Guernsey and Jersey cow milk in their Natural Yogurt, Kefir and Whole Milk products, which gives naturally sweeter, richer hued milk than the more highly processed commodity brand products. Their milk products are pasteurized but not homogenized, and the cream is never separated. They do not sell cream based products such as butter, half and half, etc. because Grace Harbor Farms does not separate out the cream. Their milk is full fat as naturally received from the farm, an important concept for the milk consumer to understand.
Other dairy processors receive the milk, then separate it into skim milk and cream. Then, depending on what is being made, they add cream back into the skim milk, in affect reconstituting the milk to create 1%, 2% or whole milk which is deemed to be 3.25% butterfat by the USDA. Artificial vitamins are added to replace those taken out, depending on what is being made. This is a USDA regulation. Grace Harbor Farms is not required to add vitamins because they never remove them, which is what cream separation does.
Grace Harbor Farms is a truly local company. Photo courtesy: Grace Harbor Farms.
Grace Harbor Farms’ whole milk products butter fat content is naturally 4.5% on average, as tested when received from the farm. This is one reason why Grace Harbor Farms’ dairy products have a richer nutritious natural flavor when compared to other brands.
I was excited to chat with Grace Harbor Farms’ founders and owners Tim and Grace Lukens. I was already a fan, having purchased some of their goat’s milk based lotion, which impressed me with its pleasant, comforting scent and exceedingly smooth, silky texture.
Grace Harbor Farms has quite a story, which merits more space than I can write about here, but Grace – the creative, critter-loving force behind the married dynamic duo – assured me a book about their adventures and misadventures is in the works. I can hardly wait!
Grace Harbor Farms products are delivered as far away as Tacoma and Everett. Photo courtesy: Grace Harbor Farms.
The first thing evident while listening to Grace and Tim (who handles the finances), is that they are full of mutual respect for each other and make a great team. Secondly, they’re committed to providing products as nature intended: pure and additive-free.
Fortunately for their customers, they partner with suppliers that share this mission and their views about community and protection of our food sources.
How did Tim and Grace get started in the dairy business? It started small and grew quickly. Concerned about the impact of the Y2K scare in 2000, they began thinking of ways they could ensure they had their own access to food. When Grace suggested they get a couple of goats, Tim couldn’t say no. He’s from the “happy wife, happy life” school of marriage. From there, they started making soaps, then lotions and eventually yogurt, milks and other products. Initially, they used only goat milk, which doesn’t taste “goaty” if strict sanitary standards are adhered to and the milk is immediately chilled.
Grace shares the family’s products at a grocery store demo. Photo courtesy: Grace Harbor Farms.
When the question arose of whether they should “go for it” with the goats and try to make a business out of it, they decided they should, as consumer demand was there.
Tim and Grace first met while fishing up in Alaska, though they both had roots in Whatcom County. And while it may seem that fishing and farming are completely dissimilar, in reality, they share many of the same characteristics, like unpredictability. Additionally, Tim had both farm and retail grocery experience, so it made sense to move forward.
They began with area farmers markets, then leased a kiosk at Bellis Fair Mall. While the mall gave them valuable exposure, it was expensive so they decided to break into the retail market as wholesalers. Tim and Grace still handle all aspects of the business with the aid of great employees who help out with processing and running the small retail outlet they have onsite.
Grace Harbor Farms is a family affair, run by Tim, Grace and their son, David. Photo courtesy: Grace Harbor Farms.
When I asked Grace about plans for the next chapter, she excitedly told me she’s looking into straw bale gardening and getting ducks – in all her free time when she’s not making wine in their cellar or cooking for family and friends. Tim raved about his wife’s cooking. Grace loves to make meals that can be shared by friends and family. Both Tim and Grace have a strong Christian-based faith that has given them the strength and confidence to pursue their passions, even in the face of adversity.
From left to right: Carter Merritt, Charlie Adams, Madison Knapp and Autumn Shawver.
Kulshan Middle School students recently completed a unit on Religion and Beliefs in Colleen Carpenter’s7th grade Social Studies classes. “Students were asked to write an editorial on the topic of religious tolerance, explaining why it’s important and why it’s needed in today’s world,” Carpenter says. “After sharing their editorials with each other, students voted on the top editorials – the ones that made them feel a certain way, think a certain way and/or had some exceptional writing or phrasing.”
From left to right: Tiger Lily Brim, Annabelle Drake and Keira Woolman.
These editorials are included below. “I believe that you will be much impressed by these writers’ critical thinking, compassion and belief that tolerance is not only necessary in today’s world, but possible. They really give you hope for the future.”
Autumn Shawver
Religious tolerance is defined as the act of accepting someone, even though you may not agree with their religious views. It is the non-judgmental way of thinking that is the driving force behind many long-lasting friendships and peaceful communities. Our societies need religious tolerance because many of the biggest wars in history have begun as a result of religious intolerance. Being intolerant in general has set humans as a species farther back than would be preferred. To be tolerant of other people’s beliefs would mean keeping yourself focused inward as opposed to turning your criticism toward what others believe. Most people haven’t even explored the possibilities of each religion, and it’s unfair to judge someone for something you know nothing about.
Religious intolerance, however, is discriminating against somebody or a group of people because they do not share your views. One example of intolerance in ancient history is the Crusades. Many religiously stifling events happened during these journeys, but one of the most shocking is the massacre of Jewish people. This is an example of religious intolerance because the Crusaders were such strong believers in their religion, that they felt the need to eradicate anyone with a different viewpoint (although some may say that killing millions of people for such a trifle insignificance actually goes against Christianity – commandment VI: “thou shalt not kill.”) This event caused many unnecessary deaths that could have been avoided simply by being tolerant.
Another example of intolerance is Hindu militants suppressing Christian and Muslim beliefs by forcing them to convert to Hinduism. This is religiously intolerant because the Hindu militants are so afraid of the minority, that they use their power to make less of them. The people who have the most authority should be using it to make sure that there is little to no bias. It may be an unrealistic goal, but the first step to achieving any aspiration is to make an effort. Religious intolerance is one of the most impactful problems in society, both in the modern day and ancient times. Everybody, no matter their religion, should try their best to accept any and all diversity.
One of the ways we can increase religious tolerance in our world is being indifferent when it comes to religion. As a race of intelligent creatures, we should be banding together for the greater good as opposed to being torn apart and turning on each other. Humans are mentally capable of astounding things, and if we all worked as a team to fight bigger issues, the world would be a much better place.
Annabelle Drake
“Religious – r??lij?s – relating to or believing in a religion.”
“Tolerance – ?täl(?)r?ns – the ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with.”
That’s right, I just introduced an editorial by copy-and-pasting Google definitions. In case you couldn’t already tell, today I’m talking about religious tolerance. Religious tolerance is something that throughout history, humans in general have never seemed to have much of. Various crimes have been committed due to religious intolerance; people have been slaughtered for their beliefs, entire wars have been fought over religion and many religions are incredibly similar. Needless to say, we certainly have a reputation for religious intolerance. This editorial is meant to show you why we need religious tolerance and how it would help our society if we had more of it. Please note; this is not meant to say that no one tolerates religion – many people do – but there is still a large portion of the population (including countries) that are very intolerant to others’ beliefs. This will focus on the latter, despite my recognition of the opposite.
First and foremost, religious intolerance has been a problem in the past, present and the future if we don’t do anything about it. An example of intolerance is Hindu militants forcing Muslims and Christians to convert. This example is very straight-forward; it shows religious intolerance because people are literally being forced to give up their own beliefs. You can see here that religious tolerance is very important, as intolerance causes happiness and freedom to believe what you believe to be ripped away from you in an instant. It is a disgusting tactic, forcing people to give up what is truth to them, all to get someone to agree with you. Another example of intolerance is the crusades of medieval Europe – Jews were massacred for their beliefs. It seems unfair because it is; Judaism and Christianity are two very similar belief systems that are clashing head-to-head in a fit of violence, all because they don’t agree with each other. It was a despicable waste of life, and this shows the importance of tolerance because it would bring more peace and happiness, even basic freedom to an otherwise cruel society.
In conclusion, I hope this editorial has shown you the importance of religious tolerance. Intolerance has led to violence and crime. People believe what they believe and I, for one, believe it is a basic right that should be allowed. We, as humans, should be able to celebrate what we view as truth. Intolerance is a relevant and serious issue that should be addressed; more tolerance would lead to a safer and more peaceful society. I recognize that dealing with issues such as this is easier said than done, but there are some things we can do, such as; not “condemning” someone for their beliefs. We can also work on, when someone is sharing their religion, not offering our opinions or commentary but just listening and being respectful to their personal beliefs. And finally, just being there for each other. Don’t say you don’t like someone for their beliefs, don’t exclude them, just accept that they believe different things and leave it alone. It’s not the end of the world if someone doesn’t agree with you; we need to stop acting like it is.
Charlie Adams
From left to right: Carter Merritt, Charlie Adams, Madison Knapp and Autumn Shawver.
Religious tolerance is accepting that there are more religions you could explore. Another example of religious tolerance is say you’re Catholic and you want to switch to Judaism, since we’re showing tolerance, they would accept you into their religion. Our society needs religious tolerance because we would probably be back at square one having wars against each other and if we wanted to switch you would probably be executed. Another reason we need religious tolerance is there probably wouldn’t be cars, computers or any technology because we would not be working with smart people of other religions. To be tolerant of other people’s beliefs would mean you should ask questions, be interested and supportive of other religions. Another reason to be tolerant of other people’s beliefs would mean you could come to holidays of their religions or you could go to church with them or where they go to practice their religion.
Religious tolerance is accepting all religions and being respectful of all religions. There was intolerance when Hitler led the Holocaust but there was also religious tolerance with the Maryland Toleration Act, also known as the Act Concerning Religion, which was a law mandating religious tolerance. It was passed on April 21, 1649 by the assembly of the Maryland Colony. This shows that some people will kill because of their intolerance of other people’s religions but this also shows that there are safe places to be safe and have a place where you can have whatever thoughts you want about your religion. This proves that if you do something bad it follows you forever. But this also proves that if you do something good it means you are a hero forever. You can see how this affects people’s families forever on both sides. It could have affected it in a good or bad way. So that shows that religious tolerance is important because you could offend or hurt someone and you don’t want enemies in this world, you want allies.
One thing I could do to show religious tolerance is if someone is talking about their religion, I could join the conversation and share what I know and one thing other people could do is to just get out and see what other religions have to offer. One more thing that I could do is to go to church or where they go to practice their religion with a friend. Another thing that other people could do is go on the internet and do some research on other religions and why some people practice them. And finally I could go to some holy places and I could learn something there. One thing other people could do is talk to someone who is educated about it and ask them some questions.
Madison Knapp
Religious tolerance is when people have a certain limit for people of different religion. Having a low religious tolerance means that you don’t enjoy talking about or being with a person of a different religion. Having a high religious tolerance means that you can/are willing to talk to a person of a different religion. Our societies need more religious tolerance because we would be kinder to people of another religion. This would also help those people by having them feel safer in our community. Another reason why we need more religious tolerance in our society is because it would help the people feel accepted, and they won’t have to worry so much about danger. To be tolerant of other people’s beliefs would include the following reasons, one being that we would not judge them just because of what they believe in and a lot more. Another reason is that we would be able to help them without being worried about our own safety as well as their own. The last reason of what being tolerant for other people’s beliefs would mean is that we would be accepting to them and help them feel comfortable in our community.
One example of intolerance in history was when the Crusades would kill Jewish people because it wasn’t their religion even if they weren’t planning on killing them. This shows intolerance by stating that they had a very strong opinion about other religions when they are not the same religion. This proves that during the Crusades the knights would kill innocent people even if that was not their intention when they went on their journey. You can see how these people have very low tolerance for different religions. One example of tolerance today is that my church accepts gay marriage and we accept multiple different religions. This shows that my church understands and uses religious tolerance to make the church more approachable. This proves that my church believes that they can use this to help the church seem more welcoming to other people. We use this saying, “No matter who you are or where you are, you are welcome here,” every Sunday. This is more inviting to others.
When religious tolerance is very low in our society it makes me want to help the un-represented. One of the actions I can take includes helping people of other religions if they need to, say, find a certain place in the city (Bellingham) I can tell them if I know the information or help them find the information. Another situation can include if someone is not being very kind to people of a different religion I will ask them to stop and help the person of another religion. Yet another thing that helps me help others includes putting the religious barriers aside and doing what’s right. The last thing I want other people to do includes helping them if they have a question rather than ignoring them.
Anna P.
Religious tolerance is the ability to accept and have an open mind to other religions no matter how different they are from your own beliefs. It is nonjudgmental and kind to those who have different beliefs. Currently in our societies this practice is essential for many reasons. One being that the absence of it can lead to violent controversy and non-civil societies. Another is we can learn new ideas and concepts by being open minded. You only get certain opinions if you have one group of people. This leads to a successful democracy where all people have a say. Ways to express religious tolerance is to start by accepting everyone no matter where they worship or what they believe. You can go a step further to listen and interact with different groups and to fight for their beliefs if they are not represented in this society.
When religious tolerance and acceptance is ignored or not a part of the society the society strays from being successful, an example of this is in WWII when the Germans thought they were the superior race and all others were not important. The Nazis strongly practiced religious intolerance; this was demonstrated when they persecuted the Jews to inhumane points. Germany lost the war and after that Jewish people were protected to further measures. This shows an unsuccessful society because they were divided and they did not have the insight of different races or religions because of their idea of the superior race. Another example of religious intolerance is in the Crusades in Medieval Europe. This shows religious intolerance because the Christians were not accepting to any other religions. When you look at this example in history you can see how it affects the city of Jerusalem today; it is still divided. People are fighting for their right to have Jerusalem as their religious capital although it is important to many religions. Also the Crusades led to many deaths that were not just and they still occur, in lesser numbers, today.
When I think about religious tolerance I think that in our society we are relatively successful; however when you dig deeper there are many ignored ideas that do not prove us to be a successful society. One of the things that I can do is get past the barrier of my religion is right and everyone else’s are wrong. I think if we as a whole can learn to listen and learn from all people we will be of a higher function. If we push ourselves to include rather than divide we can help and not hurt those who feel like they don’t belong. Then strive to have all religions rather than just being protected by law, being protected by the people that interact with them like their equal.
Carter Merritt
Religious tolerance is being able to accept others’ religion and beliefs and to be flexible with others’ ideas about religion. An example of religious tolerance is being in a country with hundreds and hundreds of religions and feeling like you are all one which you obviously are. Our societies need religious tolerance because without that everyone is going to feel like we are so much different and then some will treat others differently because of others beliefs about religion which is why we need religious tolerance. An example of why we need religious tolerance in our society is without it imagine we have a leader in our society who isn’t tolerant and treats people terribly because he or she thinks differently than someone and he or she thinks that person should be punished for not believing what they do. To be tolerant of other people’s beliefs would mean to be willing to listen to how they believe things and to be ok with it even if you do not believe in that you just have to accept that they have their own opinion on religion. You can also accept religions that maybe have a bad history or religions that you think are weird. This would be showing that you are tolerant with religion.
Religious tolerance is a way of treating others’ beliefs with positivity and being fine if they believe in other things than you do. You would treat others nicely even if you think their beliefs are bad and not very similar to your beliefs. One example of religious intolerance in history was when during the Crusades of Medieval Europe the Christians that were on a journey to Jerusalem stopped at a city that had a lot of Jewish people living in it and the Christians massacred many Jews. You can see how this might affect the daily lives of Jewish people. After that they were most likely living in fear of another massacre from people of another religion. This attack probably made these people feel insecure and scared. This is why we need tolerance for religion or else people are going to be living like these people did, insecure and afraid.
Another example of why we need religious tolerance is Hitler’s Holocaust because that caused many deaths of people around the globe and this attack was controlled by one religiously intolerant man, Adolf Hitler. This proves that we need everyone to be tolerant about others’ religion and beliefs because that one person who was intolerant about that caused millions of people to die because of their beliefs.
Here are some actions you can take to be religiously tolerant. You can talk to others about their religion in order to understand more about it and you will make the other person feel like you are engaged and that you understand their beliefs. Another way you can be religiously tolerant is to show support if anyone you know is being picked on for their beliefs and show they are not alone. To be religiously tolerant can change lives. Try it out.
Tiger Lily Brim
Religious tolerance is a big problem in the world. But the question is what is religious tolerance? Religious tolerance is a willingness to accept feelings, habits or beliefs that are different from your own. Our societies need religious tolerance because we would and we are falling apart without it. We also need religious tolerance because our society would be more peaceful and it would be more put together and fair to each other if we had religious tolerance. To be tolerant of other people’s beliefs would mean that we would have to not kick certain people out and that we would have to let people in. Another way to be tolerant of other people’s beliefs would mean to trust people and love your neighbors as yourself.
Religious tolerance is a big problem in the world today and in history. If we do not have religious tolerance and we have intolerance we are going end up in a war and we all want peace so we need to have religious tolerance. An example of intolerance in history was when the Crusades happened and they had a whole war for 20 years for the religion. This proves that religious tolerance is important in the world and it gives us peace and it helps us to stay together as a country. You can see how since they did not have religious tolerance and they ended up killing each other. This shows that if we do not have religious tolerance that we could end up in a whole war not with just one group but maybe the world. That is why religious tolerance is important to the world and why we need to accept different things in the world.
One way to show tolerance is you can trust other religions also you could host a community dinner and invite people from your church and other churches. You can also not stare or act weird or uncomfortable because it will make them feel left out or weird and like you wish they were not in their presence. You can also talk to them and hang out with them and just be nice to your neighbors as yourself.
Keira Woolman
Religious tolerance is being able to accept the beliefs of others and not judging people, for it is being ok with the fact that you might not have the same beliefs as others. Our society in this point in time needs religious tolerance because there are a lot of religions and without being able to tolerate it there would be a lot of violence. And how long do you think we would last? To be tolerant of other people’s beliefs would mean to accept them for who they are not what they beliefs in.
Religious tolerance is maybe not agreeing with someone but being ok with what they think. Having religious tolerance is important because it can make it so things are more peaceful. An example of religious intolerance is when the knights fought with the Jewish in the first Crusade. That shows religious intolerance because it led to a lot of deaths and violence that did not need to happen. This proves that they did not have religious tolerance because they did not accept the Jews for who they were; they just killed them for what they believed in. You can see how it is important to have religious tolerance because without it there would be much more violence.
One thing you can do to become more tolerant to different religions is talk to someone with a different religion than you and try and understand it a little bit more even if you don’t agree. And one thing I want to do to become more religiously tolerant is research questions I have about religion and get a better understanding of how religions are similar. By understanding more about religion you are showing that you care even if you don’t agree with everything.
What do you do when you come into a breakfast or brunch restaurant and you can’t decide to go “sweet” or “savory” in your decision? Well, Over Easy has come up with a solution to that conundrum: The Waffle Dog! This is the invention of Over Easy founders father-son team, Brad and Aaron May. This dish has been featured on “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” with Ben McMillan. Brad says, “Waffles are good. Sausages are good. They’re even better together!”
The show features Brad May grilling thick, meaty 100 percent Jones farm pork sausage, skewing it with a stick, dipping it into scrumptious waffle batter and deep frying it. The Waffle Dog becomes a complete meal in itself. It is generously powdered with sugar and offered with real Vermont maple syrup for dipping. For those who enjoy a little spice, a touch of Cholula sauce in the syrup is suggested. Your taste buds will explode with sweet, salty and spicy with each delicious bite!
If you have never tried one, we at Over Easy Bellingham are offering one sample free! Just mention that you heard about the offer and we will take care of you. (We even have a surprise offer for a second and third visit when you come back! Can’t tell you here ‘cause it wouldn’t be a surprise if we did!)
Solstice Senior Living's Vibrant Life program offers live music events like this dinner concert by local band Quattro Sax. Photo credit: Janine Johnson.
I am normally not one for celebrating Valentine’s Day. Every year it passes without fanfare. I do not send cards, receive roses or go out for a romantic dinner. I definitely do not wear red. Valentine’s Day has never really been important to me. This year, however, was different. The eldest of my three girls celebrates all holidays with gusto and Valentine’s Day was no exception. We ate chocolate-covered strawberries. We made heart valentines out of pink construction paper. I even wore red.
The Valentine’s dinner was themed “That’s Amore” and featured a chef-created menu and live music. Photo credit: Janine Johnson.
I also took my girls on a very special outing to Solstice Senior Living at Bellingham, a stately over-55 community in Fairhaven. Here, the four of us spent the dinner hour chatting with community members and listening to the music of local band Quattro Sax.
As my girls tucked into a cozy corner table in the comfortable foyer with a craft, a sandwich and the attention of the very friendly community concierge, Hannah, I made my way into the dining room. An elegant, spacious area that rivals any upscale restaurant, the dining room was festooned with twinkling lights and banners for this evening’s themed dinner event: “That’s Amore.”
Solstice Senior Living at Bellingham is a spacious, inviting over-55 community. Photo credit: Janine Johnson.
Solstice Senior Living at Bellingham’s Vibrant Life activities program offers entertainment and experiences designed to optimize health and provide opportunities for connection, both between community members and with the greater Bellingham area. This evening’s offering would include live music and a chef-created menu of delicious dining options.
Vibrant Life activities span a wide range from staff-led games to lectures by area experts. “One of the many things that Solstice is doing well is individualizing the experience,” says Denise Irey, Director of Marketing and Sales. “The social opportunities are more directed to the individual as opposed to just sticking things on the calendar.”
Solstice Senior Living’s Vibrant Life program offers live music events like this dinner concert by local band Quattro Sax. Photo credit: Janine Johnson.
The Vibrant Life Director invests time in learning about each individual. By understanding each person’s special interests, background and personality, events can be tailor-made. This creates richer experiences for all.
Settled in at a table near the front of the room are Sunny Woll and Kenneth Hathaway. They sit close together, elbows nearly touching. There is a bottle of red wine on the table and a half-filled glass sits before of each of them. We introduce ourselves and I say, “May I ask a personal question?” They both nod and I continue, “Are you…”
“Best friends,” interjects Sunny, clearing up any possible confusion before it even materializes. Theirs is an envy-inducing friendship. During our conversation, she completes his thoughts and does most of the talking, on her own behalf and Kenneth’s, while he snaps photos on his SLR camera. Sunny has lived here 11 years and Kenneth has been here for eight. They both take part in many of the activities and appreciate what a good situation they have. Of the Solstice community, Sunny says, “We are strong and we are friends. We have a community, a healing community.”
Best friends Sunny Woll and Kenneth Hathaway enjoy the dinner music together. Photo credit: Janine Johnson.
Right up front, facing the band, sits a rapt Bunny Olson. She has been a community member for a year and a half, ever since her husband Dan passed away. Bunny made the move to Solstice Senior Living mostly because she was uncomfortable driving on her own. “If you don’t drive, you don’t eat,” she says.
At Solstice Senior Living, however, you eat very well. Bunny was dining on lobster ravioli, fresh asparagus and warm garlic bread. There was a soup course, as well, and tiramisu for dessert.
When asked about the activities offered in the Vibrant Life program, Bunny leans in, clasps her hands together excitedly and says, “I never miss a thing! Never. I just love it.”
Bunny is busy, active and engaged. She hopped on the Solstice bus earlier in the week for a trip to Birch Bay. This brought fresh air and a change in perspective. These outings give her a connection to her former life and nature, but with the ease and comfort that comes with an all-inclusive, lifestyle-appropriate living arrangement.
Bunny Olson never misses an activity offered by Solstice Senior Living. Photo credit: Janine Johnson.
Bunny, Kenneth, Sunny and the rest of the residents have the means to live on their own in a house, condo or apartment building. But such a life can be isolating. Loneliness at any age is detrimental to one’s health. Solstice Senior Living at Bellingham is an instant community. On my first visit, I sensed a college-campus vibe. But Denise Irey puts it much better. “Solstice is like a cruise ship that never leaves port,” she says. “If you want to interact and engage with the other members, the Vibrant Life Director is there to make those opportunities happen. If you crave alone time in your cabin, that is always a possibility too.”
With the Vibrant Life program, a strong community and top-notch dining, Solstice Senior Living is an ideal place to live life to the fullest.
Lynette Samano (left) of Bellingham United girls wrestling gets her arm raised after winning the 120-pound state championship. Photo credit: Grant Clark.
It wasn’t as if Payton Stroud of White River held just one victory over Girls United Wrestling’s Lynette Samano this season. One defeat would be easy for anyone to disregard and give it another go. Stroud and Samano had wrestled three previous times during the season. Stroud won every meeting.
“They’ve wrestled three times and Stroud hasn’t just beat her three times,” said Girls United Wrestling Coach Brian Porteus, “she’s pinned her three times.”
White River’s Payton Stroud (left) and Girls United Wrestling’s Lynette Samano battle for position towards the end of the match. Photo credit: Grant Clark.
A fourth and final matchup was slated for the 120-pound girls’ state championship at Mat Classic XXX on February 17 at the Tacoma Dome.
It would have been easy for Samano, a senior at Bellingham who takes courses at Whatcom Community College, to simply be satisfied with making the state finals.
By merely advancing to the championship round she had already made history for Girls United Wrestling, which is the joint girls’ wrestling program representing athletes from Bellingham, Sehome and Squalicum.
No Girls United wrestler had ever done that before.
Samano took it a step further though, becoming the program’s first ever state champion following a 3-2 upset victory over Stroud.
Samano became the first member of Girls United Wrestling to win a state championship at Mat Classic XXX. Photo credit: Grant Clark.
“She was ready today,” a beaming Porteus said following Samano’s victory. “She was nothing short of incredible.”
She certainly was. Winning a state championship is hard enough without having to face someone who had your number the entire year.
“I just tried to stay positive (coming into the match),” Samano said. “I just continued to believe that I can do it. I know I prepared myself really hard. All those sprints, all those long days, it worked out. It was definitely worth it.”
Trailing 2-1 in the early stages of the third, Samano knotted up the score on an escape, however, the point never made its way to the scoreboard.
Unaffected by the potential miscue, Samano continued to wrestle, looking for the equalizer.
Girls United Wrestling coach Brian Porteus signals for an escape point to be added to the scoreboard during the 120-pound state championship. Photo credit: Grant Clark.
“I don’t look at the points,” Samano said after the match. “I just try to wrestle my hardest. Everything happens for a reason. I didn’t look at the points at all. I just wanted to keep going.”
Porteus signaled to the officials for the point to be recognized for quite some time, eventually believing that the mistake would be corrected.
As this happened, the time during regulation began to tick down. Stroud was issued a warning for stalling with less than a minute remaining. Towards the end of the match, a second call for stalling was issued, resulting in a point for Samano, and, ultimately, a state championship.
“(The officials) made the right call. They even said they awarded the (escape) point too late but knowing that the point was on the board and knowing that the score was tied, I didn’t want (Samano) to stop wrestling,” Porteus said. “I just wanted her to go. I was waiting for a re-start and figured if we got a re-start I would go over to the table and they would fix the score.”
Samano defeated White River’s Payton Stroud, the state’s top-ranked girls wrestler at 120 pounds, 3-2 in the state finals. Photo credit: Grant Clark.
Confusion followed at the end of the match as both parties weren’t sure of the outcome. After the referees and match officials met for several minutes, both points were awarded to Samano.
Samano, who placed sixth last year at 125 while attending Nooksack Valley, entered the state tournament ranked fifth in the weight division. She knocked off third-ranked Ashlyn Morris of Olympic, 6-2, in the quarterfinals and pinned sixth-ranked Taylor Robbins (3:38) in the semifinals before facing the top-ranked Stroud.
“It’s hard to describe the ride that we have been on,” Porteus said. “Lynette kind of fell into our laps. She came with a ton of experience and we just helped her try to get better. We cared for her a ton and took care of her as a human being, and loved her and here she is – a state champion.”
Lynette Samano (left) of Girls United Wrestling gets her arm raised after winning the 120-pound state championship. Photo credit: Grant Clark.
Samano, who is on the dean’s list at Whatcom Community College, initially had some difficulties describing her history-making state run for Girls United Wrestling.
“Honestly, I don’t know how it feels right now. I’m just kind of hungry. After cutting weight, all I want to do is eat,” Samano said with a smile. “I just want more girls to come in and love the sport. Love the sport and give it your all, that’s what matters.”
While Girls United Wrestling is looking to build some tradition, Shelby Sears and Ebonney Bowhay added to Mount Baker’s impressive list of accomplishments. Sears, a junior, finished sixth at 190 and Bowhay, a freshman, picked up a sixth-place medal at 125, marking the 12th consecutive season the Mountaineers have placed multiple wrestlers in the girls’ tournament.
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...
