The Recreation Northwest EXPO is ready to deliver fun for free to the public. With plenty of exhibitors to choose from, the EXPO is your opportunity to connect with leaders in the outdoor recreation community at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal in Fairhaven on Saturday, February 24 from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
An attendee at the Recreation Northwest 2016 EXPO explored hiking areas on a map of Washington state. Photo credit: Todd Ellsworth.
The exhibitors will represent Washington State’s recreation community in the general categories of Gear and Equipment; Outdoor Retailers; Guides, Outfitters and Coaches; Health and Wellness; Stewardship and Outdoor Activity; Races and Events; Public Land Managers; and Recreation Media. See the list of 2017 EXPO Exhibitors for a sample.
“As a non-profit organization, offering the public a free event meets our mission of bringing people together to enjoy, preserve and improve the places where we play,” iterates Todd Elsworth, co-Executive Director, Recreation Northwest. “Working with our partners, sponsors and exhibitors we are able to provide this as a free experience for the greater community. We have a full day of cool clinics, insightful demonstrations, Smokey Bear and great people to connect with at the Expo this year. Everybody will leave with a door prize, expanded outdoor knowledge and some new friends.”
Exhibitors displaying McNett gear answered questions from community members at Recreation Northwest’s 2016 EXPO. Photo credit: Todd Ellsworth.
Check the event website, RecreationNWExpo.com, in early February for the updated schedule of EXPO Demos and Clinics offered throughout the day. Demos and clinics will be hosted on the ground floor next to StrEAT Food and the Boundary Bay beer station. The demos/clinics will teach you a variety of skills and introduce you to the outdoors! In-booth demos will also run concurrently throughout the day’s events, so make sure to visit all the booths.
Special guest, Smokey Bear, will be on-site to say hi to the kids – big and small! Also for your entertainment, SMC (Seattle Manufacturing Co.) and AAI (American Alpine Institute) will be showing off rigging and rescue techniques inside the venue- that is certain to wow and amaze the crowds.
The Whatcom Dream was the recipient of The Chrysalis Inn & Spa’s January spa donation in the amount of $2,100. This celebrates one year of giving over $23,000 to local non-profits that began as a way for owner Mike Keenan to donate anticipated corporate tax cuts to those most in need in his own community.
Whatcom Dream Executive Director Trudy Shuravloff poses with Chrysalis Spa Director Sandy Sallee. Photo courtesy: Chrysalis Inn & Spa.
The Whatcom Dream, who has been providing financial literacy and life skills curriculum throughout Whatcom County since 1999, has a mission to create poverty-reducing pathways for residents to discover their dreams and achieve their full potential.
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.
February’s donation recipient will be Growing Alliances, an organization dedicated to empowering at-risk youth through vocational opportunities in urban agriculture.
You are invited to join us again on the red carpet, sip and schmooze, and mingle at Pickford Film Center’s 9th annual Academy Awards viewing party – The Red Carpet Affair. This swanky benefit event sponsors PFC’s Education Fund, which provides innovative Media Literacy courses and Doc-ED documentary screenings, free to local middle school students. The event will take place on Sunday, March 4, 2018. Tickets are available online at www.pickfordfilmcenter.org.
The Cause
Sip, schmooze and mingle at Pickford Film Center’s 9th annual Academy Awards viewing party. Photo credit: Tara Almond.
All proceeds from the evening will go towards Pickford Film Center’s Education Fund. Thanks to the funds raised last year and other contributions, we were able to invite every student in public and tribal middle schools in Whatcom County to experience free documentaries through Doc-ED. Help us maintain this meaningful program. This year, there are a variety of fun ways you can support, including a cocktail bar by Sara Galactica featuring themed cocktails from the Best Picture nominees, and amazing raffle prize packages like a year of free movies, Mount Baker ski area lift tickets and sea kayak trips, tickets to the Seattle Philharmonic, and more.
The Scene
The food will be delectable. Photo credit: Tara Almond.
Make your grand entrance on the red carpet as Bar Tabac serenades your arrival. Be sure to pose for the paparazzi and flashing cameras along the way, and you will be welcomed into the PFC Lobby which will be transformed for the evening. Visit photographer Phil Rose to have your gorgeous mug photographed in front of the PFC backdrop.
The Flavors
Hearty, delectable appetizers prepared by Crave Catering will be available throughout the night. Visit the elaborate cheese and charcuterie spreads and cascading hors d’oeuvre displays. Top the evening off with a trip to the lavish Willy Wonka-inspired candy buffet with all of the sweets and small cakes you can dream of.
The Entertainment
Enjoy a special cocktail crafted by Sara Holodnick. Photo credit: Tara Almond.
The broadcast of the 90th Academy Awards will begin at 5:00 p.m. and this begins the evening of entertainment. The awards ceremony will be screening in both cinemas and in the lobby, so grab a seat or feel free to roam around. Intermezzo fun will be dispersed throughout the commercial breaks – so be ready to win prizes with some interactive games, enjoy some live entertainment and learn more about the story of Pickford Film Center.
The menu at Gainsbarre features natural wine, small plates, beer and cocktails. The space provides a relaxing and intimate environment. Photo credit: Tom Grayling.
What comes to mind when you think of enthusiasm? If you answered Tom Grayling, you’d be one hundred percent correct. Tom is the energetic co-owner of Gainsbarre, Fairhaven’s newest natural wine bar. The fromagerie is a one stop shop for natural wine, small plates and even beer (it is Bellingham, after all). Since opening in November 2017, Tom and the crew at Gainsbarre have made it their mission to revitalize the beverage scene that once burgeoned in Fairhaven.
After over 15 years in the food and beverage industry, Tom knows the ins and outs of running the wine bar effectively. But even Tom couldn’t do it alone. He’s got quite the team behind him, from his knowledgeable and friendly service staff to seasoned Chef Alex Nusloch to his equally enthusiastic business partner Laura Swift. Gainsbarre is the definition of a collaborative effort. The team here has racked up a ton of collective experience in the food and beverage scene, and they pride themselves on providing their guests the best experience possible.
Gainsbarre is located at 1143 11th St, in Bellingham in the Historic Fairhaven district. The natural wine bar is open from noon to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and noon to 10:00 p.m. on weekends. Photo credit: Tom Grayling.
“Sharing good food and wine with others is extremely important to me. It brings community together,” Tom says as his eyes scan Gainsbarre’s wide selection of wine bottles. Tom is exceedingly proud of their collection.
It’s obvious when someone is passionate about what they do. It makes you feel connected to their grand plan. This is especially true of Tom.
Tom explains that all of the wine at Gainsbarre is unique to Gainsbarre. You can’t get it anywhere else in the area. This is due to their wine procuring process. They cut out the middle man. By only using a handful of purveyors and importers, Tom gets his wine straight from the source. He likes to think of Gainsbarre as a farmstand. Most of their labels come from Europe, locations such as France, Italy and Germany, but they also import certain wines from California and the Willamette Valley in Oregon.
“All of our wine is organic and natural,” Tom says. “There are no additives and I think people will start to realize the difference once they start drinking it. Once you start drinking organic wine, you just don’t go back.”
The melted raclette plate at Gainsbarre includes: melted raclette cheese, Bayonne ham, pickles and toast points. Photo credit: Tom Grayling.
Tom is a passionate wine lover. He is also a lover of good food, and the culture and menu at Gainsbarre reflect that. The hiring of Chef Nusloch from New Orleans, Louisiana, was a critical step in developing their small plate menu that is both exciting and adventurous. Dishes such as Avocado Tartine with English pea, mint and feta; and their charcuterie board featuring Texas wild boar, coppa and salame toscano reflect that.
For those looking for even lighter fare, try their Greens & Grains salad which combines farro wheat, pomegranate, belgian endive, greens, lemon and mint.
“It was always our intention to have food to pair with our selection of high-quality wines,” Tom says. “Alex puts a ton of thought into our menu and wonderfully pairs our menu items with the perfect wine suited for them.”
Although Gainsbarre is different than the typical Bellingham watering hole (i.e., not hyper-focused on beer), the wine and snack bar still has a place in the city. Its differences are its advantages. Not being the norm can benefit you – it gives people the incentive to try your product because you are unique, Tom says.
The menu at Gainsbarre features natural wine, small plates, beer and cocktails. The space provides a relaxing and intimate environment. Photo credit: Tom Grayling.
The location they’ve selected has a long wine related history. According to Tom, it was a wine shop for 12 years and saw multiple incarnations. At first the shop was called Purple Smile. Tom frequented it regurlarly as a customer. Perfectly Paired took over the space before taking their business to Lynden. Both the owners of Purple Smile and Perfectly Paired were mentors to him.
“This place has a great wine history and I want to help keep that alive,” Tom says.
Server Anna Mortimer walks over to our table and concurs, “We want you to have an adventure when you come visit us,” she says. “That’s what sets us apart. You get to immerse yourself in our environment and in our wines. You’ll get to learn all about them while here, so you get a relaxing and educating experience.”
Tom beams and adds, “She is so right!” It is clear that the team at Gainsbarre shares the same vision.
Gainsbarre is open from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on weekends. They have a daily happy hour which runs from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily when you can grab $4 beers and $6 pours of select wine. Come in and enjoy the experience!
Whether you are Irish or Irish in spirit, you are invited to support the health and independence of local seniors at an Irish Dinner and Silent Auction at the Bellingham Ferry Terminal on Saturday, March 10.
Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day for a good cause. Photo courtesy: Meals on Wheels and More.
Get your green on and join Meals on Wheels and More for their 3rd Annual Irish Dinner and Silent Auction on Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Bellingham Ferry Terminal! Enjoy a traditional Irish Dinner of corned beef and cabbage provided by Haggen Market Street Catering (vegetarian option available), Celtic music by Drowsy Maggie, a variety of local brews from Boundary Bay Brewery, a silent auction, a photo booth and more! Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at the Bellingham Senior Activity Center, Village Books – Fairhaven, the Community Food Co-op and at BrownPaperTickets.com. Last year’s dinner sold out, so don’t wait to get your tickets!
Put on your green and celebrate! Photo courtesy: Meals on Wheels and More.
All proceeds of the event benefit Meals on Wheels and More, a program of the Whatcom Council on Aging, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Meals on Wheels and More supports the health and independence of local seniors by providing freshly prepared, nutritionally balanced lunches at 12 senior centers and senior residences in Whatcom and San Juan Counties, and by delivering “Meals on Wheels” to homebound seniors throughout the two counties. Despite flat levels of federal funding, the demand for Meals on Wheels by the area’s most vulnerable seniors has increased by over 40 percent in just three years. “A successful Irish Dinner fundraiser will help ensure that all local seniors who need the Program’s services will receive them without being placed on a waiting list,” says Program Director, Julie Meyers.
On January 23 Liam Wilson, 17, was named the 2018 Youth of the Year for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County. Hundreds of Boys & Girls Club members participate in the national competition annually. Through the program, participants develop public speaking and goal setting skills essential to a successful future at school and into the workplace. Since 1947, the Youth of the Year program has recognized members for their leadership, communication and teamwork skills at the county, state, regional and national level.
A current Lynden Clubhouse member, Wilson has been a Club kid since he transplanted from South Africa to Kirkland at the age of six. He was uprooted again in the 5th grade, this time to Lynden.
“We moved to Lynden and once again I was able to turn to the Boys & Girls Club to help me with the transition. When I walked in [the club] in Lynden, I felt at home and welcomed,” Wilson said.
Today, Wilson is enrolled as a Running Start student at Bellingham Technical College with a focus in engineering. He is the youngest geometrics major on campus. When he isn’t hitting the books, he still finds time to visit his friends at the Lynden Clubhouse and stay involved in leadership programs like Keystone Club and Junior Staff.
Wilson will continue to train and develop his public speaking skills before competing at the state level in Seattle on March 20-22. Wilson will compete against 21 youth from all over Washington State who are representing their club and community. Wilson will once again share his story with hundreds in the audience in order to be selected to move onto the regional competition.
The cast of GOBSMACKED! knows how to put on a show. Photo courtesy: Mount Baker Theatre.
We are all a cappella singers. Everyone has sung that solo in the shower, made up that vocal impression of a guitar rift or dropped that mouth-made drum beat.
Ball-Zee is a world champion beatboxer. Photo courtesy: Mount Baker Theatre.
The lexicon origins of a cappella drives from choral singing performed without instruments. The expression means “in chapel style” in Italian. Centuries ago, religious music composed for use in chapels — which, unlike large churches, had no organs — was usually for voices only.
Today, this style of singing can be placed into several different genres from college troupes like Western Washington University’s Major Treble, Rebel Clef and All Aboard, to major music artists like Pentatonix. It also applies to various other styles like Barbershop and the vocal harmony based, doo-wop style.
The human voice, when used with practice and discipline, can imitate any instrument. Which is how beatboxing or b-boxing came to be in the early 1980s, influencing hip-hop in the process. For the most part, beatboxing is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of mimicking drums.
The cast of GOBSMACKED! sings a cappella that redefines the limits of the human voice. Photo courtesy: Mount Baker Theatre.
Introducing technology into this instrument-less musical art also brings a completely new depth to a cappella with multi-track live looping. Artists use a device ranging from a computer application to a real recording device, that records a beat they create vocally and repeats (or loops) it over and over again. Then the artist can layer in other instruments, vocally made or not and harmonies. In this way they can add in and take away as they need for their song.
Never heard a cappella before? It tends to thrive on university campuses. Which is where the world’s oldest and best-known collegiate a cappella group, the Whiffenpoofs, has survived since its creation in 1909. The “Whiffs” began as a senior quartet at Yale University and have become one of Yale’s most celebrated traditions, with over a century of musical excellence.
Luckily, we don’t have to plan a trip to New Haven, Connecticut to see excellent a cappella. GOBSMACKED! is coming to Mount Baker Theatre. Audiences can expect to see an energized mastery of a cappella featuring reigning world champion beatboxer Ball-Zee and an international cast of world-class vocalists.
The cast of GOBSMACKED! knows how to put on a show. Photo courtesy: Mount Baker Theatre.
The range of music covered in this show includes the style of doo-wop to drum and bass. The ears of listeners will be absorbed in harmonies and the mind will be stretched with the GOBSMACKED! team’s use of live-looping.
Explore and experience the history and the artform of a cappella at Mount Baker Theatre with the GOBSMACKED! ensemble direct from sold-out seasons in London, Hong Kong and Edinburgh. This is a next-generation a cappella show which redefines the limits of the human voice.
Mount Baker Theatre
104 North Commercial Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
Phone: 360-733-5793
Tickets: 360-734-6080
Great news—the weekend is here! Don’t let the cold weather keep you inside. Go out and explore! Here are a few ideas of fun things to do in and around Bellingham Feb. 16—18. 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 Youth Engagement Initiative began as the WBA Board of Directors effort to connect with young people in Whatcom County. Photo courtesy: Whatcom Business Alliance.
On February 7, 2018 the Whatcom Business Alliance (WBA) launched the Youth Engagement Initiative at a kickoff event attended by five area high schools with over 250 students in attendance. Community Business leaders including Alcoa, Lynden Door, Saturna Capital, Bellingham Cold Storage and Key Bank were on hand to demonstrate their interest and support. Students heard first hand from four local entrepreneurs (Mike Andes – Augusta Lawn Care Services, Erin Baker – Erin Baker’s Wholesome Baked Goods, Anne-Marie Faiola – Brambleberry and Kevin Menard – Transition Bicycle Company) about their diverse paths to business ownership. Speakers passed valuable advice to students as they plan for their future after high school.
The goal is for young people to feel excited about their future after high school and to be aware of opportunities available in Whatcom County. Photo courtesy: Whatcom Business Alliance.
The Youth Engagement Initiative began as the WBA Board of Directors effort to connect with young people in Whatcom County. The mission is to make youth aware of employment opportunities, provide mentorship and to reinforce the message that business success drives community prosperity. With this mission in mind, the Youth Engagement Committee was co-chaired by Laura McKinney, NW Government Affairs and Public Relations Director for Alcoa, and Tom Kenney, Regional President for Washington Federal. The Committee is comprised of business and community leaders and educators with the support of a newly created 501c3 sister organization to the WBA.
“We are excited to be a part of this initiative for the positive outcomes for the students, our business and the whole community. We want our young people to feel excited about their future after high school and to be aware of opportunities available right here in Whatcom County,” said Laura McKinney.
Connected with the launch of the initiative is a partnership with Junior Achievement (JA) that will bring JA Job Shadow curriculum into the area high schools. This curriculum includes discussions about job hunting, resume writing and interview skills. The key element of the partnership is to give students an onsite visit to a local business to see first-hand job opportunities and to interact with human resources departments. Planning is underway for additional activities that will compliment efforts to bridge the business community with educators, students and parents. For more information on the Youth Engagement Initiative visit www.whatcombusinessalliance.com.
As part of a joint micro lending project with another Rotary Club, Tim and Pati Villhauer (both pictured on the left) traveled to Honduras in 2010 to check in on the project. Photo courtesy: Tim Villhauer.
When I scheduled an interview with members of the Rotary Club of Whatcom County North, I had no idea how much impact Rotary Clubs have in Whatcom County. These clubs meet regularly and find areas in our community that have a clear need. For example, when they realized the city needed a bigger, more efficient food bank in Ferndale, they worked for two years to raise $250,000 for the new building. This group alone has raised over $1.4 million and spent the bulk of it on projects in Whatcom County.
Rotary aims to put service above self by solving problems in the community and abroad. But it’s not all work – members make lasting friendships and have a lot of fun along the way. Photo courtesy: Tim Villhauer.
You may already be enjoying some of the great things this Rotary Club has had a hand in creating. They have contributed to the construction of Star Park, a new shelter at Hovander Homestead Park, the Boys & Girls Club in Blaine and the teen room at the Ferndale Boys & Girls Club. And their Rubber Ducky Derby raised over $16,000 last year. This fun, family friendly event featured sponsored rubber ducks poured out of a Ready-Mix truck and floated in a race down Main Street in Ferndale.
Guiding Principles
The Rotary Club started in 1905 in Chicago, with a group of businessmen that rotated offices. The goal, according to the Rotary website, was to create a place where “professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas, form meaningful, lifelong friendships and give back to their communities.” Since then Rotary has grown to one of the largest philanthropic organizations in the world.
The Rotary Club isn’t composed of just businessmen any longer. Rotary members (both men and women) come from all walks of life, with one common goal: Service over self. They abide by Rotary’s guiding principles to build relationships and help others.
Sweat Equity
The Rotary Club of Whatcom County North contributed to a micro lending project in Honduras, allowing women to start their own small businesses and making a huge impact on the entire village. Photo courtesy: Tim Villhauer.
Ken Richardson joined the Rotary Club in Ferndale the same year they were breaking ground on the new food bank. He jumped right in with a hammer and literally helped construct the building. Ken had originally joined a Rotary Club in Beaumont, TX and says, “I was a corporate guy in Rotary, happy to be raising money at fundraising events in a club with 600 members.”
But after moving to back to Whatcom County, a friend suggested that he join one of the groups here. He immediately noticed a much different kind of group. “Sweat equity is important,” Ken says. “It feels great to get your hands on something and make it happen. I was in there with a tamping machine during construction of the food bank.” It was a true community effort to fill a need. Ken went on to serve as president of Rotary Club Whatcom County North. He and his fellow Rotary members are proud of all they do to serve others.
Personal Rewards
I also spoke with Tim and Pati Villhauer from the Rotary Club of Whatcom County North. They traveled to Central America as part of a partnership with a Rotary Club in Honduras to check on a microlending project at its half-way point. The project gave small loans of $70-$100 to groups of women, with the goal of having them start their own sustainable small businesses.
Tim and Pati visited the women in their homes to see how their businesses were progressing and it was there that Tim says he had his “Rotary Moment” – when he realized all of the good he was doing as a member of Rotary. “We were sitting in the house teaching counting,” Tim recalls. “Pati did most of the talking because my Spanish is not great. We were laughing together and I could just feel their heartfelt gratitude. I was thinking to myself, I am getting more out of this than they are.” He could see what a huge impact this program had on the entire village and that felt good.
As part of a joint micro lending project with another Rotary Club, Tim and Pati Villhauer (both pictured on the left) traveled to Honduras in 2010 to check in on the project. Photo courtesy: Tim Villhauer.
The one thing that every Rotarian has in common is a passion for helping others. You don’t have to donate a lot of money to be a part of these groups. If you cannot contribute financially, they just expect that you give your time and talent, and the group can work on fundraising together.
Membership in the Rotary Club is also a great way to build new friendships. Both Ken and Tim described to me the way they have built relationships, working on a shared goal, which never would have happened outside of the group. Tim says, “You can have a lot of fun and make friends. I joined in 2001 when I was just starting a new career, and Rotary was my sanctuary.” He enjoyed going to the meetings after a hectic work day and getting together with like-minded community members to do good for others.
Tim Villhauer, president of Rotary Club of Whatcom County North, would be happy to speak with you personally about his experience or answer any questions about membership. He can be reached at 360-714-8661.
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...
