Willands Tech Auto has been part of the Ferndale experience on the very same street corner where it all started in 1937. That’s when Olve Willand opened the only auto repair shop in Ferndale.
Willands Tech Auto has been in business for 80 years. Photo courtesy: Willands Tech Auto
Rent was $15.00 per month, car batteries $3.00 and gas just 10 cents a gallon. It grew out of the Willand family run gas station across the street, eventually adding an auto parts store and of course Willands Garage, all sharing the intersection of 3rd and Vista. Then in 1963, young Ron Willand joined the family business and started working at Willands Garage for his Dad. Within two years he purchased the auto-repair business and gradually updated and expanded over the decades into the state of the art facility you see today.
As one of the longest running family owned businesses in Whatcom County, our Willand family has seen many changes and incredible growth over the last 80 years. The same has been true of the generations of families and tens of thousands of cars we’ve had the privilege of caring for. From the simple basic early model engines to high performance muscle cars of the 60s and 70s, then to more fuel and safety conscious cars, on to today’s complex gas, electric and hybrid computerized engines.
Willands Tech Auto has been a Ferndale fixture for decades. Photo courtesy: Willands Tech Auto.
Keeping up with technology and the times is what has kept customers loyal for eight decades. It includes building one of the best and most versatile pit crews in the business. We have Lead Technician Christopher Atkinson, an ASE certified technician graduating with honors from UTI, specializing in Japanese and European imports and factory trained by Volvo and Nissan. He also specializes in high end luxury vehicles as well as metal fabrication. Technician Spike Anderson is also ASE certified and brings 30 years of experience specializing in a/c diagnostics and repair, engine, transmission and preventative maintenance. Service Writer Trent Mast helps provide superior customer service and a caring attention to you and your vehicle. Of course, Ron Willand can still be found turning wrenches as well, with over 60 years of vast experience on nearly every major make and model ever made. Then there’s Ron’s daughter (keeping the garage testosterone in balance) our one and only office queen – Eileen answering your calls, greeting you with a smile and representing the 3rd generation of our family here at Willands.
We’d like to thank this community for such amazing support and trust for these past 80 years and we look forward to serving you and your cars for generations to come!
While many look forward to bountiful feasts during the holiday season, too many families in Whatcom County are just wondering what they will do for their next meal.
You can make someone’s holiday meal really special. Photo courtesy: SSK Insurance.
SSK Insurance’s sixth-annual turkey drive seeks to help more than 200 local families this holiday season. With offices in Lynden and Bellingham, SSK Insurance is matching from Oct. 16 through Dec. 11 contributions of $15 for each turkey that a person or business wishes to donate, up to the first 100 turkeys. Donors will receive recognition on SSK Insurance’s website and Facebook page.
“The Bellingham Food Bank is one of the busiest in Western Washington with visits from more than 1,350 families each week,” said Paul Kenner of SSK Insurance. “The need also is high in north Whatcom County, where Project Hope Food Bank assists many north-county families. Our turkey drive helps both of these food banks make the holiday season a little better for some hungry families.”
An independent agency with origins dating back to 1925, SSK Insurance has offices at 501 Front St. in Lynden and 2115 Barkley Blvd., Suite 201, in Bellingham. Donations may be delivered or mailed to either office. For more information, call 360-354-4488 or visit www.sskinsurance.com.
Margot Myers, center, leads a discussion during a print demonstration with colleagues at Runaway Press. Photo credit: Pavlina Ortiz Photography.
Pass through the doors of Bellingham’s Runaway Press and surrender to the ambrosia of linseed oil and pigments, warm beeswax and salt. On the walls, both finished prints and works in progress hang neatly. Margot Myers, founder of Runaway Press, can generally be found bustling around the studio. She balances her own art practice with managing her small business, applying for funding opportunities and teaching. Yet she always finds time to introduce visitors to her space.
Founded by Myers in 2015, Runaway Press is currently Bellingham’s only space open to the community that is dedicated to printmaking classes and studio time. An art form that encompasses many disciplines, printmaking is commonly expressed through intaglio etching, woodcutting and screen printing. The common thread that connects them is that marks are made on an intermediate medium, a matrix like copper or wood, and then those marks are printed in layers onto paper.
Margot Myers works in Runaway Press cutting tracing paper as she builds up a plate to print. Photo credit: Pavlina Ortiz Photography.
As an active local artist, Margot was disappointed to find that there wasn’t a space for printmakers to gather and work collaboratively in her community. Margot explains, “There are artist residencies with presses whose daily or weekly rates are pretty expensive for emerging artists. Western Washington University has presses, but they are only available if you are a matriculated student.”
Myers considers herself lucky to have bought a print press early on in her career. “I’m glad I was able to find a press when I did,” she says. “Without a press, many printers lose focus and move on to other things.”
Having seen how a lack of support and space hinders emerging artists, Margot saw how her ideas for a community space could meet a real need. “I reach out to people who want to be artists and give them the space to do that. As someone who has worked out of their garage for 10 years, I know what a barrier not having community space for printmaking can be. It’s lonesome. We often find our own presses and then work alone.”
Aware of how education and experience are necessary to making quality prints, Myers also offers classes from her studio. “Printmaking is technically based and requires specialized tools and a press.” She explains, “It can be harder for those with an interest in this medium to go out and experiment with it compared to the accessibility of painting or drawing. Having access to a press can change that.”
Frol Boundin applies asphaltum to a plate as he prepares to etch his image further. Photo credit: Pavlina Ortiz Photography.
Currently an adjunct instructor at Western Washington University in foundational art classes, Margot has also taught at New Mexico State University and at Doña Ana Community College in New Mexico. Myers has a warm demeanor that shines through in her teaching style as supportive and patient, while she offers quality feedback and encourages her student’s vision. The intimate class sizes offered at Runaway Press allow students plenty of one on one support and the opportunity to be experimental with the materials at hand. “I want to help elevate the quality of the artistic experience in Bellingham,” she says. “As the Press grows, I would love to see a whole spectrum of people participate. I engage with peers, who come to produce or develop professional work. I also want people who are new to printmaking to feel welcome coming and learning new techniques.”
Margot hosts classes in a variety of print disciplines – some build upon each other in a series while others are single demonstrations. One recent workshop was entitled, Naked Screen Printing, in which she demonstrated techniques for screen printing without the need for specialized equipment. Margot also invites guest artists from around the country, including Frol Boundin, Lisa Turner and Chris Hartshorne, to come and teach specialized classes in their own disciplines. She ultimately hopes to help make printmaking more approachable and accessible to those who want to learn. “My goal is to continue my engagement with the community as I fine tune my unique offerings.”
Margot Myers, center, leads a discussion during a print demonstration with colleagues at Runaway Press. Photo credit: Pavlina Ortiz Photography.
Currently, Runaway Press offers a wide variety of services as Margot teases out what might be most useful for our art community. Aside from structured classes, she also opens her studio to drop-ins who need a press for the day and for monthly members to come and use the space more regularly. For Press members, she offers guidance to those who may need support while working with a particular technique or exposure to new concepts in printmaking. For artists who are non-printmakers, Runaway Press can help translate their paintings or drawings into prints and edition them. A painter might find a series of prints can make their work more accessible on the market than a large painting might be.
Whether you are new to the arts or a professional looking to refine a new technique, Runaway Press makes a seemingly intimidating art form more approachable. With Margot Myers’ guidance and the warm atmosphere of a collective space, printmaking can find new footing in our art community. Visit Runaway Press at 205 Grand Ave in Bellingham to see what the artists are up to and check out the press’s website to register for current classes and events.
River scenes like this often inspire new fly fishermen. Photo credit: Janine Johnson.
This weekend we make the big leap from September to October. No denying it now—fall is here! And what better time to get out there and have some fun? Fortunately, we live in a great place for engaging and interesting activities. There are plenty of fun things to do this weekend in and around Bellingham—Sept. 29—Oct. 1. And don’t forget to check our full events calendar for all the great local happenings.
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.
Cascadia Mushrooms Reishi mushrooms are special because they are 100% Certified Organic, grown locally on their farm in Bellingham. Photo courtesy: Cascadia Mushrooms.
Reishi mushrooms (in Japanese) or Ling Zhi (in Chinese) have been used in eastern medicine for more than 2,000 years. The Red Reishi Mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum, is an ancient remedy used in traditional Chinese medicine, primarily as a tonic to support the immune system and general well-being.
Reishi mushrooms (in Japanese) or Ling Zhi (in Chinese) has been used in Eastern medicine for more than 2,000 years. Photo courtesy: Cascadia Mushrooms.
“Reishi is not an edible gourmet mushroom you would prepare in a meal, but is used for its therapeutic effects to support the immune system and immune system function,” shared Cascadia Mushrooms owner Alex Winstead. Cascadia Mushrooms grows and dries antler-like Reishi mushrooms that are a result of their unique growing conditions.
Organically Grown
“Our Reishi antlers look different from most forms people are familiar with, but they are actually the same mushrooms as the conch or fan-shaped Reishi mushrooms,” shared Winstead. Those fan-shaped Reishi mushrooms can be found in the wild, growing like shelves on the side of some trees, but the cultivated mushrooms look a bit different. “Cultivated growing leads to a finger-like antler form that looks like staghorn coral. It’s a beautiful mushroom.”
What really makes Cascadia Mushrooms’ Reishi special is that they are 100% Certified Organic, and grown locally on their farm in Bellingham. According to Winstead, most Reishi on the market are imported from growers with unknown practices, potentially using chemicals or growing mushrooms in contaminated environments.
“We believe that the best medicinal mushrooms come from clean, natural settings,” shared Winstead. Cascadia Mushrooms never uses chemicals, making their mushrooms the next best thing to finding Reishi growing in the wild.
Supporting a Healthy Immune System
Cascadia Mushrooms Reishi mushrooms are special because they are 100% Certified Organic, grown locally on their farm in Bellingham. Photo courtesy: Cascadia Mushrooms.
Adaptogenic plants like ginseng tulsi (holy basil) have been used for hundreds of years in herbal medicine to help the body and mind adapt to stress through possible stimulation of pituitary and adrenal activity. “In herbal medicine adaptogens are considered to exert a normalizing effect upon bodily processes,” shared Winstead. Reishi mushrooms are valued by many herbalists for these same effects.
“In traditional Chinese medicine, Reishi are used as a tonic for general wellbeing,” shared Winstead. “Combining Reishi with meditation is believed to help quiet the mind and body, and help raise chi levels.” Reishi is commonly used to support the body when treating allergies, autoimmune disorders or hyperactive immune system.
Reishi mushrooms are woody and leathery when dried. According to Winstead, their toughness is due in part to the medicinal properties the plant carries. The herbalist concept of the Doctrine of Signatures asserts that botanicals that looked like a part of the body could cure diseases of that body part, or that a plant’s natural qualities could indicate its benefit to the user.
“These mushrooms grow and persist for an entire season without rotting away,” shared Winstead. “Because Reishi are strong and able to withstand stresses in the environment, it is believed they can help humans withstand stresses in their environment as well.”
How to Use Reishi
Fan-shaped Reishi mushrooms can be found in the wild, growing like shelves on the side of some trees, but the cultivated mushrooms look more like antlers. Photo courtesy: Cascadia Mushrooms.
If you’re interested in incorporating Reishi into your lifestyle, Cascadia Mushrooms’ Organic Dried Reishi Mushrooms are easy to use to make a tea at home. Their 1 oz. bags can make one to two large batches of tea. Simply chop the dried mushrooms up, add to a pot of water, simmer and strain. The prepared tea can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Winstead makes a batch of tea during allergy season or when he’s fighting off a cold to support his immune system. “The tea gives me a bit of an energy buzz from mushrooms and spices, leaving me feeling fortified and generally good,” he said.
The key to making Reishi tea is time. Allowing the mushrooms to steep or simmer in water helps release their therapeutic properties. “When I make a batch of Reishi tea, I like to let it simmer for an hour or two to release the water soluble components,” shared Winstead. The amber colored tea is a bit bitter in flavor, but it makes a great addition to chai or other tea. Winstead recommends adding a bit of fresh ginger and honey to ease the flavor of the mushroom.
Want to feel even more at ease? Winstead suggests starting with Reishi and ginger tea and adding a squeeze of lemon, a touch of honey and a bit of your favorite whiskey. It’s a sure-fire way to beat the cold weather blues.
Buying local cannabis supports local jobs and the local economy. Photo courtesy: Satori.
Submitted by Satori, written by Danielle Rosellison
Every Bellinghamster knows this mantra (thank you Sustainable Connections). We value local food. We value local businesses. We understand the direct connection between buying local and enhancing our community, our neighbors, our schools. We are familiar with studies reflecting the increase in local jobs and local spending from each dollar you spend at a local business, compared to a big box store.
Danielle Rosellison is an owner/operating manager of Trial Blazin’ Productions, a cannabis farm in Bellingham, and President of The Cannabis Alliance. Photo courtesy: Satori.
So how do we get people to translate this information, that we take for granted, to cannabis?
I realize that it may seem like a bit of an overkill when every time you turn around another cannabis retail establishment opens in Whatcom County. I mean … there are 24 cannabis stores in Whatcom County who, combined, contribute almost 1 million dollars a month in state excise tax. Plus sales tax. And B&O tax.
That’s 24 legal access points for people to get medicine; medicine which the National Insitute of Drug Abuse now acknowledges may kill cancer cells and treat symptoms of multiple sclerosis, AIDS, HIV, inflammation, pain, seizures, substance use disorders and mental illness. That’s 24 stores that needed to be built by local construction companies, electricians, plumbers, landscapers and painters. That’s 24 new businesses that need professional services like accountants and lawyers. And that doesn’t even count the 66 cannabis farms and processors in Whatcom County who need all that and operations managers, gardeners, harvesters, trimmers, packagers, processors, sales people, marketing staff and delivery drivers.
Did I mention that cannabis businesses in Whatcom County pay, on average, 39 percent more than minimum wage? Those are new jobs, helping to increase our local economic development.
Supporting local businesses, means supporting our neighbors. Since we, Whatcom County families, care so much about “buy local, be local,” let’s make sure that our cannabis purchasing decisions reflect our values. Are you buying cannabis at your local licensed retail store? Are you purchasing cannabis grown in Whatcom County? Please ask your budtender what products they have that were grown in Whatcom County and support our local community!
Danielle Rosellison is an owner/operating manager of Trail Blazin’ Productions, a cannabis farm in Bellingham. She is also the President of The Cannabis Alliance, a non-profit dedicated to the advancement of a vital, ethical and sustainable cannabis industry.
The staff at SpringHill and TownePlace Suites looks for opportunities to build meaningful relationships with businesses and organizations of all sizes. Photo courtesy: Marriott Properties.
SpringHill Suites Bellingham is partnering with Allied Arts of Whatcom County to bring the local art scene to hotel guests and the surrounding community during its 4th annual ArtNight event Friday, October 20, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
“SpringHill is a brand that is all about the arts, and it shows right when you come in the lobby,” shared General Manager Keith Coleman. The space itself is artfully designed, encouraging guests and visitors to get creative. ArtNight further elevates the space by transforming part of the hotel into a gallery for an evening.
“ArtNight is a relaxed chance to dress up a little and go look at great art and enjoy some amazing local music,” shared Coleman. The evening is completely free and includes appetizers, delicious drink specials from the Chuckanut Lobby Bar and live music performed by Whitney Mongé.
ArtNight gives hotel guests the unique opportunity to connect with the local community and appreciate great art together. Past art pieces have included jewelry, metal work, paintings and photography. This year, artists have been asked to bring a current piece so guests can see each artist’s process live and in person. While artists have until September 30 to submit their request to show their work, we have confirmed several artists for this years’ event, including Kevin Forrester Coleman, Jessie Chandler, Peter James and Suzannah Gusukuma.
“It is my third time around,” shared local artist, and WhatcomTalk Community Relations and Business Development Manager, Kevin Forrester Coleman. Kevin was pleased with the opportunity to share his art and make connections to the community. “It was a good turnout with a variety of works for all types of people. I think it’s a great way for artists to come together and share what they do in an upscale environment.”
In addition to being an inspiring evening out, ArtNight is a great opportunity to give back to the community via SpringHill Suites by Save Art! program, which gets much needed funding for arts education into schools.
Research has shown that art education has a tremendous impact on the developmental growth and academic success of children. The introduction of the arts in early education teaches valuable life-skills such as creative problem solving, decision making and articulating a vision, and helps to build self-esteem and self-confidence. In spite of this, many schools are facing severe budget cuts that minimize or eliminate their art programs.
In partnership with Fresh Artists – a non-profit organization that brings quality art supplies and innovative art programs to teachers in need – SpringHill Suites will provide art materials to local schools in communities across North America. October is National Arts & Humanities Month, so it’s the perfect time for local hotel guests and community members to make a donation that will go toward purchasing art kits for Cordata Elementary School. Donations in excess of $20 also receive a special gift. SpringHill Suites Bellingham has proudly donated $2,000 each year for the last four years to local schools.
If you can’t make it to ArtNight on Friday, October 20 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m., you can drop by SpringHill Suites anytime through the end of the year to make your contribution to supporting the arts at Cordata Elementary School.
SpringHill Suites by Marriott is located at 4040 Northwest Avenue, Bellingham, WA 98225.
Lindsay Johnson has created a comfortable space inside her Mount Baker Massage studio located in downtown Bellingham. Photo courtesy: Lindsay Johnson.
Tranquil, serene, calm. These are just a few of the adjectives that come to mind upon entering Lindsay Johnson’s Mount Baker Massage studio. The cooling colors of green and blue cover the massage room and are prevalent throughout the space. Pleasant smells emit from strategically placed candles and the lingering aromas of essential oils. The room is comfortable. The room is inviting. This is a place for relaxing, healing and re-calibrating.
A 2009 graduate of the Cortiva Institute in Seattle, Lindsay has been a licensed massage therapist for nearly ten years, but it wasn’t until September 2017 that she would open her first practice. Lindsay found work with various chiropractic and massage clinics until opting to open her own business. It took her some time to decide that this would be best for her. Moving to Bellingham four years ago to further her education at Western Washington University, Lindsay enters her final year of school and the first year of her practice simultaneously.
The massage room at Mt. Baker Massage offers a tranquil place to unwind and relax. Photo courtesy: Lindsay Johnson.
“I just thought it was time I went out on my own,” Lindsay says when asked about the decision to open Mount Baker Massage. “I’d thought about it multiple times. But right now, at this point in my life, everything just added up.”
Lindsay says she fell in love with the idea of working for herself and being able to practice massage therapy the way she wanted to. By opening her own massage studio she would now be able to treat each client to the best of her ability. Her own studio gave her the freedom to incorporate all of the different modalities she is trained in – she could now offer a massage experience that would both heal and relax the client.
“My clients have told me I strike a good balance between providing deep effective treatment and maintaining relaxation,” Lindsay says. “I would say this is what sets me apart from other massage practitioners.”
Having been in practice for only a month, you would think establishing an initial clientele would be a problem. But Lindsay has found the residents of Bellingham to be strongly community-oriented. She says people here are much more willing to trust a small and local business than in other parts of the country where she has lived. The name of the practice itself is indicative of Bellingham and sure to strike a chord with locals looking for a massage. Lindsay attributes choosing the name Mount Baker Massage to her affinity for the mountains and wild spaces.
Lindsay Johnson has created a comfortable space inside her Mount Baker Massage studio located in downtown Bellingham. Photo courtesy: Lindsay Johnson.
“Bellingham is such a locally-minded town,” she says. “People have a great sense of community here and they want to work with a person not a corporation. It’s the perfect place to grow my practice.”
Lindsay says there still has been a learning process involved when opening her massage studio. There are many facets she now has to deal with as the sole proprietor and owner of her massage clinic. Advertising, marketing and insurance are just a few of the uncharted territories Lindsay is now stepping into. She prefers to market the old-fashioned way, using word-of-mouth, but realizes she also has to step into the online marketing world.
She says at Mount Baker Massage it is all about treating clients with respect. She wants to create a unique massage experience for her clients they can’t get anywhere else. Couple her prowess as a massage practitioner with the calming feng shui of her massage room and you’re sure to be transported to a healing place all its own.
Lindsay checks clients in and out in her separate waiting room. Photo courtesy: Lindsay Johnson.
Lindsay is trained in Swedish, neuromuscular, myofascial, prenatal, relaxation and sports massage modalities. Mount Baker Massage offers two different massage sessions each coming with its own name and price. The Shuksan is an hour-long massage that focuses on decreasing stress, increasing your flexibility and addressing muscle pain. Lindsay also offers some more pampering with the Mount Baker massage treatment. This treatment focuses on the same areas as The Shuksan but gives an added 30 minutes of massage.
The college discount is something Lindsay can relate to, as she is a student herself. She understands how money can be tight when studying in college, but believes everyone should have the opportunity to get a massage.
“It’s important to take care of yourself, and adding massage into your health routine is a great way to do that,” she adds. “I think on average people should get a massage once a month for regular maintenance on their body.”
Mount Baker Massage is located at 115 W. Magnolia St. #204 in Bellingham. Lindsay’s massage studio is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Do you love to decorate for Halloween? We at the City of Ferndale want to bolster that neighborly spirit . . . by encouraging everyone to spook the heck out of each other! That’s right, it is time for the 2nd annual City of Frightdale Halloween Decorating contest.
This October, send us pictures of your house decorated for Halloween and our judges will pick the top three houses. Winners receive gift cards to Woods Coffee, a proud sponsor of City of Frightdale. Our spooky judging panel includes Mayor Jon Mutchler, FHS Principal Jeremy Vincent, Councilmember Rebecca Xczar, Kelsey Rowlson from the Chamber of Commerce and winner of our water tank mural idea contest, FHS Junior Guyan Cool.
The Ferndale Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the annual Downtown Trick or Treat and Haunt the Park events coming up October 28! Both events are free to the community and accommodate all ages.
Haunt the Park will be fun for the whole family. Photo courtesy: Ferndale Chamber of Commerce.
Downtown Trick or Treat will take place from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. on Main Street, which will be closed to traffic. Children will be able to trick or treat through over 40 businesses and booths in downtown Ferndale. Directly afterward from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., families can ride the complimentary horse drawn carriage that takes them straight to Haunt the Park.
Haunt the Park is located in Pioneer Park and will have a variety of family activities such as a costume contest, themed games and more trick or treating! In addition, we have also added an all new Haunted Barn. The Barn will be doing a light scare during the event, and then reopen as a full scare from 7:00-10:00 p.m. The Haunted Barn is run by an outside volunteer and has a fee of $5 or $15 per family up to five. All proceeds will benefit the Ferndale Food Bank.
Ferndale’s Halloween events are highly anticipated every year. Photo courtesy: Ferndale Chamber of Commerce.
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...
