Wander Brewing and the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center are presenting an alternative to the myriad of distance races in Bellingham throughout the year with the 4th Annual Wander to Wander 1K, Sunday, September 10 at 11:00 a.m., starting at Johnny’s Donuts and ending at Wander Brew Hall. Enjoy some donuts, beer and fun while supporting the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center and their mission to provide and promote constructive and collaborative approaches to conflict.
The 4th Annual Wander to Wander 1K will take place Sunday, September 10 at 11:00 a.m. Photo courtesy: Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center.
The first 100 participants to register will receive a medal! Advanced registration: $20, Day of: $25, Kids 8-12: $5, Kids 7 and under: FREE, but need to pre-register to receive a medal. Registration includes donuts and pint of beer or root beer.
Participants will warm up by enjoying a donut. The start whistle will blow sharply at 11:30 a.m. and participants will ‘wander’ along the marked route .62 miles to Wander Brew Hall. A complimentary pint of beer or root beer, a food truck, raffles and fan fare will be waiting for participants and at the finish.
Costumes are encouraged. All ages, abilities, as well as pets are welcome.
The Whatcom County Association of Realtors will be hosting their annual WCAR Golf Tournament at the beautiful North Bellingham Golf & Country Club on Friday, August 11. The event will feature breakfast, lunch, an awards dinner, and raffle along with 18 holes of fun-filled golf. There will be lots of contests along the way, including men’s and women’s Long Drive, Closest to the Pin competitions and a Putting Contest!
Proceeds benefit the Whatcom County chapter of Habitat for Humanity, a local, self-sustaining affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit Christian organization that builds homes in partnership with families and individuals of all faiths in need of a decent, affordable shelter. Habitat homebuyers purchase their homes with 500 hours of sweat equity, a $500 down and a 0% interest, no-profit mortgage.
To date, Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County has built 36 homes, serving over 150 Whatcom County residents. This summer, Habitat will break ground on Telegraph Townhomes, the first phase of a 48-unit mixed-income development in the heart of Bellingham.
The tournament is open to WCAR members and affiliates and provides amazing sponsorship opportunities for local companies! Entry into the tournament is $125 per player ($500 per team) and includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, beverages and golf carts. The event will also have a raffle with incredible prizes from businesses in our community.
For sponsorship opportunities, or to register to play, contact Cassie Robles at CassieR@RiceInsurance.com. See you out there!
Kids love exploring the flora and fauna of Fairhaven Park. Photo courtesy: Melissa and Patrick Fallon.
My six and a half-year-old leads my husband and I to her “sit spot” in the 100-acre Wood at Fairhaven Park. After attending Forest Kindergarten and then Summer Camps through Feather & Frond Forest School, she’s learned to claim her place in the forest – to watch and listen, to decipher bird language and internalize the layers of awareness that arrive after returning to study the same place. As a family, we’ve reclaimed our forest senses beneath the wood’s ancient canopy, our knowledgeable child leading the way.
Patrick Fallon and Melissa Esposito Fallon have mentored our daughter into an awareness that’s crucial for our long term parenting goals – to provide opportunities for confidence and leadership, to give her access to life skills and tools that foster a deep sense of ecology and wonder, and an education that only the natural world can teach her. “There’s an ideal in the nature community,” said Patrick. “From children to elders we want to share our stories and be heard.” He points to a disconnect between the need for social connection and the once-removed attempt at achieving it through the internet. “Everyone is striving for human connection, whether they’re posting on social media or sitting around a campfire,” he elaborated.
Melissa and Patrick Fallon embody the animals they seek and bring an element of play to each of their Feather and Frond Forest School Camps. Photo courtesy: Britt Nemeth.
The community connection to nature begins within families. Melissa adds, “We are passionate about cultivating a multi-generational culture of nature connection and we see that being essential to the health and wellbeing of all humans. We are nature and we all benefit from seeing our parents and elders interact with nature.” Grandparent and Parent days are celebrated at their nature connection programs, allowing children to demonstrate knowledge and exchange wisdom with their elders.
As we meander down secondary trails less traveled, our daughter takes us to her favorite locations – Animal Hotel, Frog Swamp Flats, Butt Slide Hill, Stormy Tree and Huckleberry Hill. As the seasons have morphed, we’ve nibbled the edibles in and around the park. After her explanations of the subtle differences between the edible Red Huckleberry and mildly toxic Snowberry, for example, she’s taught us how to identify plants based on the shape of their stems. “See mom, how it’s square and green instead of round and brown,” she says.
Two Forest School students scrape tinder into a bundle to start a fire. Photo credit: Patrick Fallon.
We find our daughter’s refined natural awareness to be impressive and yet to people who continue to live close to the Earth like the San Bushman in Africa, this awareness isn’t optional, it’s part of daily survival. Melissa quips, “What we know about nature is what a three-year-old might know in a traditional native culture.” When knowing a bird’s alarm call means avoiding being eaten by a large animal, forest wisdom is transferred from early childhood and becomes common knowledge. “The book of nature has no beginning and no end,” Melissa continues. “With one foot in the modern world,” she holds up her iPhone, “we are modern day people but we like to walk in both worlds.”
Prevalent in Europe, early childhood and nature-based education has increasingly become a national trend that aims to counter a tamed culture that can be devoid of natural world experience. “There’s a movement in this country – an awareness, interest and more social acceptance around entirely outdoor early childhood programming,” Melissa explained. She points to increasing scientific data that supports the benefits of nature immersion being good, “for all humans,” but particularly for young children and those with sensory issues who may struggle early on in the classroom environment. She cites Nature Deficit Disorder and the work of Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods and co-founder of the Children in Nature Network.
A student practices knife safety as he learns the art of whittling. Photo credit: Patrick Fallon.
Nature pre-schools and outdoor kindergarten, as well as a wide range of wilderness programs, promote nature mentoring. The Fallons studied at Wilderness Awareness School in Duvall, WA, as well as leading youth nature immersion programs at WAS, Vashon Wilderness Program and others. “The folks at the Wilderness Awareness School are truly masters of this work,” Melissa reflects. The couple has trained with other renowned back-to-the-earth elders and have been immersed for over a decade translating the skills they practice and teach.
The Fallons speak highly of Jon Young, founder of WAS as well as the 8 Shields Institute, whose primary aim is to create a legacy of nature-based intergenerational communities worldwide. His motto, “The knowing is in the doing,” is at the heart of what the Fallons practice. They use “Coyote Mentoring” or the “Art of Questioning” as a way to draw out embodied learning by relying on their students’ innate awareness. Patrick points out that the ability to discover comes naturally, not by giving answers but by inspiring more curiosity so kids can discover their own answers, perhaps leading to an expanded recognition of nature’s diverse patterns.
Patrick Fallon leads a game of, “House Cats Stalk the Robin,” with a group of children in Fairhaven Park. Photo credit: Britt Nemeth.
To keep the children’s attention, the husband and wife team get all their senses involved. Whether they are hyper-focused on knife skill training or teaching children how to start a fire with a tinder bundle and a spark, a keen focus on safety and teaching responsible stewardship are integrated into each lesson. Games like “Eagle Eye” (akin to hide and seek) support children using their deeper awareness as they crouch down in hiding places only to discover new flora and fauna. Children embody animals when hiking with “fox feet” and search for animal tracks on the way to the next survival shelter they’ll create out of downed limbs and moss. Cooking up and sampling maple tree blossoms, smearing Indian Plum on their faces and welcoming the mud are all in a day’s work for Feather & Frond Forest School kids and their passionate mentors.
Kids love exploring the flora and fauna of Fairhaven Park. Photo credit: Britt Nemeth.
Feather & Frond Forest School is now enrolling their school-year nature connection programs for children ages 4-12. These range in commitment from one Saturday a month or an after-school program all the way to 1-3 day a week intensive programs for 4-6 year olds (Fox Walkers Forest Kindergarten) and 7-12 year olds (Fire Keepers Homeschool Enrichment Program). In addition, they will be running a once a month family program for younger kids and their parent called Deer and Fawn Days. Check out featherandfrond.org for more information.
The Port has completed a $500,000 project to replace the 45,786 square foot roof on Warehouse 2 at the Bellingham Shipping Terminal. The roof was past its design life.
“This project was completed on-time and under budget,” said Port Engineer Jon Gibson. “We took advantage of the summer weather and knew what to expect after replacing a similar roof on an adjacent warehouse at the Shipping Terminal last year.”
“Reactivating the Shipping Terminal to create family-wage jobs for local residents is a strategic priority for the Port of Bellingham,” said Port Commission President Dan Robbins. “The Port has made significant investments to modernize this facility and having dry storage warehouses available is essential in attracting bulk and break bulk shipping customers to Whatcom County.”
The new roof utilizes modern materials to ensure the entire structure is weathertight and under warranty so tenants will be able to confidently store moisture-sensitive commodities in the warehouse.
The Port has made significant upgrades to the Bellingham Shipping Terminal to encourage new business. Recent improvements include a new bulkhead, up-to-date stormwater and power systems, the clean-up of historic contamination in the Whatcom Waterway and the hiring of a dedicated Marine Terminals Business Development Manager.
The Bellingham Shipping Terminal is a full-service marine terminal with the flexibility to meet a diverse range of business needs. Terminal assets include 1,250 feet of dock space on a deep water pier, a 550 foot barge pier, 85,000 square feet of covered storage, 40 acres of available upland and access to resources via rail, barge, rafts, trucks, containers and ocean-going vessels.
The Port of Bellingham was established in 1920. Throughout Whatcom County, the Port owns, operates and maintains approximately 1600 acres of property including a shipping terminal, a cruise terminal, two marinas, industrial development areas, commercial uplands, parklands, shoreline public access areas and an international airport.
From flatware and drinkware to furniture and home decor, at Helene & Co. you can find special goods that are perfect for adorning your space or gifting to a friend. Photo credit: Jacob Land.
Solveig Johnson has always had a knack for design. Growing up she’d pour over shiny catalogs and magazines in her hometown of Haines, Alaska. By the time she headed to college she knew she wanted to become an interior designer. Unfortunately, her plans hit a snag when her guidance counselor asked if she could draw.
Bellingham realtor and designer Solveig Johnson has opened Helene & Co., a new home store in Bellingham. Photo credit: Jacob Land.
“I said I couldn’t and they said that I couldn’t be a designer,” she explained. “I should’ve gotten a second opinion. There are ways to learn that craft – you don’t have to be born with the gift.”
Years of being a single mother, Johnson put her ultimate dream on hold to pay the bills and just survive. She was an outside sales representative for high end salons and eventually, when her children became older, got into real estate to fulfill that design need. She’s been a Realtor for three and a half years now, but her aptitude and passion for design is stronger than ever. Whether she’s staging a house for sale or consulting homeowners on a redesign, Johnson has a way of helping people see their space in a whole new light. “I was always giving people advice that came really easily to me but were huge a-ha moments to them,” she shared.
Later this month Johnson will celebrate the Grand Opening of her longtime dream of opening a brick and mortar store, Helene & Co., a charming new shop just on the outskirts of downtown Bellingham. The bright, open shop and design studio is a natural extension of her real estate business. As a Realtor, Johnson helps people find a house, but with Helene & Co. she helps them make it feel like home.
Some have called the style of Helene & Co. a cross between West Elm and Restoration Hardware. Photo credit: Jacob Land.
“It’s a different approach and a different vibe than anything else in Bellingham, and it’s always changing,” she explained. Due to the unique nature of what she curates, you can’t count on things being there all the time. She scours the internet (especially Instagram) to find gorgeous pieces made with care that may not be available for long. So if you like it, snag it! “What’s on the floor is for sale and then I bring new stuff in, which keeps things from getting stagnant,” she said.
Helene & Co. allows Johnson to connect and build trust with potential home buyers without uncomfortable cold-calls or sales pitches. “I’d like to meet people in an organic way – for people to see who I am and see what my vibe is,” she said. “I can help them figure out a problem area in their house or stage a house to get it ready to list. It may be a non-traditional way to market being a Realtor but Johnson is in it for the culture and the relationship.
Thoughtful curation and unique offerings are what really set small, independent shops like Helene & Co. apart. Photo credit: Jacob Land.
And it’s easy to feel at home at Helene & Co. because Johnson prides herself on creating a warm space that feels clean and classy without feeling pretentious. She warmly greets each person who walks through the door and is available to assist as needed without hovering.
“Some people who have come in have told me it’s like a cross between West Elm and Restoration Hardware,” she explained. “Which is a HUGE compliment!”
She does offer pieces that are higher-end than some local shoppers may be used to seeing but Johnson is able to help folks know when to save and when to splurge. Mixing high-end pieces with bargain buys is a great way to stretch your design dollar while still showcasing unique pieces.
Solveig Johnson’s years of design experience can help her customers save time making their house feel like a home. Photo credit: Jacob Land.
Boutique retailers like Johnson can’t compete with online and discount retailers on cost but thoughtful curation and unique offerings are what really set small, independent shops like Helene & Co. apart. Johnson takes care to find special pieces you can’t grab off the shelf of a big box store.
And Johnson’s shop has a bevy of beautiful items sure to tempt the most discerning shopper. From flatware and drinkware to furniture and home decor, you can find special goods that are perfect for adorning your space or gifting to a friend. Plus the shop – arranged like an open living space – is sure to inspire you to freshen up your own home.
Discover beautiful home decor and enjoy special one-day discounts, prizes and light refreshments at Helene & Co.’s Grand Opening on Thursday, August 17, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Helene & Co. has special goods that are perfect for decorating or gifting to a friend. Photo credit: Jacob Land.
Staff, board and ambassadors at the Ferndale Spring Run Off. Photo courtesy: Ferndale Chamber of Commerce.
If building community and supporting local business were a competition, the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors would be winning. A program that is essentially designed to promote the chamber’s services and programs, this enthusiastic group has become a vital part of the city of Ferndale itself.
Alivia Jelinski (right) with her 2016 Ambassador of the year award. Photo courtesy: Ferndale Chamber of Commerce.
“Ambassadors serve the chamber but I would also consider them goodwill ambassadors for our community as a whole,” says Kelsey Rowlson, Director of Membership for the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce. “They want to make this area the best that it can be and they believe that being a part of the chamber will allow them to have an effect in making this happen.”
Recently elected Ambassadors Alivia Jelinski (Front Desk Manager at Home2 Suites by Hilton) and Alyssa Springs (owner of Flow Motion wellness sanctuary) both believe that there’s one important step in being a part of the program. And it’s pretty simple – just get involved!
“Get out there and meet people,” Springs says. “You can get involved as much or as little as you want. Of course, the more you put in the more you get back out of it.”
“What you get out of being involved in the program is 100 percent related to what you put in,” Jelinski says.
Alyssa Springs (right) with her 2015 Ambassador of the year award. Photo courtesy: Ferndale Chamber of Commerce.
And the Ambassadors certainly do put quite a lot into their time served. “I participated in almost all of the monthly or frequent programs, such as Member of the Month deliveries, Networking Lunches, Leading Ladies, Ribbon Cuttings, Power Hours and Business Unplugged, Board Meetings and New Member Orientations,” Jelinski says. “I also took part in some of the special events like the Chelsey Ebert Auction and Golf Tournament, Ferndale Street Festival, Spring Run Off, Community Christmas Tree Lighting, Haunt the Park, Pumpkin People judging and the Chamber Awards Dinner and I had a fantastic time!”
“We truly would not be able to pull off these events without their assistance,” says Rowlson.
Along with the fabulous parties and special events, there’s the aspect of encouraging new members and spreading support throughout the community, which really strikes a chord with Springs. “It’s all about hospitality and celebrating each other’s successes,” she says. “I really like that part – making people feel welcome and growing the community – that’s what I’m all about.”
Staff, board and ambassadors at the Ferndale Spring Run Off. Photo courtesy: Ferndale Chamber of Commerce.
Young entrepreneurs can take advantage of resources like the bi-monthly educational Power Hour sessions that cover timely topics all businesses can appreciate. For example, this past June CJ Seitz, Director of the Small Business Development Center, spoke about the SBDC’s many services in advising and training.
“But it’s not just all business,” says Springs. “The chamber does a lot to beautify the community and family-oriented activities. It’s kind of like creating a bridge between the community and the businesses, and vice versa. The more the businesses give back and invest in their community, the more the community will want to do business locally.”
By taking care of and supporting each other, these dynamic go-getters are able to grow individual careers while also growing the community, bringing the positivity full circle.
Supporting local producers benefits the local community in many ways. Photo courtesy: Community Food Co-op.
Since they opened their doors in 1970, Community Food Co-op has been committed to fostering cooperation, mutual respect, good food and a business based on people, not profit. Over the years their passion for offering natural, wholesome foods to our community has deepened to a desire to offer local products and support local growers and suppliers.
Community Food Co-op supports farmers in Whatcom County. Photo courtesy: Community Food Co-op.
“So many people define local in so many different ways,” shared Community Food Co-op’s Outreach Manager, Adrienne Renz. “We define local as a place a farmer could easily commute to and back from in the same day.” This area includes Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, San Juan and Island Counties.
Sustainable Connections’ Eat Local First for Business encourages businesses to source their ingredients locally, with a goal of making sure at least 10 percent of the food we eat is grown here. Nearly 12 percent of Community Food Co-op’s products are local and 13.5 percent of their products are grown or made in Washington. In fact, Community Food Co-op supports the Washington State economy by spending nearly $3,000,000 annually on products made or grown here.
In addition to offering locally and regionally grown products to their customers, Community Food Co-op is working to help develop and strengthen local farms to increase their capability to feed our community – and beyond.
Developing Local Growers
Supporting local producers benefits the local community in many ways. Photo courtesy: Community Food Co-op.
Community Food Co-op is committed to being a cornerstone of the local food economy, ensuring that our community and region is capable of feeding itself. Collaborating in local food system development is one of Community Food Co-op’s six core goals in their 10-year strategic plan. To meet this goal they:
Commit energy and resources to developing a vibrant, economically viable business network that grows, processes, manufactures and distributes food in our region.
Invest capital in local and regional natural-food enterprise.
Foster the development of local, regional, fair trade, organic and cooperatively owned businesses.
The Farm Fund
The Farm Fund is a powerful way to meet the needs of beginning and small farm businesses. Photo courtesy: Community Food Co-op.
The Farm Fund, run by a Community Food Co-op staff member and a volunteer committee of member-owners connected to the farming community, is a unique and powerful way to meet the needs of beginning and small farm businesses as our community works toward developing strong, local food systems.
Farmers generally begin by bringing their goods to a farmers market or offering a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) share. The next step is often approaching their local co-op as farmers look to grow and expand their reach. But moving into a wholesale market can be tricky business.
Whatcom County’s small farmers have reported two main barriers to competing in the wholesale market: Access to capital for equipment, land or infrastructure, and a need for resources to navigate the various processes and learning curves related to business growth and expansion into new markets.
Since its inception in 2000, The Farm Fund has helped small farms overcome such barriers by providing more than $245,000 to over 50 food and farming projects through grants, loans, scholarships and other emergency funds. And farmers can receive support navigating the challenges of running a business with important coaching from Sustainable Connections.
“We have a great opportunity in Whatcom County for local agriculture with our climate, so we want to make sure we maintain and sustain local growers,” shared Renz. “Beyond selling local agriculture in the stores, the Farm Fund is really how we drive supporting local agriculture in the community.”
Plus, according to Renz, the Farm Fund grants and loans can give farmers the much needed capital to test and try new things and share that knowledge with the farming community. “They’re encouraging farmers to be entrepreneurial and try new things without the high level of risk,” Renz said.
Eat Local Month
September is Eat Local Month. Photo courtesy: Sustainable Connections.
September is Eat Local Month and Community Food Co-op has partnered with Sustainable Connections on many activities connecting our community to our food.
Kick off Eat Local Month at the Farm Fund Hootenanny at Boundary Bay Brewery (1107 Railroad Avenue, Bellingham) on Sunday September 3. You can help strengthen local, sustainable agriculture and local food access at this Farm Fund fundraiser and all-around good time. The Hootenanny embodies the tradition of gathering together to celebrate a successful harvest season with live music, dance, camaraderie, local farmer awards, delicious food and a whole lot of fun!
The Hootenanny is also great place to get a schedule of all the Eat Local Month events such as Whatcom Food Fest, Whatcom Farm Tour, Market Week, Seafood Week and Restaurant Week.
Find loads of locally grown and produced products at either of the Community Food Co-op’s two grocery locations:
Community Food Co-op Downtown Store
1220 N. Forest Street
Bellingham
Community Food Co-op Cordata Store
315 Westerly Road
Bellingham
In such a picturesque place – with the mountains, the ocean, the forest, the lakes and rivers – it’s hard to not find a pretty view wherever you go. Just walking through downtown Bellingham can offer you a hidden waterfall. Or going through Ferndale can offer up unique swamp terrain. Still, there are some hikes that yield unforgettable, incomparable beauty. Here are the best hikes with a view in Whatcom County, organized from shortest to longest. Enjoy!
Marine Drive Park
This park is small and quiet, located along the railroad tracks. But it offers up a unique view of the city. You can see the islands, ocean, the arboretum and downtown, all covered in green trees. Hiking here is also fun. Walk along the beach as far as you wish making your way south toward Locust Beach or north towards Lummi Island. Enjoy the tropical foliage and sand beneath your toes.
Artist Point
Marine Drive Park’s sweeping panorama during sunset – on the left you can see Bellingham sprawling in the trees and on the right you can see the beach and islands. Photo credit: Taylor Bailey.
While this viewpoint could take you over an hour to get to, it can be done while sitting in a vehicle and enjoying the passing views. Once you get to the top, you’ll be met with stunning mountain peaks, bright green meadows, blue mineral lakes and some of the best sights in the world. There are lots of short hikes in the surrounding area but even from the parking lot, you’ll be blown away. In the winter, bring along some snowshoes and turn this into an icy adventure.
Alabama Hill
One of the teaser views of the San Juan Islands you can find while hiking up Burnout. Photo credit: Taylor Bailey.
Right in Bellingham, you can have a gorgeous view overlooking the ocean, islands and the rest of the city. Follow Railroad trail, accessed from either Bloedel Donovan or Memorial Parks. Then walk the 3.2 miles between the two. Before and after the Alabama Hill Overpass, you can enjoy marsh birds and other wildlife.
Galbraith Mountain
There are two great views you can get from this mountain. The first is a short hidden walk from Birch Street. The second is a longer hike up to tower trail. Both hikes offer up great views of Bellingham and the surrounding areas.
Raptor Ridge
From Burnout both the San Juan Islands and Mount Baker are visible. Photo credit: Taylor Bailey.
This overlook has a fun hike up to the top, with the steep part right at the end. Once at the top, you break on to a rock face, looking out at the thousands of trees below you. You feel as though you are in the middle of a serene, isolated wilderness (even though you’re only a mile or two from your car). It is immensely satisfying to bring a book or some snacks and sit up there in the middle of all this nature. The height of the overlook allows you to see the valley below and further rising hills, making it a rare find as you can’t really see signs of civilization. This is one of the lesser-traveled hikes too, really emphasizing the nature around you.
Burnout
Probably one of the least-known of all these viewpoints, Burnout is a one and a half mile trek through a canopy of rainforest-like trees, with spots exposing the panoramic views of the San Juan Islands. When you reach the top, you’ll find a 360-degree field of vision, with Mount Baker and the surrounding peaks to one side, sweeping forests around that and the San Juan Islands on the other side. Taking photos here will never reveal just how spectacular the views are, and will frustrate you as you try to get both Mount Baker and the Ocean in one shot. This is one that you do not want to miss.
Stewart Mountain
Mount Baker can be seen from the High Divide Trail. Photo credit: Taylor Bailey.
For sweeping views of Lake Whatcom, the ocean and the islands, this is one of the best viewpoints. You gain about 3,369 feet during this hike and continuously get breathtaking views of the lake – all teasing the unbeatable views from the top.
Oyster Dome
Oyster Dome is one of the most popular hikes for a reason. It has a scenic overlook of the ocean and islands on one side and a glimpse at the massive forests on the other. You can sit on the rock at the top and soak in sun rays, relaxing after the five-mile hike up, watching ships sailing between the islands or the bald eagles soaring above.
Excelsior Peak and the High Divide
A gorgeous setting for a hike, Excelsior Pass is a spectacular choice for anyone wanting an adventure. Try to spot my small tent in this photo with massive hills, mountains and trees. Photo credit: Taylor Bailey.
Up on the Mount Baker Highway, before you reach Artist Point, you’ll find a small parking area and trailhead for Excelsior Pass. Though the hike can be a bit challenging, I was able to do it with a heavy backpack on my back (and I’m not the best hiker). When you break out of the shaded part of the hike, through the trees and into the world of sunshine, you’ll greet views that you’d expect from the French Alps – meadows, flowers, distant snow-capped peaks. Keep following the trail and you will keep being blown away. The colors at this high altitude seem to be brighter, and the air seems fresher; it’s surreal that we live a simple drive away from such beauty. Go in summer for the greenery and flowers or in fall for the orange and red of falling leaves. Either way, you’ll be so excited that you went.
So head outside and experience these amazing viewpoints for yourself. While you’re at it, take some time to go exploring. Just be sure to stop and enjoy the view.
Bellingham Film, an organization dedicated to strengthening the local filmmaking community, has launched a new half-year educational mentoring program, Script to Screen, as of August 1, 2017.
Participants will be mentored throughout the process. Photo courtesy: Bellingham Film.
Members of the Whatcom and Skagit filmmaking communities interested in learning more about filmmaking can apply to participate in the Script to Screen program. Projects created within the Script to Screen community will be considered for development, with one pitch being selected for production, fully-funded and shot on professional equipment.
This unique program allows aspiring filmmakers to collaborate with experienced mentors from origination to completion, learning a multitude of professional filmmaking skills. Bellingham Film’s carefully selected mentors will teach participants all aspects of filmmaking in a hands-on production environment. Experienced filmmakers who will act as mentors include Avielle Heath, Joshua Krenz, Caleb Young and Michael Petryni. Additional mentors will be added in later phases.
Script to Screen will occur in four overlapping phases from August 1, 2017 through the local film screening at Pickford Film Center in late spring 2018.
Phase One:Development – Where an Idea Becomes a Screenplay
Open Submission for pitch packages runs August 1 to September 10. Please visit our website (www.bellinghamfilm.com) for more information on submitting a project. Five submissions will be considered for outline development. On October 15, three outlines will be selected for Phase Two.
Phase Two: Pre-Production – Where Screenplays Become a Lot of Paperwork
Writers workshop and complete their scripts. Three producers are hired to begin early analysis of projects. One script will be selected for production on November 19. Producers select crew, a director is chosen, actors are cast. Rehearsals begin in January. The nuts and bolts of pre-production are completed.
Phase Three: Production—Where Paperwork Starts to Look Like a Movie
The film will be shot in Bellingham on four consecutive days in February 2018.
Editing, sound, music and other elements of post-production incorporating mentor feedback will be completed in time for a public screening in late spring 2018 at Pickford Film Center, followed by Q & A with participating filmmakers.
All skill levels and interests are welcome and encouraged to apply. Participants must have a willingness to collaborate, an open mind to learn, a commitment to participate until the end and make a small $10 donation to help fund the program. This project is sponsored in part by C. Young Creative. To become a sponsor or for more information, see www.thebfo.com/script-to-screen.html and join the Facebook group Bellingham Film’s Script to Screen. Questions may be directed to Joshua Krenz at joshua.krenz@gmail.com.
Every batch of Sirena gelato is made the old-fashioned way, hand scooped and hand decorated, one pan at a time. Photo credit: Campfire Photography.
After our dark, damp winters, Whatcom County residents flock outdoors once the sunbreaks turn to partly cloudy days – no matter how cold it is outside. But in a climate unaccustomed to air conditioning in every house, folks start to search for ways to cool back down as the weather starts to heat up. What better way to beat those hot and humid days than a delicious frozen treat?
Bubblegum and vanilla remain the two top favorites out of Edaleen’s 26 flavors of ice cream. Photo courtesy: Edaleen Dairy.
Check out the links to each spot below to find ice cream, frozen yogurt, popsicles, ice cream sandwiches and a whole host of other delicious ways to cool off just about anywhere in Whatcom County.
Mallard Ice Cream (Downtown Bellingham)
Mallard Ice Cream has been serving up unique and delicious ice cream in Downtown Bellingham since 1998. Their ice cream is made by hand in salt and ice churns five gallons at a time, tasting and adjusting at every step to get the best end product. Their wide variety of unique permanent and rotating flavors of ice cream and non-dairy sorbet will delight anyone’s palate.
Take your pick of over 20 flavors of ice cream at Edaleen Dairy. Photo courtesy: Edaleen Dairy.
Acme Ice Cream is made with lots of cream and has no added air. The resulting treat has a unique, thick and taffy-like texture. Plus they use only fresh, hormone-free, local milk from right here in Whatcom County. They make more than a dozen flavors including classic offerings such as Vanilla Bean or Butter Pecan, available all the time, and festive seasonal flavors like Blueberries ‘n Cream or Eggnog depending on the time of year.
You can find Acme Ice Cream at countless locations all across Whatcom County, but their flagship stores are the Acme Diner and Rocket Donuts & Acme Ice Cream in Fairhaven and Downtown Bellingham. Who says you don’t need ice cream with your donuts?
Edaleen Dairy (Blaine, Ferndale, Lynden, Sumas)
Gelato ice cream sandwiches are an excellent hand-held treat just about any time of year. Pictured here: Pan dolce gelato sandwiched between two chocolate chip cookies (they’re easier to eat once they’ve melted just a little). Photo credit: Campfire Photography.
If you’re anything like me, the telltale jingle of an ice cream truck is enough to make you drop everything you’re doing and run outside. Sugar Shack Ice Cream Truck has been bringing summertime joy to kids of all ages in Whatcom County since 2005. Classic offerings like ice cream sandwiches, popsicles and cones are the perfect cool treats for a hot day.
Sirena Gelato makes delicious, melt-in-your mouth gelato in the heart of downtown Bellingham. Sirena makes non-dairy, fresh fruit sorbets and dairy-based gelatos with exotic ingredients such as organic Turkish hazelnuts, premium black cocoa and Thai coconut milk. They also create affogatos (espresso poured over gelato – yum), gelato cookie sandwiches with festive rainbow sprinkles, milkshakes, custom cakes and gourmet made-from-scratch popsicles.
Lafeen’s Family Pride Donuts and Ice Cream
Every batch of Sirena gelato is made the old-fashioned way, hand scooped and hand decorated, one pan at a time. Photo credit: Campfire Photography.
This old school shop in Bellingham’s Silver Beach neighborhood is a donut go-to for many, but you can also find a rotating selection of tasty ice cream. Need a scoop of nostalgia? There’s a very good chance you’ll find bubblegum ice cream tucked in the freezer at Lafeen’s.
Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt
If you’re in the mood for a truly customizable cup or cone, stop by one of two Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt locations in Bellingham at Bakerview Road and Lakeway Center. Their wide selection of rotating frozen yogurts and dozens of topping options ranging from the fruity to the chocolatey means everyone can make a mix that will leave them smiling.
West Coast Pops (Mobile)
West Coast Pops offers gourmet, all natural popsicles handmade with fresh ingredients in Bellingham. With more than a dozen flavors ranging from classics like Orange cream to unique Watermelon Mint or Banana Pudding, you’re sure to find something to suit your taste buds.
There are so many options! I guess you’ll have to get started on taste testing … For science, of course.
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