Enjoy Fresh Summer Produce at Joe’s Gardens

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Fresh Summer Produce at Joe’s Gardens — There is always something new when you visit the farm. Be on the look out for local dairy and eggs that will soon be available for purchase. Photo credit: Kali Klotz-Brooks.

It’s that time of year again at Joe’s Gardens. “The Big Flop,” as they refer to it, is underway and the farm is beginning to transition from being a plant nursery to harvesting all the fruits and vegetables that are starting to spring up. “We go from being all about plants to all about the rewards – the produce, the fields, the local berries and fruit,” co-owner, Nathan Weston beams. “Ah, it just gives you a new push of optimism!”

Joe’s Gardens’ own mini-crisp romaine is simply awesome. Photo credit: Kali Klotz-Brooks.

When everyone on the farm has gotten to the point where they do not want to look at another plant again, Nathan explains how nice it is to see a familiar face stopping by for summer produce. “Not everyone we work with does plants, so they come in strictly for produce,” he says. “We get to see a lot of old familiar faces and it’s awesome. We really enjoy that.”

Joe’s Gardens grows a vast variety of different produce but they also sell products from other local Washington farmers as well. This year Joe’s Gardens will even be adding eggs and dairy. “The eggs are coming from Osprey Farms,” Nathan explains. “The dairy we offer is from Twin Brook Creamery out in Lynden. We might add other products along the way. We are starting out small to see how it goes.” Nathan also mentions the possibility of ice cream in the future – a product that I am sure most of us would be extra supportive of.

Joe’s Gardens is going to continue working with farms like Smallwood, located in Okanogan, WA, for branch fruits such as peaches and apples. “They are predicting to have one of their best harvests ever,” Nathan says. “They didn’t have rain for two to three weeks, which gave them a really long time for blossom set. A really good set will give you more fruit and bigger fruit and less irregularities where, if it doesn’t quite get pollinated right, it will be deformed.” So be on the lookout for some spectacular peaches near the end of July. You certainly would not want to miss out on the rewards of such rare and perfect conditions.

Nathan was also excited to share that Joe’s Gardens is growing Roma tomatoes, their second season of okra and a dense little head of lettuce they are calling their “mini-crisp romaine.”

“Last year was our first year growing okra and it wasn’t very successful, but very educational,” Nathan says. “We didn’t know how big it should be so we got a lot of calls that our okra was too big. Also it can be very itchy!” He explains that the plant itself produces oil that burns skin. “So we’re going to be picking them small this year and with long sleeve shirts on.”

Joe’s Gardens’ mini-crisp romaine, however, is an instant winner and something you will want to try if you haven’t already. It has the flavor of romaine but the dense, crisp-ness of a head of iceberg lettuce. A single head of it can weigh three pounds. That’s a lot of flavor packed in! “Head lettuce has gotten a really bad rap,” Nathan says. “It’s just a low brow lettuce. But the mini-crisp romaine is a great lettuce and has some really great uses!” You can tell Nathan is really passionate about this particular vegetable – and for good reason.

Nathan elaborates that “The Big Flop” this year has been fairly stress-free thus far. The weather has been cooler and that makes the plants easier to take care of, considering that they do not need to be watered as often. Having said that, the wet spring brought with it a bout of fly maggots that has affected the cauliflower and broccoli crop. “It’s one of the downsides to being a no-spray farm,” Nathan says. “You just grin and bare it and move on. We are very fortunate that our fields are so diverse, with how many crops we plant and how often we plant them. If we lose a crop like the broccoli or sugar snap peas, we aren’t going to go out of business. Our customers understand that if there is a little bug hole in it, it’s not the end of the world. It’s a small trade off for being a truly spray free farm. That’s just part of being Joe’s – that understanding and the relationship with our customers.”

If you aren’t a Joe’s Gardens customer yet, don’t hesitate! Visiting Joe’s Gardens is a treat, and like Nathan describes, there is a strong relationship between customers and employees. You will always be greeted warmly and well taken care of. So stop by, check out their website, or give the Westons a call at 360- 671-7639. Check in to see when specific produce is in season or be happily surprised upon arrival. Either way, you won’t be disappointed.

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The Kona Supremes Shred With Supreme Style

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Amy Blackwood

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KonaSupremesTeamPhoto — The Kona Supremes team, ready to ride. Photo credit: Matt Roebke.

Anyone who’s been up on Galbraith Mountain lately knows the gender gap in mountain biking is closing faster than a 10-foot drop. In what was once a male-dominated activity, women are now tearing up the trails in equal measures all over Whatcom County. And that includes a relatively new group of amazing female riders on the scene, the Kona Supremes.

Kona Supremes team member Hannah Bergemann takes a leap. Photo credit: “A cool guy named Grady.”

Starting as a casual group of friends who regularly rode “lady shred missions” together, the idea of forming the official Supremes team was the brainchild of Amanda Bryan, who works for Kona as an inside sales rep.

“We had organically created this group of women that just loved the ride and left competition at the trailhead and brought pure stoke instead, and we thrive off of that. On the way up we would talk about a new gap we wanted to hit or a drop we wanted to send, and we would go and just do it,” says Bryan. “Bellingham does have a pretty amazing scene of women that absolutely shred on bikes and it’s growing really fast. I think we are more than a just another race team, rather, a group of ambassadors for the women riders in the world.”

Kona Supremes team member Brooklyn Bell shreds. Photo credit: Matt Roebke.

Bryan discovered her affinity for mountain biking in 2012 on a third date with her now soon-to-be husband.

“I went over the bars five times and walked away from the ride with some open wounds and plenty of bruises,” Bryan says. “But I was totally hooked.”

Every member of the team came across the sport in her own way and each has acutely developed her skills, gradually evolving them into a true force to be reckoned with on the trails. The team is now much more than just their passion, as each member is an accomplished rider in her own right. Take for example the recent Cascadia Dirt Cup, where Bryan placed 9^th in expert class (even with a flat to contend with mid-race), Hannah Bergemann took 6^th in pro and the sport class saw Brooklyn Bell and Stephanie Ignell finish in 2^nd and 4^th places respectively.

But the Kona Supremes are taking their successes in stride, determined to stay true to their original perspective on riding together: They remain six women (Bell, Bergemann, Bryan, Ignell, McKaila Leytze, and Delia Massey) who share a common love of mountain biking for the enjoyment first and foremost. They’ve made it their mission to encourage others into the sport on all levels.

The Kona Supremes team up with the WMBC JoyRiders. Photo credit: Stephanie Ignell.

“Riding bikes is fun,” Bryan says. “And no matter what level you are at, you are a shredder.”

Bell, a graphic design major at Western Washington University, is a former trail runner who one day decided to give mountain biking a try. “Haven’t touched my running shoes since,” Bell says.

She realizes that the female cyclists of Whatcom County have got it pretty good when it comes to support and community. “Bike riding is an amazing way to spend time with my favorite people. We are always scheming up ideas and always encouraging each other to shred bigger and harder. We travel to other mountains, where the woman presence isn’t as strong, and you can definitely see the difference,” Bell says. “I wouldn’t be doing this without the help of some of the amazing women’s groups in town.”

Kona Supremes Bryan, Bell and Bergemann celebrating the Cascadia Dirt Cup. Photo credit: Chris McFarland.

Bergemann started mountain biking during her high school years, exploring the trails of her hometown—Hood River, Oregon—on a hand-me-down full-suspension bike from her dad.

“After a few months of riding, we did an enduro race together in Ashland, Oregon,” Bergemann says. “I think I got second-to-last place but had such a good time.”

Now going to school at WWU and working part time at The Kona Bike Shop, she is thrilled to be a part of the Supremes and their ambitions.

“We all share the same love for riding and having a good time on the trails. Our focus is not to have the fastest race times or best results, it’s more about being good role models for other ladies, kids and other members of the bike community,” Bergemann says. “We want to encourage more women’s ridership, empower riders to push themselves on and off the trails. Bellingham has a higher number of female riders having such a strong bike community, and we’d love to continue to see this trend increase in other areas by expanding that sense of community to other places.”

The Kona Supremes team, ready to ride. Photo credit: Matt Roebke.

The Supremes have found a kindred spirit in WMBC Joyriders, a local organization that offers beginner group rides for women, providing them the opportunity to try things at a comfortable level while also connecting with others who have a similar skill set. Find out about their summer rides series online and stay tuned to the Supremes’ Facebook page for more information on upcoming events.

The Salty Life Provisioning Company Delivers the Goods

By

Patricia Herlevi

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The Salty Life delivers from shop to boat. Photo credit: Patricia Herlevi.

Securing provisions is the last thing a crew wants to deal with when they sail the Salish Sea. In the past, sailors docking at the Bellingham Port often had to hire a taxi and spend several hours locating grocery stores and securing provisions for their family or crew.

That’s where the Salty Life Provisioning Company steps in to save the day. Launched by Jim and Claudette Johnson and their daughter Maggie last January, the provisioning company offers both a store front in Suite 8 in the Harbor Mall (Squalicum Harbor) and an online shop and delivery service.

Claudette Johnson came up with the concept for the company when she helped a sailor buy groceries for her family. Johnson realized the stress involved with hiring a taxi and finding the nearest grocery store and then hauling the provisions back to the port. Often, the sailors don’t know their way around Bellingham, let alone to the nearest grocery store. So what if the Johnson family solved the problem by launching a shop and delivery service?

Stock up at the Salty Life Provisioning Company store front or online shop. Photo credit: Patricia Herlevi.

According to Maggie Johnson, “We were just going to focus on the online part, but the harbor community wanted the store front.”

This store front now offers everything from munchies, maps and toys to other necessities. The family plans on expanding to include fun family events and offer more conveniences for tourists and sailors. According to the Johnsons, their future holds a place for ice cream socials, punch cards, interior seating with a small deli, a kids pirate/kite flying day, a small postal shop with mail boxes, a laminating service, a notary service, WDF&W Licensing, on water services and rentals.

The family owns a sail boat and has 15 years of provisioning experience—having enjoyed excursions to the San Juan Islands and other locations around the Salish Sea. They currently dock their boat at Squalicum Harbor, having moved it from the Blaine harbor.

The Johnson Family launched a shop and delivery service for sailors. Photo courtesy: The Johnson Family.

When asked about the demographics at the harbor, Maggie mentioned that 90 to 100 sailors live-on their boats. Other sailors and families drift in from other places. All these folks benefit from the conveniences the Johnson family offers.

While the Harbor Mall provides drab uniform buildings, the Johnson family spruced their storefront with windsocks, a rack of toys and splashes of color. A world map hangs on a wall and shelves are stocked with comfort foods and toys for the kids, giving the shop a whimsical atmosphere.

In fact, one of the challenges the family faces is making room for their stock as their customer base expands. Provisioning is small for a big crowd. A challenge is making sure to have two of everything and room for it. The Johnsons are constantly moving the dividing wall to gain more space. Becoming a ship chandlery for the Port of Bellingham also offers a new challenge.

Maggie finds the location challenging but she enjoys the friendly community of like-minded people at the harbor.

The family focuses on positive ways to market their business to port dwellers, tourists and local entrepreneurs wishing to sell their goods through the provisioning company. “We are starting to get connected with other businesses [in Whatcom County] and we plan on supporting local businesses by having local products in our store,” says Maggie.

The Johnson Family takes the more expansive view – the world map hangs in their shop. Photo courtesy: The Johnson Family.

With the warmer weather and tourist season beginning, business has picked up for the Salty Life. And this new business sparks ideas too, such as offering kayak and bicycle rentals in the future or setting up a booth for the Fourth of July this summer. Maggie even mentioned cardboard cut-outs for people to photograph themselves. It will be interesting to see how this business expands after the port undergoes redevelopment in the next several years.

But for now, the Salty Life Provisioning Company with its trademark octopus logo offers a convenient service that takes the hassle out of visiting the Port of Bellingham or sailing to the San Juan Islands from the harbor. And the family clearly enjoys offering their services to the sailing community and meeting people both local and afar. They enjoy sharing their boating stories, being near the harbor with the fresh breeze, being asked to go racing on the bay and selling unique nautical items both new and old. So, come all ye sailors.

The Staying Power of Country Stars Sawyer Brown

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LocalTalk Contributor

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Mount Baker Theatre Stage by Damian Vines — The MBT main stage hearkens back to a bygone era. Photo credit: Damian Vines Photography.

Submitted by: Mount Baker Theatre

In the early 1980s, the genres of country and pop music could not have sounded more diverse. But Sawyer Brown managed to blend two genres into a new category and create a singular sound to lead future artists. Still delighting audiences with their high-energy live performances thirty years later, Sawyer Brown will stop at Mount Baker Theatre for one night, Saturday, September 16, at 7:30 p.m.

Get ready for Sawyer Brown at MBT! Photo courtesy: Mount Baker Theatre.

Bobby Randall, Jim Scholten, Gregg “Hobie” Hubbard and Mark Miller were the backup band for Don King. When the country music star retired from the road, the rest of the band stayed together. Originally known as “Savanna,” they quickly changed their name to Sawyer Brown in honor of the street where their rehearsal space was.

The band came into the national spotlight by winning Star Search in 1983. For the first decade of their career, the band was playing almost 300 live shows per year. “Live is where it all comes together for us,” says keyboardist Hubbard. “The audience brings its own energy, we bring our own energy and the music – and the combination of all that is what makes playing live music so unique.”

Somewhere amidst their nearly nonstop live shows, they managed to record twenty-three albums in the past thirty years. The awards they’ve gathered for their work include the Country Music Association Awards, the Academy of Country Music Awards, Vocal Group of the Year, Vocal Band of the Year (six years in a row) and Video Group of the Year.

The lead singer, Mark Miller, is often mistaken as Sawyer Brown and has resigned himself to just answering to the name rather than correcting a fan. In addition to writing and co-writing a number of the band’s biggest hits, he also produced many of Sawyer Brown’s albums. Raised in the Pentecostal church, Miller’s Christian roots run deep in his lyrics and in his work outside the band. The music label he founded produced the album for the Christian rock band Casting Crowns which went on to win a Grammy.

Merging the worlds of country, pop and rock, Sawyer Brown certainly is not to be missed. Tickets are on sale now at MountBakerTheatre.com.

How Watershed Moments Happen with NSEA’s River Stewards Program

By

Rob Rich

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NSEA River Stewards-Rafting Group — These rafters from Wild and Scenic River Tours learn about local salmon and stewardship skills that will enrich their whitewater experience. Photo courtesy: NSEA.

Just east of Glacier, at the Horseshoe Bend trailhead, an adventurous group stands around Zach Bursell, a passionate NSEA River Steward. With the boat unloaded and the Nooksack roaring, the rafters fidget with paddles and cinch life jacket straps. But they quickly realize this isn’t any old safety speech. Bursell catches their attention when he describes how they’ll share this river with thousands and thousands of salmon. “Cold, clear, consistent and connected. That’s how salmon like their water.” The rafters get it, because that’s what they want too. Rafting is no fun when the boat scrapes the bottom, or when you can only dowse your friend with a tepid paddle splash.

River Stewards work with over 300 rafters per year just like this crew. In the last miles of a salmon’s epic homecoming – back from the Gulf of Alaska to their waters of birth – paddlers thrashing through resting pools or redds (salmon nests) can be a source of stress. As a precaution, rafting season ends when federally-threatened chinook salmon start spawning in early-mid August. This charges the rafting experience with meaning and possibility, and by learning the salmon’s behaviors and anticipating their arrival, rafters become keen and vital lookouts for those special first fish.

These rafters from Wild and Scenic River Tours learn about local salmon and stewardship skills that will enrich their whitewater experience. Photo courtesy: NSEA.

This kind of watchfulness is what US Forest Service (USFS) biologist Brady Green hoped for when he rallied to start the River Stewards program in 2005. As visitors flocked to places like the Horseshoe Bend trail, Nooksack Falls and their three nearby campgrounds, Green and his colleague Scott Lentz began to see eroding streambanks, irresponsible campers and salmon poaching become cause for concern.

While the USFS lacked the time, staff or funding to police every incident, Green found an ally in the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA), who was thrilled by his idea to build a volunteer internship program protecting the Nooksack’s uppermost salmon headwaters. As a nonprofit organization, NSEA had earned local respect for their engaging, grassroots approach to salmon education that informs and inspires people wherever salmon swim.

NSEA’s vials of preserved salmon eggs-in-development kindle wonder for the whole family. Photo courtesy: NSEA.

NSEA’s Executive Director Rachel Vasak (who served as Program Director at the time) tried many sites and strategies for learning in those first years, but she knew that she wanted to create hands-on experiences that would feed visitor curiosities and be carried downstream or shared with others. By 2007, when NSEA honed in on series of family-friendly walks and talks along the Nooksack’s North Fork, things started to gel. Conservation leaders thought so too. That year the program earned national recognition with the USFS’s prestigious “Rise to the Future” Award that honors fish and watershed stewardship on national forests.

River Stewards give kids a chance to get wet, explore and do science! Stay posted with updates and opportunities on NSEA’s River Steward page. Photo courtesy: NSEA.

Rafting talks are one small component of what River Stewards offer and NSEA’s Program Coordinator Kendra Krantz has assured an impressive 2017 lineup. Of the six River Stewards Krantz will hire for the summer, at least two will be stationed at the USFS’s Glacier Public Service Center every Friday-Sunday from June 23 to September 23, ready to greet the hordes stopping in for water, information, backcountry permits or bathroom breaks. And every Saturday at 3 p.m. (with some 11 a.m. Sundays), River Stewards will lead public walks on the Horseshoe Bend trail to showcase native plants, salmon ecology and tests for water quality and macroinvertebrates.

S’mores and salmon stories can bring the best out of anyone. Photo courtesy: NSEA.

Other River Steward programs occur only a few times per summer but not because they’re less fun! Two favorites include the fireside talks at Douglas Fir Campground and the Salish Stories event at Chair 9, where salmon books and tales are shared for children of all ages (both of these events provide S’mores!). This year River Stewards will also be hosting the second annual Fishtival, where the Maple Creek Picnic Shelter at Silver Lake Park turns into a frenzy of crafts, games and fun. And because 2017 is a “pink year” – when pink salmon make their late summer, biennial return to these waters – River Stewards will host Salmon Sighting events near Glacier, at the Thompson Creek bridge.

With nearly five million Puget Sounders and two million metro-Vancouverites just a short drive away, the Mount-Baker Snoqualmie National Forest may well be the most visited national forest in the country. That’s why the USFS continues to see the River Stewards as a vital partner advancing the Leave No Trace ethics that respect the needs of salmon and their habitat. That means thinking twice before taking wood out of the river, building rock dams or letting dogs romp through a pool full of fish on their last (or first) days of life. But while striving to minimize impact to the salmon’s epic life cycle, River Stewards ensure that conserving fish and healthy waters remains fun, and that nature leaves a big impact on people.

The Wally’s Barber Shop Experience

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Dondi Tondro-Smith

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Apprentice barber, John Schindler, studies Wally Whaley's technique and quality craftsmanship. Photo credit: Dondi Tondro-Smith.

The door swings open as the squeaky hinges lightly announce the next customer at Wally’s Barber Shop on Holly Street. The eight, soon to be nine, black leather barber chairs rotate men, women and children anxious for a step back in time. A return to the days when a quality cut and a close shave were synonymous with masculine pampering, Wally Whaley prides himself on quality work with a true touch of craftsmanship.

Whaley’s attention to detail, quality work and service is a winning combination that’s kept his door swinging open all day long. “I’m easy to get along with, a good person to work for, but when it comes to quality, I’m a real stickler. I won’t settle for second best. It’s got to be top of the line,” Whaley says. If someone asks where to get a good hair cut in Bellingham, rest assured, Wally’s is the place.

The storefront at Wally’s Barber Shop invites the whole family in for a step back in time. Photo credit: Dondi Tondro-Smith.

Wally and Renate Whaley have been married over 50 years and raised four daughters, one of whom has worked side by side with her parents at the barbershop for the past decade. His granddaughter is next in line to work in the family run business with just 100 more hours of cosmetology school before she’s licensed. After 56 years of being a barber, the family’s legacy will continue and Whaley professes he won’t retire until he has to. “I still provide an old fashioned service and haircut the same way it was given when my dad got haircuts,” he shared.

Hot lather shaves around the ears, trimming the eyebrows, ears and mustache, hair down the neck, followed by a massage, are all the little things that may not be offered in a standard salon or quick cut business. Whaley still provides the shine and the authentic level of care that keeps some of his customers returning well into their 90’s.

Shawn Placencia, a recent graduate from WWU with a degree in philosophy, enjoys a pampering trim. Photo credit: Dondi Tondro-Smith.

A good shave shouldn’t make a man’s face burn. “We do what they call a ‘rest facial,’” says Whaley. Just like women receive in a spa, this facial is slightly shorter but just as satisfying. After a shave, a lemon crème is applied with cocoa butter, lanolin and aloe vera. “When they get out of the chair their faces feel like a million bucks,” attests Whaley. If you snore after your treatment, don’t worry, it’s happened before.

For a lot of younger people who’ve never had a comprehensive cut and shave, “It’s not about the shave, it’s about the experience,” Whaley adds. Whaley is teaching the next generation of men that there are benefits to a deep state of relaxation and self-care. While there are those who still remember and grew up going to an old fashioned barber shop, many of Whaley’s clients are Western Washington University students who are discovering his service for the first time.

Wally’s memorabilia collection adorns many corners of the barbershop. Photo credit: Dondi Tondro-Smith.

Whaley grew up locally and went to school at Mt. Baker, later meeting Renate in the Air Force while stationed in Germany. He trained as a security policeman in special investigations and, after his military service briefly considered going into law enforcement. “Looking back, I stayed with trimming hair because you get to meet a lot of nice people, unique and different people, from all walks of life,” he says nostalgically. “Now that I’ve been doing it for so many years, you get to cut these little kids’ hair and you get to watch them grow up and that’s special, to make really good friendships.” Lollipops and cookies sit on a low coffee table in glass jars awaiting any kiddo who needs a little coaxing before getting their first snip.

Apprentice barber, John Schindler, studies Wally Whaley’s technique and quality craftsmanship. Photo credit: Dondi Tondro-Smith.

Renate sits in the center of the YMCA’s cozy brick and mortar building expertly navigating a steady stream of appointments and walk-ins. She’s kept the books at Wally’s for many years. The Whaley’s have been in their current location for 14 years and need seven barbers going full time to keep up with their loyal clientele. Before that, Wally managed several barbershops as an independent contractor and on military bases throughout the state. While managing a shop in Bellevue, he used to cut Steve Ballmer (the ex-CEO of Microsoft) and his two boys’ hair. Dave Niehaus, the voice of the Seattle Mariners, was also a client. In Whaley’s words, “He was a really wonderful person.”

John Schindler is happy to be learning his trade at Wally’s Barber Shop. Photo credit: Dondi Tondro-Smith.

The old-fashioned popcorn popper wafts a smell of fresh kernels and butter through the room as Whaley invites his next customer to make himself comfortable in his swivel chair. His apprentice, John Schindler, is never far from his side. He’s been shadowing Whaley for a few months now, aspiring to the trade and learning from a master. When most barber schools can cost a student $15,000-$25,000, Schindler’s paid internship is like being given golden shears. Whaley teaches the things that aren’t taught anymore in a traditional school setting.

Whaley tells the college students who frequent the shop, “You have to work all your life, so if you get into something you don’t like, get out of it and get into something else.” For Wally Whaley, he got it right the first time.

Wally’s Barber Shop is a Bellingham institution. Photo credit: Dondi Tondro-Smith.

WCC Celebrates 50th with Special Tour de Whatcom Route

By

LocalTalk Contributor

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tour de whatcom bike bicycle — This year brings a special Tour de Whatcom route. Photo courtesy: Whatcom Community College.

Submitted by: Whatcom Community College

The Tour de Whatcom charity bike ride is now open for registration. The ride is Saturday July 29 and leaves from Boundary Bay Brewery in Downtown Bellingham. The Tour de Whatcom has four different routes of varying lengths from 22 miles to 100 (Century Ride) miles and offers something for every level of cyclists and every member of the family. These rides are awesome! You get to see everything: Mt Baker, Lake Whatcom, valleys, rivers, lush farmland, beaches and Puget Sound all in one fairly level ride. Beautiful rides for a great cause!

The Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition will be the 2017 beneficiary of the ride.

Whatcom Events is proud to be working with Whatcom Community College on a one-time ride offered only in 2017. We will honor Whatcom Community College’s 50th anniversary by linking several of the College’s early county locations in a ride that will be approximately 50 miles long. College representatives will be stationed at select rest stations along the route with information regarding WCC’s history. Riders will also be able to donate to the WCC Foundation, which supports student scholarships and academic programs. Visit http://whatcom.edu/50 for information about the College and a complete schedule of WCC’s 50th anniversary events.

This will be the 12^th year the Tour de Whatcom has welcomed riders from all over Washington State, the U.S. and Canada. This ride has been given great reviews and is a perfect event for beginner riders or more avid cyclists. No matter what skill level, the ride ensures beautiful sights and lots of fun for everyone at each of our five rest stops. Each rest stop will be equipped with food, drinks, fruit and a special theme and are run by volunteers with all proceeds benefiting local charities.

Any individual may register for either the 22, 50, 62 or 100 mile rides. Current prices vary from $45.00 – $65.00 per person and include a free T-shirt and a beverage at Boundary Bay Brewery (non-alcoholic available too) which is an all ages Beer Garden. We offer a reduced price for tandem riders and families (up to six riders). Riders must be at least 10 years old for safety reasons. Early Bird Registration until June 30. (After July 1, all rates will increase by $10.00.)

Details on the ride and registration can be found at tourdewhatcom.com

The Tour de Whatcom is a program of Whatcom Events, a 501(c)4 community non-profit organization. The present day Tour de Whatcom was started in 2003.

Port of Bellingham Earns Clean Audit from State

By

LocalTalk Contributor

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Michael Shepard and Ken Bell — Photo courtesy: Port of Bellingham.

Submitted by: Port of Bellingham

The Port is pleased to announce it has received a clean audit from the Washington State Auditor’s Office. The State Auditor’s Office reviews all state and local government financial records each year to ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent properly. The 2016 Port Audit revealed no deficiencies in the Port’s financial records.

“I am happy with the results of the audit,” said Port Finance Director Tamara Sobjack. “The Port is dedicated to responsible and transparent financial management and the results of the audit reflect those values. Our employees take great pride in working for a fiscally responsible municipal government. Maintaining accurate financial records is a core function of all Port operations and activities.”

In 2016, the Port collected $23.3 million in operations revenue and over $7 million in taxes, spent $23.4 million on capital assets and increased net assets by over $19 million.

It is anticipated this year’s clean audit will lead to the Port’s 25^th consecutive Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting (CAFR). The Government Finance Officers Association established the CAFR program to encourage state and local governments go to beyond the minimum requirements of financial reporting and prepare reports that evidence the spirit of transparency and full disclosure. Reports submitted to the CAFR program go through a comprehensive review, and only those entities meeting the strict requirements are awarded the Certificate of Achievement.

About the Port of Bellingham

The Port is a countywide municipal corporation with a mission to fulfill the essential transportation and economic development needs of the region. 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. For more information about the Port of Bellingham, please visit www.portofbellingham.com.

NSA Names Whatcom as One of Four Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyberdefense National Resource Centers

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LocalTalk Contributor

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Cyberdefense National Resource Centers — WCC celebrates its 50th Anniversary on May 29, 2017. Photo credit: Patricia Herlevi.

Submitted by: Whatcom Community College

Whatcom Community College (WCC) has been selected by the National Security Agency (NSA) to lead efforts to improve and expand cybersecurity education nationwide as one of four Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyberdefense (CAE-CD) National Resource Centers. In this role, WCC will function as a “super hub,” helping to support and guide 10 regional centers. Whatcom will lead the CAE-CD mentor program, guiding university and college administrators and faculty through the rigorous application for the CAE-CD designation. The NSA bestows the designation, which recognizes colleges and universities that meet industry-recognized standards of education and training in the cyberdefense field, with curriculum mapped to the NSA’s latest requirements.

The College will receive up to $1 million in federal grant funding, which will significantly expand the number of participating institutions in the United States. As one of four national centers funded to support various aspects of the initiative, WCC was designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense 2-year education (CAE2Y) in 2011 and, again, in 2014. Whatcom was among the first community colleges in the nation to earn the designation.

“WCC has years of experience and is a national leader in cybersecurity education. Our CIS and cybersecurity programs are models of excellence,” WCC President Kathi Hiyane-Brown said. “We’re honored to share our program models with other academic institutions to help prepare qualified employees for the cyberdefense workforce, which is vital to our national security.”

The grant project will leverage the mentor model program that WCC developed under previous grants. The program will connect candidate institutions with a qualified mentor who will assist the applicant in improving their cybersecurity program and completing the CAE-CD application. This process helps to ensure that the application is of high quality and meets NSA standards prior to submission. Through this process, colleges and universities can save time, effort, resources and frustration, and achieve a meaningful designation that will help attract faculty and students and even spur economic development in their region.

About WCC’s CIS and Cybersecurity Programs

WCC offers a bachelor of applied science (BAS) in IT Networking as well as two-year degrees and certificates in computer information systems and cybersecurity (with opportunities to transfer to regional universities). WCC is also the lead institution for CyberWatch West – a National Science Foundation (NSF) regional center for cybersecurity education – and for C5 (Catalyzing Computing and Cybersecurity at Community Colleges), also funded by the NSF. More than 110 universities, colleges, high schools and educational organizations belong to the CyberWatch West consortium. For more information about WCC’s computer information systems and cybersecurity programs, visit whatcom.edu/cis.

Come See Whatcom County’s Largest Independence Day Fireworks Display!

By

LocalTalk Contributor

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Submitted by: The Port of Bellingham

The Port of Bellingham is inviting the community to view Whatcom County’s largest Independence Day fireworks display from the former Georgia-Pacific site on Bellingham’s Downtown Waterfront. Parking will be available along Cornwall Avenue and spectators will need to walk approximately ¼ mile down West Laurel Street to access a paved, outdoor viewing area located along the shoreline. Community members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs as no other seating will be available.

The West Laurel Street entrance to the Downtown Waterfront will open to pedestrians at 8:00 p.m. and people will walk along a designated route to the viewing site, with the fireworks show starting around 10:30 p.m. Because of its undeveloped nature, there will be no vehicle access or parking inside the former Georgia-Pacific site. Volunteers in reflective vests will help direct people to the viewing area.

People are welcome to bring coolers, food, non-alcoholic drinks and lawn chairs to the event. No pets, alcohol or personal fireworks are allowed. Porta Potties, trash and recycling bins will be provided.

The Downtown Waterfront viewing spot is in addition to the popular Haggen Family 4^th of July Celebration at Zuanich Point Park, hosted by the Port in partnership with Haggen and the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce. The event runs from 11:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. and includes live music, vendors, a beer garden, kids’ games and much more. For more information on the celebration, visit https://www.portofbellingham.com/142/Haggen-Family-4th-of-July.

About the Port of Bellingham

About WCC’s CIS and Cybersecurity Programs

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