Holiday Inn Express Bellingham Receives Highest Honor

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Terri Sirmans, General Manager of the Holiday Inn Express Bellingham off Meridian, describes with pleasure the great feedback each completed customer survey provides to her and her team. “The feedback that our guests provide allows us to do an even better job,” she says. “It gives us opportunities to make our guests have an even better experience while they are staying with us. We really listen and appreciate every review and every opportunity for feedback.”

t's the little things such as a comfortable setting outside that make a difference says Terri Sirmans, General Manager. Photo courtesy: Holiday Inn Express Bellingham. — t’s the little things such as a comfortable setting outside that make a difference says Terri Sirmans, General Manager. Photo courtesy:
Holiday Inn Express Bellingham.

Implementing changes and improvements based on that feedback is exactly what the staff at the Holiday Inn Express aim to do with the feedback. For them, customer service is a main focus and commitment.

“Even the little things can make a huge difference,” says Sirmans of Holiday Inn Express Bellingham’s commitment to the overall experience of their guests.

It’s this commitment an focus that lead to the most prestigious award from the Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG). The 2016 Torchbearer Award was given to the Holiday Inn Express Bellingham. The 2016 Torchbearer Award is the highest honor bestowed on one of the IHG hotels and is a direct result of the highest levels of excellence in all parts of the hotel’s operation from quality to customer satisfaction.

The Holiday Inn Express Bellingham is one of only 337 properties in the Americas to be awarded the Torchbearer Award from among the over 5,000 properties within the system. In order to achieve this award, the hotel had to receive a year to date average of over 91% on all of the completed reviews in overall customer experience.

“That’s tough to do,” says Sirmans. “That means that virtually everyone that enters our doors has to have a great experience.”

The prestigious Torchbearer Award will be on display at the Holiday Inn Express Bellingham. Photo courtesy: Holiday Inn Express Bellingham. — The prestigious Torchbearer Award will be on display at the Holiday Inn Express Bellingham. Photo courtesy:
Holiday Inn Express Bellingham.

After a guest leaves the hotel, they are sent a survey to complete providing the opportunity for review as well as rating their experience at that location. Each one that is completed then becomes a part of this process of determining the level of satisfaction overall, based on an average between January and December.

Criteria for this prestigious award includes customer feedback on overall experience along with the hotel location’s ability to meet specific quality and standards thresholds.

Sirmans goes on to describe the heart of the staff at Holiday Inn Bellingham. They are committed to ensuring that each guest that walks through the door is made to feel welcome and appreciated. Every guest is acknowledged with a smile or a hello and helped immediately, whether they are entering through the front doors or having breakfast in the breakfast room.

“We want you to feel welcome when you come into our hotel,” Sirmans says. “That commitment is seen from our front desk staff to our housekeeping.”

The excitement of earning this prestigious award is evident in the entire staff. “This award really shows how hard the staff has been working,” Sirmans says. “We’re a family. Our whole team has a lot of heart.”

As a result of earning this high honor, each staff member will have the privilege of wearing a button that highlights the award for every guest they encounter to see, as well as demonstrating their own hard work in achieving the award. The 2016 Torchbearer award statue will be on permanent display at the hotel once received in the first quarter of 2017.

The overall experience of their guests is what earned the Holiday Inn Express Bellingham the 2016 Torchbearer Award. Photo courtesy: Holiday Inn Express Bellingham. — The overall experience of their guests is what earned the Holiday Inn Express Bellingham the 2016 Torchbearer Award. Photo courtesy:
Holiday Inn Express Bellingham.

For the community of Bellingham, the incredible award demonstrates the warm reception the Holiday Inn Express Bellingham gives to guests and their families from around the world.

The Holiday Inn Express Bellingham is located just off Meridian. It is conveniently located close to downtown Bellingham, Bellingham International Airport and outdoor activities such as hiking, boating and skiing.

Stop in to say hello and congratulate the staff at the Holiday Inn Express Bellingham on their amazing accomplishment.

Celebrate the Tribute Act at Mount Baker Theatre

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Lorraine Wilde

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mount-baker-theatre-gary-mullen-and-the-works-one-night-of-queen-on-stage — Relive a classic Queen concert at MBT with Gary Mullen and the Works. Photo courtesy: Mount Baker Theatre.

Tribute acts have become a music genre all their own. Seeing them perform our favorites live can transport us back to the moment we first heard the song or to a certain time when the music intertwined in our lives. Again this year, Mount Baker Theatre (MBT) is bringing you some of the best in the world so that you too can relive those precious, crazy, unforgettable moments once more.

Gary Mullen has spent 13 years channeling the power and energy of icon Freddie Mercury into each performance. Photo courtesy: Mount Baker Theatre.

Many musicians begin their careers in a garage with their friends playing the songs of their idols. Perfecting their craft on songs they know and love gives them the confidence and inspiration to be bold and create something new. But some musicians are so good at, and committed to, emulating their music heroes that they choose to dedicate themselves fully to paying homage as a Tribute Act.

Some of the best Tribute Acts sound more like the bands’ original lineups than the actual band does. Others bring us an electric, live performance of groups that have broken up or are no longer with us like the Beatles or Michael Jackson. Some bring us the entirely unique and extraordinary costumes that became a landmark of the time. Others can nail the vocal intonation or enduring guitar riffs of our music icons. A few elite performers also happen to look just like the original.

But the true draw of the Tribute Act is the magical power it has over us. Each of us has a song or an album that moved us deeply at a time in our past. Hearing just a few notes or lyrics can instantly take us back. Our minds recall the vibrant whirling colors, the smell of a campfire or the ocean, the whispered conversations and the moments of joy in our past. We can let the music overtake us once again and dance and sing along as if we were there again, right now.

The American Folk legend, Arlo Guthrie, still has the same laid-back style as his music. Photo courtesy: Mount Baker Theatre.

Not only do we remember the moments, but we also remember our younger selves and how we were different. Perhaps we were more idealistic, stubborn, ambitious or spontaneous. Whatever we were at the time, allowing Tribute Acts to take us back lets us reflect on who we were then, where we’ve been and how far we’ve come. We see that time once again in our heart and mind, this time from a place of greater wisdom and experience.

Whatever your reason for loving the Tribute Act, MBT makes sure to bring them to you every year. Is it a coincidence that so many of the best are classic rock? On February 18, One Night of Queen by Gary Mullen and the Works will bring the best of Freddie Mercury and the band to MBT. This spectacular live concert recreates the look, sound and showmanship of what many consider the greatest rock bands of all time. Gary Mullen’s pitch-perfect imitation of Freddie Mercury has been shaped throughout his 13 years of touring. Fans can feel in their chest the surge of emotions from mega-hits such as, “We are the Champions,” “Under Pressure,” “Another One Bites the Dust,” and—of course—“Bohemian Rhapsody.” This show will also be a perfect set up for die-hard Queen fans while they wait for the feature film due to shoot in 2017, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” that has been in the works for over eight years.

Relive a classic Queen concert at MBT with Gary Mullen and the Works. Photo courtesy: Mount Baker Theatre.

On April 20, Arlo Guthrie will return to MBT for his Running Down the Road Tour. Guthrie is essentially doing a tribute to his younger self when he celebrates his album from 1969. He and his band will also celebrate the best of Guthrie’s American Folk catalogue from the late sixties and early seventies including “Coming into Los Angeles,” which Guthrie sang at the legendary Woodstock music festival in 1969, and “Oklahoma Hills” that was originally performed by his legendary father, Woody Guthrie. His tour brings back the sound that shaped a generation, promising to carry audiences to their most remarkable memories of the time.

The top Tribute Acts in the business have kept the flame burning by performing the songs we all know and love to enthusiastic fans all over the world. There are so many reasons to love them. Get your tickets now so that you can take a quick visit back to some of the best memories of your life while also creating one that is entirely brand new.

The historic Mount Baker Theatre continues to transport us back in time and around the world. Photo courtesy: Mount Baker Theatre.

Mount Baker Theatre
104 North Commercial Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
Phone: 360-733-5793
Tickets: 360-734-6080
www.mountbakertheatre.com

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Community Food Co-op Delivers Quality and on a Budget

By

Jennifer Dodge

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The Community Food Co-op is committed to providing high quality, local items at the most affordable prices. These great deals are available every day to everyone in the community along with the ability to redeem any manufacturers’ coupons.

Co+op Basics, the items that make up the necessary foundation for healthy day-to-day living, includes more than 100 essential grocery and household items used every day. Just look for the purple Co+op Basics signs on items such as pasta, beans, butter, cleaning supplies, baby formula, flour, milk, eggs, and many more pantry and household staples.

In addition to great prices on Co+op Basics, the Community Food Co-op has partnered with United Way of Whatcom County and Whatcom Community College-Community Education to offer the “Good and Cheap: Eat Well on $4 a Day” cooking class. The class is designed to demonstrate that you can have it all—meals that are nutritious, inexpensive, delicious, and easy to prepare at home.

Additional savings are always available on a large selection of products and food items at the Community Food Co-op through the Co+op Deals flyers. These flyers feature a wide range of new sale items every two weeks. Customers can find even more savings in Co+op Deals coupons available in stores.

Additionally, fresh department sales from the meat, deli, bakery, and produce departments feature sales on select items making it even more affordable to eat healthy, local foods.

For Co-op member-owners, exclusive opportunities are available through members-only coupons published in the “In Season” magazine, not to mention discounts of up to 25% on special orders.

Making it even more affordable for anyone to create a healthy lifestyle is what the Community Co-op strives to do!

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WhatcomTalk 2016 Year In Review

By

WhatcomTalk Editor

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Scenic Whatcom County mountain — Photo credit: Justin Pedigo | FC Photography.

In 2016, WhatcomTalk shared hundreds of stories about the people, businesses and organizations that make Whatcom County such an amazing place to live, work and play. We were thrilled to be the community social network that binds this amazing community together. We were honored to provide a platform from which to share all the positive news happening in Whatcom County.

Here are the five stories that our community loved most in 2016:

“You let me know who ‘my people’ are. Through you I am able to choose companies that share the same values I do. I can join community events because you let me know about them. In a nutshell you are my eyes and heart. I spend money on the people who advertise with you – I join efforts you support.” ~Anneliese Dompe

Readers land on WhatcomTalk.com using these top 5 search terms:

Local News
Things to do in Bellingham WA
Beaches in Bellingham
Bellingham Events
Bellingham Farmers Market

Our paid, professional writing team includes 15 regular contributors. Here are a few of their favorite stories from 2016:

For more of our writers’ favorites and why they found them so impacting, check out “WhatcomTalk Writers’ Favorite Stories from 2016.”

“I just found out about WhatcomTalk….love the concept. Thanks for all you’re doing to make Bellingham a better community.”
~Carol Kilgore

Our editing team reads a lot of stories. Here are a few of our favorites from 2016:

“Awesome page about what’s going on in Whatcom county and Bellingham. I loved the piece on Mr. Felix and the kids. Great writing. Put me right at the co-op in class with Mr. Felix doing crazy cool science.”
~Ralph Havens

Thanks to our readers, we are able to share many beautiful, scenic images from these favorite photography contributors. Here are a few of our favorites:

Yuki Shepherd camper van — Rob and Yuki Shepherd camped every weekend for almost a year up by Mount Baker. Photo courtesy: Yuki Shepherd.

It took a little patience, waiting for the sun to peek beneath the clouds for this sunset portrait on Chuckanut Bay. Photo credit: Mark Turner/Turner Photographics.

Mount Shuksan reflects in the mirror that is Picture Lake. Photo credit: Brandon Fralic.

mount baker — This photo of Mount Baker was taken from the Cordata neighborhood. Photo credit: Jeff Duncan.

“Stacee, Kevin and the team are such inspirational members of our community. We’re truly fortunate to have everyone at Whatcom Talk supporting our businesses, schools, and personal ambitions. They are both amazing assets to this incredible place to live!”
~Paulina Antczak-Bevens

People connect with WhatcomTalk through social media. In 2016, our Facebook followers grew by 28.8 percent. Over the past year, 124,500 people reacted to our content.
Across western Washington, our distribution network approaches 100,000 people that choose to hear from us on a daily basis. Besides WhatcomTalk, you can find our sister sites at ThurstonTalk, SouthSoundTalk, GraysHarborTalk and LewisTalk.

“As our local newspaper changed, it’s been harder, I think, to find the local flavor and learn what’s going on. WhatcomTalk is a lovely way to stay connected and experience new adventures in the community!”
Katey S.

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.

Header photo credit: Justin Pedigo

5 Myths About Drunk Driving – and Why We Ignore Them

By

LocalTalk Contributor

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Bellingham downtown night — Photo credit: Rory Savatgy.

Submitted by: Lynda Cheldelin Fell

New Year’s Eve is a time of closing out the end of the year and ringing in the new. Filled with gaiety and parties, it also caps off the deadliest season for drinking and driving according to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The predictable toll from impaired or drunk driving results in a life sentence of heartache for everyone.

No one ever sets out to maim or kill when they make a choice to get behind the wheel while drunk, but that’s the thing about alcohol—it impairs our judgment. Partygoers who are too intoxicated to make the call for a taxi or Uber somehow escape the watchful eye of friends, bartenders, and store clerks.

Consider the case of Brandon Thomas. The 17-year-old student was on his way home in December 2012 when a 22-year-old drunk driver drove north in the southbound lane of Highway 22 south of Calgary. By the time Brandon saw the drunk driver in his lane, he had no time to react and was hit head-on. The 22-year-old, who had no prior run-ins with the law, was arrested at the scene and then released while Brandon went to the morgue.

On a busy stretch of freeway at rush hour, how did the drunk driver, who struck two other vehicles in his three-quarter ton truck before killing Brandon, get so far on the road?

That’s the thing about drunk driving—because of the myths that continue to surround alcohol, partygoers and their friends can easily fall victim to common deceptions. Because of the destruction left in the wake of those who succumb to the effects before planning ahead, the cost to our society is dear. With New Year’s Eve upon us, one of the deadliest weekends of the year, dispelling the myths that continue to surround drunk driving bear repeating—because the life saved may be your own.

Myth #1: Drunk driving is just an accident.

It’s not an accident when a person makes a decision to drive drunk, distracted, or in a negligent manner. It’s a crash that is fully avoidable. In a time when Uber and Lyft are just a finger swipe away, partygoers who fail to plan ahead really have no excuse to overlook responsibility. “It is a conscious choice resulting in a preventable tragedy,” says Bill Downs, president of the nonprofit organization AVIDD, and a father who lost three kids to a drunk driver in 2007.

Myth #2: Alcohol affects only seasoned drunks and young adults.

That’s another thing about alcohol—you don’t have to be a drunk to be drunk. It impairs the judgment of everyone, not just alcoholics and young 20-something males. Consider the case of Janakae Sargent. One night in November 2006, the 20-year-old Texas Tech University student was easing into an intersection in the same moment that a 48-year-old female ran a red light in excess of 100 mph, striking Janakae’s pickup. She died four days later from her injuries. The drunk driver had a blood alcohol content of 0.25 percent. Janakae had nothing in her system – not even an aspirin.

Myth #3: Intoxicated people look obviously intoxicated

Not all intoxicated partiers look drunk as they get behind the wheel of a car. Short-term effects of alcohol begin with relaxation and reduced inhibitions, which is what makes alcohol so tempting. In an effort to keep the buzz going, partygoers continue the alcohol. As the blood-alcohol content increases, brain activity slows down. Concentration begins to dive, and reflex and response time become dangerously slow. All the while, the drinker’s outward appearance looks deceptively fine. This is how they escape the watchful eye of friends, bartenders and store clerks.

Myth #4: Coffee or cold air will sober up the drinker

The only way to get sober is to allow the body time to metabolize the alcohol. On average, it takes approximately 2 hours to metabolize 4 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirit. Simply put, there is no magical shortcut to sober up. Until then, your brain remains under the influence.

Myth #5: A DUI can be resolved in under a couple of years

Sure, the drunk driver faces charges and court time but in instances of vehicular homicide caused by drunk drivers, these offenders rarely receive a life sentence in prison. It’s the victim who is injured, or the family left behind when a life is lost, who is handed a life sentence of grief and pain.

Bellingham Weekend Events Calendar

By

Events Editor

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Allied Arts, Christmas, Star, Holiday, Holiday Festival of the Arts — There's something about a tree lighting that really makes it feel like the holidays. Photo credit: Theresa Golden.

It’s time to say farewell to 2016 and welcome in a brand new year. For some people this means a night of raucous revelry. For others, it’s a time to curl up on the couch and watch the ball drop from the comfort of home. Then there are those who would rather just go to bed and welcome the new year from the blissful depths of a deep, sound slumber. No matter your personal preferences, you’ll find lots to do around Whatcom County this weekend. Here are a few ideas to get you started. Don’t forget to check out our full calendar for all the end-of-2016/ beginning-of-2017 fun.

Warm up and relax with a Winter Matinee Movie at the library. While you’re at it, check out their other fun and fascinating programs such as the Lego Mindstorms Winter Break Camp, Teen Fab Friday, Teen Minecraft and Lego Club.
Experience the emotional impact of Terence Rattigan’s masterpiece, “The Deep Blue Sea” at the Pickford Film Center.
If you want to celebrate the New Year with the kids, but don’t want to deal with the catastrophic aftermath of keeping them up past midnight, go to Lynden Library’s New Year’s at Noon.
For a more refined celebration, welcome 2017 with a prix fixe meal handcrafted by Chef Bruno Feldeisen. While you savor this delicious feast, you can look out over the sea and dream of what the new year will bring.
Join other revelers ringing in the New Year by lighting road flares along the Birch Bay shoreline. This is a spectacular sight as the bay becomes a ring of fire, signifying hope for the coming year.
Take the Polar Bear Plunge at Birch Bay or Lake Padden, or both! This annual ritual draws hundreds of participants and thousands of onlookers each year and has become a destination spot for New Years Day. Participants come from all over the area, and as far away as Spain, Tokyo, and Dubai to take the plunge.
Lose yourself in the experience of “The Golden Age,” an intriguing tale set in the Golden Age Cabaret, the favorite nightly haunt of dancers, bandits and young revelers. Here the young fisherman, Boris, falls in love with Rita, a beautiful dancer and friend of a local gangster.
Blow off the last of your 2016 steam at an open mic.
Take a moment to think up ways you can positively impact your community in 2017. Perhaps you could work with homeless youth, inspire young girls, help save the environment or build a home for someone in need. There is plenty of good to be done in Whatcom County and 2017 is just the year to do it.

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.

WhatcomTalk Writers’ Favorite Stories from 2016

By

WhatcomTalk Editor

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Looking back, 2016 has been an exceptional year for WhatcomTalk. We have had the opportunity to feature many stories about amazing people working to improve and uplift our community. We have learned about innovative new businesses, fascinating non-profits and many other creative enterprises. In all, WhatcomTalk has published more than 475 positive stories about what it’s like to live, work and play in Whatcom County. We’ve compiled a list of our WhatcomTalk writers’ favorite stories from 2016 along with explanations of why they found them so impacting. We hope you will enjoy these highlights and that you will continue to visit WhatcomTalk.com for your positive local news in 2017. Thank you for making these stories and the community they represent a part of your daily lives.

Lorraine Wilde

Helen and Cal Swindell are great examples of the unsung heroes throughout our community. Their consistent effort over so many years is a great example for us all. They show us that if each of us chooses just one selfless act to do each day, each week, or each year, together we can make our community, and this world, a better place.

Patricia Herlevi

This is an easy question for me to answer. The Tufted Puffin story was my favorite because I’m a bird-lover. Lauren Kramer has a storytelling gift that captivated me. I felt like I was on the boat with the passengers while I read the story.

As far as my favorite stories to contribute, I enjoyed interviewing Jeff Jewell with the Whatcom History Museum and Darby Cowles, City Planner with the City of Bellingham.

Abby Johnson

Like Lorraine, my favorite article of 2016 was “Helen and Cal Swindell – Keeping the Neighborhood Clean, One Walk at a Time.” This article reminded me of all of the people in our community (and beyond) who are always in motion, moving toward positive change. Instead of being overwhelmed by the amount of trash in neighborhoods, or by the thoughtlessness of people who dump it, Helen and Cal Swindell are actively and cheerfully improving their world every day.

Jade Thurston

It’s a seriously tough call but I say my favorite story would be “Spikeball Hits Bellingham with Skill, Satisfaction and Silliness.” The Spikeball article was the first time I put the necessary pieces of a WhatcomTalk story together on my own – a topic I was passionate about, a subject both relevant and intriguing to the community, the incorporation of my own photos and a variety of sources and hyperlinks. This collaboration of work was a wonderful, first-time challenge.

Tessa Kilcline

My favorite article was “AAUW Bellingham Sends Middle School Girls to STEM Camp.” This article was really important to me because it was the first real article I ever wrote. It was very exciting for me to have my first taste of what it is like to be a real writer and do something I am passionate about. I also attended the STEM camp when I was in middle school, so it was a great way for me to give back to AAUW for giving me such a great experience.

Theresa Golden

My favorite story this year is “Viking Food Delivers Hot for Local Restaurants”. Though I loved all the stories I wrote and the special encouragements I gained from each one, hearing Deron Newman’s story about the care that he places into his business as a result of the struggles he experienced first hand really struck a cord with me. It’s one thing to fall into a hole and get out, but another entirely to then fill in the hole so that those in your care can’t fall into the same one. To actually be able to make the changes you want to see happen in the world, even on a small scale, feels inspiring to me and I believe that is something worth hoping for.

Squalicum High School Performs Beauty and the Beast

By

Caden Stoane - Intern from Squalicum High School

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squalicum-high-school-theater-3 — Beauty and the Beast is a play filled with wit and whimsy. Photo courtesy: Squalicum High School Theater.

Squalicum High School is widely known for its sports. What most people don’t realize, however, is that Squalicum has an amazing choir and drama program as well. Recently, Squalicum put together the fantastic musical, “Beauty and the Beast.”

Bell descends the stairs to meet Beast in this classic play. Photo courtesy: Squalicum High School Theater.

The story was first recorded by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, who lived in France. Called La Belle et la Bêt, Villeneuve’s tale has been abridged and republished in various formats, such as plays and movies. According to Spanish researchers, the original tale of the Beauty and the Beast originated about 4,000 years ago.

In September of 2016, casting began for Squalicum’s drama production. Many people tried out, but only a few were allowed to be on stage. Jake Bowen, a Freshman, was one of the skilled students allowed to be in the production. “As a Freshman, trying out for a role is kind-of intimidating,” Bowen said. He has a long history with singing and acting. He was part of several productions at Lynden Middle School, and started singing at a young age.

The characters of Gaston and Belle came to life on the stage. Photo courtesy: Squalicum High School Theater.

Bowen tried out for many roles, and got the part of Monsieur Dark. He was surprised but excited. “I do think some of my previous experience helped me get the role,” he said. “I had to beat a bunch of other people. It’s kind of cut-throat.” Jake was the only Freshman to get a solo in the play.

Jacob Liming, a Junior, has been an active member in the drama club. “I started doing drama as a Sophomore and continued with it throughout the year.” Liming said he wanted to do it Freshman year, but was participating in athletics instead. “Sports got in the way. So, I quit doing sports.”

Liming played the role of Lumier, the comedic, French candle stick. For the entire performance, he had to play his role with a French accent. When asked how many accents he can do, he proceeded to tell jokes in Scottish, British and Australian accents. He loves the drama experience. “Everyone bonds together, working towards the same goal. We’re in the trenches, but as a team.”

The impressive costuming and dedicated performance of the students added an air of professionalism to the production. Photo courtesy: Squalicum High School Theater.

In the performing arts, the story is centered around a lead character. In a high school production, this role would usually be played by an upperclassman. In this play, a Sophomore played the lead of Bell by Sydney Glover. She has been performing since she was in Kindergarten. “I like singing,” Glover said. “It’s just fun for me.”

Glover wasn’t expecting to have the leading role in her second year of high school. In fact, she didn’t even try out her Freshman year. “I was really nervous,” she said. “I just didn’t think I would make it.” Fortunately, she had friends in drama club who convinced her to join.

“I didn’t think we would be ready for the play,” Glover said. “We didn’t even have the set finished right up until the first performance.” After asking many students who saw the play, all of them said it was a great performance. “It wasn’t all good.” Sydney said. “During the first performance, I fell down a flight of stairs coming offstage. My back was killing me, but I kept on going.” Other people were hurt during the play as well, including someone who had their foot run over while moving a set piece. Aside from these mishaps, the play went over smoothly.

Squalicum has one of the best football teams around, an excellent academic track record and one of the best drama clubs in Whatcom County. Students of many different backgrounds participate in drama, including football players, orchestra members and many more. Some sing, some play an instrument and some work behind the scenes. All have their role and all play their special part. “The lead doesn’t do everything,” Bowen said. “It takes an orchestra to play a symphony.”

Whatcom Young Professionals Invigorate Business Community

By

LocalTalk Contributor

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Submitted by: Whatcom Young Professionals

We hope you’ve been paying attention to Whatcom Young Professionals (WYPs) this year, because it was a monumental year for the group.

Social Networking is an important aspect of the business scene. Photo courtesy: Whatcom Young Professionals. — Social Networking is an important aspect of doing business in Whatcom County. Photo courtesy: Whatcom Young Professionals.

Not only did WYPs celebrate their 10 year anniversary, but in conjunction with the Bellingham Business Journal and the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber, they also threw their first Top 7 Under 40 event to celebrate young professionals who are doing big things in our community. That is on top of throwing monthly networking socials, supporting two weekly coffee meetups, quarterly educational events and quarterly philanthropic events. It’s safe to say that this group is on the move.

With a mission to connect and develop young like-minded individuals, WYPs, a program of the Bellingham Whatcom Chamber of Commerce, focuses on providing a social venue for young professionals, while also providing education and community involvement opportunities.

“When I relocated back to Whatcom County I needed to reestablish myself both personally and professionally,” said Meg VanZanten, Semiahmoo Resort. “WYPS offered the perfect venue for this as I was able to meet and network with individuals who have similar goals and motivations. Through networking I have gained relationships that have positive guidance on all aspects of my life.”

In Whatcom County, young professionals are revitalizing the business scene. Photo courtesy: Whatcom Young Professionals.

Looking into 2017, WYPs plans to expand their popular Morning Buzz coffee meetups. The group, which currently meets every Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. at The Woods Barkley Village and every Wednesday at 8 a.m. at The Woods Coffee Railroad, will be adding two more buzz’s to the mix.

Starting January 3, you can also find the group Tuesdays at 7:30 a.m. at The Woods Barkley Village and Wednesdays at 7 a.m. at The Woods Railroad. Adding two earlier times will allow young professionals more flexibility and more opportunities to get involved with WYPs programs.

2017 will also bring an expansion of philanthropic opportunities to the group with more community involvement and more impact on community issues.

WYPs membership stands at just $50 a year per person. Young professionals and those who employ young professionals are encouraged to get involved with the group.

WYP adds even more fun to the adventure of business. Photo courtesy: Whatcom Young Professionals.

“What I value most about WYPs is its energy and vision for bringing the younger business generation into the circles and discussions with the broader business community,” said Troy Wills, Vice President and Market Area Manager for Whatcom County at First Federal Bank. “These connections allow for wonderful partnerships to be established and ensure we build a strong business bench as the business community ebbs and flows.”

If you would like to learn more about Whatcom Young Professionals, you can visit their website, www.bellinghamwyps.com

Whatcom County Parks and Recreation Approve New Recreational Trail Plan

By

Tessa Kilcline - Intern from Bellingham High School

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trail-information-kiosk — Trail system information kiosks, restrooms and parking lots will improve existing trailheads. Photo courtesy: Whatcom County Parks and Recreation.

Whatcom County Parks and Recreation (WCPR) recently approved the Lookout Mountain Forest Preserve and Lake Whatcom Park Recreational Trail Plan. The plan proposes 99 miles of new trails. Of those 99 miles, 45 are within the Lookout Mountain Forest Preserve and 54 are within Lake Whatcom Park. Both of these sites are located near Lake Whatcom. The suggested trails will be available for hiking, biking and equestrian purposes. Some of the trails will accommodate all three types of non-motorized recreation, while others will accommodate only one or two of the three types.

In 2007, WCPR began to collaborate with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in order to transfer forest trust lands in the Lake Whatcom watershed to the county. This process is called reconveyance. Reconveyance allows the forest trust lands to be used for park purposes. In January 2014, the transfer became official and approximately 7,000 acres of land in the Lake Whatcom watershed were designated as new Whatcom County park lands.

In these park lands, Whatcom County hopes to increase the protection of the Lake Whatcom watershed and water quality. The project intends to create sustainable trail systems that will benefit forest and wildlife health. It also aims to minimize impacts on sensitive habitats and prevent landslides, soil erosion, and other similar environmental issues.

The process of developing a plan such as the Lookout Mountain Forest Preserve and Lake Whatcom Park Recreational Trail Plan is very complicated.

“Development of the plan was completed in-house and was a years-long process that included staff, stakeholders, regulators, emergency services professionals and consultation with numerous parties,” explains Christ Thomsen, Parks Operations Manager at WCPR. “It is the work of these folks that now guide the implementation process.”

Community members are involved in nearly every step of the development and construction process. Photo courtesy: Whatcom County Parks and Recreation.

The implementation process is also very long. In Lake Whatcom Park, trail construction will begin in 2017, and in the Lookout Mountain Forest Preserve, it will begin in 2018. It is difficult to know when construction will be complete. The areas to be constructed have been divided up, so there are four phases of construction for each location. For example, Phase I of construction in the Lookout Mountain Forest Preserve focuses on expanding around the pre-existing Lake Louise Road trailhead. The phases will be completed as the funding is available.

“We currently have funding to construct up to eight miles of trail,” Thomsen says. “Construction of these trails is anticipated to be complete within the next few years.”

Funding for the project comes from Real Estate Excise Tax (REET II) funds. WCPR is also in the process of applying for a Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office NOVA grant, which would provide additional funds. The total cost of trail construction will likely be around $7.43 million. Right now, WCPR has an initial project budget of $443,000 to use to begin construction. The grant would provide an additional $200,000 to be used in the first phase of construction. Other sources of funding are donations and volunteer work.

The new trails will accommodate hikers, cyclists and equestrians. Photo courtesy: Whatcom County Parks and Recreation.

Volunteer work is key in constructing and maintaining the trail system. In the plan, WCPR demonstrates an eagerness to work with recreationists and members of the community. WCPR considered public input when putting together their plan. Overall, the comments given by the public emphasized the importance of the trail system’s effect on the environment and a desire to be involved in constructing, using and maintaining the trails. For WCPR, the public’s excitement is a positive sign.

“We rely on recreationists for assistance in most aspects of trail development,” says Thomsen. He adds that if citizens are interested in helping out, they can contact Reid Parker, the Conservation and Parks Steward, by calling the main office at 360-778-5850.

The expansion will connect many more Whatcom County residents to the trail system. Additions in the Lookout Mountain Forest Preserve will give people in the Glenhaven and Cain Lake areas access to the trail system. Those living in Sudden Valley will also have increased recreational opportunities, since the new trails will be near where they live. New trails in Lake Whatcom Park will connect to existing trails, making for a more diverse trail system. Recreationists will have more options in trail difficulty, length, and scenery. In both locations, accessibility will be supported by the improvement of trailheads, including additional parking lots, restrooms and trail system information kiosks.

The new trail system will expand on the trail system currently available to Whatcom County residents. Photo courtesy: Whatcom County Parks and Recreation.

The current plans could possibly be modified as more information comes in. WCPR hopes to keep consistent with its environmental goals. If changes must be made to accommodate those goals, they will do so. The process of constructing all of the new trails will take a long time, but will certainly be worth it. Whatcom County recreationists and environmentalists alike are excited about the benefits that the Lookout Mountain Forest Preserve and Lake Whatcom Park Recreational Trail Plan will bring to their community.

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