Long before there’s snow in the forecast, it’s time to start thinking winter safety. When it comes to driving, that means: be prepared and slow down. The City of Bellingham (COB) Public Works Department, which has responsibility for city street maintenance, has been preparing for snow and ice and monitors winter weather conditions around the clock.
In preparation for wintry street conditions, COB Public Works:
Prepares seven trucks with plow attachments;
As possible, de-icing solution is applied to key streets in advance of snow and ice;
Sand is applied when streets are icy or covered with light snow;
Because that sand needs to be cleaned up to keep it out of the storm drain system – and our streams and Bay – crews work to find the right balance, applying enough sand for traction, but not too much;
Plowing typically starts when four inches of snow has accumulated and is forecast to continue;
Four-lane roads initially have only one lane plowed in each direction with additional lanes open as time and conditions permit;
Access to side streets are cleared only after the priority routes are completely plowed.
The City of Bellingham prepares seven trucks with plow attachments for winter road conditions. Photo courtesy: City of Bellingham.
And here’s what residents can and should do:
Clear sidewalks abutting your property – COB does not provide snow and ice control for sidewalks;
Stay home if you don’t need to be out. It’s safer with fewer people on the streets, especially for those not comfortable in snow and ice.
Jones is ranked among the top 10 nationally in five events for his age group this year. Photo courtesy: Brad Jones.
Brad Jones figured once his collegiate career at Penn State ended with his graduation back in the late 1980s his days of swimming competitively were over. It appears, however, that once that chlorine gets into your system, it’s tough to shake no matter how long you’ve been out of the pool.
Bellingham resident Brad Jones was the high-point award winner, capturing six events at the Northwest Short Course Meters Championship. Photo credit: Dave Brumbaugh.
Jones, a Bellingham resident, won six events and was the high-point award recipient at the Northwest Short Course Meters Championships in Federal Way, November 19-20.
“I actually thought I had hung up my Speedo for good,” joked 50-year-old Jones, who has been the head strength coach and assistant swim coach for Bellingham Bay Swim Team for the last six years.
Competing in the men’s 50-54 age group against swimmers from the West Coast and Western Canada, Jones competed in six events at the King County Aquatic Center and took gold in each one. He captured the 100-, 200- and 400-meter individual medley and the 50-, 100- and 200-meter butterfly.
Outside the 50 fly, Jones, who is also a certified advanced Rolfer with a practice in Bellingham, posted times that ranked in the top 10 this year nationally for swimmers in his age group. His top performance at the meet was in the 400 IM when he stopped the clock in 5 minutes, 20.98 seconds, placing him fifth in the event’s U.S. swimmers. Jones also ranked sixth in the 200 fly, seventh in the 100 fly and 200 IM and eighth in the 100 IM.
“I think my time in the 400 IM and 200 fly were the most surprising for me,” Jones said. “I didn’t really know what to expect at the meet, but I am really happy with those times.”
A lifelong swimmer growing up in Maryland, Jones began competing in his early teens, eventually earning a Division I scholarship to Penn State.
Jones is ranked among the top 10 nationally in five events for his age group this year. Photo courtesy: Brad Jones.
The Nittany Lions finished a solid third at the Eastern Championships during Jones’ senior season in 1987, placing behind traditionally strong Brown and Harvard, after finishing 8-1 in dual meets with the team’s only setback to powerhouse Southern Methodist.
Jones initially believed that would be his last competitive meet. “Swimming in college at such a high level was fun, but there was also a lot of pressure doing it,” Jones said. “By the time I graduated I was just burned out with swimming and became interested in other things like skiing, mountain biking and lots of outdoor activities that had nothing to do with being in the water.”
One such activity was kettlebell lifting. Jones would later compete at four Kettlebell Sport World Championships, finishing among the top 3 in his weight class at each event.
Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in speech communication, Jones also became certified in Rolfing through the Rolf Institute in Boulder, Colorado – the lone certifying agency in the United States. This massage practice focuses on the vertical realignment of the body. He moved to Bellingham in 2008 and opened his practice, Rolfing Bellingham.
Jones, who is also the owner of Rolfing Bellingham, is also a coach for the Bellingham Bay Swim Team. Photo courtesy: Brad Jones.
Shortly after his arrival Jones began coaching for the Bellingham Bay Swim Team. Once word got out about his past swimming experience, the invites to come swim with the local master’s swimming program began steadily coming in.
“I had always declined, but about a year ago I finally decided to give it a try,” said Jones, who swims for the Puget Sound Masters. “I’m glad I did. It’s such a supportive community. It had been about 25 years since I last competed, but it felt like I was able to get right back into it.”
His performance in Federal Way more than backs that up.
Jones plans to continue to compete in upcoming events with one of the nation’s bigger meets taking place in Riverside, California with the 2017 Nationwide USMS Spring National Championships, April 27-30.
Multiple organizations and individuals organized a clean up event on the Nooksack River in September 2016. Photo credit: Jon Luthanen.
Whatcom County is fortunate to host a number of environmental conservation groups but there is a new one in town that has the potential to inspire even more of our region’s recreational fishermen. Bellingham’s Jon Luthanen has recently helped co-found the North Sound Chapter of Trout Unlimited (TU).
North Sound Trout Unlimited President Jon Luthanen loves fishing the Gallatin River in Montana. Photo courtesy: Jon Luthanen.
Founded in 1959, TU is a national organization that began much like the North Sound Chapter, with just 16 enthusiastic members who first met on the banks of the Au Sable River near Grayling, Michigan. Since then the organization, whose simple focus is to conserve, protect and restore North America’s coldwater fisheries and watersheds for future generations, has grown to more than 150,000 members in over 400 active chapters nation-wide.
Whatcom County hosts its newest chapter, North Sound Chapter #938, which will also include members from Skagit and Island Counties. Luthanen, who currently serves as its first President, works as a Desktop Analyst in computer support at Peach Health Saint Joseph. He first moved to Bellingham from Montana in 2013. “Bellingham kind of spoke to me. Although I traded the snow for rain, the fact that rivers don’t really freeze up here offered me opportunities to fish year round,” explains Luthanen.
Luthanen’s past experiences might have led him to his new leadership role. Originally from Ohio, Luthanen grew up near one of Michigan’s Great Lakes, Lake Erie, where he would later fish hatchery steelhead in some of its major tributaries. As a child he fished walleye and perch on Lake Erie with one of his grandfathers and eventually grew to love it.
After attending college in Indiana, Luthanen moved to Montana and connected with AmeriCorps, a national and community service learning organization. “While working for three summers with the Montana Conservation Corps Leadership Development Program, my natural interests in green living, environmental stewardship and civic engagement were expanded,” notes Luthanen.
Multiple organizations and individuals organized a clean up event on the Nooksack River in September 2016. Photo credit: Jon Luthanen.
While in Montana, another of Luthanen’s grandfathers gave him some old fishing equipment. “That just reignited a passion that I had not been pursuing as much in adulthood. Fishing resonated with me,” remembers Luthanen.
It was in January of 2016 that Nick Chambers of Wild Steelheaders United and TU came to an event at Chuckanut Brewery and Kitchen. “He was inviting boots-on-the-ground conservation efforts in Whatcom, Skagit, and Island Counties in our Nooksack and Skagit watersheds,” explains Luthanen. “He knew of upcoming opportunities to collect baseline fish population data—fish count studies, spawning surveys, and redd counts (pits where females lay eggs)—that could be used for future comparison to track changes in local fish populations.
“A number of people that attended the event asked Nick Chambers why there wasn’t a local chapter of Trout Unlimited,” remembers Luthanen. “Renton was the nearest chapter but that was too far for most of us locals to attend regularly.”
Soon after, Chambers facilitated the formation of the North Sound Chapter by coordinating with the TU State-Wide Council. The new chapter received $500 as seed money to set up simple bank accounts, licensing and permits. A number of attendees from the Chuckanut Brewery event attended the first official chapter meeting in March of 2016 at Boundary Bay Brewery and Bistro. By the end of the evening, a Chapter Board of Directors was officially formed. “A number of our Board Members have both a conservation and recreation background. It’s a perfect match,” notes Luthanen.
Floating the Nooksack River enabled North Sound TU and its partners to successfully clean up the river’s shores. Photo credit: Copi Vojta.
“It just kind of happened,” explains Luthanen of how he became Chapter President. “I was one of the only guys who didn’t have a family or home to take care of so I have a bit more time to dedicate. I was more than willing to jump into that position.”
The Chapter has built momentum quickly. “I didn’t expect this,” notes Luthanen. “I knocked on the door and they answered really quickly.” To become qualified as a TU Chapter, the group was required to complete at least one fundraising event within the first year. That occurred in the form of a Fly Fishing Film Tour, held in May 2016 at Mount Vernon’s Lincoln Theatre. It featured short films about the passion, life-style, and culture of fly fishing around the globe.
“We’re still pretty green. We’re still figuring out how to approach grant writing and fundraising efforts,” explains Luthanen of the Chapter’s first year. “There is still a lot to learn. As someone said at a meeting, we’re still finding our ethos, our niche in the area’s conservation community.”
North Sound is being thoughtful about being the new kid in the Pacific Northwest conservation community. “We’re working on not stepping on toes while entering this world,” notes Luthanen. “A little competition will keep us all on our toes, but we’re also partnering to reach our shared goals together. The more the merrier. Other organizations exist that also focus on environmental impact on rivers, but the piece that we can offer is that we have a recreational opportunity that can be put in the mix with fishing. That has the potential to attract a different, and potentially wider, community that may not have a background in conservation.”
More than 2,100 pounds of garbage was collected at the September 2016 North Sound TU Cleanup event. Photo credit: Copi Vojta.
North Sound hopes to capture the attention and participation of anglers throughout the Pacific Northwest, inviting them to attend meetings that occur on the second Tuesday of each month in the mezzanine of Brandywine Kitchen.
Looking ahead, the Chapter plans to install monofilament recycling stations at popular fishing spots that will collect discarded fishing line and prevent littering. The Chapter aspires to expand its membership and volunteer conservation efforts to preserve the quality of Whatcom, Skagit and Island County rivers as steelhead habitat for recreational fishermen, for now and for generations to come.
Deron Newman of Viking Food stands with son and Operations Manager Nobu in front of the "Mystery Machine." Photo credit: Theresa Golden.
Want local restaurant food delivered hot? Viking Food offers delivery service from over 50 Bellingham restaurants and coffee shops. Think lattes delivered for office meetings, a Reuben delivered for lunch on a day you can’t break away from work, or pizza for the whole family delivered to your home. Deron Newman and Kyle Mattox have been bringing delivery through Viking Food to Bellingham since May of 2013 and have plans to expand the service to Ferndale and Birch Bay restaurants fairly soon.
Viking Food delivers hot fresh food from local restaurants. Photo credit: Theresa Golden.
Mattox and Newman first thought of starting a business when they worked together at another food delivery service on the East Coast. Newman had been working as a cable installer. It was the only work he could find after a job he accepted and quickly quit due to a hostile work environment caused a taboo work gap on his resume. For extra income, he began working for Bulldawg Food delivery as a driver and quickly realized he made more by driving. It inspired him to think about his own food delivery business and how he would do things differently. Before long, Newman heard Bellingham could be a suitable location and decided to fly over to check it out. “I fell in love with the town,” Newman said. He moved out a couple weeks later to begin the start-up.
Mattox and Newman began modeling the company after their vision and values. They both wanted to only deliver for local businesses, favoring the positive relationships small businesses can have on community. “One nice thing about our business is that all the money that’s generated for the restaurants stays in Whatcom County,” Newman said.
Operations Manager of Viking Food, Kevin “Nobu” Cassady, takes in orders for delivery. Photo credit: Theresa Golden.
Newman, who had experienced homelessness a couple of times as a single dad, also wanted everyone working for them to make a living wage so that no one has to work three jobs to try and make ends meet. In addition, they both implemented a wage cap to prevent disparaging wealth from occurring between themselves as owners and their employees.
Mattox’s part in Viking Food involves taking care of the technical aspects of the business. Newman, who describes himself as the face of the business, connects with the restaurant owners. He works to cultivate a symbiotic relationship where restaurants decide what they would like to provide for delivery, while Viking Food figures out how to time it appropriately so that the food arrives hot. That perfect delivery time that can even get dumplings to your door tasting good is visible on the website before you order. Your food could arrive sooner, however, depending on how quickly the order is up. “We want everything to be perfect,” Newman said. “We want our customers to get hot, fresh food.”
One of the unexpected challenges when starting the company came from the name they selected. Other college towns Newman and Mattox had previously known had team spirit infused within the city, whereas Bellingham is a little more removed and doesn’t tend to identify with the Western Washington University mascot quite as much. As a result, many people first assumed Viking Food was a delivery service solely for the college. Mattox and Newman always intended it to be a delivery service for the entire community. Families could order food delivered to their home or workers could have lattes or lunch delivered to their place of business. Ideally, food deliveries are within a four-mile radius of the local restaurant it was ordered from, though they do deliver further for an extra cost per mile.
Deron Newman of Viking Food stands with son and Operations Manager Nobu in front of the “Mystery Machine.” Photo credit: Theresa Golden.
Newman, a fifth-generation Marine who has always been a very hard worker, genuinely enjoys where he is at with Viking Food. “It’s a fun business,” Newman said. “I love it. Honestly, I feel like a lucky dude. It’s the happiest I’ve been in my life. My son’s healthy and happy.”
Growing up with 1980’s punk rock on the East Coast, Newman’s life began to change for the positive the moment he held his son for the first time. He works hard to be a good role model for his son and provide him with a good home life. When not at work, Newman spends time with his son, enjoying Pokemon Go, the Trampoline Zone or video games at the arcade together. They also enjoy driving around in their Mystery Machine van styled after the classic Scooby-Do comics. Finding home in Bellingham, Newman plans to keep the life he has created here. “One thing I am most happy about with Bellingham is the school system,” Newman said. He appreciates how good things are going with his son at Cordata Elementary. Newman also wishfully hopes his friends and family will move or retire here as well. With regards to Viking Foods, Newman said, “I’d like to hand it down to my son someday.”
To check out all the restaurants available for delivery and to place an order visit ordervikingfood.com.
Find Santa at Yeagers, downstairs in the toy department. Photo credit: Theresa Golden.
Christmastime easily brings to mind that favorite jolly gift giver in the red suit, delivering presents without anyone ever catching sight of him. This year, you don’t have to wait up late on Christmas Eve to try to get a glimpse of Santa out on a roof top or slipping down a chimney. Saint Nick, himself, is available all over Whatcom County this December.
Whether you want to ensure you are still on the nice list or have the comfort of handing him that wish list in person, there is bound to be a place and time that works for you. Round up the family for memorable holiday photos. This list of Santa Claus sightings will help you meet up in the nick of time this December.
Enjoy acapella caroling by the Mt. Baker Toppers during the holiday tree lighting in Ferndale on December 2 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there to meet the families. Enjoy cookies and cocoa while you visit.
Centennial River Walk, Corner of 1st and Main, Ferndale
Meet up with Santa, elves and even the Grinch at the Everson-Nooksack Winter Festival on December 2 at 6:00 p.m. The celebration offers hot chocolate, limited goodie bags and plenty of Christmas items edible, readable and decorative for purchase. You can also enjoy wagon rides and $2 hotdogs.
Meet Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Holiday Port Festival on December 2, 3 and 4. Photo credit: Mark Turner | TurnerPhotographics.com.
See Santa amidst the excitement of decorated ginger bread houses. The Holiday Port Festival on December 2 – 4 provides musical and dancing entertainment as well as free cookies and cider. If you are worried about whether you will make it on the nice list, you can make a donation to the food bank before getting that professional photo with Santa. See Santa on December 2 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. or December 3 and 4 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Bring your own camera for a photo with both Santa and Mrs. Claus at Pioneer Park in Ferndale. Here you can write Santa a personalized letter and mail it in the Van Buren postal office. You’ll also find 12 Christmas themed cabins and members dressed as pioneers from the Ferndale Heritage Society. Enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides, cookies and warmed drinks as well as music, games and crafts. Entry fees into the park are $3.00 for children and $4.00 for adults.
December 2 from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.
December 3 from 1:00 – 9:00 p.m.
December 4 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Pioneer Park, 2004 Cherry Street, Ferndale
The Humane Society offers a special photo opportunity of your cat, dog or small pet with Santa. Photo courtesy: Whatcom Humane Society.
This season, celebrate your furry family member with a memorable portrait. The Humane Society offers a special photo opportunity of your cat, dog or small pet with Santa. On December 3 and 4 from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., bring your dog on a leash, cats in a carrier to Mud Bay in the Lakeway Shopping Center and Santa Claus will be ready to hear all about their Christmas wishes. Take home a 4×6 and receive an emailed photo for a donation of $20 that goes to support the Humane Society.
Open to the community, enjoy breakfast for $5 at the Lynden Community Center from 8:00 to 11:00 am on December 3. But, you don’t have to have breakfast to see Sinterklaas when he arrives at 9:30 for an hour-and-a-half of photo opportunity. Bring your own camera if you would like a photo together. There will also be a free craft activity available for children.
Lynden Community Center, 401 Grover Street, Lynden
Photos with Santa aren’t just for the little ones. He’s there for the big kids too. Photo courtesy: Theresa Golden.
See Santa arrive while caroling during the Holiday Harbor Lights Community Tree Lighting in Blaine. Enjoy the lighting of the tree along with provided refreshments beginning at 4:30 p.m. on December 3, located where Peace Portal Drive meets H Street. Afterwards, head across the street to Blaine’s Pizza Factory where Santa will be available for pictures and visits from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Santa awaits amidst the glowing of 20 plus themed Christmas trees on display at the Whatcom Museum on December 4 from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. You can also look forward to decoratively hung wreaths, garlands and lights. Get a little Christmas shopping done at the pop-up-shop.
Whatcom Museum, 121 Prospect Street, Bellingham
Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides at the Fairhaven Village Inn
Meet Santa in the cozy lobby of the Fairhaven Village Inn on Saturday, December 3, 10, and 17 from 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. He will be there for family photos, just make sure to bring your own camera. You can also hop on a horse-drawn carriage ride and tour historic Fairhaven?this will buy you some time if you are still thinking about what you want to ask Santa for Christmas.
Fairhaven Village Inn, 1200 10th Street, Fairhaven
Find Santa at Yeagers, downstairs in the toy department. Photo credit: Theresa Golden.
Settled snugly among a roomful of toys in Yeager’s Toyland, Santa is ready in person to hear all your Christmas wishes. Here you can snap a free photo with Santa on your own camera or get a professional low cost photo delivered to your email. Provided by the Fairhaven Lion’s Club, all proceeds raised at the event goes towards charities such as the food bank, emergency shelter, WWU scholarship contributions or Camp Horizon. And it isn’t just the little kids that can have a photo of Santa, big kids and grownups can take home that special photo too.
Weekdays through December 9 from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Weekdays from December 12 – 23 from 12:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Saturdays from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Sundays from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve from 12:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Enjoy a Christmas lit train ride in Birch Bay. While promising over a million lights on this 20-minute adventure it’s tough to outshine the man in the red suit waiting to meet passengers with cocoa and candy canes. Tickets ring up at $13.95 for adults and $9.95 for children ages 2-12.
December 2– 4 and 9 – 11 from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.
December 16– 23 from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Miniature World Family Fun Center, 4620 Birch Bay Lynden Road, Birch Bay
Visits with Santa and horse-drawn trolley rides are available during the two weekends before Christmas. Photo courtesy: BelleWood Acres.
Bring the whole family to Bellewood Acres for a country visit with Santa. Enjoy that family photo together as well as a sing-along on a sleigh bell trolley ride through the orchard.
December 10 – 11 and 17 – 18 from12:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Bellewood Acres, 6140 Guide Meridian, Lynden
There's something about a tree lighting that really makes it feel like the holidays. Photo credit: Theresa Golden.
December has arrived and the countdown has begun. Aside from the carefree days of summer, this is my favorite time of year. Sparkling holiday lights are beginning to ignite across town. Everything from elves and poinsettias to penguins and polar bears are popping up in store displays. Holiday music fills the airwaves and a sense of kindness and joy permeates each interaction.
Meet Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Holiday Port Festival on December 4, 5 and 6. Photo credit: Mark Turner | TurnerPhotographics.com.
December is a month of cross-cultural celebration. With Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, the Winter Solstice, Mawlid Un Nabi and New Year’s Eve, it seems like the entire world is alight with celebratory joy. The month is full of other reasons to celebrate as well, with National Fritter Day (Friday Dec. 2), National Cookie Day (Sunday Dec. 4), National Cotton Candy Day (Dec. 7), Bathtub Day and Day of the Ninja (Dec. 5) and Human Rights Day (Dec. 10).
December can be a month of unending to-do’s but I hope you’ll take some time to savor all the joy this wonderful month has to offer here in Whatcom County. I’ve listed a few ideas to get you started below. For the full holiday happenings, be sure to check out our Whatcom County Events Calendar.
Spend some time with jolly old Saint Nick at one of his many appearances around Whatcom County this weekend.
Take a festival stroll through the Holiday Festival of the Arts. This five week long indoor arts festival features 100 artisans from our region. Aside from vendors selling their wares, this festival boasts live music and art workshops for children on the weekends.
Be sure to spend some time at the Holiday Port Festival at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal. This free, family-friendly event will be open all weekend. Here you can enjoy musical performances, a gorgeous gingerbread house display, free cookies and hot apple cider, photos with Santa, horse-drawn wagon rides, Alaska ferry tours and much more. Don’t forget to bring non-perishable food items for the Bellingham Food Bank.
Stop by Whatcom Museum’s Deck the Old City Hall festivities. The building will be decorated in garlands, wreaths, and sparkling lights, and will feature more than 20 themed, decorated trees. In addition to the festive decorations, the program will feature visits with Santa, a pop-up shop, and a signature cocktail party to kick-off the holidays.
Experience the fun and whimsy of Harry Connick Jr’s “The Happy Elf” at the Thomas Theatre. This production tells the tale of Eubie the Elf as he goes on a musical mission to bring Christmas cheer to a town on Santa’s naughty list. Or be delighted by the classic antics of the mischievous Pippi Longstocking at the BAAY Theatre.
Keep the kids up late for a Polar Express pajama party at Barnes & Nobel. This annual holiday story time has become a tradition at Barnes & Noble stores over the years. The book and movie versions of the The Polar Express have become staples of the season for kids and adults alike. Youngsters will be asked to come “All Aboard!” for a fun celebration.
Find the perfect holiday gifts and support local artisans at the same time with Make.Shift Art Space’sMake.Sale, the only DIY craft bazaar in the subdued city.
Learn to make a Christmas stocking and help a child in need at Ragfinery’s“The Stocking Project.” Bring material and sewing supplies (or shop before class for deals at Ragfinery) to sew a stocking to be donated to a child or family in need.
Add a little elegance and cultural sophistication to your weekend with Cosi Fan Tutte at the Pickford Film Center. Così fan tutte was Mozart’s third and final collaboration with the librettist Lorenzo da Ponte, following Le nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni. This elevated experience is sure to delight.
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.
Crosby waits on the couch for someone to toss him a ball. Photo credit: Rylan Schoen.
The holiday season brings both stress and fun for humans and their animal companions. So why not get engaged in activities your pets find pleasurable? From posing with Santa, to practicing compassion, to noshing on a peanut butter treat, to staying in a cat hotel, now Fido and Fluffy can anticipate a month of Whatcom county pet fun in December and throughout the New Year.
This enthusiastic canine blows off steam playing at Paws for a Beer. Photo credit: Rylan Schoen.
Most dogs enjoy a walk on the beach, a stop at an off-leash area, time to network with other canines and specialty treats. So why not head to Marine Park and then head to Fairhaven’s off-leash park (1717 4th Street, near Marine Park)? Or stop by Paws for a Beer where you can buy your dog a one-day pass for $5. If your dog enjoys running around in a 12,000 square foot space with other canines, consider purchasing a monthly or year long membership.
Follow up with a trip to Village Green Pet Supply where Fido can pick out a new toy. Then end the excursion at Village Books where employees fawn over the dog and hand out treats. Don’t forget to purchase an animal-related book for yourself.
Rylan Schoen, owner of Paws for a Beer emphasizes the importance of playtime for a dog. He recommended the Fairhaven Dog Park and Arroyo Park since it is off-leash. As far as humans go, Schoen says, “Dog-less people can come and play with the dogs here.”
The pet food drive benefits the Whatcom Humane Society. Photo credit: Patricia Herlevi.
Spruce up your pets and get a portrait with Santa. Whatcom Humane Society hosts their third annual Portrait with Santa Paws at Mud Bay (Lakeway Shopping Center next to Whole Foods). The event takes place on Saturday, December 3 and Sunday, December 4 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. All pets are welcome but dogs must be on-leash and other animals must be transported in carriers. Portraits are available for a $20 donation.
Whatcom Humane Society Event Coordinator Dana Browne says that they expect 60 pets this year and have set a goal of raising $2,000. Browne encourages pet owners to attend. “We love it when families come to pose with their pets. After all, pets are part of the family too – all pets, including dogs, cats, bunnies, ferrets and even chickens.”
This calendar for cat lovers benefits a good cause. Photo credit: Patricia Herlevi. Calendar images are from the Whatcom Humane Society.
If philanthropy is your pet’s passion, consider donating pet food to the Whatcom Pet Care Network food drive. Drop off barrels are located at several businesses around town including Village Green Pet Supply. Proceeds are given to the Whatcom Humane Society. Or purchase a Whatcom Humane Society calendar sold at Village Green Pet Supply. The much needed funds go towards keeping our local animals healthy while they wait for their permanent home.
Also on Sunday, December 4, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., Paws for a Beer will donate a $1.00 from every beer purchased to the Sergey Foundation This will give you and your pet warm fuzzies knowing your donation is going to help other animals and their companions.
For folks who miss Santa’s visit to Mud Bay on the first weekend, Santa will also make an appearance at PetSmart on December 10 and 11 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Pictures are free.
Village Green Pet Supply offers a variety of fun dog toys. Photo credit: Patricia Herlevi.
But before picture time, comes grooming time. While some groomers have reached capacity for December, consider booking your pets for the New Year. Currently, self-service options are available in some locations. Try Shake & Shine or City Dogs, both in downtown Bellingham. Shake and Shine also offers a dog deli with plenty of gift choices.
For cat grooming head to My Pet Place in the Lettered Streets Neighborhood. If you can’t get a booking in time, try PetSmart in Bellingham. In Lynden, check out Happy Pooch Styling and Spa and in Birch Bay check out Canine Divine Pet Grooming Spa. And in Ferndale, check out the Pooch Palace and Kitty Kastle which offers luxurious animal boarding and grooming.
If you don’t have a pet, or have room for another, adopt one at Hohl Garden and Pet on Railroad Avenue across the street from the bus station. This one-stop mom and pop store has birds, rodents and cats for adoption. If tropical fish strike your fancy, go right next door to Clark Feed and Seed which offers a diverse selection of fish, aquariums and other pet products. They sell dog Christmas cookies too.
Crosby waits on the couch for someone to toss him a ball. Photo credit: Rylan Schoen.
This holiday season go beyond buying your pet the usual toy or treat. Find the nearest off-leash trail and combine the run with other activities. Take Fluffy or Fido to get their hair and nails done. Or give to an animal-related charity in your pet’s name. Be sure to do all of these activities with your animals’ preferences in mind, especially if you are dressing your pooch like Santa’s elf. And then remember to stop by Shake and Shine Canine Wash and Deli for reinforcements. Happy paw-lidays.
Customers check out vendors at the Home for the Holidays show. Photo courtesy: Joyce Hill.
As autumn descended into winter, our readers enjoyed cuddling up with a good WhatcomTalk read. There was plenty to choose from this month. These were some of WhatcomTalk’s most-read stories published in November.
1. Home for the Holidays—Buy Locally-Made Gifts This Festive Season
Customers check out vendors at the Home for the Holidays show. Photo courtesy: Joyce Hill.
2. Free Thanksgiving Meals For Those in Whatcom County in Need
Five Columns Restaurant serves Thanksgiving dinner for seniors every year — complete with pumpkin pie. Photo courtesy: Five Columns Restaurant.
3. Longtime Village Books Owners to Sell Iconic Bookstores to Current Management Team
Chuck and Dee Robinson opened Village Books in 1980 and Paper Dreams three years later. Their story has inspired readers and quickly became one of WhatcomTalk’s most-read stories.
4. Editor’s Pick: Deliver a Handmade Gift in Bellingham this Season
NW Yarns offers a once-a-month felting class with Melissa Gragg and a Kids Crafternoon with John Dorrenbacher. Photo credit: Theresa Golden.
BelleWood Distilling's Eau de Vie makes a great French 75 (recipe included), but you can also combine it with sparkling cider for an easy, fruity cocktail. Photo courtesy: BelleWood Acres.
The holidays seem to creep up earlier every year. Halloween was still weeks away when I noticed the first Christmas decorations popping-up in chain stores around town. Don’t get me wrong: I love the kitschy, glittery goodness of the Christmas season, but I like to wait until after Thanksgiving to deck my halls.
BelleWood Acres staff deck the halls for a truly festive shopping experience while you search for the perfect, locally-made gifts. Photo courtesy: BelleWood Acres.
The folks at BelleWood Acres spend lots of time preparing for the holidays, but they hold-off on rolling out the holiday spirit until after Thanksgiving. While many of us know that day by the ominous Black Friday, BelleWood lightens the mood by letting shoppers ease into the holiday spirit without the huge crowds and long lines. With their focus on gifts made in the area, you can discover treasures at BelleWood that you simply can’t find at places that end in Mart.
“We carry lots of locally made goods not found in big box stores,” shared events specialist, Pamela Felke. Unique, lovingly crafted items abound at BelleWood where they take great care to curate special gifts for everyone on your list. With an in-house distillery and Country Café, BelleWood may be one of the few places in town where you can enjoy hot cider with brandy while you shop during their Shop and Sip weekends. Their craft-made spirits also make excellent gifts for the cocktail aficionados in your life.
BelleWood Distilling’s Eau de Vie makes a great French 75 (recipe included), but you can also combine it with sparkling cider for an easy, fruity cocktail. Photo courtesy: BelleWood Acres.
You can take home fresh cut trees and handcrafted wreaths, enjoy ornament and cookie crafting with the kids, or cozy-up to the bonfire with their s’mores packages. Love Christmas carols? BelleWood offers plenty of opportunities to keep your spirits bright. “Every Sunday in December we host community sing-alongs featuring local choirs,” shared Pamela. Sleigh rides and visits with Santa are offered during the two weekends leading up to Christmas, December 10-11 and 17-18.
You can also celebrate the holiday season by hosting special events in facilities at BelleWood Acres. Family and work holiday parties are a snap in interesting spaces, with distillery or Mount Baker views.
“We host many holiday parties,” said Pamela. “Saturdays are booked early through the holidays, but we’re still booking for other days of the week.”
Visits with Santa and horse-drawn trolley rides are available during the two weekends before Christmas. Photo courtesy: BelleWood Acres.
Pamela is also the owner of Crave Catering, the on-site caterer for BelleWood Acres. In addition to the parties and special occasions hosted in BelleWood’s event spaces, Crave Catering serves Bellingham and the surrounding communities with custom designed presentations ranging from casual to sophisticated. From intricate canapes to Southern fried chicken, Crave Catering offers a wide variety of scratch-prepared, locally-sourced food with flavors that suit just about any culinary interest.
To learn more about catering or event rental options at BelleWood, contact Pamela Felke at pamela@bellewoodfarms.com or 360-318-7720.
If you’re hosting your own DIY holiday party this year, you might try one of these easy cocktail recipes that are sure to delight your guests:
Slow Cooker Mulled Cider with Apple Brandy
What you’ll need:
1 gallon BelleWood Acres fresh-pressed apple cider
1 medium orange, washed and sliced
1 (1 1/2-inch) piece fresh ginger, cut into ¼-inch slices (no need to peel)
5 cinnamon sticks
1 tablespoon whole cloves
BelleWood Distilling Eau de Vie apple brandy
What to do:
Pour apple cider into a 5-quart slow cooker.
Add orange slices and sliced ginger to cider.
Add the cinnamon sticks and cloves. You can use a tea ball (or gather the spices into a sachet of double-layer cheesecloth and tie it closed with kitchen twine) if you want the spices to be easier to take out later.
Cook cider on low for 4 hours. Keep warm until ready to serve.
Pour 1 oz of Eau de Vie into each serving mug and top with 6-8 oz of warm, mulled cider. Garnish with fresh orange slices or cinnamon sticks if desired.
Keep any leftover cider in your refrigerator for up to a week.
French 75
What you’ll need:
1 oz BelleWood Distilling Eau de Vie apple brandy
1/2 oz simple syrup
1/2 oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice
Dry sparkling wine (such as a cava), well-chilled
What to do:
Fill cocktail shaker halfway with ice.
Add apple brandy, simple syrup, and lemon juice to the shaker and shake thoroughly until well chilled.
Strain cocktail into a champagne flute or coupe and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with a lemon twist if desired.
The Bellingham Public Library Board of Trustees has appointed Nancy Kerr to the position of Library Director for the Bellingham Public Library. She will begin January 4, 2017.
Nancy Kerr will take on the position of Library Director for the Bellingham Public Library on January 4, 2017.
Library Board of Trustees Chairman J. Gordon said Nancy Kerr is an energetic, enthusiastic professional library director with wide-ranging experiences at public libraries in the Midwest and California.
She currently serves as the director of the Kern County Library in Bakersfield, California, a public library with 24 branches serving urban, suburban and rural communities across an 8,000-square-mile area. She also has served in leadership roles for public libraries in Santa Clarita and Banning, California, as well as management positions at several public libraries in Illinois. She holds a Master of Library Science degree from the University of Illinois.
“It is an honor to be chosen to work with the enthusiastic team at the Bellingham Public Library,” Kerr said. “I was impressed by the library’s statistics on paper, but even more impressed when I met the library staff, Trustees and city staff during my interviews. I am fortunate to be able to do a job that I would do for free if I could, so I wake up happy every day that I am lucky enough to work in a library. Bellingham has a top-notch library that is well regarded by all. I am looking forward to joining this library and the Bellingham community.”
Bellingham Public Library Director Pam Kiesner announced her retirement on September 20, 2016.
Kerr steps into the Library Director position now held by Pam Kiesner, who announced in September she would be retiring in January 2017. Kiesner has led the Bellingham Public Library since 2004, and this year celebrates her 40th year in library administration.
Gordon praised Kiesner’s leadership and calming hand at the library.
“She has been an absolute pleasure to work with. She is a strong and creative leader and has an exceptionally thorough, thoughtful approach to library service,” Gordon said. “She loves her job, and is passionate about public library values and the library’s role serving all individuals and groups in our community.”
“Pam has made many contributions to our library and our community. We thank her for her tremendous commitment and her work to maintain and enhance library services for all, especially in light of the budget struggles that have occurred during her tenure.”
Gordon said Kerr’s appointment is “limited term,” defined by the City of Bellingham as 18 months to three years. He said the Board of Trustees will use that time to work with city officials and the community to explore funding and other options for the Bellingham Public Library. The Library Board chose to fill the position with an interim director until this study is complete. The Bellingham Public Library is a department of the City of Bellingham and, like other cities in the region, the City of Bellingham faces financial challenges to maintain existing services. City officials have said developing a sustainable funding model for the library is one of several studies being undertaken in 2017 to identify financial and operational strategies to provide relief to the city budget.
Kevin Wiebe is a Ferndale native. Although he graduated from Ferndale High School, he admits he wasn't a model student. His teachers and administrators...
