Artist Trust has announced the second annual Gar LaSalle Storyteller Award in Fiction and is currently accepting applications from exceptional fiction writers based in Washington State. The award winner will receive an unrestricted $10,000 award. The panel selected award is looking for an applicant who is an outstanding writer and demonstrates excellence in their craft of literary arts. The application will close at midnight on September 12, 2016. Full application and requirements can be found online.
“Washington State seems to attract writers. Local literary artists are constantly gracing us with a wealth of stories. Artist Trust is enthusiastic to partner with Gar LaSalle in support of storytellers and the literary traditions in the state,” said Artist Trust Executive Director, Shannon Halberstadt
Support from Artist Trust will be available for applicants in the form of one-on-one support and a webinar. Staff members of Artist Trust will offer personal feedback and support at Office Hours, personal support in Seattle, Bellingham, and Spokane in July and August. On August 9, Artist Trust will host an hour-long webinar, which will offer advice on components of the application, answer commonly asked questions, introduce our new grant application system, and take questions from attendees. Interested applicants can RSVP online.
Last year was the inaugural year of the Gar LaSalle Storyteller Award, with 85 people applying. The 2015 award was given to writer Anca L. Szilagyi in assisting in research for her third novel.
“The encouragement that comes with this honor is priceless — encouragement to persevere and trust myself to continue to take risks and to have the courage to tell stories,” said Szilágyi of the award.
This award is funded completely by a generous donation from Gar LaSalle. A physician, sculptor, award-winning filmmaker and author, LaSalle has been honored widely in both the medical and fine arts communities for his leadership and creativity. He has earned acclaim for his historical fiction, including Widow Walk, and its sequel, Isthmus.
Dr. Timothy and Amy Black are proud to introduce the Whatcom Youth Choirs (WYC), new this fall to the Bellingham area. The choirs will be partnering with the newly opened Conservatory at Piper Music for the upcoming 2016–2017 season. Comprised of three choirs, the WYC will serve the needs of children and youth entering 3rd through 8th grade. Rehearsals will begin on Monday, September 12, with an initial meet-and-greet evening on Monday, August 29 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., for all interested participants and their families at Piper Music, 1213 Cornwall Ave. For more information regarding the choirs, please contact Amy Black at 360-927-0888. Registration is currently be accepted online.
Under the new ownership of Dr. William Brooke, the Conservatory at Piper Music will be offering private and group lessons as well as courses in music theory and music history for all ages beginning September.
Dr. Timothy Black brings 24 years of experience to his role with Whatcom Youth Choirs. Photo courtesy: Whatcom Youth Choirs.
With 24 years of experience, Dr. Timothy M. Black is a career music educator, having taught choral and instrumental music at all levels, K–12 and college in Washington, Idaho, Kentucky and — for 12 years — Okinawa, Japan for the U.S. Department of Defense Schools.
Dr. Black received his B.A. in Music Education from Whitworth College in Spokane, an M.M. in Choral Conducting from UMKC’s Conservatory of Music with Dr. Eph Ehly and a D.M.A. in Music Education from Boston University.
Dr. Black has been choral director of the Bellingham Community Chorus since 2015 and directs music at the United Church of Ferndale. He believes in the power of music at all levels and is excited to bring his expertise to the Whatcom Youth Choirs and the Conservatory at Piper Music this Fall.
Amy Black is a piano teacher in the Bellingham area. After teaching choir overseas in Okinawa, Japan for 12 years, she and her husband returned to the states to be closer to family.
Amy received her BA from Whitworth University in Music Education with an emphasis in choral music. Also, she received her endorsement in Piano Pedagogy.
Amy is the accompanist for United Church of Ferndale and sings with the Bellingham Community Chorus and Allegra. She is a member of MTNA and WSMTA; all professional music organizations that promote music education. Amy is also very excited to share her love of music with the Whatcom Youth Choirs, the Conservatory at Piper Music, and piano students in her thriving piano studio business.
North Sound Singles provides fun activities for singles living in and around Bellingham. Photo courtesy: Kimberly Kerr.
I’ve spent many an hour discussing the woes of online dating with my gal pals. Most have tried — and subsequently given up on — the standards: the friend fix-up, the late-night bar scene, cruising church or another local community, and, of course, online dating websites. Each has at least one dating nightmare story to share and they’ve usually been left feeling alone and discouraged by the superficiality of it all.
But dating is continuously evolving, and thanks to the “Do It Yourself” attitude of Bellingham transplant Kimberly Kerr, Whatcom County singles have a new, safe, less awkward and frustrating option that helps singles find both new friends and potential dates. Kerr’s creation, North Sound Singles, brings Pacific Northwest singles ages 30 to 50 together for fun, active events that foster friendship in an active, welcoming environment.
Active events are occasionally paired with dinner or drinks. This group is enjoying dinner at the Black Cat Restaurant in Fairhaven. Photo courtesy: Kimberly Kerr.
Kerr checked out a lot of different places before settling in the Bellingham-area. Originally from Upstate New York — and after working in the Southern U.S. — Kerr first came to the Seattle-area several years ago to work for Microsoft. While there, she met and got engaged to someone she met online. Together they checked out East Coast living and had a son together. When deciding where to raise their young son, they chose Bellingham.
“We had tried city life. We wanted an easier lifestyle. Here we’re surrounded by mountains and the ocean — and the schools here are great. Bellingham has a sense of community and you see people you know everywhere you go. That’s what attracted me. It’s such a cool place.” Kerr now works from home as a Manager of Licensing Operations for a global Information Technology (IT) company.
Unfortunately, things didn’t work out between Kerr and her son’s father and she found herself a single parent in Bellingham. Eventually, Kerr was ready to date again, so she began to check out her options. But like my gal pals, she soon found herself discouraged.
“I’ll go to a bar with friends, but it’s not the place I’d go to meet someone. I have my own first date horror stories. I knew there had to be other options,” remembers Kerr. “I had used the website and app Meet Up when I lived on the East Coast to find new friends, so I went to that site and found a Bellingham group.”
The group Kerr found was for activities like hiking and dinner. While she enjoyed meeting those kinds of new people, she found that most were couples younger than her, and they had little in common with a professional single mom. “Out of pure frustration, I created my own group,” says Kerr. “I just wanted to be able to go somewhere and have fun and meet new people, whether they were girlfriends, guy friends, or potential boyfriends — whatever. I just wanted to make connections with like-minded people.”
Some events encourage trying new things out-of-town including this ropes course at Adventura in Woodinville. Photo courtesy: Kimberly Kerr.
North Sound Singles has evolved gradually since Kerr started it in November 2014. “I began with an age range that worked for me, from 35 to 45. As the group grew, we’ve expanded it to 30 to 50 to better suit the people who come out,” Kerr explains of the group’s adaptable format.
“Sort of just by accident, the group attracts talented, professional, working people with interesting stories. The majority are transplants to the area brought here by their work. We have nurses, teachers, border patrol, IT, and lots of people who work from home,” notes Kerr. “Like me, when you work from home, you don’t spend time with other people, so we have to make the extra effort meet new people.”
How It Works
“We wanted to keep it simple,” explains Kerr. Sign up is only $5 per year and takes less than five minutes at the group’s Meet Up website or on the phone app. Events are listed in order by date. “We ask members of the group to RSVP with a simple click of a button so local businesses will be sure to have enough staff available to support us,” adds Kerr.
The group also shares photos and information on their Facebook and Twitter accounts to give newcomers a better idea of what their gatherings are like.
Activities Foster Connection
North Sound Singles’ events are as diverse as its members because they are the ones that propose new meet ups. “We do lots of outdoorsy activities, restaurants, wine tasting, and breweries, but there are also single parents in the group so we do family-friendly events that I’ve been able to bring my 7-year-old to like snowshoeing, sledding, and picnics,” explains Kerr.
North Sound Singles stays active by participating in local organized events including races like Bellingham’s Color Run. Creator Kimberly Kerr is on the far left. Photo courtesy: Kimberly Kerr.
Kerr also considers safety a real benefit. “Our events are group-related. There is safety in numbers. We’ve never had a real issue, but it’s nice to know that you always have an escape plan,” notes Kerr. “It also takes the pressure off a first meeting. If you meet someone there for the first time and it doesn’t work out, they could potentially just move on to meet one of the other 20 people there who might.”
Measuring Success
North Sound Singles has grown a lot over the past two years, now including more than 200 singles living between Seattle and lower British Columbia. Although Kerr still considers herself single, she measures the success of North Sound Singles by what else it has brought her and the other members of the group. “My core group of girlfriends is mostly people I met at North Sound, and it’s comforting to know that I have guy friends I can call if I need help moving a sofa,” explains Kerr, laughing. “It’s also great for singles to have friends and events they can count on around holidays.”
Others are also finding the group useful. “The most common comment or review we get is that the group is so welcoming. Most say that even though they felt awkward walking into the event, it wasn’t cheesy. They soon felt comfortable and relaxed and they had fun and will be back,” explains Kerr. “To me, that’s the most important thing. I make sure everyone feels like they should be there.”
Not every dating experience works out, of course. But that hasn’t seemed to impact the group. “We’ve had one or both return to the group after a few months of dating, because even if that didn’t work out, they still felt thankful for having had the chance to meet someone there,” notes Kerr.
Organized activities are fun and active, including this recreational go kart event at the Sumas International Motorsport Academy. Photo courtesy: Kimberly Kerr.
Women currently outnumber the men in the group, so North Sound Singles tries to encourage local single men out there to join by offering events that appeal to and relax most everyone. The group constantly schedules new events including monthly happy hours, summer picnics, holiday-centered events, and outdoor activities. Meet ups are also coordinated to attend local events like outdoor concerts, local festivals, live music, and dancing opportunities. “We’ll often have a meeting time and location scheduled and then will walk to a public event together as a group, but we’ll also post a contact phone number so you can find us at a larger event.”
North Sound Singles is always looking for suggestions for new activities and places to meet as well. “Our gatherings usually have between 15 and 35 people so we sometimes reserve a room at local businesses,” explains Kerr. “We’d love for new people to join us and help us decide where to meet next.”
Mount Shuksan reflected in the mirror that is Picture Lake. Photo credit: Brandon Fralic.
Natural beauty is abundant in Whatcom County. It’s why many of us choose to live here, and one of the top reasons why tourists flock to visit our corner of the state. While many locals and tourists are active on our mountains, trails and waterways, one doesn’t have to be an athlete to appreciate the great outdoors. Whatcom County offers scenic drives aplenty, with multiple roadside viewpoints worth a stop. So fill up the tank and make a day of it — birdseye views are just a Sunday drive away.
Chuckanut Drive
Historic Chuckanut Drive was completed in 1896 as a dirt logging road. Today, it connects Whatcom County to the Skagit Valley via a paved, winding scenic byway between the Chuckanut Mountains and Bellingham Bay. Beginning in Fairhaven, head south on State Route 11.
No description of Chuckanut Drive would be complete without mentioning Washington’s first state park, Larrabee. Most visitors use the main park entrance for beach access. Those seeking soaring views should check out Cyrus Gates Overlook, a 1,800-foot-high point at the top of Cleator Road. From here, you can gaze across Chuckanut Bay all the way to Canada. The 3.5-mile gravel road can be rough, so prepare for possible potholes along the way. Discover Pass required.
Looking out over Samish Bay, Chuckanut Drive, and the Skagit Flats from Samish Overlook. On a clear day, you can see as far as Mount Rainier. Photo credit: Brandon Fralic.
Back on the state route, continue south along Chuckanut Drive to cross into Skagit County. Several pullouts between mileposts 11 and 13 are worth a stop. At mile 12, a large pullout offers great views across Samish Bay to the San Juan Islands — the perfect place for sunset shots.
It’s possible to turn this drive into a loop without ever putting tire to pavement on I-5. Between mileposts 8 and 9, take Colony Road east. Navigate to Samish Overlook (up another gravel road) for a 1,200-foot viewpoint overlooking Samish Bay and the Skagit Valley flats. Time it right and you’ll be in for a treat — Samish Overlook is a popular jumping-off point for gliders. Bring your Discover Pass for parking.
Once you’ve soaked up the seascape, take Lake Samish Drive back to Bellingham to keep your cruise freeway free.
Mount Baker Highway
Originally built in the late 1800’s for logging, Mount Baker Highway is now a National Scenic Byway. During summer, drivers can cruise the road’s full 58 miles to Artist Point for some of the finest views in Whatcom County.
Highway 542 begins in the city before transitioning to farmlands and forest. Take a detour at milepost 40 to see Nooksack Falls — one of our top choices among Whatcom County waterfalls. Many visitors make their first scenic stop at Picture Lake (milepost 55). This aptly-named little lake produces a picturesque reflection of legendary Mount Shuksan, looming large in the distance. Some say that Shuksan is the most photographed mountain in America (or even the world).
Table Mountain at the edge of Bagley Lakes from Heather Meadows Visitor Center at Austin Pass. Photo credit: Brandon Fralic.
Stop by the Austin Pass Picnic Area and Heather Meadows Visitor Center for awesome views all around. Look across Heather Meadows to Bagley Lakes below and Table Mountain above. Watch for hikers and backpackers as they traverse Herman’s Saddle on their way to and from Chain Lakes. When you’re ready for the grand finale, continue to the end of the road.
From the nearly mile-high Artist Point parking lot, wander a short distance along Artist Ridge. Miles of trails begin from here, but you don’t have to go far for alpine vistas. To the east, majestic Mount Shuksan stands proud at 9,131 feet. Mount Baker — the third highest mountain in Washington state — is visible to the southwest. This 10,781-foot stratovolcano is simply spectacular.
A Northwest Forest Pass is required for parking at all stops mentioned along Mount Baker Highway. Passes are available at the Glacier Public Service Center. The final 2.7 miles of the road to Artist Point closes seasonally during winter. Visit Washington State DOT for current conditions.
North Cascades Highway
Planning for the North Cascades Highway began many years before its eventual completion in 1972. Today Highway 20 begins in Skagit County and veers north into Whatcom before entering the Okanogan. Another designated scenic byway, North Cascades Highway has been called “The Most Beautiful Mountain Highway in the State of Washington.”
Diablo Lake and Davis Peak from Diablo Lake Overlook. Photo credit: Brandon Fralic.
The highway’s most notable roadside attraction — Diablo Overlook — is located in Whatcom County at milepost 132. Admire Diablo Lake’s turquoise waters from this 1,700-foot high perch.
Mountain streams carry glacier-ground rock silt, or “rock flour,” into the lake. This rock flour reacts with sunlight to give the lake its bluish-green hue. Above the lake, several mountains tower in the range of 7,000 to 8,000 feet. No parking pass required.
Continue along the Cascade Loop to exit Whatcom County and experience the entire 440-mile route. Highway 20 closes seasonally during winter — visit Washington State DOT for current conditions.
Thinking of UPS often brings to mind that familiar giant brown truck delivering special packages straight to you or your business’ door. But The UPS Store itself offers a great deal more than just quality package delivery. It might be the place your start-up designs its first business card, where you send out that important fax, or get important documents notarized. Offering a full-service copy machine, public computer and 24-hour postal boxes, The UPS Store operates as a small business hub.
Tucked into the Sehome Village shopping center between Ed Wyse Beauty Supply and Massage Envy is UPS Store 5075. Upon entering the store, customers are greeted not only by a friendly staff, but a wide selection of products and services as well. A large printer stands tall just to the right of the entrance, trays of color paper are easily accessed along the wall, and greeting cards are available on a spin-around rack. Head to the back of the store and this is where PO box holders can conveniently pick up their mail. Continue on past the mailboxes and you’ll see a computer where Sehome Store Manager, Bobbi Gainer, has helped many budding entrepreneurs design custom business cards for their small companies.
“We are becoming more of a business orientated toward the businessman and small business because we can do printing,” Bobbi explains. “We’ve got mailbox services here. We’ve got internet provisions here. We can do your brochures, business cards — basically anything for the small businessman or woman.”
These services are especially helpful for business owners who don’t have a physical storefront or office space. “We have a lot of customers who are doing online businesses, and so they need a place they can come to that can be their office,” Bobbi says. “A lot of them work from home, but they don’t have the equipment or if they are traveling and they don’t have the facilities to print or use computers, so we can provide everything for them that way.”
When it comes to having business cards, reports or fliers made, just bring the ideas you have and whatever pieces of the project you can. Bobbi can help you find the details you haven’t rounded up yet. No pressure to know exactly what you want either; just bring yourself and your ideas, and Bobbi can help design your business card completely from scratch, start to finish.
For customers with a more hands-on approach and a desire to design on their own, the full-service public computer offers Adobe software and Microsoft Office. For a small hourly fee, customers can design and print right at the store. The full-service printer is ready to bind, laminate, staple or fold the document you’re printing in black and white or color. Even more convenience can be had with The UPS Store’s online and mobile printing. Documents can be sent from home and picked up later at the store.
“We also do shredding for people who don’t have shredder services or facilities,” Bobbi shares. “It’s a dollar a pound and they can bring it in and leave it with us. And you don’t even need to worry about staples, small binder clips, rubber bands, or anything like that.”
While The UPS Store has delved into the world of business services, it still provides an extensive array of services surrounding shipping. Customers can bring in unpackaged items knowing packing material, boxes and tape are available right at the store. For large items, Bobbi can package them after the customer has left, providing a no hassle service for customers needing to figure out how to send their item. And because The UPS Store is open seven days a week, customers can drop packages and letters off for shipping any day. UPS can also provide freight services.
“There was a huge China hutch, eight feet tall,” Bobbi shares. “And we were able to order the supplies for it, get a palette, get it created and get it taken care of.”
Packages can also be held at the store for customers as well. “We also provide a service for when people aren’t home and they know they are not going to be home but are expecting a package. They can have it rerouted to the store and pick it up from here,” Bobbi shares. “So that way it’s not sitting on a doorstep.”
In addition to package care, Bobbi takes customer care seriously and thoughtfully, as well. “We have a lot of customers that come back because of us, because of my staff. They are treated like friends and family. And a lot of them do become very close friends through the years. We start to care about them. We really do.”
From the field to the rink, Whatcom Sports and Recreation provides a variety of sporting opportunities for the community. Photo courtesy: Whatcom Sports and Recreation.
Operating two facilities and a variety of programs in our community, Whatcom Sports and Recreation is non-profit organization whose mission is “to provide an affordable, safe, fun and healthy environment where the community can enjoy a wide range of unique recreational programs and activities.”
It all began with a love of soccer.
In 1986, a group of soccer enthusiasts established the Whatcom Soccer Commission (now known as Whatcom Sports and Recreation). Their goal was to create a permanent facility for youth soccer in Whatcom County, and they worked with the Whatcom County Parks Department to obtain 31 acres of old farmland. Northwest Soccer Park was developed on the land, with space for 12 full-size grass soccer fields.
Phillips 66 Soccer Park
On a clear day, Mount Baker is visible from the fields at Phillips 66 Soccer Park. Photo courtesy: Whatcom Sports and Recreation.
Northwest Soccer Park (now known as Phillips 66 Soccer Park) has been increasingly successful over the years, attracting nearly 10,000 players from Whatcom County Youth Soccer Association and the Whatcom County Adult Soccer Association. During Whatcom County Youth Soccer Association’s 16-week season, more than 11,000 people attend the games each weekend. Regional tournaments like the Baker Blast bring in 180 youth teams — amounting to 3,300 players and coaches. These programs go a long way in boosting Whatcom County’s economy by filling hotel rooms and supporting local businesses.
Today, Northwest Soccer Park has a new name and is undergoing a major upgrade. Washington State and Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery are funding two new turf fields, lights, and a scoreboard for the park. As part of the agreement, Northwest Soccer Park has been renamed Phillips 66 Soccer Park. Upgrades should be complete by the end of June, according to Whatcom Sports and Recreation Executive Director, Lance Calloway.
Whatcom Sports and Recreation facilities have always operated without any tax burden to Bellingham residents. “Up until this large project with the turf fields, we haven’t taken any government money or taxpayer dollars at all after almost 31 years of existence,” Lance says.
Bellingham Sportsplex
Lance has been involved with the organization since 1998. “My predominant role is overseeing a phenomenal staff of people that make the programs run,” Lance says. He’s also the head coach of theBellingham United Football Club, a local semi-pro soccer club. Known by fans as the “Hammers,” Bellingham United F.C. calls Civic Field and neighboring Bellingham Sportsplex home.
Bellingham Blazers junior ice hockey team compete at Bellingham Sportsplex. Photo credit: Jon Bergman Photography.
Whatcom Sports and Recreation took over management of Bellingham Sportsplex in 2004, in a partnership with the City of Bellingham. At the time, Whatcom Sports and Recreation was still known as the Whatcom Soccer Commission. “It was in the community’s best interest that we took the Sportsplex on,” explains Lance. “It saved the city quite a bit of money compared to them trying to operate it. So that’s when we changed our name to Whatcom Sports Commission.”
Nearly 600,000 people use Bellingham Sportsplex annually. Its features include an NHL-size ice arena for hockey and skating, as well as a turf side with two indoor soccer arenas. This multi-use facility is located next to Civic Field and hosts a variety of recreational programs.
Whatcom Sports and Recreation Programs
A final name change in 2015 — from Whatcom Sports Commission to Whatcom Sports and Recreation — reflects the organization’s commitment to the community. “We changed our name to Whatcom Sports and Recreation because it doesn’t sound governmental,” Lance says. “We’re really about athletic facilities and programs.”
Whatcom Sports and Recreation organizes programs at both of its facilities, including academies for youth and adults. Lance explains, “We’ve got a hockey academy — the Blazers — providing introductory and learning.” Want to learn to play hockey? Check out the Blazers Learn to Play and Hockey Academy, held at Bellingham Sportsplex. For those interested in figure skating, the Learn to Skate Academy is also held there.
Skaters on the ice at Bellingham Sportsplex. Photo courtesy: Whatcom Sports and Recreation.
At Phillips 66 Soccer Park, the Hammers FC Academy hosts weeklong summer soccer camps for kids. “The Hammers FC is a soccer academy providing a variety of programs from tots — young kids 3 to 4 years old — all the way to middle- and younger high-school aged kids,” Lance says. “We provide both group and small training, as well as some team programs where they are playing for short periods of time to further develop their skills.”
Though names have changed along the way, Whatcom Sports and Recreation’s goals have remained the same — “to build, operate and maintain athletic facilities and programs for youth and adult recreational activities in Whatcom County.” And more than 30 years after its inception, the organization is still scoring those goals.
“The reason our organization has been successful,” Lance says, “is the people that work for the organization: our board of directors and — most importantly — the user groups that we coordinate to facilitate their programming.”
The starting lineup at a recent Bellingham United Football Club match. Photo courtesy: Bellingham United.
It’s an exciting time to be a soccer fan in Whatcom County. From recent improvements at Phillips 66 Soccer Park to an action-packed season for Bellingham United Football Club, the ball is rolling when it comes to local soccer.
Known to fans as the “Hammers,” Bellingham’s semi-professional soccer team plays competitively in the Evergreen Premier League. Bellingham United FC is an adult male team made up of locals and players scouted from around the world. Each year, their season begins in April and runs through July.
Hammers players in action on the field. Photo courtesy: Bellingham United.
“We’ve got a good energy with the squad this year,” Head Coach, Lance Calloway, said in a recent KPUG interview. “We’ve got a great group of guys.”
When they’re not playing soccer, Bellingham United players shoot for another goal — to inspire young readers. This year, three local elementary schools participated in the Bellingham United FC Reading Challenge. The Reading Challenge is a fun way for United players to connect with kids about the importance of reading.
“It promotes not only reading but allows us the opportunity to reward those kids for being good students and completing the challenge,” says Bellingham United FC General Manager, Marc Ronney. As a reward for completing the Reading Challenge, students received tickets to a match against Vancouver Victory. Among the crowd of 370 were more than 40 student readers. The game ended in a tie, with victory for neither team.
Hammers score! Photo courtesy: Bellingham United.
Overall this season has been going quite well for Bellingham United. “We are certainly in a better position than at the same point a year ago,” says Lance. “Our returning players seem to be re-energized, as it seems they have something to prove after last season.”
Currently in a three-way tie for second place in the Evergreen Premier League, Bellingham United is gearing up for a final series of home games in July. Join them at Civic Stadium July 10, 17, and 31 as they seek first place in the league. Tickets are available online.
Scratch and Peck Feeds will be the Presenting Gallop Sponsor for Animals as Natural Therapy's Horsin’ Around fundraising campaign. Photo credit: US Chamber of Commerce.
Scratch and Peck Feeds was built on the foundation that the relationship between people and animals is symbiotic. They believe that the way we treat animals — from felines to pooches, ducks to horses — directly impacts us. As animal feed manufacturers, they see the environmental and health benefits of raising our own poultry and livestock as well as the relationships that many backyard chicken owners have developed with their feathered friends. That belief is why being the Presenting Gallop Sponsor of Animals as Natural Therapy’s 2016 Horsin’ Around fundraising campaign is a perfect fit for the company.
Animals as Natural Therapy (ANT) is a Bellingham non-profit based on the knowledge that “animals can teach humans important life skills,” such as respect, trust and clear communication. The organization works with children and adults from all walks of life, including at-risk youth, veterans, and low-income families and individuals. Participants in ANT’s array of programs work with animals to build life skills that can help them work toward a more positive outlook and awareness.
Committed to the health and well-being of animals and livestock, Scratch and Peck Feeds takes pride in supporting local animal organizations and non-profits. Photo courtesy: U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
As the Presenting Gallop Sponsor of ANT’s Horsin’ Around, Scratch and Peck Feeds will receive a whimsical wooden painted horse, which will be on display at ANT’s annual Summer Bash BBQ on July 16. After the event, the horse will be displayed on Hannegan Road, alongside other sponsoring businesses and organizations. Drivers along the rural stretch between Bellingham and Lynden will be able to see up to 30 horses on display, each representing the businesses and organizations that contributed to the Horsin’ Around Campaign.
“The Horsin’ Around Campaign is a fun way to support a fantastic organization. Many of us at Scratch and Peck Feeds have pets or raise animals and know firsthand how beneficial that relationship between humans and animals is to our social well-being and overall planet. We’re fortunate to have Animals as Natural Therapy in our community. Their work is critical; we’re honored to be supporting their work, and we love the playfulness of this sponsorship,” said Scratch and Peck Feeds founder and owner, Diana Ambauen-Meade.
Animals as Natural Therapy isn’t the only local animal organization that Scratch and Peck supports. The company frequently donates animal feed, supplements, and treats to the Whatcom Humane Society to help ease the non-profit’s food costs for rescued and abandoned chickens and pigs. They are also a sponsor of the Alternative Humane Society’s 8th Annual Paws and Claws Expo on July 31 at Bloedel Donovan Park. “We are grateful that we can contribute to these much-needed organizations in our community,” said Ambauen-Meade. “They do such important work!”
The 8th annual Sunnyland Stomp will take place on Saturday, July 16 when the Sunnyland neighborhood will transform itself into a friendly summer art walk full of backyard galleries displaying a wide range of art, music, food and more. In 2010 the event was honored with a Bellingham Mayor’s Arts Award for bringing awareness to the creative talents and community spirit of Sunnyland’s residents. This year 25 galleries will be participating, showcasing everything from paintings to a puppet garden to wood fired pizza to live action screen-printing among many other festivities. Local artist and Homeskillet co-owner, Tina White, created the poster art for this year’s event.
The Stomp has new organizers this year — Alice Clark has passed the baton to Erin Boyd (of Red Boots Design) and Kendall Dodd. Both are committed to continuing Clark’s vision for The Stomp as a grassroots neighborhood event that showcases Sunnyland and its residents.
Scan the schedule of events to plan your Sunnyland Stomp itinerary.
“I’m really excited to see the community come together for this unique, creative event. It’s such a good reflection of the best of Bellingham,” said Stomp co-organizer (and participant) Erin Boyd. “We’re looking forward to sharing art, food and fun times with all of the visitors to our neighborhood.”
Other highlights from this year’s Stomp include: family activities at Sunnyland Park, Broadway park and St John’s Lutheran church earlier in the day (between 11am-3pm), art by many local artists and craftspeople, live music as well as food prepared at many of the galleries as well as food trucks that will be in the area.
Sunnyland Stomp Schedule
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Broadway Park (by the playground): Cardboard Playground with Play Lab.
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Sunnyland Park: games, music and shenanigans for kids of all ages.
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at St John’s Lutheran Church: free concert and sing-a-long.
4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. backyard galleries will be open throughout the whole neighborhood.
Sunnyland Stomp maps will be available at each gallery as well as at many of our sponsor locations. In addition, the list of galleries and a downloadable map will be available in early July on the Stomp website – www.sunnylandstomp.com. Bike and pedestrian travel around the neighborhood is highly encouraged. See you at The Stomp!
Throughout the month of July, the Bellingham Energy Prize (BEP) will be celebrating Independents Month with local Bellingham breweries. Kilowatt Kitty will be raising a glass to Stones Throw, Boundary Bay, Aslan, and Kulshan Brewing Co., and toasting to all of the impressive work they do at each brewery to empower our community and save energy!
Independents Month celebrates locally owned businesses during the month of July, and the Bellingham Energy Prize has received tremendous support from independent businesses throughout Whatcom County. A total of 51 local businesses have come together to promote and participate! Many have gone above and beyond; including the Community Food Co-op, Sanitary Services, Barron Heating…and many of our local breweries. The breweries in our region continue to prove, time and again, how important they are to our community wellbeing — pitching in and supporting local causes, and many other businesses and organizations when they need it most!
They also happen to be experts in energy savings. Stones Throw recovers heat from brewing and refrigeration to heat the tap room and pre-heat water for the next brew, Boundary has retrofitted all of their lighting to LED lights, Aslan has invested in renewable energy and offsets 100% of its impacts with wind power, and Kulshan recycles chilling water from the brewing process which substantially reduced their water usage and how much has to be heated in the first place. These are just a few of the things each brewer does to save energy, the BEP invites you to attend the happy hours to learn more!
So, come and celebrate Independents month with local breweries and the Bellingham Energy Prize! Get happy with Kilowatt Kitty at four happy hours scheduled throughout July. Be the first to learn about special edition beers brewed just for the BEP, take your picture with Kilowatt Kitty, win prizes, and come support your independent brewers. The series will begin with a big kickoff at Stones Throw on Tuesday, July 12 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Kilowatt Kitty says you should mark your calendar right meow!
Happy Hours of Power — When & Where
July 12 | Tuesday, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. @ Stones Throw Brewery July 20 | Wednesday, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. @ Boundary Bay Brewery July 24 | Sunday, noon to 3:00 p.m. @ Aslan Brewing July 26 | Tuesday, 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. @ Kulshan Brewing Co.
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...
