We’re lucky to have access to beautiful fruits and vegetables in Whatcom County, so it makes sense that we have a bounty of salad options when going out to eat.
When I began my quest for the best salads, I decided to ask my friends for their favorites, and they delivered! From hearty salad meals to crunchy sides, our restaurants are showing off fresh eats in major ways.
There are many ways to market your business, but in the digital age, online branding is paramount to any company’s success.
From content marketing to social media, there are countless ways for companies to grow their businesses online. However, with so many options, sometimes knowing where to start is the hardest part. Luckily, you don’t have to go it alone.
On September 23, WhatcomTalk Community Manager, Stacee Sledge, will join Yelp Bellingham Community Ambassador, Jennifer Jones, and PR Consulting Inc. Marketing Director, Patti Rowlson, for an Online Branding Power Hour Panel Discussion in the Dorothy Haggen Conference Room (2211 Rimland Dr., Suite #106, Bellingham) from 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
The Power Hour Panel is designed to help local business owners and entrepreneurs learn more about the importance of online branding.
“I’m really excited to be a part of this panel with Patti and Jennifer,” says Sledge. “We all work hard in our community to educate and help businesses on the best ways to use online marketing to connect with and grow their customer base.”
Whether you want to leverage your social media reputation, create engaging content about your business, or learn how to respond to online customer reviews, these marketing pros will provide the tips and tools you need to boost your online presence easily and successfully.
“I’ll be discussing the many ways WhatcomTalk works with local businesses to tell their stories through featured articles on WhatcomTalk.com and the different ways we use content marketing to help position their brands in front of a wide variety of local consumers,” explains Sledge. “Social media and our online Talk platform combine to be such powerful parts of what we do for our clients. Every share and every like creates a ripple of positive branding for these businesses, as their stories are widely circulated throughout Whatcom County and beyond.”
Attendees of the September 23 event are encouraged to bring questions to ask the panel. “I’m especially excited that this will be an audience-directed event where we can answer questions and discuss issues that people have when it comes to online branding and marketing,” says Sledge.
Whether you’re a soon-to-be college grad, a small business marketer, or the owner of your own company, this hour-long panel discussion is designed to benefit businesses, marketers and entrepreneurs of all types and skill levels.
Space for the September 23 event is limited. Tickets are $15 and available in advance online.
Interested about online advertising options with WhatcomTalk? Learn how WhatcomTalk helps local businesses grow their brands online in this article.
WhatcomTalk is a digital media company sharing positive stories about people, places and businesses in Whatcom County. WhatcomTalk offers content marketing and online options to advertise across our community social network in Bellingham, Lynden, Ferndale and beyond. Advertise with WhatcomTalk to reach your target market, grow your brand, and measure results.
Kids Vending Day at the Bellingham Farmers Market has been providing families and children an opportunity to see economics in action for about 15 years. Kids Vending Day occurs on the last Saturday of the month at the downtown market and on Wednesdays from June through August in Fairhaven. Kids Vending Day is a great opportunity for enterprising youngsters to learn about entrepreneurship, regardless of their chosen craft. In past seasons, kids have offered goods such as flowers, produce, jewelry, cards, and original art.
“Children can learn about profits, pricing, and selling,” shares Market Director, Caprice Teske. Plus, Kids Vending Day is educational for children and parents alike, giving participants insight into what it means to run a small business at the market. “They also get an appreciation for what it takes to be at the farmers market all day long. The set up, tear down, weather, and variable crowds are all things that our vendors deal with every market day.”
And kids tend to make more than a little pocket change, helping them build-up their own savings accounts to spend as they see fit — or invest back into their budding business venture. No matter how children decide to spend their money, young vendors gain a new appreciation for the value of things we purchase every day.
“Understanding where the products you purchase came from and what it took to get them there are valuable lessons that become hardwired when children can experience the process themselves,” shared Teske. And these valuable lessons give children the confidence to become regular vendors.
“We have one jewelry maker that has been doing Kids Vending Day since she was 11, and she will graduate from high school next year,” added Teske. While the Bellingham Farmers Market is hopeful that some of the kids will become the future generation of regular vendors, children can participate based on what works for them. “With vacation and sports schedules, we have a lot of kids that will only vend a couple times a season,” Teske said.
You’ll be amazed at the quality and creativity of the products some kids are producing, so you’ll want to be sure that you bring cash with you when you stop by. But Teske encourages bringing smaller bills. “Kids often underestimate the need for lots of change!”
If you know a child who might be interested in vending, there’s no need for them to pre-register for Kids Vending Day. Kids just need to arrive early — between 9:30 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. for the Saturday market, or before 11:30 a.m. for the Wednesday Market —sign in at the Information booth, pay the $5 fee, and set-up to be ready when the market opens. Kids are responsible for set-up and teardown of their booth, so they should bring everything they need, including tables, chairs and displays. Kids should also be prepared to stay until the market closes. Buskers, under 18 years old, are also welcome to entertain for free on Kids Vending Days, as long as they comply with the market rules and regulations.
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Karisa Stapp gave the advice little, if any, attention at the time.
Two years ago, as an incoming freshman, Stapp’s father suggested she try out for Western Washington University’s women’s rowing team.
She had just graduated from Mount Baker High School, where she competed in both cross country and track. Her athletic skills were certainly obvious, but everything else – boats, oars, sculling – would be foreign to her.
“I had no experience at all with anything like rowing,” Stapp said. “I wanted to find something to keep me active and, I guess, he thought that was something I should try.”
In less than two years, Stapp has made the transition from simply wanting to try something new to leading the Vikings back to the NCAA II National Championships.
This weekend, Western’s women’s rowing program will compete for a NCAA II National Championship for the 15th time in the past 16 seasons.
Stapp has played a large role in helping the Vikings challenge for another national crown. The sophomore was named a first-team selection to the All-WIRA team (Division II/III/Club), along with freshman coxswain Rachel Dalthorp.
The honor comes just two years after Stapp inquired about turning out for the team.
She initially figured it would be far-fetched, but what harm was there in rounding up a little more information on the program? It was that thinking that led Stapp into a conversation with Fuchs, who was named the 2016 Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Women’s Coach of the Year.
“I had a great conversation with him,” Stapp said. “It was after talking with him that I was convinced I wanted to try it.”
And then everything immediately clicked, right?
“That first week or so I don’t think I did anything right,” Stapp said about the start of her freshman season. “I had never done anything like it before. Rowing is kind of awkward when you first start.”
Not long after, however, everything started to make sense for Stapp, who is one of 11 sophomores on this year’s squad which features just one senior.
The young Vikings improved drastically throughout last year, but missed out on a national championship berth at season’s end. Those results fueled this season’s success.
“It was disappointing (not going to the national championships last year). We didn’t think about it as a streak ending because each season is so individual,” Stapp said, “but it definitely served as motivation to get back here.”
WWU is scheduled to race in the second heat of both the Varsity 8 and Varsity 4 race on the first day of competition. Winners of each heat advance directly to the Grand Finals on May 29, while those who fail to qualify will compete for a chance to advance on May 28.
“If everything goes our way Friday, we can take Saturday off,” Stapp said. “Everyone has put in a lot of work to get to this point. Hopefully, we can start a new streak of national championships this year.”
The Vikings are one of four teams selected to compete in the national championships, which will be held May 27-29 at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center in Gold River, California.
The Division II National Championships ran its inaugural event in 2002. After seeing its streak of 14 consecutive trips to a national event, including 13 straight at the national championships, snapped last year, WWU is back following its one-year hiatus.
The Vikings are seeking their eighth national title. The program won seven consecutive national titles from 2005 to 2011 and were national runner-ups in 2002, 2003 and 2012, and finished third in 2004, 2013 and 2014.
Four teams will compete for the national championship with each team required to field one boat of eight and one boat of four rowers. Joining WWU at the event is defending national champion Barry University, University of Central Oklahoma and Mercyhurst University.
“We are excited to get back to the national competition and keep this great season going,” said John Fuchs, in his 18th year as Western’s head coach. “We have had nice progression since last spring and really shown steady improvement on the water. The team has worked extremely hard to get back to nationals and I am looking forward to the Vikings putting together a strong showing.”
For championship information and results, including live streaming of championship racing, go to www.ncaa.com.
In a minimal amount of time, Stapp could go from newcomer to national champion. Dad, apparently, knew what he was talking about.
“He tells me all the time how right he was,” Stapp said. “I guess he was.”
Submitted by Andrew Jewell Insurance Agency
Two Whatcom County teachers are receiving grants of $2,500 apiece through a “Thank America’s Teachers” contest conducted by the Andrew Jewell Insurance Agency in Lynden.
Karen Rast, a librarian at Lynden Christian Elementary School, and Megan Thygesen, a third-grade teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School in Bellingham, received the most online votes from the public for their proposals among nominated Whatcom County teachers.
“We were planning to award just a single $2,500 grant,” said Andrew Jewell, owner of a Farmers Insurance agency in Lynden. “However, Megan Thygesen and Karen Rast were so close in votes that we decided to give grants to both of them.”
Rast will use her grant to buy “leveled readers,” which are beginning books that launch students into chapter books by meeting students at their individual reading level.
“Currently, in our library it’s hard for our students to find books that they want to read when the average copyright of our leveled readers collection is 23 years old,” Rast said. “The grant money generously given to us by the Andrew Jewell Insurance Agency will be used to help inspire, motivate and support our students’ literacy growth.”
Thygesen’s grant will purchase iPads for her classroom at Roosevelt, which has only six iPads for all 400 of its students. “As a Title I school, we serve a great proportion of kids living in poverty,” Thygesen said. “Many students in my school are highly impacted by life stressors that tend to go hand in hand with living below the poverty line.
“The highest level of engagement I have seen is when I give students the option to practice a new skill on an iPad app,” she added. “With the technology these days, apps are created that basically give students individualized tutoring and practice of new skills. Having apps with this capability means that more students are getting the feedback and tutoring they need quickly and in a way that is fun, engaging and motivating.”
Jewell modeled his contest after the “Thank America’s Teachers” contest run by Farmers Insurance, which is awarding more than $1 million in educational grants to teachers this year. For more information, call the Andrew Jewell Insurance Agency at 360-354-5565 or visit www.ThankAmericasTeachers.com.
Submitted by Sustainable Connections
Sustainable Connections, along with local business partners Ecotech Solar, Western Solar, and Itek Energy has completed the community solar purchasing program, Solarize Whatcom, with fantastic success.
Solarize Whatcom helped residents and business owners easily navigate solar installation by providing free workshops and site assessments, brokering low-interest rates, and assisting with every step of the contract and installation process. In the end, 47 contracts were completed, over $1,200,000 was invested in solar, and a total of 311.15 kW will be saved every year! Bellingham’s solarize project has been one of the most successful in the State, despite being launched and run during an incredibly uncertain time for solar – when many had questions and concerns related to changing state incentives. This campaign has contributed to Whatcom County being a leader in most solar per capita in the state. Additionally, the Governor recently proclaimed Bellingham the top solar community in Washington.
“We’ve been wanting to install a solar array on our home for a while; this streamlined program made it feasible and straightforward” said Solarize participant Kate Rinder, “now our home has a high quality, locally manufactured source of renewable energy, our investment is helping the Food Bank, we’re reducing our carbon footprint, and thanks to Washington’s strong incentive program, we’re making the ‘sunny money,’ which made this financially possible.”
On top of homeowner energy and utility savings, there have been large boons for the community. Thanks to Solarize program partners, for every solar installation contract that was signed, a panel and installation was donated to the Bellingham Food Bank, resulting in a 47-panel array that will be installed later this spring. Early estimates predict an annual savings of $300, plus additional cash acquired via production incentives from the State. This means more resources to help end hunger in Whatcom County, as every $10 saved by the Food Bank provides another 100 lbs. of food to individuals.
Solarize Whatcom reflects the unique and special community Bellingham has. Businesses that would usually be considered competitors came together to create and direct this program, local financial institutions made it easy to invest, residents and commercial property owners participated and committed, and non-profits that serve the community were supported. It also helps Bellingham advance in the Georgetown University Energy Prize, a competition to win $5 million for the City and help all residents save energy.
There will be a celebration at the Bellingham Food Bank, with details to come. To learn more about the Bellingham Energy Prize visit Bellinghamenergyprize.org. Solarize Whatcom was part of an incredibly successful Statewide campaign called Solarize Northwest.
Submitted by Scratch and Peck Feeds
Bellingham’s Scratch and Peck Feeds, a Certified Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified animal feed manufacturer, has had quite a year. Last September they won a $100,000 Mission Main Street grant from Chase Bank, which they used to purchase a new robotic arm that will stack feed bags onto pallets and alleviate physical strain on their production crew. That grant was an incredible honor, and now they have been chosen as the Northwest Regional Finalist for the US Chamber of Commerce’s annual DREAM BIG Small Business of the Year Award.
The US Chamber of Commerce received a record number of applicants from across the country for the award this year and only seven finalists were chosen. Applications were judged on four key areas — business strategy, staff training and motivation, customer service, and community involvement.
When Scratch and Peck Feeds founder and owner, Diana Ambauen-Meade, learned that they were the Northwest Regional Finalist, she said she was “grateful for the recognition, especially for the emphasis placed on our innovation in the animal feed industry. Knowing where our food comes from is important to all of us at Scratch and Peck, so it’s wonderful to know that the US Chamber of Commerce sees the value too.”
As a regional finalist, Scratch and Peck will be recognized at the awards luncheon on June 14 during America’s Small Business Summit in Washington, D.C. The winner of the DREAM BIG Small Business of the Year Award will also be announced and presented with a $10,000 prize. If Scratch and Peck wins, the money will be put toward new machinery to further increase productivity and turnaround times.
Congrats to everyone at Scratch and Peck Feeds and best of luck on June 14.
Submitted by Whatcom Community College
Whatcom Community College received two grants totaling $300,000 to help low-income students succeed in college math and English classes. Whatcom received two of the six College Spark grants awarded this year to Washington community and technical colleges. The annual, competitive statewide community grants program focuses on building the effectiveness of institutions working with low-income students by funding new and promising practices that help students become college-ready and transition successfully from high school to college.
“At Whatcom, student success is one of our top priorities,” WCC President Kathi Hiyane-Brown says. “College Spark recognized our innovative programs for low-income students improve college readiness, access and success. These grants will mean even more students will be able to achieve their academic goals.”
The first of its two $150,000 College Spark grants will help Whatcom Community College fully scale an English course called English 101-Plus, a team-taught course that combines entry-level English 95 and English 101. This model provides support for students still needing pre-college coursework to build skills and self-efficacy while also enrolled in a course that will allow them to earn college credit within one academic quarter. This model has already helped nearly 100 students earn college-level English credits one to two quarters faster than is possible in a traditional scenario. Earning college credits sooner helps low-income students save financial resources and positions them on a path to earn a college degree.
The second grant will enable WCC to redesign its math placement practices and developmental sequence to increase the rate of students earning college-level credit within two years. A recently implemented math literacy pathway provides students with the opportunity to select the math courses that will be most relevant to their personal and career goals.
Through both three-year grants, Whatcom will create placement guides and directed self-placement tools to help students select appropriate English and math courses for themselves after seeing examples of the concepts, course work, assessments and student testimonials. WCC’s program will provide support for large numbers of low-income students at WCC and, eventually, will be a model for all students at other Washington community and technical colleges.
“WCC is thrilled to be recognized for its recently implemented promising practices in math and English,” says Ed Harri, WCC’s dean for instruction. “Our faculty are committed to helping students in need of support reach their college goals in a timely and cost-effective manner. These grants provide the resources to respond immediately to the needs of hundreds of low-income students over the next three years.”
In 1927, J. Willard and Alice Marriott and business partner Hugh Colton opened the first A&W Root Beer ice cream parlor in Washington, DC. Summers in the district were hot and muggy, and JW thought cold snacks were in order to help people in our nation’s capital stave off the heat.
Soon, the nine-seat ice cream parlor began serving hot food, rebranding the company as Hot Shoppes. One restaurant quickly became a chain, and by 1937, Hot Shoppes had grown into an in-flight airline catering service.
In 1958 in Arlington, Virginia, JW Marriott opened the world’s first motor hotel. The American auto industry was flourishing, and families across the nation were looking for new ways to travel by car. The hotel was designed specially for motorists, with access to rooms directly from the parking lot. With his son, Bill, at the helm as manager, the humble motor hotel in Virginia started the Mariott hotel brand that we recognize today.
The Marriott legacy is built on a philosophy that founder JW Marriott developed in his earliest days as an entrepreneur: Take care of the people who work for you, and they’ll take good care of your customers. That legacy is still going strong nearly 60 years later due to the commitment of people like Bellingham’s Keith Coleman.
A Whatcom County native, Coleman has been working in the hospitality industry for more than 15 years. He moved to Seattle in his early 20s and managed busy hotels like the Holiday Inn and Hyatt Place downtown.
Coleman returned to his hometown of Bellingham in 2013 to open 360° Hotel Group’s SpringHill Suites by Marriott. In 2015, the company entrusted a second brand-new property to him, the adjoining TownePlace Suites, and he now serves as the general manager for both properties.
In addition to being GM for these two hotels, Coleman is active in the community and sits on numerous boards, including the Advisory Board to the Charter College Hospitality Program, Whatcom Community College’s Hospitality and Tourism Management Advisory Board, the City of Bellingham’s Tourism Commission, and the Bellingham Whatcom County Chamber of Commerce.
Coleman has developed a reputation for having a unique management style and belief system, earning him two awards in the past year: The 2015 Washington Lodging Association’s Outstanding General Manager of the Year, Limited Service award, and the 2016 Service Excellence General Manager of the Year Award for all 324 SpringHill Suites properties. This most recent award is particularly special because he was recognized for something he values dearly: service.
“You’ve got the awards for being the most involved in sales, but to get the Service Excellence award? That’s pretty special,” said Coleman. “This is an award that has my name on it, but this is indicative of the hard work of our staff.”
The commitment to excellence is embraced at all levels at SpringHill and TownePlace, and it shows. This hard work and a passion for service is to thank for making these two hotels among the top rated destination hotels in Bellingham.
“I live by a very simple philosophy,” explained Coleman. “I take care of employees, employees take care of guests, and guests keep coming back.”
SpringHill Suites and TownePlace Suites are located on Northwest Avenue near Bakerview in Bellingham:
SpringHill Suites by Marriott
4040 Northwest Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-714-9600
www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/blish-springhill-suites-bellingham
TownePlace Suites by Marriott
4050 Northwest Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-714-9700
www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/blits-towneplace-suites-bellingham
Sponsored
Submitted by Whatcom Transportation Authority
On Sunday, May 29, 2016, Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) will run extra buses on Route 14 between Western Washington University (WWU) and the Ski to Sea festival in Fairhaven.
Free parking will be available at WWU’s Lot C, located on Bill McDonald Parkway at West College Way. Buses will depart from a sheltered bus stop on the West side of Bill McDonald Parkway. The bus stop is called Bill McDonald Parkway at WWU Rec Center. Buses will depart approximately every 15 minutes beginning at 11:30 a.m. The last departure to Fairhaven will be at 7:15 p.m.
Route 401, “the Red Line,” will also offer service every 30 minutes on Ski to Sea Sunday. Route 401 runs between downtown’s Bellingham Station and Fairhaven.
Riders pay one dollar per trip. All valid WTA bus passes will also be accepted.
For information on reaching other Ski to Sea festivities using regular bus service, call 360-676-RIDE or visit ridewta.com.
