Bellingham Repertory Dance Celebrates 10 Years of Contemporary Dance in Whatcom County

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Bellingham Repertory Dance is celebrating its ten-year anniversary this spring. Photo credit: Nolan McNally.

In 2005, a group of artists came together to solve a problem: They loved living in Bellingham but couldn’t find opportunities to grow and challenge themselves as professionals in their chosen art — dance. They formed Bellingham Repertory Dance (BRD) to bring professional-level performance to the community.

“This aspect of the company has remained true throughout the evolution of the group,” dancer Alethea Alexander explained. “The dancers who work with BRD are often people who want to call Bellingham their home and who have chosen this place over many others.”

Alexander is currently dancing her second season with Bellingham Repertory Dance and is also Adjunct Dance Faculty at Whatcom Community College. She recently moved back to Bellingham from San Francisco because of the unique opportunities available in our small but growing city.

Dancer Alexandra Haupt brings choreography alive. Bellingham Repertory Dance offers a diversity of work so anyone can enjoy a performance. Photo credit: Nolan McNally.

“There is visible growth in the industries of theater, music, boutique shopping, city-sponsored cultural events, use of public spaces for festivals and concerts, local food, and — of course — beer. I hope to see our dance community grow with equal fervor,” Alexander said.

Many of BRD’s dancers are involved in the arts community beyond the company. Founding member Brooke Evans is the artistic director for Opus Performing Arts. She noted that Bellingham Repertory Dance helps the arts community by bringing the kind of professional dance to Bellingham that is normally limited to big cities. These opportunities have strong impacts on young, aspiring dancers.

“It’s gratifying to hear students talk about BRD and have the company provide a level of inspiration to these young dancers that is accessible for them,” Evans said. “They know the dancers and look up to them and ask them for advice. It’s not just dance on reality television they are experiencing second hand.”

And the impacts don’t end with the dance community.

“Bellingham Repertory Dance’s presence is a valuable one, and there’s nothing quite like it in town,” Julie Machado explained. In addition to dancing with BRD, Machado is an educator at Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth (BAAY). “I think BRD adds a lemony zest to Bellingham’s arts scene.”

Bellingham Repertory Dance has come a long way since it’s scrappy start ten years ago. Planning shows on a shoestring, founding members had to get creative to enlist help from choreographers and dancers.

Kate Stevenson, Alona Christman, Sylvia Graham, and Vanessa Daines perform “Arc Angle,” choreographed by Deb Wolf. Photo credit: Wayne Hagen.

“[When we first started] we reached out to choreographers in Seattle we had connections with,” Evans said. “We offered them IOUs until tickets sales were in, then held auditions to find dancers!”

Because of their early collaborations with accomplished choreographers, BRD has offered their dancers special opportunities that even their peers in Seattle might envy.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with more Seattle choreographers than dancers who live in Seattle do,” Evans explained. “Making connections with choreographers in Vancouver, San Francisco, New York City and beyond broadens our dance community as a whole.”

And now Bellingham Repertory Dance is celebrating their ten-year anniversary with a new milestone: Their debut performance at Mount Baker Theatre on April 9. Performers will include local and national professionals, with alum dancers such as Bellingham’s Pam Kuntz (Kuntz and Company) and Angela Kiser (Stage Hackers), Las Vegas’s JackieLou Breakey, and Seattle’s Ella Mahler and Gabrielle Gainor, among others. This celebration wouldn’t be possible without the collaborative nature of the community.

“Bellingham itself is remarkable in its community support, friendliness, collaboration, and infrastructure for exploration,” said Alethea Alexander. “I am privileged every day to dance with women who are not only beautiful technicians and artists but who are richly invested in other facets of their lives. For me, this is an inspiration.”

“My hope is that the more professional-level contemporary dance people have access to, the more interest there will be for expanding both our local and imported dance palates,” said Alethea Alexander, dancing here with Wyn Pottratz. Photo credit: Nolan McNally.

Bellingham Repertory Dance’s anniversary show, Decade, will be an exciting evening of six of the strongest and most audience-loved pieces gathered from the full ten years of the company’s history. The show will run for one night only in Bellingham and will provide a special opportunity for local audiences to be a part of current trends in contemporary dance. But you don’t have to be familiar with dance to enjoy this performance.

“We look for diversity when planning our next performance so that there will be something for everyone in our shows,” Evans said.

Decade runs one night only on April 9 at Mount Baker Theatre. Admission is $20 for advance tickets, $24 at the door, and $18 for students or seniors. You can grab your tickets online, at the Mount Baker Theatre Box Office, or at the door.

Building Designer Dan Welch of [bundle] Wins International Award for Birchwood Home

By

Lorraine Wilde

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It’s not every day that a one-man building design firm wins an international award, but that’s exactly what Dan Welch of [bundle] did this past December. Welch was honored for “Best Building Science” by Green Builder Media for his Birch Case Study House, a state-of-the-art energy efficient home in the Birchwood Neighborhood. The award and his successful building design company are the fruition of a quest based on ideas and goals the father-of-three developed in graduate school that he has pursued tirelessly ever since.

Originally from Boise, Idaho, Welch attended Whitworth University in Spokane where he met his wife, Ashley. There he earned a teaching degree and certification in art. The couple was first introduced to the Bellingham area when Ashley transferred to Western Washington University to finish her teaching degree while Welch pursued his Master’s in Architecture from the University of British Columbia (UBC).

While there, Welch developed his Master’s thesis not on designing a unique building but on a new business model that would eventually become the blueprint for his own building design firm, [bundle]. That model focused on hyper-local building design and construction and included a case study home in the Birchwood Neighborhood that would eventually become the home that won him the international award.

Dan Welch, [bundle] — You’d never know that this humble dwelling was the international award-winning Birch Case Study House in the Birchwood Neighborhood. Photo courtesy: Dan Welch.

“The firm name specifically was about the [bundle]-ing of services — architecture, design, engineering, real estate, marketing — all under one brand,” Welch explains. “I defined at school the way that I wanted to work, and I’ve just been implementing little pieces of that thesis as we go along ever since.”

After graduating from UBC, Welch worked for a couple of architectural firms in Vancouver, British Columbia, primarily designing extremely high-end homes. “I worked on one residence that was 26,000 square feet designed for just three people,” notes Welch. “They were other-worldly and not very fun for me.” That experience was almost the opposite of what Welch’s [bundle] is about. “I like to focus my work and pride myself on helping normal people get normal things done. Budget is a fun constraint. It pushes us to be creative,” Welch adds.

Welch moved on to a large Mount Vernon architectural firm where he worked for seven years on larger municipal projects before venturing off on his own in 2013 as [bundle]. He and Ashley chose Bellingham as their home because of its proximity to friends in Vancouver and family in the Puget Sound area. Ashley has worked for Bellingham Public Schools for many years and is currently on maternity leave from her position as a fourth-grade teacher at Columbia Elementary, after the birth of their third child, Grace.

Over the past decade, Welch broadened his building design experience with work that is now sprinkled throughout Whatcom County. “I have a long history of projects here, including the very complex Bellingham Technical College’s Campus Center that is 70,000 square feet, the fish hatchery downtown, and a number of small jobs all the way down to little tiny bathroom additions.” Welch’s [bundle] projects have officially shifted his work away from larger commercial buildings toward smaller, sustainability-based ventures that have come to define [bundle] as a firm. His projects generally focus on commercial and residential structures under 4,000 square feet, with residences up to the four-plex size.

But Welch’s greatest accomplishment thus far may be the award-winning and experimental Birch Case Study House, which the Welch’s now use as their humble abode. The dwelling was developed as a tool to demonstrate the design industry’s most progressive green building techniques. Much has been written about the incredible number of sustainable strategies in this single home built in line with the Living Building Challenge, a certification program that defines and advocates for the most advanced available sustainable design.

“It’s the gold standard of green building certification,” Welch explains. “This house won the award because it takes a very aggressive look at building science — how buildings function from a scientific perspective. How buildings breathe, how dew point works through the walls, the technical side — the thermal and ventilation aspects.”

Welch was inspired to compete for the award after his heroes, Seattle- and Portland-based, Hammer and Hand, won last year with their Karuna Wall Assembly project.

Welch loves being absorbed by a project and that has pushed him toward his successes. The Birch house is planned to be net-zero water and net-zero energy, meaning it’s designed with strategies and features that produce as much or more water and energy than consumed. The home is not connected to City of Bellingham water and sewer services, but instead catches rainwater off the roof and treats it with an on-site system. Composting toilets and a gray water on-site treatment and infiltration system ensure safe disposal of wastes.

The ultra-energy efficient home also features an air-tight design with continuous exterior insulation, triple pane windows, concrete floors for radiant heat and thermal mass, and a passive solar orientation. In cooperation with Washington State University, Welch arranged for the Birch house to become a field testing site for a new CO₂ heat pump not yet available in the U.S. that recovers energy wasted in most homes and channels it to make both domestic hot water and radiant heat. The home was built with as many sustainable materials as financially viable including stairs, beams and floors made from lumber salvaged from the nearby Birchwood Elementary School remodel.

Welch partnered with numerous non-profit organizations including Sustainable Connections and the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA/ Energy Star), as well as a number of manufacturers of sustainable building materials and local businesses.

Even the outside of the house was designed with sustainability in mind. The landscape incorporates significant urban agriculture and management of stormwater through green roofs, rain gardens and a permeable driveway.

Welch realizes that his home is more of a collection of the many options available and not necessarily representative of what his customers would build. “This house is an extreme example. Living Buildings are super rare, with only a few in the state, and when this is complete, it will be the first in our area,” Welch notes. “Our clients can pick and choose features and most focus on the energy side of things.”

[bundle] is doing its part to maintain and improve Bellingham’s growing reputation as a Mecca for progressive green building design. “We’re trying to bring sustainable energy considerations into the mainstream so that net-zero energy is no longer just a niche market,” Welch adds. “Right behind us, the energy building code is following. It will become so aggressive over the next ten years.”

Incredibly, Bellingham designers took two of the nine international awards bestowed by Green Builder Media this year. In addition to Welch’s award, Bellingham Power House, by Ted Clift of TC Legend Homes, won the 2015 award for “Best Alternative Construction.”

The future is bright for [bundle]. Welch is working on a number of projects in Whatcom County while he continues to monitor the successes, and failures, of design elements in his own home. The Welch’s also own the lot behind their home and Welch already has another aggressive design planned for a home in that space.

“It’s our responsibility to create examples, to try and constantly be bold. We need to push to go anywhere,” Welch explains. “My goal is to work hyper-locally, particularly in Whatcom County, to turn over our building stock with bold new construction and renovations and be as efficient a community as we can possibly be.”

Semiahmoo Marina: An Exceptional Value with Incomparable Views

By

Stacee Sledge

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Anyone who’s driven onto Semiahmoo Spit knows it’s a special spot. There are majestic vistas in every direction — Mount Constitution on Orcas Island to the south, Mount Baker to the east, and the Canadian Coastal Range straight north, with the lapping waves of Drayton Harbor on one side, Semiahmoo Bay on the other.

Boats moored at Semiahmoo Marina are enveloped by these breathtaking views.

Doug Romano has been Semiahmoo Marina’s harbormaster for six years and has kept his boat at the Marina for 13 years.

“Our customer is anybody with a boat,” Romano says with a chuckle. For folks who moor their boats in other area marinas, the price difference at Semiahmoo Marina can be pleasingly shocking.

“This is a great place at a great value,” Romano continues. “Our moorage rates are extremely affordable; lower than our competition next door and in Bellingham.”

And unlike most other marinas, Semiahmoo Marina offers condominium slips as well as rentals, meaning boaters can control their own property and watch its value appreciate.

“The cost to purchase a slip here is exceptionally low, probably four times less than Anacortes, which is the next place south you can purchase a slip.”

And Romano is quick to point out that slips across the border in Canada can cost 20 times as much — if you can find one available. Semiahmoo Marina is home to a mix of Canadian and U.S. boat owners.

Aside from its great value, why else would someone choose Semiahmoo Marina over others?

“We’re a resort-style marina,” says Romano, who describes other area marinas as places to simply store your boat.

Semiahmoo Marina is meant to also be a place to hang out. “It’s got a strong community feel,” Romano says. “You get to know everybody.”

Amenities include a bathhouse with laundry area and free showers. The marina’s café was recently remodeled and redecorated. Even on a gray day, it’s a bright, welcoming place to grab a cup of coffee, breakfast or lunch.

From breakfast sandwiches, waffles or biscuits and gravy to an array of hot sandwiches, soup and more, the café has plenty to offer hungry visitors.

The store includes select groceries, wine, boating supplies and much more, including Semiahmoo Marina-wear and lovely gift items — many of which are made by local artists and jewelry makers. You’ll even find folding bicycles. “We do it all,” Romano says, smiling. “These fold up nicely for boats; I have two of them myself.”

Another perk of parking a boat at Semiahmoo Marina is its proximity to the fantastic, renovated Semiahmoo Resort. “People can walk just steps away and sit in a pub, get a nice meal or enjoy waterside dining,” Romano adds.

During the off-season, Semiahmoo Marina is home to around 10 boaters who live aboard their vessels. That number triples in the summer.

Warmer weather also means lots of outdoor congregating.

“This patio area and its fire pit is used in the spring and summer for barbecues and parties,” Romano says, “and we have a band that plays on Friday nights. It’s a really comfortable atmosphere.”

Harbormaster Romano and his team’s job is to keep the marina and its occupants safe and to make sure the boats are in their slips.

“We’re constantly checking boats,” Romano says. “Prior to storms, we make sure everyone’s boat is tied up correctly.”

The marina also has a boat watch program where, for a fee, Romano and his staff will keep a scheduled eye on any vessel, going aboard and making sure it has power, that the heat’s on, the bilges are dry, and so on.

It means priceless peace of mind for the boater who, for example, winters in Palm Springs.

Folks who bought their slips when the marina was built in 1981 are now of an age that is beginning to move out of boating. Romano is looking for new, younger boaters to come take advantage of the fantastic value of Semiahmoo Marina — and its stunning views.

“We’re looking for someone who’s excited about boating and likes to use their boat,” he says. “They want to be in a pleasant place; not just a storage yard, but a marina with a nice view and friendly staff.”

Romano knows firsthand that Semiahmoo Marina is a wonderful place to live.

“I’ve lived on and off my boat for the past 13 years,” he says. “I’m a kayaker and a paddle boarder — that’s one of the reasons I fell into this, because I just love being here.”

The harbormaster’s office sits high above the café and store building with sweeping 360-degree views of the marina.

Semiahmoo Marina is surrounded on all sides by gorgeous water and mountain views. Stunning sunsets abound. Photo courtesy: Semiahmoo Marina.

“I can see boats coming and going, and who’s at the fuel dock,” Romano says. “I can see if somebody needs help coming in and then radio one of the team to let them know.”

Romano is clearly proud of all Semiahmoo Marina offers. “On top of being a beautiful marina, this is one of the nicest anchorages,” he says. “It’s just incredible. You can get the sunrise and the sunset all in the same day without ever moving your boat.”

Over the past seven years, Semiahmoo Marina has spent $2.5 million on renovations and operates on a long-range, phased maintenance plan to stay ahead of repairs.

“We take small chunks of the marina at a time and do total replacement projects,” Romano explains.

But these regular repairs don’t mean excessive or surprise condominium association dues. “We have small dues,” Romano explains, “equal to $5 per lineal foot of the slip .”

The intent is that every time someone returns to the marina after being gone — even if just for a few weeks — they see upgrades, from a new menu board at the café or electronic media board at the marina gate. The latest addition to the marina is a gorgeous stainless steel gate, complete with the marina’s logo cut into the design.

“The person who wasn’t here for several months, they’re going to come back and see all this cool stuff.”

To learn more about buying or leasing a slip at Semiahmoo Marina, visit Semiahmoo Marina’s website, and then stop by the marina office Monday through Saturday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to arrange moorage.

Semiahmoo Marina
9540 Semiahmoo Pkwy
Blaine, WA 98230
360-371-0440
semiahmoomarina.com

Cloud Mountain Farm Center — Where Non-Profit Farming Thrives

By

Laura Rogers

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Cloud Mountain opened in 1978 as a for-profit orchard that grew to include a nursery, workshops and more. Today, the Cloud Mountain has transformed yet again as a non-profit farm center, benefitting local gardeners, farmers and the community alike.

Many locals know and love Cloud Mountain Farm Center. Perhaps they’ve been out for the Fall Fruit Festival or started their spring garden with help from Cloud Mountain’s outstanding nursery. But what people might not know is the farm has gone through a metamorphosis in recent years. Functioning now as a non-profit, there’s a heaping pile of progressive, creative farming programs going on behind the scenes out there. It’s a veritable beehive of local food education and production.

I had the privilege of sitting down with the original owner, Cheryl Thornton, who began the 20-acre Everson farm in 1978, with husband, Tom. From their humble beginnings as a small nursery focused on woody plants and trees to the bustling farm and education center they are today, a lot has happened at Cloud Mountain in the last 35+ years.

After starting their orchard in the late ‘70s, neighbors began showing up on their doorstep, asking about their farm, their grafting practices, and if they had extra trees for sale. The demand was there, and soon enough, their business grew and they began offering more plants and edibles, education programs and events.

The stunning grounds of Cloud Mountain Farm Center.

Cheryl and Tom are longtime locals. Cheryl attended Huxley College and Tom attended Fairhaven College. The two met at Western Washington University and have been in Whatcom County ever since. Well, that is, except for their independent international farming. Cheryl spent two years studying Scandinavian farming practices in Norway, and Tom studied agriculture around South America. Coming back together with their wealth of social, environmental and international farming perspectives, Cloud Mountain Farm was born. And it’s no surprise that sustainability and community are central to everything they do.

A quick look at Cloud Mountain’s website reveals a catalog of nearly year-round courses and workshops and access to their extensive e-commerce nursery, not to mention their free growing tips page. The evolution of programs and farming never seems to slow down at Cloud Mountain Farm, but I was also struck by how much of what they currently do was actually part of the original plan.

“We have always wanted education and sustainability to be major components of what we do,” Cheryl says. “In fact, we’ve been doing workshops here for over thirty years. It’s not just trying to do better. It’s that, but it’s also looking in great detail at what we are doing to the air, to the water, to the land on a whole through our farming and business and trying to improve all of those constantly, along with thinking about conservation.”

In Cheryl’s previous catchall role as co-business owner, she coordinated everything on the business and marketing end, while Tom handled the farming and teaching. “Throughout the years, running Cloud Mountain, we always had a focus on producing what grows well here,” Cheryl adds. “It simply didn’t make sense to us that you’d want anything else. And we’ve always had a commitment to producing more local food.”

Tom Thornton, in his element, leading an apple tree workshop.

So how did the evolution of Cloud Mountain the business shift to Cloud Mountain the non-profit? It was all set in motion because of a definitive need to nurture new farmers. Indeed, there is a shortage of young farmers. The national age of U.S. farmers is 58.

And so in the years leading up to the transition, there was a group of local food and farming organizers looking for a place that could support beginning farmers and food systems research — essentially a piece of land to use as an incubator. After years of fruitless searching for the right land (soil, water and structures) to make the incubator project a reality, the group started approaching existing farms. Cloud Mountain was one of them, and the rest is history. Cheryl and Tom made the decision to sell their farm, transition their roles and form a non-profit organization.

“It was a huge cultural shift going from profit to non-profit. We have nearly a whole new team,” Cheryl explains. “Tom and I are still intimately involved, but it’s been such a relief to have a whole team supporting and growing Cloud Mountain. We can do so much good together, and Tom and I can be more focused in our roles.”

Tom is now executive director and Cheryl oversees business development and finance. As part of the transition to a non-profit, Cloud Mountain has brought on a Development Manager, Operations Coordinator, Education Coordinator, Nursery Manager and Farm Lead, among others.

In the last five years, since Cloud Mountain has reformatted, they’ve focused on their mission of, “Building experience, knowledge and community to expand dynamic local food systems.” The three legs of the stool are to support existing farmers, new farmers, and eaters and gardeners. And they are doing precisely that, with gusto.

A full class of eager home gardeners attend a February apple growing workshop.

They’ve built an extensive internship program, managing seven new paid farming interns every year (they’ve already had 27 interns come through the program). “We teach about agriculture with a big ‘A.’ It’s not just growing. We teach the science, business, philosophy, policy, and all that is rolled into sustainable farming,” Cheryl explains. “In addition to our own interns, we assist in teaching interns from other area farms, as well as support our incubator farmers. This program overlaps with Sustainable Connections’ Food to Bank On program, which is very cool to read up on. There is clearly a lot going on at Cloud Mountain when it comes to new farmers!”

Supporting eaters and gardeners is another main tenet of Cloud Mountain’s mission. In addition to their wide-ranging courses and workshops for the public (most of which are free), they are also partnering with local restaurants and the Community Food Co-Op to get local food out into the community.

But Cloud Mountain takes its efforts even further, providing far-reaching benefits to the community. One way the non-profit does this is through Whatcom Farm to School. With its own on-site processing facility, Cloud Mountain is able to produce food for local schools. Additionally, Cloud Mountain serves as the northernmost Regional Food Hub for the Northwest Agriculture Business Center. With Food Hubs located all along the I-5 corridor, Cloud Mountain serves as the program’s aggregation site and distribution center. In this capacity, Cloud Mountain helps farmers get their goods to other cities in an affordable, timely and environmentally-friendly way. Since its inception, the Regional Food Hub program has helped generate an additional $900,000 in revenue for local farmers.

Cheryl and Tom in their beloved orchard, where they began their journey decades ago.

While talking with Cheryl, it was clear just how proud she is of what Cloud Mountain has become. “Tom and I feel fortunate that we can see what we started lives beyond us,” Cheryl says. “And we know it will be a part of the community for a long time. It’s really humbling. Now we can just step back and watch it go.”

For more information about Cloud Mountain, including upcoming events, classes and workshops, visit Cloud Mountain Farm Center’s website or find Cloud Mountain Farm Center on Facebook.

BelleWood Acres: A Year-Round Destination for Whatcom County Fun

By

Stacee Sledge

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Everyone naturally makes a beeline for BelleWood Acres when it’s harvest time: apples, pumpkins, the corn maze — all the usual autumn suspects are in high demand.

But BelleWood Acres is a wonderful spot to stop at every day of the year, offering fantastic breakfasts and lunches daily and a variety of scratch-baked goodies you can take home to enjoy. Have friends in town? Take them to BelleWood. Need a place where children can run while moms enjoy the dinner, store, or distillery? BelleWood is your place.

There’s also an overflowing farm market, marvelous gift items, and fun décor galore to be had. And BelleWood Acres hosts regular farm tours and events, local art shows, distillery dinners, holiday celebrations, and much more.

BelleWood Acres’ 14,000-square-foot building — the unmistakable red barn-like structure perched on the Guide Meridian right between Bellingham and Lynden — is regularly rented out for weddings, business events, and other community gatherings.

But first came BelleWood Farms.

The BelleWood beginnings

Wisconsin natives John and Dorie Belisle moved from Florida to Whatcom County in 1995, where they bought a 30-acre farm on the Ten Mile Road.

“Whatcom had everything we wanted,” says Dorie. “A great ag community, great university and culture, and God’s playground. What more could you want?”

At that time, the apple industry was looking for more Jonagold growers. (Jonagolds thrive in Western Washington’s climate.) The couple planted its first 10 acres of trees in 1996, followed by five more in 1998. Their original plan was to work with packing houses in Eastern Washington, where the apples would be packed and sold.

But as big plans often do, they changed, and the Belisle’s added Honeycrisp and other varieties to their orchard and switched to handling their own sales.

“We started putting out boxes of apples,” says Dorie, “and people would stop by, grab some, and put money in a cigar box.”

BelleWood uses its leftover apples to create effervescent bottles of hard and sparkling ciders.

As more people came to the farm, the couple realized it was fun to teach others how they grew their apples.

“Our hearts are with people,” says Dorie who, with John, had owned an automobile repair shop and gas station in Florida. “So it was a natural transition back to taking care and being part of the community. We love it.”

“Yeah, you’re nothing without that touch to customers,” John continues. “Dorie and I do it in very different ways, but the customers are key to this. People come up and hug you; they come in every day and say, ‘Don’t stop.’”

The couple’s combination of local retail and wholesale took off.

Once BelleWood Farms started packaging apples, they had seconds left over — so a cider line made sense. A wholesale kitchen followed, churning out delicious homemade pies, pastries, cookies, and more.

In 2008, continued growth convinced the Belisles to purchase neighboring land from friends, along the Guide Meridian. They secured a grant to help install a bridge over the creek dividing the two areas, and suddenly they had access to more acres — plus space for retail and plenty of parking.

“We pick 1.5 million to 1.7 million pounds of apples a year now,” says John with a chuckle. “It’s insanity.”

The expansion into BelleWood Acres

Sitting in the Country Café as we talk, Dorie and John can see around them the culmination of all they’ve built since those early days.

“We knew if we were going to build this building that we couldn’t make it on apples and fresh cider alone,” says Dorie. The couple decided to create a true community farm, ready to host any type of event, with a full kitchen, fantastic caterer — they team with Pamela Felke and Thomas Sandblom’s mouth-watering Crave Catering — a retail shop, and more. BelleWood Acres Distillery and Event Center opened in July 2012.

The retail space alone is worth a visit to BelleWood Acres, with its colorful collection of gift items and lovely décor pieces. Dorie carefully curates each piece they sell. “I only purchase things I think I can give to my six sisters for Christmas,” she says. “If I look at something and can’t think of anyone I’d give it to, I don’t buy it.”

Dorie says many people peruse the store while waiting for their food to be served. “Or when the guys want to do distillery tastings and the women aren’t interested, there’s something else for the ladies to do.”

Distillery tastings? Yup. Folks are welcome to stop in every day between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to sip the variety of spirits made right on site from BelleWood apples, from vodka and gin to brandy and pumpkin-spiced liqueur.

The distillery itself is a sight to behold, as it rises up, up, up in all its copper glory, the centerpiece in the building’s stories-high front window.

“From growing the apples and making the cider to fermenting the cider and then taking that hard cider and distilling it — it’s all done here,” says John.

Sip and savor in BelleWood's tasting room, which boasts gin, vodka, brandy and more. — Sip and savor in BelleWood’s tasting room, which boasts gin, vodka, brandy and more.

“We love telling the story of the distillery,” Dorie continues. “So when people come here, there are free tastings, but they’ll also learn where their spirits are coming from.”

Year-round events

BelleWood Acres’ biggest challenge is letting people know that they’re open all 12 months of the year.

“We welcome families year round,” says Dorie. “There’s so much going on all the time.”

The farm celebrates every season — from Easter to Christmas, there’s always some special event on the calendar.

The Apple Blossom and Honey Bee Festival takes place on the last weekend in April, when the trees are in full bloom. “It’s so neat to have families come out and take family pictures in the orchard,” says Dorie. “Or if you’re a photographer, just come out and take photos of the bees. Celebrate the beginning.”

Mother’s Day celebrates moms everywhere with a country brunch and mimosas, orchard tours, free massages for moms, a pop-up flower shop from Pozie by Natalie and more. Dads get their special day too, with a big car show every Father’s Day.

“We try to celebrate with something special in the café for every holiday,” says Dorie.

Summer means creating a living flag on Memorial Day and a Fourth of July celebration the weekend before the big day (BelleWood Acres closes on the holiday so their employees can celebrate with family and friends).

Wedding season is always busy at BelleWood Acres, offering a spectacular spot under Mount Baker’s watchful eye for brides and grooms on their big day.

From farm straight to your senses, BelleWood Acres boasts yBelleWood Acres Distillery and Event Center opened its 14,000-square-foot building in July 2012, 16 years after the launch of BelleWood Farms.ear-round food, spirits, entertainment and fun for the entire family. — From farm straight to your senses, BelleWood Acres boasts year-round food, spirits, entertainment and fun for the entire family.

And then it’s harvest season again, a two-month celebration with live music on the weekends, u-pick apples and pumpkins, and a cavalcade of fun family activities.

“Harvest weekends are always jam packed with music and good food,” says Dorie. “It’s just a big party — because that’s what harvest is all about.”

Regular and annual events at BelleWood Acres also include All Apples Farm Tours, Farm to Glass Distillery Tours, a 5K Family Orchard Run, a Hard Cider Festival, and much more. Check BelleWood’s website for upcoming events.

What it all comes down to for John and Dorie Belisle is that it’s been a privilege to create BelleWood Acres and share it with Whatcom County.

“To coax food from sunlight and soil is the biggest honor on earth,” says John. “Everything else we’ve done by comparison is pale.”

Dorie agrees. “It’s a new miracle that happens every spring and you never get tired of it.”

BelleWood Acres
6140 Guide Meridian
Lynden WA 98264
360-318-7720
www.bellewoodfarms.com

Country Café and Store hours:
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., daily

Distillery hours:
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., daily

Exploring Whatcom County’s Trail Systems with Hiking Expert Craig Romano

By

Brandon Fralic

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Craig Romano is a man in motion. Whether he’s hiking, running, cycling or being interviewed about his writing, Craig is full of enthusiasm for everything outdoors related — and he knows what he’s talking about.

The author of 10 Washington hiking guides, Romano is an expert on hiking in the Evergreen State. His commitment to the outdoors and conservation has inspired many locals and visitors alike to get outside over the years.

Originally from New Hampshire, Craig first visited Washington in 1980 during a cross-country cycling trip. Enamored by our state’s evergreen beauty, he returned five years later to explore trails in Skagit and Whatcom counties.

“One of my favorite hikes in the state,” Craig says, “is Sourdough Mountain in the North Cascades. I first hiked Sourdough in 1985.” He returned a few years later and never left. He has called Washington home for 26 years and considers it to be “among the most beautiful places on the planet”.

Craig discovered his love for the outdoors early in life. Growing up in rural New Hampshire, he started writing as a teenager and eventually combined his interests and experience to form a writing career.

“I crafted a profession that allows me to live my passion,” Craig says. “I love being outdoors. I love being active. I love the freedom that I have to create my own work environment.”

With the outdoors as his office, Craig has logged over 18,000 trail miles in Washington alone. Today he lives in Skagit County, with easy access to the Cascade Mountains and the San Juan Islands. He visits Whatcom County often.

“Bellingham has one of the best trail systems in the state, as far as urban and periphery,” Craig says, referencing the Chuckanut Mountains and Whatcom County parks system. “I kind of look at Bellingham as the Boulder of Washington,” he continues. “It’s that kind of community with the university — very active, away from the main hub — with lots of cultural things going on for a small city.”

Craig is a member of Bellingham-based Conservation Northwest, a non-profit organization that works to protect old-growth forests and wild areas in Washington and British Columbia. He has also worked with the Whatcom Land Trust and has written for Bellingham’s own Adventures NW magazine.

One of Craig’s greatest joys as a writer comes from introducing his readers to new places. He’s found that while natives can be skeptical of an East Coast writer covering their territory, most readers are excited to discover and explore off-the-beaten-path trails in their own backyard. Craig explains, “They’ll listen to one of my talks, and they’ll come up to me and say, ‘I’ve lived here my entire life and I never knew these trails were here.’ For me, that’s a great satisfaction.”

With overcrowded trails becoming a concern for hikers, Craig’s goal as a writer is to go beyond the extremely popular trails — like Artist Point and Oyster Dome — and introduce readers to something new. “I’ll go up to trail run Lily and Lizard Lake and there’s only a handful of people there and 200 people on the Oyster Dome,” he says. “And you go up on North Butte, which has really nice views, and you can be the only one up there.”

Several of Romano’s hiking guides cover trails in Whatcom County. “Day Hiking North Cascades” is the most comprehensive, with 17 trails accessible via Mount Baker Highway and more than 20 Whatcom and Skagit trails off of North Cascades Highway. “Winter Hikes of Western Washington” offers suggestions for mostly snow-free trails accessible year-round, and “Backpacking Washington” contains a variety of longer, overnight routes throughout the state. Two of Craig’s latest books will feature Whatcom County trails.

The first, “100 Classic Hikes in Washington,” is a rewrite of the original published in 1998 by authors Ira Spring and Harvey Manning. Craig updated the book with a fresh perspective for the 21st century. “A lot of people don’t know who Manning and Spring are, and younger people are actually turned off by a lot of their rhetoric,” Craig says. “I kept 50 of their hikes as classics, which are indeed my classics, too.”

Several of the “100 Classic Hikes in Washington” trails are in Whatcom County, including the cover image. The book’s third edition is currently available from Mountaineers Books.

In June 2017, Craig will release a hiking guide dedicated entirely to Bellingham and Whatcom County. With a focus on urban trails, the book will feature low-elevation hikes in the city and foothills, including the Chuckanuts and Larrabee State Park trail systems. The book will be released at a Village Books event on June 23, 2017.

When I asked Craig for some year-round trail recommendations, his suggestions were a refreshing departure from the old standbys. “There are several miles of trails and incredible beach walking in Point Roberts. Lily Point is the best,” Craig says. “Another place that’s really cool that people tend to forget in Whatcom County is Lummi Island.” Lummi’s Baker Preserve trail offers views of the San Juan Islands and the Olympic Mountains.

Like his fast-talking enthusiasm for the outdoors, Craig shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Watch for his upcoming hiking guide releases in June. Until then, Craig says, “You’ll find me trail running in the Chuckanuts.”

Sustainable Connections Recognizes Whatcom County Businesses Leading the Way in Sustainability

By

LocalTalk Contributor

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Saturna_plaque1 — Congratulations to these local businesses for leading the way in sustainability. Photo courtesy: Sustainable Connections.

Submitted by Sustainable Connections

Sustainable Connections awarded five Whatcom County businesses as sustainability champions at the organization’s 14th annual All Members Meeting.

The Sustainability Champion Awards are an annual recognition of Sustainable Connections members who are pioneers in our local economy. Drawn from the four tenets of Sustainable Connections mission, the awards recognize leaders in the following four categories: Strong Community, Healthy Environment, Meaningful Employment and Buying Local First, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award for an individual who has led the way in making positive changes within their business and the greater community. The winners are as follows:

Strong Community: Saturna Capital

As a values based asset management company, Saturna strives to create long-term value for all Whatcom residents and our community as a whole. Since their inception in 1989, they have had a strong focus on the triple bottom line: people, planet, and profit. Most recently, they have introduced sustainable funds, which allow community members to invest directly in issues that are environmentally and socially responsible. They are financial sponsors of WWU’s Sustainable Business Lab, donate at least 5% of their profits to local organizations each year, and have a team of dedicated staff that volunteer and donate to charitable organizations throughout the region – this year they raised 145K during the 2015 holiday season alone!

Healthy Environment: The Chrysalis Inn and Spa

The Chrysalis has long recognized the importance of integrating environmental initiatives into their business practices. They were one of the first Community Energy Challenge participants in 2011, are key participants in the Towards Zero Waste program, have developed a water conservation plan, and are committed to using eco-friendly products in the hotel and spa. Not only do they track and measure emissions, energy and water use, they have made substantial investments to their property to decrease environmental impact. To date, they have reduced their waste by 56% and have reduced their CO2 emissions by 47 metric tons! Though they have made amazing progress they continue to set ambitious goals for the future including meeting an 80% reduction in waste generation.

Meaningful Employment: Scratch and Peck Feeds

Scratch and Peck Feeds is a family owned and operated business dedicated to promoting sustainable farming practices, supporting the local economy, and producing healthy organic animal feed. With around 20 full-time employees, they believe that the people who make up Scratch and Peck Feeds are its greatest asset and aim to provide the best work environment possible. In addition to providing robust health benefits, they offer a retirement plan, professional development for all employees, and an ample amount of paid time off. At monthly meetings they provide nourishing locally crafted lunches and encourage open dialogue and feedback in order to actively engage their team members. From small gestures to large, they consistently strive to provide a healthy and supportive workplace environment.

Buying Local First: Pizza’zza

With the success and introduction of the Pizza’zza Mobile, this foodie hub went beyond their regular local support and sought out two Bellingham manufacturers, Trivan Truck Body and Woodstone, to have a 100% Whatcom made pizza truck. In addition, they’ve donated 5% of their proceeds from their recent Indigogo campaign to Sustainable Connections Food to Bank on program, which supports new farmers in the region. They have been devoted to supporting the local food economy since day one, sourcing local ingredients from Skagit and Whatcom Counties for many of their menu items. In fact, their local food purchases equate to more than 60K which is reinvested in our local food economy each year.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Marty Jelinski of Bay City Supply

Marty is a long standing member of Sustainable Connections and has had Bay City Supply involved in almost every sustainability program that Sustainable Connections offers. He was one of the first Community Energy Challenge participants, has been a strong advocate for the Towards Zero Waste Campaign, and has also dedicated a portion of his businesses property in order to create a green storm water treatment system. As the owner and operator of this janitorial supply and distribution business for over 25 years, his values have always shown through and strengthened the work that his company does. He continues to work hard to provide low costs, innovative products and sustainable cleaning solutions for workplaces and homes. In addition, he also frequently donates to local organizations that he believes are key to the success of our local economy.

“We are fortunate to work every day with leaders and pioneers crafting the future of best business practices,” said Becca Taber, Membership Coordinator at Sustainable Connections. “This community has an incredible wealth of knowledge, innovation, and heart.”

Lynden Celebrating 125th Anniversary with World-Record Strawberry Shortcake

By

LocalTalk Contributor

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Ichigo_Cake_002 — The city of Lynden is celebrating is 125th anniversary with a world-record setting nod to the region's berries.

Submitted by Lynden Chamber of Commerce

Known for its berries, dairy farms and a love of food, Lynden will celebrate its 125th anniversary June 4 by creating the world’s longest fruit shortcake — and then eating it, of course.

Lynden will build a 1,250-foot-long shortcake — topped with delicious, locally grown strawberries, plus ice cream and whipped cream — on four downtown blocks, according to Gary Vis, executive director of the Lynden Chamber of Commerce. The public then will be invited to eat free servings of the strawberry shortcake.

“Since we have the world’s sweetest strawberries and shortcake is such a wonderful way to enjoy them, this will be a fun way to celebrate Lynden’s 125th anniversary,” Vis said.

It’s expected that plenty of people will be available to enjoy the shortcake since it will be built immediately after the Farmers Day Parade, an annual celebration of the local agricultural community that typically draws 7,500-10,000 people. The parade will start at 10:30 a.m. and conclude at approximately noon. The shortcake will be created immediately after the parade on Front Street between Third and Seventh streets.

The world-record dessert will be placed in vinyl gutters on top of tables. The gutters are being donated by Westside Building Supply of Lynden and one of its suppliers, Genova Products. After the event, The Opportunity Council will coordinate distribution of the vinyl gutters for reuse by local nonprofit organizations focused on housing, Vis said.

The unique celebration is possible through the participation of other local businesses, Vis said. Curt Maberry Farm is donating its strawberries. The World-Famous Lynden Dutch Bakery is creating the shortcake, which will be topped by internationally lauded Edaleen Dairy ice cream and Darigold whipped cream. Darigold is a Washington producer of dairy products that receives most of the milk produced by Whatcom County’s dairies. Darigold also has a large plant in Lynden that produces skim milk powder and nonfat dry milk,

“Once we’ve built the 1,250-foot shortcake, photographers and a drone will produce the documentation we need to submit to Guinness World Records,” Vis said. “Then volunteers will begin serving free strawberry shortcake to everyone who stays.”

For more information about the world’s longest shortcake or the Farmers Day Parade, visit www.Lynden.org or call the Lynden Chamber of Commerce, 360-354-5995.

First Bellingham Music Film Festival Announces Programming

By

LocalTalk Contributor

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Submitted by Pickford Film Center

The first Bellingham Music Film Festival (BMFF) announces the schedule for live music and film programming of music-inspired films. The festival will be April 1 – 3, 2016 at the Pickford Film Center and Make.Shift Art Space in the Arts District in downtown Bellingham. BMFF is a celebration of music through the medium of film, with selected films screenings to include music videos, shorts and feature length documentaries and narratives. The festival will provide a space for the community, filmmakers and music lovers to enjoy curated films and music, network, and win awards, all while supporting local non-profit organizations.

The festival’s opening ceremony is from 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. on Friday, April 1, 2016, at Make.Shift during Art Walk, featuring music video film screenings and music by Scarlet Locomotive and Momo Grace. This opening evening is free to the public with admission donations encouraged and the evening’s bar proceeds will benefit local video store non-profit, Film is Truth.

Another highlight is the Saturday evening feature showcase at 8:30 p.m. at the Pickford Film Center that includes interactive music videos in the lobby and music by Thomas Agora.

The Sunday Best in Show showcase will include music by Bar Tabac, an awards ceremony to follow, and a Q&A with the director of the Judge’s Choice film, “Desert Age.”

The festival will include a wide range of film formats to be exhibited with the heart of the festival powered by bands and live music. No matter the venue, category, or artist, we will be witnessing the power of music — the ultimate goal of Bellingham Music Film Festival.

The festival jury selected the film submissions through a careful review process and programming has been curated to showcase the top-rated films. The overall Judge’s Choice will be presented at the end of the festival celebration on Sunday night and the People’s Choice will be announced via social media shortly thereafter. Winners were chosen in each category and will receive trophies during the festival.

The festival weekend includes film screenings and live music at the music venue, Make.Shift Art Space at 306 Flora Street and the independent theater, Pickford Film Center at 1318 Bay Street in downtown Bellingham. All proceeds are going toward these participating non-profits.

Learn more about the non-profits behind the festival at:

For more information and a detailed schedule of the festival visit: bellinghammusicfilmfestival.com or contact bmff@makeshiftproject.com.

Community Boating Center Announces Spring After-School Programs

By

LocalTalk Contributor

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Submitted by Community Boating Center

For those kids who just can’t wait for summer to come, the Community Boating Center has three after-school programs this spring for youth 914. CBC afterschool programing piloted in 2015, this spring we are expanding our programming to three different afterschool camps. Each camp runs for six weeks beginning in the first week of May from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Beginner School Year Sailing: An introduction to the fundamentals of sailing. Participants w ill practice rigging, tacking, jibing, capsize recovery, points of sail, docking, person overboard, and much more. Most importantly, participants will form new friendships, build selfconfidence, have a ton of fun, and set a solid foundation for a lifetime of smallboat recreation. As with all of our youth programs this camp is lead by experienced youth sailing instructors. Beginner School Year Sailing is on Mondays, May 2 and June 6.

Intermediate School Year Sailing: For those who have the basic fundamentals of sailing, Intermediate School Year Sailing will focus on refining your skills in sailing. Participants will sail both dinghies and J/24 keelboats throughout the program and will practice rigging, tacking, jibing, capsize recovery, points of sail, docking, person overboard, and much more. Intermediate School Year Sailing is on Tuesdays, May 3 and June 7.

Boats on the Bay: This program uses only humanpowered boats including sitontop kayaks, sea kayaks, paddleboards, and rowboats. Participants are able to try out different boats based on their interest, the group’s interest, and the weather conditions. We intentionally focus initiatives, games, and skill building activities around individual and group skill development, building self-confidence, and simply having fun on Bellingham Bay. This program is a great way for kids to get outside and be active after a long day of school. Boats on the Bay is on Wednesdays, May 4 and June 8.

The BelleWood beginnings

The expansion into BelleWood Acres

Year-round events

Strong Community: Saturna Capital

Healthy Environment: The Chrysalis Inn and Spa

Meaningful Employment: Scratch and Peck Feeds

Buying Local First: Pizza’zza

Lifetime Achievement Award: Marty Jelinski of Bay City Supply

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