Questions about enrolling in Medicare or choosing the right health insurance? Consider two upcoming classes offered by Whatcom Community College’s Community and Continuing Education.
First up is Navigating the Marketplace: Health Insurance Options in Whatcom County, 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15. This interactive forum will present an overview of healthcare reform and its local – and personal – implications. Join presenters from Whatcom Alliance for Health Advancement (WAHA) as they walk through the Washington Healthplanfinder selection process while also teaching and applying key insurance vocabulary. Class content will last one hour, with opportunities for in-person assistance and questions afterward.
People considering Medicare enrollment should join the Medicare 2016 Open Enrollment Information Session, 6-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28. Presenter Australia Cosby is the local coordinator of the Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program. Participants will receive tips and information on next year’s Medicare drug and Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare savings program, and other paths to prescription assistance programs.
Both classes are held in room 209 of Heiner Center on WCC’s campus. There is a $5 enrollment fee for each class. For more information or to enroll, visit whatcomcommunityed.com or call 360.383.3200.
“When we started Garys’, we had another partner, whose name was also Gary,” explains Barb Lupo, who co-owns the specialty retail clothing store with her husband Gary Lupo. “There were two Garys, hence the spelling.”
In the store’s tenth year, in 1988, the environment downtown began to change as the Guide pulled major stores away. “To remain viable we had to add women’s clothing,” says Barb.
“Our partner at the time didn’t want to make that investment,” she continues, “so we bought him out, blew through the wall, and started our women’s collection.”
The well-established name stayed.
Garys’ has always been at the bustling corner of Holly and Commercial Streets, its windows reflecting the fantastic city outside and the fashionable delights inside.
“I was born and raised here and Gary came to attend WWU,” says Barb. “We both loved retail and were working for the same organization as buyers and department managers — him for men’s and me for women’s.”
The couple worked there for over a decade and was married before launching Garys’ in October 1978.
Garys’ Men’s and Women’s Wear was launched in October 1978.
“We were the eighth independent men’s clothing store [downtown] at the time, but we felt we had a different take,” Barb says. “Ours was a bit younger and more modern.”
The couple jumped in with many years of experience and an attitude of “let’s give it a try.”
“And, well, that was 38 years ago,” Barb says with a laugh.
Back in Garys’ early days, business owners didn’t craft mission statements, but the ethos has remained the same from the start: offer modern fashion, great style and unparalleled service in a retail environment that focused on listening to the customer.
They still ask the same questions today when traveling to trade shows in Los Angeles and New York, curating the store’s selection: Would our customers wear this? Where would they wear it? How will they wear it?
Browsing through Garys’ is a quite different experience from one you often find at a mall or chain store.
“We are a downtown kind of business,” Barb says proudly. “This is a specialty retail environment. You can come in, be comfortable, feel like you’re in a friendly place, and just look around.
Barb Lupo stresses that you can be comfortable shopping at their downtown Bellingham business.
It’s the polar opposite of a corporate-owned store, which usually involves a space crammed full of merchandise alongside a self-serve, meet-you-at-the-register vibe.
“Our customers like to walk around downtown and be entertained; go to the movies or the museum a good restaurant — and shop specialty stores,” Barb continues. “They are not looking to just grab something and put it in a bag.”
Customer service has always been important to the Lupos. “It’s not a difficult thing to learn, but it can be a challenge to sustain,” says Barb. “It’s a constant topic of conversation among our staff.”
The store’s biggest competitors are outside of Whatcom County — mainly in the Seattle area, where other specialty stores might carry similar lines.
“But we choose from them differently,” says Barb. “You can come in and see a whole collection from VINCE sportswear for women — and many stores carry VINCE in Seattle — but we choose pieces that suit where we are, what our market will support in terms of style and value.”
“Our customers like clothing, they pay attention to fashion,” she continues. “They also want really good service.”
The team travels to trade shows in Los Angeles and New York, to curate the store’s selection.
On the flip side, new customers often pop in looking for a simple dress shirt or just a tie. “They have heard that we have great customer service and know we’ll listen and lead them in the right direction,” says Barb. “We love that!”
The store currently has a rotating staff of seven, including store manager Brianne Trafton, who has been with Garys’ for many years.
“At this point in our store’s history, the person who’s been with us the longest has been here for 15 years. We have had a terrific group of WWU students that have stayed with Garys’ through their university years, and until recently a woman who was part of Garys’ for 20 years.”
That says a lot about a company.
Barb and Brianne travel to Los Angeles and New York several times a year to buy women’s clothing for the store and Gary travels to trade shows twice a year to do the same for men’s. Their passion for the industry remains — and it shows in the merchandising and layout of their sophisticated, original store.
The Lupos have purposely extended the store’s environment through the plate-glass windows that line the space and welcome passersby.
“We spend a fair amount of our marketing dollars toward window themes, materials and installation,” says Barb. Garys’ has worked for 20 years with Blair Hunt Designs to create imaginative window displays.
“He does a killer job at interpreting our ideas and his own,” she says. “We also have a great new graphic artist on staff and she helps pull things together.”
Garys’ Men’s and Women’s Wear believes in giving back to the community.
Like so many local Whatcom County businesses, Garys’ strives to give back to the community.
“We focus our community efforts on half a dozen fundraisers each year,” says Barb. Regular events include Glassybaby shows, and “sip and shop” opportunities, which offer a private after-hours shopping event with wine and nibbles for two dozen ticket holders. A percentage of all proceeds goes toward local organizations such as Whatcom Center for Early Learning, Agape House, the Cancer Center, Hospice, and many more.
Garys’ throws a big fashion show every year, donating the ticket price to a local organization in need, plus 10 percent of sales from the popular event.
“I can safely say that we have raised more than $40,000 over the past 15 years, from the fashion show alone,” says Barb.
When asked what her favorite thing about owning and operating Garys’ has been, Barb takes a long, thoughtful pause.
“It has provided us an opportunity to stay where we love, raise our family, and do what we love, in a community that has been super supportive of what we do,” she says.
And, at the end of the day, Barb and Gary both still get an immense feeling of fulfillment from serving customers.
Shop local for all your clothing needs at Garys’ Men’s and Women’s Wear in downtown Bellingham.
“Helping someone who knows exactly what they want can really be fun, but helping someone who comes to you and doesn’t know what to wear to a special event? Working through that with them is very satisfying, particularly when you see that they’re satisfied.”
Sure, you can spend hours on Pinterest and risk feeling overwhelmed and underequipped to throw a fantastic at-home birthday party. But why not leave it to the plethora of awesome party places throughout Bellingham to do all the heavy lifting? There’s something to make every child smile on his or her special day.
Bellingham is chock full of fun birthday party destinations.
Pool Party and/or Climbing Wall
The downtown YMCA offers two options for birthday pool parties¾the small pool or the large¾and also includes a party room for out-of-water festivities.
Is your little one more interested in scaling the Y’s impressive climbing wall? Book a private party, complete with instructors to provide instruction and belaying. The Y sets kids up with harnesses and gear; rental shoes are available for an additional cost. For an extra fee, you can send guests home with goodies bags holding a carabiner and t-shirt.
If you’d like to combine a pool party with the climbing wall experience, look no further than Western’s Wade King Student Recreation Center, which offers a party package that includes one hour in the pool and another on the climbing wall.
Another pool party option is Arne Hanna Aquatic Center, which delights the little ones with its beach-entry pool and amazing 135-foot slide.
Jump, bounce and have a ball at Bellingham’s Trampoline Zone.
For a different rock climbing option – and a place that offers bouldering-only climbing, which can be more straightforward for younger kids – head to Vital Climbing Gym. Their party package includes two hours of climbing, rental shoes, a party space – complete with party host to help you out – and much more.
Getting Every Last Wiggle Out
Sometimes the best parties are those where the kids can simply jump, move, dance and explore.
Trampoline Zone offers wall-to-wall bouncing in a wide-open leaping wonderland with different areas that include dodge ball, climbing, basketball, a foam pit, and more. Party packages include two hours of jump time, a party room, water bottles for the sure-to-be-parched partygoers, plus a party host to help out.
Perch & Play is perfect-o for the younger kids who want to be free to run around and explore the lovely indoor playground. Party options run from basic to deluxe to exclusive (giving you run of the entire playful place), and range from 90 minutes of play to 120. Each option includes a festively decorated private party room, dedicated host, a craft or game, and much more.
Sporty Parties
Inside Pitch offers batting cages, dodgeball, a private party space and much more for your budding baseball star.
Soccer, baseball, gymnastics and more – if your kid likes sports, there’s a party option that’s right up their alley in Bellingham (bowling or not).
One of my son’s favorite birthday parties took place at Inside Pitch, where he and a few buddies took batting practice in the cages, and then played a rousing game of dodge ball. An upstairs party room was ideal for pizza and cake before they grabbed their helmets, bats, and buckets of balls to get in a few more whacks. Check out Inside Pitch’s variety of party packages (and extras, like baseballs and mini wood bats for autograph sessions) here.
The Bellingham Sportsplex offers a multi-use sports facility where kids can have parties centered around ice-skating, field games (soccer, football, dodge ball – you name it), or a bouncy castle. You can also combine a field games party with concurrent bouncing. Learn more here.
The Trampoline Zone offers a dodge ball area, basketball hoops, general jumping and much more.
Bellingham Athletic Club offers a variety of activities (from party games to dodge ball) and takes care of everything from decorating to clean up. Learn more here.
Yes, I made a cringe-worthy bowling pun earlier in this article – please forgive me. Bowling is always a hit, and Bellingham offers two fun options at downtown’s 20th Century Bowl and Park Bowl on Meridian. Learn all about 20th Century Bowl’s parties here and Park Bowl’s options here.
Artsy Parties
When I recently picked up my daughter from a celebration at Gabriel’s Art Kids, her face had been gorgeously painted and she was happily dancing around the room, dressed up as a fire-breathing dragon. The two-hour party included painting and drawing, which took place both indoors and outside. Peruse all the different party options here.
The Birthday Boy or Girl can choose from a variety of party packages at Whatcom Museum’s Family Interactive Gallery, all of which include time in the colorful, hands-on museum plus the shared combination party room/art studio. Look through all the options here.
Launching Success has been selling fantastic, inventive educational gifts to Whatcom County since 2003, so they know what kids like. A birthday party at Launching Success can have nearly any theme you dream up, including bugs, robots, dinosaurs, crafts, authors (think Eric Carle or Dr. Seuss), and more. Learn more here.
Something A Bit Different
Renaissance Adventures brings an imaginative party theme to you, including storytelling, an engaging adventure quest, sword games, and treasure hunts. Name the location, and they’ll show up in costume with a party customized to any child (or adult!). Learn more about this creative program’s party options here.
Whether you’re child loves sports, dress-up, art or non-stop go-go-go, there’s a Bellingham party venue just waiting to help you create a memorable birthday party for them. I couldn’t list every option in town, so please share any favorites I missed at submit@whatcomtalk.com.
The Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center (WDRC), 9th Annual Compete for a Cause Cribbage Tournament was held Saturday, September 12 in the Boundary Bay Brewery Beer Garden. With 53 competitors of all ages and skill levels, participants played 3 round robin games, followed by an exciting 5 round elimination bracket.
The 2015 Cribbage Tournament champion is David Mapes of Bellingham, who came from behind to defeat Stacy Frost, who had been undefeated for 6 games. David was awarded a gift certificate to Boundary Bay, a free Understanding Conflict workshop at the WDRC, entry to next year’s tournament, and his name engraved on the WDRC and Boundary Bay Brewery Winners’ Plaques for posterity. Stacy Frost of Bellingham took second at this year’s tournament.
The cribbage tournament, which is one of a kind here in Whatcom County, included a raffle and the opportunity to engage with WDRC staff, board members, and volunteers to learn more about the WDRC. The proceeds of almost $1,800 will benefit the WDRC and their mission to provide and promote collaborative and constructive approaches to conflict through mediation, training, facilitation, and community education.
The WDRC is grateful to Boundary Bay Brewery for sponsoring and hosting this successful annual event and to all of the returning and new participants. “It was wonderful to see folks of varying backgrounds and ages come together for a few hours of community building and connection over cribbage,” said WDRC Executive Director, Moonwater.
Watch for a short film of the event made by Current Media and funded by a City of Bellingham Tourism Grant. Coming soon!
For individuals who missed the Cribbage Tournament, there are many upcoming events to support the WDRC. Join the Center in celebration at the 13th Annual Peace Builder Awards Gala, November 20, 2015 at 5:30, at the Bellingham Technical College Settlemyer Hall.
On September 13, 2015, at 3:30 p.m., 164 participants took off to the burst of an air horn in the 2nd Annual Wander to Wander 1K – a .62 mile “wander or sprint” from Johnny’s Donuts to Wander Brewery during Bellingham Beer Week. This event is the first of its kind in a town renowned for endurance races. All of the $3,200 proceeds benefit an equally unique nonprofit; the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center and their mission to provide and promote collaborative and constructive approaches to conflict through mediation, training, facilitation, and community education.
First to jump across the finish line, with an astonishing time of less than 4 minutes, was Charlie from Klicks Running & Walking. Charlie had a commanding lead on racers trailing him at a wide range of paces – from lightning speed to a relaxed wander. At Charlie’s heels was Meghan Manaois. In a last-minute finish line shake-up, Charlie’s jump across the finish line allowed Meghan Manaois to come from behind and edge him out to win the Wander to Wander 1K. Individuals and teams celebrated their feat with a pint of beer or root beer at the Wander Brew Hall, proudly wearing finisher medals. Racers came together in a ceremony to bestow Meghan with a single, 23” tall golden letter “K” trophy.
Colleen Kuehl, co-owner of Wander Brewing stated, “The services provided by the WDRC undoubtedly help strengthen our local community. The WDRC is unique in how they approach dispute resolution and we are excited to have partnered with them for the 2nd Annual Wander to Wander 1K. The event is an excellent tool for both fund-raising and also strengthening awareness of the services that the WDRC provides.”
The WDRC would like to thank Wander Brewing, Chazzzzam Signs & Graphics, Overhead Door, Pacific Surveying & Engineering, and Johnny’s Donuts for sponsoring and hosting this successful event, and to all of the returning and new participants this year. WDRC Executive Director, Moonwater stated, “This event was a fantastic way for families and friends to participate in a Bellingham Beer Week and raise money for such a good cause at the same time. We were thrilled with the turnout look forward to this event growing even more next year!”
Watch for a short film of the event made by Current Media and funded by a City of Bellingham Tourism Grant. Coming soon!
Cordata Elementary School kindergarten teacher, Helena Quigley, works to develop trust with each and every student.
By Laura Rogers
Cordata Elementary School kindergarten teacher, Helena Quigley, works to develop trust with each and every student.
School is back in full swing. This time of year, I can’t help thinking of all the busy teachers out there pouring every ounce of their time, energy, and love into teaching our children.
The very beginning of school, especially, is an important time for children. Kindergarten has changed a lot from what it used to be. There is so much research available now on what young children need developmentally and individually, and the teachers are integrating these findings into their classrooms. Kindergarten is no longer a half day at school with naps and a one-size-fits-all curriculum.
I met up with Bellingham Public Schools wonderful kindergarten teacher, Helena Quigley, to get the scoop on what kindergarten in 2015 is all about.
Helena Quigley has been teaching at Cordata Elementary since it opened five years ago. Recently completing her Masters in Early Childhood Education, she has even more tools and insight into what kindergarteners need to learn best. Helena is a busy woman. Along with going to school and teaching, she had a baby earlier this year. Helena lives in Bellingham with her husband and four sons. She currently teaches kindergarten, but has also taught 1st, 2nd, and 4th, and has previously taught at Birchwood and Geneva.
“Kindergarten is the hardest of all the grades I’ve taught,” explains Helena. “The kids make so much dramatic growth. Between September and winter break, they become totally different kids. It’s really fun to see.”
The transfer Helena made from Geneva to Cordata turned out to be a serendipitous move. Her dad, Kent Quigley, who has taught in the district for 17 years, also made a decision to transfer to Cordata, and neither had consulted with the other. Every week, the two teachers coordinate ‘Buddy Time,’ where Kent’s older students work with Helena’s kindergarteners.
“This is time for my 3rd and 4th graders to take on the role of teacher, and when you teach, you learn things at a very high level,” shares Kent. “For the kindergartens, they get a buddy, an older student that they can build a relationship with. During this buddy time, the buddies collaborate and work together on science, art, literacy and math. The opportunity to team-teach with my daughter has been a highlight of my teaching career. She’s a naturally gifted teacher and I’ve learned a lot from watching her.”
Without consulting each other, both Helena Quigley and her father, Kent, transferred to Cordata Elementary School in the same year. The duo now team teach a portion of their day.
Through my conversation with Helena, I learn that the first days and weeks of kindergarten are all about building stamina and establishing routines. “It’s important not to overwhelm the kids. In my class, I honor 60-90 minutes of play everyday.” She explains how they make a plan together about what they will play with. Incorporating play and planning into academics is just as important as the academics themselves. “Good activities are sensory based and they are active,” shares Helena. Students begin learning to read, not with formal literacy tasks, but with fun, simple patterns that set the kids up with tools they will need for the rest of the year.
Aside from routines, play, and stamina-building, an essential part of starting school is simply students feeling connected to their teachers. When talking to Helena about how hard it might be to get to know all twenty-or-so kids at the beginning of the year, she laughs and her eyes sparkle as she tells me, “People don’t always think about that part of teaching. Relationship building is a main focus at the beginning of the year. I have to create trust with each and every one of my kindergarteners. It’s my favorite part of teaching.”
Having my own five-year-old in kindergarten this year, what I find myself wishing for most, is for my child’s abilities and personality to be acknowledged on an individual level. It’s funny that this focus on individual attention is what keeps being repeated as we talk. “Our goals across the board are highly individualized to each student,” Helena emphasizes. “We really meet kids right where they are at.”
“We also spend a lot of time discussing, at the beginning of the year, what makes each child special and what sorts of things make them different than their friends,” she adds.
When we discuss the specifics of academics, Helena talks about the big picture of maintaining students’ natural confidence. “In kindergarten, we are setting the stage for them as learners. In some cases, we are putting pencils in their hands for the first time. We’re helping them see themselves as writers, scientists, etc,” explains Helena.
When she says this, I could see the weight of it for her. I fully admit to tearing up multiple times as she talked.
She also discusses the nuts and bolts of literacy, though confessing “there’s just so much to tell, it’s the tip of the iceberg I’m sharing.” The kids start with patterned text and heavy picture support in the beginning of the year, and that changes significantly as the year goes along. Helena teaches a balanced literacy approach, which means students learn both sight words and phonics, with a deep emphasis on comprehension. She also says she relies heavily on parents reading to their kids at home, which teaches important elements of how a story goes together.
Overall, I get the message that Helena’s teaching style is about helping kids at the many different levels they are at when they come to school. “Teacher’s jobs have gotten so much harder,” she admits. “We’re differentiating so much and that is more work, but that’s how kids learn.”
Kindergarteners and 3rd and 4th graders at Cordata Elementary School work together during Buddy Time.
Next, we shift to talking about Cordata Elementary School specifically. It’s clear Helena has a deep love for this amazing school. Not only do they work to nurture each and every child in kindergarten and beyond, but Cordata goes above and beyond in so many ways. Helena shares with me that they have an incredible Early Childhood Development Coordinator who helps new teachers, passes along information about early childhood, and even comes in to help set-up classrooms.
As a key component of the Bellingham Promise, Cordata also has a Promise Kindergarten program, which they piloted in 2014. The program is a free, public Pre-K class that runs from February to June. Promise K aims to serve the children who’ve been falling into the gaps; whose families may not be able to afford preschool and/or who might be on a waiting list for Head Start.
Helena stresses the positive impact of Promise K on incoming kindergarteners. “The kids who attended Promise K know the routines, and they become the leaders as they head into kindergarten. Also, it’s been amazing to see how the staff at Cordata banded together to make the Promise Kindergarten program fit. We shifted classrooms and made it work. We didn’t have a staff room for a while,” she said with a laugh. “But we figured it out and it has been so worth it.”
It’s readily apparent that Cordata teachers love their school. Helena says, “I really have never worked at a school with such an intense drive to work together in order to help students reach their fullest potential. At Cordata, we feel that the whole child is important so along with academics we strive to support social and emotional development as well as helping them develop their interests and honoring their passions that they bring to the table. That’s pretty special.”
What Helena’s dad, Kent Quigley, appreciates most about working at Cordata is the diversity in the student population. “When our students are together, it is very representative of society as a whole. Our students are developing respect, tolerance and the ability to work together,” he concludes.
Ciao Thyme offers up a finely curated and rotating array of fresh, local eats right in downtown Bellingham.
By Dana Hubanks
I used to be a farmer. And as any farmer will tell you, food makes the world go round.
But not all food is created equal. For three years, I worked on organic vegetable farms throughout the Northwest and what I took away from that experience more than anything is that the more intention, time and care we put into the food we grow, the better it will taste and the better we will feel when we eat that food.
The days are gone now, sadly, when I could pull my dinner straight out of the ground every day. But despite that, I still want to know that the food I’m eating is coming from a local and loving source. So, when I’m looking for a place around town to grab a meal, I often look to these five farm-to-table spots.
All of the restaurants on this list have made a commitment to source at least a portion of their menu from local, organic sources whenever possible.
Unlike most burger joints, Fiamma Burger sources their ingredients from farms who are committed to raising all-natural, hormone-free beef.
If you’ve never eaten at Fiamma Burger, you are missing out on one of the best burger experiences around. Fiamma Burger, located in the heart of downtown, serves up a wide range of burgers crafted from all natural, hormone-free, Northwest beef ground fresh in-house. They also serve a delicious handmade veggie burger for those who want to avoid meat.
But Fiamma Burger doesn’t just serve burgers. They’re also open for breakfast, serving a range of hashes and breakfast sandwiches. No matter what you end up getting at Fiamma Burger, you can be sure that it will be unprecedented for a burger joint, both for the taste and for the fact that the ingredients are sourced locally and ethically.
The Old Town Cafe reliably serves up one of the most delicious and satisfying breakfasts in town.
The Old Town Cafe is one of my favorite spots in Bellingham. Not only for its mellow atmosphere, friendly staff, and walls covered in local art, but for the fact that their menu is full of ingredients from local farms and suppliers. I love being able to go there for breakfast and know that I’ll be drinking tea from Flying Bird Botanicals, bread from The Breadfarm, and hotcakes made with flour from the Fairhaven Organic Flour Mill.
Be sure to stop in to the Old Town for a breakfast or lunch experience like none other in town.
Brandywine Kitchen’s Commercial Street space grew organically out of the owners’ Brandywine Gardens booth at the Bellingham Farmers Market.
Brandywine Kitchen describes itself as a “seed-to-table” restaurant. Pulling from local sources like Cloud Mountain Farms and Terra Verde Farm, among many others, Brandywine is committed to serving locally grown and sourced ingredients in an effort to support community and sustainability.
The menu at Brandywine is extremely diversified. From salmon cakes, to banh mi, to fish and chips, Brandywine has something for everyone. And the atmosphere is a treat, as well.
Ciao Thyme offers up a finely curated and rotating array of fresh, local eats right in downtown Bellingham.
The Ciao Thyme Cafe menu changes every month depending on what’s in season. But no matter what you end up finding on the menu–from fried brussel sprouts, to curry dishes, to house-made ice cream–you can be sure that it will be delicious, well-sourced, and creatively prepared.
Over the past 14 years, Ciao Thyme has grown from a two-person operation to a thriving cafe, catering business, and education center in downtown Bellingham. Owners Jessica and Mataio Gillis have committed themselves to writing seasonal menus and working with local farmers and artisans to bring beautifully curated and prepared meals to your table.
*Editor’s Note: This restaurant has closed since publication of this article.
The Table’s Hot Apple Toddy features two Seattle spirits.
Operated by The Bellingham Pasta Company, The Table serves a rotating selection of finely crafted Italian cuisine, sourced from local farmers and artisans. Like any true farm-to-table restaurant, the menu undergoes subtle changes as the seasons pass and progress, but their fresh, handmade pastas are a constant.
Make.Shift Art Space is hosting “Working Stiffs” featuring art work by business sponsors of Make.Shift for the October Art Walk and the month of October. The exhibit opening will be during the October Art Walk on Friday, October 2nd from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Make.Shift invited the staff at its local business sponsors, including artists from the ReStore and Toni & Guy Academy, to create art for our October exhibit with one challenge: to incorporate some item specific to that business into their artwork. The work was not limited with any other criteria. This is the first year Make.Shift has invited its sponsors to participate in showing art work in the gallery in a collaborative art show.
This event is free and open to the public.
September’s art show “Bundled in the Rafters” featuring art work by Daniel Whitsell will also have an extended showing in a portion of the Make.Shift gallery, by popular demand.
Make.Shift Art Space is a DIY art and music venue dedicated to innovative, alternative and unusual art and music in downtown Bellingham.
Prize-winning author Pamela Beason, is is among those leading sessions for authors during the Chanticleer Authors Conference at the Hotel Bellwether.
Strategies for authors on increasing sales – including publishing and distribution options, marketing strategies, branding and more – will be presented Sept. 26-29 (Saturday through Tuesday) during the Chanticleer Authors Conference & Awards Banquet 2015 at the Hotel Bellwether in Bellingham.
This year’s Chanticleer Authors Conference focuses on the business side of writing and publishing. The diverse schedule of classes, sessions and author events includes discussions of social media, pricing strategies and audio books.
“You don’t have to be a published author to attend this conference,” said conference organizer Kathryn Brown. “Aspiring authors will benefit immensely from this conference as it will help them reach their publishing goals. We will also offer ‘writing concept’ classes on creating original worlds, planning a series, developing memorable characters and more.”
The conference concludes with the Chanticleer Book Reviews Awards Banquet on Tuesday, Sept. 29. Chanticleer Reviews is awarding more than $25,000 in cash and prizes to winners of its writing competitions. Presenters and session leaders include Diane Isaacs, A-list executive film producer; Harvey Chute, founder of KBoards and Writers’ Café; Shari Stauch, CEO of Where Writers Win; Ben Coles, publisher of Promontory Publishing; Pamela Beason, award-winning eco-mystery author, and Tyler Byrd, CEO of Bellingham-based Redd Rokk Digital Marketing.
The public also is invited to attend free author readings and signings during the Books by the Bay Book Festival, featuring the award-winning titles, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sept. 27-29.
For registration information and a complete schedule of events, visit www.chantireviews.com.
Maureen Summit, instructor at Seattle Goodwill Industries, holds up two of the backpacks ready to be claimed by students in need.
By Dana Hubanks
Yoeurn Sok, father of two elementary-aged students in Bellingham, smiles for the camera while holding one of the new backpacks.
On September 18, at Carl Cozier Elementary School in Bellingham, Goodwill held a giveaway of new backpacks for low-income students in the Bellingham School District as part of their Operation School Bell program.
This giveaway was held as a part of the Assistance League of Bellingham’s Resource Fair, a back-to-school event for low-income students, and was funded through a generous initiative by Comcast.
This year Comcast donated $15,000 to purchase over 1,200 backpacks for a back-to-school giveaway for the children of Seattle Goodwill’s students. Backpacks were purchased through Goodwill’s new goods department and were filled with school supplies donated by Complete Office.
“Our students are coming from such different socio-economic circumstances that it’s important to provide as many as possible with school supplies so they’re equipped for an education,” said Diem Ly, community relations manager for Comcast Washington. “This doesn’t solve the complex inequities students face today, but what we aim to do is something even more critical than providing material assistance. We want to show each student there is a community of people behind them, people who care about them, and want them to succeed.”
Speaking with Jim Hale, Center Manager for Seattle Goodwill, he noted that “the families of students have been really impressed” with the generosity of Comcast and the quality of the backpacks themselves. “These are backpacks that will last the whole year.”
Besides the Bellingham event, Comcast also distributed backpacks full of school supplies in Marysville, Burien, Mount Vernon, Bremerton, Silverdale, South Everett and Seattle.
Laura Diaz, the mother of two young students in the Bellingham School District, expressed much gratitude for the donation of backpacks for her daughters.
Laura Diaz, the mother of two young teenagers in Bellingham schools, spoke briefly about her gratitude. “It was a big surprise,” she said. “I hadn’t seen anything like that before. It was really nice.”
“While Operation School Bell is directed at the very low-income,” Hale explained, “we serve anyone who is looking for a job. In addition to our classes we offer case management and employment services to our students. And, our classes are all free.”
Hale also stated that Seattle Goodwill has had a working relationship with Comcast for several years. “Comcast offers low-cost internet services for low-income families,” Jim described, referring to Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, the nation’s largest and most comprehensive high-speed Internet adoption program for low-income families.
“Our mission at Goodwill is really to provide people with jobs, so this is a really sweet thing that [Comcast is] doing for the families,” Hale concluded.
Thanks to the generosity of Comcast and the ongoing outreach efforts of Goodwill, many Bellingham students are packed up with the supplies they need for a successful school year.
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...
