Mount Bakery’s Annual Tour de France Celebration: Early Morning Bike Race Viewing Over Breakfast

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tour de france viewing — Current Mount Bakery owner Vince Lalonde followed in the footsteps of his friend and original owner Olivier Vrambout, who started the Tour tradition simply so he could watch the race footage live while at work.

By Stacee Sledge

When Mount Bakery owner Vincent Lalonde hears that I’ve never watched the Tour de France, he suddenly gets very animated.

“Wait until you see it!” he says. “Visually, it’s the most stunning sporting event—they’re filming from helicopters, flying over the Alps. There are 100 bicycles riding at 45 miles per hour just inches from each other on a road cutting through a field of bright yellow sunflowers under a blue sky dotted with white clouds.”

Lalonde wasn’t always a Francophile bike racing fan, but that all changed after he met original Mount Bakery owner Olivier Vrambout.

After becoming Mount Bakery’s first non-family employee, in 2001, Lalonde experienced his first Tour de France viewing party after Vrambout and friend Charlie Heggem dreamed up the idea. They brought in televisions to watch live coverage of the famed race for each of its 20 days—sometimes meeting at the bakery as early as 3:00 a.m.

“I’d go in to watch the Tour de France with them,” Lalonde remembers, “and it was like watching a two-hour French travel video followed by a bike race.”

Viewing the Tour de France at the Mount Bakery became a perfect fit for the business, which started as a Belgian bakery and expanded into a full café with both phenomenal baked goods as well as extraordinary breakfasts and lunches. A second location, in Fairhaven, opened in 2011.

“Olivier and Charlie just wanted to watch it,” Lalonde says of the early race-watching days. “And then other bikers would show up—but it was super impromptu.”’

Lalonde credits Heggem with growing the event. “Charlie’s a big planner and he had a lot to do with promoting it,” Lalonde recalls.

The casual gathering evolved into a highly anticipated event local bike-racing fans count on each year—and one Lalonde stresses couldn’t happen without tremendous help from his employees

“I have to give a big thank you to my amazing staff that put in extra hours making all of the fantastic breakfasts and pastries possible,” he says. “Without them, the Mount Bakery would be nothing.”

Though the Tour footage can start as early as 3:30 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., Bellingham time, the Mount Bakery race day begins at 5:00 a.m. Each stage viewing ends between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., depending on how fast the riders ride.

“We went through a period where we showed every single hour it was on,” Lalonde says. “A very limited number of people would come and watch the whole thing.”

In 2007, Lalonde took over ownership of the spectacular bakery and café and happily continued the Tour de France tradition—though now folks are asked to come by at 5:00 a.m.

“And even though we open that early, people can come in anytime,” says Lalonde, who encourages those new to the event to come down around 7:00 a.m., to get a taste. “Whatever time you show up, you’re going to see something beautiful and you’re going to have the best food.”

Unlike the regular restaurant setup, counter service is offered during the race rather than table service. “People come up and order, and then go sit down,” says Lalonde. “And when ads come on, they jump up and refill their coffee.”

Six large flat-screen TVs are set up inside and, weather permitting, out on the sidewalk, where it’s not uncommon to have large crowds viewing the race. “We place the televisions so people are sitting in rows out front all the way down to the Temple Bar,” says Lalonde.

Fresh croissants mingle with Hammerhead coffee and the cheering, yelling camaraderie of bicyclists, bike racing fans, and Francophiles.

The Mount Bakery does giveaways—from biking-related swag to day-old baked goods. Lalonde also designs a t-shirt every year to mark the occasion, which many folks like to collect.

“We have such loyal bike people and Mount Bakery people,” says Lalonde. “It’s the perfect joining of bike racing with fresh croissants—even fresher than they normally are, because we open even earlier—and fantastic local coffee, Belgian chocolate mochas, and our famous Benedicts.”

The café normally opens at 8:00 a.m., and Lalonde says the only potentially negative aspect of the annual event is the confusion it can cause for unsuspecting patrons. “There’s an hour gap where people show up and go, ‘What’s happened? You’ve turned into a sports bar!’” he says with a laugh.

At that point, Lalonde and his staff might yell out to the amenable bike crowd, “‘Everybody go in that room! We’re opening now!’ Because on the weekends, it’s madness,” Lalonde says, still smiling.

But all the chaos of quick-changing the café from a Tour de France viewing party back to a regular restaurant is always worth it. “We can open up early and have a group of people we love show up and watch something they love and share it. It just goes with what we do.”

Three gentlemen whom Lalonde dubs “the Board of Directors” have come for years and years—even when the bakery opened at 3:00 a.m.

“They’d all ride their bikes in and would help me break down all the chairs. It would be an hour before anyone else would show up. They’re always here and they’re so nice,” says Lalonde. “They take turns buying coffee and treats for each other, and then on the fourth day, I treat them all.”

In the past few years, the final race day has been shown on the big screen at the neighboring Pickford Film Center, with a Champs-Élysées party. This year’s final day party location has yet to be determined.

“By the time that last day happens, it’s sort of like: ‘We made it!’” says Lalonde.

Sponsors for this year’s Tour de France viewings at the Mount Bakery include Yellow Jersey Sponsor Hammerhead Coffee Roasters, as well as Aslan Brewing, Kulshan Brewing, Fairhaven Bicycle, Fanatik Bike Company, and Trailhead Athletics.

Mount Bakery Café

308 West Champion Street in downtown Bellingham

360-715-2195

Mount Bakery

1217 Harris Avenue in Fairhaven

360-778-1261

Walk, Bike or Bus to Fairhaven with Smart Trips for Chances to Win Prizes

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WhatcomTalk Editor

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smart trips fair haven — Whatcom Smart Trips has teamed up with Fairhaven merchants for its Walk, Bike or Bus To Fairhaven program.

Ah, summer in Whatcom County. We wait all year for this glorious weather—and then we make the best of it.

Whatcom Smart Trips has been encouraging us to walk, bike, bus and rideshare since 2006—regardless of the weather—with incentives and rewards from a plethora of local businesses. For the month of July, they’ve teamed up with your favorite Fairhaven merchants to get more folks stepping, peddling and swiping their bus pass to get to the Village Green and soak up that quintessential village vibe.

“We have employer partners all over the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County,” explains Susan Horst, Smart Trips Program Manager with Whatcom Council of Governments. “When we met with our Fairhaven employee partners we asked what we could do for them.”

Fairhaven merchants asked for a promotion that would target both their employees and their customers—and Smart Trips enthusiastically agreed.

“It’s very similar to something we’ve been asked to do by the Farmers Market and Pickford Film Center,” Horst continues. “They said, ‘We love Smart Trips. Can you do a promotion that tells people to please come, but without your car?’”

As with those two earlier promotions, Whatcom Smart Trips expects the Walk, Bike or Bus to Fairhaven program to be a success.

“There will be very exciting prizes from Fairhaven,” says Horst. “We have hundreds of dollars in gift cards from many of the merchants in Fairhaven.”

From on an overnight stay at the Fairhaven Village Inn to a massage at the Chrysalis Inn, plus gift certificates from popular places like Village Books, The Black Cat, and so many more, Smart Trips participants can look forward to an array of possible prizes.

Village Books has offered an employee incentive program since 2008, adding money to paychecks for those who bike, bus, walk, or carpool to work.

“This, along with the great incentives of the Smart Trips program, has given me the extra push I need to bike to work along the Boulevard Park trail almost every day,” says Rem Ryals, Village Books buyer. “Great exercise, fresh air, and a chance to savor the beauty—it’s not much of a contest with sitting in a car and paying for gas.”

“We sometimes hear how difficult parking can be in Fairhaven,” Ryals continues. “We hope more people will discover how easy it is to get here by bus, bike, or trail.”

Colophon Café co-owner David Killian has been a Smart Trips employer partner for several years.

“We all care about Bellingham,” says Killian, whose 33 employees nearly all walk, bike or bus to work already. “When we make Smart Trips, it’s healthier for the environment, the community, and the individual—especially if we walk or ride our bikes.”

Robin Bigelow, co-owner of Fairhaven Toy Garden, is looking forward to participating in another Smart Trips promotion, as her shop has done in the past.

“In addition to all the other benefits of conserving natural resources, enhancing community, and encouraging exercise,” Bigelow says, “the best part of the Smart trips program from a retailer’s point of view is that it frees up parking spaces in the district.”

Village Books, the Colophon Café and the Fairhaven Toy Garden are three of many businesses donating gift certificates and prize packages to the lucky folks who enter the drawings.

The program runs the entire month of July, so every time you make a smart trip to Fairhaven by walking, biking or riding the bus for any reason—going to work, shopping, lunch or dinner with friends, even if you live in Fairhaven and walk across the village to run an errand—all of those trips count.

Simply drop a paper entry form into the Smart Trips shopping bag you’ll find at the cashier counter of participating businesses. Maybe your dentist doesn’t have a spot to drop your entry? No problem. Simply go to another business and record your Smart Trip there; it doesn’t have to be at the exact place. All Smart Trips to Fairhaven count.

Participating merchants include Advanced Medical Massage, Alpine Institute, Bellingham Bay Dental, Bellingham Tennis Club, The Black Cat, Blessings Aveda Salon Spa, The Chrysalis Inn and Spa, Colophon Café, Community Boating Center, CreativiTEA, Fairhaven Bicycle, Fairhaven Runners & Walkers, Fairhaven Toy Garden, Fairhaven Village Inn, Fat Pie Pizza, Index Sensors and Controls, Mad Batter Cupcakes and Confections, Mambo Italiano, Peoples Bank, SPIE, Studio 910 Salon, Village Books, and Yoga Northwest.

For a detailed list of all the prize packages that will be given away, please visit the Whatcom Smart Trips website.

Weekly drawings will take place July 14, 21, 28 and August 4 and announced on the Whatcom Smart Trips website. Four lucky winners will receive a mix of gift cards for a wide range of Fairhaven merchandise. You can enter after every Smart Trip, so the more you make, the greater your chances of winning.

July Author Talks at Village Books

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WhatcomTalk Editor

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Submitted by Village Books

Before you head out on summer vacations, road trips and camping excursions, head into Village Books where local and traveling authors will be talking about a variety of titles — all worthy of reading en route. From young adult reads to keep your out-of-school teen entertained to riveting mysteries ideal for a quick thrill around the campfire, Village Books hosts a variety of authors each month who all have a story to share.

Thursday, July 9, 7:00 p.m.
Christopher Kelly, “America Invades: How We’ve Invaded or Been Militarily Involved with Almost Every Country on Earth”

America has invaded eighty-four out of 194 countries (countries recognized by the United Nations and excluding the United States) in the world. That’s 43 percent of the total. And it hasn’t been militarily involved with just ninety or a hundred countries. It has had some form of military involvement with a spectacular 191 out of 194. That’s more than 98 percent. Sometimes for better, sometimes for worse, America has had a vast impact around the globe. Kelly takes readers on a global tour of America’s military involvement with nearly every country in the world. From the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli and everywhere in between, this popular history documents the triumphs and the tragedies of American forces serving overseas.

Christopher Kelly is the son of a Korean War veteran and the descendant of Stephen Van Rensselaer, the leader of a disastrous invasion of Canada during the War of 1812. Kelly is the past chairman of Chyron Corp. (now ChyronHego) and the director of Kelly Television Co. and Kelly Broadcasting. His co-author, Stuart Laycock, is a British historian and author.

Friday, July 10, 7:00 p.m.
Kate Christie, “In the Company of Women” — Fiction

Caroline “CJ” Jamieson gave up studying history to join the Women’s Army Corps. But instead of the California post she anticipated, her orders land her on an artillery training base in West Texas. When CJ meets fellow enlistee Brady Buchanan, Fort Bliss begins to live up to its name.

Kate Christie, author of Gay Pride & Prejudice, Beautiful Game, and Leaving LA, was born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After studying women’s history at Smith College, she earned a Master’s in Creative Writing from Western Washington University. Currently she lives near Seattle with her wife, three daughters, and the family dog.

Saturday, July 11, 4:00 p.m.
Katelyn Schneider, “Secrets” — Young Adult Fiction, Local Author

Nothing is more tantalizing than a secret. What if trying to figure out everything about someone else is the key to finding out who you really are and unlocking a future you never thought possible? Join Victoria Laine as she struggles to discover the secrets of a world she thought she knew.

Katelyn Schneider is a sophomore at Western Washington University, majoring in Creative Writing with a minor in Psychology. She has managed to gain 687 lives in Super Mario World 3, and has acquired a passion for animals second only to writing. Between classes, homework, and a part-time job at a local pet store, she takes every opportunity she can get to tell the stories of the characters that speak for themselves in her mind.

Monday, July 20, 7:00 p.m.
LeeAnn Brook, “Points of Inspiration: An Artist’s Journey with Painting and Photography”

A book about the creative process, Points of Inspiration: An Artist’s Journey with Painting and Photography is an artist’s personal story about how one medium has inspired another, offering glimpses into her studio as well as her personal vision. Steeped in the art world for more than 40 years, contemporary landscape painter/photographer LeeAnn Brook explores the process of creating her vivid work. With a Foreword by award-winning writer Molly Fisk, and featuring over 140 images of Brook’s painting and photography, the book is a thoughtful and nourishing conversation about creativity, strolling among beautiful works of art with the artist herself.

An award-winning painter, photographer and graphic designer for over 40 years, LeeAnn Brook resides in Sierra foothills arts community of Nevada City, California. In addition to being a guest speaker in the arts and a painting workshop presenter, she is the writer, designer, photographer, artist and publisher of her new book “Points of Inspiration: An Artist’s Journey with Painting and Photography.”

Thursday, July 23, 7:00 p.m.
Johanna DiBiase, “Mama and the Hungry Hole” — Fiction

Julia’s Mama steals her away to New Mexico. Lonely and forced to take care of herself during Mama’s “quiet time,” Julia befriends Tree. When Nana visits and a Circus moves in next door, everything seems better, but Tree notices something very wrong, an eerie sensation of nothingness deep beneath its roots.

Johanna DeBiase writes from New Mexico, where she is spellbound by the energy vortex of Taos Mountain. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College. Her short fiction has appeared in “Portland Review,” “theEEEL,” “Monkeybicycle,” “Convergence,” “Prick of the Spindle and San Antonio Current.” She is also a certified yoga instructor, freelance journalist, vintage clothing boutique owner and mother of one.

Sunday, July 26, 4:00 p.m.
Roderick Kimball, “Path Puzzles” — Local Author

“Path Puzzles” is a new book of logic puzzles in the vein of Sudoku and Ken Ken. The puzzles progress through seven levels of difficulty. New logical concepts are introduced at the third and fourth levels, making the puzzles even more interesting thereafter. In the eighth level, the clues are encrypted, necessitating an extra layer of deduction.

Roderick Kimball is a freelance puzzle maker and all-around idea guy. He has written puzzles for the New York Times, the Unemployed Philosophers’ Guild, the National Museum of Mathematics, and NPR’s Ask Me Another. Roderick Kimball is also a juggler-musician-funnyman with the Flying Karamazov Brothers.

Wednesday, July 29, 7:00 p.m.
Jenny Milchman, “As Night Falls” — Mystery

Sandy Tremont has always tried to give her family everything. But as the sky darkens over the Adirondack mountains and the threat of a heavy snowfall looms, an escaped murderer named Nick Burgess has the power to take it all away. Gazing outside at the shadowy woods, Sandy prepares dinner while upstairs, fifteen-year-old Ivy, smart, brave, and with every reason to be angry, keeps her distance from her parents. Sandy’s husband Ben, a wilderness guide, arrives home late to a mood already simmering with unease. Nearby, two desperate men on the run make their way through the fading light, the ground in their wake red with blood they’ve shed—there can be no loose ends or witnesses. Almost twenty years as prison cellmates have forged a deadly team: Harlan is the muscle and Nick, the mind and the will. As they approach a secluded house and look through its spacious windows to see a couple eating dinner, Nick knows that here he will find what he’s looking for…before he disappears forever. When he opens the door to the Tremont home, Nick comes armed with a legacy of terror, and a secret that threatens to drag Sandy with him into the darkness. From the acclaimed and award winning author of Ruin Falls and Cover of Snow comes a breathless new novel of psychological suspense about a dark, twisted turn of events that could shatter a family—a read perfect for fans of Harlan Coben, Tana French, and Nancy Pickard.

Jenny Milchman is the author of Cover of Snow, which won the Mystery Writers of America’s Mary Higgins Clark Award, Ruin Falls, and As Night Falls. She is Vice President of Author Programming for International Thriller Writers, a member of the Mystery Writers of America and New York Writers Workshop, and the creator and organizer of Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day, which is celebrated annually in all fifty states. Jenny lives in the Hudson River Valley with her family.

Whatcom County Students Recognized at Washington Youth Academy Commencement Ceremony

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WhatcomTalk Editor

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Submitted by Washington Youth Academy

The Washington Youth Academy celebrated the graduation of nine students from the Whatcom area during commencement ceremonies on June 20.

The students who have completed the program include Bellingham teens Cesar Gutierrez, Miguel Miranda, Dahrius Smith, Ashley Santiago-Flores and Jeremy Smith, as well as Kailey Gee of Birch Bay and Chase Marcoff and Yesenia Nunez, both of Lynden, and Conner Ledet of Sumas. These students were among 140 graduates, the second largest graduation class since the Academy was established in 2009. The students will all return to high school to get their diploma, some enrolling in summer school, or seek an alternative path to finish their high school education, such as a GED or by joining Running Start.

The mission of the Washington Youth Academy is to provide a highly disciplined, safe and professional learning environment that empowers at-risk youth to improve their educational levels and employment potential and become responsible and productive citizens of the State of Washington. The Washington Youth Academy is a division of the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program. Established under authority of both federal and state law, the WYA is a state-run residential and post-residential intervention program for youth who have dropped out of high school or are at risk of dropping out. The free program places cadets in a 22-week intensive residential phase. For the following year, the youth receives intense mentoring and placement follow-up. The school is in Bremerton, but anyone from around the state can apply.

Students can earn up to 8 credits. The average number of credits eared by cadets who completed the program this cycle was 7.9 – achieving a 98.5 percent credit retrieval rate. Comparatively, a full year at a high school is 6 credits. That means students earned more than a year’s worth of credits in just 22 weeks.

Washington Youth Aacademy — Ashley Santiago-Flores stands at attention, holding the banner for the Third Platoon at the Washington Youth Academy.

Graduating cadets had an average GPA for Academy courses of 3.6, which is a high B+. As a comparison, 52 of the graduating cadets had a grade point average less than a D before coming to the Academy.

Only 14 of the cadets who entered the program had enough credits to be classified as seniors. After commencement, 92 graduates of the program have the credits needed to be classified as seniors.

Students volunteered 7,809 hours of community service to the local community, valued at $67,000, according to Washington Youth Academy Director Larry Pierce. Service projects consisted of everything from restoring a Sept. 11 Memorial to landscaping and event support.

Each cadet was also trained to be part of a Community Emergency Response Team, the first time all of the cadets in a class received the disaster management training.

“We had 140 cadets of diverse backgrounds and situations come together to become one cohesive unit,” Pierce said. “They overcame obstacles and shared both dreams and setbacks, as well. They shared laughter and tears, but they changed together and they prevailed together.”

More than 1,500 students have gone through the program since its inception.

For more information, visit http://mil.wa.gov/youth-academy.

Swim Like a Fish at Whatcom County Pools and Aquatic Centers

By

Laura Rogers

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swim featured — Kids can have fun and cool off in the aquatic center.

By Laura Rogers

bellingham swimming — Kids enjoy the diving board on Fun Friday at Bayside.

Summer has arrived in Whatcom County, and with some record breaking heat, everyone is looking for some water to splash in. Luckily, Whatcom County is chock-full of wonderful places to cool off. If you’re looking to add a little more instruction to that pool time, there are a wide variety of swim lessons available, too. Most pools offer classes for babies, seniors, and everyone in between. Feeling adventurous? There’s even underwater hockey at the YMCA.

Most facilities have already started their summer lessons. To get your pick of pool, time-slot, and ability level, don’t delay. Registering online is a snap in most cases.

Several private clubs open their doors to the public for swim lessons. If you’re looking for lap or open swim options, look into a club membership. Some clubs, like the YMCA, have the option of a daily rate for non-members. Arne Hanna is Bellingham’s amazing public aquatics center where no membership is required. Most pools hold parent/child classes for babies and toddlers, but require a parent to be in the water during the class.

For entirely free water play, the Bellingham spray parks at Fairhaven and Cornwall Parks are a fantastic option. The combination of being outdoors with fun water spouts, arches and the adjacent play structure is pure joy for most kids (and their parents, too). Both spray parks are open daily from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. now through Labor Day.

Other popular swimming holes include Bloedel-Donovan Park, Lake Padden, Lake Samish, and, of course, there are the local bays, once the water warms up a little. Truly, we are lucky to have so many choices when it comes to water fun!

Here are some details on local pools and lessons:

Bayside Swimming Club

I can personally speak to the quality of Bayside. This is a laid-back pool with a really fun vibe. My kids have attended lessons here for the past two years and are signed up for the coming season as well.

One of the nicest things about Bayside swim lessons is the instructors. The first time I watched a lesson, I was surprised to see that there were nearly as many instructors as there were students. Students were active, swimming nearly all the time, and most importantly, happy. The outdoor aspect is perfect for warm summer days, and there is a general atmosphere of welcoming parent involvement and input. Every Friday they hold “Fun Friday” where kids spend the whole lesson going off the diving board, down the water slide, and playing all kinds of pool games.

Bayside, located in the neighborhood of Edgemoor, has been a Bellingham swim club for more than 40 years. The pool was fully renovated in 1992. The facility has four lap lanes, a diving board, and a wading pool. Half hour lessons are taught Monday through Friday throughout the summer from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Sessions are two weeks long and are $80 per child for non-members, with a $5 multi-child discount. Bayside welcomes children from six months through teen years and swim team is available.

Bayside Swimming Club
502 Clark Road
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-647-2168

fairhaven spray park — Kids of all ages can enjoy the Bellingham Spray Parks.

Bellingham Golf and Country Club

Located on the North side of Bellingham, Bellingham Golf and Country CLub offers swim lessons for non-members at its beautiful outdoor pool. Leslie Lekos, a mother of two young boys (ages 3 and 5) has been delighted with their experience. “Bellingham Country Club is incredibly organized and the teachers are fantastic. My boys have improved so much in this first session,” said Lekos.

Lessons are held in 30 minute increments Monday through Friday for two-week sessions, which cost $90 per session. All abilities are welcome and classes are tailored to meet each swimmer’s specific needs. Children must be at least 3-years-old and potty trained to sign-up. For the older kids, a swim team has recently been organized for ages 10 and older.

Bellingham Golf and Country Club
3729 Meridian St.
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-733-3450

Bellingham Athletic Club Swim Lessons

Located in the Cordata area, Bellingham Athletic Club also opens its doors to the public for lessons. The club added a pool to its Cordata location in 1982, and it has been a huge hit ever since. The club is celebrating 40 successful years serving Whatcom County families this year.

Half-hour lessons run Tuesday and Thursday for four weeks (eight lessons) and are $50 for non-members. Kids 6 months to adult are welcome. Private and semi-private lessons and swim team are also available. Checkout Bellingham Athletic Club’s memberships to expand your pool options to lap swim, water aerobics, family swim and more.

Bellingham Athletic Club
4191 Meridian St.
Bellingham, WA 98266
360-676-1800

swimming bellingham — There are a bevy of nice facilities for everyone to enjoy at Arne Hanna Aquatic Center.

YMCA Swim Lessons

The YMCA has five convenient locations around the county: Lynden, Ferndale, Sudden Valley, Glenhaven, and Bellingham. Day passes are available to non-members ($10 for adults, $5 for kids). Liz Darrow and her 5-year-old spend a lot of their summer hanging out at the Sudden Valley location. “The Sudden Valley pool is our favorite because it’s outside, so there’s no overwhelming chlorine smell. There’s also a playground and a library out there, so we pack a lunch and make a day of it. It’s really fun! There are day passes available, but we go several times per week, so the family membership is worth it,” said Darrow.

Classes are held at a wide variety of days and times, including Saturdays, which can help accommodate working parents. There is also the option of five, eight, or ten class sessions. A 10-class session is $70 for non-members (plus a $20 program membership fee, which is good for the year).

If you’re considering a Y membership, there are an abundance of aquatics classes available (especially at the Bellingham location) such as: adult exercise, lap swim, open swim, family swim, triathlon practice, underwater hockey, water fitness, and swim team with the Whatcom Y Dolphins for ages 6-18 years.

(Various YMCA locations across Whatcom County.)

Arne Hanna Aquatic Center

This swim center really has it all. Eight lane lap pool? Check. Enormous (135-foot) water slide? Check. Four pools, one with a beach entry? Check. And, if that weren’t enough, Arne Hanna also has a dive tank with a one-meter springboard and a hydrotherapy pool.

Anyone is welcome anytime at Arne Hanna for a low entry fee. Ten-visit and 3-month swim passes are available as well, so you can save even more. Swim lessons are available for $5.50 per class for a 25 minute lesson. A wide variety of days and times are available, including weekends. Arne Hanna welcomes kids six months through teen/adult. The American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim program is used for youth level swim lessons.

Arne Hanna offers a great deal beyond swim lessons, including: lap swim, Red Cross training courses, shallow water aerobics, deep water running, deep water aerobics, water child care, kayaking, and preschool, family and open swims.

Arne Hanna Aquatic Center
1114 Potter St.
Bellingham, WA 98229
360-778-7665

Downtown Sounds Keeps Bellingham Hopping

By

Lorraine Wilde

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downtown sounds bellingham — March Forth Marching Band broke Downtown Sounds attendance record in 2011 with over 3,000 people. Photo by Kenneth Kearney.

By Lorraine Wilde

A free outdoor concert series now in its 11th year, Downtown Sounds, will bring local and nationally touring bands, area food vendors, and a beverage garden to Bay Street every Wednesday night in July. “It is Whatcom County’s biggest urban music festival,” explains Downtown Bellingham Partnership Events Manager, Lindsey Payne. “It is unique to downtown and everyone can attend.”

The Downtown Bellingham Partnership, a non-profit established in 2000, works to represent the diverse interests of Bellingham’s downtown businesses and residents while providing leadership in the development of public policy with the City of Bellingham to ensure a healthy, vibrant culture. “Downtown Sounds is just one of the great events we coordinate that shows all of the resources and cultural opportunities we have here,” notes Payne. The Partnership also organizes Downtown Wine and Art Walks, trick-or-treating, and Bite of Bellingham, to name a few.

“Downtown Sounds began in 2005 and aimed to build a sense of community. We wanted to encourage equitable access to culture and arts, and use existing space creatively,” describes Payne. The alley between Mindport and the Wild Buffalo was originally chosen for its urban beauty and central location. “The event was a way to revitalize underused urban spaces,” explains Payne. Eventually outgrowing the space, the event moved to its current location on Bay Street between Holly and Magnolia Streets. “This all happened at the same time the City of Bellingham was investing in this area as a downtown arts district, so it just made sense,” notes Payne, who has organized the event for the past seven years.

Downtown Sounds is just half of the Levitt AMP Bellingham Music Series, a 10-week concert series sponsored through a grant from Levitt Pavilions, whose focus on revitalizing public spaces will occur in 16 cities and 14 states this year. The other half of the series, organized by Bellingham Parks and Recreation, features free lunchtime concerts in Maritime Heritage Park in August and early September, called Music at Maritime.

Music this year is an eclectic mix of Bellingham mainstays and regional bands from Seattle, Vancouver, B.C., and beyond. Talent originally formed in Bellingham includes Polecat’s stomp-worthy bluegrass, the contagious electro-funk of Acorn Project, and the classic R&B/funk/soul of Baby Cakes. Seattle-based bands are also represented including the jazz organ and funk band McTuff and the urban rock band Ayron Jones and the Way, who have opened for B.B. King and made a record produced by Sir Mix A-Lot. The stellar guitar stylings of Portland, Oregon’s Scott Pemberton Trio and Vancouver, B.C.’s Five Alarm Funk will also fill the downtown scene this July.

No tummies will be grumbling at Downtown Sounds either. Local food and beer vendors make this event much more than a concert. “Delicious Mischief, El Capitan’s gourmet sausages and pretzels, and Goat Mountain Pizza will offer yummies on-site,” beams Payne, “and we’ll have healthy options from Electric Beat Juice and a little sweetness from Pure Bliss.” As is true for most Bellingham events, local breweries will also be well represented. “Boundary Bay Brewery has always been an amazing partner to work with for our beer garden, and we will also offer favorites from other local breweries including Aslan Brewing.”

“Our first night of the series is going to be a crazy, huge street party,” laughs Payne. Yogoman Burning Band, a Jamaican/New Orleans ska/soul brass band, will kick off the July 1 event. Aerialist performances by members of the Bellingham Circus Guild will captivate intermission before the reggae ambassadors, Third World, take the stage. The beer garden is sponsored that evening by Pint Night, an event organized by RE Sources and KISM radio who will broadcast live and give away free tickets to Yes, We CAN!, RE Sources’ 4th of July canned craft beer festival in Bellingham.

Attendance at the event grows each year, ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 per show. “Within five days of making our Facebook event page, we had over 1,000 people indicate they would attend. It took us a month to get there last year. Now we’re up to 1,600,” reveals Payne.

Accordingly, the Downtown Bellingham Partnership is looking for volunteers to help with these July events so get in touch if you’re interested. “Every year is a different challenge,” says Payne. “Changes are happening and downtown is growing. We’re honored that Downtown Sounds is a part of it.”

Downtown Bellingham Partnership

1310 Commercial Street

Bellingham, WA 98225

360-527-8710

Quick Guide to Celebrating the 4th of July around Bellingham

By

Dana Hubanks

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Whatcom County’s largest Independence Day fireworks — Whatcom County is a great place to celebrate to the 4th of July.

Editor’s Note: You have reached the 2015 4th of July article. The 2017 version is available by clicking here.

By Dana Hubanks

4th july bellingham — Celebrate the 4th of July in Bellingham with our guide of activities.

One of my favorite Bellingham memories was made on the Fourth of July. It was 2011. I was entering into my last year of college, savoring the few weeks I had before summer quarter started by spending as much time outside and barefoot as I possibly could. Even for July, it was especially hot, and after walking the interurban trail for several hours with a few friends, we decided to jump into the water at Boulevard Park.

I floated on my back in the almost (but not quite) warm waters of the bay, looking up at the blue sky, noticing the light ripple on the water and on my own skin, sometimes not knowing the difference. In that moment, I was suspended both by salt water and by the contentment of knowing I lived in a place I truly loved.

While jumping into the Puget Sound might not find its way into everyone’s Fourth of July plans, there are still plenty of fun events happening to keep us all riding on a wave of early-summer bliss. All of the events featured below are family friendly.

blaine fourth — Kick off Independence Day festivities with Blaine’s Old Fashioned Fourth from June 26 – 28.

Blaine’s Old Fashioned Fourth

When: July 4 from 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Where: Downtown Blaine and Blaine Marine Park, 272 Marine Drive, Blaine

Free admission

Each year thousands of people flock to Blaine for a full-day of 4th of July fun during Blaine’s Old Fashioned Fourth celebration. This year the fun kicks-off at 8:00 a.m. at the Blaine Community Center with a pancake breakfast and is followed by an Arts and Crafts Street Fair (featuring more than 80 vendors), a car show and sine, live music (all day) and the 4th of July Parade from noon to 8:00 p.m. before culminating at Marine Park for an impressive fireworks display over Semiahmoo Bay starting at 10:15 p.m.

beer festival bellingham — The second annual Yes, We CAN! beer festival on July 4 in Bellingham.

Yes, We CAN! The Northwest’s 1st Canned Craft Beer Festival

When: Saturday, July 4 from 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Where: Elizabeth Station, 1400 W Holly St.

Tickets: available online for $20, or $25 at the door — kids under 14 free with an adult

Yes, We CAN! was born just last year, but even so, this “all-ages street festival” is quickly making a name for itself as a Bellingham tradition. Hosted once again by Elizabeth Station on W Holly St., Yes, We CAN! will be especially exciting for fans of craft beer. This event, tagged as “The Northwest’s 1st Canned Craft Beer Festival”, is a fundraiser for RE Sources for Sustainable Communities, the parent organization of The RE Store and other important community programs like WaterWork, The RE Patch Community Garden, and the Safe Fuels Initiative.

From 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, the whole 1400 block of W Holly St. will transform into a hub of live music by Bellingham bands Polecat and Wild Rabbit, circus performances, food vendors, games for the whole family, and of course, lots and lots of craft beer. Plus, according to Elizabeth Station’s own Patrick McEvoy, the Station has one of the best views of the fireworks to be found in Bellingham.

In talking with Patrick, I was curious to know what inspires the Station to host an event benefiting the RE Store. “I think the service [the RE Store] provides is of great benefit to the city, and I love going in there and finding fun things,” Patrick tells me. Elizabeth Station easily sells canned beer 2-to-1 over bottled beer, he explains. So, Patrick and the rest of the team have a vested interest in recycling, especially when it comes to aluminum. Elizabeth Station is “dedicated to recycling as much as possible, and cans simply are a better choice to bottles in just about every way (which people should come to the event to find out more about!).”

For more details about Yes, We CAN! events as well as the organization and efforts it will benefit, click here. And don’t forget: this event is open to all ages.

fourth july bellingham — The Haggen Fourth of July celebration has been happening for almost two decades.

Haggen Family Fourth of July Celebration

When: Saturday, July 4 from 11:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Where: Zuanich Park at Squalicum Harbor

Free Admission

The Haggen Family Fourth of July Celebration has been happening for nearly two decades, thanks to Haggen, Port of Bellingham, and the Bellingham Chamber of Commerce. With everything from live music, to a beer garden and food vendors, to an all-ages basketball tournament, this event, held at Zuanich Park in Bellingham, is bound to be a good time for everyone.

Plus, no Fourth of July celebration is complete without a fireworks show. The Haggen Family Fourth is responsible for the classic display of fireworks over Bellingham Bay that so many of us treasure. Of course, the show will be visible from many parts of the city, but what better way to view them than from the front row?

For full details, including a list of performers, registration for the basketball tournament, and information about parking and shuttles, click here.

Whatcom County Students Recognized in State Capital During Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Recognition Reception

By

WhatcomTalk Editor

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90 students from across Western Washington and Spokane were recognized during the 2015 Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Recognition Reception.

For a select few of Whatcom County’s graduates, the excitement of finishing high school was made even sweeter last week when they were invited to Olympia for the Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Recognition Reception at the Governor’s Mansion.

For the past 15 years, Comcast has made a point of recognizing and rewarding hardworking students who go above and beyond at school and in their communities through the Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship program.

Since the program’s inception in 2000, Comcast has awarded more than $21.6 million to approximately 21,000 graduating high school seniors nationwide. This year, 90 graduating seniors from schools across Western Washington and Spokane received scholarships in the amount of $1,000 or more to help them as they continue their education.

This year, eight of the 90 scholarship recipients hailed from Whatcom County, representing cities like Bellingham, Ferndale and Lynden, just to name a few. Several of the students made the drive south with their parents for the inspirational evening.

Just as proud as Comcast is to recognize Washington’s amazing student leaders, students feel equally honored. The scholarship is a symbol of their years of hard work.

Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship recipients are selected based on a few different challenging criteria. To be considered and selected for the scholarship, students had to demonstrate academic excellence through a minimum GPA of 2.8, provide examples of ways they’ve been leaders in their schools, and demonstrate how they’ve contributed to their communities.

Of the Whatcom County students who were selected, all had impressive achievements to share.

However, Squalicum High School’s Timothy Lann wasn’t selected based on his impressive academic merits alone. The 4.0 GPA student, who will be heading to Harvard, has also proven himself as a leader at home and abroad. “During my freshman year, I traveled to Mexico for two weeks to serve at an orphanage in Vicente Guerrero, participating in feeding programs and community rebuilding,” Lann explained in his scholarship application. “After this trip, I was so emotionally moved and inspired that I founded my own 501(c)3 non-profit organization to further the amount of people I could help get out of poverty.”

Students like Lann go above and beyond to not only prepare for their futures, but to positively impact their communities and — in some cases — the world.

Like Lann, Esmerelda Munoz, a senior at Sedro-Woolley High, has a 4.0 GPA. However, while Lann was helping communities abroad, Munoz was keeping it local as a volunteer Sunday school teacher at her church. “I believe I have learned as much from my students as they have learned from me,” said Munoz in her scholarship application. “Their curiosity to learn has inspired me to be more knowledgeable to answer their questions.”

For students like Lann and Munoz, scholarships like the Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship are more than just financial assistance for college. Keynote speaker Reggie Jones said awards like the Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship give students an opportunity. “It gives them confidence going into life,” said Jones. “This right here is a helpful hand.”

The event, which started with a Capitol Campus tour, culminated with a buffet-style dinner and reception in the Governor’s Mansion. During the reception, local leaders, including Washington State Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos and former NFL cornerback Reggie Jones, offered words of wisdom and good wishes to the scholarship recipients.

Sabrina Register, the evening’s emcee and host of Comcast Newsmakers, said, “I think what Comcast is doing by supporting amazing leaders and achievers here in Washington State is a great thing. It’s a great way for today’s youth to be recognized, and Comcast is really proud to take part and sponsor these kids.”

The June 11 Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Recognition Reception was an event marked by excited students, proud parents and inspirational speakers — all there to recognize the hard work of the graduating seniors; our country’s future leaders.

You can learn more about this year’s Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship on Comcast’s website here.

6 Perfect Picnic Spots in Bellingham, Plus Ideas for Delicious Provisions

By

WhatcomTalk Editor

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bellingham picnic — Boulevard is a busy spot for good reason. Find some quiet under the shade of a tree and enjoy the bay views while you eat.

Is there anything more wonderful on a fantastic summer’s day than finding just the right shady spot for a picnic? Delicious eats, good company (or a good book), and a cool breeze on a warm day are all one needs for picnic perfection.

Bellingham and Whatcom County are filled-to-the-brim with lovely spots for a lazy meal out-of-doors. Here are some ideas for provisions and destinations that will have you hankering to pack a basket and bask in Mother Nature’s beauty.

Fill your picnic basket

First, you need the food. Go high-end and fancy or simple and scrumptious—there are no rules when it comes to eating on a blanket (or picnic table or bench or big piece of beach driftwood…)

Old World Deli in downtown Bellingham offers an authentic European deli experience, from carefully crafted sandwiches on Breadfarm breads to hard-to-find meats and cheeses, including Seattle’s famed Salumi meats (brought to you by Armandino and Marilyn Batali, parents of celebrated American chef Mario Batali). Peruse the well-stocked market goods section for specialty items, such as olives and condiments that are just the thing to make a picnic memorable.

Fairhaven’s Perfectly Paired also offers artisan cheeses and magnificent meats. They even offer a road-ready box, which feeds one to two people, complete with cheese, meat, a coordinating cheese condiment, cheese knife, bread or crackers, fruit, and a taste of artisan chocolate.

Stand at the Community Food Co-op deli case—the one downtown or at the Cordata store—and prepare to be overwhelmed (in the best possible way). Delicious, nutritious salad options abound, and all are made with whole ingredients you can feel good about. Grab a pre-made sandwich or get one made-to-order—and don’t forget some crunchy chips and a beverage or two from the cold case.

When I moved to Bellingham 20 years ago, the Sehome Village Haggen was the first grocery store I walked into after unpacking in my nearby South Hill apartment. I grabbed a sandwich from their deli case that instantly became a favorite, with thinly sliced chicken, avocado, and Asiago cheese. It’s still available today, alongside an array of classic specialty sandwiches, as well as unique offerings, such as lemongrass chicken banh mi. The nearby deli case offers a wide assortment of salads, dips, and more to finish up filling your basket.

Pick your picnic spot

Bellingham’s parks are full of picnic tables and shelters—ideal for big family picnics; check here for a full list of which parks offer both. But what about spots that also offer good old fashioned spread-out-a-blanket and shoo away the ants picnicking? Here are some of my family’s favorites. Drop us a line at submit@whatcomtalk.com to tell us about yours.

Boulevard Park

470 Bayview Drive

Who doesn’t love Boulevard Park? No one, it seems, gauging by the crowds most days. But with plenty of shade trees dotting the waterfront park, and a smattering of picnic tables, it’s still possible to grab a relaxing spot for a picnic. Keep an eye out for hungry crows; I once watched one take off with my toddler son’s breakfast.

Marine Park

100 Harris Avenue

Less busy than Boulevard but with an equally lovely Bellingham Bay view, Marine Park in Fairhaven features a nice park shelter right next to the gently sloping beach. Kids can keep themselves busy throwing rocks into the water while you set out the fare.

Zuanich Point Park

2600 Harbor Loop

Pack a kite alongside your picnic basket if you head to Zuanich Point Park, overlooking both Bellingham Bay and Squalicum Harbor—it’s one of the best spots in town for flying one. Unfurl a blanket, plunk down to eat, and then stretch out in the sun for a little post-lunch nap while the rest of the family plays.

Big Rock Garden

2900 Sylvan Street

Big Rock Garden feels like a serene, secluded secret—if you pop in when few others are there (this would not be Mother’s Day, when Big Rock Garden holds an annual garden party in celebration of all things Mom). Its permanent sculpture garden, with nearly 40 beautiful pieces, is a wonder of styles. Discovering each one makes for a lovely, meandering walk under towering evergreens. After your stroll, grab a seat under the pagoda—the Korean War Children’s Memorial Pavilion—and unpack your lunch.

Lake Padden

4882 Samish Way

Lake Padden is a south side Bellingham charmer. Hike or bike around the lake, and then settle down for a lovely waterside meal. Younger kids will love the playground, too. Bring some stale bread to feed the ducks after you’ve had your own fill of yummy eats.

Bloedel Donovan Park

2214 Electric Avenue

Bloedel Donovan Park on Lake Whatcom is a popular destination on warm-weather days—its beach is dotted with sun-worshippers and lake-dippers. It’s also a welcoming spot for a picnic, either on the ground or sitting at one of the park’s picnic tables. This park also boasts a fun playground area for the shorter set.

You can create a wonderful picnic with nearly anything and enjoy it nearly anywhere, so long as it’s food you love, enjoyed in a spot that brings you peace and relaxation. Here’s hoping these suggestions inspire you to set out soon with picnic basket in hand.

Jennifer Ryan Design Home Featured on HOUZZ

By

WhatcomTalk Editor

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J.RyanHomeExt. — Jennifer Ryan, interior designer and owner of Jennifer Ryan Design, has been featured on the international home design website HOUZZ for a very special design and remodeling project—her personal home in Bellingham.

Submitted by Jennifer Ryan Design

Jennifer Ryan, interior designer and owner of Jennifer Ryan Design, has been featured on the international home design website HOUZZ for a very special design and remodeling project—her personal home in Bellingham. The HOUZZ story includes photos of the home’s interior and exterior, along a story detailing the renovation project, and how Ryan and her husband, Scott Hendrickson, live and work in the home.

“I’m thrilled to see my work and my home on the HOUZZ website,” said Ryan. “I love sharing ideas and getting inspiration from HOUZZ photos from all over the world, but I didn’t expect to be featured when I submitted my own photos of my house.”

Ryan’s home remodeling project began back in 1992, when she purchased what was then a duplex. She started by removing the dividing wall and upstairs kitchen, and returning the 1903 Dutch Colonial to its original single-family layout.

Since then, she’s torn out more walls, removed carpet and linoleum, stripped and painted woodwork, updated the kitchen and remodeled a third-floor attic into a guest bedroom with a common area, plus twin beds for extra guests. The room, which Ryan describes as her “favorite space in the house,” features new skylights, a reclaimed stair railing purchased years ago at an auction, antique metal beds and a cow-print carpet. “It’s bright and fun,” said Ryan.

Jennifer Ryan Design was launched 30 years ago, and has since renovated, updated and decorated thousands of projects from as close as Bellingham to as far away as Hawaii.

Houzz is a Palo Alto, California-based web platform for home remodeling and design that offers visual idea sharing for homeowners and home-related professionals. Website visitors can browse photos of kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, and more, plus find professionals to complete their projects, from interior designers to contractors.

“As a writer-photographer covering Jennifer Ryan’s home for Houzz, I had the chance to carefully study Jennifer’s home,” said Kimberley Bryan. “The attention to detail in the home is astounding, and the overall effect is edgy romantic with hits of mystery and surprise. Covering Ryan’s home was a real visual treat.”

Jennifer Ryan Design was launched 30 years ago, and has since renovated, updated and decorated thousands of projects from as close as Bellingham to as far away as Hawaii. Services include interior design, remodeling, custom tile design and installation, project management, color consultations, upholstery and soft coverings for homes, offices and boats.

“It’s very gratifying to see my hard work appreciated by the HOUZZ team,” said Ryan.

To learn more about Jennifer Ryan Design, visit http://www.JenniferRyanDesign.com. Or, call 360-733-9519.

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