The annual live music and movie series kicked off our 2023 season last weekend. The Fairhaven Green is the place to be, every Saturday night through August 26th.
July 1 – Top Gun Maverick / entertainment: The Bayou Opossums
July 8 – Finding Nemo / entertainment: The Song Wranglers
July 15 – Mamma Mia / entertainment: Quickdraw String Band
July 22 – Black Panther / entertainment: K-Kats
July 29 – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever / entertainment: Rose Aiko
August 5 – A League of Their Own / entertainment: D’Vas
August 12 – Field of Dreams / entertainment: Cardova
August 19 – The Princess and the Frog / entertainment: Guitars and Gratitude
August 26 – The Princess Bride / entertainment: Birdhouse
Movies start at dusk and entertainment about 2 hours prior to the movie. Ticketing Prices: $7 per person cash, $8 per person credit card; kids 4 and under are FREE. Concession tickets available for $3 each (popcorn, soda/water, and candy available).
Details can be found on our website at www.enjoyfairhaven.com or follow us on social media @enjoyfairhaven.
Thank you to our presenting sponsor Village Books and Paper Dreams!
Cryo Rolls' employees work their ice cream stations during a recent evening. It generally takes about two to three minutes for rolled ice cream to achieve its final form. Photo credit: Matt Benoit
A couple of years ago, Izaiah Ellis was fascinated by a YouTube video he saw about rolled ice cream.
The dessert — also known as stir-fried ice cream in Thailand, where it originated — involves spreading a liquid mixture of cream, milk, and other ingredients on a cold pan, stirring and rolling the mix until frozen, then putting the rolls into a cup with additional toppings.
The video Ellis viewed that night was the catalyst to where he is now, as founder and majority owner of Cryo Rolls, Bellingham’s first rolled ice cream shop. Located in the bottom floor of the waterfront Granary Building next to Waypoint Park, the business continues to grow in popularity since it opened last September.
Seeing any of their 10 flavors rolled into deliciousness by employees is to witness what’s best described as ice cream hibachi. Once the liquid mixture is poured onto a metal plate, cooled to around -20 degrees Celsius, it only takes between two to three minutes for the mix to be manipulated into frozen, creamy goodness.
“It’s like reverse scrambling eggs,” Ellis says of watching the ice cream get made.
Bellingham’s Cryo Rolls specializes in rolled ice cream: a liquid mix of milk, cream and other ingredients poured onto a very cold metal plate and quickly frozen and rolled into deliciousness. Photo credit: Matt Benoit
A cup of Cryo Roll ice cream costs nine dollars, and while that might sound exorbitant to some, the weight and flavor each cup packs is more than enough for most.
“Our ice creams are over half a pound in a 12-ounce cup,” Ellis says. “It’s super velvety, very rich. A lot of people split them. You could be the biggest glutton in the world and you’re not going to make it through an ice cream and want another one. It’s gonna scratch that itch.”
Ice Cream Science
What makes the ice cream at Cryo Rolls so good is a recipe based on minimal air and lots of butterfat.
The Food and Drug Administration designates several categories of ice cream based mainly on air and fat concentrations, Ellis says. Lesser quality ice creams substitute more sugar for cream, owing to cost, and also incorporate more air. Super-premium ice cream, however, minimizes air and maximizes fat.
The frozen rolls are put into cups, and then finished with whipped cream and other tasty toppings. Photo credit: Matt Benoit
Gelato is about 25% air, Ellis says, where many regular grocery store ice creams come in at 50%. Cryo Rolls’ ice cream, however, contains less than 1% air while clocking in at 27% butterfat. It has no added sugars and its homemade base consists of only real vanilla, heavy cream, and condensed milk before specific flavor ingredients are added.
The 10-flavor menu consists of six shifting mainstays from fixed categories — chocolate, mint, peanut butter, fruit-based and miscellaneous — plus four weekly rotating flavors ranging from avocado to s’mores. The latter includes graham cracker and jet-puffed marshmallow burnt with a crème brulee torch, and then topped with chocolate shavings.
More exotic flavors have included cornbread and “The Elvis” — a combination of peanut butter, banana, and bacon. Ellis’s favorites include piña colada, key lime pie, and Biscoff cookie butter.
Betting on Himself
Although Ellis, 23, had childhood aspirations of being a chef, he says he did not foresee an adulthood centered on ice cream.
Growing up in Sedro-Woolley, Ellis initially was interested in archery, and worked and travelled professionally in that industry during high school. He eventually tired of the travel and quit, graduating with a high school GPA not good enough to get into any four-year college.
The 10-flavor menu consists of six mainstay offerings and four rotating weekly flavors. Photo credit: Matt Benoit
Instead, Ellis attended community college and became manager at a Dick’s Sporting Goods store. He felt, he says, like he wasn’t really living for himself.
After moving to Bellingham in 2020 and finding rolled ice cream videos online, Ellis realized no such businesses existed locally and was inspired.
“I drove down to a chef’s store with a pen and pad and ran some numbers,” he says.
Realizing the potential for profit — and feeling like having a failed business at a young age would still be better than plugging along with work and school in an uninspired manner — Ellis spent $7,000 on a rolled ice cream machine.
“I took everything I had…and put it all on black,” he says. “I was terrified.”
Some of the money came from buying quality stocks at cheap prices during the initial stock market downturn in early 2020, around the same time he was temporarily laid off from his day job.
Once Ellis had the machine, he began catering ice cream to birthday parties, baby showers, and other events. He named the company after an ice-based weapon in the Fallout 4 video game called the “Cryolator.” Cryo, by the way, derives from the Greek word for frost.
Cryo Rolls employees whip up orders on a recent evening at the ice cream shop, located inside Bellingham’s Granary Building near Waypoint Park. Photo credit: Matt Benoit
By May 2021, Ellis had left his job at Dick’s and dropped out of college two classes shy of a degree to focus solely on ice cream. He also began doing social media videos to double his business odds, thinking he might become an ice cream influencer if making the jump to brick and mortar didn’t work.
His sixth TikTok video went viral, quickly garnering several million views. In just a week, Cryo Rolls went from zero TikTok followers to 100,000. Although Ellis initially struggled to replicate the viral success of subsequent videos, Cryo Rolls has since found solid footing in social media: On TikTok, its videos have currently racked up nearly 400 million combined views, with 1.8 million followers.
Livestream videos of ice cream making average 1 to 2.5 million views a day, Ellis says. They also have 66,000 Instagram followers.
The internet traffic has provided both an additional revenue stream and terrific marketing power, helping Cryo Rolls strike a deal with the Granary Building’s landlord, who sees the ice cream shop as an ideal fit. Cryo Rolls is currently adding additional employees and ice cream-making stations, and an eventual expansion to multiple locations is also likely.
All in all, not too bad for a community college dropout.
Cryo Rolls is located at 1207 Granary Avenue Suite #150 in Bellingham. The ice cream shop is open from noon to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and noon to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
The Bellingham Pride parade starts at Bellingham High School and ends at Depot Square, where local businesses and organizations host the festival with live music, food trucks, and gift stalls. Photo credit: Robert Ashworth / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-2.0
Bellingham is home to many proud members and allies of the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) community. Since the liberation movement for sexual and gender minorities began, the city has seen community and student advocacy for acceptance and equality.
LGBTQ+ people have always existed, even as language has evolved. As BellingHistory blogs on LGBTQ+ history note, Bellingham’s vaudeville culture from the 1890s through 1910s prominently featured drag performances. “Female impersonators” of the era included “Gay Deceiver” Mansel Vardaman Boyle, “Huntress” Harry Hemphill, Julian Eltinge, and Joseph Noel. (In 1993, vandals removed a Fairhaven historic marker reading “Mr. Noel Wore a Dress and Welcomed the Guests.”)
The modern LGBTQ+ movement in America started with the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City. On Stonewall’s anniversary in 1970, the first Pride marches articulated the power of resisting shame resulting from social stigma and of celebrating human diversity. Rights movements in Bellingham and other cities nationwide quickly followed suit.
The Center for Pacific Northwest Studies (CPNWS) at Western Washington University has documented local LGBTQ+ history in the Gay and Lesbian Miscellaneous Manuscript Collection (1972-2012). These publications reveal how LGBTQ+ people in Bellingham found their voices in a local and global movement.
The Women’s Symposium program reads, “There are numerous activities for which women’s energies, time and abilities are needed. Sisterhood IS powerful.” Photo credit: Gay and Lesbian Miscellaneous Manuscript Collection, Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225-9123.
Bellingham LGBTQ+ Advocacy
WWU’s early-1970s “Women’s Symposium,” “Gay Pride Week,” and “Gay Awareness Symposium” were among Bellingham’s earliest Pride events. These featured lectures, workshops, poetry readings, and other performances for several years.
“The gay experience is most often a very beautiful experience,” Valerie J. Bailey of WWU’s Gay People’s Alliance writes. “I hope I can show the positive aspects (at least positive as I see it) of the gay subculture so that straights will know what we can say with such confidence that Gay is Good! After all, as many say in the movement, ‘Homosexuals are just like everybody else — only more so.’”
In the 1970s, lesbian-inclusive women’s organizations emerged in Bellingham. The Blackwell Women’s Clinic started at Fairhaven College, providing healthcare training from 1973 to 1981. The Womencare Shelter, founded 1979, supports victims of domestic violence into the present. Both initially organized meetings at the YWCA.
Pride-themed variants of the Bellingham flag include the six-striped rainbow and the Progress Pride Flag, which was designed to emphasize inclusion of POC and trans identities. Photo credit: Anna Diehl
During the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, the Evergreen AIDS Foundation (founded in 1987) provided healthcare and support services. They reported that an estimated 600-800 people in Whatcom County had HIV/AIDS in 1996, and their “Friend to Friend” workshops provided risk reduction and communication strategies. Today, the organization continues as Lifelong. From 1995 to the present, Sean Humphrey House has provided residence, meals, and other support services for low-income adults living with HIV/AIDS.
As conversations on same-sex marriage and discrimination entered the national stage, Whatcom County gained its own chapter in the country’s first statewide LGBTQ+ rights organization: Hands Off Washington (HOW). From 1993 to 1997, this coalition opposed initiatives intended to legalize discrimination and prohibit same-sex marriage. HOW’s community engagement, fundraising, and education prevented these from reaching the ballot. They proposed initiatives to ban employment discrimination, which did not pass but influenced Washington’s present anti-discrimination laws.
Same-sex marriage became legally recognized statewide in 2012 and nationwide in 2015.
WWU archives document the Gay Awareness Symposium up to its ninth annual event. The page reads, “Alone we find solitude / together we find love.” Photo credit: Gay and Lesbian Miscellaneous Manuscript
LGBTQ+ Cultural Expression
Since its early symposiums, WWU continued to host artistic and educational LGBTQ+ events such as the Pacific Northwest Women’s Music and Cultural Jamboree (1991-1994). This event featured “women’s music, comedy, workshops, movies, crafts and activities” — including lectures, workshops, and LGBTQ+ reading lists by university faculty. WWU hosted a Women’s Resource Center, LGBT Resource Center, and publications such as Labyrinth that shared essays and resources.
In the wider community, lesbian newsletter The “L” Word ran from 1994 to 1996. Each edition featured essays, news, art, “Java Jane” advice columns, and “Rosie’s We Can Do It” instructions on household tasks.
From 1990 to 1993, the “Lesbian Coffeehouse” met monthly at Fairhaven Park, Bloedel-Donovan Park, and the YWCA. They shared advocacy resources and presented singers, artists, and open mic performances.
Drag performances by the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Evergreen Empire date back to 1996. Their programs advertised Rumors Cabaret, Evergreen AIDS Foundation, Great Northern Books, and LGBTQ+ coffeeshops and film screenings.
In the 1960s and ’70s, Bellingham’s LGBTQ+ inclusive venues included bars such as the Toyon and The Hut. In 1984, the Toyon became Rumors Cabaret — which has sponsored events such as Bellingham Pride into the present. Its cocktail lounge, “The Back Door,” is named for the bar’s history of protecting closeted patrons’ identities by letting them leave out the back door.
Right outside Depot Market Square, Rumors Cabaret sponsors Bellingham Pride, hosts inclusive events with live music and dancing, and donates to LGBTQ+ charities. Photo credit: Anna Diehl
Out in Bellingham Today
Bellingham’s first citywide Pride festival started with six picnic tables at Fairhaven Park in 1999. Today, Whatcom Pride and Pride IN Bellingham host events with thousands in attendance every July — one month after Seattle’s parade so that community members may attend both.
In recent decades, identities such as pansexuality, asexuality, nonbinary genders, and intersex have gained more visibility. A 2012 Western Front article describes how student group “Western Cake” formed based on advocacy by organizations such as the Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN).
Washington State LGBTQ Commission lists resources for inclusive healthcare, youth support, legal assistance, education, and social groups. Each local step brings us closer to a more inclusive society.
Featured photo credit: Robert Ashworth/Wikimedia Commons/CC-BY-2.0
The Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center (WDRC) invites you to nominate a local Peace Builder for WDRC’s 20th Annual Peace Builder Awards, presented by Peoples Bank.
The WDRC seeks nominations for individuals or groups in Whatcom County that creatively resolved conflict, contributed to peaceful dispute resolution, promoted reconciliation between divergent individuals or groups, or otherwise promoted peace in the past year. We seek diverse nominations representative of our entire community. Past nominees have included youth, elders, volunteers and programs from multiple sectors — the arts, education, healthcare, neighborhoods, environment, public service, and more.
This year’s nomination deadline is 5 p.m. on Friday, July 7th. We encourage you to take the leap and nominate someone you see pushing forward change in our community! You can submit your nomination online at https://www.whatcomdrc.org/nominate.
Over the last 19 years, more than 150 individuals and groups have received Peace Builder Awards for contributions to peace building in Whatcom County. Some of our previous award winners include:
Connect Ferndale, Remy Styrk, “I am the hope and the dream” Juneteenth Video Project (2022) — for deepening the understanding of the significance of Juneteenth, elevating the voices of local Black students and community leaders, and for encouraging thoughtful dialogue around racial equity.
Shu-Ling Zhao, Kristina Martens, and Heather Flaherty (2021) — for the formation of the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission
Whatcom Youth Pride Coalition (2019) — for bringing the community together to support and celebrate LGBTQ+ youth
This year’s recipients will be celebrated at the 20th Annual Peace Builder Awards Gala held in-person on October 27th. This event celebrates people putting the pieces together for creative conflict resolution in our neighborhoods, our schools and our community. Proceeds from the Gala benefit the WDRC’s mission to provide and promote constructive and collaborative approaches to conflict.
WDRC Executive Director Moonwater: “I invite everyone in Whatcom County to help us recognize those community members who inspire collaboration, embody peace, and give hope to our community.”
Beachcombers walk the beach at Indian Island County Park looking for treasures on a quiet beach. The small diverse rocks provide a variety of specimens. Photo credit: Tony Moceri
Jefferson County is the gateway to the Puget Sound and the start of the Hood Canal. With estuaries and bays, islands, and peninsulas, this area is a dream for anyone looking to explore the salty shores. The varying conditions are teeming with life, and each beach will surely offer you something new to explore. Whether a first-time beachcomber or an experienced diver, this part of the Pacific Northwest is ripe for your upcoming beach adventure.
Wildlife Watching at Jefferson County Beaches
With various places to stay in the area and abundant day-use access points, getting to the water is accessible to novices through experts: in fact, in many cases it’s as easy as pulling up to a beach. While watching birds plunge into the water in search of prey, you may spot a family of seals pop their heads above water or even get a glimpse of a pod of whales swimming by. The activity along the shore is constant as animals enjoy their serine habitat.
Just setting foot on somewhere like the beach of Fort Townsend State Park can be an intro to marine biology course. The well-placed signs give an overview of what may be found on these adjacent Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary beaches you can explore. As kelp washes ashore and purple crabs scurry amongst the barnacle-laden rocks, you will glimpse what happens in this biologically diverse region.
With Jefferson County’s abundance of sea life, you are sure to get a show just sitting on its shores. This great blue heron was hanging out on the shores of Fort Townsend at sunset. Photo credit: Tony Moceri
Beachcombing Jefferson County
Venturing out on the spit of Fort Flagler Historic State Park or the quiet beach of Indian Island County Park will put you in a beachcombers paradise. These beaches are a mix of sand and rock, making for an exciting place for a treasure hunt. At times, one may discover sand dollars resting calmly on the shore, accompanied by a variety of shells. Contorted beach wood can look like crafted pieces of art, and long straight pieces beg to become a beachside fort. What was once litter can feel like striking gold as shimmering fragments of green, blue, and clear sea glass pop out amongst the grey tones.
Rock hounds will look down with delight as they search for jade, jasper, quarts and agates. Each step can bring a world of discovery, making it easy for all abilities to enjoy.
The spit at Fort Flagler is accompanied by large driftwood logs just asking for you to use them as a lean to for your driftwood fort. Photo credit: Tony Moceri
Water Access at Jefferson County Beaches
If the water is calling, there are options for immersing yourself in the environment. Mystery Bay State Park on Marrowstone Island is a calm launching point where you can bring your watercraft. In southern Jefferson County, Pleasant Harbor has a public launching point that puts you right into the sheltered bay. Here, you can stay in the protected area or paddle into Hood Canal.
If you require equipment or would like a guided tour, Hood Canal Adventures in Brinnon and Olympic Kayak Tours & Rentals at Fort Flagler have options. Hood Canal Adventures can get you into Hood Canal, touring the estuary, exploring tide pools, and even eating oysters on the beach. Olympic Kayak Tours Will have you in Port Townsend Bay, taking in the coastlines of the surrounding islands and the Olympic Peninsula. From this vantage point, you will witness mountains to the east, Port Townsend to the north, and travelers on the Port Townsend-Coupeville Ferry.
Olympic Kayak Tours takes a group around the shores of Fort Flagler State Park while exploring Port Townsend Bay. Photo credit: Tony Moceri
Jefferson County Scuba Diving
While there are plenty of places to explore above water, one would be remiss not to be informed of the life under the sea. Hood Canal and the Puget Sound have been scuba divers’ destinations for decades. Famed explorer Jacque Cousteau was known to come to the area because of its clear waters and abundance of sea life. The easy entrance points and access to calm waters make this area appealing to all scuba abilities. While the winter months are when the water is clearest, if the cold water is a deterrent, part of Hood Canal can reach water temperatures as high as 70 degrees in the summer.
The area is known for being able to easily take in colorful sea anemones and the chance to spot octopi. In Hood Canal, fishing for rockfish has been banned for 30 years, which has brought this species, which can live to 100, back to abundance. This once-overfished species is expected to flourish soon to the delight of under-see adventurers. If you are not an experienced scuba diver and do not have your own gear, rentals and certifications can be obtained in the area. Ask the helpful folks at Cove RV Park & Country Store,
Visiting Jefferson County
Our shorelines and waterways are fragile environments. Please leave things as you found them, and don’t disturb the animals or their environment. Be sure never to leave any trash behind, and if you feel so inclined, feel free to pick up after those who may have neglected to do so before you. Open seasons for fishing and harvesting can shift. Make sure you are always in season, it is safe to do so, and you have any required permits. For more information on planning your visit, see the Enjoy the Olympic Peninsula website.
Barber and owner Diane Philips gives Michael Flo a hot lather shave. Photo credit: Kristin Noreen
It’s a beautiful Friday afternoon in Fairhaven, and the Barbershop at Fairhaven is hopping. Diane Philips, the barber, gives a hot lather shave with a straight razor to Western Washington University student Michael Flo. His twin brother, Sean, waits his turn. Local optometrist Spencer Young walks in early for his appointment, clearly unperturbed about the wait. Why wouldn’t you want to hang out here? As many chairs as can fit in the small waiting area encourage people to stay past their appointment time. Diane’s dog walker returns with rescue beagle mix Bruno, both of them flushed from the workout. Bruno flops into his dog bed next to Lulu, an elderly beagle, who opens one sleepy eye and sighs happily.
Entering the shop at 1010 Harris Avenue, is a two-step process: first you walk through the front door (which is usually open), and then you step through the dog gate and close it firmly behind you. “There have always been dogs here,” Diane says. Once inside, you’re taken back in time to the early 20th century, when the local barber shop provided both a social hub and a spa-like experience for men. Four 1920s-era barber chairs line up along one wall, with Diane’s chair positioned in the front window so she and her client can people-watch over the busy sidewalk.
“I’ve been doing this for 40 years now,” Diane says to Michael Flo to reassure him before she applies the straight razor to his neck. “That’s longer than you’ve been alive.” She asks questions of the Flo twins, about what they’re studying in school and what they hope to do when they’re done. The brothers hail from Hoodsport, and they’re excited to experience Ski to Sea weekend in Bellingham. For young people like the Flos, the old-timey barbershop is not a trip down memory lane, but an education about the old days.
WWU student Sean Flo waits for his turn in the chair while his brother Michael gets his haircut. Photo credit: Kristin Noreen
“This is a great experience,” Michael Flo says as Diane begins the final shoulder massage. “It’s great to get to know Diane, her dogs are adorable, and I will definitely come back.” The student discount makes that a little easier for him to do.
For older people like Paul Noreen, who got a haircut while visiting family here a few years ago, the shop is pure nostalgia. The 75-year-old remembered neighborhood barbershops from his youth and found the experience a delightful contrast to his suburban Supercuts in Blaine, Minnesota. In a world of increasingly impersonal service, the Barbershop at Fairhaven provides an old-school relationship and social opportunity that inspires loyalty.
“It’s a great little community,” Dr. Young, when it’s his turn, says from the chair.
Local optometrist Dr. Spencer Young gets situated in Diane’s barber chair. Photo credit: Kristin Noreen
The Barbershop at Fairhaven opened in 2000, after the Fairhaven renaissance that began in 1973, when the run-down historic district was revived under the direction of investor Ken Imus and the newly formed Fairhaven Association. Imus welcomed Diane with a “handshake lease.”
“He was a beautiful person,” says Diane. “His vision for Fairhaven was for it to be ‘the next Rodeo Drive.’ He wanted to showcase up-and-coming new trends, but to anchor it with stable businesses, like a bookstore, a pharmacy, and a barbershop.”
Lulu and Bruno enjoy siesta time. Photo credit: Kristin Noreen
The word “barber” originates with the French barbe, for beard, and barbering is traditionally associated with men’s grooming — but modern barbers tend to be more versatile. With two grown sons of her own, Diane says that caring for men comes naturally, but she cuts hair for women and children too. Children coming to the Barbershop at Fairhaven for their first haircut get a certificate to commemorate the day.
Diane has been in business long enough to have lifetime customers like Cameron Hill, 38, and Nate Gill, 27. They started coming at age 14 and continue to this day. “I love watching them grow into the men they’ve become,” she says.
Old-timey signs, antiques, and Diane’s dog portraits decorate the welcoming space. Photo credit: Kristin Noreen
Diane has spent years gathering a mix of kitschy and authentic memorabilia to decorate the shop. A sign in one corner warns patrons to “Beware of pickpockets and loose women.” Her involvement with the Fairhaven Ladies of the Evening Society, a group of women and men who dress as Victorian-era madams and founding fathers to celebrate Bellingham’s bawdy history, has helped her find many of these items while hunting for vintage clothing. Clients and friends also bring in antiques as gifts.
The pandemic was hard on Fairhaven, and the barbershop was no exception. It was closed for almost three months. Diane wasn’t eligible for any of the government relief programs (“Dyslexia made the paperwork a nightmare,” she adds), and she had to drive deliveries for Viking Food to keep going. That was hard work with a lot of stair climbing, and Diane needs a hip replacement. Still, she worked long hours, with poor tips, because everyone was struggling.
The Barbershop at Fairhaven opened at 1010 Harris Avenue in 2000. Photo credit: Kristin Noreen
When the shop finally reopened, Diane had 20 clients a day, and all her other barbers had moved on, so she handled as many clients as she could by herself. Two weeks after the reopen, “the phone just stopped ringing,” Diane says. People scuttled back inside as new viral variants surged. Diane revived her interest in art as a creative outlet, painting dog portraits for friends while she waited in the empty shop for walk-in clients. When she got good at the painting, she added a side hustle, doing pet portraits for a fee. Eventually business came back as people began to trust that the worst of the pandemic was over. Now she’s looking for licensed barbers to join her and help meet the demand (contact info can be found here).
This stable, necessary business survived the pandemic because of Diane’s resilience and resourcefulness. And it will thrive into the future as the next generation of well-groomed young men, like the Flo twins, learn to appreciate the old ways.
The Barbershop at Fairhaven www.barbershopatfairhaven.com 1010 Harris Avenue, Suite 103 360.738.8081 Hours: Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Fireworks over Bellingham Bay are an iconic part of the Peoples Bank 4th of July Spectacular. Photo courtesy: Peoples Bank
As a summertime celebration of our nation’s birth, the 4th of July is among the most cherished of American holidays and Bellingham events.
And this year, Peoples Bank — a mainstay of the Whatcom County business community — will be the title sponsor of Bellingham’s annual 4th of July Spectacular, the day-long festival held at Squalicum Harbor’s Zuanich Point Park, in collaboration with the Port of Bellingham and Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BRCC).
After several years of pandemic-related restrictions, the 2023 Peoples Bank 4th of July Spectacular is shaping up to be a vibrant return of full-fledged community celebration, complete with live entertainment, a beer garden, and beautiful fireworks over Bellingham Bay.
Three live bands and performers from the Bellingham Circus Guild will highlight the festival’s live entertainment. Photo courtesy Peoples Bank
Bringing People Together
Kamyar Monsef, Peoples Bank’s chief retail banking officer, has lived in Bellingham for over 25 years. He has fond memories of watching the fireworks from various parks, and of attending waterfront activities with friends and family.
“The 4th of July is an event that all of us at Peoples Bank have greatly valued throughout our lives,” he says. “This is just one of those events that brings the community together.”
So, when the BRCC found itself needing a new title sponsor for the event, Monsef says the Bank didn’t hesitate to ensure the decades-long fireworks tradition continued. The festival additions from the Chamber and Port, he adds, have truly turned the 4th of July celebration into something special.
“Together we have created an event for everybody,” Monsef says. “No matter your age, or whether celebrating with family or friends, there’s a lot of fun things to do.”
Guy Occhiogrosso, chamber president and CEO, says the 4th of July represents a time when Americans of all backgrounds can come together. In creating a festival of events beyond fireworks, the chamber is helping fulfill its mission to create a great place to live, work, and play together.
“People can enjoy the fireworks from multiple places in the community, in multiple different ways,” Occhiogrosso says. “The event intends to create a sense of place at various locations for people who want to engage with each other a little deeper.”
Stephanie Wiley, community outreach manager for the Port of Bellingham, says the 4th of July festival brings out people who traditionally might not spend much time at the harbor and waterfront’s public spaces.
“We love the overall sense of community and gathering that happens during the festival,” she says. “And the fireworks are always a great show. We are thrilled to have Peoples Bank on board as our title sponsor.”
Entertainment Abounds
The Peoples Bank 4th of July Spectacular begins on Tuesday, July 4 at 2 p.m., and continues until the fireworks show at 10:30 p.m.
Children will be able to enjoy games and art projects provided by Inner Child Studio in the Kids’ Zone, while performers from the Bellingham Circus Guild will also be on hand to entertain. Plenty of local food vendors will be on-site, and this year’s beer garden will feature great brews from Kulshan Brewing Company, Boundary Bay Brewery, and Bellingham Cider Co.
Peoples Bank will be providing beer garden volunteers, as well as handing out giveaways throughout the day.
Schantell Porter, the chamber’s program and events manager, is especially excited about the live music she booked for the festival: Analog Brass, The Whags, and The Walrus.
“We have three really great bands that are going to be playing, and they’re all very excited,” she says. “It’s going to be a great day.”
Getting There and Back
As one of the largest community events of the year, parking and traffic are always something to be mindful of.
Walking or biking is always a great idea, and this year, Let’s Bike Bellingham will be offering a free bike valet service. Bike parking will be monitored during the festival’s entirety. There is limited parking at Squalicum Harbor, and Wiley says the Port is working with NW Safety Signs to help traffic management. Nevertheless, it will be crowded when the fireworks end.
“There will be a lot of vehicles trying to get out of the park at the same time so it just takes a while,” she says. “Be sure to have some patience.”
Occhiogrosso also reminds residents that with the city’s fireworks ban, the festival’s fireworks display is the safest, most legal way to enjoy your 4th of July pyrotechnics.
No matter where you might watch the fireworks from, Monsef says the fact it provides a chance to gather with those you care about makes Peoples Bank’s sponsorship of the fireworks a great thing.
“People celebrate this event from all over town,” he says. “The gathering of people and community is its true value.”
Hours of fun festivities for people of all ages will take place this July 4th at Zuanich Point Park in Bellingham. Photo courtesy Peoples Bank
High on the bluff with a view across the water to Whidbey Island, Fort Flagler State Park has repurposed retired military buildings into vacation rentals, giving access to the outdoors to those who may not be comfortable camping. Photo credit: Tony Moceri
The unique landscape in the Northeast corner of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula made it a strategic location for the military forts decades ago. Now, those locations have been converted to parks so the public may enjoy the wildness of the area. The combination of receding glaciers at the end of the last ice age and erosion from wind, rain and tides has created rocky shores, sandy spits, sheltered bays and lowland forests. This means that just minutes from the town of Port Townsend, one can easily enjoy a wide range of outdoor experiences at Fort Flagler and Fort Townsend. These two less frequented forts offer day-use access and a variety of options for camping and lodging.
Visiting Fort Flagler Historical State Park
Fort Flagler, located on the tip of Marrowstone Island, was first established in the 1890s and was manned and developed through World War II. Now a state park, the landscape varies from low bank beaches, coastal forests and high bank bluffs. With roads and trails throughout, there are days’ worth of exploring.
Accommodations range from bringing your own camping set up to staying like “An Officer and Gentleman” in one of theirs. The old officer’s quarters have been converted into vacation rentals allowing for a no-camping necessary stay inside the park. These houses are high on the bluff, giving a perched-up view looking east across the water to Whidbey Island. The wide-open parade grounds are perfect for flying a kite, tossing a frisbee or playing yard games. A road cut into the hill will take you down the steep descent to a quiet, driftwood-strewn beach.
When you visit Fort Townsend be sure to say “Hi” to Park Aid Anne Fruechte. She has been working for the Washington Sate Parks for over 17 years. Photo credit: Tony Moceri
The nearby battery, named after Thomas Wansboro, is built into the side of the bluff formed with thick concrete walls. The sturdy steel doors and the mounted guns are a reminder of a time in military history.
Just up the road and accessible by car is the Battery Henry Bankhead. Here, you can enter the battery and walk through the nearly pitch-black tunnels. Bring a flashlight and explore the other batteries are accessible by trail.
With over 100 individual campsites and 2 group sites, Fort Flagler has camping accommodations for all styles. There are standard sites as well as fully serviced sites making for good options whether pitching a tent or pulling in an RV. The Lower Beach Campground is right on the water, so you can play on the beach or walk the sandy spit. In this area is a playground, bathrooms, and a seasonal general store. The no-bank water access is an easy point for launching your watercraft or taking a tour with Olympic Kayak Tours, located onsite. The Upper Forest Campground is more protected from the elements. It offers a view of Port Townsend Bay with sites nestled amongst the trees.
Matthew Bauer and Emma Peoples in front of their camper at Mystery Bay State Park. Traveling from Idaho, they split time between staying on a friend’s sailboat and camping at Fort Flagler State Park’s upper campground. Photo credit: Tony Moceri
Visiting Fort Townsend Historical State Park
On the opposite side of Port Townsend Bay, and less than 15 minutes from Port Townsend, lies Fort Townsend. This state park is tucked away in the trees, with only forty campsites, giving it a quiet feel. It can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet and is a great place to pitch a tent in the woods. With easily accessible sites right off the paved road and full-service bathrooms, Fort Townsend can get anyone out and camping.
With over six miles of trails on site, you can hike from your campsite without ever being far from a park ranger. Some of the paths will lead you to a long rocky beach that you will often feel was put there just for you.
While on your camping trip, if the Pacific Northwest decides to get a little wet, head towards the Jefferson County International Airport for a meal and to see some historic airplanes. The Spruce Goose Café is off Airport Road, serving up classic diner fares. While eating your favorite breakfast along the airstrip, you will enter a world of aviation. Model planes dangle from the ceiling, and pictures of flight line the walls. Outside you are sure to see planes lined up, many that flew in just for their meal.
Poppy, Paul Moceri, and Sue Porter enjoy some spring camping by sitting around the fire at their Fort Townsend campsite. Photo credit: Tony Moceri
Next door is the Port Townsend Aero Museum, a spot not to be missed when visiting the area. Upon entering the museum, you will be greeted by fully restored antique airplanes, most of which are still operational and are flown by young students learning to fly. Above, planes are suspended from the ceiling and can be seen at eye level upstairs. This incredible collection will have you envisioning pilots soaring through the decades.
When visiting Jefferson County, be sure to make reservations for campgrounds, check to see if they are open for the season, and that you have all permits that may be required. To learn more about planning your next visit, check out the Enjoy the Olympic Peninsula website.
The CNM group from left to right: Katrina Hanna, Lynette Polinder, Dana Hansen, Brenda Bednar, and Erin Swanda. Photo courtesy PeaceHealth
During one of the most vulnerable times of one’s life, it’s essential to know you will receive care you can trust. PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center provides the thorough, supportive care women and birthing people need. Dr. Nena Barnhart and Certified Nurse Midwife Katrina Hanna recently sat down with WhatcomTalk to discuss PeaceHealth’s array of prenatal, postnatal, and comprehensive gynecological healthcare services.
The Midwifery Group
One of the oldest professions in the world, midwifery, is still in full practice today. At PeaceHealth, midwifery and obstetrics work together as a team to ensure their patients receive the best care possible. Katrina Hanna has been a certified nurse midwife for the past eight years after going through school to become an RN, and then receiving a master’s in nursing. PeaceHealth St. Joseph’s certified nurse midwife program began eight years ago also.
“The way a master’s in nursing or a doctorate in nursing works is that you choose a focal area,” says Hanna. “I went to the University of Washington and at the time there were 20 different focal areas in a Master of Nursing, and one was midwifery. It’s a two-year program where we work on normal prenatal care, postnatal care, and women’s health.” As part of a master’s degree, students also become nurse practitioners in women’s health as a dual certification.
Dr. Nena Barnhart (left) and CNM Katrina Hanna (right) are a part of a vital team at PeaceHealth, working together to safely deliver babies and ensure the best gynecological healthcare possible for their patients. Photo courtesy PeaceHealth
In Hanna’s estimation, the difference between midwives and medical doctors in gynecology and obstetrics lies at the beginning of their careers. “I was drawn to the nursing track and the doctor was drawn to the doctor track,” says Hanna. “That very basic philosophy that brings us to one track or the other is maybe the core of the difference. It’s all very similar between midwives and doctors.”
The midwives naturally have more time built into their scheduling with patients in their appointments, as well as when patients are in labor. “But I know all the doctors wish they had more time,” Hanna says. “It’s not for lack of wanting.”
Primarily, the midwifery practice engages in obstetrics, but they are looking to add more layers to their services and grow. “We like doing women’s health, gynecology, annual exams, and maintaining continuity,” says Hanna. “It’s our favorite thing to see women in their pregnancies, postpartum, and then see them yearly for their preventative exams and maintain these relationships, but we’re so busy with obstetrics. My license allows me to see patients needing gynecology care or those experiencing perimenopause — I can do all women’s health.”
Obstetrics
Dr. Nena Barnhart is a medical practitioner of obstetrics and gynecology with a focus on natural labor. “What we have here at St. Joseph’s is really something we’re proud of with the midwifery service,” says Dr. Barnhart. “We have a team of midwives who manage the healthy, normal pregnancies and provide a safe, in-hospital birthing experience while also focusing on that more natural childbirth and patient-centered care. It gives a balance of having the safety of the hospital setting and the skills of the certified nurse midwives while also trying to minimize intervention.”
The obstetricians work closely with the midwifery group through both normal and high-risk pregnancies, providing interventions such as cesarean procedures, vacuum applications and management of other medical complications.
“We are the backups for the nurse midwives if there’s a complication that will lead to a higher level of care needed,” Dr. Barnhart says. “We work as a backup in that way so the patient’s care can be fluently provided.”
The Value of Working Together
For Hanna and Dr. Barnhart, their team is an invaluable relationship that works like a dream. “The view of the relationship between the midwifery and the obstetricians is to provide the appropriate and quick care for the patient — or whatever is needed,” says Dr. Barnhart. “Us working as a team, we are side by side, which leads to easy communication and smooth transitions.”
Hannah calls their partnership “symbiotic,” with a real value placed on natural labor. “We consider ourselves a compromise,” Hanna says. “We value physiologic birth, and my favorite deliveries are the ones where I get to sit back and watch a woman, or person who births, do their thing; I call it ‘going mammal.’ I work closely with obstetricians, and I like it when they ask me questions or when I can confirm the plan. I think having all those different perspectives provides women or people who birth with excellent care.”
In the end, both practitioners absolutely love their careers and dedicate themselves to making their patients’ healthcare as smooth as possible — values that are found throughout PeaceHealth.
“I’m lucky enough to be there and witness it,” says Hanna. “I love being in the hospital because I think labor is like the ocean: most of the time, the water is cool and calm, and it’s smooth sailing; and then it can also be unpredictable and scary. I love being at the hospital and working with the obstetricians because I have everything there that I need.”
The Jerry Steinhilber Trio performs 7-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 at the Ferndale Library as part of the Whatcom Grooves Summer Jazz Series hosted by Friends of the Blaine, Ferndale and South Whatcom libraries in support of the Whatcom County Library System.
Celebrate summer, jazz and libraries at three free concerts hosted by Friends of South Whatcom, Ferndale and Blaine libraries in support of the Whatcom County Library System. At each event, neighbors will gather for a joyous hour of live music and to discover what’s new at local libraries. Reservations are encouraged at wcls.org/jazz.
The three concerts are:
Bilongo — 2-3 p.m. Saturday, July 15, Glenhaven Lakes Clubhouse, 2997 Glenhaven Drive, Glenhaven. Arrive early to secure your spot on the grass and to browse library materials.
The jazz series kicks off outdoors at the?Glenhaven Lakes Clubhouse with Bellingham-based Bilongo. A Bantu word meaning spell or potion — medicine for the soul — Bilongo is a seven-piece Latin jazz group featuring vocalist Sabrina Gomez. Fall under the spell of original compositions as well as songs from Buena Vista Social Club and more. This is dance music! Arrive early to browse music-related library books?and to meet other community members. Bring blankets and camp chairs; no alcohol please. Carpooling is suggested as parking is limited.
Bilongo performs 2-3 p.m. Saturday, July 15 at the Glenhaven Clubhouse as part of the Whatcom Grooves Summer Jazz Series hosted by Friends of the Blaine, Ferndale and South Whatcom libraries in support of the Whatcom County Library System.
The Jerry Steinhilber Trio — 7-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, Ferndale Library, 2125 Main Street, Ferndale. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
The jazz series continues at?the Ferndale Library with the Jerry Steinhilber Trio — Josh Cook, tenor; King Dahl, bass; and Jerry Steinhilber, drums. The group performs a distinctive mash-up of influential jazz masterpieces and original compositions. Find a seat among the bookshelves and groove with fellow fans of jazz and libraries. Browse library displays and share reading recommendations with library staff and neighbors. Tickets are limited and required. Reserve your seat at wcls.org/jazz.
The Jazz Explosion — 7-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, Blaine Performing Arts Center, 975 H St., Blaine. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
The summer jazz series concludes with a performance by The Jazz Explosion at the Blaine Performing Arts Center. This large ensemble is led by jazz drummer and innovator Jerry Steinhilber and features some of the Pacific Northwest’s most in-demand artists.? Just like libraries, The Jazz Explosion is always exciting, always entertaining and always looking forward to what’s next. Arrive early to learn about the proposed Blaine Library project and to check out library materials.
The Jazz Explosion performs 7-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19 at the Blaine Performing Arts Center as part of the Whatcom Grooves Summer Jazz Series hosted by Friends of the Blaine, Ferndale and South Whatcom libraries in support of the Whatcom County Library System.
To complement the jazz concerts, the Whatcom County Library System will host Junior Groove: Jazz for Kids. In the three Junior Groove events, jazz drummer Jerry Steinhilber will lead young people (grades K-5) in an interactive program to learn about jazz and to try their hand at making some music of their own. Registration is not required.
There are three opportunities to participate in Junior Groove: Jazz for Kids:
South Whatcom Library, 10 Barnview Ct., Sudden Valley, Gate 2: 1:30-2:30 p.m. Friday, June 30
Ferndale Library, 2125 Main St., Ferndale: 5-6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4
The concert series and youth programs continue a musical legacy that began in 2010 when Sudden Valley resident and jazz aficionado K.C. Sulkin created the popular Sudden Valley Jazz Series as a fundraiser for the South Whatcom Library. The Friends of South Whatcom Library wanted to expand the joy of music and libraries to other communities. Volunteers with the Friends of Blaine and Ferndale libraries jumped in to make that dream happen.
The Whatcom Grooves Summer Jazz Series is generously supported by grants from Whatcom Community Foundation and Whatcom County Library Foundation. Additional financial and in-kind contributions from community partners Costco, The Best Bellingham Homes Team, Team Stauffer Windermere Real Estate and the Bellingham Jazz Center make these free events possible. Financial donations to support local libraries are gratefully accepted at the concerts.
“Thank you to the Friends of the Library volunteers who created Whatcom Grooves and to the musicians who will get us dancing and tapping our toes at the free concerts,” says WCLS Executive Director Christine Perkins. “Whatcom Grooves brings neighbors together to enjoy exciting local jazz and to support thriving local libraries. We are grateful.”
Featured photo of the Jerry Steinhilber Trio courtesy Whatcom County Library System
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...
