The Ferndale Food Bank and the Whatcom Center for Early Learning will reduce their annual energy costs as well as reduce their carbon footprint with a solar grant from Puget Sound Energy.
The Green Power Solar Grant was provided through PSE’s Green Power and Solar Choiceprograms to help each of the organizations install a new solar array at their locations. The Ferndale Food Bank was awarded $80,918 while the Whatcom Center for Early Learning (WCEL) is set to receive $38,409. Western Solar helped bring both projects to life.
“We’re honored to partner with these two organizations that demonstrate a commitment to outreach in the community, diversity and caring for the environment,” said Will Einstein, PSE Director of New Product Development. “These solar panels will offset some of the organization’s operational costs, allowing Ferndale Food Bank to focus more on providing food and outreach to the community and allowing WCEL to support children with specialized needs and their families.”
The Ferndale Food Bank will install a 33.48-kilowatt project allowing it to generate 33,205 kWh annually which will offset about 95% of the organization’s annual electricity use with solar energy.
The Whatcom Center for Early Learning will host a 14.04-kilowatt project on its Little Brick House allowing it to generate 14,776 kWh per year, offsetting up to 100% of the organization’s annual electricity use with solar energy.
“Whatcom Center for Early Learning is proud to partner with Puget Sound Energy as the recipient of a 2022 Solar Energy grant,” said Erin Malone, Development and Communications Director. “We are committed to a healthy, sustainable world and reducing barriers for infants and toddlers experiencing disability and delays – and that includes maintaining the health of the environment through alternative energy sources. Working with PSE and Western Solar to implement this grant also means that more of our revenue will go directly towards the in-home therapy and classroom programs we provide all over Whatcom County.”
This year alone, PSE awarded nearly $1 million to 13 organizations and tribal entities serving low-income or Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) customers The generation of all the projects will total about 514,000 kWh annually, equivalent to powering nearly 53 average homes each year with newly installed solar from the Puget Sound region.
Over the past five years, PSE has awarded over $3 million to 48 local non-profits, public housing authorities and tribal entities to install new solar projects that both further clean energy in our communities and reduce those organization’s operating costs to free up more money to serve their clients and the community. PSE is currently accepting applications for its next round of Green Power Solar Grants. More information can be found at pse.com/applygpsg.
Whatcom Humane Society, neighbors and residents got a chance to see some handsome critters strut their stuff. Photo credit: Steven Arbuckle
When Rosewood
Villa Assisted Living Community recently got the chance to
invite community members to visit, it didn’t take long to decide to host a pet parade.
Since critters hold a broad appeal for both staff and residents, all that was
left was to invite the rest of Bellingham to bring their own animals for the
afternoon.
Plans got underway shortly after April 1st, when Rosewood came under the management of Senior Services of America. “With that [change], our community relations director gets to host community-wide events,” says Executive Director Melinda Herrera. “That’s not something we had the opportunity to do before, so we were really excited to host an event.” For its first event, Rosewood Villa was very pleased with the turnout it had.
Dalton brought his pooch, Wander, who was a giant hit with the crowd. Photo credit: Steven Arbuckle
Hosting an event centered on pets was a natural choice for
Herrera, since Rosewood already welcomes animal companions to live with
residents. “We do have weight requirements — 25 pounds and under —and the
individual needs to be able to take the dog out for bathroom breaks, clean a
litter box, and generally clean up after their pets,” Herrera says. “But yes,
they are able to bring their companions with them.”
The staff are also big fans of furry visitors, and often
bring their own pooches to work with them. “We have medical technicians and
caregivers who bring their dogs in, as well as our wellness coordinator and director
of wellness,” says Herrera. “Mostly it’s our nursing department, because they
have a little more flexibility than some of the others.”
Business Office Manager Tori White kept Gustavo cool in a tropically inspired outfit. Photo credit: Steven Arbuckle
For the big day, the staff rolled out a red carpet
underneath the awning that runs along the front of the building. They invited
spectators to sit in the shade. The dogs began to congregate, greeting each
other as well as making new two-legged friends.
After parading past all of the residents and guests a
couple of times, some of the pooches came back for more specialized events.
There was a Best Trick competition, as well as one for Best Smile and another
for Best Costume. “One lady brought two of her dogs and made costumes for them,”
Herrera says. “She made them on poster board, with a rose drawn on one, and
then a piece of wood on the other, so their costumes were ‘Rose-Wood.’ That was
so clever and so cute; it just tickled me to see it.”
Kris, a care manager at Right At Home, dressed Boomer up for the occasion. Photo credit: Steven Arbuckle
Any time a community gathers together, it’s a great
opportunity to roll out refreshments, and in addition to an array of cold
beverages, the kitchen presented a selection of snacks. That also gave them an
opportunity to indulge in a little more cleverness. “We did everything with a
dog theme: we had corn dogs and called our popcorn ‘pup-corn,’ and had ‘pup-cakes’
for everyone,” says Herrera.
While the animals are great motivation all by themselves,
another factor behind the event was the chance to finally socialize after a
long period of isolation. “After dealing with COVID for such a long time, our
residents have really missed the activities we had been able to do before. So,
our residents were really excited to be able to host a community event again,”
Herrera says. “It was a lot of fun, and we’ll do it annually. I think that,
over time, it will just get bigger and better.”
Care Coordinator Emily shows off “the boys,” Gizmo (left) and Cooper, who are regular visitors at Rosewood. Photo credit: Steven Arbuckle
Another reason to continue inviting guests to Rosewood is the chance to partner with community organizations. This time, the Whatcom Humane Society was on hand to participate, and Herrera looks forward to inviting other organizations — as well as community members — in the future. “I think there will be a number of events we will be doing on a monthly basis that will bring people to Rosewood Villa, so that they can see the amazing work that we’re doing with our residents, and how we are hoping to give back to the community in one way or another.”
After months of planning and paperwork, The North Fork Brewery is happy to announce the opening of its second location. The North Fork Barrel House & Beer Shrine is located in Bellingham’s Sunnyland neighborhood, at the corner of Ohio Street and Grant Street.
The brewery has outgrown its original barrel aging space at their main location in Deming. The
new spot will be used for fermenting in wood barrels, both spontaneously and mixed-culture,
plus as a bottling facility for specialty beers. Head Brewer, Eric Jorgensen, says he is looking
most forward to “not working with full barrels of beer inside of a shipping container” once the
program is fully transitioned.
The Barrel House also features a 10-tap tasting room with a custom draft system. Of those, five taps will be dedicated to serving their vintage sour beers, and the remaining taps will rotate with ales and lagers brewed at their Deming location. Plus, the coolers will be stocked with North Fork specialty bottles, and cans from Bellingham Cider Company.
Owner Jim Green is “excited to have a location in Bellingham that’s close to all of our beer friends.” Just like the dining room at their brewery on Mount Baker Highway, the Barrel House is home to a unique collection of vintage beer bottles and memorabilia. The “bottle walls” display retro-style designs and labels from up and down the West Coast.
Opening day is schedule for Thursday, August 4, 2022. The Barrel House will be open six days a week (closed Wednesday) from noon to 7 p.m. and no food service will be available at this time. For our excellent hand-tossed pizza, visit North Fork Brewery, Pizzeria, and Beer Shrine located at 6186 Mount Baker Highway in Deming. We produce freshly brewed small batch ales, lagers and barrel-aged sours. The restaurant is open seven days a week, and welcomes diners of all ages. Find more information about The North Fork Brewery, please visit www.northforkbrewery.com.
Adaptive and inclusive cycling has proved to be particularly popular for the Airow Project. The nonprofit held a May 2022 event at Bellingham's Waypoint Park. Photo courtesy The Airow Project
When April Katz was in second grade, she was diagnosed with
dyslexia.
Although social and academic struggles followed, Katz
eventually met a teacher who gave her the tools to navigate her disability.
From that point on, Katz refused to let dyslexia define her, and today she’s the
founder of several local programs offering support for those with disabilities
both physical and intellectual.
One of them is The
Airow Project, a recently founded nonprofit that provides adaptive and
inclusive community recreation opportunities. The project features adaptive
sessions on water and snow-based recreation but has particular focus on
adaptive cycling.
The Airow Project began its mission in July 2019, hosting
an adaptive kayaking event with the Outdoors
for All Foundation, a Seattle-based adaptive recreation organization. More
than 60 participants of all ages showed up, confirming to Katz that Whatcom
County had a community large enough to support their mission.
That fall, an adaptive cycling collaboration with Outdoors
for All took place. Official nonprofit status followed in January 2020, but the
COVID-19 pandemic put a long and unfortunate damper on progress. During that period,
Katz took time to connect with local community members regarding future Airow
Project participation.
The Airow Project has organized adaptive and inclusive recreation events in Whatcom County since 2019. Photo courtesy The Airow Project
Following the widespread vaccination of many in the special
needs community, the Airow Project emerged from pandemic hibernation to again
host programs.
In February 2022, Airow took five neurodiverse children on
an inclusive recreation trip to the Mount Baker Ski Area. In May, their first
official adaptive cycling event took place at Bellingham’s Waypoint Park. With
support from Outdoors for All and local bike shops, around 50 participants
learned bike safety and the rules of pump track
bicycling.
“It’s just a really great, accessible area for adaptive
bikes,” Katz says of the popular waterfront park.
The Airow Project’s founder and executive director, April Katz (left) poses with chair Ashley Rowles at a YMCA tabling event in 2022. Photo courtesy The Airow Project
Several different kinds of bikes are used for adaptive
cycling, including recumbent bikes. These have two wheels in front and one
in the back and feature the rider in a reclined position. Even those who are
visually impaired can still ride a bike thanks to tandem bicycles, with the
lead seat guiding the rider in the second seat.
Katz says the Airow Project is also working with local
school districts on an after-school cycling program for children with autism
and other neurodiverse conditions.
“What we’re showing them is that they can ride a typical
bike,” she says. “We’re coaching and giving them more breaks than a regular
mountain bike club would.”
Programs like these have been shown to create positive
behavioral outcomes for those who participate, Katz adds.
In February 2022, Airow took five neurodiverse children to the Mount Baker Ski Area for a day of inclusive, snow-based recreation. Photo courtesy The Airow Project
While the organization has terrific instructors for
kayaking, paddleboarding, and snow-based recreation, Katz says Airow is making cycling
their bread and butter. With miles of accessible trails and a large biking
community, Bellingham is an ideal place to grow an adaptive cycling program.
Looking ahead, Katz says Airow plans to host more community
events while building new partnerships with local organizations. Their
collaboration with Outdoors for All has been very beneficial so far.
“We have a really solid partnership with them,” Katz says.
“They came out with a fleet of bikes [in May], and that’s kind of where our
goal is. We would love to have all this accessible access here in Whatcom
County.”
Adaptive and inclusive cycling has proved to be particularly popular for the Airow Project. The nonprofit held a May 2022 event at Bellingham’s Waypoint Park. Photo courtesy The Airow Project
Upcoming events include an adaptive kayaking session, with
help from Outdoors for All, taking place August 20 at Lake Padden from 11 a.m.
to 3 p.m.
From July 25 to 27, Airow will host a neurodiversity
mountain bike camp each day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lake Padden
playground. A second will be held August 23 through 25. Both sessions will
feature lessons on trail riding, basic bike safety and skills drills.
For Katz — who has seen the world of special education from
all sides — the Airow Project is a point of pride. To her, a bicycle isn’t just
a way to get exercise. It’s a way for those with different needs to gain
acceptance and form community.
“They’re able to be who they are and be accepted,” she says of Airow Project participants. “They can be fully emerged and enriched with all this positivity. It’s great to see all of us cheer on these individuals, and when they’re uplifted like this, you can just see the value of it.”
Neurodiverse mountain bike camps will be held at Lake Padden at the end of July and August. Photo courtesy The Airow Project
The Federal Reserve’s continuing interest rate hikes are of obvious concern for borrowers, affecting their rates on everything from credit cards to home loans. But for savers, these interest rate hikes mean new chances to reap higher returns on their savings.
“For somebody looking for return on their
funds, this is a silver lining,” says Julie Ranson, vice president and district
manager at First Fed’s Fairhaven branch.
How to Save More
With money market accounts, interest rates
are typically several points higher than interest-bearing checking and savings
bank accounts, allowing a greater return on savings. For those with higher
balances, money markets allow people to save at a higher rate than a standard
savings account while offering flexibility to withdraw as needed.
First Fed is offering a money market special
for new accounts with a deposit of $10,000 or more of “new money” – funds not
previously held with First Fed in the last 30 days. On January 2, 2023, the
account converts to Spruce Money Market.
First
Fed is also offering fantastic certificate of deposit (CD) specials. A CD is a
particular type of deposit account that earns a fixed interest rate for a fixed
term. Because that lump sum of money stays in the account for a set time
period, banks can offer much higher interest rates than they do for standard
interest-bearing savings accounts.
CDs provide even better interest returns than
money market options, but funds are deposited for locked-in terms, meaning that
early withdrawals can trigger penalty fees. So CDs are best for longer term
savings growth.
Right now, First Fed is offering a terrific
1.75% APY* for a 13-month CD with a minimum deposit of $10,000 in new money.
Currently, standard fixed rate CDs range from 46 days at 0.05% to 5 years at
1.30%.
Even better, a 30-month CD offers a 2.00%
APY* with a minimum deposit of $25,000 of new money and can include existing
First Fed deposits beyond the new $25,000. This special also includes a “bump
rate option,” where account holders can bump up their interest rate once during
the 30-month term if rates should go higher.
First Fed CDs also offer no monthly service fees and daily interest compounding to maximize interest-earning potential.
First Fed VP and District ManagerJulie Ranson. Photo credit: Radley Muller
“These are really great rates that reflect
the rising rate environment,” Ranson says. “First Fed is one of the first banks
to move on it. Also, the ability to bump your rate is a great feature so you
can take advantage of any significant rate increase.”
Ron Hanson, former longtime Lynden School District teacher, is the man behind downtown Lynden's newest brewpub. Photo credit: Matt Benoit
On July 9, 1908, the very first issue of The Lynden Tribune rolled off the printing press. Today — 104 years later — the weekly newspaper is still publishing. And near the paper’s present-day Lynden location, a fun and delicious tribute to the Tribune has sprung up in its former home.
The Newsroom Pub,
at 608 Front Street, opened June 25 in the building that served as the Tribune’s home from 1939 to 1980. The
new gastropub features locally sourced food and brews, an Edaleen Dairy ice
cream shop, a fantastic outdoor patio space, and plenty of atmospheric nods to the
past.
In the front window, there’s an old Underwood typewriter.
Upon entering through the front door, visitors are immediately greeted by a
reception table with another typewriter, sitting alongside a rotary phone and
lamp.
The waiting area’s wall features a series of historic
photos depicting the Tribune’s
evolution, along with framed typeset numbers and letters from former Tribune printing presses. Clocks, with
times from New York to Tokyo, lend additional newsroom flair.
The Newsroom boasts a fun and spacious outdoor patio area that sits next to the downtown post office. Photo credit: Matt Benoit
Even in the dining area, long-forgotten methods of
newspaper creation are visible. One restaurant table is an old, marble-topped
newspaper layout table, while another is a glass-topped table with a
1,200-pound, 1890-built printing — the exact same kind the Tribune once used — as its base.
From
Idea to Fruition
All of this exists thanks to Ron Hanson, a longtime Lynden resident who spent 28 years teaching in the Lynden School District. After nine years teaching fifth grade — and many more teaching elementary school P.E. — Hanson retired in 2017.
He spent the next year travelling Europe with his wife in a
Volkswagen van. When he returned to Lynden in 2019, Hanson decided to purchase
an old downtown building — most recently the site of a liquor store — with the
help of a friend.
The entrance and waiting area of the restaurant features a visual tribute to The Lynden Tribune. Photo credit: Matt Benoit
Renovating the building was a substantial retirement
project for Hanson, but the 59-year-old ex-teacher has also enjoyed a long
construction career. The top of the building was transformed into six two-story
apartments, highlighted by a rooftop common area featuring a kitchenette, patio
furniture, and stellar view of Mount Baker.
Hanson felt the building’s main floor would be perfect for
a restaurant, and the popularity of brewpubs in both Bellingham and Europe gave
him an idea. After dwelling on whether existing Bellingham breweries might want
a Lynden location, it occurred to him that paying tribute to the building’s
original use would be fun and unique.
His wife, Hanson says, came up with the name, and the Lewis
family — which has owned the Lynden
Tribune since 1914 — also supported the newspaper homage. While Hanson is
majority owner of the pub, four other couples act as minority owners.
The side of the building features a massive Dutch-themed mural that takes viewers from modern-day Lynden to Old Holland. Photo credit: Matt Benoit
After deciding on a theme, Hanson had to receive federal
permission from the United States Postal Service to purchase part of the grass
area between his building and the city’s post office, which sits next door.
Now, that area is bedecked with umbrellas, old church pews as extra seating, cornhole
boards, and a carpet ball table.
“It has kind of a European vibe,” says Hanson. “In Europe,
the cafes are always kind of sandwiched between buildings, in alleys. Everybody
has outdoor seating.”
The building’s opposite side features public parking and a
giant Dutch-themed mural, hand-painted over nearly two months in 2021 by
father-and-son artists Harry and Eric Engstrom.
The mural depicts a visual timeline stretching from
modern-day Lynden to Old Holland, and replaces a similar mural painted by local
artist Bill Swinburnson in 2002. That one, unfortunately, was mostly removed
during necessary building renovations, and Hanson decided that a new mural
would need to be commissioned.
From Farm
to Table
Of course, no new restaurant succeeds unless its food is
worth ordering. Here, too, The Newsroom is firing on all cylinders.
Both the restaurant and bar are kid-friendly due to the
location of the business’s 10 taps, all of which are filled with locally sourced
craft beers and ciders. Regional wines are also available to sip. Hanson says
they’ve tried to go local on food wherever possible.
The pub’s most impressive newspaper-themed touch is the repurposing of a 1,200-pound, 1890-built printing press into a table base. Photo credit: Matt Benoit
“I know it’s a cliché — farm to table — but we have a lot
of farm to table,” he says.
Beef comes from Lynden’s True North Meats, breads originate from Avenue Bread, and fish is sourced from Wild Fin Seafoods — owned by a local resident who works as an Alaska fisherman. Ferndale business Twin Sisters Creamery provides cheese, Cascadia Mushrooms contributes fungi, and Barbie’s Berries and Cascade Blueberry Farm bring forth ripe and juicy varieties.
And of course, there’s also the Edaleen Dairy ice cream.
Twelve flavors of hard ice cream are available anytime during business hours. Patrons can enter the ice cream shop (called “The Daily Scoop”) directly off the street, or order some to go with whatever else they’re eating inside the restaurant.
In addition to hand-cut Dutch fries and Dutch appetizers
like Bitterballen (breaded and fried bone marrow gravy meatballs), The Newsroom
features the “smash burger” — a style of hamburger that begins with a ball of
meat rather than a patty.
This ball is flattened on the grill for roughly 30 seconds
by a cast iron press, Hanson explains, resulting in a crispy ring around the
edges and sealed-in deliciousness.
“You’re not going to
get a juicer, more flavorful burger anywhere,” he says.
Ron Hanson, former longtime Lynden School District teacher, is the man behind downtown Lynden’s newest brewpub. Photo credit: Matt Benoit
Although The Newsroom has a long way to go to match the
longevity of the newspaper it honors, Hanson hopes his pub will be making positive
local headlines for years to come.
“I wanted to create a business that Lyndenites would go
to,” he says. “The town has been very receptive.”
The
Newsroom Pub is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 4 to 9 p.m.
It goes without saying that the challenges of
the past few years have tested our strengths as individuals, companies, and
communities. And as labor and supply shortages have made their way to the
forefront of these challenges, we’re all being stretched in one way or another.
But as the cost of living continues to increase, many deserving families in our
communities aren’t just being stretched, but truly struggling to make ends
meet. That’s why at Barron, we feel called to help in what ways we can.
The annual Christmas
in July giving event at Barron Heating
AC Electrical & Plumbing has been an event that we look forward to year
after year. Looking back, it’s been an honor to help many people in our
community, like Kim Eagle of Bellingham—a perfect example of
resilience and the power to overcome. As a long-time gardener and two-time
cancer survivor, Kim was involved in a devastating accident while shoveling
bark roadside at a customer’s home. A driver who had fallen asleep at the wheel
hit her from behind, pinning her to her work trailer. On top of a broken pelvis
and abdominal injuries, both of Kim’s legs had to be amputated, leaving her
with a long road of recovery. Kim received a well-deserved outpouring of
support from her family and friends who pitched in to help remodel her space to
accommodate her wheelchair. But lacking a properly working furnace for years
prior, they submitted an abundance of recommendations for her for our Christmas
in July event in 2021. With a story we couldn’t look past, our Barron Team was
honored to equip Kim’s home with a new ductless system, making her home more
comfortable for her journey ahead.
Kim’s story
is one of many that we’ve been humbled by in the four years of Christmas in
July at Barron. From medical hardships and lost jobs to foster parents opening
their homes to others, the compassion in so many of our neighbors is
extraordinary, despite the challenges they may face. Now in our fifth season, we’re
searching for deserving individuals and families like these to bless for this
year’s giving event. With your recommendations, we’re donating a Single-Zone
Daikin Ductless Heat Pump to two families that live in the communities we
serve. A ductless
heat pump delivers energy-efficient heating AND cooling, providing year-round
comfort to those that need it most. That means a cool escape in the summer, or
a warm, comfortable home in the winter for those who might not otherwise have
heat.
And looking ahead, for every
Daikin comfort system purchased between now and August 31, 2022, we’ll put $100
towards a December “Furnace Fund.” This fund will be used to give the warmth of
a furnace to those that need it most.
At Barron
Heating AC Electrical & Plumbing, it’s been a joy to serve the communities that we call home for 50
years. We know the
importance of keeping your family safe and comfortable, and want to do what we
can to help our neighbors, especially during tough times. This July, join us in
lending a helping hand to the many deserving families and individuals in our
communities by submitting a recommendation. Visit www.barronheating.com/christmasinjuly/ or stop by either of our Barron showroom locations to
recommend a family—submissions are being accepted now through July 31, 2022.
As your Pacific Northwest home and
building performance experts since 1972, We stand by our mission: Improving
Lives™.
Kittens ready for a picnic in this early 20th-century postcard.
It was a happy, boisterous
time when Bellingham’s Swedish Club gathered for its annual picnic at White
City Amusement Park at Silver Beach on Lake Whatcom in August 1912. For a
small admission fee to the park, members could enjoy the rides at what the park
promoted as the “best picnic grounds in the Northwest.” Club members and their families
munched on the contents of their picnic baskets, listened to speakers, and
watched a baseball game. There were also athletic contests for all ages and
even a pie-eating contest.
Picnics were a popular form of
recreation in America during the early 20th century, as an increasingly urban
population sought an outdoor escape away from the grind of city life. This
coincided with the establishment of many public city parks, including some in
Bellingham and in Whatcom County. This included Whatcom
Falls Park and Fairhaven
Park.
While people could picnic
whenever they liked (weather and time permitting), picnics proved a popular
group activity. Clubs, veteran organizations, businesses, churches, and other
groups often held annual picnics. For example, in August 1922 the Lee Grocery
Company held a picnic for all its workers and their families (72 people total)
at Cottonwood
Beach on Birch Bay, complete
with sports. Bigger companies like Bloedel Donovan Lumber Mills could afford to
host their picnics at more distant locations. In summer 1920 it chartered small
boats to take workers and their families over to Lummi Park on Lummi Island for its annual picnic.
The Knights of Columbus invited the public to join them on an excursion to Doe Bay on Orcas Island in this advertisement from the June 17, 1911, issue of the Bellingham Herald. The Doe Bay area was ideal for picnics. Photo courtesy Washington State Library
Veteran organizations began holding
annual picnics after World War I. Returned servicemen from all around Whatcom
County were invited for a picnic in Cornwall
Park in 1919. Two years later, mothers of veterans hosted a picnic for former
servicemen and their families at Fairhaven Park. The club served ice cream and
coffee and asked people to “bring cups and well-filled baskets” loaded with baked
beans, potato salad, sandwiches, and apple pie.
Groups also used picnics for
fundraisers. For example, in June 1913 the Catholic clubs of Bellingham joined
together for a picnic at White City. They served a chicken dinner, open to the
public, to help raise money for a new parochial school (Assumption Catholic School) under
construction.
The increasing affordability
of the automobile opened up new picnicking possibilities, allowing more folks
to leave the city on excursions. But people didn’t need cars to travel for a
picnic; groups could sometimes take a train or boat to reach their
destinations. The Knights of Pythias
held a basket picnic, along with a clam bake and “mulligan,” at Semiahmoo in
September 1916.
Businesses set up excursions,
as well. In August 1909 the Whatcom County Grocers Association took a special
train to Pioneer Park in Ferndale for its sixth annual picnic. A highlight of
the celebration was a baseball game between grocery clerks and delivery
drivers.
Wheeler’s Bakery appealed to picnickers in this advertisement from the Bellingham Herald newspaper, July 1, 1921. Photo courtesy Washington State Library
Others took boats to nearby
islands, including the San Juans. In June 1911 the Knights of Columbus
charted the steamer Utopia to Doe
Bay on Orcas Island for a public outing where they promised sandy beaches
and scenic “picnic groves.”
Picnics needed supplies, of course, and stores appealed to picnickers during
the summer months, enticing them with sales and offers. In an advertisement
placed in the Bellingham Herald on July 1, 1921, Wheeler’s Bakery (1307
Dock Street) declared: “You will find a choice selection of bread, cookies,
pies, and pastries for your picnic lunch. Don’t forget to include a loaf of our
famous Sun Maid Raisin Bread.” If meat was what you wanted, picnic hams retailed
for 14 ½ cents per pound at Owen Market Groceries’ three locations in October
1921.
But then came the question: What
to pack for a picnic? The Bellingham Herald offered some advice in the
article “How to prepare luncheons for out-door occasions,” published on April
26, 1905: “Often a housekeeper has found the giving of a dinner less of a
problem than the setting up a meal for a picnic or an outing.”
The article offered serving
sizes for coffee, tea, butter, and sandwiches. The picnic centered around the
sandwich. “Sandwiches are reckoned at two or three each,” wrote the Herald,
“and two slices of bread and butter each.” A basic sandwich could be made with
“a tin of potted meat, whisked with a half-ounce of creamed butter or a good tablespoonful
of thick cream.” (This was enough for “twelve to fifteen small sandwiches”).
The article included recipes for other popular picnic fare like pressed beef,
spiced beef, and cucumber aspic.
To pack sandwiches for lunch
baskets before the age of coolers and cheap ice, the Herald suggested on
April 5, 1904, in “How to Make Sandwiches,” wrapping them individually in
“parafine [wax] paper to preserve its freshness or a dampened cloth should be
laid upon the bottom of a dainty lunch basket and a moist napkin spread over
the top.”
Whatever people in early 20th
century Bellingham chose to eat or wherever they chose to spread their picnic blankets,
they were taking part in a popular pastime that people still enjoy today in our
area’s many beautiful parks.
The inaugural Northwest Tune-Up Festival — the summer’s premier bikes, music, and beer festival, celebrated the spirit and soul of the Northwest in absolutely epic style over the weekend of July 8–10 in Bellingham. Held at the city’s spectacular Waterfront park and Galbraith Mountain biking trails, the family friendly event hosted several thousand people over the course of three days. From enduro racing to bike demos, kids activities to beer-tasting and world-class music, the Tune-Up’s first year was truly an incredible experience for locals and visitors alike.
With more than 50 exhibitors throughout the Waterfront Expo Village and Demo Center on Galbraith, festival goers were able to check out the latest gear, clothing, bikes, and accessories from bike and outdoor brands. At the Beer Tasting Garden, over 20 of the region’s top breweries and cideries had their finest on tap, while a Brewer’s Hour offered a meet-and-greet to learn more about these craft libations. Friday’s opening ceremony included a land acknowledgement with members of the local Lummi and Nooksack tribes.
The Specialized Galbraith Enduro presented by Soil Searching drew racers from near and far, offering a larger-than-usual pro purse and the chance to experience Galbraith Mountain’s world-renowned trails. After the dust settled on a rowdy–and long–course, Jill Kintner, Miranda Miller, Matilda Melton captured 1st, 2nd and 3rd place respectively for the women’s pro category. Remi Gauvin, Myles Morgan and Eric Olsen claimed the top pro spots for men’s.
At the Specialized Status X Fanatik Mohawk Jump Jam, an insane level of talent was on display as riders threw sky-high tricks on the Mohawk trail’s massive jumps. Winners of Best Whip, Highest Air on the Hip and Top Shredder of the Day received a new, complete Status bike. Meanwhile, at the on-mountain demo center, everyone from curious newbies to expert riders could take a new-to-them bike and top-end components out for a spin.
Down at the waterfront on Friday, competition was fierce in the MAXXIS Pumptrack Drag Race presented by EVIL Bikes. Racing head-to-head on the newly built track, riders were afforded two laps in the elimination-style format. The women’s category was dominated by Jill Kintner, Matilda Melton, and Ivy Newell for 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively. Eddie Renyolds, Lear Miller and Hayden Damon, took 1st, 2nd and 3rd for men’s. The larger-than-usual pro purses awarded $1500, $1000 and $500, with equal payouts for men and women.
Each day, bike coach Angi Weston from Radical Roots hosted clinics, including jumping, cornering and kids sessions at the Waterfront and up on Galbraith Mountain. Huckwagons and Transcascadia Excursions ran shuttles all day, each day, bringing riders, racers and spectators from the Waterfront to the mountain and back.
As golden hour crept over the Waterfront each evening, the Tune-Up’s main stage lit up with the night’s musical lineup. Headliners included The Dip, Allah Las, Wolf Parade, Cut Chemist with Chali 2na, and grammy-winner PJ Morton. The dancy-heavy crowds were backdropped by stunning Bellingham Bay and spectacular sunsets, as summer has finally arrived to the Northwest.
Suffice to say, the Northwest Tune-Up’s debut was full of incredible people and experiences. Indeed, a true celebration of this region’s unique and rich cultures.
We’d like to offer a special thank you to our sponsors of the Northwest Tune-Up: Specialized, Maxxis, Evil Bikes, Smartwool, Diamondback, Transition Bikes, Superfeet and Craft MTN.The Northwest Tune-Up is part of Bellingham’s signature event program in partnership with the City of Bellingham and Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism, aimed to encourage commerce, maximize national and regional exposure, enhance the existing quality of life for residents, and help build a legacy for recreation in the Whatcom County.
History lives on in architecture. Memories and times long
passed are evident in every scrap and section of old buildings, down to the cut
and grain of the wood that holds up their walls. Bellingham is rich in bygone landscapes,
preserved and tended so that visitors and locals alike can enjoy the view
nestled between the old and the new. Jen Sandoval, a one-time contractor and now
full-time real estate agent with John L. Scott, sat down with WhatcomTalk to
share her knowledge of historical homes in Bellingham neighborhoods and how she
researches their stories when a client is interested in a purchase.
With a background in general contracting, Sandoval found
the transition to real estate natural and advantageous. “I had a toddler at the
time, and I thought about how I could take this knowledge and experience and do
something that is still really flexible but is in the world of housing and
architecture,” says Sandoval. “I made that switch and have never looked back. I
do projects on my own house and help out friends from time to time, but I love
being in real estate for the flexibility and guiding people through the process
or introducing them to the community.”
Sandoval is passionate about preserving older homes and
their history. “I love working with my clients, and I have worked on a lot of
older homes, focusing on what was already there, how we could honor it, and how
we could make it functional,” Sandoval says. “I use my contracting background
all the time. Every time I walk through a house, I’m seeing it through the lens
of contracting. I mostly work with families and the market is really
competitive, forcing buyers to compromise here or there. Giving people a sense
of what they’re walking into and what could be achievable for them has been
super helpful.”
People could come and view lots that were for sale before they built their homes at the S. Park St. Station, shown here in 1906. Photo courtesy Jen Sandoval
Pioneer Park served as an inspiration and sparked
Sandoval’s interest in historical homes. “I grew up in Ferndale and we would
take field trips out to Pioneer Park where there’s a little village of maybe
six or seven old homes from the 1880s that they moved onto the park site,” says
Sandoval. “They have one set up as a post office and they run people through
these different experiences. Seeing the size of the wood that they used and the
homes — it’s outstanding and it’s amazing. I have always been fascinated about
old historical architecture.”
Sandoval’s research process began to take shape when she
started getting into older homes herself, curious about the updates as a
homeowner and buyer. “When I was finally able to purchase an older home and dig
into the history of it, it was the Columbia neighborhood,” Sandoval says. “My
aunt lived in the neighborhood when I was growing up and I always thought that
was the dream neighborhood so when I got to move into Columbia, I was really
excited to join the history of it. I did a bunch of research on the historical
nature of things and less on the practical side of things.”
The Cornwall streetcar opened up “streetcar suburbs” in the Broadway Park area of Bellingham. Photo courtesy Jen Sandoval
Sandoval started her exploration of the neighborhood’s
history at the library, home to hundreds of archived records and books dating
back to over a century. “It was about going to the library and picking up these
books that are 120 years old and looking up who lived in what houses from one
year to the next,” says Sandoval. “Learning how it changed and where people
moved and being able to piece all that history together has been incredibly fascinating.”
The Sanborn Fire Maps also prove to be a valuable resource
when exploring old neighborhoods. “The Sanborn Insurance Company did these really
comprehensive maps at that time so firefighters would be able to identify what
different buildings are. At first, they don’t look like a lot, but the more you
read them and find out what different symbols mean, the more they make sense,”
Sandoval says. “They’ve also uploaded them online and they have them from 1904–1913,
and 1945. Sometimes there are really interesting things labeled.”
One of Sandoval’s clients purchased a historic turn-of-the-century home pictured here in the Lettered Street neighborhood. Photo courtesy Jen Sandoval
When diving into research mode, Sandoval seeks out as many
valid resources as she can get her hands on. “You can kind of go down different
rabbit holes,” she says. “The library also has microfilm where you can read
newspapers from those times. The museum can be a great resource and I also go
to the county permit office.”
One of Sandoval’s favorite discoveries in her years as a
contractor was a Life magazine from 1967 that she found when removing a
drop ceiling from a turn-of-the-century home. “It had a note from the company
who had installed the ceiling,” says Sandoval. “We cut out those boards and
took it to the son who now owns the company and showed him because it was his
dad who wrote the note. That was really fun.”
One of Bellingham’s historical homes sold by Jen Sandoval. Photo courtesy Jen Sandoval
Unearthing these unexpected gems has become one of the best
aspects of Sandoval’s career. “I did a bunch of remodels on my own house, too, and
as I was peeling back layers, imagining who was living here and what their
story might be, we found tokens from the trolley that went along Monroe Street,”
she says. “There was a carpenter that lived here who worked down at the docks
so he would take a trolley down to the downtown area to go to work.”
Understanding history and welcoming the stories of those
long since passed preserves the uniqueness and individuality that makes Bellingham
neighborhoods so beloved and leads to unexpected places — a journey well worth
taking.
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...
