With COVID-19 transmission rates in Whatcom County significantly increasing, PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center and all Whatcom County PeaceHealth Medical Group clinics will again be limiting the number of visitors permitted inside our facilities.
Effective Tuesday, May 3, only one visitor OR support person per 24 hours will be allowed in our facilities. The no-visitor policy remains in place for COVID-19 patients, with some exceptions.
In addition, visitors will again be restricted from entering our PeaceHealth St. Joseph gift shop.
Visitors are still required to wear a Level 3 (blue) surgical mask in the medical center and clinics; these are available at all entrances for free. Visitors may also choose to wear their own KN95 or N95 masks if they prefer.
In alignment with other Washington state healthcare organizations, PeaceHealth is using the CDC’s transmission map to guide us on next steps in COVID-19 response in our communities. We know how important visitation is for our patients and their loved ones, and we hope to be able to lift these restrictions as soon as possible. We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding.
Another great performer has been added to the 2022 lineup. Rap star Flo Rida will be performing live on Thursday night, August 18 at 7 p.m. This concert is part of the Bank of the Pacific Entertainment Series at the Northwest Washington Fair in Lynden.
Flo Rida is an American rapper from Carol City, Florida. In 2007 his breakout single “Low” was number one on the charts for 10 weeks in the United States and broke the record for digital download sales. He has released a total of 5 albums, started his own management company, and started a nonprofit foundation called “Big Dreams For Kids” that is committed to inspiring future leaders.
Tickets for the 7 p.m. grandstand show go on sale to the public at 9 a.m. on May 6. Grandstand
reserved seats, preferred seats, and preferred chairs are available. Tickets do not include gate
admission, which is required.
For access to the online pre-sale starting May 4, people can subscribe to the ‘Friends of the Fair’ email here.
Tickets can be purchased at https://nwwafair.com/tickets, the Fair Office, 1775 Front Street in Lynden, and by phone at 360-354-4111. VIP and group ticketing are also available. The 2022 Northwest Washington Fair will be presented August 11-20.
As we finally return more fully to life as a community after what’s felt like a two-year-long winter, events are filling the calendar and people are out and about. But on May 29th life in the Pacific Northwest will once again feel truly right with the return of the iconic Ski to Sea race.
Started in 1973, Ski to Sea is the original multisport relay race. This year’s teams will again ski, run, bike, canoe, and kayak their way from Mount Baker’s Heather Meadows to Marine Park in Bellingham Bay.
An excited competitor in a previous Ski to Sea race rings the bell as they cross the finish line. Photo courtesy of Whatcom Events
“To live in a place where we can have a 93-mile race course from
a mountain to the bay is extraordinary,” says Ski to Sea Race Director Anna
Rankin. “Having all these amazing parks and transition areas truly showcases
the wonder that is Whatcom County. I really don’t think there’s anything else
out there quite like Ski to Sea.”
After a two-year hiatus when COVID forced the cancellation of
the race in 2020 and 2021, Rankin is thrilled to have the race back on the
schedule. With green lights all around for a 2022 race, Rankin knew the place
to start was reaching out to those who had been partners in the past.
Whatcom Events Assistant Race Director Ashlee Carstens, Race Director Anna Rankin, and Peoples Bank Assistant Marketing Manager Will Butela pose together at the 2019 Ski to Sea race. Photo courtesy of Whatcom Events
Peoples Bank had been
the Ski to Sea title sponsor for more than a decade when the COVID cancellations
hit and continued to support Ski to Sea parent company Whatcom Events to help it stay afloat during a tumultuous
time. Excited to learn the race would return this year, Peoples Bank stepped up
to be the title sponsor once again.
Will Butela, assistant marketing manager at Peoples Bank, will resume
his role as the Master of Ceremonies of the awards ceremony at the finish line
and will join a team of employees giving out prizes at the Peoples Bank booth
in Marine Park.
Booths set up at the finish line offer a fun atmosphere for competitors and spectators alike. Photo courtesy of Whatcom Events
“Whether you’re watching someone you know compete in the race or
you’re at the race to experience the energy…for us, bringing the community
together for an event like this is what it’s all about,” says Butela. “It’s why
we’re so passionate about supporting it every year.”
Because of the hiatus, Peoples Bank looks to get even more
people involved in the fun — whether they’re racing or not. Beginning April
29th, people can enter a sweepstakes to win a ‘Ski or Sea’ dream vacation by
going to www.peoplesbank-wa.com/vacation and
choosing where they would rather go: to ski or to the sea. The winner will
receive a $3,000 cashier’s check and will be announced at the Ski to Sea finish
line on May 29th at 3 p.m. If the winner is not present, Butela will call them himself
to share the good news.
Peoples Bank has long been a Ski to Sea title sponsor — and many of its employees form teams to take part in the annual race. Photo courtesy of Whatcom Events
With key partners on board, Rankin began to plan the race
itself, which involves moving thousands of participants — plus spectators and
volunteers — all in the same direction.
“In a normal year, there are always little things that come up
with the course, and Mother Nature is the biggest challenge,” Rankin says. “A
low snow year, or a high snow year and an early melt that causes the river to
come up to a level that doesn’t work for race day, are always challenges.”
A cyclocross competitor races from Hovander Park to Zuanich Park. Photo courtesy of Whatcom Events
This year is not typical, so in addition to navigating Mother Nature
on race day, Rankin is also steering through changes that have occurred over
the last two years. Impacts on the race from ongoing local development,
combined with flooding this past winter in Ferndale, have made complete changes
to the cyclocross leg so it can wend its way from Hovander Park to Zuanich
Park.
Another change will be in Everson, where flooding caused so much
devastation. Rankin says she felt terrible even bringing the race up to local
officials, but the mayor and the public works department were excited to make
it work, understanding what a positive event Ski to Sea is for the community.
Due to impacts from the flood, there will be much less space at Riverside Park
in Everson, so this year it will be racers only, with no booths or spectators.
An aerial view of the Ski to Sea finish line in 2015, where kayakers will again come into Marine Park this year. Photo courtesy of Whatcom Events
While putting on this year’s event seems even more daunting than
usual, Rankin looks forward to putting on another fun, safe race.
“The race offers so many opportunities and so many divisions,”
she says. “We have Olympic athletes competing next to family teams and high
schoolers. Teams that just have the goal to finish are racing right alongside
teams that want to be the number one team. We offer the opportunity for all
those people to get together on the same day on the same course and experience
the race together.”
With race day rapidly approaching, many teams are already registered, but there’s still room for yours. You can register at www.skitosea.com, and everyone is welcome to be a part of this local classic.
Gym Star Sports Center had six athletes who qualified for Region 2 Gymnastics Championships 2022: Bella Burns, Campbell DeJong, Sabrina Barrett, Kasey DeJong, Charley Huffman, and Chloe Broyles.
Photo courtesy Gym Star Sports Center
Both Bella Burns and Charley Huffman competed as Level 8’s.
Bella Burns finished with a 34.825 and Charley finished with a 35.725 All
Around.
Level 9 gymnasts can qualify to the next step of
competition, which is Westerns to be held in Salt Lake City, May 6-8.
Campbell DeJong qualified with a 36.7, finishing 4th
All Around.
Sabrina Barrett, Kasey DeJong and Chloe Broyles will be
competing as Xcel Platinum’s the weekend of April 30-31.
All these athletes have worked incredibly hard all year long! Congratulations Gym Star gymnasts!
The public is invited to re-create history by participating in the Bellingham Bike Parade. The parade will be held on Sunday, May 1, 2022, and will kick off a month of celebrations for Bike Everywhere Month.
On May 1, 1948, an estimated 800 Whatcom County youth rode their decorated bikes down Holly Street in a May Day bike parade in downtown Bellingham. Local photographer Jack Carver memorialized the event with his photo, taken from the corner of Railroad Avenue and East Holly Street. This photo is part of the Whatcom Museum Photo Archives collection.
1948 photo by Jack Carver, courtesy of Whatcom Museum
“As this wonderful photo shows, we have a long history of celebrating the joy of biking in Bellingham,” Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood said. “Bicycling as a transportation option is important now as we work to reduce vehicle trips and create a clean energy future. This year’s bike parade celebrates the vibrancy of our past while calling attention to the important work we’re doing to ensure future generations have safe, accessible and clean transportation options.”
Participants should meet at 12:30 p.m. at the Whatcom Educational Credit Union (WECU) parking lot located at 600 East Holly Street. The ride will begin at 1:00 p.m. and will travel down Holly Street to Waypoint Park with a Bellingham Police Department escort. Participants are invited to enjoy the park, try out the cycle path and pump track, purchase food from food trucks, and listen to live music at Kulshan Trackside.
Photo courtesy of Whatcom Transportation Authority
The ride will take place rain or shine. Bike decorations and costumes are encouraged. All ages are welcome. Riders will be required to wear helmets, and to follow all rules of the road.
The parade is sponsored by Whatcom Transportation Authority, City of Bellingham, Downtown Bellingham Partnership, WECU, Whatcom Smart Trips and Western Washington University. It kicks off Bike Everywhere Month and encourages community feedback on updates to city-wide bicycle and pedestrian plans happening this spring and summer.
Action abounds during this 1949 Western Washington University game at Battersby Field. Jack Carver photo courtesy of Whatcom Museum
When it comes to local baseball, today’s Bellingham
residents can check out a Bells game at Joe Martin Field, softball and
recreation league match-ups at several city facilities, and high school games
at various district diamonds.
But once upon a time, none of the city’s current baseball venues existed, and residents filled places long since erased from the map. Here are some noteworthy ballparks of Bellingham’s past.
Fairgrounds
Field (1901–1912)
During the 1880s and ’90s, Bellingham’s annual fair was
held on cleared land that’s now industrial property just north of Iowa Street. In
1899, the City of Bellingham obtained a one-year lease on the land as a gift from
its owner, the Bellingham Bay Improvement Company, to use for sporting
festivities for as long as the company owned it.
By 1901, the grounds had a half-mile horse track and a
200-foot-long, covered wood grandstand — situated on the track’s straightaway —
that could seat more than 2,000 people. Baseball was played in the track’s
infield. High school games took place here, as well as home events for teams
formed by the Whatcom Athletic Club, Bellingham Bay Brewery, and Whatcom
Baseball Club.
Baseball was played at the Bellingham Fairgrounds location north of present-day Iowa Street from 1901-1912. This photo, taken around 1905, shows women playing a baseball game. Photo courtesy of Whatcom Museum
In 1905, Bellingham’s first professionally organized
baseball team, the Bellingham Gillnetters, played home games at the fairgrounds
diamond. On opening day, many local businesses closed so workers could attend,
schools dismissed students early, and more than 3,500 people reportedly packed
the facility.
The Gillnetters had some devout fans, including the
“Cowbell Gang” — 10 businessmen and bartenders who each held a cowbell with a
letter on it. When lined up, the bells spelled out “BELLINGHAM.” The gang
enthusiastically rang their cowbells, especially when trying to distract the
opposing team’s batters.
The Gillnetters also had standout pitcher Carl Druhot,
who’d go on to play for the Cincinnati Reds in 1906. Druhot had a brief major
league career but earned strikeouts against star hitters like Honus Wagner.
Unfortunately, the Gillnetters struggled on and off the
field, folding after just one season. The fairgrounds later hosted a city team,
the Bellingham Regulars, from 1907 to 1910, and the semi-professional Bellingham
Elks in 1912.
Still, the fairgrounds were never truly suitable for baseball.
Despite ideal trolley line access, the field had no fencing and seating only
ran down the third base line, making for poor sightlines.
The approximate
location of the baseball field today is where Nevada Street runs
between the Puget Sound Energy recycling center and the Brooks manufacturing
plant.
White
City Ball Park (1907–1910)
The Silver
Beach Amusement Park, which opened in 1907 on the shores of Lake
Whatcom, featured a roller coaster, Ferris wheel, and dance pavilion, among
other attractions. It also included a large, grassy field used for picnics,
expositions, dirigible demonstrations, and baseball games.
The Silver Beach Amusement Park also included a baseball field that also hosted picnics and demonstrations. The far fence borders what’s now Northshore Drive, with what’s now Britton Road sloping down to meet it. H.R. Stenton photo courtesy of Whatcom Museum
The field was primarily used for high school games through
1910, but after that it apparently held more picnics than ball games until the
amusement park closed, sometime between 1918 and 1919.
The former ball field remained vacant for an unknown time
before being developed. Today it’s the location
of residential homes in the Silver Beach neighborhood, and Northshore
Drive wraps around what was once the field’s northern and eastern boundaries.
Elks
Field (1913–21)
Located where Kentucky and Ellis Streets meet, Elks Field
was built in 1913 to be the home of the Bellingham Elks, the official city team
at the time.
The fenced-in ballpark was constructed following a
multi-year agreement between George Downer, the Elks’ manager, and the
Bellingham Bay Improvement Company, to build a half-circle grandstand at a cost
of about $1,000 (roughly $29,000 today).
Part of the Elks Field grandstand and dugout during a game. Notice the formal attire typical of baseball attendance in that era. O.C. Scudder photo from Center for PNW Studies, courtesy of Wes Gannaway
Perhaps the most interesting thing about Elks Field — and one
that shows up in several photos — was its automobile entrance at the park’s
northeast corner. This allowed spectators to watch games from the comfort of
their own vehicles along the first and third base lines, and do so while
protected from foul balls by a metal screen.
Whatcom High School used the field for baseball, as did
Western Washington University. Barnstorming teams
from out of town also frequented the diamond, and school kids held various
athletic contests there.
One of the unique features of Elks Field was an auto entrance that allowed vehicles to be parked along the first and third base lines, where their occupants could remain to watch the game. O.C. Scudder photo courtesy of Wes Gannaway
Elks games were extraordinarily popular in the mid-1910s,
drawing crowds of up to 2,000 people. Opposing teams sometimes hailed from
outside of Whatcom County, including Canadian teams and Seattle-based Japanese
teams like the Nippons.
The Twilight League formed in 1919, with local teams engaging
in summertime, evening play at the park, which was renamed after the league. The
field’s original grandstand was torn down and replaced by a 500-seat bleacher.
In 1920, the field’s final year of use, additional seating took capacity to
about 1,000 onlookers.
Elks Field sat at what is now Bellingham High School. Notice the outfield wall advertisement pricing ice cream at 25 cents a quart. O.C. Scudder photo from Center for PNW Studies, courtesy of Wes Gannaway
With the opening of Battersby Field, maintenance money was diverted,
and Elks Park fell into disrepair. The stands were torn down and the field saw
recreational and school play before disappearing around 1929.
Elks Field stood on the present-day
location of Bellingham High School, with the edges of the stadium
property along Kentucky Street and what is now the high school’s football field
and tennis courts.
Three unidentified members of the Bellingham Elks pose in front of the Elks Field grandstand in this undated photo. The team played at their namesake park from 1913 to 1920. J.W. Sandison photo courtesy Whatcom Museum
Western Washington University’s Waldo Field, seen here in the mid 1920s, had a football and baseball field (to the right). Campus History Collection, Special Collections, Western Libraries Heritage Resources, Western Washington University
The field was dedicated on November 16, 1923, and began its
life hosting football games. A baseball diamond was added next to the football
field in 1924, and the university’s first track was also installed at Waldo, in
1925.
Both the football and baseball teams eventually defected to
Battersby Field, and Miller Hall’s 1943 construction likely led to Waldo
Field’s demise. The Hall was expanded in 1968, with Red Square — the
approximate location of the baseball diamond — built in 1969.
Members of the 1927 Western baseball team pose for a photo on Waldo Field. WWU photo courtesy of Wes Gannaway
Battersby
Field (1921–1962)
The lot that became Bellingham’s longtime home for baseball
began as land leased to a church for a playground in 1910. Used as a crude site
for some football and baseball games, the Bellingham School District bought the
field in 1913 to hold physical education classes.
In 1917, the field’s northwest corner at the intersection
of F and Girard Streets saw the Whatcom High School baseball team
move in, playing in front of a new grandstand. Originally called Whatcom
Athletic Field, it was renamed Battersby Field in 1918 to honor Robert
Battersby, a longtime school board member.
Battersby Field hosted all manner of baseball games from 1921-1962. J.W. Sandison photo courtesy of Whatcom Museum
Upgrades in 1921 made Battersby host to the city’s Twilight
League games, and about 1,400 people showed up to see the first game between
the Elks and the Bloedel-Donovan team.
Battersby added lights in 1935 for night baseball, becoming
the only lit field north of Seattle. Over the decades, the ballpark held all
manner of games: grade school and high school matches, semi-professional
Northwest League games, and various city and county leagues.
Battersby Field became the home of the new Bellingham Bells in 1940. This photo shows pre-game ceremonies prior to a game in May 1949. Jack Carver photo courtesy of Whatcom Museum.
Bellingham teams that played at Battersby included the
Elks, Tulips, and Chinooks — a class B minor league franchise. In 1940, a new
NW League team called the “Mount Bakers” was formed, but a local sportswriter
encouraged player-coach Andy Padovan to change the name. Soon, the Bellingham
Bells were born.
Barnstorming exhibitions also yielded some extraordinary
visitors. In 1932, Mildred
“Babe” Didrikson — a two-time track and field Olympic gold
medalist and future co-founder of professional women’s golf — pitched the
opening two innings against the Bellingham Tulips for the House of David team.
Though its grandstand is long gone, baseball can still be played at Battersby Field. The lot at F and Girard Street continues to see everyday use by both schoolchildren and adults. Photo courtesy Matt Benoit
Semi-pro Negro League teams like Cuba’s Colored House of
David and Gilkerson’s Union Giants played at Battersby in 1929 and 1931,
respectively. On July 28, 1940, the Kansas City Monarchs came to town. Despite
expert opening innings by legendary pitcher Satchel Paige, the Monarchs blew a
9–1 lead and the Bells won 10–9.
Besides baseball, Battersby Field also hosted football
games, track and field events, boxing matches, and even pageants.
Action abounds during this 1949 Western Washington University game at Battersby Field. Jack Carver photo courtesy of Whatcom Museum
Two things led to Battersby’s 1962 demise. The first was the
pending construction of Civic Field, which provided separate spaces for
baseball and football. The second was the infamous Columbus
Day storm of 1962, which destroyed the roof and light poles of
the field’s main grandstand with nearly 100 mph winds.
Basic emergency repairs were estimated at $3,800 ($36,000
today), and it was decided to instead demolish the grandstand and focus on
finishing Civic Field facilities. A grandstand-less Battersby, with a small
replacement backstop, continued to see baseball through the years.
Today, Battersby continues to see community use as a place
for middle school sports, adult recreation leagues, and daily joggers and
walkers.
Much of the information in this article is sourced from “Bays to Bells,” a local baseball history book by Wes Gannaway and Kent Holsather. If you’re interested in local history or baseball, it’s a real gem of a book.
Mary in front of her Ferndale art studio. Photo courtesy: Mary Morris Solomon
The world sometimes has a funny way of telling us it’s time to
blow up what we’re doing and try something new. Mary Morris Solomon, the
creator of MaryGold Tales, was
told this by a global pandemic. Having been deemed nonessential, Mary sat at
home wondering when she could get back to her esthetics business.
Not knowing what else to do, Mary decided she’d try to make
people smile. Equipped with her favorite pencil and some pan watercolors, she
began to create.
“People were so sad on Facebook. Oh my gosh: just the
devastation, the heartache,” she says. “I would reach out to five or six people
every day and ask for their mailing address. I would hand paint them a little
card related to whatever was happening with their posting on Facebook and
secretly mail it to them.”
She named these “Happy Cards.”
As Mary sent out more cards, people began to request that she
make one they could send out — and suggested she charge for it. At the time,
she laughed at the idea. But as demand grew, she realized the potential was there,
so why not?
Mary displays her art on an array of products. Photo courtesy: Mary Morris Solomon
Mary had originally planned to be an art teacher, before jobs
and life pulled her in a different direction. “I feel like I went on this 20-year
hiatus to do this thing that paid the bills,” she says. “I met great people,
but it didn’t fulfill who I was. And then, all of a sudden, the world was like
whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa — we’re gonna go back to that.”
So, Mary went for it. With a 200-square-foot shell of a building
in the backyard, intended to be an esthetic studio, Mary finished the space herself
and had her own studio to create whatever she felt like whenever she felt like
it.
Mary loving life with a rainbow cake topper. Photo courtesy: Mary Morris Solomon
Inspired by everyday life, Mary’s art comes from the ideas that
pop into her head while driving down the road or cooking dinner. Her sole goal
is to paint pictures that make her happy in hopes that they, in turn, make someone else happy, as well. “When
people ask, How did you develop your style? I just follow what I want to do.
Isn’t that what we all should be doing?” Mary asks.
As MaryGold Tales grew, it did so organically. Mary tried new
things and added to what she was doing. It reached a point where painting every
card individually was no longer practical, so she bought a scanner, then a
printer, and somehow a greeting card and stationery business was born. She then
started creating things like key chains, cake toppers, notepads, mugs, and
stickers. And not just any stickers, but good stickers that won’t come off in
the dishwasher. The basis of what she’s chosen to put her art on is 100% tied
to what makes her happy — and if it sells, it sells.
Just one of many MaryGold Tales card designs. Photo courtesy: Mary Morris Solomon
What started as a handful of happy cards has turned into a
business that’s largely driven by her @marygold.tales Instagram
account. She sells her products directly from her website, www.marygoldtales.com, and can be found at
local markets around Whatcom and Skagit Counties. Information on where she’ll
be and when is available on her website. The markets are new to her, but she
already loves them for the opportunity they give to connect with other vendors,
and the energy they bring as the doors open and customers pour in.
Mary can also be commissioned to paint pictures of homes or
portraits in her style, which has become a big part of her business. Just as
people wanted to give out her happy cards, they now want to give her art with its
personal touch.
Mary creates and sells vibrant, whimsical stickers — good ones that don’t come off in the dishwasher. Photo courtesy: Mary Morris Solomon
Mary’s latest addition to her website: free coloring pages. They’re
all original and sure to bring a smile to those who color within their lines.
They are available here.
Mary isn’t entirely sure where her business is headed, but that doesn’t
worry her. “Everything has happened by a beautiful accident,” she says. Mary plans
to continue to allow MaryGold Tales to grow in that manner and see where it
takes her. “My dream would be that I just get to continue doing this for the
rest of my life.”
Thrilled by what she’s now doing, Mary’s passion and enthusiasm
pour out as she talks about her paintings. The bright colors and whimsical
characters in her art reflect her personality. She hopes that by pursuing her
passion she can inspire others to do the same — while also adding a little bit
of happy to their day.
For nearly two decades, Bellingham’s PeaceHealth
St. Joseph Cancer Center has provided compassionate, comprehensive
care to community members dealing with cancer.
In staying on top of treatment innovations, the
35,000-square-foot Cancer Center is welcoming both new doctors and
state-of-the-art technology to its repertoire of cancer-fighting tools.
On the personnel side, three new radiation oncologists have
joined the Cancer Center team, and all have extensive training and expertise in
their fields of focus.
Doctor
Andrea L. Arnett, who completed her residency at the Mayo
Clinic, joins PeaceHealth with an emphasis on treating gastrointestinal, gynecological,
and nervous system cancers, including brain tumors.
Dr. Andrea Arnett. Photo credit: Mark Turner
After time as an associate professor at the University of
Arizona Cancer Center, Dr.
Victor J. Gonzalez comes to Bellingham with particular expertise
in breast, lymphoma, and hepatobiliary (liver, gallbladder, bile duct) cancers.
Dr. Victor Gonzalez. Photo credit: Mark Turner
Dr. Lisa Hazard joins PeaceHealth with experience in treating all types of cancers using state-of-the-art radiation therapies, and has undertaken significant academic research in gastrointestinal and brain tumors, among other subjects.
Dr. Lisa Hazard. Photo credit: Mark Turner
“We’re delighted to have them,” says Dr. Christine Cha, system medical director for cancer services at PeaceHealth. “They’re moving with their families, and all three have ties to the Pacific Northwest.”
Dr. Christine Cha. Photo credit: Mark Turner
The new trio joins the existing stability of a
cancer-fighting team that includes four medical oncologists, advance practice
providers, social workers, nurse navigators, and others who strive to provide
cancer care and support on a physical, spiritual, logistical, and financial
level.
PeaceHealth’s existing team of medical oncologists includes (left to right) Dr. Scott LeTellier, Dr. Chanudi Weerasinghe, Dr. Drew Murray, and Dr. Mervat Saleh. Photo courtesy of PeaceHealth
On the technology side, the Cancer Center recently saw installation of a new linear accelerator, its second such device. These machines, which cost between $2 to $4 million apiece, provide state-of-the-art radiation oncology treatment. Utilizing particle physics, a linear accelerator emits radiation with carefully focused beams of energy that spare the healthy tissue surrounding tumors.
The new machine, installed in March, utilizes a HyperArc
attachment specializing in brain cancer treatment. The HyperArc provides
precision, high-dose radiation in only a handful of non-invasive sessions.
“That has been found to be very effective,” Cha says. “This
is the first time this technology’s being offered to Whatcom County.”
The center is also adding genetic counseling services via
telemedicine. Thanks to a partnership with the non-profit Genetic Support
Foundation, medical oncologists will soon be able to provide cancer patients
with genetic testing.
This testing has several uses, including helping to
identify if a patient’s family is at-risk for developing the same cancer, says
Barbara Nicholson-Sambuceto, director of cancer services for PeaceHealth’s
Northwest network. The testing is done with saliva-based test kits sent directly
to a patient’s home. Once completed, the tests are sent back to the testing
company, which sends results to providers who do consultations with patients
over Zoom.
The Cancer Center recently installed a second linear accelerator, which provides state-of-the-art radiation oncology treatment. Photo courtesy of PeaceHealth
As COVID-19 cases subside, the Cancer Center is also reviving survivorship events and classes, which help those finished with treatments transition back to more normal living and side effect management. The center will be celebrating National Cancer Survivor’s Day on June 5, with activities and treats all week for patients and their families.
Additional PeaceHealth cancer care support and wellness
services include yoga, support groups, cancer rehabilitation and nutrition
services. The center also provides palliative care for those suffering with long-term
effects of cancer and treatment, as well as financial help for those needing to
address the funding of often-expensive care.
In all, the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Center is able to
offer patients the level of robust, integrated, state-of-the-art cancer
treatment often found in bigger cities like Seattle or Portland, but without
the stress and headache of having to travel there.
“Being able to get cancer care close to home is really
important,” says Nicholson-Sambuceto. “Cancer care takes a lot out of people
physically, of course, but emotionally and spiritually, as well. If people can
be near to their social networks, it helps them quite a bit.”
While dealing with cancer is never truly easy, PeaceHealth
is focused on making the experience and treatment as uncomplicated, low-stress and
effective as possible.
“Our emphasis is on providing truly comprehensive cancer care in the community,” Cha says. “We want patients to feel well taken care of.”
One of the highlights of the school counselor’s day in Whatcom County middle schools and high schools is the announcement of Assistance League of Bellingham’s Enrichment Scholarship Program. We thank all the school counselors for coordinating this program in your respective schools. Students in grades 6 through 11 are invited to apply — the scholarships are competitive and based on merit.
The summer programs offer the
students a personal growth opportunity for the development of curiosity,
creativity, strengthening collaborative skills and adaptability by exposing
them to new areas of interest. Chosen programs such as Debate, Chamber Days,
Coding in Java (University of Washington), Music Camp in Vermont, Sports
Medicine and Squalicum Musical Theater are but a few examples that will enrich
the lives of our students.
Assistance League of
Bellingham’s $47,900 investment in 2022, through the Enrichment
Scholarship Program, is our investment in the preparation of the future
holistic education for our students.
We are honored to announce the distribution of scholarships for 2022 as follows: 39 high school students at $900 each and 32 middle school students at $400 each. We live in a world of constant change. The 71 students who will participate in their chosen programs this year will be given the tools to help shape a better world. It is a gift we will all reap the benefits of.
We thank each Thrift & Gift Shop customer for each purchase and for each donation as you have made it possible for us to offer this program to the students in Whatcom County. Again, all monies received by us stay in Whatcom County.
Assistance League of Bellingham 2022 Enrichment Scholarship Recipients
High School
Bellingham High School: Pepper Berry, Gemma Cochran, Keely Frazier, Avery Horton, Chloe Hovdesven, Kelly Kerman, Ezra Price, Annabelle Schudlich, Siena Stiles, Ellie Wolverton, Alex Strobel
Ferndale High School: Kateri McFall, Mason Helt, Aubrey Tegt, Theodore Lewis, Abigail Schuman, Ruth Murphy
Lynden High School: Seraphina Wiesen, Madison Miller,Amanda Schuyleman
Meridian High School: Lincoln Lathrop
Options High School: Jax Jimenez
Sehome High School: Beatriz Walter, Erin Lin, Kaatri Glanzer, Liam Conner, Mara Brogan, Amelia Kelly, Jacob Steel, Finnegan Bowman, Jae Yoon Lee, Erica Mao
Squalicum
High School: Sarah Leslie,
Isabel Vander Griend, Svitlana Shashkina, James Chen, Edwin Garcia, Alivia
Noche, Cassy La
Middle School
Blaine Middle School: Carrie Balback, Riley Osburn, Na Major, Wade Lottimer, Dylan Johnson, Tacy Porter, Brian Loos
Bellingham
Family Partnership Program (a public
school program): Ender Park
Fairhaven
Middle School: Ginger Walter,
Enzo Lin, Andrew Mao
Kulshan Middle School: Camden Chartier, Olivia Naylor, Lucas Goodwin, Trixie Davis, Rowan Griesbach, Maya Hoover, Lincoln Shimkus, Dylan Goodwin
Lynden
Middle School: Brooke Boies
Vista Middle
School: Lauren Knight, Alice Park
Whatcom
Middle School: Alma Federer,
Jasper Micheletti, Jolie Paz, Lola Lathrop, Raya Stiles, Maddie Patterson, Liza
Jane Price, Lilly Patterson, Parker Mason, Isla Bandstra
Early performances have been well-attended, including this WWU jazz ensemble performance on March 5. Photo credit: Tori Corkum
March 4, 2022, marked the beginning of a new era for the
upper floors of 202 East Holly Street.
Formerly the site of the Glow and Studio B night clubs, the space above KPOP Chicken and Beer is now The Blue Room, an all-ages performance venue. Less than two months into operations, the space is bringing a diverse array of live entertainment to downtown Bellingham.
It’s all due to the work of Hodwall Productions, a brain
trust comprised of twentysomething musicians Nick Hastings, Ben Hodson, and
Martijn Wall.
The three met as music students at Western Washington
University, playing together in band and orchestra settings. Wall, 22, plays
oboe, while 23-year-old Hodson plays trumpet, and 21-year-old Hastings plays
tuba.
Wall and Hastings are still finishing degrees at WWU, while
Hodson graduated last year with a marketing degree. They founded Hodwall last
fall, after a successful history of hosting shows together.
Twentysomething musicians Nick Hastings, Ben Hodson, and Martijn Wall are the driving force behind The Blue Room, downtown Bellingham’s new all-ages performance venue. Photo credit: Anna Ghinea
While the trio learned a lot about being professional
musicians at WWU, Wall says almost nothing they learned there prepared them for
the venture they’re now undertaking.
“We try not to take anything too seriously,” he says.
“Sure, it’s a big venture and means everything to us, but also, it’s like, how
lucky are we? This is such a phenomenal opportunity for people our age.”
Wall says the idea for the venue is to take a different
direction than its predecessors, which had full bars and VIP-style vibes. With
the prominence of a centrally located spot, Hodwall wants The Blue Room to feel
like a true part of the city their floorplan has open views of.
“Why not make it as accessible and as inclusive as we
possibly can?” he says. “That’s really what it’s for. It’s for Bellingham. It’s
for the artistic community.”
Audiences clap during a March 5 performance at The Blue Room in downtown Bellingham. The venue provides a diverse array of artistic performances, from classical to comedy. Photo credit: Tori Corkum
The first month of performances,
which Wall says relied heavily on local performers and a strong relationship
with WWU’s music department, was an experimental undertaking that ranged from
rock to jazz, hip hop to classical, and comedy to electronic dance.
“We really wanted to pack as much variety in our events as
we could for the month of March,” he says. “With all that variety, you can
really see what people are coming out for. You can hear feedback from different
communities at different events.”
While The Blue Room opened with relatively limited time and
capital compared to many other performance spaces, being able to open and make
adjustments based on community feedback is important.
So far, things seem to be working out: the venue’s opening
night rock show sold out, and its weekly Thursday open
mic
has seen a diverse array of musicians and spoken word performance artists.
The Blue Room’s owners are proud to offer performance opportunities to WWU student musicians, whom often don’t get many chances to obtain paying, off-campus gigs. Photo credit: Tori Corkum
Wall, Hastings, and Hodson are especially happy to provide
WWU student musicians with a chance to stretch their professional concert legs
off-campus.
“There’s such a narrow scope for gigs in the classical and
jazz world, so to have another home for those students is really important,” says
Wall.
The three co-owners have also leaned on the mentorship of
several WWU professors. Mark Miyake, an assistant professor of music and
society at Fairhaven College who heads an audio technology, music, and society
program, has been especially helpful, Wall says.
Just a few weeks into operation, the Blue Room offers an inclusive, all-ages opportunity to perform and enjoy local art. Photo credit: Shayn Sath
Being an all-ages venue, The Blue Room will not have a
regular bar, but is working to obtain a snack bar license to allow sales of
non-draft beer and wine to supplement its food concessions. Wall said Hodwall
is working to reach out to local vendors about showcasing their products,
whether that’s having a table at their open mic night or food products to sell.
The Blue Room will also serve as a rental facility for
all manner of events and entrepreneurs, from band practices and regional
performances to music video shoots and farmers’ market vending, Wall says. So
far, they’ve already hosted a company work retreat and a birthday party.
Early performances have been well-attended, including this WWU jazz ensemble performance on March 5. Photo credit: Tori Corkum
“We want to be seen as a very open space for anyone in the
community,” he says.
Satisfied with their success so far — and hoping for more
in the months and years that follow — Wall says he and his partners’
experiences as musicians will make the successes of The Blue Room that much
more rewarding.
“We know how hard it is to get gigs,” he says. “We know how
competitive it can be. And rather than being in that market and competing with
those people, we’re now offering opportunity. And that’s really, really special
for us. We hope to continue to do that as long as we can.”
