Bellingham Alive | July | 2018 by K & L Media

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JULY 2018

CONTENTS

Military Bases For this Fourth of July month, we salute our military presence in Washington state by going behind the scenes at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island with the Garudas squadron — a collection of the nation’s top fighter pilots and support crew. We also have a sitdown interview with the station’s base commander, and a guide to the fascinating military features and history of our state parks. From places like Fort Ebey to the Hanford Site Reactor B (yes, there are tours), summer is a great time to explore what the military has meant to us, both in past and present times.

LIFESTYLE 17

North Cascades National Park Turns 50

By the Numbers

In the Know Barnyard Coffee Roasters

Community Access Bellingham

In the Know Element Fe Knives

Game Changer Lindsey du Toit

Book Reviews

Who Knew?

Spotlight Michael Dyrland

In the Know New Building for Whatcom Community College

Five Faves Scenic Drives

SHOP 31

Superfeet

Necessities Year-Round July 4

New Find Evolve Chocolate at Village Books

Savvy Shopper Bare Boutique

WELLBEING 43

Nutrition Waterfront Picnic

Beauty Easing Sunburn Damage

FEATURES

Fort Casey Historical State Park, courtesy Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

Military Bases

Bellingham Waterfront

Growth

HABITAT 71

Featured Space Hamlet Hotel

Remodel Bathroom Overhaul

DINE 77

The Swim Club

Dining Guide

Mixing Tin B-Town Kitchen and Raw Bar’s Old Fashioned

Review Seeds

Sip Beer in a Can

8 Great Tastes

AGENDA Featured Event Friday Harbor Fourth of July

Top Picks

Out of Town

The Scene Art of Hope and Dorothy Place

Bellingham Waterfront

NOTES 8

Editor’s Letter

Contributors

Letters to the Editor

Meet the Staffer Joshua DeJong

Final Word

It’s happening. Bellingham’s waterfront redevelopment project — decades in the planning and expected to be more decades in the making — has begun with the opening of Waypoint Park in June. But more than the park itself, city and Port of Bellingham officials say it’s the first time in a century that the public will have access to its downtown waterfront. We explore the project, the park and its strange industrial acid-ball sculpture, the waterfront’s history, and what some of you had to say about it.

July 2018 5

NOTES On the Web

Be sure to check us out at:

BellinghamAlive.com Submit your events on our calendar!

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE Bellinghamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s downtown waterfront project is gearing up with the opening of Waypoint Park, the renovation of the Granary Building, and the promise of much more to come. The 237-acre project, a public-private partnership of the Port of Bellingham and the city, is a once-in-a-lifetime, game-changing development. We dispatched our writers to find out what you, residents and visitors, thought about it. Some of your comments are found on p. 62. Go to BellinghamAlive.com for more.

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NOTES Editor’s Letter

Downtown Waterfront Offers Views, But Also a Big Picture

ne of the perks of my job is getting to see things before the general public does. That’s how photographer Pat McDonnell and I found ourselves poking around Waypoint Park one warm May evening before it opened, accompanied by city of Bellingham project engineer Gina Austin. We were there to see and photograph the urban park, located near the corner of Roeder and Central avenues. I wanted to see how the hulking acid ball, the park’s newly anointed symbol and remnant from the days of the Georgia-Pacific pulp and paper mill, looked in dusk’s magical blueish light. We were standing near it when I turned around, toward downtown, and caught my breath. Looking to the northeast, up and out from the park’s near-sea-level center, was a sight more startling to me than even that of a 460,000-pound ball of riveted steel perched on the shore of Bellingham Bay. What I saw was downtown Bellingham from an entirely different angle, a sweeping vista that hasn’t been available to the public in some 100 years. It was at once a view of our future and our past. The Whatcom Museum building, with its deep-red brick and turreted spires, stood elevated on a rise, like it must have when it served as city hall for a young Bellingham a century ago, before a wall of industry and fencing made seeing downtown from this perspective impossible. The 1.5-acre Waypoint Park is the first completed feature of the waterfront redevelopment project, a massive, 237-acre city and port partnership designed to transform Bellingham over the next 40 or 50 years. The project is nothing less than the city’s future. The view from the downtown waterfront property is like no other. You can see downtown, Sehome Hill, Western Washington University, and South Hill from here, Bellingham’s new center of gravity. Seeing the city from a different perspective is an intrinsic, though less obvious, part of this redevelopment. Like the view, city and port officials hope this once-in-a-lifetime project will

spur a radically different perception of the city in general when it comes to its public spaces, transportation and access. In late May, a group of 10 Bellingham city, port and downtown partnership people traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark and Malmo, Sweden to take part in a five-day master class in how to enhance and encourage the use of public spaces. The class was led by Scandinavian design experts who shared knowledge about, for example, how public and private areas can interact (consider the corner of Bay and Holly street, where eateries and the arts district intersect); future pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure; the best way to make open public spaces, like parks, accessible to all ages and groups. A message they brought back: Don’t think of the waterfront district as separate from places like downtown, Old Town, and the Fountain District. Think of it as one of a set of integrated areas. “There’s this perceived disconnect from places,” says Brian Gouran, the port’s director of environmental programs, who has been working and thinking about this project for more than 10 years. “One of those connections is what we were looking at.” For instance, he says, many people don’t realize it’s a fiveminute bike ride from the Fountain District, where you might enjoy Sunday brunch at Diamond Jim’s, to the water. But busy streets make for a mental block the city and port hope to topple. “It really isn’t just about that 30 acres of the downtown waterfront district that is the G-P site,” Gouran says. “It’s really how to connect not just to that site but through it. Ultimately, the end goal is to have (a connection from) north Bellingham into the Fountain District all the way down to Boulevard Park and ultimately to Fairhaven (as a) connected network that people can walk, bike, and get through and to, without having to take a car if you don’t want to. “If we do this right,” says Gouran, “it’s just going to feel like downtown grew into the waterfront.” So go check out Waypoint Park. You’ll see. 

MERI-JO BORZILLERI Editor In Chief

BellinghamAlive.com

NOTES Contributors

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Tanna Edler Tanna Edler, principal of Tanna By Design, is the only interior designer in Yakima and the state of Washington to have won an Interior Design Society’s Designer of the Year award five consecutive years. She is also the first in the Pacific Northwest to have received the coveted Impact Award for charitable interior design contributions in her community. Her notable skill in conceptual design development has earned her a well-respected reputation across the nation and her work has been recognized during numerous Tour of Home venues.  p. 75

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Pat McDonnell Pat is a freelance documentary photographer, filmmaker, and recent Bellingham transplant from Asheville, N.C. The past 20 years, his work has allowed him to immerse himself in various projects, from rural health camps in Nepal to shooting low-budget indie feature films in the Southeast. His free time often centers around biking and camping trips with his girlfriend and her son, street photography, and watching live music. medicinebleu.com  p. 48

WEST COAST HARBOR TOWNS NORTH SOUND MAYORS APRIL 2018

Neal Tognazzini

BUILDING A POND

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Neal splits his life between thinking and drinking: He has a Ph.D in philosophy and is a professor at Western Washington University, but he is also a beer sommelier and a nationally-ranked beer judge. Neal grew up in the Pacific Northwest, but spent a decade away after college. By the time he moved back to Bellingham in 2014, he had finally learned to appreciate the beauty of grey skies and the taste of craft beer. When he proposes a toast, it’s usually to his amazing wife of 14 years and his courageous and curious 6-year-old.  p. 84 JUNE 2018 DISPLAY UNTIL JUNE 30 $3.99 US • $4.99 CAN

Tianna Tsitsis

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Dr. Tianna Tsitsis is a triple board-certified physician with a special interest in skin aesthetics. She opened RejuvenationMD in 2014 and has won Bellingham Alive’s Best of the Northwest three straight years. A practicing physician in the area for nearly 20 years, when she is not working, Dr. Tsitsis enjoys spending time with her husband and four children. An avid exercise enthusiast, her hobbies include skiing, running, swimming and biking.  p. 45

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Congratulations on your 10th year anniversary issue!! We have read it cover to cover and think it’s one of your best. Job well done. Sharon K., Bellingham Received our issue of Bellingham Alive today in the mail and just wanted to let you know how pleased and honored I am to have been part of it. Thank you for the opportunity! You have done an amazing job over the past 10 years with a publication that few thought could achieve such lofty goals. Well done!

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Bellingham Alive welcomes comments and feedback for our Letters to the Editor section. We’d love to hear what you have to say and are open to story ideas about the people, places, and happenings in the North Sound (Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan counties). Let us know what you like, and what you’d like to see in the magazine! Contact editor Meri-Jo Borzilleri at editor@bellinghamalive.com.

NOTES

A solid kudos and congratulations on your 10-year publication and anniversary. Really well done Lisa. Bellingham can always count on you for real heart and genuine quality.

Our 10th Brings Kudos

JUNE 2018

Letters to the Editor

Dan R., Bellingham

Christopher M., Bellingham

Story Helped Find Pure Bliss I am so impressed by your magazine. You have such a variety of articles based on our local area. I live in Sedro-Woolley and found out about Bellingham’s Pure Bliss Desserts due to your magazine. Great article and the cake looks delicious. I know where to go for my next cake. Love finding my next adventure through your magazine. Well done. Keep up the good work. Tonya W., Sedro-Woolley

Correction: Our story about Days for Girls in the June issue erroneously stated how many chapters the group has nationwide. Days for Girls has 535 chapters in the United States and 850 worldwide.

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NOTES Meet the Staffer Every issue we introduce you to a staff member at Bellingham Alive.

What is your role at the magazine and how long have you been with K&L Media? I am a part of the team of interns who help to photograph, research, write and fact check the stories within the magazine. Since starting here in April I have photographed and written about art, fashion, and food. It has been a great place to work, with fantastic mentors who push me, but also give me the freedom to explore and write about what I love.

What is your background?

Joshua DeJong

I’m a traveler who happens to keep returning home to the Evergreen State. I was born just outside Snohomish County and lived there until I was 18. In 2011, I joined the Navy and became an electronics technician on submarines. I was stationed in Connecticut and then Hawaii. It was an experience that pushed me to my limits, but also shaped me into the person I am today. After getting out of the military, I took a little bit of time off and went to travel the world with a purpose. I did Christian missionary work, where I lived in Gold Coast, Australia and then I went to Cambodia and Vietnam. It was a life-changing experience to live immersed in another country’s culture. I have quite a long list of places I still want to see and I always go with the goal to get beyond the touristy things and really live where you are.

What is your favorite part of working for a regional lifestyle magazine? Some people idealize the life of a food critic; I idealize the life of the food writer. With K&L Media, I get to be just that. I get to sit down with the chef or specialty craftsman and put their passion into print. Being able to sit down with someone who has a life full of experiences, hardships, and lessons learned and hear about their passion is priceless.

What are some of your hobbies and interests? I’m a food nerd through and through, and I don’t mean just cooking food or watching the Food Network, both of which I do quite often. I love learning about gastronomy, what temperature at which different meats’ fibers break down, how long you have to smoke brisket or what temperature chocolate tempers at. I can spend hours endlessly reading or watching videos about food. 

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LIFESTYLE In The Know · Spotlight Artist · Community · 5 Faves

Hidden Gem: North Cascades National Park Turns Fifty WRITTEN BY KATE GALAMBOS

nknown to more of greater Puget Sound residents than imaginable, undiscovered by even more, one of the most diverse ecosystems in the country lives in our backyard. Less than 90 minutes from Bellingham and Anacortes, and just two hours from Seattle, awaits the “American Alps,” more commonly known as the North Cascades National Park. Take a drive down scenic Highway 20 (North Cascades Highway) and let it take you through the deep valleys of towering peaks, which average 5,000–6,000 feet in elevation, and past rapidly fed waterfalls, streams, and rivers, as you head east. When the highway opens after its often-six-month winter closure, snow is still stacked high on either side.The North Cascades National Park Service Complex, which encompasses North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. … continued on page 20

LIFESTYLE By the Numbers

Years since North Cascades National Park was born. p. 17

Percent of Americans

who suffer foot-related pain, according to Superfeet’s Jeff Gray, p. 31

Cups of raw cashews in the artisan vegan cheese recipe, p. 43

Forts (Warden, Casey, Flagler) in the “Triangle of Fire” built to safeguard the entrance to Puget Sound from enemy combatants, p. 55

Apartments in the downtown Bellingham Hamlet Hotel, p. 71

Dollars for the creamy chicken liver mousse at Fairhaven’s The Swim Club, p. 77

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Five Things Not To Miss in North Cascades National Park Service Complex … For a half-century, visitors have found wonder in the jagged peaks, and the countless rivers and streams fed by more than 300 glaciers — found only in comparable density in the United States in Alaska — and the wondrously green meadows found above the treeline. While there had been talk in conservation circles of a national park in the North Cascades Range since the late 1800s, it wasn’t until President Lyndon Johnson pushed the idea into the national spotlight, says North Cascades National Park ranger Katy Hooper said. On Oct. 2, 1968, he signed the North Cascades Act, and the park was born. “The North Cascades National Park and its adjoining acres in what have been called the ‘American Alps’ is next door to the Pacific Northwest’s most populous communities. We are preserving for the pleasure of these people one of the most beautiful regions on God’s Earth,” Johnson remarked after signing. The complex is unlike any other national park in the United States due to its complicated and diverse ecosystem, but also its vast recreation opportunities. The complex is made up of three different land designations, each with its own regulations: park, recreation, and wilderness. With nearly 94 percent of the 680,849.5 acres designated as “wilderness,” it has immense, nearly undisturbed habitat for wildlife including rare species like wolverines, wolves, and even a handful of grizzly bears. Such vast wilderness lands make the complex an ideal place for backcountry 20

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camping, which requires a camper to hike in, rather than simply drive into a campground. “You can get on the trail and not be there with a million people,” Hooper says. In fact, you may go an entire weekend bumping into no more than a handful of fellow hikers. In 2017, just 30,326 visitors set foot into the North Cascades National Park and a total of 828,446 visited the entire complex, Hooper says. For reference, Mount Rainier National Park had 1.4 million visitors in 2017 and Olympic National Park had about 3.4 million visitors in 2016. While its rugged nature is legendary, the North Cascades complex tends to rank last or second to last in visitors on an annual basis mostly due to the lack of amenities and accessibility, Hooper says. Larger national parks often have large lodges and nearby towns, while similar options near the North Cascade National Park are limited. Visitors can experience the North Cascades in a variety of ways; hiking, camping, backpacking, fishing, birding, cycling or a simple drive through the park via the North Cascades Highway. Hikers and backpackers will find seemingly endless options, year after year, within the nearly 400 of miles of accessible trails. For those looking for more comforts of home, the park encompasses a handful of reservable car campgrounds with picnic tables, bathrooms, and fire grates.  North Cascades Visitor Center, Newhalem 206.386.4495 ext.11 | nps.gov/noca

A STOP AT THE WASHINGTON PASS OVERLOOK Located about 30 miles west of the town of Winthrop, Washington Pass is the most scenic of the stretch of Highway 20 through the North Cascades. Park at the overlook and take in Liberty Bell Mountain to the south of Washington Pass.

HIKE DIABLO LAKE Diablo Lake is fed by glacial melt full of silt and minerals, giving it an unreal blue-green color. The trail along the lake is appropriate for all types of hikers and is located within the Ross Lake National Recreation Area.

PADDLEBOARD ON LAKE CHELAN The 50-mile-long lake provides a great water recreation playground within the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area.

VISIT WINTHROP While not technically within the national park, Winthrop’s quaint western theme makes it a great place to stay the night while exploring the park. Continue about 25 miles east outside of the national park to reach Winthrop town center.

HEATHER-MAPLE PASS LOOP Noted as one of the most scenic trails in the North Cascades, the HeatherMaple Pass Loop is seven miles of ever-changing landscape. Hikers are greeted with wildflowers, crystal lakes and views of soaring peaks.

Farm to Coffee Table

In the Know

LIFESTYLE

Barnyard Coffee Roasters Establishes Roots in Blaine WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOSHUA DEJONG

estled up against the border in Blaine resides a family who has plunged wholeheartedly into their coffee-roasting passion. What began as a hobby has evolved to roasting coffee individually for customers, hosting tastings and providing a better deal than what you can find in most stores. Derek and Debbie Peris, the Barnyard Coffee roasters, pride themselves on putting more intention and care than most into the cup of coffee you make in the morning. They fresh-roast each batch in small amounts to the degree (sometimes literally) the customer wants. You can get a full spectrum from a light to a dark roast from just about every origin you can think of, like Ethiopia, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Bolivia. “The drive behind getting into coffee roasting was allowing people the opportunity to taste coffee the way that it should be experienced, which is fresh-roasted,” Derek says. Debbie says they take the time to ensure each batch of roasted beans is of the highest quality possible. They remove immature beans that can’t be fully roasted because they cause a papery taste. She says this is something large-scale producers can’t easily do. Standing next to the large red roaster, Derek, being careful and attentive to the temperature (ranging from 350 to 425 degrees), continually checks on the beans to make sure they are just right before removing them to be rapidly cooled to room temp. “There’s certain things specifically that I’ll do just out of habit, you know, [like] keeping the machine in top condition so that it performs every day,” Derek says. The couple have been avid coffee drinkers for 20 years, married for 25 and have four children. Their business rests on a five-acre plot and is home to horses, ducks, chickens, and a garden where Debbie says they grow produce like rhubarb, peas, beans, beets, and berries to be sold alongside the coffee. This is also where they got the name for their business, Barnyard Coffee. “If you’re out and about, you have to buy coffee and the grocery store is probably where you are going to pick it up, or a coffee shop, but you don’t know how long it has been sitting on the shelf,” Derek says. “We’ve tried to bring it to a community level, where we are in the community, we’re servicing and our customers order it, we roast it and then they pick it up.”  4434 Boblett Rd., Blaine 360.393.0475 | barnyardcoffee.com July 2018 21

LIFESTYLE Community

Lights, Camera, Access Bellingham WRITTEN BY KATIE MEIER | PHOTOS COURTESY OF CAROL T. BAKER

on’t call Eero Johnson a teacher. Johnson likes to think of himself as a helper. For three years he has been helping Bellingham residents learn the basics of video production, so they can be part of the public access programming on the city’s public cable television station. “I am just here to help people achieve what they want to achieve, to make what they want to make. To help other people’s visions come true. I am the smallest part of this machine,” Johnson says. The station BTV is city-run and can be found on Century Link and Cablevision stations, and every Sunday night it presents Access Bellingham, a program where local residents can offer their own segments. In order to encourage more local residents to participate, the city received a grant to hire Johnson to train potential participants. The classes are free of charge and take place every Tuesday at 6 p.m. Johnson uses his 20 years of video production experience to teach students how to edit and shoot a movie, how to use storytelling techniques, how to work video equipment, and about various other video topics. The class is open to everyone over the age of 17 in the Bellingham community, but only after they go through two separate certification classes in camera and editing. Each certification takes two days and is offered only every three months. Afterwards students have access to equipment and to the Tuesday night classes, everything they need to create their own piece of art or communicate their own story.

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For long-time Access Bellingham students, this was the most valuable part of the class. “I think a lot of people have stories they want to tell and they think they would like to produce video but they don’t know how to get started. That’s how I was when I began,” says Carol T. Baker, a student. “Just through taking this class, you come away knowing how to operate a camera, knowing how to get good sound, knowing how to shoot for a story, and how to edit it.”

“I am just here to help people achieve what they want to achieve, to make what they want to make. — Eero Johnson Videos shown on the BTV channel cover a wide range of topics. Every week different videos are shown, from hooping to Whatcom County parks. “In terms of our art, our recreation, our interests, we have a really unique community. We have great theater,” Johnson says. “…Video captures those moments and makes them part of our communities’ shared experience.” Whatever your passions are, there is a way to incorporate that into a television program. Be warned, though. It’s not as easy as it looks. “We are creating local pieces that can be anything they want to be,” Johnson says. “Here is a freedom of experimentation that unless you allow yourself to experience failure, you are not going to grow.”  625 Halleck St., Bellingham Municipal Court Building 360.510.8420 | cob.org

Seeking Perfection on a Knife’s Edge

In the Know

LIFESTYLE

Element Fe WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY CATHERINE TORRES

ndy Gladish spends most days manipulating hot metal on an 1890s anvil in his outdoor studio on Guemes Island. A blacksmith and the owner of Element Fe, he creates beautiful, sharp, and durable cooking knives daily, in accordance with his philosophy that preparing food should be as fun as eating it. “I realized my love of cooking fresh local food and metalwork could intersect,” he said. Although Gladish did metal work all his life, he didn’t begin blacksmithing — the art of heating up metal and working it while it’s hot — until 1998. It started when he had trouble achieving a certain shape for a project. His friend gave him an anvil and forge, and Gladish never looked back. He joined a blacksmith group and took classes to learn the craft. Element Fe knives are made with carbon and stainless steel. The combination, when made to the right hardness, can be ground to a very thin edge without chipping or bending. Gladish explained that making the edge “is the real trick in getting a good knife.” First, he’ll cut out the knife’s shape using a template and sharpen the blade on a sanding belt. Then the metal gets heated in a temperature-controlled furnace and is quickly cooled with a dunk in oil or water. Now the metal is brittle and can shatter easily — it needs to be tempered. Tempering creates just the precise hardness and is done by heating the metal slightly. Gladish tempers his knives using a regular kitchen oven heated to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. When the blades are ready, Gladish gets to work on the wooden handles. The wood comes from a variety of places, including specialty wood suppliers, and even people Gladish meets during art shows. Raw wood handles are sanded down to a desired shape and smoothness, then attached to the blade. Element Fe knives are full tang construction, arguably the sturdiest type of knife. With years of blacksmithing experience, it takes about a week from start to finish to create a good knife, he says. “You have to know all the processes.” He says a well-made knife is worth the investment. Gladish advises using a ceramic hone knife sharpener to keep edges sharp. Drag the blade at a 10to 12-degree angle across the hone. Use a whetstone once or twice a year, but keep in mind every knife needs professional regrinding eventually. The frequency of sharpening depends on the frequency of use, which, with a well-made knife, could be quite often.  ElementFe.com July 2018 23

Saving Spinach: Plant Doctor Upgrades Crop

LIFESTYLE Game Changer

Lindsey du Toit WRITTEN BY CATHERINE TORRES

alad lovers may not realize that much of the spinach we eat is grown here, and farmers face big challenges keeping those crops disease-free. Lindsey du Toit, a Washington State University plant pathologist from Mount Vernon, is playing a big role in that fight. The spinach seed crop is fickle. It requires long stretches of daylight to induce bolting, the phase that produces seeds. It’s heat intolerant, so mild summers are a must. As a result, western Washington and western Oregon have prime spinach seed crop real estate. In fact, the Pacific Northwest grows about 20 percent of the world’s supply of spinach seed, according to du Toit. She knows a thing or two about spinach. Based at WSU’s Mount Vernon Northwestern Research & Extension Center, she and her team have doubled the capacity for spinach seed production in Skagit County and surrounding counties can produce–thanks to their research into a fungus named Fusarium. There are numerous strains of this fungus that can attack many different plants and have varying degrees of destruction. For spinach, the problem extends beyond a single crop, du Toit explains. “Once the disease shows up in a field, it can persist in the soil for a very long time.” Fifteen years long. However, waiting even 15 years for a Fusarium-tainted field to clear may not be enough, she says, recounting a story of a farmer who thought he was in the clear only to have a ruined crop. That encounter prompted du Toit to develop a soil test. Every December for the past nine years, local growers bring buckets of soil to the research facility. Researchers then plant three types of spinach seeds they know range from “Fusarium resistant” to “very susceptible” in each soil sampling. By February, growers and seed companies can better gauge the risks of planting each seed variety in each field. Going a step further, du Toit noticed that in Denmark, the world’s fourth-biggest producer of spinach seed, growers rotate their fields every five years. They have high pH levels, meaning less acid in their soil, which suppresses Fusarium. She began amending our soil with limestone (calcium carbonate) to reduce the acidity. This tactic, she says, doesn’t “get rid of the disease, but significantly reduces how badly the disease develops.” Test runs have proven growers can successfully grow spinach seed crops on a 50 percent shorter rotation schedule while maintaining very good yields. For spinach lovers and local growers, that’s a game changer. 

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WSU NW Research & Extension Center Mount Vernon 360.848.6120 | mtvernon.wsu.edu

Book Reviews Silent Companions: A Ghost Story by Laura Purcell 320 pages Penguin Books

This is a throwback to the old Victorian Gothic novels, full of ghostly companions, mysterious family members, and creepy servants. Set at the end of the 19th century, the story begins with a woman talking to a doctor in the asylum, a hint of the hot mess found in the past. As Elsie relates her story as part of her “therapy,” she tells of the dark, overgrown estate of her late husband. Her only companion is her husband’s cousin, Sarah. Oh, and the creepy wooden “silent companions” carved a few hundred years ago for the previous family members. Those pesky wooden cut-outs just will not go away and survive being locked away, burned, and forgotten. The hair on the back of your neck will be permanently raised, and the ending will make your jaw fall on the floor. If you like a little bit of fright (no blood or serial killers, just gothic creep), you may love this book as much as I did.

WHO KNEW? Happy National Tequila Day (July 24)! The world record for the most expensive bottle of tequila sold is held by the company, Tequila Ley .925, for $225,000 to a private collector in 2006. In fact, the bottle, made of gold and platinum, was way more valuable than what was inside. The 6-year-old tequila was worth a mere $2,500.

WRITTEN BY LAURIE MULLARKY LAURIESLITPICKS.BLOGSPOT.COM

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware 320 pages Simon and Schuster

Admittedly, I am a big fan of author Ruth Ware; she writes quintessential British mysteries, full of interesting characters, always uses a female lead, and is darn good with the ending “twist.” I loved “In a Dark, Dark Wood,” and thought “The Lying Game” was OK. However, here Ware has her mojo back. Hal, a lonely young woman, deals tarot cards on the Brighton pier, has some serious money issues, and has recently received a letter telling her that as Mrs. Westaway’s granddaughter, she has an inheritance coming. All good, right? Yeah, nope. All of Hal’s paperwork shows her grandparents’ names and none of them are Westaway, she’s never heard of this family, and it would literally take her last dime to get a train out to Penzance. Yet... how can she not go? Ware spools out varied threads– three uncles she’s never met, a forbidding and creepy housekeeper, and a creaky cold Cornwall mansion, and winds up with a page-turner of a book.

In the Know

LIFESTYLE

July 13, 2 p.m. Cemetery Tour: Murder and Mayhem Bayview Cemetery 1420 Woburn St., Bellingham 360.778.7150 Follow along this Friday the 13th-themed guided tour taking you through the Bayview Cemetery. Based on the book “Murder on the Fourth Corner” by local author Todd Warger, it will recount the history of some of Bellingham’s oldest criminals.

July 28, 10 a.m. Make Writing a Business: The Nitty-Gritty of Being an Author Entrepreneur Whatcom Community College Foundation, 333 Calluna Ct., Bellingham 360.383.3200 whatcomcommunityed.com Learn how to make your passion for writing into a business with entrepreneur Maya Sullivan, author of “Dare to Be Your Own Boss: Follow Your Passion, Create a Niche.” It will cover basics like sales taxes and tax reseller agreements.

WRITTEN BY KATIE MEIER

Origins According to Mexican law, tequila must be produced in Mexico to be labeled tequila. (Same with champagne and France.) Specifically, it must be produced in the western state of Jalisco, where the city of Tequila is located, or in the states of Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas. If produced outside Mexico, it can be called only an agave spirit.

Diamonds A team of physicists at the National Autonomous University of Mexico have discovered a way to transform tequila into synthetic diamonds. Sadly, the diamonds are too small to be used in jewelry, but they can be used in a multitude of other ways, like in electronics and for industrial purposes.

Medicine In the 1930s, doctors in Mexico would recommend a tequila concoction to cure their patients’ colds. The remedy consisted of equal parts tequila, agave nectar, and freshly squeezed lime juice. Supposedly, it would relieve sore throats and intestinal bacteria. My kind of medicine.

July 2018 25

Community the Spotlight LIFESTYLE In

Videographer, Environmental Advocate Michael Dyrland WRITTEN BY JADE THURSTON | PHOTOS COURTESY OF MICHAEL DYRLAND

hen Bellingham photographer and videographer Michael Dyrland wanted to try surfing for the first time on the California coast, he ended up offering a jarring picture instead: surfers in hazmat suits, goggles, and masks, bobbing through waves strewn with chemicals and waste of all kinds. His work went viral. This 2014 California project is called Hazmat Surfing. At the time, Dyrland (pronounced DEER-land) was stunned when he learned that Californians typically don’t surf or enter the water after it rains because garbage, oil, and sewage is carried to the ocean and can cause infections like MRSA and hepatitis C. Inspired to represent this issue of pollution in a captivating way, Dyrland, 31, put a focus on poor ocean conditions by staging sufferers in hazmat suits — a possible glimpse 25 years into the future if water quality issues continue. Dyrland’s photo story and 90-second video stunned viewers, reeling in attention of news and media outlets all over 26

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the nation before spreading internationally. Dyrland said he’d wake up to 30 different emails from separate organizations asking for interviews or to use his photos. Outlets Dyrland was eager to contact, like Huffington Post and Bored Panda, reached out to him even before he could contact them. “It doesn’t always matter where you live,” Dyrland says. “It’s where your content is online and how it travels.” Beyond Hazmat Surfing, Dyrland freelances on an assortment of projects. His business, Dyrland Productions, also specializes in drone cinematography. Dyrland didn’t start off with full work weeks and success in this profession — it took time and persistence. He became intrigued by multimedia work once he was chosen for a Comcast internship while taking classes at Whatcom Community College in 2007. After that, he tested his interests in different areas of multimedia through landscape photography, television work with the city of Mount Vernon, and studio photography at Grizzly Industrial, a machinery company. While he was at Grizzly, he created

Dyrland Productions on the side. Grizzly was a full-time job from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and he spent 3:30 to 11 p.m. at his business. Dyrland also established his skills with a drone. In fact, he modified his first one four years ago by soldering on an antenna. Today, with top-notch gear like the DJI Phantom 4, Dyrland can focus more on capturing the story that forms in his head pre-production. He thinks almost everything out before he goes and shoots — where the drone is going, the elevation it’s reached, the speed it’s traveling, and where it’s looking. “A drone can bring you through a sight — or anything really — to get a tangible sense of place and perspective,” Dyrland says. Currently, Dyrland is trying to push his drone skills even further. He hopes to collaborate with search and rescue operations by integrating thermal imaging onto drones. In trying to use the drone in this application, he could possibly help save lives. Though Dyrland Productions is a one-man operation, he often hires trusted filmmakers and photographers — such as Plick’s Flicks, a cinematic storytelling business — as subcontractors. He says it works like two businesses coming together to produce a greater project. This especially comes in handy at weddings when more hands and cameras are needed. “At any point I can bring a team together that is able to deliver photo and video under the Dyrland Productions look that I’ve created, and I’m thankful for that,” Dyrland says. “But I’m a hard critic of my work and I also want to continue improving and testing my limits.” From wedding venues and cityscapes to awareness projects and mountain tops, Dyrland has produced content in a captivating style at the highest resolutions.  dyrlandproductions.com

In the Know

LIFESTYLE

Whatcom CC’s New Look

APPS WE L VE Grammarly Grammarly, Inc.

Student Center, Dorms in Future WRITTEN BY JADE THURSTON

dditions to Whatcom Community College are coming. Its newest project will be a big one for the school’s campus in Bellingham: The Phyllis & Charles Self Learning Commons. Slated to open in 2020, the new facility will house the college’s library, math center, writing center, tutoring services, media services, and more, expanding the space for collaboration among students and staff. The Phyllis & Charles Self Learning Commons is being built on the corner of Kellogg Road and Cordata Parkway. Totaling 65,328 square feet, the facility will be designed and built by Schreiber Starling Whitehead Architects of Seattle and Colacurcio Brothers Construction of Blaine. The project is funded at $34.9 million and is WCC’s first state-funded building since 2004, when Kulshan Hall opened. Gov. Jay Inslee, among others, participated in the groundbreaking in April. Beyond The Commons, WCC has plans to also break ground on residence halls this fall. WCC is a nationally accredited college with 11,000 students. It offers a fouryear bachelor of applied science, professional-technical degrees, and other basic education courses and job training.  237 W. Kellogg Rd., Bellingham 360.383.3000 | whatcom.edu

It comes in mobile! I have that friend in my life who tells me that I am simply inadequate in the mastery of my native tongue, despite my college education. Hey, sometimes you just aren’t always mindful. It is a true gift for the nonEnglish majors of the world, and everyone else they talk to.

Headspace Headspace Guided Meditation Platform I may or may not have fallen asleep trying this one. Swap out your Facebook app, Instagram, or Twitter. Take five minutes out of your day and listen to soothing voices, mindfulness tips, and don’t think about all the data they may or may not be collecting about your daily habits (they totally are). Enjoy!

Elevate Elevate, Inc. Stay sharp! There are tons of brain games designed to keep you and your mind active. Elevate just does it slightly better. The app seamlessly translates to the mobile device for ease of use.

Zones for Training Flask LLP Train smarter, not harder. Elevate your heart rate with Zones and tailor it to your own level. This personalized workout tool helps you select the best training level for where you are. This is a safe way to monitor your own exertion levels without overtraining. — Kenji Guttorp

July 2018 27

LIFESTYLE

Five Faves

CHUCKANUT DRIVE Just south of Fairhaven is the classic Chuckanut Drive, also known as Ste. Route 11. The winding road follows a cliffside above Chuckanut Bay. The 20-mile scenic drive meanders down to Bow, past Larrabee State Park, oyster bars, trailheads, and some of the best views in the Pacific Northwest.

STUNNING SCENIC FIVE FAVES DRIVES WRITTEN BY MELISSA MCCARTHY

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2 3 4 5

HORSESHOE HIGHWAY, ORCAS ISLAND Named for its horseshoe shape, the Horseshoe Highway takes drivers all around the island. Starting in Orcas, the 18-mile drive goes up and around Eastsound and back over to Mount Constitution, the highest point in the San Juans. This drive is the perfect way to explore Orcas Island.

LOCALLY OWNED SINCE 1959.

NORTH CASCADES HIGHWAY From end to end, this drive is a whopping 127 miles. Beginning in Sedro-Woolley, it winds along the Skagit River and through the mountains in Mt. BakerSnoqualmie National Forest. The breathtaking beauty of the route will give you driver’s bliss, so be sure to fill up that gas tank. It is closed from late November through early May.

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MOUNT BAKER HIGHWAY

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The road leading out of Bellingham is mostly lined with old-growth forests, when suddenly, without warning, you emerge from the woods and take in spectacular views of Mount Baker and the surrounding area. The 46-mile drive along State Route 542 takes you right up to Artist Point, one of Mount Baker’s loveliest hikes.

WHIDBEY ISLAND HIGHWAY All of us in the North Sound are enchanted by the Deception Pass bridge, but instead of stopping there, we suggest you continue down for a scenic drive through Whidbey Island. This 47-mile drive is surrounded by gorgeous views of the Salish Sea at every angle.

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Savvy Shopper · Necessities · New Find

Insole Giant Makes Big Step Advances in Store for Ferndale-Based Superfeet WRITTEN BY KATE GALAMBOS PHOTOS COURTESY OF SUPERFEET

ince 1977, Superfeet Worldwide Inc. has been a leader in the insole industry, developing new technology right in our backyard of Ferndale. It has developed and makes some of the most popular shoe inserts, or foot beds, for running, ski and snowboard boots, ice skates, football cleats, ballet slippers, and footwear of all kinds. They provide support for arches, heels, soles and, increasingly, they are being customized for individual feet. Superfeet’s market is the 75 percent of Americans who experience foot-related pain, says Jeff Gray, director of outreach and fit at Ferndale’s Superfeet headquarters. For 11 years, Superfeet has been driven to target that immense market and give their customers more energy, comfort, … continued on next page

… and general quality of life through their shoe insoles. While Superfeet is already in the market of creating custom orthotic insoles, this fall they will begin manufacturing custom running shoes for brands like Brooks. “We are really going to change footwear sizing for the retailer and the consumer and bring this technology forward,” Gray says. From creating each insole by hand to computer-generated 3-D printing, Superfeet is emerging as a leader in footbed technology. The line of individualized footwear has been developed with a handful of partner companies in the technology and orthotic industry including HewlettPackard, DESMA, SafeSize, and Jabil, Gray says, and depends on another Superfeet co-partner creation, the HP FitStation. The FitStation can be found in 26 footwear retailers across the country, including Fairhaven Runners and Walkers in Bellingham, and enables customers to have their foot and step pattern scanned for no cost, Gray says. Customers walk on a small pad that reads unique characteristics of each foot like pressure, heel rotation, and propulsion. The data gathered from the FitStation can then be fabricated into 32

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custom orthotic insoles, which usually run at about $150 per pair, Gray says. When Superfeet begins manufacturing individualized footwear, customers will be able to use a FitStation and choose to have their insole data attached to their Brooks running shoe. “It will change how shoes are fitted and sold and bring custom footwear back into the market,” Gray says. For customers looking for a product in a lower, less customizable, price range, Superfeet still produces a wide array of insoles that can be fitted for every type of footwear. It all began with fitting ski boots with orthotic insoles in the 1970s, which required a device that could stretch the boot so the insole could fit properly, the Superfit Shell Expander. From a ski boot to ballet pointe shoes, hockey skates, rock climbing shoes, even rubber scuba diving flippers, Superfeet insoles have been made for just about every kind of footwear. “We wanted to focus on the hard things to fit first,” Gray says. Everyday insoles cover running and hiking as well as dress shoes for men and women, which includes high heels too. Superfeet insoles range from about $40 to $60 depending on the style and type of

activity for which they are intended. The company also began producing shoes with built-in insoles in 2015, including sandals and casual styles ranging from $60 to $120. Beyond the innovative products, Superfeet has made a name for itself as a great place to work. In 2015, Superfeet was named on Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work list as the sixth-best in the “gear jobs” category, which highlighted companies on the cutting edge of technology and manufacturing. Employee satisfaction undoubtedly has something to due with the Ferndale location, which was originally chosen because “you can ski in the morning and kayak in the afternoon,” Gray says. Additionally, when Superfeet was in a time of potential transition in 2008, leadership asked the employees where they wanted to move, the answer was to stay in Whatcom County. The company is 100 percent employeeowned and promotes a culture of activism by donating 1 percent of total sales to charitable organizations.  1820 Scout Pl., Ferndale 800.634.6618 | superfeet.com

SHOP Necessities

1 2 3

Drawstring V-Neck Jersey Maxi Dress by Caslon Nordstrom.com, $69

American Girl by Williams Sonoma Lemonade Stand Kit Williams-Sonoma.com, $14.99

Seaside Holiday Scented Candle, Large Classic Jar YankeeCandle.com, $29.50

5 Ray-Ban Sunglasses in Blue/Red (Model RB4440N 41) Sunglasshut.com, $188

Year-Round July Fourth Fireworks, grilling, and good times with loved ones come to mind when we think of celebrating the Fourth of July. Hang the flag high in remembrance that this day honors our independence, when, in 1776, our forefathers officially adopted the Declaration of Independence. Today, it’s a day of patriotism, but other things too: enjoying the summertime sunshine, parades, and sparklers. Why limit the fun to only one day? Here are some patriotic red, white, and blue finds to use every day, not just on July 4th. — Catherine Torres

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Women’s Original Tall Gloss Rain (or crabbing!) Boots Hunterboots.com, $150

New Find

SHOP

Chocolate Duo Turning A Page Evolve Chocolate + Café (and Bar!) Moving into Village Books WRITTEN BY KATIE MEIER | PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHRISTY AND SHANNON FOX

f you were to ask chef Christy Fox and her wife Shannon the focus of their new café, Evolve Chocolate + Café, it would be one word: community. “It’s all about collaboration, it’s all about community, it’s all about learning and doing something different,” Christy says. Community was what they were searching for before finding the perfect space for their café — inside of Village Books and Paper Dreams in Fairhaven. The café is expected to open this month. The two have enjoyed great success with their online-based chocolate company, Evolve Chocolate, for six years and are ready to expand. Their new café will be taking the place of the Book Fare Café on the mezzanine level of the three-story building. It will operate under the same hours as Village Books, 9 a.m.–9 p.m. most days. The café will offer baked goods (some vegan and gluten-free), savory breakfast

items, sandwiches, soups, salads, and of course their award-winning truffles. Fans of their confections need not worry — they still plan on holding popup lounges and attending Bellingham’s Saturday farmers market. Christy is using her 26 years of restaurant experience to create a menu specifically for Bellingham residents. Her experience as a chef in Bellingham provides unparalleled knowledge of what they like to eat, how far to push them, and what they are attracted to. They plan on using as many local ingredients as possible, from the berries to the flour and everything in-between. It won’t break the bank either. They plan on offering competitive pricing, with plates costing $10 to $16. “My view of food is that it has to be recognizable but I have an odd twist to things,” Christy says. “I like things to kind of go into the left field, just a little bit. Just enough to make you go ‘Oh… OK,’ and then that’s the direction I go.”

Their new, permanent space will offer an exciting new addition: a full bar with wine, mixed drinks, non-alcoholic smoothies and other refreshments. It will also welcome guest bartenders from area bars and restaurants who will provide demonstrations on how to make their signature drinks. Then, the café will highlight the cocktail on their menu. For Christy and Shannon, this is what they always wanted, a way to showcase everything Bellingham has to offer, the produce, the food, and the drinks, but also to show off themselves. “You thrive off of other people’s energy. It takes a tribe to make things work,” Christy says. “We love the model of Village Books and Paper Dreams, and Drizzle, having that constant flow of people that are just in and out. That’s what we wanted.”  evolvetruffles.com

July 2018 35

SHOP Savvy Shopper

Skin Deep in Mount Vernon Bare Boutique WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY CATHERINE TORRES

419 S. 1st St., Mount Vernon 360.419.0777 | bare-boutique.com 36

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THE SHOP Estheticians at Bare Boutique in Mount Vernon “take into account that skin is the largest organ of detoxification,” says owner Hana LaMay. That’s the kind of attitude that can deliver results when it comes to facial services. The shop has been around for about six years but celebrated its oneyear anniversary this past March at its downtown Mount Vernon location. Instead of being a one-stop shop like many day spas, it has carved a specific niche in the skin, hair removal, and lash extensions arena with a goal to be experts in what they do.

THE ATMOSPHERE The shop is relaxing, clean, and spacious with carefully curated skincare products in front. Clients waiting for services sit in a low-lit room on a low-slung, evergreencolored couch.

KEY PEOPLE Owner LaMay has been a licensed esthetician for 10 years. She started out as a makeup artist and did a stint as a loan officer (she couldn’t stand the paperwork), before heading back to school. LaMay’s esthetician background is in medical applications, honed while working in a medical spa. She opened Bare Boutique in a single-room commercial space when her youngest child was about three months old and her middle child was a toddler. Oh, and she continued to work at the medical spa while Bare

Boutique garnered clients. Her tenacity paid off. Today, Bare Boutique employs three estheticians who each have at least seven years of experience, and a second location is possibly on the horizon.

WHAT YOU’LL FIND All the skincare products Bare Boutique carries are dye-free and synthetic fragrancefree. You’ll find Clarisonic facial brushes and Image lotions, known for their antiaging formulations. Shelves are stocked with COOLA sunscreen, and baskets overflow with all-natural bath bombs. In terms of services, Bare Boutique offers a few facials with the intention that customization is key, so the estheticians always begin with a quick consultation. Each service depends on the person, their skin, and the likelihood that they’ll need something different even on routine visits. Services include masks, peels and even dermaplaning, a treatment that shaves off dead skin and fine vellus hair with a 10-gauge scalpel. Dermaplaning sets the stage for a service’s other components to treat deeper into the skin.

OWNER’S FAVORITE LaMay’s favorite part of the job is her relationships with clients, especially those for whom she’s treating an ongoing issue that improves with each treatment. She’s constantly perfecting the boutique’s customer experience. “We love our clients; we just want them to be happy.” 

July 2018 37

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Since 1987 Chuck Eggert’s ng delicious, Pacific Natural Foods has been deliveri with respect for The Clark family takes good all natural and organic food made people. care of their animals, the land and each other, and s animal the land, and their commitment to producing delicious beef is evident in every bite.

Twin Brook Creamery A fam

ily-owned and oper ated farm since 1910, the Stap family’s products are made using 100% Jersey milk from the happy dairy cows on their farm.

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Sign up online for our weekly flyer emails and other special offers! Haggen Food & Pharmacy • See website for store hours • www.haggen.com Barkley Village • Sehome Village • Meridian & Illinois • Fairhaven • Ferndale

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HOW TO ENTER Samsung 65" LED 1080p 120Hz Smart TV, with an MSRP of $2,399 With the Samsung Smart LED TV, “Smart” is only the beginning. Navigate effortlessly through the Samsung Smart TV to find your favorite shows, movies, sports and games. Go beyond watching TV and check out the latest YouTube hits, entertainment news or do some online shopping with full web browsing capabilities. See it all with greater picture quality including a wider spectrum of colors with the Wide Color Enhancer and the great motion clarity of Motion Rate 120. Enter a new world of entertainment with the Samsung J6200.

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Enter daily at BellinghamAlive.com Contest open July 1–31. Prizes awarded daily. Email address required to enter. Daily winners are automatically entered to win Grand Prize package. Limit one entry, per person, per day. No purchase necessary.

July 2018 39

JULY 1–31 8

Sensitive Skin Clinic Two tickets to see Hairspray Live on stage at Village Theatre in Everett. ($150 value)

Bespoke Bouquet

($100 value)

($259 value)

Cheese Gift Basket Our local cheeses come to life under the principles of old-world cheesemaking. ($50 value)

60-minute Float Therapy Are you ready to experience the ultimate stillness?

60-Minute Relaxing Therapeutic Facial

($65 value)

($118 value)

19 $50 Gift Card

$50 Gift Certificate to 9 Restaurant $50 Gift Certificate Casual, comfortable clothing and accessories for women.

($85 value)

Wilson’s Furniture Beautiful detailed clock with aged wood panels and dark bronze metal with quartz movement.

Everything is scratch made! Plus an extensive liquor selection and eight rotating beer taps.

Ageless + Serum with the latest peptide technologies + plant extracts helps recapture a youthful look.

Locally grown blooms. Custom made to fit your unique style!

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DAILY PRIZES

Camber is an inviting, refined, downtown Bellingham restaurant serving American comfort food and award-winning drinks.

Pair of Men’s or Ladies Red Wing Shoes Any style from our Men’s or Ladies Heritage Shoes Collection (up to $349.99 Value)

home & garden

Ferndale Family Dental is pleased to give away free teeth whitening valued at $600!

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$50 Gift Certificate Van Wingerden’s Home & Garden provides seasonal annuals, perennials, home decor & much more!

Coffee of the Month! 2 lbs of coffee each month for 6 months ($132 value)

Wooden salad bowl, servers, oil, vinegar and spices. ($55 value)

$50 Gift Card to Chihuahua Mexican Restaurant Biggest Mexican Restaurant in Whatcom County.

$25 Gift Card and 2 Bottles of Wine The best wine bar in Ferndale. A social place to enjoy wine, food, shop and be merry!

Skagit’s Own Fish Market Fresh local fish and seafood. ($90 value)

$50 Gift Card Coffee lounge with sustainable and locally sourced coffee, tea, beer, wine, food and much more!

$50 Gift Certficate Westside Pizza is all about the pizza! Try the best pizzeria in town!

$50 Gift Certificate For an evening at Fairhaven’s Deco Era Cocktail Bar. Come sample our handcrafted cocktails and tasty bites.

Movie night at the Pickford Two movie passes, a $25 gift certificate for concessions, and two themed pint glasses

Co-op Picnic Pack! Eat Well. Picnic often. Live it up this summer! ($80 value)

$50 Gift Certificate You’ll always get the best Italian food around when you visit Giuseppe’s Al Porto Ristorante Italiano.

Two Tickets & PostConcert Reception See the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra in concert and mingle with the soloist! ($358 value)

One $100 Membership $50 Gift Card

Rook & Rogue is an all ages restaurant with a full bar and over 1500 games.

Fat Shack serves Burgers, Wings and our famous Fat Sandwiches.

Borthwick Jewelry, Inc.

2 $10 Gift Card Plus Goodies

Show Tickets Two tickets to Postmodern Jukebox at Mount Baker Theatre, viral vintage pop!

Flax4Life Goodies Gift Basket & $25 Gift Card to our Online Store.

($95 value)

($50 value)

Sterling silver crab set with Larimar and cubic zirconia. Comes with Singapore chain.

A cozy cafe featuring freshly baked treats, healthy sandwiches, specialty espresso and of course donuts!

July 2018 41

MENUSEATTLE .COM RESTAURANT MENUS RESERVATIONS CURRENT NEWS MIXOLOGIST INTERVIEWS CULINARY EVENTS CHEF INTERVIEWS Follow us for the latest news, contests and promotions.

Bellingham Alive-July.indd 2

5/4/2018 8:52:12 AM

WELLBEING Nutrition · Take a Hike · Beauty

Waterfront Picnic WRITTEN BY ARLENE MANTHA PHOTOGRAPHED BY ALEX EVERETT STYLING AND STYLING PRODUCTS BY CARLA SHAVER

hen we moved here in July 2005, we were looking to buy a house in one of the many adorable neighborhoods Bellingham proper has to offer. While discussing the pros and cons of Columbia, Lettered Streets, Sunnyland, etc., a dear friend who had been here for many decades said to me, “I have two words: Lettered Streets.” … continued on next page

… This struck me right. I asked why that is, and she addressed the proximity to downtown and the waterfront. I was filled in on all the plans the city had for accessing the waterfront in the distant, but not-too-distant, future. Lettered Streets is also so close to downtown and easy for alternative travel that I was intrigued. So we bought in the Lettered Streets 13 years ago, and still no waterfront. That is, until now! The Granary has opened up a beautifully remodeled building on the water adjacent to gorgeous new Waypoint Park, expected to open in mid-June. Plans are to include parking, gorgeous views, and likely even restaurants! Although I am very excited to patronize the new eateries and envision a Pike Place Market on the bottom floor, I am most excited about making this place one of my new best neighborhood haunts. This milestone is worthy of a celebration — and is picnic-worthy!  44

BellinghamAlive.com

PICNIC MENU

FOR SERVING

Artisan vegan cheese w/edible flowers Salami Olives Fresh vegetables Lemon cookies Sparkling water Baguette

Edible flowers

ARTISAN VEGAN CHEESE RECIPE 2 cups raw cashews 2 garlic cloves (minced) 1 tsp. garlic powder Zest from 1 lemon 2 lemons, juiced ¾ cup water 2 tbsp. nutritional yeast ½ tsp. sea salt 2 tbsp. olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS • Place cashews in a bowl and cover with cool water. Soak overnight. • Drain cashews and add to a food processor. Add all other ingredients. Process until smooth. • Place a fine mesh strainer over a mixing bowl and add the cheese over cheesecloth. • Wrap the cheesecloth around the cheese to form a disk. Secure the cloth tight with twine. • Refrigerate for 12 hours • Unwrap, add flowers, and enjoy!

Getting Serious About Sunburn

Beauty

WELLBEING

BBL Forever Young — Session 1

WRITTEN BY TIANNA TSITSIS

ummer is in full light, with the grey, cloudy days of winter a distant memory. But know that those cloudy days — summer or winter — can be dangerous as well. While the sun seemingly cannot make its way through the clouds, UV radiation certainly can. And sun damage is just as much a threat on cloudy days as it is on sunny ones. No matter the weather, it is important to take steps to protect your skin from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays. After spending the last 20 years as an internal medicine doctor, I now own a skincare and wellness center in the Pacific Northwest, specializing in treating a multitude of skin conditions at my offices in the North Sound. With the skin being the largest organ of the body and the sun being the number-one contributor to aging, I thought now would be a great time to remind ourselves of some basics, such as:

HOW DOES UV RADIATION DAMAGE THE SKIN? UV damage can wreak havoc on our skin. It slows cell renewal, creates unhealthy cells, and causes premature aging. Fine lines, wrinkles, sun spots, and hyperpigmentation are all accelerated because of sun exposure. Most importantly, however, overexposure to the sun’s dangerous UV rays puts one at higher risk for developing skin cancer.

STEPS TO PROTECT FROM SUN DAMAGE: • Stay out of direct sunlight when it is at its strongest (between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.) • Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when possible • Protect your face, eyes, and hair with a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses • Get Vitamin D through a healthy diet and/or vitamin supplements We cannot stress enough the importance of applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen every morning. With medical-grade skin care products from ZO Medical and Skin Health and Epionce, there are plenty of ways to keep you well protected.

CAN SUN DAMAGE BE REVERSED? Trained physicians can perform procedures that can help fix sun damage, including industry-leading light and laser treatments such as Forever Young BBL (broadband light) and Halo Pro Hybrid Fractional Laser. The Forever Young BBL device was developed by a team of laser industry engineers and physicians whose mission was to build an aesthetic laser and light system to help people with

DAY 1

DAY 4

sun-damaged skin or conditions like rosacea, a disorder of facial skin marked by patchy redness. This state-of-the-art intense pulse light (IPL) is one of the most widely known and frequently used on the market. The combination of speed and optimal power has safely and painlessly delivered promising results, allowing experts to treat challenging and routine conditions. The BBL targets pigment by breaking down melanin trapped in your skin and calming inflammation by using specific wavelengths to deliver treatment. One study from Stanford University concluded that the Forever Young BBL can alter the molecular genetics of your skin cells to turn the clock back several years if performed regularly. The Halo Pro is a laser that makes channels in the skin, pushing deep pigment to the surface, where the pigment flakes away while simultaneously forcing the skin to tighten and renew. The fractional laser goes deeper than the IPL and does its work without the downtime of more aggressive treatments, helping rejuvenate collagen and even out the skin’s tone and texture. Enlarged pores, fine lines and scars can be diminished. Everyone’s skin is different. Everyone’s needs are different. However, everyone is exposed to the sun and most everyone can do something to protect themselves and even reverse damage that has already happened. Your physician can customize your medical-grade skin care products. There is a plethora of treatments to fit your lifestyle and your budget. Perhaps this is the summer to get serious about preventing, and fixing, skin damage.  July 2018 45

WELLBEING Special Advertising

Gardening Can Be Healthful

id you know that gardening can be therapeutic? It’s true. Even some hospitals and rehabilitation centers include garden-tending in speech, occupational, physical and recreational therapy. Gardens are a natural setting for maintaining or regaining balance and strengthening grip. And for those recovering from stroke or brain injuries, it can help people relearn language skills. Raised beds are best if it’s painful for you to get down on or up from the ground. With a raised bed, you can tend your plants from a standing or seated position. You can also use pots for gardening, if your space is limited.

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Increased self-confidence and motivation

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Meaningful leisure activity participation with social benefits — it’s something you can do with your kids, grandkids or neighbors

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Health and wellness activities for adults with disabilities and whatever you’re raising — vegetables, herbs or flowers — you have the satisfaction of putting something fresh on your table.

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Increased mobility, stamina, strength, balance, hand strength and motor coordination

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Improved memory, attention, concentration, correct sequencing, problem solving, visual scanning, and name and color identification

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Less depression and stress

BellinghamAlive.com

With spring coming, are you inspired to get outside? If you want help getting a garden started or if you want to take your skills to the next level, you can find resources nearby. Visit the website below to find a master gardener resource in your area.  mastergardener.wsu.edu

Your family won’t wait. Neither should your health. PeaceHealth’s Same Day Care Clinic is open seven days a week to help you get back on your feet fast.

Save time. Schedule online. 3015 Squalicum Parkway, Suite 140 Monday–Friday 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. § Saturday–Sunday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

peacehealth.org/appointments

Military Lieutenant Bo Jaffer

Bases

ucky travelers driving down Whidbey Island’s Highway 20 are treated to impromptu air shows almost daily. Navy Growlers, the sharpnosed jets that are the Navy’s answer to increasingly technological-driven warfare, seemingly defy gravity in 90-degree turns. Four-engine turboprop P-3 aircraft soar steadily overhead on surveillance training missions, and the occasional search-and-rescue helicopter practices operations while pausing over the coastline. They all belong to Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, a base landmarked on Highway 20 with two static displays of the Navy’s Prowler and Intruder jets. Since 1942, Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island has played an important role in the nation’s defense effort. It has sent personnel to every significant military operation in the modern era, most recently in support of operations in the Middle East and the geopolitically significant Exercise Vigilant Ace — U.S. exercises with South Korean military to ensure familiarity between the military operations of both countries. During the 2005 process where numerous bases where either closed or combined, NAS Whidbey Island was rated as having the highest value of all the examined Pacific bases. About 7,000 uniformed men and women are stationed here. The base also employs about 2,400 civilians and currently supports operations for six types of aircraft. There are 15 Naval squadrons of electronic warfare personnel with colorful names like the Scorpions, the Wizards and the Gray Wolves. NAS Whidbey Island includes military housing, aircraft maintenance facilities and, of course, two huge runways. This is also the base that made headlines last year when a spirited pilot used his jet’s contrails, the condensed water streaming from behind the engines, to draw a huge penis in the sky over Eastern Washington. It is a place where few civilians know what goes on past the base’s highly fortified security check points. It is also the source of enormous pride from residents, as well as its share of noise complaints from the deafening jets overhead. In late spring, we decided to take a behind-thescenes look at what goes on here. To do that, we followed a squadron, the Garudas, as they went about their day-to-day tasks. We also sat down with Captain Geoffrey Moore, commander of NAS Whidbey Island since February 2016, to gain an understanding of the work being done on the base and its role within the community. — Catherine Torres July 2018 49

A WORLD FAMOUS GARUDAS A Day in the Life of a Navy Growler Squadron Written by CATHERINE TORRES Photographed by PAT MCDONNELL

BellinghamAlive.com

group of people on Naval Air Station Whidbey Island walk around wearing flight suits with patches showing a maroon-colored triangular bird. You’ll find the same abstract bird on plaques, printed at the top of official memos, and, of course, painted on their jets. The mascot, a Garuda, is a mythical Hindu bird who carried Vishnu, the god of war, wherever his presence was needed to protect creation from destructive evil forces. For this particular squadron, Electronic Attack Squadron VAQ-134, their mascot may be a powerful bird, but the vehicle of choice is an EA-18G Growler jet. It’s not just pilots and mechanics that make the squadron fly. Its five jets are operated and maintained by multiple shops of about 200 military members. Structural mechanics ensure the oxygen delivery systems work properly. Electricians and avionics technicians deal with the complicated circuitry, while maintenance administration tracks the actions required to keep the fleet healthy. The administrative office files travel orders for the constantly traveling unit. Quality assurance oversees standardization and safety, while the information technology (IT) shop ensures connectivity and Microsoft Office licenses are up to date. There are 28 pilots and electronic warfare officers (EWOs, also known as the “back seaters”) who fulfill about 500 flying hours quarterly in addition to juggling related duties. In order to be successful in this world you need excellent time management skills, flexibility, and the ability to adapt quickly. As hectic — or as boring — as the days get, they are all proud to serve. Ask any of the shops who the most critical to the mission is, and they’ll claim it’s their shop. And they’d all be correct.

0630–0800 While the maintenance day shift sailors welcome the day with unit PT (physical training) at the base gym, lieutenant Michael Fessenden flips on the office lights of the Ready Room, a combination check-in/break room/meeting space for officers. He moves to an adjacent office to begin his day. As more Garudas trickle in, the quiet gives way to pleasantries, a coffee pot’s gurgle, and popping of the squadron’s popcorn machine. It’s a quick, healthy snack for when there’s just no time to eat a meal.

“Back home, you do a lot for yourself, but here you have a bigger purpose.” Samuel Juarez Hernandez

0800–1000 Supply’s Brittany Roes arrives at her desk and gets ready for the day. She reviews a stack of fuel chits, a bit like jet gas receipts, and checks on orders for tools and parts other shops need. She’s good at her job, but after serving almost five years, like many she’s facing the decision whether to stay in the military or change careers. Airman Apprentice Samuel Juarez Hernandez

1200–1400

Supply Sailor Brittany Roes

Next door to supply, Dominick Scordo and his fellow Plane Captains get ready to prep the jets for departure an hour prior to take-off. The team jokes around in their office, but they put their game faces on when it’s time to fire up the engines. Upstairs, two crews “brief” — going over their mission and the tactics they’ll be using — in the squadron’s vault, or classified space, for their 10:45 a.m. flight. On days they fly, aviators will be occupied for about six hours, possibly eight, if someone is working on a qualification, which means they’re trying to get qualified for the next level of certification. During these special flights, seemingly minuscule details are pored over. It’s the type of attention to detail that makes the U.S.’s military aviators the best in the world. However, it can be a mentally draining and physically taxing day.

1000–1200 A jet needs an inspection, meaning the airframes shop needs to remove its panels. It’s a day-long process that includes labeling every panel and fastener. Fresh from training and eager to learn, new arrival Samuel Juarez Hernandez is spending a lot of time shadowing the more-experienced sailors, watching rather than doing, but that doesn’t dampen his excitement. “Back home, you do a lot for yourself, but here you have a bigger purpose,” he says.

The Squadron Duty Officer (SDO) mans the squadron’s main desk, located in the Ready Room. He is the squadron’s first and last point of contact, and, if required, works through emergency procedures with aircrew in the cockpits. The phone rings. “World famous Garudas, how can I help you?” At 1334 the Paraloft’s speakers blast dance music to energize a crew getting dressed. The shop used to be known as the parachute riggers, a name still given to the enlisted sailors (Navy terms are used here) who operate the shop. The aircrews pull on their harnesses and G-suits over their flight suits. G-suits, or, more accurately, anti-G suits, look like tight-fitting, highwaisted pants with hoses interwoven through the material. It helps crews deal with the physical pressure when taking turns at an accelerated speed. Think of the weight you can feel while taking a sharp turn on a roller coaster. Then multiply that pressure. When “pulling Gs,” (one G is the force of gravity you feel now; pilots typically feel four), aircrew are subject to hypoxia from blood being pulled away from the brain and pooling in the lower limbs. When the jet pulls Gs, the G-suits automatically pressurize, keeping the blood circulating and preventing aircrew from losing consciousness. Juilio Gonzalez stands ready to help with last-minute adjustments. The aviators rely on his expertise for comfort in the jet, as lieutenant Bo Jaffer knows firsthand.“If there’s something uncomfortable, that’s all you’ll think about.” It could be something as simple as moving a flashlight from one pocket to another, but it makes a world of difference when lapsed concentration could mean life or death. Down in the ordnance shop, Pernell Washington prepares to arm the jets. He needs just 10 minutes to load up jamming pods for today’s training mission. Since the purpose of the Growler is electronic attack, the jamming pods are central to most flights. They contain the radar and electronics the EWOs use to identify and block adversary signals. July 2018 51

Glossary of Terms Collateral Duty Additional duties for officers such as Division Officer, MWR Officer, Logistics Officer, and Voting Assistance Officer that aid in the running of the squadron and hone leadership skills. Responsibilities are disbursed based on rank and switched every six to nine months. Lt. Cmdr. Chris Long, Lt. Chris Willenborg, Lt. Seth Loftus-Vergari, Lt. Kevin Rafter

EWO

“If you told me I’d be doing this in high school, I would’ve laughed…So would have everyone else.” Lt. Brennon Apsey 1400–1600 Three flyers, having started their brief at 1145, are finishing up their simulator training. The squadron uses simulators to train on emergency procedures that otherwise would be dangerous to practice in the jets. It’s 1420, five minutes past the scheduled take-off time for the day’s second flight. The two-ship is still on the ground watching a thick fog roll onto the end of the runway. They don’t have the minimum weather requirements both pilots need to safely take off. The last flight is canceled and the day’s tempo finally slows. Back in the Ready Room the SDO ends his shift and begins to empty the coffee pot and trash cans. Ohio native and lieutenant Brennon Apsey leads a Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) meeting. Apsey reminds everyone this year’s Christmas party needs to make up for last year’s Christmas, when the squadron was overseas on a six-month deployment in Japan, Guam and South Korea. The charismatic officer never imagined himself in a flight suit, let alone piloting a Growler. “If you told me I’d be doing this in high school, I would’ve laughed…So would have everyone else.” 52

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1600–1730 Upstairs, it’s quiet except for the occasional mouse-clicking and chair-squeak of those whose to-do lists never seem to shorten. As exciting as life in a Navy aviation squadron seems, there’s a lot of computer and paperwork, meetings at the most inconvenient times, and daily frustrations, just like most jobs out there. Even as the Garudas leave for the day, many will stop at the gym or store on their way home, just like everyone else. Like most Americans, they’ll tell their spouses about their days and play with their kids after dinner. The difference between them and civilians is they work to protect our freedoms every day. 

Garudas’ brief history Commissioned on June 7, 1969 at NAS Alameda, California for the EA-3B Skywarrior until 1971. Recommissioned as an EA-6B Prowler squadron in 1972 and relocated to NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. As a Prowler squadron they have supported Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Northern Watch, and Allied Force, Enduring Freedom, and the Global War on Terror. In 2014 VAQ-134 began their transition to EA-18G Growler, officially switching to the airframe in June 2015.

The Electronic Warfare Officer flies in the jet’s backseat. His or her main role is to identify enemy electromagnetic signals and jam them, preventing enemy attacks.

Rates and Ranks In the Navy, enlisted personnel are referred to by their ratings, or job qualifications. Officers are referred to by their ranks. For example, an enlisted rate of AO means Aviation Ordnanceman, with AO2 meaning Aviation Ordnanceman Second Class.

Readiness The state of qualifications and accumulated training hours that ensure personnel are ready to successfully complete their missions in wartime.

Skipper Officially, the person who has command of a boat. In the Navy, land operations are often referred to in boat phraseology, so the commander of a Naval aviation wing is known as the Skipper, as is the commander of a squadron.

Wing An organization consisting of multiple squadrons who share a similar mission, like maritime reconnaissance. In naval aviation, a squadron will consist of the aviators and support personnel for a specific aircraft. — Catherine Torres

NAVAL AIR COMMAND On Ground and Above It, Whidbey Leader Connects with Sailors, Community Written by CATHERINE TORRES Photos courtesy of NAS Public Affairs

ven though his schedule is jam-packed, it’s telling that NAS Whidbey Island commander Capt. Geoffrey Moore, a helicopter pilot, finds time to occasionally fly one of the three search-and-rescue (SAR) helicopters attached to the base. Speaking to the personable commander, it’s easy to see flying comes second to his favorite part of the job: connecting with the sailors. On the day we visited he had spent an hour riding around with the airfield sweeper, who ensures the runway is free from any objects that could get sucked into a jet engine. Then Moore presented a volunteer medal to a 1st Class Sailor who has gone above and beyond in organizing litter clean-ups and hikes with the local Boy Scouts. “I’m very proud of our people,” Moore said. He went on to describe the base’s robust education volunteer program. Each unit is aligned with a school in the local area. The school determines the type of support they need: tutoring students in reading or math, chaperoning school dances, and even helping fix or build infrastructure and playgrounds. Not only do the schools and students benefit from practical help, but sailors enjoy mentoring students and working alongside community members. NAS Whidbey Island’s two main operational missions are electronic attack (what the Growlers are made for) and maritime reconnaissance. Also under the base’s jurisdiction is the Northwest Range Training Complex over the Olympic Peninsula. Training at the range is incredibly important for our military members.

Lt. Blake Glass giving Arizona State University ROTC students a tour

Capt. Geoffrey Moore

Take the Boeing EA-18G Growlers who use the range to practice their primary role, electronic attack. In simple terms, aircrew onboard the Growlers look for surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), which are missiles shot from the ground that can detect and align themselves with an airborne aircraft. The Growlers’ job is to find the SAMs and use electromagnetic waves to jam them, preventing the missiles from launching. It’s like shining a flashlight into an adversary’s eyes to blind them momentarily. How do you effectively train for this type of mission? At the Northwest Range, transmitters put out specific signals using about 300 watts of power (equivalent to a 300-watt lightbulb). Aircrew need to distinguish the signals from others in the area such as wireless internet, cellular coverage, and weather stations. Moore explained, “To pick out a specific signal is very challenging.” Success in training means the aviators are better prepared for real-world deployments. Rigorous training is a daily occurrence on NAS Whidbey, from amateur pilots learning to wield an aircraft’s power to experienced aviators challenging themselves with advanced tactics. Because much of what happens on base is highly technical and internally focused, Moore regularly meets with elected officials from the surrounding Whidbey Island community to build relationships and maintain clear communication, something he believes is necessary for leaders at all levels. When parties discuss issues, like controversial jet noise, they can “[realize] that nothing is perfect, but we can talk about the issues and at least gain understanding of each other’s perspectives.” Moore does his best to resolve community complaints, adhering to the guidance to “fly responsibly while maintaining our readiness requirements.” One project nearing completion that balances readiness with responsibility is a state of the art P-8 simulator building. It’ll allow pilots to fly the brand-new P-8s less often while still gaining valuable training. This extends the aircrafts’ lifespans and minimizes aircraft operations in an already busy airspace. The skipper will be moving on this August. When asked to share a leadership lesson from his years of experience he said, “Trust your people…. Here it’s easy: we have phenomenal people who are experts in their line of work.”  July 2018 53

Fort Casey Historical State Park, courtesy Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

MILITARY TOURISM Parks Have History Written by JOSHUA DEJONG

oday in Washington you can explore a variety of different military bases that have been turned into state parks or recreational areas. You can easily find a former base outfitted with artillery batteries where guns were clustered together for our state’s defense, or a fort that housed torpedoes and dismantled enemy explosives. Many of these historical relics line the Puget Sound, with a few others dispersed throughout the state. They offer an opportunity to experience the past firsthand, while often showcasing some breathtaking views of the Pacific Northwest. You can camp, hike, boat, swim, fly a kite or sometimes even paraglide. Below are a few fascinating places that make for an excellent day trip. These are just a few of the places key to Washington’s military history. There are many more to explore and many others which no longer exist. Keep your eyes peeled because some are scattered, with little fanfare, along hiking trails and or marked as monuments throughout our state. Whether it is a monument to battles between the Army and Native Americans in places like Steptoe Battlefield State Park or others like the Puget Sound Naval Museum, there are endless places to explore and learn about our state’s rich military history.

BellinghamAlive.com

EARLY WASHINGTON Lewis and Clark The early military history of Washington state traces back to the early 1800s. Comprised of U.S. Army volunteers, the Corps of Discovery Expedition — better known as the Lewis and Clark Expedition — reached the West Coast in November of 1805. A few locations in Washington commemorate their expedition. Most notable is the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in southwest Washington, where, through sketches, pictures and more, you can trace their journey westward. The center is next to Cape Disappointment State Park, which housed Fort Canby, built in the mid-1800s during the Civil War.

Pig War A military escalation on San Juan Island in 1859 nearly resulted in a war between the United States and England. The Pig War started when an American farmer shot a large pig who was eating from his garden. The Irishman who owned the pig demanded $100 to pay for the animal. The farmer refused. British authorities threatened to arrest the farmer. Troops from both sides were sent to the island, and the dispute, astoundingly, escalated to the deployment of warships and thousands of troops. But not a single shot was fired, and the two nations settled their dispute peaceably. More than a century later, San Juan Island National Historical Park was created in 1966 to show the world that nations can solve their problems without violence. Spanning San Juan Island, both the American and British camps of the 1859 Pig War are a look back in time and a couple fun places to stop on a day trip to the Island. July 27–29 is an especially good time to visit. That’s when the National Historical Park Encampment takes place, where Canadians and Americans come together to re-enact mid-19thcentury military life. There are blacksmiths, weaving, and sewing, along with a daily a black powder musket and howitzer demonstration.

Early Forts Geographically, Washington — which had yet to achieve statehood — was the furthest removed from the Civil War, but there were still several forts manned during that time. Some recognizable ones today include Cape Disappointment State Park, Fort Vancouver and Fort Townsend. Cape Disappointment has the oldest lighthouse in the Pacific Northwest, and during the Civil War housed northern troops for the defense of the Columbia River entrance. Cannons were put in place, and Cape Disappointment continued to grow and be used into the early 1900s. Today you can still explore some of the old bunkers and batteries. Fort Vancouver, a Hudson Bay Trading Company hub in Vancouver, Wash., was expanded with barracks in 1849 because of the Whitman massacre, when Oregon missionary Marcus Whitman was among 11 killed by Cayuse Native Americans who believed he poisoned 200 Cayuse, triggering war. The barracks remained manned through World War II and wasn’t closed until 2011. The fort has a self-guided tour and often holds cultural events. Built in the 1856 and deemed unfit in 1859, Fort Townsend on Port Townsend Bay remained closed until 1874 when it resumed operations. The fort stayed active until 1895 when a fire burned down the barracks. Resuming activities during World War II, Fort Townsend was used as an enemy munitions diffusing station. Today, what remains is an old torpedo warehouse utilized during World War II and a self-guided tour along the parks’ trails featuring bits and pieces of history.

WWI AND WWII The Triangle of Fire Forts Worden, Casey on Whidbey Island and Flagler, on an island near Port Townsend, make up the “Triangle of Fire.” Strategically placed, these three forts were built to safeguard the entrance to Puget Sound. Fort Worden, in Port Townsend, became the headquarters of Harbor Defense of Puget Sound in 1904. It used to house nearly 1,000 troops and officers and stayed operational through World War II. Worden also had a short-lived balloon program where observation (spy) balloons were housed. The building is one of only two remaining. Worden’s Coast Artillery Museum is home to the history of Puget Sound’s defense. The museum is in one of the original barracks built in 1904. At Fort Casey, you can explore the fort, bunker, Admiralty Head Lighthouse and catch an amazing view of Mount Rainier. It also houses two giant disappearing guns. At the height of technology in the early 1900s, the 10-inch guns were placed on carriages that would raise up long enough to fire before being lowered down out of view. Construction on Fort Flagler began in 1897 and it remained active until 1953, the year the Korean War armistice was signed. The fort is named after Brigadier General Daniel Webster

Flagler, who served during the Civil and Spanish-American Wars. He was the U.S. Army’s 9th Chief of Ordnance where he managed research, production and shipment arms and artillery across the nation. On Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays you can step into the past and take a guided tour of the fort’s military hospital built in 1905.

River Guardian Fort Columbia built near the mouth of the Columbia River remains one of the most well-preserved forts in Washington. Built in 1896 and renovated in World War II, there are still three artillery batteries and two coastal artillery guns standing. Free tours of the base are offered Fridays through Sundays in July and August.

A Trip Around The World Magnuson Park in Seattle is named after Warren Grant “Maggie” Magnuson, a former U.S. senator from Washington state. Before that, the park was Sand Point Naval Air Station. Sand Point was the start and end point of the first circumnavigation of the world by plane in 1924. The trip took 175 days. Today, much of what was an airbase has been replaced with sporting fields and a massive off-leash area for dogs, but an art sculpture in the park, made from old submarine fins, was arranged to look like a pod of orca dorsal fins. The sculpture spans about 500 feet and is a tribute to the history of the Navy in the area. Each fin weighs about 10,000 pounds.

Almost The End Of The War Fort Ebey in Coupeville has an unforgettable view of the Olympic Mountains and is one of the best locations to watch the sun set. If you’re lucky, you can catch the sight of paragliders taking off from the bluff. Built just before the end of World War II, it was one of the last forts constructed along the Puget Sound. It housed two 6-inch shielded guns in 1943 and a radar station. One of the fort’s antennas was disguised as a water tower. The underground bunkers built into the fort are dug into the side of the bluff and are an excellent place to explore, but bring a flashlight.

Nuclear Reactors For those who are adventurous and seeking a unique historical tour, check out Hanford Site’s Reactor B. It is best known for being a part of the Manhattan Project and producing plutonium for the “Fat Man” atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki. Hanford Site was attacked during World War II by a Japanese fire balloon. The hydrogen-filled balloons held explosives or incendiary devices and were launched from Japan and would follow the jet stream to the U.S. On March 10, 1945, one of these weapons hit power lines supplying energy to Hanford’s reactor, causing a potentially disastrous short circuit to the reactor cooling pumps. But backup power supplied energy soon after. If you go, be sure to make reservations for this tour.  July 2018 55

Bellingham

Wat e r A

gaping hole in Bellingham’s core lays waiting to be filled. The city’s downtown waterfront is slowly coming to life. Viewed from Roeder Avenue near the Central Avenue bridge, the five-acre site is graded and smoothed with gravel to a remarkable tidiness. A 1928-era Granary Building with a fresh new look is awaiting tenants possibly including a Pike Place-like market, shops, and offices boasting postcard-perfect views. Next to it is Waypoint Park, a 1.5-acre bayside retreat expected to open by mid-June. This is just phase one. There are plans for a mixed-use neighborhood to include apartments, restaurants,

56 BellinghamAlive.com

a Western Washington University extension, and other businesses. The current void is a startling sight, considering that for decades the unsightly property stood thick with Georgia-Pacific’s pulp and paper mill that once belched smoke and ash, fouling the downtown air with a smell like sulfur, or, some say, burned hot dogs. A few features from the mill remain. You can’t miss the row of rocket-looking digesters (used to “cook” wood chips for paper production) and then there’s that large steel ball that contained industrial acid. They will stay, repurposed as relics and

front Written By MERI-JO BORZILLERI | Photographed By PAT MCDONNELL

landmarks, along with a handful of other structures that dot the space like real estate on a gigantic Monopoly board. Bellingham’s waterfront redemption, and possible future, is arriving one puzzle piece at a time. The park opening is the first tangible sign — for the public, anyway — that plans for the massive waterfront redevelopment are for real. “Waypoint” means either a stopping place on a journey, or a reference point on a route easily identified. The park is part of the first phase of five, with the entire project stretching over 40 or 50 years. Still, you get the idea that even city

employees are pinching themselves. “It’s nice to see everything in 3-D, not on paper any more,” says Gina Austin, the city’s project engineer, during a recent park tour. The opening of the park also marks a historical milestone. For the first time in 100 years, the public will have access to the downtown waterfront. For context, consider that a century ago, Model Ts and horses shared space on Bellingham’s streets. The biggest public-private project in Bellingham’s history comprises 237 acres of the city’s Waterfront District that stretches from the south edge of Squalicum Marina to the north edge

July 2018

The Puget Pulp Mill in 1959, before Georgia-Pacific took over in 1963.

Current downtown waterfront and Waypoint Park takes shape.

» of Boulevard Park. It includes Cornwall Beach — the

former landfill slated to become part of the grand plan’s 33 acres of new park land. It has been a long wait. So long, in fact, that for years a mention of the waterfront redevelopment prompted eye-rolling and the perception that it would never happen. Stalled funding for the massive toxic waste cleanup necessary at six sites, including the now-completed cleanup in and around the park, threatened to ground the project before it even got started. Updated cost estimates have yet to be released, but 2013 plans showed expenditures

for the five-phase project totaling $324 million, including $163 million of toxic waste cleanup and site prep for proposed and completed projects, with funding coming through combined state and federal grants, the state’s Local Infrastructure Financing Tool (LIFT); Real Estate Excise Tax, impact fees and other monies from developers. The G-P mill shut down in 2007, distributing the final rolls of free toilet paper to its last employees, a longtime perk of the business that had been in operation since 1963. The waterfront has been the focus of plans by the port and city since the early 1990s. Mayor Kelli Linville, a fourth-generation

Waterfront Timeline

Written By MELISSA MCCARTHY

1850s

1883

1904

1920

1923

White settlers began to arrive in the 1850s, creating settlements amid abundant natural resources. Lummi and other Pacific Northwestern tribes had occupied this area for thousands of years prior.

In 1883, the first dock, the Colony Wharf, was built on the Bellingham waterfront. It extended almost a mile across the tide flats of Bellingham Bay. More docks were then constructed by independent and commercial entities.

In 1904, the four settlements in the area, Whatcom, Sehome, Fairhaven, and Bellingham, consolidated into one city.

The Port of Bellingham was founded on September 14, 1920 to organize and cultivate the waterfront property, which had been sporadically developed with a mismatched array of docks crowding the shore.

In May 1923, a new ferry landing gave Bellingham the opportunity to build tourism and population. Said Lieutenant Governor W.J. Coyle: “Show me a tourist in the Northwest, and I will show you a potential resident of the Northwest.”

58 BellinghamAlive.com

Granary Avenue’s completion date is spring 2019. © Chris Jones, Walker Macy Landscape Architects

Bellingham resident, remembers starting work on waterfront issues, beginning with the GeorgiaPacific phase-out, when she was a state legislator in 1995. “After 20 years, I wish it was farther along,” Linville says, but “compared to where we were five years ago, I’m thrilled.” Waypoint Park is just the beginning. The redtopped roadside Granary Building near the park’s entrance is nearing completion by Dublin, Irelandbased Harcourt, a private developer, who also in June announced plans for a 6,000-square-foot, two-story building next door on the park side, likely for shops and a restaurant with bay views.

In May, Harcourt purchased property for residential development. A small beach has been restored along the Whatcom Waterway. New roads Granary Avenue and West Laurel Street, expected for completion in spring 2019 — along with bicycle and pedestrian paths — will link the site with downtown streets. The next public project for the city is extending the waterway trail from Waypoint Park to beyond Laurel Street. Between the streets and the trail, “it’s going to be such a great running route,” Austin says, as well as big for biking. And it’s just the start. #

1928

1940s

1930s–1960s

1963

2013

The Granary Building was built in 1928 and used by family farmers as a co-op until being acquired by Georgia Pacific in 1970. It is now a commercial space built by waterfront redeveloper Harcourt.

In the 1940s, the salmon industry was booming. Fairhaven’s PacificAmerican Fisheries cannery was the largest salmon processing plant in the world at the time.

The Great Depression created a developmental lull on the waterfront that lasted from the 1930s to 1960s. As mills and businesses closed, the port acquired more and more waterfront property.

The Georgia-Pacific pulp mill opened in 1963 on the central downtown waterfront. It operated until 2001 and sold the property to the Port of Bellingham in 2006.

Approved by the city in 2013, the waterfront redevelopment master plan called for transforming G-P’s contaminated industrial area to a bustling neighborhood with businesses, residential areas, parks, and trails. It also included a list of environmental considerations and habitat restoration guidelines.

July 2018

Businesses Weigh in On Waterfront Written by KATE GALAMBOS | Photographed by JADE THURSTON

ellingham’s downtown waterfront development project has been in the works for more than a decade. However, residents are finally starting to see big physical changes to the once industrial sea-side property and it has lots of people talking. The 237-acre project is unlike any other development project Bellingham has seen and will involve stakeholders like Western Washington University, the City and Port of Bellingham, as well as countless business owners who depend on business of the central district of current downtown. Sojourn clothing boutique owner, Peggy Platter, 52, recalled a similar tone of discussion when the Barkley Village shopping center and construction of Squalicum Harbor (near Hotel Bellwether ) were in the works. She feels all development is good for Bellingham. “There’s room for everyone,” she

says. Platter has owned Sojourn on Railroad Avenue for 23 years and lives in Bellingham. And while Barkley Village is a similar size as the planned waterfront, at about 250 acres, and also incorporates mixeduse space, it is nearly impossible to compare the two projects because of the differing land use, according to Hart Hodges, associate professor of economics at Western Washington University. Rather than compare the waterfront to other local projects, business owners should be aware how the newly developed space will be allocated. “The current downtown core probably does need to plan for change as the waterfront develops. Whether they need to be wary depends on what the city allows at the waterfront or what happens when,” says Hodges. An influx in restaurants and retail, combined with green

space, may draw downtown visitors to the waterfront. On the other hand, should housing and Western Washington University campus buildings come first, as plans currently indicate, downtown retailers would feel a slower shift, he said. For new business owner, Nick Meza, 25, who has lived in Bellingham for six years, the development is especially exciting because of his location. His plant store, Babygreens, opened in April of 2018 on the corner of Cornwall Avenue and West Chestnut Street. “For this location specifically, I am excited for it [the waterfront] because this block tends to be really slow on foot traffic,” Meza says. Babygreens’ proximity to the waterfront could lead more visitors to the north western part of the central district, providing good opportunities for business owners like Meza. #

2015

2016

2018

Former staples of the pulp mill, such as the digester building and chipper building, were demolished in 2015 to make way for the new district. More than 95 percent of these building materials will be reused or recycled in the redevelopment.

The Port completed the clean-up of the first phase of the Whatcom Waterway in 2016. The $35 million project removed contaminated areas, rebuilt marine trade infrastructure, and restored salmon habitats.

Bellingham’s master plan to clean up the former Cornwall Landfill, off Boulevard Street, to make way for Cornwall Beach Park is on hold due to funding. When it is finished (completion date has not been set), the 17-acre parcel is expected to be the largest waterfront park in Bellingham.

Waypoint Park, off of Central Avenue, is scheduled to be the first area of redevelopment open to the public in June 2018.

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‘Acid ball’ at Waypoint Park puts the ‘super’ in supernatural

Written By MELISSA MCCARTHY | Photographed By PAT MCDONNELL

team punk fanatics: your beacon has arrived in Bellingham. The “acid ball,” refurbished and redesigned from the acid container of 1938 at the old Georgia-Pacific paper mill, is on display at the city’s new downtown waterfront in Waypoint Park. As of publication, the park was set to open in mid-June. It’s located down the Central Pier from the Granary building on Central Avenue. Waypoint Park will eventually be surrounded by buildings and businesses as the downtown waterfront continues to develop. The acid ball, prominently displayed upon entering the park, is approximately 80 feet high and 32 feet in diameter, weighs over 400,000 pounds,and resembles a UFO from an alienindustrial era. In a past life, it held acid used to break down wood chips that would be made into paper. Now, all that remains is a slight dusting of paper pulp at the bottom of the ball. (The ball has been tested, and the city has determined that no contaminants remain within.) The ball was moved 1,000 feet from its original site to the water’s edge, so close you think it might roll right into the bay. By welding legs to the bottom of the ball for support and using rolling transporters, the acid ball was relocated — and elevated from Georgia-Pacific rusted remnant to Waypoint Park’s star attraction. The ball was made into a public art piece with a coating of luminescent glass beads to give it

an even more supernatural feel. “The glass beads are a retro-reflexive material, meaning light comes back to the light source,” says Saul Becker of Seattle-based Mutuus Design, which designed the art piece. He suggested shining a flashlight at it to experience the full effect of the glimmering orb. “It’s sort of a hidden phenomenon for the public to enjoy and discover along the way.” The city has installed light beacons to shine against the ball which they can customize for special occasions, such as Fourth of July or Christmas. The project took about two years to complete, says Darby Cowles, Bellingham senior city planner. “We wanted it to be a beacon from downtown to the waterfront,” Cowles said. “I think it will become a real landmark of Bellingham.” Mutuus Design’s proposal competed with about 50 other submissions, says Cowles, in a contest to determine what the acid ball would become. One designer wanted to turn it into a globe that would rotate as a sundial; another suggested hollowing it out so park visitors could walk through it. In the end, the city decided on the Mutuus design because it honored the ball in its original, historically significant form, but at the same time incorporated a unique addition. So, this summer, let your walk down the waterfront turn into a sci-fi fantasy as you take in the new acid ball. #

July 2018

On The Street Your Views On Bellingham’s Waterfront Project Written and Photographed by JADE THURSTON, KATIE MEIER, & MELISSA MCCARTHY

Mahalah May

Ellen Clark

Residence: Bellingham / Age: 19

Residence: Bellingham

How long have you lived in Bellingham? Born and raised in Bellingham for 19 years. What are your expectations for the waterfront development? I don’t really know what to expect, I’m excited about it and I think it’s going to be really fun from what I’ve seen. I’m thinking like grass and more access to the

beach and fun shops? I don’t know. How do you think it’s going to change Bellingham? I think it’s going to make it more welcoming. When you drive past there it’s not going to look like a junkyard. It’s going to look nice and inviting. I think it will be more touristy and bring aesthetic.

How long have you lived in Bellingham? Since ’81, 1981. What are your expectations for the waterfront development? I am really looking forward to it. Just riding my bike here today thinking about how beautiful it’s going to be, to keep going. How do you think it’s going to change Bellingham? I think it will attract a lot

more visitors. I think it will be a good budget to work with, because we will be spending more money and more time downtown. I think it will benefit the other businesses nearby Any reservations about it at all? The only reservation I have is I would like to see no oil, no pollution or that kind of stuff. What we are doing seems clean so I am quite happy.

Karma Reavis

Alisha Spencer

Residence: Bellingham / Age: 63

Residence: Bellingham / Age: 30

What are your thoughts on the waterfront project? I know that it’s ongoing and that it seems like a great thing for the community. How do you think it will impact Bellingham? I hope it will impact us positively. You can never have too many

62 BellinghamAlive.com

waterfront parks so I’m looking forward to that. Do you have any worries? No, not really. What do you want to see there? I think a convention center would work well there somewhere. I’d also like to see small, local businesses take it over.

What are your thoughts on the waterfront project? I’m excited for the new park, shops and restaurants. How do you think it will impact Bellingham? I think it will impact it positively because it could bolster the local economy.

Do you have any worries? Yes and no. I’m interested to see how it will impact the homeless community we have here. What do you want to see there? Just some new blood. I’d love to see some things we don’t already have.

Frequently Asked Questions

Isaiah Chavez Residence: Bellingham / Age: 21

bring in more tourists. I don’t really have expectations because it’s kind of unknown to me. But I saw a bunch of plans that made it look like it was going to have parks and boardwalks, so that’s exciting.”

“I don’t know much about the waterfront development, other than they redid the Granary Building and cleared up the area behind it. I think it might make it more pretty and

Anna Call Residence: Bellingham / Age: 40

“There were a lot of issues pertaining to the cleanup. The pollution in the ground from GP had minerals that were unhealthy and had toxic levels. I hope it wasn’t just a surface

cleanup. But I love the idea, I approve of it, I just hope they cleaned it up effectively and include an educational component of how it became contaminated. We all have to do what we can to take care of this area.”

Bill Wehner Residence: Bellingham / Age: 73

“If it’s done correctly, the revenue it will generate will outweigh the traffic and things. I think it could be an asset to the community, as long as it’s a good balance of

commercial, retail, and residential space, as well as environmentally sound. But progress is progress. You can’t stop it, but you can do it the right way.”

uestions you might have about Bellingham waterfront development’s new Waypoint Park, off the intersection of West Chestnut Street and Central Avenue.

e wanted to hear from you, area residents and visitors, about plans for Bellingham’s waterfront development, along with the new Waypoint Park, the first phase of the plan. Over the course of a few days in mid-May, we interviewed people on the street and those looking through the fence at the park, which had yet to open. Here’s what you had to say:

Why is it called Waypoint Park? The definition of waypoint is “a stopping place on a journey,” or a recognizable reference point on a route. Either may refer to the fact that the park is the first phase of a multi-decade project to redevelop the waterfront.

When will it open? The park was scheduled to open in mid-June, as of this writing.

Are those log things a playground? Yes. It’s a log scramble, and the logs are made of pure wood and are meant to replicate logs you might find on many of our Pacific Northwest beaches. Bellingham’s Strider Construction built it, along with much of the park’s infrastructure.

Where can I park? Use street parking downtown or near the park. There will be minimal parking on site. The mixed retail/office Granary Building is expected to have parking when it’s finished.

When will the park’s waterfront trail connect with Boulevard Park? It’s going to be a while. Waypoint Park and the Granary Building are just the first phase of a 20-year (or more) plan for completion of the downtown waterfront district. Cornwall Beach Park, a former landfill and key piece of the connection, is scheduled for second-phase construction. It needs to be cleaned up before it can be built. State funding is not yet in place. The city and port hope that cleanup will happen in the next couple of years.

When will the park’s roads be finished? Expected completion of Granary Ave. and West Laurel Street, which run through the park, is spring of 2019.

How come there are so few trees? Waypoint Park, with its industrial theme, is one of Bellingham’s few urban parks, as opposed to a nature park, the kind most common to Bellingham. The park, like many city parks, is open until 10 p.m.

What’s next? Completion of the Granary Building by private developer Harcourt, the Dublin, Ireland-based company. The building could house a open market on the bottom floor and retail and office space above. Harcourt’s plans are to begin work on a three-building, 70-unit residential development just south of the park and a new building next to the Granary. The next public project is continuing Waypoint Park’s waterfront trail to West Laurel Street and beyond.

July 2018

Aerial view of State Highway plant nursery at the interchange of Interstate 5 and Meridian, future site of Bellis Fair Mall, c. 1971

Growth Beyond ADU: Handle with Care Written by Ken Karlberg Photos by Jack Carver, Courtesy of the Whatcom Museum

BellinghamAlive.com

Bellingham’s Alternative Dwelling Units (“ADU”) ordinance is the poster child for disputes to come over growth in our North Sound counties. Like the coal terminal debate, the ADU fight – involving secondary attached residential units -- underscores that we need to define our core values, and then take greater control over our future. If we don’t, we risk damaging the character and qualities that drew us here and keep us here to live. Our region is stunningly beautiful and extraordinarily unique, but just because our North Sound counties are special, doesn’t mean our area will stay special. he recent battle over

Population statistics don’t lie. We are in a painful growth spurt that has driven up housing costs and the cost of living generally. Unemployment is down, but wages remain largely flat, leaving many residents struggling to make ends meet. Many of us were willing to sacrifice earning potential in exchange for the quality of life here, but many are starting to question whether the sacrifice is

The 200 block of E. Holly from State Street, looking across Railroad Avenue, in 1956. Bellingham had its banners out welcoming guests to the perennial Northwest Blossom Time Festival, which dates this photo to the beginning of May.

sustainable, or worse yet, worthwhile. In a word, we are getting squeezed on multiple fronts. Collectively, we have a responsibility to each other, and to future generations, to be thoughtful custodians of our future. The fundamental questions are do we grow, and if so, how do we grow, and why. The answers don’t lie in sterile statistical analyses. We must first look within and ask: “Who are we?”

Let’s First Face Reality: Growth Is Inevitable

Those of us who were raised here in the 1950s and early 1960s reminisce over the “good old days.” Bellingham was a blue-collar town of 35,000 then. Mount Vernon, which is now the size of Bellingham in the 1960s, was home to only 8,000, while 8,500 lived in Anacortes. The populations of Ferndale and Lynden were 1,500 and 2,500, respectively. I-5 did not exist yet. Our local airports were truly “local.” Bellis Fair Mall hadn’t been

Interstate 5 was built in sections. One of the earliest was a seven-mile stretch of four lanes between Bellingham and Ferndale, seen here, late in 1956. View is facing east with the southbound lane (right) about to enter Northwest Avenue. It would take nearly the next decade for the freeway to be finished through Whatcom County.

built. The Bellingham Tower and the Leopold were the “go to” hotels north of Everett. Business stalwarts like JC Penney, Sears, the Bon Marche, and Joe Martin Sporting Goods were fixtures in the downtown and Old Town corridor. Logging, fishing and farming were still significant economic engines. Even the iconic smokestacks in Mount Vernon, Everson and Ferndale were well-known testaments to the glory days of our dairy industry. But as quaint as our region may have been then, not everything in the nostalgic “good old days” was idyllic. The Georgia-Pacific paper plant in the center of Bellingham’s waterfront often fouled the air. Without strong building codes, structures were built that were not safe. Without environmental protections, wildlife and wetlands were severely impacted and many farmers unknowingly polluted the ground water. Without growth management controls, water supplies were outstripped and urban sprawl negatively impacted the character of many neighbors. Moreover, businesses, old and

July 2018 65

For better or worse, history proves that the issue of growth itself is not properly framed as a philosophical debate, because growth, and the problems that growth causes, is inevitable.

new, often operated without being financially responsible for the full social and environmental impact of their services and/or goods on society, leaving our local communities and taxpayers to foot their bill. Times changed, obviously. The North Sound counties today are not our grandparents’ counties. Growth was driven by a myriad of factors, including the influx of refineries and manufacturing, the opening of I-5 and Bellis Fair Mall, increased enrollment at Western Washington University, and simply being positioned in one of Mother Nature’s finest outdoor playgrounds, situated between two of the West Coast’s major tourist attractions, Seattle and Vancouver. No one can blame visitors travelling through who make mental markers to return, or Western graduates who elect to stay. Growth came, regardless, and continues to come. We can argue over whether the changes were improvements and at what cost. Certainly, many argued at the time over issues like the expansion of the airport and Western’s campus, or the building of box stores, or the acquisition

BellinghamAlive.com

and planned development of the old Georgia-Pacific property. All of these examples of change were originally opposed by many critics. Now, of course, human nature being what it is, local residents embrace most of these changes, even Costco, Lowes, and Home Depot, as having added significant value to our communities, or at least significant convenience, despite their impact on local small businesses.

inevitable. But there are many kinds of growth, none of which necessarily incorporate or reflect our core community values: Growth for growth’s sake, growth solely for the sake of jobs, or simply directionless growth. By its very nature, capitalism is inherently random. Entrepreneurs will seek profit wherever and however that they can. The proposed coal terminal is but the most recent highprofile example.

For better or worse, history proves that the issue of growth itself is not properly framed as a philosophical debate, because growth, and the problems that growth causes, is inevitable. We are not, however, defenseless. At its heart, growth is simultaneously a moral and value-based challenge, not just a management challenge. The critical philosophical debate should be “how” and “why,” not “if.” By understanding the “why,” and controlling the “how,” we can preserve, and enhance, this amazing place we call home.

Pro-business advocates make compelling arguments for growth on the basis of economic statistics like the disparity between our area’s income levels, cost of living, wages, and unemployment. All are valid points, but the most compelling argument is not statistical. The most compelling argument is that if growth is inevitable and random, urban sprawl is our fate, and with it, our diminishing quality of life unless we proactively shape growth to reflect our community’s core values. Directionless growth is the nemesis of every city.

Smart Growth: Let the “why” drive the “how”

The answer to the question “why” starts with listening and ends with respect. Every community is unique with diverse stakeholders, each with

Any dialogue over why we should grow may seem counterintuitive if growth is

a passion for their community, each with personal interests or values that caused them to either move here and/or stay here. Stakeholders are not to be disparaged — they are musical notes that reflect our communities’ core values and heritage. If we listen carefully, each note is distinctly different, and together, the notes create beautiful background music unique to each locale. Bellingham’s “core value” sheet music is different from Ferndale’s, Ferndale’s is different from Anacortes’s, and Lynden’s is different than Burlington’s. The differences are to be celebrated, and respected. Many developers argue that local government is anti-growth and special interest groups destroy our quality of life by limiting growth. They miss the point; they assume that growth improves quality of life. It may, but not necessarily. Growth may have the opposite effect. The mindset of more options and increased convenience are most often associated with “big city” values. Quality of life is in the eye of the beholder. Each of us defines quality differently. We should embrace and respect these unique differences, instead of

pitting our stakeholders against each other as if one or the other is the “black sheep” of the family. More importantly perhaps, our counties will grow regardless. We have no choice. If we could stop growth in its tracks, would our quality of life really deteriorate? No. The primary discussion should be over “how” because the answer to “why” is self-evident — the growth train has already left the station. If we don’t ride the train and take a seat at the controls, we can’t direct growth to reflect our core values. It is that simple. Simply put, there is no inherent value connotation in growth as an abstract concept. We can justify no-growth in any number of ways. Likewise, we can justify growth in an equal number of ways, e.g., to ensure that our children have meaningful, rewarding job opportunities in the future. And we can ask ourselves, “Just because we can grow, should we?” All are worthy philosophical questions. Unfortunately, none reflects reality. Growth is inevitable. Our futures in the North Sound counties will be determined by “how,” not “if.”

The mindset of more options and increased convenience are most often associated with “big city” values that may have limited appeal here.

Smart Growth: “How” Is Inherently A ValuesDriven Issue All growth is not the same. We need to distinguish between the three primary types of growth: Organic growth, random new growth, and communitydirected growth. Organic growth is perhaps the least controversial because existing businesses, many of them legacy businesses, should be encouraged to grow organically, or at least are entitled to grow organically and responsibly with our full support and appreciation. They paid their dues by competing locally, year after year, for their very existence. Nor do they pose a threat to our sheet music. To the contrary, they are already musical notes by being the economic backbone of who we are, today, and in years past. Bellingham Cold Storage, Western, The Port of Bellingham, Peace Health St. Joseph Medical Center, Woods Coffee, and Janicki Industries are worthy examples. So, too, is the renovation of historical buildings by such developers as Bob Hall. His work to preserve our heritage in downtown Bellingham, one renovated building at a time, celebrates our core values and our past. Downtown was “commercially gutted” when Bellis Fair Mall was built, and it has struggled to find a new identity. Now, however, our commercial core is enjoying a renaissance of sorts thanks in large part to Hall, and other like-minded entrepreneurs, who are gradually revitalizing and reshaping our downtown. The Port of Bellingham’s

July 2018 67

All growth is not the same. We need to distinguish between the three primary types of growth: Organic growth, random new growth, and community-directed growth.

development of the former Georgia-Pacific property will only further enhance this organic growth. But if organic growth is smart growth from within, random new growth and communitydirected growth are different animals. Each requires a different approach. The free enterprise system being what it is, random new growth is a certainty. The relocation of Costco to the Bakerview Rd/I-5 interchange and the construction of nearby hotel capacity, e.g., Holiday Inn Express, Home2 Suites, SpringHill Suites, and La Quinta, illustrate the need for smart, balanced growth management and environmental protections. In years past, the full environmental and social impact of these projects would not have been absorbed by their respective business entities. Instead, many of the negative impacts, e.g., traffic congestion, storm water runoff, degradation of wetlands and wildlife habitat, etc., would have been borne by taxpayers and Mother Nature. Growth

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management and environmental laws, therefore, are critical to control random new growth. They provide important guardrails against urban sprawl. One can fairly argue, and many do, that growth management laws and environmental protection regulations fail to strike the right balance and thereby stifle growth that would benefit the community and increase our quality of life. Some even argue that these guardrails are “no growth” measures in wolf ’s clothing. These arguments are worthy of discussion. Laws and regulations affecting growth should be, in large part, neutral “rules of the game”

designed to reasonably protect legitimate community interests. In theory, our core community values are already imbedded in these laws and regulations. If the “red tape” becomes unreasonably burdensome, however, either because we pass a moral judgment on the proposed use, or because we are simply using the red tape for a “no growth” agenda, the property values of all property owners are at risk. This is not who we are. We need to be fair and balanced in what we require of random new growth, but simultaneously respectful of property rights. When appropriate, our lawmakers need to have the courage to say “no” to special interest groups whose purpose is primarily to frustrate or discourage to the point where entrepreneurs say “no mas” regardless of any project’s commercial worthiness. Business entities who respect the “rules of the game” deserve to be in the game. Community-directed growth, on the other hand, involves even additional calculus. The Port of Bellingham, for instance, recently hired Don Goldberg as director of economic development. (Whatcom

One can fairly argue, and many do, that growth management laws and environmental protection regulations fail to strike the right balance and thereby stifle growth that would benefit the community and increase our quality of life.

IMMIGR ATION

We have something to sell that people want badly — an outdoor lifestyle that is second to none without the headaches of metropolitan city life.

County is funding a percentage of his compensation package.) Goldberg’s challenge includes attracting new business to Whatcom County, which begs the question: “What new businesses should the port try to actively recruit?” Or stated differently, should the port seek to attract any business willing to relocate or expand, or should the port pursue a new note on Bellingham’s sheet music that reflects our core values, or both? Essentially, the port and Whatcom County, generally, have unique opportunities to forge public/private alliances to limit randomness in the free enterprise system. Thoughtful community leaders in other cities have historically embraced the opportunity to “look around the corner” and take a degree of control over their cities’ futures. Our North Sound counties should do likewise. We would be remiss if we didn’t.

Smart Growth: The Port Development Is A Guinea Pig One of the initial tests for the Port of Bellingham will be the development of the waterfront. Does the port have an ear for music or is it tone deaf? Will the port development reflect all musical notes, all stakeholders,

or will the build-out, and the businesses that it randomly attracts, leave many of our residents feeling as though one or more stakeholders were favored over others? Time will tell. The challenge is thankless, no doubt. Criticism is likely regardless. But the waterfront project illustrates a wonderfully unique, once-in-a-lifetime example of community-driven growth that is within our reach — that is if we care to reach. Certainly, responsible self-directed growth must include the enforcement of growth management laws and environmental regulations. That’s a minimum threshold only. However, responsible growth includes, whenever possible, taking control over the direction of growth by actively seeking to attract new business that meet our core values. The quality of life in our North Sound counties gives us leverage in the marketplace of industries to control our destiny to a significant degree. We have something to sell that people want badly — an outdoor lifestyle that is second to none without the headaches of metropolitan city life. Do we actively solicit Microsoft, Google, Amazon or biotechnology firms to

locate a regional office here to take advantage of our highly-educated labor pool or proximity to Vancouver? Or, for example, do we recruit additional light manufacturing in the solar power industry? And if we do, are we willing to tackle the housing shortage and build the infrastructure to support these industries? Again, these are important questions. Our North Sound counties are at a crossroad with growth that appears to be outpacing our responsiveness. If we can shape our future, should we? And if we do and don’t address housing and infrastructure, quality of life is certain to suffer. To commit to the former is to commit to the latter. Two bites of the apple will be needed, not one, at a time when we have many other pressing financial issues and competing priorities, the need for a new jail being the most obvious. And as if the issue of growth isn’t complicated enough, our politicians and business leaders need to be forever mindful that it is easier to break what we have than it is to improve what we have. Just a little food for thought, Jack, Kelli and Don. No pressure.

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Downtown, An Old Space Becomes New Again Hamlet Hotel WRITTEN BY MERI-JO BORZILLERI

or Fred and Colleen Schacht, the Hamlet Hotel has been a reclamation project, sentimental journey, and business venture wrapped into one century-old downtown building. The Hamlet isn’t really a hotel but a four-suite Airbnb, where guests check themselves in via cellphone and internet (though the Schachts are just a phone call away). The Hamlet’s location, at 1202 Railroad Ave., makes it stand out — few hotel options exist downtown — even as it blends into Bellingham’s downtown. Built in 1906, the building was first a street-level tavern with the 12-room Cottage Hotel upstairs. Today, the upstairs, a dark, dusty, and closed-off storage space for the past seven decades, is seeing new life — and new light, with restored windows and the refurbishing of other original features like brick and flooring. Fred hopes a restaurant will occupy space on the street level. He dug up the building’s historical photos for guidance on the restoration and the couple is happy with how the project turned out. “The windows and treatment look, to my eye, exactly what it looked like in the day,” he says. “In a way, we’re kind of taking it back to its roots.”  Builder | The Franklin Corp., Ferndale Architect | Zervais Group, Bellingham Photographer | Kristi Coulter Photography Design … continued on next page

HABITAT Featured Home

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Windows, sealed by stucco, have been replaced with facsimiles of the originals, letting the light pour in for the first time in 70 years. Stud walls from all 12 of the former hotel’s rooms remained, but were opened up to create four apartmentlike rooms that include the building’s original walls. Three of four rooms have original brick wall accents. The building’s stairwell brick was cleaned and sealed, and most of the original walls retained.

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SPECIAL PROMOTION

BEST PROPERTIES ON THE MARKET This month: Whatcom County Waterfront A major draw to the Northwest has always been the proximity to the water. Whether near a lake, river, or bay there is something calming about the sight and sound. Waves passively hitting the shore, waterfowl enjoy a bath, nothing else comes close. The homes below all share the common theme of waterfront. Overlooking Semiahmoo Bay, West facing views bring blue sky backdrops in the summer, snow capped mountains in the winter, and the nightlights of White Rock, BC year round. If you’ve been looking for waterfront these homes are sure to please.

1.  Waterfront residence thoughtfully designed with exquisite mill work & attention to detail. Raised entry ceiling captures spectacular island & western view. Deck floats over the bay with beach access just down the street. This quality updated home exceeds “Street of Dreams” style. Comfortable, yet elegant appointments through-out. Dramatic great room, inviting kitchen — all main floor living is ideal. Endless hours of enjoyment in this unparalleled masterpiece. Waterfront living at it’s best! $2,050,000, 9145 Great Blue Heron Lane, Semiahmoo 4 Beds, 2.5 Baths, 5,233 SqFt, MLS# 1301464 Vancouver Blaine | Semiahmoo

Bellingham

2.  Stunning west facing waterfront home is the crown jewel of Boundary Ridge. Meticulously maintained home shows brand new. Casual elegance is the theme of the open great room with walls of windows that capture every view. Main floor living with beautiful, custom designed built-ins. Ideal floor plan has a wine cellar that opens to a warm & inviting family room. Three private guest suites are ideal-lots of bonus space. Friendly and inviting yard serves as the perfect backdrop overlooking the Bay. $1,595,000 9129 Great Blue Heron Lane, Semiahmoo 5 Beds, 5.25 Baths, 4,402 SqFt, MLS# 1296441

3.  Sid Nesbitt design and Dykstra built waterfront home available for a limited time! Unobstructed westfacing waterfront on the Sound. See to the San Juan Islands and beyond. Eagles nest overhead. Timeless design in this well crafted estate property with custom detail that can be seen and appreciated. Many upgrades recently added. Open floor plan, with 23 foot ceilings has elegant features from the Italian tile fireplace to walls of windows that open to a multi-tiered deck! Exceptional quality! $899,900 8563 Semiahmoo Dr., Blaine 3 Beds, 2.5 Baths, 3,211 SqFt, MLS# 1265298

KATHY STAUFFER

Whatcom County...Even when it rains, I shine! Managing Broker 360-815-4718 kathystauffer.com 74

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Finding Elbow Room

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HABITAT

In Bathroom Overhaul WRITTEN BY TANNA EDLER | PHOTOGRAPHED BY NIC ADLER

pproximately 40 years ago, this bathroom and closet off the master bedroom was a luxury. After much love, it was in desperate need of a makeover. Updating the fixtures and bringing the “look” to the current century was my clients’ first request. Next, they wanted to brighten the space and gain more room without changing the footprint. Last, they wanted a farmhouse feel with clean contemporary lines. Since this bathroom had “almost” lasted the test of time, we wanted to guarantee functionality and durability for years to come. We selected performance products at smart price points. By removing the wall that separated the toilet and standing shower, we gained small square footage and huge visual integrity. Opening that space opened the entire room. We also played on reflection with the custom-cut mirrors on the sliding closet doors in the bathroom. The strategically placed swivel vanity mirrors provide light as well as viewing reflection. While enlarging the shower space improved the couple’s elbow room, the new seamless glass enclosure also gave the illusion of an add-on. Let there be light was constantly on our mind during this project. In this narrow, long bathroom, we kept the colors crisp, then added a tall cabinet tower to “pretend to” raise the ceiling, and added an outside window to the shower which is positioned so light travels through all day long. A complete tear-out, on a budget, is now the current, farm-like contemporary bathroom of their dreams.

MORE SPACE, WHILE KEEPING THE SAME FOOTPRINT This was a challenge: giving the client more room in the same space. We designed a plan to remove one wall and add a variety of height and texture elements to give the illusion of more square footage. In addition, the mirrored closets, new shower window and seamless glass shower enclosure gave the room more breadth and appeared to open up the entire space.

FARMHOUSE/CONTEMPORARY DESIGN We paired their two style requests and gave them a custom ship-lap wall treatment with industrial lighting while keeping the other finishes contemporary and clean. The solid quartz countertop on classic cabinetry was a transitional choice. Then we paired the brick-set charcoal ceramic floor tile with an accent wall in the shower to pull together the subtle hues in the room.

UPDATE ALL ITEMS, ON A BUDGET Yes, everything is new and met their budget. New floors; tile replaced carpet. New shower; tore out insert and framed and tiled customer shower with dual head shower, shelf inset, seamless glass and a window. New cabinets, sink and faucets; the previous set was donated to a local church. New toilet. Last, new custom closet doors with custom-cut glass.

GUARANTEE LONG-LASTING UPGRADES The counter tops are made of a sustainable quartz product; able to handle all products and temperatures. The flooring is now a ceramic tile, easy to clean and care for. The new under-mount sinks will improve the ease of clean up and the energy faucets and LED lighting will assist in keeping the costs down. Additionally, the individual space that was created by dividing the counter with the storage tower has made the couple very happy. And, believe it or not, this tower actually provides a little privacy to the toilet. The entire space feels larger with the various design elements that were integrated. Aesthetically, it looks like a completely different room. The white cabinetry, grayish hues throughout and charming accents give this bathroom the crisp, clean feel it deserves. Prior, the space was dark and dirty, with old worn cabinetry and stained carpet. Now the newly formed and tiled shower is an escape instead of feeling like you are in a 3'×3' jail cell. With several design elements, we created an illusion of more square footage; providing the couple with the added elbow room they desired. From new light fixtures to an added natural light window, this project was visually enhanced in every way. After a complete tear-out, there was evidence of superior craftsmanship throughout.  July 2018 75

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8 Great Tastes · Dining Guide · Mixing Tin · Sip

Oooh-La-La: Swimming in Cocktails The Swim Club WRITTEN BY KATE GALAMBOS PHOTOS COURTESY OF SWIM CLUB

nter the Swim Club and enter a different world. The year is no longer 2018 and you certainly aren’t in Fairhaven anymore. It’s 1962 and you find yourself on the French Riviera, sipping a beverage that looks more like a small meal than a cocktail. The 1960s atmosphere is created through a hundred details, which, added together, creates an environment so authentic you almost expect Don Draper and one of his mistresses to walk through the doors. Co-owners Tom Grayling and Laura Swift want to put the fun back into cocktail bars with their “Havana meets French brasserie” cocktail lounge and restaurant, the Swim Club. At this cocktail bar, customers are Swim Club “members” and the wet bar is their meeting place. … continued on next page

… The couple’s goal was to bring fun and light-heartedness back to cocktail bars. After traveling to some of the best bars in world for two years, they knew what they did and didn’t want in a place of their own. Both Swift and Grayling bring a wealth of knowledge to the Swim Club with backgrounds in the restaurant and bar businesses. The Swim Club’s experience and atmosphere owes much of its credit to the interior decor and the mind behind it, Melissa Broersma, who also happens to be the lead bartender. Blackand-white marble floors greet each step, brass light fixtures hang from the ceiling, over-sized indoor plants occupy every corner, and, most importantly, a long arching bar anchors the restaurant. The staff dress the part with dark denim jeans, white button-up shirts, suspenders on the men and neck scarves on the women. It is a lot to take in, even before you’ve had a sip of your cocktail or a bite of your meal. Head chef Alex Timothy Nusloch is originally from New Orleans, where he trained in traditional French cuisine. He and lead line cook, Malik Lane, have a focused, small menu that is packed full of flavor. The menus depend on the season, changing to take advantage of local ingredients as much as possible, Grayling says. For example, the spring menu, named De Le Mar, or “Of the Sea,” features numerous seafood dishes like ceviche, mussels, halibut, and oysters. The ceviche ($14.50) is colorful, crunchy, and tart. The rockfish is complemented with mango, lime, and blood orange for a zesty, fresh experience. To balance all that citrus, try the chicken liver mousse ($8) as a creamy and indulgent partner to the ceviche. The small bowl of mousse is enough for two but is delicious enough that you might not want to share. Large salted crackers and house-made pickles accompany the mousse. “We are a cocktail bar, but we have great food. People should know that they can eat dinner here,” Grayling says. While the menu is short, quality certainly takes the hat on quantity at the Swim Club. As for the cocktail menu, the options are organized in order of light to dark, says Grayling. Bar manager Dennis Schafer starts the menu off with “poolside” beverages like the daiquiri, paloma, and Cosmopolitan, all classics with twists. As guests review the menu further, they’ll find the “high dive” creations, including the pina colada and dark Negroni, before finally turning to the “deep end” menu of choices like the old fashioned and rum and cola. Sitting right in the middle is the rum-forward pina colada with caramelized coconut and pineapple. Uncomplicated, yet delicious, the pina colada makes a perfect beverage for a hot day. All of the bar’s juice is made in-house, which usually consists of about two hours of juicing every day during prep. “We are really a juice bar,” Grayling says, and each cocktail features elevated house liquor. The Swim Club is open Tuesday-Sunday and features outdoor seating and grill nights. Event information can be found on their Facebook page.  1147 11th St., Bellingham 360.393.3826 | swimclubbar.com

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DINING KEY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . up to $9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10–19 . . . . . . . . . . . . $20–29 . . . . . . . . $30 or greater . . . . . . . . . . . . Breakfast . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brunch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lunch . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dinner . . . . . . . . . Family-Friendly . . . . . . . . . . . . . Takeout . . . . . . . . Outdoor Seating . . . . . . . . . . Reservations . . . . . . . . . . Happy Hour . . . . . . . . . New Review Menu items and prices are subject to change, so check before you go. See all our restaurant reviews on our Eat and Drink tab at BellinghamAlive.com

WHATCOM BELLINGHAM CIDER CO. American 205 Prospect St., Bellingham 360.510.8494, bellinghamcider.com The food reminds me of the type of homecooked meal that, as a youngster, you would look forward to when your parents decided to make a special meal. Comfort food is reflected in the simple, yet thoughtful and well-executed dishes. Each dish has a handful of components and ingredients all locally or regionally sourced. The kitchen is open, and you can sit at the bar and chat. Dinner is Wednesday through Sunday, with lunch added on weekends. The short ribs, slowly braised in beer for hours, are fall-apart tender. With the appetizer of burnt carrots, lightly grilled/charred and fantastic on their own, the meal reminds me of my mother’s pot roast, in the best way. The most popular item on the menu? The chicken and waffles. Some advice: If you order the burnt carrots, ask for them extra dark. THE BIRCH DOOR CAFÉ American 4192 Meridian St., Bellingham 360.306.8598, birchdoorcafe.com The Birch Door Cafe does not fall short on charm, variety, or serving size. Brunch enthusiasts will be delighted by the three pages of breakfast options. Dishes include traditional pancake breakfast platters, French-style baked omelets, egg scrambles and Benedicts, and plenty more. When it comes to Eggs Benedict, the Northwestern delivers. The sauce is creamy and full of complex flavor, never approaching bland. The most famous item on the menu is the apple pancake. The 3-inch-tall soufflé-style

pancake is filled with fresh apples and piled with high with a cinnamon sugar glaze. Listen for the ringing of the kitchen bell every time one of these massive breakfasts is served.

Dining Guide

DINE

FIAMMA BURGER All-natural Burgers 1309 Railroad Ave., Bellingham 360.733.7374, fiammaburger.com

BLACK FOREST STEAKHOUSE German/Steak 638 Peace Portal Dr., Blaine 360.306.8342, blackforeststeakhouse.com Black Forest Steak house offers a versatile dining experience. It’s fancy enough for special occasions, anniversaries, and graduation celebrations, but it’s also a place you’ll want to go to any day. Black Forest makes their steaks different than most other steakhouses: They broilsthem in a 1,600-degree oven, leaving the meat tender and flavorful. BRANDYWINE KITCHEN Regional NW

One word speaks volumes about Fiamma Burger: variety. With six different patty types (including homemade veggie, bison, and salmon) and more than 17 menu options, there are endless possibilities for a burger masterpiece. You can even get a “burger in a bowl,” served without the bread. And with extra things to add on like fire-roasted green chiles or a scoop of chili, it could take a long time to find your perfect creation. All burgers are served on a fresh-baked egg bun, with crisp lettuce, and all the usual fixings. Spice it up with chipotle ketchup, spicy mustard, or curry mayo, then cool it down with a beer or milkshake.

1317 Commercial St., Bellingham 360.734.1071, brandywinekitchen.com Named for the decadent heirloom tomatoes grown on their farm, the owners source much of their ingredients locally and hold the “from seed to plate” philosophy. The menu offers vegetarian and gluten-free options (like ricePanko Fish and Chips), and includes beer from both Boundary Bay and Chuckanut breweries. Try the Quinoa-Salmon Cakes with red pepper aioli or a BLT with Hempler’s bacon and maple-tomato relish. Don’t miss the Hibiscus Iced Tea for a refreshing sip or treat yourself to a Raspberry Champagne Cocktail.

KEENAN’S AT THE PIER Northwest, American & Seafood

804 10th St., Bellingham 360.392.5510, thechrysalisinn.com Casual yet elegant. Keenan’s at the Pier, located inside the Chrysalis Inn & Spa in Fairhaven, features fresh, local cuisine and a full bar. Keenan’s highlights the beauty and style of the Pacific Northwest with fresh ingredients that are seasonal and regionally sourced. Enjoy Bellingham Bay views from every table where breakfast, lunch, happy hour and dinner are served daily. Brunch on Sundays. Reservations are highly recommended.

CHINUK AT FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON Steak/Seafood

714 Lakeway Dr., Bellingham 360.671.1011, fourpointsbellingham.com

HOMESKILLET American

The specialties on the menu at Chinuk include the Ahi tuna burger, fish-n-chips, grilled king salmon, and farro salad with mango. The burger deserves special mention — tender, juicy, and perfectly crafted. Chinuk also has an excellent selection of wine and local brews on tap. But its biggest attribute is its versatility. It’s perfect for a family on the road, a business lunch, or an intimate dinner out. COSMOS BISTRO American Bistro, Comfort Food 1151 N. State St., Bellingham 360.255.0244, bellinghamcosmosbistro.com Bellingham’s best local and seasonal comfort food is always made in-house from scratch at their historic Herald Building location. From pork adobo, Mama’s meatloaf, and awardwinning burgers, to the many vegetarian and gluten free options, Cosmos Bistro offers something for everyone.

521 Kentucky St., Bellingham 360.676.6218, homeskilletinsunnyland.com Owners Tina and Kirby named their restaurant after one of their favorite lines in the movie Juno, when the main character calls a store clerk “homeskillet.” The skillets on their menu came afterward, but are now one of the eatery’s most popular items. A small skillet is filled with perfectly-fried potatoes, eggs, and toppings you choose. Try Tina and Kirby’s personal favorite: the poutine, home fries smothered in traditional gravy, topped with fried eggs, and cheese. Homeskillet can’t be beat with its friendly service, colorful atmosphere and ultimate comfort food. LOVITT American 1114 Harris Ave. Bellingham 360.671.7143, lovittrestaurant.com The folks at Lovitt restaurant in Fairhaven are giving fair warning: Be prepared to wait a little longer for your food. These things — Lovitt’s “relaxed” farm-to-table eating — take time. Owners Norman and Kristen Six say they believe in cooking from scratch: bread, ice cream, and even ketchup and salad dressings are made in-house. An ever-changing menu

July 2018 79

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reflects their adherence to what’s local and what’s in season. Appealing dinner entrees may include Four Mushroom Stroganoff, with morel, oyster, pioppino and shitake mushrooms with a red wine sour cream sauce spilling over handmade egg noodles and topped with crispy kale, and red wine maple-glazed salmon with roasted vegetables. Lunch offers the local, grass-fed beef burger, served on a homemade bun. They’ve got local brews and wine, and a 3–6 p.m. happy hour, with drink and appetizer specials each day they’re open (Tuesday–Saturday). Bring the kids — there’s even a play area. THE MILL BISTRO AND LOUNGE French 655 Front St., Lynden 360.778.2760, themilllynden.com

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The Mill is the type of place where one could spend a full afternoon grazing on cheeses, sipping cocktails, and enjoying a good book. The bistro-like atmosphere gives the restaurant a European vibe without losing the welcoming small-town service of quaint Lynden. The menu is full of bistro plates like fresh salads, panini, soups, and, of course, meats and cheeses. NORTHWATER Regional NW 4260 Mitchell Way, Bellingham 360.398.6191, northh2o.com From breakfast to late night dinner, Northwater’s 185-seat restaurant features Pacific Northwest dishes made from locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. We found the restaurant’s wait staff to be personable and enthusiastic, and eager to answer our queries about ingredient sources and what desserts they’d recommend. There’s a diverse menu of classic dishes with a twist, like the Seafood Sausage Corn Dogs with blueberry mustard — sweet-from-the-citrus cornbread and spicy from the mustard. Try the Fried Chicken and Waffle, featuring savory flavors of garlic and herbs drizzled with a pepper syrup. SWIM CLUB WET BAR American 1147 11th St., Bellingham 360.393.3826, swimclubbar.com

Nickis Bar and Grill on the waterfront in Bellingham serving award winning, hand dipped, tempura style fish & chips. Build your own burger featuring our handcrafted USDA chuck patties and fresh baked buns.

2615 South Harbor Loop Drive, Bellingham 360.332.2505 | nickisbellamarina.com

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The menus depend on the season, changing to take advantage of local ingredients as much as possible, Grayling says. For example, the spring menu, named De Le Mar, or “Of the Sea,” features numerous seafood dishes like ceviche, mussels, halibut, and oysters. The ceviche ($14.50) is colorful, crunchy and tart. The rockfish is complemented with mango, lime, and blood orange for a zesty, fresh experience. To balance all that citrus, try the chicken liver mousse ($8) as a creamy and indulgent partner to the ceviche. There are “poolside” beverages like the daiquiri, paloma, and Cosmopolitan, all classics with twists. The rum-forward pina colada with caramelized coconut, pineapple, and rum, is delicious.

Dining Guide

DINE

SKAGIT A’TOWN BISTRO Regional NW 418 Commercial Ave., Anacortes, 360.899.4001, atownbistro.com A’Town Bistro’s careful sourcing of ingredients, creative approach to food and drinks, and comfortable atmosphere is why it’s about to become your new go-to restaurant. Try the made-to-order clam chowder which features fresh clams served in a house made fume (fish stock), house-smoked bacon, and crusty bread. Pair your meal with something off the seasonally changing cocktail menu. Bitters, shrubs, and syrup are made in house and the creative cocktails are composed by staff or sourced from a collection of vintage bartending books. –

CALICO CUPBOARD American 901 Commercial Ave., Anacortes, 360.293.7315 720 S. 1st St., La Conner, 360.466.4451 121-B Freeway Dr., Mount Vernon, 360.336.3107, calicocupboardcafe.com Since 1981, Calico Cupboard has been serving the purest, most hearthealthy, and high-quality ingredients. Made with freshly milled, organically-grown, whole grain and unbleached flour, the cafe aims to promote its local farmers and gratify your body in the process. Sit down for breakfast or lunch, or just order from the bakery and grab an espresso to go. From cream puffs to eclairs to gluten-free berry crisp to cinnamon rolls — the bakery more than satisfies your sweet tooth. On weekend mornings, there may be a wait. However, the food is worth it — with options ranging from omelets to hashes to focaccia sandwiches to burgers. Calico Cupboard will leave you full, but feeling homey, healthy, and happy.

CULINARY EVENTS Toasting Thurston Wolfe July 19, 5:30 p.m. Join chef Bruno Feldeisen for a five-course dinner at Semiahmoo Resort. Dinner will consist of Red Arugula, White Truffle & Black Truffle Panna Cotta, Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb, Seared Blue Marlin, followed by S’mores Chocolate Tarte, paired with wines from Thurston Wolfe Winery for each course. They will also be offering wine education as well as an opportunity to purchase the wine at discount. Semiahmoo Resort 9565 Semiahmoo Pkwy., Blaine | semiahmoo.com

San Juan Island Kayak Adventure July 20–22, 11 a.m. The ultimate mix of adventure, food, and nature. Take a three-day tour by kayak, starting in Friday Harbor and ending in Roche Harbor, stopping along the way to enjoy gourmet meals. The trip menu includes plates like bacon and spinach farro with scrambled eggs, smoked salmon sandwiches, braised short ribs, and raspberry white chocolate cheesecake. Friday Harbor, San Juan Islands | savorseattletours.com

THE OYSTER BAR Seafood

Taste of Walla Walla in Skagit

2578 Chuckanut Dr., Bow 360.766.6185, theoysterbar.net

July 28, 5 p.m.

The Oyster Bar on Chuckanut Drive is perched among towering conifers above the oyster beds. The cozy restaurant is housed in a structure dating from the 1920s that has survived many incarnations. The restaurant owes its reputation to its remote, quintessentially Pacific Northwest setting. But people don’t dine at The Oyster Bar for its location alone. While oysters are the signature offering, The Oyster Bar offers a variety of other finedining choices and is known in the Pacific Northwest for its extensive wine cellar. SEEDS BISTRO AND BAR American 623 Morris St., La Conner 360.466.3280, seedsbistro.com From soups to sandwiches, salads or “weeds” as they call them, and bigger entree options, Seeds Bistro and Bar has something for everyone. There’s a carefully curated meat and cheese plate ($21) highlighting cheeses from places like Mt. Townsend Creamery and Acme Farms Cheese. The regularly rotated selections are garnished with candied nuts, crackers, and pickled blueberries from Bow Hill Blueberries. Try one of the seasonal pasta dishes made with fresh pasta, or an order of shucked oysters ($18) topped with a clean, cold horseradish “ice cream.”

Take a wine cruise through the San Juan Islands on a 100-foot boat while dining on a fully catered meal. Starting with wine and appetizers, dinner will follow with salmon and prime rib and conclude with dessert. Walla Walla winemakers from Kontos Cellars, Solemn Cellars, and Skylite Cellars will be featured as well as providing wine for the cruise. Bus to ship leaves from Hellam’s Vineyard wine shop in La Conner. Hellam’s Vineyard 109 North 1st St., La Conner | hellamsvineyard.com

A Salad for Dinner? July 31, 6:30 p.m. Cooking instructor Cindy McKinney will teach a class how to make five delicious main-course salads. Students will make Vietnamese bahn mi salad with pork, mixed baby greens with goat cheese, quinoa with green beans, Greek chicken and farro salad, and a Mexican shrimp and avocado salad. Downtown Community Co-op Connections Building 405 E. Holly St., Bellingham | communityfood.coop July 2018 81

SHAMBALA BAKERY AND BISTRO American 614 S. 1st Ave., Mount Vernon 360.588.6600, shambalabakery.com Crack open Shambala Bakery and Bistro’s menu to find all day breakfast, an array of sandwiches, salads, pizza, and lighter fare like quiche and soup. They take advantage of what’s in season with three daily specials, a soup and quiche of the day. If you’re particularly hungry try the Holy Hashables (Batman)! It’s one pound of fresh seasonal vegetables like broccoli and red peppers stir-fried with herbed potatoes and topped with a vegan nacho sauce. The bites are tender, flavorful, with a slight kick of heat. TAQUERIA LA BAMBA Mexican 2222 Riverside Dr., Ste. 850, Mount Vernon 360.424.0824 Off the road and inside a small plaza sits a little gem — a family-run, low-key Mexican restaurant. Taqueria La Bamba offers authentic taco truck food in a sit-down restaurant. The salsas are spicy, full of flavor and made in-house. They serve four salsas and the one you presume to be the mildest, the Pico de Gallo, is the hottest, but one of the best tastes to add to your dish. Try the tostada with your meat of choice and enjoy the sides of roasted jalapeno (more spiciness!) and grilled onions. It’s delicious, satisfying, and costs less than $4. If you’re looking for authentic Mexican food at a low price, eat here and you won’t be disappointed.

B-Town Kitchen and Raw Bar Old Fashioned

Ingredients: Smoked maple bourbon whiskey, brown sugar bourbon, aromatic bitters, orange peel, Bordeaux cherry. $10

BellinghamAlive.com

n Old Fashioned is usually the combination of muddled sugar with bitters and whiskey, garnished with a citrus rind and maraschino cherry. Earning its name in the 1880s, the Old Fashioned is a classic drink that goes down smooth year-round. B-Town Kitchen and Raw Bar, located in Bellingham’s Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, has altered this cocktail to reflect their mod twist and creative style. Say hello to the Maple Brown Sugar Old Fashioned. Maple and brown sugar? These flavors were made for each other, we all know that. But if you thought they existed only in your morning oatmeal, think again. B-Town’s take on the Old Fashioned removes the addition of sugar and replaces that sweetness through smoked maple Kentucky

straight bourbon whiskey and brown sugar bourbon. As a result, the chilled drink is strong overall, yet smooth. Plus, there’s a small, but delightful, brown sugary aftertaste. Now let’s not forget the garnishes that make this drink especially summer-worthy. Each time you raise the tumbler-like glass to your lips, fresh orange wafts from the rim, accenting the cocktail with citrus. The Bordeaux cherry — a darker cherry — pairs well with the sweetness of the alcohol as it sits pierced next to the orange rind. As one of B-Town’s newly developed beverages, the Maple Brown Sugar Old Fashioned is a satisfying take on an already beloved concoction. Sitting outside in B-Town’s patio with one of these in hand makes for a lovely evening.  — Jade Thurston

A Love for Food

Review

DINE

Seeds Bistro and Bar WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY CATHERINE TORRES

magine a sitting under the state’s oldest beech tree. A string of twinkling lights illuminates the briny, fresh oysters you’re enjoying. But you don’t have to imagine. This place exists and it’s closer than you think — it’s Seeds Bistro and Bar in La Conner. Owned by restauranteur Linda Freed, the bistro complements her well-known breakfast and lunch-centric Calico Cupboard locations. General manager Brenda Schmidt explained that she and Freed had exciting menu ideas when the space became available. It was an opportunity for the food lovers to expand into a new space and further showcase the region’s ingredients. Seeds focuses on farm-to-table-style lunch, dinner, happy hour, and weekend brunch menus, all of which are prepared from scratch using fresh, local ingredients. Housed in the historic Tillinghast Seed Company building, the bistro replaced the storefront of the first seed company in Washington, possibly even in the Pacific Northwest. Remainders of the building’s past life are everywhere: the original, well-worn floors, framed seed catalogs, mosaics made with seeds, and photographs of Skagit farmers working the fields decades ago. Fittingly, chef Jason Custer creates seasonal menus showcasing the area’s best offerings. It can be labor-intensive to create weekly specials, then switch up the menu just enough to appease the comfort-loving crowd and those who want to try different things, but Custer and his motivated team are up to the challenge. They regularly are “trying to cook with technique,” highlighting the area’s ingredients for what they are, and driven simply because “we all love food.” From soups to sandwiches, salads (or “weeds” as they call them) and bigger entree options, Schmidt emphasized that “we have something for everyone.” There’s a carefully curated meat and cheese plate ($21) highlighting cheeses from places like Mt. Townsend Creamery and Acme Farms Cheese. The regularly rotated selections are garnished with candied nuts, crackers, and pickled blueberries from Bow Hill Blueberries. Try one of the seasonal pasta dishes made with fresh pasta, or an order of shucked oysters ($18) topped with a clean, cold horseradish “ice cream.” Seeds honors the area’s culinary traditions not just by curating from local farmers and producers, but by preparing the ingredients in a manner that showcases their flavors. One of Seed’s fan favorites, the crab cakes, appear on every menu and for good reason: fresh Dungeness crab is studded with diced celery and red peppers then lightly panko-crusted and pan-fried. Nibble on them during happy hour ($9). End your meal with one of the house-made, intensely creamy, subtly sweet panna cottas ($7) garnished simply with ripe berries. You won’t regret it.  623 Morris St., La Conner 360.466.3280 | seedsbistro.com July 2018 83

DINE Sip

Finding Sunshine in a (Beer) Can WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY NEAL TOGNAZZINI

n order to get the full sensory experience from any beer, there’s no question that you need to pour it into a glass. This is especially true of intensely aromatic beers (like American IPAs and most Belgian beers), but drinking from a glass will enhance the experience of any beer you drink, since so much of what we call “flavor” is a matter of what goes into our nose. (This is why I tell my daughter to plug her nose as she tries to choke down a piece of asparagus.) Still, only the most radical (and misguided) beer snob would insist on a glass for every beer-drinking occasion. Smart drinking requires an appreciation of context, and there’s no denying that some contexts call for drinking straight from a can. Outdoor drinking during the glorious Pacific Northwest summers is one of those contexts: BBQs, hiking, camping, boating, picnicking, or just sitting on your front porch desperately trying to secret away some of that vitamin D for next winter. This summer, don’t be ashamed to drink straight from the can (koozie recommended). Not only are cans more lightweight (and so easier to take on outdoor adventures), but they also do a great job of keeping your beer protected from two of its worst enemies: light and oxygen. (Heat is the other enemy of good beer, so be smart and buy your cans from somewhere that keeps them refrigerated.) Canned craft beer is incredibly easy to find — in fact, so many places are canning their beers now that I’m having a hard time filling up the bottle-cap maps hanging on my wall. Here are the cans I plan to have on hand all summer long, and I heartily recommend you do the same. 84

BellinghamAlive.com

ASLAN CLASSIC LAGER Light lagers were once anathema to craft breweries because they smacked of the mass-produced yellow fizz that the craft beer movement was reacting against. But as the movement has matured, craft brewers have come to realize that light lagers have a place, too. Summer sunshine is that place, and Aslan has done a very nice job with this low-octane example.

BOUNDARY BAY CEDAR DUST IPA It was Boundary Bay Scotch Ale (now also available in cans) that really got the Bellingham beer scene going back in the 90s, but it’s Cedar Dust IPA that has helped the pioneering brewery stay relevant in an increasingly competitive market filled with IPA-thirsty consumers. This one won’t punch you in the face with juiciness or bitterness (that’s a good thing).

FREMONT SUMMER ALE When you want refreshing simplicity without sacrificing intensity of flavor, Fremont Summer Ale is the can to crack. In beer lingo, this is a SMaSH beer (Single Malt and Single Hop), which means that the list of ingredients is as pared down as much as possible for a beer. They’ve wisely chosen Amarillo hops, which add notes of tangerine and apricot to this American Pale Ale.

SIERRA NEVADA PALE ALE Although the Sierra Nevada brewery is outside the Pacific Northwest (they have one facility in Chico, Calif., and another in Mills River, N.C.), I can’t resist adding their classic Pale Ale, which is now available in 12-oz. and 16-oz. cans, to the list. This is one of my desert island beers for sure, and hundreds of craft brewers working today would say the same. Born in 1980, this beer is the same age as Harry Potter, and just as magical. 

Dining Guide

DINE

SAN JUAN

GREAT

DOE BAY CAFÉ American

TASTES

107 Doe Bay Rd., Orcas Island 360.376.2291, doebay.com Whether you’re heading toward the San Juan Islands or don’t mind taking a trip for an unbelievable meal, be sure to make reservations at the ever-popular Doe Bay Café. Owners Joe and Maureen Brotherton have stuck to their philosophy of taking good care of their visitors by providing world-class seafood and vegetarian dishes. Choose from breakfast, lunch, and dinner selections such as Huevos Rancheros with free range, organic over-easy eggs with black beans on griddled corn tortillas, Goat Cheese French Toast, or the Pan Roasted Troller Point King Salmon.

The following selections have made it past our taste bud test and into our top eight this issue. Step out and give them a try. You won’t be disappointed.

FRIDAY HARBOR HOUSE Regional NW 130 West St., Friday Harbor 360.378.8455, fridayharborhouse.com It’s hard to beat the view of the ferry landing, marina and San Juan Channel from Friday Harbor House, the hotel and restaurant elevated over the water to provide a sweeping panorama of water and sky. The restaurant’s new “Brunch on the Bluff” allows you to linger over the view while experiencing island dining at a high level. If you like, you can also have a drink — San Juan Island’s Friday Harbor House is one of the few island restaurants to offer a full bar at brunch every day of the week. New menu offerings include eggs benedict and Belgian waffles, along with pork belly egg fried rice. Tried-and-true favorites include Smashed Avocado Toast and Benton’s Benedict.

1 2

PRIMA BISTRO French 201 1/2 First St., Langley 360.221.4060, primabistro.com A quintessential South Whidbey dining experience in the heart of Langley, Prima Bistro marries gourmet French cuisine and classic Northwest ingredients. Fried Spanish Marcona Almonds arrive steaming hot, glisteningly crisp and in a glory of flavor — and just in time a glass of Pinot Grigio. The selection of reds and whites offer options for connoisseurs of every stripe, along with a full bar. The Burgundy Snails in Herb Butter taste delightfully creamy, with an uncharacteristically soft, yet enjoyable texture. The Bistro Burger is a juicily grilled patty of Oregon beef, topped with a deliciously thick slice of melted white Cheddar; a burger made in heaven! For fabulous food, elegant ambience, and world-class views, be sure to visit the Prima on your next visit to Whidbey Island.

3 4

Rook & Rogue Board Game Pub in downtown Bellingham offers a truly delicious dish, the Bulbasaur Bites. The deep-fried Brussels sprouts drizzled with a balsamic glaze are almost as much fun to eat as it sounds. The Birch Door Café on Meridian in Bellingham serves up all kinds of breakfast fare but the best is the Eggs Kory. It consists of a toasted croissant topped with scrambled eggs, chopped bacon and cheddar cheese with a ladle of mushroom sauce. Don’t forget about the pancakes. Either way, you might need a to-go box. Rachawadee Thai Café in Mount Vernon offers Thai cuisine that bests the rest. Its phad thai is super spicy and authentic. Get there early though — it’s so popular the wait time can be almost an hour. Besides the greats drinks, The Temple Bar in downtown Bellingham also offers some great food. Stop by on a Sunday for their all-day happy hour and get the polenta, served with mushroom ragout and asparagus.

5 6 7 8

Open only Wednesday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. El Capitan’s Gourmet Sausages & Pretzels is a late-night hotdog joint now on Cornwell Avenue in downtown Bellingham. Their “Patriot” is stacked with bacon, cheddar cheese, and grilled onions. Melvin Brewing on Meridian in Bellingham offers some great pub eats, but none are better than the beer miso ramen. The 10-hour broth is homemade and topped with roasted corn, and baby bok choy. Pair it with their 2X4 IPA and you’ve got a great meal. The Chop Noodle Salad at Roche Harbor’s Madrona Bar and Grill is a classic: Dungeness crab, chicken and Chilean shrimp, steamed Hong Kong noodles, golden beets, broccoli and other veggies are tossed in a Miso dressing. It’s even better when eaten on the deck overlooking the water. Ahoy. Order the cioppino at longtime Bellingham favorite D’Anna’s Café Italiano. The house’s spicy tomato sauce is served over homemade pasta topped with shrimp, clams, Dungeness crab, and other ocean gems. Dive in. — Katie Meier

July 2018 85

WHATCOM beer

wine

FOUNDaTION

Produced by the Whatcom Beer & Wine Foundation

Taste more than 125 wines from up to 50 wineries at Northwest Washingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only judged wine competition. Public Tasting Saturday, August 4, 2018 Four Points Sheraton, Bellingham WA Open to wineries from Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Idaho. VIP and General Admission tickets available. Enjoy passed appetizers along with food samples from eight Whatcom County restaurants. Medals presentation and Best in Show award from the judged competition.

TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT EVENTBRITE Net proceeds to benefit Our TreeHouse and Lydia Place. Sponsored organizations are Make.Shift and Growing Alliances. Sponsored in part by a generous grant from the City of Bellingham Tourism Board.

Saturday, August 4, 2018

6-10pm

Complete Info @ BellinghamNorthwestWineFestival.com

AGENDA

Featured Events · Listings · The Scene · Final Word

Fireworks, Pig War BBQ Make A Fun Friday Harbor Fourth JULY 4, 11:15 A.M. (FOLLOWING PARADE)

e celebrate the 242nd birthday of this nation on July fourth. This year, like many before it, is filled with fireworks, food and festivals. If you are looking for a one of a kind overnight adventure, Friday Harbor on San Juan Island is where you’ll want to be. Music, dancing, and a parade are a few of the highlights. The Kiwanis Pig War BBQ begins at 11:30 a.m. on the San Juan Historical Museum grounds and on the fireworks begin at dusk in Friday Harbor.  San Juan Historical Museum 405 Price St., Friday Harbor 360.378.3949 | fridayharborkiwanis.com

AGENDA Events

CASINOS CRUISE INTO THE SKAGIT FIRST ANNUAL CAR SHOW JULY 15, 9 A.M.–3 P.M.

For the first time Skagit Resort and Casino is hosting a car show. There will be prizes, raffles and awards. Family members of all ages can join in to see some of the coolest cars around. All those who register will also receive a t-shirt. Skagit Casino Resort 5984 North Darrk Ln., Bow 877.275.2448, theskagit.com ROB SCHNEIDER JULY 27 AND 28, 8 P.M.

The funnyman from The Hot Chick and The Animal will take the stage at the Pacific Showroom Center at the Skagit Casino Resort. His comedy combines both character and comedic acting. Schneider got his start as a writer and cast member of Saturday Night Live. He has been nominated for three Emmys and is returning to the stage to put on the show. Skagit Casino Resort 5984 North Darrk Ln., Bow 877.275.2448, theskagit.com

CLASSICAL BELLINGHAM FESTIVAL OF MUSIC: IRVING FINE, SAINT-SAËNS, RICHARD STRAUSS JULY 7, 7:30 P.M.

Inon Barnatan, Steven Thomas and Christian Colberg will be headlining this classical music evening at Western Washington University. They will be playing a medley of these 20th century composer’s best work, including Toccata Concertante and Don Quixote. There will be a pre-concert talk with Dr. Robert Lynch. Western Washington University Performing Arts Center 516 High St., Bellingham 360.201.6621, bellinghamfestival.org

BellinghamAlive.com

Flattery

BELLINGHAM FESTIVAL OF MUSIC: CHAMBER MUSIC BY THE BAY JULY 8, 4 P.M.

In the domed atrium of the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, you can listen to an orchestra play Bach and Tchaikovsky . Enjoy the view of the scenic Bellingham Bay and watch boats pull in and out while the concert takes place. A catered reception will be held afterwards. Bellingham Cruise Terminal 355 Harris Ave., Bellingham 360.201.6621, bellinghamfestival.org FLATTERY CONCERT AT ELIZABETH PARK JULY 14, 6–8 P.M.

Flattery is a local band that plays Celtic music, at times sorrowful and sometimes upbeat. Join them for one of Bellingham’s Concerts in the Parks. This concert is sure to be a good time for families. The event is hosted by Bellingham’s Eldridge Society for History and Preservation, formed to create a space to improve and maintain the historic neighborhood along Eldridge Avenue. Elizabeth Park 2205 Elizabeth St., Bellingham 360.778.7000, cob.org

SUMMER MELODIOUS NOTES JULY 19, 7:30 P.M.

Part of San Juan Theatre’s Night Music Series showcases classical island talents at the Gubelman Theatre and Steele Memorial Patio Garden in Friday Harbor. The evening will last about two hours and features flutist Kim Breilein, three-time winner of the Washington State Solo Contest. Alongside her are clarinet player Sue Collado, cellist Sasha von Dassow, Hanneke Klein-Robbenhaar on the violin and viola, and Elizabeth Schaltenbrand on piano. Gubelman Theatre Block 100 2nd St. N., Friday Harbor 360.378.3210, sjctheatre.org MARROWSTONE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA JULY 28, 7:30 P.M.

Founded in 1943, this Pacific Northwest summer orchestra group is comprised of over 200 musicians age 14–25. They come from abroad and from more than 30 states to study for two weeks at Western Washington University. Many students who have come through Marrowstone have gone on to headline in major orchestras. This performance

will include arrangements from Bach, Bottesini, Raff and Mozart.

Your Financial Future: Will You Be Ready?

WWU Performing Arts Center 516 High St., Bellingham 360.650.2829, marrowstone.org

CONCERTS THE POSIES

NY CS 7790428 BC006 01/14 GP10-01505P-N06/10

Susan Rice Financial Planning Specialist Financial Advisor 2200 Rimland Drive, Suite 105 Bellingham, WA 98226 360-788-7005 • 800-247-2884 susan.e.rice@morganstanley.com

JULY 6, 8:30 P.M.

Returning home, the Posies are on their 30th anniversary tour. Bouncing back and forth between Bellingham and Seattle, the American power pop group got its start while band member Ken Stringfellow attended Western Washington University. They hit a stride in the early ‘90s, breaking into the top 10 on Modern Rock charts.

MECH

JOB INFORMATION 7790428/602858172

PROJ. NO.: JOB NAME:

TRIM SIZE:

Retail Byrnes Susan Rice Ad

FINISHED SIZE: BLEED: BINDERY:

CREATIVE STUDIO 1585 Broadway 23rd Floor New York, NY 10036 180 Varick Street, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10014

PANTONE #:

NOTES

4.75" × 2.25" N/A

FULL SPEED AHEAD TO SUMMER FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!

CMYK

APPROVALS

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CLIENT NAME: PROJECT MGR.: COST CENTER:

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SPECIFICATIONS 4.75" × 2.25"

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LAST MODIFIED: January 15, 2014 1:13 PM

Wild Buffalo House of Music 208 W. Holly St., Bellingham 360.746.8733, wildbuffalo.net MATT COSTA JULY 9, 8 P.M.

A singer-songwriter from Huntington Beach, Calif., Costa enjoys making a connection with the audience through his music. He uses his music to create a dialogue and tell stories. He plays indie and folk rock music and spent a summer opening for Jack Johnson and has toured with Modest Mouse, Oasis and Death Cab for Cutie. Wild Buffalo House of Music 208 W. Holly St., Bellingham 360.746.8733, wildbuffalo.net SHOOK TWINS

360.293.3832 | anacortes.org

JULY 13, 7:30 P.M.

Identical twins Katelyn and Laurie Shook display their talents and draw from a love for folk, pop and indie rock music. Playing a guitar and banjo, the pair’s music is known for its raw and vulnerable emotion. The two started writing songs together at 18 and have worked to blend both their voices and their instruments. Orcas Center 917 Mount Baker Rd., Eastsound 360.376.2281

WANT YOUR EVENT POSTED? Events are posted on a first-come first-serve basis. Submissions must be received four weeks prior to the event with all the necessary information. Please submit event name, dates, times, short 40-word description, cover charge or ticket price, event venue including street address, a phone number, and a website. Any event from Seattle to Vancouver will be considered with priority placed on listings from Whatcom, Skagit, and San Juan counties. Bellingham Alive is not responsible for errors in submissions. Please email all submissions to events@bellinghamalive.com

July 2018 89

AGENDA Events 52ND ANNUAL CHUCKANUT FOOTRACE JULY 7, 9 A.M.

BEBEL GILBERTO JULY 21, 7:30 P.M.

The Brazilian-American pop artist will be at the Lincoln Theatre in Mount Vernon with her new album recorded on her 2015 tour. Gilberto grew up surrounded by music and other musicians. She is one of the top selling Brazilian artists in the United States and has been Grammynominated. She has sold more than 2.5 million records and has had music featured in seven films, including “Eat Pray Love” and “Rio.” Lincoln Theatre 712 S. 1st St., Mount Vernon 360.336.8955, lincolntheatre.org ROBERT CRAY JULY 31, 7:30 P.M.

He was born in Georgia, but was raised mostly in Washington. This blues, soul, and R&B guitarist and singer has won five Grammy’s and has more than 20 albums. Cray has played alongside artists like Eric Clapton, BB King, and The Rolling Stones and will perform in Mount Vernon. Lincoln Theatre 712 S. 1st St., Mount Vernon 360.336.8955, lincolntheatre.org

HEALTH AND WELLNESS K2K RACE JULY 1, NOON

Take part in the 1-mile fun run or a 5K run hosted by Kulshan Brewery. With raffle prizes and a costume contest, get your America on by dressing up as Captain America, Uncle Sam, or the Statue of Liberty. There will be food trucks and a beer garden as well. Kulshan Brewery 1538 Kentucky St., Bellingham k2krace.com

BellinghamAlive.com

A point-to-point seven-mile race that takes place along the scenic Interurban Trail. Winding through the Chuckanut Mountains, racers will be able to take in the beautiful scenery as well as catch a glimpse of the San Juan Islands. Buses will be at the finish line to take racers back to the starting point. Marine Park 100 Harris Ave., Bellingham gbrc.net LAKE WHATCOM TRIATHLON JULY 14, 7 A.M.

This Olympic-distance triathlon includes a 1500-meter swim, 40K bike ride and a 10K run. Beginning at Bloedel Donovan Park, it is open to beginners, experts, and spectators alike. The race has an informational event the day before and an informational meeting before the race begins. Bloedel-Donovan Park 2114 Electric Ave., Bellingham 360.488.2701 lakewhatcomtriathlon.com TOUR DE WHATCOM JULY 21, 7:30 A.M.

Whether you plan to bike 22 miles or 100, this ride, departing from Boundary Bay Brewery in downtown Bellingham, is sure to be scenic. Through valleys and mountains, farmland and over rivers, it is sure to impress. All proceeds benefit local charities providing cyclists a cause to ride for. Boundary Bay Brewery 1107 Railroad Ave., Bellingham 360.746.8861, tourdewhatcom.com SUMMER SEERSUCKER SOCIAL — BICYCLE RIDE & SCAVENGER HUNT JULY 21, 10 A.M.

Sponsored by the Boneshaker Cycling Society, this is a themed 8-mile bicycle ride combined with a scavenger hunt. Dressed in 1920s attire or other inspired clothing, entrants will be given a list of riddles and clues to solve an elaborate

puzzle. It is a time to celebrate summer, friends, and an era since passed. Gilkey Square 103 Morris St., La Conner summer-seersucker.com

SPECIAL EVENTS 50TH ARLINGTON FLY-IN JULY 6–8

Taking place the first weekend after July 4th each year, the Fly-In at Arlington Airport hosts more than 1,000 aircraft. There are powered parachutes, classic airplanes, hot air balloons and a ton more. Nearly 60,000 guests attend each year and it is one of the most popular aviation events in the Pacific Northwest. Arlington Municipal Airport 18204 59th Ave. NE, Arlington 360.435.5857, arlingtonflyin.org ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY PARADE, PANCAKE BREAKFAST, PIE BOOTH & BBQ JULY 7, 12 P.M.

Hot dogs, a beer garden, pie booth and even a logging show go on at this event. You can join in for the food, or take part in the 5K walk or run, dubbed the “Eat and Run” because of the many local restaurants who take part in the event. Proceeds of the event also benefit the Orcas Island Firefighters and EMTs. Orcas Island North Beach Rd., Eastsound, Orcas Island 1.888.468.3701, visitsanjuans.com 24TH ANNUAL SKAGIT VALLEY HIGHLAND GAMES JULY 14–15, 9 A.M.

Bagpiping, drumming, dance, culture, and of course traditional Scottish games are featured. This amazing event attracts over 10,000 people each year and has something for everyone no matter their age. This is also a great event to bring your dog to, just don’t forget the leash. Edgewater Park 600 Behrens Millet Rd., Mount Vernon 360.416.4934, celticarts.org

17TH ANNUAL SAN JUAN ISLAND LAVENDER FESTIVAL JULY 21–22, 10 A.M.

Touch and taste everything lavender at this festival. Crafts, wands, wreaths, lavender lemonade, iced tea, cookies, and more. There will be music, dancing, and demonstrations on how to cultivate lavender. You can also learn all about how to cook with lavender too. Friday Harbor 45 Hawthorne Lane, Friday Harbor 360378.4248, pelindabalavender.com

THEATRE JULIUS CAESAR AT THE NATIONAL THEATRE JULY 8, 2 P.M.

A classic that has persisted for ages, the story of Julius Caesar’s rise and fall from power is sure to impress. Follow Caesar through his rise to popularity, only to be ultimately betrayed by those closest to him. The British production will be

presented at Whittier Theatre in Friday Harbor. Whittier Theatre 100 2nd St. N., Friday Harbor 360.378.3210, sjctheatre.org YELLOW SUBMARINE 50TH ANNIVERSARY JULY 13–19

Go on a psychedelic adventure alongside The Beatles while celebrating the 50th anniversary of their adventure in defeating the Blue Meanie. Experience Beatles music and a one-of-a-kind animation style. It is a nonstop adventure of extraordinary characters and creations coming together for a unique musical. Pickford Film Center 1318 Bay St., Bellingham 360.738.0735, pickfordfilmcenter.org MACBETH IN FRIDAY HARBOR JULY 23, 7 P.M.

shown on HD screen at Whittier Theatre in Friday Harbor. Join Rory Kinnear, who has been in Othello, and AnneMarie Duff who’s been in Oil. The story of MacBeth and Lady MacBeth is one that is compelling and has been told for generations. Whittier Theatre 100 2nd St. N., Friday Harbor 360.378.3210, sjctheatre.org THE GREATEST SHOWMAN JULY 21, 7:15 P.M.

Following some opening entertainment with Jules the Juggler, watch The Greatest Showman, starring Hugh Jackman. After losing his job and risking it all on a circus, follow P.T. Barnum’s rise to fame and prominence in this epic musical. Fairhaven Outdoor Cinema 10th St. at Mill Ave., Bellingham 360.773.2682, epiceap.com

Enjoy this presentation of the intense and terrifying Shakespeare tragedy at Great Britain’s National Theatre, to be

6th Annual Paint the Peninsula A Plein air competiton at the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center

Susiehyer

22 professional artists 150+ plein air paintings for sale Awards ceremony on August 25 Petite painting sale on August 26

Yong Hong Zhong

Gregory Stocks

Ned Mueller

august 19 - 26, 2018 www.paintthepeninsula.org

Proceeds benefit the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center

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AGENDA Top Picks

JULY J U LY

J U LY

Bellingham Bay Brewers Cruise Bellingham Cruise Terminal whales.com

24th Annual Skagit Valley Highland Games Edgewater Park, Mount Vernon celticarts.org

J U LY

Haggen 4th of July Celebration Squalicum Harbor, Bellingham bellingham.com

Raspberry Festival Downtown Lynden lynden.org

J U LY

20–21 J U LY

Darlingside Wild Buffalo House of Music, Bellingham wildbuffalo.net

Leo Kottke Lincoln Theatre, Mount Vernon lincolntheatre.org

14–15

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Sand Sculpture Competition Birch Bay Waterfront, Birch Bay birchbaychamber.com

Orcas Island Cider and Mead Festival Village Green in Eastsound, Orcas Island orcasislandciderfest.org

14–15

J U LY

BellinghamAlive.com

Events

AGENDA

VISUAL ARTS ART FOR FUN JULY 9, 5:45 P.M.

It’s a two-hour party where everyone walks away with a one-of-a-kind painting. Sit down and follow along as you get to paint a lighthouse on the edge of a rocky shore. This event is put on by the San Juan Islands Museum of Art. San Juan Islands Museum of Art 540 Spring St., Friday Harbor 360.370.5050 SHADES OF THE NORTHWEST QUILT SHOW JULY 13–15, 10 A.M.

Woolley Fiber Quilters are presenting their 9th annual quilt show in SedroWoolley. This year will have more than 250 quilts on display. You can also join in for awards and demonstrations. For those who love to quilt, this is sure to be entertaining and fun.

AnacortesArtsFestival.com

275 Booth Artisans Fine Art Show 3 Music Stages Food Trucks ~ Beer & Wine Kids Activities

Cascade Middle School 905 McGarigle Rd., Sedro-Woolley woolleyfiberquilters.blogspot.com FAIRHAVEN STEAMPUNK FESTIVAL JULY 28, 10 A.M.

Reimagine a world where the Victorian era lived on and steam technology continued to thrive. Join the Bellingham Steampunk Society with your gears, lace and chains. There is a costume contest, authors panels as well as guest artists Rogue’s End. Fairhaven Village Green 1207 10th St., Bellingham bellinghamsteampunk.org

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Out of Town

AGENDA Events

SEATTLE SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL BEERFEST JULY 6–8, NOON

This three-day specialty beer festival has almost every type of beer you could imagine. Whether you enjoy a pilsner or a pale ale, or even a barrel-aged sour, you are sure to find something. All attendees must be 21 or older and feel free to bring your own blanket. Seattle Center Fisher Lawn and Pavilion 305 Harrison St., Seattle 260.486.2089, seattlebeerfest.com DRAGON FEST

JULY 14–15, NOON

Dragon Fest

The largest pan-Asian celebration in the Northwest, the festival features everything from lion and dragon dances to Japanese taiko drumming and Chinese martial arts. You can also see Korean and Indian dance performances as well as enjoy delicious food from all around Asia. Chinatown-International District 409B Maynard Ave. S., Seattle 260.382.1197

VANCOUVER Les Misérables

LOGIC PRESENTS: BOBBY TARANTINO VS. EVERYBODY TOUR WITH NF JULY 15, 7 P.M.

The multi-platinum rapper, singer and songwriter will take stage in Vancouver alongside hip hop artist NF. Logic gained worldwide attention and has been number one on Spotify and number five on Spotify global. His work has been powerful and has brought serious issues to the forefront. PNE Amphitheatre 2901 East Hastings St., Vancouver, B.C. 604.253.2311, pne.ca BROADWAY ACROSS CANADA PRESENTS LES MISÉRABLES JULY 10–15, 8 P.M.

Broken dreams, love, sacrifice and redemption, this worldrenowned play features an amazing soundtrack. Set in 19th-century France, you follow revolutionaries, the downtrodden and those looking to redeem themselves.

BellinghamAlive.com

Queen Elizabeth Theatre 630 Hamilton St.,Vancouver, B.C. 604.665.3050, vancouvercivictheatres.com

The Scene

AGENDA

DOROTHY PLACE GETS BOOST FROM ART OF HOPE About 125 supporters of Dorothy Place, a domestic violence shelter in Bellingham, raised just over $40,000 in March at an “Art of Hope” fundraiser celebrating the center’s 20th anniversary. The money raised provides individuals with options like bus passes, children’s programs, and even a family’s deposit and first month’s rent when transitioning away from the 22-unit facility. Hosted by Opportunity Council and with framing provided by Allied Arts, the event and charity auction featured local artists’ work that captured the hope of Dorothy Place. Bellingham Police Department deputy chief Flo Simon was the guest speaker and social media expert Bonnie Southcott was the emcee. — Jade Thurston

July 2018 95

NOTES Final Word

Even If It Ain’t Broke, Fix It! Ken puts the kibosh on new growth until some ‘things’ are fixed WRITTEN BY KEN KARLBERG

or those pro-growth advocates who want a better quality of life through growth, I have a message for you — wait your turn. Before we change things “for the better,” let’s fix what ain’t broken first. I have a short punch list of uncompleted, hometown improvement DIY projects that have irritated me for decades. (Humor alert — Loretta reminded me to provide a satire disclaimer. No toes were intentionally stepped on in the writing of this Final Word.) The first is Mount Baker, the Cascades, and their foothills. I happen to love Spokane and Pullman, even the drive there. In fact, I would like nothing better than a view of the Palouse countryside or downtown Spokane from the back porch of my house here in Blaine. The problem is, Mount Baker and the Cascades are in the way. They need to go. Whatever value they may bring to skiers, hikers, bird watchers, and nature-lovers is far outweighed by my personal pleasure. Besides, I can’t even see Mount Baker from downtown Bellingham because the foothills obscure the view. They are worthless. Get rid of them, like yesterday. The wildlife can move to Canada. I am willing to keep Galbraith Mountain for mountain bikers if Kulshan Brewery opens a bike repair shop/beer pub on Yew Street or in Lake Padden Park. I don’t mountain bike, but I do drink beer. At least there would be something in “it” for me. Otherwise, Galbraith Mountain must go, too. Mountain bikers can have the Skagit flats as their playground. And if Lake Whatcom drains when we bulldoze the foothills, so be it. Water is obnoxiously wet. Clean drinking water, water skiing and boating are overrated. Fresh water fish are, too. Any displaced fish can be relocated to Lake Washington or eaten. I am not heartless — it’ll be their choice. Because I am easily confused, can we please reduce the number of trails around here to one, perhaps the Interurban only? Hiking options are overrated, too, and the reduction in the number of trails will save space for future growth. Besides, our trail system provides so many diverse options that no one can ever have a favorite. If we get rid of all trails, except the Interurban, we will all have the same favorite. The common shared experience will bond us together. Sameness 96

BellinghamAlive.com

is good. Diverse options lead to diverse experiences, unique people, and by extension, chaos. We need order. Of course, we have way too many parks. I have hated green open spaces ever since my childhood. Plus, where will we construct new strip malls if all the green spaces are parks? Let’s eliminate all parks except Boulevard Park. I like Boulevard Park. I can get a latte there. Of course, this would mean the Interurban would become a simple “down and back” loop because Larrabee State Park would no longer exist. But I never went to Larrabee State Park anyway. Yes, it was overrated, too. Condos would be a good use of the green space after the old growth trees are cut. And as long as we are fixing things around here, I would like to move the San Juan Islands closer together and Victoria closer to us. The open water between islands makes for an excessively long ferry ride. Thirty minutes should be the maximum length. Any longer than 30 minutes and ferry riders see more beautiful sights than they can remember. What’s the purpose if you can’t remember? Let’s just move the islands closer together and be done with it. We can then tour the San Juan Islands and Victoria on a single cell phone battery charge. Brilliant, I know. I came up with the idea while drinking a latte at Boulevard Park and watching a beautiful sunset over Lummi Island. The sun hurt my eyes without smog as a filter. But that’s a DIY project for another day. I can fix only so many things at once. Finally, many of us look and dress the same because we love the outdoors. This has to stop. The beanies, boots, and plaid jackets makes it appear as if we enjoy each other and all that our North Sound counties have to offer, which is completely unacceptable. Why would any business want to relocate here with the variety of things to experience? If we don’t change our misplaced ways, growth will stop in its tracks. We need sameness. Diversity simply makes the issue of growth or no growth more complicated. Who needs the mountains, the lakes, the trails and parks, the flora and fauna, the pristine Puget Sound waters, and crystal clear blue sky? Only when these “things” are fixed will I turn over control of the quality of life here to progrowth advocates. 

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It was the next illogical step. Legendary Porsche performance gets a thrilling new form. The Panamera Sport Turismo. A new powertrain including an 8-speed PDK transmission, and a cabin featuring the latest in Porsche connectivity. It is ideal for those who prefer different. Porsche. There is no substitute.

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Porsche Bellingham 2200 Iowa Street Bellingham, WA 98229 Tel: (360) 734-5230 www.porschebellingham.com