El Periódico Diciembre 2017- Translated Articles

Story 1 Seat open on County Council as Donovan switches Residents have until Dec. 20 to apply for at-large position BELLINGHAM — During last week’s meeting, the Whatcom County Council set the parameters for selecting someone to fill a position left open by councilor Todd Donovan’s switch to another seat.

Donovan was elected to fill the new County Council District 2 (North Bellingham) position, beating opponent Amy Glasser. In 2015, Donovan was elected to a four-year term of the nowobsolete former District 1.

As Donovan is sworn in to his new position on Jan. 8, along with others newly elected, he leaves a vacancy for the At-large B seat of the council.

The open position is not bounded by district guidelines — anyone in the county can apply to represent residents on the council in this position.

Applications are due in the Whatcom County Council office by noon on Wednesday, Dec. 20. The council hopes to appoint a replacement for Donovan at a special meeting at 6 p.m. Jan. 9.

The application form is available online at http://wawhatcomcounty.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/31896.

New Climate Impact Advisory Committee Council members voted 6-1 in favor of creating a new 11-person Climate Impact Advisory Committee to advise on issues of preparation for and mitigation of climate change impacts.

Satpal Sidhu said the council may not be able to do much to stop climate change, but it must react to environmental changes caused by climate change. He said examples of this would be a shortage of water caused by a drought, or rising water levels on Whatcom shorelines.

“Studying these things or forewarning of these things are advantages to us as citizens,” Sidhu said. “That’s how I look at it.”

Changes to the Council code of conduct Guidelines related to County Council conduct, meetings and procedure were amended in Whatcom County Code 2.02.

Among the changes is a new rule forbidding elected council members from serving more than three consecutive four-year terms. Terms are considered consecutive unless they are four years apart, county documents state.

A new rule of the same ordinance will allow council members to participate in meetings by way of telephone or web video. The council member using this type of communication would be considered actually present and would count toward a quorum of the council.

Story 2 Kaleidoscope Play and Learn Groups promote early learning, reading All family members, guardians welcome to attend

WHATCOM — Mounting research shows that children who receive high-quality child care and early learning opportunities achieve better emotional, developmental, and academic outcomes than children who do not. Kaleidoscope Play and Learn Groups throughout Whatcom County promote early learning and school readiness for families with children ages birth to five. Facilitators lead free, weekly play groups to teach parents, family members, and guardians what they can do to support children’s learning at home. Caregivers learn about child development and how every day activities - like grocery shopping, cooking, and bath time - can be learning opportunities for children. They also learn about the skills children are expected to demonstrate before they enroll in school and how to support children in meeting these objectives.

Play groups are inclusive to all children, languages, and cultures. All family members and guardians caring for children at home are welcome to attend. For Kaleidoscope Play and Learn Groups in Whatcom County, see: https://www.ccanorthwest.org/kpl/.

Story 3 Everson man arrested as 1989 Stavik murder suspect Sheriff: DNA match of suspect Timothy Bass is ‘one in 11 quadrillion’ WHATCOM — In a stunning development in a prominent local cold case, county sheriff’s deputies arrested Timothy Forrest Bass, 50, of Everson, on Tuesday, Dec. 12, as a suspect in the 1989 rape and murder of then-18-year-old Amanda T. (Mandy) Stavik in the South Fork Valley.

The investigation narrowed in on Bass after DNA evidence sent to the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory connected him to Stavik, Sheriff Bill Elfo said in a press release.

“The laboratory determined that the match probability was one in 11 quadrillion,” repeated Elfo at a Dec. 13 press conference in Bellingham.

Bass then stood later that afternoon, via closed-circuit video with attorney Douglas Hyldahl, for a first Whatcom County Superior Court appearance. County Prosecuting Attorney Dave McEahran presented probable-cause evidence, and court commissioner Leon Henley agreed to continue to hold Bass in the Whatcom County Jail on $1 million bail. His next scheduled court date is Dec. 22.

These charges were expected to be formally filed against Bass by Friday: first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping and first-degree rape.

Timothy Bass was married to Gina Siguaw on Jan. 5, 1990, and just four days later they bought property at 3515 Alm Rd. north of Nooksack that continues to be listed in their names, county records show.

Stavik was a Mount Baker High School graduate attending Central Washington University when she disappeared on the afternoon of Nov. 24, 1989. She had gone out jogging with the family dog on Strand Road south of Deming. The dog returned home hours later, but Stavik did not. Family called authorities, and a massive search was begun. Her body was found three days later in the Nooksack River South Fork about three miles south of her home.

At the time, Timothy Bass, about age 22, lived with his parents on Strand Road not far from the Stavik residence.

Bass emerged among potential suspects in the crime in recent years, Elfo said. This past September, DNA samples from him were obtained and sent to the state lab, and came back

matching DNA recovered from Stavik’s body in 1989, the sheriff said.

Use of DNA matching in forensic science was relatively new in 1989, yet the collection and safe storage of DNA samples in this case over the years “made the solving of this horrific crime possible,” he said.

Fourteen officers stood with Elfo at the Dec. 13 press conference in the Whatcom Unified Emergency Coordination Center. The sheriff said it has felt like an “obsession” for him personally to find a resolution of the Stavik case.

Elfo said that hundreds of leads on potential suspects emerged and were systematically investigated over the 28 years of the case. Information was received from the local community and from other states, even from as far away as Asia. In their investigation, deputies consulted closely with forensic and homicide experts.

“I would like to extend my appreciation to all the members of the Sheriff’s Office who have poured their hearts and souls into this case over the past three decades,” Elfo said.

Anyone with information regarding Timothy Forrest Bass that may be helpful in the ongoing investigation is asked to contact detectives at the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office at 360778-6600. The Sheriff’s Office also maintains a tip line for existing cases at 360-778-6663.

This line is a recorded message and is available 24/7 where messages can be left. Also, a call room specifically set up on the Stavik case may be reached at 360-788-5303. Calls there will be taken in person and detectives will be standing by to evaluate information that is received.

Story 4 Pixar’s “Coco” shines brightly Day of the Dead-themed film stands worthy of studio’s legacy Pixar has a storied history of making wonderful movies, having released 19 to date since “Toy Story” hit theaters in 1995.

With rare exception, these movies are excellent. Fans have their personal lists and rankings of their favorite Pixar films, and these lists tend to vary wildly depending on the person.

The studio’s latest film, “Coco,” doesn’t necessarily break into my own top-10 list, but that’s a tough feat to accomplish. Nonetheless, “Coco” is a marvelous entry into Pixar’s filmography, and after an arguably shaky past few years, it marks a welcome return to form.

“Coco” is the story of Miguel, a 12-year-old boy living in a small Mexican village and dreaming of becoming a musician just like his favorite star, Ernesto de la Cruz. Through a series of mishaps, Miguel ends up in the Land of the Dead and must find a way to return home without becoming one of the dead himself.

“Coco” has heart to go around (and then some), and the voice cast that Pixar has assembled here is nothing short of outstanding. Packed full of Mexican actors, many of whom you’ll recognize from a wide variety of movies and television, the cast is the star here, but it doesn’t stop there.

Pixar’s films get more and more beautiful as the technology advances, and “Coco” might be their most beautiful yet. The Land of the Dead is certainly something to behold, and it feels like a world that we should have spent more time in. “Coco” is the perfect length for its story at one hour and 49 minutes, but the world and its functions, which meld beautifully with real Day of the Dead traditions, is awesomely realized. Miguel returns to the real world several times,

and each time I longed to return to the Land of the Dead.

Despite my praise, “Coco” doesn’t quite elevate itself to the heights of my all-time favorite Pixar films such as “Up,” “The Incredibles” and “Toy Story.” However, it’s memorable enough, and features an all-star cast that brings it to heights I wasn’t expecting from a film I knew next to nothing about going in.

The holidays are a crowded time for movies, but I would heartily recommend giving “Coco” a watch in theaters. You’ll be disappointed if you miss the opportunity to behold the beautiful Land of the Dead on anything other than a big screen.