— A book 20 years in the making — Mike Alsum celebrates 65 years behind the barber chair
A supplement of
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Kathy Whipple decorates the front of her Lynden home with toys
Kathy Whipple shows off a few of her toys outside her Lynden home. From about Mother’s Day until the September rains, Whipple decorates the front yard of her home with dozens and dozens and still more dozens of toys. Story on next page. (Bill Helm/Lynden Tribune)
‘It made people happy, it made them
smile’
From about Mother’s Day until September rains, Kathy Whipple decorates the front yard of her Lynden home with dozens and dozens and still more dozens of toys. She’s done this for about 10 years because she like to see the looks on people’s faces.
(Photos on both pages by Bill Helm/ Lynden Tribune)
By Bill Helm Editor
LYNDEN — From the front yard of Kathy Whipple’s Lynden home you can see carnival enthusiasts each August on a carousel in which the seats are suspended from the ride’s rotating top.
At any time during the annual Northwest Washington Fair, just a few blocks from Whipple’s home, you can see dozens of people of all ages on this ride, and it seems so high up in the sky that you’d swear you can see it from across Lynden.
Also in August during fair season — actually, from about Mother’s Day until September rains — Whipple decorates the front yard of her home with dozens and dozens and still more dozens of toys. She’s done this for about 10 years. Because she like to see the looks on people’s faces.
“I realized really quick it made people happy, it made them smile,” Whipple said. “We live in a crazy world these days and people are hurting. This gave me a chance to encourage them to let them know God loves them and to hang in there.”
For Whipple, it started with a little
white car she bought from the toy department at Lynden Christian’s Second Chance thrift store.
“My husband asked me what I planned to do with it,” she recalled. “So I decided to put it at my front door and give it a parking space. People said they loved it.”
Eventually, people she knew and people she didn’t know brought Whipple more toys. So she made more parking spaces.
She has so many different kinds of cars, figures and stuffed animals, Whipple says it takes days to put them all out each year.
“I’m headed to 83 [years of age] and I’m a lot slower than I used to be,” she said. “Since Max died, my time is my own and I can clunk out there at my own speed.”
Whipple still buys toys she places in her front yard, in fact recently she bought one. However, most she has
bought “when everything was inexpensive.”
Whipple estimates that about one-fourth of the toys she puts out front of her home came from the generosity of other people. Other people have been generous in their support of Whipple.
California residents, Judy Moore of Los Gatos and Gigi Spinazze of Santa Cruz, spent time with their friend, Anacortes resident Vinnie Hayes. In the Pacific Northwest, the three ladies took a drive recently that included a stop in Lynden. The ladies drove by Whipple’s home.
“As soon as we saw all the toys, we pulled over to see what was happening,” Moore said. “[Was it] a yard sale or just the joy of sharing all those darling little vehicles with stuffed animals? It made our day.”
-- Contact Bill Helm at bill@ lyndentribune.com
meals - $7 Frozen meals $6
Lynden Christian teacher writes devotional book
‘Show Me Your Glory’
By Racquel Muncy Staff Reporter
LYNDEN — Melanie Heldoorn is a teacher at Lynden Christian, a mother and a woman of Christ. She is also the author of devotional book, “Show Me Your Glory.”
The book is meant to be a devotional, prayer journal and bite-sized Bible study all in one for those who are busy but want to grow in their faith.
“This book has been on my mind for about 20 years,” Heldoorn said.
She said for years she prayed asking for the Lord to show her his glory and she kept being drawn to her favorite apostle.
“It made sense that he brought me to the book of John,” she said.
However, Heldoorn had a long journey to get the book to print. After pouring hours and hours into the book, she had a publisher that was interested, but then her home in Everson was flooded. While she was busy getting cleaned up, her publisher had to move on to other interests.
Rather than give up, she pushed on. Then some family emergencies came up.
“I needed to take care of my family first,” she said.
Throughout it all, the book stayed in her mind.
“The Lord just kept putting it in front of me,” she said, adding that with each life event she learned more.
Her devotional takes a deep dive though the Gospel of John and each chapter has three different levels for readers to dive into.
The daily devotional is equal parts storytelling and analytical observations throughout the chapters of John.
“Going into it I didn’t realize how much storytelling I was going to do,” she said. “You have to give space so people will interpret.”
Heldoorn said the first level, “Deep,” has a short prayer and everything the person needs is in the book as she writes about main themes and ideas from the daily reading of John.
“Deeper” adds on a daily Bible reading of the Gospel of John, while “Deeper Still” encourages the reader to think more on the ideas and themes found
A teacher at Lynden Christian, Melanie Heldoorn is the author of devotional book, “Show Me Your Glory.” The book is meant to be a devotional, prayer journal and bite-sized Bible study all in one for those who are busy but want to grow in their faith. Heldoorn's devotional takes a deep dive though the Gospel of John and each chapter have three different levels for readers to dive into. (Racquel Muncy/Lynden Tribune)
within the chapters.
Having the different levels makes the book perfect for many audiences, from those seeking to learn and have minimal time, to those looking to take a deeper dive into their faith and spend time meditating on and studying the Gospel of John.
However, she said she recognizes this book will speak to people in different ways.
“There are no rules for using this book,” she writes in the introduction. “Feel free to pray for several days on one topic or skip any days that to not resonate with you.”
Most importantly, Heldoorn said this book is an opportunity for people to think deeply about who Jesus is.
“Jesus is the start, the middle and the end,” she said.
Initially the book was meant to be an advent book, something different from the baby in a manger for readers to dive into while gearing up for Christmas.
“I wanted something more thoughtful and deep,” Heldoorn said compared to other holiday advent offerings.
She saw it as a great way to spend the holidays and have purposeful time with her children and grandchildren.
Despite the initial intent, it was decided
QUALITY
to advertise the book as a devotional and mini-Bible study book rather than an advent.
She said she had a lot of help with the book, with more than 1,500 giving their feedback. Several people also helped with creating the cover and formatting of the book.
“That feedback turned into the book,” she said, adding that she is mostly happy with the way it turned out. “I didn’t want to give up on the advent.”
When all is said and done, Heldoorn said people will get out of the book what they put in. Some parts will be more relevant to different people depending on what is going on in their lives. However, there is one thing she hopes everyone can get out of the book and the self-journey it leads them on.
“My deep hope is that He’s honored, and people realize how important and unique their God design is,” she said. “It’s such a marvel how unique we all are.”
The book is available at Village Books and Eucatastrophe Coffee and Used Books in Lynden, as well as online at Amazon.
-- Contact Racquel Muncy at racquel@ lyndentribune.com
HOME CARE SERVICES FOR SENIORS
Personal Care
Housekeeping
Mike Alsum marks 65 years of barbering
Has been at Fairway Barber Shop since 1977
By Cal Bratt For the Tribune
LYNDEN — Mike Alsum just passed his 65th anniversary of being an active barber.
“I started cutting hair on the day after Labor Day 1960. That was my first day in barber school,” he said last week. The last 48 years have been at the Fairway Center barber shop.
Alsum keeps regular hours starting at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday. He takes only walk-ins, no appointments. He also takes only cash or checks, not fussing with bank cards.
In terms of longevity, the 82-year-old figures he’s “near the top” of those in his profession in the state, maybe the nation.
In his light, friendly way, Alsum projects a positive outlook.
“As they say, you find an occupation you like and you never work a day in your life. That works for me,” he said.
The barber shop space, right next to the popular Fairway Café, goes back to the very start of the Fairway shopping center by Harold Kooy in the 1960s. The only other person to occupy the space was another longtime Lynden barber, Cliff Fast, who has retired.
Alsum can also say that when he came to this spot in 1977, the lady who is the proprietor next door, Rose De Groot, was already at work at the Fairway Café.
“I’ve been fortunate as far as my career, I’ve always loved it. And I’ve loved this location. There’s always something going on.”
Alsum, from Sumas, enrolled in a Bellingham barber school at age 17. A year later, he was in the U.S. Navy. Stationed in Chicago, he could cut hair in the barracks. Then when he was reassigned to security in Seattle, he came up to Bellingham to barber on his days off.
The process of becoming licensed wasn’t easy. After schooling, he had to demonstrate his skills before a state board of evaluators to get an apprentice’s permit. Then he put in 1,000 hours working with a journeyman barber before retesting for his own permanent license.
See Mike Alsum on 10
20-year customer shares appreciation for Mike Alsum
By Cal Bratt For the Tribune
LYNDEN — Bob Johnson of Lynden was in the chair Sept. 2 when Mike Alsum told him the date marked 65 years in barbering.
This is what Johnson wrote to the Lynden Tribune in appreciation of Alsum:
“For 20 years Mike Alsum’s Fairway Barber
Shop has been a warm and inviting place for me to have my ears lowered. Mike’s wide variety of knowledge and stories always keeps the conversation interesting. He always has a keen interest in how you’re doing and he pulls from you your thoughts on life. He also has the discernment to recognize someone that doesn’t want to chat that much also.”
Mike Alsum attends to customer Jerry Johnson at the Fairway Barber Shop. The Lynden barber started cutting hair the day after Labor Day in 1960. The past 48 years, Alsum has served his customers from the Fairway Barber Shop. (Cal Bratt for the Tribune)
Mike Alsum: Has been at Fairway Barber Shop since 1977
Second Monday of every month
Whatcom Genealogical Society
Whatcom Genealogical Society meets the second Monday of each month at 2 p.m., except December, January, July, and August, at Pioneer Pavilion, 2007 Cherry St., Ferndale.
3
Doors open at 1:30 p.m. There is plenty of free parking and no stairs to navigate. Visitors are always welcome. Email Lynda Lucas, whatcomgenesoc@gmail.com for more information.
First Thursday of each month
Parkinson Support Group
The Lynden Parkinson support group meets the first Thursday of every month at 10 a.m. at the Lynden Community/Senior Center, 401 Grover St. All people with Parkinson’s and caregivers are welcome to come. Call 360-354-1137 for any additional questions.mation and to register.
Third Monday of each month
Minds Alive!
Minds Alive offers improv classes for anyone with early stage memory
Continued from 8
Alsum remembers being in the Town & Country barber shop in Bellingham on the day President John Kennedy was shot in November 1963.
He had his own shops in succession at the Wiser Lake Trading Post, in Laurel and at the original Milt’s Pizza Place on Lynden’s west side, before he landed in the Fairway Center.
Alsum witnessed the arrival of long hair as a style, starting in the 1970s, when about two-thirds of barbers went out of business, he said. Also, haircutting establishments for both men and women came onto the scene.
As many as 20 percent of his customers in a day are new ones, who could stick with him or go on elsewhere. He also sees an uptick of Hispanic clients during the summer agricultural season.
He has some customers of many years’ duration, and with them he carries on easy back-and-forth conversation based on his knowledge of them.
Alsum is ready to explain the meaning of the spiraling red, white and blue barber’s pole outside his door. It symbolizes the historical role of barbers as
loss and their care partners. Classes are from 2-3 p.m. the third Monday of each month at The Upfront Theatre, 203 Prospect St., Bellingham. Classes are designed to engage participants in improv exercises that tap into the present moment through creativity, connection and joy. Specially trained Upfront improvisers will facilitate a creative experience surely to enrich, support and entertain. Registration is required, either online, by email at info@theupfront.com, or by phone at 360-200-8697.
Second Tuesday of each month Dementia Caregiver Support Group
Dementia Caregiver Support group at the Lynden Community/Senior Center on the second Tuesday of each month from 10 a.m.-noon. This group
both groomers and surgeons, harking back to when bloodletting was considered a healthy procedure. Red stands for blood, blue for veins, and white for the bandages used.
He also will note that short hair for men did not become fashionable until World War I, as a hygiene measure in the military.
Alsum keeps an old-fashioned portable radio on his counter tuned quietly to FM music.
Living just a few blocks away, he walks to work. Weeks ago, the coffee Thermos that Alsum bought at a Fairway Center predecessor decades ago (with a lifetime guarantee) failed, and Ace Hardware replaced it for free.
Mike’s wife, Connie, became a hair stylist and operated a salon also in the Fairway Center until a few years ago.
As a measure of the years passed, Alsum recalls that when he was set up at the Trading Post, “a little blondheaded boy came in for a haircut.” The Harold Kooy family lived nearby, and the boy was Byron Kooy, who would succeed his dad as Alsum’s landlord at the Fairway Center.
Alsum says he will keep being a barber as long as he needs a job to do.
will focus on resources and knowledge that will be helpful for caregivers, as well as allowing caregivers to receive support. The center is at 401 Grover St. For more information, call 360-354-2921 or email info@lyndencommunitycenter.org.
Wednesdays
Everson-Nooksack Senior Center
Gather Wednesdays at the EversonNooksack Senior Center, 201 Jackson St., Nooksack, from 9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. At 9:30 a.m. join us for coffee and conversation, cards, cribbage and puzzles. At 11 a.m. is exercise time, then at noon is lunch, either inside dining or take home your hot meal. By donation ages 60-plus. Meals for anyone younger than 60 are $10. Call 360-966-3144 to leave message for more information.
Julio Aipolito of Bellingham comes to Alsum’s Fairway Barber Shop in Lynden for his haircut. (Cal Bratt for the Tribune)
