Everson-Nooksack News
Lynden Tribune | Ferndale Record | Wednesday, July 10, 2019
Ron Bruland is parade grand marshal
Ron Bruland has had a lifetime associated with driving school buses. (Tribune file photo)
‘Behind the scenes,’ he has been active in the community for more than 50 years EVERSON — The EversonNooksack Summer Festival has selected its annual grand marshal for the Saturday family-oriented parade at 11 a.m. along Main Street: Ron Bruland. “I’m a ‘behind-the-scenes’ person,” he said. Bruland, who is now officially retired, has lived in the Everson community all his life except his first seven years, which were in Bellingham. Now age 77, he grew
up on a farm on Siper Road, spent three years in the U.S. Army, came back for a stint of farming himself and then found his niche in the transportation department of the Mount Baker School District. He drove school bus for 36 years, retired and then spent another 12 years as a substitute driver. “I’m a person who has to do something,” he said of his desire to stay busy. He also has retired from being a volunteer firefighter and EMT for 30 years with Whatcom County Fire District 1 serving Everson, Nooksack and Nugents Corner, but he does continue to be involved at the Immanuel Lutheran church as the treasurer and custodian. He and wife Judy Bruland have been married for 55 years. Son Mike Bruland and daughter Mon-
ica Bruland, who both graduated from Mount Baker High School, “live within four miles of us.” The Brulands also have an 18-year-old granddaughter. In his special memories of life in Everson, one definitely stands out: the Lions Club. Now in his 52nd year as a member, Ron has been the treasurer of the club for 48 of those years. “It’s the best thing I’ve done,” he says. In that tenure, he was part of the Lions group in Lynden initially and helped establish Camp Horizon, which uses the former U.S. Air Force base at Birch Bay. On the first evening of camp, the Lions always prepare a welcoming barbecue for the campers, he said. In addition to this honor, The Lynden Tribune selected Bruland as its Man of the Year in 2011.
Three days of community fun in Everson and Nooksack EVERSON-NOOKSACK — The 2019 Summer Festival runs Friday through Sunday, July 12-14, bringing fun for the whole family to the two cities’ parks. The parade down Main Street is at 11 a.m. Saturday. Staging is at Christ Fellowship Church, 1208 E. Main. Contact Scott Mitchell at 360-303-5451 to be in it; email entries to scott1042@ gmail.com. 3-on-3 basketball is both Friday and Saturday at Everson City Park. A Car Show and Shine sponsored by Everson NAPA Auto Parts will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday on Lincoln Street between Kirsch and Washington. Live music comes to Everson City Park. It’s Still Kickin’ at 6 p.m. Friday and Joe Harkness Hanson at 2 p.m. Saturday. At 2 p.m. Sunday the Glen Echo Community Club’s horseshoe tournament is in Nooksack City Park. Also on the schedule: • a Friends of the Everson Library book sale. • vendors in Everson Park. • the Lions Club barbecue. • a pancake breakfast in the Everson Senior Center. • a softball tournament at Everson Riverside Park. • kids’ games.
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New playground at Nooksack Elementary Mount Baker Rotary contributing to project By Hailey Palmer hailey@lyndentribune.com
NOOKSACK — A new playground is being built at Nooksack Elementary School with the help of the Mount Baker Rotary Club. The club contributed $36,000 to the Nooksack Valley School District after the district submitted an application for a grant in April. Past Rotary president Craig Telgenhoff said that when the application was submitted, the school district had raised $42,000 toward an estimated budget of $110,000. Mount Baker Rotary frequently partners with school projects in the area. “Our club is partnered with local schools and we serve all Lynden schools both public and private,” Telgenhoff said. “We serve Nooksack, Mount Baker and Meridian. This was a project the school brought to us and requested support.” Installation of the new playground equipment will be done by local contractors Mike Brevik and Tom Fenton. Removal of the See Playground on C2