Ferndale Record May 25 2022

Page 1

Ferndale Baseball: 3 players selected to all-league teams B1

MAY 25, 2022

SINCE 1885

2022 ELECTIONS

Candidate field set for Aug. 2 primary In just the county’s 42nd Legislative District, 10 are running By Cal Bratt For the Tribune

WHATCOM — Voters will have choices to make already in the Aug. 2 primary election for all three state 42nd Legislative District positions up for grabs. Most of the 10 candidates in the 42nd who made it official in May 16-20 filing were known to be running. The stakes in 2022 are heightened by last November’s death of then-incumbent Sen. Doug Ericksen, Ferndale Republican, and the decision of incumbent state Rep. Sharon Shewmake, Bellingham Democrat, to seek the higher office. Twenty-two-year-old Simon Sefzik, who was appointed by the County Council to fill the Senate vacancy, is running to keep the post while Ben Elenbaas, County Council member who also sought the appointment, is now in the regular election field as a fellow Republican. By offices, these are the candidates in the 42nd District of north Whatcom County: State Senate -- Elenbaas, Sefzik, Shewmake. State Representative, Position 1 -- Incumbent Blaine Democrat Alicia Rule against Republicans Kamal Bhachu, of Blaine and a PeaceHealth senior maintenance engineer, and Tawsha Dykstra Thompson, of Lynden and recently retired Bellingham police officer. State Representative, Position 2 -- Republicans Kyle Christensen, former mayor of Sumas, and Dan Johnson, former towing company owner, along with Democrats Richard May, Blaine City Council member, and Joe Timmons of Bellingham, who worked for the office of Gov. Jay Inslee. Ten signed up for northwest Washington’s Congressional District 2 position that Democrat Rick Larsen of Everett has held for See Candidates on A2

FERNDALE, WASHINGTON • $1.50

Ferndale to observe Juneteenth holiday Bellingham, Nooksack also on board with new federal holiday By Cal Bratt For the Tribune

The Arch of Healing and Reconciliation in downtown Bellingham has been one symbolic measure toward repairing past racial inequity. (Cal

Bratt for the Tribune)

WHATCOM — The new federal Juneteenth holiday will be observed by some, but not all, local governments for the first time in 2022. Getting the holiday into labor bargaining agreements is cited as one reason for not having official observance yet. Juneteenth on June 19 is a commemoration of the end of slavery in the

United States. On that date in 1865, after the Civil War had concluded, federal troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, to announce that more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in that state were free by executive decree. The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, for the abolition of slavery, was ratified in December 1865. African-American communities have celebrated the day for more than 150 years. President Biden made Juneteenth, sometimes called Emancipation Day, a national holiday in 2021. Because it falls on a Sunday this year, the public holiday observance will be on June 20, 2022. The cities of Bellingham, Ferndale See Juneteenth on A7

Solar panels, little libraries, free pantries

Andrew Babson, the Ferndale Food Bank’s new executive co-director (left) and former director Evan Anderson, stand outside of the food bank. (Leora Watson/Ferndale Record)

Ferndale Food Bank welcomes new leadership, other changes By Leora Watson leora@lyndentribune.com

FERNDALE — Solar panels, little libraries, free pantries – even new program directors. Non-profit Ferndale Food Bank is welcome several changes with open arms. The Ferndale Food Bank will install little free libraries and pantries on the

north side of its center this summer so food and other materials can be available for community members whenever they are needed. “We’re only able to offer food distributions really Monday, Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and we know that does not work for everyone’s schedule,” said Evan Anderson, Ferndale Food Bank’s former executive director. “So we’re going to create a little free food and hygiene pantry and a little free library out there so some clients that aren’t able to come during those times will be able to come 24/7 and grab some [items.]” The idea to install free little libraries and pantries came from listening and quietly observing the needs of the clients

of the Ferndale Food Bank, according to Anderson. “We don’t want temporal access to be an issue to receive benefits,” said Anderson. Another goal the food bank has for the little free pantries and libraries is accessibility for bus riding food bank clients due to its close proximity to Ferndale’s park and ride. “So all of the [Whatcom Transportation Authority] bus riding clients, whether or not they’re Ferndale Food Bank clients, will be super welcome to use them as well,” said Anderson. The little free libraries and pantries will be constructed and installed pro bono See Food Bank on A3

Average gas price up 17¢ in past week Record-breaking gas prices won’t stop people from hitting the road this summer Average gasoline prices in Washington have increased 17.7 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $5.15/g on May 23, according to GasBud-

dy’s survey of 2,666 stations in Washington. Prices in Washington are 47.1 cents per gallon greater than a month ago and stand $1.67/g greater than a year ago The price of diesel has increased 22.6 cents nationally in the past week and stands at $5.518 per gallon. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Washington was priced at $4.33/g on May 22 while the most expensive was $6.19/g, a difference of $1.86/g.

The national average price of gasoline has risen 11 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $4.57/g on May 23. The national average is up 45.4 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands $1.55/g higher than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country. See Gasoline on A7

Weather

44 pages • Volume LI • Number 14

Thursday 65°/50° Friday 60°/48° Saturday 61°/46° Sunday 61°/47°

Calendar • A6 Classifieds • B6 Forum • A4

Legal Notices • B5 News • A2 Obituaries • A5

Puzzles • B6 Sports • B1

Early Memorial Day deadline: Noon Friday, May 27 for editorial, advertising, legals, obituaries.


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