Whatcom County Library System Seeks Applicants for Board of Trustees

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Submitted by Whatcom County Library System

Whatcom County residents with a passion for public libraries are encouraged to apply for a vacancy on the Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) Board of Trustees to fill a partial term that runs through January 31, 2017. The term begins immediately upon appointment. Trustees are appointed by the Whatcom County Executive.

“It’s an exciting time to be a trustee for the Whatcom County Library System,” said Christine Perkins, Executive Director. “We’re developing the 2016-2020 strategic plan for the library system and refining the design for a new library facility in Point Roberts.”

Applicants for the open trustee position should be civic-minded, interested in exploring new avenues of library service, and available to attend regular monthly public meetings and occasional special public meetings. Currently, regular meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at 9 a.m. at the WCLS Administrative and Processing Center, 5205 Northwest Drive, Bellingham. The meeting day and time could be changed to accommodate a new trustee’s schedule.

Being a library trustee is both an honor and an important responsibility. Duties include attending meetings, strategic planning, setting policy, approving expenditures and payroll, and adopting an annual budget. Day to day management of WCLS is entrusted to the executive director, who is hired by the Board. Trustees are not compensated except for mileage costs to attend meetings.

Information about WCLS and the library board, including minutes, agendas, and bylaws, can be found athttp://www.wcls.org/library-board-of-trustees. For questions about service on the library board, contact executive director Christine Perkins at 360-305-3600, press 4, then press 201.

Application and instructions are available on the Whatcom County Executive’s website:http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/executive/. Completed applications can be faxed, mailed, or delivered to the Executive’s office, 311 Grand Avenue, Suite 108, Bellingham, 360-676-6717.

Greenhouse: From Plants in 1972 to Everything for Today’s Spirited Home

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WhatcomTalk Editor

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Chris Foss and Foster Rose are pictured on the first day Greenhouse opened for business, in 1972. — Chris Foss and Foster Rose are pictured on the first day Greenhouse opened for business in 1972.

Walk through the doors of Greenhouse, on the bustling downtown Bellingham corner of Holly and Cornwall, and you instantly know you’re somewhere special.

First conceived in 1972 as an indoor plant store, the business has grown (pun intended) from selling simply houseplants to an array of stylish items to outfit every room in the home — from gourmet kitchen items and decorative touches to gifts galore and furnishings for both indoors and out.

Husband-and-wife team Chris Foss and Foster Rose, Northwest Washington natives who met while attending Western Washington University, dreamed up Greenhouse after a trip to San Francisco in the early ’70s.

“We were nearing graduation and went to visit friends who had just opened up the first retail indoor plant store in that city,” says Chris, who comes from a long line of gardeners. “I was completely smitten.”

The idea of selling houseplants enchanted the couple.

“Foster had a small inheritance from the sale of a family home and he put that toward the business,” she continues, “for the princely sum of $1,500.”

With no business experience, the couple forged ahead, securing rental space on State Street near the Up and Up (in the building that would eventually become the infamous 3B Tavern and is now home to Wise Buys). The original Greenhouse squeezed into the front of a record store on the main floor of what was then a kind of ’70s hippie mall.

The bright, airy store encompasses three floors and 15,000 square feet. — The bright, airy store encompasses three floors and 15,000-square-feet.

“We were rapidly dismayed to find ourselves in the middle of bad rock and roll,” Chris says with a laugh.

Her father didn’t initially share the couple’s enthusiasm for the idea. “He was like, ‘You’re opening a what?’” Chris says, still laughing. “He often said Greenhouse’s tagline should be: Bet ’em high and sleep in the streets.”

She’s then quick to point out the fundamental cornerstone of entrepreneurial personality — and the reason Greenhouse became what it is: optimism.

That hopefulness saw Chris and Foster through many years and several moves, as Greenhouse evolved into a successful and highly regarded Bellingham retail institution.

Their first move — to escape the noise — was to the corner of Railroad and Chestnut, where The Woods Coffee now occupies the bottom corner of the Washington Grocery Building. The second move, in 1976, was to Holly Street (now home to the Teriyaki Bar).

“In 1986, the mall was going in and the majors were moving out of downtown,” Chris says, “so we felt we needed to be more of a destination location. And to do that, we needed a bigger space and a higher price point.”

Enter furnishings.

Greenhouse is any Le Creuset fan's dream. — Greenhouse is any Le Creuset fan’s dream.

“We were already doing some small furniture, more of an IKEA-level product,” Chris says. “We decided we needed to grow up.”

The couple wanted to offer things shoppers couldn’t find elsewhere in town — at the new mall or downtown.

“It was challenging,” she says, “but it worked. We didn’t know a lot about the furniture business and you make mistakes, but you learn and go on.”

Adding upscale furniture to its offerings was just part of the natural evolution of Greenhouse. In the ’70s, the store had followed the blossoming of the gourmet cooking trend, adding cookware items to help the American masses that were suddenly interested in European-style cooking.

“There was such an enormous cultural shift,” Chris says, which included shoppers moving away from heirloom china and Waterford crystal toward everyday items that were beautiful — such as Dansk and Marimekko — but not considered so precious.

Greenhouse offers an array of furniture, from dining room tables and chairs to sofas and accent pieces.

The couple even chose to sell Starbucks coffee back when it could hardly be found in town.

“We just wanted really good coffee,” says Chris. “So we said, ‘Let’s sell that!’”

A couple years after that ’86 move — the location in which it remains today — the store expanded into the rest of the footprint of the Mount Baker Building; in 2000, spread even further.

Initially an 8,000-square-foot store, Greenhouse now comprises 15,000-square-feet of showroom and storage space, with a nearby warehouse where all receiving occurs and furniture items wait to be delivered.

The store has always been a reflection of Chris and Foster’s own interests, as well as what they saw friends and staff members wanting — but listening to customers has been key to Greenhouse’s success.

“It’s always about where the customers lead you,” Chris says. “They tell us about other stores they love, products they’re looking for, and what catches their eye.”

She also credits her 25 employees as being integral in making the store what it has become.

“Our staff have always been our great consumers, as well,” Chris says. “They’re quick to tell me if I’m missing something or bought the wrong thing. It’s really helpful, and I love it.”

Beautiful tableware is found throughout the store, lining shelves and creating gorgeous vignettes.

Chris feels fortunate, in an industry that often sees high turnover, to have folks who have been with the store for more than 20 years.

“We try really hard to have our staff mirror the age range of our customers because customers’ shopping habits are different at different points in their lives,” she says. “They’re incredible and always have my back.”

Chris is the store’s buyer, often traveling to trade shows to see the latest in trends and innovations. These days, Foster works mostly at the warehouse, in customer service. “He also brings me my lunch,” Chris says with a laugh.

Being involved in the community has always been important to them both. Chris served on the Whatcom Museum board and has long supported the arts. Foster sat on the City Council for eight years and worked to establish the organization that is now known as the Downtown Bellingham Partnership; he has participated on many boards, was president of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County, and previously volunteered with the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center.

Visitors to the store often ask Chris why Greenhouse isn’t in Seattle, where it would fit in — and still shine — seamlessly.

Greenhouse strives to outfit every room in the house with a concentration on home furnishings, decor, tabletop items, and gifts. — Greenhouse strives to outfit every room in the house with a concentration on home furnishings, decor, tabletop items and gifts.

“Because this is where we want to be and what’s right for us,” she says, emphatically. “We want to be in a community where we can make a difference.”

She believes strongly that Bellingham deserves amazing offerings (from shopping to food to the arts, and beyond) equal to those found in Seattle or any other stylish city.

“I want this store to be as nice as it can be. There’s always more I want to do with it,” she says, “but it’s important to me that we don’t ever settle.”

At the end of the day, Chris and Foster feel as passionate now about Greenhouse and its place in our fantastic community as they did in 1972. It’s also still downright fun for Chris to suss out and buy the pieces she believes her customers will adore.

“I love the hunt,” she says. “I love to surprise them.”

Greenhouse
1235 Cornwall Avenue
Bellingham WA 98225
360-676-1161
info@greenhousehome.com

Hours:
Monday through Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday: 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Highly Ranked Pros Compete in Lynden PRCA Rodeo

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WhatcomTalk Editor

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Submitted by Lynden PRCA Rodeo

JW_Harris_action — Some of the top professional cowboys and cowgirls in the country will compete in the 11th Lynden PRCA Rodeo on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 18 and 19.

Some of the top professional cowboys and cowgirls in the country will compete in the 11th Lynden PRCA Rodeo on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 18 and 19.

Nine of the top 20 cowboys in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s all-around standings as of August 11 will compete in the Lynden PRCA Rodeo, held during the Northwest Washington Fair. They are led by Tuf Cooper, second with $87,405 in prize earnings so far this year. Cooper also is the leader in tie-down roping.

Others ranked high in all-around standings who will be in Lynden are: 3, JoJo LeMond, $82,196; 9, Clayton Haas, $60,094; 11, Doyle Hoskins, $53,985; 12, Jordan Ketscher, $53,621; 14, Dakota Eldridge, $52,013; 15, Steven Dent, $45,930; 16, Trenten Montero, $38,593; 18, Billy Bob Brown, $36,457.

Rodeo performances start at 7:30 p.m. both evenings with competition in bull riding, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping and barrel racing. Rodeo tickets, which don’t include admission to the fair, are $15 apiece.

The Tough Enough to Wear Pink Day (TWETP), an initiative to raise awareness and money for breast cancer patients during and after treatment, will be conducted Tuesday. Rodeo contestants and fans are encouraged to wear pink that evening. Last year the Lynden PRCA Rodeo donated $35,000 to the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Center in Bellingham for breast cancer patient care and research.

For more information or to buy tickets, call 360-354-4111 or visit www.lyndenrodeo.com.

Sustainable Connections Celebrates September During Eat Local Month

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WhatcomTalk Editor

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sustainable connections farm tour — A Farm Tour visitor pets a cow at Appel Farms on the 7th annual Whatcom County Farm Tour.

Submitted by Sustainable Connections

A Farm Tour visitor pets a cow at Appel Farms on the 7th annual Whatcom County Farm Tour. — In celebration of Eat Local month, Sustainable Connections is coordinating the annual Whatcom County Farm Tour on Saturday, September 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sustainable Connections Food and Farming Program announces the return of a month-long celebration in September highlighting local foods, farmers, and fishers. With the help of local businesses, farms and restaurants, Whatcom County will have the opportunity to celebrate “Eat Local Month” with cooking classes, a food trek, movies, cruises, special dinners, a farm tour and more.

“The month-long celebration gives us a specific way to say thanks and support local farms and food businesses that provide and seek out local food for us!” said Sara Southerland, Food & Farming Manager at Sustainable Connections. “Pick up an Eat Local Month passport and start eating your way through this festive month.”

In celebration of Eat Local month, Sustainable Connections is coordinating the annual Whatcom County Farm Tour on Saturday, September 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is self-guided, family friendly, free and features ten farms, one winery and one farmers market. (See all 12 farm tour stops and descriptions here). Attendees can become a Farm Tour VIP with a $25+ donation, and reap the benefits of a VIP goodie bag, coupons for tour stops and a few local goodies. VIP passes can be purchased at Sustainable Connections or at any of the Farm Tour stops on the day of the tour.

Twenty-one participating restaurants throughout the county will offer an Eat Local Month special dish, made up of 50 percent or more locally sourced ingredients – anything grown, raised or produced within Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan or Island Counties. And seven local grocers and markets will offer in season local products, individuals who purchase $10 worth of local produce during September from these businesses will receive a stamp on their Eat Local Month Passport, more details below.

Many farms, businesses and organizations will also be hosting a wide variety edible events including:

Incognito Dinner by Ciao Thyme
Bow Hill Blueberries Field Dinner
Oktoberfest Brewers Cruise with Boundary Bay Brewery
Bite of Bellingham
Community Food Co-op Farm Fund Hootenanny

Individuals can earn one of four grand prizes by picking up an Eat Local Month passport and
having it stamped at participating restaurants, grocers, markets and venues and events.

Additional passport information, farm tour details, and a list of events and prizes, will be listed in Sustainable Connection’s Eat Local Month Guide available in August at the Community Food Co-op, Village Books, Bellingham and Whatcom County public libraries and visitors centers, farmers markets, Whatcom Farmers Co-op stores, Haggens, participating restaurants, local newspapers and online at eatlocalfirst.org.

“Unhinged: Book Art on the Cutting Edge” Comes to Whatcom Museum September 27

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WhatcomTalk Editor

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Submitted by Whatcom Museum

“Unhinged: Book Art on the Cutting Edge” surveys recent directions in book art through the diverse work of 60 prominent artists in the field from across the US, and including Australia, Canada, and Great Britain. Opening in the Whatcom Museum’s Lightcatcher Building on September 27, 2015 and showing through January 3, 2016, the exhibition explores the limitless potential of the book as an independent, creative medium through both intimately scaled pieces and large installations.

“Unhinged” highlights a myriad of styles and processes. Many artists carve old volumes or twist their pages into unique, sculptural configurations. Others make their own books and experiment with a multitude of different formats: accordion, concertina, pop-up, tunnel, among others. Some artists reconfigure ancient book forms, such as the scroll or codex, to create unique artworks. Books are often combined with other materials, both manufactured and natural, such as plastic, crystals, and twigs, to astonishing effects.

The exhibition also presents artists’ personal experiences, including messages about identity, human justice issues, and environmental concerns. From political statements to metaphysical ideas, book artists interpret their medium through expressive and sometimes humorous constructions.

Curator of art Barbara Matilsky notes, “As many people are not familiar with books used in art, “Unhinged” will open viewers’ eyes to the beauty, complexity, and cultural significance of the book. With digital media quickly surpassing books as a means of communication, the idea that artists can infuse new life into this traditional object underscores the continued importance of the tome in daily life. Once again, books have become vitally relevant as artists expand the physical boundaries of text and volume to express a wide range of ideas.”

unhinged 3 — The exhibition will feature a hands-on display created by Hedi Kyle, one of the pioneers of book art, showcasing a variety of styles and formats.

The exhibition features artists who revolutionized the field, including Doug Beube, Julie Chen, Timothy Ely, Ann Hamilton, Buzz Spector, and Richard Minsky, as well as younger artists who have become internationally renowned, such as Long-Bin Chen, Brian Dettmer, Andrea Deszö, and Guy Laramée. “Unhinged” also includes many artists from Washington State: Casey Curran, Donald Glaister, Morse Clary, Marie Eckstein Gower, Deborah Greenwood, James Koss, Jessica Spring, Elsi Vasdall Ellis, Thomas Wood, Suze Woolf, and Ellen Ziegler.

The exhibition will feature a hands-on display created by Hedi Kyle, one of the pioneers of book art, showcasing a variety of styles and formats. Visitors will be able to handle these volumes, which will convey the intimacy and kinetic component of many works exhibited in the show.

Matilsky believes that, “after visiting this exhibition, viewers will never look at a book in the same way again.”

The Whatcom Museum will host a variety of programs and events in conjunction with the exhibition throughout the fall. The museum is also partnering with regional artists and organizations, offering concurrent exhibits and workshops. Visit www.whatcommuseum.org for a list of programs that highlight this exhibition.

Photo courtesy of Whatcom Museum.

Youngstock’s Country Farms: Family Owned, 40 Years and Counting

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Katie Atkins

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Youngstock's Country Farms is open seven days a week at 2237 James Street in Bellingham.

By Katie Atkins

If you’re a Bellingham native, you’re probably familiar with the outdoor produce market located on James Street. Youngstock’s Country Farms has been around for a number of years, and unlike weekly farmers markets that take place just one day a week, Youngstock’s is open daily, April through the Christmas season.

As a Bellingham native, I remember visiting Youngstock’s Country Farms with my mom as a kid. More recently I can recall stepping onto the market’s sawdust floor and soaking up the joyful atmosphere, listening to the light-hearted chatter between workers and customers before happily accepting a sample of white melon from a Youngstock’s employee.

Nate Van Tuinen quickly introduced himself as I bit into the cool, refreshing melon. Nate has been employed by Youngstock’s since May and has loved every moment of it. “It’s busy every day,” he cheerfully shares. “Even on the rainy days,” he adds.

Washington shoppers aren’t shy when it comes to outdoor markets and ugly weather. And with Youngstock’s vast and colorful selection of fruit and produce, it’s obvious why shoppers have been coming back to this local market for more than 40 years.

Founder of Country Farms Jay Waters poses for camera back in the late 1940s. — Founder of Country Farms Jay Waters poses for the camera back in the late 1940s.

It was 1972 when John Chartier opened the James Street market, and Youngstock’s has been a local source for all things farm fresh in Bellingham ever since. An affiliate of Country Farms, Youngstock’s is backed by another Western Washington business similarly built from the ground up.

During the mid-40s, a man by the name of Jay Waters started selling fruits and veggies from the back of his pickup truck. In the years that followed, Waters upgraded to a bigger rig, and by the mid-1950s he had collected a small fleet of trucks. The small, local produce company currently hauls fresh produce from Washinton, Arizona and California to the five farm stands it serves in Edmonds, Everett, Lake Stevens, Burlington and Bellingham.

Today, Country Farms has grown from a one-man operation to a business employing more than 180 people throughout the season. And just as the markets and business have multiplied, the variety of items sold has multiplied as well. While fresh fruit and produce make up the bulk of the items Country Farms delivers to markets like Youngstock’s, the local business also offers a variety of nursery items, dairy products and even Christmas trees during the holiday season.

An open air market is something quite different from a regular grocery store. There’s a certain ambiance that it gives off, leaving the shopper to explore something vastly different and much more engaging than a produce section. With Youngstock’s inventory stocked with a variety of items from Country Farms, the feeling you get shopping at Youngstock’s is one reminiscent of community and family. Of course, that could also be because Youngstock’s, like Country Farms, is family owned.

Though John retired nearly 10 years ago, he’s always been able to trust in his family to continue the legacy he started so many decades ago. Today Youngstock’s is managed by John’s son, Tristan, who knows the store well. After all, he started working there as soon as he was old enough to walk.

After spending four years in the Navy, working as a firefighter and even starting his own tree business, Tristan returned to the family business to continue what his father started. In Tristan’s words, “Youngstock’s is my dad’s legacy.” Continuing Youngstock’s as a family-owned business is important to Tristan not just because it’s a continuation of his dad’s legacy, but because it’s a commitment to the rest of the Chartier’s family: the community. “The customers are the best part of this job,” says Tristan.

Backed by the support of the community it serves, Youngstock’s continues to provide fresh produce in the same location where it got its starts so many years ago. Want to experience this outdoor market firsthand? Visit Youngstock’s at 2237 James Street seven days a week, or contact the farmstand at 360-733-1866.

Whatcom County Library Announces New Manager at North Fork Community Library

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WhatcomTalk Editor

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Submitted by Whatcom County Library System

Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) is pleased to welcome David Austin as the new library manager at the North Fork Community Library.

A woodworker, a graduate from Western Washington University (WWU), and a family man, Austin grew up in Moses Lake, moving to Bellingham to get his bachelor’s degree in English and working at WWU’s Wilson Library as a student assistant. With his passion for woodworking, Austin created custom residential cabinets and casework at Visser Cabinetworks for seven years.

Austin found his career path in libraries after moving to Seattle and working at a small university library. He applied and was accepted into the University of Washington’s Information School, then worked as a librarian for four years in Seattle. “I became a librarian because I love seeing the light that comes on in people’s eyes (and lives) when they realize the worlds of possibility that are available through the library’s collections and resources,” Austin said.

Having a young son reminded Austin and his wife about their long-term plans to return to Whatcom County. So they sold their house in Seattle and Austin returned to work as a cabinetmaker for a time before being hired as the manager at the North Fork Community Library.

When asked why he believes libraries are important in this age of electronic access, Austin had a ready answer. “Public libraries are a place of refuge, discovery, and community,” said Austin. “Library staff are also important because their knowledge and expertise helps library users access the wealth of electronic resources available through the library (many of which aren’t available elsewhere or incur an additional fee), as well as aid users in navigating the extensive materials available on the open web,” he continued.

What’s on Austin’s list of current reading? “Mistborn” by Brandon Sanderson; “Quiet, The Power of Introverts in A World That Can’t Stop Talking” by Susan Cain; “The Design of Everyday Things” by Donald Norman; “You are Not a Gadget” by Jaron Lanier; and “The Ruins of Gorlan,” first in the “Rangers Apprentice” series by John Flanagan, to name a few. Austin loves to read whatever his son brings home from his weekly trip to the library — books about cars, trains, dinosaurs, cats, dogs, boys, girls, diggers, rockets; the list is as endless as what the library has to offer.

Welcome Austin to the North Fork Community Library on your next visit. The library is open regular hours during construction of the roundabout at the intersection of SR 547 and the Mount Baker Highway (SR 542) in Kendall, right in the library’s front yard. Regular hours are Mondays 10-6, Tuesdays and Thursdays 10-8, and Saturdays 10-5.

August Author Talk at Village Books

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WhatcomTalk Editor

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Submitted by Village Books

The dog days of summer are here and hot temperatures create the perfect conditions for reading under shady trees or retreating inside to air conditioned spaces. Load up on new titles at Village Books, then stick around for one of the store’s many author talks, featuring local and visiting authors.

Tuesday, August 11, 7:00 p.m.
Phoebe Wahl, “Sonya’s Chickens” — Children’s Book, Local Author

Sonya raises her three chickens from the time they are tiny chicks. She feeds them, shelters them and loves them. Everywhere Sonya goes, her chicks are peeping at her heels. Under her care, the chicks grow into hens and even give Sonya a wonderful gift: an egg! One night, Sonya hears noises coming from the chicken coop and discovers that one of her hens has disappeared. Where did the hen go? What happened to her? When Sonya discovers the answers, she learns some important truths about the interconnectedness of nature and the true joys and sorrows of caring for another creature.

Artist Phoebe Wahl’s work focuses on themes of comfort, nostalgia and intimacy with nature. She grew up unschooled in Washington State, and credits her free spirited childhood in the Northwest for much of her inspiration and work ethic. She works in a variety of mediums, from watercolor and collage to fabric sculpture. Phoebe graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Illustration and currently lives in Bellingham, Washington.

Wednesday, August 13, 7:00 p.m.
Dean R. Blanchard, “Sarah Covington” — Fiction, Local Author

“Sarah Covington” opens with a double tragedy and its consequences as they affect the everyday lives of its small-town citizens. The Covington family history is a passionate account of shady real estate dealings, treachery, and dangerous assumptions. Yet one gets glimpses of the untold and sometimes secret motives that pull both friends and enemies into the intrigues and mysteries that some prefer would remain in the closet. Open the doors in the various Covington closets and pull out the images that are stored there, some lovingly, and some not.

Dean R. Blanchard served for twenty years in the United States Navy before he began healing from his past through writing. He is also the author of the short story collection “Pieces of Broken China.” He currently lives in Washington State.

Monday, August 17, 7:00 p.m.
Toni Weschler, “Taking Charge of Your Fertility: 20th Anniversary Edition”

For two decades, “Taking Charge of Your Fertility” has helped literally hundreds of thousands of women avoid pregnancy naturally, maximize their chances of getting pregnant, or simply gain better control of their gynecological and sexual health. Toni Weschler thoroughly explains the empowering Fertility Awareness Method (FAM), which in only a couple of minutes a day allows you to: Enjoy highly effective and scientifically proven birth control without chemicals or devices Maximize your chances of conception before you see a doctor or resort to invasive high-tech options Expedite your fertility treatment by quickly identifying impediments to pregnancy achievement Gain control and a true understanding of your gynecological and sexual health. This new edition for the twentieth anniversary of the groundbreaking national bestseller provides all the information you need to monitor your menstrual cycle along with updated information on the latest reproductive technologies. This event is presented in partnership with Fairhaven Health.

Toni Weschler, MPH, has a master’s degree in public health and is a nationally respected women’s health educator and speaker. She is also the author of Cycle Savvy, a book for teenage girls about their bodies. A frequent guest on television and radio shows, she lives in Seattle, Washington.

Tuesday, August 18, 7:00 p.m.
Stacy Weber, “Trailer Park Gospel” — Memoir

For Stacy Weber, faith comes in mysterious ways – and sometimes the Good News shows up in not-so-good places. Weber’s debut memoir takes us on a profound, often hilarious quest, from the trailer parks of San Francisco, to the bodywork table of an “unconventional” therapist named Phillip. As Weber confronts her darkness head on, she learns some surprising truths, especially about her faith. Trailer Park Gospel teaches us how to jump into our lives as Jesus meant them to be—full of relationships, love, and forgiveness. And, of course, to look for the Good News wherever we go.

Stacy J. Weber is a scientist, a cartographer, and a writer. She grew up in Southern California and has explored the West from former homes based in Bellingham, Washington and Durango, Colorado. Stacy now lives with her husband in the San Francisco Bay Area. “Trailer Park Gospel” is her first book.

Wednesday, August 19, 7:00 p.m.
Jennifer Steil, “The Ambassador’s Wife” — Fiction

When bohemian artist Miranda falls in love with Finn, the British ambassador to an Arab country, she finds herself thrust into a life for which she has no preparation. The couple and their toddler daughter live in a stately mansion with a staff to meet their every need, but for Miranda even this luxury comes at a price: the loss of freedom. Trailed everywhere by bodyguards to protect her from the dangers of a country wracked by civil war and forced to give up work she loves, she finds her world shattered when she is taken hostage, an act of terror with wide-reaching consequences.

Jennifer Steil is the author of The Woman Who Fell from the Sky, a memoir about her experiences running a newspaper in Yemen. She lives in Bolivia, where her husband is the European Union ambassador.

Thursday, August 20, 7:00 p.m.
Anker Frankoni, “Mexican Eskimo” — Fiction

Spend an evening with author Anker Frankoni as he shares poems, songs, stories, and passages from the first release in his Mexican Eskimo trilogy, to explain the complex turn of events that led him down the writers’ path. An intricate layer-cake of commingled family trees and karmic collisions, Frankoni’s novel tackles the problem—and blessing—of being made human, and managing the people who invited us here. “Mexican Eskimo” is a love story that weaves the silken threads of faith, trust and hope into a lifeline of spiritual guidance that tethers our present-day experience to a world of creation magic that existed so long before now, that time itself had not yet started to measure itself in years.

Anker Frankoni is part Joker, part Thief, part Joyful, part Grief, but he strives above all to be a Defender of the Right and Pursuer of Lofty Undertakings. His first novel, “Mexican Eskimo,” is a tale of two lives, separated by the one he’s currently occupying, which he calls #Fictionwithamission — 10 percent of all his writer’s income goes directly to non-profit groups working to help stop child-abuse.

Friday, August 21, 7:00 p.m.
William Ritter, “Beastly Bones: A Jackaby Novel”

Detective of the Paranormal R. F. Jackaby and his assistant, Abigail Rook, embark on a new case in “Beastly Bones,” the second book in the Jackaby young adult series, when a string of mysterious murders suggests a mythological monster may be on the loose.

William Ritter began writing the Jackaby series in the middle of the night when his son was still an infant. After getting up to care for him, Will would lie awake, his mind creating rich worlds and fantasies—such as the one in New Fiddleham. Ritter lives and teaches in Springfield, Oregon. “Beastly Bones” is his second novel.

Saturday, August 22, 4:00 p.m.
Samuel Fromartz, “In Search of the Perfect Loaf: A Home Baker’s Odyessy” — Presented in Partnership with BreadLab

Sam Fromartz never set out to be a baker. All he wanted was good bread to eat at home. Commissioned to write an article about learning to make a perfect baguette, he set off on an adventure that took him to bakeries in Paris, California, Oregon, Vermont, Berlin and New York. So began his quest to hone not just his homemade French loaf – which later beat out professional bakers to win “Best Baguette of D.C.” – but his knowledge of bread, from seed to table. After sweating and learning in the baking rooms of the world-famous Pichard, and Delmontel boulangeries, and talking to farmers, millers, and bakers in Berlin, the south of France, and all around the US, Fromartz distilled his experiences into a book. With the curiosity and sharp investigative skills of a journalist, he discovers what makes a great flour, how grains are grown and milled. He reveals the science of sourdough and how anyone who is willing to try and fail at first can replicate magnificent bakery-quality bread at home. “In Search of the Perfect Loaf” is a treat for anyone interested in good food writing. Fromartz teaches us to appreciate real bread and will lead readers who are not already bakers to learn what it means to bake and eat a good loaf.

Samuel Fromartz is a longtime journalist and editor. He began his career at Reuters, where he was a correspondent covering business and economic issues. Fromartz began baking bread at home around 1996 and has been making bread ever since. In 2010, he helped found the non-profit Food & Environment Reporting Network, an independent non-profit journalism organization focusing on food, agriculture and environmental health that is supported by foundations and individual donors. He is now its Editor in Chief. His work has appeared in “The New York Times,” “The Washington Post,” and “The Atlantic,” among other publications. He lives in Washington, D.C.

Thursday, August 27, 7:00 p.m.
John Morgan, “Archives of The Air” — Poetry

As caribou encounter the oil pipeline on Alaska’s North Slope and cranes navigate the towering mountains of the Alaska Range, Archives of the Air brings the reader in contact with the fascinating world of the far north. Explorations of history, art, and family round out this wide-ranging collection by one of Alaska’s most celebrated poets.

In 1976, John Morgan moved with his family to Fairbanks, Alaska, where for many years he directed the Creative Writing program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. His poems have appeared in The New Yorker, Poetry, The American Poetry Review, The New Republic, The Paris Review, and many other magazines. In 2009, he served as the first writer-in-residence at Denali National Park. Annie Dillard writes that Morgan’s poems “are strong and full of carefully controlled feeling. They are tender and precise evocations of the moral and sensory life of man.”

Friday, August 28, 7:00 p.m.
Robert L. Slater, “Straight Into Darkness” — Local Author

What if safety felt like prison? How does a girl who never had a place in the world before it ended, find her place in the new world? Ninety-five percent of the people on the planet are dead. Lizzie is pregnant from an end of world one-night stand, and the situation is complicated. Her family, her friends, the government of Provo – now known as “The City” and one of the last outposts of civilization: all want to keep her safe. And it’s driving her nuts. She should be staying safe inside the walls of The City, but she’s got to get out. A dangerous mission is exactly what she needs right now.

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Robert L. Slater wanted to be an astronaut or a rock star. At 42, he gave up those dreams to become a writer of science fiction and fantasy, where he can pretend to be both. Like some of his characters, he has a propensity for speaking in lines from 80s movies, drinking Mountain Dew and eating pizza. He loves music as a listener, a zealous fan, a guitar player, and a singer/songwriter.

Sunday, August 30, 4:00 p.m.
Judith Kirscht, “Hawkins Lane” — Fiction

The son of a murderer, Ned Hawkins has resigned himself to an outsider’s existence until he meets Erica Romano, daughter of the town’s new doctor. Their love of the mountains overcomes their dissonant background, and they fall in love and create a life for themselves as forest rangers in the North Cascades—until the release of Ned’s father from prison disrupts the harmony. Ned’s renewed fatalism sets off a chain of disasters that bring both face-to-face with the destructive power of their pasts and throw their future into doubt.

Originally from Chicago, Judith Kirscht raised her family in Michigan and taught writing at the Universities of Michigan and California, Santa Barbara before moving to Washington State to devote herself to writing fiction. She has previously published “Nowhere Else to Go,” “The Inheritors, and Home Fires.” “Home Fires” was a finalist for the Nancy Pearl Award, given by the Pacific Northwest Writers Association for the best mainstream novel published in 2013 and finalists for the Readers Favorite Review 2014 Awards in the general and realistic fiction categories.

Whatcom Transportation Authority Offers Free Rides August 16 through 22

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WhatcomTalk Editor

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Submitted by Whatcom Transportation Authority

whatcom smart trips camps — Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) will provide free rides on all buses (except Route 80X to Mt. Vernon) from August 16 through August 22, 2015.

Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) will provide free rides on all buses (except Route 80X to Mt. Vernon) from August 16 through August 22, 2015.

For riders headed to the Northwest Washington Fair, WTA is also offering a special 10 pm bus from the fairgrounds back to Bellingham. This 10 pm bus will depart from a bus stop across the street from the fairgrounds, between Bank of the Pacific and Umpqua Bank. It will make two stops: Cordata Station, located near Whatcom Community College, and downtown’s Bellingham Station.

In addition to the special 10 pm bus, WTA’s Route 26 provides regular bus service to the fairgrounds, departing from Cordata Station between the hours of 6:50 a.m. and 6:50 p.m. on weekdays. On Saturdays, Route 26 departs Cordata station between the hours of 8:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m.

For more information, passengers can call 360-676-RIDE (7433) or visit www.ridewta.com/route_26.

Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center Calls for 2015 Peace Builder Awards Nominations

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WhatcomTalk Editor

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2014 Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center Peace Builder award recipients. — PB Gala 2014 Peace Builder Award Recipients. Photo Credit: Phil Rose Photography.

Submitted by Whatcom Dispute Resolution

Nominations are open for the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center (WDRC) 13th Annual Peace Builder Awards.

Who deserves recognition for outstanding contributions to our community and local peace building? Who has made Whatcom County a better place? Who has brought our community together?

The WDRC seeks nominations for individuals or groups that creatively resolved conflict, contributed to peaceful dispute resolution, promoted reconciliation, effective communication or understanding between divergent groups/people in the past year. Nominations for individuals or groups should consider these categories: healthcare, public servant, community member, organization/business, program, volunteer, youth/student, education, and arts. The nomination deadline is September 18th, 2015.

In the past 12 years, over 125 individuals and groups from all walks of life have been honored for a myriad of contributions to peace building in Whatcom County. Previous Peace Builder Award recipients include:

Alice Clark & the Sunnyland Stomp – For uniting our community through art, creativity, and celebration (2014).
Megan Hall – a then 10 year old who took the pain of losing a dear friend to cancer and directed it towards alleviating pain in others (2011).
Swil Kanim – for bringing peace through his music and stories; helping people express and honor themselves by mirroring to each person their worth and unique gifts (2008).

A complete list of past Peace Builder Award Recipients can be found at whatcomdrc.org.

Electronic and printable Peace Builder Awards Nomination forms are online at www.whatcomdrc.org and at the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center, located at 13 Prospect Street, Suite 201 in Bellingham. For questions or more information, contact Iris at outreach@whatcomdrc.org or 360-676-0122.

Recipients will be celebrated at the 13th Annual Peace Builder Awards Gala on November 20, 2015; an uplifting event with a theme of celebrating people who are putting the pieces together for creative conflict resolution in our neighborhoods, our schools and our community. In addition to the awards, the gala will feature live music, a chef-inspired dinner, a silent auction, and grand prize raffle. Proceeds of the annual gala benefit the WDRC’s mission; to provide and promote constructive and collaborative approaches to conflict through mediation, training, facilitation and community education.

“I personally invite everyone in Whatcom County to help us recognize those community members who inspire collaboration, embody peace, and give hope to our community.” — WDRC Executive Director, Moonwater.

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