by the Foothills Gazette

COUNTY – Areas of eastern Whatcom County received up to 18 inches of snowfall during this week’s storm, with temperatures below freezing and making for icy road conditions and closures. According to the National Weather Service, another strong wet system is coming through on Friday, but will bring heavy rain at times, with more snowfall in higher elevations throughout the weekend.

Snowfall accumulates on mailboxes in Van Zandt along Highway 9. PHOTO BY KELLY MAKARAVAGE

As of Wednesday evening, snow accumulation was as much as 18 inches in the South Fork Valley and Maple Falls-Glacier area, and approximately six inches to a foot and more in other communities.
The Mount Baker and Nooksack Valley school districts – closed Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday – announced closures on Tuesday due to snow and icy road conditions, and continued to be closed through the week.

The Mt. Baker Ski Area, which held its Locals Qualifiers event on Monday for the annual Legendary Banked Slalom, closed on Wednesday due to weather conditions, and reopened as of Thursday morning. Ski area officials recorded an estimated 57 inches of new snow during this week’s storm, giving Mt. Baker Ski Area one of the  deepest snowbases in North America. Snow levels show a 118-inch base at Heather Meadows and 148 inches at Pan Dome.

Ski area officials have issued a deep snow warning to skiers and snowboarders, letting them know to ride with a partner (in sight) and be aware that tree wells and deep snow conditions exist throughout the ski area.

The National Weather Service has issued avalanche and flood watches in some parts of the east county. A watch means conditions are favorable, but it is not imminent or occurring. Temperatures will rise into the 40s over the weekend, and snow levels are expected to fall, creating possible avalanche and flood conditions. Snow levels will begin around 5,500 feet Friday and remain there until late Saturday when it will fall to 2,500 feet. All areas could see excessive surface runoff. The winter storm watch will remain in effect from Friday afternoon through Saturday morning.

The Mt. Baker Highway Department of Transportation crew have been out clearing and sanding the highway, while Whatcom County Public Works crews also worked to clear local roads. Officials said several roads were covered in snow and ice this week, with many drivers staying off the roads. Drivers on Friday morning will likely see a wintry mix of snow, sleet and rain.

“It’s been quite a week in terms of snowfall. It’s not unusual to see this much snow lining the highway east of Glacier. But what’s unusual is that most of it came all at once. We must have got two feet of snow in one night at Power House Hill. Usually it builds up over the course of the winter, but not normally in one night. The teams have done a great job and worked really hard and long hours to keep up with it all,” WSDOT Superintendent Rod Morgan said.

“We actually have two teams that work Mount Baker Highway. We have a seven-person crew stationed at the Shuksan snow camp and a four-person crew stationed at the Maple Falls shed. The Shuksan crew covers the highway from Glacier to the ski area, and they work four ten-hour days each week. The Maple Falls crew covers the highway from Glacier west, and they have been working 12-hour shifts this last week, so we can have two people working days and two working nights. We’ve been on this schedule since last weekend and will continue this way as the weather dictates.”

Morgan added both teams are experienced and dedicated to keeping the highway cleared and safe for drivers. “There’s great communication between the teams, and they work really well together to take care of the highway and drivers. They are truly a pleasure to work with.”

Emergency management officials in Whatcom County are now compiling reports of property damage in Whatcom County due to the winter storm for informational purposes. Residents can report the damage (except for vehicle collisions) to Whatcom Unified Emergency Management at (360) 676-6681.

DEMING – Sustainable Connections awarded five Whatcom County businesses as sustainability champions at the organization’s annual All Members Meeting & Potluck on January 12. The North Fork Brewery was awarded as a Leader in promoting Healthy Environment. “The North Fork has been a leader in choosing local first, buying green power and reducing their waste through SC’s Toward Zero Waste Program,” a press release stated. “They were also one of the first businesses to sign up for an assessment through the Community Energy Challenge and since have made continual energy efficiency improvements, replacing doors, windows, insulation and even a large solar panel array in their parking lot, which has inspired many other businesses around the county to follow suite.” The award categories were leaders in promoting Strong Community, Healthy Environment, Meaningful Employment and Buying Local First as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award.

DUI: Holiday results released
WHATCOM – The results of the recent Holiday DUI enforcement campaign conducted from November 24, 2011 through January 2, 2012 recorded 134 motorists were stopped and arrested for driving under the influence (DUI), and statewide, law enforcement officers arrested 3812 drivers for DUI. In Whatcom County, the Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden and Western Washington University Police Departments, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Patrol, participated in the extra emphasis patrols, with the support of the Whatcom County Traffic Safety Task Force. The extra patrols were funded by a grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. During the same time period, in Whatcom County, the Washington State Liquor Board provided undercover officers to look for violations such as over service and underage drinking.  Officers checked 12 establishments and found two violations that resulted in either warning letters or citations. Last year during the same time period, officers in Whatcom County on routine and extra patrols arrested 151 people for DUI. For additional information about the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, visit www.wtsc.wa.gov.

Wild Seafood Exchange conference aimed at independent fishermen
WHATCOM – The 2012 Wild Seafood Exchange, presented by Fishermen’s News in partnership with the Port of Bellingham, will be held in Bellingham on Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Best Western Plus Lakeway Inn & Conference Center in Bellingham. Previously held in Seattle, the one-day conference is aimed at the independent commercial fisherman who wants to learn about marketing and direct marketing to restaurants, retailers, brokers and seafood buyers. The day includes a Restaurants Speak Panel Discussion, with executive chefs from local restaurants discussing what they look for in wild seafood products and vendors. The moderator will be Peter Philips, publisher of Fishermen’s News. Confirmed panelists as of press time include: Mataio Gillis, of Ciao Thyme; Jim Ashby, of Community Foods Co-op; and Kevin Weatherill, President of The Markets LLC. Izetta Chambers, J.D., of the Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, and Melinda Sweet, of the Desire Fish Company will share information about successful marketing. In addition, participants can learn about funding sources for business operations, new equipment, vessel repowers and new construction. State and federal sources, as well as private lending will be discussed. One-on-one round-table discussions with shipyards, direct marketers, funding experts and colleagues will also be held. Early bird registration through Jan. 20 is $70 per person, and later $90. For more information, visit wildseafoodexchange.com or contact Denise Philips at denise@philipspublishing.com or (206) 284-8285.

Baking, candy contest coming up
COUNTY – The annual County-wide Baking & Candy Contest will be on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at Ten Mile Grange (6958 Hannegan Road, just north of the Pole Road). Entries are due between 10 a.m. and noon that day, and the contest is open to everyone. Grange membership not required. Entry classes include five for children. Recipes need not be original recipes from cookbooks are welcome). That same evening at Ten Mile Grange, a potluck dinner will begin at 6 p.m. Following dinner, an auction of the day’s entries will begin at approximately 6:45 p.m. As the requirements vary for each category, it is important to obtain a copy of the Entry Rules, which are available in the Program Handbook, at www.wa-grange.org and click on “2012-13 Program Handbook,” and look on page 21. For those without internet access, a printed copy of the Rules can be obtained by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Edith Ward, 1440 E. Kelly Road, Bellingham, 98226. For more information, please contact Edith Ward at 398-1296.

by Marnie Jones
COUNTY – Voters in the Nooksack Valley and Mount Baker School Districts are being asked to approve levy measures on the Feb. 14 ballot.

Nooksack Valley
Voters in the Nooksack Valley School District will decide on the district’s request for a general fund levy for educational maintenance and operations as well as a technology and capital projects levy.

The maintenance and operations levy is intended to replace an expiring levy and provides 20 percent of the district’s funding, while the latter is required to fund four specific types of expenditures: classroom technology, energy retrofitting, telephone system replacement, and roofing for district buildings. Both levies are four-year measures, lasting from 2013 to 2016 and expected to bring $3.7 to $4.2 million into the district annually.

Nooksack Valley Superintendent Mark Johnson clarifies that taxpayers need not expect rising costs if the levies are approved. The expiring levy totals 20 percent of the district’s operating funds and the replacement levy on this year’s ballot will do the same if approved. “We’re talking about a large volume of our overall budget,” Johnson emphasized. “It’s really vital.”

The amount will be reduced in 2013 even if both of these levies pass, as the school district will make the final payment on its current bonds in December of next year. This will create what district literature calls a “significant decrease” in the overall tax rate. “That is a red letter day for our tax payers and our community,” according to Superintendent Johnson. “Our community will finally own all these facilities.”

The technology and capital projects levy, which is separate from the replacement general fund levy, would allow the school district to repair roofs and retrofit buildings for energy efficiency. According to Johnson, these upgrades will be based on a completed energy audit which identified 20 items in need of improvement for a total bill of $500,000. The energy cost savings resulting from these improvements would be expected to pay for the repairs in just four years. “It makes good sense to do that,” Superintendent Johnson said.

In addition to roofing and energy retrofitting, the second levy would fund updates to classroom technology and an outdated telephone system. “Our phone system is 25 years old, and we bought it used then,” Johnson said. “We can’t even get parts to repair it anymore.”

As for classroom technology, modern computers and equipment are not part of the state’s contributions to education. A total of $100,000 per year of the proposed levy will go towards technology upgrades for students.

In discussing what funds are needed and how they’ll be used, Superintendent Johnson explained what his district has accomplished with taxpayer support. “Our district has received a lot of awards for student achievement, and we’re proud of that. I’d be embarrassed to ask for levy money if I didn’t feel that our schools were doing good things for kids.”

In addition to being in the top 5 to 10 percent of achieving schools in several state and national studies, the district was one of 15 “outperforming districts” in a Standards and Poor survey of Washington State schools in 2005. This was based on a comparison of demographics to achievement, and relates closely to the districts track record of doing more enrichment with relatively less funding than some other districts.

Mount Baker
Voters in the Mount Baker School District are being asked to approve a 4-year Educational Programs and Operations Replacement Levy and a 6-year Facilities and Technology Levy on Feb. 14. The Mt. Baker School Board unanimously approved the levy amounts and length of each during the Dec. 8 meeting.
If approved, the Educational Programs and Operations Replacement Levy would bring in between $4.87 million and $5.57 million each year from 2013-2016. The levy would help fund the day-to-day operations of the district. The measure is not a new tax but would replace the four-year maintenance and operations levy that expires at the end of 2012.  The Educational Programs and Operational Replacement Levy accounts for about 20 percent of the district’s general fund budget. It helps maintain class size, offsets transportation costs not covered by the state apportionment, as well as after school activities and athletics and curriculum supplies and textbooks.

The Facilities and Technology Levy is proposed as a 6-year measure. It will assist the District in the repairs of roofs and other maintenance needs.  It will also provide technology for student learning and help provide for transportation needs to meet state requirements.  The Mt. Baker School District is the State of Washington’s second largest district geographically and relies heavily on school bus transportation.

The Facilities and Technology measure unlike a bond measure does not require the district to pay interest on the amount and the measure and once approved, will replace a 1997 Bond that will be paid in full at the end of 2013. The Mt. Baker School District also receives state timber revenue to support capital projects.  This measure will allow the school district to continue to qualify for these revenues. This past year that amount was equal to $.503 million dollars.

The two measures, if approved by voters, sets the maximum amount of money the district can collect in property taxes from residents.

The estimated overall school property tax rates range from $4.80 in 2013, to $4.56 per $1,000 in 2016. That means a person with a home assessed at $200,000 would pay $960 in school property taxes in 2013 and $912 in 2016. The total tax rate in 2012 that is already approved by voters is estimated to be at $4.27.  This is a difference of $.53 cents in 2013 and $.29 cents per thousand in 2016.

About $1.30 per $1,000 of the projected tax rate in 2013 is for outstanding district bonds that the voters approved in 1997.

For more information, visit www.mtbaker.wednet.edu/.

The facility, constructed and owned by Whatcom County, is being managed by the non-profit Opportunity Council. A local advisory committee made up of  residents is working with the Opportunity Council.

“With input and participation from the community, the East Whatcom Regional Resource Center will be a vital part of the health, economy and future development of the foothills area,” Executive Director of the Opportunity Council Dave Finet said.

In addition to gathering ideas, the meeting will inform local residents about current facility use and how to reserve space. The center opened in September, and currently houses a Head Start program and offers a community meeting room.

The EWRRC is located at 8251 Kendall Road in the Kendall/Columbia Valley. The Opportunity Council is a local community action agency that provides programs that “help people, change lives,” including emergency and transitional housing, energy assistance and child care resources.

According to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a report of a stabbing in the 8400 block of Cimarron Way in Paradise Lakes at approximately 11 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14. “An adult male was transported by friends to the District 14 Fire Hall suffering from apparent knife wounds,” stated a press release from the WCSO. “Medical treatment was initiated, but the male succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.”

The deceased man was identified as John Thomas “John-John” Anderson, 20, of the Kendall area. He died en route to the hospital.  Whatcom County Medical Examiner Gary Goldfogel said Anderson, who was stabbed with a pocket knife,  suffered a “non-survivable” injury to his heart and bled to death.

WCSO officials said at the time of the initial stabbing report, the Sheriff’s office had also received a call from another male in the area who stated that he had been attacked by several individuals and defended himself with a knife.

The individual who used the knife is 18 years old and is cooperating with authorities, the Sheriff’s Office said. It is believed the stabbing was an act of self-defense and no arrests have been made.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, “It appears that an argument had occurred between a group of individuals in the area, which led to a fight. During the fight, one male was struck in the head with an object. The male then used a pocket knife to defend against the attack, stabbing the assailant.”

“The deceased party was a member of the Insane Clown Posse street gang and was accompanied by six other members of this gang when he confronted the individual who stabbed him,” Sheriff Elfo said.  “The person who stabbed the deceased party was not arrested and our investigation continues to determine if his actions were justified in self-defense.”

The investigation is being forwarded to the Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office.

No further details were available as of press time.

Two community input meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 24, the first at 5:30 p.m. and the second at 7 p.m. in the High School Library.

The application for the position may be viewed at http://www.macnjake.com/searches.php,  the home website for the McPherson & Jacobson search firm.  Applications for superintendent will be accepted until Feb. 27. Following that period, the consultants will perform background/reference checks and meet with the Board on March 13 to report on all applicants.

The School District expects that interviews will be conducted the week of March 19. The Board will review the applicants’ qualifications again on March 22 and hopes to go into final deliberation on March 27.

by Marnie Jones

KENDALL – Kendall Elementary students, teachers and families broke ground on a new garden on Saturday, Dec. 3. The garden, which is being constructed under the guidance of the Common Threads School Garden Collective, will allow students to learn about food, farming, horticulture, and the environment.

Kendall joins 10 other Whatcom County schools in engaging with Common Threads to get their garden started. “School gardens are more sustainable if there’s a garden educator or an outside human resource to keep the energy going,” according to Common Threads’ Tessa Bundy. Having an experienced person come in and rally the troops, she explained, can make the garden more  sustainable.

Saturday’s ground-breaking followed guidelines laid out by a landscape designer who works with Common Threads, but the work to follow will offer opportunity for creative input from the Kendall Elementary community. A garden committee, made up of parents, teachers, and staff, will join Common Threads staff in a visioning process to determine what shape the garden should take in the spring. What to plant and whether to prioritize food crops, vibrant flowers, or a garden theme are all questions that will be answered in a collaborative process over the coming months.

Kendall Elementary principal Charles Burleigh is happy to see the garden starting, and feels that student interest will grow now that the first visible progress has been made. The project has evolved almost entirely out of parent support, Burleigh said, pointing to Kendall parent Katie Chugg as the garden’s most vocal supporter. “I would say she’s right at the center of making these things happen,” Principal Burleigh said “I really appreciate our parent organization taking the lead. [The project] is going to be a great opportunity for our students.”

Common Threads, operating as a non-profit, requires a $2,300 per year membership fee for schools which join the collective. This money goes primarily towards paying their Garden Educators, who spend time at each garden site on a regular basis to help plan and inspire. Examples of the work that might be done by a Garden Educator include organizing school gardening clubs, helping with garden-related curriculum development and lesson plans, and helping the school to embrace their garden and appropriate it into their own culture.

As for Common Threads, their staff is pleased to be working with the enthusiastic Kendall community. “There’s a lot of potential [in Kendall] to engage these kids in growing food and using the garden in the school,” Bundy said.
Kendall Elementary is the Collective’s second outlying school, joining the Lummi Nation School and nine Bellingham member schools. “We’re thrilled to have a garden out in the county. Interest in school gardens is growing, and we’ve been able to gain a sense of what works for different schools.”

According to Bundy, the Common Threads staff have become very good at guiding a school towards creating a garden that works for their distinct needs.

For more information about Kendall’s school garden, contact Katie Chugg at 599-1391 or Chuggkm78@yahoo.com, or Tessa Bundy at 961-7562 or email tessa@commonthreadsfarm.org.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MT. BAKER SKI AREA

MT. BAKER – A new mid-mountain lodge, expected to open later this week, will offer food, warmth, and comfort to Mount Baker Ski Area visitors.

Raven Hut Lodge sits at the base of chairs 4, 5 and 6 and is only accessible by ski or snowboard. COURTESY PHOTO

Accessible only by ski and snowboard, the new Raven Hut stands at the site of the former Raven Hot Cafe. Full dining service, a rock fireplace, and classic Northwest architecture characterize the new $3.5 million building, which has been designed in the style of the original 1920’s Mount Baker Lodge.

Ski area representative Amy Trowbridge calls the design “timeless,” and expects that the artisan-crafted lodge will rank among the nation’s finest. “It’s very northwest, very classic, very Cascades,” she said.

Ski Area staff had at least two compelling reasons to build a new lodge, according to Trowbridge: first, large crowds at the ski area’s popular White Salmon Lodge needed room to spread out. Second, the old Raven Hot Cafe was suffering the ravages of time and challenging weather, and needed to be replaced.

As for the construction process, it’s been managed during a short warm season. “With the incredible snow pack we had last year,” Trowbridge explained, “things didn’t melt out until well into the summer.” Staff and construction crews managed to cut a road and clear snow to get into the construction site during the spring, while general contractors Wellman & Zuck managed to work through a summer of challenging alpine conditions. Finishing touches are being put on the commercial kitchen now, and final permits should be in on time for an estimated Dec. 9 opening. “We’re hoping,” Trowbridge said of the opening date, “though you never know until you actually open the doors.”

While construction of the lodge is wrapping up, artistic details will be added throughout the season and into next year. “We’ve had some Northwest artists do some beautiful [detailing] for us,” noted Trowbridge, who hopes that visitors will observe such touches as bronze ravens on the door, artful post carvings (yet to be completed), and a stone fireplace which was handcrafted by a local crew.

The new Raven Hut Lodge is designed in the 1920s-30s Cascadia style architecture and features the work of numerous local woodworkers and artisans. COURTESY PHOTO, Nov. 2011

The Raven Hut sits at the base of chairs 4, 5, and 6, opening after what has been a great start to the season. “We’ve had a bit of a roller coaster with the weather this week,” Trowbridge said, “but what a fantastic opening day we had.” She described their opening weekend as boasting “some of the best conditions we’ve ever had.” The weekend allowed for the establishment of a great base, which will serve skiers and snowboarders well as the season goes on.

In other news, Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit the ski area on Dec. 10-11.

For more information and snow conditions, visit www.mtbaker.us or call (360) 734-6771.

The weekend forecast calls for cold temperatures and clear skies with no additional precipitation, however an incoming storm is expected early next week. Riders are encouraged to pay attention to early season snow conditions.

The new $3.5 million mid-mountain lodge called Raven Hut, accessible only by ski or snowboard, will open in mid-December. The facility features 1920s and 30s-style Cascadia architecture. A number of local woodworkers and artists have been involved in construction. Additional details will be in the next Foothills Gazette.

Last  year, the ski area opened on Nov. 20.  Other regional ski areas are expected to open this weekend.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

The National Weather Service forecast indicates cold temperatures and clear skies for the weekend. Into the week, rain and winds are likely, while temperatures will increase into the 40s and possibly low 50s during the day. For up to date snow conditions at the Mt. Baker Ski Area, visit mtbaker.us and click on Snow Report.

COUNTY – Through an agreement with the Whatcom Community Foundation (WCF), the 4th annual Foothill Gazette Community Fund is now accepting donations.

The annual fundraiser benefits the Foothills Food Bank and Everson-Nooksack Food Bank, which also serves the Sumas Food Bank.

Through Dec. 31, the Foothills Gazette will collect monetary donations, placing all of the proceeds towards a fund to benefit the non-profit organizations. In January, coordinated through the WCF, the proceeds will be donated.

Readers who participate in this fundraiser are asked to make a donation of at least $10, through cash, check, credit card or money order. The donations are tax-deductible and each donor will receive a letter from the WCF. Readers who donate to this cause will be listed as a donor (with their permission, see donation form.)

The Foothills Food Bank, located at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Deming, operates on Tuesday mornings from 9 to 11 a.m.

The Everson-Nooksack Food Bank operates on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Everson Presbyterian Church, 204 N. Washington Street in Everson. Call 966-4833.

In addition, the Foothills Gazette sponsors local families each holiday season, helping with food, gifts and other needs. Local residents are invited to participate by purchasing a specific gift for a child or donating good food. Families remain anonymous. Gifts and food are delivered mid-December.

For more information about the Foothills Gazette Community Fund, or how you can help a local family this holiday season, contact the Foothills Gazette at via e-mail info@foothillsgazette.com or call 599-3320.