We, too, Have Awards

For enhancing Birch Bay's most-geinuine traditional business: Keith Alesse and Saara who, with Patrick and Patrica very much on the scene, are upgrading and maintaining The C Shop to be better than ever.For creating a new event that brings visitors to Birch Bay: Tammy Pearce and Dave Bucknell of the Bay Cafe (in cooperation with The C Shop), who staged a day-long concert that brought many new – and younger – people to Birch Bay.

For demonstrating that it is possible to start a new restaurant in Birch Bay: Mike and Susan Gillern of Dee's Country Diner – “Dee” is what the kids called their dad. They started out offering breakfast and lunch, now they're open for dinner Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings until 9 o'clock.

For maintaining Birch Bay's biggest draw: Ian Buchanan, manager of the Water Slides. Moreover, he's bringing the new owners into the community. They sponsored this year's Polar Bear Plunge.

For persistance, blended with patience, in keeping the Park & Rec District alive: Ted Morris, the president, and other commissioners, Jeff Carrington, Katy Montfort, Doug Robertson and Rich Stargell, spent their tax money prudently and are still in operation despite losing two levy votes. Now they are getting ready to try again. An open house where activities being offered will be show-cased Saturday, the 28th, starting at 10:30. Included is horse basketball in three age categories. Location is the Birch Bay Activity Center, the renovated gym in Bay Horizon Park.

Ted faces double pressure. As manager of Birch Bay and Peace Arch State Parks he must make do with a drastically reduced budget. The community is fortunate to have this solid citizen who combines concern and competence.

For keeping a somewhat nebulus program with slow results in front of the public: Ingrid Inschede, the County's outreach manager of BBWARM, the Birch Bay Watershed and Aquatic Resources Management district.

For proving a steady hand in keeping the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce on track: John Gargett, the president who instituted a program to gain sponsors for a series of events that attract visitors – The Ring of Fire & Hope, the Polar Bear Plunge, the Sandcastle Contest and Discovery Days Arts and Crafts Festival with the parade and Ducky Derby.

For improving both the facility and the reputation of Birch Bay's and Whatcom County's best low-cost lodging, Ken Lord, manager of the Hostel and Guest House in Bay Horizon Park.

For moving a small business to a big building – previously housing indoor golf, then an exercise club – and creating a low-cost source of valuable clothing and household appliances: Susan Fisher of Birch Bay Consignment and Thrift. (Ruth's winter outfit is built around a red sweater-coat for which she paid $7; last week we bought a CD player for $20.)

For tireless devotion to the needs of the community: Kathy Berg, Chair of the Birch Bay Steering Committee who operates a government in waiting. Highly visible for the e-mail reports of information important to citizens, she also works quietly behind the scenes. Recently, she has been doing this work with the help of Doralee Booth, her vice chair. Now she has formed The Waterfront Group at Birch Bay with six members to achieve the long-held dream of shoreline restoration with a berm. Permanent restrooms are included. Members of the group are Sunny Brown, Katy Montfort. Ted Morris and Brian Southwick in addition to Berg and Booth.

Considering this list of awardees, Birch Bay is a more together place than many realize.

ak

November 26, Small Business Saturday

As a follow-up to the last post, consider next Saturday, the 26th, as your day to shop local, shop small. See http://smallbusinesssaturday.com/ for more information.

Members of the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce can use their on-line newsletter, The Birch Bay Buzz, to advertise their specials for the day or the week or the month - www.birchbaybuzz.wordpress.com

rah

2011 Holiday Season--Birth of a New Tradition

We don’t know where this originated, but Sandy Brewer of Blaine Community Theater forwarded it us and we whole-heartedly endorse the concept. Despite the frequent references to Christmas, it does apply to the entire holiday season.

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods--merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Everyone--yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down the Benjamins on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants--all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this
isn't about big National chains--this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of lights, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.

THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.

Forward this to everyone on your mailing list--post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city--send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?

Sandy ended by saying “...and I would add to the list such things as theater tickets, locally produced movies or CD's and music by local groups as well. Been in a film lately? Send a copy of it to a friend as a gift.”

Right here in Birch Bay we have restaurants and coffee shops, a yarn and gift shop, a thrift and consignment store and other businesses working hard to stay open. Just outside Birch Bay, a creamery sells delicious cheeses, a dog and cat center offers day-care, and other restaurants and businesses seek your support.

Shop local and build Birch Bay, Whatcom County, Washington State and America.

rah

Thinking More About Jack Louws

One evening last week—after I wrote the previous post—I was sitting at a meeting with Charlie Hawkins on one side of me and Sunny Brown on the other. Both qualify as liberals and both are enthusiastic supporters of Mr. Louws for county executive who found throwing my vote away by writing in David Stalheim as foolish.

Mr. Hawkins, a revered member of the Blaine City Council, said he watched Mr. Louws as mayor of Lynden and thinks he will be a county executive who cooperates with the whole community. Ms. Brown, an enthusiastic Democrat campaigner, said she has been introducing Mr. Louws to key people and likes the way he talks.

So I went back to the October issue of Whatcom Watch and re-read the Louws answers to questions on important issues. Again I found his responses bland and without controversy. If he really wanted the support of Whatcom liberals he would have committed to somone who is prepared to follow the state's Growth Management Act by concentrating new homes on smaller parcels and preserving farm land. He had that opportunity when he was endorsed by Stalheim who was forced out as County Planning Director. Moreover, he went along with a larger new jail without questioning the need. Rather than propose innovative approaches, he sold personality; a more polite way of stating, “He's full of himself.”

Tomorrow night and Wednesday morning will be interesting.

ak

Mulling Over my Ballot

The candidate I want most to win is Christina Maginnis who is running for County Council against Sam Crawford, the conservative who presently heads the Council. At first, she struck me as a pixie who could do standup. Second, I found her to be an intelligent woman and an expert on water quality who could make an important contribution to saving Bellingham's Lake Whatcom water supply.

After the Birch Bay Candidates' Forum, I chastized Maginnis for not emphasizing her education and experience in testing water quality. She said for many county voters “environmentalist” is a negative. Instead, she is pounding Crawford on “Trust and Transparency,” including use of expensive TV ads. He claims to have “lost” messages from his developer clients to his official county e-mail address.

If Maginnis and the two other Council candidates slated by the Democrat party–Alan Black and Pete Kremen–win, they would form a liberal majority on the Council. Mr. Kremen should win easily, despite Tony Larson's Tea Party support. If Alan Black (a good man) wins, it will really be because Barbara Brenner loses. Has this longest serving member of the council worn out her welcome?

As a former city boy–Philadelphia and San Francisco– I admit to ambilivance about Ms. Brenner. Although at the end of my time in San Francisco, I stood on street corners with a victorious city supervisor, most of those years in the cities I rarely had contact with politicians–to be in the same room was an experience. It was really an experience to walk in to the BBCF and be hugged by Brenner whispering, “You're one of the few people I know here.” None-the-less, I expect Mr. Black will be a council member who will be respected for weighing issues and making careful decisions.

About the County Executive candidates I am not ambilivant. A couple of years ago, at a “Farmers Growing Trees for Salmon” dinner, Ruth and I found ourselves sitting across from Doug Erickson without knowing who he was. It took an hour to find out and another hour to learn his views. He is a born politician with a pleasant personality who, I expect, would be good for Birch Bay, working to get the berm built and making Whatcom a county that many in the state, looking for an effective governor, would admire. (Only three counties in the state have County Executives.) One of the things I like about Erickson is that he doesn't equivocate. His flier contains a 10-point checklist that includes “Build new jail,” “[Support] Gateway Pacific Terminal,”“Streamline county permitting process.”

Of course, this progressive could not vote for Doug Erickson. Nor could I vote for Jack Louws, who strikes me as being mostly full of himself. So I wrote in David Stalheim, whom Bellingham liberals should never have allowed to lose in the primary. If the Democrat slate wins for County Council they will be redeemed.

ak