The recently opened Jack Niemann's Black Forest Steak House is a worthy addition to the northwestern corner of the county.

Since we moved to Birch Bay eight years ago, CJ's Beachhouse (and its predecessor) has been the place we take visitors. The Black Forest is now our place for special occasions. We will continue to go to CJ's. (Last Tuesday we were there for two meals – the Chamber luncheon and again in the early evening with Eli Friedlob, Matt Krogh of RE Sources, and Robin Everett of the Sierra Club who were responsible for The Coal Hard Truth event later that evening. Also there was Lindsay Taylor, formerly of N-SEA and now part of the RE Sources team.)

Our special dinner at Black Forest was August 13 for our 201^st lunaversary (we celebrate months of marriage). After we split a garlic prawns appetizer, we both had small filets Oskar, a very good use of artichokes, followed by Black Forest Cake – just one piece with two forks, and we took half home. This meal called for two glasses of wine. First a Pinot Grigio, then a Malbec from Argentina. The price, over $100, was well worth this meal.

This past Saturday we went to the art show at Birch Bay Square. Should we eat at the burger place? But we had seen the Black Forest Happy Hour Bar Menu in the Northern Light. Between four and six we could eat as inexpensively as burger prices. When we sat down in the big dining room where we had eaten the week before, we were quickly told that the Happy Hour menu is only available in the bar. There we found more people than in the dining room, yet Bob the bartender was prepared to treat us well.

This time we split the Scallops Christina and three glasses of the same wines as the week before.

Ruth ordered Olympic Crab Cakes and Al a “naked burger” (no bun) with mushrooms. For each of these items we paid less than $10, bringing the total to $45.60 with tax before tip. When we got home we found a little piece of last week's Black Forest Cake in the fridge. We both had enough with glasses of Citra Merlot from Rite Aid.

For someone who started his first restaurant in White Rock in 1968 and now has 49 of them, Jack Niemann may be the most modest owner in the world. The hostesses are dressed like LA, the waiters wear black pants and white shirts with ties, but Jack sports worn jeans and a simple golf shirt. And he enjoys talking with people – no airs.

He quickly agrees that the room, converted from a bank building, is too noisy (he is hiring an acoustal expert to change that), and he is delighted with success: “Friday night was crazy!”

“Bob, the bartender,” Jack says, “was explaining to a couple that we have this nice little local wine; the couple said 'That's us; we own the Dakota Creek Winery'.”

P.S. Steve, the master waiter who used to work at CJ's – he smoothly served the BBCC luncheons by himself – is now at Black Forest.

The Coal Hard Truth Forum

Answers about the proposed coal terminal at Cherry Point

7 - 9 p.m., August 16
Birch Bay Bible Community Church
7039 Jackson Road, Birch Bay

There are a lot of questions about the controversial proposal to build North America's largest coal terminal next to the Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve. Come to the Coal Hard Truth forum to get answers about the project proposal, its potential impacts on hum and ecological health, and how coal consumption impacts us all.

Learn more about: The terminal proposal itself -- Coal dust from the terminal -- Health impacts from 18 more trains a day -- Where we are in the regulatory process -- Regional and international perspectives -- What you can do

Sponsors: Sierra Club, RE Sources, and Climate Solutions

rah

About Community Councils

At the recent Birch Bay forum for County Executive candidates, David Stalheim suggested that, if incorporation is not feasible now, we might consider a community council such as some operated in Chelan County.

I've taken a quick look at two councils in unincorporated Washington communities – Manson with about 3,500 people near Chelan, and Peshastin, much smaller, near Leavenworth. Both councils, I was told, grew out of the groups that had created their UGAs.

At www.peshastin.org you will find the by-laws of their council, which has seven members who serve three-year terms. They “have no legal authority to impose binding conditions, contracts or requirements...but may issue advisory opinions.” Members serve without compensation; the council has no borrowing authority, but may solicit donations and distribute funds.

As illustrated, the Peshastin Community Council (blue line) covers a larger geographic area than the UGA (salmon line with purple fill). The larger salmon/purple area to the upper left is Leavenworth.

LilithYanagumachi, a long-range planner, of the Chelan County Department of Community Development, said that the councils are helpful in establishing zoning criteria and in representing their communities to the County Commissioners. But she added that individuals coming before the commissioners can have as much stature as the councils.

Members of the council, whose terms are rotated, are elected at annual meetings. Cathy Springer, vice chair of the Peshastin council, explained that candidates – she called them “volunteers” – complete an application form that includes the signatures of 10 people who endorse the candidacy. At the meeting, the forms are on display and voters put names they are voting for in a box. Ms. Springer added that at the last meeting, when she was re-elected, there was only one candidate each for the two vacant positions.

Interest in the council heats up, she said, “When crap hits the fan.”

On the last Saturday in July, Friends of the Peshastin Library held an ice cream social that brought the community together and raised funds for the public library.

ak

Four Strong Contenders for County Executive

The take-home from last Thursday evening's forum is that we are fortunate to have four strong candidates for County Executive. With mail-in ballots now out, the “non-partisan” primary election goes on until August 16. The two leaders from that vote will contend for the general election in November.

Tom Anderson told us he is the engineer administrator with problem solving skills. After a somewhat rocky opening statement that he read, Anderson demonstrated that he is a skilled communicator. His spontaneous answers to questions were miniature essays of clarity.

Doug Erickson is the seasoned politician, born with charisma, who has served in the state legislature for the 13 years since he was age 28. One of the state's strongest proponents for free enterprise, he said he believes businesses create jobs. If Erickson becomes County Executive, he could make Whatcom County into a little Texas – there are parallels in refining and farming. You can imagine how he might become a candidate for governor.

A robust Jack Louws comes on as experienced in both government, as an two-term mayor of Lynden, and business man, who headed a successful truss manufacturing company inherited from his father and now passed on to his son. Living in Birch Bay, he demonstrated an interest in the community and ventured the advice that incorporation would require urban streets that are more expensive than rural roads.

David Stalheim, ousted as the county's planning director and the progressives favorite was a pleasingly smart and witty debater. In contrast to Erickson, he said government can provide the framework for businesses to create jobs. His most telling point was that the county is sitting on an economic development fund of over $10 million from which only $1.5 million has been spent to improve the civic center. He suggested that some of that money could be invested in Birch Bay's berm project. Stalheim could win if Bellingham liberals rally to get out their vote in opposition to the Tea Party followers who dispute the state's growth-management act. Asked for advice for Birch Bay on incorporation, Stalheim said that first the county executive should sit down with community leaders to review the feasibility study that has been largely ignored. An alternative, he suggested, could be a “community council” similar to that operating in Manson, a resort community on Lake Chelan

This debate, hosted by Kathy Berg, of the Birch Bay Steering Committee, and moderated by John Gargett, President of the Birch Bay Camber of Commerce, spoke well for the potential of the community.

~~

About the coal trains, the consensus in this discussion was largely that, if environmental controls are established and enforced, the bulk coal dock at Cherry Point could be approved.

A detailed discussion of this issue can be found at www.getwhatcomplanning.blogspot.com, operated by Jean Melious and David Stalheim

ak

[Comments gratefully encouraged.]