You Could Contribute to an Islamic Relief Fund (or Invest in a Fund that Follows Islamic Principles)

Next weekend undoubtedly there will be anti-Muslim stuff about “the enemy” but, really, we should recognize that a great many people of that faith in the world had nothing to do with the attack on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the plane that was forced down in Pennsylvania. When politicians harangue about “the enemy”, it would be better to express kindness to the many Muslims who bear no ill against our country and—in some cases—are suffering from our actions.

Last month we enjoyed a dinner with a remarkable group of such people. The program included a film about the suffering from the famine in Somalia, and we contributed to Islamic Relief, a fund that is providing water and food for those Somalian drought victims—$20 each, the requested donation, feeds a family of four for a month.

We owe this opportunity to Ruth's attendance at Western. In one of her first classes she became friends with Alaa, a young man from Egypt. He and his professor friend came to our cottage for Thanksgiving that year. We had a long, lively conversation about Muslim customs, including relations between men and women—courtship, marriage and divorce.

Back then, Alaa washed dishes in a Bellingham restaurant to cover some of his expenses. This spring Ruth re-connected with him, and we had lunch at the Skylark Restaurant where he had worked. Alaa was excited about the revolution in Egypt. He had just heard from his brother who had gone from his home in Alexandria to Cairo to be part of the demonstrations.

Alaa was now working at Saturna Capital in Bellingham, an investment company sponsoring a mutual fund that follows Islamic principles (or Sharia) that preclude interest paying investments, such as bank stocks. While some of the investors are Muslims—Alaa's ability with Arabic being an advantage— many are not. This is not a charity. The Amana Income Fund has averaged an annual return of 7.49 percent over the past 10 years versus the S&P 500 Index that has averaged only 2.70 percent. Only one other fund in the Schwab list of income funds did better in that period.

Alaa also was doing well in his personal life. Through mosque connections he was introduced to a young woman in Southern California. Shortly before our lunch date, his mother had come from Egypt to meet the girl's family. That went fine but Alaa would need to go back to meet her father, a businessman who was visiting Afghanistan. If all went well, they would become engaged and she would move to Bellingham. There was also the possibility that Alaa might move to California to work with fund clients there.

In early August we received an e-mail from Alaa inviting us to the fund-raising dinner. Nothing about betrothal, but we were hopeful.

The dinner was held in the RESources meeting room. Prior to the meal some of the participants prayed on rugs in an adjacent room before breaking the Ramadan fast.

Meanwhile, we talked with a magnetic young woman who was acting as hostess in the absence of the Iman. A graduate of Blaine High School, she has been holding down a full-time job at the BP refinery while taking a full schedule of courses at the community college and the university. She is preparing to be a physical therapist in an eight-year program that will graduate her as a doctor.

The food was much like a typical American pot-luck—several pasta dishes, rice, roast lamb, deep fried chicken and shrimp. Desserts came later. Pepsi was the most common drink. Alaa's wife was mentioned. We kept looking and asking. Finally, there she was. Beautiful – and sweet!

ak & rah

We Went Whale Watching

Ruth's work with volunteers at the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce Visitors' Information Center earned us a certificate for a whale watching tour that we used last week. The San Juan Cruises boat is the one that previously made daily trips from the Fairhaven Cruise Terminal to Victoria, B.C. and back. When we took that trip a couple of years ago, we saw some whales on the homeward leg. This time we got to see two pods of resident Orcas.

It took two and a half hours to get to our destination, off the northern tip of San Juan Island. Captain Grant broke up the time by describing the history and features of the islands we passed. Abundant coffee, tea, soda, beer, wine and snacks kept everyone happy. When we found the whales, the captain identified the members of Pod K and L, giving their names, relationships, and ages. Some are very old; some were born this year.

Getting good pictures was difficult. One reason is that the whales are not publicity seekers. They make no effort to help picture-takers by coming to the surface consistently at the same points. Another reason is they don't stay up long enough for photographers to focus.

Outside the cabin on a narrow walkway, we found a vantage point with a railing against which we were able to hold our cameras somewhat steady. We considered ourselves lucky to get this picture even though the focus is not sharp.

These tours are important business. There were three other tour boats in the area, a few fishing boats and several individual recreational ones. Captains of fishing boats radio to other boats – including tour boats – the location of the pods. Adult whales eat about 250 pounds of salmon per day and fishermen follow the whales to find the salmon.

After about 90 minutes of looking for and watching the whales, we had a two-hour break in Friday Harbor, which was crowded with tourists.

Meanwhile, the hard-working crew – one young man and two young women – were preparing food for the trip back. Being small eaters on a diet, we chose only salmon and salad. Others piled their plates high with rolls, rice, chicken and salmon. (What prompts people to select chicken rather than salmon?) Dessert, including brownies and cheesecake, came later.

We decided this was one of the best days we've had since moving here eight years ago. Well worth the $89 other people paid.

San Juan Cruises, Fairhaven Cruise Terminal. wwwwhales.com 1-800-443-4552

Whale watching trips are available daily until after Labor Day, then Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until September 25, 2011. The season starts again in mid-May 2012.

ak & rah

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