A Guide to a Fulfilling Senior Life in Whatcom County
ENCORE Wednesday, July 26, 2017
Ted Van Dyk, right, who grew up in Bellingham and worked the summer of 1954 at The Lynden Tribune, went on to roles on the national political scene. Here he is with 1968 Democratic presidential candidate Hubert Humphrey and campaign manager Larry O’Brien, left, looking over the script of a speech Van Dyk wrote. Sometimes Humphrey would say to Van Dyk, “Write what you think I should say.” (Courtesy photo/Ted Van Dyk)
What’s Inside.... Ted Van Dyk reflects on a career in journalism and politics ......................C2 Bocce is open to more participants in Whatcom County.................................C6 Tim Martin seeks to fulfill a hoops dream ...................................................C10
A supplement of the Lynden Tribune and Ferndale Record
Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, July 26, 2017 | Ferndale Record
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He left a note on the Tribune’s door in 1954 From journalism roots Ted Van Dyk went on to a long career on the national political scene By Calvin Bratt editor@lyndentribune.com
Ted Van Dyk can look out from his Bellingham condo today onto the waterfront where his father worked in the large Bloedel Donovan lumber mill in the 1930s and ‘40s. (Calvin Bratt/Lynden Tribune)
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WHATCOM — Early in the summer of 1954 Ted Van Dyk, a Bellingham 19-yearold, left a note on the front door of The Lynden Tribune building on Front Street. He was a student in journalism at the University of Washington and looking for a summer internship. Van Dyk was barely back home when the phone rang. It was Bill Lewis, Tribune co-publisher, who was eager to use the willing worker with the Lynden-like name for the summer. “I was hired sight unseen because my name was Van Dyk,” says today’s 82-yearold retiree in his condo overlooking Bellingham Bay. It may be hard to say how a few summer months back then parlayed into a career of national-level politics, but Van Dyk definitely looks back appreciatively upon his brief Lynden Tribune experience. He wrote stories. He sold ads. He visited berry and dairy farms. He covered the Northwest Washington Fair. “You learned to do everything in a hurry. It was great fun. I was just a really eager student at that time,” Van Dyk said. “I worked hard and I enjoyed it.” He remembers Bill Lewis chiding him for taking two hours away from the office to get a photo of the winner of a strawberry picking contest. But the boss really liked that Ted could sell advertising quickly, including on the phone. Another memory is being able to witness, on Tribune tickets, the Aug. 7, 1954 British Empire Games in Vancouver, B.C., where the two famous milers of the day, Roger Bannister of England and John Landy of Australia, met on a track for the first time. They had each broken the four-minute barrier earlier that year and they did it again against each other (Bannister 3:58.8, Landy 3:59.6) in a race that came to be known as the Miracle Mile. “I was close to the finish line,” Van Dyk recalls. He was accompanied in the stands by Tribune co-publisher Julian “Judge” Lewis,
Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, July 26, 2017 | Ferndale Record
ENCORE who wrote up an account of the Games in the next week’s edition. Van Dyk is complimentary of how the Lewis brothers — less than a year after their esteemed father, Sol Lewis, had died — and their wives treated him as a cub reporter that summer. The 1954 protege has nominated his mentor, Bill Lewis, for the UW Journalism Hall of Fame, so far unsucessfully. Van Dyk, who claims no relation to the Van Dyks of Lynden, thinks of Bellingham as being a “blue-collar, smokestack” type of town when he grew up. The family didn’t have a car in the Depression and World War II years, so dad walked to his job in the big Bloedel-Donovan lumber mill on the waterfront. “Everything was different then,” he said. “We were all poor, but we didn’t know what rich was.” A career path rising Ted was editor of the Bellingham High School newpaper his senior year and likewise of the University of Washington Daily in 1954-55. He went to journalism grad school at Columbia University in New York City, then came back to the Northwest to work at the Seattle Times. He figured he Continued on C4
President Lyndon Johnson signed this photo of himself with Ted Van Dyk after a loyalty meeting LBJ called with White House staff in December 1967. (Courtesy photo/Ted Van Dyk)
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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, July 26, 2017 | Ferndale Record
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Left: This is the photo of Van Dyk used by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer when he wrote for the newspaper for seven years. Right: Van Dyk lives now on State Street in Bellingham near the old Armory building.
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might serve out his entire career there. It was not to be. First military duty called. The Army Reserve assigned him to intelligence school in the East. Ted was also married to Jean in 1958, and she was still a student at Columbia. He took public relations jobs. In Boston Van Dyk did some volunteer work for Sen. John Kennedy’s presidential campaign. With Kennedy in the White House, Van Dyk suddently got “caught up in the Cold War,” as a chapter in his memoirs puts it. His intelligence specialty was the Soviet Union, and now Nikita Khrushchev was testing the young new president, first in the Berlin crisis of fall 1961 and a year later in a war of threats over Cuba. Van Dyk was called to the Pentagon and issued a wallet ID card. He became part of the team planning for the unthinkable — a showdown with the Soviet Union. Gradually, whether on national security or trade matters, Van Dyk moved closer into the inner circles of advisors around presidents Kennedy and then Johnson and their staffs. And then it was on to “helping HHH,” or Hubert H. Humphrey, the popular Minnesota senator, vice president and presi-
Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, July 26, 2017 | Ferndale Record
ENCORE dential candidate, from 1964 through 1968. “The next five years would prove to be the most demanding and rewarding of my life,” Van Dyk says opening chapter four of his book. “They brought work with Hubert Humphrey through two national campaigns and his vice presidency, and during the Johnson administration’s Great Society triumph and Vietnam tragedy.” He grew “very close” to Humphrey as his chief of staff, knowing both his vices and virtues. Van Dyk would return to the State Department under President Carter in 1977 and he would have roles with Democratic presidential aspirants in the 1980s and 1990s as well. Van Dyk was no fan of Bill Clinton, however, endorsing his Republican opponent, Bob Dole, in the election of 1996. He still considers it “wholly accidental” that the course of his life revolved around national politics as it did. Memoirs and returning to roots Ten years ago, the UW Press published Van Dyk’s “Heroes, Hacks & Fools: Memoirs From the Political Inside.” Just before he was to do a book reading and talk at Village Books in Fairhaven, Van Dyk was given a verbal message: an oldtime acquaintance from Lynden regretted he
Van Dyk witnessed the finish of milers Roger Bannister and John Landy in Vancouver, B.C., on Aug. 7, 1954. couldn’t make it — Rollie DeKoster. Van Dyk never landed on the Bellingham High School varsity baseball team, but he did play summer ball and was seri-
ously into local sports as a reporter or team manager or public address announcer, and so got acquainted with all the main sports personalities of the day. “We all knew each other,” he said. That would include, from Lynden, Rollie and Phil DeKoster, Chuck Taubenheim, Wayne and Bob Young, and from Nooksack, Bob and Galen Reimer. He also knew Jake Maberry and Ron Bennink more of basketball acclaim. Van Dyk can make some unique claims to fame, or of being in the right place at the right time. He was at the basketball game in Everett when Joe Cipriano of Nooksack Valley hit his off-balance shot as time expired to beat Bellingham High in the state playoffs in 1949. He also played one game for the Bellingham Bells when Joe Martin was the manager. It was the end of a season and many of the players had headed home, even though there was a game to be played yet in Burnaby, B.C. “Can you play right field without embarrassing us?” Joe asked. Ted did, but went 0-for-3 at the plate. He returned to Seattle in 2001 and wrote an editorial-page column for about seven years with the Post-Intelligencer before it went all online. He wrote for Seattle’s Crosscut.com as well as for the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Politico, Atlantic
C5 Monthly and other national publications. He still writes frequently for the Wall Street Journal, three times just since Trump’s election. He figures he’s written close to a thousand op-eds in his lifetime. Van Dyk can barely see a resemblance in the politics of today — which he calls “small-minded, mean-spirited and hyperpartisan” — to what he knew 50 years ago. “We did what we believed was right. We didn’t look at a poll every day.” He says it would have been unthinkable to forge a major public policy push without building in some bipartisan support from the start. Now an administration or the caucuses in Congress try to pass bills alone. “In the last 20-25 years that’s what’s happened, and that’s why we’re at gridlock,” Van Dyk said. Ted and wife Jean — who died of bone cancer 21 years ago — had four children, Ted Jr., Robert, Terry and Sue Ellen, who now together have given him six grandchildren. The offspring are spread throughout the county, so Ted chose to “return home” to Bellingham two years ago. He paid a visit to today’s Tribune offices and met Michael Lewis, son of Julian Lewis, not yet born when Ted Van Dyk made his first visit and taped a note on the door.
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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, July 26, 2017 | Ferndale Record
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Breaking into bocce
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Senior centers’ all-county tournament is Aug. 28 at Lynden’s Bender Fields By Ashley Hiruko ashley@lyndentribune.com
WHATCOM — Some competitive sports require years of practice and physical fitness. Others, like bocce, are more skillbased. “It doesn’t matter if you’re old or young,” said Teresa Quinn, bocce enthusiast for seven years. “It’s more of a skill game.” Quinn, 59, usually takes to the lawn on Tuesday afternoons at the Ferndale Senior Activity Center. There she gathers with a small group and the pallino ball is thrown out to begin the game. The senior center is always looking for new prospects, she said. The number of players at Ferndale has dwindled down recently, but Quinn remains hopeful that enough will be available for a team to compete in the All County Senior Center Bocce Tournament at Lynden on Aug. 28. The bocce event has been happening for over 22 years, bringing together members of senior centers from around Whatcom County. Cathi LeCocq, manager of the Lynden Community Center, said the sport is alive and well in Lynden — which can claim to have the reigning team for bocce in the county. A practice Bocce Fun Day happened Tuesday, July 25, at Lynden’s field. Teams were created randomly by drawing from among all entrants present “so we can all get to know each other,” according to publicity. Last year, 12 teams from four centers — Bellingham, Blaine, Ferndale and Lynden — took part in the actual competition event. Summer is certainly the best time to try out the sport. Quinn gives these pointers for those interested in giving it a try.
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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, July 26, 2017 | Ferndale Record
ENCORE The rules The simple Italian game involves a small pallino (or “jack”) ball and larger colored balls. A standard bocce set contains the pallino and eight colored balls, half of which are one color and the other four a different color. These colored balls are divided up by the two teams and come in various weights. A standard bocce ball weighs two pounds. Two teams of one to four people stand either next to one another, or facing one another across the lawn. At the beginning of each game, a team throws out the pallino ball. The object is to get your team’s balls closest to the pallino. Many players choose to throw the ball underhanded, cupping it from beneath, while others choose to hold the ball from its top. Teams alternate throwing one ball at a time toward the pallino. International rules state that the next bowl goes to the team whose ball landed farthest from the pallino, although these rules may differ depending on the game. Points are calculated after the last bocce ball has been thrown. Quinn said the game is up in the air until then. “You never know how the game is going to come out Continued on C8
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Teresa Quinn demonstrates a bocce game outside of the Ferndale Senior Activity Center on Friday, July 21. Quinn has been active in the sport for seven years and said anyone can play. (Ashley Hiruko/Lynden Tribune)
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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, July 26, 2017 | Ferndale Record
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Continued from C7 until the last person throws,” she said. “That person could change the whole outcome.” This is due to players’ balls being pushed away from the pallino by the opposing team’s balls. Sometimes the pallino is moved and those who were losing are now primed to win. One point is earned for each bocce ball that is closer to the pallino than the opposing team’s balls. Sometimes a ruler must be brought out to measure exactly which ball is closer. Games are usually played to a set point total of 12, 15 or 21. Tips for newbies When first trying bocce, Quinn recommends players start with balls that are most comfortable. If the standard two-pound one is too heavy, play with a set of lighter balls and move up to a larger size after getting accustomed to the feel of it all. Prepare for competition. Although bocce may seem on first appearance to be a relaxing game, to some it is an opportunity to be an aggressive competitor. Quinn said she has witnessed this first-hand and does try to avoid the players who don’t have proper sportsmanship. If planning to compete in a tournament, Quinn said, players should practice the game for one hour at least once a week for about a month and a half before the competition. Where to play Games happen around Whatcom County on the Fairhaven Village Green, at Bender Fields in Lynden, at the Bellingham Sportsplex and at the Ferndale Senior Activity Center. These sites present a variety of terrains: grass, crushed oyster shells and sand. For those feeling ready to compete, the All-County Senior Center Bocce Tournament is on Monday, Aug. 28, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All players must be 50 or older and a current dues-paying member of a Whatcom County senior center. There is no cost to enter, but a $6 fee for lunch. The deadline to sign up is Aug. 18 at a center. The Lynden Senior Center plays at Bender Fields on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2 p.m. from about May through September, depending on weather and field conditions. There is no charge for the activity, but annual membership in the Lynden Senior Center ($25) is encouraged. Equipment is provided and no previous experience is needed. The Ferndale Senior Activity Center plays on Tuesday afternoons at the 1999 Cherry St. location. For more information, call the Ferndale center at 360-384-6244.
Above, the winning team from last year's All-County Senior Center Bocce Tournament is pictured. Lynden's 2016 winning team is (from left) Sophia Van Wyk, Marie Tjoelker, Marie VanRooyen, Gary Love and Chuck Belotte. Below, the courts in Lynden are 60 feet long. Bocce can be played on grass, as at Bender Fields, or on crushed oyster shells or sand. (Courtesy photos)
Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, July 26, 2017 | Ferndale Record
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A breakfast fit for the Razz
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Travel to New Orleans with Whatcom Senior Tours Local day trips are also available year-round
Lynden Community Center member Harold Bolt clears tables at the July 15 pancake breakfast hosted during the Northwest Raspberry Festival. About 600 breakfasts were served in four hours. (Calvin Bratt/Lynden Tribune)
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BELLINGHAM — At least one upcoming trip of Whatcom Senior Tours is still taking sign-ups, and that is for New Orleans & Cajun County on Nov. 5-11, 2017. The Whatcom Senior Tours program, sponsored by the Whatcom Council on Aging and organized through the Bellingham Senior Activity Center, is a sweet way to see interesting places with one’s peers. To participate, call the Bellingham center at 360-733-4030 ext. 1015 or 1019, See Tours on C10
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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, July 26, 2017 | Ferndale Record
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Trying to turn dreams into reality Tim Martin persists, but needs help toward goal of using old Lynden grade school gym floor By Calvin Bratt editor@lyndentribune.com
For over 30 years Tim Martin has had the gym floor boards of the former Lynden Grade School stored in a Pangborn Road barn. He wants to find a way and a place to put them down again and be used as a playable court. (Calvin Bratt/Lynden Tribune)
LYNDEN — Tim Martin has a dream, or two. Even he might admit they’re somewhat far-fetched. But he persists. The main dream has to do with stacks of wood stored in an old dairy barn on Pangborn Road. These are the gym floor and walls that Martin salvaged before the former Lynden grade school on Edson Street was demolished in the early 1980s. He believes the original installation was in 1946. “Whe I first saw this happening and saw the fate of it, (I knew) it would be gone forever. So I got a bunch of high school kids involved. We got a plan together, we went over there and we started taking it up. It just came apart easily.” To Martin, these items carry heritage. Jake Maberry coached and Howard Heppner and Bob Kildall played on this floor, he says. Somewhere in the stack of hardwood is the painted lion’s head that was in the center jump circle of the Lynden Lions lair. “It never moved,” he says of his pile of nostalgia. But Martin, 78, must clear his stuff out of this barn, and time is running out. He dreams of seeing his grandsons — two of whom now play for Lynden High School — and many other kids again using this floor. Ideally, Martin would like to see the floor put down exactly where it came from, on the foundation that he believes still ex-
Tours Continued from C9 or visit the offices at 315 Halleck St. Online check out http://wccoa.org/index.php/ Tours/ and http://www.facebook.com/ pages/wcseniortours. Experience more than a taste of Southern culture in New Orleans. Tour the French Quarter filled with restaurants and jazz clubs that may keep you on your feet.
One travel day is on the steamboat Natchez for a relaxing cruise of the Mississippi River. Other trips are to the Longue Vue Gardens and House, to Baton Rouge and the Louisiana State Museum, and dinner at the elegant Natchez Antebellum Mansion. Watch a cooking demo at the New Orleans School of Cooking, go on a bayou boat in Vermillionville swamp or take a
spicy tour to the Tabasco Factory. The price of this trip is $2,399 per double occupancy, $3,049 for single. The deposit is $300 per person at sign-up. Travel Insurance is $210. Covered are all air travel and deluxe bus touring, hotel stays, the cooking demo, entry to museums, cruises and sites, 10 meals and the tour guide. In the July senior centers’ bulletin
were also listed these trips that may still be taking sign-up: • Terracotta Warriers exhibit at the Seattle Center, Friday, Aug. 25, $100. • Across Canada by Rail, Oct. 3-13, $6,500 single occupancy in a cabin, $5,900 double. • Sea to Sky Gondola and Falls in Squamish, B.C., Wednesday, Aug. 23, $157.
Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, July 26, 2017 | Ferndale Record
ENCORE ists under the surface of the ground of the two blocks of open Lynden School District property between Edson and Glenning streets. A practical inventor and designer of things, he envisions “a mini-colliseum with arches to hold the building up.” “It’s all stored so that it goes back down just the way we took it up,” Martin said during a barn visit on July 5. “It’s pretty impressive when you put it all together,” he said. “I want kids playing on it. I want my grandsons playing on that court.” But he knows that it’s all a pipe dream unless he wins some believers in his concept and enlists their help in making it happen. Martin came to this area from Modesto, California, in 1969. He says he helped improve the tanks that LTI owner Hank Jansen needed for expanding his milk truck hauling fleet. Martin was a welder and innovator. He later operated a metal fabrication shop on the Sumas property of Valley Plumbing & Electric today. And Martin got to know and work with patent attorney Bob Hughes of the area. “He and I have lots of patents,” Martin said. Martin witnessed the mechanization of raspberry harvesting that turned What-
com County into the hub of red raspberry growing it is today. In the process of change he sees an opportunity to train young people in the practical skills of innovation and design, being creative with their minds and hands while earning a decent wage. Specifically, Martin believes that the performance of today’s raspberry harvesters can be improved to reduce berry loss from droppage to the ground. It’s not entirely clear how the two aspects of Martin’s dream — reclaiming the old Lynden basketball floor, and having an industrial arts facility for teens — fit together, but he is persistent in wanting to enable and help kids. “I want to get back to teaching kids again,” he said, noting his own start as an apprentice in a tool-and-die shop. “That’s what I did in my business.” “I’m trying to set up the same situation I experienced as a kid. I look at these kids — what can they do?” Manufacturing and design skills should be a strong suit in what the next generation does in this agricultural region, he believes. “Im just looking for help and a ton of people to help put this program together,” he said. “This is a dream.” Martin can be reached at 360-2244847.
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Tim Martin displays his loyalty to Lynden Lions basketball tradition. (Calvin Bratt/Lynden Tribune)
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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, July 26, 2017 | Ferndale Record
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