2011 Progress Edition

PROGRESS

EDITION 2011 Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The majority of the Nooksack Valley School District administrative team joins together to celebrate the success of the district. Pictured are, from left: Matt Galley, high school principal; Mark Johnson, district superintendent; Joel VanderYacht, middle school principal; Cindy Tjoelker, Nooksack Elementary School principal; Kathy Winslow, Sumas Elementary School principal; and Cindy Stockwell, district assistant superintendent.

In Lynden recently, author Susan Van Zanten shares time with her father, Paul Van Zanten.

Jackson DeBruin plays in the family greenhouses at the Dave VanWingerden-owned Pacific Growers on Markworth Road.

A look at the progress of business and industry in North Whatcom County... ...and the people who make it happen.

In this issue...

The Fairway Center success story ............... A2

Local authors showcase work ..................... A6

Blankers: Building relationships .................. A3

Blok family loves to dairy ........................... A8

Nooksack Valley schools shine ..................... A4

Growing as a family.................................... A9

Taking hoops to new heights ........................ A5 www.lyndentribune.com

Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, February 23, 2011

A2

PROGRESS EDITION

Fairway Center a success story across 50 years Harold Kooy’s vision went from single grocery store to full complex

W

hat would Lynden be without the Fairway Center?    W h a t started out in 1960 as the daring idea of a young Harold Kooy has become, across 50 years, a pivotal piece of the Lynden economy.    Of course, Kooy didn’t visualize all that exists today. Back then, he was just opening a new store, Harold’s IGA Foodliner, on the western edge of town, offering Lynden shoppers plenty of car parking space outside and — a new concept inside the store — shopping carts!    Kooy had been a partner in the City Market downtown, where clerks still got food items down from high shelves for customers and delivery boys carted the goods home. But he foresaw a different way of doing business. It was about easy-access shopping centers giving customers plenty of free choice and flexibility.    “I was just in the transition,� says the 85-year-old today. “It was just the right time.�    He was “full of pep� then, as

he puts it.    And he had another big advantage: the backing of his father-in-law, Art Oordt, who owned property in an ideal location. The first Foodliner was a conversion of the Oordt Bros.

Hatchery building.    Working hard as a team, Harold and Sarah Kooy quickly proved any doubters wrong, and within five years they were ready to build a new 10,000-squarefoot structure for their grocery store. That allowed other businesses to occupy the old hatchery space, and the idea of a shopping center was becoming reality.    From the start, Mr. Oordt wanted a convenient coffee shop on the west side of town.

His wish was granted, and the Fairway Cafe has been a fixture at the same spot ever since.    A few other early ones were Thiessen’s Shoe Repair, Jansen’s Floral, a dental office, Lloyd’s Electronics and Edward’s Draperies.    The growth occurred in phases. In 1971, spaces were created for 17 businesses in an L shape along Front Street and

Harold Kooy, the Fairway Center creator, stands next to pictures of its development. — Lynden Tribune | CALVIN BRATT

around the corner onto 17th.

New arrivals included The Gent’s Den, Big Scoop, Coast to Coast Stores, Ralph’s Fairway Floors, John Kooy Realty, a Sears office, a discount center, a beauty salon and a dry cleaners/laundromat.

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, February 23, 2011

PROGRESS EDITION

A3

Building a solid business out of relationships Realtor Pete Blankers honored with lifetime achievement award Tim Newcomb Tribune assistant editor

I

t can be hard to build quality relationships working with cows all day, or so figured Pete Blankers in the mid-1970s.

Having spent his life working with cows, milking every day from the age of 7 on, the 42-year-old Lyndenite decided to do something different. So he joined John Snapper and Bruce Shuler in the real estate business at SSK Real Estate (now the North Office of The Muljat Group). And he hasn’t looked back since, now age 77 and recently honored with the Whatcom County Association of Realtors Lifetime Achievement Award.

“I had a desire for a community with more people,” Blankers said of the move decades ago.

“All I had at the dairy was the feed man and the milk man. I grew up on the farm, so I wanted a different lifestyle.”

But a different lifestyle didn’t mean a different work ethic. Not for Pete. And that was fine, because it meant he was able to build relationships, “share the Lord” with people and build a new schedule for himself and his family.

The Growth When Pete entered real estate, the office was small, with just a handful of agents. Pete eventually took over Shuler’s share, became the broker and took over Snapper’s portion too.

Today, the office has 22 licensed agents and is looking to add a few more.

“I took my work ethic from the farm,” he said. “I didn’t like to watch it happen; I wanted to make it happen.”

Translating that to real estate meant Pete was busy personally investing in marketable property and surrounding himself with good agents. He also kept busy at the office, working from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., writing all the advertising copy before anyone else arrived for the day.

“I also took on good agents, locals who knew the community,” Pete said. A couple of those agents ended up being two of Pete and Gigi’s four children.

Jerry joined in 1980 after a few years in the nursery business and Rod a few years later parttime in 1986 after a stint working at Intalco and then eventually full-time.

Pete’s other son, Rich, is a cattle rancher in Montana and his lone daughter, Connie, is retired in Sedro-Woolley.

Jerry entered the market — also looking for an improvement in quality of life — in tough economic times, especially considering a loan on a home ran in the 15 percent range. “You became creative and you learned to work,” he said.

Jerry said he was also drawn to the business because of the flexible schedule (while on-call, attending family activities can be worked out) and the fact that the harder you worked, the more it benefited you. Rod said he also wanted to improve his quality of life for his family.

In 1993, the firm rebuilt and moved into its current location at 505 Front St. and Jerry took

Pete Blankers, flanked by sons Jerry, left, and Rod, right, shows off his Lifetime Achievement Award from the Whatcom County Association of Realtors. — Lynden Tribune | COURTESY PHOTO over the role as broker, freeing Last year, when they were Pete up for some leisure time. forced to let go of the SSK name because of a long-standing The Community agreement with Paul Kenner The community feel was at SSK Insurance, the Blankers something all the Blankers want- family joined forces with The ed to foster and have worked to Muljat Group, the other major build, even to this day. independent realty company in

the region, forming a new office.

Along with staying local and in- The Award dependent, the office is able to Pete was granted the local still promote its own values, such award because of being a “pillar as the attempt to never have the in the community,” Jerry said. office open on Sundays and to But it was an award he didn’t limit working hours (and open houses) on that day too.

See BLANKERS on A4

Fairway: Success Continued from A2 The final remains of chicken coops on the 10 acres disappeared as the Fairway Center continued to circle around to the back in 1973 with the addition of the larger Safeway and SprouseReitz stores. A self-standing Peoples Bank branch was built at the southeast corner of the complex.

By now, there were at least 20 lessees.

“All the expansion was built after leases were signed,” Kooy said, a sign of how he wanted all his deals to be solid.

Eventually, the center went full circle with the addition of a large Ennen’s Mark-N-Pak grocery and several more smaller spaces to the northwest, as 18th Street was built to access them.

He just kept growing with the demand, Kooy said.

He was happy to be creating a thriving place for all those businesses and their employees and customers, but he tried to offer advise “only if they asked me,” he said.

With so much to manage and maintain for close to 30 tenants, Kooy gave up his original Foodliner to become a JC Penney store. The comings and goings of national chain stores has presented challenges at times, but seldom is there a vacancy at the homegrown Fairway Center, even today.

Speaking of challenges, a big one occurred when a fastspreading fire wiped out three businesses in November 1998.

Quickly, Kooy rebuilt from the rubble and had everyone back in

operation.

The center has gone through several visual transformations, the major one bringing a full Dutch-front design in 1989-90.

The crowning piece could be considered the arrival of a Dutch-style windmill towering over Front Street in 2007.

Byron Kooy oversees today’s operation of the 21-tenant Fairway Center, which includes the large North County Christ the King Church on the north side.

It may be tough to keep up his dad’s pace of “running a hundred miles an hour” in developing the center, but Byron sees plenty to keep him busy now in preserving the success story.

“We are blessed to have many years of success and are grateful to the community for continuing to shop locally, which helps support the family-owned businesses in the Fairway Center,” Byron said.

Many people could endorse the picture of Harold Kooy as an energetic and enthusiastic entrepreneur. Reflecting on it himself, the founder talks about what he sees as elements of retailing success, all of which were favorable in his case: location, timing, advertising, merchandising, good tenants.

He said he is thankful for it all: “The Lord has been good to us.”

He also realizes that “it’s a whole different ball game now.”

In the stairway leading up to Fairway Center’s windmill office are many framed photos or newspaper pages chronicling the stages of Fairway Center devel-

Ace Hardware, now diplaying its stock of spring flowers, occupies what was the new Harold’s IGA Foodliner store in 1965. — Lynden Tribune | CALVIN BRATT

opment. “It really is something when you think about,” Harold reminisces. “I was just doing it.

It’s kind of hard to believe.”

with the Kooys.

As recently as a few years ago, when Harold was past age 80, the landlord was still willing to climb up on a ladder to clear snow from the roof of his store, Tenants have been Hendricks said. stable, successful Owner of Ace Hardware today, Hendricks first came to and appreciative Fairway working as a teenager Dean Hendricks, with 40 for Jude Vander Hoek’s Coast to years of connection to the Fair- Coast store in 1971. Since then, way Center, said he has always the business has gone through a had a good working relationship location change, a name change

SSK is pleased to announce the latest addition to our staff:

Jack Louws

and a co-ownership change, but it’s all happened within the confines of the Fairway Center.

Today, Ace Hardware is exactly where the new Harold’s IGA Foodliner opened in 1965.

Casey DeGroot was the operator of the Fairway Cafe almost from the beginning, and now his daughter-in-law Rose runs the popular eatery, which has also hosted countless club gatherings, class reunions and other meetings in its back rooms.

“Harold, in the early years, was more than just a landlord. He was a good friend. He always had bits of advice,” said DeGroot.

“It has been successful.

There’s a good feeling you have at a place like this,” she said of both the cafe and the Fairway Center. “We’re all in this together. So many malls go by the wayside. Byron totally stays on top of things. It’s kind of like one happy family here.”

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, February 23, 2011

A4

PROGRESS EDITION

Nooksack Valley School District earns multiple achievement awards Four district buildings — high, middle and two elementary schools — earn Overall Excellence honors Mark Reimers Tribune reporter

F

our schools in the Nooksack Valley School District learned recently that they had been honored with achievement awards from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.    But as happy as the news may be for school administrators, it does little to change their perspective or sense of accomplishment.    “It’s not going to change what we do daily to get better,� said Superintendent Mark Johnson.    The awards, given to Nooksack and Sumas elementary schools and Nooksack Valley high and middle schools, commend each of them for overall excellence based on statewide assessment data for the three preceding years.    The awards were cosponsored by the state Board of Education. Board president Jeff Vincent said spotlighting the best schools is a critical role for state administrators.    “Spotlighting best practices is not only a celebration of our most successful schools,� Vincent said, “but also provides an opportunity for all of us to learn what those schools are doing right and how we might incorporate those same successful strategies in other schools across the state.�    Best practices are a constant study topic for teachers and principals in the district, said Assistant Superintendent Cindy Stockwell.    “We take what we are doing well and think about it,� Stockwell said. “We see if we can do an even better job.�    Stockwell said the district’s challenging demographics played a part in the recognition as well, since schools are judged against schools with similar circumstances.    For example, over 50 percent of the district as a whole is classified as low-income, as indicated

The majority of the Nooksack Valley School District administrative team joins together to celebrate the success of the district. Pictured are, from left: Matt Galley, high school principal; Mark Johnson, district superintendent; Joel VanderYacht, middle school principal; Cindy Tjoelker, Nooksack Elementary School principal; Kathy Winslow, Sumas Elementary School principal; and Cindy Stockwell, district assistant superintendent. — Lynden Tribune | MARK REIMERS by student applications for free or reduced-price lunches.    In addition, large numbers of minority groups also play a part. Twenty percent of students in Nooksack Valley are Hispanic and 10 percent are Native American, Stockwell said.    Until three years ago, Stockwell was principal of the middle school, which is now headed by former teacher Joel VanderYacht,

who described teaching in the district as a constant learning process.    “The staff are committed to learning themselves as adults,�

VanderYacht said.    Kathy Winslow, principal at Sumas Elementary School, said improving instruction is definitely helped by the collective commitment of the entire faculty and staff.

   Sumas recently received an “exemplary� rating from the Washington Policy Institute based on data compiled by the state board of education’s 2010 Achievement Index.    Nooksack Valley High School is the only school in the district to receive two of the achievement awards, one for overall achievement and another for excellence in language arts.

Blankers: Family comes first here Continued from A3 know he was receiving, even when Rod went up to start the introduction to the presentation.    “I heard it for the first time when they handed it to me,�

Pete said. “I didn’t get it until Rod started talking. I wasn’t prepared for a speech, but I would have told (everyone) that it doesn’t belong to me, but everybody in the room. It takes more than one horse to pull the wagon.�    Being able to present such an honor to his father was something Rod had been looking forward to doing. “I love and admire my father and I didn’t have to gather (much information). A lot of (the speech) came from my heart and what my dad’s put into my life over the course of 50 years,� he said.    Having two sons work with

him has been the “ultimate to build strong relationships. of relationships built over the    “I could tell my dad anyyears,� Pete admits. thing and he would under   Working side-by-side yet stand,� Jerry said. still independently has been a “real joy,� Rod said. Jerry The Next Step agreed, knowing the arrange-    How much longer will Pete ment has allowed the relation- stay working side-by-side (Pete ships to grow far deeper than and Rod have actually formed a they otherwise real estate team would being fotogether within cused primarily "I love and admire my the office)? He father ... a lot of (the on work. says another    While Pete speech) came from my two years. His worked long sons say don’t heart and what my hours at the bet the farm on dad's put into my life farm and the ofit. over the course of 50 fice, that meant    A real esyears." his children tate license reneeded to join — Rod Blankers news on your him in his tasks birthday for to spend time two years. Pete with him. Rod and Jerry both turns 78 in April and plans to resaid that growing up, working new for one final time. Rod and side-by-side on the farm was Jerry just laugh, having heard great and as adults, having that this story for about eight years same opportunity allowed them now and calling their dad the

Brett Favre of real estate.    Although the industry has been altered over the years by internet advertising and cell phones (each agent can by reached at all hours of the day and night for instant needs of for the clients), the core issue hasn’t changed: one-on-one contact.    With Pete’s over 10,000 contacts — and he still has time for more, which automatically come if you focus on people — he said that you can cut away all the technology and all the change and what’s left is the same as it has always been: showing a client that their interest is your interest.    “It may be a different avenue on how to get there,� Pete said. “But you still need to meet one-on-one and form a personal relationship.�    E-mail Tim Newcomb at tim@lyndentribune.com.

   High school Principal Matt Galley said he gives partial credit to a district-wide literacy initiative during his years as a teacher at the high school. The cumulative effect of that, combined with quality teaching in the lower grade levels, contributes to the success of students in the high school.    Galley said the high school faculty have also purposefully created a “workshop� model of writing instruction, both in language arts and social studies, so that the work done by students is more authentic and applicable

to daily life.    The coursework is also systematized well enough so that temporary teachers can easily plug into it and pick up where other teachers leave off.    Success by some measures will only breed more calls to improve. That’s the nature of a continuous-improvement philosophy, according to Johnson.    “Our mission is to reach all kids,� Johnson said. “We’re not there yet — we haven’t got to every kid yet.�    E-mail Mark Reimers at reporter@lyndentribune.com.

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, February 23, 2011

PROGRESS EDITION

A5

Local basketball players see the fruit of new workouts Lynden's Jake DeWitt and NV's Kyle Impero participate Caleb Jennings Breakey Tribune sports reporter

A

s evidenced by the multiple Northwest Conference basketball teams that reached the 2011 state basketball playoffs, there’s been some serious progression in our area hoopsters.    Obviously, every year is different with different faces and different skill sets. But this season, the fruits of one particular jumping program have turned good basketball players into even better ones.    One of those players is Lynden’s Jake DeWitt, who, along with Nooksack Valley’s Kyle Impero, boasts a better midrange game than pretty much anyone else in the NWC. DeWitt stands 6-1 and has the ability to dunk on fast breaks, while Impero, 63, also can slam the ball home.    Why? The biggest reason is that both of them can elevate higher than their opponents.    Is it simply because their legs are strong? No.    The answer is in Air Alert, a no-weights-involved, 15-week

jumping program designed to improve the legs of athletes. DeWitt said players can download the program off the Air Alert Web site.    “Last spring I was playing on an AAU team,� DeWitt said. “Two nights a week in Seattle, after school, I got together with a couple of buddies and we started doing this jumping program. While I was doing it, it was just pain throughout the summer season and I had some bad games, but it definitely paid off because I finished it and it definitely helped my vertical (leap).�    DeWitt said the program involves all kinds of jumping, such as knee to chest and calve raises. The Lynden senior battled against shin splints and it wasn’t long before he questioned himself, saying, “‘Is this working?’ A lot of people just quit it, but I thought, ‘I’m just going to finish it. These are summer games anyway.’�    Before the program, DeWitt said he was dunking a little, but after a couple of weeks passed after he finished the program, “I was like, ‘Whoa.’ I could just feel it.

   “Right away, I remember the first game I dunked in, I probably missed like 15 jump shots because my shot was so different,� he said. “But as I developed it, it made it so much better because if I could get in a lane, I knew I could get over the top of a guy and shoot the ball pretty much all the time.�    Just like Impero, the WIAA 1A Player of the Year, DeWitt said throughout the season he looked for unbalanced defenders because, if one of them got in his way, he could pull up and take the shot with little in the way to block his shot.    “In all, I gained three or four inches,� he said. “But when you’re running and jumping, which I (did) a lot (this season), I’m sure I got even more than that because of the big arm swings. Probably five or six inches.�    Impero said DeWitt’s vertical leap gave him an extra weapon that made him tough to guard.    “If you slack off, he was going to shoot it, and he can jump,�

Impero said. “Air Alert has really helped make me quicker and

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See HOOPS on A8 Nooksack Valley's Kyle Impero has an improved vertical leap. — Lynden Tribune | CALEB JENNINGS BREAKEY

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Lynden Tribuneâ&#x20AC;&#x2030;|â&#x20AC;&#x2030;Wednesday, February 23, 2011

A6

Lynden native Susan Van Zanten writes devotional book LCHS grad teaches English at Seattle Pacific University along Dickinson poems â&#x20AC;&#x153;as a way to move into my devotional time, as a prompt for thinking about topics of faith and doubt,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x192; Dickinson (1830-86) was tremendously biblically literate and used Scripture references richly in her poems. However, she tends to be regarded as a skeptic of Christianity â&#x20AC;&#x201D; an impression Van Zanten tries to correct: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think of her as a poet of faith and doubt.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x192; In the slim volume ($15, from Cascade Books of Eugene, Ore., in the Art For Faithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sake Series), Van Zanten takes 20 pages to introduce her literary subject and explain how to use the book. Then she presents 29 Dickinson poems, out of 1,800 written, and plumbs their devotional depth. â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x192; One verse, for instance, begins, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Papa above! Regard a mouse Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;erpowered by the Cat! Reserve within thy kingdom A â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mansionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for the Rat!â&#x20AC;? This is a lighthearted version of the Lordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Calvin Bratt Tribune editor â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x192; SEATTLE â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Susan Van Zanten, a Seattle Pacific University English professor who grew up in Lynden, has published a new book that bridges faith and learning in a new way for her. â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mending a Tattered Faith: Devotions with Dickinsonâ&#x20AC;? draws upon study of the 19th century New England poet across Van Zantenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 29 years of collegelevel teaching. But it also arises from some personal pondering on spiritual questions raised by Dickinson. â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not for people who are specialists in English. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for people who want to learn to read a poem and think about issues related to faith,â&#x20AC;? Van Zanten said on a recent visit to Lynden. â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x192; The book is her first stab at producing something for a general reader, after having written several academic books. â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mendingâ&#x20AC;? had its birth as Van Zanten spent a week in personal retreat at an SPU camp on Whidbey Island. She had taken

Lynden Tribuneâ&#x20AC;&#x2030;|â&#x20AC;&#x2030;Wednesday, February 23, 2011

PROGRESS EDITION

PROGRESS EDITION

Susan: Book for college faculty due out in 2011

VanderGriend authors third book on prayer

Continued from A6

â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x192; LYNDEN â&#x20AC;&#x201D; In late 2010, Dr. Alvin VanderGriend, a retired pastor and national prayer ministry leader living in Lynden, published the book â&#x20AC;&#x153;Praying Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Heart: Prayers that Make a Difference.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x192; It is the third devotional book written by VanderGriend on prayer, this one focusing on intercession. â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x153;At last,â&#x20AC;? says Dave Butts, chairman of Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Prayer Committee in the foreword, â&#x20AC;&#x153;a practical, devotional approach to intercession that will deal with the real issues people face who want to grow in intercessory prayer.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x192; The purpose of the book, says VanderGriend, is to expose from the Bible what God means intercession to be and help people translate these biblical truths into fruitful prayer practices. â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x192; The 186-page book, from PrayerShop Publishing, is available online through www.christianbook.com for $9.99. â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x192; VanderGriend is currently prayer evangelism associate for Harvest Prayer Ministries. His interest in prayer-evangelism began while working on staff for Christian Reformed Home Missions. Later, while directing HOPE Ministries, Alvin developed a prayer-evangelism strategy called Houses of Prayer Everywhere. He later became a leader of the national Lighthouse strategy for The Mission America Coalition. â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x192; He was born and reared in the Lynden before getting his education from Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary and Fuller Theological Seminary, leading to 40 years in active ministry.

faith-and-learning faculty development at Seattle Pacific, but is now back to full-time teaching as her son Joseph has begun attending there. â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x192; Another book, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Joining the Mission: A Guide for New Faculty,â&#x20AC;? also is due in print this year. â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x192; Susan graduated from Lynden Christian High School in 1974 after having been editor of the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s HiLite newspaper and also serving an internship at The Lynden Tribune. She played the role of Yente the matchmaker in the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s production of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fiddler on the Roof.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you were interested in doing something, you were able to do it,â&#x20AC;? she says with appreciation of the opportunities she experienced growing up in Lynden. â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x192; Susan frequently returns to see her parents, Paul and Shirley Van Zanten, and to attend opera in Vancouver, B.C. â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x192; E-mail Calvin Bratt at editor@lyndentribune.com.

prayer, Van Zanten explains, and the poem goes on to paint a picture of heaven that stands in contrast to the huge impersonal forces of the universe. â&#x20AC;&#x153;On those days when I am feeling like a besieged mouse, I need to turn to my Papa above,â&#x20AC;? Van Zanten summarizes. â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x192; Dickinson never gave up on God, and her brief but intense poems can be a source for readers finding their own way through questions of faith and doubt, the author asserts. â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x192; She is delighted with the cover of the book, which features a painting of Dickinson by a contemporary Dutch woman, Marjolein Vandersluis. â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x192; Van Zanten has done extensive research and writing in African literature and reviews the book â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Childhood in Kenyaâ&#x20AC;? in the November/December 2010 edition of the Books & Culture magazine. She has been doing

See SUSAN on A7 In Lynden recently, Susan Van Zanten shares time with her father, Paul Van Zanten. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Courtesy photo | MICHAEL BURKHALTER

A7

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, February 23, 2011

A8

PROGRESS EDITION

Blok family promotes the 'great lifestyle' in dairying Lynden couple featured in Dairy Products Commission radio spots Calvin Bratt Tribune editor

R

oger and Jackie Blok know it is a blessing to be able to gradually shift their dairy farm over to their sons.

Not so long ago, they couldn’t have foreseen what would happen. Across 30 years at 687 Beard Rd., they were just trying to dairy responsibly while raising their family of seven children.

Roger put up with milking cows in a flat barn until 1998, before putting in an advanced carousel-style system. A new loafing barn followed, plus a few other property upgrades. Meanwhile, Roger continued to drive his trusty 1978 pickup, and he has never bought a new tractor.

Along the way, the house gained a two-level addition that belies the 100-year age of the rest.

“We’ve always managed to keep our heads above water,” Roger said, sitting recently with Jackie at their kitchen table which affords a magnificent view toward Mount Baker. “The work that needed to get done, got done. (The kids) put in the extra effort. When times were good, we tried to get things paid off or saved up.”

Jackie sees “God’s faithfulness” in it and “good lessons” for life.

And now here they are working out the details of an LLC bringing all four sons, Dave, Jake, John and Kevin, ages 30 to 20, into the farm as partners. In fact, each is able to fit in with a certain interest or expertise.

Sometimes even their two young granddaughters come over to experience the farm life.

All in all, it’s a picture for which they are thankful, enough for the couple to contribute back to promoting their chosen lifestyle and industry in a couple of ways lately. The Bloks are fea-

While not seeking the highest volume of milk per cow, Roger likes to see his cows in a “zone” of comfortable sustained production.

For her part, after having prepped plenty of young Dairy Ambassador women with the message, Jackie is quick to cite the value of milk in the diet of both young and old. Once a person stops growing, the body no longer stores calcium; it must be supplied daily, and the best source is milk, aided by Vitamin D. Jackie will readily talk about the “refueling” qualities of chocolate milk for youth who are active — it’s a message she just recently helped get out to some 700 children from Whatcom County schools.

The Bloks willingly say they can’t predict the future for dairy farming in Whatcom County, and their family's place in it.

Land is under pressure from development and other agricultural uses. Government regulators enforce what most farmers already know as stewardly environmental practice. Milk prices are volatile, and sometimes the transfer of a farm into younger hands can be difficult.

But Whatcom County still has an ideal climate for dairying, many families support the Roger and Jackie’s son Jake is the primary afternoon milker on the Blok dairy, which features a rotating carousel-style milking industry and are supported by it system. Over 500 cows are milked three times daily. — Lynden Tribune | CALVIN BRATT — and “this lifestyle is great for raising a family,” Jackie said. tured in a series of radio spots for The job can’t always be per- tent best effort at herd manage- produce high-quality milk for E-mail Calvin Bratt at edithe Washington Dairy Products fect, but with the family’s consis- ment, the cows do their best and the customer, the Bloks believe. tor@lyndentribune.com.

Commission airing in 2011, and Jackie is deep into helping with the Dairy Ambassador program of the statewide Dairy Women group.

In the radio spot, Roger emphasizes that the health and comfort of his cows is critical to his success.

“It’s a ton of work,” he says.

“But the better care we take of them, the better care they take of us.”

From feed to medications, milking strings to nutrient management, Roger wants the focus to be on what’s best for his 600 cows. “I liken it to the community of people,” where there is a mixture of older and sometimes sick along with the young and strong, he said.

“If there is a need, you have to address it. What happens to the cows has an immediate effect on their productivity,” he said.

Hoops: Getting lift Continued from A5 jump higher. Most of my teammates have done it. The first time I did it, I stopped at the eightweek mark. I thought, ‘Man, I can’t do this. I’m done.’ So then I started over.

“The last couple of weeks is like jumping for an hour. The first couple of weeks are easy, then it gets really hard. You feel like you’re jumping an inch off the ground by the end.”

Earlier in the season, Lynden coach Brian Roper said he always knew DeWitt could jump, but…

“I think that commitment really helped him,” Roper said.

“As long as he’s getting up by the rim and getting rebounds and finishing around the rim, that’s great. Just jumping doesn’t help you unless you translate it into basketball skills on the court.”

Nooksack Valley coach Tyler Mitchell, whose Pioneers played two close games against Lynden this season, agreed that DeWitt was one of the most athletic talents in the Northwest Conference this year.

And a big reason for that

was Air Alert.

“You just try to keep him in front of you, because when he can take off full speed and go around you, and when he gets other guys off balance, he can Roger and Jackie Blok want to promote dairying to another generation in Whatcom County. Besides partnering their four sons into pull up and hit a jumper—and the family dairy, Roger and Jackie are both involved in industry promotional efforts. — Lynden Tribune | CALVIN BRATT that’s tough to stop,” Mitchell said of DeWitt. “I’ve seen him play over the years, and he’s just tough to stop.”

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Lynden Tribuneâ&#x20AC;&#x2030;|â&#x20AC;&#x2030;Wednesday, February 23, 2011

PROGRESS EDITION

A9

Local. Family. Growing.

Dave Van Wingerden, one of three growing family brothers, has Pacific Growers booming here Tim Newcomb Tribune assistant editor

T

he weather inside the Pacific Growersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; greenhouses can sit at a comfortable 72 degrees and stay naturally or artificially sunny at all times. That, fortunately enough for owner Dave Van Wingerden, is also the forecast for the business model he has built locally outside of Lynden on Markworth Road. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; As one of the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest greenhouses, Pacific Growers has gained a national presence with a local product. And while Van Wingerden works independently, he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work alone.

The Family â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sort this all out for you.

The Van Wingerdens are a large family and they all grow plants in greenhouses. But while they do similar things â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and even work together, helping each other â&#x20AC;&#x201D; they each run separate entities. Daveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father, John, operates his greenhouse on Benson Road. Dave, 50, has Pacific Growers on Markworth Road, while brother Mike operates multiple locations between Lynden and Blaine and brother Steve runs his greenhouse on Woodland Road east of Custer. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x153;We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to destroy

and business news. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; With six children in all, four of Dave and Annâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kids have already entered the family business (Kim DeBruin, Kevin, Dustin and David), enjoying the â&#x20AC;&#x153;nice environmentâ&#x20AC;? and positive future, Dave said. The other two, Bensen and Barb, are still working through school. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Working with the family is nice,â&#x20AC;? Dave said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;especially when you work together to fill an order.â&#x20AC;?

The Business â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; Once you step into the greenhouse, you can see for miles, literally. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; After all, with about 200,000 square feet of greenhouse, Pacific Growers houses over two million plant cuttings that will â&#x20AC;&#x201D; hopefully â&#x20AC;&#x201D; take root and form into a profitable little plant. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; While known locally for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lynden Baskets,â&#x20AC;? 50 percent of what Dave does is assorted vegetative plants, 10 percent are finished baskets and then plenty of 4-inch flowers and an assortment of basket stuffers, vegetables, herbs and other items make up the balance. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; With 100,000 to 200,000 cuttings coming from Mexico each week for 10 weeks, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;challenge is to put roots on them.â&#x20AC;?

Dave VanWingerden, owner of Pacific Growers on Markworth Road northwest of Lynden, poses for a photo with his son Dave Jr., daughter â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; And Pacific Growers does Kim DeBruin and her son, Jackson, in the greenhouse. Having family be a part of the business is natural for the VanWingerdens. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Lynden this well, with a 98 percent suc- Tribune | TIM NEWCOMB lead time needed in growing.

Cuttings need to start months in advance, meaning sometimes Pacific Growers must buy in finished plants (usually from family members) to help cover any unexpected rushes. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; Dave said that helping educate his buyers also allows him to provide a personal touch in a world of big business. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x153;In our industry, it is still important the family be a part of it and still be out dealing with the stores,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; With about 30 employees â&#x20AC;&#x201D; it does fluctuate seasonally â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Dave said his workers have been intensely loyal, which he certainly appreciates. He chalks it up to the beautiful environment of this workplace.

Jackson DeBruin plays in the family greenhouse. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Lynden Tribune | TIM NEWCOMB the family relationships with business,â&#x20AC;? Dave said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our family is too important.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; Dave grew up in the greenhouse business in New Jersey before the family moved to Holland when he was 12. After eight years there, the family moved to Lynden in 1983, when Dave was 20. Then, in 1989, he formed Pacific Growers. Greenhouses are just a part of the family, it seems. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x153;My dad always said your family should be worth more than your business,â&#x20AC;? Dave said. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; The brothers donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t compete with each other. They may have similar business models, but they have different clients.

Plus, they work together to buy excess product from each other â&#x20AC;&#x201D; even from extended family. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; Between the brothers, they buy 100 percent of a cousinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stock in Sunnyside and also buy from another cousin in Idaho. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; And getting together three days a week for lunch, the entire clan of brothers has plenty of time to stay up on the family

cess rate, which has helped drive business up. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; A contract with a company in Colorado, Syngenta, has allowed Pacific Growers to ship rooted plants all over the country. The Lynden greenhouse grows, Syngenta arranges the contracts and everybody wins, especially since the plants are sold before they are grown.

Pacific Growers, with its high growth success rate, can fill the orders and keep up the contract, amounting to about 20 percent of its business. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; The other 80 percent is selling finished product, most of which heads straight to Fred Meyer stores. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; A brand-new shipping area connected to the greenhouses on Markworth Road will serve a major need when opened this season, with Pacific Growers shipping to Idaho, Oregon and Washington in its own trucks. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; As Pacific Growers cultivates the relationship with Fred Meyer and other stores, it works to educate the stores about the

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Perhaps surprisingly, summer represents the slowest time. Already in February, Pacific Growers is shipping out primroses and pansies and has started growing pretty much anything imaginable. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; Even with summer a bit slower (most people want their plants in the spring and what was grown for spring will last into summer), things pick back up before summer is over, growing fall plants. Then, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget about the poinsettias in the winter. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; The greenhouse operation is set up like a giant production line. The cuttings start in the 72degree areas and then slowly acclimate to colder greenhouses until they are ready to ship. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; Pacific Growers opens the The Greenhouses greenhouses for six Saturdays in â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the secret to growing the spring for retail sales directsuccess? Temperature. Light. ly from the greenhouse, allowFertilizer. And the right mix of ing people to personally pick it all, without skimping on qual- out their own baskets, a popular ity. tradition for many Lyndenites. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; The busiest time of the year for Pacific Growers is the spring. The Growth

â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; As Pacific Growers continues to get bigger, it has added on buildings. Now, with greenhouse space nearly maxed out on the 150 acres, Van Wingerden added a new shipping facility on site and built outdoor space to grow more cold-weather options, such as strawberries. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; Business has continued to increase, especially as the economy has gone down. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x153;The lady that can buy a new car sure does want to do something for her yard,â&#x20AC;? Dave said. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; Looking forward, Van Wingerden said that vegetables and herbs and even more options for Fred Meyer signify the growth potential. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; He also knows that people are continually searching for new varieties and that automation will be something he needs to keep an eye on. â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a growing business,â&#x20AC;? VanWingerden said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Seriously.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x192;â&#x20AC;&#x192; E-mail Tim Newcomb at tim@lyndentribune.com.

Proudly Serving Whatcom County Since 1947 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Traditional Service Meeting Modern Needs.â&#x20AC;?

Family owned and operated

354-4471 or Toll Free 800-254-4471

Composting: Recycling together with Mother Nature

s OF (OUSEHOLD GARBAGE CAN BE RECYCLED BY COMPOSTING s #OMPOSTING COSTS ENVIRONMENTALLY AND ECONOMICALLY Did yo LESS THAN GARBAGE You u know ... can ev d WE rop of en f E s #URBSIDE COLLECTION IS AVAILABLE com DS to b p ost

CAREER FAIR Your CAREER Starts Here

MONDAY, MARCH 7 10:30 AM G BUILDING, BTC CAMPUS

FREE EVENT! OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

www.btc.ctc.edu | 360-752-8450

CONNECTWITH LOCAL BUSINESSES CHECK OUT OUR PROGRAMS

Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:30pm Saturday 8am-1pm (April-Oct.) 774 Meadowlark Rd., Lynden 354-4936 Rain Garden Mixes, Soils & Water Filtering Composts www.greenearthtechnology.com

e

Hannegan

BTC HEALTH AND BUSINESS

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Meadowlark Rd.

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Pole Rd.

Lynden Tribuneâ&#x20AC;&#x2030;|â&#x20AC;&#x2030;Wednesday, February 23, 2011

A10

PROGRESS EDITION

Fairway Center is celebrating

50 FABULOUS YEARS Shop Local at Fairway Center for fantastic savings!

5 OFF

$

00

your purchase of $25 or more.

START RIGHT. START HERE.SM

with coupon.

Expires 2-28-11.

&ABRICS s .OTIONS s 1UILTING 3UPPLIES "OOKS s 0ATTERNS s #LASSES

50 OFF

2 for $5.00 1.25 qt.

Large 6 pk $5.00 While supplies last.

>Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x153;>Ă&#x17E;Ă&#x160; iÂ&#x2DC;Ă&#x152;iĂ&#x20AC;]Ă&#x160;ÂŁĂ&#x2021;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x160; Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160;-Ă&#x152;Ă&#x20AC;iiĂ&#x152;]Ă&#x160; Ă&#x17E;Â&#x2DC;`iÂ&#x2DC;]Ă&#x160;7 Ă&#x160;U 354-4832

Connie & Company

PRIMROSES UI 4USFFU t FairXBZ $FOUFS t Lynden

t Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8am-6pm, Sat. 8am-5:30pm

50%

.,-(& + ))+ " -"('

%

Styling Salon

and

Fairway Barber Shop

Thank You

any one regu

CAMO Clot lar priced With coupon hing Item. . One coupon per customer . Valid

through Mar

are proud to have 85 years combined hair service to our loyal customers.

Coast to Coast, 1971

Thank You!

Ace Hardware & Sports, 2000

OFF*

,Â&#x153;Â&#x153;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160; >Â&#x2DC;`Â?iĂ&#x192;Ă&#x160;EĂ&#x160; Â&#x153;Ă&#x152;Â&#x2026;iĂ&#x20AC;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x192;iÂ?iVĂ&#x152;i`Ă&#x160; Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x152;iÂ&#x201C;Ă&#x192;°

ch 2, 2011.

for 54 years in Lynden, and 40 great years at the Fairway Center.

We're honored to be your local outďŹ tter.

20

% OFF*

>Â?Â?Ă&#x160;Â&#x2C6;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2021;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;VÂ&#x17D;

Daveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sports Shop, 2007

1738 Front Street, Fairway Center, Lynden

IĂ&#x153;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x152;Â&#x2026;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x152;Â&#x2026;Â&#x2C6;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x160;>`Ă&#x160;/Â&#x2026;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x192;°]Ă&#x160; Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x2C6;°Ă&#x160;EĂ&#x160;->Ă&#x152;°]Ă&#x160; iL°Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;{]Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;xĂ&#x160;EĂ&#x160;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2C6;]Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;䣣Ă&#x160;" 9°

www.davessports.com 360-354-5591

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re honored to b e pa of the Fairwa rt y Center.

5 OFF

$ 00

any purchase of $30 or more.

ÂŁĂ&#x2021;Ă&#x17D;nĂ&#x160; Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160;-Ă&#x152;°Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160; Ă&#x17E;Â&#x2DC;`iÂ&#x2DC;]Ă&#x160;7 Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x153;°`>Ă&#x203A;iĂ&#x192;Ă&#x192;ÂŤÂ&#x153;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x192;°VÂ&#x153;Â&#x201C;Ă&#x2030;Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x2022;Ă&#x192;Ă&#x152;Â&#x2C6;Vi`}i

50

%

OFF

354-4479 Fairway Center Lynden

4-pk. Enercell Alkaline Batteries AA, AAA (4-pk) C & D (2-pk)

with coupon. Not valid with any other offer. Exp. 2.28.11

Limit 2 per customer.

With coupon through Feb. 26, 2011.

Located in Fairway Center between The Woods Coffee and Fairway Drug.

Open Monday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. â&#x20AC;˘ 354-3101

ole Obsession

* footwear

Buy ONE pair of shoes get a SECOND pair

35 % OFF*

Our 49th Year!

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Great Home Cookinâ&#x20AC;?

Breakfast Special Thurs., Feb. 24 ONLY 7am-10am

Pancake & Coffee

49¢

Deluxe Burger & Soda

$4.99

Thurs., Fri. & Sat. Feb. 24 - 26 ONLY

*some restrictions apply : : see store for details

www.soleobsessionfootwear.com : : 360.392.8659

Doris Jeanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bakery

The helpful place.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not just a donut shop any more.â&#x20AC;?

French Bread Pizza or Meatball Sub, Soda & a Donut

Fresh Breads Made Daily

(excluding Fritters)

for only

$5.50 with mention of this ad

through Sat., Feb. 26th r 'SPOU 4U r 'BJSXBZ $FOUFS

THE WOODS COFFEE BASED IN LYNDEN, NOW PROUDLY SERVES ALL OF WHATCOM COUNTY WITH THEIR OWN BAKERY ITEMS, SANDWICHES & SALADS... ALL Fresh Daily.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT DURING OUR PROGRESS!

ÂŽ

BAG SALE 20%off

ul place.

The helpf

BAG SALE! d Save!

Load Up an

Saturday, th 6 February 2

almost anything* you can stuff inside!

*Power tools and small appliances qualify for a 10% discount. Discount only applies to regular price in-stock merchandise. Limit one bag and one offer redemption per customer.

1736 Front Street â&#x20AC;˘ Lynden, WA 98264 â&#x20AC;˘ (360) 354-2291

The Fairway Merchants would like to give a heartfelt â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thank Youâ&#x20AC;? to the Kooy Family for being great landlords throughout the years. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d also like to thank our wonderful community for shopping locally and decades of support. Please enjoy these discounts as our way of showing our appreciation!

And remember...SHOP LOCAL....You Make a Difference!