Barn Buddies and their families visit Everson
4-H Club participates in Barnyard Bonanza at Cano Family Farm. — Country Life, A8
Ferndale baseball opens season on March 15
Golden Eagles host Squalicum at 4 p.m. — Sports, Baseball Preview, B1
WHATCOM
— Despite recent snowfall in the mountains, the 2023-24 winter snowpack remains below normal for most of Washington and keeps existing drought dec-
larations in place, the Washington Department of Ecology reported in a March 7 water supply update. ere’s “snow such luck” of a big turn-around in status, the agency said. “ e snow was helpful for the magnitude of drought impacts, but there is still signi cant concern for multiple regions of the state,” said Ecology’s statewide drought lead Caroline Mellor. Snowpack overall is at about 71% of normal.
FERNDALE — e Ferndale School Board passed a series of items on Tuesday, Feb. 27, much of it pertaining to the revision of existing school policies.
One of the more pressing items on the agenda the board approved was a motion to revise Policy 3418: Response to Student Injury or Illness. e revision adds extra language from the WWSDA to the policy that health support sta should be certi ed in both rst aid, CPR and AED.
e revision also stated that joint medical guidance is to be provided by both the Department of Health and the Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction. e board voted unanimously to approve of the revisions.
e Ferndale School Board also added Juneteenth to the list of holidays observed by the district. As with other observed national holidays such as President’s Day, Labor Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the school will not be in operation on Juneteenth as a means of observance. Juneteenth is a federal Holiday in the United States that celebrates the abolition of slavery in America.
Among some of the other motions that were passed at the meeting was the adoption of a monitoring report which seeks to lay out nancial goals and plans for the board in the years to come. e board also moved to accept the retirements, resignations and leave of absence of several Ferndale School District employees.
More information on the district’s policies is at ferndalesd.org.
e Ferndale School Board meets at 6 p.m. the last Tuesday of the month at the Mountain View campus, 5780 Hendrickson Ave.
Meeting agendas, which include supporting documentation, are available at the district’s website and at BoardDocs.com, or by request from the superintendent’s o ce by calling 360-383-9207 or in person at 6041 Vista Drive.
Informal and special meetings, as well as study sessions, are held throughout the year as needed. Public notice is given through the district’s website and the news media.
e board’s next meeting is scheduled for March 26.
-- Contact Luke Seymour at luke@lyndentribune.com.
Precipitation for the water year (starting Oct. 1) is at 92% of normal so far. But precipitation is falling more as rain when it has historically been snow, and therefore the reduced snowpack.
Washington relies heavily on snowpack melting into streams and aquifers through spring and summer months for water supply.
Areas of speci c concern right now include the Olympic region, the upper Columbia Basin and the central
Cascade foothills stretching from Okanogan County into Whatcom and Skagit counties. Drought was declared last July for 12 watersheds in parts of 12 counties, including Whatcom. In the Nooksack River basin, three water systems serving 346 people north and west of Ferndale operated on an emergency status. Some wells went dry. One system used an emergency intertie with Ferndale, and another hauled water via truck.
This was the snow remaining on Excelsior Peak in Whatcom County on June 23, 2022, after an exceptionally good snowpack winter. (Cal Bratt for the Record)
By Melissa Kudsk and Amy McKay Ferndale School District
FFA
FERNDALE — is year, the Ferndale FFA celebrated National FFA Week with a multitude of events throughout the week, Feb. 17-24.
On Feb. 20-21, Ferndale FFA hosted kindergarten tours, an event where kindergarten classes from the school district are invited to visit and tour their agriculture program. Ferndale FFA has hosted this event for several years. is year, about 250 kindergarten students came from four elementary schools including Custer, Skyline, Eagleridge, and Central. is consisted of six stations. Each station had a di erent activity for the students to participate in. Some activities students participated in planting a strawberry plant to bring home, making a paper ower, barrel racecourse on stick horses, small animals experience, and seeing the welding and small engines shop. is was an exciting experience for the kindergarten students.
On Feb. 21, Ferndale FFA was accompanied by Washington FFA State O cers Michael Johnson and Nathan Heay. After a short meeting, a group of 30 individuals consisting of FFA members and advisors toured Drayton Harbor Oyster Company and Twin Sisters Creamery. ey learned how Drayton Harbor grows and harvests their oysters for sale and for their restaurant they have in Blaine.
At Twin Sisters, they watched a short lm about how the creamery started, got to taste test two of their cheeses, and viewed the blue room, where they aged their bleu cheese. ey state o cers also joined in on this event.
On Feb. 22, Ferndale FFA’s Ag Leadership program helped host the sta BBQ. ey served hamburgers, chips and drinks during lunch as a way to thank the hard-working sta at FHS. e following day, all FFA members, plus a friend, were invited to a lunch BBQ.
-- Amy McKay is Ferndale High School’s FFA president, Melissa Kudsk is the school’s FFA vice president
Ferndale FFA members celebrated National FFA Week, Feb. 17-24, involved in a great many events. (Photos courtesy Ferndale School District)
ment on proposed claim forms that will be used in the adjudication process for the Nooksack basin, which is termed Water Resource Inventory Area 1.
WHATCOM — e
Any customer of a public water supply system, such as of a city or water association, does not need to respond individually.
Recently, the Washington State Department of Ecology asked for com-
One of the responders was Whatcom Family Farmers, a Lynden-based advocacy group, which objects to giving a break to rural residents to do up to a half-acre of yard and garden watering. is exemption for as many as 20,000 separate parcels could create a rush to develop these lots, leading to sprawl in rural Whatcom County, WFF argues.
Ecology proposes two types of court claim forms. One is full-length, for conrming both past and present water use on a property.
e second type of claim is for small use, pertaining to homes using up to 500 gallons per day and having no more than a half-acre of outdoor watering.
“Given that there are several thousand undeveloped lots in rural Whatcom County, what this proposal will do in reality is create a rush to ll these lots and sign up for the easy process,” said Fred Likkel, WFF executive director, in his letter of comment to Ecology.
Proportionately, such rural residential use would be much more than in a city setting on smaller lots, it is claimed.
e farmers’ group also said this is a change of state
Lynden man named to Biola dean’s list
LYNDEN — Blake VanWeerdhuizen was named to Biola University’s Dean’s List for academic excellence. VanWeerdhuizen, a
Adjudication is the process, starting in 2024, of determining the priority of water rights across all of the Nooksack River basin. Adjudication applies to both surface water and groundwater in Whatcom County, although drawing from surface streams has been largely closed. (Bill Helm/Ferndale Record)
water code that should be authorized by the legislature or by courts, not an agency.
Whatcom Family Farmers sees this as an example of the complexity that is opened up by water rights adjudication -- which WFF opposes -- versus working more broadly and collaboratively among all water us-
computer science major, was one of approximately 1,600 students named to the dean’s list in fall EC 2023. Biola students are placed on the dean’s list to honor those with a GPA of 3.6 or higher while enrolled in 12 or more credits and whose cumulative GPA is at least 3.2. e son of John and Kathryn VanWeerdhui-
zen, Blake’s grandparents are Scott and Ellen Korthuis.
LYNDEN — e group Racial Unity Now will
ers toward solutions. Vying for enough water are crop irrigation, livestock raising, sh habitat and population growth in general, all amidst an awareness of climate change. e entire court-directed process, even by Ecology’s estimate, is expected to take at least 10 years.
However, individual wa-
screen the 2005 documentary lm “Crossing Arizona” ursday, March 21, and invites discussion of it afterward. e showing begins at 7 p.m. upstairs in the Jansen Art Center, 321 Front St.
Award-winning “Crossing Arizona” gives an inside look at immigration enforcement along the
ter rights could be nalized along the way. e hoped-for outcome, the agency says, is an accurate inventory of water use in WRIA-1. It involves a determination of everyone’s water rights, in order of priority, by means of adjudicated certi cates attached to the deed at the address where the water is used.
Arizona border. An in ux of migrants and their rising death toll elicited complex feelings about human rights, culture, class, labor and national security. e lm examines the crisis through the eyes of those directly a ected by it.
Whatcom Family Farmers cites these other problems in the Ecology claim forms:
• Not counting in use of water beyond stock drinking, as for cleaning systems on a farm.
• Having low numbers for per-cow consumption of water, especially in hotter weather.
ence of $1.94/g. e national average price of gasoline has risen 6.2 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.40/g on March 11. e national average is up 23.0 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 4.5 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.
Also, producer Horizonte talked with two Arizona State University professors, Paul Espinosa in transborder studies and Brian Gratton in history, about the lm and its portrayal of the immigration debate. Admission is free.
Average gasoline prices in Washington have risen 9.3 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $4.17/g on March 11, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 2,666 stations in Washington.
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said the national average price of gasoline has seen a “continued but measured rise compared to last week.”
“But the pace of increases has slowed slightly in the last few days,” De Haan said. “With government data showing a rise in re nery utilization last week, there may be some good news on the horizon for drivers.”
De Haan explained that much of the seasonal rise that happens this time of year “is a culmination of re nery maintenance, the switch to summer gasoline, and rising demand.”
Prices in Washington are 32.5 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 1.5 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. e national average price of diesel has fallen 1.3 cents in the past week and stands at $4.02 per gallon.
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Washington was priced at $3.25/g on March 10 while the most expensive was $5.19/g, a di er-
“If re neries continue to boost output of products like gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, it could mean earlier-thanexpected relief,” De Haan said. “However, the changeover is still in process, so while we’ll likely see the continuation of upward pressure on prices, improvement in output could slow that pressure down some.”
GasBuddy data is accessible at http://prices.GasBuddy. com.
Bernie
Worst
My beloved sister, Helen, passed into the arms of our Lord on Dec. 10, 2023, following an extended illness. She was born in a log cabin, on the family homestead in Custer to our parents, Nellie and Delmer Beckman and welcomed by our eldest sister, Rosalee, on Aug. 21, 1936.
Helen was a proud country kid and with her sisters and neighboring cousins, built bon res, roasted apples, swam in the Dakota Creek, shed, hunted, and performed neverending farm and household chores,
Bernard “Bernie” Lee
Worst (1940–2024) was a remarkable individual whose life touched many.
Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on May 22, 1940, he grew up surrounded by the love of his parents, Garrit and Wilhelmina (Wielenga)
thus developing a strong work ethic, that served her well throughout life. Helen graduated in 1952 from Custer Junior High and Ferndale High School in 1955. Following completion of her cosmetology degree, Helen worked many years at Bellevue’s House of Leonard, returning to the Bellingham area in the 1970s, where she operated her beauty shop and joined WWU’s Environmental Services Team. It is there she met Richard (Rich) Rossmeisl, the love of her life. ey married and after retirement, traveled extensively with their RV Club and enjoyed their time together regardless of activity. When you saw one, you saw the other. Always together.
Worst. Bernie’s childhood was lled with precious memories, including a lifetime relationship with his siblings, Florence (Flo) Rhonda and Cathy Oose (deceased).
At the age of 18, Bernard joined the U.S. Navy, serving honorably for three years. His adventurous spirit led him to Seattle, Washington, where
Mary Ardith (Hickey) Eiene
Mary Ardith (Hickey) Eiene, 85, of Everson died peacefully on Jan. 22, 2024.
Mary was born on Sept. 10, 1938 on the family farm south of the Nook-
My shy, quiet sis was a loyal Custer girl and treasured lifelong friendships with fellow classmates, as they socialized and entertained with song, at local nursing homes. She was always in attendance at Custer events and deeply appreciated Custer United Methodist Church, for years of hosting special events and providing the glue holding our beloved community together.
Helen was preceded in death by our parents, sister Rosalee, nephew Dennis, brother-in-law Donald and beloved husband Richard. My dear sister will be missed by her numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, stepchildren, and special friends. She was my co-conspirator, friend and
he worked as a small airplane and helicopter pilot. It was there that he met and married Catherena (Rena) Scheele in 1968. Together, they began their family.
In 1980, Bernie moved with his family to Lynden to be closer to Rena’s family. He owned and operated Cascade Carpet Care for many years before retiring. His dedication to his work and community left a lasting impact. Bernard was a devoted member of the Covenant Grace Re-
sack River Bridge in Lynden to Arthur Hickey and Edith Marr. Mary is preceded in death by her daughter, eresa Abercrombie, sister Hazel Dell DeVries, brothers Glenn (Rosalee), Paul, Jack, Earl (Pearl), and George Hickey. She is survived by her devoted husband George and brother David Hickey, children Jack Eiene, Fred (Kallie) Eiene, Mary Kay
formed Church, where his deep faith in his Savior sustained him. He found solace in gardening and embraced a healthy, simple lifestyle.
Bernie is survived by his loving wife Rena; their children: Gary Worst (Haley), Darrel Worst, and Julie Scheele (Herb); and his cherished grandchildren: Emma Grace and Lydia Faith Worst.
In lieu of owers or gifts, the family kindly requests donations to the Bellingham Light House
Phelps, and Melissa Eiene; grandchildren Jake (Jackie) Abercrombie, Kate (Jordan) Nelson, Vince Phelps (deceased), and Shelby (Jensen) Boehm. Great Grandkids, Taryn, Denten, and Aidan Abercrombie; Kimber, Geneva, and Haile Nelson; Bradley, Bella, and omas Boehm; and numerous nieces and nephews. Mary raised her family on a farm in
growing up, my keeper and protector. She took me along on her dates, let me wear her FHS jacket until it was in tatters, and put miles on her roller skates. I wish I had told her that she was the best big sister a kid could have. Love and miss her every day, Shirley.
A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. on March 23, 2024 at the Custer United Methodist Church, with refreshments to follow. A private family interment will be held at Greenacres Memorial Park.
e family suggests remembrances be made to the Custer United Methodist Church, 2996 Main Street, Custer, WA 98240, to support their continued service to the community.
Mission: www. elighthouseMission.org
A gathering for family and friends will be from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at Gillies Funeral Home, followed by private family burial in Monumenta Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
Bernie will be dearly missed, but his legacy lives on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.
Everson, taking great joy in gardening and yard work. In later years, she loved her garden, especially roses and tulips, snowmen, and a good red barn. She left a lasting legacy by teaching her family a great work ethic. e family would like to honor Mary with a celebration of life June 15, 2024 at Berthusen Park from noon – 3 p.m. All are welcome.
OLYMPIA — Washington State is recognized for its e ective voting processes, but o cials say too many ballots are rejected because signatures don’t match.
“I think we can do a lot better in Washington State,” urston County Auditor Mary Hall said. “Updating how our o ces reach out to voters is a simple step to ensuring both integrity and voter access.”
Signature veri cation is done to prove the mailed ballot was lled out by the person it was sent to, but too often, people change the way they sign their name or they don’t sign their ballot at all. at results in rejection of the ballot.
Senator Javier Valdez (DSeattle) introduced SB 5890 after reviewing statistics on ballot rejection rates in the state. e bill received unanimous approval in both the House and Senate and now awaits the Governor’s signature. e report, conducted by the University of Washington, showed people of color and younger voters are the demographics most likely to have their ballots rejected. Ballot rejection rates among Black voters are 50% higher than white voters. Latino or Asian voters are also much more likely than white voters to have their ballots rejected.
“If you are a younger voter between 18 and 25, in 2022 there was a 5% chance that your ballot had been rejected …when you compare it to, if you are 46 to 65 years old, your percentage was .8%,” Valdez said.
Hispanic and Asian voters are also more likely to have their ballots rejected, potentially due to language barriers or complex names.
Voters of color, according to the study, were less likely to sign their envelope when compared to white voters, which they argue could point further to a language barrier.
To improve outcomes, the bill mandates materials be available in English, Spanish, and any other language required by the federal Voting Rights Act.
It also requires county auditors to contact voters by phone or email if their ballot still needs to be signed or if the signature doesn’t match the one on le. Cur-
Sen. Javier Valdez has introduced various bills this session to try and improve our state election process. (Cutline: Photo courtesy Senate Democrats)
rently, they are required to use rst-class mail to contact voters.
“Removing the requirement of rst-class mail, will result in a few things: tremendous savings, but it will also allow us to reach voters where they are, via phone or via email because that’s what people use these days,” Hall said.
King County provides an online form for updating a signature if your signature has changed. Election ocials advise people to submit a current signature before the next election, with the form due eight days before election day unless submitted in person.
Hall supports most aspects of this bill but is concerned that notifying people after every election could cause fatigue.
“We contact them a lot,” Hall said. “But if we were to contact them after every election, that would be ve times this year, and we don’t
want voters to get fatigued with us reaching out.” e bill also instructs the Secretary of State to create consistent rules for verifying signatures across the state, and to develop a manual to train people on how to apply the rules so everyone follows the rules correctly.
“ is bill creates an opportunity for every Washington voter to gain increased education and understand the importance of their ballot signature,” said Calista Jahn from the University of Washington Evans School of Public Policy and Governance.
Under the new law, auditors also must create an outreach plan to educate communities about signature veri cation.
In addition, the bill creates a work group with the Secretary of State, at least two county auditors, and a representative from the University of Washington
Evans School of Public Policy and Governance to design a uniform envelope statewide to be implemented in the 2026 primary. While some concerns about voter fatigue were raised, overall, there was
strong support for updating outreach methods to ensure both integrity and access to voting. After the governor signs the bill, it will take e ect 90 days after the end of the session.
-- e Washington State Journal is a nonpro t news website funded by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation. Learn more at wastatejournal.org.
Winter in Whatcom County is an acquired taste. As the years render on we allow the beauty of the winter outweigh the inconvenience of the cold. e focus turns inward, as we say, and we form small totems to our personal comforts.
It is because of this that I am sometimes avoidant of very extroverted Wintery themes with lots of cliche wintery activity. at is why I was more than pleasantly surprised by the beautiful, solitary themes of the juried exhibit at the Jansen Art Center.
What is a juried art exhibition? A juried art exhibition is like a group art show. e di erence however, is in the name: e name juried art exhibit comes from the blind selection process by a panel of judges. is gives it its legalese borrowed name, juried. is name is to di erentiate the show from what is known as a group art show. A group art show is an art show wherein the artists work collaboratively to select and agree on which pieces are to be presented. A juried art exhibition, on the other hand, is more of an exposure opportunity. ree pieces are usually submitted by each artist. eir works are then selected based on their technical creative merits — rather than on the artists’ reputation.
Juried art exhibitions have their roots in 18th century Paris. e earliest record being the juried art exhibitions at e Salon de Paris in 1667. Moving into the 19th and 20th centuries and the creation of more cultural and arts membership groups, juried art exhibitions have become more formalized and the blind jury process over the years has become more re ned. is means rotating the jury to make sure the process stays pure. Part of the appeal of participating in a juried exhibit as an artist is the promise of a fair and unbiased evaluation.
As art clubs and societies formed in the 19th and 20th centu-
ries in Europe and America, the juried exhibition becomes a pathway for exposure and success for emerging artists. After the selections are made, the curation, the placement arrangement and hanging of the exhibit takes place. e curator of an exhibit is the story teller of the theme.
ey have the job of honoring each piece with placement, lighting and creating groupings of them in moods. Making certain everything comes together in a cohesive way. Even though the owing from one artists’ world to the next ... without deviating from the theme of the exhibit.
You will feel the skill of the curator in the Winter Juried Exhibit.
As you make your way through hallways and upstairs the pieces are paired and grouped in a very pleasant tempo and assemblage. It makes the visit one of discovery of the space as well as of the artwork.
Amongst the rst on display in the lounge are Cindi Landreth’s tiny and passionately woven baskets, small and bursting with color. en Graig Britton’s intricate geometric patterning on his clay pots. e deep small gouges in the clay seem to move on their own against the grain of the clay thrown vessels.
Another standout piece to me was Je Aspen’s photograph titled, Beyond. He captures a well-known Northwest scene of the receded tide on the bay. e extraordinary thing about this photograph is the empty muddy bay was made feel so dramatic, so full of movement and elegance by the use of silhouette and re ection. With the lighting, re ections and bold point of view the viewer is taken inward to a curious place within this familiar scene.
e cold and barren Textures presented in the work of Wayne Stoner in his Dal Trent Series 1 made a perfect coupling with the steel metal sculpture of Don Anderson titled Long Arch. e textures and colors felt stripped and
cold, yet the textures were alive and full of potential for touching.
Abstract art enhances the sensory language in this exhibit with works from ber artist, Francie Gass and assemblage artist, Ken Whitley’s My Circus, My Monkeys, My Darling. While Wayne Regehr’s classic oil paintings re ect the shallow pools and beloved spots of the sports sherman. e perspectives, the mediums so di erent, but the curator arranges the space within the theme so it all belongs. Ryan Lien’s Fish Heaven I & II drew me in because it was an oil painting based on a photograph of the artist holding a sh that has left it’s life behind. ese two works crossed close to the border of performance art ... with their conceptualization. I appreciated the dimension in the artists statement and the re ections on death as a part of life.
In researching this exhibit I viewed a few pieces online including the watercolor by artist, Robert Dodd, titled, Engine 1356 Spokane. When I saw the 10-inch by 10-inch watercolor it nearly took my breath away in its tiny exquisiteness.
A scene of a coal train departing the station with the most rich environment created with impeccable watercolor technique. If any of the pieces proved a point to me about why artwork should be seen in person it was the work of Robert Dodd.
Exploring the essence of winter the Jansen Art Center in Lynden was a beautiful way to spend an hour in the afternoon. e Art Center is a creative hub and I highly recommend catching this exhibit before it leaves. You will be inspired and impressed by the level of technique and variety of mediums. e exhibit will bring you deeper into the ner impressions of winter — before it is gone. e Jansen Art Center’s Winter Juried Exhibit will be up through March 29. Jansen Art Center is at 321 Front St., Lynden.
-- Rachael Joelle Maddalena is a dancer, Pilates and dance conditioning instructor who has dedicated her career to teaching Pilates in specialized studios for seniors across two states.
Enthusiasm makes a difference
More than a decade ago, as one of my school mates concluded his morning assembly speech on the topic of enthusiasm, our headmaster, Manjitinder Sing Bedi took over the stage to add more. I may not remember every word but some of them have stayed with me. “Make enthusiasm your friend for life as it will make you do wonders. Without it life will be a dull show.” In my words, I will de ne it as a beautiful energy which can make one cover many extra miles and it shows up on its own instantly. It’s also something which keeps many virtues alive.
passengers, alerting them about their upcoming station. If anyone talked over the phone, she would creatively gesture or whisper ‘passengers are sleeping. You could head to the dining coach for the call.’
Some years ago, I booked a night train from Flagsta , a small town in Arizona to Los Angeles but more than the journey I adore recalling the train’s elderly conductor. As many of us began to board, she got busy asking ‘where is your smile?’
And she continued with her smiling face, ‘smile is the real ticket for this train.’ En route, I noticed, holding a list, she remained engaged, waking up
One day, during my trip to Hong Kong, I decided to give myself a breakfast treat at its famous hotel called the Ritz Carlton. e moment I took the center table, a cheerful waitress came over. ‘Should I o er you a table for which you would be grateful forever?’ Her ebullience made me follow her and I must say she was absolutely right as she gave me a table with a view like no other. e restaurant had transparent glass walls and at 428 meters above sea level, it was so exciting, as the South China Sea, the many ferries and skyscrapers around greeted me so beautifully. ere was also a binocular on my table and as the sun was still rising, it was more than phenomenal. She, of course, ended up making my visit so joyful.
Last year, I took a Saudia Airlines ight to New York from Riyadh. e ground sta failed
to nd a window seat for me, telling me the ight is full. is seat being my favorite, I didn’t give up even as I boarded the aircraft. I spoke to one of the stewards and she told me to give her a few minutes. I saw her following up with other window seat passengers if they could swap. She too didn’t give up till someone eventually agreed. Her cheer soared as she said, ‘your favourite seat is waiting for you.’ It was her enthusiasm, which cared for my happiness and I kept thanking her.
I was treated by the views, right with take-o as it was the sunrise hour and it was followed by breathtaking sceneries over Egypt, the Italian coast, France, the cloudy Atlantic Ocean, Canada, and nally towards New York’s JFK. e window seat gesture weaved my relationship with this airline, which I will never forget. anks to that young crew member, from the Philippines. Edward Appleton, an English physicist once concluded, “I rate enthusiasm even above professional skill.” And, I would add, it makes all the di erence, be it through small gestures.
-- Rameshinder Singh Sandhu is a travel writer from Amritsar, Punjab, India who has also visited Lynden in 2016 and 2017 for tourism.
Editor, I am a retired dentist living in Bellingham. I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine in 1976. At the time of my graduation, I observed distinct di erences in the dental condition of people born before me, 1951, and those born after. ose older than me had su ered signi cantly more damage to their teeth from the e ects of tooth decay than those born after me. I assumed that part of the reason for that was the widespread adoption of water uoridation after 1950.
It seems my assumption is correct. In 2021 a study was published comparing the incidence of tooth decay in children living in Calgary and Edmonton. Calgary stopped water uoridation in 2011 while Edmonton has uoridated its water supply since 1967. e demographics of both cities are similar and the other factors contributing to tooth decay are also similar. e main di erence is nonuoridated vs. uoridated water. e prevalence of tooth decay among these children is signi cantly higher in Calgary (non- uoridated water) than it is in Edmonton ( uoridated water).
I learned over my career that no matter how well a tooth is restored or replaced, that restoration or replacement does not function as well as an intact natural tooth. If we can signi cantly increase the likelihood of keeping teeth decay-free by using safe and e ective water uoridation then keep that practice in place.
William Ciao BellinghamEditor. How, and why, did it take three years for this egregious mistake to see the light of day?
In a case of mistaken identity, PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center asked the wrong family for a decision to continue treatment or to withdraw life support from a patient who was considered brain dead by medical sta . Using the terminology conspiracy of silence is a serious accusation. But one could make the case that PeaceHealth management in Clark County, the county medical examiner, a local funeral home, and other entities made a pact to keep this story out of the public view to protect selfinterests, at the expense of the public’s right to know. Based on even the limited information now revealed, it is not unreasonable to suggest these entities united in defense of their common interests.
According to a television news report, to this day, PeaceHealth’s top management has not explained or apologized to either family that was a ected by its appalling misidenti cation of a patient.
PeaceHealth corporate administration has a welldocumented history of lacking transparency and forthright communication with the communities it serves -- three recent examples are how they mishandled the announcement to shut down the outpatient palliative care program in Whatcom County, the wrongful discharge of Dr. Ming Lin during the COVID-19 pan-
demic, and unlawful conduct related to patient eligibility for nancial assistance
While it won’t be a panacea for all of PeaceHealth’s transgressions, I once again ask our Whatcom County community to advocate for representation on the System Governing Board. We deserve a voice.
Delores Davies Ferndalee Lynden Tribune and Ferndale Record newspapers encourage guest opinions as well as letters to the editor. However, submissions must refrain from attacking individuals without providing supporting documentation or a rational and legally defensible justi cation Letters should be emailed to editor@lyndentribune.com and must be received by noon Monday if they are to publish in that Wednesday’s newspaper. If letters cannot be sent electronically, they may be typewritten or neatly handwritten and must be received by Friday if they are to publish in the following Wednesday’s newspaper. Letters should not exceed 300 words. Guest opinions may not exceed 500 words and must include a clear photograph of the author. Your letter or guest opinion must include your full name, complete address and telephone number. Your address and telephone number will not be printed in the newspaper, but will be used for veri cation by newspaper sta . Neither unsigned letters nor letters containing personal attacks of a libelous nature will be published.
e Tribune and Record newspapers reserve the right to edit or refuse any letter. Furthermore, space limitations may also preclude letters from being published. All columns and letters on the opinion page are the views of the authors and do not necessarily re ect the views of the Lynden Tribune or Ferndale Record newspaper.
Readers of the Lynden Tribune and Ferndale Record newspapers are encouraged to submit articles of interest for inclusion in our newspapers. Submitted articles should focus on areas of interest to the communities we serve.
Opinions, complaints and politicking belong in the Letters to the Editor, and will not run as a feature article.
Articles promoting a vendor’s services, or advertisements disguised as articles, will not be accepted.
e Lynden Tribune and Ferndale Record have a separate mechanism for advertising a business, and that is where such information should be kept.
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During the election cycle we publish candidate statements and responses to questions in a Q&A format as we provide balanced election coverage.
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e
Friday’s
was
$16.48;
$17.20; July, $17.73; August, $18.10; September, $18.32; October, $18.38; November, $18.30; and December was at $17.98.
e February Class IV price is $19.85, up 46 cents from January and 99 cents above a year ago.
e Class III breakeven price varies widely and is dependent on a number of factors but currently ranges $18-$22 per hundredweight.
Following a bullish December Cold Storage report showing a large drawdown on butter stocks, the Agriculture Department’s January data told a di erent story.
Butter holdings jumped to 249.1 million pounds, up 49.5 million pounds or 24.8% from December, which had no revision. But stocks were 15.2 million pounds or 5.8% below those a year ago.
American type cheese slipped to 836.4 million pounds, down 1.3 million pounds or 0.2% from December, but were up 13.0 million or 1.6% from a year ago.
e other cheese holdings climbed to 596.2 million pounds, up 12.5 million pounds or 2.1% from December, but down 3.6 million or 0.6% from a year ago.
e Jan. 31 cheese inventory totaled 1.454 billion pounds, up 11.8 million pounds or 0.8% from December, largest since Oct. 2023, and was up 7.7 million pounds or 0.5% from a year ago.
You may recall the old Got Milk commercials, a very popular campaign that posed the possibility of the country running out of milk. While that’s not close to becoming a reality, dairy farm milk production is struggling and remained below a year ago for the seventh consecutive month in January.
e USDA’s preliminary data showed output at 19.09 billion pounds, down 1.1% from January 2023. e top 24-State total, at 18.3 billion pounds, was down 0.9%.
is was the biggest decline in milk output since January 2022, however, components were very strong, with compo-
nent adjusted production increasing from plus 0.7% to plus 1.0%, according to StoneX broker Dave Kurzawski in the Feb. 26 Dairy Radio Now broadcast. e December 50-State total was revised down 10 million pounds from last month’s estimate, which put output down 0.4% from 2022, instead of the 0.3% originally reported. e 24 state revision was down 8 million pounds, down 0.2%.
Nobody expected this, Kurzawski said, but the biggest surprise was cow numbers. January cows totaled 9.325 million, down 23,000 from the December count, which was revised 9,000 head lower, and is down 76,000 or 0.8% from a year ago. e herd peaked at 9.433 million head in March last year but is the smallest since August 2019.
“Generally we add cows in rst quarter,” he said, “but we lost 23,000 however that’s only one side the equation.” e data is also interesting, considering January slaughter numbers ran 20% below a year ago and heifers are limited.
Output per cow in the 50 states averaged 2,047 pounds, up 32 pounds from December, but 7 pounds or 0.3% below January 2023.
California milk output was down 0.1% from a year ago. Cow numbers were down 9,000 head while output per cow was up 10 pounds. e last time output topped that of a year ago was Aug. 2022. Wisconsin production was up 0.9% from a year ago, thanks to a 20 pound gain per cow. Cow numbers were unchanged.
Idaho was down 2.1%, on a 40 pound drop per cow and 1,000 fewer cows. Michigan was o 0.6%, Minnesota was down 0.8%, and New Mexico again posted the biggest loss, down 16.0%, on 42,000 fewer cows and 25 pounds less per cow.
New York was o 0.4% and Oregon was down 6.0%, on 6,000 fewer cows and a 20 pound drop per cow. Pennsylvania was down 1.5% and South Dakota again had the biggest gain, up 10.8%, thanks to 21,000 more cows o setting a 5 pound drop per cow.
Texas was down 3.9% on 15,000 fewer cows and a 35 pound drop per cow. e cow count still re ects the tragic barn re in Dimmitt last spring and recently faced the second largest wild re in Texas’ history, though it appeared the re impacted areas of beef production more than dairy.
Washington State was up 0.9%, thanks
to 2,000 more cows o setting a 15 drop per cow from a year ago. e report shows there’s problems on the farm, Kurzawski said, and we have new processing coming online mid-year and into 2025. “We’re not going into that on a real strong footing on the farm and people need to pay attention to that,” he said. “We believe output will grow in the second half however we have lowered our estimate for the year to a plus 0.2% and that might be a little rich.”
A drop in the U.S. All Milk Price was not o set by lower corn, soybean, and hay prices in January and thus the milk feed price ratio was pulled lower for the second consecutive month.
e USDA’s latest Ag Prices report shows the January ratio at 1.98, down from 2.00 in December and the lowest since September 2023, but compares to 1.73 in January 2023.
e All Milk Price averaged $20.10 per cwt. with a 4.35% butterfat test, down 50 cents from December, and $3 below January 2023, which had a 4.23% test.
e national corn price averaged $4.74 per bushel, down 6 cents from November, after gaining 14 cents the previous month, and $1.89 below a year ago. Soybeans averaged $12.80 per bushel, down 30 cents from December, after gaining a dime the month before, and was $1.70 per bushel below a year ago.
Alfalfa hay slipped to $202 per ton, down $3 from December and $61 below a year ago.
e January cull price for beef and dairy combined crept up to average $103 per cwt., up $2 from December, $21.30 above January 2023, and $31.40 above the 2011 base average.
January quarterly replacements averaged $1,890 per head, up $40 from October, and $170 above Jan. 2023. Cows averaged $1750 per head in California, down $50 from October, and $70 below a year ago. Wisconsin’s average, at $2,060 per head, was up $70 from October and $250 above Jan. 2023.
Milk production margins dropped below $10 per cwt. for the rst time since Sept. 2023, according to dairy economist Bill Brooks of Stoneheart Consulting in Dearborn, Missouri, and were 34 cents per cwt. below December.
“Income over feed costs in January were above the $8 per cwt. level needed for steady to higher milk production for the fth month in a row. Input prices were lower but all three input commodities remained in the top six for January all time.” He adds that “Feed costs were the fth highest ever for the month of January and
RENTON — On March
6, Kristi Dominguez received the 2024 Crystal Apple Award from the Washington School Public Relations Association (WSPRA) today at the association’s winter conference. is award honors an individual who does not serve in a school communications role – such as a superintendent or school board member – and who is dedicated to enhancing positive perceptions of K-12 public schools. It is one of the highest awards bestowed by WSPRA.
Dominguez, superintendent of the Ferndale School District, received this award because of her belief in the power of communications to improve the overall culture in Ferndale School District and the district’s public perception.
According to a March
6 press release from the Ferndale School District, Dominguez “has shown unwavering support to the Ferndale School District’s communications team and their work in the storytelling of the district.”
“She has made great effort to foster meaningful connections and collaborative relationships both in and outside of the school district,” the district stated.
Since Dominguez arrived in Ferndale in July 2022, her support and impact on the community has been profound, the district stated. “Even before ocially starting her duties,
Kristi Dominguez
she showed a deep commitment to community engagement by partnering with Ferndale School District’s communications team in a variety of projects: hosting meet-andgreet events, personally visiting every building and department,” the district stated.
In her rst year, Dominguez launched the You Belong campaign in response to survey data revealing a low percentage of students and sta who felt a sense of belonging inside Ferndale schools. is multifaceted, award-winning initiative encompasses a social media campaign, sta recognition awards, and personal interactions. It has signi cantly contributed to fostering a more welcoming atmosphere within the Ferndale community.
Dominguez also began her tenure with a Listen & Learn tour. Within the rst 100 days on the job, she visited every single classroom, department, and building within Ferndale School District to hear sta members and students’
wonders, concerns and praises. She also took the time to meet with community partners such as local service groups, the Ferndale City Council and the Ferndale Chamber of Commerce.
Upon entering her role, Dominguez recognized that there were community members and families who lacked trust in Ferndale School District.
“She proactively sought to address this by meeting with those stakeholders and listening to their concerns,” the district stated. “ is speaks volumes about her dedication to fostering trust and building bridges within the Fern-
dale community.”
Dominguez has also made a point to empower Ferndale School District’s communications team. She elevated the communications director position to her cabinet – a testament to her understanding of the importance of e ective communication in driving organizational success.
During her second year, Dominguez “successfully advocated for adding another member to the communications team: a public records o cer,” the district stated. “She understands that Ferndale cannot continue positive storytelling without ensuring our technical work.”
the seventieth highest of all time.”
Cash dairy prices were lower the rst full week of March except for butter. e Cheddar blocks fell to a Friday close at $1.46 per pound, lowest since Jan. 19, losing 9 cents on the week and 32 cents below a year ago. e barrels nished at $1.4875, 16.25 cents lower, lowest since Jan. 26, and 28.25 cents below a year ago, but still 2.75 cents above the blocks. Cheese demand has been quiet for a number of cheesemakers through most of February, according to Dairy Market News. Barrel makers have been the exception, but even that has cooled in recent weeks. Demand is slowly picking back up ahead of the spring holidays and some expect strong sales by the end of March.
Western cheese sales are steady. Retail demand is at and food service is steady to moderate. International purchasers are booking second quarter buys. Plenty of cheese is available, says DMN.
CME butter recovered some of the previous week’s 9.25 cent loss, climbing to $2.85 per pound Wednesday, then gave back 8.25 cents ursday, only to regain 3.50 cents Friday and close at $2.8025, up 4.50 cents on the week and 47 cents above a year ago.
Some butter makers shifted gears this week, slowing their churns. Butter remains available but at steady/higher pricing. Retail demand is seasonally moderate.
Cream is readily available throughout most of the West, but some say it has started to be tighter than in recent weeks. Butter makers continue to run busy schedules to ensure supplies for later in the year and during summer maintenance projects. Canadian demand is steady, while demand from most other international purchasers is moderate, according to DMN.
Grade A nonfat dry milk fell to $1.1475
ursday, lowest since Sept. 20, 2023, but was bid up Friday to $1.17, down 2.75 cents on the week and a half-cent below a year ago. Dry whey, after dropping almost a dime the previous week, su ered an additional 1.50 cent loss this week, closing at 41 cents per pound, lowest since Jan. 18, and 3.25 cents below a year ago.
A drop in exports is pressuring the price lower. e Daily Dairy Report said “the “strong dollar has made European whey increasingly competitive. Since the turn of the year, the U.S. dollar has advanced 2.4% against the euro, e ectively trimming European whey by a further 2.4% relative to U.S. product.”
-- Lee Mielke of Lynden is editor of the Mielke Market Weekly
In the March 6 story Ferndale School Board Discusses Controversial Resolution, we incorrectly quoted Board Member Nancy Button. e seventh paragraph, both online and in print, should read as follows: “I think now is the perfect time to stand up for local control over our district,” said Button. “ ere have been many districts in Washington State that have passed similar resolutions. First Kennewick and then districts in Whatcom County such as Meridian and Lynden have followed their lead, so I felt like it was only right for us to do our part and pass this resolution.”
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LYNDEN — Charles Dickens once wrote of sunny March days as “summer in the light and winter in the shade.” With the promise of sunny, warmer weather arriving in the coming days, the chilly late winter we’ve been experiencing lately may begin to shift to real spring, when even the shade isn’t so wintry.
As we gardeners excitedly get outside to feel the sun on our skin and work the soil in the coming weeks, here are a few tasks to accomplish around the yard and garden.
First, March is an important month for lawn care. After a winter’s rest, your lawn has already started waking up for spring, and with longer days and 60-degree weather in the forecast, it will begin to grow in earnest very soon. If you’re like most of us, though, your lawn could use some serious attention, with moss taking over shady areas and thin or totally wornthrough patches where pets or people walked regularly throughout the winter.
Start your spring lawn rehabilitation by treating the moss with
MossMax or generic ferrous sulfate — both products will kill moss quickly and have a nice side e ect of turning grass dark green. Follow up the moss killer a week later with a dose of lime to raise the soil pH, which prevents moss regrowth and allows your lawn to take up the fertilizer you apply throughout the season. Finally, a week after the lime application, feed your lawn with Scotts Turf Builder with Moss Control, an ideal early-spring fertilizer for Paci c Northwest lawns. For thin, patchy, or totally bare
spots in your lawn, you’ll need to overseed those areas, but hold o yet — even with sunny, warmer days in the forecast, ground temperatures aren’t warm enough to facilitate seed germination. For any lawn seeding projects, hold o until April when the ground is warmer.
Meanwhile, late March or early April is an excellent time to apply Bonide Crabgrass Plus, a preemergent weed killer which prevents crabgrass, poa annua, and most
See In Bloom on A8
our members put into their career development events, livestock showing, community service and other activities. is year, Mount Baker’s FFA o cer team continued the tradition of having
dress up days and activities at lunch. e activities that we put on were a BBQ on Tuesday, Greenhand and Chapter Degree celebration on Wednesday, ursday we had FFA Trivia, and Friday we held Ag Olympics including a tractor pull and baked-potato eating
March 23
Animals as Natural Therapy auction Animals as Natural Therapy (ANT) will host its 25th anniversary Gala & Auction from 5:309:30 p.m. March 23 at the Silver Reef Casino, 4876 Haxton Way, Ferndale. The event will feature live and silent auctions, a Dolly Partonthemed costume contest, photos with ANT therapy horses, line dancing with the Lynden Line Dancers, and will be hosted by Dave & Allan from KAFE 104.1 Radio. Proceeds will fund scholarships for youth and veterans to attend ANT’s mental health programs and support the care of their rescued and adopted farm animals. Tickets are $95 per person. For more information, email jessie@animalsasnaturaltherapy.org.
contest with more than 60 participants. All of these activities attracted a large number of participants both in and out of FFA.
Mount Baker’s FFA also decided to do a kiss-the-pig fundraiser where the teacher whose jar got the most money has to kiss a pig. Together, as a
school we raised more than $135 in four days. Proceeds will fund agricultural education programs in developing nations. It was great to see our members and sta enjoying the activities and having a good time and we can’t wait for next year’s FFA week.
WHATCOM — e Barn Buddies 4-H Club held a Barnyard Bonanza on Saturday, March 9 at the Cano Family Farm in Everson. is event was attended by approximately 25 club members and their families.
Members Max and Cruz Cano shared that they have eight di erent types of animals on their farm: calves, cats, rabbits, goats, chickens, ducks, dogs, even a horse.
e 4-H members and their families gathered in the barn. A few of the members shared short presentations on several di erent animals. While the 4-H members were sharing their presentations, the Cano dogs put on quite a show. ey wrestled and played and were very excited to see all of their guests.
Brooklyn Hallberg shared 10 facts about dairy cows. ere were Holsteins on the Cano farm. Brooklyn is part of Lynden High School’s FFA program and is being mentored by 4-H leader Debbie Vander Veen.
Tyson Phillips presented about goats. It was very interesting to learn that goats have been around for thousands of years and how they have been an important part of farm life.
Paxton Heeringa talked about horses. He announced that he just started horseback riding lessons. e horse he rides is named Mazie.
Paityn Allen spoke about dogs. She has two Basset Hounds. She shared about their strong sense of smell and her dog Molly May’s love of pizza and bacon. She also demonstrated how her dog likes to sing, aka howl.
Cooper Korthuis talked about chickens. He has free range chickens and thinks it’s pretty cool that they like to sleep up on roosts. He was very excited to share his
presentation in front of his grandma.
Evie Tetu shared about her favorite animal, cats. Evie o cially joined Barn Buddies about three months ago and is excited to learn about di erent animals and especially how to care for the animals. She has helped with Barn Buddies at the Small Animal Experience at the Northwest Washington Fair for two years.
Olivia Brown presented about rabbits. She showed the other 4-H members the Cano’s rabbit, Bugs Bunny. Olivia has two Mini Lop rabbits of her own. She shows them at the Fair and shared with the members several tips on what judges look for with rabbits.
After the presentation, Leo Cano led the club members around his farm to see the di erent animals. e kids had fun petting the calves; playing with the goats; meeting the 35-year-old pony, General; petting the baby chicks and ducks; and learning how Mr. Cano feeds the calves on his farm.
e Barnyard Bonanza ended with a yummy snack provided by Cooper Korthuis and his grandma. It was a fun day on the farm for the Barn Buddies.
it sit for 24 hours after application before watering it in for best results. I use this product on my lawn every year, and while some grassy weeds still elude my e orts,
I enjoy a mostly weed-free lawn until at least midsummer before I have to start spraying the occasional weed that sprouts. Once you’ve started
your lawn care regimen for spring, it’s time to have some fun. Although the single-digit temperatures we experienced in January may have killed or bad-
There are few things as peaceful as a morning coffee/tea and watching the world go by. While not everyone appreciates critters, those who do want to play Snow White can use these tricks to attract new woodland friends.
• An eco-friendly feeder can be made with just pinecones, string, birdseed and peanut butter. Coat the pinecone with peanut butter and roll into the birdseed to cover it. Hang with the string and decorate trees, eaves, or anywhere a bird or squirrel can get to.
• Bright flowers will naturally attract pollinators such as bees, hummingbirds and butterflies. Their needs and preferences vary; for more information go to pollinator.org/PDFs/PacificLowlandrx8.pdf.
• Consider adding a pond or bird bath to attract thirsty animals to stop by for a drink.
ly damaged some of the plants in your yard, most gardeners will readily admit it’s exciting to have-to plant something new in the yard. Hydrangeas are always a good option to consider, and with dozens of varieties available today, it can be a challenge just to decide which variety to plant.
eties grow to just two to three feet tall and wide and bloom with fresh owers from early summer through early fall.
Although hydrangeas have always been hardy enough to survive our Paci c Northwest winters, many of the older varieties won’t bloom following a harsh winter — the buds they develop in late summer and autumn each year can freeze and die in a brisk northeaster. For that reason, most of today’s newer introductions are rebloomers, meaning they bloom on both last year’s growth and this year’s new growth, ensuring that regardless the winter cold, you’ll be guaranteed blooms each summer.
Finally, take the time this month to feed the established plants around your yard. I rely mainly on two fertilizers: an acidbased plant food like Espoma Azalea-Tone for my rhododendrons, azaleas, pieris, and evergreens; and Jack’s Classicote, an allpurpose time release fertilizer for most of the rest of my plants. Although there are plenty of other specialty fertilizers formulated for individual types of plants — and a local garden center can advise on the best plant food for your speci c needs — these two fertilizers will feed a wide variety of the plants most common in your yard. With the golden-yellow blooms of forsythia beginning to light up the landscape around Whatcom County, you can be sure that the explosion of color and life that is spring is sure to arrive in all its glory very soon. While you get started working around the yard, enjoy the warmth of the sun on your face and the feel of dirt under your ngernails once again.
As breeders have introduced more cold-hardy hydrangea varieties, they’ve also focused on breeding dwarf plants that need minimal pruning to stay tidy and compact. A couple of my favorite newer varieties are ‘Cherry-GoRound,’ with rich cherryred blooms and deep green foliage, and Star eld, with pink or blue owers shaped like small stars within each ower head. Both vari-
-- David Vos is manager of Vander Giessen Nursery Inc. of Lynden
WHATCOM COUNTY
— Last year, Lynden headlined Whatcom County prep baseball with one of the most successful seasons in program history. ey fell just one run short of clinching their rst state championship against
Tumwater, losing 2-1 in the state championship game on May 27, 2023. e Lions are poised for another shot at the state championship this year, led by their ace senior starting pitcher, Lane Simonsen. e 6-foot-3-inch right-hander, secured the conference's best pitcher award with a 10-1 record
and a minuscule 0.59 ERA, narrowly missing out on the triple crown by just 14 strikeouts.
Set to play for the University of Washington in 2025 and slated to pitch for the Bells starting in July; Simonsen is determined to lead the Lions to their rst-ever state championship before moving on to his collegiate and summer league commitments.
On the o ensive front, senior rst baseman Kael Stapleton played a crucial role last year and ranked fourth in the county with 26 runs scored. Additionally, his pitching prowess landed him seventh in ERA with a 1.98 benchmark. With a formidable pitching sta , Lynden is poised for success this season and aims to return to the state championship game. eir journey begins with the opening game of the regular season against Clarkston on March 15 at 1 p.m. at Ridge eld High School.
While Lynden's success is expected to revolve around outstanding pitching, Ferndale's prospects seem to rely heavily on their o ensive prowess.
Last year, Ferndale boasted a power-hitting juggernaut that led the county in home runs and runs scored. However, despite their o ensive dominance, they fell short in the rst round of the 3A state
playo s.
Key to Ferndale's success this year will be Jake Mason, their hitting and pitching centerpiece. Mason posted impressive stats last year, he led the county in batting average (.482), OPS (1.371), hits (40), doubles (14), and triples (4). Additionally, his pitching record of 7-2 with a 1.50 ERA further solidi es his importance to the Golden
Coach Tim Zylstra praised his senior players' influence as three Lyncs named to All-Conference
First Team
Joe Kramer Sports Editor
LYNDEN — While falling short of the state championship may be deemed a disappointment by Lynden Christian basketball standards, the Lyncs boys nonetheless enjoyed a remarkable season.
eir journey culminated on March 2 with a third-place nish in the state playo s, secured by a commanding 70-44 victory over Seattle Academy at the Yakima SunDome.
Re ecting on the profound in uence of certain senior players, Head Coach Tim Zylstra acknowledged their pivotal roles, many of whom contributed to two previous state championship victories in 2022 and 2023.
“Each one of them has left an indelible mark on their teammates’ lives and our program,” said Zylstra. is season, the Lyncs boasted three players named to the All-Conference rst team: junior guard Gannon Dykstra, senior guard Dawson Bouma, and senior forward Jeremiah Wright.
“Jeremiah, having him basically playing all four years,” Zylstra said. “[He’s] risen to the occasion at the state tournament, and nothing changed tonight either (March 1 loss to Annie Wright). He played really well.”
Wright's stellar performance earned him a consecutive spot on the All-Conference rst team. In the playo loss to Annie Wright on March 1, he led all scorers with 15 points and added seven rebounds to his personal tally.
Fellow rst-teamer Dawson Bouma showcased his prowess in the playo loss and scored 12 points. He nished the regular season as the runner-up leading scorer, behind Lynden senior guard Anthony Canales. In the consolation win over Seattle Academy, Bouma scored 20 points.
“[Dawson’s] e ort and his performance, he leaves it all out there,” Zylstra said. “He has to defend every night too, which a lot of people don’t see that
part of it. ey see his o ensive game but [he’s] probably one of the best defenders in the state.”
Senior forward Kayden Stuit was also a key contributor for the Lyncs defense and received recognition as an honorable mention for the All-Conference teams. He led the county in rebounds with an average of 11.2 per game.
“[He] worked at football last year to get a scholarship that he wanted to get,” Zylstra said. “ en, you know, he made the commitment to come back to us and was just a workhorse on the boards for us.”
Zylstra also highlighted the contributions of seniors who, while not as prominent on the See LC on B2
Eagles, going into this season With Mason leading the charge alongside players like junior shortstop Talan Bungard and senior Camden Raymond, Ferndale is well-positioned for another strong season in 2024.
Shifting focus to Lynden Christian, the team has hovered around .500 ball for the past two regular seasons with a com-
bined 21-24 record. ey kicked o their season with a commanding 13-3 win over Bellingham on March 9, fueled by an explosive offense in the fourth and fth innings. Senior right-hander Jonah Terpstra's stellar pitching, including four hitless innings, propelled the Lyncs to an openingday victory.
See Baseball on B2
YAKIMA — Meridian boys basketball fell to Seton Catholic 72-60 on Feb. 28 and were eliminated from the state playo s.
After an early back-and-forth, Seton Catholic seized control with an 11-8 lead, sparked by a 3-pointer from Brady Angelo. He ended the rst half with 21 points, and the Cougars ran away with a 34-16 lead.
“We knew he could shoot, not quite like that,” Trojans head coach Shane Stacy said. “We just kind of lost track of him a couple of times and he was able to capitalize and he’s a tough competitor, really good.”
Despite facing adversity, the Trojans showcased the ghting spirit that got them to this point of the season and narrowed the lead to 12 points. However, the Trojans’ magic ultimately ran out in Yakima, four wins shy of their rst state championship. e season's journey was marked by ups and downs, with an early setback against Lynden on Dec. 15, which resulted in an 8635 loss. With a modest 3-3 overall record, few could have predicted their eventual journey to the state playo s. However, Coach Stacy remained undeterred, expressing con dence in his team's potential following the loss.
“I think we’re in a great situation,” he said after that game. “People who haven’t been in this conference will look at that scoreboard and sco at it, I ignore that… ey don’t know anything about the people we have in this locker room. [We have] winners in this locker room and they’re gonna keep competing and we’re gonna be just ne.”
By the end of the regular season, the Trojans had regained their core from injuries and junior forward Talon Jenkins had established himself as one of the
top scorers in the conference. He nished the regular season as the conference runner-up in scoring with 18.1 points per game.
In the playo s, he showcased his ability to help his team win in whatever facet needed. In the regional round, he amassed 10 rebounds to go along with 14 points which helped the Trojans secure a 63-57 over Life Christian to advance to Yakima.
e Trojans received help from other players along the way who stepped up when the occasion called for it; junior guard Jager Fyfe, senior post Christian Clawson, senior guard Cohen Fuller and others.
To go along with the narrow See Meridian on B2
BELLINGHAM — Lynden Christian baseball beat Squalicum, 12-4 on March 11
to improve their overall record to 2-0.
Lyncs junior second baseman Austin Engels exploded at the plate with two doubles, a homerun and eight total bases. e Lyncs will face Cedar Park Christian at Marymoor Park in Redmond on March 16 at 3 p.m.
-- All photos by Dennis Cairns for e Tribune
Continued from B1 win against Life Christian, they beat Nooksack Valley twice in the district playo s, a team they had lost to by 12 in the regular season. is included Fuller’s walko layup after they fell behind to Nooksack Valley by double-digit gures on Feb. 16.
“ is outcome is something that if you would’ve told me back in June I would’ve believed you,” Stacy said after winning their regional game.
“I knew that we had the pieces to do something like this. If you had told me we would’ve been down by 14 to Nooksack and hit a game-winner with 0.1, I would’ve shaken my head on that.
“But we knew we had the pieces to get here if we could take one of those top two spots in districts but that doesn’t mean that the journey hasn’t been rewarding.” is was Meridian’s rst appearance in the state playo s since 2020, and with many of their core starters returning next year, including Fyfe and Jenkins, their future looks promising.
As for this season, Stacy explained that “resiliency” is what
the 2023-2024 team should be remembered for. “ ey were always committed in the o season to everything we did. [ “ ey were] always there, [were] dependable, reliable and it really paid o down the stretch.”
Junior guard Jaeger Fyfe was an integral piece to the Trojans’ playo run. (Joe Kramer/Lynden Tribune)
Continued from B1 court, played pivotal roles in fostering team unity. Senior guard/ forward Treven Blair, despite early setbacks, displayed resilience and dedication throughout his four years with the program.
“Treven Blair started for us at the start of the season, broke his foot, came back and has been part of our program for the last four years,” Zylstra said. “We just love him… He’s a glue guy on our team and sometimes those things are done, sometimes not on the court, but they’re done on the bench or they’re done in practice.”
Senior forward Brody Bouwman was another example of a player who didn’t spend as much time on the court but made an impact in other areas. He came out for the team his freshman year and again in his senior year.
“‘I don’t even care if I get to play, but I wanna
make these guys better,’” was how Zylstra described Bouwman’s mindset. “We try to say everyone from top to bottom is the same on our team, even myself, down to the manager. We’re only as good as our last guy, and we’re proud of the way we play that way.”
Looking ahead to the future athletic endeavors of Bouma, Wright, and Stuit, while Stuit has committed to a fullride football scholarship at Eastern Washington University – Zylstra expressed con dence in the promising futures of Wright and Bouma, regardless of their collegiate choices.
As for the future of the Lyncs boys basketball program, Dykstra's impending senior year, coupled with the program's history of nurturing talent, foreshadows continued success. Despite the departure of key graduating players, the Lyncs remain poised for winning basketball.
Junior guard Gannon Dykstra was named to the Northwest Conference All-Conference First Team for the 2023-24 season. (Joe Kramer/Lynden Tribune)
Meridian junior middle infielder Jaeger Fyfe returns to the Trojans this year. (Lynden Tribune file
win over Mariner on March 8, but faltered in a double-header against Selah the next day and dropped both games.
Looking ahead, Mount Baker aims to turn their fortunes against Bellingham on March 15 at 4:30 p.m. at Mount Baker High School. Nooksack Valley will take on Friday Harbor on March 16 at noon at Linde Community Park.
-- Stats courtesy of Whatcompreps.com.
Delta Country Market 1306 Birch Bay-Lynden Rd, Lynden 360-354-1680
Premier Dental Center 2086 Main St, Ferndale - 360-380-4553
dentistferndale.com
Christensen Home Services P.O. Box 29286, Bellingham www.christensenhomeservices.com
Call or Text 360-594-1468
Everson Vision Clinic, Dr. Alex Ilyin, OD 205 W Main St, Everson • 360-966-0445
Bethgutman.evc@aol.com
CHS Northwest
3500 Meridian St., Bellingham • 360-734-4010
1720 LaBounty Dr, Ferndale • 360-380-0578
415 Depot St., Lynden • 360-306-3800
119 17th St., Fairway, Lynden • 360-354-5671
300 Main St., Lynden • 360-354-1198
102 Nooksack Ave., Nooksack • 360-966-4193
www.chsnw.com
Portal Way Farm and Garden
6100 Portal Way, Ferndale • 360-384-3688
www.PortalWayFarmAndGarden.com
Smits Compost 9030 Guide Meridian, Lynden • 360-354-3583 www.smitscompost.com
2200
Vavra
Lynden
Banner Bank
Lynden Interiors
2017 Front St., Lynden • 360-354-4149
www.lyndeninteriors.com
Westside Building Supply
8353 Guide Meridian, Lynden • 360-354-5617
CARPET CLEANING
Northwest Professional Services
360-354-4145 • www.npsclean.com
191 Birch Bay Lynden Rd, Lynden
CEMETERIES
Greenwood Cemetery • thegreenwoodcemetery.com
East Wiser Lake Rd., Lynden • 360-647-4001
Lynden Cemetery • www.lyndencemetery.com
South Side of Front St., Lynden • 360-647-4001
CLEANING SUPPLIES
Bay City Supply
360-671-7400 • www.baycitysupply.com
P.O. Box 2073, 1250 Iowa Street Bellingham, WA 98229
COFFEE
Cruisin Coffee 1976 Kok Rd., Lynden Town Plaza, Lynden 5885 Portal Way, Ferndale • 360-738-3789
COMPUTER SERVICES
Lynden Computer Services
360-319-5923 • lyndencomputer.com
CONCRETE
Mt. Baker Mobile Mixing, LLC 360-319-4285
www.mtbakermobilemixing.com
CONSTRUCTION
TSquared Inc Construction & Roofing Troy Visser • 360-815-2616
Originals by Chad 521 Front St., Lynden • 360-318-0210
Lynden Florea 306 Front St., Suite B, Lynden 360-306-8819 • lyndenflorea.com
M&M Floral 5453 Guide Meridian, Bellingham 360-398-1315 • www.mandmfloral.com
FUNERAL SERVICES & MONUMENTS
Whatcom Cremation & Funeral
“Our Community’s Most Affordable Cremations & Burials - from $995” 360-734-7073 • wcremation.com
FURNITURE & MATTRESSES
Colony House Furniture 303 Front St., Lynden • 360-354-5554 www.colonyhousefurniturelynden.com
GARAGE DOORS
Overhead Door Company of Bellingham 202 Ohio St, Bellingham • 360-734-5960 www.ohdbellingham.com
Vander Griend Lumber Co. Inc. 8461 Depot Rd., Lynden • 360-354-2155
Westside Building Supply 8353 Guide Meridian, Lynden • 360-354-5617
GARBAGE & RECYCLING
Nooksack Valley Disposal & Recycling, Inc. 250 Birch Bay-Lynden Rd, Lynden 360-354-3400
GIFT/SPECIALTY SHOP
Appel Farms - The Cheese Shop
6605 Northwest Dr., Ferndale • 360-312-1431 www.appelcheese.com
GREASE TRAP
CLEANING
Lil John Sanitary Services, Inc.
Mark Mellema • 360-398-9828 www.liljohnsanitary.net
421
Louis Auto Glass
1512 N. State St., Bellingham • 360-734-3840
407 19th St., Lynden • 360-354-3232
1721 E. College Way, Mt. Vernon • 360-424-9759
Lyndale Glass • www.lyndaleglass.com
110 7th St., Lynden • 360-354-3937
6172 Portal Wy., Ferndale • 360-384-5956
Vander Griend Lumber Co. Inc.
8461 Depot Rd., Lynden • 360-354-2155
Family Care Network
Lynden Family Medicine • 360-354-1333
1610 Grover St., Suite D-1, Lynden
Birch Bay Family Medicine • 360-371-5855
8097 Harborview Rd., Blaine
www.familycarenetwork.com
Ferndale Family Medical Center • 360-384-1511
5580 Nordic Way, Ferndale
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Lynden Interiors
2017 Front St., Lynden • 360-354-4149
www.lyndeninteriors.com
Vander Griend Lumber Co. Inc.
8461 Depot Rd., Lynden • 360-354-2155
Walls & Windows Inc. • 360-676-5223
4131 Hannegan Rd., Ste. 104, Bellingham
HOME LOANS
Edge Home Finance- Mortgage Broker
Dave Ohligschlager- Loan Officer * O/C
360-815-1768 • daveo@edgehomefinance.com
NMLS #891464 / 422225
Movement Mortgage
Hendor Rodriguez, Loan Officer
700 Front St. Suite B, Lynden
360-820-1787 • hendorthelendor.com
Hendor.rodriguez@movement.com
NMLS #404085
INSURANCE & FINANCIAL
Amy Warenski Insurance Agency Inc
8874 Bender Rd Ste 106, Lynden • 360-354-6868 www.amywarenski.com
Brown & Brown
501 Front St., Lynden • 360-354-4488
Country Financial®, Len Corneto
102 Grover Street, Ste.
PEST
Environmental
Control Inc.
3003 Bennett Drive, Bellingham • 360-676-5120
www.epestcontrol.net
PRESSURE WASHING
A Guy Named Bob
360-815-7207 • thehawkgroup@comcast.net
PRINT & PUBLISHING
Lynden Print Company
www.LyndenPrintCo.com
113 Sixth Street, Lynden • 360-354-4444
Lynden Tribune www.LyndenTribune.com
113 Sixth Street, Lynden • 360-354-4444
REAL ESTATE
HomeSmart One Realty Kyle Christensen
414 W. Bakerview Rd. #103, Bellingham www.kylechristensenrealty.com Call or Text 360-594-1468
HomeSmart One Realty- Rick Meyer Managing Broker, GRI, CRS, SRES
414 W. Bakerview Rd. #103, Bellingham Call or text: 360-410-1213
Real Estate Support Services, LLC
As-built floor plans, marketing photography Art Van Allen ~ 360-255-1477
ressllc@gmail.com
facebook.com/RealEstateSupportServicesLLC RECREATIONAL
VEHICLE STORAGE
Bellingham RV Storage Quality Covered RV Storage Bakerview/Irongate area • Bellingham, WA 360-671-6100 • BellinghamRVBoatStorage.com
RECYCLING, REMOVAL & YARD DEBRIS
Green Earth Technology 774 Meadowlark Rd., Lynden • 360-354-4936
RENTAL EQUIPMENT
Brim Rentals
350 Duffner Dr, Lynden • 360-354-4411
www.brimtractor.com
Westside Building Supply 8353 Guide Meridian, Lynden • 360-354-5617
RESTAURANTS, FOOD & BEVERAGE
Bordertown Mexican Food Truck 312 3rd St, Lynden • 360-305-1290
Little Caesars 1804 18th St., Lynden • 360-354-8656
ROOFING
Joostens Roofing Bellingham • 360-815-7663
Mt. Baker Roofing, Inc.
360-733-0191 • www.mtbakerroofing.com
SENIOR CARE
Echo Valley Adult Day Care and Respite 8472 Silver Lake Road, Maple Falls, WA 98266
Echovalleyrespite.com • 360-319-8958
SEPTIC INSTALLATION
Tyas & Tyas 3966 Deeter Rd., Everson • 360-988-6895
SEPTIC TANK PUMPING
Lil John Sanitary Services, Inc. Mark Mellema • 360-398-9828
www.liljohnsanitary.net
SPORTS & RECREATION
Dave’s Sports Shop 1738 Front St., Lynden • 360-354-5591
Lynden Skateway 421 Judson Street, Lynden • 360-354-3851
www.LyndenSkateway.com
VETERINARY
Kulshan Veterinary 8880 Benson Rd, Lynden 6220 Portal Wy, Ferndale
www.kulshanvet.com • 360-354-5095
VITAMINS
Lynden Nutrition Center 527 Front St.,
• 360-354-4884
