Who's Who 2022

2 — CONSERVATION: Brandy Reed is new manager for conservation district

3 — LAW ENFORCEMENT: Dan MacPhee, Everson police supported

6 — HISTORY: Liz Custer helped start Sumas Historical Society, Museum

10 — ARTS: Vin Quenneville, Jansen Art Center’s executive director

12 — UTILITIES: Chris Heimgartner leads Whatcom Public Utility District

16 — RELIGION: Carl Crouse gathers Sumas stories for book

20 — BUSINESS: Entrepreneurship guides Ferndale’s Crystal Stewart

Brandy Reed is new manager of conservation district

Returns to Whatcom where she earned degrees at Western Washington University

By Cal Bratt

For the Tribune

WHATCOM — Brandy Reed has stepped into the role of Whatcom Conservation District manager as a bit of a return to the setting of her college days.

Reed, who earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in science education from Western Washington University in Bellingham, was chosen last fall to replace George Boggs, who retired after 24 years heading the district.

In between for Reed were 25 years with the King (County) Conservation District, most recently as director of strategic partnerships. e emphases are understandably different from one district to another, although the ultimate goal is always to protect natural resources.

“It’s a great job. I love it,” Reed said in early March, having been on board in Whatcom about ve months.

Each county conservation district in Washington state is con gured a little di erently, to be right-sized and responsive to the local needs and particularities. e work of nancial and

technical expertise is tailored to natural resource management according to what is needed on the ground.

e Whatcom o ce operates with a sta of 16-18 on an annual budget of $1.5-1.7 million, with much of the income coming from grants to accomplish specific projects. That’s been the busi-

ness model.

The Whatcom district was thrown suddenly into a need — and responded — after the record rainfall and ooding that hit in mid-November 2021. e capacity of some dairies’ manure lagoons was maxed out way too

New district manager Brandy Reed, second from right, is surrounded by some others of the Lynden o ce sta : Wayne Chaudiere, Jenny Coe, Andrew Phay, Dakota Stranik and Dawn Bekenyo. (Courtesy photo)

See Conservation on 4

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Dan MacPhee, Everson police supported by community

By Elisa Claassen

For the Tribune

EVERSON — Everson Police Chief Dan MacPhee is privileged to work where he does. e 48-year-old MacPhee, whose department technically also oversees the policing of the neighboring town of Nooksack, said he “wanted to make sure I said what an incredible group of o cers and support sta I have the privilege to work with.”

“I could not be successful at my job without all of them,” he said.

As chief of police, MacPhee oversees all day-to-day operations for the department, and works closely with the city’s mayor and city council.

With all 22 years in law enforcement with Everson police, MacPhee said he plans to stay put. MacPhee and his wife Megan, a 9-1-1 dispatcher for the re department, have two young children ages 7 and 9.

In addition to her job, Megan is also involved with Beyond the Badge, a foundation that honors Washington state’s law enforcement agencies, families and communities after an o cer has died or su ered serious injury in the line of duty.

“She loves what she does,” MacPhee said. “We support each other.”

MacPhee’s family moved from southern California to Lynden in 1979, where he graduated from Lynden High School in 1993.

MacPhee’s dad Alan built the family home, where the MacPhees still lives. Mom Judi was in real estate and title insurance. His brother Andy followed in the path of their maternal grandfather, Gordon Butcher, in Hollywood as a senior color and paint specialist for Walt Disney Imagineering. His sister Holly Fleming, also artistic, is an interior designer.

While at Western Washington University, MacPhee graduated with a bachelor’s in general studies but focused on psychology.

MacPhee initially worked for DeWaard and Bode for several years before a family member saw a job ad in the Tribune for the Everson Police. He went through a written test as well a physical/agility test at the Nooksack Valley High School track before sitting for oral board interviews and then interviewing with then Chief Erik Ramstead

in March 2020.

“I had been interested in law enforcement for several years prior to being hired,” MacPhee said. “I was attracted to an occupation that focused on the safety and security of the citizens in the community you serve, and to have a career that allows you to help people daily.”

From attending the police academy to being an officer for five years, MacPhee was promoted to sergeant, the rst for the department since Ramstead held the role. When Ramstead was diagnosed with cancer and saw it progressing he spent more time with MacPhee – at work and at home – with pointers and tips to further prepare him to take over. In 2013, Ramstead died at age 50.

With all 22 years in law enforcement with Everson police, Chief Dan MacPhee and his wife Megan, a 9-1-1 dispatcher for the fire department, have two young children ages 7 and 9. (Tribune file photo)

See MacPhee on 4

Continued from 2 early in the winter season, and liquid manure needed to be moved to other available lagoons. Bene ting 14 farms at least, WCD worked with other agencies to cobble together $600,000 that could be used to rapidly move 14.5 million gallons of manure to new locations within the county.

It was a crisis, Reed said, that is now being alleviated by the normal application of nutrient in elds as spring arrives. But “we may nd ourselves in this situation again,” she said, and so planning must be for the future as well.

e ongoing work, as the district’s website and recent board minutes attest, is to aid in every possible way the conservation and protection of natural resources such as water and soil and air, also for their wildlife habitat value. at could be with dairy farmers, smaller-scale farms, woodlot owners, aquaculture operations, even cities and the county dealing with stormwater and septic system upgrading.

e district is involved in the approval of farm plans that comply with environmental

protection goals. Another area that is emerging more in the context of climate change is forest stewardship helping toward resilience against wild res. One interesting feature is a roving wood chipper made available to residents of Columbia Valley to do away with tree limbs and brush instead of burning them.

Reed says she is still learning the breadth and range, and the nuances, of the Whatcom Conservation District services to the public.

One annual project for the district just wrapped up: pick-up of pre-orders in the Native Plant Sale on March 19-20. Still coming up is the Whatcom Farm Expo on Saturday, April 23, at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds; 50 exhibitors are already con rmed.

e ve-member WCD board of directors meets at 2:30 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month. at has been virtual, an aspect that will be kept up even when meetings return to in-person at some point at 6975 Hannegan Road, south of Lynden.

e board has three members elected locally, while two members are appointed by the coordinating Washington State Conservation Commission.

Continued from 3

MacPhee was appointed as the interim chief before the city made the role permanent later that year.

MacPhee felt the big shoes he had to ll since Ramstead had not only been in his role for a long time but also highly involved in community sports and activities. “Erik built the agency up. It was solid and had a good reputation.”

“Erik said, ‘If you are fair and take care of the community, they will take care of you,’” MacPhee said. “Ramstead was instrumental in the progress of my career,” MacPhee said.

Ramstead’s family, wife Amy and daughters Lauren and Erika, were present for MacPhee to be sworn in as chief. Amy gave him his new badge. Ramstead left the contacts of then-Sumas Police Chief Chris Haugen and then-Lynden Police Chief Jack Foster to continue to mentor him. Everson Mayor John Perry has also been supportive.

McPhee also said that council and the mayor have continued to be sup-

Whatcom County Cemetery District 10

portive in terms of needed technology too. “They have been open minded,” he said.

Back in 2000, McPhee had his patrol car, two radios, log book, Polaroid camera and a ticket book. Now, o cers have computers in their patrol car, as well as radar equipment, and newer records management systems. His team can now write reports and print out electronic tickets on site.

Cell phones are also a big part of law enforcement. O cers can directly connect into Next-Tel, and their phones can be used for audio, video, pull up specialized apps including direct access to their police manual.

“Every year something changes,” McPhee said.

McPhee goes to the annual budget retreats with what he sees as most needed for rearms, radios, and other equipment.

In changing with the times, he has given special assignments to his di erent o cers including overseeing its new Facebook page which was created weeks

before the big oods. “ e timing was key.”

Another o cer oversees department grants. As a result of that program, Everson police acquired a Humvee (high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle) through a surplus program which immediately was used to rescue people from their ooded homes. MacPhee said the vehicle was instrumental in the ood for water rescues.

Also now available to help in future water rescues, with ooding and on the nearby Nooksack River, is a new flat-bottomed 16-foot rescue boat. It’s been out tted for their needs and the department is being trained on it this spring.

A group of people, using anonymous donations to their association, provided the needed funds, MacPhee said.

When MacPhee started with Everson police, the department had four full-time o cers and one part-time o cer in addition to a civilian clerk. EPD now has seven full-time o cers, as well as

volunteers, known as the volunteer reserve program.

In addition to servicing their two cities, volunteer reserves may also be called to help other agencies with a larger police response situation. Likewise, the volunteers get the support from neighboring cities and agencies when they need it.

While MacPhee and his ofcers see people in some of their darkest times, he also considers it rewarding.

“We have such amazing opportunities to help someone during a difficult time or be a positive role model to a child,” MacPhee said.

While they don’t have a distinct school resource officer, Everson police does make its presence known in a positive way in the schools so children and residents get to know them.

“All the school principals have my cell phone number and can call day or night,” MacPhee said. “We have a long-standing positive relationship.”

Everson Police Department

takes pride on being as proactive as possible. Some people watch their neighborhoods and alert them to problems or let them know if they will be on vacation to watch over their homes.

“A common misconception about our work is that all we do is investigate crime and write tickets,” MacPhee said. “ ere is so much more to being in law enforcement. Most days are spent helping people solve problems. This could be everything from changing a tire, giving someone’s vehicle a jump start, unlocking a vehicle when someone has locked their keys in it, helping parents with their children’s disciplinary issues, working with our local schools, or simply o ering advice when needed. Often, we try to focus more on education than enforcement.”

-- Note: Everson’s City Hall has recently been cleaned and renovated after the November 2021 floods left about seven inches of water behind. City o ces were operating in temporary quarters for four months.

Liz Custer helped start Sumas Historical Society

By Elisa Claassen

For the Tribune

SUMAS – Lizette ‘Liz’ Custer stands in front of a building not far from the U.S./Canada border. Standing water in the back yard is from recent rains, a reminder of the oods which have damaged the building. The building has had more than one life and hopefully will have more. It is a museum in

the small border town that has faced so much damage. In 2017, the front door to the old Methodist parsonage reopened to the public as the Sumas Historical Society and Museum, at 114 Second St., a place for information and history about the town. at building was also once a youth center for a time. When that ended — and food was literally even left in the fridge, according to Custer — everything was closed up for three years. e church the parsonage once served is gone. e former bell tower still exists a few

Liz Custer inside the Sumas Historical Museum. Items salvaged from the November 2021 floods have been moved to the upper floor. (Elisa Claassen for the Tribune)

‘Everyone feels so strongly of Sumas’

miles away on a farm on Bowen Road and looks like a gazebo in a yard.

A few years ago a small group of women – Custer, Gail Kihn, and Helen Solem — took the dream of Deborah Morgan, who many know from her work at the Sumas Library and the Whatcom County Library System and made it a reality with the city’s permission in that vacant space.

e city provided the space, and the ladies put in the e ort and bought liability insurance. Donations and artifacts had come in and exhibits were slowly put together more than a year before the opening.

Families looked for anything relating to Sumas. Sections developed based on themes such as farming, logging, and school. Display cases were even donated, found on Craigslist, or given from a liquor store that moved.

Their counterparts at the Lynden Pioneer Museum would occasionally clean out parts of its collections with a

garage sale and give them rst dibs. It made its way into the Sumas collection.

Eventually the city of Sumas added the museum, like the senior center, into its budget with an entry of $500. They augmented with fundraising and their own funds at times.

Even farm implements were arranged outside the entry –before the ood.

“It had a little bit of a lot of things,” Custer said. With each gift, the women started to research and look for more details. ese notebooks, along with other things, are safely stored on the second floor. Items, for hands-on encounters by children, had been lower to the floor. They are gone.

By early 2020, COVID-19 had affected all of society, including the Museum, with closures. In November 2021 came the ood waters. Custer and her husband Terry Custer had heard the ood was to be similar to the one during the Super Bowl.

e Custers put out sandbags and started to move things up from the oor. ey didn’t think anything needed to be done with the display cases as they were also raised on legs.

While her home down the street was not as badly damaged, she had a hard time getting to the museum to check it out initially. Once she got there she found out the water had not only gone up to the raised deck level but higher and through the building’s rst oor.

It wasn’t enough. e water came in and up far higher than foreseen. Eventually as groups of volunteers came to the outreach center set up in the Sumas Advent Christian Church, Pastor Carl Crouse identi ed former librarians to come and help at the Museum. Custer has referred to them as her angels.

e rst opening took more than a year of e ort. Now they are looking at a lot more time and e ort to start over. Water

damage has been stripped away. Rebuilding still needs to occur. At present, Custer and a newcomer LeeAnn Williams are still involved with the board.

“It’s worse than starting over,” Custer said. “We have stu but no place to put it.”

What had been complete displays before the ood are now missing pieces and parts as well. At this point, she said, they are welcoming nancial donations so they can purchase appropriate display cases and shelving. e city owns the building and is responsible for the needed repairs.

The Museum does have non-profit status and donations are tax deductible. e Museum’s website is being repaired and will have a Venmo set up.

Custer also urged those interested to like and follow the Museum on Facebook and watch for updates. Anyone interested in volunteering or being involved can also email her at info@sumashistory.org.

Analytical, creative, energetic

Since 2017 Vin Quenneville has been executive director of the Jansen Art Center. Before coming to the Jansen, Quenneville spent 25-plus years helping small businesses thrive with a focus on motivating and creating strong, productive teams. Read about Vin Quenneville on page 10. (Bill Helm/Lynden Tribune)

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The many sides of Vin

Quenneville, Jansen Art Center’s executive director

By Bill Helm bill@lyndentribune.com

LYNDEN — Vin Quenneville is a numbers man. Working with numbers, however, seems so unusual for a man who grew up wanting to be a musician, then a professional snowboarder, then a mountain biker.

“Over time, I learned that rather than being the person in the public eye, my talents were served better as a supporting role in these elds,” said Quenneville, Jansen’s executive director since 2017.

Although Jansen has a bookkeeper, Quenneville is totally the analytical sort, which Jansen Art Director Lindsey Gerhard explained is good for the person at the top of the mountain.

“He speaks in spreadsheets, but he’s got a keen eye for style and great taste in design,” Gerhard said.

With a strong background in business operations and marketing, Quenneville is “extremely nancially savvy and it is in large part due to his prudent budget management and strategic development and oversight of our fundraising that the J is so solid today,” Gerhard said.

“We are able to provide healthy jobs for artists, educators and administrators while also taking creative risks every day, all the while ensuring the organization is not only solvent but thriving,” Gerhard said.

Making sure the numbers work

People may assume the numbers guy is a slave to his desk, always a pencil in hand and a calculator not far away. at’s not the case with Quenneville.

“Vin never walks, he always runs to the next thing,” Administrative Assistant Chloe Smith said. “He keeps the energy high even on days when not much is going on over here. He shares the vision and mission of the art center while seeing things through a lens of maximizing resources and making sure the numbers work.”

A typical day-in-the-life of Quenneville is, well, there is no typical day, he said.

“Every day is di erent,” he said. “It is generally a mix of supporting sta , spending time with our volunteers and donors, managing nances, and maintaining our facility.”

A

Quenneville grew up in Connecticut, then spent 15 years in Vermont before he and his family moved to the Paci c Northwest in 2012.

Before coming to the Jansen in 2017, Quenneville spent 25-plus years helping small businesses thrive with a focus on motivating and creating strong, productive

‘vibrant center’

What makes Vin Quenneville the unique person he is? Jansen Board Member Chuck Robinson said that the Jansen executive director is “open and collaborative,” and often looks for input from a wide network of people. (Bill Helm/Lynden Tribune) See Quenneville on 14

Chris Heimgartner leads Public Utility District

New GM brings 41 years of experience

By Cal Bratt For the Tribune

WHATCOM — Chris Heimgartner is putting his 41 years of engineering and public utility experience to work for Whatcom County.

Heimgartner came in as general manager of Public Utility District No. 1 on Feb. 1, replacing Stephan Jilk, who was retiring after 15 years in the job. However, Jilk is continuing for a few months in a consulting role with the district.

On Feb. 1, Chris Heimgartner replaced Stephan Jilk as general manager of Public Utility District No. 1. Heimgartner has 41 years of engineering and public utility experience. (Cal Bratt for the Tribune)

Heimgartner had been heading Henderson Municipal Power and Light in western Kentucky for a few years when he heeded the call back to western Washington. He grew up in Gig Harbor. Earlier entries on his resume include time with Snohomish County PUD as assistant general manager in charge of distribution and engineering services and at Seattle City Light as its customer service and energy delivery manager. Heimgartner was also with Paci c Gas & Electric in California.

He brings a lot of experience to the table.

“Although we had many quali ed applicants, Chris stood out,” said PUD commissioner Mike Murphy. “His technical abilities in energy and broadband coupled with his background in business administration will be a great

on 15

Quenneville: Many sides to Jansen executive director

What makes Quenneville the unique person he is?

teams.

Quenneville describes the Jansen as a “vibrant center where the entire community feels welcomed, and artists of all levels have a place to explore their creativity, hone their skills, and feature their work.”

A warm, engaging man, Quenneville explained that the J is “incredibly fortunate to have the talented sta that we do.”

“We all have such different personalities, yet all share a deep passion for our work,” he said. “Lindsey was the perfect partner to bring into our organization. Her skillset compliments mine on so many levels. We both bring di erent expertise to the table, yet we share the same vision. I am proud to have her as a partner and to be able to step back and watch her guide our teams to carry out our mission.”

Passion, dedication

At Jansen since mid-2020, Gerhard said that Quenneville is “encouraging, he laughs a lot, and doles out compliments left and right.”

“Vin is so much fun. His pas

Margaret Irvine is responsible for coordinating events, rentals and volunteers at Jansen Art Center. She said recently that one reason she enjoys working for Quenneville is that he’s a decision-maker.

“Many of us have worked for people who are unable or choose not to make decisions,” Irvine said. “ eir inability to do so results in wasted time, frustration and angst. Vin gathers information, asks opinions and then decides. Now the decision might not be what we choose, but at

On March 4, the Jansen opened its plant-based exhibit. Quenneville explained that Gerhard and the exhibits committee brainstormed on a few di erent themes for this exhibit.

“Ultimately, they landed on plant-based as it was a great tie into spring,” he said.

With 104 pieces of art on display created by 52 artists, Quenneville and his staff confirmed that the exhibit had its “highest submissions ever.”

As with all Jansen exhibits, patrons may purchase artwork through the gallery shop. The artwork, however, will be available for pickup when the exhibit

Jansen’s plant-based exhibit will be on display until April 30.

‘Helping hands wherever you

Jansen Board Member Chuck Robinson said that the Jansen executive director is “open and collaborative,” and often looks for input from a wide network of people.

“Vin is both analytical, as evidenced in his nancial management, and creative, as he has displayed in his programming,” Robinson said. “I’ve been on the board at the J for more than three years and it’s been a great pleasure to work with Vin.”

For Mary Fitzgerald, Jansen’s marketing specialist, Quenneville is unique with his “enthusiastic ‘HI!’ when you walk through the door.”

“His toolbox ready to go under his desk,” Fitzgerald said. “His converted Land Rover with its own Instagram account. His devotion to the perfect glass of whiskey or wine. His storytelling capabilities. is could go on for a while.”

Fitzgerald explained that working at the J “never really feels like a typical day at the o ce.”

“Whether there’s an exhibit opening happening, a concert, a kiln shed being built, you can never say it was a boring day,” Fitzgerald said. “There are so many people in the J community, you are never going to go through anything alone. From administrative sta to studio leaders to artists to instructors to volunteers. ere are always helping hands wherever you look.”

Jansen Executive Director Vin Quenneville said that the J is “incredibly fortunate to have the talented sta that we do.” (Bill Helm/Lynden Tribune)

Heimgartner: New general manager of Public Utility District No. 1.

Continued from 13

asset to the Whatcom PUD as we pursue new initiatives to serve the public.”

And high on the to-do list is gaining high-speed internet access for all users. at service might seem automatic in population centers where companies can make a pro t providing it. But it’s one of the county’s biggest economic and infrastructure challenges in areas of low population or di cult terrain.

Heimgartner said that, so far, 18 Whatcom locales have been identi ed as unserved or underserved, meaning the PUD can get involved.

The solution fiber-optic cable installed mostly on already existing overhead poles — will probably happen slowly as the district, along with partners such as the Port of Bellingham, lines up the money. The PUD does mapping and feasibility study.

“We just need to get more and more and more ber in the U.S.,” Heimgartner said. “It’s an enabling technology.” Fiber-optic internet speed can be 20 times faster than DSL and satellites.

The Port recently won $5 million in grants to extend 30 miles of open access ber to 1,100 underserved homes and businesses north of Ferndale. Areas north of Lynden and in the east county will be next.

For now, fiber readiness start-up is taking about half of Heimgartner’s time. Another issue waiting in the wings is that the Nooksack River basin is slated to undergo a legal adjudication of water rights — meaning that everyone brings their water rights claims to a Superior Court judge to be sorted out and ranked.

e process, if it happens, could take at least 20 years. “It’s going to be a huge deal,” Heimgartner said.

The PUD, going back to 1937 estab -

lishment, holds second-highest utility water claims on the Nooksack, a fact that may come into sharper focus in the legal wrangling.

From two intakes on the river near Ferndale, the PUD already supplies non-potable water to 11 industrial customers at Cherry Point. Also, electricity is provided to the Phillips 76 re nery.

e PUD has legal authority to supply water and electricity almost anywhere in Whatcom County. Heimgartner believes that trends going on now in private power generation could squeeze the pro t margin and create opportunities for public utilities like the low-pro le one, so far, of Whatcom County.

e district has about 20 employees. Its 2022 overall budget was set at $22.8 million, with operating labor and expenses about $4.3 million of that. O ces are on Trigg Road in north Ferndale.

Loss is loss: The tears come again

Pastor Carl Crouse stands in the former sanctuary for the Sumas Advent Christian Church in early January 2022. Following the November 2021 floods that rendered more than 500 homes temporarily unlivable, the church was reconfigured for use as a resource center to bring supplies to residents. (Photos by Elisa Claassen)

Carl Crouse gathers Sumas stories for book

By Elisa Claassen

For the Tribune

SUMAS — Although retired, Carl Crouse has continued to minister in the community he lives in and loves, a community devastated by the November 2021 ooding.

His social media posts, on behalf of the Sumas Advent Christian Church and its resource center, are widely read and shared with both information and hope.

Those posts are also the basis for something new, the former pastor of the Sumas church said.

After so many posts in the past monthplus, Crouse is writing a book of the rstperson stories of his community. e book will be available to the city’s historical museum, also damaged by the oods.

“I am going to do my best to write/edit a book about the Sumas ood,” Crouse wrote on his social media account. “I need as much input as possible. What I am envisioning is getting as many rst-hand testimonies as possible of what people experienced and how they felt about the di erent phases of the ood. I have created a (Facebook) page to assist in the e ort of

gathering your stories and impressions.” e Facebook page is: Sumas-FloodNov-21-Book-Notes.

On his Facebook page, Crouse told followers to visit the link and like the page. “Anyone is welcome, but I am encouraging Sumas residents,” Crouse said. “You may want to join the page to actively respond to some of the questions giving your insights, or you may want to read along to see what others are saying.”

Crouse, who has outlined 14 chapters, said he will post one at a time in the coming days or weeks. To tell the story of Sumas the storm, he is seeking dozens of

See Crouse on 19

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Crouse

Continued

from

individual stories.

“I am excited about this project,” he wrote. “I want it to be real, knowing many people lost their homes and one Everson resident lost his life. But I believe God has given us mixed emotions so we can grieve over the loss but celebrate the unity of spirit and a community coming together.  We can be amazed by people blessing one another.”

Crouse added that one of mhis “favorite phrases (which I’m sure will make it into the introduction of the book) is ‘Everyone’s pain is the worst.’ You may think your loss is signi cant compared to others, but loss is loss.  ere is room for all stories, and we aren’t going to give out any awards for heroes in this book or the deepest sorrow. It’s a book

about people and what they experienced and felt about a ood in Sumas that changed hundreds of people. Please join the discussion and help bring a book to life.”

Crouse, as well as Sumas Historical Society and Museum Board President Liz Custer, talked about the plan at Sumas Advent Christian Church.

A brief tour of the current church con guration showed the area usually filled with church pews, fronted by a stained glass window, filled with tables loaded with cans of food, diapers, clothing, and other goods.

Entrepreneurship guides Ferndale resident

Crystal Stewart to open Yeah Baby Boards on Main Street

By Leora Watson leora@lyndentribune.com

FERNDALE — Due to her drive and entrepreneurial spirit, Crystal Stewart always knew she would have her own business.

Stewart recounts how she struggled to find her passion until she took the plunge and decided to open Yeah Baby Boards, a charcuterie board business in Ferndale.

“I just nally said, ‘I’m going to do this,’” said Stewart. “And I just went for it, just proving to myself that I could do anything I really put my mind to.”

A charcuterie is an appetizer typically served on a wooden board that features a selection of foods including cured meats, cheese, crackers and olives. e board is usually arranged to be an attractive presentation, according to theorganickitchen. org, a food and home blog.

Stewart and her family moved to Ferndale two years ago from California after her husband was given a job opportunity in the area.

When Stewart first moved to Ferndale, the COVID-19 pandemic had started and she struggled to find a job at the time.

When living in California, she had worked in food service including her own small catering business that made Puerto Rican food, so she decided she was going to try her hand in the industry but wasn’t sure what

type of food service to focus on.

“I didn’t know what area I wanted to go to, but I was making charcuterie boards for my friends all the time,” said Stewart.

Stewart has operated Yeah Baby Boards out of a commercial kitchen. Now she plans to open a storefront at 2015 Main St. She hopes to open the storefront to the public in a few weeks.

New items will be added to the menu once the store opens, such as sandwiches, salads, beer and wine.

Opening the storefront has been more of a process than Stewart anticipated, but she is proud of how far it has come.

“It de nitely took us some time and we learned through trial and error,” said Stewart. “It feels really good to be able to open a store in my hometown where I live.”

Owning a business in Ferndale has allowed Stewart to

connect with other small local businesses in the area and use some of their products in her charcuterie boards.

“I’ve gotten to know so many people, I do CheeseMe, which I interview small businesses on my Instagram,” said Stewart. “So I’ve gotten to know a lot of the small business owners in my area by doing that, and it’s been an awesome resource for me.”

Some of the small businesses that Stewart works with include local artist Marygold Tales, Acme Farms Cheese, McFall Beeyard, and Farmette Fresh Jam.

It has taken a village to help Stewart run her business, and help from her friends, family and neighbors mean everything to her, she said.

“One of my neighbors, he built my website, another one of my neighbors, she’s my closest assistant and friend and helps

me so much,” said Stewart. “Another one of my neighbors helps with pictures and his wife does a lot of my internet stu , so my village is everything.”

Niccolle Hanson is one of Stewart’s neighbors who began helping her as Yeah Baby Boards became busier. Hanson will help with the social media for the business, as well as assemble boards and be an overall support for Stewart.

Hanson is also excited for the storefront to open soon.

“I’m just excited to see how much it’s going to grow and everything she’s going to be able to o er to the community,” said Hanson, “because every time I’ve helped her and given someone a box for pickup or delivery they’re like, when’s it going to open, so I’m really excited to see how it starts to go after it’s open.”

Visit yeahbabyboards.com for more information.

Crystal Stewart will open Yeah Baby Boards, a charcuterie board business in Ferndale. A charcuterie is an appetizer typically served on a wooden board. (Leora Watson/Ferndale Record)

LYNDEN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors

Pastor: Rev. Grace Ncabani

Pastor available for zoom, telephone, or social distanced visits.

Small Group: Tues. & Thurs. Mornings

In Person Services: 10:30 Sundays

Compliant with all COVID mandates.

360-354-4169

500 N. 14th Street, Lynden lumcoffice500@gmail.com www.lyndenumc.com

End Time Message

Tabernacle

2007 Cherry St, Ferndale (360) 815-5025

Service Times: Sunday 10:30AM & 5PM, Wednesday 7:30PM

www.endtimemessagetabernacle.com

Mt. Baker Church of Christ

Pastor Delaine Bailey

Sunday Worship Services 8:30 & 11:00 am

Sunday School 9:45 am

Awana 6:45 pm Wednesday 338 North Park St, Lynden gracebaptistlynden.com 360-354-4321

LUTHERAN

1860 Mt. Baker Highway P.O. Box 30821 Bellingham WA 98228 (360) 752-2692

Evangelist Joe R. Price

Sunday: Bible classes 9:30 a.m. Worship services 10:30 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. Wednesday: Bible classes 7:00 p.m. www.bibleanswer.com/mtbaker

PORTAL WAY CHURCH OF CHRIST

Sunday Worship 11 AM, Sunday Bible Class 10 AM, Wednesday Bible Class 7 PM

Evangelist: Dr. Jack W. Keller

6300 Portal Way/P.O. Box 99 Ferndale, WA 98248 (360) 384-6741

A People Caring Bible Believing Church

“For where two or three gather

my name, there am I with them.” - Matthew 18:20

Crouse

Continued from 19 “home” is known as a resource center.

Both Crouse and Custer said they knew many in the town were attracted by the affordable within the more expensive Whatcom County housing market. ey said it would be especially di cult for renters to nd new housing.

e small town no longer has its own bank branches or full groceries stores.

e ood, which cut o the town, made it more di cult to access food.

During the flooding Custer‘s own home, the historic Gillies mansion which belonged to the original owners of the Gillies Funeral Home, and the museum were being damaged. She only had so much time and energy to handle both.

The circa 1891 museum, which opened in 2017, is located in the former Methodist church parsonage at 114 Second St.

Crouse, who was talking to volunteers coming to help, spoke with Joan Airoldi, former director of the Whatcom County Library System (WCLS).

The area resident came with several other angels, per Custer, to save the museum’s collection now being stored upstairs. The bottom floor is empty now after having three and a half feet of water.

e sub oor is gone and the ground is now visible.

One item saved was a 100-plus-year-old Bible that had to be properly dried. But how? A call to archivists in Anacortes suggested freezing it to save it. Little linens were cleaned and stored.

“ ey just did everything,” Custer said. “It was the nicest thing in the world to have them helping.”

While Crouse appreciated what happened to many others, he said that he’s “always had a home to return to.”

During the initial stages of help, one family spent the day making sure hot food was available to their neighbors. Crouse asked how they were.

Their own home was full of water. Yet, they were giving back.

Dave Lindner from nearby Cedar Springs Christian Retreat Center, brought a crew, used to maintaining conference grounds, to help where needed with equipment. Farmers joined.

Crouse acknowledges that the storm has brought grief and he feels it too. He’s seen

this town over decades and many storms and oods and “it’s the worst … it’s more water than I’ve ever seen.”

e water came from heavy rains and broken dykes and a full river. People were and are scattered from their community. He hopes to have an event to bring them back together if only for a special event to share their stories.

While the center was focused on helping Sumas, Crouse saw others from the East County come for help.

Whoever was in need came and got help. e book will also provide help. “The book will be real and helpful,” he said. As the book comes together, with the assistance of Custer, the town’s people and newspaper photographers, funds raised will partly bene t the museum, Crouse and Custer agreed.

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