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Caleb Houvener is a man who has worn many hats. In his younger days, he started out as an associate pastor for New Song Church before beginning a roof cleaning business, Green Roof and Gutter Cleaning, to better support his young family.
Then, after selling Green Roof in 2023, Houvener began developing a second business, this time getting into the natural deodorant game with a new product called Camber. However, after realizing his heart wasn’t in the natural deodorant business, Houvener decided to go in another direction. So he developed a sugar free electrolyte drink mix called Daily Electrolytes.
According to Houvener, Daily Electrolytes is, a sugar free drink mix-
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ture “that comes in many different delicious flavors.”
“This product is good for athletes, busy professionals, those desiring to cut back on sugary drinks, and people that generally want to stay hydrated,” he said.
And so, after being an associate pastor, then contractor, then product manufacturer, Houvener isn’t really sure what to call himself now.
“I guess we’re in a little bit of a transitionary period right now,” Houvener said. “I suppose I haven’t really thought much about what my new job title is: Entrepreneur? Business owner? I suppose
I define myself by whatever I’m up to right now.”
Houvener said that he first began developing an interest in electrolyte drink mixes after having a neardeath experience on a hiking trail two years ago.
“I was on the Wonderland Trail, which spans 100 miles around Mount Rainier,” Houvener said. “I tried to tackle this by myself with little hiking experience. I would hike for 20 hours a day with little sleep and little water and on one of the hottest days of the year.”
Houvener completed the trail in 60 hours but said that by the
time he reached his car, his body was suffering from dehydration and extreme exhaustion. Houvener attributes his perilous condition to a lack of planning, a lack of experience, and, more than anything, a lack of proper nutrition.
“My skin was gray and I felt like I was losing my mind,” Houvener said. “I called 911 because I was showing signs of heat stroke. I fell in and out of consciousness and the operator had to yell at me to get me to stay awake and give my coordinates.”
Thankfully an ambulance arrived to take Houvener to the hospital.
While in the ambulance, he was given an IV that had a special solution made of salt and water that helps patients rehydrate faster. Houvener was told by the paramedics that if it weren’t for the IV, they wouldn’t have been able to rehydrate him.
A year later, Houvener was back in the hospital, once again showing signs of heat stroke. He had just spent 10-plus hours working on roofs in Sudden Valley on one of the hottest days of the year when he began to feel faint. He drove to St. Joseph’s Hospital and said that by the time he had arrived
he was once again in a dire condition.
“I was yelling out loud to God and my mind was starting to go black,” Houvener said. “They wheeled me down the hallway in a wheelchair. I must have been quite the site for all those doctors and nurses.”
Houvener was eventually given the same IV solution that helped rehydrate him the previous year, and it was there in that visit to the hospital that got him thinking about hydration and electrolytes. He began adding different drink mixes to his daily routine and became fascinated with its potential as
a product.
“I love electrolyte drink mixes,” Houvener said. “Sweet, sugar free options are becoming more and more popular for people who are looking to lose weight on the go, but the flavor options are limited. I took a product that I enjoy and decided to start reverse engineering everything about it.”
Houvener immediately began researching electrolyte drink mixes and how to build the best business possible around the product, learning how to pack boxes as well as craft and seal flexible packaging, he even consulted ar-
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tificial intelligence.
“I started asking ChatGPT, an AI tool, hundreds of questions regarding the manufacturing of this product,” Houvener said. “It saved me literally thousands of hours of research, recommending electrolyte ratios, entry level equipment, how to mix ingredients on a small scale, and creating beautifully designed inspirations for my packaging and logo.”
After culminating a sufficient amount of knowledge of the business side of things, Houvener began curating ingredients to create his product with, investing $17,000 of his money earned from selling his roof company into ingredients, packaging and equipment for his new busi-
ness. He then got to work testing different formulas and mixing ingredients in order to find which combination of flavors would make for the perfect drink mix, even setting up shop in his kitchen and converting it into his own makeshift taste-testing lab.
“Starting a business like this requires hours of sitting and figuring things out,” Houvener said. “Like sitting at the counter developing each flavor mixture. It can be a little tiring and quite time consuming.”
Houvener’s wife, Amber, said that although her support and involvement in the development of her husband’s company has been unwavering, this testing phase of the process took a heavy toll on her taste buds.
“My tongue may have gotten a little numb from all of the different formulas that I had to taste,” she said with a laugh. “My contribution to the business mostly involved staying as hydrated as humanly possible because I was constantly tasting all these different flavors he had cooked up in the kitchen. After a while it gets hard to tell the difference.”
Amber said that, although she may be weary from the tastetesting phase of the project, she remains excited for the launch of her husband’s product and said that she has faith that it will succeed.
“He just has an incredible gift for business and for figuring things out,” Amber said. “Whether it’s with a website or a product
or a business idea, if he puts his mind to it, he’ll bring it to life. His passion and ambition just pushes him all the time and it just defines his character, whether in ministry or business.”
Houvener credits his family and faith for supporting him and his business, even through troubled times.
“I have been called to do a great many things,” Houvener said. “And it’s wonderful that I have had this team of people to back me up. It’s not easy to hear all these new ideas from me and to follow me and to have my back but that’s just what my wife and family have done, and I just feel so blessed by God to have the wife and kids I do who give me space to create and try new things.”
Houvener said that
Your Daily Electrolytes is finished and that he is merely waiting for packaging to arrive before launching the product. He added that once packaging arrives he will be hiring friends to help package thousands of samples to businesses throughout the Lynden community.
“This truly is a special opportunity for me and my family to share something beneficial with a community that has been so supportive to us. I can’t wait to see how my product can positively impact others in my environment and I look forward to seeing this business grow.”
Visit dailyelectrolytes.com for more information.
-- Contact Luke Seymour at luke@lyndentribune.com.
Iglesia Hispana, the Hispanic Church in Lynden, started as a Bible study and has grown spreading all over the state, British Columbia and Mexico thanks to the help of other churches.
Pastor Ivan Montenegro said he was a missionary out of British Columbia when he received an invitation to conduct a Bible study with Hispanic workers in the Lynden community.
“It was a nice opportunity for me,” he said. “I was pushed without planning to have a church.”
Montenegro said with more than 30 churches in Lynden, none provided worship services for those who may not speak the best English. While many of the
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Iglesia Hispana, the Hispanic church, started off as a Bible study group for Hispanic farmworkers in Lynden and has expanded by taking over churches where the congregation has diminished. Pictured is Pastor Ivan Montenegro at the Lynden church, on opposite page and on page 9. (Racquel Muncy for the Tribune)
members can speak enough English at work to get by, reading scripture in English is a completely different skill set.
“They’re able to communicate in order to survive,” he said.
Montenegro said that the group began meeting at other churches to have their own worship service, but eventually found that they really needed their own space — somewhere for the kids to be able to run around and play without messing up hymn books and food saved for church groups not associated with them.
“We’re growing and we’re growing and we’re growing in a really miraculous way,” he said. “But we didn’t have a permanent place to worship.”
Not too long after realizing the need for their own place, Montenegro said he received a call from a real estate agent about a funeral home that was for sale.
“With no hesitation I said,
‘Woah! This is it’,” he said.
He asked his congregation to bring in only pennies and built a small wood house for offerings. This brought in $137.75.
“Every time we put in a penny we pray,” he said he told his congregation. “Now is the time for God to show us his mercy.”
He said mercy was shown when the previous property owner of the funeral home agreed to bring the price down by $50,000.
Around that same time Montenegro was asked to preach for a church in Texas. At the end of the service a second offering was taken for Iglesia Hispana and about $100,000 was raised during the 10 minutes the offering took place.
On the opposite side of the world Montenegro said a believer in China had been praying and God said to go to Washington and look for a man who needs help. This man
stumbled upon Montenegro thanks to a neighbor of Iglesia Hispana. That same week Montenegro said they sent about $125,000.
“It’s God bringing in the connections,” he said.
Once the funds were gathered and services began in a building of their very own, it didn’t take long for the community to gather and start on renovations.
While renovations occurred with help of local roofers, police officers, other churches and the community at large, the congregation moved service over to its sister church in Nooksack.
This sister church is one of many. When a church has a dwindling congregation, it hands over the keys to Pastor Montenegro and Iglesia Hispana de Lynden.
It was the Nooksack Methodist Church, but when the congregation had dwindled to nearly nothing, Montenegro was asked to pray and then
asked if he would buy the church. He agreed fully knowing he did not have the budget for a down payment, let alone the full price.
Faith Community Church gave Iglesia Hispana the down payment to purchase Nooksack Methodist Church and Nooksack Methodist agreed to take payments directly from Iglesia Hispana rather than go through a loan.
The first payment Montenegro said he had to ask for an extension to come up with the funds, but rather than giving him more time to come up with the money, Nooksack Methodist told him he no longer needed to pay at all.
This has happened to churches all over the state and even in British Columbia and Mexico.
Montenegro said that forming other congregations rather than becoming a mega church has been intentional. It has been members from his congregation that have gone to
preach at these other churches.
“We want to prepare leaders,” he said. “Every time we’re full, we split.”
Montenegro said he had one member come to Christ at the church, got baptized and then quit his secular job to be ordained. One day after being ordained Montenegro received a call from a church in Pasco that needed a pastor for their diminishing congregation. A month later the brand new pastor from Iglesia Hispana moved to Pasco. Within a day of being in town he found 20 new church members for the upcoming church service.
Word spread fast and soon a church in Yakima and Pullman had asked the new pastor to also come and preach.
“Now we have three new, vibrant churches over there,” Montenegro said.
Iglesia Hispana has continued to spread, most recently to a church in Clearbrook, British Columbia. Churches from all over the country have come to help with renovations and outfitting the new church with chairs and a television.
“We’re so unique,” he said. “God is giving us beautiful things and beautiful people.”
Alot has happened for Cheryl Bostrom since she published her first novel. Perhaps more important is how much has happened to the Lynden resident leading up to her first book.
To begin with, Bostrom recently talked about one of the first times she thought about becoming a novelist.
“I remember an angsty day when I announced to a family member that I’d write a novel someday with her in it, and it wouldn’t be pretty,” Bostrom recalled. “That someday book, without her as a character, took me half a century. Stalling me were thoughts that fiction-writing flowed from mysterious talent, not learned craft. Doubting my ability, I refused to try, fearing that if my attempts at a book-length, imaginative manuscript flopped, my heart would break.”
Thus, Bostrom embraced what she called more accessible writing forms.
“All were worthwhile and fun, but by diverting my attention, I dodged the novelist world I really longed to inhabit,” she said.
In 2021, Bostrom published Sugar Birds, the story about a child who turns to sketching to deal with her mother’s depression. With a second book ready for release and a third on the way in 2025, Bostrom
Cheryl Bostrom is pictured at the Olympic Peninsula on a research trip for her third book, “River Hoarde,” slated for 2025 release. (Photo courtesy Blake Bostrom)
looks back at her new life as a writer, as well as the people in her life who have supported her creative endeavor. One of those people is Emma (Vande Voort) Nydam, who illustrated the map inserts for Bostrom’s books. Nydam said recently that a big part of the reason she loves working with Bostrom on these collaborations is that “we have such a shared passion for nature and a love for the Pacific Northwest.”
“I respect her so much, and it’s truly a blessing to look up
to her as a mentor, a fellow creative and a dear friend,” Nydam said. “She has given endless support, encouragement and wisdom to me in all stages of life, from high school and college to getting married and making decisions about my career.”
The following is from a Q&A with Bostrom.
Lynden Tribune: Talk about your career before you became an author.
Cheryl Bostrom: I’m by nature curious. With the ex-
ception of husbands (mine’s a keeper), I like new experiences, and my varied occupations reflect that. Favorite seasons included staying home to raise our kids, a decade teaching at Colfax, Mt. Baker and Lynden Christian high schools, an eight-year stint in real estate, and decades spent writing for lots of different publications. Hand-picking strawberry and pea crops were fun, too. Especially those berries. Memories of a row boss and pickers found their way into Sugar Birds.
Tribune: Growing up, did you read a lot or write a lot?
Bostrom: Both. On rainy childhood days I’d trudge to the Port Angeles library on Lincoln Street, lug home more books than I could comfortably carry, and hole up somewhere, away from the clamor in our noisy home. Sundays at my grandparents’ place, I’d crawl in the doghouse on their patio or under a bed with my latest novel or short story collection. I got a bit distracted in high school, but since my 20s, I’ve always had multiple books in play.
I enjoyed writing, too — preferably poetry. From first grade on, I wrote lots of it. Even then, words were like paint and music to me, and various poetic forms ideal places to
brush words’ colors and sounds, emotions and beauty. I still have a few of those poems in a box somewhere.
Tribune: At what point in your life did you realize you had to become an author?
Bostrom: I didn’t. The thought of publishing an actual book was a pipe dream, and I refused to chase it. In fact, my first book happened almost by accident. I was writing a weekly column for Women of Faith when a friend suggested I submit the collection of essays to Thomas Nelson Publishers. With no expectations, I wrote a letter and attached a sampling of those columns.
Only when a contract arrived for The View from Goose Ridge did I realize that my job description had shifted
from writer to author.
Two years after that first book launched, my second took shape similarly. Dr. Tim Stuart invited me to co-author Children At Promise with him. We set to work, and Tim and our agent prepared the proposal. Publisher JosseyBass sent us a contract, and the book released a year or so later — first in the U.S., then in Indonesia and France.
Busy with my growing family and a variety of short-form writing jobs, I shelved book aspirations until neared age 60 and finally said phooey to my fictionwriting fears. At last, I decided, I would swim in water I’d longed my whole life to taste — and at least I would know I had tried. So what if sketches sat in a drawer? My writing would be a
yes to my Creator, who’d put the desire in me and was already pressing a story into my mind. I dove deep, devoured books on craft. Wrote and wrote and wrote.
Tribune: Who have been your inspirations for writing?
Bostrom: Beautiful friends and family have encouraged me at every turn. But it was meteoric love for my firstborn granddaughter that inspired me to complete my Sugar Birds manuscript. I wrote that book for her. Now I’m writing for later-born grands. Leaning on Air, River Hoarder, and a yet-unnamed novel are for them.
Tribune: What do you most like writing about?
Bostrom: The natural world and those who live in it, hands down.
When I set broken, authentic humans on paths to healing in PNW landscapes, I’m in my sweetest creative space.
Tribune: Compare and contrast your subject matter and writing style in your novels.
Bostrom: My debut novel Sugar Birds is the story of young Aggie, who sketches nests of wild birds as an antidote to sadness over her mother’s depression. When she accidentally lights a tragic fire, she flees into a Whatcom County forest, determined to remain hidden. A search party gathers hours after Celia arrives at her grandmother’s nearby farm. Hurting from her parents’ breakup, she also plans to run. But when she joins autistic
Burnaby and others to search for Aggie, she’s compelled to stay long enough to bring the girl home — before the threat of wilderness devours them all.
I originally wrote that book under a different title and as a young adult piece. Advised by experts to revise it as coming-of-age adult fiction, I did. Rewritten, it remained appropriate for ages 12-up, but dove thematically deeper than the YA version into characters’ emotional forests of guilt, anger, shame and forgiveness.
Leaning on Air’s narrative also opens in Whatcom County, but soon settles into eastern
Washington. It’s a layered story that will resonate with readers seasoned by sorrow, unmet relationship expectations, autism and profoundly different ways of interpreting life. Adult themes and difficult events prevent me from recommending it to preadult readers.
Dark as that sounds, there’s lilt in the story, and the overarching theme is one of hope. Taglines call Leaning on Air a “soaring tale of wonder, loss, restoration and redemption.” Here’s the gist:
She’s passionate, adrift, and yearns for affection. He’s aloof, principled, and
autistic — and her touch makes his skin crawl. Even so, ornithologist Celia Burke and equine surgeon Burnaby Hayes elope on a whim and plunge into an unusual love story that carries them for years.
Until, on a lonely slope near the Snake River, a single choice by Celia initiates a string of events that will change everything.
Certain that her husband won’t forgive her and reeling with grief, she bolts to kindness at a remote farm in Washington’s Palouse hills, where a threatened prairie and an alluring neighbor convince her to begin anew. But when sabotage,
cryptic sketches and a mute little boy make her doubt her decision, only a red-tailed hawk and the endangered lives of those she loves can compel her to examine her past — and reconsider her future.
Reviewers say both books are lyrical nature stories with unique, flawed characters that engage them deeply, and they call the books pageturners, after they stayed up too late to read. That said, compared to Sugar Birds, Leaning on Air is thematically more complex and emotionally evocative.
Many have said they didn’t want
the story to end.
Tribune: What pleases you most about Leaning on Air as its release approaches?
Bostrom: I’m delighted that the book is attracting cross-market interest. Sugar Birds moved nimbly between general and Christian market readers, and won both secular and Christian book awards. Too, it has fostered meaningful discussion in book clubs and elsewhere.
I’ve hoped that Leaning on Air would do likewise, and it looks like it might.
Tribune: Please talk about your professional relationship with Emma
VandeVoort Nydam.
Bostrom: I first met Emma at her parents’ craft table when she was a child — and clearly an artistic prodigy. As she grew, I followed the trajectory of her beautiful work through both her Etsy shop and her parents. She was only in high school when I needed a map for Sugar Birds’ frontispiece, but I considered no one else to draw it. Now married, she’s attending college, working as a scientific illustrator for Dordt’s biology department, and has completed maps for both Leaning on Air and my 2025 novel River Hoard-
er. It’s a joy to call her a colleague and friend. Also, her work is gorgeous.
Tribune: What plans do you have for future books?
Bostrom: I’m currently giving River Hoarder a final pass before it goes into production with Tyndale. Set in the Olympic Peninsula’s Elwha Valley, it’s the story of fisheries biologist Hildy Nybo, who returns to her family’s Lake Aldwell resort, ground zero for strongholds of her heart and a river trapped for a century.
Tribune: Is anyone else in your family a creative person, such as a writer, artist, musician, anything?
Bostrom: I won’t give you the list, but yes — painters, mixed-media artists, craftspeople and musicians pepper our
family tree. The only other writer I know of was a poet — Charles Amazon Wood, my great-greatgrandfather, whose pic hangs in our dining room. After my great-grandmother died, I found some of his penciled poems tucked into an 1880s geography book of hers.
Tribune: Tell us about your family.
Bostrom: Married 48 years in June to my wonderful Blake, a retired Whatcom County dairy veterinarian. Our two kids, their spouses and children all live in California, but when they’re here, those four grands and I build hideouts, make up stories, and, of course, read. And the craft table’s always got something going on.
Tribune: Are you planning a party for the release of Leaning on Air?
Bostrom: Yes, and you
and your readers are invited. Come to the Lynden Library’s gathering room at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 11 and you’ll hear readings from Leaning on Air. Storyboard Community’s Tiffany Holden will interview me, and attendees can ask questions I’ll sure try to answer. We’ll have delicious treats, along with book and gift card giveaways — and I’ll be happy to sign books you either bring or buy at the event. I’d love to see you there.
Tribune: How can readers learn more about you?
Bostrom: They can find me at cherylbostrom. com, and at cherylgreybostrom.substack.com. I’m also on various social media platforms. Thanks for asking.
-- Contact Bill Helm at bill@lyndentribune.com.
“Sugar Birds,” Cheryl Bostrom’s first novel, is the story about a child who turns to sketching to deal with her mother’s depression.
Figures from the US Census Bureau. Figures retrieved on March 21, 2024. Data derived from population estimates, American Community Survey, Census of Population and Housing, Current population survey, small area health insurance estimates, small area income and poverty estimates, state and county housing unit estimates, county business patterns, non-employer statistics, economic census, survey of business owners and building permits.
** Figures from the Washington State Report Card from the Washington Office of Public Instruction
Population
Population estimates (July 2022): 15,840
Population census (July 2021): 15,476
Population census (April 2010): 11,415
Age and Sex
Female: 52.6%
Male: 47.4%
Children younger than age 5: 9.0%
Children younger than age 18: 29.1%
Senior citizens (65 and older): 13.9%
Ethnicity
African American: 0.2%
American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.7%
Asian: 7.1%
Caucasian: 77.6%
Hispanic or Latino: 13.3%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 0.4%
Two or more races: 7.4%
Population characteristics (2018-2022)
Foreign born: 14.4%
Veterans: 938
Housing (2018-2022)
Owner-occupied: 65.6%
Median value of owner-occupied: $429K
Median selected monthly owner costs with a mortgage: $1,967
Median selected monthly owner costs without a mortgage: $579
Median gross rent: $1,341
Families and living arrangements (2018-2022)
Households: 5,179
Persons per household: 2.92
Living in the same house one year ago (percent of persons age 1 year or older): 86.5%
Language other than English spoken at home (percentage of persons age 5 year or older): 19.6%
Computer and Internet use (2018-2022)
Households with a computer: 95.9%
Households with a broadband
Internet subscription: 92.1%
Education (2018-2022)
High school graduate or greater, age 25 and older: 94.2%
Bachelor’s degree or greater, age 25 years and older: 33.2%
Health (2018-2022)
With disability, younger than age 65: 8.2%
Persons without health insurance, younger than age 65: 10.7%
Economy (2018-2022)
In civilian labor force, female and male, ages 16 and older: 64.7%
In civilian labor force, female, ages 16 and older: 56.5%
Transportation (2018-2022)
Mean travel time to work, minutes, workers ages 16 and older: 21.2
Income and Poverty (2017-2021)
Median household income: $82,466
Per-capita income for previous 12 months: $33,508
Persons in poverty: 10.9%
Figures from the US Census Bureau. Figures retrieved on March 21, 2024. Data derived from population estimates, American Community Survey, Census of Population and Housing, Current population survey, small area health insurance estimates, small area income and poverty estimates, state and county housing unit estimates, county business patterns, non-employer statistics, economic census, survey of business owners and building permits.
** Figures from the Washington State Report Card from the Washington Office of Public Instruction
Population
Population estimates (July 2022)
16,175
Population census (July 2021)
16,048
Population census (April 2010)
11,951
Age and Sex
Female: 49.7%
Male: 50.3%
Children younger than age 5: 8.7%
Children younger than age 18: 25.9%
Senior citizens (65 and older): 18.5%
Ethnicity
African American: 0.9%
American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.8%
Asian: 2.0%
Caucasian: 80.1%
Hispanic or Latino: 13.2%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific
Islander: 0.1%
Two or more races: 7.7%
Population characteristics (2018-2022)
Foreign born: 10.3%
Veterans: 1,222
Housing (2018-2022)
Owner-occupied: 64.3%
Median value of owner-occupied: $478,500
Median selected monthly owner costs with a mortgage: $2,141
Median selected monthly owner costs without a mortgage: $576
Median gross rent: $1,405
Families and living arrangements (2018-2022)
Households: 5,786
Persons per household: 2.68
Living in the same house one year ago (percent of persons aged 1 year or older): 86.8%
Language other than English spoken at home (percentage of persons aged 5 year or older): 14.0%
Computer and Internet use (2018-2022)
Households with a computer: 93.3%
Households with a broadband
Internet subscription: 90.3%
Education (2018-2022)
High school graduate or greater, age 25 and older: 93.9%
Bachelor’s degree or greater, age 25 years and older: 27.3%
Health (2018-2022)
With disability, younger than age 65: 7.8%
Persons without health insurance, younger than age 65: 8.9%
Economy (2018-2022)
In civilian labor force, female and male, ages 16 and older: 66.0%
In civilian labor force, female, ages 16 and older: 57.7%
Transportation (2018-2022)
Mean travel time to work, minutes, workers ages 16 and older: 22.1
Income and Poverty (20182022)
Median household income: $86,175
Per-capita income for previous 12 months: $39,677
Persons in poverty: 7.1%
When she was young, Lisa Lindsey wanted to be a writer after watching her favorite television show.
“I loved the Waltons,” said Lindsey. “I was inspired by Jon-Boy, actually, always sitting at his window, writing. It made me want to be a writer.”
However, after a close friend told her there was no money to be made as a writer, Lindsey pivoted to journalism before pivoting again in college to public relations.
“I still write, and I’m still able to focus on the things that writing, journalism and public relations work have in common, which is people,” said Lindsey. “Interpreting the thoughts of the public and translating them to the company and vice versa.”
For about 18 months, Lindsey
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has worked as a public relations professional who manages government and community relations for Phillips 66 Oil Refinery in Ferndale. Essentially, Lindsey is responsible for communications within and outside the company. This means helping Phillips 66 build relationships with nonprofit organizations, community businesses and local politicians.
“Overall,” said Lindsey, “I am the face of Phillips 66 Oil Refinery within the community.”
After graduating from San Jose University, Lindsey worked in the oil and gas industry for 26-plus years, with her entire career as a PR professional rooted in the energy sector, working in several Fortune 500 companies such as Tosco, Valero and PBF.
“After having worked for 18 years on the east coast, I started wanting a challenge within my industry, but also I just really missed being on the west coast,” she said.
Eventually, Lindsey saw Phillips 66 in Ferndale was looking for a director of government and community relations, so she immediately applied. Lindsey said she had already seen first-hand how the company values its employees and what conditions she would be working under, since she had technically already worked there.
“I was sort of a recycled employee,” Lindsey says. “I had begun my career at a Tosco Refinery in Rodeo, California, which went on to become a Phillips 66 refinery. I knew that Phillips 66 is a company that values its employees and strengthens the communities they operate in by providing energy that improves lives. That was a company I wanted to work for.”
Refinery 66 seeks to improve the Fern-
dale environment in more ways than one. The company announced in 2021 that it would cut its greenhouse emissions 30% by 2030 and has committed themselves to a number of renewable energy related projects.
Lindsey said one of these projects involves converting her former workplace, the Phillips 66 Refinery in California, into the world’s largest renewable fuels facility.
“The conversion provided by these facilities,” Lindsey said, “will reduce emissions from the facility and allow for the production of lower carbon-intensity transportation fuels.”
Lindsay said that these lofty goals set by Phillips 66 are a part of what drew her to the company in the first place, and play an important role in the passion she has for her work.
“This is truly the best part of my job: improving people’s lives and making a difference in the community,” Lindsey said. “To work with virtually every part of the Ferndale community and be the mediator for them and this great company brings me so much satisfaction and I am just incredibly grateful to make an impact here.”
-- Contact Luke Seymour at luke@lyndentribune.com.
Still going strong- We have TRIPLED club membership over the last few years 52 Years of Serving the Ferndale Community
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For more info, call Kathy at 541-517-0943 or Pete at 360-380-2277
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Lynden Post 9301
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vfwpost9301@gmail.com
VFW Post 9301
7011 Hannegan Rd, Lynden, WA
Order of the Eastern Star
Maple Leaf #58 Charitable Organization
5638 3rd Ave, Ferndale
Meets every 2nd & 4th Tuesday 7:30 pm
Contact: Bev Baller, Secretary 360-398-2337
216 4th Street, Lynden
Spring Book Sale: April 19-21
Used Book Store open daily
Donations welcome!
We accept gently used books, CDs, DVDs, and puzzles
President@LyndenLibraryFriends.org
Whatcom Old Settlers Assoc.
2007 Cherry St • Ferndale, WA Meetings are 6:30pm every second Monday of each month (except Aug., Nov., Dec. & Jan.)
Those interested in joining or becoming a volunteer are free to attend our meetings.
whatcomoldsettlers@gmail.com
Join us Wednesday mornings at 6:45am at the Fairway Café.
Being a member of Kiwanis gives you an opportunity to spend some time giving back to the community you live in. For information call: 360-201-4033
Ferndale
H e ritage S o ciety
If
Pioneer Village Tours
May 15 thru Sept 15
FerndaleHeritageSociety.com
401 Grover St.
Lynden
360-354-2921
www.facebook.com
/LyndenCommunityCenter
Promoting healthy aging, independence, and the well-being of older adults in our community.
• Hot Meal @ Noon (In person, delivery & pickup)
• Tuesday FYI presentations
• Friday afternoon entertainment
• A variety of exercise, activities and social opportunities
The following is from Lynden Christian volunteer Gord VanCorbach. As volunteerism is a crucial part of any small community, it would have been hard to publish Who’s Who without talking about at least one of our community’s volunteers.
Recently, VanCorbach shared his story with the Lynden Tribune:
“I live in Lynden just a couple of miles from Lynden Christian School where I spend a good deal of volunteer time in a variety of ways.
I have three grandchildren who are now attending and four who have graduated from LC. I am very thankful to have attended this school as it aligns with my personal viewpoint of how I am to live my life loving God and my fellow man in this corner of the world.
“After I retired in 2003, I was looking for ways to do something productive with all my spare time. It takes a little time to adjust to that kind of freedom. It’s a choice everyone
makes once they retire from a career. For me, I looked into helping at the historical LC paper baler as an area I could contribute helpfulness and work. So I began to work there one day a week. I drove the LC garbage truck route to pick up cardboard in the Bellingham area. A normal day would include picking up a few tons of cardboard every week. It got to the point where this volunteer arm of creating some income for the school, needed someone to spend more time baling and doing maintenance I learned a lot about mechanics and maintenance from my dad as I was growing up. Therefore I got to spend many more days and hours of work at the paper depot during the week. The fellowship of likeminded people was a bonus part for me. There were times other drivers were on vacation or sick and I often was asked to fill in. I enjoyed the companionship of many likeminded people also volunteering and working.
“After about five years the price of what
Pictured taking a break from volunteering while immersed in his favorite past time, Gord VanCorbach, above, is a longtime volunteer at Lynden Christian Schools. On opposite page, VanCorbach operates a forklift at LC (Photo courtesy Gord VanCorbach)
we were getting for cardboard fell to where it was not cost effective and we had to close the recycling center down. Someone from the Second Chance
thrift store asked me to consider offering more opportunities to work on repairing and checking a number of items that are donated from the community for the store to be able to put them out on the floor as checked items worthy of selling.
“Additionally, someone at the school knew that I help Harry Anker
with tree falling and I had a chain saw plus a little experience at this type of work as a youngster while in high school. LC building and Grounds committee needed a tree to be taken down, and then another, and another and another. Guess what? Now I’m helping with a lot of tree trimming on the school grounds, and whatever else is needing to be done as needs arise. There are always things to be done if one prefers to stay busy and remains healthy.
“When volunteering you always get to meet many different people who often are like minded. It’s a good feeling to know that you are helping someone or making the efforts for the aes-
thetic needs and the repair things needed in the schools.
“Additionally, I serve on a committee in my church to also do many of these same needs of maintenance.
I always enjoy the opportunity to use the gifts God has given me. My dad taught me to always try to repair things rather than buying new. For instance, if a cord had an end that needed replacement, I would just buy a little end and rework the plug to where it was salvaged.
“One nice thing too about volunteering is that you can make your own schedule. For example, I love to fish and often take my boat out when the season allows it for a nice day on the ocean. I also enjoy times with
my wife Sally doing a variety of things together. She is still employed part-time but she too can plan with me when we choose to do other things in any week. We often enjoy many opportunities to attend soccer and basketball games of our grandkids. When one has their good health and enjoys varieties such as these it truly is satisfying. I view life as a way to serve God with the areas I can.
“I would think if anyone thought about purpose in retirement, I would advise that you just go out and find ways to help in areas that interest you to give of yourself. Most places in our town would be happy to put you to work. Retirement is great and most satisfying.”
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Celebrating
Jim and Rob would also like to extend their services to new members of our community.
You'll be more than satisfied when you bring your vehicle in for your factory recommended services.
Loosely translated, Loca Mocha means crazy coffee. Nicole Sandoval Postma soft-opened Loca Mocha in Sumas in December 2019, with an official opening on Jan. 1, 2020. After three years operating as a drivethru, Postma relocated her restaurant to its current location, which already had a kitchen used by a restaurant and later for a food hall for farmhands. (Photos courtesy Nicole Sandoval Postma)
Three of the main businesses in Sumas are Hispanic owned and operated. “That’s incredible,” said Nicole Sandoval Postma, who owns one of those, Loca Mocha.
“There’s a large Hispanic population” at Nooksack Valley High School, Postma said. “I have children there and they’re seeing such an increase in Hispanic students. That’s amazing to be able to offer that, a place in your paper and to feel at home in our community.”
Loosely translated, Loca Mocha means crazy coffee.
Married to longtime Nooksack Valley resident Jason Postma, Nicole served three years as head of the Sumas Chamber. Her coffee shop started out as a drive-thru near Bob’s Burgers and Brew. Now, it is a sit-down location at the south end of town that once housed another Mexican business.
From elementary to high school, Postma’s four children are enrolled in Nooksack Valley schools.
Postma said that heading up a chamber of commerce during the COVID-19 pandemic was trying as was the floods but “we brought the
community days back better than ever and really installed the joy of serving our town.”
“With the café, not only are we bringing my culture to the forefront but we’re supporting our community and offering them a place where everyone is welcome to commune and relax,” she said. “To enjoy each
other’s company.”
Postma explained that the pandemic and the floods “brought all of the businesses really close.”
“I think there’s beauty in that,” Postma said. “You had so many cultures coming together as well. We were just being there for each other and
trying to find resources. Our town is so small. We only have around 1,000 people.”
Loca Mocha had its soft opening in December 2019 with an official opening Jan. 1, 2020. After three years operating as a drive-thru, Postma relocated her restaurant to its current location, which already had a kitchen used by a restaurant and later for a food hall for farmhands.
“So the kitchen was pretty empty. The building itself was pretty empty. We came in and just did everything,” she said. “It was nice to be able to create something from an empty space. We always had bigger ideas and bigger dreams for what we could do for the community.”
November 2021 flood and its impacts
“Customers would come through the (coffee) stand and they would just cry in our drive-thru, talk to us and share with us,” Postma said. “During that minute-and-a half of serving their coffee, we could support and encourage them. We definitely needed space and time to give them more. We owe our community more time. We owe our community a place, even if they aren’t talking to us, they are able to talk to someone – and it’s basi -
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cally safe and comfortable. There’s no expectation that they have to spend a lot of money. ”
Having the sit-down space has given Postma an opportunity to show off more of her personality and heritage. Before growing up in the great Los Angeles area, her family came from Mexico. She has a space at the coffee shop that explains her story. Her father was first-generation, born in the United States. Her grandparents were born in Jalisco and Guadalajara. “Grandfather Sandoval came with $5 in his pocket. When he passed, he owned a Mexican restaurant. He left the idea of the American dream in the heads of their kids who became business owners themselves. Of the seven kids, most of them became entrepreneurs in some way, shape or form. I’m here today because like them I have that goal of entrepreneurship. I have community on my heart. I owe that to them and I’m thankful for that.”
Postma said she is eager to show the beauty of her culture in a nonintimidating way and include the tastes, the beauty and the stories. As the menu
focuses on a variety of beverages, she includes a signature drink of the Mexi Mocha or a chocolate latte which traditionally has dark chocolate, brown sugar cinnamon and spices.
“Most people who come through have never even heard of this drink,” she said. “And it was part of my growing up.”
Postma explained that Loca Mocha is a family-friendly spot where folks can come together to enjoy delicious Mexican specialty drinks and grab hearty eats while they enjoy a glimpse of the beauty of her Mexican-American culture.
“Our menu is a fun fusion of bold Mexican flavors and the Pacific Northwest coffee classics,” Postma said. “This really reflects my Mexican-American roots.”
Rotating menu items have included specialty conchas, a pastry which have been offered in Oreo and Ferrero Rocher flavors, Irish cream cold brew with Irish cream cold foam, Lotus Italian sodas and frosted animal cookie cake pops. Breakfast is available daily between 6-11:30 a.m.
Loca Mocha is at 120 Front St, Sumas. For more information, visit locamochasuma.com.
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Northwest Regional Council
600 Lakeway Drive • Bellingham, WA 98225 (360) 738-2500
Supporting the independence, dignity, and health of community members in northwestern Washington.
Your Connection to Community Resources Confidential and Free of Charge.
Aging and Disability Resources provides information and assistance with access to services to adults age 60 and over, people of any age with disabilities, and friends and family members on behalf of clients. Contact us for information and assistance on: Medicare/Medicaid, Long-Term Care, Caregiver Support, Housing, In-Home Care, Medical/Dental, Legal Options, Prescription Assistance, and more.
Education is a crucial element for the growth and success of communities.
Education requires dedicated leadership beyond teachers and school administration.
Tracy Diehl, volunteer executive director of the Ferndale Public Schools Foundation, embodies this commitment. Diehl said she is primarily motivated by the role and importance of education in the Ferndale community.
“Education plays a crucial role in the community as it offers students not only knowledge but also instills essential qualities such as love, support and a sense of belonging,” Diehl said.
Support, love and a sense of belonging are vital for anyone’s success, especially for
the youth of Ferndale. When young people feel valued and supported in their educational environment, they are more motivated to attend school and pursue success, regardless of their background.
The foundation’s core mission is to relieve school and student fees, provide essentials like clothing, food and school supplies, and offer scholarships for post-secondary education at trade schools, community colleges and universities.
“By concentrating on these aspects, we aim to ensure equal opportunities for all students. However, being a new nonprofit entity, we need to ensure that students, families, staff and the community are aware of our unwavering commitment to our students’ educational growth now and for years to come,” said Diehl.
While working in Ferndale, Diehl has embraced the com-
munity and appreciates its support and welcome. She also values the way the schools support and complement each other.
“Having all the elementary and middle schools feed into one high school makes for a cohesive, supportive district where students are recognized and respected,” Diehl said.
She values the strong community ties formed through Ferndale Public School and the shared pride. Diehl has witnessed increased diversity with new families moving in, enriching the town with a tapestry of cultures and ethnicities to embrace and celebrate.
Diehl was invited to join the Ferndale School District administrative team as a grant writer and was tasked with establishing the Ferndale Public Schools Foundation. Both of these positions were new to the Ferndale School District.
Before her current role,
Diehl was development director at Whatcom Family YMCA, refining fundraising and networking skills. Her experience in downtown Bellingham offered valuable insights into diverse life experiences and resource accessibility. She considers herself a bridge as she connects people with vital resources and funding.
“Recognizing that everyone may need assistance at some point, I find fulfillment in contributing to improving lives — one day at a time. I look forward to continuing this work in the Ferndale community,” she said in regards to her philosophy of service.
The role of executive directors presents challenges, particularly for a relatively new foundation. One significant challenge is promoting and establishing visibility as a distinct organization with a
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specific purpose in a community already served by entities like “Be the One” and the Ferndale Booster Club, which support students. Nevertheless, Diehl emphasizes a crucial distinction between the foundation and these other entities.
“The Ferndale Public Schools Foundation is different in that it is strictly education-centered, with an unwavering focus on eliminating financial barriers for an inclusive and exceptional educational experience,” she said.
They are committed to sharing their mission with the Ferndale community to ensure every student gets a fair shot at education. Community involvement is vital; they rally support from those who share their passion. Join them in creating a brighter future for Ferndale students.
“Tracy Diehl is the glue that holds the Ferndale Public Schools Foundation together,” Foundation Board President Anya Milton said. “We have a robust board who work hard to support the mission, while working full time jobs.”
“Tracy is no less unique in that she works for the school district writing grants and conducting community outreach,” Milton explained. “In her spare time, she skillfully coordinates with the board and other community stakeholders to
fundraise in order to provide the means to eliminate financial barriers so students can soar. In the nine short months of the organization’s existence, she has helped raise nearly $350,000 for scholarships, school fees and You Belong Cards, and pass through dollars that directly support students.”
The foundation is organizing its inaugural fundraiser. Join them on May 18 at Ferndale High School for Rock the Nest Fest. Starting at 4 p.m., attendees can enjoy family activities and food trucks. Then, at 7:30 p.m., catch Petty or Not in concert on the football field. Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for students, and children under 5 are free. Let’s build awareness and
support for their cause together.
The job can be gratifying despite a few challenges, as Diehl stated.
“It’s truly rewarding to be part of a team dedicated to improving the lives of our Ferndale students. Collaborating with Ferndale School District staff, families, and the broader community to eliminate financial barriers and support students on their educational journey is what I value most about my job. The collective effort and shared commitment to student success create a positive and fulfilling work experience,” Diehl said.
In her time with the foundation, Diehl has been encouraged by the state of education in Ferndale. She describes it as supportive and positively growing. Diehl also applauds Superintendent Kristi Dominguez’s work.
“Her hands-on approach and involvement in the schools and community are inspiring to our students, staff and community,” she said.
Education is integral to our community, and students flourish with dedicated support. Diehl, the executive director of the Ferndale Public Schools Foundation, is driven to ensure student success. Her role embodies passion, leadership, compassion and empathy.
Over the years, Whatcom County has attracted many residents due to its proximity to the beautiful Salish Sea, majestic forests and mountains and its quick access to amenities and larger metropolitan areas. Additionally, the county’s educational institutions have drawn individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Tim Watters has found a home and career in post-secondary education at Whatcom Community College.
Since January 2002, Watters has been an adjunct instructor, educating and inspiring students from various parts of the county, including Lynden and Ferndale.
“In my mind, the students are the future present,” said Watters. “I see my role as an educator as assisting students in claiming their destiny and securing the future of our nation and its communities.”
Watters teaches logic, philosophy and communications classes. He is a skilled orator who lectures as a storyteller, encouraging critical thinking and offering new perspectives.
“I hope to contribute to our community’s present and future quality of life. As a member of the Boomer generation, I received many benefits from our nation. I want to give back something of what I was given so that it is not lost to the future,” he said.
Watters describes his philosophy as the Philosophy of the Person, which emphasizes the importance of transcending life experiences to reach truth.
Watters moved to Whatcom County in June 2001 after visiting his brother, a Navy pilot, on Whidbey Island. He was captivated by the area’s beauty, reminiscent of his childhood vacations.
Before settling in Whatcom, Watters lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he worked as an adjunct instructor at Central New Mexico Community Col-
lege, where he taught logic and ethics.
Watters said he appreciates Whatcom County’s rich quality of life, including the vibrant arts scene and strong community values.
Specifically, Watters enjoys dining at the area’s excellent restaurants, taking advantage of athletic facilities and exploring the architectural beauty of the cities and rural areas. The area’s stunning natural beauty spiritually enriches him, and he appreciates the community’s commitment to social justice and equity.
Watters pursues several hobbies when not teaching at Whatcom. He considers himself a history buff, enjoys staying active, spending time with friends and playing music as an organist at a local church in Bellingham.
Watters’s move to Whatcom County embodies its charm and appeal. His commitment to education at Whatcom Community College showcases his dedication to enriching lives and sharing
Tim Watters cultivates knowledge in Whatcom County’s educational haven at WCC. (Photo courtesy Tim Watters)
wisdom across generations. Watters’s philosophy reflects his profound understanding of human experience and pursuit of truth. His fondness for the area, influenced by Lake Whatcom and his hometown, is evident in
his love for the arts, outdoors, and community values.
As he continues to contribute, Watters remains a source of inspiration, emphasizing the enduring vibrancy of this community.
www.custerumc.org
Worship, 10 AM Sundays Bible Study 10 AM Wednesday Choir Practice 5 PM Wednesday UM Women Every 2nd Monday 10 AM
3605 Bennett Dr, Bellingham (360) 815-5025
Service Times: Sunday 10:30AM & 5PM, Wednesday 7:30PM
www.EMT.church
LUTHERAN CHURCH
A Caring, Country Congregation
7215 Valley View Road
Nor th of Ferndale
bet ween Bay and Grandview Roads
360-366-5567
zionlutheranwhatcom.org
o ce@zionlutheranwhatcom.org
Pr. Rebecca Langholz Sunday Worship 10:00 am
Lynden
514 Liberty St
Sunday Worship Service 9:30 am Third Church
360-354-1448
www.thirdlynden.org
office@thirdlynden.org
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
Lynden United Methodist Church
Ope n Hearts, O pen Mi nds, Ope n Do ors
Rev Cindy Roberts Sunday Worship 10:30 am
500 14th St
Lynden
360-354-4169
lyndenumc.org
lumcoffice500@gmail.com
1974-2024
Historic plots are available in both cemeteries. No-interest purchase plans available. Plan ahead... Your loved ones will thank you.
lyndencemetery.com
On the Southeast corner of Front St. and Guide Meridian
The only Washington Heritage Cemetery in Whatcom County
DID YOU KNOW?
thegreenwoodcemetery.com
On the South side of East Wiser Lake Road
A lovely, rustic cemetery with Scatter, Urn and Columbaria gardens
We are celebrating our 50th Anniversary as a Cemetery District with an Introductory Price of niches in our new Columbaria Garden of 20% off until June 30, 2024.
• Above ground interment of ashes
• All granite (both exterior and interior)
• Free inscription of name and dates of birth & death
• Veterans discount of 25% after the discount of 20%
• Substantial savings as there is no cost of a headstone
