{01. 15}{# }{v.10}{ free love - cascadia weeklyrep. schmick’s ag gag bill would make it illegal to...
TRANSCRIPT
The Gristle, * Film Shorts, * Free Will Astrology,
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REPORTING FROM THE HEART OF CASCADIA
WHATCOM *SK AGIT*ISL AND COUNTIES
AVIAN ALERT
Poultry problems cross the border, P.08
IMMERSION
REDUXAdrianne Smits
thinks big, P.18
KODO'SONE EARTH TOUR
The power of taiko, P.20
LoveHurtsSounds like
Romeo & Juliet, P.16
c a s c a d i a
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A glance at what’s happening this week
WEDNESDAY [01.21.15]
ONSTAGE Shoe Me the Funny: 9pm, Horseshoe Cafe
MUSICMiles Black Trio: 7pm, the Majestic BUG Song Circle: 7pm, Roeder Home
WORDSOpen Mic: 6pm, Creekside Cafe, Sudden Valley
COMMUNITYDeath Cafe: 6:30-8pm, Mole’s Funeral Home
THURSDAY [01.22.15]ONSTAGE The Carrion Man: 7:30pm, iDiOM Theater Treasure Island: 7:30pm, Lincoln Theatre, Mount Vernon Good, Bad, Ugly: 8pm, Upfront TheatreThe Project: 10pm, Upfront Theatre
DANCE Folk Dance: 7:15-10pm, Fairhaven Library
MUSICSlim Fat Lips: 5-8pm, Woolley Market Bluegrass Summit: 8pm, Graham’s Restaurant, Glacier
WORDSChuckanut Radio Hour: 7pm, Heiner Theatre, WCC
COMMUNITYClimate Workshop: 6:30pm, RE Sources
FRIDAY [01.23.15]ONSTAGE Damn Yankees: 7pm, Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth The Carrion Man: 7:30pm, iDiOM TheaterRumors: 7:30pm, Anacortes Community Theatre Blender: 8pm and 10pm, Upfront Theatre
DANCEWestern Line Dancing: 5:45-8:30pm, Ten Mile Grange, Lynden Friday Night Dance Party: 7:30-10pm, Bellingham Dance Company
MUSICOpera Scenes: 7:30pm, Performing Arts Center, WWU
WORDS Joseph Coons: 7pm, Village Books
COMMUNITYSeason of Service Celebration: 5:30pm, Bellingham Senior Activity Center
GET OUTWild Things: 9:30-11am, Lake Padden
VISUAL ARTSArt of the Senses Art Auction: 6pm, Whatcom Museum’s Lightcatcher Building
SATURDAY [01.24.15]ONSTAGE Conrad Askland Presentation: 2pm, Mount Vernon City Library Damn Yankees: 2pm and 7pm, Bellingham Arts Academy for YouthThe Carrion Man: 7:30pm, iDiOM TheaterRumors: 7:30pm, Anacortes Community TheatreJekyll & Hyde: 8pm, Mount Baker Theatre
Blender: 8pm and 10pm, Upfront Theatre Improv Lab: 10pm, iDiOM Theater
DANCEBallroom Dancing: 6:30-9pm, Bellingham Senior Activity Center Contra Dance: 7-10:30pm, Fairhaven Library Under the Sea Ball: 8pm, Star Club
MUSICA’Capella West: 7pm, Performing Arts Center Main-stage, WWU Baroque Winds: 7:30pm, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Opera Scenes: 7:30pm, Performing Arts Center, WWU
COMMUNITY Boy Scouts Meet and Greet: 10:30am-2:30pm, Bellingham Public Library Salish Sea Science Festival: 2pm, Bellingham High School
GET OUT Skagit Eagle Festival: 9am-4pm in Rockport, Marblemount, and Concrete Fish Hatchery Tours: 11am-3pm, Marblemount Fish HatcheryWinter Running Race: 12pm, Bellingham BMX
FOOD Pancake Breakfast: 8-11am, American Legion, FerndaleCommunity Meal: 10am-12pm, United Church of Ferndale
SUNDAY [01.25.15] ONSTAGE Damn Yankees: 2pm, Bellingham Arts Academy for YouthThe Carrion Man: 7:30pm, iDiOM TheaterLaughing with the Stars: 8:30pm, Star Club
MUSICBill Evans, Alan Munde: 2pm, Nancy’s Farm Skagit Symphony Family Concert: 2pm, McIntyre Hall, Mount Vernon Percussion Fest: 3pm, Whatcom Community CollegeArt of Jazz: 4-6:30pm, Mount Baker Theatre
WORDSStephen and Anthony Palumbi: 4pm, Village Books
GET OUT Skagit Eagle Festival: 9am-4pm in Rockport, Marblemount, and Concrete Fish Hatchery Tours: 11am-3pm, Marblemount Fish Hatchery
FOODCommunity Seed Swap: 2:30-5pm, the Majestic
MONDAY [01.26.15] ONSTAGE Guffawingham: 9:30pm, Green Frog
WORDS Open Mic: 7pm, Village Books Poetrynight: 8pm, Bellingham Public Library
GET OUTCross-County Skiing Basics: 6pm, REI
TUESDAY [01.27.15]GET OUTCarnivore Recovery Presentation: 7pm, Whatcom Museum’s Old City Hall
“Growing Seeds of Nourishment & Medicine” will be the theme of the annual Community Seed Swap Sun., Jan. 25 at the Majestic
Kids and adults can explore and learn more about environmental stewardship of area waterways at the Salish Sea Science Festival happening Sun., Jan. 25 at Bellingham High School
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VIEWS & NEWS 4: Mailbag
6: Gristle & Views
8: Avian alert!
9: Agricultural interference
10: Last week’s news
11: Police blotter, Index
ARTS & LIFE 14: The climate of capitalism
16: Star-crossed love
18: Big and beautiful
20: Disciples of the drum
22: Clubs
24: A woman on the verge
26: Film Shorts
REAR END 28: Bulletin Board, Wellness
29: Crossword
30: Free Will Astrology
31: Advice Goddess
32: Comix
33: Slowpoke, Sudoku
34: Evolution of the Cookie Lady
©2014 CASCADIA WEEKLY (ISSN 1931-3292) is published each Wednesday by Cascadia Newspaper Company LLC. Direct all correspondence to: Cascadia Weekly PO Box 2833 Bellingham WA 98227-2833 | Phone/Fax: 360.647.8200 [email protected] Cascadia Weekly is distributed free, please take just one copy. Cascadia
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LettersSend letters to [email protected]
The Gristle, P. * Film Shorts, P. * Free Will Astrology, P.
{01.21.15}{#03}{V.10}{FREE}
REPORTING FROM THE HEART OF CASCADIA
WHATCOM *SK AGIT*ISL AND COUNTIES
AVIAN ALERT
Poultry problems cross the border, P.08
IMMERSION REDUX
Adrianne Smits thinks big, P.18
KODO'SONE EARTH TOUR
The power of taiko, P.20
LoveLoveLLLLLLLLLoveHurtsHSounds like
Romeo & Juliet, P.16
c a s c a d i a
NEWSPAPER ADVISORY GROUP: Robert Hall, Seth Murphy, Michael Petryni, David Syre
COVER: Cover photo by Lindsey Bowen
TOC LETTERS STAFF
PORT TO THE RESCUEKudos to the Port of Bellingham for rushing to
the aid of the Community Boating Center. Winter storms degraded the bulkhead that protects the CBC’s facilities and marina on the shoreline in Fairhaven. Within days, port staff secured nec-essary permits and executed professional repairs to prevent catastrophic circumstances from com-promising the nonprofit boating center’s capac-ity to provide waterfront programs and services for the citizens of Whatcom County.
The board, staff and supporters of the Commu-nity Boating Center really appreciate the efforts of port staff and leadership.
—Steve Walker, Executive DirectorCommunity Boating Center
SMOKE SCREENWith regard to Amy Goodman’s article this
week in Views, I get tired of so-called “climate deniers” being equated with Big Tobacco, the Tea Party or whatever else comes to mind. I’m a so-cial and environmental progressive who has done some research on the subject of “global warm-ing” and “climate change” and whether it’s be-ing caused by humans, mostly after watching Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth (which I originally liked in my innocence before discovering that he was a partner in a cap-and-trade brokerage firm and decided to look into it further).
I’ve come across published pieces by hundreds of scientists stating that what is being propa-gated in the mainstream (and progressive, if one considers Amy Goodman) press is incorrect. Also, some feel that the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change should not be taken at face val-ue and that many of the scientists owe their alle-giance to their funding. I’ve owned DVDs showing the facts of the non-mainstream scientists’ posi-tions and have a book entitled Not by Fire but by Ice, by Robert W. Felix, and there are many others. For a more recent source of information on this view, I’d recommend an interview on Jan. 13 with Dr. Tim Ball on The Commonsense Show.
Do your own research and come to your own conclusions. My own thinking is that we need to clean up our water and our air, and that we are going through a natural climate change.
—Liz Washburn, Bellingham
AG GAGWashington State agriculture has something
to hide—and it’s trying to do it with HB 1104. Rep. Schmick’s Ag Gag bill would make it illegal to document cruelty to animals on factory farms.
Journalists and whistleblowers work to expose unsanitary conditions and cruel treatment of animals (and workers) at egg, meat and dairy fa-cilities. But big agriculture is trying to cover-up and protect abuse by criminalizing journalistic
THISWEEK
Soak the rich? Well, maybe just splash a little cold water on them. In his State of the Union address this week President Barack Obama plans to support a wide-ranging agenda intended to address income inequality and help Americans afford things like education and child care. At its center are small adjustments to the tax code that have favored concen-trations of extreme wealth.
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investigations.We need more transparency in our
food system, and we must absolutely preserve our right to access information about the factories that produce the food we eat. I strongly oppose HB 1104.
—Stephanie Kountouros, Bellingham
THE BELLY OF BELLINGHAMHello. I have probably washed your
dishes. You may even have averted your eyes as you said thank you when I trad-ed a bus tub towering with cups stacked on plates stacked on bowls stacked on more plates, forks askew, for another tub on my way back to the dish pit. Yes, I have suggested the name be changed to something more morale-boosting. “Dish Meadows?” The pit remains.
To be fair, most of my job consists of shoveling food into plastic containers, or “things,” as they are generally called. But as I spray detritus from plate after plate, from the troughs and cauldrons of the kitchen, at pressures that abrade the skin, as I scrape the shellacked sink filter into an eco-liner, I sink into my own considerations of how I ended up part of this system that even at its most sustainable is so incredibly wasteful.
And Bellingham is indeed the most “sustainable” city I’ve found.
How many other places have take-a-container bins, extensive bulk selec-tions, commercial compost facilities? Perhaps because of this, I find the continued reliance on so much plas-tic disheartening, even if it is “nature plastic.” I expect more from myself and from my community.
Product labeling gives us a seemingly ethical choice as a substitute for modi-fying our behavior. Don’t like factory farms? Become a vegetarian. Better yet, a vegan. Don’t like fossil fuel? En-ter ethanol. And now, don’t like plastic? Eco-plastic!
Such simple solutions bely the extent to which large-scale agricultural pro-duction exploits water, soil and energy resources. One gallon of ethanol, for ex-ample, ultimately requires 1,700 gallons of water to produce. With “green” lingo, the questions of production that should be asked for responsible consumption are brushed aside.
Bioplastics, it turns out, are not a clear ecological winner when compared to conventional plastics. “Biodegrad-able” can still be correlated with pro-lific pollution: fertilizers, pesticides, chemical processing. While after pro-cessing, biopolymers are more envi-ronmentally friendly (if composted in anaerobic digesters that convert meth-ane into energy), their production con-tributes more to ozone depletion and eutrophication than that of traditional petroleum-based plastic.
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LETTERS, CONTINUED ON PAGE 27
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THE GRISTLE
VIEWS EXPRESSED ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF CASCADIA WEEKLY
viewsOPIN IONS THE GRISTLE
J eb Bush and Mitt Romney are zeroing in on inequality as America’s fundamental eco-
nomic problem.Bush’s new Political Action Com-
mittee, called “The Right to Rise,” declares “the income gap is real” but that “only conservative prin-ciples can solve it.”
Mitt Romney likewise promised last week that if he runs for presi-dent he’ll change the strategy that led to his 2012 loss to President Obama (remember the “makers” ver-sus the “takers?”) and focus instead on income inequality, poverty and “opportunity for all people.”
The Republican establishment’s leading presidential hopefuls know the current upbeat economy isn’t trickling down to most Americans.
But they’ve got a whopping cred-ibility problem, starting with trick-le-down economics.
Since Ronald Reagan moved into the White House, Republican poli-cies have widened inequality.
Neither party deserves a medal for reversing the trend, but evi-dence shows that middle-class and poor Americans have fared better under Democratic presidents.
Personal disposable income has grown nearly six times more with Democrats in the White House than Republicans. According to research by economists Alan Blinder and Mark Watson, more jobs have been created under Democratic presidents as well.
These broad-based job and wage gains haven’t hampered economic growth. To the contrary, they’ve fu-eled it by putting more money into the pockets of people who spend it—thereby boosting business prof-its and hiring.
I’m not saying Democrats have
always had it right or done every-thing they should. The lion’s share of economic gains over the past 35 years has gone to the top regardless of whether Democrats or Republi-cans inhabit the White House.
Nor can presidents alone deter-mine how the economy performs. At best they orchestrate a set of poli-cies that nudge the economy in one direction or another.
But that’s exactly the point: Since Reagan, Republican policies have nudged it toward big gains at the top and stagnation for everyone else.
The last Republican president to deliver broad-based prosperity was Dwight D. Eisenhower, in the 1950s.
Then, the gains from growth were so widely shared that the incomes of the poorest fifth actually grew faster than the incomes of the top fifth. As a result, America became more equal than ever before or since.
Under Ike, the marginal tax rate on the richest Americans reached 91 percent.
Eisenhower also presided over the creation of the interstate highway system—the largest infrastructure project in American history—as well as the nation’s biggest expan-sion of public schools.
It’s no coincidence that when Eisenhower was president, more than a third of all private sector workers were unionized. Ike can’t be credited for this, but at least he didn’t try to stop it or legitimize firing striking
workers, as did Ronald Reagan.Under Reagan, Republican policy
lurched in the opposite direction: Lower taxes on top incomes and big wealth, less public investment, and efforts to destroy labor unions.
Not surprisingly, that’s when America took its big U-turn toward inequality.
These Reaganomic principles are by now so deeply embedded in the modern Republican Party they’ve come to define it.
Yet because these very principles have contributed to the stagna-tion of American incomes and the widening gap between the rich and everyone else, Republican aspirants who says they want to reverse wid-ening inequality are faced with an awkward dilemma.
How can they be credible on the issue while embracing these princi-ples? Yet if they want to be nominat-ed, how can they not embrace them?
When Jeb Bush admits that the income gap is real but that “only conservative principles can solve it,” one has to wonder what princi-ples he’s talking about if not these.
And when Mitt Romney promises to run a different campaign than he did in 2012 and focus on “opportu-nity for all people,” the real ques-tion is whether he’ll run on differ-ent economic principles.
That the leading Republican hopefuls recognize the economy has to work for everyone and not just a few is progress.
But unless they disavow the lega-cy of Ronald Reagan and adopt the legacy of Dwight Eisenhower, their words are nothing more than sooth-ing rhetoric—akin to George W. Bush’s meaningless “compassionate conservatism.”
BY ROBERT REICH
Trickle-Down CompassionGAINS FOR THE TOP, STAGNATION FOR EVERYONE ELSE
THAT WHICH IS PERMITTED: This week marks the 10th anniversary of the signing of the purchase and sale agreement that transferred the Bellingham tissue mill site and adjacent properties along Whatcom Water-way from Georgia-Pacific West into the ownership and control of the Port of Bellingham—or nearly a quarter of the portion of a 50-year plan projected to clean and redevelop the city’s central waterfront. Under the terms of the 2005 agreement, the port as-sumed all environmental liability of Georgia-Pacific for the cleanup and remediation of pollutants in the waterway and adjacent properties. Notably, perhaps ironically, apart from certain career staff no one in a leadership position with the Port of Bellingham at the signing of these documents remains at the agency. The Port Commission has entirely cycled through, and a new commission is responsible for the completion of the terms of the agreement.
Earlier this month, a divided Port Commission voted 2-1 to pay the environmental and engineering firm Anchor QEA $193,700 to develop a final engineering design report for cleanup of Whatcom Waterway in an-ticipation of a construction bid this spring. Environ-mental cleanup could begin as early as August, com-missioners learned.
Under the proposed plan, the depth of Whatcom Wa-terway at low tide could be as little as 8 feet, fore-closing on and potentially destroying the utility of the port’s nascent Marine Trades Center along the western side of the waterway, a property once partially under control of the City of Bellingham as Colony Wharf. Strongly opposed to a plan for the wharf that would foreclose on economic development—the very mis-sion of the Port of Bellingham—Commissioner Michael McAuley could not support the vote.
“Ports have a specific mission,” he said. “Their mis-sion is economic development. Everything we do sup-ports that. We do cleanup not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it supports economic development in the county. I think this plan clearly makes a statement to the marine trades industry we’re not interested in what they’re doing.”
An interesting point of history, the outer Whatcom Waterway was originally built to the precise dimensions of the Panama Canal, also under construction, in an era when it was imagined Bellingham and Whatcom County could be competitive leaders in marine trades. While McAuley agrees that heyday has not arrived, he argues barging capacity is essential to marine trades at all scales and may become even more important in the future, as transportation imperatives change in the face of costlier fuel. Indeed, the waterway could serve as a staging area for the transfer of construction materials vital to any plan to redevelop the central waterfront. Without that maine capacity, materials must be trucked in.
Port staff reported that the U.S. Army Corps of En-gineers (USACE) had issued the required permits for Whatcom Waterway after lengthy delay. The delay in part resulted from a required consultation with the Corps and Lummi Nation based on tribal objections that the level of environmental cleanup and habitat restoration was insufficient.
Negotiations were able to secure agreement with Lummi Nation; however, the reality is the tribe is transferring its focus and resources on a challenge to the Gateway Pacific Terminal at Cherry Point, where tribal leaders have demanded USACE reject the permit
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THE GRISTLE
1317 Commercial [email protected]
FREEMezzanine
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for a pier based on concerns that the export of up to 48 million metric tons of coal would destroy hereditary fish-ing grounds protected by treaty.
“The increased vessel traffic would interfere with our harvest, and the resulting pollution from fuel and coal dust would create irreparable harm to our fish and cannot be mitigated,” Lummi Chairman Tim Ballew II said recently. “There isn’t a dollar amount that the coal industry can pay to make up for the damage the terminal would cause to our people, our waters and our resources. So the Corps, as a feder-al agency, has an obligation to uphold Lummi’s protected rights by denying the permit.
“In conversations with the Corps on Whatcom Waterway, we gave our ap-proval for phase 1 cleanup of indus-trial contamination,” Ballew noted, recognizing that Bellingham’s formerly industrialized waterway would never factor significantly into expected fish harvests for the tribe. In short, they negotiated their losses for focus on bigger fish in the sea.
This has been the despair of the Bellingham waterfront, as all activist energy remains riveted at Cherry Point while the city’s central waterfront lan-guishes under a feeble plan with little hope of rescue. The tribe was one hope; the rigor of a port commission focused on its mission was another. The City of Bellingham, which cut loose its assets at Colony Wharf in order to consolidate properties to the south of the site, was—alas—another.
The Corps could have also played a more central part, as the agency is skilled to dredge the channel to depth as an authorized Federal Waterway, helping defray those costs. The port destroyed that option by lobbying Congress to de-authorize our public waterway so as to dodge the duty to dredge it.
Frankly, even the polluters might have played a stronger role, had the port not inked a purchase and sale agreement with private industry (now owned by the billionaire Koch brothers) that trans-ferred their liability to the public.
Port staff quarreled with McAuley that efforts to deepen the channel would be prohibitively expensive, per-haps doubling the $8.5 million cost projected under the current plan. But it is a prohibition of staff’s own design and manufacture as they’ve eliminated or driven off all parties with duty and interest to help.
Bellingham’s maritime future sounds less like an incoming tide than the plaintive echoes of air escaping an empty shell.
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NEWS POLITICS FUZZ BUZZ INDEX
currentsto eat the poultry and eggs, it’s just not O.K. to move them from place to place.
Early in January, the virus turned up in a couple of small dooryard flocks in the Tri-Cities area of Eastern Washing-ton and one at Winston, Ore., south of Eugene. The farms were promptly quar-antined and their poultry destroyed. None of those hobby farms was certified as commercial, meaning wholesaler or source of products for export.
The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and its state counterparts in Washington and Oregon assured the world that not a single incident of avian flu had been detected at any commercial flock in the two states, or anywhere else in the United States.
But on Jan. 8, the Canadian Food In-spection Agency in Ottawa announced a Canada-wide ban on the import of all poultry products, including eggs, from Washington and Oregon. Never mind the assurances from USDA and the two states. No eggs and no raw poultry could be moved from where the commercial flocks were not sick, across the border to where they were.
The Ottawa action had a particular im-pact on the thousands of Canadian shop-pers who flock to U.S. stores in border communities like Bellingham.
Canadian shoppers returning home from Costco with their usual stock-the-freez-er buys of eggs and frozen poultry, were stopped at the border and given the bad news: No Washington or Oregon poultry products may now enter British Columbia.
The options of these shoppers were lim-ited: Hand over the chicken and eggs to Canadian border officials. Or, pull over, set up a portable grill that you just hap-pen to have in the van, and invite passing strangers to a chicken barbecue (no one claimed actually to have seen that). Or, turn around, drive back to Bellingham (or Burlington or Marysville or points south) and return the newly prohibited eggs and poultry for a refund.
Costco and Walmart—and their com-petitors as well—refunded the purchase price and went about disposing of the banned food.
Sources at Costco, who didn’t want to be identified because of company poli-cies concerning statements to the me-dia, said the Bellingham store refunded at least $5,000 per day for the first few days, for food they had to pay someone to haul away.
There was no means of donating it to food banks or other charities. Store man-agers can’t guarantee where the food has been or how it has been treated once it leaves the store.
“Once out of the store, it’s out of our control,” Craig Wilson, Costco vice-presi-dent for food safety, said. “We don’t have any way to know what’s happened to it.
W ild ducks, flying from their far north nesting grounds last fall, brought along some
deadly baggage. They carried strains of an avian influenza virus that kills domes-tic poultry without killing (so far) the wild birds themselves.
The international omelet that fol-lowed could make you think regulators of cross-border commerce might want to meet and talk between emergencies, but appar-ently they don’t.
Bellingham’s big-box stores—and thou-sands of Canadian customers who shop there—were left holding pallets of pullets that food banks might love to distribute, but apparently can’t.
Here’s part of what happened:Early in December, authorities in British
Columbia found what they termed “highly pathogenic” strains of avian influenza virus in commercial poultry flocks in the Fraser Valley, just north of the U.S. border. The vi-rus strains—designated H5N2 and H5N8—are nearly always fatal to domestic chickens and turkeys. Wild waterfowl flying down from international gatherings of other wild ducks in the Arctic can carry the virus but survive its effects. Scientists believe the ducks mingled with outdoor chickens and turkeys near Abbottsford, Chilliwack and Langley, and gave them the flu.
When poultry in British Columbia began dying, Canada’s Food Inspection Agen-cy quarantined the Fraser Valley poul-try-growing region and directed that the infected flocks be destroyed. The CFIA says the virus is related to a deadly strain that has spread through Asia and now affects North American poultry for the first time.
More than 226,000 birds had been de-stroyed in the vicinities of Abbottsford, Langley, and Chilliwack, as of last week. Not all that unusual, it’s the prescribed first step in preventing an agricultural disaster.
On Dec. 6, the United States and seven other countries banned the import of poul-try and eggs from the Fraser Valley quaran-
tine area, which the Canadians had established. That’s not unusual, either. It’s the sort of limited ban that’s commonly im-posed during outbreaks of agri-cultural diseases, as a means of controlling the spread.
Both the United States and Canadian government agencies emphasized that this isn’t a food safety issue—it’s O.K. CHICKEN, CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
FLY
BY BOB SIMMONS
FEATHERS
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BY TARA NELSON
Ag GagFARMWORKER GROUPS OPPOSE AGRICULTURAL INTERFERENCE BILL
D riving through bucolic Whatcom County and snapping a photo of a farm or agricultural operation
could potentially land you in jail if a bill currently being considered in the Wash-ington State Legislature is approved in coming weeks.
On Jan. 9, State House Rep. Joe Schmick (R-Colfax) introduced HB 1104, a bill that would make it a crime to interfere with agri-cultural production or cause economic harm to the owners of that farm or operation. The bill, co-sponsored by the 42nd District’s own Rep. Vincent Buys (R-Lynden), lists a vague rainbow of possible interferences, in-cluding “obtaining employment with the in-tent to cause physical or economic injury,” “entering an agricultural facility by tres-pass,” and “taking photographs or video,” even if that footage is taken from a public road in plain view. It is currently being con-sidered by the House Committee on Public Safety, a committee chaired by Rep. Roger Goodman (D-Kirkland).
HB 1104 is similar to a series of “Ag Gag” bills that have been introduced across the country by conservative lawmakers with ties to ALEC—the Koch Brothers-funded American Legislative Exchange Council, which lists Rep. Schmick as a member. The state of Utah already adopted a similar bill called “The Animal Enterprise Terror-ism Act,” under which several individu-als have been arrested and detained for taking photographs of a farm from public roads. As one reporter for the Capital Press noted, “It would basically turn Eastern Washington into a no-photography zone.”
The text of the bill states it would be a crime if an individual “Intentionally causes economic or physical injury to the agricultural production facility’s op-erations, real or personal property, per-sonnel, or goodwill, including livestock, crops, owners, employees, equipment, personnel, buildings, premises, business interests, or customers.”
But while Ag Gag bills are drawing fierce criticism from environmental and animal rights groups for making whistleblowing a crime, several labor groups, including the United Farmworkers, are also claiming the bills are also written to prevent unioniza-
tion efforts of agricultural workers.Last year Sakuma Brothers Farms
of Skagit County, one of Washington State’s largest berry farms, agreed to pay $850,000 after berry pickers filed a lawsuit, claiming they were denied rest breaks and weren’t paid for all the hours they worked. The bill under consideration could prohibit activism for worker rights as a form of interference with agriculture.
Rosalinda Guillen, executive director and founder of Community To Communi-ty Development, a farmworker advocacy group in Bellingham, called the bill “am-biguous,” “disturbing,” and part of a larger movement to target free speech of farm-workers, and prevent agricultural laborers from organizing and demanding greater
worker protections. She also worries that if HB 1104 passes, organized farmworker strikes and labor disputes, such as the one involving Sakuma Farms, could be catego-rized as a Class B felony.
“I think the problem is a lot of the lan-guage is ambiguous when you talk about causing economic damage,” she said. “It speaks about damaging goodwill and it’s possible that a boycott or making mistreat-ment public information could be consid-ered ‘damaging goodwill.’ If a farmworker
currents ›› agriculture
AG-GAG, CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
,“From a business owner’s perspective, any increase in costs due to higher wages or unpicked fruit left to rot could be considered ‘economic injury,’ If this bill were to pass, organized workers such as Familias Unidas por la Justica, which led a strike on Sakuma Brothers last year, could be considered guilty of ‘criminal sabotage’”—DAVID MENDOZA, FORMER POLICY ANALYST FOR THE WASHINGTON STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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01.13.15TUESDAY
Washington is awash in weed. When the legal marijuana market opened last summer , many stories would periodically close because of limited supply. In six months, though, the hardy plant is being harvested in huge quantities, tripping up the equations the state depended on for revenues. A big harvest of sun-grown marijuana from eastern Washington last fall flooded the market, and some local growers are struggling to sell their product. Few retail stores have sold less than one-fifth of the 31,000 pounds of marijuana flower that growers have harvested.
After police seized almost 400 illegally grown marijuana plants from a Birch Bay couple, they return to find another 700. The Belling-ham Herald reports police smelled marijuana at the farm and farmers market off Birch Bay-Lynden Road. Police say the operation even had employees clipping the buds for sale. Police left about 45 plants be-hind, as they had legitimate medical prescriptions for them.
The state wants to collect taxes from medical marijuana collec-tives, but a local garden collective says paying those taxes would be admitting to a crime. Marijuana collectives allow patients to donate their plants and get their product back for free. The state considers the exchange a transaction and claims Bellingham-based Northern Cross owes about $216,000 in back taxes. About 75 percent of the state’s registered dispensaries are current with their taxes.
01.14.15WEDNESDAY
The state’s criminal justice emphasis is out of whack. Gov. Jay Inslee joins a bipartisan group of state legislators seeking response to a new eport that recommends putting many property crime offenders on supervision instead of sending them to prison. The report indicates Washington has the nation’s highest rate of property crimes, while crimes against people are down markedly. Officials propose extended supervision of convicted burglars and other nonviolent offenders as a way to combat repeat offenses while keeping the state’s prisons, already filled to capacity, from growing even more packed. The report says policy changes would save the state up to $291 million in prison costs by 2021.
01.15.14THURSDAY
A Lynden-based fishing company is fined for causing a fuel oil spill in Seattle’s Elliot Bay and not telling the state about it. The Bristol Leader, a 167-foot catcher-processor owned by Alaskan Lead-er Fisheries, spilled 181 gallons of diesel into the bay while taking on fuel. The spill was eventual-ly contained. The state Dept. of Ecology finds the company did not immediately report the spill and issues a fine of $11,000 and additional costs for damage to the bay.
01.16.15FRIDAY
Whatcom County gets a new court and a new judge. Scores pack the County Courthouse chamber for the swearing in of Superior Court Judge Raquel Montoya-Lewis.
The United States Supreme Court will exam-ine marriage equality following a recent feder-al Court of Appeals decision that upheld bans in four states. Washington State may file an amicus
brief in support of civil liberty and equal protec-tion under the U.S. Constitution.
01.19.15MONDAY
Competing bills in Olympia would make pollut-ers pay. The state’s largest industries would have to pay for their carbon pollution under companion bills introduced in the Legislature. Gov. Jay Ins-lee’s cap-and-trade plan sets an overall limit on heat-trapping gases similar to California’s program. Sen. Kevin Ranker of Orcas Island is sponsoring the Senate measure. He says the plan protects com-munities while raising money for transportation, education and other needs.
Puget Soundkeeper Alliance resolves one of its largest Clean Water Act suits to date with an agree-ment to reduce stormwater pollution to the Duwa-mish River and Elliott Bay. SSA Terminals agrees to reduce their pollution discharges at their 200-acre Terminal 18 container facility at the Port of Seat-tle on Harbor Island. SSA Terminals agrees to pay $215,000 for third-party mitigation and restoration projects in Puget Sound.
The
Week that WasBY TIM JOHNSON
LAST WEEK’S
NEWSJAN13-19
currents ›› last week’s news
More than 200 gun-rights activists assembled in the state Capitol on Thursday in protest of a law that extends background checks voters passed in November. Most of the crowd brought firearms to the event, from long automatic rifles carried openly to concealed handguns in shoulder holsters. About a dozen protesters took their guns into the public gallery of the House just before the brief morning floor session ended. Firearms are prohibited in the Senate gallery.
NORTHWEST PASSAGES
Political Junkie Riley Sweeney receives the the 2014 Paul deArmond Citizen Journalism Award. As Cascadia Weekly’s own Alan Rhodes noted in a recent interview with Riley, “His blog gives you the lowdown on intrigues, high jinks and backroom deals, always related in sprightly prose that can be outrageously funny.” The journalism award is bestowed each year to outstanding local reporters in fond memory of the outrageous and funny Paul deArmond.
Super Bowl bound! The Seattle Seahawks struggled until the final minutes of their conference championship against the Green Bay Packers, bombing out with four interceptions and five turnovers. The team turned it around in the final three minutes, winning in overtime 28-22. The NFC’s Seahawks will face the AFC’s New England Patriots in the Super Bowl in Arizona in just two weeks.
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TWELFTH MAN, AND A SIX-PACKOn Jan. 18, Bellingham Police responded to a noise complaint at an apartment complex in Samish neighborhood. “Seahawks party,” police explained.
On Jan. 18, Bellingham Police responded to an-other noise complaint in Samish neighborhood. “Seahawks celebration,” police explained.
On Jan. 18, Bellingham Police scolded a group of loud and drunken revelers at a party on Indian Street.
BLACK-&-WHITE TAXIOn Jan. 18, Bellingham Police gave a courte-sy ride to a man who had consumed too much alcohol. He was taken to the hospital.
BLACK-&-BLUE TAXIOn Jan. 18, a man told Bellingham Police he had been given a ride by two men and a woman he believed he’d recognized. “The man agreed to give the driver some gas money,” police reported. “When he withdrew money from an ATM, one of the males punched him and took more money than they had agreed upon. The group then left in their vehicle.”
On Jan. 14, a passerby notified Blaine Police that a driver had evidently backed into one of their unoccupied patrol cars parked in the police department’s lot between the station and public library. “The police vehicle’s rear bumper had minor cosmetic damage, but the scene indicated that the suspect vehicle did not fare so well, as the remains of its broken taillight was left at the scene,” police report-ed. “The suspect vehicle in the hit-and-run is possibly a late model Toyota Camry.”
PEAR PILE-UPOn Jan. 14, a Lynden semi stuffed with 90,000 pounds of pears jackknifed on Interstate 5, tying up traffic for hours in Bellingham. The truck crashed after the driver of a small car abruptly changed lanes at the East Sun-set Drive on-ramp. A coworker at the Lynden trucking company learned of the crash and drove the wrong way down the shoulder of the emptied freeway for about half a mile in an effort to assist at the scene. The driver of the second truck was fined $411 ticket for driving the wrong way, according to the Washington State Patrol. No pears were injured.
On Jan. 9, Anacortes Police spoke to the driver of a car that had reportedly backed up 12 to 15 vehicles at an intersection. The officer determined the 69-year-old driver was not impaired but learned that he just liked to drive slow. The driver was cited for impeding traffic.
WHEELS TO STEALOn Jan. 6, a Bellingham woman stole a Dodge Charger from a dealership on Iowa and took it on a high-speed test drive with police. State Patrol troopers report the 27-year-old reached speeds of 90 miles per hour before they surrounded her and stopped the car in Skagit County. Bellingham Police booked her into jail on suspicion of first-degree car theft.
On Jan. 8, the second of two men caught last November in possession of nearly $46,000 worth of stole bicycles was sentenced to five months in Whatcom County Jail. The first thief was sentenced to one year in prison ear-lier this year after Bellingham Police found 10 bikes at their homeless camp valued at $45,800. Both men will have to pay restitu-tion to insurers.
COFFEE JITTERSOn Jan. 18, employees at Starbucks on Sun-set Drive reported a man had locked him-self in their restroom was was “yelling and screaming, raising concerns for both em-ployees and customers,” Bellingham Police reported.” They requested that the man be escorted out of the bathroom and issued a six months trespass from the business. Officers contacted the man who appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance and issued him the notice of trespass.”
DOUBLE DOWN ON DOUBLE-CROSSOn Jan. 16, a concerned manager of a busi-ness in Blaine called police for assistance helping an elderly customer who has become the victim of several scams. “The senior did not want to believe the business employees who were trying to explain that he was being defrauded,” police reported. “An officer ar-ranged to meet with the victim.”
On Dec. 30, Bellingham Police arrested a woman. During the search of her, officers found a credit card that belonged to another person in her pocket. “I called the person,” an officer reported, “she told me she was ex-pecting the card in the mail and was unaware it had been stolen.”
SLUMBERTIMEOn Jan. 6, Blaine Police took a report from a passerby who’d heard what sounded like a head going through a wall. “Officers arrived and lis-tened for a short while, then discovered a loud male voice telling someone to go to bed,” po-lice noted. “Officers contacted the residents and learned that a child had been up too late playing video games when he should have been sleeping in preparation for school in the morning. Mom and child were given a warning about the noise level and they agreed to be quiet.” been up too late playing video games when he should have been sleeping in prepara-tion for school in the morning. Mom and child were given a warning about the noise level and they agreed to be quiet.”
FUZZ BUZZ
1.03DEGREES Fahrenheit by which the global temperature in 2014 exceeded the averages
of global temperatures in 1961 to 1990. Last year is the hottest year on record, shattering the record set in 1998.
38 1998NUMBER of consecutive years with
anomalously high annual global temperatures.
THE year of the last global high temperature average, set as the baseline
cherry picked by climate deniers in order to demonstrate global warming is not happening. Temperatures in 2014
exceed those of 1998.
650,000NUMBER of years since carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have been this high.
Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere exceeded 399.6 parts per million in 2014.
1.4 13.3PRECENT increase in CO2 in the
atmosphere since 1880.DECREASE in sea ice per decade since
levels were recorded in the 20th century.
22RANK of global warming among concerns Americans think we should be concerned about, at 38 percent. Strengthening for our moral fiber clocked in at 48 percent.
54 15PERCENT of Democrats who think addressing the impacts of global
warming should be a top priority for the nation. Democrats also are 31
points more likely than Republicans to prioritize protecting the environment.
PERCENT of Republicans who think addressing the impacts of global
warming should be a top priority for our nation, the strongest partisan divide of
issues contained in the poll.
1RANK of terrorism among world threats that concern most Americans. More than
three in four Americans (74%) ranked terrorism as their top concern.
index
SOURCES: World Meteorological Organization; Pew Research Center; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
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wordsCOMMUNITY LECTURES BOOKS
WORDS
WED., JAN. 21OPEN MIC: Sign up to share your words or music at a “Poetry, Prose & Music” Open Mic at 6pm at Sudden Valley’s Creekside Cafe, 8 Barn View Court. The South Whatcom Library event is free.
WWW.WCLS.ORG
THURS., JAN. 22WRITING WORKSHOP: Author and photographer Christina Nelson will focus on “Writing on the Move: Courting the Blue Road Muse” at a Skagit Valley Writers League workshop at 6:30pm at the Burlington Library, 820 E. Washington Ave. Entry is free and open to all; please register in advance.
WWW.SKAGITWRITERS.ORG
CHUCKANUT RADIO HOUR: Attend the Chuckanut Radio Hour 8th Anniversary Show at 7pm at the Heiner Theater at Whatcom Community College, 237 W. Kellogg St. The live taping will include highlights and clips from some of the best of 2014, a new essay by Weekly columnist Alan Rhodes, music by the Walrus, and a new episode of the “Bellingham Bean.” Entry is $5.
WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM
FRI., JAN. 23FACTS FIRST: Joseph Coons shares ideas from his book USFactsFirst at 7pm at Village Books, 1200 11th St. The book is a thorough review of the issues that Americans have been debating intensely in recent years, such as politics, healthcare, taxes, income, education and more.
WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM
SAT., JAN. 24STORY AND HISTORY: “How Story Becomes History: Writing Your Family Story” will be the focus of a presentation by WWU History Professor Kevin Lombard from 3-5m at the Deming Library, 5044 Mt. Baker Hwy. The Whatcom READS! event repeats at 6pm Tues., Feb. 3 at the Bellingham Public Library, 210 Central Ave.
WWW.WHATCOMREADS.ORG
SUN., JAN. 25SEA LIFE: Father-and-son team Stephen and Anthony Palumbi share stories and images from their book Extreme Life of the Sea at a 4pm presentation at Village Books, 1200 11th St. The illustrated lecture will take the audience “to the absolute limits of the aquatic world—the fastest and deepest, the hottest and oldest creatures of the oceans.”
WWW.VILLAGEBOOKS.COM
MON., JAN. 26OPEN MIC: Local writer and teacher Laurel Leigh helms the monthly Open Mic at 7pm at Village Books, 1200 11th St. Bring your poems and tales to welcome in the New Year—or any creative work in progress. Sign up in advance at the front counter or by calling the number listed here.
671-2626
POETRYNIGHT: Those looking to share their verse as part of Poetrynight can sign up at 7:30pm at the Bellingham Public Library, 210 Central Ave. Readings start at 8pm. Entry is by donation.
WWW.POETRYNIGHT.ORG
doit
We’ll take it back, but we couldn’t even consider giving it away.”
Wilson said Costco has continued to sell poultry, substituting California chicken and turkey, and eggs from Mon-tana. But about the time those supplies arrived, the Canadian FIA changed its collective mind.
The agency updated its ban on Jan. 15, narrowing its effect. While the initial ban restricted poultry from the entire states of Washington and Oregon, the narrow-er ban allows direct export to Canadian retailers—except for the small control zones in counties where the virus was found and the flocks destroyed.
There’s a big however, however: Trav-elers—including Canadian customers at U.S. stores—still can’t bring Washing-ton or Oregon poultry and eggs home with them. Canadian shoppers at Costco said Canadian border guards appear to be uncertain of the rules. Some are al-lowing Costco’s California chicken and Montana eggs to be brought into British Columbia. Others are saying no chicken, no eggs, no way, if they’ve traveled
through Washington.While the cross-border ban has been
a costly nuisance for Washington stores and their Canadian customers, it’s chicken feed compared to what hap-
pened elsewhere. In early January, the government of
China announced a ban on all U.S. poultry and eggs. So did the European Union, Ko-rea, South Africa; all because of the virus found at the tiny poultry operations in Washington and Oregon, where no birds were being exported nor wholesaled. Most U.S. poultry—with exports valued
at $6 billion a year—comes from states other than Washington and Oregon. The multi-nation ban wallops growers and processors all over the country.
“That’s an interesting problem you have there along the border,” says Toby Moore, a vice president of the U.S/ Poultry and Egg Council in suburban At-lanta. “But try this: you’ve got a huge freighter in mid-ocean, loaded with chicken from Arkansas. Half of it’s go-ing to China. Then suddenly one day, it isn’t. What do you do with it? That’s the scale of things we’re dealing with.”
Moore says the multi-national bans are contrary to international trade agreements.
“There’s gotta be a thousand pages of international understandings on how to deal with this sort of problem,” he said. “You’re not supposed to make trade re-strictions based on a sick bird in some poor guy’s hobby flock of turkeys and guinea hens. You restrict imports from the smallest area possible, draw a line around that farm and add 10 or 20 miles and don’t import from that affected area until the thing passes.
“This is using an elephant gun to kill a fly.”
complains because there are no bath-rooms or hand-washing stations in the fields, is that damaging goodwill?”
David Mendoza, former policy ana-lyst for the Washington State House of Representatives, agreed. He said Rep. Schmick’s bill is one of the “most broad-ly written” Ag Gag bills in the country and goes far beyond the filming aspects outlawed in the Utah bill to include re-strictions such as making it a crime to seek employment with the intention of outing unsafe or illegal business activi-ties, a practice known as “salting.” Fur-ther, the phrase “intent to cause eco-nomic injury” could be applied to any type of worker organizing and leaves that determination up to the company itself, Mendoza said.
“From a business owner’s perspective, any increase in costs due to higher wag-
es or unpicked fruit left to rot could be considered ‘economic injury,’” he said. “If this bill were to pass, organized workers such as Familias Unidas por la Justica, which led a strike on Sakuma Brothers last year, could be considered guilty of ‘criminal sabotage’ and charged with a felony.
“Having worked in the nonprofit and public sector most of my life, I’ve seen the benefit of organizations being held to more transparent financial and busi-ness practices,” Mendoza continued. “It has been my experience in state and local government that public dis-closure discourages unethical or illegal behavior. Whereas corporations that run factory farms have every financial inter-est to avoid costs and hide bad prac-tices. That’s why I believe this type of whistleblowing is something we should encourage, not discourage.”
Guillen added that the health of farmworkers is most at risk as they
are exposed to dangerous chemicals, farm equipment and pesticides on a daily basis. And if those workers com-municated those risks and they became public, those workers could be charged with a crime.
“Nobody thinks about the people in the workplace that are going to be sub-ject to increased safety risks,” Guillen said. “Farmworkers talk to me all the time about their concerns about the animals, but we need to look at the hu-man part of this also.”
Guillen added that better working conditions for farmworkers also make for better food systems for everyone, including the consumer. “Just because this is a national trend of Big Ag doesn’t mean Washington State should go along with it. We are working to build bet-ter food systems, improve worker safe-ty, and ensure food security for all of Washington’s residents and this is not the way.”
AG GAG, FROM PAGE 9
CHICKEN, FROM PAGE 8
,“You’re not supposed to make trade restrictions based on a sick bird in some poor guy’s hobby flock.”—TOBY MOORE, A VICE PRESIDENT OF THE U.S/ POULTRY AND EGG COUNCIL
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TUES., JAN. 27WRITING WORKSHOP: Village Books and Whatcom Community College team for a Chuckanut Writers class focusing on “Creat-ing and Sustaining a Writing Practice” with instructor Joel Gillman starting tonight from 6:30-8pm at the Fairhaven Village Inn. Classes continue weekly through Feb. 24. Entry is $95.
383-3200 OR WWW.WHATCOMCOMMUNITYED.COM
BELLINGHAM READS: Discuss Daniel James Brown’s Boys in the Boat as today’s Bellingham Reads book group at 6:30pm at the Belling-ham Public Library, 210 Central Ave. New members are always welcome.
778-7323
WED., JAN. 28WRITER’S TOOLBOX: “The Writer’s Toolbox: Building Strong Characters” will be the subject of a Chuckanut Writers workshop from 9:30am-4:30pm at Whatcom Community Col-lege’s Foundation Building. Entry is $79.
383-3200
HIGH SCHOOL BOOK CLUB: Joelle Charbon-neau’s The Testing will be the focus of a High School Book Club meeting at 4pm at the Fern-dale Library, 2125 Main St. The discussion group is open to students in 9th through 12th grade.
305-3600
QUEST MEMOIR: Cami Ostman teaches a Chuckanut Writers workshop focused on “The Quest Memoir: Writing About Travel & Other Assorted Journeys” starting tonight from 6-8pm at Whatcom Community College’s Kulshan Hall. Classes continue Wednesdays through March 4. Entry is $139.
WWW.WHATCOMCOMMUNITYED.COM
COMMUNITYWED., JAN. 21DEATH CAFE: Join likeminded people for coffee, cake and open conversations about death, dying and end of life issues at the monthly Death Cafe from 6:30-8pm at Mole’s Funeral Home, 2465 Lakeway Dr. Entry is free.
WWW.DEATHANDCOFFEE.COM
THURS., JAN. 22 FACES OF THE TSUNAMI: Bill McDaniel will focus on “Faces of the Tsunami” at a 3pm presentation at the Oak Harbor Library, 1000
SE Regatta Dr. McDaniel will speak about the strength and dignity of the people he met in the three months after the 2004 tsunami in Thailand.
(360) 675-5115 OR WWW.SNO-ISLE.ORG
BEATING THE ODDS: Motivational speaker Al Foxx will share stories about his near-death experience at age 19 and impart valuable les-sons focused on overcoming life’s hardships at a United Ministries in Higher Education talk at 6pm at Western Washington University’s Arntzen Hall 100. Entry is free and open to the public.
733-1325 OR WWW.SAINTJAMESPRES.ORG
CLIMATE WORKSHOPS: “Energy & Climate: The Defining Issue of Our Time” will be the focus of a six-part workshop series starting tonight from 6:30-8pm the Sustainable Liv-ing Center at RE Sources, 2309 Meridian St. Classes will focus on oil, wind energy, coal power, photovoltaic and other kinds of solar power, nuclear power and weapons, and cli-mate change. Entry is free and no registration is required. Classes continue through Feb. 26.
WWW.RE-SOURCES.ORG
FRI., JAN. 23HONORING A LEGACY: Celebrate community and the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. at a spaghetti dinner and concert by the Belling-ham Youth Jazz Band starting at 5:30pm at the Bellingham Senior Activity Center, 315 Halleck St. Entry is $12.
733-4030
SAT., JAN. 24BOY SCOUTS 101: Stop by for a Q&A session with local scouts and troop leaders at a Boy Scout Meet and Greet from 10:30am-2:30pm at the SkillShare Space at the Bellingham Public Library, 210 Central Ave. There will also be scout projects and equipment on display, as well as details on how to get involved locally.
778-7217
TAX HELP: Starting today, AARP Tax-Aide will be offering free tax preparation service from 1-4:30pm at the Bellingham Public Library, 210 Central Ave. IRS-certified volun-teers will assist people on a first-come, first-served basis. The service will be available from 1-4:30pm Saturdays and 4-7pm Monday through Thursday through April 15. Starting in February, the Ferndale and Blaine senior centers and the Lynden and Ferndale libraries will also offer tax help by appointment.
(360) 920-0476
SUN., JAN. 25SALISH SEA SCIENCE FESTIVAL: Engag-ing displays for all ages on current projects impacting the Salish Sea—and ways to sup-port our environment—will be part of today’s Salish Sea Science Festival starting at 2pm at Bellingham High School, 2020 Cornwall Ave. The free event will also feature book sales and, at 3:30pm, a viewing of the documentary The Whale.
WWW.BELLINGHAMSCHOOLSFOUNDATION.ORG
WED., JAN. 28CLEARING CLUTTER: Therapist and “clutter coach” Carolyn Koehnline leads a “Clearing the Clutter and Finding Yourself” workshop from 1-3pm at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, 1207 Ellsworth St. Entry is by donation.
676-8717 OR WWW.CONFRONTINGCLUTTER.COM
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AmericanAlpine Institute Rent your equipment here!
This course could save your life!Take it yourself & give it to a friend you never want to see hurt in the backcountry.Bellingham & Mt. Baker
Splitboard & SkiBackcountry courses & clinicsGuided descents of Baker & ShuksanIntro, Intermediate & ExtremeJoin the crowd at the Chuckanut Radio Hour’s
8th anniversary show Thurs., Jan. 22 at What-com Community College
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HIKING RUNNING CYCLINGoutside
I n the same week Republicans put all of their political muscle into pushing the Keystone XL Pipeline, the New York Times reported the alarming news that 2014 was the “warmest year ever recorded on Earth.”
Another story the next day noted “humans are on the verge of causing unprec-edented damage to the oceans and the animals living in them.” The lead scientist of the new research warned, “We may be sitting on a precipice of a major extinc-tion event.”
No bother though, drill baby drill!Amid the unwelcome news, Vancouver-based author and activist Naomi Klein
has published the most important book of her career, not to mention the “most momentous and contentious environmental book since Silent Spring,” according to the Times. But be warned: much like reading Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac or Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States of America, once you read it, you can never go back to seeing the world the same way as before.
This Changes Everything is a progressive manifesto, as well as the definitive manual for our warming planet—how we got here, what we’re doing (or not doing) now, and what we need to do next. Klein weaves together climate science, eco-nomics, international relations, sociology, geopolitics, psychology, history and more in this fascinating, often dizzying journalistic investigation.
“Our economic system and our planetary system are now at war,” Klein states plain-
by the WTO.Her approach is methodical, and the
evidence she marshals in support of her arguments becomes overwhelming: peer-reviewed scientific studies, public opinion polls, academic research, economic ac-counting, interviews with experts and ac-tivists from around the world. Eventually the reader feels piled on, so overwhelming and frightening are Klein’s findings and
prescribed remedies.But, surprisingly, her
main mission with this tome seems to be to de-liver hope.
Rather than leave readers with an apoca-lyptic doomsday vision, Klein writes that global climate change offers us a “catalyzing forces for positive change.”
“It could be the best argument progressives have ever had to de-mand the rebuilding and reviving of local economies; to reclaim our democracies from corrosive corporate in-fluence; to block harm-ful new free trade deals and rewrite old ones; to invest in starving public infrastructure like mass transit and affordable housing; to take back ownership of essential services like energy and water; to remake our sick agricultural system into something much healthier; to open bor-ders to migrants whose displacement is linked to climate impacts; to finally respect Indig-enous land rights—all of which would help to end grotesque levels of inequality without our
nations and between them.”The last third of Klein’s book is devoted
to explicating hopeful signs that positive changes are not only possible, but already underway. She cites the growing fossil fuel divestment movement, reinvigora-tion of Indigenous sovereignty, growth of renewable and community-owned energy projects and on-the-ground resistance she dubs “Blockadia.”
“Can we pull it off?” Klein, like her read-ers, wonders. “All I know is that nothing is inevitable. Nothing except that climate change changes everything. And for a very brief time, the nature of that change is still up to us.”
Learn more about Klein’s book at www.naomiklein.org
DO ITWHAT: “Energy & Climate: The Defining Issue of Our Time” will be the focus of a six-part workshop series WHEN: The first workshop happens from 6:30-8pm Thurs., Jan. 22; workshops on oil, wind ener-gy, coal power, photovoltaic and other kinds of solar power, nuclear power and weapons, and climate change will continue weekly through Feb. 26WHERE: Sus-tainable Living Center at RE Sources, 2309 Meridian St. COST: Entry is free; no registration is required INFO: www. re-sources.org
ly in the introduction. “Or, more accurately, our economy is at war with many forms of life on earth, including human life. What the climate needs to avoid collapse is a contraction in humanity’s use of resources; what our economic model demands to avoid collapse is unfettered expansion. Only one of these sets of rules can be changed, and it’s not the laws of nature.”
Klein builds her case for the need to reign in and transform neoliberal free-market capitalism chapter by chapter, page by page, line by line. She zeroes in on three elements of the modern economy that need radical realignment—privatiza-tion of the public sphere, deregulation of the corporate sector and lower corpo-rate taxation paid for with cuts to public spending—and excoriates the legacy of free trade and globalization as promoted
BY CHRISTIAN MARTIN
This Changes EverythingCAPITALISM VS. THE CLIMATE
KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE
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WED., JAN. 21 GROUP RUN: All levels of experience are welcome at a weekly Group Run beginning at 6pm in Mount Vernon at the Skagit Running Company, 702 First St. The 3- to 6-mile run is great for beginners or for others wanting an easy recovery. Entry is free and no registration is required.
WWW.SKAGITRUNNERS.ORG
THURS., JAN. 22 NCI 101: Program Outreach Coordinator Codi Hamblin will focus on “Connecting People with Nature: All About the North Cascades Institute” at a presentation at 6:30pm at the Mount Vernon City Library, 321 Snoqualmie St. Entry is free.
WWW.MOUNTVERNONWA.GOV
JAN. 22-25BIRD MONTH: “Unlocking the Mysteries of the Snowy Owl” will be the theme of a monthlong exploration of snow owls and other winter migra-tory birds from 12-5pm Thursdays through Sundays through Feb. 5 at Whatcom Museum’s Syre Educa-tion Center, 201 Prospect St. Entry is $5. Entry is $5. Highlights this week include a “Migrating Birds of Whatcom County” presentation with Paul Wood-cock at 2pm Saturday and a “Meet Our Raptors” event at 2pm Sunday. Entry is $5.
WWW.WHATCOMMUSEUM.ORG
FRI., JAN. 23WILD THINGS: Kids, adults and adventurers can join Wild Whatcom Walks for “Wild Things” excur-sions from 9:30-11am every Friday in January at Lake Padden. Entry is by donation.
WWW.WILDWHATCOM.ORG
SAT., JAN. 24LAKE WHATCOM HIKE: Join members of the Mount Baker Club for a 6.5-mile North Lake Whatcom hike today. Meet at 8:30am at Sunnyland Elementary to carpool, or at 9am at the trailhead.
WWW.MOUNTBAKERCLUB.ORG
GARDEN CLASSES: “Bonsai 101” will be the focus of a free workshop at 9am at the Garden Spot Nursery, 900 Alabama St. At 2pm, attend a “Kids’ Mini-Indoor Terrariums” course. Cost is $39 and includes all supplies (container, plants and soil). Please register in advance for both classes.
676-5480 OR WWW.GARDEN-SPOT.COM
WINTER XC SERIES: Join Bellingham BMX & Cascade Cross for its monthly “Winter XC” 5K cross country running race starting at noon at 5022 Guide Meridian. Entry is $10 onsite. Ad-ditional races in the series take place Feb. 21 and March 21.
WWW.BELLINGHAMBMX.COM
JAN. 24-25SKAGIT EAGLE FESTIVAL: Raptor presentations, boat trips, hayrides, arts and crafts, wine tastings, live music, a 5K run and much more will be part of the Skagit Eagle Festival happening from 9am-4pm every Saturday and Sunday through January in Con-crete, Rockport, and Marblemount (and beyond). Many events are free. Check out the website for a full roster of happenings.
WWW.SKAGITEAGLEFESTIVAL.COM
FISH HATCHERY TOURS: In conjunction with the return of bald eagles to the Skagit River watershed system, volunteer guides will provide free tours from 11am-3pm every Saturday and Sunday through Feb. 1 at the Marblemount Fish Hatchery, 8319 Fish Hatchery Rd. Tours start inside the visitor’s center and proceed outdoors. Sturdy footwear is recom-mended. Entry is free.
WWW.SKAGITFISHERIES.ORG
SUN., JAN. 25RABBIT RIDE: Join members of the Mount Baker Bicycle Club for a “Rabbit Ride” starting at 8:30am every Sunday at Fairhaven Bike & Ski, 1108 11th St. The 32-mile route takes riders down Chuckanut and back via Lake Samish. This is intended to be a fitness ride, and you’re encouraged to push your-self. The group also holds weekly rides Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
WWW.MTBAKERBIKECLUB.ORG
MON., JAN. 26CROSS-COUNTRY BASICS: Learn more about the fundamental differences between backcountry, telemarking and touring ski styles at a “Cross-Country Skiing Basics” class at 6pm at REI, 400 36th St. In addition, the workshop will cover proper clothing and information on where and how to get started. Entry is free; register in advance.
647-8955 OR WWW.REI.COM
TUES., JAN. 27CARNIVORE RECOVERY: Mitch Friedman, Conservation Northwest’s Executive Director, will focus on “The Status of Carnivore Recovery in Washington State” at an Audubon Society presentation at 7pm at Whatcom Museum’s Old City Hall, 121 Prospect St. Population status/trends, recovery efforts and legal protection information for Washington’s gray wolves, grizzly bears, lynx, fishers and wolverines will be on the roster. Sug-gested donation is $3.
WWW.WHATCOMMUSEUM.ORG
ALL-PACES RUN: Staffers and volunteers are always on hand to guide the way at the weekly All-Paces Run starting at 6pm every Tuesday at Fairhaven Runners, 1209 11th St. The runs are 20 minutes out and back on two key routes—by the water or through the woods. During these cold, dark months a headlamp or flashlight is required. Entry is free.
WWW.FAIRHAVENRUNNERS.COM
WAXING BASICS: Expert technician Kristi Kucera will focus on “Ski/Snowboard Waxing Basics” at 6pm at REI, 400 36th St. The free class will focus on a wide variety of subjects including base prepa-ration, structure, and minor repair. Please register in advance.
647-8955
PADDLEBOARD CLASS: “Loft, Build, Paddle: A Complete Paddleboard Experience” will be the focus of a class starting tonight at 6:30pm at the Community Boating Center, 555 Harris Ave. The class continues Tuesdays and Thursdays through Feb. 26. Entry is $260 and includes the process of constructing a paddleboard.
WWW.BOATINGCENTER.ORG
WED., JAN. 28 PRUNING WORKSHOP: Find out why you should prune, what tools to use, plant habits and creative uses for clippings at a “Pruning Workshop” from 4-6pm at the Blaine Library, 310 3rd St. “Graft-ing 101” will also be included, and will focus on scionwood, harvesting, labeling and storage. Entry is free.
306-3600
THURS., JAN. 29ILLUMINIGHT WINTER WALK: The Mount Vernon Downtown Association hosts free “Illuminight Winter Walk” events starting with a create-your-own-paper-lantern event at 4pm at Tri-Dee Arts, 215 S. 1st St. At 5pm, join other attendees for a wellness walk along the Skagit Riverwalk, ending at Ristretto for hot chocolate and apple cider.
WWW.MOUNTVERNONDOWNTOWN.ORG
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THEATER DANCE PROFILES
stage
BY AMY KEPFERLE
Romeo & JulietCONRAD ASKLAND SCORES A CLASSIC
A nyone who’s familiar with the plot of Romeo & Juliet, William Shake-speare’s timeless tale of young love gone horribly awry, knows in advance that things don’t end well for the titular teens—who eventually decide
they’d rather be dead than live without each other. But despite knowing the passion in the play doesn’t quite manage to overcome
familial friction—or a lethal dose of poison and a sharp dagger to the heart—audi-ences over the past four centuries have reveled in the story the tragedy tells.
Composer Conrad Askland is also a longtime fan of the original, so when META Performing Arts asked him to score a musical version of the Bard’s master work—something he says hasn’t been done successfully in the 400-plus years since the play first made its way onstage—he accepted the challenge.
“Past renditions have made the mistake of watering down Shakespeare’s original text to be easily understood by a modern audience,” Askland says. “Our approach, instead, was to put the burden on the music to bring out the clarity of the Bard’s original text. We believe audiences want the full depth of Shakespeare’s original text and deserve to have that delivered in an entertaining way.”
Starting Jan. 30 and continuing through mid-February at Mount Vernon’s Lincoln
beginning that what we were doing has never been done successfully for good rea-son—it’s very difficult. The cast has been fully onboard from day one and rehearsals have been intense. Actors that were cast for this project are all hungry artistically and ready for battle.”
The actors playing the leads—Dylan Kane and Katherine Fisher—are among the “hun-gry,” and Askland says they’re up to the chal-lenge. In addition to being able to pass for 14 (Juliet) and 17 (Romeo), the duo also fit the bill of being flexible artists who both had a wide range of vocal and acting talents. And, like the rest of the cast, they had to
be able to take detailed notes day after day and retain those notes in their performances.
While scoring the mu-sic, Askland says he had to make “thousands” of small decisions about the nuance of each ac-tor’s delivery while still being careful not to de-viate from Shakespeare’s original text. Along the way, he discovered a few surprises.
“In creating the origi-nal vocal and orchestral sketch, the first surprise was that the language seemed very fresh and contemporary to me,” Askland says. “It didn’t feel like a distant era or some moldy old Shake-speare text. It was alive, vibrant and timeless. I saw absolutely no rea-son to update the text or modernize it. Every-thing is already there, and it is beautiful and enchanting.”
In short, Askland says although those who show up to see Romeo & Juliet will be seeing a different version of what they’re used to, they won’t be missing out on what
makes the story continue to be so riveting. “For seasoned Shakespeare lovers, I hope
they are fully satisfied by hearing Shake-speare’s original text and feel like they are seeing the story for the first time with an enhanced understanding and deep emotional pull,” Askland says. “For those new to Shake-speare, I hope they see an entertaining show and follow every minute of the action.
“For all, I hope we have lifted the veil of ob-scurity and fog that intimidates some people from watching Shakespeare. I hope we have made it accessible and vibrant to the com-mon man. I can think of no artistic goal more noble than this, and we aim to make world history with our sweat and commitment.”
ATTENDWHAT: “An Afternoon with Composer Conrad Askland” WHEN: 2pm Sat., Jan. 24WHERE: Mount Vernon City Library, 315 Sno-qualmie St. COST: FreeINFO: www.mountvernonwa.gov----------------WHAT: META Performing Arts presents Romeo & Juliet, the Musical WHEN: Jan. 30-Feb. 15 WHERE: Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First St., Mount VernonCOST: Tickets are $10-$22; all seats will be $10 at the door on Sat., Jan. 31INFO: www.lincoln theatre.org or metaperforming arts.org
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Theatre, audiences can see for themselves how Askland, director Joe Bowen, a cast of more than 30 and a 10-piece live orchestra have been working to transform Romeo & Ju-liet into a moving, memorable musical.
“The cast and crew have been amazing,” Askland says. “We were very clear from the
,“We believe audiences want the full depth of Shakespeare’s original text and deserve to have that delivered in an entertaining way.”—Conrad Askland, composer
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STAGE
WED., JAN. 21COMEDY AT THE SHOE: Attend the weekly “Shoe Me the Funny” comedy showcase starting at 9pm every Wednesday at the Ranch Room at the Horseshoe Cafe, 113 E. Holly St. The event features six come-dians vying for your vote, a highlighted comedian, and chances to win platters of cheesy fries. Entry is free.
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM
THURS., JAN. 22TREASURE ISLAND: View Robert Louis Steven-son’s story of murder, money and mutiny on the big screen at a “National Theatre Live” showing of Treasure Island at 7:30pm at Mount Vernon’s Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First St. Tickets are $12-$16.
WWW.LINCOLNTHEATRE.ORG
GOOD, BAD, UGLY: Watch “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” at 8pm every Thursday at the Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St. At 10pm, stick around for the “Project.” Entry is $4-$7.
733-8855 OR WWW.THEUPFRONT.COM
JAN. 22-25THE CARRION MAN: A comedic mystery/horror adventure about a teen put through a series of tests to gain great fortune can be seen when The Carrion Man opens this week at performances at 7:30pm Thursday through Sunday at the iDiOM Theater, 1418 Cornwall Ave. Tickets are $10-$12; additional shows happen Jan. 29-Feb. 1. Opening
night is free. WWW.IDIOMTHEATER.COM
JAN. 23-24RUMORS: Neil Simon’s classic farce, Rumors, opens this weekend with 7:30pm shows Friday and Saturday at the Anacortes Community Theatre, 918 M Ave. Tickets are $18 and additional showings hap-pen weekends through Feb. 14.
WWW.ACTTHEATRE.COM
BLENDER: Improv featuring performers from near and far—Seattle, Canada, Bellingham, and beyond—will be part of “Blender” performances at 8pm and 10pm Friday and Saturday at the Upfront Theatre, 1208 Bay St. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Additional “Blender” shows happen Jan. 30-31.
WWW.THEUPFRONT.COM
JAN. 23-25DAMN YANKEES: Young actors ages 12-15 will sing and dance their way through performances of Damn Yankees at 7pm Friday, 2pm and 7pm Saturday, and 2pm Sunday at the Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth, 1059 N. State St. Tickets are $10 online or at the door (free for kids 5 and under).
WWW.BAAY.ORG
SAT., JAN. 24JEKYLL & HYDE: View the epic struggle between good and evil when a musical version of Jekyll & Hyde comes to Bellingham for one show only at 8pm at the Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St. The Grammy-nominated play has been called a
“gripping musical thriller resplendent with a sump-tuous score.” Tickets are $30-$59.
734-6080 OR WWW.MOUNTBAKERTHEATRE.COM
LATE-NIGHT IMPROV LAB: PETER Comedy will take the audience on an improvised theatrical experience at an “iDiOM Improv Lab” performance kicking off an upcoming slew of late-night shows starting at 10pm at the iDiOM Theater, 1418 Cornwall Ave. Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door.
WWW.IDIOMTHEATER.COM
SUN., JAN. 25COMEDY SHOW: Joel O’Conner will take on hosting duties at tonight’s “Laughing with the Stars Comedy Show” at 8:30pm at the Star Club, 311 E. Holly St. O’Conner will be joined by local acts, and possibly a touring one. Entry is free.
WWW.STARCLUBBELLINGHAM.COM
MON., JAN. 26 GUFFAWINGHAM: A weekly open mic for comedi-ans, “Guffawingham!,” takes place at 9:30pm every Monday at the Green Frog, 1015 N. State St. Entry is free.
WWW.ACOUSTICTAVERN.COM
DANCETHURS., JAN. 22FOLK DANCE: Join the Fourth Corner Folk Dancers to learn lively folk dances from Eastern Europe, Greece, Turkey, and Israel from 7:15-10pm every Thursday at the Fairhaven Library, 1117 12th St. Suggested donation is $5; students and first-timers are free.
(360) 380-0456
FRI., JAN. 23WESTERN LINE DANCING: No partner or experi-ence is necessary to take part in Western Line Dancing classes Friday nights at Lynden’s Ten Mile Grange, 6958 Hannegan Rd. Newbies start at 5:45pm, beginners from 6:30-7:30pm, and interme-diates from 7:30-8:30pm. Entry is $5 per class.
(360) 354-4325
DANCE PARTY: A mix of swing, Latin and ballroom will be highlighted and danced to with an introduc-tory lesson at the weekly Friday Night Dance Party from 7:30-10pm at the Bellingham Dance Company, 1705 N. State St. Admission is $5-$7.
WWW.BELLINGHAMDANCECOMPANY.COM
SAT., JAN. 24BALLROOM DANCING: All ages and levels of expe-rience can attend “Ballroom Dancing” events from 6:30-9pm on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month at the Bellingham Senior Activity Center, 315 Halleck St. The social dances feature traditional ballroom and swing music for foxtrot, east coast swing, waltz, nightclub two-step, cha cha, rumba, salsa, samba and more. Entry is $5.
(360) 671-7764
CONTRA DANCE: Incognito Band will provide live tunes at the Bellingham Country Dance Society’s Contra Dance from 7-10:30pm at the Fairhaven Library, 1117 12th St. Beginners are welcome, as are singles. Entry is $8-$10.
WWW.BELLINGHAMCOUNTRYDANCE.ORG
UNDER THE SEA BALL: Don your favorite mermaid gown for an “Under the Sea” Ball starting at 8pm at the Star Club, 311 E. Holly St. The event will feature a costume contest, music, drink specials, a photo booth and glitter tattoos. Entry is free.
WWW.STARCLUBBELLINGHAM.COM
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Advanced students of the Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth will sing and dance their way through the Broad-way musical Damn Yankees for the final weekend at showings Jan. 23-25 at the BAAY Theatre
PHOT
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Family FriendlyHoPPY Hour
Sunday-Thursday 4-6pm
601 West Holl WA
ChuckanutBreweryAndKitchen.com
CHUCKANUT BREWERY& KITCHEN
Locavore w/Split
Pea Soup
Sweetheart Dinner
Feb 14!
Bock BeerOn Tap
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visualGALLERIES OPENINGS PROFILESGALLERIES OPENINGS PROFILES
BY STEPHEN HUNTER
Big and Beautiful THE WORLD OF GROWING THINGS AT MONA
O n a recent wintry afternoon, Adrianne Smits introduced her monu-mental paintings to a gaggle of gray-haired docents at La Conner’s Museum of Northwest Art (MoNA).
The title of Smits’ exhibit, “Immersion Redux: Buiten” is a way of saying “relived memories of being outside in the rain and biting bugs”—Buiten, Dutch for “outside,” pays tribute to her ancestry.
This articulate young artist and scientist brings back from her Ph.D. field-work in northern California and Alaska a pictorial record of solitude amid raw nature. When she wasn’t counting salmon, collecting critters or analyz-ing water samples, she preserved her experiences in small watercolors.
Back home in Seattle, Smits has transformed these small paintings into 12- to 18-foot-wide panoramas, commemorating her experience in the wil-derness. Even as a kid, she wanted to draw things “too big.” These panora-mas are enriched by her imagination and vivid memories of the untamed forest—exuberant, intricate, messy and interrelated. The result is soothing and wondrous for the viewer.
Asked about her influences in art, she mentioned medieval tapestry: the great sweeps of fabric that once covered castle walls with images of chiv-alry, lawns, flowers and trees. I could see the tapestry analogue; her can-
UPCOMING EVENTS
FRI., JAN. 23ART AUCTION: “Art of the Senses” will be the theme of tonight’s fundraising Art Auc-tion starting at 6pm at Whatcom Museum’s Lightcatcher Building, 250 Flora St. Tickets are $100 and include entry to the auctions, dinner, drinks and more.
WWW.WHATCOMMUSEUM.ORG
TUES., JAN. 27PACIFIC NERDWEST: Sell your comics, trade your comics, buy comics, talk shop, have drinks and more at the latest iteration of Pacific Nerdwest’s “Nerd’s Night Out” from 6-9pm at the Shakedown, 1212 N. State St. Entry to the mini comic book convention is free.
WWW.PACIFICNERDWEST.COM
ONGOING EXHIBITS ALLIED ARTS: “Masters of Chinese Art” will be on display through Jan. 31 at Allied Arts, 1418 Cornwall Ave. The exhibit is part of a Chinese Cultural Festival.
WWW.ALLIEDARTS.ORG
ARTWOOD: The woodworking furniture of Ted Scherrer and the art of Tom Semple will be highlighted through January at Artwood Gallery, 1000 Harris Ave.
WWW.ARTWOODGALLERY.COM
CHUCKANUT BREWERY: View Bellingham-based artist Kailee Winterburn’s work through March 6 at Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen, 601 W. Holly St.
WWW.CHUCKANUTBREWERYANDKITCHEN.COM
DEMING LIBRARY: Everson-based photog-rapher Gary Meader will show his “Miksang” photos through Feb. 20 at the Deming Library, 5044 Mt. Baker Hwy.
WWW.WCLS.ORG
FISHBOY GALLERY: Check out the contem-porary folk art of RR Clark from 1:30-5pm every Mon.-Fri. at the FishBoy Gallery, 617 Virginia St.
714-0815 OR WWW.FISHBOYGALLERY.COM
FOURTH CORNER FRAMES: View works by Bellingham’s premier aquatint artist Stephen McMillan through January at Fourth Corner Frames & Gallery, 311 W. Holly St.
WWW.FOURTHCORNERFRAMES.COM
GALLERY CYGNUS: View works by David Eisenhour, Todd J. Horton, Ed Kamuda, Norman E. Riley, Maggie Wilder, and Clayton James through Feb. 22 in La Conner at Gallery Cygnus, 109 Commercial St.
WWW.GALLERYCYGNUS.COM
GOOD EARTH: Artists will donate part of the proceeds from the sales of the fifth annual “Lamps and Bowls” exhibit to the Bellingham Food Bank. The pieces will be highlighted through January at Good Earth Pottery, 1000 Harris Ave.
WWW.GOODEARTHPOTS.COM
HONEY SALON: Check out “Wild at Home,” a new collection of paintings and mixed-media fiber art by Moth and Squirrel’s Libby Chenault, through Jan. 31 at Honey Salon,
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vases are patterned with repetitive images (especially the ferns). Others thought of the French Primitive master, Henri “Le Douanier” Rousseau: “All it needs is a tiger.”
The accompanying exhibit in MoNA’s Bena-roya Glass Gallery, “A Tree is a kind of Big Flower” shares the focus on the world of growing things. Flora C. Mace and Joey Kirk-patrick established a partnership, meeting at the Pilchuck Glass School in 1979. They have been winning awards, occupying distin-guished artistic residencies and creating out-standing works in glass and other materials ever since. (Watch their amazing work with hot glass at www.kirkpatrick-mace.com) .
The latest challenge they have set for them-selves has been the achievement of capturing a plant in full bloom—flowers, stems, leaves and roots—within a glass box, preserving and displaying it as a sculpture. Here are daf-
fodil, iris, gentian and twinflower in deceptively effortless display, even to their intricate roots. The achievement is a magnifi-cent success, and should be seen by every gardener and wildflower lover.
Kirkpatrick’s separate contribution is a series of realistic casein paint-ings of sections of birch, cottonwood and conifer trunks. This project began as expiation for having cut down an “ancient in-cense cedar” on the prop-erty the two artists share near Chimacum. Having honored the cedar with a portrait, Kirkpatrick did a group painting of others—as if to dispatch them to the spirit world in company with the unfor-tunate cedar.
As usual, the main floor exhibits at MoNA are accompanied upstairs by selections from the permanent collection. And this one is a corker. From a 1928 Mark Tobey canvas, “Pink Flower,” we sweep through a parade of works by Northwest greats, including Walter Isaacs (1962), Spencer Moseley (1958), Paul and Larry Heald, Max Benjamin, and Eric El-liott (2010), to mention only a few. (Spoiler alert: This show will be the subject of my next review.)
SEE IT WHAT: Adrianne Smits’ “Immersion Redux: Buiten,” Flora C. Mace and Joey Kirkpat-rick’s “A Tree is a Flower,” “Still Life from the Perma-nent Collection” WHEN: 12-5pm Sun.-Mon., 10am-5pm Tues.-Sat., through March 11WHERE: La Con-ner’s Museum of Northwest Art, 121 First St.COST: Entry is freeINFO: www. monamuseum.org
“LAT
E FA
LL,”
BY
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310 W. Holly St. WWW.HONEYBELLINGHAM.COM
JANSEN ART CENTER: Peruse black-and-white photography by Tommy Gibson, oil paintings by Mary Alice Phillips, and a “Winter Exhibit” at Lynden’s Jansen Art Center, 321 Front St. Entry is free.
WWW.JANSENARTCENTER.ORG
MAKE.SHIFT: “Make Art: Community Mural Project” can be seen through the month at Make.Shift Art Space, 306 Flora St. The indi-vidually created mural pieces “compose a larger vision of community.”
WWW.MAKESHIFTPROJECT.COM
MONA: View Flora C. Mace and Joey Kirkpat-rick’s “A Tree is a Flower,” “Still Life from the Permanent Collection,” and Adrianne Smits’ “Immersion Redux: Buiten” through March 11 at La Conner’s Museum of Northwest Art, 121 First St.
WWW.MONAMUSEUM.ORG
PEACEHEALTH: “Healing Through Art” is on display through Jan. 31 at PeaceHealth St. Jo-seph Medical Center, 2901 Squalicum Pkwy. The exhibit features works by painters Mary Moore Bailey, Cathy Schoenberg, and Linda Hirsh. Select works from private collections include paintings by Clayton James, Jack Gunter, Wil-liam Slater, and others.
733-5361
QUILT MUSEUM: See “Antique Embroidered Quilts,” Freddy Moran’s “Collage Quilts” and Larkin Van Horn’s “Night Thoughts” through March 29 at the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum, 703 S. Second St.
WWW.LACONNERQUILTS.ORG
REXVILLE GROCERY: View a variety of Bill “Fireball” Ball’s paintings through January at Mount Vernon’s Rexville Grocery Cafe, 19271 Best Rd. Many of the Skagit Valley artist’s abstract and surreal paintings were created live
at electronic dance and music shows. WWW.REXVILLEGROCERY.COM
SCOTT MILO: Jennifer Bowman’s acrylics will be highlighted through Jan. 27 in Anacortes at the Scott Milo Gallery, 420 Commercial Ave. Also showing are acrylics by Cynthia Richardson, oils and pastels by Amanda Hous-ton, photo encaustics by Kathy Hastings and photography by Lewis Jones, Dick Garvey, and Randy Dana.
WWW.SCOTTMILO.COM
SKAGIT MUSEUM: “Death Becomes Her” shows through March 15 at La Conner’s Skagit County Historical Museum, 501 S. Fourth St.
WWW.SKAGITCOUNTY.NET/MUSEUM
SMITH & VALLEE: New mixed-media works by local skateboarding legend Matt French and Smith & Vallee Woodworks’ own Pieter VanZan-den can be seen through Jan. 25 at Edison’s Smith & Vallee Gallery, 5742 Gilkey Ave.
WWW.SMITHANDVALLEE.COM
WESTERN GALLERY: “Discovery,” Western Washington University’s Department of Art and Design’s biennial exhibit, shows through-March 7 at the Western Gallery. The show features new visions in all media—from drawing and ceramics to graphic design, fibers, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and video. Entry is free and open to the public.
WWW.WESTERNGALLERY.WWU.EDU
WHATCOM ART MARKET: From 10am-6pm every Thursday through Monday, stop by the Whatcom Art Guild’s Art Market at Fairhaven’s Waldron Building, 1314 12th St.
WWW.WHATCOMARTGUILD.ORG
WHATCOM MUSEUM: “Leo Adams: Eastern Light,” “Peak of Their Professions: The Murrow Brothers,” and “Big Cameras, Big Trees: Darius Kinsey at Large in the Woods” can currently be viewed on the Whatcom Museum campus.
WWW.WHATCOMMUSEUM.ORG
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One Earth Tour: Mystery
Mount Baker Theatrere
360.734.6080MountBakerTheatre.com
F O R T I C K E T S :
Season SponsorSponsor
Spending a third of the year
rehearsing on their private island
compound, Kodo reinvents
traditional Japanese drumming with
startling new fusion and forms.
Wednesday, January 287:30p Tickets start at $32
Support local jobs by donating your used appliance to our job-training program.
527-2646free pickups available
DONATE FOR REUSE!DON’T RECYCLE I T…
100 N. Commercial St. next to Mount Baker Theatre 360-594-6000 bellinghampasta.com
R E S T A U R A N T R E T A I L C A T E R I N G
We willbe closed
Super BowlSunday.
Go Hawks!
Jennifer Bowman’s “Forest Grove” and other paintings can be seen alongside works by Cynthia Richard-son, Amanda Houston, Kathy Hastings, Lewis Jones, Dick Garvey, and Randy Dana through Jan. 27 in Anacortes at the Scott Milo Gallery
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musicSHOW PREVIEWS › › RUMOR HAS IT
TO KNOW KAT Bula is to know a skilled musi-cian who is generally up to interesting and newsworthy things. And to know Kat Bula is also to know someone who is generally the worst when it comes to any kind of self-pro-motion that might come off as being, well, too self-promoting.
She’s bashful that way. Good thing I’m not.Along with being an exemplary fiddle and
guitar instructor (no, I don’t take either fiddle or guitar lessons from her, but I hear things), Bula also puts no small amount of effort into booking music, poetry and whatever else she thinks will strike the entertainment-seeking public’s fancy at the Honey Moon. In doing so, she helps to thoughtfully cultivate what has long been one of Bellingham’s most warm and inviting incubators of local music. She also brings her musical skills to bear in accompany-ing any number of other musicians, efforts that showcase her knack for seemingly effortless col-laboration.
And, if need be, she can kick ass all over a karaoke contest.
But, above and beyond all that, Bula is a smart, sassy, sensitive singer/songwriter, one who brings gifts for lyricism, instrumentation and arrangement to the table. In other words, she can not only envision, but also engineer—if need be—a song from top to bottom, which is a form of musical dexterity that gives her music rare depth and range in an otherwise endless sea of singer/songwriters with their proverbial three chords and the truth.
Not that she would tell you any of that.But what Bula would tell you is that she, un-
der her musical moniker Thimble vs. Needle, has recorded a new album, Conversations Over Break-fast. Unlike her last Thimble vs. Needle effort, which was recorded in a month, Bula took her time with this one, putting a year into making the album say what she wanted, in the way she wanted to say it. She had some help in doing so, mostly in the form of musical cohort Chris Stainbeck, who Bula played with in Pirates R Us, as well as many of those in her exceedingly talented musical peer group.
Many of those people will be on hand for a one-night-only show when Bula throws herself a party to celebrate the release of her new al-bum on Sat., Jan. 31 at, fittingly, the Honey Moon. Unlike most music made around these parts, Bula has done a decent job of keeping her new work under wraps, meaning you can’t just cue up her Bandcamp by way of skipping the show. If you want to hear Bula’s Conversations Over Breakfast, you’re either going to have to hit up the Honey Moon—or be at her house for breakfast, I suppose. But in only one of those scenarios can you show up without an invita-tion and be assured of a warm welcome.
Rumor Has It
BY CAREY ROSS
BY CAREY ROSS
Kodo Drummers BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY
N ot long ago, an acquaintance who was a drummer in a rock band—a pretty good rock band that was enjoying a growing measure of regional success—gave up not just his burgeoning band, but also
his home and all the friends, family and comforts that come with it to chase his dream of becoming a taiko drummer.
At the time, I chalked it up as yet another of my artistic friends explor-ing a whim, but as the years have passed, he has remained devoted to this very particular musical discipline, so much so that he’s moved thousands of miles away in the name of pursuing and progressing in his chosen craft.
Such is the power of taiko.Because taiko isn’t merely a style of drumming. For those who have
chosen to embrace and embody this traditional Japanese musical form, it is a way of life. Sure, anyone can sign up to take a taiko lesson as a diverting way to pass an afternoon, but becoming a serious taiko drum-
mer is a wholly immersive experience. Like so many other things integral to Japanese culture—from becoming a sushi chef to cul-tivating bonsai—pursuit of perfection is a lifelong endeavor.
No one knows this better than the world’s most famous and highly respected taiko drumming group, Kodo. For nearly 35 years, the men and women of Kodo have not only introduced audiences across the globe to taiko, but they’ve also explored and expanded the musical form, adding their own distinctive chapter to taiko’s centuries-old history.
Within Japan, “taiko” refers to any num-ber of different percussive instruments.
However, to the rest of the world, the word conjures visions of large drums—in Kodo’s case, very large drums—played with bachi (i.e. fat drumsticks) by an ensemble of performers. The physical energy ex-pended during a concert is far greater than what is required of other types of musicians, with taiko existing at the nexus of passion and precision, art and athleticism. It’s big and booming, yet somehow still subtle. But most of all, taiko is these opposing things
existing in perfect balance. But that’s just regular taiko, if such a thing
exists. Kodo is something else entirely. First of all, Kodo drummers don’t just
tour the world, have band practice and sometimes hang out with one another like every other musical group. They live together in their own village on Sado Is-land in Japan. Of course, since they tour eight months of the year, they only spend four months in Kodo Village, where they prepare new material and rest before their travels begin again. As well, the sheer scale of the Kodo organization, which numbers some 100 or so people—32 of them comprise the touring troupe—is indicative of what it takes to foster and maintain a top-notch taiko tradition.
Given that, it probably comes as no surprise that becoming a Kodo drummer
ATTENDWHAT: Kodo One Earth Tour: MysteryWHEN: 7:30pm Wed., Jan. 28WHERE: Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St.COST: $32-$62INFO: www.mountbaker theatre.com
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WED., JAN. 21MILES BLACK TRIO: Canadian career jazz pianist Miles Black will be joined by bassist Michael Glynn and drummer Julian MacDonough for a performance with the Whatcom Jazz Music Arts Center at 7pm at the Majestic, 1027 N. Forest ST. Entry is $5 for students, $10 general.
WWW.WJMAC.ORG
BUG SONG CIRCLE: The Bellingham Ukulele Group will host its monthly Song Circle from 7-8:45pm at the Roeder Home, 2600 Sunset Dr. Admission is free; donations are appreciated.
734-1892 OR WWW.BELLINGHAMUKULELEGROUP.COM
THURS., JAN. 22SLIM FAT LIPS: Roots music, country and blues can heard when Slim Fat Lips performs from 5-8pm in Sedro-Woolley at the Woolley Market, 829 Met-calf St. Entry is free.
WWW.WOOLLEYMARKET.COM
BLUEGRASS SUMMIT: Bentgrass and the Prozac Mountain Boys will perform as part of a “Bluegrass Summit” show starting at 8pm in Glacier at Graham’s Restaurant, 9989 Mt. Baker Hwy. Entry is free.
(360) 599-9266
JAN. 23-24OPERA SCENES: Students from Western Washing-ton University’s Opera Club present “Opera Scenes” at 7:30pm Friday and Saturday at the Perform-ing Arts Center, room 16. Selections from “Die Fledermaus,” “Orphee Aux Enfers,” “Don Giovanni,” “Little Women,” “Hansel and Gretel,” “Le Nozze Die Figaro,” “La Fille Du Regiment,” “H.M.S. Pinafore,” and more will be on the roster. Tickets are $10-$12.
WWW.TICKETS.WWU.EDU
SAT., JAN. 24A’CAPELLA WEST: Ensembles from Western Washington University, University of Utah, Pacific Lutheran University, Brigham Young, Gonzaga, Cen-tral Washington University and more will perform at the A’Capella ICAA West quarterfinals at 7pm at WWU’s Performing Arts Center Mainstage. Tickets are $16-$21.50.
WWW.TICKETS.WWU.EDU
EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL: The Salish Sea Early Music Festival series continues with a “1700: Ba-roque Winds” performance at 7:30pm at St. Paul’s
Episcopal Church, 2117 Walnut St. Anna Marsh (ba-roque bassoon), Jeffrey Cohan (baroque flute), and Jonathan Oddie (harpsichord) will be the featured performers. Suggested donation is $15-$25.
WWW.SALISHSEAFESTIVAL.ORG
SUN., JAN. 25EVANS AND MUNDE: Banjo legends Bill Evans and Alan Munde will perform together for the first time at 2pm at Nancy’s Farm, 2030 E. Smith Rd. Expect to hear bluegrass selections, original composi-tions, fiddle tunes on banjo, slow songs and much more. Suggested donation is $15.
WWW.NANCYSFARM.COM
SKAGIT SYMPHONY: Kids are welcome at the Skagit Symphony’s annual “Family Concert” at 2pm at Mount Vernon’s McIntyre Hall, 2501 E. College Way. Tickets are $10. Children attending with a ticketed adult can get in for free.
WWW.MCINTYREHALL.ORG
PERCUSSION FEST: The Bellingham Chamber Music Society presents a “Percussion Fest” performance from 3-5pm at Whatcom Community College, 237 W. Kellogg Rd. Percussionist Melanie Sehman will be features, as will with violist Leslie Johnson and bassoonist Pat Nelson. Entry is free for students, $5 general.
WWW.BELLINGHAMCHAMBERMUSIC.ORG
ART OF JAZZ: The Jud Sherwood Trio will be the featured ensemble at the Jazz Project’s monthly “Art of Jazz” concert from 4-6:30pm at the Encore Room at the Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commer-cial St. Entry is $10-$16.
WWW.JAZZPROJECT.ORG
WED., JAN. 28DANNY KOLKE TRIO: The Whatcom Jazz Music Arts Center presents a performance by the Danny Kolke Trio at 7pm at the Majestic, 1027 N. Forest ST. Entry is $5 for students, $10 general.
WWW.WJMAC.ORG
KODO ONE EARTH TOUR: The limitless possibili-ties of the traditional Japanese taiko drum will be explored when Kodo brings its “One Earth Tour: Mystery” to town for a 7:30pm performance at the Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial St. Kodo strives to both preserve and reinterpret traditional Japanese performing arts. Tickets are $32-$62.
734-6080 OR WWW.MOUNTBAKERTHEATRE.COM
musicevents
takes a lot more than just a combina-tion of luck and talent. Taiko standouts must spend two years in an apprentice program. Should they excel there, they then may be asked to become a provi-sional member for a period of one year. After that, if they are deemed worthy, only then will they become a full-fledged Kodo drummer. The organiza-tion accepts only 10-12 apprentices a year. Of those, and only when they’ve proven themselves ready, two or three may attain provisional status. Maybe one of those will be asked to be a per-manent member. Maybe.
But beating big drums isn’t the only thing expected of Kodo protégés. They must also learn skills in such areas as
agriculture or cooking, and immerse themselves in the local community. In fact, community is a big part of the Kodo experience, and the fledgling drummers also travel to other areas to glean infor-mation, stories and techniques in much the same way folk musicians the world over ply their craft. And, since taiko is such a hugely athletic discipline—es-pecially in Kodo’s case—members of the troupe at every level are required to train and maintain their bodies, bal-ancing building strength with rest and reflection.
Like I said, it’s an immersive experience.But it’s one that has proven to garner
results, as Kodo performances are often described using words like “stunning,” “breathtaking” and “extraordinary.” It’s no less than the pursuit of perfection, one drumbeat at a time.
KODO, FROM 20
119 N. Commercial Street, Suite 175
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Doug Hyldahl
Attorneys at Law
Lester & Hyldahl
Live Music Thursdays& Some Saturdays
All music starts at 7:30PM
The Corner Pubis Open!
COLD BEER GREAT FOOD
11-10 Thursday thru Saturday
Open 11-9 Monday thru Wednesday
10-9 Sunday
Always open later if everyone is having a good time!
Unwind Special-(but not exclusive by any means)
drink on your lunch break so come
receipt for 50%off your first drink! Dump Run special-receipt from the Skagit Transfer Station and get a beer and a shot
Weekly events:Monday - Meatloaf Monday Trivia 7PM
Tuesday - Tacos, Tallboys and TequilaWednesday - Bingo Night 4:30PM
Thursday - Knut Bell Live Music 7:30PM
Friday - Steak Night 5PM
TH PM
Jody TaylorLocal country.
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Bellingham Alternative Library
Holy Komodo, Actionesse, Dolphin Farm
Boundary Bay Brewery
Aaron Guest Piano Night Paul Klein
Brown Lantern Ale House
Open Mic
Cabin Tavern Open MicWe Were Heroes, Caparza, War
In The SkyLive Music Stone Jones
Commodore Ballroom RL GrimeDeath From Above 1979,
Metz, PS I Love You
Conway Muse Conway West & The Dovetails El Norte
Corner Pub Knut Bell and the 360s Jody Taylor
Edison Inn Piano Night Troy Fair Band Country Dave & Band
Glow Nightclub DJ J-Will Twisted Thursday Girl Meets Boy DJ Boombox
musicvenues See below for venue addresses and phone numbers
01.21.15 01.22.15 01.23.15 01.24.15 01.25.15 01.26.15 01.27.15WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY
Bellewood Acres | Bobby Lee’s Pub & Eatery | Boundary Bay Brewing Co. Brown Lantern Ale House The Business | Cabin Tavern Chuckanut Brewery
Commodore Ballroom Conway Muse Corner Pub
METZ/Jan. 22/ Commodore Ballroom
AESOP ROCK/Jan. 23/ Wild Buffalo
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musicvenues See below for venue addresses and phone numbers
01.21.15 01.22.15 01.23.15 01.24.15 01.25.15 01.26.15 01.27.15WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY
Green FrogBailey Martinet, Tim
MechlingScott Pemberton Trio
Hot Cotton; Faucet, Symons and Fogg
The Neon Stars Slow Jam (early)Open Mic (early), Guf-
fawingham (late)
Pete Seeger Memorial Jam (early), DJ Yogoman
(late)
H2O DJ Ryan IKnut Bell and the Blue
CollarsKaraoke
Honey Moon Misty Flowers Gallowglass Bilongo Quartet The Shadies
KC's Bar and Grill Karaoke Karaoke
Kulshan Brewing Co. Chuck Dingee The Rusty Cleavers David Guilbault
Main St. Bar and Grill Karaoke Nashville Northwest Maximus
Make.Shift Art SpaceHex Appeal, Paravoux,
more
Old World Deli Live Music
Rockfish Grill Little Joe Argo Andrew Norsworthy
Royal Karaoke Karaoke Karaoke, DJ Karaoke, DJ Partyrock
Rumors Cabaret Leveled Throwback Thursday DJ Postal, DJ Shortwave DJ Mike Tolleson Karaoke w/Zach Treble Tuesday
The Shakedown Hump! Dance PartyI Will Fight With Lions, Cel-
lars and Attics, CadenceMetal DJ Night
Deadly D, Cruel As Kidz, Double B & Laces
Tom Waits NightNerd's Night Out (early),
Aireeoke (late)
Skagit Valley Casino Expertease Expertease
Skylark's Chad Petersen The Sonja Lee BandThe Julianne Thoma
Quartet
Star Club Aireeoke The Reverie Machine Singer Sunday Irish Night Open Mic w/Jan Peters
Swillery Whiskey Bar Karaoke Live Music Music Video Night
Via Cafe and Bistro Karaoke Karaoke Karaoke Karaoke Karaoke
The Village Inn Jam Night Karaoke
Wild Buffalo ’90s Night Aesop Rock, Rob SonicSnug Harbor, Grace Love
and the True TonesOpen Mic w/Chuck D
The Green Frog 1015 N. State St. • www.acoustictavern.com | Edison Inn 5829 Cains Ct., Edison • (360) 766-6266 | The Fairhaven 1114 Harris Ave • 778-3400 | Glow 202 E. Holly St. • 734-3305 | Graham’s Restaurant 9989 Mount Baker Hwy., Glacier • (360) 599-3663 | H20, 314 Commercial Ave., Anacortes • (360) 755-3956 | Honey Moon 1053 N State St. • 734-0728 | KC’s Bar and Grill 108 W. Main St., Everson • (360) 966-8838 | Kulshan Brewery 2238 James St. • 389-5348 | Make.Shift Art Space 306 Flora St. • 389-3569 | Main Street Bar & Grill 2004 Main St., Ferndale • (360) 384-2982 | McKay’s Taphouse 1118 E. Maple St. • (360) 647-3600 | Nooksack River Casino 5048 Mt. Baker Hwy., Deming • (360) 354-7428 | Poppe’s 714 Lakeway Dr. • 671-1011 | Paso Del Norte 758 Peace Portal Dr. Blaine • (360) 332-4045 | The Redlight 1017 N State St. • www.redlightwineandcoffee.com | Rockfish Grill 320 Commercial Ave., Anacortes • (360) 588-1720 | The Royal 208 E. Holly St. • 738-3701 | Rumors Cabaret 1119 Railroad Ave. • 671-1849 | The Shakedown 1212 N. State St. • www.shakedownbellingham.com | Silver Reef Casino 4876 Haxton Way, Ferndale • (360) 383-0777 | Skagit Valley Casino Resort 5984 N. Darrk Lane, Bow • (360) 724-7777 | Skylark’s Hidden Cafe 1300 11th St. • 715-3642 | Star Club 311 E Holly St. • www.starclubbellingham.com | Swillery Whiskey Bar 118 W. Holly St. | Swinomish Casino 12885 Casino Dr., Anacortes • (888) 288-8883 |Temple Bar 306 W. Champion St. • 676-8660 | The Underground 211 E. Chestnut St. • 738-3701 | Underground Coffeehouse Viking Union 3rd Floor, WWU | Via Cafe 7829 Birch Bay Dr., Blaine • (360) 778-2570 | Village Inn Pub 3020 Northwest Ave. • 734-2490 | Vinostrology 120 W. Holly St. • 656-6817 | Wild Buffalo 208 W. Holly St. • www.wildbuffalo.net | To get your live music listings included, send info to clubscascadiaweekly.com. Deadlines are always at 5pm Friday.
PETE SEEGER MEMORIAL JAM/
Jan. 27/Green Frog
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FilmMOVIE REVIEWS › › SHOWTIMES
against you,” says one of the coworkers she visits. “I voted for the bonus.”)
Like many of the Dardennes’ previous films, Two Days, One Night thrusts the viewer into the dilemmas faced by their characters, making their ordeal feel per-sonal: Would you forgo a fat bonus in or-der to save the job of another employee you didn’t know all that well? How much loyalty do we owe to people we work with who aren’t part of our private lives? How far does our responsibility to care for the needy extend? The Dardennes are fascinated by moral and ethical di-lemmas that have no clear-cut answers, no black-and-white rights and wrongs. Sandra’s coworkers need the extra cash as badly as she needs her job. Her face doesn’t register anger whenever she gets turned down. Instead, she emanates dis-appointment, but understanding, too.
The stress begins to take a toll on San-dra, leading her to question everything,
including her marriage. “I can tell we’re going to split up,” she tells her husband. “You pity me but you don’t love me.” Co-tillard, who earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her performance, plays the character as a woman hanging on by the barest of threads, her anxiety grow-ing as the deadline approaches and a new vote will be taken. You worry what she’s capable of doing if things don’t go her way—this is a strong but damaged woman who hasn’t fully recuperated yet—and the long takes and handheld cameras the Dardennes favor amp up the aura of anxiety looming over the film.
Two Days, One Night is the story of a woman in dire straits of a specific na-ture. But her situation, and the reac-tions of those whose help she seeks, is universal. Sooner or later, we all need a helping hand in our lives. But what hap-pens when you need to convince people to extend one?
I n Two Days, One Night, Belgian filmmaking brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne continue to explore their recurring theme of ordinary, working-class people on a quest that takes on larger-than-life dimensions (La Promesse, The Kid with a Bike,
L’Enfant). Marion Cotillard stars as Sandra, a wife and mother recuperating from a bout of depression who learns she’s going to lose her job at a solar panel factory due to downsizing. Her coworkers were given the opportunity to decide whether to keep her on board or receive their annual bonus of 1,000 euros, and they chose the money. When she confronts her boss on a Friday afternoon and begs him not to let her go, he agrees to give her the weekend to visit her fellow employees and persuade them to reconsider their vote on Monday morning.
Thus begins a door-to-door quest by Sandra and her husband, Manu (Fabrizio Rongione), in which she tries to make her case, imploring the other factory work-ers to retract their votes. Two Days, One Night marks the first time the Dardennes
have cast a famous name in a lead role, and Cotillard makes a great fit in with their neo-realistic, no-frills style of sto-rytelling. She conveys Sandra’s mounting desperation and courage in the face of humiliation without histrionics or actorly tics. She’s a woman on the verge of an-other nervous breakdown—she has just dug herself out of a hole only to plunge into a deeper one—but she won’t go down without a fight, even though many of the people she visits don’t have much sympathy for her situation (“I didn’t vote
REVIEWED BY RENE RODRIGUEZ
Two Days, One Night MONEY CHANGES EVERYTHING
,The Dardennes are fascinated by moral and ethical dilemmas that have no clear-cut answers, no black-and-white rights and wrongs Sandra’s coworkers need the extra cash as badly as she needs her job.
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American Sniper: Bradley Cooper, surprisingly good actor (I can’t be the only one who thinks that), nabbed an Oscar nod for his portrayal of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, the deadliest and most effective marksman in U.S. military history. (R • 2 hrs. 12 min.)
Annie: Shocking no one, this movie was nominated for exactly zero Oscars. (PG • 1 hr. 58 min.)
Big Hero 6: I confess that each time an animated adventure is released, my main interest in it can be summed up by a single question: Pixar or not? However, I may have to revise that inquiry to include Disney, as they’ve upped their animation game of late (Frozen, I’m looking at you) and this tale of a boy, his endearing robotic companion and their crime-fighting capabilities will only bolster the House of Mouse.
(PG • 1 hr. 33 min.)
Blackhat: We’ve reached the time of year in which new releases can be described in one of two ways: Oscar contenders or really not Oscar contenders. Guess what category this movie in which Chris Hems-worth plays some kind of genius computer hacker/weapon of mass destruction falls into? (R • 2 hrs. 13 min.)
Boyhood: The Pickford had a feeling when they showed Richard Linklater’s groundbreaking movie, which was filmed over 12 years, that its impact would be felt come awards season. With six Oscar nomina-tions, that feeling has become fact, and if you missed it the first time around, here’s your chance to see it on the big screen. (R • 2 hrs. 43 min.)
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies: Well, the damn Hobbits walked for so damn long and through so many damn movies I no longer care that they finally get to stage a big damn fight in this damn finale. (PG-13 • 2 hrs. 24 min.)
The Imitation Game: Alan Turing cracked an un-breakable Nazi code, built the first working computer, saved countless lives and helped bring about the end of World War II. This movie about Alan Turing received eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Benedict Cumberbatch), Best Supporting Actress (Keira Knightley), and Best Direc-tor (Morton Tyldum). Not on par with stopping a war, but an impressive achievement nonetheless. (PG-13 • 1 hr. 54 min.)
Inherent Vice: A movie starring Joaquin Phoenix and Josh Brolin based on a monster of a totally unfilmable book by Thomas Pynchon? Sounds like a job made for director Paul Thomas Anderson. (R • 2 hrs. 28 min.)
Into the Woods: A few weeks ago, I made a joke
about how Meryl Streep would no doubt be nominated for her 19th Academy Award for her role in this Stephen Sondheim musical, and apparently I joked her Oscar nod into existence. Just another day at the office for our greatest living actress. (PG • 2 hrs. 5 min.)
Mortdecai: Johnny Depp’s ability to morph himself into strangely beautiful characters (Edward Scis-sorhands, Ed Wood, other characters not named Ed) used to be the most compelling thing about him. These days, I’d be far more interested in seeing him play a role in which his acting ability outpaces his makeup and affectations, but it looks like I’m going to have to wait until his next film. Or maybe the one after that. (R • 1 hr. 47 min.)
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb: Sup-posedly, this is the final installment of this particular film franchise. Since it features Robin Williams in one of his final big-screen appearances, that alone makes it worth seeing—although that might be the only thing that does. (PG • 1 hr. 37 min.)
Paddington: Since every other character from every other beloved children’s books gets a film franchise, I guess its Paddington’s turn. The fact that the animation in this bears a striking resemblance to the animatronic beasts found at Chuck E. Cheese is just so much icing on the cake. (PG • 1 hr. 35 min.)
Selma: Somehow, this film went from being the assumed Oscar frontrunner to wholly and thoroughly snubbed by the Academy, which, perhaps coinci-dentally, is comprised almost entirely of rich white men. I’d like to make a statement about the Academy marginalizing a movie about the struggle for Civil Rights, but it’s hard to see clearly through all the irony. (PG-13 • 2 hrs. 8 min.)
Strange Magic: This is described as a “madcap fairytale musical” based on A Midsummer Night’s Dream with animation by Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic and voice work by Alan Cumming, Maya Rudolph, and more. It seems to have a lot of things going for it, yet I still have my doubts. (PG • 1 hr. 39 min.)
Taken 3: I’m pretty sure I have a handle on this Liam Neeson film franchise. First, they kidnapped his wife. Or maybe his daughter. Or possibly both. Liam gets mad. Punches wolves (that might be a different movie, come to think of it). Presumably, this third part has something to do with all that. And possibly more wolf-punchery. But maybe not. (PG-13 • 1 hr. 49 min.)
The Boy Next Door: This film stars Jennifer Lopez as Teacher and some other dude as Hot for Teacher. Steamy love scenes ensue before the stalking starts and things get creepy. Since this flick bears a strik-
ing resemblance to all my favorite Lifetime movies, I’m having a hard time judging it objectively, but that fact that I just likened it to a Lifetime movie is probably all the info you need to know. (R • 1 hr. 31 min.)
The Theory of Everything: Stephen Hawking is the Smartest Man Alive, a feat made all the more amazing by the fact that he’s done the bulk of his big, universe-changing thinking while also battling ALS. But before all that, he was a college kid with a giant brain, a mysterious medical condition only beginning to manifest and a love interest that would be tested by both his limitless intellect and limited body.
(Unrated • 2 hrs. 3 min.)
Unbroken: Cinematographer Roger Deakins, who is responsible for the most beautiful movies you have ever seen (The Assassination of Jesse James, No Country for Old Men, The Shawshank Redemption), has been nominated for 12 Oscars during his lifetime, but has never won one. I’m not saying this is the travesty of our time, but this is the travesty of our time. (PG-13 • 2 hrs. 17 min.)
The Wedding Ringer: Kevin Hart stars in a comedy with a premise so thin—he’s a best man for hire—it can only be rendered funny by the presence of Kevin Hart. Or not. (R • 1 hr. 41 min.)
Whiplash: All I want in life is for J.K. Simmons to win an Oscar, not only for his excellent work in this film, but for a lifetime of excellent work, including his turn as Dr. Emil Skoda on Law & Order. (R • 1 hr. 46 min.)
Wild: Apparently, the Academy listened to me with regard to my threat concerning Reese Witherspoon’s Oscar nomination. I guess they’re not all bad, all the time. (R • 1 hr. 55 min.)
BY CAREY ROSS
FILM SHORTS
film ›› showing this week
Showtimes Regal and AMC theaters, please see
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Pickford Film Center and PFC’s Limelight Cinema, please see
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Expertease 80’s, 90’s & Current Top 40 Rock
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Seahawks vs. PatriotsGAME TIME SPECIALS
Specials available in the lounge and at the bar top during the BIG Game!
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PICKFORD FILM CENTER: 1318 Bay St. | 360.738.0735 | www.pickfordfilmcenter.org
Box Office is Open 30 Minutes Prior to F irst Showtime
LIMELIGHT CINEMA: 1416 Cornwall | Happy Hour: 4-6, M-F $3.50 Beer/$4.50 Wine
Parenthesis () Denote Bargain Pricing | *Open Captioned Screening
NOW SHOWING
January23 - 29
WHIPLASH (R) 107m -
Oscar nominee for Best Picture!
“One of those scorching films that burns
through emotions, uses up actors, wrings out
audiences. And the jazz has its own moments
of brutal, breathtaking fusion.” LA Times
Fri: (3:00), 5:30; Sat: (3:00), 5:30
Sun: (2:20), 5:00, 7:35
Mon - Thu: (4:00), 6:30, 9:00
SUNDANCE SHORTS (NR) 94m
Eight short films from the 2014 Festival
Fri: 8:00; Sat: (12:40), 8:00; Sun: (Noon)
NOW SHOWING January 23 - 29
THE IMITATION GAME (PG-13) 114m
Oscar Nominee - Best Picture!
“Directed with chess-match ingenuity, anchored
by yet another hypnotically complex Cumberbatch
performance.” Entertainment Weekly
Fri: (1:00), (3:45), 6:30, 9:10
Sat: (1:00), 3:45, 6:30, 9:10
Sun: (12:15), (3:00), 5:45, 8:30
Mon: (3:45), 6:30, 9:10; Tue: (3:45*), 6:30, 9:10
Wed: (3:30), 6:15; Thu: (3:30), 6:15, 9:10
BOYHOOD (NR) 180m Oscar Nominee - Best Picture!
“The greatest movies, the ones that stick with us, are
those that hold up a mirror to the human condition and
reflect something back at us that we too often manage
to overlook. Boyhood is one of those movies, and with
it Linklater proves he is among the best practitioners of
that art.” New Orleans Times-Picayune
Fri - Tue: 5:30; Wed - Thu: (3:00)
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING (PG-13)
“Eddie Redmayne’s transformation into Stephen Hawking
is something remarkable.” San Francisco Chronicle
Fri - Sat: (2:40), 9:00; Sun: (2:40)
Mon - Tue: (2:40), 9:00; Wed- Thu: 9:00
OF MICE AND MEN (NATIONAL THEATRE)
Starring Chris O’Dowd and James Franco
Sun: 11:00AM
LENI RIEFENSTAHL’S OLYMPIA 239m
Western Reads + Whatcom Reads PresentsThe first documentary of the Olympics, covering the
1938 games. Free admission!
Wed: Part one: 6:30, Part two: 9:30
SHE’S BEAUTIFUL WHEN SHE’S ANGRY
WWU Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies present
this story of the outrageous and brilliant women who
founded the modern women’s movement.
Thu: 6:30
The plastic container is emblematic of a society that has become accustomed to the replaceable object. If a possession breaks, another can be found quickly and cheaply. If we left bags in the car, every vendor has one to proffer. Yet if there were no plastic bags or new containers, wouldn’t we have to remember to bring our own? To develop another habit like carrying keys or brushing teeth?
In a backlash against plastic culture, the last couple decades have shown growing interest in living small and arti-san goods. But a greater attentiveness to changing our daily practices is needed.
I am still working to unlearn the care-lessness of my childhood, to treat things kindly, place them back in place, keep them in good condition. I still throw more away than is necessary. But I do try to bring a backpack, a water bottle, a mug, and my own containers.
I ask that as a community we work harder to understand the origins of our possessions and take responsibility for ourselves, eating and drinking animals that we are. Show some love for this big life-covered rock we’re flying around on and be prepared!
—Celeste Monke, Everson
POLLUTERS SHOULD PAYMy faith community believes in au-
thentic development, which offers a direction for progress that respects human dignity and the limits of mate-rial growth.
Humans are causing climate change, but the impacts are not felt equally across our planet; some nations and even areas of our state are experienc-ing more adverse effects than others.
Industry, the single biggest carbon emitter, pays little for their pollution, but makes the biggest profit. This isn’t fair.
Gov. Inslee wants Washington to lead in lowering carbon emission, making pol-luters pay, with a cap-and-trade plan. More than 100 industry polluters togeth-er would pay $1 billion per year, to be in-vested in education ($380M), transporta-tion ($400M), tax rebates for low income ($100M), as well as affordable housing, manufacturing and forestry.
A self-described “climate agnostic,” Doug Ericksen is courted by big oil lob-byists. Ericksen will try to stop the cap-and-trade bill. He cites the uncertain impacts for the economy. But a study completed in September by the state’s Office of Fiscal Management shows there would be very little impact to the economy from the Governors plan. More importantly, it’s too expensive not to. We are the ones that will pay—with ocean acidification, less water for agri-culture from droughts, poor health, and
flood and fire damage. Since 1990 fire damage costs have gone from $4.5M to $140M per year.
Polluters should pay!—Nancy Orlowski, Bellingham
THE REWARDS OF CAPITALIn a recent letter, a writer denigrated
a store for being driven by economics. I certainly would hope so! Look at the clothing you are wearing, the furniture you are using, the books you read, the food you consume. How long do you think those things would be available if no one could make money producing them? Could you make all those things for yourself, or is it simpler to trade some of your money for them?
Countries have tried outlawing profit. The result was famine and social destruc-tion. People were not motivated to work and produce, since they could not keep the rewards.
A study at Yale University and the Brookings Institution indicates that in just 30 years—1981 to 2011—the world’s population living below the extreme poverty line decreased from 52 percent to 15 percent. The study points to the rise of globalization and capitalism as the main drivers of the decline in poverty, noting that coun-tries that have displayed the greatest success have been most engaged with the global economy.
History shows that as trade increases, poverty decreases. The growth of inter-national trade over the last 30 years has caused a revolution in living standards for hundreds of millions of people around the world.
—Joan Dow, Bellingham
ASSAULT ON CIVILIZATIONPhotos of more than three million
French and world leaders marching in support of freedom of expression had the glaring absence of any high-level U.S. official in attendance.
Winston Churchill (whose bust was summarily removed from the Obama White House and sent back to England in 2009) once said, “One cannot rise to be in many ways the leading community in the civilized world without being in-volved in its problems, without being convulsed by its agonies and inspired by its causes.”
The assault upon Western civilization, the United States in particular, is not simply about wresting power away, but is rooted in a potent and dangerous belief that both Western civilization and the United States deserve to fall.
The very success of the liberal-dem-ocratic model is the bull’s eye of their target. One is left to wonder if this ni-hilistic viewpoint also happens to be the viewpoint of the current administration.
—Robert A. Sherry, M.D., Bellingham
LETTERS, FROM PAGE 5
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200 MIND & BODY
200 MIND & BODY
200 MIND & BODY
200 MIND & BODY
bulletinboard
“Take Control of Your Im-mune Health” will be the focus of a workshop with nutritionist Jim Ehmke from 6:30-8:30pm Wednesday, January 21 at the Cordata Community Food Co-op, 315 Westerly Rd. Entry is $5. More info: 734-8158 or www.communityfood.coop
“Craniosacral Therapy” will be the focus of a free pre-sentation with Jean Chris-tensen, LMP, at 6:30pm Wednesday, January 21 at the Skagit Valley Food Co-op, 202 S. First St. She’ll discuss how the cranial bones and the sacrum move in relation to one another and why dysfunction n this system and surrounding structures can have pro-found effects throughout the body. Please register in advance. More info: www.skagitfoodcoop.com
Skagit Regional Health will host a health lecture focusing on “Obesity and Overweight: Is Medical Help Available?” from 6-7:30pm Thursday, January 22 at Mount Vernon’s Skagit Valley Hospital. Lec-tures are free, but preregis-tration is required. More info: www.skagitregionalhealth.org/events
Meet a group of intuitive read-ers specializing in astrology, past-life explorations and tar-ot at an “Oracle Day” gather-ing from 11am-5pm Saturday, January 24 in Sedro-Wooley at the Center for Holistic Well-ness, 609 Murdock St. Cost is $10-$20 for each 15-minute session. More info; www.sedrowoolleyholisticwellness.wordpress.com
“What to do About Colds and Flu” will be the focus of a workshop with naturo-
pathic physician Dr. Alethea Fleming at 6:30pm Monday, January 26 at Mount Ver-non’s Skagit Valley Food Co-op, 202 S. First St. The free class will give an infor-mative, practical, and inter-esting look at what you need to know about preventing and treating colds and flu. Register in advance. More info: www.skagitfoodcoop.com
Leigh Mcdiarmid will focus on “Self-Hypnosis for the New Year” at a workshop from 6:30-8pm Monday, January 26 at the Communi-ty Food Co-op, 1220 N. For-est St. At the class, you’ll learn relaxing and effective techniques that will help you achieve goals that have been on the back burner for too long. Entry is $5. More info: 734-8158 or www.com-munityfood.coop
Sign up in advance for a free “Intro to Rolfing” class happening from 6-7:30pm Thursday, January 29 at Rolfing Works, 1110 Lar-rabee Ave., suite 204. For those not in the know, Rolf-ing can improve posture, ease sore muscles, increase range of motion and more. More info: 671-0546 or www.rolfingworks.com
Marianne Shapiro leads a “Hardwiring Happiness” class at 6:30pm Thursday, January 29 at Mount Ver-non’s Skagit Valley Food Co-op, 202 S. First St. The talk will focus on ideas from psychologist and Buddhist teacher Rick Hanson’s book, <i>Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm and Confidence</i>. Register in advance for the free event. More info: www.skagit-foodcoop.com
A Winter Wellness Fair takes place from 10am-4pm Saturday, January 31 at Unity Bellingham, 1095 Telegraph Rd. The event will feature spiritual and psychic readings, chair massages, flower essences, energy healing, essential oils, gemstones and free lectures on cutting-edge
health alternatives. Entry is $5. More info: www.unity-bellingham.org
Co-Dependents Anonymous meets from 7-8:30pm most Mondays at PeaceHealth St. Joseph’s Community Health Education Center, 3333 Squalicum Pkwy, con-ference room B.. Entry is by donation. More info: (360) 676-8588
A Grief Support Group meets at 7pm every Tuesday at the St. Luke’s Community Health Education Center. 3333 Squalicum Pkwy. The free, drop-in support group is for those experiencing the recent death of a friend or loved one. More info: 733-5877
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rearEnd ›› “Freestylin’”—no theme, but big words everywhere.
Across1 Cartoon father of
octuplets4 Ironic nickname
for a hairy guy10 Taj Mahal’s set-
ting14 Slides, handouts,
etc. for a speak-er’s audience
16 Street ___ (rep)17 Aquarium fish18 Mecca trekker19 “Huuuuuuuh?!”20 Little toy, for
instance?21 Head honcho24 Baseball and
football star Sanders
25 London music producer Yoad ___ (reverses to something in the kitchen)
26 “Uncle!”28 Art lovers30 Shield behind a
wheel32 1994 hit off
Live’s album “Throwing Cop-per”
33 Is uncertain to, in a fancy tone
34 With “The,” 2012 Jessica Biel thriller
35 “Community” actress ___ Nicole Brown
36 Share a facility37 “Cold as Ice” and
“Hot Blooded” group
39 Appeases, as hunger
40 Having a pH below 7
41 Heart link43 Simple pretzel
shapes44 It folds in a
chair45 Place for Decem-
ber purchases47 Some small busi-
nesses, for short49 “Let me at ‘em!”53 Big earthenware
jar54 1988 Bruce
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55 “No can do, Dostoyevsky”
56 “The Two ___” (Martha Finley children’s book)
57 Weightlifter’s abbr.
Down1 Mag that cov-
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2 Key lime, e.g.3 Org. that’s hosted
Errol Flynn, Wayne Newton and Ste-phen Colbert
4 ___ salts5 Follow up on ___6 Image created
before drinking?7 Got the carpet all
gross8 Potatoes named
for their state9 Must-have10 “Oh!” in Osna-
bruck11 Tiny red salad
item12 How you feel
after a much-needed rest
13 Quality of some body tissues
15 Like some GPAs21 He’s often seen
up late22 In an ambiguous
way23 Light and dark
ice cream flavor25 Star of “Gimme a
Break!”27 All together,
musically29 Religious circles?31 Rare blood type34 Carla’s surname
on “Cheers”36 Total assort-
ment?38 “Is this ___?”
42 French lane46 Lord ___
Baratheon (“Game of Thrones” char-acter) (anagram of ROSY)
48 Posed for pics50 Company that
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51 Dollop52 NFL gains
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BY ROB BREZSNY
FREEWILL ASTROLOGYARIES (March 21-April 19): Is there a patron saint of advertising or a goddess of marketing or a power animal that rules publicity and promotion? If so, I’m going to find out, then pray to them in your behalf. It’s high time for your underappreciated talents and unsung accomplishments to receive more attention. And I am convinced that the astrological moment is ripe for just such a development. Help me out here, Aries. What can you do to get your message out better? What tricks do you have for attracting the interest of those who don’t know yet about your wonders? Polish up your self-presentation, please.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): During his 67 years of life, Taurus-born Leonardo da Vinci achieved excellence in 12 different fields, from painting to engineering to anatomy. Today he is regarded as among the most brilliant humans who ever lived. “His genius was so rare and universal that it can be said that nature worked a miracle on his behalf,” said one observer. “He towered above all other artists through the strength and the nobility of his talents,” said another. Yet on his death bed, Leonardo confessed, “I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have.” Typical for a Taurus, he underestimated himself! It’s very important that you not do the same, especially in the coming weeks. The time has come for you to give yourself more of the credit and respect you deserve.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Where you have been and what you have done will be of little importance in the coming weeks. Both your mistakes and your triumphs will be irrelevant. In my estimation, you have a sacred duty to spy on the future and recon-noiter the pleasures and challenges that lie ahead. So I suggest you head off toward the frontier with an innocent gleam in your eye and a cheerful hunger for interesting surprises. How’s your Wildness Quotient? If it’s in a slump, pump it up.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Will you ever find that treasured memento you misplaced? Is there any chance of reviving a dream you abandoned? You are in a phase when these events are more likely than usual to happen. The same is true about an opportu-nity that you frittered away or a missing link that you almost tracked down but ultimately failed to secure. If you will ever have any hope of getting another shot at those lost joys, it would be in the coming weeks. For best results, purge the regret and remorse you still feel about the mistakes you think you made once upon a time.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In the early 1300s, the people of the Mexica tribe had no homeland. They had wandered for centuries through the northern parts of what we now call Mesoamerica. According to legend, that changed in 1323, when their priests received a vision of an eagle eating a snake while perched at the top of a prickly pear cactus. They declared that this was the location of the tribe’s future power spot. Two years later, the prophecy was fulfilled. On an island in the middle of a lake, scouts spied the eagle, snake and cactus. And that was where the tribe built the town of Tenochtitlan, which ultimately became the center of an empire. Today that place is called Mexico City. Have you had an equivalent vision, Leo? If you haven’t yet, I bet you will soon. Go in search of it. Be alert.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): By the end of the 16th century, nutmeg was in high demand throughout Europe. It was valued as a spice, medicine and preser-vative. There was only one place in the world where it grew: on the Indonesian island of Run. The proto-capitalists of the Dutch East India Company gained
dominion over Run, and enslaved the local population to work on plantations. They fully controlled the global sale of nutmeg, which allowed them to charge exorbitant prices. But ultimately their monopoly collapsed. Here’s one reason why: Pigeons ate nutmeg seeds on Run, then flew to other islands and pooped them out, enabling plants to grow outside of Dutch jurisdiction. I see this story as an apt metaphor for you in the coming months, Virgo. What’s your equivalent of the pigeons? Can you find unlikely allies to help you evade the controlling force that’s limiting your options?
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Have you triggered any brilliant breakthroughs lately? Have you made any cathartic departures from the way things have always been done? Have you thought so far outside the box that you can’t even see the box any more? Probably not. The last few weeks have been a time of retrench-ment and stabilization for you. But I bet you will start going creatively crazy very soon—and I mean that in the best sense. To ensure maximum health and well-being, you simply must authorize your imagina-tion to leap and whirl and dazzle.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The cassava plant produces a starchy root that’s used as food by a half bil-lion people all over the planet. No one can simply cook it up and eat it, though. In its raw state, it contains the poisonous chemical cyanide, which must be removed by careful preparation. An essential first step is to soak it in water for at least 18 hours. I see this process as a metaphor for the work you have ahead of you, Scorpio. A new source of psychological and spiritual sustenance will soon be available, but you will have to purge its toxins before you can use and enjoy it.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Italian composer Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) didn’t like to work hard, and yet he was also prolific. In fact, his desire to avoid strenuous exertion was an important factor in his abundant output. He got things done fast. His most famous opera, The Barber of Seville, took him just 13 days to finish. Another trick he relied on to reduce his workload was plagiarizing him-self. He sometimes recycled passages from his earlier works for use in new compositions. Feeling good was another key element in his approach to discipline. If given a choice, he would tap into his creative energy while lounging in bed or hanging out with his bud-dies. In the coming weeks, Sagittarius, I recommend you consider strategies like his.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Each hour of every day, the sun offers us more energy than oil, gas and coal can provide in an entire year. Sadly, much of our star’s generous gift goes to waste. Our civilization isn’t set up to take advantage of the bounty. Is there a comparable dynamic in your personal life, Capricorn? Are you missing out on a flow of raw power and bless-ings simply because you are ignorant of it or haven’t made the necessary arrangements to gather it? If so, now would be an excellent time to change your ways.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): According to my analysis of the long-term astrological omens, 2015 is the year you can get totally serious about doing what you were born to do. You will be given the chance to slough off all that’s fake and irrelevant and delusory. You will be invited to fully embrace the central purpose of your destiny. If you’re interested in taking up that challenge, I suggest you adopt Oscar Wilde’s motto: “Nothing is serious except passion.” Your primary duty is to associate primarily with people and places and situations that feed your deepest longings.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “Give up all hope for a better past,” writes Emily Fragos in her poem “Art Brut.” That’s generally sound advice. But I think you may be able to find an exception to its truth in the coming weeks. As you work to forgive those who have trespassed against you, and as you revise your interpretations of bygone events, and as you untie knots that have weighed you down and slowed you up for a long time, you just may be able to create a better past. Dare to believe that you can transform the shape and feel of your memories.
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BY AMY ALKON
THE ADVICE GODDESSURNING CURVEMy boyfriend of eight months was with his ex for almost five years. Unfortunately, she passed two years ago. I have sympathy for him, but occasionally he’ll call me by her name, and it’s really upsetting. I feel like she’s haunting his brain, and I don’t know how to do an exorcism. How do I take my rightful place in his life?
—Can’t Compete
If you’re putting on some skimpy somethings to get your boyfriend in the right mindset in bed, ideally, they aren’t three strategically locat-ed “Hello, My Name Is…” stickers.
It’s understandable that you’re feel-ing bad, but his detours into Wrong-nameville probably don’t mean what you suspect they do. Using the wrong name is what memory researchers call a “retrieval error,” describing how an attempt to get some specific item from memory can cause multiple items in the same category to pop up. Ba-sically, your brain sends an elf back into the stacks to get the name to call someone, and he just grabs the first name he spots that’s associated with “girlfriend” and girlfriend-type situ-ations. (Lazy little twerp.) This sort of cognitive error—following a well-worn path (five years of grabbing the late ex’s name)—is more likely when a person is tired or preoccupied. In other words, your boyfriend’s name-swapping may be a sign that he needs to stop multitasking; it doesn’t neces-sarily mean he’s been taping a cutout of her face over yours in his mind.
There is a solution, and no, it doesn’t involve inventing a time ma-chine so he can go back 20 years and get in the habit of calling all women “babe.” It turns out that a person can get better at retrieving the right name with practice. Cognitive psychologist Gordon Bower explained in Scientific American that the one making the error needs to consistently correct themselves or be corrected and then repeat the right name a few times. It would be best if you correct him teas-ingly, and perhaps incorporate visual aids like homemade flashcards—ide-ally of you in various states of undress with your name on them.
Assuming he isn’t trudging around in all black like a Fellini film widow or putting the ex’s urn between you two
in bed, it might help to consider how he is when he’s with you: Engaged? Loving? Present? If so, do your best to focus on this—lest you be tempted to go low-blow and tit for tat and start screaming out dead men’s names in bed: “Ooh, Copernicus…Oh, my God, Cicero…I mean, take me, Archimedes!”
DEMOTION SICKNESS My boyfriend just broke up with me but wants to “stay friends” and keep hanging out on those terms. (He says, “My life is much better with you in it.”) I’d like to be friends eventually, but I told him that it’s just too painful and confusing to see him now. He says I’m being dramatic and unreasonable and keeps calling.
—Broken
This guy’s notion of how a breakup should work is like telling an employ-ee, “Hey, you’re fired, but please feel free to come in a few times a week and do some light janitorial work.”
A breakup is supposed to be an end-ing, not a “let’s continue as if very little has changed, and I’ll pretend not to notice those big wet mascara stripes down your cheeks.” Research by clinical psychologist David Sbarra con-firmed what most of us already know about getting dumped—that contact with your former partner while you’re trying to recover jacks up feelings of love and sadness, setting back your healing. You need time and distance to process and accept the change in your relationship; you can’t just send a memo to your emotions, ordering them to recategorize the guy: “Cut the love. From now on, respond to him like he’s a brick or maybe a lamp.”
It’s wonderful to have a man who in-sists on standing by you, but not be-cause it’s better for him than respect-ing your need to go away and lick your wounds. This is not friend behavior. If, despite that, you want him in your life down the road, inform him that for now, you’ve made a “no contact” rule—last-ing until you feel ready to see him on different terms. When he (inevitably) tries to break it, politely reiterate it and end the conversation. The sooner he’s out of your daily life the sooner you’ll be open to a new man—dreamy as it would be to spend lazy afternoons at your ex’s place writing him letters of recommen-dation for prospective girlfriends and Photoshopping your arm out of pictures so he can post them on Tinder.
©201, Amy Alkon, all rights reserved. Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, #280, Santa Monica, CA 90405, or e-mail [email protected] (advicegoddess.com).
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4 chowRECIPES REVIEWS PROFILES
N ope, Erin Baker didn’t change her name to fit her profession. As the driving force behind Erin Baker’s Wholesome Baked Goods—a
Bellingham-based company that was created two decades ago and has continued to grow by leaps and bounds in the years since—it’s purely serendipi-tous that the “cookie lady” has always had a yen to create things in the kitchen.
“I started baking and selling cookies at 9 years old, and I loved it so much that I made it my life’s work—and yes, my last name really is ‘Baker,’” reads a missive on the company’s website. “It all began in 1994 when I rented the 4-H kitchen at the Whidbey Island Fairgrounds to bake my way to a better life. Inspired by my mom’s healthy baking and armed with a KitchenAid mixer, I created a revolution-ary new way to serve breakfast—the Breakfast Cookie was born!”
A quick look at the evolution of Baker’s career shows that she never deviated from her original plan to make all-natural, healthy and tasty breakfasts items (or snacks) for people on the go. In fact, since securing her first accounts in 1994, many of the changes she’s made have had to do with making sure more people had access to her wholesome baked goods—which to this day continue to be made from simple staple ingredients such as oats, fruit and honey.
From the initial operations at the aforementioned 4-H kitchen, Baker’s busy business has expanded in a big way. In addition to moving to occupy a 16,000-square-foot space on Ohio Street, the past 20 years have seen changes in the name (going from Baker’s Breakfast Cookies to Erin Baker’s Wholesome Baked Goods), countrywide sales, celebrity shout-outs, and increased popularity and alliances with athletes (including hosting the last Olympic qualifying triathlon before the 2004 summer Olympics in Athens, a “Fuel the Ride” partnership that provides free breakfast to kids in the Winter Ride Program at the Mt. Baker Ski Area, and Erin Baker’s Triathlon Team).
That’s not all. A recent press release not-ed that Baker’s “Help Feed 1 Million Kids Program,” which started in 2010, has seen more than 230,000 breakfast cookies do-nated to kids at Boys & Girls Clubs across Washington state, as well as at Bellingham’s Home Port Learning Center.
“Being able to feed kids is near and dear to my heart, and I’m excited to see how the program will grow in the next few years,” Baker says.
Whether you’ve been a fan of Baker’s con-coctions since the early days, when she sold
her Jeep to afford her first commercial-sized oven, or have recently discov-ered the cookies, home-style granola, brownies and other assorted baked goods she and her em-ployees work to produce, you’re welcome to join a 20th anniversary celebra-tion happening Wed., Jan. 28 at the company’s retail headquarters.
If you go, you’ll be in good company. In addi-tion to visits with Baker and her staff, Mayor Kelli Linville will be on hand for an anniversary ribbon cutting, and other local
companies such as Bellingham Bay Coffee Roasters and Kombucha Town will be join-ing the party to give away samples of their own products.
While you’re there, feel free to ask Baker about what drives her to continue to pro-duce her deliciously healthy baked goods and contribute in a positive way to her community.
“Simple, wholesome baking principles in-spired me when I was a little girl,” she says. “They still make perfect sense now that I am grown up: bake with purpose, bake fresh to order, bake with healthy and wholesome ingredients. It’s that simple.”
EATWHAT: Erin Baker’s Whole-some Baked Goods 20th Anniversary CelebrationWHEN: 12-3pm Wed., Jan. 28WHERE: 427 Ohio St. INFO: www.erinbakers.com
WED., JAN. 21SE ASIAN STREET FOOD: Guest chef Roberto Cortez will focus on “SE Asian Street Food” at a course at 6:30pm at Ciao Thyme, 207 Unity St. The dishes will focus on menu items he tasted during a recent three-week stay in Singapore. Entry is $68.
WWW.CIAOTHYME.COM
THURS., JAN. 22ONE-POT MEALS: Lisa Samuel will focus on “Winter One-Pot Meals” at a cooking course from 6-8:30pm at the Cordata Community Food Co-op, 315 Westerly Rd. Entry is $35, with a $7 wine option.
383-3200
INCOGNITO: Get surprised by the seasonal menu items at the monthly multi-course dinner party known as “Incognito” at 6pm at Ciao Thyme, 207 Unity St. Entry is $68, and advance reservations are strongly recommended.
WWW.CIAOTHYME.COM
FRI., JAN. 23SERVICE AND SPAGHETTI: Enjoy a spaghetti dinner and a performance by the Bellingham Youth Jazz Band at a “Season of Service” Celebration starting at 5:30pm at the Bellingham Senior Activity Center, 315 Halleck St. Entry is $12.
733-4030 OR WWW.WCCOA.ORG
PIE CLASS: In celebration of National Pie Day, Alice Clark of Alice’s Pies will sell pies throughout the day and host a Pie Class at 7pm at the Book Fare Cafe at Village Books, 1200 11th St. Entry is $10 and includes Clark’s pie pastry “secret,” a pie recipe and a round of dough to take home (so you can make your own fabulous pie). Please sign up in advance.
WWW.ALICESPIES.COM
SAT., JAN. 24PRINCESS BREAKFAST: Help raise dough for the Squalicum High School Concert Choir at a “Princess Breakfast” fundraiser from 8-10am at Bellingham’s Applebee’s, 1069 E. Sunset Dr. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance at Village Books.
(360) 756-2175
PANCAKE BREAKFAST: Attend a Pancake Breakfast from 8-11am at Ferndale’s American Legion, 5537 2nd Ave. The event is held on the fourth Saturday of every month (except in July and December).
384-7474
COMMUNITY MEAL: Ravioli, mixed veg-gies, green salad, bread and cake will be on the menu at the bimonthly Community Meal from 10am-12pm at the United Church of Ferndale, 2034 Washington St. Entry is free and open to all.
384-1422
FOOD FORESTS: “Demystifying Food Forests” will be the focus of a workshop with sustainable landscape designer Zsofia Pasztor at 11am in Mount Vernon at Christianson’s Nursery, 15806 Best Rd. She’ll focus on how to transform a landscape into a beautiful and productive layered perennial food system for increased abundance and food security. Entry is $8.
WWW.CHRISTIANSONSNURSERY.COM
SUN., JAN. 25SUNDAY BRUNCH: All are welcome at a
doit
BY AMY KEPFERLE
Twenty Years and Counting THE EVOLUTION OF THE COOKIE LADY
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Sunday Brunch from 10am-1pm at the La Con-ner Retirement Inn, 204 N. 1st St. Suggested donation is $7; a portion of the proceeds will be donated to local charities.
WWW.LACONNERRETIREMENTINN.COM
COMMUNITY SEED SWAP: “Growing Seeds of Nourishment & Medicine”will be the theme of the seventh annual Community Seed Swap & Fundrais-er from 2:30-5pm at the Majestic, 1027 N. Forest St. The event is geared towards seed-savers and people donating heirloom seeds, or edible tubers or seed-potatoes (please label envelopes with the plant strain and date), as well as seedless visitors who commit to plant seeds, share their garden’s abundance and learn about the seed-saving process. This is a pure “Safe Seed” (and GMO-free) event. Entry is by donation.
WWW.TRANSITIONWHATCOM.NING.COM
FOOD NOT BOMBS: Get a free nutritious, vegan meal when Food Not Bombs serves up fare starting at 4pm every Sunday on the corner of Cornwall Avenue and Magnolia Street.
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BELLINGHAMFNB
TUES., JAN. 27MAPLE ALLEY INN: Hot, home-cooked meals are served as part of the Opportunity Council’s Maple Alley Inn from 9:30-10:30am Tuesdays at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (2117 Walnut St.) and 11:30am-1:30pm Wednesdays and Thursdays at Faith Lutheran Church (2750 McLeod Rd.).
WWW.OPPCO.ORG
PIEROGI PARTY: Learn how to make Polish dumplings at a “Pierogi Party” at 4pm in Ana-cortes at Potluck Kitchen Studio, 910-A 11th St. Entry is $50 and includes recipes, instruction and a light appetizer, green salad, roasted vegetables and wine pairing.
WWW.POTLUCKKITCHENSTUDIO.COM
AYURVEDIC CUISINE: Balabhadra will focus on “Ayurvedic Cuisine” at a course from 6:30-9pm at the Community Food Co-op, 1220 N. Forest St. Guest Juliet Jivanti of Bellingham’s Ayurvedic Health Center will talk about khichari in rela-tion to Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science of health. Entry is $35.
383-3200
BITE OF BALI: Nourish’s Lisa Samuel will helm a “Bite of Bali” course at 6:30pm at Ciao Thyme, 207 Unity St. The menu items will feature recipes Samuel picked up on her recent travels to the island. Entry is $58.
WWW.CIAOTHYME.COM
JAN. 27-28WINTER FISH: Learn to prepare Alaskan true cod and petrale sole using various techniques at “Winter Fish” courses with Chef Robert Fong from 6-8:30pm Tuesday at the Cordata Community Food Co-op and 6:30-9pm Wednesday at the downtown Community Food Co-op. Entry is $45, with a $7 wine option payable at class.
383-3200
THURS., JAN. 29FLIGHTS & BITES: “Air France,” a flight of wines paired with complementary bites, will be part of a “Flights & Bites” event from 5-7pm at Whatcom Museum’s Syre Education Center, 201 Prospect St. As part of the bird exhibit that is currently open, the 21-and-over event will also feature a bird scavenger hunt. Entry is $5 for members, $10 otherwise.
WWW.WHATCOMMUSEUM.ORG
HEALTHY EATING: Whole Life Nutrition’s Alissa Segerston focuses on “Health, Hearty, Super-Deli-cious” menu items from 6-8:30pm at the Cordata Community Food Co-op, 315 Westerly Rd. Learn to make roasted chicken with root vegetables, vegetable lentil soup, sautéed winter greens with garlic, homemade bone broth, lacto-fermented peppered carrots, and more. Entry is $39.
383-3200
ANNIVERSARY DINNER: Attend a Second An-niversary Dinner at 6pm in Anacortes at Potluck Kitchen Studio, 910-A 11th St. Entry to the Hawaiian-themed four-course dinner and demo is $75, and includes two wine pairings.
WWW.POTLUCKKITCHENSTUDIO.COM
RIEDEL WINE TASTING: Riedel representative MariBeth Baumberger will lead attendees through a tasting of amazing wines from Vehrs Distribu-tors at a “Riedel Wine Tasting” event at 6:30pm at Ciao Thyme, 207 Unity St. Entry is $78 and includes light appetizers.
WWW.CIAOTHYME.COM
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FRESH LOCAL PRODUCE • FINE LOCAL CRAFTS • READY TO EAT FOOD
BELLINGHAM FARMERS MARKET PROUDLY ACCEPTS FOOD STAMPS WIC/SNAP ACCEPTED
SHOP ALL WINTER!
• HAPPY NEW YEAR •
Celebrate National Pie Day by signing up for a “Pie Class” with Alice’s Pies Alice Clark Fri., Jan. 23 at the Book Fare Cafe inside Village Books.
CW
SKAGIT VALLEY CASINOSKAGIT VALLEY CASINOSKAGIT VALLEY CASINO
Casino opens at 9 am daily. Must be 21 or older with valid ID. *Must be a Rewards Club Member. Visit Rewards Club Center for details. Management reserves all rights.
Get Some Play Time!
Keep Your Points For Cash-Back… Use Your Player-Bucks For All The Rest!
ts For Cash-Back… -Bucks For All The Rest!
Use Your Skagit Player-Bucks For:
Gaming Offers
Playing your favorite slots earns you Cash-Back Points PLUS Skagit Player-Bucks!
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NOW – JANUARY 30 AND FEBRUARY 6, 20 & 27
*
1st Place – $300 plus a spot in TOURNEVENT OF CHAMPIONS
$1,000,000 TOURNEVENT OF CHAMPIONS in Las Vegas!
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ENTER AT REWARDS CLUB CENTER