Wednesday, February 21, 2024
What’s Inside.... C6 — From Hornets to Bells: A look back at local legend Jim Clem’s baseball career C9 — Ferndale alumni Pete & Nita Harksell keep things rolling at Pete’s Auto Repair C10 — Le parfum de Paris, a (somewhat) French love story
A supplement of the Lynden Tribune and Ferndale Record
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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, February 21, 2024 | Ferndale Record
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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, February 21, 2024 | Ferndale Record
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Older adults living a full life on their terms By Jen Lautenbach For the Tribune
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enior Center, Activity Center, Enrichment Center, Active Adult Centre (must be Canadian), Community Connection, Senior Services, Senior Zone. There are lots of names for what we do at the Lynden Community/Senior Center. But the purpose is all the same. Keeping older adults engaged in living a full life on their terms. We do this through nutrition programs, health and wellness programs and activities, becoming information and resource centers, also providing a welcoming place to just hang out. If you haven’t stopped by the Lynden Community/Senior Center, 401 Grover St., please come on by. Membership is not required, but much appreciated. Nor do we have an age requirement. Just this past summer (2023), we had a group of middle school boys join us a couple of times for bingo on Wednesdays. Although bingo is always fun, the youthful enthusiasm brought but those young men really added a spark, and they were so nice and polite. While age is just a number around here, we do, generally, cater to the 50-plus crowd. Speaking of membership, we are starting a new membership year at the center. The fee is just $45. Last year, we hit 557 members. This year, our goal is 600 members. Membership fees support the center’s general operation for things such as entertainment, decorations, internet, phones, lights, water, heat … you know, the essentials. There are a few membership perks, like being able to park in the lot during center designated hours (from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. M-F), being mailed or emailed the center monthly newsletter, discounts on certain classes, and being eligible for nomination to run for a spot on our Board of Directors. This spring is looking good at the center. My program coordinator, Suzan Brawnlyn, has scheduled all sorts of wonderful guest speakers and entertainment. You can find the full schedule on our website, www.lyndencommunitycenter.org. I am especially excited to be working with Libby Chenault from SmartTrips to learn the WTA Lynden Bus Route 26. Libby will be at the Center on Thursday, Feb. 22 and give a short presentation at 11:30 a.m. Then we will hop on the bus right outside the center and take a spin. I have not been on a bus in Lynden and am excited to learn the ons and offs of riding the bus here. If you are interested in joining us, call the center at 360-354-2921 to register. We are so grateful to announce that the center, in partnership with Dementia Support Northwest, will host a Dementia Caregivers Support Group on the second Tuesday of the month from 10 a.m. unContinued on C5
Monthly birthday party sponsored by Guided Solutions: Bob Long, former director of the Lynden Community/Senior Center, interviews birthday gals and guys. The center celebrates birthdays on the last Monday of each month. (Courtesy Lynden Community/Senior Center)
Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, February 21, 2024 | Ferndale Record
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ENCORE Mark Wohlrab, far left, volunteers to check blood pressures every Friday around lunchtime at the Lynden Community/ Senior Center. At left, Lynden Community/Senior Center was closed Jan 17-19 because of snow. The center follows the Lynden School District’s inclement weather plan. (Courtesy Lynden Community/Senior Center)
“I am Gordon Plotts, the current Chair of the Lynden Heritage Museum Endowment Foundation. I have been a citizen of Lynden since 1979 working as a veterinarian and part owner of Kulshan Veterinary Hospital. My family homesteaded in Montana and agriculture and history have always been important elements of my life. That made it easy to say yes when asked by the then Chair Dick Decima to serve on the board of directors.
Gordon Plotts, Chair Lynden Heritage Foundation
Over the intervening years I have learned how important the Endowment is for the long-term success of the Lynden Heritage Museum. I along with 10 other volunteers oversee and manage invested funds that allow us to spin out quarterly payments to the museum. Our investments are in a diversified group of Vanguard Index funds with very low expense ratios. And each of us on the board of directors are unsalaried volunteers.
Since the inception of the Endowment in the early 2000’s we have distributed over $300,000 to the Lynden Heritage Museum for day-to-day operations. The founders of the Endowment Foundation set a goal to raise $3,000,000 for long term stability of the Museum. While we are not there yet, significant strides have been made thanks to the support of our community. It is my hope that we can continue to receive that support from individuals and businesses. No effort is too small and there are a variety of ways for you to donate. My wife and I use part of our Required Minimal Distribution from my IRA to support the endowment. Others have included the endowment in their wills in the form of a bequest. If I can interest you in becoming a supporter of our endowment I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss that possibility.”
Dedicated to the ongoing financial support of the Lynden Heritage Museum
217 Front Street Lynden, WA 98264 A 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization
Call 360-815-6028 for more details • www.lyndenheritagemuseum.org/endowment
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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, February 21, 2024 | Ferndale Record
The Orderly Space, far left, presented tips and tricks to organizing for an FYI at the Lynden Community/Senior Center. On Feb. 2, Claudette Sterk, left, performed to a packed house on the center's stage. (Courtesy Lynden Community/Senior Center)
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til noon. This program started on Feb. 13. Leslie Jackson, the program’s education coordinator, will lead the group. Blending one-on-one education with traditional peer support, this evidencebased, confidential group meets to provide the caregiver or loved one the opportunity to talk to other individuals who are facing some of the same problems and challenges they are. This group has been a work in progress for over a year and I am so happy that
our idea is finally becoming a reality and bringing this kind of support directly to our community. This year, we will host our amazing St. Patrick’s Day lunch on March 15 with special Celtic music by Schmid & Guest. Everyone has a touch of Irish that day and we will take reservations for the lunch beginning March 1. Later that month, we will have the What’s Next info fair, sponsored by Guided Solutions. NAMI Whatcom will be the featured presenter with information on their organization as well as introducing What-
com Peer Collaborative (one-on-one peer support for people experiencing mental health challenges) as well as facilitating a community chat about mental wellness. We will have a variety of local vendors with information and resources related to aging well. The event runs from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. March 22. One final treat is an open invitation to anyone with a February 29 birthday. Present your ID and show you are a Leap Year Baby and get a free lunch. We will have fish tacos, Mexican rice and seasoned black beans. We would love to celebrate you at our center.
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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, February 21, 2024 | Ferndale Record
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Jim Clem: A storied career Retired Bellingham Bells coach shares his story By Merrick Parnell For the Tribune
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im Clem is well known around baseball circles in the state. In Whatcom County, he is known for his work as a member of the Bellingham Bells coaching staff in the West Coast League (WCL). The WCL is a wood bat collegiate summer league that features players from the college and university levels during the summer months. The league includes teams from Washington and Oregon and several in Canada, with British Columbia and Alberta organizations. In 2011, Eddie Poplawski took over as the club’s owner and hired the legendary Sehome High School Baseball Coach Gary Hatch to become head coach of the Bells. Coach Hatch then asked Clem to come on as the Bells’ pitching coach. As a member of the Bells staff, Clem coached 12 seasons with the West Coast League ball club, 11 of those seasons as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator. Since the WCL is a summer collegiate baseball league, Clem had to recruit and assemble a roster for each season. After taking a sabbatical during the 2022 season, Clem got a shot at the Bells helm in 2023 when he was tapped to lead the team as their next head coach in addition to serving as the recruiting coordinator. “When the Bells reached out at the end of the 2022 season and asked me to be the head coach for 2023, I didn’t have to think about it for long,” Clem said. “I missed the game and the Bells. After talking it over with my wife, it just seemed like the right decision.” During the 2023 season, Clem led the Bells to a 35-18 regular season record. Bellingham then went on to sweep its first playoff series opponent in the Kelowna Falcons to reach the Northern Division Championship series, with the winner earning a birth in the WCL championships. The Bells would lose to Canada’s Victoria HarbourCats in the North Division Championships. “As it turned out, personally for me, 2023 was one of my best baseball experiences. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment,” Clem recalls. “It was a lot of fun; I never regretted my decision. The players, coaches, and front office worked together, like one big team pulling for each other, working hard together, which made it a great experience for all involved.” Clem would retire from the Bellingham Bells last fall. His impact on the organization was immense, and his efforts and work with the team can be seen in Major League Baseball (MLB). During his tenure with the Bells, he helped develop two pitchers to make their way to the major leagues. Michael Rucker would eventually make his big league debut for the Chicago Cubs, and Seth Martinez
In 2023, Jim Clem retired after coaching the Bellingham Bells for 12 years. The first 11 years, Clem was the team’s pitching coach. In 2023, Clem served as head coach. Stephanie Morrell, above, the team's general manager, poses for a photograph with Clem. (Photos courtesy Bellingham Bells) would play with the Houston Astros. “In a decade of working with Coach Clem, what has been most impressive to me is the impression he leaves on each athlete who comes through our program,” said Bells General Manager Stephanie Morrell. “It is common for players who move on to the MLB or top tier [NCAA Division I] DI programs to call Coach Clem for advice many years after their departure from Bellingham. He is truly a coach who makes a lifelong impression on a player.” Although the Bells represent the latest era of Clem’s career, his coaching and baseball journey began much earlier. His love and passion for the sport were fostered during his time as a student-athlete at Enumclaw High School, where Clem pitched and played in the outfield. In the off-season, he could be found on the court as a school baseball team member. From Enumclaw, he went on to play at Peninsula Community College (PCC), where he continued to pitch and
play outfield for the PCC Pirates. Clem also continued his two-sport athletic pursuits as he played basketball for PCC as well. He left a lasting mark on the athletic programs at Peninsula and was recognized for his contributions when elected into the school’s Hall of Fame. From PCC, Clem went on to pitch at Central Washington University (CWU) in the early 1970s. In 1975, he helped pitch the Wildcats to capture the 1975 Evergreen Conference Title. The Central Washington University Hall of Fame would eventually also elect Coach Clem to their hall of fame. After his college playing career, Clem entered the coaching ranks at the high school level. First, he taught and coached at Dayton High School in Eastern Washington. After a few years at Dayton, Clem would come to the Continued on C8
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west side of the state, where he would be a long-time teacher and baseball coach at Burlington-Edison High School. Clem would also work as the school’s athletic director during part of his tenure there. Throughout his playing career, Clem has been named to several halls of fame as a player and coach, including the Washington State Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, the Washington American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame, the Burlington-Edison High School Athletic Hall of Fame, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Hall of Fame, in addition to the Central Washington University Hall of Fame and the Peninsula College Hall of Fame. There is no question that Clem’s work has impacted many players, student-athletes, communities, and orga-
nizations, but being involved with the sport and coaching in Whatcom County with the Bells has had a significant impact on the veteran coach. “Jim Clem is a one-of-akind human being and an even better coach,” said Morrell. “What makes him special is his ability to connect with people and to genuinely show people that he cares in even the smallest of transactions. Jim is truly unique in his ability to create strong cultures, communicate with athletes and unite teams.” “Whatcom County fans are unbelievable. Their support makes the atmosphere at Joe Martin Stadium special and often electric. The fan base is knowledgeable; many know a lot about the Bells history,” Clem said. “The fans are very passionate about the Bells. It’s an extraordinary place to watch a game; the fan support makes it exciting, and the players feel the energy. It’s been a great ride.”
Bellingham Bells coach Jim Klem, second from right, shakes hands with a Kamloops NorthPaws coach before the Bells' July 5, 2023 game in Bellingham. (Photo courtesy Andrew Forhan)
Whatcom County Cemetery District 10
Celebrating 50 years! 1974-2024 Historic plots are available in both cemeteries. No-interest purchase plans available.
Plan ahead... Your loved ones will thank you. lyndencemetery.com
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The only Washington Heritage Cemetery in Whatcom County
A lovely, rustic cemetery with Urn, Scatter & Columbaria gardens
On the Southeast corner of Front & Meridian
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On the South side of East Wiser Lake Road
DID YOU KNOW? The person interred in the
Lynden Cemetery who lived the longest was Ellen BodmanNelson. She lived to be 108 years old. (1892-2001)
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WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Nita and Pete Harksell (1973 and 1975) Ferndale School District
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ete Harksell can’t remember the exact moment he developed a passion for cars. But he suspects it began when he worked as a kid at his dad’s service station off I-5 in Ferndale in the 1960s and 70s. Fast forward to July 1, 1991, and Pete’s Auto Repair, founded by Harksell and his wife and business partner Nita, opened its doors for business off Portal Way. For over 32 years, the couple have helped locals get their cars back on the road. “There’s a satisfaction in fixing a car that doesn’t run, and making it run (again),” Pete said. “We’re providing transportation for somebody who needs it.” Both Pete and Nita come from long-time Whatcom County families. Their great grandparents moved to the region in the late 1880s, right around when Washington became a state. They both attended Ferndale High School in the early 1970s – Nita graduated in 1973, Pete in 1975. Pete played for the Golden Eagles’ golf and basketball teams, while Nita sang in choir. Pete said he had fond memories of his time at FHS, although he acknowledges it was a very different place 50 years ago. “It was a lot smaller,” he said, laughing. “I remember it being fun, I had a good group of friends.” Pete learned most of his carrepair skills from working in his dad’s station as a kid. But at FHS, he took welding and fabrication classes, and both he and Nita gained some business know-how from the school’s bookkeeping classes. Pete’s dad leased the service station for 22 years before the oil company decided to convert it into a mini-mart. So he purchased land off Portal Way, and the Harksells built Pete’s Auto Repair from the ground up. For years, the Harksells were an effective team. While Pete and
Pete and Nita Harksell, owners of Pete’s Auto Repair, come from long-time Whatcom County families. (Photo courtesy Ferndale School District)
his crew fixed customers’ cars, Nita handled the finances and customer service. Because she wasn’t as skilled with auto repair, Nita would always check with Pete about the specifics of the job so she could better explain it to the customer. “I had a lot of ladies who felt I knew more about cars than the technicians did,” Nita said. “But
no, if you put me under the hood, I know nothing.” Now, Pete’s Auto Repair has six employees other than the Harksells, so their roles have shifted to supervisors. Since 1991, their business’ neighborhood has dramatically changed, as more and more businesses, homes and apartments join them on Portal Way.
“You can’t say we’re a small community anymore, because we’ve grown so much in the past 30 years.” Nita said of Ferndale. Pete has stayed active in the community, joining the Ferndale Kiwanis and Ferndale Chamber of Commerce. He has also been a member of the Old Settler’s Association and the City of Ferndale’s Parks, Recreation, and Trails Ad-
visory Board. He was even named the Chamber’s Member of the Year in 2016. “It’s a way to stay involved in the community,” Pete said of the Chamber. “Not only does it get your business’ name out there, but when you donate your time, it’s a way to give back to the community for supporting our business for so long.”
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Lessons learned in a Paris perfume shop, years apart By Mick Vander Griend For the Tribune
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ere I am, a 20-yearold in Paris. My sweetheart is 7,000 miles away in Lynden. Not a good situation at all. I am on the most beautiful street in the world, the ChampElyses. The street is 230 feet wide (Google). There are approximately six lanes of traffic, however the driver feels about that. Vehicles of all sorts are on the street driven by angry Frenchmen. They have one hand on the horn. The other hand is out the window, expressing his opinion of all the other drivers. His foot is on the gas pedal all the way down, and because both hands are busy he can’t shift out of second gear. Be it noted, there are women in this mess as well. This is one side of the Parisians. Behind me was a wide sidewalk lined by expensive shops and outdoor cafes. These were filled with genteel, mannerly, classy Parisians, all on the same street. I find a perfume shop. I buy a small bottle. This is not just an ordinary scent. This was a scent used in one of the clubs I had attended the night before. I send it to my lady in Lynden. End of story -- wrong. It is now 25 years later. I am in Paris with my sweetheart on my arm. We are enjoying the
charms of this city the best way, together. We walk together on the Champ-Elyses. Would you believe, here is the same perfume shop? This is my opportunity to be the mother of all romantics. We go in and I tell my story to the ladies. French ladies like stories of love. A bit of fuss is made over us. I ask to buy a small bottle of the same perfume. The madam says I don’t think you should do this. This will cost you $350 for an ounce. We had not spent that much on our trip to Paris. By the expression on my face, the madam quickly says to me we have nice bottles of cologne of the same fragrance for $20. It is just as lovely for your lady and it will mean the same. We left with a bottle of cologne. My sweetheart gave my arm a squeeze and a smile. Mission accomplished, and a memory made. “... that its fragrance may spread everywhere.” Song of Solomon 4:16. Romance has no price. One question: How was the first bottle of perfume paid for? Well, there was another street, a Frenchman and an American soldier, and two cartons of Lucky Strike cigarettes. But that’s another story. -- Author Mick Vander Griend and his wife, Lena Marie, have lived all their lives (except military service) in the Lynden area.
Then 20 years old, Mick Vander Griend, an American soldier, shops in Paris for his sweetheart. (Photo courtesy Mick Vander Griend)
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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, February 21, 2024 | Ferndale Record
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Name ______________________________________ Address ____________________________________ City, State, Zip _______________________________ Card #_____________________________________ Exp. Date_____________ CVV_________________ Email/Phone________________________________ Please mail me my Cruisin Coffee card
I will stop by and pick up my Cruisin Coffee card
2 Year Subscription Rates Whatcom County ............... $86 Washington State................$125 Outside of Washington.......$130 Senior Citizens (65+).......... $78 Mail: P.O. Box 153 • Address: 113 6th St Lynden, WA, 98264
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