Culture
East Asian markets bridge cultural gaps—through food
There are only a few Asian markets in Whatcom and Skagit counties, but these small stores provide a rich variety of Asian foods—and a taste of cultures as well.
Sylvia Center closure clouds future for local theater
Announcement of the closure of Sylvia Center for the Arts — a surprise to many — has prompted questions about the future of local theater.
Old is new again with early music festival
Salish Sea festival brings baroque music played on period instruments out of the past for local audiences.
‘A Precarious Edge’ evokes climate change truths
Climate change and global warming are front and center in the Museum of Northwest Art’s latest installation, “A Precarious Edge.”
Tech entrepreneur’s path winds from solar cars to bleeding-edge art
Entrepreneur and artist Shawn Kemp’s path has wound from designing and racing solar cars in high school to creating computer-generated art — with loops through the worlds of gaming and social media.
Farmer-artist counters food, fuel uncertainty — through permaculture
The past two years since the outbreak of COVID-19 have been turbulent and uncertain times for many. As fuel and food prices rise, the drive to become more self-reliant is also on the increase. A Whatcom farmer and glass artist suggests the path to that is permaculture.
Moving from tragedy to hope — with clay
In the hands of artisan potter Chris Moench, clay becomes “moving sanctuaries” that evoke remembrance of tragedy — and meditations on hope.
Keep walking, or keep off? Guemes beach-walking pushes question of private property versus public access
Disagreement between those who hold to a long-established practice on Guemes Island of public access to walking across privately owned tidelands and a property owner’s opposition to what he sees as trespassing has evolved into a lawsuit.
Paradise full: Finding space to rest at Lopez Island cemetery
At 140 years old, pastorally situated Lopez Union Cemetery is encountering high demand — but running out of space. Managers are looking to ground-penetrating radar technology to help determine just how much space is available in the nonprofit cemetery, and considering other options as well.
2021: A look back at some stories from the first full year of Salish Current
2021 was a year like no other, with themes such as public health vis-à-vis COVID-19 and opioid addiction; social justice in the courts, the arts, housing and policing; and climate change and natural resources including water rights management. Salish Current offers a look back via articles published during the nonprofit newsroom’s first full year.
What’s life without a future?
What awaits us in the new year? Salish Current asked our readers and writers to take us there by sharing one thing they look forward to doing in 2022.
Fictional whale tale underscores real-life role of kinship in orcas’ survival
In the newly published novel “Beyond the Human Realm,” Lopez Island scientist and author Gene Helfman draws on the real-life intelligence of orcas in a fictional story that affirms that preservation of the species requires the adoption of an approach characterized by kinship.
Skagit fair sates longing for fun and ‘normalcy’ in face of COVID-19
After a year’s hiatus, the Skagit County Fair resumed Aug. 11-14 with an increased attendance over past years — despite COVID-19 infections spiking in the county.
Lummi Island’s original Willows Inn was a local-food hotspot — 100 years before ‘locavore’ was trending
Today’s Lummi Island in Whatcom County is home to permanent and vacationing residents, local businesses — and a historic resort known for more than 100 years as The Willows.
Local Juneteenth event celebrates diversity, freedom, challenge
Black Lives Matter signs waved over the Maritime Heritage Park amphitheater and booths lined the concrete walkway on Saturday, June 19 — the fourth annual Juneteenth celebration in Bellingham.
As gun death rates rise in Whatcom, Skagit and San Juan counties, state refocuses to public health approach
With the number of gun deaths in Whatcom, Skagit and San Juan counties on the rise and outpacing statewide trends, policy and law makers are stressing public health-focused solutions that could be more effective in prevention than legal tactics.