Andy Basabe Named Executive Director of Sustainable Connections
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — 7.29.26 — Sustainable Connections is pleased to announce the selection of Andy Basabe as its new Executive Director, effective September 7, 2026. Basabe brings significant nonprofit leadership experience in Whatcom and Skagit Counties. He founded Vamos Outdoors Project, a nonprofit serving Latine, Migrant, Multilingual, and Newcomer youth and families by expanding access to outdoor recreation and environmental education throughout Whatcom and Skagit counties. “Andy brings the
Lighthouse Mission joins others in outreach to encampment residents
Lighthouse Mission Ministries is coordinating with the City of Bellingham, the Opportunity Council’s Homeless Outreach Team and other outreach providers in providing assistance for residents of a large homeless encampment near Walmart in north Bellingham. Outreach teams comprised of those entities have made several visits to the encampment in recent weeks, distributing water, hygiene supplies and other essential supplies, according to Brittany Hargrove, Chief Program Officer of Lighthouse Mission.
Barron Heating AC Electrical & Plumbing promotes Takemura to COO
Barron Heating AC Electrical & Plumbing recently promoted Michael Takemura to Chief Operating Officer. Takemura has served in management positions the last eight years at Barron Heating AC Electrical & Plumbing. Takemura now drives operational excellence across Barron’s service and installation divisions, overseeing HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing, Solar, and Indoor Air Quality field operations. Barron also hired one and promoted two others to senior management positions. Jake Bassett, who has 10
WHATCOM COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS TO HELP DEVELOP WHATCOM MARITIME ATLAS THROUGH REGIONAL PARTNERSH
Bellingham, Washington, July 15, 2026— Students in Whatcom Community College's Engineering in Context (EiC) program will help bring local maritime history to life through the development of the new Whatcom Maritime Atlas, an interactive digital storytelling project supported by a $15,000 grant from the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area's Maritime Washington Grant Program. The grant was awarded to the Whatcom Maritime Heritage Museum in partnership with the Port of Bellingham, Blue Water GIS, the
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Food Drive Friday offers free fair admission, collects tons of donations
One of Whatcom County’s largest food drives includes free admission Aug. 14 to the Northwest Washington Fair in Lynden Sponsored by Brown & Brown Insurance of Lynden, Food Drive Friday offers free admission (normally $15 for adults, $13 for seniors 62+ and $10 for children 6-12) to the fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 14 at Gates 1 and 5 in exchange for four items of food. Local food banks are requesting canned proteins, fruits and vegetables, dry pinto beans, pasta and rice. Donations will be given to
WRS Announces Employee Ownership of Company
FERNDALE, Wash. – Western Refinery Services, Inc. (WRS) has entered into an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), CEO Ryan Likkel announced. In late 2025, Likkel – who at the time owned WRS outright – announced to the company that WRS would enter into an ESOP, and in 2026, WRS officially became an employee-owned company. “I made the decision to turn WRS into an employee-owned company because it’s never been about any one individual - it’s always been all about the people,” Likkel said. “Our people
