Big Changes to Local Events
January 31, 2018
The Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce has announced that the 2018 Jr. Ski to Sea Race will be moved to Zuanich Point Park in lieu of Lake Padden Park, where the race has been held in the past.
The City of Bellingham Parks Department will be undergoing a sewage improvement project at Lake Padden Park in the spring of 2018, and they requested that the Chamber of Commerce find an alternate location for the Jr. Ski to Sea Race.
"We are grateful that the City of Bellingham Parks Department gave us more than 6 months notice to find a new park to hold the race. We were able to quickly react and move the race to Zuanich Point Park. Our staff is very familiar with Zuanich since it is the location of the annual Haggen 4th of July Celebration. This gives us another opportunity to partner with the Port of Bellingham on this traditional Bellingham event," said Guy Occhiogrosso, President and CEO of the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce.
"The Port of Bellingham staff have been very accommodating to ensure that we maintain as much consistency as possible. The course design will be different for the bike, running and obstacle course legs, but the soccer and hula hoop course should remain the same," said Occhiogrosso.
"In addition to the new location for the Junior Race, we're adding a children's craft sale at the Squalicum Boathouse. Our own "Junior Chamber of Commerce" will help budding entrepreneurs sell their arts and crafts to Jr. Ski to Sea participants and their families," said Shelli Jones of the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber of Commerce also announced that it will no longer be holding the Blossomtime Parade. "There has been a lack of sponsor support for the parade, and we can no longer continue to operate the parade. Our Board of Directors voted in January to discontinue the parade effective immediately, so that the Chamber staff could refocus their efforts on Chamber programs," Occhiogrosso reported.
According tho the Chamber of Commerce, that parade has continued to suffer a lack of community support, and it has been increasingly difficult to attract parade entries.
"We hope that there is a community organization that would be willing to take over the parade," sais Occhiogrosso. "It has been a community tradition since 1920, and we are excited to pass the legacy on to another organization."
Anyone interested in taking over the parade responsibilities can e-mail the Chamber at info@bellingham.com
The Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry has been serving its members and the local business community for over one hundred years as the voice of business in Bellingham and Whatcom County. The Chamber is a 501 (c)(6) nonprofit that promotes the community; it helps to develop a strong local economy; provides programs and events for its members; facilitates factually based dialog between businesses, the government and the community; and represents business interests with government and the community.
The City of Bellingham Parks Department will be undergoing a sewage improvement project at Lake Padden Park in the spring of 2018, and they requested that the Chamber of Commerce find an alternate location for the Jr. Ski to Sea Race.
"We are grateful that the City of Bellingham Parks Department gave us more than 6 months notice to find a new park to hold the race. We were able to quickly react and move the race to Zuanich Point Park. Our staff is very familiar with Zuanich since it is the location of the annual Haggen 4th of July Celebration. This gives us another opportunity to partner with the Port of Bellingham on this traditional Bellingham event," said Guy Occhiogrosso, President and CEO of the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce.
"The Port of Bellingham staff have been very accommodating to ensure that we maintain as much consistency as possible. The course design will be different for the bike, running and obstacle course legs, but the soccer and hula hoop course should remain the same," said Occhiogrosso.
"In addition to the new location for the Junior Race, we're adding a children's craft sale at the Squalicum Boathouse. Our own "Junior Chamber of Commerce" will help budding entrepreneurs sell their arts and crafts to Jr. Ski to Sea participants and their families," said Shelli Jones of the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber of Commerce also announced that it will no longer be holding the Blossomtime Parade. "There has been a lack of sponsor support for the parade, and we can no longer continue to operate the parade. Our Board of Directors voted in January to discontinue the parade effective immediately, so that the Chamber staff could refocus their efforts on Chamber programs," Occhiogrosso reported.
According tho the Chamber of Commerce, that parade has continued to suffer a lack of community support, and it has been increasingly difficult to attract parade entries.
"We hope that there is a community organization that would be willing to take over the parade," sais Occhiogrosso. "It has been a community tradition since 1920, and we are excited to pass the legacy on to another organization."
Anyone interested in taking over the parade responsibilities can e-mail the Chamber at info@bellingham.com
The Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry has been serving its members and the local business community for over one hundred years as the voice of business in Bellingham and Whatcom County. The Chamber is a 501 (c)(6) nonprofit that promotes the community; it helps to develop a strong local economy; provides programs and events for its members; facilitates factually based dialog between businesses, the government and the community; and represents business interests with government and the community.
