8th Annual Compete for a Cause: Cribbage Tournament

Join us on Saturday, September 13th, and help support a valuable local non-profit by participating in our 8th Annual Compete for a Cause Cribbage Tournament. All proceeds raised will go to support Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center.  A non-profit offering conflict prevention and intervention services for businesses, organizations, individuals, and families, WDRC seeks to help community members to better manage conflict as it arises, and to learn ways to minimize the possibility of it occurring.

Cribbage is one of those games that young and old, stranger and friend can play together in good spirited fun. It’s an all-inclusive way to put a positive spin on conflict-through friendly competition. We hope you will join in the fun! All ages and experience levels are welcome, though understanding of the game is important.

The Beer Garden Bar will be open for mimosas in the morning. In the afternoon, we’ll have our BBQ & Bar open for service. You are welcome to grab some BBQ when you get a chance. Early registration is strongly encouraged (and discounted!) $25 for adults // $20 for students & seniors. Day of registration is $30. Sign up online, or in person at the Boundary Bay Bar.

The tournament will begin at 11am with 10am checkin

 

---

 

For Immediate Release: Mike Durkee Wins Compete for a Cause Cribbage Tournament

 Whatcom Co – The Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center (WDRC), 8^th Annual Compete for a Cause Cribbage Tournament was held Saturday, September 13^th in the Boundary Bay Brewery Beer Garden. With 56 competitors of all ages and skill levels, participants played 3 round robin games, followed by a heated 5 round, elimination bracket.

The 2014 Cribbage Tournament champion is Mike Durkee of Ferndale, who competed with his wife Kathleen and son Steven. Mike was awarded a gift certificate to Boundary Bay, a free Understanding Conflict workshop at the WDRC, entry to next year’s tournament, and his name engraved on the WDRC and Boundary Bay Brewery Winners’ Plaques for posterity. Mike’s victory was well deserved, as he went home with 2^nd place in last year’s tournament after a narrow defeat by Matt Owings. Andy Brew of Bellingham took second at this year’s tournament.

The cribbage tournament, which is one of a kind here in Whatcom County, included a raffle and the opportunity to engage with WDRC staff, board members, and volunteers to learn more about the WDRC. The proceeds of almost $1,500 will benefit the WDRC and their mission to provide and promote collaborative and constructive approaches to conflict through mediation, training, facilitation, and community education. The WDRC is grateful to Boundary Bay Brewery for sponsoring and hosting this successful annual event and to all of the returning and new participants.

For individuals who missed the Cribbage Tournament, it is not too late support the WDRC. Join the Center in celebration at the 12^th Annual Peace Builder Awards Gala, November 14^th 2014 at 5:30, at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal. More information and tickets can be found at www.whatcomdrc.org.

The WDRC is a non-profit dedicated to providing and promoting constructive and collaborative approaches to conflict through mediation, training, facilitation, and community education. More information can be found at www.whatcomdrc.org or by calling 676-0122.

 

 

 

Salmon at The Bay

Salmon at the Bay is a fundraising event that features a salmon-inspired art show and a kick-off salmon bbq held at Boundary Bay Brewery every year forthe last six years. Salmon at the Bay is Northwest Salmon Enhancement Associations‘s largest fundraiser and all proceeds from the event go directly to funding streamside habitat restoration projects throughout Whatcom County.

This year’s theme was Common Waters: Connecting Salmon and People. One of the best things about Salmon at the Bay is the way this event really brings the community together and highlights the beauty of this unique and iconic species. Local artists were asked to create and donate salmon and water-inspired pieces of any medium to be displayed and sold gallery style at Boundary Bay through August 24th. This year more than 50 local artists, including featured artist Laurie Potter, donated their time, talents, and masterpieces to Salmon at the Bay. The vast majority of the participating artists live right here in Bellingham, and every artist resides in Whatcom County.  To see a slideshow of the art from this year (as well as the past two years!), click here.

People who are interested in supporting NSEA in our endeavors to restore sustainable wild salmon runs to Whatcom County can support NSEA in a variety of ways; by becoming an individual or business member of NSEA, by volunteering at a community stream restoration work party in the spring or fall, by adopting a restoration site to maintain with friends and family on a regular basis, by attending NSEA events, and by making lifestyle choices that minimize harmful impacts on local watersheds.

Salmon are a keystone species here in the Pacific Northwest and are an important indicator we have of the health of our coastal ecosystems. Salmon are extremely sensitive to changes in water quality, water quantity, and trophic webs. The more intact, diverse, and productive a freshwater ecosystem is, the healthier the salmon stocks will be. A decline in the ability of a stream or river to support the rearing of young salmon indicates a decline in the overall health of the ecosystem. Salmon carcasses provide rivers and streams with large amounts of marine-derived nutrients that feed aquatic insects, eagles, humans, and even the trees and shrubs growing along the banks. Timothy Egan wrote that, “the Pacific Northwest is any place a salmon can get to,” and I’m inclined to agree.

written by:
Lindsay Taylor
Volunteer Coordinator for NSEA