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Parking program for district employees

Thursday, July 19, 2007

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You can also download an easy to print PDF file of the map.

Aug 8 update - the map shown is the Aug 1 corrected version, showing the no parking area on north 11th Street.

A new effort is being made to improve the parking for customers of our historic district shops and restaurants.  Ray Dunn, one of the owners of the Pacific Chef on 11th, has taken a survey with merchants and has given objective evidence to what we all sort of knew;  employees park on the core streets where our customers want to park.  Ray, who has decades of retail experience, is convinced that if parking meters - or even parking signs limiting parking times -  are installed on our streets that it will seriously hurt commerce for all.  And once in, they will never be taken out.

Ray has two suggestions at this time.
1) All employees - this includes business owners - not park in the core streets.  Park a block away from work and walk the block.  Right now the grey streets on the map - click it for a larger version - are filled with employees parking in front of a shop not their own.  One suggestion is to add grey to 11th north of Mill - and that will probably be done.  This is a start.
2) We need to market Fairhaven as a place with free unlimited parking but with the need to walk a block or two though still much shorter and pleasant a walk than across a mall parking lot.

We need to appeal to all who work in the core to do what is the right thing to do - and do it for the benefit of all.  If not and if we get meters then all will suffer.  Ray asks why we should punish our customers with fees when the problem is of our own making.  Yes, there are many other factors, but these are the main factors.  Yes, when construction is done then some spaces will open up but we still need a real program to keep the best parking spaces for customers. 

Two Turtle Doves to open early September

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Well, guess which business is opening a second storefront.  Two Turtle Doves will sell custom bedding and will be located at 909 Harris Avenue,  the old Bellingham Bay Hotel building built in 1901.  Bonnie and Joe, owners of Three French Hens are the new business owners.  They will be using a slick computer program to help buyers select the bedding that goes best with the decor of their bedrooms.  Hmmm - and what would be the third store they might someday open? 

Spaces for Lease in Fairhaven

Friday, July 13, 2007

Oh yes, there are good spaces to lease in Fairhaven.  They come up and get grabbed, so it behoves potential businesses to watch carefully via either a real estate agent or by checking with the building owners who advertise in the right side columns on these pages.

There is currently an unusual space for a health practitioner.  Jan Templeton has a healing center with several office spaces and has one available now.  If you - or someone you know - might be interested, contact her directly at 360-647-7667 or 360-961-2038.  A link to her business is just below this post.  This space could be perfect for an accupuncturist, naturopathic physician, or nurse practitioner.  It is 450 square feet.  $500 a month.

One page of Fairhaven.com lists virtually all the building owners, making it quite convenient to check for possible lease spaces.  Also, building owners in Fairhaven tend to refer prospects to other building owners in order to get a good fit between business and location.  In Fairhaven we all try to work together for our common good.

Salmon Bar B Que in September is a Go

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

A revival of the annual salmon festival of the 1980s is a definite Go for this September.  The Marketing Committee of the Old Fairhaven Association this morning made a firm decision tg hold the event on Saturday, Septembe 15 in the afternoon.  It will dovetail with the Fairhaven Runners 15K run which starts and ends on the Village Green on Saturday morning.  The committee has been researching this for several weeks.  Cathy Lee of Southside Trends and Anne Kneesch of Artesano’s are the co-chairs for the event.  This will be a fund raiser for the annual marketing budget.  If you want to volunteer, then contact Anne or Cathy.  They would welcome more business owners to help out.

Captain Chuck goes ballistic

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Actually, weightless - in that special aircraft that took Stephen Hawking for his weightless sub orbital zero G ride.  Chuck Robinson, co-owner of Village Books, won a contest from a book publisher and got the ride as the prize.  One of the other persons floating around the inside of the converted jet airliner was Stephen’s daughter Lucy.  Chuck said the whole experience was great fun.  Apparently the plane does several roller coaster like loops during the ride and the weightless portion lasts up to a minute or longer.  All a long way from our quiet experiences in historic Fairhaven. Welcome back, Chuck.

Dos Padres to reopen in August

Friday, June 8, 2007

Well, the fire at Dos Padres last Sunday was not as bad as some news reports would suggest.  The bar is burned but not destroyed and can be refurbished.  There is no structural damage.  Jim expects that with hard work and a little luck he can reopen in about two months.  As you can see, the outside of the building is in pretty good shape. 

Gordy Honored at Birthday Party

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Fairhaven resident, historian and small business owner, Gordy Tweit shares confidences with Fairhaven Assoc President, Phyllis McKee at Lairmont Manor Monday night during Gordy’s 81st birthday bash.  The party, organized by friends, featured Norweigian foods, music and fun, all to honor former the Fairhaven Pharmacy owner for his long-time community service and friendship.  Lairmont was crowded with supporters and well-wishers.

Park & Ride finds perfect festival bus stop

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Ebenal is almost finished with their total renovation of the 115 year old Waldron Building and they did some extra work so the construction fencing could be removed from the front along 12th Street.  This allowed the Whatcom Transit Authority to drop festival goers off right in the heart of Fairhaven.  Looks great, doesn’t it.  The Waldron is again part of our street scene. 

Ebenal also moved construction materials and fencing on the 11th Street side to make space for the band stage and more street room for the food vendors.  We thank David, Jamie and the entire crew for moving stuff aside for our annual street party.  They did a lot to get the area ready and they didn’t have to.  It was their spirit of community an we very much appreciate their effort. 

Young Building shows its final lines

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Yes, that guy building the corner turret is waving at you.  The final outline of the building is now complete.  Ebenal Development has been working steadily for over a year renovating the Waldron building - background on the right - and making the Young building a complement to it.  Rumors say that some shops may be open as soon as July.  Yes, it will get a red brick exterior.  Condos and commercial spaces are available - and contact information is available.  Click the links below for their listings and links to the various Ebenal websites.  Oh - and we hear the condos will be ready by late summer or early fall.  A truly first class development and one that all in Fairhaven can enjoy and take pride in. 

Imus building scheduled for July completion

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Honoring historic design concepts of Fairhaven buildings from the late 1800s, the Triple-I building on 11th Street will feature an 18 foot high ceiling on the first floor and a modest two story height.  As you can easily see, the building has structural steel for safety and it will have all the modern systems.  But it will have a red brick exterior and a proud entablature across the top to complete the historic look.  The three Imus fellows, Ken and his two sons Brad and Tim, teamed up to develop this building next to the Fairhaven Bike building at the north end of 11th.  Most folks do not know that they own two separate companies, with Ken and Brad owning Jacaranda and Tim owning Fairhaven Land Development.  The building is expected to be completed in July and most of the spaces are spoken for. 

Preparations for Girls Night Out in Fairhaven

Friday, May 11, 2007

Fairhaven Association volunteers Ralph Thacker and Ham Hayes use spray chalk and a template to paint pink bra markers at stores participating in Girls Night Out in Fairhaven last night.  The annual event, which honors breast cancer survivors and raises money for research and treatment, was a hit.  The markers and pink flamingo lights decorating the shops, added an air of humor to an otherwise very serious subject. 

Shoes for a Cause

Thursday, May 10, 2007

12th Street Shoes stores in Fairhaven and Birch Bay Square are presenting their 4th Annual Anniversary Shoe Drive for Charity, May 18-20.
Bring in a pair of gently worn shoes and receive an additional $5 off a new pair.  All women’s shoes will be donated to the YWCA’s Back to Work Boutique and men’s shoes to the Hope House, operated by Catholic Community Services and Assumption Church.  Yaleet Inc. (Naot Footwear) will be donating approximately $12,000 in new shoes for the event. 

“It’s so fun to do this event every year,” said store owner, Jody Finnegan.  “We’ve donated literally hundreds of shoes to the women’s Back to Work Boutique.  A pair of new shoes can do wonders boosting self-esteem for a job interview.”

For more information, phone the Fairhaven store at 733-2066 or Birch Bay 366-5140.

Great Clothes-Fair Trade

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Karin Porrini, owner of the new Fair Trade Haven, downstairs in the Pythias building next to the Colophon Cafe, shows off natural fabric clothing just arrived in the store.  The shop carries handmade items from around the world created by people who received fair trade compensation for their goods. 

Train Car Serves Up Lunch

Monday, April 23, 2007

Barrista, Erin, at The Great Northern Cafe, creates a latte in the train car at 12th & Mill Streets.  New owner Alethea Fournier is offering up some very yummy sandwiches, including a Southwestern and a Honey Bacon Club, along with salads and soups.  She’s looking for historic train paraphernalia for decorations in the vintage car

Computers for Grannys a Popular Class

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Whatcomputers instructor Hope Rietzen, shows Lillian Young a computer tip.  Fairhaven’s own Whatcomputers is now offering classes geared toward older computer users who haven’t had the advantage of learning about computers in school.  Classes are designed for adult PC users, beginning with a basic/intermediate class for Windows XP users and covers some basic and many intermediate Windows functions, how to use files and avoid viruses. They’re in plain English, not obscure tech-talk.  Classes are limited to 12 people for personalized instruction.  Call to register for the next class on Wed, April 25th, or for other class dates.
647-8222 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Historic Theme Coffee House Planned

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Opa G’s, a nearly 1,500 square foot coffee house is planned for the new Young Building, currently under construction with the Waldron Building at 1100 McKenzie Ave.  Owner, Pat Scheidegger told the Bellingham Business Journal that the shop will replicate a turn-of-the-century Fairhaven coffee house and offer her family recipes of German strudel, tortes, coffee cakes, soups, sandwiches and salads, along with European coffee.  Her brother, Richard Villanueva brings 25-years experience as a master chef to the coffee shop.  They plan to open in July, as soon as the building is completed.

Hot Coffee Cold Day

Monday, April 16, 2007

Miya, the Lead Barrista of the new Taste of Chicago Cafe in 12th Street Village, offers up hot drinks on a Spring day turned chilly and rainy.

If you receive this postcard…

Sunday, April 1, 2007

... you want to read it.  You may decide yea or nea on placing an ad in our annual printed Fairhaven Guide, but you only have a week or so to make that decision.  The deadline is April 15 but space could sell out before then.  Taimi is sending this card out to Fairhaven businesses who have not bought an ad and you should receive it this week.  Over half the Guide is sold now.  The page limit is set and the format is in place.  You may want to find a copy of last year’s guide and review it.  This year’s will be as good or better.

The guide is highly popular with visitors because of its compact size and comprehensive contents.  Maps, business sections, trivia about our district and informative ads and the red cover make it an excellent marketing tool.  You can learn more at Taimi’s website - www.gormanpublicity.com  Check it out and consider carefully. 

Yes, that was an earthquake at 1 pm

Friday, March 30, 2007

All of us in Fairhaven felt one sharp bumpf at exactly 1 pm today.  It was a 3.0 earthquake 2 miles away from us on Chuckanut Mountain.  The US Geological Survey says it was about 2 miles underground.  By their maps, the location is shown in two places - on Chuckanut Drive and on the east side of the mountain right next to the trail up to Pine and Cedar lakes.  Me thinks it is the later - based on the coordinates - the red square on the map above.  (an earlier post said just Chuckanut and I think that was in error)  Chuckanut Mountain is folded sandstone that has a tendency to have big blocks slide down at times.  I’ll post more here when/if I learn of more.

Charlie - familiar friend to all - is gone

Friday, March 30, 2007

Diane of the Barber Shop had to have Charlie put down this week.  He was having real problems and his time had come.  Charlie was a most frlendly dog who showed up for many of our events over the years.  The photo shows him at the Dog Days parade at the Doggie Diner several years ago. 

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