Random

    News

    Home News

    Lynden 125 Beard & Mustache Challenge results!

    By
    Joel VanderHoek
    -
    photos by Alexandra Ann Photography

    Noticed more facial hair around Lynden lately?

    Today marks the 125th anniversary of Lynden’s official incorporation on March 16th, 1891 — and every 25 years since the men of Lynden have undertaken a beard growing challenge. For this year’s contest, around 40 men grew out their beards and mustaches over a 42-day period, culminating in a judging session this past Saturday at the Inn at Lynden.

    Mayor Scott Korthuis has his beard examined by judges and Lynden Chamber director Gary Vis
    Mayor Scott Korthuis has his beard examined by judges and Lynden Chamber director Gary Vis

    Categories include ‘Overall Grand Champion’, ‘Best Heritage Hair’ (for those who did not start with a clean shave) and ‘Best Clean Shave’ (for those who did).

    A newspaper clipping from the 1991 beard growing contest, 25 years ago.
    A newspaper clipping from the 1991 beard growing contest, 25 years ago, was on display at this year’s contest.

    Careful judging makes for a fun old-time tradition

    Participants were judged by Rose DeGroot (owner of Fairway Cafe) and Cliff Fast (long-time barber from Cliff’s Shear Design on the corner of 9th & Front Streets). Speaking of the judging process, Lynden 125 committee chair Karen Kildall said “They had a tough job — the competition was really, really tight. But, in the end, they were able to choose our winners.”

    Continue Reading

    Overflow Taps: open this weekend in Lynden!

    By
    Joel VanderHoek
    -

    Next on tap in the fully-renovated Waples Mercantile Building: the opening of Overflow Taps this Sunday!

    After many months and lots of hard work, the team behind the charity-supporting tap house is making final preparations for their opening this Sunday, February 14th. While Overflow Taps is super community-driven, aiming to be a place where locals gather for conversation, community and even board and card games, their reach is global through their partnership with charity:water. With a portion of the sale of each drink going to the cause, every time a keg is emptied one person will be provided with access to clean water.

    HOEKPhotography_Overflow Taps-20
    The sign is up and the paper is off the windows for those wishing to peek in before the Valentines Day opening.

    Partners Jesse Nelson, Adam Stacey and Josh Libolt came up with the concept and plan many months ago and have been working on it since. ourLynden originally met with Nelson in the first part of December, when the space adjacent to the Inn at Lynden lobby off 5th Street was far from finished. At the time, Nelson shared the vision and plans for the space, and now nearly two months later the space has transformed into the vision that was described.

    Continue Reading

    The wait is over… The Mill by Perfectly Paired opens this week!

    By
    Joel VanderHoek
    -

    The crowds will soon be milling around in downtown Lynden’s iconic windmill once again.

    The Mill by Perfectly Paired will have their long-anticipated opening this Wednesday, March 9th followed by a grand opening on Friday the 11th. The wine-and-cheese infused bistro and bar fill the ground floor of the rennovated windmill on the corner of Front and 7th Streets.

    HOEKPhotography_TheMill-5

    Lyndenites Robin and Matt Hungerford, who also own and operate Fairhaven’s Perfectly Paired, have eagerly prepared their menu, space and team for their new Lynden shop. Born and raised in Lynden, Matt explained that while wine and cheese offerings will be similar to their Fairhaven location, The Mill offers a full bar and bistro-style restaurant seating designed with Lynden in mind.

    Old world feel makes iconic downtown windmill new again.

    The team at Lynden-based Elements Hospitality worked with The Mill to craft a warm environment that hearkens back to the European roots evidenced on the menu. “We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Elements,” the Hungerfords explained as they shared how the Lynden location came into being.

    Friends from their church at North County Christ the King — Elements co-owner Tim Broersma and Pastor Sean Taylor — approached them with the belief that they were the right tenant for the space. Now, many months later the rest of Lynden will have opportunity to enjoy a new fare in an old world setting within a local landmark.

    HOEKPhotography_TheMill-15

    Continue Reading

    Poll: What was the biggest news in Lynden during 2015?

    By
    Joel VanderHoek
    -

    It’s already December, and before we know it 2015 will be behind us.

    There’s plenty to celebrate this month, but as we look back at all that’s happened locally in 2015, we want to know what YOU think was the biggest and best news in Lynden during 2015. Vote below (once per person) and share so your friends can vote too!

    Simply click your choice, then press “Vote” to submit your vote, then see the results so far! No need to register for anything, just vote!

    Bellingham Baby Co. — now in Lynden, too!

    By
    Joel VanderHoek
    -

    So many good things have been happening in Lynden lately, even beyond all the normal awesomeness that is Lynden. One new arrival to town is the Bellingham Baby Co., which opened their second retail location at the Waples Mercantile Building. The entrance to the new shop is in the interior of the building, through the Lobby of the Inn at Lynden; just past Overflow Taps and behind Drizzle and Village Books.

    Bellingham Baby Co. is owned and operated by Lyndenites Shelly and Jeremy Allen. The new Lynden location which opened in early January is their second brick and mortar shop, in addition to their Barkley Village store and online presence.

    HOEKPhotography_BellinghamBabyCoLynden-4

    The shop features a great selection of local Lynden-themed prints, including gear for the little Lynden Lion or Lync in your family!

    Continue Reading

    FYI: Guide Meridian southbound closing Jul. 31 – Aug. 4 between River Road and Wiser Lake Road

    By
    Joel VanderHoek
    -
    Photo Courtesy WSDOT / Lyle Jansma (from 2009 construction).

    The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is closing the southbound lanes of Guide Meridian (also known as State Route 539) next week, from 4am on Monday July 31st until approximately 5am on Saturday August 5th. (Yes, we said August 4th on the title – because, let’s be real, most of us won’t be driving Saturday morning before 5am and there’s a fair chance they’ll re-open it earlier). The closure is to complete “concrete leveling work” on the approach to the small bridge just south of the larger Nooksack River bridge.

    Southbound lanes of SR539 will close just north of this picture, between Wiser Lake Rd and River Rd.

    WSDOT shared on Twitter a video showing the “bump” most of our readers have probably experienced when approaching that bridge at 50 miles per hour:

    Continue Reading

    Inn at Lynden: Opening Monday, Dec. 28th!

    By
    Joel VanderHoek
    -

    After much anticipation, the Inn at Lynden is set to open the Monday after Christmas 2015, in the fully-renovated Waples Mercantile Building on Fifth & Front Streets downtown.

    To cap off an eventful and important year in Lynden, the flagship tenant of the Waples Mercantile will be opening their first guestrooms just a few days before year end. We took a tour of the space with owner-partner Teri Treat and are excited to share with you a glimpse into all the hotel has to offer — from its rooms rooted in Lynden history, to the generous lobby with an oversize fireplace, to complimentary bicycles for guests — not to mention their tasty variety of ‘roommates’ in the building!

    Nearly-complete restoration of the Waples Mercantile Building on Fifth & Front Streets in Lynden
    Nearly-complete restoration of the Waples Mercantile Building on Fifth & Front Streets in Lynden

    The entire space seemed to be buzzing with activity — like a busy beehive full of workers, each doing their part to contribute to the vision of the building. Lynden has long needed additional quality hotel options, and the restoration of such a central historic landmark into a multi-use hotel + food service + retail space is a welcome addition in town. In fact, in ourLynden‘s online poll asking ‘What was the biggest news in Lynden during 2015?’, the Waples Mercantile Building and its tenants are leading with 47% of the vote — 14% ahead of the next most popular answer.

    Continue Reading

    Local couple breathing new life into Northwood Market

    By
    Joel VanderHoek
    -

    For more than seven decades a community market has been at the corner of Northwood Road and the Badger. In recent years, many have noticed that the market wasn’t kept up as well, but now under new ownership it’ll soon be a new day for Northwood Market.

    Northwood Market Under Renovation Lynden WA
    An “Under Renovation” sign hangs in front of the Northwood Market.
    Layne and Lori Brennick are the new owners of the Northwood Market, and work is already well underway to update the building inside and out. The Brennicks lived in Lynden until about 12 years ago, when their work in education brought them across the country. “We decided we wanted to move back to this great area, and then we found this diamond in the rough for sale, and decided to go for it,” Layne shared.

    Artist's rendering of new Northwood Market frontage
    Artist’s rendering of new Northwood Market frontage on Badger Rd.
    Continue Reading

    This week on ourLynden’s Facebook page…

    By
    Joel VanderHoek
    -

    First things first: if you don’t already ‘Like’ the ourLynden page on Facebook, do it now!

    ourLynden.com is where we post full stories and articles relevant to our community. But our Facebook page is where we often put up pictures or quick tips of what’s happening around town, above and beyond what’s posted here on the website. Plus, it’s a great way to find out whenever a new article is posted here.

    This week the ourLynden Facebook page:

    • passed 1,500 fans on Facebook (152 new followers in the past week);
    • posts reached more than 26,000 people through sharing and commenting;
    • more than 6,200 people engaged with posts (such as a like, or photo click).

    The AMAZING rainbow a week ago was a fan favorite — between the three photos we shared there were 261 shares, 1728 likes, 112 comments…. the list goes on! The point: Lynden is a great community and we appreciate our town – our Lynden.

    Here’s a quick review of what our Facebook page followers enjoyed this week:

    Here's another great shot of tonight's rainbow over #Lynden from YWAM North Cascades. "The sky over Front Street is beautiful this evening with a vivid reminder of the promise of God in our lives."

    Posted by ourLynden on Friday, February 19, 2016

     

    Continue Reading

    Here it is: video footage of the World’s Longest Strawberry Shortcake for Lynden’s 125th!

    By
    Joel VanderHoek
    -
    photo by Rose Crabtree

    On Saturday June 4th, after the annual Farmer’s Day Parade, people from all around Lynden area came together to create a delicious 1,250 foot long (that’s 4 blocks!) strawberry shortcake.

    Enjoy the videos above with footage from the ground, the nearby rooftops and even the air to give some perspective on the World’s Longest Strawberry Shortcake!

    photo by Everlasting Photography
    photo by Everlasting Photography

    Check out some more great photos from the parade in Everlasting Photography’s Facebook album:

    Continue Reading
    1234Page 1 of 4

    Popular Posts

    Popular Categories

    © Copyright ourLynden 2015-2017