Getting to know ourLynden writer Bailee Mulder

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Joel VanderHoek

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August 6, 2016

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Getting to know <i>ourLynden</i> writer Bailee Mulder

This summer, Lynden-native Bailee Mulder is writing for ourLynden. We asked her a few questions so you could get to know her better:

What were your favorite things about growing up in Lynden?

“Gosh, there are so many things. Just a few – I loved the summers (picking raspberries, running through cow sprinklers, Razz Fest and the Fair), transporting myself everywhere in town by longboard in middle school, and Friday night football games (I graduated from Lynden High School in 2014).

I’m glad I was able to feel comfortable and safe at almost all times here, that’s something that’s really important to me. I loved growing up knowing so many people, like when I graduated I felt like I knew everyone in my class, which isn’t the case for a lot of people.

I love how Lynden is perfectly placed – an hour from the mountains, the water, and just minutes from Canada. It was fun to explore the surrounding areas growing up.

What have you come to appreciate about Lynden since moving to college?

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Aloha! Coconut Kenny’s is now in Lynden

By

Bailee Mulder

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August 6, 2016

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Lyndenites no longer have to leave town for “a taste of paradise” – Coconut Kenny’s opens this week in Lynden!

“The customers brought us to Lynden,” area manager Pedro Lopez said. “We like to go where people want us to go.”

“People have been asking for Lynden for years,” restaurant manager Sara Wallace, a Lynden native, added.

The Lynden restaurant, located at 8122 Guide Meridian — the former site of the beloved Milt’s Pizza — is Coconut Kenny’s 5^th location. They are excited for new customers and the opportunity to branch out.

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America’s Main Street Block Party Photo Gallery

By

Joel VanderHoek

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July 7, 2016

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America’s Main Street Block Party Photo Gallery — The crowd looks on as the stage event wraps up.

To celebrate Lynden’s first place win as “America’s Main Street”, a block party was held on the 4th of July 2016 including food, music, games and more.

Here are the photos from HOEK Photography (for best viewing and to read captions: on a desktop browser, click a photo to enlarge then scroll through them using your keyboard mouse):

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Local couple breathing new life into Northwood Market

By

Joel VanderHoek

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July 4, 2016

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Local couple breathing new life into Northwood Market

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.

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Independence Day in Lynden: Everything You Need to Know

By

Bailee Mulder

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July 2, 2016

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Independence Day in Lynden: Everything You Need to Know — Fireworks Stand on the Guide Meridian in Lynden

Editor’s Note: Bailee Mulder is a Lynden native and journalism student at the University of Oregon. You’ll see posts from her throughout the summer on ourLynden, and we’ll soon post an article to fully introduce our readers to Bailee. Welcome, Bailee!

The Fourth of July is a holiday loved by Lyndenites, where we celebrate America’s independence and our freedoms with family and friends in our community. Some go on camping trips, others enjoy backyard barbeques, many do fireworks, but however you decide to celebrate, a holiday spent with the ones we love on a beautiful day is always something special.

Wondering where to buy fireworks, the regulations on fireworks or where to celebrate on the Fourth of July holiday? Here’s your full guide to Independence Day in Lynden.

Fireworks: Where to buy

Lynden has four fireworks stands that will be open through the Fourth of July holiday, all on the west side of town.

The first stand can be found just past Safeway heading south on the Guide Meridian. Another stand is set up next to O’Reilly’s on Kok Road – a fundraiser for the Lynden Pioneer Museum that’s been going for about 15 years.

Lynden Pioneer Museum fundraiser fireworks stand on Kok Road

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

By

Joel VanderHoek

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June 9, 2016

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

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

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We did it! Lynden wins $25k 1st Place in “America’s Main Streets” competition!

By

Joel VanderHoek

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June 3, 2016

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We did it!

Thanks to votes from all around the country, Lynden has been named the 1st Place winner in the “America’s Main Streets” competition. Thousands of ourLynden followers voted through the ourLynden Facebook page, and countless others voted all around the area.

$25,000 will be awarded to the Downtown Business Association (DBA), which plans to use the money for further improvements and investments around downtown Lynden. Ken Stap, president of the Lynden DBA, shared that the funds will be used in a few different ways.

The first funds will be used to update the watering equipment for Lynden’s famous hanging flower baskets, and then additional funding will help improve ‘wayfinding’ — signage to help visitors and locals alike find what they’re looking for in and around Lynden. Remaining money will likely be used to begin exploring options to increase and improve parking downtown — a great problem to have.

The 2015 Farmers Day Parade on Front Street in Lynden.

“We’re just so jazzed and honored for this award,” Stap said. “The organizers of the contest are planning to fly out a crew to throw a celebration ceremony in Lynden on the 4th of July, and will even be sending a film crew to the Farmer’s Day Parade this weekend.” Details about the July 4th ceremony will be shared on ourLynden as soon as they are available.

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CubanoCubano is Lynden’s newest food truck, and it’s super tasty!

By

Joel VanderHoek

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May 20, 2016

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CubanoCubano is Lynden’s newest food truck, and it’s super tasty! — Opening night at CubanoCubano (photo by @ticklishchicken)

An authentic taste of Cuba may not be as distant as you think.

Havana? Miami? Nope — right here in Lynden!

You read that right. Last week CubanoCubano debuted their tasty Cuban grub in Lynden to an overflow crowd outside of Overflow Taps. The food truck is the first Cuban food on wheels in Whatcom County, and one of only a couple food trucks that roll into Lynden.

Lynden-native Sean Beanblossom is the face behind the grill, acting as chef and owner, to crank out some delicious eats. Beanblossom recently returned to the area after serving as an executive chef in Portland, Oregon.

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Fresh new logo for Lynden-based Woods Coffee

By

Joel VanderHoek

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April 13, 2016

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Photo Courtesy of Woods Coffee

It’s a big week for Lynden-based Woods Coffee: a new logo and the Grand Opening of their new roastery this Saturday.

After 14 years in business, the Woods Coffee has updated their logo and branding materials. The new logo (pictured below) is reflects the company’s Northwest roots and is designed to be cleaner and more simple than the historical brand mark. “The script font is a reminder to never take ourselves too seriously — to live out one of our core values which is to have fun,” explained Wes Herman, who founded the company along with his family in 2002.

The new branding will roll out across the stores over time, with the drink cups being one of the first elements to sport the new logo in their three Lynden coffee shops. The new cups each have a quote from John Muir, who is commonly referred to as the father of the National Park system, which celebrates 100 years this year.

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It’s true: Lynden to create world’s longest strawberry shortcake at Farmers Day Parade!

By

Joel VanderHoek

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March 22, 2016

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It’s true: Lynden to create world’s longest strawberry shortcake at Farmers Day Parade!

1,250 feet — that’s all the way through downtown Lynden.

From the Dutch Village Mall on 7th & Front all the way to Colony House Furniture on 3rd & Front near the museum, a world-record berry shortcake will block the road on Saturday, June 4th during this year’s Farmers Day Parade.

“Since we have the world’s sweetest strawberries and shortcake is such a wonderful way to enjoy them, this will be a fun way to celebrate Lynden’s 125th anniversary”

Lynden is known for its berries, dairies, and a love of food — so the giant treat seemed like a great way to gather and celebrate as a community. Gary Vis, executive director of the Lynden Chamber of Commerce, explains that the shortcake will be topped with locally grown strawberries, plus local ice cream and whipped cream. The community will then be invited to eat free servings of the strawberry shortcake.

A mini strawberry shortcake, which pales in comparison to Lyndens record-setting attempt this summer! — A mini strawberry shortcake, which pales in comparison to Lynden’s record-setting attempt this summer!

Plenty of people should be around to help eat the shortcake, since it will be built immediately following the popular Farmers Day Parade, which draws up to 10,000 people annually. The parade, which celebrates our local agricultural heritage, will start at 10:30 a.m. and conclude around 12 noon.

“Once we’ve built the 1,250-foot shortcake, photographers and a drone will produce the documentation we need to submit to Guiness World Records,” Vis said. “Then volunteers will begin serving free strawberry shortcake to everyone who stays.”