The Whatcom County Farm Map and Guide for 2001 hit the streets last week. The farm map is a directory of you-pick farms, farm stands, farmer’s markets, fairs, events and other sources of locally produced products. The list of products starts at apples and ends with zucchini, covering cheese, flowers, llamas, salmon and wreaths along the way. Over 50 local producers are listed on the map, over a dozen a quick drive from the Blaine/Birch Bay area, with descriptions of their products and directions. Maps are available now at the Blaine Visitor’s Center and should be at the library in coming weeks.

Free preschool
Early Childhood Opportunities Northwest, affiliated with the Opportunity Council and sponsor of Head Start and Early Childhood Education and Assistance programs in Whatcom County, is currently accepting applications for the Blaine center.
The center serves children who will be three or four by August 31, 2001. The program includes three classroom experiences per week and a monthly home visit. Monthly parent-child activities are offered.
The program is free to eligible families. For application information, call 734-8396 or visit Early Childhood Opportunities Northwest at 1200 Dupont, Suite 1-A, Bellingham.

Stray pets need food
The Whatcom Humane Society is seeking donations of newspapers and dog and cat food. Newspapers are used daily by shelter staff and volunteers to line cages and kennels. Donated food is used to feed shelter animals and is also distributed at community food banks throughout the county including the Bellingham Food Bank, Bellingham Meals on Wheels, Blaine Food Bank and Lummi National Community Center.
The Whatcom Humane Society is the oldest non-profit animal welfare organization in Whatcom County. Spring and summer are traditionally the busiest time of the year with the shelter caring for hundreds of unwanted, abused and abandoned companion animals each day.
Donations may be dropped off at the shelter Tuesday – Saturday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. The Whatcom Humane Society is located at 3710 Williamson Way in Bellingham. All donations are tax deductible. For more information, contact Laura at 733-2080, ext. 3002.

Wheelchairs available
The Miracle on Wheels program makes power wheelchairs available to non-ambulatory senior citizens (65 years old and up) usually at no out-of-pocket expense if they quality.
The wheelchairs are provided to those who can not walk and can not self-propel a manual wheelchair in their home or independent living quarters and who meet the additional qualifications of the program. This service may also be available to the permanently disabled of any age. Call 800/749-8778 or visit the web site at www.durablemedical.com for more information on the details of this program.

Non-profit workshop
The Pacific Arts Association is sponsoring two workshops to help local non-profit groups run a tighter ship. Bitsy Bidwell of the Washington State Arts Commission in Olympia will give a board orientation and a grantwriting workshop back-to-back July 2 at the Semiahmoo Fire Station.
The first workshop will teach the history, roles and responsibilities of a non-profit corporation board and its members, familiarizing board members with the legal and ethical framework they need to operate within. After a break for dinner, the second workshop will teach participants to develop a competitive grant proposal, from writing the application to building a budget. Bidwell will provide extensive resource materials.
The workshops are free and open to any board member of a non-profit group. Contact Sandy Wolf at 371-0141.

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