Rate of indecent exposure increasing near Western’s campus

Taylor Street. Maple Street. Bill Mcdonald Parkway. The fourth floor of Wilson Library.

Recently, multiple Western alerts have been sent out reporting incidents of indecent exposure on and around campus. Although three notifications involving indecent exposure have been issued in 2015, the University chief of police, Darin Rasmussen, said Western’s campus is safe.

“There seems to be more incidents of indecent exposure this year, but I wouldn’t say it is more of an issue. I would say it is a chronic issue that Western, not unlike other universities, experience. It is one that we work to identify, investigate, apprehend and deter through education and patrol,” Rasmussen said.

Indecent exposure, while labeled as a misdemeanor on the first offense by the Revised Code of Washington, becomes a class C felony upon the second offense. Those found guilty will be subjected to jail time of no longer than 90 days, and fined as found appropriate in court.

The indecent exposure cases have caused Rasmussen to order extra patrols and extra visibility. Although records indicate a slight increase in frequency throughout the neighboring Sehome neighborhood and Western’s campus within the last five years, the indecent exposure cases rarely present any additional threat, Rasmussen said.

“People who do indecent exposure are obtaining some kind of personal gratification for what they’re doing,” Rasmussen said. “A very small percentage of those people escalate to other things, for example, grabbing someone. But that doesn’t mean they do not occur.”

The majority of incidents reported during the school year have occurred on streets surrounding the campus, but one case, on Feb. 5, involved a man who exposed and touched himself on the fourth floor of Wilson library.

When police arrived, the man, age 25 and identified as not being a student at Western, was found masturbating in the west corner, which overlooks a study hall, according to public records. The man was arrested for first-degree trespassing and indecent exposure.

When asked about Western Alerts—brief warnings sent to student’s phones in the case of a possible threat to campus –however, many students seemed to agree that the alerts have created more awareness than panic.

“It doesn’t make me worry about Western. It is a very safe place to be. It makes me worry about the world more so,” Western sophomore Kristin Garner said. “It just makes me think ‘what would I do in that situation?’ and it helps get the news out so people can come up with ideas on how they could react if it were to happen to them.”

Rasmussen said the public is a critical part of crime prevention in Bellingham.

“People just need to be encouraged to say something. If they don’t know who it is, but they have seen anything suspicious at all, they can let us know and potentially stop something from happening,” Rasmussen said. “If you see something, say something.”

The recent reports, while all targeting females, don’t appear to pose much concern for the men on campus, Sepand Nikzad, sophomore at Western, noted.

“I don’t feel victimized because I’m a guy, and sometimes I feel like the constancy of the reports almost downplays it. I’m just like, “What is going on? Why is everyone exposing themselves?” Nikzad said.

The rate of indecent exposure for winter quarter appears to mimic a similar pattern of voyeurism last year as three Western Alerts, regarding men looking into women’s windows near campus, were sent out in February. The weather changing during this time, Rasmussen said, could likely be a factor.

“When it is cold, rainy or snowy, it is less likely to have an outdoor crime occur as opposed to an indoor crime. When the weather starts getting nicer, people start walking outside and spending more time outside and you start to see more interaction with outdoor situations,” Rasmussen said.

The alerts are associated with the Jeanne Cleary Act, which, according to the Act’s website, requires “colleges and universities, both public and private, participating in federal student aid programs to disclose campus safety information” with focus on any threats of sexual violence along with other emergencies. The Western Alert system was recently enhanced, Rasmussen said, as it was updated in 2014 to a dashboard referred to as RAVE, which has allowed for a quicker notification of emergencies to Western’s students.

Rasmussen said police are excited about the system as it will increase awareness for students and enhance their safety. He added that safety on campus can be enforced by University Police in various ways.

“There is safety and there is the perception of safety. It is one thing to say we have a very safe campus —which we do— and it is another thing to address people’s concerns for safety and that has to do with other things like lighting, walkways, green-coat escorts and those kinds of things,” Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen added that students should take reasonable precautions such as carrying a fully charged phone, telling friends where they are going, and walking with others. He encourages students to utilize the greencoat escorts, who are available to accompany any student across campus as part of the free service offered by the University Police.

Although the suspects are not always found, Rasmussen said, many repeat the behavior.

“People are creatures of habit. If something was successful last time, they will do them again,” Rasmussen said. “It is why people generally get caught, like the phrase, ‘They always return to the scene of the crime’—well, they don’t—but they oftentimes do similar things over time.”

“Francis Place” apartments for homeless to complete this July

After a land use appeal opposed the construction of the Cornwall Permanent Supportive Housing Facility in spring of 2014, the residence, now to be called “Francis Place,” is projected to finish building the 1100 Cornwall Ave. space this coming July, with hopes for leasing opportunities to open for the “chronically homeless and vulnerable” this August.

Housing manager at Catholic Community Services, Michael Parker, states that their goal in building the apartments is to provide a place for the “regularly victimized” homeless people throughout the community.

“Those people, because of whatever barriers, whatever trauma, are less able to protect themselves. We offer a place where these people can feel safe and achieve stability,” Parker said. “Housing makes it a lot easier to keep an appointment. When you’re homeless you don’t keep a calendar. We believe that housing people first–then working on their personal issues–will bring this stability.”

The lot, consisting of 42 units—nine one-bedrooms and 33 studios— has been faced with little complication since starting development, and according to Parker, has been going “remarkably smooth” in terms of timing and budget. The project, which is fully funded, maintains a total development cost of approximately $9.7 million, while the building itself has projected construction costs of approximately $6.4 million.

Prior to the startup of construction in July 2014, the City of Bellingham, Catholic Community Services, Catholic Housing Services, and the Association of Bellingham Merchants and Citizens were able to reach a settlement agreement which dismissed the land use appeal working against the project, Division Director of Catholic Housing Services, Steve Powers, said.

The necessity for the units, as the service model indicates, “has been clearly identified within our community’s multi-year effort to address homelessness.” This need, Parker adds, makes Francis Place a win-win situation for everyone in the community.

“With these projects, we often see patterns of community concerns and people who get a bit worried. Catholic Community Services and Catholic Housing Services have an excellent track record throughout Western Washington,” Parker said. “Often after the projects are put into place, people see the benefits and ultimately recognize it as a good thing…either way the people without homes are here and we are giving them a place to be.”

The supporters are just as prevalent as those who may be opposed, Parker adds, as many tenants and business owners express their support for the project. Their support, he notes, may be a bit quieter than those who have voiced concerns. Catholic Housing Services has held community meetings in order to address any possible concerns throughout the neighborhood.

“I’m not that fond of how they look, but I’m happy some people will be able to have a place to live. As a nurse, I see the cascading effect that it has in a person’s life,” Downtown resident, Marsha Tamblyn, 61, said. “Without a safe place to live, how are people supposed to care for themselves? I think the end result will have a positive impact on the community.”

The apartments will work at providing access to mental health and chemical dependency counseling for residents, as well as help them in achieving their personal goals.

“We are a community partner. We work with police and chemical dependency agencies. We are giving resources to help people that may not be getting income,” Parker said. “We try to find the best match for their needs.”

Many residents will get scheduled assessments where they can receive help in building a service plan that will allow them to work towards their personal goals. Catholic Community Services provides the agency or therapist that will be able to work with the resident and “help their needs the best”, Parker said.

Catholic Community Services takes the housing-first approach, getting behind the projects and studies showing that proper housing reduces the interaction between the residents and police, jails, and emergency rooms.

“The biggest thing is a safe, stable place to call their own. It’s amazing how we have seen people transform once that is in place,” Parker said. “We have seen people become sober and reconnect with their children, and this is shown to be a result of the housing-first approach.”

Those hoping to apply for housing will go through a slightly different process than the one used for Catholic Housing Services’ three other locations, as the association has partnered with the Whatcom Housing Service Center to conduct a coordinated entry. Applicants will sign-up through the Whatcom Housing Service Center system which will refer those who are qualified to Catholic Housing Services.

The Cornwall Ave. lot, 80 percent of which was purchased by Catholic Community Services in 1998, with the remaining 20 percent purchased in 2012, is in a space “ideal for residents”, according to the project’s service model. The residence will have easy access to public transportation, as well as human service providers, and will maintain 24/7 staffing.

Ben Miller, 25, while currently in the process of applying for a place to live downtown, sees Francis Place as a sign of hope for the community.

“It shows there is still good in this world,” Miller said. “We need to come back together as a society and help each other, and this is a start.”

Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival given Mayor’s Art award

After its 15th annual showing, which brought in roughly 1500 attendees and presented a total of 24 films, the Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival concluded Feb.29, earning the “Mayor’s Art Award” for its contribution to the arts in the surrounding community.

“Bellingham is a progressive community keenly interested in global, regional and local issues.  The festival feeds the local desire to be in the know and to be thoughtful inhabitants of this world,” Susie Purves, Executive Director at the Pickford, said. “The festival also does its part to narrow the town and end a divide between the University and the rest of Bellingham by tapping into interests that attract both groups.”

The films, spread out all over town, rely on the large amount of nearby sponsors to help sustain the life of the festival, Ross Marquardt, five-year film festival committee member, said. The Pickford Film Center, located downtown on Bay Street, is a long-time supporter of the film festival, having been with the event since its beginnings as the “Whatcom Film Association.” Purves said she is thrilled that the venue can support the free event and, through its resource, serve the community.

“The festival is able to sustain itself because of all the community support, both financially and through the interest and belief in it. It wouldn’t work without it because there is no paid staff. It is a community effort,” Marquardt said.

Every August, the committee begins brainstorming potential films for the free February event, and looks at the previous year’s feedback to help feed the lineup. Members suggest films throughout the year, and three months before the festival kicks off, they begin bringing in films to preview.

The film committee works to keep the topics alive after each film festival comes to an end, as the films are sorted to the various libraries across town and are made into a list on the festival’s website, along with additional resources and organizations from which the community can use to become more involved.

“The festival acts as an alternative media and offers what can’t be found in mass media. It is a source that is unique and provides an opportunity for people to become aware of issues and get involved,” Marquardt said. “We try to think of what will be of interest to the community of Bellingham. This year in particular had a lot of locally-made films,” Marquardt said.

“Homeless in Bellingham” a short series by Bellingham filmmaker, Fredrick Dent, was part of the local films included in this year’s lineup. The films are relatively short, being nine and 20 minutes long, and, while the films are only a portion of a series created by Dent, Marquardt said, the two that were chosen by the committee were thought to fit this year’s lineup best in regards to time and audience.

“We thought this [homelessness] was an important issue that could inform people on what is going on in this community,” Marquardt said. “There seems to be a great interest in this particular topic.”

The film is paired with showings of “Don’t Look Down on Me,” a film focused on the responses to “offensive statements and inappropriate questions,” in downtown New York, as described on the Festival’s website.

Simply learning about the different human rights issues through the films isn’t enough, however, as Marquardt focuses on the importance of the discussions held between director and audience after a number of the films. This year, seven discussions were able to include the director through either a visit to the venue or a skype call, both lasting around 20-30 minutes long.

“We have a belief in being completely open to the community,” Marquardt said. “Without them it wouldn’t happen.”

The ceremony for the Mayor’s Art Award will be held at the Mount Baker Theatre, in the Walton room, on Apr. 29.

The film festival’s website provides additional information to the community in terms of how they can become more involved, listing each year’s previous lineup, along with websites that can provide more information and the local library at which the film is held.  The lineups of both past and present, as well as additional information regarding the organization’s overall mission can be found on their website,  http://bhrff.webs.com.

Upcoming cooking classes from the Co-op

Along with their community food blog and online recipes, the Bellingham Food Co-op offers multiple cooking and baking classes at its downtown and Cordata locations. Below are some of the upcoming classes that offer online registration through the Co-op website.

“My Winter in France” with Karina Davidson
Davidson adapts recipes from the French food blogger, David Leibovitz,while focusing on winter-style cuisines. Featured food will include roasted chicken and caramelized shallots with a spinach cake as well as a root vegetable and farro salad. The class will conclude on a sweet note with ginger gateau with blueberry sauce.

Date: Feb. 19, 2015
Location: Cordata Co-op Local Roots Room
Time: 6-8:30 p.m.
Fee: $39 with $7 wine option

“Bali–Been There, Ate that” with Robert Fong
Inspired by his travels to Bali, Chef Fong will feature “traditional Balinese dishes” such as pork satay grilled on sticks of lemongrass and whole duck steamed in a banana leaf.

Date: Feb. 24, 2015
Location: Downtown Co-op Connection Building
Time: 6:30-9 p.m.
Fee: $45 with $8 wine option
 
“The Mexican Kitchen: Empanadas & Chiles Rellenos” with Ana Jackson
Mexican-style dishes featuring corn empanadas with cheese and veggies in caldillo sauce and “flaky turnovers stuffed with picadillo” are two dishes offered by Baja native, Ana Jackson. Three different fresh salsas will be served in accompaniment to the Mexican cuisine.

Date: March 5, 2015
Location: Cordata Co-op Local Roots Room
Time: 6-9 p.m.
Fee: $39 with $5 beer option

Recipes from the Co-op: http://www.communityfood.coop/learn/recipes/recipes-bakery-goods/
Co-op Food Blog: https://coopkitchennotes.wordpress.com/

Upcoming bakery adds a dash of light to downtown

For now, it only exists in the words displayed on the chain-link fence across from the downtown Food Co-op, but as Bakery Manager Darcy Mcguirk tours the North Forest Street space–which will later this spring become the “Co-op Bakery,”–she sees a bright workplace, made possible by the intended large windows and house-made goods.

“People often come to the store and don’t always know that we make the food fresh or from scratch; they think it comes from other bakeries,” Mcguirk said.

The Co-op is always looking for ways to improve, Mcguirk said, and so when the General Manager, Jim Ashby, saw the property across from the downtown store open up, it just seemed like a good opportunity.

“I think a bakery was one of the many ideas in the back of his mind as being beneficial for the Co-op, something of interest–a draw for people to come in and watch the bakers at work,” Mcguirk said.

Following the lead of the Co-op, which maintains sensitivity for food allergens, Mcguirk is hopeful that they will be able to certify the Bakery as being “gluten-free.” Either way, Mcguirk added, they will continue to make baked goods without wheat.

The bakery’s gluten-free focus certainly won’t be a completely new venture for downtown, as places such as Avenue Bread and Bellingham FlatBread & Bakery also have items made specifically for those with gluten-intolerance. But, similar to the large amount of coffee shops in the area, Mcguirk points out, the demand is still there.

“A couple years ago, it was ‘oh, that gluten free fad’, but now we see its still happening; some bodies can’t do gluten– and so it has become a necessity,” Mcguirk said.

The bakery will be likely be expanding its selection as well as offering many of the sandwiches, salads, and deli items that are currently offered in the store’s own Swan café. Signs with arrows pointing customers to the “gluten free” and the “Made with Gluten” items are everywhere in the store, ensuring that shoppers are pointed towards alternatives.

Regular customer, Katie Harford, 20, said she looks forward to see what additions will come with the new bakery, hoping that there will be more gluten-free “lighter pastries,” such like the savory twist that the Co-op currently offers.

Currently, the Co-op’s glass windows showcase the various baked-goods sans wheat: gluten-free carrot cake, lemon cheesecake, peanut butter chocolate pie, and vanilla-rose cupcakes to name just a few. The words “house-made” can be found pasted on the café’s menu as well as the glass windows, alongside “Allergen keys,” which direct customers to the pastry that may best suit their needs.

“I think we are already strong community members in accommodating people’s dietary restrictions,” Baker at the Co-op, Niko Wolf, 32, said. “Providing it to a greater degree with more gluten-free ingredients is a great opportunity.”

The addition, according to Mcguirk, may benefit the downtown Co-op the most in terms of added space.

“It’s cramped with the deli, and the bakery is really going to help us out. It gets silly–all the stuff at the downtown store is so busy,” Mcguirk said. “The bakery will allow coffee and sweet treats for those who don’t want to deal with all that grocery business.”

“I’m most excited for the convenience aspect,” Co-op regular, Natylee Mueller, 22, said. “I also think the bakery having its own spot will mean having the freshest items.”

In company with the mild cautions to different allergens, signs that designate freshness also scattered along the baked goods offered at the Co-op as well as the extensive list of local suppliers that provide produce and other fresh ingredients.

Signs for the bakery also mention the incorporation of classes, something the downtown location currently offers as well, with upcoming classes focused on baking “guilt-free Valentine’s Day desserts” or the four different “Breads from India.”

With the structure of the bakery currently set, Mcguirk anticipates that the shop will be up and running near the end of May or early this June. To pick what she is most excited about for the new bakery, Mcguirk said, is difficult, but apart from having her own space, she would have to pick the windows.

“Right now, I sit surrounded by prison windows—two feet by two feet—and so it will be exciting to have these new, big windows.” Mcguirk said.

Books to look for at the Alternative Library

For those who aren’t entirely certain of what books the Alternative Library has to offer, the following are books, along with brief descriptions, recommended by some of the volunteers:

“Understanding Monster” by Theo Ellsworth

Held in the “Fantasy” section of the library, Understanding Monster is a graphic novel of some kind, filled with detailed and vivid drawings.

The book’s description describes part-one of the two-part series as:

“a departure for reader and author alike. While maintaining the intimate nature of his debut Capacity, Ellsworth has taken his personal experience to an entirely new reality, exploding with color and energy. Presented in an oversized, full color, hardcover edition that captures the beauty of his hand painted artwork at nearly full size, The Understanding Monster Book One is a wonder to behold.” (Amazon, Understanding Monster Book One)

“Necronomicon: The Weird Tales of H. P. Lovecraft“ By H.P. Lovecraft

The library’s “Horror” section is one noted by many of those at the Alternative Library. The library features many titles by the author H.P. Lovecraft– with his covers depicting upside down and distorted heads to the more undistinguishable.

The books description, as provided by Barnes and Noble, describes it as being:

“Originally written for the pulp magazines of the 1920s and 1930s, H. P. Lovecraft’s astonishing tales blend elements of horror, science fiction, and cosmic terror that are as powerful today as they were when they were first published. This tome brings together all of Lovecraft’s harrowing stories, including the complete Cthulhu Mythos cycle, just the way they were first released. It will introduce a whole new generation of readers to Lovecraft’s fiction, as well as attract those fans who want all his work in a single, definitive volume.”

“The Complete Sherlock Holmes” By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

A more recognizable recommendation from those at the library is the complete works of Sherlock Holmes, a book comprised of every story told from the 1892-tales. The book is held in the Fiction and Literature section of the library and contains all four of the full-length novels as well as fifty-six short stories.

More of the Alternative Library’s collection can be explored inside or online on their website, with sections from Circus Arts, Urban Fantasy, and Magical Realism to European Literature and Poetry.

Links:

Alternative Library Website and Directory: http://www.altlib.org/
Alternative Library’s Tumblr Webpage: http://bhamaltlib.tumblr.com/

Alternative Library plans for third relocation this June

By Kara Spencer 

Behind various flyers, posters and maps, the neon blue and green walls of the Alternative Library make a limited appearance, as they enclose the space which will make its third relocation this coming June, leaving a portion of the homeless community, who express finding shelter and good books at the Railroad Avenue location, with one less place to spend time.

Cullen Beckham, the founder and owner of the Alternative Library, has yet to disclose where the new location will be, but looks forward to the changes it could bring.

“I have a good space on lockdown, but there is still work to be done,” Beckham said, “It’s kind of a scary thing.”

Since moving to the Railroad Avenue location in October 2013, the library has been prone to a high amount of foot traffic due to its close proximity to the bus station. This placement, Beckham said, brought a lot of exposure to the library.

“It draws in all kinds of people. On a typical day you will see college kids, those who work downtown, and random meth addicts coming in. Some of them contribute positively and others do not,” Beckham said.

This exposure has brought many of the downtown residents without homes, such as David Swanson, 25, into the library’s open community.

“I started coming in for the shelter,” Swanson explained, “but then I started noticing the comic books. Now I just sit and read all day…I want to go to college, but for now I can get a good start and this is the place to be.”

After wandering into the library this fall, Swanson was quick to become a member. Soon after claiming membership, he decided to start volunteering and, what he calls, “playing librarian.”

“I’m pretty much here everyday, it’s not like I have much else to do,” Swanson said, “It’s been a place that helps me keep things off my mind so I don’t just get drunk all day.”

The nonprofit library is dependent on its volunteers for maintaining business and cannot open when short of staff. Robbie Rings, the event coordinator, says he decided to volunteer at the library because he could not find a job elsewhere, expressing that he still wanted to work and become part of a community.

A typical day of volunteering, Swanson said, consists of reading, recruiting other homeless residents, re-shelving and reorganizing books, checking inventory and event planning.

Swanson encourages others in the homeless community to come into the library for shelter, hoping that they might also decide to crack open a book.

“There is so much knowledge around them, I’m hoping one day they’ll open one up and see how interesting something is…They’re a few street kids trying to become volunteers here right now. It’s a start,” Swanson said.

The library’s demographic captured the attention of Northwest Youth Services, who noticed that the same people using their drop in center were also hanging around the Railroad Avenue space. Northwest Youth Services has partnered with the library and makes daily stops there, bringing in food and offering council to those who are having a hard time, Beckham said.

Northwest Youth Services has not been the only one to notice those who spend time in the library, as cups of soup and other food items often make their way in.

“I don’t know who it always is…I think often its some other homeless people who have a sporadic come-up and bring in the food for their friends,” Beckham said.

The change in location will place the library in more of a college demographic, Beckham noted, allowing it to be the focus of less downtown drug traffic which, he says, should be one of the more positive outcomes of the move.

“By being open to everyone, you get everyone. Sometimes it’s important to set boundaries… It’s easier for boundaries to get pushed farther when you have less control of traffic,” Beckham said.

The location change, however, also means less availability to those homeless that take residence in the downtown area.

Swanson states that he will probably be visiting the public library a bit more once the move occurs, but adds that the new space may mean less stealing, something that “is a pain” at the current location.

No matter where the library is, Beckham still focuses on the community that it has been able to offer.

“Really the goal is to provide a comfortable atmosphere that can feel safe for anyone…A space that creates a new culture in response to the qualities within our current culture that feel sick,” Beckham said.

Introduction

The “Downtown Bellingham Bulletin” will be focused on the current happenings of the “Central Business District” neighborhood of Bellingham, WA. The proactive and diverse atmosphere of the urban city offers plans for expansion, revival, and renewal towards more urban living and enhancing the Marina. Many parks, local businesses, schools, housing, city buildings, and historic places reside in Downtown, making it a place crawling with stories and current events.

This blog will be centered on the findings from one-on-one interactions, observations, and research pertaining to the city and the news within it.