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Tag: Whatcom County

Bush butternut tree
If Trees Could Talk: Famous Trees around Washington

If Trees Could Talk: Famous Trees around Washington

We have many historically significant trees in Washington, and many State Archives records document the people and events related to the state’s most historic trees. Although State Archives collections mainly consist of state and local government records, many archival collections also contain photographs. Archivist Jewell Dunn recently turned up one of the last photos of the Medicine Creek tree after it was topped by an arborist to be preserved. The plaque seen in the Medicine Creek tree photo at right…

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stem education chalkboard
Washington State Library launching grant-funded STEM program

Washington State Library launching grant-funded STEM program

In fall 2017, the Washington State Library teamed up with the Imagine Children’s Museum of Everett, School’s Out Washington and the Spokane County Library District for a grant application to fund a program to promote literacy-based STEM activities for children ages 3 to 10 and their families. The application was successful. This STEM program stood out from many others because the program begins the exploration of scientific concepts through sharing a children’s book. Few other STEM programs, if any, are literacy-based….

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pen writing a tick in the box
Understanding the February Special Election

Understanding the February Special Election

Did you know there’s an election coming up on Tuesday, February 13th? Springtime special elections sometimes get overlooked, especially when it feels like the recent November election is so fresh in mind. But in the February 2018 special election, 65 percent of Washington’s registered voters are eligible to participate — that’s 2,753,553 people. Voters from all but two counties have issues and/or races on the February ballot. San Juan and Skamania are the exceptions, but not all other counties have…

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Spokane Public Library
On the road again

On the road again

Over the past few months, Secretary Wyman has been traveling around Washington on a number of multi-purpose trips. As she is the Secretary OF State, we’ve been calling these community visits her Secretary IN State tour. Since August, she’s visited Kelso and Longview in Cowlitz County; Vancouver and Camas in Clark County; Aberdeen in Grays Harbor County; Pasco, Richland and Kennewick in Benton and Franklin Counties; Walla Walla in Walla Walla County; Bellingham and Fairview in Whatcom County, Mount Vernon…

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LIKE AS “TWO DROMIOS”: COMPLICATIONS FROM A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY.

LIKE AS “TWO DROMIOS”: COMPLICATIONS FROM A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY.

From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: [The following piece of found-at-random news comes from The Tacoma Daily Ledger, although the story took place in New Whatcom (a town which later became part of the City of Bellingham). The tale reads like a screwball comedy. Published on November 9, 1897, the headline writer very appropriately made a reference to characters from Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors]: Mrs. Woods of Whatcom Secures a…

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A Much Wanted Tooth Carpenter

A Much Wanted Tooth Carpenter

  From the desk of Steve Willis, Central Library Services Program Manager of the Washington State Library: (An alternative title for pun-lovers could be: A Quack Dentist in Blaine Ducks From the Web of the Law Without Paying the Bill. Patients and Creditors are Down in the Mouth) Con artists always make good news stories, no matter what the era. There seem to be no shortage of articles about swindlers in these old newspapers. This particular tale is more amusing than…

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Reed visits Skagit County

Reed visits Skagit County

As part of his goal of visiting all 39 counties in Washington during his final year in office, Secretary Reed is in the northwestern part of the state for the next couple of days. He’s shown here talking with a patron at the Mount Vernon City Library. His  Skagit County visit Monday also included stops at the county courthouse in Mount Vernon and the Skagit County Historical Society Museum in La Conner, as well as a speaking engagement before the…

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Spotlight Charity: Live United in Whatcom County

Spotlight Charity: Live United in Whatcom County

Photo courtesy of United Way of Whatcom County If you know anything about charities you have probably heard of United Way. Over the course of the 20th century this charitable organization has become deeply rooted in communities across Washington and the United States. Because United Way recognizes that local problems need local solutions, each branch independently develops programs that best suit the needs of the communities they serve. Every United Way throughout Washington goes above and beyond to support our…

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