Winter Harvest Healthy Meals
Weather you’re harvesting from your own garden or buying at the store, winter-time produce makes for delicious dishes! And there are more options than you might think. For instance, did…
We Speak to where you live.
The Family That Frames Together | Wilson Picture Framing
Whether you received a new print for the holidays or you’ve had a beloved poster rolled up in the shipping tube for months, let this be the nudge you need to get it framed. I know, I know, custom framing can be expensive, especially if you (like me) love museum glass. But a beautiful frame like the ones made by Wilson Picture Framing in Mount Vernon is worth it. “When you do get something framed with…
A New Multi-Use Space Opens in Downtown Mount Vernon | Mount Vernon Library Commons
At the end of last year, a project that was two years and $56 million in the making came to a close: the new Mount Vernon Library Commons is officially open to the public! In addition to a new public library with youth services and a great teen room, the mixed-use space includes a community kitchen, a publicly-accessible conference center, and a three-story parking garage that boasts 76 EV charging spaces and nine charging lockers for electric bicycles. The goal…
8 Great Tastes | January 2025
The perfect breakfast to accompany a morning meet-up with a friend? The Soft Boiled Egg on Toast and a Cardamom Latte at Cafe Blue! It’s just filling and indulgent enough without being too heavy and distracting you from the conversation. For Peruvian-cuisine enthusiasts, Cafe Rumba is the restaurant for you, as they serve many different pastries and a variety of different Peruvian sanguches. One snack you have to try here…
Looking and Feeling Your Best at Any Age
No matter who you are or what stage of life you’re in, we all want to look and feel our best. Sometimes it’s easy to get stuck in a rut or feel boxed in by what you’re ‘supposed to’ wear or do, but style…
Two Years of Since Time Immemorial
This month marks two years and 20 instances of one of our favorite recurring Bellingham Alive columns: Since Time Immemorial. The wonderful Julie Trimingham began interviewing indigenous community members for Bellingham Alive in late 2022, and those interviews, along with beautiful full-page portraits, have appeared in the magazine’s Life section since January…
Wine Pick of the Month | Sonder x Sage Rat Carbonic Nebbiolo
SONDER X SAGE RAT CARBONIC NEBBIOLO Keep the winter celebrations going with this rose-colored stunner! Winemakers Sonder and Sage Rat made their Carbonic Nebbiolo in collaboration here in Washington State, from 100% Nebbiolo grapes grown right here in Washington—which is somewhat rare because Nebbiolo is a…
Bringing a Mount Vernon Home Into the 21st Century | True Bearing Built
The primary goal of this Mount Vernon kitchen remodel was to take the original closed-kitchen layout and turn it into an updated, stylish, and functional open-layout space where the homeowner could host guests and feel connected to the rest of the house. The new design removed the L-shaped…
Expanding to Better Serve Our Community | PeaceHealth St. Joseph’s Stronger Together Campaign
If you live in or near Bellingham, you’ve probably been to the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center; since 1966, many in our community have relied on “St. Joe’s,” as it’s affectionately known, for lifelong care across a wide spectrum of needs. Now, that spectrum is expanding, thanks to a massive, multi-year community effort and more than $400 million in funding—including nearly $100 million in private donations. “For someone in my area of responsibility, you typically…
Local Rugby | Empowering Girls Through the Game
According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, girls are dropping out of sports at twice the rate of boys by age 14; this can be due to factors such as lack of access and social stigma. But team sports have many benefits—development of social skills, increased health, and stress management are just a few. There is a lesser-known team sport that has recently been brought to the forefront: women’s rugby. In July, the US women’s rugby sevens team took…
Literary Events | January
Ashley E. Sweeney, “The Irish Girl” Book Signing January 4, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Attend this book signing and release celebration of award-winning author Ashley E….
Since Time Immemorial | Tsx’vilum Free Borsey
Since Time Immemorial is a recurring series featuring community members whose families have been here since time immemorial. The ancestral knowledge carried by Lhaq’temish, Nooksack, and other Coast Salish peoples is…
Hiatus Campers
Life partners Erin and Tyler founded Hiatus Campers in 2018 based on their love of adventure. The native Washingtonian UW alums met at the campus climbing gym. Tyler, an Industrial Design graduate, had always loved working with his hands. He spent years commercial fishing in Alaska, which also allowed him to develop his fabrication background through use of specialized equipment. After graduation, Tyler and Erin built their first hard-sided pop-up camper and traveled across North America, living out of it full time.
They received a lot of interest on the road. After returning to Washington, they decided to pursue building campers full-time and started Hiatus out of a barn in Issaquah, which they converted into a tailored shop. Entrepreneurial Erin led the charge on developing the business and marketing their name online. There was a major hole in the market for a lightweight product that could withstand the PNW weather. Erin and Tyler give a big thank you to all of their wonderful customers and everyone who helped along the way to bring Hiatus to life!
After 1.5 years of R&D and building prototypes, they finally landed on the Hiatus model and received a patent on their design. The first few rigs hit the road just months before the pandemic started. Due to major supply chain issues and limited marketing opportunities, the pandemic nearly ended the company. Fortunately, the outdoor industry was thriving and the young company was able to stay afloat through sacrifices
and perseverance. Hiatus was one of the first US companies to make a pop-top on a canopy style camper and the only one to offer a fully hard-sided option.
In 2022 the company moved to Bellingham and set up shop on Marine Drive. They were drawn in by the marine industry, large outdoor community, and friendly people. After investing in CNC equipment, they expanded their production capacity to meet increased demand. In addition, Hiatus recently adopted a 4 day work week so that their hardworking employees can pursue their adventures too!
Hiatus is driven to help folks further their connection with the outdoors by creating a product that can push the boundaries of adventure, without sacrificing comfort. They always look for ways to improve their product, while maintaining high quality. By delivering a product that can take you anywhere, Hiatus strives to support folks in developing their respect and appreciation for the great outdoors.
Hiatus’ unique pop-top is fully hard-sided, insulated, waterproof, and windproof. In less than 15 seconds you can pop up your tiny home anywhere. The mechanism unfolds in one motion, via external struts, making the process super easy. Not only will you be protected from the elements, you’ll get a restful night of sleep, even on the side of the road. They build for any standard pickup bed and any bed length. The base weighs between 450-550lbs depending on truck size. With numerous upgradable features, such as awnings, windows, and electronics, campers are highly customizable. As a small business, they really enjoy the relationships they build and take pride in their ability to
tackle custom projects that most mass producers won’t. Hiatus believes travel isn’t a one size fits all solution and they love helping bring someone’s dream rig to life!