The Interfaith Coalition of Whatcom County and Northwest Youth Services raised more than $12,000 at a free concert June 29 hosted by First Congregational Church of Bellingham, according to Robert Guthrie, communications director of Interfaith. More than 400 people attended.

Performers included vocalist Kent French, lead pastor at First Congregational Church, and Brian Rapp, the church's children's choir director. They were joined by musicians Harry Huff, Joe Robinson, Mary Kay Robinson and Daemian Allen.

At the good-will offering, Robert told the 400 people in the audience about "Kristen, her husband and baby who no longer live in a car because of Interfaith Coalition housing for homeless families."

Margie Kimberley, a volunteer at Northwest Youth Services, spoke about 15-year-old Jake, who has "a safe place to stay at Northwest Youth Services after making the courageous decision to move away from his meth-addicted mother."

EPA HONORS WWU GREEN POWER

Western Washington University is 18th on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's list of the nation's top 20 green energy purchasers in higher education, according to a press release from the WWU Office of Sustainability.

Western annually offsets 100 percent of its electrical consumption from green sources via purchases of renewable energy credits. Western was the only college or university in the state of Washington on the recently released EPA list.

Students voted in 2004 for a fee to purchase green energy, and renewed the commitment in 2010.

In addition to funding the purchase of the renewable energy credits from the Endeavor Wind Farm in Iowa, the student fee also finances projects devoted to piloting measures in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and greenhouse gas and solid waste reduction on WWU's campus, as well as allowing for the creation of permanent and student staff tasked with working with student and faculty on the development of projects.

Current projects include a 5-kilowatt solar array, high-efficiency hand dryers, LED conversion for parking lot lights, water-bottle refilling stations, and hand towel composting.

NOOKSACK STUDENTS PERFORM AT DISNEY PARK

The Nooksack Valley High School Jazz Choir performed at Downtown Disney and at Epcot at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida June 18 and 19.

TEENS PLACE IN DANCE CONTEST

Savannah Ferron of Bellingham took third place overall in the 16- and 17-year-old category and Cora Peterson of Bellingham took sixth place overall in the 15-year-old category at the North American Highland Dance Championship that took place during the United States Inter-Regional Highland Dance Championship, according to Norman Lindquist. The event took place July 18-22 in Hunt Valley, Md.

Savannah took fourth in swords, third in the fling and Sean Truibhas and sixth in reels, and Cora took fifth in fling, sixth in swords, fourth in Seann Truibhas and fifth in reel, according to the group's website.

Out and About runs Mondays in The Bellingham Herald.

The name of the teen dance competition and dance honors for Savannah Ferron were updated Aug. 6, 2012.

Reach JULIE SHIRLEY at julie.shirley@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2261.