Bellingham newcomer Erica Wollman shared her photo of one of our beautiful fall sunsets over Bellingham Bay.
Erica wrote me about how she and her family made their way to Bellingham: "I am originally from Denver, Colorado. After graduating from the University of Wyoming in 2010 I wanted to explore the United States. My travels have taken me to Alaska, Hawaii, Vermont and North Carolina. I have taken many pictures along the way.
"My husband Kyle and I had been living in Asheville, North Carolina, but decided that it wasn't the place for us. Kyle discovered Bellingham and it sounded absolutely amazing ... the bay, lakes, many recreational areas, Mount Baker, local sustainability, etc.
"Neither of us had ever been to Bellingham. We were able to pack all of our stuff in our Honda Accord and drove from Asheville, North Carolina, to Bellingham. We arrived here in late August and love it here!
"We live about a mile from the bay, and didn't want to take it for granted. Bellingham is a special place and I want to remind myself the reason why we decided to live here.
"So, we decided that we would walk to Taylor Dock every night to see the sunset if we didn't have anything else going on. We chose Taylor Dock to see the sunset because it is the closest point on the bay from our apartment. It is also a very peaceful spot to sit.
"We love to people watch. Some nights are busier than others but it is always fun to see the dogs, cute kids and people walking. Every sunset is different. The colors are different and the clouds are different.
"I take the camera every single time we walk down to the bay. I never want to miss an opportunity to capture a great moment."
LOCAL EQUESTRIAN WINS AWARDS
Sarah Neugebauer of Bellingham tells me that equestrian Megan Neugebauer won several awards at the Washington State 4H Fair in Puyallup from Sept. 17-20.
Riding "Call Me Cool Skipa," Megan won Grand Champion Intermediate Showmanship, Grand Champion Intermediate Huntseat Equitation and 6th place Overall Western Stockseat Equitation in a field of 120 competitors from around Washington state.
TECHNOLOGY ALLIANCE GROUP AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS
The Technology Alliance Group for Northwest Washington hosted its 8th Annual "Tech Stomp" industry celebration and scholarship fundraising event Sept. 27, according to Sommer Cronck, executive director.
The $1,000 Technology Scholarships go to students in science, technology, engineering or math programs. This year they went to Joshua Bender and Emily Cook from Western Washington University; Israel Gravning, Whatcom Community College; Justin Johnny, Northwest Indian College; and Jose Villalta, Bellingham Technical College.
The Technology Scholarship fund was started in 2000 and comes from member donations, sponsorship support and fundraising activities that are part of the Tech Stomp event.
This year's sponsors were Wilson Engineering, Alpha Technologies, Black Rock Cable, Country Financial, Logos Bible Software, Qualnetics Corporation, Silver Reef Hotel-Casino-Spa, DIS Corporation Emergency Reporting, Moss Adams, Rice Insurance, Whidbey Island Bank, Conover Insurance, MultiGen Wealth Services and People's Bank.
The event raised more than $6,400 this year and money not distributed in 2012 will become part of the scholarship fund for 2013.
PAMELA KUNTZ RECEIVES ARTIST TRUST AWARD
Bellingham choreographer Pamela Kuntz has been chosen as one of 62 artists to be a 2012 Artist Trust "Grants for Artists Projects" recipient, according to a press release.
Pamela, who is artistic director for the Bellingham-based Kuntz and Company, a dance/theatre company, was selected by a panel out of 603 applications from artists working throughout Washington State.
"I'm so thrilled to be among those selected," Pamela said. "I have been applying for the past seven years to receive an Artist Trust GAP award. It's a real honor to have been named one of this year's GAP recipients."
She received the $1,500 award as an individual dance artist and plans to use the funds to help support her most recent creative work: "The Family Project," which played at the Firehouse Performing Arts Center in Fairhaven in early October.
As choreographer and director, she led a team of four movement-based theater artists, a video artist and more than 20 families to create "The Family Project." "It's been one of the most exciting and inspiring pieces that I've done to date," she said. "Because it deals with so many different types of families, everyone can find something there that they can relate to."
"The Family Project" is the 11th community-based dance/theatre work that she created. Her last work, "Shimmer" was performed in February 2011 at the Whatcom Museum in collaboration with the museum and its exhibit of the work of artist Leslie Dill.
Reach JULIE SHIRLEY at julie.shirley@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2261.
