Whatcom business COVID-19 updates: More travel, more liquor, more hand sanitizer
As more COVID-19 vaccine shots arrive and infection rates are much lower compared to the winter, Whatcom County businesses are taking steps to establish a new normal.
Here’s a roundup of announcements and changes businesses are making during this stage of the pandemic:
▪ Bellair Airporter Shuttle announced that it is adding a sixth daily round-trip shuttle between Bellingham and Sea-Tac Airport beginning Monday, April 5.
Owner and CEO Richard Johnson said in a news release that they are seeing increasing demand in travel, leading to the extra shuttle trip. The additional shuttle will depart Bellingham at 3 p.m. The northbound shuttle will depart Sea-Tac Airport at 7 p.m.
Reservations and all shuttle schedules are available at airporter.com or by calling 866-235-5247.
▪ As COVID-19 took hold in Whatcom County last March, one of the problems that popped up was a shortage of hand sanitizer. Several local distilleries stepped up, shifting operations to ease the shortage.
One of the biggest producers of locally made hand sanitizer, Chuckanut Bay Distillery, announced it is shifting back to its regular distillery production, with the remaining stock of five-gallon containers of hand sanitizer being sold at 25% off.
Co-owner Kelly Andrews said they are focused on getting back to the pre-pandemic business, which includes increasing its production of barrels of bourbon and batches of potato vodka. They’ve also done work on the building with the hope of getting the bar open in late summer, he said in an email.
Andrews said they made “tens of thousands” of gallons of sanitizer, with most of the production taking place last spring when the shortage was acute.
One other local producer of hand sanitizer, Bellewood Farms, continues to make the product in different sizes. Bellewood Farms President Eric Abel said the Farm Hands sanitizer is still selling well.
“People love that our product is distilled from apples using the formula that meets FDA guidelines for effectively killing COVID germs,” Abel said in an email adding that it is also being sold at the local Community Food Co-op stores. It’s also sold wholesale to local businesses, schools and the healthcare industry.
▪ As travel continues to bounce back, Alaska Airlines is adding flights between Bellingham and Seattle. It currently offers three flights a day, but that is bumped up to five a day this summer, according to its website.
▪ Organizing Easter egg hunts is still a bit of a challenge at this stage of the pandemic, but Semiahmoo Resort is offering one for those staying at the Blaine resort.
Children will get a chance to meet the Easter Bunny in a socially distanced way and there will be two egg hunts on the property. Prizes and other giveaways on Sunday, April 4. The Packers Kitchen & Bar will also be offering a Easter brunch menu.
Details can be found on the resort’s website.
Send information about how COVID-19 is changing your business to newsroom@bellinghamherald.com.
