Christel Bronsema Library volunteer is dedicated to community. ENCORE, Insert
One person dead in Ferndale fire
Ferndale girls basketball
Cause of the structure fire is still under investigation.
Lady Golden Eagles at Stanwood, Dec. 13.
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DECEMBER 11, 2024
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Ferndale celebrates Christmas the Olde Fashioned way
Ferndale City Council passes 2025 budget, reallocates ARPA funding By Racquel Muncy For the Record
FERNDALE — The Ferndale City Council approved its 2025 budget at its Dec. 2 meeting. Council also approved reallocation of American Rescue Plan Act funding and recognized a planning commissioner for three decades of service to the city. Prior to a final budget adoption vote, City Finance Director Danielle Ingham gave a brief presentation stating departments were in charge of trimming expenditures where possible. The 2025 budget includes about $54 million in revenues and $68 million in expenditures. According to Ingham, this budget utilizes funds that have been set aside for a variety of capital projects that will take place in 2025. A public hearing was held, but no public comment was given. The 2025 budget passed 5-2, with council members Ryan O’Larey and Jon Mutchler voting against it. Mutchler said his reasons were due to the utility tax not being decreased, not seeing the true cost that goes into the staff salaries, significant funding toward Civic Campus project and minimal funding going toward organizations such as the food bank or domestic violence services compared to the Ferndale Arts Commission. Council also discussed the remaining ARPA funding. The City of Ferndale had received about $4.2 million in ARPA funding, which has been put toward a variety of projects. City Administrator Jori Burnett said council and staff have been very careful and deliberate with how the funds were spent to ensure it would not create more financial burden and needs in the future. This led the city to use the funding for a variety of one-time uses. During the meeting Monday, council reallocated the remaining $1.7 million in funding. This funding had been allocated during a November council meeting, but since staff has found out that to obligate funds there must be a contract in place. Due to the changes, funding for water projects would increase from about $500,000 to about $1.1 million, according to Burnett. ARPA funding was initially going to go to the Pioneer Park stage, but a contract
On Dec. 6, the Ferndale Downtown Association hosted the annual Community Christmas Tree Lighting at Centennial Riverwalk Park. This was but one of Ferndale’s Christmas events. From 5-8 p.m. Dec. 13-14 and again on Dec. 20-21 is the fifth annual Lighted Christmas Stroll through Pioneer Village, 2004 Cherry St. Free admission, free hot beverages. More photos of tree lighting and Olde Fashioned Christmas on A2. (Luke Seymour/
See Council on A2
Ferndale Record)
Jon Mutchler to put on a Schimmel showcase at Jansen Art Center By Luke Seymour Staff Reporter
Ferndale resident Jon Mutchler will play the Jansen Art Center’s Schimmel piano at 11 a.m. Dec. 20. (Luke Seymour/
Ferndale Record)
LYNDEN — On Dec. 20, the Jansen Art Center will host an exclusive showcase for its Schimmel piano. The free show will run from 11 a.m. until noon with the Schimmel set to be played by Ferndale musician and music teacher Jon Mutchler. Mutchler is a music graduate from Western Washington University, majoring in both jazz and classical piano. He is heavily involved in his community of Ferndale, having taught piano for
nearly 40 years, serving as a local pastor for 36 years, and having an active public life in Ferndale city government. On top of all his previous accomplishments, Mutchler also performed multiple times at the Jansen Art Center, both as a solo artist and with the Jansen Jazz Orchestra. “It’s always such a pleasure to play there,” Mutchler said. “Because it’s just so seldom that you come across such a quality piano in vendors or places of performance. The Schimmel isn’t just high-end, it’s a concert
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nine-foot grand piano. It’s really quite special.” According to Mutchler, the German piano is well known and highly regarded for its sound and playability, which perfectly suits his playing style. “It almost plays itself,” Mutchler said. “When you’re an improviser like me, the quality of the instrument makes a difference. Sometimes it can even make for a completely different concert or a completely different expression of creativity.” Mutchler added that one of the major factors at the heart of the
Schimmel’s quality is the responsiveness of its keys, which he said was crucial to creating a good performance. “The tone of the piano is also very rich and full, but the key is in its responsiveness,” Mutchler said. “The responsiveness to a performer’s touch, whether they play soft or loud or in-between. If the keystrokes and the action is clean then you’re able to play more difficult passages and because the mechanics of the action are so important, you can play fast notes or See Mutchler on A3
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