ABOUT
Autumn leaves and fog on the Nooksack River
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of The Foothills Communication Hub is to provide an all-inclusive and easily accessible multimedia information portal of resources and events for East Whatcom Foothills residents.
VISION STATEMENT
The Foothills Communication Hub vision is to provide a means for East Whatcom Foothills residents to access vital resources and events that can help improve their quality of life.
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Recognizing that an understanding of the issues that arise due to differences between gender, age, religions, lifestyles, beliefs, physical capabilities and cultures is necessary to an informed and vibrant community, the Foothills Communication Hub is committed to inclusive, respectful coverage of all groups and persons within our region.
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WHAT IS FCH?
The FCH connects Foothills residents with vital resources and events through our resource listings, interactive events calendar and map.
When you live in a far-flung, isolated rural place like the Mt. Baker foothills, information and communication are essential. Whether it’s a potential emergency or promising event, residents of our rural communities need access to reliable sources of information
The idea began with Matthew Thuney, The Voice of the Valley on KAVZ Radio, and Carl McDaniel realizing our region had no reliable, consistent information source. They worked together with Community Fellows to develop a plan of action and set about implementing it. With a grant from the Foothills Community Alliance, and the help of community members, Matthew was able to spend his last days seeing his vision, and his and Carl’s hard work, coming to fruition.
The objective of The Foothills Communication Hub is providing a unified source of information that
brings together print, radio and online media to serve as a single information clearing-house and
dissemination point to inform and empower the people of the foothills.
FCH Board of Directors
Carl McDaniel
Chair
Carl has lived in Columbia Valley since February 2001 when his youngest went off to college and he was looking for a place to retire. Since that time both of his daughters have moved here along with his grandkids live here and attend the Mt. Baker School District. Carl wears many hats in the community. Currently he is active as a Water Commissioner, Park Commissioner, Communication Hub, Kendall PTA, Mount Baker Coalition, Columbia Valley Community Connections, Neighborhood Watchdogs, Foothills Community Alliance, Friends of the NW Clean Air, Northfork Library, Community Engagement fellows as well as several organizations outside the community trying to bring more funding to the area. When Carl moved to Columbia Valley in 2001, he found a sense of community that was second to none that he has ever experienced before. While being embraced by this amazing community he was also exposed to the negative side of the area. That was not just bad people, it was also an aging, disabled, and low-income community that had little or no resources in the community. He has worked hard to help those that he could, bring new resources to the area, find funding for much needed projects, and keep the community informed of events.
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Email:chair@foothillsinfo.com
Jessica Mansfield
Secretary
Katrina Buckman
At Large Board Member
Katrina Buckman is the former branch manager at North Fork Community Library and has been a foothills community member for over 10 years. Katrina is actively involved in many organizations including the Kendall PTA.
Email:info@foothillsinfo.com
Mariya Farmagey
At large Board Member
After working in various positions at the Whatcom County Library system for almost 20 years, Mariya is now the manager of the North Fork Community Library. She attended the Mt. Baker High School as well as Western Washington University, and continues to live in Maple Falls with her husband and their three boys. This place is near and dear to her heart, having grown up here most of her life. She loves reading, cooking and taking walks in the forest.
FCH Service Area
Mt Baker School District
Melonie Ancheta
Editor/Administrator
At large board member
A resident of Columbia Valley, Melonie is an ardent proponent of building strong, healthy and happy communities for all residents of the Foothills region. Melonie took the job as editor and administrator for the FCH at the beginning of 2024. She has created a monthly print publication, the Foothills Outlook, that focuses on topics and resources within the Mt Baker School District so residents of our rural communities stay current on what is happening and what resources are available locally. She administers the FCH website as well as a host of other duties related to running the FCH information portals.
Email: info@foothillsinfo.com
jessica Mansfield
At large Board Member
I was born and raised in Whatcom County, I have lived in Kendall/Maple Falls my whole life. Graduated from Mount Baker in 2004, volunteering for the district through high school and through the years up until working for the school district from 2013 - 2021. Now, I enjoy being a stay-at-home mom to my son. I am a member of the Neighborhood Watchdogs and am happy to now be part of the Foothills Communication Hub.
