WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — The following business announcements were recently received by Whatcom News.
Brown & Brown in Lynden (formerly Snapper Shuler Kenner Insurance) was recently honored for its annual turkey drive that has supported 2 Whatcom County food banks over the past 10 years.
Brown & Brown’s Lynden office received Nationwide Property & Casualty’s Agency Community Service Award, recognizing partner agencies who make a positive difference in their communities. Nationwide Property & Casualty annually honors partner agencies that give back to their communities through donations, volunteer/participation hours and other investments. Only 6 agencies out of hundreds in the country were chosen by Nationwide for this award.
The Lynden team accepted donations of turkeys before Thanksgiving and matched the donation of the first 100 turkeys. The 10th annual drive in 2021 resulted in 213 turkeys being donated to families in need through the Bellingham Food Bank and Project Hope in Lynden.
The Nationwide award comes with a $1,000 donation, which Brown & Brown is giving to Project Hope.

Kent’s Garden & Nursery in Bellingham was recently acquired by Isaac and Laurie Burrous.
The business was founded in 1976 by Kent Gerard on 5.5 acres at 5428 Northwest Drive and began by providing trees and shrubs for landscaping. When Ginny Crump and Nancy Henshaw became owners in 1999, they diversified by adding annuals, perennials, berries, fruit trees and vegetables.
“We will be adding delivery services to Whatcom County in the coming months,” Isaac is quoted as saying in a press release. “We’re looking at vertical integration through expansion of growing our own products as well as expanding our design capabilities for our customers. We’re also positioning ourselves to expand sales to commercial contractors who value quality plant material. We want to focus on teaming up with like-minded businesses that value local quality and giving back to the community.”
“It’s family and dog friendly and is a great place for beginner to master gardeners,” Isaac added.
Their hours are 9am to 5pm on Mondays through Saturdays and 9am to 5pm on Sundays. For more information, call (360) 384-4433 or visit kentsgardenandnursery.com.
Locker Room Fitness recently announced the beginning of a transition from their Main Street location in Ferndale to a “new permanent long-term facility” on the other side of I-5 on Barrett Road.
A new facility at 5610 Barrett Rd is expected to provide 9 acres of outdoor grass space, a 1/2-mile outdoor running track and a 4,500-square-foot indoor facility for fitness training.
The announcement said they will be moving to a temporary location while construction on the new facility is being done. Dates for making the move were still being worked on.