Good morning, Bellingham. This is your Monday update from The Hamster Wheel.

A few weeks back, I connected with the sweet couple who run JJ’s Tree Care for help with a tree-trimming project that had grown too big for me to tackle safely. JJ came out, and with the utmost professionalism, left my trees looking amazing! Thank you, JJ and Kate. You guys rock! More about JJ later in the newsletter. 👇️ 

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

 👆️ sculpture by Tomas Vrba 

Tag @bellinghamsterwheel on Instagram or reply to this email to get your photos in The Hamster Wheel.

Weather Forecast

Monday: 72°F 🌡️ 57°F | 🌈 Chance of Rain | 🌧️ 27% | 💨 SSW 5 mph

Tuesday: 71°F 🌡️ 57°F | 🌈 Chance of Rain | 🌧️ 36% | 💨 SSW 1 to 6 mph

Moon Phases

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

A Splash of Color In The Deep Woods

Whatcom Land Trust posted this week about a staff hike through the Canyon Lake Community Forest, including beautiful photos of an old growth forest, the shimmering Canyon Lake, a giant palm fossil, and one of my favorite mushrooms, the chicken-of-the-woods 👇️ (Laetiporus conifericola) or similar.

The Laetiporus genus, are shelf-forming polypores that grow in meaty layers on tree trunks, often sporting a striking yellow-orange color. Our most common Laetiporus (or the one I’m most familiar with), conifericola, is found on the trunks of pines, firs, and other softwoods in Whatcom County.

This beautiful fungi, with its bright, fleshy fruiting bodies up to 40 cm wide, causes brown rot, weakening its host tree’s heartwood. Like many of our forest dwelling fungi, they play an important role in breaking down dead wood, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

And, dare I say it… they are delicious! Please don’t harvest any mushroom in protected forests or private land (if not your own), but if you’re lucky enough to find these lovely saprophytic fungi where harvesting is permitted, you’re in for a treat. Be sure to ID correctly, and always try a very small portion of any wild mushroom the first time. Some report gastrointestinal upset after eating Laetiporus conifericola, but I’ve always found them to be delightful. 😁 

In other news…

Have you wanted to try Scottish Country Dancing? Weekly fall classes hosted by Bellingham Scottish Country Dancers at the Fairhaven Library Auditorium begin this Wednesday.

Each 6-week session will progress from basic steps and figures, to fun group dances. Learn more in the parks playbook, and register.

🔥 The Perry Fire in eastern Whatcom County has grown to an estimated 1,477 acres according to the North Cascades National Park Service. The photo below shows the brutally rugged terrain fire crews must contend with. 👇️ 

The latest press release describes how “firefighters are boated into the Little Beaver drainage daily to work on point protection for park infrastructure.” and continues “Extremely steep, difficult, and cliffy rugged terrain pose significant threats to firefighter safety which limits direct handline work. Fire managers continue a full suppression strategy with aerial delivered water.” It’s hard to imagine lugging a full kit of tools and safety gear up those near vertical slopes. I very much hope everyone involved remains safe.

🚜 The Whatcom County Council meets tomorrow, September 9th, at 8:45 am, with the Regular Meeting at 6 pm. The agenda is available online. This public meeting is held in the Council Chambers at the County Courthouse or can be watched via Zoom.

🚢 The Port of Bellingham Board of Commissioners meets tomorrow, September 9th, at 4 pm. The agenda is available online. This public meeting is held at the Harbor Center or can be watched via the port’s YouTube channel.

JJ's Tree Care

Expert Tree Care Rooted in Experience

Consulting services in Whatcom County

Hi Hamster Wheel readers. I’m JJ, the founder of JJ’s Tree Care. I bring 15 years of professional arborist experience and a degree in Natural Resources and Forestry from the University of Vermont to serve the Bellingham community.

My background in wildland firefighting, municipal, and private tree care ensures every project is handled with safety, precision, and dedication to tree health. Contact me to discuss how I can help keep your trees healthy and your landscape safe, or learn about my services at jjstreecare.com.

Call or text me at 360-319-0482 

Food & Drink

Hamsters Gotta Eat

Performance Arts This Week

Dance of The Hamsters

LIVE ARTS & FILM

Uisce Irish Pub
Guffawingham | Mon 9:00 pm

iDiOM Theater
No Man's Land | Thurs, Fri, Sat

Bellingham Theatre Guild
The Play That Goes Wrong | Fri, Sat, Sun

FireHouse Arts & Events Center
12 Minutes Max (Dance) | Fri, Sat

FireHouse Arts & Events Center
The Kid (Silent Film) | Sun

New Prospect Theatre
Tales of the Sea | Sun

Mount Baker Theatre
Twilight in Concert | Sun

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances.

PARTICIPATORY DANCE

Salsa & Bachata - Viking Union - Mon 7 pm
Bellingham Embodiment Collective - Majestic Ballroom - Mon 6:30 pm
Beginning Cuban Salsa - Cof& - Tues 6 pm
B’ham Hop - Crystal Ballroom - Tues 8 pm
Taster Tuesdays (hip hop) - Lost Giants Cider Co - Tues 6 pm
Int. Cuban Salsa - Cof& - Tues 7:15 pm
Tango Practica - The Majestic - Wed 6:30 pm
Flow Fusion - Karate Church - Thurs 7 pm
Contra - Fairhaven Library - Sat 6 pm
Sunset Silent Disco - Zuanich - Sat 6:30 pm
Salsa Collective - The Majestic - Sun 5:30 pm
Open Floor Movement - Presence Studio - Sun 10:30 am

Events & Nightlife

Spinning Into The Night

Feature an Event. Reach out.

FEATURED

Bellinghamster, Geof Morgan, moved from New England to Nashville in 1973. In his nine years there, he had songs recorded by Ronnie Milsap, Barbara Mandrell, Dickey Lee, Ernest Tubb, and Charlie Pride among others. He received a BMI award in 1977 for airplay and his one and only single on MCA Records reached the Billboard Top 100. Catch Geof tonight at the FireHouse Arts & Events Center from 7 to 9 pm. 

Seattle Times award-winning journalist and author covering environment and tribal affairs, Lynda Mapes, known for her in-depth reporting on the Pacific Northwest's natural and cultural heritage, will speak at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal this Tuesday as part of Salish Current’s the Voices of the Northwest series. RSVP to save a spot.

Join Cub Scout Pack 4019 for a fun-filled Information Night from 6:00 to 7:00 pm at the large picnic shelter in Whatcom Falls Park (near 1552-1574 Silver Beach Rd). This all-gender pack welcomes families to enjoy free pizza, a s’mores station, games, and a parent Q&A about scouting, while kids receive sailboat kits for the upcoming Raingutter Regatta. Bring the whole family for an evening of community and adventure.

MONDAY

Newcomers & Neighbors of Whatcom County Meet-and-Greet, Stemma West - Attend this Meet-and-greet to learn about Newcomers and Neighbors of Whatcom County a not-for-profit, with a mission to foster relationships for senior citizens at a time when it's most difficult to make social connections. Hear about the fun they’ve had at their recent annual picnic, ladies lunch, book club, happy hour, dinner bunch women's walking group and what they have coming up. This is a great chance to chat with current members of the Newcomers and Neighbors group and get all your questions answered. Happy Hour at Stemma West from 4 to 6 pm.

Monday Music & Trivia →

TUESDAY

Pour it Forward - Benefit for Bellingham Mountain Rescue, Kulshan Brewing Sunnyland - Join Kulshan Brewing in raising a glass to 70 years of Bellingham Mountain Rescue! From dawn patrol to midnight rescues, a volunteer team that keeps our community safe in the North Cascades. 10% of sales made at Sunnyland will support their lifesaving work. Then from 8–10 PM, join their anniversary party!

Garden Together, Deming Library - Join other gardening enthusiasts on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. Share growing tips, commune with your neighbors and get your gardening questions answered. Participants plan, plant, and harvest the Deming Library Garden from March through October. No experience necessary, be there at 4 pm.

Tuesday Music & Trivia →

Advertise in the #1 Newsletter in the Ham 
Want to include a note in the Wheel? Let’s Chat.

Hakuna matata

To All Our Readers

Thanks for reading today’s edition. If you found something helpful, please share it with a friend and encourage them to click here to subscribe 🙏.

You can reply to this email if you have something we should know about or want to send us a love note.

Have a great Monday!!