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

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Evan

Or, hit reply to send me photos via email. 📧

The last few months brought several announced changes to Bellingham’s International Airport, including a new flight option, a route on the way out, and a personnel shift at one of BLI’s main carriers.

Most exciting is a new direct flight to Portland. In February, the Port announced that Alaska Airlines would begin nonstop service between Bellingham and PDX, giving us another option, beyond Seattle, to access Alaska’s broader network. The route is scheduled for year-round morning departures out of Bellingham and evening returns.

Unfortunately, we’re also losing an existing route. In that same announcement, the Port said Allegiant will “suspend its twice-weekly service from BLI to Oakland, California (OAK) beginning on May 26.” This flight is Bellingham’s only direct link into the Bay Area. The Port noted it is working with airlines to restore Bay Area service.

The biggest shift is happening behind the scenes. Earlier this month, the Port reported that Allegiant will close its Bellingham crew base in November. For those of us flying out of BLI, this change is not expected to immediately affect flight schedules or available destinations. But the change will be felt in our community with more than 100 employees impacted.

Airports like ours are a pleasure to use. For a flight out of BLI last week, my wait at security was less than 5 minutes. Arriving in Seattle, I saw lines that stretched for hours!

It reminded me that smaller airports constantly need to validate the economy of flights. Without enough volume we could easily see airlines trim additional direct flights beyond Oakland. Here’s an interesting video of Matt Rodriguez, Director of Aviation at BLI, discussing the results of a survey they ran last year looking at local demand. I’m going to keep this in mind whenever I’m ticket shopping. Paying the premium on the cost of a flight out of BLI is a vote to maintain or even grow the destinations we have direct access to. ✈

Mycological Mention: Danny Miller, an educator and longtime mycology researcher with the Puget Sound Mycological Society is giving a talk on mushrooms tomorrow, April 9 at 6:30 pm, at the Cordata Park Pavilion.

The presentation titled, DNA: The Secret History of Mushrooms will delve into the biggest surprises that recent studies in DNA have shown us about the (until now) secret history of mushrooms on the planet. The event is open to the public and all are welcome.

The Barkley Neighborhood Association has recently been reestablished and is now working to rebuild local participation. Acting president Matthew Colston shared that a group of Barkley residents came together about a year ago to relaunch the association and regain certification with the city’s Mayor’s Neighborhood Advisory Commission.

As part of that effort, the group is inviting neighbors to get involved:

“Do you want to get to know your neighbors and get involved with the community? Would you like to build a community garden with us? Do you have any concerns about our community like housing, environmental safety, traffic issues, or anything that impacts everyone who lives here? If you do, please consider joining the Barkley Neighborhood Association.”

The association plans to organize events and create more opportunities for neighbors to connect in the months ahead. Learn more on the association website and sign up via their interest sheet.

LOCAL READS

When the tide recedes
By Brien Gronemyer · Salish Current
A new federal budget proposal includes more than $700 million in cuts to Bureau of Indian Affairs programs and significant reductions in tribal housing support. Brien explains that these changes could delay climate resilience projects and worsen housing shortages in Coast Salish nations. Read more →

· · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Whatcom-Skagit Housing gives 12 Blaine families chance at homeownership
By Grace McCarthy · The Northern Light
Twelve families in Blaine received keys to homes they helped build over more than a year through a Whatcom-Skagit Housing program that combines sweat equity with affordable loans. Grace reports that participants contributed 24,000 hours of labor, reducing home costs by over $130,000 each. Read more →

CIVIC CORNER

Wednesday
Bham Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, 7:30 pm, Pacific Street Operations Center
Bham Civil Service Commission, 2:00 pm, City Hall

Thursday
Bham Community Development Advisory Board, 6:00 pm, City Hall
Whatcom County Planning Commission, 6:00 pm, Northwest Annex Portable Conference Room

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Wednesday
Stream Team: Help Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) maintain older sites that need love. Meet at NSEA’s campus by 8 am and your group leader will shuttle everyone to the site. You can expect to be back to NSEA at 12 pm. Register to attend.

Thursday
PPGWNI Virtual Phonebank: Join Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho to phone bank community members and educate them on the federal defund of Planned Parenthood. Register to attend.

Saturday
Samish Crest Trail: Help the city enhance trailside habitat in the stunning Samish Crest Open Space. Tools, gloves, and instructions are provided. Register to attend.
Jensen Family Forest Park: Join Whatcom Million Trees Project to maintain the 23-acre multi-generational Jensen family property held under a conservation easement by WLT and Whatcom Parks. Register to attend.
Catalyst Reserve: Join the Land Trust and Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association to help protect a vital habitat by removing invasive blackberry, which is overtaking previous plantings of native trees and shrubs. Register to attend.

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iDiOM Theatre
All Our Tragic (theatre) | Multiple

Black Squirrel Children’s Theatre @ BAAY
A Year with Frog and Toad (musical theatre) | Mon-Sun

Bellingham Theatre Guild
Kodachrome (theatre) | Thurs-Sun

District Brewing Ferndale
Next Stop Comedy (comedy) | Fri 8 pm

New Prospect Theatre
William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar (theatre) | Fri-Sun

Firehouse Arts & Events Center
Bellingham Repertory Dance - Hindsight (dance) | Fri-Sun

Bellingham TheatreWorks @ The Upfront
New Play Cafe (theatre) | Sat-Sun

Jensen Art Center
Swept Away (musical theatre) | Sat-Sun

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances

Tango Practica - The Majestic - Wed 6:30 pm
Revolution Fusion - Karate Church - Thurs 7 pm
Honky Tonk - Corner Taphouse - Sat 8 pm
Dance Fusion - BSAC - Sat 10:30 am
Contra - Fairhaven Library - Sat 7 pm
Sunset Silent Disco - Zuanich - Sat 7:00 pm
Salsa Collective - The Majestic - Sun 5:30 pm
Open Floor Conscious Dance - Bellingham Fitness - Sunday 10:30 am

Cee Cee & Rob, at Stones Throw tonight, April 8 from 6 to 8 pm, play all original songs that bring honest vulnerability, laughter and guaranteed silliness as they weave their talents in a way that they hope will bring you joy.

Quickdraw String Band performs at Honey Moon Mead tomorrow, April 9 from 8 to 10 pm, featuring acoustic string band music rooted in American traditions. The trio, made up of Matt Novak, Dave Maguire, and Allegra Ziffle, draws from Old-Time, early bluegrass, country blues, and ragtime, using a mix of mandolin, fiddle, guitar, and dobro.

Both Sides Now plays the MBT tomorrow, April 9 at 7:30 pm in a concert focused on the music and lives of Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen. Performers Robbie Schaefer and Danielle Wertz present a sequence of songs and scenes that follow the artists’ overlapping careers and personal history. tickets

Trivia Night, Elizabeth Station – A 7:00 to 9:00 pm biweekly trivia event with team-based play, entry fee per person, and cash prizes for top scores.

Live Music ft. PURRPLE HAZE, Zeek’s Pizza Bellingham – A 7:00 to 9:00 pm live music set featuring a Hendrix-inspired psychedelic rock performance.

Wednesday Music & Trivia →

Community Pint Night, Aslan Depot – A 6:00 to 8:00 pm gathering supporting Sustainable Connections featuring local folk music from Adam Gellman and Friends, along with raffle prizes from businesses all over Bellingham. $1 from every Aslan beer and hop water will go toward our place-based nonprofit.

Changing Lanes Screening and Discussion, Pickford Film Center – A screening of a 2025 documentary on grassroots street safety movements, with a post-film discussion led by city officials and local advocates focused on Bellingham’s transportation future. Tickets

Thursday Music & Trivia →

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