🐹 Friend Shaped 🐈️🐈️

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

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Evan

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

Do you know what’s radder than trail running and artisanal coffee? It’s my fellow tech brethren (and sistren) gathering to celebrate open source. 🎉

Today marks the start of LinuxFest Northwest, a free annual event that’s been a cornerstone of the open-source community since 2000. Held at Bellingham Technical College, the event draws tech enthusiasts from novices to professionals to join in presentations, exhibits, and hands-on labs on Linux distributions, open-source applications, InfoSec, and privacy.

This year’s LinuxFest Northwest, includes a Stroll tonight from Beach Cat South Paw to Zuanich Park followed by a Friday social, and game night. Saturday and Sunday are packed full of fascinating speakers and presentations, all while supporting the festival’s commitment to a low-stress, community-driven celebration of free software. It’s one of the coolest B’ham happenings you didn’t know about. Check it out this year. It’s free!

I got a note from Todd Elsworth at Recreation Northwest about Celebrate Trails Day, happening this Saturday, April 25, with a full day of free activities across the Bay to Baker and Salish Coast trail systems. Events are spread across Bellingham, Birch Bay, and Maple Falls, with guided walks, bike rides, and trail tours at different paces and distances. Find the full schedule here.

The day also marks the public launch of the Recreation Northwest Trails Coalition, a new effort to coordinate and advocate for connected trail networks across Whatcom County. The coalition builds on more than a decade of Recreation Northwest’s work and is focused on linking the Bay to Baker and Salish Coast corridors as part of a larger active transportation system. Activities run throughout the day, with many of the partner groups gathering in Fairhaven and an informal wrap-up at Stones Throw Brewery in the afternoon.

Recycling Opportunities: Two recycling events are scheduled for this Saturday, April 25. The City of Bellingham’s Earth Day Recycling Event runs from 12 to 3 pm at the Bellingham Covenant Church parking lot on Bakerview Road, with free collection of electronics, batteries, paper for shredding, and even used athletic shoes, along with a tree giveaway.

Earlier in the day, the Spring Fishing Seminars at the Fisherman’s Pavilion (10 am to 3 pm) will include a fishing line recycling station hosted by Bellingham SeaFeast, alongside a full schedule of talks and demonstrations.

There was a nice reminder this week from Whatcom County Public Works to slow down and give space in work zones, especially as spring projects pick up around the county.

Their note for National Work Zone Awareness Week was a reminder to slow down, stay alert, and give workers room so everyone goes home safely to their family.

Scam Alert: This is a little off the beaten track for The Wheel, but I noticed that the City of Ferndale, City of Bellingham, and the Whatcom Sheriff are all advising that scammers are using public building permit data to send fraudulent invoices. For the time being, it might be best to contact the appropriate permit center before making any payments.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

General
Adopt-A-Highway: Calling all Roadside Litter Hunters! Gather your friends and family and Adopt-A-Highway today. We have numerous 2-mile sections and ramps available. Email me at [email protected] for more information.

Friday
Church Mountain: Join the Washington Trails Association for a chainsaw logout up Church Mountain. Chainsaws require a USFS Chainsaw Certification, other crew members may use handsaws to limb trees, or clear smaller branches. Register

Saturday
Squalicum Creek Re-Route: Remove invasive species to improve fish and wildlife habitat and help water quality near the Squalicum Creek Re-Route Project with the City of Bellingham and other community partners. Register
Church Mountain: Join the Washington Trails Association crew for a chainsaw logout up Church Mountain. Chainsaws require a USFS Chainsaw Certification, other crew members may use handsaws to limb trees, or clear smaller branches. Register
Baker Field trails: A community Scotch broom removal event led by Bronwyn Glor of the Point Roberts Park and Recreation District, the event is open to anyone interested in helping improve local park land. 10 am.

8165 Harborview, Birch Bay (Open Sun 1-3 pm)
Cute, cute, cute. It’s just blocks from the beach and has all the sweet cabin vibe you could wish for. I love everything about this one. 🙂 It would make for a great reasonably priced getaway cabin, or a fun place to call home. Listing

2817 Kulshan Street (Open Sat 11-1 pm, Sun 12-1:30 pm)
This little craftsman’s in one of my favorite nook neighborhoods in town. The couple blocks consisting of Kulshan and Elm between NW and Meridian. In this case, the house is darling and the yard looks awesome! Listing

Mount Baker Theatre
Captain Nemo's Undersea Academy (storytelling) | Thurs-Sat

iDiOM Theater
All Our Tragic (theatre) | Thurs-Sat

Alger Community Church
Why Bump Off Barnaby? (theatre) | Thurs-Sun

Jansen Art Center
Swept Away (theatre) | Thurs-Sat

WinkWink
Pareidolia by Billie Fox (theatre) | Fri-Sun

New Prospect Theatre
The Great Refusal (theatre) | Fri-Sun

WWU DUG Theater
Failure: A Love Story (theatre) | Fri-Sun

BAAY
Seussical JR (theatre) | Fri-Sun

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

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances

Foundations: Hip Hop, House, Shuffle - Lost Giants Cider Co. - Fri 6 pm
Dance Fusion - BSAC - Sat 10:30 am
Mainstream Square Dance - Ten Mile Grange - Sat 7:30 pm
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

Raised in Iowa and based out of the American Riviera in Southern California, Jared Nels is a bluegrass and soul driven songwriter known for his innovative style of yodeling that was featured on American Idol season 18. Jared plays Aslan Depot tonight, April 24, at 8:00 pm.

Bellingham Community Chorus presents Home: Places of the Heart at First Congregational Church tonight, April 24 at 7 pm, with an additional performance on Saturday, April 25 at 3 pm. Artistic Director, Eileen Brody, has created a lovely program that will include an audience singing along. Tickets

It’s an AC/DC tribute night featuring Hell’s Belles at Bar 211 tomorrow, April 25, with Girls N Roses opening. Doors open at 8 pm and music begins at 9 pm. Hell’s Belles is an all-female tribute act, reproducing the sounds of AC/DC’s recordings and live shows, including well-known tracks from across the band’s history.

Toadmortons perform at Honey Moon tomorrow, April 25, from 8 to 10 pm. The Bellingham-based band plays an original mix of alt rock, folk, and country. The trio features Steve Bryant on guitar and vocals, Kevin Robinson on bass, and Stephen Hutton on drums.

No Man’s Land Film Festival Screening, Arntzen Hall 100 – A 7 pm film screening featuring short adventure films by women and genderqueer filmmakers, presented as part of the festival’s touring program. Tickets

Daughters Choice Dance, Birch Bay Activity Center – A 6:30 to 8 pm themed dance event for girls and their guests featuring music, treats, and a family-oriented social setting with Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation. Tickets

Friday Music & Trivia →

Dahlia Tuber Fundraiser Sale, 2937 Birchwood Ave – A 10 am to 5 pm neighborhood plant sale featuring donated dahlia tubers, raising funds for food access organizations Bellingham Food Bank, the Birchwood Food Desert Fighters, and Twin Sisters Mobile Market.

Ask A Master Gardener, Bellingham Farmers Market and King Mountain Community Garden – A 10 am to 2 pm (BFM,) and 1 to 3 pm (KMCG), drop-in gardening help table staffed by certified WSU Master Gardeners offering advice, plant identification, and diagnostic support.

Koma Kulshan Native Plant Sale, Cordata Park – A 10 am to 3 pm plant sale featuring a wide selection of native species, with guidance for gardeners on habitat benefits and care, plus a noon introductory plant walk around Cordata Park.

The Creative Room, Bellingham - A gathering of creatives and builders for an ongoing conversation about the creative experience. Learn more

Everson Garden Club Plant Sale, Everson Elementary School – A 9 am to 1 pm annual plant sale featuring more than 1,000 plants, along with local vendors, gardening advice, and a wide selection of plants and garden items.

LFS Spring Fishing Seminars, Fishermen’s Pavilion – A 10 am to 3 pm educational event featuring presentations from LFS staff and regional anglers on fishing methods, local conditions, and trip planning, with additional activities between sessions.

Saturday Music & Trivia →

Fix-It Fair, Kulshan Roosevelt Taproom – A 12 to 3 pm monthly community repair event offering services like clothing mending, knife sharpening, small appliance and bike repair, with participation free or by donation.

Taizé Prayer Service, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church – A 5 pm contemplative service in the Taizé tradition featuring simple songs, readings, and periods of silence, with optional pre-service music rehearsal at 4:15 pm.

Sunday Music & Trivia →

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