🐹 Frog and Toad 🐸🐸

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

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Evan

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

It’s not a local topic exactly. But just in case anyone hasn’t seen this incredible photo posted by NASA on Friday, 👇 I wanted to include it in today’s edition. An image like this is a reminder that all of us this planet are local when you change the perspective by a few thousand miles.

The photo, taken on April 2, shows NASA astronaut Christina Koch, an Artemis II mission specialist, looking out from one of the Orion spacecraft’s main cabin windows as the vehicle travels toward the Moon. The mission’s page on NASA’s website is full of fascinating information if you want to learn more, and there’s a rad interactive site where you can view a simulation of the Moon and Earth from the spacecraft’s current position.

Spring Break Teen Work Party: For teens age 14-18, there’s a fun opportunity this week to work with the Washington Trails Association and other teens at a three day spring break camp exploring the mysteries of trail work and nature at Larrabee State Park.

Starting on Tuesday, the group will travel from high in the timber all the way down to the intertidal zone, “improving trails in the morning and using our senses each afternoon to explore different mysteries of nature (such as edible plants, bugs, saltwater creatures, birds, and more!).” Camp registration pages: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3.

Meh, I can’t help myself. Easter puppies are the cutest. 😊 More photos of this little fellow 👇 and his buddy on the WHS facebook page.

Work continues at the site of the March 19 slide that closed northbound Interstate 5 south of Bellingham. The latest update from WSDOT describes how scaling is complete on the top of the slope and crews are now drilling to install 15-25-foot-long steel dowels to stabilize the face into the future.

It sounds like much work remains to clear and assess the lower section of the cliff face. “crews are breaking up the largest boulders, including the "bus-sized" rock in the middle of the slope. On Wednesday, April 1, crews broke off a large section of that boulder using expansive grout and then used an excavator to break it up further. The boulder is so large, we'll have to repeat the process several times.” No timeline has been identified to reopen northbound I-5.

LOCAL READS

Pitching In for Pintos
By Brooklyn “Bug” Santee · The Planet
Pinto abalone populations in Washington have declined by more than 90 percent since the 1990s, prompting a large-scale restoration effort across the Salish Sea. Brooklyn reports that scientists and tribes have released over 60,000 lab-raised juveniles since 2009 to rebuild breeding populations. Read more →

· · · · · · · · · · · · ·

One quick question: Seen any new whales around here lately?
By Mary Gallagher · WWU News
Unidentified transient orcas have been moving through local waters, interacting with established Salish Sea Bigg’s populations and drawing attention from researchers and whale watchers. Mary explains that scientists are using photo identification and acoustic data to try to determine where these whales came from. Read more →

CIVIC CORNER

Monday
Ferndale City Council, 5:00 pm, Council Chambers
Lynden City Council, 7:00 pm, City Hall Annex

Tuesday
Whatcom County Council (Comprehensive Plan), 9:00 am, Council Chambers, Zoom

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.

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.

Uisce Irish Pub
Guffawingham (comedy) | Mon 8:30 pm

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

Salsa & Bachata - Viking Union - Mon 7 pm
Bellingham Embodiment Collective - Majestic Ballroom - Mon 6:30 pm
Contact Improv - Aikido Peace Education Center - Mon, class 5:30, jam 7 pm
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
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

Spend an evening with Antje Duvekot tonight, April 6 from 8 to 10 pm at New Prospect Theatre. The German-born, US-based songwriter brings a solo performance shaped by folk traditions that emphasize personal narrative and close observation. Influenced by artists like Dar Williams and Ani DiFranco, Duvekot’s work centers on direct, confessional songwriting. tickets

Music Monday is back at the FireHouse Arts & Events Center tonight, April 6 from 3:30 to 5 pm, with Guitars and Gratitude. The group combines vocal harmonies from Dianne Ardourel and Lane Hoback with instrumental support from Rick Baunach on harmonica and three row diatonic accordion.

Kicking up dust and driving the soul. Dust & Bone, playing at the Admiralty Lounge tomorrow from 7 to 9 pm, is a two piece blues/rock band delivering raw, soulful originals and creatively crafted covers. Simple, heartfelt and straight to the bone!

Taizé Service: Finding Our Way, Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship – A 7:00 to 8:00 pm candlelit service featuring chant-style music, readings, and silent meditation, offering a quiet, reflective setting with an opportunity for candle lighting.

Joshua Brahinsky: Tongues of Fire, Village Books – A 6:00 to 7:00 pm author event featuring a discussion of Brahinsky’s research on speaking in tongues, drawing from anthropology, neuroscience, and long-term fieldwork. Reserve a seat

Monday Music & Trivia →

Bingo Night, Zeek’s Pizza – A 6:00 to 8:00 pm all-ages bingo event benefiting the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center, with free gameplay and a portion of dine-in sales supporting the organization.

Community Health at Center of Jail-Treatment Whatcom Decision, Squalicum Boathouse – A 6:00 to 8:00 pm panel discussion featuring a Washington State Supreme Court Justice and local experts exploring alternatives to incarceration, behavioral health approaches, and county policy decisions. reservations

Tuesday Music & Trivia →

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