🐹 Hee-Haw & Order 🐎🐎

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. 📧

Yep, this is now my favorite Bellingham happening of 2026. Last weekend, Corporal C. Puhan and Officer C. Brearley of the Bellingham Police got a call about two escapees on Alderwood near Bennett.

“The descriptions were identical - a little over three feet tall, long ears, gray hair, and large black soulful eyes. Both suspects were walking in the middle of the road.

Cpl Puhan and Officer Brearley quickly responded to the area, along with Whatcom County Sheriff's Office Deputy Wanlin and what did they find........two of the most adorable donkeys out for a stroll in the middle of the road.”

“A slow speed pursuit involving BPD and WCSO began. Officers used their emergency vehicle operations training skills to (very) slowly end the "chase" by corralling the two escapees at Whatcom County Fire District 8 on Marine Dr. The officers caught the two fugitives despite not having any lasso training!”

At this point the pair, we’ll call them Jack and Jenny, got to spend a day with the firefighters at the District 8 station.

“After hanging around with the crew, the two were safely picked up by Whatcom Humane Society Animal Control and transported to the WHS farm facility, where they are now being cared for.”

Just another random night in Bellingham. 🙄

Last week, Whatcom County announced that it has finalized a $25 million federal grant agreement for the long-planned replacement of the Whatcom Chief, the 64-year-old ferry connecting Lummi Island with the mainland. The money was originally awarded through the federal RAISE program in 2022, but the signed agreement means the County can now begin spending on eligible project costs and getting reimbursed. The grant covers about half of the project, with another $5.3 million in state funding already supporting design and permitting work.

There is still a fair bit of work between here and a new ferry. Whatcom County expects to seek bids for terminal construction in November and for the vessel itself in January, with shipbuilding planned to begin in early 2027. If the current schedule holds, the new ferry should enter service by March 2029. The replacement 👆 is being designed to reduce maintenance downtime and noise, improve accessibility and passenger service, and leave the door open for an eventual conversion to electric power.

LOCAL READS

Agritourism grows as small farms seek income
By Frank Catalano · Franksplaining Business
Agritourism is bringing new income to Whatcom and Skagit farms through U-pick crops, tours, festivals and on-farm sales, even as operators face permitting, insurance and staffing hurdles. Frank explains how those activities can also build customer relationships and give younger generations another reason to stay in farming. Read more →

· · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Bellingham’s Salish Landing Park moves closer to completion
By Allie Van Parys · Salish Current
Bellingham forges ahead with the Salish Landing Park, a three-year project adding trails, beach access and public space while capping contamination from the former R.G. Haley wood-treatment site and Cornwall Avenue landfill. Allie details how cleanup and park construction are being coordinated so the shoreline can reopen without disturbing buried pollutants. Read more →

CIVIC CORNER

Monday
What. Co. Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force, 9:00 am, Whatcom County Council Office
Lynden Parks Committee, 4:00 pm, City Hall
Ferndale City Council, 5:00 pm, City Hall Annex
What. Co. Council Community Conversations – Point Roberts, 5:00 pm, Point Roberts Community Center
Lynden City Council, 7:00 pm, City Hall

Tuesday
What. Co. Council Special Committee of the Whole, 9:00 am, Council Chambers
Bham Tourism Commission, 3:30 pm, Hotel Bellwether
Bham Water Resources Advisory Board, 6:00 pm, Pacific Street Operations
Everson City Council, 7:00 pm, City Hall

Wednesday
What. Co. Surface Mining Advisory Committee, 3:00 pm, Central Conference Room
Ferndale Planning Commission, 6:00 pm, City Hall Annex

Thursday
Whatcom County Planning Commission, 6:00 pm, Northwest Annex

Friday
What. Co. Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force, 11:00 am, Whatcom County Council Office

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Wednesday
Lakeway Community Garden: Join Bellingham Parks Community Gardens at Lakeway Community Garden. You can weed and mulch paths, remove invasive plants, and tend community spaces. Register

Thursday
Olsen Creek: Join Washington Trails Association at Olsen Creek. You will help construct new trail by clearing branches and logs, digging tread, building retaining structures, and creating drainage. Details

Saturday
Birchwood Park/Squalicum Park: Join Recreation Northwest Trails Coalition and the City of Bellingham to care for the Bay to Baker Trail. You will remove invasive species and litter, apply mulch, plant native plants, and learn trail stewardship practices. Details

Lake Whatcom Park: Join Whatcom Million Trees Project, Whatcom County Parks and Recreation, and Whatcom Land Trust to remove invasive English ivy from a forested area along a trail at Lake Whatcom Park. You will help save trees and make way for native undergrowth to regrow and thrive. Register

Chanterelle Trailhead: Join the Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition to help build and maintain trails at Brown Pow. You will spend the day supporting the trails at this Wickersham-area site. Register

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

The Blue Room
Steve Hofstetter (comedy) | Tues

Aslan Depot
The Afterglow Comedy Hour (comedy) | Thurs

Bellingham Theatre Guild
The Importance of Being Earnest (theatre) | Thurs-Sun

The Claire
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (theatre) | Thurs-Sun

Larrabee Lager Co
Laughs at Larrabee (comedy) | Thurs 8 pm

FireHouse Arts & Events Center
12 Minutes Max Bellingham (dance, theatre) | Fri, Sat

Unity Spiritual Center
Midnight Mystery Players (theatre) | Fri, Sat

New Prospect Theatre
Fractured Fairy Tales (dance, theatre) | Fri-Sun

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances

Salsa & Bachata - Viking Union - Mon 7 pm
Bellingham Embodiment Collective - Majestic Ballroom - Mon 6:30 pm
Country Line Dancing - Corner Taphouse in Fairhaven - Mon 6:30 pm
Contact Improv - Aikido Peace Education Center - Mon, class 5:30, jam 7 pm
Cuban Salsa - Cof& - Tues 6 pm
Taster Tuesdays (hip hop) - Lost Giants Cider Co - Tues 6 pm
B’ham Hop Swing - Hotel Leo - Wed 7 pm
Tango Practica - The Majestic - Wed 6:30 pm
Revolution Fusion - Karate Church - Thurs 7 pm
Dance for people with PD and other neurological conditions - Firehouse Arts Center - Thurs 11 am
Contra - Fairhaven Library - Sat 7 pm
Beginner Ballet - Karate Church - Sat 10 am
Beginner Contemporary - Karate Church - Sat 11:30 am
Dance Fusion - BSAC - 10:30 am
Salsa Collective - The Majestic - Sun 5:30 pm
Open Floor Conscious Dance - Bellingham Fitness - Sun 10:30 am

World Gratitude Day gets a local soundtrack at the FireHouse Arts & Events Center this afternoon, September 21, from 3:30 to 6 pm. Guitars and Gratitude hosts an afternoon of acoustic music featuring Dianne Ardourel and Lane Hoback, joined by Rick Baunach, Cheryl Hodge, Phil Paige, Bob Paltrow, Steve Webb, and the Original D’vas. There is no cover charge, and all donations go to the FireHouse.

Canadian folk duo Mama’s Broke brings its Reunion album release tour to New Prospect Theatre tomorrow, September 22, from 8 to 10 pm. Amy Lou Keeler and Lisa Maria draw from folk traditions across Eastern Canada, Appalachia, Ireland, and beyond, building their music around close harmonies and an acoustic core. Tickets

Steve Hofstetter brings a new stand-up set to The Blue Room tomorrow, September 22, from 6 to 8:30 pm. The touring comedian is known for sharp crowd work and comedy clips that have reached large audiences online, and this Bellingham stop is built around an all-new performance rather than a repeat of older material. Tickets

Pour It Forward for The Hub Community Bike Shop, Kulshan Sunnyland Taproom – From 5 to 9 pm, 10% of taproom sales support The Hub’s bike reuse and repair work, with Hub staff on site for bike questions and stickers.

Monday Music & Trivia →

It’s a quiet night!

Tuesday Music & Trivia →

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