🐹 Ivy & Scotch Broom ☠️☠️

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. 📧

As I was perusing Facebook to see what I’d missed over my summer hiatus, I noticed the Bellingham City Club had posted all the way back on July 6th about a talk given by Washington State’s 19th Attorney General Nick Brown, and First Assistant Attorney General Maureen Johnston.

Video of the presentation above. 👆 Nick is surprisingly funny and personable for a guy managing over 800 attorneys and shaping the application of state law in a complicated time for our country, and it’s a fascinating look at the current values and priorities motivating the Attorney General. Worth a watch if you have the time. 👍

It’s pretty extraordinary that we’ve had as little smoke impact as we’ve had this summer with numerous wildfires continuing to burn in Eastern Washington. Two of those are in East Whatcom County, clustered around Ross Lake, and one is just beyond the county border.

The Border 2 Fire, aptly named as it’s the one straddling the border just north of the lake 👇, had grown to 3,500 acres in the latest release by the North Cascades National Park Service, with firefighters battling the blaze “assisted by Air Attack and four Scoopers utilizing aerial delivered water when weather and smoke conditions permit.”

I keep changing my mind about what Air Quality mapping service is the most reliable but I’m currently liking the AirNow site. If you start noticing that orange haze as the sun rises, jump on AirNow and see what our local numbers look like. AirNow displays readings of PM2.5, which are fine particulates that measure 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter. Smoke falls in this category, as do vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions, so it’s a good indication of how the fires to our east are impacting our regional air quality.

Election Reminder: Tomorrow, August 4, is the final day to cast your ballot in Washington’s Primary Election. Whatcom County voters may also see local special-election measures, depending on where you live. Official ballot drop boxes close at 8 pm on Tuesday. The County’s Official Ballot Drop Box Locations map can help you find the nearest one.

I got a note from Holly Zwolinski last week about her upcoming photography class that runs August 10-12. This one is a two night retreat at a private residence off route 9 near Deming.

The property is near the Nooksack River, so look for river adventures, and it’s an opportunity to get hands on experience in photographing the Milky Way 👆 and editing the photos. Holly mentioned there are a few spots left. You can learn more and find Holly’s email on the retreat info page.

LOCAL READS

The NW Washington species impacted by Endangered Species Act rollback
By Sydnee Chapman · Salish Current
Conservationists are warning that changes to the Endangered Species Act could lead to habitat loss without violating federal law, affecting wildlife throughout the Salish Sea region. Sydnee reports that local researchers point to species including Island marble butterflies, northern spotted owls and salmon as examples of animals whose survival depends on protecting the places they live. Read more →

· · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Saving local news starts with paying local reporters
By Ron Judd · The BellingHammer
A group of journalists at Adams Publishing newspapers in Skagit and Snohomish counties staged a strike, calling for higher wages and contract protections around the use of artificial intelligence in local newsrooms. Ron reports that many reporters earn wages comparable to fast-food jobs despite covering entire communities, arguing that sustainable local journalism depends on investing in the people who produce it. Read more →

CIVIC CORNER

Monday
Ferndale City Council, 5:00 pm, City Hall
Lynden City Council, 7:00 pm, City Hall
Regional Fire Authority Planning Committee, 2:00 pm, City Hall

Tuesday
Whatcom County Council, 10:35 am w reg. meeting at 6:00 pm, County Courthouse
Bellingham Arts Commission, 5:00 pm, City Hall

Thursday
Greenways Advisory Committee, 7:00 pm, Pacific Street Operations Center
WTA Board, 8:00 am, WTA office

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

Thursday
Clayton Beach: Help the Northwest Straits Foundation tackle invasive vegetation such as Himalayan blackberry, English ivy, and scotch broom to create space for future native vegetation. Register

Friday
North Fork Eagle: Join Whatcom Land Trust staff for a full day of stewardship at North Fork Eagle, located along the North Fork of the Nooksack River near Welcome. Register

Saturday
Halverson Park: Help Whatcom Million Trees Project tackle English ivy in the mature conifer forests at Halverson Park. Register
Summer Stewards: Hop on the NSEA shuttle bus for a morning of stewardship. This day will be focused on invasive blackberry removal. Register

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

New Prospect Theatre
Agnes of God (theatre) | Thurs

FireHouse Arts & Events Center
All The Marbles - Contemporary Dance (dance) | Fri-Sat

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
B’ham Hop - Crystal Ballroom - Tues 8 pm
Tango Practica - The Majestic - Wed 6:30 pm
Footwork & Choreo (fundraiser) - Lost Giants Cider Co. - 6–7:15 pm
Revolution Fusion - Karate Church - Thurs 7 pm
Beginner Ballet - Karate Church - Sat 10 am
Beginner Contemporary - Karate Church - Sat 11:30 am
Salsa Collective - The Majestic - Sun 5:30 pm
Open Floor Conscious Dance - Bellingham Fitness - Sun 10:30 am

KC Mudd performs at The Admiralty Lounge tomorrow, August 4, from 7 to 9 pm. The Bellingham-area musician brings a country and folk set centered on guitar, vocals, and the promise of “ballads, booze, and blues.”

Nick Shoulders performs at the Wild Buffalo tomorrow, August 4, with Kassi Valazza opening. Shoulders’ fifth album, Refugia Blues, pares his Southern roots music down to voice, guitar, banjo, and fiddle, drawing on country ballads, Appalachian yodeling, and field hollers.

Tuesday Tunes features the Stapletones at Barkley Village Green tomorrow, August 4, from 6 to 8 pm. The band will perform a mix of classic and modern country during this free outdoor concert.

All Comers Track and Field, Civic Stadium – An all-ages meet begins at 6 pm with running, jumping, and throwing events for first-time competitors and experienced athletes, with check-in at 5:15 pm.

Monday Trivia, Zeeks Pizza – Two rounds of trivia run from 7 to 9 pm with teams of one to six, five categories per round, a $2 buy-in, and cash payouts for the top three teams.

Monday Music & Trivia →

Trivia on the Patio, Kulshan Brewing Sunnyland Taproom – Summer trivia runs from 7 to 9 pm with a $2 buy-in per person, cash prizes for top teams, and open patio seating with no advance sign-up required.

National Night Out, Birch Bay Beach Park – A free community event from 5 to 7 pm includes emergency vehicles, live demonstrations, children’s activities, complimentary food, and time with local law enforcement and first responders.

Tuesday Music & Trivia →

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