🐹 Kids In The Circus 🎪🎪

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

I drove past Boundary Bay Brewery yesterday and felt nostalgic. Things change, but sheesh that was a Bham gem. It's missed!

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Evan

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

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Moon Phases

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

Tracking High Water on The Nooksack

With wet weather returning to Whatcom County, now’s a good time to take a peek at the resources that help us track the rise and fall of water levels across the Nooksack River. (Whatcom County Public Works thinks so too 😉. The County’s Forecasts & Current River Conditions page offers tools for checking current and forecasted river levels, local weather alerts, and coastal storm surges—all in one place.

It also links directly to the National Weather Service’s live river gauge data, including three key Nooksack locations: the South Fork at Saxon Bridge, the mainstem at North Cedarville, and the lower river at Ferndale. These gauges provide near–real-time information that can help us Whatcomites and emergency planners prepare when the river begins to rise.

I’ve linked the images below 👇️ directly to each gauge chart on the NOAA website:

The National Weather Service uses four main terms to describe rising river levels: Action, Minor, Moderate, and Major. “Action” is an early alert level—when rising water may soon require preparation or monitoring. “Minor” flooding typically means some low-lying areas or roads may see water, but with limited damage or disruption. “Moderate” flooding can lead to inundation of roads or structures and may require evacuations or emergency response. “Major” flooding indicates significant, widespread impacts—damage to property and infrastructure, extensive evacuations, and potential safety risks.

Even when skies are clear, it’s worth checking these gauges as levels can change quickly, especially when snowmelt or when back-to-back storm systems are in play.

Here’s a fun one to look forward to. The Port’s Marine Life Center has announced that the large center pool at their Squalicum Harbor facility is scheduled to be replaced with a brand-new, state-of-the-art habitat system designed to bring kiddos (and big people channeling their inner kiddo), even closer to Salish Sea marine life.

The current pool, built in 1986, has offered generations of visitors a unique top-down view of local sea creatures. “We are grateful to have had the opportunity to rescue and work with about 40 years of larger fish species that all grew near and dear to our hearts, and in size.” But after nearly four decades of service, the tank will be deconstructed and replaced with a more adaptable and accessible design.

Expect slow-going on Chuckanut Drive this week. WSDOT is warning of alternate traffic between Blanchard Drive and the Skagit/Whatcom county line for shoulder maintenance through Thursday. “Expect delays!” Their exclamation point not mine. 😆 

Volunteer Opportunities This Week:

• Stream Team: Help Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) maintain older sites that need love today, November 5. 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

• Saxon Riparian Corridor: Join Whatcom Land Trust (WLT) planting native trees and shrubs to improve habitat that benefits salmon, birds, and other native wildlife. Register

• Kendall Creek: Join NSEA convert a portion of Kendall Creek from lawn to riparian forest on Saturday. Help increase the riparian buffer along Kendall Creek which supports all Pacific salmonid species and builds upon the benefits created by other nearby restoration projects. Register

• Rutsatz Salmon Reserve: Help WLT prepare the Rutsatz Salmon Reserve to thrive through the wet winter. Plant native trees and shrubs to restore habitat and remove invasive blackberry that has started to overtake earlier plantings. Register.

• Whatcom Creek: Join NSEA for a salmon spotting event at Maritime Heritage Park from noon to 3 pm, this Saturday, November 8. Info

Local Business Updates

Haggling With Local Folk

Run Away With The Circus!

You may have taken your kids or grandkids to the circus, but now there’s a chance to leave them there! At least for a couple of hours each Saturday for the next few weeks.

As of writing this newsletter there are a handful of spots open in Bellingham Circus Guild’s Youth Circus Club which starts this Saturday and runs through mid December.

Students from 1st-8th grade have the opportunity “to learn a variety of circus disciplines, including aerial, prop manipulation, and acrobatics. Each class will have a different aerial apparatus, prop focus, and guest teacher, allowing students to benefit from the robust array of expertise held by Guild members.“

How fun is that! 😁 

Food & Drink

Hamsters Gotta Eat

Performance Arts This Week

Dance of The Hamsters

LIVE ARTS & FILM

iDiOM Theater
Twelfth Night | Thurs-Sat

New Prospect Theatre
Phoebe in Winter | Thurs & Sun

BAAY Theatre
Ferdinand and the French Fry Factory | Fri, Sat

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances

PARTICIPATORY DANCE

Tango Practica - The Majestic - Wed 6:30 pm
Flow Fusion - Karate Church - Thurs 7 pm
Dance Fusion - Senior Activity Center - Sat 10:30 am
Contra - Fairhaven Library - Sat 7 pm
Sunset Silent Disco - Zuanich - Sat 4:00 pm
Salsa Collective - The Majestic - Sun 5:30 pm
Open Floor Movement - Presence Studio - Sun 10:30 am

Events & Nightlife

Spinning Into The Night

Feature an Event. Reach out.

FEATURED

The Subdued Stringband Jamboree’s Autumn Starlight Series continues Thursday, November 6, with acclaimed singer-songwriter Robert Sarazin Blake joined by Ivy Ficarra at the Odd Fellows Temple Room in The Orion Bar. The 21+ show begins at 7 pm.

Wissota Chophouse in Lynden marks its first anniversary tonight, November 5, from 4 to 10 pm with a Prohibition-era Jazz Night celebration. Enjoy live music from the High Peak Quartet (8–10 pm), featuring Blake Angelo, Andy Simmons, Kevin Chryst, and Thomas Harris. Reservations.

The Mount Baker Theatre’s Lookout Sessions welcomes Latin Grammy winner Diego García — better known as Twanguero, tonight, November 5, at 7:30 pm. Hailed as “Spain’s King of Twang,” Twanguero’s virtuosic guitar work weaves together Spanish classical traditions with Latin rhythms, country, rockabilly, and jazz. Tickets.

WEDNESDAY

BMC Matinee Program: Art Song, Grand Opera, and Broadway, Trinity Lutheran Church – Enjoy a free, family-friendly concert featuring soprano Heather Dudenbostel, baritone/pianist Mark Davies, sopranos Ibidunni Ojikutu and Celeste Fraser, and pianist Emily Gantt performing works from Poulenc, Ricky Ian Gordon, Mozart, Dvořák, Cilea, and The Bridges of Madison County. 10:30–11:30 am.

WCC Music Faculty Recital: Robert T. McDonald III, Guitar, Whatcom Community College Heiner Theater – Celebrate the debut performance of WCC’s newest music faculty member as he presents a solo guitar program highlighting his classical, jazz, and folk influences. 12:30–1:20 pm, free admission.

Wednesday Music & Trivia →

THURSDAY

Gilmore Girls Trivia, Aslan Depot – Test your knowledge of Stars Hollow with themed trivia, espresso martinis, and desserts from Saltadena in a cozy, fun-filled night for fans of Lorelai and Rory. 6:00–8:00 pm, free admission.

Navigators’ Night: Raise the Sails, Bellingham Cruise Terminal Dome Room – Celebrate community boating with local food, drinks, stories, and a raffle at this annual fundraiser supporting fleet upgrades for the Community Boating Center. 5:00–8:00 pm. Get tickets.

Thursday Music & Trivia →

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Hakuna matata

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