🐹 Kings Return 👑👑

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

Fingers crossed these emails make it to you all without the technical issues from the last edition. 🤞 

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

Tag @bellinghamsterwheel on Instagram or reply to this email to get your photos in The Hamster Wheel.

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: 74°F 🌡️ 58°F | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 🌧️ 9% | 💨 SSW 5 to 10 mph

Thursday: 72°F 🌡️ 59°F | ⛅ Partly Sunny then Showers | 🌧️ 60% | 💨 SSW 7 mph

Moon Phases

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

Kings Return In Record Numbers

More than 7,000 hatchery-raised Chinook salmon are expected to return to Whatcom Creek in the coming months, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). "These hatchery-produced salmon are not intended to reproduce in the wild or even make it more than a mile up the [...] creek" says Edward Eleazer, WDFW’s North Puget Sound Region Fish Program manager. Instead, “these salmon provide prey for Southern Resident killer whales in important foraging areas, support recreational salmon fisheries in marine areas and lower Whatcom Creek as well as tribal treaty and youth fisheries, and help train the next generation of fisheries professionals at BTC — it’s a win-win-win,” 

A huge win for local anglers! If you’re ready to brave the shoulder-to-shoulder fishing frenzy at Maritime Heritage Park, Chinook salmon, (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)—aka King Salmon, are absolutely delicious and exciting to catch on rod and reel. 🎣 

This record surge is the result of a collaboration between Bellingham Technical College (BTC), WDFW, the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NIFC), and the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Indian Tribe.

If you’ve never looked into BTC’s Fisheries & Aquaculture Sciences program, it’s worth a peek. From ranching oysters to tending kelp beds, it’s about as Pacific Northwest as a career gets. I’m hoping to make it to their next open house. Very tempting. 😁

In other news…

📰 The Society of Professional Journalists recently awarded Western’s The Planet first place in the “Best Ongoing Student Magazine” category in it’s national Mark of Excellence awards.

Jeff Shaw, an instructor in WWU’s Journalism department and the advisor for The Planet magazine is quoted in a university news release saying “I am both over the moon and utterly unsurprised,” and continued “Anyone who saw the hard work, determination and conscientious effort the editorial team and staff put in over the past year would feel the same way.”

🧒 Kids been pent up in the house all week? Bellingham Parks and Rec’s last youth trip of the summer, Bays, Bridges & Sweet Treats, is this Friday and registration is still open for kids 8-12 years old.

This itinerary makes me want to be a kid again! 🏖️🌲🍦 “We'll start the morning at Padilla Bay Nature Preserve, where kids will get hands-on with tide-pools, marine life, and the wonders of the Salish Sea. Next, we'll head to Deception Pass State Park, home to breathtaking views, sandy beaches and trails to explore. To top it all off, we'll stop by the Lopez Island Creamer Factory Store in Anacortes for a delicious scoop of locally made ice cream.”

Food & Drink

Hamsters Gotta Eat

Performance Arts This Week

Dance of The Hamsters

LIVE ARTS & FILM

New Prospect Theatre
Cabaret | Fri 5:30 pm, Sun 9:00 pm

iDiOM Theater
A Tourist's Guide to the End of Magic | Thurs, Fri, Sat 7:30 pm

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances.

PARTICIPATORY DANCE

Tango Practica - The Majestic - Wed 6:30 pm
Summer Heat - Presence Studio - Thurs 6:30 pm
Sunset Silent Disco - Zuanich - Sat 7:30 pm
Salsa Collective - The Majestic - Sun 5:30 pm
Open Floor Movement - Presence Studio - Sun 10:30 am
Family Dance Party - Boom! - Sun 10 am

Events & Nightlife

Spinning Into The Night

Feature an Event. Reach out.

FEATURED

A two-hour outdoor concert in Elizabeth Park. Groovebot brings a high-energy funk experience from 6-8pm tomorrow, August 14th! Bring your lawn chairs and relax.

Calling all muggles, squibs, witches and wizards! Come one, come all, to a special edition of Summer Trivia at Elizabeth Station. Look forward to one of a kind trivia pertaining to the wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Books, Movies, & Hogwarts Legacy are all fair game! Teams of 1-6, $2 cash buy in per person, costumes encouraged. Tonight, August 13th, 7 pm.

Beats on the Bay is back! Pick a craft from the Community Boating Center fleet and float out to the Schooner Zodiac for an evening of music, community, and fun on the Bay! Or if you’d like to enjoy the comforts of a slightly larger boat, tickets to be on the deck of the Schooner Zodiac can be purchased here.

WEDNESDAY

Jake Owen, Northwest Washington Fair - With ten No.1 hit singles and over 3 billion U.S. on-demand streams, Jake Owen has ascended to stardom as a mainstay country staple. Known for his laid-back style and hits like "Barefoot Blue Jean Night," and "American Country Love Song," Owen's album, Greetings From... Jake, delivered three No.1 hits. Boot-up and grab a ticket.

Boys & Girls Clubs Summer Soiree, The Squalicum Boathouse - A Summer Soiree benefiting Great Futures at Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County! This year's celebration features fresh local oysters and a traditional pit-cooked seafood dinner by Terry Phair of Lummi Seafood, served at our original waterfront location. Support a wonderful Whatcom institution.

Wednesday Music & Trivia →

THURSDAY

The Sons of Rainier, Boundary Bay Brewery - At the dawn of 2017 Devin Champlin brought a couple of his original songs to Dean Johnson with the invitation to sing in harmony together. That proved to be joyful, and they tapped Sam Gelband to join in with his sturdy baritone. Quickly this bore fruit, so they invited Charlie Meyer along for the ride with his lovely bass playing skills. At that, The Sons of Rainier were born. Catch them at 8 pm.

Barkley Farmers Market, Barkley Village Green - Bring your picnic blanket and the rest of the family to enjoy the live music, check out the fantastic food truck options for lunch, or shop the various local vendors. 11 am to 2 pm at 2215 Rimland Dr.

Thursday Music & Trivia →

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Hakuna matata

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Have a great Wednesday!!