🐹 One Bird To Rule Them All 🦆🦆

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

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Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Evan

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Bellingham is about to get an official bird, and you have an opportunity to cast a vote. North Cascades Audubon Society is taking nominations through September 27, then narrowing the field to 10 finalists. A public vote will follow during Bellingham Bird Week, with the winner eventually getting an official proclamation from the City.

The bird election is part of the first Bellingham Bird Week, running October 5 through 11. Whatcom County has recorded 355 bird species on eBird, thanks in part to our location along the Salish Sea and the mix of shoreline, wetlands, forests, farms, and urban habitat around the county.

Bird Week itself will spread well beyond the ballot box, with field trips, bird trivia, documentary films, author events, artist talks, and children's story time among the programs being planned. We will circle back to the schedule as October gets closer. For now, the most pressing question is obvious: which bird best represents Bellingham?

A lot has changed at Little Squalicum over the last few years, and today there’s a cool opportunity to see all that work that’s been accomplished. As part of Water Week, City Public Works and Parks staff will lead a walk alongside members of the North Cascades Audubon Society, with stops to talk about the estuary, look for birds, and check out the new Little Squalicum Pier.

The roughly 1.5-mile round trip follows a gently sloping gravel trail and runs from 5:30 to 7:30 pm starting at the parking lot on Marine Drive. No RSVP is required, and the city suggests bringing binoculars if you have them.

Last week’s rain prompted Bellingham to lift its recreational fire ban. As of 5 pm on Friday, backyard fire pits and other recreational fires are allowed again within city limits, though the Fire Department is asking people to keep using some common sense around them.

That means keeping fires under 3 feet wide and 2 feet tall, burning only seasoned firewood or charcoal, and staying with the fire until it is fully out. Recreational fires also need to be at least 25 feet from anything that can burn, with a hose, extinguisher, or buckets of water nearby.

LOCAL READS

Guided by faith: Finnish founder keeps Lynden’s musical heart beating
By Margaret Bikman · Salish Current
The Lynden Music Festival returns Oct. 7–11 with blues, an ABBA tribute band, a 641-hymn marathon and performances spread across downtown venues. Margaret details how founder Terhi Miikki-Broersma’s Finnish musical background, Christian faith and commitment to paying performers have shaped the festival since 2009. Read more →

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Birch Bay incorporation group to weigh key decisions Sept. 17
By Kari Mar · The Northern Light
Birch Bay’s incorporation group will meet Sept. 17 to consider proposed city boundaries, a government structure and whether to formally begin the incorporation process. Kari explains how that filing would trigger Boundary Review Board scrutiny before any proposal could ultimately reach voters. Read more →

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Amending the Marine Mammal Protection Act Is Essential to Protecting Salmon
By Ed Johnstone · Whatcom Watch
A bipartisan House bill would expand lethal removal authority for seals and sea lions preying on salmon in Washington and the Columbia River system. Ed explains why treaty tribes support the proposal, citing salmon recovery, fishing rights and the limits of nonlethal deterrents. Read more →

CIVIC CORNER

Monday
Bham Public Works and Natural Resources Committee, 10:45 am, City Hall
Bham Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee, 1:00 pm, City Hall
Bham Parks and Recreation Committee, 2:05 pm, City Hall
Bham Committee of the Whole, 2:15 pm, City Hall
Whatcom County Behavioral Health Advisory Committee, 3:00 pm, Civic Building
Blaine City Council Town Hall, 5:30 pm, Council Chambers
Blaine City Council Regular, 6:00 pm, City Council Chambers
Bham City Council Regular, 7:00 pm, City Hall

Tuesday
Whatcom County Council Committee of the Whole, 1:30 pm, Council Chambers
Port of Bham Board of Commissioners, 4:00 pm, Harbor Center
Whatcom County Council, 6:00 pm, Council Chambers
Whatcom County Food Systems Committee, 4:30 pm, 110 Unity Street zoom

Wednesday
Whatcom County Business and Commerce Advisory Committee, 11:00 am, Mt. Baker Room

Thursday
Whatcom Transportation Authority Board, 8:00 am, WTA Office
Whatcom Conservation Easement Program Oversight Committee, 3:00 pm, Northwest Annex
Lynden Planning Commission, 7:00 pm, City Hall Annex

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Wednesday
Sven Hoyt Community Garden: Join Bellingham Parks Community Gardens at Sven Hoyt Community Garden. You will remove invasive plants, care for the orchard, and mulch community spaces. Register

Saturday
Cherry Point (Gulf Road Beach): Join Re Sources from 11-1pm for International Coastal Cleanup Day. Cleanup supplies will be provided, along with snacks from the Bagelry and Community Food Co-op.

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

Backcountry Essentials
Rab Feathers Film Night (film) | Mon 7:00 pm

Bellingham Circus Guild
Vaudevillingham (circus) | Tues

Lookout Arts Quarry
The Mmmatchmaker! 💔❤️‍🩹❤️‍🔥 (dinner theater) | Fri-Sat

New Prospect Theatre
Much Ado About Nothing (theatre) | Fri-Sun

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

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

FireHouse Arts & Events Center
“Best of the Fest” Southside Edition of The Laughing Hamster Comedy Festival (comedy) | Fri

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
Taster Tuesdays (hip hop) - Lost Giants Cider Co - Tues 6 pm
Tango Practica - The Majestic - Wed 6:30 pm
Foundations: Hip Hop, House, Shuffle - Lost Giants - Thurs 6 pm
Revolution Fusion - Karate Church - Thurs 7 pm
Ballroom, Latin and Swing - Cordata Senior Center - Fri 6:30 pm
Ballroom, Swing, Latin - The Majestic - Fri 6:30 pm
Square Dance: Potluck - Details - Sat 6 pm
Sunset Silent Disco - Zuanich - Sat 6:30 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

Three vocalists and a mix of guitar, bass, and piano make up the D’vas Trio, performing tonight, September 14, from 3:30 to 5 pm at the FireHouse Arts & Events Center. Dianne Ardourel, Darcy Haughian, and Diane Leigh play a mix of covers and original material, with their arrangements centered on distinctive harmonies and vocal blends.

Honey Ruckus brings its mix of bluegrass, Americana, folk, and country to The Admiralty Lounge tomorrow, September 15, from 7 to 9 pm. The group plays original songs alongside select covers, with mandola, guitar, upright bass, and fiddle shaping its roots-oriented sound.

Backcountry Essentials hosts Rab Feathers Film Night on September 14 from 7 to 8:30 pm, screening three films from Rab’s Feathers Film Tour. The lineup includes Dias De La Gloria, For the Love, and Here and There. The $10 ticket price goes entirely to Vamos Outdoors Project.

Movie Trilogy Mondays: Back to the Future Part II, Stones Throw Brewery – The second film in the Back to the Future trilogy screens outdoors from 7 to 9 pm, with free admission, all ages welcome, and outside food allowed.

Monday Music & Trivia →

No Hate in WA State Bellingham Coalition Party & Fall Kickoff, The Blue Room – A free, all-ages gathering from 6 to 8:30 pm features live music from two local bands, three drag performers, refreshments, activities, and information from No Hate in Washington State and Community First Whatcom.

Karaoke Night, Schweinhaus Biergarten – A free weekly karaoke night from 8:30 to 11 pm, hosted by Paige, with singers of all skill levels welcome to sign up and take the mic.

Chuckanut Sandstone Writers Theater Open Mic, Village Books – A monthly open mic from 6 to 7:50 pm gives local writers a chance to share their work, with Carla Shafer hosting and preregistration encouraged for readers.

Tuesday Music & Trivia →

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