🐹 The Salt Lick 🦌🦌

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

Yesterday kicked off National Public Works Week, an opportunity to celebrate the hard working folks that keep our City and County running. Thank each and every one of you!

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Val & Evan

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

Snowgoose - 📷 by Doug Robinson

They are back! - 📷 by Lee Willis

Triple Surveillance - 📷 by Duffy Brook

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

Weather Forecast

Monday: 59°F 🌡️ 48°F | 🌧️ Rain | 🌧️ 100% | 💨 SSE 9 to 15 mph

Tuesday: 60°F 🌡️ 47°F | 🌧️ Light Rain | 🌧️ 90% | 💨 SSW 10 mph

Moon Phases

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

Pull The Salt Lick!

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced a new rule over the weekend prohibiting feeding deer, elk, and moose anywhere in in Washington State. This rule was adopted in an effort to stop the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) which was first detected in the state last year, and so far has only been detected in Eastern Washington.

CWD is an awful death, and unfortunately it’s always fatal when contracted by deer and related cervids. I lived in Kansas for a number of years when CWD was gaining a foothold in the mule deer population and the impact was tragic.

The feeding restriction is intended to minimize congregation of multiple animals around food supplies. “When many animals gather in an area where they are being fed, it is easier for them to transmit disease between them. In the case of CWD, disease-causing prions are also spread through the environment. A sick animal at a feeding site may deposit prions in the environment that are spread to a different animal visiting the feed site later.”

What originally caught my eye when skimming though the press release from the WDFW was included language about bird feeders. Under the new rule, it is illegal to feed any Washington wildlife if it causes deer, elk, or moose to congregate — even if you aren’t intending to feed them. Just something for my fellow bird-feeding friends out there to be aware of.

In other news…

🐦️ The North Cascades Audubon Society is holding a birding walk at Whatcom Falls Park this coming Saturday.

This one starts off by the fish hatchery and then loops though the park providing opportunities for birding in forested, wetland, and manicured park settings. These NCAS outings are always a blast and this one is right here in town. Grab a spot if you’re interested because these trips fill up quick.

🏙️ The Bellingham City Council meets today, May 19 at 10 am, with the Regular Meeting at 7 pm. The agenda is available online. This public meeting is held at Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall or can be watched online.

Food & Drink

Hamsters Gotta Eat

Performance Arts This Week

Dance of The Hamsters

The Cherry Orchard

LIVE ARTS & FILM

Uisce Irish Pub: 
Guffawingham | Mon 8:30 pm

iDiOM Theater
The Cherry Orchard | Thurs-Sat 7:30 pm

New Prospect Theatre:
To Whom It May Concern | Sat 7:30 pm

The Upfront Theatre
The GBU | Thurs 7:30 pm
Space Trek | Fri 7:30 pm
Movie Mayhem | Fri 9:30 pm
Space Trek | Sat 7:30 pm
Punch Line | Sat 9:30 pm

PARTICIPATORY DANCE

 Salsa & Bachata 
Salsa & Bachata - Viking Union - Mon 7 pm
Beginning Cuban Salsa - Cof& - Tues 6 pm
Int. Cuban Salsa - Cof& - Tues 7:15 pm
Bachata - ‘ONO Kitchen & Bar - Thurs 7:30 pm
Salsa Collective - The Majestic - Sun 5:30 pm

 Tango  
Urban Salon Tango - The Majestic - Mon 7 pm
Tango Practica - The Majestic - Wed 6:30 pm

 Other  
B’ham Hop - Crystal Ballroom - Tues 7 pm
Flow Fusion - Karate Church - Thurs 7 pm
Sunset Silent Disco - Zuanich - Sat 7:30 pm 

Help Spread The Word

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Events & Nightlife

Spinning Into The Night

Feature an Event. Reach out. 
Tell us about an event. Use this link.

Join the Bellingham Ukulele Orchestra Spring Concert for a colorful expression of music and song! Today (May 19), 4 pm, at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship.

Join Italian wine maker Antonio Sanguineti for a carefully curated selection of wines from his vineyard and other Italian vineyards. Tuesday at 4 pm. Sip Italian.

MONDAY

The Mountain Runners, Pickford - The story of America's first mountain endurance/adventure foot race, which took place in Bellingham. Dash for tickets.

May Mondays at Maritime, Maritime Heritage Park - Take a stroll, grab a bite, relax on a blanket, and soak up the spring vibes. It’s the perfect way to wind down your Monday and connect with your community. Get the deets.

SeaFeast Paint & Sip, Springhill Suites - This unique night out combines art, local flavor, and northwest vibes! Each guest will receive a crab shell to transform into ocean-inspired art with step-by-step guidance from local artist and SeaFeast Executive Director, Kevin Coleman. Paint a crab!

TUESDAY

The Mount Baker Toppers, Majestic Ballroom - Rehearse with the Toppers for 6 weeks, then perform at the Fairhaven Green Night of Acapella on June 21st! Register to sing.

Bellingham Story Hour, New Prospect Theatre - Stories can be entertaining, heartwarming, educational, cringe inducing, shame releasing, vulnerable, weird, and all of the things in-between but they are always true, always your own experience, and always rewarding to tell and hear. Spin a yarn.

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Hakuna matata

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Have a great Monday!!