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

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Evan

Or, hit reply to send me photos via email. 📧

Bellingham photographer Holly Zwolinski of Holly Z Photography is exploring a 2-night astrophotography and landscape retreat in the Mt. Baker area for June 2026. Designed for photographers eager to deepen their skills, the retreat would include guided Milky Way shoots under the new moon, local landscapes, and hands-on instruction in both camera technique and post-processing. Learn more at hollyzphotography.com

Holly is currently gathering interest as she scouts locations and finalizes details. If capturing the night sky in the North Cascades alongside a small group of fellow creatives sounds appealing, you’re invited to join the interest list and be the first to receive updates as plans take shape.

Email Holly ([email protected]) to receive updates.

Earlier this week, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife posted a 2025 recap of its ongoing efforts to control invasive European green crabs, reporting that more than 1.09 million were removed from Washington waters during last year’s trapping season, a modest increase over 2024’s numbers.

The report notes several new detections in Puget Sound, including a small cluster of green crabs found just south of us in Similk Bay near Anacortes.

After a molt was discovered by a volunteer monitor, tribal, state, and research partners launched a coordinated trapping response that removed a dozen crabs from the area.

Digging deeper into the agency’s new European Green Crab Hub reveals how the numbers vary by region. While statewide removals increased only slightly compared with 2024, catches in North Puget Sound rose sharply, from about 4,200 crabs to roughly 14,200 in 2025!

Keep your eyes peeled when you’re chillin by the bay this summer. Green crab can be green, red, brown, or orange with five spines (marginal teeth) on either side of their eyes. The hub page has some great photos for reference, and there’s a helpful diagram on the Report your sighting page.

Unity in Motion, a new community dance festival in Bellingham, is offering drop-in classes with local instructors all weekend at COF& on Cornwall Avenue. The event will raise funds for Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Services (DVSAS) of Whatcom County, with classes offered on a pay what you can basis and proceeds going directly to support the organization’s work in the community.

The two-day schedule includes a wide range of styles taught by local instructors, including contemporary dance, Bollywood and Bhangra, Cuban casino partnering, Highland dance, Zumba, belly dance, swing dancing, and a closing groove dance party.

Classes are open to all ages and experience levels, and participants can drop in for individual sessions throughout the weekend. A full schedule of classes and instructors is available on the Bellyham website.

Health Alert: The Washington State Department of Health has issued an emergency closure for recreational and commercial harvesting of clams, oysters, and mussels in Drayton Harbor after several illnesses were linked to raw oysters harvested there on February 13 and February 20.

The illnesses, which appear consistent with a Norovirus-like infection, were reported by people who ate raw oysters from the area. A recall has been issued for oysters and clams harvested between February 13 and February 23 that were sold at Drayton Harbor Oyster Company in Blaine and at Dockside Market on February 21.

LOCAL READS

Connected Together Through Space and Time
By Janine Cuthbertson · INELDA
In this sweet story, brought to my attention by reader Kara Smith, Janine describes a family stop at the “Before I Die” wall on Holly where her 81-year-old father-in-law wrote that he hoped to understand Einstein’s theory of relativity. Janine explains how a photo shared later over social media connected him with a particle physicist willing to explain Einstein’s equations. Read more →

· · · · · · · · · · · · ·

WCC Students Helping the Homeless
By Soren Chavez and Bryce Harbin · The Horizon
Five Whatcom Community College students spent a January afternoon walking downtown Bellingham handing out care packages with spaghetti, jerky, water, and handwritten Bible verses to people experiencing homelessness. Soren and Bryce report how the informal group hopes to expand the effort, possibly into a campus club, after organizing the outreach among friends. Read more →

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Friday
Bell Creek: Join Whatcom Land Trust at Bell Creek to remove invasive species and protect habitat for spring Chinook, bull trout, and other native wildlife. Register

Saturday
Native Plant Nursery: Help the city prepare its native plant nursery for another year of restoration projects. Volunteers will pot bare-root plants and tidy the Parks Native Plant Nursery. Register
Smith Creek: Work with NSEA to remove invasive blackberry and replace it with native trees and shrubs, helping ensure the water remains cold, clean, and clear for coho, chum, steelhead, and Chinook salmon. Register
Kelsey Nature Reserve: Join WLT to plant native trees and shrubs at Kelsey Nature Reserve in Ferndale. Register

Sunday
Whatcom Humane Society’s Division St. Shelter: Join Whatcom Million Trees Project in planting native trees in the dog-walking field to provide shade and support the nearby wetland. Register

717 13th Street (Open Fri 2-5:30 pm)
Here’s a fun South Hill craftsman to check out. It’s a fantastic location on the plateaued part of 13th street. And, it sports one of my favorite features on these older homes. That’s the curb-side carriage house. Sometimes these are connected to the home’s basement or first floor through some creative passages. Worth a look. 🙂 Listing.

1211 Yew Street (Open Sat 12-2 pm)
Homes at this price point are so rare in Bellingham anymore! This home is a great size, in a great location, on a great big lot. With a little love, this gem would shine. 💎 Listing.

iDiOM Theater
The Plague (theater) | Thurs-Sat

Squalicum High School
Urinetown (theater) | Thurs-Sat

Bellingham High School
Sister Act (theater) | Fri-Sat

BAAY Theater
The Wizard Of Oz (theater) | Sat

New Prospect Theatre
Molly’s Comedy Cabaret (comedy) | Sat

FireHouse Arts & Events Center
Tony Deyo (comedy) | Sat

Mount Baker Theater
The Moth Mainstage (storytelling) | Sat

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances

Hip Hop, House, Shuffle - Lost Giants Cider - Fri 6 pm
Dance Fusion - BSAC - Sat 10:30 am
Sunset Silent Disco - Zuanich - Sat 5:00 pm
Salsa Collective - The Majestic - Sun 5:30 pm
Belly Dance - Karate Church - Sun 1 pm

Wild Geese of the West take the stage at The Shakedown tonight, March 6, for a Grateful Dead tribute performance built around the band’s improvisational live sound. The band draws from the Dead’s expansive catalog, recreating the improvisational style and long form grooves that defined the original group’s live shows. Music starts at 8:30 pm.

Mount Baker Theatre hosts The Moth Mainstage tomorrow, March 7 at 7:30 pm for a live storytelling event built around the theme “American Dreams.” Five seasoned storytellers take the stage to share true personal narratives delivered without notes, reflecting the long running format of the international storytelling organization. Tickets.

The Jansen Jazz Orchestra performs at the Jansen Art Center tomorrow, March 7, bringing a full big band sound rooted in the swing traditions of the 1930s and 40s. The ensemble features local musicians performing a mix of classic jazz standards alongside selections that range from blues and bebop to Motown and rock influenced arrangements. Tickets.

Join Shifting Gears at Stones Throw Brewery for an International Women’s Day Celebration and Makers Market on Sunday, March 8 from noon to 9 pm, bringing together local artists, musicians, and outdoor groups for a daylong event. The afternoon includes a makers market featuring a dozen women artists, a gravel bike ride with Shifting Gears, and a new Women’s Brew release supporting the Pink Boots Society. Details.

Book Sale, Cedar Tree Montessori – A 2 to 5 pm community book sale featuring used books for all ages and a small bake sale, raising support for the Montessori school.

Denim & Diamonds Karaoke Night, Kulshan Brewing (K2) – A 7 to 10 pm karaoke party celebrating the release of Kulshan’s Bruce Springskiing beer, with Bruce Springsteen songs.

Outdoor Crystal, Rock & Gem Sale, 1407 E Maryland St – A two-day outdoor sale featuring raw mineral specimens, polished carvings, stone slabs, cabochons, lapidary materials, and handmade jewelry, running Friday from 11 am to 7 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm.

Friday Music & Trivia →

Interfaith Coalition Music Festival, First Congregational Church of Bellingham – A 3 pm concert bringing together more than 180 musicians from local congregations and spiritual groups for a shared afternoon of choral and ensemble performances, free admission.

Dahlia Tuber Sale, Lynden Ten Mile Grange – A 9 am to 2 pm in person sale featuring more than 1,000 varieties of dahlia tubers from regional growers, with discounted selections offered during the final hour.

Saturday Music & Trivia →

March Peace Walk, Waypoint Park – Starting at 1:30 pm, this community peace walk led by Red Cedar Zen Community follows an approximately 2.5 mile walking meditation loop through downtown beginning under the Acid Ball at Waypoint Park.

Sunday Music & Trivia →

Advertise in Bham’s #1 Newsletter
Include a note in the Wheel! Learn more

Thanks for reading today’s edition. If you found something helpful, please share it with a friend and encourage them to click here to subscribe. 🙏

Reply to this email if you have news to share, an event you’d like me to know about, or to send me a love note. 💘