🐹 Whatcom Vikings 🏈🏈

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

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Evan

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With all the Halloween happenings later this week, I thought it would be fun to look at a couple of literary events this edition. They could hardly be more different: one is a personal memoir from a local Bellingham author, the other an illustrated trip through the seasons and species of Cascadia. Both are happening in Fairhaven, although their times overlap a bit.

Local author Mallina Wilson launches her memoir, All in a Moment, from 5 to 7 pm tomorrow, Oct 27, at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal. Wilson’s mother, Amina Agisheff, disappeared when Wilson was 15 and was found dead two years later. Investigators later connected her case to the broader Green River Killer investigation, though Gary Ridgway was never charged with her murder. Wilson’s book is less about true crime than what comes afterward: grief, motherhood, breaking generational patterns, and learning to separate justice from closure. Tickets are free, and Wilson will talk about the story behind the book.

Then at 6 pm, Village Books hosts artist-naturalist Emily Poole for Cascade of Life, an illustrated seasonal guide to the wild Northwest. Poole moves from rocky shorelines to alpine slopes and dry interior landscapes, mixing field observations and paintings of familiar creatures like gray whales and Anna’s hummingbirds with less celebrated neighbors including pickleweed and coyotes. The hour-long talk is part of Village Books and North Cascades Institute’s Nature of Writing series. Register

Western wildlife ecologist and photographer Gregory Green is offering another fun sounding presentation with North Cascades Audubon called Monet, Me, and the Mallards. It’s a slideshow built around photographs he began taking during the COVID pandemic, when he spent long mornings and evenings tucked into isolated photo blinds watching light move across ponds.

The resulting images combine waterfowl like wood ducks and hooded mergansers with reflected color and patterns that reminded him of Claude Monet’s Water Lilies. The social hour starts at 6:30 pm tomorrow, Oct 27, at the Whatcom Museum’s Old City Hall Rotunda Room, with the presentation at 7. Admission is free, with a $5 suggested donation, and no reservation is needed.

LOCAL READS

A Look at Whatcom County’s Semi-Pro Football History
By Matt Benoit · WhatcomTalk
Western played 797 football games over 98 seasons before budget cuts ended the program in 2009, while a succession of semi-pro teams kept adult football alive around Bellingham. Matt explains how those clubs rose, folded, merged and changed leagues, leading to the current Whatcom Vikings program. Read more →

· · · · · · · · · · · · ·

As school closures loom, voters owed accountability on 2022 bond request
By Blaine Pedlow · Cascadia Daily News (free)
In 2022, Bellingham voters approved a $122 million school construction bond; four years later, the district is considering closures and has spent $6.3 million designing four elementary projects, three of which may not be built. Blaine argues that enrollment warnings already visible in district planning documents warrant a fuller accounting before future funding requests. Read more →

CIVIC CORNER

Monday
Blaine City Council Study Session, 5:00 pm, City Hall
Blaine City Council, 6:00 pm, City Hall

Tuesday
Whatcom Co. Finance & Admin Services Committee, 9:00 am, County Courthouse
Whatcom Co. Council Committee of the Whole, 1:00 pm, County Courthouse
Bham Tourism Commission, 3:30 pm, Hotel Bellwether
Bham Water Resources Advisory Board, 6:00 pm, Pacific Street Operations & Zoom
Whatcom Co. Council, 6:00 pm, County Courthouse
Everson City Council, 7:00 pm, City Hall

Wednesday
Port of Bham Community Open House, 4:00 pm, Squalicum Boathouse

Thursday
Sumas Flood Planning Meeting, 6:00 pm, American Legion Post 212

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Wednesday
Larrabee State Park: Join Washington Trails Association to rebuild the old Chinscraper trail in Larrabee State Park. You will clear brush, fallen logs, and debris, dig a durable walking surface, and improve drainage and safety on the route from Fragrance Lake Road to Cyrus Gates Overlook. Details

Saturday
Cedar Creek: Join NSEA and the Whatcom Conservation District to remove invasive blackberry and replace it with native trees and shrubs along Cedar Creek. This creek runs through Cedar Creek Park and is a tributary of the Nooksack River. Register
Bay to Baker Trail (Sunset Pond): Join Bellingham Parks Volunteer Program and Recreation Northwest Trails Coalition to steward the Bay to Baker Trail corridor. You will help with ecological restoration, habitat restoration, invasive species removal, litter pickup, and planting at Sunset Pond. Register
Galbraith Mountain: Join Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition to build and maintain the Devilcross Traverse trail. You will help keep the trail in working order. Register

Sunday
Whatcom Humane Society Wildlife Rehab Center: Join Whatcom Million Trees Project to plant trees at the Whatcom Humane Society Wildlife Rehab Center. You will help continue a multi-year reforestation project on a 12-acre former hayfield. Register

Bellewood Farms & Distillery, Lynden (Wed-Sun 9-4)
Bellewood’s fall setup combines a U-pick pumpkin patch with apple picking, a free corn maze, farm store, bakery, cafe, and plenty of cider doughnuts. The pumpkin patch stays open through Oct. 31, and general admission is free.

Cramer's Western Town, Lynden (Fri-Sun 10-5)
If simply picking a pumpkin feels insufficiently Western, Cramer’s adds draft-horse wagon rides out to the patch, pony rides, a petting zoo, hay maze, tractor train, and other farm games. They grow more than 30 pumpkin varieties and are open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in October.

Haunted Habitat Tour, (Fri 10-12:30)
NSEA is putting a Halloween spin on habitat restoration with a bus tour of Goodwin Creek projects, including culvert removals, bridge installations, and large woody debris placements. Costumes are welcome, and they’re promising a few zombie salmon along the way. The tour is free, but registration is required.

Downtown Trick-or-Treat, Commercial Street Plaza (Fri 4-6)
Downtown Bellingham’s annual trick-or-treat brings more than 100 participating businesses into the candy circuit Friday afternoon. Costumed kids can wander the downtown core collecting goodies along the way, with Commercial Street Plaza serving as the central hub. It’s free and open to everyone.

Spooktacular Mall-O-Ween, Bellis Fair Mall (Sat 4-6)
Participating stores around Bellis Fair will hand out candy while supplies last, with costumes encouraged and live music from local teen artist Genelia in the food court at 5:30 p.m. Free.

Fearhaven Brick or Treat, Historic Fairhaven Village (Sat 3-6)
Fairhaven fills up with costumed kids, candy stops, and plenty of grown-ups playing along for the annual Brick or Treat. The whole village gets in on it, and Finnegan’s Alley will be set up for a suitably spooky photo stop. Free.

Ferndale Trick-or-Treat, Pioneer Park (Sat 3-5:30)
Pioneer Village turns into a trick-or-treat route with candy handed out from the porches of the historic log cabins, plus games, prizes, and a food truck. Free, and costumes encouraged.

Trackside Halloween Party, Trackside Beer Garden (Sat 4-10)
Trackside closes out the season with food and drink specials, DJ Aireekah from 6 to 9, and a 7 p.m. dance set featuring Thrillingham zombies and dancing witches. Free and all ages.

Buggy Boo Bash, Whatcom Museum FIG (Sat 10-5)
Bug out in the FIG this Halloween. Explore your favorite crawling critters and the wonderful world of entomology. Come in costume and bring your family for special crafts, activities, and dancing all day long! Don’t miss out on our special Bug-Tastic Storytime at 10:30 am.

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

BAAY Theatre
Zombie Dancers (dance) | Fri

FireHouse Arts & Events Center
Handle with Care (dance) | Thu, Fri

Jansen Art Center
Rathskeller (theatre) | Thu-sat

Lucas Hicks Auditorium
Hellingham (comedy) | Fri, Sat

Mount Baker Theatre
The 27th Annual Mt. Baker Film Festival (film) | Thu

Mount Baker Theatre
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (film) | Sat

Bellingham Circus Guild
The Beastly Frightful Unspeakably Spooky Circus of DOOOOOM [21+], All Ages (circus) | Wed-Sun

The Upfront Theatre
Hellingham (comedy) | Thu, Fri, Sat

The Upfront Theatre
Various performances

Salsa & Bachata - Viking Union - Mon 7 pm
Bellingham Embodiment Collective - Majestic Ballroom - Mon 6:30 pm
Country Line Dancing - Wild Buffalo - Mon 6:30 pm
Contact Improv - Aikido Peace Education Center - Mon, class 5:30, jam 7 pm
Cuban Salsa - Cof& - Tues 6 pm
Taster Tuesdays (hip hop) - Lost Giants Cider Co - Tues 6 pm
Contemporary Dance - Aikido Dojo - 6:30 pm
B’ham Hop Swing - Hotel Leo - Wed 7 pm
Tango Practica - The Majestic - Wed 6:30 pm
Revolution Fusion - Karate Church - Thurs 7 pm
Square Dancing (Chuckanut Squares) - Bellingham Senior Center North - Thurs 6:30 pm
Dance for people with PD and other neurological conditions - Firehouse Arts Center - Thurs 11 am
Contra - Fairhaven Library - Sat 7 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

London duo Towse performs at The Admiralty Lounge tomorrow, Oct 27, from 7 to 9 pm with a compact setup of violin, piano, and two voices. Their songs mix folk-pop with humor, theatricality, and a fairly open-hearted approach to songwriting.

Aslan Depot hosts Spooky Jazz tomorrow, October 27, at 8 pm, a free 21+ show built around live jazz and Halloween-week atmosphere. Costumes are welcome, plussed dressed-up guests get $1 off any Aslan draft or Hop Water.

Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County is the beneficiary of Stones Throw Brewery’s Good Neighbor Night tonight, October 26, from 5 to 9 pm. The organization brings together volunteers, donors, and partner families to build homes and support affordable homeownership throughout the county. During the event, Stones Throw will donate 10 percent of brewery profits to Habitat Whatcom.

It’s a quiet night.

Monday Music & Trivia →

Karaoke Night, Schweinhaus Biergarten – Free karaoke runs from 8:30 to 11 pm with host Paige, open sign-ups, and all skill levels welcome.

Trivia Night at Sunnyland, Kulshan Sunnyland Taproom – Weekly trivia runs from 6 to 8 pm with teams of up to six, a $2 buy-in per person, and cash prizes for top teams.

Trivia Tuesday, Penny Farthing at Chuckanut Bay Distillery – Free live trivia from 7 to 9 pm features teams of up to eight, prizes, and food and drink specials.

Tuesday Music & Trivia →

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