Bellingham

City & County

Pickford Film Center hosts 11th year of Bleedingham

By Maylis Laverne | October 27

The Bleedingham Film Festival will be hosting its 11th year of short horror films at the end of Halloweek, Oct. 28-30. With 101 films and no COVID-19 mandates, Langley West, co-director for Bleedingham, is “looking forward to a Bleedingham that feels like Bleedingham.” In 2020, the festival went online and came back socially distanced in 2021. This year will be the first time since the pandemic that Bleedingham is back to ‘normal.’

City & County

Bellingham Police show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

By Siena Mariani | October 25

Have you seen the pink patrol car yet? Bellingham Police Department recently revealed a new pink patrol cruiser to raise awareness about breast cancer during the month of October. Additionally, Police Chief Rebecca Mertzig has authorized officers to wear pink patches and badges.

City & County

Getting to Vancouver, British Columbia: No car? No problem.

By Maylis Laverne | October 24

Let’s say you are a Western Washington University student trying to get to Vancouver, British Columbia, for a concert. For those who don’t have a car, wince at the price of gas or worry about their carbon footprint, FlixBus offers a way to travel without driving.

City & County

More bike lanes, less parking: What are the impacts?

By Nina Walsh | October 24

Bellingham City Council will hold a public hearing on Monday, Oct. 24 to vote on whether to remove public parking on several streets to install bike lanes. The upcoming decision comes as a result of the Bicycle Master Plan, which the Bellingham City Council established in 2014 to create a more bike-friendly city.

City & County

BRIEF: Lighthouse Mission Ministries to begin construction on remodel soon

By Ben Larson | October 23

The remodel of Lighthouse Mission Ministries’ facility at 910 W. Holly St. has entered its second phase. Phase one saw the New Life Center at 923 W. Holly St. remodeled into a modern-day recovery center to accommodate the houseless occupants of 910 W. Holly St. during construction.

City & County

Whatcom Museum welcomes 'Passport to the Natural World,' companion program to new 'Un/Natural Selections' exhibit

By Kenna Dupree | October 23

The Whatcom Museum is currently showing a guest exhibit titled “Un/Natural Selections: Wildlife in Contemporary Art” alongside its companion program, "Passport to the Natural World." “Passport to the Natural World,” or the “Passport” program for short, includes a wide range of events happening until the end of October, all free to local college students.

City & County

Pickford Film Center knows Bellingham’s favorite genre is documentaries

By Tallie Johnson | October 23

This month, documentaries are taking over the screens at The Pickford Film Center (PFC). 2022 marks the 15th annual Doctober Film Festival, which is one of the largest documentary film festivals on the West Coast.

Washington State

BRIEF: Gov. Inslee announces reproductive rights state amendment

By Finn Wendt | October 22

Gov. Jay Inslee announced Friday, Oct. 21, that a state amendment to protect reproductive rights is in the works to be added to Washington’s constitution.

City & County

Whatcom County judge candidates campaign on equitable access to justice

By Sydney Jackson | October 20

Whatcom County is having its first District Court judge race in almost 20 years. Candidates for these positions typically run unopposed – incumbent Angela Anderson will be taking the first open District Court position on the 2022 Midterm ballot. Yet for the second position, two legal buffs are vying for the seat.

City & County

The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t over, but hazard pay is

By Nina Walsh | October 20

Hazard pay will be ending on Oct. 31 for grocery workers in Bellingham. The $4 pay increase was tied to Bellingham’s COVID-19 Proclamation of Local Emergency that was originally put into place on March 10, 2020. Gov. Inslee announced on Sept. 8 that all remaining emergency orders for the state will come to an end by Oct. 31.

City & County

A mysteriously warm fall

By Ben Larson | October 19

This fall has been surprisingly warm with little rainfall, and although some might assume this is due to climate change, there is no trend to suggest this is the primary cause. These October days that have reached the mid-70s are likely just a weather fluke.

City & County

BRIEF: Northwest fires rage on, Bellingham air quality worsens

By Liz McLane | October 18

Air quality in Bellingham has reached an “unhealthy” level due to ongoing wildfires in the northwest region. The Air Quality Index (AQI), which measures hazardous particulates in the air, reached 153 on Tuesday afternoon in Bellingham. Any AQI over 150 is designated to be unhealthy for everyone, especially people with lung, heart and respiratory diseases, people younger than 18 and over the age of 65 and outdoor workers. Elsewhere in Whatcom County, the numbers are even more unsafe — in Maple Falls, the AQI has reached a “very unhealthy” level of 203.

City & County

Running with a chaser

By Ravi Regan-Hughes | October 18

On a warm Thursday night in October, runners pack the gravel parking lot of the Stimpson Family Nature Reserve, ready for a workout. Their post-run destination? Kulshan Brewery on Kentucky Street. BBay Running, a running and walking shoe store in downtown Bellingham, organizes group “pub runs” every Thursday, where a group of roughly 30 local residents takes off for a long run. Aftward, they head to a local Bellingham pub to celebrate their accomplishment and socialize.

City & County

Temperature check: Bellingham’s growing hip-hop scene

By Jack Warren | October 18

With Bellingham's beloved music scene back in full swing, musicians and fans are looking for more ways to get involved. “I think it's more vibrant than ever,” said Patrick Roulete, department chair of the Western Washington University music department.

City & County

Sustaining a bee-utiful environment

By Kota Sato | October 18

Western Washington University's Outback Farm has worked with the Xerces Society to officially become a bee campus, allowing the farm to protect and keep these endangered insects in the campus's backyard. “Becoming a bee-certified campus from the Xerces Society means that we are taking steps, collaboratively across campus to protect pollinators,” said Terri Kempton, firm manager of Outback Farm and teaching professor at Fairhaven College. “One is that we have an apiary, and we are giving students a chance to get involved with our most delicious animal partnership because we get to harvest their honey.”

City & County

Global ‘Before I Die’ mural project comes to Bellingham

By Zoe Wiley | October 17

Jodi Newcomer, Whatcom Hospice program manager, has dreamt of creating a “Before I Die” project for years. And thanks to a recent string of serendipitous events, along with the help of co-worker Amie Carr, Whatcom Hospice volunteer coordinator, Newcomer has been able to make her dream a reality. The seed that was planted at a conference in Chelan, Washington five years ago, with place cards asking attendees to fill in their bucket list items, has now blossomed into an interactive art mural in downtown Bellingham.

City & County

Whatcom County is getting a new taste of Asian food with the opening of three Asian cuisines

By Jacob Mina | October 14

Last month, Ferndale saw the opening of its first Asian grocery store, Ferndale Asian Grocer. The same month, Bellingham welcomed two new Asian-inspired cafes - Mochinut and Happy Lemon. Mochinut is an American-based chain of donut shops, specializing in mochi donuts, a treat that combines American doughnuts and mochi, a traditional Japanese rice cake. Happy Lemon, a beverage chain founded by a Taiwan-based company, specializes in bubble tea and bubble waffles, waffles with spheres full of extra batter baked into them. The Ferndale Asian Grocer’s interior is home to rows of shelves that hold food and products belonging to a wide range of countries, even including non-Asian countries.

City & County

Bellingham’s longest-running improv show will remain despite losing former performance space

By Tallie Johnson | October 14

After a month-long closure, The Upfront Theatre will continue improv shows at its location on Prospect Street, despite the closure of the Sylvia Center, which previously owned the space. This change will allow The Upfront Theatre to take more ownership of the space, said Upfront general manager Gillian Myers.

City & County

Lakewood kicks off with a splash

By Dani Gibson | October 12

On Saturday, Oct. 8, Western Washington University's lakefront recreational facility, Lakewood, held its first seasonal kick-off event. The event featured various free activities on the water to help first-time visitors get excited about Lakewood. Lakewood Manager Nino Johnson said he believes Lakewood should be accessible and open to new students. He wants to get people in the water, whether they have prior experience or not.

City & County

Foxy Apollo hosts Bellingham’s first Foxy Fest

By Miranda Grogger | October 12

A blue house with white trim appears unassuming from the outside. Propped up on the steps is a hand-painted sign reading “Bluebird House.” A faint thumping can be heard from the street, but nothing too head-turning. Inside, however, the living room overflows with people, floorboards swaying under jumping feet. Where one would expect to find a couch is a handmade stage loaded with musical instruments and members of some of Bellingham’s most popular bands. Bellingham-based indie band Foxy Apollo held Foxy Fest, a two-night house-show music and arts festival on Friday, Oct. 7, and Saturday, Oct. 8 at Bluebird House. The lineup included Asterhouse, The Hookups, Hockey Teeth, Where’s the Exit, CHRVNS, Foxy Apollo, Madam Monarch and ebony.

Western Watchdog