Cover Story
Court Decision May Alter DNR Practices
by Tyler Brown The Washington State Supreme Court unanimously voted at the end of July to reaffirm a lower court ruling backing the Department of Natural Resources’ right to regulate timber sales for the public good while providing lawmakers more … Continue reading
Cover Story
Creating an Equitable Local Food System
by Luisa Loi Many Whatcom residents — 30,000, according to the Whatcom County Health Department — don’t have access to healthy and affordable food, the local freshwater supply is limited, high demand is making farmland more expensive to buy, and … Continue reading
Cover Story
by Tyler Brown Less than a mile southeast of Lake Whatcom stands a 46-acre commercial timber parcel called Bessie Sorts. It contains a near old-growth forest resting on a large watershed with trees as wide as four feet, reaching up … Continue reading
Beaks and Bills
by Joe Meche Birding on the Water As July segued into August and our annual heat wave descended upon us, birding became less fun with the warmer weather. With the addition of crowds of humans and crowds of mosquitoes … Continue reading
Being Frank
We Need to Slow the Spread of European Green Crab
by Ed Johnstone Efforts are ramping up to control the explosion of invasive European green crab (Carcinus maenas) in western Washington. The invasive species reached San Francisco in 1989 and was first detected in small numbers on the Olympic coast … Continue reading
Being Frank
Tribes Need to Be at the Table to Conserve Wildlife
by Ed Johnstone Treaty tribes have been working for decades to get federal support for our essential wildlife programs. We’re counting on the U.S. Senate to pass the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) to finally make it happen. The time … Continue reading
Watching Government
Compiled by Barry MacHale Action Taken at July 12, 2022 Meeting Shall the council: 173. Authorize the executive to sign a contract with the Opportunity Council for the transfer of property at 1000 and 1010 N. Forest Street? State law … Continue reading
Watching Government
Action Taken at July 11, 2022 Meeting Shall the council: 118. Authorize the mayor to sign settlement agreements with Belleau Woods II and the Village at Baker Creek? Belleau Woods II will receive a ,750 park impact fee credit for … Continue reading
Watching Government
Compiled by Bill McCallum Action Taken at July 12, 2022 Meeting Shall the commission 86. Authorize the executive director to administer state grant funds as they become available to purchase NoFoam retrofit equipment? The federal government will fully fund the … Continue reading
Beyond Fossil Fuels
Home Improvement as a Weapon Against Climate Change
by Vicki Thomas Even though we’ve been lucky to have a cool and wet spring and summer so far, last year was a much different story with multiple record-breaking heat domes and severe fires all over the West. Extreme weather … Continue reading
Community Service Providers
Serving Whatcom County for 30 Years
by Jennifer Stephens For the past 30 years, the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center has offered conflict prevention and intervention services for businesses, organizations, individuals, and families. With a mission of providing and promoting constructive and collaborative approaches to conflict, the … Continue reading
Energy
Bellingham Adopts Progressive Energy Code
by Luisa Loi Bellingham has exceeded Washington State Energy Code’s minimum requirements by adopting its own energy code and joining Seattle and Shoreline at the forefront of climate action in the state. It’s the city’s attempt to reduce its dependence … Continue reading
Full Bloom Farm
Beekeepers Suffered Hive Losses This Past Winter
by Elisabeth Marshall Bees have been on my mind more than ever this growing year because we, and many others on the island, have had such poor fruit set — which I attribute to our unprecedented cold and wet spring. … Continue reading