Cover Story

  May 2024

The Day Bellingham ‘Lost Its Innocence’

Whatcom Watch

by Meghan Fenwick Longtime Bellingham residents remember it well: At 5:02 p.m. on June 10, 1999, the summer evening sky darkened. Across the city, residents stepped outside to witness the 30,000-foot-tall wall of smoke erupting from Whatcom Falls Park. On … Continue reading →

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  May 2024

Lake Whatcom Update — Are We Making Progress?

Whatcom Watch

by April Markiewicz In the Harry Potter world, all that is needed to summon fresh, clean water is a magical wand and incantating “aquamenti.” In our non-magical world, however, many of us just rely on turning on a water tap. … Continue reading →

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  April 2024

Lummi Island Community Tackles Ferry Problems

Whatcom Watch

by Meghan Fenwick In the early evening of Thursday, Feb. 15, about 20 community members gathered in a room strained to capacity at the Lummi Island Public Library. A large banner stretching the length of one wall read “Whatcom Chief … Continue reading →

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  April 2024

Wildlife Network Rescues Marine Mammals

Whatcom Watch

by Meghan Fenwick In November of 2023, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service responded to calls concerning a harbor porpoise. The adult male was seen struggling in shallow waters, where the species is rarely found. After assessing his condition and … Continue reading →

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  March 2024

Little Squalicum Pier Will Open Up the Bay

Whatcom Watch

by Meghan Fenwick The only thing currently keeping residents and visitors from experiencing a one-of-a-kind view of Bellingham Bay is a gate, a lock and a year’s worth of refurbishing. This summer, the City of Bellingham Parks and Recreation department … Continue reading →

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  March 2024

Single-Bin Recycling Won’t Fix Upstream Issues

Whatcom Watch

by Tori Lehman This story originally appeared in the Fall 2023 issue of The Planet, a WWU student publication dedicated to environmental awareness and advocacy through responsible journalism. Say goodbye to the colorful bins lining Bellingham’s neighborhood roads. Bellingham City … Continue reading →

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  February 2024

The Metal Pile — A Broken Promise

Whatcom Watch

by Scott Jones Bellingham should be deeply concerned for its future. In a world where corporate interests all too often supersede public interests, Bellingham in many ways was moving in a different direction. Wages are increasing for all, renters are … Continue reading →

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  February 2024

Progress Made in 2023

Whatcom Watch

by Marjie George In the heart of Whatcom County, a beacon of hope shines brightly — Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County (DVSAS). As we reflect on the strides we’ve made in 2023, it’s with a deep … Continue reading →

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  January 2024

Scrap Metal Meeting Spurs Opposition

Whatcom Watch

by Bill Craven   ABC Recycling is the Canadian scrap metal company with eyes on Bellingham for its expansion plans. It already has a lease on the waterfront from a docile and submissive Port of Bellingham where unsightly stacks of … Continue reading →

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  January 2024

What’s Next for Lake Whatcom?

Whatcom Watch

by Franny Vollert A moratorium on development, intended to protect Bellingham’s primary source of drinking water, has been extended, leaving developers scrambling for faster options.  The Silver Beach moratorium was initially put in place in July of 2022 for one … Continue reading →

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