Cover Story
The Reintroduction of the Olympia Oyster in Mud Bay
by Dean Longwell Forgotten City of Bellingham obligations and a misinformed Bellingham Hearing Examiner have assumed a shellfish bed in North Chuckanut Bay (Mud Bay) is not protected by the tribes and/or city park regulations. Since the inception of the … Continue reading
Beaks and Bills
Beaks and Bills by Joe Meche For years, I’ve espoused the concept of birding in your backyard as an alternative to getting out of the house on miserable-weather days, or if you were housebound for one reason or another. This … Continue reading
Watching Government
Action Taken at June 9, 2026 meeting Shall the commission: 76. Authorize the executive director to sign a 2,838 contact with Mead & Hunt of Middleton, Wisconsin, for planning activities at the airport industrial park? At the 2/3/2026 meeting, vote … Continue reading
Watching Government
Compiled by Barry MacHale Action Taken at June 9, 2026 Meeting Shall the council: 145. Authorize the executive to sign an 0,000 contract with Nel/Son Distributing, dba Nelson-Reisner of Anacortes, to provide fuel to be used in Whatcom County fleet … Continue reading
Watching Government
Action Taken at June 1, 2026 Meeting Shall the council: 91. Authorize the mayor to spend 0,000 to purchase property from the owner, The Oeser Company? The 20-acre parcel is undeveloped and located near the north end of Lake Whatcom.The … Continue reading
Agriculture
19th Annual Whatcom County Farm Tour
by Jessica Gillis The 19th Annual Whatcom County Farm Tour, is taking place Saturday, September 12, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The 13-farm tour is part of September Eat Local Month, Sustainable Connections’ annual month-long celebration of the … Continue reading
Climate
Articles You Might Have Missed
Climate Good News Around the world people are taking the initiative to mitigate climate change. Here are some good news briefs compiled and summarized by Jayne Freudenberger, climate committee chair, League of Women Voters of Bellingham-Whatcom County. A Simple Dietary … Continue reading
Community Service Spotlight
Changing the Housing Narrative in Bellingham
Community Service Spotlight by Rebecca Quirke Tenants Revolt has fundamentally changed the conversation about housing in Bellingham, Washington. Our mission is to shift power away from predatory landlords and toward the people who actually call this city home. For too … Continue reading
Native Plant Neighbors
Native Plant Neighbors by Eric Worden I have a friend who knows little about native plants. Nevertheless, she has a system for distinguishing native plants from “normal” ones. Her system is this: If it looks neat and showy, then she … Continue reading
Talk to Us
Golf Balls Deteriorating, Polluting Lake Whatcom Recent news about the continuing decline of water quality in Lake Whatcom stirred up a question I have about a recreational practice I have noticed neighbors engaging in. It is not a huge issue, … Continue reading
Water
Nooksack River Adjudication Story
The fight to protect the Nooksack River is deeper than adjudication by Liam Walsh On May 1, 2024, the Washington State Department of Ecology formally began the adjudication process for the Nooksack River watershed, or Water Resource Inventory Area 1 … Continue reading
