August 2016 (volume 25, issue 8)

Whatcom’s Homeless Women and Children

by Kara Spencer and Vanessa Thomas   It was her third pregnancy but her first baby. Cradling the newborn in her arms, Lauren smiled. “I’m going to do it all for you.” Lauren, not her real name to protect her … Continue reading

My Journey Towards “Greener Pastures:” A Mid-Course Correction

by Justus Peterson On Jan. 15, 2016, I went back to work for a small, local, design/build residential contractor, after 10 years of lucrative employment in the oil industry.  I turned my back on the oil industry for a number … Continue reading

Bird Books

by Joe Meche Over the past fourteen years that I’ve been writing this column I’ve fielded a number of queries about books that go beyond basic field guides. Our tried and true, field-tested guides are an important part of everyone’s … Continue reading

Treaty Rights Aid Salmon Habitat Recovery Effort

by Lorraine Loomis Treaty tribes in western Washington have won some recent treaty rights battles, but we continue to lose ground in the war to restore and protect salmon and their habitat. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously … Continue reading

Whatcom County Council

Compiled by Barry MacHale Action Taken at June 14, 2016 Meeting Shall the council: 94. Authorize the executive to sign an agreement between the Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District and Diking District #2? (Council acting as the flood control … Continue reading

Bellingham City Council

Compiled by Boris Schleinkofer Action Taken at June 6, 2016 Meeting Shall the council: 83. Authorize the mayor to sign a contract with Kristofer Bundy for legal services? Mr. Bundy will assist the city attorney’s office in the case of … Continue reading

Port of Bellingham Commission

Compiled by Andrew S. McBride Action Taken at June 7, 2016 Meeting Shall the commission: 97. Authorize the executive director to sign a 3,528 contract with Puget Sound Executive Services of Sequim to provide law enforcement officers at the Bellingham … Continue reading

poetry watch

Boris Schleinkofer, poetrywatch editor Poetry has a voice in our community, and the Whatcom Watch is adding to its chorus. You all love poetry, right? Well, here you go! Subject matter is unlimited, but poetry featuring or specific to Whatcom … Continue reading

Ruling by Federal Judge Sends Whatcom County a Warning

by Kurt Denke To celebrate 25 years of publishing Whatcom Watch, we will be printing excerpts from 20 years ago. The below excerpts are from the August 1996 issue of Whatcom Watch. On June 17, 1996, Judge William L. Dwyer … Continue reading

Junga Subedar and the Whatcom Civil Rights Project

by Kathryn Fentress Junga Subedar volunteers as program director of the Whatcom Civil Rights Project and dedicates her time and energy to community service and social justice. She moved to Bellingham in 2001 and lives with her partner, Edward, and … Continue reading

From Xwe’chi’eXen to the Place Where The Two Rivers Meet

by Deb Cruz     In August and September, the Totem Pole Journey (totempolejourney.com) will continue the legacy of previous Journeys of drawing on, expanding, and energizing alliances in one of the most crucial years for First and American Indian … Continue reading

Lawsuit Halts Water Rights Ballot Initiatives

by John Bartley This article was originally published in The Pierce Progressive (www.thepierceprogressive.org). The author granted reprint permission. More information can be found at savetacomawater.org. Two local business organizations, together with the Port of Tacoma, have joined in a lawsuit … Continue reading