Cover Story
Can Whatcom’s Small Farms Help Reconstruct Our Local Food System?
Editor’s note: This is the first of two articles exploring Whatcom County’s agricultural past and present and current efforts to diversify and strengthen Whatcom County’s food system, from the farm to the factory to the consumer. Whether Whatcom County’s small … Continue reading
Cover Story
Ready for Important “Hidden” Voting
Whatcom Conservation District Board Holds Election Citizens get ready to activate. All Whatcom County registered voters are responsible for electing a Supervisor Board Position to the Whatcom Conservation District (WCD). This district represents one of the first agencies responsible for … Continue reading
Beaks and Bills
When the beginning of the year rolls around, there is no need to put away your binoculars and bird books, just because the weather has changed dramatically from idyllic to challenging. In the overall scheme of things, we might prefer … Continue reading
Dear Watchers
Preserve Independent Media in the US and Abroad
On Jan. 7, 2015, while in Paris visiting a fellow American journalist, I was as shocked as the rest of the world when an Islamist terrorist group attacked the offices of the Charlie Hebdo newspaper killing 12 people. My friend … Continue reading
Dear Watchers
Special Doc Screening in Bellingham
Whatcom Watch is collaborating with Pickford Film Center (PFC), Bellingham’s independent movie house, to show “Frame By Frame” (85 minutes runtime) on Thurs., January 28, at 6:30 p.m. PFC is located at 1318 Bay Street in Bellingham. “Frame by Frame,” … Continue reading
Dear Watchers
WW Readers, and Writers, are an “Intelligent Bunch”
Dear Editor, I appreciate your recent front page article on the environmental threat posed by navy military training on the Olympic peninsula (see Whatcom Watch, Dec. 2015, “A Threat to our Neighbors’ Environment,” by Bruce Radtke.) This is an important … Continue reading
Being Frank
U.S. Should Honor Billy Frank’s Dream
Billy Frank Jr., longtime chairman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, received many awards during his life and continues to be honored since his passing in 2014. His life was celebrated last month when President Barack Obama posthumously awarded him … Continue reading
Watching Government
Action Taken at November 9, 2015 Meeting Shall the council: 211. Ratify the Bellingham Police Guild collective bargaining agreement? Terms for the 2014-2016 contract: general wages will increase by two percent on 1/1/2016, the wages for the officer in charge … Continue reading
Watching Government
Action Taken at November 3, 2015 Meeting Shall the Commission: 139. Authorize the sale of one vessel for the nonpayment of moorage fees? An auction will be held on 12/4/2015 for a 17-foot gillnetter with unpaid moorage fees of ,215. … Continue reading
Watching Government
Action Taken at November 10, 2015 Meeting Shall the council: 205. Authorize the executive to sign a ,751 contract (amendment #1) with RH2 Engineering of Bothel? (Council acting as the flood control district board of supervisors) Washington State law requires … Continue reading
Election Results
General Election Results – 2015
2015 General Election Results as reported on the Whatcom Watch in January, 2016 (pages 9 to 12) are available as a PDF: General Election Results – 2015
poetrywatch
Nooksack and The People’s Choice
“When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man’s concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.” — John F. Kennedy Poetry … Continue reading
Recreation
John Wayne Trail Needs Your Help
Folks in eastern Washington are trying to save the John Wayne Trail, the 300-mile rail trail that goes from the western slopes of the Cascades to the Idaho border near Tekoa, Wash. Closed to motorized vehicles, the trail follows the former Milwaukee Road … Continue reading
Twenty Years Ago
Today’s Decisions Affect Bellingham’s Future
To celebrate the 24th year of publishing Whatcom Watch, we will be printing excerpts from 20 years ago. David M. Laws has been generous enough to volunteer to review the Whatcom Watch for 20 years ago to find suitable material … Continue reading
Unsung Heroes
Kurt Prassé and Bellingham Repair Café
Kurt Prassé, a native of Austria, has lived on four continents and moved to Bellingham this year. He has a three-year-old son who lives with him half time and he is in the process of rebuilding a house in the … Continue reading
Bellinghamsters Find Signs of Protest in British Columbia
Traveling in northern B.C. this summer, my husband and I were heartened to see First Nations and others sharing our environmental concerns. Based on these protest signs, it is clear that residents do not want the risk of big tankers … Continue reading
National Geographic Magazine Donation
Whatcom Watch would like to thank the Wilkerson family of Bellingham for their generous donation of 35 years of National Geographic magazines. In November, more than 400 magazines were presented in leather-bound cases. The issues run from January 1980 (Cover … Continue reading
