Cover Story
Swift Creek’s History and Future
A Colossal Challenge in Toxics Mitigation by Ella Gage Part 1: The Nature of the Issue Every year, 48,000 cubic yards of naturally occurring asbestos and heavy metals-contaminated sediment from Swift Creek’s headwaters at Sumas Mountain is deposited in and … Continue reading
Beaks and Bills
Beaks and Bills by Joe Meche Through an interesting set of circumstances, I found myself with the challenge of finding something to do … on my own. Cindy took on the task of spending a week and a half with … Continue reading
Port of Bellingham
Action Taken at July 16, 2024 Meeting Shall the commission: 55. Authorize the executive director to accept two federal grants totaling ,072,602 for a fire fighting vehicle and runway lighting? The port received two bids for a fire fighting vehicle. … Continue reading
Bellingham City Council
Action Taken at July 1, 2024 Meeting Shall the council: 124. Authorize the mayor to sign a ,961 separation agreement with firefighter Daisy Brennan? There is lump sum payment of ,349 (equal to two months’ base salary), vacation, compensatory time, … Continue reading
Watching Government
Compiled by Barry MacHale Action Taken at July 9 2024 Meeting Shall the council: 185. Authorize the executive to sign a 0,000 contract with Uwill Inc. of Natick, Mass., to provide school-based teletherapy services? The contract will include 1,100 evidenced-based … 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 by the Climate Issue group of the League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom. Trains for the Future Come … Continue reading
Community Service Spotlight
Empowering Lives Through Literacy
Community Service Spotlight by Bill Smith and Katherine Freimund The mission of the Whatcom Literacy Council is to empower adults to achieve their goals and improve their lives through literacy. Literacy is the key that allows individuals to access educational … Continue reading
Development
Temporary Moratorium Proposed for Heavy Industrial Permits Along Marine Drive
by Bill Craven How to protect the diverse and economically disadvantaged neighborhoods along Marine Drive from another industrial-scale polluter? That was the question at the August 8 meeting of the Whatcom County Planning Commission. The commission was engaged and thoughtful … Continue reading
Life Before Flowers
The Edible and the Inedible – Part II
by Fred Rhoades A previous article in June 2024 discussed some edible mushrooms and their look-alikes that occur mainly in the spring and summer months. Also, I discussed the whole realm of edible mushrooms (http://whatcomwatch.org/index.php/article/the-edible-and-the-inedible/). This installment will look at … Continue reading
Talk to Us
Middle Fork Nooksack Destruction Project
Talk to Us Dear Editor, I thought the taxpaying public who are interested in salmon restoration may be curious to know about the project going on just below the Mosquito Lake Road bridge that goes over the Middle Fork of … Continue reading
