Cover Story

  February 2024

The Metal Pile — A Broken Promise

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

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

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?

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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  December 2023

A Silent Green Threat to Thousands of Local Trees

by Michael Feerer English Ivy and other tree-climbing invasives threaten to prematurely kill thousands of trees within Whatcom County. This is slowly and silently degrading our local parks, forests, and neighborhoods. It’s reducing our region’s climate resilience and biodiversity while … Continue reading

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  December 2023

Team Studies San Juan Eelgrass

by Meghan Fenwick   This summer, The Friends of the San Juans, the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Cornell, and the University of Washington’s Friday Harbor Labs teamed up to study the declining eelgrass population in the San Juan … Continue reading

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  Oct/Nov 2023

First Steps for Whatcom County Food Plan

by Meghan Fenwick In the 1960s, Ralph de Vries retired from dairy farming in the Skagit River Valley and spent his free time vegetable gardening in a greenhouse. He primarily grew Dutch potatoes for his friends and family, a staple … Continue reading

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  Oct/Nov 2023

How Global Warming Causes Extreme Weather

by Ray Kamada I suspect most Whatcom Watchers believe that the current global warming/climate change era is real and mostly man-made. They also seem to know that the main source of global warming is excess greenhouse gas from fossil fuels. … Continue reading

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  September 2023

Meet Whatcom County’s Climate Action Manager

by Stevan Harrell Whatcom County’s Climate Action Manager Lauren Clemens has been on the job for five months, and she has been busy. What with wildfire smoke, flooding, extreme heat, and the beginnings of sea level rise, coordinating climate action … Continue reading

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  September 2023

How Can We Protect Urban Trees and Climate Resiliency?

by Michael Feerer   Protecting urban trees and forests to enhance our climate resiliency —- how can that be compatible with new development, such as much-needed infill housing? Learn how one relatively new local nonprofit — Whatcom Million Trees Project … Continue reading

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