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Independent, fact-based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties
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News from the Salish Current June 23, 2023
Dear Reader—
Good reads this week: Catherine Skrzypinski takes us into the trials and triumphs of the Sikh community, Kai Uyehara explores what’s important to young voters and Sati Mookherjee shares stories of life-long activist Jack Delay.
Salish Current began publishing at the start of the COVID pandemic and received its official nonprofit status three years ago this month. We've published over 400 original news stories (415 to be exact) and community essays, and 170 weekly collections of curated news briefs from the region's news media.
This week we were at one of our "listening post" meetings (a meeting where people tell us what's important to them and we listen) in the Whatcom County Foothills. "How come I'd never heard of you?" one fellow asked. "Well, now you have," we said. "But how are you going to get others to know about you?" he said. "Well, because now you're going to tell 15 other people about us," we said.
And that's how we've grown our community of readers. If you like what we're doing at Salish Current, tell your friends, family and associates. Maybe not 15 but how about "Tell Ten"? Forward this newsletter to 10 others and encourage them to subscribe for free. And if they like what we're doing, they can make a donation and become a member of the Salish Current news community.
Let us know what you think. We're listening.
—Amy Nelson, Publisher
Salish Current affirms its commitment to work for truth, justice,
equity and healing for all people.
#SayTheirNames #BlackLivesMatter #NoJusticeNoPeace
Want more environmental news? Salish Sea News and Weather is a weekday curated compilation of news from Salish Sea news sources. Free via email or on the web.
Salish Sea News Week in Review June 23, 2023: Typewriter Day, Fraser co-management, El Nino, Fairy Creek, Burrard Inlet, Washington chinook, Alaska chinook, Washington gas prices, Indigenous protected areas, humpbacks return.
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With hard-earned acceptance, the Sikh community flourishes on both sides of the border
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Following a parade of colorful floats comes the heart of the annual Vaisakhi celebration: the Sikh tradition of langar, a community meal that welcomes everyone. Vaisakhi parades have been held in Vancouver since 1979 and in Surrey — said to be the largest such event outside of India — since 1998. (Catherine Skrzypinski photo © 2018)
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By Catherine Skrzypinski
South Asians in the Pacific Northwest reflect on the different journeys Sikhs took while making the United States and Canada home.
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Paradox of passion, apathy impacts young voter turnout
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Looking forward to voting, 16-year-old Jackie Curz (at left) is already preregistered and intent on electing candidates that align with her views on social and economic issues. But not all her cohort agree: While young voters care deeply about a number of issues, turnout among that age group is typically low. (Kai Uyehara / Salish Current photo © 2023)
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By Kai Uyehara
Younger voters care deeply about renter protections, homelessness, social justice and racism — but will they go to the polls to make their voices heard in this year’s election?
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Community Voices / The old-fashioned ‘new politics’ of civic activist Jack Delay
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Keeping up, on the go: even aboard a train traveling across England, activist Jack Delay kept up with the news. (Patricia Decker courtesy photo)
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By Sati Mookherjee
Commentary: A colleague takes a memorial look at a life-long activist whose career culminated in the co-founding and success of Communitywise Bellingham.
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• What we know about diversity
• Asking PeaceHealth to share its concerns
Our policy: Salish Current welcomes letters to the editor from our readers. Letters should be sent with the writer’s name, address and daytime phone number. Those accepted for publication will focus on issues addressed in news articles or commentaries in Salish Current and be factual. No snark or put-downs will be acceptable; general nastiness will be rejected. Letters should not exceed 300 words and may be edited for length and clarity. Salish Current will publish letters sent to the editor at its sole discretion.
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Salish Current affirms its commitment to work for truth, justice, equality and healing for all people.
#SayTheirNames #BlackLivesMatter #NoJusticeNoPeace
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News from around the region...
(The links found here may have limited access for those who don’t subscribe to the source publication. Sorry for any inconvenience!)
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Health and Safety
Listen up. Here's the March/April/May jet noise report issued by Quiet Skies over San Juan County.
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Education
Save librarians. The decision by the Anacortes School Board to meet its $3.2 million budget shortfall by reducing school library hours and eliminating staffing was opposed by community members who asked that money used for raises be used instead to keep libraries open and staffed. (Anacortes American/paywall)
Blaine layoffs. As of June 20, the Blaine School district plans to eliminate 59.5 positions for the 2023/24 school year and that 50 employees would be laid off, but with ongoing reorganization the number of employees affected could change. (The Northern Light)
Special ed. Executive director of Student Support Services Clint Carlton received 41 out of 44 votes of “no confidence” by special education teachers in the Mount Vernon School District. (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall)
Salmon certificate. Western Washington University majors in the College of the Environment can intern with the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association and receive certification in salmon restoration. (The Front)
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The Border & Beyond
Cancer questions. Many questions abound about British Columbia's decision to send cancer patients to the private, nonprofit PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Center and the private North Cascade Cancer Center in Bellingham — here are some answers. (The Tyee)
Help wanted. The Whatcom County community of Point Roberts wants the federal government to ease U.S. work permit policies to allow Canadians to work with work visas. (CBC)
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Nature
Dam removal. The small, 13-foot-high, 36-feet-wide Barrel Spring dam near Acme will be removed by Skagit County to restore free flow to Day Creek. (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall)
Water projects. The state Department of Ecology has granted Whatcom County water projects over $4.7 million in grants and over $2.6 million in low-interest and forgivable loans. (KGMI)
Trees. City Club of Bellingham's May 24 program, "Boosting Climate Resilience One Tree at a Time," is available to view online.
Oly oysters. The Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is reseeding Olympia oysters in the bay after overharvesting and pollution 60 years ago nearly killed off the state's only native oyster. (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall)
Beach eggs. Wendy Feltham shares her photos and fascination with the eggs marine critters lay on the beaches of the Salish Sea. Part One. (Rainshadow Journal)
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Business
Farm hub. Rodale Institute, new owners of the former Cascadian Farm in Rockport, has renamed the farm as the Rodale Institute Pacific Northwest Organic Center and plans to make it an education hub for farmers and other agriculture professionals. (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall)
Tulip lady. Cindy Verge will retire after 20 years as executive director of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall)
Gravel mine. A request to expand an 18-acre mine to 54 acres on Fidalgo Island is again before the Skagit County hearing examiner at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Skagit County Board of Commissioners Hearing Room, 1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon. (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall)
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Community
Referendum petitions. Petitions for ballot measures to increase the city’s minimum wage and provide protections to tenants were presented to the city of Bellingham this week. Initiative 1 would raise Bellingham’s minimum wage to $1 more than the state minimum wage on May 1, 2024; a second increase, to $2 over the state minimum, would take effect in May 2025. Initiative 2 would require landlords to pay a tenant's relocation assistance equal to three months’ rent if they raise the rent by 8% or more. (CDN/paywall)
Wealth rank. San Juan County is the second wealthiest county among 39 in Washington state, according to a survey by the investment website SmartAsset, following King County, and followed by Whatcom County (6th) and Skagit County (10th). (KGMI)
No Oyster Run. The 2023 motorcycle rally in Anacortes scheduled for Sept 24 has been cancelled “due to unforeseen circumstances.” (Anacortes American/paywall)
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Commentary
FCC defeat. Christy Stewart Stein writes: "Fully contained communities defeated by citizen action" (Skagit Scoops). See "Housing and growth issues surround Skagit County consideration of ‘fully contained community’ proposal" (Salish Current, Nov. 18, 2021)
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Arts & Leisure
Park music. Bellingham's Elizabeth Park summer concerts are presented every Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. through Aug. 24. Donations welcomed. Program information.
“Chromatiform” is a celebration of color and abstraction, featuring the work of Ann Chaikin, Barbara Hicks, Beth Anna Margolis, Brian Simpson, Jabez Richards, Lori VanEtta and a special edition from SASS! Allied Arts of Whatcom County, through July 1, Tuesday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Information.
Early music. Salish Sea Early Music Festival: Italian Canzonas (1600-1640) • with John Lenti (theorbo) and Anna Marsh (renaissance bassoon) and Jeffrey Cohan (renaissance transverse flute). June 23, Bellingham First Presbyterian Church, 7 p.m.; June 24, Lopez Grace Church, 12:30 p.m.; June 24, Orcas Adventist Church, 6 p.m. By donation $25; under 18 free.
Free films. Friday Harbor Film Festival present free short films on June 23 at 7 p.m. at the Friday Harbor Grange: "Bring the Salmon Home," "Contrasts" and “Stories from the Salish Sea." The films are also streamed between 7 and 8 p.m. at FHFF.
Festival music. The Bellingham Festival of Music begins its concert series on July 1. Complete program details.
Library jazz. Whatcom County Library System presents Friends of the Library Summer Jazz in various branches on July 15 (South Whatcom), Aug. 5 (Ferndale) and Aug. 19 (Blaine). Free. Information and registration. Also check out the Jazz for Kids programs.
Woolly dog blankets. Salish woolly dogs for thousands of years provided Coast Salish people with fur made into blankets now on display at the Museum of North Vancouver until early July. (CBC)
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Jump in!
LGBTQIA+. The Bellingham City Club presents "Embrace and Empower: Uniting Communities for LGBTQIA+ Inclusivity" on June 28 at Noon, Bellingham Yacht Club. Attendance limited to 150. Register by 6 p.m. on June 25.
Dance dance dance. The Atlantics play at the Lopez Center Pavilion on July 3, 6 p.m. $15/$5 youth. Tickets are at Paper Scissors on the Rock and online.
Pioneer Park plays. Unsubdued Theatre Collective, a Bellingham-based theatre company, performs "The Unsubdued Revue 3" and "Clytemnestra Has Blood on Her Hands," in Ferndale's Pioneer Park in July. Free. Show and showtime details here.
Invasive removal. Join with the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association and Whatcom Land Trust on Saturdays in July (8, 15, 22, 29) to clear out invasive vegetation from the banks of the North and South forks of the Nooksack River. Registration is limited and required.
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Government
Elections
Candidate forums:
• The Bellingham-Whatcom County League of Women Voters candidate forum for Bellingham mayor candidates, July 11, 7–8:30 p.m.; Whatcom County Executive candidates, July 12, 7–8:30 p.m. via Zoom.
• The San Juan County League of Women Voters voter forum for Port of Orcas commissioner and Orcas Fire District commissioner, July 12, 6 p.m., Eastsound Fire Hall. Also on Zoom Meeting ID: 868 3123 8496, and passcode: 340496
• The San Juan County League of Women Voters voter forum for Friday Harbor Port Commissioner, July 13, 6 p.m., Grange Hall. Also on Zoom Meeting ID: 868 3123 8496, and passcode: 340496
Public Disclosure Commission June 23, 2023
City of Bellingham Mayor
• Kim Lund: Raised $26,526.79, Spent $6,440.61
• Michael McAuley: Raised $6,120.96, Spent $2,211.96
• Kristina Michele Martens: Raised $3,985.06, Spent $123.15
• Seth Fleetwood: Raised $7,315.99, Spent $6,678.96
• Chris McCoy: Raised $0, Spent $0
Whatcom County Executive
• Satpal Sidhu: Raised $53,316.50, Spent $9,775.28
• Alicia Rule: Raised $5,722, Spent $673.48, Debt $2,492.64
• Barry Buchanan: Raised $1,690, Spent $133.43, Debt $3,003.19
• Misty Flowers: Raised $625.29, Spent $2,092.64
• Dan Purdy: Raised $2,767.64, Spent $2,392.64, Debt $300
• Sukhwant Gill: Raised $2,092.64, Spent $2,092.64
Aug. 1 Primary
Whatcom County candidate filings
Skagit County candidate filings
San Juan County candidate filings
San Juan County.
The county council met in special session on June 20 to discuss the Killebrew Lake Road Culvert update. Agenda and video here.
Killebrew Lake Road on Orcas Island will remain open throughout the summer of 2023 and the Bayhead Creek Culvert Replacement Project has been terminated by the county council who directed staff to explore options that satisfy both resident and infrastructure needs. (San Juan County)
League of Women Voters Observer Corps:
• Port of Friday Harbor Commission Meeting June 14
The council will meet again on July 27.
City of Bellingham.
The council will meet on June 26. Agenda items include:
Public hearings:
• Consider an Ordinance Amending the Old Town Overlay District Development Regulations. Staff memo. See: "Old Town development rules to get a hearing": “Monday’s hearing isn’t about the specifics of the developers’ plans, however. Rather, the public will be asked to comment on changes to the rules developers must follow as they reshape Old Town." (CDN/paywall)
Legislative update: Alex Ramel and Joe Timmons
Parks and Recreation Committee:
• Introduction of a Resolution to Submit to the Voters a Property Tax Levy to Acquire, Improve, Develop and Maintain Greenways, Open Space, Wildlife Habitat and Corridors, Urban Trees, Parks, Park Facilities and Trails (Greenways V) Staff memo.
Committee of the Whole:
• A Resolution Agreeing to a Schedule for Joint County and City Review of Urban Growth Areas. Staff memo
• Presentation on Washington State's New Drug Laws. Presentation.
The council will next meet on July 10.
Whatcom County.
The council meet on June 20. Agenda items included:
Public hearings:
• Ordinance adopting Zoning Code amendments relating to density, lot size, setbacks, public water and sewer, and reasonable measures for the Birch Bay UGA. Staff memo. The council unanimously voted to change zoning code regulations to increase residential density in Birch Bay after the urban growth area (UGA) was found to be growing slower than anticipated. (The Northern Light)
• Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code 10.34, Ferry Rates. Staff memo. The council voted to hold the ordinance for a month and forwarded to the Public Works Committee.
Other:
• The council unanimously authorized the County Executive to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement between the County, Nooksack Indian Tribe, Lummi Nation, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to guide remediation of County culverts that block salmon passage. Staff memo.
• The council authorized (4-3, Byrd, Kershner, Elenbaas opposed) the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and Opportunity Council to support operations at the permanent supportive housing facility known as 22 North in the amount of $304,550 for a total amended contract amount of $838,102. Staff memo.
The council will meet again on July 11.
Port of Bellingham.
The commission met on June 20. Video. Agenda included:
Public comment:
• Public comment on scrap metal noise [7:29]
Consent agenda:
• Motion authorizing the Port of Bellingham Executive Director to execute a Fiber Design, Construction and Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU) agreement between Sound Internet Services, LLC d/b/a PogoZone and the Port of Bellingham. The purpose of this partnership is to extend an open access fiber network that will provide affordable quality broadband service to underserved and unserved members in the North Lynden area of unincorporated Whatcom County. [Staff explanation of IRU and customer service 15:47]
The consent agenda was approved unanimously.
Action items: [20:57]
• Bellingham International Airport budget for equipment.
• Budget reallocation to complete parking solar structure feasibility and design at BIA.
• Budget reallocation for additional construction costs at BIA.
Action items approved unanimously.
The commission will meet again on July 11.
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Salish Current is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, online local news organization serving Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit Counties. Salish Current exists to protect and improve democratic governance by reporting and curating local news with independence and strict journalistic integrity.
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