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Independent, fact-based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties
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News from the Salish Current July 28, 2023
(Was this email forwarded to you? To receive this newsletter in your in-box every Friday, email salishcurrent@gmail.com —your name and email address will never be shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.)
Dear Reader—
Next Tuesday is the deadline for voting in our 2023 primary election. Is it important to vote in this off year election? We think it is. As of our publication deadline, the ballot returns were 16.2% in Whatcom, 13.4% in Skagit, and 22.8% in San Juan counties. Heck of a way to run a democracy, don’t you think? Find that ballot and vote.
We’re at the end of July in a climate change wake-up summer with heat waves continuing at home and abroad. We hope you like Kai Uyehara’s story about what’s on veterans’ minds when it comes to voting, Lane Morgan’s story about Tim McNulty and tomorrow’s poetry salon benefiting the Center for Responsible Forestry, and a thoughtful essay by Elisabeth Robson on the “rights of nature.”
If you like what we are trying to do in news for our community, share this newsletter and ask others to subscribe. We're also hiring more freelance journalists to tell the stories of our community, so send us some samples of your reporting if you'd like to write for the Current. Thank you for your support.
—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 7/28/23: Duchamp!, climate planning, glacier blood, WA drought, hot water dams, BC Ferries, Billy's ship, AK crab fishery, gray whales.
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Does military experience influence the veteran vote?
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Army veteran Steve Tatham enjoys refreshments at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post bar in Bellingham. When it comes to local politics, Tatham cares about rent increases, a new jail and the Whatcom County sheriff’s race. Do other veterans share those concerns? (Kai Uyehara / Salish Current © 2023)
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By Kai Uyehara
Military veterans have served their country and reintegrated into civilian life. When it comes to local elections, do they vote?
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'Seeing the Forest' salon to benefit forest conservation
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A path starting with exploration of legacy forests led writer Tim McNulty into a conservation-focused career. A poetry salon this weekend featuring several writers will celebrate efforts to preserve such forests. (Image: Sattva Photo)
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By Lane Morgan
A writer’s exploration and evocations of Northwest rivers and forests will highlight an event to support protection of what remains of the wilderness.
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Community Voices / Only in a society separated from nature does ‘Rights of Nature’ make sense
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Nature? Suburban development in a northeastern section of Colorado Springs, Colorado, appears to have superseded natural features. A commentator asks what the concept of "Rights of Nature" says about the state of society. (Image: David Shankbone, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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By Elisabeth Robson
Commentary: There are many ways to interpret the idea of the “rights of nature” — so many layers that most of us can forget that we are nature.
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• School board reporting kudos
• Fitzhugh family stories
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. Letters represent the point of view of the writer. Publication by Salish Current does not represent endorsement. 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
Drought. State officials on Monday announced a drought emergency for watersheds in Benton, Clallam, Columbia, Jefferson, Kittitas, Klickitat, Okanogan, Skagit, Snohomish, Walla Walla, Whatcom and Yakima counties. (Washington State Standard)
Going dry. More than 300 Whatcom County residents rely on three public water systems that have run dry, and three more systems are currently “on the fringe” of emergency situations. (CDN/paywall)
Farm water. The Skagit Public Utility District Board of Commissioners set a price Tuesday of $12.89 per acre-foot of water plus a $1,500 administrative fee for water Drainage and Irrigation Improvement District No. 15 and Consolidated Diking Improvement District No. 22 will sell to Skagit County farmers dealing with drought conditions. (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall)
Leaded fuel. The U.S. House of Representatives voted to require airports to keep selling leaded aviation fuel indefinitely despite the small-plane fuel being the biggest source of airborne lead pollution in Washington and nationwide. (KUOW) (See: “Use unleaded fuel at Bellingham International Airport” Salish Current June 9, 2023.)
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Education
Budget cuts. Bellingham School District continues to wrestle with a $16 million budget cut that will result in reduction in school club and student meal programs. (Bellingham Herald/paywall)
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The Border & Beyond
B.C. Ferries. The privately operated, province-owned system has been plagued by technical difficulties with its vessels, last-minute cancellations, staffing shortages and confusion about the availability of reservations online. (CBC)
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Nature
Tokitae return. Government agencies say that the move of the killer whale Tokitae from Miami to the Salish Sea is not imminent because environmental permits have not been applied for and issues of pathogen transfer are unresolved. (CDN/paywall)
Sunken sailboat. The Windjammer, a 65-foot sailboat that sank in 2009 in Similk Bay, was broken apart and removed this week. (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall)
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Business
At work. Whatcom County's unemployment rate is at 3.1%, compared with a 4.8% rate a year ago. Skagit County had a 3.3% jobless rate and San Juan County was at 2.3% in June. (KGMI)
WWU food. Chartwells Higher Education will take over Western Washington University’s campus dining facilities on Sept. 1 when the university ends its 10-year contract with Aramark. (The Front)
Agritourism. About 250 people attended a public hearing Tuesday on proposed changes to Skagit County’s agritourism code. After about three hours of comments, the comment deadline was extended until Aug. 17, with Planning Commission deliberations scheduled for Oct. 10. (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall)
Guemes ferry. The Skagit County commissioners voted to increase the Guemes Island ferry fare by an average of 14%, with similar increases planned through 2028. (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall)
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Community
Ship named. The Navy will name a new Navajo-Class ship after Nisqually tribal member, environmental activist and treaty rights advocate Billy Frank, Jr. (Bellingham Herald/paywall)
Tribal broadband. A $500,000 federal grant to the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community will provide broadband service to 289 tribal households, nine tribally owned businesses and 31 tribal community institutions. (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall)
Mobile home parks. A new law that took effect on Sunday (SB 5198) requires mobile home parks to be sold on the open market and residents to be notified and given an opportunity to work with agencies and buyers to purchase the properties. (Washington State Standard)
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Arts & Leisure
Rooftop cinema. The Pickford's rooftop cinema series features "Fargo," July 28, 7 p.m. party, film at dusk, always free. Atop Bellingham's downtown Parkade on Commercial. Info.
"Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" Fairhaven Outdoor Cinema. Entertainment: Rose Aiko. July 29. Movies start at dusk and entertainment about 2 hours prior to the movie. $7 per person cash, $8 per person credit card; kids 4 and under are FREE. Information.
Poetry salon. Distinguished Olympic Peninsula naturalist and poet Tim McNulty and local poets present "Seeing the Forest for the Trees: A Poetry Salon." July 29, 4–6 p.m., Van Zandt Community Hall. Benefit for the Center for Responsible Forestry. Reservations.
Island acrobatics. Acrobatic Conundrum performs "Le Cirque de Pamplemousse” somersaulting, pirouetting, precariously balancing, and making a fruit smoothie of life, death and rebirth. July 29 (evening indoors) and July 30 (afternoon outdoors), Lopez Center. Tickets in advance.
“Nature’s Kingdom” Allied Arts of Whatcom County's August gallery show features an exploration of the abundant forms, colors, and materials of the natural world in the works of Bluejay Blackburn, Lori Hill, Michael Colahan, Rachel Simpson, Sacha Bliese, Scott Ward, and Vikki Jackson. Opens Aug. 4, Tuesday–Saturday 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Information.
Library jazz. Bellingham Public Library presents Friends of the Library Summer Jazz in various locations on Aug. 5, Aug. 19. Free. Information and registration. Also check out the Jazz for Kids programs.
Rooftop cinema. The Pickford's rooftop cinema series features "Mad Max: Fury Road," Aug. 11, 7 p.m. party, film at dusk, always free. Atop Bellingham's downtown Parkade on Commercial. Info
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.
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Jump in!
Parade. Whatcom Old Settlers Jr. and Grand Parade, July 29, 11 a.m., Pioneer Park, Ferndale.
Book sale. Friends of Birch Bay Library are raising funds for their building project by selling their bookmobile, books and breakfast goodies. July 29, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Birch Bay Library.
Invasive removal. Join with the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association and Whatcom Land Trust on July 29 to clear out invasive vegetation from the banks of the North and South forks of the Nooksack River. Registration is limited and required.
About drugs. The Bellingham Public Library is making available multiple copies of Sam Quinones' book, "The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth," in advance of his Aug. 1 "All Hands Whatcom: An Evening with Sam Quinones" 6 p.m. at Bellingham High School. The event is free and open to the public. Register and submit questions at Chuckanut Health Foundation.
Funk. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the beneficiary of the Fairhaven Funky Bizarre Bazaar, Aug. 5,11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fairhaven Village Green.
Bay Day. The Skagit Marine Resources Committee holds its Fidalgo Bay Day, Aug. 26, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Fidalgo Bay Resort. Information.
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Government
Elections
Primary election day is Aug. 1. Watch for primary election results (contested races only) for the following races on Aug. 2:
Whatcom County
Whatcom County Executive
County Council District 4
County Council At-Large Position B
City of Bellingham Mayor
City of Bellingham Council Ward 1
City of Bellingham Council At-Large
City of Everson Council Position 5
Ferndale School District Director 2
Blaine School District Director 2
Lynden School District Director 3
Meridian School District Director 5
Sedro-Woolley School District Director 3
Skagit County
City of Anacortes Council Position 3
Anacortes School District Position 5
Sedro-Woolley School District Director 3
Public Hospital District 304 Commissioner 2
San Juan County
Lopez Island School District Director 3
San Juan Fire District 2 Commissioner 1
Port of Friday Harbor Commissioner 3
Port of Orcas Commissioner 3
Watch this space. This guide won’t tell you who to vote for, but should help you make the choice for yourself. Bellingham Primary Election. (Crosscut)
Public Disclosure Commission report 7/28/23
City of Bellingham Mayor:
• Kim Lund: Raised $55,195.72, Spent $15,450.68, Outside For $415.74
• Michael McAuley: Raised $16,112.20, Spent $9,641.85
• Kristina Michele Martens: Raised $4,015.13, Spent $3,720.13, Outside For $415.74
• Seth Fleetwood: Raised $23,374.30, Spent $30,456.97, Debt $16,300, Outside For $415.74
• Chris McCoy: Raised $8,044.15, Spent $6,939.73
• Joel Johnson: Raised $600
Whatcom County Executive
• Satpal Sidhu: Raised $85,063.78, Spent $70,341.01, Debt $33,042.86, Outside For $415.74
• Alicia Rule: Raised $18,789.69, Spent $6,457.92, Debt $12,598, Outside For $10,840
• Barry Buchanan: Raised $7,653.19, Spent $5,366.86, Debt $7,529.19, Outside For $415.74
• Misty Flowers: Raised $2,213.21, Spent $2,122.33
• Dan Purdy: Raised $7,467.64, Spent $30,615.64, Debt $2,265
• Sukhwant Gill: Raised $15,493.64, Spent $16,751.61, Debt $2,280.75
Aug. 1 Primary
Whatcom County candidate filings
Skagit County candidate filings
San Juan County candidate filings
San Juan County.
The council met on July 25 on Decatur Island. Agenda. Audio.
The council will meet again on Aug. 8.
SJ LWV Observer Corps:
July 20 Friday Harbor Town Council
City of Bellingham.
The council met on July 24. Agenda items included:
Committee of the Whole:
• The council unanimously approved placing a resolution raising the minimum wage to the voters.
• The council unanimously approved placing a resolution adopting an economic displacement assistance mandate in landlord-tenant relations to the voters.
• The council unanimously approved a resolution affirming that affordable housing and homelessness are a public health crisis.
• The council approved 6-1 (Hammill opposed) amending Bellingham Municipal Code regarding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
The council will next meet on Aug. 7.
Whatcom County.
The council met on July 25. Agenda items included:
Public hearings:
• The council unanimously adopted an ordinance adopting amendments to Whatcom County Code regulating short-term/vacation rentals.
Other items:
• The council unanimously adopted the Food System Plan created by the Whatcom County Food System Committee.
• The council unanimously approved a resolution for Whatcom County Code language revisions to address equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• The council approved (5-2 Buchanan, Donovan opposed) an ordinance regarding ferry rates.
The council will meet again on Aug. 8.
Port of Bellingham.
The commission will meet again on Aug. 8.
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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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