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Independent, fact-based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties
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News from the Salish Current April 21, 2023
Dear Reader—
Earth Day is tomorrow: Edward Wolf asks whether the observance of the day, after 53 years, matters to Earth itself, and Kathy Fletcher takes a frank look at progress and sees that much remains to be done.
Also moving forward … Kathryn Wheeler reports on why the Home Trust won the bid for an affordable housing project in Friday Harbor; Kai Uyehara tells a short and informative video story of a day in the life of a childcare center; and Jamie Douglass updates on the work toward adequate, affordable broadband throughout Whatcom County.
A common theme among these diverse topics is the need for all of us to be informed about what our governments are doing and to take appropriate action — whether it’s freeing our native trees from invasive ivy on Earth Day, digging into who is behind bid proposals being assessed by county officials, ensuring good childcare options for our families, or tracking progress on the building of that vital link to today’s online communication sources.
Salish Current was founded for exactly that purpose: to provide reliable, truthful information about what’s happening and what we need to pay attention to. And we’re here not only to cover those stories but to ensure that everyone has access to read them, without cost. That happens because of our growing community of generous donors.
We’re particularly grateful today after the amazing response to our Truth, Trust and the News events last week. If you weren’t able to join the crowd at Whatcom Community College’s Heiner Auditorium Thursday evening, tune in to the video at 25:30 (thanks to Robert Clark!) and hear Carl Bergstrom’s excellent observations on The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World … aka “Calling Bullshit.” Bergstrom and his colleague Jevin West have compiled some direly needed and powerful intellectual tools for identifying the misinformation and disinformation that bombard us through so many channels.
Thank you, one and all, for reading, donating, subscribing and sharing community-supported, not-for-profit Salish Current.
—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 April 21, 2023: Earth Day!, Tokitae, orca hunting, water pollution rules, Fairy Creek protest, airport pollution, U.S. forest inventory, Washington ferries, Site C dam, Roberts Bank expansion, salmon grants.
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Earth Day at 53: Pogo’s truth still resonates
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A 1970 Walt Kelly cartoon has continued to be an iconic reference point for the environmental and climate change movements. (Walt Kelly image, used under educational fair use via the Smithsonian)
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By Edward Wolf
Behind Earth Day’s local actions, policies and global trends lies a questions: Does Earth Day matter to the Earth itself?
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Earth Day 2023: A frank look at where we are
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Earth Day has continued to change lives since first observed in 1970, inspiring and motivating individuals and nations to care for the planet. But a frank look at progress reveals much still to be done. ('The Blue Marble', Apollo 17 crew)
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By Kathy Fletcher
Commentary: Just as in 1970, we are at another major reckoning point in our relationship to our home planet.
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Home Trust selected to build San Juan affordable housing
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An artist's rendering shows the vision for affordable housing on property at Argyle Avenue and Malcolm Street in Friday Harbor. The project was awarded to the Home Trust by the San Juan County Council. (San Juan Community Home Trust image)
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By Kathryn Wheeler
Lack of transparency dooms Favor 34 private financing proposal.
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Mind the gap: Whatcom providers face challenges in meeting need for childcare
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Preschool teachers such as Julie Flores face their share of challenges — including caring for their own families on low wages — but the entire local economy is impacted by the deep shortage in placement availability, as employers struggle to attract and retain workers. (Kai Uyehara / Salish Current image © 2023)
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By Kai Uyehara
Video [8:22]: A look at a day in the life of a childcare worker reveals the growing gap in meeting the needs of families, providers and employers throughout the community.
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Affordable Whatcom broadband is underway
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An assessment of current access and speed of internet access reveals the scale of need for improving broadband networks in Whatcom County. Blue areas passed a test for minimum capability, while red areas failed. (PUD No. 1, Whatcom County, image)
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By Jamie Douglass
Commentary: Whatcom agencies are moving forward on affordable fiber-optic broadband for all.
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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
Airport pollution. SeaTac International Airport, Alaska Airlines and Delta are being sued over airplane emissions by residents who live in flight paths in a radius of five miles from the airport. (KUOW) See: "Leaded aviation fuel fires decades-long complaint" (Salish Current, July 26, 2022)
Assault weapons. Bill HB 1240 passed the legislature and was sent to the governor. It allows citizens to own assault-style rifles but not buy or import most AR-type weapons after the bill is signed. (Crosscut)
Hot pursuit. Bill SB 5352 which lowers the threshold for law enforcement to be able to pursue suspects passed the legislature and was sent to the governor. (KUOW)
Drug use. SB 5536 passed by the state Senate and House continues making drug possession a misdemeanor but difference in the range of criminal penalty had not been resolved in conference as of press time Friday. The legislative session ends on April 23. (Crosscut)
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Education
School meet. The Lynden School District will hold public meeting to discuss school facilities, budgets and community culture on April 24, May 8 and May 15 from 5:30–6:30 p.m. at the district office's board room. (Lynden Tribune/paywall)
School meals. Bill HB 1238 which in reduced form provides free meals only to kindergarten through fourth-grade students in schools where 30% or more of students qualify for free-and-reduced lunch passed the Legislature and was sent to the governor. (CDN/paywall)
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The Border
BC port expansion. Canada's federal government has approved a new container terminal which will increase shipping capacity by up to 60% at Roberts Bank Terminal 2 in Delta, an expansion opposed by environmental and labor interests. (CBC) See: "Proposed Roberts Bank terminal will add cargo capacity — but at what cost to Salish Sea?" (Salish Current, Aug. 25, 2020)
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Nature
1,000 yards. Bill SB 5371 which requires all commercial and recreational vessels to maintain a 1,000 yard distance from endangered killer whales was passed by the legislature and forwarded to the governor for signature. See: "Senate bill changing vessel-orca distance moves forward" (Salish Current, April 14, 2023)
Bay cleanup. The Department of Ecology invites public comment until May 24 on its amended Cleanup Action Plan for the 700-plus acres Whatcom Waterway. (Dept. of Ecology)
Penalty appeal. Egg Lake Quarry on San Juan Island will appeal the $53,000 fine levied by the Department of Ecology for nine pollution violations recorded from 2021 to 2022. (SanJuan Journal/paywall)
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Business
Building ferries. Bill HB 1846 which allows bids for building new ferries by shipyards outside the state passed the legislature and was sent to the governor. (KUOW)
Ship's in. The SE Marina carrying recycled metal is scheduled to arrive at the Port of Bellingham on April 21. (Port of Bellingham)
Boat storage. Seaview Boatyard has proposed a 42,000-square-foot, 600-feet-high boat storage and repair building at Roeder Avenue and Squalicum Way on the Bellingham Bay waterfront. (Bellingham Herald/paywall)
Broadband. Skagit County's Broadband Action Team is gathering local information in preparation of a state action plan to provide high-speed internet service to community institutions such as schools, libraries, health care providers and community support agencies by 2028. (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall)
No TIF. The City of Blaine and East Blaine developers will not propose a tax-increment financing district (TIF) to fund infrastructure needed for housing development in Grandis Pond and East Harbor Hills due to lack of city support and development slow down. (The Northern Light) See: "House-building is booming in Blaine" (Salish Current, March 16, 2023)
Sydney ferry. Current and former Anacortes city mayors have asked local state legislators for help to revive ferry service by funding a new vessel to sail between Anacortes and Sydney, B.C. (Anacortes American/paywall)
Tax relief. Bill SB 5199 which eliminates the state business and occupation tax for newspaper publishers at a cost of about $400,000 annually passed the legislature and was sent to the governor. (Seattle Times/paywall)
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Community
Earth Day Party. The RE Store celebrates 30 years of local reuse with a free, all-ages outdoor party — and offers a storewide 30% off sale on Earth Day. April 22, 3–8 p.m. RSVP.
Willows sale. The owners of the former Willows Restaurant on Lummi Island donated the property to Lighthouse Mission Ministries which is now selling the property to fund its new $24 million shelter and headquarters. (KGMI)
Incorporation? The Birch Bay Community Political Action Committee has posted a survey open until May 8 to explore the feasibility of incorporating Birch Bay as a city. (The Northern Light)
Waterfront living. Groundbreaking of Phase II of the Millworks mixed-use, 80-unit affordable housing project on the Port of Bellingham waterfront was held last week. Phase I which is under construction will have 83 units scheduled for move-in by 2024. (Bellingham Herald/paywall) See: "‘Food hub plus’ part of ambitious collaboration to meet housing and food needs" (Salish Current, Oct. 1, 2021)
Middle housing. Bill HB 1110 which would allow duplexes or fourplexes in single-family homes zoning passed the legislature and was sent to the governor. (Crosscut)
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Commentary
Sinking ship. Ross Anderson writes that over the past 70-plus years state ferries have carried millions of passengers on millions of trips but not a single life has been loss to a ferry accident. What would it take to sink a ferry like the Walla Walla? (Post Alley)
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Arts & Leisure
Spring concerts. The Bellingham Community Chorus presents its Spring 2023 concerts on April 29 at 7 p.m. and April 30 at 3 p.m., St. James Presbyterian Church, Bellingham. Information.
EOB. The 18th annual Essence of Bellingham photo competition is open to community member submittals that capture the essence of living, working and playing in Bellingham. May 1 deadline, entry details here.
Women's films. The Cascadia International Film Festival will be held in person at Bellingham's Pickford Film Center May 4–7, as well as online May 11–21. Information and tickets.
Western show. Two exhibitions, “Pareidolia” and “Teacher/Scholar/Artist,” will run concurrently until May 6 at the Western Gallery located on the university campus. (The Front)
Early music. Salish Sea Early Music Festival presents Lieder Recital: Hayden and Schubert with Maike Albrecht (soprano) and Hans-Jürgen Schnoor (piano), May 1, San Juan Island (please reserve tickets by writing to salishseafestival@aol.com); May 3, 7 p.m., Skagit Early Keyboard Museum (please reserve tickets by writing to salishseafestival@aol.com). Suggested donation $25. Information.
Early music. Salish Sea Early Music Festival presents Bach Cantata: Ich Habe Genug with Maike Albrecht (soprano), Hans-Jürgen Schnoor (harpsichord) and Jeffery Cohen (baroque flute). May 5, Bellingham First Presbyterian, 7 p.m.; May 6, Lopez Grace Church, 1 p.m.; May 9, Fir-Conway Lutheran Church, 7 p.m.; May 10, Orcas Adventist Fellowship Church, 6 p.m.; May 17, Friday Harbor Brickworks, 7 p.m. By donation $25; under 18 free.
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Jump in!
Earth Day. Take part in the Great Islands Clean Up April 22 on Orcas, San Juan, Shaw and Lopez Islands. Information and registration.
Earth Day. Join Skagit Land Trust and Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group to plant trees and remove invasive species at the Utopia Conservation Area in Sedro-Woolley. April 22, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Info and registration.
Earth Day. 900+ trees wait to be planted and numerous invasive plants to be removed at the WWU Miyawaki Forest Demo Site. Free pizza, too. April 22, 9 a.m.–Noon. Info and registration.
Earth Day. RE Sources and the Endangered Species Coalition presents "From Tree to Sea," a special Earth Day screening of films highlighting the ways in which the fates of the Northwest's iconic salmon, rivers, forests and communities are inextricably linked. April 22, 11:30 a.m., Pickford Film Center. Details.
Earth Day. Meet RE Sources at Bellingham's Marine Heritage Park, grab a trash grabber and combat plastic pollution. April 22, Noon–2 p.m. Sign up.
Earth Day. Bellingham's MakersMart is at the waterfront Granary Building with 30 local makers selling eco-friendly goods, with 10% of proceeds donated to the Whatcom Million Trees Project. April 22, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Information.
Tourism. The Bellingham City Club presents online "Tourism as an Economic Driver" a discussion with Dylon Deane Boyle, director and president of the Bellingham/Whatcom Tourism Board. April 26, Noon; reservation by April 24. The City Club will resume meeting in person on May 24.
Beach clean. The Spencer Spit Beach Community Clean-Up on Lopez is held on April 29, Noon–2 p.m. State park day-use fees waived for volunteers.
Plant 'em. The Annual Whatcom Master Gardener Plant Sale goes online from April 29 through noon on May 2 before the in-person sale on May 13 from 9 a.m. to Noon at Hovander Homestead Park. Details.
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Government
The final day of the 2023 legislative session is April 23.
Death dignity. Bill SB 5179 which increases access to the provisions of the Washington Death With Dignity Act was signed by the governor. See: "Proposed changes to state’s Death with Dignity Act spark debate" (Salish Current, Feb. 16, 2023)
Washington State Legislature Bill information.
Crosscut's Washington Bill Tracker
Crosscut will update their bill tracker throughout the rest of the session, which is scheduled to end on April 23.
San Juan County.
The council met on April 18. Agenda items and video.
• The council heard an emergency management report on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination of water wells on San Juan Island. (14:23)
• The council met with representatives of Washington State Ferries (1:18:04)
• The council unamimously selected the San Juan Community Home Trust to negotiate a developer agreement for 42 affordable housing units. (3:37:36)
City of Bellingham.
The council will meet on April 24. Agenda items include:
Parks and Recreation Committee:
• Recommendation to Name Barkley Neighborhood Park "Scramble Nature Playpark" Staff memo.
Committee of the Whole:
• Annual Update on the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence. Presentation.
• Work Session #3 for Consideration of Two Alternatives for Revisions to Bellingham's Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Regulation. Staff memo.
The council will meet again on May 8.
Whatcom County.
The council will meet on April 25. Agenda items include:
• Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and Opportunity Council to support childcare stabilization in Whatcom County, in the amount of $498,732.72. Staff memo.
• Request authorization from the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and Northwest Youth Services to support operations at the Ground Floor Day Use Center in the amount of $34,148 for a total amended countract amount of $194,148. Staff memo.
• Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and Opportunity Council to operate the Whatcom Homeless Service Center in the amount of $1,113,813 for a total amended contract amount of $5,128,564. Staff memo.
• Resolution adopting the Food System Plan created by the Whatcom County Food System Committee. Staff memo. Food System Plan presentation.
The council will meet again on May 9.
Port of Bellingham.
The commission will meet again on May 2.
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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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