Independent, fact-based news for Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties

News from the Salish Current September 15, 2023

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Dear Reader—

One benefit of being an independent local newsroom is being able to dive deeper into local issues without the burden of chasing breaking news prompted by the day's news releases.

Matt Benoit's story this week on the challenge facing local leaders and businesses in downtown Bellingham and our story about what might happen when the next time the Nooksack floods by Catherine Skrzypinski and Clifford Heberden are two of the kinds of stories we strive to bring you, our reader. And we're happy to report positive, inspirational stories, too, like Rena Kingery's profile of "Dr. Marty" and his team saving and protecting marine life in our Salish Sea.

We welcome Britta Eschete to our board of directors. Britta is an event coordinator at Western Washington University's Career Services Center and has deep roots in the Skagit County nonprofit world.

Salish Current grows because we are free to read and independent. Help us grow our valuable community of readers by sharing this newsletter and asking others to subscribe and join our newsroom community. 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 Sept. 15, 2023: Ōhiʻa Friday, humpbacks, sea stars, BC old growth, urban giants, fishing gear, slug races.

Support Us

Who will solve the problems of downtown Bellingham?

Solutions are needed for the compounded issues of a high rate of mental illness and drug use — particularly fentanyl — and a growing homeless population in downtown Bellingham streets and alleys. (Matt Benoit / Salish Current photo © 2023)

By Matt Benoit
Downtown businesses and civic leaders address downtown Bellingham’s problems of crime and safety.

“It’s a tremendous feeling” — along with rescuing animals in distress and in danger of dying, the team lead by Martin “Dr. Marty” Haulena of the Vancouver Aquarium conducts research to better understand sea animals and improve ways to assist them in the wild. The team’s work will be featured in a free presentation in Bellingham on Sept. 23. (Vancouver Aquarium courtesy photo)

By Rena Kingery
“To the Rescue: Protecting Life in the Salish Sea” will feature a talk and a free exclusive screening of a dramatic rescue film by the head veterinarian and director of animal health at the Vancouver Aquarium.

Pastures became peninsulas when the Nooksack River flooded in November 2021. The flooding inundated roads, damaged homes, displaced residents and disrupted lives — and many in the Nooksack Basin are still rebuilding. Meanwhile, officials are progressing on long-term strategies to better deal with flooding in the future. (Salish Current file photo)

By Catherine Skrzypinski and Clifford Heberden
As the two-year anniversary of a devastating Nooksack River flood approaches, cross-border strategy talks are beginning to take shape, taking community cooperation and climate change into consideration. Is it enough?

• Urges support for new jail/treatment facility

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Salish Current affirms its commitment to work for truth, justice, equality and healing for all people.
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News from around the region...

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Health and Safety

Get boosted. Following FDA regulatory action, the CDC has recommended updated 2023-2024 mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for everyone 6 months and older that target the omicron subvariant XBB.1.5. (WA Health)

Get gassed. The Washington Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision overturned part of a state law passed in 2021 requiring police to get approval from the highest elected official in the jurisdiction where tear gas might be used before deploying it. (Washington State Standard)

Education

School grades. Just half of Washington state students are reading at grade level with scores remaining stagnant the last two years and about 10 percentage points below pre-pandemic levels. (KUOW)

School bond. Lynden School District's bond planning task force recommends about two dozen projects funded by a $160 million bond that would fund building a $150 million high school to replace the current 43-year-old building. (KGMI)

The Border and Beyond

More waiting. B.C.'s new hospital, including a cancer center, in Surrey has been pushed back 3 years to 2030 because cost have increased to $2.88 billion from $1.7 billion. (CBC)

Nature

Sea stars. About a decade after an outbreak of disease, researchers say sea star numbers are still low compared to the pre-2014 numbers. (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall)

Business

Recycled metal. The ship Autumn Sea is scheduled to arrive at the Bellingham Shipping Terminal with recycled metal on Sept. 20 and is scheduled to depart on Sept. 30. (Port of Bellingham)

Governors Point. Randy Bishop, owner of the Governors Point peninsula south of Bellingham, donated 98 acres to Whatcom Land Trust to create a public nature preserve. Bishop plans to build 16 custom “small footprint” residences on the west side of Governors Point. (KGMI)

Home ownership. A survey by Redfin found that about 1 in 5 Millennials and about 1 in 10 Gen Zers doubt they will ever own a home. The high costs of homes and concerns over affordability were cited as primary reasons for this feeling. (KUOW)

Tulips. Nicole Roozen has been hired as the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival’s new executive director. (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall)

Skagit waste. A 9-year, $11 million a year trash disposal contract was awarded to Waste Management by the county, a change from Republic Services, which had transported trash out of the county for the past 30 years. (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall)

Ferndale EV. B.C.-based Vicinity Motor Corp. has opened its 100,000-square-foot Ferndale facility which will produce up to 850 low- and zero-emission buses and 6,250 all-electric commercial trucks per year. (KGMI)

EV ferry. Skagit County is accepting bids to build a 28-car electric ferry estimated to cost more than $30 million to replace the 44-year-old vessel servicing the Guemes Island route. (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall)

Community

Renter protections. The debate over how to best shield tenants from unaffordable price hikes will likely return in the next legislative session. (Washington State Standard)

Flood planning. The town of La Conner is buying blocks and sandbags for short-term flood planning. (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall) See also: "Surprising channel flood leaves La Conner planning for future" (Salish Current, Feb. 9, 2023)

Destination plan. Check out the preliminary draft of the San Juan Islands Destination Management Plan and make your comments. Click here.

Eastsound water. There's controversy (again) around the Eastsound Water Users Association; not about water, but about leadership. (Islands Sounder)

Arts & Leisure

Doctober tickets. Get ready to celebrate the 16th year of ground-breaking nonfiction cinema in October at the Pickford Film Center. Look forward to seeing "Breaking the News" (Oct. 15, 21) and "Rather" (Oct. 13, 22). Tickets on sale for members Sept. 15; general ticket sale Sept. 22. Information.

Love Movement. Woman in the Woods Productions presents “Love Movement," an original musical dance production featuring Michela Marino Lerman at the highest levels of musicianship and hoofing. Sept. 23, 5 p.m., Orcas Center. $56 admission includes appetizers at 5 p.m. from the Orcas Hotel and music of the Oliver Groenewald and Steve Alboucq Quintet in the Madrona Room until the show begins at 7 p.m. Information.

Jump in!

Farm tour. Twelve Whatcom County farms will open their (barn) doors for visitors to get a free, self-guided, behind-the-scenes look at how food gets from the farm to their plates. Sept. 16, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sustainable Connections.

Salmon sightings. Watch pink salmon return at the Thompson Creek Bridge, until Sept. 17, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. with Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association staff. (From Bellingham: take Hwy. 542 east through the town of Glacier and turn right on Glacier Creek Rd.) NSEA.

Parent leaders. Learn leadership, communication and public-speaking skills at the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI)'s free, 12-week, online course that teaches parents to identify community challenges and work toward solutions by understanding local and state governments and the public education system. Begins Sept. 16. Information and registration.

Climate action! Bellingham hosts its ALL IN for Climate Action Week Sept. 22–30 featuring free events and activities for all ages. Information.

Marine stewardship. Join the Northwest Straits Foundation for a one-hour volunteer project followed by a picnic lunch and short presentation about ongoing care for Bowman Bay, Cornet Bay and Hoypus Point. Sept. 22, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Bowman Bay, Deception Pass State Park. Register.

To the rescue. Watch an exclusive, free, one-time showing of “Wild Pacific Rescue,” a film about Dr. Marty Haulena, head veterinarian of the Vancouver BC Aquarium, and his dedicated team rescuing animals in the wild that have been harmed by human actions, especially plastic pollution. Sept. 23, Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship. Register here.

Sing Me a Song. A free ukulele concert in memory of Joan Airoldi, ukulele enthusiast and champion of Whatcom County libraries. Deming Library, Sept. 24, 3–4:15 p.m. Info.

Hummers. Environmental sciences instructor and noted ecologist Gregory A. Green speaks on "Our Wintering Hummingbird" at the monthly meeting of the North Cascades Audubon Society, Sept. 26, 7 p.m., Old City Hall Museum, Bellingham. Read more.

Climate Action. Learn about impactful climate solutions at the local, state and federal levels at in-person and Zoom talks sponsored by The Madrona Institute and the Friday Harbor Labs. 5:30 p.m., Sept. 28: Climate Adaptation, Mitigation, and Resilience; Oct. 12: San Juan County's Climate Action Plan; and Oct. 26: Networking Sessions with Local Climate Groups. Info and RSVP here.

Clean-Up. Join the Great Islands Clean-up Sept. 30 on San Juan, Shaw, Lopez and Orcas islands. Information.

Government

Elections

The City Club of Bellingham Candidate Forums will be held on Sept. 27 and Oct. 4.

Sept. 27, 2 p.m. Bellingham Mayor and three council races, in person Bellingham Yacht Club. Reservations. Register in advance no later than Sunday, Sept. 24, 6 p.m.

Oct. 4. Jail and three City initiatives. By Zoom. Registration.

The Bellingham/Whatcom County League of Women Voters Candidate Forums will be held from Sept. 27 through Oct. 18. A detailed program can be found here.

Sept. 27, 7 p.m.
Whatcom County Executive, in-person in Whatcom Council Chambers

Sept. 28, 6 p.m.
Ferndale mayor and council, in-person in Ferndale Council Chambers

Oct. 3 7, p.m.
Whatcom Council, in-person in Whatcom Council Chambers

Oct. 4, 6 p.m.
Jail levy debate and Whatcom Sheriff forum, in-person in Whatcom Council Chambers, Bellingham

Oct. 6, 6 p.m.
Ferndale and Mt. Baker School Boards by Zoom

Oct. 10, 6 p.m.
Bellingham and Meridian School Boards by Zoom

Oct. 12, 6 p.m. Blaine Council and School Board by Zoom

Oct. 17, 6 p.m.
Bellingham Mayor and Council, in-person in Bellingham City Council Chambers

Oct. 18, 6 p.m. Lynden School Board by Zoom

For the people

San Juan County
County Council and the Town of Friday Harbor Joint Meeting, Sept. 19, 2023. Community Center. Agenda.

City of Bellingham
The council met on Sept. 11. Agenda items included:

Community and Economic Development Committee:
• The council unanimously approved an Interlocal Agreement Between Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham to Provide Behavioral Health Outreach Services at Bellingham Central Library.

• The council unanimously approved a Second Amendment to a Lease Agreement for 1530 Cornwall Avenue/Base Camp by and between the City and JMC1, LLC and a Second Amendment to a Sublease Agreement for 1530 Cornwall Avenue/Base Camp by and between the City and Lighthouse Mission Ministries.

Committee of the Whole
• The council unanimously approved an Ordinance Adopting State Firearm Regulations by Reference, Prohibiting the Possession of Firearms at City Operated Stadiums and Convention Centers, and Prohibiting the Possession of Firearms at City Hall.

The council will meet again on Sept. 25.

Whatcom County
The council met on Sept. 12. Agenda items included:

Other items:
• The council approved (6-0, Byrd temporarily absent) authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and Washington State Military Department in the amount of $1,480,000 to support the county's efforts following the November 2021 flood event.

• The council unanimously approved authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Commerce, in the amount of $1,879,999, to support the county's recovery efforts following the November 2021 flood event.

• The council unanimously approved authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Commerce to maintain current levels of homeless subsidies and emergency housing services, in the amount of $2,890,020.

• The council unanimously approved authorization for the County Executive to enter into a project reimbursement agreement between Whatcom County and the Washington State County Road Administration Board in the amount of $10,000,000.

Committee of the Whole
• The council approved (5-2, Byrd and Elenbaas nays) a joint Council/Executive letter to the Port of Bellingham regarding broadband investments. Draft letter.

The council will meet again on Sept. 26.

Port of Bellingham
The commission will meet on Sept. 19. Video. Agenda items include:

Consent Agenda:
• Authorize an Environmental Indemnification and Environmental Easement Agreement with the BoardMill Group, LLC.

• Authorize the Commercial Strategic Energy Management Agreement with Puget Sound Energy.

• Authorize a contract with CobbFendley for engineering, designing and permitting for the North Lynden project part of the Whatcom County Broadband Fiber Network.

Presentation:
• Long term leases

Action item:
• Adopt Port Climate Action Strategy