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

News from the Salish Current July 7, 2023

Dear Reader—
Wow! We now have summer, dry weather, fire danger and smoke advisories. Enjoy and be careful out there.

This week, read Clifford Heberden's story on the "rights of nature" approach to environmental protection of orca whales, a concept found in proclamations adopted by local governments like San Juan County and in a resolution before the Whatcom County Council this coming week. (For a deeper dive into killer whales, read the story from The Planet Magazine about the complexity of bringing Tokitae "home" from Miami to the Salish Sea.)

Do you think nature has rights? Using our comment form or write a letter to the editor of no more than 300 words and tell me what you think.

And, if you think the news Salish Current brings you every week is worth reading, please share this newsletter by forwarding it to a friend, an associate or family member. Thanks to those who are helping us build our readership numbers and share important information throughout the region.

—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 July 7, 2023: Satchel Paige, orca babies, forever chemicals, cruise ship rules, climate change costs, TM oil, Fraser salmon, predator-prey, campfire bans.

Support Us

Using “rights of nature” to correct environmental wrongs

An orca whale has the right of way in the path of a NOAA research vessel — but will rights to thrive and otherwise flourish be extended to nature on a broader scale? An Indigenous-led movement is underway to secure legal status for nature’s rights to exist and thrive. (NOAA image)

By Clifford Heberden
Will the rights of nature movement, called the “fastest-growing legal movement of the twenty-first century” by U.N. Secretary-General António Guteres, find a foothold here?

Lopez Island School District anticipates about the same number of students this fall as last year — and a significant budget shortfall. Less federal funding and the state levy cap and regionalized per-pupil funding rate contribute to the challenge. (Salish Current photo ©)

By Nancy DeVaux
What’s the solution to Lopez Island school district’s $700K shortfall? Administrators and school board candidates grapple for the solution.

The primary election is not far away — do you know what will be on your ballot Aug. 1?

By Editorial Staff
Public hospital district elections are at the basement level of local democracy and have at stake the cost and quality of local health care.

Letters to the Editor

• Straight answers needed from PeaceHealth
• Supports Atul Deshmane

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

News from around the region...

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Health and Safety

Cancer care. PeaceHealth is planning to increase capacity, expand services and upgrade equipment at the United General Medical Center Cancer Center in Sedro-Woolley. (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall)

Justice delayed. The mid-May backlog of 43 detainees in Whatcom County Jail who qualified for representation by a public defender but did not have one due to a lack of public defense attorneys had been reduced by July 6 to eight still unrepresented and incarcerated after the county hired more staff and judges assigned cases to private attorneys. (Bellingham Herald/paywall)

Education

Libraries open. After parents complained, Anacortes school district principals are working on plans to keep school libraries open on a limited basis next year by identifying times when they will allocate staff to support the circulation process in the libraries. (Anacortes American/paywall)

The Border & Beyond

B.C. heat. Campfire bans now cover most of B.C. as daily heat records fall across the province and scientists continue to warn about the dangers of human-caused climate change. (CBC)

Nature

Lynden cedars. Two-thirds of the estimated 1,200 trees in Dickinson Park are Western red cedar trees and show the decline of the species in the region. (Lynden Tribune/paywall)

Beach Eggs—Part 2. The second in a four-part series on beach eggs looks at some unusual marine snail eggs, like the frilled dogwinkle (Nucella lamellosa). (Rainshadow Journal)

Wolverines. After years of conservation work and legal battles, wolverines like those in the North Cascades may soon receive protection under a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision, which will come by the end of November. (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall)

Tokitae. Return of Tokitae, who was abducted from her pod in Puget Sound as an adolescent and was sold to a marine park in Florida, was officially announced in March. Some are optimistic about her future, others have expressed concerns. (The Planet Magazine)

Business

No malt. After 12 years selling malt mostly from local grains, Skagit Valley Malting closed suddenly, leaving breweries and distilleries to search for new sources of malt. (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall)

Water rights. The state Department of Ecology has a new online portal where most water rights documents can be accessed in one location for each of four regions: Northwest, Southwest, Central and Eastern. (Dept of Ecology)

Layoffs. Food service provider Aramark announced it was laying off 386 Bellingham-based employees after the company's contract for dining services at Western Washington University ended. (Bellingham Herald/paywall)

Housing sales. The median price of a home sold in Whatcom County dropped 7.6% to $600,00 in the second quarter from a year ago, and home sales dropped 18.3% to 674 homes during the same time period. (KGMI)

Tree removal. A 68-unit townhouse proposal on Meridian Street next to the Bellingham Golf and Country Club has been criticized for requiring removal of 327 trees in order to accommodate the project. (Bellingham Herald/paywall)

Community

‘Big Lift’ Local housing advocates have put forth a draft plan for local government to declare the issue of houselessness a public health emergency, to identify available funding and to detail a plan to build tiny-home shelter villages that offer access to comprehensive services.(Bellingham Herald/paywall)

Bus barn. Skagit Transit has received $5 million in federal grant funding last week to go toward building a new 69,000 square feet maintenance, operations and administrative facility on Bay Ridge Drive near Skagit Regional Airport. (Skagit Valley Herald/paywall)

Local jewels. The Pacific Northwest’s lesser-known jewel, Bellingham, offers world-class scenery, sculpture and seafood within easy reach of Seattle. (New York Times)

Commentary

Fireworks. Lin McNulty writes: " 'Laws require professional fireworks shows to be at least three-quarters of a mile from protected habitat,' so states the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Seems logical. Last night’s fireworks display in East Sound, however, was way off course from where they normally launch those colorful rockets." (Orcasonian)

Arts & Leisure

"Finding Nemo." Fairhaven Outdoor Cinema. Entertainment: The Song Wranglers, July 8. 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.

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.

Three plays. Fairhaven Summer Repertory Theater presents "Keely and Du" by Jane Martin; "Gidion’s Knot" by Johnna Adams; and "What the Constitution Means to Me" by Heidi Schreck. June 27-July 23, Firehouse Arts and Events Center, information and tickets here.

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.

Library jazz. Bellingham Public Library presents Friends of the Library Summer Jazz in various locations on July 15, Aug. 5, Aug. 19. Free. Information and registration. Also check out the Jazz for Kids programs.

Jump in!

Bellingham Pride Saturday. Pride Family Picnic at Boundary Bay Brewery, July 8, Noon to 4 p.m.; all-ages Pride Dance at Depot Market Square with live DJs and drag artist, 7 to 10 p.m.

Bellingham Pride Sunday. Pride In Bellingham Parade begins at 11 a.m. from Waypoint Park through downtown Bellingham to Depot Market Square where the Pride Festival goes until 4 p.m.

Invasive removal. Join with the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association and Whatcom Land Trust on Saturdays in July (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.

Greenways levy. Bellingham City Council holds a public hearing 7 p.m. on July 10 regarding a fifth Greenways levy, which is proposed to raise approximately $8.6 million the first year and more than $86 million for the 10-year life of the levy, to continue acquiring, developing and maintaining parks, park facilities, trails and open spaces.

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 July 7, 2023
City of Bellingham Mayor
• Kim Lund: Raised $39,109.79, Spent $6,440.61
• Michael McAuley: Raised $7,862.85, Spent $2,211.96
• Kristina Michele Martens: Raised $4,000.06, Spent $123.15
• Seth Fleetwood: Raised $10,636.11, Spent $6,678.96
• Chris McCoy: Raised $8,044.25, Spent $6,939.73

Whatcom County Executive
• Satpal Sidhu: Raised $63,612.71, Spent $10,195.19
• Alicia Rule: Raised $6,657, Spent $673.48, Debt $2,492.64
• Barry Buchanan: Raised $2,455, Spent $133.43, Debt $3,003.19
• Misty Flowers: Raised $625.29, Spent $2,092.64, Debt $300
• Dan Purdy: Raised $2,767.64, Spent $2,392.64, Debt $300
• Sukhwant Gill: Raised $6,292.64, Spent $2,092.64

Aug. 1 Primary
Whatcom County candidate filings
Skagit County candidate filings
San Juan County candidate filings

San Juan County.
San Juan County
The council will meet again on July 11.
• No agenda was available at press time. Here's how to do it yourself.

City of Bellingham.
The council will meet on July 10. Agenda items include:

Public hearing:
• 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. Resolution.

Public Works and Natural Resources Committee:
• Bid Award for Old City Hall Exterior Repairs Bid #44B-2023 Staff memo.

Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity Committee:
• Presentation of the Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force 2023 Annual Report. Annual report.

•Committee of the Whole
• A Briefing on Launching The Bellingham Plan: A 2025 Periodic Update to the Comprehensive Plan. Staff memo.

• Consideration of an Amended Conservation Easement and Conservation Easement Assignment Agreement for Hundred Acre Wood with the Chuckanut Community Forest Park District (CCFPD) and the Whatcom Land Trust (WLT) Conservation Easement.

• Discussion of Initiative No. 2023-1 to Raise the Minimum Wage. Ordinance.

• Discussion of Initiative No. 2023-02 Regarding Economic Displacement Assistance Ordinance.

The council will meet again on July 24.

Whatcom County.
The council will meet on July 11. Agenda items include:

Public hearings:
• Ordinance providing for submission of a proposition to the qualified electors of Whatcom County pursuant to RCW 82.14.450 authorizing the collection of a local sales and use tax of two-tenths of one percent for the purpose of providing funds for costs associated with public health, safety and justice facilities and services, including behavioral health, supportive housing, public safety and criminal justice facilities and programs.

• Ordinance amending Whatcom County Code Section 11.20.025, Flotation Devices on the South Fork of the Nooksack River, to better protect ESA-listed Chinook salmon.

Consent agenda:
• Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between Whatcom County and Washington State Department of Commerce to fund homelessness crisis response systems, in the amount of $10,543,379.

• Request authorization for the County Executive to enter into a contract amendment between Whatcom County and the Bellingham Food Bank to extend the agreement through December 2024 for an additional $1,000,000 for a total cost of $1,500,000.

Other items:
• Resolution acknowledging the rights of the Southern Resident orcas. Resolution.

The council will meet again on July 25.

Port of Bellingham.
The commission will meet on July 11. Video link and agenda include:

Consent agenda:
• Commission’s authorization to sell vessels, pursuant to Resolution No. 1349.

• Presentation: Paper Whale Update

Action item:
• Authorize a budget increase for BST Main Pier Repairs.

The commission will meet again on Aug. 8.