Celebrate our local waters: Join us during Whatcom Water Week Sept. 14-22 for a variety of fun and educational events! Volunteer to restore salmon habitat in Whatcom Creek, take a tour of the new estuary at Little Squalicum Park, or peek behind the scenes at our Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants. We even have a “We Scoop” Photo Contest for your furry friends! Visit the Whatcom Water Week website for a complete list of events.
Take a walk and learn about water: To kick off Whatcom Water Week, Bellingham Public Library invites kids ages 3 to 8 and their grown-ups to meet Children’s Librarian Ali at the Boulevard Park Play Structure at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 13, for a special walk and read-aloud of the book “1, 2, 3, Salish Sea,” by Nikki McClure. There will also be songs and a nature-inspired craft. City Public Works staff members will install this title as a StoryWalk® on Taylor Dock, Sept. 14-22. There will also be a second StoryWalk® at Cordata Park on the same dates, featuring the book “Water is Water,” by Miranda Paul.
Serve on an advisory group: An important way we partner with our community to better understand and address our diverse needs is through City advisory boards, commissions, committees, and task forces. Volunteer members of these groups advise policymakers and provide essential support to the City, bringing varied perspectives and lived experiences for City leaders to consider when making decisions. City advisory groups that currently have vacancies include the Arts Commission, Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, Planning and Development Commission, and several others. We update our vacancy list regularly and accept applications online. Visit our Boards and Commissions page for more information.
Start a conversation: September is also National Preparedness Month, an annual campaign to remind people that preparing for emergencies and disasters can keep them, their families, and their communities safe. The Bellingham Fire Department encourages you to start a conversation about emergency preparedness with the important people in your life. Talking about scary or dangerous things that could happen isn’t easy. But making the choice to discuss and plan ahead could help your household survive a disaster or emergency. For tips on how to get started and much more, visit www.ready.gov.
September is National Recovery Month: Addiction impacts millions of people each year. Join local expert Dr. Shannon Boustead to learn the basics of addiction science and hear from community members in recovery about their experiences at “What Is Addiction? Plain Talk for Our Community,” at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 12, at the Bellingham High School Performing Arts Center, 2020 Cornwall Ave. Presented in part by Bellingham Public Library and the City of Bellingham Mayor’s Office, this free event is intended for an adult and teen audience. No registration required. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Improving public spaces
Detour on West Illinois Street: If you have been avoiding the area around West Illinois Street, you might as well consider taking an alternate route for a little while longer. Starting Monday, Sept. 9, the intersection at Northwest Avenue and West Illinois Street will be closed for a week, including the sidewalks in the area. A detour will be in place. Please use caution when traveling through this area. You can read more about this project on the West Illinois Street Multimodal project page.
Speaking of closures: A quick reminder that the Electric Ave. bridge will also be closed Sept. 9-20. We know this causes an inconvenience for many community members. The detour down Woburn is not ideal, but the good news is that these repairs will reinforce the bridge and allow both travel lanes to reopen.
