Join the City for Halloween fun
Whether you’re in it for the tricks or the treats, the City has a Halloween event for you this weekend. Younger kids (2nd grade and under) and their parent or guardian will love Boo at Bloedel on Saturday, while anyone ages 4 and up can appreciate Spooktacular, three nights of spine-tingling fun at Woodstock Farm with Gabriel’s Arts Kids. Finally, for a truly unique way to pick your carving pumpkin, head to Arne Hanna Aquatic Center Saturday afternoon for a floating pumpkin patch (kids 6 and under must be accompanied by an adult).
Boo at Bloedel & Sensory Friendly Hour – Free ($5 suggested donation at the door)
Saturday, Oct. 25 | 1:30 – 4 p.m.
Bloedel Donovan Park
Pumpkin Patch in the Pool – $10 at the door
Saturday, Oct. 25 | 4:30 – 6 p.m.
Arne Hanna Aquatic Center
Spooktacular – $15-25; registration required
Thursday, Oct. 23 – Saturday, Oct. 25
Woodstock Farm – Information on parking, shuttles, accessibility, and tickets
Protecting Lake Whatcom from invasive mussels
The most powerful tool we have to protect Lake Whatcom from invasive freshwater mussels is prevention. These mussels pose serious risks: they clog water intake pipes, degrade water quality, damage boats and docks, disrupt aquatic ecosystems, and limit recreation.
That’s why the Lake Whatcom Management Program — including the City of Bellingham, Whatcom County, and Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District — has a robust prevention and monitoring program to keep these harmful species out of our community’s drinking water source. But we’re also prepared to act fast if mussels are ever found in the lake.
We recently worked with partners to create a Rapid Response Plan designed to stop invasive mussels in their tracks. If mussels are found, the plan activates quickly, launching a coordinated effort to contain and remove them before they can spread. Our response plan, which was adopted by City Council this week, focuses on early detection, swift action, and minimizing long-term impacts. Through prevention and preparedness, we can protect Lake Whatcom for generations to come.
Improving public spaces
Civic scoreboard replacement
If you look closely, you may notice the scoreboard at Civic Stadium has been replaced. While the new scoreboard looks nearly identical, there’s one crucial difference: it works. After the previous scoreboard went out of commission last spring, our Parks and Recreation department ordered a like-and-kind replacement. Last week, a crane lifted the old scoreboard and headers off the steel structure it rests on. The team then welded new brackets onto the existing I-Beams before lifting the new board panels into place. Fun fact: the scoreboard is 36 feet wide and 22 feet tall.
Night paving
Progress continues on the Meridian Sewer Main Improvement project. Starting on Monday night, Oct. 27, crews will be repaving sections of Meridian, Orchard Drive, Baker Street, McLeod Road, and Bakerview Road. Paving work will take place between 7 p.m. – 7 a.m., weather depending.
Bakerview Park open house
Join our Parks and Recreation team at 5:30 tonight, Oct. 23, for an open house at Bellingham Covenant Church focused on the Bakerview Park master plan. The team will present two park concepts, including themes, layouts, and amenities. Find out more at the Bakerview Park Engage Bellingham page.
Thank you, library Friends!
This week, Bellingham Public Library joins libraries across the country to salute our local Friends of the Bellingham Public Library organization during national Friends of the Library Week. This all-volunteer nonprofit is dedicated to supporting our library system. The Friends raise vital funds, sponsor programs for all ages, and encourage community support for the library. They also promote literacy by providing free reading materials and offering inexpensive materials to the public at regular book sales. We appreciate their tireless efforts!
“B” on the brink at Mt. Baker Theatre
Earlier this week, an unexpected hazard at Mt. Baker Theatre was averted thanks to quick collaboration across several City departments.
Public Works – which maintains this City-owned building – received notice that the letter “B” on the theatre’s iconic spire was coming loose and hanging on by just a few threads. They called in the Bellingham Police Department, who used a drone to scope out the situation. They then reached out to some friends who happen to have a lot of tall ladders at their disposal – the Bellingham Fire Department.
Using a ladder truck, facilities crews safely removed not just the loose “B” but a second letter as well, preventing what could have been significant damage had either fallen. The letters will be reattached once a safe solution is in place. Thanks to all involved for the fast, coordinated response!
