Bubbles and more at Bellingham Kids Fest: Happening tomorrow, Saturday, August 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Civic Stadium, Bellingham Kids Fest is sure to be a blast! Find activities for all ages at this free family event – free ice skating at the Sportsplex, mini golf, bounce house, Lego fun land, face painting, martial arts, crafts, robotics … and bubbles, obviously! New this year: Create your artistic masterpiece for the Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) Kids Art Contest. Winners will be featured on one of two hybrid WTA buses. Get all the details on our event page.
More kid fun to come: Did you miss the Bellingham Public Library’s Children’s Craft Fair last month? You’ve got another chance to get your kid-made treasures at the next Children’s Craft Fair at Bellis Fair Mall (hello, air conditioning!) on Friday, August 16 from 5 to 7 p.m. You’ll be seriously wowed by the creativity and craftiness on display. Support these young entrepreneurs and bring small bills – all sales are cash only, and items are priced at $5 or less. Learn more at the Bellingham Public Library website.
Meridian and Illinois closures: The intersection at Meridian and Illinois will be closed on Saturday, August 3, and from Wednesday, August 7, through Friday, August 9. Crews will be grinding the roadway on Saturday and paving the new intersection next week. We encourage drivers to use a different route, to follow detour signs, and to be cautious of workers in the area. Thank you for your patience! It is getting close!
Responding to pollution reports: In late May, we received reports of elevated fecal coliform bacteria levels where stormwater enters Bellingham Bay. We conducted sampling, source tracing, infrastructure reviews, and permit reviews, but were unable to identify a specific source. This is often the case with bacteria pollution. Rainwater carries fecal coliform bacteria from yards, parks, trails, roads, and sidewalks into our waterways. Called “nonpoint source pollution,” it often comes from many small sources, such as pet waste, wildlife droppings, manure, and yard debris. We all have a role to play when it comes to preventing pollution and protecting water quality, like properly disposing of pet waste at home and on trails. On our website, you can learn about how we address stormwater pollution work and ways you can help.
EVs by the numbers: Bellingham is charging ahead in the world of electric vehicles (EVs)! Just a couple of years ago, in January 2022, there were 1,260 EVs registered in Bellingham. Fast forward to today, and that number has more than doubled to around 3,200 EVs. To support this growth, we continue to make progress on our project to install 90 EV plugs around town, making it easier and more accessible to own an EV in Bellingham. Encouraging the shift to electric vehicles is one of the key strategies in the City of Bellingham’s climate goals.
Two new K9s on patrol: Two Bellingham Police Department service dogs and their handlers completed 400 hours of training to become state certified for police patrols. K9 Officer Nick Sturlaugson handles Stella, a Belgium Malinois, and K9 Officer Shaun Nelson handles Brego, a German Shepherd. Their training covered tracking, obedience, apprehension, handler protection, and various searches. The K9 teams will also undergo 200 hours of drug detection training. Both Stella and Brego are almost three years old. Welcome to the team, Stella and Brego!
