Winter shelter: Several daytime and nighttime shelters are open through this cold stretch of weather, including the City-led daytime warming shelter at 1013 W. Holly St. (site of the former Lighthouse Mission Drop-In Center) and daytime shelters operated by Whatcom County and Ferndale Community Services. We want to thank the many organizations who donated time, food and supplies, and space to support the City-led shelter and additional options for families in need: Bellingham Public Schools, Lighthouse Mission Ministries, Opportunity Council Homeless Outreach Team, North Sound Accountable Communities of Health, Northwest Youth Services, Pizza Time, Road2Home, Whatcom County, and Whatcom Transportation Authority .. and the list is growing. Find up-to-date shelter info at www.whatcomcounty.us/wintershelter.
Stay prepared for colder weather: The expected cold snap is here. City crews are poised and responding to the effects of this winter weather. Get more tips on how you can prepare on our Winter Weather Preparation webpage, which includes tips for staying safe, preventing frozen pipes and reporting issues to the City.
Bellingham Plan current and upcoming engagement opportunities: City staff is currently in the process of collecting community feedback that will guide updates to the Bellingham Plan. This plan will steer the city’s growth for the next 20 years, addressing important topics, such as housing, transportation, and climate resilience. We have completed Phase 1 (with results from our extensive community survey coming soon) and are moving into Phase 2. You can see all current Bellingham Plan engagement options on Engage Bellingham, including an interactive scavenger hunt with opportunities to win gift cards, and all Phase 2 open house event dates. The first event will focus on the community’s collective vision for Bellingham’s future and will take place February 22.
ICYMI – Winter Playbook: Looking for some post-holiday fun and activities to get you through till spring? We’ve got that and more in the Winter Playbook from COB Parks and Recreation. Registration is now open for a fantastic slate of programs.
Don’t miss the MLK Day Celebration! Head to Sehome High School on Monday, January 15 for the free community event in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Free breakfast starts at 10 a.m., followed by keynote speakers and opportunities to give back through numerous community service projects. Get all the details at wwu.edu/mlk.
Whatcom READS event line-up: Whatcom READS has announced the literary program’s 2024 schedule of community and author events, celebrating Red Paint: The Ancestral Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk by Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe. Winner of the Washington State Book Award for creative nonfiction, Red Paint traces LaPointe’s personal story of trauma, healing and the search for home. The book presents a wide range of discussion and event opportunities leading up to the March 14-16, 2024, in-person author events. Visit whatcomreads.org to learn more and register for upcoming programs, including two later this month.
More than books at the library! Bellingham Public Library has created a new collection of Light Therapy Lamps, thanks to a library patron’s thoughtful suggestion and generous funding from the Friends of the Bellingham Public Library. The bright panels designed to (safely) pump light into your eyes, help ward off Seasonal Affective Disorder. Patrons can check out a lamp for 3 weeks to use at home. The lights come in a soft case and are easy to use. Simply plug it in, turn it on, adjust the brightness to your liking, and begin basking in the light! Reserve a Light Therapy Lamp here.
