New plants at the estuary: As of this week, our Little Squalicum Estuary project site is fully planted with native vegetation thanks to the hard work of City-sponsored Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) crews. These native plants are essential for filtering pollution from rainwater runoff, stabilizing slopes to prevent soil erosion, and providing shade and food for fish and wildlife. Help us protect these young plants by keeping people and pets out of newly planted areas when visiting the estuary in Little Squalicum Park.
More rain on the way: An atmospheric river pattern is expected to develop today and continue through next week, bringing persistent moderate to heavy rainfall to Western Washington. More rain means an increased risk of localized flooding. City staff are monitoring weather conditions and prepared to respond if needed. Please stay safe by following these tips:
- Do not drive through standing water on roadways.
- Obey street closure signs.
- Stay away from flooded creeks.
- Avoid contact with storm and flood water.
If it’s safe to do so, you can help clear storm drains to avoid pooling water. Otherwise, please report issues using SeeClickFix or by calling (360) 778-7700. You may also call this number to report emergency issues during or after business hours.
Downtown safety patrols: We recently concluded a two-year pilot program for downtown safety services, and while the pilot has ended, safety patrols will continue. The pilot program results were positive, showing downtown stakeholders and others valued the additional security, as well as the connections to community services safety teams helped build. During the pilot, two separate safety teams provided services: Risk Solutions Unlimited (RSU) and Streetplus Safety Ambassadors. The City and Downtown Bellingham Partnership determined it would be more efficient to combine daytime and nighttime safety patrols under one contractor and focus primarily on security. At the beginning of 2024, RSU began patrolling the downtown Bellingham safety area seven days a week, 24 hours per day. This level of service will continue through the end of February while a contract is finalized for the remainder of 2024. Safety patrols will continue to act as a supportive resource for the downtown business community, residents and visitors by responding to behavioral needs and minor crimes. For more information about downtown safety services, see our Downtown Safety and Community Support page.
Salmon at the library!? It’s true, the Bellingham Public Library is welcoming chum salmon eggs to the Children’s Department at the Central Library! Thanks to a partnership with the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA), kids and kids at heart can watch chum salmon eggs transform into alevin and fry in a 55-gallon aquarium at the Bellingham Public Library Children’s Department in February and March. A Salmon Eggs Welcome event will be held Thursday, Feb. 1, 4 – 5 p.m. for children ages 6 to 10 at the Central Library Lecture Room. Participants will learn about salmon raising and the importance of salmon to our community and environment. This program is a collaboration with Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) and NSEA. Joshua Olsen, Nooksack Cultural Liaison for WCLS will share a story along with a fun salmon craft. Over the next two months, visit the Children’s Library to watch the salmon grow and find opportunities to read and learn about salmon lifecycles. The salmon will be released into Whatcom Creek during a public event on March 30.
MLK Day Recap: More than 400 community members turned out to celebrate MLK Day at a free community event hosted by the City, WWU’s Black Student Union and many other partners. Community service projects organized for the event yielded:
- 600 pounds of donated food distrubuted to food pantries at WWU, Northwest Indian College, Whatcom Community College, and Bellingham Technical College
- Hundreds of hygiene products collected and distributed through Squalicum High School’s Latinos in Action student club
- 50 blankets made by more than 150 attendees and distributed through local nonprofit Road2Home
- 100 kits for people living homeless, assembled by more than 50 attendees
- 15 attendees who helped complete various projects at the Road2Home winter shelter
You can watch a video of highlights from the day on WWU’s YouTube channel.
Henry King Memorial Bench – City staff from the Police and Parks departments, along with Mayor Lund, gathered with family and friends of Henry King, who was murdered in March of last year in Boulevard Park, to remember and honor Henry while they grieve his loss. The gathering took place at a newly installed bench in Boulevard Park where he frequently sat and chatted with people passing by. Funds for the bench were raised and donated by a member of our community who never knew Henry beyond seeing him while walking through the park. The donor stated that raising the money for a bench and plaque was the right thing to do for the community to remember Henry.
