Tune in to art, music, and community this Saturday
Join Make.Shift Art Space for a free event featuring interactive installations by local artists, vintage radio gear, local vendors, and musical performances celebrating all things community radio. The Radio Forever Festival will take place in the alley adjacent to Make.Shift (306 Flora Street) this Saturday, August 9, from 4-11 PM. The event is one of several projects supported by our Downtown Activation and Beautification Program, which was developed to bring more beauty and activity to our city center. Learn more about the Radio Forever Festival.
City responds to Padden Creek diesel spill
Crews are cleaning up a diesel spill in Padden Creek after two separate leaks from a contractor’s generator at the Padden Creek Fish Passage Project. The City, its contractor, and the Washington State Department of Ecology are focused on a swift cleanup. To prevent any further incidents, the contractor is enhancing secondary safety measures at all pump locations and replacing the generator. The spill was contained before it could reach Bellingham Bay. A section of the Interurban Trail/Lower Padden Creek Trail is temporarily closed to ensure public safety and allow cleanup crews access to the site. This is an evolving situation, and we will continue to share updates on our project webpage.
Improving public spaces
Northshore watermain repairs
Starting this week, we’re replacing the watermain along Northshore Drive between Silver Beach Street and Hayward Drive. The work is expected to take about three weeks. Area residents may experience some temporary water disruptions and will be notified 2-3 days in advance of any planned disruptions. When done, we will repave the road in the area, including a section of Academy Road. This work follows recent improvements on Sylvan Street, where we improved ADA ramps and repaved the road. These projects are part of our ongoing Neighborhood Overlays Project.
Ivy ban supports City efforts
We’re pleased with the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s decision to add English ivy to the state’s quarantine list, banning its sale and distribution. This move is a welcome development that supports our ongoing efforts to remove invasive species from our public lands. It will help prevent the plant from being unknowingly introduced into our community, making our restoration work more effective. We appreciate the advocacy of community partners, including the Whatcom Million Trees Project, in achieving this important outcome. You can join these efforts by participating in the City’s Parks Volunteer Program, which regularly hosts events to remove invasive species like English ivy from our public spaces.
Behind the scenes with Mayor Lund
Inspecting boats at Bloedel Donovan, handing out ribbons at All Comers Track Meets, and shelving books at the Central Library – all in a day’s work for Mayor Kim Lund? This summer, Mayor Lund has been shadowing teams across the city to see how they work and what challenges they face. Most recently, she visited the Bellingham Central Library on August 4 where she was put to work distributing Summer Reading prizes to children, greeting participants for the Baby Time program, and learning the library’s detailed daily operations. Stay tuned to see where Mayor Lund’s next shift is!
