Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy
A heartfelt thank you to all community members who joined us last Saturday to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy through a day of service and reflection. Our community came together for a morning of connection, including a community breakfast and inspiring discussions on advancing healing and justice. Volunteers embodied Dr. King’s vision of “beloved community” by assembling hygiene kits, crafting blankets for local shelters, and collecting food donations for the Birchwood Food Desert Fighters. Furthermore, 323 volunteers joined the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Work Party at Squalicum Park, aligning with Dr. King’s inspiration for the environmental justice movement. Participants planted 500 native trees and shrubs, removed invasive weeds, and spread mulch, contributing to improved water quality and wildlife habitat around the Willow Spring restoration project. As Council President Pro Tempore Skip Williams said in his remarks, “Through our event today, and similar events in the past, we seek to commemorate the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday as a day ‘on,’ not a day off – to serve, educate, advocate, and activate.” Through these combined efforts, we demonstrated the power of community action to create a more just and equitable world, living up to the ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Salmon Cam is back!
For the second year, Bellingham Public Library, the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) and BTV invite the public to witness salmon eggs transform into alevin and fry via a livestreamed camera inside in a 55-gallon aquarium at the Central Library. Watch closely as the eggs move and wiggle, then become tiny fish with the yolk sack attached to their bellies. The popular Salmon Egg Livestream is available on BellinghamPublicLibrary.org now through February and March. The baby salmon can also be viewed in person at the Library’s Children’s Department. NSEA is permitted to release the salmon into Whatcom Creek in a public event on Saturday, March 29 at 4 p.m.
Register now for Whatcom READS
Tickets are now available for the 2025 Whatcom READS events, celebrating the book No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister. The in-person keynote event is An Evening with Erica Bauermeister and Friends at the Mount Baker Theatre on Friday, March 14. New this year: Bushwick Book Club Seattle will open the evening with original music composed by local musicians and inspired by No Two Persons. Reserve tickets for this free event at MountBakerTheatre.com. Whatcom READS is a countywide collaboration to read the same book together. Partners include Bellingham Public Library, Whatcom Library System, Bellingham Technical College, Western Washington University Libraries, Whatcom Community College, and Village Books.
Take our rental fees survey
Bellingham City Council is considering two proposed ordinances that would create new rules for rental fees that landlords and property managers charge. Please take our survey to provide Council Members with more information about your experience with rental fees and your thoughts on these potential rules. You can take the survey on Engage Bellingham through February 14.
Some City services closed January 31
City employees are gathering for their first all-staff meeting in many years, and as a result, some non-essential, in-person and phone services will be closed on the afternoon of Friday, Jan. 31. As always, our public safety professionals will be available to respond during this time.
Closed:
- Permit Center (always closed to in-person services on Fridays)
- Finance public service counter closed after 2 p.m.
- Rental Registration and Safety Inspection services closed from 2-4 p.m.
- Building inspections closed from 2-4 p.m.
- Public Works and Parks services at the Pacific Street Operations Center closed after 1 p.m. Calls for urgent issues will be routed to the afterhours line: 360-778-7700
Open:
- Arne Hanna Aquatic Center
- Civic Athletic Complex
- All branches of Bellingham Public Library
Many of these services are also available online at cob.org, so you can visit us there, too!
Explore a career in public safety
Looking for a career that makes a real impact? We invite you to consider a career in public safety. Join Bellingham Police Department staff for an Information Day on Saturday, January 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bellingham Police Department (505 Grand Ave.). Meet with police officers, 911 dispatchers, and support staff to learn about their roles and answer your questions. This event will prepare you for the upcoming Public Safety test on February 8 – register online today for both police officer and dispatcher tests. Rewarding career opportunities are also available with the Bellingham Fire Department. Applications are open now through February 3 for Fire and Emergency Medical Services Dispatchers with immediate hiring opportunities. Join the City of Bellingham and make a difference in our community!
