Library teens celebrate Women’s History Month
At the March meeting of the Bellingham Public Library’s Teen Advisory Board, members selected books featuring strong girls and women who inspired them. The photo above shows the group and the books they selected, which included “The Golden Compass” by Philip Pullman, “I Can Make This Promise” by Christine Day, “Moxie” by Jennifer Mathieu, “The Thing About Jellyfish” by Ali Benjamin, “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle, “Komi Can’t Communicate” by Tomohito Oda, “Sheine Lende” by Darcie Little Badger, “Wolfpack” by Amelia Brunskill, “With the Fire On High” by Elizabet Acevedo, and “Bad Girls Never Say Die” by Jennifer Mathieu. Visit the library website to check out one of these middle grade and young adult books to see who inspires this amazing group of teens!
Salmon events next week
The Bellingham Public Library also has two fun salmon events planned for next week. First, join Sara Brooke Benjamin, Environmental Coordinator with the City of Bellingham, at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26 in the Central Library Lecture Room for a talk about salmon in our local waterways. Sara Brooke will share about the City’s efforts to restore salmon habitat and passage in Bellingham streams. Then on Saturday, March 29, all are welcome to celebrate the lives of the chum salmon hatched and grown in the Children’s Library over the past two months. Join the festivities at Maritime Heritage Park from 4 to 5 p.m. to help us release the salmon into Whatcom Creek. Learn more on the Library’s website.
YWCA celebrates opening of new shelter
On March 17, Bellingham celebrated a significant step forward in community support with the opening of the YWCA’s new shelter, designed to serve pregnant women and mothers with young children. This vital facility, featuring 19 shelter units and comprehensive support services, addresses a critical gap in our local resources. Mayor Kim Lund joined YWCA staff, leadership, and supporters to celebrate this milestone. This project represents a strategic community investment, with the City of Bellingham contributing $1.4 million for acquisition and related costs and $556,000 for improvements, and Whatcom County providing $1 million for acquisition and ongoing operational support of approximately $950,000 annually. This partnership underscores our collective commitment to building a stronger, more supportive community for all. Learn more about shelter, food and other human resources on our website.
Public hearing Monday on middle housing expansion
On Monday, March 24, a public hearing will be held during the Bellingham City Council’s regular meeting to discuss an interim ordinance that would allow more middle housing in Bellingham. Middle housing describes home types at various price points and scales between single-family homes (at one end of the housing spectrum) and mid-rise apartments (at the other end). Bellingham’s current code only allows for middle housing in specific areas. The interim ordinance would allow for it in most residentially zoned areas of the city. The ordinance is being prioritized to help increase housing opportunities in Bellingham as a result of Mayor Kim Lund’s Housing Executive Order. Learn more about middle housing in Bellingham, or take a middle housing tour April 9 with the City’s Director of Planning and Community Development.
Property owners lead cleanup efforts on W Maplewood with City support
If you’re in the area, you’ll notice that property owners on W Maplewood and W Bakerview are leading efforts to clean up unauthorized encampments on their land. They are funding the cleanup, which is already underway, with additional work planned in the coming weeks. The City has provided technical assistance, including helping with environmental permitting to effectively remove extensive waste from the site and clear vegetation to improve visibility, reducing the likelihood of future encampments. The City worked closely with outreach providers to connect people living in the encampments with shelter and services. While this cleanup is an important immediate response to address health and safety concerns for both those living at the encampment and nearby residents, the City understands that it’s only one part of a broader strategy to address homelessness. We remain committed to working with the community to find lasting solutions. For more information, visit the City’s Resolving Encampments webpage.
Seeking proposals for food and recreation services at parks
The Parks and Recreation Department is inviting qualified contractors to submit proposals for food, beverage, and recreational services at several Bellingham parks. This Request for Proposals aims to attract experienced vendors who can enhance the park experience and provide services that reflect the community’s needs and values. We encourage all interested parties to submit their electronic proposals by 11 a.m. on April 30, 2025.
Improving public spaces
Improvements continue on Woburn Street. The week of March 24 (weather permitting), crews will be installing a new sidewalk on the west side, between Lakeway Drive and Old Woburn Street. This means daytime lane closures on Monday and Tuesday. Additionally, Old Woburn Street will see single-lane traffic as we prepare for upcoming pedestrian upgrades. These projects are vital to enhancing safety and accessibility for our community. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we complete this work.
