Bellingham Scoop: February 23, 2025

🌤 Today's Weather: A 30% chance of rain, mainly before 2 p.m. Partly sunny this afternoon, high near 50°F. South southwest wind around 6 mph. Partly cloudy tonight with a low near 34°F.  Full forecast from NWS →

Heads Up Toda

Lummi Island Ferry Goes Offline Midday for Steering Repair

If you're planning a trip to or from Lummi Island today, you'll want to work around the scheduled ferry outage from approximately 12:20 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Whatcom County Public Works posted the notice last week: the Whatcom Chief is being pulled briefly for a minor steering repair.

Here's the rundown on timing:

• Last run from Lummi Island: noon

• Last run from Gooseberry Point: 12:10 p.m.

• Service expected to resume at 2:00 p.m. from Lummi Island, 2:10 p.m. from Gooseberry Point

If the schedule shifts, updates will be posted on the Whatcom County ferry webpage. Plan your crossing before noon or after 2 p.m. and you'll be fine.

Travel

Portland Bound: Alaska Airlines Adds Daily BLI Flight Starting March 19

Big news for BLI travelers. Alaska Airlines will launch daily nonstop service from Bellingham International Airport to Portland International Airport beginning March 19, 2026. The outbound flight departs BLI at 8:15 a.m. and lands in PDX by 9:15 a.m. The return trip leaves Portland at 9:45 p.m. and arrives back in Bellingham at 10:50 p.m.

That's a legitimate day trip to Portland with time to spare. Coffee, Powell's, dinner, back home. Not bad at all.

At the same time, Allegiant Air is suspending its twice-weekly Bellingham-to-Oakland route starting May 26. Port officials note that route has been a strong performer and is a priority for future restoration, so Oakland fans: stay tuned.

Roads

Several County Roads Remain Closed or Restricted

Whatcom County has an extended road restrictions list still in effect from recent weather and infrastructure issues. A few key closures to know if you're driving the rural routes:

• Bayon Road (1794 to Marine Dr): Closed

• Lampman Road at S Church Road: Closed

• W Smith Road at Hovander: Water over roadway

• Oat Coles Road, S of South Pass Rd (near bridge): Water over roadway

• Slotemaker Road, 8100 block: Abrupt lane edge

Heads up if any of these are part of your regular route. And as always, obey the "Road Closed" signs. Whatcom County Public Works is on it.

Public Health

A Reminder on Measles: Whatcom County Urges Families to Check Vaccine Status

Measles cases have been climbing in Western Washington and across the country, with multiple confirmed cases in Snohomish County tied to a larger outbreak in South Carolina. Whatcom County Health is urging families to make sure their kids are up to date on the MMR vaccine, noting that our county has lower-than-recommended vaccination rates that put the community at higher risk.

The good news: protection is simple and widely available. The MMR vaccine is covered by insurance and available at most clinics and pharmacies. If you're unsure whether your child (or you) is current, this is a good week to check.

You can also check the Washington State exposure locations map to see if there are any confirmed exposure sites near you.

Community

Three Years In: Whatcom County's Alternative Response Team Is Making a Difference

Three years ago, Whatcom County launched something new: a behavioral health crisis team dispatched by 911 for non-violent, non-criminal calls instead of law enforcement. The Alternative Response Team (ART) is now celebrating its third anniversary, and the results speak for themselves.

"We're providing an offramp for folks," said Jon Dukes, ART supervisor and clinical social worker. "When law enforcement responds to a call, they have jail or the hospital. We need more tools in our toolbox to support our community's behavioral health needs, and that's what we provide."

The team responds to calls like mental health crises, welfare checks, and community referrals. Three years in, it is one of the quieter local success stories worth knowing about.

Civic

Port Releases 2025 Economic Development Progress Report

The Port of Bellingham published its 2025 Whatcom County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Progress Report this week. It covers a full year of infrastructure investment, business development, and community partnerships across the region. Despite economic headwinds, the Port says the county made meaningful progress toward its 2022-2026 goals.

This is a big, detailed document worth more than a quick summary. Watch for a dedicated Bellingham Scoop Special Edition breaking it all down in plain language in the coming weeks.

Home Sweet Bellingham

Neighborhood Spotlight: What Makes Sunnyland Worth a Second Look

If you haven't spent much time in Sunnyland, you might be underestimating it. Tucked east of downtown and north of Barkley, this neighborhood is one of Bellingham's more walkable pockets, with a mix of older craftsman homes, modest lots, and a community feel that doesn't require a lot of square footage.

Homes in Sunnyland tend to move a little faster than some of the outer neighborhoods, partly because the location is genuinely convenient. Downtown, the waterfront trail, and the farmers market are all within easy reach. If you're thinking about a move this spring and haven't had a Sunnyland house on your tour list, it might be worth adding one.

For current listings and neighborhood market data, visit Bellingham.org or connect with a local real estate agent to see what's active right now.

The Upcoming Week

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With all these road closures and ferry outages keeping you on your toes, here's one thing you can cross off your list: the deep clean you've been putting off.

New to Cascade Home Cleaning? They're offering 40% off your first deep clean when you sign up as a new recurring client. That's a serious discount on a serious clean, done by a team that actually knows Bellingham and shows up when they say they will.

This offer expires at the end of the week, so don't sit on it. Book online at cascadehomecleaning.com and make Monday the day you finally check "schedule the cleaners" off the list.