Good Morning Bellingham! Spring is in the air, and so is the buzz! This week, we’re diving into some major changes—Old Town’s long-awaited transformation has finally begun, and we’re breaking down what that means for the city. Meanwhile, Slothy, our beloved freeway sloth, has been evicted. In more serious news, a St. Patrick’s Day kidnapping case ended in a safe reunion, thanks to quick work by local law enforcement.

And if you’re looking for things to do, we’ve got you covered—whether it’s laughing with comedy legend Susan Rice, catching a puppet show, dancing to 90s hip-hop, or discovering local artisans at the Spring Makers Market. Read on for all the latest!

But first… A Fresh Start for a Great Cause: Cascade Home Cleaning Supports Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County (sponsored)

Spring cleaning isn’t just about dusting off shelves and decluttering closets—it’s about fresh starts, bright futures, and giving back to the community. That’s why Cascade Home Cleaning is proud to donate a full Spring Cleaning to the upcoming Inspire Higher Dreams Gala & Auction, benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County.

A Night to Support Local Youth

On April 25, 2025, supporters will gather at Hotel Bellwether for an evening of elegance, auctions, and impact. The Inspire Higher Dreams Gala is the biggest fundraising event of the year for the Boys & Girls Clubs, raising critical funds to provide safe spaces, mentorship, and educational opportunities for local youth. From after-school programs to leadership development, the Boys & Girls Clubs help kids build confidence, find their passions, and reach for a brighter future.

Why Cascade Home Cleaning is Giving Back

At Cascade Home Cleaning, we know that a clean home can create a sense of peace, comfort, and stability—something every child deserves. By donating a Spring Cleaning to the Gala, we hope to bring a little extra joy to one lucky auction winner while supporting an organization that changes lives every day.

Join the Cause

The Inspire Higher Dreams Gala isn’t just a night out—it’s a chance to make a difference. Whether you bid on auction items, become an event sponsor, or simply spread the word, every effort helps provide resources for local kids who need them most. Learn more and get tickets here: Link.

You can’t attend the gala, and still need a deep clean? Get more information here.

Upcoming Events:

WA Cares Fund Info Session – March 20 10AM @ NWRC, 210 Central Ave • Drop by anytime during this 4-hour session to learn how the WA Cares Fund works and who qualifies, with experts from Northwest Regional Council ready to answer your questions! FB Link.

Bellingham Puppet Slam – March 20, 5 PM @ New Prospect Theatre • Experience an evening of experimental short puppet shows from local and regional artists—where creativity meets the quirky charm of puppetry! 🎟️ $15 ($10 for students/youth). FB LInk

Denali Prep Seminar – March 20, 7 PM @ The Equipment Shop, 4041 Home Rd • Get expert advice on preparing for a guided or private ascent of Denali—plus, enjoy a drink while you chat with a professional guide! FB Link.

Susan Rice Live – March 22, 7:30 PM @ Boundary Bay Brewery • Don’t miss comedy legend and viral sensation Susan Rice (America’s Got Talent, HBO, Showtime) for one night only in Bellingham, with opener Travis Sherer—big laughs, great beer, perfect combo!

Between Two Worlds – March 22 @ The Blue Room • Experience an evening where classical and jazz collide! The BJ Block Trio, rioT, and Dr. G blend genres in a unique musical celebration. Shows at 5 & 7:30 PM, $25 admission. Link.

SpaceBand Live – March 22 @ Bar Two Eleven • Get ready to dance to 90s & 2000s R&B/Hip-Hop hits with Whatcom County favorite SpaceBand! 🎶 Doors at 8 PM, show at 9 PM, $10 admission. Link.

Spring Makers Market – March 22, 10 AM-4 PM @ Depot Market Square • Celebrate spring with 90+ local artisans & food trucks at this vibrant market—shop handmade goods, enjoy delicious bites, and support local creativity! 🌸🎨🍴 Free admission! Link.

Slothy’s Great Escape: The End of Bellingham’s Favorite Freeway Friend

If you’ve ever driven down I-5 through Bellingham and thought you spotted an enormous sloth hanging out in a tree, you weren’t imagining things. But as of Tuesday, March 18, our beloved roadside spectacle—affectionately known as “Slothy”—is no more.

Perched about 70 feet up in a tree near the freeway, the 8-foot stuffed sloth became an unexpected local celebrity. But Slothy’s fame came with a bit of a downside: distracted driving. Reports started rolling in that drivers were slowing down to take a closer look or even attempting to snap a picture while behind the wheel. And as much as we all love a good photo op, we love safe roads even more.

That’s why local maintenance crews sprang into action, seizing a window of good weather and assembling the right personnel to bring Slothy down. Using rolling slowdowns and a borrowed 125-foot bucket truck from the signals crew, they carefully removed the tree-dwelling toy and returned I-5 to its usual, sloth-free state.

While Slothy’s reign as Bellingham’s most chill commuter may be over, he does leave us with an important reminder: slowing down is important—just maybe not in the middle of the freeway. Let’s leave the tree-hanging to actual sloths and keep our eyes on the road ahead.

As for Slothy’s next adventure? We can only hope he’s off to find a much safer spot to lounge—perhaps on a bed built for giants. Here is the full post from the WSDOT Facebook.

Terrifying St. Patrick’s Day Morning: Infant Kidnapped, Safely Reunited with Mother

What should have been a day of celebration took a frightening turn in Bellingham early St. Patrick’s Day morning when police received a chilling 5:30 a.m. kidnapping call.

According to the Bellingham Police Department (BPD), an infant’s father—who does not live with the child or have full custody—barged into the mother’s residence and abducted their eight-month-old baby. His plan? To drive the child to Nevada in a white Chevrolet Equinox.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, BPD detectives quickly coordinated with the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI Bellingham office, and the Washington State Patrol (WSP). Thanks to their swift investigative work, the suspect’s vehicle was located on Interstate 90 near Bellevue. Authorities arrested the father without incident, and most importantly, the infant was found unharmed.

BPD detectives personally assisted the mother in reuniting with her child—a moment that brought immense relief after the terrifying ordeal.

Bellingham Police Chief Rebecca Mertzig expressed her gratitude for the multi-agency effort that led to the child’s safe return:
“A kidnapped child is truly one of the most terrifying calls to which we can respond. I am very proud of how our patrol and detective divisions responded and worked hard to resolve this case swiftly, bringing this infant home safely to their mother.”

Following his arrest, the father was transported back to Whatcom County Jail, where he faces kidnapping and burglary charges.

Thanks to the dedication, teamwork, and tenacity of local, state, and federal law enforcement, what began as a terrifying morning ended in a safe reunion. For that, the entire community can breathe a sigh of relief. Here are all the jail bookings you can track. Full story posted on facebook.

A Fun and Slightly Based Critique of New Real Estate Listings

Redfin (recently acquired!) shows 107 homes in Whatcom newly listed in the past 7 days. My favorite? This Geneva Split Level home — Listing here — for $710K.

This 4-bedroom, 1.5-bath home on Austin Street sits on a .41-acre lot, which, to me, screams: massive slip-n-slide potential. It’s got plenty of room for the kids to run wild, space for the family dog to dig exactly where I don’t want him to, and just enough backyard for my partner to suggest a vegetable garden that we will inevitably forget to water.

Inside, the floors are having a bit of an identity crisis—refinished hardwoods in the kitchen, laminate upstairs, and a whole lot of vibes in between. Some might call it “contrast,” while others might call it “an opportunity to pick a side.” The updated door and cabinet hardware is a solid attempt at modernizing the place, though it’s kind of like putting a fancy leash on a dog that still rolls in the mud—it helps, but the overall look is still up for debate.

The TimberTech deck (installed in 2020) is sturdy and ready for summer hangouts, though it feels like the designers weren’t entirely sure what to do with all that yard space. It’s like they put it there and thought, eh, good enough! A newer roof (2019) and a brand-new water heater are very responsible, practical updates—aka, things my dad would get really excited about while I pretend to care.

The spacious kitchen is great if you like to cook, though the layout still has that “your grandmother’s house but with slightly newer countertops” energy. The wood-burning fireplace is a nice touch—perfect for those chilly Bellingham nights when we pretend to enjoy the rain. And while the home does have plenty of natural light, some rooms feel a bit more “cozy” than “airy,” which is fine unless you’re over six feet tall or a firm believer in personal space.

Overall, this house is like that friend who still wears band tees but also invests in a good 401(k)—a mix of old and new with a lot of personality. If you want a place with character (and maybe a few projects), this could be a fun adventure. If you’re looking for a sleek, modern, everything-already-done home… well, you might want to keep swiping.

Old Town’s Big Makeover: Construction Begins on 8-Block Development

Old Town is finally getting the glow-up we’ve all been waiting for! After 20 years of planning, construction is officially underway on an ambitious eight-block transformation that will bring 500 new mixed-income housing units and expanded commercial space to the heart of Bellingham over the next 10 years.

The official groundbreaking ceremony on March 14, 2025, felt like a family reunion—with Mayor Kim Lund, former Mayor Kelli Linville, Community and Economic Development Manager Tara Sundin, and the Old Town Village development team all gathering with shovels in hand to kick off the long-awaited project.

A Bold New Chapter for Old Town

“This development is a visionary project that will inject new energy into Old Town, support economic vitality in our city center, and create hundreds of new housing opportunities over the next decade,” said Mayor Lund. “As we celebrate the future of Old Town, we also acknowledge the history of this neighborhood and what makes it special.”

Once an overlooked part of town, Old Town is now poised to become a lively, walkable urban village with a mix of housing, shops, and public spaces. The plan includes upgrades to the Old Village Trail, which connects Columbia and Lettered Streets to downtown—so get ready for a better, smoother walk to your favorite coffee shop.

Public and Private Investment Powering the Change

This isn’t just a private development—it's a public-private partnership between the City of Bellingham, the Old Town Village development team, and Mercy Housing Northwest, a nonprofit affordable housing developer.

Mercy Housing has applied for $5 million in city funding to develop a 68-unit affordable housing building, a request set to go before City Council in spring 2025. “Your decision to build much-needed housing in this area not only reinvigorates this neighborhood – it also enhances the overall well-being of the people who call this place home while providing a boost to our downtown,” said Community and Economic Development Manager Tara Sundin.

The First Phase is Already Underway

Old Town’s facelift is starting with the 84-unit apartment complex on the 700 block of Astor Street, which broke ground on March 10, 2025 and is set for completion by summer 2026.

Meanwhile, the first wave of change was already visible in 2024, when renovations to 701 W. Holly Street improved storefronts and signaled that big things were coming.

A $5 Million Infrastructure Boost

With all this new development, the streetscape is getting a much-needed refresh too. The City and Whatcom County are investing $5 million into infrastructure improvements, ensuring Old Town is ready for its big transformation.

Designated as one of Bellingham’s seven urban villages, Old Town is expected to absorb 30% of the city’s future population growth—a tall order for an area that covers less than 4% of the city’s land. But with smart planning and investment, this underdeveloped district is finally getting the attention it deserves.

What’s Next?

More construction, more housing, more opportunities. With private and public investments shaping Old Town’s future, this neighborhood is on track to become one of Bellingham’s most dynamic urban hubs.

For updates and more details, here are the official city links: First and Second.

And….. one more thank you to Cascade Home Cleaning!