Bellingham Scoop: Wednesday Morning

This Week in Bellingham: Tulips, Tunes & a Trail Running Film Fest

April 02, 2025

Good morning, Bellingham! This week’s newsletter is packed with everything from artsy outings to important city milestones. Whether you're headed to Skagit to frolic among the tulips, tuning in to the Lake Whatcom Joint Meeting, or just looking for a fun night out (hello, trail running film fest!), we’ve got your calendar covered. Read on for our top picks, handy updates, and a few reasons to fall a little more in love with Bellingham this April.

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.

This Week’s Must-Dos:

Can I dote over beautiful photos this time of year..?

Courtesy of WWU, City of Bellingham Parks and Rec Dept.

🌊 Protecting Our Drinking Water: Lake Whatcom Joint Councils Meeting Set for April 2

Heads up, Bellingham! If Lake Whatcom is your go-to for drinking water, kayaking, or just admiring from your window, you might want to mark your calendar for this one. Local leaders are coming together on Wednesday, April 2 at 6:30 p.m. for the annual Lake Whatcom Joint Councils and Commissioners Meeting, and yes—you’re invited!

The meeting will be held in person at Bellingham City Council Chambers (that’s 210 Lottie Street for those new to town) and will also be available online via Zoom for anyone who prefers pajamas and a front-row seat on the couch. You can also catch it live on BTV at cob.org/btv.

This yearly gathering brings together the big three: the Bellingham City Council, the Whatcom County Council, and the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District Board of Commissioners. Their mission? To check in on the health of Lake Whatcom, our city’s primary drinking water source, and keep the momentum going on efforts to protect it.

💧 What’s on the Agenda?

This isn’t just a round of polite nodding and recycled talking points. Local staff will be breaking down real progress and next steps, including:

  • A review of 2023 water quality monitoring results

  • Updates on efforts to reduce phosphorus levels (which helps curb algae blooms—yes, the lake gets those too!)

  • Stormwater management investments

  • And tactics to stop aquatic invasive species from turning the lake into a no-swim zone

There will also be a peek into the future, with plans outlined in the newly approved 2025–2029 Lake Whatcom Work Plan.

City Councilmember Hannah Stone summed it up nicely: “We’ve collectively driven significant progress in reducing phosphorus inputs and enhancing water quality.” 🌿

And longtime Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District Board President Todd Citron, who’s been part of this for over 25 years, said it best: “It’s rewarding to witness tangible progress.”

🗣️ Public Comment—Your Turn to Speak Up

This is more than a sit-back-and-watch kind of meeting. There’s a 20-minute public comment window (approx. 6:40–7:00 p.m.), and if you’ve got something to say, you’ll need to sign up in advance. Here’s how:

  • Online sign-up: cob.org/lwjcc

  • In person: Paper sign-up sheets will be available starting at 6 p.m. outside Council Chambers.

  • Deadline to sign up: 6:30 p.m. sharp

Each speaker gets 2 minutes, whether they’re in person or chiming in from Zoom. Prefer to write instead? You can send comments to [email protected] or mail them to City Council, 210 Lottie Street, Bellingham, WA 98225.

🏛️ Attending in Person? Heads-Up on Security

Heads up if you’re attending in person: the City is piloting new security screening measures for evening meetings. All attendees will go through weapons screening, so it’s a good idea to arrive early. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.—don’t be late if you’re hoping to speak!

How to Join the Meeting:

🧍‍♀️ In person:
City Council Chambers, City Hall
210 Lottie Street, Bellingham

💻 Online (Zoom):
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 880 0476 6584
Password: 779350
Dial-in: +1 253 215 8782

📺 Watch Live:

📚 A Library for the Next Generation

We kicked off the week with a bit of bookish joy! Yesterday, in honor of National Library Giving Day, the Bellingham Public Library and Whatcom Community Foundation announced a $3.5 million fundraising effort to bring some much-needed love to the Central Library.

The goal? To renovate the children’s department (currently hanging out in its original 1950s digs) and build a fresh, modern teen space. Think: clean, bright, ADA-accessible, and welcoming for all ages.

They’re already off to a strong start with $1.4 million raised, and bonus: a generous donor will match gifts made in 2025 up to $100,000. So if you've ever said, “Wow, this library could use an upgrade,” now’s the time to help make it happen.

🎥 Watch the video and learn more here: Library Giving Day

🌎 Earth Day is More Like Earth Month Around Here

April is bursting with ways to celebrate and care for our beautiful planet. Here’s a preview of what’s coming up:

  • April 4: Free First Friday at the Whatcom Museum – fix-it fair, recycled art, and a screening of Fish War, a moving doc about Indigenous fishing rights

  • Now through April 11: View the maquette of Billy Frank Jr., whose full statue will soon stand in D.C.’s National Statutory Hall

  • Later in April: Volunteer work parties, a recycling drop-off, and kid-friendly Earth Day storytimes

Time to start setting aside those tricky recyclables during your spring cleaning! Full details at bellinghammuseum.org

🧼 Speaking of Clean… It’s Watermain Flushing Season!

Starting today, April 2, Public Works crews are flushing the city’s watermains. It’s not glamorous, but it’s important—this annual cleanout clears mineral buildup in the pipes and keeps our water system running smoothly.

🕖 Weekdays, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
📍Starting in NW Bellingham and moving southeast
💡 Pro Tip: If your tap water looks a little funky, just run it cold for a few minutes. It’s still safe to drink!

More info: City Water Services

🚧 Improving Bellingham’s Streets – One Project at a Time

🚦 New Roundabout at Bakerview & James:
Construction kicks off next week on a much-needed roundabout to make this busy intersection safer for everyone—including freight vehicles. Expect some overnight work, temporary closures on James, and reroutes via Deemer Road. Bakerview will remain open but may be slower than usual.

🚴 Fairhaven Upgrades on Deck:
Work begins soon on 12th Street and Finnegan Way to improve pedestrian and bike safety. You’ll see flashing crosswalks, new sidewalks, and prep for a new traffic signal coming later this year. There may be temporary one-lane closures and sidewalk detours, but Fairhaven businesses are staying open—go grab a coffee and support your faves!

🏞️ Spring Into Activities with the Parks Playbook

It’s here! The Spring Parks & Recreation Playbook is officially out with 92 pages of everything from art classes to outdoor adventures and summer camps.

🌷 Register now at cob.org/parks
📬 Printed copies are arriving by mail or available around town
💸 Need financial help? Scholarships info here

💬 How’s Downtown Doing? You Tell Us.

The City is looking for your input on downtown improvements—think: more bike patrols, better lighting, and increased cleanliness. If you’ve noticed changes (or not!), this is your moment to speak up.

⏱️ It only takes 3 minutes. Fill out the survey on Engage Bellingham

🚍 SERVICE ALERT: Bus Replacements Now in Effect for Most Amtrak Cascades Routes

Heads up, train travelers! If you were planning to hop aboard an Amtrak Cascades train anytime soon, it’s time to double-check your itinerary. In a sudden move, Amtrak has pulled its entire fleet of Horizon trainsets out of service, immediately affecting nearly all trips along the Cascades route between Vancouver, BC and Eugene, OR.

Why the change? Concerns were raised about the aging Horizon equipment, which led to the grounding of 70 passenger cars nationwide, including 26 used on the Cascades line. That leaves the route with just one trainset still in operation—so for now, most trips will be covered by bus service instead.

🚦 What Trips Are Still Operating as Trains?

Only two Cascades trains are running as scheduled:

  • Train #503 (Seattle to Eugene)

  • Train #508 (Eugene to Seattle)

Everything else? It’s wheels on the road, not rails.

🚌 Buses Through March 30 (and Possibly Beyond)

In the meantime, Amtrak has secured bus transportation for affected routes through at least March 30 to make sure passengers still reach their destinations along the 18-station corridor. If you have a ticket, you’ll still get where you’re going—but you might want to bring a neck pillow and a podcast instead of a train book.

Amtrak is now working on a plan to redistribute trains from its national fleet to cover the Pacific Northwest route and is coordinating closely with the Washington and Oregon transportation departments. There’s no official word yet on how long the disruption will last.

👀 What This Means for Bellingham

If you're catching the Amtrak from Bellingham Station, expect a bus in place of your train until further notice—unless you happen to be on one of the two lucky runs still operating by rail (and heading south of Seattle).

We’ll keep you posted as soon as Amtrak shares more about replacement timelines and long-term service plans. In the meantime, if you're traveling, give yourself extra time and maybe skip the window seat—unless it's the one facing Mt. Vernon from a bus window.

🔗 Travel Tip: Always check the latest updates on Amtrak’s website before heading to the station.

🚧 Big Upgrade Coming to Bellingham’s Wastewater System: $40M Investment in Cleaner Air at Post Point

Out of sight doesn’t mean out of mind—especially when it comes to Bellingham’s wastewater treatment. The City is moving ahead with a $40 million upgrade at the Post Point Wastewater Treatment Plant, focusing on modernizing air emission controls for its two aging sewage sludge incinerators.

Built in 1973 and 1993, these incinerators have served the city for decades—but new, tougher federal air quality regulations are prompting a much-needed tune-up. The planned investment will equip the facility with state-of-the-art emissions control technology to better capture pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, dioxins/furans, and cadmium—a big win for local air quality and community health.

💨 Why This Matters

In 2022, the City considered switching to anaerobic digestion, a process that produces a fertilizer-like biosolid. But concerns about PFAS and other emerging contaminants—plus rising project costs—led to a change in course. Instead, the City chose to stick with incineration and focus on making it as safe and sustainable as possible.

That decision now means the City must meet stricter federal emissions standards for sewage sludge incinerators (SSIs). These new upgrades will ensure the plant complies well into the future—while also avoiding the steep costs and environmental uncertainties of land-based disposal.

🧠 A Thoughtful, Long-Term Strategy

“Addressing the challenges at Post Point is a complex undertaking,” said Mayor Kim Lund, “but we are committed to finding solutions that balance environmental protection, public health, and responsible use of taxpayer dollars.”

And while incineration isn’t a perfect solution (no sludge process is!), the City is making it cleaner and more efficient—and leaving the door open for future innovations.

🔍 What’s Next?

You’ll start to see progress on this project in the months ahead. The new emission control systems are being carefully designed to meet updated environmental rules while keeping the plant running smoothly.

💡 Curious about the tech or timeline? Visit the project website to learn more and stay up to date on the upgrades.

This is one of those behind-the-scenes projects that doesn’t always make headlines—but it plays a huge role in keeping Bellingham clean, healthy, and forward-thinking. Cheers to better air and smarter infrastructure!

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