Ferry Dry Dock Off + Free Water Rights Help at Fairhaven Today

Happy Thursday, Bellingham. The sun is out and it is one of those genuinely nice April days we do not take for granted around here. A couple of noteworthy updates this morning, including some good news for Lummi Island Ferry riders and a time-sensitive opportunity at the Fairhaven Library today.

Today's Weather: Sunny with a high near 64°F. Calm wind picking up from the northwest around 6 mph this afternoon. Enjoy it: rain returns Saturday. Full forecast from the National Weather Service.

Ferry Update

Lummi Island Ferry Dry Dock Postponed to Fall 2026

Lummi Island Ferry Dry Dock Postponed to Fall 2026

If you had the Lummi Island Ferry dry dock circled on your calendar, you can erase it. Whatcom County announced this week that the planned spring maintenance window, originally set for April 25 through May 17, is off. The selected shipyard notified the County that it cannot meet the required project schedule, so regular ferry service will continue without interruption through that period.

The County will run a new bid process in the coming months with the goal of completing the maintenance work in a three-week window between September and October 2026. More details will be shared as that timeline firms up.

For riders who had adjusted plans around the spring outage, this is welcome news. For the full update, read the full announcement from Whatcom County.

Civic

Free Water Rights Help at Fairhaven Library: Today Only

If you have a WRIA 1 water rights claim form sitting on your desk and no idea what to do with it, today is your chance to get free, one-on-one help from technical experts. Whatcom County Public Works is hosting drop-in appointments at the Fairhaven Branch of the Bellingham Public Library, located at 1117 12th St in Bellingham, with one-hour appointment slots available today, Thursday, April 9.

Experts will walk you through the water rights adjudication process, explain the form, and answer your questions at no cost. This is part of a broader series of help sessions across Whatcom County through the month of April.

To reserve a spot today, use the online scheduling link or call 360-778-6314. More April dates and locations are listed on the Whatcom County website.

Out and About

A Sunny Thursday Calls for Getting Outside

With 64 degrees and actual sunshine on the forecast, today is a good day to remind yourself why you live here. A few things worth knowing about as the weekend approaches:

A full day in Blaine, WA. If you have been looking for a low-key day trip, Blaine makes a surprisingly solid one. The folks at Bellingham Experience put together a day-to-night guide to everything Blaine has to offer, from the waterfront to the shops. Worth a look if you want a change of scenery before the weekend rain moves in.

Fun With the Fuzz 5K is coming up April 18. Mark your calendar if you missed it before. The annual Bellingham events calendar has details on races, concerts, and family activities happening across the county this spring.

WWU's big May event. Dan Erickson, creator of the hit Apple TV+ show "Severance," will appear at Western Washington University on May 15. Tickets are going fast. Check wwu.edu for booking details.

Community

Library Storytime Returns to Bellis Fair Next Wednesday

Good news for families who frequent the mall branch: regular storytimes at the Bellingham Public Library's Bellis Fair location are resuming next Wednesday, April 15. If your little ones have been missing the weekly tradition, it is back on the schedule.

Keep an eye on the library's Facebook page for the exact time and any other upcoming programming.

Library Pick

Bellingham Public Library's April Book Recommendation

April's reading theme at Bellingham Public Library is Short Stories, Plays, and Anthologies. Public Services Clerk Arbor's pick for the month: Infinite Stars, Dark Frontiers: The Definitive Anthology of Space Opera, edited by Bryan Thomas Schmidt.

Arbor calls it "a fantastic short story collection for lovers of space opera" and gives a special shoutout to Becky Chambers fans: there's a bonus Wayfarers story inside. Not a bad way to spend a rainy Saturday. Check availability at the Bellingham Public Library.

Upcoming Week

📅 The Upcoming Week