Shelters Open, Jail Workshop Set, WWU Construction Begins

🌧️ Today's Weather: Rain likely, mainly after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, high near 50°F. South winds 11 to 14 mph, with gusts up to 31 mph.  Full forecast →

Overnight Shelters Opening in Bellingham and Ferndale This Weekend

With cold, wet weather on the way, Whatcom County is activating overnight severe weather shelters in both Bellingham and Ferndale from Friday, February 27 through Sunday night, March 1.

Bellingham overnight shelter: Located at 925 N. Forest Street. Doors open at 4 p.m. each evening, with check-in from 4 to 8 p.m. Guests check out by 8 a.m. the following morning. Space is first-come, first-served. Note that the day shelter on West Holly Street will not be activated this round.

Ferndale overnight shelter will also be open on the same schedule. County staff will continue monitoring forecasts and may add additional nights depending on conditions and staffing availability. If you know someone who could use a warm place to stay this weekend, pass it along.

Emergency Management

County EOC at Level 3 Monitoring as Rain Moves In

The Whatcom County Division of Emergency Management's Emergency Operations Center is at Level 3 (Monitoring), keeping tabs on incoming weather.

Rain is expected to arrive mid-morning today, with the bulk of it pushing through by the weekend. If you spot any damage or flooding, you can report it directly to the county's Division of Emergency Management. And if you are not already signed up for Whatcom County emergency alerts, now is a good time.

Civic

Want a Say on Whatcom's Future Jail and Behavioral Care Center? Here's Your Chance

Whatcom County is hosting its second Community Engagement Workshop for the Justice Project on Thursday, March 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lynden City Annex Chamber, 205 4th Street, Lynden.

This workshop is a chance to review and comment on current scenarios for a new county jail and Behavioral Care Center. You can dig into the proposed size, scope, budget, and programming, hear where things stand in the process, and speak directly to elected officials on upcoming decision points. Participating agencies include the Whatcom County Executive's office and facilities team, among others.

If you have thoughts on how Whatcom County should approach justice facilities, this is the room to be in.

Western Washington University

WWU Construction Alert: Student Development Center Breaks Ground March 24

Construction on Western Washington University's new Student Development and Success Center is set to begin March 24.

If you drive or walk through the WWU campus regularly, heads up for changed access, noise, and construction activity starting around that date. The new center is designed to support student services and academic success programs on campus. More details are available on the WWU news site.

Community

Fairhaven College Professor Earns National Recognition in Folklore

A little Bellingham pride to brighten your Thursday: Mark Miyake, an associate professor at Western's Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies, has been elected to the American Folklore Society Executive Board as its newest member.

Fairhaven College has long been known for its interdisciplinary, student-driven approach to education, and this kind of national recognition for its faculty reflects well on the whole community. Congrats, Professor Miyake.

Out & About

Things to Do This Weekend in Bellingham

The rain is coming in today but the weekend lineup is solid. Here is what is happening around town.

Tonight: Trivia Night Options

If you need a reason to get out of the house on a rainy Thursday, there are a few good ones. Weekly trivia runs tonight at multiple spots, including Stones Throw Brewery (1009 Larrabee Ave, 7 to 9 p.m.), Beach Cat Bellingham (1010 C St, 6:30 p.m.), and Stemma West (500 Carolina St, 6:30 p.m.). Live music at Zeeks Pizza on Meridian (2416 Meridian St) starts at 7 p.m. And the Allied Arts of Whatcom County Members Show wraps up its run Saturday, so tonight is your second-to-last chance to catch it at the Allied Arts Gallery, 1213 Cornwall Ave, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Friday: Art, Wellness, and Ghosts

Art in the Dark at Gabriel's Art Kids (1405 Dupont St) runs Friday and Saturday, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. A Wellness Weekend event kicks off Friday at Aslan Depot (1322 N. State St) from 4 to 10 p.m. And if you are feeling adventurous, the Downtown Ghost Tour starts at 7:30 p.m. from Chuckanut Bay Distillery at 1311 Cornwall Ave. The rain might actually add atmosphere.

Saturday: Science, Spirits, and More

The MegaZapper Electrical Show at the SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention (1312 Bay St) lights things up at 2:30 p.m. If you prefer your sparks in a glass, the Distiller's Dinner at Chuckanut Bay Distillery Ballroom (1309 Cornwall Ave) runs 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday. There is also a Clean Water Happy Hour at Overflow Taps (2930 Newmarket St) from 1 to 3 p.m.

The Upcoming Week