Tuesday Happenings in Bellingham

Today's Weather - Rainy Wednesday ahead with a high near 51. South winds build through the afternoon, with gusts up to 37 mph. Tonight turns stormy: showers and possible thunderstorms with gusts near 49 mph and a low around 39. Keep the umbrella close and maybe hold off on that walk. Full forecast from the National Weather Service.

A quick question for you first:

Heads Up, Parents: Early Dismissals This Thursday and Next

Happy Wednesday, Bellingham. Before you finalize your Thursday pickup plan, here is a quick one: all Bellingham Public Schools will be on early dismissal schedules this Thursday, March 12, and again on Thursday, March 19. Here is the full breakdown:

• Elementary schools dismiss at 12:20 p.m.

• Middle schools dismiss at 1:15 p.m.

• High schools dismiss at 2:00 p.m.

Both dates apply to all schools district-wide. If afternoon childcare or pickup logistics need adjusting, now is the time. The full school year calendar, including key dates for the 2026-27 school year, is available at bellinghamschools.org/calendar. The district posted this reminder on their website Tuesday.

Community Event

Whatcom READS Closes Out Friday With Javier Zamora at Mt. Baker Theatre

The culminating event for the 2026 Whatcom READS series is this Friday, March 13, at the Mt. Baker Theatre. Author Javier Zamora will be in conversation with former Washington State poet laureate Claudia Castro Luna. At the end of the evening, Zamora will announce the Whatcom READS 2027 selection, so it should be a fun reveal for book lovers.

Do not have in-person tickets? You can still join via livestream. Registration is required and closes at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Register at wcls.libcal.com/event/15670767. A reminder email with the stream link will be sent before the event, and the recording will be available for 30 days. Note that livestream registration is separate from in-person tickets.

As a bonus, the Bushwick Book Club will perform original music inspired by Zamora's memoir Solito at the event. Bushwick is a book club that also performs live music, and it has been a highlight of Whatcom READS for two years running. Full details on the City of Bellingham Facebook page.

Civic Update

Water Rights Filing Deadline Extended to June 2027

Whatcom County Superior Court has extended the deadline for water adjudication claim forms to June 1, 2027. The new deadline applies to all filers, regardless of when they were originally served notice.

You do not have to wait until the deadline to file. Whatcom County Public Works is hosting community workshops and library office hours to help people complete their forms. You can also call 360-778-6314 or schedule a free appointment with the Washington State Department of Ecology at go.ecology.wa.gov/adjudication-appt. Additional resources at bit.ly/adjudicationresources.

Safety + Preparedness

CERT Emergency Response Training Coming to East Whatcom County This Spring

East county residents have a new chance to get serious about emergency preparedness. Whatcom County's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is enrolling now for its next basic training course, held at Fire District 1 in Lawrence.

The course runs Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., starting April 1 and wrapping up May 20. Topics include disaster preparedness, fire safety, light search and rescue, disaster medical operations, and hands-on exercises. The cost is $80 (cash or check accepted).

To enroll or get more details, visit whatcomcounty.us or contact program manager [email protected].

Education

WWU Researcher Secures $544K NSF Grant for Physics Collaboration Study

Western Washington University physics instructor Thanh Le has been awarded a $544,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to research how to improve student collaboration in physics courses. The study will look at what makes small-group problem-solving effective and how educators can better support students working through challenging concepts together.

A solid win for WWU and a reminder that meaningful research is happening right here on Sehome Hill.

The Upcoming Week

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