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From the Vault, a new video series from the Whatcom Museum and BTV, unlocks the doors to the museum’s collection of more than 250,000 historic photographs, artifacts, and artworks by notable local and national artists. Join Collections Director Maria Coltharp as she explores the stories behind some of the museum’s most fascinating objects. Watch the first episodes on the Whatcom Museum’s website , Instagram , or Facebook .
Several free programs offered by Bellingham Public Library are now being held in the Bellis Fair Branch Multipurpose Room, located in Suite 614 at Bellis Fair Mall, right next door to the Bellis Fair Library Branch.
In honor of Veterans Day, City offices are closed for business next Wednesday, Nov. 11, except for public safety and emergency services. Public Works and Parks emergency services are available by calling 360-778-7700. Police, fire, and medic services are always available by calling 911.
The Essence of Bellingham photo competition is open! We’re excited to see your photos that capture the people, places, and moments that make Bellingham special. Photos that capture the “essence” of Bellingham will be added to a Whatcom Museum photo collection and may appear in City materials and on our website throughout the year. It’s a fun, free way to help preserve images of life in Bellingham for future generations. To submit an entry and see past winners, visit cob.org/eob . To be considered, upload your photos by Dec. 31, 2026.
Faculty and staff can save every time they dine on campus with Dining Dollars:
In October, the Nooksack Indian Tribe, Lummi Nation, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and the City of Bellingham signed a new Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) establishing shared priorities and a plan for removing barriers that prevent salmon and other fish from moving through local streams.
Born and raised in Chandigarh, India — Le Corbusier’s modernist master-planned city — new Assistant Professor of Urban and Environmental Planning and Policy Susmita (Sush) Rishi developed an interest in the difference between formal urban planning and informal settlements like those found in nearby Delhi.
Headed to the annual Downtown Trick-or-Treat tomorrow? Make sure to visit us! City staff will be handing out candy at the Central Library, the Lightcatcher, and City Hall Friday, Oct. 30, from 4–6 p.m. There are also more than 100 participating downtown businesses to visit. It’s free and open to all with no registration required — no boo-rocracy here!
Every year, City Council holds budget sessions to help ensure we’re allocating resources responsibly and transparently. On Monday, Nov. 2, City Council will be diving into details of the proposed 2027 budgets for Parks and Recreation, Public Works, Library, and Whatcom Museum. In the evening, they will hold a public hearing about the full 2027 proposed budget. Learn more about how we create our budget and the details of this year’s proposed budget on our budget page .
Arboretum Drive and adjacent trails will close Nov. 2–5 and 9–12 while City Urban Forestry and Washington Conservation Corps crews remove a 1‑acre patch of invasive Siberian elms. These non‑native trees spread aggressively, outcompete native plants, and threaten the Arboretum’s ecological health. Removing the mature patch now will prevent thousands of new seedlings next spring and help protect local biodiversity.
There’s a lot that goes into making sure Bellingham’s drinking water is clean and safe, and our Water Treatment Plant has once again earned statewide recognition for doing it well. For the 15th consecutive year, the plant has received an award through the Washington State Department of Health’s Treatment Optimization Program . The award recognizes the City’s success in consistently removing tiny particles from drinking water, an important part of the treatment process that helps protect public health.
Celebrate Make a Difference Day and Arbor Day with the City and Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) at Cornwall Memorial Park on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Together, we will plant native trees and shrubs and remove invasive weeds near Squalicum Creek to improve water quality, salmon habitat, and our urban forest.
Night work starting soon on Ellis Street watermain replacement
Western's Center for Canadian-American Studies will host “Québec-U.S. Relations: A Path Forward” Nov. 5, a virtual roundtable discussion on Québec-U.S. relations in light of upcoming U.S. federal midterm elections and the recent provincial elections.
Public Hearing - Zoning Moratorium - Battery Energy Storage Systems and Data Centers
The original article was published from 10/16/2026 8:00:00 AM to 10/20/2026 10:00:00 PM
We’re excited to share that Bellingham’s first mitigation bank is on track to open in February or March 2027. The Bellingham Mitigation Bank will improve water quality, reduce flooding, and support fish and wildlife, all while providing a more efficient, consistent way for development projects to meet environmental requirements.
We know “budget season” isn’t the most thrilling phrase—but it does lay the groundwork for the services, programs, and investments our community relies on. These sessions help ensure we’re allocating resources responsibly and transparently, with thoughtful discussion along the way.
Two areas in Whatcom County, including Bellingham’s downtown and waterfront, were recently selected for a competitive, national designation as Opportunity Zones for a second time. These zones benefit from a federal tax incentive that’s designed to attract private investment in low-income communities. The program allows eligible investors to defer and reduce their capital gains taxes when they invest capital gains in a business or property in an Opportunity Zone. Gov. Bob Ferguson announced Washington selections Oct. 8. Learn more, including how Bellingham has benefited from this designation in the past, on our Opportunity Zones page .
Join us at Rock Hill Park next Thursday, Oct. 22, at 4:30 p.m. for a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the park’s new upper and lower playgrounds. These long-awaited improvements have been in the works since 2024, and we’re excited to finally open them for play. You’ll have a chance to meet Parks & Recreation Director Nicole Oliver, learn about the park’s history and the project, and connect with neighbors. Visit our event calendar for more details. See you there!
Plan for possible delays and changing traffic conditions along the Roeder Avenue Bridge between Central Avenue and C Street from Oct. 19–30 as we repair the bridge approach. The sidewalk will remain open and bike lanes will merge with vehicle traffic. During a routine inspection, we discovered minor erosion at the base of the bridge caused by tidal changes in the Whatcom Waterway. This work will help protect the bridge’s foundation and keep it strong and reliable for years to come.
Whether your kids are in it for the tricks or the treats, our Parks & Recreation team has a Halloween event for you. Preschool – 2 nd -grade kids will love Boo at Bloedel, while anyone ages 6 and up can appreciate Spooktacular at Woodstock Farm with Gabriel’s Arts Kids. For a truly unique way to pick your carving pumpkin, head to Arne Hanna Aquatic Center Saturday afternoon for a floating pumpkin patch (kids 6 and under must be accompanied by an adult).
The original article was published from 10/13/2026 12:00:00 AM to 11/6/2026 11:59:00 PM
City of Blaine News Posted on October 13, 2026
The original article was published from 10/12/2026 12:00:00 PM to 10/14/2026 1:00:00 PM
A trial scheduled through year-end shifts some final decisions to the Finance and Administrative Services Committee.
The executive’s 2027–2028 recommendation includes 35 position reductions, mostly vacancies, and remains subject to council action.