Happy Friday, Bellingham. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving! In today’s edition: Fuel price warnings, A Christmas Carol, Small Business Saturday holiday market, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Restructuring impacts local stores: Verizon will lay off 165 employees in January 2026, including 14 in Skagit and Whatcom counties. Burlington sees three cuts, while Bellingham’s Meridian Street store is being divested, affecting 11 — get local layoff details.

Council acts after regulator claims: Following alleged violations, Bellingham approved a settlement to tighten emissions at the Post Point wastewater plant, adding pollution controls and carbon monoxide monitors, with changes phased in over five years — see what’s in the agreement.

Governors issue fuel emergencies: Two weeks after an oily sheen near Everett, BP partially restarted the Olympic Pipeline, resuming jet fuel deliveries while the gasoline line awaits repairs and officials warn of price hikes — read the full story.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Scams are rampant: Last week, my step-dad got a call from someone pretending to be his grandson, all beat up and asking for bail money. They knew his grandson’s name, how old he is, and what city he lives in. How? Data brokers. They sell your info to anyone willing to pay for it (yup… anyone). Incogni removes your info from all of those sites so scammers can’t use it against you. Annual plans are 55% off until Sunday — check it out here.

Highlights this week

• Plant, mulch, and restore Birchwood Park
• Join festive runners at Fairhaven Frosty
• Celebrate Holiday Port with music and gingerbread
• See stunning photography at Artful Offering
• Celebrate a decade of BSO Holiday Magic
• Need new windows? Check out RBA’s latest deals
• Pet parents: Don’t miss Chewy’s Black Friday sale

🫶 We got your back

Beach diggers take note: Recreational shellfish harvesting has reopened across Whatcom County after recent biotoxin closures. Most beaches from Sandy Point to the Skagit line and Lummi Island are open, except pollution spots like Larrabee, Chuckanut Bay, and near Post Point. Lummi Nation tidelands remain closed to non-tribal visitors. Check the state map or hotline before digging. See what’s open and closed.

Lake Samish recreation update: Samish Park has reopened after an 18-month closure tied to the North Samish Bridge replacement. Most amenities are back, though a short stretch of shoreline trail to the fishing dock remains closed. Heads up: Samish Lodge reservations open at 9 a.m. on Dec. 1 for 2026 dates. See what’s open and when.

Spin this week: Local label turned record shop Black Noise Records keeps bins tight and genres wide, offering vinyl and cassettes from funk to punk. Buy, sell, or trade if your shelves need a refresh. They even do house calls for big collections, so your living room can breathe.

Health drinks that don’t taste like grass: With tasty tea and matcha blends for everything from recovery and radiant skin to energy without the crash, a metabolism boost, and immune support, everything in Pique’s lineup tastes as good as it makes you feel. They’re clean, there are no additives, and all new monthly subscriptions are 20% off for liferight now. Yup… literally forever (or until you cancel).

📆 Around town this weekend

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

Today

🎄 A Christmas Carol – A Solo Performance by Allen Fitzpatrick @ FireHouse Arts and Events Center | Friday (11/28) at 7:00pm – One man, 26 characters, and zero filler. Broadway vet Allen Fitzpatrick brings his fast, 60-minute A Christmas Carol to the Firehouse in Fairhaven, turning Scrooge’s grump into your holiday mood reset. Family-friendly, cleverly staged, and mercifully concise, all for about the price of lunch.

🎭 Sister Act @ Bellingham Theatre Guild | Friday (11/28) at 7:00pm – Think you know your hymns? Wait till a disco diva hides in a convent, turns the choir into a showstopper, and Alan Menken drops the earworms. Big laughs, bigger belts, and a surprisingly tender kick of sisterhood. Maybe book a sitter, and a drink.

This weekend

🛍️ Small Business Saturday @ Hela Provisions | Saturday (11/29) at 11:00am – Skip the big-box chaos, and spend Small Business Saturday actually supporting the people who remember your coffee order. Swing by for a Guerilla Kitchen and Bakery pop-up, a $5 wine tasting with Amy Pickering, and plenty of food and drinks for purchase, community included.

🛒 Small Business Saturday Holiday Market @ Wander Brewing | Saturday (11/29) at 3:00pm – If your gift list needs less two-day shipping and more neighbor-made charm, swing by the Small Business Saturday Holiday Market for beers, yummy food, and wildly talented local makers. Browse, sip, and pretend you’re ahead of schedule, with a mystery musical guest for good measure.

😂 45th Seattle International Comedy Competition: Finals @ Mount Baker Theatre | Saturday (11/29) at 7:30pm – Finals night for the Seattle International Comedy Competition lands at Mount Baker Theatre, with the top five comics from across North America swinging for the crown. Your response bumps their scores, so yes, your snort-laugh is civic engagement. It sells out, so grab seats now.

🏛️ Old City Hall History Tours @ Old City Hall | Sunday (11/30) at 1:00pm – Take a guided wander through one of Bellingham’s most storied buildings, from grand old architecture to the basement jail cells (yes, including a padded one straight out of Prohibition lore). It’s a bite-sized tour packed with quirky history, local legends, and plenty of “whoa, that used to happen here?” moments.

🎨 Fused Glass Gnome Ornaments @ Jansen Art Center | Sunday (11/30) at 1:00pm – Holiday crafting vibes call for tiny gnomes, not glitter explosions. Bring a friend, a kid, or your inner eight-year-old, and build fused glass ornaments from pre-cut pieces in every color and skin tone. They kiln it, you pick up next week, make multiples.

⭐ Barbara Bloom & Richard Widerkehr- Missing Orion @ Village Books and Paper Dreams | Sunday (11/30) at 2:00pm – Think you could use a quieter thrill? At Village Books and Paper Dreams, Barbara Bloom and Richard Widerkehr read from Missing Orion, poems steeped in night skies, Pacific Northwest conifers, and long marriages. It is tender, smart, and refreshingly unprecious.

Next week

🧭 Opportunity Council Community Resource Connections @ Central Library | Tuesday (12/2) at 10:15am – Swing by this drop-in session to get personalized help with food benefits, utility discount programs, and navigating local Opportunity Council services. It’s a low-pressure, high-impact way to get connected with the support you need.

📚 Book Club @ Fairhaven Stones Throw Brewery | Tuesday (12/2) at 6:00pm – Crack open a cold one and a good book at this laid-back brewery hangout. Whether you’ve finished the reading or are just here for the vibes, it’s the coziest way to mix stories, discussion, and a pint.

🎸 Michele D’Amour and the Love Dealers @ Fairhaven Stones Throw Brewery | Wednesday (12/3) at 6:00pm – Settle in for a smooth blend of blues and jazz from a powerhouse trio with seven albums and international play under their belt. Expect award-winning originals, cool grooves, and the kind of live set that pairs perfectly with a winter pint.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 11/28 The Turkey Rapture @ Honey Moon – 8 pm
• 11/29 Michael Dayvid @ Stones Throw Brewery – 6 pm
• 11/29 Seattle International Comedy Competition @ Mount Baker Theatre – 7:30 pm
• 12/3 Budman. and more @ Wild Buffalo – 7 pm
• 12/4 Watch Out For Flying Chairs @ New Prospect Theatre – 7:30 pm
• 12/4 Fruition and more @ Wild Buffalo – 8 pm
• 12/5 Frozen Cloak and more @ The Shakedown – 9 pm
• 12/6 Winter Solstice: Mystic Readings & Recitations @ Village Books – 4 pm
• 12/6 Holiday Belly Dance @ FireHouse Arts & Events Center – 6:30 pm

🏠️ Price is right – Bellingham edition

How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).

Listed by: Margaret Warner (eXp Realty)

A 1925 original with great bones and better manners, this South Hill classic mixes picture-book charm with practical upgrades. Three bedrooms, two baths, and a rare double lot playing host to mature fruit trees, broad lawn, and RV parking.

A brand new garage with attached shop adds project space and storage. Historic charm meets modern comfort. ADU potential, sprawling grounds, prized South Hill address in Bellingham.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →