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Good morning, Bellingham! In today’s edition: Water rates rise, Argentine tango, ski access returns, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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đź“° In the news
Faster path to recovery: Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu suspended permit fees for emergency flood repairs, also waiving natural resource and on-site sewage permits to support recovery for affected families, individuals, and businesses — see which fees are waived.
Help needed and timelines shift: The Whatcom Long Term Recovery Group is seeking skilled volunteers in trades for the next phase of flood cleanup, and some tax deadlines are postponed until May 1 — get details and deadlines here.
How the changes affect you: Bellingham water service costs rose 13% on January 1 after a City Council vote in July, with increases planned over the next two years and expanded eligibility for rate reductions — get details on rate changes.
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.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Local ski area weighs in: WSDOT is allowing single-lane, alternating traffic on the Mount Baker Highway east of Glacier from 6 am to 6 pm daily, restoring winter recreation access. Expect delays. The road had been closed since December 12, 2025. Get reopening details and reaction.
Rain-proof rally spot: When drizzle won’t quit, Armory Pickleball keeps play rolling with indoor courts, leagues, youth sessions, and a mid-January tournament. Shake off holiday cobwebs, meet local partners, and forget the forecast with open play and clinics.
Rainy day sanity saver: Four levels of climbing, six speedy slides, and a toddler zone make PlayDate BLI a go-to when wiggles peak. An on-site café keeps caffeine close, and it’s drop-in friendly, so you can shift from meltdown to playtime fast.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
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📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🎶 Stories & Songs @ Whatcom Family Village | Monday (1/5) at 10:30 AM – Round up the tiny humans and let someone else handle storytime. It’s a gentle half hour of books and nursery rhymes, then another half hour of play, perfect for birth to five, soothing for caregivers, and a sneaky way to tire them out.
🧶 Technique Tuesday – Judy’s Magic Cast On @ Northwest Yarns & Mercantile | Tuesday (1/6) at 12:00 PM – This quick, 30-minute Technique Tuesday class teaches Judy’s Magic Cast On, the neat trick behind toe-up socks and slick provisional starts. Perfect if your yarn stash deserves better than guesswork. Ten bucks, friendly folks, and bragging rights at knit night.
🏔 Know Before You Go: Avalanche Awareness @ American Alpine Institute | Tuesday (1/6) at 7:00 PM – Skip the heroics and get smart before you chase powder. The American Alpine Institute is hosting free, 90-minute evening avalanche awareness sessions all winter, covering terrain assessment, snowpack basics, and rescue, plus straight talk with real guides about keeping your margin of safety sane.
🏅 The Caldecott Club: Mock Caldecott @ Bellingham Public Library – Central Branch | Thursday (1/8) at 11:00 AM – Think you know your picture books? Bring the kids to the Central Library’s Caldecott Club for reading, debates, and voting on the year’s best. It all wraps with a red carpet Youth Media Awards watch party, where juice boxes, opinions, and bragging rights are welcome.
🍕 The Groove Doctors with Deb Hawley @ Zeeks Pizza | Thursday (1/8) at 7:00 PM – Nothing beats hot pizza with live blues and R&B while the Groove Doctors with Deb Hawley handle the groove. Zeeks is slinging slices, originals, and those covers you forgot you loved, so bring your appetite, your grown-up ears, and your low-key dance sway.
✨ Free Second Friday @ Whatcom Museum | Friday (1/9) at 10:00 AM – Free Friday is playing hooky and landing on second Friday, because January needs the wattage. Expect glowing art projects, guest artist workshops, and an outdoor Lightcatcher moment, plus warm treats in the courtyard. Cozy, creative, and family-friendly without the glitter regret.
✂ Cori Winrock- Alterations @ Village Books in Fairhaven | Friday (1/9) at 6:00 PM – Head to Village Books and Paper Dreams for Cori Winrock reading from Alterations, a lyrical stitch-up of loss and possibility that threads space suits, Dickinson’s dress, and Goodnight Moon into something wearable. It is less therapy, more handwork. Seats disappear faster than parking, so reserve.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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đź“» Bellingham report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 46°F – Low: 38°F – Precip: 33%
A chance of rain. Partly sunny. High near 46, with temperatures falling to around 42 in the afternoon. South southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. South wind 3 to 12 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
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Tomorrow – High: 45°F – Low: 38°F – Precip: 98%
Rain. Cloudy, with a high near 45. South southeast wind 12 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: Rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
This house is wild
Private and spacious with city services and county flexibility, this light-filled Bellingham bungalow sits behind mature landscaping on nearly half an acre. Clerestory windows and a lofted living room pour in natural light and frame serene green views. White oak floors anchor thoughtful updates that favor quality and daily ease. The remodeled kitchen pairs quartz counters with walnut cabinetry and induction cooking. A refreshed bath adds heated slate underfoot for cozy mornings.
A detached garage links to a finished, skylit space that is insulated, wired, and plumbed with ADU completion in mind. Lush grounds showcase fruit trees and visiting wildlife, creating a calm sanctuary minutes from downtown.
Take a peek inside →
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