Hello Bellingham! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Wetland restoration, a water circus, and a color-filled Holi festival + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Restoring natural flood defenses: Skagit County was 75% wetlands before settlers built the first dike and drained land for agriculture, wiping out habitat and flood buffers. The Swinomish Tribe is restoring areas for resilience -- learn how wetlands are returning.
Community softball tradition: Bellingham’s Diet Sports Lite slow-pitch league welcomed more than 20 teams on June 11 at Frank Geri Fields. The coed season runs through July with playoffs after, offering family-friendly evenings -- see the softball season kickoff.
Returning with fresh energy: The Bellingham Festival of Music will return in 2026, with most concerts at Western Washington University, bringing about 70 professional musicians into host homes, led by artistic director Marcelo Lehninger -- meet the festival lineup.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
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02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Press start here: If your at-home game nights keep derailing into snack catastrophes, 1-Up Lounge is a cocktail lounge with video games where you can sip something good, grab a controller, and finally prove who actually carries the team.
Native yard glow-up: Plantas Nativa LLC is your shortcut to ditching fussy plants in favor of pollinator-friendly PNW natives, with seeds and smart guidance when you need it. Order online or pop in, then let your yard do the heavy lifting all year while you take the credit.
Playtime, upgraded: If your small tornadoes need to burn energy, Scramble Nature Playpark delivers a natural, climb-and-explore scene that feels wonderfully un-plastic. Easy Bellingham win... kids roam and invent games, you catch your breath, maybe sneak a coffee, and everyone goes home happier.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🏺 Kids Ceramics: Creative Clay @ Jansen Art Center (Lynden) | Thursday (6/25) at 4:00 PM – If your kid loves making a mess with purpose, this ceramics class delivers. They will turn mud into pinch pots and other hand-built treasures, get a confidence boost, and you get a blissful breather, fewer Play-Doh crumbs, and maybe a new pencil holder.
🎪 Water Circus Metropolis @ Bellis Fair | Friday (6/26) – Cirque Italia brings a European-style water circus to Bellingham, a vivid, dramatic, moving swirl of acrobats, fountains that put our drizzle to shame, and theatrical flair. Seats are assigned best available, so channel your local zen, and let the splashy spectacle do the heavy lifting.
🎨 Bellingham Holi Festival @ Zuanich Point Park | Sunday (6/28) at 11:00 AM – Whether your dancing knees retired in 2009 or you still have hops, the Bellingham Holi Festival brings color, music, and a big community hug. Live DJ, dhol drummers, bhangra and a dance workshop, color throws, and food trucks, all gloriously family friendly.
✍ Summer Writing Camp @ Launching Success Learning Store | Monday (7/6) at 9:00 AM – Got a kid who narrates the grocery run like a saga? This summer writing camp at Launching Success shapes ideas like clay without the mess, builds confidence, and connects them with other imaginative Bellingham kids. Sessions for ages 10 to 18, small groups, big creativity.
💰 Teen Financial Empowerment Week @ The Whatcom Dream | Monday (7/6) at 12:00 PM – Think your teen knows the difference between a budget and "it'll work out"? The Whatcom Dream's four-day Teen Financial Empowerment Week covers earning, borrowing, spending, saving, and protecting, for ages 13 to 18, free, with food, and limited to 20 students.
⚾ Port Angeles Lefties @ Joe Martin Field | Friday (7/10) at 12:00 PM – How about a lunch-hour showdown, Port Angeles Lefties rolling into Joe Martin Field to take on our Bells. Summer baseball the way we like it, quick pace, close-up views, chirpy rivalry energy, and the crack of the bat without the circus, a tidy midday escape.
🎊 Squalicum Harbor Block Party @ LFS Marine & Outdoor | Wednesday (7/22) at 11:00 AM – Nothing beats the Squalicum harbor block party with free hot dogs, dockside music, and prizes to justify a midday drift from work. LFS Marine, Barlean's Fishery, and Seaview Boatyard are hosting, with SeaFeast and the Whatcom Working Waterfront crew keeping it salty, local, and Bellingham.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Bellingham report Weather forecastToday — High: 83°F — Low: 57°F — Precip: 0%
Partly sunny, with a high near 83. South southwest wind 1 to 8 mph. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 72°F — Low: 55°F — Precip: 42%
A chance of rain after 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Later: Rain. Cloudy, with a low around 55. This house is wildNewer-construction contemporary waterfront living shines on Lake Whatcom’s sunny side, set on a private 0.56-acre lot with 80 feet of shoreline. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame sweeping water views, while the chef’s kitchen, butler’s pantry, covered outdoor lounge, statement fireplace, and hot tub deck bring the wow factor. Two docks, plus lower-level flex living, add serious versatility.
Take a peek inside → |
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