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Bellingham Herald

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Parking ban sought near popular Whatcom County trailhead

Concerns about cars parked on the shoulder of a road near a popular Whatcom County trailhead are prompting a call to ban parking in the area. Cars parked on the north side of Lake Louise Road near Sudden Valley Gate 13 block visibility for drivers turning from Western Lane onto Lake Louise Road, Public Works Department engineer Doug Ranney said in a memo to the council. “Public Works received several complaints from concerned citizens that shoulder parking in the area is creating a hazard by limiting the sight distance of those turning from Western Lane to Lake Louise Road. Traffic staff investigated the concern and concluded that a no-parking zone should be established,” Ranney said. A public hearing on the proposal is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday when the County Council meets at the County Courthouse, 311 Grand Ave. Western Lane is directly across from the Galbraith Mountain 4000 Road, a privately owned dirt logging road that also serves as access to the hiking and mountain biking trails at Galbraith Mountain and the county-run Lookout Mountain Forest Reserve. A locked gate limits vehicle access to emergency personnel and others with business in the area. Trails are accessible on foot and

Whatcom County, WA · 2d

Bellingham Herald

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Approaching Whatcom County windstorm could pack a powerful punch

Another round of stormy weather expected to hit Western Washington on Tuesday could cause more power outages across Whatcom County. National Weather Service meteorologists issued a wind advisory from 1 p.m. Tuesday to 7 p.m. Wednesday, calling for sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph, gusting to 50 mph across the lowlands of western Whatcom County. “Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down, and a few power outages may result,” the weather service said in its wind advisory. On Friday, more than 4,000 Puget Sound Energy customers lost power as winds gusted above 40 mph. Winds gusting a little more than 50 mph were recorded in Saturday’s storm, which also knocked out power in scattered locations from Fairhaven to Lynden. With Tuesday’s storm, south winds will increase in the morning and peak late in the evening. Winds will be strongest from Whidbey Island northward. Winds continue into Wednesday morning and begin decreasing Wednesday evening. Minor coastal flooding is possible on Wednesday morning because of high astronomical tides, primarily along the Whatcom County shorelines at Cherry Point. Shallow nuisance flooding in the most vulnerable locations is possible near waterfronts and shorelines.

Whatcom County, WA · 1d

Bellingham Herald

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Coming soon to Bellingham: WSDOT night work, lane closures to replace I-5 pavement

Expect work on Interstate 5 through Bellingham over several nights next year, as the Washington State Department of Transportation replaces entire concrete panels on the roadway. Working at night is safer for crews and creates fewer traffic problems, especially for a project of this scope, WSDOT officials said. Bellingham City Council members unanimously approved a waiver of overnight noise limits on Monday for the project, which is planned for 22 non-consecutive nights between March and December 2027. Work is planned at 10 locations on a two-mile stretch of freeway between Lakeway and Sunset drives. Mike Wilson, assistant director of the Public Works Department and head of its Engineering Division, told a City Council committee that the work is part of a program that stretches from Bellevue to the U.S.-Canada border. “There may be some closures on the interstate that could cause impacts to (city streets). We’ll know more about that as the project gets closer, but that is likely to be a part of the traffic-control plans,” Wilson said. Work locations include both sides of the freeway at Lakeway Drive, Meador Avenue, Alabama Street and East Sunset Drive. WSDOT air quality and acoustics specialist Ben Bloom told Bellingham officials that

Bellingham, WA · 1d

Bellingham Herald

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Port of Bellingham to considering purchase of three waterfront buildings

In an effort to preserve a working waterfront, Port of Bellingham Commissioners next week will consider a $5.9 million deal to buy the Bornstein Seafoods buildings on Bellingham Bay, Port officials said in a statement Tuesday. Bornstein owns three buildings totalling about 35,100 square feet at 1001 Hilton Ave. on the I&J Waterway, an inlet on Bellingham Bay across from the Hotel Bellwether. Bornstein put the buildings up for sale in August 2024 after closing the plant and consolidating its businesses in Astoria, Ore., according to the Port and previous Bellingham Herald reporting. Bellingham seafood processing company announces closure, putting dozens of locals out of work “Keeping working waterfront jobs in Bellingham is one of the Port’s top priorities, and this site has been part of our fishing industry for generations,” the Port’s Executive Director Tiffany DeSimone said. “It protects moorage and dockage on the I & J Waterway and maintains our commitment to the marine trades area.” Port commissioners meet at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Port of Bellingham Harbor Center, 1801 Roeder Ave., Suite 146. The proposed sale includes the buildings and any other rights that the Bornsteins hold, according to Tuesday’s statement. Included in that deal is

Bellingham, WA · 4h

mybellinghamnow.com

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Coastal flood advisory issued for Whatcom County

WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The ongoing storm systems impacting the Puget Sound region are escalating. The National Weather Service issued a coastal flood advisory for San Juan County and the lowlands of western Whatcom County effective from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11. This coincides with...

Whatcom County, WA · 17h

whatcomcounty.us

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Whatcom County Seeks Input in CAO Update

WHATCOM COUNTY SEEKS INPUT IN UPDATE TO CRITICAL AREAS ORDINANCE. Whatcom County Planning and Development Services invites the community to participate in the 2026 update to the County’s Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO). The Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO), codified in Whatcom County Code Chapter 16.16, establishes land-use and development standards...

Whatcom County, WA · 2d

Tacoma News Tribune

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When will Western Washington see its first frost this fall? What forecasters say

It’s getting colder in Washington state. As temperatures drop, you could start seeing small ice crystals forming on leaves, grass and roads. When can Western Washington residents expect to see frost covering the ground this fall? How long will frosty temperatures last, and how can you protect your plants and plumbing from the chill? Here’s what the experts say: When will we see the first frost in Washington state? When you can expect to see frost in 2026 depends on where you live in Washington state , according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac . The almanac looked at likely dates for the first and last frosts of the season , based on its long-range weather forecasts as well as historical frost averages. In much of Western Washington, frost timing should be “close to the historical average ,” the almanac said, while the last spring frost is expected roughly a week or two later than usual in Central and Eastern Washington. Even “modest” shifts in frost timing can “make a meaningful difference when you’re deciding when to sow early crops, set out seedlings or keep frost protection handy,” the Old Farmer’s Almanac said. The almanac predicted Bellingham would see its first

Washington · 5h

Bellingham Herald

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Home prices drop in Bellingham and Whatcom County as mortgage rates increase

Median home sale prices in Whatcom County and Bellingham declined in September. Here’s a breakdown. Whatcom County Whatcom County’s median home sale price across September was $582,000, a 1.2% decrease compared with August and a 1.7% decrease compared with the same month last year, according to Jason Lee, a local broker with Windermere Real Estate in Bellingham. The county’s median sale price in August was $589,000. Whatcom County’s median home sale price reached a peak of $662,000 in July 2024, the highest median price since 2012, according to Redfin Metro Area Data, a residential real estate brokerage that uses home listings to generate metro area data. “Rising mortgage rates were already a headwind for buyers and sellers this summer. Then rates got even worse in early fall when the 30-year fixed interest rate crossed over 7.25% in late September,” Lee told The Herald. Bellingham Bellingham’s median sale price was $683,000 in September, according to Lee. That’s a 1.9% decrease compared with August’s average and a 1.9% increase compared with September 2025, Lee said. In August, Bellingham’s median sale price was $695,000. “Mortgage rates and high inventory have been the two-headed monster so far in 2026 for both buyers and sellers,”

Whatcom County, WA · 1d

mybellinghamnow.com

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Veterans Day events scheduled in several locations locally

WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Veterans Day is Wednesday, Nov. 11 and there’s plenty going on around Whatcom County to help honor those who served. American Legion Post 7 is hosting a Veterans Day ceremony at their building on W Bakerview Road in Bellingham. It opens with music at 10:30 a.m. and the ceremony begins at 11.

Whatcom County, WA · 17h

fox13seattle.com

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Mount Vernon, WA businesses take a hit after Division Street Bridge closure

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. - A full closure of the State Route 536 Division Street Bridge over the Skagit River has cut off vehicle traffic and triggered sharp drops in foot traffic for small businesses in Mount Vernon. The Washington State Department of Transportation closed the span in both directions Nov....

Mt Vernon, WA · 1d

mybellinghamnow.com

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Whatcom County looking for public input on environmentally sensitive areas

WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Whatcom County is asking for the public’s input to help update its standards for sensitive environmental areas. According to the Whatcom County Code, standards for its Critical Areas Ordinance are required to be updated every 10 years. Those standards are in effect for...

Whatcom County, WA · 1d

Bellingham Herald

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Bellingham home-rental prices on the rise in November; Washington holds steady

The Bellingham Herald’s most recent rental price survey shows the city’s average home rental prices have increased compared to last month’s survey, while the state average remains steady. Bellingham The average price for a Bellingham rental unit — including all bedrooms and all property types — was $2,061 on Nov. 1, according to data from Zillow . That’s an increase of $86 compared to October’s average price, but a decrease of $39 compared to November 2025. “The price range for all bedrooms and all property types is $680 to $10,443,” according to Zillow’s November data. Bellingham’s average rental price in November is 3% higher than the national average, up from 0.25% in October, according to Zillow. Whatcom County Zillow rent price data can also be compared by city. Compared to last month, seven cities experienced a drop in average rent while only one increased. Here are Whatcom County’s average rent prices on Nov. 1, compared to The Herald’s October survey: ​Deming: Decreased to $900 Sumas: Stayed the same at $1,600 Lynden: Decreased to $1,795 Everson: Increased to $1,650 Bellingham: Increased to $2,061 Ferndale: Increased to $2,250 Point Roberts: Decreased to $1,975 Blaine: Decreased to $2,400 Washington Zillow also tracks and

Bellingham, WA · 1d

mybellinghamnow.com

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Prescribed burns continue through northwest WA

WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Don’t be alarmed if you see smoke in rural areas of Whatcom County this week. The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is conducting prescribed burns in various parts of the county. Whatcom Fire District 14 says one of those is taking...

Whatcom County, WA · 22h

mybellinghamnow.com

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Skagit County election results show tight races as ballots are tabulated

SKAGIT COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Thousands of ballots are still being counted in Skagit County following last week’s elections. The Washington Secretary of State’s website says as of Monday, Nov. 9, there are roughly 13,000 ballots that still need to be added to the official total. Both...

Skagit County, WA · 1d

KOMO News

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Dead birds in Snohomish County test positive for bird flu; officials say low public risk

MONROE, Wash. — Dead birds found at Lake Tye Park in Monroe have preliminarily tested positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as bird flu, the Snohomish County Health Department said. Health officials said the virus circulates naturally among birds and can cause severe illness and high death...

Snohomish County, WA · 1d

mybellinghamnow.com

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Whatcom Museum to raise admission fees, extend Thursday hours in 2027

BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The Whatcom Museum has announced some service changes for next year as they tighten their budget. Executive Director Jessica Borusky told the Bellingham City Council on Monday, Nov. 2, that the museum is planning to raise their admission fees and expand their hours starting in 2027.

Bellingham, WA · 17h

everettpost.com

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Port of Everett green-lights $20 million in improvements for 2027

EVERETT — The Port of Everett will pour $20 million into improvement projects in 2027 aimed at modernizing the commercial activity on the waterfront and greening the supply chain to support 35 individual projects and seven larger umbrella projects. The projects were part of the Port of Everett Commissioners approving a $72.5 million 2027 budget.

Everett, WA · 1d

lynnwoodtimes.com

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Snohomish County voters approve budget reserves, 4/5 supermajority for new councilmanic taxes

EVERETT — Snohomish County voters approved three of five proposed amendments to the county’s home rule charter in unofficial results from the Nov. 3 general election, backing measures to strengthen budget reserves for disasters, expand public access to financial data and raise the bar for new taxes imposed by the County Council alone. Residents rejected a policy requiring prioritization of core government services and a plan to strip party labels from county elected offices.

Snohomish County, WA · 2d

lynnwoodtimes.com

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Remembering Elaine Somers, an environmental leader and First Lady of Snohomish County

Elaine Somers, of Monroe who served as Snohomish County’s first lady since 2016, died Oct. 25 at age 73. Somers was a career environmental professional whose work at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Pacific Northwest Region 10 shaped how infrastructure projects account for wildlife and habitat. She joined the agency in 1983 after earning a bachelor’s degree in botany and a master’s in forest resources management from the University of Washington, with a focus on natural ecosystems, wildlife and conservation biology. Over more than three decades she reviewed major projects under the National Environmental Policy Act, pushed for earlier integration of environmental factors into transportation planning, and served as the region’s beneficial landscaping coordinator, advocating practices that protect habitats, wildlife and water resources.

Snohomish County, WA · 2d

DMR News

partner publisher · 4.2K followers

Septic Solutions Updates Skagit County Septic Installation Guide With 2026 Fees

ARLINGTON, Wash., Nov. 09, 2026 — Septic Solutions LLC has updated its online guide to septic system installation costs in Skagit County, Washington. The revision covers county permitting requirements and 2026 fees alongside estimates for tank-only replacements and complete septic system installations. The updated guide is available on the Septic Solutions website. “We didn’t want […]

Skagit County, WA · 2d