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Bellingham Herald

partner publisher · 15.5K followers
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Here are the retail stores that opened or closed last month in Whatcom County

Looking for a new business, shop or studio to check out? In October, three new businesses opened in Whatcom County as only one closed. New Whatcom County shops Cosmic Games Cosmic Games opened Friday, Oct. 2, inside the Bellis Fair mall. The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday and is located at Bellis Fair’s previous DSW Shoes space at 8 Bellis Fair Parkway, next door to Buffalo Wild Wings. Cosmic Games was previously located at 3930 Meridian St. These are the Whatcom County restaurants that opened or closed in October Rather Bee Vintage Rather Bee Vintage , a collectibles and vintage treasures store, officially opened Oct. 6. The venture was launched by sisters Samantha and Marianne Brands. “We’ve always shared a love for antiques, vintage treasures, and the joy of finding something truly special. There’s nothing quite like discovering a hidden gem, imagining its story, and giving it a new place to be loved. After years of collecting and selling online, we decided to turn our dream of opening a vintage shop into reality,” Marianne Brands told The Bellingham Herald in an Oct. 21 email. “Our hope

Whatcom County, WA · 1d

Bellingham Herald

partner publisher · 15.5K followers
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These are the Whatcom County restaurants that opened or closed in October

Looking for a new restaurant to try out? Whatcom County gained three new eateries in October, and one closed permanently. Openings Café Hazeltree Emmaquatics Aquarium & Lounge partnered with Café Hazeltree to open a new “Late Nite Aquarium Café” on Oct. 3. Café Hazeltree and Emmaquatics are located in the same space but will have different operating hours, according to a Sept. 15 Facebook post . Café Hazeltree will be open from 2 p.m. to midnight Wednesday through Sunday, and Emmaquatics will be open from 2 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 12:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday. “While the coffee bar will be closed on M/T, when Emma’s there the space is still open to guests as a lounge. Similarly, the aquariums will still be free and open for viewing even outside of Emmaquatics operating hours,” the Facebook post states. Café Hazeltree and Emmaquatics are at 1135 Railroad Ave. in downtown Bellingham, the previous location of Woods Coffee. Chewzy Cookies Chewzy Cookies , a Blaine-based cookie bakery, opened a location in Bellingham on Oct. 3. The bakery specializes in over 12 varieties of cookies, dirty sodas, coffee and Lotus beverages. “Our cookies are mixed in-house using 100% butter

Whatcom County, WA · 1d

KING 5

publisher · 173.3K followers

5 western Washington schools to close

Olympia, WA · 3h

fox13seattle.com

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WA ferry crisis: Cracking terminal cuts off Orcas Island

San Juan County declared a State of Emergency after cracks discovered in two steel support beams on the Orcas Island ferry terminal's transfer span prompted immediate bans on vehicles longer than 22 feet. The restrictions have severed standard ferry access for heavy trucks delivering food, medical supplies, fuel, and sanitation...

San Juan County, WA · 1d
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Tacoma News Tribune

partner publisher · 33.0K followers

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 · 2d

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 · 2d

mybellinghamnow.com

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Whatcom Fire District 1 levy lid lift unlikely to pass: see data

WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – With a little over a dozen total votes left to count, most Whatcom County election measures have been decided. It’s unlikely that any of those ballots will have any sway over a tightly contested levy measure. The Whatcom County Auditor reports a levy...

Whatcom County, WA · 1d

takemetotn.com

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Small Town Charm Meets Some of Washington’s Lowest Living Costs in One Place

A ferry bound for Alaska is a pretty compelling thing to find close to home. In this coastal city, that journey begins at the waterfront, giving an ordinary day beside the water a tempting sense of possibility. The mountains offer their own reason to pay attention. A nearby ski area...

Bellingham, WA · 2d

thenorthernlight.com

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Blaine City Council approves 2027 budget, property tax levy

The Blaine City Council approved the city’s 2027 budget and a 1% property tax increase at its regular meeting on Monday. The budget, approved unanimously, totals about $52.9 million in expenditures, a 19% increase over its 2026 budget, which allocated $44.3 million when passed in November 2025. The bulk...

Blaine, WA · 23h

Tacoma News Tribune

partner publisher · 33.0K followers

22 nights of I-5 lane closures are planned in northwest Washington in 2027

Expect work on Interstate 5 through Bellingham, Washington, over several nights next year, as the 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 · 2d

whatnow.com

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Loggers Cafe Planned for Ferry Street in Sedro-Woolley

Loggers Cafe is planned for 208 Ferry Street in Sedro-Woolley, according to a Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board filing. The address previously housed Magnolia Grill. The application names Erick Orozco, Kathy Kim, and Rene Rodrigo Rodriguez as applicants. It seeks a license for spirits, beer, and wine service at a restaurant with a lounge.

Sedro-Woolley, WA · 1d

thenorthernlight.com

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Letters to the Editor: Nov. 12-18, 2026

Pickin' off those republicans state by state, savin' our democracy, before it's too late. Givin' the power back to the people, despite all that cash. Restorin' the country's sanity, at last. How bout them midterms, God bless the USA! Lettin' them criminals know, we don't play. Waiting for the fallout,...

Blaine, WA · 23h

mybellinghamnow.com

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Port of Bellingham considering building, rights purchase of seafood business

BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A major commercial property purchase will soon by considered by the Port of Bellingham. The proposed purchase agreement would include Bornstein Seafoods’ three buildings on Hilton Avenue in Bellingham. Bornstein listed the buildings for sale in 2024. The Port of Bellingham already owns the...

Bellingham, WA · 1d

mybellinghamnow.com

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Construction of behavioral care center expected to begin in March 2028

WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Whatcom County’s plan for their new behavioral care center is coming into focus. The Whatcom County Council received an update on the facility at their meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 10, as the project enters the design phase. The facility will contain two 16-bed...

Whatcom County, WA · 19h

Bellingham Herald

partner publisher · 15.5K followers

Whatcom Roundup: New downtown boutique; gift shop closes; Barkley Vietnamese

Here’s our weekly roundup of the latest retail and restaurant activity around Whatcom County: New downtown shop open Lost Gentlemen’s Club , a boutique with masculine goods, cigars, barware and more, has officially opened in downtown Bellingham. The new shop — launched by Jen Mason, owner of Wink Wink Boutique — opened Wednesday, Nov. 11, according to an Instagram post. “Come check out our quality supply of barware, leather journals, books, grooming goods, games, and more. We look forward to making your acquaintance,” the Nov. 11 Instagram post states.

Whatcom County, WA · 4h

fox13seattle.com

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Mount Vernon businesses struggle from Skagit River Bridge closure

Several shop owners in Mount Vernon say the ongoing Skagit River Bridge construction project is cutting off business, causing both foot traffic and sales to plummet.

Mt Vernon, WA · 3d

Bellingham Herald

partner publisher · 15.5K followers

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 · 3d

mybellinghamnow.com

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Demolition begins on former Bellingham Public Schools District Office

BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Demolition has begun on a nearly 120-year-old building in Bellingham. Crews began demolition on the former Bellingham Public Schools District Office, located 1306 Dupont St., earlier this week. The building served as a schoolhouse from its construction in 1908, until it was converted to the...

Bellingham, WA · 16h

sanjuanjournal.com

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Island lifelines at risk: Aging county docks carry fuel, freight and emergency care, but there’s no money to replace them

When the float at Waldron Island’s county dock began to sink this summer, the County had to set up a temporary boat service for a week so residents could get on and off the island. The float was the only public link to the mainland for Waldron residents. The...

San Juan County, WA · 1d

KING-5

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He helped end a war. Now he’s using music to unite neighbors

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Jeff Hovenier has lived his life as a peacemaker. Now, he is working to bring harmony to his community. “I think all diplomats hope to be peacemakers, and at times we’re certainly given an opportunity to do that,” Hovenier said. Hovenier worked for 34...

Bellingham, WA · 1d