Sumas, WA Municipal and More

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 · 12h

Bellingham Herald

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

Bellingham Herald

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 · 3d

mybellinghamnow.com

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

mybellinghamnow.com

partner publisher · 33.0K followers

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

Tacoma News Tribune

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 · 1d

Bellingham Herald

partner publisher · 33.0K followers

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 · 3d

Tacoma News Tribune

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

takemetotn.com

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...

whatcomcounty.us

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 · 3d

whatnow.com

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

fox13seattle.com

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 · 23h

fox13seattle.com

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 · 3d

Bellingham Herald

Port of Bellingham 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

KING-5

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 · 23h

Bellingham Herald

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 · 2d

mybellinghamnow.com

BPS expected to hold final vote on school closures Thursday

BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The fate of two controversial school closures in Bellingham will likely be decided this week. Bellingham Public Schools’ board of directors is expected to hold a final vote on whether to close Columbia and Carl Cozier elementary schools at their meeting on Thursday, Nov. 12.

mybellinghamnow.com

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 · 2d

fox13seattle.com

Seattle moves to buy Aurora Avenue properties in $34M utility deal

SEATTLE - The City of Seattle is moving forward with a $34 million acquisition along Aurora Avenue North to build a centralized utility operations center, a plan that would replace several long-standing local businesses. Mayor Katie Wilson approved the land deal following months of City Council reviews. The city confirmed...

Seattle, WA · 1d

fox13seattle.com