The Whatcom County Council delayed its vote on a resolution that would expedite the inclusion of a property into the Birch Bay urban growth area. The property at 4610 Lincoln Road currently sits just outside of the urban growth area, restricting the owner’s development options. The property owner has expressed commitment to developing 100% of the site as affordable housing. The resolution before the council would speed up the process of getting the property included in the urban growth area. County staff would review the item in 2027. The council will discuss and potentially vote on the resolution at its Oct. 13 meeting.
The Port of Bellingham will host a Blaine Industrial Wharf and Waterfront walking tour on Tuesday, Sept. 29, as part of the Working Waterfront Coalition of Whatcom County’s quarterly Blue Drinks event. The tour takes an hour and begins at 5 p.m. at the Blaine Harbor Office, 235 Marine Drive, #2. After the tour, the event will move to Drayton Harbor Oyster Company, 685 Peace Portal Drive. Blue Drinks is a regular networking meetup, where members of the community can connect with local marine professionals and enthusiasts. The tour is free and open to all ages. For more information, visit whatcomworkingwaterfront.org/events.
Whatcom County will host a free Paint Collection and Recycling event in Bellingham on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Barkley Village, 2211 Rimland Drive. Materials that will be accepted include latex and oil-based paints, acrylic paints, urethanes, varnishes, shelllacs, lacquers, primers and clear coatings. There is no limit to the amount of containers attendees may bring, but they all must be in the original, 5 gallon or smaller, containers. Spray paint, paint thinner, marine and auto paints, driveway sealers, electronics and hazardous waste will not be accepted. Pre-registration is encouraged, and may be found at circular.eco/event/Bellingham26, which includes the full list of items that will or will not be accepted.
Blaine and Birch Bay residents may notice flaring from the BP Cherry Point Refinery over the next few weeks for planned maintenance. Flaring is a safety technique used to burn off excess gases to relieve pressure from refinery equipment. According to BP, staff will monitor emissions and aim to minimize flaring. Those with additional questions may contact BP community affairs staff by calling 360-371-1500 or emailing CHPCommunityAffairs@bp.com.
The Whatcom County Council is considering regulating kratom products. The council heard a presentation on kratom products and potential regulations at its Sept. 15 council meeting. Kratom is a ground leaf that’s sold in different forms such as powders and capsules. These products can be purchased at tobacco shops and convenience stores across the county. An active compound in Kratom called 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, can have opioid-like effects. Kratom products are not currently regulated at the state level, but some cities in Washington have recently banned them, including Bellingham and Mount Vernon.
Raw pork, beef and goat products distributed to stores and restaurants in Washington and across the country are being recalled because they were produced without federal inspection, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Star Meat Delivery Inc. of Lucama, North Carolina, is recalling about 167,639 pounds of meat distributed under the A&D Foods label. The products include goat meat, beef ribs, oxtail, pork chops, ground pork, chorizo and other cuts. Packages may carry a false USDA inspection mark with the establishment number “EST. 1363.” Some consumer packages may have been relabeled by individual stores. The USDA has not yet released a list of affected Washington retailers or restaurants. No illnesses or injuries have been reported. Consumers should not eat products carrying the false establishment number and should throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.
Whatcom County has secured a $25 million grant to replace a Lummi Island ferry boat. The vessel, the Whatcom Chief, is 64 years old and is the only regular ferry for the route between Gooseberry Point and Lummi Island. This is part of the Lummi Island Ferry Replacement and System Modernization Project, which also includes the rebuilding of aging ferry terminals. Construction for both aspects of the project will begin in 2027 and are expected to be completed in 2029. “This critical agreement paves the way for cleaner, greener and more reliable transportation to and from Lummi Island, benefiting all of Whatcom County,” U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen said in a news release. For more information on the new vessel and project, visit whatcomcounty.us/3432/New-Ferry-Vessel.
Join Whatcom County Public Works for a Flood Preparedness Open House on Wednesday, Oct. 14 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Nooksack Valley Middle School, 404 Columbia Avenue, Everson. The county is hosting Flood Preparedness Week from Oct. 12 to Oct. 16 to educate residents and connect them with local government and first responders. The open house will feature a presentation on flood preparedness and the status of current flood alleviation efforts.
