The Hamster Wheel
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🐹 Mabel the Cow & Cider Sippin'

🐹 Mabel the Cow & Cider Sippin'

October 07, 2024

Good morning, Bellingham. This is your Monday update from The Hamster Wheel.

This is the first edition of The Hamster Wheel, and we couldn’t be more excited! Both of us—Val and Evan—grew up in this community, and even as longtime locals, we find it hard to keep up with all the changes and happenings around town. That's why we've created this newsletter—as a fun way to stay in the know. We hope you'll join us on this journey to discover and celebrate everything that makes Bellingham special!

Do you have an upcoming event, a fantastic photo, or a local scoop to share? Drop us a line! Let’s work together to keep Bellingham lively, connected, and full of local flavor. Your stories and contributions make our community stronger!

~ Val & Evan

In today’s Hamster Wheel:

Bovine Banditry, Mabel’s still on the loose
Sippin’ on Cider at Lost Giants Cider Company
Food & Drink
Music & Nightlife

Weather Forecast

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

Yep, that’s us 👆️. Say hi if you see us around. - 📷 Photo by Ausencio.

Fisherman’s Terminal at Squalicum Harbor during SeaFeast - 📷 Photo by Evan.

Lummi Seafood Market BBQ Salmon - SeaFeast @ Zuanich Point Park - 📷 Photo by Evan.

Tag @bellinghamsterwheel on Instagram, or reply to this email, to get your photos in The Hamster Wheel.

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

The Udderly Unstoppable Mabel the Cow

Mabel and her Bovine Companion - 📷 Photo from BPD

If you haven't heard about Mabel, Bellingham's elusive bovine celebrity, here's the scoop. On August 10th, Mabel the cow made a daring escape from her livestock trailer along with a companion. While her fellow fugitive was quickly recaptured, Mabel has been on the lam for over two months, skillfully evading authorities and wandering around the Barkley Neighborhood. How this is possible is beyond us 😆.

Mabel’s prior owner has relinquished responsibility, leaving Whatcom Humane Society (WHS) responsible for her well-being. Once secured, Mabel will be transported to the Humane Society's farm facility for care. Locals are urged not to approach her but to report sightings to Animal Control.

Let the authorities know if you spot a 🐄 wandering around Barkley Village.

Get Tickets Now, Sip On Some Ciders Later

Save the date for October 19, 2024, because Bellingham's 4th annual Sippin' on Cider festival is returning to Lost Giants Cider Company! From 2 to 7 PM, gather your 21+ friends to celebrate all things fall. Enjoy a diverse selection of ciders from the Pacific Northwest and beyond, live local music, yard games, a raffle, and delicious food from local trucks like Tam Tam Pizza and Juanitas Mexican.

Choose from regular or VIP tickets, which include drink tickets and exclusive swag. Sample from: 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Alma Cider, Greenwood Cider Company, Lost Giants Cider Company, Renaissance Orchards, Rootwood Cider, Schilling Cider House, Stone’s Throw Brewery (Hard Seltzer), Tieton Cider Works, Yonder Cider.

B’ham Schools

Bellingham Public School is full-day for all grades today (Monday) and tomorrow (Tuesday), so parents, pack up those kiddos and put your feet up. Today’s the day for a 10 AM Brewski 🍺, you earned it.

Also, Bellingham’s high schools are hosting the following games. Let’s get out there and root for our outstanding student-athletes:

Squalicum HS (Oct. 7): Boys Varsity Tennis vs Lakewood High School 4 PM
Bellingham HS (Oct. 7): Boys Junior Varsity Tennis vs Lynden High School 4 PM, Girls C-Team Soccer vs Mount Vernon High School 6 PM
Sehome HS (Oct. 7): Boys Varsity Tennis vs Ferndale High School 4 PM, Girls C Team Volleyball vs Anacortes High School 5:30 PM, Girls Junior Varsity Volleyball vs Anacortes High School 5:30 PM, Boys Junior Varsity Football vs Mount Baker High School 6 PM, Girls Varsity Volleyball vs Anacortes High School 7 PM

Squalicum HS (Oct. 8): No home events.
Bellingham HS (Oct. 8): No home events.
Sehome HS (Oct. 8): Girls Varsity Swimming vs Ferndale High School 3:30 PM, Girls Junior Varsity Soccer vs Anacortes High School 5 PM, Boys C Team Tennis vs Mount Vernon High School 6 PM, Girls Varsity Soccer vs Anacortes High School 7 PM

In Civic News… What The Heck is a Charter Review Commission?

Last week, on our trudge home from picking up our son at the Robert Williams School, we noticed a yard sign that read “J.G Sandy Phillips for the Whatcom Charter Review Commission.” Head scratching ensued, followed by some reflexive mansplaining about Charter Review having something to do with maps 🤦‍♂️. Here’s what we’ve learned since then.

The Whatcom County Charter was written in 1979 by an elected committee of citizens. It codifies the structure of county governance, defining the powers and responsibilities of elected officials, how citizens are represented, and how elections are conducted. It serves as a guide for how the local government operates, much like the U.S. Constitution does at the federal level.

The charter begins with the following preamble: “Treasuring the many wonders of our unique environment and realizing that the power and duty to govern and protect this region is inherent in its people, we, the citizens of Whatcom County, in order to have a government which advances justice, inspires confidence, and fosters responsibility, do adopt as the foundation of our government, this Charter.”

Thanks to Whatcom County’s home rule charter, our local government enjoys its own Whatcom flavor. For example, it allows positions like the Clerk of the Superior Court to be appointed instead of elected, enabling independent solutions that fit our local vibe.

If you’d like to learn more about the candidates in their own words (including Joe Elenbass, who participated in drafting the original document in 1979!), see the Candidate Interviews near the bottom of this page.

Local Business Updates

Haggling With Local Folk

While we’re getting organized around our Local Business updates content, we’ve decided to highlight a few of our favorite local businesses over the next few weeks. We value these companies because we believe in their products or services and because extraordinary local entrepreneurs own them.

Custom Jewelry by Jason at Fairhaven Gold

A few businesses stood out when we started talking about the shops in town that we value. At the top of the list was Jason and his wife Sarah at Fairhaven Gold. We adore these two!

Jason crafted several beautiful custom items for us over the last few years, including Val’s engagement ring, shown below. Each time, he and Sarah have taken the time to teach us about gemstones, learn about Val’s preferences, and form an authentic connection with the two of us.

Jason and Sarah’s shop has a timeless feel, and I don’t mean that in some cheesy Jared Jewelers way. It’s a genuine craftsman storefront filled with beautiful creations and treasures. 💍

If you’ve not been, swing by for a lookie-loo. If you have been, then you know what I’m talking about. Swing by for a lookie-loo anyway… you never know what you’ll find. 🙂

Food & Drinks

Hamsters Gotta Eat

Monday Food Trucks
Ah! Chihuahua @ Trackside Portal Village
Big Stick Barbecue @ Closed
Burnt Side Down @ Stemma Brewery
Dumpling Girls @ Closed
El Pollo Feo @ Closed
El Tapatio @ 4124 Strider Loop Rd
Greektown @ Closed
Luchadora @ Wander Brewing
New Public Vegan @ Closed
Outpost Eats @ Kulshan Brewery (James St.)
Rain or Shine Riviera Club @ Closed
Sweet As Waffles @ 122 E Magnolia
Tacos El Tule @ West Marine (Meridian St)
The Galley @ Closed

Tuesday Food Trucks
Ah! Chihuahua @ Trackside Portal Village
Big Stick Barbecue @ Closed
Burnt Side Down @ Stemma Brewery
Dumpling Girls @ Closed
El Pollo Feo @ Kulshan Brewery (Roosevelt K2)
El Tapatio @ 4124 Strider Loop Rd
Greektown @ Closed
Luchadora @ Wander Brewing
New Public Vegan @ Closed
Outpost Eats @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
Rain or Shine Riviera Club @ Closed
Sweet As Waffles @ 122 E Magnolia
Tacos El Tule @ West Marine (Meridian St)
The Galley @ 6069 Hannegan Rd

Music & Nightlife

Spinning Into The Night

Hakuna matata

To All Our Readers

Thanks for reading today’s edition. If you found something helpful, please share it with a friend 🙏, and tell them to follow this link to sign up 👉 https://www.bellinghamsterwheel.com/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER.

You can reply to this email if you have something you think we should know about or want to send us a love note.

Have a great Monday!!