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🐹 New Life in the J Pod 🐋🐋

🐹 New Life in the J Pod 🐋🐋

December 27, 2024

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

After writing this edition, I read back through and realized it's almost entirely about animals... 🐳 🐷 🐎 What the heck, we’re going with it! 😀

Have fun, and be safe out there!!

~ Val & Evan

🍰 Birthday Callout 🍰

Happy 5^th birthday to Ari Parelskin 🎉

In today’s Hamster Wheel:

Southern Resident Orca Calf
Barrel Racing at the Fairgrounds
Food & Drink
Music & Nightlife

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

Marine Park Tree - 📷 by Rod Haynes.

Spark Museum - 📷 by Evan.

Chuckanut Sandstone Arch at Lottie Roth Block - 📷 by Evan.

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

Weather Forecast

Friday: 49°F 🌡️ 42°F | 🌧️ Rain Showers | 🌧️ 100% | 💨 ESE 9 mph

Saturday: 51°F 🌡️ 40°F | 🌧️ Light Rain | 🌧️ 90% | 💨 SSE 9 to 14 mph

Sunday: 47°F 🌡️ 41°F | 🌧️ Light Rain | 🌧️ 80% | 💨 ESE 7 mph

Bellingham Bay Tides

Day	Time	H/L	FT
Fri	4:55 AM	H	8.01
Fri	8:27 AM	L	7.04
Fri	12:39 PM	H	8.36
Fri	8:59 PM	L	-0.57
Sat	5:31 AM	H	8.65
Sat	9:29 AM	L	7.39
Sat	1:07 PM	H	8.34
Sat	9:32 PM	L	-1.16
Sun	6:03 AM	H	9.06
Sun	10:19 AM	L	7.55
Sun	1:38 PM	H	8.34
Sun	10:08 PM	L	-1.63

Moon Phases

Weather & Tides from NOAA. Moon data astronomyapi.

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

Celebrating New Life in the J Pod

Researchers have confirmed the birth of a new Southern Resident orca calf, designated J61, within the J Pod. Last Friday, sharp-eyed ferry riders along the Edmonds/Kingston route spotted the adorable newborn swimming alongside her mother, J35 Tahlequah. J35, a 25-year-old female, leads the matriline with her two sons, J47 and J57. The Center for Whale Research (CWR) team confirmed the calf is a female and is the offspring of Tahlequah.

From the Center for Whale Research

You may remember reading about Tahlequah in 2018 when she captured global attention after tragically losing a calf. During that time, Tahlequah carried her deceased calf for more than 1,000 miles over 17 days. After the first week, family members began taking turns carrying the dead calf to allow her to rest.

From the Center for Whale Research

Orca calves face a high mortality rate within their first year and the Southern Resident orcas are an endangered population, with only about 73 individuals remaining. Pollution, declining Chinook salmon populations, and increased vessel noise impact their ability to thrive. Orcas typically live up to 50 years in the wild.

While researching this topic, I learned that the “Lummi Nation refer to the southern resident killer whales as qwe'lhol'mechen, which translates to ‘people beneath the waves.’" Hopefully, J61 will live a long and fruitful life within J Pod. Someday we’ll be reading about her calves joining the qwe'lhol'mechen family.

Barrel Racing at the NorthWest Washington Fair

Whether you’re a horse person, or not, this event looks like fun. 🏇 Several times a year the NorthWest Washington Fair holds a barrel racing contest open to riders of all skill levels. Catch the last contest of 2024 today (Dec 27) at 6:30 PM in the Papé Machinery Arena.

Jason Snyder competing in Nov 2023

Barrel racing is a high-speed competition where horse and rider navigate a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels in the shortest possible time. This showcases the agility, speed, and seamless teamwork between horse and rider as they race against the clock to complete the course with precision.

In other news…

🥳 Get Tickets Now For New Year’s Eve Festivities: There are tickets left for several fun looking New Year’s events this week:

Bellingham Firefighter’s Community Ball, Details & Tickets.
New Year's Eve 80's Ballroom Bash @ Chuckanut Bay Distillery, Details & Tickets.
NYE @ Old City Hall, Details & Tickets.

🐐🐐 Blossom Farm 🐖🐖, a small family-run hobby farm that specializes in miniature animals and rescues, is holding a Lights and Animals of Christmas event at their Ferndale farm, at 379 West Wiser Lake Rd, this weekend.

Look forward to walking through their barn, lit with thousands of festive lights, while visiting with over 75 animals, including piglets and baby goats. 👆️ The farm is open to visitors from noon to 4 PM this Friday through Sunday. This would be SO much fun for little kids!!! Details.

Garage & Estate Sales

Your Source For Vintage Can Openers

4949 Samish Way (Fri, Sat, Sun 10-4)
This estate sale looks like a blast! The photos show Bollywood-inspired décor and eclectic home furnishings alongside antique Renaissance Revival beds, colorful crystals, and boho-chic clothing. Map.

1474 Sunset Ave. Ferndale (Sat 8-2)
Another estate sale. This one is filled with global art, collectibles, and musical instruments someone collected while traveling the world. Map.

Food & Drinks

Hamsters Gotta Eat

Friday Food Trucks
A Que Tacos @ Goods Local Brews
Back East BBQ @ Wander Brewing
Big Stick Barbecue @ Stemma Brewery
Burnt Side Down @ Stemma Brewery
Dumpling Girls @ Goods Local Brews
El Pollo Feo @ Kulshan Brewery (Roosevelt K2)
El Tapatio @ 4124 Strider Loop Rd
Galley 2 Go @ Stones Throw Brewery
Greektown @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
Luchadora @ Wander Brewing
Mobile Mouth Hole @ Lowes Parking Lot
Nana J’s @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
New Public Vegan @ Evil Bikes (700 Harris Ave)
Outpost Eats @ Transition Outpost (5090 Samish Way)
Tacos El Tule @ West Marine (Meridian St)
Tam Tam Pizza @ Lost Giants Cider Co.
The Galley @ Ponderosa Beer + Books

Saturday Food Trucks
A Que Tacos @ Goods Local Brews
Back East BBQ @ Wander Brewing
Big Stick Barbecue @ Stemma Brewery
Burnt Side Down @ Stemma Brewery
Dumpling Girls @ Goods Local Brews
El Pollo Feo @ Kulshan Brewery (Roosevelt K2)
El Tapatio @ 4124 Strider Loop Rd
Galley 2 Go @ Stones Throw Brewery
Greektown @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
Lil’ Mamas @ Menace Brewing
Luchadora @ Wander Brewing
Nana J’s @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
New Public Vegan @ Evil Bikes (700 Harris Ave)
Outpost Eats @ Transition Outpost (5090 Samish Way)
Sammies Vegan @ Bellingham Farmers Mkt.
Tam Tam Pizza @ Bellingham Farmers Mkt.
Tam Tam Pizza @ Dockside Mkt.
Tam Tam Pizza @ Lost Giants Cider Co.
The Galley @ Ponderosa Beer + Books

Sunday Food Trucks
Back East BBQ @ Wander Brewing
Big Stick Barbecue @ Stemma Brewery
Burnt Side Down @ Stemma Brewery
Dumpling Girls @ Goods Local Brews
El Pollo Feo @ Kulshan Brewery (Roosevelt K2)
Greektown @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
Lil’ Mamas @ Menace Brewing
Luchadora @ Wander Brewing
Nana J’s @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
New Public Vegan @ Evil Bikes (700 Harris Ave)
Outpost Eats @ Transition Outpost (5090 Samish Way)
Stella Sopra @ Stones Throw Brewery
Tam Tam Pizza @ Lost Giants Cider Co.

Because it’s fun to be a lookie-loo

Crash an Open House

2418 F Street (Open Fri 2-4 PM, Sat 12-2 PM)
This is a cute little 2 bed on F Street, with a sweet detached carriage house, and a fantastic backyard. This would be a fabulous home for someone who wants to live in the heart of Bellingham. ❤️ Listing.

2612 Birch Street (Open Sat 1-3 PM)
This is a big one!! 3300+ square feet with all the trimmings you get with a new build. The photos show tall ceilings, beautiful countertops, and a lovely wide-open living area. And, it’s near the end of a sweet looking cul-de-sac. Listing.

Performance Arts This Week

Dance of The Hamsters

LIVE THEATRE & EVENT

Walton Magic:
Mount Baker Theatre | Sat, Sun, 1 PM; Sat 4 PM

PARTICIPATORY DANCE

Salsa : The Salsa Collective @ The Majestic Ballroom | Sun 5:30 PM Details.
Tango : Tango Practica @ The Majestic Ballroom | Wed 6:30 PM.
Yoga : Cosmic Yoga Dance @ Flux Power Yoga | Fri 6:30 PM Details.

Help Spread The Word

Refer three Bellingham friends to join our newsletter community, and we’ll include a birthday callout to one person you specify on their B’day 🎂. Get your referral link here. Your current referral count is: 0. You’re so close!.

Music & Nightlife

Spinning Into The Night

Friday Games & Trivia
None Scheduled

Saturday Games & Trivia
None Scheduled

Sunday Games & Trivia
Bingo @ Paws For A Beer | 3 PM
Trivia Night @ Stemma Brewing Co. | 5:30 PM

Hakuna matata

To All Our Readers

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Have a great Friday!!