The Hamster Wheel
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🐹 Sausage Factory 🌭🌭

November 25, 2024

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

It was a quiet weekend in the Ham and looks to be a quiet start to this Thanksgiving week. That’s fine by us. 😁 🦃

Have fun and stay safe out there!

~ Val & Evan

In today’s Hamster Wheel:

Mount Baker Lodge
Galbraith Closure
Food & Drink
Music & Nightlife

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

Marine Park - 📷 by Chuck Hardin.

Little Squalicum Pier - 📷️ by Evan

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

Weather Forecast

Monday: 48°F 🌡️ 39°F | 🌧️ Chance Light Rain | 🌧️ 40% | 💨 ENE 6 mph

Tuesday: 49°F 🌡️ 40°F | 🌧️ Slight Chance Light Rain | 🌧️ 20% | 💨 WNW 2 mph

Bellingham Bay Tides

Day	Time	H/L	FT
Mon	1:00 AM	H	5.03
Mon	6:10 AM	L	3.22
Mon	1:03 PM	H	8.44
Mon	8:32 PM	L	2.33
Tue	2:45 AM	H	5.70
Tue	7:07 AM	L	4.19
Tue	1:19 PM	H	8.34
Tue	8:52 PM	L	1.42

Moon Phases

Weather & Tides from NOAA. Moon data astronomyapi.

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

Looking Back: Mount Baker Lodge

The Whatcom Museum shared this wonderful photo last week to celebrate the opening of the 2024 ski season at Mt Baker. Pictured is the Mount Baker Lodge, circa 1930, with snow drifts nearly to the eaves.

“Opened in 1927, the lodge welcomed summer visitors for just four short seasons before it was lost to fire in 1931.”

County Council’s Marathon Meeting

Last Tuesday the County Council passed the 2025-2026 Biennium budget during an epic eight-hour-long meeting that included impassioned feedback from the public, forceful disagreement between Council Members and Satpal Sidhu the County Executive, and what we’ll describe as sibling-like squabbles amongst members 🙄.

There’s an old saying: “Laws are like sausages. It’s better not to see them being made.”

Heck with that… this meeting is absolutely worth a listen if you have time. Local politics is a messy business where strong opinions collide, especially in a county as politically diverse as ours. You can watch the recorded meeting here.

Cascadia Daily reports the budget will impact county residents with a “total tax bill increase of approximately 2.7% for property owners in the unincorporated county and approximately 1% for properties within cities.”

In other news…

🚵 Biker alert!!! Galbraith Tree Farm announced they will be temporarily closed to the public from December 4th through December 6th to conduct a bow hunt aimed at controlling the deer population. This measure is designed to protect newly planted cedar saplings.

Galbraith Tree Farm is managed by Janicki Logging Co. whose press release noted that: “Juvenile cedar trees are a preferred food source for deer, and their browsing has led to substantial annual losses.”

🏙️ The Bellingham City Council meets today (Nov 25) at 9 AM at the Bellingham Public Schools District Office for a 2024 public retreat. The City Council periodically convenes special meetings held in a retreat setting to have in-depth discussions on pertinent issues relating to the City Council and the City as a whole. This retreat will include a presentation of 2025 Council Policy Priorities by Dan Hammill, Legacies and Strategic Commitments by Skip Williams, and Meeting Logistics by Hollie Huthman.

🚣‍♂️ The Water Resources Advisory Board meets tomorrow (Nov 26) at 6PM. The Board will discuss the draft Lake Whatcom five-year work plan and Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) permit fees. Attend in person at the Pacific Street Operations Center or via Zoom.

Food & Drinks

Hamsters Gotta Eat

Monday Food Trucks
A Que Tacos @ Goods Local Brews
Burnt Side Down @ Stemma Brewery
El Tapatio @ 4124 Strider Loop Rd
Luchadora @ Wander Brewing
Outpost Eats @ Kulshan Brewery (James St.)
Tacos El Tule @ West Marine (Meridian St)

Tuesday Food Trucks
A Que Tacos @ Goods Local Brews
Burnt Side Down @ Stemma Brewery
El Pollo Feo @ Kulshan Brewery (Roosevelt K2)
El Tapatio @ 4124 Strider Loop Rd
Galley 2 Go @ Stones Throw Brewery
Luchadora @ Wander Brewing
Outpost Eats @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
Tacos El Tule @ West Marine (Meridian St)
Tam Tam Pizza @ Fringe Brewing
The Galley @ Ponderosa Beer + Books

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

Monday Games & Trivia
Trivia Night @ Ono Kitchen & Bar | 7 PM
Trivia Night @ Paws for a Beer | 6:15 PM
Trivia Night @ Zeeks Pizza & Fountain Brewing | 6 PM

Hakuna matata

To All Our Readers

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Have a great Monday!!