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🐹 Snowy Owls 🦉🦉

🐹 Snowy Owls 🦉🦉

December 02, 2024

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

It was so beautiful yesterday! I hope you had an opportunity to enjoy the sunshine. We dragged the kids out for a walk around Lake Padden and a stroll through the Allied Arts Market. It made for a lovely Sunday.

Have fun and be safe out there!

~ Val & Evan

In today’s Hamster Wheel:

Snowy Owls
#GivingTuesday
Food & Drink
Music & Nightlife

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

Allied Arts - 📷 by Val.

Allied Arts - 📷 by Evan.

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

Weather Forecast

Monday: 48°F 🌡️ 34°F | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 🌧️ 0% | 💨 N 2 mph

Tuesday: 49°F 🌡️ 36°F | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 🌧️ 0% | 💨 NNE 2 mph

Bellingham Bay Tides

Day	Time	H/L	FT
Mon	7:20 AM	H	9.21
Mon	11:57 AM	L	7.37
Mon	3:00 PM	H	8.12
Mon	11:42 PM	L	-1.91
Tue	7:59 AM	H	9.29
Tue	12:45 PM	L	7.43
Tue	2:53 PM	H	8.02

Moon Phases

Weather & Tides from NOAA. Moon data astronomyapi.

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

Snowy Owls Visiting Whatcom County

Hamster Wheel reader and photo contributor Eduard Schwan sent us this photo of a gorgeous female Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) he spotted here in Whatcom County.

“Look who showed up on our shoreline this weekend! This beautiful female snowy owl decided to head down south from the arctic tundra a little early and say hi to a few of us excited photographers. When she flew, it was just a couple of feet over to the next log. This is the second time in my life I have seen a wild snowy owl, and it is such a soul-stirring experience! We made sure to stay far away and use long telephoto lenses, so she could relax, undisturbed.”

The Snowy Owl is a winter visitor to our community, most commonly seen between early November and mid-March. Their numbers are variable, with no sightings some years and a spike in visits, which may be attributed to lemming cycles farther north other years.

I fondly remember seeing one in a tree line behind Christianson's Nursery in Skagit Co. over twenty years ago. We’ll be on the lookout! 🦉

#GivingTuesday

The wonderful ladies from the Assistance League of Bellingham shared some information about Giving Tuesday for us to include in The Hamster Wheel. If you're like us and haven't heard much about it, Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

Launched in 2012, it’s a movement to inspire generosity and kindness, following the busy shopping days of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. With so many wonderful groups making a difference in our community, it’s tough to choose where to give this Giving Tuesday. Here are a few options:

Community Organizations

Lydia Place: Services that focus on upstream interventions and nurture whole-family healing that disrupt the generational cycle of poverty and homelessness. Learn. Donate.

Bellingham Food Bank: Supporting 5,000 household visits a week and offer a free grocery program, drive through, and home delivery. Learn. Donate.

Assistance League: Dedicated to ongoing support and a lasting presence in our community through hands-on involvement and innovative philanthropic programs. Learn. Donate.

Environment & Land

Whatcom Land Trust: From rivers to forests, the Trust ensures these special places remain protected for future generations. Don’t miss their “Hills Are Alive” event, where they creatively celebrate their work. Learn. Donate.

Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association: Enhancing river, creek, and riparian habitat while educating people of all ages to provide Pacific salmon & Steelhead the best chance at survival. Learn. Donate.

Animals & Pets

Shadow’s Forever Friends: Honor the memory of a beloved rescue dog by supporting this nonprofit dedicated to helping senior animals through advocacy, education, and community outreach. Learn. Donate.

Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center: To promote the well-being of wildlife and their habitats through rehabilitation of injured and orphaned wildlife, public education and non-invasive research. Learn. Donate.

Preservation & History

Heritage Flight Museum: Preserve history and inspire future generations by supporting this museum at Skagit Regional Airport, home to vintage aircraft, military vehicles, and veteran-donated artifacts. Learn. Donate.

Whatcom Museum: A community magnet and a regional destination for cultural experiences rooted in art, nature and Northwest history. Learn. Donate.

In other news…

🎄 The Whatcom Museum is hosting its Deck the Old City Hall event through Jan 5th. Whatcom Museum’s Old City Hall transforms into a dazzling holiday wonderland for this annual celebration. Stroll through halls adorned with beautiful trees, garlands, and wreaths, creating a festive ambiance. They are also hosting several events including a Ukulele concert, caroling, and a LEGO building event. Admission is by donation. Details.

👨‍🌾 The Whatcom County Council will meet both today and tomorrow. The Monday special meeting agenda lists only “Resolution certifying amounts to be levied by Whatcom County taxing districts to the County Assessor.” This public meeting is held in the Council Chambers at the County Courthouse at 6:30 PM or watch via Zoom. Tuesday’s regular meeting agenda lists dozens of contract authorization votes. This public meeting is held in the Council Chambers at the County Courthouse at 6 PM or watch via Zoom.

🏙️ Ferndale and Lynden City Councils meet today. The Ferndale council meets at 5 PM at 5694 2nd Ave. The Lynden council meets at 7 PM at 205 4th St.

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

Mow the lawn? Nah.

Killer Condos & Apartments

312 N State Street UNIT 201
This place is gorgeous. It has a super clean, super modern vibe. It’s perched over the old Cliffhouse restaurant on State St. Which raises the question: what the heck is going on with the old Cliffhouse restaurant building? Listing.

3111 Newmarket Street UNIT 308
This one’s in the heart of Barkley Village which bills itself as Urban Village Living with easy access to Bellingham’s trails, shopping, grocery stores, restaurants, banks, fitness centers, library, theater, medical and veterinary services. Listing.

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 Music
Bella Ciao | Open Mic | 7 PM
Ramble Tamble | Wild Geese Of The West Rock | 7 PM

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!!