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🐹 Wolf Moon 🐺🐺

🐹 Wolf Moon 🐺🐺

January 15, 2025

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

The forecast for the next week indicates we’ll have more sun than rain. 🥳 But it comes with a dip in nighttime temps into the high 20s. Take advantage of today and tomorrow to complete any winterization projects, as Friday night will be chilly! 🥶

Have fun, and stay safe out there!

~ Val & Evan

In today’s Hamster Wheel:

Wolf Moon & Lunar Occultation
Water Distribution Group
Food & Drink
Music & Nightlife

Nature, Community, Sasquatch, UAP

Photos From the Hoods

Commercial Street at Night - 📷 by Lyn Fuller.

Zuanich Point Park - 📷 by Kevin Klatt.

Lummi Island Sunrise - 📷 by Ginny Broadhurst.

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

Weather Forecast

Wednesday: 45°F 🌡️ 37°F | Fog then ☀️ Sunny | 🌧️ 50% | 💨 W 3 mph

Thursday: 45°F 🌡️ 33°F | 🌧️ Chance of Rain | 🌧️ 50% | 💨 SSW 6 to 9 mph

Bellingham Bay Tides

Day	Time	H/L	FT
Wed	7:16 AM	H	9.50
Wed	12:27 PM	L	6.31
Wed	4:32 PM	H	7.76
Thu	12:06 AM	L	-1.17
Thu	7:46 AM	H	9.35
Thu	1:18 PM	L	5.73
Thu	5:26 PM	H	7.24

Moon Phases

Weather & Tides from NOAA. Moon data astronomyapi.

Events, Updates & News Around Town

Get off the Hamster Wheel

Wolf Moon & Lunar Near Occultation

Following Monday’s full moon, Hamster Wheel readers Kellie Shepherd Moeller, and Victoria Jacobson sent us the beautiful moon photos below. January’s full moon is called the Wolf Moon. The The Maine Farmers' Almanac coined this name in the 1930's. Other European names for this Moon include the Ice Moon, the Old Moon, and the Moon after Yule.

Wolf Moon - 📷️ Victoria Jacobson

There was something special about this year's wolf moon. In many parts of the US and Canada, you could (with the help of binoculars or a telescope) watch a lunar occultation event, during which Mars would pass behind the moon and reemerge later in the night. Bellingham ended up just outside the zone for occultation viewing. From our vantage point, Mars appeared to skim just past the outer surface of the moon.

Wolf Moon & Planet - 📷️ Kellie Shepherd Moeller

If you zoom into this photo from Kellie Shepherd Moeller, you will find a small orange planet to the moon's left. 👆️

The moon will not be entirely full tonight, but the sky is forecast to be clear and it would be a great time to get out under the stars. Bundle up and bring binoculars or a telescope if you have one. Consider trying a sky app on your phone to help orient yourself. I’ve had good luck with a free app called Star Map on Android. The ads are enough to make you throw your phone, but the sky view works well. I’ve heard great things about a paid app called SkySafari 7 Pro which is available on both Android, and iOS.

Keeping Bellingham’s Water Safe & Flowing

Many years ago, I worked on a mainline water and sewer crew, and I can attest that these crews work incredibly hard—under challenging and nerve-wracking conditions—to keep our water flowing.

It’s easy to take the conveniences of modern life for granted, but that fresh stream of potable water is available at our faucets because of all the awesome work these guys do. 👇️ 🙏

Bellingham’s Water Distribution Group 👆️ includes: “(back to front, left to right): Nick Fletcher, Jeff Cayford, Nathan Slaton, Tyler Rouse, Eric Loske, Scott VanDiest, Ron Norwood, Jason Festner, Tyler Buss, Ryder Bronkema, Stefan Nelson, Brent Hayes, Rick Patrick, Adam Boucher, Tanner Patrick, Aaron Lunde, Dallas Sullivan, Daniel Mendoza”

If you see the Water Distribution Group working around town, take a moment to stop and say hello. I guarantee every one of them has interesting stories about things they’ve found below the streets and sidewalks of our city. It’s urban archeology down there. 😉

In other news…

🎪 Looking for a Valentine Day outing? Tickets are now available for My Circus Valentine, the Bellingham Circus Guild’s fifteenth annual celebration of love and connection.

My Circus Valentine “brings together local and regional star-studded acts,” taking you on “a journey of light and dark to discover mesmerizing moments of harmony between these opposites.” Look forward to aerialists, jugglers, and other circus stars weaving their magic stories around you.

This event, which comes in all-ages, and 21+ flavors, runs from the 13th through the 16th of February. Grab tickets now as these events regularly sell out.

🚗 On Monday, Bellingham City Council approved an interim ordinance that eliminates minimum parking requirements for housing units, effective January 28, 2025, until January 2026 unless extended. This change, part of Mayor Kim Lund’s initiative to address the city's urgent housing needs, allows developers to tailor parking provision to actual demand rather than proscriptive standards, thereby freeing up land for additional housing. Council President Hollie Huthman noted that “Considering the state of housing availability and affordability in Bellingham, prioritizing use of land for housing people instead of parking vehicles just makes sense.” The City will evaluate the ordinance’s impact over the next year before developing a permanent solution.

🏀 Bellingham’s Carmen Dolfo, head coach of Western’s women's basketball program, achieved an impressive career record last weekend with her 700th win in her 34-season tenure. Only 13 NCAA Division II women's basketball head coaches have reached this remarkable milestone.

Congratulations to Carmen for this achievement and the Viking women's basketball team for an exciting win against Central!

Cheering on the young athletes in Western’s sports programs is a fun way to interact with the community. Parking is free, kids are welcome, and our local teams would love to see another cheering face in the crowd. 👏 Check the WWU Calendar for events.

Local Business Updates

Haggling With Local Folk

Two Soups and the Bagelry

Okay, we’re stoked about this. Both Val and I have been going to the Bagelry since we were scrappy young hamsters. We both have a soft spot for their soups. But, there was a time, not too long ago, when the Bagelry got rid of their soups altogether 😠

Now all is good with the world. 😆 A few months back, they brought back soup, and this week, they've announced they'll be rolling out two soups each day! AND, they’re offering a Soup Happy Hour, weekdays from 2-3 PM where you can grab a cup of soup for just $2.50 with any bagel and schmear. Bagel+Soup bliss! 😜

Food & Drinks

Hamsters Gotta Eat

Wednesday Food Trucks
A Que Tacos @ Goods Local Brews
Big Stick Barbecue @ Stemma Brewery
Burnt Side Down @ Stemma Brewery
Calcutta by Simmering Tava @ K2
Dumpling Girls @ Goods Local Brews
El Pollo Feo @ Kulshan Brewery (Roosevelt K2)
El Tapatio @ 4124 Strider Loop Rd
Galley 2 Go @ Stones Throw Brewery
Luchadora @ Wander Brewing
Mobile Mouth Hole @ Lowes Parking Lot
New Public Vegan @ Evil Bikes (700 Harris Ave)
Outpost Eats @ Kulshan Brewery (James St. K1)
Sammies Vegan @ Wander Brewing
Tacos El Tule @ West Marine (Meridian St)
The Galley @ Ponderosa Beer + Books

Thursday Food Trucks
A Que Tacos @ Goods Local Brews
Big Stick Barbecue @ Stemma Brewery
Burnt Side Down @ Stemma Brewery
Calcutta by Simmering Tava @ K2
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)
Sammies Vegan @ Wander Brewing
Tacos El Tule @ West Marine (Meridian St)
Tam Tam Pizza @ Lost Giants Cider Co.
The Galley @ Ponderosa Beer + Books

Harbor & Maritime

Whatever Floats Your Boat

34' Wooden Trawler
I’m an absolute sucker for tugs and trawlers. To me, they represent a very romantic Puget Sound vibe. This one looks like a beauty. Built in 1964, the owner thinks it’s likely an Ed Monk design. It was built in the Marco boatyard in Ballard. 😍 Listing.

16' Handmade Skiff
This one's slick. It's a home-made 16' fishing skiff with a 30 HP Honda Outboard, Scotty downrigger, and many bells and whistles. It's out in Friday Harbor, but it's still fun to look at. 🔨 Listing.

Performance Arts This Week

Dance of The Hamsters

LIVE THEATRE & EVENT

Hot Box:
iDiOM Theater | Thurs, Fri, Sat 7:30 PM

STOMP:
Mt Baker Theatre | Mon 7 PM

Into the Woods:
New Prospect Theatre | Sat, Sun 7 PM; Sun 2 PM; understudies Sun 7 PM

Vaudevillingham:
Bellingham Circus Guild | Wed 7 PM

PARTICIPATORY DANCE

Bachata : WWU Salsa and Bachata Club @ Viking Union MPR | Mon 7 PM
Swing : B’ham Hop @ Hotel Leo Crystal Ballroom | Tues 7 PM
Cuban Salsa : Beginning Cuban Salsa @ Rumba Northwest | Tues 6 PM
Cuban Salsa : Intermediate Cuban Salsa @ Rumba Northwest | Tues 7:15 PM
Scottish Country : Scottish Dancing Workshops @ Fairhaven Library | Wed 7 PM
Tango : Tango Practica @ The Majestic Ballroom | Wed 6:30 PM.
Bachata : Bham Bachata @ ‘ONO Kitchen & Bar | Thurs 7:30 PM
Pop/EMD : Sorry For Party Rocking @ Wild Buffalo | Sat 9 PM
Techno/EMD : Digital Kiss Rave @ The Blue Room | Sat 9 PM
Salsa : The Salsa Collective @ The Majestic Ballroom | Sun 5:30 PM

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

Hakuna matata

To All Our Readers

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Have a great Wednesday!!