Every Tuesday, the NEKO Cat Cafe welcomes college students to take a break, pet some cats and enjoy some drink specials.
The Outback Farm has taken on the fight against food insecurity among Western Washington University students as it helps stock up free food pantries around campus – with the help of locally grown produce from Western’s own backyard.
The Bleedingham Film Festival will be hosting its 11th year of short horror films at the end of Halloweek, Oct. 28-30. With 101 films and no COVID-19 mandates, Langley West, co-director for Bleedingham, is “looking forward to a Bleedingham that feels like Bleedingham.” In 2020, the festival went online and came back socially distanced in 2021. This year will be the first time since the pandemic that Bleedingham is back to ‘normal.’
Ana Swetish, a third-year student at Western Washington University, is the best surfski competitor in the world under 23 years old. Her journey began when she was 11 years old. “In 2013, a kid’s kayak team started in Bellingham on Lake Padden, and my dad signed my sister and I up,” Swetish said. “I fell in love with it.”
Have you seen the pink patrol car yet? Bellingham Police Department recently revealed a new pink patrol cruiser to raise awareness about breast cancer during the month of October. Additionally, Police Chief Rebecca Mertzig has authorized officers to wear pink patches and badges.
Let’s say you are a Western Washington University student trying to get to Vancouver, British Columbia, for a concert. For those who don’t have a car, wince at the price of gas or worry about their carbon footprint, FlixBus offers a way to travel without driving.
Bellingham City Council will hold a public hearing on Monday, Oct. 24 to vote on whether to remove public parking on several streets to install bike lanes. The upcoming decision comes as a result of the Bicycle Master Plan, which the Bellingham City Council established in 2014 to create a more bike-friendly city.
The remodel of Lighthouse Mission Ministries’ facility at 910 W. Holly St. has entered its second phase. Phase one saw the New Life Center at 923 W. Holly St. remodeled into a modern-day recovery center to accommodate the houseless occupants of 910 W. Holly St. during construction.
The Whatcom Museum is currently showing a guest exhibit titled “Un/Natural Selections: Wildlife in Contemporary Art” alongside its companion program, "Passport to the Natural World." “Passport to the Natural World,” or the “Passport” program for short, includes a wide range of events happening until the end of October, all free to local college students.
Western Washington University’s Drawing Jam is an annual event that happens every fall quarter in the Viking Union Gallery room 507. It is a way to incentivize students to share their drawing skills and make friends. This year, the event took place from Oct. 4 to Oct. 14.
This month, documentaries are taking over the screens at The Pickford Film Center (PFC). 2022 marks the 15th annual Doctober Film Festival, which is one of the largest documentary film festivals on the West Coast.
Those visiting Western Washington University’s campus this weekend might notice an unusual number of students wandering campus accompanied by their parents or chosen family members. From Oct. 21-23, Fall Family Weekend takes over campus with a wide range of events for students and their visiting families.
Hazard pay will be ending on Oct. 31 for grocery workers in Bellingham. The $4 pay increase was tied to Bellingham’s COVID-19 Proclamation of Local Emergency that was originally put into place on March 10, 2020. Gov. Inslee announced on Sept. 8 that all remaining emergency orders for the state will come to an end by Oct. 31.
This fall has been surprisingly warm with little rainfall, and although some might assume this is due to climate change, there is no trend to suggest this is the primary cause. These October days that have reached the mid-70s are likely just a weather fluke.
Students trying to park in Western Washington University's C-lot this fall have been sharing a major issue: There are too many cars and not enough spots. Students pay $293 for an academic-year-long parking pass in the C-lot, and yet they still aren’t necessarily guaranteed a spot, as many of them are having trouble finding a place to park during peak class hours.
Air quality in Bellingham has reached an “unhealthy” level due to ongoing wildfires in the northwest region. The Air Quality Index (AQI), which measures hazardous particulates in the air, reached 153 on Tuesday afternoon in Bellingham. Any AQI over 150 is designated to be unhealthy for everyone, especially people with lung, heart and respiratory diseases, people younger than 18 and over the age of 65 and outdoor workers. Elsewhere in Whatcom County, the numbers are even more unsafe — in Maple Falls, the AQI has reached a “very unhealthy” level of 203.
Take a trip with me: you’re on the campus of Western Washington University, walking south towards the stairs to nowhere. You enter the Environmental Studies building and walk up that dingy flight of stairs to the second floor. Walking east, you pass the geology department’s various museum displays — bugs stuck in amber and ancient animal tracks. Finally, you reach the end of the hallway — room 213. Look to your left and you’ll see a big set of cabinets and one small mini fridge. These, unlike the fossils just a few feet away, are quite new. The geology department just introduced their department’s food pantry, stocked with food for whoever passes by and needs it.
Almost every Tuesday at 7 p.m., the Underground Coffeehouse is flooded with creatives and creative enthusiasts looking to catch a glimpse of up-and-coming talent in Western Washington University’s community. Open Mic Night features a wide range of acts, from musical performances to poetry readings and stand up acts. Regardless of one’s interests, the event has something for everybody.
On a warm Thursday night in October, runners pack the gravel parking lot of the Stimpson Family Nature Reserve, ready for a workout. Their post-run destination? Kulshan Brewery on Kentucky Street. BBay Running, a running and walking shoe store in downtown Bellingham, organizes group “pub runs” every Thursday, where a group of roughly 30 local residents takes off for a long run. Aftward, they head to a local Bellingham pub to celebrate their accomplishment and socialize.
With Bellingham's beloved music scene back in full swing, musicians and fans are looking for more ways to get involved. “I think it's more vibrant than ever,” said Patrick Roulete, department chair of the Western Washington University music department.
Solutions by The State News
