Good morning, Bellingham.

Blaine will host its Spring Block Party on May 17 with a street fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. featuring over 60 vendors, a kids’ zone running until 2 p.m., and an adult beer garden with live music starting at 1 p.m.+ local food trucks and restaurants will also serve treats.

Bellingham Public Schools is cutting roughly 25 full-time positions in administrative, teaching and support roles and increasing class sizes for grades 4-12 to address a $15 million budget shortfall for the upcoming school year — state funding, fee hikes and foundation funds are set to cover about 25% of the gap while officials consider a special levy in November.

The Lummi Island ferry returned to full service on May 11 after its dry dock outage, and drivers can now take vehicles on board.

The Whatcom Chief was briefly out of service on May 13 for hydraulic repairs – resuming trips at 2 p.m. – and now features new signage at the Gooseberry Point terminal to ease boarding.

Residents in north Bellingham faced delays as Faber Construction began road closures for a roundabout project on James Street and Bakerview Road.

The northern section of James Street closed for 15 days—followed by a 10-day closure on the southern part while Bakerview Road is reduced to one lane until the project finishes by the end of June.

A Whatcom County resident tested positive for mumps—the first case since 2018—and is recovering at home with no risk to the public.

County officials have completed contact tracing and believe the person may have been infected on a cruise overseas.

In Bellingham, over 1,000 unionized PeaceHealth workers remain on strike, forcing temporary closures of Priority Care Clinics at the Medical Office Plaza and in Sedro-Woolley—these clinics will reopen Monday, May 19 while patients are redirected to alternate care options.

PeaceHealth has temporarily closed its Priority Care Clinics at the Medical Office Plaza and in Sedro-Woolley as over 1,000 unionized workers continue their strike—patients at the Medical Office Plaza are redirected to the Cordata clinic, and Sedro-Woolley patients are advised to call their primary care physician or visit the emergency room. The clinics will reopen Monday, May 19.

The Mariners will try to break their four-game losing streak tonight at 6:40 on KPUG after yesterday’s 11-5 loss to the Yankees, which saw Oswaldo Cabrera leave in an ambulance—meanwhile, Sehome boys soccer faces Squalicum for the 2A district title at Civic Stadium tonight and Bellingham will play top-seeded Anacortes in prep baseball on Thursday.

The Chuckanut Radio Hour with Patrick Hutchison

7-8 p.m. — The Hotel Leo Crystal Ballroom — $5 — Enjoy an evening of music and storytelling featuring author Patrick Hutchison and musician Phil Paige.

Intro to Vector Graphics Workshop

6:00-7:30 p.m. — Bellingham Makerspace — See event details for registration costs — Learn to create vector graphics using Inkscape for laser and vinyl cutting.

Pawject Runway: Compassion is the Fashion

5-9 p.m. — Best Western Plus Lakeway Inn — Online auction from May 12-16 — Celebrate compassion for animals through fashion at this unique fundraiser.

Meet-A-Truck 2025

1-3 p.m. — Bellingham City Hall — Free entry — Explore big trucks and equipment while enjoying crafts and a scavenger hunt.

Intro to Vector Graphics Workshop

6:00 – 7:30 PM — Bellingham Makerspace — Class fees apply — Learn to create stunning vector graphics using Inkscape with expert guidance.

Corvettes Unlimited Car Show

10 AM – 3 PM — Bellewood Farms & Distillery — $20 entry for participants — Celebrate the 30th Annual showcase of corvettes and open classes.

Intro to Laser Cutter Workshop

6-7 p.m. — Bellingham Makerspace — Class fees applicable — Learn to safely operate the laser cutter and create your own acrylic keychain.

Bellingham Scottish Gathering

8 a.m. – 6 p.m. — Blaine Marine Park-kids play area — Free entry — Celebrate Scotland's vibrant culture in the heart of Blaine.

Comedy Night with Scott Losse

9:30-11:30 p.m. — Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro — Tickets required — Enjoy a night of laughs with national headliner Scott Losse in Bellingham.