Good morning, Bellingham.

Multiple rescues took place at Mt. Baker as warm weather brought more visitors into risky wilderness areas; on May 27, two climbers with serious injuries were located using Garmin InReach devices and on May 28, a skier injured on Coleman Glacier was winched by a Snohomish County Sheriff's helicopter to a hospital — deputies warned visitors to prepare for such risks.

The new Trader Joe’s store at 4255 Meridian Street opened on May 29, making it Bellingham’s second location.

Pre-existing employees from the James Street store and new hires held a ribbon-cutting with live music from the Meridian High School band—while the store will operate daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Pickford Film Center announced that its new location—Pickford on Grand—will open on Aug.

1 and add three screens to its current two; the expansion will allow the theater to show a wider range of films including small first-run and educational titles while details on opening events will be released later.

Bellingham has added nearly 100 acres to its Lake Whatcom Watershed Land Acquisition and Preservation Program through a $1.1 million purchase that includes two properties totaling 45 acres approved on May 19 — previous acquisitions in April and May totaling nearly $800,000 help preserve forested land and protect water quality.

Deputy Chief Jason Monson retired on May 28 after 37 years of service with the Bellingham Police Department, beginning as a warrant officer in 1988 and rising through roles as a K-9 handler, detective, and supervisor.

He plans to travel and spend time with family while the department praised his dedication and leadership + honored his impactful career.

Bellingham City Council approved two ordinances to expand affordable housing—one will allow middle housing to be built citywide beginning June 3 to meet state laws, and the other will amend the tax exemption program with a final vote on June 9.

The Mariners lost their worst game of the season as George Kirby allowed six runs in five innings and the Sounders won one to zero with Jesus Ferreira scoring and Stefan Frei earning his fifth shutout.

In local sports news, WWU rowing will begin its NCAA Championship run tomorrow at 6 a.m. while the Seattle Kraken signed forward John Hayden to a two year contract extension — NBA and NHL playoff updates add further excitement in the region.

The Mariners suffered their worst loss of the season with a 9-0 shutout by the Nationals and will try to recover tonight while the Sounders maintained an unbeaten home record with Jesus Ferreira’s first goal and Stefan Frei’s seven saves.

Meanwhile, the Kraken extended John Hayden’s contract and Western’s rowing team embarks on its national championship bid tomorrow morning — as busy NBA, NHL and Pacers and Knicks matchups complete this northwest sports update.

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.

Ann Aguirre Book Launch with Sarah Hawley

6-7 p.m. — Village Books and Paper Dreams — $6.44 - $20.44 — Celebrate the launch of Ann Aguirre's newest book with an engaging conversation and a book voucher.

Intro to the Laser Cutter

6-7 p.m. — Bellingham Makerspace — Free for members — Get insights on laser projects and learn about design tools with expert Jason Davies.

Tenderpile Smile Aisle Live Performance

8-11 p.m. — Aslan Brewing Company — Free entry — Enjoy a melodic evening of jazz music from the local group Tenderpile Smile Aisle.

Intro to Vector Graphics Workshop

6:00 – 7:30 PM — Bellingham Makerspace — $ — Learn to create stunning vector graphics using Inkscape for your creative projects.

Boulevard Park Concert Series: SpaceBand

6-8 p.m. — Boulevard Park Stage — Free — Enjoy an evening of old-school dance covers and new classics with the local favorite, SpaceBand.

Bellingham Festival of Music Opening Night 2025

7:30 p.m. — Performing Arts Center — $50--$60 — Experience a global musical tour with Artistic Director Marcelo Lehninger and pianist Simon Trpceski starting with The Russian Masters.