Good morning, Bellingham.

Former Whatcom County Health Director Erika Lautenbach now serves as Chief Administrative Officer for the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

Whatcom County is searching for a permanent Health Director following a four-month vacancy — the move comes after her departure in March.

Erika Lautenbach, the former Health Director of Whatcom County, now serves as Chief Administrative Officer for the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families—Whatcom County is currently seeking a permanent replacement for the Health Director position.

The planned new jail on LaBounty Drive in Ferndale will open in summer 2028 and may need nearly 500 beds as expert Eric Ratts explained that current needs call for 400 beds with future growth pushing capacity to 720 beds by 2050.

The design builder will present capacity scenarios in August — a review step for county officials comparing these projections with the downtown jail’s 211-bed capacity.

Eric Ratts—an expert in jail capacity studies—said that the new jail on LaBounty Drive in Ferndale, which is set to open in summer 2028, may need nearly 500 beds to meet current demands with projections of 720 beds by 2050 as the population grows.

The builder will present several capacity scenarios to the county council after being selected in August.

Last school year, Whatcom County students had a vaccination rate of 86%, which is below the nearly 90% average statewide.

New data from the state (Department of Health) shows it is the lowest rate in the county in five years (with Blaine reporting the highest and Nooksack Valley the lowest).

This weekend, Whatcom County events include the Fourth Corner Punk Fest at EVIL Bikes in Fairhaven on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. with touring and local punk bands, as well as a free York Yard Crawl in Bellingham from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Other events are a picnic at Pioneer Park on Friday, a classic car show and parade in Ferndale on Saturday, a sand sculpture contest in Birch Bay from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and a rap show at Wild Buffalo in downtown Bellingham on Friday at 9 p.m.—all set to bring art and music to the region—and marking a busy weekend for locals.

PawArty Paint & Sip Party

12-1:30 p.m. — Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro — $20 (+fees) — Unleash your creativity while supporting local shelter animals with a fun afternoon of painting and sipping.

Soccer Summer Camp in Bellingham

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. — Phillips 66 Soccer Park — Registration required — Learn soccer skills from Real Madrid Foundation coaches while making new friends.

Intro to the Laser Cutter Workshop

4-6 p.m. — Bellingham Makerspace — Class fees apply — Learn to safely operate a powerful laser cutter and create your own acrylic keychain.

The D’vas and Dudes Performance

5-8 p.m. — Skylarks Cafe — Cost info not provided — Enjoy an eclectic mix of danceable tunes blending rock, country, blues, and boogie woogie.

Steve Von Till Live Performance

7 PM — Structures Brewing — $31.09 — Experience intimate solo performances from iconic musicians of the heavy underground.

Insights for Farmer-Parents with Katie Kulla

2-3 p.m. — Village Books and Paper Dreams — Free entry — Discover parenting strategies from an author-farmer and engage with insights for balancing family life on the farm.

Bellingham Bells vs. Nanaimo NightOwls

6:35-8:05 p.m. — Joe Martin Field — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy a thrilling collegiate baseball match featuring the local Bellingham Bells.

Bellingham Bells vs. Nanaimo NightOwls

6:35-8:05 p.m. — Joe Martin Field — $3 from every ticket supports Wild Whatcom — Experience a thrilling baseball game followed by a fireworks show.

Blues, Brews & BBQ Featuring Lost at Last

5-9 p.m. — Hotel Bellwether — BBQ available for purchase — Enjoy live music from local band Lost at Last while savoring delicious BBQ and craft brews on the waterfront.

Larrabee Lakes Trail Race

7 AM – 5 PM — Fairhaven Park Pavilion — Join the race series in stunning Larrabee State Park with smooth trails and handcrafted awards.