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Playhouse brings nostalgic frenzy to stage
The Whidbey Playhouse’s stage turned into Dr. Seuss’ nonsensical mind for the season’s grand finale, mixing bright colors, tongue-twisting songs and acrobatic wonders to create the ultimate sugar rush on steroids experience. “Seussical,” directed by daughter and father duo Shelby and Matt Montoya, runs Fridays July 19...
Three QFC locations could be part of sale
More than 100 supermarkets in Washington will change ownership pending the approval of a merger between Albertsons and Kroger, two of the nation’s largest supermarket chains. Kroger, which owns Fred Meyer and QFC, and Albertsons, owner of Safeway and Haggen stores, released a list of the 124 locations in...
Gary Wayne Smith
Gary Wayne Smith passed peacefully from this world on the evening of July 5, 2024 after a brief stay at Whatcom Hospice. He lived a long and full life as a much-beloved son, brother, husband, and father. On October 18, 1934 he was the first of five children born to George and Hazel (Speirs) Smith, whose forebearers began to settle in Bellingham in 1968. He was followed by his brother, Grant, his sister Christa, and two more brothers, Glen and G. Winton.
La Conner Town Council approves updated strategic plan
LA CONNER — The La Conner Town Council approved an updated town Strategic Plan for 2024-2028 during its Tuesday meeting. The Strategic Plan outlines focus areas and implementation processes for the town, including facilitating increased housing diversity and affordability, and investing in fire protection and prevention. The modifications update the plan for 2025. The changes included the addition of goals to: ...
Hamilton residents look into home buyout program
HAMILTON — Residents of Hamilton, representatives from Forterra and the Skagit County Department of Emergency Management recently met to learn about the Forterra buyout program and flood safety. Dawn Haight, senior managing director of conservation real estate for Forterra, said the goal of the public meeting was to provide residents a chance to learn more about the program and provide people education on flood safety. Forterra has funding for the...
Shrek, Jr. takes the stage at children’s theater
Michael Morgen is a believer that the Whidbey Children’s Theatre upcoming production of “Shrek, Jr. the Musical” is well worth the price of admission. “I always want to tell people how good the shows are here because sometimes people think of them as only being for kids, because it’s a children’s theater,” the director said, “but I would hold a lot of our shows up against any other theater company on Whidbey as being really powerful and well done.”
Mark Elliot Lambert
Mark Elliot Lambert passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and close friends, on Sunday, June 2, 2024, at UW Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, at the age of 45. Born in Bellingham, Washington, Mark was a lifelong resident of the Pacific Northwest, embracing the region’s outdoor adventures, culinary delights (crab, coffee, and beer in that order), and sports activities.
South Whidbey alum researches cancer abroad
From the halls of Langley High School to the laboratories of Cambridge, England, one former South Whidbey resident has carved a fascinating path for himself in trying to solve one of life’s greatest riddles – cancer. A 1977 graduate of the little high school that later became Langley...
Oak Harbor Haggen on merger sale list
Haggen grocery store in Oak Harbor is on a list of 579 stores that will be sold off if the $25 billion merger between Kroger and Albertsons goes through. Under the proposed merger, the grocery stores would be sold to New Hampshire-based C&S Wholesale Grocers. As the Seattle Times reported, the theory is that selling the stores would preserve competition, but critics claimed that the sale would put the stores at risk of closure.
WWU police officer fired after investigation into use of force incident in January
A Western Washington University Police patrol car outside Wade King Student Recreation Center in March. A UPD officer was fired July 11 following an investigation into a use of force incident. (Finn Wendt/Cascadia Daily News) A Western Washington University police officer has been terminated from his position following an in.
Responders, bystander revive 4-person overdose
In May, Oak Harbor resident Tim Hazelo was in a drive-thru line on the south end of town when he saw a woman next to 7-Eleven fall out of her wheelchair. She was with three others, so he figured they would help, he said. After a few minutes he looked again, and the others were dancing around, not paying attention to her.
Last-minute resolution to shut down 22 North forces hard look at facility’s ‘failures’
A new Whatcom County Council resolution is calling for the defunding and closure of the 22 North housing facility in downtown Bellingham. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News) A new Whatcom County Council resolution calling for the defunding and closure of 22 North is forcing. Become a member and receive a coupon...
Meet Keith Howard: Performer, sailor and Anacortes bus driver
A man in a black shirt with a Crest white smile and a warm voice sings the famous James Taylor hit song, “Fire and Rain” on a sleepy Anacortes Friday afternoon. His name is Keith Howard. He’s an Anacortes School District bus driver by day, a performing artist by evening and a sailor by night.
Bellingham Pride: love shines loud
Bright colors, loud cheers, bubbles, sunshine and overwhelming love filled the streets of downtown Bellingham on Sunday, July 7, as the Pride parade and festival rounded out Bellingham’s Pride celebrations. This year’s Pride festivities included a weekend of events and activities geared toward people of all ages and walks...
A Weekend Getaway to the Least-Crowded Island in the Pacific Northwest
Seagulls duck and dive around the ferry dock as a line of cars load onto the Whatcom Chief. To test my ferry karma, I purposefully didn’t consult the schedule—a risky endeavor on a warm, clear Saturday in July. A wave of gratitude rushes through me as mine is the last of just 20 cars to board the tiny ferry that will carry us across the Hale Passage to Lummi Island in just five minutes. The postcard-ready scene features deep blue-green waters glistening in the sunlight, evergreen trees standing tall and resolute in the distance, and a cloudless, cerulean sky above. As we arrive island-side, the salty, pungent scent of low-tide fills the air.
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