If you are still holding onto unused Lummi Island ferry punchcards that expired on June 1st, you have a limited time to exchange them for credit toward new cards.  With the summer car and driver rate up to $10 per trip, purchase of a new 10 trip punch card at $72 will save you $2.80 per trip, and purchase of a 25 trip punch card at $160 will save $3.60 per trip.  It’s worth stopping at the 2nd floor of 322 N Commercial St (across from the library lawn). . . or call 360-676-6876 and they will tell you how to exchange your old cards by mail.  The deadline for exchange is August 29th. �

Whatcom County berry picking season is in full swing. Strawberries have been ready for at least a few weeks now, the raspberries started there first and second picks this week and last and blue berries aren’t far off either!

There are few things more “Whatcom County” than berry picking. Berry picking in the summer has served as a first job for many county kids, is a crucial time for people looking to make their jams for the year, or just a time to hang out with the kids and enjoy some time outside picking something everyone in the family is sure to enjoy.

Last Saturday my little brother Chance and I headed out on a Raspberry picking mission. We called my usual favorite spot Boxx Berry Farms and they weren’t open for U-Pick Raspberries until next week, so we set out drive to see the next U-Pick farm that we could see was open. Living in Everson, we didn’t have to go far we immediately came upon a family owned patch located just north of the Hannegan on the Pole Rd.

Chance and I were the first pickers on our row and were greeted by thousands of plump red raspberries ripe for the picking. 11lbs of raspberries later we headed out. At $1.75 a lbs for raspberries I considered it a real steal. I took my berries home, cleaned them, made desserts and froze them for future use to enjoy throughout the year.

Below is a quick list of a few local farms open for U-pick currently.

Boxx Berry Farms (360) 380-2699
Barbie Berries (360) 384-1260
Crystal View Raspberry Farm (360) 380-5975

If you are looking to pick some berries feel free to send me an email or give us a call at (360) 303-2734 and we’d be happy to point you in the right direction.

Last weekend we had a great time attending the Everson-Nooksack Summer Festival, an annual event held the second weekend in July.

The festival starts at the Everson Park located off of Main Street bordered by S.Washington and Harkness Street. The park is full of local vendors, entertainment, and different BBQ venues. Saturday starts with the traditional pancake breakfast which takes place at the Everson Senior Center. Then comes of the heart of the festival the parade which starts at 11am.

The parade was great this year with floats from everyone around the county from the Antique Tractor Club, classic cars to church groups and local hair salons, everyone was represented in the parade. There was tons of candy throw out for the kids to enjoy and the weather was absolutely beautiful to top it all off!

After the parade we headed back over to the Everson City Park to enjoy a freshly grilled steak sandwich made by Herb the owner of the Black Forest Steak House, let me be the first to tell you it was amazing! Chance had a great time playing some bean bag toss games and listening to the live band in the gazebo.

If you have never attended the Everson-Nooksack Summer Festival be sure to mark it down on your calendar for next year, I think you will be glad you did!

Several weeks ago the Bellingham City Council put in place a moratorium on building in the Lake Whatcom watershed.  The Bellingham City Council will hold a Public Hearing on Monday July 14, 2008, 7:00PM to take public comment on the following:

INTERIM EMERGENCY ORDINANCES ESTABLISHING A MORATORIUM ON THE FILING, ACCEPTANCE, AND PROCESSING OF APPLICATION OF DIVISIONS OF LAND, NEW BUILDING PERMITS, AND LAND DISTURBANCE ACTIVITIES IN THE PORTION OF THE LAKE WHATCOM WATERSHED LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF BELLINGHAM.

Anyone wishing to comment on this topic is invited to attend.  Written comments received before 10:00 AM, July 9 (today) will be included in the agenda packet.  Written comments received after that time will be distributed to Council but not included in the published meeting materials.  Send comments to the Council Office, 210 Lottie St, or email to citycouncil@boc.org , or FAX to 778-8101.

More information on the Moratorium can be found at:  http://www.cob.org/issues/lw-moratorium.aspx  or contact Kurt Nabbefeld at 778-8351 or at knabbefeld@cob.org.

This is a huge issue with a number of ramifications, and I’m sure the hearing will be entertaining as well as informative.  The outcome of the ultimate decision may also impact Whatcom County’s eventual stance on building in the watershed outside the city limits.  If you have an interest, make the time to attend.

What an incredible weekend with temperatures reaching up into the 90’s! Above is a photo I took of my lovely boys taking in the views at Lake Whatcom. To me there is nothing more amazing than a beautiful day in Whatcom County. Mt. Baker and the Twin Sisters were in full view towering above the raspberries fields. Lake Whatcom was a buzz with people enjoying the chance to cool down from the hot sun. Chuckanut Drive winding along the water’s edge was full of hikers, bikers, campers and motorcycles set out to enjoy the hiking trails and views of the San Jaun Islands. Birch Bay was bustling with children and families wading in the warm shallow waters. What a great place to live!

Below are a few ideas of day time adventures perfect for a sunny day around Bellingham.

1. Cool down in the waters of Lake Whatcom at Bloedel Donovan Park
2. Beachcomb and wade in the shallow waters of Birch Bay at Birch Bay State Park
3. Take the kids or the big kids at heart to the Birch Bay Waterslides
4. Take drive or hike and enjoy the stunning views of Chuckanut Drive
5. Visit’s Everson’s Riverside Park and explore the river bars and swimming holes
6. Walk the Taylors St Dock from Fairhaven down to Boulevard Park
7. Drive up to Mt. Baker see the waterfalls, and the incredible mountian up close.

If you have other ideas of fun adventures in the sun feel free to ad them to this post!

I must admit I love the snow, but driving in it…. not so much! Below are a couple of pics from my way into work this morning.
The view from my front door looking at Everson Park, snow still coming down and temp. about 26 degrees. Brrrrrrr……

Main St in Everson, just around the corner from my house, roads covered in snow and ice!

Headed down the Everson Goshen Rd on my way to the office in Fairhaven. Nasty road conditions!

Now here is the difference between my house, and my commute and where my office is located…… Here is a shot in Fairhaven.

Nothing but rain here in Bellingham’s Historic Fairhaven District. What a difference in weather. Just goes to show you how diverse Whatcom County can be!

Bellingham has recently undergone construction along Holly St. from the corner of Lakeway and Ellis to the intersection at State St.  This area can be considered the main entrance to downtown Bellingham.  These improvements create a safer road for pedestrians and motorists as well as create a more inviting and aesthetically pleasing “Gateway” into Bellingham . The approximately 2 million dollar project was funded from Real Estate Excise Tax as well as the Street Fund.  Improvements, which are now almost complete, include:

• Replacement of curbs, gutters, and sidewalks
• New streetlights
• New planting of trees along street.
• Resurfacing of roads.
• Sidewalk bulb-outs

Currently this week in Lynden, WA the Pending Ratio is 10%, which is stable with last week’s ratio of 10%. The pending ratios are the percentage of homes listed that have pending offers on them.

Below is a graph to view the Lynden Real Estate pending sales trend.

To view the pending ratios in numerical form click here

Another building is set to go up in Bellingham’s Historic Fairhaven District. The developers have named the project Fairhaven Harbor and it’s located at 800 Harris St, to the west of the excisting Harris Square Condominiums, between 8th and 9th Ave.

The City of Bellingham as just received a new Design Review Permit of the developement which is proposed to be an 8 story building with 60 residential unit, approx. 6,600 sq feet of commercial retail space, 100 on-site parking spaces and 23 on street parking spaces.

You can view drawings of the project at City Hall located at 210 Lottie, Bellingham.

Currently this week in Ferndale, WA the Pending Ratio is 13%, which is stable with last week’s ratio of 13%. The pending ratios are the percentage of homes listed that have pending offers on them.

Below is a graph to view the Ferndale Real Estate pending sales trend.

To view the pending ratios in numerical form click here