70 modern and classic European cars are expected to be in downtown Bellingham this Sunday for "Sunday at the Depot: A unique collection of fine European automobiles." The free car show sponsored by Northwest European Autoworks is to encourage people to get their older European cars out of the garage and out on the road.The show will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Depot Market Square on Railroad Avenue. Photo courtesy of Flickr stephentrepreneur 07/27/2007

The Hamster Run II, will take place this weekend. No it isn't a foot race, but a scooter ride. Members of Scooters of Bellingham and people from scooter clubs throughout the state will have the opportunity to do  two rides on Saturday and one on Sunday. Rides will go through the Mount Baker foothills, up Chuckanut Drive and around Lummi Island. 50 to 80 scooters are expected for the rides. Have a scooter?  Want to ride?   Visit Scooters of Bellingham 07/27/2007

The road to Artist point will open tomorrow, Saturday July 28. Road crews have been working this month to clear up to 20 feet of snow from the final few miles so people can get to the end of the road and the beautiful views and hiking trials that are available there. Artist point is above 5000 feet  of elevation and provides some spectacular views of Mt Baker and Mt Shuksan. I will be heading up very soon to take my 2 new sons who have recently arrived from Thailand and never seen snow before, except in pictures. 07/27/2007

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  BELLINGHAM'S REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL EARNS ECOBROKERÒ DESIGNATION  Michael James, of Fairhaven Realty a branch of Lakeway Realty, Inc.,  in Bellingham, has earned the EcoBroker Certified® designation, having successfully completed a unique and informative training program on the energy and environmental issues that affect real estate transactions.  Michael joins the movement of professionals pushing the real estate market toward energy-efficient, sustainable, and healthier design/features in homes and buildings.  The "performance home" movement is getting a boost thanks to this type of high quality real estate professional earning the EcoBroker designation.  EcoBrokers®, like Michael throughout the country are forging this market and creating competitive advant... 07/27/2007

According to several online real estate information services, the highest number of mortgage default notices in over a decade were sent out last quarter in CA as a result in falling or flat home prices, slow sales and a market struggling with the home buying frenzy of 2004-2005. Whoa.............. Check out this Los Angeles Times article about forclosures in the California Market:http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-housing25jul25,0,2714634.story?coll=la-home-business    07/26/2007

Fannie Mae recently announced that it will begin to alert lenders if the collateral property for a mortgage is located in an area where house prices are in the decline.  Fannie Mae Underwriters will be sending a message to the lenders notifying them that they should review appraisals to assure accuracy and require appraiser to included additional about market trends as of July 22 2007. The area's market trend and its effect on the value of the subject property must be disclosed by the appraiser. Good and qualified appraisers have been doing this all along:)For more info click on: https://www.efanniemae.com/sf/guides/ssg/annltrs/pdf/2007/0711.pdf For a qualified Residential Appraiser in the Bellingham & Whatcom County area call Bennett Appraisals 360-746-0224.  Order  online @  www.benne... 07/26/2007

Bellingham has just been awarded $150,000 grant to help preserve it's historic character and promote heritage tourism. The grant will fund a survey historic homes in the Lettered Streets, York and South Hill neighborhoods. The grant comes to us from Preserve America and was awarded by Laura Bush who designated Bellingham as a Preserve America community."To qualify for the grant we had to demonstrate the city's dedication to its historic resources, and show that we understand preservation's role in economic development and community revitalization," sid Katie Franks, Development Specialist for the Planning and Community Development DepartmentFor more information you can visit the city of Bellingham website. 07/26/2007

Anthropology students from Western Washington University haver determined that people lived at a site on Chuckanut Bay at the site of the present Woodstock Farm as long as 2,500 years ago. The discovery was made from finely ground bits of shells near the shore. They believe that carbon dating shows people processed shellfish at these sites in what in America are ancient times.  Students also found evidence of temporary fishing camp and more permanent settlements.  There will be a discussion of the archaeological dig Friday at an event at Woodstock Farm from 5 - 8 pm. 07/25/2007

Don't miss  the 11th annual Bellingham Co-op Community Party, Sunday, July 29, noon-6 pm Admission Free & Everyone Welcome!Come on down to Boulevard Park for musi, magicians and jugglers, kids' activities, a parade, and the opportunity to connect with local non-profits. You can even feast on a famous 2-Buck Burrito.The -RE Store will have a Recycled Art Station, transform something old into a new work of art, lots of materials will be provided.Five bands will play the day away. Juba Marimba will start the show , followed by the Happy Valley Sluggers with John Hatten calling circle, square, and line dances for the whole family, a new Bellingham "fusion Latin alternative" band, Sabrina y Los Reyes. LaPUSH Street Dance Band will lead a kids parade. The Monday Night Project will close the s... 07/24/2007

Don't miss the tall ships the Lady Washington and the Hawaiian Chieftain, both visiting Bellingham this week.They will arrive Wednesday July 25 and will be offering self guided tours of these 18th-century replicas. And if you really want to experience a tall ship battle of the past, the ships will be staging a mock battles with visitors aboard, several times during their stay here in town:  6 to 9 p.m. Thursday; 2 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. Friday; and 2 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday. They will be at Squalicum Harbor Gates9 & 12. The ships crews will be dressed in 18th century costume. The Lady Washington was used in the film the "Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl,"  and "Star Trek: Generations." and was just recently named the new official boat of Washington state.... 07/23/2007

Where Have All the Buyers Gone? (hum  that 60s tune about flowers, too!). It's a Buyers Market, for sure, altho some Sellers have not gotten a dose of reality and are keeping their home way too overpriced for the softening that's taking place since the historic spurt of the early 2000s.The rates are still decent altho higher than in recent years, and the lenders are tightening up eligibility after a 'Wild West' period of anything goes. So, where have all the buyers gone? The last slump in this market in the 80s took 8 years to rebound; it likely won't be anywhere that long this time around, but it is unlikely next year will be noticeably different that this year. And, it's an election year, so tread water until a new president is sworn in. 07/22/2007

The Happy Valley neighborhood is within close proximity to Western Washington University as well as Fairhaven which makes it a very popular neighborhood. There are lots of students there as well as families. Most of the homes seem to have been built since the 60s, with lots of apartments and duplexes being built near the University in recent years. There is still lots of open space in this neighborhood, that provides habitat for deer and other small animals. Some of the streets don't even have sidewalks and are more like alleys.Connelly Creek and nature area is probably the largest of the open spaces in the Happy Valley neighborhood, it was established to preserve Connelly Creek and the wetlands around it. Padden Creek also us through the neighborhood.Joe's Garden is a beautiful spot i... 07/21/2007

Why Bellingham?Here's a recent quote (May,2007) about life in the Northwest from the New York Times that named Bellingham as #2 of the best places in the nation to live or retire."Like the best piece of art, it's very subjective," Mr. Sperling said. "But using various surveys, we looked at what people think are romantic things to do such as a walk on the beach, or getting flowers. So we looked at sales figures for flowers given as gifts, at places with water nearby. Looking at a sunset is romantic, so you need non-overcast days. We looked at champagne sales."Bellingham beauty creates an enviornment that promotes a healthy lifestyle, whether it be a great place to raise children or live your golden years.Come visit!About me...A native of Washington State I love the outdoors, the mountain... 07/20/2007

Here is an unusual event  this weekends for all you fun seekers and dog lovers. Saturday July 21 - 3pm at Lake Padden Park will be The Sky-Houndz Frisbee Dog Show. Do you have a frisbee loving hound? Get them down to the Lake Padden Park, they won't want to miss this one. 07/19/2007

This years fourth annual Relay for Life Garden Tour is Sunday July 22 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and features seven gardens three in Bellingham, two in Ferndale, & two in Laurel. The tour is dedicated to the memory of Pat Brady, who died in December after losing her battle with breast cancer. Brady helped start the state Department of Social and Health Services team that raised money for the American Cancer Society through two  fundraisers - the Relay for Life walk and the garden tour. Last year, members raised nearly $8,000. A donation of $10 per person is requested from those going on the tour. Tickets are available at Whatcom County garden nurseries, including: Gardens at Padden Creek, 2014 Old Fairhaven Parkway; Garden Spot Nursery, 900 Alabama St.; De Wilde's Nursery, 3410 Northwest Ave.;... 07/19/2007

City of Bellingham officials have been invited to participate in emergency management training at the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) prestigious Emergency Management Institute, an opportunity only offered to a few municipalities each year. "The 'Integrated Emergency Management Course' is an intense comprehensive course that places public officials, key community agency representatives, and emergency response personnel in a realistic disaster response environment, exposing them to operating in a realistic Emergency Operations Center setting under high stress, and learn how to work together to resolve crisis situations. The course stresses the integration of key community resources and individuals in dealing with all phases of disaster response."  Bellingham has been working... 07/18/2007

If you are interested in learning a little bit more about Bellingam, tune into Bellingham's own TV show, "Inside Bellingham" which is hosted by Doug Waldo. The program runs several times a week on channel 10 and for those of you out of the area it can be seen on-line as well. This months addition will feature the York Neighborhood, cruising Bellingham Bay, trekking the Coast Millenium trail, and the National Night Out Against Crime. 07/18/2007

A small trailer park with 22 mobile homes may be turned into one of Bellingham's newest mixed use commercial -- residential developments near the present site of Home Depot. This new development is in its earliest planning stages and proposes 200 residential units plus 125,000 sq.ft. of shopping Center and 125,000 sq. ft. of office space. This could be a big problem for those mobile homeowners whose homes may be too old to be legally moved, and the owners can't afford to buy the new condo's being built. Their rent will increase from $350 a month to $500 a month in the fall. The trailer owners were told five years ago at the park could be sold and closed so the developers feel they've had plenty of time to make other plans. But what are people in a situation like this supposed to do. Kin... 07/17/2007

There is an interesting potential conflict brewing between the Port of Bellingham and the City Council over shoreline setbacks for the New Whatcom redevelopment of Bellingham's waterfront. It seems like the port doesn't like the idea the City Council is proposing for 200 foot setbacks from the waterfront in the new mixed use neighborhood of parks, shops, offices, restaurants, and homes, probably mostly condos. Port is contending with the stringent setbacks from the water's edge there would not be able to generate enough revenue to pay for the cleanup of the site. The price tag in today's Bellingham Herald article for the environmental cleanup was put at $80 million, the port is hoping to recover that money through sales and leases of property in the development. Stay tuned for future de... 07/17/2007

As the summer progresses, the garden work continues.  It gets harder as the days get hot, but fortunately in this wonderful maritime northwest climate, heat spells are very short.  The temp got up to 95 on Wednesday (near record high for Bellingham Washington) but is already back to the mid seventies (more normal Bellingham Washington summer temperature).  Every day the gardens change.  Here are a few shots from yesterday.This is one of my favorite roses.  It is called Rosa Mutabilis.  The buds start out one color and gradually go through a series of color changes till the flower is spent.  This particular plant was huge in the spring.  My wife said it was taking up too much space, so she cut it back to the ground.  I have to admit that she was right, and the plant is thriving.Crocosmia... 07/15/2007