Great Job, County Council! / Facebook post, Whatcom Hawk, Wendy Harris

moratorium amended

13 hrs  August 10, 2016  Wendy Harris

In a surprise move, after approving the comp.[Whatcom County Comprehensive] plan, the [Whatcom] county council introduced and passed an emergency moratorium on the acceptance and processing of applications and permits for new and expanded facilities in the Cherry Point UGA area, the primary purpose of which would be the shipment of unrefined fossil fuels not to be processed at Cherry Point. Continue reading

Of particular concern are Council’s activities, decisions and comments July 12-26, 2016 RE: proposed changes to the Comprehensive Plan, Chapter 2, Land Use, Cherry Point / Letter to the Whatcom County Council, Paula Rotundi

cornell alcohol commerce clause

August 7, 2016  Paula Rotundi

Dear Whatcom County Council Members,
Only courts decide what the U.S. Constitution permits and what it prohibits. So I am concerned that County Council appears to be legislating and regulating according to lobbyists’ interpretations and Council Members’ own personal interpretations of the U.S. Constitution. Of particular concern to me are Council’s activities, decisions and comments July 12-26, 2016 regarding proposed changes to the Comprehensive Plan, Chapter 2, Land Use Cherry Point. Continue reading

5,000 Mile Tribal Journey to Oppose Expanding Fossil Fuel Exports from West Coast / Press Release, Our Shared Responsibility: A Totem Pole Journey

13686577_1328707370480287_3071326066060678430_n

First coats of paint.  Photo credit, Paul Anderson

13 hrs August 6, 2016  Media Contact, Paul Anderson

lummitotempolejourney@gmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 2016

Bellingham (WA) On August 23 the House of Tears Carvers of the Lummi Nation will begin a 5,000-mile trip across the western United States and Canada with a 22-foot long totem pole to bring attention to proposed fossil fuel terminals, oil trains, coal trains, and oil pipelines and the threat they pose to tribes and local communities.

Continue reading

On growing Red La Soda potatoes with no fossil fuel inputs / Facebook post, Whatcom Hawk, Walter Haugen

13925685_10206944233267619_8083404759120038676_o

10 mins  August 7, 2016 Walter Haugen

Yesterday I harvested these Red La Soda potatoes from half of a 4’x8′ raised bed (the other half is in strawberries). The yield was 17 pounds, so in the 16 square feet I got a yield of 1.06 lb/sq ft or about 1 pound per square foot. This is not an uncommon yield using raised beds for growing potatoes. Continue reading

The Irony Report from Small Town America-Episode 3 / Now it’s a waiting game, Toni Lyons

ferndale clocktower sideways

The current state of the Clock Tower Project

August 2, 2016  Toni Lyons

We return to the ongoing story of the Ferndale Clock Tower.

In early July, I accompanied Art and Margaret, the owners and builders of this nearly-completed landmark, to a courtroom on the second floor of the Whatcom County Court House. The City of Ferndale vs. The Rojszas, Superior Court–Take Three.

Continue reading

“I can clearly see that the issue is not petroleum vs. environment.” – Whatcom County Council Member Satpal Sidhu / Noisy Waters Northwest

council member sidhu 072616

Click the graphic to access video on YouTube of Councilmember Sidhu’s statement made at the July 26, 2016 Whatcom County Council meeting. Councilmember Sidhu’s statement starts at approximately 58:35 on the recording if the video does not automatically start playing at that point.

August 1, 2016  Dena Jensen Continue reading