Crews finish repairs following report of gas leak near Bellingham’s Meador Avenue, City of Bellingham reports drinking water not contaminated by Bloedel Donovan sewage spill, Ferndale to host harvest festival in October, Samish Nation and San Juan advocacy group awarded NOAA funding for ecological preservation, Free and cheap
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KMRE brings you local news for Friday, September 13th. Good afternoon, I’m _David Korb_____.
STORY: Crews finish repairs following report of gas leak near Bellingham’s Meador Avenue
The gas leak reported near the Meador Avenue Bridge yesterday morning has been fixed.
Fire crews were first notified of the leak around 9:45 a.m. The leak was caused by construction workers hitting a two-inch natural gas line. People in the 1700 block of Meador Avenue were asked to shelter in place as a precautionary measure.
Cascade Natural Gas says it completed all repairs by 2:30 p.m.
STORY: City of Bellingham reports drinking water not contaminated by Bloedel Donovan sewage spill
The waterfront at Bloedel Donovan Park remains closed after a significant sewage spill into Lake Whatcom on Wednesday afternoon.
The spill, caused by a contractor hitting a buried pipe during work on the Electric Avenue bridge, released up to 50,000 gallons of raw sewage into the lake. Yesterday, officials clarified that the city’s drinking water was not affected, since the water treatment plant intake is over a mile upstream from the spill site. In response, city engineers released additional water from Lake Whatcom into Whatcom Creek to help flush the sewage. The spill is not expected to impact the planned reopening of the Electric Avenue bridge next week.
Until further notice, residents are advised to avoid contact with water near the park.
STORY: Ferndale to host harvest festival in October
Ferndale Community Services will host a Harvest Festival next month.
The festival, which aims to celebrate Fall and raise money for people in need, will be a family-friendly event and include activities such as pumpkin and face painting as well as cultural demonstrations.
The Harvest Festival is free, but donations will be accepted to support FCS’s programs and services. More information is available on the Ferndale Community Services website.
STORY: Samish Nation and San Juan advocacy group awarded NOAA funding for ecological preservation
The Samish Indian Nation and Friends of the San Juans have been awarded nearly half-a-million dollars to bolster the climate resilience of the San Juan Islands.
According to a recent press release, funding is made possible through the state Climate Commitment Act and will support the San Juan Islands Resiliency Planning Project. This project aims to protect the islands’ ecological and cultural resources from climate-related threats such as flooding and erosion.
Organizers plan to conduct a comprehensive flood and erosion hazard assessment, and say they will integrate cultural resource protection into shoreline restoration with new research and mapping data on sea level rise, shoreline armoring, and key marine habitats.
This effort is a collaboration between state agencies, tribes, NGOs, and local government and will be part of the state Coastal Climate Resilience Partnership. Samish Indian Nation, which has inhabited the islands for centuries, views the grant as a crucial step towards addressing climate challenges facing the region.
The project is set to commence in 2025, and will provide a blueprint for safeguarding the future of the San Juans and their communities.
STORY: State college credit program for high schoolers sees enrollment bump
The Washington State ‘College in the High School’ program is helping students state-wide save money—and the program is growing.
College in the High School has been offered free to students since last year, and provides college-level courses taught by high school teachers with oversight from college faculty. The initiative aims to strengthen educational options rather than replace them. According to a press release, about 10,000 students have enrolled in the dual-credit courses so far.
Advocates note that 74% of participants go on to enroll in college, suggesting the program effectively promotes higher education. Unlike Advanced Placement or IB courses, credits from College in the High School translate directly into class credits in Washington-area universities and colleges.
According to organizers, Interest in the program has increased among students and school districts alike, because it allows schools to keep students on campus and tailor courses to meet community needs. However, it’s still uncertain whether the program has increased participation among low-income students, with early data showing only about 28% of the 2023 cohort were from low-income backgrounds.
STORY: Free and cheap
If you’re looking for something fun to do this weekend, why not try one of these free (or cheap) local events.
Today and tomorrow are the final days for “A Summer Celebration: Six Women Artists”. The show at the Cordata Gallery is free and features works across various media and styles.
Tonight: Stop by Boulevard Park for a free, family-friendly concert. Tonight’s event features North Sound Soul, a Bellingham-based, 9-piece band which includes high-energy horns, dynamic rhythm section and is fronted by a tag-team duo of powerhouse vocalists. Music begins at 6pm.
Starting Saturday at 10AM you can check out the Farm & craft market in downtown Blaine overlooking the harbor. Free admission for the public every Saturday from May to October.
Also on Saturday:
If your kid is into legos, there will be boat-focused fun at Barnes and Noble with Brad and Mike from Season 4 of Lego Masters and Tom Crestodina, author and illustrator of Working Boats: An Inside Look at Ten Amazing Watercraft. At 1pm, there’s a make-and-take event that requires admission, but there’s a free storytime at 2pm and at 2:45 a free Build With Brad. Call Barnes and Noble for more information.
WX: Spooky date, mundane forecast
And now weather:
Expect clouds and sporadic afternoon showers today, with calm southwestern winds and a high in the mid-60s. Nighttime lows are projected to be in the mid-50s.
Rain is expected to stick around through the weekend, with consistent showers beginning tonight and lasting through tomorrow, although we might see a small amount of sunshine on Sunday.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Jayne Kuhlman (COOL-mun), Tristan Trudell, Kyler Cantrell, Anna Vickers, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, Paloma Ortiz, Anna Hedrick, and Miguel Garduño (MEE-gel gar-DOO-ño). Tune in to local news on KMRE weekdays at 3, 4 and 5 p.m. For news tips and feedback, send us an email at news@kmre.org or call 360-398-6150. KMRE is a nonprofit community radio station, powered by your donations. Check out our Patreon page or visit kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m _ David Korb _______________… thanks for listening.
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