Articles & Announcements

Birchwood Annual Neighborhood Picnic Aug. 1st

BNA Board — Thu, 27 May 2010 03:30:02 +0000

Our Neighborhood Picnic will be held on Sunday, August 1st, from 4-6pm. Free hot dogs, veggie dogs and drinks, bring your own side (optional). Chalk art, henna tattoos, basketball, kickball, and other FUN stuff. Learn about the Birchwood Neighborhood and become a Neighborhood Member. If you have any questions call 360-738-1196 or email info@wfcn.org

Little Squailicum Creek Contaminated Materials Clean Up

BNA Board — Mon, 24 May 2010 01:13:32 +0000

Polluted soil and sediment from Little Squalicum Creek will be dug up, moved nearby to The Oeser Co. property and covered under a $1.5 million cleanup that the Environmental Protection Agency expects to start in August.

The plan includes possibly setting aside the existing upper part of the creek - upstream from the Marine Drive Bridge - as backup storage for the contaminated material, according to the EPA.

The EPA hopes to start the actual cleanup on Aug. 18, although the federal agency is still finalizing details such as access agreements. But crews will be at the park within the next two weeks for preliminary brush clearing and soil sampling. The cleanup is expected to take six weeks. During it, the main trail through the park will be closed and beach access will be affected.

ATTEND THE MEETING

What: The Environmental Protection Agency has organized an open house to discuss the upcoming cleanup of Little Squalicum Creek, which will include re-routing part of it.

When: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 5.

Where: Fireplace Meeting Room, 625 Halleck St. in Bellingham.

Details: Call Howard Orlean, EPA superfund project manager, at (206) 553-2851, or JeanneO'Dell, community involvement coordinator, at (206) 553-6919.More on the cleanup: Go online to go.usa.gov/ltk and scroll down to Little Squalicum Creek.

PARK USE LIMITED

Beginning the first week of August, the main trail through Little Squalicum Park will be closed to the public during the Environmental Protection Agency's cleanup of polluted Little Squalicum Creek. That trail starts at Bellingham Technical College and ends at Little Squalicum Beach.

Another side trail will be closed for parts of the cleanup. Beach access will be affected as well.A detour route will be marked and warning signs will be posted during the cleanup, which is expected to last about six weeks.

The park will not be closed during the cleanup, as EPA indicated in a postcard sent out about an Aug. 5 open house to discuss the cleanup. Details: 778-7000.

Read more: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/07/23/1537797/epa-plans-to-start-cleanup-of.html#ixzz0uWkpNXGj

WTA Service Reduction Public Hearing Notice‏

BNA Board — Thu, 06 May 2010 20:56:05 +0000

Neighbors-

As we all know now that even after overwhelming support from Bellingham voters, the WTA bus proposal to maintain service failed at the ballot box on April 27. To all who voted, thank you.

I am on the WTA Board of Directors and would like to invite you to participate in the next step in our budget crisis. For the last six months, the Board has contemplated a series of service cuts in case the vote failed. Now we must take action and have called for a public hearing to take comments from citizens. Please consider offering your views by attending the hearing, writing a letter or email, or calling the comment line.

SERVICE REDUCTION PUBLIC HEARING

WTA will hold a public hearing on a proposed 14% service reduction.

WHEN: 6:00 p.m. Thursday, May 13, 2010

WHERE: Whatcom County Council Chambers,

311 Grand Ave, Bellingham

The purpose of the Public Hearing is to receive comment on a proposed 14% service reduction due to reduced revenues as a result of the economic recession.

If you are not able to attend the Public Hearing and have questions or would like to comment, contact :

Rick Nicholson, Director of Service Development
4111 Bakerview Spur Rd., Bellingham WA 98226
e-mail: rickn@ridewta.com or comment@ridewta.com

Comment@ridewta.com or comment line at 360-715-4500

Comments must be received before 3 p.m. on May 11th, 2010.

Service to be cut represents a huge hit to the Columbia, Birchwood, and Guide Meridian/Cordata neighborhoods constituting Ward 1 that I represent as a Councilmember. Over 55% of the operating hours in the proposed cuts countywide come from Ward 1.

Ward 1 impacts include the elimination of Lines 3, 4, 23. Ironically, current Sunday service in WTA only serves Bellingham, but even though Bellingham voters approved the measure by almost 65% YES, Sunday service is on the chopping block. Five of the 11 Sunday lines serve Ward 1. Further reductions throughout the week will also effect Lines 10, 15, and 24. A complete list of the service reduction proposal is linked here:

http://www.ridewta.com/files/file/service_reduction_public_hearing_rider_alert.pdf

Jack Weiss

Bellingham Councilmember, Ward 1

Hearing on Petition for Lafayette St. Vacation Feb. 10th

BNA Board — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:38:47 +0000

The City of Bellingham's Hearing Examiner will hold a public hearing on Wed., Feb. 10th at 6pm. at City Council Chambers, 210 Lottie Street on the Lafayette St. vacation petition. Kulshan Community Land Trust and several other petitioners have asked the city to vacate an undeveloped portion of Lafayette Street in the Birchwood neighborhood. This is the first step in a plan to develop affordable housing in the Birchwood Neighborhood. The full application is available for viewing at the Planning Department. Send Comments or requests for information to Kurt Nabbefeld, Sr. Planner knabbefeld@cob.org

Annual Neighborhood Meeting Jan 26th

BNA Board — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:28:04 +0000

The annual general Birchwood Neighborhood Association meeting will be Tuesday, Jan. 26th, 6:30-8:00pm, at Birchwood Elementary. Elections for new Board members will be held. We will also have refreshments to celebrate retired City Council member Louise Bjornson's contributions to our neighborhood and city.

November Meeting Topics Contacts

BNA Board — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:30:57 +0000

Bellingham Police Department Neighborhood Crime Statistics: http://www.cob.org/PIRCrimeStatistics/ Detective Al Jensen, ajensen@cob.org Ph: 778-8609; Officer Kat Dearborn, kdearborn@cob.org Ph 778-8660

Transportation Project - Northwest Roundabout Ravyn Whitewolf, rwhitewolf@cob.org ph: 778-7900. Project information: http://www.cob.org/government/departments/pw/projects/Northwest-Avenue-Pedestrian-Improvements.aspx

Birchwood Toy Store: Affordable new toys (75% off) for families in need: Birchwood Elementary Dec. 11th, 6-9pm and Dec. 12 9am-12pm Contact Cameron Garcia: cameron@mybirchwood.org

Board Member Nominees for Jan. elections: e-mail Barbara Campbell, campbell2920@comcast.net with name and several sentence about yourself and interests in the neighborhood.

Little Squalicum Creek Park Master Plan

BNA Board — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:06:04 +0000

The City of Bellingham, Parks and Recreation Department, finished the three public meetings to obtain input on the masterplanning of Little Squalicum Park. The final plan will be presented to the Parks Board and will go to the City Council on January 11th. For more information about this project, please visit the project development page at the following web address:
http://www.cob.org/government/departments/parks/projects/little-squalicum-park-master-plan.aspx

Birchwood Survey

BNA Board — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 05:07:38 +0000

Random Sample Survey Results:

In April, we mailed 600 surveys to randomly selected Birchwood residents, and 325 of those surveys were returned. Click on the link below to see the results:

Random Sample Survey Results: http://www.surveymonkey.com/sr.aspx?sm=6Wfjr1ZtWrc0mkQz2oSZNTBdP3mUkDgJvyXosksir2s_3d

Volunteer Survey Results:

More than 50 people who didn't receive a Random Sample Survey in the mail, took the Volunteer Survey. Click on the link below to see the results:

Volunteer Survey Results: http://www.surveymonkey.com/sr.aspx?sm=JgGue_2bi9T6iMEH9fNsNG3YDG2n4CsD8AhGWJg8La5vk_3d

If you would like to take the Volunteer Birchwood Neighborhood Survey, click on the link below. This survey can only be take one time on each computer.

Volunteer Survey Link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=mU7YZ807kTJtCnDV9MLmpg_3d_3d .

Birchwood Neighborhood Plan Update

BNA Board — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:08:30 +0000

The Birchwood Neighborhood Plan Update was approved by the City Council on Sept. 14th, 2009. Click on the following link to see the complete report and document:

http://www.cob.org/documents/planning/growth/2009%20NPA/n1-plan-staff-version.pdf

Preview of Pedestrian Improvement Project

BNA Board — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:25:47 +0000

Here's a preview of some of the pedestrian improvements, part of the Safe Routes to Schools program, that will be presented by the City at the Neighborhood Meeting on the 27th. These improvements were suggested by parents who walked their children's school routes with city staff.