News in Brief is published online every Friday, and updated throughout the week with bite-sized news from across Whatcom and Skagit counties. Read a roundup of the week’s news in print the following Friday.
Thursday, Jan. 18
Tony’s Coffee launches fundraiser for daughter of Terminal Building fire victim
Tony’s Coffee has launched a fundraiser selling mugs in honor of the life of Nate Breaux, who died in the Terminal Building fire in December. Tony’s got its start 50 years ago in the Terminal Building.
Breaux was the owner of Harris Avenue Cafe and the Old Independent Coffeehouse, the two businesses located in the first floor of the Terminal Building at the time of the fire.
Tony’s is now selling a mug with an image of the old Tony’s Coffeehouse location on it, with all profits going to Breaux’s daughter Izabella. Local illustrator Brittany Schade designed the artwork.
Todd Elliott, CEO of Tony’s Coffeehouse, said Barbi, Izabella’s mother, is supportive of this fundraiser.
“These recent events have certainly stirred many memories,” Elliott wrote in an email to CDN. “Generations have enjoyed coffee and shared laughs and built community in that space. Perhaps out of our collective grief, we can help raise some more money for a little girl who misses her dad.”
The mugs are selling for $18. They’re now available to preorder on Tony’s website for delivery in late February/early March.
Monday, Jan. 15
Washington attorney general sues to block Kroger-Albertsons merger
Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit Monday, Jan. 15, to block a proposed Kroger-Albertsons grocery merger, he announced in a Monday news release.
The proposed merger of the two largest supermarket companies in the state will hamper shopping options for residents and destroy competition that keeps grocery prices low, Ferguson said in the release.
The lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court on Monday, seeks to block the merger nationwide.
Kroger and Albertsons operate more than 300 supermarkets in the state, which is more than half of all supermarkets in Washington. The two companies account for more than 50% of all supermarket sales in the state.
Albertsons owns Safeway and Haggen, while Kroger owns QFC and Fred Meyer. Whatcom County has two Fred Meyers and two Safeways.
“This merger is bad for Washington shoppers and workers,” Ferguson said. “Free enterprise is built on companies competing, and that competition benefits consumers. Shoppers will have fewer choices and less competition, and, without a competitive marketplace, they will pay higher prices at the grocery store.”
Winter storm warning issued for Bellingham area with possible snow, ice
A winter storm watch has been issued for Western Whatcom County starting Tuesday evening and running through Wednesday night.
Heavy, mixed precipitation is possible with snow accumulations of up to 5 inches, with a tenth of an inch of ice also possible, according to the National Weather Service in Seattle. The warning begins at 10 p.m and runs through 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Travel is expected to be difficult. Some forecasts show precipitation possibly starting earlier on Tuesday.
The warning covers the lowlands of Whatcom County, including Bellingham, Lummi Island, Ferndale, Lynden, Blaine, Sumas, Sudden Valley and Point Roberts.
Snow is also possible in Skagit County, according to the weather service.
Daytime warming center open Monday
The City of Bellingham’s daytime warming center at 1013 W. Holly St. will be open again from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15.
The shelter, based in the former Lighthouse Mission Drop-In Center, opened on Friday in response to extreme cold in Bellingham. Today’s high temperature is 36 degrees, with wind chill values between 16 and 26 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
The county’s overnight severe-weather shelter at 810 N. State St. and the Ferndale severe-weather shelter at 2034 Washington St. will be open Monday night, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Saturday, Jan. 13
Light therapy lamps now available at Bellingham Public Library
Bellingham Public Library patrons will now be able to check out light therapy lamps thanks to funding from the Friends of the Bellingham Public Library.
The lamps are bright panels designed to pump light into your eyes and help ward off Seasonal Affective Disorder. Patrons can check out the lamps for up to three weeks for home use.
Anyone interested can reserve a lamp by clicking here. For more information, visit the library’s website.
Friday, Jan. 12
Mt. Baker Ski Area to close Saturday due to extreme temps
Mt. Baker Ski Area announced it will be temporarily closed Saturday, Jan. 13, due to extremely cold temperatures as an ongoing cold front hits Western Washington.
Heather Meadows Lodge is the only portion of the ski area that will be open on Saturday, along with its parking lot and the state Route 542 parking lot.
The ski area was hit with double-digit negative temperatures Friday, Jan. 12, including a low of -32 degrees on the Pan Dome.
It’s part of a 48-degree temperature swing in just four days, and the frigid temps have affected equipment operations and the ability to rewarm fuel lines.
“This level of cold is something Baker has never experienced in the ski area’s history,” according to the announcement.
Mount Baker is forecasted to reach a high of 7 degrees on Saturday, with a wind chill between -13 and -23 degrees.
“We would not be making this decision on a holiday weekend if we did not firmly believe it was in the best interest of the health and safety of our staff and mountain community,” the announcement stated.
