New Years 2015

Tomorrow is New Years Eve. In the past here in Bellingham, consumer fireworks have been part of the celebration of the New Year. The updated fireworks ordinance in our City prohibits the possession or use of consumer fireworks. A recent news release by the City indicated that additional police personnel will be on duty this New Years to enforce the fireworks ban. And we need to do our part to help - please report all violations of the ban to the City by calling 911 or 676-6911. An exact location will help! Ask for a call back from authorities. BTW, HAPPY NEW YEAR!. Later . . .

News Release Regarding Fireworks at New Years

Here's what the City of Bellingham just posted on the City website regarding the ban of consumer fireworks starting this New Years.  Check it out here.  Later . . .

2014 New Years and the New Consumer Fireworks Ban

Just about a year ago, a posting appeared here (See below) regarding the fact that the updated Bellingham fireworks ordinance, approved by City Council in June, 2014, was not the go into effect for New Years until this year.  A recent piece by Richard Conoboy in the North West Citizen, (http://www.nwcitizen.com/entry/new-years-eve-and-fireworks-ban-in-effect) is certainly worth reading.  Assuming you agree with his view of this situation, I suggest you also express your concerns via an E-Mail to City officials (mayorsoffice@cob.org; CLehman@cob.org; ptmvargas@cob.org; rjmurphy@cob.org; GKnutson@cob.org; JWeiss@cob.org; TBornemann@cob.org; MLilliquist@cob.org 
Cc: crcook@cob.org).  Later . . .

Super Bowl Win

Yesterday's victory by the HAWKS over the Bronco's was awesome.  Not so awesome were fireworks - ALL of which were illegal - on the Southside.  I so look forward to the City's revised - and enforceable - fireworks ordinance going into effect in June.  Later . . .

This Year's New Year's Fireworks

Just a quick heads up, since the fireworks ban adopted by City Council in June does not go into effect until June 18, 2014.  So, there will more than likely be fireworks at New Year's later this month. They are still "allowed" this year," from 6PM on New Year's Eve (12/31/13) until 1AM on January 1st. Hopefully the current cold weather will still be around so that there will be very few fireworks being shot off.  Later . . .

Election Results Looking Good Fireworks-Wise!

With Roxanne Murphy and Pinky Vargas leading by "comfortable" vote count results of more than 70% and 60%, respectively, of the counted votes, it would appear that any threat to the recently adopted fireworks ban in Bellingham is gone.  Thanks to everyone who considered their public support of the ban when voting for them for the At-Large and Ward 4 City Council positions.  Later . . .

Murphy and Burr on Fireworks Ban

Once again, "assuming" you support the fireworks ban adopted by City Council in June, I urge you to read John Stark's front page piece in today's Herald. It clearly shows how Murphy and Burr do not agree on this issue. Later . . .

Burr and Murphy vie for seat on Bellingham council | 2013 Local Elections | The Bellingham Herald

www.bellinghamherald.com

BELLINGHAM - City Council candidate Bob Burr tries to turn his lack of campaign cash and high-powered endorsements into an asset.

Vargus and Petree on Fireworks Ban

Assuming you support the fireworks ban adopted by City Council in June, I strongly suggest you check out this front page piece in today's Herald, since it indicates how Vargas and Petree differ on this issue. Later . . .

Vargas, Petree in race for Bellingham council seat | 2013 Local Elections | The Bellingham Herald

www.bellinghamherald.com

BELLINGHAM - Pinky Vargas faces Clayton Petree in the race for a four-year term on City Council.

My Choices

This year's Voters' Pamphlet arrived in Friday's mail.  My ballot arrived this afternoon.  This allowed me plenty of time to study the pamphlet and be fully informed and prepared to vote when my ballot arrived today.  My choices included:

• Pinky Vargas and Roxanne Murphy for Bellingham City Council.
• Ken Mann, Carl Weimer, Rud Browne and Barry Buchannan for Whatcom County Council.
• Renata Kowalczyk and Michael McCauyley for Port of Bellingham Commission. 
• John H. Blethen for the Bellingham School Board.
• NO on I-517.
• YES on I-522.

And remember, if you fail to vote, you have relinquished your right to "belly ache" about the election results.  Later. . . 

Sweeny Nailed This One!

It's no wonder we are getter more disallusioned everyday with our political system when things like what Sweeny describes are pretty conclusive evidence that this system has become "the best that money can buy".  Check it out here.  Later . . .

Upcoming Election

I have been a registered voter since 1965, just 2-years shy of half a century. I am proud to declare that in these 48-years, I have never missed a chance to vote. Usually my intended voting choices are kept close to my chest, seldom shared with anyone, including my "bride" of nearly 50-years, until after I have voted. The part I played in the recently successful "campaign" to get a fireworks ban in Bellingham was one of a very few times in my life I that I publicly advocated anything. However, I believe that in the upcoming election, I need to step up with my recommendations: First of all, for Bellingham City Council, I base my choices for the Ward 6 and At-Large two-candidate contests on my fireworks bans efforts – both Pinky Vargas and Roxanne Murphy support the recently approved ban – they will get my vote. Secondly, for the Whatcom County Council, the Whatcom Wins 2013 slate is my choice. With important decisions related to coal and growth management on the horizon, keeping Ken Mann and Carl Weimer on the Council and adding Rud Browne and Barry Buchannan to the Council, is vitally important.  Later . . .

It's Been Awhile

There's been little noteworthy of late regarding fireworks, that is, until this morning.  I invite you to check out an "interesting" letter-to-the-editor in today's Herald.  After reading the letter, scroll down to review the comments.  If you would consider it, I encourage you to "jump into the fray".  Later . . .

Primary Results!

Great to see that Murphy advanced to the November General Election in her effort to become Bellingham City Council Member-at-Large. This is significant "fireworks-wise" since she has publicly expressed her support for the recently passed revised fireworks ordinance which goes to effect in June, 2014.  Congratulations to Rozanne on her primary victory!  Later . . .

Bellingham City Council Elections

The revised fireworks ordinance was adopted with the supporting votes of four (4) of the seven (7) Bellingham City Council Members.  Again, many thanks to Knutson, Lehman, Weiss and Snapp.

Knutson and Lilliquist are running, both unopposed, for re-election to 4-year terms. Snapp is retiring, and he has endorsed Pinky Vargas for his seat on Council. She is running against Clayton Petree for this 4-year Ward 4 seat. Fleetwood is not running for re-election, and he has endorsed Roxanne Murphy. She is running in the primary against Bob Burr and Allen Brown for this 2-year at-large seat.

You may ask, "So, what does this have to do with fireworks?"  A whole lot.  Let me explain:

Pinky supports the fireworks ban.  In fact, at the 6/3/13 public hearing before Council, she spoke forcibly in favor of then proposed ban, urging the Council to approve it.  Jerry Farwell, the "suit" who testified against the proposed ban that same evening, represents the Consumer Fireworks Safety Association PAC, which has recently contributed financially to Petree's campaign.  If elected, Pinky will preserve what Snapp did in support of the recently approved revised fireworks ordinance.

Roxanne also supports the fireworks ban.  In John Stark's 7/25 Herald regarding the Murphy, Burr, Brown 3-way primary race, he wrote: "Murphy says she agrees with the personal fireworks ban . . . because she believes most city residents favor it."  If elected, Roxanne will join Knutson, Lehman and Weiss in support of the new ban.

BOTTOM LINE:  Please consider showing your continued support of the fireworks ban by voting for Roxanne Murphy in the primary and for both Pinky Vargas and Roxanne in the general election in November.  THANKS!  Later . . .

Interesting Letter-to-the-Editor

Today's Bellingham "Halibut" - aka the Herald - included an interesting letter-to-the Editor about fireworks.  The author's lack of understanding of both the current ordinance and of the new ban is significant.  Comments to the letter are also intriguing, as folks like Earnest are beginning to show a very acute understanding of the shortcomings of current ordinance and solid support of the new ban. While remembering what this is really all about - making our City an even better place to live - I urge you to check out the letter and comments thereto here.  Later . . .

UPDATE:

When this posting, and a similar one on our FB page, went out this morning, there were just a half-dozen comments.  Now (5:15PM B'ham time) there are more than another dozen.  Thanks to Ernest, DickConoboy and reasonable_man for "informed" comments in response to others who show a total misunderstanding of the existing City fireworks ordinance and of the recently adopted ban that is slated to go into effect on 6/18/14.  Total bans have been successful in 58-other cities in our State.  Spokane and Spokane County have had incredibly successful total bans for 2-decades.  Bellingham's new total ban is expected to make our City an even better place to live.  Later . . . 

All's Been Quiet on the Southside

For the most part, it appears that the illegal use of fireworks has run its' course on the Southside.  I hope its been quiet where ever you live in the City.  So, that leaves us to have to tough it out this coming New Years and look forward to the implementation of the recently adopted ban when it goes into effect on June 18th, 2014.  I do not think, however, that we can back off now.  Quite the opposite!  We need to do some serious thinking as to what we can do, either individually or collectively, to help implementation of the new ban succeed.  Please think about this and get back to me with your ideas.  THANKS!  Later . . .

Illegal Fireworks Likely Cause of Local Apartment Fire on the 4th of July

Here's just one more reason why the recently passed total fireworks ban is a "no brainer".  Check it out here.

2nd Night in a Row

Last evening was the second in a row that it was quiet.  Perhaps the explosions are over until New Years.  Let's hope so.  Later . . .

The Sunday Quiet Did Not Last!

Here's the deal:  Not only are these idiots unable to read a calendar.  They are also apparently into Sunday being a day of rest.  After a wonderfully quiet Sunday evening, last evening, just past 11PM, the blasts returned.  Although they were distant, Panda certainly knew what was going on. And she did not like it one bit!  A queen-size bed is simply too small for my wife and I and our Aussie!  It's such a helpless feeling to be able to do nothing for a dog who is trembling in your arms as the explosions continued for over an hour.  I so look forward to next year.  Later . . .

A Good Night's Sleep

Although I could just barely hear far away fireworks going off last evening, my Aussie did not.  So we all had the our first good night's sleep since the 3rd.  By the way, my search for fireworks trash with very unproductive yesterday morning.  The only trash I found was over at the intersection of McKenzie and Varsity Place.  Later . . .