From the newsroom

Labor Day weekend is upon us, and I'd bet most folks in Bellingham plan to spend it outside. From camping trips to lake days, hikes and cookouts, the holiday is one of our few remaining windows to enjoy summery weather. If you haven't made plans beyond taking advantage of the sunshine, I wouldn't blame you — but those looking for activities or live music have plenty of options to choose from.

The iconic North Cascades Bluegrass Festival is returning to the Deming Logging Show grounds through Sunday. In addition to performances, attendees can also take advantage of workshops, open mics and even overnight camping passes.

Other music events include Stonestock, aka Stones Throw's 'neighborhood exposition' and tribute to Woodstock's 55th anniversary. Salt Pine will bring its unusual blend of garage rock and alt-country to The Shakedown on Saturday, whereas Seattle soul group True Loves play the Wild Buffalo that same night. Kulshan Trackside will also celebrate "endless summer" with a mini music festival from 3–11 p.m. Saturday.

On Saturday, the formerly multi-day Discover Birch Bay Days will be reborn as the singular Birch Bay Derby Day. This reimagined event packs an impressive amount of activities into one day: think poker runs, crab derbies and even a rubber ducky race.

And if you've never taken the ferry to Lummi Island, the thrice-yearly Lummi Island Artist Studio Tour is your best excuse to do so. Head out Saturday or Sunday to meet the island's eclectic creative community, soak up the scenery and maybe grab a burger at the Beach Store Cafe while you're at it.

Today's news

Former Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles, right, talks to Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Jeff German in his Las Vegas office in May 2022. Telles was convicted Aug. 28 of killing German in September 2022. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

Opinion: A friend and hero slain for simply doing his job

Whatcom schools cut budgets, juggle staff amid funding shortfalls

Blaine man pleads not guilty to attempted murder charge

Burlington stone business fined more than $300K for workplace hazards

Millions spent to reduce solitary confinement in Washington produces few visible results

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Faces in the Crowd

Ellen J. Brown in her home studio July 31 in Bellingham. Brown voluntarily sketches for the Bellingham Police Department and has completed about 200 drawings over the last 20 years. (Eric Becker/Cascadia Daily News)

Ellen J. Brown: Bellingham Police Department forensic artist

"Faces in the Crowd" is published weekly online on Fridays. Have a suggestion for a "Faces in the Crowd" subject? Email us at newstips@cascadiadaily.com.

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