And can we be friends?

I'm grateful to CDN for sharing parts of my story and being there every step of the way. I cannot thank you enough.
I want to make something clear, when prosecutors claim they shield or protect survivors by not telling them they have credibility issues, it's to protect the system. Survivors have been to hell, our trust eroded, and we carry the shame only our abusers should bear. The last thing we need is someone we're repeatedly told to trust, misleading us. Crime victims become a witness in the state's case, hiring a lawyer to protect our rights isn't an option until our rights have been severely violated. Despite victims having rights which are in the Washington State constitution, they're rarely enforced. This takes away our voice, our ability to disprove credibility issues (if they truly exist) and only protects the system and the abuser. Weaponizing a crime victim’s best interests to justify harmful decisions is not protection. This is a failure of accountability that causes more harm to survivors and puts our communities at greater risk.

The credibility issue is used to silence crime victims and secure convictions or dismissals. I was never told my credibility was in question, despite asking throughout why I was suddenly being treated poorly, why I couldn't confer with the prosecutor, and most importantly, why no one with authority would hear what happened to me.

Only after the prosecution refused to tell me if they declined a rape charge, then going to internal affairs, I learned there wasn't an official report. How? I told them, I provided evidence including a video my abuser recorded of the violent rape, plus his admissions... how??
More often than not, there is no real credibility issue. Mine? That I contacted my abuser after turning him in... I didn't. There was more than enough evidence to disprove that claim, but I was never given the chance to be heard. They never asked me questions. In fact, I was told in writing there was a "weird" superior court rule stating I couldn't speak with the prosecutor. Later when asking for that specific rule (CrR) by copy pasting their own words, I was told they didn't know what rule I was referring to.

I used every RCW that would ensure my voice was heard. They acknowledged my rights, but refused.
Prosecutors can say a survivors voice matters all they want, the overwhelming majority of crime victims in Whatcom County prove the prosecutions words do not align with their actions.

My hope in this fight was that survivors would feel safer coming forward. If anything, this story would make some feel less safe. Something this article doesn't shed light on is just how vicious and misleading the system had been to me once questioning them within my rights. These were choices made by individuals. They made the conscious choice to cause harm and put our communities at risk. "Difficult" times in the prosecutors office is never an excuse to treat survivors so poorly. Without us having the courage to come forward, there would be no case.

We can say this issue exists everywhere, in our highest form of government, and it does, but it starts here with our local governments. It's here where we can hold officials accountable and demand change.

A year before Eric Richey was elected as Whatcom County prosecutor he said these words durning an interview with Seattle Met. When asked:

Why does the statute of limitations for rape exist?
“I think that people need to know there’s some finality. Maybe they’ve done something wrong or something happened long ago, and there needs to be some end to that.
I mean who wants to be charged with something that happened so long ago that nobody really remembers it well? There are always mistakes and problems with people’s memories. The farther back you go, the worse it’s going to be.” 

And yeah he's right, no rapist wants to be charged with rape no matter how long it's been.
Where he's wrong, memories of being raped while awake don't fade.

VOTE

Seriously I’ll vote for whoever pushes for it. Cover. Your. Loads.

This was taken while waiting at a stop sign.

Mainly around downtown Fairhaven and Whatcom Falls, this was quite the surprise haha

Link to the episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h-QI79QEcg

"As the largest and only acute care hospital in Whatcom, our facility is already at capacity. We are often so short of beds that we board patients in the emergency room... We are staffed to see 194 patients in 24 hours, but we rarely have a day that slow. Instead, we regularly admit 200 a day. Our record this year was 252," writes ER nurse Jenn Engelhart.

"Trust me, this is not what nurses want patients to experience. We can and should do better. But we will not be able to if I-645 passes."

I didn't believe it at first but yes, all of our drinking water goes from the lake, sucked up through a dilapidated wooden pipe, then passively flows through a blasted-out rock tunnel, to Whatcom Falls Park.

those shoes looked nice too

Your Bunny is Calling…They Want to Be Famous! 📸

Bunanza is a local, registered nonprofit rabbit rescue located in Ferndale, WA. We're currently creating our 2027 calendar, featuring YOUR bunnies!

📸 A submission includes one vote AND a complimentary 2027 Bunanza calendar!

Once you’ve submitted your bunny, you’ll receive a follow-up email with a link to upload your photo! Open through November 2nd!

👑 1st place takes the coveted cover spot!

🏰 2nd–13th place each get their own monthly spread!

🌟 EVERY bunny will be featured in our calendar and get their own moment in the spotlight!

🗳️ Public voting for the cutest bun opens Wednesday, November 4, so start recruiting your bunny’s fan club NOW. 😏

👀 Want to scope out the competition? You can sneak a peek before November 4th! 🤭🐰

Alright - now, show us your buns! 😏🐰 

The city (not me) is asking for your input on whether to put in two-way protected bike lanes or a 14-foot-wide shared-use path on the south (uphill-bound) side when they redo the underground utilities on Harris Ave in Fairhaven/Happy Valley.

I’ve had Willamette Dental for five years and loved them, but they’ve been unreliable the past 6ish months due to staffing issues. Wondering if anyone has insight. It’s open enrollment right now and I’m considering whether I should stay with them assuming they’ll go back to being great, or if I should switch.

I’ve had a ps5 for a total of about 2 months and after 3 weeks of ownership, I get home and it’s covered in ants. I’ve taken it apart as much as I can and I already know PlayStation won’t fix it since I’ve been in there, is there any place in town or around that would fix it? I called fixco and they pretty much told me I’m S.O.L. Just don’t want to have to buy another one after barley being able to use this one.

In 2025, the Washington Legislature passed a law that prevents rent gouging, but some landlords and property management companies are still up to their old tricks. They are using "junk fees" as a loophole around rent caps. We are hearing from tenants that they are increasingly being charged excessive fees for services that they don’t want or need, or for basic things like paying the rent. We at the Housing Alliance, call these “junk fees” and they are unfair, expensive, and deceptive. We’d like to hear your experiences. All information shared with us will be kept safe and confidential. 

Please fill out our survey if you or someone you know has received junk fees and we will be in touch within one week of your submission. Thank you! ~ Po (Advocacy Organizer)

Housing Alliance Junk Fees Survey link: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=w21JOKsxXkiwtHn-0hx8aKTozXDbIbFMt3Zx5CarFp1UQVdCNElaSzQyNzFWUU02QVJTNEI2OUVCVS4u

Was just back in my old town and got to play a bunch of Pinball at Game Galexy in TN. Made me really miss easy access to playing Tron. Any place around town have one to play that is maintained?

Does anyone know of any parties for Halloween? My roommate and I are looking for something to go to.

Hi friends - Final call/post for my two tickets to the Rocky Horror Picture show at Mt. Baker Theater. See details below :) I had about 6 people reach out on my first post, but they all went quiet... So first come first served! Let's call it $50 ($25ea) total for the two tickets.

---Original post---

Hi friends,

I can no longer attend the Halloween night Rocky Horror Picture Show at Mt. Baker Theater. As such, I have two tickets up for grabs! I'd like to get back what I paid for them, which was $58.50 total. I'd settle at $55, I reckon. The seats are in the lower left main section, row M towards the inner isle. Lower area of the theater is basically sold out, pending a few solo seats being open. Good chance for you and a friend to be seated together and relatively close to the stage.

Holler if you are interested!

Feel free to DM me. You can also DM me at my bands Instagram page checkerbloommusic if I am slow to get back here.

im looking for local recommendations for buying a photo album for a gift. does anyone know of any places who have nice ones? id prefer a locally owned store but anything local is fine! thanks in advance

Mostly looking for fruit & veggie ones. Ty !!

I just can’t afford a new one and I travel constantly for work. Could either trade or pay about 400 if anyone’s willing

On s21 episode 45, around the 20 minute mark on the Monsters Among Us podcast the caller claimed seeing a bird with a 20 foot wing span in Dec 2024 on Lake Louise rd. Any other weird happenings ot sightings?

I am a forever DM and it has been a long time since both me and partner have been able to play together. My current group is online and we would like to play in person because the experience is just better for us.

What makes the game we are looking for a bit specific (bulleted for easier reading 😁):

- We would like to play in one that includes a decent bit of roleplay (somewhere between 50rp/50c and 70rp/30c)

- Openness to using 3rd party content, specifically PointyHat and Loot Tavern content. The options they offer I would love to try out and want to be transparent that it is something I would like to try out before committing to a game.

- Preferably something that leans more toward Heroic Fantasy and leans away from grimdark and gritty realism. Also one that is not filled with common triggers.

Normally my answer is just to run the game myself but I can't fill they player role if I do that 😅 Feel free to DM me if this sounds like a game you are running that we can join or one you would be willing to run for us!

It looks so delicious but it is WinCo, so not sure if I can trust it 100% ever since they renovated the Deli and added this section I've wanted to grab but I get paranoid I might get sick 😅

Anyone has any bad/good experience? Please share your opinions. Thank you!