Fifty years a subscriber. I wanted to support a local news organization. No more! Tried to cancel…read moreand they fought us all the way. Singed up for Cascadia.

This isn't a newspaper: It is a scam disguised as a local news source. They like to raise the…read moreprices dramatically, then automatically renew your prescription and charge you this higher price without notifying you. They make sure that when you sign up, the part about the automatic renewal is in the very fine print. What is worse, they also make cancelling your subscription very difficult. You cannot do it online, you must call their poorly manned call center at a certain time of the day and wait a long time to talk to anyone.

Local, independent articles. Not always is there much to read about in Bellingham, but they do a…read moregood job of writing about it to make it interesting. I always like to pick it up downtown and browse the pages. There is an events section that will let you know about local upcoming happenings that you wouldn't otherwise hear about.

Happy New Yelp! First review of 2018 is one of my favorite…read moremagazines. An essential local guide for residents and tourists alike, Bellingham Alive is a must-have for Yelpers and anyone wanting to experience the best of our beautiful city. Launched in 2009 and published monthly, Bellingham Alive is a lifestyle, dining, shopping, entertainment guide covering Whatcom,Skagit, and San Juan areas. It's a sleek read packed with all the local hot spots, biz spotlights, home and gardening, recipes and much, much more. They publish an annual Best of the NW edition where locals vote on their favorite businesses. This fun and festive tradition culminates in October with a swanky party to celebrate the winners. Look for it on News stands around the city. $3.99/issue. ***INSIDE TIP*** Several copies are generously donated to Village Books, so pick up your free copy the first week of the month and hurry because they vanish quickly!

I just flipped through the second issue of Bellingham Alive!, a wonderful city magazine coming to a…read morenewstand near you. I was fortunate enough to attend the launch party for this new publication earlier this summer, and frankly, was doubtful it would survive through the end of the year. However, the second issue (August/September 2009) is attractive, well-designed and appears to be well written. Bellingham Alive! will definitely find an audience in this picturesque, well educated small city. Featuring stories about Skagit's tidal flats, Lynden's dairy farms, Whatcom's scenic parks, and Fairhaven's legendary local bookstore, Village Books the current issue also provides an informative guide to the area's boutique wineries. Also worth noting is Kera Wanielista's story about Western Washington University, rising tuition and the budget woes faced by Bruce Shepherd during his first year as President of the 116 year old institution. This magazine should be on every Puget Sound coffee table. Only $3.99 at your local newsstand, Bellingham Alive! is a steal at the introductory subscription rate of $11 per year or $20 for two years.