Our Bellingham Bells baseball team has again chosen to enhance the money making aspect of their games over the well-being of our most vulnerable populations, both human and animal, by again staging three, post-game fireworks events this summer. The email announcement, according to the Bell’s General Manger Stephanie Morrell, has been timed so that the effects of the fireworks can be mitigated - not by them but by YOU. It remains unclear how the wildlife will receive their advanced notice. In the event that any of our wildlife is reading, here is the notice:

“As our 2019 season begins, we wanted to alert you and your neighbors that we plan to host three fireworks shows at Joe Martin Field during the 2019 season (June-August). We understand fireworks displays can be troublesome for some individuals and their animals who are sensitive to the noise resulting from these shows. Due to this concern, we wanted to let you know of the dates well in advance. It is our hopes we can alert as many individuals in advance as possible and mitigate the effects of avoid catching our neighbors by surprise.

2019 Fireworks Shows

o June 5

o June 29

o August 8”

I have met with the Bell’s General Manager and wrote about my plea to her and the Bell’s organization to stop these displays. (Bellingham Bells - Stop The Fireworks) This is what I got from the management as I reported in my 2018 article entitled Fireworks:

“Although they listened politely, they rejected my pleas to them to forego these events. Their response from two months ago was that the team management “recognizes my concerns” about veterans and animals but will continue the displays and mitigate the effects by notifying the public. (I’ll pass those notifications to the animals - Woof! Meow!) They feel the fireworks are a big family draw and the kids just love it.”

I am sure the kids do think it is just wonderful, although would we not be aghast if someone even remotely suggested that other “kids,” such as student survivors from Columbine, Sandy Hook, Parkland or any of the dozens and dozens of school shootings, were to be welcomed in Bellingham by a display of fireworks? That would be considered heartless, yet we do this all the time with veterans and psychologically fragile individuals without a pausing for a moment’s reflection. We traumatize pets. We traumatize wildlife. We pollute. We do this in the name of celebration, patriotism and community because we are entitled. “The Other” must bend.