The Northern Light: December 1-7, 2022

City wraps up Blaine city manager search

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The city of Blaine could select a new city manager as early as Thursday, December 1. Mayor Mary Lou Steward said during the November 28 Blaine City Council meeting that the city had whittled down 30 initial applications. City council re viewed and selected its top five candidates during a recent executive session, which dropped to four when one person left the running. The four candidates were slated to visit Blaine on November 30, and coun cil was expected to vote on the candidates in a December 1 executive session, interim city manager Dave Wilbrecht said.

The city hired Strategic Government Re sources for $30,000 to recruit a new city manager after Michael Jones resigned in June to pursue a position as county admin istrator for Island County. Jones spent 15 years working for the city, four of which were as manager.

The hiring timeline seems to be on track with what the city expected, as Jones previously said he thought it would take until January 2023 for the city to hire a new manager.

The city manager will oversee about 70 staff members while being responsible for the city’s day-to-day administrative duties. The manager makes recommendations to council, while ultimately working under council’s direction. The candidate is ex pected to earn $150,000 to $170,000 and must live within Blaine school district boundaries, according to the job posting, Here are the final four candidates for the city manager position.

Gurdeep Bains

Gurdeep Bains is a Blaine resident and chief financial officer of Pampa Metals in Vancouver, B.C., a copper and gold exploration company with projects in Chile. Bains has over 20 years’ experi ence as a certified public accountant, and is a Blaine Chamber of Commerce director. He’s worked as a chief finan cial officer of OK Tire in Surrey and vice president of internal audit and financial analysis at Canaccord Genuity in Van couver and Toronto.

Jerry Gabrielatos was the city manager of West Linn, Oregon, a city of 27,000 people

Winter wonderland blankets downtown

County council to host public hearing on westbound Drayton Harbor Road closure

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Whatcom County Council will hold a public hearing at its 6 p.m. Tuesday, De cember 6 regular meeting for a tempo rary westbound road closure on Drayton Harbor Road that could last until summer 2024. The closure would require a fivemile detour for westbound drivers.

During the severe storms and king tides in November 2021, a portion of Drayton Harbor Road, west of Shintaffer Road, experienced a block slope failure on the waterside, westbound lane. According to a November 29 press release, Whatcom County Public Works was initially hope ful to complete repairs in 2022, but deter mined more extensive repairs were needed

after additional engineering evaluations.

These repairs will not be completed un til summer 2024, the release says.

For safety, public works will establish a one-way traffic pattern on Drayton Har bor Road for eastbound travelers and a signed detour for westbound travelers that will begin around Friday, January 13, 2023, according to the release. The de tour is five miles, connecting Harborview Road, Lincoln Road, Semiahmoo Parkway and Drayton Harbor Road, according to the detour map.

Whatcom County Council meetings are being held online and in council chambers, 311 Grand Avenue in Bellingham. For more information on participating, visit the county’s website at bit.ly/3VEQu5w.

s The first snowfall of the season paired with a newly-assembled Christmas tree created a winter wonderland in downtown Blaine on November 29. The tree will be lit during the Holiday Harbor Lights festival on Saturday, December 3. Photo by Grace McCarthy

man arrested on suspicion of rape,

Tree lighting, holiday activities set for Dec. 3

day event organizers say they still expect the activities to continue.

The festival will start at 9 a.m. with the Blaine Senior Center’s pancake breakfast at the cen ter, 763 G Street. The breakfast, which will last until 11 a.m., will cost $7 for adults and $5 for chil dren under 6. Interim director Cheryl English said the breakfast was expected to continue, weath er permitting. Any cancellation will be posted on the center’s website, blaineseniorcenter.org, and likely in front of the center, she said.

St. Anne’s Church is expected to host its Christmas market and bake sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 604 H Street. Eydie Berry, with the church, said the church still planned on doing the event, de spite the weather being difficult to predict. The church will also host the market from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, December 2.

Friends of Blaine Library (FOBL) is scheduled to host its

(See Festival, page 7)

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Holiday Harbor Lights is bring ing family-friendly festivities to

Blaine on Saturday, December 3. With snow sprinkling Blaine on November 29, and potentially more in the forecast, many holi

Blaine man arrested on suspicion of first-degree child rape

A 20-year-old Blaine man was arrested November 11 on suspi cion of first-degree child rape.

A Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) deputy was dis patched to St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham on No vember 11 for a report of a child raped on November 4, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed in Whatcom County Supe rior Court. The young child was undergoing a sexual assault ex amination at the hospital when the deputy was called.

The young child had told her mother that Fredy Martin Este ban, a man known to the family,

“hurt” her, deputies learned at the hospital, according to the affidavit. WCSO interviews with the child as well as family and friends pro vided more evidence for the arrest, including the child’s description of the assault and a family friend wit nessing strange behavior from the child after the assault.

Esteban was booked into What com County Jail with $200,000 bail on November 11. He also had two active warrants for driv ing under the influence in What com County. Esteban remained in jail as of November 30.

Washington state law defines first-degree child rape as when a person has sexual intercourse with a child who is younger than 12 years

old and the perpetrator is at least 24 months older than the victim.

Esteban’s arraignment hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Friday, De cember 2.

If you or someone you know is affected by domestic or sexual vi olence, please call the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Ser vices (DVSAS) 24-hour hotline at 360/715-1563 or 877/715-1563.

Lummi Victims of Crime has a 24hour helpline at 360/312-2015. The National Domestic Violence Help line operates a chat line at theho tline.org/help. Brigid Collins Family Support Center, a Bellingham-based nonprofit working to end child abuse, can be reached at 360/7344616 and brigidcollins.org.

Blaine man allegedly steals nearly $1 million from elderly woman in his care

A Blaine man was arrested for allegedly stealing nearly $1 mil lion from a woman in her late 80s in his care. He was released on bail the day he was arrested, November 16.

The 37-year-old Blaine man allegedly stole $900,000 from the woman in his care who was considered a vulnerable adult, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed in What com County Superior Court. The woman’s bank contacted Adult Protective Services (APS) in 2019

about suspicious bank transfers, and APS notified the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.

The money was spent on pubs, casinos and a tiny home. The man also transferred the monthly $1,138 in Supplemental Security Income the woman received to his personal account, according to court documents.

The man and woman traveled between hotels after the woman’s Blaine home was sold in 2021, ac cording to court documents.

Law enforcement officers re sponded to 11 calls regarding the woman wandering in the middle

of the road, according to court documents, which stated most of those times the man didn’t re alize she was gone. There were three Bellingham Police Depart ment reports about the woman being abandoned and wandering near hotels.

The woman is now in hospice care, according to court documents.

The man could face first-degree theft, financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult and abandon ment of a dependent person in the second-degree. His arraign ment is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Friday, December 2.

Manager ...

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in Portland’s southern suburbs, be fore leaving in August, according to his resume. Gabrielatos served as assistant city manager of Albert Lea, Minnesota, a city of 18,000 people, where he helped the city revitalize its downtown and focus on workforce development. He also worked for three members of Chicago City Council.

Michael Harmon Michael Harmon is the chief operating officer of High Plains Power, an electric utility provider in Riverton, Wyoming. He was the city administrator of Spearfish, South Dakota, a city of just over 12,300 people, and city adminis trator of Fairfield, Iowa. Harmon said in his cover letter that, while working in Spearfish, he led 125 full-time staff members, oversaw a $42 million operating budget and tackled demanding wastewa

ter infrastructure needs.

Russell Martin

Russell Martin is the manager of Camp Verde, Arizona, a town about 1.5 hours north of Phoe nix with a population of just over 12,200 people. Martin has worked as the manager for the past 12 years, where he helped negotiate a land agreement with the Yavapai-Apache Nation, build a new library and negotiate a wa ter company purchase, according to his resume.

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s Blaine City Council during the November 28 council meeting at city hall. Photo by Grace McCarthy

The Northern Light is published weekly by Point Roberts Press Inc.

Locally owned and managed, the com pany also publishes the All Point Bulletin, covering Point Roberts, Mount Baker Ex perience, covering the Mt. Baker foothills area, Pacific Coast Weddings annual guide, and the summer recreation guide Waterside as well as maps and other publications. Point Roberts Press Inc. is a member of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Associ ation, Chambers of Commerce of Belling ham/ Whatcom County, Birch Bay, Blaine and Point Roberts and the Bellingham/ Whatcom County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors.

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The Northern Light welcomes letters to the editor. Please include name, address and daytime telephone number for veri fication. Letters are limited to 350 words and may be edited or rejected for reasons of legality, length and good taste. The letters to the editor column is primarily intended to allow readers to voice their opinions on local issues of general interest to local readers. A fresh viewpoint will increase the likelihood of publication. Thank-you letters are lim ited to five individuals or groups. Writers should avoid personal invective. Unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Requests for withholding names will be considered on an individual basis. Con sumer complaints should be submitted di rectly to the business in question or the lo cal chamber of commerce. Only one letter per month from an individual correspon dent will be published. Email letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com.

Publisher & Managing Editor

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Contributors In This Issue Luna Reyna / Crosscut.com

Thanksgiving baskets feed 1,251 people OpiniOn

Letters

The Editor:

This year’s Thanksgiving Basket Pro gram was a real challenge. Avian flu, or bird flu, caused a shortage of turkeys, packing boxes were hard to find and locat ing a site seemed impossible.

Here’s the people who made it happen:

1. Tom and Sonia Hayes of T.C. Trading Company, Inc. donated the site.

2. To all the incredible donors who keep our program alive and going strong.

3. The Northern Light gets the word out to the community for donations and res ervation information.

4. Edaleen Dairy for providing 230 gal lons of milk.

5. Cost Cutter of Blaine including Mitch, Cindy, Stephen and Lance who ordered all the groceries and had them ready for pickup.

6. North Whatcom Fire and Rescue under the direction of Mike Nelson who are instrumental in making this event possible, from picking up stor ing, and delivering the boxes and milk. They help on distribution day deliver ing boxes to clients’ cars.

7. Last but most important are the vol unteers, who give generously of their time, stuffing envelopes, bagging gro ceries, assembling and filling boxes, and assisting with distribution and cleanup. Without their support I could not get the job done.

This small group has helped 1,251 adults and children have a happy Thanks giving, and I am sincerely grateful in hav ing a hand in its success.

Kind deeds change lives.

Shirley Tobian Thanksgiving basket program director Blaine

The Editor: Thank you voters for the fantastic turn out for this midterm election. Whatcom County had a 71 percent turnout of regis tered voters. In the past, midterm elections have been below 50 percent.

Every vote has now been cured and counted. Curing is the process of individu al visits to get missing dates and signature verification on ballots. The original re ported results of Proposition 5 Children’s

CiviC Meetings

Birch Bay Water & Sewer District: Second and fourth Thursdays, 4 p.m., district offices, 7096 Point Whitehorn Road, Birch Bay. Info and Zoom meeting link: bbwsd.com.

Blaine City Council: Second and fourth Mondays, 6 p.m., Blaine City Council chambers, 435 Martin Street. Info and virtual meeting login: ci.blaine.wa.us.

Blaine Planning Commission: Second Thursday, 6 p.m. Info: blainepc@cityofblaine.com. Info for joining Zoom meetings: bit.ly/3EwWiZi.

Initiative showed that kids lost. However, the cured votes enabled the proposition to pass by 20 votes.

Whatcom County voters turned out in a volume seldom seen. We can turnout as responsible citizens when we want to and are motivated by the issues. It is wonder ful to see so many citizens take our voting privilege seriously.

On the Proposition 5 issue, The Seattle Times has reported that homeless students who graduate from high school are more likely to become taxpaying, contributing citizens, a solid start can make the differ ence. It is also known that early starts re duce juvenile behavioral problems and po tential unemployment and incarceration as adults. Kids are the future of the nation, and passing this proposition says that this county values a good start for kids. Thank you all.

Donna Starr Blaine

Please send letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.

Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation: Second Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., location varies. Info: bbbparkandrec.org. The December meeting will be 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 14 at Blaine Senior Center.

Blaine Park and Cemetery Board: Second Thursday, 9 a.m., council chambers and virtual meeting. Info: 360/332-8311, ext. 3330.

Blaine School Board: Fourth Monday, 7 p.m., Blaine school district offices. Info: blainesd.org.

North Whatcom Fire & Rescue: Third Thursday, 11 a.m., Station 61 at 9408 Odell Road and via Zoom. Info: nwfrs.net.

s Community Assistance Program (CAP) volunteers busily added last minute ham and celery to Thanksgiving baskets on November 22 be fore distributing the meal kits later that day behind Cost Cutter. The baskets served 1,251 community members – 845 adults and 406 children – in the Blaine, Birch Bay and Custer community, Thanksgiving basket program director Shirley Tobian said.

Photo by Grace McCarthy

Blaine school board extends Granger’s contract, enrollment dips

its December 13 meeting, which is at noon.

Granger’s salary, as of late summer 2022, was $201,230 per year. The average salary for a superintendent in Washington state was $183,008 as of October 27, according to salary.com.

In a separate motion that also passed 3-0, the board accepted Granger’s annual performance evaluation as “more than sat isfactory.” His final contract is intended to run through June 30, 2026, according to meeting minutes.

“Appreciate it,” Granger said during the meeting. “Pleasure to serve.”

Enrollment dips

District enrollment dropped by about 13 students from Oc tober to November. As of the November count, the district is about 52 students below what it budgeted for this school year.

Blaine school district finance and operations director Amber Porter said during the meeting that October enrollment tends to be the district’s highest, so the dip, while not hoped for, was somewhat expected.

in the past have ranged from 140 to 160 students.

Porter said the district will be conservative about budgeting (See School, page 6)

CITY OF BLAINE

Information on how to listen to the meeting live will be on the City Council agenda which is located on the City’s website homepage under Your Government, City Council, City Council Agenda. Please check the agenda prior to each meeting as the call in number or location may change.

Thursday, December 1

9:00am – Ad Hoc Downtown Advisory Committee Meeting *CANCELLED* 9:00am – Special City Council Meeting

Thursday, December 8 9:00am – Park and Cemetery Board Meeting *CANCELLED* 6:00pm – Planning Commission Meeting

Blaine school board extended Blaine school district superin tendent Christopher Granger’s contract in a 3-0 vote during its November 28 regular meeting.

As specified in the action item, school board president Dougal Thomas and school board vice president, which is currently open with former board mem ber Todd Nunamaker’s resig nation at last month’s meeting,

will discuss the parameters of a contract with Granger before recommending its adoption by the full board no later than May 22, 2023. Thomas said the board will be rearranging president and vice president positions at

The district’s low kindergar ten enrollment this year has re mained nearly the same all three months and left the district be low budget. Around 108 kids were registered for kindergarten this year, while average cohorts

The Northern Light accepting holiday decoration submissions

Monday, December 12 4:30pm – Study Session: Plan ning Commission Candidate Interviews 6:00pm – City Council Meeting

Contact information for staff and Councilmembers can be found on the City’s website.

Call (360) 332-8311 or visit our website. www.cityofblaine.com

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s Blaine High School Associated Student Body (ASB) president Sabrina Boczek addresses the Blaine school board at its November 28 meeting. Boczek presented on the ASB’s active clubs and events planned or already accomplished for the student body. Accomplished events included the lip dub, “Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader” assembly and homecoming. Blaine High School also has a wide variety of clubs that fall into community service, mental health, academic, and career and technical student organization clubs.

Photo by Ian Haupt

spOrts

Sports roundup: Winter sports begin with boys basketball this weekend

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Blaine High School boys bas ketball will tip off the start of the Borderites’ winter sports sea son. Blaine will host King’s High School Friday, December 2 and Bear Creek School Saturday, De cember 3. Both games are at 5:40 p.m. in the Blaine High School gymnasium.

The Borderites will go on to

play Bellingham in Blaine in their first conference game of the season Tuesday, December 6 at 7:15 p.m.

Girls basketball

The Lady Borderites will also open up conference against Bell ingham, but on the road. They play at Bellingham High School Tuesday, December 6 at 7:15 p.m. Blaine will host La Conner for its home opener Thursday,

December 8 at 7:15 p.m.

Boys wrestling

Boys wrestling will open its season at the multi-school invite Mariner Holiday Tournament Saturday, December 3 at Mariner High School in Everett.

Competition starts at 9:30 a.m. The Borderites start con ference action 6 p.m. Wednes day, December 7 at Lynden High School.

Girls wrestling

The Lady Borderites open their season 6 p.m. Tuesday, December 6 at Mount Baker High School in a conference match against Mount Baker, Meridian, Squalicum, Bell ingham and Sedro-Woolley.

Girls bowling

Blaine girls bowling, which began just before the pandemic, is already well into its season, with two wins and a loss. The

team plays and practices at Mt. Baker Lanes in Ferndale.

So far, the team has beaten Me ridian 2-1 and Anacortes 3-0, but was swept 3-0 by Burlington-Ed ison just before Thanksgiving break November 22. The girls are scheduled to face Squalicum Friday, December 2 and Mount Vernon Wednesday, December 7. Both matches are at 3:15 p.m. at Mt. Baker Lanes.

Borderite game footage available for purchase on Hudl

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Borderite fans can now live stream all home games.

Blaine Athletic Department has installed video cameras at Borderite Stadium and in the Blaine High School gymnasi um that will livestream and record all home competitions.

Through a subscription ser vice called Hudl, Blaine High School fans can tune in to games, while coaches and ath letes can review game footage and study opponents in order to improve their game.

The feature became available mid-fall season for football, girls soccer and volleyball. All boys and girls basketball home games will be available for the winter season.

One game costs $8, while a monthly subscription is $15 and yearly subscription is $75. Sub scriptions offer on-demand viewing after a game has been live streamed. Hudl receives all proceeds.

Hudl, which has over 6 mil lion users and 200,000 teams worldwide, was designed as a tool for coaches and athletes to review game footage and im prove team play, according to its website. It provides cameras and services for teams to lives tream games and have filtered play-by-play highlights easily available afterward, and can be used at all levels.

Blaine athletic director Chas Kok said most athletic de partments in the Northwest Conference use Hudl to some degree, which will make near ly all games – home and away – available. “We’re caught up now,” Kok said, about using the system.

Kok said he’s encouraging all Blaine coaches to use the service with their student ath letes to improve performance.

As Burlington-Edison’s former boys basketball coach, Kok said he used it regularly to im prove players’ game and scout

opponents. It can also be used to review practices, he said, when requested.

Two cameras, video storage and the program breakdown feature, which provides anal ysis of each players’ in-game statistics along with video foot age, cost the athletic depart ment about $8,000, Kok said.

Kok said he’s told coaches watching film with players will help implement instruction.

“This is going to help you in regards to your teaching,” Kok said of the coaches. “Because [players] might think they’re doing it, but if they watch it on film, it’s going to tell them yes or no. That’s the truth-teller.”

Although cameras weren’t installed at Pipeline Field, Kok said baseball and softball coaches can film their games in the spring on an iPad and upload the footage to Hudl for breakdowns. When Blaine hosts wrestling, he said the camera in the gym might not be

Be Septic Safe.

able to cover all of the matches in the gym at one time.

Hudl is available for coaches on their phones as well through

School ...

From page 5

for next year, as it cannot be as sured kindergarten cohorts will rebound.

“There could be a further trend with low enrollment,” Por ter said. “So [we’ll] continue to start the year holding back on the number of positions that are going to be teaching kindergar ten and wait to see how many [students] we actually have.”

During an October 4 board meeting, Granger said the dis trict was overstaffed for this year’s kindergarten cohort, which was smaller than previous years. Classes were consolidated with 20 students total and two teachers without classes will substitute and cover a leave po sition. He also said reductions in force will be necessary if enroll ment doesn’t increase and staff doesn’t retire or resign.

State funding is also depen dent on enrollment. Porter said the district spends more than 80 percent on staff salaries, and that the district remains staffed at pre-pandemic levels.

Board members, Granger and Porter have all tried to rationalize the pandemic’s impact on enroll

the app.

For more information or to buy access to Hudl streaming services, visit bit.ly/3FcTCjP.

ment, whether it be parents hold ing their children back a year or finding alternative schooling options. Porter said there is also a possibility of a declining birth rate in Whatcom County in the last five years.

Board member Charles Gib son pointed out while the kin dergarten cohort is small, most other grade levels are within 10 to 15 students of each other and around an average of 155 stu dents total. He said this small cohort and more like it would significantly impact enrollment as years progress.

Through stimulus funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, the district is starting this school year with a considerably larger general fund than the past two years. The district has about $2.5 million more than it did at this time last year, and about $4 million more than the 2020-21 school year.

“It looks like we’re in for a trend of declining enrollment,” Gibson said.

“We could be,” Porter said.

“In which case we can’t con tinue to have the same staffing [levels],” Gibson said.

“Not without other sources of funds to support that,” Porter said.

s The Hudl on-demand video of Blaine High School’s volleyball game against Burlington-Edison that took place on October 25.

Image courtesy Hudl

From page 2

annual book sale at the Blaine Community Center pavilion, 635 8th Street, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The book sale may be canceled or relocated to Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street, depending on weather conditions, Blaine Library branch manager Jonathan Jakobitz said.

The FOBL board was expected to decide if it would change its plans on November 30, he said, adding signage would redirect people if the location changed.

Blaine Birch Bay Park and Rec reation District 2 (BBBPRD2) will have its 10th annual Holiday Lights Obstacle Dash at 2 p.m. at Lincoln Park, 1800 H Street.

Celine Mauger, with BBBPRD2, said the obstacle course would continue with snow, as long as

there’s not ice. People can check the BBBPRD2 website at bbbpar kandrec.org and Facebook page for weather updates.

Blaine Chamber of Commerce executive director Sheila Wood said the holiday bazaar, Christ mas tree lighting and meeting Santa Claus are expected to go ahead as planned.

The holiday bazaar will run from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 648 Peace Portal Drive. Vendors will sell everything from knit scarves to soaps and woodwork.

The Christmas tree lighting will take place at 4:45 p.m. at G Street Plaza. Other holiday fes tivities, including caroling and sweet treats, are expected. Fam ilies can end the eventful day by meeting Santa and Mrs. Claus 5-7 p.m. at the Blaine Visitor Information Center, 546 Peace Portal Drive.

Avian flu kills and sickens wild birds at Wiser Lake

Whatcom County Health De partment (WCHD) and Wash ington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) are asking res idents to not handle sick or dead birds after avian flu was detect ed at Wiser Lake, near Lynden. Nearly 400 sick or dead geese were recently found at the lake. The two departments urged residents to avoid contact with the birds to prevent the spread of the highly pathogenic avian influ enza (HPAI), also known as avian flu or bird flu, in a November 22 press release. The virus is spread ing through wild birds, such as Canada geese and snow geese, migrating through the area. This isn’t the first time avian flu has been detected in What com County this year. In midMay, Washington State Depart ment of Agriculture (WSDA) reported the first detection of avian flu in a backyard domestic flock. Bird flu was first confirmed in B.C. in April and shortly after started being detected through out Washington state. The flu has been detected in 36 domes tic flocks across Washington so far this year in addition to being found in wild birds, according to WSDA’s website.

The circulating strain of bird flu is not thought to easily in

fect humans, but people who have been in contact with in fected birds should contact WCHD at 360/778-6100. Poul try products remain safe to eat when properly cooked.

WCHD and WDFW ask people who find an ill or dead wild bird or animal to not touch the bird or try to transport it to a veteri narian for treatment because this can spread the virus. If people do need to move a dead animal to keep it away from their pet, they should wear disposable gloves, double-bag the animal and put it at the bottom of the trash can so scavengers will not get it, accord ing to the departments.

WCHD and WDFW recom mend keeping domestic flocks in an area with a roof that doesn’t let water through and removing items that may attract wild water fowl such as ponds or water fea tures. Owners of domestic flocks should also look for sickness in poultry, decreased egg produc tion and diarrhea.

To report wild birds thought to have avian flu, visit WDFW’s reporting form at bit.ly/3VsjVb4. To report domestic birds thought to have avian flu, call WSDA’s avian health program at 800/6063056 or visit WSDA’s reporting form at bit.ly/3ua9FIN.

s Carolers sing during the 2021 Holiday Harbor Lights.

Photo by Ruth Lauman

Bellingham Jingle Bell Run to raise awareness for arthritis research

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A 5K holiday run in Belling ham is aiming to raise $130,000 for arthritis research on Saturday, December 10.

The Arthritis Foundation will host its annual Jingle Bell Run at Bellingham High School, 2020 Cornwall Avenue, to raise money for arthritis research while runners and walkers wear their favorite hol iday wear. The event will include a dog trot and a kids run with elves.

The Arthritis Foundation is a Georgia-based nonprofit that hosts the run in over 100 cities across the U.S., according to the event’s press release and website.

The run benefits more than 60 million U.S. adults with arthritis, which is the U.S.’s number one cause of disability, according to an event press release.

Event registration and pack age pick-up will begin at 7 a.m., followed by a costume contest at 8:15 a.m. The Kids Fun Run with the Elves will start at 8:30 a.m. on Cornwall Avenue and the 5K run/walk, one-mile course and 5K dog trot begin at 9 a.m.

Race packets may also be picked up from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 6 and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7 at Volkswagen of Bellingham, 2200 Iowa Street.

Individuals may register on the event day, but team registration will close Friday, December 2.

The 5K course will start at Bell ingham High School and head to ward Girard Street, moving coun terclockwise around Broadway and part of Sunset Drive before returning to the high school from Cornwall Avenue. The one-mile course will go counterclockwise from Bellingham High School to Flora Street, go around the edge of downtown on North Commer cial Street and then return to the high school via Young Street.

Registration prices vary de pending on the race and when the registration occurs. The 5K and one-mile races are $45, the 5K dog trot is $55 and the kids run is $35 from Friday, December 2 through the event day.

“Jingle Bell Run is a 36-year tradition in Bellingham and we’re looking forward to bringing extra holiday cheer to town this year,” said Lori McKnight, great west region associate director for the foundation. “Our honorees and volunteers are what make Jingle Bell Run successful, memorable and one of the top events in the nation – every year.”

To learn more and to regis ter, visit jbr.org/bellingham or call the Arthritis Foundation at 360/939-3543.

s The 2021 Jingle Bell Run in Bellingham.

Photo by Ian Haupt

Health & Wellness Local choices in health, healing & fitness.

Respiratory illness overwhelms hospital, causes medicine shortages

A respiratory illness is filling the hospital with cases and creating shortages of kids’ fever medicine.

Whatcom County Health De partment (WCHD) said in a No vember 22 press release that county residents were visiting emergency rooms for respiratory illnesses at the highest rate the department’s ever seen, and four times higher than any rate in the past five years.

Many of the respiratory illnesses

Life Line health screenings coming to Blaine on Friday, December 2

Life Line Screening will host health screenings on Friday, De cember 2 at American Legion Peace Arch Post 86, 4580 Legion Drive in Blaine. Pre-registration is required.

Blaine area residents can learn about their health risks for many conditions including cardiovas cular disease, osteoporosis and diabetes. Screenings will check for plaque buildup levels in ar teries, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipopro tein (LDL) cholesterol levels, risk for diabetes, kidney and thy roid function, and others.

Screening packages start at $159. Life Line consultants will help attendees create customized packages based on age and risk factors.

Call 877/237-1287 or visit life linescreening.com to register.

have been caused by RSV, or respira tory syncytial virus, which is a com mon virus that causes mild cold-like symptoms, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, RSV can be dangerous for older adults and infants, and is the leading cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants, according to the CDC.

Pediatric beds in Bellingham and

Hi, I’m Jack!

across Washington are at capacity. PeaceHealth is asking people with non-emergent issues to seek care outside of PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center’s emergency depart ment, such as visiting a primary care physician or a same-day clinic.

“Given we are at what is likely the height of the influenza and RSV sea

B y G race M c c arthy (See Illness, page 10)

I am a lifelong Bellingham resident. I was born at

county hospital located on

corner

and Northwest roads. I briefly attended Roeder Elementary and grade 2 thru 12 at Meridian School. I was one of 35 students who graduated from Meridian High School. We had 14 guys and 15 girls in the class. At 15 years old, I worked as a hired hand on a dairy farm. I earned $20 a month including room and board. Later, on a larger dairy farm, I earned $35 a month including room and board. At 18, I joined the Army and was trained as a cryptographer. I traveled to Japan, Germany, Vietnam, and Ethiopia where I encrypted intelligent communications data. I retired in 1977 from the Army then attended WWU and received a B.A. in education. I was a substitute teacher for a while as I was receiving a Masters in History. I finally retired from Ernst Home and Nursery as a manager in 2000. My wife and I had a two-story home on Iris Lane and I would run past the big pink building. After she passed away, I decided to sell my home and move into that building now known as Solstice Senior Living, that was in 2018. Since then, I have been writing my autobiography.

File photo

s PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham.

Photo courtesy PeaceHealth

How a federal border became a dividing line for Nooksack citizenship

B y L una r eyna / c rosscut co M

Disenrollment from Indig enous nations in the United States isn’t a traditional practice, but it has become increasingly common. An estimated 10,000 Indigenous people have been disenrolled from their nations in the past two decades, accord ing to David Wilkins, a citizen of the Lumbee Tribe who co-wrote

the book “Dismembered: Native Disenrollment and the Battle for Human Rights.”

Disenrollment is a legal term, but Wilkins argues that sev ering Indigenous people from their land and culture through disenrollment should be more adequately referred to as “dis memberment,” because these are as much a part of them as arms or legs.

The legal issues surrounding

disenrollment or dismember ment involve tribal law as well as lawsuits that have been argued in both tribal and U.S. court sys tems. In most cases, like with the Nooksack Indian Tribe in northwest Washington, power and money, blood quantum, and the sovereignty of each nation all play major roles.

Indigenous belonging

The sterile legal language sur rounding disenrollment has

Health & Wellness

largely ignored the nuances of traditional Indigenous systems of belonging. The Nooksack 306, a large family group who Nooksack Nation leaders say were errone ously enrolled and are not Nook sack citizens, represent a good example of the way traditional familial landscapes have clashed with the colonial framing of Indi geneity since the turn of the 20th century. While tribal member ship may determine employment,

financial assistance, health insur ance or housing, for these fami lies the issue goes much deeper.

The traditional homelands of the people now known as the Nooksack Indian Nation span what is now northern Washing ton and southern B.C. After po litical borders were designated in 1846, Matsqui George, Chief of the Nooksack village of Matsqui, (See Nookack, page 13)

Local choices in health, healing & fitness. Illness

...

From page 9

sons, we ask at this time you con sider other options to assist with your non-emergency health care needs so our team can care for the most ill and vulnerable,” wrote Dr. Sudhakar Karlapudi, PeaceHealth’s Northwest chief medical officer, in a statement. “Please know that we treat everyone who visits our emer gency department, but those with non-emergency needs will most likely have a longer wait time before we are able to care for you.”

Karlapudi added people with breathing difficulties should still visit the emergency room.

A nationwide shortage of the an tibiotic amoxicillin is forcing health providers to prescribe alternatives. Tylenol, ibuprofen and other chil dren’s medicine are in low quantity in Whatcom County pharmacies and customers may be asked to limit the number they purchase, accord ing to WCHD. County health offi cials also said that moderate fevers don’t require medicine and won’t help children get better quicker. Most children with respiratory ill nesses are able to recover at home, according to the health department.

WCHD encourages people to stay home while sick. People can prevent illness by washing their hands frequently, cleaning surfaces, avoiding sharing food and drinks, and covering themselves when coughing and sneezing. People are asked to wear masks when sick or in crowded places. Children ages 2-4 should only wear masks with adult supervision and children un der 2 should not wear a mask, ac cording to the health department.

Washington State Department of Health is also asking residents to get their flu vaccine as flu hos pitalizations across the state are at their highest rates in a decade for this time of year.

“We’re again in a situation where there might not be enough hospital beds for those who need care, and this is especially concerning when we consider very young, critically ill children,” wrote Dr. Amy Har ley, WCHD’s co-health officer, in a statement. “By following common sense prevention measures you, your family, and even your friends and neighbors can help make sure hospitals have beds for sick kids who need them.”

Disenrolled Nooksack citizens believe that the U.S./Canada border, and legal metrics like blood quantum, ignore the nuances of pre-colonial Indigenous belonging

File Photo

The Personal

named below has been

and has qualified as Personal Representative of this

Any person having a claim against the dece dent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable stat ute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to the Personal Rep resentative or the Personal Representa tive’s attorney at the address stated below a copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the court in which the probated proceedings were commenced. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) thirty days after the Personal Representative served or mailed the no tice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(1)(c); or (2) four months after the date of first publication of the notice. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim is forever barred, except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.40.051 and 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the decedent’s probate and nonprobate assets.

Date of Filing of Notice to Creditors: November 10, 2022 with Clerk of Court: Date of First Publication: November 17, 2022 Name

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF WHATCOM In re the Matter and Estate of: JUDITH C. MANN, Deceased. No. 22-4-0108937. PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS. RCW 11.40.030

The Personal Representative named below has been appointed as Personal Representative of this estate. Any person having a claim against the decedent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of lim itations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to the Personal Represen tative or the Personal Representative’s attorney at the address stated below a copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the court in which the probate proceedings were commenced. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) Thirty days after the Personal Representative served or mailed the no tice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(1)(c); or (2) four months after the date of first publication of the notice. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim is forever barred, except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.40.051 and 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the decedent’s probate and nonprobate assets.

Notice of First Publication: Dec. 1, 2022

Personal Representative: Paul D. Mann, Presented by: Whatcom Law Group, P.S. Roger L. Ellingson, WSBA #19292 Casie C. Rodenberger, WSBA #54348

Of Attorneys for Personal Representative PO Box 1258 / 289 H Street Blaine, WA 98231-1258 (360) 332-7000; Fax: (360) 332-6677

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF WHATCOM In re the Matter and Estate of: CAROL J. WATKINS, De ceased. No. 22-4-01057-37. PROBATE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS. RCW 11.40.030

The Personal Representative named below has been appointed as Personal Represen tative of this estate. Any person having a claim against the decedent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provid ed in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mail ing to the Personal Representative or the Personal Representative’s attorney at the address stated below a copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the court in which the probate proceedings were commenced. The claim must be pre sented within the later of: (1) Thirty days after the Personal Representative served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(1)(c); or (2) four months after the date of first pub lication of the notice. If notice was not pro vided under RCW Chapters 11.40 or 11.42, the creditor must present the claim within twenty-four months after the decedent’s date of death. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim is forever barred, except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.40.051 and 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the decedent’s probate and nonprobate assets.

Notice of First Publication: Dec. 1, 2022

Personal Representative: SANDRA L. ERICKSON

Presented by: Whatcom Law Group, P.S. Roger L. Ellingson, WSBA #19292

Attorney for Personal Representative PO Box 1258 / 289 H Street Blaine, WA 98231-1258 (360) 332-7000; Fax: (360) 332-6677

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR WHATCOM COUNTY In re the Estate of: JENNIFER LYNNE HANSEN, Deceased. No. 22-4-01068-37. NOTICE TO CRED ITORS. Judge Lee Grochmal

Representative

appointed

estate.

All real estate/rentals advertising in this news paper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 as amended, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap familial status or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrim ination. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertisement for real estate which is in

hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll-free at 1-800-877-0246.

General

violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings ad vertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll-free at 1-800877-0246.

From

remained on the Canadian side and did not obtain a homestead allotment on the U.S. side as oth er Nooksacks did.

These land allotments, de signed by the U.S. government to weaken tribal sovereignty by breaking up tribal lands and families, led to assimilating Na tive peoples. But they are now one way that many tribes, in cluding the Nooksack, deter mine citizenship. Since Matsqui chose not to move, the Nook sack tribal council claims his descendants are not Nooksack, they’re Canadian.

Many Nooksack relatives are First Nations and Canadian, and Nooksack and American. They belong to a band in Cana da with ties to Nooksack and to the Nooksack tribe in America. In fact, the Nooksack tribe was considered a Canadian tribe until U.S. federal recognition in 1973.

Matsqui’s wife Marie Siamat died in 1875, just days after giving birth to their daughter, Annie George. Matsqui later married Madeline Jobe, another Nooksack tribal member who, the disenrolled claim, adopted Annie George. Annie George then grew up to become the mother of Libby, Louise, and Emma Rose from whom the Nooksack 306 all descend.

For many Indigenous people, adoption is very common and a reflection of traditional kinship systems and relational ways of viewing one another. An imper fect way of understanding this is that cousins are viewed like sib lings and your extended commu nity are like cousins, so if a child

loses a parent or parents, they have many trusted kin to take on those roles.

Like receiving a land allotment, adoption is another criterion listed in the Nooksack constitu tion that qualifies a person to be recognized as a member of the Nooksack Indian Nation. The Nooksack tribal council will not recognize the adoption of Annie George and has refused to re spond to repeated requests as to why, according to Michelle Rob erts, one of the 306 disenrolled Nooksack citizens.

Nooksack leadership did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Taking sides

“When we were growing up, one thing that all elders would say is that we’re all relatives,” said Alex Nicol-Mills. “We’re one nation. We’re one people. We’ve always been. We’re just living in different places now.” Nicol-Mills has four children and is one of the disenrolled Nooksack 306 citizens facing eviction from their homes on tribal trust lands.

Nicol-Mills has six siblings. The youngest is from his father’s second marriage. That marriage ended just a few months before disenrollment started. The aunt of the youngest sibling from that second marriage was on the trib al council that disenrolled Mills and the rest of the Nooksack 306. “After [disenrollment] happened I just lost connection to all my family on that side, my cousins, my aunties and uncles,” NicolMills said.

According to Nicol-Mills, people felt like they had to take sides, and if you were enrolled and you wanted to support his family, there were repercussions.

“If you were enrolled and you didn’t take our side, you fell in line, kept your head down and kept your job,” Nicol-Mills said.

“People were scared for their livelihood. I don’t blame them for not coming forward. You’ve got a family to protect, a family to provide for.”

Because of this, Nicol-Mills says he would see family at gath erings and feel like they couldn’t say hi. People who were once close family wouldn’t acknowl edge each other in public any more. “It was so surreal, like walking in the Twilight Zone or walking into a different dimen

sion,” Nicol-Mills said. “The people who they’re trying to kick out are their people. I was born and raised and grew up in that [Nooksack] life. I didn’t know anything else.”

According to Michelle Rob erts, the Nooksack tribal council has refused to meet with them throughout this 10-year process, and each time she submitted doc uments that prove her family is Nooksack, the council changed the constitution, changed the court rules, and changed the pol icies and ordinances.

Although the Nooksack coun cil wouldn’t acknowledge the adoption of Annie George by Madeline Jobe, the Nooksack 306 still qualified as Nooksack under what was Section H of the Nook sack constitution, which allowed “persons who possess at least one-quarter Indian blood and who can prove Nooksack ances try to any degree.”

Blood quantum

A report by an anthropologist in British Columbia established that Matsqui George was the chief of a Nooksack village in what is now Canada, which would have made the Nooksack 306 eligible for membership under Section H of the Nooksack constitution. Bob Kelly, the chairman who started the disenrollment of the Nooksack 306 in 2012, called for a Nooksack constitutional refer endum for the removal of Section H. He succeeded.

Kelly is originally from a First Nations band in Canada and was adopted into the Nooksack Indian Nation.

Blood percentages or blood quantum was introduced as a way to diminish the legal rights of a “mixed-blood” person. Un der the Dawes Act of 1887, the federal government denied some mixed-descent Natives land al lotments if they had less than one-quarter Native blood, but accepted mixed-descent Native’s signatures if they wanted to sell their land.

By 1912, blood quantum was introduced by the U.S. govern ment to determine who had enough “Indian blood” to be considered for membership, which determined funding for some tribes. It became common after the 1934 Indian Reorganiza

(See Nooksack, page 16)

Aida B. Kraus

July 1929 – November 2022

Aida was the only child of industrialist Karl Baumbusch and his wife Franziska (Putzs), who was a jeweler and watchmaker who had taken over her father’s business in Karlsbad, German-Bohemia. Being the only child, Aida went through early training at her father’s business, graduating from business college (Handelsakademie at Karlsbad), and gaining business and public speaking experience that would prove benefi cial during her life in America.

Aida and her husband, Ludwig, who worked for the U.S. occu pational forces after the war, found American friends who helped them achieve emigration. The young couple with two little chil dren came to Milwaukee, WI in 1955. Hard work during the first 10 years placed them both not only in good administrative posi tions, but their knowledge and experience with skiing made it easy to certify with the Pacific NW Ski Instructors Association, giving them an additional part time income source as ski instructors. Eventually, Ludwig worked in Salem, OR as plant superintendent for Boise Cascade and Aida as secretary to the Advisory Commit tee on Synthetic Chemicals in the Environment under Governor Thomas McCall. From there they moved to Mt. Rose Ski Resort in Lake Tahoe where they took over the general management of the corporation. Eventually, Aida retired as Director of Marketing from Mt. Rose and had a ski run named after her, Aida’s, on the mountain.

Because their sons and their families had settled in Washington State, Aida and Ludwig retired in Birch Bay. The couple spent 25 years boating the Inside Passage to Glacier Bay before and during their retirement years. They enjoyed hiking and skiing in the Si erra and Cascade mountains and boated extensively the entire In side Passage during the summer months. Throughout their lives they traveled in Europe and the South Sea Islands.

During the last years of her life, Aida enjoyed walks along the Birch Bay berm and when that was no longer possible, she enjoyed driving her scooter along the shore. Aida was a loving wife, ador ing mother, wonderful Oma, and phenomenal great-Oma. She was resilient when faced with adversity and persevered with optimism in any situation that came her way. All of this and more is why she will be so greatly missed by family and friends.

Aida is preceded in death by her husband Ludwig Kraus (19282011), her oldest son Professor Michael Kraus (1951-2012) and son Henry Kraus (1954-2014), and is survived by her grandchil dren Erik Kraus (Sandra) and her great-grandchildren Brooklyn and Kendall, of Auburn, CA, and her grandson Christopher Kraus (Tessa), of Ellensburg, WA. A celebration of life with friends and family to take place in the summer of 2023.

Nov. 20, 5:23 p.m.: Behavioral health issue on Surf Place.

Nov. 20, 6:13 p.m.: Civil prob lem on Birch Bay-Lynden Road, Custer.

Nov. 21, 5:25 a.m.: Suspicious vehicle on Portal Way, Custer.

Nov. 21, 9:01 a.m.: Vehicle abandoned on Seashell Way.

Nov. 21, 9:39 a.m.: Behavioral health issue on Surf Place.

Nov. 21, 10:07 a.m.: Behavioral health issue on Surf Place.

Nov. 22, 7:37 a.m.: Traffic hazard on Birch Bay-Lynden Road and Portal Way.

Nov. 22, 11:15 a.m.: Motor vehicle accident blocking on Alderson Road.

Nov. 22, 11:15 a.m.: Motor ve hicle accident injury on Alderson Road and Birch Bay Drive.

Nov. 22, 11:17 a.m.: Civil prob lem on Flambeau Road.

Nov. 22, 11:18 a.m.: Motor vehicle accident injury on Alderson Road.

Nov. 22, 2:57 p.m.: Behavioral health issue on Delta Line Road, Custer.

Nov. 22, 3:57 p.m.: Welfare check on Salish Road.

Nov. 22, 4:20 p.m.: Harassment on Bay Road.

Nov. 22, 4:11 p.m.: Fraud on Henley Street.

Nov. 22, 8:05 p.m.: Motor vehi cle accident injury on Blaine and Birch Bay-Lynden roads.

Nov. 22, 8:31 p.m.: Suspicious

vehicle on Blaine Road.

Nov. 22, 9:38 p.m.: Suicidal subject on Custer School Road, Custer.

Nov. 23, 7:20 a.m.: Vehicle theft on Harborview Road.

Nov. 23, 7:59 a.m.: Behavioral health issue on Surf Place.

Nov. 23, 9:22 a.m.: Alarm silent on Portal Way, Custer.

Nov. 23, 10:15 a.m.: Suspicious circumstances on Harborview Road.

Nov. 23, 10:16 a.m.: Suspicious vehicle on Kickerville Road.

Nov. 23, 12:40 p.m.: Burglary on Cottonwood Court.

Nov. 23, 2:10 p.m.: Neighbor hood dispute on Loft Lane.

Nov. 23, 4:07 p.m.: Behavioral health issue on Surf Place.

Nov. 23, 4:44 p.m.: Domestic physical on Bayshore Drive.

Nov. 23, 5:48 p.m.: Impound private on East Street.

Nov. 23, 8:35 p.m.: Traffic haz ard on H Street Road.

Nov. 23, 9:52 p.m.: Domestic verbal on McGee Road, Custer.

Nov. 24, 7:52 a.m.: Suspicious circumstances on Surf Place.

Nov. 24, 9:32 a.m.: Property found on Arnie and Kickerville roads.

Nov. 24, 9:35 a.m.: Hit and run on Harborview Road.

Nov. 23, 8:35 p.m.: Traffic haz

CrOssWOrd

ard on H Street Road.

Nov. 23, 9:52 p.m.: Domestic verbal on McGee Road, Custer. Nov. 24, 7:52 a.m.: Suspicious circumstances on Surf Place.

Nov. 24, 9:32 a.m.: Property found on Arnie and Kickerville roads.

Nov. 24, 12:31 p.m.: Property found on Haynie Road.

Nov. 24, 5:41 p.m.: Civil problem on Custer School Road, Custer.

Nov. 25, 11:38 a.m.: Behavioral health issue on Castlerock Drive.

Nov. 25, 7:32 p.m.: Assist citizen on Surf Place.

Nov. 25, 8:56 p.m.: Motor vehi cle accident injury on W Badger and Sunrise roads.

Nov. 26, 12:23 a.m.: Suspicious person on Bay Road.

Nov. 26, 10:58 p.m.: Traffic haz ard on H Street Road.

Nov. 26, 11:15 p.m.: Fight on Custer School Road, Custer.

Nov. 26, 11:16 p.m.: Assault sim ple on Custer School Road, Custer.

Nov. 27, 12:08 a.m.: Domestic order violation on Sunrise Road, Custer.

Nov. 27, 2:06 a.m.: Assist agen cy on Sweet Road.

Nov. 27, 7:20 a.m.: Suspicious person on Birch Bay-Lynden.

Editor’s Note: Blaine Police Department had not released last week’s incident reports by press time.

Coming up

Community Toy Store Toy Drive: Through December 2. High quality toys in the $20–$50 range are needed for Blaine/Birch Bay’s holiday gift assistance program. Unwrapped toys may be dropped off at the Blaine Library, Blaine Senior Center, Pacific Building Center, Birch Bay Village Rec Center, and Semiahmoo Golf Club, marina cafe, athletic club and resort. Online direct delivery and monetary donation options are also available. Visit blainecap.org for full details. Sponsored by the Community Assistance Program. For questions, email toystore@blainecap.org.

Trivia at The Vault: Thursday, December 1, 7 p.m., 277 G Street. This week’s theme: Marvel. Info: thevaultwine.com.

Christmas Market and Bake Sale: Friday, December 2, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday, December 3, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., St, Anne Church 604 H Street. Craft items, gifts, baked goods and more. Multiple vendors, raffles and fun.

Music at The Vault: Friday, December 2, 7 p.m., 277 G Street. Featuring: Anna Katarina. Info: thevaultwine.com.

Olde Fashioned Christmas in Ferndale: Friday, December 2 and Satur day, December 3, 4-9 p.m., Pioneer Park, 2004 Cherry Street, Ferndale. Visit with costumed volunteers in the cabins of Pioneer Park. Tickets $5 adults, $3 children. Sponsored by the Ferndale Heritage Society. Info: fern daleheritagesociety.com.

Pancake Breakfast: Saturday, December 3, 9–11 a.m., Blaine Senior Cen ter, 763 G Street. Pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, coffee and orange juice. Adults $7, kids under 6 $5. Info: 360/332-8040.

Friends of Blaine Library Book Sale: Saturday, December 3, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Blaine Community Pavilion, 635 8th Street. Holiday shopping made easy with DVDs, CDs, coffee table books, teen’s and children’s books, adult fiction and non-fiction, and more. There’s something for everyone. Shop the sale and support the Blaine Library’s Building Project. Weather dependent.

Blaine Holiday Harbor Lights Bazaar: Saturday, December 3, 11 a.m.–5:30 p.m., 648 Peace Portal Drive. Shop a variety of holiday gifts, ornaments, jewelry and quality arts and crafts by local artisans. Info: blainechamber.com.

10th Annual Holiday Lights Dash: Saturday, December 3, 2 p.m., Lin coln Park (H Street entrance). Bring the family out for this family-friendly fun obstacle holiday-themed run/walk. Holiday attire is encouraged. Adults $10, family up to five $30, kids 5-17 $5, under 5 free. Preregister online at bbbparkandrec.org or day-of from noon-1:30 p.m. Sponsored by BlaineBirch Bay Park and Recreation District 2. Info: bbbparkandrec.org.

Holiday Harbor Lights Tree Lighting: Saturday December 3, Blaine G Street Plaza. 4–5 p.m., live music and caroling; 4:45 p.m., tree lighting; 5–7 p.m., free horse-drawn carriage and mini train rides, visit Santa and Mrs. Claus in the Welcome Center. Info: blainechamber.com.

Let’s Make Presents!: Thursday, December 8, 3:15–4:15 p.m., Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. Kids come craft beautiful, meaningful gifts for your loved ones. Info: wcls.org.

Trivia at The Vault: Thursday, December 8, 7 p.m., 277 G Street. This week’s theme: general knowledge. Info: thevaultwine.com.

Family Movie Night: Friday, December 9, 7 p.m., Birch Bay Activity Cen ter, 7511 Gemini Street. Watch a family-friendly holiday movie and enjoy hot chocolate, popcorn and maybe a visit from Santa himself! Free. Bring a chair or something comfortable to sit on. Sponsored by Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2. Info: bbbparkandrec.org.

tidesMusic at The Vault: Friday, December 9, 7 p.m., 277 G Street. Featuring: Gruv. Info: thevaultwine.com.

December 1-7 at Blaine. Not for navigation.

49° 0’ 0”N - 122° 46’ 0”W

DATE TIME HEIGHT TIME HEIGHT

Th 1 4:43 am 1.2 12:19 pm 10.1

7:20 pm 3.9

Fr 2 12:02 am 5.8 5:45 am 2.6

12:55 pm 9.9 8:04 pm 2.5

Sa 3 1:56 am 6.3 6:51 am 4.0

1:27 pm 9.8 8:42 pm 1.2

Su 4 3:20 am 7.2 7:55 am 5.1

1:57 pm 9.7 9:18 pm 0.1

Mo 5 4:28 am 8.1 8:57 am 6.1

2:25 pm 9.5 9:54 pm -0.7

Tu 6 5:22 am 8.9 9:55 am 6.8

2:53 pm 9.3 10:28 pm -1.2

We 7 6:08 am 9.5 10:51 am 7.2

3:21 pm 9.1 11:00 pm -1.4

Hard Boiled Egg Nog: A Christmas Noir Performance: Friday and Sat urday, December 9, 10, 16 and 17 at 7 p.m. and Sundays, December 11 and 18 at 2 p.m. Blaine High School Orange and Black Box Theater. Blaine Community Theater presents this tale of an aspiring elf detective named Jangle, who gets his big break when Santa is found murdered just days before Christmas. Info and tickets: blainecommunitytheater.com.

Blaine Senior Center Big Bucks Bingo: Saturday, December 10, noon–3 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Over $275 in prizes. Early bird starts at 12:30 p.m. Regular bingo at 1 p.m. Eight games $15. Info: 360/332-8040.

Christmas Lunch with Santa: Saturday, December 10, 2–3.:30 p.m., American Legion Post 86, 4850 Legion Drive. Kids enjoy face painting, coloring, take your own photos with Santa, caroling and gifts. Hot dog, chips and drink free for kids 12 and under, others by donation. Open to the public. Info: 360/371-7311.

Holiday Book and Bake Sale Fundraiser: Saturdays, December 10 and 17, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Birch Bay Community Library, 7968 Birch Bay Drive. Get 2023 Birch Bay calendars, pick up reading material, stock up on sweet treats and donate to the Birch Bay Community building fund. Sponsored by Friends of Birch Bay Library.

Lighted Christmas Stroll: Fridays, December 9 and 16, and Saturdays, December 10 and 17, 5-8 p.m., Pioneer Park, 2004 Cherry Street, Fern dale. Stroll around the cabins, see al the park lit up, hear Christmas music and see costumed volunteer greet you and feel the holiday cheer. Bring letters to Santa, free hot beverages and photo booth. Free. Sponsored by the Ferndale Heritage Society. Info: ferndaleheritagesociety.com.

Ongoing

Blaine Food Bank: 500 C Street. Open Mondays 9 a.m.–noon, Wednes days 5–7 p.m., and Fridays 9 a.m.–noon. Delivery options available. Info:360/332-6350 or blainefood@hotmail.com.

WeatherThe Bridge Food Distribution Program: Fridays 3:30–5 p.m., The Bridge Community Hope Center, 4815 Alderson Road. Registration required at thebridgehope.com or call 360/366-8763. Volunteers welcome.

Precipitation: During the period of November 2127, 1.7 inches of precipita tion were recorded. The 2022 year-to-date precipitation is 30.5 inches.

Temperature: High for the past week was 58°F on November 24 with a low of 35°F on November 27. Average high was 46°F and average low was 42°F.

CAP Clothing Bank: Mondays and Fridays, 9 a.m.–noon and Wednes days, 5-7 p.m. 508 G Street. The Community Assistance Program clothing bank is now located in the basement of the CAP Center providing free clothing and linens. Donations accepted only during open hours or by special arrangement. Info: blainecap.org or 360/392-8484.

The Bridge Clothing Bank Boutique: Open Wednesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m, The Bridge Community Hope Center, 4815 Alderson Road. Donations by appointment, call 360/366-8763.

Meals on Wheels Frozen Meals: Thursdays 11:30 a.m.–noon, Blaine Se nior Center, 763 G Street. Adults 60+ pick up five frozen meals. Suggested donation $5 per meal or whatever is affordable. First come, first serve basis. Info: 360/332-8040.

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counted didn’t change much for the candidates, they did change the turnout for one county proposition.

Proposition 5, the Whatcom County children’s initiative levy

lid lift, passed by 20 votes after previously looking as if it was going to fail. The proposition passed with 54,290 votes in favor (50.01 percent) and 54,270 votes against (49.99 percent).

Proposition 5 will authorize the county to increase property taxes to fund early learning programs, childcare and support for home less and other vulnerable chil dren. The measure will increase the regular property tax levy by $.19 per $1,000 of assessed val uation for 10 years, generating about $8.2 million annually.

Nearly 71 percent of the coun ty’s 157,683 registered voters turned out for the election, ac cording to the auditor’s website.

While Sharon Shewmake (D) won the state senate for the 42nd district, Simon Sefzik (R) was favored by the majority of Birch Bay and Custer area voters. Se fizk swept the east Blaine pre cincts and received the majority of votes along Birch Bay Drive, Point Whitehorn and Birch Point Road. Shewmake won downtown Blaine, Semiahmoo and north Birch Bay.

Nooksack ...

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tion Act made it legal for Native governments to exist again, but with the strong encouragement of blood-quantum requirements. Now, 70 percent of federally rec ognized tribes use blood quan tum in their enrollment rules, according to the Native Gover nance Center.

“No matter what, a plastic trib al ID doesn’t define who I am as an Indigenous woman,” said San tana Rabang, one of the Nook sack 306. “It’s the knowledge that’s passed down generation to generation. It’s my connection to my land, to my people, to my cul ture, to my traditions.”

Tribal ID cards are identifi cation cards issued by federally recognized tribes that list a tribal number and may even list offi cial blood quantum, something Mills resentfully likened to the pedigree of dogs and horses. The cards are used to access certain services and can also be used fed erally like any other ID. In con trast, Ross Cline Sr., who took over as chairman of Nooksack Indian Nation in 2018, seeming ly accepted and welcomed the comparison of Indigenous peo ple and blood quantum to that of animals. Asked why disenrolling the Nooksack 306 was so import ant, Cline told AP News, “If you owned a purebred dog, you’d bet ter understand the question.”

And therein lies another layer of this conflict. Many Indigenous peoples have accepted the colo

nial metrics of belonging, and for them, things like blood quantum help maintain cultural purity. Many fear that allowing those who do not meet blood-quantum requirements into their nation could erode their culture, tra ditions and even government if those people were elected.

Rabang was just a teenager when the council began working to remove her family from the Tribe. She grew up Nooksack. When her citizenship was tak en from her, she struggled. “It broke me down in a lot of ways,” Rabang said. “[Disenrollment] made me question myself.”

But after the initial shock and grief, Rabang began to speak up and out for herself and her fam ily against blood quantum and disenrollment. “If there was no blood quantum, I wouldn’t have to question myself because peo ple would already know who I am and where I come from. I was raised knowing I was Nooksack. My grandma and my grandpa told me I was Nook sack. My parents told me I was Nooksack and I was raised in the Nooksack community.”

Traditionally, “where you come from,” as Rabang said, mean ing the sacred land that you call home, that you steward, that your medicines come from, where your ancestors were laid to rest, factors as much into belonging as lineal descent. Lineal descent, as Rabang points out, is your re lation to a parent who is recog nized as a tribal citizen whether by adoption or birth.

Many nations still use lineal

descent, including the Nook sack, but with a caveat of “at least one-fourth degree Indian blood,” which rules out many of the next generation of Indigenous peoples if they marry people who are not Indigenous. “The fact that people are determining before someone is even born whether they be long, while someone is still in the womb rather than raising them in culture, community, traditions, our way of life, motivates me to fight against it,” Rabang said.

Rabang maintains blood quan tum is not true sovereignty. “Sov ereignty comes by putting people first and ensuring the future for the next seven generations,” Ra bang said. “We have the power as sovereign nations, as people who form their own self-government, to change, to deconstruct, and rebuild our constitutional bylaws to reflect more of who we were pre-colonization.

Sovereign nations

The Nooksack Indian Tribe, just like all other 573 federally recognized nations in the U.S., is a sovereign nation. Just as France has no power to tell the U.S. how to govern, the U.S. cannot tell In digenous nations how to govern.

But the U.S. federal govern ment has a history of perpetu ally interfering in Native citi zenship requirements through blood quantum as well as cen sus and allotment rolls. “The federal government has always had a say, whenever it’s benefit ed them. They always intervene and interfere in our internal matters,” Wilkins said.

In 1978, a female member

of the Santa Clara Pueblo tribe brought a case against her tribe because they allowed only men who married outside the tribe to enroll their children. If a woman married outside their tribe, their children were not eligible for citizenship. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that interfering in this case would interfere with tribal sovereignty. This case set a precedent for all enrollment cases since.

Wilkins believes this choice by the Supreme Court was also a calculated choice that benefit ed the federal government. The fewer Indigenous people who are federally recognized as citi zens of a nation, the less federal responsibility the U.S. govern ment has to those tribes. This means less financial investment in required supportive services like healthcare through Indian Health Services.

Rabang believes that the way that sovereignty has been used as a weapon against her family is a slap in the face to all the work her ancestors put into fighting for them to become sovereign.

Rabang’s great-great-great-greatgrandfather, Bih-chy-uh-kaid, participated in the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott, and his signa ture is on the treaty. “I am the seventh generation,” Rabang said. “In that moment, he was fighting for me.”

In Washington alone, The Con federated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, the Puyallup Tribe, the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe, the Lummi Nation and the

Snoqualmie Indian Tribe have all banished or disenrolled citizens. Banishment, unlike disenroll ment, was traditionally used only for the most egregious crimes, like murder, and only after oth er attempts to restore community harmony, according to Wilkins’ book. Once a person was ban ished, they had the opportunity to return to their nation if reha bilitation was accepted.

Hope in their hearts

In 2008, similar to the Nook sack disenrollment, a faction of the Snoqualmie council removed and banished elected council members without due process and disenrolled their family members. Unlike with the Nook sack disenrollment, however, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington heard the Snoqualmie citizens’ case, ruled that their due-pro cess rights under the Indian Civ il Rights Act were violated, and overturned the banishment.

Carolyn Lubenau of the Sno qualmie Tribe was one of the citizens who successfully fought her removal from her people’s rolls and was later elected as chairwoman.

Many of the Nooksack 306 still hope for eventual reconciliation with the Nooksack Indian Na tion. “I still don’t hold it against them because it’s my family,” Mills said. “I try to do my best to have a good heart and a good spirit. They’re always gonna have a place in my heart.”

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