The Northern Light: February 16-22, 2023

February 16 - 22, 2023

IN THIS ISSUE

Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay

New restaurant to open in Rustic Fork building, page 2

Local fisherman celebrates Bristol Bay protection

B y I an H aupt

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), environmentalists and a Blaine Harbor fisherman celebrated the announcement of mining protections placed January 31 on Alaska’s Bristol Bay, which has one of the largest salmon runs in the world.

The U.S. EPA approved permanent Clean Water Act protections on Bristol Bay, blocking Pebble Mine’s 12-year-long project proposal brought by Northern Dynasty Minerals. Pebble Mine threatened irreparable damage to the watershed, as it would have extracted gold, copper and molybdenum located in the headwaters of the Kvichak and Nushagak rivers, two of the eight major rivers that feed Bristol Bay.

In 2011, Cantwell called on the EPA to block the Pebble Mine proposal if the agency found that the development would harm Bristol Bay salmon, which she called “economic lynchpins” for commercial fishermen in Alaska and Washington, according to a January 31 press release. The EPA reported in 2020 that more than 191 miles of streams and 4,614 acres of wetlands would be impacted during construction of the Pebble Mine, with 185 miles and 3,841 acres of wetlands permanently damaged or destroyed.

Cantwell spoke on the Senate floor January 31 after the EPA announced its restriction of development in the watershed.

“No company will ever be able to stick a mine on top of some of the best salmon habitat in the world,” Cantwell said in her floor speech. “Salmon fishermen from Alaska and from my home state of Washington will continue to earn their livelihoods from Bristol Bay salmon as they have for generations.”

Blaine Harbor fisherman Kevin Haines, who has fished in Bristol Bay for almost every summer since 1996, said fishers have been fighting the mine since it was proposed.

“It’s always been a threat. It wouldn’t have affected me in my lifetime, but for the up-and-comers and future generations

(See Bristol Bay, page 10)

Blaine Middle School fire, page 5

Lodging tax revenue at second highest, page 6

BCT showcases “It Happened One Night”

Planning commission approves second public hearing on manufactured home parks

The Blaine Planning Commission approved a second public hearing on whether large manufactured home parks should be allowed in east Blaine. The public hearing is scheduled for the April 13 meeting.

The commission voted 4-1 during its February 9 meeting to reopen the public hearing after the commission failed to reach a consensus on their recommendation for Blaine City Council. Some commissioners asked for a second public hearing because they wanted to discuss more research they

did after the December 8 hearing.

About 20 audience members listened intently to the commissioners’ debate, which lasted over an hour. Remote participants, including commissioner Jessica Stone, were unable to join the meeting due to technical difficulties.

The manufactured home park debate began last year when east Blaine developers Skip and Katie Jansen asked city staff to change the city’s zoning code to allow manufactured home parks in east Blaine planned unit developments (PUDs), which are five acres or larger. Currently, the city’s zoning

City council pauses east Blaine taxing district study, supports port grant application

Blaine City Council had an agenda-packed meeting on February 13 that resulted in council revising its legislative priorities, asking the city to pause a study on creating a taxing district in east Blaine and supporting the Port of Bellingham’s grant application for a feasibility study on a maritime research institute in Blaine Harbor.

Bell Road project letter

State legislators from the 42nd district wrote a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg asking for support of the Bell Road overpass project. The letter, dated January 26, said the city of Blaine submitted a grant application for the project from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program.

The city is working on the project’s 10

percent design phase and the RAISE funding would allow the city to immediately begin the preliminary engineering and environmental phase, according to the letter.

A U.S. Department of Homeland Security railcar scanner is located near the Bell Road and Peace Portal Drive intersection, which causes traffic congestion as trains are scanned. In 2020, the city decided not to

(See City, page 6)

code allows for manufactured homes in east Blaine in areas less than five acres. The city’s planned residential zone runs east of 15th Street to city limits and from the U.S./Canada border to H Street Road.

The Jansens’ next development East Harbor Hills, where they are considering a manufactured home park, is still a ways out from having city council consider its approval. East Harbor Hills will be between The Ridge at Harbor Hills and Grandis Pond.

(See Planning, page 3)

s Blaine Community Theater presented the Lux Radio Theater version of “It Happened One Night” at Blaine Boating Center on February 11. The show was based on a 1934 romantic comedy about a reporter who follows a runaway heiress and ends up falling in love. Jazz guitarist Mike Bohnson and vocalist Kira Ann Bradshaw performed live music during the event.

Photo by Ruth Lauman

I grew up in Bellingham, attended public schools and graduated from Bellingham High School and then attended Western Washington University. While my profession became teaching my dream was to travel. I received a Fulbright Teacher Exchange opportunity and spent a year in an English Girls’ School in Newcastle England. I then attended Columbia University in New York City and received a master’s degree. I was offered a supervisory position with the military schools in Europe. I really enjoyed the opportunity to travel throughout Europe with that position. My desire for more education brought me back to New York where I received a doctorate degree in education and eventually taught at the City University of New York. At that time, I was invited to be an international representative (NGO) at the United Nations and participated in other organizations relating to women and children such as UNICEF. After my return to Bellingham I grew tired of cooking and housekeeping so I made a decision to move to Solstice Independent Living. After 12 years, I have made no plans to move.

Bordertown Mexican Grill owners plan new offerings at former Rustic Fork building

A couple who has made a name for themselves with Mexican food is opening a second restaurant in Blaine with a variety of food offerings in the former Rustic Fork restaurant.

Bordertown Mexican Grill coowners Nelly Santiago and Abi Garcia hope to open Que Onda Fusion Cuisine by early June. Santiago said they are still working on the menu but some of the items could include hamburgers, chicken alfredo, salad, steak, pizza and crepes.

Santiago and Garcia purchased the building at 442 Peace Portal Drive in late January after wanting to find a new place to cook different cuisines. They expect remodeling to take about three months, Santiago said, which may include opening the space so customers can see into the kitchen area and a garage door in the front that can open the restaurant. The restaurant will also allow customers to order food at the counter, instead of sitting down and waiting for a server.

“The garage doors are going to be really nice and we’ll open them in the summer,” Santiago said. “We’ll have beer there. In the back, there’s outdoor seating and we’re going to put table games for people to play.”

Qué Onda Fusion Cuisine is Santiago and Garcia’s first brickand-mortar restuarant. The pair started Bordertown Mexican Grill under a different name, as a taco truck in the parking lot of Hill’s Chevron in summer 2016. Gas station owner Mike Hill leased them Bordertown’s current location between Starbucks

and Hill’s Chevron in 2019. “They showed up in a taco truck and tried to get a spot,” Hill said, later adding, “They’ve earned it. They’re hardworking people. They put out good food, they have good service and that’s all you need to do. As people, they just don’t come any better.”

s Bordertown Mexican Grill coowners Nelly Santiago and Abi Garcia plan to open a restaurant at the old Rustic Fork building that will serve a variety of food including burgers, pizza, pasta and steak.

Photo by Grace McCarthy

Planning ...

From page 1

After several delays, planning commission held a heated public hearing on the issue December 8. Commissioners then tabled the vote so they could do more research after more than a dozen east Blaine residents raised concern on the zoning change. Unmanaged large-scale development, affordability and impact on water supply, schools and the environment were some of the public’s top concerns.

Commission discussion

Commissioner Kevin Owens started the discussion by commenting on how he believed a lot of the opposition in December was to the East Harbor Hills development and not the zoning code change. He questioned people’s concerns that manufactured homes wouldn’t provide affordable housing. Concerns during the last meeting focused on families not being able to build equity and seniors being priced out due to fixed incomes.

“If it can be substantiated, then manufactured housing communities do provide an opportunity for affordable housing,” Owens said during the meeting. “We better think long and hard about turning that down.”

Owens continued, “We have ourselves a problem in the city of Blaine in that we don’t have much affordable housing and we don’t have very much rental housing available. We’re trying to attract businesses to come into our community and yet we can’t land those business tenants because the people who would work in those businesses can’t afford it.”

Owens said he started to do research after the December meeting but meeting procedures wouldn’t allow him to share those findings with the fellow commissioners unless another public hearing was opened. He proposed a motion to reopen the public hearing but discussion sidelined the motion.

Commissioner Jerry Marczynski recommended denying the request and asked planning commission to consider eliminating manufactured home parks from all areas of Blaine, not just east Blaine, because it didn’t seem like a good path for homeownership. He believed the current east Blaine zoning code was made deliberately to restrict large manufactured home parks.

Owens said they needed to focus on the proposed text amendment so they could give an answer to the developers.

Commissioner James Bring questioned whether it was beyond the planning commission’s scope to say what is or isn’t a good investment for residents.

“We’re not the financial police,” Bring said. “I don’t know if that’s within our wheelhouse of what we should be discussing – protecting people from their own investments.”

Commission chair Calvin Armerding said he couldn’t give Bring an answer, to which Owens suggested it may not be within the planning commission’s scope, but it might be within the purview of city council.

“I don’t think it’s beyond the scope of the city of Blaine to help find solutions to a problem,” Owens said. “The city of Blaine has a problem with affordable housing, therefore the city of Blaine has a responsibility to address that problem.”

Commissioner Jennifer Plombon argued it would be way beyond the city’s scope. She said the city couldn’t dictate whether residents were allowed to own the land under their manufactured homes and it was unreasonable to hope the city would find a nonprofit to make the manufactured home more affordable as had been suggested. Armerding believed planning commission could recommend city council approve allowing large manufactured home parks when the commission saw both benefits and disadvantages, and planning commission could recommend city council only approve the text amendment if the city took action to mitigate the problems.

“We could recommend adoption and city council could say flat-out ‘no.’ We could recommend rejection and city council could say, ‘Nope, we’re going to allow it.’ Or we could come in with a balanced approach as a third option and say, ‘Here are the things that we see could be problems and we think they need to be addressed before this is put into law,’” Armerding said.

Bring said his family grew up in trailer parks and were either able to move on from trailer parks or still live in retirement parks.

“We’re taking liberties into assuming people who would move into this park would be in financial ruin and need us to save them from themselves,” Bring said, later adding, “Meanwhile, it may be the only thing you and your family can afford at the time and you made the decision of, ‘Do we go this route here or do the five of us stay in this two-bedroom apartment?’”

Owens said his fear was the increasing trend across the U.S. of large investment companies purchasing manufactured home parks.

Community development services director Stacie Pratschner advised commissioners on their options. She said commission could deny the request to amend the code, reject the request and propose striking any ability to have any manufactured homes in the planned residential zone, or vote on the request and then ask council to prioritize looking at manufactured homes throughout the city.

Commissioners struggled to reach a consensus and three separate motions failed to reach a majority.

Plombon said she was against changing the code because she didn’t see manufactured home parks as the only means for affordable housing, which erupted the audience in an applause.

Marczynski ended the back-andforth meeting by making a motion to hold another public hearing April 13, because he would be in Texas during the March meeting and couldn’t attend by Zoom.

Commissioners approved the motion 4-1 with Bring in opposition. Stone was absent and commissioner Colin Hawkins, who

was appointed after the December meeting, abstained.

Pratschner recommended the public submit their testimony after the public hearing notice was distributed so it could be included in the official public comment.

Public response

East Blaine resident Shanna Leeland said she’s not against development, but she is against the idea that manufactured home parks allow investors to charge monthly rent to a large group of tenants.

“Changing the zoning is counterintuitive because it is presented in that it will improve the affordable housing shares in Blaine but, historically, when you look at mobile home parks, they are not affordable housing solutions,” Leeland said. “It’s a juxtaposition of trying to create a solution but you’re actually creating a problem.”

Leeland said she believes the parks could be affordable if the developer sold individual lots for people to put manufactured homes on or if the developer sold the lots and homes as an affordable packaged deal. Leeland also supported co-op housing, where the homeowners hold a share of the park. The city may be able to incentivize both options but ultimately can’t control what the developer does in a free market, she said.

Leeland added that she was disappointed because the February meeting wouldn’t have been needed if some of the commissioners had done their homework before the December meeting. Leeland prepared a 20-page report on the problems with manufactured home park investments and distributed it to city staff and planning commission in September.

“The people I know who came to the meeting aren’t antidevelopment,” Leeland said. “They’re, ‘Let’s make sure the development aligns with things that are good for Blaine.’”

The Jansens did not attend the meeting. Cascade Engineering Group principal engineer Craig Parkinson, who represents the developers, did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

s From front.; commissioners James Bring, Colin Hawkins, Jerry Marczynski (observed), Calvin Armerding and Kevin Owens deliberate on allowing large manufactured home parks in east Blaine during the February 9 planning commission meeting at city hall. After over an hour of discussion and several motions that failed to reach a consensus, the commission voted 4-1 to hold another public hearing on April 13. Photo by Grace McCarthy

s Commissioners Kevin Owens and Jennifer Plombon during the February 9 planning commission meeting. Photo by Grace McCarthy

The Northern L ght

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

Locally owned and managed, the company also publishes the All Point Bulletin, covering Point Roberts, Mount Baker Experience, 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 Association, Chambers of Commerce of Bellingham/ 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.

Letters Policy

The Northern Light welcomes letters to the editor. Please include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. 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 limited 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. Consumer complaints should be submitted directly to the business in question or the local chamber of commerce. Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published. Email letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com.

Publisher & Managing Editor Patrick Grubb publisher@pointrobertspress.com

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Contributors In This Issue

Doug Dahl

Jonathan Hall

The Northern Light 225 Marine Drive, Suite 200, Blaine, WA 98230

Tel: 360/332-1777

Vol XXVIII, No 35

Circulation: 10,500 copies

Circulation Independently verified by:

s Paul Johnson, a Blaine-based documentary filmmaker and journalist, interviewed avid birder and wildlife photographer Joe Meche at Jorgensen Pier while creating a visual story about Blaine’s Wings Over Water NW Birding Festival that runs Friday, March 17 through Sunday, March 19. The story will be featured on his new Discover Whatcom YouTube Channel created to share visual and inspiring stories about our region. Learn more at pauljohnsonfilms.com. Learn more about the festival and register for events at Wings Over Water NW Birding Festival at wingsoverwaterbirdingfestival.com.

Maritime Washington National Heritage Area receives $350,000 grant

The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation recently received a $350,000 grant for the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area. The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust provided the grant to enable the heritage area to build a strong base after being established a few years ago.

The U.S. Congress established the Maritime Washington National Heritage Area in 2019 to pay tribute to the state’s maritime history while supporting the maritime communities through resources and partnerships.

The heritage area is one of 62 in the U.S. and is the only heritage area focused on maritime, according to a February 7 press release from the Murdock

The Editor:

I really enjoyed Jonathan Hall’s article “Glacial ice sheet that covered Blaine leaves remnants” on the opinion page of the February 2 issue.

I have always wondered about the origin of those rocks, out along the southern edge of Drayton Harbor, as I drive from Birch Bay to Blaine, via Drayton Harbor Road. I would love to get Jonathan’s contact information so I can find out about the

Trust. The area spans over 3,000 miles of shoreline from Grays Harbor to Blaine and includes 33 port districts.

“Something that makes Washington so special is that we still have a very active maritime heritage. It’s a world that is very alive and well here among people from many diverse background and cultures,” said Alexandra Gradwohl, the heritage area’s new program director, in a statement. “It’s very exciting that we’re now able to move this program forward and help unify that maritime identity for the entire region.”

Last November, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior approved a management plan for the heritage area. The plan can be viewed on the Washington Trust’s website at bit.ly/3Yw1vIt.

Wings Over Water festival a month away OpiniOn Letters

The Washington Trust has started work on projects such as funding the Northwest Maritime Center in Port Townsend to create interpretive materials for a new visitor center and helping BIPOC youth enter the maritime field in Seattle, according to the release.

The Murdock Trust gave the $350,000 grant to the Washington Trust because Washington is rich heritage of fishing, international shipping, recreation, exploration and conservation, said Lorin Schmit Dunlop, program director at the Murdock Trust, in the release. The Murdock Trust has given over $1.3 billion in grants to Pacific Northwest organizations focused on improving the region’s educational, spiritual and cultural base.

references he used for his article.

My wife and I enjoy reading The Northern Light each week and appreciate all of your efforts to provide factual local news, including the tide tables, and other interesting local topics.

D. Brady Green Blaine

The Editor:

Please thank Jonathan Hall for his in-

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.

teresting article about the glacial ice sheet that covered our area. Also please let him know that we have a glacial erratic right here in Semiahmoo that I’d be happy to show him.

Jennifer Plombon 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.

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.

Photo by Debbie Harger

Fire at Blaine Middle School draws large response

Whatcom County fire departments assisted as NWFR was strained with other calls

B y I an H aupt

First responders were dispatched around 5:30 p.m. February 8 to a small fire at Blaine Middle School that was reportedly extinguished by a single activated sprinkler.

North Whatcom Fire and Rescue (NWFR) chief Jason Van der Veen said initial reports described a commercial fire. Units from Whatcom County Fire District 7 in Ferndale, Lynden Fire Department, NWFR Laurel station and Bellingham Fire Department responded. Nearby

NWFR units from Blaine and Birch Bay were dealing with separate medical emergencies at the time, he said.

Van der Veen said a group of drama students and staff was in the building, away from the fire area, and safely evacuated. Firefighters brought a staff member into the building, once it was determined the fire was out, to collect the students’ belongings, he said.

“We didn’t want anyone to miss an educational opportunity,” Van der Veen said.

Blaine school district superintendent Christopher Granger

said in a February 8 statement that a microwave appears to have caused the fire, but the district has not yet received an official report. Van Der Veen said an investigation into the cause of the fire by the Fire Marshal’s Office is ongoing and that cleanup was allowed to begin.

Van der Veen said fire damage was limited to the microwave, counter and wall area in a small room adjacent to the cafeteria. Smoke and water damaged areas of the kitchen, cafeteria, adjacent classroom and nearby hallway. Light smoke spread throughout

the entire school, he said.

“[The sprinkler system] worked exactly like it’s designed,” Van der Veen said. “It did a good job.”

Granger said after consultation with NWFR, the school district determined it was safe to continue school February 9 in areas not impacted by the fire. Class began on time and middle school students were given an adjusted schedule to follow. Grab-andgo breakfast was served outside the middle school cafeteria and lunch was served through the high school cafeteria, Granger said in the statement.

Road Rules: What is the shared responsibility of the transportation system?

Question: I appreciate your appeal to people to improve safe driving behaviors but the framing about human error implies that it is the sole reason for traffic fatalities. Was that your intention? If so, this doesn’t fit with what I am hearing from the National Transportation Safety Board, U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) or Washington State Department of Transportation about the Safe System Approach.

What about the responsibility of road designers and builders, vehicle manufacturers, and emergency responders?

Answer: I’m certain this question was prompted by the comment I made a few weeks ago about how driver error is a factor in 94 percent of fatal crashes. While true, it doesn’t tell the whole story. (Also, given how prone we are to mistakes, I’m surprised that even six percent of crashes don’t involve human error.)

Fatal crashes are rarely attributable to a single factor. The crash itself might be caused by driver error, but the outcome depends on multiple circumstances, including road design, the safety features of the vehicle and how quickly the ambulance shows up.

The goal of the Safe System Approach is to eliminate fatal and serious injury crashes. Note that it’s not to eliminate all crashes. Until humans become perfect de-

cision-making machines (a more likely scenario is that the robots take over and we become their servants), even the best drivers will still sometimes make mistakes. But the consequence of our driving mistakes shouldn’t be death or serious bodily harm.

Maybe the Darwinist in you wants to argue that bad driving has natural consequences. I’d argue first that there’s nothing natural about driving (so if we’re building a human-designed system we have the obligation to consider the consequences), and second, that those consequences often happen to people other than the driver who makes the mistake.

We’ve spent decades trying to improve human driving behavior, and while we’ll keep trying to build better drivers through driver education and strategic enforcement of traffic laws, we must also plan for our inevitable failures. Washington (along with many other states and the USDOT) has embraced the Safe System Approach to roadway safety, which addresses crash risks through five elements: safe road users, safe vehicles, safe vehicle speeds, safe roads and post-crash care.

This column, because it primarily responds to reader questions, focuses on road users and our shared understanding of how to be safe as we use our transportation system. But the rest of those elements are critical to

protecting road users. Take, for example, the almost absolute certainty that at some point in the not-to-distant future a driver is going to get distracted while trying to save a coffee from spilling. When that driver swerves off the roadway, will bike lanes and sidewalks have adequate separation to protect vulnerable road users? Will the shoulder have rumble strips to alert the driver, or will the roadway immediately drop away into a ditch? Will the speed limit be appropriate for the environment to minimize injury in the event of a crash? If the driver ends up crashing into an object, will the vehicle have safety features that absorb the impact and protect the occupants? And if the driver is injured, how soon will emergency responders arrive? As individual road users, we play a critical role in traffic safety, but so do the people who design, build and maintain roads; the innovators developing safe vehicle technology; the officers enforcing speed limits; and the emergency medical responders who provide care. USDOT states, “Safety is an ethical imperative of the designers and owners of the transportation system.” As a shared public system, that imperative is for all of us.

City ...

From page 1 pursue an overpass due to funding issues but reconsidered the overpass when BNSF Railway officials contacted the city late last year.

State senator Sharon Shewmake (D-Bellingham) and state representatives Alicia Rule (D-Blaine) and Joe Timmons (D-Bellingham) signed the letter.

BTAC appointment

City council unanimously voted to appoint Mangal Samra to the small hotel position on Blaine Tourism Advisory Committee.

According to state records, Samra owns the Northwoods Motel on D Street and Anchor Inn Motel on Cedar Street. Smuggler’s Inn owner Bob Boule, who had been serving on the committee, also interviewed for the position.

Housing action plan

In a unanimous 7-0 vote, city council approved a housing action plan study that will be paid with a $75,000 state grant.

The city is contracting Bellingham-based consulting firm Maul, Foster and Alongi to conduct the housing action plan study that city staff hope will encourage construction of affordable and market-rate housing. The study will look at the city’s zoning code, fee structure and land supply as well as interview stakeholders. The consultants will then report their findings to city council and planning commission.

“It will really explore the options we have to improve and streamline our structure of housing in the city,” said Alex Wenger, the city’s tourism and economic development coordinator.

The contract is only projected to cost $65,000, meaning the city may use the leftover $10,000 to compensate staff time, Wenger said. Wenger said city staff selected Maul, Foster and Alongi from three applicants and decided the firm was most qualified because of its work with the Port of Bellingham and Whatcom County.

“The point of the plan is to identify, whether it be legislative fixes, comprehensive plan policies and goals or zoning code fixes,” community development services director Stacie Pratschner said.

Wenger said the housing action plan dovetails with the work the ad hoc downtown advisory committee is doing (the committee started meetings in January to look at downtown rules on items such as building height and parking restrictions.) The plan will look at all the zoning districts that allow residential use, Wenger said.

City has second highest year on record for lodging tax

Five recipients awarded tourism grants for 2023

The city of Blaine has awarded five grants to support growing tourism within the city this year as it saw its second highest year on record for lodging tax revenue last year.

The state expects the plan to be finished by June.

“I’m not a big fan of paying someone $65,000 to think but since the money is coming from somewhere else and we wouldn’t have gotten that money anyway, I’m in favor of this,” councilmember Richard May said.

Legislative agenda amendment

City council unanimously approved an amendment to the city’s 2023 legislative agenda that has retracted its support of Blaine school district’s request for a sewer line while adding the Bell Road overpass project and a $2 million request for a wellfield project on Pipeline Road.

Council approved its legislative agenda last November to guide the city’s lobbyists and other city proponents on what it would like to accomplish in Olympia this legislative session.

According to city documents, support for the school district’s request was retracted because of legal concerns on extending the city sewer to an area outside of its urban growth area.

City staff originally asked for $2.5 million in sewer infrastructure to the upcoming east Blaine neighborhood Grandis Pond in its original legislative priorities but has dropped that request and is now asking for $2 million for a wellfield project, which will create a water reservoir and piping installation along Pipeline Road.

City staff also added support for the Bell Road overpass on the legislative agenda. In 2021, the state appropriated $2.75 million for streetlights and bypass lanes to reduce traffic congestion at the Bell Road intersection; the city is asking those remaining state funds be reappropriated to the Bell Road overpass project.

The city is not changing its priorities on fiscal sustainability, transportation maintenance and affordable housing.

G Street sewer improvements

City council unanimously approved the city to increase the city’s G Street sewer improvement project with David Evans and Associates by no more than $85,000. The project, already slated to cost around $6-7 million, will replace or add over 6,600 feet of sewer lines west along I-5 near the Blaine school district campus, on 5th Street between E and G Streets, and along a few streets near the Burger King. City council has been discussing the sewer project since the beginning of 2021.

TIF agreement

City council tabled a contract with east Blaine development companies East Harbor Hills and Blossom Management to fund a tax-increment finance (TIF) district. In the agreement, the city and developers will each pay $25,000, or $75,000 total, toward funding a study that will build the framework for TIF. The findings would then be sent to the state to determine if the new housing developments in east Blaine meet the specific requirements for TIF.

In fall 2021, city staff and council began discussing utilizing a TIF district to pay for public infrastructure in Grandis Pond and The Ridge at Harbor Hills. TIF would allow the city to borrow money from expected increases in property tax revenues from a designated area, such as the upcoming neighborhoods, that could pay for street, water, stormwater and electrical improvements.

Councilmembers raised concern during the February 13 meeting that it cost $75,000 for Stowe Development and Strategies to work on the study. Council approved the $75,000 contract with Stowe Development last December.

Councilmember Richard May asked to postpone voting on the financial contract with the developers until the February 27 council meeting, when city manager Michael Harmon, who was away, could advise council in a study session. Finance director Daniel Heverling said Stowe Development was already working on the project and council asked for Stowe Development to immediately halt work.

Council will need to determine no later than the February 27 council meeting if it would like

to continue the study because the state needs three months to review the application before June, Heverling said.

Support for maritime institute feasibility study grant application

City council unanimously approved a letter of support for the Port of Bellingham’s application for a state grant that would fund a feasibility study for a research institute in Blaine Harbor. The study will show if, one day, the harbor could support a facility for marine workforce development and aquaculture research.

Drayton Harbor Oyster Company (DHO) co-owners Steve and Mark Seymour and DHO community outreach biologist Katherine Garrah have been garnering attention among community groups and government agencies to build an ecotourism platform in Blaine. Group members spoke at the December 12 council meeting, February 7 Port of Bellingham meeting and again at the February 13 council meeting. The grant application has gained the support of state representative Alicia Rule (D-Blaine).

The research center could be used by youth and scientists alike to research topics of kelp farming, fisheries and aquaculture. The grant deadline is February 27 and the awards are announced in May. If approved, the feasibility study could start this summer.

“A huge part of this would be citizen science too,” Mark Seymour said during the meeting. “We have tons of intelligent people with great backgrounds all over Blaine. We have a lot of people who want to become more involved but there’s not really a place to become more involved.”

He continued, “You have a lot of entrepreneurs that are pursuing marine stuff but there’s nowhere to do it. You have to have your foot in the door somewhere on the water because it’s not cheap. We can build something that can generate a bunch of new ideas and bring new folks to town.”

Councilmember Garth Baldwin and councilmember Eric Davidson, who spoke at the port meeting along with new city manager Michael Harmon, expressed support of the grant application.

“It’s not just what’s going to be great for Blaine,” Davidson said. “It’s also getting dialogue going with the port that we haven’t for a while. They’re excited, we’re excited and Alicia [Rule] is excited.”

Blaine received $270,200 in lodging tax revenue in 2022, said Alex Wenger, the city’s tourism and economic development coordinator. The city’s highest year for lodging tax revenue was 2008, which Wenger said was slightly higher.

“This is great news and shows the lodging industry at least has recovered from the pandemic,” Wenger said in an email. He added the revenue was higher because Semiahmoo Resort, the primary contributor to the lodging tax, was doing well.

The city budgeted $230,000 in lodging tax revenue for 2023. Blaine Tourism Advisory Committee (BTAC) recommended Blaine City Council approve the grants when finalizing the 2023 city budget late last year and additional funds were added during the February 13 council meeting. Recipients were notified of their initial grants on February 1.

Nine grant requests were submitted to the city, totaling $57,480 in requests, but only five requests were awarded $35,000 total.

Blaine Chamber of Commerce received $2,500 for Drayton Harbor Days; Blaine Arts Council received $5,000; Wings Over Water Northwest Birding Festival received $5,000; and the Blaine Chamber of Commerce received $18,000 for the Old Fashioned Fourth of July.

The requests that weren’t funded were the chamber of commerce’s $3,000 request for Fourth of July restrooms, Blaine Community Theater’s $7,000 request for an international art and dance festival, Blaine Arts Council’s $8,000 request for a downtown art gallery and Washi Arts’ $4,000 request for a Washi Arts workshop series. Wenger said the Fourth of July restrooms will likely be funded through a separate city source.

The city’s operating tourism budget is just over $175,000 for 2023. In the operating budget, the historic Plover passenger ferry received $38,000, the Blaine Chamber of Commerce received $20,000 for its executive director salary and the Blaine Welcome Center received $30,000 for staffing and managing volunteers. The city pays extra to lease and maintain the welcome center.

s From front.; councilmembers Rhyan Lopez, Garth Baldwin and mayor Mary Lou Steward during the February 13 Blaine City Council meeting. Photo by Grace McCarthy

Sports roundup: Blaine wrestlers head to Tacoma for state crowns

B y I an H aupt

Boys basketball

Blaine boys basketball will continue on to 1A district 1/2 crossover competition at 7 p.m. Saturday, February 18 at Kings High School in Shoreline after beating Nooksack Valley February 14 at Lynden High School in the district 1 1A runner-up game.

The Borderites took on defending state champions Lynden Christian in the district 1 1A championship game February 11 at Lynden High School, following a 61-54 win over Meridian February 8. The Borderites fell 65-40 to the Lyncs.

Blaine head coach Nate Sullivan said the team struggled to deal with Lynden Christian’s 6-foot-6-inch junior Jeremiah Wright, who scored 20 points.

“Jeremiah Wright was very active on both sides of the floor,” Sullivan said of the game February 11. “That opened up a lot of their three point shots as we tried to deal with him.”

With the defeat, the Borderites would have to beat Nooksack to keep their season alive. Blaine beat the Pioneers 68-48. Sullivan said senior Ethan Koreski was the difference maker for the Borderites February 14, even though he didn’t score.

“Ethan Koreski did a great job moving his feet all night,” Sullivan said. “He played a key role for us [Tuesday].”

On February 18, Blaine will play the loser of Seattle Academy and Northwest High School’s

game Thursday, February 16.

The Borderites finished their regular season with a 13-6 overall record and a 10-5 record in conference.

Girls basketball

The No. 5 Lady Borderites’ season ended February 11 as they took their second loss in the double elimination district 1 1A bracket.

Blaine’s young team, with only two seniors, lost 98-21 to eventual district champions No. 1 Nooksack Valley February 8. Blaine went on to play No. 3 Meridian to decide which team would make it

to the runner-up game February 14. The Lady Borderites fell 5434 to the Trojans at Lynden High School February 11.

The Lady Borderites finished the regular season with an overall record of 3-17 and a 1-15 record in conference.

Boys wrestling

Boys wrestling finished second in the district 1/2 1A regional tournament at Mount Baker High School February 11, six wrestlers secured spots at the state tournament this weekend in Tacoma.

Blaine finished with a total of 157 points, taking second to Mount Baker at 209 points.

Cael Button, Rahul Chandran and Victor Gervol all took first at their respective weight classes, earning 26, 24 and 26 points for the team. Blake Goltz finished second at 185, securing 20 points. Cole Voight and Cal Fitzgerald took third at their weight classes, adding 13 and 18 points to the team tally. All six

will travel to compete in the WIAA Mat Classic at the Tacoma Dome this weekend, February 17-18.

Wrestling starts at 9 a.m. both days.

Blaine head coach Tom Hinz said it was a good performance at regionals after a disappointing performance at subregionals the week before, where the team finished third.

“I thought we had a great week of practice the week before regionals,” Hinz said. “I think we wrestled really well.”

Hinz said he and the team are excited for the state tournament. He said Button and Gerval have both been to the state championship before and have a good chance of placing.

Hinz said he’s proud of the upperclassmen on his team who stuck with wrestling even though they couldn’t compete at the beginning of their high school careers due to the pandemic.

One of those is Button, who comes from a family already in

Blaine wrestling history. His dad Nate placed at the state tournament for Blaine all four years, and his older brother Aidan placed two years at state, taking second his senior year in 2019.

Button injured his knee earlier in the season and wasn’t sure if he would be able to compete at the state tournament again. “I’m grateful to just have a chance to finish out the season,” Button said.

Hinz said Button and Fitzgerald have already earned state championship honors academically. The coaches association awards wrestlers with academic awards ahead of the state tournament. Both Button and Fitzgerald have high 3.9 GPAs, which was the highest at their respective weight classes.

“These guys aren’t just competitors on the mat, but in the classroom as well,” Hinz said.

Girls wrestling

The girls wrestling team took third at the regional tournament at Sedro-Woolley High School February 11, finishing with 93 points. White River and Mount Baker finished first and second with 149 and 147 points.

Three girls qualified for the state tournament, placing in the top three at their respective weight classes. Genesis Vazquez took first in her class, earning the team 24 points. Both Lucyanna Dahl and Sophia Wallace finished in second, securing 20 and 12 points for the team.

They will travel to compete in the WIAA Mat Classic at the Tacoma Dome this weekend, February 17-18. Wrestling starts at 9 a.m. both days.

Other wrestlers that earned the team points include Makenna Lausier, Hailey Ferrell, Milania Rodriguez, Cheyenne Rose and Analicea Ordonez. All five of those ladies finished in the top six in their weight classes.

s Blake Goltz grapples his opponent at the boys subregional wrestling tournament at Mount Baker High School February 11, as Blaine head coach Tom Hinz watches from his corner. Blaine finished second overall at the tournament, and Goltz took second at his weight class.

Photo by Ian Haupt

s Cael Button placed first at the 126-pound weight class in the regional tournament February 11 at Mount Baker High School.

Photo by Rie Pomeroy

s Lucas Smith drives to the hoop in Blaine’s 65-40 loss to Lynden Christian at Lynden High School February 11.

Photo by Ian Haupt

Broiled oysters with Parmesan and lemon zest

Ingredients

• 4-6 oysters

• 4 tbsp butter, softened

• 1-2 garlic cloves, grated or fine-

ly chopped

• ¼ cup parsley, finely chopped

plus more for garnish

• cooked bacon, chopped

• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated

• ½ lemon, zested

• rock salt

Directions

For the compound butter, add the softened butter to a bowl along with the grated garlic and chopped parsley and stir to combine well. Roll the butter up in wax paper or plastic wrap and place in the fridge until ready to use.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Scatter rock salt onto the bottom of a 10- to 12-inch cast iron skillet. Shuck the oysters and nestle the top-off oysters onto the rock salt. Top each oyster with 1 teaspoon of compound butter, bacon and a grating of Parmesan cheese.

Place the oysters in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until the oysters are plump and the butter has melted. Remove from the

oven and garnish with chopped parsley and fresh lemon zest.

KISS (Keep It Simple Seafood)

Monthly Seafood Cooking Workshops with Bellingham SeaFeast

s Broiled oysters with Parmesan and lemon zest. Courtesy photo and Bellingham Dockside Market. Get tips and tricks for preparing seafood on the third Saturday of the month through May at Squalicum Harbor’s Fishermen’s Pavilion, 2599 South Harbor Loop Drive in Bellingham. Local chefs, restaurants and fisherfolk demonstrate simple and delicious recipes the whole family will love that highlight our local ocean bounty. Each workshop is during Bellingham Dockside Market so you can pick up local seafood straight from the fisherfolk who caught it. Watch the recipe video: bellinghamseafeast.org/kiss.

Bellingham SeaFeast and chef Samantha Ferraro, of The Little Ferraro Kitchen, offer the perfect broiled oyster recipe with oysters provided by Drayton Harbor Oyster Company.

ADVICE FROM THE PROS

Q: I am turning 72 in 2023 and was planning on taking the required minimum distribution out of my IRA. Do I still have to?

A: Congress just passed the Secure Act 2.0 which is now law. While it contains dozens of provisions, most notably, it raised the age you must start taking Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) from age 72 to age 73 in 2023 and to age 75 starting in 2033. If you are turning 72 this year, you do not have to take a Required Minimum Distribution and have an additional year to delay. Because the Secure Act 2.0 changed many retirement laws, you should be checking in with your financial planner to make sure the changes do not affect your plan.

If you do not have a planner, Skyline Advisors is able to help clients interpret and adjust to the new laws.

Q: A:

Chad Nickisch Mortgage Loan Officer

NMLS# 569502

Office:  (360) 650-5361

Cell:  (360) 510-3739

Can I get a loan for home renovations or remodels?

Yes, Peoples Bank offers a variety of options. From a cash-out refinance to a renovation loan or a home equity line of credit we have a solution for you. Improvements include but are not limited to major remodels, a new roof, new kitchen or smaller projects like new carpet, paint, or appliances. Need future value of improvements? No problem. From licensed contractor work to DIY our home loan specialists are here to help every step of the way. Call today to find out what is right for you.

405 32nd Street, Suite 201, Bellingham (360) 671-1621

www.myskylineadvisor.com

Q: What New Construction Projects Are Happening in Whatcom County?

Bellingham Real Estate Loan

978 Peace Portal Drive Blaine, WA 98230

(360) 318-4999

info@peacearchrealestate.com

A: Currently, the Blaine/Birch Bay area is the best place in the entire county for new construction. The area is experiencing a surge of new residential construction, with a variety of housing developments, such as The Ridge at Harbor Hills, Whispering Lakes, and Horizon at Semiahmoo. These developments offer a range of options for different homebuyers, with modern, comfortable, and stylish homes, mainly within the low-to-mid $500s. They are also located in desirable neighborhoods and offer easy access to shopping, dining, and other amenities. With so many new homes becoming available, Blaine is becoming an even more attractive destination for those looking to purchase a new home. If you want more information about buying a home in Blaine, please call us at 360-922-0102, email info@peacearchrealestate.com, or visit our website at www.peacearchrealestate.com.

www.peacearchrealestate.com

Q: My MRI or X-ray shows that I have degenerative joint disease (arthritis) in my back. Does this mean I have to live with pain?

A: Research shows that the severity of arthritis on imaging doesn’t always correlate with pain. That means that “degeneration” and other age-related changes on X-rays are not always a predictor of back pain. It is normal for people to experience back pain occasionally, and it is best addressed early if it does occur. At Capstone Physical Therapy your physical therapist works with you to design an individualized care plan to reduce or get rid of pain. Capstone has seven locations throughout Whatcom County and is accepting new patients at our Birch Bay Square location and our Blaine clinic on H Street.

1733 H Street • Suite 400 • Blaine, WA 98230 360-332-5511

www.capstonept.com

The Mullenix Team Brokers

Blaine Cordata

Lynden Ferndale Barkley

Doniel Hagee, DPT, ATC, OCS

Bristol Bay ...

From page 1

it would have ruined it,” Haines said on the phone, talking from Newport, Oregon, where he was docked while crabbing on the Washington coast. “We [fishermen] wouldn’t have survived.”

Bristol Bay is one of the most productive salmon runs in the world, according to a press release from Cantwell’s office, with 40 to 60 million salmon returning to the watershed every year. The salmon generate an annual value of at least $500 million for Washington state commercial and recreational fisheries and support over 5,000 fishery jobs in the state and 14,000 jobs globally.

Haines said the season for him in Bristol Bay is six weeks of nonstop fishing, starting in the beginning of June and ending the first week of August. He began as a deckhand in 1996. He first captained a boat in the bay in 2000, and, except for 2020 due to the pandemic, he said he hasn’t missed a summer. Last year’s season was one of the largest he’s seen, he said, with over 77 million salmon caught. It made for his second biggest catch in over

20 years – his biggest catch was 297,000 pounds, he said.

“If you are in love with fishing, its exhilarating,” Haines said. “If you are there for the money, it’s just a chore.”

Haines said his favorite part about fishing in Bristol Bay is setting the net when nobody is around and watching the net start to dance with the flopping of the salmon.

Haines said he has turned the Bristol Bay season into a family business over the years. His son Dylan Haines and daughter Julia Moquin have joined him for multiple summers in Alaska.

Cantwell said the EPA’s action will protect similar family legacies. She called it the final nail in the coffin for Pebble Mine, saying the mine would have devastated Bristol Bay salmon and the livelihoods of thousands of hardworking families.

“The EPA’s decision to permanently protect Bristol Bay is the culmination of a hard fought battle, and I am proud to have stood with fishing families, communities, Tribes and the whole Pacific Northwest region to oppose the Pebble Mine for more than a decade,” Cantwell said in the statement. “Now, we will have a thriving Bristol Bay salmon run for generations to come.” s

What do pets see in color?

The popular notion that pets see in black and white, notably dogs, is false. People once thought that their furry companions couldn’t see the color spectrum. However, the American Kennel Club (AKC) reports that new research and conclusions about canine anatomy point to dogs having color vision, after all – it’s just a bit more muted than their human friends.

According to Dr. Jerry Klein, AKC’s chief veterinary officer, dogs have more rods than cones in their eyes, which improves lowlight vision. Cones are responsible for controlling color perception. Due to these anatomical differences, it is believed dogs’ vision mimics that of a person with red/ green color blindness. Color is perceptible for dogs, but not in the spectrum enjoyed by humans with healthy vision.

Cats also can see in color, but similarly not with the same level of detail as people. Their vision is

much more attuned to up-close sight than to focusing on objects that are far away.

According to Birdfact, an online resource about birds, birds have arguably the best eyesight and ability to detect color of any member of the animal kingdom. Birds can see more color than humans because they have a fourth type of light-receiving cone in their retinas (humans have three). Therefore, a pet bird will be in tune with vibrantly colored items in and around his environment.

Arizona State University’s Ask a Biologist offers an interesting chart that illustrates colors certain animals can see at askabiologist. asu.edu/colors-animals-see. People who want to know if their pet rabbit can see color, or what those fish in their home aquariums can see, can consult the chart.

Submit Pet Paparazzi photos to editor@thenorthernlight.com

Kevin Haines on his boat in Alaska.

Photo courtesy Kevin Haines

Help Wanted

Legal

claim

by

otherwise applicable statute of lim-

present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to the Administrator or the Administrator’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 Administrator 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 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:

February 9, 2023 with Clerk of Court:

Date of First Publication:

February 16, 2023

Name of Administrator: BRIAN PHELPS

Attorney for Administrators:

Steven D. Avery, WSBA #35262

Address for Mailing or Service: Avery Elder Law, P.S. 801 Samish Way, Ste. 202 Bellingham WA 98229

Telephone: (360) 325-2550

Email: steve@averyelderlaw.com

DATED: February 9, 2023

AVERY ELDER LAW, P.S. STEVEN D. AVERY, WSBA #35262

Attorney for Administrator: BRIAN PHELPS www.averyelderlaw.com

THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF WHATCOM CITY OF BELLINGHAM

Steven Bolster, Plaintiff, v. Mark Gumley, Defendant. NO. Sc22-117 SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION Judge Angela Anderson The State of Washington to: Mark Gumley You are hereby summoned to appear within sixty days after the date of the first publication of this summons, to wit, within sixty days after the 23rd day of March, 2023, and defend the above titled action in the above titled Court, and answer the complaint of the Plaintiff, City of Bellingham, and serve a copy of your answer upon the Plaintiff, Steven Bolster, at his address below stated. In case of your failure do so, judgment will be rendered against you according to the demand of the complaint, which has been filed with the clerk of said Court regarding fraud, theft and such other items requested. This summons is issued pursuant to crlj4 of the District Court Civil Rules of the State of Washington. Respectfully submitted this 2nd day of February, 2023. CITY OF BELLINGHAM

Steven Bolster 315 prospect st Unit #1521 Bellingham, WA 98227

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF Whatcom

In Re the Estate of Peter Acalin, Deceased. NO. 22-400875-37. PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS. (RCW 11.40.030)JUDGE: Evan Jones

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 limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing 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 presented 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 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 First Publication:

February 9, 2023

Personal Representative: Norma Acalin 2115 Huron Street Bellingham, WA 98229

Attorney for the Personal Representative: Katti Esp 301 Prospect Street Bellingham, WA 98225

Address for Mailing or Service: Katti Esp 301 Prospect Street Bellingham, WA 98225 Court of Probate Proceedings Superior Court of Whatcom County and Cause Number: Cause No. 22-4-00875-37

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF WHATCOM In re the Matter and Estate of: ROMAINE OLSON, Deceased. No. 23-4-00001-37. PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS. RCW 11.40.030

The Administrator named below has been appointed as Administrator 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 provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to the Administrator or the Administrator’s

This bar is effective as to claims against both the decedent’s probate and nonprobate assets.

Whatcom County Jail inmates hospitalized after suspected overdoses

Four people incarcerated in Whatcom County Jail were taken to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center last week after experiencing suspected opioid overdoses.

Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) corrections deputies found three of the four inmates unresponsive or unconscious and administered naloxone, known by its brand name Narcan, on all four to reverse the effects of the overdoses, according to a WCSO news release.

Just after 1 p.m. February 7, a Whatcom County Jail corrections deputy monitoring the control panel noticed an inmate on the ground in a housing unit not moving. The deputy notified additional corrections deputies who responded to the unit. Deputies observed a male inmate who was unresponsive and exhibit-

ing symptoms consistent with a drug overdose, according to the release. Deputies began CPR and administered a dose of naloxone, used to reverse the effects of opioids such as fentanyl. They called 911 for additional emergency medical response and transport.

Two more inmates were found in the unit unconscious and not breathing shortly after treatment began on the first inmate. Deputies immediately began administering CPR and a dose of naloxone each.

Deputies administered a second round of naloxone to all three inmates, at which point they all regained a pulse and began to breathe on their own. First responders continued advanced medical care.

Deputies found another inmate in the unit showing signs of reduced level of consciousness and

labored breathing. The inmate was treated with a dose of naloxone.

All four inmates were transported to St. Joseph in Bellingham for further assessment and treatment.

WCSO spokesperson Rodger Funk said in an email February 15 that all inmates had been treated and returned to the jail.

WCSO suspects an unknown quantity of opioids was smuggled into the facility and ingested by multiple offenders in the housing unit, according to the release.

WCSO spokesperson Deb Slater wrote in the press release the remaining offenders in the housing unit would be monitored for overdose symptoms.

No drugs or contraband were found in the housing unit during a search conducted immediately after medical response. Ac-

Blaine men sentenced for 2021 burglary where armed owner surprised burglars

B y I an H aupt

Two Blaine men who stole tools from a property in August 2021 and returned early the next morning to find the owner armed and waiting for them have been sentenced in Whatcom County Superior Court. The burglars’ van clipped the property owner while fleeing the scene. Samual Paul Belles, 24, of Blaine, was sentenced to nearly three years and one month in prison and nearly three years and one month in community custody after pleading guilty February

8 in a global resolution to second-degree attempted burglary and separate charges of assault, theft of a motor vehicle, residential burglary and attempting to elude a police vehicle, according to court documents. A global resolution settles multiple charges from different incidents together. The driver, Trenten Dean Pope, 38, also of Blaine, pled guilty in December 2021 to second-degree attempted burglary and vehicular assault and was sentenced to nine months in prison and 11 months in community custody.

Just after 7 p.m. August 28, 2021, Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) deputies were dispatched to a burglary in the 1800 block of Birch Bay-Lynden Road where the homeowner reported a light blue van had entered the property and stolen tools from a locked shop, according to the affidavit of probable cause (APC). The owner provided surveillance video.

Around 2 a.m. the next day, WCSO deputies were dispatched when the owner reported the

(See Burglary, page 15)

BPD judges Valentine’s Day contest

cording to the release, WCSO has launched an investigation to determine how the drugs were smuggled in.

A similar incident occurred in January in which several inmates notified corrections deputies of a suspected overdose. Deputies revived the inmate who made a full recovery.

“This incident highlights the

clear and present danger that opioids pose to individual health and safety,” said WCSO undersheriff Doug Chadwick in the release. “The surging fentanyl epidemic and the deadly risk even a small amount poses cannot be overstated. We are fortunate that alert and highly trained corrections deputies responded quickly and took immediate lifesaving actions.”

s Blaine Police Department was tasked with the difficult decision of selecting the best Valentine’s Day door decorations at Blaine Elementary School on February 13.

Photo courtesy

sheriff’s repOrts

Jan. 30, 7:16 p.m.: Burglary on Roger Road.

Jan. 31, 7:55 a.m.: Motor vehicle accident blocking on Kickerville and Birch Bay-Lynden roads.

Jan. 31, 9:42 a.m.: Death investigation on Harborview Road.

Feb. 1, 9:34 a.m.: Burglary on Shintaffer Road.

Feb. 1, 11:37 a.m.: Theft on Birch Bay Drive.

Feb. 1, 10:16 p.m.: Runaway on Halibut Drive.

Feb. 2, 5:44 a.m.: Domestic physical on Crocket Road.

Feb. 2, 1:15 p.m.: Neighborhood disbute on Ostrich Trail.

Feb. 3, 1:45 a.m.: Shots on Blaine and Arnie roads.

Feb. 3, 1:46 p.m.: Harassment on Sherwood Drive.

Feb. 3, 5:41 p.m.: Theft on Goldstar Drive.

Feb. 3, 8:22 p.m.: Sex offender registration on Zell Road, Custer.

Feb. 4, 10:34 a.m.: Fraud on Haynie Road.

Feb. 4, 8:25 p.m.: Domestic physical on Francis and Piney lanes.

Feb. 5, 3:18 p.m.: Hit and run on Birch Bay-Lynden Road.

Feb. 6, 12:22 a.m.: Prowler on Birch Bay-Lynden Road.

Feb. 6, 12:07 p.m.: Sex crime, no rape, on Alderson Road.

ACROSS

1. Functions

5. Records electric currents associated with contractions of the heart

8. Trigonometric function (abbr.)

11. Secret political clique

13. Type of gibbon

14. Nocturnal S. American rodent

15. Famed American playwright

16. Mesopotamian goddess

17. Abba __, Israeli politician

18. Long ridge of gravel and sediment

20. A place to stay 21. Actor Idris

22. One who behaves in a rebellious way 25. A way to measure movement 30. Distinguish oneself

31. Type of drug (abbr.)

32. Basketball great Baylor

33. Masses of salivary matter

38. Calls balls and

Coming up

Feb. 6, 5:59 p.m.: Motor vehicle accident blocking on Birch Bay-Lynden and Blaine roads.

Feb. 7, 10:45 a.m.: Shots on Birch Bay Square Street.

Feb. 8, 6:05 a.m.: Vandalism on Birch Bay-Lynden Road and Stanwood Drive.

Feb. 8, 12:10 p.m.: Juvenile problem on Anderson Road.

Feb. 9, 2:08 a.m.: Mental health issue on Surf Place.

Feb. 9, 11:24 a.m.: Traffic stop on Loomis Trail Road, Custer. Suspect arrested for driving while license suspended.

pOLiCe repOrts

Feb. 3, 10:56 a.m.: Assist citizen on H Street.

Feb. 3, 3:23 p.m.: Hit and run on Boblett Street.

Feb. 3, 7:22 p.m.: Suspicious circumstances on H Street.

Feb. 4, 6:05 a.m.: Brandishing on Marine Drive.

Feb. 4, 7:03 a.m.: Suicidal subject on Marine Drive.

Feb. 4, 7:47 a.m.: Suspicious circumstances on H Street.

Feb. 5, 11:22 a.m.: Hit and run on Bayview Court.

Feb. 5, 1:56 p.m.: Suspicious circumstances on A Street.

Feb. 5, 4:26 p.m.: Trespass on H Street.

Feb. 5, 7:18 p.m.: Harassment on Boblett Street.

Feb. 6, 9:19 a.m.: Theft on H Street.

Feb. 6, 2:01 p.m.: Traffic signal on Bell Road.

CrOssWOrd

strikes

41. Plant that grows along the ground

43. A recreational activity in the air 45. Consumes too much 47. Island nation 49. Pistol 50. Mixtures of soul and calypso

55. Ancient Greek City 56. Similar

57. Roughly trimmed tree trunk used in a Scottish game

59. Semitic fertility god 60. Born of 61. Frogs, toads, tree toads

62. School in the northeast (abbr.)

63. Soviet Socialist Republic

64. “__ the Man”

Musical, baseball player

DOWN

1. Fiddler crabs

2. Discount

3. Partner to “flows”

4. Ethnic group of Laos

5. Beloved “Seinfeld”

character

6 .Book of tickets

7. The last name of “Hermione”

8. Type of TV package

9. Helps to heal a cut

10. Town in Galilee

12. Actor Horsley

14. “Hocus Pocus 2” actor Ed

19. Bird-loving group (abbr.)

23. They respond when someone is sick

24. Emerged

25. Midway between south and southeast

26. Monetary unit of Afghanistan

27. Unit of work or energy

28. Indicates near

29. Famed river

34. For each

35. News organization

36. CNN’s founder

37. They __

39. Areas off to the side

40. Satisfies

41. A spare bed

42. Legendary singer

Diana

44. Frothy mass of bubbles

45. A kind of sorcery

Feb. 7, 8:26 a.m.: Traffic hazard on Clark Street.

Feb. 7, 1:20 p.m.: Security check on Canvasback Road.

Feb. 8, 5:10 a.m.: Motor vehicle accident on H Street.

Feb. 8, 8:11 a.m.: Suspicious circumstances on H Street.

Feb. 8, 9:29 a.m.: Juvenile problem on H Street.

Feb. 8, 1:50 p.m.: Drugs on H Street.

Feb. 8, 4:55 p.m.: Runaway on Clyde Street.

Feb. 8, 8:33 p.m.: Harassment on Garfield Avenue.

Feb. 8, 9:46 p.m.: Juvenile problem on E Street.

Feb. 9, 9:05 a.m.: Harassment on H Street.

Feb. 9, 2:50 p.m.: Domestic order violation on H Street.

Report by Blaine Police Department

46. River in South Africa

47. Philippine Island

48. County in China

51. S. American plant

52. Beverage containers

53. Edge

54. Protein-rich liquids

58. Moved quickly on foot

ANSWERS: THENORTHERNLIGHT.COM

Weather

Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce Meeting: Thursday, February, 16, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., Christ the King North Bay, 4895 Birch Bay Lynden Road. Speaker: Britt Kane with St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation and Whatcom Hospice Foundation. No-host lunch. RSVP at birchbaychamber.com.

Trivia at The Vault: Thursday, February 16, 6 p.m., 277 G Street. This week’s theme: Presidents. Info: thevaultwinebar.com.

Live Music at The Vault: Friday, February 17, 6 p.m., 277 G Street. Featuring: Mary Ellen Lykins and Craig Adams. Info: thevaultwine. com.

Movie Night: Friday, February 17, 7 p.m., Birch Bay Activity Center, 7511 Gemini Street. Playing family-friendly movie. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and watch the movie on the big screen. Free popcorn. Info: bbbparkandrec.org.

Housing for Seniors and People with Disabilities: Monday, February 20, 10–11:30 a.m. Moderator Lara Welker, MPH, consultant for Aging Well Whatcom Blueprint, will facilitate discussion with panelists. Free. Registration required to receive Zoom link at lwvbellinghamwhatcom.org. Recorded for later viewing.

Blaine Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting: Thursday, February 23, noon–1 p.m., Great Blue Heron Grill, 8720 Semiahmoo Parkway. Meet the 2023 board of directors, 2022 business of the year presentation, prize drawings. No host lunch. RSVP by February 20 to info@blainechamber.com or 360/332-6484.

Trivia at The Vault: Thursday, February 23, 6 p.m., 277 G Street. This week’s theme: general knowledge. Info: thevaultwinebar.com.

Live Music at The Vault: Friday, February 24, 6 p.m., 277 G Street. Featuring: Adrian Clarke. Info: thevaultwine.com.

Garden Design Class: Saturday, February 25, noon, Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. Introductory workshop to give you the tools and concepts to look at your yard as a professionals landscape designer might. Info: nwcore.org.

Ongoing

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

The Bridge Food Bank: Fridays 2:30–4:30 p.m., The Bridge Community Hope Center’s new location, 7620 Birch Bay Drive. New registration required at thebridgehope.com or call 360/366-8763. Volunteers welcome.

CAP Clothing Bank: Mondays and Fridays, 9 a.m.–noon and Wednesdays, 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.

Meals on Wheels Frozen Meals: Thursdays 11:30 a.m.–noon, Blaine Senior 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.

Meals on Wheels Hot Lunches: Monday–Friday, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Suggested donation of $5 per meal ($8.50 if under 60) or whatever is affordable. First come, first serve basis. Info: 360/332-8040.

Friends of Birch Bay Library: Meets second Mondays. 6:30 p.m., Birch Bay Birch Bay Vogt Library site, 7968 Birch Bay Drive. Info: friendsofbirchbaylibrary.org.

Friends of Blaine Library: Meets third Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m., Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. Find out the latest library news at this monthly FOBL Board of Directors meeting. All members and guests are welcome to attend. Info: blainelibraryfriends.org.

Parents of Addicted Loved Ones (PAL) Meetings: Tuesdays 6:30–8 p.m., CAP Center, 508 G Street, Blaine. A support group for parents of adult children dealing with addiction, but open to anyone (18 or older) seeking to learn a better way to help an addicted love one. Evidence-based, structured curriculum and peer support at no cost. Info: palgroup.org or email Bev and Dave at wamillards@comcast.net.

Alaska Packers Association Cannery Museum: Open Saturdays and Sundays, 1–5 p.m., 9261 Semiahmoo Parkway. Free, donations welcome. Info: 360/371-3558.

Birch Bay Book Club: Wednesday, February 16, 4 p.m., Birch Bay Vogt Library site, 7968 Birch Bay Drive. February title is Horse by Ger- aldine Brooks. Info: klia1@mac.com.

Blaine Book Club: Friday, February 17, 1 p.m., Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. February title: Being a Human by Charles Foster. Info: Kelly at 360/305-3637.

Blaine Serenity Al-Anon: Mondays, noon–1 p.m. on Zoom. Have you been dealing with alcoholism with a friend or family member? Info: Jerrylyn at 360/305-2246.

Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings: Tuesdays at 7 p.m., Thursdays at noon, Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at noon, women’s meeting Mondays at 4 p.m., Blaine United Church of Christ basement, 855 4th Street. Info: 307/349-0450.

Blaine Arts Council: Meets second Thursday, 6:30 p.m., at Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. Meeting is open to the public. The council promotes, cultivates and supports the arts in order to enrich the lives of the community through creativity with a variety of cultural events, education and shows.Info: blaineartscouncil.org.

Birch Bay-Blaine Toastmasters: Wednesdays, 6:30–7:45 p.m., Blaine High School, 1055 H Street, room 104. What are the stories you like to tell? Learn to tell them really well. Info: Laura 360-371-7330 or agelesslaura@gmail.com.

Submissions to Coming Up should be sent to calendar@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.

Burglary ...

From page 13

light blue van had returned. The two men approached the locked building again and tried to remove a padlock on its door. According to the APC, the owner stood up, armed with a firearm, from where he was hiding and told the men to get on the ground. Belles challenged him, saying, “He’s not

going to do anything.” Belles and Pope then walked back to the van.

The owner pursued to attempt to get a description and the van’s license plate. As he rounded the corner, Pope, who was driving the van, drove at him. The owner later said he thought he was going to be run over. He said the passenger side mirror struck him as it passed.

Blaine police and WCSO deputies located the van shortly after

and arrested Belles and Pope. Belles was out on bond at the time. He had three other cases dating to 2019 resolved with the guilty plea. The most recent case was the third-degree domestic violence assault charge from September 2022, where

Belles pulled his girlfriend from her truck, slammed her on the ground twice, strangled her and threw keys at her hard enough to leave a mark, according to the APC.

Belles has prior felony convictions for malicious mischief,

motor vehicle theft, possession of stolen property and trafficking stolen property.

Pope has prior felony convictions for second-degree burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a controlled substance and bail jumping.

Natural history: Salish Sea tides

B y J onat H an H all

While growing up in New England, my family used to vacation in the Bay of Fundy in southeast Canada. The tides in that bay are among the highest in the world.

The water level between the low and high tide would differ by over 35 feet. I witnessed a similar tidal range when I lived near Cook Inlet, Alaska for 20 years.

The tidal range in the Salish Sea is not as dramatic. On average, in the Salish Sea including areas near Blaine, the difference in height between the highest and lowest tides each day is about 11 feet.

Along most of the U.S. Pacific coastline (excluding Alaska), there are generally two high tides and two low tides each day. The

two high tides are of different heights, and there are usually about 11 hours between consecutive high tides. In the Salish Sea, the pattern of islands, inlets and channels modifies the tidal cycle in significant ways. For example, in mid-January this year, there was a couple of days when there was only one high tide each day, with the time interval between consecutive high tides widening to about 24 hours.

When the water in Birch Bay or Drayton Harbor is calm, I like to stand along the shore when the tide is rising and watch the water line creep shoreward. I find it amazing that I’m seeing the influence of the gravitational pull from the moon and sun on the mass of water in these beautiful estuaries.

The rise and fall, day after day, gives me a sense of comfort.

Jonathan Hall resides in Birch Bay. He is a retired biologist who has worked in many regions of the

U.S. while employed with the State of New York, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, several environmental consulting firms, and the Tulalip Tribes of Washington.

s Low tide in Birch Bay. The difference in height between the highest and lowest tides is about 11 feet.

Photo by Jonathan Hall