February 24 - March 2, 2022
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Wings Over Water festival returns next month, page 4
FEMA deadline coming up, page 5
Blaine students offered outdoor program, page 10
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City looks at two properties for affordable housing projects By Grace McCarthy
(See Housing, page 6)
s Whatcom County Library System owns Birch Bay Community Vogt Library and is now considering the next steps for the proposed Birch Bay library after Proposition 2 failed for a second time in the February special election. Photo by Grace McCarthy
WCLS brainstorming next steps for library By Grace McCarthy Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) is considering the next steps for the proposed Birch Bay Community Vogt Library after library supporters failed to garner enough votes to create a taxing district to pay for the library’s construction. Proposition 2, which was on the February 8 special election, would have created a Library Capital Facility Area (LCFA) that would have established a board of trustees to issue bonds for the remaining $4 million of the library’s $6.5
million construction. Property owners in the LCFA boundaries would have paid an estimated 11 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, which comes out to be about $38 annually for a $350,000 home. The ballot measure needed to have a 60-percent supermajority in support and 40 percent of voters from the November 2021 general election. The library vote failed 3 percent short of the supermajority, with 1,890 votes in favor and 1,426 votes, 43 percent, in opposition. The special election was further from reaching the supermajority than in No-
School board appoints Donald Leu as director By Ian Haupt The Blaine school board voted 4-0 to appoint Donald J. Leu as its fifth member at a special meeting February 16. Leu will be sworn in at the board’s regular meeting Monday, February 28. Leu will fill former board member Laura McKinney’s district 5 seat for two years. McKinney officially resigned December 14, 2021, after being recently reelected in the November 2021 election to another term as district 5 representative.
The board was required to appoint a representative living within in the district to fill the seat by Friday, March 4. As of the board’s recent redistricting, district 5 includes Semiahmoo, areas south of Blaine and north Birch Bay. Leu is professor emeritus and endowed chair in literacy and technology at the University of Connecticut, and directed the university’s New Literacies Research Lab in the Neag School of Education, according to the school’s website. He retired three years ago and moved to Blaine; he was born in Bell-
ingham. The school board interviewed two candidates, Leu and Paul L. Berg, in its special meeting last week. After over an hour in executive session to discuss the candidates, the board unanimously appointed Leu. Berg said he has been in education for 40 to 50 years and that he cares most about the kids. Leu said during his interview that he has always been passionate about education and (See School, page 6)
vember 2021, when the LCFA was first put on ballots. Last November, FOBBL was 26 votes away from creating the taxing district, with 59.3 percent in favor (2,145 votes) and 40.7 in opposition (1,473 votes). WCLS executive director Christine Perkins said the library system is still interested in helping Birch Bay bring a library to the community, but what that may look like is being discussed. “We haven’t honed into one particular (See Library, page 3)
INSIDE
Two Blaine locations could be the future sites for affordable housing through a community land trust. Blaine City Council discussed potential affordable housing options at the old city hall property and in the upcoming Harbor Hills neighborhood in east Blaine during council’s February 14 work-study session. Kulshan Community Land Trust executive director Dean Fearing and city manager Michael Jones presented to council the two potential projects that could help more working-class residents purchase homes. The projects could bring about 10 homes to east Blaine and about 10 smaller units to downtown, Jones said during the meeting. Kulshan is a Bellingham-based nonprofit that bridges the affordability gap for working class people to purchase a home. The nonprofit was started in 1999 when the area was seeing similar high costs in housing. How it works Essentially, Kulshan helps families earning low to moderate wages purchase a home by providing down payment assistance and, through Kulshan maintaining ownership of the land, the nonprofit helps the house stay affordable for future buyers. Kulshan sets a 1.5 percent annual increase in equity that allows homeowners to grow their equity while they pay off their mortgage principal. Kulshan homeowners are the same as regular homeowners; they pay property taxes and can do most anything else homeowners do to their land such as landscape and pass on the home to future generations, according to the Kulshan website. For example, a Kulshan home in Bellingham’s York neighborhood recently sold for $137,000 when it would typically sell for $500,000 in the normal housing market, Fearing said during the meeting. “The key piece is, we are preserving the
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The Northern Light • February 24 - March 2, 2022
Peace Portal Drive food pantry rebuilt after being vandalized
PRESENTS
GREENWOOD by Michael Christie s The vandalized food pantry at 1046 Peace Portal Drive.
By Grace McCarthy Community members quickly replaced a community food pantry that was vandalized on Peace Portal Drive. Neighbors passing by the food pantry at 1046 Peace Portal Drive alerted Kathleen Morgan, who oversees the pantry, that food products were strewn across the lawn and the pantry had been uprooted February 18. She filed a police report that morning. Morgan’s community pantry is one of four pantries that United Church of Christ and other community partners installed around
Community events ongoing. Author Michael Christie visits Whatcom County March 3-5, 2022. whatcomreads.org
Photo courtesy Laurie Hart
town during spring 2020 to help people experiencing food insecurity. The other pantries are in the United Church of Christ parking lot at 885 4th Street, the community garden behind the Blaine senior center on G Street, and near Pacific Building Center at 2677 Bell Road. No other food pantries were vandalized. “This was a free service for folks who needed it and someone really destroyed that,” Morgan said. “People get used to where they are and what’s in them. There are a lot of hungry people out there.” Morgan said the food pantries
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can be emptied every couple of days, but community members always replenish the stock with water, canned soups, beans, oatmeal, peanut butter, granola bars and occasionally personal care items. “It’s pretty crucial to some people’s survival,” she said. The Peace Portal Drive food pantry was up and running within a week. Morgan said they don’t want monetary donations, but people are welcome to donate nonperishable, easily accessible food items in the pantries across town. “People really use them,” she said.
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February 24 - March 2, 2022 • thenorthernlight.com
Library ... From page 1
option. We’re trying to keep our minds open and flexible,” Perkins said. “Our board has asked us to really think this through.” WCLS conducted a facilities condition assessment to its 11 libraries around Whatcom County in 2021 and plans to review the results in June. This will help WCLS better understand the maintenance and funding needs for the county libraries before taking the next steps on the Birch Bay library, Perkins said. Although everything is in the preliminary stages, Perkins didn’t rule out moving the library’s location from the waterfront property or scaling down construction costs. When asked about changing the LCFA taxing district boundaries or combining it with Blaine, Perkins said WCLS isn’t far enough along for those discussions. “We hope to have some preliminary ideas of options by June so we can explore those further with the board,” she said. Birch Bay Village resident Linda Cain said she supports libraries, but didn’t believe this library was worth a tax increase. “I have nothing in opposition to the library,” she said. “I use them all the time. What I did object to were the extravagant plans for the library. What I saw was not just a library. If they wanted a community center, then that should have been on the ballot.” Plus, Cain added, the library wasn’t walking distance for all Birch Bay residents and many people already drive to neighboring cities with libraries for groceries and other necessities.
Cain said she hopes the library isn’t put through another election and would prefer the funds be directed to flood relief and people who have lost their job in the pandemic. “I’m not saying we don’t need a library, but we don’t need that library they’re proposing for $6.5 million,” she said. “I don’t think it had to be that expensive and in that spot.” WCLS spent close to $5,000 for holding the ballot measure in the November election and is still calculating the cost for the February election, Perkins said. The Birch Bay library would have been the first library in the county funded through a LCFA. The library system has spent over $771,000 on costs associated with the library, most of which encompasses the $677,000 property purchase in 2017 and almost $90,000 for architecture services. WCLS does not typically pay to build a library, only the interior of the building such as furniture and books, but paid the $771,000 costs upfront with the understanding library supporters would eventually reimburse those expenses, Perkins said. The estimated $6.5 million library included $3.9 million for construction, $1.1 million in design and administration fees, nearly $869,000 in escalation from 2020 to 2023 and the $677,000 property purchase, according to information Perkins provided. If the LCFA had passed, Perkins said taxpayers would not have paid extra if the library cost more than the $6.5 million. The difference would have been covered by the library system or private donors. If the ballot measure had passed, the library could have
opened as soon as 2023. The $4 million from property taxes would have served as a major boost for the project that has had grassroots-group Friends of the Birch Bay Library (FOBBL) raising funds for several years through community events and donor contributions, like a $100,000 donation from BP Cherry Point in 2019. FOBBL president Dianne Marrs-Smith, who is also Lynden’s library manager, said the organization has raised $200,400 to date. State representatives also helped FOBBL secure a $2 million state appropriation in 2019 that is dependent on FOBBL fundraising the remaining amount. The appropriation was set to expire last June, but has been extended until 2023. Marrs-Smith estimates the group has spent over 10,300 hours working on bringing a library to Birch Bay through volunteering, planning, events and meetings. About 120 people have volunteered throughout the years, she said. “For the friends, we need to go back to fundraising and work with the library system and see what we can do,” Marrs-Smith said. “We’re taking a few weeks off after the two elections.” FOBBL plans on hosting an online fundraiser for Library Giving Day on April 6 and putting on a book sale at the Birch Bay Kite Festival in June. In the meantime, the bookmobile will remain at the proposed Birch Bay library property 3-7 p.m. every Wednesday. “We don’t have a lot of facilities here,” Marrs-Smith said. “I’m a big advocate for library services and I felt it would be a real benefit for our community to have a year-round facility.”
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Truck crossing border protests continue By Ian Haupt Protesters reconvened on the Canadian side of the Pacific Highway border crossing February 19, less than a week after Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) cleared the area of “Freedom Convoy” protesters. Some protesters verbally assaulted members of the media. Canadian officials advised travelers to use alternate ports of entry for a couple of hours February 19, as a preventative measure to help ensure public and officer safety, according to a RCMP news release. Protesters had blocked a major intersection beyond the crossing, 176 Street and 8th Avenue in Surrey, B.C. By 8 p.m., the majority of protesters and vehicles left the area and traffic resumed at the crossing. According to a RCMP news release, officers had to intervene and ensure the media members safe passage to their vehicles. “These kinds of acts of aggression and intimidation toward media, or any member of the public, are simply unacceptable,” RCMP sergeant Elenore Sturko said in a statement.“While it is not always safe for our officers to take im-
mediate enforcement action at the time of the alleged offenses based on the size of the crowd of protesters, these incidents will be fully investigated and could lead to subsequent arrests or charges.” On the same day, in Ottawa, police cleared the streets around Parliament Hill, bringing an end to weeks-long protests in the nation’s capital against government mandates. According to news reports, police arrested nearly 200 people in total. “Freedom Convoy” protesters have also blocked other crossings along the U.S./Canada border for multiple days in the past couple of weeks. Although the demonstrations at the Pacific Highway crossing simmered, RCMP officials said police would continue to have a presence in the area and investigate the reported intimidation and assault against members of the media. “It’s been a very busy day for our teams on the ground, and those supporting operations from behind the scenes,” Sturko said. “Our work here is not done though, and the public can expect a continued police presence in the days and nights ahead.”
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The Northern Light • February 24 - March 2, 2022
Opinion
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. 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 Co-publisher & Advertising Director Louise Mugar lmugar@pointrobertspress.com Editor Grace McCarthy Grace@pointrobertspress.com Reporter Ian Haupt ian@pointrobertspress.com Reporting Intern Georgia Costa prpintern@pointrobertspress.com
Wings Over Water returns to in-person festival
s Wings Over Water Northwest Birding Festival is returning Friday, March 18 through Sunday, March 20 with in-person events around Blaine, Birch Bay and Semiahmoo. Photo by Joe Meche/courtesy Wings Over Water Wings Over Water Northwest Birding Festival will return with in-person events for the first time in three years. The annual festival educates community members and visitors about migratory birds that travel through Blaine and Birch Bay. This year’s festival will take place Friday, March 18 through Sunday, March 20, with most of the activities occurring Saturday, March 19. Guided wildlife tours, youth activities, raptor presentations and a birding expo with vendors at the Blaine Commu-
Advertising Sales Molly Ernst, Gary Lee sales@pointrobertspress.com General Editorial Inquiries editor@pointrobertspress.com The Northern Light 225 Marine Drive, Suite 200, Blaine, WA 98230 Tel: 360/332-1777 Vol XXVII, No 36 Circulation: 10,500 copies
Circulation Independently verified by:
The Editor: I guess the construction of the home being built by the Freeman family is newsworthy in its unique appearance. Still, I find that choice of design that will shade and hover over its heritage house neighboring properties disappointing. How often have I heard residents here voice that we don’t want Blaine to become what we see (literally and figuratively) across Semiahmoo Bay? Yet, this house will be just that. The architect was quoted as saying his design reflected “the town’s history” and that he took “aspiration from historic buildings in downtown Blaine.” Is he
simply making up his own truths? Do the Freemans actually see the same? Does anyone see as the architect – in any way? While the project fits into the 2018 city design code plan (that maybe now should be rethought), it doesn’t fit into Blaine. Will this building inspire and set the standard for what Blaine “wants to be?” Again, I beg to differ and hope not. Blaine is actually a rare small town and about quality of life, not the quantity of life that resonates from this edifice. Blaine won’t become better off by imitating the appearance of buildings in Seattle or White Rock. If we must look at such a building, I
imagine it used instead as a venue for many small businesses. A chance for Blaine to have La Conner in one building that keeps the waterfront views open, and to be more than a place for dining and package pick up. OK, one more restaurant with a view from atop works well too. Yet to the owners go the choices. Enjoy your new building, but know too not all of us will as well. Ray Leone Blaine Please send letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.
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.
Next issue: March 3 Ads due: Feb. 25
year’s event, which will include more outdoor options than previously offered. “Last year it went really well having a virtual festival but there’s something about interacting with people in person that we really, really miss,” festival coordinator Debbie Harger said. Registration information and schedules can be viewed at wingsoverwaterbirdingfestival.com. For more information, contact festival coordinator Debbie Harger at wingsownw@gmail.com or 360/220-7663.
Letters
Creative Services Ruth Lauman, Doug De Visser production@pointrobertspress.com Office Manager Jeanie Luna info@pointrobertspress.com
nity Pavilion will be included in the weekend-long event. Wildlife author and photographer Paul Bannick will return as the keynote speaker with the presentation, “Washington’s Bird Habitats: Through the Eyes of Owls.” The historic Plover ferry and San Juan Cruises’ Salish Sea will offer offshore birding cruises. Event organizers canceled the event in 2020 and made it strictly virtual in 2021. Masks are strongly encouraged at this
Blaine Planning Commission: Second and fourth Thursdays, 6 p.m. Info: blainepc@cityofblaine.com. Info for joining Zoom meetings: bit.ly/2CiMKnk.
Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation: Second Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., location varies. Info: bbbparkandrec.org. Virtual meeting info: bbbparkandrec.org/board-meetings. Special board of commissioners meeting 3 p.m. on Thursday, February 24 to possibly adopt the drafted 2022 budget. CHANGE: March meeting will be 3:30 p.m. Blaine Park and Cemetery Board: Second Thursday, 9 a.m., virtual meeting. Info: 360/332-8311, ext. 3330. Blaine School Board: Fourth Monday, 7 p.m., Blaine school district offices. Info and virtual meeting link: blainesd.org. North Whatcom Fire & Rescue: Third Thursday, 11 a.m., Station 61 at 9408 Odell Road and via Zoom. Info: nwfrs.net.
February 24 - March 2, 2022 • thenorthernlight.com
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Birch Bay-Lynden near Ham Road reopens after November floods, permanent repairs to come By Grace McCarthy
CITY OF BLAINE
Birch Bay-Lynden Road reopened February 18 after a California Creek culvert failed during the November 2021 floods and washed out a 40-foot section of the road. The area, near Ham Road, has been closed to vehicle traffic for three months while Whatcom County Public Works Department contractors worked on emergency repairs. Permanent repairs will be done in the future. Permanent repairs will take about five years, county public works spokesperson Marie Duckworth said. The county will need to do preliminary engineering and alternatives analysis work to have a better understanding of what permanent repair will entail, Duckworth said. Permanent repairs will likely close the road but not until the end of the project, which
Due to COVID-19 and the Governor’s Proclamation, meetings are now only open to the public telephonically. 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, February 24 6:00pm – Planning Commission Meeting *CANCELLED*
Monday, February 28 6:00pm – City Council Meeting Thursday, March 10 9:00am – Park and Cemetery Board Meeting
10:00am – Public Works
s Birch Bay-Lynden Road reopened over California Creek February 18 after being closed for three months. Photo by Grace McCarthy
is four to five years away, Duckworth said. Public works estimates the emergency repairs to the road cost between $800,000 and $900,000. The department anticipates securing Federal Highway Emergency Relief funds
to cover the costs, Duckworth said. Cost estimates for permanent repairs will be configured after preliminary engineering and alternatives analysis is complete. In late January, RAM Construction crews installed two
10-foot diameter culverts after waiting over a month to do in-water work. The road reopening date was pushed several times and estimated for midto late-February. Public works hasn’t placed vehicle restrictions on the road.
cy order won’t be lifted March 21 because it is needed for the state to continue receiving pandemic-related federal funds, protect the right of people who choose to wear masks when not required and continue testing in public schools. The governor’s office attributed the loosening of mask restrictions to declining Covid-19 hospitalizations, improving vaccination rates and easy access to masks and tests. Although trending downward, state department of health data shows Covid-19 cases are still among some of the highest they’ve been during the pandemic. Inslee first required a statewide mask mandate in June 2020, which was lifted for vaccinated individuals briefly last summer during low case rates. The state required vaccinated individuals
to resume wearing masks indoors in late August 2021.
Whatcom County residents and business owners impacted by the November 2021 floods have by Monday, March 7 to register for FEMA assistance. FEMA, or Federal Emergency Management Agency, was put in place January 5 after President Joe Biden declared areas of Washington state a major disaster from the historic flooding last November. People can apply for assis-
tance by registering online at disasterassistance.gov and calling 800/621-3362. People can also apply by visiting the disaster recovery centers in Everson (1208 East Main Street), Sumas (125 West Front Street) and Ferndale (2007 Cherry Street). Local information is available by calling Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management at 360/676-6681.
Blaine resident earns master’s degree from Miami University Kendra Aldrich, of Blaine, recently received a master’s degree in biology from Miami University. Aldrich received the degree
during the fall commencement. Miami University is a public school of over 19,000 students in Oxford, Ohio.
Tuesday, March 22 3:00pm – Civil Service Commission Meeting Contact information for staff and Councilmembers can be found on the City’s website.
www.cityofblaine.com
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Call (360) 332-8311 or visit our website.
Masks to become optional indoors on March 21 The Washington state indoor mask mandate will end Monday, March 21, governor Jay Inslee announced during a joint press conference with state officials. This will include public schools, grocery stores and restaurants. Businesses will be able to decide whether they want to require employees and customers to wear masks, Inslee said during the February 17 press conference, announcing the end to the statewide mask mandate. Local governments may still require mask usage if needed. Masks will remain required in healthcare facilities, corrections facilities and nursing homes, according to the governor’s office. Proof of vaccination will also no longer be required for large events starting Tuesday, March 1. Inslee said the state’s emergen-
Advisory Board Meeting 6:00pm – Planning Commission Meeting
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The Northern Light • February 24 - March 2, 2022
Covid-19 in Whatcom County, by school district boundaries: Recent two-week case rates, cumulative counts and vaccinations Blaine Lynden Nooksack Valley Vaccination: 76% Vaccination: 59% Vaccination: 56% Case rate: 912 Case rate: 823 Case rate: 950 New cases: 169 New cases: 168 New cases: 108 Ferndale Meridian Vaccination: 72% Vaccination: 67% Case rate: 609 Case rate: 249 New cases: 210 New cases: 25 Bellingham Vaccination: 83% Case rate: 527 New cases: 566
Mount Baker Vaccination: 50% Case rate: 535 New cases: 86
s The case rate is the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. New cases are the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the last week. Vaccination is the percentage of the population that has had at least one vaccine shot. Rates were updated February 12.
Housing ... From page 1
affordability of that home for future generations so people with good jobs in our community can afford to live here,” Fearing said. There are over 250 community land trusts across the U.S., according to the land trust website. Kulshan used to only help people who earned 80 percent or less than the area’s median income, but is now helping people who earn 80 to 120 percent of the median income, Fearing said. According to the Kulshan website, a four-person home that makes $64,900 before taxes annually is at 80 percent of the area’s median income. Most of the city of Blaine employee salaries fall within the 80 to 120 percent
range, Jones said. Fearing said he’s had a lot of Whatcom County businesses reach out to Kulshan because they can’t grow without affordable housing for their employees. “The number one reason for lack of business expansion and job creation is businesses can’t find employees to fill positions or they need to be paid more,” Jones said. “We could have more cheesecake made and more granola made. We could attract more businesses to the community.” How it applies to Blaine The city of Blaine is seeing home bidding wars and prices rise at a rapid rate. Initial talks with city officials about using part of the city hall property at 344 H Street for affordable hous-
ing expanded to Harbor Hills, which was formerly known as East Maple Ridge, Fearing said in a follow-up phone call. Best case scenario, the Harbor Hills homes could be constructed in four years, but Fearing said that hinges upon getting critical infrastructure in east Blaine, which is still a few years away. A Whatcom County Economic Development Program loan and grant combination could help Kulshan with expenses for stormwater, water and sewer, and road construction for east Blaine, Fearing said. City council decided to keep the old city hall property in February 2020 after soliciting proposal requests for the property. The city is in the process of demolishing the building. About one-third of the existing proper-
Blaine, Mount Baker and Nooksack Valley school districts increased in Covid-19 cases since last week, while all other school districts decreased in cases, according to Whatcom County Health Department data. The Blaine school district area had the second highest Covid-19 case rates in the county, at 912. The Nooksack Valley school district area had the highest Covid-19 cases in the county, with 950 cases per 100,000 people. Meridian school district had the lowest case rate at 249 cases per 100,000. Seven county residents died from Covid-19 in the past reporting week, bringing the virus death toll up to 260 people in Whatcom County. On February 22, 20 PeaceHealth patients had either been
admitted for Covid-19 or tested positive for Covid-19 after being admitted for another reason. Children 5-17 years old have the highest Covid-19 transmissions in the county, with 1,191 cases per 100,000 people. The health department released its weekly Covid-19 report for February 6 through February 12. Six people died that week: A man in his 40s, a woman in her 60s, a man in his 70s, a woman in her 80s, a man in his 80s and a woman in her 90s. Vaccination status was not provided because of a state data processing issue. For more Whatcom County information, visit whatcomcounty.us/covidvaccine and whatcomcounty.us/coviddata. State information is available at bit.ly/3r2URJj.
ty will go to expanding the adjacent Blaine police station, while the other two-thirds could be used to create affordable housing units. Per city guidelines, the condo building would need to have a commercial unit on the ground floor and couldn’t be taller than three stories. After presenting to city council, Jones said he would like to wait on continuing the conversation about using the old city hall property as affordable housing until the city has demolished the property. He also wanted the three new city council members, sworn into office in January, to have a refreshed conversation on options for the police station. Kulshan already has three single-family homes in the Blaine area. “We haven’t done a project of
this size in Blaine,” Fearing said. “It’s something we wanted to do for some time but no opportunity had come up.” Kulshan is also in talks with Grandis Pond about bringing an additional 25 homes to the upcoming east Blaine neighborhood, Fearing said. Kulshan currently has 140 homes in its trust and several dozen in the pipeline. Eventually, Fearing said he would like to see Kulshan build 25 to 50 homes per year to better meet community needs. The nonprofit has about 60 families on its waitlist, a two-year process that’s first-come, first-serve. “We are a long way away,” Jones said. “It takes about three to five years for an affordable housing program like this to go from start to finish.”
School ...
$12 million, six-year capital projects and technology levy passed in April 2018 and the letter the board sent to state officials in September 2021 requesting them to listen to community members against the state’s mask and vaccination mandates. “That seemed a very even-handed approach, recognizing the constraints that you’re under and shaping their understanding of the pressures that parents feel,” he said. “I was pretty impressed by that letter.” The seat will be up for election in the 2023 general election.
From page 6
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saw the opening as an opportunity to give back to the community. “I have a continuing passion for education and commitment to preparing youngsters for their futures,” he said. “I spent my career in that area, and I think one of the most important things we can do through life is focus on our future and prepare children for things.” When asked what he believes to be the school board’s greatest achievement, Leu said getting the
Number of employees: Ten. How long in business: This is our 41st year serving the boating needs of the Pacific NW. Description of the business: Semiahmoo Marina is the Northwest’s premier condominium resort marina, offering moorage leasing and boat-slip sales. Semiahmoo Marina offers a wide array of amenities for boaters while offering the general public the opportunity to enjoy our beach trails, beautiful views and Marina Café/Store and Gift Shop. We offer live music on the patio Friday nights during the summer months. How the business started: Back in the early 1980s, Blaine Harbor was primarily a fishing port. Developers of Semiahmoo saw a need for a recreational marina to serve the local community and consequently Semiahmoo Marina was born. Future goals: As a condominium association, Semiahmoo Marina represents 294 independent local taxpayers that care about their community and work hard to make Semiahmoo a model marine recreational environment. We are a member of the Clean Marina Program and continue to fulfill the high standards required to maintain that membership. Featured businesses are selected randomly from the Blaine Community Chamber of Commerce membership.
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February 24 - March 2, 2022 • thenorthernlight.com
Sports Blaine boys basketball beat Overlake to advance to regionals By Ian Haupt The Borderites held off The Overlake School’s late fourth quarter surge February 19 to move on to the next round of playoffs. After securing a 12-point lead early into the fourth quarter, the game turned tense for Blaine fans when the Owls closed the gap to three points in the final minute of the game. But, with the Owls fouling to regain possession, Blaine junior Lucas Smith and senior Avery Dohner
each hit two free throws to see out the game. “At this point in the year, everybody who plays is a good team so we were glad to come away with the win,” head coach Brett Farrar said. Senior Scott Baldwin led the team with 15 points, and it was his steal and converted layup followed by a rebound and open three-pointer that gave the Borderites a 44-32 lead with six minutes left in the game. In the following five minutes, Blaine only managed two
points. Overlake grabbed six and then another five in the final minute. The Borderites stopped the Owls in the last 30 seconds and made their free throws to advance. The game finished 51-44. Junior Carson Lehnert had three three-pointers and finished with 12, Dohner and junior Matthew Russ had 7 each, and Smith had 6. The Overlake School is a 5-12 private, college preparatory school in Redmond. Overlake finished its season 14-8.
Blaine will play Wahluke Saturday, February 26, at 4 p.m. at Mount Vernon High School. The winner will then advance to the 1A state championship tournament Wednesday, March 2 through Saturday, March 5 at the Yakima Valley SunDome. Farrar said this week the team will focus on closing out games to prepare for the rest of its playoff run. “The guys are really focused,” he said. “We just have to continue to get better.” Blaine is 13-6 this season.
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s Cael Button wrestling in the Tacoma Dome at the Mat Classic XXXIII. Button took third at 126 pounds. Photo by Rie Pomeroy
By Ian Haupt Seven Blaine wrestlers finished in the top eight of their weight classes at Mat Classic XXXIII last weekend at the Tacoma Dome. Cael Button took third at 126, Jack Cheatham sixth at 152, Nicolaas Chandran fourth at 195 and Genesis Vazquez eighth at 110. Nahum Vazquez, Victor Gervol and Tim Pomeroy also finished in the top eight, but boys varsity team head coach Tom Hinz said only the top six technically placed. The boys team also took
10th overall, which Hinz said was unexpected. Between the boys and girls varsity teams, Blaine sent 11 wrestlers to the state championship tournament in Tacoma. The girls team sent three wrestlers, Vazquez, Briseyda Nolasco and Milania Rodriguez, which head coach Damon Higgins said was the most in school history. Eight boys wrestled in the tournament. “It was awesome,” Hinz said of the weekend. “The Tacoma Dome was electric. It was kind (See Sports, page 13)
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The Northern Light • February 24 - March 2, 2022
Mount Baker Theatre celebrates 95 years of showstopping performances Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth to grace the theater’s stage on April 23 B y G e o r gi a C o s t a Mount Baker Theatre (MBT) has stood as a testament to time through war and pandemic, proving itself as Whatcom County’s mainstage for the arts. The show must go on, and it will, as the theater celebrates its 95th anniversary this spring. MBT will have Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth, known for her roles as Glinda in “Wicked” and Sally Brown “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” perform at its 95th anniversary celebration and benefit concert on April 23. “Our 95th birthday is a big deal,” said John Purdie, the theater’s executive director. “At one point in Bellingham there were seven theaters. This is the one that stood the test of time.” One reason the theater’s been alive since 1927 is because of its different mediums throughout time, Purdie said. When Fox Theatre first built it, the main purpose was to put on vaudeville shows, a 20th century type of entertainment that is a mixture of burlesque comedy and song and dance. Throughout history, the theater’s variety in entertainment provided the community with continuous art. “Back then, there was no television,” Purdie said. “Radio signals weren’t very strong yet. Theater was how people got entertainment. There was a theater in town so big that they could drive a horse and carriage onto the stage and turn it around and drive it off the stage. It was that big.” MBT marketing director Lelani Thomsen said Chenoweth’s various talents represent the theater’s versatility. In addition to starring in Broadway classics, Chenoweth is known for acting on the TV show ‘Glee,’ and releasing several albums that feature Ariana Grande, Dolly Parton and other female artists. “Chenoweth is a powerhouse,”
s Mount Baker Theatre is celebrating its 95th anniversary this spring. Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth will perform at the theater April 23 in celebration of the community staple. Photo by Damian Vines/courtesy Mount Baker Theatre Thomsen said. “She does so many things, just like this theater. She sings, acts on TV and Broadway, and she’s really funny. It’s the same thing, [the theater] has different personalities based on what performance is happening.” The theater has faced adversity in the past. In 1983, Fox sold the theater to a firm that planned to divide the theater into multiple screens. The theater building was also in bad shape and at risk of demolition, according to its website. After vigorous public protest, MBT became a city-owned facility managed by Mount Baker Theatre Corporation, a citizen-based nonprofit. “Citizens partnered with the city and county and raised enough money for the city to buy the theater from Fox, who was happy to
sell it,” Purdie said. Thomsen emphasized that MBT serving as a hub for the community is her favorite part of working at the theater. Although the theater hosts worldwide artists, it also prioritizes local creators. “Being able to bring these world-class acts is great, but bringing in the community is amazing,” Thomsen said. After the November 2021 floods, MBT donated time and space to the Whatcom County Live Aid Benefit concert to raise funds for community members impacted by the floods. Local nonprofits had tables at various events, such as Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association and Recreation Northwest to inform the community about native plants, trails and how to be a good steward to the land.
s Mount Baker Theatre in 1927. Photo courtesy Mount Baker Theatre
MBT’s educational events have had to be discontinued or turned virtual due to Covid-19. The Whatcom community has been great about supporting the theater and respecting its health guidelines. Thomsen said the theater had a rough start after being closed for 15 months during Covid-19. It opened Labor Day weekend 2021, with not many attendees. As time progressed, the theater hosted shows with full houses of up to 1,500 guests. This year so far, the theater has live streamed educational events such as Small Island Big Song, which reached 2,100 students in 100 classrooms across five counties. One thing that will always remain consistent is the upkeep and restoration of the 95-year-old theater. Throughout the years, MBT has maintained the same aesthetic. MBT’s Harold and Irene Walton Theatre and the Encore Room have been renovated, but the rest has been restored. However, the fundamental architecture has not changed. The theater has maintained a Spanish-Moorish motif since initial construction, especially in the
theater lobby, Purdie said. Architecturally, it’s designed to resemble the inside of a captain’s cabin on a Spanish galleon, a sailing ship used for cargo and war. Although the furniture has changed color palettes, the patterns have stayed the same for 95 years. “The lobby is the same lobby since opening day,” Purdie said. “These theaters were built at a time when they were designed intentionally to take you out of your everyday world and transport you somewhere else, which is what film and vaudeville often do.” Architect Robert Reamer designed the theater, as well as several surrounding buildings in downtown Bellingham. Reamer also designed the Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone National Park and the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle. “Ninety-five years is a big deal,” Thomsen said. “It’s huge for a building, and all the different lives it’s had.” Tickets to Mount Baker Theatre’s 95th birthday and benefit concert can be purchased at mountbakertheatre.com. The event is 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 23. Tickets range from $65 to $350.
s The theater’s lobby has maintained its Spanish-Moorish motif since opening day in 1927. Photo by Georgia Costa
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February 24 - March 2, 2022 • thenorthernlight.com
9
A monthly special section in The Northern Light
Early 20th century Drayton Harbor home undergoes remodel B y G e o r gi a C o s t a A 1910 home and former goat and oyster farm has been restored into a modern, waterfront property on Drayton Harbor Road. “I wake up every day and go, ‘I love this house,’” recent buyer and homeowner Marla Carter said. Carter and her fiancé Roger Thorinson moved into the home in October 2021. It took them, along with Build For Less contractor Timothy Tomulty and New Horizon Realty broker Linda Tomulty, approximately a year to transform the home from what
Linda described as “an eyesore,” to a proud asset to the Blaine community. Lead carpenter Steve Ryan worked with Timothy on the design of the house. The three bedroom, two bath 1,800-square-foot home sits on three acres. The white-painted home with blue accents is styled to be modern but keep the integrity of the old house. Carter and Thorinson put up a cardboard sign near their house for the community to tour the newly completed home that brought over 100 people to the open house last October. “There was so much commu-
nity interest in it, and the house was just finished so fabulously,” Linda Tomulty said. In addition to the house having been vacant for over 15 years, Linda said the community took an interest in the home because of its previous life as an oyster and goat farm that provided milk and food in the early 1900s. Linda said the home had received seven back-to-back offers, but Carter and Thorinson were the only people who followed
through. Hindrances to potential renovators were obtaining construction and permits, and the fact that new construction was limited to the existing foot print. “The only difficult process was getting past all the regulations,” Timothy said. “I had to hire a biologist and do a wetland study. Those are the kinds of things I think maybe other builders would have walked away from.” The surrounding land was environmentally sensitive because
of Drayton Harbor marine life and shoreline, Timothy said. “I had to get creative with it,” he said. “The house couldn’t be moved or added onto.” Timothy found the original (See Home, page 15)
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s Build For Less contractor Timothy Tomulty restored a 1910 home on Drayton Harbor Road that sat vacant for over 15 years. The 1,800-square-foot home has three bedrooms and two-baths. Courtesy photos
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The Northern Light • February 24 - March 2, 2022
Blaine students learn in nature through outdoor afterschool program the work of the Connections program, a pilot program during the 2020-21 school year, which ran in collaboration with North Cascades Institute and various other organizations. Some kids in her neighborhood were in the program and Rule said she saw the benefits it had on them. The Connections program originally focused on assisting students struggling with online learning, but as classes transitioned to hybrid, it shifted to outdoor education. Blaine school district superintendent Christopher Granger previously told The Northern Light in an email about the Connections program that the school district was grateful for the unique program. “This program has provided our students an opportunity to engage in hands-on outdoor learning in support of their inclass content,” he wrote. “We are appreciative of the community partners and collaboration to provide this to our students, and feel it models what can happen when people unite and work together.” Wild Whatcom’s program is specific to the Blaine school district. The organization typically provides programs during school hours but the district thought an after-school program would be best due to the difficulty of resuming in-person classes during the pandemic.
By Ian Haupt Twelve kids and two mentors stand in a circle under a covered area at Lincoln Park while they excitedly introduce themselves. The group is just beginning its second session of Wild Whatcom’s winter after-school program. As the kindergarten through second graders have already had a long day of school, they head into the woods to enjoy a socially-distanced snack before exploring. Wild Whatcom, a Bellingham-based nonprofit that focuses on outdoor education, is currently running a seven-week after school outdoor program on Thursdays for kindergarten, first and second grade Blaine students. Wild Whatcom executive director Licia Sahagun said they are planning to have two 12-student programs available in the spring. The nonprofit’s programming in Blaine is the result of state representative Alicia Rule (D-Blaine) securing state funding for the program. Through state grants, Rule provided outdoor programming for kids in the Blaine and Mount Baker school districts. “During this pandemic, I knew it was going to be critically important to get kids outside” Rule said. “Kids need to get outdoors for not just their physical health, but their mental health.” Rule said she was inspired by
s Blaine students gather around a Wild Whatcom mentor in the Lincoln Park woods February 17. Photo by Ian Haupt
The after-school program is intentionally less structured, Sahagun said in an email, since students have come from a long day of sitting in classrooms. The main focus is to connect students with the outdoors through exploration, play, art and nature-based activities. “This could be anything from learning about and
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finding bugs to a game of camouflage-based hide and seek to creating nature art in the park,” she said. Sahagun said spending time outdoors has several documented mental and physical health benefits for all ages. In the after school program, students get a chance to refresh, exercise and connect with peers while also learning about and connecting with a nearby park. Enrollment for the upcoming spring session will open with an interest list rather than registration, Sahagun said, which will give Wild Whatcom an opportunity to prioritize enrollment for families that qualify for free or reduced prices. “For this year, we are thankful for the support from Representative Alicia Rule and the Recreation and Conservation Office so that we can offer this program for free,” Sahagun said. “We hope to reach the highest needs families.” Rule said she’s had her own kids enrolled in outdoor education programs even before the
pandemic. As a mental health professional, she said she knows the benefits of getting outside. “This is really just a stepping-stone for the Outdoor Education for All program,” Rule said, referring to HB 2078. Rule has sponsored a state outdoor education bill, HB 2078, that has already passed through the House and is currently in the Senate. The bill would establish a statewide grant program to ensure all fifth and sixth grade students can benefit from outdoor education. It would also create a position at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. “What we did in Blaine was a small pilot project compared to what we want to do throughout the state,” she said. “I’m glad Whatcom is always a pioneer in these areas.” Sahagun said plans are in the works for Wild Whatcom to offer outdoor programming next year during school hours. Sienna Boucher contributed to the reporting of this article.
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s A Blaine student and a Wild Whatcom mentor gaze up the tall evergreens in Lincoln Park. Photo by Ian Haupt
February 24 - March 2, 2022 • thenorthernlight.com
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IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR WHATCOM COUNTY In re the Estate of: NEIL PETER ANDERSON, Deceased. No. 224-00109-37. NOTICE TO CREDITORS. Judge Evan Jones The Administrator named below has been appointed and has qualified 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 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 3, 2022 with Clerk of Court: Date of First Publication: February 10, 2022 Name of Administrator: ERIK PETER ANDERSON 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 3, 2022 AVERY ELDER LAW, P.S. STEVEN D. AVERY, WSBA #35262 Attorney for Administrator ERIK PETER ANDERSON www.averyelderlaw.com
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR WHATCOM COUNTY In re the Estate of: CAROL LYNN KURTZWEIL, Deceased. No. 22-4-00172-37. NOTICE TO CREDITORS. Judge David Freeman The Personal Representative named below has been appointed and has qualified 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 probated 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 Filing of Notice to Creditors: February 15, 2022 with Clerk of Court: Date of First Publication: February 24, 2022 Name of Personal Representative: CINDY MAXWELL Attorney for Personal Representatives: 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 15, 2022. AVERY ELDER LAW, P.S. STEVEN D. AVERY, WSBA #35262 Attorney for Personal Representative CINDY MAXWELL
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IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF Whatcom In Re the Estate of Sherry B. Sletvik aka Sherry B. Van Diest, Deceased. NO. 22-4-00066-37. PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS (RCW 11.40.030) JUDGE: David E. Freeman 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 10, 2022 Personal Representative: Douglas Van Diest 3205 S Pass Road Everson, WA 98247 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. 22-4-00066-37.
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IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF Whatcom In Re the Estate of William Callaghan, Deceased. NO. 22-4-00110-37. PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS (RCW 11.40.030) JUDGE: Lee Grochmal. 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 17, 2022 Personal Representative: Emily Callaghan 1908 36th 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 00110 37
NOTICE TO CREDITORS In the Superior Court of the State of Washington, In and for the County of Whatcom, In re the Estate of Alma Tiesinga. Probate No. 22-4-00064-37 Judge: Lee Grochmal. The Personal Representative named below have 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 Clerk of this Court. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) Thirty days after the Co-Personal Representatives 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 (twenty-four (24) months if notice is not published). 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: 2/24/2022. Personal Representative: Jeremy Tiesinga. Attorney for the Estate: Keith Bode, WSBA #7791 314 5th Street, P.O. Box 688, Lynden, WA 98264-0688, Tel. (360) 354-5021
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR WHATCOM COUNTY In re the Matter of the Trust of: HAZEL NORMA MARTEN KOENKER, of the ERNEST BENJAMIN KOENKER and HAZEL NORMA MARTEN KOENKER TRUST, dated August 7, 1992, Deceased. No. 22-4-00160-37 NON-PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS. RCW 11.42.030. Judge Lee Grochmal The notice agent named below has elected to give notice to creditors of the abovenamed Decedent. As of the date of the filing of a copy of this notice with the court, the notice agent has no knowledge of any other person acting as notice agent or of the appointment of a personal representative of Decedent’s estate in the state of Washington. According to the records of the court as are available on the date of the filing of this notice with the court, a cause number regarding Decedent has not been issued to any other notice agent and a personal representative of Decedent’s estate has not been appointed. The notice agent believes, based upon reasonable good faith, that he is qualified under RCW 11.42.010 to act as notice agent. Any person having a claim against 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 11.42.070 by serving on or mailing to the notice agent or the notice agent’s attorney at the address stated below a copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the court. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) Thirty (30) days after the notice agent served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.42.020(2)(c); or (2) four (4) 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 11.42.050 and 11.42.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both Decedent’s probate and non-probate assets. Date of First Publication: February 17, 2022 The notice agent declares under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington on February 8, 2022 at Bellingham, Washington, that the foregoing is true and correct. Notice Agent: GREGORY ERIC KOENKER Attorney for Notice Agent AVERY ELDER LAW, P.S. STEVEN D. AVERY, WSBA #35262 Mailing Address: 801 Samish Way, Ste. 202 Bellingham, WA 98229 Non-Probate Notice to Creditors Avery Elder Law, P.S. 801 Samish Way, Ste. 202 Bellingham, WA 98229 (360) 325-2550 www.averyelderlaw.com
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The Northern Light • February 24 - March 2, 2022
Real Estate 96XX Kettle Way, Blaine $179,000
5835 Semiahmoo Drive, Birch Point $999,888
Bay Properties Semiahmoo homeS, inc.
N W L U X U RY R E A L E S TAT E AT A H I G H E R L E V E L 4 lots in Sealinks, Birch Bay $200,000 SEALINKS NEIGHBORHOOD!!
package of 4 lots RARE PACKAGE OF 4 LOTS!! RARE available in a quiet gated community within walking distance to the water and restaurants! Sea Links at Birch Bay is close to the US / Canadian border and has easy access to I-5. Ever thought of living close to the water? Looking to build the home of your dreams? This could be the perfect opportunity in a growing area with few lots available. Lot 13 (7,178 sqft), Lot 18 (8,752 sqft), Lot 19 (8,414 sqft), and Lot 20 (8,109 sqft) are being sold together for a combined 32,453 sqft!
Carl W. R. Dufton • (360) 815-6637
11.33 ACRE ESTATE theridgeatsemiahmoo.com PROPERTY WITH A VIEW! Rare west facing marine view estate property encompassing 11.33 acres overlooking bays, mountains, & islands, located on Birch Point plateau high above these pristine NW waters. Spectacular sunsets. Beautifully forested, relatively level with slight slope eastward and ready to build dream home with elbow room offering privacy & exclusivity. An hour south of Vancouver & under 2 hours to Seattle. Natural beauty & environment. A mile from Semiahmoo with its Inn, golf course, & 300 slip marina. Property could potentially be divided - offering 2 separate estate size properties. Choices!
SHY 5 ACRE PARCEL IN LYNDEN SCHOOL DISTRICT!
Location! Location! Location! This shy 5 acre parcel, slightly sloped and flood free (Buyer to verify), is ideally situated in a rural neighborhood in the Lynden School District. Build your “dream” home on this property that offers that highly sought after “estate acreage” lifestyle with safe, low traffic on a dead end street. Accessed from the street on the west boarder of property, this partially forested acreage offers multiple possible building sites, either close to street or further east onto the property for privacy. County taxes and building codes. Create your ideal escape!
NEW LISTING!
Terry Conway • (360) 410-0503
CeCelia Breivik • (360) 303-8161
7806 Birch Bay Drive #415, Birch Bay $399,999
ANOTHER FABULOUS END GARDEN BIRCH BAY CONDO! UNIT AT JACOB’S LANDING! Views of the water, magical sunsets, prime beach access and all of the amenities that Jacob’s Landing has to offer: Indoor pool and hot tub, tennis courts, racquet ball court plus a game room and social room that can be reserved for your functions! This 2 BD, 1 BA unit comes furnished with laminate floors, wall to wall carpet and tiles. Life on the beach is quite awesome with restaurants and cafes nearby, crabbing and clamming, kayaking and miles of beach to explore. Make this your primary residence or a weekend get-a-way bring your beach buckets and enjoy!
Ruth Skeete • (360) 358-5075
5273 Drayton Harbor Road, Blaine $1,595,000
Julie Ward • (760) 522-2564
Thinking of
Listing your property? Four floor plans to choose from 2036-3039 sq. ft. • Gated community • Phase one starting now For updates and or to be put on our mailing list, and to see floorplans and additional info visit: briansouthwick.com/woodberry-semiahmoo-2
Jim Kaemingk Jr. BROKER 360-224-5465
jimk@windermere.com
Your Local Expert For All Real Estate, Residential Or Commercial Services! Hugh Brawford, Managing Broker
www.CallHugh.com Rentals - Rooms FURNISHED ROOMS in historic home, incl. amenities, NS, pet friendly starts at $600/ mo. + deposit, references required. 360-332-3449.
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DEVELOPMENT WATERFRONT, WATER VIEW & OPPORTUNITY! DEVELOPMENT ON 3 PARCELS! Amazing opportunity! 22.71 +/- acres of WATERFRONT, WATER VIEW & DEVELOPMENT on 3 properties located very near Semiahmoo. Privacy abounds on all 3 parcels. Parcel A: 3 bedroom home with great views of Mt. Baker & Drayton Harbor & situated on 5 acres. Outbuilding could be detached garage. Parcel B: 120+/- feet of salt waterfront on Drayton Harbor, private beach. Property also boasts spectacular views of bays, White Rock & Coastal Mountains. Parcel C: 17 acres covered with trees and could be developed with 3 homes on the acreage under current zoning. Easy I-5 access.
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February 24 - March 2, 2022 • thenorthernlight.com
Sports ... From page 7
of like fireworks at the end of the season.” He added that it was a really good tournament for the team as well. Hinz said Button lost to the eventual individual state champion at 126 head-to-head by two points. Hinz said the other boys wrestled well too. “Blaine was well represented.” Hinz said he is excited for the future holds for the boys team. The team had eight seniors this year and finished the season with a total of 31 wrestlers. Much of
the team wrestles outside of the regular high school season with Blaine Barracuda Wrestling Club. As for the girls, Higgins said he was extremely proud of how they wrestled. The team, which consisted of only three wrestlers, took 48th overall out of nearly 120 teams. Nolasco and Rodriguez were disappointed not to place, Higgins said, but they wrestled hard. “Coming to state is an emotional battle,” he said. “I think both girls thought they could’ve performed a little better, but given the nature of the competition it’s difficult to win multiple matches in a tournament like that.”
s Nahum Vazquez finished in the top eight of the 1A 132 pound class. Overall, the Borderites took 10th. Photo by Georgia Costa
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O B I T U A RY Miriam L. Ewing
July 5, 1928 – February 9, 2022 Miriam Ewing is in Heaven with Jesus singing in the highest glory. Miriam Louise Anderson was born July 5,1928 in Seattle to Charles and Ruth Anderson and passed away peacefully and quietly on February 9, 2022 at the age of 93. Miriam grew up in the Fremont District of Seattle where she had a view of Seattle from her bedroom on Evanston Street. It was there that she ran a neighborhood printing press interviewing neighbors for all the goings on in the neighborhood. She moved as a teenager with her family to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island where her father was an automobile mechanic and woodworker. She enjoyed her time living on the salt water and island life. Her father built a rowboat for her to participate in the Friday Harbor Rowboat Races. Her first job was at the Friday Harbor Cannery (think of I Love Lucy and the cans piling up in front of her). Mom was beautiful inside and out. She was Miss San Juan County and Apple Blossom Royalty. She graduated from Friday Harbor High School with her graduating class of nine seniors. She attended Western Washington College in Bellingham to pursue a degree in teaching and was a substitute teacher. It was there she was courted by Robert (Bob Ewing). They married in 1949 and celebrated 66 years together. They moved to Brawley, California where Bob was in the Border Patrol on the Mexican border and their eldest son, Charlie, was born. They moved to Blaine, Washington in 1952 and made their family home with their four children. Our Mom charmed the socks off anyone who met her with her quiet demeanor and lending an ear to those who needed someone to listen. She was known for her home-baked bread, lemon meringue and pumpkin pies and Santa Claus cookies. She was an environmentalist before most had ever heard of it. She composted, recycled and repurposed. She grew her own vegetables and fruit and preserved her bounty by freezing and canning. She loved animals and took joy in listening for the first robin singing in the spring. On a crisp fall day, our family loved cleaning up the cider press and gathering apples to press, squeeze and can gallons of homemade apple juice. She loved hard work. The basement of our H Street home was hand dug by Mom, Dad and the boys using shovels and buckets. Family dinners and a balanced, healthy menu were important to her. She always had homebaked yummy things for anyone who dropped by for a visit. Hot chocolate and cookies were readily available as well as first aid for the winter sledders on H Street Hill. She loved to ice skate and performed beautifully on the neighbor’s frozen pond. She loved a fierce bocce ball tournament, Monday night badminton or a good baseball game. She’d stay up all night playing card games with relatives. One of her favorite card games was
“Oh Hell” which she renamed “Oh Beep”. Miriam was a volunteer and loved to help others. She and Bob were active participants in the Whatcom County Farm Forestry Association where they worked at the Annual Tree Sale and were awarded Farm Foresters of the Year for the tree farm they lovingly planted and maintained along the South Fork of the Nooksack River. She was a Cub Scout Leader for Pack 25 and active with Troop 25 Boy Scouts in Blaine, a Room Mother for her children’s classes at the Blaine Elementary School, active in the Christian Women’s Club and a melodic singer who sang at many events including the Blaine Music Study Club, her church, and countless weddings and funerals in the area. Mom’s favorite times were with her family hiking in the Cascade Wilderness, looking for sea glass and agates on the beach, building bonfires you could see from Russia, picnics, growing giant pumpkins for the family competition, and her raft trip 280 miles through the Grand Canyon in Arizona. She would draw pencil sketches of our camps or write a little jingle on large fungi clinging to tree stumps. Her favorite holidays were Christmas and April Fools’ Day. She was quite a prankster. Her sewing and knitting are exhibits of the love she had for traditions. This included knitting each of us, including her grandchildren, a hand knit Christmas stocking that she lovingly hung in her living room each Christmas, to sewing matching flannel PJ’s for the entire family that we looked forward to opening Christmas morning. Miriam is remembered for her infinite patience, her unwavering love of Jesus Christ as her personal Savior, and her quiet demeanor as she expressed kind and genuine concern for others. She adored her grandchildren. She is predeceased by her parents Charles and Ruth Anderson, her husband Bob in 2015, her brother, Bruce Anderson, sister, Ruth Hodges, brother, Rex Anderson and brother, Charles Anderson. She is survived by her son Charlie (Kathy) Ewing, of Lynden, daughter Melinda Ewing (Mike Bellitto) of Lakewood, Colorado, son Bob Jr. (Lorena) of Washington DC, and daughter Mary Green (Jim) of Ferndale; five grandkids, Ken, Dan, Mark, Luke, Jonathan; five great grandchildren, Holly, Maya, Eli, Hudson and Elliott as well as many nieces and nephews and friends. 2nd Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me, the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day. We know you are at peace, Mom. Until we meet again. Hallelujah Praise God. Memorials are appreciated to Whatcom County Farm Forestry Association P.O. Box 1121, Bellingham, WA 98225 or Whatcom County Hospice, 2800 Douglas Avenue, Bellingham WA 98227.
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14
The Northern Light • February 24 - March 2, 2022
Sheriff’s Reports Feb. 9, 9:46 a.m.: Suspicious vehicle on California Trail. Feb. 9, 12:49 p.m.: Panic alarm on Drayton Harbor Road. Feb. 9, 6:55 p.m.: Behavioral health issue on Birch Bay-Lynden Road. Feb. 10, 6:54 a.m.: Motor vehicle accident on Loomis Trail Road, Custer. Feb. 10, 10:28 a.m.: Behavioral health issue on Harbor Drive. Feb. 11, 2:04 a.m.: Motor vehicle accident injury on Delta Line Road, Custer. Feb. 11, 2:58 a.m.: Suspicious person on Birch Bay-Lynden Road. Feb. 11, 6:52 a.m.: Behavioral health issue on Surf Place. Feb. 11, 3:59 p.m.: Assault simple on Grandview Road. Feb. 11, 4:15 p.m.: Domestic order violence on Dory Court. Feb. 11, 4:20 p.m.: Music on Holeman Avenue. Feb. 11, 5:06 p.m.: Behavioral health issue on Loft Lane. Feb. 12, 8:19 a.m.: Security check on Valley View Road, Custer. Feb. 12, 9:23 a.m.: Behavioral health issue on Surf Place. Feb. 12, 11:21 a.m.: Motor vehicle accident on Loomis Trail Road. Feb. 12, 1:35 p.m.: Motor vehicle accident injury on Bay and Kickerville roads. Feb. 13, 3:49 a.m.: Welfare check on Birch Bay-Lynden Road.
Subject arrested for DUI. Feb. 13, 3:49 a.m.: Domestic verbal on Bayshore Drive. Feb. 13, 3:31 p.m.: Assault simple on Petticote Lane. Feb. 13, 7:27 p.m.: Motor vehicle accident injury on Birch Bay Drive. Feb. 14, 12:18 p.m.: Vehicle abandoned on Portal Way.
Police Reports Feb. 12, 11:16 a.m.: Parking infraction on Bayview Avenue. Feb. 12, 12:13 p.m.: Behavioral health issue on H Street. Feb. 12, 5:36 p.m.: Civil matter on Cedar Street. Feb. 12, 1 p.m.: Threats complaint on 9th Street. Feb. 13, 10:09 a.m.: Welfare check on 4th Street. Feb. 13, 2:42 p.m.: Trouble with a person on Mitchell Avenue. Feb. 13, 3:48 p.m.: Felony assault on Harrison Avenue. Feb. 13, 6:54 p.m.: Hit and run on Bell Road. Feb. 14, 10:07 a.m.: Disorderly conduct on 12th Street. Feb. 14, 11:51 a.m.: Suspicious circumstances on 9th Street. Feb. 14, 12 p.m.: Theft on Alder Street. Feb. 14, 2:06 p.m.: Death investigation on Alder Street.
Crossword ACROSS 1. One who regrets 5. Time zone 8. Subway dweller 11. Bend in a river 13. Alias 14. Isodor __, American Nobel physicist 15. Very (music) 16. Zero 17. Phil __, former CIA 18. Competitions 20. Unwell 21. Puts in place 22. Gets rid of 25. Allows light to pass through 30. Climbed quickly 31. We all have it 32. There’s a North & South 33. Emaciation 38. Supervises flying 41. Very dark colors 43. Unwanted 45. Grants 48. Three visited Jesus 49. Wife of Amun 50. Broadway actress
Feb. 14, 1:33 p.m.: Motor vehicle accident on Lincoln Road. Feb. 14, 11:31 p.m.: Behavioral health issue on Surf Place. Feb. 15, 2:40 a.m.: Domestic verbal on Birch Bay Drive. Feb. 15, 10:31 a.m.: Trespass on Shipyard Road. Feb. 15, 6:50 p.m.: Sex offender registration on Hazel Lane.
Daisy 55. A Spanish river 56. I (German) 57. French opera composer 59. Six (Spanish) 60. Last letter 61. Spiritual leader of a Jewish congregation 62. Noah had one 63. Make a mistake 64. Tall plant DOWN 1. Computer memory 2. “Et __”: “And wife” (Latin) 3. Ancient Syrian city 4. College army 5. Cassava 6. Talented 7. Capital of Estonia 8. Finger millet 9. In a way, assists 10. Men’s fashion accessories 12. Misery 14. Skin disorder 19. Selling at specially reduced prices
23. Good friend 24. Stationary portion of a generator 25. Expression of disappointment 26. The 17th letter of the Greek alphabet 27. Where birds fly 28. Midway between north and northeast 29. Chaotic states 34. Comedic actress Gasteyer 35. Kids’ dining accessory 36. Snakelike fish 37. Midway between south and southeast 39. Assign lifelike qualities to 40. One who cites 41. Midway between east and southeast 42. North wind 44. One or the other 45. Cavalry sword 46. Of the Hungarian language 47. Life stories 48. Flat tableland
Feb. 14, 5:45 p.m.: Telephone harassment on H Street. Feb. 14, 7:44 p.m.: Civil standby on Harrison Avenue. Feb. 14, 10:30 p.m.: Trouble with a person on 8th Street. Feb. 15, 12:21 a.m.: Suspicious circumstances on E Street. Feb. 15, 8 a.m.: Alarm on Jerome Street. Feb. 15, 10:03 a.m.: Suspicious circumstance on H Street. Feb. 15, 10:20 a.m.: Juvenile runaway on Bayview Avenue. Feb. 15, 11:33 a.m.: Trespass on a boat on Semiahmoo Parkway. Feb. 15, 5 p.m.: Theft report on Clark Street. Feb. 16, 12:10 a.m.: Trespass letter on Peace Portal Drive. Feb. 16, 9:40 a.m.: Burglary on Madison Avenue. Report by Blaine Police Department.
with steep edges 51. Swiss river 52. Plant that makes gum 53. French cleric 54. One point east of northeast 58. Free from ANSWERS: THENORTHERNLIGHT.COM
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Whatcom Dream Financial Literacy Class: Tuesdays, through March 29, 6:30–7:30 p.m., The CAP Center, 508 G St. Learn skills to give you a more secure financial future. Free. Info and registration: 360-296-0441 or email kevin@thewhatcomdream.org. Sponsored by the Community Assistance Program. Special Board of Commissioners Meeting: Thursday, February 24, 3 p.m. Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 commissioners will review, discuss and possibly adopt the drafted 2022 budget for the district. Zoom meeting ID: 842 8653 8675, passcode: 302807. Terrell Creek Work Party: Saturday, February 26, 9 a.m.–12 p.m., 7039 Jackson Road, Birch Bay. Join BBWARM, Whatcom Conservations District and Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association in enhancing Terrell Creek habitat. Info: whatcomcd.org. Blaine Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting: Thursday, February 24, 5–7 p.m., Loomis Trail Golf Club, 4342 Loomis Trail Road. Dinner, awards and silent auction to raise funds for Blaine’s Old Fashioned 4th of July. $35 per person or $250 for a table of 8. Register at blainechamber.com. Live Music at The Vault: Friday, February 25, 7 p.m., 277 G Street. Featuring: Adrian Clarke and Tom Sandblom. Info: thevaultwine.com. Trivia at Gateway: Monday, February 28, 7 p.m., Gateway 1890 Taphouse, 429 Peace Portal Drive. Four categories: who, what, where and when. Food discounts during trivia. Info: gateway1890taphouse-grill.com. Blaine Chamber of Commerce Luncheon: Wednesday, March 2, 12–1 p.m., Blaine Boating Center, 235 Marine Drive. Light lunch provided by donation. Speaker: Kathryn Mathews discussing the employee shortage and solutions for employers to boost their visibility, recruiting strategies, and the Yes, Whatcom Project. Registration required at blainechamber. com/events. Whatcom Reads Book Discussion With The Author: Thursday, March 3, 11 a.m., Deming Library, 5044 Mt. Baker Highway. Join this lively discussion of the book “Greenwood” with author Michael Christie. Registration required: whatcomreads.org. The Chuckanut Radio Hour Whatcom Reads Event: Thursday, March 3, 7 p.m., Bellewood Farms, 6140 Guide Meridian. Enjoy an evening of music, comedy, poetry, libations and conversation with Whatcom Reads author Michael Christie. Face masks, proof of vaccination or negative Covid Test required. Limited space, reservations and deposit required at whatcomreads.org. An Evening with Michael Christie: Friday, March 4, 7 p.m., Mount Baker Theatre, 104 N. Commercial Street, Bellingham. Spend an evening with Whatcom Reads author Michael Christie as he describes how he conceived and wrote “Greenwood.” Free. Face masks, proof of vaccination or negative Covid Test required. Tickets: mountbakertheatre.com. Legal and Tax Considerations of Expatriation Webinar: Thursday, March 10, 9 a.m. Free. Cascadia Cross-Border Law presenters will provide insights, key tax and immigration considerations, as well as present case studies that outline the best strategies and opportunities related to expatriation. Info and registration: mnp-ca-llp.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NU43ao0CSqCUdm6Wr-EvfQ.
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.
49° 0’ 0”N - 122° 46’ 0”W TIME
Call To Artists: Through April 4. Blaine By The Sea and Blaine Chamber of Commerce invite artists to join an upcoming art studio tour. Info and registration: info@blainechamber.com.
Ongoing
Feb 24 to Mar 2 at Blaine. Not for navigation. DATE
Coming up
5.8
4.9
11:23 pm -0.5
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The 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. 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. 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: Thursdays 11:30 a.m.–12 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Adults 60+ pick up one hot and six frozen meals. Suggested donation $5 per meal or whatever is affordable. First come, first serve basis. Info: 360/332-8040. Toastmasters Virtual Meetings: Tuesdays 6:30–7:45 p.m. Entertaining and educational. Have fun speaking, learn to overcome fears. Info: Call Pete 360/739-5375 or email him at pcorcorran@gmail.com for the Zoom link. Parents of Addicted Loved Ones (PAL) Meetings: Mondays 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 offer peer support at no cost. Info: palgroup.org or email Bev and Dave at wamillards@comcast.net. Alaska Packers Association Cannery Museum: Open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, 1–5 p.m., 9261 Semiahmoo Parkway. Free, donations welcome. Info: 360/371-3558.
Precipitation: During the period of February 14-20, 0.4 inches of precipitation was recorded. The 2022 year-to-date precipitation is 6.3 inches.
Birch Bay Book Club: Meets third Wednesday, 4 p.m., Birch Bay Vogt Library site, 7968 Birch Bay Drive. Book for March: The Sentence by Louise Erdrich. Info: klia1@mac.com.
Temperature: High for the past week was 56°F on Feb. 16 with a low of 37°F on Feb. 18. Average high was 45°F and average low was 43°F.
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.
Courtesy Birch Bay Water & Sewer Dist.
Blaine Book Club: Meets third Friday, 1 p.m., Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. March title: Anxious People by F. Backman. Info: Kelly at 360/3053637.
Submissions to Coming Up should be sent to calendar@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.
February 24 - March 2, 2022 • thenorthernlight.com
Home ... From page 9
foundation was strong and ended up enjoying rebuilding it. Carter also said it was great to keep the entire shell of the house – that they used the existing framework and moved rooms around – but maintained the 1910 home’s integrity. Timothy said throughout the process, he wanted to have a mix of 1910 and 2021 in the home. He called it the “Hansel and Gretel” look, and added unique, bulky door frames in his design. In their first stages of resto-
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ration, Timothy said the house had been open, abandoned and appeared to have housed squatters. Regardless, Carter said he drove by the home every day the previous summer and fell in love with it. “The home looked terrible,” Linda said. “It wasn’t a simple remodel.” Carter said the project was collaborative in that she had input in the aesthetic. Her favorite part of the home is the stairwell. “This stairwell is in the center of the living room and it’s gorgeous,” Carter said. “Overall, it’s pretty simple, but very beautiful.” s The new home was designed to include early 20th century elements while focusing on modern features.
Courtesy photo
We are looking forward for you to join us in-person for guided wildlife and birding field trips, all-day birding expo with local vendors, kids' activities, live raptor presentations and more!
Stay tuned for updates to enhance your outdoor experience and love of birding. Visit our website for more information and to register for events online.
www.wingsoverwaterbirdingfestival.com
s Renovations on the Drayton Harbor Road home finished in October 2021. Courtesy photo
Jan. 13 - 19, 2022 IN THIS
ISSUE
Community Newspaper of Blaine and
Biden declares flooding a major disaster, page 3
BPD officers wearing body cameras, page 4
Birch Bay
FREE HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
100 kg of meth stopped at Canadian border, page 10
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
King tide floods overcome City council Birch Bay welcomes new councilmembers By Grace Mccart hy
All of Blaine City Council met January 10 for the first time in council chambers since August, when it voted to conduct online meetings until governor Jay Inslee lifted the state mask mandate. Counci l was joined by new council members Kerena Higgins, Rhyan Lopez and Mike Hill. Council voted 5-2 on Mary Lou Steward as its new mayor, with two dissenting votes, Lopez and Hill in favor of Hill as mayor. During her speech after being nominated for mayor, Steward said she had lived in B.C. and worked as an anesthesiologist in L.A. before moving to Blaine. She has served on city council, is an instructor for the community emergency response team and volunteers with Blaine’ s auxiliary communications service that works with the Blaine police department. Hill gave a 10-minute impassioned speech after his nomination about how he’s lived in Blaine his whole life and seeing its development stunted is tired of . Hill criticized council members for never thanking him for his free lawn mowin g service to the city, and condemned lack of communication within the city. Council voted 4-3 for council member Richard May to serve as mayor pro tempo- s King tide, storm pressure and waves re; councilmembers Eric Davidson, Lopez up to 4 feet tall flood south Birch Bay Drive on Januar and Hill voted for Davidso y 7. Read about the floodin n. g on page 2. About a dozen in-person audienc e memPhoto by Grace McCarthy bers left following the vote for mayor. A few members of the public wantin g to speak during public comment and public hearing portions of the meeting attende d the hybrid meeting via Zoom. Patchy audio for virtual participants caused council to briefly recess B y G r a c e M c c a r t h y believe we need a young, its study session before the fresh energetic Sefzik distribu main meeting. voice to represent Whatco ted Covid-19 vaccines while Whatcom County Counci m.” After several procedural l voted 4-2 to working as an operations items, council appoint Sefzik is the youngest current and logistics 22-year-old Simon Sefzik opened the public hearing member coordinator for (R-Fern- of the state for the proposed dale) Nomi Health in Denver, legislature and the youngas state senator for the H Street annexation that 42nd Colora Leg- est senator on record, would continue islative do. District to replace the late said Erik Smith, a the annexation process for According to his resume, Doug spokesperson for two parcels of Ericksen. Sefzik has also the state senate Republand, 3.26 acres at 4455 H volunteered for the Whatco Street and 1.63 lican caucus. “We are not here, in Whatco m County Reacres at 2221 Cedarwood m County, a publican Party since 2013 Lane. Sefzik recently graduated conglomeration of red and and interned in Annexation for the area from Patrick the office blue precincts,” Henry was first pro- Sefzik said of U.S. Congressman Ted College, a private Christi during the meeting. “Instea posed in November 2020, an school County council was in charge Budd. when the 4455 we come d, in Virginia, with a of voting bachelo togethe H Street landowner sent r’s degree in for a new r to help those in need a request to the – whethe state senator after Doug Erickse American politics and policy. r it’s in flood relief or housin n He interned died Decem g for the White House ber 17, 2021, battling a month(See City, page 3) affordability, in homele Coronavirus Task long ssness or crime – Force case of Covidbefore 19. Erickse and give them the suppor being hired full time in n had held a t they deserve. I White the House Management Office. (See Sefzik, page 5) In 2021,
Health officials warn omicr on
By Grace Mccart hy
Whatcom County health official s say the county has not yet reached its peak during the omicron surge, which has already caused Covid-19 to skyrock et to numbers unseen during the nearly two-year pandemic. Dr. Sudhakar Karlapudi, PeaceHealth chief medical officer, said during a January 11 media conference that the Bellingham hospital had its highest number of Covid-19 patients on January 9, with 61
surge has not peaked
patients. This is 19 patient s higher than its 42-patient peak during the delta variant surge in mid-2021. Covid-19 cases are expecte d to peak the end of January or mid-Fe bruary, Dr. Karlapudi said. To prepare for the surge, the hospital has limited proced ures and created more Covid-19 isolatio n areas. “Where we are right now is at a scale that’s like nothing we’ve seen in said Erika Lautenbach, directo the past,” r of Whatcom County Health Depart ment (WCHD). “It pales in comparison.”
County health officials voiced concern that the Covid-19 case numbe rs and hospitalizations did not return to their baseline in late fall, as they should have after the delta surge. New daily case counts in the past two weeks have been around 300-400, nearly triple and quadruple the numbers seen during previous peaks, Lauten bach said. She added these are likely undercounts as more at-home Covid19 tests are (See Omicron, page 6)
INSIDE
Sefzik appointed 42nd Legisla tive District senator
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s Birch Bay resident Matt Skaletsky joined Semiahmoo Resort, Golf and Spa as the new general manager. Skaletsky, who has over 20 years of hospitality experience, last worked as general manager of Hotel Windrow in Ellensburg. He has also worked as general manager of The FINCH boutique hotel in Walla Walla. Skaletsky graduated from Johnson & Wales University in Charleston, South Carolina. Photo courtesy Semiahmoo Resort
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