August 27 - September 2, 2015
FREE
Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
New playground and track surface, page 8
Swimming for children’s heart research, page 13
Back to School
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
End of summer party tips, page 18
It’s crabbing season
2015-2016
Pull-out section on page 9.
Waterslides to add indoor pool The Birch Bay Waterslides is planning to add an indoor pool to its facilities within the next few years. At a meeting of the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce on August 20, Waterslides manager Iain Buchanan announced the plans. Buchanan said 2015 has been the waterslides’ best year on record, and he is hoping to capitalize on that momentum by pushing the project forward. “We’ve had an amazing year, and that gives us new opportunities moving forward,” he said. Adding an indoor pool has been in the works for a few years. Buchanan said he started the permit process about three years ago, a process which is only now approaching completion. Buchanan is looking for feedback from the community to determine how the pool will be used by locals, and how often. Feedback can be relayed by emailing him at iain@birchbaywaterslides.net or calling the waterslides at 371-7500. Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce president Jeff Carrington threw the full support of the chamber behind the idea. Carrington said the indoor pool would be a valuable addition to the community. One of the principal uses for the pool would be swimming lessons. “Our kids need a place to learn to swim,” Carrington said. “It’s been a challenge in the past because of insurance reasons and the budgetary limitations of the parks district, but this is a valuable skill that kids in this community need to learn.” Buchanan has also considered aqua therapy classes for seniors recovering from surgery, and a training space for a Blaine High School swim team. The pool is just the first step in an ambitious plan to refine and expand the waterslides. Buchanan said he hopes to add a hotel and retail space to the facility within the next decade. If all goes well, Buchanan said he will break ground on the new pool by 2017.
s Peter Granata shows off his catch at the Blaine Pier on August 21. He caught the crab using a hotdog stuffed into a Diet Coke can as bait. Crabbing will be a theme of the upcoming Discover Birch Bay Days and Crabfest (read below). For a crab boil recipe, see page 19. Photo by Steve Guntli
Discover Birch Bay Days: New name, new attitude By Steve Guntli The festival formerly known as Discovery Days is returning this weekend, August 29 and 30, with a new name, a new location and new events. The festival, now in its 36th year, has been rebranded as Discover Birch Bay Days and Crab Fest. The Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce is shifting the focus of the festival to highlight local crabbing, while still retaining the old Discovery Days spirit. The festival, which is usually held in July, was moved to late August to take advantage of crabbing season. The festivities will be held at the Birch Bay beach park property at 7930 Birch Bay Drive. The weekend’s festivities begin with the Discovery Day Dash, a short run from The C Shop to the beach park. Runners can register for the race online at birchbaychamber.com.
3N6 NUAL DISCOVER TH
A
The annual parade will immediately follow the race. In keeping with the festival’s new focus, the parade will feature crab-themed floats, costumes and performers. After the parade, take part in the first-ever crab derby, which will offer thousands of dollars in cash prizes. Crabbers can win money for snagging the heaviest crab and the heaviest catch each day. Birch Bay State Park ranger Ted Morris and Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce president Jeff Carrington will be tagging and releasing “money crabs,” which if caught could earn lucky crabbers big money. So far, more than $9,000 has been donated for the crab derby, with more donations coming in each day, Carrington said. “We want to sell ourselves as the best place in the state for crabbing,” Carrington said at a recent Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce meeting.
Saturday will end with a community crab feed from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., where crabbers can partake in their daily catch. On Sunday, the Ducky Derby, a yearly (See Discover, page 3)
Online
thenorthernlight.com facebook.com/thenorthernlight
Inside
Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Coming Up . . . . . . . . . . 15 Tides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
A Weekend of Family Fun!
BIRCH BAY DAYS & CRAB FEST
At Birch Bay Beach Park AUGUST
29 & 30 See page 3 for details! BirchBayChamber.com