The Northern Light_March 15

March 16 - 22, 2017

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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer

IN THIS

ISSUE

MyShan Dairy receives nonGMO certification, page 4

Port awards funding for city project

Blaine students medal in state Special Olympics, page 7

How to care for chicks, page 10

PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230

Wings Over Water NW Birding Festival attracts a crowd

B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e

(See Port, page 2)

s A volunteer with the Sardis Raptor Center participates in a presentation during the Wings Over Water Northwest Birding Festival last weekend. The event brought bird experts and droves of enthusiasts to Blaine and Birch Bay March 10 – 12. See more photos on page 9 and on our website at thenorthernlight.com.

Photo by Chuck Kinzer

Summer program will support kindergarteners

By Oliver Lazenby One challenge that kindergarten teachers at Blaine Primary School face is how to educate kids with a broad range of abilities.

Someone with several years of preschool experience may sit at the same table as someone with no school experience at all; some kids are ready for academic learning, while others don’t know to raise their hands to go to the bathroom, Blaine school district officials said.

To shrink that gap, the district is starting a new summer program that aims to prepare

students for kindergarten. The program, called Bright K, will be taught during a sixweek period from July 10 to August 17. Class will go from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, and the district will provide lunch, supplies and transportation.

“The vision for the program is to build relationships with families, have play-based learning activities and help kids become classroom ready,” said Blaine Primary School principal Nancy Bakarich. “The program will focus on skills like how to sit, how to play, how to win, how to lose: skills that some kids don’t come to kindergarten with.”

WTA route changes take effect this Sunday, March 19 Make sure you hop on the right bus this weekend – the Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) is rolling out new routes and schedules this Sunday, March 19.

The changes come out of a strategic plan approved by WTA’s board of directors last October. The plan added four new routes and made changes to 22 existing routes.

The update includes an increase of service on weekdays through a new route 75 Blaine/Birch Bay – Bellingham. The route will replace the now eliminated 55 Blaine/ Birch Bay – Cordata and the 70X Blaine

– Bellingham/WWU routes. Route 75 will offer service Monday through Saturday, with increased service on weekdays from Birch Bay Square and the Ferndale Station to the Bellingham Station.

WTA will no longer provide service from Blaine and Birch Bay to Grandview Industrial Park, Custer or Western Washington University. Connections to the Cordata Station will be available on route 27 at the Ferndale Station, which connects to route 75.

In Custer, service has been eliminated on

Portal Way, between Birch Bay-Lynden Road and Grandview Road.

For those wishing to learn more about the changes, WTA director of service development Rick Nicholson will visit the Blaine Senior Center at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 19 to answer questions. He’ll present an overview of the changes, discuss the current status of ridership and more.

To get a full look at the approved route and scheduling changes, visit ridewta.com or call 360/676-7433 with questions.

In addition to introducing kids to a classroom environment, students will learn some basic math and literacy skills as well, she said.

District officials are hoping to sign up about 45 kids for the pilot program this summer, which is about one-third of the kindergarten class. The kids will be separated into three classes of 15 students.

The district plans to assess kids as part of the kindergarten enrollment process to find the children who would benefit most from (See School, page 13)

INSIDE

Last week, Blaine joined a handful of cities in Whatcom County to receive thousands of dollars in grant funding from the Port of Bellingham in support of economic development.

The project funding comes from the Port of Bellingham’s small cities economic development program. On March 8, port staff announced $65,000 in funding for Blaine, Lynden, Ferndale and Everson – all cities agreed to match the funds to support economic development projects.

“An important part of the port’s mission is to promote economic development throughout the region,” said port commission president Dan Robbins in a statement. “This program is a terrific resource for the smaller cities of Whatcom County to address local economic development needs.”

The city of Blaine applied for the grant in mid-February and received $15,000.

The grant will pay for the design of an access route on the west side of Peace Portal Drive south of Marine Drive. The goal is to eventually provide delivery and parking access to properties on that side of Peace Portal.

“Consultation with property owners has identified lack of access as a key development hurdle for these properties,” read Blaine’s funding request letter.

“Overcoming the access challenge will facilitate development. Due to the steep topography, vehicle access for deliveries and for on-site parking requires use of the easement.”

Previously, the city was in talks with two property owners who have multiple assets near the existing easement and both expressed interest in using the new alley. In the request letter, mayor Harry Robinson said one of the owners is in the midst of designing a new mixed-use building while the other is in the early conceptual stages of a restaurant project.

Coming Up . . . . . 14 Classifieds . . . . . 11 Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Sports . . . . . . . . . . 6 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14

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2

The Northern Light • March 16 - 22, 2017

Environmental stewardship is part of our business

BP Cherry Point Refinery

BP believes that we can balance providing energy with protecting the environment. That’s why we focus on being good stewards of the 2,500 undeveloped acres around our Cherry Point Refinery. Through our partnership with the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, we’ve helped restore salmon habitat along Terrell Creek where we’re seeing coho salmon return for the first time since the 1940s. We also sponsor their program to teach streamside science to 4th graders throughout Whatcom County. We’ve constructed 220 acres of wetlands, too, that provide critical habitat for a variety of species, including the great blue heron and the red-tailed hawk.

For more on BP’s environmental stewardship efforts in Washington, go to bp.com/Washington

018594_BP WA_10.25x15_Mar.indd 1

3/13/17 5:41 PM

March 16 - 22, 2017 • thenorthernlight.com

Port ...

Voter registration deadline approaches

From page 1

If you plan to vote in the April 25 special election, you have just a few days left to register.

Monday, March 27 is the deadline to update your address or to register online or by mail. Note that all new voters in Washington can register in person through Monday, April 17.

The Port of Bellingham’s matching fund program was created in 2004 and has since awarded more than $650,000 to cities in the county.

Participating cities have matched up more than $1 million and the program has leveraged more than $45 million in capital project funding.

s The Peace Portal west alley project.

Photo courtesy of the city of Blaine

READ IT FIRST.

To register online, visit myvote.wa.gov. All forms sent in through the mail must arrive prior to 4:30 p.m. on March 27. Ballots will be mailed on Wednesday, April 5.

For more information, call the Whatcom County Elections Office at 360/778-5101.

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The Northern Light • March 16 - 22, 2017

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, 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.

MyShan Dairy receives non-GMO certification

s Last week, MyShan Dairy joined select dairy farms in Washington that possess certification from the Non-GMO Project. The farm produces whole milk from Guernsey cattle. “This is another choice for health-conscious consumers, offering a price that fits between conventional milk and organic milk,” said Mylon Smith, r., who owns the farm with his wife and local nurse Shannon, l. The verification process took two years and is only awarded to producer’s products with less than .25 percent GMO content and that feed livestock with less than 5 percent of GMO content food. To learn more about MyShan Dairy, visit myshandairy.com.

Letters

Publisher & Managing Editor Patrick Grubb publisher@thenorthernlight.com Co-publisher & Advertising Director Louise Mugar lmugar@thenorthernlight.com Editor Stefanie Donahue stefanie@pointrobertspress.com Copy Editor Kara Furr kara@pointrobertspress.com Reporter Oliver Lazenby oliver@pointrobertspress.com Creative Services Ruth Lauman, Doug De Visser production@thenorthernlight.com Office Manager Amy Weaver info@thenorthernlight.com Advertising Sales Molly Ernst, Janet McCall Catherine Darkenwald sales@thenorthernlight.com General Editorial Inquiries editor@thenorthernlight.com Contributors Robin Eggenberger, DVM The Northern Light 225 Marine Drive, Suite 200 Blaine, WA 98230 Tel: 360/332-1777 Vol XXII, No 39 Circulation: 10,500 copies

Circulation Independently verified by:

Next issue: March 23 Ads due: March 17

The Editor: This is a call to all those who believe that the city excessively enforces the H Street and Peace Portal Drive stop sign. There are days when rolling stop tickets are written there one right after the other as well as the stop sign just south of U.S. customs on the truck route and no doubt other locations.

I’m all for professional police work, they have a tough job sometimes and I believe in enforcement of the law and keeping the peace.

That said, the day after Christmas, MLK Day and around New Year a particular officer lays in wait and poaches this intersection.

I’ve had customers from out of town tell me they rarely come downtown anymore because of these kinds of ridiculous petty rolling stop tickets. Another customer and I were standing in front of my store watching all the police lights one right after the other and she said, “That can’t be good for business.”

Exactly. It is really bad for business. The day after MLK Day, I had two folks in my shop the entire day. This type of action is helping turn downtown into a ghost town.

I am hoping others show up and speak out protesting this over-aggressive action.

This over-enforcement sends a loud mes-

sage to those visiting our town and is bad for business.

Please show support for a successful downtown and come to the meeting at Blaine council chambers on March 27 at 6 p.m.

Bill Becht Blaine The Editor: It is time someone addressed the entitlement that many, if not most men live under, by their attitude and lack of knowledge.

Would the West ever have been won without women? Who cooked, tended, nurtured and healed the pioneers who had a dream?

Women made those dreams possible.

Few men actually think about how they travel through life, first with a mother, then a wife, then a nurse. Women make life possible, and even enjoyable sometimes.

In our society we do not talk about the trials and tribulations of women, from the physical travails, pain and danger that comes with our biological functions, to the fortitude, strength and character it takes to mother, teach, nurture and even endure, in some circumstances.

It is not male-bashing to want some credit, health care, even fair financial compensation for the jobs we do, for families, society

and the historical progress of this nation.

How dare a male-dominated elite group of legislators call medical care that is affordable and necessary an entitlement? How dare the GOP deny what the scriptures demand? Enough being polite! Outrage is not only deserved, but talk about entitlement!

Donna Starr Blaine The Editor: Save Birch Bay is a group of Whatcom County residents brought together by a shared concern for the quality of life in our area. We appreciate the importance of Cherry Point’s unique ecosystem, both aquatic and upland, and we recognize that the Cherry Point area’s health and diversity have been diminished in our lifetimes. We believe this decline can be reversed.

Longtime Birch Bay residents have noted five substantial Cherry Point fuel spills hitting beaches in the past 45 years, including one where residents were warned to evacuate due to toxic off-gassing from spilled jet fuel. During this time, Cherry Point’s (Continued on next page) Please send letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.

Civic Meetings Birch Bay Water & Sewer District: Second and fourth Thursdays, 4:30 p.m., district offices, 7096 Point Whitehorn Road, Birch Bay. Info: bbwsd.com.

Birch Bay Watershed & Aquatic Resources Management District: Third Wednesday, 6 p.m., location varies. Info: bbwarm.whatcom county.org.

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

Blaine Parks Board: Third Thursday, 9:30 a.m., Blaine City Council chambers, 435 Martin Street. Info: 360/332-8311, ext. 3330.

Blaine Planning Commission: Second and fourth Thursdays, 7 p.m., Blaine City Council chambers, 435 Martin Street. Info: blainepc@ cityofblaine.com.

Blaine School Board: Fourth Monday, 7 p.m., Blaine school district offices. Info: blaine.wednet.edu.

Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation: Second Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., Birch Bay Chamber Office, 7900 Birch Bay Drive, Birch Bay. Info: blainebirchbayparkandrec.org.

North Whatcom Fire & Rescue: Third Thursday, 7 p.m. Blaine Fire Station. Info: nwfrs.net.

5

March 16 - 22, 2017 • thenorthernlight.com (Continued from previous page) herring, salmon and migrant bird populations have severely declined.

The Cherry Point amendments to the Comprehensive Plan proposed by councilmember Carl Weimer (identified as “Proposal – Council Resolution”) offer much-needed protections to support a rehabilitation of this critical ecosystem.

Cherry Point is important historically, culturally and spiritually to the Coast Salish people, and we support the Lummi Nation’s interest in protecting that area. Our nation must honor the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott.

We would like to see language in the Comprehensive Plan declaring that Whatcom County does not support additional piers at Cherry Point.

We also would like county policy strengthened to protect against piecemeal expansions that could violate the Marine Mammal Protection Act, specifically the Magnusson Amendment. In recent years the county has allowed expansion of oil by rail at Cherry Point without any study or adequate citizen input. This is not acceptable policy.

We support the proposed policy that directs the county to complete, in 2017, a study to examine existing county laws, including those related to public health, safety, development, building, zoning, permitting, electrical, nuisance and fire codes, and to develop recommendations for legal ways the county can work to limit unrefined fossil fuel exports from the Cherry Point UGA to levels in existence as of July 5, 2016.

Rick Hann Birch Bay The Editor: Blaine school district boasts zero tolerance policies against bulling, holds assemblies featuring the Mad Hatter who educates on cyber and other types of bullying, displays posters galore of anti-bullying propaganda, yet there in no action and no consequences for it time after time.

A recent example is a 10-yearold boy being bullied by a 10-yearold girl. This girl is verbally and physically assaultive, leaving bruises and marks, challenges him to meet her at the flag pole to fight, and more. It has been repeatedly brought to the school staff’s attention who have only told this girl she needs to stop hurting his feelings. This boy’s mother now has to go higher up the chain of command to involve the superintendent due to negligent inaction.

My own daughter was involved in an altercation with a girl who was bullying her and when this girl punched her and left a bruise on her face I didn’t even receive

a call and there was no in-school consequence whatsoever.

The boy has been taught that is unacceptable to put your hands on another person in anger and he has not retaliated at any point. Yet this girl is told to stop hurting his feelings and that is it? Her parents are not made aware of the events either. That means a place where “zero tolerance” on bullying and violent behavior in school is supposed to be a top priority is teaching these kids that although they have this rule they are not protected by it, and that people are above the rules and will not be held accountable.

In our current world we need to teach these kids that they are not above the rules, that hurting others is unacceptable and will not go unpunished, because what does that show these young people about violence and consequence?

Nothing. These kids need to be held accountable or this generation is doomed to the entitlement syndrome.

You had one job, Blaine schools.

Let’s get it together and follow through. It’s your job to do this for these kids, because without these kids, you wouldn’t have a job!

Wendy Owens Blaine The Editor: Whatcom County Council has been contemplating changing the ordinance that allows for homeowners to inspect their own onsite sewage (OSS) systems. Our county has done a huge amount of work to lower fecal coliform bacteria levels in the Nooksack River and lowland tributaries so shellfish can be safely harvested in Portage Bay. I’ve never understood why homeowners should be allowed to inspect their own OSS systems.

Think about it. In order to install a septic system, a property owner must receive a county permit.

Only a licensed OSS installer is allowed to install the system, so why isn’t certification also required for inspecting it?

In cities, sewage is treated in wastewater treatment plants.

These are designed by engineers, and require a permit that’s issued and regularly updated by the department of ecology. Operators of these facilities must be certified.

The purpose of OSS systems and wastewater treatment plants are the same: to process human waste so it doesn’t cause disease.

Homeowners simply are not qualified to ensure these systems operate properly. If you add up all of the 14,174 OSS systems in the Nooksack watershed, their total pollution risk approaches that of a small city.

Close to 100 Whatcom County dairies are regulated by Washington State Department of Agriculture, and are required to gain

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coverage under a strict new state department of ecology permit that will help ensure pollution from farms is not entering surface water. Some dairy farmers have also joined with Lummi Nation in the Portage Bay Partnership to take exceptional measures to ensure water quality.

These efforts in the agricultural community address this concern: only 20 percent of monitoring sites along our lowland streams in the Nooksack River watershed achieve water quality standards for disease-causing fecal coliform bacteria.

Given the risks and pollution here, does it make sense to allow homeowners the privilege of inspecting their own on-site sewage systems? No. This is a complex problem: ensuring clean water for our community requires that all of us be part of the solution. Please contact your county council members and demand they amend the OSS ordinance so homeowner OSS inspections are no longer allowed.

Pam Borso Custer

360-393-3658

www.BirchBayTaxAndAccounting.com • 8105 Birch Bay Square Street

•

Suite 102

The Editor: Hopefully when the berm around Birch Bay and roadway get restored, people again can park and enjoy the bay sights with its colorful sunsets. The bay is the shallowest bay on the West Coast.

That makes it ideal for wading and exploring for sea creatures.

Once complete, there should be restroom facilities and trash barrels provided to keep the beach clean. New Year’s Eve with its “Ring of Fire” around the bay is awesome, sponsored by a local realtor. Birch Bay has been the place to go for generations.

Earl Erickson Blaine

CITY OF BLAINE Unless noted, all meetings are held at City Hall, 435 Martin Street, Suite 4000 and are open to the public.

Thursday, March 23, 7 pm

Planning Commission meeting Regulation of storage containers Public Hearing - Request to modify Islamic Center of Blaine Condition of Approval Monday, March 27, 6 pm

City Council meeting

Tuesday, April 4, 3 pm

Blaine Economic Development Advisory Committee meeting Thursday, April 6, 10 am

Public Works Advisory Committee meeting Location: PW Office 1200 Yew Ave. Monday, April 10, 6 pm

City Council meeting

Tuesday, April 11, 8 am

Blaine Tourism Advisory Committee meeting

The Editor: U.S. PASSPORTS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY Call (360) 332-8311 or visit our website.

Once or twice a week, I arrive back to Blaine via the truck route www.cityofblaine.com exit off I-5. There is a growing collection of garbage right at the curve on the off-ramp, including a large display of plastic gallon jugs full of urine from, I presume, the truckers using this off-ramp.

It is disgusting to view! Who do they think is going to come collect their urine samples and dispose • of U.S. green cards / naturalization • U.S. green cards / naturalization them?

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truckers to have their DNA on file and we can do a dip test to find out who is unable to throw away their own pee at one of the many gas stations along that stretch of road.

Add this to the few semi drivers who find it necessary to run through the yellow lights while going full speed at the intersection of H Street, where the wall creates a blind spot for those waiting at the light, and they are not making a very good impression. Any suggestions from the local authorities on how to deal with these issues?

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The Northern Light • March 16 - 22, 2017

Sports After a taste of success, Borderites baseball is hungry for more

By Oliver Lazenby Last year, Blaine’s varsity baseball team made it deep into the playoffs and earned a 15–10 record. That success apparently created a lot of interest in Blaine’s baseball program, because 38 kids tried out this year – that’s up from 25 last year.

“You can feel how excited the kids are,” said head coach Sean Linville. “We have a lot of guys back from that team and I think they’re excited to try to do that again. You can definitely feel a confidence level with the kids that we haven’t felt before.”

The Borderites’ chances of making it back to the playoff’s look good. They have three returning seniors – including Anthony Ball and Jalen Kortlever, who have played on varsity since their freshman year – as well as a senior who transferred and a senior who played junior varsity last year. Juniors and sophomores, most of

whom played varsity last year, round out the team.

Linville is back as head coach after taking a two-year hiatus to spend more time watching his daughter’s baseball games. Larry Hoffman, head coach for the past two years, is still with the team as assistant coach. The duo has coached together for 13 years, starting in Ferndale and coming to Blaine five years ago.

The team has some important holes to fill, including one left by Jon Starcer who graduated last year after three years as a starting pitcher. He was vital to the Borderites’ playoff success last year, pitching several complete and nearly perfect games.

“We have a lot of pitchers, we just don’t have the proven guy like he was,” Linville said. “That will definitely be the initial question mark.”

Jon Gunderson will likely pitch a lot. Gunderson had a solid performance last year as a sophomore

and earned a couple of wins in the playoffs. Brandon Watts, a transfer from Wisconsin who Linville said looks impressive so far, will also likely get a lot of time on the mound.

Another question is how well Kai Nagle will take to playing catcher. Nagle is learning the position to replace Brendan Riddle, who graduated last year.

“He’s probably the hardest-working guy we have,” Linville said.

“He’s taken on the challenge of learning a new position and I think he’s ready to go.”

Last year, the Borderites often struggled to get on base. This year, the team has competent hitters throughout the lineup, Linville said.

“Oftentimes in high school baseball you have three or four good hitters, and you bide your time until they get back up again,” Linville said. “Our lineup is deep, and that’s hard for other teams to deal with.

That will be a real strength for us.”

Blaine’s surge in baseball participation comes at a time when baseball is losing ground to other sports.

In the last two decades, the growth in high school baseball participation hasn’t kept pace with

s Sean Linville is back as varsity basketball head coach after a twoyear break.

Photo by Oliver Lazenby population growth, and participation has even declined some years, according to data from the National Federation of State High School Associations’ annual athletic participation survey.

Blaine’s big turnout means the Borderites will have three teams for the first time in at least a decade, said school district athletic director Wayne Vezzetti.

That’s not typical for schools in

the Northwest Conference, Linville said.

“There are schools in our conference that are really good baseball schools that aren’t fielding three steams anymore,” Linville said.

“High turnout tends to be a product of success. We’ve struggled through some tough times and it’s exciting to see some of the fruits of our labor.”

NOTICE OF FLUSHING Chuckanut Rugby on the lookout for players

The City of Blaine Water Division started flushing the City's water distribution system. This is accomplished by opening hydrants along the system (starting at the well fields) to move fresh water throughout the distribution system.

The purpose of flushing the system is to remove any grit and debris in order to improve water quality through the distribution system.

During the city flushing program city water customers may experience a temporary low water pressure and/or cloudiness when flushing is going on. The cloudiness condition (caused by air) should be only temporary, and can be cleared by running a cold water tap for a few minutes to clean and flush your service line. If the condition continues for an extended period of time please contact the Blaine Public Works.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation. If you have any questions, feel free to call Public Works at 332-8820.

Leroy Dougall, Blaine Public Works.

We are known for being ultra-gentle with our patients! s Ferndale-based Chuckanut Rugby is trying to grow its mini rugby program. For more information, go to chuckanutrugby.com. Photo courtesy of Chuckanut Rugby

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March 16 - 22, 2017 • thenorthernlight.com

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Class of 2015 Blaine graduate Taylor V’Dovec was selected to the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) all-conference first team for her standout basketball season at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

V’Dovec led the league in field-goal percentage, was fifth in points per game and field goals, sixth in total points, seventh in blocks and ninth in rebounds and rebounds per game.

MIT went to the quarter finals of the NEWMAC tournament in February, where it lost to Smith College.

The conference also named V’Dovec Offensive Athlete of the Week earlier in the season, and the New England Women’s Basketball Association placed her on its Player of the Week honor roll several times throughout the season.

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s Taylor V’Dovec in a game at Blaine High School in 2015.

Photo by Janell Kortlever

Blaine students medal in state winter Special Olympics

s From l., Ryker Reneau, coach Leslie Dykstra, coach Amber Burling and Nathan Skinner. Reneau and Skinner won medals in the basketball individual skills competition at the state winter Special Olympics on March 4.

Photo courtesy of Tana Reneau

By Oliver Lazenby Two Blaine athletes won medals in the individual basketball skills competition at the Washington State Winter Special Olympics in Wenatchee on March 4.

Sixth-grader Ryker Reneau took home a silver medal in his age group and 10th-grader Nathan Skinner won a bronze medal.

Both students qualified after winning won gold medals in the same event at the regional competition in February at Stanwood High School. The individual skills competition consists of three events – passing, shooting and dribbling.

“It’s just really powerful to see them get the opportunity to compete against other athletes,” said Amber Burling, a life skills teacher at Blaine High School and Skinner’s coach. “The event so closely parallels how the Olympics actually work. It’s so cool to watch them hold their heads high.”

“Up to 12% of household water bills are based on easy to fix leaks.”

Fix a Leak Week March 2017 March 20-26, 17-23, 2014 Sponsored by: City of Blaine and Birch Bay Water & Sewer

7

8

The Northern Light • March 16 - 22, 2017

Car Care WHATCOM

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The next free leak inspection

workshop that takes place close to home lasts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 15 at Bellingham Technical College, located at 3028 Lindbergh Avenue.

The Don’t Drive and Drip program partners with community colleges and some high schools to offer workshops in Seattle,

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Everett, Marysville, Lakewood, Shoreline and Renton in addition to Bellingham. The workshops are taught by certified automotive instructors and feature a lesson on basic vehicle maintenance.

The maintenance lesson spans about an hour and the rest of the time is spent working directly with vehicles. Participants learn how to check basic car systems including fluids, belts, hoses and filters. On-site professionals will also conduct a free vehicle inspection. Participants are given a free vehicle maintenance check kit that includes a drip test sheet, fluid test strips, a funnel, an absorbent pad, tire pressure gauge and more.

The Don’t Drive and Drip campaign is organized by a steering committee and receives support from state, local and nonprofit agencies. According to figures presented by the Don’t Drive and Drip program, an estimated 7 million quarts of vehicle fluids leak into the Puget Sound watershed each year.

Only 15 people can participate in the workshop at a time, so be sure to register early at fixcarleaks.org. Still have questions? Contact Justine Asohmbom with the Department of Ecology at 425/649-7108 or by email at justine.asohmbom@ecy.wa.gov.

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March 16 - 22, 2017 • thenorthernlight.com

9

A look at Wings Over Water (Continued from page 1)

s Viewers listen to a presentation from the Sardis Raptor Center.

Photo by Wayne Diaz

Build your own home on beautiful property in Blaine.

s Kids learn about the varieties of flowers that attract birds. Participants took home their own seeds.

Photo by Heidi Holmes

Over 600 homes built through our Federal program.

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10

Pet Care

The Northern Light • March 16 - 22, 2017

Tips and products for a healthier, happier pet!

Veterinarian offers recommendations to properly care for newborn chicks

By Robin Eggenberger, d o c t o r o f v e t e r i n a ry

Kulshan V e t e r i n a ry H o s p i ta l

m e d i c i n e at

Springtime is always special for poultry enthusiasts. Winter is over and it is time to start a new year with some new chicks.

If you are considering ordering chicks from a hatchery, get your chicks vaccinated for Marek’s Disease. Chicks can usually be vaccinated for less than 50 cents just after they have hatched and will arrive to you with the vac-

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Marek’s Disease, also known as Visceral Leukosis or fowl/range paralysis is caused by a herpes virus. Just like other herpes viruses, once you get it, it never goes away.

Chickens are most commonly affected; however, there have been reports of infection in turkeys, quail, pheasants and game fowl.

The most commonly affected are chicks between 12 and 25 weeks old. I have personally seen it in birds over one year. Once you have become well attached and have invested a lot of time and feed into your young birds, Marek’s will hit and it is truly heartbreaking. Unfortunately, the virus is prevalent everywhere in the environment and it is almost impossible to control.

If you start to see 12- to 25-week-old chicks displaying an inability to raise or use their

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wings, a lack of muscle control or ataxia (walking somewhat drunken-like), emaciation, blindness or partial paralysis, be thinking about Marek’s.

The disease is a type of avian cancer and the tumors affect nerves, eyes, feather follicles and many internal organs. In the later stages of infection, chicks will have pale, scaly combs, be very thin and have green diarrhea.

Marek’s is spread by inhaling the virus in contaminated feather dander as well as by excretions from infected chickens. Thankfully, it will not infect humans.

Since there is no treatment and it is difficult to control, vaccination at hatching is a great option.

As long as the chicks make appropriate immunologic protection after the vaccine has been given, you may get to bypass the losses from this disease.

In a sense, there is a race going on in your chicks – will they gain enough protection from the vaccine before the virus infects them? Or, will the virus attack them before they have time to develop protection? Most feel it is better to vaccinate than not to.

Just like with any viral disease, stress can play a large part in inciting the disease.

To help your chicks be as strong as they can be, provide adequate heat and ventilation. During the first week, the brooder should

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feed to help ward off the parasitic disease Coccidiosis.

Have a fecal analysis performed by a veterinary laboratory that knows how to identify poultry parasites. Reducing the load of parasites reduces the stress which could help to improve overall chick health and immunity thus reducing Marek’s incidence.

Purchasing Marek’s vaccine is possible, but usually it is sold in quantities for vaccinating thousands of chicks at a time and should only be done on one-dayold chicks by those who know how to administer vaccines. Ordering vaccines as a large group sometimes works, but remember, all chicks need to be day-old in order to vaccinate, or else you are wasting your time and money as the chicks will get exposure to the virus early in their life.

Springtime should be a fun time with re-birth and the sound of new chicks peeping in your brooder. Having your chicks vaccinated for Marek’s before you purchase and performing some simple tasks will keep your chicks strong and healthy and allow you to enjoy the fun and benefits of raising new chicks.

For a selection of poultry information, visit articles.extension.org.

be at 95–98 degrees and then reduced by 5 degrees each week.

Do not overcrowd your chicks and provide multiple feeding and water stations so that as they get older and are establishing a pecking order the chicks lower on that order will still have plenty of food and water. Avoid introducing new chicks or poultry into your flock until you have had at least four weeks of quarantine.

Consider becoming a National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) certified flock. The program stems from a partnership between state and federal departments of agriculture and helps to ensure that poultry and poultry products are free of disease. Learn more at poultryimprovement.org.

As a chick owner, be sure to provide a high quality starter formula feed. I prefer medicated

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on page 12

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12

The Northern Light • March 16 - 22, 2017

Real Estate UNOBSTRUCTED WATER VIEW

SEMIAHMOO RENTAL!

7714 Birch Bay Dr. #102 $229,900

8627 Blue Grouse Way $2100/mo. rent

4-BR, 2.5-BA. Curved streets, lush plantings, parklike gated community. Open kitchen/ living area. Master suite on main. 3 addl bdrms & game rm on 2nd floor. Central vac. Front & side porches add to outdoor living.

OPE

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UNOBSTRUCTED PANORAMIC BIRCH BAY VIEW

6939 Holeman Ave. $500,000

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7463 Sunset Dr. $469,000

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realestate/rentals estate/rentals advertisAllAllreal advertising in this ing in thisisnewspaper subject newspaper subject to theisFederal Fair Housing of 1968Fair as amended, to the Act Federal Housingwhich Act makes it illegal to advertise preferof 1968 as amended, which makes any it illegal limitationany or discrimination based on race, color, toence, advertise preference, limitation or disreligion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, crimination based on race, color, religion, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation sex, handicap, familial status or orior discrimination.

This newspaper willnational not knowingly gin, or any an intention to make such prefaccept advertisement for realany estate which is in erence, discrimination.

This violation oflimitation the law. Ourorreaders are hereby informed that all dwellings in this newspaper are newspaper will advertised not knowingly accept any available on an equal opportunity To complain advertisement for real estatebasis. which is in vi-of discrimination, at 1-800-877-0246. olation of the call law.HUD Ourtoll-free readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll-free at 1-800-877-0246.

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March 16 - 22, 2017 • thenorthernlight.com

Habitat project in Birch Bay nears completion Just a few months ago, folks with Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County were giddy with excitement to announce the first build day at a property on Leeside Drive in Birch Bay. Thanks to the help of volunteers, a local family of seven is likely to move into their new home in just a matter of months – well ahead of schedule.

“Remember when I said we were hoping to get the family in by the time school starts again in the fall? Yeah, that’s definitely going to happen,” said Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County publicist Holly Harkener in an email.

“They’ll be in before school’s even out this summer, most likely.”

Julio Ortiz, his wife Juana Mendoza and their five kids had to wait nearly four years to receive a permit to start construction on the property. Before they put hammer to nail, the family completed 500 hours of labor at the organization by assisting at stores or on local builds.

Families who participate in the

program are required to put down $500 on the home, which is purchased from Habitat for Humanity at cost. The organization finances the home loan at 0 percent interest.

So far, staff and volunteers have constructed the foundation, structure and roof of the home, Harkener said. This week, they’ll begin installing siding.

If you’re interested in lending a hand, Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County is hosting a Build Community Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 8 at the property on 7535 Leeside Drive.

Volunteers will help with cleanup and other small projects throughout the surrounding neighborhood. The event is sponsored by the Whatcom Community Foundation’s Project Neighborly and offers a catered lunch from Paso Del Norte as well as a Q&A with executive director John Moon.

To participate, call 360/7159170 ext. 1016 or volunteer@hfh-

s Volunteers work at the Leeside Drive property.

Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity

whatcom.org.

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity in Whatcom County, visit hfhwhatcom.org.

13

Blaine duo joins the Big Climb

s Blaine family doctor Marta Kazymyra and her grandson A.J. Telles are participating in the 31st annual Big Climb to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on Sunday, March 26 at the Columbia Tower in Seattle. They’ll join a team of 60 climbers with the goal of finding a cure for blood cancers. This will be the fifth climb for Kazymyra and her grandson. To donate, visit bigclimb.org or drop off a check to Kazymyra’s office at Bay Medical Clinic, at 377 C Street, Blaine.

Photo courtesy of Marta Kazymyra

Online fundraiser garners an outpouring of support for Blaine family B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e While 11-year-old Brayden Large anxiously awaits brain surgery in April, folks from around the community are offering him and his family a helping hand. In just 24 hours, dozens stepped forward last week and donated more than $2,000 to help cover expenses.

Family friend Melissa McCarty launched a fundraising campaign on a website called YouCaring in early March under the header “Brayden’s Brain Battle.” At press time, 43 people had donated a total of $3,000 toward the $10,000 goal and 380 people had shared the campaign on Facebook since the campaign was launched.

“We’re ready to have this done,” said Brayden’s mother, Jessica Large. “We appreciate everybody who’s helped.”

For the last two years, Brayden has battled powerful headaches and has struggled with concen-

tration, coordination and vision, Jessica said. At first, she and her husband Jeff connected the symptoms to a concussion he received playing hockey in April. However, the symptoms worsened after he got sick last year.

Soon after, she took Brayden in to his family doctor in Lynden who called for an MRI. In December, he was diagnosed with a pineal cystic tumor, located at the center of his brain.

Cystic tumors are often benign and are sometimes found in parts of the brain that do not impact vital functions. With that in mind, the doctor recommended waiting six months before going in for another scan to detect potential growth. But that wasn’t enough, Jessica said.

“He had something in his brain that didn’t belong,” she said. “I knew in my gut it wasn’t OK.” After receiving the news, Jessica embarked on an investigation of her own and found that pineal

s Bellingham school district starts its Promise K program for kindergarteners in 2013.

Photo courtesy of Bellingham Public Schools

School ...

From page 1

Bright K. “Until we get the majority of our kids enrolled, we aren’t really going to know who is most in need of that support,” said district superintendent Ron Spanjer.

The district estimated that the program would cost $32,000. That

money is coming from state and federal funding for special education and Title 1 programs. That funding is carried over from last year’s budget. If the program is successful this summer, the district will try to fund it permanently.

District officials anticipate that it could be tough to get enough kids enrolled to make the program worthwhile.

“A lot of times good ideas have a

cysts are common and often undetected. According to a report from the American Brain Tumor Association, pineal cysts are found in 1 to 4 percent of people undergoing an MRI for other reasons.

Jessica’s research led her to multiple Facebook groups dedicated to the topic of brain cysts and pediatric care. There, she met several people with similar experiences to Brayden and eventually was given the recommendation to pursue surgery with Houston, Texas-based neurosurgeon Dr. Dong H. Kim. Unsure if Dr. Kim would take Brayden on as a patient, they flew to Houston to meet with him in February. Without hesitation he agreed to perform the surgery, Jessica said. Brayden will be Dr. Kim’s youngest patient to date to undergo the procedure.

Ultimately, Jessica, Jeff and their two girls Meghan, age 10, and Ella, 7, just want things back to normal for Brayden, she said. While the

surgery is expected to take him out of school for six months up to a year, he’s been struggling to attend as it is. He’s also been forced to suspend extracurricular activities like hockey, she explained.

“We’re lucky if he goes to school two days out of the week,” she said. “It’s been really rough.”

Jeff works as a warehouse supervisor at Phillips 66 and Jessica works from home as a regional director of online retailer Thirty-One Gifts. The flexible hours allow her to stay at home with Brayden.

Moving forward, Brayden anticipates the day when he can put the surgery behind him.

“It sucks,” he said. “I’m gonna get this sucker out.”

For those interested in donating, the online YouCaring page is accepting donations at youcaring. com/braydenlarge-770858.

The Large family is also accepting donations at Whatcom Educational Credit Union (WECU). Checks

little harder time gaining traction if they take place in the summer,” Spanjer said.

Bakarich said the district will reach out to local preschools and daycares and recruit students during kindergarten registration. However, that might not reach all the children who would benefit most from the program.

“The one group that we’re still brainstorming how to reach is those who aren’t in a daycare or preschool and don’t come and register before June is out,” Bakarich said. “They show up at our doorstep in the fall and we didn’t know about them and we could have supported them.”

Similar programs are popping up throughout the country to target the co-called “achievement gap” between the most proficient and least proficient students. Research shows that resources for closing that gap are most effective early on, as the gap starts before children begin kindergarten and doesn’t grow much

while kids are in school.

“Part of what we’re seeking to accomplish is getting them that support early so that they have a more significant opportunity to hit the ground running when the school year starts,” Spanjer said.

The Bright K Program is partially modeled after the Bellingham school district’s Promise K program, which started in 2013.

Promise K has served as a model for several other school districts in the state, and Bellingham School officials are pleased with the program so far, said Kristi Dominguez, Early Childhood Education director for Bellingham school district.

“It’s having a lot of success,” she said. “I have story after story of parents telling us what a significant difference this made.”

Dominguez is working with Blaine school staff to help start the Bright K program.

“I’m just super excited for the families in the Blaine community,” Dominguez said. “They’re being incredibly thoughtful in what the focus of their program is.”

s Brayden Large can be written to Jessica Large with the notation “for Brayden’s donation.”

Lizzie’s Cafe, located at 1700 Peace Portal Drive, will also donate half of all proceeds to the family for all fish dishes sold on Saturday, April 8 between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m.

“I just felt like I really wanted to help them,” said owner Liz Stacy.

“It’s just a really great family.”

Spring Business Showcase takes place March 16 The 10th annual Spring Business Showcase takes place from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 16 at the Silver Reef Casino event center, located at 4876 Haxton Way in Ferndale.

Hosted by the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce, the free tradeshow aims to foster a connection between local businesses and the community.

Event attendees will have the chance to view exhibits and product demonstrations and participate in various prize drawings. Free samples, coupons and other promotional materials will also be up for grabs.

Silver Reef Casino, Print and Copy Factory and the KGMI/Cascade Radio Group help to sponsor the event each year. To learn more about the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce and Industry, visit bellingham.com.

14

The Northern Light • March 16 - 22, 2017

Coming up

Police Reports March 10, 3:03 p.m.: Officers responded along with aid units to the 200 block of Martin Street for a man reported to be suffering from alcohol poisoning. The man was found to have a department of corrections warrant, but due to his extenuating medical condition he was transported to the hospital instead of jail.

March 11, 12:36 a.m.: Blaine Police responded to a disturbance in the 600 block of A Street. The reporting party requested police check a neighboring residence where they heard loud shouting from children. Police spoke with the resident who advised he was having trouble getting his children to bed, and they had been yelling at him about wanting to stay up and watch cartoons.

The children did not appear to be in, or have been in, any distress and were happily watching cartoons when police spoke with them. No criminal actions were observed.

March 11, 1:54 a.m.: Blaine Police responded to the 1300 block of Boblett Street to check on the welfare of a woman sleeping in her car. The woman was hard asleep but was eventually awakened from her slumber. The woman explained that she had been up all day and ran out to get snacks when she was overcome with exhaus-

tion. The woman was alert and his home. An officer arrived embarrassed about the inci- and determined the rounds had dent. Alcohol was not a factor. not been fired. There were no March 12, 9:30 a.m.: A man used shell casings in the area. called police to report an ag- The residents of the home were gressive dog in his neighbor- relieved to hear this. hood. The man said the dog March 14, 11:30 p.m.: Offifrequently wanders the streets. cers were dispatched to a local Today the dog barked and motel for a noise complaint. charged at an elderly woman. The caller said it sounded like Fearing for the woman’s safety, to large elephants were banging the man called police. Police around in the upstairs room. contacted the owner of the dog Officers arrived and found two who said she is trying to find very intoxicated brothers who a new home for the energetic decided to have a late night escapee, who has proven to be WWE Championship-style too much for their family and match inside the motel room. for its small yard. The own- Even after bionic elbows, cacer will be cited for allowing a tus clotheslines and flying foredog at large, and the case will arm smashes, no injuries were be forwarded to the Whatcom obtained by either participant.

Humane Society.

Both were actually quite proud March 12, 3:20 p.m.: Offi- of their time in the ring. The cers responded to a physical room however had both beds domestic dispute in progress in pulled away from the walls a parking lot. Officers arrived and clothes strewn about, eviand spoke with the victim as dence that the noise complaint well as several witnesses. Prob- had been valid. No arrests were able cause was established for made on this contact as both the arrest of the victim’s hus- brothers were very adamant the band. The suspect was arrested wrestling had been all in fun. and transported to Whatcom However, one of the brothers County Jail. had an outstanding warrant March 12, 3:57 p.m.: A man through Seattle PD. The cocalled police after possibly operative 29-year-old wanted finding bullet casings in the warrior traded the WWE for street near his home. The man WCJ [Whatcom County Jail]. heard loud noises the previous This report is provided by the night and then found the bul- Blaine police department. A full listlets in the daylight and thought ing of the week’s police report can be someone had tried to shoot at found at thenorthernlight.com.

Crossword

ACROSS 1. Island rings 5. Cut, maybe 9. Perry Como’s “___ Loves Mambo” 13. Money in the bank, say 15. Kosher ___ 16. “Our Time in ___” (10,000 Maniacs album) 17. Flat 18. Acquire 19. Perlman of “Cheers” 20. Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930-74 23. In-flight info, for short 24. “A jealous mistress”: Emerson 25. ___-cochere (carriage entrance) 28. To listen again 31. Exchange (2 wds) 33. Parenthesis, essentially 34. Cow, maybe 35. “20,000 Leagues” harpooner ___ Land 36. Battleship with high caliber guns

40. Not just “a” 42. Be in session 43. Caribbean, e.g.

44. An end result 47. Smaller 51. Form of belief involving sorcery 52. Flipper 53. Artist’s asset 54. Volunteer street guard near schools 59. Buddy 61. Make, as money 62. “Sesame Street” Muppet 63. ___ vera 64. “... or ___!”

65. Pirate’s pal 66. Beach bird 67. After deductions (var. spelling) 68. Ditch

34.

36.

37.

38.

39.

40.

41.

45.

46.

47.

48.

49.

50.

52.

55.

56.

57.

58.

59.

60.

4. Unload, as stock 5. Garden tools 6. Gave out 7. Hip bones 8. Anchovy containers 9. Era 10. Follower 11. ___ Dee River 12. “___ Ng” (They

Might Be Giants song) 14. Golf ball support 21. It bites 22. Marienbad,

for one 26. 20-20, e.g.

27. Armageddon 29. Ring bearer, maybe 30. “___ we having

fun yet?”

31. Couple 32. To utilize again Queen, maybe Smoke _________ Conk out “___ lost!”

Pillbox, e.g. “___ bad!”

Airline’s home base To lean or sway to one side “Look here!”

Small Old World finch Shack (hyphenated) Nests of large birds Fly-by-night?

Blue-ribbon position Caught in the act Ad headline Beauty ___-Altaic languages “Welcome” site A pint, maybe

DOWN 1.

2.

3.

One who cracks a whip Heir’s concern “Four Essays on Liberty” author Berlin

FIND CROSSWORD ANSWERS AT THENORTHERNLIGHT.COM

Tides March17–March 23 at Blaine.

Not for navigation.

49° 0’ 0”N - 122° 46’ 0”W

DATE TIME HEIGHT TIME HEIGHT Fr 17 3:02 am 4.2 8:52 am 8.3

3:41 pm 1.9 10:25 pm 7.6

Sa 18 3:44 am 5.0 9:20 am 8.0

4:23 pm 1.8 11:29 pm 7.4

Su 19 4:32 am 5.7 9:50 am 7.7

5:13 pm 1.8

Mo 20 12:43 am 7.4 5:34 am 6.1

10:26 am 7.4 6:07 pm 1.7

7th Street Community Garden Plots Available: 12’ x 20’ in-ground plots available, $12 rental. Reservation forms are online at ci.blaine.wa.us.

Search 7th Street Community Garden, click on Reservation request and User Agreement (at top of page) and fill in form. Printed forms at City Hall.

Info: gardenmanager@cityofblaine.com.

Lynden Craft & Antique Show: Thursday and Friday, March 16 and 17, 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Saturday, March 18, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Shop from over 100 vendors featuring handcrafts, home décor, gourmet foods, vintage, unique gifts and repurposed treasures. Info: lyndencraftantiqueshow.com.

Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce: Thursday, March 16, noon, CJ’s Beach House, 7878 Birch Bay Drive. Topic: Marketing Your Business 101. Info: birchbaychamber.com.

Spring Business Showcase: Thursday, March 16, 3–8 p.m., Silver Reef Casino event center, 4876 Haxton Road, Ferndale. business to consumer exhibits, product demonstrations, prize drawings, free parking, free admission tickets, tasty food samples and wine and beer tasting.

St. Patrick’s Day at Paso: Friday, March 17, Paso del Norte, 758 Peace Portal Drive. Food and drink specials in the bar. Live music by Silver City Band at 7 p.m. Info: 332-4045.

Tree Sale: Saturday, March 18, 10 a.m.–noon. 15 species $1 each. Whatcom County Farm Forestry Assn. at Henry Jansen Ag Center, NW Washington Fairgrounds, Lynden. Info: 671-6988.

Succulent Wreath Class: Saturday, March 18, drop-in between 10 a.m.–4 p.m., VW’s Home & Garden, 8210 Portal Way. Make beautiful wreaths or planters. Prices of wreath forms, moss and succulents apply.

Info: vwhomeandgarden.com.

Jazz Celebration IX: Saturday, March 18, 6:30–8:30 p.m., First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham. Free. Suggested donation $15 – tax deductible.

Ragtime/Boogie-woogie Pianist Bob Milne: Saturday, March 18, 7:30 p.m., Blaine PAC. Enjoy music by this world-renowned pianist. Tickets at brownpapertickets.com/event/2725008 or at the door.

State Parks Free Day: Sunday, March 19, Washington State Parks. Visit state parks for free for Washington State Parks’ 104th birthday. Info: discoverpass.wa.gov.

Irish Stew Dinner: Saturday, March 19, 4:30–7 p.m., Custer United Methodist Church, 2996 Main Street, Custer. Adults $9, Kids 6–12 $6, under 6 free. Info: 366-5181.

Annual Native Plant Sale: Saturday, March 25, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., Whatcom Community College, Bellingham. Low-cost, native plants. Roughly 40 species of native, bare-root, conservation-grade trees and shrubs plus potted perennials are available at a great price. Info: whatcomcd.org/plant-sale.

All About Roses Class: Saturday, March 25, 10 a.m., VW’s Home & Garden, 8210 Portal Way. Learn about growing roses in the Northwest, new care techniques, question and answers. Info: vwhomeandgarden.com.

Emergency Preparedness Expo: Saturday, March 25, 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Blaine Pavilion, 763 G Street. Meet first responders, learn preparedness skills and area hazards. Find advanced training resources and network.

Info: myNWEP@gmail.com.

“The Singing Revolution” Showing: Saturday, March 25, 6:30 p.m., Northwood Alliance Church, 580 C Street. Special screening of the film showing how music played a key role in the nonviolent revolution of the Estonian people ending over 50 years of Nazi and Soviet rule. Free.

Donations to the Drayton Harbor Music festival welcome but not required.

Sponsored by the Pacific Arts Association.

All-American Celebration: Sunday, March 26, 3 p.m., Mount Baker Theatre, Bellingham. Christopher Guzman plays Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Copland: Appalachian Spring Suite, Bernstein: On the Town (3 Dance Episodes). Tickets: 360/734-6080. Info: whatcomsymphony.com.

Homebuyer Class: Tuesday, March 28 or April 4, 6–8:30 p.m., Bellingham WECU, 511 Holly Street, Bellingham. Take the mystery out of the home buying process, including financing, home inspections, title and escrow, insurance real estate market and more. Instructors: Josh Henry of Caliber Home Loans and Dave Hiller of Rockwood Realty. Info: 820-4636.

Tu 21 2:03 am 7.6 6:52 am 6.4

Ongoing

Birch Bay Activity Center Events: 7511 Gemini Street, Birch Bay. Pound Fit, pickleball, yoga, Country Heat and Total Barre Basics. Days and times: bbbparkandrec.com.

11:18 am 7.2 7:07 pm 1.6

We 22 3:05 am 7.9 8:18 am 6.2

12:30 pm 7.0 8:05 pm 1.4

Th 23 3:49 am 8.2 9:20 am 5.8

1:48 pm 7.0 9:01 pm 1.2

Weather

AA Meetings: Monday and Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, noon; Wednesday, 7 p.m. (women only); Saturday, 11 a.m., United Church of Christ, 885 4th Street, Blaine.

Al-Anon Meetings: Tuesday, 1–2 p.m., Good Samaritan Society-Stafholt, 456 C Street, Blaine. Open to all. Info: 332-8248.

Alzheimer/Dementia/Memory Loss Caregiver and Care Partners Support Group: First Tuesday of the month, 1:30–3 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street, Blaine. Info: 671-3316.

Precipitation: During the period of March 7 to March 14, 1.52 inches of precipitation were recorded.

The 2017 year-to-date precipitation is 7.25 inches.

Birch Bay Toastmasters Club: Tuesday 6:30–7:45 p.m., Windermere building, second floor, Birch Bay Square, 8105 Birch Bay Square Street.

Info: toastmasters.org or Paul, 303-4444.

Temperature: High for the past week was 56.8°F on March 10 with a low of 34.5°F on March 8. Average high was 49.6°F and average low was 39.8°F.

Semiahmoo Men’s Breakfast: First and third Thursdays, 8 a.m., Palmer Room, Semiahmoo Golf Course clubhouse. Breakfast ($15) and a speaker.

Courtesy Birch Bay Water & Sewer Dist.

Community Meals: Wednesday, 5–6:30 p.m., Blaine Community Center, 763 G Street, Blaine. Dinner free; donations accepted. Everyone is welcome. Sponsored by the CAP. Info: communitymeals@blainecap.org.

Toddler Time: Thursdays, 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m., Birch Bay Activity Center, 7511 Gemini Street. Bring a lunch or snack and let the kids run around the gym before naptime. Free.

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

March 16 - 22, 2017 • thenorthernlight.com

MARCH 2017 20 20 23 24 25 27

Student Late Arrival – 10:20 a.m.

M.S. 4th Sports Season Begins M.S. Academic Assembly, 1 p.m.

M.S. Drama Performance, 7 p.m.

M.S. Math Championships School Board Meeting, 7 p.m. in Point Roberts

APRIL 2017 3-7 10 11 14 15 17 18-19 18-19 18 21 24 25

Spring Break – No School M.S. PTSO Meeting, 7 p.m.

P.S. PTO. Meeting, 6 p.m.

M.S. Spelling Bee, 2 p.m.

Art and Jazz Festival, 7 p.m.

Student Late Arrival – 10:20 a.m.

H.S. Student Led Conferences H.S. Early Dismissal, 11:50 a.m.

E.S. PTO Meeting, 6 p.m.

M.S. Spring Dance, 7 p.m.

School Board Meeting, 7 p.m.

H.S. Concert, 7 p.m.

2017-18 Kindergarten Registration Kindergarten registration for the 2017-18 school year began on March 9, 2017. Families with new kindergarteners are encouraged to enroll their child at Blaine Primary School as soon as possible for the next school year.

The earlier that we can get the process underway, the smoother the transition will be for students, families, and staff in September. We look forward to meeting our new fall kindergarten families. If you have any questions or concerns about kindergarten registration, please call the Blaine Primary School office at 360332-1300

Winter Weather’s Impact on School Schedule The Board of Directors took action on March 6 to approve submittal of a formal request to OSPI for waiver of two lost days of school. Six of the eight days lost to all students in the 2016-17 school year will be made up at the end of the year. An application has now been submitted to OSPI for waiver of the additional two days lost by all students in Blaine School District on February 8 and February 9. At this time, we anticipate the last day of school will be on Friday, June 23, and we remain committed to keeping the High School Graduation date on June 16. We will inform our staff, students, and parents once notification from OSPI has been received regarding approval of the waiver request.

THE

School Calendar

e t i r e d Bor t r o p e R

Brought To You By The Blaine School District

DIANE BERGE, EDITOR I would love to hear your comments or feedback.

Send to: borderitenews@blainesd.org

Blaine High School Construction Progress The first of a three-phase construction project at Blaine High School is well underway and making good progress. Although winter weather caused some delay, crews have been working diligently to stay on track with the plan to complete Phase I by August of 2017. The new building’s brick walls should be completed before the end of March. Ironworkers are erecting steel, roofers are beginning their work overhead, and framing of the interior walls has begun. Staff and students have a front row seat to watch this new building take shape, and we all look forward to the expanded educational opportunities that will be available in the new facility. The Horticulture program has already moved into the completed greenhouse. When our high school students return from summer break, they will have access to a new cafeteria, a small theatre, CTE shop, and additional classroom space as well as new tennis courts.

Kudos to Blaine Middle School

College Bound Scholarship Top Performing Schools in the State

We are pleased to announce that Blaine Middle School has received accreditation approval for an additional period of five years. The staff are to be applauded for their commitment to transparency and third party analysis in their work of improving student learning at all levels. Additionally, the Middle School has been recognized by Governor Jay Inslee with a Gold Star Award for helping 80.2% of last year’s eligible low-income 8th grade students sign up for Washington’s College Bound Scholarship program.

Congratulations to the Middle School for these accomplishments!

Blaine School Board Positions Open for Election The Blaine School District’s Board of Directors has two positions open for election on November 7, 2017.

These positions, in Director Districts 3 and 5, are both four-year terms expiring in 2021. Anyone interested in filing as a candidate must be a registered voter residing inside the boundaries of District 3 or District 5. District boundary maps can be accessed from our website. The Whatcom County Auditor’s Office can also verify a voter’s Director District (360-778-5100). The filing period for these open positions is May 15-19. Prospective candidates may file online, by mail, or in person. The current Directors will hold office until December 2017 and are also eligible to run for re-election. Complete instructions on candidate filing can be found at the Whatcom County Auditor’s website. Additional links, details, and information about service on your local School Board can also be accessed from Blaine School District’s website at www.blainesd.org. An informational meeting will be scheduled at the Blaine School District Office later in April. Please contact Tina Padilla at the District Office (360-332-5881) with any questions.

School Retirees Appreciation Week Governor Jay Inslee has proclaimed March 13-19, 2017 as School Retirees Appreciation Week in the state of Washington. The proclamation states in part that the Washington State School Retirees Association (WSSRA) “supports and encourages retired educators to remain active in the education profession through volunteer activities associated with learning.”

Retired educators in Blaine continue to fill many critical roles in our school system from substitute teaching to service on the Board of Directors. Their continuing contributions to the education of youth in the Blaine community are greatly appreciated.

Thank You Classified Employees!

Blaine School District is pleased to recognize March 13-17 as Classified School Employees Week in honor of the dedicated support personnel who serve the needs of our students. We are privileged to have a skilled and dedicated group of classified employees working each and every day of the program year to assure for the overall success of students. Over 130 classified employees arrive at work each day and demonstrate a tireless commitment to supporting the educational program in Blaine. At the Board Meeting on March 6, a Certificate of Appreciation was presented to Michelle Willoughby who represents Blaine classified employees as the new SEIU President. We value the superior work done by our classified staff, and our accomplishments as a school system are dependent upon, and can be attributed to, each and every one of them!

Check out our district website: www.blainesd.org

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