August 24 - 30, 2017
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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
Barn goes up in flames on Sweet Road, page 4
BHS grad signs with the Detroit Lions, page 8
Crab fishing opens in the Gulf of Georgia, page 14
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Partial solar eclipse dazzles audiences in Western Washington
Back to School 2017-2018
Pull-out section on page 9-12
City releases new resident survey B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e
(See Survey, page 2)
s Kevin Jablowski, l., Mielle Andruscavage, Meghan Andruscavage, c., and Myca Andruscavage, r., view the much-awaited solar eclipse in downtown Blaine on August 21. Western Washington experienced a partial eclipse, whereas a band spanning from Salem, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina experienced a total eclipse. These observers used special glasses and a pinhole projector get a view.
Donor pens a $10,000 check to Friends of the Blaine Library B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e Last month, Friends of the Blaine Library was given a $10,000 donation from an anonymous donor – now, members of the book-centric group are calling on the public to follow suit. Each Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) library is supported by a “friends of the library” group. The groups advocate for library services and fundraise for library projects that aren’t funded through the WCLS budget. The group in Blaine currently comprises
about a dozen members. Friends of the Blaine Library have three advocacy goals for 2017, which include informing the public about the need for a new or expanded library to better serve the community; advocating to get a library card in every Blaine and Birch Bay household; and expanding its base of volunteers. In response to the donation, Friends of the Blaine Library is challenging individuals, community groups, book clubs and corporations to raise a matching amount. Blaine Library manager Debby Farmer said
Marine Park event slated to celebrate the dog days of summer B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e Live music, food vendors, an evening movie and more await guests at the inaugural Summer Fun in the Park event from 5 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, August 26 at Marine Park. Windermere Real Estate duo Jen Freeman and Linda Crews are organizing Summer Fun in the Park and said it all started in January, when they began planning an appreciation event for their business cli-
Photo by Stefanie Donahue
ents. Planning an event of this capacity is new for the pair, but they both agreed to go big or go home. “This is brand new for us,” Crews said. “We really wanted to do a family-friendly event that would appeal to all of Whatcom County.” The bands Gladstone and Trouble at the Henhouse will entertain crowds with “a little mix of everything,” Crews said. Both music groups will play popular covers from the ’90s and early 2000s.
The Sugar Shack Ice Cream Truck, Paso Del Norte, Yaple Kettle Corn, the Big Trouble Food Truck and Cicchitti’s Pizza will also be on the scene to appease cravings for tasty food. The event will also have a beer and wine garden and all proceeds from the sales will go to the Blaine Chamber of Commerce, Crews said. At dusk, they’ll play “The Lego Batman Movie.” “The community as a whole has been so awesome to us,” Crews said. “We hope we see a good turnout.”
the funds will be used for general support of library services. “Imagine 100 people each donating $100,” read a statement from the group. “That’s another $10,000 toward a community center that bursts with life-enriching resources for persons of all ages and socio-economic levels.” Donations are tax-deductible and can be made by check to Friends of the Blaine Library and mailed to 610 3rd Street. Online donations can also be made at blainelibraryfriends.org on the “library improvement” page.
INSIDE
A whopping 38 questions comprise the city of Blaine’s new resident survey, which aims to hone funding strategies for dozens of projects and programs intended to bolster the local economy. The survey was released in conjunction with the city’s Strategic Economic Initiative, which started in 2016. The city contacted Tom Beckwith of La Conner-based Beckwith Consulting to reevaluate the city’s finances, strategically plan for the future and implement various project proposals suggested by local interest groups and community members. In the early days of the initiative, the city met with 21 interest groups to help guide an economic development plan for Blaine and concluded a series of surveys that focused on the needs of visitors, library users and residents. The resident survey raked in more than 400 responses last October and identified 43 projects and programs that respondents expressed interest. According to Beckwith and the city, the potential cost for all 43 projects is $41,146,062. If voters approve a bond or levy measure or the city obtains state and federal matching grants, estimates indicate the city could finance $24,589,633, about 60 percent of the projects. Steep costs in mind, the city established a Transportation Benefit District to fund street, sidewalk and trail improvement projects through a sales tax. In April, Blaine voters approved the tax measure, which will eventually be used to fund transportation projects and programs identified by residents in the first round of surveys.
Coming Up . . . . . 18 Classifieds . . . 15-16 Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Police . . . . . . . . . 18 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 18
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