May 3 - 9, 2018
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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
Do you have the best yard in Blaine? page 3
Track athletes prepare for postseason, page 6
BHS drama club to debut new productions, page 13
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Design standards Warmer temperatures and colorful flowers... likely to change in downtown Blaine Planning commissioners approve recommendation for Blaine City Council B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e A proposal to change building and site design regulations within Blaine’s Central Business District (CBD) received approval from the Blaine Planning Commission last week following a lengthy deliberation. The changes come in the form of a zoning text amendment and zoning map amendment, which require final approval from Blaine City Council. During the last of several planning commission meetings held to discuss the CBD, commissioners voted on April 26 to recommend Blaine City Council approve both amendments. Interim city manager and community development director Michael Jones said the city council will likely review the commission’s recommendation in May. The CBD encompasses Blaine’s downtown core as well as surrounding residential areas and the harbor. Its building and site design standards have been the aim of an ongoing evaluation led by the city and commission with help from Seattle-based Makers Architecture and Urban Design. The city contracted the firm to assist with the project last year for $29,315, Jones said. In addition to making building and site design regulations more clear, the zoning text amendment also drops a requirement for property owners on the west side of Peace Portal Drive to build a portion of boardwalk when they remodel or develop. Instead, they’ll need to connect to the boardwalk where applicable. New and major construction must also dedicate a 20-foot wide easement for the purpose of (See Design, page 2)
s Local residents have recently enjoyed some much-needed sunshine. According to Birch Bay Water and Sewer District, the high for last week was 71.5° versus 63.5° the week before – and the forecast calls for more sunshine. Pictured are tulips blooming at Blaine Harbor.
Fired up Sedro-Woolley shuts down Blaine in baseball playoffs By Oliver Lazenby Despite having a better record and home field advantage, Blaine baseball lost 11–1 against Sedro-Woolley in a first-round playoff game on May 1, ending the season for the Borderites. Blaine, with an 11–10 regular season re-
cord, was favored to win over Sedro-Woolley (9–12), though Sedro-Woolley ended its regular season with a three-game winning streak. “I think the factor was just Sedro being hot,” Blaine head coach Tanner Olson said after the game. “You got to give them all the credit in the world; that’s a completely
different team than we played in game 12.” Blaine beat Sedro-Woolley 8–1 in game 12 of the season, on April 9. Sedro-Woolley’s pitcher went seven innings and allowed just four hits. “We haven’t seen him before and he did (See Baseball, page 6)
Boaters can hone their sea skills at an all-day event in Blaine this month. The SeaSkills Boating Festival is a free event offered annually by the Bellingham Sail and Power Squadron (BSPS) in partnership with the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons. The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 12 at Blaine Harbor and will feature a series of boating
classes, vendor booths, safety checks, food trucks and more. A branch of the U.S. Power Squadrons, BSPS is one of over 400 squadrons located across the nation aiming to increase boater safety through education. BSPS was incorporated in 1959 and is made up of members who moor their boats in Bellingham, Birch Bay and Blaine. “This has just grown like topsy,” said Custer resident and SeaSkills co-creator, Penny Dalgliesh.
INSIDE
SeaSkills Boating Festival to kick off boating season B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e
Photo by Ruth Lauman
Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . 6 Classifieds . . . . . 11 Coming Up . . . . . 14 Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14
Joined by her husband Tom Dalgliesh, Penny started SeaSkills in 2012 for BSPS members. She said about 70 people attended the first event which featured a variety of boating classes and food. Tom, a former British Merchant Navy seaman, and Penny, who had minimal boating experience, joined BSPS in 2002 after purchasing a sailboat named “Waverley.” Eager to learn how to safely navigate
EXPERIENCE • MOVING • • BREATHING • • WALKING •
DINOSAURS
(See SeaSkills, page 10)
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Sat, May 5 • 10-9 Sun, May 6 • 10-7 HENRY JENSEN BUILDING NW Washington Fair & Events Center, Lynden
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PREHISTORIC JOURNEY • 50 life-sized dinosaurs in their natural habitat. • Hands on interaction, ride a cute baby Dinosaur • Ride a 12’ animatronic T-Rex & Triceratops • Dig up ancient bones & more activities! • Jurassic Bounce House & Jungle Wall
Adults & Teens ages 13 and up: $23/person • Children 2 - 12: $28/child
Buy tickets at venue or online at JurassicTour.com