June 21 - 27, 2018
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A message from the staff at The Northern Light, page 4
IN THIS
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City manager retires, Puppy Rescue Mission comes talks career, page 6 to Peace Arch Park, page 10
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Hundreds attend memorial service for fallen NWFR firefighter
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Interim city manager brings background in city planning B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e
(See City, page 8)
s Former North Whatcom Fire and Rescue (NWFR) firefighter John Swobody was honored by hundreds at a memorial service and procession on June 6 at Christ the King Church, 4173 Meridian Street. Swobody passed away at age 54 following a years-long battle with lung cancer. His death was deemed a result of his profession by NWFR, making it the first line of duty death of a firefighter in north Whatcom County’s history. Photo by Molly Ernst
County applies for grant for Birch Bay Community Park By Oliver Lazenby Whatcom County is applying for a $500,000 grant to help fund construction of the future Birch Bay Community Park, just north of the Visitor Information Center on Birch Bay Drive. Whatcom County Council approved the application to the state Recreation and Conservation Office’s Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program at itsJune 19 council meeting. The grant is competitive, Whatcom
County parks director Michael McFarlane said. The county will make presentations to the Recreation and Conservation Office this summer as part of the application. Actually receiving funds is contingent on the state legislature approving them in its budget next year. “The earliest those funds would be available is 2020,” McFarlane said. The county doesn’t yet have a schedule for building the park. The county hired a landscape architect
Stay safe this Fourth of July – fireworks laws in effect Make sure you know the rules before lighting up a firework in Blaine on July 4. Consumer fireworks can only be discharged within city limits between 10 a.m. to midnight on Wednesday, July 4. Per city code, consumer fireworks are defined as small fireworks that are designed to produce visible effects of combustion. In Whatcom County, consumer fireworks can be discharged from 6 to 11 p.m. on July 3; 6 p.m. to midnight on July 4; and 6 to 11 p.m. on July 5. Within city limits, fireworks are com-
pletely banned at the following locations: West Blaine: all areas located west of Schintaffer Road, including Semiahmoo and all adjacent water bodies and beach marine areas, such as Semiahmoo Spit, Semiahmoo Marina, the county park and city sewer facility. Blaine Harbor: all areas located north of Boblett Street and west of the railroad. That includes all property owned by the Port of Bellingham. Public spaces: this includes all public property within city limits and excludes pub-
lic streets outside of west Blaine the harbor. To stay safe, the Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office advises the public to have water nearby and keep pets indoors when igniting fireworks. Only adults should light fireworks and all debris should be picked up from the street. Last year, the state fire marshal received 345 reports of fireworks-related incidents by hospitals, clinics and other agencies. The majority reportedly occurred on July 4 and resulted in 262 injuries and 83 fires. Learn more at bit.ly/2MGBlhp.
to design the park in 2016. Developing the field into the planned park – an open space with trees, picnic tables, a parking lot, restrooms, showers and other amenities – will cost $4.4 million, the landscape architect estimated. The park received $1 million from the state Recreation and Conservation Funding Board as part of the state’s 2017-19 capital budget. That money will go, at least in part, toward reimbursing the county for the $2.36 million purchase cost of the property.
INSIDE
Last week, the city of Blaine welcomed Michael Jones as interim city manager. Jones began transitioning to the position in April after being appointed by Blaine City Council. He stepped into the position officially on June 15, the day Dave Wilbrecht retired. He’ll serve in the position on an interim basis until October, at which time city council will decide whether to make the appointment permanent. “I’m thrilled about the opportunity and excited to be working with the city council,” Jones said in a press release after he was appointed. Previously, he was the city’s community development director. “Blaine has some significant challenges and opportunities ahead. We’re seeing increasing development activity, we’re undergoing multiple staff transitions and we’re experiencing ongoing budget challenges.” “This is a dynamic time,” he added. Early career Prior to working in civic government, Jones was serving guests at hotels and resorts across the U.S. He studied hospitality management in college and had an interest in becoming a professional chef. Quickly, he said, “I realized in the first year I didn’t want to be in the kitchen … It’s very intense.” Jones ended up working seasonally in hotel management. Along the way, he met his wife, Barbara. “I’ve lived and worked in Vermont and
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