The Northern Light_January 16, 2019 by Point Roberts Press

January 17 - 23, 2019

FREE

Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer

IN THIS

ISSUE

Martin Kuuskmann slated to perform in Bellingham, page 3

Boys basketball beats Sedro-Woolley, page 6

Birch Bay Drive repair to wait until summer or later, page 8

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

City rejects offer from Chewters Chocolates Asks the company to revise its plan B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e

(See Chewters, page 9)

s The Seattle Mariners made a stop at the Blaine Boys and Girls Club on January 10. Kids had the chance to visit with pitchers Nick Rumbelow, l., and Dan Altavilla, r. See more photos on page 7. Photo by Ben Van Houten

School board to face hard decision on January 28 By Oliver Lazenby The ideal grandstand seems to remain just out of reach for the Blaine school district; at a January 9 special meeting, school board members heard from Zervas Architects that due to ever-escalating building costs, the district probably wouldn’t get the high school grandstand it wants without going over budget. The grandstand is the first project the school district is tackling with money from a capital levy passed in April 2018.

The district budgeted $3.146 million in levy funds for a grandstand with seats for 1,800–1,900 people and a building underneath with restrooms, a concession stand, storage and other amenities. The current high school grandstand seats about 1,200 people and has code issues. Sharon Robinson, principal of Zervas Architects, presented an updated plan with seating for 1,600 rather than 1,900 and other cost saving measures such as a wood structure rather than aluminum. Zervas Architects created the scaled-back

Arts & Jazz returns in Blaine for 22nd annual auction By Gwen Roley Dorita Gray said she loves putting together Blaine’s Arts & Jazz event each year because it brings the community together during the dark winter months. “It’s a time for people to come out of their winter hibernation and support each other at a fun event,” she said. The Arts & Jazz auction will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, February 2 at Blaine Middle School. Hosted by the Blaine Fine Arts Association, the event will include two silent auctions and a live auction with all

proceeds going to fine arts programs offered at the Blaine school district. Items up for auction will include donations from local businesses and individuals. The deadline to have donated items cataloged for the auction is Monday, January 21 and donations must be picked up before February 1. Some of the money raised from the auctions will go toward scholarships for students who are interested in the arts, while the rest will go toward funding field trips and equipment. “The school district can only fund so much, donations mean a lot,” said Danielle

Dickinson, representing the Blaine Fine Arts Association. In years past, Arts & Jazz typically raised approximately $3,000 to fund Blaine arts students’ scholarships, said Gray who chairs the auction. Last year they were able to raise over $8,700, some of which will be used by high school art teacher Brian Smith for an educational trip to Europe with art students. “This year I feel as though the auction has finally become what we set out to make it in the first place,” Gray said. “The event of the (See Arts and Jazz, page 8)

design after getting a cost estimate from its contractors, Robinson said. “We were fortunate to have our contractor do that bid for us, but the numbers weren’t what we wanted to hear,” she said. “That’s why we made the really hard decision to scale back.” Board members directed Zervas Architects to pursue options to add more seating to the plan. The biggest attendance at a football game in 2018 was 948 paying (See School, page 10)

Letters . . . . . . . . . 4

INSIDE

Keen on reserving space for the right project, Blaine City Council declined a $1.6 million offer from Chewters Chocolates to purchase 7 acres of the Gateway Parcel bordering H Street and recommended the company propose an alternative plan on 5 acres. Chewters Chocolates Inc. and its affiliate ChocXO Chocolatier LLC presented a letter of intent to the city in November. Blaine City Council voted unanimously to table consideration of the contract, citing a need for more information. The company, which operates out of locations in Irvine, California and Delta, B.C., proposed to relocate its 10,000-squarefoot Irvine facility to Blaine. CEO Richard Foley and VP of manufacturing Wade Pugh said they would invest a total of $15.6 million to purchase the land, construct a manufacturing facility and install machinery on a portion of it, leaving room for future expansion. The company intended to incorporate a retail and tourism component, similar to the Tillamook Creamery in Oregon. Despite having enthusiasm for the proposal, Blaine City Council voted 4–0 on January 14 to reject the offer. City councilmembers are instead recommending Chewters Chocolates propose an alternative plan that includes a retail and tourism component on 5 acres at the south end of the original offer, allowing the city to retain 2 acres at the north end. “Chewters proposal would develop a chocolate factory, visitor center and retail outlet,” read a report by city manager Michael Jones. “However, approximately half the site would remain undeveloped for an unspecified period of time,” which concerned city councilmembers from the start. Ultimately, the report states that the city

Sports . . . . . . . . . . 6 Classifieds . . . . . 11 Coming Up . . . . . 14

Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14

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If you plan to take a trip to downtown Blaine this week, be aware that Peace Portal Drive, between G and H streets, is closed due to construction. Public works director Ravyn Whitewolf said water and sewer lines are being installed by a private developer for a project located at 685 Peace Portal Drive. While the work isn’t being handled by the city, she confirmed that construction is expected to be completed by the end of the week. Owner Peter Gigante is in the process of constructing a three-story, 5,300-square-foot building at the site.

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January 17 - 23, 2019 • thenorthernlight.com

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Grammy-nominated bassoonist Martin Kuuskmann is gearing up for a much-anticipated performance with the Whatcom Symphony. Slated for 3 p.m. on Sunday, January 27 at Mount Baker Theatre in Bellingham, the performance is an homage to composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Kuuskmann, who is a former resident of Blaine, is internationally renowned and has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Kennedy Center. Guests of the upcoming performance will hear Symphony No. 2 by Mozart’s contemporary, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto and “Jupiter” Symphony, the latter of which was named 30 years after Mozart’s death. “We are delighted to welcome Martin Kuuskmann back to Whatcom County to join us for Mozart’s birthday celebration,” said music director Yaniv Attar in a press release. “Kuuskmann’s charisma and dynamism is something special to behold, and I know our audiences will enjoy this fabulous tribute to Mozart,” she added. Admission starts at $15 and includes access to a pre-concert lecture by Dr. Ryan Dudenbostel at 2:15 p.m. For more information, call the box office at 360/734-6080 or visit whatcomsymphony.com. The public can also attend a performance by Kuuskmann on Saturday, January 26 at Keenan’s at the Pier, located in Bellingham. The event is a fundraiser for the Whatcom Symphony. To learn more, call 360/756-6752.

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The Northern Light • January 17 - 23, 2019

Letters

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. Publisher & Managing Editor Patrick Grubb publisher@pointrobertspress.com Co-publisher & Advertising Director Louise Mugar lmugar@pointrobertspress.com Editor Stefanie Donahue stefanie@pointrobertspress.com Reporter Oliver Lazenby oliver@pointrobertspress.com Copy Editor Aly Siemion aly@pointrobertspress.com Reporting Intern Gwen Roley prpintern@pointrobertspress.com Creative Services Ruth Lauman, Doug De Visser production@pointrobertspress.com Office Manager Jeanie Luna info@pointrobertspress.com Advertising Sales Molly Ernst, Adam Albert sales@pointrobertspress.com General Editorial Inquiries editor@pointrobertspress.com The Northern Light 225 Marine Drive, Suite 200, Blaine, WA 98230 Tel: 360/332-1777 Vol XXIV, No 30 Circulation: 10,500 copies

The Editor: Perhaps before taking the time to write a letter to the editor blasting someone’s ignorance, prospective authors should actually do a bit of research. Representative Luanne Van Werven was accused of “not knowing her facts,” after which the author proceeded to get the facts wrong. A few readily available statistics from Whatcom County show the maximum salaries for various school districts: Blaine $89k, Bellingham $105k, Meridian $90k, Lynden $95k, Baker $92k.Teachers in Washington also get about $26k in medical and other benefits per year. The author uses a common trick in an effort to fool you by then giving readers the “average” figure, which will, by definition, be significantly lower. By the way, in most of these districts a teacher with 16 years of experience and a master’s degree qualifies for the highest level of the salary scale. Add to this the fact that most collective bargaining agree-

From the web... On social media, The Northern Light asked readers, “Do you think Blaine City Council should approve a 0.2 percent Business and Occupation (B&O) tax on wholesale and manufacturing businesses?” Approximately 30 to 50 businesses would have to pay the tax, which is expected to generate $200,000 per year. The money would pay for city services such as additional police and administrative personnel, replacement of police vehicles, WhatComm 911 emergency dispatch services, public park and building maintenance and a program to help the manufacturing industry find and retain workers. Here’s what some readers had to say: “Yes. Stop raising property taxes every time the school wants another gym or the council gets the idea a new boardwalk would turn Blaine into Fairhaven.” @ThannakGoblin Via Twitter “Everyone is already spending a fortune just to live here. Property tax is sky high, rent is sky high, fuel prices are sky high. All of this is just pushing people out.” Jason Mooney Via Facebook “No. Taxing a business creates a situation where they look elsewhere to grow, taking the jobs with them.” Georgina Olagson McGuire Via Facebook “No, we want to encourage businesses to come to Blaine. We would like to see Blaine grow! It is already hard for businesses to get started and don’t want to make it harder for them. I would like to see corporations taxed that have vacant buildings sitting not being

ments this year included a decent raise for next year, don’t shed too many tears for the starving teachers (including me, by the way). I am pretty happy with my salary, especially in a job that only requires me to work about 185 days per year (or 37 weeks). Fifteen weeks of vacation and my job consists of hanging out with a large and varied crowd of really interesting teenagers and helping them gain the knowledge they need to join the world outside of school. Pretty good deal, if you ask me. Conclusion: you are wrong, Representative Van Werven was right. If you include benefits as a part of salary then Whatcom County schools have significant numbers of teachers making over $96k. Too bad she didn’t stick to her guns, although we only have your word for it that she backed down (maybe she just acknowledged the base salaries without benefits). Calvin Armerding Blaine

The Editor: Trump knows damn well that he is lying. And he knows damn well that it doesn’t matter. His disciples believe anything he says ... even when it contradicts what he has already said. This is an empirical observation, not a theory. I cannot explain it. Mass hypnosis? Charisma? Wishful thinking? Rampant stupidity? Brain washing? Koolaid? All of the above? All speculation. Here is a theory for y’all right-wing Christian Trump-a-holics out there: he is the devil incarnate ... the ‘beast’ as described in the bible! Why do you think the last call for the apocalypse and the end of the world is spoken of as “the sounding of the final Trump?” Jeff Sterling Birch Bay

used because they charge too much for rent and won’t make it affordable for businesses thus pushing existing and potential businesses out of Blaine!” Melissa Kruse Via Facebook

Via Facebook “I wonder whether people are actually reading the facts in the article or just responding to the headline. These businesses, due to their nature, do not significantly contribute to the sales tax revenue of the city. If you use city roads and benefit from city services, you need to pay your fair share whether you are a business or a private citizen. That’s how society works. The amount they would pay in tax is modest. It’s likely not that significant to the business, but the cumulative amount is significant to the city, and in turn, to the people who live here – us!” Kerena Nuckols Higgins Via Facebook

“Yes, this tax sounds necessary.” @LKevinFaulkner Via Twitter “No. Businesses are starting to move to Blaine (like Chuckanut Bay Foods). They are leaving other areas to come here. Let’s not give them a reason to look elsewhere. Gross receipts of $20,000 isn’t that much for a manufacturing business, which means it will probably apply to most of the businesses here.” Jennifer Hill Via Facebook “Try cutting spending instead of driving jobs away.” Richard Hill Via Facebook “I would wholeheartedly say yes. I would gladly [pay] my fair share to support the city growth. Or we could do nothing and let the current momentum die, just like before and slip back into a ‘I got mine, you can’t have yours because I want nothing to change [mode].” Rex Broward Via Facebook “Absolutely not. Blaine already has enough problem keeping businesses in Blaine and thriving. Want an example? Look in the Cost Cutter area. We have nothing here. We should be investing in businesses, not taxing them more and running them out. Honestly, as a Blaine family we go to Lynden more than Blaine for what it has to offer.” Amanda Stidham

Please send letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.

“No, tax increases decrease business in an area already having struggles.” Devon Pecan M Via Facebook “No. I am a small wholesale business owner and I would have to pay more tax too. It is not just for the large companies. It is the small businesses too.” Sharon Swanson Via Facebook “Before raising taxes, build stronger foundations, support each other, neighborhood, community, small business, shop local.” Julia Frehner Via Facebook To read The Northern Light’s full report on the proposed B&O tax, see last week’s print edition or visit bit.ly/2D8SpKc. There are two public hearings that will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, February 11 and 25 at Blaine City Hall, 435 Martin Street, Suite 4000 in Blaine. Comments are also being accepted via email to citycouncil@cityofblaine.com and by phone at 360/332-8311.

Civic Meetings

Circulation Independently verified by: 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 Park and Cemetery Board: Second Thursday, 9 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.

Next issue: Jan. 24 Ads due: Jan. 18

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.

Blaine School Board: Fourth Monday, 7 p.m., Blaine school district offices. Info: blaine.wednet.edu. North Whatcom Fire & Rescue: Third Thursday, 1 p.m. Blaine Fire Station. Info: nwfrs.net.

January 17 - 23, 2019 • thenorthernlight.com

Six apply for seat on Blaine City Council

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On January 8, the city announced six residents had applied for a vacant Blaine City Council position that was left open by Meg Olson in November. The position represents Ward 2, which encompasses all of the area within city limits that lies south of H Street, excluding areas west of Peace Portal Drive and north of Boblett Street. Each candidate submitted an application describing his/her experience and reason for applying. Colin Hawkins Hawkins is currently the chairperson of the city’s public works advisory committee and has been a member since 2015. He works as an assistant cook for the Blaine school district. Hawkins has a combined 15 years’ of experience managing businesses in Blaine, including Paso Del Norte and Border Brew Espresso. “The city of Blaine has made some positive steps to encourage responsible development and to improve the quality of life,” he wrote. “I would like to help maintain this positive momentum.” David Gallion Gallion is a retired auto technician and has six years’ of experience serving on the Blaine Planning Commission. In his application, Gallion emphasized his support for the Blaine Library. “I have spent most of my adult life in public services,” he wrote. “My actions will always reflect what is good for Blaine.” Garth Baldwin Baldwin is the principal at Drayton Archeology and has four years’ of experience serving on the city’s park and cemetery board. As an archeologist, he also worked for the Washington State Department of Transportation, learning the federal and state project finance process. Baldwin is a disabled veteran, which he said provides him with unique insight on the community. “I want to contribute to the largest extent possible to my

community,” he wrote. “I’m an advocate for the people of Blaine and have demonstrated that constantly as a member of the park and cemetery board.” Jaime Arnett Arnett is an office manager at Boundary Fish Company in Blaine and a grant writer for Bellingham-based nonprofit Animals as Natural Therapy. She is also active with the Blaine-Birch Bay Healthy Youth Coalition. “As someone who both lives and works in Blaine, grew up here and has a child that attends school here, I have a vested interest in seeing my community grow and thrive,” she wrote. “I would love to be in a position to positively effect change towards that end.” Jodi Greene Greene is a part-time nurse at the Blaine school district. She also serves as a mentor for teen mothers as part of a Christian ministry called YoungLives and is the vice president of the parish council at Faith Lutheran Church in Bellingham. “One of my strengths is to gather information and make informed decisions with a balance of common sense and a positive attitude,” she wrote. “It takes collaboration with many different people within a school to help assess the needs of students on a daily basis.”

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The Northern Light • January 17 - 23, 2019

Sports By Oliver Lazenby

Borderites team effort topples Sedro-Woolley in 75–64 conference win The entire Blaine boys varsity basketball team looked full of confidence and energy in a 75–64 win at home against the Sedro-Woolley Cubs on January 15, the team’s second conference win. The Borderites now have a 7–8 record overall (2–6 in conference games); Sedro-Woolley’s record is 7–8 overall and 3–5 in conference games. The game started as an intense back-and-forth showdown between two teams in a similar spot in league standings. When the Borderites pulled ahead after sinking back-to-back three-pointers, the Cubs replied with scrappy rebounding and quick baskets from its tall forwards. Blaine led 22–19 after the first quarter; at half time the score was tied at 37. Blaine broke away in the third quarter, outscoring Sedro-Woolley 21–7. “We made a couple of adjustments defensively at half-time and I thought our kids did a really nice job with those adjustments,” said Blaine head coach Brett Farrar. The Borderites defense overwhelmed the Cubs’ tall forwards, taking away the team’s height advantage. Sedro-Woolley couldn’t recover

from the third quarter, and Blaine continued its well-rounded offense. The Borderites racked up 23 assists and 10 players scored. Hudson Reid led with 13 points, and Ben Wallen, Zane Rector, Josh Russ and Adam Vega all scored 12. Colby Knutzen sunk two three-pointers, as did Wallen and Rector. “Everyone did a great job. We had five guys go into double figures. We had kids come off the bench and do a great job defensively,” Farrar said. “We did a bunch of little things that it takes to win basketball games in our league. It’s no exaggeration when I say it was a great team effort.” It was also a symbolic win for Farrar, who coached at Sedro-Woolley from 2013 to 2018. That wasn’t lost on the players. “We really wanted to give him that win,” Vega said. Vega has played on Blaine’s varsity team for three years, and said winning conference games for the first time since 2016 has energized the team. “We’re all excited. It’s a whole new outlook,” he said. Blaine plays next at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, January 17 at Mount Baker.

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s Josh Russ sinks a lay-in over two Sedro-Woolley guards.

s Adam Vega drives to the hoop.

Blaine girls suffer close loss at Sedro-Woolley Blaine girls basketball lost two close games in the last week, starting with a 57–51 loss at home against Sehome on January 10, followed by a 46–42 loss at Sedro-Woolley on January 15. After the games, the Borderites have a 5–9 record overall, and a 1–6 record in conference games.

Blaine lost the back-and-forth game against Sedro-Woolley in the fourth quarter, head coach Ryan Pike said. “We missed some buckets we should have made and they hit some they needed,” he said. Brynn Hallberg led Blaine with 13 points, Taylyn DePauw had

eight, Ashley Dickerson scored seven and Hailey Pike and Krystin Kamrath both scored six. The Borderites are a well-rounded team with plenty of potential to win some conference games in the rest of the season. Next, the Borderites play Lakewood (3–10) at home on Thursday, January 17.

acation

January 17 - 23, 2019 • thenorthernlight.com

Kids greet Seattle Mariners at Blaine clubhouse

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2019 Artist of Note,

Samantha Johnson

Art work by Senior,

The Lauren tradition of Kordas a community coming together once a year to celebrate the efforts & Jazz is anofauction lover’s and Arts accomplishments our students delight with live and silent and auctions the tradition of passing Art to featuring donationsa new generation. Arts & Jazzand is anindividuals auction lovfrom businesses er’s that delight with live andstudents silent auctions believe in our as muchdonations as we do.from 100% of fundsand featuring businesses raised benefit scholarships and individuals that believe in our students experiences beyond the as much as we do.in100% of funds raised curriculum the Blaine School benefit scholarships and isexperiences District. Arts & Jazz a beyond the curriculum in thefunBlaine community based, family celebration of the Fine School District. Arts & Jazz is aArts communiprograms Blaine School ty based, family in funthe celebration of the Fine District and is truly a highlight Arts programs in the Blaine School District and is truly a community highlight of the Winter calendar. of the Winter calendar.

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s Seattle Mariners pitchers Dan Altavilla and Nick Rumbelow, veteran broadcaster Rick Rizzs and the Mariner Moose visited the Blaine Boys and Girls Club on January 10. The visit was part of a three-week tour in which current and former Seattle Mariners personnel made 22 stops in communities throughout the Northwest to sign autographs and talk about the DREAM Team initiative. “The kids could not believe that they were actually coming here when I told them about it,” said Blaine club director Kelsey Green in an email. Photos courtesy of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County

Blaine wrestlers place second out of 24 teams at Seattle tournament The Blaine’s boys wrestling team placed second out of 24 teams at the King of Beacon Hill Invitational at Cleveland High School in Seattle against many bigger 3A and 4A schools (Blaine is 2A). Of the other 2A schools at the tournament, many have strong wrestling programs which the Borderites will likely face again in the postseason. “It was a pretty good opportunity to see others in our region,”

READ IT FIRST.

said Blaine head coach Tom Hinz. Blaine started hot, winning 26 out of its first 29 matches, many by pins. Jacob Westfall and Aidan Button won their weight classes of 195 pounds and 160 pounds. Alex Hall placed second at 138 pounds. Alex Mercado, Luke Westfall and Ethan Deming all placed third in their weight classes. Next, Blaine wrestlers travel to the 31st Annual Lynden Tournament at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 19.

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Arts and Jazz ... From page 1

season for people to come together and celebrate art.” BFAA also uses the Arts & Jazz Auction as an opportunity to honor some of the standouts in the Blaine art scene. The Friend of the Arts award was created to recognize members of the community who make Blaine a more artful place to live. This year, the award will be given to Ted Corso, director of the Drayton Harbor Music Festival. At the auction, BFAA will honor and exhibit the work of their ‘Artist of Note’ for 2019, Blaine High School sophomore Samantha Johnson. “[The Arts & Jazz Auction] is a great opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our arts students,” Gray said. For auction donations or general questions contact Christy Imperio at 360/210-4100, Danielle Dickinson at 360/389-7818, Dorita Gray at 360/305-5835 or Tori Kramme at 360/878-6760 or email BlaineFineArts@gmail.com.

2019 Artist of Note: Samantha Johnson Samantha Johnson’s interest in art began at an early age. Her family is close with Blaine High School art teacher Brian Smith and his wife. Johnson said the couple babysat her when she was younger and they did art together. She credits Smith with sparking her interest in art. “He’s a really encouraging teacher,” Johnson said. Once Johnson reached high school and started taking some of Smith’s art classes, she began to develop her own style and became interested in portraits. Her favorite mediums are charcoals and pastels and she said her style is becoming more gestural and experimental. “I feel like I’m a lot more inspired when I’m drawing people,” she said. “I like expressing the emotions they’re feeling in that moment.” Outside of her art studies, Johnson also participates in the wind ensemble and plays tennis. Next year, she’ll take classes at Whatcom Community College through the Running Start program. She will continue her art studies there and said she is excited to start taking college-level classes. Like Gray, Johnson loves Arts & Jazz because of the programs it funds and the community it brings together.

s “Lilac Love” by Samantha Johnson.

City to assess emergency response protocols this week King tides in the forecast for late January B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e With some areas in Blaine and Birch Bay still vulnerable as a result of the December 20 wind storm, personnel from the city and other agencies are gathering this week to assess existing emergency response protocols. “Communication with all our city members and properly utilizing our limited resources will be the key to ensuring no harm comes to our citizens,” said police chief Allen Schubert in a memo to city staff. “Blaine public works and the Blaine Police Department want to coordinate a unified response for the next event.” According to the National Weather Service, king tides are in

the forecast for Whatcom County on January 21 through 25. A king tide is defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the highest predicted high tide at a coastal location for the year. “None of these tides are by themselves concerning; however, should we also have a low pressure system, additional surge, and if the wind direction and wave heights are right, we could have problems, particularly in Birch Bay, Sandy Point, Blaine and Point Roberts,” said Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) Division of Emergency Management deputy director John Gargett. The National Weather Service in Seattle is currently assisting the city and county in providing forecasts for Birch Bay, Blaine, Point Roberts and Sandy Point, he said. Those are the areas that sustained the most damage from the December wind storm. “The Whatcom County Sheriff’s

Office wishes to express its appreciation to Blaine public works for leading the drive on this effort, as well as to the National Weather Service for being willing to focus on our helping better safe guard our communities,” Gargett said. Following the December storm, public agencies in Whatcom County submitted preliminary damage assessments to the state totaling $3,899,252, Gargett said. The number doesn’t include individual or business damage assessments, which he predicted will exceed $500,000. To assess existing emergency response protocols, city staff as well as representatives from North Whatcom Fire and Rescue, the Auxiliary Communications Service, Community Emergency Response Team, WCSO Division of Emergency Management and Semiahmoo Resort will meet this week. “It’s just a way for us to identify

Film festival uncovers women’s silent voices By Jami Makan At a time when female directors are struggling to make it in Hollywood, a local film festival is showcasing films from the silent era, when women were pioneers in the filmmaking industry. The Cascadia International Women’s Film Festival has organized a program of film screenings in Bellingham, featuring silent films by female directors from the early 20th century. Independent women directors flourished during that period, before getting shut out when movie studios began consolidating power and buying up small theater chains. “Most people don’t know that women were pretty dominant in that time period,” says Cheryl Crooks, executive director of the Cas-

cadia International Women’s Film Festival. Compare that to now, when research shows that women directors lack the same exposure as their male counterparts. According to a recent study by the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, only four percent of directors of the 1,100 top films from 2007 to 2017 were female. The silent film series, entitled “Visions & Voices,” features a collection of historical films by women directors that was curated by the Kino Lorber distribution company and the Library of Congress. The first installment was shown on December 2 at the Sylvia Center for the Arts in Bellingham, where films by the director Lois Weber (1879-1939) were shown. Lois Weber directed hundreds of silent films during

the silent era. “She was way ahead of the whole art form,” said Crooks. “But when studio films and the ‘talkies’ came in, she never really recovered and just got shut out in a sense.” Upcoming screenings of additional silent films are scheduled to take place at the Mount Baker Theatre on Sunday, February 10, as well as the Firehouse Cafe on Friday, March 8. This series is a prelude to the main Cascadia International Women’s Film Festival, which is entering its third year and is set to take place in Bellingham in midApril. The Festival, which is currently reviewing submissions, is only one of a handful of film festivals in the world to focus solely on female directors.

the resources we have and how to best use them,” Schubert said. Schubert, along with Gargett, public works director Ravyn Whitewolf and assistant public works director Sam Castro, will present at the meeting. Gargett said he plans to discuss the history of coastal storms in Whatcom County, how the WCSO Division of Emergency Management responds to disasters and incident command system proto-

cols, which are established by the federal government. While the meeting is intended for city staff and emergency response personnel, the public is invited to attend. It will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 17 at Blaine City Hall. “The city is ready,” Whitewolf said about the city’s emergency preparedness. “We’re going to be ready for the next one, whenever that comes.”

Long road ahead for Birch Bay Drive repairs By Oliver Lazenby Birch Bay Drive, damaged in the December 20 storm that flooded and devoured sections of the road, won’t be permanently repaired until summer or possibly later. The timeline depends on whether the beach restoration project known as the Birch Bay berm begins this fall, as scheduled. That berm project, which would raise and “re-nourish” 1.6 miles of beach and create new bike lanes and walkways, will require rebuilding sections of Birch Bay Drive. If the county finishes permitting the berm in time for construction to start this fall, it won’t repair and repave this summer only to tear it up months later, public works officials said. “The damage to the road is not something we’re ignoring, we just want to makes sure we’re prudent in putting our efforts to the best option,” said Roland Middleton, county public works special projects manager. “We’re trying to be a good steward of the money.” Whatcom County officials hope to know soon whether berm construction will start this fall. The county started working on permitting the roughly $11.5 million project in 2016; it currently hinges on one permit – a part of the National Environmental Policy Act – that requires the county, tribes and several other organizations to

agree on what to do with cultural artifacts found during construction. The county is making progress on that permit, officials say. A variety of options are on the table for summer roadwork, from leaving the road as is and doing minor maintenance, to building a temporary gravel lane or even repairing and repaving the road with asphalt, depending on when berm construction begins. Whatever happens, Middleton said, roadwork will take into account the schedule of community events held in Birch Bay throughout summer. Currently, Birch Bay Drive is closed to one lane between Harborview and Shintaffer roads, and much of the southern portion of Birch Bay Drive has shoulder damage. Whatcom County crews are working on minor repairs and improvements.

s Parts of Birch Bay Drive suffered significant storm damage.

January 17 - 23, 2019 • thenorthernlight.com

Chewters ... From page 1

wants a project that provides a mix of services, adds a new service or amenity, offers well-paying jobs, creates substantial sales tax revenue and/or enhances the H Street commercial and state route 543 corridors. “While these attributes are unlikely to exist in any one project, any potential sale is evaluated based on these and similar goals,” read Jones’ report. On Monday, Jones told Blaine City Council that while the details are vague, Family Care Network is interested in opening a healthcare facility in Blaine and the north end of the Gateway Parcel is an ideal location. “Medical services and jobs are both very important to the quality of life in Blaine, just like in any

city,” Jones said in an email. “We are very positive about Chewters and see their industrial tourism concept as an exciting addition to Blaine. At the same time, we are thrilled at the prospect of expanding the health care options in the community.” An estimated 3,000 local patients are at risk of losing medical care if Bay Medical Clinic in Blaine closes on March 31. Currently, Premera Blue Cross is in the process of helping recruit new providers at the location. “Our current facility near Birch Bay is at capacity, yet the communities we serve continue to grow,” said Family Care Network spokesperson Michele Anderson. “We have been exploring options in the north part of the county for an easily accessible location where we can provide a full spectrum of primary care services to our current and future patients.”

s Chewters Chocolates, and its affiliate ChocXO Chocolatier LLC, presented the above architectural rendering to Blaine City Council in November. The company wanted to build a manufacturing facility that included a retail and tourism component, similar to the Tillamook Creamery in Oregon. Illustration courtesy of the city of Blaine

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s Zervas Architects, the firm designing a new Blaine High School grandstand, presented a scaled-back design at a January 9 school board special meeting with seating for about 1,600, down from 1,900 in a previous design. Illustration courtesy of Zervas Architects/Blaine School District

School ... From page 1

attendees, and that didn’t include students who get in with an ASB card. Blaine High School has nearly 600 students. Board members came up with ideas including changing the portion of visitor seating from

about one-third of the stadium to one-fourth and asked Zervas to look into a design that could be added onto as the school grows. The district plans to go out to bid in early February, and will likely decide on a plan at its January 28 school board meeting. School district superintendent Ron Spanjer said he’d direct Zervas Architects

to bring a design with more seating to the upcoming meeting, and he plans to present other funding options to the board. “All the details are still being considered, but we intend to be ready for a formal update and proposal at the January 28 meeting,” Spanjer said. The board could face a decision between moving forward

with a smaller facility than it pitched to voters or delaying the project again – an outcome that comes with no guarantee that it will be able to build a stadium if costs keep rising. “We have to decide what’s our priority in all this,” board member Laura McKinney said at the January 9 meeting. “Is perfect going to be the enemy of the good? Are we not going to be satisfied unless we prioritize the product we want in the end?” Increasing costs have plagued the grandstand for awhile. The district planned to fund a new grandstand with money from a $45 million bond that voters passed in February 2015, but when bids came in over budget in 2016 the school board voted to move forward on high school construction without building a new grandstand. The 2015 plan for the stadium, which included a concrete structure for the bleachers, was estimated to cost $2.6 million at that time. Zervas’s latest design with fewer seats and other cost-saving measures is estimated to cost about $3 million. The Blaine school district isn’t alone in struggling against increas-

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ing construction costs, according to the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), the agency that oversees public education in Washington state. The average construction cost for school projects in Washington state went from $256.87 per square foot during the 2012-2013 school year to $373.01 per square foot last year, according to OSPI. That’s a 45 percent increase in five years. A labor shortage and rising material costs are to blame, said Randy Newman, associate director of school facilities and organization at OSPI. “Those are the two largest factors that we’ve seen,” he said. “It’s also true that during good economic times, school districts tend to have higher bond passage rates and there’s an increase in private construction.” For other projects funded by the Blaine school district’s recent levy, Spanjer doesn’t expect cost increases to be as big an issue. For one thing, the district built a 10 percent per year cost increase into its cost estimates and the rest of the projects require fewer subcontractors than the grandstands and therefore less variables that could drive up cost.

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CLASSIFIEDS

3040 BIRCH BAYLYNDEN RD.

Help Wanted

NOW HIRING NOW HIRING

360-366-5340 Pets

PA M P E R - Y O U R - P E T S with PetNanny Petsitting! Professionally petsitting since Driver - CDL Class B 2002. Licensed and insured. with hazmat Former veterinary asst., Salary DOE CPR and First Aid certified. Numerous references. Call Gina Driver - CDL Class B with hazmat at 360-631-1336. Salary $21/hr.

Call 360 332-3121 stop by 2163 Nature’s Path Way • Blaine Callor360 332-3121

Email: 1stpropaneofwhatcom@gmail.com

Email: 1stpropaneofwhatcom@gmail.com or stop by 2163 Nature’s Path Way • Blaine

Plumbing

ADVERTISE YOUR GARAGE SALE!

A Diehl You Can Count On

$39,333

Connect Your Business MSRP:

$42,725

Savings: $7,735

with our Popular Special Sections

First week of every month

Active SeniorS Second week of every month

ADVICE

Computer

FROM THE PROS

23,600 people

Third week of every month

Pet Care Third week of every month

read The Northern Light Newspaper every week!

To advertise call

Health&Wellness

HOME&GARDEN Last week of every month

360-332-1777 or email sales@thenorthernlight.com

The Northern Light • January 17 - 23, 2019

Real Estate

8 decades of combined experience with Blaine & Birch Bay Real Estate

OPE

12 S AT.

:30-

NEW CONSTRUCTION!

8778 Clubhouse Point

“Clubhouse Point”, gated micro-community within Semiahmoo. On fairway 1. Single story with no steps. 2905 sq. ft open plan. Great room, luxe kitchen. Super pantry, 3-BD, 2.75-BA includes Casita, Casita & office both open to interior courtyard. Quality, finishes: strand woven bamboo flooring, Graphite stained Birch cabinets, quartz counters. 522 sq. ft. 2 car garage + / -. MLS#1214955 For Details visit: clubhousepoint.com

Brian Southwick

8105 Birch Bay Square • I-5 Exit 270 • Blaine

2748 Peace Portal Dr. • Blaine $140,000 Highway Commercial Warehouse

Pre-sale opportunity location is everything. I-5 visibility. Industrial type warehouses with Blaine services, business or personal storage, interior can be built to your needs. Large overhead doors, electric door openers, gas furnace & upper windows, bathroom & upper mezzanine an option. When finished chain link fence and security gate. Seller may carry contract.

THIS ONE HAS IT ALL! WATERFRONT PENTHOUSE SUITE 9535 Semiahmoo Pkwy. #B-301 $868,000

Fabulous waterfront luxury residence at the Marin. 2-BD, 2.5-BA. Incomparable sunsets and city lights. MUST VIEW! MLS#1243288.

Gerry Allen

360-815-6638

gerryallen@windermere.com

8045 Birch Bay Dr. Blaine, WA

360-371-7252 Century21BayProperties.com 295 Whitetail Loop • Blaine

$389,000

-3 N. 12 . & SU T A S OPEN

lisasprague@windermere.com

kelseysharp@windermere.com

The Tides at Birch Bay - the premier community of craftsman cottage townhouse style condominiums nestled on the hillside above the bay. Close to all activities Birch Bay offers. Units are over 102J @ $329,000 103J @ $334,000 1,400 sq ft w/granite or quartz counters, rock gas FP, SS appl., 3-BD, 2.5-BA, Pick your unit now & be part of this wonderful growing beach community!

1239 Geneva Hills Rd. • Bellingham $579,000

Christy Imperio • (360) 201-4100

Amy Bremer • (360) 961-0620

WOW - JUST SHY 5 ACRES! Build your sanctuary on this just shy 5-acres in Semiahmoo/Birch Point, surrounded by million dollar homes. Opportunity to have all the privacy you desire, yet 5 ACRES! minutes away from Semihamoo amenities of Resort, Golf & Marina. Partial view of water, islands. 45 minutes to Vancouver, 90 minutes to Seattle.

CeCelia Breivik 360-303-8161

9150 Aerie Lane #5 • Semiahmoo

$949,000

AERIE CONDO! Spectacular waterfront condo in Semiahmoo! Excellent for entertaining. Over 4,400 sq feet, 3-BR + den & wide open flr plan. Views of Drayton Harbor, White Rock B.C., Mt. Baker SEMIAHMOO WATERFRONT & Canadian mountains! Perfect for year-round living or weekend getaways.

Heather Taylor • (425) 785-5771

5014 Alder Drive • Birch Bay

$185,000

COZY LOG BEACH CABIN! Just steps away from the shores of Birch Bay, this sturdy log-built beach cabin exudes enchantment & charm. Log interiors, hardwood flooring, floor to ceiling brick fireplace lends a cozy, vintage CUTE AS A BUG’S EAR! feel inside the home. Outside offers a park-like enjoyment of spacious, private lot.

Jeremy Porter • (360) 306-1794

Call Hugh -360.371.5800 SEMIAHMOO MARINA BOAT SLIPS AVAILABLE, CALL HUGH

Hugh Brawford

IN NT

Carl W. R. Dufton • (360) 815-6637

GENEVA NEIGHBORHOOD! This craftsman home has Brazilian Cherry hardwood flooring throughout main level along w/ gourmet kitchen that opens up into main living area. JUST LISTED! Vaulted ceilings, gas fireplace & floor to ceiling windows. Finished basement with 4 additional BD, full BA and large great room with FP and more.

$275,000

Meticulous. 1636 sq. ft. 3-BD, 1.75-BA, nat gas, hardi siding, composition roof. Laminate flooring, tile kitchen & bathrooms. Granite in kitchen & bathrooms with stainless appliances. All appliances stay including washer & dryer. Master with en-suite and walk-in closet. Covered front & back porch / patio with stamped concrete.

Kelsey Sharp

360-961-9308

4729 TIDAL WAY #102-J & 103-J, MINUTES TO THE BEACH!

8121 Chehalis Rd. • Birch Bay $349,500

MLS 1386597

360-961-0838

CUSTOM HOME IN BLAINE’S MOUNTAIN ESTATES! Looking for something new? Get inside and look at this floor plan! Custom kitchen with beautiful quartz counters. This 1986 SF 3-BD, 2.5-BA features an extra NEW CONSTRUCTION! home bonus room upstairs. Nice park directly across the street with lots of walking trails.

XXXX Birch Point Road • Birch Bay

Well-built custom home located on the golf course in popular Birch Bay Village. Warm southern exposure, 3-BD, 2.5-BA. 24-7 security, community amenities include marina, clubhouse, swimming pool, and private beaches.

Lisa Sprague

360-920-0563

briansouthwick@gmail.com

8285 Cowichan Rd. • Blaine $579,000

BIRCH BAY VILLAGE CHARM

5051 Fern Street • Birch Bay

BIRCH BAY VIEWS!

$195,000

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! This Birch Bay north shore view property offers a very well maintained, clean 2-BD, 1-BA single wide with a neighboring 3,523 +/- SF legal lot of record to build that highly desired Birch Bay view recreational getaway / cottage.

Terry Conway • (360) 410-0503

8128 Kayak Way • Birch Bay

$495,000

NEWLY UPDATED! This remarkable 3,520 SF 5-BD, 3-BA home has it all! Excellent condition, everything updated in last 5 years. New furnaces, AC, bathrooms, huge deck, exterior closet organizers BIRCH BAY VILLAGE! paint, thru entire home. Lots of room downstairs. Get in and see for yourself.

Julie Ward • (760) 522-2564

7372 Birch Bay Drive • Birch Bay

$349,000

BEACH ACCESS FOR YOU BEACH LOVERS! Fabulous, new home in prime location with 3-BD 2-BA. Features laminate floors and high ceilings. Master suite looks out to the creek with BRAND NEW! a peek-a-boo view of the Bay from spacious eat-in-kitchen. SS appliances adorn the kitchen. Located close to the public beach, cafes & more!

High Density - Multi-Family Property

4235 Sweet Rd. • Blaine

Recently upgraded home w/main level living. New furnace. ONE ACRE, short plat for < 31 UNITS. Next door lot also for sale possible up to 53 units if combined. Water sewer hook ups +/-$10,000 per unit +one meter for 16-unit building. Level dry land. Next door available- up to 53 units possible if combined.

Private circular driveway takes you through 85 year old cedar forest to this solid cedar sided home. • Includes 2nd lot ready for new construction • 3 Beds, 1.75 Baths, 2 Wood Fireplaces • Pond with access to Spooner Creek

$415,000

2290 Douglas • Ferndale $625,000

21 ACRES On Kickerville at Headwaters on Terrell Creek $200,000 Some residential zoning, currently in open space, also in CREPS program. Earning roughly $3,000 per year. Owner contract is possible at 20% down, 6.5% 30 year Amortization. Wet lands credit transfer? Recreational? May be eligible for 503 use. WATER SHARE AVAILABLE.

www.CallHugh.com

Rentals - Residential 2-BD, 2-BA Upper duplex in Birch Bay. View, open floor plan, SS/granite, heated floor, 1/2 garage. No pets. W/S/G and lawncare pd. $1600/month. Avail. now. 360-303-6895.

FIND IT IN THE CLASSIFIEDS

Billy Brown

360-220-7175 billybrown@windermere.com All real estate/rentals advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 as amended, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertisement for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our 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.

ADVERTISE YOUR GARAGE SALE!

Rentals - Commercial

Rentals - Rooms

4,000 SF Warehouse

FURNISHED ROOMS Historic home. Incl. amenities, NS, pet friendly, $550/mo. + deposit, references required, 360-3323449.

Available Jan. 1, 2019

1790 Boblett St., Blaine Office Loading Dock Fenced & Paved Yard Don Nelson 360-305-0286 nelsbldg@msn.com

80.7% of readers

Ruth Skeete • (360) 358-5075

frequently purchase products or services from ads seen in

Statistics audited by the

Community Newspaper of Blaine, Birch Bay & Semiahmoo

Call or email to advertise: 360-332-1777 or sales@thenorthernlight.com

January 17 - 23, 2019 • thenorthernlight.com

New state laws go into effect at the start of 2019 BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL By Gwen Roley

Now that 2019 has come into full swing, here is a look at some of the new Washington state laws that took effect on January 1. I-1639 With the passage of Initiative 1639, Washington will have one of the strictest gun control laws in the country. The measure effects gun ownership and will be rolled out incrementally in 2019. Starting on January 1, the minimum age to purchase a firearm increased from 18 to 21 years old. Owners of firearms between the ages of 18 and 21 will be grandfathered in and may still keep their rifles at their property, residence or place of business. Changes to background checks, waiting periods and firearm storage requirements will go into effect in July 2019. At that time, firearm buyers will have to provide proof they completed a rifle training program within the last five years and have no pending criminal charges. A 10-day waiting period and a $25 purchase fee on all firearms will also be imposed. New storage requirements would find a gun owner guilty of community endangerment if they keep firearms in a place where a prohibited person (someone deemed unfit to own a gun) could gain access to it.

Misrepresentation of animals as service companions House Bill 2822 became law on January 1 and enforces stricter definitions of what constitutes a service animal. This law firmly defines a service animal as an individual dog or miniature horse that is specially trained to attend to the specific disabilities of its owner. The law adds a new definition for the distinction between emotional support or therapy animals and service animals. Businesses and landlords have increasingly seen people misrepresenting their pet or therapy animal as a service animal to bring it into a place where it would not usually be allowed. Whether the misrepresentations of the animal is intentional or not, the bill says this pattern raises concerns about the legitimate rights and privileges from people with a disability. Individuals who misrepresent their pet or emotional support animal could face a $500 fine. Contraceptives Health plans in Washington state, which go into effect or are renewed after January 1, are now required to cover contraceptives. The reproductive health care coverage law, Substitute Senate Bill 6219, will cover all contraceptive drugs and tools approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration. The law states

that coverage providers cannot require copayments or deductibles unless the plan is a part of a health savings account. The findings included in the drafting of the Senate bill said this law aligns with Washington’s long history of protecting gender equity and women’s reproductive health. Minimum Wage The minimum wage in Washington rose on January 1 to $12 per hour. This in accordance with an Initiative 1433 passed in 2016, which allowed for the progressive increase of the minimum wage each year until it eventually reaches $13.50 per hour in 2020. This will align with implementation of the Paid Family and Medical Leave law which will take effect at the same time. Paid Family and Medical Leave Employers and employees started making payments toward the Washington state paid family and medical leave law during the last week of 2018. The law itself will go into effect in 2020. Premiums of 0.4 percent of wages are being collected with employees paying 63 percent and employers paying 37 percent, depending upon the size of the company. Passed in 2017, the law will provide extended leave of up to 12 weeks for the birth or adoption of a child as well as for serious medical conditions.

January 2, 5:47 a.m.: Alarm audible

cold call on Cottonwood Court.

January 4, 2:48 p.m.: Suspicious

on Birch Bay Drive.

January 3, 12:00 p.m.: Refer to oth-

circumstances cold call on Beach-

January 2, 6:56 a.m.: Follow up on

er agency on Birch Bay Drive and

comber Drive.

Harborview Road.

Shintaffer Road.

January 4, 6:29 p.m.: Domestic ver-

January 2, 8:38 a.m.: Assist citizen

January 3, 12:03 p.m.: Refer to oth-

bal on Holeman Avenue.

on Haynie Road, Custer.

er agency on Anderson Road and

January 5, 4:44 a.m.: Traffic haz-

January 2, 9:59 a.m.: Impound pri-

Harborview Road.

ard on Kickerville Road and Birch

vate on Haynie Road, Custer

January 3, 2:59 p.m.: Assist agency

Bay-Lynden Road.

January 2, 10:04 a.m.: Traffic stop

on Pacific Highway.

January 5, 8:06 a.m.: Follow up on

on Harborview Road. One arrest for

January 3, 4:15 p.m.: Bicycle theft

Valley View Road, Custer.

driving with a suspended license.

on Birch Bay-Lynden Road.

January 5, 9:13 a.m.: Vandalism

January 2, 2:17 p.m.: Follow up on

January 3, 6:05 p.m.: Civil problem

cold call on Semiahmoo Drive.

Haynie Road, Custer.

on Birch Bay Drive and Harborview

January 5, 9:50 a.m.: Shots on Hole-

January 2, 2:37 p.m.: Threat on

Road.

man Avenue.

Haynie Road, Custer.

January 3, 7:51 p.m.: Serve warrant

January 5, 10:27 a.m.: Theft cold

January 2, 3:39 p.m.: Suspicious ve-

on Second Street. One arrest for fugi-

call on Portal Way, Custer.

hicle cold call on Birch Bay Drive.

tive from justice warrants.

January 5, 10:58 a.m.: Follow up on

January 2, 4:54 p.m.: Vandalism

January 3, 10:53 p.m.: Suicidal sub-

Harborview Road.

cold call on Morgan Drive.

ject on Ashbury Court.

January 5, 12:59 p.m.: Trespass

January 2, 5:23 p.m.: Motor vehicle

January 4, 1:08 a.m.: Assist agency

cold call on Jackson Road.

accident non-blocking/non-injury on

on Second Street.

January 5, 1:28 p.m.: Burglary cold

Birch Bay-Lynden Road and North

January 4, 8:41 a.m.: Impound pri-

call on Helweg Road.

Enterprise Road, Custer.

vate cold call on Helweg Road.

January 5, 2:20 p.m.: Suspicious

January 2, 10:10 p.m.: Music on

January 4, 10:57 a.m.: Traffic Haz-

person on James Tree Lane.

West Road.

ard on Portal Way and Main Street,

January 5, 3:54 p.m.: Mental on Pa-

January 2, 10:54 p.m.: Shots on

Custer.

cific Highway.

Birch Bay Drive.

January 4, 1:56 p.m.: Suspicious

January 5, 4:02 p.m.: Trespass on

January 2, 10:55 p.m.: Shots on

circumstances cold call on Loomis

Harborview Road.

Birch Bay Drive.

Trail Road.

January 5, 4:09 p.m.: Suicidal sub-

January 3, 9:10 a.m.: Traffic control

January 4, 2:35 p.m.: Suspicious cir-

ject on Birch Bay Square Street.

on Birch Bay Drive.

cumstances cold call on Birch Bay

January 5, 4:16 p.m.: Impound pri-

January 3, 11:26 a.m.: Vandalism

Drive.

vate on Moonlight Way.

From page 5

In a letter, Greene said she would be required to recuse herself from voting on the city’s budget because she is married to a Blaine Police Department officer. Steven Tojek Tojek has been a U.S. border patrol agent for more than nine years.

He has experience training youth as part of a workforce development program and has volunteered with a neighborhood planning and community development organization called People United for Sustainable Housing in Buffalo, New York. “I believe it is to the advantage of the city council to have someone on board that can offer an outside perspective concerning ideas for helping Blaine be a more

When it comes to your to-do list, put your future first.

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Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office reports: Jan. 2-5

City ...

DIRECTORY

attractive place to live for future residents,” he wrote. “I also would like to mention the experience I have in my field of work can offer ideas that can leave an impact regarding a more cooperative Blaine when regarding law enforcement.” Each candidate will be interviewed and one will be appointed on Monday, January 28 at Blaine City Hall. More information can be found at ci.blaine.wa.us/.

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Fill your bottles - Easy RV access

2163 Nature’s Path Way • Blaine

This space can be yours for only $37 per week. 13 week commitment. Call 332-1777 to reserve.

Want to find a new home?

You’ve come to the right place!

Dining Guide Great Authentic Mexican Food 758 Peace Portal • Blaine 360-332-4045

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360-332-2780

The Northern Light • January 17 - 23, 2019

Coming up

Police Reports The following are summaries of law enforcement incidents handled by the Blaine Police Department.

January 8, 10:26 a.m.: Blaine police assisted a woman with a courtesy ride to her home. The woman had been involved in a verbal argument with her husband the night before. An officer drove the woman home and stood by as she collected her credit cards, IDs and car keys. The woman then drove to her doctor’s office. Police cleared. January 8, 4:54 p.m.; A man called police to report being kidnapped and assaulted with a firearm from a location in Blaine. The man said he was blindfolded and taken by vehicle to a field in Ferndale. The man never provided a written statement. Police investigated and were unable to find any evidence that this incident actually occurred. Case is closed pending further information. (Chief’s note: The officer did a great job in investigating this case and it was reviewed by a supervisor. There is no evidence of a crime at this time.) January 10, 1:50 p.m.: A Blaine resident came into the police department to report he was being blackmailed via email. The blackmailer threatened to release photographs of the complainant viewing embarrassing websites. Officers advised the complainant the email is likely a scam and to not release any personal information to the scammer. Officers further advised the individual to change any passwords he may have. Officers cleared with no further incident. January 10, 7:41 p.m.: Officers

responded to the Peace Arch point of entry for minors in possession of alcohol. Officers cited the minors for possession. They were released with a court date. January 11, 8:38 a.m.: Officers took a theft of a motor vehicle complaint from a Blaine resident. Blaine officers and Whatcom County sheriff deputies located the suspect and arrested the individual for the vehicle theft and a felony Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office warrant. Officers transported and booked the individual into Whatcom County Jail. January 12, 3:46 p.m.: Officers working traffic enforcement observed a vehicle speeding. Officers stopped the vehicle and determined the driver had a suspended license status. Officers arrested, cited and released the individual with a mandatory court date. Officers allowed the individual to contact a valid driver to retrieve the vehicle. Officers cleared with no further incident. January 13, 3:13 a.m.: A vehicle was stolen from the 800 Block of Adelia Street. A signed stolen report was completed and the vehicle information was broadcast to other local agencies. Officers searched the local jurisdiction but were unable to locate the vehicle. The WSP later found the vehicle abandoned. January 13, 12:37 p.m.: Blaine police were dispatched to a report of two juveniles in an alley hiding under a tree. The reporting party allegedly overheard one say, “I’m gonna get a

Crossword

rock.” An officer arrived to find three juveniles under a tree, one holding a glass marijuana bong. The juvenile in possession of the bong was detained and released to his parents. The glass bong was destroyed. January 13, 1:13 p.m.: Blaine police were dispatched to a motel after staff found the motel room had been destroyed by former guests. The carpeting, linoleum flooring and two mattresses would need to be replaced. The total value of the damage is believed to be about $1,660. Charges will be forwarded to the Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office as the whereabouts of the suspect(s) are unknown. January 13, 3:06 p.m.: Blaine police were called to a motel for a report of a man selling drugs out of his motel room. The man had an extraditable warrant out of Missouri and was arrested and booked into Whatcom County Jail. The investigation of selling drugs is still under investigation. January 14, 6:35 p.m.: Blaine police were called to the I-5 overpass at Hughes Avenue for a report of a man leaning over the bridge. An officer located the man, who told the officer he was just trying to walk to Ferndale. The man was offered a ride but he declined. The man was also warned about walking around in the fog at night, as it is a dangerous thing to do. The man continued his trek eastbound onto Sweet Road. Report by the Blaine Police Department.

49° 0’ 0”N - 122° 46’ 0”W

DATE TIME HEIGHT TIME HEIGHT Fr 18

4:18 am

8.76

8:35 am

7.24

1:31 pm

9.43

9:18 pm

-1.41

Sa 19 5:06 am

9.62

9:43 am

7.38

9.51 10:04 pm

-2.22

Su 20 5:48 am 10.27 10:43 am 3:15 pm

9.53 10:50 pm

Mo 21 6:28 am 10.69 11:39 am

ACROSS

its price to vote 1. Sheep sounds 52. Where goods are presented 29. Greek letter 5. Turn up 56. Jewish salutation 31. Body part 11. Statements of support 58. Fruits 34. Boxing result 14. Spells 60. Poorly educated 36. Newts 15. Evildoer 62. Microorganism 37. Predatory semiaquatic 18. One-time baseball stadium 63. Depicted reptiles staple 38. Cockatoo DOWN 19. Activities 40. The NFL’s big game 1. Ballplayer’s tool 21. WWII-era US President (abbr.) 2. Hairdo 23. Soft, flexible leather 43. Leguminous east 3. From a distance 24. Proverb Indian tree 4. Belt one out 28. Wish (Hindu) 45. News reporting 5. Revising a text 29. Injury treatment organization 6. More (Spanish) 30. Red Sox ace 48. A nemesis of Batman 7. Beloved Spielberg alien 32. “Deadliest Catch” captain 8. BBQ dish 50. Legal term 33. Baseball stat 51. Not all 9. Provoke 35. Where marine life lives 53. A way to greet 10. Within 36. Heartbeat test 54. Knot in a tree 12. Canadian flyers 39. Signs on the dotted line 55. Satisfy 13. Smugly smile 41. Atomic #24 57. Russian space station 16. Buffalo 42. Bind securely 17. Lake in the Kalahari Desert 58. A baby’s mealtime 44. Swiss Nobel Peace Prize 20. Grab accessory winner 59. Stitch together 22. Rural delivery 46. Fragrant brown balsam 61. __ and behold 25. Equally 47. Where you were born 26. It’s sometimes passed ANSWERS AT 49. Sells a ticket for more than 27. Citizens who are qualified THENORTHERNLIGHT.COM

4:11 pm

7.26 -2.69 6.91

9.42 11:38 pm

-2.74

Tu 22

7:08 am 10.89 12:33 pm

6.37

5:09 pm

9.14

We 23 12:24 am

-2.32

7:48 am

10.90

1:25 pm

5.68

6:09 pm

8.66

Th 24 1:08 am

-1.43

8:26 am

10.77

4.88

7:13 pm

8.02

2:21 pm

Semiahmoo Winemaker Dinner: Friday, January 18, reception at 5:30 p.m. with dinner seating at 6 p.m., Semiahmoo Resort. Featuring Three of Cups Winery. Reservations required: 360/318-2028. Voiceplay: Friday, January 18, 7:30 p.m., Mt. Baker Theatre, 104 North Commercial Street, Bellingham. Five voices make up the orchestrated sound of an entire musical production. Pancake Breakfast: Saturday, January 19, 8–11 a.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Choice of pancakes, French toast or waffles, biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, sausage, coffee and orange juice. Adults $6, kids $4. Info: 360/332-8040. Basics of Sprouting: Saturday, January 19, 10 a.m. – noon, Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. Learn how to grow nutrient-dense sprouts, even without a windowsill! Presented by Blaine C.O.R.E. (Community Orchards for Resources and Education). Info: 360/3053637. Travel to the Philippines with Lawrence Pang: Saturday, January 19, 1:30–3 p.m., Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. Lawrence is back from his world travels and will take you on a virtual tour of the Philippines. Visit Manila, Baguio, Sagada and Palawan, and learn about the people, the food, the architecture and more. Info: 360/305-3637. Live music at The Lounge: Saturday, January 19, 9 p.m.–1 a.m., The Lounge at Silver Reef Casino. Featuring Lemon Creek. Third Sunday Breakfast: Sunday, January 20, 9 a.m.– noon, American Legion Post 86, 4580 Legion Drive. Open to the public. Adults $6, kids 6 and under $3. Eggs to order, French toast, biscuits and gravy, all-you-can-eat pancakes, ham, coffee, milk, orange juice. Info: 360/371-7311. Salishan Neighborhood Association Meeting: Sunday, January 20, 3–5 p.m., 287 Boblett Street. Special guest: Blaine police chief Allen Schubert.

Preschool Storytime: Tuesday, January 22, 10:30–11 a.m., Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. First session in our winter season featuring stories, rhymes and songs for ages 3–5. Info: 360/305-3637.

January 18–24 at Blaine. Not for navigation.

Book and Bites: Friday, January 18, 1–2:30 p.m., Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. Bring your lunch if you’d like and join the discussion on this month’s title, The Bishop’s Pawn by Steve Berry. Info: 360/305-3637.

Semiahmoo Men’s Breakfast: Thursday, February 21, 7:30 a.m., Great Blue Heron Grill. Coffee, big breakfast $15. All men are welcome. This week’s speaker is Kathy Sitker, director, Blaine Senior Center.

Tides

2:21 pm

Sea to Ski Registration Open: Teams that are registered and paid in full by Sunday, January 20 will be entered into a drawing for free Ski to Sea hats, window decals and a drawing for Samson Estates Winery private tasting for 10 people. The race takes place on Sunday, May 26. Info and registration: skitosea.com

Weather Precipitation: During the period of January 7 to 13, 0.21 inches of precipitation was recorded. The 2019 year-to-date precipitation is 2.79 inches. Temperature: High for the past week was 56.7°F on January 12 with a low of 32.4°F on January 7. Average high was 52.6°F and average low was 37.4°F.

Courtesy Birch Bay Water & Sewer Dist.

Baby Storytime: Wednesday, January 23, 9:30–10:30 a.m., Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. First session in our winter season offering a time for babies and their caregivers to wiggle and giggle through stories, songs, and rhymes; and followed with a playtime. For ages 0–18 months. Info: 360/305-3637. Pruning 101: Wednesday, January 23, 4–6 p.m., and repeated Saturday, January 26, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. Learn about why you should prune, growth habits of trees and bushes and tools required. Presented by Blaine C.O.R.E. (Community Orchards for Resources and Education). Info:360/305-3637. Toddler Storytime: Friday, January 25, 10:30–11 a.m., Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. New this season, a program for toddlers to listen, sing, count and play along with a series of concept books, simple stories and movement activities. For ages 1–3. Info: 360/305-3637. Era of the Megafires: A Whatcom READS event: Saturday, January 26, 1–2:30 p.m., Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. This 60-minute multi-media presentation combines research of Dr. Paul Hessburg with the visual story-telling of the award-winning film company, North 40 Productions, and features the work of wildfire photographer John Marshall. Info: 360/305-3637. Wine Dinner: Sunday, January 27, 5–8 p.m., The Vault Wine Bar, 277 G Street. Five courses paired with five wines from Isenhower Cellars in Walla Walla. Tickets $70. Reservations required. Info: 360/392-0955. Arts and Jazz: Saturday, February 2, 7 p.m., Blaine Middle School Cafeteria. Hosted by the Blaine Fine Arts Association. All funds raised benefit scholarships and experiences beyond the curriculum in the Blaine School District. $5 student/senior, $7 adult. Visions and Voices: Sunday, February 10, 2 p.m., Mt. Baker Theatre, 104 North Commercial Street. Sampling a variety of short films from “Pioneers First Women Filmmakers.” Featuring Red Kimona (1925) Directed by Dorothy Davenport (billed as Mrs. Wallace Reid) and starring Priscilla Bonner. Tickets $10 or $5 with student ID. Valentine’s Concert, “Love is the Answer”: Thursday, February 14, 7:30 p.m., Semiahmoo Resort ballroom, 9565 Semiahmoo Parkway. Featuring world-renowned musicians Nick Biello, Charlie Porter and Dave Marriott. Cheesecake dessert and no-host bar. Tickets: $30 at draytonharbormusic.org or Blaine Welcome Center. Benefits Drayton Harbor Music Festival. Bite of Blaine: Monday, February 18, no-host social at 6 p.m., tasting at 6:30 p.m., Semiahmoo Resort ballroom, 9565 Semiahmoo Parkway. This annual fundraiser for Blaine’s Old Fashioned 4th of July features fares from local restaurants plus silent and live auctions. Tickets: $30/ available at Pacific Building Center and Blaine Welcome Center. Info: blainechamber.com. Submissions to Coming Up should be sent to calendar@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.

January 17 - 23, 2019 • thenorthernlight.com

Governor Inslee’s State of the State address fuels partisanship Inslee proposes ambitious legislative agenda By Emma Scher WN PA O ly m p i a N e w s Bureau In his State of the State address Tuesday, Governor Jay Inslee emphasized his program requests, but was criticized by Republicans for fueling partisanship.

House minority leader J.T. Wilcox (R-Yelm) said he believes the governor “dissipated” feelings of unification after Monday’s speech by speaker Frank Chopp (D-Seattle) at the House swearing-in ceremony. Inslee’s stance on gun control drew a clear line on the floor between Democrats, who gave a standing ovation, and Republicans, who remained seated. Representative Wilcox said that Inslee prolonged this ovation because of its divisive nature.

“Many in D.C. remain in the grips of the NRA,” Inslee said. “We are the state that stands up for common sense gun safety reforms.” Governor Inslee’s address, a speech similar to the U.S. State of the Union, gave his perspective on both the successes and ongoing issues in Washington state. He also called for a holistic approach to mental health, transformative environmental policy and a more equitable education system. These plans include involving

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR

ELECTED OFFICIALS PATTY MURRAY D-WA

US Senator

Web: murray.senate.gov Address: 154 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Phone: 202/224-2621 Fax: 202/224-0238 Toll Free: 866/481-9186

MARIA CANTWELL D-WA,

US Senator

Web: cantwell.senate.gov Address: 511 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Phone: 202/224-3441 Fax: 202/228-0514

SUZAN DELBENE D-WA

US Representative, District 1

Web: delbene.house.gov Address: 2330 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202/225-6311 Fax: 202/226-1606

DOUG ERICKSEN R-WA State Senator, District 42

Web: dougericksen.src.wastateleg.org Address: P.O. Box 40442 Olympia, WA 98504 Email: Doug@SenatorEricksen.com Phone: 360/786-7682

SHARON SHEWMAKE D-WA

State Representative, District 42

Web: housedemocrats.wa.gov/shewmake Address: 310 John L. O'Brien Building P.O. Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504-0600 Email: Sharon.Shewmake@leg.wa.gov Phone: 360/786-7854

LUANNE VAN WERVEN R-WA State Representative, District 42

Web: houserepublicans.wa.gov/luanne-vanwerven Address: 466 John L. O'Brien Building P.O. Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504-0600 Email: luanne.vanwerven@leg.wa.gov Phone: 360/786-7980

communities in behavioral health treatment, lowering carbon emissions and saving resident orcas, and helping low-income families access preschools, respectively. Republicans immediately responded with concerns, including how the governor intends to fund his policies. “It’s much like when my kids make their Christmas lists out and they want everything under the sun,” Representative Jacquelin Maycumber (R-Republic) said. “This is just another Christmas list that Inslee has put out.” Part of Inslee’s solution is a capital gains tax, a step toward reforming the least equitable tax

system in the nation, according to a report by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. Many Republican lawmakers oppose a capital gains tax and criticize Inslee for calling for policies they believe the state is unable to fully fund without raising taxes. But an expanded democratic majority reduces the necessity to compromise on his agenda, and planned weekend trips to Nevada and New Hampshire – two early primary states – have sparked questions about a potential presidential bid by Inslee. “Let this be our profound story, let it be bold, and most of all let it make history,” Inslee concluded.

Legislature proposes bill in support of marijuana in schools B y M a d e l i n e C o at s WN PA O ly m p i a N e w s Bureau A bill proposed by representative Brian Blake (D-Aberdeen) would allow marijuana on school grounds for students who require it for medical conditions. House Bill 1060 would allow students to consume medical marijuana on school property, aboard buses and while attending school-sponsored events if they meet the requirements of state law RCW 69.51A.220, which requires that healthcare professionals authorize the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Minors may receive treatment with the approval of their guardians. According to the Legislator’s Guide to Washington’s Marijuana Laws, a qualifying medical condition is “severe enough to significantly interfere with the patient’s activities of daily living and ability to function.” Common disabilities or illnesses are cancer, epilepsy, anorexia, post-traumatic stress disorder and intractable pain. A report from the Education Commission of the States, indicates that only Colorado, New Jersey, Maine and Washington

state allow medical marijuana to be administered at schools. The bill in Washington would leave the decision whether to allow marijuana on campus for medical purposes up to local schools. Representative Blake filed House Bill 1060 at the request of a constituent whose daughter couldn’t receive treatment at school. He explained that the medical marijuana therapy was helping her function; however, she had to leave campus in order to receive treatment. Under the proposed bill, the parent or guardian of a minor must be their designated provider and have control over the medical marijuana. Guardians would have to physically go to school to provide the substance to their child. To qualify, both the minor and the designated provider must be entered in the medical marijuana authorization database and hold a recognition card for identification. “Not the entire medical community supports CBD oil,” said representative Blake. According to Blake, the minor’s guardian would come to school, take the child from class, give the treatment and then go on with their day.

Lawmakers propose new strategy after voters nix carbon tax By Emma Scher WN PA O ly m p i a N e w s Bureau After voters rejected a statewide carbon fee initiative, climate advocates in the legislature are trying to curb climate change with a bevy of smaller reforms. Four environmental reform bills introduced on January 10 aim to reduce food waste, tighten emission limits, set stricter fuel standards and encourage the use of commercial car washes. This is a change from the precedent-setting climate policy strategy of the past. Carbon tax and carbon fee initiatives were rejected by Washington state voters in 2016 and 2018 respectively, but House environmental committee chair Joe Fitzgibbon (D-Burien) said that the state’s commitment to the en-

vironment still makes Washington a national leader in the area. “Carbon tax was never the silver bullet in climate change; it’s one tool in the toolbox,” he said. “It’s time to take a step back and try it sector by sector.” This approach is similar to governor Jay Inslee’s climate package, which proposes a wide range of environmental policies like orca conservation and an emphasis on creating jobs in the clean energy industry. This is in contrast to policy proposals of past legislative sessions that included a carbon tax and a cap-and-trade system. Some environmental issues, such as salmon recovery and reducing carbon emission have bipartisan support, but state Democrats and Republicans disagree on where the funding will come from. To see a longer version of this story, visit thenorthernlight.com.

The Northern Light • January 17 - 23, 2019

Dentist returns from humanitarian mission to Central, South America B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e Blaine dentist Patrick Rooney recently concluded an 11-week mission as part of the U.S. Southern Command’s Enduring Promise initiative. While aboard the USNS Comfort, he traveled to Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and Honduras to provide dental care to people in need. “The comfort deployment is all about building relationships,” said captain William Shafley in a statement released by the U.S. Navy. “Bringing our partners out here to see what the U.S. Navy does, how we are integrating non-governmental organizations, such as the white helmets commission, not only strengthens our existing ties in the region, but it opens new lines of communication,” he added. The mission, which spanned from October to December,

marked the sixth deployment of the USNS Comfort to Latin America and the Caribbean since 2007. According to the U.S. Southern Command, health practitioners from the U.S. and partner nations provided medical, dental and optometry services to 26,701 patients – approximately 8,000 of which were dental patients, Rooney said. “It was the professional highlight of my dental career,” he said. This wasn’t the first time Rooney boarded a U.S. Navy hospital ship to help people in need. Along with 1,200 medical corpsman and civilian volunteers, he provided dental care to people in Timor-Leste, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia as part of Pacific Partnership in 2016. To learn more about the enduring promise initiative, visit bit. ly/2Da7gV0.

s From October to December, Blaine resident Patrick Rooney helped provide dental care to people in Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and Honduras, l. He traveled on hospital ship USNS Comfort. Photos courtesy of Patrick Rooney

Phillips 66 donates to Boys and Girls Clubs Coffee group for veterans meets weekly in Birch Bay

Thanks to a $265,000 donation from Phillips 66, all boys and girls clubhouses in Whatcom County will be able to offer new equipment and curricula geared toward kids who want to learn more about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). “STEM education creates critical thinkers, increases science literacy and enables the next generation of innovators,” read a press release from the Boys

and Girls Clubs of Whatcom County. “Despite these compelling facts, mathematics and science scores on average among U.S. students are lagging behind other developing countries.” The funding will allow all clubhouse locations to purchase new computers, electronic microscopes and robotics programs, among other things. New, hands-on STEM curricula will also be offered and a STEM educator/coordinator position

will be added. “This unique partnership brings together the shared values and vision of Boys and Girls Clubs of Whatcom County and Phillips 66 to benefit Whatcom County’s kids, especially those who need us most,” read the press release. To learn more, contact Heather Powell at 360/7383808, extension 305 or by email at hpowell@whatcomclubs.org.

Veterans can meet for coffee and conversation with a group that meets weekly in Birch Bay. Organized by Rosemary Fahrenkrug and Barry Leisegang, the International Veterans Coffee Group meets from 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays at The Bridge Community Hope Center, located at 4815 Alderson Road. Fahrenkrug, who has a background in providing support

services to veterans, said the group formed in 2017 after a veteran in the community committed suicide. “Anyone that goes to war can recover and get healed,” she said in a 2017 interview with The Northern Light. “Don’t give up. Just show up.” To learn more about the International Veterans Coffee Group, visit thebridgebirchbay.com or call 360/366-8763.

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