November 21 - 27, 2019
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Increase in property tax revenue authorized, page 2
Shellfish harvest expands in Drayton Harbor, page 6
Judge restricts device searches at border, page 15
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
County awards $8.7 million for berm construction By Oliver Lazenby
(See Berm, page 2)
s Blaine Elementary School’s students, staff and parent-teacher group held their annual “Stuff the Bus!” food drive from November 1 to 12 to benefit the Blaine Food Bank. The food drive brought in 3,600 pounds of food and $1,700 for the food bank. The top three classrooms were Ms. Kirby’s fifth grade class, Ms. Shultz’s fourth grade class and Ms. Brouillette’s third grade class, and they will get to go on a field trip to the food bank.
Photo courtesy of Kelly Brown
Gateway businesses question stormwater project costs By Jami Makan Businesses that own pieces of the Gateway parcel, also known as the old municipal airport site, are concerned about the rising costs of a stormwater pond project that they are being asked to help pay for. At the Blaine city council meeting on November 12, a public hearing was held concerning the Gateway Regional Storm Facility, a stormwater pond that is currently under construction between Boblett Court and Pipeline Road near the truck route. At the meeting, councilmembers voted 5-0 to form a Local Improvement District (LID), a method by which property owners within a defined geographical area can finance an improvement benefiting their property. The property owners who own pieces of the Gateway parcel and will be affected by the LID include Yorkston Oil Company, Mercer, Chuckanut Bay Foods and IK Truck Repair. Prior to the vote, representatives of some of these companies expressed concerns about the rising costs of the stormwater pond project.
The total cost of the project is currently estimated to be $3,426,520. To help pay for it, the city of Blaine received a grant from the Whatcom County Economic Development Investment (EDI) Board in the amount of $883,333 and a loan in the amount of $1,766,666. The cost of the improvements not covered by the grant, estimated to be $2,543,187, will be assessed against the property owners, some of whom feel that this amount is too high. “Boblett Properties objects to the formation of the LID due to the new cost estimates that we are being forced to bear along with the other property owners,” said Heather Wolf, an attorney with the Bellingham law firm Brownlie Wolf and Lee, which represents Yorkston’s Boblett Properties LLC. “We believe there are a number of errors in the city’s methodology for computing the costs for the LID.” Wolf continued: “We believe the total amount of $2,543,000 is too high. We haven’t received a lot of explanation as to what costs and why they are included in the overall estimate. But per the information presented tonight, it does appear that the
city has included some costs that unfairly burden the LID property owners.” As an example, Wolf pointed to the inclusion of the city’s land costs. “This land was not acquired specifically for this LID and we do not believe this cost should be imposed upon the property owners per state statute,” she said. “It has been (See Gateway, page 3)
INSIDE
Whatcom County announced that it awarded Granite Construction with an $8.7 million contract to build the Birch Bay Drive and Pedestrian Facility project, commonly called the berm. Granite Construction, a California-based company with a Bellingham location, made the winning bid out of 11 total. According to a preliminary schedule, the company plans to begin work on the south end of the 1.6-mile project site, near Lora Lane, in January. It will be stockpiling gravel until then – the project requires about 210,000 tons of sand and gravel to be placed on the beach to “renaturalize” the beach and protect from storm surges. According to preliminary plans, Granite will construct the berm over two years, with a break for summer 2020, as requested by the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce. Construction will start at the south end of the project site at Lora Lane and progress to the project’s north end at Cedar Avenue. Construction will happen mostly overnight. “There will be a high presence of trucks on the roadway starting in the evening, and finishing up in the early morning,” county public works staff said in an email. “There will be construction noise on the beach at the gravel placement site (moving north to south) during the night time hours that coincide with low tides.” Granite Construction hopes to place approximately 80,000 tons of gravel on the beach by February 15, 2020, when it can no longer work in the water due to spawning herring. After that, it will continue to work outside the water on other aspects of the project, which include bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and landscaping, until May 31. Construction stops from June until after Labor Day for Birch Bay’s summer tourist season. County public works staff cautioned that this schedule is preliminary, and not something the contractor is bound to yet. Granite Construction and Whatcom County public works will meet in the following weeks to work on a more detailed construction schedule, public works staff said. Weather will also affect construction.
Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Classifieds . . . . . 11 Coming Up . . . . . 14 Sheriff . . . . . . . . . 14 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14
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The Northern Light • November 21 - 27, 2019
Increase in property tax revenue authorized
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By Jami Makan Blaine city council recently voted to authorize a one percent increase in next year’s property tax revenue. At the November 12 city council meeting, councilmembers voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance 19-2936, which authorizes an increase in the regular property tax levy “in addition to any increase resulting from the addition of new construction
and improvements to property and any increase in the value of state-assessed property,” according to the text of the ordinance. The increase authorized for the 2020 levy is in the amount of $11,987 which represents a percentage increase of one percent from the previous year. According to Jeff Lazenby, the city of Blaine’s finance director, a homeowner with an assessed property value of
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$300,000 can expect to pay the city an estimated total of $400 in property tax, or $33 monthly. A public hearing was previously held at the October 28 city council meeting regarding the 2020 revenue estimates and the 2020 property tax levy. No residents of Blaine offered public comments to city council at that time. “The statutory limit placed on cities with a population under 10,000 in levying a property tax increase is one percent,” explained Lazenby. “That’s on the previous year’s property tax revenue plus any new construction.” According to Lazenby, just 14 percent of property tax revenue comes to the city; the majority of property taxes go to the state’s general fund and the Blaine school district. “We just have one small piece of the pie,” he said. Of the city’s regular property tax revenue, 74 percent gets allocated to the general fund and 26 percent goes to street operations, said Lazenby. The city was required to pass the 2020 property tax levy before November 30. Ordinance 19-2936 also authorized a 16 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation levy to meet the bond payment requirements on the 2001 Odell Fire Station voted bond levy. The final bond payment is in December 2021.
Berm ... From page 1
Hydrologist Wolf Bauer recommended the beach restoration project in 1975 as a way to replace ineffective seawalls along Birch Bay Drive. Birch Bay has been vulnerable to flooding since the early 1950s, when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers took sand and gravel from the beach to build the Blaine Air Force Station. Whatcom County added the project to its comprehensive plan for Birch Bay in 1977. Whatcom County began working to permit the project in 2016 and has delayed plans for construction several times since then. For updates on the project or to sign up for Whatcom County’s online notifications on the project, visit bit.ly/2XtznGW.
November 21 - 27, 2019 • thenorthernlight.com
Gateway ... From page 1
consistently conveyed to Boblett that the city was going to contribute the land for the stormwater facility rather than charging the property owners for the same.” Wolf suggested that the Gateway property owners should only be on the hook for $1,766,000, the amount of the loan that was received from Whatcom County. She said that the city of Blaine could have applied for a larger grant from Whatcom County, but chose not to. “Surely the time for the city to accurately compute its LID costs was when it applied for the EDI grant, and it was at that time that the city had the opportunity to seek a larger grant to cover the costs it now wants to burden the property owners with,” she said. Jim Gibson, one of the owners of Chuckanut Bay Foods, also spoke at the hearing. Chuckanut Bay Foods built a $6.5 million building on its piece of the Gateway parcel, where the company now employs over 100 people full-time in its bakery. “While we do agree with the need for stormwater retention, and when we acquired the land we knew that was going to come, we are quite concerned about the costs being allocated to the LID,” said Gibson. “We really don’t know what the final number will look like.” Gibson agreed with Wolf that the city should not include the cost of the land in its calculations. “We, too, had understood that the pond land would be contributed as the city’s skin in the game,” he said. He also agreed that the city ought to have applied for more grant money from Whatcom County. “We left on the table about a quarter of a million dollars in grant money which now will be borne by the landowners,” he said. Gibson said that the cost of the project is a significant percentage of what his company paid for its land. “We paid for our land about $3.40” per square foot, he said. “This, as I’m currently understanding the numbers, would be another $2.28. So the cost of the retention pond is another 67 percent on top of what we’ve already paid for the land.” According to city attorney Jon
Sitkin, the owners of the Mercer property have also communicated with the city on the issue. Ravyn Whitewolf, the city’s public works director, said that the city will work to address the property owners’ concerns. “Once the final costs are determined by completion of construction, our staff will have a study session with the council on what elements you feel are appropriate to include or not include,” she told councilmembers. “That conversation could still take place, and those things can be things like
the value of the land and the city’s design and construction management costs.” Whitewolf continued: “All of these things are definitely things that we would want to hear council input upon. Our recommendation is that we do that prior to the assessment hearing.” The assessment hearing will be a second public hearing that will take place in several months and will determine the exact amount of the assessment against each property owner in the LID.
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The Northern Light • November 21 - 27, 2019
Opinion
The Northern L ght The Northern Light is published weekly by Point Roberts Press Inc. Locally owned and managed, the company also publishes the All Point Bulletin, covering Point Roberts, Mount Baker Experience, covering the Mt. Baker foothills area, Pacific Coast Weddings annual guide, 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 Jami Makan jami@pointrobertspress.com Copy Editor Aly Siemion aly@pointrobertspress.com Reporter Oliver Lazenby oliver@pointrobertspress.com Reporting Intern Kira Erickson prpintern@pointrobertspress.com Creative Services Ruth Lauman, Doug De Visser production@pointrobertspress.com Office Manager Jeanie Luna info@pointrobertspress.com Advertising Sales Molly Ernst, Kristin Siemion 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 XXV, No 23 Circulation: 10,500 copies
Circulation Independently Verified by:
Next issue: Nov. 27 Ads due: Nov. 22
s An aerial view of the Blaine and Semiahmoo marinas.
Photo by Doug De Visser
Letters The Editor: One of the most appalling aspects of this impeachment is that our President considers his fellow Americans as the enemy to the degree of enlisting foreign agents to help him. What is perhaps worse is that too many of us also share this type of thinking. The media blasts accusations from either side, whether it concerns those “stupid and cowardly” Republicans or those “lying and crooked” Democrats bringing the house down. Do we really know who our enemies are these days? We must put such fear words aside. It is time to use this impeachment the way it was intended for dual protection from political removal of a president, but also from a rogue president who turns democracies into tyranny. This is not a case for warfare. It happens this time to favor the interests of the Democrat party, who then will go after it vigorously just as the Republicans will offer strong defense. We must get as many facts as we can on the table openly so that we – as one country – can decide whether our President should remain, be removed or curtailed in office. Of course he will defend himself as is his right, but he may not cause obstruction to the extent that facts are not permitted to become known. This may lead to a new and quite perilous course and to take it will require the most sober and serious judgment we have. This is not likely in a vitriolic set-
ting with hijacked emotional thinking. The demeanor here is solemn. Sharon Robinson Blaine The Editor: I am writing to make a correction for the recent article about the Bay Medical Clinic closure. In the article, Jami Makan originally wrote that there will be no family practice providers left in Blaine. This has since been corrected to state “no Medicare” providers. I write both to introduce myself to the community and to reassure my patients that I am still here. I am Dr. Elizabeth Schnippel, ND, a naturopathic physician licensed in the state of Washington as a primary care provider. I have been working in this role for over two years at TouchStone Health Clinic, seeing patients as young as three weeks and some patients over 65 years old. As a naturopathic physician, my approach may feel a little different than Drs. Kazymyra and Allan. I take a look at your whole health picture and work with you to make diet and lifestyle changes that help to get to the root of your health concerns. I also prescribe drugs, run labs (including inhouse strep and influenza tests) and refer to specialty clinics including physical therapy, gastroenterology and cardiology. I spend time with my patients educating, explaining and answering questions. As most of my patients are on Medicaid, I am very aware of the direct and indirect
costs of healthcare and work with my patients to find a workable solution. I am proud to be a member of the Blaine community. Since I moved here, I have felt welcomed by my neighbors, patients and co-workers. My kids attend the Blaine school district and I have started working with the nurses on various projects. I wish Drs. Kazymyra and Allan well on their retirement. You are much respected in this community and your services will be missed. Dr. Elizabeth Schnippel, ND Blaine (Ed. Note: The main differences between naturopathic physicians (NDs) and MDs are in their scope of practice and prescribing rights. NDs are limited on the controlled substances that they can prescribe, whereas MDs have the authority to prescribe all controlled substances. In addition, while both NDs and MDs are primary care providers, the naturopathic scope of practice is narrower, as specified under RCW 18.36A.040. According to a 2010 article in the journal Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice, many NDs incorporate “age-old healing traditions” into their practice. They are not trained or licensed in the same manner that MDs are, and the scope of practice of NDs is not uniform nationwide.) Please send letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.
Civic Meetings Birch Bay Water & Sewer District: Second and fourth Thursdays, 4:30 p.m., district offices, 7096 Point Whitehorn Road, Birch Bay. Info: bbwsd.com.
Blaine Park and Cemetery Board: Second Thursday, 9 a.m., Blaine City Council chambers, 435 Martin Street. Info: 360/332-8311, ext. 3330.
Blaine City Council: Second and fourth Mondays, 6 p.m., Blaine City Council chambers, 435 Martin Street. Info: ci.blaine.wa.us.
Blaine School Board: Fourth Monday, 7 p.m., Blaine school district offices. Info: blainesd.org.
Blaine Planning Commission: Second and fourth Thursdays, 6 p.m., Blaine City Council chambers, 435 Martin Street. Info: blainepc@ cityofblaine.com.
North Whatcom Fire & Rescue: Third Thursday, 1 p.m. Station 61. Info: nwfrs.net.
Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation: Second Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., location varies. Info: bbbparkandrec.org.
November 21 - 27, 2019 • thenorthernlight.com
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Blaine man charged with first-degree arson and resisting arrest A Blaine man has been charged with first-degree arson and resisting arrest after he allegedly set fire to a mobile home and drew a knife on fire personnel who subsequently responded to the scene. He has not been charged with attempted murder, even though the mobile home, when he set fire to it, was occupied by a woman who he was allegedly attempting to kill. Days earlier, he had allegedly made a comment about killing her. The woman was in the shower when the fire started and was able to escape the residence uninjured. As of November 19, Spencer Langei, 29, remained in custody at Whatcom County Jail, according to Whatcom County’s online jail roster. Shortly after 11 a.m. on November 2, residents of Fir Way in Blaine reported seeing a fire and a male behaving aggressively toward firefighters. Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) deputies were dispatched to the scene to assist North Whatcom Fire and Rescue firefighters, who were dealing with the combative subject who was hampering their response to the fire. When WCSO deputies arrived at the scene, they helped restrain the male subject, who was later identified as Langei. A Blaine Police Department (BPD) officer also arrived to provide assistance. Langei was put in handcuffs, but after he thrashed around and attempted to twist a deputy’s hand, he was further restrained with leg irons and a spit mask. The firefighters told the WCSO deputies that Langei had possibly set the fire intentionally, and had pulled out a sheathed seven-inch knife on the firefighters. The knife incident occurred after Langei, who wanted to rescue his cats, disobeyed instructions to stay away from the burning trailer. “Langei was advised not to go near the house, but he went up to the house and attempted to crawl underneath the smoking trailer,” read a WCSO deputy’s report. “When Langei was pulled out, he
pulled a knife from the small of his back, brandishing it towards the firemen, who disarmed him and held him on the ground.” The female victim was still at the scene of the fire when deputies arrived. When the deputies interviewed her, they learned that she had been living with Langei for several months. She said that when she was about to take a shower that morning, Langei walked into the bathroom and said, “Today is the day it’s done.” “He advised [her] to get the cats out of the house,” read a WCSO deputy’s report. “She said she saw her flare gun in his pants on the
right side. Being concerned, [she] asked him not to do anything stupid. He responded, ‘It’s hell now. If I take your life and my life, then we will be happy in heaven.’” After taking a five-minute shower, the woman walked into the kitchen to discover a large amount of smoke coming from underneath the sink area. She saw that Langei had a white bottle of lighter fluid in his hand and was spraying lighter fluid on the furniture and floor. When she asked him what he was doing, he discharged the flare gun in the direction of the living room floor, starting a fire in the living room in
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CITY OF BLAINE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOVEMBER 25, 2019
A Public Hearing on the final 2020 budget is scheduled for Monday, November 25, 2019, at 6:00 pm in the City Council Chambers, Blaine City Hall, 435 Martin Street, Suite 4000. Interested parties are encouraged to attend the hearing and public comment will be invited at that time. For further information, please contact the City Finance Department, 360-332-8311. The meeting location is an accessible facility. Anyone wishing to attend and participate who may need special accommodation to do so should contact the City Clerk’s office no later than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the scheduled meeting.
addition to the fire burning underneath the mobile home. The woman extinguished the living room fire with the towel that she had wrapped herself in after her shower. She ran to the bedroom to put some clothes on and exited the residence uninjured. She then went to a neighbor’s house and used their garden hose to try and put the fire out. In the course of being interviewed, she told WCSO deputies that Langei had made a comment on October 31 about killing her. The deputies connected her with Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services, and she spoke with
Blaine United Church of Christ "Where friendly people gather and become family"
an advocate over the phone. A domestic violence no-contact order has been made in the case, as well as an order to surrender weapons. The Superior Court case number is 19-1-01327-37.
CITY OF BLAINE Unless noted, all meetings are held at City Hall, 435 Martin Street, Suite 4000 and are open to the public. Agendas can be found on the City’s website.
Monday, November 25 4:00pm – 2020 Blaine Tourism Advisory Committee (BTAC) Budget 4:30pm – 2020 Budget – General Fund Follow-Up 5:00pm – 2020 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) 6:00pm – Regular City Council meeting Public Hearing: 2020 Budget
Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29 City Offices Closed – Thanksgiving
Sunday Services 10:30 am esus
Thursday, November 28 6pm – Planning Commission – CANCELLED
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Thursday, December 5 6pm – Special Planning Commission Meeting Public Hearing: 2019 Docket
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By Jami Makan
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The Northern Light • November 21 - 27, 2019
New acreage approved for commercial shellfish harvest in Drayton Harbor By Jami Makan Another 765 acres has been approved for commercial shellfish harvesting in Drayton Harbor, following years of pollution prevention efforts that have improved water quality. The new acreage, located roughly in the middle of the harbor, was approved by the Washington State Department of Health, which determined that marine water quality and shoreline conditions meet necessary standards. Licensed companies can now submit requests to set up farms and harvest shellfish in the newly approved area. The health department’s decision became effective on October 22, and it reflects longstanding efforts to find and fix preventable sources of human and animal bacteria pollution. The decision is a success for stakeholders ranging from homeowners, farmers and boat owners to the Drayton Harbor Shellfish Protection District, the Whatcom Clean Water
Program and the city of Blaine. “The long-term commitment to water quality improvement by local and state agencies, tribes and community members has been paramount to the success seen in this area,” said Scott Berbells, the health department’s shellfish growing area section manager. “Data shows that pollution prevention actions are working, and the community can be proud of their accomplishments.” The state health department is responsible for the classification of all commercial shellfish harvesting areas in the state. In order to assess risks to shellfish harvesters, the health department measures water quality and tracks shoreline pollution sources. It specifically looks for fecal coliform bacteria in marine water. In Drayton Harbor, the health department conducts ongoing water quality monitoring. Samples are taken once a month from various water sampling stations. “We look at statistics from a minimum of 30 samples, and those statistics
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have to be a very stringent standard,” said Berbells. “There can be no shoreline pollution sources in the area, like failed on-site septic systems, agricultural practices, farms, wastewater treatment plants or marinas.” After evaluating an area, the health department issues one of five classifications: approved, conditionally approved, conditionally restricted, restricted or prohibited. On one end of the spectrum, the “approved” classification means that water quality is good, no pollution sources have been found and commercial harvesters can operate and take their product directly to market. On the other end of the spectrum, the “prohibited” classification means that no harvesting is allowed at all. The other classifications allow for some harvesting, but it is subject to temporary closures – due to rainfall, for example – or certain procedures, such as later relaying product to an approved area so that it can “purge” itself of bacteria. The newly approved 765 acres in Drayton Harbor are in addition to 810 acres of shellfish growing area that were approved for commercial harvest in November 2016, when the 810-acre area went from “conditionally approved” to “approved.” The 2016 upgrade followed more than two decades of work to reduce preventable fecal bacteria pollution from freshwater creeks and other human-influenced sources surrounding the harbor. This work included the formation of the shellfish protection district and a community oyster farm in the mid-1990s. Efforts also included the formation of the Whatcom Clean Water Program, a partnership of local, state, tribal and federal agencies intended to strengthen and coordinate activities to reduce pollution. The city of Blaine also invested in improved wastewater and stormwater management infrastructure. Residents and boat owners also played an important role, helping to prevent pollution from human waste by regularly evaluating and repairing septic systems and consistently using marina pump out stations.
s The Washington State Department of Health’s current classification map for commercial shellfish harvesting in Drayton Harbor. The map also includes the locations of the department’s marine water sampling stations in the harbor.
Image courtesy of Scott Berbells
Farm owners also took steps to prevent animal waste from entering Drayton Harbor. To reduce bacteria pollution from animal waste, landowners have fenced farm animals out of waterways; created protected heavy use and manure storage areas to better manage pastures, manure and mud; planted shrubs and trees along creek banks; and picked up pet waste. Going forward, the classification of the new area will be subject to an annual evaluation. Additional acres could also be opened up; this will require setting up additional marine water sampling stations. Some areas of Drayton Harbor will continue to remain prohibited, however, such as the areas near the Blaine and Semiahmoo marinas. The reclassification does not change the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s rec-
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reational harvest regulations in the harbor. Recreational harvest is open only in the Drayton West area. Naturally occurring biotoxins can accumulate to levels that make recreational harvest unsafe during certain times of the year, so recreational harvesters should always determine if it’s safe and legal to harvest by visiting doh. wa.gov/shellfishsafety. Licensing and harvest season requirements are available at wdfw.wa.gov. To celebrate the improving water quality, the Drayton Harbor Shellfish District Advisory Committee and its local partners are hosting an event on Friday, December 13 from 4 to 6 p.m. The fourth annual Shellebration will take place at the H Street Plaza and will include refreshments, oyster samples courtesy of the Drayton Harbor Oyster Company and a presentation of community awards.
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Fatal single-vehicle collision occurs near border crossing By Jami Makan A woman and her dog died in a single-vehicle collision on northbound I-5 near the Peace Arch border crossing on the morning of November 14. The victim was identified as Amber Levins, 38, of Delta, Colorado. Her identity was released by Washington State Patrol (WSP) on November 15 after her next of kin had been notified by the Delta County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado. The collision occurred after Levins lost control of her vehicle, a grey 2003 Honda Accord, and struck a concrete barrier on the right side of the roadway. “The vehicle was traveling at a speed too fast to negotiate
the curves,” read a WSP press memo. “The vehicle left the roadway to the right and struck a cement barrier.” According to WSP Trooper Heather Axtman, the vehicle spun around and came to a rest facing northbound. Levins died at the scene and the dog also did not survive, said Axtman. No other cars were involved in the collision. Troopers were called to the scene at approximately 6:51 a.m. As a result of the accident, northbound lanes of I-5 and the D Street on-ramp were temporarily closed to traffic. Traffic was redirected to the truck route for a short period. The lanes reopened at about 10:30 a.m., said Axtman.
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Pet Care Tips and products for a healthier, happier pet!
How to choose the right dog collar New pet parents quickly learn just how many supplies they need to raise happy, healthy animals. Collars and leashes are two essential items dog owners will need. No matter how welltrained a pooch may be, collars and leashes are always necessary, especially when taking dogs to public places. In addition to helping keep pets close, collars are a great place to hang identification tags, increasing the likelihood that dogs will be safely returned if they dash off. There are various types of collars, each offering unique attributes. Choosing a collar involves investigating the key functions collars can serve, and assessing the pros and cons of each. Flat collar A flat collar is the standard collar used by many dog owners. Flat collars are typically made from nylon, fabric or leather, and many come with plastic or metal quick-release tabs. Some may have buckles similar to a belt. Flat collars are useful for many dogs. However, some pet parents find dogs are more apt to pull when wearing flat col-
lars, choking themselves in the process. A properly fit collar shouldn’t slide off and should be gentle on the dog’s neck. Martingale collar Also known as limited slip collars or greyhound collars, according to the consumer information site The Spruce: Pets, martingale collars are designed primarily for dogs with narrow necks and heads. The martingale will tighten (only to the size of the dog’s neck when properly adjusted) when the dog pulls, so he can’t be a collar Houdini. Some people worry that the collar will squeeze too tightly, but proper sizing can prevent that. Head collar A head collar is reminiscent of a horse’s halter, as it slips over the dog’s snout and attaches behind the ears. The purpose of head collars is to redirect a dog’s attention so pulling is minimal. Some dogs do not like the feeling of a collar on their faces and may resist. Prong collars Sometimes called pinch collars, prong collars are controversial. Prong collars are made of various links that can be expanded or shortened by “pinch-
ing” the links and removing or adding links. When the dog puts tension on the leash, the prongs will add pressure to the neck to help correct pulling, offers the Canine Journal, a pet care resource. Many trainers advise that prong collars should be used only as a training tool and not for extended periods of time as the primary collar. Also, the Humane Society emphasizes that prong collars must be properly fitted with the size of the prong links appropriate for the size of the dog, and it must sit high on the dog’s neck. A chain collar works similarly as a pinch collar, in that it also tightens when tension is applied. Harness Some pet owners like a harness, which puts the pressure on the dog’s chest and back instead of its neck. Harnesses come with back clips or front clip attachments to offer control where owners want it. A knowledgeable pet store employee or a dog trainer can help guide new pet parents in regard to which type of collar may be most appropriate for their dogs.
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The Northern Light • November 21 - 27, 2019
Public meeting kicks off planning for Blaine Library expansion By Oliver Lazenby At the first of three public meetings to discuss expanding and updating Blaine’s library, 37 people shared their hopes and dreams for the building with a team of architects. Participants discussed considerations such as the best location on the site for a new building, the need for meeting spaces of various sizes and which spaces could
be adjacent to others to allow for quiet spaces and meeting spaces to coexist, said Michael Cox, Whatcom County Library System deputy director. Whatcom County Library System’s (WCLS) goal for the project is to design a library space that’s up to 12,000 square feet, more than double the size of the current 5,400-square-foot building. That design could be either an addition/remodel of the existing build-
Community Thanksgiving Meal Sat., November 23 • 12-4 pm (Saturday before Thanksgiving)
Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street
FREE
Join us for a Delicious, Traditional, Fresh Thanksgiving Meal Live Music • Games for Kids Great Food • Gratitude & Togetherness We can only achieve this much goodness with your help and support! To Volunteer: Contact Julia 435-704-1598 Financial Contributions: Mail check to Healthy Youth Coalition-Thanksgiving c/o Soul Space Studio, 264 H St., Ste B, Blaine WA 98230. Sponsored by: Healthy Youth Coalition, Blaine United Church of Christ, American Legion Riders The Saturday before Thanksgiving is also known as Survivors Day. Families and community members impacted by suicide are encourage to attend. There will be a brief presentation at 2 pm
Aidyn
Alyssa
Asher
ing or an entirely new building. The Blaine Library has been in its current space at 610 3rd Street since 1988. In that time, the population of Blaine and the surrounding area has more than doubled. In summer 2019, after more than 10 years of fundraising for a new building, Friends of the Blaine Library offered WCLS $50,000 to hire an architect or design team. WCLS and the design team – Johnston Architects and King Architecture – will host two more meetings for the public to provide comments on the design: a “developing character” discussion from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10, and a “project realities” meeting from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 14. Both meetings are at the Blaine Senior Center. After that, WCLS will share a final design at a later public meeting. To start the design process, King Architecture and Blaine public works staff assessed the current library building, which used to be a public works maintenance shed. That assessment scored most of the building as “fair to poor,” with roofing and some other elements scoring “unsatisfactory.” The initial assessment didn’t
s A representative from Whatcom County Library System’s design team for the Blaine Library expansion discusses library design during a public input meeting at the Blaine Senior Center on November 18. Photo courtesy of Whatcom County Library System
probe the underlying steel structure, since that would require damaging the ceiling, but that structure may not meet current seismic requirements, Cox said. The building’s oneinch water line would also need to be upgraded. “Costs required to update the existing structure may be similar to new construction,” he said.
“However, the design team will consider what materials may be reused and whether any structural elements may fit within the building design after the building programming is complete.” WCLS is also using an online survey to gather opinions about the project. To learn more or take the roughly seven-minute survey, visit wcls.org/blaine.
Tax-foreclosed properties to be auctioned The Whatcom County Treasurer’s Office will be holding a real property tax foreclosure public auction at 9 a.m. on Friday, November 22. The auction will be held in the Whatcom County council chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham. A list of available properties and minimum bids can be viewed at the Whatcom County Treasurer’s website, whatcomcounty.us/ treasurer. The list includes two
Averie
Avery
Great Smiles in the Cavity Free Club
properties in Blaine, and precise information regarding their legal boundaries can be found in the title reports available in the treasurer’s office. In order to participate in the auction, bidders must be registered. There is no registration fee. In addition to pre-registration, which opened on November 15, registration can be completed on the day of the sale beginning at 8 a.m. The Whatcom County Treasurer’s Office accepts only cash, cashier’s checks and money orders made payable to the Whatcom County Treasurer. No personal, business or traveler’s checks will be accepted. Those wishing to bid must be present or have a representative present at the auction. When real property taxes remain delinquent for three years, the Whatcom County Treasurer is required by law to begin fore-
closure action. A certificate of delinquency is filed in Superior Court, after which taxes, interest, penalties and foreclosure costs begin to accrue. A title search is conducted for each parcel. As required by law, all parties with a recorded legal interest, as revealed by the title search, are served with a notice and summons by certified or registered mail. A notice and summons is also published in the local newspaper, as well as a missing persons ad. The Whatcom County Treasurer receives a judgment from Superior Court foreclosing on the tax liens and ordering the sale of those parcels. Parcels being foreclosed can be redeemed by their owners, or other parties with a recorded legal interest, through the close of business on the day before the sale.
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November 21 - 27, 2019 • thenorthernlight.com
ADVICE FROM THE PROS
Q:
published monthly on the 3rd Thursday of the month
A:
Q: Is there a certain period of time that I can
Q: Can I get a loan for home repairs?
make changes to my Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan?
A: Our renovation program lets you buy a home or
refinance your existing home and include up to $250,000 for improvements or repairs in the new loan amount. Possible improvements include remodeling, a new roof or addition, or smaller projects like painting, new carpet, or new appliLoren Adkins ances. A licensed contractor provides the repair Senior Real Estate budget, and an appraiser will provide the value of Loan Officer your property before and after the improvements. NMLS# 643779 Office: (360) 647-4425 Renovation loans can improve your home value, and possibly your interest rate. It also eliminates Cell: (360) 303-8599 concerns about current conditions that normally loren.adkins@peoplesbank-wa.com wouldn’t be financeable.
A Special Section of
A: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is from October Keith Wallace Insurance Agent
360-734-1161
keith@riceinsurance.com
15th to December 7th. What can I do? • If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage), you can switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage). • You can disenroll from your Medicare Advantage Plan and return to Original Medicare. If you choose to do so, you’ll be able to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. • If you enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan during your Initial Enrollment Period, you can change to another Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage) or go back to Original Medicare (with or without drug coverage) within the first 3 months you have Medicare. You can use an agent like Rice Insurance and have the same rates as if you called the carrier directly with no agent fee. Call us today to set up your time to review your current coverage.
Rice Insurance ,LLC Serving Our Clients Since 1946 1400 Broadway • Bellingham, WA 98225
Bellingham Real Estate Loan Center • 3100 Woburn St. • Bellingham WA, 98226
Q: I am a veteran. How do I use the VA home loan?
A: The VA loan and G.I. Bill are two surpris-
Julia Mullenix 713 3rd Street Blaine, WA 98230
(360) 820-2630 MOVING SOON! 978 Peace Portal Drive
ingly underused benefits owed to veterans. The VA loan process is simple, and the zero down option makes housing, especially for first-time homebuyers, more affordable. Seller-covered closing costs is also a common potential option to lower out-of-pocket expenses. I am a Navy brat and married to a Navy veteran. We have personally used the VA loan and have helped multiple buyers from all branches use it. Thank you for taking care of us. Please stop by and let me help you use this benefit that is owed to you for your service to our country.
Q: Are Charitable Donations Deductible? A: The increase in the standard deduction under the Tax Cuts and Jobs
Act of 2017, made it favorable for more taxpayers to take the standard deduction rather than itemize deductions. Charitable contributions are one of the itemizable deductions so fewer taxpayers can deduct them. Here are a few strategies to take advantage of the tax breaks for charitable contributions. 1. Bunch charitable donations at the beginning and end of the year to increase donations every other year. 2. Donate appreciated capital assets, such as stocks. The taxpayer can both avoid the capital gain tax on the stock disposition and take a deduction for the full market value of the stock. 3. If not itemizing, taxpayers over age 70 1/2 can donate part of the minimum required distribution from a qualified retirement account directly to a charity to reduce their income.
Cynthia Polley, Enrolled Agent 8105 Birch Bay Square St. • Suite 102
info@peacearchrealestate.com
www.peacearchrealestate.com
Advice
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360-393-3658 • BirchBayTaxAndAccounting.com
Q: How can Physical Therapy help you to
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improve your recreational activity participation and performance?
A: Seeking treatment from a Physical Therapist can improve
You are the expert and you have the answers for our readers... Your Potential Clients
Jeannett Penner, DPT,OCS, GCS
This monthly feature provides you an opportunity to speak to the Blaine, Birch Bay and Semiahmoo community and answer some of their specific questions or some general questions from your business that almost every new client wants to know.
Director of Rehabilitation Capstone Physical Therapy
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your ability to participate in recreational activities including sports, hiking, golf, walking, running, etc. Physical therapists at Capstone will work with you to determine the best course of treatment for your functional limitations. The treatments may include joint mobilizations, soft tissue mobilization/massage, education regarding mechanics of how you move, strengthening and flexibility exercises and endurance activities. The Physical Therapy team at Capstone will work with you to determine your therapy goals and develop an individualized program for you to return to doing the activities that you enjoy. Capstone is now open and accepting patients in our new Birch Bay Square location and our Blaine clinic on H Street.
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The Northern Light • November 21 - 27, 2019
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Olympia, Washington • October 11, 2019
News & Photography By oliver lazenBy Blaine High School senior Jaelin Madden had a message to share and her heart pounded when she sat down to write it. The idea of telling her peers about her depression made Madden shake, but she thought doing so could make others feel less alone. At the end of her sophomore year, Madden didn’t feel like herself. She was always tired and lacked motivation to do even the things she liked. The summer before her junior year, she was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. That might surprise people, since Madden is involved in clubs and other extracurricular activities and appears bubbly and smiley. “A lot of people, when I told them, were shocked. How could someone so happy and giggly have anxiety and depression?” Madden said. “Nobody is perfect, even if they seem put together and like they know what they’re doing. Everybody has their rough times.”
Madden’s mental health improved with the help of a therapist and support from friends and family. She might not feel happy all the time, but that no longer makes her feel alone. Madden shared her story with the entire school during a November 16 assembly at the Performing Arts Center. She wanted to help her peers who may be struggling with mental health issues, and let them know about the resources she discovered during her struggle. “You’re not alone, there is support all around you, and talking about it doesn’t make you weak,” Madden said. The assembly was part of a weeklong focus on self-care at Blaine High School that Madden and the school’s Upstanders United Club put together. The club formed in 2017 to focus on mental health awareness, promoting healthy relationships and creating a respectful school atmosphere. The week of self-care included a wide range of information and activities geared toward being both mentally and physically healthy, with a different focus each day, from relaxing and mediation to cutting back on social media. Dodge ball and other ac-
SECOND PLACE Election coverage and analysis
tivities gave students a chance to be physically active while making connections with students in other grades, Madden said. The assembly capped the week with Madden’s presentation, which included a list of resources for students. School guidance counselors echoed Madden’s message that if you’re struggling,
SECOND PLACE Council tables offer
Blaine City Council is slated to vote on a bid to demolish a dilapidated downtown building at its upcoming meeting on Monday, November 26. For more than a year, the city has worked to demolish the building at 665 Peace Portal Drive. It was formerly occupied by the Costa Azul restaurant and is currently pest-ridden, structurally unsound and in decay. In February, the city put out a call for bids to demolish the building and the only one received was from Wrecking Ball Demolition totaling $406,362. With the price being too high, Blaine City Council voted 6-0 to reject it.
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then. Principal Scott Ellis shares that sentiment. “This is my 25th year in Blaine, and this year is different,” he said during the assembly. “That’s because I feel like you guys are caring more and more about each other and more and more about your community and more and more about your high school.”
The building shares structural supports with two other buildings directly north, including Blaine Bouquets. To reduce the cost for potential contractors, acting community development director Alex Wenger said the owner of the flower shop was ordered to complete a seismic retrofit of the building at her own expense. Blaine City Council will decide between a $291,316 bid from R&G Construction and a $247,836 bid from Dirt Works Bellingham Inc. Once that is completed, Wenger said demolition can begin. “I’m glad to see it move forward,” he said.
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s This building located at 665 Peace Portal Drive is set to be demolished.
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you’re not alone. “Anxiety is real and we are all feeling it more then you imagine,” said counselor, Rick Vander Yacht, during the assembly. Madden thinks the message is well received; the ASB club hosted a similar mental health-focused week last year and she’s noticed a change in the school culture since
City closer to demolishing downtown building
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Election Story
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s Blaine High School (BHS) senior Jaelin Madden spoke about depression, anxiety and mental health during a November 16 assembly that was part of a self-care week at BHS. Photo by Oliver Lazenby
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The Northern Light • November 22 - 28, 2018
Blaine senior shares story of depression to help others
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General Features Story, Long FIRST PLACE T Bellewood distilling Patrick Grubb
July 19 - 25, 2018 • thenorthernlight.com
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An inside look at BelleWood Distilling B y P at G r u B B Every school kid learned about the story of Johnny Appleseed and how he wandered around Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana in the late 1700s sowing apple seeds far and wide. What a guy, everyone thinks. Well, that happy fable is bit of a stretch. First, he didn’t spread seeds but, rather, he planted nurseries. Second, because he didn’t believe in grafting, his apples weren’t exactly the sweet and edible kind. According to Michael Pollan in his book, Botany of Desire, the apples could only be used to make cider. “Really, what Johnny Appleseed was doing and the reason he was welcome in every cabin in Ohio and Indiana was he was bringing the gift of alcohol to the frontier. He was our American Dionysus.” The obvious lesson is, if you want to be popular, make it possible for people to make their own booze. If you want to be really, really popular, make booze for the people. That’s the tack taken by John and Dorie Belisle, owners of BelleWood Acres and BelleWood Distilling. And they’re really, really popular with their customers. Having spent most of their careers in retail, John and Dorie Belisle were looking for something different when they moved from Florida to Washington. Things didn’t turn out the way they planned it. In fact, it turned out the exact opposite.
The Belisles are now running one of western Washington’s largest U-pick operations along with a country store and café and distillery under the names BelleWood Acres and BelleWood Distilling. About five years ago, the Belisles decided to get into the distilling business. After hitting the road and visiting everyone who they thought knew something about distilling, they came back and learned for themselves, John said. Having invested nearly a $100,000 in two stills, handmade by Vendome Copper & Brass Works in Kentucky, they got to work. Unlike Johnny Appleseed, the Belisles control the entire process from growing the apples, fermenting the juice, distilling the alcohol, to adding the botanicals for the finished product. “That’s where the artisan aspect comes into it,” John said, pointing out that many so-called distillers don’t do any actual distilling but buy cheap ethyl alcohol for $5 a gallon. Different batches of fermented apple juice will produce different qualities and flavors after being distilled; the best batches are reserved for brandy which then undergoes aging for at least two years in oak barrels. “We call it our Reserve Brandy. We actually take wood from up there, toast it and put it in the barrels to tie our orchard in with the brandy. And that really creates magic, doesn’t it?” John said, turning for confirmation from
Sports Personality Profile SECOND PLACE Borderites to honor 1978 champions
15
s Michael Brannan, BelleWood’s distiller.
Photos by Pat Grubb
Michael Brannan who is the company distiller. Brannan is a Western Washington University graduate who majored in chemistry and learned on the job how to distill. “You can’t run a still in a college apartment. Or you shouldn’t,” he said. Pointing to another batch, John said, “I believe we are the only ones in the world making Honeycrisp vodka.” Regardless of the base ingredient, whether it’s apples, potatoes or grapes, once it’s distilled to 191-proof, it’s considered vodka. Whenever they finish up a batch of hooch, the distillery holds a Sunday afternoon bottling party for volunteers to help hand make about 700 bottles of spirits. If you’re interested in joining in, you can sign up during a visit to the distillery or email for more info. You’ll get a short tour, sample some spirits, enjoy food from the Country Café and get a 20 percent discount on a personally signed bottle. The distillery is currently producing three varieties of vodka: signature, honeycrisp and raspberry; two brandies, reserve and eau de vie; one gin and two liqueurs, bruce and pumpkin spice. Bruce is a blend of apple cider and brandy while the pumpkin spice is vodka with pumpkin, sugar, spices and homemade vanilla which makes for a smooth dessert drink. You get an idea of the thought that goes into distilling when John tells the story behind the gin. “When we started making gin, my goal was to have a gin that 75 to 80 percent of the people would like. We went through over 40 runs before people started to smile.” The gin is made by infusing a vodka base with juniper, coriander and five other botanicals to create a soft and refreshing sipping or mixing gin. The artisan approach to distilling has served the Belisles well. The website lists 19 individual awards they have earned, with their gin in the lead with eight awards in total. The Belisle family planted the initial apple orchard back in 1996; there are now over 25,000 fruit trees on the farm located on the Guide Meridian about 20 minutes from the Canadian border. To see all these trees in bloom, visit during late April or early May; it’s a sight you won’t soon forget. The Belisles believe in sustainable and environmentally responsible farming. They use integrated pest management to provide effective pest control while maintaining a healthy eco-system. Dorie is also the project manager for the Tenmile Creek watershed project. Tenmile Creek is a salmon-bearing creek that runs
Janell Kortlever
s John and Dorie Belisle, owners of BelleWood Distilling. through the farm which is the first Salmon Safe orchard certified by Washington state. Where to buy BelleWood Distilling spirits can be found in liquor grocery stores throughout the state. Locally, you can purchase their products in Haggen food grocery stores and Community Food Co-ops. For a list of stores, go to bit.ly/2HYaTBp. During your visit The distillery’s hours of operation are Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s located at 6140 Guide Meridian, Lynden. From I-5, take Exit 262 and head east to the Guide. Turn left and it’s on your right a few minutes up the road. Tours are held noon and 2 p.m on Saturday and Sunday at. To make reservations, call 360/318-7720. The farm has a 14,000 square foot farm market, gift shop and country café and bakery. The market is a great place to pick up fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables, products made here on the farm, and country gifts. The café features light breakfast, lunch and dinner menus that include soups, salads, sandwiches, seasonal entrees, fruit/ cheese plates, espresso, wines and ciders on tap. And, of course, there is a full bar offering BelleWood Distilling products.
Make your own cocktail Ginger Apple 1 & 1/2 oz BelleWood Honeycrisp Vodka 1/2 oz lime juice 1/4 oz BelleWood Cider Syrup or simple syrup 4 raspberries Ginger Beer Combine all ingredients except ginger beer in a cocktail shaker and top with ice. Shake until well chilled. Strain into an ice-filled highball glass and top off with ginger beer. The Ten Mile 2 oz BelleWood Gin 6 oz BelleWood Apple Cider Wedge of Lime Pour BelleWood Gin and BelleWood Cider into an ice-filled highball glass. Stir and garnish with wedge of lime. For more recipes, see Signature Drinks at bellewooddistilling.com.
Barbie’s Berries Raspberries, Blueberries, Blackberries and more Strawberries! Fresh in the summer, Frozen available all year U-Pick IS OPEN, call for details! 360-384-1260 • 7655 Melody Ln, Ferndale BarbiesBerries.com Barbie’s Berries
Oliver Lazenby
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Event/Festival Special Section
17 TH ANNUAL
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A Special Publication of The Northern Light
SECOND PLACE T Wings Over Water
FALL 2018
Special Section Cover Design Doug De Visser, Oliver Lazenby, Skye Schillhammer
SATURDAY, MARCH 16: Salish Sea Open Water Birding & Wildlife Cruises
FRIDAY, MARCH 15: Festival Opening Dinner & Artist Reception
ADVENTURES IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
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Oliver Lazenby & Doug De Visser
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FIRST PLACE T Mount Baker Experience, Fall
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NORTHWEST BIRDING FESTIVAL
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SATURDAY, MARCH 16: Sardis Raptor Presentations
SUNDAY, MARCH 17: Birding Breakfast, Walks & Photography Workshop
SATURDAY, MARCH 16: All Day Birding Expo
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Public Notices IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF WHATCOM In the matter of the Estates of RICHARD BONIFACE CLARKE and ELLEN BERYL CLARKE, Deceased. No. 1940062437 PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS (RCW 11.40.030) The Co-Personal Representatives named below have been appointed as co-personal representatives of the above estates. Any person having a claim against the deceased RICHARD BONIFACE CLARKE and/or ELLEN BERYL CLARKE must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner provided by RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to the Co-Personal Representatives or the Co-Personal Representative’s Attorney at the address stated below, a copy of the claim, and filing the original of the claim with the Court in which the probated proceedings have commenced. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) thirty days after the Co-Personal Representatives mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020 (1) (c); or (2) four months after the date of first publication of this notice. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim will be forever barred except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.40.051 or 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the probate and nonprobate assets of the decedents. DATE OF FILING OF NOTICE TO CREDITORS WITH CLERK OF THE COURT: Nov. 8, 2019 DATE OF FIRST PUBLICATION: Nov. 14, 2019 CO-PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES: James Lawrence Clarke & Gerard Joseph Clarke ATTORNEY FOR CO-PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES: Mark W. Stowe, WSBA #16655 ADDRESS FOR MAILING OR SERVICE: Stowe Law PLLC, 276 Boundary Bay Rd, P.O. Box 129, Point Roberts, WA 98281 Phone: (360) 945-0337 Email: stowelawpllc@outlook.com DATED this 7th day of November 2019. STOWE LAW PLLC: Mark W. Stowe, WSBA# 16655, Attorney for Co-Personal Representatives
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The Northern Light • November 21 - 27, 2019
Real Estate
Bay Properties
8045 BIRCH BAY DRIVE, BLAINE, WA 360-371-7252 BAYPROPERTIESNW.COM
Semiahmoo homeS, inc.
NW LUXURY REAL ESTATE AT A HIGHER LEVEL
xxxx 14th Street, Blaine
$149,000
INVESTOR ALERT!
Don’t miss out on this 30,953 +/- sq ft lot that allows for numerous industrial & commercial uses such as retail, gas GREAT LOCATION! station, storage, et cetera. Special “Gateway Zoning” in the City of Blaine. Within blocks of the Border, I-5, Blaine Schools, WECU & the Cost Cutter Shopping Center. Blaine Planning Dept is cooperative for those looking to build.
4833 Birch Drive, Birch Bay
Great opportunity to live in the heart of Birch Bay & only two blocks from the beach! Home has a master bedroom on the main level along with an extra NEW LISTING! unfinished 200 sq ft upstairs that is not included in the total square footage of the home. Large corner lot has lots of extra room for parking and beautiful gardens in the summer. Great for first time home buyers, summer vacation home or use as a rental.
9336 Harvey Road, Blaine
$325,000
AMAZING DEAL! The Tides...
BRAND NEW! Birch Bay’s premier community of craftsman townhome condos nestled on 11 acres above the bay. Beautiful & private units are 1,430 +/- SF, DON’T MISS OUT! 3-BD, 2.5-BA, superbly finished w/quartz counters, rock gas FP, SS appliances, on-demand HW, quality fixtures, designer flooring & much more! Clubhouse, pool & spa! Secure your place in this wonderful beach community.
4290 H Street Road, Blaine
Terry Conway • (360) 410-0503
$309,000
CLOSE TO SCHOOLS! Great
Blaine home on a half acre lot. This unique property is all set & ready to go enjoy the extra space this little hobby farm NEW LISTING! has to offer. This 2-BD, 1-BA home is super warm, cozy & inviting. Brand new Whirlpool appliance package. Great open floor plan, nicely updated & ready to move on in. Set back for extra privacy with lots of room for extra toys, boat and RV parking at a premium. Close to I-5, easy access to border, close to schools.
Carl W. R. Dufton • (360) 815-6637
5115 Anderson Road, Birch Bay
LATITUDE 49! Fabulous 1-BD
180 day Park model with loft. Fully furnished & move in ready. Lot is landscaped & designed with low PENDING! maintenance in mind. Room for 30 ft RV parking. Perfect for weekend, summer retreat. Come enjoy Latitude 49 with all of its amenities, pool, hot tub, exercise room and club house in this gated community just minutes to the beach. Welcome to the beach and Birch Bay with all its cafes, restaurants, golfing and The Waterslides.
Ruth Skeete • (360) 358-5075
Just a few blocks from the beach, this home exudes Birch Bay charm! Having 3-BD offers plenty of sleeping accomNEW PRICE! modations, potential rental income or simply room to relax. 9,000+ sq ft grassy lot offers flexibility to add RV parking, or build on extra living space. Coffered ceilings, open floor plan, & huge front deck await your turnkey enjoyment in one of Washington states’ quaint, shore side hidden gem communities.
8613 Semiahmoo Drive, Semiahmoo $560,000
5770 Nakat Way, Birch Bay
Waterfront with stunning west facing views! Privacy awaits as you enter long driveway lined w/ fruit trees & mature foliage. Foyer NEW LISTING! with vaulted ceilings leads to main living. Cozy up by the fireplace, or enjoy the unobstructed views of Strait of Georgia & Canada. Open kitchen filled with natural light. Big wrap around deck for taking in the wildlife of eagles above. 2 guest rooms on main & full bath. Upstairs master en-suite w/ huge walk-in closet, fireplace and private deck. Tranquility found!
NW design detail is evident in the open floor plan that perfectly captures views from the deck, kitchen & casual living room with fireplace. Partial MOVE IN READY! covered deck for entertaining. Beautiful solid core interior doors, custom shelving & trim detail. Excellent condition. Full MIL suite downstairs with its own kitchen & garage. Front yard boasts extensive paver patio w/ water feature. Gated, amenity rich community. Easy access to SEA/VAN.
SEMIAHMOO WATERFRONT!
Heather Taylor • (425) 785-5771
$765,000
Location, Location!
Zoned Highway Commercial, industrial business warehouses with Blaine water and sewer. Large overhead doors, electric door openers, economical gas heating, bathroom along with 300 sq ft mezzanine. Site has cable, phone. internet and 3 phase wiring. All this and minutes to the I-5, 9 sold, 3 available for sale or lease. MLS #1391879
FOR ALL REAL ESTATE, RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL SERVICES PLEASE
Call Hugh -360.371.5800 Hugh Brawford
Download my GPS Home Search APP
925 Ludwick Ave., Blaine 5100 SF Warehousing/
9525 Semiahmoo Pkwy, Unit A102 • $699,000
Live exuberantly in this distinctive 2-BD, 2.5-BA, ground floor Marin at Semiahmoo condo. Fabulous harbor & mountain views. Expansive partially covered patio accessed by 4 sets of glass french doors creates a fabulous outdoor room. Luxe white kitchen features Wolfe range, Sub Zero fridge. 2 gracious suites. Powder rm: backlit onyx vanity. 2 underground parking spots. Storage locker. MLS# 1512847
More features than we can list. Call for details
Brian Southwick 360.815.6638
Linda Kiens 360.815.6640
Manufacturing/Retail SPACE AVAILABLE Also Available Now: Up to 18,000 SF of Fenced & Paved Storage Yard
FOR LEASE Retail/Office Space With Waterfront Views of Blaine Marina
Homesite on Kickerville with beautiful, meandering Terrell Creek.
Owner contract possible AT 20% DOWN, 6.5% 30 year Amortization. Some residential zoning, currently in open space. Great tax advantage.
Semiahmoo Marina Boat Slips
STARTING AT
$14,900 Call Hugh for details! 360-371-5800 www.CallHugh.com Rentals - Residential
Rentals - Rooms
BIRCH BAY 2-BD mobile home. W/D, $1,150 per month includes W/S. 360-224-5073 BLAINE APARTMENT 2 BD, 1.5 BA, w/ W/D, storage. Clean. Available now. $1100/mo. Incl. W/S/G . 360-392-8687.
Don Nelson 360-332-2743 Email nelsbldg@msn.com
Place your ad in Get your business
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Rentals - Commercial
Build your home here! 21 ACRES - $175,000
http://jlsapp.com/ callhugh
NELSON BUILDING
8783 Clubhouse Point • $1,049,000
7538 Terrill Drive $254,500
EVERYTHING, I-5 VISIBILITY.
Julie Ward • (760) 522-2564
TO COMPLETION
2-BD, 1-BA, 900 sq. ft. home. Fir floors through out. Open floor plan, with dining area open to the LR. Skylight in kitchen, wood stove in LR. MLS# 1520321
O
PRICE REDUCED $20K!
90 DAYS
Last opportunities at Semiahmoo’s “Clubhouse Point”. Private, only 14 homes. Premium Southern exposure, 3935 sq. ft. home. 18th fairway, lake & green views, Primary living on main, office open to secluded interior courtyard. Expansive decks, walls of windows bring the outdoors in. Huge kitchen, top notch appliances. 3 car garage. MLS# 1232342
GerryAllen@windermere.com
Highway Commercial Warehouse 2748 Peace Portal Dr. D! FT! L Blaine O E 9 NSLY 3 L LOCATION IS
Jeremy Porter • (360) 306-1794
Rentals - Commercial
SE HOU :30-3 PM OPEUNRDAY • 12 SAT
NEW PRICE
$220,000
MINUTES TO THE BEACH!
Christy Imperio • (360) 201-4100
4751 Birch Bay-Lynden Rd. Unit #167, Birch Bay $139,500
$299,900
PRIVATE COUNTRY LIVING!
Scenic rural private country living on 3/4 acre lot make the perfect starter home. Easy access to I-5, schools, city amenities, & border. Classic updated 3-BD, 1-BA, farmhouse, NEW LISTING! maple kitchen cabinetry & counters, “Hearthstone” free standing stove, 160sf workshop, RV parking, deck & partially fenced yard.
Amy Bremer • (360) 961-0620
CeCelia Breivik • (360) 303-8161
4730 Tidal Way, 102-L, Birch Bay
$299,000
TWO BLOCKS TO THE BEACH!
8105 Birch Bay Square St. - Blaine, WA 98230
360-920-0563
BUZZ’N! In The Northern Light
Call 360-332-1777
Allreal realestate/rentals estate/rentalsadvertising advertis- in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 All in this newspaper is subject asingamended, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on to thecolor, Federal Fair Housing Act familial status or national origin, or an intention to make any such race, religion, sex, handicap preference, discrimination. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertisement for real esof 1968 as limitation amended,orwhich makes it illegal tate which is any in violation of thelimitation law. Ourorreaders to advertise preference, dis- are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available based on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll-free at 1-800-877-0246. crimination on race, color, religion,
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This holiday season, shop local at Bazaar by the Bay By Kira Erickson With the holiday season approaching, local stores may be able to provide ideas for the perfect gifts. Bazaar by the Bay, the gift shop located at Semiahmoo Marina, boasts a coffee bar and handmade items from Birch Bay and Blaine artisans. Although the gift shop has been open for the past 15 years, some people may not even know about its existence. “There are very unique gifts here, and we’d love to have people be aware of them,” Semiahmoo Marina office administrator Sally Howell said. “People can get a latte, wander around and look at all the great works.” Bazaar by the Bay is open every day from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Its consigners include local painters, knitters, woodcarvers, glass blowers, jewelry makers and other crafters. Consigners choose the prices for their items, and they receive those profits. The gift shop marks the initial price up by 30 percent. “We’re always looking for new consigners,” Howell said. Those
interested in consigning can contact the café by emailing krisb@ semiahmoomarina.com. Blaine artist Georgia Donovan has been a consigner with the marina gift shop for the past year and a half. “It’s been really nice,” Donovan said about the partnership. “I’ve done a few painted items, but mostly I do the prints or original paintings that they have on the wall, which they’ve been so gracious to share as my own personal gallery.” Donovan has been painting for the past 20 years. During her 18 years in Blaine, she has painted works with a historical focus. Her first paintings were of “the cannery girls,” local women of years past who packed salmon at the former cannery at Semiahmoo. “My work is quite whimsical,” Donovan said. “I’m not formally trained, but over the years I’ve become an artist.” Donovan has also painted the Plover ferry and birds local to the area, such as herons. She will have a new line of greeting cards displayed at Bazaar by the Bay this holiday season, titled “Holi-
day Myths of the Northwest.” Birch Bay candle artisan Kim Prescott has been consigning with the marina gift shop since this past summer. Her business, Candles by The Bay, sells not only candles but also soaps, lotions, body sprays and lip balms. Like many businesses, hers began as a hobby. “It started as a way to make candles for family and friends,” Prescott said. “I got really intrigued in the process of it. If I can make candles, surely I can make soap, and surely I can make lotion.” She first did online research on how to craft her products. After taking notes and experimenting, Prescott has been able to perfect her recipes. Some of the ingredients in her soap include shea butter, goat milk and a variety of oils, such as palm, coconut, olive and sunflower oils. “I play around with all kinds of stuff,” Prescott said. “I’m pretty passionate about it.” Currently, Prescott’s aloe lotion is a bestseller at Bazaar by the Bay. She said lip balms are also popular at the store.
Volunteer tutor receives literacy award A Blaine resident and volunteer tutor has received an award for his efforts to advance adult literacy in Whatcom County. Jim West recently received the First Friends award from the Whatcom Literacy Council. West is a 14-year resident of Blaine, a Seattle native and a University of Washington graduate. West has been a volunteer tutor for over three years. West is currently working with a French woman from Tunisia. He has also tutored an inmate at the county jail, a homeless person and a mother working on her English skills so that she could apply for a job at her daughter’s school. He has been instrumental
in recruiting tutors in the Blaine area. For the last three years, he has organized neighbors and friends in Blaine to form a trivia team and create a cheering squad to support “The Goshawks” for the Whatcom Literacy Council’s trivia bee in May. The Whatcom Literacy Council recently held one of its biggest fundraisers, the Literacy Breakfast with Nancy Pearl, on November 7. Pearl, a librarian, author and NPR commentator, spoke to a sold out crowd of over 350 at Bellingham Technical College’s Settlemyer Hall. Proceeds from the event went to the free adult literacy programs offered by the Whatcom Literacy Council.
s Bazaar by the Bay, the gift shop located at Semiahmoo Marina, has a wide array of holiday gifts, including artwork by Blaine artist Georgia Donovan and candles by Birch Bay artisan Kim Prescott. Photo by Kira Erickson
BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL
DIRECTORY
When it comes to your to-do list, put your future first. To find out how to get your financial goals on track, contact your Edward Jones financial advisor today.
Anne Bowen Financial Advisor 360-671-6400 1943 Main Street, Suite 201 • Ferndale, WA 98248
You’re Retired. Your Money Isn’t. To learn why consolidating your retirement accounts to Edward Jones makes sense, contact your Edward Jones financial advisor today.
s Katherine Freimund, executive director of the Whatcom Literacy Council, presents an award to volunteer tutor Jim West.
Terrell V Goertz, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU® Financial Advisor
www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC
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Photo by Sandy Carter
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Historical photo of the week
Formerlyof1stthePropane 2011 Large Business Year of Whatcom County Keep Full Service • Budget Payment Plan • Tank Installation & Rental Modern Equipment •Family SafetyOwned Checks • Locally Owned & Operated and Operated Since 1929!
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Must present ad for special. Not valid with any other offers. Expires June 30, 2014.
13 week commitment. Call 332-1777 to reserve.
s The Blaine Fire Department gets a new fire engine, November 9, 1949. Photo by Jack Carver, courtesy Whatcom Museum
14
The Northern Light • November 21 - 27, 2019
Coming up Community Toy Store Registration: Through Sunday, December 1. Families that live in the Blaine school district and qualify for free or reduced lunch can sign up to receive assistance in providing holiday gifts for their children. Details and registration are available at blainecap.org. Those not able to register online may call 360/332-0740. Sponsored by the Community Assistance Program. Community Toy Store Toy Drive: Through Friday, December 6. For drop-off locations visit blainecap. org. Drop off brand new toys in the $25–75 range or $25 gift cards for teens. Info: blainecap.org. Blaine Primary School K-5 Annual Book Fair: Thursday and Friday, November 21–22, and Monday and Tuesday, November 25–26, 1–4 p.m., Blaine Primary School library, 820 Boblett Street. Proceeds purchase books for the library. Practices and Representations of the Canada-U.S. Border: Thursday, November 21, 3 p.m., Canada House Conference Room, Western Washington University, 516 High Street, Bellingham. Presentation by Pierre-Alexandre Beylier, BPRI cross-border research fellow. Info: Ruth.Musonda@www.edu. Depression Bipolar Support Group: Thursday, November 21, 6–7:30 p.m., downstairs at Blaine United Church of Christ (use doors on Clark Street, elevator available). No cost, but donations accepted. Wine Tasting Event: Friday, November 22, 3–7 p.m., The Vault Wine Bar, 277 G Street. Tasting Valle de Guadalupe wines with Patrick Neri, importer of Mexican wines from Beso Imports. Info: 360/392-0955. Live Music at The Vault: Friday, November 22, 7–9 p.m., The Vault Wine Bar, 277 G Street. Featuring: JP Falcon & Michael Longenecker. Info: 360/392-0955.
Terrell Creek Restoration: Saturday, November 23, 9 a.m.–noon, park at Birch Bay Bible Community Church, 7039 Jackson Road. Sign in at blue NSEA tents. Wear sturdy shoes/weather-appropriate clothing. Join NSEA, Whatcom Conservation District and BBWARM to restore forest for salmon along Terrell Creek. All ages welcome. Under 18 years old bring a youth liability release form at bit.ly/36qwg6O. Under 14 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
Answers at thenorthernlight.com 55. Tennis star Kournikova 56. Pulitzer-winning composer 58. The opposite to pro 59. Safecrackers 60. Denotes past 61. Parrots 64. One quintillion bytes (abbr.) 65. Reduce the importance of 67. Stiffly 69. In a sensible way 70. Signs DOWN 1.Capital of Zambia 2. Article 3. Country star LeAnn 4. Egyptian goddess 5. Afflict in mind or body 6. Showy but cheap 7. Belgian urban center 8. Short-winged diving seabird 9. Deploys 10. Ballplayers can legally do it 11. Centiliter 12. Contrary beliefs 13. Type of pole 15. Distinguish oneself 18. 8th month of the year (abbr.) 21. One who monitors 24. Petty quarreling 26. Fiddler crabs 27. Touch lightly
Holiday Harbor Lights: Saturday, December 7, downtown Blaine. Tree lighting/caroling at the G Street Plaza at 4:30 p.m. Santa’s arrival at 4:45. 5–6 p.m., visit Santa/petting zoo at Border Town Pizza. 5–7 p.m., free horse and carriage rides. Blainechamber.com.
Semiahmoo Men’s Breakfast: Thursday, December 5, 7:30 a.m., Great Blue Heron Grill, 8720 Semiahmoo Parkway. Coffee, big breakfast $15. All men are welcome. Speaker: Terrell Goertz on his recent travels to Winnie the Pooh Christmas Tail: Saturday, December 7, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, December 8, 4 Vietnam and Cambodia. p.m., White Rock Community Center, 15154 Russell Olde Fashioned Christmas: Friday, December 6, 5–9 Avenue, White Rock, B.C. Presented by Surrey Youth Putting Your Garden to Bed (or Not!): Saturday, p.m., Saturday, December 7, 1–9 p.m. and Sunday, De- Theatre Company. Tickets: sytco20@gmail.com or cember 8, 1–5 p.m., Pioneer Park, 2004 Cherry Street, brownpapertickets.com. Info: surreyyouththeatre.ca. November 23, 10 a.m.–noon, Blaine Public Library, Ferndale. Tickets: $5 adults, $3 children, free for children 610 3rd Street. Benefits of starting a winter garunder one year old. Info: ferndaleheritagesociety.com. Al-Anon Meetings: Mondays, noon, United Church den and guidelines for creating a healthier garof Christ, 885 4th Street. Info: Call M.J. 360/920-3679 den next year, including how to plant fruit trees/bushHoliday Boutique and Craft Fair: Friday, December or Bob 360/920-3676 es, divide perennials and winter protection. Presented 6, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Semiahmoo Resort. Buffet luncheon ArtScape Teens: Tuesdays, 3–5 p.m., Soul Space by Blaine C.O.R.E. Info: 360/305-3637. available for $35 with reservations by Dec. 1. Info Studio, 264B H Street. A safe place for teens to set Community Thanksgiving Meal: Saturday, No- and lunch reservations, call 360/224-1270 or email their imaginations free through art. Free studio time. vember 23, noon–4 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 mattoon900@comcast.net. Sponsor: Healthy Youth Coalition. Info: 435/704-1598. G Street. Free traditional Thanksgiving meal. Live Holiday Book Sale: Friday, December 6, 10 a.m.–6 Toastmasters Meeting: Tuesdays, 6:30–7:45 p.m., music, games and suicide prevention presentation p.m. and Saturday, December 7, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Blaine 382 Boblett Street. Improve your public speaking skills. at 2 p.m. Sponsors: Healthy Youth Coalition, Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. Discover the perfect gift United Church of Christ and American Legion Riders. Community Meals: Wednesdays, 5–6:30 p.m., at the annual Friends of the Blaine Library book sale. To volunteer: 435/704-1598. Blaine Community Center, 763 G Street. Through May, Info: 360/305-3637. except holidays. Info: blainecap.org. Live Music at The Vault: Saturday, November 23, Christmas Market: Saturday, December 7, 9 a.m.–3 The Alaska Packers Museum: Saturdays and Sundays, 7–9 p.m., The Vault Wine Bar, 277 G Street. Featurp.m., St. Anne Catholic Church, 604 H Street. 1–5 p.m., 9261 Semiahmoo Parkway. Info: 360/371-3558. ing: Spencer Redmond Trio. Info: 360/392-0955. Holiday Harbor Lights Art Show and Museum: Sat- Teen Nite: Saturdays, 5–9 p.m., Border Town Pizza, Customer Appreciation Party: Wednesday, urday, December 7, noon–6 p.m., Blaine Pavilion, 635 8th 738 Peace Portal Drive. Kids ages 13–18 come enjoy November 27, The Wheel House Bar and Grill, 746 Street. Featuring fine art, fused glass, jewelry, ornaments, open mic, karaoke and games. Free pizza at 5 p.m. Peace Portal Drive. Free pizza from 6:30–8 p.m., turart cards, prints, demonstrations, free refreshments and a key bingo at 7 p.m. and live music by Wicked Timing Narcotics Anonymous Meeting: Sundays, special attraction. Info: blainechamber.com. at 8:30 p.m. Info: 360/332-3512. 6:30–7:30 p.m., Christ Episcopal Church, 382 Boblett Holiday Lights Dash: Saturday, December 7, 2 p.m., Street, entrance on 4th Street. Nwwana.org. Dog Day Afternoons: Wednesdays, December 4 Lincoln Park, 1800 H Street. Family-friendly one mile and 11, 3:15–5:15 p.m., Blaine Public Library, 610 Submissions to Coming Up should be sent to run/walk with fun obstacles. Theme: Candyland meets 3rd Street. Read for 30 minutes to a canine friend Elf. Holiday attire encouraged. Register at 1 p.m. Adults calendar@thenorthernlight.com from the Whatcom Humane Society. Must be able $10, kids 5-17 $5, family (up to 5) $30, under 5 free. no later than noon on Monday. to read with minimal help. All dogs have completed Free refreshments. Info: bbbparkandrec.org.
Crossword ACROSS 1. Rope used as a lasso 7. Lomb’s partner 13. North African nation 14. Rounds up cattle 16. Densest naturally occurring element 17. Home of the Brewers 19. Atomic #44 20. Vetches 22. Moved earth with a tool 23. Cavalry sword 25. Supplements with difficulty 26. Encouraged 28. Speech defect 29. Periodical (abbr.) 30. Very cold 31. __ Paulo, city 33. Former OSS 34. Approves food 36. Cars need them 38. Sweden’s dominant phone company 40. Long lock of a woman’s hair 41. North American natives 43. Fly high 44. One type is fire 45. Nocturnal bird 47. More than one male 48. LOTR actor McKellen 51. Employee stock ownership plan 53. Tony-winning actress Daisy
basic obedience and/or participated in WHS education programs. Registration required. Call 360/305-3637.
30. American state 32. Pro wrestler Randy 35. Indicates spelling mistake 37. Macaws 38. Gradually narrowed 39. Installments 42. Female sheep 43. Politician 46. Servant 47. Said to facilitate concentration 49. California ballplayers 50. Once Toledo’s tallest building 52. A type of pie 54. State of southwestern India 55. Principal member of Norse religion 57. Counterspy 59. Wellness practice 62. __-de-sac: dead end street 63. Used to cook 66. Type of hospital 68. Direct message46. Behind the stern of a ship 47. Supernatural force 48. Altar in Orthodox churches 51. Swiss river 52. Impartiality 53. “Luther” actor Idris 54. They resist authority (slang) 58. Criticize
Sheriff’s Reports November 13, 5:25 a.m.: Refer to other agency on Birch Bay-Lynden Road, Custer. November 13, 9:40 a.m.: Assist citizen cold call on Holeman Avenue. November 13, 3:03 p.m.: Harassment cold call on Harborview Drive. November 13, 4:49 p.m.: Watch for on Birch Bay-Lynden and Blaine roads. November 13, 4:57 p.m.: Welfare check on Outrigger Loop. November 13, 6:54 p.m.: Assist citizen on Freedom Place. November 13, 8:05 p.m.: Welfare check on Salish Road. November 13, 9:41 p.m.: Welfare check on Grandview Road. November 13, 10:49 p.m.: Assist agency on Valley View Road, Custer. November 13, 11:28 p.m.: Whatcomm record on Sea Links Drive and Birch Bay-Lynden Road. November 13, 11:36 p.m.: Domestic physical cold call on Harborview Road. One arrest for assault in the fourth degree, assault in the second degree and interfering with the report of domestic violence. November 14, 10:10 a.m.: Burglary cold call on Blaine Road. November 14, 10:20 a.m.: Traffic hazard on Beach Way Drive. November 14, 12:02 p.m.: Parking problem on West Road. November 14, 12:50 p.m.: Impound private cold call on Birch Bay Drive. November 14, 2:55 p.m.: Trespass on Beachcomber Drive. November 14, 3:40 p.m.: Property found cold call on Custer School Road, Custer. November 14, 6:40 p.m.: Mental on Nautical Court. November 14, 10:52 p.m.: Assist agency on Birch Bay Drive. November 15, 1:26 a.m.: Drunk on Alder Way. November 15, 4:54 a.m.: Watch for cold call on Birch Bay Drive and Harborview Road. November 15, 5:31 a.m.: Impound private on Harborview Road. November 15, 8:24 a.m.: Suspicious circumstances on Quinault Road. November 15, 8:43 a.m.: Traffic problem on Grandview and Jackson roads. November 15, 9:29 a.m.: Alarm audible on Bay Road. November 15, 12:33 p.m.: Burglary cold call on Birch Terrace Lane, Custer. November 15, 2:49 p.m.: Assist citizen cold call on Helweg Road. November 15, 5:54 p.m.: Property found on Goldenbrook Way. November 15, 6:08 p.m.: Hazard on Blaine Road. November 15, 8:12 p.m.: Domestic verbal on Chehalis Road. November 15, 10:09 p.m.: Traffic stop on Birch Bay Square Street. One citation for driving with a suspended license in the third degree. November 15, 10:46 p.m.: Serve warrant on Birch Bay Square Street. November 16, 4:12 a.m.: Hang up (911) on Valley View Road, Custer. November 16, 4:18 a.m.: Juvenile problem on Birch Bay-Lynden Road, Custer. November 16, 12:01 p.m.: Refer to other agency on Creasey Road, Custer. November 16, 3:35 p.m.: Alarm audible on Quinault Road. November 16, 4:16 p.m.: Assist citizen on Birch Bay-Lynden Road. Reports provided by WSCO
Weather
Precipitation: During the period of November 11–17, 1.73 inches of precipitation was recorded. The 2019 year-to-date precipitation is 26.86 inches. Temperature: High for the past week was 61°F on November 15 with a low of 41°F on November 13. Average high was 56°F and average low was 44°F. Courtesy Birch Bay Water & Sewer Dist.
Tides DATE TIME HEIGHT TIME HEIGHT November 22–28 at Blaine. Not for navigation. 49° 0’ 0”N - 122° 46’ 0”W Fr 22
1:01 am
1:36 pm
9.90
8:29 pm
2.06
Sa 23 2:31 am
7.08
7:50 am
3.57
6.30
6:44 am
2.61
2:12 pm
9.92
9:11 pm
0.65
Su 24 3:45 am
8.05
8:54 am
4.48
2:46 pm
9.91
9:51 pm
-0.57
Mo 25 4:49 am
8.97
9:54 am
5.29
3:22 pm
9.83 10:33 pm
-1.48
Tu 26
5:45 am
9.70 10:50 am
5.96
3:56 pm
9.65 11:13 pm
-2.01
We 27 6:39 am 10.17 11:46 am
6.47
9.35 11:53 pm
-2.16
Th 28 7:29 am 10.39 12:40 pm
6.82
4:32 pm
5:06 pm
8.92
s Research fellow Dr. Pierre-Alexandre Beylier will be speaking about his cross-border research on Thursday, November 21 at WWU. Courtesy photo
November 21 - 27, 2019 • thenorthernlight.com
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Suspicionless border searches of digital devices ruled unconstitutional By Jami Makan A federal court has ruled that suspicionless searches of travelers’ electronic devices by federal agents at airports and other U.S. ports of entry are unconstitutional. The November 12 ruling came in a lawsuit, Alasaad v. McAleenan, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and ACLU of Massachusetts on behalf of 11 travelers whose smartphones and laptops were searched without individualized suspicion at U.S. ports of entry. The plaintiffs were 10 U.S. citizens and one lawful permanent resident who came from across
the country and a variety of backgrounds. The defendants were the leaders of the Department of Homeland Security and two of its component agencies, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The case was filed in U.S. district court in Boston, Massachusetts. In a 48-page memorandum and order, U.S. district judge Denise Casper ruled that under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, “reasonable suspicion” is required when federal agents conduct border searches of electronic devices. “Although governmental interests are paramount at the border,
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
where such non-cursory searches – even ‘basic’ searches as broadly defined under CBP and ICE policies as well as the ‘advanced’ searches of plaintiffs’ electronic devices – amount to non-routine searches, they require reasonable suspicion that the devices contain contraband,” wrote the judge. The judge said that reasonable suspicion requires “a showing of specific and articulable facts, considered with reasonable inferences drawn from those facts, that the electronic devices contain contraband.” The judge also ruled that the reasonable suspicion requirement applies whether a search of an electronic device is “basic” or “advanced.” CBP defines an “advanced” search as “any search in which an officer connects external equipment, through a wired or wireless connection, to an electronic device, not merely to gain access to the device, but to review, copy and/or analyze its contents.” While CBP’s policies required “reasonable suspicion” for most advanced searches, they required no showing of cause for a basic search, defined by CBP as “any border search that is not an advanced search.” The judge said that she was unable to discern a meaningful difference between the two classes of searches in terms of the privacy interests implicated. “Even a basic search alone may reveal a wealth of personal information,” she said. “Even
a basic search allows for both a general perusal and a particularized search of a traveler’s personal data, images, files and even sensitive information.” “In light of this record, case law, and in conjunction with the lack of meaningful difference between basic and advanced searches, the court concludes that agents and officials must have reasonable suspicion to conduct any search of entrants’ electronic devices under the ‘basic’ searches and ‘advanced’ searches as now defined by the CBP and ICE policies,” said the ruling. “This requirement reflects both the important privacy interests involved in searching electronic devices and the defendant’s governmental interests at the border.” According to EFF, the number
of border searches of electronic devices has been steadily growing. In 2017, CBP conducted 30,200 border searches, both inbound and outbound, of electronic devices, according to a CBP news release. The year before, 19,051 electronic device searches were conducted by CBP. “This ruling significantly advances Fourth Amendment protections for millions of international travelers who enter the United States every year,” said Esha Bhandari, staff attorney with the ACLU’s Speech, Privacy and Technology Project. “By putting an end to the government’s ability to conduct suspicionless fishing expeditions, the court reaffirms that the border is not a lawless place and that we don’t lose our privacy rights when we travel.”
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The Northern Light • November 21 - 27, 2019