February 13 - 19, 2020
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City of Blaine hires two new planners, page 2
20th annual Bite of Blaine to be formal affair, page 6
Local firm designs airline safety cards, page 15
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
DHS official says Washington state could lose NEXUS privileges By Jami Makan
(See NEXUS, page 3)
s A new attraction at the Alaska Packers Association (APA) Museum on the Semiahmoo Spit highlights the important role that Chinese laborers played in the West Coast’s canneries. A rusty old “Iron Chink” machine, which was used to process salmon, has been refurbished and installed in a new, informative display.
Photo by Jami Makan
APA Museum attraction highlights role of Chinese labor By Sunny Brown The Alaska Packers Association (APA) Museum in Semiahmoo Park has a new attraction. A rusty old “Iron Chink” machine has been sandblasted, painted fire-engine red and placed on a concrete pad. Peeled poles support a new roof and allow the machine to occupy its rightful place in the history of the Alaska Packers cannery, which operated from 1880 to 1973 and was miraculously transformed into Semiahmoo Resort in the mid-1980s. In the late 1800s, Chinese laborers were recruited to work in the West Coast’s canneries. A skilled “China hand” could clean
six salmon a minute by chopping off the head, tail and fins and slitting the belly. The fish were then sent on down the conveyor line to be “slimed” – washed, chopped into smaller pieces and then stuffed into cans to be cooked. To be blunt, the Chinese workers were a cheap source of labor. Canneries had separate houses for Chinese workers that were always referred to as “China House.” They worked in the canneries but were segregated by housing, transportation and meals. Chinese laborers played an important role at the Semiahmoo cannery. Cannery managers valued the skilled labor they provided for the short summer canning
Seattle Field Office was “overzealous” in detaining Iranian-Americans, says top CBP official B y P a t r i c k G r u bb U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) acting commissioner Mark Morgan suggested that travelers with Iranian backgrounds were wrongly interrogated and detained while crossing the Peace Arch border during the January 4-5 weekend. Speaking at a February 11 news conference held in Washington, D.C. to discuss January enforcement numbers,
Morgan responded to a question about a memo issued by CBP’s Seattle Field Office directing officers to employ enhanced interrogation to travelers with Iranian and other Middle Eastern backgrounds. Morgan said, “I want to make clear – we do not target anyone based on their nationality, race, creed, color. That’s just a false narrative. ... In this specific incident, there was no national directive either from me or from anybody at headquarters to single out
individuals that were connected to Iran. … In that specific office, a decision was made to take those individuals out of primary [inspection]. … That was not in line with our direction. That was immediately corrected and it was very unique to that one sector.” Morgan then compared the matter with how CBP is currently dealing with the novel coronavirus, saying that there is
season. Working conditions were often dangerous and dirty, yet determined laborers sent money home to help their families and improve their communities. The “Iron Chink” machine was invented to replace the Chinese workers in 1901. The now-racially charged name, “Iron Chink,” was patented in 1905 by Edmond Smith of Seattle and used into the 1930s. Whereas a Chinese worker could process six salmon a minute, the machine could process 100 salmon a minute. Each of the nine Iron Chinks at Semiahmoo took the place of 15 to 20 people on the fish line, jobs traditionally held by contracted Chinese laborers. (See APA, page 3)
INSIDE
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is suspending its Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) for New York residents in response to a new state law preventing DHS from accessing New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) records. Effective immediately, New York residents will no longer be able to enroll or re-enroll in TTP programs like NEXUS, and a DHS official warned that Washington state could face similar consequences if it passes a law similar to New York’s. In a letter sent to the New York DMV’s acting commissioner Mark Schroeder and executive deputy commissioner Theresa Egan on February 5, acting DHS secretary Chad Wolf said that DHS component agencies like U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) rely on state DMV records to combat gangs, narcotics smuggling, human trafficking, child exploitation, arms trafficking, fraud, identity theft and the illegal export of sensitive technology. The letter did not mention illegal immigration specifically, but it was widely reported that the disputed New York law also allows undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses, and that the law’s provisions aim to shield such immigrants from DHS enforcement and deportation efforts. Some interpreted the move by DHS as a response to New York state’s approach to illegal immigrants, a claim that Wolf denied in a Fox News interview on Sunday. Like New York, Washington state also allows undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses, and pursuant to an executive order by governor Jay Inslee, the Department of Licensing does not provide personal information for immigration-related investigations to federal immigration authorities without a court order or other legal requirement.
Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . 6 Classifieds . . . . . 11 Coming Up . . . . . 14 Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14
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The Northern Light • February 13 - 19, 2020
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City of Blaine hires two new planners The city of Blaine recently hired two new community planners, who will assist the city with guiding and regulating community growth and development, enhancing quality of life, promoting distinctive neighborhoods and a thriving downtown, regulating construction and managing park and recreation facilities.
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Stacy Clauson, Community Planner II Stacy Clauson earned her bachelor and master’s degrees in environmental policy and geography from WWU, and has over 15 years of experience working as a public sector planner in the Pacific Northwest. She has administered ministerial, quasi-judicial and legislative projects in both Oregon and Washington, and was the planning director for Junction City. Clauson contributed to the development of an award-winning storytelling map for the Samish Indian Nation, and has managed millions of dollars in grants for the Washington State Department of Transportation. She has worked with numerous boards, elected officials and commissions. She looks forward to helping city of Blaine customers, and helping the planning commission complete great projects for the city.
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NEXUS ... From page 1
Last week, acting DHS deputy secretary Ken Cuccinelli said that Washington state risks a similar response from DHS. “I know that the state of Washington is looking at a law like New York’s green-light law,” he said, according to The New York Times. “They should know that their citizens are going to lose the convenience of entering these Trusted Traveler Programs, just as New York’s did.” In his February 5 letter, Wolf said that New York state’s Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act, enacted on June 17 last year, precludes CBP and ICE “from accessing and validating pertinent information contained in New York DMV records that is operationally critical in DHS’s efforts to keep our nation secure.” Specifically, the new law “prevents DHS from accessing relevant information that only New York DMV maintains, including some aspects of an individual’s criminal history,” said the letter. “As such, the Act compromises CBP’s ability to confirm whether an individual applying for TTP membership meets program eligibility requirements.” Citing a “negative impact” on
APA ... From page 1
Entering the machine from the right side, the salmon was beheaded with a curved knife, the tail and fins were removed and a round saw blade at the top center of the wheel split the body open. Wheels and brushes removed viscera and scrubbed the fish cavity. Water continually sprayed on the fish to aid the cleaning process. Each machine processed over 30,000 salmon per day. Visitors to the APA Museum can’t miss it. As you walk from the parking lot to the museum, on the boardwalk, it is on your right. It is a very large, red contraption. There is a roof over it. Previously it was just sitting on the dirt, kind of tilted and very rusty. Those who are regular park visitors and former cannery workers know it well. It has been in that spot for at
Morgan ... From page 1
additional questioning of travelers who are from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the global health emergency. “It was the same thing with the threat that was posed from Iran based on the totality of the circumstances,” he asserted. “I would say in that one instance, leadership just got a little overzealous and we corrected that right away.” Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, who has been at the forefront of politicians criticizing CBP over the January 4-5 incidents, was not satisfied with Morgan’s explanation. On Twitter, she responded the same day by saying, “This is still not a sufficient response from CBP, and it’s deeply disturbing that it took
DHS operations, the letter said that TTP programs would immediately be suspended for all New York residents. In addition to NEXUS, these programs include Global Entry (for expedited entry into the U.S. from international destinations by air, land and sea), SENTRI (for expedited entry into the U.S. from Canada and Mexico by air and land) and FAST (for commercial truck drivers entering and exiting the U.S. from Canada and Mexico). The letter did not mention the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) PreCheck program, which allows pre-screened travelers to use separate, often shorter lines through airport security. A TSA spokesperson told The New York Times that New Yorkers currently enrolled in the program will continue to receive TSA PreCheck status. “These actions are the result of an initial assessment conducted by DHS,” said Wolf’s letter. “We will continue to review department-wide operations related to New York to assess and mitigate the Act’s adverse impact on national security and law enforcement.” In addition to affecting CBP’s ability to pre-screen TTP applicants, the new law in New York would also hamper ICE, said Wolf. His letter said that ICE uses DMV records to verify or cor-
roborate an investigatory target’s personally identifiable information; identify targets, witnesses, victims and assets; obtain search warrants; identify criminal networks; create new leads for investigation; compile photographic line-ups; and more. In response to the action by DHS, New York attorney general Letitia James is suing DHS and Wolf in Manhattan federal court, accusing them of engaging in political retribution and jeopardizing public safety. The lawsuit also alleges that it is unconstitutional to single out an individual state “for coercion and retribution as a means to compel conformity with preferred federal policies.” Should DHS decide to suspend Washington state’s TTP programs, many current members could lose their privileges due to the length of time it is currently taking for membership renewals. CBP recently announced that NEXUS passes can be used for up to one year after their expiry date, as long as members had submitted a renewal application prior to that date. Unlike Canada, which processes 95 percent of new NEXUS applications within 30 days, current U.S. members have reported waits of over eight months without being notified of the status of their re-applications.
least 30 years. Bellingham-based Advanced Powder Coatings did the blasting and painting, and the rest of the work was done by Whatcom County’s parks maintenance crew. Now that it has had a facelift and received proper shelter, it is the object of much interest. There is a descriptive sign that briefly tells the history. Kids climb on it. Men stand and ponder how it works. Often they come into the museum for an explanation. The new, covered shelter was just completed last week. There has been no ceremony marking the event, and as far as I know, none is planned. I believe this particular machine is an early 1920s model. There is a patent plate in the museum for 1922, but it may not be the plate that goes with that machine. With the advent of refrigeration and same-day transportation, canneries are no longer the main fish
processing plants. The few fish canneries that remain still use fish processing machines which are now called butchering machines. Our museum honors the people of this community who worked in our Blaine fishing industry. There are quite a few of them still here. Modern-day boats are bigger. The processing plants are in Bellingham. The fish runs are carefully monitored to provide replenishment of the species. But back in the day, this was the wild west of fishing, boat building, sawmills and smuggling. We have a rich history. The next project is to complete the restoration of NN59, our Bristol Bay sail boat, so that we can all go sailing in Drayton Harbor. Donations can be made at the APA Museum on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Alice “Sunny” Brown has been the APA Museum’s docent and volunteer coordinator since 2002.
my inquiries, a leaked memo and press reports for CBP to finally acknowledge that it inappropriately targeted Iranian-Americans at the #WA-Canada border.” A lawsuit against CBP was filed on February 12 in the United States District Court in Seattle by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) challenging CBP’s refusal to produce a directive issued to CBP officers to detain and interrogate Iranian-Americans on January 4 and 5. CAIR had filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request on January 8 asking the agency to produce all directives or other communications issued by CBP regarding the screening of individuals of Iranian heritage. The agency failed to respond within a 20-day period prescribed by law. The complaint filed by CAIR cited the publication of
a “purported directive” by The Northern Light on January 29 and called on the court to order CBP to immediately produce all documents and records responsive to the plaintiff’s FOIA request.
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The Northern Light • February 13 - 19, 2020
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 Grace McCarthy 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 Contributors In This Issue Sunny Brown Ron Miller Mike Kent The Northern Light 225 Marine Drive, Suite 200, Blaine, WA 98230 Tel: 360/332-1777 Vol XXV, No 34 Circulation: 10,500 copies
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Next issue: Feb. 20 Ads due: Feb. 14
S A Blaine High School (BHS) alumnus recently earned a Ph.D. in biomolecular sciences. Steven Burden graduated from BHS in 2001 and from Brigham Young University in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science. After serving a two-year church mission in Hawaii, he worked for seven years in reference labs and hospital labs. On December 21, he earned his Ph.D. from Boise State University. Also last year, Burden started a company named FACible BioDiagnostics that focuses on developing new healthcare diagnostics. He lives in Boise with his wife Danielle and their three children Emma, Hannah and Logan. Photo courtesy of Steven Burden
Letters The Editor: The Northern Light newspaper is more interesting with every issue. I’m really enjoying the focus on local businesses and the exclusive articles on the CBP. A big “thank you” goes to PSE’s Mel Walters and the Whatcom Humane Society’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center for safely rescuing the juvenile bald eagle trapped in a power line. With a probable lifespan in the wild of 20 to 30 years, that eagle will now have a long and wild life to enjoy. Jennifer Plombon Blaine The Editor: While I have no children of school age, I am an ardent supporter of having a new school in Birch Bay for the children residing here. Years ago, I polled the candidates for the school district prior to an election, asking them their position on the above subject, and not one candidate responded. The ignoring by the Blaine school district appears to continue to no end as the “public meetings” in October and November have not produced any positive results. Nor have I seen any articles updating the search for a site which was included in the school budget last year or the year before. So, I do not intend to vote for more taxes and funds for them this month, maybe not even in the future. It is a shame the parents are allowing their children to be bussed, which I think is harmful in the long run for all of these children. Why the parents
continue to permit this is beyond me. Being retired and having worked on the possible incorporation of Birch Bay (it seems no one here desires that), I have been devoting my time to getting a new post office for Birch Bay, and after one year I am making some progress in having a face-to-face meeting with appropriate staff in the USPS to move this topic forward. If you can send me a note of support (many people know the poor level of service from the Blaine post office for many years, and I want to make that a secondary issue), I would appreciate it. Mickey Masdeo Birch Bay The Editor: There are many news reports regarding actions taken at Sea-Tac and San Francisco airports regarding travelers returning from areas with a high incidence of the new coronavirus. What have your reporters learned about protections in place at Vancouver International Airport? It would seem that northern Whatcom County communities’ primary risk pool would come from our Lower Mainland neighbors. I can’t imagine CBP would want to be in the business of taking the temperatures of travelers crossing the border, like the CDC is doing at many airports. It appears to be a difficult and growing challenge. Kirk Flanders Blaine
The Editor: On March 10, we, the voters of Washington state, get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. With our vote, we get to potentially change the course of history and select the next President of the United States. Which is why I am proud to cast my vote for Elizabeth Warren. Of all the many choices this year, she is by far the most qualified, the most compelling and the most effective. She knows that our economy has been rigged by the wealthy and powerful and knows exactly how to fix it so everyone can have a fair shot at a good life. Whether it is her comprehensive plan for disabilities, her universal childcare program or her plan to inject billions of dollars into our small cities’ infrastructure projects, she has done the homework and will be ready on day one. Warren’s ideas are sound, her voice strong and I know that she will never stop fighting for us. Ballots arrive in the next couple of weeks and it is time for Washington to weigh in. Please join me in voting for Elizabeth Warren for President and together, we can work towards a future that will make us and our children proud. Bryna Sweeney Lynden 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.
February 13 - 19, 2020 • thenorthernlight.com
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Kirk Douglas will always remain an iconic Hollywood star 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.
Thursday, February 13 9:00am – Park and Cemetery Board Meeting
S Kirk Douglas in western gear in Man Without A Star (1955). Douglas passed away on February 5 at the age of 103.
Thursday, February 13 2:00pm – Public Works Advisory Committee Location: PW 1200 Yew Ave Thursday, February 13 6:00pm – Planning Commission Meeting
Photo courtesy of Ron Miller
the industry to put up the money,” Douglas said. “We made a little picture that I didn’t think would ever be a hit.” Of course, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest made more than $300 million, won the Best Picture Academy Award and gave Jack Nicholson the Oscar for the role Douglas played on the stage. When I asked him to sum up the reasons why he had such a long run as a leading man in pictures, he told me what he said he’d told his son Michael. He said an actor must have vitality and energy. He said that’s why he worked out regularly in the gym and rode horseback at least once a week, if possible. (Michael is now both an Oscar and Emmy winner himself.) When I asked him if he still sees the same Kirk Douglas that he saw in the 1950s when he looks in his mirror today, he chuckled and said, “I’m still the same guy. I can still do all the things I could do in 1952. I just can’t do them as often.” Kirk Douglas never won an Oscar in competition, but was awarded one in 1996 for his total career achievement. In 2003, Kirk Douglas starred in the film It Runs in the Family, appearing with two of his sons, his grandson and his ex-wife. He performed despite the effects of the stroke he suffered in 1996, which limited his ability to speak clearly. Looking back, I’m convinced that Kirk Douglas will always remain an iconic Hollywood star who made many significant films as well as many box office hits. He was a superb film actor – and, based on our one interview together, also a
warm and plain-speaking man of great character. Ron Miller of Blaine was a nationally syndicated entertainment columnist from 1977 to 1999. His complete interview with Kirk Douglas is contained in his book Conversations with Classic Film Stars (2016), which is available in both hard cover and soft cover editions from the University of Kentucky Press and Amazon.com. Miller is currently offering a film lecture series at Semiahmoo Resort every Wednesday evening through March 4. For details, visit semiahmoo.com.
Monday, February 17 City Offices Closed – Presidents’ Day Monday, February 24 4:00pm – Study Session – Review of potential cost allocation strategies for East Blaine Infrastructure. 4:30pm – Study Session – OPMA and PRA Training. 5:30pm – Study Session – Martin Street Parklett Development Alternatives. 6:00pm – Regular City Council Meeting U.S. PASSPORTS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY Call (360) 332-8311 or visit our website.
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Like many of my generation, I grew up with the actor Kirk Douglas as a regular feature of my movie fantasy world. But unlike most of us, I forged a career as a writer who talked to and wrote about Hollywood stars, so I actually met and spoke with him up close and personal. Perhaps that’s why I was especially sad to learn that we had lost this great actor and devoted humanitarian on February 5 when he died at the remarkable age of 103. I suspect I first saw Kirk Douglas on the screen when I was about 10, playing the intensely ambitious prizefighter in the acclaimed movie Champion in 1949. I grew up loving boxing and in the course of my writing career also met and talked with many legendary prizefighters, including former heavyweight champs Rocky Marciano, Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and Mike Tyson. The one thing Kirk Douglas had in common with those guys was his superb physical condition through most of his active years and his uncommon zest for action. If he played a boxer, you believed he might really be one. Just like you might also believe he could be a rebellious Roman slave like Spartacus, a Viking warrior or the rugged frontiersmen he played in films like The Indian Fighter, The Big Sky or Along the Great Divide. In fact, the day I met him for our interview in 1984, he was fresh from the gym where he’d just had a vigorous workout. He was then 67 years old and explained he had to keep fit if he wanted to be ready for any leading role in a movie. When I told him I thought his fitness probably helped him when he played a nude scene with Farrah Fawcett in the sci-fi film Saturn 3 when he was 64, he replied, with a wink, “Don’t knock it if you haven’t tried it.” In my opinion, Douglas’ willingness to play characters with a good measure of badness probably helped display his versatility as an actor over the years. The reporter he played in Billy Wilder’s Ace in the Hole (1951) actually works to prolong the ordeal of a man trapped in a cave so that his story will remain on page one. It was one
of his best performances – and one of his favorite films. “I love that character with all the dark side of him,” Douglas told me. “I don’t mind playing a character the audience doesn’t like. I’m not worried about image.” However, his frequent co-star, John Wayne, didn’t approve of that outlook and actually scolded Douglas at a party celebrating the premiere of Lust for Life, in which Douglas played the troubled artist Vincent van Gogh. He said Wayne had a few drinks under his belt and told him he should never play a “weak, sniveling” character like that again because “they have no dignity.” Of course, the role earned Douglas an Oscar nomination and was frequently cited by critics as his best ever. The film also was a big hit. Naturally, I had to ask Douglas how he got along with Wayne, who was a proud right-winger while Douglas was far left and broke the Hollywood blacklist of former communist party members by insisting that Dalton Trumbo should write the screenplay for Spartacus (1960) and get screen credit for it. “Politically, we were completely apart,” Douglas said. “We might have dinner together once during the making of a picture.” (They made four together.) “Yet he’d call me and suggest we make a picture together. We had a respect for each other.” Douglas took great pride in the role he played in ending the blacklist and, in fact, also hired Dalton Trumbo to write one of his other favorite pictures, Lonely Are the Brave. It was a box office flop but a critical success. Douglas blamed the studio for failing to get behind the picture and promote it. I asked Douglas about some of his greatest frustrations in his career, and clearly one of them was his failure to play the leading role in the movie version of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, a role he’d played on the stage in New York. He owned the rights to the book by Ken Kesey and the play, but he couldn’t get any studio to produce the film. “I tried for over 12 years to get it made and finally I went into partnership with my son, Michael, and we found somebody outside
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The Northern Light • February 13 - 19, 2020
Sports By Oliver Lazenby
Blaine basketball rallies to snag a higher playoff seeding After a couple disappointing weeks on the court, the Blaine boys varsity basketball team capped its season with two key wins at home that gave the Borderites a crucial boost in playoff seeding. A dominating 62–49 win against Nooksack Valley on February 5 and a 61–57 victory over Sehome on February 8 bumped the Borderites up a couple spots in playoff seeding to the eighth po-
sition out of 12. Blaine will host a rematch against ninth-seeded Sehome in the must-win first round playoff game on Thursday, February 13. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. “I’m sure they’re going to be looking for revenge,” said Blaine head coach Brett Farrar, about Sehome. “Motivation will be high on both sides of the ball.” Both Blaine and Sehome finished the regular season with 5–8
records in conference games, but Blaine’s 11–9 overall record bests Sehome’s overall record of 8–12. The higher-seeded teams host the first-round games, giving Blaine the home advantage. “It’s always nice to play at home. We’ve had great community support and the crowds have always been behind us,” Farrar said. “Being able to have that first elimination game at home, it doesn’t
necessarily make you comfortable but it sure beats having to hop on a bus and travel somewhere.” Josh Russ shined in both final regular season games, scoring 22 points against Nooksack Valley and 19 against Sehome. “He’s playing his best basketball right now – really assertive on offensive and pretty aggressive at trying to get the ball to the hoop,” Farrar said.
Kyle Turnberg scored 15 against Sehome, with 13 points in Blaine’s big 42-point second half. Zane Rector scored 13 against Sehome and 20 against Nooksack Valley. The winner of the Thursday game against Sehome will advance to play undefeated Burlington-Edison at 6 p.m. on Friday, February 15, at Burlington-Edison High School.
Seven Blaine wrestlers make finals as Borderites claim sub-regional title Blaine wrestlers spent much of the regular season traveling to big tournaments to take on some of the best wrestlers in the state and, in some cases, in the country. Because of that, Blaine hasn’t always placed near the top, at least in team score. That strategy seems to have prepared Blaine well for the post-season, as the Borderites got a confidence-boosting first place finish at the Class 2A Sub-Regional tournament on February 7-8 at Sedro-Woolley High School. Eleven wrestlers placed in the top four and qualified to the regional tournament. “I know I probably downplay our guys and how tough this tournament is,” said Blaine
head coach Tom Hinz, after explaining that he expected Blaine to take first place. “It is a great honor that we’re having this success, but these guys put in so much work.” Four Blaine wrestlers won championship titles: Jack Cheatham at 138 pounds, Gavino Rodriguez at 182 pounds, Colton Pedersen at 195 pounds and Owen Hansen at 220 pounds. Seven other Blaine wrestlers qualified for the regional tournament: Cael Button, second place at 113 pounds; Baruc Vazquez, second at 160; Luke Westfall, second at 170; Adam Macauley, third at 126; Tyson Kirk, third at 195; Xavier Stephens, Third at 285; and Alex Welch, fourth at 152.
Nahum Vazquez (132), Nicolaas Chandran (170) and Rahul Chandran (285) all placed fifth in their weight classes, coming up just short of qualifying for regionals, and Tim Pomeroy took sixth at 106. “This was the first time placing in a tournament for some of
those guys,” Hinz said. “Everyone was wrestling well. I think we are peaking at the right time.” Blaine won with a team score of 280, well ahead of second place Burlington-Edison and third place Sedro-Woolley (those schools scored 243.5
and 220, respectively). The 11 who qualified will wrestle on February 15 at Regionals, at White River High School in Buckley, Washington. The regional tournament is the qualifying event for the state tournament on February 21-22.
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20th annual Bite of Blaine to be formal affair By Jami Makan At the upcoming Bite of Blaine fundraiser, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, attendees will be able to sample food from local eateries and participate in silent and live auctions benefitting Blaine’s Old Fashioned Fourth of July. The 20th annual Bite of Blaine will take place on Monday, February 17 in the Semiahmoo Resort Ballroom starting at 6 p.m. Tickets, which will not be sold at the door, cost $30 each and can be purchased at Pacific Building Center, 2677 Bell Road; the Blaine Welcome Center, 546 Peace Portal Drive; or online at blainechamber.com. This year’s event will be slightly different from previous years. In the past, the event started at 6 p.m. with a silent auction and cash bar in the foyer, prior to the main dining room opening at 6:30 p.m. This year, the entire event will kick off at 6 p.m. and
everything – the silent and live auctions, the bar and the food samples – will be in the main ballroom, said Donna Raimey, the Blaine Chamber of Commerce’s program and events coordinator. “We would like to keep all the energy in one room,” she said. Because this is the event’s 20th anniversary, attendees are being encouraged to dress in cocktail or formal attire. This year, in addition to the business of the year and Best of the Bite awards that are traditionally presented, the chamber will aim to recognize many other local businesses as well, by giving them certificates and floral centerpieces, said Raimey. This year’s participating restaurants and establishments include Barnyard Coffee Roasters, Black Forest Steak House, CJ’s Beach House, Border Town Pizza, Cost Cutter, MyShan Dairy, Drayton Harbor Oyster Company, Kaisacole Seafood, Good Samaritan Society – Stafholt, Loomis Trail Golf Club, Paso Del Norte, Semi-
ahmoo Resort, Subway and The Vault Wine Bar and Bistro, which took home the Best of the Bite trophy last year. There will be many special auction items this year, ranging from art and metalwork to boat cruises and gift baskets. Auction items include a metal-printed photograph of Semiahmoo taken by local photographer Jacob Potts of Semiahmoo Resort ($150 value), sponsored by Mike Hill; a one-ofa-kind kitchen knife handcrafted by Bordertown Blades ($225 value); and a two-hour Drayton Harbor/Semiahmoo Bay cruise for up to six people onboard a 32-foot yacht, with two bottles of wine and a cheese tray supplied by The Vault Wine Bar and Bistro ($400 value). The event will raise funds for Blaine’s Fourth of July festivities, which attract thousands of visitors to downtown Blaine each summer. To learn more about Bite of Blaine, visit blainechamber.com or call 360/332-6484.
February 13 - 19, 2020 • thenorthernlight.com
Real estate: Expect a sellers’ market in 2020 By Mike Kent I’m continually asked what direction real estate is headed in 2020, and never before has it been clearer to predict. The factors that most affect real estate trends up or down are always going to be supply and demand, interest rates, employment and affordability. In the past, the general Blaine market, which we in real estate call “area 880” (comprised of Birch Bay, Semiahmoo and Blaine), has had shifts of one or more of those factors each year. This year, all the influences of a strong sellers’ market are in play. Inventory is at record-low levels; Birch Bay Village, for example, which usually has 30 to 35 homes available, has had less than 10 for more than a year. On average nationally, 10 percent of homeowners are moving in any given year, and we are experiencing far less than that throughout all of Whatcom County. We have inadequate new construction supply to meet current demand, resulting in many houses being bought and sold before they even get listed. Meanwhile, interest rates have dropped to historically low levels, and the feds are hesitant to raise rates in order to ensure the economy stays strong. Employment prospects in 2020 look bright for our community as new and expanding downtown Blaine businesses emerge and the former Blaine airport site is poised for
expansion of companies and jobs. The one factor which is of concern is affordability for those who have yet to purchase a home or are searching for a place to rent. Young home-seekers are struggling to save up for a down payment fast enough to keep up with rising prices. This becomes especially challenging as builders focus on more expensive homes to justify a return on ever-increasing land costs, and buyers for these higher-priced homes are plentiful as they move from areas where prices are much higher such as Seattle and California. The wild card for Blaine real estate which has largely been forgotten is the Canadian dollar. Whatcom County, including Blaine, has weaned itself from economic dependence on the loonie with the exception of, say, gasoline, cheese and dairy products. Less than 10 percent of real estate purchasers are coming out of the Lower Mainland today compared to as high as 70 percent when our currencies were at par. The lowest point for the loonie occurred on January 21, 2002, sinking to 0.62 cents U.S., and its highest point occurred on November 2, 2007 when it reached $1.07 U.S. This is important to note, as it took just over five years for this huge swing to occur. It could happen again, which would add even more pressure on our already soaring real estate values. As I was writing this article, I actually received a phone call from
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The Northern Light • February 13 - 19, 2020
Active S eniors
The many benefits to senior citizens of having pet animals Pets bring much joy to the lives they touch. So it should come as no surprise that the 2019-2020 National Pet Owners Survey, which was conducted by the American Pet Products Association, found that about 85 million families in the United States own a pet. In Canada, 7.5 million households are home to companion animals, states the PetBacker blog. Pets offer companionship and unconditional love. While they are fitting for any family, seniors may find that having a pet is especially beneficial. The organization A Place for Mom, which helps match families with senior living residences, says pets provide a comfort system that produces measurable health results. Caring for pets and being around them can produce a chemical chain reaction in the brain that may help to lower stress hormones while also increasing production of the feel-good hormone serotonin. This is not the only health benefit pets may provide. A recent study from the Mayo Clinic, which looked at 1,800 people between the ages of 25 and 64 who had healthy hearts,
found that almost half owned a dog. Having a dog was likely to spur heart-healthy behaviors, like exercising with the pet, eating well and having ideal blood sugar levels. Pets also provide emotional support and companionship that can help seniors – including those who may be divorced or widowed – feel more secure and happy. The National Poll on Healthy Aging found that, among respondents who had pets, 88 percent said their pets helped them enjoy life, and 86 percent said their pets made them feel loved. Seniors considering getting a pet can explore the many benefits to doing so. • Reduced pain: A 2012 study published in Pain Magazine found therapy dogs provided “significant reduction in pain and emotional distress for chronic pain patients.” • Feeling of purpose: Caring for an animal not only stimulates physical activity, but it also can give seniors a reason to get up and go, which equates to a feeling of purpose. • Altered focus: Having a pet can help seniors focus on something other than physical or mental health issues and preoccupations
about loss or aging, according to New York-based psychologist Penny B. Donnenfeld. • Increased physical activity: Pets require care, and that interaction can get seniors moving more than if they didn’t have a pet. • Improved health: Ongoing re-
search from Harvard Medical School has found dog owners have lower blood pressure, healthier cholesterol levels and lower risk of heart disease than those who don’t own a dog. • Stick to routine: Caring for pets helps seniors maintain a routine. Having structure after retirement
can be important to ward off risk of depression. Staying on top of feeding, grooming and other pet needs also can help prevent cognitive decline. Pets bring many benefits to their owners’ lives, and they may be the perfect remedy for seniors looking for a friend and purpose.
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How to maintain your mental acuity Aging is associated with or linked to a host of mental and physical side effects. For example, many adults expect their vision to deteriorate as they grow older. Such a side effect can be combated with routine eye examinations that may indicate a need for a stronger eyeglass prescription, a relatively simple solution that won’t impact adults’ daily lives much at all. While physical side effects like diminished vision might not strike much fear in the hearts of aging men and women, those same people may be concerned and/or frightened by the notion of age-related cognitive decline. Some immediately associate such decline with Alzheimer’s disease, an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys memory and cognitive skills, ultimately compromising a person’s ability to perform even the simplest of tasks. But age-related cognitive decline is not always symptomatic of Alzheimer’s disease. Learning about Alzheimer’s and how to maintain mental acuity can help older men and women better understand the changes their brains might be undergoing as they near or pass retirement age. Is Alzheimer’s disease a hereditary disease? The National Institute on Aging notes that only a very rare form of Alzheimer’s disease is inherited. Early-onset familial Alzheimer’s disease, or FAD, is caused by mutations in certain genes. If these genes are passed down from parent to child, then the child is likely, but not certain, to get FAD. So while many adults may be concerned about Alzheimer’s because one of their parents had the disease, the NIA notes that the majority of Alzheimer’s cases are late-onset, which has no obvious family pattern. Can Alzheimer’s disease be prevented? Studies of Alzheimer’s disease are ongoing, but to date there is
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no certain way to prevent the onset of the disease. How can I maintain mental acuity as I age? Researchers have not yet determined a way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, but adults can take certain steps to maintain their mental acuity into retirement. • Exercise regularly. Routine exercise may be most associated with physical benefits, but the NIA notes that such activity has been linked to benefits for the brain as well. For example, a 2011 study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America found that aerobic exercise training increases the size of the hippocampus, leading to improvements in spatial memory. The NIA also notes that one study indicated exercise stimulated the brain’s ability to maintain old network connections and make new ones vital to cognitive health. • Read more. Avid readers may be happy to learn that one of their favorite pastimes can improve the efficiency of their cognitive systems while delaying such sys-
tems’ decline. A 2013 study published in the journal Neurology by researchers at Chicago’s Rush University Medical Center found that mentally active lifestyles may not prevent the formations of plaques and tangles associated with Alzheimer’s disease, but such lifestyles decreases the likelihood that the presence of plaques or tangles will impair cognitive function. • Stay socially connected. Maintaining social connections with family, friends and community members also can help individuals prevent cognitive decline. Epidemiologist Bryan James of the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center studied how social activity affected cognitive decline, ultimately noting that the rate of cognitive decline was considerably lower among men and women who maintained social contact than it was among those with low levels of social activity. The idea of age-related cognitive decline strikes fear in the hearts of many men and women, but there are ways for adults to maintain their mental acuity well into their golden years.
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pleased to announce moving Bellingham Clinic WeWe areare pleased announce thatthat we we areare moving ourour Bellingham Clinic 1610toGrover Street to a ground level, handicapped accessible location at 1329 King Street to a ground level, handicapped accessible location at 1329 King Street Email: info@bellinghamdentureclinic.com We We are are pleased pleased announce to announce that that weare we are are moving moving our our Bellingham Bellingham Clinic Clinic WeWe are are pleased pleased tothe announce totoannounce that that we we are moving moving our our Bellingham Bellingham Clinic Clinic pleased tothe are announce pleased that to we are moving that we our are Bellingham moving our Clinic Bellingham Clinic (near corner of Lakeway and King Street). We We are are pleased We toWe are announce pleased to announce weannounce are moving that we our are Bellingham moving our Clinic Bellingham Clinic (near of Lakeway and King Street). are pleased tothat announce that we are moving our Bellingham Clinic We We are pleased tocorner announce that we are moving our Bellingham Clinic www.bellinghamdentureclinic.com aground ground a ground level, level, handicapped handicapped accessible accessible location location 1329 atKing 1329 King King Street Street to ato ground ato level, handicapped handicapped accessible accessible location location at location 1329 atatKing 1329 King Street Street atoground level, a level, handicapped ground level, accessible handicapped location accessible atlocation 1329 Street atStreet. 1329 King Street to ato ground level, to ato handicapped ground level, accessible handicapped location accessible at 1610 1329 King Street at 1329 King Street aLynden ground level, handicapped accessible location atStreet). 1329 King Street office still remains at Grover toOur ato ground level, handicapped accessible location at 1329 King Street Our Lynden office still remains atand 1610 Grover Street. (near (near the the corner corner ofLakeway Lakeway of Lakeway and and King King Street). (near (near the the corner corner of Lakeway of and King King Street). Street). (near the corner (near of Lakeway the corner and of King Lakeway Street). and King Street). (near the corner (near of Lakeway the corner and of King Lakeway Street). and King Street). (near the corner of Lakeway and King Street). (near theoffice corner ofstill Lakeway and King Street). Our Our Lynden Lynden office still remains remains at at 1610 1610 Grover Grover Street. Street.
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The Northern Light • February 13 - 19, 2020
County, contractors hold “coffee with contractor” event for berm project By Oliver Lazenby With Granite Construction now in its second month of work on the Birch Bay Drive and Pedestrian Facility Project, known as the berm, project officials held a question and answer session on January 30 at the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center. About 20 people gathered for “coffee with the contractor” at 8 a.m. and asked various questions of the three project officials who attended: Luke Bentley, project manager for Granite Construction; Roland Middleton, Whatcom County
special projects manager; and Jim Karcher, Whatcom County engineering manager. The Birch Bay berm is a 1.6-mile-long beach restoration project that will add sand and gravel to the beach to protect the road from storm surges. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers removed sand and gravel from the beach in the 1950s for the Blaine Air Force Station, creating what hydrologists have called a “sediment deficit” at the bay. Granite Construction started adding sediment to the beach in early January and plans to finish the project in spring 2021. The company won’t work be-
tween Memorial Day and Labor Day, so as not to disrupt Birch Bay’s summer tourism season. The county, chamber of commerce and contractor plan to host more “coffee with the contractor” meetings as the project progresses. They don’t have others scheduled, but talked about hosting one in February and another in March. Some questions and answers from the January 30 session are transcribed below, edited for length and clarity. How high will the berm be? Jim Karcher: It varies, but about two to three feet above the road. The berm height is marked on
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the bay side of the utility poles along Birch Bay Drive. A metal washer nailed to the poles marks the height of the berm. How much sediment are you putting on the beach per day? Luke Bentley: Four thousand tons, or eight million pounds, a day. That’s about 130 truckloads. Where do you get all of this material? Bentley: We have to use four different sources just to get that quantity of material. We are using two pits that [Granite Construction] owns in the Everson area and two pits that [Cowden Gravel and Ready Mix] owns – one on Sweet Road and one on
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Axton Road. In the original plan online it says you’re going to remove the groins (concrete structures that extend into the bay, intended to slow erosion) but it looks like you’re just covering them. Why the change? Roland Middleton: The Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation considers those to be a historic feature, so legally we cannot break them up or move them around but we can bury them. So the damage that they’ve caused previously will be eliminated by the fact that they will be buried. What’s going to keep Mother Nature from eroding everything you’re putting out there? Middleton: Sand and sediment will get pushed around. That’s what’s supposed to happen – the energy of the wave goes into pushing gravel up the beach instead of ripping the road apart. It’s a dynamic system that we will have to maintain. But maintaining rock and putting some rock out there in specific areas is nothing like having to tear out asphalt and pour new asphalt and having to close the road and all that. We’ll evaluate and if one of the groins gets exposed in a storm, we may not repair it, we may see if it gets buried in the next storm. But if it starts to get worse then we’ll be bringing in gravel to fill it back in and smooth it out and repair it. So it’s ongoing, but it will be cheaper than dealing with the loss of asphalt. Originally you were going to stop construction this winter at Bay Breeze Restaurant and Bar. It appears you’re going past that now, do we know how far you’re going to go and when you’re going to shut down? Bentley: We’ll stop at about the north end of where the new rock is now, near Bay Breeze; we just have to finish adding rock up to there. Our in-water work window closes on February 15 [for spawning fish]. We can’t work February 15 to August 1 in tidal zones and with the tourist season we’re not going to start importing rock again until after Labor Day. Will the logs piled up at the south of the project be removed? Bentley: The logs getting stored there will get put back on the beach. Are the black culvert pipes staged along Birch Bay Drive outside the visitor center going to stay there? Bentley: Those pipes will be gone by summer. Is the Granite Construction trailer and equipment at the Birch Bay Community Park going to stay there? Bentley: No, that will all go away for the summer. Has the estimated completion time changed at all? Bentley: It hasn’t. We’re still looking at spring 2021. To learn more about the project, see project plans and sign up for weekly construction schedule updates from Whatcom County, visit bit.ly/37Qx1q9.
February 13 - 19, 2020 • thenorthernlight.com
11
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Fieldturf, Gregory Weisbrich, 25119 142nd Ave SE Kent, WA 98042-6656, is seeking coverage under the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Construction Stormwater NPDES and State Waste Discharge General Permit. The proposed project, Blaine School District Athletic Field Renovation, is located at 1055 H Street Blaine, Washington in Whatcom County. This project involves 2.5 acres of soil disturbance for athletic field construction activities. The receiving waterbody is Cain Creek. Any persons desiring to present their views to the Washington State Department of Ecology regarding this Application, or interested in Ecology’s action on this Application, may notify Ecology in writing no later than 30 days of the last date of publication of this notice. Ecology reviews public comments and considers whether discharges from this project would cause a measurable change in receiving water quality, and, if so, whether the project is necessary and in the overriding public interest according to Tier II anti-degradation requirements under WAC 173-201A-320. Comments can be submitted to: Department of Ecology Attn: Water Quality Program, Construction Stormwater P.O. Box 47696, Olympia, WA 98504-7696
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12
The Northern Light • February 13 - 19, 2020
Real Estate
9598 Sherwood Dr. Blaine • $1,398,000 Unrivaled modern masterpiece in Blaine’s best kept secret - the exclusive gated Sherwood Dr. Estates! Stunning pivot door entry, 12’ motorized glass door/wall, suspended floating stairs, polished concrete floors on 5.76 park-like acres. Spaces planned & executed perfectly, custom 4,796 square foot home beyond compare. MLS# 1446049
4249 Lee Lane Blaine • $375,000
5778 Salish Rd. Birch Bay • $299,500
4403 Castlerock Dr. Blaine • $534,500
Single level 3 BD/1.75 BA, NO STEPS rambler, close to booming downtown Blaine on massive private lot! Totally turn key & ready to go: updated kitchen w/ granite counters opens to dining/family/ dining rooms w/ maple flooring + wood burning fireplace. Loads of storage, beautifully upgraded bathrooms, vinyl windows w/ brand new high end window treatments. Just minutes to I-5 & US/CAN borders. BONUS - Comcast available. MLS# 1562717
Ring in the new year with a new house in sought after Birch Bay neighborhood! 3 BD/2 BA pre-sale rambler on pit set foundation means no steps. Popular floor plan with open concept kitchen/ dining/living + the Master suite separate from the other 2 bedrooms. Unrivaled Birch Bay Village amenities include: marina, beaches, golf course, outdoor pool, tennis, clubhouse & 24 hour security gate. Approx. completion date mid to late February. MLS# 1547065
Step into the light-filled grand entry & immediately enjoy the water (California Creek) and mountain (Mt. Baker) views, welcome to The Greens at Loomis Trail! 4 BD/2.5 BA w/ soaring vaulted ceilings, open concept design w/ luxurious main level Master suite w/ private deck. Attached 3 car garage. Additional room on main for office or 5th BD. Gated entry & tree lined streets w/ sidewalks = a rare neighborhood combo! MLS# 1556301
Jen Freeman 360-815-0803
Visit us at: www.JenAndLeah.com
Leah Crews 360-305-4747
Bay Properties
8045 BIRCH BAY DRIVE, BLAINE, WA 360-371-7252 BAYPROPERTIESNW.COM
Semiahmoo homeS, inc.
NW LUXURY REAL ESTATE AT A HIGHER LEVEL
8105 Birch Bay Square St. I-5 Exit 270 FOR ALL REAL ESTATE, RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL SERVICES PLEASE
Hugh Brawford
Call Hugh -360.371.5800 G
PENDIN
9535 Semiahmoo Parkway B 304. Like-new Marin Condo $720,000
7575 Bruce Road, Custer $185,000
INVESTOR ALERT! Great opportunity to own your very own nice flat .50 acre fully serviced lot with existing home, possible fixer for the right buyer? Easy access to I-5, located within 15 minutes of both Bellingham and the US/Canadian Border! Perfect location! Walking distance to Custer School, Post Office and a well known local pub. Investor’s opportunity or have your own country property.
1469 Gulf Road, Point Roberts $320,000
UNIQUE COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL POTENTIAL!
Originally a four bedroom single level home, but being on almost an acre, very visible lot offering frontage on Pt Roberts main commercial artery. This property has a long history of offering residential, business office, retail store and distribution center services. Offers privacy, and flexibility in residential build out as well as commercial use.
MOVE IN READY!
PENDING!
4720 Tidal Way, 102-K, Birch Bay $329,900 NEW CONSTRUCTION!
7806 Birch Bay Dr. #503, Jacobs Landing $265,000
The Tides at Birch Bay: BRAND NEW townhome condos with sleek fixtures & finishes, situated in a charming community w/craftsman-style architecture & lovely landscaping - plus a pool, hot tub & club house! And it’s a short walk to the beach! This unit features quartz countertops throughout, a stone-surround gas FP, vaulted ceilings, kitchen w/ SS appliances, on-demand hot water, AND each bedrm has a bathrm! Large loft provides even more living space. Patio with gas hookup for your BBQ!
A HIDDEN GEM! Look no more this updated 880
Jeremy Porter • (360) 306-1794
Ruth Skeete • (360) 358-5075
L NEW
SF, 2 BD, 1 BA garden unit comes with some furnishings. It’s everything you are looking for whether it is a quiet place to live, weekend getaway or rental income. Tile floors throughout, double pane windows, lots of cabinets, granite counter tops and updated bathroom. Enjoy all that Jacobs Landing has to offer: indoor pool, hot tub, racquetball courts, clubhouse and outdoor tennis courts.
8033 Quinault Road, Birch Bay Village $999,000
ONE OF A KIND WATERFRONT! Very unique
opportunity to own the largest property in BBV with direct SW views to San Juan Islands, Birch Bay and Mt. Baker. Situated on .65 acre with unlimited possibilities for expansion of current home or building your dream estate. Main floor entry has great open floor plan for stunning views at any angle. Master + 2 more guest rooms on main w/ upper level guest suite, bonus room & patio for sunsets. Bring imagination and create your oasis now!
Heather Taylor • (425) 785-5771
L NEW
LET COMP
5398 Quail Run. • Semiahmoo $639,900
MLS# 1556227 • 3-BD, 3-BA, 2,521 Sq. Ft. Timeless, classic design and materials create an inviting home that is both elegant and casual. Meticulously well maintained & move-in ready.
G! ISTIN
see photos at
MLS # 1556822 • 2-BD, 2-BA, 692 Sq. Ft. The Cozy Conch is now available! Highly rated Vacation rental or just a great home. Vaulted ceilings, laminate floors, french doors, master with en-suite, spacious deck front with french doors, as well as a useful landing deck in back. All appliances including washer & dryer stay.
MLS# 1232342 3-BD, 2.75-BA. 3,935 SF. 3 car garage. Last opportunity at Semiahmoo’s Clubhouse Point. Private, only 14 homes.
360.815.6638 briansouthwick@gmail.com see more pictures at www.briansouthwick.com
Rentals - Residential
Birch Bay Homes FOR RENT 1, 2, & 3 BR, Fully Furnished
No credit checks, Small Deposit Children welcome, Pets negotiable Starting at $1300/mo (month to month)
360-325-2336
NEW LISTING! Perfect condo for turn-key
lifestyle. Main floor unit with no stairs. Freshly painted, recently updated and move in ready. Two bedroom, two bath, with designer colors. New lighting fixtures, updated bathrooms and kitchen including stainless steel appliances. Private patio, cozy fireplace in living room and plenty of space for dining. Covered parking and private picnic/play area. Close proximity to the Golf Course, Clubhouse, Tennis and swim facilities. Memberships available for purchase.
Only $585,000
STARTING AT
Homesite on Kickerville with beautiful, meandering Terrell Creek.
www.CallHugh.com
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT • Vacation Properties WE DO • Residential Properties ! IT ALL • Commercial Properties Call Phill Esau Today!
Nimbus Property Management
360-594-8600 225 G Street, Suite 102
Downtown Blaine (Across from Hill’s Chevron)
www.NimbusRealEstate.com
All real estate/rentals advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 as amended, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap familial status or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertisement for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll-free at 1-800-877-0246.
Single level living 3bd/3.5bath, 1/2 acre lot, w/bonus rm. South facing 13th fairway in gated Semiahmoo. 3 car garage. Own a lifestyle, not just a home! Come check it out before it’s gone!
Suzanne Dougan
360-920-7733
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Rentals - Commercial
NELSON BUILDING 925 Ludwick Ave., Blaine 5100 SF Warehousing/
Manufacturing/Retail SPACE AVAILABLE Also Available Now: Up to 18,000 SF of Fenced & Paved Storage Yard
Don Nelson 360-332-2743 Email nelsbldg@msn.com
Rent it in the Classifieds!
$15,900
Owner contract possible AT 20% DOWN, 6.5% 30 year Amortization. Some residential zoning, currently in open space. Great tax advantage.
1
8855 Osprey Road Lowest Priced Home on Golf Course!
Semiahmoo Marina Boat Slips
Build your home here! 21 ACRES - $175,000
Julie Ward • (760) 522-2564
SUN.
7556 Terrill Dr. • Birch Bay $244,500
www.clubhousepoint.com
TURN-KEY READY!
5430 Snow Goose Lane Unit #204, Semiahmoo $299,900
Download my GPS Home Search APP http://jlsapp.com/callhugh
N OPE 2-2
8783 Clubhouse Point $1,049,000
Location, Location!
1-BD APARTMENT for rent. Includes WD, utilities. No pets or smokers. $1,200 mo. 360220-7127
Carl W. R. Dufton • (360) 815-6637
STUNNING VIEWS!
!
S 45 DAY ION IN
4730 Tidal Way, 102-L & 103-L, Birch Bay
MOVE IN READY! 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, 3 BD, 2.5 BA, superbly finished w/quartz counters, rock gas fireplace, SS appliances, on-demand HW, quality fixtures, designer flooring & much more! Clubhouse, pool, & spa! Close to all Birch Bay offers. Secure your place in this wonderful beach community.
Terry Conway • (360) 410-0503
CeCelia Breivik • (360) 303-8161
G! ISTIN
PENDING!
FLEXIBLE ZONING!
NEW LISTING!
2-BD + Den, 2.5-BA. Top floor, faces west for sunsets, views of islands and White Rock. 2 underground parking spaces. Walking distance to deepwater marina, health club, swimming pool, hotel with great restaurants.
FOR LEASE Retail/Office Space
With Waterfront Views of Blaine Marina 800 - 1600 s.f.
Prime ground floor office and retail space in The Northern Light Cannery-style building at Blaine Harbor.
For leasing information, contact Pat Grubb 360/332-1777
February 13 - 19, 2020 • thenorthernlight.com
No charges filed for nearly operable bomb By Jami Makan No bomb charges were able to be filed against a 19-year-old whose vehicle trunk contained a nearly operable explosive device, which was discovered by Blaine officers in late December while executing a drug-related search warrant. On December 24 at about 9:30 a.m., two Blaine police officers executed a search warrant on a vehicle for the purpose of recovering marijuana and related paraphernalia. The vehicle, a black 1990 Honda Accord owned by 19-year-old Charles Daniel Padilla, was being stored in the Blaine Police Department’s secure vehicle evidence bay on H Street. During the course of the search, one of the officers discovered what appeared to be an improvised explosive device, or IED, in the trunk of the vehicle. The device consisted of a large rectangular black and silver case, a key and keyhole, a D battery and a dark, unknown liquid substance in a water bottle, all connected with complex wiring. Following its discovery, the police department was evacuated, a Washington State Patrol (WSP) bomb squad was called in and the FBI was contacted. To protect the public, the entire area was sealed off with police tape.
“Upon arrival, WSP Bomb Squad scanned the device and made sure it was inoperable,” said the police report. “The fluid in the canister was not an accelerant or explosive. They advised that the device was wired in such a way that it was only missing a small component and an actual combustible.” Because the device was not fully functional, Padilla was unable to be charged under state law. “The reason no charges were filed regarding Mr. Padilla and the explosive device is that the WSP bomb squad said the device was not operable due to the missing component,” said a Blaine Police Department (BPD) spokesperson. “If the device didn’t have the ability to explode, no charges could be filed.” The most closely related state law is RCW 70.74.180, which states: “Any person who has in his or her possession or control any shell, bomb, or similar device, charged or filled with one or more explosives, intending to use it or cause it to be used for an unlawful purpose, is guilty of a class A felony, and upon conviction shall be punished by imprisonment in a state prison for a term of not more than twenty years.” It is possible that federal laws could also apply. While BPD contacted the FBI field office in Bellingham in response to the incident, a Seat-
BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL
tle-based FBI spokesperson said that the FBI did not end up opening a case on Padilla. While the FBI generally does not confirm or deny its investigations, the spokesperson said that the agency was only “peripherally” involved on the day of the incident, and that the agency did not subsequently open an investigation. “It’s not an FBI thing,” said the FBI spokesperson. “Just carrying an incendiary device doesn’t mean that the FBI will take the case,” added the spokesperson, who said that the FBI would normally get involved if there was evidence of a serious criminal or terrorism-related motive. The FBI spokesperson did not rule out the possibility of another agency, such as WSP or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), pursuing the matter further. Besides the potential IED, the search of Padilla’s vehicle turned up “numerous” bags of suspected marijuana, bong stems and drug paraphernalia, as well as concentrated THC, brass knuckles, knives, a realistic-looking airsoft BB gun with CO2 cartridges and multiple empty bottles of alcohol. Padilla has already been to court for the drug charges which were the original reason for the search warrant.
DIRECTORY
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To Our Canadian Friends
Community theater offering improv classes
This space can be yours for only $37 per week.
By Jami Makan
13 week commitment. Call 332-1777 to reserve.
Blaine Community Theater (BCT) will be offering an eightweek improv class starting later this month. The class will take place on Monday evenings, starting February 24, from 8 to 9:30 p.m. and will continue until April 13. The class, named Acting for Fun, will guide participants through the basics of acting and improv comedy in a fun, interactive and supportive environment for all levels of experience. The class is for individuals age 16 and up and costs $110 or just $90 for students, seniors, veterans and public servants. Space is limited to about 15 to 20 spots, so people are encouraged to register early by emailing blainecommunitytheater@gmail.com or visiting blainecommunitytheater.com. The class will be taught by Jennie Olson Six and her husband Kevin. Both are actors, writers, directors and improv artists. Both have been involved with arts organizations including Finest City Improv in San Diego, where they previously lived before relocating to Whatcom County. Jennie grew up in Custer. After moving to Whatcom County about two years ago, Kevin worked with BCT’s Nick McDonald at Totally Chocolate in Blaine. “We heard about the things BCT had done, and in December, I assistant-directed their holiday extravaganza show,” said Jennie. “So this is my way of becoming more involved with BCT and the Blaine community.” Jennie said that the eight-week class can help experienced ac-
13
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s Jennie Olson Six. tors hone their skills and “keep things fresh and alive,” while still being accessible for people who have never acted before. The class will focus on a different topic each week. The first week will be about getting to know each other, setting boundaries and breaking the ice. Subsequent weeks will focus on using the physical body for stagecraft, learning and memorizing monologues and applying auditioning techniques. The class could be beneficial to those
Photo by Ashley Ross Studios
who wish to improve their public speaking or their listening and communication skills. “I know what it’s like to have fairly limited creative outlets,” said Jennie. “My passion is community-based theater and my hope is that this is the beginning of something that grows for the Blaine community.” She added: “BCT has such a potential to be a place that people thrive in, and also a place for people to go to be entertained or feel part of a community theater.”
277 G Street • Downtown Blaine
360-392-0955
TheVaultWine.com
TheVaultWine
DRAYTON HARBOR OYSTERS Farm Fresh Oysters
Served Raw, Grilled, Fried, Stewed & other delicious Seafood Specialities
Local Craft Beers & Wine
360-656-5958 DraytonHarborOysters.com 685 Peace Portal Dr. • Downtown Blaine
Authentic Thai Cuisine 360-332-3267 825 Peace Portal Drive, Blaine
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14
The Northern Light • February 13 - 19, 2020
Foreign Policy Forum: Friday, February 14, 1–2:30 p.m. Blaine United Church of Christ, 885 4th Street. This week’s topic: Climate Change & the Global Order. Info: 360/332-6906. Live Music at The Vault: Friday, February 14, 7-9 p.m., The Vault Wine Bar and Bistro, 277 G Street. Featuring: Spencer Redmond Quartet in the Studio. Info: 360/392-0955.
Coming up
Rain Gardens: Wednesday, February 19, 4–6 p.m., Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. Determining where water “sits” in your yard and learning how to effectively manage it by planting a mini-forest floor. A Blaine Community Organization for Resources and Education (C.O.R.E.) event. Info: 360/332-7435.
America at War: World War I: Wednesday, February 19, 7–9 p.m., Semiahmoo Resort Discovery Theater. Ron Miller covers a wide variety of films Pancake Breakfast: Saturday, February 15, 8–11 about the First World War, made over a span of a.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Choice of nearly 90 years, among them many silent classics. pancakes, French toast or waffles, biscuits and gravy, Info: semiahmoo.com/ron-miller.php. scrambled eggs, sausage, coffee and orange juice. Adults $6, kids $4. Info: 360/332-8040. Semiahmoo Men’s Breakfast: Thursday, February 20, 7:30 a.m. Great Blue Heron Grill. Coffee, big Live Music at The Vault: Saturday, February 15, breakfast $17. All men are welcome. Speaker: 7-9 p.m., The Vault Wine Bar and Bistro, 277 G Blaine’s chief of police Donnell “Tank” Tanksley. Street. Featuring: Free Harmony. Info: 360/392-0955. Foreign Policy Forum: Friday, February 21, 1–2:30 Third Sunday Breakfast: Sunday, February 16, 9 p.m. Blaine United Church of Christ, 885 4th Street. a.m.–noon, American Legion Post 86, 4580 Legion Topic: India and Pakistan. Info: 360/332-6906. Drive. Adults $6, Children six years and under $3. Serving eggs to order, biscuits and gravy, French toast Murder Mystery Night for Teens: Friday, Februand pancakes, ham or sausage, and coffee, milk and ary, 21, 6:15–9 p.m., Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd orange juice. Info: 360/371-7311. Street. Play your part and discover clues to unmask the murderer (it could be you!). Pizza and snacks 20th Annual Bite of Blaine: Monday, February included. Space is limited; registration is required, 17, 6 p.m., Semiahmoo Resort Ballroom, 9565 and you can choose your character in advance. For Semiahmoo Parkway. Sample great food from local grades 6-12. Info: 360/305-3637. restaurants plus silent and live auctions. Tickets $30 available at Pacific Building Center, 2677 Bell Road, 10th Annual Pasta and Lights: Friday, February and the Blaine Welcome Center, 546 Peace Portal 21, 5:30 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Drive or online at blainechamber.com. Tickets will Delicious spaghetti dinner, garlic rolls, salad, dessert not be sold at the door. Proceeds benefit Blaine’s Old and complimentary beverage. Live music at 6:30 p.m. Fashioned Fourth of July. Info: blainechamber.com. Tickets $12 adults, $6 kids 9 and under. Proceeds benefit Blaine Senior Center. Info: 360/332-8040. Friends of Birch Bay Library Book Club: Wednesday, February 19, 4–5:30 p.m., Birch Bay Live Music at The Vault: Friday, February 21, 7-9 Library site, 7968 Birch Bay Drive. Monthly discussion p.m., The Vault Wine Bar and Bistro, 277 G Street. of books by the bay. Info: 360/305-3600. Featuring: Stirred Not Shaken. Info: 360/392-0955.
Crossword Answers at thenorthernlight.com
ACROSS 1. Stain one’s hands 7. Subdivision 10. A passage to be performed slow 12. Invests in little enterprises 13. Medians 14. Member of the giraffe family 15. Makes official 16. Choose in an election 17. Hill or rocky peak 18. Member of an ancient Iranian people 19. Crest of a hill 21. Small, faint constellation 22. Cultivated from crops that yield oil 27. The ancient Egyptian sun god 28. Hollywood tough guy 33. Chinese drums 34. Merits 36. Indicates center 37. Increases motor speed 38. Mentally fit 39. BBQ favorite
40. Wings 41. Female parents 44. Marks left from wounds 45. Soften by soaking in liquid 48. They resist authority (slang) 49. Formats 50. Many subconsciousnesses 51. Vogues DOWN 1.Mental object 2. Blackbird 3. Undergarments 4. Old cloth 5. One from Utah 6. Greek goddess of the dawn 7. Become less intense 8. Developed to readiness 9. Defunct phone company 10. About Freemason 11. Taking everything into account 12. Famed Czech engineer 14. Impress into silence
17. Boxing term 18. Marketplaces 20. Pounds per square inch 23. Locomotives 24. Short musical composition 25. Football position (abbr.) 26. Heavyhearted 29. Denotes particular region 30. Famed NHLer 31. Ingested too much 32. Formulates 35. Sino-Soviet block (abbr.) 36. Broad, shallow craters 38. Thick cuts 40. Breezed through 41. Breakfast is one 42. “Rule, Britannia” composer 43. Periodicals (slang) 44. Indian title of respect 45. More (Spanish) 46. Creation 47. A loud utterance
Garden Design: Saturday, February 22, 10 a.m.–noon, Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. Learn best placement areas for fruit-bearing trees, bushes, vines and vegetable gardens. Hardscape assessments, sunlight observations and air flow. Presented by Blaine C.O.R.E. Info: 360/305-3637.
booths focused on arts, music, performance, food, presentations and workshops highlighting diverse cultural communities in Whatcom County. Info: alliedarts.org. Blaine Primary School Kindergarten Registration: Thursday, March 12, 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Blaine Primary School, 820 Boblett Street. For the 2020-2021 school year. Bring proof of child’s birthdate and immunization records. Info: 360/332-1300.
Telling Stories Through Textile Maps: Saturday, February 22, 2–3 p.m., Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. Bettina Matzkuhn’s textile maps tell stories through unusual forms not normally associated with embroidery. Al-Anon Meetings: Mondays, noon, United Church of Christ, 885 4th Street. Info: Call M.J. 360/920-3679 She will discuss her process creating work that has or Bob 360/920-3676. been exhibited internationally. Info: 360/305-3637. Modern Paste Papers Workshop: Sunday, February ArtScape Teens: Tuesdays, 3–5 p.m., Soul Space 23, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., 235 Marine Drive. Learn to create Studio, 264B H Street. A safe place for teens to set their imaginations free through art. Free studio time. fabulous paste papers with visiting Santa Fe artist Madeleine Durham. Using a range of Japanese papers, Sponsor: Healthy Youth Coalition. Info: 435/704-1598. you’ll learn Madeleine’s wonderful unique techniques for creating modern patterned papers for use in collage, Toastmasters Meeting: Tuesdays, 6:30–7:45 p.m., 382 Boblett Street. Improve your public speaking skills. bookbinding, calligraphy, printmaking and book arts. $145. Info and registration: washiarts.com/workshops. Community Meals: Wednesdays, 5–6:30 p.m., Blaine Community Center, 763 G Street. Through May, Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras Party: Tuesday, February 25, 5:30–8:30 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. except holidays. Info: blainecap.org. Family dinner with a professional Dixieland band (Josh’s WW Workshop: Thursdays, 5 p.m., Northwood AlliMardi Gras Stompers!). Also featuring the Blaine High ance Church, 508 C Street. Registration/sign-in from School jazz band. Pancakes, gumbo and good music. 5-5:30 p.m., and half-hour meeting to follow. Tickets $10 per person, $20 per family at the door. Proceeds benefit Blaine Harbor Music Festival. The Alaska Packers Association Museum: Saturdays and Sundays, 1–5 p.m., 9261 Semiahmoo Celebrate 100 Years of Voting Rights: Thursday, February 27, 6:30 p.m., Western Washington University Parkway. Info: 360/371-3558. Performing Arts Center. Elaine Weiss discusses her book Teen Nite: Saturdays, 5–9 p.m., Border Town Pizza, The Women’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote. 738 Peace Portal Drive. Kids ages 13–18 come enjoy Cosponsored by League of Women Voters, Ralph Munro open mic, karaoke and games. Free pizza at 5 p.m. Institute for Civic Education and Village Books. Free parking. Info: lwvbellinghamwhatcom.org. Submissions to Coming Up should be sent to Allied Arts Cultural Arts Festival: Friday and Saturday, February 28–29, the Bellingham Cruise Terminal and throughout Fairhaven. Activities, events and vendor
calendar@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.
Weather
Police Reports February 1, 1:17 p.m.: A local storage facility called the Blaine police to report that multiple burglaries had occurred. An officer responded and documented the break-in. The business will be contacting potential victims for notification. Officers are investigating and patrol officers were notified to provide extra patrol. February 2, 12:17 p.m.: Blaine officers were dispatched to the 900 block of Boblett Street for a report of an individual sleeping in his trailer and lingering on the premises of a storage facility. Officers arrived and determined the individual had a copy of the lease and was not breaking any laws. Officers conducted a security check of the rest of the business at the owner’s request and cleared with no further incident.
Precipitation: During the period of February 3–9, 2.4 inches of precipitation was recorded. The 2020 yearto-date precipitation is 12.3 inches. Temperature: High for the past week was 53°F on February 8 with a low of 31°F on February 4. Average high was 46°F and average low was 34°F. Courtesy Birch Bay Water & Sewer Dist.
Tides
February 3, 6:07 a.m.: Officers responded to a Blaine resident claiming a young person with a small child and dog followed him home from a party he was at on Route 101. The individual told police the two people and a dog are hiding inside his residence. Officers responded and checked the entire residence and determined there was no sign of any people or animals inside. Officers determined the man is likely suffering from mental health concerns or having a reaction to medication prescribed to him. February 3, 2:54 p.m.: While conducting traffic enforcement, an officer stopped a vehicle for expired registration. The driver provided a false name at first, but officers were able to determine his real name. The driver was arrested on a felony warrant and booked into Whatcom County Jail. The driver was also cited and provided with a mandatory court date. The passenger was also arrested for felony probable cause and was booked into the Whatcom County Jail. February 3, 7:30 p.m.: Officers responded to a possible recovered stolen firearm at the Peace Arch border crossing. Officers determined the firearm was not stolen and was only a close match. No further action was taken. February 4, 3 p.m.: Blaine police were dispatched to contact a juvenile who might have information regarding a reported runaway from Eugene, Oregon. The officer spoke with the girl to gather information. The officer was eventually able to find a location for the runaway and relayed the information to the local authorities in Eugene. February 4, 6:17 p.m.: An officer conducted a traffic stop and found the minor driver to have marijuana. The marijuana was seized and the driver was released. The marijuana was booked into the police department. February 4, 11:35 p.m.: A Blaine officer observed a large tree branch that had fallen onto the road. The officer closed the road with his vehicle and contacted the city of Blaine’s public works department to have the branch removed. The officer and an employee of public works removed the branch and opened the road. The officer cleared the call.
February 14–20 at Blaine. Not for navigation. 49° 0’ 0”N - 122° 46’ 0”W
DATE TIME HEIGHT TIME HEIGHT Fr 14
2:36 am
2.7
9:08 am
3:57 pm
1.8
10:13 pm
7.3
Sa 15 3:26 am
4.3
9:42 am
9.7
9.9
4:57 pm
1.1
11:53 pm
7.3
Su 16 4:24 am
5.7
10:20 am
9.4
5:38 am
6.7
5:59 pm
0.5
Mo 17 1:41 am
7.8
Tu 18
11:04 am
9.1
7:01 pm
0.1
3:05 am
8.4
7:12 am
7.3
11:58 am
8.8
8:01 pm
-0.3
We 19 4:05 am
8.9
8:44 am
7.3
1:00 pm
8.5
8:53 pm
-0.5
Th 20 4:49 am
9.3
9:50 am
7.0
8.3
9:41 pm
-0.6
2:02 pm
February 5, 1:26 p.m.: During routine patrols, Blaine police made a traffic stop for a cell phone violation and learned the driver had a suspended license. The driver was arrested, cited and given a mandatory court appearance date for the offense. February 6, 8:05 p.m.: Officers responded to an alarm at a business. An employee arrived before officers and advised the building was secure and it was a false alarm. The officers cleared with no further action. February 6, 10:48 p.m.: An officer responded to the Peace Arch border crossing for a driver possibly under the influence of alcohol. The officer conducted standardized field sobriety tests and determined the driver was not intoxicated but tired. The driver agreed to take a nap before continuing to travel. No further action was taken.
Reports provided by Blaine Police Department
s Project officials held a Q&A session regarding the Birch Bay berm project on January 30 at the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center.
Photo by Oliver Lazenby
February 13 - 19, 2020 • thenorthernlight.com
15
Air Safety Art International highlights diversity of city’s businesses By Grace McCarthy When people think of local Blaine businesses, places like the Semiahmoo Resort or Peace Arch City Café likely come to mind. What many residents might not know is that tucked between the historic buildings on Peace Portal Drive is an unassuming office that caters to clients from NASA to Taylor Swift. Air Safety Art International (ASAI) is a family-run business operated by Larry Bruns and his grandson Brock Fisher. The duo design and print safety briefing cards for some of the world’s largest airlines. The company works on 250 to 300 projects per year, ultimately generating anywhere between 3,750 to 6,000 folded cards per year. With colored sketches of people aboard airplanes, the cards instruct passengers on flight safety procedures. The idea began in the early 1970s from Bruns’ brother-in-law, Beau Altman, who was working as a scientist for McDonnell Douglas, an aerospace company that would later merge with Boeing. The job entailed 90-second test evacuations of 400-person aircrafts. The tests revealed that most passengers didn’t know how to vacate an airplane in an emergency and would stay seated in confusion. Altman and a co-worker pitched briefing cards with safety instructions to McDonnell Douglas, a concept that hadn’t previously existed. When the company showed little interest, the pair left their jobs to create Interaction Research. Bruns was recruited to be a designer for the company, which quickly grew due to the increased numbers of people flying in the 1970s and airlines slowly recognizing the hazard of only instructing flight attendants on safety procedures. Air safety cards became a federal regulation during the mid1970s, Fisher said. “At its peak, in those days when Pan American World Airways was still around, we were printing one million cards per year,” Bruns said of the California-based company. The company split up due to professional differences, forming the pillars of the air safety card industry today. Bruns relocated to Olympia in 1980 and worked in a converted home office before moving to Bellingham in 1994 to be closer to his grandson, Fisher. The current company, ASAI, was founded in 2011 after a split from Safe Air Company, a previous business Fisher and Bruns had subcontracted with since 2006. Aside from a short stint in Bellingham, the business has been Blaine-based since its foundation. “We are a very close family and Larry has always wanted me to be a part of the business so I could take it over and further what he loved doing,” Fisher said. Currently, the largest clients for the business are Dassault Falcon Jet in Little Rock, Arkansas, which carries the company’s cards, and a Saudi Arabian oil company. Past clients
have included pop music star Taylor Swift, who has a private jet, the president of Mexico, who flies on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and NASA’s SOFIA project, a Boeing aircraft that carries a powerful telescope. The job means keeping up with safety regulations to keep clients informed about what is mandatory for the safety cards, Fisher said, something that can change from year to year. “Not only do we have to know the ins and outs of a book that’s this thick by the FAA,” Fisher said, holding a lengthy manual, “but we have to do the best we can to learn an entire other country’s safety code for their aircraft and how their process works.” The company most often deals with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations because of the high number of jets flying through or out of the U.S. The company services 15 to 20 countries, including France, Brazil and India. Regulations also differ between commercial and private aircrafts, with private aircrafts having stricter regulations because passengers are responsible for their own safety with no flight attendants on board. The regulations on what a brace position looks like, for example, will vary between the U.S. and Canada, Fisher said. Requirements can also include how to use a fire extinguisher, exiting the aircraft and how to deploy the raft. It takes about 16 hours to create a new card design from scratch, Fisher said. Although time consuming at first, these clean-slate projects can be financial investments if other companies with the same aircraft also use the card. “You’re playing the long game,” Fisher said. “Sometimes you’re taking a hit on the amount of
s Larry Bruns and his grandson Brock Fisher in Air Safety Art International’s office on Peace Portal Drive. Photo by Grace McCarthy
hours you spend, just in the hope that 50 other people that year get to you and say that they want to order cards.” But this is rarely needed, since 95 percent of the time there is already a base design on file that, with a few changes to the aircraft’s layout or equipment, can be updated in Adobe Creative Suite. For example, the company has 15 different fire extinguisher designs on their computers. Designs change with styles of the era, from forgoing shoulder pads on clothing and mullet haircuts to welcoming current trends such as simpler, cleaner designs. The oldest cards are dated by pen drawings once made with a printing press. Designs slowly evolved to be used on old computer rendering programs and then eventually to the cur-
rent designs created with Adobe Creative Suite. People are the only hand drawings left on the cards. These are used both as a way to make the people stand out and also to make them look more realistic. These drawings are traced from photos Fisher and Bruns take in the office, where they have an entire wardrobe and 20 life vests on hand. The people on the international air safety cards are often Fisher and Bruns, or friends and family and the occasional stranger. This helps the designers better understand the physical limits of the human body for certain safety positions, something computer renderings lack. “We’re on the hook. If I show you how to do this wrong and you get hurt, it could come back to me,” Fisher said. “We have to
s A Gulfstream 650 briefing card designed by Air Safety Art International in 2014.
make sure we do our due diligence in confirming the safe way of doing things, along with what’s a regulation.” The company only has four to five business competitors, Fisher said. It stands out from its competitors with detailed customer service, Fisher said. The company caters to its clients’ time zones, whether that’s the East Coast or halfway across the world. “It’s just fascinating to me the number of international companies we have in this little town of ours,” said Blaine mayor Bonnie Onyon, who recently discovered ASAI after wandering into their office following a luncheon next door. “I’m just so proud of our little town and how cosmopolitan we seem to be for a little town of 5,000 people. We have a lot going on.”
Image courtesy of Air Safety Art International
16
The Northern Light • February 13 - 19, 2020
Environmental stewardship is part of our business. BP believes that we can balance providing energy with protecting the environment. That’s why we focus on being good stewards of the 2,500 undeveloped acres around our Cherry Point Refinery. BP provides resources for the development of the BP Heron Center at Birch Bay State Park, supporting environmental education programming for more than 2,500 students, community members and park visitors each year. Surrounded by mountains, forest, wetland and shoreline habitats, Cherry Point devotes considerable resources to help preserve the natural environment. For more on what BP’s doing to help Washington keep advancing, go to: bp.com/Washington
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