The Northern Light, July 1-7, 2020 by Point Roberts Press

July 2 - 8, 2020

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IN THIS

ISSUE

Virtual sand sculpture contest underway, page 6

New Covid-19 cases rising locally, page 6

City of Blaine to sell downtown property, page 10

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

Blaine salmon seiners head to Alaska County says to avoid Birch Bay for Fourth of July B y G r a c e M c C a rt h y

(See Fourth, page 7)

s On June 16, friends and family gathered on Jorgensen Pier at the end of Marine Drive to send off five local purse seiners. The boats and crews are making their annual trip up the Inside Passage to Alaska where they will spend the summer harvesting salmon in Prince William Sound. The boats included fishing vessels Destiny, Sound Star, Pamela Joyce, Island Queen, and Pacific Dream.

Photo by Andy Peterson, Blaine harbormaster

County council expects 20 percent decrease in revenue By Ian Haupt Whatcom County Council has proposed goals it would like to see county executive Satpal Sidhu incorporate in budget discussions scheduled for July 8. In the meeting, which was rescheduled to incorporate the council’s goals, the executive’s office will draft a budget to be resubmitted to the council based on revised revenue estimates, according to the Whatcom County Executive’s Office website. The goals take into account a probable loss in revenue due to the economic effects of Covid-19. During a virtual budget meeting on June 23, the council discussed the need for the county executive’s office to devise a supplemental budget for 2021-2022 that would project a possible 20 percent decrease from 2019 revenue. That much of a decrease would be “a worst-case scenario,”

council agreed, but necessary for the executive’s office to consider. Tyler Byrd, councilmember and chair of the finance and administrative services committee, led the discussion on budget priorities and goals using a document called “Frazey’s additions to Byrd’s priorities” found on the Whatcom County Council website. The document refers to Carol Frazey, a fellow county councilmember. Councilmember Rud Browne said he would like to see the executive present a 2021 budget using the most current revenue projections and include an alternative budget that would suggest possible cuts in the event that revenue is lower than expected. “I want the finance department to use the best data available to establish what they think the budget should be, but to

include in that the contingency of what happens if [revenue] goes down by 20 percent,” Browne said. The supplemental budget would de(See Budget, page 3)

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Community members and officials discussed plans for Birch Bay’s annual Fourth of July celebration during a June 26 virtual conference held by the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce. Whatcom County sheriff Bill Elfo said it’s hard to predict the number of attendees at this year’s Fourth of July celebration with the U.S./Canadian border closure limiting the number of Canadian visitors but canceled fireworks shows in Blaine and Bellingham could increase the number of attendees. Undersheriff Doug Chadwick said he anticipates the size of this year’s celebration, which is not a planned event, to be similar to events in the past. Patrols from the sheriff’s office will begin on Friday and continue through the weekend. The sheriff’s office will not be enforcing the statewide mask mandate, which went into effect June 26, during Birch Bay’s Fourth of July celebration unless it’s an aggravating circumstance where someone refuses to comply with the mandate, the sheriff Elfo said. “Our position has been to try to educate, try to get people to voluntarily comply and we’ve actually had about a 100 percent success rate when we’ve asked someone to do that,” he said. “We don’t have the jail space, we don’t have the resources and we’re also concerned about our deputies communicating with people who aren’t wearing masks.” The Whatcom County Health Department is asking people to avoid Birch Bay. The health department recommends following phase 2 guidelines and not celebrating the Fourth of July with more than five people outside of a household. “We ask locals and visitors alike not to gather in Birch Bay for fireworks this year,” said Erika Lautenbach, Whatcom County Health Department director in a June 29 press release. “We know traditions like these are fun, celebratory and very meaningful for a lot of people. But it’s simply not safe this year. It could put many others at risk, including the people who call Birch

Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Health . . . . . . . . . 8 Classifieds . . . . . 11 Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Puzzles . . . . . . . . 14 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14

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tail necessary budget cuts, which could include laying off department employees, Browne said. The request for a supplemental budget passed with a 6-1 majority, councilmember Todd Donovan opposed. Donovan said the council was being disingenuous by proposing goals with numbers that they have little control over. The council hopes the county unemployment rate will be 5 percent or lower by the end of 2025. The county unemployment rate was 17.2 percent as of June 3, according to the Federal Reserve Economic Data website. “I’m voting no because you’re accepting an unconsciously high rate when you should be shooting for 2 percent,” Donovan said. Byrd said he set the goal of 5 percent because he thought it would be an attainable starting point to decreasing an unemployment rate that is the highest in decades due to Covid-19 effects on the job mar-

ket. Other goals that were discussed and approved included achieving a balanced and affordable housing market with a vacancy rate between 5-7 percent by the end of 2023 as well as investing in upstream crime prevention and interventions in lieu of costly remediation strategies including incarceration. Council also requested the health department to provide what measures would be needed to do 300 Covid-19 tests a day. They also asked the department to contact Mike Hilly of Emergency Medical Services to see if Medical Reserve Corps professionals are available to assist the department’s testing capacity. The Medical Reserve Corps is “a national network of volunteers, organized locally to improve the health and safety of their communities,” according to its website. Whatcom County Council meets virtually most months on Tuesdays every two weeks. The next meeting is on July 7. Visit whatcom.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx to tune in.

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The Northern Light • July 2 - 8, 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.

Homegrown plants and more at farmers market

Publisher & Managing Editor Patrick Grubb publisher@pointrobertspress.com Co-publisher & Advertising Director Louise Mugar lmugar@pointrobertspress.com

s Vendor Donna Read sells homegrown plants at the Blaine Farmers Market last Saturday, June 27. The weekly event recently added a flea market, which takes place the last Saturday of each month. Read, who sells her plants and produce every week at the market, said, “This is my work and my social life.” She added that the vendors all support each other and she’s grateful that the city still allows the weekly event.

Photo by Kyra Planetz

Letters

Editor Oliver Lazenby oliver@pointrobertspress.com Reporter/Copy Editor Grace McCarthy grace@pointrobertspress.com Reporting Intern Ian Haupt Kyra Planetz prpintern@pointrobertspress.com Creative Services Ruth Lauman, Doug De Visser, production@pointrobertspress.com Office Manager Jeanie Luna info@pointrobertspress.com Advertising Sales Molly Ernst sales@pointrobertspress.com General Editorial Inquiries editor@pointrobertspress.com The Northern Light 225 Marine Drive, Suite 200, Blaine, WA 98230 Tel: 360/332-1777 Vol XXVI, No 3 Circulation: 10,500 copies

Circulation Independently verified by:

Next issue: July 9 Ads due: July 3

The Editor: For the past 20 years or more, I have been shocked over and over again and upset that police were shooting unarmed young Black people in the back and killing them – and getting off scot-free every time and in every state. How is it that the police are above the law? The police have been literally getting away with murder. A few years ago, I went to our local police station in Blaine and asked why this was happening. I was told by the police chief that for the past 20 years this is how they are trained: To shoot to the “mass” – in other words, the chest or the back. When I was growing up, the police would shoot someone in the arm, leg or hand to wound them, not to kill them. And all because maybe they stole a pack of cigarettes? The frequency of these types of killings by the police have gotten out of hand and these are probably only a fraction of what we see caught on camera. Imagine the hundreds and thousands that no one sees. In the U.S., the police go through a fivemonth training period, while in Europe they go through a two-year training program. In the states, the emphasis is more on military-style training, while in Europe the emphasis is on de-escalation techniques and communication skills, etc. Like the Native American Indians in this country, Black people have been horrifically mistreated – tortured, murdered – coming originally as slaves. It is beyond words to describe the shocking way this country has unfolded when you look at how the white people in power have treated people of color. The heartbreaking toll of misery and suffering this has caused over centuries of time, and because why? All for no reason at all. Anyone in their right mind

knows for a fact there is absolutely no justification at all for any of it. Love comes in all different shapes, sizes and colors. And like the beautiful rainbow in the sky, we all make a beautiful shining light of rainbow colors here on earth. Take good care of yourself and one another. Cindy Kisska Birch Bay The Editor: Historical note: The Emancipation Proclamation only freed slaves in the Confederate states and not throughout the nation as is widely thought. The Emancipation Proclamation was primarily a military strategy as slaves were being used logistically by the Confederate States of America to drive supply wagons and provide other labor. The idea was that if freed, the slaves would desert the southern armies, which many did, and thus weaken them. It was the 13th Amendment (1/31/1865) that formally abolished slavery throughout the nation. Richard Mollette Custer The Editor: This week two great neighbors are celebrating their birthdays: Canada and the U.S. Two flags will be raised at our home as I am a citizen of Canada and of the U.S. Both countries have much to celebrate and be proud of; both countries are also imperfect. The metastatic cancer of racism and poverty infects both, and in both, people are speaking out about injustice and the need for change, change within each of us as none of us is perfect, and change within the systems we have created. This has meant difficult conversations

and these are not helped when we throw disparaging and derogatory words around or place every topic in a “left” or “right” box. Poverty and racism exist; how we tackle them can either exacerbate the divide or heal it. Ibram Kendi’s powerful tale of one person’s journey from being a racist Black man to an anti-racist (“So You Want to be an Antiracist”) can help illuminate the path. As we join virtually, or in person, to rejoice in what is good in both countries, let’s also recommit to building a country of “peace, order and good government,” and a country where “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” are truly for all. Helen Worley Blaine The Editor: I would like to thank Chief Tanksley for sharing his heartfelt story and thank the local policemen and women of our community for their service. Their service goes unappreciated by many and it’s a difficult job each and every day. All communities should take this time to reflect and have a conversation about what we want our judicial and enforcement systems to look like. The ‘defund the police’ movement is not about disbanding the police force, it’s about reallocating our tax dollars to fund (Continued on next page)

Correction A photo and caption in our June 25 issue used the wrong name for the company that donated a forklift to Wildbird Charity. Farmers Equipment Company donated the forklift, not CHS Northwest. We regret the error.

July 2 - 8, 2020 • thenorthernlight.com (Continued from previous page) non-policing forms of public safety and community support. Not every situation police are called to requires a person with a badge and a gun. The letter to the editor by Mr. Rudolph in last week’s issue appears to whitewash history – he might want to consider that our founding came at the cost and on the backs of many cultures be they Indigenous, Black, Asian and others. While the Civil War and emancipation worked to correct many wrongs, racism in our country hasn’t stopped, lest we forget ‘separate but equal,’ the Tulsa, Oklahoma bombing, redlining and our criminal justice system that has disproportionately targeted and impacted our communities of color, to name a few. Racism isn’t always an overt action or idea, it has been embedded in our policies and laws, by supporting these we are all complicit in their results. Correcting these wrongs shouldn’t be a partisan topic but aligned with our country’s core values and the golden rule. I found the following question stuck with me as we all consider what is white privilege. “As a

white person in America, would you trade places and like to be treated like a Black person today?” If you answered no, then reflect deeply why not and why you are ok to continue to let this happen to others, this is white privilege. May we all do our part to become allies in this movement, Black Lives Matter. Doug Fink Blaine The Editor: We know that on the Fourth of July we celebrate our independence from tyrannical King George (sometimes shooting off illegal fireworks and drinking too much alcohol). We also remember July 4, 1776 as the date of the Declaration of Independence with the words of Thomas Jefferson: “…They create all men equal … with certain unalienable rights … life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness…” In 1776, men representing 13 distinct and distant colonies agreed to this revolutionary idea. They compromised. The document’s author and many signers owned, bought and sold human beings. Only men who owned property could vote, but they agreed to an ideal. Their signa-

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tures guaranteed a devastating war with one of the world’s thenmost powerful military forces, (a war on their own soil, with little chance they would prevail). Another Fourth of July, almost 100 years ago, paused celebrations for reflection. Thomas Jefferson and John Quincy Adams both died on July 4, 1826. Both knew they were passing on the 50th anniversary of the first Fourth of July. Across the nation, many took this coincidence as a sign from God. They believed we must expand our borders to become the ‘Empire of Liberty’ envisioned by founding fathers. Within 50 years, the U.S. stretched its boundaries from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Today, with our boundaries set, let’s reflect on our progress. Let’s plan our way forward, opening our hearts and minds to the promise: “...They create all men equal...with certain unalienable rights...life, liberty.” Let’s continue to evolve. Antoinette Harvey Blaine

to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office. The Whatcom County budget priorities for the next two years are being decided by the end of the month. Currently, 65-70 percent of the current county council’s budget goes to the sheriff’s office. Let’s change this.

Thursday, July 9 9:00am – Park and Cemetery Board Meeting

Thursday, July 9 6:00pm – Planning Commission Meeting

Monday, July 13 6:00pm – Regular City Council Meeting

Tuesday, July 14 8:00am – Blaine Tourism Advisory Committee Meeting

Thursday, July 16 2:00pm – Public Works Advisory Committee Meeting

All City offices are currently closed to the public. Contact information for staff and Councilmembers can be found on the City’s website. Call (360) 332-8311 or visit our website.

www.cityofblaine.com

Start Now for 4th of July Anxiety!

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July 4 between 10 am and midnight.

Except in these areas: • West Blaine: Area west of Shintaffer and all of Semiahmoo Spit. This includes all parks and beaches.

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• Blaine Harbor: All Port of Bellingham property plus water bodies north of Boblett and west of the railroad.

Neither do we.

• All public parks and public property in Blaine city limits excluding public streets outside West Blaine and Blaine Harbor areas.

Due to COVID-19 and the Governor’s Proclamation, meetings are now only open to the public telephonically. Information on how to listen to the meeting live will be on the City Council agenda which is located on the City’s website homepage under Your Government, City Council, City Council Agenda. Please check the agenda prior to each meeting as the call in number or location may change.

The Editor: My name is Samantha Syrnich. I live in Birch Bay. I am concerned with how much of the county’s budget monies have been going

Sunday Services 10:30 am

(360) 332-6906 885 4th St. • Blaine, WA 98230 Pastor Sandy Wisecarver

CITY OF BLAINE

(See Letters, page 13)

Fireworks in Blaine

"Where friendly people gather and become family"

SUMMER READING 2020

June 1 through September 30 BINGO-style cards available for early years, kids, teens, and adults

Set a goal and win a prize!

Visit wcls.org to download or call the library for your BINGO card. Remember, you can now return your library items, place requests, and pick up holds. Newest service - document printing for pick-up! Call the library for details.

Have a Safe and Sane July 4!

Book

BLAINE LIBRARY

610 3 rd Street Paid for by Friends of Blaine Library 360.305.3637 talk/multimedia presentation

Thank you for supporting local journalism. This week’s supporters: Herb & Sandy Beitel D. Bizer Randall Bode Hollie Brown

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The Northern Light • July 2 - 8, 2020

Virus cases increasing locally Local groups tackle food insecurity, By Oliver Lazenby The number of new confirmed cases of Covid-19 is increasing in Whatcom County and health officials have investigated 20 outbreaks since the beginning of June, health department director Erika Lautenbach during a July 1 press briefing. New infections are also increasing in Washington state and 38 other states and districts in the country, according to data compiled by the New York Times. In the seven days between June 28 and June 22, Whatcom County had 97 new confirmed cases of Covid-19, a roughly 50 percent increase from the previous seven-day period, when 65 people tested positive, according to the Washington State Department of Health. The department of health’s website cautions that the most recent numbers may be incomplete. In the most recent week for which data is available, 2,213 people were tested in the county, an increase from the previous week, when 1,952 were tested, according to the state data. But the percentage of positive tests also increased, going from 3.3 percent to 5.3 percent, an indication that the increase in new cases is not solely due to increased testing. Despite the increase in cases, almost no one is seeking hospital treatment for the new coronavirus. PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center spokesperson Bev Mayhew said on July 1 that the hospital had two patients with

the virus. People getting infected now are generally younger than in March and April, when Covid-19 was spreading in nursing facilities in Whatcom County. In the first weeks of June, two-thirds of new confirmed cases were among people under 29, Lautenbach said. The rate of new cases and the amount of testing makes Whatcom County ineligible to apply for phase 3 of Washington state’s Safe Start plan. As of Tuesday night, Whatcom County had 622 confirmed cases since the beginning of the pandemic and 40 people had died. Few new cases in Blaine The majority of new Covid-19 cases are in northern Whatcom County, but not Blaine, according to June 30 data from the Whatcom County Health Department. Since June 22, 40 new cases were people who live within the Lynden school district and 20 live within the Meridian school district. Those two districts had the biggest percentage increases in cases in the county, a 54.1 percent increase in Lynden and a 62.5 percent increase in Meridian. The Blaine district had the smallest increase in the county during that period, with just three new cases for an increase of 8.3 percent. Testing, contact tracing The county has struggled with case and contact investigations, health department director Erika Lautenbach told county council (See Covid-19, page 10)

providing meals to children in need By Kyra Planetz Before the pandemic, families could rely on schools to feed their children at least two meals a day, a tremendous help to those facing food insecurity. But when the Blaine school district closed all schools on March 16, some families worried about putting food on the table. School district staff began delivering daily meals to families in need two days after the closure, said Lisa Moeller, a public relations specialist for the district. “We are proud of, and incredibly grateful for, our staff members who rose up and served our community during this difficult time by working tirelessly to feed the many children who are reliant on school meals,” Moeller said in an email. However, when the last day of school arrived on June 19, the district was unable to continue the daily meal program due to a lack of staff on contract, Moeller said. The district’s Family Service Center is still providing weekend meals through the summer, either by delivery or pick-up, with donations from local food banks and Wildbird Charity. Wildbird executive director Phill Esau encourages community members to donate, volunteer or just spread the word about food insecurity. “People need to be aware that there are people in their own backyard, children, who are hungry,”

Esau said. Feeding America, the largest hunger-relief organization in the U.S., recently published projections of how food insecurity could increase in 2020 due to Covid-19. According to the organization, 16.4 percent of children in Whatcom County were food insecure in 2018. Feeding America projects this number could jump to 26.3 percent this year as more families struggle

“We believe that kids need to be fed and they need to be fed well.” to find or maintain employment. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Whatcom County, which works closely with the school district, also began distributing meals to youth throughout Blaine and the rest of the county. The organization’s CEO, Heather Powell, believes that as a community-based organization with available resources, it is necessary to respond to the needs of the community. “That’s why we decided to get started with a meal distribution program and why we will continue

to do it,” Powell said. Each Boys and Girls Clubhouse in the county usually provides daily meals to children in need during the summer. The Boys and Girls Club summer camp, where children entering 2nd-6th grade can recieve free breakfast and lunch, is available for registration at whatcomclubs.org. But due to Covid-19 restrictions, the club can’t open its doors to additional children who are not involved in summer activities. Instead, the Boys and Girls Club is offering weekend meal bags, available for pickup at the Blaine Clubhouse at 635 8th Street in Blaine. Children do not need to be present for families to receive a meal bag. The clubhouse began distributing food in late May and the clubhouse feeds between 25 and 65 people each week, Powell said. Since the program started, it has served 19,600 meals across Whatcom County, Powell said, anticipating an increase in this number as fewer agencies distribute meals during the summer. “We believe that kids need to be fed and they need to be fed well,” Powell said. “Access to food, for families, is a challenge. It became more challenging for a number of reasons during the pandemic.” Weekend meal bags can be picked up on Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Family Service Center and at the Blaine Boys and Girls Clubhouse at 5 p.m.

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Beachgoers work on a sand sculpture in late June. The Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce’s virtual sand sculpture contest runs through July.

Photo by Chuck Kinzer: CKimageart.com

By Ian Haupt After more than 30 years, the annual Birch Bay Sand Sculpture Competition will be held virtually in 2020 to comply with social distancing strategies set to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The event will run throughout the month of July, and votes will be compiled the first week of August through the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce’s website. The chamber asks for sculptors to fill out a registration form and submit a photo of their sculpture to their website by 5 p.m. on July 31. In previous years, the compe-

tition was a huge weekend festival for Birch Bay, with live music, crowd voting and an awards ceremony. Due to Covid-19, the chamber was forced to move the celebration and voting process online, said Liz Thornton, executive director of the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce. Once votes are compiled, prizes will be distributed to the creative winners. The chamber hopes participation will remain the same. They have seen years with hundreds of people taking part in the competition, Thornton said, transforming the shoreline into an art exhibit. It’s also a perfect social distanc-

ing activity for families, she said. “We didn’t want to take that away,” Thornton said. “It’s one of the easiest things to do [safely] right now.” Past sculptures have included geometric freeforms, sea turtles, alligators, mermaids, mythical castles and a favorite pet. The only rules this year are: • Sand sculptures must be created in Birch Bay. • Participants should follow physical distancing rules and health department guidelines if building with non-family groups. • To have fun To sign-up for the competition and find out more information, go to birchbaychamber.com/events.

July 2 - 8, 2020 • thenorthernlight.com

Citizen science comes to Whatcom Fourth ... County beaches with new iNaturalist app From page 1

Bay home.” Doralee Booth, Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce secretary and treasurer, said the chamber will not order the 10-12 extra portable toilets that are usually placed at the beach. After talking with the health department, only eight portable toilets will be ordered for the event, the number that has been put on the drive in the past. “We’re not making it real comfortable to come,” Booth said. “There’s a problem because if you’re here for two hours or three hours, you’ll need a facility and it won’t be that wonderful.” Community members also

voiced concern during the meeting about a large gathering in an area with an older population. According to data from the U.S. Census, people 65 and older make up 26 percent of Birch Bay’s population. Fireworks in unincorporated areas of Whatcom County are allowed to be used on July 4 from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. and on July 3 and July 6 from 6-11 p.m., according to a 2015 Whatcom County Council ordinance. For more information on firework regulations in the county, visit whatcomcounty. us/673/Consumer-Firework-Usage. For more information on the health department’s recommendations for the Fourth of July, visit bit.ly/2Zv2POb.

People 65 and older make up 26 percent of Birch Bay’s population.

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Heather Conkerton, Americorps aquatic reserves monitoring and stewardship coordinator for RE Sources, uses the iNaturalist app to identify marine species at Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve.

Photo by Grace McCarthy

B y G r a c e M c C a rt h y Kaylene Riehle and Heather Conkerton kneel over a tide pool examining a nudibranch. They’ve strategically planned their trip to Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve: It’s 10 a.m., which means there are still two hours before peak low tide, allowing the best opportunity to inspect the shoreline of marine plants and animals. The pair is using iNaturalist, a free app that allows residents to share what they encounter along the beaches to help inform scientists on patterns in local ecology. The app is a collaboration between the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society and has over a million participants worldwide, according to the iNaturalist website. Riehle, a Whatcom Marine Resources Committee intern, is the project lead of the Whatcom County citizen-powered science project. Riehle graduated with an environmental studies degree from Western Washington University in 2019 and began the iNaturalist project after it was brought to her by an adviser. “Not only is this something that gives us valuable information on what [species] we have, but it is also a really good opportunity for others to learn,” Riehle said. Sea stars, sea anemones, crabs and gunnel fish are a few of the species that Riehle suggests people track with iNaturalist. “The point of iNaturalist for us is to really know what is out there

and how well they’re doing,” said Conkerton, who manages the project in Skagit County and works as an AmeriCorps aquatic reserves monitoring and stewardship coordinator for RE Sources, a Bellingham nonprofit that is a partner in the program locally. “We want to know ‘Are they abundant? Are they going out? Is something else coming in?’ What are the other conditions?’” Other project partners are Washington Conservation Corps, the Department of Natural Resources and the Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve Citizen Stewardship Committee. Conkerton said data from the app, which has around 114 entries since it started in late May, can show how species interact with each other and their environment. As of June 29, findings from the project’s 28 registered members include a plainfin midshipman in Semiahmoo Bay, a red rock crab in Birch Bay and an Ochre sea star in Point Roberts. “People are probably going to be out on the beach anyway so we want them to put their eyes to some good use,” Conkerton said. “The thing about citizen science is, as a biologist, I can’t be everywhere at once so we rely on people to help us out.” Riehle said she hopes people see the project as an opportunity to get outside during Covid-19 physical distancing. The project coordinators ask that participants respect beach etiquette to ensure there is no damage to the marine ecosys-

tems. This means volunteer scientists shouldn’t turn over rocks larger than their head and marine organisms should always be left where they were found. Riehle said she prefers if participants scoop marine organisms with a cup to avoid touching them but if touching a marine organism is needed for documentation, she said it is important that participants gently touch the organism with wet hands. “I don’t want people to be worried about making sure they have the perfect shot or the right information,” Riehle said. “Or if they take a picture and they’re not sure what the species is, I don’t want people to be discouraged from posting it and saying ‘I don’t know what this is.’” The project, which will last until September 7, could continue in future years depending on how successful it is this summer, Riehle said. “It’s something that you could do on your own and you could spend five or six hours out here or you could come with your family,” Riehle said. “It’s something that’s really malleable to what works for you.” To participate in the Whatcom County project, people need to join the iNaturalist app, click “community” and then “projects.” From there, searching “Whatcom Marine Shoreline Summer Observation” in the search toolbar will bring up the project page. For more information on the project, email Kaylene Riehle at kayleneriehle@gmail.com.

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The Northern Light • July 2 - 8, 2020

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The Importance of Masks: Small actions with big results From the Whatcom County Health Department

Graphs show the forecasted difference in estimated future Covid-19 cases if 46 percent of people wear masks versus if 80 percent wear masks. Images courtesy of Whatcom County Health Department

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Did you know that a family of mice can multiply to over 100,000 mice in a single year? Now: Imagine if the first two mice never met. That’s a difference of 99,998 mice. Covid-19 can work like this, too. Preventing a single new infection can make a huge difference over time. One thing we’ve learned is that mask use seriously reduces transmission rates, perhaps by as much as 50-75 percent. And if that’s the difference between ten infected people transmitting the virus to 14 others, or just seven; it means a lot. Even though models and estimates are essentially “educated guesses,” that guess is based on a growing amount of research. Now that we can look back at what has happened over the last three months, there is good reason to believe the models are on track. An estimate from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation predicts that wearing masks is 50 percent effective, or in other words, will prevent half of the new infections. If masks can block 50 percent of new in-

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July 2 - 8, 2020 • thenorthernlight.com fections, and 95 percent of people wear them for the next three months, this would reduce the state’s estimated daily infection rate on October 1 to less than 250 new cases. Without masks? Then the model predicts that we’ll see 2,400 new cases on that day. Yes, 2,400 cases in just a single day. And the deaths will increase too, from a single death (if masks are worn) to 11 deaths that day (if masks are not worn). A local model, developed in Whatcom County, used a different estimate to explore the impact of wearing masks. This model assumes a 75 percent effective rate for masks (masks prevent three out of four new infections) and uses information about social distancing and observed mask-wearing behaviors at local shopping centers. The study estimated that about 46 percent of Whatcom County shoppers were wearing masks in early June, and explored what would happen if that number increased to 80 percent.

How to discuss Covid-19 before a gathering If someone invites you to a gathering, or even just a casual neighborhood walk or backyard get-together, you should ask if they’ve been following the guidance around Covid-19. It may be an awkward conversation, but we’ve got tips to make it easier. Your health and the health of those around you is worth it. By now, many people have already had these conversations, but they can still feel uncomfortable. Keep a casual script in mind when talking to a friend or family member about getting together. • Say something like, “Thanks so much for the invite! I’d love to get together. I just want to make sure we’re on the same page about Covid-19. I’ve been wearing a mask anytime I’m in public and haven’t been in close contact with many people, have you?” • Inquire about who will be at the gathering and safety measures the host has in place. Will the gathering be held outside? Will utensils be shared? How many people will be in attendance, and does their space allow for adequate physical distancing from one another? • Have you already been around five people in the past week? Let your friend know. Say, “You know, I’ve already been in close contact with my share of people, can we be in each other’s five next week?”

It turns out, that would make a big difference. For Whatcom County, the new daily cases estimated for October 1 would be just five if masks were worn by 80 percent of the population. If we continue with 46 percent use rates though, the predicted new daily case count is more than 1,900. Wearing a mask when you’re in public is an easy way to show that you care about your community and that you want to speed up our economic recovery from Covid-19. Whether mask

use is 50 percent, 75 percent or even just 25 percent effective, the outcomes three months from now will be very different based on our actions today and tomorrow. The good news is that we can all play a part in putting Covid-19 behind us and that the solution could very well be right in front of our faces. We’re all in this together. Learn more at the Whatcom County Health Department’s website, whatcomcounty.us/360/ health-department.com.

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The Northern Light • July 2 - 8, 2020

City of Blaine puts vacant downtown land on the market By Oliver Lazenby The city of Blaine is ready to put a vacant downtown property at 665 Peace Portal Drive on the market. At its June 22 meeting, Blaine City Council voted to enter into a contract with local real estate agent Ron Freeman to market the property with a listing price of $300,000. The contract includes a 6 percent commission to be split among agents and brokers involved in a sale. The property is vacant land in a prime downtown location, on the Drayton Harbor side of the street between Blaine Bouquets and Tiny Taproom. The city acquired the property in late 2019; the deceased former owner’s estate transferred the property to the city in lieu of foreclosure after the city paid to demolish a decaying and structurally unsound building on the site in April 2019 and placed a lien on the property. The city had been pursuing demolition on the property for about two years and had not been able to contact the property’s owner. In total, the city spent about $283,000 on demolition, including asbestos abatement, staff time, legal fees and direct expenses on the property, according to meeting documents. City council decided to list the property at $300,000, after Freeman assessed its value at between $230,000 and $300,000. That range is based on recent sales of comparable properties, of which there are few in Blaine. That makes pricing the property difficult, city manager Michael Jones said at the June 22 meeting.

“In real estate terms, it is a limited market,” Jones said. The city doesn’t expect to turn much profit on the property, but it will benefit from the sale in other ways. Having that vacant lot in the core of downtown developed would benefit the downtown business district and aid the city financially through permit fees, sales tax on the construction and development, and by bringing the land onto the tax records at a higher value, Jones said. “There are many financial benefits simply from the perspective of the city’s bottom line, but there are also some very real benefits to the downtown business district,” he said. Some on council expressed an interest in getting close to $300,000 for the property. “We do not accept a single penny less than what we need to recoup our investment in that property. Period. That’s where I stand,” said councilmember Garth Baldwin. “I think it’s worth it. It’s waterfront.” City council will review offers as they come in and would make a decision on the final sale price. “I think we all get that point,” Mayor Bonnie Onyon replied to Baldwin. “When we get that offer we’ll discuss it thoroughly and decide what the best move to make is.” Also at the meeting, the council passed an incentive for developers to quickly develop properties in the central business district, rather than sit on the undeveloped land. That policy would apply to 665 Peace Portal Drive and to city-owned properties in general.

Blaine City Council approved a contract for local real estate agent Ron Freeman to market a city-owned property at 665 Peace Portal Drive. The city spent $283,000 on to demolish a decaying building on the property which is listed for $300,000.

Photo by Oliver Lazenby

The new policy will allow developers to be rebated up to 12 percent of the sale price if they submit a complete building permit within six months of closing on the sale and have the building ready for occupancy within a year. “That’s a very viable timeline,” Jones told council. The policy allows for incentives to be negotiated on a caseby-case basis and states that they shall not exceed 12 percent of the

fair market value of the property. A buyer would be eligible to receive a 6 percent rebate after submitting a complete building permit for a mixed-use structure with at least two square feet of occupied space for every square foot of property. That means the building would have to be at least two stories tall if it takes up the entire footprint of the property, or four stories tall if it takes up half the property’s footprint. The permit would need to be submit-

Covid-19 ... From page 6

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More people than ever before have turned to our newspaper and website for news and information. We believe this is the perfect time to do our part to lend a hand as our business community works to reopen.

360/332-1777 TheNorthernLight.com

at a June 23 meeting. She said in a July 1 press briefing that the department was contacting 288 people a day and had 39 new case investigations to complete. Those investigations can take up to an hour each, she said. The department is getting help from the state department of health and is screening more volunteers to do that work, she said. “Our work is cut out for us in case and contact investigations,” Lautenbach said. During the briefing, Lautenbach sought to quell rumors that Whatcom County was not doing enough testing. She said 2,558 people per week could be tested in Whatcom County. That’s “by any standard robust testing capacity,” she said. It doesn’t, however, meet guidelines for the state’s Safe Start plan, which calls for counties to test 50 times the number of cases. According to the state, the county is only testing 18.8 individuals per each new case and the rate per 100K population doubled in the last 10 days to 64.8 which far exceeds the goal of under 25. Those figures would not have allowed the county to progress to phase 2 had they existed when the county applied for phase 2 status. Lautenbach herself said that the county had fallen behind in testing during the June 23 county

ted within six months of the sale closing. The buyer would be eligible to receive an additional 6 percent rebate after a licensed architect confirms that the structure is eligible for a temporary or final occupancy permit within a year from the date the city issues a building permit. The policy passed 6-0, with councilmember Charlie Hawkins absent.

council meeting. On July 1, she said that many of the testing issues were new at that time and had now been resolved. Many in Whatcom County have sought testing at Skagit County’s drive-thru testing site, Lautenbach said. That site does not require a referral from a physician or the health department, and it does not require an appointment. Though there are 11 sites that test for Covid-19 in Whatcom County, they all require appointments, physician referrals, or both. The Whatcom County Health Department doesn’t have the staff or resources to operate a drivethrough testing site, Lautemnbach had told council meeting. “We really need our clinic partners, our other providers to be stepping up, and we are working with them to increase capacity, especially for low barrier testing,” Lautenbach said. Lautenbach and county council referred to testing that does not require health insurance or a physician’s referral as low-barrier testing. Elsewhere in the U.S., hospitals and universities have stepped up to provide no-appointment, no-referral Covid-19 testing. PeaceHealth spokesperson Bev Mayhew said the hospital didn’t yet have a plan to provide walk-in or drive-through testing for those without a physician’s referral.

July 2 - 8, 2020 • thenorthernlight.com

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The Northern Light • July 2 - 8, 2020

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5544 Salish Road • $648,500

The quintessential Blaine farmhouse, barn, guesthouse, studio, potting shed & potential equestrian area. Located on 4.8 acres & tucked away 250’ from the street with easy access to booming downtown Blaine, the waterfront, US/CAN border & I-5. Unbelievable care & detail have gone into restoring this 3-BD charmer. Guesthouse features 3/4 bath + kitchenette area.

Premier construction & detail = the dialed in home of your dreams! Open concept living. Soaring 20’ ceilings, stunning 11’ quartz kitchen island, wide plank oak flooring, custom rift cut white oak cabinets, luxurious main floor owner suite + outdoor fireplace. Birch Bay Village amenities include: marina, beaches, golf course, pool, tennis, clubhouse & 24 hour security gate. MLS# 1621810

MLS# 1604802

736 3rd Street ( lot ) • $179,500

7545 Sunset Drive • $620,000

One of the last remaining opportunities to build out a corner commercial lot in this section of booming downtown Blaine! Zoned CD-Market 48, flexible zoning allows for street level commercial space + upper level residential space (up to 48’ high). New project may qualify for multi family tax exemption, buyer to verify. Bonus: City of Blaine conditionally approved plans (available upon request) for street level commercial & upper level residential modern building, an approximately $20K value! MLS #1577522

Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase a beautiful water view property w/ in home elevator to all floors! 3-BD, 4-BA, home has been very lightly lived in & would be an ideal full time residence or vacation rental. Open concept kitchen/dining/living features gas fireplace, 10’ ceilings + leads directly to massive wrap around bay view deck. No detail overlooked: Credo built & rock solid - wide & bright spaces, skylights + just steps to Birch Bay State Park.

Leah Crews 360-305-4747

Visit us at: www.JenAndLeah.com

Bay Properties

8045 BIRCH BAY DRIVE, BLAINE, WA 360-371-7252 BAYPROPERTIESNW.COM

Semiahmoo homeS, inc.

NW LUXURY REAL ESTATE AT A HIGHER LEVEL

7650 Birch Bay Drive #Oak 6, Birch Bay $269,000

4328 Skyline Drive, Blaine $297,000

DON’T MISS OUT ON THE LOW INTEREST RATES! This 3 BD/1 BA

1450 SF home feels like it is out in the country yet is only minutes to SOLD! downtown Blaine, I-5 access, grocery stores, schools and the US/ CDN Border! Nice corner lot with detached garage and RV parking! The fully fenced yard is great for entertaining and is very well landscaped! Great opportunity to update this home with your own personal touch!

WELCOME TO THE BEACH LIFE! This

1098 SF 2 BD, 1.5 BA front row Bay Rim condo PENDED IN 2 DAYS! has been tastefully updated and features nice views of Birch Bay from the upstairs bedrooms, living room and outside patio. Enjoy a remodeled kitchen and unit providing convenient, easy access to the beach and pool. HOA amenities include 200’ of gated private beach, picnic area and heated pool.

MOVE IN READY!

ENJOY THE BEACH LIFE! 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.

Carl W. R. Dufton • (360) 815-6637

8105 Birch Bay Square St. I-5 Exit 270

I’m always available to show you by private appointment all Residential, Commercial, Vacant Land & New Construction Properties!

What is your house worth?

callhugh.johnlscott.com/home-evaluation

Call Hugh :

4730 Tidal Way 103-L, Birch Bay $335,900

Terry Conway • (360) 410-0503

CeCelia Breivik • (360) 303-8161

MLS #1622292

360.371.5800 Your Local Expert For All Real Estate, Residential Or Commercial Services!

Hugh Brawford, Managing Broker

Semiahmoo Marina Boat Slips Available!

Build your home here!

20+ ACRES - $175,000 Homesite on Kickerville with beautiful, meandering Terrell Creek.

Owner contract possible AT 20% DOWN, 6.5% 30 year Amortization. Some residential zoning, currently in open space. Great tax advantage.

www.CallHugh.com

VIEW, VIEW, VIEW!

5390 Night Heron Drive, Semiahmoo • $1,575,000

VIEW, VIEW, VIEW!

8876 Semiahmoo Drive, Semiahmoo Ridge • $589,000

MOTIVATED SELLER! Enjoy the spectacular sunsets

BEACH ACCESS!

EXCEPTIONAL DETAILS! 90 feet of waterfront NEW LISTING!

3392 East Smith Road, Bellingham $299,400 • VIEWS OF MT. BAKER!

over Semiahmoo Bay from this almost acre property! The completely remodeled and updated luxury single level 1688 SF 3 BD, 2 BA rambler offers a lavish interior with new appliances, cabinets, fixtures and drywall plus a covered front trex deck, back yard patio & more!!! Perched on Semiahmoo Ridge, this is that highly sought after “view” home!

Charming 1120 SF 3 BD, 1 BA home on an almost half acre with phenomenal views of Mount Baker from the dining room! New roof and gutters and all double pane windows. Home features high ceilings, wood floors and wall to wall carpet in bedrooms and living room. Perfect for the first time buyer. Don’t miss out on creating memories in this gem of a home!

Jeremy Porter • (360) 306-1794

Ruth Skeete • (360) 358-5075

facing Drayton Harbor, White Rock B.C. and the Canadian Mountains. This 4891 SF 4 BD, 3.5 BA home features a kitchen remodel with quartz counters, SS appliances and a wide open space to entertain. Main floor living leads to the Master suite with his/her closets, a fireplace and private deck to enjoy the sunrise. The lower level of the home offers a media room, wet bar, multiple flex rooms and private guest en-suite. Enjoy the mature landscaping and huge 3 car garage with a workspace and mudroom. Step down to the beach for oysters/ clams and kayaking as eagles fly above!

8361 Semiahmoo Drive, Birch Point $1,680,000

WEST FACING WATERFRONT! Flawless Master-

piece w/timeless design-no expense spared! Just shy of an acre, a private sanctuary offers 3,419 sq. ft & spectacular 139’ of waterfront w/views of Bay, Canada & San Juan Islands. NW Asian design delivers a rare opportunity to experience refined living at its best! Thoughtful details into the Chef’s kitchen, expansive great room and open floor plan all on one level. Enjoy breathtaking sunsets every evening while surrounded by the Feng Shui inspired landscape. YOU have arrived!

OPEN SUN. 2-4

Julie Ward • (760) 522-2564

Heather Taylor • (425) 785-5771

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

Spectacular golf course & mountain view home!

Downtown Blaine (Across from Hill’s Chevron)

www.NimbusRealEstate.com

HIGH QUALITY, AMAZING WATER AND MOUNTAIN VIEW HOMES

7588 Birch Bay Dr #1 • Blaine $297,500 MLS # 1621574 • 2-BD, 1-BA, 711 Sq. Ft.

Welcome to stunning sunsets & Seaside Cottages in Birch Bay. Sun exposure, location, waterfront, view & close to all amenities is what greets you at this premier end unit #1. Short term rentals approved, 10 seconds to Beach access across the street. Ceiling height & views from every window makes this home live larger then square footage. Enjoy Birch Bay and the new Waterfront Beach Berm. State Park just down the street.

9140 Aerie Ln • Blaine $875,000 MLS # 1620188 • 3-BD, 4-BA, 4,253 Sq. Ft.

Waterfront: Where beauty & residence meet. Built in 2005, This Aerie was one of the last 4 built. Key feature: no step down- living room or master bth. 4253 sq. ft. 3 bd, 3.5 bths, Office, Chefs kitchen, Great room, main level master, upstairs suite, lower level media rm / bd rm with walk-in closet, games rm, sauna, storage. Stunning views of city lights, White Rock Canada, Semiahmoo spit with Marina, Canadian Mountain range, Mt Baker, Boundary Bay, Drayton Harbor.

8217 Chehalis Road NEW PRICE! $698,000 MLS# 1589430 Remarkable Custom Built Home with Features Galore!

• Over 2800 sq.ft. • Luxurious owners • 4 bedrooms, suite • 2¾ bathrooms • Gourmet kitchen • Magazine quality • Resort style private appointments, colors patio w/fountain, & creativity gardens & hot tub

Location, Location!

Mike Kent 360-815-3898

briansouthwick@gmail.com

Mike@MikeKent.com

View listing at www.mikekent.com

360.815.6638

see more pictures at www.briansouthwick.com

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One of a kind historic waterfront 4plex in downtown Blaine. This Sunset Inn has been a landmark in Blaine since 1901. This beautiful Inn has water views and sits on a large lot right in Blaine's growing downtown district. Units have been rented as long term rentals as well as furnished Airbnb and always have great income. Each unit is updated, unique and the property also includes a large 3 bay shop that can be rented or included with rentals. So many possibilities for this historical Inn.

360-220-4770 www.whatcomwaterfront.com

$839,990

5476 Wood Duck Loop

MLS# 1585131 3 bedrooms, 2.75 baths, 2 FP, 2060 SF

$849,990

Max Burrage

253-651-1933

Beautiful farmhouse on an incredible 5 flat acres. This one level, 3 BD 2 BA home is completely move in ready. Light and bright, updated floors, kitchen and baths. Amazing outdoor space, with darling front porch as well as back patio with from living room and master bedroom. Ample Featured on HGTV access garden space with lots of sunlight and land. The perfect location down private road, with plenty of parking and space for shop or barn. This would make a fantastic horse property or farm.

Brianna Robbins

MLS# 1619820 2 bedrooms, 2.25 baths, 2 FP, 2050 SF

360-815-5079

1016 Peace Portal Dr, Blaine, WA 98230 $700,000 • MLS # 1617516

5473 Wood Duck Loop

Jon Rockwood

9721 Foxhurst, Blaine, WA, 98230 $575,000 • MLS # 1618115 • 3 BD 2 BA 1902 SF

in gated Semiahmoo! 10’ ceilings, and 8’ glass doors. The kitchen includes Euro-style cabinetry, 16’ grand quartz island and Jenn-air appliances. Enjoy in-floor radiant heat atop luxury vinyl plank when cooler and air con for warmer days. Bring the outdoors in w/your covered garden patio or relax by the fire on your rooftop deck. Built in 2020.

5366 Canvasback Rd. $759,900

3-BD, 3.25-BA, Beautiful, light, & bright Semiahmoo home with view of Drayton Harbor & Canadian Coastal Range. Over 3000 SF with large living spaces, formal living room, dining room and open kitchen and family room.

Sally Webb 360.224.1270 Sally@SallyWebb.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.

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LOCAL

July 2 - 8, 2020 • thenorthernlight.com

Letters ...

OBITUARIES

From page 5

To keep our communities safe, we can instead invest in living wage jobs, housing for all, youth programs, healthcare and other essential community services. In February, the county council passed a Child and Family Action Plan that aims to increase affordable housing, childcare and mental healthcare services for all Whatcom families. To move forward toward these goals, it needs funding or it is just words with no action. Furthermore, funding could be better utilized by addressing homelessness and poverty in this county. Providing affordable housing, access to food and healthcare services to those experiencing homelessness is essential, and is a great place for more money to go. And finally, the monies would be an absolutely essential benefit if the budget covers just the airfare to bring the world’s leading domestic violence experts to Whatcom County to train judges, commissioners, gals, law enforcement personnel, and other court services personnel free of cost in how to handle domestic violence cases so that hopefully children and protective parents can then be safe within our communities of Whatcom County. The sheriff’s department is usurping way too much of the county’s budget and this must be fairly redistributed if we are to have a safer community. People’s lives are important. No one should feel like their life does not matter, nor belong in our Whatcom County communities. Please place Whatcom County budget monies into the value of human life as outlined and described in the above paragraphs, and you will see human lives improve, reductions in crime, and overall creation of much safer communities. Samantha Syrnich Birch Bay

William “Bill” Thompson October 2, 1929 – March 12, 2020

Bill Thompson, age 91 of Birch Bay, WA, passed away suddenly and peacefully March 12, 2020 of Stage 4 Esophageal Cancer. He is missed by family and friends for his ever-smiling face and sincere helping ways. Bill was born and raised in Amery, WI and graduated from Washington State University – School of Pharmacy. He was a Pharmacist in Alaska for 35 years. He met his wife Helen in Anchorage and together they raised two children, Kevin and Katrina. Bill really enjoyed his “Alaska Life,” but after many long cold winters, he retired, and spent the next 25 years at their Birch Bay family residence. Bill is survived by his wife, Helen of 53 years, son Kevin (Suzy), daughter Katrina (Peter) Warren, grandchildren Makena, Madison, and Nivek Thompson, and Calder Warren. Also, sister Mary Rita of Wisconsin and brother Tommy (Shirley) Thompson of California, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. A family gathering will be planned at a later date. Please share your memories of Bill at www.molesfarewelltributes.com.

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