The Northern Light: November 12-18, 2020 by Point Roberts Press

November 12 - 18, 2020

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IN THIS

ISSUE

City launches new tourism website, page 2

Blaine schools see decreased enrollment

Program teaches kids barista skills, page 7

How Birch Bay, Blaine and Custer voted, page 15

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

Veterans Day at Blaine’s Veteran’s Memorial Park

By Grace McCarthy

(See Enrollment, page 3)

s Veteran Steve Nelson of Custer-based VFW Post 9474 plays taps as fellow veterans stand alongside him at attention on November 11 at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Blaine. Photo by Ian Haupt

Over 200 queens found in Asian giant hornet nest By Grace McCarthy Over 500 Asian giant hornets were found in the east Blaine nest eradicated on October 24, state entomologists confirmed this week. Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) entomologists opened the nest at a Washington State University lab in Puyallup to find hundreds of hornets at various stages in their life cycle. Despite the number of hornets, entomologists think few, if any, queens made it out of the nest to form a new colony. “If any queens had already left the nest, it was a few and very early,” said Sven Spichiger, WSDA managing entomologist, in a November 10 press conference. “We’ll know a little bit more when we measure each cell and make a determination about what a queen cell looks like versus a

worker cell. As far as we can tell, we got there just in time.” The first Asian giant hornet nest found in the U.S. was considered to be small, measuring about 14 inches long and 8 to 9 inches wide, Spichiger said. He attributed the smaller nest to possibly an unhealthy gene pool or the tree’s size constraining the nest’s growth. The hornets comprised 76 queens, all of which are expected to be new queens except for one; 112 workers, 85 of which were vacuumed during eradication; 190 larvae; 108 capped cells with pupae (the cycle of a hornet’s life when it’s between being larva and an adult) that would have become new queens; nine male hornets; and six unhatched eggs in the smallest comb. The nest was located at the edge of an east Blaine property in a tree that the hor-

nets chewed into to accommodate six layers of combs. The combs contained about 776 cells, but Spichiger said this number (See Hornets, page 5)

Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Seniors . . . . . . . . . 8 Classifieds . . . . . 11 Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Crossword . . . . . . 14 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14

INSIDE

The Blaine school district has seen a decrease of 75 full-time students enrolled since October 2019. This school year started with 2,076 full-time students in September and then dropped 12 students in October, according to enrollment data. “Hopefully, we will pick up throughout the year and if we have the chance to have more classes in person, hopefully gain some significant enrollment,” said Amber Porter, executive director of finance and operations for the school district, during the October 26 school board meeting. Although all grades lost students, the biggest losses came from 11th grade with 26 fewer students compared to that cohort’s 10th grade class last October. Second grade had the second largest decline with 18 fewer students, and fifth grade trailed with 16 fewer than October 2019. This year’s kindergarten class has nine more students than last year, which is counter to public school trends statewide. Of the 32,200 full-time students statewide who didn’t enroll at the beginning of this year, the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) data shows about one-third were kindergarteners. Overall, this is a 3 percent yearto-year enrollment decrease, according to OSPI. District officials worry about the impact on enrollment-based funding, known as the prototypical school funding model, from the state legislature. The 2020-21 school budget anticipated 2,199 students enrolled but the October enrollment deficit was 135 full-time students. This means there is a projected revenue shortfall of over $2 million, Granger said. “The budget was healthy enough to cover core operating expenses and retain an ending fund balance meeting board policy,” Porter said in a statement to The Northern Light. “Once schools closed in the spring, the district restricted spending to ensure it could meet financial obligations through 2020-2021.” The last big budget cut to the school district was during the Great Recession in the 2000s, Porter said. The district reduced

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The Northern Light • November 12 - 18, 2020

s The city of Blaine’s new Blaine by the Sea tourism website.

Just Married!

Alison Raine and Ben Bohnson Alison and Ben made their heartfelt vows on Lopez Island, Saturday, Oct. 17th. It was a tiny celebration, but beautiful in every way! Alison is the daughter of Sandy and Jeff Raine of Point Roberts. Ben is the son of Sue Dunstone and Mike Bohnson, both of Blaine.

Congratulations to the newlyweds!!

Blaine launches new tourism website By Oliver Lazenby The city of Blaine updated its tourism marketing plan last year and just unveiled a key part of the updated strategy for attracting out of town visitors, blainebythesea.com. The new tourism website points the way toward things to see and do in Blaine, highlighting parks, trails, entertainment, restaurants, events and lodging options in Blaine. Blaine-based website and graphic design com(See Website, page 3)

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November 12 - 18, 2020 • thenorthernlight.com

Website ...

From page 2 pany Spoken Design created the site. Blaine Welcome Center manager Donna Raimey will be updating and posting new content on the site, according to a press release from the city. For now, the website looks dif-

ferent than it will after the pandemic, with fewer events than typically scheduled, and it focuses on attracting people from this side of the U.S./Canada border. The website going live marks the beginning of the city’s effort to brand Blaine as a seaside destination. The new Blaine by the Sea logo has appeared in several print ads promoting tourism in Blaine. The city hired communication

design company BounceBox SPC to update the Blaine Tourism Marketing and Development Plan in 2018. Together, the committee and BounceBox SPC developed a “brand” around Blaine’s seaside location. In addition to the website, the city also has Blaine by the Sea Instagram and Facebook pages. Learn more at Blainebythesea. com.

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BLAINE’S HOLIDAY MARKET BY THE SEA s Blaine Primary School teacher Linsey Pike plays a game with students waiting to be picked up from school.

Photo courtesy Lisa Moeller/Blaine school district

Enrollment ... From page 1

programs until several years after economic activity returned to normal, when lost staff and programs were reinstated. “In many years, maintenance level costs rise faster than the revenues that support them,” Porter said. “The district has made adjustments to programs to ensure we can continue operating.” Low bus ridership numbers due to remote education have put future funding in question. Last year, the school district received $1,277,837 in transportation funding, plus a one-time hold harmless payment of $123,909 that is not expected to recur, Porter said. In addition, the local levy brought in $5,504,328 and the state’s Learning Assistance Program (LAP) allotted $1,042,418 to the district. The school district phased in its third cohort of students, first through third graders split into two groups of hybrid learning, on November 1. Previously, it had phased in kindergarteners into hybrid learning and Point Roberts Primary School’s 11 students started class October 12. About 250 students are now in district buildings per week, Granger said. About 15 percent of families with students able to do in-person learning opted for their student to continue the semester online, Granger said. A request system will open in December for families who want to change from online to hybrid learning at the beginning of the second semester in January. The district first opened its doors to about 40 life skills and preschool students on

September 21. All elementary school students could be phased in before the end of the semester if Covid-19 cases in the county don’t rise, Granger said. Middle school and high school could have sixth and ninth grades learning in the building by November 30, he added. Granger also worries about losing High Poverty LAP funding, which provided an additional $300,000 to Blaine’s primary and elementary schools. The funding

is allocated to schools that have over 50 percent of students on free and reduced meals. The free or reduced lunch eligibility has dropped from 49.2 percent on average per building to 44.7 percent, Porter said. Fewer students applied to the free and reduced meal program this year, which Granger believes is because the U.S. Department of Agriculture extended its free summer meal program until the end of the school year.

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The Northern Light • November 12 - 18, 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.

Flag raising at Peace Arch Park

Publisher & Managing Editor Patrick Grubb publisher@pointrobertspress.com Co-publisher & Advertising Director Louise Mugar lmugar@pointrobertspress.com Editor Oliver Lazenby oliver@pointrobertspress.com Reporter & Copy Editor Grace McCarthy grace@pointrobertspress.com

s The Washington State Patrol and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police raised the American and Canadian flags at the Peace Arch on November 10, 2020. The flags were raised back up after restoration work and painting of the Peace Arch over the summer and fall. The International Peace Arch Association is coordinating six flag raising ceremonies throughout the year to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Peace Arch’s dedication on September 6, 2021. Future flag raising ceremonies may be open to the public, depending on Covid-19 restrictions on gathering size. The International Peace Arch Association filmed the November 10 ceremony and plans to release video soon, said Christina Winkler, president of the International Peace Arch Association.

Reporting Intern Ian Haupt prpintern@pointrobertspress.com

Photo by Oliver Lazenby

Letters

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 Contributors In This Issue Doug Dahl

The Northern Light 225 Marine Drive, Suite 200, Blaine, WA 98230 Tel: 360/332-1777 Vol XXVI, No 22 Circulation: 10,500 copies

Circulation Independently verified by:

Next issue: Nov. 19 Ads due: Nov. 13

The Editor and Blaine residents: Have you visited the new Living Pantry on Peace Portal? My husband and I are delighted with this new store. They offer herbs and spices, skin lotions, shampoos, conditioners, liquid body soaps, dish soaps, oils, vinegars and honeys, all of which will be filled for you into your own clean jars, and oatmeal, flours, sugars, nuts, coffees and many other items in bulk, which will be dispensed into paper bags. Recycling is good, but re-using is even better. I enjoy not having a tub full of plastic and glass bottles for my dear husband to carry out to the sidewalk every other week. As soon as I have used up my current laundry liquid – in its big plastic container, I am planning to switch to their laundry soap pods – and will never have to recycle another hefty detergent jug. Welcome, Living Pantry. Thank you for giving each of us a means to simplify our lives and to do our bit to heal Earth. Angela Garvey Blaine The Editor: The holidays are coming. It makes me think with the pandemic bearing on all of us in one form or another, I would like to remind everyone that between now and January 2, 2021, we will be bringing a lot

of recyclables into our households and to spend a few extra minutes, if needed, sorting and separating as to recycle everything we can. In addition, with the holidays coming upon us, I suggest people don’t get in a hurry, take your time. Also, plan ahead if you can. Last minute planning could create last minute mistakes. Try to be extra focused on fraud and theft, above all on the road driving as I’ve noticed in previous months of the pandemic a percentage of drivers don’t seem to be as focused as they should. Let’s be courteous to our fellow drivers on the road and in parking lots. Don’t let your frustration, aggravation get to you. It’s not worth a fender bender, or worse. Also, be attentive to the number of pedestrians and bicyclists that will be out at this time of the year. It’s going to be a very different holiday season for all of us. Please wear your mask, sanitize your hands, try to give your friends and neighbors moral support if you think they need it. Let’s watch out for each other. Let’s make this holiday season safe as possible for everyone. Mark Knott Blaine The Editor: In July, the San Francisco Bay area helped California reach Covid-19 levels second only to New York. Today the same

area is down to a 0.8 virus level and open for business and jobs. How did they do it? In late July they passed masking requirements, fines for not covering and total lockdowns. As of August 21, cases started going down. Masks work. We are a consumer society, we need money to spend, jobs to produce what we want, entertainment, travel, donations and tithes for our churches. If you don’t care about the essential workers that make safety and convenience for all of us, wear a mask to save money spent on hospital care for the uninsured and the PPE required. If you don’t care about your neighbors, help keep our national debt from exploding as employment and businesses implode. If you don’t want to feel your liberty is challenged, make it possible to get back to work, travel and the recreation we want and need for mental and physical health. Tired of this pandemic? It will not go away, but we can manage it and get back to a new normal. Commit to total masking, cleaning and spacing – at least two months of total attention to combating the spread. We can do this, together. Donna Starr Blaine Please send letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.

November 12 - 18, 2020 • thenorthernlight.com

Hornets ... From page 1

is an estimate after some combs were damaged in the eradication. Three queens were found at the landowner’s home in a water bucket following the eradication. One male hornet was trapped near the nest and another male was found nearby, according to a WSDA blog. Between trapped hornets and the eradication, Spichiger said the state agency has captured 520 hornets this year. Not included in this count was a hornet found in Aldergrove, B.C. on November 7 and another in Abbotsford, B.C., on November 2. “Now that we have a better idea how to track and locate a nest, we can respond a little more efficiently moving forward,” Spichiger said. “If I told you we had 17 hits in 17 counties, I’d say the genie is out of the bottle but right now it’s just us and British Columbia so I’d say it’s a fairly contained event.” Although the hornets are still in their ‘slaughter’ phase when they are known to attack honeybee hives for protein, Spichiger said the agency has not heard reports of decimated hives this year. Whatcom County citizen trappers can keep their homemade traps up until Thanksgiving but should only report their findings

CITY OF BLAINE 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.

Thursday, November 12 9am – Park and Cemetery Board Thursday, November 12 6pm – Planning Commission Meeting *CANCELLED*

Monday, November 23 6:00pm – City Council Meeting Public Hearing (continued) – 2021 Budget Public Hearing

Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27 City Offices Closed – Thanksgiving

Thursday, November 26 6pm – Planning Commission Meeting *CANCELLED*

s WSDA entomologist Chris Looney pumps carbon dioxide before opening the Asian giant hornet nest on October 29 in a Washington State University lab in Puyallup.

Photo courtesy WSDA

Call (360) 332-8311 or visit our website.

if they find an Asian giant hornet, WSDA said. To report Asian giant hornet sightings, visit bit.ly/34akL4H. People without internet can also call the hotline, 800/4436684, but this will take longer

for WSDA staff to respond due to a heavy call volume. Beekeepers with hives under attack are urged to call the emergency line, 360/902-1880. For more information, visit agr.wa.gov/hornets.

Rules of the Road: Can you drive with parking lights on? Should you? By Doug Dahl Question: When I started driving in the early ’60s, parking lights were only to be used when the vehicle was stopped. Today, with driving lights and LEDs around the headlights, the distinction of parking/driving lights is blurred (in my opinion). How could someone distinguish if a newer car is driving with their parking lights on, or driving lights? Is it an issue? Or legal to drive with the parking lights on? Answer: This started as a “when” question, but it’s going to get, at least partly, a “where” answer. You mentioned that when you started driving in the early 1960s, parking lights were only for when your car was stopped. Given that I was conceived in the final month of 1969, I’m of no help by way of personal experience. Instead, I dug into the archives to see how our laws on parking lights have changed. As it turns out, not much. The chapter on lighting in a Revised Code of Washington from 1961 reads remarkably similar to our current law. I searched through both our current law and the archived version from 1961 and, on the topic of using parking lights while driving, came up empty-handed. I’ll acknowledge that it’s a lot easier to prove something is a violation of a law than prove that it’s not. If it’s a violation, I can show you the law. If I don’t think it’s a violation, there’s always this voice in the back of my head questioning whether it’s just because I haven’t looked in the right place yet. (The Revised Code of Wash-

All City offices are currently closed to the public. Contact information for staff and Councilmembers can be found on the City’s website.

ington is thick.) Washington law does address parking lights but, as far as I can tell, only while parked. If you drive in urban or suburban environments where the roads are lit by street lights, parking lights may seem pointless. But in places where visibility is poor at night, parking lights are meant to illuminate the corners of your vehicle when it’s parked on the side of the road so it doesn’t get hit by another driver who doesn’t see it. The law requires parking lights when a vehicle is parked along a roadway “outside an incorporated city or town” at night and “there is insufficient light to reveal any person or object within a distance of one thousand feet …” This might be one of the least observed traffic laws on the books. When is the last time you saw a car parked along a county road at night that actually had its parking lights on? But that doesn’t mean it’s not a good practice. If it’s dark and you’re parked somewhere where it might be hard to see your car, your parking lights can protect your car and other drivers. Given that it’s not illegal in Washington to drive with your parking lights on, there’s not a real need, at least from an enforcement perspective, to be able to differentiate between parking lights and driving lights. There are differences, but that’s a topic for another article. Even though Washington doesn’t (and didn’t) prohibit turning your parking lights on while driving, that doesn’t mean you’ve misremembered your early driving

experience. It likely just means you didn’t learn to drive in Washington. As an example, California’s current driving law plainly states, “No vehicle shall be driven at any time with the parking lamps lighted except when the lamps are being used as turn signal lamps or when the headlights are also lighted.” I do have one question for the people that drive with only their parking lights on: Why? I’m a fan of doing whatever you legally can to be seen, so if you’re turning that knob to light up your parking lights move it one more click and turn on your headlights, too. Doug Dahl is a manager with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, Region 11 and publishes TheWiseDrive.com.

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VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

THE CITY OF BLAINE IS CURRENTLY SEEKING MEMBERS FOR THE FOLLOWING BOARD, COMMITTEE, OR COMMISSION:

· Planning Commission (FOUR OPEN POSITIONS) · Park and Cemetery Board (ONE OPEN POSITION) · Public Works Advisory Committee (TWO OPEN POSITIONS)

· Blaine Tourism Advisory Committee

(ONE OPEN POSITION; MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE LODGING INDUSTRY) If you are interested in serving on a board or commission, applications and descriptions of duties are available online at www.cityofblaine.com. Positions will remain open until filled.

Thank you for supporting local journalism. What some people have written: “We live near Seattle but our cabin is on Birch Bay Drive. Love our beach community and always look forward to reading The Northern Light. Glad to help support!” - Eric and Kim Nelson

This week’s supporters: Rhiannon Allen • Kelsy Hartmann Bryan Jones • Anne Morris Eric & Kim Nelson • Amy & Gene Quinn Cynthia & Ian Thompson

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The Northern Light • November 12 - 18, 2020

Scientists wrap up trapping season, catching 253 invasive green crab By Grace McCarthy Washington scientists finished the first full season of European green crab trapping, leaving mid-October after trapping 253 of the invasive crab in Drayton Harbor. “We knew there were quite a few but once we reached over 200 we realized this was a lot more than we were expecting,” said Allie Simpson, ecosystem project coordinator for Northwest Straits Commission. Drayton Harbor was labeled a hotspot for the invasive crab in fall 2019 after trapping worried scientists about the crab’s

effect on the ecosystem with the Dungeness crab, oyster and clam populations. “We’re building a picture of where green crabs are coming from in places like Drayton Harbor, Skagit and Whatcom county,” said Emily Grason, a marine ecologist with Washington Sea Grant marine research program at the University of Washington “It’s a complex picture that they might be coming from multiple places so we’re still tracking that information to learn how we can use it to manage green crabs to reduce spread and infestation.” This year’s trap rate was roughly eight crabs removed for every

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100 traps, said Chelsey Buffington, European green crab lead for Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). This data will eventually compare trapping locations in Washington, Buffington said. WDFW partnered with the Northwest Straits Commission and Washington Sea Grant, a marine research program at the University of Washington, to trap in Drayton Harbor this year. The week of September 14-18 had the season’s highest trapping numbers with 58 green crabs removed from 171 traps, Buffington said. The scientists trapped 34 European green crabs in 302 traps during their last week of trapping that ended October 16. “That number is higher than most other sites in the Salish Sea where we have been trapping,” said Grason, speaking to the overall numbers this year. “For reference, Dungeness Spit, which in the past we would have considered our hot spot within the Salish Sea, captured only three European green crabs this year.” However, Grason said it’s good news that the average capture rate was roughly in line with last year. “Obviously we want that capture rate to go down but the fact that it didn’t explode in the first year or two is actually very promising news,” Grason said. “To me this is a hopeful sign that we have the potential to be effective in Drayton Harbor.” Other areas of concern in Whatcom and Skagit counties include Lummi Bay, where green crab numbers surpass Drayton Harbor and Samish Bay in Skagit County, where about 100 crabs were found, Grason said. In early September, the scientists started seeing an increase in younger crabs that had recently hatched and were the size to catch in traps.

“We were expecting it but we didn’t want to see it,” said Simpson, who noted an even split in young crabs versus older crabs. The scientists predicted seeing younger crabs this year after they emerged in fall 2019. The scientists trapped at four core sites near the Blaine marina, the old Cherry Street pier, the small creek between Dakota and California creeks and the mouth of California Creek. In addition to the core sights checked every other week, scientists set prospecting traps throughout Drayton Harbor. “You can trap in one location but you want to go out there and see what’s going on in other locations,” Buffington said. Scientists caught one crab in the mouth of Terrell Creek after they dedicated a week to setting 50 traps in Birch Bay. Semiahmoo yielded no captures during prospective trapping. “We identified a few hotspots, as well as confirming our best guess that green crabs aren’t necessarily found everywhere in Drayton Harbor,” Grason said. “We thought that was likely to be the case but you need to be looking in those areas to verify that estimate is accurate.” In all, 3,222 traps were set this year in Drayton Harbor, Buffington said. As for the next steps, the organizations will analyze the data to help inform next year’s trapping that will likely include focused trapping in Dakota Creek, where a higher population of crabs were found. Buffington said the group didn’t have the funds to do a bay-wide assessment this year but plans to trap in deeper waters next year. The project is funded through June 2021 but the organizations are working to secure funding past that date.

“In order to effectively manage the effort it’s going to take a little bit more money than what the state has so far been able to allocate,” Grason said. “We’re hopeful, but we know this is a tough budgeting year for everybody in the state so it’s still very uncertain.” The trapping season ends in the fall because low tides occur at night, which makes trapping in muddy terrain more difficult and creates a safety concern for the scientists who walk into the water, Simpson said. The crabs also burrow themselves during the winter, making it hard to catch them in the traps. “I suspect we’ll be catching some next year,” said Buffington, quickly adding, “But hopefully we won’t catch that many.” European green crabs can be confused with native species, according to the Washington Sea Grant website. The adults are smaller than a Dungeness crab, with 3-inch wide shells, and can vary in color. Five spines outside of the eye help differentiate the crab. If you believe you’ve seen a European green crab or shell, photograph different angles of the crab with a reference to show the crab’s size. It is illegal to possess a green crab in Washington because they are a prohibited level 1 species so leave it where it’s found. Email photos and location information, or geographic coordinates, to crabteam@uw.edu. Landowners willing to allow scientists trap on their property next year can contact Allie Simpson at simpson@nwstraits.org (And for those curious, Washingtonians are unable to eat the crab due to the illegality of having them in your possession. Buffington said they have been eaten on the East Coast but their small size doesn’t provide much meat.)

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s From l.: Malise Yun from the Washington Conservation Corps and Lindsey Parker from WDFW inspecting traps in Drayton Harbor.

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November 12 - 18, 2020 • thenorthernlight.com

Kids serving coffee at Birch Bay through job training program

s From l.: Shekinah Bowers, Lori Morrison and Micah Theragood start a coffee order at The Bridge Coffee Bar. Youth started serving coffee at the Bridge Hope Community Center in Birch Bay on November 4. Photo by Grace McCarthy

By Grace McCarthy Young volunteers at the Bridge Community Hope Center started serving coffee to the Birch Bay community on November 4. Bridge volunteers began a training program at the beginning of October to teach teenagers handson professional development for future jobs. After a month of learning to steam milk and handle cash, the 16 volunteers are now serving community members at The Bridge Coffee Bar, located within the community center at 4815 Alderson Road. The teenagers serve everything from $1 coffee and tea to $3 mocha and caramel macchiato in 12 ounce cups, or 16 ounce for 2550 cents more, depending on the drink. Lori Morrison is one of two baristas who trains the volunteers in pairs during two-hour sessions on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays every week. “They all impress me because

they’ve done it so well,” Morrison said. “Pretty much off the bat, all of them did amazing. They’re quick learners.” Morrison said the coffee bar was slammed with orders the weekend before the youth were slated to start on-the-job training, but the trainees stepped into their new roles and made 15 orders. “They just stepped in and did it,” she said. The café gives community members the opportunity to learn more about the Bridge’s center, which also provides food distribution, a boutique for residents with financial constraints, and amenities for remote learning, Morrison said. Drinks can be ordered to-go or patrons can relax at the tables and couches in the café’s indoor seating. Shekinah Bowers, an 18-yearold Blaine resident who attends Bellingham Technical College, said the program has created a comfortable work environment as she works to overcome anxiety in

s The Bridge Community Hope Center volunteers, including kids in the Bridge Coffee Bar program. Photo by Grace McCarthy

a job setting. “It’s mostly the mind part that has been the most valuable part for me and how to keep myself calm with my anxiety to actually have a job in the future,” Bowers said. Bowers and Micah Theragood, a 13-year-old trainee, said their favorite part was learning how to make their favorite Starbucks drinks. “I thought it would be cool for my first job when I actually got old enough to work at Starbucks or Woods, it would be a good idea to do this,” Theragood said. The young baristas said the most popular drinks are milkshakes for adolescents and Americanos for adults. “When they’re buying from us, it’s not like they’re buying from Starbucks or a Woods,” Bowers

said. “It’s buying from youth who are learning.” Bowers said there are still some drinks she’s learning to make so she’ll ask Morrison for advice. “It’s my coffee bar and I’m just showing them how to run it,” said Morrison, who added there will always be an adult supervising. “Now the youth are going to make the drinks, and I’ll sit back and make sure they’ll make them right.” Theragood said his favorite memory has been hanging out with friends while learning new skills, while Bowers has enjoyed getting to know customers and hearing about their days. Bowers said she’s seen customers who are hesitant to try the coffee, but are happily surprised with the end result.

“They could be doing so many other things but they’ve chosen to come here and serve,” said Rosemary Connors, executive assistant to the director at The Bridge Community Hope Center. “It blesses my heart.” The coffee bar is open 2-5 p.m. Wednesdays, 2:30-4 p.m. Thursdays, 1-5 p.m. Fridays and 1-4 p.m. Saturdays. For more info, visit thebridgehope.com.

Combination Meals

Covid-19 in Whatcom County by school district recent two week case rates and cumulative counts By Oliver Lazenby As of November 9, Whatcom County has had a total of 1,737 confirmed cases of Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic and 52 deaths, according to the Washington State Department of Health. One hundred of those

cases were diagnosed in the past week and one person with the virus died in the past week. The Ferndale school district had the highest rate of new cases in the past two weeks, with 135 per 100,000 people. Blaine had a rate of 40 per 100,000 in that period. In total, 116 people have

been hospitalized with the virus in Whatcom County and seven in the past week. Washington state has had 120,011 total confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic, with 10,000 of those coming in the past week – about double the rate of new cases from the pre-

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The Northern Light • November 12 - 18, 2020

Active S eniors

PeaceHealth earns top rating for cardiothoracic surgery program PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham earned a three-star rating from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons for its patient care and outcomes in cardiothoracic surgery, the healthcare provider announced in a press release. The three-star rat-

ing is the highest that The Society of Thoracic Surgeons awards. The Foundation of Health Care Quality and Cardiac Care Outcomes Assessment Program also recently recognized PeaceHealth’s cardiothoracic surgery program as a top-performing program in

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keeping our community sanitized from the common flu virus way before Covid hit. Now seven months into this we are proud to say we are Covid Free. We are using a state-of-the-art sanitizing system 2 times or more a day. We are taking resident and staff temperatures daily and we are installing a hospital grade ventilation system. This technology will purify the incoming air to kill 99.4% of Larry MacDonald all COVID19. Not only does it kill the coronavirus, but Executive Director also norovirus, the flu, and other bacteria. This allows us to keep the community open and provide social 2818 Old Fairhaven Parkway activities for our residents. Bellingham, WA 98225 Being social is hard-wired into our brains, 360-671-6060 and when we don’t meet that need, it can have physical and neurological effects One important first step is recognizing in those feelings of loneliness, isolation 0 0 . 0 0 $40 ber and depression and finding a solution. Novem Our seniors at Solstice Senior Living have plenty of opportunities to interact and stay socially active through our many daily socially distanced activities. Give us a call to see how we can help bring social interaction back into your life or the life of a loved one.

July, according to a press release from PeaceHealth. “Achieving the best possible patient outcomes can be a challenge for cardiothoracic surgery programs around the country due to the complexity of the surgery, and the stretch goal of a three-star quality award ranking is an incredible accomplishment that puts PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in the top decile among reporting health care organizations,” said Paul Connor, medical director of Cardiovas-

cular Services at PeaceHealth St. Joseph. “This superior rating reflects the world-class expertise and collaboration of our cardiac surgery team.” The Society of Thoracic Surgeons ratings are calculated using a combination of metrics for specific procedures. PeaceHealth, in the press release, calls the ratings “one of the most sophisticated and highly regarded overall measures of quality in health care.” Thoracic surgery includes surgery for tumors and other diseas-

es of the lung and thorax area, according to PeaceHealth’s website. Cardiac surgery includes coronary artery bypass surgery, heart valve replacement and repair, surgery for arrhythmias (problems with the heartbeat’s rate or rhythm) and transmyocardial laser revascularization, a procedure that improves the flow of oxygen to the heart. For more information about PeaceHealth’s cardiothoracic surgery program, visit bit.ly/3eMXCbS.

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s The sardiothoracic surgery team completes a procedure in a PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center operating room. Photo by courtesy of PeaceHealth

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November 12 - 18, 2020 • thenorthernlight.com

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s The safest option for the holidays is to celebrate with only those in your household.

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The Northern Light • November 12 - 18, 2020

Active S eniors Gatherings ...

From page 9 and perhaps launch some new traditions.” Having small dinners, making traditional family recipes and delivering food to neighbors are

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guests and be mindful of children. • Ask guests to fully quarantine or limit social interactions for 14 days prior to the holiday gathering. • Let guests know what to expect and encourage them to wear a mask and spread out. • Ask guests to take their temperature before arriving and to remain home if they have a fever, cough, shortness of breath or other symptoms. • Have a plan for food and let guests know ahead of time (for instance, it’s safest if guests bring their own food. If they want to share, have individual servings and utensils). • Clean thoroughly before and after. The health department also recommends that people who plan to travel monitor the status of Covid-19 at their destination, in addition to avoiding close contact with others, wearing a mask and frequently washing hands. Those traveling should also consider quarantining for up to two weeks after returning home, the health department said. New Covid-19 cases tend to increase after holidays and on

November 9, nine days after Halloween, case counts were on the rise, Lautenbach said in a press briefing. “We know we have at least 20 new cases today alone,” she said. “We’re hoping that this isn’t part of a fall surge, but increasing case counts have certainly been a trend around the state and the country.” The rate of new Covid-19 cases increased throughout much of Washington state throughout October, but Whatcom County’s rate of new cases remained relatively stable last month, according to data from the Washington State Department of Health. New cases in Whatcom County began increasing around November 1. Currently, more than half of people testing positive for Covid-19 seem to be catching it from other people in their household and about 28 percent of new cases are exposed to the virus at a social gathering, Lautenbach said. About one in three new cases comes from an exposure outside the county. “It’s just an important reminder that as we travel to other places and as we visit family the virus can cross borders with us,” she said. Across the state, Covid-19 is

“We’re hoping that this isn’t part of a fall surge, but increasing case counts have certainly been a trend.” spreading rapidly, the Washington State Department of Health said in a November 10 press release. The agency estimates that Covid-19 currently has a reproductive number of 1.3 in Western Washington, meaning that each Covid-19 patient infects an average of 1.3 people, and 1.4 in eastern Washington. That number must be less than one to slow the spread. The state Department of Health recommends that people who want to visit family for Thanksgiving limit themselves to only the most essential activities now and “essentially quarantine for two weeks before even a small outdoor gathering.”

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The Northern Light • November 12 - 18, 2020

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This 900 SF 2 BD, 1.5 BA unit is nestled in the quiet setting of beautifully landscaped grounds. Enjoy the back deck for quiet morning coffee or private dinners and the front deck for basking in the sunshine. Features of this condo include wood floors, wall to wall carpet and stainless steel appliances. Enjoy as your primary residence or weekend get-away! A rare find - don’t miss out on making this your new home!

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All realestate/rentals estate/rentals All real adver-advertising tisingininthis thisnewspaper newspaper isis subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act subject to the Federal Fair ofHousing 1968 Act as amended, makes of 1968 as which amended, which it illegal tomakes advertise preference, limitation or disit illegalany to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race,religion, crimination based on race, color, color,handicap, religion, sex,familial handicapstatus familialorstatus sex, national orior national origin, or antointention make gin, or an intention make to any such prefany such limitation preference, limitation or discrimerence, or discrimination. This ination. This newspaper will not knowingly newspaper will not knowingly accept any accept any advertisement for realwhich estate is in viadvertisement for real estate which isofinthe violation thereaders law. Our readers olation law.ofOur are hereby inare hereby informed that all dwellings ad- in this formed that all dwellings advertised vertised in thisare newspaper areon available on oppornewspaper available an equal an equal opportunity basis. To complain of tunity basis. To complain of discrimination, discrimination, call HUD toll-free at 1-800call HUD toll-free at 1-800-877-0246.

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FROM THE PROS

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Second week of every month

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Location, Location!

Active Seniors

OPEN HOUSE SUN. 1-2:30

Developer could be your General contractor. Birch Bay Village Rare Pond home site with plan work done, ready to build. ADA compliant, one level home / no steps, 14 ft ceilings living rm, 9 ft. rest of the home. Coffered ceilings in master with en-suite. Exposed beams in living, dining and kitchen. 8 ft. doors. Interior trim vertical grain Douglas fir. Hardy siding and shingles. Double sided natural gas fireplace raised hearth surround finished in slate. Many upgrades to mention 24/7 security.

Remodeled Ocean view turn-key Beach Home with panoramic view. 82 feet of deeded private beach, and great sun exposure, on large 19,948 sq. ft. home site. 2150 sq. ft. with 650 sq. ft. unfinished workshop area at the garden level. Features 2 bedrooms, office/den, great room, kitchen, utility room, wall of windows and access to 600 sq. ft deck area with natural gas fireplace. 650 sq. ft Bedroom suite at the garden level includes kitchen, laundry and 3/4 bath. Enjoy new Birch Bay Berm!

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SUDDEN VALLEY PERFECTION!

8146 Skeena Way • Blaine $125,000 MLS # 1594328

8284 Shintaffer Rd. • Blaine $749,000 MLS #1668032 • 3-BD, 3-BA, 2,150 Sq. Ft.

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Rentals - Commercial

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With Waterfront Views of Blaine Harbor

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November 12 - 18, 2020 • thenorthernlight.com

RECENT HOUSE & LOT PRICES

Blaine, Birch Bay & Point Roberts

OBITUARIES

OCTOBER 2020

LOCATION

SALE PRICE

4423 Castlerock Drive, Blaine

$618,000

Unit #2E, Beachwalker Villas Condominiums, 9495 Semiahmoo Pkwy, Blaine

$710,000

7909 W. Golf Course Drive, Blaine

$680,000

1-story house with 1,853 SF, 1,832 SF basement, 3 BD, 3 BA, 860 SF attached garage, 702 SF patio, built in 2010, .35 acres land.

8850 Wood Duck Way, Blaine

$640,000

2-story new house with 1,898 SF, 3 BD, 3 BA, attached garage with bonus room above, built in 2020, .43 acres land.

4188 Pipeline Road, Blaine

$500,000

2-story house with 3,237 SF, 4 BD, 3 BA 528 SF attached garage, 612 SF patio, 900 SF rooftop patio, built in 2019, .21 acres land.

8112 Kispiox Road, Blaine

$599,900

1-story house with 2,211 SF, 2,191 SF basement, 3 BD, 6 BA, built in 2000, 662 SF attached garage, 1,134 SF, .50 acres land.

9129 Great Blue Heron Lane, Blaine

$1,495,000

1-story house with 2,637 SF, 1,613 SF basement, 2 BD, 3 BA, 851 SF attached garage, 324 SF deck, built in 2019, waterfront; marine and territorial view, .47 acres land.

5384 Night Heron Drive, Blaine

$1,500,000

1-story house with 1,264 SF, 3 BD, 2 BA, 1,440 SF attached garage, 752 SF patio, built in 2010, 5.05 acres wooded land.

9524 Sherwood Drive, Blaine

$640,000

2-story house with 3,192 SF, 5 BD, 3 BA, 722 SF attached garage, 125 SF deck, built in 2014, .20 acres land.

8693 Ashbury Court, Blaine

$609,000

1-story house with 2,267 SF, 734 SF basement, 3 BD, 4 BA, 666 SF built-in garage, 455 SF deck, built in 2000; marine and territorial view, .33 acres land.

5366 Canvasback Road, Blaine

$738,000

1-and a half story house with 4,796 SF, 5 BD, 6 baths, 1,574 SF attached garage, 1,980 SF patio, 360 SF deck, built in 2017, 5.73 acres wooded land.

9598 Sherwood Drive, Blaine

$1,368,000

New house, built in 2020, 5.00 acres land.

3234 H Street Road, Blaine

$547,369

1-and a half story house with 2,115 SF, 4 BD, 4 BA, 778 SF attached garage, 553 SF patio, 1,128 SF deck, 240 SF storage, built in 1981, waterfront; marine and territorial views, .65 acres land.

8033 Quinault Road, Blaine

$917,000

Condo with 1,267 SF, 2 BD, 3 BA, built in 2013, waterfront; marine view.

B106, Marin Condominiums, 9525 Semiahmoo Parkway, Blaine

$559,500

Condo with 1,206 SF, 2 BD, 3 BA, built in 2008, waterfront; marine view.

A206, Marin Condominiums, 9525 Semiahmoo Parkway, Blaine

$596,000

#10, Aerie Condominiums, 9140 Aerie Ln. Blaine

$840,000

2-story house with 1,946 SF, 1,001 SF basement, 4 BD, 4 BA, 240 SF attached garage, 313 SF deck, 435 SF balcony, built in 1992; marine and territorial views, .12 acres land.

7413 Jackson Road, Blaine

$542,000

1-story house with 1,607 SF, 3 BD, 2 BA, 506 SF detached garage, 622 SF deck, built in 1996, .53 acres land.

9136 Mallard Road, Blaine

$537,400

1-story house with 2,681 SF, 3 BD, 2 BA, attached garage, built in 2020; marine and territorial view, .23 acres land.

5482 Wood Duck Loop, Blaine

$859,950

DESCRIPTION UPPER END HOUSES ABOVE $500,000: 2-story house with 2,964 SF, 3 BD, 4 BA, 689 SF attached garage, built in 2005, .21 acres land. Condo with 1,523 SF, 2 BD, 2 BA, built in 1986, waterfront; marine and territorial view. 2-story house with 4,139 SF, 4 BD, 4 BA, 528 SF built-in garage, 558 SF deck, built 2007, .27 acres land.

Condo with 2,884 SF, 3 BD, 5 BA, built in 2005, waterfront; marine view.

Terrence Lee Harvey April 1, 1946-November 1, 2020 Terry passed away Sunday, November 1 at the Bellingham Hospice House. He had been a resident of Birch Bay for six years where he loved sailing his Hobi Bravo on the bay, riding his Vespa throughout the county, and flying kites and model airplanes at the beach. He painted the swans, penned cartoons, and danced the tango. In his professional life he managed investment funds, sold real estate, drove special needs students for Mukilteo, was a printer at Gonzaga University, and managed restaurants. He leaves behind his wife, Toni; two sons, Jeff and Jorn Harvey; daughter Molly Irish; grandson Gunner; sister Cat; and his loyal companion, Scout. A service for Terry will be held in the future. Memorials my be made to Hospice House of Whatcom County.

Paul Van Luven

October 4, 1949–October 30, 2020 Paul Van Luven, age 71, passed away Friday, Oct. 30, 2020 at his home in Blaine. Paul was a gentle and sweet man. He spent most of his life commercial fishing on his boat “Empress” which he was proud of. Paul loved his Irish Setters and the little reds they gave him joy. Paul is survived by his wife Lynne; nieces Anne and Karen; great nieces and nephews and may good friends. Services are pending due to the COVID virus. Please share your thoughts and memories of Paul online at www.sigsfuneralservices.com

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2-story house with 3,334 SF, 3 BD, 3 BA, 684 SF attached garage, 424 SF deck, built in 1996, waterfront; marine and territorial views, .47 acres land.

9138 Wigeon Court, Blaine

$1,055,000

B301, Marin Condominiums, 9525 Semiahmoo Parkway, Blaine

$590,000

5373 Plover Court, Blaine

$760,000

1-story house with 1,248 SF, 1,200 SF basement, 3 BD, 1 BA, 196 SF deck, 2,400 SF barn, 576 and 1,026 SF storage, built in 1949, 9.80 acres land.

4313 Bay Road, Blaine

$515,000

2-story house with 2,551 SF, 3 BD, 3 BA, 252 SF patio, 314 SF enclosed porch, 1,050 SF attached garage, 288 SF storage, built in 1974, 4.95 acres land.

4354 Arnie Road, Blaine

$635,000

Windshield Replacement

Condo with 1,514 SF, 2 BD, 3 BA, built in 2008, waterfront; marine view. 1-story house with 2,687 SF, 3 BD, 3 BA, attached garage, built in 2020; territorial view, .35 acres land.

BELLINGHAMFree Pick up & Delivery 1512 N. State St. •

Bellingham 360-734-3840

Rock Chip Repairs

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1721 E. College Way

To Our Canadian Friends

Formerly 1st Propane of Whatcom County

5418 Goldfinch Way, Blaine

$1,120,000

1-story house with 2,334 SF, 4 BD, 2 BA, 648 SF attached garage, 144 SF patio, built in 2002; territorial view, .24 acres land.

8231 Sehome Road, Blaine

$550,000

5195 Drayton Harbor Road, Blaine

$600,000

2-story house with 3,082 SF, 4 BD, 4 BA, 730 SF attached garage, built in 2005; territorial view, .33 acres land.

8656 Ashbury Court, Blaine

$685,000

2-story house with 2,028 SF, 4 BD, 3 BA, 308 SF detached garage, 260 SF deck, built in 2014; waterfront, marine view .19 acres land.

8256 Birch Bay Drive, Blaine

$639,900

1-story with 1,349 SF, 2 BD, 1 BA, 320 SF detached garage, 280 SF carport, 308 SF shop, 360 SF patio, built in 1960, remodeled in 2019, waterfront; marine view, .30 acres land.

6923 Holeman Avenue, Blaine

$899,900

5664 Whitehorn Way, Blaine

$260,000

Sunset Drive, Blaine

$225,000

.38 acres residential lot; marine and territorial views.

5434 Goldfinch Way, Blaine

$219,000

.30 acres residential lot.

56230 Sanderling Way, Blaine

$159,900

4.95 acres residential land.

2134 Benson Road, Pt Roberts

$265,000

LAND: .42 acres residential lot; marine view. 7.42 acres residential land.

Enjoy Huge Savings with U.S. Prices

Must present ad for special. Not valid with any other offers. Expires June 30, 2014.

1-story house with 2,030 SF, 1,739 SF basement 3 BD, 3 BA, 615 SF attached garage, 1,161 SF patio, built in 1996; marine and territorial view, .40 acres land.

1-story house with 1,176 SF, 1,176 SF basement, 4 BD, 2 BA, 644 SF attached garage, 203 SF deck, built in 1966; marine and territorial views, .66 acres land.

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360-392-0955

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The Northern Light: November 12-18, 2020

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