The Northern Light: January 7-13, 2021

January 7 - 13, 2021

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Middle and high school students return to buildings New Covid-19 reopening plan to group counties by hospitalizations

By Ian Haupt

s The first cohort of ninth grade students started their first day of classes at Blaine High School on January 6. See story on page 2.

Photo by Ian Haupt

2020 year in

REVIEW (Part 2)

July • The Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce held its annual Sand Sculpture Competition virtually through July to comply with social distancing. • Recent Borderite graduates held Blaine’s first Black Lives Matter rally on July 3. • Whatcom County officials, including sheriff Bill Elfo and health department director Erika Lautenbach, asked community members to stay away from Birch Bay for Fourth of July celebrations. During a Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce meeting discussing the unofficial event, community members voiced concern regarding Birch Bay’s older population.

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A look back at the year that was • Washington State Department of Agriculture set 600 Asian giant hornet traps, half of which were in Whatcom County.

The agency anticipated more hornet sightings in the summer and invited the public to hang homemade traps. • Whatcom County Library System began collecting personal experiences from Whatcom County residents about their pandemic experiences to document history. • Peace Arch Park flourished in the summer as Canadians and Americans met with family, friends and significant others in the neutral park. • City council approved east Blaine property development that will create 353 housing units, a 24,000-square-foot

(See Year in Review, page 3)

INSIDE

Governor Jay Inslee announced a new plan January 5 for reopening the economy from his Covid-19 restrictions that will go into effect on Monday, January 11, when the current restrictions are set to expire.

The governor’s “Healthy Washington� plan will allow regions to reopen when they meet four hospitalization and case data targets. Under the plan, state counties are combined into regions, which makes more sense from a public health perspective since many healthcare systems are regional, Inslee said in a January 5 press conference. Whatcom County is in the north region along with Skagit, San Juan and Island counties.

When the plan goes into effect January 11, all regions will be in phase 1 of the two-phase plan. Inslee said more phases will be added to the plan when it becomes clear that the state has reduced Covid-19 transmission “emphatically.�

To enter into phase 2, a region must meet the four targets: • 10 percent decreasing trend in case rates • 10 percent decrease in Covid-19 hospital admission rates • ICU occupancy rates lower than 90 percent • Test positivity rate lower than 10 percent The new phase 2 allows for indoor dining and indoor fitness centers at 25 percent capacity, sports competitions with limited spectators, and increased wedding and funeral capacity, the governor said.

There will not be any application process for regions to move into a new phase, he said. The region will automatically move into a new phase if they meet the required metrics, which will be collected and monitored by the Washington State Department of Health.

Some restrictions will be lifted January 11, such as live entertainment with tight capacity and certain fitness programs, Inslee said.

The governor first placed restrictions on indoor dining and other activities in mid-November, which were extended multiple times until January 11.

Coming Up . . . . . 14

Classifieds . . . . . . 11 Letters . . . . . . . . . . 4 Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14

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The Northern Light • January 7 - 13, 2021

First group of older students have returned to school

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The first group of Blaine middle school students and high school freshman returned to the classroom January 6, after superintendent Christopher Granger announced grades 6-12 students would start hybrid learning after winter break. With grades 1012 returning Monday, January 11, all grade levels will be on a hybrid-learning schedule next week.

“I think it’s great, anytime we can get students learning face-toface with instructors,” Granger said about getting students back into the classroom.

The decision to get students back into the classroom followed the release of new Covid-19 recommendations from the governor’s office for the safe re-opening

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of schools.

The school district will continue to follow Covid-19 protocols proven to work with grades K-5, Granger said. All elementary school students have been on a hybrid-learning schedule since November 23.

While the Blaine school district has not had a positive Covid-19 case in schools yet, Granger stressed in a January 4 community Q&A the importance of students and their families cooperating with tracing transmission if Covid-19 is present in schools.

The school district will conduct its own contact tracing with the help of the county health department when a positive case arises.

The new metrics announced by governor Jay Inslee and superintendent of public instruction Chris Reykdal along with guidance from the Washington State Department of Health are based off recent data that shows limited Covid-19 transmission in school environments when state and health safety protocols are implemented.

“State, national and international research conducted on schools that are providing in-person learning has shown that, for the most part, schools are not centers of transmission for COVID-19 infections, and detected transmission within schools tends to occur only on a limited basis if schools implement rigorous health and safety protocols,” the governor’s proclamation states.

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with revised metrics by the department of health recommends school districts start phasing in middle and high school students when county case rates are below 200 cases per 100,000 people for the past two weeks.

As of January 4, Whatcom County had a two-week case rate of 161.1 per 100,000.

If the case rate goes above 200, Granger said students would continue hybrid learning while the school district communicates with the county health department.

“Those are not hard numbers,” Granger said about the department of health’s guidance.

The school district has daily health screenings for all students, which can be completed in Skyward, a K-12 student information system, along with physical distancing and mask wearing protocols. Meal times have also been cut out of the schedule in order to limit times when it is necessary for students to remove their masks.

Granger asked students who feel ill to stay home and communicate with their teachers and school office so they can be included in online learning for days when they are scheduled to be in the classroom.

Students who have requested to return to in-person learning should receive an email by Monday, January 13, Granger said. All students who sent in a request by the December 10 deadline will return to hybrid learning in the second semester beginning January 25, but the school district is still

working on assigning groups for those students, which is why they weren’t notified by January 4.

Students who moved to online-only that are returning to hybrid learning may receive a different group assignment, but Granger said the district is working to get students back into their previous group assignments.

Bus routes have been modified to account for additional students who will be returning to in-person learning.

Granger said the school district has recalled the majority of staff that was furloughed in August and later laid off on November 1. All bus drivers and classroom support staff that were available have been brought back except for two remaining positions.

Both individuals have been contacted, he said. These positions were not brought back because of hybrid and remote learning.

Granger said the school district would work to incorporate those individuals into its plans for next school year.

No meals will be provided during school. Meals can be picked up every Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. in the parking lot behind the grandstands. For those in Point Roberts, email Amber Porter at aporter@blainesd.org to be added to list of meals that will be delivered to the Point.

As for extracurricular activities and sports, Granger said he is expecting new guidance from the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association by the end of the week.

Blaine school district

By Christopher Granger, Although this year has been hard for so many, and for so many reasons, we at Blaine school district are choosing to see this year as the one when people worked harder than ever to do what they could for one another and for the learners in our community. The way the events of this year have marred public education and our children is not lost on us, yet we believe that to keep moving forward with the best of intentions, to continue to work hard and to work together, to think outside the box and find creative solutions to problems none of us have ever encountered before, is the way out of this darkness.

superintendent

We know this last year has been hard in ways none of us could have ever imagined, and for many of our families the holiday season makes it even more difficult. We want to encourage you to reach out to our school’s counselors and our Family Service Center.

You can email the Family Service Center at fsc@blainesd.org or call at 360/332-0740.

On behalf of the board of directors and the entire Blaine school district staff, we would like to take this opportunity to thank the collective communities of Point Roberts, Birch Bay and Blaine for your support in making great things happen for all students.

Blaine city council applications due January 15 The deadline to apply for the at-large city council seat nears as applications are due no later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday, January 15.

Applications will remain open until filled.

The city is seeking to fill former councilmember Alicia Rule’s spot following her resignation, which she did to focus on her new role as 42nd Legislative District Posi-

tion 1 representative.

The city has received eight applications since they opened December 8, but one person withdrew, Sam Crawford, city clerk and assistant to the city manager, said in an email to The Northern Light.

Blaine City Council meetings (See Application, page 5)

January 7 - 13, 2021 • thenorthernlight.com

Year in Review ...

From page 1

neighborhood commercial center, park site and playground.

The developer, East Maple Ridge LLC, asked council to approve 88.45 acres north of H Street, east of Jerome Street and west of Harvey Road.

• The county’s first low-barrier Covid-19 testing site opened on July 10, allowing residents to get tested without referral from a healthcare provider. The drivethrough testing site operated at the Civic Field Athletic Complex.

• County council passed a resolution on July 7 that required unrepresented county employees, including those in the health department, to take 32 hours of unpaid leave by September 12 (people who spent 80 percent of their job with Covid-19 work had until the end of the year to take the time off). The county expected this to save $306,160.

• Blaine school district officially announced on July 8 it would start the school year in hybrid learning, with students alternating weekly between in-person

learning and online school.

• The city of Blaine added a dining area, fitted with tables and chairs, to the G Street plaza for people to eat takeout food from nearby restaurants.

• Blaine police chief Donnell Tanksley suspended the use of the vascular neck restraint by Blaine officers amidst nationwide police use of force conversations.

Tanksley said the tactic would be withheld until further review.

• Blaine area businesses said they saw a majority of customers comply with the statewide mask mandates issued in late June and early July.

• County unemployment continued to decrease since the start of the pandemic. In June, county unemployment was 10.5, a decrease from 15.6 in May and 17.7 percent in April. County unemployment was 4.1 percent in March.

• Governor Jay Inslee announced an indefinite pause on counties advancing in the state’s Safe Start phased reopening plan on July 28. This came after the governor introduced more restrictions to dining, like indoor seating being limited to people in the same households and bars closing by 10 p.m., among other

restrictions.

• Canadian authorities arrested a 28-year-old Blaine resident on July 20 in what officials said was one of the largest cross-border drug busts. Canadian authorities charged Zacchary Marcus Scott Hecock with allegedly attempting to smuggle 436 pounds of methamphetamine across 0 Avenue in an ATV and trailer.

• The Whatcom County Health Department and Whatcom Unified Command said it would no longer offer free, low-barrier Covd-19 testing at Civic Stadium in Bellingham due to unsustainable costs. The pilot project, which tested about 1,800 people in four days of drive-through and walk-up testing, cost approximately $126,000 and depended on over 50 volunteers each day, • The Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce hosted the first drivein movie at Birch Bay Waterslides on July 31. The event, which premiered with the movie Jurassic Park, continued into October.

August • An estimated 36 percent of eligible Whatcom County voters submitted ballots in the August 4 primary election.

• Beach Cat Brewing opened its doors and started serving craft

Investigation continues on derailment

By Grace McCarthy Investigators say they still haven’t found an explanation for the Custer derailment that caused fires after 10 train cars carrying highly flammable crude oil overturned from tracks on December 22.

“We are still working with our partners to determine the cause of the accident and have not ruled anything out,” an FBI Seattle field office spokesperson said in a January 5 statement to The Northern Light.

The 108-car train was traveling from North Dakota to Ferndale when it derailed around 11:40 a.m. at the 7500 block of Portal Way, causing fires to burn until 8 p.m. that night. No injuries resulted from the derailment.

Christopher O’Neil, a National Transportation Safety Board

(NTSB) spokesperson, said his agency is only focused on investigating the performance of the DOT-117 tank cars involved in the derailment. These investigations look at things like the competence of people operating the train, equipment standards and the environment surrounding the accident.

“Our job is to understand how and why an accident happened to prevent it from happening again,” he said.

The agency doesn’t conduct criminal investigations or determine probable cause of an accident, O’Neil added. The NTSB has a memorandum of understanding with the FBI to also investigate if crime was involved.

An FBI spokesperson previously told The Northern Light that agents would leave an investigation if they determined no foul

play was involved. O’Neil said the same was true if his agency found foul play during its safety investigation.

It’s not uncommon for the NTSB, FBI and local law enforcement to work together, especially when collecting evidence, O’Neil said.

Concern about the cause of derailment arose because at least 41 shunts, which can cause derailment, have been placed on tracks in Whatcom and Skagit counties since January 2020, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Western Washington. Two Bellingham residents were arrested on November 28 for allegedly tampering with tracks in Bellingham.

O’Neil expects the NTSB’s preliminary report on the Custer derailment to be published within 30 to 90 days of the accident.

District judge orders release of CBP Iranian detention directive B y P a t G r u bb Along with other documents, a directive issued by Custom and Border Protection’s (CBP) Seattle Field Office to detain and question U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents crossing into the U.S. in early January was ordered released by chief judge Ricardo Martinez of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

The order, dated December 14, gave CBP 14 days to produce the documents to the plaintiff, The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Washington.

The existence of the document was first brought to the attention of the public by The Northern Light newspaper which published

a photocopy of the directive on January 29 and was subsequently picked up by national media including the New York Times, Associated Press, Washington Post and more. The Northern Light received the copy from local Blaine immigration attorney Len Saunders after a whistle-blower passed him a copy.

CBP had denied the existence of the directive for months and resisted its release on the grounds that it was exempt from disclosing law enforcement techniques or procedures. Martinez rejected that argument by saying the exemption did not apply due to the unlawful nature of the directive.

Other documents released included communications involving Adele Fasano, then-director

of the Seattle Field Office who was subsequently transferred to the Washington, D.C office. Fasano had disavowed knowledge of the directive or the subsequent detaining of travelers with Iranian background.

According to U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal, Fasano had told her in a February 4 meeting that she had only heard of the detainments through news reports. However, Fasano was both receiving and sending emails regarding enforcement actions at the border throughout the weekend of January 4-5.

Washington D.C. headquarters had instructed all field officers to report on enforcement activities following the U.S. assassination of a top Iranian general.

beer on August 6. The Birch Bay Drive establishment was expected to be the county’s smallest brewery.

• The first annual Chalk Up the Town with Hope event started August 17. The event, hosted by Birch Bay-Blaine Thrives, allowed community members to write positive messages around the school district’s courtyard and the Blaine Boys and Girls clubhouse.

• A Bellingham man was booked into Whatcom County Jail on second-degree burglary after allegedly breaking into the C Shop to steal two pounds of sour patch kids, and a handful of taffys and truffles.

• The Blaine school board voted on August 8 to start school in remote learning after the Whatcom County Health Department recommended to superintendents on August 4 that districts not start in hybrid learning.

• Governor Jay Inslee issued an August 12 phased reopening plan for long-term care facilities.

• Two Asian giant hornet sightings on August 18 and August 19 brought the total count of hornet detections in the state to nine.

• Recreational crabbing season was delayed from August 13 to August 20 after the Washington

3

Department of Fish and Wildlife found about 40 percent of Dungeness crab shells hadn’t hardened after molting. Crabs can suffer from a high mortality rate if their shell isn’t hardened when they are handled.

• Nimbus Real Estate and Wild Bird Charity hosted the first American Graffiti Auto Show on August 22, featuring eye-catching cars like a1960 Rolls Royce and 1979 El Camino.

• Picnic with a Purpose, a drivethrough cookout at senior centers across the county including Blaine, replaced the annual Senior Day in the Park picnic.

• The Washington State Department of Agriculture announced the first male Asian giant hornet in the U.S. was trapped on July 29 in Custer.

• The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office launched an interactive crime dashboard online that organizes criminal activity in Birch Bay and seven other unincorporated areas of Whatcom County.

• The Boys and Girls Clubs of Whatcom County offered distance learning assistance and licensed daycare at several sites in the county, to support parents as (See Year in Review, page 15)

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The Northern Light • January 7 - 13, 2021

Opinion

The Northern L ght The Northern Light is published weekly

by Point Roberts Press Inc. Locally owned and managed, the company also publishes the All Point Bulletin, covering Point Roberts, Mount Baker Experience, covering the Mt. Baker foothills area, Pacific Coast Weddings annual guide, and the summer recreation guide Waterside as well as maps and other publications.

Point Roberts Press Inc. is a member of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association, Chambers of Commerce of Bellingham/ Whatcom County, Birch Bay, Blaine and Point Roberts and the Bellingham/ Whatcom County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors.

Letters Policy The Northern Light welcomes letters to the editor. Please include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters are limited to 350 words and may be edited or rejected for reasons of legality, length and good taste.

Thank-you letters are limited to five individuals or groups. Writers should avoid personal invective. Unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Requests for withholding names will be considered on an individual basis. Consumer complaints should be submitted directly to the business in question or the local chamber of commerce. Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published. Email letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com.

Publisher & Managing Editor Patrick Grubb publisher@pointrobertspress.com Co-publisher & Advertising Director Louise Mugar lmugar@pointrobertspress.com Editor Grace McCarthy grace@pointrobertspress.com Reporter Ian Haupt ian@pointrobertspress.com Reporting Intern Conor Wilson 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

FOBBL raised $20,000 in 2020 fundraising

s Friends of Birch Bay Library (FOBBL) presented a $20,000 check to the Whatcom County Library Foundation and Whatcom County Library System on December 28 to fund the future Birch Bay library. The nonprofit’s president Dianne Marrs-Smith said the organization now has close to $180,000, but will need $3.5 million to build the library. The past year’s fundraising was one of the group’s best, she said, because they were forced to get creative with how they raised money. “We did very well this year in light of all the restrictions,” Marrs-Smith said. From l; Wendy McLeod, Michael Cox, Doralee Booth, Christine Perkins, Brian Bell, Dianne Marrs-Smith, Ruth Higgins, Peter Young, Jennifer Rick, Connie Taylor, Sharman Burnam, Keith Alesse and Saara Kuure.

Photo courtesy Brittney Marrs-Smith

Letters The Editor: It was a real pleasure to see in last week’s issue of The Northern Light the full-page advertisement highlighting the dozens and dozens of local properties sold by Jen Freeman and Leah Crews of Windermere Properties during 2020, and to realize what hard-working, helpful women they are, even during the most bizarre year in human history.

In 2008, Jen Freeman helped us coordinate the efforts to sell our house at the top of H Street hill where we had lived nearly 20 years (since 1989) and purchase a new home in Birch Bay. Jen also gave us great advice and service when we purchased another new house in Birch Bay as a rental property.

Jen has that rare commodity of “a servant’s heart”– she helps people buy and sell homes that really will suit their families, and knows how to overcome problems and smooth the way through difficulties. Her knowledge of Blaine and Whatcom County has made her real estate career brilliant; she is well respected by her peers and much appreciated by her customers. I say she is the best realtor in all of Whatcom County and a great asset to Blaine, but I’m prejudiced: She is our daughter.

Jeanne Halsey Blaine The Editor: Do you make New Year’s resolutions? If you did for 2020 New Year’s, and they did

not last – have heart. You can redo them for 2021 New Year’s. Then you can make an upgrade on Thursday, January 14 (Orthodox New Year). Your last chance is Friday, February 12 (Chinese New Year).

Then it is good luck friend. You’re on your own for the next 12 months.

E.M. Erickson Blaine The Editor: The Blaine and Birch Bay community Toy Store leadership team would like to say a huge thank you for the outpouring of love and support this community showed to our local families in need of holiday gift assistance.

Approximately 800 toys and 165 gift cards were donated this year, in addition to over $6,000 in monetary donations. This allowed us to help the parents of over 300 children from 120 families provide gifts for their children. The parents were amazed and so grateful for the large variety of high-quality gifts they were able to choose from, and I’m sure there were a lot of very happy children on Christmas morning.

This year’s shopping proceeds, which totaled $4,067, will be shared with the Wildbird Charity Weekend Food Backpack program and the Bridge Community Hope Center Emergency Assistance Fund in Birch Bay. Through the work of these organizations, your donations will have an impact on families in the community throughout the year ahead. Thank you for

making all this possible. A big thanks also goes to all our volunteers. We couldn’t do this without you.

Laura Vogee, Blaine and Birch Bay Community Toy Store director Blaine The Editor: Pete Werner’s December 10 letter questioned the accuracy of reporting Covid-19 deaths. The best response to Covid-19 requires sound data predicated on morbidity and mortality statistics. Complex statistical analysis warrants skepticism and diverse perspectives. Vigorous debates about accuracy of Covid-19 numbers can help explain medical and scientific truths.

Looking at Covid-19 deaths, remember, dying with coronavirus is not the same as dying from coronavirus.

Common sense makes it difficult to imagine why it’s OK for athletes to wrestle yet prohibit them from shaking hands.

Any wonder we question restrictions promulgated by government?

On December 10, Washington State Department of Health announced two modifications in how it reports Covid-19 deaths.

The immediate change is a reduction of over 7 percent in the number of deaths.

Based on January 4 data, Washington ranks (per 100,000 population): • Tied for eighth lowest in deaths in last seven days (See Letters, next page)

Revision

Vol XXVI, No 29 Circulation: 10,500 copies

Circulation Independently verified by:

The case counts that were shown in last week’s Covid-19 update were incorrect as provided by Whatcom Unified Command.

When queried by The Northern Light on the morning of December 31, the following response was given:

Next issue: Jan. 14 Ads due: Jan. 8

Thank you for your questions. This issue was recently brought to our attention.

We investigated and discovered that the case rates and cumulative totals do not match. This morning, we corrected the vi-

sualizations for this geography data on our COVID data webpage. What went wrong?

• In completing the school district visualization updates for this week, we neglected to shift the date range for the cumulative counts, though we did so for the case rates. This is possible because the two data points are derived from different data tables.

• This means that small number of changes in cumulative counts were due to additional data input/cleaning for the week

through 12/19/2020, but did not reflect data for the week ending 12/26/2020.

• The corrected visualizations includes counts through 12/26/2020 and corresponding case rates with data through 12/26/2020 that has been cleaned/corrected as recently as this morning. We have noted today’s correction date on the map visualization.

Jennifer Moon Joint Information Center Whatcom Unified Command

January 7 - 13, 2021 • thenorthernlight.com

5

Birch Bay, meet your new neighborhood deputy

By Grace McCarthy Deputy Derek Jones started as Birch Bay’s newest deputy on January 4, replacing deputy Todd Damon who had been the neighborhood deputy since 2017.

Jones talked with The Northern Light about everything from his background in law enforcement to what he wants his relationship with the community to look like.

What brought you to Whatcom County and how long have you worked for the sheriff’s office?

I moved here in 2006 to go to Western Washington University.

I’m originally from Bremerton. I started with the sheriff’s office in January 2019, but I was a police officer for Western Washington University for 10 years before that.

How did you become involved in law enforcement?

I think it’s something I always wanted to do. My dad’s a sheriff’s deputy in Kitsap County and so is my grandpa. I knew I wanted to do law enforcement and then I got to Western and had applied for a job doing student security.

It worked its way from there – I became a student dispatcher and then a full-time dispatcher and then a police officer.

What do you want your relationship with the Birch Bay community to look like?

Deputy Todd Damon has done a great job with the community and the chamber of commerce and I hope to keep that great relationship going. I want people to feel comfortable when I’m out

Application...

From page 2

are bimonthly, during the second and fourth Mondays of each month, and the at-large councilmember is also required to participate at the study sessions and special council meetings.

Applicants must be legal Washington citizens, registered to vote before filing and have lived in Blaine for at least one year.

Letters ...

From previous page

• Seventh lowest in cases in last seven days If governor Jay Inslee followed science, schools should now have safe and actionable plans for returning in-class instruction and doing so very quickly. Kids are suffering untold harm by keeping them out of school. Consider alternatives: Closing school to reduce illness and death versus harm from lost education, depression, abuse, hunger and even suicide. There is no perfect solution, but Inslee needs to lead, make the best decision and open schools as soon as possible.

Restaurants should be reopened immediately because, according to advocacy group Washington Hospitality Association, there is no data supporting closure.

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.

Monday, January 11 6:00pm – City Council Meeting Tuesday, January 12 8:00am – Blaine Tourism Advisory Committee

Thursday, January 14 9:00am – Parks and Cemetery Board

6:00pm – Planning Commission Monday, January 18

s Birch Bay deputy Derek Jones became Birch Bay’s newest deputy during the first week of January.

City Offices Closed – Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Photo courtesy Derek Jones

walking around, or sitting in my car, to come up and chat with me or send me emails about concerns they have in the community. I want to be a real friendly face.

What will an average day look like for you in Birch Bay? I expect that I will do some patrols, depending if there are burglaries or car prowls. Especially at the beginning of my time here, I’m going to try to get out to every business in the area and give them my card, introduce myself and let them know I’m here if they need anything. Obviously things will change and when it’s nicer weather, we can do community events, too.

What community events do Anyone living within city limits is eligible to apply for the councilmember position.

Applications can be found online at bit.ly/38ZMiqu and submitted online to cityofblaine. com.

Interviews with city council will be scheduled for late January or early February, according to the city of Blaine website.

For additional information, contact the city clerk’s office at 360/332-8311.

Inslee’s explanation given for killing the restaurant industry: “Restaurants are the most common site of outbreaks in our state … explaining that the number of Covid cases traced to restaurants skews small … because … the system is not set up to track how many patrons fall ill after visiting specific restaurants. People need to understand that there are lots of limitations to the data … there are some major limitations to the data we have around outbreaks.”

In other words, we do not have data to support our decision, but we know we are right.

We must encourage discussion of different opinions while respecting others.

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

you want to be involved in?

The Fourth of July is a huge time at the bay. I’m looking to do more events to help people, maybe with a program like Operation ID, where people log their valuables and things in case there is a car prowl or burglary. I’m looking to do a program where we can get people’s expired medication turned in so they don’t get out in the street. These are programs that I’m looking forward to doing but also if the community reaches out and says ‘hey, can the sheriff’s office be involved in this event?’

Great, I’ll show up and do whatever I can.

What are you most excited about starting the new job?

I’m excited to get out in the community and put a face to the sheriff’s office. Deputy Damon has obviously already done that but it’s something that’s very important in today’s climate with things. Community policing has been a buzz word but without the community, we wouldn’t have a need for the police department.

I’m excited to do those events and meet people and say ‘the sheriff’s office is full of deputies who care about this area that they live in and here’s the things that we do.’

People with non-emergency inquiries can contact deputy Jones at 360/778-6781 or djones@ whatcomcounty.us. Anyone with an emergency should call 911.

Tuesday, January 19 9:00am – Special City Council 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

Blaine United Church of Christ "Where friendly people gather and become family"

CITY OF BLAINE

ELECTRIC UTILITY OPERATIONS FOREMAN

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Salary: $9,410 Plus Excellent Benefits.

First review deadline: Friday, February 5, 2021, at 4:30pm; Open Until Filled.

Applications are being accepted for a full-time Electric Utility Operations Foreman (EUOF) in the Public Works Department. The EUOF provides daily direction and supervision to the linemen and apprentice linemen in the performance of electric system construction and maintenance including selecting, training, scheduling, directing and coaching employees, conducting performance appraisals, and effective communication within the department and citywide. The EUOF position responsibilities also include planning and analyzing the reliability of improvements, customer service extension, capital projects, developing cost plans, budgeting, contracting and general purchasing.

For information on how to apply, please visit the City’s website, https://www.ci.blaine.wa.us/, and click on Current Job Opportunities on the homepage.

u Jes

rn s didn’t tu people away Neither do we.

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

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6

The Northern Light • January 7 - 13, 2021

2020

year in

REVIEW As with any new year, we started 2020 with a variety of work plans and special efforts and programs. In the wake of Covid-19, our plans abruptly and fundamentally changed.

In March, the city manager issued a declaration of emergency and called a special meeting of the city council to confirm, helping the city be more nimble in its Covid-19 response. We addressed the emergency while continuing to provide the essentials: Clean water, waste management, electric service, public safety, land use and building safety regulation, public facility maintenance, and representation of the people.

Though offices were closed to the public, departments continued providing services and engaging with the public through online meetings.

Every department implemented a wide variety of measures, including work-from-home, staggered shifts, and the use of proper PPE and physical distance. We were determined to

2020

year in

REVIEW Another year at the chamber has come to a close with 98 members, which include 11 new members.

We kicked off the year with the 20th annual Bite of Blaine Live and Silent Auction where we featured 13 local restaurants and awarded Skye Hill Chevron Station as our 2019 Business of the Year. The farmers market ran from June through early October, hosting an average of 27 vendors

City of Blaine B y M ich a e l J o n e s , keep everyone safe while ensuring the community continued to access the services they needed and that the essential functions of government continued unabated. This was done while taking many steps to trim expenses, including a cooperative effort with most employees taking an unpaid furlough.

Continuing to grow The Community Development Services (CDS) department adapted quickly, offering customer services online such as permitting, code enforcement and building inspections. Onsite meetings (with PPE) and virtual meetings allowed for public engagement and resulted in the new residential lots, homes and businesses with minimal interruption.

Fostering a safe and connected community The Blaine Police Department performed “courtesy checks” of closed businesses within the city every day, a successful program that helped give owners peace of mind.

ci t y

manager

The police department fostered strong ties with the community by leading a coalition of law enforcement, fire and emergency services personnel to honor medical first responders at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in addition to participating in numerous community-sponsored activities.

Making sure people keep essential services With authorization from city council, the finance department waived all online bill pay fees and waived late fees for delinquent utility accounts, and, consistent with the governor’s order, did not shut off utility services to delinquent ratepayers.

The finance department has also been working with non-profit partners to provide direct assistance with utility payment for qualifying families. Finance was also central to managing a total of $244,000 in CARES Act funding the city received from the state and ensured it went to Covid-19 response efforts.

s City clerk Sam Crawford swore in new councilmembers during the January 13 meeting. From l; Richard May, Mary Lou Steward and Garth Baldwin.

Photo by Jami Makan

Supporting local businesses Economic development efforts this year focused on supporting our small businesses with grants and loans in coordination with Whatcom County, the chamber of commerce, the port of Bellingham and neighboring jurisdictions.

Community Development Services worked to develop permit pathways for temporary structures and use of outdoor public spaces to promote socially-distanced economic activity.

In December, the results of the cooperative effort of many to boost downtown Blaine have been shining bright, our downtown holiday lights.

Keeping momentum on public works projects

The public works department helps your permits and development projects move forward efficiently while making sure the community benefits from stormwater management, disposal of sanitary waste and access to safe roads, clean drinking water and electricity.

Public works completed the $3 million Gateway Regional Stormwater Facility, which serves 31 acres of commercial and industrial property; in addition a regional pond can hold over four million gallons of stormwater in the event of a 500-year storm.

In addition, public works implemented several reorganizational changes and filled key employee vacancies in 2020 including a new public works director.

Blaine Chamber of Commerce B y D o n n a R a im e y , every Saturday.

In late October we partnered with Nimbus Real Estate to offer an indoor “Holiday Market by the Sea” every weekend and hosted 17 vendors and local small businesses daily. With Covid restrictions in place, we assisted Whatcom Unified Command with the distribution of 10,000 face masks to Blaine businesses and transitioned to monthly virtual networking meetings held on the

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In October, we also teamed up with Wildbird Charity and the city of Blaine on a campaign to partner with organizations and community members to raise funds to light up our downtown area for the holidays. We are excited to report that WECU jumped on board as our Diamond Level Sponsor and many others in our community joined our cause. We finished our fundrais-

2020

year in

REVIEW

coordinator

ing efforts with a total of $25,000 raised and are incredibly grateful for all who supported this community project. The chamber has also partnered with the city of Blaine in the management of the Welcome Center and the new Blaine by the Sea website and social media pages.

Our board members in 2020 were: Michael Ebert (Fortiphi Insurance), Kathy Sitker (Blaine Senior Center), Carroll Solomon

(Blaine Welcome Center), James Danger (Banner Bank), Louise Mugar (The Northern Light), Julia Mulinex (Peace Arch Real Estate), Heidi Holmes (Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation), Serge Samoylenko (Spoken Designs), Timothy Woodard (BP).

We would like to say thank you to all of our wonderful businesses and community members for your ongoing partnership and support.

Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office

By Bill Elfo,

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sheriff

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On behalf of all members of the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. It’s an honor to serve you.

In this era of calls for “police reform,” we are fortunate to serve such a supportive community that recognizes the professionalism of our deputies; the training they receive and the standards they adhere to.

To further public trust we will be adopting a body-worn camera program in 2021.

The year 2020 was a very challenging time for our entire community and law enforcement was no exception. Our ability to maintain full operational strength was affected by a hiring

freeze that resulted from declines in county revenues; closures at the police academy that impaired our ability to train new deputies; personnel illness and mandated closures of some functions of our office. We anticipated more significant staffing reductions but very fortunately that was for the most part, averted.

We are pleased to report that we will be continuing the Birch Bay Neighborhood Deputy program and thank deputy Todd Damon for his phenomenal performance in this role. In January, deputy Derek Jones will replace Todd as your neighborhood deputy. Deputy Jones is a very experienced and community-oriented law enforcement officer, and

I have no doubt he will be well received.

We will continue our Mental Health Deputy Program with two deputies. The program is very successful and is coordinated with the increased myriad of services provided by the Whatcom County Health Department.

A new crisis stabilization center will facilitate more diversion and treatment will be open shortly.

We were awarded generous grants to purchase an ocean-going vessel to patrol coastal areas such as Birch Bay and it will even reach Point Roberts. The vessel will be moored at Blaine marina.

The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office annual report can be viewed online at bit.ly/37Vg5kP.

January 7 - 13, 2021 • thenorthernlight.com

7

Ring of Fire and Hope and Brr-tual Polar Bear Plunge started the Birch Bay new year

s Birch Bay residents lit up the beach on New Year’s Eve with the annual Ring of Fire and Hope celebration.

Photo by Ruth Lauman

s Lanterns decorated the night sky on December 31.

Photo by Ruth Lauman

s New Birch Bay residents Chris and John celebrated their first Ring of Fire as a married couple.

s Ann and Annabelle Brown start the year on the right foot.

Photo courtesy Chuck Kinzer

s Jim Carr and Linda Cline took on the polar plunge in style.

Photo courtesy Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce

Photo by Grace McCarthy

s Former Birch Bay deputy Todd Damon and new deputy Derek Jones during the Brr-tual Polar Bear Plunge.

Photo courtesy Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce

s Although the plunge was virtual this year, many people lined the beach at noon to dip into the frigid water.

Photo by Ruth Lauman

8

The Northern Light • January 7 - 13, 2021

Health & Wellness Local choices in health, healing & fitness.

Stafholt to receive vaccine, as county ramps up distribution

By Grace McCarthy As county and statewide vaccinations continue into the new year, Good Samaritan Society – Stafholt is expected to start distributing doses of the first round of the Pfizer vaccine on Tuesday, January 19.

Stafholt nurse Tatiana Koreski said 90 percent of the nursing home’s residents plan to be vaccinated, close to 80 residents and staff.

“It’s a great step forward to giving us a fighting chance,” she said. “Living through the outbreak last April, we’ve seen firsthand what it does to a person.”

Last spring, the nursing home had at least 17 residents and seven staff test positive for the virus, as reported by The Northern Light.

The second dose, which needs to be given at least 21 days after the first dose to be effective, will be administered Tuesday, February 9. A third clinic is scheduled for March to accommodate people unable to attend the first one in January, Koreski said.

Lummi Nation began administering the Pfizer vaccine to its elders, and planned to distribute the 100 remaining doses from its first shipment on January 6, physician Dr. Dakotah Lane said in a January 5 video announcement on the Lummi Communications Facebook page. Those 65-yearsold and older can receive the vaccine on a first-come, first-serve basis at the Lummi Tribal Health Center, he said.

The tribe is also administering the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine to its members who are interested in volunteering for the vaccine trial.

“We helped bring this vaccine trial here because we believe the benefit outweighs the risk,” Lane

said. “I think this past Christmas and New Year’s has shown us what that risk is. People who get the coronavirus may die.”

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) said 69,349 people in Washington had received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine during the week of December 31. The department expected to order the vaccines for the second round of Pfizer shots during the January 2-3 weekend.

The first Pfizer vaccine shipments arrived in Washington on December 14.

Washington state can expect 150,000 to 350,000 doses in the first month of vaccine distribution, and 500,000 to 1 million doses in the second month, according to DOH-published figures.

On December 30, the department also updated its Phase 1A guidance, determining who is prioritized to receive the first rounds of the vaccine. DOH made the update so communities that had already completed vaccinating all of its high-risk workers could continue vaccinating other healthcare workers, the press release noted.

Those in the first tier to be vaccinated are high-risk healthcare workers, first responders and residents and staff of nursing homes or similar facilities where those over 65-years-old are receiving care, according to the vaccine allocation guidance.

“Across Washington, it is important that health care systems actively reach out to and provide access to COVID-19 vaccination for the communitybased healthcare workforce outside their systems and in their community,” the press release read. “This includes other health care providers, school nurses,

Image courtesy Whatcom County Health Department

and behavioral health providers, in order to complete this phase and ensure we have a protected healthcare system.”

Guidance for the next two groups to be vaccinated will be finalized “shortly after the new year,” according to the release.

State and county health officials continue to urge people to maintain social distancing measures, wear masks, wash hands frequently, avoid nonessential travel and follow all other pandemic guidelines while vaccines are administered.

As of January 4, Whatcom County has had 3,736 confirmed Covid-19 cases since the start of the pandemic and 55 deaths, according to DOH data. In the past two weeks, there have been 363 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Whatcom County.

In total, 205 people have been hospitalized from the virus in the county. Lynden school district had the highest rate of new cases

in the past two weeks, with 390 per 100,000 people. Blaine school district had a rate of 108 cases per 100,000 during that time. In a media briefing held Wednesday, January 6, Whatcom County Health Department director Erika Lautenbach said county cases are still primarily due to small gatherings and says the department is waiting to see how many cases will result from the recent holidays. She said the department has been receiving numerous calls from individuals asking how to get vaccinated and asked that people first check with their employers or health provider. “The health department has no role in determining who qualifies for the vaccinations,” she said.

To date, according to the health department’s Amy Hockenberry, the county has received just 5,900 vaccine doses. Vaccines are being administered to people who fall into the Phase 1, tier

A category which includes residents of nursing homes, and healthcare workers at high risk through contact with Covid-19 patients and paramedics and EMTS. There are about 24,000 people in the county in that group, not including nursing home residents.

Phase 1B will include all other healthcare workers, police, firefighters and teachers.

Hockenberry says the department expects to be in Phase 1A for about two weeks.

Washington has had 248,580 total confirmed cases of Covid-19.

In the state, 3,541 people have died from the virus.

There have been 20,732,404 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the U.S. since the start of the pandemic and 352,464 deaths, according to January 5 CDC data.

More information is available on the Washington State Department of Health’s Covid-19 dashboard at bit.ly/3r2URJj.

Image courtesy Whatcom County Health Department

January 7 - 13, 2021 • thenorthernlight.com

9

Health & Wellness Local choices in health, healing & fitness.

Healthy resolutions that are easy to keep

The dawn of a new year is a great time to take stock of the year that just passed and set goals for the next 12 months. Resolutions focused on improving personal health are especially popular, and for good reason. Improving one’s overall health can have positive implications for years to come.

Even with the best intentions, resolutions have historically proven hard to keep.

Simplifying health-based resolutions can lead to a higher success rate and a healthier you.

• Walk more. It is easy to get preoccupied with the “10,000 steps per day” mantra that many people follow and that certain fitness trackers promote. Walking 10,000 steps daily, which equates to roughly five miles per day, is a healthy goal, but it may not be realistic for everyone.

Take stock of how many steps you currently take each day, and then resolve to walk 2,000 more. As your body acclimates to walking more, add another 2,000 steps, continuing to do so until you reach 10,000 steps.

• Learn something new about being healthy. Informed health decisions require gaining a greater understanding of your body.

Rely on a reputable source such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to learn more about how to be healthy.

• Spend less time on social media. Staring at your phone or tablet for multiple hours browsing tweets or checking messages might not be the best thing for your physical and mental health.

Browsing the internet may take up time that could be better spent engaging in physical activity. According to Dr. Elia Abi-Jaoude, a staff psychiatrist at the Hospital

for Sick Children and Toronto Western Hospital, various studies have shown how excessive social media usage can adversely affect relationships, sense of self, sleep, academic performance, and emotional well-being.

• Eat more whole foods. Whole foods, including vegetables,

fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and fish, contain various nutrients the body needs to function at peak capacity. These foods may help reduce the risk of many diseases and help people maintain healthy body weights. Start slowly by introducing a new whole food to your diet each day. A gradual approach is more manageable than going on a drastic diet.

• Avoid sweetened beverages.

You are what you eat, but also what you drink. A report published in 2006 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, particularly carbonated soft drinks, may be a key contributor in the epidemic of overweight and obesity.

Skip sweetened beverages (even fruit juices can be unhealthy if consumed in excess) and opt for more water or unsweetened teas.

• Find a physical activity you like. What with the pandemic, you have plenty of opportuni-

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The Northern Light • January 7 - 13, 2021

Deep, deep snow at Mt. Baker Mt. Baker Ski Area is getting snow and plenty of it! This week’s storm cycle has increased the snowbase to 169 inches on Pan Dome and 154 inches at Heather Meadows. In all, over 72 inches of white stuff was dumped on the mountain in the last four days, according to the ski area.

To take advantage of the new snow (and to allow for increased social distancing), the ski area has expanded mid-week operations by keeping both base areas open. Staff are recommending that season and daily pass holders show up early as parking lots are filling more than usual as other users of the national forest are visiting in much greater numbers than usual.

Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

Face coverings must be worn, both inside and outside, per Washington State regulations. This includes lift lines, ticket and rental lines, parking lots, inside lodges, and on slope.

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January 7 - 13, 2021 • thenorthernlight.com

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IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF WHATCOM In re the Matter and Estate of: TERRENCE LEE HARVEY, Deceased. Whatcom County Superior Court Cause No. 20-4-00621-37. NONPROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS. RCW 11.42.030 The notice agent named below has elected to give notice to creditors of the abovenamed Decedent. As of the date of the filing of a copy of this notice with the court, the notice agent has no knowledge of any other person acting as notice agent or of the appointment of a personal representative ofthe Decedent’s estate in the state of Washington. According to the records of the court as are available on the date of the filing of this notice with the court, a cause number regarding the Decedent has not been issued to any other notice agent and a personal representative of the Decedent’s estate has not been appointed. Any person having a claim against the Decedent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.42.070 by serving on or mailing to the notice agent or the notice agent’s attorney at the address stated below a copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the court in which the notice agent’s declaration and oath were filed. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1)Thirty days after the notice agent served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.42.020(2)(c); or (2) four months after the date of first publication of the notice. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim is forever barred, except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.42.050 and 11.42.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the Decedent’s probate and nonprobate assets.

Date of First Publication: Dec. 31, 2020 Date Notice filed: December 14, 2020 Notice Agent: ANTOINETTE J. HARVEY Attorney for the Notice Agent: Roger L. Ellingson Address for Mailing or Service: P.O. Box 1258, Blaine, WA 98231 (360) 332-7000; Fax: (360) 332-6677

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12

The Northern Light • January 7 - 13, 2021

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE

BLAINE, BIRCH BAY & SEMIAHMOO

REAL ESTATE

Windermere Real Estate/Whatcom Inc. 360.371.5100 8105 Birch Bay Square St. I-5 Exit 270, Blaine

For the health & safety of our clients, Windermere Real Estate is pleased to follow the State of Washington’s mandate to not hold Open Houses. We are, however, available to show you your dream home by virtual tour or private appointment. Please call your Realtor for assistance.

F E A T U R E D L I S T I N G S - B I R C H B AY

ING

PEND

4744 Sandcastle Drive 7714 Birch Bay Dr #402 8257 Salish Lane 7714 Birch Bay Drive #405 5768 Salish Road MLS #1692490 $429,000 MLS #1597528 $315,000 MLS #1684001 $619,900 MLS #1664824 $250,000 MLS #1683441 4751 Birch Bay Lynden Rd #108 $360,000 Why rent when you can own for less than Enjoy sunsets from this deluxe top floor Stick built home featuring 2 bedrooms, 2 Spectacular sunsets, deluxe top floor wa- Well maintained furnished home in Birch $75,000 MLS #1691781

the going rental rates? 3 bed/2 bath no steps RAMBLER in popular Bay Crest neighborhood features open concept kitchen/dining layout that flows into living room with vaulted ceilings + gas fireplace, private owner’s suite with walk in closet + double vanity ensuite bath, in-home laundry room, fenced backyard + 2 car attached garage!

Steps to Birch Bay beaches & minutes to I-5 & US/Canada border...or zip down Bay Road to be in Bellingham in less than 20 minutes.

Jen Freeman 360-815-0803

waterfront condo. This sunny west facing residence features 9ft ceilings, custom cabinets, slab granite counters, tile & wood flooring & open concept living area. Exceptional quality throughout this 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo with elevator access. Luxurious bathrooms include radiant heat tile flooring & jetted tub. A beautiful extra deck for entertaining & 1 assigned covered parking. Deeded beach access. Amazing ocean view...start living the dream!

Randy Weg 360-305-5704

FEATURED LISTING - BIRCH BAY

bathrooms, packaged together in a pleasant and functional design. The home is privately situated on a large 12,000 sf lot neighboring a greenbelt to the south. Peaceful and parklike setting in Birch Bay Village grants access to private boat launch, marina, golf course, beaches, and much more. Listed well below median sale price. This is an excellent investment opportunity for a handy first time buyer or investment property. Rare in today’s market.

Matt Berry 360-389-0104

terfront condo. Sunny west facing, fully furnished home features 9 ft ceilings 3 bedroom,2.5 bath, custom cabinets, slab granite counters, tile & wood flooring. Exceptional quality throughout, recent remodeling.

Lower level has it’s own entrance for use as an office or artist studio. Luxurious baths include radiant heat, tile flooring & jetted tubs.

2 decks for entertaining,2 assigned covered parking spots, deeded beach access & Promenade. Amazing ocean views.

Billy Brown 360-220-7175

F E AT U R E D L I S T I N G - B L A I N E

Bay Village gated beach & Marina community. Features updated appliances in spacious kitchen w/breakfast bar. Dining room built-ins w/lots of storage. Big living room w/wood burning stove + great room off kitchen w/cozy free-standing gas fireplace.

Master & guest bedroom have ensuite bathrooms. Large covered front deck + covered area in back & Workshop/storage shed. RV/ boat space + golf cart shelter. Fruit trees all on sunny corner cul-de-sac entry lot.

Mike Kent 360-815-3898

Walk to the beautiful Birch Bay beaches from your 180 day lot in Latitude 49! This 3,116 square foot lot lot features a 10x10 shed, will accommodate parking for a motorhome/RV up to 40 feet and has poured concrete parking for 2 vehicles. Resort amenities include secure gated entry, onsite laundry, pool, tennis, playground, clubhouse & exercise room. Fantastic Birch Bay location is minutes from US/CAN borders & I-5 access.

Leah Crews 360-305-4747

F E AT U R E D L I S T I N G S - S E M I A H M O O

307 Whitetail Loop 9525 Semiahmoo Pkwy #203 5158 Heronswood Drive 8849 Goldeneye Lane 4559 California Trail Peace Portal Drive MLS #1651777 $689,900 MLS #1549861 $229,000 MLS #1581353 $1,100,000 MLS #1696040 $489,000 MLS #1693130 $335,000 MLS #1601561 Welcome to 307 Whitetail Loop one of 16 On 550’ of private beach at Semiahmoo, Heronswood: Private gated acreage com- One of a kind, exquisite custom home on $256,000

Rare find! Welcome to a fully remodeled 3 bed 2 bath home for under $300,000! In addition to the 3 bedrooms there is an office/ den! Enjoy a cozy wood burning fireplace through this winter or take a soak in the hot tub in the newly, large fully fenced back yard. Master bedroom hosts a walk in closet and en suite bathroom. Newer appliances in kitchen and washer and dryer are included.

Shed for extra outdoor storage. Welcome home!

Aimee Slesk 425-681-8297

The location says it all. High visibility corner between Peace Portal Dr and Interstate 5 plus only minutes from the Canadian border.

The sale includes two properties totaling just over 2 acres. The property has water, sewer and power available off street making for ease of hookup and development. Zoning is highway commercial, light industrial allowing for almost unlimited use. Buyer to verify zoning and land use with Blaine Planning & Development.

Gerry Allen 360-920-0563

in the circle with paved roads and walking sidewalks. Looking for brand new then look no further, get inside and take a look at this 4 bedroom 2.5 bath home , excellent floor plan with the master on the main floor. Large open floor plan vaulted ceiling with very large rooms and natural sunlight , fully landscaped yard, all stainless high end appliances. Quartz counter tops. Get in and take a look you will love it. Close to school, border & I-5.

Christy Imperio 360-201-4100

Washington’s premier waterfront destination. Extraordinary quality & design w/rich hardwoods, tile, granite & custom built-ins.

Under 2 hrs to Seattle & 1 to Van., BC. Enjoy marine vistas of Drayton Harbor. Begin your day sipping coffee as the sun rises over Mt. Baker & plan to explore miles of beaches, biking trails & inland Pacific scenery. Walk to the award winning Semiahmoo Resort Hotel & Spa. Healthclub membership included w/ purchase. Shows as new!

Mike Kent 360-815-3898

munity. When you own in Heronswood, you not only own over an acre home site, but you also have an interest in over 33 acres of conservation easement. This home site borders a lake within the common area of the development that includes a walking path.

Price includes a set of JWR plans including engineering work & wet lands assessment.

Birch Bay Water. Be 1 of only 13 homes in the entire development. Only 2 undeveloped home sites left. 160 sq. ft. outbuilding.

Brian Southwick 360-815-6638

Turnberry Pond. Southern exposure beckons light through this designer property. Easy access to all walking trails--an ideal location in a great neighborhood. Top-of-the-line quality build features extensive tile work, custom fir built-ins, exceptional selections of granite & lighting finishes. This home will not disappoint if you are looking for the best!

Current owner has maintained & upgraded lighting, new interior paint, & hardwood floor! Lush landscaping--perfect condition!

Kathy Stauffer 360-815-4718

www.windermere.com

Gerry’s 30-Day Stats

3 6 Listed 3 5 Pending 3 5 Sold

Wishing you a Happy 2021.

Gerry Allen 360-920-0563

GerryAllen@windermere.com

Check out My Active Listings:

www.GerryAllen.org

20+ acres on Kickerville Road $175,000 Semiahmoo Marina Boat slip C-34, 44 feet for $43,000 Also, If you wish to be a former owner, Call Hugh Call Hugh : 360.371.5800

“Old FashiOned service”

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

Hugh Brawford, Managing Broker

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

www.CallHugh.com

Downtown Blaine (Across from Hill’s Chevron)

www.NimbusRealEstate.com

Rentals - Commercial

NELSON BUILDING 925 Ludwick Ave., Blaine

LEASE SPACES FOR:

Warehousing-Distribution Manufacturing or Retail Vehicle Storage Yards Near Truck Route & Shopping Mall Email or Call Don Nelson For Availability & Rates

360-305-0286

Email nelsbldg@msn.com

FIND IT IN THE CLASSIFIEDS

FOR LEASE Retail/Office Space

With Waterfront Views of Blaine Harbor

800 - 1600 s.f.

Prime ground floor office and retail space in The Northern Light Cannery-style building at Blaine Harbor.

For leasing info, contact Pat Grubb

360/332-1777

Allreal real estate/rentals estate/rentals advertising All advertis-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 nationalis 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 ing in this newspaper subject that allFair dwellings advertised toinformed the Federal Housing Act in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll-free at 1-800-877-0246. 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 vi-

January 7 - 13, 2021 • thenorthernlight.com

2020

year in

REVIEW When 2020 started, the gym in Birch Bay was bustling with fitness classes, kids’ activities, basketball practices, pickleball and more. This all came to a screeching halt in March when we were forced to close our doors to all public activities due to Covid-19. During that time, the district made some much-needed improvements to our offices and kitchen area.

The gym’s 1965-era basketball scoreboard got a facelift in February made possible by donations from Rick Chinn and other alumni of the Blaine Air Force Base. A brand-new scoreboard was purchased and installed.

The district helped fund community programs for the Blaine Youth Sports and local boys, girls and cub scouts and sponsorship of the Run with the Chums event hosted by the Whatcom Conservation District.

2020

year in

REVIEW

Blaine Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2

By Heidi Holmes,

program

In early June, we were limited to what we could do, but the outdoor pickleball courts saw much activity. We offered Zumba, POUND and line dance classes with up to five people plus an instructor in the class. In August, we were able to expand our inside programming to 10 people.

Classes were full and people were happy to get out and move! Although some of our popular classes had not restarted, we look forward to bringing back those classes, movie nights, community events and kids afterschool activities when restrictions are lifted.

The district received a grant from the Washington Recreation and Conservation Office to develop the California Creek Estuary Park along Drayton Harbor Road.

The two properties have been transferred to the park district and are in the permitting phases

OBITUARIES

manager

for development of a parking lot, kayak launch, restroom and trail system. Additional grants for further expansion and development of the park were submitted. The district is waiting to hear what type of funding could be awarded.

In November, we hosted a H-O-R-S-E basketball tournament with the help of the Blaine Girls Hoops. Fifty kids from grades 5–12 participating in this fun game of no-contact throwing challenges! The kids wore masks during the event, and since we were limited to 11 people in the gym, we livestreamed the event for family and friends to watch the competition.

The gym and all activities were suspended per the governor’s orders in November. We look forward to 2021 and bringing back all the fun at the center and in our community.

Claudia May Hogan

May 26, 1944 – December 18, 2020 Claudia was born in Seattle on May 26, 1944. She lived in various places in Seattle and went to Garfield High School. Later, she helped her mother run a restaurant/ candy store in Long Beach, WA for 18 years.

In 1988 she and her friend, Joan Kempinsky, moved to Blaine and cared for Joan’s father for 2 1/2 years until his death in 2001.

Thereafter, Claudia and Joan lived in Birch Bay on family property for 12 years. Claudia lived in Birch Bay with Joan until her death on December 18, 2020.

Services will be held in the spring. Donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.

BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL Louis Auto Glass 2011 Large Business of the Year

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Blaine Senior Center

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BELLINGHAMFree Pick up & Delivery January started with all types of plans for the upcoming 2020. We were planning a monthly oneon-one consultation for anyone who had questions about hearing changes as we age with the Hearing, Speech and Deaf Center; a 12-month program on living with diabetes with the chronic disease prevention outreach coordinators from the YMCA; a day seminar on first aid mental health with the Area Health Education Center for Western Washington. Our last Health Resource Fair was so well received, we were planning another one in April, as well as having Dr. Bill Lombard and Micki Jackson back for National Healthcare Decisions Day. All this

2020

year in

REVIEW Like all organizations in Blaine, the Pacific Arts Association’s (PAA) 2020 year was significantly impacted by the pandemic. Our major event, the Blaine Harbor Music Festival and Camp, was canceled because of Covid-19.

We started the year in wonderful shape by enjoying the fruits of a successful fall-of-2019 recruiting campaign. On February 25, we celebrated “Fat Tuesday” with a well-attended concert and dance at the Senior Center that featured great music and a traditional pancake supper.

That was it for an active 2020!

A couple of weeks after that positive beginning, activities began to shut down and soon it became obvious that we were not going to be able to have our festival.

13

to name a few.

There were the social events, too. Maybe a monthly Friday night dinner and dance; or a Hot August Nights party and BBQ. Or an improv night in October for some laughs. And, of course, our Fall Holiday bazaar. Our trips through Bellaire Tours and Adventures were getting more people signed up. We wanted to start a walking and/or hiking group, as well as a biking group. We even had some members agree to help lead them.

All in all, we were excited about the upcoming new year!

Then the coronavirus hit and, obviously, our world came to a screeching halt.

We did continue working with Meals on Wheels doing delivery for daily hot meals and, as for the “congregate meal,” instead of coming into the dining room for meals it was changed to a daily hot meal pick up and then to a once-a-week pick up.

As your director, I know how important the center was and is – using the gym, exercising, playing cards, shooting pool or having lunch – just being with others is so important for our souls. We are working toward re-opening in 2021 and thank you for your support and understanding in all this.

Be well my friends and see you next year.

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By Bryan Johnson,

We refunded camper deposits and settled into a world of masks, social distancing, lockdowns and frequent handwashing.

And here we are in mid-December, still in the same world!

The intervening nine months, however, have not been wasted.

With the support of our board and our incredible team of staff and faculty members, PAA has dedicated itself to the assumption that a vaccine for Covid-19 will have been made available to our festival family and that we will be opening our doors for camp on July 11–17, 2021.

To help make this hopeful dream a reality, we have created a completely new website that will be rolled out soon. This will become a cornerstone of our stu-

president

dent recruiting campaign and will feature a series of instructional videos produced by members of our faculty. Happily, most of the members of our gifted team have already indicated that they will be back with us this coming summer.

So, here’s to 2021, and to the hope that we will see you in July for the Blaine Harbor Music Festival and Camp.

Dining Guide

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14

The Northern Light • January 7 - 13, 2021

Police reports: The best and the weird of 2020, July through December (Continued from last week) July 11, 1:58 a.m.: Blaine police officers responded to a person jumping in and out of the ditch on the U.S./Canada border.

Officers arrived with Border Patrol agents and determined it was a drunken person who was not trying to cross illegally. The person was given a courtesy transport home.

July 20, 3:02 p.m.: Blaine police officers were dispatched to a report of two men yelling at each other in the 900 block of Peace Portal Drive. Officers arrived and contacted the apparent victim.

The victim claimed another man ran up to him and began yelling obscenities while the victim was eating lunch. The two men know each other and frequently yell at one another. No crime was found to have occurred and the other party was not able to be located.

August 2, 12:00 p.m.: Blaine police officers received a call where a citizen wanted to report an ongoing issue with an acquaintance. The man explained that several times in the past few weeks a man he barely knows confronts him, swears at him and

challenges to a fight but always backs down and runs away when challenged in return. The man was advised to seek an order from the courts prohibiting contact.

August 22, 7:12 p.m.: A Blaine resident called the police to report an ongoing issue with a neighbor’s dog. The dog apparently comes into the resident’s yard to relieve itself. The resident’s girlfriend has spoken to the neighbor about this issue in the past, but the problem persists. An officer contacted the neighbor and spoke with her regarding the complaint and remedies to keep her animal under control. The neighbor was given an official dog-at-large warning and informed that future occurrences would result in a criminal citation.

August 30, 10:09 p.m.: Blaine police officers were notified by U.S. Border Patrol agents of a hit and run in the 1600 block range of D Street. Officers determined the suspect backed his vehicle into two portable toilets near a construction site, causing damage to the attached hand-washing station. Border agents advised they were actively following the suspect driver southbound on I-5.

Blaine officers and a U.S. Border Patrol agent conducted a traffic stop on the suspect who admitted to backing into the portable toilets on purpose. The driver was also investigated by the Washington State Patrol for suspicion of driving under the influence and determined to not be impaired. Officers arrested, cited and released the individual with a mandatory court date. Officers cleared with no further incident.

September 1, 12:08 a.m.: Blaine police officers on routine patrol observed a vehicle traveling on the roadway with a listed registered owner showing a suspended license status in Washington. Officers stopped the vehicle and determined the driver was not the registered owner and he was allowed to leave. Officers ran the driver for warrants and determined he had several warrants for his arrest and a suspended license status. Officers re-contacted the driver. He was placed under arrest and taken to the Whatcom County Jail without incident.

September 26, 12:00 p.m.: A woman called police to report someone smeared a pizza on her

Crossword

Please wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines.

January 7-14 at Blaine.

Not for navigation.

49° 0’ 0”N - 122° 46’ 0”W DATE

TIME

Fr 8

1:42 am 6.85 5:47 am 5.64

TIME

HEIGHT

12:01 pm 9.99 7:44 pm 0.03

Sa 9 3:14 am 7.97 7:09 am 6.81

12:43 pm 9.96 8:32 pm -1.14

Su 10 4:22 am 9.05 8:31 am 7.53

1:29 pm 9.90 9:20 pm -2.02

Mo 11 5:16 am 9.88 9:45 am 7.82

2:17 pm 9.78 10:08 pm -2.55

Tu 12 6:04 am 10.41 10:51 am 7.78

3:07 pm 9.57 10:54 pm -2.71

We 13 6:46 am 10.66 11:49 am 7.51

ACROSS 1. Adequate yearly progress (abbr.)

4. Silicon Valley’s specialty 8. Gather a harvest 10. Famed mathematician 11. No (slang) 12. Students use one 13. Type of molecule 15. Play make-believe 16. Large barrel-like containers 17. Touching 18. Treats allergies 21. Calendar month 22. Single 23. Cease to live 24. Brew 25. What ghosts say 26. Geological time 27. Focus 34. Discomfort 35. A citizen of Iran 36. Trip

37. Imitate 38. Makes happy 39. Double-reed instrument 40. Body parts 41. Transgressions 42. One-time emperor of Russia 43. Time zone DOWN 1. Used in treating bruises 2. One who cultivates a small estate 3. One who supports the Pope 4. Annuity 5. Geological period 6. Grab onto tightly 7. Kept 9. Chinese city 10. The most direct route 12. Type of tooth 14. __ kosh, near Lake Winnebago

15. Popular veggie 17. Supervises interstate commerce 19. Foolish behaviors 20. Witness 23. Gives 24. Expression of creative skill 25. A way to prop up 26. Midway between northeast and east 27. Winter melon 28. Supernatural power 29. Target 30. Threes 31. A type of poetic verse 32. They make some people cry 33. Kindest 34. Forman and Ventimiglia are two 36. A way to liquefy ANSWERS: THENORTHERNLIGHT.COM

3:59 pm 9.23 11:40 pm -2.51

Th 14 7:26 am 10.69 12:43 pm 7.10

Officers trespassed the suspect from the private property, and charges for Lewd Acts and Obstructing a Public Officer are being forwarded to the prosecutor.

November 2, 9:40 a.m.: A person reported an unknown man came out of a wooded area and walked up to her to give her a pie. The man proceeded to follow her towards her house until the husband came out. The unknown man quickly left the area.

The U.S. Border Patrol found the person and stayed with him until the police arrived. A Blaine police officer arrived and contacted the male subject and identified him.

The police determined no crime was committed, but asked the person to not return. The person packed up his campsite, and later requested a courtesy ride to the mission.

November 15, 5:14 p.m.: Blaine police assisted a Canadian citizen with a missing person report when her boyfriend failed to meet her at Peace Arch Park at a designated time. It was discovered that the man had accidentally entered Canada and had been detained for several hours by local authorities.

Coming up

Tides HEIGHT

vehicle. The woman suggested her ex-boyfriend as a suspect, but did not have any interest in pursuing charges. She requested the incident be documented in case future incidents occur.

October 26, 6:12 a.m.: An employee of a coffee stand reported an unknown person walked up to the stand and asked if a bone he was holding was a human jaw bone. The suspicious person then walked away from the business.

A police officer searched for the unknown male subject, but could not find him.

October 28, 6:30 a.m.: Blaine police officers responded to the 200 block of G Street to report a man camped on private property. The property owner advised he would like the individual trespassed. Officers arrived and determined the tent was on city property. Officers responded to the same location for an additional report from the property owner that the individual was now urinating in public and moved his tent onto the private property. Officers determined the tent was now on private property. The property owner had photographs of the man urinating in public.

4:51 pm 8.77

Weather Precipitation: During the period of December 28 to January 3, 2.62 inches of precipitation was recorded.

The 2020 precipitation was 44.61 inches. The 2021 yearto-date precipitation 1.22 inches.

Temperature: High for the past week was 54.9°F on January 1 with a low of 33.4°F on December 29. Average high was 49.2°F and average low was 37°F. Courtesy Birch Bay Water & Sewer Dist.

Friends of Birch Bay Library Calendar Fundraiser: Purchase a 2021 calendar featuring photos of beautiful Birch Bay taken by local photographers. Cost: $20 available at friendsofbirchbaylibrary.org.

New Relics Art Exhibit: Tuesday–Saturday, January 8–30, 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Allied Arts of Whatcom County, 1418 Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham. New Relics presents works created in our modern era but with a nod to traditional themes and techniques featuring work from Richard Bulman, Nikole Dixon and Jessica Molnar. Info: alliedarts.org.

Ongoing: Blaine Food Bank: 500 C Street. Open Mondays 9 a.m.–noon, Wednesdays 5–7 p.m., and Fridays 9 a.m.–noon. Delivery options available. Info:360/332-6350 or blainefood@hotmail.com.

The Bridge Food Distribution Program: Fridays 3:30–5 p.m., The Bridge Community Hope Center, 4815 Alderson Road. Registration required at thebridgehope.com or call 360/366-8763.

Volunteers welcome.

The Bridge Clothing Bank Boutique: Open Wednesdays 3–5 p.m. and Fridays 12–5 p.m., The Bridge Community Hope Center, 4815 Alderson Road. Donations by appointment, call 360/3668763.

Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce Virtual Meetings: Third Thursdays, 1 p.m. Meeting ID on birchbaychamber.com.

Coffee With The Contractor Virtual Meetings: Fourth Thursdays, 8 a.m. Learn the progress of the Birch Bay berm project with members of Granite Construction, Whatcom County Public Works and the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce. Meeting ID on birchbaychamber.com Blaine Chamber of Commerce Virtual Meetings: First Wednesday, noon. Meeting ID on blainechamber.com.

Blaine Library: 610 3rd Street. Closed in-branch visits. Curbside holds and pick up, Monday–Thursday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. For more info: 360/3053637.

Meals on Wheels & More: Wednesdays 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Adults 60+ pick up one fresh and six frozen meals. Suggested donation $5 per meal. First come first serve basis. Info: 360/332-8040.

Toastmasters Virtual Meetings: Tuesdays 6:30–7:45 p.m. More info: 360/933-1671.

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January 7 - 13, 2021 • thenorthernlight.com

Year in Review ...

From page 3 schools started the year in online learning.

• The Blaine school board voted unanimously to approve a letter of agreement between the district and a union representing school service employees that would furlough employees until October 31. Under this agreement, staff such as bus drivers, food service providers and paraeducators would keep their health insurance.

• Two Blaine roommates had an altercation over Covid-19 that ended in one being booked into Whatcom County Jail on fourth-degree assault on August 22.

• A low-barrier Covid-19 testing site was set up in Birch Bay at the Birch Bay Bible Community Church on August 25, as well as five other locations that would test on other week days throughout the county.

• An August 28 vehicle collision on Birch Bay-Lynden Road and Holiday Drive resulted in a Blaine resident being sent to the hospital and the arrest of a Custer man for vehicular assault.

September • Good Old Boys golf group of Semiahmoo donated $14,000 to Blaine Food Bank on September 4 after it raised the money from its annual three-day tournament and weekly donations during the summer.

• Living Pantry, which sells natural food and products in zero waste packaging, held its grand opening at 684 Peace Portal Drive on September 5.

• Scientists discovered juvenile European green crabs in the mouth of Dakota Creek during the first week of September, bolstering that week’s capture numbers to be among the highest since trapping began in late May. Scientists began trapping for the invasive species after they were first spotted in Drayton Harbor in fall 2019.

• Third Time’s A Charm Thrift opened its second-hand shop in Birch Bay on August 21.

• Whatcom County Library System saw a significant increase in electronic use since the start of the pandemic, with some months having twice the database visits as 2019.

• Smoky skies blanketed Blaine during one of the state’s worst fire seasons, plummeting air quality and causing burn bans in Whatcom County.

• Peace Arch Park became a popular wedding venue for an estimated 20 weekly cross-border couples looking to reunite.

• Blaine school district welcomed about 50 students into its buildings on September 21, marking the first time students began in-person classes since March.

Preschoolers and students in life skills were the first to return because they were deemed most at risk to lose an equitable education during remote learning.

• Three east Blaine housing developments – Bridges Plat, East Maple Ridge and Grandis Pond – will add 1,400 homes in the next 15 years and double Blaine’s

housing stock. Developers said these are the largest housing developments in the county.

• Blaine City Council voted unanimously to extend its emergency resolution allowing businesses to the H Street and G Street plazas for outdoor dining at its September 28 meeting. The resolution was extended until phase 3 of the state’s Safe Start Washington plan.

• The Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce restarted its monthly “Coffee with the Contractor” meetings on September 24 after the Birch Bay berm construction started the month prior.

October • Washington State Department of Agriculture officials attempted tracking their first Asian giant hornet after a series of hornet sightings on an east Blaine property gave the state agency its larg-

al due to too many subjects and misleading titles.

• Whatcom County Council increased the Birch Bay berm’s project budget on October 13 by $841,786, totaling the overall budget to $15,291,786. The additional money was given to help crews power through any unforeseen construction issues or delays, including those caused by the pandemic.

• Washington scientists finished the first full season of European green crab trapping in mid-October after trapping 253 of the invasive crab in Drayton Harbor.

• Whatcom County executive Satpal Sidhu released a proposed $451.6 million budget for 20212022 with a roughly 17 percent decrease in total expenditures from the county’s amended 2020 budget.

• The Northern Light broke news

recommended people only celebrate the holidays with members of their own household.

• The Blaine school district saw 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.

• Over 500 Asian giant hornets were found in the east Blaine nest eradicated on October 24, Washington State Department of Agriculture officials reported after dissecting the nest that was found in a tree. Despite the number of hornets, entomologists believed few, if any, queens made it out of the nest to form a new colony.

• A small group of veterans celebrated Veterans Day at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Blaine on November 11.

• Birch Bay residents opened their

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

Photo courtesy Allie Simpson/NW Straits est lead on the hornets.

• Governor Jay Inslee relaxed the state’s Safe Start reopening plan on October 6 to allow for various activities like libraries and movie theatres allowing for 25 percent indoor capacity, restricted sports practices and restaurants could serve alcohol until 11 p.m. and sit up to six per table.

• Freedom Community Church donated its 4,000-square-foot building on G Street to the Community Assistance Program. The building will help the nonprofit consolidate its operations.

• Washington State Department of Agriculture officials made a second attempt at tracking the Asian giant hornet on October 6 but ultimately lost track of the hornet when it flew into trees in east Blaine.

• Ballots for the November 3 general election were mailed on October 14 and Whatcom County auditor Diana Bradrick advised voters to return their ballots quickly because half of ballots are often returned during election week.

• The Blaine Farmer’s Market operated during the fall for the first time, using the old Wolten and Montfort grocery space at 648 Peace Portal Drive.

• Washington State Supreme Court ruled on October 15 that Initiative 976, which would have reduced car-tab taxes to a maximum $30, was unconstitution-

that the Washington State Department of Agriculture authorities had successfully tracked and located the first Asian giant hornet nest in the U.S. on October 22.

• The Washington State Department of Agriculture eradicated the first Asian giant hornet nest in the U.S. on October 24.

• On October 27, one week before Election Day, the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office had received 82,765 ballots – more than half of all ballots from 157,715 registered voters in the county and more than double the number of ballots that had been returned at the same point in the 2016 presidential election.

• Blaine and Birch Bay celebrated Halloween socially distant this year with virtual costume contests and drive-through trick-ortreating.

November • Blaine city councilmember Alicia Rule beat Republican incumbent Luanne Van Werven for the 42nd Legislative District Position 1 seat. Democratic incumbent Sharon Shewmake maintained her 42nd Legislative District Position 2 seat against Republican Jennifer Sefzik. This marked the first time since 1998 when Democrats occupied both 42nd district House seats.

• Amidst a growing rate of Covid-19 infections, the Whatcom County Health Department

second M.D. Spa and Wellness Center, located inside the Sandcastle Resort on Birch Bay Drive.

The spa offers similar amenities to its Bellingham location including Botox, massages, facials and a Jacuzzi spa.

• A November 17 press release from the Council on American Islamic Relations Washington and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project alleged that local CBP leadership not only detained many more U.S. citizens and residents of Iranian backgrounds in a January 3-4 crackdown than previously known but subsequently attempted to cover up their actions.

• The Blaine library and other Whatcom County Library System closed their buildings on November 23, less than two weeks after opening to the public with limited hours and 25 percent capacity.

• Revenue from the city of Blaine’s Business and Occupation (B&O) tax helped the city’s 2021 budget after the council decided to reimplement late fees. The budget was expected to increase $65,000 to $200,000.

• Claims for unemployment insurance increased in Whatcom County during the week of November 15 to 21, doubling from 482 claims the week before to 985. The surge in claims, which came the same week governor Jay Inslee closed indoor dining, was the highest number of claims

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since the week of July 5 to 11.

• Blaine school district board members unanimously voted on November 24 to follow revised Whatcom County Health Department guidelines recommending districts not phase in middle and high school students.

• Whatcom County Council adopted a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis in its November 24 meeting.

December • A 64-year-old Birch Bay woman faced second-degree attempted murder charges after allegedly trying to assault her neighbor with a hunting knife on December 3.

• Blaine High School’s National Honor Society started offering district-wide tutoring to support students with online school.

• The Rustic Fork, a Peace Portal Drive Italian restaurant, opened on December 17.

• A Birch Bay mail truck was engulfed in flames and destroyed early 175 packages during a morning delivery on December 7.

No injuries resulted from the fire.

• Whatcom County Council approved funding for 78 body cameras to be worn by Whatcom County Sheriff’s deputies by the end of March 21. The total cost of the body camera program for five years is $381,437.

• Blaine mailbox stores faced the holidays, their busiest season of the year, without their largest customers as the U.S./Canada border entered its ninth month closed to nonessential travel.

• Covid-19 vaccines arrived in Washington state on December 14, bringing about 62,400 doses of the Pfizer vaccine in the first week.

• The Community Assistance Program served 302 children at its annual Toy Store, with community members donating 829 toys, 162 gift cards and $6,331 in monetary donations. Proceeds amounted to $4,032 and divided between the Wildbird Charity Weekend Food Bag Program, The Bridge Community Hope Center Fund and the Community Toy Store to sustain its funds.

• The city of Blaine began the search for a new at-large council member on December 8 after Alicia Rule resigned.

• The first Covid-19 vaccine doses given in Whatcom County were administered to healthcare workers at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center on December 18. By the end of the year, PeaceHealth has administered over 1,000 vaccines to healthcare workers.

• An oil train derailed in Custer shortly after 11:40 a.m. on December 22, forcing evacuations within a mile of the site as burning train cars sent plumes of smoke into the air.

• The Blaine school district announced middle and high school students would start hybrid learning in early January, with students alternating weekly between in-person and online classes.

• The Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce hosted a socially distant Ring of Fire celebration on New Year’s Eve and then community members plunged into the cold Birch Bay waters on New Year’s Day for a virtual Brrr-tual Polar Bear Plunge.

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The Northern Light • January 7 - 13, 2021