33 minute read
Letters
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.
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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
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The Northern Light 225 Marine Drive, Suite 200, Blaine, WA 98230 Tel: 360/332-1777 Vol XXVI, No 29 Circulation: 10,500 copies Circulation Independently verified by:
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
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:
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 vinot 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
Revision
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 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
Next issue: Jan. 14 Ads due: Jan. 8
(See Letters, next page) 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
Birch Bay, meet your new neighborhood deputy
B y G ra C e M C C art H y
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. 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 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.
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
s Birch Bay deputy Derek Jones became Birch Bay’s newest deputy during the first week of January. Photo courtesy Derek Jones
Monday, January 18
City Offices Closed –
Please send letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
CITY OF BLAINE ELECTRIC UTILITY OPERATIONS FOREMAN 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. The City of Blaine is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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" Find us on Facebook
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(360) 332-6906 885 4th St. • Blaine, WA 98230 Pastor Sandy Wisecarver
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This week’s supporters: Bev Mitchell • Frank Sanchez • Richard Silas
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2020 year in REVIEW
City of Blaine
B y M ICH ael J ones , CI ty M ana G er
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 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. 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
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. first Wednesday of every month.
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 fundrais2020 year in REVIEW
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 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
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 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
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
Blaine Chamber of Commerce
B y d onna r a IM ey , pro G ra M and events C oord I nator
new public works director. (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
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Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office
B y B I ll e lfo , C ounty
support. s H er I ff 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.
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.
Photo courtesy Chuck Kinzer s Ann and Annabelle Brown start
the year on the right foot.
Photo by Grace McCarthy s Jim Carr and Linda Cline took on the polar plunge in style. 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
Health & Wellness Local choices in health, healing & fitness.
Stafholt to receive vaccine, as county ramps up distribution
B y G ra C e M C C art H y
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, 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
Image courtesy Whatcom County Health Department
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.
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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Avoid restrictive health and wellness resolutions that can be unsustainable. By downsizing expectations and taking small steps en route to your goals, you may be more motivated to stay the course and realize your resolutions.
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We are pleased to introduce Lisa Lanham, our newest associate. She is accepting new patients. Clayton Sulek Licensed Denturist Since 1986 • Repairs, Relines & Soft Liners • Emergency & New Patients Always Welcome www.bellinghamdentureclinic.com Please call today for your FREE Consultation & Evaluation! DENTURE SERVICES: We offer UNPARALLELED SERVICE • Precision Dentures on dentures we make: • Partial Dentures: • NO-CHARGECast-Metal, Resin Adjustments & Flexible • GUARANTEED Not to break* • Implant-Supported • FREEDentures Annual Exams
Clayton Sulek Licensed Denturist Since 1986 Clayton Sulek Denturist • • Lisa Lanham Denturist James Anderson Licensed Denturist • NO-CHARGE Office Visits *As long as recommended maintenance has been followed. Repairs, Relines & Soft Liners Emergency & New Patients Always Welcome James Anderson Denturist We offer UNPARALLELED SERVICE2 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU: on dentures we make: • NO-CHARGE Adjustments • GUARANTEED Not to break* • FREE Annual Exams James Anderson 1329 King St. • NO-CHARGE Office Visits *As long as recommended maintenance has been followed. 1610 Grover St. Suite B9
Licensed Denturist 360-647-0395 360-318-0880 www.BellinghamDentureClinic.com
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.
For more information, visit Fresh Baked Goods www.mtbaker.us Strictly Organic Coffee & Espresso
FALL/EARLY WINTER 2020 Behind The Heliotrope • Open Everyday
Glacier, WA
ADVENTURES IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST FREE
Checkout Everything Mt. Baker at: mountbakerexperience.com
360-599-1943 Glacier Ski Shop
9966 Mt. Baker Hwy • Glacier • GlacierSkiShop.com Best Rates SEASON RENTALS RENTALS BEST RENTAL RATES Downhill • Tele • X-C • AT • Snowboards • SnowshoesDownhill • Tele • X-C • Snowboards • Snowshoes VoTeD BeST VOTED BEST EVER! tune shop TUNE SHOP Binding Mounts • Hotwax • Ski & Board TunesBinding Mounts • Hotwax • Custom Boot Fitting
The Heliotrope in Glacier
International Food - Dine in or Take out Asian•Middle Eastern•African
9990 Mt. Baker Hwy. Glacier WA • 360-603-8589 theheliotropeinglacier.com
PHOTO BY ANDREW GRUBB
Celebrating 23 Years MAKING HANDCRAFTED BEER & HAND TOSSED PIZZA
NEW 32 oz. CROWLERS ARE HERE Order Online for To Go Orders at www.northforkbrewery.com or on our Facebook and Instagram pages.
