January 21 - 27, 2021
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Gateway stormwater hearing scheduled, page 3
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Blaine burglary Stafholt residents and staff receive vaccine turns into highspeed chase, suspects arrested By Ian Haupt
(See Burglary, page 3)
s Good Samaritan Society – Stafholt residents and staff received their first dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine on January 19. See story on page 15. Photo courtesy Tatiana Koreski
Vaccine now offered to people 65 and older By Grace McCarthy Whatcom County Health Department said it would continue prioritizing vaccinating people in Phase 1a, as the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) announced Monday it would expand eligibility to more of the public. Statewide, healthcare workers began vaccinating people over 65 and those 50 and older who live in multigenerational households, which makes up Phase 1b Tier 1. DOH defines a multigenerational household as a home with people from at least two generations, such as a grandparent and grandchild. In a January 18 press conference announcing the start of the vaccination phase, governor Jay Inslee said people 65 and older make up 80 percent of statewide Covid-19 deaths. Previously, Washington had restricted those in Phase 1b Tier 1 to be 70 years or older but changed that to align with CDC guidelines. The change adds nearly 400,000 more Washington residents eligible for the vaccine, according to the governor’s office. The county health department cited vaccine demand exceeding supply in a press release as the reason it would continue its focus on Phase 1a vaccinations.
“There are still Phase 1a employees who want and need vaccination,” said Melissa Morin, Whatcom County Health Department public information officer. “Vaccine providers haven’t been able to vaccinate everyone in Phase 1a yet because they haven’t had enough vaccine to do so. If more shipments come in and more vaccine doses are available, there’s no reason not to vaccinate Phase 1a and Phase 1b Tier 1 concurrently, but that’s not the case right now.” Despite the county continuing to prioritize the Phase 1a group, Morin said enrolled providers in Whatcom County can begin administering the vaccine to people 65 and older. As of last week, DOH had given Whatcom County 9,200 vaccine doses, which could vaccinate about 60 percent of the 16,000 or so people in Phase 1a Tier 1 – high-risk healthcare workers, high-risk first responders, long-term care facility residents and at-risk healthcare workers. Providers are also vaccinating all other healthcare workers to complete the first phase of vaccinations. “Everyone will have the chance to get vaccinated,” said Cindy Hollinsworth, Whatcom County Health Department communicable disease manager, in a press release. “We know vaccination needs to
move faster in our country, our state and our county. We’re doing what we can to speed this along.” Whatcom County undersheriff Doug Chadwick said law enforcement and corrections deputies began receiving the vaccine last week from several healthcare providers. This comes as Washington State Patrol announced January 15 it had started voluntary vaccinations for its employees, although a state patrol spokesperson could not provide information if officers in Whatcom County had been vaccinated. A Blaine Police Department spokesperson (See Vaccine, page 6)
INSIDE
Blaine police officers entered into a high-speed pursuit just after midnight January 13 when three burglary suspects attempted to elude police. Blaine Police Department booked Dillon Wilson, 30, Brandi Sestrom, 36, and Cory Mezo, 36, into Whatcom County Jail on January 13. The trio was charged with second-degree burglary, five counts of theft of a firearm, five counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and felony conspiracy. Wilson, the driver of the vehicle, was also charged with attempting to elude a police vehicle, first-degree robbery and resisting arrest. At 12:27 a.m. January 13, Blaine police officers were dispatched to a commercial burglary at Pantec Mini Storage on Boblett Street where three suspects were seen on security cameras, sergeant Michael Munden said in an email. Officer Tim Richardson arrived first and observed a small black coupe leave the area toward southbound Interstate 5. Richardson stopped the vehicle on I-5 near the on-ramp of exit 275. Richardson turned on his spotlight and saw two males and a female inside the vehicle, which matched the description of those seen in the storage facility. The vehicle fled seconds after Richardson turned on the spotlight, Munden said. Richardson followed, heading south on I-5, and was joined by Whatcom County sheriff’s deputies. According to a Blaine Police Department Facebook post, the vehicle reached speeds of 117 mph. Washington State Patrol and a sheriff’s deputy attempted a stop by setting spike strips on I-5 but the vehicle exited the freeway onto Grandview Road. Police later learned the suspects had a police scanner, which was why they were able to avoid the spike strips. After exiting I-5, the vehicle turned onto a dead-end road after seeing deputies in front of it, Munden said. The small black coupe then got stuck in the mud in front of a residence on Conifer Drive, just north of Ferndale. Mezo, a passenger in the vehicle, attempted to flee but was contacted by a sheriff’s office K-9 unit. He was treated on the scene for minor injuries, and then taken to the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center ER to treat a small laceration. All three suspects were booked into Whatcom County Jail in the early morning of January 13. Annie Lagerwey, on-site manager for Pantec Mini Storage, said their security
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The Northern Light • January 21 - 27, 2021
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district. In total, 236 people have been hospitalized with the virus in Whatcom County. Whatcom County had a rate of 418 newly diagnosed and probable cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. In the county, 23.5 percent of adult ICU beds were occupied by Covid-19 patients. About 5,944 vaccine doses have been administered in the county, and 294,386 vaccine doses have been administered in the state, according to DOH data. Washington state has had 279,421 total confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic. About 3,940 people in Washington with the virus have died as of January 18 and 16,642 have been hospitalized. The U.S. has had 23,839,868 total confirmed Covid-19 cases since the start of the pandemic, 1,516,910 of which were reported in the past week, according to January 21 CDC data. More information is available on the Washington State Department of Health’s Covid-19 data dashboard at bit.ly/37uiCT2.
January 21 - 27, 2021 • thenorthernlight.com
3
Burglary ... From page 1
company spotted the suspects on the facility’s security cameras and dispatched police. Eleven storage units were found forcibly entered, which Lagerwey said have already been replaced and secured. Munden said the suspect’s vehicle was seized. Blaine police officers recovered five stolen firearms from the car, Richardson said in an email. They also recovered a multitude of pistol and rifle caliber magazines, ammunition, holsters, clothing, parcels and an air conditioner. All items belonged to the known victims of the burglaries and were seized for evidence or safekeeping, Richardson said. Lagerwey said she was pleased with how well their security system worked. They had recently just added two new cameras to the system, she said. “We’re proud of the measures we’ve taken, which made [the suspects] easy to catch,” she said. Lagerwey also mentioned how
s Blaine police officers, along with Washington State Patrol and Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office deputies, pursued a vehicle with three burglary suspects just after midnight January 13 and arrested the suspects when their vehicle got stuck in the mud in a yard just north of Ferndale. Photo courtesy Blaine Police Department
thankful those at Pantec are for the Blaine Police Department’s quick response. “They were amazing,” she said. Lagerwey said she had an idea
of how the suspects may have gotten into the property, which is surrounded by barbed wire fence. She said the suspects had no known relation to any custom-
ers or personnel at the storage facility. Pantec has over 600 units, she said, and the 11 storage units that the suspects broke into were all
in the same hallway. Lagerwey said it seemed like the suspects’ must have had prior knowledge since they went to that specific area of the facility.
Deputies still searching for suspect after woman jumps from his moving car By Ian Haupt A woman jumped out of a moving car January 12 while her boyfriend, who was reportedly holding her against her will, attempted to elude Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office deputies. Sheriff’s office deputies are searching for Kevyn A. Johannes-
son, 32, after establishing probable cause to arrest him on suspicion of eluding a police vehicle, unlawful imprisonment and driving with a suspended license, community programs coordinator Deb Slater told The Northern Light in an email. Johannesson also has a felony arrest warrant out of Montana.
Around noon on January 12, a deputy attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic offense near Arnie and Blaine roads in Birch Bay; however, the vehicle sped off at over 100 mph, Slater reported. The vehicle then tried to lose the deputy in a residential area. While in chase, the deputy saw a female passenger in the vehicle
who appeared to be terrified and attempting to escape, Slater reported. When the driver attempted to make a U-turn, the woman jumped out of the vehicle while it was moving. Slater reported the deputy then stopped the pursuit in order to assist the woman, who had minor abrasions on her hands and legs.
Investigation determined Johannesson, her boyfriend, had held her against her will in the vehicle, Slater reported. The vehicle was later found abandoned in Birch Bay, but Slater reported a K-9 was unable to locate Johannesson. Deputies are actively searching for him, Slater said.
City to hold public hearing on final assessment roll for Gateway project Blaine City Council will hold a virtual public hearing on the final assessment of the Gateway stormwater improvements at 6 p.m. on Monday, February 8. The Gateway stormwater project is under construction near the Gateway parcel, formerly the old municipal airport site. A public trail and wetland mitigation are two of the major projects underway for stormwater improvements at the site, south of H Street, east of State Route 543 and north of Pipeline Road, according to city documents. It is recommended city councilmembers adopt the final assessment roll for the project’s Local Improvement District (LID) and Ordinance No. 21-2954 that establishes conditions and
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prohibitions on the stormwater improvements, according to city documents. During their November 12, 2019 meeting, councilmembers voted 5-0 to pass the ordinance requiring Gateway property owners within the project’s LID No. 36 to help pay for a collective stormwater pond, instead of individual ponds. Under the final assessment roll, property owners in LID NO. 36 are listed as the city of Blaine, Boblett Properties LLC, Chinook Holdings LLC, Chuckanut Bay Properties LLC and Blaine Fortune Holdings LLC. Many of the businesses with property in LID No. 36 were hesitant about the costs of the project during the November 12, 2019
meeting, The Northern Light previously reported. The hearing is pursuant of Resolution No. 1839-21, which was adopted January 11, 2021. Ordinance No. 21-2954 can be viewed on the city of Blaine’s website, ci.blaine.wa.us. To participate in the public hearing that will be conducted remotely, visit ci.blaine.wa.us/327/ city-council to find the meeting agenda with the link. The meeting agenda will be posted on the city’s website on Friday, February 5. Anyone with objections to the final assessment must do so in writing before 6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 8. Objections need to identify the property by something like the lot, block or
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The Northern Light • January 21 - 27, 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.
Wings Over Water set for virtual festival in March
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
s Videographer Dan Lang took advantage of a beautiful winter day last week to video record a guided birding walk of Blaine Harbor by avid birder and photographer, Joe Meche. The video will be available for viewing as part of the Wings Over Water NW Birding Virtual Festival on March 19-21. Wings Over Water Northwest Birding Festival will host online events this March to continue teaching community members about migratory birds that frequent the Blaine area. The 19th annual festival will offer live webinars, prerecorded presentations and fieldtrips from March 19 to March 20. The events are aimed to inspire people of all ages to enhance outdoor experience and birding knowledge, according to the event’s press release. The festival was canceled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Registration information and schedule updates will be added to wingsoverwaterbirdingfestival.com. The virtual festival is free, but donations can be made on its website. For more information, contact festival coordinator Debbie Harger at wingsownw@gmail.com or 360/220-7663. Photo by Debbie Harger
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 Contributors In This Issue Doug Dahl The Northern Light 225 Marine Drive, Suite 200, Blaine, WA 98230 Tel: 360/332-1777 Vol XXVI, No 31 Circulation: 10,500 copies
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Letters The Editor: The letters to the editor in the January 14 edition of The Northern Light proved that there is free speech in America. It is also healthy to allow and state a difference of opinion. It was disappointing, however, to read the vitriol in the letters, and realize that our wonderful community paper is now allowing letters with such levels of negativity and disdain for our local citizens with differing political positions. The letters included generalized accusations and labels that are offensive and sought to divide us. Is that what the intentions of letters to the editor have become? People are hurting from many sources and engaging in painful speech does not help heal our friends and neighbors. My hope is that letter writers will recognize the freedom of speech dosed with civility and respect and follow the paper’s ‘Letters Policy.’ Susan Werner Blaine The Editor: No surprise on the sheriff’s department, when I called down there the deputy I talked to actually argued with me, his viewpoint was masks are not effective in controling the spread of Covid-19. Patrick Fitzsimmons Custer
The Editor: Birch Bay and Blaine Scout Troops and Cub Pack say thank you to our community for your support of our Tree & Wreath Sale and Tree Pick-Up fundraisers. Please recognize our sponsors including Birch Bay Waterslides, Greg Kendall Tree Services, Get SimpleBox, Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 and The Northern Light newspaper for its article on proper tree disposal and promotion of our fund raisers. Donations can be sent to BSA Troop 4025, 862 Portal Way Drive, #119, Blaine, WA, 98230. Funds pay for all participants’ registration and insurance fees for the year and activities including paddle boarding and kayaking during summers, hiking and camping in our beautiful state and this winter: snow shoeing for a Covid-safe activity. If interested in finding out more about the boys’ and girls’ troops, please call Kent at 360/510-2688. Laura Macaulay Blaine The Editor: We were disappointed in several letters to the editor written in the Jan 14 edition of The Northern Light. We have been told in the past that The Northern Light has a policy of not publishing views that are not substantiated by citations from an un-
biased source, such as academic research or government documents. We would be curious to find out what unbiased sources, academic research or government documents have declared that “your actions (Republicans), your hatred, racist actions, your misogyny are laid bare. You can no longer wave the flag from an area of this country you have not even visited, without the rest of the country knowing and identifying your racist motive.” All three letters carry this vitriolic tone. When conservatives write into the paper, we are told our content is not acceptable for the above referenced reason. This is not free speech; it is dividing the country and will not heal until the press in our country presents people’s thoughts on a fair, equal and safe basis. The censorship that has already started in this country against conservatives (i.e. censorship of Parler and conservatives on Facebook and Twitter) is frightening. Please consider your own rules of engagement when publishing offensive messages from either side. God Bless America and the Constitution of the United States. John and Barbara Sturdivant Blaine Please send letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.
January 21 - 27, 2021 • thenorthernlight.com
2020
year in
REVIEW
Blaine Library CITY OF BLAINE
B y D e bb y F a r m e r , branch
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.
manager
2020 began like previous years with the Blaine Library’s usual slate of programs – children’s storytimes, LEGO, Slime, and chess clubs, teen gaming and art groups, and gardening and travel classes for adults. Of course, life changed at day’s end on Saturday, March 12, when all WCLS locations were closed due to the pandemic. Blaine Library patrons, having anticipated this coming and wanting to stock up for the following weeks, checked out an unprecedented 3,686 items in seven hours. For what turned out to be the next 12 weeks, library staff worked from home creating and delivering online programming, and promoting the wide variety of digital resources through WCLSStaff@Home videos. As a result, patrons learned how to knit using Creativebug videos, searched family history with Ancestry.com, or learned a new language with Mango Languages. Work-from-home staff also answered phones calls, helping to connect patrons to the library’s online eBooks, audiobooks, magazines and music, or access the popular streaming video service Kanopy. They aided people in finding appropriate health and
5
Monday, January 25 4:30pm – Special City Council Meeting File photo
economic resources, employment opportunities, and homeschooling helps. Others lent a compassionate ear to those folks who were alone and isolated, maybe with no cable or internet access, and who just wanted to speak to another human being. Staff were asked to read portions of the Bible, the AA manual or from callers’ favorite inspirational authors. It was a humbling and satisfying experience for staff to be able to help people cope in such personal and meaningful ways. On June 8, staff was allowed to return to the building under strict guidelines as defined by Washington State’s Safe Start Plan, CDC recommendations and the health department. At that time, library patrons could finally return their library items and
CITY OF BLAINE, WA NOTICE OF HEARING ON FINAL ASSESSMENT ROLL LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 36 (GATEWAY MANUFACTURING AREA) AND ORDINANCE NO. 21-2954 NOTICE IS GIVEN that the final assessment roll for Local Improvement District No. 36 (Gateway Manufacturing Area) (the “District”), established for the purpose of constructing stormwater improvements (including public trail and wetland mitigation) as ordered by Ordinance No. 19-2937 of the City of Blaine, Washington (“City”), has been prepared as required by law and, together with a draft of Ordinance No. 21-2954 adopting the final assessment roll including conditions and prohibitions on connections to the stormwater improvements are on file and open to inspection on the City’s website, and at the office of the City Clerk at Blaine City Hall, 435 Martin Street, Blaine, Washington. NOTICE FURTHER IS GIVEN that the City Council will conduct the assessment roll hearing and has fixed the time for the hearing upon the final assessment roll and Ordinance No. 21-2954 for 6:00 p.m., local time, on February 8, 2021. The City Council meeting and public hearing will be held virtually. Information on how to “attend” the City Council meeting, as well as participate in the public hearing, will be included on the agenda. Participation in the public hearing can be done via webcam and/or telephone. Written testimony sent via email or mail is also accepted. Please contact the City Clerk at 360-332-8311 seventy-two (72) hours prior to the meeting if you have any issues or concerns about your ability to participate in the meeting. There will be a phone number included on the City Council agenda that you can call if you experience any technical difficulties immediately before and during the public hearing. City Council meeting agendas are published the Friday before each City Council meeting. Any person desiring to object to any assessment appearing on the final assessment roll for the District or objections to conditions on connections to the stormwater improvements is notified to make all objections in writing and to file them with the City Clerk on or before the time fixed for hearing on the final assessment roll. All objections should state clearly the grounds of the objections and should contain lot, block and addition, section, tax number, or other identifying description of the property. Written testimony may be emailed to CityCouncil@cityofblaine.com or mailed to the City Council at 435 Martin St., Suite 3000, Blaine, WA 98230. Written testimony must be received prior to the City Council meeting. At the time of the public hearing, and at such other times to which the hearing may be adjourned, the City Council will sit as a board of equalization for the purpose of considering objections duly filed, together with all information and evidence in support of those objections, and for the purpose of considering the assessment roll. At the hearing, or adjournment thereof, the City Council may correct, revise, raise, lower, change or modify the roll or any part thereof, or set aside the roll and order a new assessment. The City Council will consider all protests and will confirm the assessment roll by ordinance. When property has been entered originally upon the roll, and the assessment thereon is not raised, no objection shall be considered by the City Council or by any court on appeal unless the objection is made in writing at or prior to the date fixed for commencement of the hearing upon the roll. Samuel Crawford, City Clerk, City of Blaine, Washington
place item requests by phone or from the WCLS website for curbside pickup. Over the following weeks, the library system added other no-contact services such as curated to-go bags of books, dvds, magazines, and board games, document printing and pickup, and a laptop for use in the library parking lot. While free Wi-Fi was available throughout the year, it was upgraded to encompass a wider service area and provide optimum connectivity. The Blaine Library was able to reopen its doors to the public in a limited way for three weeks in November, but was directed to close again by the health department. Once the green light is given to reopen, patrons will again be able to reserve a time to enter the building to browse the col-
lections and use the public computers. Seating areas and meeting rooms will remain unavailable until Phases 3 and 4. In the meantime, the popular curbside services, rich digital resources and qualified staff will continue to provide Blaine Library patrons with quality library experiences. The Friends of the Blaine Library thank the community for its overwhelming support and input during the Blaine Library Design Project. After determining that the current building was at the end of life, the architectural firms of Johnston Architects and King Architecture completed a new building design right when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. The friends are now gearing up to see the vision become reality in the coming years.
VISION TAX*
Monday, January 25 6:00pm – City Council Meeting Monday, February 1 5:00pm – Special City Council Meeting – Vacant City Council Interviews and Appointment
Monday, February 8 6:00pm – City Council Meeting Public Hearing: LID #36
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.
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The Northern Light • January 21 - 27, 2021
Vaccine ... From page 1
said police had yet to hear when the vaccine would be offered to officers. How to get vaccinated With these new guidelines, people eligible to be vaccinated can get a shot from any enrolled Covid-19 vaccine provider, regardless of county, the health department spokesperson said. The protocols for verifying eligibility to receive a Covid-19 vaccine are at the discretion of vaccine providers. Providers can choose how they prioritize vaccinating patients, with one of the most important factors being supply, Morin said. There is no county-wide list Whatcom County residents need to be on to schedule a vaccination, the health department spokesperson added. On January 18, DOH launched a Phase Finder tool to help residents know when they will be eligible for a vaccination. People can determine their eligibility by visiting findyourphasewa.org. If eligible, people will get a confirmation they can take to the vaccination sites, which are viewable on the website. Those who are not yet able to receive the vaccine can still fill out the questionnaire to receive a text or email alerting them when they’re eligible. Providers As of January 18, as many as 17 healthcare providers in Whatcom County had been approved and registered by DOH but the county had double that number, 34, with pending applications. The number of providers administering the vaccine varies depending on weekly allotment from DOH, Morin said. The health department could not say how long the state would take to approve applications for county providers, but Morin said the time seemed to vary for different providers. “We are aware of some providers waiting more than a month, and we know that DOH is in-
creasing their staffing for application processing,” she said. Family Care Network (FCN) has not received vaccines to administer to those in Phase 1b yet, according to an update on its website. The provider is prepared to administer the Moderna vaccine when it arrives, but does not know how many vaccines its clinics will receive, according to the FCN website. Morin said the department was unable to provide accurate numbers of vaccine doses administered in the county because of inconsistencies on how providers are reporting numbers. The county is also seeing inconsistent data on the Washington State Immunization Information System, with which Morin said she’s heard other counties are also having difficulty. Inslee announced January 18 that enrolled providers needed to administer 95 percent of their vaccine allotment within a week, effective immediately. Providers are now also required to submit vaccine data to DOH within 24 hours of administering the vaccine. DOH made vaccination data available on its website on January 19. The number of vaccines given in each county and statewide is available, along with if the county and state are meeting the state’s vaccination goal. According to the data, 5,944 vaccines have been administered in Whatcom County, 3,923 in Skagit County, 2,632 in Island County and 421 in San Juan County. How many vaccines are being distributed County health department officials said the county has received an inconsistent number of doses that has ranged from 300 to 5,000 weekly. All enrolled providers have received the vaccine, but some have received very little and not all receive a weekly shipment, Morin said. In addition to dose uncertainty, a vaccine provider with the federal Pharmacy Partnership for
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Long-Term Care Program failed to show up to scheduled vaccination clinics for several long-term care facilities in the county. A local provider stepped in and vaccinated these residents and staff out of the county’s vaccine supply, instead of the state vaccine supply that pharmacies use. The health department was unable to provide additional information on the affected long-term care facilities and provider that offered additional vaccines by press time. Both of these have slowed vaccine distribution, the health department said. Whatcom County has about 42,000 people who are 65 and older, and the state has more than 1 million residents in the first tier of Phase 1b, the health department reported. Washington providers can vaccinate 100,000 people weekly with the state’s current vaccine supply, according to the health department. As of January 16, nearly 294,386 vaccine doses had been administered in Washington – about 42.3 percent of the 696,075 vaccines delivered to the state, according to DOH data. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated over 7.6 million people lived in Washington in 2019. DOH reported about 14,300 vaccines were being administered daily in the state last week but it has a goal of vaccinating 45,000 people daily once it receives enough vaccines to do so over the next few months, Inslee said in the press conference. The state will continue building its vaccine distribution capabilities as it waits on more vaccines, he said. Morin could not say who the largest vaccine provider in the county is or the average number of vaccine doses given daily because the health department does not share provider-specific data with the public due to the state’s concern on vaccine security. North region The health department spokesperson said Whatcom County has various weekly meetings with its counterparts in Skagit, Island and San Juan counties, with which
s Some of the first Pfizer vaccines arriving in Washington on December 14, 2020. Media pool photo the county is grouped in the governor’s new “Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery” plan. The region, currently in Phase 1, will move to Phase 2 when it has a decreasing trend of two-week cases and hospital admissions, and ICU occupancy is less than 90 percent and a virus positivity rate of less than 10 percent. Mass vaccinations for people in Phase 1b Tier 1 will begin at the Skagit County fairgrounds at 501 Taylor Street in Mount Vernon, on Tuesday, January 26. By appointment, Skagit County Public Health will administer the vaccine 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays through Saturdays. San Juan County planned to begin vaccinating people in Phase 1b Tier 1 on January 20 and Island County planned one of its two current vaccine providers would begin Phase 1b while also vaccinating Phase 1a groups, according to press releases from the county health departments. Whatcom County Health Department is in the early stages of creating large-scale vaccination clinics with the collaboration of local healthcare providers, Morin said. The department doesn’t know how many sites will be available because it is still working to understand the amount of resources needed, she said. Morin said there are no plans currently for neighboring counties to help Whatcom County finish Phase 1a vaccinations.
Phase 1b Inslee said in the press conference that 50 percent of people in Phase 1b Tier 1 will need to be vaccinated before those in tiers 2-4 receive their shot. Phase 1b Tier 2 includes highrisk, critical workers over 50 who work in crowded workplaces such as schools. Phase 1b Tier 3 includes people 16 and over with two or more underlying conditions. Phase 1b Tier 4 includes high-risk, critical workers under 50 and people in group facilities such as the Whatcom County Jail and people without housing who seek services in group settings such as shelters. People in Phase 1b tiers 2-4 can be vaccinated together in group clinics if vaccinating people only in tier 2 could mean doses go to waste, according to the news release. DOH hopes to vaccinate everyone in Phase 1b before late spring. Health officials still encourage limiting social interactions with people outside of household groups, mask wearing and frequent hand washing to reduce the spread of Covid-19. For more Whatcom County information, visit whatcomcounty. us/covidvaccine and whatcomcounty.us/coviddata. Visit bit. ly/3bXHMf9 for statewide vaccine information and bit.ly/3nZiMqr to find a vaccination clinic. The vaccine dashboard can be viewed at bit.ly/3r2URJj.
Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office employees test positive for Covid-19 By Grace McCarthy Seven Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office employees have tested positive for Covid-19 over the past two weeks, six of whom are law enforcement deputies and one a corrections deputy. The corrections deputy was working in the Whatcom County Jail before testing positive but there have been no other reported Covid-19 cases in the jail, sheriff Bill Elfo said. The sheriff’s office could not provide the dates when employees tested positive or the number of people who may have been exposed to the virus by publication. Elfo said those who had been in contact with the people who tested positive were instructed to work from home. None of the employees who
tested positive have experienced serious symptoms, Elfo said. Three of the seven employees who tested positive are working again, and Elfo said their absence did not leave any holes in the field. “We’ve been able to cover patrol,” he said. Since last March, Elfo said 11 of the agency’s 204 employees have tested positive for the virus, with the first employee testing positive at the beginning of summer. “To be honest, we thought we’d see much higher rates of Covid amongst our employees,” he said. These seven employees tested positive for Covid-19 during a time when the county is reaching record-breaking numbers of daily confirmed cases. As of January 13, Whatcom County had 4,594 confirmed cases since the start of
the pandemic. Nooksack Valley and Lynden school districts saw two-week virus case rates triple and double, respectively. The sheriff’s office has had staff wear masks, except when in their individual offices or cubicles, and work from home when possible, but Elfo said deputies at times need to work in small groups. The employees who tested positive were likely in contact with each other, he said. The sheriff’s office began vaccinations last week with corrections and law enforcement deputies receiving the first doses from local healthcare providers, undersheriff Doug Chadwick said. Elfo said he did not know if any of the deputies who tested positive had been in the Blaine and Birch Bay area when potentially infected.
January 21 - 27, 2021 • thenorthernlight.com
7
Borderite football excited for possible return, amid new guidelines By Conor Wilson The Borderite football team has not played a snap since its November 2019 playoff game against Liberty High School and the team’s newly built stadium remains unused. For the past several months, the team has been communicating using a Google Classroom, talking about football and everything else at a distance, said head coach Jay Dodd. They are also following the constantly changing Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) return-to-play guidelines. “It’s been a lot of different scenarios and a lot of different plans,” Dodd said. Blaine High School students began hybrid learning January 11, and under new WIAA guide-
lines released January 6, traditional fall sports, such as football, could begin competition as soon as next month. Traditional winter and spring sports are expected to follow, beginning March 15, and April 26. However, that is dependent on the region meeting Covid-19 metric goals set by governor Jay Inslee’s “Healthy Washington” plan. To meet the guidelines, Whatcom, and the other three counties comprising the north region, must move into phase 2 of the governor’s plan. As of a January 15 report, the region is hitting three of four metric goals to move phases. Alongside the guideline change, the Borderites will begin holding daily practices starting this week, according to an email Dodd sent football families. The
s From l; Blaine High School seniors Colton Pedersen and Tyson Kirk. Photo courtesy Colton Pedersen
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practices will feature physical conditioning and small six-person groups for football specific drills. “I have one last year and I don’t want to miss out on it,” said Colton Pedersen, a senior offensive lineman and linebacker. Pedersen said he was looking forward to his senior night. “Being able to walk out on that field with my dad and look at the crowd and know that I played four years of high school football and worked hard, just to have that final gratification,” he said. Senior quarterback Will McKinney said he felt safe returning to school and is excited about the possibility of football returning, as well. “Walking through the halls after being away for almost a year, it’s a little eerie, but I think the experience has been good, it’s definitely something you miss,” he said. As there are no practices occurring, both athletes have been working out at home over the past few months. Pedersen, who is also on the wrestling team, has been wrestling with a few teammates to maintain fitness. Both said there were difficulties in keeping the team motivated due to less contact with each other and their coaches. “Now that we’re back in school, we’ll see people,” McKinney said. “It’s like a small community, I think it will keep people motivated and engaged.” Dodd echoed this sentiment,
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expressing the importance of students having role models. “The biggest challenge is not getting to see these kids every day,” he said. “These kids are dealing with a lot, and it’s so important for them to have a coach or teacher they can depend on.” Dodd and district athletic director Sean Linville said the school is currently working on a plan for safely resuming athletics if the region moves to phase 2. Dodd said if the school can provide athletics safely he thinks everyone would have a greater appreciation for the opportunity. “If there’s one positive to come out of the last 10 months, it’s when something gets taken away from you and then all of a sudden when [the students] get to come back, we’re all going to appreciate
it that much more,” he said. According to a survey of 30,000 student athletes conducted by the University of Wisconsin in May, high school student athletes in Wisconsin were no more likely to test positive for Covid-19 compared to other 14 to 17-year-olds during the same time. All of the schools surveyed had a formal Covid-19 plan in place, 83 percent required mask wearing. If play does return, the season will be condensed to seven weeks and will likely not include state playoffs. Still, Pedersen and McKinney said they are thrilled for the opportunity to play again. “Everyone should be ready for the season,” Pedersen said. “We are pretty amped and want to get back out on that field and work hard.”
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8
The Northern Light • January 21 - 27, 2021
Birch Bay berm performing as it should, public works says no project will prevent all damage By Ian Haupt
s Last week’s high tide and strong winds threw some driftwood and beach rock onto Birch Bay Drive and the parking spots near Bay Breeze Restaurant and Bar, but according to Whatcom County Public Works, the berm protected the roadway from a storm similar to one in 2018 that caused major damage. The berm uses the natural slope of the restored shoreline to dissipate the force of the waves, public works said. Photo courtesy Bob Harris
Whatcom County Public Works said in a news release on January 14 that the Birch Bay berm performed well during the previous week’s storm and any flooding occurred in an area not protected by the berm. While some debris – driftwood and beach rock – was thrown onto Birch Bay Drive, Bay Breeze Restaurant and Bar and the parking spaces near the restaurant, public works said this is to be expected and that the berm prevented any damage from being done to Birch Bay Drive. If it weren’t for the recent construction on the berm, the combination of high tide and strong winds last week could have caused similar damage to what Birch Bay experienced in 2018, said John Gargett, emergency management director for the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office. The storm surge two years ago left Birch Bay Drive in tatters and incurred over $5 million in
local damage. Last week, the bay experienced a similar surge of high tide and strong winds that backed up Terrell Creek, causing flooding in Birch Bay State Park and surrounding neighborhoods in the freshwater floodplain. “The berm is designed to keep seawater from inundating Birch Bay Drive and the surrounding areas,” the public works news release said. “It is not designed to protect the freshwater creek floodplain.” Marie Duckworth, communications specialist for Whatcom County Public Works, said in an email that there is very little public works can do about flooding in that area. With king tides and strong winds acting as a dam and already high water levels on Terrell Creek due to recent heavy rains, flooding will happen in the creek’s floodplain, Duckworth said. To alleviate the flooding in that (See Berm, next page)
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January 21 - 27, 2021 • thenorthernlight.com
Berm ... From previous page
area, public works would have to re-route the water away from these low-lying areas, which she said would require a very expensive and time-consuming project that may not provide a guarantee of flood protection. Along the berm, officially called the Birch Bay Drive and Pedestrian Facility Project, the storm had minor effects, like driftwood and beach rock strewn onto the roadway and path. Gargett, who was out on the bay around 6 a.m. the morning of the storm, said he saw waves crashing over the limestone pathway of the newly constructed Birch Bay berm and the Bay Breeze Restaurant. Justin Myers, general manager of Bay Breeze Restaurant and Bar, said the storm didn’t cause major damage to the restaurant. “We had a little bit of water come underneath the exit door,” he said. “But no real damage. We’re still open.” Myers said they boarded up the western-facing windows prior to the storm and reinforced them with boards on the inside of the building the morning of
the storm. He also said they had minor debris strewn around the property that was easy to cleanup. “No engineering project will be able to prevent all the damage from every storm,” the public works news release said. “What the berm project does is mitigate and reduce the potential damage.” The berm uses the natural slope of the restored shoreline to dissipate the force of waves, thereby mitigating the damage done from these kinds of storms, according to public works. Gargett closed Birch Bay State Park because he said there was about a foot of standing water that was intermixed with debris from the bay and creek on Birch Bay Drive. Birch, Sunset, Terrill, Willow and Wooldridge drives and Morrison Avenue were also closed that morning due to standing water on the roadways. Gargett said there were many properties with water up to the door seal level in that area, but there have been no reports of any damage to those properties. “It is an unusual event for that to occur simultaneously,” Gargett said about the high tide and winds backing up Terrell Creek,
causing the flooding. “It’s not a normal thing.” Duckworth said most of the water clears when the tide recedes, which was already beginning to happen when public works crews arrived. The park and roads were opened by the following day.
Duckworth said public works received a few phone calls from people advising them of the debris near their homes but there was no mention of property damage. The department said no damage was done to the berm, the walkway or construction equip-
Photo courtesy Bob Harris
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ment, but some of the plantings along the slope of the berm were either lost or damaged. They will assess the plantings through the spring and summer to see what will need to be replanted. The berm project will also remain on schedule, the news release said.
s High tide and wind strewed beach debris onto Birch Bay Drive on January 13.
PROS Loren Adkins
work, time, expense, and consideration than your average home loan. That’s why it’s important to establish a relationship with a bank with an active construction loan program before you even find a builder. Despite the extra effort required, there’s no question that building a new home can be an attractive option. A limited supply of available housing inventory is creating greater interest in new home building, and we’re seeing more new construction loan applications in recent months.
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Q: How can physical therapy improve my balance and decrease my fall risk? A:
Justin Marshall, DPT,OCS Physical Therapist Capstone Physical Therapy
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During all our daily activities we use our vision, musculoskeletal system, and the vestibular (inner ear) system to maintain our balance. Physical therapy can help improve your balance by improving the muscular strength in your legs and trunk. And the strength of your vestibular system, commonly known as your equilibrium. At Capstone physical therapy we will work with you to identify points of improvement for your balance and prescribe a program based on your individual needs. Capstone is conveniently located in seven locations throughout Whatcom County and is accepting new patients at our Birch Bay Square location and our Blaine clinic on H Street. www.capstonept.com 825 Birch Bay Square Street, Suite 248 Blaine, WA 98230
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Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) continue to be available through the Small Business Administration. EIDLs are 30-year low interest loans.
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10
Pets & Pet Care
The Northern Light • January 21 - 27, 2021
Best Photo Clips, Tips and products for a healthier, happier pet!
Road Rules: When can pets become a distraction while driving? By Doug Dahl Q: Distracted driving is easy to pin on phone usage, but what about little dogs on drivers’ laps? I’ve seen so many situations that can be very dangerous due to dogs between the driver and the steering wheel or hanging out the driver’s window. A: First the good news: At any given moment, most drivers (about 93 percent in Washington) are not distracted. Right now you’re saying, “Wait a second, there’s no way that’s true.” I know you’re saying that because that, or some variation of it, is what people usually say to me when I share that data. We humans are kind of hardwired with what the psychologists call positive-negative asymmetry. In this context, it means
we’re more likely to notice and remember negative behavior (like driving distracted) than positive behavior. When a driver pays attention and drives the speed limit there isn’t much to see, so we notice the problem drivers and start to think they’re the majority. But it’s not just a psychological mind trick. In 2019 Washington state conducted a distracted driving observation study. It’s pretty much what it sounds like. Observers surveyed drivers at various locations throughout the state and noted the kinds of distractions, if any, the drivers engaged in. The results? Just under 7 percent of drivers engaged in various forms of distraction. Seven percent might seem like a small number, but it’s the consequences that really matter. In the same year as the study, dis-
traction contributed to 126 traffic fatalities (24 percent of all traffic fatalities). It’s a relatively low-frequency behavior that contributes to disproportionately large number of serious crashes. I’ll also note that while 126 deaths are far too many, it’s the lowest number of fatal crashes involving distracted driving in the last decade. When those observers conducted their study they sorted their observations of distraction into three categories: Having a phone up to the ear, holding and manipulating a phone, and other distractions. The “other” category wasn’t sorted into subcategories, but did include pets. Statewide results show 3.2 percent of drivers holding a phone, 1.4 percent with a phone up to their ear and 2.2 percent distracted by something else, for a total
of 6.8 percent. While phones aren’t the only distraction, they make up over two-thirds of distracted drivers. That seems like a good justification for why we have one distracted driving law specific to electronic devices and one for other distractions, called “dangerously distracted driving.” With that as a background, let’s talk about dogs. “Dangerously distracted” means any activity not related to driving that interferes with safe driving. Clearly, trying to steer while a pet has its paws through the steering wheel, making a turn while dog with its head out the window blocks your view or even diverting your attention to a barking dog all interfere with safe driving. I haven’t seen a study that can confirm whether pets are a greater distraction than phones, but this
shouldn’t be a discussion about which one is less bad. Any kind of distraction puts other road users at risk. A pedestrian shouldn’t have to suffer the consequences of a driver who loves their pet so much they just can’t bear to put them in their own seat. Which brings up one more point: The driver’s lap is about the worst place for a pet in a crash. Putting your dog between your body and an airbag that deploys in 60 milliseconds, well, I’m not going to describe it. I love snuggly pets, but while driving they deserve their own seat, preferably harnessed. It’ll protect the dog and decrease distractions for the driver. Win-win. Doug Dahl is a manager with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, Region 11 and publishes TheWiseDrive.com.
s Mr. Tod, a Persian cat who was rehomed to the McDonald family from another Blaine family. Photo courtesy Stephanie McDonald
s Scarlett and Sox.
Photo courtesy Christina Palicka
Submit Pet Paparazzi photos to editor@thenorthernlight.com
s Kurtis, a 3-year-old tortoise who loves sunbathing and munching on lettuce. Photo courtesy Lindsey Freeman
ADOPT A PET! We’re looking for good homes! To adopt one of us please call our Adoptions department at (360) 733-2080
Or visit us at 2172 Division St., Bellingham, WA 98226 Hi, We’re Diamond Doves!
Hi, I’m Addy!
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January 21 - 27, 2021 • thenorthernlight.com
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360-332-1777 sales@thenorthernlight.com Legal IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF WHATCOM IN RE THE ESTATE OF: CLARENCE R. MCCLUNG, Deceased. NO. 21-4-00032-37. NONPROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS RCW 11.40.030. JUDGE: EVAN JONES. THE NOTICE AGENT NAMED BELOW has elected to give notice to creditors of the above-named 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 of the 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: Jan. 21, 2021 The notice agent declares under penalty of perjury under the laws of the state of Washington on January 19, 2021, at Bellingham, Washington, that the foregoing is true and correct. Notice Agent: PENNY A. SHERWOOD 466 W. Lake Samish Dr, Bellingham, WA 98227 Attorney for Notice Agent: KATTI ESP, 301 Prospect Street, Bellingham, WA 98225 Address for Mailing or Service: KATTI ESP, 301 Prospect Street, Bellingham, WA 98225 Court of notice agent’s Declaration and Oath: Superior Court of Whatcom County Cause No. 21-4-00032-37
NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF CORPORATION The Washington State Corporation Pop and Roast, Inc. has been dissolved. Any person having a claim against Pop and Roast, Inc. must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present a written notice in the manner as provided in RCW 23B.14 by serving on or mailing to the Registered Agent at the address stated below a copy of the claim against Pop and Roast, Inc. Information included in the claim must contain the following: a) a general description of the known facts relating to a matured and legally assertible claim or liability, or b) an identification of the executory contract with respect to which unmatured, conditional, or contingent claims or liabilities are sought to be disposed of. The written notice of such claim must be delivered to Pop and Roast, Inc.’s Registered Agent no fewer than 120 days of the publication date of this Notice. Any claim or any executory contract on which the claim is based may be rejected by the dissolved corporation, in which case the holder of the known claim will have a limited period of 90 days from the effective date of the rejection notice in which to commence a proceeding in Court to enforce the claim. The claim may be delivered to Pop and Roast, Inc.’s Registered Agent. Any claim against the Corporation may be barred in accordance with RCW 23B.14 if not timely asserted. Registered Agent: Debra Sasken-Duff 255 Marine Drive, #300, Blaine, WA 98230
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF WHATCOM IN RE THE ESTATE OF: CLOID PAGE, Deceased. NO. 20-4-00672-37. PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS RCW 11.40.030. JUDGE: ROBERT E. OLSON THE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE NAMED BELOW has been appointed as personal representative of this estate. 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 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to the personal representative or the personal representative’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 probate proceedings were commenced. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) Thirty days after the personal representative served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(1) (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 11.40.051 and 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the decedent’s probate and nonprobate assets. Date of First Publication: January 14, 2021 Personal Representative: Iris Kingston PO Box 127, Bellingham, WA 98227 Attorney for the Personal Representative: KATTI ESP, 301 Prospect Street, Bellingham, WA 98225 Address for Mailing or Service: KATTI ESP, 301 Prospect Street, Bellingham, WA 98225 Court of Probate Proceedings Superior Court of Whatcom County and Cause Number: Cause No. 20-4-00672-37 Superior Court of Washington, County of WHATCOM In re Estate of: DORIS JACQUELINE SPINKS, Deceased. No. 20-4-00524-37 PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS (RCW 11.40.020-030) PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS The Personal Representative named below has been appointed as Personal Representative of the Estate of DORIS JACQUELINE SPINKS. 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 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to the Personal Representative at the address stated below a copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the Court. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) 30 days after the Personal Representative served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(3); 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 11.40.051 and 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the Decedent's probate and non-probate assets. Date of First Publication: January 7, 2021 Personal Representative: BILLY JOEL SPINKS Address for Mailing or Service: 2008 E ST, BELLINGHAM,WA,98225 Email: spinkyboi@gmail.com Court of Probate Proceedings and Cause Number Whatcom County Superior Court No. 20-4-00524-37
More Real Estate Listings are on page 12
12
The Northern Light • January 21 - 27, 2021
Real Estate
BLAINE, BIRCH BAY & SEMIAHMOO
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
7650 Birch Bay Drive #M4 7714 Birch Bay Drive #405 5768 Salish Road MLS #1715469 $619,900 MLS #1664824 $250,000 MLS #168344 $268,000 Enjoy the private gated beach access from your new vacation getaway @ Bay Rim! This 2-BD, 1.5-BA townhouse is just steps from Birch Bay beaches. Totally suitable for full time living, unit features high ceilings, skylights, updated kitchen & bathrooms. Community features include a reserved parking space, heated pool, private gated beach access. This is hard to find affordable living - monthly dues cover water & sewer, too! Conveniently tucked away in the back of the complex for maximum privacy.
Jen Freeman 360-815-0803
Spectacular sunsets, deluxe top floor waterfront condo. Sunny west facing, fully furnished home features 9 ft ceilings 3-BD, 2.5-BA, custom cabinets, slab granite counters, tile & wood flooring. Exceptional quality throughout. Lower level has 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
Well maintained furnished home in Birch 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.
Lisa Kent 360-594-8034
4751 Birch Bay-Lynden Rd #108 $75,000 MLS #1691781
5622 Salish Road 8299 Fawn Crescent Road MLS ##1716748 $359,000 MLS #1696092 $699,900
Modern New Construction in most desirable gated community of Northwest. Walk to beautiful Birch Bay beaches from 4-BD 2.5-BA home offers open concept your 180 day lot in Latitude 49! This 3,116 living room, 18’ ceilings w/floor to ceiling square foot lot features a 10x10 shed, will linear gas fireplace. High Quality Designer accommodate parking for a motorhome/RV appointments throughout. Luxurious Master up to 40 feet with poured concrete parking suite. Resort style views of Bay, golf course for 2 vehicles. Resort amenities include and Mountains from Balcony. Boat /RV secure gated entry, on-site laundry, pool, Parking. Birch Bay Village includes 24/7 tennis, playground, clubhouse & exercise Gate Security, golf course, clubhouse, tennis room. Fantastic Birch Bay location is courts, swimming pool, picnic areas, boat minutes from US/CAN borders & I-5 access. launch, marina.Don’t miss out on this gem!
Leah Crews 360-305-4747
Sukhvir Khaira 360-727-8080
F E AT U R E D L I S T I N G S - S E M I A H M O O
9525 Semiahmoo Pkwy #203 5514 Puffin Place $689,90 MLS #1549861 $350,000 MLS #1617151
On 550’ of private beach at Semiahmoo, 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
One of four special Duplex lots #D, in the new, Harbor View at Drayton Hillside Short plat on Puffin Place. You have options: you can build a duplex attached or detached or build a home with a guest home / Casita. Private road completed. Enjoy the water and mountain views afforded from this memorably beautiful location. Enjoy all Semiahmoo amenities: Gated communities, Marina, Arnold Palmer Designed Golf & CC, 200 room Inn at Semiahmoo, Spa, restaurants, tennis, pools, beaches and more.
Brian Southwick 360-815-6638
Charming Cottage completely updated within walking distance to the beach! Wind your way through an inviting neighborhood with views of the bay. You will love one floor living nestled at the end of a private cul-desac. Enjoy the peaceful ambiance on your beautiful deck over-looking the woods and the fragrant smell of the new cedar siding. New kitchen, paint, roof and flooring. Inviting entrance with 4 car parking plus room for an RV or boat. This delightful 3-BD, 1-BA home will beckon you in to make it your own!
Faith Ulate 360-220-8685
F E AT U R E D B L A I N E
5366 Night Heron Dr $525,000 MLS #1664909
Build your waterfront dream home on this one of a kind, 37,336 sq ft. homesite hugging 215 feet of peaceful, pebbly Semiahmoo shore of Drayton Harbor. Sunlight sparkles on gentle saltwater. Sea breezes carry the call of Eagles, Great Blue Herons and countless migratory shore birds. Ancient evergreens stand sentinel along the property perimeter. Snow-capped mountains, night lights of Blaine & White Rock BC. Welcoming neighbors & stately homes custom designed in concert w/Semiahmoo CCR’s.
Brian Southwick 360-815-6638
5327 Canvasback Road Peace Portal Drive $799,500 MLS #1717556 $335,000 MLS #1601561
Sunny south facing fairway home just finished the most amazing interior remodel. New roof--all new exterior paint--new landscape design showcases terrific fairway location. Delight in the clean-bright interior--all white kitchen with 10 foot breakfast island. Custom 8 foot French doors off great room to new Trex deck. Beautifully finished wide planked floor. There is so much to appreciate in this home. High ceilings, bonus room offers water view to Drayton Harbor and mountains.
Kathy Stauffer 360-815-4718
LOCATION! High visibility corner between Peace Portal Drive & Interstate 5, minutes from Canadian border. The sale includes two properties totaling just over 2 acres. 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 or Matt Berry 360-389-0104
www.windermere.com
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT • Vacation Properties WE DO • Residential Properties ! IT ALL • Commercial Properties Call Phill Esau Today!
Nimbus Property Management
360-594-8600 225 G Street, Suite 102
Downtown Blaine (Across from Hill’s Chevron)
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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 Your Local Expert For All Real Estate, Residential Or Commercial Services! Hugh Brawford, Managing Broker
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Rentals - Commercial
NELSON BUILDING LEASE SPACES FOR:
360-305-0286
Email nelsbldg@msn.com
All Allreal realestate/rentals estate/rentalsadvertisadvertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal ing this newspaper is subject FairinHousing Act of 1968 as amended, which makes it illegal to advertise any topreference, the Federallimitation Fair Housing Act or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, ofhandicap 1968 asfamilial amended, which status or makes nationalit illegal origin, or an intention to make any such preference, tolimitation advertiseorany preference, limitation or dis- will not knowingly accept any advertisement discrimination. This newspaper crimination based on israce, color, religion, for real estate which in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all sex, handicap, familial status national ori-are available on an equal opportunity basis. To dwellings advertised in thisornewspaper gin, or an intention to make any suchtoll-free pref- at 1-800-877-0246. complain of discrimination, call HUD erence, limitation or discrimination. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertisement for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll-free at 1-800-877-0246.
800 - 1600 s.f.
Warehousing-Distribution Manufacturing or Retail Vehicle Storage Yards Email or Call Don Nelson For Availability & Rates
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With Waterfront Views of Blaine Harbor
925 Ludwick Ave., Blaine
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FOR LEASE
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360/332-1777
January 21 - 27, 2021 • thenorthernlight.com
13
Capital gains tax gets a harsh reception in Olympia By Patric Haerle, W a s hi n g t o n State Journal A different take on governor Jay Inslee’s capital gains tax, less broad and friendlier to small family-owned businesses, will likely be introduced later in this year’s legislative session. “We are considering proposals similar to what the House has considered in years’ past,” said representative Noel Frame (D-Seattle). “For instance, the filing threshold has been higher in the past House versions, so that’s one major difference. Also what we have had the last several years is an exemption for bona fide family owned businesses.” Frame emphasized the goal of any tax she and fellow Democrats propose is not to raise the burden on the general public, but to make sure those who are wealthiest pay their fair share. “Low income people pay six times more in taxes of the share of their income than the wealthiest Washingtonians,” Frame said. “Our great hope is that any new tax policies that we’re having is good policy and it’s taking us a step toward making the tax code more equitable.” The bill, as originally presented, received a harsh reception from small business owners and Republicans. It proposed a 9 percent tax on profits realized from selling
investments such as stocks and bonds and other property. A capital gains tax is the revenue centerpiece in Inslee’s proposed budget. As originally proposed, Senate Bill 5096 would take effect January 1, 2022 on all capital gains over $25,000 for individuals, and over $50,000 for joint filers. At its first hearing January 14, some said the bill was a disingenuous attempt to implement an income tax, which is not allowed under Washington’s constitution. “Our budget is balanced right now, there’s no need to raise any taxes or create new ones,” said senator Lynda Wilson (R-Vancouver). “The problem with this income tax is that it’s an income tax and it’s not an excise tax. Washingtonians have said six different times that they do not want an income tax.” Long-term capital gains are reported on federal income taxes, but typically are taxed separately from other income and at lower rates. If the bill is passed in its current form, Wilson said it almost certainly will be challenged in the courts. “If they don’t change their precedent from the 1930s when they came out and said income is property, then it should be [ruled unconstitutional],” Wilson said. “Every other state’s revenue departments tell us that they count this as income tax, so I don’t
know how we could be an outlier in one state trying to claim that it’s an excise tax.” Additionally, Wilson said that she believes if this tax passes as proposed, it would create the structure for eventually implementing a traditional income tax on citizens. While Democrats say the bill is mostly intended to tax the sale of long-term stocks and bonds, the selling of businesses and non-residential real estate are not exempt from the tax, leaving many worried about unintended consequences. “It’s funny that when they talk about that, ‘This is a tax on the rich.’ I’m sorry but I don’t feel rich,” Lois Cook said with a laugh after testifying on the bill. Cook has run America’s Phone Guys, a small business telecommunications retailer, with her husband since 2004. She was among the more than 100 people who testified on the bill at its first public hearing on January 14. At the hearing, Cook expressed concerns that were echoed through the night. In its current form, small business owners and landlords who are relying on the eventual sale of their business or property for retirement are worried about how the tax could impact their future. Cook admitted she and her husband have already discussed moving to a more tax friendly location, and if the tax is passed
Parents, educators worry Inslee schools budget falls short By Patric Haerle, W a s hi n g t o n State Journal Governor Jay Inslee’s proposed budget for the upcoming biennium calls for $570 million in new education spending, but many parents and educators have expressed frustration that the governor’s budget does not adequately fund additional transportation and special education needs fueled by Covid-19. Of the education spending, the governor proposed $400 million for schools to expand learning opportunities and potentially add instructional time for their students. Additionally, the budget also includes $79 million to support broadband connections for families across Washington, $32 million for school support staff such as counselors, $14.8 million for paraeducators and $3.2 million for special education. School buses, especially in rural areas, have been especially crucial to public schools during the pandemic, Ben Ferney, superintendent of Valley School District, located north of Spokane, told Senate Ways and Means Committee members January 12. “Buses are our lifeline to our students,” Ferney said. His district provides transportation for itself and three other small near-
by districts. “Getting food to our students who are spread out over many miles has been critical. We use buses for curriculum delivery. Our issue is not lack of devices, but lack of internet. So we were delivering USBs, hardcopies and returning homework through busing.” Ramona Hattendorf from the Arc of King County, a group that champions disability rights, explained that the pandemic has been especially hard on students with special needs. “The budget does not acknowledge the reality that most of our state’s 143,000 students with [individualized education plans] have not been well served, or served at all during the pandemic,” Hattendorf said. “When developmental disabilities are present students need consistent access to these types of supports with skill building and when they don’t have it, they regress quite a bit.” Witnesses at the hearing also raised concerns around the need to stabilize funding for enrollment, which is down in almost every school district in the state. Total student enrollment in Washington public schools was down close to 31,000 students this September compared with 2019. In his inaugural address on January 13, Inslee touched briefly
unamended, they would likely move out of state. She also said she likes the concept behind the tax, and would support it if there were exemptions for small business sales. Current exemptions in Inslee’s proposal include residential dwellings, assets held in a retirement account, livestock, timber and capital assets for a trade or business of a sole proprietorship among several other examples. Jacob Vigdor, faculty legislative representative and professor of public policy and governance at the University of Washington, was among those who voiced support. He did so on behalf of the more than 4,500 members of UW faculty. “Something that comes up perennially is this notion that we’re worried about the regressive nature of taxation in Washington state ... I think it’s just important
for us to sort of make it known that we understand that support from the state is part of what makes the university work, and, you know, if we had our druthers, we would have that support be funded by a more progressive tax system.” Vigdor also said worries about a slippery slope with more taxes immediately following is mostly unfounded. “Given the difficulty of passing progressive legislation, and given the ballot propositions that can pop up when something passes, I don’t see a slippery slope,” Vigdor said. “I mean, if there is a slope it’s not slippery, it’s more like sandpaper.” The Washington State Journal is a non-profit news website managed by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation. Learn more at wastatejournal.org.
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on the struggles students, parents and educators have faced during the pandemic and how the state needs to continue to support them. “I’m looking forward to working with you to remediate the impacts our students have suffered because of this pandemic,” Inslee said in the pre-recorded speech. “No one today has a single answer, we just have to provide the support these students need; whether it’s academic, mental health or nutrition.”
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The Washington State Journal is a non-profit news website managed by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation. Learn more at wastatejournal.org.
for REAL news
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LOCAL IN PRINT & ONLINE www.thenorthernlight.com
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14
The Northern Light • January 21 - 27, 2021
Police Reports January 9, 12:15 p.m.: A Blaine resident contacted police to report he had been threatened while retrieving his mail in the 1200 block of Garfield Avenue. The man was trying to tell a vehicle to slow down when he witnessed it speeding. The suspect slammed on the breaks exiting the car. The suspect rushed over to the man threatening to fight him and his teenage son. After a brief verbal altercation, the suspect fled off in his vehicle southbound. The investigation is ongoing. January 9, 6:26 p.m.: Officers responded to a report of someone yelling for help. Officers determined it was children playing. No further action was taken. January 9, 10:54 p.m.: While on routine patrol, an officer observed a vehicle exit I-5 and drive through the stop sign at the intersection with Peace Portal Drive. The officer conducted a traffic stop and discovered the driver was driving with a suspended driver’s license. The individual was arrested, cited and released with a mandatory court date. January 10, 7:14 a.m.: While on routine patrol, an officer checked the US Post Office and
found a person inside who had previously been trespassed. The man had also been previously arrested within the week for the same violation. The officer arrested the man a second time, cited and released him with a subsequent court date. January 10, 10:06 a.m.: A police officer was on routine patrol when they stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. The police officer determined the driver’s status in the state of Washington was suspended in the 3rd degree. The driver was arrested and given a criminal citation for driving while license suspended in the 3rd degree and then released. The driver had a licensed driver come and pick up the vehicle. January 10, 1:39 p.m.: An officer stopped a vehicle for speeding. The driver was found to be driving while their license was suspended. The driver was arrested, cited and released. The passenger was also arrested, cited and released for allowing an unauthorized person to drive their vehicle. They were both issued mandatory court hearings. January 10, 1:37 p.m.: An unknown person reported a person was in a residence in the city of
Blaine who had a warrant for his arrest. The police checked the residence and the person with the warrant answered the door. Police arrested the person for the warrant and transported him to Whatcom County Jail. January 11, 1:08 a.m.: An officer on patrol discovered damage to a business’s property. There are no suspects for the property damage. Police are waiting for an estimate from the business. January 11, 7:30 a.m.: An officer was dispatched to a collision in the 5600 block of Semiahmoo Parkway. A driver lost control and slid off the roadway into a bank of trees. The driver was transported to the hospital with unknown injuries. The vehicle was towed and appears to be a total loss. January 11, 8:20 a.m.: A parent reported their child was accidentally left on a school bus after all the other kids were dropped off at school. The child was not injured during their time on the bus. The police investigated the incident and determined at this time no crime was committed. The incident is being handled by the school administration. Report by Blaine Police Department.
Crossword
DATE
TIME
HEIGHT
TIME
HEIGHT
11:26 am 8.90 7:23 pm 1.60
Sa 23 3:25 am 7.23 6:20 am 6.92
11:58 am 8.79 8:05 pm 0.84
Su 24 4:21 am 8.04 7:50 am 7.46
12:38 pm 8.73 8:45 pm 0.14
Mo 25 4:59 am 8.72 9:04 am 7.66
ANSWERS: THENORTHERNLIGHT.COM
Origins and Evolutions: Five Generations Exhibit: Beginning January 26, Tuesday–Thursdays, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. and by appointment. A new exhibition featuring the art of four members of the Anderson/Syre family. Gallery Syre, 465 W. Stuart Road, Bellingham. Info: davidsyreart.com. Virtual Family Trivia Night: Saturday, January 30, 6:30 p.m. Are you smarter than a librarian? Free meet-and-greet family trivia night. Individuals and teams up to four are welcome. Info and registration: wcls.libcal. com/event/7433265. Sponsored by Friends of Birch Bay Library and BlaineBirch Bay Park and Recreation. Blaine Chamber February Meeting: Wednesday, February 3, 8 a.m. on Zoom. New time for this month. Speaker: Blaine school district superintendent Dr. Christopher Granger. Zoom information on blainechamber.com. Jackson Road Bridge Replacement Virtual Open House: Wednesday, February 3, 6–8 p.m. Help redesign Birch Bay’s Jackson Road bridge replacement. Meeting link will be posted on whatcomcounty.us/3529/Jackson-Road-Bridge-Replacement-Project. Valentine’s Weekend Wine Pairing: The Vault Wine Bar and Bistro. Take and heat six courses paired with six wines and online tasting information. Reserve by February 5 at 360/392-0955. Ongoing:
Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce Virtual Meetings: Third Thursdays, 1 p.m. Meeting ID on birchbaychamber.com.
Fr 22 1:57 am 6.38 5:02 am 6.03
DOWN 1. Progressive decay of a bone or tooth 2. Burrowing rodents 3. French/Belgian river 4. A professional cleaner 5. A Russian river 6. Kiln 7. True statements 8. Most private 9. French city 10. Masses of fish eggs
New Relics Art Exhibit: Tuesday–Saturday, through January 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.
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 360/366-8763.
49° 0’ 0”N - 122° 46’ 0”W
11. Apart from others 12. Monetary unit of Samoa 14. Nanosecond 15. Film 18. Men’s fashion accessories 20. Flowering shrub 24. North Carolina university 26. Former monetary unit of Spain 28. Foodies 30. New Zealand parrot 32. Makes very happy 34. A payment required for not fulfilling a contract 35. Emerald Isle 37. The act of terminating someone’s employment 38. Gland in some mammals 40. Commoner 42. Large animals 43. Belch 45. Employee stock ownership plan 47. Work units 49. Wagon 50. Nerve fiber 51. Proclaimed 55. Japanese delicacy
Native Plant Sale: Now through March 1. Order online at whatcomcd. org/plant-sale. Pre-scheduled drive through pick up March 13 and 14 at the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, 3057 E Bakerview Road, Bellingham. Sponsored by the Whatcom Conservation District.
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.
January 22-29 at Blaine. Not for navigation.
39. Deep-bodied freshwater fish 41. Holy fire 43. Usually has a lid 44. Being of use or service 46. Have a yen for 48. Unknowingness 52. Dry white wine drink 53. Unwinds 54. Traveling by sea 56. Outdoor entertaining areas 57. Stringed instruments 58. __ Redgrave, actress 59. Moves earth
Please wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines.
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.
Tides
ACROSS 1. Composed 5. Lesotho currency 9. Ethnic group associated with Hungarians 11. Gains knowledge of 13. Gradual destruction 15. Purchase 16. Pharaoh of lower Egypt 17. Where you’re going 19. The 6th letter of the Greek alphabet 21. Fishing net 22. Midway between south and southeast 23. A way to sort 25. C C C 26. Popular sports podcast (abbr.) 27. Discount 29. Consumes tobacco 31. A way to run 33. Popular musical awards show 34. Pertains to the male sexual organ 36. Supplements with difficulty 38. Green veggie
Coming up
1:22 pm 8.70 9:25 pm -0.51
Tu 26 5:33 am 9.27 10:04 am 7.65
2:08 pm 8.69 10:05 pm -1.06
We 27 6:03 am 9.68 10:56 am 7.48
2:56 pm 8.67 10:43 pm -1.45
Th 28 6:33 am 9.98 11:40 am 7.19
3:44 pm 8.61 11:21 pm -1.63
Weather
Precipitation: During the period of January 11 to 17, 1.8 inches of precipitation was recorded. The 2021 year-to-date precipitation 4.5 inches. Temperature: High for the past week was 56.9°F on January 15 with a low of 37.3°F on January 14. Average high was 51.8°F and average low was 42.4°F. Courtesy Birch Bay Water & Sewer Dist.
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 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. Info 360/305-3637. 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. Info: 360/9331671. Submissions to Coming Up should be sent to calendar@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.
Sheriff’s Reports January 12, 2:52 a.m.: Domestic verbal in progress on Harborview Road. January 12, 9:02 a.m.: Refer to other agency in progress on Quinault Road. January 12, 12:10 p.m.: Traffic stop on Arnie and Blaine roads. January 12, 12:15 p.m.: Traffic stop on Seashell and Abalone ways. January 12, 12:15 p.m.: Traffic stop on Jackson Road and Key Street. January 12, 12:19 p.m.: Suspicious circumstances in progress on Highland Road. January 12, 1:17 p.m.: Property found in progress on Hillvue Road. January 12, 3:46 p.m.: Theft cold call on H Street Road. January 12, 5:28 p.m.: Motor vehicle blocking in progress on Loomis Trail and Bob Hall roads, Custer. January 12, 6:44 p.m.: Motor vehicle non-blocking and no injury in progress on Birch Bay and Harborview roads. January 12, 6:55 p.m.: Hit and run in progress on Birch Bay and Harborview roads. January 13, 1:40 a.m.: Traffic hazard in progress on Sunset Street. January 13, 6:49 a.m.: Vehicle prowl cold call on Birch Bay-Lynden Road, Custer. January 13, 6:57 a.m.: Watch for in progress on Birch Bay and Alderson roads. January 13, 8:04 a.m.: Suspicious person in progress on Blaine Road. January 13, 9:14 a.m.: Burglary cold call in progress on Birch Bay-Lynden Road, Custer. January 13, 4:31 p.m.: Traffic hazard in progress on White and Loomis Trail roads. January 15, 3:30 a.m.: Prowler in progress on Loomis Trail Road. January 15, 3:07 p.m.: Theft cold call on Birch Bay Drive.
January 21 - 27, 2021 • thenorthernlight.com
15
Nearly year after outbreak, Stafholt receives first vaccine doses survive the virus get vaccinated Tuesday brought tears to Koreski and other staff members’ eyes, she said. The nursing home received the Pfizer vaccine from Walgreens, which is distributing the vaccine under the federal Pharmacy Partnership for Long-term Care Program. Pharmacists started the clinic in mid-morning and finished by mid-afternoon. The providers had to thaw vaccine vials every half hour to ensure they were the right temperature, Koreski said. Stafholt residents went in one by one to receive the vaccination and pharmacists went to residents’ rooms who were unable to go to the vaccination room, she said. Cayla Bullard, a certified nursing assistant at Stafholt, described the vaccinations as exciting. Over the past 10 months, Bullard said she’s strengthened her relationship with residents, who are unable to meet inside with family and friends, with activities like making cards. She looks forward to when they can be reunited with loved ones. Stafholt resident Jerry Bladies, 84, said his vaccination went well and was only required to answer a few questions before he received the vaccine in his arm. “I thought it was a necessary thing to do to help myself and the people around me because you always wear your mask but sometimes you forget to do it,”
By Grace McCarthy Nearly a year after Good Samaritan Society – Stafholt experienced a deadly Covid-19 outbreak in its Blaine nursing home, residents and staff rejoiced at the sight of their first vaccinations on January 19. “We’re moving to the anniversary of March and we remember that month really well,” said Tatiana Koreski, Stafholt’s infection control nurse. “We don’t want to repeat it again.” The outbreak entered the nursing home on C Street not long after the first confirmed virus cases began to appear in Whatcom County, and by the end of April, had infected 17 residents and six staff members, resulting in one resident’s death, The Northern Light previously reported. For Koreski, the outbreak was symbolized by shutting two heavy doors that the Whatcom County Health Department instructed the nursing home to use to seal off a newly constructed Covid-19 unit. In one way, Koreski felt relieved they had control on the virus that people were scrambling to understand, but in another way, Koreski felt the reality sink in they were living through a pandemic. “It all comes back to me with all the challenges and trials of living through the outbreak,” she said. “But we pulled through.” Memories like watching a resident who wasn’t expected to
Blaides said. Blaides said he’s passed his pandemic days by talking to a staff member who will sit in a lawn chair six feet outside his bedroom window, but longs for going on walks with his wife, Grace, and visiting the Blaine Food Bank, where he said he was manager for 17 years. The second dose is set for Tuesday, February 9, and a third clinic for those who couldn’t attend the first clinic is set for March. Koreski said the nursing home will follow the same Covid-19 guidelines, including not allowing friends and family into the facility, until more of the general public is vaccinated. Koreski said she’ll never forget receiving a letter from the health department officially clearing the nursing home as Covid-19 free
s Stafholt infection control nurse Tatiana Koreski getting vaccinated. Photo courtesy Tatiana Koreski
in late May, and the freedom of letting residents out of the heavy double doors. No resident has had Covid-19 after the outbreak.
“As a country we promised to protect our vulnerable,” Koreski said. “Finally, we are, by bringing them the vaccine.”
s Stafholt resident Catherine Wilson getting vaccinated.
Photo courtesy Tatiana Koreski
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Whatcom The folks who brought back the 4th of July County Council mandates curbside pickup
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Whatcom County Council has approved changes to county code that will eliminate exemptions to mandatory garbage pickup in Point Roberts. At their June 5 meeting, council heard from an almost evenly split 15 community members on the proposal, which would establish a mandatory minimum service level of a 32-gallon can of garbage to be picked up twice-monthly and billed through the property tax roll. Opponents of the proposal cited a number of reasons for their opposition, primarily that the minimum service level was FREE Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay July 27 - August 2, 2017 too high. “This exceeds the needs of 80 percent of those surveyed (in a 2016 onHHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer PRSRT STD line survey sponsored by the county solid U. S. Postage PAID waste division) who self-haul or use tags,” IN THIS Permit NO. 87 Kimberly Butts said. Blaine, WA 98230 Ken Calder, also opposed to the chang- s Back in 1976, a group of civic-minded people got together to plan a 4th of July celebration, the first since 1916. On June 20, they had a reunion at Ruby White’s house. See story, page 16. Standing, from l.: Fred DeHaan, Rosy Negron, Carla Scherer, Pauli DeHaan, George es, submitted a petition signed by 364 sea- Scherer, Pat Jorgensen, Doreen Peltier. Seated: Norma Peltier, Ruby White, Kris Manning. Photo by Shelley Damewood sonal and full-time residents asking that council delay the decision until September to allow a recently formed solid waste subcommittee of the Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee to continue to look at the issue. Cites client base and “increasing erts hospital district on June 26 that Unity according to Unity Care. Those in favor of the change as well as Care NW would end its contract to proThe number of people being served at community turmoil” county staff pointed out that PRCAC had vide services on the Point as of December the Point Roberts Clinic, as well as the been pondering the garbage collection B y M e g O l s O n 31, 2018, but would provide services on a number of visits, have been declining, acfor over two years, held numerous public a n d P a t g r u B B month-to-month basis if needed until June cording to the resolution. The number of meetings, sponsored an online survey and 30, 2019 and help with a possible transi- visits per year shrank from 1176 to 1033 B y S t e fa n i e D O n a h u e sent out a mailer. Unity Care NW is done with the Point tion to an alternative service provider. between 2015 and 2017, which is deAre impact fees the key to revital“There have been numerous opportuni- Roberts clinic. According to the June 25 resolution, the (See Hospital, page 8) izing downtown and incentivizing ties for people to put in their two cents’ Citing declining use, a disproportionate Point Roberts Clinic does not fit with growth in Blaine? worth,” Arthur Reber said. “This process administrative burden and “communi- the other clinics Unity Care NW operThe question was at the hearthas of been an very thorough and collaborative,” ty turmoil,” the board of directors of the ates in Ferndale and Bellingham, which hour-long discussion between Blaine City said taxpayers’ association president Mark non-profit health care provider voted at its it described as “patient centered mediCouncil and city staff at a special meetRobbins. Chamber of commerce president June 25 meeting to discontinue the con- cal homes.” Close to half of the visits to allpointbulletin.com ing held July 24. Not yet ready to make Dee Gough said her association also sup- tract to operate the Point Roberts Clinic. the Point Roberts clinic are for urgent facebook.com/allpointbulletin a decision, council voted unanimousported the proposal, agreeing that mandaNotice was delivered to the Point Robcare, and not for primary medical care, ly during a separate meeting that evetrash pickup was the obvious solution ning to request that city staff drafttory a proto the posal based on four types of impact feesperennial problem of dumping garon the roadsides. and incentive programs – the bage council Classifieds ........................................ 20 Hegedus with the Whatcom County will either approve, deny or modifyJeff the Coming Up ...................................... 19 Health Department said by establishing a B y M e g O l s O n running three weekends in August. proposal in a few months. Garden ............................................. 15 mandatory minimum service level for all Kiniski’s Reef Tavern is partnering with Impact fees are one-time charges that Library ............................................ 18 properties, as determined by “The Point Roberts Arts and Music the foundation, offering a location, plancounties, cities and towns imposedeveloped on deObituaries ........................................ 22 velopers. The funds are used to which extendproperties have a water connection, Festival is back on the water,” says Arts ning assistance and funds for this year’s it would lead to vendor stability because Foundation founder and festival organizer event. “We decided to make it longer so public services to support growth. In Opinion .............................................. 4 more more people can enjoy it,” said tavern Washington state, impact fees can be usedusers would support the system. Craig Jacks. Seniors ............................................ 18 After being put on the shelf for a year, manager Allison Calder. The first weekend on public streets, roads, publicly-owned Tides ................................................ 10 parks, open space, recreation facilities, (See Garbage, page 7) the festival will be back for its 23rd year, (See Arts & Music, page 14) school facilities and fire protection facilities. Impact fees and other development incentives have already been written into s Droves of sand sculptors took part in the Birch Bay Sand Sculpture contest July 22-23. More photos on page 15. Photo by Chuck Kinzer the Blaine’s comprehensive plan, which details how to accommodate growth over the next 20 years. AFTER PARADE FAMILY ACTIVITIES: BEGIN THE DAY AT THE “These are things we’ve been looking at H Breakwaters Bar & Grill Community Center 1437 Gulf Rd. for a while,” said community development STARTS AT 12 NOON along POINT ROBERTS MARINA at Point Roberts Marina. director Michael Jones. “The comprehen-Pancake Breakfast 7:15-11:15 am PREP benefit Gulf Rd. from Marine Dr. to Tyee Dr. AT 10:30 PM Flag Raising Ceremony 11:30 am featuring PR Winds child will H to Kiniski’s Tavern pay forReef lunch, includsive plan and what you’ve already adoptbe turned away on the basis of a not being able By Oliver lazenBy zero or negative balance account.” ing anything from stamping kids’ hands ed recognizes the idea that there has to be enough financial capacity of the city to conIn some school districts, if a stuThose guidelines aren’t new, but they’re as a reminder to bring money, to denying tinue to do its job and provide the services dent doesn’t have lunch, they don’t in writing for the first time in response to them a lunch tray. and things that it needs to do while taking eat. In others, they get a cheese sand- new U.S. Department of Agriculture regBlaine’s guidelines say students won’t wich to eat in front of their classmates ulations that require school districts to get turned away at the lunch counter, even this into consideration.” The city has already started developing who are toting trays of corndogs, baked communicate, in writing, what they’ll do if they already have a negative balance when students can’t pay for lunch. on their account. Instead, they’ll either a revised impact fee ordinance out of a re- beans, fruit and vegetables. quest from the state legislature for all citFor the most part, that’s not the case at The new federal rules are aimed at end- get a regular meal and some more debt Blaine schools. The district’s guidelines for ing “lunch shaming,” a term for a variety (See Fees, page 2) dealing with unpaid lunch debt state, “No of practices that single students out for (See Lunch, page 6)
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City council considers ways to spur local economy
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Birch Bay Sand Sculpture crowd clinic contract Unity Care NWcontest decidesdraws againstarenewing
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Arts and music fest makes a comeback
Point Roberts July 4 Happy Birthday USA PARADE
Tall ship Lady Washington sets sail for annual maritime festival B y S t e fa n i e D O n a h u e In just a matter of days, tall ship Lady Washington will appear in Drayton Harbor – the vessel is a full-scale replica of the first American ship to touch land on the west coast of North America in 1788. Lady Washington typically pairs with the Hawaiian Chieftain for trips along
the coast, but crews had to leave the steel-clad Hawaiian vessel moored in Port Townsend for routine repair, said operations director with Grays Harbor Historical Seaport, Caitlin Stanton. Grays Harbor Historical Seaport organizes trips along the west coast to educate the public about maritime history and traditions. Crews maneuvering Lady Washington
through the Pacific’s brisk waters are set to make a stop in Blaine from August 3 to 6 during Drayton Harbor Days, offering a slew of local cruise excursions and tours. Here’s a look at what’s in store: Vessel Tours: The tours are offered throughout Lady Washington’s stay in Blaine. Stanton said they offer the public
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School district publishes policy against “lunch shaming”
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The Northern Light • January 21 - 27, 2021
Youth missionaries provide free household help to county residents By Grace McCarthy Missionaries are providing community members with household help – from raking leaves to cleaning garages –at no expense. About 30 missionaries have helped over 130 people since they first started offering free service to Whatcom County in mid-October, said Keaton Steck, a church member with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Steck said the young missionaries’ main purpose is to spread the word of Christ but the pandemic has limited their ability to interact with people so they began posting in local Facebook groups, such as buy/sell/trade pages, every week to offer service. “We found, through service, we can share some light in these hard times,” he said. “We understand that Covid-19 has hit everyone in different ways. If we offer some free help to people, it can truly lighten their burdens and help them to be a little happier during these hard times.” Over 250 missionaries in this region of the Pacific Northwest are doing similar tasks, Steck said. The missionaries are not doing indoor work at this time, but Steck said their service could extend indoors if pandemic restrictions ease. The group also can’t use power tools or climb ladders for safety, but he said any other outdoor task is fair game. The missionaries won’t force their teachings upon people,
s From l; Rhett Mitchell, Keaton Steck, Ethan LeFevre and Sean May doing yard work. Photo courtesy Keaton Steck
Steck said, and are still grateful to help relieve burden from community members with differing religious beliefs. For Steck, moments with community members stand out the most, like the time when an elderly woman texted him that she cried after several missionaries helped her rake leaves. “It’s truly a remarkable thing that is happening,” he said.
“When you do the service in person for those people and see the joy on their faces, it’s a really great experience.” Kerry Heaps learned about the missionaries’ work through Facebook in November and thought the offer was too good to be true. But after a quick phone call, Heaps scheduled the missionaries to rake his leaves, which he was unable to do after having a
double knee replacement. Raking leaves took two missionaries five hours, Heaps said, after he provided rakes, shovels and leaf bags for them. “They got the job completely done,” he said. “There wasn’t a leaf on the ground.” Heaps said he had impeccable experience with the missionaries. “It was nothing short of a miracle to have them come out,” he
said. “Especially for seniors and people with disabilities, they were great.” Service projects will continue as pandemic restrictions are reduced, but Steck said the missionaries will focus more on sharing their religious message. “You learn to love these people,” he said. “You hear their stories. It’s incredible the friendships you build.”
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