HA
YE
ARTH DAY - AP
RIL 22
April 22 - 28, 2020
PP
FREE
Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
$3.5 million in drugs detected at border, page 3
Border closure extended again, closed until at least May 21
Mayor Onyon won’t run for re-election, page 5
Boat sales increase locally this year, page 9
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
The farmers market has an early opening
By Grace McCarthy
s People enjoy a sunny Saturday morning shopping at Blaine’s Market by the Sea. The market sells an assortment of items every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the G Street plaza. Photo by Ruth Lauman
Woman charged with Semiahmoo Park homicide encountered victim day before his body was found By Grace McCarthy The woman charged with second-degree murder of Thomas Flood, the 67-year-old man found in Semiahmoo Park shot to death on April 7, had encountered Flood the day before his body was found, according to court documents. Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) deputies arrested Lynda Clare Mercy, 62, as she left her Fairhaven apartment around 11 a.m. April 13. Mercy is being held in Whatcom County Jail on $1 million bail, according to jail records.
According to an affidavit of probable cause (APC) filed by WCSO deputy Erik G. Francis on April 13, investigators believe Mercy struggled over the last year with deteriorating mental health and was seen on a surveillance video arguing with Flood a day before his body was found off a trail near a Semiahmoo Park parking lot. In the APC for Mercy’s arrest, investigators believe: The owner of a restaurant near where Flood parked his van in Langley said surveillance footage showed Flood arguing with a woman, whom she later identified
Railway Café celebrates caboose’s centennial By Grace McCarthy Railway Café’s caboose continues to push new businesses forward as it reaches its centennial this year. “One hundred years is a milestone,” Railway Café owner Vicka Haywood said. “I want to bring it to the community’s attention that it’s part of Blaine and celebrate that the caboose is here because there’s only one caboose in Blaine.” The red-and-black caboose at 795 Peace Portal Drive has welcomed an assortment
of small businesses throughout the years, from fortune tellers to small cafes and postal businesses. Tony Andrews, owner of Tony’s Just A Bite, brought the 1921 caboose to Blaine in the mid 1980s after seeing businesses operating out of cabooses during a vacation in the Cascade Loop. Andrews contacted one of the businesses, who directed him to a seller in Woodinville refurbishing the wooden railroad car. In the months leading up to the caboose’s arrival in Blaine, Andrews posted a sign
saying “It’s coming” on his restaurant, Tony’s Sandwich Shop, where Chada Thai is now located. He dug a hole in the ground for the caboose, which Andrews said confused people more. “Then I changed the sign one day to say ‘It’s going to happen today,’” he said. Andrews said he originally brought the caboose to town with hopes that the city would use it as an information center but when the city decided not to pur(See Caboose, page 15)
as Mercy, around 1 a.m. on April 6. A Bellingham police officer who had checked on Mercy because of her HUD housing said her mental health had deteriorated over the last year. In January, the detective checked on Mercy after several complaints that she was becoming “‘more aggressive in her body language as well as verbal insults. Some are a bit scared of her when she acts in this manner,’” according to the APC. Mercy also appeared in Blaine Municipal (See Homicide, page 3)
Coming Up . . . . . 14 Classifieds . . . . . 11 Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Sports . . . . . . . . . . 7 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14
INSIDE
The U.S./Canada border will remain closed to non-essential travel until at least May 21 after officials on both sides of the border announced its extension. The 13th extension was announced April 20, only a day before the current closure was set to expire. Both the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Canadian’s prime minister of public safety Bill Blair announced the extension in April 20 tweets. “To deter the spread of Covid-19 and protect our citizens, the United States is continuing restrictions on non-essential travel at our land borders through May 21, while maintaining the flow of essential trade and travel as we have for over a year,” a DHS spokesperson tweeted Tuesday. In the statement, the DHS spokesperson said the federal government is “engaged in discussions” with Canada and Mexico, also included in the border extension, on easing restriction as health conditions improve. DHS did not provide more details on those conversations in the tweet. The U.S. has vaccinated more residents than Canada. As of April 20, 25.7 percent of people in the U.S. were fully vaccinated and 40 percent had received at least one vaccine dose. In Canada, just 2.1 percent of the population had received two doses and only 17 percent of people had received one dose, according to the most recent Canadian government data available April 10. Over 132,321,000 people in the U.S. have received at least one dose while 7,290,869 people in Canada have received at least one dose. The U.S. has had 31,484,148 confirmed cases of Covid-19, according to CDC data. The increase of Covid-19 cases in the U.S. over the past seven days, 467,242, is 41 percent of Canada’s 1,131,773 total confirmed cases during the pandemic, according to CDC and Canadian government data. U.S. and Canada government officials have not announced a border reopening plan or date.
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Rite Aid
2
The Northern Light • April 22 - 28, 2021
So Many Sandwiches! Enjoy Fresh
Hybrid students in buildings every week now
Sandwiches • Paninis • Soups Homemade Pastries • Espresso Milkshakes • Smoothies
First R es po nders 360-332-2448 & Military Closed Wednesdays, ALWAYS get Open Mon-Tues, Thurs - Sat 8-4, Sun 9-4 10% Discount 795 Peace Portal Drive • Downtown Blaine
for REAL news READ LOCAL IN PRINT & ONLINE
s Isaac Rodgers has his temperature checked outside Blaine Middle School on April 21. This procedure has become routine for hybrid students who, starting this week, are all back in the classroom four days a week. Photo by Ian Haupt
SEMIAHMOO GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB Public play available for a limited time!
You can now play one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier private golf courses. Call 360.371.7005 to book your tee time.
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‘TIS THE SEMIAHMOO SEASON It’s the most wonderful time of the year at Semiahmoo! Through the month of December, we’re making things merry and bright with festive socially distanced activities for the whole family.
Snacks • Soda • Deli Sandwiches • Beer & Wine • Spirits Cigarettes • Lotto • Gifts • Novelty • EBT • UHaul Dealer Drive Thru Coffee & Espresso • Indian/Fijian Groceries
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183 C Street (across from Big Al’s, near Peace Arch Park)
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April 22 - 28, 2021 • thenorthernlight.com
Homicide ... From page 1
Court 8 a.m. on April 7, according to the superior court documents. Mercy was on a two-year probation after she was arrested last May for a DUI and hit and run that occurred a mile away from where Flood’s body was found, according to the APC and the municipal court administrator. Mercy’s previous arrest on Semiahmoo Parkway, to which she pleaded guilty, suggested she knew the area. Flood lived in his van near the Keystone ferry terminal in Langley on south Whidbey Island. Deputies found Flood’s body covered in blankets on a trail near a Semiahmoo Park parking lot. Flood had two bullets that the Whatcom County medical examiner believes came from a caliber larger than a .22. Deputies were able to identify Flood by fingerprints and a driv-
er’s license photo, court documents state. He was then linked with a 1994 Ford Econoline van that friends confirmed he owned. Flood’s phone was identified and a ping through the cell phone carrier brought deputies to Flood’s van around 4:45 a.m. on April 8. A witness told deputies that she saw a person park and leave the van at Hillcrest Chapel in Fairhaven around 4:30 p.m. on April 7. That person saw someone wearing dark clothing and carrying a multi-colored bag walking westbound from the church to Haggen on 12th Street, court documents state. Deputies obtained a search warrant for the van and found a large pool of what appeared to be blood, according to court documents. Investigators found blood throughout the vehicle. Law enforcement viewed surveillance footage of the suspect and the van through cell phone pings and help from Bellingham Police Department checking city
cameras. Footage included the suspect, matching the witnesses’ description, at a credit union in Fairhaven around 3 p.m. and at the AM/PM gas station on Bennett and Airport drives pumping gas and buying items. Ten minutes after the van was abandoned at Hillcrest Chapel, surveillance footage also showed the suspect entering a Fairhaven apartment complex three blocks from the church. After WCSO released photos of the suspect at the AM/PM gas station, three people identified the suspect as Lynda Clare Mercy, who lives in a Fairhaven apartment across from the Haggen grocery store. During the investigation, deputies viewed Mercy using a light blue walking stick in a video that was also found in the van. Mercy also purchased a .40-caliber pistol last December and posted on her Instagram account a photo of Sellier and Bellot ammunition. Detectives found a
Sellier and Bellot shell casing at the site where Flood parked his van on Whidbey Island. On April 13, a friend turned in Mercy’s .40-caliber pistol that Mercy had asked her to hold two days before. In 2009, Mercy also bought and registered a .22-caliber pistol but its whereabouts were unknown. Six wigs were also found in Mercy’s apartment that deputies said allowed her to change her appearance during the investigation. Deputies saw Mercy wearing a short, blonde wig and a long, dark wig. During the arrest, she had an additional wig and clothing in her backpack. On April 11, Mercy told her neighbor that she was going to move from the area. Mercy had a U.S. passport and previously lived in Spokane, California and Arizona. Detectives found wigs and an 8-inch Buck knife in Mercy’s backpack and Mercy had two additional knives on her during the
Truck smuggling $3.5 million in cocaine stopped crossing border from Whatcom County
3
time of her arrest. Francis said in the affidavit that Mercy’s social media indicated that she had an interest in violence. Posts included ones such as Mercy with an angry face stabbing the air with knives and meat cleavers, and a still photo where she was seen in what looked to be a bloody shirt and a box of ammunition in her lap. A multi-colored bag that Mercy was seen carrying from the van was found in her apartment, along with a dark jacket with a red substance that was seen in surveillance footage of Mercy. Hair and fibers are being processed for DNA analysis at the Washington State Patrol lab. Deputies briefly interviewed Mercy before she invoked her rights. During the conversation, Mercy told deputies that she left Bellingham between April 1 and April 8, and took a cab or got rides from people to the Port Townsend area, a main destination for the Keystone ferry.
BLAINE’S
t e k r a Mj
BY THE SEA Saturday 10 am-3 pm
Featuring LOCAL VENDORS selling HANDCRAFTED MERCHANDISE s Canada Border Services Agency confiscated $3.5 million worth of cocaine from a truck in Whatcom County attempting to cross into Canada. Photo courtesy Canada Border Services Agency
By Ian Haupt Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers stopped a truck last month crossing the U.S./Canada border from Whatcom County with an estimated $3.5 million worth of cocaine. According to a CBSA April 15 news release, a commercial driver entered Canada March 18 in a semi-trailer carrying personal products. The truck reportedly crossed from Whatcom County to B.C. at one of the five Pacific Highway district border crossings.
During a secondary examination of the vehicle, border services officers found 64 individually wrapped brick-shaped objects that tested positive for cocaine. CBSA spokesperson Kristine Wu told The Northern Light in an email that all suspected narcotics require further analysis to confirm exact composition. The bricks of suspected cocaine had a combined weight of nearly 160 pounds (71.5 kilograms) with an estimated value of over $3.5 million, according to the release. “The discovery of 64 bricks of
suspected cocaine is the direct result of diligent work by our border services officers. They kept Canadians safe by preventing these drugs from entering our communities,” Yvette Lebrun, CBSA Pacific Highway district director said in the release. The specific border crossing where the seizure was made could not be released due to security reasons, Wu said. While the investigation is ongoing, she said the driver was coming into Canada from California. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Federal Serious and Orga-
School district Covid-19 data dashboard hits double digits By Ian Haupt The Blaine school district has a Covid-19 data dashboard on its website to account for people who were at the schools while infected with the virus. The dashboard, which just hit a total of 10 cases, is updated every Monday if there were cases in the previous week, according to the dashboard. The latest positive case was in the primary school last week. The previous case was in the high school in the week of March 8 to
March 12 but was only updated April 12. The district has had a total of 10 students or staff engaged in in-person learning or work who were on campus during their infectious period, as determined by the state department of health. Four of those students or staff were at the primary school, five were at the middle school and one was at the high school. The dashboard also distinguishes whether remote learning or quarantine was required for a class or cohort of students
following the positive case detection. In two of the recorded infection weeks, remote learning or quarantine was enforced on a group of students. Tina Padilla, administrative assistant to the superintendent, said the school district is not required to report cases and is doing so to be transparent with students, parents and other members of the community. For more information, visit the dashboard at blainesd.org/page/ covid-19-data-dashboard.
nized Crime unit took custody of the driver and the drugs.
Vendor Space Available Call 360-332-4544
G Street Plaza DOWNTOWN BLAINE
Live Entertainment at The Vault Trivia Thursdays • 7-9 pm April 22 - General Knowledge April 29 - Greek Mythology Theme plus Toga Costume Contest
Live Music Fridays • 7-9 pm April 23 - Cameron Ferguson April 30 - Trio Sueño May 7 - Alex Kelsh May 14 - JP Falcon No cover charge, but food/drink purchase required
French Wine Tasting
With Amy Pickering of Elliott Bay Wines Plus paired small plates Friday, April 23 • 5:30-7:30 • Reserve your table today!
Reservations Recommended • Walk-ins Welcome
Open Wednesday-Saturday 4-9 pm 277 G Street • Downtown Blaine www.TheVaultWine.com 360-392-0955 Follow us on log& log
4
The Northern Light • April 22 - 28, 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.
Blaine chamber members’ social for first time in a year
Publisher & Managing Editor Patrick Grubb publisher@pointrobertspress.com
s Blaine Chamber of Commerce held its first business social event since the start of the pandemic on April 14 at Rustic Fork’s “Capone’s Hideaway Patio.” The recent beautiful weather was a bonus as the breezes flowed through the event space. Chamber president Kathy Sitker welcomed everyone. Rustic Fork owners Kristen and Gary Slavin at the chamber’s event. Photos by Louise Mugar
Co-publisher & Advertising Director Louise Mugar lmugar@pointrobertspress.com
Letters
Editor Grace McCarthy grace@pointrobertspress.com Reporter Ian Haupt ian@pointrobertspress.com Reporting Interns Nolan Baker, Sienna Boucher 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 44 Circulation: 10,500 copies
Circulation Independently verified by:
Next issue: April 29 Ads due: April 23
The Editor: I would like to commend you (and your newspaper) for having the wisdom and courage for taking a position in your “Letters to the Editor” section of your paper to encourage those among your readership who chose to contribute letters to the editor to confine their comments to matters of local interest and import. The broader media landscape provides more than enough opportunity for those who want to vent their anger and intolerance. Let our little The Northern Light newspaper provide a haven of peace and civility in a world that has given itself over to division and bigotry. In fact, it might be worth the effort to put away the hate speech in our daily dealings with all our neighbors, and let us instead focus on those values that we all share. J. B. Miller Birch Bay The Editor: Upcoming city council meeting – Monday, April 26 at 6 p.m. This is the public hearing for the annexation of 4458 “H” Street, known as the Rooney Property. Annexation is the first step in the pro-
cess for development to a higher number of houses (18 +/-) than would be allowed if the property were to remain in the county. The primary access to this site with up to 18 houses would be from Harborview Drive accessed from H Street through both Crest Drive and Terrace Avenue. The city has a requirement to advertise the public hearing in a generally distributed newspaper. The city will be advertising this in the Bellingham Herald. I called the Herald and asked what their subscriber count was for zip code 98230. The lady was very helpful. She looked up the information and then came back and said there are 16 weekly subscribers and two online subscribers. I checked with The Northern Light and asked for their distribution numbers for weekly mailed out papers. They mail out 9,233 papers once per week and place another 1,267 papers on stands for a total of 10,500 weekly copies. Hum, seems equal. So support local. Sounds ominous, like the “Star Chamber.” Maybe the city council would want to look at this to see if maybe a correction should be made to this policy. Public comments are encouraged.
Go to the city of Blaine website and to the section Your Government – City Council agenda and get the instructions for attending the city council meeting on Zoom. All input is important. Make your voice heard. Ray Pelletti Blaine The Editor: On April 7, The Northern Light published an article with the headline “Bill starts effort for state universal healthcare.” This headline is extremely misleading, as the bill it discusses – SB5399 – does nothing to move Washington toward the goal of a publicly funded system of healthcare. To its credit, the article did admit this in a roundabout way by stating, “It does not guarantee a single-payer system, but the commission would be tasked with finding a way to publicly fund and expand health services.” Contrary to the claims made by its pro(See Letters, next page) Please send letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.
Civic Meetings Birch Bay Water & Sewer District: Second and fourth Thursdays, 4:30 p.m., district offices, 7096 Point Whitehorn Road, Birch Bay. Info and Zoom meeting link: bbwsd.com.
Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation: Second Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., location varies. Info: bbbparkandrec.org. Virtual meeting info: bbbparkandrec.org/board-meetings/
Blaine City Council: Second and fourth Mondays, 6 p.m., Blaine City Council chambers, 435 Martin Street. Info and virtual meeting login: ci.blaine.wa.us.
Blaine Park and Cemetery Board: Second Thursday, 9 a.m., virtual meeting. Info: 360/332-8311, ext. 3330.
Blaine Planning Commission: Second and fourth Thursdays, 6 p.m. Info: blainepc@cityofblaine.com. Info for joining Zoom meetings: bit.ly/2CiMKnk.
Blaine School Board: Fourth Monday, 7 p.m., Blaine school district offices. Info and virtual meeting link: blainesd.org. North Whatcom Fire & Rescue: Third Thursday, 1 p.m. Info: nwfrs.net.
April 22 - 28, 2021 • thenorthernlight.com
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City to modify electrical system, expect power outages By Ian Haupt City electrical crews will be making modifications to the electrical system in central Blaine starting Friday, April 23, which will require short intermittent power outages for two months in those residential areas. The outages will not affect the Semiahmoo area. Public works director Bernie Ziemianek said crews will be notifying affected residents in person or with door hangers with information two to three days before any planned outages. “It’s a pretty simple procedure but we just need to have some outages in order to get the work done,” he said.
The city’s electrical system is made up of above and below ground cables. While work will be done in both areas, Ziemianek said the majority of work will be done on the underground parts of the system. He said public works foresees outages in these areas due to overheating during the summer months if these modifications are not made now. “We want to bring [the system] more into balance,” he said. Crews have already started notifying residents and will begin work Friday with an expected finish date of June 30. Ziemianek said the work is pretty simple but the city wants to give residents who will be affected by the outages time to prepare for any in-
convenience they may cause. Last September, the city experienced a series of power outages that then interim public works director Bob Hammond said were likely due to what is sometimes called “an underground storm.” This happens when the vulnerable areas within the system – old or faulty cables – fail after it rains or storms for the first time after a dry season, Hammond said in October 2020. In a September 28, 2020 Blaine City Council meeting, Hammond warned council that more outages were possible. He later recommended the city budget for updates to be made on the system this spring. Ziemianek said these upcom-
ing modifications are not the circuit update project for which the city has budgeted. Public works is anticipating the engineering and design work for that update will be completed in the next couple months, he said. Once that is complete, the city can place a bid for the update. Hammond had said some components of the electrical system have been there since its inception, which was in 1890, according to the city of Blaine website. In a public notice, the city said the modifications will help meet its goal to provide reliable and continued electrical service. “We appreciate your support of our efforts and apologize for the inconvenience,” the notice reads.
County council rewrites indecent exposure law to allow public breastfeeding By Ian Haupt In its April 6 meeting, Whatcom County Council unanimously amended its indecent exposure code to include an exception for breastfeeding. Previously, with the way code was written, it could be interpreted that breastfeeding in public would be a violation of the county’s indecent exposure law. “It is unlawful for any female to expose or permit public display of her bosom, in the nude or substantially exposed to public view, in any public establishment,” the previous county code read. Councilmember Carol Frazey
introduced a measure to council March 23 that would amend the code to continue, “except this shall not apply to a person who is breastfeeding a child. A person shall have the right to breastfeed a child in any location, public or private, where the person has the right to be with their child, without respect to whether the person’s breast or any part of it is uncovered during or incidental to the breastfeeding of the child.” Councilmembers and members of the public, while astonished by the current code, expressed their appreciation to Frazey and council for changing code that was in violation of state law.
“Thank you Carol,” county resident Melissa Wisener said. “I did not know that law was on the books and much like the previous speaker am flabbergasted that such a law even needs to be voted on. And I thank you, wholeheartedly, for finding that as a mother of two children who proudly breastfed all over Whatcom County.” Washington state law declares “the act of breastfeeding or expressing breast milk is not indecent exposure.” State anti-discrimination laws also protect the right to breastfeed and outlaw discrimination against someone who is breastfeeding.
After 23 years on city council, Blaine mayor Bonnie Onyon will not be running for re-election. Onyon has served eight years as mayor. “It’s time to pass the baton to someone else, hopefully someone who shares my passion for this community and the positive direction it is going that I’ve supported for the past 29 years,” Onyon said in a statement to The Northern Light. She served six years on planning commission before council.
Onyon was first appointed to Blaine City Council in 1998 to fulfill the remaining two years of a former councilmember’s term. During Onyon’s time on council, she said the city acquiring the Banner Bank building, developing the former airport property and attracting new downtown businesses have been a few of the high points. “I think we’ve paved the way for really smart growth and I think we’re seeing the fruits of our labor that Blaine is a really
Letters ...
ring commission recommendations until November 2024, with implementation of “something” much further out. What is particularly galling is that our legislature buried the one bill – SB5204 – that would have offered Washington publicly funded health care for every resident of our state within the next two years. With SB5204, the woman in the article who filed for bankruptcy after three cancer treatments, would never have been compelled to do that because of a system that values profit over humanity. Mark Proulx Bellingham
From previous page
ponents, SB5399 does not in any meaningful way put our state on a path toward “a comprehensive plan for a publicly funded health care system.” Instead, it avoids this altogether with the typical political charade of killing something the legislature does not want to do by placing it into a study commission comprised of legislators and “health care experts” (note the conspicuous absence of doctors, nurses, and patients) with the hope that time will kill it off. SB5399 does this nicely, defer-
desirable place to live,” she said. Onyon said she looks forward to spending more time volunteering, traveling and visiting her grandchildren in the area. People interested in running for the mayor’s position can do so by filing during candidate filing week from May 17 to May 21. More information on filing can be found by calling the Whatcom County election office at 360/778-5102 or emailing the county office at elections@co.whatcom.wa.us.
Due to COVID-19 and the Governor’s Proclamation, meetings are now only open to the public telephonically. Information on how to listen to the meeting live will be on the City Council agenda which is located on the City’s website homepage under Your Government, City Council, City Council Agenda. Please check the agenda prior to each meeting as the call in number or location may change.
Thursday, April 22 6:00pm – Planning Commission Meeting
Monday, April 26 4:30pm – Study Session: Department Work Plans
6:00pm – City Council Meeting Public Hearing: Proposed Annexation of 4455 H Street, Blaine, WA 98230 (Rooney Annexation)
Monday, May 10 6:00pm – City Council Meeting Tuesday, May 11 8:00am – Blaine Tourism Advisory Committee Meeting
Councilmember Kathy Kershner proposed an amendment to change the word “person” to “woman” that council opposed 4-3. Frazey said she believed the word “person” to be more inclusive.
Onyon won’t seek re-election as mayor
CITY OF BLAINE
All City offices are currently closed to the public. Contact information for staff and Councilmembers can be found on the City’s website. Call (360) 332-8311 or visit our website.
www.cityofblaine.com
CITY OF BLAINE PUBLIC NOTICE Notice of Electrical Work Starting April 23rd and continuing through June 30th, the City of Blaine Electrical Crews will be completing work to improve the electrical system. These modifications will require short outages. The outages will primarily affect residential areas within the central part of Blaine and will not affect the Semiahmoo area. We recognize that any duration without electricity is an inconvenience. To minimize the impact Public Works will be notifying affected residents 2-3 days before the outage occurs. Our crews will reach out to residents in person or with door hangers with information regarding when the outage will occur and the duration of the outage. We will also provide updates on our website @ www.cityofblaine.com. These modifications will help to meet our goal as an electrical utility to provide reliable and continued electrical service. We appreciate your support of our efforts and apologize for the inconvenience.
For more information, please call 360.332.8820 or visit our website at www.cityofblaine.com.
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6
The Northern Light • April 22 - 28, 2021
RECENT HOUSE & LOT PRICES
Blaine, Birch Bay & Point Roberts MARCH 2021
DESCRIPTION UPPER END HOUSES $600,000 AND ABOVE: 1-story house with 2,575 SF, 3 BD, 3 BA, 600 SF attached garage, 207 SF deck, built in 1998, .32 acres land.
LOCATION
SALE PRICE
8842 Goldeneye Lane, Blaine
$745,000
2-story house with 2,938 SF, 1,007 SF basement, 4 BD, 4 BA, 700 SF detached garage, 394 SF deck, built in 2001; marine and territorial views, .58 acres land.
8893 Semiahmoo Drive, Blaine
$1,135,000
1-and a half story house with 3,043 SF, 4 BD, 3 BA, 527 SF attached garage, 330 SF deck, built in 1997, .38 acres land.
5327 Canvasback Road, Blaine
$800,000
2110 Whalen Drive, Point Roberts
$849,000
#B-201, Marin Condominium, 9535 Semiahmoo Parkway, Blaine
$725,000
2-story house with 2,925 SF, 1,015 SF basement, 3 BD, 4 BA, 600 SF garage, 180 SF carport, 502 SF deck, 840 SF patio, 542 SF brick patio, built in 1994; marine view, .61 acres land. Condo with 1,924 SF, 2 BD, 3 BA, built-in garage, built in 2013, waterfront; marine view.
Covid-19 in Whatcom County, by school district boundaries: Recent two-week case rates and cumulative counts Blaine Rate: 296 Count: 489
Lynden Nooksack Rate: 109 Count: 1270 Valley Rate: 72 Count: 729 Ferndale Meridian Rate: 248 Rate: 102 Count: 1546 Count: 403
Bellingham Rate: 111 Count: 2786
Condo with 2,273 SF, 2 BD, 3 BA, built in 2020, waterfront; #101, Pacific Point $1,378,499 Condominium, marine views. 9545 Semiahmoo Parkway, Blaine 1-story house with 1,532 SF, 3 BD, 2 BA, 506 SF detached garage, 884 SF deck, 399 SF patio, built in 1986, 50 feet waterfront; marine view, .24 acres land.
603 Marine Drive, Point Roberts
$1,050,000
2-story house with 4,081 SF, 3 BD, 4 BA, 1,098 SF attached garage, 1,087 SF patio, built in 2007; territorial view, .37 acres land.
8737 Wood Duck Way, Blaine
$1,200,000
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$755,500
2-story house with 3,335 SF, 4 BD, 3 BA, 750 SF built-in garage, 245 SF deck, built in 2005; territorial view, .21 acres land.
s The rate is the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks, updated April 17. The count is the cumulative cases of Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic.
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Condo with 2,003 SF, 2 BD, 3 BA, built in 2020, waterfront; #203, Pacific Point Condominium, marine views. 9545 Semiahmoo Parkway, Blaine
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New apartment building 616 E Street, Blaine
$745,000
1-story house with 2,583 SF, 3 BD, 4 BA, 696 SF attached garage, 417 SF deck, 330 SF patio, built in 2007, waterfront; marine view, .36 acres land. COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES: 2-story, restaurant with apartments above, with a total of 6,616 SF, kiosk building, 648 SF balconies, parking, built in 1955, .28 acres land, 105 feet waterfront; marine view.
5769 Nakat Way, Blaine
$1,551,000
8124 Birch Bay Drive, Blaine
$800,000
3.36 acres land with water storage, built in 1980. 2002 Benson Road, Point Roberts
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As of April 19, all people 16 and older in the U.S. are now eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine. Every adult became eligible in Washington just a few days before on April 15. Whatcom County has had a total of 7,759 confirmed cases of Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic and 290 probable cases (8,049 total cases), according to April 19 Washington State Department of Health (DOH) data. One person died in the past week, making the county’s death toll 89; the percent of deaths per total confirmed cases is 1.1 percent. Blaine school district more than doubled its rate of Covid-19 cases over the past two weeks, jumping from 108 cases per 100,000 people last week to 296 this week. Ferndale nearly doubled its case rate, while all other counties saw
declining case rates. Nooksack Valley had the lowest case rate at 72 per 100,000 people. The county should receive at least 8,180 first doses of vaccine this week, although this number is likely to be higher once vaccine doses from the federal retail pharmacy program are counted. About 26.5 percent of county residents are fully vaccinated and 38.9 percent have received at least one shot of Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson and Johnson, according to the department. (The Johnson and Johnson vaccine only requires one shot to be fully effective.) The department reports that 60,389 county residents are fully vaccinated and 88,872 residents have received their first shot. The state department of health (DOH) is still temporarily banning the use of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine after it decided
to stop the use of the vaccine April 13. Statewide, 4,669,463 vaccine doses have been administered. About 25.4 percent of people in Washington are fully vaccinated and 37.4 percent have received one dose. Washington state has had 361,104 confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic and 27,614 probable cases (probable cases come from an antigen test). In all, 5,407 people in Washington with the virus have died as of April 19 and 21,596 have been hospitalized. For more Whatcom County information, visit whatcomcounty. us/covidvaccine and whatcomcounty.us/coviddata. State information is available at bit.ly/3r2URJj. Vaccine locations can be found at bit.ly/3nZiMqr. For CDC data, visit bit.ly/39Kt4qh.
RV Park with 650 spaces, 3 swimming pools, 1 tennis court, park outbuildings, built in 1979 and 1991, 76.60 acres land.
5001 Bay Road, Blaine
$7,000,000
1.23 acres residential land plus 1.35 acres greenway/greenbelt land.
Carnoustie, Blaine
$1,000,000
6948 Holeman Avenue, Blaine
$230,000
Pharmacies administering vaccines in Whatcom County
Fourth Street, Blaine
$150,000
By Sienna Boucher
.36 acres residential lot; territorial view.
8820 Wood Duck Way, Blaine
$175,000
.27 acres residential lot, marina waterfront; marine view.
5640 Nakat Way, Blaine
$239,500
.34 acres residential lot; territorial view.
5545 Peregrine Way, Blaine
$297,000
9.80 acres wooded residential land.
9593 Freedom Place, Blaine
$265,000
5.03 acres residential land.
8738 Waters Edge Way and Drayton Harbor Road, Blaine
$200,000
5.11 acres wooded residential land.
1861 Austin Road, Point Roberts
$210,000
LAND: .25 acres residential lot, waterfront; marine and territorial view. .25 acres residential lot.
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All vaccine scheduling with pharmacies is online and all Johnson and Johnson vaccines are on hold. The Whatcom County Health Department’s Community Vaccination Center will also host two Covid-19 vaccination clinics on Saturday, April 24 and Sunday, April 25. Clinic volunteers will administer 720 first doses Saturday and 960 first doses Sunday, according to a health department media release, and second doses will be given Saturday morning. The clinics will be 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. both days. Appointments can be scheduled at prepmod.doh.wa.gov or those without internet access or people needing language assistance can call 360/778-6075. Blaine Rite Aid 1195 Boblett Street Appointment required
Moderna Ferndale Custom Prescription Shoppe 5917 Portal Way Appointment required Pfizer Walgreens 1901 Main Street Appointment required Pfizer Haggen Pharmacy 1815 Main Street Moderna Lynden Safeway Pharmacy 8071 Guide Meridian Road Appointment required Moderna Rite Aid 8090 Guide Meridian Road Appointment required Moderna Bellingham Costco 4125 Arctic Avenue
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April 22 - 28, 2021 • thenorthernlight.com
7
Sports Baseball, softball and track athletes make conference leaderboards
s Aiden Holley puts some heat on it at Sehome High School. The Borderites beat the Mariners 10-8.
By Ian Haupt Baseball On April 15, the Borderites traveled to Lynden and lost 8-5. The next day, they beat Sehome 10-8 in Bellingham. On Tuesday, the boys lost to Sedro-Woolley 4-2 at home. As of April 17, Everett Simpson sits seventh on the conference batting average leaderboard, batting .400. He also sits tenth for on-base percentage and slugging percentage with a .526 and .533. Axel Puls sits just behind him in
eleventh for slugging percentage with a .533. Simpson and Puls are in fifth for doubles with two, along with a number of others. Puls and Jaxon Kortlever are tied with many other players in the triples that also have one. One player in the conference has two triples. In the runs batted in category, Puls sits tied for eighth with multiple players with six runs batted in. Simpson has six stolen bases, Kortlever has five and Seth Zuch has four so far this season. Going into two home games
s Kyle Tunberg waits to tag out a Sehome runner at third in the Borderites 10-8 win April 16. Photo by Janell Kortlever
Vaccine ... From previous page
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Thursday, April 22, and Saturday, April 24, against Lynden and Bellingham, the boys have a 3-3 record. Boys soccer The Borderites have had multiple games canceled in a row with only two games played so far this season. Both were before spring break. They are scheduled to host Squalicum Friday, April 23. Softball The Borderites hosted a double-header against Lynden April 15, losing both games. The scores were 17-1 and 15-0. They then traveled to Lynden Christian April 20 for two narrow margin games, winning the first 16-15 and losing the second 8-7. As of April 17, Tatum Cox leads the conference in triples with three. Piper Nissen and Makenna Wright are tied with many others in seventh on the doubles leaderboard with two so far. Next, they host Mount Baker Friday, April 23. The Girls are 2-4 so far this season. Track and Field Boys and girls track and field teams traveled to Anacortes April 22 for a three-school meet between the Seahawks and Burlington-Edison. Scott Baldwin remains on the conference leaderboard in the 200-meter in fourth
Moderna Haggen 2814 Meridian Street Appointment required Moderna Walgreens 125 South Samish Way Appointment required Pfizer Walgreens 4090 Meridian Street Appointment required Pfizer
Photo by Janell Kortlever
place with a time of 24.31. He also sits fifth on the leaderboard in the high jump at 5 feet 8 inches. Wiconi Bowers has the fourth fastest girls 400-meter with a time of 1:06.10. In the girls pole vault, Diana Kovtun rounds out the top five with a height of 7 feet 6 inches. Both teams are scheduled to compete at Lynden Christian on Wednesday, April 28. Golf Girls golf has two conference games next week, Tuesday in Lynden and Wednesday in Bellingham. The boys are scheduled to play on Tuesday, April 27, as well at Lake Padden in Bellingham. Girls tennis The Borderites traveled to Oak Harbor April 19 to win 4-3. They are scheduled to host Lynden Thursday, April 22.
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The Northern Light • April 22 - 28, 2021
Nooksack River adjudication is “likely,” department of ecology official says
s The Washington state Department of Ecology report highlighted declining salmon populations, low water levels due to growing demand and diminishing snowpack, and a long history of water disputes as reasons to support adjudication of the Nooksack River. Photo courtesy Department of Ecology
By Nolan Baker A half-million-dollar budget for review and court ruling of water rights along the Nooksack River basin is likely to be approved by Washington state legislature and signed by governor Jay Inslee, officials for the department of ecology (DOE) said. Adjudication, or the legal process of a court reviewing and resolving a dispute, of the Nooksack River is “supported in the governor’s budget,” said Robin McPherson, adjudication assessment manager for DOE. This process could finally put an end to decades of lawsuits and claims of water rights along Whatcom County’s primary waterway. “It’s going to be time for the Nooksack community to start thinking about how [adjudica-
tion] happens and not whether it’s going to happen,” McPherson said. What is an adjudication? The DOE recently released a report to the legislature highlighting the Nooksack River basin as one of the two waterways in the state most in need of adjudication. The adjudication process involves DOE issuing lawsuits to all parties with claims to water rights along the Nooksack, bringing them into a court process where each defendant submits a claim for water use. DOE then reviews each claim and determines legal rights to use water along the Nooksack. The DOE website describes adjudication as “the legal process to resolve conflict and competition on a water source.” The process is supported by lo-
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cal tribes, environmental groups and the commercial fishing industry, but opposed by Whatcom County farmers and their associated organizations. The DOE’s 2020 report specifically pointed out that declining salmon populations, low water levels due to growing demand and diminishing snowpack, and a long history of disputes from various parties throughout the county have made the Nooksack River rife with conflict and competition. According to the report, the Nooksack River supplies water for the public utility districts that serve roughly 80 percent of Whatcom County’s residents, provides irrigation for thousands of acres of farmland and stockyards, and is home to a dwindling population of endangered salmon – a population that must be main-
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tained for Lummi and Nooksack treaty agreements and for southern resident orca whales. With all of these different parties – tribes, farms, public utility districts and commercial fisheries – vying for water rights, the patchwork system of centuries worth of water claims is keeping solutions hard to come by as water levels continue to dwindle due to climate change. A 2013 study conducted by the federal government and published in “Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples in the United States,” researchers Oliver Grah and Jezra Beaulieu state that “with climate change, increased stream temperatures are predicted that could push temperatures to the lethal level for salmonids.” The DOE stated that parties along the Nooksack basin agree protecting salmon habitat is crucial, but “they have not reached a resolution about how to balance needs for fish with needs for farms and communities.” Who are the parties involved? In a joint press release circulated March 25, the Lummi Nation and the Nooksack Tribe announced a campaign to educate
Whatcom County residents on the need for an adjudication. “Adjudicating water rights allows us to live here sustainably,” said Katherine Romero, general manager of the Nooksack Tribe. “We have listened to farmers, and they have said they need a water bank, or exchange, to move water rights where they are needed. Adjudication is how that happens.” The tribes, which together form the Salmon Need Water campaign, are supported in their effort for adjudication by DOE, as well as real estate groups, fishery groups and environmental groups. “The Nooksack River has sustained Lummi people since the beginning of time,” said Lawrence Solomon, chairman of the Lummi Nation in the press release. “As Salmon People, we have for generations depended on the resources the Nooksack provides,” Solomon said. “The adjudication process will resolve how much water is being used, how much is available, and the legal right to the water.” (See Nooksack, page 15)
Find a vaccine provider at: VaccineLocator.doh.wa.gov Make an appointment: Schedule with your healthcare provider or a Vaccine Locator provider. Or call the COVID-19 hotline at: 1-800-525-0127 or 1-888-856-5816 for assistance.
Get vaccinated! s The Nooksack River is the main source of drinking water for over 80 percent of Whatcom County residents, according to the Washington state Department of Ecology. Photo courtesy Department of Ecology
April 22 - 28, 2021 • thenorthernlight.com
9
Local boat retailers see increase in sales since start of pandemic By Sienna Boucher Local boat sales have increased sharply since the start of the pandemic, causing new boats and engines to go on backorder for months. Increased boat sales are partly due to the lifestyle change the pandemic has presented as boating is a socially distant activity, Dream Boat Company founder Randy Parten said. “Some people used to spend their money on tickets for football games or cheer camps for their kids,” Parten said. “All of the money that was spent on group activities has gone into other recreational activities like boating.” Mike Klanczynski of Lynden purchased a Jeanneau NC 1095 boat in February from Sundance Yacht Sales in the Blaine Marina. Klanczynski grew up boating in Washington but the lack of boating destinations in California, where he had been living for work, kept Klanczynski from getting out on the water. “When the pandemic caused my work to go remote, we moved back to Washington,” Klanczynski said, adding that this gave him the opportunity to boat again. Now that he has a boat of his own, Klanczynski said it’s important for him to give his kids the chance of enjoying the San Juan Islands. “You get to explore. The weather is always a little different. The currents are always a little different. You go out there and then
you’re able to moor or anchor. You can go on a hike, take a dinghy out, see wildlife,” he said. “It means a lot to also be able to share that experience with the kids.” Although Klanczynski is now boating in the San Juans with his kids, he said that finding the boat was not easy. “The only reason we were able to secure a boat was because we started looking in late December. By the time the Seattle Boat Show came around, all boats were sold through mid-2022,” he said. While there’s an uptick in boat sales, there are now fewer Canadian boats in local marinas. Blaine harbormaster Andy Peterson said about 60 Canadian boaters have left the marina since the pandemic started but new boats have already filled those spots. Jenny Fouquette, assistant harbormaster for Friday Harbor marina, said slips where Canadian boats once were docked are now filled, but the border closure still has impacted marinas. “Being so close to Canada, permanent moorage customers loved taking their boats up there for long trips,” Fouquette said. “When they’re gone, we can sublease their slips to customers. With the pandemic, these permanent moorage customers have less options for travel, so a lot of them haven’t taken their boats out for long trips. This has caused our waitlist for slips to go up.” Peterson said that with so
s Elin and Luke having fun on the bow of the boat their father, Mike Klanczynski, bought during the pandemic. Photo courtesy of Mike Klanczynski many new users, the Blaine harbor office has pointed these new boaters toward boater safety information. “It’s not like pulling an RV down the road,” Peterson said. “It’s a whole different experience.” The main safety sources Peterson points new boaters toward are U.S. Power Squadrons and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary courses, Peterson said. A Washington State Boater Education Card is required for people who operate a boat with 15 horsepower or greater and everyone over the age of 12. To receive a card, boaters must take a course approved by the National Association of State Boating Administrators and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. Once the course is complete, application forms are avail-
able at boatered.org and cards can be purchased for $10. “You really have to know what you’re doing to make sure that boat stays beneath you. New boaters don’t always realize that,” said Parten with Dream Boat Company. “You’re in very cold water with a lot of obstacles. We have some of the most beautiful boating in the world, but also some of the most dangerous.” Along with boat safety, new boaters also need to be aware of the costs that come with it. “No other vehicle has the challenge that a boat does of living in the most torturous environment possible, which is in salt water. It gets beat up in the water. Because of those things, maintaining a boat is more expensive than any new boater will probably imagine,” Parten said. Parten described boats as one of
the most sophisticated consumer vehicles, having two separate electrical systems, a plumbing system, having to be water-tight and often having two sets of running gear. “The purchase of the boat is where the cost only begins,” Parten said. More information on boater safety: • Visit the parks’ website at bit.ly/2RSfef9. • Visit the parks’ website at bit.ly/2QAR9ZD. • Courtesy annual vessel safety checks are available through the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Power Squadrons. • Need a life jacket? The Blaine harbor office offers loaner life jackets for kids.
Unemployment claims spike statewide and locally, but unemployment rates trend down Whole Pilates By Ian Haupt
Claims for unemployment insurance spiked significantly for the first time after declining trends since the beginning of the year in Whatcom County and Washington state. The uptick during the week of April 4 to April 10 is partially due to those who filed a year ago at the start of the pandemic needing to reapply, economists say. According to data released by Washington’s Employment Security Department (ESD), 458 initial claims were filed in the county during the week of April 4 to April 10, whereas 325 claims were filed the week before. The last time ESD received this many claims from Whatcom County residents was the week of February 14-20 when 464 claims were filed. Statewide, 17,281 new claims for unemployment benefits were filed during the week of April 4-10, which was an increase of 5,418 new claims from the previous week. ESD hasn’t received this many claims in one week since the week ending on January 16 when 19,212 claims were filed. ESD regional labor economist Anneliese Vance-Sherman said the spike is mostly administra-
tive. Anyone who applied for unemployment benefits a year ago when the ESD saw a record-breaking number of claims filed – one week at the end of March totaled nearly 182,000 statewide – must reapply after a year. “A lot of people have reached their limit,” she said. Vance-Sherman added that this spike is likely not reflective of the market trend because some areas are progressing. The unemployment rate in Whatcom County dropped to 6.7 percent in March, which had previously peaked at 18.4 percent in April 2020, Vance-Sherman said. Whatcom County also gained 1,100 jobs, with increases in most sectors. Vance-Sherman said that although the unemployment rate dropped, 6,826 people left the workforce. This is a 5.8 percent decline from what was seen in March 2020 and plays a part in the unemployment rate recovery. “It’s good news and bad news,” she said. “Good news that the unemployment rate has dropped but bad news that people are leaving the workforce.” The industry sectors with the highest number of new claims statewide from April 4 to April 10 were specialty trade contractors (1,183 new claims), food
services and drinking places (855 new claims) and social assistance (522 new claims). There were 6,555 new claims filed with an unknown industry and 2,012 new claims where the industry was not disclosed. In Whatcom County, the majority of new claims filed the past week, 334, did not disclose an industry sector. Specialty trade contractors (39 new claims), educational services (20 new claims) and construction of buildings (14 new claims) were the industry sectors with the most new claims filed. Nationwide, in the week ending April 10, there were 576,000 initial claims filed, a decrease of 193,000 – 25 percent – from the previous week, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. This is the lowest level for initial claims since March 14, 2020, when 256,000 were filed nationally. Vance-Sherman said if the recent spike is tied to many who filed last year reapplying, she expects to see a wave of claims filed into May. But she said economists are still learning how use unemployment claims data as a market predicting resource. Typically, unemployment claims are a supplemental data source but this year they have become the primary data source, she said.
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Pets & Pet Care
The Northern Light • April 22 - 28, 2021
Best Photo Clips, Tips and products for a healthier, happier pet!
Helpful tips to know when adopting dogs from the shelter If there has been a silver lining to 2020 and the upheaval caused by COVID-19, it’s that more people have found they have more time on their hands to care for a new pet. “Adopt don’t shop” is a mantra popular among many pet lovers. It calls to mind that there are thousands of dogs currently residing in shelters that are in need of good homes. Supporters of “adopt don’t shop” urge people in the market for new pets to adopt animals from local shelters rather than buy them from breeders. The Humane Society of the United States says that there were approximately 10,000 pup-
py mills operating in the United States in 2019. Prospective pet owners who want to do their part against animal cruelty can adopt a needy pet from an area shelter. Some shelters are filled with pets from the local area. Other shelters work with rescue groups that transport dogs from various parts of the country. When adopting a shelter dog, keep these tips in mind. Understand the responsibility first Dogs make wonderful, boisterous and loving additions to a home. Much like having a child, welcoming a puppy into a home means spending weeks or
s Mya, 9, and Elsie, 6, take care of Sonny the cat and Nibbles the parakeet. The cat and bird duo are best friends. Photo courtesy Allie Kovalenko
months training the animal. This may result in initial damage to belongings and time constraints on people’s schedules. Older dogs may be set in their ways and also require training, or they may have special medical needs. Be sure to weigh all of the requirements carefully before adopting the animal. Get a behavioral and health assessment The Humane Society of Ocean City indicates that an established shelter that prides itself on animal rescue will provide health and behavioral assessments for all dogs. Personality, energy level, shyness, and aggression levels will be de-
termined before putting the dog up for adoption. This helps people find a dog that meshes with their expectations and lifestyles. Match the household Consider the household’s lifestyle and pace pre-pandemic to see if it is conducive to having a pet. While there may be plenty of time now when people are working remotely and children are not attending in-person classes, things may change in the months to come as life returns to normal. Can a dog still fit in when responsibilities change? Can you modify to accommodate the dog? Look at the shelter itself Make sure you adopt from a
s Roxie and Raven take a roadtrip.
shelter that is clean, friendly and organized and has follow-up resources. Reliable shelters typically conduct interviews of prospective pet owners and will ask for references. Be leery of rescues or shelters that are dirty, do not ask pertinent questions and seem to have dogs that appear unwell. Expect a fee Shelters and rescue groups vary in regard to adoption costs. Anything from $150 to $400 may be collected. Keep in mind that 25 to 30 percent of dogs in shelters are purebreds, according to a report by CBS News. Adoption fees can be a small price to pay for a loving dog.
Photo courtesy Jakki Amsberry
Submit Pet Paparazzi photos to editor@thenorthernlight.com
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April 22 - 28, 2021 • thenorthernlight.com
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Legal NOTICE TO CREDITORS In the Superior Court of the State of Washington, In and for the County of Whatcom, In re the Estate of Shirlee Joyce Meyers. Probate No.21-400277-37 Judge: Robert 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 Clerk of this Court. 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 (twenty-four (24) months if notice is not published). 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: 4/15/21. Personal Representative: David Meyers. Attorney for the Estate: Keith Bode, WSBA #7791 314 5th Street, P.O. Box 688, Lynden, WA 98264-0688, Tel. (360) 354-5021
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR WHATCOM COUNTY In re the Estate of: RONALD JOHN DASCH, Deceased. No. 21-4-00272-37. NOTICE TO CREDITORS Judge Evan Jones The Administrator named below has been appointed and has qualified as Administrator 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 Administrator or the Administrator’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 probated proceedings were commenced. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) thirty days after the Administrator 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 Filing of Notice to Creditors: April 14, 2021 with Clerk of Court: Date of First Publication: April 15, 2021 Name of Administrator: JOSEPH EDWARD LEIGHTON Attorney for Administrators: Steven D. Avery, WSBA #35262 Address for Mailing or Service: Avery Elder Law, P.S. 801 Samish Way, Ste. 202 Bellingham WA 98229 Telephone: (360) 325-2550 Email: steve@averyelderlaw.com DATED: April 15, 2021 AVERY ELDER LAW, P.S. STEVEN D. AVERY, WSBA #35262 Attorney for Administrator JOSEPH EDWARD LEIGHTON
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IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF Whatcom In Re the Estate of John Ernest Norling, Deceased. NO. 21-4-00280-37. NONPROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS (RCW 11.42.030) JUDGE: David E. Freeman The notice agent named below has elected to give notice to creditors of the abovenamed decedent. As of the date of the filing of a copy of this notice with the court, the notice agent has no knowledge of any other person acting as notice agent or of the appointment of a personal representative 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: April 15, 2021 The notice agent declares under penalty of perjury under the laws of the state of Washington on April 7, 2021, at Bellingham, Washington, that the foregoing is true and correct. Notice Agent: Ronnie Truitt PO Box 28397, Bellingham, WA 98229 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 Number: 21-4-00280-37
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR WHATCOM COUNTY In re the Estate of: TED LINDER HOLEMAN, Deceased. No. 214-00312-37. NOTICE TO CREDITORS. Judge Robert E. Olson The Administrator named below has been appointed and has qualified as Administrator 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 Administrator or the Administrator’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 probated proceedings were commenced. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) thirty days after the Administrator 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 Filing of Notice to Creditors: April 15, 2021 with Clerk of Court: Date of First Publication: April 22, 2021 Name of Administrator: CHRISTOPHER HOLEMAN Attorney for Administrators: Steven D. Avery, WSBA #35262 Address for Mailing or Service: Avery Elder Law, P.S. 801 Samish Way, Ste. 202 Bellingham WA 98229 Telephone: (360) 325-2550 Email: steve@averyelderlaw.com DATED April 15, 2021 AVERY ELDER LAW, P.S. STEVEN D. AVERY, WSBA #35262 Attorney for Administrator CHRISTOPHER HOLEMAN www.averyelderlaw.com
NOTICE TO CREDITORS In the Superior Court of the State of Washington, In and for the County of Whatcom, In re the Estate of Terrence Roger DeValois. Probate No.21-400279-37 Judge: Evan Jones. 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 Clerk of this Court. 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 (twenty-four (24) months if notice is not published). 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: 4/22/21. Personal Representative: Michelle R. Van Dellen. Attorney for the Estate: Keith Bode, WSBA #7791 314 5th Street, P.O. Box 688, Lynden, WA 98264-0688, Tel. (360) 354-5021
NOTICE TO CREDITORS In the Superior Court of the State of Washington, In and for the County of Whatcom, In re the Estate of Freda Garetta Visser. Probate No. 21-400278-37 Judge: Lee Grochmal. 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 Clerk of this Court. 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 (twenty-four (24) months if notice is not published). 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: 4/15/21. Personal Representative: Robert Visser. Attorney for the Estate: Keith Bode, WSBA #7791 314 5th Street, P.O. Box 688, Lynden, WA 98264-0688, Tel. (360) 354-5021
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF WHATCOM In re the Matter and Estate of: ROBERTA MARIE NOTAR, Deceased. No. 21-4-00246-37. PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS. RCW 11.40.030 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. Notice of First Publication: April 8, 2021 Personal Representative: Robert Notar Presented by: Whatcom Law Group, P.S. Roger L. Ellingson, WSBA #19292 Attorney for Personal Representative PO Box 1258 / 289 H Street Blaine, WA 98231-1258 (360) 332-7000; Fax: (360) 332-6677
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IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR WHATCOM COUNTY In re the Estate of: KEITH E. JOHNSON, Deceased. No. 214-00311-37. NOTICE TO CREDITORS. Judge David E. Freeman The Administrator named below has been appointed and has qualified as Administrator 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 Administrator or the Administrator’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 probated proceedings were commenced. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) thirty days after the Administrator 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 Filing of Notice to Creditors: April 15, 2021 with Clerk of Court: Date of First Publication: April 22, 2021 Name of Administrator: LYNNE YUROVCHAK Attorney for Administrators: Steven D. Avery, WSBA #35262 Address for Mailing or Service: Avery Elder Law, P.S. 801 Samish Way, Ste. 202 Bellingham WA 98229 Telephone: (360) 325-2550 Email: steve@averyelderlaw.com STEVEN D. AVERY, WSBA #35262 Attorney for Administrator LYNNE YUROVCHAK www.averyelderlaw.com
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The Northern Light • April 22 - 28, 2021
Real Estate
Bay Properties
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7605 Birch Bay Drive #B, Birch Bay $750,000 TOES IN THE SAND!
Newly updated, 1,632 SF 2 BD,1.75 BA home with office (could be used as a 3rd BD) in sought after Blaine - with views of bay from back yard! Located in a quiet neighborhood on dead end street. Features include upgraded bathrooms, jetted tub in master bath, upgraded kitchen cabinets, beautiful picture windows plus new: wall heaters, light fixtures, ceiling fan, flooring & tiling! Freshly painted in & out! Fully fenced, mature landscaped yard front & back with a gorgeous rose garden! 2 car garage! Home was connected to sewer (rebuilt) in 2018 for $18k. Near shopping & schools!
Rare, no bank waterfront facing west NEW LISTING for sunsets over the BIRCH BAY BEACHFRONT! bay! Just steps from the beach where you can launch your kayak, beachcomb, drop a crab pot or go for a swim! This 1689 SF 3 BD, 3.25 BA is a 2 story half duplex unit in the Haven Condominium complex. Bring your beach buckets and enjoy this most amazing location that is within walking distance to restaurants and all that Birch Bay has to offer!
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With 125’ of easy & direct beach access! 180 degree westerly views of sunsets, San Juan & Gulf islands, north shore mountains & White Rock, B.C.. Crab, fish & kayak off private beach! 2,532 SF +/- 3 BD, 2.5 BA home. Gas artisan fireplace insert, 2 car garage, paver driveway & walks, auto sprinkler system on this 3/4 acres of mature landscaping. Master with jetted tub, gourmet style kitchen with granite, SS GE/Monogram/Bosch appliances! 3+ acres of beach/deeded tidelands. Cable internet and HDTV remote work delightful from shorefront legacy home!
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7806 Birch Bay Drive #302, Jacob’s Landing $278,900 NOW PENDING!
10823 Halloran Road, Bow $349,000
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Fantastic opportunity for Island ENJOY ISLAND LIVING! Living! 1080 SF 2 BD, 1.75 BA doublewide MF home. Absolutely clean from top to bottom. Updated 3 bedroom septic, new 8x12 shed & 16x20 custom studio offer multiple usage. Room for RV/trailer with electric/water hook-up & septic access. Located across street from public park, 2 access points to nearby beaches. Property includes thought out landscaping, garden space & level yard. Sellers have done all prep work to make this ready to create your vision. Inspections, surveys, permits available!
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This 900 SF 2 BD, 1.5 BA unit is nestled in the quiet setting of beautifully landscaped grounds. Enjoy the back deck for quiet morning coffee or private dinners and the front deck for basking in the sunshine. Features of this condo include wood floors, wall to wall carpet and stainless steel appliances. Enjoy as your primary residence or weekend get-away! A rare find don’t miss out on making this your new home!
8071 Makah Road, Birch Bay Village $1,145,000 VIEW! VIEW! VIEW!
Stunning 3 BD, 2.5 BS 3513 SF custom home on a highly sought after street in Birch Bay Village! First time on the market, this JWR design showcases views of Birch Bay, Mt. Baker and the Twin Sisters!
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55+ community Purchase includes home & 1/18th share in Birch Bay Retirement Inc. an 18 home development with common areas that include RV parking. May be least expensive place to live in Birch Bay on monthly basis. Monthly dues of $120 include all expenses. Great location, perfect sun exposure.
Home site #20. Over 1/2 acre 23958 sq. ft. Water & Mountain view home site in Drayton Hillside on Puffin Place gated community. Bring plans & ambition & enjoy this peaceful setting, & all amenities the Semiahmoo community has to offer. Marina, Golf & Country Club, Heath Club, Spa, 200 room Inn at Semiahmoo, restaurants, tennis, pools, pickle ball & much more.
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Semiahmoo Marina Boat slips: C-33, 40’ Slip for $46,500 K-2, 36’ Finger Slip for $42,000
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real estate/rentals advertisAllAllreal estate/rentals advertisinginin this this newspaper is subject ing newspaper is subject the Federal Federal FairFair Housing Act Act totothe Housing of 1968 1968 asasamended, whichwhich makesmakes it illegalittoillegal of amended, advertise any preference, limitationlimitation or discrimito advertise any preference, or disnation based onbased race, color, handicap crimination onreligion, race,sex, color, religion, familial status or national or an sex, handicap, familialorigin, status or intention national orito make any such preference, limitation or disgin, or an intention to make any such prefcrimination. This newspaper will not knowingly erence, limitation or discrimination. This accept any advertisement for real estate which newspaper will not knowingly accept any is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby advertisement real estate which is in viinformed that all for dwellings advertised in this olation of are theavailable law. Our are hereby innewspaper on readers an equal opportunity formed that allofdwellings advertised basis. To complain discrimination, call HUD toll-in this newspaper are available on an equal opporfree at 1-800-877-0246. tunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll-free at 1-800-877-0246.
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Distribution June 2021
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April 22 - 28, 2021 • thenorthernlight.com
Rules of the Road: Inefficient traffic flow at intersections?
13
OBITUARIES Judy Eileen Gilfillan Trefren
By Doug Dahl
August 19, 1943 – April 9, 2021
Question: I see changes in the way traffic is flowing at some larger intersections where I live. It used to be the turn lanes from the opposite sides would go at the same time. That way the through traffic from each side could go as soon as the opposite turn lane was complete. Now in many intersections, both the turn lane and through traffic from one side goes while the opposite side has all the cars for through and turn lanes waiting and idling. This does not appear to be as efficient as before. Why the change? Answer: There’s that scene in the 2003 movie The Italian Job when the thieves we’re supposed to be rooting for take back the stolen gold from the double-crossing thief we’re supposed to root against. (Besides the ethical quandary of choosing which bad guy to root for, how can you ever root against Edward Norton?) A key part of their strategy involves hacking into Los Angeles’ traffic control computer system and manipulating traffic lights to direct the truck full of gold to their desired location. While the hacking bit in the movie doesn’t hold up in real life, there really are rooms with screens and computers where traffic operations engineers can monitor intersections and make adjustments to improve traffic flow. Transportation departments use cameras, sensors and software to gather data that they use to make decisions on how maximize both efficiency and safety with traffic signals. In your question you described a change from what is called a split phase to a lead-lag signal. To understand why that change might happen I spoke with a traffic operations engineer. Managing traffic signals is a data-centric operation. The engineers working with that data continuously review it to optimize travel. When traffic volumes change, so might the programming of the traffic lights. As an example, when we experienced a drastic change in traffic volume when Covid prompted shutdowns, traffic engineers responded by adjusting signals for the change. And it’s not just overall traffic volume; signals are optimized to function differently based on the time of the day. The best signal timing for rush hour in the morning might be different from the timing in the evening rush hour when most of the traffic is heading the opposite direction, and certainly different form the signal timing at midnight. An engineer also has to take into consideration other nearby intersections. It’s not just what’s most efficient at one intersection; the whole system has to work together. Along with efficiency, traffic engineers consider safety. They may make changes to a traffic signal to reduce vehicle conflicts, allow safer pedestrian crossing or manage hazardous congestion.
s Inside Bellingham’s traffic signal control center. Photo courtesy Doug Dahl
I know of a freeway exit ramp that gets backed up during peak travel times. The signal for the exit ramp where it meets the arterial road has to be green long enough and frequently enough to make sure that we don’t end up with stopped cars on the freeway. During those times the arterial can have extended delays, but that’s a tradeoff to avoiding rearend collisions at freeway speed. Most of the time, signals operate as programmed without constant adjustments. But during
a collision or other unexpected event, the engineers can adjust signals on the fly to respond to a situation. It might not always look like it from your view in the car, but unless there’s a glitch in the system, what you’re experiencing at an intersection is probably the best balance of efficiency and safety that the engineers can achieve. Doug Dahl is a manager with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, Region 11 and publishes TheWiseDrive.com.
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Judy Trefren passed away gracefully on April 9, 2021 at home surrounded by her family. She is one of two daughters born to Betty and Royce Gilfillan. Born on August 19, 1943 in Bellingham at St Luke’s, Judy was brought home to Blaine to join her parents and older sister, Sharon. Judy was in Blaine’s first kindergarten class taught by Bess McMillan and remained in the Blaine schools until her high school graduation in 1961, where she made many life-long friends. Judy’s Poppa died in 1960 when she was a high school senior and her mom, Betty, opened Betty J’s Style Shop between Goff’s store and Montfort’s grocery. Judy loved working in the shop with her mom. Judy attended Central Washington University and the University of Washington and then married Jim Trefren, who was crazy in love with her. They said their I-do’s in the Blaine Congregational Church in 1964.Their first home was a top-floor Queen Anne apartment in Seattle with a view of Lake Union. At $125 per month, this was an extravagance for the young newlyweds. Everyone came to see sweet baby Stephanie here. The family moved on to Edmonds where four years later, spicy baby Janna was born. It could be seen that the babies had inherited their mom’s beauty genes. Judy and Jim moved to Bellingham in 1970 to raise their daughters. In a growing Bellingham, new homes were being built on Alabama Hill and they were able to buy one. The neighborhood was filled with young families and many friendships began here where the girls attended kindergarten through high school. Judy was a homemaker while her daughters were young, and she raised them by example to be independent, confident, to have a positive outlook and a smile for everyone. Later Judy worked in the real estate field and became the broker and manager of commercial properties in downtown Bellingham for the Morris Piha company. She loved doing this work, meeting with colleagues, clients, and the people of Bellingham. Soon Judy and Jim became empty-nesters. They moved to downtown San Diego in 1988 and started new careers. It was a wonderful time. Between the years 2002 to 2006, Judy and Jim transitioned back “home” to retire in their peaceful garden home in Semiahmoo. Judy loved Birch Bay, swimming, sailing in the San Juans, downhill skiing, traveling far and wide, and road trips. Most of all, she loved her family and let them know. Judy’s children are Stephanie (Chris) Compton and grand-daughter Dana of Sydney, Australia; and Janna (Andy) Gilkison and granddaughter Lena of Encinitas, California. A private service will be held for friends and family at Moles Farewell Tributes Greenacres (5700 NW Dr., Ferndale). Please share your memories of Judy at www.molesfarewelltributes.com.
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The Northern Light • April 22 - 28, 2021
Sheriff’s Reports April 11, 8:41 p.m.: Assault simple cold call on Pheasant Drive. April 11, 9:22 p.m.: Vehicle prowl on Holeman Avenue. April 12, 7:11 a.m.: Neighborhood dispute on Shetland Court. April 12, 8:38 a.m.: Mental cold call on Birch Bay-Lynden Road. April 12, 9:11 p.m.: Threat on Autumn Lane. April 12, 12:39 p.m.: Juvenile problem on Seaview Drive. April 12, 1:43 p.m.: Juvenile problem on Fawn Crescent Road. April 12, 4 p.m.: Neighborhood dispute on Custer Road. April 12, 6:25 p.m.: Alarm audible on Sagebrush Lane. April 13, 11:47 a.m.: Domestic verbal on Helweg Lane. April 13, 3:49 p.m.: Mental on Birch Bay-Lynden Road. April 13, 6:14 p.m.: Assist citizen on Surf Place. April 13, 6:15 p.m.: Impound private on Sweet Road. April 13, 6:47 p.m.: Vehicle prowl on Birch Bay-Lynden Road, Custer. April 13, 7:46 p.m.: Assault simple on Hillvue Road. April 14, 12:53 a.m.: Noise on Blaine Road. April 14, 8 a.m.: Motor vehicle
accident on Anderson and Blaine roads. April 14, 12:59 p.m.: Motor vehicle accident on Harborview Road. April 15, 6:11 p.m.: Landlord tenant dispute on Birch Bay Drive.
Police Reports
April 6, 3:26 p.m.: Trouble with a person on Peace Portal Drive. April 6, 8:21 p.m.: Suicidal subject on Marine Drive. April 7, 3:42 p.m.: Suicidal threats on Clark Street. April 9, 8:13 a.m.: Civil issue over vehicle on 4th Street. April 9, 2:52 a.m.: Assist other agency on Harborview Road. April 9, 8:13 a.m.: Civil issue over vehicle on 4th Street. April 9, 9:33 a.m.: Abandoned vehicle on A Street. April 9, 11:27 a.m.: Landlord tenant dispute on D Street. April 9, 8:03 p.m.: Landlord tenant issue on Peace Portal Drive. April 10, 9:27 a.m.: Suspicious circumstances on 4th Street. April 10, 2:55 p.m.: Property line dispute on Cherry Street. April 11, 4:42 a.m.: Suspicious
Crossword
ACROSS 1. Large, flightless birds 5. Lifts and moves heavy objects 10. Hyundai sedan 12. Wear away by erosion 14. Arranged alphabetically 16. Top prosecutor 18. __-de-sac: Short dead-end street 19. Digital audiotape 20. Linguistics pioneer 22. Singer DiFranco 23. Arms of the sea 25. Near-reach weapon (abbr.) 26. Ballplayer’s accessory 27. You get one at the beach 28. U.S. founding father 30. W. Australia indigenous people 31. Amounts of time 33. Put on the shelf 35. Russian dynasty member 37. City along the Elbe River 38. A peninsula between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf
April 16, 10:08 a.m.: Trespass on Birch Bay-Lynden Road, Custer. April 16, 2:29 p.m.: Neighborhood dispute on Custer Road. April 16, 5:03 p.m.: Motor vehicle accident on Semiahmoo Drive.
40. Actor Damon 41. __ King Cole, musician 42. Company that rings receipts 44. Scatter 45. Basics 48. Part of a door 50. Indicates silence 52. Moved quickly on foot 53. Monetary units 55. A place to crash 56. Many subconsciousses 57. Group of countries 58. About line of latitude 63. Female follower of Bacchus 65. A dentist can treat it 66. Dull brown fabrics 67. Int’l nonprofit DOWN 1. Midway between northeast and east 2. Partner to cheese 3. One from Utah 4. A way to move 5. Playing cards 6. Baseball stat 7. Long river in western Asia 8. Grandmothers
9. Entertainment legend Sullivan 10.Steam bath room 11. One who kills 13. Food 15. Swiss river 17. Fleet 18. Taxi 21. Working class 23. More (Spanish) 24. High schoolers’ test 27. Large heavily built goat antelope 29. Murdered in his bathtub 32. Tease good-naturedly 34. Morsel 35. Cause persistent resentment 36. A radioactive element 39. Perform in a play 40. Witty remark: Bon __ 43. A great place to kayak 44. Conclude by reasoning 46. In an unfavorable way 47. Complex of nerve tissues (abbr.) 49. Machine for making paper 51. Feline 54. Yugo’s hatch-
circumstances on B Street. April 11, 9:28 a.m.: Residential alarm on Earls Court. April 11, 5 p.m.: Simple assault investigation on 4th Street. April 12, 12:56 p.m.: Traffic stop arrest on Sweet Road. April 12, 9:15 p.m.: Suspicious circumstances on Martin Street. April 13, 10:23 p.m.: Suspicious circumstance on Cedar Street. April 14, 9:34 a.m.: Citizen requesting contact by phone on H Street. April 14, 12:53 p.m.: Attempted vehicle prowl on Marine Drive. April 14, 8 p.m.: Theft in the third degree, no arrest, on 3rd Street. April 15, 1:08 a.m.: Noise complaint-barking dog on 15th Street. April 15, 2:42 p.m.: Civil issue on Evans Drive Report by Blaine Police Department.
back 59. Check 60. Press against lightly 61. Wind-pollinated plants 62. __compoop 64. Commercial ANSWERS: THENORTHERNLIGHT.COM
49° 0’ 0”N - 122° 46’ 0”W HEIGHT
TIME
HEIGHT
Fr 23 3:36 am 9.0
9:55 am 4.2
9:14 pm 1.6
2:57 pm 6.6
Sa 2 4:06 am 9.1 10:29 am 2.9
4:11 pm 7.4 10:10 pm 2.1
Su 25 4:34 am 9.3 11:05 am 1.4
5:19 pm 8.2 11:02 pm 2.9
Mo 26 5:02 am 9.3 11:43 am 0.1
6:21 pm 9.0 11:54 pm 3.8
Tu 27 5:34 am 9.4 12:25 pm -1.1
7:21 pm 9.7
We 28 12:48 am 4.8
6:04 am 9.3
1:07 pm -2.0
8:21 pm 10.0
Th 29 1:40 am 5.7
6:38 am 9.2
9:23 pm 10.2
1:53 pm -2.4
Strengthening Families Virtual Program: Tuesdays, through June 1, 6:30–8:30 p.m. Free for caregivers and youth aged 10–14 years old. Families learn communication skills, stress management tools and ways to connect with trained facilitators. Info and registration: Kate.Foster@wsu. edu. Books on the Bay: Thursday, April 22, 8 a.m. Learn more about the Birch Bay Library project via a presentation by Christine Perkins, executive director, Whatcom County Library Service to the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce virtual meeting. Contact Friends of Birch Bay Library President Dianne Marrs-Smith at fobblpresident@gmail.com or 206-850-8590 for details and Zoom info. Terrell Creek Micro Work Party: Thursday, April 22, 9–11 a.m. Plant native trees and shrubs on Earth Day. Free t-shirt for attending. Info and preregistration: n-sea.org/work-parties/2021/3/13/terrell-creek-micro-workparty-zhfep. Earth Day Beach Clean Up: Through April 25. Join in the loving and stewarding of our Earth by helping clean or beaches or any Whatcom County waterway. Register at: gardensalishsea.org or on Facebook to participate, receive further instructions, and be entered to win prizes from Drayton Harbor Oyster Company and more. Sponsored by Garden of the Salish Sea Curriculum. Trivia at The Vault: Thursday, April 22, 7 p.m., The Vault Wine Bar and Bistro, 277 G Street. This week’s theme: general knowledge. Reservations recommended. Info: thevaultwine.com. Live Music at the Vault: Friday, April 23, 7 p.m., The Vault Wine Bar and Bistro, 277 G Street. Featuring Cameron Ferguson. Reservations recommended. Info: thevaultwine.com. D.E.A. National RX Takeback: Saturday, April 24, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Birch Bay Visitor Center, 7900 Birch Bay Drive. Dispose of unwanted medications in a contactless, drive up format. See birchbaychamber.com for a list of medication that can be collected. Hosted by the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce and Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office. Blaine High School “Graffiti On A Diamond” Production: Wednesday, April 28, 7 p.m., Blaine School District YouTube channel. More than 90 students from the visual arts, choral, jazz band and theater arts classes, along with their faculty mentors showcase their work this year. Trivia at The Vault: Thursday, April 29, 7 p.m., The Vault Wine Bar and Bistro, 277 G Street. This week’s theme: Greek mythology. Reservations recommended. Info: thevaultwine.com.
Terrell Creek Micro Work Party: Saturday, May 1, 9–11 a.m. Help remove invasive Himalayan blackberry from the banks of Terrell Creek in Birch Bay State Park. Must register in advance at: https://www.n-sea.org/ work-parties/2021/3/13/terrell-creek-micro-work-party-zhfep-xes7n.
April 23 – 29 at Blaine. Not for navigation.
TIME
Please wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines.
Live Music at The Vault: Friday, April 30, 7 p.m., The Vault Wine Bar and Bistro, 277 G Street. Featuring Trio Sueño. Reservations recommended. Info: thevaultwine.com.
Tides DATE
Coming up
Blessing of the Fleet: Sunday, May 2, 1:30 p.m., Blaine Harbor, outside gate 2. Rain or shine. Please wear a mask and socially distance. Ongoing: Boys & Girls Club After School Care: Monday–Thursday until 5 p.m. Serving students in grades 1–6 at Blaine schools. Registration required weekly. Info: https://parentportal.whatcomclubs.org or contact the Club at 360/332-3008. Blaine Food Bank: 500 C Street. Open Mondays 9 a.m.–noon, Wednesdays 5–7 p.m., and Fridays 9 a.m.–noon. Delivery options available. Info:360/332-6350 or blainefood@hotmail.com. The Bridge Food Distribution Program: Fridays 3:30–5 p.m., The Bridge Community Hope Center, 4815 Alderson Road. Registration required at thebridgehope.com or call 360/366-8763. Volunteers welcome. The Bridge Clothing Bank Boutique: Open Wednesdays 3–5 p.m. and Fridays 12–5 p.m., The Bridge Community Hope Center, 4815 Alderson Road. Donations by appointment, call 360/366-8763. Blaine’s Market by the Sea: Saturdays, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., G Street Plaza. Featuring high quality arts and crafts vendors selling handcrafted merchandise. Info: info@blainechamber.com. Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce Virtual Meetings: Third Thursdays, 1 p.m. Meeting ID on birchbaychamber.com. Blaine Chamber of Commerce Virtual Meetings: First Wednesday, noon. Meeting ID on blainechamber.com.
Weather
Precipitation: During the period of April 12 to 18, 0 inches of precipitation was recorded. The 2021 yearto-date precipitation is 11.2 inches. Temperature: High for the past week was 76°F on April 18 with a low of 32°F on April 12. Average high was 57°F and average low was 48°F.
Courtesy Birch Bay Water & Sewer Dist.
Blaine Library: 610 3rd Street. Open to in-branch visits, Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. 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: Thursdays 11:30 a.m.–12 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Adults 60+ pick up one hot and six frozen meals. Suggested donation $5 per meal or whatever is affordable. First come, first serve basis. Info: 360/332-8040. Toastmasters Virtual Meetings: Tuesdays 6:30–7:45 p.m. Entertaining and educational. Have fun speaking, learn to overcome fears. Info: Call Pete 360/933-1671 or visit https://590628.toastmastersclubs.org. Movie Nights: Fridays, 8:15 p.m., Birch Bay Activity Center, 7511 Gemini Street. Playing family friendly movies. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and watch the movie on the big screen. Free popcorn. Masks and social distancing required. Info: bbbparkandrec.org.
Submissions to Coming Up should be sent to calendar@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.
April 22 - 28, 2021 • thenorthernlight.com
Briefly from Blaine City Council B y G r a c e M c C a r t h y to be using the building, expectNews from the virtual Blaine City Council meeting on April 12. State funding coming down the pike for Blaine With the help of state funding, the city of Blaine is expected to receive money for large projects that could clean up the Blaine Marine Park shoreline and revitalize downtown. The state’s House of Representatives and Senate released their capital budgets on March 25. Lawmakers are working to combine the two capital budgets into one before the 2021 session adjourns April 25. The House approved funding for two Blaine projects – the Marine Park Beach Naturalization and the Downtown Revitalization project – but the Senate only approved funding for the marine park project. The city of Blaine applied and was awarded its full request amount from an Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account grant that will give $500,000 to the city to repair the park’s shoreline from the apple tree point to the end of Marine Drive. “This is a tremendous success,” Jones said in an email to Blaine City Council. “It is the culmination of years of work by the Community Development Services Department with the help from the Park and Cemetery Board. It was due to council-supported matching dollars that we were able to submit the grant request.” The House approved $500,000 of the city’s requested $1 million for the downtown revitalization project, Jones said. The city of Blaine’s public works and community development services departments created the downtown revitalization project after the city was continuously running into problems fixing city infrastructure on an as-needed basis. Demolition nears for old city hall The city of Blaine is finishing moving out of old city hall at 344 H Street and preparing to demolish the building this summer. Blaine Police Department (BPD), the last city department
Don’t forget Mom! Mother’s Day is May 9 Find Gift and Dining ideas here in The Northern Light.
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ed to move its evidence room out of old city hall by the end of the week ending April 16, chief Donnell Tanksley said during the meeting. “The rest of the city departments have moved all of their items out with the exception of just a handful of things that we have questions about,” Jones said. Public works director Bernie Ziemianek said he hoped to have the demolition specifications finished by mid-May and would start the demolition in June or July. An asbestos removal company is working to remove the material from flooring and walls, he said. Councilmember Garth Baldwin asked council to make a plan if artifacts are found as the building is demolished. “The citizens will say something if all of the sudden they tear that facade off and there’s some old, funky stuff out there and then we let a wrecking ball hit it, I don’t want to disappoint people,” Baldwin said. Ziemianek said it would be possible to restore the wood on the building’s second floor and the city is preserving a few pieces of white molding where people inscribed their names during the first half of the 20th century. In early 2020, city council directed the city manager and fi-
Nooksack ... From page 1
nance director to seek $2.5 million in bond funding to preserve some of the old city hall land for BPD’s new evidence room. Council decided to delay looking for the money once the pandemic started, but Jones said it would need to be brought up again now that the building is coming down. The city currently has ownership of the property but Jones asked council to reconsider this at a later meeting. “I don’t want the city to be an owner of a vacant lot in the middle of a downtown we’re trying to redevelop,” Jones said. “If we have a purpose for it, that’s fantastic. If we don’t, I would ask you to reconsider that.” Council approves new backhoe for public works Blaine City Council approved public works’ request to purchase and replace the city’s backhoe for $140,411. The city’s current backhoe has been used for 31 years, when it was first brought to the city in 1989, according to city documents. A memo prepared for council said repairs from the backhoe’s use over the years has increased maintenance cost and parts replacement. “Replacing the older backhoe with a more modern piece of machinery will aid us in directly supporting water projects and other departmental needs into the future,” the memo states.
With DOE’s “first in time, first in right” policy, the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Tribe can date their water claim to 1855, the year the Treaty of Point Elliott was signed that guaranteed the tribes hunting and fishing rights. Washington didn’t enter statehood until 1889 and the first water code wasn’t adopted until 1917, so the tribes in the county own the most senior water rights. For county farmers, an adjudication could potentially mean putting family farms out of business, losing millions of dollars in agriculture value and opening up the floodgates for real estate development, according to opponents. Gavin Willis, the outreach and development director for Whatcom Family Farmers, an advocacy group for local farmers, said that lawyers have warned of massive price tags for legal defense if adjudication were to commence. “We’ve been told by attorneys that water rights holders should expect to spend between $10 and $100,000 to defend their water right in court,” Willis said. Not only will the cost for adjudication defense be too high for many farmers to bear, Willis said many farmers are fearful that junior water rights to the river will put their entire livelihood at risk if water levels get too low and their irrigation is shut off. “Worst-case scenario … at some
15
point in the future, if the adjudication were to go forward, stream flows drop below the quantified tribal rights, that means everyone’s water gets shut off,” Willis said. “That would pretty much be the end of farming if that was something that would happen on a regular basis.” Whatcom County is home to more than 100,000 acres of agricultural land that generated an excess of $300 million in 2014, ranking it the most productive agricultural county in Western Washington, according to a Washington State University study. But the mounting anxiety over legal fees, the possibility of water shutoffs and the costs already associated with commercial farming have made many farmers question their future in the county. “Farming has always been a business that comes with a lot of uncertainty,” Willis said. “Adding another layer of uncertainty to that makes Whatcom County a less attractive place to farm.” McPherson, the DOE’s adjudication assessment manager, argued that adjudication was the only reasonable way to assure water rights for as many as possible. “We know that it’s not unanimously supported by farmers and agricultural groups,” she said. “We value farms as part of our environment and economy, but the way to ensure they have legal water for the future is to figure out what has legal water now.”
home & garden
SPRING OPEN HOUSE 2021 Saturday, April, 24 • 9am-6pm Celebrate the spring season in style with gorgeous plants and some fun activities just for you garden enthusiasts!
GREENHOUSE TOUR 11am-12pm
• Tour the greenhouse at the height of the spring season and see acres of beautiful growing plants while learning a little bit about what it takes to get those plants ready for you to bring home! • Our tour guide will require you to keep a distance of at least 6’ so that they are able to communicate clearly with you and keep everyone safe.
TACOS!
A taco truck will be on site starting at 11am! Grab a bite to eat before or after you shop!
PLANTER PARTY 12-5pm
Bring your own or purchase a planter and we will help you design and plant your perfect planter! Soil provided IF you choose to plant on site with purchased plants!
ONE DAY SALES! 8210 Portal Way–Blaine Just off I-5, Exit 270 Take Portal Way
More info at www.VWHomeAndGarden.com
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The Northern Light • April 22 - 28, 2021
Caboose ... From page 1
sue that idea, Andrews turned it into a gift store called Great Northern Buffalo Gifts, inspired by Great Northern Railway Company. The day the caboose came to town, Andrews said community members were chattering about his new venture and packed Tony’s Sandwich Shop to celebrate the caboose with free cake and coffee. “The anticipation made it exciting and stood out more,” he said. After a divorce, Andrews’ exwife leased the caboose to sev-
eral businesses before selling the property to its current owners. In 2009, Peace Arch City Café got its start in the caboose before moving to H Street and then into its current brick-and-mortar across from Tony’s Just A Bite. Peace Arch City Café co-owner Kylie Bestul said seeing the caboose advertised on Craigslist brought her and the café’s other co-owner, John Quimod, from Seattle to Blaine. “We were attracted to the character of it. It was unique, small and something we could afford to do that would give us the chance to work together,” Bestul said. “When we found the caboose and we found Blaine, it seemed like the right fit.”
Bestul said the three years that Peace Arch City Café operated in the caboose allowed her and Quimod to learn how to run their first business. “We were looking for something small and intimate the two of us could execute,” Quimod said. “Our relationship was brand new so it was a working honeymoon to see if the two of us could get along.” The business partners eventually decided it was time to expand their café in a 1920s home on H Street before moving to their current location. “It’s a great starter kit,” Quimod said. “Our demand kept growing but we had no space to grow.” Nearly a decade later, Haywood
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opened the Railway Café in December 2018. Haywood said she told her husband she dreamed of starting her first café in the caboose and the next month, he found it on Craigslist. “It was like it was meant to be,” said Haywood, who bought the business building three days later. “It was like it had my name on it.” Train memorabilia and humorous life quotes line the café’s walls, which Haywood said is the result of investing time into decorating the café with knickknacks that represent her personality. The café’s menu also shows Haywood’s Middle Eastern travels with Turkish and Israeli coffee to homemade burekas and Lebanese falafel. “I didn’t realize it was going to
grow the way it did,” Haywood said of her café. “I just wanted a small coffee shop with a few sandwiches and baked goods and it exceeded all my expectations.” Haywood and her sister, Aimee Beecroft, said they’ve experienced strong community support with the café and want to give back during its centennial. This summer, the café will do bi-weekly drawings for baskets with goods in June and July and surprise boxes with coupons and even a $25 gift card. “Because our heart’s in it, it goes through to our product and our customer and they feel at home,” Beecroft said. “People are thankful we’ve made it because a lot of businesses have really struggled and we tell them, ‘It’s because of you.’”
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s Aimee Beecroft, l., and Vicka Haywood of Railway Café are celebrating the caboose turning 100 years old this year. Photo by Grace McCarthy
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