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Letters
The Northern Light is published weekly by Point Roberts Press Inc.
Locally owned and managed, the company also publishes the All Point Bulletin, covering Point Roberts, Mount Baker Experience, covering the Mt. Baker foothills area, Pacific Coast Weddings annual guide, and the summer recreation guide Waterside as well as maps and other publications. Point Roberts Press Inc. is a member of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association, Chambers of Commerce of Bellingham/ Whatcom County, Birch Bay, Blaine and Point Roberts and the Bellingham/ Whatcom County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
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The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors.
Letters Policy
The Northern Light welcomes letters to the editor. Please include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters are limited to 350 words and may be edited or rejected for reasons of legality, length and good taste. Thank-you letters are limited to five individuals or groups. Writers should avoid personal invective. Unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Requests for withholding names will be considered on an individual basis. Consumer complaints should be submitted directly to the business in question or the local chamber of commerce. Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published. Email letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com.
Publisher & Managing Editor Patrick Grubb publisher@pointrobertspress.com
Co-publisher & Advertising Director Louise Mugar lmugar@pointrobertspress.com
Editor Grace McCarthy grace@pointrobertspress.com
Reporter Ian Haupt ian@pointrobertspress.com
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Creative Services Ruth Lauman, Doug De Visser production@pointrobertspress.com
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Contributors In This Issue Birch Bay Historical Society, Doug Dahl
The Northern Light 225 Marine Drive, Suite 200, Blaine, WA 98230 Tel: 360/332-1777 Vol XXVII, No 39 Circulation: 10,500 copies Circulation Independently verified by:
Next issue: March 24 Ads due: March 18 OpiniOn
Community support pours in after Terrill Drive fire
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Community support has poured in for the Birch Bay home that was considered a total loss after it caught on fire earlier this month, while a fundraiser has started for a neighboring mobile home also destroyed by the fire.
A home in the 7500 block of Terrill Drive caught on fire in the afternoon of March 6. High winds pushed the flames to an adjacent home and destroyed it.
The GoFundMe campaign that started for the first home had nearly 60 donations totaling almost $5,000, five times the original goal of $1,000.
Neighbors have now jumped in to help the mobile impacted, owned by Canadians who were across the border during the time of the fire. The GoFundMe campaign has garnered $350 of its $5,000 goal since being organized in the past week. People can make contributions at bit.ly/3tfUpdY.
Whatcom County fire inspector Will Anderson said the fire marshal’s office won’t be able to determine a cause for the fire because of the extent of damage in the first home.
s The mobile home that caught on fire after flames jumped from a neighboring residence on March 6. Photo by Dean Haskins
Letters
The Editor
My brother died today. As with most deaths, the loss is directed at those close friends and family. It is at those times that memories – good and bad – are replayed in one’s mind. On an individual level I believe we all want to think that our existence had some benefit but for the most part that can be hard to define.
As I was going through my history of dealing with my brother, I was reminded of the significance (both good and bad – depending upon your perspective) he had on the community of Birch Bay. I am convinced that what we have in Birch Bay today would not have happened without Richard Nelson. This is not to diminish the influence of the Vogt family or men like Keith Coleman, but to only consider Richard’s impact on the community.
In 1970, he needed to show me the piece of land (83 acres) he had bought in a place called Birch Bay. He had a vision to make money by building and selling lots for RVs. It was hard to be very impressed with the land but the location was stunning. By the end of 1974, he had built and sold almost 800 lots in a project called Birch Bay Leisure Park.
As a result of this success, he formed several partnerships to purchase additional acres in and around the area as part of his vision to ‘develop’ Birch Bay. During this time the land use rules were changing, but the real obstacle to any development of Birch Bay was a lack of a sanitary sewer system. The initial building permits for Birch Bay Village and Leisure Park were issued based upon septic systems.
Building a municipal water and sewer system in an unincorporated area was not going to be easy and would be expensive. Financing was to be done by ULID assessment against the real estate that the sewer would benefit. Coleman committed the 1,100 acres of Birch Bay Village, the heritage families committed their properties, and Richard committed almost 600 acres to the project, The ULID assessment approached $3,000 per acre for properties that had been recently purchased in the $300 to $500 per acre range.
While Leisure Park, Beachwood, the Malibu area and Idelese condos can be directly attributed to Richard’s efforts, I believe it was the financing and direct support of the sewer system that reflect his legacy in Birch Bay. Without that, Birch Bay today would be significantly different. Thank you, Richard.
Stephen Nelson
Blaine
The Editor:
“Do you know what the three most exciting sounds in the world are? Anchor chains, airplane motors and train whistles.” – James Stewart in “It’s A Wonderful Life.”
For those who are “bothered” by train whistles (horns), be glad that you don’t live in Syria or Ukraine where you would be listening to bombs and artillery 24/7. If you think living in Blaine is stressful because of trains, try living in New York City.
I suggest that you celebrate the sound of trains as a sign of life. That you are fortunate to have food, clothing, shelter and a beautiful place to live.
Richard Mollette
Custer
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 p.m., district offices, 7096 Point Whitehorn Road, Birch Bay. Info and Zoom meeting link: bbwsd.com. 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 Planning Commission: Second and fourth Thursdays, 6 p.m. Info: blainepc@cityofblaine.com. Info for joining Zoom meetings: bit.ly/2CiMKnk. 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 Park and Cemetery Board: Second Thursday, 9 a.m., virtual meeting. Info: 360/332-8311, ext. 3330. 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, 11 a.m., Station 61 at 9408 Odell Road and via Zoom. Info: nwfrs.net.
B y i an h aupt
Blaine students and staff showed up to school without masks for the first time in two years March 14 as the Washington state indoor mask mandate was lifted March 12. While masks will be optional for K-12 grade students, Blaine school district superintendent Christopher Granger said social distancing measures will still be in place.
“We are not going to remove all the layers of mitigation at one time,” Granger said during a March 9 community Q&A.
Students will keep three feet of distance while in the classroom and six feet during lunch. Granger said he doesn’t want families to be overwhelmed by positive cases. The distancing measures will hopefully limit the spread and make contact tracing easier for district employees.
Students and staff are still welcome to wear mask in district facilities.
“We want any person who chooses to continue wearing a mask in our facilities to know that they will be welcome to do so,” Granger wrote in a community message. “Our building administrators have met with students and communicated the changes beginning [March 14].”
In the Q&A, Granger said lifting the mask requirement should be welcome progress, but he stressed that it was too early to remove all preventative measures.
“It’s definitely a step in the right direction,” Granger said. “But the messaging has been the same from the beginning from the DOH that they don’t want to remove all the things – what they would call non-pharmaceutical interventions – that they’ve done for two years all at one time.”
Granger also told families in the Q&A to stay tuned because guidance from the Washington State Department of Health and CDC changes continually. s Students from Ms. Ray's 1st
grade class working on a St. Patrick's Day activity on March 16.
Photo by Lisa Moeller
CITY OF BLAINE
Due to Governor Inslee’s proclamation in response to COVID-19, this City Council meeting will be conducted in-person and telephonically. Information on how to watch 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 location may change.
Over 350 low-income Blaine and Birch Bay households eligible for discounted internet and mobile services
Getting connected to affordable internet and mobile services may become easier for several hundred Blaine area households.
Comcast announced March 1 that over 350 Blaine and Birch Bay homes can get connected to affordable internet through the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program, according to a Comcast press release on the program. The program offers $30 off per month on internet services.
Comcast customers can use the discount on Xfinity Mobile 5G and Internet Essentials Plus, which has 100 Mbps download speeds, a cable modem and WiFi router, according to the release.
The Affordable Connectivity program is an FCC benefit program that also offers a one-time discount for computer or tablet purchases. The program’s goal is to help people connect to internet to ensure they receive broadband for work, school and healthcare services, according to Comcast.
Those eligible must have a household income at, or below, 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Households may also be eligible if a member of the household meets certain criteria such as participating in federal assistance programs or has recently received a Federal Pell Grant.
People can check if they’re eligible at bit.ly/3HFjoet. More information is available at xfin. tv/35wGiI2.
Tuesday, March 22 3:00pm – Civil Service Commission Meeting Thursday, March 24 6:00 – Planning Commission Meeting Monday, March 28 6:00pm – City Council Meeting Monday, April 11 6:00pm – City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 12 8:30am – Blaine Tourism Advisory Committee Meeting Thursday, April 14 9:00am – Park and Cemetery Board Meeting 6:00pm – Planning Commission Meeting
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
Tax Planning & Preparation
Blaine City Council raises cremation rates after 5-year lull
Blaine City Council recently approved recommendations from the parks and cemetery board to raise cremation burial rates from $100 to $500. The 400-percent increase in cremation fees, updated in the city’s united fee schedule, were made after not being increased since 2017.
City council also approved purchasing a $2,000 niche, a display vault that holds cremation urns. A niche burial will cost $100.
The rates went into effect March 1.
s The Blaine cemetery at 4175 H Street. Photo by Grace McCarthy
U.S. & Canadian Individual & Business
Michèle-Marie Cloutier, CPA, CGA
372 H St. • Blaine, WA 98230
360-332-4971
Just minutes from the U.S./Canadian Border Crossing - Exit 276 (Blaine City Center)
www.uscanadacpas.com
The Immigration Law Firm
• U.S. green cards / naturalization • U.S. green cards / naturalization • Work / investor visas • Inadmissibility waivers • Denied entry waivers • TN (NAFTA) work permits • Removal hearings • NEXUS appeals • U.S. Citizenship claims 360-332-7100 360-332-7100
www.blaineimmigration.com • 435 Martin St., Suite 2010 • Blaine, WA www.blaineimmigration.com • 435 Martin St., Suite 1010 • Blaine, WA Leonard D.M. Saunders, Attorney at Law Leonard D.M. Saunders, Attorney at Law
CITY OF BLAINE PROJECT MANAGER
Salary Range: $6,232 to $7,886 per month plus benefits.
The Project Manager is responsible for execution of multiple Capital projects and programs within the Public Works Department. They will ensure that financial transactions, records, statements, and reports comply with Federal, State, and Local contracting requirements and the Washington State Budgeting, Accounting and Reporting system (BARS). They will prepare bid documents including soliciting, opening, and filing all pertinent project contract documents. This will include, processing change orders, interfacing with accounting department, maintaining contracting records and managing capital projects from conception to completion. They will also represent the city on select regional boards and committees to ensure the city exercises all funding opportunities, as well as drafting grant and funding proposals incorporating technical aspects into the applications.
Interested persons should review the full job description and complete the online application on the City’s website, https://www.ci.blaine.wa.us/857/Engineering-Technician-III
First review deadline is April 8, 2022 at 4:30 PM. The position is open until filled. The City of Blaine is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Community Newspaper for Blaine & Birch Bay
s Blaine Public Works Department does temporary repairs to the Marine Park shoreline on March 3. The repairs address damage from the January 2021 king tide. Photos by Grace McCarthy
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Blaine Public Works Department conducted temporary repairs to Blaine Marine Park shoreline to repair damage from last year’s January king tide storm that eroded sections of the beach. Strong northerly winds and high water levels wore away the park’s bank, eroding up to 15 feet of banks and exposing trash from the old landfill site on the park’s eastern side, in January 2021. The city placed orange fencing in areas where erosion reached the trail but didn’t have money in the 2021 budget to do immediate repairs.
Public works director Bernie Ziemianek said public works crews conducted temporary repairs during the first two weeks of March by placing rock to stabilize the shoreline and prevent washout from the underground dump.
“We want to stop any further erosion and restore the safe walking path,” he said.
A permanent fix will require additional funds to create a more detailed plan with heavier rock structure and soil erosion techniques, Ziemianek said.
“We’re looking for additional funding,” he said. “We’re at the mercy of it getting picked up by the state and various programs.”
No other storms since the January 2021 king tide have created additional damage to the shoreline, Ziemianek said. King tide storms eroded the shoreline and exposed buried landfill trash in 2012 and 2018, according to previous reporting from The Northern Light.
Public works will continue to monitor the area, Ziemianek said.
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NOTICE OF FLUSHING
The City of Blaine Water Division started flushing the City's water distribution system. This is accomplished by opening hydrants along the system (starting at the well fields) to move fresh water throughout the distribution system.
The purpose of flushing the system is to remove any grit and debris in order to improve water quality through the distribution system.
During the city flushing program city water customers may experience a temporary low water pressure and/or cloudiness when flushing is going on. The cloudiness condition (caused by air) should be only temporary, and can be cleared by running a cold water tap for a few minutes to clean and flush your service line. If the condition continues for an extended period of time please contact the Blaine Public Works.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation. If you have any questions, feel free to call Public Works at (360) 332-8820, or visit www.cityofblaine.com for weekly area updates.
BP Cherry Point donates $100,000 to Whatcom County boys and girls club
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BP Cherry Point Refinery recently donated $100,000 to the Whatcom County Boys and Girls Club (WCBGC) to assist its fundraising campaign in licensed childcare.
“We’ve had a shortage of licensed childcare in Whatcom County,” said Heather Powell, the club’s CEO. “Over the last few years of the pandemic, it’s shown how critical childcare is to keeping the rest of the community functioning.”
The donation is intended to fund WCBGC’s purchase of Kids’ World, a former private daycare in Whatcom County that provided four childcare facilities, according to the club’s press release.
There are four phases of WCBGC’s fundraising campaign to purchase the four sites. The club has completed phase 1 in purchasing the Ferndale Kids’ World property, and BP’s grant is going to phase 2, which is purchasing the site on Yew Street in Bellingham, Powell said. Phase 3 will be purchasing the Kids’ World site on Home Road in north Bellingham, while phase 4 will be the site on East Sunset Drive in Bellingham.
“We have about a million dollars left to raise for buying the site,” Powell said of the phase 2 site. “BP is among our biggest contributors.”
BP has been WCBGC’s biggest event sponsor for over five years, Powell said. Previous to Covid-19, BP employees volunteered at WCBGC to run programs. There are currently 532 licensed childcare spots available in the county, and Powell believes BP’s donation is a strong demonstration of childcare’s importance.
“This contribution is for early childhood development programs,” said Pamela Brady, northwest director of government and public affairs at BP. “They were going to close Kids’ World down a few years ago, and there’s a limited number of available spots for childcare. The club took it on. We thought it was a really great move in the community and we are glad to see the preservation.”
With such a tight employee base at BP Cherry Point, Brady understands that inclusive and increased childcare means a larger, diverse workforce.
“People can’t go to work if they don’t have a place for their child to go,” Powell said. “And retaining the number of child licensed childcare slots we have in Whatcom County is an important economic development driver.”
WCBGC took on the fundraising campaign March 2020, right before the pandemic.
“We have not closed for a day,” Powell said. “Serving this community is our duty and kids need a safe place to go while their parents are doing whatever they need to do.”
s The former Kids’ World daycare on East Sunset Drive in Bellingham.
Photo by Grace McCarthy
