The Northern Light: July 13-19, 2023

Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay

July 13 - 19, 2023 FREE

Downtown Blaine zoning changes, page 3

Voting opens for August 1 primary election

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The mailing of Whatcom County primary ballots has started the countdown to the primary on Tuesday, August 1.

The race for Whatcom County Executive is the most contested with five people challenging Satpal Sidhu to lead the county. The top two finishers in each race will move on to the November 7 general election. Races that have two candidates or are uncontested will not be in the primary, such as several Blaine school board positions and all of the Blaine City Council seats.

Below are the positions up that will most impact Blaine and Birch Bay residents:

• Whatcom County Executive – Misty Flowers, Alicia Rule, Satpal Sidhu, Dan Purdy, Barry Buchanan and Sukhwant Gill

• Whatcom County Council District 4

– Mark Stremler, Kathy Kershner and Katherine Orlowski

• Whatcom County Council At Large

Position B – Atul Deshmane, Jon Scanlon, Hannah Ordos and Jerry Burns

• Blaine school board – Tana Perkins

Reneau, Ben Lazarus and Dean Berkeley

The Whatcom County Auditor’s Office mailed primary ballots to registered Whatcom County voters on July 12. Registered voters can start voting immediately by mail, drop box returns or in-person at the auditor’s office after receiving their ballots.

The auditor’s office asks voters to contact the office if they don’t receive ballots by Wednesday, July 19. The office can replace lost or damaged ballots.

Ballots must be returned in a drop box by 8 p.m. August 1 or ballots returned by mail need to be postmarked by August 1. The auditor’s office does not recommend mailing ballots after Tuesday, July 25, according to its website.

There are 21 drop boxes in Whatcom County for the primary, including at Blaine Public Library, North Whatcom Fire and Rescue’s Birch Bay station and Custer Elementary School.

Whatcom County residents who want

(See Election, page 4)

County sees increased tourism, page 15

Jazz

New food truck at The Vault, page 16

festival offering concerts this week

s Blaine Harbor Music Festival’s first free noon-hour concert of the week kicked off at G Street Plaza on July 10 with artistic director Nick Biello on saxophone, Christopher Woitach on guitar, Larry Holloway on bass and Julian MacDonough on drums. For more opportunities to catch a free show, head to G Street Plaza at noon through Friday or attend an evening show around town. Find more information on the Blaine Harbor Music Festival website at blaineharbormusicfestival.org.

City council reaffirms six-month manufactured home park moratorium

Blaine City Council voted 5-2 during its July 10 meeting to uphold its decision to enact a six-month emergency moratorium on processing manufactured home park building permit applications. Over 20 people spoke during a public hearing before the vote while others brimmed the council chambers to listen.

City council approved the moratorium May 22 to allow time for city staff to clean up code inconsistencies. The underlying zoning code allows for manufactured home parks but the planned unit development

(PUD) code does not. Manufactured home parks that are five acres or larger are required to be developed as PUDs.

Blaine city code only allows manufactured home parks in east Blaine’s planned residential zone, which runs east of 15th Street to city limits and from the U.S./Canada border to H Street Road. Manufactured homes can be built on individual properties within city limits.

The debate on whether to allow manufactured home parks in Blaine began after east Blaine developers Skip and Katie Jansen met with city staff in fall 2021 to discuss building a manufactured home

Blaine school district spending cuts to lower anticipated deficit to $2 million

The Blaine school district released a draft budget for the 2023/24 school year July 10 that spends nearly $3.5 million less than last school year and reduces the district’s anticipated end of year deficit to $2.1 million.

Last year, the Blaine school board adopted a budget for the 2022/23 school year that included a budget forecast where ex-

penditures exceeded its revenues to a point that, by 2026, it would have a $14 million deficit. As state law requires a district to balance its budget before each upcoming school year, the district is now taking steps to manage its future fund balance.

The reduced budget comes after the school board passed a reduced education plan in April that would allow district administrators to remove a maximum of 65.2 positions this summer to address budget

shortfalls. Blaine school district superintendent Christopher Granger has since said the district will be eliminating 59.5 positions, which would include 50 layoffs. The other positions were eliminated through employees who were retiring or otherwise leaving the district.

The eliminated positions have allowed Granger and district finance director

(See Budget page 6)

park on their East Harbor Hills property, between The Ridge at Harbor Hills and Grandis Pond. Skip Jansen said city staff pointed out the PUD conflict during the meeting and encouraged the developers to apply for a text amendment request, which required going through the public process. Skip Jansen previously said he believes the code inconsistencies originate from code changes in the 2000s.

East Blaine residents strongly opposed the text amendment request and raised concerns of homeownership, property

(See Moratorium, page 5)

Week’s FLYERS FSI Save

Photo by Madisun Tobisch

Club softball team wins state championship

s The Whatcom Wolverines won the 18U club fastpitch softball state championship June 25 in Kennewick. Bottom, from l.: Payton Akers, Piper Nissen, Melanie Anderson, Campbell DeJong, Annalee Cohn. Top, from l.: Mallory Butenschoen, Gracie Zender, Shaylie Daniels, Emersyn Bakker, Kaelin Blakley, Childrey DeJong.

Kevin Bakker

Courtesy photo

Council directs city staff to research downtown zoning recommendations

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Blaine City Council unanimously approved city staff to research downtown zoning changes that could increase building height restrictions and decrease parking requirements.

Nearly a dozen people spoke on the zoning recommendations during the public comment portion of the July 10 council meeting.

The city established the ad hoc downtown advisory committee in January to make recommendations on building height and parking regulations. The city established the committee after prospective developers voiced frustration that current zoning limited their ability to achieve a satisfactory return on investment.

After six months of meetings, the committee recommended reducing the required residential parking by half and asked city staff to consider a municipal parking garage. The committee also recommended allowing developers to increase building heights if they paid for extra public amenities such as a boardwalk, widened sidewalks, benches or water features. Under the committee’s recommendation, staff will look at allowing rooftop recreational amenities and appurtenances.

Council’s approval of the recommendations does not guarantee downtown zoning changes. City staff will further research the recommendations before planning commission and council vote on them.

Blaine resident Sheli Moore said she supported increasing building height requirements

(See Zoning, page 6)

Re-Elect

s From l.; councilmembers Eric Davidson, Garth Baldwin and Kerena Higgins listen to public comment on whether council should direct city staff to research recommendations on increasing downtown building height restrictions and reducing parking requirements.

“During record flooding and a global pandemic, my office cooperated with all seven mayors to cut red tape and deliver results. Whatcom County works best when everyone works together. I ask for your vote.”

Photo by Grace McCarthy

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. The letters to the editor column is primarily intended to allow readers to voice their opinions on local issues of general interest to local readers. A fresh viewpoint will increase the likelihood of publication. 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

Editorial Intern Madisun Tobisch prpintern@pointrobertspress.com

Creative Services

Doug De Visser, Ruth Lauman production@pointrobertspress.com

Office Manager Jeanie Luna info@pointrobertspress.com

Advertising Sales Molly Ernst, Gary Lee 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 XXVIII, No 5

Circulation: 10,500 copies

Circulation Independently verified by:

TSA students compete at nationals OpiniOn Letters

The Editor:

When you cast your vote for a Whatcom County councilmember, you don’t exactly expect them to show up at your door the next time you’re sick. But councilmember Kathy Kershner did.

In August 2021, I came down with Covid-19. Because I’m a Type 1 diabetic, it hit me hard. I remember feeling the shortness of breath, total weakness throughout my body, and anxiety about keeping my wife and newborn baby safe. I felt unprepared and was having a difficult time getting into the doctor to receive the recommended antibody treatment.

That’s when there was a knock at my front door. My wife opened it, and it was

Election ...

From page 1

to register to vote or change their address online need to do so by Monday, July 24. Starting July 25, people needing to register to vote or update their address will need to go to the auditor’s office. The office will be open for those services until 8 p.m. August 1.

councilmember Kathy Kershner. I was so surprised that an elected official would care and would risk her well-being like that. She brought me vitamins and groceries and called around to different hospitals to try to get me in. I remember thinking, “What did I do to deserve the help? Why would she care about me? Didn’t she have better things to do?”

I cannot begin to express my appreciation to councilmember Kathy Kershner. To this day, I feel like she was my guardian angel, and I will never forget when she showed up for me so unexpectedly. Councilmember Kathy Kershner is the gold standard for a public servant. I’ve witnessed firsthand her care for flood vic-

The auditor’s office will host public election center tours on security measures and ballot processing. The tours will be held from 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m. Tuesday, July 25 through Friday, July 28. People interested in attending need to RSVP to Kellye Conner at 360/778-5108 or kconner@co.whatcom.wa.us.

Whatcom County has 158,677 registered voters, according to the latest data from the auditor’s office.

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 Thursday, 6 p.m. Info: blainepc@ cityofblaine.com. Info for joining Zoom meetings: bit.ly/3EwWiZi.

Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation: Second Tuesday, 5:30 p.m.,

tims, Covid-19 patients, people with disabilities and any constituent that needs a helping hand. Her decades of service in the U.S. Navy, her eight years on county council faithfully representing you, and her lifetime of leadership and unwavering positivity are reasons to return her to the council again. Please vote Kathy Kershner for Whatcom County Council (District 4) by August 1.

Austin Cooper Ferndale

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

The auditor’s office is located in suite 103 of the Whatcom County Courthouse, 311 Grand Avenue in Bellingham. It will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays from July 12 through July 31. The office is open evening hours on Election Day, from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. August 1.

For more information on voting in the August primary or other election information, visit the auditor’s office at whatcomcounty.us/1574/elections.

location varies. Info: bbbparkandrec.org.

Blaine Park and Cemetery Board: Second Thursday, 9 a.m., council chambers and virtual meeting. Info: 360/332-8311, ext. 3330.

Blaine School Board: Fourth Monday, 7 p.m., Blaine school district offices. Info: blainesd.org.

North Whatcom Fire & Rescue: Third Thursday, 11 a.m., Station 61 at 9408 Odell Road and via Zoom. Info: nwfrs.net.

s From l.; Blaine students Sabrina Boczek, Julia Hubbard-Maxey, Abigail Schmidt and Maddy Ernst competed at the Technology Student Association national competition in Louisville, Kentucky June 28-July 2. Boczek made it to semifinals in CAD Engineering (top 24 in the nation) and Boczek and Ernst went to semifinals in Structural Design.

Photo courtesy Mike Dahl

Moratorium ...

From page 1

tax revenue and environmental impact during planning commission meetings. The Jansens withdrew the request before the May planning commission meeting and threatened legal action if denied the opportunity to make an application.

Council shortly after approved the emergency moratorium.

Public hearing

This meeting was the first that drew a sizable crowd in support of manufactured home parks with supporters showing up as residents and real estate professionals.

East Blaine resident Bob Boule said he was in favor of a senior manufactured home park that would allow aging adults to stay in Blaine.

“It is definitely needed and it has been overlooked for the seniors who are trying to downsize for quite a period of time,” Boule said.

East Blaine resident Don Kruse said he wanted the moratorium to be upheld.

“I think it’s irresponsible to have that density of housing in east Blaine,” he said. “This doesn’t just open the door for one parcel, it opens the door for the entire east Blaine.”

East Blaine resident Tina Erwin said she objected to the developer owning the land under the home.

“The problem is if you are on a budget, a manufactured home in a park, owned by a developer, is not your cheapest way to go,” Erwin said. “You do not own the land. The developer can raise the rates as much as he wants.”

City council candidate Sonia Hurt said the city needs a variety of housing options. Some people want to build equity, while others want to rent, she said.

“I would highly recommend that you discontinue this moratorium and allow the developers to go ahead and put a plan forth,” Hurt said. “It sounds like we will have the opportunity to look at whatever environmental impact it will have. I can’t believe that we would just turn it down flat because we’re afraid to face it and take action.”

The Jansens, their attorney Inger Brockman and consultant Craig Parkinson spoke during the hearing.

Brockman argued the city’s reasoning for a moratorium fell short of an emergency. Brockman said the public was debating a project that hadn’t yet been presented.

“I ask you consider whether this is an emergency or an emotional

reaction to a project that is not yet on the table,” Brockman said.

Skip Jansen previously told The Northern Light that the park could be a retirement community for older adults who no longer want to maintain a home. Rental fees could pay for a clubhouse and landscaping, he said. Parkinson said the park would likely have 300 or fewer units because of regulations.

“We withdrew our text amendment and next thing we know, the moratorium is slapped on us,” Skip Jansen said. “We’ve been through this process for 1.5 years now. We’ve never had the opportunity to present a project because we’ve been unable to make an application. Meanwhile, all kinds of misinformation and conjecture have been thrown out there about what people think we’re going to do.”

If the city approved the application, Skip Jansen said the public would have time to look at the project before city council voted on it.

Council Councilmember Richard May said the zoning code inconsistencies would remain if the moratorium was lifted.

“Whether or not someone favors a rental park or not, having a clean and clear code and the ability to rely on that and anticipate for that would probably benefit the state of our code,” May said.

City attorney Peter Ruffatto said leaving the conflicting code would require city staff to interpret the rules, instead of council deciding what the rules should be.

“It makes it difficult for the developers because they don’t know ahead of time which way the staff will use their administrative judgment,” mayor Mary Lou Steward.

Councilmembers Eric Davidson and Rhyan Lopez said they wanted to keep the moratorium to clean the code.

Council debated how soon it would need to give city staff direction after reaffirming the moratorium. May said he has spoken to city staff about having town halls to improve communication between the public, council and staff.

Councilmember Mike Hill said he felt as though council was micromanaging developers.

“The whole thing here is frustrating because we have all of the control, we can approve or deny it, we can delay it for 30 years but we won’t even let them bring a project to the table,” Hill said.

Councilmember Garth Baldwin said he believed the city should allow manufactured home parks and was concerned they were only allowed in east Blaine.

“We got a messed up code, we don’t know what the exact plan is, we’re asked to make these decisions that will piss off half the community or piss off the other half of the community, depending which way we go,” Baldwin said. “We just need to get our shit together, get the code straight, allow for the things that need to be allowed for, and then make a decision.”

Councilmember Kerena Higgins said a manufactured home was the first home she owned. Higgins said there were no conventional lenders when she wanted to sell and had to rent the home for several years. She dropped the price to sell it, losing all of the equity she had.

“We lost our shirts. We lost a lot of money so I have personal feelings about this,” Higgins said. “I don’t think the park is a good investment for our community.

There are other ways to get affordable housing for seniors and other members of our community.”

Hill and Lopez voted in opposition of the motion to uphold the moratorium. Council then voted 6-1 on a second motion to give staff preliminary direction on manufactured home park regulations during the moratorium. Higgins was the dissenting vote.

“Send the capital out of town,” Skip Jansen said during the meeting.

s Dozens of people packed into Blaine City Council chambers on July 10 for a public hearing on council’s decision to enact an emergency moratorium on manufactured home park building permit applications.

Photo by Grace McCarthy

RECENT HOUSE & LOT PRICES Blaine, Birch Bay & Point Roberts

JUNE 2023

DESCRIPTION LOCATION SALE PRICE

HIGHER END HOUSES: $800,000 AND ABOVE:

2- story condo with 2,333 SF, 3 BD, 3 BA, 556 SF built-in garage, 242 SFpatio, built in 2018, waterfront; marine and territorial views.

1-story house with 3,383 SF, 4 BD, 3 BA, attached garage, built in 2023; marine and territorial view, .26 acres land.

1-story house with 1,830 SF, 3 BD, 2 BA, 600 SF attached garage, 524 SF deck, built in 2016, .43 acres land.

2-story house with 2,365 SF, 1,158 SF basement, 3 BD, 2 BA, 552 SF attached garage, 257 SF patio, built in 1978 plus 1-story house with 1,156 SF, 2 BD, 2 BA, 585 SF attached garage, 375 SF patio, built in 1994, 9.78 acres land.

1-story house with 2,737 SF, 2 BD, 3 BA, 882 SF attached garage, 780 SF patio, built in 2013, 4.85 acres land.

1-and a half story house with 3,807 SF, 4 BD, 4 BA, 631 SF attached garage, 268 SF patio, built in, .36 acres land.

1-story house with 2,490 SF, 3 BD, 3 BA, 703 SF attached garage, 800 SF patio, built in 2012; territorial view, .38 acres land.

1-story house with 3,018 SF, 3 BD, 6 BA, 609 SF attached garage, 1,006 SF deck, 200 SF patio, built in 2005, waterfront; marine and territorial view, .46 acres land.

New 1- story house with 2,167 SF, 3 BD, 2 BA, built 2023, waterfront; marine and territorial view, .28 acres land.

1-story house with 1,746 SF, 1,650 SF basement, 2 BD, 1 BA, 470 SF built-in garage, 329 SF loft, 231 SF deck, built in 2011, waterfront; marine views, .11 acres land.

COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES:

Store with 4,589 SF built in 1924, remodeled in 1965, .11 acres land.

LAND:

.14 acres commercial land; marine view.

3.44 acres (4 lots) residential land 252 feet waterfront; marine and territorial views.

.17 acres residential lot; marine and territorial view.

4.42 acres wooded residential land.

1.28 acres residential land, high bank waterfront; marine view.

2 lots, .16 acres residential land.

20.11 acres residential land, waterfront; marine views.

24.17 acres open space land with 2,400 SF storage, waterfront; marine views.

1.63 acres industrial land.

Unit #23, Semiahmoo Shores Condominiums, 9410 Turnstone Lane, Blaine

5415 Lonicera Drive, Blaine

5487 Canvasback Road, Blaine

3335 Sweet Road, Blaine

2341 Burk Road, Blaine

Zoning ...

From page 3 on the west side of Peace Portal Drive but wanted to ensure there would be sufficient parking.

“What we have now is unique because the buildings have come down but development on that side is essential,” Moore said.

Fraser Elliott, a Blaine and Point Roberts resident, owns The Firm Real Estate Services building at 838 Peace Portal Drive and its adjacent building. Elliott said there were limited options for employees to live in Blaine and downtown business owners struggle to hire employees from

Budget ...

From page 1

Amber Porter to prepare a draft budget with total expenditures around $41.8 million and expected revenue from apportionment, taxes and grants to be $39.7 million. Granger and Porter will

Bellingham. He added there needs to be more mixed-density housing and options for seniors.

“We believe the downtown core needs to be vibrant,” Elliott said. “To be successful and to prosper, it needs density.”

Ad hoc committee members Scott Meaker, a builder and business owner, and Kevin Owens, a planning commissioner, said they supported the recommendations.

Glen Pentland, a Salishan neighborhood resident who served on the committee, said he didn’t believe the recommendations should move forward. He said he had wanted the committee to produce a document or presentation identifying im -

present the draft budget to the public at 5 p.m. Monday, July 24, before the regular school board meeting at 7 p.m. The school board is then expected to formally adopt the budget at its August 28 regular meeting.

District projections show that it will start next school year –

pacts for council.

“Based on a few people’s personal opinions, we’re going to forward this to the planning commission so people in our community can choose sides, feel ignored and voice their concerns all over again,” Pentland said. There was little discussion from council before the vote. Councilmember Eric Davidson, who served on the ad hoc downtown advisory committee, said it was important for the city to at least consider the recommendations.

“This is not locking us into 48-foot buildings and greatly reduced parking requirements for new development,” councilmember Richard May said.

September 1 to August 31, 2024 – with a beginning general fund balance of nearly $4.6 million, according to the draft budget. The projected $2.1 million funding deficit over the year will then leave the district with a general fund balance of $2.5 million.

When calculating revenue, Porter used a full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment of 1,988.5 students along with 145.299 certificated and 88.745 classified staff. According to the draft budget, enrollment projections are based on the spring 2023 cohort and conservative kindergarten projections.

The district’s budget shortfalls are the result of declining enrollment and rising labor costs following the pandemic. Blaine saw 40 fewer kindergarten students than it budgeted for this past school year and lower enrollment across most grade levels.

The draft budget says the district’s fund balance represents resources available for unexpected events and cash flow considerations. The general fund accounts for all financial operations except for Associated Student Body (ASB), debt service, transportation and capital projects, which have separate funds.

State law also requires the district to draft a four-year budget forecast along with its budget for the upcoming school year. The district’s four-year forecast has an ending general fund balance of $370,305 following the 2026/27 school year.

But that figure is assuming the district balances revenues with expenditures in the future years or find ways to increase fund balance during 2023/24, as state law requires the district to budget an immediate fiscal year that ends with a positive fund balance. The district’s ending fund balance without future adjustments would see a nearly $2.3 million deficit.

The district’s capital project fund, which generates revenue under a six-year capital levy, is expected to run out of funds by the end of 2024/25, unless voters approve additional levies or bonds, the budget says.

Sponsored by: MikeKent.com

I-5 Exit 270 at Birch Bay Square 360-527-8901 • mike@mikekent.com

The ASB and transportation funds are projected to spend all revenues received. The debt service fund will pay for any accumulated debt.

The public presentation on the 2023/24 budget will be held in the district boardroom at 770 Mitchell Avenue. The full draft budget can be found at bit.ly/46MdXIA.

NW Tune-Up set for July 14-16

Bellingham’s bike, beer and music festival returns for its second year this weekend, Friday, July 14 through Sunday, July 16, with changes from last year’s event.

Northwest Tune-Up promoters said changes were ahead for the festival’s second year after surveying musical acts, vendors, exhibitors and attendees on last year’s inaugural event.

Nearly all festival activities, including pump track races, skills clinics, bike demos, food trucks and the beer garden, will operate out of Bellingham’s waterfront area. The expo, market area, Kulshan’s Trackside Beer Garden and container village will all be accessible to the public.

Wristbands will be needed to demo bikes and shuttles will transport mountain bikers to Galbraith and Chuckanut Mountain trails. The Cascadia Dirt Cup enduro races will still start from the south entrance of Galbraith Mountain.

The waterfront will have one stage, with regional musical acts starting earlier in the day and national headliners playing later into the night. Headliners include STRFKR, Galactic, The Floozies, Mereba and others.

Three-day passes are $150 and single-day passes are $75 for adults. Race entry is also $150 for adults and includes a threeday festival pass. For more information on the race, visit Cascadia Dirt Cup’s website at bit.

s Northwest Tune-Up, Bellingham’s bike, beer and music festival, returns for its second year July 14-16. The festival’s expo and market area will be open to the public, while races, demos and music will require a ticket.

ly/3N3Dmp8.

Twilight tickets are now available for $35 and provide single-day, evening-only access to the festival after 7 p.m. – ideal for guests looking for music-only access.

More information can be found at nwtuneup.com.

Photos by Ian Haupt

Active S eniors

What to know about funeral pre-planning with a professional

able for their survivors. Funeral homes frequently work hand-inhand with individuals and families to customize pre-planning packages and facilitate the process. Here’s a rundown of pre-planning as individuals consider their options.

Explore your options

Pre-planning a funeral enables people to consider all of the options without the time constraints of making funeral arrangements directly after the passing of a loved one. A knowledgeable staff member at a funeral home can explain the offerings and answer any questions.

Straightforward process

es. When pre-planning a funeral, individuals can spell out in their own words exactly what they desire and even finance the funeral in advance.

Establish a payment plan

The death of a loved one is difficult to confront. Emotions are elevated and grief is prominent, which can make it hard to make important decisions. Quite often several people need to come together to make decisions necessary for a family member’s funeral arrangements. There also is a

financial component to consider.

According to Lincoln Heritage Life Insurance Company, the average funeral costs between $7,000 and $12,000, which may or may not include viewing, burial, transport, casket and other fees. Surviving family members responsible for planning a funer-

al may be asked to contribute a portion of these expenses if other arrangements have not already been made, which can exacerbate stressful feelings during an already difficult time.

Funeral pre-planning is a good way for individuals to make a difficult time a little more manage-

Unless an individual has planned a funeral in the past, there could be a lot of unknowns. Funeral homes handle these events every day and can guide families through the intricacies of the process with ease. Most have pre-planning kits that include all of the essentials of the process, such as choosing caskets, deciding on prayer cards and designing floral arrangements.

Avoid confrontations

Working directly with a professional also helps alleviate the burden on family members, who may not agree on arrangements or concur on what they believe would be a loved one’s final wish-

A funeral home staff member can go over the various ways to fund funeral expenses and may work out a payment schedule to spread out the expense over a period of time. He or she also may explain how funeral prearrangement can be a way to “spend down” assets in a way that protects those monies from lookback periods when determining eligibility for certain assisted living or nursing facilities should that be required in the future.

Works with religious officials

Very often a funeral home is a conduit that facilitates all facets of the funeral process. They may reach out to a preferred house of worship to organize a mass or other religious service and will also contact the cemetery and work with them to secure a plot and deed. This also alleviates pressure down the line on grieving family members who need time to mourn.

Pre-planning a funeral merits consideration. Working with a trusted funeral home removes much of the pressure during such difficult times.

July 15th 2023

File photo

Whatcom Senior Day in the Park returns

Whatcom Senior Day in the Park is returning with its annual resource fair and barbecue at Hovander Homestead Park in Ferndale on Wednesday, August 2.

Whatcom Council on Aging (WCOA) is hosting its 23rd year of Whatcom Senior Day in the Park to connect seniors with local resources and businesses, according to a WCOA release. The event will have a barbecue lunch, live music, lawn games, garden tours and exercise demos. A resource fair will also have over 60 booths with representatives from housing, education, recreation and health groups.

Lunch has a $5 suggested donation, but WCOA encourages everyone to attend regardless of ability to pay. Whatcom Senior Day in the Park will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information, call Molly at 360/733-4030, extension 1020 or email msimon@ whatcomcoa.org.

READ IT FIRST.

Hi, I’m Chuck!

Hi, my name is Chuck Rudolph. I moved to Bellingham from San Diego, CA two years ago to be close to my daughter and her family. I have four children, 11 grandchildren and soon to be 5 great grandchildren. After College I was drafted into the U.S. Army for two years. I then started my career as a U.S. History teacher at the Catholic High School level and realized I needed to make more money. At that time, a teacher’s weekly salary was $90. I searched for another career and after taking many tests through the county for police, fire and probation I was offered a job with the San Diego probation department. I spent 30 years in that department before retiring. I worked in adult casework, juvenile investigations and ran the juvenile maximum-security unit for 14 years. It was rewarding work and I had an amazing team of professionals to work with. I lived in San Diego 62 years before moving here and decided that I didn’t want to cook, do housekeeping or maintenance. My daughter and I searched for a place where I had the freedom to enjoy my time as I wanted. The obvious answer for me was Solstice Senior Living in Bellingham.

File photo

Volunteers assist with Birch Bay cleanup after July 4

Birch Bay quickly became crowded with people lighting fireworks in celebration of Independence Day on July 4. Doralee Booth, county liaison for the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce, said

volunteers from the annual July 5 Birch Bay cleanup filled three 30yard Sanitary Service Company drop boxes with trash. The weight of the garbage collected was not yet known, Booth said.

Photo by Molly Ernst

Photo by Molly Ernst

Photo by Jen Oya

Photo by Chuck Kinzer /CKimageart.com

Photo by Madisun Tobisch

Photo courtesy Brianna Peck

Photo courtesy Brianna Peck

Photo by Madisun Tobisch

EXPERIENCED SEAMSTRESS

Earn $18-32 an hour sewing cushion covers and backing to tapestries from home.

-3173.

PT CO-MANAGER needed year-round for well-established, small business in Custer. Thurs-Sat 9-5:30, $16/hr. $17/ hr. plus monthly bonus after 90 days. For job description call 360-366-3153 or email peacearchstorage@gmail.com.

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.

1. Date of filing copy of Notice to Creditors: June 23, 2023.

2. Date of first publication: July 6, 2023. Attorney for the Estate: KEITH A. BODE, WSBA #7791 314 Fifth Street, P.O. Box 688 Lynden, WA 98264-0688

Personal Representative: SHELIAH WITHROW TEL (360) 354-5021 ELM Keith@Bode.net

Salary Range: $4,669 to $5,656 per month plus benefits. Interested persons should complete the online application on the City’s website, https://www.ci.blaine.wa.us/. The first review deadline is 4:30pm on July 21st.

NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE

I. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned Trustee, Demco Law Firm, P.S., will on Friday, July 21, 2023 at the hour of 10:00 a.m., outside the main lobby of the Whatcom County Superior Court Courthouse located on 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington 98225 sell at public auction to the highest and best bidder, payable in the form of cash or cashier’s check or certified checks from federally or State chartered banks at the time of sale, the following described real property, situated in the County of Whatcom, State of Washington, to wit:

Unit 306 of Terrell Creek Landing Condominium, according to the Declaration thereof, recorded under Auditor’s File Number 2070203269, and any amendments thereto, records of Whatcom County, Washington. Situate in Whatcom County, Washington.

Tax Parcel Number: 400131-102416-0019 PID 122357 more commonly known as: 4823 Alderson Road #306, Blaine WA 98230 which is subject to that certain Deed of Trust dated February 15, 2017, recorded under No. 2017-0201809, records of Whatcom County, Washington, from Audrey Vandermeer as Grantor, to Chicago Title Insurance Company as Trustee, to secure an obligation in favor of Weigum Properties LLC, a Washington limited liability company, as Beneficiary. The undersigned successor trustee was appointed under document recorded under No. 2023-0200618, records of Whatcom County, Washington.

II. No action commenced by the Beneficiary of the Deed of Trust or the Beneficiary’s successor is now pending to seek satisfaction of the obligation in any Court by reason of the Grantor’s default on the obligation secured by the Deed of Trust.

III. The defaults for which this foreclosure is made include the following:

Failure to pay when due the following amounts which are now in arrears: Principal $49,868.08 Interest* $5,385.12

Total principal and interest as of 2/16/2023 $55,253.20

* Interest will continue to accrue at $16.394985 per day for each day after 2/16/2023

IV. The sum owing on the obligation secured by the Deed of Trust is: $55,253.20 and such other costs and fees as are due under the note or other instrument secured, and as are provided by statute. Interest may continue to accrue. It is necessary to contact the Trustee prior to the time you tender the payoff amount so that you may be advised of the exact amount you would be required to pay.

V. The above described real property will be sold to satisfy the expense of sale and the obligation secured by the Deed of Trust as provided by statute. The sale will be made without warranty, express or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances on July 21, 2023. The defaults referred to in Paragraph III must be cured by July 10, 2023 (11 days before the sale date) to cause a discontinuance of the sale. The sale will be discontinued and terminated if at any time on or before July 10, 2023 (11 days before the sale) the default(s) as set forth in Paragraph III is/are cured and the Trustee’s fees and costs are paid. The sale may be terminated any time after (11 days before the sale date) and before the sale by the Grantor or the Grantor’s successor in interest or the holder of any recorded junior lien or encumbrance paying the entire principal and interest secured by the Deed of Trust, plus costs, fees and advances, if any, made pursuant to the terms of the obligation and/or Deed of Trust, and curing all other defaults.

VI. A written notice of default was transmitted by the Beneficiary or Trustee to the Grantor by both first class and certified mail on January 13, 2023, at the address of 6696 184th Street, Surrey, BC V3S 9B9 Canada, and 4823 Alderson Road, Unit 306, Blaine, WA 98230-9811, proof of which is in the possession of the Trustee; and the written notice of default was posted in a conspicuous place on the real property described in paragraph I above on January 13, 2023 and the Trustee has in his possession proof of such posting.

VII. The Trustee whose name and address is set forth below, and whose telephone number is (206)203-6000, will provide in writing to anyone requesting it, a statement of all costs and fees due at any time prior to the sale.

VIII. The effect of the sale will be to deprive the Grantor and all those who hold by, through or under the Grantor of all their interest in the above described property.

IX. Anyone having any objection to the sale on any grounds whatsoever will be afforded an opportunity to be heard as to those objections if they bring a lawsuit to restrain the sale pursuant to RCW 61.24.130. Failure to bring such a lawsuit may result in a waiver of any proper grounds for invalidating the Trustee’s sale.

X. NOTICE TO OCCUPANTS OR TENANTS. The purchaser at the trustee’s sale is entitled to possession of the property on the 20th day following the sale, as against the grantor under the deed of trust (the owner) and anyone having an interest junior to the deed of trust, including occupants and tenants. After the 20th day following the sale the purchaser has the right to evict occupants and tenants by summary proceedings under the unlawful detainer act, chapter 59.12 RCW. For tenant-occupied property, the purchaser shall provide a tenant with written notice in accordance with RCW 61.24.060.

Additional information provided by the Trustee: If you have previously been discharged through bankruptcy, you may have been released of personal liability for this loan in which case this letter is intended to exercise the noteholder’s rights against the real property only.

DATED 2/16/2023

Demco Law Firm, P.S., Successor Trustee by

Real Estate

BLAINE, BIRCH BAY & SEMIAHMOO

3157 Creasey Road

MLS #2058804 $565,000

Must see, immaculate triple-wide manufactured home on a spacious lot with stunning southern facing views of the 3rd hole at Grandview Golf Course. Built with quality in mind, evident in every detail, and meticulously maintained. With 9-foot ceilings, the home is bright and airy, featuring a large primary bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. Three bedrooms in total, and a den that could easily be converted into a fourth bedroom. Sale includes all quality furniture.

Gerry Allen 360-920-0563

8208

Sehome Road

MLS #2132520 $650,000

Fabulous Birch Bay Village EZ living single story golf course home w/entertainment sized deck overlooking beautiful 6th Fairway. In addition to generous double garage there’s a 3rd bay Huge 32’attached RV/boat garage w/12’ doors & shop. Inside enjoy a bright & spacious great room w/living/primary suite dbl. sided gas fireplace. Easy care landscaping & short distance to marina & miles of inland Pacific beaches. Birch Bay Village has 24/7 guard gated security, clubhouse.

Lisa Kent 360-594-8034

5512 Canvasback Road

MLS #2129456 $1,250,000

Surrounded by water on a peninsula of land, with a beautiful marina nearby, sunlight facing southerly exposure, on the 17th green of a Jack Nicholas-designed golf course, this 3826 sq ft Semiahmoo home has it all. Many upgrades include a new furnace, red cedar decks, vertical grain fir patio doors, car enthusiast 3-car garage, with blue gravel flake epoxy flooring. Master Gardener designed the landscape with a Rain Bird sprinkling system to keep the landscape beautiful. Lisa Sprague 360-961-0838

8037 Chinook Way

MLS #2067030 $986,000

Beautiful Birch Bay Village custom w/ spectacular unobstructed panoramic view of Birch Bay, Mt. Baker, Cascades, & San Juans. Very high-quality construction & thoughtful, manageable floorplan at 2618 sq. ft. Oversized garage, natural gas furnace/hot water heater, & dual stove with gas burners, wired & heated 10’x16’ shop, impeccable grounds, entertainment sized patio, breathtaking deck facing the Bay. Room for RV & boat w/hookups on concrete drive..

Mike Kent 360-815-3898

8581 Semiahmoo Drive

MLS #2135827 $799,000

Introducing a tranquil retreat nestled in a serene & private location. Remarkable home, boasting 66 feet of high bank waterfront, invites you to escape to the beauty of the PNW. With over 65 trees on the property, seclusion & tranquility await. Step inside to discover classic floor plan (3 beds & 2 baths), providing ample space for comfortable living. Indulge in breathtaking panoramic views of enchanting Canadian Islands & witness nature’s most captivating spectacle. Kathy Stauffer 360-815-4718

5375

Nootka Loop

MLS #1983680 $1,399,900

Rare opportunity to realize your dream of a beautiful waterfront home in a fun community. It shows as new! This is one of Birch Bay Village’s prime saltwater locations w/ breathtaking panoramic view of the Bay & Mt. Baker. 24/7 manned security offers incomparable peace of mind when home or away. Short walk to amenities including golf, marina, pickle ball, clubhouse & more. Minutes to U.S./Canada border & under 2 hrs. to Seattle. This home is turnkey.

Mike Kent 360-815-3898

SellerFinancingAvailable

8849 Goldeneye Lane

MLS #2076794 $1,395,000

Exquisite waterfront home on Turnberry Lake/pond gated community. Southern exposure, easy access to walking trails. Quality build, 4055 sq. ft. +/- extensive tile work, custom fir built-ins, & exceptional selections of granite & lighting finishes, natural gas, and central vac. Primary/ensuite on the main floor with sauna. Great room concept with custom quality kitchen and office. Upstairs, there are two private guest en-suites and a sizable bonus room above garage.

Brian Southwick 360-815-6638

7704

Birch Bay Drive #30-01

MLS #2044855 $80,000

Simple, affordable, living close to the ocean!

A five-minute walk to the beach, dining, crabbing, and amazing sunsets. Everything is included in this 1992 Park Model that makes it move-in ready. Ample clean & very minimally used light beachy cabinets in excellent condition throughout. One-bedroom, full bath, vaulted ceilings with a private yard, covered deck, and community fire pit to enjoy with your neighbors. Birch Bay gem, perfect for a second home getaway. Lesha Hutchison 360-510-0640

8105 Chehalis Road

MLS #2036381 $775,000

Welcome to your dream home in beautiful Birch Bay Village! This stunner offers an open & bright floor plan. Gourmet kitchen features top-of-the-line appliances, plenty of counter space & large island for meal prep or casual dining. Enjoy dinner on covered lanai or barbecue in backyard gazebo.

Home includes generously sized bedrooms, smart home app-controlled lighting and tons of storage. Bathrooms are luxurious & spa-like. Easy-to-maintain landscaping.

Leah Crews 360-305-4747

7424

Cotterill Blvd

MLS #2136883 $550,000

This creekside home in Birch Bay could be just what you are looking for. 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, light and bright home is ready for a full-time residence, weekend getaway, or VRBO. You will love the views of the ocean from the front deck & living room and the views of Terrill Creek from the kitchen and back deck. The home is remodeled and includes new appliances. Plenty of parking and a storage shed. Jessica Bates 360-410-0900

7387 Birch Bay Drive

MLS #2049257 $1,000,000

Rare opportunity to own direct waterfront steps from Birch Bay State Park. This charming and functional two-bedroom, onebathroom home is perfect for those who love the ocean and want to enjoy all that Birch Bay has to offer. The gorgeous wood fireplace, real wood paneling, and exposed beams add a cozy touch to the living room as you stare out across the bay. Entertain outside on the expansive 850 sf patio overlooking the ocean, complete with sea wall.

Matt Berry 360-389-0104

Birch Bay Drive

MLS #1933063 $299,000

Remarkable waterfront lot on Birch Bay. Build perfect vacation place or all-yearround home. Lot faces Southwest, with views of San Juan Islands to West and North Cascades to East. Water & sewer are available. Included interest in the 300ft wide tide flats parcel on South side of Birch Bay Drive 4255 West Road

MLS #2040701 $139,500

Wooded almost 1 acre lot just outside city limits. Included in price, Completed, & approved Reasonable use determination, septic design, comprehensive wetlands mitigation plan, storm water design, surveyed. Electrical & city water available, & in street, all questions answered. No HOA restrictions. Billy Brown 360-220-7175 Tonya Wahl 541-707-0196

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF Whatcom In Re the Estate of Jane Beer, Deceased. NO. 23-4-0061537. PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS.

(RCW 11.40.030)

JUDGE: Evan P. 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 court in which the probate proceedings were commenced. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) Thirty days after the personal representative served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(1)(c); or (2) four months after the date of first publication of the notice. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim is forever barred, except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.40.051 and 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the decedent’s probate and nonprobate assets.

Date of First Publication:

Personal Representative:

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF Whatcom

In Re the Estate of Ronald Alvin Secor, Deceased. NO. 23-4-00634-37. PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS. (RCW 11.40.030) 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 court in which the probate proceedings were commenced. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) Thirty days after the personal representative served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(1)(c); or (2) four months after the date of first publication of the notice. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim is forever barred, except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.40.051 and 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the decedent’s probate and nonprobate assets.

Date of First Publication: July 6, 2023

Personal Representative: Pamela M. Potter 317 N Park Ridge Road Bloomington, IN 47408

Attorney for the Personal Representative: Katti Esp 301 Prospect Street Bellingham, WA 98225

Address for Mailing or Service: Katti Esp 301 Prospect Street Bellingham, WA 98225 Court of Probate Proceedings Superior Court of Whatcom County and Cause Number: Cause No. 23 4 00634 37

MORE LEGALS ON PAGE 11

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR

WHATCOM COUNTY In re the Estate of:

ARDITH J. STARK, Deceased. No. 234-00664-37. 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:

June 30, 2023 with Clerk of Court:

Date of First Publication:

July 6, 2023

Name of Administrator:

RENEE E. STARK

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: June 30, 2023

AVERY ELDER LAW, P.S. STEVEN D. AVERY, WSBA #35262

Attorney for Administrator: RENEE E. STARK

BIRCH BAY VIEW 2 BD, 1 BA house, fully furnished, recently renovated, large lot. W/D. $1800/mo + utilities, deposit, Available Aug. 1. 604-401-7952.

All real estate/rentals advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 as amended, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap familial status or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertisement for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll-free at 1-800877-0246.

All real estate/rentals advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 as amended, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertisement for real estate which is in olation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll-free at 1-800-877-0246.

BIRCH BAY

BUILD

BIRCH BAY

Birch Bay Drive work delayed

Birch Bay Drive construction that was scheduled to start July 10 has been delayed, Whatcom County Public Works spokesperson Mandy Feutz told The Northern Light in an email.

The Birch Bay Drive Paving Rehabilitation Project team was recently informed of delays in critical project permitting required to start construction, according to a July 6 public works release. Project contractor Lakeside Industries, as a result, did not begin road work July 10 as previously planned.

Public works’ engineering team is working on an adjusted timeline with the contractor, public works said.

“Whatcom County Public Works is committed to seeing this project resume as quickly as possible, and we are working with stakeholders to modify the project’s timeline accordingly,” Feutz wrote in a statement. “We will be updating our website and social media channels with additional information in due course.”

Plans for the project include grinding and repaving 2.25 miles of Birch Bay Drive from Jackson Road to Alderson Road, Lora Lane to Shintaffer Road and the section of Harborview Road from Birch Bay Drive to Birch Bay-Lynden Road. All grinding and paving operations will occur at night, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday nights through Friday mornings, and include longer single-lane road closures.

OBITUARIES

William J. Schroeder

Sharin Lou (Olin) Vander Yacht

August 16, 1943–July 8, 2023

Sharin Lou (Olin) Vander Yacht, age 79, departed this life on July 8, 2023 to embrace her new life in heaven. She endured a long, hard fight with cancer in order to enjoy several family milestones this year, including a graduation, a wedding and her 60th wedding anniversary. She passed away peacefully at home surrounded by the chaos of her loving family.

She was born in Bellingham on August 16, 1943 to Vernon (Shorty) and Henrietta (Heinie) Olin. She married her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, Larry Vander Yacht on July 5, 1963.

Sharin was a loving and committed wife to Larry; mother to Bryan (Mary) Vander Yacht, Wade Vander Yacht, Craig (Jodi) Vander Yacht and Sally Jo Vander Yacht; grandmother to Andria (Michael) Martin, Denver (Miranda) Vander Yacht, Drake (Hailey) Vander Yacht, Karly (Brenten) Fox, Bella and Georgia Vander Yacht; as well as great-grandmother to Liv, Van, and Evelyn Martin; Calvin, Kruze, Caiden and Kipp Vander Yacht; and Colt Vander Yacht. Her life was devoted to raising her children and spoiling her grandchildren. She also played key roles at Vander Yacht Propane. She did all things with Christ as the center of her everyday life.

Sharin had a very full life. She enjoyed boating, traveling, sunsets (“sunset, sunset”), time with family & lattes with friends.

Sharin is survived by her sister Kathy (Jack) Hansen and brother Perry (Flo) Olin. She is preceded in death by a son, baby Wade Eugene, parents Shorty & Heinie Olin, sister-in-law Carole Rae Vander Yacht.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Faith Reformed Church on Tuesday, July 18 at 11 a.m. preceded by a private burial at Greenacres Memorial Park. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

Andrew Valentine Ambuehl May 26, 1930–July 8, 2023

Andrew Valentine Ambuehl was born in Tacoma on May 26, 1930 to Ursula and Valentine Ambuehl. The oldest of five children, Andrew was not the first born. His parents had earlier given birth to another baby boy they had also named Andrew, who died at birth. This may explain why Andrew had such a rich and full life because he was living it for two Andrews.

Originally from Switzerland, his family owned and operated the Oakwood Dairy in Fife, WA. A gifted athlete, Andy still held track records at Fife High School for years after he had graduated.

Andy met his future bride, Donna Patterson, while hanging out with his best friend, Paul Jensen. Paul was dating Donna’s older sister Marilyn. On Andy’s first date with Donna, he took her golfing, and Donna hit Andy over the head with her golf club. Apparently the blow to the head was enough to render him highly susceptible to her beguiling powers. The two married in 1951, and a couple of years later they produced their fine son Randy. After a couple more years, their favorite daughter Cathy was born.

In the early years, Andy was a high school teacher and a coach, which provided the summers off to go back and work at the family dairy farm delivering milk. As the years progressed, Andy moved on from teaching to becoming vice principal of a junior high school, and then on to being the principal of Boise High School. Time for a change led Andy to the banking business: he managed a branch in Eagle, Idaho before moving on to work for banks in Walla Walla, Tillamook, and eventually to Peoples Bank in Lynden, where he retired.

Yes, the Ambuehls moved a lot! They started out in Fife, then on to Havre, MT, Missoula, MT, Boise, ID, Eagle, ID, Walla Walla, WA, Tillamook, OR, Netarts, OR, and Everson. Then there was the beach house on Gooseberry Point, and finally they built their last forever home in Birch Bay Village where they managed to stay put in one place for over 30 years. And most recently Donna and Andy have lived at Spring Creek Assisted Living in Bellingham, where they have enjoyed the tender loving care of multitudes of sweet caregivers.

Camping, hunting, fishing, clamming, traveling, boating, growing gardens, raising cattle and horses, and showing and racing Appaloosa horses: so much to do! The family outings were quite stimulating, from exploring abandoned mining towns in Idaho and panning for gold, to camping trips to the far provinces of Canada, and numerous horseback trips into various wilderness areas.

During their retirement years, Andy and Donna, in a variety of their trusty RVs, traveled and explored as far east as Prince Edward Island. They also enjoyed several grand adventures abroad to England, Denmark, Switzerland, and Germany, trading houses with people who lived there.

Fortunately, Andy was recently surrounded by his loved ones who gathered together on Father’s Day to celebrate him, and they were able to let him know what a special man he was in their lives.

Andy passed from this life and on to his next adventure on July 8, 2023 at the age of 93. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Val and Richard, and his sister Margaret.

Andy is survived by his sister Ruth, his wife Donna, his son Randy, his daughter Cathy (Steve), grandsons Logan and Lucas, favorite granddaughter Anna, great-grandchildren Riley, Abigail, Silas, and Kyja, and by the numerous people who loved him.

February 22, 1940 – July 6, 2023

William J. Schroeder passed away July 6, 2023. Bill was born February 22, 1940 in Bellingham to Hugo and Ruth Schroeder. As an only child in rural Whatcom County, Bill spent his youth with his dog and a gun, hunting anything edible. In his teens he was famous for driving fast and using dynamite to blow stumps and creek pools in the greater Custer and Birch Bay area. Bill found fame again much later in life, but this time for driving his Buick well under the speed limit on Birch Bay Drive holding up 5 to 15 cars at a time, to the consternation of his neighbors.

In 1962 Bill married the love of his life, Alice. Their early married years consisted of more fishing and boating than one can imagine in the San Juan Islands and BC Gulf Islands. Bill and Alice were inseparable, with Bill tending perhaps toward “codependent.” In 1972 and 1974 Bill became a father to Sara and Sherie and took over his parents’ farm where he happily farmed beef cows and raised two girls. Bill often lamented that he and Hereford bull were outmanned and outgunned by the estrogen of three women and fifty cows. Thankfully, around the turn of the century his daughters married wonderful men who shared Bill’s love of the outdoors: Marty Kuljis and Jerry Vekved.

Thirty five years of teaching and coaching in the Blaine School District supplied Bill with a great variety of amazing stories. His stories regarding bomb threats in the ’60s, practical jokes among staff and colorful students are fondly remembered and retold by his family. As a teacher Bill truly had a gift for presenting topics simply and clearly, with equal parts humor and discipline.

Bill’s priority in life was being a father and a husband. He never missed his daughters’ sporting events and activities. The family’s summers were spent hurrying to put up hay and then long vacations to Quadra Island to camp and fish. Later, despite health issues, Bill worked hard to make it to the games of his grandchildren. He treasured each grandchild and enjoying farming, clamming, fishing and shooting with them. He was also guilty of feeding them entirely too much sugar and famously letting them drive his car to their baseball practice when they were 14.

For over sixty years Bill loved Alice with a passion that few could imagine. Together, they always had a fire in the stove and time for coffee with friends and visitors. They created a home that was filled with warmth, joy, laughter, Swedish pancakes and friends. Bill leaves a legacy of fatherhood, humor and integrity, along with a barn and few sheds full of ancient tractors and farming equipment, rusty antiques, antique rust, Hot Springs hot tubs and parts, boats, vehicles both old and less-old, and non-operable John Deere lawn mowers. His family is obviously honored to own such fantastic items.

Bill is survived by his wife Alice (Friberg); daughter Sara Kuljis (Marty) and their children Andrew and Emily; daughter Sherie Vekved (Jerry) and their children Hugo, Ivan and Signe.

A memorial will be held July 19 at 3 p.m. at Birch Bay Bible Community Church, 4460 Bay Road, Birch Bay. Memorials may be sent to Birch Bay Bible Community Church Youth Ministry, 4460 Bay Road, Blaine, WA 98230.

Celia S. Carr

December 2, 1937 – May 22, 2023

Celia S. Carr, 85, of Blaine, passed away peacefully at home on May 22, 2023, surrounded by family members.

Celia was born December 2, 1937, to Alfredo and Maria Salinas. In 1954, she met and married Esequiel Carr, to whom she was married for 56 years until his passing in 2010. They lived in Brownsville, TX, for several years, then moved to Blaine, after Zeke was offered a job at Intalco. Family was very important to Celia. She had a deep capacity for love, always welcoming her children’s friends into her home and providing a safe place to those in need. In later years, she was a loving grandmother. She is deeply missed.

Celia is survived by her nine children, Esequiel (Casey) Carr, Richard Carr, Robert Carr, Mary Ann (Rudy) Carr, Luis (Cassandra) Carr, Diana (Jeff) Lawrenson, Cecilia Carr, Mark Carr, and Blanca (David) Jackson; 17 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; and many extended family members. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on July 23 at the American Legion, 4580 Legion Drive in Birch Bay.

pOLiCe repOrts

June 30, 3:29 a.m.: Assist citizen on 2nd Street.

June 30, 1:31 p.m.: Fraud on Marine Drive.

June 30, 2:31 p.m.: Assist citizen on H Street.

June 30, 2:42 p.m.: Harassment on Bayview Avenue.

June 30, 7:45 p.m.: Parking problem on 16th Street.

June 30, 8:49 p.m.: Suspicious circumstance on C Street.

June 30, 10:33 p.m.: Attempted suicide on 15th Street.

July 1, 11:22 a.m.: Property found on 4th Street.

July 1, 12:16 p.m.: Assault simple on 4th Street.

July 1, 6:04 p.m.: Fraud on Blaine Avenue.

July 1, 10:49 p.m.: Trespass on G Street.

July 2, 12:19 a.m.: Assist agency on 2nd Street.

July 2, 12:51 a.m.: Suspicious person on E Street.

July 2, 11:40 a.m.: Property found on Harrison Avenue.

July 2, 1:43 p.m.: Theft on H Street.

July 3, 9:05 p.m.: Theft on Semiahmoo Parkway.

July 3, 12:39 p.m.: Theft on H Street Road.

July 3, 1:21 p.m.: Surrender of weapons on H Street.

July 3, 1:43 p.m.: Assist agency on D Street.

July 3, 7:21 p.m.: Juvenile problem on B Street.

July 4, 6:19 a.m.: Domestic order violation on 8th Street.

July 4, 2:06 p.m.: Shots on Kingsley Avenue.

July 4, 7:36 p.m.: Vehicle recovery on Bell Road.

July 4, 7:38 p.m.: Property found on H Street.

July 4, 9:02 p.m.: Domestic verbal on Cedar Street.

July 5, 9:49 a.m.: Hit and run on Tananger Lane.

July 5, 1:13 p.m.: Trespass on D Street.

July 5, 5:16 p.m.: Civil problem on Boblett Court.

July 5, 6:07 p.m.: Burglary on 15th Street.

July 5, 9:29 p.m.: Domestic physical on Canvasback Road.

July 5, 10:52 p.m.: Domestic physical on Martin Street.

July 6, 6:38 p.m.: Domestic physical on Martin Street.

July 5, 10:41 p.m.: Suspicious circumstance on C Street. Report by Blaine Police Department

sheriff’s repOrts

June 27, 11:14 a.m.: Death investigation on Beanblossom Lane.

June 27, 11:46 a.m.: Vandalism on Holeman Avenue.

June 27, 4:30 p.m.: Fraud on Chehalis Place.

June 28, 1:52 p.m.: Missing person on Semiahmoo Drive.

June 28, 8:23 p.m.: Shots on Custer School Road, Custer.

June 29, 12:11 p.m.: Vandalism on Birch Bay-Lynden Road.

June 29, 9:57 p.m.: Vehicle theft on Sweet Road.

June 30, 1:15 a.m.: Mental health issue on McGee Road.

June 30, 2:17 p.m.: Harassment on Cambridge Loop.

June 30, 10:18 p.m.: Fireworks on Birch Bay Drive.

July 1, 8:42 a.m.: Theft on Har-

CrOssWOrd

47. Place to be during a rock concert

20. A citizen of Denmark

22. Mystic syllable

25. Commercial

26. Letter of the Hebrew alphabet

27. Helpers

29. Water (French)

31. Young woman

34. Red-brown sea bream

36. Messenger ribonucleic acid

37. Comprehends

Coming up

Financial Empowerment for Teens: Monday–Thursday, July 24-27, 1-2 p.m., CAP Center, 508 G Street, Blaine. Free. Teens learn money management skills for a more secure financial future. For more info or to pre-register: 360/296-0441 or kevin@thewhatcomdream.org. Sponsored by the Community Assistance Program.

Blaine Harbor Music Festival: Thursday, 7 p.m., outdoor pavilion at Semiahmoo Golf Resort, swing dance with a big band and special guests; Friday, 7 p.m. Blaine Performing Arts Center, student showcase; Saturday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m., G Street Plaza, Jazz-by-the-Sea music and arts street fair. Aside from Thursday’s swing dance, all concerts are free or by donation. Info: blaineharbormusicfestival.com.

Trivia at The Vault: Thursday, July 13, 7 p.m., 277 G Street. Info: thevaultwine.com.

Red Tide Presentation: Friday, July 14, 7 p.m., Birch Bay State Park wildlife theater. Learn about the science, hazards, myths and legends of Harmful Algal Blooms in Birch Bay with a local oceanographer.

Live Music at The Vault: Friday, July 14, 7 p.m., 277 G Street. Featuring: Jami Templeton. Info: thevaultwine.com.

borview Road.

July 1, 7:03 p.m.: Accident on West Badger Road, Custer.

July 2, 4:15 p.m.: Trespass on Valley View Road, Custer.

July 2, 6:01 p.m.: Fraud on Alderson Road.

July 3, 2:10 p.m.: Littering on Anderson and Blaine roads.

July 3, 6:50 p.m.: Harassment on Dory Court.

July 3, 11:26 p.m.: Fireworks on Selder Road.

July 4, 12:23 a.m.: Vehicle theft on Creasey Road, Custer.

July 4, 2:16 a.m.: Domestic physical on Drayton Harbor Road. Suspect arrested.

July 4, 8:50 p.m.: Threat on Bridger Road.

July 5, 12:18 a.m.: Fireworks on Harborview Road.

58. Table napkin

59. Monetary unit in Asia

61. One-time AL MVP Vaughn

ANSWERS: THENORTHERNLIGHT.COM

tides

1. Before

2. Actress Dunham

3. This (Spanish)

4. Director Peter

5. Dominant

6. English artists’ society (abbr.)

7. NY Giants legend

8. It’s in the ground 9. No No No 10. Pesky insect 12. Danish-American muckraking journalist 13. Kids love to do it

16. Good Gosh!

17. Fakes

38. Walk with confidence

40. Home of the Flyers

43. Appetizer

45. News organization 48. Source of the Nile

50. A way to march 51. Soluble ribonucleic acid

53. Egyptian bull-god

54. Children’s author Blyton

55. Baseball pitching stat

57. Rude young person

Weather

Precipitation: During the period of July 3-9, no precipitation was recorded. The 2023 year-to-date precipitation is 11.2 inches.

Temperature: High for the past week was 84°F on July 6 with a low of 54°F on July 3. Average high was 69°F and average low was 64°F.

Community Trunk Sale Fundraiser: Saturday, July 15, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., Northwood Chapel parking lot. Shop from car trunks and tents and support the mission trip to El Salvador. Interested sellers contact: Jennifer, 360/410-4946.

Tide Pool Exploration: Saturday, July 15, 10 a.m., meet at Birch Bay State Park BP Heron Center. Explore Birch Bay State Park’s tide pools with a naturalist.

Blaine Senior Center Big Bucks Bingo: Saturday, July 15, noon–3 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Early bird starts at 12:30 p.m. Regular bingo at 1 p.m. Eight games $15. Info: 360/332-8040.

Beach Exploration: Tuesday, July 18, 11 a.m., meet at Birch Bay State Park BP Heron Center. Enjoy learning about the habitat and critters at Birch Bay State Park.

Blaine Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Meeting: Wednesday, July 19, 7:30 a.m., Great Blue Heron Grill, 8720 Semiahmoo Parkway. Speaker: Dylan Deane-Boyle from Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism. RSVP: Info@blainechamber.com.

Summer Market Series: Saturday, July 22, 10 a.m.–4 p.m, Home Farm U-Pick + Events, 8020 Kickerville Road. Featuring local goods, food and activities for the whole family from over 40 local artisans. Admission: $3, kids under 12 free. Info: homefarm.farm.

Vacation Bible School: Monday, July 24 to Friday, July 28, 9 a.m.–noon, Grace Lutheran Church & Preschool, 702 G Street. Kids ages 3rd to 5th grade play games, learn about the Bible, sing songs and have fun. Free. Register: office@BGLutheran.com.

Night Market by the Sea: Wednesday, July 26, 5-9 p.m., Blaine’s G Street Plaza. Find homemade crafts, photography, plants and planters, pottery, baked goods and more. Info: blainechamber.com.

Splash Days: Friday, July 28, noon–2 p.m., Third and Martin Streets. Kids beat the heat in a street party with fire hydrant sprinklers. Small children must be supervised, shoes recommended. Ice cream by Sugar Shack plus hot dogs, chips and refreshments. Sponsored by the Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District. Info: bbbparkandrec.org.

Sand Sculpture Contest: Saturday, July 29, 7 a.m.–4 p.m. Registration at Birch Bay Library, 7948 Birch Bay Drive. Vendors and Friends of Birch Bay Library book sale the library, from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sand sculpture judging begins at 1 p.m. and winners announced at 3 p.m. Birch Bay poker run from 2-4 p.m. Info and registration for both sand sculpture competition and poker run at birchbaychamber.com/events.

Rollback Weekend Car Show: Sunday, July 30, 8 a.m–2 p.m., Birch Bay Beach Park, 7930 Birch Bay Drive. Car show, beer garden, corn hole tour- nament and live music. Pancake breakfast at 6 a.m. and vendor market from 8 a.m.–2 p.m. at the Birch Bay Library, 7948 Birch Bay Drive. Info and registration: birchbaychamber.com/events.

Ongoing

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

The Bridge Food Bank: Fridays 2:30-4:30 p.m., The Bridge Community Hope Center’s new location, 7620 Birch Bay Drive. New registration required at thebridgehope.com or call 360/366-8763. Volunteers welcome.

CAP Clothing Bank: Mondays and Fridays, 9 a.m.–noon and Wednesdays, 5-7 p.m. 508 G Street. The Community Assistance Program clothing bank is now located in the basement of the CAP Center providing free clothing and linens. Donations accepted only during open hours or by special arrangement. Info: blainecap.org or 360/392-8484.

Meals on Wheels Frozen Meals: Thursdays 11:30 a.m.–noon, Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Adults 60+ pick up five frozen meals. Suggested donation $5 per meal or whatever is affordable. First come, first serve basis. Info: 360/332-8040.

Meals on Wheels Hot Lunches: Monday–Friday, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Suggested donation of $5 per meal ($8.50 if under 60) or whatever is affordable. First come, first serve basis. Info: 360/332-8040.

The Bridge Clothing Bank Boutique: Open Wednesday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Donations accepted Wednesdays, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. or by appointment. The Bridge Community Hope Center’s new location, 7620 Birch Bay Drive.

Blaine’s Market by the Sea: Saturdays, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Blaine’s G Street Plaza. Local vendors selling handcrafted merchandise. Vendor space available. Info: blainechamber.com.

Birch Bay Market: Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., across from The C Shop, 4825 Alderson Road. Farmers market, home decor and gifts. Info: BirchBayMarket@gmail.com.

Blaine Book Club: Friday, July 21, 1 p.m., Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. July title: “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin. Info: Kelly at 360/305-3637.

Submissions to Coming Up should be sent to calendar@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.

B y M ad I sun t o BI sch

The review, released May 31, shows direct travel spending levels across five sectors. The sectors include accommodations (27.9 percent), food and beverage (25.4 percent), retail sales (18.2 percent), transportation (16.7 percent) and recreation and the arts (11.8 percent).

Accommodations were the largest source of travel spending dollars, adding up to over a quarter of the total $688.3 million in visitor spending.

According to the review, last year’s numbers are a sign of recovery in the tourism industry after visitor spending dropped 31.4 percent in 2020.

“Covid-19 has been like the tide. It came in almost as quick as it went out,” said Mark Andrew, regional vice president for Columbia Hospitality, which manages Semiahmoo Resort.

Last year was the second-highest year on record for lodging tax revenue for Blaine, according to previous reporting from The Northern Light. Alex Wenger, Blaine’s tourism and economic development coordinator, previously credited the revenue spike to Semiahmoo Resort’s successful post-pandemic recovery.

“The tide is fully up,” Andrew said. “We’re definitely seeing things at their pre-pandemic level, but in a different way.”

Andrew added that guests were booking longer stays with less planning, sometimes booking a same-day reservation rather than on two-week notice.

Tourism is recovering in other areas of north Whatcom as well.

Danielle Gaughen, executive director of the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, said in an email that community events continue to be well attended since returning in 2021. The annual sand sculpture competition and Halloween festivities both saw an estimated 3,000 attendees in 2022, Gaughen said.

Regarding accommodations, Gaughen said visitors totaled more than 8,000 overnight stays in Birch Bay last year.

Those with questions about tourism can ask Bellingham-Whatcom County Tourism CEO Dylan Dean-Boyle at the Blaine Chamber Breakfast 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 19 at Semiahmoo Golf and Country Club’s Great Blue Heron Grill. RSVP: info@blainechamber.com.

“We are in a special place,” Andrew said. “We know that we need to keep celebrating what got us here and we know that our future is pretty darn bright.”

Road Rules: Properly adjusting side mirrors

B y d ou G d ahl

Question: How do you properly adjust your side mirrors? I think most people adjust them so they can see the side of their own car, but I read something years ago where you should adjust your mirrors outwards which will more effectively cover their blind spot. Is there a recommended method?

Answer: Yes, there is a recommended method. In fact, I know of two recommended methods. Now that’s a problem, isn’t it? There’s also a method that’s not recommended but frequently employed.

I think we can agree that the goal of adjusting your mirrors is to see as much of what’s behind you as possible. With that in mind, you don’t want to see a big chunk of your own car in your side view mirror. There are two problems here: If your side view mirror is tilted in too far, you’ve got a lot of overlap between that mirror and your rear-view mirror, but you’ve increased the size of the blind spot to the side of your vehicle. The other problem is that it leaves less space to see other things behind you. You can

be confident that of all the threats on the road, the rear quarter panel of your car is not one of them, so don’t fill your mirror with it.

The law requires that you set up your mirrors so that they reflect the highway at least 200 feet behind you, but doesn’t give any further instruction, other than that mirrors should be maintained in good condition.

Side note: To the driver who has taped a handheld cosmetics mirror onto the side of their car, I don’t think that counts as properly maintained.

The perfect setup would be one with no visual gap between the rear view and side view mirrors, and the moment you lose sight of a vehicle in your side view mirrors as it passes you it appears in your peripheral vision. Alas, it’s unlikely that you drive a car that’s capable of achieving mirror perfection. I set out on a quest to find a car with no blind spots, but all I came up with were lists of vehicles with the fewest blind spots. That means you’re going to settle for a compromise.

The Washington Driver Guide recommends that you adjust the side mirrors so that you can see a

small amount of the side of your vehicle. This approach should provide a slight overlap between your side and rear-view mirrors, along with moderate blind spots toward the side of your vehicle. A second recommended method comes from the Society of Automotive Engineers. To set your left side view mirror, lean your head against the window on the driver’s door and adjust the mirror until you can see a sliver of the rear of the car. Do the same for the passenger side mirror, with your head roughly in the center of the car. This shifts your mirrors even wider than the driver guide recommendation. (So wide that you might not get the 200 feet of view required by law.

File photo

Adjust accordingly.) You’ll end up with smaller blind spots on the sides of your vehicle, and possibly two narrow blind spots to the rear of your car.

Which method should you use? It might depend on your vehicle. For example, if you don’t have good visibility from your rearview mirror (like when towing a trailer) the method in the driver guide will probably work better. Either way, your mirror adjustment is only as good as the situational awareness you bring to your drive, as you scan both mirrors and blind spots.

Doug Dahl is a manager with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, Region 11 and publishes TheWiseDrive.com.

24

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It’s not just the roots, rocks and trails that make Bellingham one of North America’s greatest mountain bike destinations. It’s the deep community roots that bring riders, musicians and makers together from around the world. The Northwest Tune-Up returns for three days of biking, cra beer, local art and a jam-packed lineup of 24 bands—all while supporting community access to the trails we love. We’ll rock to that.

BIKE EXHIBITION SKILLS CLINICS LIVE ART

It’s not just the roots, rocks and trails that make Bellingham one of North America’s greatest mountain bike destinations. It’s the deep community roots that bring riders, musicians and makers together from around the world. The Northwest Tune-Up returns for three days of biking, cra beer, local art and a jam-packed lineup of 24 bands—all while supporting community access to the trails we love. We’ll rock to that.

It’s not just the roots, rocks and trails that make Bellingham one of North America’s greatest mountain bike destinations. It’s the deep community roots that bring riders, musicians and makers together from around the world. The Northwest Tune-Up returns for three days of biking, cra beer, local art and a jam-packed lineup of 24 bands—all while supporting community access to the trails we love. We’ll rock to that.

It’s not just the roots, rocks and trails that make Bellingham one of North America’s greatest mountain bike destinations. It’s the deep community roots that bring riders, musicians and makers together from around the world. The Northwest Tune-Up returns for three days of biking, cra beer, local art and a jam-packed lineup of 24 bands—all while supporting community access to the trails we love. We’ll rock to that. Get

Get your tickets at NWTuneUp.com

JULY

BANDS BIKE DEMOS FAMILY FRIENDLY JULY 14-16, 2023 BELLIN G HAM , W AS H IN G T O N THANKS TO THESE FOLKS

Food truck serving gourmet hot dogs makes debut at The Vault

B y G race M c c arthy

A food truck serving gourmet hot dogs has opened at The Vault Wine Bar and Bistro, amid other changes allowing the restaurant to expand its cuisine.

Fare Thee Well food trailer opened behind The Vault in downtown Blaine in mid-June to offer the community high-quality food while expanding Blaine’s food truck presence, said Jacob Finston, who runs the trailer.

The menu offers a classic brat, PNW dog (on a furikake brioche bun with smoked salmon and cream cheese) and green machine dog (made with pestochurri, pecorino parsley and pickled red onion.) The trailer also offers a traditional hot dog, tabouli salad, chips and lemon curd on shortbread cookies.

Jacob Finston said he would like to have a rotating menu that includes a summer pasta dish and charcuterie.

“I would like to bring an elevated sense of execution on the culinary side but to the demographic we have in town,” Jacob Finston said. “I would like to appeal to those markets and hone into what I can do.”

The truck operates behind The Vault from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday as well as travels to private and community events, such as the Birch Bay Kite Festival. The Vault originally used the food truck to serve food while

its kitchen was remodeled earlier this year to support its growing menu.

“We managed to do as well as we could with the cooking capabilities we had, which, as time went on and we got more known for our food, were really inadequate,” said Joni Finston, co-owner of The Vault.

The kitchen remodel allowed the restaurant to improve service through cooking greater amounts of food faster. The changes included nearly doubling the number of burners, and switching them to gas, as well as doubling the number of ovens. The Vault returned to serving at full capacity May 10.

The Vault has welcomed new menu items such as a toast with figs and balsamic vinegar; grilled zucchini with strawberry salsa, herbs and hazelnuts; lamb rack with polenta and chermoula; and maple-glazed salmon.

While the kitchen was being renovated, lead server Lexie Dixon was able to receive her Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) 1 certification in Vancouver, B.C. Now that Dixon has the basic wine certification, she plans to obtain her WSET 2 and sommelier level 1 certifications.

The Vault offers a monthly paired wine dinner that is five courses paired with five wines. This month’s dinner will feature Walla Walla’s L’Ecole No. 41 Winery presented by winemak -

er Marcus Rafanelli in celebration of L’Ecole’s 40th anniversary. The restaurant also hosts weekly trivia on Thursday and live music on Friday nights.

Jacob Finston said he wants the food to provide communion for the community.

“I want to give them an oasis to relax and enjoy high-quality food around a really cool town and nice area of the world,” he said.

s Jacob Finston serves gourmet hot dogs out of Fare Thee Well, a food trailer located behind The Vault, 277 G Street in downtown Blaine. The trailer is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Photo by Grace McCarthy

s The Vault remodeled its kitchen earlier this year to expand its menu offerings and improve service times. Photo by Grace McCarthy