The Northern Light: February 15-21, 2024 by Point Roberts Press

February 15 - 21, 2024

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Driver arrested after I-5 rollover, page 2

Fast food chains open at travel plaza, page 4

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Family Care Network revives Blaine plans Blaine City Council approves updated meeting procedures By Grace McCarthy

(See City council, page 3)

s Family Care Network CEO Dr. Rodney Anderson told Blaine City Council during its February 12 meeting that the local medical system planned on submitting building permits within the next month for a Blaine clinic. Read more on page 2.

Photo by Grace McCarthy

Blaine school bond failing to reach supermajority, while other levies pass By Nolan Baker Blaine voters are likely to approve both property tax levies on the February special election ballots, with 68.2 percent (2,817 votes) voting to approve the Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 (BBBPRD2) levy of $0.10 per $1,000 in assessed home value, and 57.6 percent (2,593 votes) approving Blaine school district’s operations levy that starts at $0.98 per $1,000 in property value. The school district’s partner ballot measure, Proposition 2024-08, is likely to fail to reach the state-mandated 60 percent supermajority threshold for bonds, with only 54.4 percent voting to approve the measure. The measure, if passed, would be a $70 million capital project bond going toward renovations to existing school buildings and designs for a primary school in Birch Bay. Fewer than 4,400 ballots are left to count across the entire county, and little is likely to change in results by the next ballot count, set for 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 14.

For the Blaine school district, the levy passing was “mission critical” according to superintendent Christopher Granger, as those funds make up roughly 17 percent of the district’s operations budget. The funds provide relief the school district’s dwindling state funding due to decreased enrollment, and tapped out pandemic relief from federal and state entities. According to the district, the levy was intended to not raise taxes for homeowners, and the district by law cannot collect more than the voter approved amount of $7.5 million in 2025, even if property values rise. The structure of the approved levy will rise slightly year over year, starting at $0.98 per $1,000 in assessed home value, and increasing to $1.04 by 2028. For a home valued at $500,000, homeowners would pay $490 in 2025. The proposed $70 million capital projects bond had a higher voter hurdle to clear, and a larger price tag to sell, and will likely fall short of the needed 60 percent. The bond would have asked for a flat, $0.76 per $1,000 rate through 2046, and gone toward updates to the

Pipeline Fields athletic complex, improvements to Point Roberts Primary School, Blaine Middle School, and the Performing Arts Center, as well as seeking bids for preliminary designs of a Birch Bay primary school. With the expected passing of BBBPRD2’s levy, the park and recreation dis(See Election, page 8)

INSIDE

Blaine City Council unanimously approved amending its rules of procedure governing public meetings February 12, after holding a special meeting February 8 to review the changes. The revised rules, which clarify the means by which public comments may be submitted, come as council meetings in recent months have been disrupted by a small group of people who have hurled accusations against council members and city staff. New notices posted in council chambers and city hall stated that the mayor could limit audience participation to written communication only, submitted to the council by email or written with pens and paper that were provided. A crowd packed into council chambers, some of whom said they attended after hearing about the contentious meetings. Previously, council allowed spoken public comments near the beginning of its meetings but on Monday, it went directly to action items, including council voting 6-0, with councilmember Eric Davidson absent, to approve Resolution 1941-24, amending the rules of procedure. It wasn’t until the last few minutes of the meeting that mayor Mary Lou Steward said there would be no verbal public comment at the meeting, which was met without argument. Meetings held by government agencies in the state of Washington are governed by the state Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) which requires most government meetings to be open to the public. The OPMA also contains provisions to deal with disruptive conduct. “The resolution’s stated purposes are to promote efficiency in meetings, ensure the orderly conduct of city business, avoid disruptions to the meeting, provide for authentic and non-artificial testimony, and maintain order generally, all as envisioned by state law,” according to the resolution summary. Attendance at council meetings began to increase last year when the city considered zoning that would allow large manufactured home parks in east Blaine. About two dozen people, most of whom lived in the area, began speaking out against the proposal. After council approved the zoning change on October 23, 2023, a smaller number of people calling themselves “Save Blaine” began accusing the city of being unethical and lacking transparency, among other charges. They have employed pseudonyms such as Madam Watchdog, who has played recordings of an altered voice called “the Professor,” and been generally disruptive. Police monitored a few meetings late last

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The Northern Light • February 15 - 21, 2024

Family Care Network to submit building permits for Blaine medical facility, CEO says By Grace McCarthy Family Care Network (FCN) CEO Dr. Rodney Anderson told Blaine City Council during its February 12 meeting that FCN planned on submitting building permits within the next month for a Blaine medical facility. FCN showed interest in building a healthcare clinic on the

city’s old airport property near SR-543 in 2019, after the city of Blaine had reached out to the medical group about the project. After being delayed because of the pandemic, FCN bought a 2.5-acre parcel from the city of Blaine for $340,000 in June 2021. Pandemic challenges in healthcare and FCN implementing a new electronic medical re-

cord system further set back the Blaine project, Anderson said. “This is taking a lot longer than any of us hoped or envisioned and that is the reality of it,” Anderson said. That pains me probably as much as it pains anybody else.” FCN recently re-engaged with architects, contractors and engineers for the project and created potential facility renderings. The preliminary design shows the facility would be about 6,000 square feet and provide care to over 12,000 patients. “This building will serve the needs of the community hopefully for many decades to come,”

Anderson said. The facility, which will accept patients of all ages, is expected to have lab services, 12-14 exam rooms, a procedure room, a triage room and an on-site behavioral health specialist. The facility won’t have on-site imaging, but Anderson said the building has room to expand. Anderson said FCN would like to move its four physicians at the Birch Bay Family Medicine to the Blaine facility, which would have at least eight providers. When councilmember Sonia Hurt asked Anderson who would staff the Birch Bay clinic, Rodney

replied that FCN anticipated its Birch Bay patients would move to Blaine as well. “There would be no abandonment of any patient who currently exists in Birch Bay but that site allows no expansion and we’re maxed out at that facility right now,” Anderson said. Anderson said he was unable to give a timeline on construction or when the facility would open. “I wanted to communicate to everyone here that progress is resuming and we are moving forward with this,” he said. “We remain as committed as we were four or five years ago.”

Driver arrested after rollover in Blaine By Grace McCarthy A driver was arrested after causing a single-vehicle rollover crash on I-5 in Blaine on February 10. Washington State Patrol (WSP) responded to a report of a driver who rolled into the median while driving southbound on I-5, just south of milepost 275, around 10:20 p.m. February 10. The driver was alone in the vehicle and conscious when first responders arrived, WSP sergeant Anthony Califano said. North Whatcom Fire and Rescue and Blaine Police Department also assisted. The driver was treated for injuries at St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham, where WSP arrested the driver for a DUI, Califano said. The driver was not booked into jail and was released at the hospital.

s A driver was arrested for DUI following a single-vehicle rollover accident on I-5 February 10. Photo courtesy Blaine Police Department

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February 15 - 21, 2024 • thenorthernlight.com

City of Blaine staff salaries in 2024 Blaine City Council unanimously confirmed the annual salaries of nearly 60 city employees during its February 12 meeting. The salaries and benefits are determined by individual contracts and collective bargaining agreements. Below are 2024 city employee salaries. The list indicates if there are multiple people working the same position with the same salary. • Court clerk I, part-time, $30.91 per hour • Public works office coordinator, $62,292 • Maintenance worker (4), $62,292 each • Groundperson (2), $64,248 each • Police recruit (2), $67,080 each • Maintenance worker, $67,080 • Maintenance worker (6), $71,940 each • Police officer, $74,532 • Crew chief, $74,952 • Accounting technician, $75,096 • Water quality coordinator, $76,620 • Planner I, $76,824 • Court administrator, $76,824 • Deputy city clerk, $76,824 • Lead maintenance worker, $77,352 • Police officer, $77,472 • UB & energy conserv coordinator, $77,964 • Crew chief, $77,964 • Water reclamation facility operator III, $80,436 • Engineering tech III, $83,712 • Water reclamation facility operator III, $83,712 • Building inspector, $84,192 • Police officer (2), $86,844 each • Engineering tech III, $87,048 • Water reclamation facility operator III, $87,048 • Police officer (2), $91,116 each • Records supervisor, $93,420 • Water reclamation facility lead operator, $95,964 • Police sergeant (3), $104,772 each • Foreperson (2), $105,132 each • Senior accountant (2), $105,132 each • Police lieutenant, $115,260 • Network systems admin, $118,224 • Project manager, $122,940 • Assistant public works director, $122,940 • City clerk/deputy city manager, $125,988 • Civil engineer, $133,896 • Community develop director, $142,392 • Finance director, $142,392 • Public works director, $142,392 • Lineperson, $150,696 • Foreperson, $158,232 • City manager, $171,708

City council ... From page 1

year as contention increased. The group has questioned whether the city has the authority to enforce certain meeting rules or if they were only recommendations. Such rules include whether the public is mandated to state their name and address before giving comment. As the OPMA doesn’t require that information be given during public comment, the city clarified in its new rules of procedure that the public is only requested for the record. “The city decided to change its rules of procedure to make the meetings more orderly,” Steward said. “We have to get legislation done and we have to pay our bills. We need to do this in a way that is efficient without causing cancellation of meetings because of disruptions or pauses in meetings to settle everything down. Our concern was being able to do the business of the city of Blaine.” City attorney Peter Ruffatto said during the February 8 special council meeting that most of the changes to the rules of procedure were clarifications. “Some of the things we’re going to talk about in terms of language change already comply with the

rules, but it’s good to have those explicit in case there’s any question,” Ruffatto told council. The updated rules of procedure eliminated a sentence violating the Open Public Meetings Act stating, “Requests to take photos require advance approval by the mayor, city manager or chair.” Members of the Save Blaine group highlighted the line and requested the city update its rules in an email sent late December to the city. In response to the line taken out, city manager Mike Harmon wrote in an email to The Northern Light, “As the OPMA is updated and new case law is made, the city must continually adapt to comply with the latest regulations and requirements.” The OPMA has largely remained unchanged since being enacted in 1971, according to the Municipal Research and Services Center website, and has long allowed the public to take photographs and video meetings provided doing so is not disruptive. At least in recent years, the city has not enforced the rule in council meetings. Among the new changes, an open public comment section outlines council must accept oral or written comment at regular meetings where action is taken, the public must speak at the podium, and the mayor is allowed to change

File photo

the format. The rules define out-oforder conduct by which someone can be removed, by either the mayor or majority of council. If verbal comments are allowed, speakers are limited to three minutes, which include preparation for audio or visuals, unless the mayor allows additional time. Comment time may not be ceded to other members of the public, and prerecorded statements aren’t allowed. Under the city’s rules for decorum, the city added “slanderous remarks” as an example of behavior that people attending city council meetings shall refrain from engaging in. The rules already prohibited personal attacks and “other unruly, uncivil, harassing, intimidating, disruptive or threatening behaviors.”

A new paragraph says a breach of the rules doesn’t cause liability for the city and failure to adhere to the rules doesn’t invalidate a council act, unless provided by law. “The key that the council is going to have to remember is there does have to be a lot of allowance and tolerance of harsh criticism,” Ruffatto said. “But unless it elicits disruption, it’s not something that can be forced against.” Steward said she would advise the planning commission to only allow written comments right now. “I would love it sooner than later,” Steward said, regarding when council would accept oral comments again. “We need to wait and see what type of situation is going to evolve with our meetings.”

Blaine council outlines work priorities for CDS Department By Grace McCarthy Blaine City Council unanimously approved a list of large projects for the city’s Community Development Services (CDS) Department to prioritize working on this year. Up on this year’s list are proposed changes to downtown zoning and the city permitting process, as well as updates to the 2025 comprehensive plan. Council passed Resolution 194024, which created a list of proposed changes to city code and updates to Blaine’s comprehensive plan, during its February 12 meeting. The docket allows the CDS Department to either start or continue, if carried over from a previous year, the public review process for the listed items. City council will ultimately decide on the proposals. Below are the proposed updates or changes that the CDS Department will work on: Downtown zoning text amendments The zoning changes follow recommendations from the downtown ad hoc advisory committee, a group of stakeholders who spent six months last year determining whether the city should change its zoning for building height and parking in the central business district. The committee recommended reducing the required residential parking by half, proposed a municipal parking garage, and recommended developers be allowed to increase building heights if they paid for extra public amenities. City staff began looking into changing downtown zoning in 2022, after developers said current zoning limited return on investment. Permit process text amendments

The text amendment would streamline permit review, which hasn’t been updated since the city began using a hearing examiner. Housing action plan The housing plan would provide data on the city’s housing stock and help the city develop strategies to meet housing needs. Comprehensive plan update The city must complete its updated comprehensive plan by June 2025, as required by the state. The city will begin updating the population, housing, transportation, land use and climate resiliency chapters in the comprehensive plan, before updating the remaining chapters in 2025. Zoning text and map amendments Several zoning text and map amendments are expected to start going through the public process in midsummer to early fall. One text amendment proposes allowing hotels and multifamily housing in the residential office zoning district, which runs along Peace Portal Drive, just south of the central business district. The other text amendment proposes allowing urban villages in the planned commercial district, a small section in the southwest corner of the city, directly north of Dakota Creek and west of Peace Portal Drive. Utility comprehensive plans Blaine Public Works Department will start updating utility plans for stormwater, power and sewer at the end of the year. Sign code The city will update its sign code to comply with case law near the end of the year. CDS director Alex Wenger told councilmembers it would be ambitious for the CDS Department

to complete all of the projects by the end of 2024 without being fully staffed. The department is in the hiring process and the city has

contracted outside companies to help with planning services. “Those things will keep us busy all the way to 2025,” Wenger said.

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The Northern Light • February 15 - 21, 2024

Opinion

The Northern L ght The Northern Light is published weekly by Point Roberts Press Inc. Locally owned and managed, the company also publishes the All Point Bulletin, covering Point Roberts, Mount Baker Experience, covering the Mt. Baker foothills area, Pacific Coast Weddings annual guide, and the summer recreation guide Waterside as well as maps and other publications. Point Roberts Press Inc. is a member of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association, Chambers of Commerce of Bellingham/ Whatcom County, Birch Bay, Blaine and Point Roberts and the Bellingham/ Whatcom County Convention and Visitors Bureau. The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors. Letters Policy The Northern Light welcomes letters to the editor. Please include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters are limited to 350 words and may be edited or rejected for reasons of legality, length and good taste. 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.

Fast food service begins at new travel plaza

Publisher & Managing Editor Patrick Grubb publisher@pointrobertspress.com Co-publisher & Advertising Director Louise Mugar lmugar@pointrobertspress.com Editor Grace McCarthy grace@pointrobertspress.com

s Cinnabon, Jamba Juice and a Pizza Hut Express opened at the new Bens Market Travel Plaza on February 14. Carl’s Jr. is expected to open later this year in the building. The travel plaza, at the corner of Boblett Street and State Route 543, celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its gas station, truck stop and convenience store on January 24. Photo by Grace McCarthy

Reporter Nolan Baker nolan@pointrobertspress.com

Letters

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 Aspen Anderson Doug Dahl Mary Murphy The Northern Light 225 Marine Drive, Suite 200, Blaine, WA 98230 Tel: 360/332-1777 Vol XXIX, No 35 Circulation: 10,500 copies

Circulation Independently verified by:

The Editor: My husband has Alzheimer’s disease. His diagnosis is considered “early onset” because his decline began in his late 50s. I am profoundly grateful for the invaluable resources available in our area to help dementia patients and their caregivers. The painfully protracted period from diagnosis to death from Alzheimer’s is often called “the long goodbye” – for good reason. Family and friends become strangers to their afflicted loved ones, and in a sense, vice versa. Last spring PeaceHealth announced it would close its outpatient palliative care (OPPC) program claiming, in part, due to lost revenue during the Covid-19 pandemic. That announcement dashed my hopes

that the local OPPC program would eventually include Alzheimer’s patients. Because of a barrage of pleas and entreaties, PeaceHealth reconsidered and said it would reinstate OPPC in a new model. My understanding is that the reinstated program will be predominantly for cancer patients, with other diseases included at some future date. In 2020, the CDC estimated 5.8 million Americans aged 65 and older had Alzheimer’s disease. In 2010, costs of treating Alzheimer’s were estimated at up to $215 billion annually. Unlike declining heart disease and cancer death rates, Alzheimer’s death rates are increasing. Whatcom County urgently needs representation on the PeaceHealth System Gov-

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.

Next issue: Feb. 22 Ads due: Feb. 16

erning Board. The system board includes five seats, of a total of 11, for people who live in communities where PeaceHealth has no facilities – three in California (Fairfax, Newport Beach, San Francisco), one in Denver and one in Chicago. If our region had a seat on the System Board, I believe we’d have improved educational, awareness and support services for people with all life-limiting or terminal diseases, including Alzheimer’s. Kathy Sitker Birch Bay

Blaine City Council: Second and fourth Mondays, 6 p.m., Blaine City Council chambers, 435 Martin Street. Info: 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: Meetings are second Tues-

day, 5:30 p.m., 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.

February 15 - 21, 2024 • thenorthernlight.com

Birch Bay Incorporation Association meeting scheduled February 15 By Grace McCarthy The Birch Bay Incorporation Association (BBIA) will hold its first quarterly meeting since the group officially formed last November to research the pros and cons of Birch Bay becoming its own city. The meeting will be held 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, February 15 at North Bay Community Church, 4895 Birch Bay-Lynden Road in Birch Bay. The meeting will also be held remotely on Zoom, at bit. ly/3STz1Ib. BBIA founder and steering committee chair Matt Berry said the association won’t take any votes during the upcoming meeting. Longtime Birch Bay advocate

Roland Middleton will present and take questions about public works in municipalities. Middleton is a Whatcom County Public Works Department employee who worked closely on the Birch Bay berm, but won’t be speaking on behalf of the department. BBIA steering committee representatives will also ask for input on what association members want included in the feasibility study, which will produce data on city operation costs and tax revenues. The association holds quarterly meetings for all of its members and monthly meetings for steering committee representatives. Meetings are open to the public, and Birch Bay residents who live,

own property or conduct business within the urban growth area may sign up to become an association member at the meetings. The BBIA formally established itself during a November 15, 2023 meeting. During that meeting, association members also voted on city boundaries that would be used for the feasibility study. The proposed incorporation boundaries follow the Birch Bay urban growth area, but could change later if Birch Point or Point Whitehorn area residents want to be included. The association also elected 15 steering committee representatives, several of whom said they were unsure whether they would

support incorporation, during the November meeting. BBIA has a multi-year process ahead if it decides to pursue incorporation. The group will need to receive Whatcom County’s support to fund the feasibility study, and, among other requirements, circulate a petition requiring the signatures of at least 10 percent of voters within the proposed city boundaries to get the incorporation proposal on a ballot and to initiate the boundary review process , among other requirements. More information about BBIA and meeting documents are available on its website, incorporatebirchbay.com.

Blaine Chamber of Commerce planning volunteer fair By Grace McCarthy

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The Blaine Chamber of Commerce is looking for Blaine nonprofits and volunteers to attend its first volunteer fair. The fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 9 at Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Chamber volunteer Carroll Solomon said she’s seen from her

time at the Blaine Visitor Information Center that some people don’t know where to volunteer, and nonprofits, including the chamber, are having trouble receiving help. Solomon said she hopes this fair will create a connection point between volunteers of all ages and Blaine nonprofits. “There’s never been a list out there, and we have gotten calls over

the years from people who would like to volunteer,” Solomon said. “We thought it was about time we had a resource of possible places that are accepting volunteers.” The volunteer fair will have only Blaine nonprofits to keep it local, Solomon said. There will be space for about a dozen nonprofit booths, and about five groups, including Friends of

Blaine Library and the Community Assistance Program, are already expected to attend. A prize drawing will be offered. Solomon said she expects to compile a list of nonprofits after the fair and post it on the chamber website. For more information on the event, the Blaine chamber can be reached at 360/332-4544.

CITY OF BLAINE

CITY OF BLAINE February 19, 2024 City Offices Closed – Presidents Day February 26, 2024 6:00 PM – City Council Meeting February 27, 2024 3:30 PM – Civil Service Commission Meeting March 11, 2024 6:00 PM – City Council Meeting March 25, 2024 6:00 PM – City Council Meeting March 26, 2024 3:30 PM – Civil Service 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

CITY OF BLAINE

CREW CHIEF

MAINTENANCE WORKER

Salary Range: $6,011 to $7,017 per month plus benefits.

Salary Range: $4,950 to $5,995 per month plus benefits.

Applications are being accepted for one Crew Chief for Utilities with the City’s Public Works Department. This position requires a high level of personal integrity while providing fast, friendly, and effective customer service.

Applications are being accepted for one Maintenance Worker for Utilities with the City’s Public Works Department. This position requires a high level of personal integrity while providing fast, friendly, and effective customer service.

The Crew Chief serves as the senior member of a maintenance crew; performs a variety of semi-skilled, technical and supervisory work in the maintenance and operations division of the Public Works Department. Provides oversight, technical support and guidance to assigned personnel. May oversee community service workers, volunteers or temporary workers as required and assigned. Plans, schedules and implements construction, maintenance, and daily operation activities designed to provide quality service for the city; oversees construction and maintenance work to determine acceptability and conformance to standards.

The Maintenance Worker performs regular and recurring public works routine maintenance, installation and repair work on City utilities and other related services as assigned. This position utilizes authorized equipment and facilities to accomplish the work. Individuals assigned to this classification are expected to be competent in their skill area and perform proficiently and independently those assignments of a regular and recurring nature. Applicants should live within 20 minutes from Blaine due to call out requirements.

Interested persons should complete the online application on the City’s job page, https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/blainewa?

First review deadline: March 1, 2024, at 4:30pm; Open Until Filled.

The City of Blaine is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Thank you for supporting MAINTENANCE WORKER local journalism. SUMMER SEASONAL – TEMPORARY CITY OF BLAINE

$20 per hour – No Benefits

Applications are being accepted for multiple seasonal maintenance workers with the City’s Public Works Department. This is a temporary position that will last up to five months. The seasonal maintenance worker position requires a high level of personal integrity while providing fast, friendly and effective customer service. Duties for these positions may include but are not limited to: performing routine tasks such as weed-eating, raking, mowing, shoveling and other means of mechanical vegetation control; litter pick-up; pothole patching, pavement striping; building and other public facility repair and maintenance; traffic control in a work zone of a city right of way; cleaning and painting of fire hydrants and/or roadway curbs; trail repair and maintenance; performing other assigned duties of an equally complex nature.

Interested persons should complete the online application on the City’s website, https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/blainewa? The position is open until filled. The City of Blaine is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

This week’s supporters: Kay Schuhmacher • Richard and Rita Sukola You can also contribute online at thenorthernlight.com

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The Northern Light • February 15 - 21, 2024

Sports

Borderites to send 11 wrestlers to state tournament in Tacoma, girls basketball out By Nolan Baker Girls Basketball Blaine girls basketball (1012. 6-9 NWC) relied on its class of seniors all season, and the Borderites final game of the year was no different. Seniors Jordyn Vezzetti, Deja Dube, Amelia Berkeley and Alia Ball combined for all but one of Blaine’s 38 points in a heartbreaking, nail-biting, 40-38 loss to Meridian on February 10. The win would’ve earned Blaine a chance to rematch against Lynden Christian, who beat them 74-21 in the quarter final round of the playoffs, with a chance to place in the state tournament on the line. Unfortunately for the Borderites, they fell just two points short. Vezzetti, coming back from a badly injured ankle suffered in the February 7 loss to Lynden Christian, hit a clutch 3-pointer to put the Borderites up by four points with under a minute to play. Meridian pressed aggressively on defense, forcing a series of turnovers by the Borderites that resulted in six unanswered points by Meridian in the final 40 seconds of the game. Meridian would go on to win, and now has a chance at an upset against Lynden Christian to make it to state. It was a repeat of last year’s district tournament, when Meridian bounced the Borderites 54-34. The difference with this year is that the Borderites were much more mature, and finished the season with 10 wins compared to just three last season. That senior class showed out in their last game of the year, led by Vezzetti, who scored 18 points playing on one good ankle. “She just toughed it out,” head coach Vic Wolffis said of Vezzetti’s performance. “Her ankle was not perfect. It was very well taped and supported, but she had to gut through a couple practices in between those games. That just shows a level of toughness that she was able to play through that pain.” The Borderites season ended with a 10-12 record, going 6-9 against a stacked Northwest Conference that featured multiple powerhouse 1A teams like Nooksack Valley and Lynden Christian that rank in the top10 in the entire state. Wolfiss said he was excited to start his coaching tenure at Blaine with a strong group of four seniors, and was proud of the tenacity to win they showed every game. “They were so committed and they were so hungry to learn the game and learn how they could use what they do [well] to have a chance to win games,” Wolffis said. “They were really receptive to coaching, they led really well by example … and they were always

s Freshman Marcella Bring looks to pass the ball during Blaine’s 74-21 loss to Lynden Christian in the NWC 1A District playoffs. Photo by Nolan Baker

s Freshman Teia Dube drives past a Lynden Christian defender during the first quarter of Blaine’s second round district playoff game on February 7. Photo by Nolan Baker

s Senior Jordyn Vezzetti attempts a shot in Blaine’s 40-38 loss to Meridian on February 10. Vezzetti scored a team-high 18 points in her final game as a Borderite. Photo by Janell Kortlever there. It was a great core group for leadership.” Boys Wrestling The Blaine boys wrestling program had another stellar weekend at the 1B/2B/1A/2A

regional tournament at Vashon Island High School on February 10, taking third place as a team with 168 points, just losing out to Mount Baker (170) and Cascade Christian (181).

Eight Blaine wrestlers – Chris Zamudio, Cole Voigt, Vinnie Saia, Daniel Johner, Cal Fitzgerald, Blake Goltz, Victor Gervol and Otto Shelton – will travel to the Tacoma Dome for

the state championship Mat Classic XXXV, starting Friday, February 16. Victor Gervol, the standout heavyweight senior with a 34-1 record on the year, was the lone Borderite to earn first place in his weight class, with fellow heavyweight Otto Shelton standing beside him at the podium with a second place finish. Shelton was one of four Blaine wrestlers who earned second place in their respective weight class, with three other wrestlers taking third place. The eight wrestlers heading to state didn’t quite meet the expectations of “11 or 12 guys” that head coach Tom Hinz predicted last week before regionals kicked off, but it’s still a fantastic showing for a relatively small 1A school like Blaine. At last year’s Mat Classic, then-junior Gervol just missed out on the title, placing second in the 1A heavyweight division. This year, Gervol told The Northern Light the goal is a state championship, but he mostly hopes his win comes along with success for the rest of his team. The last time a Blaine wrestler won an individual state championship was Saul McGallon in 2017, according to Blaine Athletics. There’s a good chance that will change this weekend. The Mat Classic XXXV kicks off on Friday, February 16. For more information about updated match times and brackets, visit bit.ly/3SDL1Mw. Girls Wrestling The Blaine girls wrestling team will be heading to the Mat Classic, sending three girls to the state tournament after a solid showing at the 1B/2B/1A/2A regionals on February 10 in Buckley, placing fifth out of a 35-team field. Captains Lucy Dahl and Makenna Lausier are guaranteed a spot in the state tournament, with Claire Hume named an alternate. Dahl won first place in her weight class, with Lausier earning third place, and Hume getting fourth after an early-round loss. The other two Borderite wrestlers participating at the tournament, senior Cheyenne Rose-Jimenez and first-year wrestler Abby Marquez, weren’t able to push through a crowded field and place in state. “These girls continually amaze me,” head coach Damon Higgins said. “Lucy was on fire today, dominating each of her opponents.” Dahl has been on a stellar run recently, not placing below second in her weight class in either postseason tournaments so far. The Mat Classic XXXV state tournament begins on Friday, February 16. For more information on brackets, matchups and starting times, visit bit. ly/3SDL1Mw.

February 15 - 21, 2024 • thenorthernlight.com

Sports Senior Victor Gervol leads Blaine wrestling to Tacoma Dome By Nolan Baker Blaine senior Victor Gervol has only been wrestling for three years. The three-sport athlete – football in fall and rugby in spring – joined the wrestling team his sophomore year for the same reason lots of kids do something new: His friends were doing it. Gervol said during his first year on the mat, “I didn’t really know what I was doing.” Be that as it may, the sophomore still won first place at both districts and regionals, earning the one-seed in the 2022 state tournament, where he went 1-2. His junior season, Gervol made a deep run in the Mat Classic, earning second place in the state’s heavyweight division. Gervol then lit up the schedule during his senior season, winning 36 of his 37 matches, yet again earning first in district and regional tournaments. Gervol attributes his rise in success to head coach Tom Hinz, his teammates (seven of whom will join him in Tacoma), and an intensive one-week wrestling camp he attended over the summer. Hinz convinced Gervol to travel to northern Idaho to attend Kaizen Intensive Camps, a nearly 24/7 wrestling camp with a schedule that Gervol said began at 5 a.m. and didn’t end until 10 p.m. The constant focus on wrestling, fitness, dedication and listening nightly to motivational speakers from the highest echelons of the wrestling world inspired Gervol to attack his senior year with tenacity. “That pushed me to what I am and who I am today,” Gervol said of the camp. “That’s just helped me a lot throughout the season, for sure. I always have the mentality of getting better and helping my teammates around me get better as well.” High school wrestling is a hybrid,

s Blaine senior Victor Gervol awaits instructions from the coach’s bench during his Northwest Conference Championship match January 23. Gervol holds a 34-1 record on the year. Photo by Nolan Baker morphing between team sport and individual sport. In duels and tournaments, teams are scored based on the head-to-head performance of each individual wrestler in a weight class, added up. If one wrestler pins someone, it’s on the next guy up to keep up that pressure on the other team, Gervol explained. That mix between individual accountability and team chemistry is one of the things that Gervol said hooked him to the game. “Wrestling is unique because it’s not only just an individual sport, it’s a team sport,” Gervol said. “You get a lot of camaraderie just celebrating with your team, and it’s a sport where everyone is wrestling not for themselves, but for each other.” Gervol isn’t the only star on this team. The Borderites will send another seven wrestlers to the two-day Mat Classic XXXV on February 16 and 17: Chris Zamudio, Cole Voigt, Vinnie Saia, Daniel Johner, Cal Fitzgerald, Blake Goltz and Otto Shelton. Saia, Goltz, and Shelton all finished second in the regional tournament after standout seasons.

The last time a Blaine wrestler placed first in the state tournament was 2017 when Saul McGallon won the 220-pound division, according the Blaine Athletics. “If I win it, I win it, but it’s more or less about how my teammates are going to do. I really want them to succeed as well,” Gervol said. “I want it to be a team thing. Say that I win it – everyone wins it in my mind, because everyone was there to support me and they’ve been with me the whole season.” There are many people who have inspired Gervol along his journey through this newly-discovered sport, namely his friends and family, Gervol said. Gervol said two individuals stand out as his mentors and motivators: head coach Tom Hinz, and friend and fellow-heavyweight teammate Otto Shelton. Gervol said Shelton was the friend who ultimately convinced him to join the team in the first place. “I’d like to give a big shout-out to my buddy Otto Shelton,” Gervol said. “He’s been there with me the whole ride. He’s a really good friend, teammate and just a bud

s Gervol attempts a pin against a Ferndale opponent during the NWC Championship. Blaine wound up losing this dual, but ultimately sent eight wrestlers to the state tournament. Photo by Nolan Baker I’ve been with for a while now. And he’s pushed me as well.” As for Hinz, Gervol said the structure and culture that the head coach has built at Blaine helped him go from not knowing what he was doing, to the preci-

pice of a state championship. “[Hinz] is always just helping me out, setting goals and pushing me to my farthest,” Gervol said. “[He’s] always been there for me and I think of him as my biggest mentor apart from my family.”

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Blaine Primary School plans kindergarten information night By Nolan Baker In an effort to answer the litany of questions parents have about enrolling their child in kindergarten and entice more students into the school district, Blaine Primary School is holding a kindergarten information night at 5-6 p.m. Thursday, February 22 at the primary school. For parents of prospective kindergarteners, primary school staff will provide information on the necessary steps for registration, answer questions and show the learning environment. According to data from the state superintendent’s office, 171 students were enrolled in kindergarten at Blaine Primary School for the 2023-24 school year. That number is the highest enrollment since the 2018-19 school year, likely due to par-

File photo

ents keeping younger children out of the public school system during the pandemic, according to the district. That enrollment data was also the first time in three years that Blaine school district had more

graduating seniors than incoming kindergarten students, a common sign of dwindling enrollment across the district. For more information, email the registrar’s office at bpsoffice@ blainesd.org.

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The Northern Light • February 15 - 21, 2024

H H ELECTION RESULTS Whatcom County results as of 2/13/2024 8:00 PM. Source: Whatcom County Auditor’s Office.

42nd district 2H 02H 4 H H legislators to hold town hall

BALLOT MEASURES Proposition 2024-07

Proposition 2024-08

Proposition 2024-07 would replace Blaine school district’s operations levy with a rate starting at $0.98 per $1,000 in property value and rising annually.

Proposition 2024-08 would pay for $70 million in capital improvements to Blaine school district with a a flat, $0.76 per $1,000 rate through 2046. The bond requires a supermajority of 60 percent to pass.

Approved

Approved (60% supermajority needed)

57.6% (2,593)

54.5% (2,488)

Rejected

42.4% (1,908)

45.5% (2,079)

Proposition 2024-03 Proposition 2024-03 would allow the Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 to maintain its property tax levy of $0.10 per $1,000 of assessed valuation from 2025 -2030.

Approved

68.2% (2,817) Rejected

31.8% (1,313)

Election ... From page 1

trict will be able to continue to offer classes at affordable prices, and will look to expand its community activities throughout the year, according to BBBPRD2 director Heather Lindsay. Voters have been keen to continue funding BBBPRD2 in the past, with 71.2 percent (3,186 votes) approving a property tax levy in 2017. This election cycle saw

slightly less of a turnout, which is often common for special elections when compared to general elections. That didn’t stop Lindsay and the board of commissioners from breathing a sigh of relief when results rolled in on election night. “To say that we were elated is an understatement,” Lindsay said. “The community really showed us with that 68 percent that there’s value in parks and rec, and we were so excited to see that trust from the community through that vote.”

Road Rules: When can police write tickets? By Doug Dahl Question: I went to a business and was blocked from parking in

a handicapped spot, even though I have a placard. The owner said they had it blocked off for an event. Later I reported it to the

police. They said they’d talk to the business owner, but I feel like they’re blowing me off. How do I get the police to write the owner a ticket? Answer: Sometimes the law doesn’t say exactly what it intends to say. In my first sentence I’ve already criticized law makers and made a giant assumption. Off to an inauspicious start. The law is clear that it’s not legal for a person without a state-issued placard or special license plate to park in a spot reserved for people with disabilities. Blocking off that same spot with something other than a vehicle though, well, the Revised Code of Washington seems to leave out an important part. The paragraph titled “Inaccessible access” (a bit of an oxymoron) makes it a parking

infraction to “block, or otherwise make inaccessible the access aisle located next to a space reserved for persons with physical disabilities.” Oddly, blocking the space itself without blocking the access aisle would seem to be permitted. I presume that wasn’t the intent of the people who wrote that law. Other states make it clear. For example, California law says, “It is unlawful for any person to obstruct, block, or otherwise bar access to those parking stalls or spaces.” I would hope that anyone charged with enforcing or interpreting this law would lean toward the side of the person with mobility challenges. In contrast, I expect that a violator’s attorney (See Road Rules, page 13)

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State lawmakers for the 42nd Legislative District, which encompasses all of north Whatcom County, will hold a town hall 1-2:30 p.m. Saturday, February 17 in Ferndale. State senator Sharon Shewmake (D-Bellingham) and state representatives Alicia Rule (D-Blaine) and Joe Timmons (D-Bellingham) will be present at the legislators’ first town hall of the 2024 legislative session. This year is a short legislative session, running 60 days from January 8 through March 7. People living in the 42nd district may submit questions for the legislators at surveymonkey. com/r/5SSR7VT. The town hall will be held at Horizon Middle School, 2671 Thornton Road in Ferndale.

Whatcom PUD earns 9th straight clean audit By Nolan Baker Whatcom County’s Public Utility District No. 1 (PUD) announced it was awarded a clean “Accountability Audit and Financial Statement Audit” from the Washington State Auditor’s Office, marking the 17th consecutive year PUD has won the award. The two-year audit covered 2021 and 2022, with state auditors reviewing financial records, cash receipting, unemployment compensation and public information compliance, among other matters. For the ninth time over 17 years, the PUD received no audit findings and no management letter items, according to a PUD press release. “I am profoundly grateful and immensely proud of the PUD team for achieving their 9th consecutive clean audit,” commission president Jaime Arnett wrote. “Seventeen years of excellence reflect a dedication to the highest standards and an unwavering commitment to success. Congratulations to a remarkable team!” Public utility districts are locally owned and governed nonprofits that provide electricity, water, sewer and telecommunications services to their communities. Whatcom County’s PUD is governed by a board of three commissioners, each representing roughly 75,000 people across the county. PUD holds meetings on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, and it’s next commission meeting will be held 8:30-10 a.m. on Tuesday, February 27 at the PUD office, 1705 Trigg Road in Ferndale.

February 15 - 21, 2024 • thenorthernlight.com

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The Northern Light • February 15 - 21, 2024

Inslee reflects in his final year as Washington governor B y A s p e n A nd e r s o n , W a s h i ng t o n S t a t e Journal On the second level of the white and gray marbled Capitol building stands the Governor’s office, guarded by a Washington State Patrol trooper. Portraits and paintings showcasing past Washington governors hang on the interior walls. A dark wood table surrounded by 12 bulky chairs stands in the heart of the conference room. Governor Jay Inslee sits at the head of the table, where his chair is decorated with a leather detailing of Washington’s state seal. The oval table is empty except for a caffeine-free Diet Coke can. “We don’t need any more caffeine in here,” Inslee joked. Inslee, the longest-serving current governor in the U.S., is overseeing the last weeks of his final legislative session and eyeing the end of his third and final term. He said he feels like, “one of the luckiest people in the world,” as he looks forward to finishing strong and as he celebrates 52 years of marriage to Trudi, his close partner in work and life. Reflecting on the path that got him to Olympia, Inslee said it may not have been possible without Trudi.“That took courage,” he said, in the way she supported him through

the career changes, election campaigns and the relocations – leaving the apple orchards in Selah for meet-and-greets in Washington D.C., and back again. A graduate of the University of Washington and the Willamette University College of Law, Inslee began his political career in the Washington State House of Representatives where he served from 1989 to 1993. In 1993, the Inslees left behind the deep snow of Selah, Washington, where they raised their children, and headed to Washington D.C., where he served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 1995. He served only one term representing eastern Washington’s 4th Congressional District. Inslee made his first run for governor in 1996 but lost in the primary to fellow Democrat Gary Locke. Inslee then served as regional director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under President Bill Clinton. Inslee then returned to Congress from 1999 to 2012 representing King, Snohomish and Kitsap counties. He was successful in his second run for governor in 2012. None of it would have happened, he said, if Trudi didn’t believe as much as he did in the policy changes they have worked to advance. The Ins-

s Governor Jay Inslee and first spouse Trudi Inslee wear red for #WearRedDay to support women’s heart health in 2022. Photo courtesy Jay Inslee lees have been in a decades long partnership, having met when they were just 16 year olds. “I feel closer to her than I have

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at any other time in my life,” Jay Inslee said. “I don’t know how she feels about it. You would have to ask her.” In Olympia, Inslee said he loves that he gets to see Trudi almost every day. Trudi has been active in supporting gun safety, early childhood education and helping child homelessness. She was instrumental in establishing the first childcare facility on the Capitol campus in Olympia. “No spouse has ever been more resilient and courageous in American political history than Trudi Inslee,” he said. Inslee has been a champion of the fight against climate change for decades, and it was his central focus when he campaigned for the presidency in 2020. Just a few days ago, he said he tracked his passion to 1988 after coming across a junk box that housed his first political flier that he handed out when going door to door. “We need to defeat climate change,” it read. And when he spends time with his grandchildren, he said it reignites his fire to beat the threat of a warming climate. “I have always felt in my life and my family’s life that we have always been connected to the natural world,” Inslee said. “Whether it’s hiking, biking, skiing … or just looking at a bird in the backyard, things that were so important to my life … deserve to be protected.” Inslee said he is committed to continuing to expand the clean energy economy after he leaves office. He said his motivation will only increase as the damage of a warming climate becomes more apparent. His X, formerly known as Twitter, bio reads: “On a mission to defeat climate change. Early to bed, early to rise, work

like hell, and organize.” “I will still be pushing the ball up the hill,” Inslee said. Inslee’s Climate Commitment Act, which took effect in January of 2023, has a goal to reach “net zero” greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The act was recently targeted by Initiative 2117, a proposal that seeks to repeal parts of the act to lower taxes and business expenses.Inslee believes state residents from across the political spectrum want to protect the state’s natural resources and ultimately will celebrate the act’s results. “They do not want their families to breathe in pollution, kids getting emphysema. They don’t want to see us ravaged by forest fires,” Inslee said. Inslee advises the next governor, whomever that is, to build a great team and preserve what the state has already accomplished. “You have to be willing to constantly try to improve, which is also a recognition that you are not perfect from day one,” he said. “You have to accept that you are going to improve, which also recognizes there are some things that need improvement.” Inslee said he and Trudi are happy to pass the keys to the next residents of the governor’s mansion. Being governor is “the best job in public life,” Inslee said, “because it is such a rare opportunity to know your whole state and become engaged in your whole state. You get to know people’s lives like you have never known before.” The Washington State Journal is a nonprofit news website funded by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation. Learn more at wastatejournal.org.

February 15 - 21, 2024 • thenorthernlight.com

NEXT ISSUE: Feb. 22

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Legal IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF Whatcom In Re the Estate of John D. Stephens, Deceased. NO. 24 4-00137-37. NONPROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS (RCW 11.42.030) JUDGE: David E. Freeman The notice agent named below has elected to give notice to creditors of the abovenamed decedent. As of the date of the filing of a copy of this notice with the court, the notice agent has no knowledge of any other person acting as notice agent or of the appointment of a personal representative of the decedent’s estate in the state of Washington. According to the records of the court as are available on the date of the filing of this notice with the court, a cause number regarding the decedent has not been issued to any other notice agent, and a personal representative of the decedent’s estate has not been appointed. Any person having a claim against the decedent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.42.070 by serving on or mailing to the notice agent or the notice agent’s attorney at the address stated below a copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the court in which the notice agent’s declaration and oath were filed. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) Thirty days after the notice agent served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.42.020(2)(c); or (2) Four months after the date of first publication of the notice. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim is forever barred, except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.42.050 and 11.42.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the decedent’s probate and nonprobate assets. Date of First Publication: February 15, 2024 The notice agent declares under penalty of perjury under the laws of the state of Washington on February 9, 2024, at Bellingham, Washington, that the foregoing is true and correct. Notice Agent: Michael G. Stephens aka Mischa Stephens 33 Deep Well Lane Los Altos, CA 94022 Attorney for notice agent: Katti Esp 301 Prospect Street Bellingham, WA 98225 Address for Mailing or Service: Katti Esp 301 Prospect Street Bellingham, WA 98225 Court of notice agent’s Declaration and Oath: Superior Court of Whatcom County Cause Number: 24-4-00137-37

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Legal IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF Whatcom In Re the Estate of Jane Houser aka Linda Jane Houser, Deceased. NO. 24-4-00120-37. PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS. (RCW 11.40.030) JUDGE: Robert E. Olson. The personal representative named below has been appointed as personal representative of this estate. Any person having a claim against the decedent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to the personal representative or the personal representative’s attorney at the address stated below a copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the court in which the probate proceedings were commenced. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) Thirty days after the personal representative served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(1)(c); or (2) four months after the date of first publication of the notice. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim is forever barred, except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.40.051 and 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the decedent’s probate and nonprobate assets. Date of First Publication: February 15, 2024 Personal Representative: Iris Kingston PO Box 127 Bellingham, WA 98227-0127 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. 24-4-00120-37

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR WHATCOM COUNTY In re the Estate of: PETRONELLA VAN DE BURGT, Deceased. No. 24-4-00105-37. NOTICE TO CREDITORS. Judge Lee Grochmal 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: February 5, 2024 with Clerk of Court: Date of First Publication: February 15, 2024 Name of Administrator: JOHANNES PAUL SLUIS 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: February 5, 2024 AVERY ELDER LAW, P.S. STEVEN D. AVERY, WSBA #35262 Attorney for Administrator: JOHANNES PAUL SLUIS www.averyelderlaw.com

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF WHATCOM In re the Matter and Estate of: JACK L. FLANCHER, Deceased. No. 234-01139-37. PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS. RCW 11.40.030 The Personal Representative named below has been appointed as Personal Representative of this estate. Any person having a claim against the decedent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to the Personal Representative or the Personal Representative’s attorney at the address stated below a copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the court in which the probate proceedings were commenced. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) Thirty days after the Personal Representative served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(1)(c); or (2) four months after the date of first publication of the notice. If notice was not provided under RCW Chapters 11.40 or 11.42, the creditor must present the claim within twenty-four months after the decedent’s date of death. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim is forever barred, except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.40.051 and 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the decedent’s probate and non-probate assets. Notice of First Publication: Feb. 8, 2024 Personal Representative John F. Flancher, Presented by: Whatcom Law Group, P.S. Casie Rodenberger, WSBA #54348 Attorney for Personal Representative PO Box 1258 / 289 H Street Blaine, WA 98231-1258 (360) 332-7000; Fax: (360) 332-6677

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF WHATCOM In re the Matter and Estate of: DAVID F. GLUCK, Deceased. No. PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS. RCW 11.40.030. The Personal Representative named below has been appointed as Personal Representative of this estate. Any person having a claim against the decedent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to the Personal Representative or the Personal Representative’s attorney at the address stated below a copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the court in which the probate proceedings were commenced. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) Thirty days after the Personal Representative served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(1)(c); or (2) four months after the date of first publication of the notice. If notice was not provided under RCW Chapters 11.40 or 11.42, the creditor must present the claim within twenty-four months after the decedent’s date of death. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim is forever barred, except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.40.051 and 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the decedent’s probate and non probate assets. Notice of First Publication: Feb. 15, 2024 Personal Representative: John J. Gluck, Presented by: Whatcom Law Group, P.S. Casie Rodenberger, WSBA #54348 Attorney for Personal Representative PO Box 1258 / 289 H Street Blaine, WA 98231-1258 (360) 332-7000; Fax: (360) 332-6677

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF WHATCOM In re the Matter and Estate of: HEIDI JULIUS, Deceased. No. PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS. RCW 11.40.030 The Administrator named below has been appointed 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 probate 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. Notice of First Publication: Feb. 15, 2024 Administrator: Jeremiah Julius Presented by: Whatcom Law Group, P.S. Casie C. Rodenberger, WSBA #54348 Of Attorneys for Administrator Mailing: PO Box 1258, Blaine, WA 98231-1258 Street: 289 H Street, Ste. A, Blaine, WA 98230 (360) 332-7000; Fax: (360) 332-6677

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF Whatcom In Re the Estate of Gregory Scott Honrud, Deceased. NO. 23-4-00840-37 Amended. PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS. (RCW 11.40.030) JUDGE: David E. Freeman 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: February 8, 2024 Personal Representative: Vonda K. Boxx 6301 Northwest Drive Ferndale, WA 98248 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. 23-4-00840-37

The Northern Light • February 15 - 21, 2024

Real Estate

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MLS #2179608 $549,000 Discover coastal luxury in this 3-bed, 2-bath groundfloor condo. Newer stainless appliances, granite countertops, and hardwood floors adorn the open living and dining areas with vaulted ceilings. A stunning master suite and a bay-view patio await. Enjoy a large hot tub, storage room for bicycles, kayaks, paddle boards and access to a beautiful private beach. Whether it’s a permanent residence or a weekend escape, relish Birch Bay’s local amenities. This home offers the perfect blend of elegance, comfort, and seaside tranquility.

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MLS #2186685 $369,000 Freshly upgraded 3 bed/1.75 bath home with so many new updates: waterproof laminate flooring (no carpet anywhere!), tiled bathrooms & charming eat-in kitchen w/ on trend white cabinets, butcher block counters & stainless-steel appliances. Easy access to I-5, Blaine & Birch Bay + Sunday Harbor community BBQ/ picnic area, boat launch, dock & playground. The low maintenance yard w/ shed + firepit is ideal place to relax or entertain. Parking for multiple vehicles, boats/ RVs. BONUS: one of few planned neighborhoods that allows short-term rentals. Cash buyers only.

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All real real estate/rentals estate/rentals All advertisadvertising in this newsing newspaper is subject paperinisthis subject to the Federal Housing Act of Housing Act to theFairFederal Fair 1968 as amended, which ofmakes 1968 as amended, makes it illegal it illegal to advertise anywhich preference, or discrimination based on race, tolimitation advertise any preference, limitation or discolor, religion, sex, handicap familial status crimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference,familial limitation status or discrimsex, handicap, or national oriination. This newspaper will not knowingly gin, anadvertisement intention to any such prefacceptorany for make real estate which is in violation of the law. readers erence, limitation or Our discrimination. This are hereby informed that all dwellings adnewspaper will notareknowingly vertised in this newspaper available on accept any an equal opportunity basis. To complain of advertisement for toll-free real estate discrimination, call HUD at 1-800-which is in vi877-0246.of the law. Our readers are hereby inolation formed 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.

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February 15 - 21, 2024 • thenorthernlight.com

O B I T U A RY Jeffery Lee Moses

December 17, 1953 – January 25, 2024

File photo

Road Rules ... From page 8

would argue the letter of the law. To keep things simple let’s say that both the access aisle and the parking spot itself were blocked off for this event. And let’s stipulate that the police have no reason to doubt your claim. How do you get them to write that ticket? You’re not going to like this answer: You can’t. Not because I question your veracity or the willingness of the police to enforce the law, and not because I think what that business owner did was okay; it’s because the law itself doesn’t allow it. Not the laws about parking for people with disabilities; I’m talking about the one

Clergy members could become mandatory reporters of child abuse By Mary Murphy, W a s h i ng t o n S t a t e Journal When state senator Noel Frame (D-Seattle) learned how Jehovah’s Witness elders in Spokane had covered up child sexual abuse for years, she looked to the law for answers. Frame found that, under Washington state law, clergy members have no responsibility to report what they suspect to be child abuse. Washington is one of five states that has yet to change this rule. Frame says she experienced abuse as a child, and it was only once after her teacher, a mandatory reporter, said something to her guardians that the abuse stopped. If Senate Bill 6298 passes, clergy members will be required to report their suspicions to either the Department of Children, Youth or Families (DCYF) or law enforcement. Teachers, law enforcement, medical professionals, therapists and more are already designated as mandated reporters in Washington. Following objections from

that draws a line on when police can issue an infraction. This doesn’t just apply to disabled parking. Pick any traffic infraction. The police can’t write a ticket based on a citizen report. As prescribed by law, an officer has authority to issue a traffic infraction only when: the violation is committed in their presence, when acting at the request of another law enforcement officer who witnessed the violation, at the scene of a crash (if the evidence at the crash provides reasonable cause), or when the infraction was captured by an authorized safety camera. That leaves a lot of violations unenforced, doesn’t it? Maybe you don’t like where that line is drawn, but you probably agree

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(See Clergy, page 15)

there needs to be a line somewhere. Imagine if the police issued you a traffic infraction based solely on the statement of your neighbor, who has been out to get you ever since you said his freshly painted house was the same color as baby snot. Your 25 mph might look like 35 or 40 mph to a vengeful grouch. The limits on enforcement of infractions act as a safeguard to protect people from getting a ticket without solid evidence. Imagine a day where we don’t need this law, because no one commits traffic infractions. I can dream. Doug Dahl is a manager with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, Region 11 and publishes thewisedrive.com.

Jeffery Lee Moses was born December 17, 1953, to Claudia and Jerry Moses in Tacoma, WA. Jeff and his mother moved to Blaine when she married Leeroy Green. Jeff lived in Blaine most of his life. He began school in the 5th grade in Blaine. After school he became a fisherman and married Barb Tweeter. They had a son, Wayne Moses and five grandsons Brandon, Jordan, Trevor, Dalton, and Preston. He also had a stepdaughter, Maggie Horat and a great-granddaughter Iris Moses. Jeff later married Kenalyn. Jeff was a good man who sometimes tried to be bad. He also was a Bandito and Amigo. He lived a good life but had a lot of medical problems but they couldn’t keep him down. He loved God and even had a church of his own. He loved life, family and friends. We love and will miss him. Jeffery is preceded in death by his mother Claudia Green and brother Jimmy Green. He is survived by his wife, Kenalyn Moses, sister Teena Markusen, son Wayne Moses and grandkids and dog Chloe. A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, February 25, 2:30 p.m. at American Legion Post 86, 4580 Legion Drive.

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The Northern Light • February 15 - 21, 2024

Coming up

Sheriff’s Reports February 6, 1:26 a.m.: Traffic stop arrest on California Trail. February 6, 2:26 a.m.: Suspicious vehicle on Bay Road. February 6, 2:47 a.m.: Suspicious vehicle on Birch Bay Square Street. February 6, 4:04 a.m.: Suspicious person arrest on Birch Bay Square Street. February 6, 9:38 a.m.: Custodial interference cold call on Birch Bay Drive. February 6, 3:18 p.m.: Suspicious circumstances cold call on Birch Bay Square Street. February 6, 11:32 a.m.: Civil problem cold call on Creasey Road. February 7, 2:06 p.m.: Overdose on East Street. February 7, 5:51 p.m.: Simple assault cold call on Alderson Road. February 7, 8:42 p.m.: Juvenile problem on Carstan Loop. February 7, 9:48 p.m.: Suspicious vehicle on Birch Bay Drive. February 7, 10:40 p.m.: Suspicious person on Birch Bay

Square Street. February 8, 11:50 a.m.: Aggravated assault cold call on Birch Bay Lynden Road. February 8, 12:53 p.m.: Civil problem on H Street. February 8, 6:09 a.m.: Aggravated assault cold call on Birch Bay Lynden Road. February 8, 7:18 p.m.: Suspicious vehicle on Blaine Road. February 8, 10:40 p.m.: Suspicious person on Birch Bay Square Street. February 9, 11:18 a.m.: Death investigation on Birch Bay Drive. February 9, 11:52 a.m.: Domestic order violence cold call on Alderson Road. February 9, 1:35 p.m.: Hit and run on Harborview Road. February 9, 5:39 p.m.: Domestic physical on Blaine Road. February 9, 8:12 p.m.: Domestic physical on Pheasant Drive. February 10, 1:03 p.m.: Neighborhood dispute cold call on Seavue Road.

Crossword ACROSS 1. Gene type 5. Persian male given name 10. Type of protection 12. Cloud 14. One who returns to life 16. Gym class 18. General’s assistant (abbr.) 19. Baby’s dining accessory 20. Enchantress 22. Prefix denoting “in a” 23. Spiritual leader 25. Cavities 26. Relative biological effectiveness (abbr.) 27. Foot (Latin) 28. Sweet potato 30. Pharaoh of Lower Egypt 31. Land 33. More inquisitive 35. Dog breed: __ Apso 37. Stood up 38. Direct and uninhibited 40. Authorless 41. Blocking type of drug (abbr.) 42. Retrospective

analysis (abbr.) 44. Root mean square (abbr.) 45. Macaws 48. Actress Remini 50. Polynesian wrapped skirt 52. City of Angels hoops team (abbr.) 53. Fitzgerald and Baker are two 55. Bowling alley must-have 56. A way to cool down 57. Ethnic group in Asia 58. A way to alter 63. Set of five 65. Removes from the record 66. Dummies 67. Set period in office DOWN 1. DC Comics superhero 2. Brew 3. Play 4. Single-celled animals 5. Rough to the touch 6. Small island (British) 7. Often noted alongside cons 8. Preparation of

rootstock 9. Atomic #44 10. Egyptian unit of capacity 11. About secretary 13. Particular groups 15. Poke fun at 17. Make certain that something occurs 18. Financial term 21. Justify 23. Arbiter 24. 007’s creato 27. Czech name for Prague 29. Groans 32. American time 34. No seats available 35. __ Stahl, journalist 36. Cleft lip 39. Talk incessantly 40. Expresses atomic and molecular weights (abbr.) 43. A part of a river where the current is very fast 44. Curdled milk 46. Running competitions 47. A team’s best pitcher 49. Carthaginian explorer 51. World-renowned

February 10, 2:34 p.m.: Fraud cold call on Salish Lane. February 10, 3:53 p.m.: Domestic physical on Custer School Road. February 10, 9:01 p.m.: Burglary cold call on Sunburst Drive. February 11, 6:45 a.m.: Alarm audible on Ham Road. February 11, 7:34 a.m.: Traffic stop arrest on Loomis Trail Road. February 11, 11:39 a.m.: Traffic stop arrest on Blaine Road. February 11, 6:44 p.m.: Burglary on Sunburst Drive. February 11, 8:41 p.m.: Trespass on Birch Bay Drive. February 11, 10:39 p.m.: Overdose on Pipeline Road. February 12, 3:26 a.m.: Warrant arrest on Portal Way. February 12, 9:31 a.m.: Traffic stop arrest on Birch Bay Drive. February 12, 2:27 p.m.: Fraud cold call on Carson Road. February 12, 2:30 p.m.: Domestic physical cold call on Glendale Drive.

city 54. Most common Japanese surname 59. The bill in a restaurant 60. They __ 61. City of Angels football team (abbr.) 62. Distinctive practice 64. One quintillion bytes ANSWERS: THENORTHERNLIGHT.COM

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Garden Design 101: Thursdays, February 15–March 7, 5–7 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Expanded, 4-class session discusses how to look at your yard as if you were a landscape designer. Especially important for placement of fruit bearing trees, bushes and vines. Considerations for placement of vegetable gardens. In this presentation, we will talk about your overall yard including hardscape assessments, materials use, integration with your home and/or views, sunlight observations, airflow and other major landscaping decisions. Info: nwcore.org. Trivia at The Vault: Thursday, February 15, 7 p.m., The Vault Wine Bar + Bistro, 277 G Street. This week: Valentine-themed trivia. Info: thevaultwine.com. Birch Bay Incorporation Association Quarterly Meeting: Thursday, February 15, 6 p.m., CTK North Bay Church, 4895 Birch Bay-Lynden Road. Join in-person or on Zoom as committees will share progress, address questions and receive feedback. Open to the public. Info: www.incorporatebirchbay.com. Live Music at The Vault: Friday, February 16, 7 p.m., The Vault Wine Bar + Bistro, 277 G Street. Featuring: The Song Wranglers. Info: thevaultwine.com. Family Movie Night: Friday, February 16, 7 p.m., Birch Bay Activity Center, 7511 Gemini Street. Playing family friendly movies. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, grab some popcorn and watch the movie on the big screen. Free. Info: bbbparkandrec.org. Kombucha: Saturday, February 17, 10 a.m.–noon. Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. Known as “The Elixir of Life”, Kombucha origins remain shrouded in mystery. Some drink it for health, some for flavor. If you have never tried it, now is your chance! We invite you to get in touch with your inner “Ghengis” by learning more about this interesting elixir at this fun, informative presentation. We will be sampling different flavors, demonstrating how to make your own and sending you home with your own culture (SCOBY) to start brewing. Info: nwcore.org. 42nd Legislative District Town Hall: Saturday, February 17, 1–3 p.m., Horizon Middle School 2671 Thornton Road, Ferndale. In-person meeting with senator Sharon Shewmake and representatives Alicia Rule and Joe Timmons. Submit questions to surveymonkey.com/r/HPB6W53. Big Bucks Bingo: Saturday, February 17, Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Over $275 in prizes. Early bird starts at 12:30 p.m. Regular bingo at 1 p.m. Eight games $15. Lunch at noon available for $8. Info: blaineseniorcenter.org. Blaine Chamber Annual General Meeting: Monday, February 19, 5–7 p.m., Blaine Senior and Community Center, 763 G Street. Meet the 2024 chamber board, learn an overview of our plans for the year, and kick off a raffle fundraiser for our five major events. $35. Info and RSVP: blainechamber.com.

Tech Help: Tuesday, February 20, 5–6 p.m., Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. Drop in for one-on-one assistance of your devices with library staff. Info: wcls.org.

February 15-21 at Blaine. Not for navigation.

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Blaine Chamber of Commerce Monthly Happy Hour: Thursday, February 15, 4–5:30 p.m., Smuggler’s Tunnel Speak Easy (below Gateway1890 Taphouse), 429 Peace Portal Drive. Join us for an excellent opportunity to relax, share ideas, and enjoy some mixed drinks. The event is free to attend, so bring your colleagues and friends along. Info: blainechamber.com.

Storytime at the Library: Tuesday, February 20, 10:30–11 a.m., Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. An open program for kids ages 2-6 that includes stories, rhymes, and songs with opportunities for movement and interactive participation. Info: wcls.org.

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Tech Help: Thursday, February 15, 1–2 p.m., Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. Drop in for one-on-one assistance of your devices with library staff. Info: wcls.org.

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Weather Precipitation: During the period of February 5 to 11, 0.85 inches of precipitation was recorded. The 2024 year-to-date precipitation is 7.6 inches. Temperature: High for the past week was 54.3°F on February 6 with a low of 31.6°F on February 9. Average high was 50.1°F and low was 36.9°F. Courtesy Birch Bay Water & Sewer Dist.

Hearing Aids Without Losing an Arm and a Leg: Wednesday, February 21, 5–7 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. For people who have determined with their doctor’s input that their hearing loss is “normal” and not due to an illness, infection, or repairable defect. Learn about the different types of hearing aids, pricing, where and how to buy them, hearing aid maintenance, how to test your hearing, and other useful tips. Presented by local hearing aid user Heino Sunter, who will share his experiences and advice. Info: nwcore.org. Toastmasters Open House: Wednesday, February 21, 6:30–7:45 p.m., Blaine High School room 104. An evening of community, learning and inspiration. If you’re interested in mastering public speaking, developing leadership skills for learn how to communicate more effectively, come see what Toastmasters is about. Info: Laura or John 360/371-7330. Kindergarten Information Night: Thursday, February 22, 5–6 p.m., Blaine Primary School. If you have a child who will be five years old by August 31, join the kindergarten team for an informational evening. Childcare available. Kindergarten registration opens February 20. Info: blainesd.org. Live Music at Blaine Senior Center: Friday, February 23, 5:30–7:30 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Live music with On the Loose, a lively mix of rock, blues, Western, and Country Gems. $5 suggested donation. Info: blaineseniorcenter.org. Seed Starting and Sprouting: Saturday, February 24, 9–11 a.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. How many seeds? What type? When to start? When to transplant? We can help get you started on the answers. Talk will focus on tips and tricks for plants that can be grown in our climate. Info: nwcore.org. Pop-Up Vendor Market: Saturday, February 24, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Blaine Pavilion 635 8th Street. Shop from over 20 local vendors. Info: blainechamber.com. Me, Myself, and I – Self Care for Kids: Saturday, February 24, 2–3 p.m., Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. A program grounded in self-awareness, self-expression, and self-care. Celebrate who you are with mindfulness practices, temporary tattoos, self-portraits, yoga poses and much more. You can be anything and everything by just being yourself. Who do you want to be? Info: wcls.org. Gardening Green Class: Saturdays, February 24–March 30, 10 a.m.– noon, Birch Bay State Park bp Heron Center. Learn about natural landscaping that improves soil health, saves water and reduces yard maintenance and relies less on fertilizer and pesticides, Taught by WSU Whatcom County Extension. $36 course fee for a soil lab test. Info: bit.ly/3SMhCkB. Winter Gardening and Sprouting: Wednesday, February 28, 5–7 p.m., Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. What plants that can be “wintered over” in your garden/hoop house. Info: nwcore.org.

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

February 15 - 21, 2024 • thenorthernlight.com

‘Stealthing’ bill goes through Washington state legislature By Mary Murphy, W a s h i ng t o n S t a t e Journal Testifying before lawmakers, Mina Hashemi recounted how three years ago she was shocked to see that the condom she had explicitly asked for during sex had been removed. “I felt deeply violated,” Hashemi said. “While I was lucky not to get an STI or pregnant, there are many stories of women who did. Stealthing is a very specific type of sexual violence that does not neatly fit within existing definitions of sexual assault in Washington. We must close the loophole on assault.” “Stealthing” refers to tampering with or removing a sexually protective device without the consent of a partner. It is commonly referred to as a form of sexual assault. House Bill 1958 could make this practice punishable by law in Washington state. It has already passed the House with bipartisan support, in a 64-33 vote. The bill also stipulates that action can be taken when stealthing is done purposely, but also when a partner has knowledge of a condom breaking during intercourse and continues without informing their partner. California and Maine are the only other states to have already passed legislation on “stealthing,” but no other states have included devices outside of condoms such as dental dams or spermicide. The National Domestic Violence Hotline categorizes stealthing as a means for “control” and explains that “unexpected pregnancy could be a way for a partner who is abusive to manipulate

Clergy ... From page 13

generally Catholics, an amendment was made to the bill that now exempts clergy members from having to report information obtained solely during confessions. If they learn of abuse outside of confessions, they are required to report. In committee, state senator Judy Warnick (R-Moses Lake) said she was not able to support the bill until that amendment was added. “We don’t want to encourage people to hide behind the clergy cloak, but we are taking steps to protect our children,” Warnick said. State senators Mike Paddon (R-Spokane) and Phil Fortunato (R-Auburn) as members of the Catholic Church, pleaded for additional changes that remove the consideration of informa-

their partner into staying in the relationship,” using a possible child as leverage. The addition of longterm birth control devices in the bill has sparked debate. “I think the underlying principle we can all agree is positive for everyone,” said Eric Pratt, a concerned citizen. “But what I don’t like is that it doesn’t go far enough in that it doesn’t encompass oral contraceptive birth control, and diaphragms.” State representative Michelle Caldier (R-Gig Harbor) agreed, explaining women sometimes stop taking oral contraception or remove an IUD out without telling a spouse. “The sad part is I actually wanted to vote for it,” Caldier said. “I agree that for a man to remove a protective device and inadvertently get a woman pregnant, that is awful. That is absolutely awful. But at the same time, we also have to think about the other side.” To this argument, prime sponsor state representative Liz Berry (D-Queen Anne) said a large part of this bill’s goal is to protect from sexually transmitted diseases. Nonphysical forms of birth control, such as birth control pills, do not offer disease protection is outside the scope of the bill. Berry also said the main goal of the bill is to protect women, and changing the bill could undermine that effort. “Broadening the definition to beyond a physical barrier device would open up unintended consequences – where this would be weaponized against victims of this nonconsensual act,” Berry said. “This is a very intentional definition that has been stakeholdered with key community advocates to tion obtained during confession altogether, as they feel it still violates the “seal of confession.” “This is a big deal to me personally, and a big, huge deal in the Catholic Church,” Fortunato said. Additional changes were not adopted, and the bill passed with a 44-5 vote. Only seven of the 45 states that regard clergy members as mandatory reporters have mandated that information obtained from confession must be reported. “I am wildly uncomfortable with this compromise, with the exemption for penitential communication,” Frame said. “But I am doing it because I have been asked by survivors to not let perfect be the enemy of good.” The Washington State Journal is a nonprofit news website funded by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation. Learn more at wastatejournal.org.

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Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 hosts adult prom

protect people, particularly women, from this type of behavior.” Critics also noted concerns with “establishing intentionality,” and proving allegations in court. “I have been involved in litigating some of these cases, and sometimes it comes down to somebody poking a hole in a condom to get pregnant,” said state representative Peter Abbarno (R-Centralia). “It goes both ways in terms of how you can tamper, but a lot of this is unfortunately ‘he said, she said,’ or we don’t have any proof or the proof has already been disposed of.” Elizabeth Hendren, a Seattle-based attorney at the Sexual Violence Law Center, explained this is not a new issue in sexual assault litigations. Hendren said, under Washington law, testimony is a valid form of proof, as is considering the credibility of both parties. Hendren said proof can also sometimes be in emails, text messages and photos. Yet, concerns regarding the ‘he said, she said’ dilemma carried over into the floor’s debate. “When we pass laws, we need to be careful that they are enforceable and not ambiguous,” said state representative Cyndy Jacobsen (RPuyallup), as she urged a no vote. “I think that what this may create, unintentionally, is a morass of ‘he said, she said’ and things that we can’t prove in court.” Penalties for those convicted of stealthing could result in statutory damages of up to $5,000 per violation, and prevailing plaintiffs would be awarded costs and compensated reasonable attorney fees. The Washington State Journal is a nonprofit news website funded by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation. Learn more at wastatejournal.org.

s Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 hosted an adult prom during the evening of February 10. Attendees danced the night away to live music at the Birch Bay Activity Center. Photos courtesy BBBPRD2

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com booked into What A Blaine man was egree suspicion of first-d County Jail on er 4. murder on Octob was arrest76, Sr., r Maha Wayne Harold WhatOctober 4 after deped around 4 p.m. ff’s Office (WCSO) com County Sheri t (BPD) Police Departmen uties and Blaine of a shooting at calls to nded officers respo the Maple Leaf Moin #12 t Stree 4612 East ble bile Home Park. affidavit of proba According to the was ed his neighbor cause, Mahar claim sing him but Mahar haras threatening and tives. specifics to detec was unable to give ified by WCSO as The victim, ident pro67, of Blaine, was ties Vincent Reames, the scene after depu nounced dead on ful. but were unsuccess attempted CPR, porch his un from Mahar fired a shotg own his on was standing at Reames, who to court records. ng property, according called 911 after heari Another neighbor ding 29-28 and saw Mahar “stan O r., during Blaine’s the shotgun blast WCS ver Justin Minjarez, holding a gun,” a Photo by Nolan Baker with senior recei on his front porch victim lying the ed fourth-quarter score notic , c., celebrates a release stated. “She his respage 7. back Colby Shipp ground in front of er 6. Read more on s Junior running face down on the Meridian on Octob if he had shot r over Maha win g Mr. homecomin idence. She asked d ‘Yeah.’” Reames. He replie ation O public inform According to WCS ff deputies had re, sheri officer Deb Slater separate neighborfour least at to es sponded third en Mahar and Ream 2023-04 hope a hood disputes betwe . None of the four connents of Proposition 2021 r. charm to green light nt since November nal accrisis relief cente time could be the resulted in crimi the curre tion of a 23-hour ally in capital exprevious disputes a replacement of in-person $8-10 million annu and $8 million in struction on Slater said. ker an • a s, B fund arrest N a also or l d o told B y N tivity jail tax woul r had reportedly diversion, penses for the new health jail. The and y ioral cing facilit behav finan The day prior, Maha a of landses for al task behavioral health programs. he was upset at the For the monument jail in Whatcom one-time expenr. try his other neighbor threathousing and re-en town ent cente for a new rent, and said he located in down tments to fund He construction will be asked to consid- treatm lord for increasing n in capital inves The current jail, s landlord’s girlfriend. the county court from • $6 millio kill County, voter ened to shoot the rt services. gham adjacent to county sales tax modate going to shoot and d recov- Bellin rt re-entry suppo er increasing the expan in-pa in 1983 to accom and sing fund also said he was tain built to haras nt was main to perce house, Reames was to booking data a • $4 million ams. 8.8 percent to 9 least progr rding at ng be Acco seen Reames because to housi tes. never ates rtive inma e estim 148 suppo said she had ty Sheriff’s Offic what the county t, with ery and rejected similar Coun tmen twice him. The neighbor com rs. inves have What s Maha ime the by on one-t County voter or harass the the jail is houswith 51.4 percent tted $39.5 milli Reames threaten annual operas of October 9, ing, Mahar admi measures, in 2015 $21 million in ly in (WCSO), Following the shoot had more than investments ballot (See Jail, page 10) ure, and more vocal detectives that he . Major capital rejecting the meas nt voting no. When in an interview with and claimed Reames ating costs perce 58.6 with es pro- 2017 mber 7, propowanted to kill Ream ” Mahar didn’t pro- include: $3 million from filled out by Nove dead. ruc- ballots are • $12 million (with “deserved to be . 14 3) in funding for const Coming Up . . . . posed sales tax) (See Homicide, page

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