The arts will take over Blaine Friday, July 26 through Sunday, July 28. Blaine Arts Council (BAC) is returning its annual festival, titled this year as The Wave En Blanc and Art Festival, with an evening fundraiser, festival in the park and gallery showcase.
“I want people to experience the caliber of artists we have here because we have some really talented artists,” BAC president Margaret Owens said. “I’m excited for them to have exposure and be seen, and for people to know what we’re doing.”
The En Blanc Evening will open the weekend with a ticketed fundraiser for BAC’s new downtown gallery 6-9 p.m. Friday, July 26 at Blaine Harbor Boating Center, 235 Marine Drive.
Nearly 20 juried artists will showcase their art, some of which will be for sale, at the boating center. Guests are asked to dress in all white for the event, which will have food and drink, a wine pull and live music.
There will also be a silent auction with prizes including a spring break condominium in Orlando, Florida, preseason Seahawks tickets, private party for six at Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery in Woodinville and a five-hour fishing trip for two in the San Juan Islands.
Tickets, which include a drink, are available $30 for BAC members and $40 for non-members before the event, with prices increasing $10 the night of the event.
The festival will then take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Blaine Marine Park, with about 15 artists showing their work. Additional art shown at the BAC gallery at 922 Peace Portal Drive and at two art studios (studio locations are available at blaineartscouncil.org). The festival is free and open to the public.
Festival artwork will include woodworking, acrylics, pottery, kiln-fired glass, jewelry design and more. In addition to art, the park will provide a space for live music, a beer garden and food trucks.
Previously, artists had showcased their work at studios across Blaine. Owens said the festival moved to Blaine Marine Park in attempt to bring as much exposure as
(See Art festival, page 5)
Paddle to Puyallup makes stop in
CDC changes rules for dogs entering the U.S. from countries considered low-risk for rabies
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Just days before new rules governing traveling into the U.S. with dogs were scheduled to be implemented, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has relaxed the requirements. Previously, dogs would have needed to be a minimum of six months old, vaccinated for rabies, micro-chipped with a specific microchip and accompanied by an import form. Particularly problematic was the requirement that the rabies vaccination needed to be a U.S. Department of Agriculture-endorsed certificate.
The newly revised rules require dogs to appear healthy upon arrival, be at least six months old and possess a microchip that can be detected with a universal scanner for identification. In addition, it must be accompanied by a CDC Dog Import Form (bit.ly/3LD02Lt) completed online and available for inspection.
The import form is simple, asking
for basic information from the owner such as name, address, phone number and email address along with a basic description of the dog. It does not appear to require a rabies vaccination. It is reusable for as long as the animal has been in a no- or low-risk country. A form must be filled out for individual dogs. The rules will also apply to American residents who leave the country and then re-enter with their pet.
Whether or not a traveler will ever be asked to show the form is an open question – most CBP officers don’t consider checking dogs for rabies as part of their mandate. However, those traveling by air should be sure to have the dog import form available to show the agent behind the counter at the airport as airlines are more sensitive to government mandates.
The change came after a hue and cry was raised once the rules became better known through media reports. In fact, Canada’s health minister, Mark
Holland, held a press conference in Ottawa on July 17 after he became aware of the new regulations. He said he was
(See Dogs, page 6)
This Week’s FLYERS Timber Tree
City of Blaine prepares to bid on downtown revitalization construction
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Blaine City Council unanimously authorized city staff to put the downtown revitalization project construction out for bid once the design and permitting is finished.
Bellingham-based Cascade Engineering Group is about 90 percent finished with designing the project, which will focus on revamping two blocks of downtown and provide minor improvements outside of that area. The project will focus on necessary upgrades, such as replacing most of the trees downtown with a different species that won’t buckle the sidewalk. It will also focus on sidewalk replacement to help ADA accessibility, and upgrade the Martin Street and Clark Street parklets.
The city plans to advertise the bid for construction in August and then bring a package for
council to consider in early fall, city manager Mike Harmon said. The city of Blaine would like to award the project in late fall and wait until after the holiday season to start construction.
The project has been discussed in city council for just over two years. The original project was slimmed down due to budget concerns and now includes minimum improvements.
Construction is estimated to cost $3.6 million. The electrical work of the project, estimated to cost nearly $1.5 million to include replacing street lighting along Peace Portal Drive, could be removed if the project becomes too costly, Harmon said.
When asked by councilmember Richard May whether the city should tighten the downtown revitalization project budget more, Harmon said most of the
improvements were basic needs to beautify downtown and drive economic development.
“It’s almost as if we’re trying to bake a cake and say, ‘Let’s take the flour out.’ We don’t really have a cake afterward,” Harmon said of removing more project components.
Construction will start with removing most of the trees downtown. The Washington State Department of Transportation requires the city to replace the trees down to the exact inch, Harmon said.
“We are working to replant other trees to make up, for a lack of a better term, the same amount of tree that we’re taking out,” Harmon said.
The vote was 4-0, with mayor Mary Lou Steward and councilmembers Kerena Higgins and Eric Davidson absent.
For a full list of downtown revitalization project improvements, visit bit.ly/46i3Zif.
Blaine City Council roundup ...
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The latest from the July 22 Blaine City Council meeting … Swearing in new officers
Mayor pro tem Rhyan Lopez swore in Blaine police officers Travis Campbell and Reagan Ritzer during the July 22 Blaine City Council meeting. The two officers graduated from academy training in Burien on July 11 and are now undergoing 14 weeks of field training in Blaine.
Campbell joins the Blaine Police Department from the U.S. Navy, where he retired after 24 years as chief hospital corpsman. Ritzer, originally from Olympia, graduated with an economics degree from Western Washington University in 2023.
Boblett Street roundabout, other improvements City council approved the city of Blaine’s contract with Stremler Gravel Inc. to construct the Boblett Street roundabout and other traffic improvements.
The Boblett Street traffic channelization and corridor improvements project will impact Boblett Street from State Route 543 to Ludwick Avenue. Work will include a roundabout just west of Chuckanut Bay Foods at Boblett Court, widening Boblett Street to add a two-way leftturn lane, a right-turn slip lane on Yew Avenue and restriping to improve channelization. The project will also add a sidewalk, crosswalks, and ADA ramp installation and replacement.
Construction is estimated to take 75 days. The city will ask the contractor to keep one lane of Boblett Street open during construction, but there may be two lanes closed for short durations, city manager Mike Harmon said after the meeting. If that’s the case, Harmon said a detour will be set up to reroute traffic.
Stremler, of Lynden, bid $3
(See City, page 5)
The Northern L ght
The Northern Light is published weekly by Point Roberts Press Inc.
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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.
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Vol XXX, No 7
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The Editor:
Imagine this: A loved one falls and hits their head. Or your child is choking and can’t breathe. You call 911, and every second feels like an eternity as you wait for help to arrive. In those moments, the cost of saving a life is priceless.
Our fire department is asking for your support to approve a levy lid increase, which would mean a small additional cost to homeowners – about $170 per year for a $500,000 home. This investment is crucial for our community’s safety and wellbeing.
Over the past decade, our fire district’s call volumes have doubled. Emergency medical services (EMS) calls alone have been increasing by four to five percent annually. This significant rise in demand stretches our current resources thin, and we need to ensure we can respond quickly and effectively when emergencies happen.
The additional funds from the levy increase would allow us to hire up to eight more emergency personnel and add another response unit dedicated to medical emergencies. It would also enable us to replace aging equipment, including a ladder truck and three engines, ensuring our firefighters have the tools they need to save lives.
In those critical moments when a loved one’s life hangs in the balance, having a wellequipped and adequately staffed fire department can make all the difference. Please consider supporting the levy lid increase to help our fire department continue to protect and serve our community effectively.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
A. Bloom
Patricia
Birch Bay
The Editor:
Birch Bay has become a beautiful, thriving community where we can proudly say, “There’s never a bad day at the beach!” Unfortunately, if the fire levy lid lift on the August 6 primary election ballot does not pass, our lives as we know them could change drastically.
Currently, our emergency response time relies on the hope that nobody else within our 156 square miles has an emergency when our local Birch Bay fire department is called out. Are you willing to wait for a medic to come from Bellingham? In an emergency, minutes matter.
Our aging fire trucks leave us with unreliable equipment and no reserve equipment for backup, which will impact response times. Worse yet, the Birch Bay station is in dire need of a rebuild due to a roof that cannot be replaced. Vacating the station altogether is a possibility due to health and safety concerns if the levy lid lift fails.
Are you prepared to pay a fee of $1,000 if the fire department comes to your home to put out a fire in your backyard that has gotten out of control? This is a very strong possibility when there are not enough funds to pay for emergency call-outs due to homeowner error.
I urge fellow residents to support this levy lid lift in the August 2024 primary election. Your family and your neighbor’s safety and well-being depend on it.
Sharman Burnam Birch Bay
The Editor:
I am writing to express my support for the upcoming North Whatcom Fire and Rescue levy lid lift. Birch Bay has experienced significant growth since the last levy in 2006, and according to the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan, we are expected to accommodate another 4,000 residents by 2036. As a designated Urban Growth Area, this expansion is inevitable, and our emergency services must scale to meet the increasing demand.
North Whatcom Fire and Rescue serves over 33,800 people across 156 square miles, including Lynden, Blaine, Custer, Laurel, Birch Bay and Semiahmoo. In 2023, they re-
sponded to 5,753 calls, 71 percent of which were medical emergencies. Despite rising call volumes, the fire levy rate has dropped from $1.42 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2006 to just $0.76 today. This “levy compression” limits revenue and impacts their ability to maintain services.
The levy lid lift will reset the fire levy rate, enabling the funding of up to eight new emergency personnel, replacing outdated apparatus, and contributing to the replacement of Station 63 in Birch Bay. These improvements are crucial to ensuring our emergency services can keep pace with our growing community, reducing response times and enhancing reliability.
I urge fellow residents to support this levy lid lift in the August 2024 primary election. Our community’s safety and well-being depend on it.
Matt Berry Birch Bay
The Editor:
I am writing to share some thoughts on our upcoming election, and to encourage everyone to participate. Here’s how:
Learn about the candidates who are running. Research them yourself and know their positions on the issues that are important to you.
Focus on what the candidates’ plans are for solving those issues. Resolve not to get distracted by the negative campaigning of an opposing candidate.
If you have questions, talk to your party’s precinct officer. They have been working to have the information needed, and may be a helpful resource.
Take the time to consider what you find, pray and vote. Your voice matters!
I’ll repeat that – vote. Because your voice matters.
Vote, because we have that bloodearned right – lets’ not give that right away by being silent.
One last thing – I ask that people please stop stealing candidates’ signs. Not only is it disrespectful, it is illegal. Those signs are protected by law. (RCW 29A.84.040 and RCW 9.20.021, for example).
We all have opinions, and many of our preferences differ, so please, let’s respect one another during this wonderful process of freedom, and resist the urge to silence those we differ with.
Christena Miller Birch Bay
The Editor:
Ranked-choice voting.
Receiving my ballot this week, I grabbed the voter’s pamphlet to review the candidates. As I reviewed eight candidates for insurance commissioner, seven candidates for public lands commissioner, eight candidates for U.S. Representative, 11 candidates for U.S. Senate, 21 for governor and five for lieutenant governor, it occurred to me that we really should consider ranked-choice voting (RCV) for all primaries.
RCV allows candidates to focus on their virtues, values, abilities and ideas. Campaign rhetoric could be based on their own vision rather than dissing each other. What a concept proven by several states. Just saying.
Donna Starr Blaine
The Editor:
Probably too long for a letter to the editor, but I had to get this off my chest.
1. I don’t like the fact that politicos see negotiation and compromise as behaviors and signs of weakness. When this happens, sight of the big picture is lost as is the health and welfare of the nation at large.
2. Current Congressional members act like kindergarteners playing tit-for-tat.
3. The upper crust, the so called 1%, don’t pay their fair share of taxes. Nor
do corporations.
4. Roe v. Wade needs to be reinstated. Abortion is between a woman and her god. This is not an issue for government.
5. Health care should not be politicized to the extent that it is, but affordable prices for drugs should be mandated.
6. Community services should be instituted for low-level crime offenders.
7. If you want to own a gun, fine, but be willing to submit a universal background check. If one has nothing to hide, one has nothing to hide.
8. Separation of church and state should be a given. This country was not intended to be a Christian nation.
9. Public education needs to be renovated. Our high schoolers do not stack up well in contrast to other nations. We score woefully low for being such a “rich” nation.
10. Why are one in five American children hungry? Why do I need to see Feed Hungry Children ads on TV?
Richard Mollette Custer
The Editor:
A “No” vote for the levy lid lift is a serious and far reaching decision, affecting not only the fire district’s operations but also the safety and well-being of the 33.800 people over 156 square miles that they serve.
The failure to pass the levy lid lift will create significant staffing challenges. As personnel retire or leave for better-funded fire districts, the North Whatcom Fire District will struggle to fill these positions. This will lead to increased overtime costs as remaining staff members are forced to cover additional shifts. The district may be forced to operate below minimum staffing levels or even close stations that lack adequate personnel. Such conditions will undoubtedly harm employee retention, leading to further departures, and result in negative mental health effects and burnout among the dedicated firefighters.
The district’s aging apparatus poses a serious concern. Without the necessary funds to replace an ambulance (cost $400k), ladder truck ($1.5m) and three fire engines ($1m each) that have reached the end of their usable lives. The lack of reserve equipment will impact response times, leaving our communities vulnerable in emergencies. Additionally, the inability to replace the Birch Bay station raises the possibility of vacating it due to health and safety concerns, which would have district-wide repercussions on response times.
The overall service levels of the North Whatcom Fire District are also at risk. A decline in service levels will degrade the district’ insurance risk rating, leading to increased insurance rates for property owners. This is already occurring in parts of the first district and neighboring areas, highlighting the urgent need for adequate funding.
The consequences of these issues are severe and will directly affect the safety and financial stability of our growing communities. I urge you to vote “Yes” to ensure that the North Whatcom Fire District can continue to provide essential services and protect our com-
(See Letters, next page)
Please send letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.
In the July 18 issue of The Northern Light, an article titled “Birch Bay Station 63 in need of replacement, firefighters say” incorrectly attributed the number of calls the Birch Bay station responded to last year to the entire fire district. We regret the error.
Whatcom County Council funds Birch Bay incorporation study
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Whatcom County Council unanimously approved up to $150,000 to fund a Birch Bay incorporation feasibility study that will provide more data, including costs, associated with the urban growth area becoming its own city.
The funding request was included in AB2024-463, an ordinance amending the 2024 Whatcom County budget with a list of other requests totaling $873,134, during the July 23 council meeting. The
City ...
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million on the project. The project is being fully funded by federal and state grants.
The vote was 3-1, with councilmember May abstaining.
AEDs gifted to police
A Blaine resident is donating $26,500 of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to the Blaine Police Department, enough to replace the aging AEDs in the entire vehicle fleet.
AEDs are used to treat sudden cardiac arrest and are in all BPD vehicles. BPD’s current AEDs are over 10 years old.
Art festival ...
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possible to artists by having them all in one place, especially in an area with high foot traffic and visibility from the Peace Arch border crossing.
“It’s a way for artists to get hopefully much more exposure than they got last year,” she said. “It’s something we want to build on every year and grow.”
Founded in 2022, BAC has grown to nearly 85 members, most of whom are in the Blaine and Birch Bay area.
(See Letters, previous page)
munities effectively.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Doralee Booth Birch Bay
The Editor: I am sharing this post to help with education about bears in the hope that everyone in the community can come together to keep the bears safe. The bear is female, she has a yellow ear tag because she was relocated from Coquitlam, B.C. last summer with her two cubs. She is lost and trying to find her way back home to Burke Mountain in Coquitlam.
The sad part is she is tagged and conservation officers are unlikely to relocate her again. We call her Matriarch as she is mom and grandma to many other bears in Coquitlam and she is more than 20 years old. We have dated her back to having cubs since 2008 when she was al-
vote followed Birch Bay residents asking county council to fund the study earlier in the meeting.
The Birch Bay Incorporation Association, a grassroots group that began exploring the possibility of incorporation last year, requested the county fund the study with the goal of having data for residents to determine whether they want to further incorporation efforts. The study, an update of a 2008 incorporation study, will provide information on projected city operating costs and tax revenue.
The Whatcom County Compre-
The anonymous Blaine resident is donating the AEDs in honor of former Blaine police chief Michael Knapp and Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office deputy Matthew Herzog, both of whom died in the line of duty.
City council unanimously accepted the donation.
Climate Commitment Act to provide $150,000 in credit to lower income electric customers
The Washington Climate Commitment Act has funded a clean energy grant that will provide $150,000 in total credit for energy assistance to 750 low to moderate-income Blaine electric customers. Each customer who is selected for the program will receive $200
hensive Plan, a guiding document for long-range planning, encourages the county support incorporation within the Birch Bay urban growth area when appropriate. The county designates urban growth areas as locations where development is encouraged.
A consultant will now need to be selected to prepare the study. The county aims to have the study finished by mid-2025 and hopes findings can be included in Whatcom County’s 2025 Comprehensive Plan, which must be updated by December 31, 2025.
in their account within the next three months, Harmon said.
Council unanimously approved the grant agreement with the Washington Families Clean Energy Credits Grant.
ready a full grown adult (older than five). It is mating season for bears which is the reason a male bear (without a tag) was seen when she was in Langley, B.C. If she is able to stay safe, feed on natural food and find bear habitat away from the community then she will have cubs again this winter.
If you see her please give her lots of space, do not approach or chase her in the car for a video. Bears do not have sweat glands so she will be looking for water to regulate her temperature so please be aware and leash dogs when walking near creeks or ponds.
Please secure and lock garbage (in a garage if possible). Freeze food waste until morning of collection. Clean barbecues immediately after using. Pick ripe fruit from trees and bushes. Keep pet food indoors. Remove bird feeders including hummingbird feeders. Lock doors on your home and vehicle.
Lynne Broyan White Rock, B.C.
s The Blaine Art Gallery opening on July 4 at 922 Peace Portal Drive. Photo by Molly Ernst
Whatcom County government enacts 90-day hiring freeze
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In an email sent to Whatcom County employees on July 15, county executive Satpal Sidhu announced a 90-day hiring freeze across all departments due to dwindling federal funds and a leveling out of tax revenue.
Facing a projected budget deficit of $15 million for 2025, the county is looking at ways to tighten its purse strings after years of what it called extensive investment into pay increases and more hiring for the court and law enforcement, according to a June 11 presentation to councilmembers by deputy county executive Kayla Schott-Bressler.
“With no new revenue streams anticipated and our traditional revenue sources flat, we see budget challenges ahead,” the email from Sidhu stated. “The pur-
pose of this action is to ensure we have the resources to support our current workforce and to give County leadership an opportunity to think strategically about our financial decisions as we approach the budget process for the next biennium.”
The “selective hiring freeze” means vacant positions in most county departments will remain unfilled, with exception to employees hired before the July 15 announcement. According to county budget documents, Whatcom County employs roughly 1,000 full-time employees totaling roughly $129 million in salaries, wages and benefits in 2023-24.
Since 2020, 51 new full-time positions were added to the health department, 12 positions were added to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office and 10 positions were added to the public defend-
er’s office, with at least one additional full-time staff member added to most other departments.
According to county budget records, the high-water mark for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding came in 2022 when the county received $22.26 million. The 2024 budget expected just around $4 million in ARPA funds, and county executive spokesperson Jed Holmes said no more ARPA funds are coming.
County finance manager Brad Bennett warned councilmembers during the June 11 special meeting that the next two years could see cuts beyond a hiring freeze to keep the county budget balanced.
“Finance is thinking this is going to be a real squeaker of a budget year,” Bennett said. “In fact we’re going to have to budget to prioritize to make ends meet.”
School board discusses budget
The Blaine school board held a special meeting on July 23 to discuss the proposed 2024-25 budget before voting to ratify it at its next meeting on August 26.
The budget shows the school district receiving $40.3 million in total revenue for its general fund, mostly from $21.4 million in state funding and $6.5 million in local taxes, and ending the year with a $2.9 million ending balance, larger than the 2023-24 balance.
This budget is the first since the pandemic that the district won’t receive any special purpose
funding from the federal government after receiving millions in Covid-era stimulus.
Amber Porter, the district’s former chief financial officer who now works on a contracted basis, presented the 225page budget report to the board, painting a positive, yet conservative, picture of the district’s financial outlooks.
Per state law, school districts must produce a four-year budget forecast that includes a four-year enrollment projection. In recent years, enrollment has dipped across the school district, from a high of 2,220.48 full-time equivalent (FTE) students in 2019-20,
to a budgeted count of 1,944.9 FTE students for the upcoming 2024-25 school year.
Porter said birth rates in Whatcom County are showing a general slowing down in recent years, meaning the district’s enrollment numbers could continue to dwindle.
According to birthrate data from the Washington State Department of Health, there has been a slight downtrend in total number of births in Whatcom County even as the county’s population continues to rise, with 1,955 births in 2022 compared to
(See School, page 7)
Member of the Month
Whatcom Fire & Rescue Service
Number of employees and/or volunteers: 54 full time employees; 24 volunteers; 5 elected officials. How long in business: North Whatcom Fire and Rescue was formed in 2007 (17 YEARS)
Description of the business: North Whatcom Fire and Rescue provides fire and life safety services to 33,800 people over 156 square miles, including the communities of Lynden, Laurel, Blaine, Custer, Birch Bay, and Semiahmoo. NWFR also serves the residents of Whatcom County Fire District 4 through a contract agreement. How the business started: The City of Blaine Fire Department and District #13 merged in 1999. In 2006, another merger between District #13 and District #3 formed Whatcom County Fire Protection District #21 (dba North Whatcom Fire and Rescue).
Future goals: Despite our current challenges, we remain committed to providing our community with the best possible fire protection and emergency services. We will continue seeking innovative solutions to bridge the gap between our resources and the growing public safety demands.
Dogs ...
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“quite concerned” about new rules being promulgated by the CDC governing dogs entering the country.
“I think that was a very poorly thought-out bit of business and it’s going to have a huge impact for Americans. I don’t think they gave it much thought when it came to the U.S./Canada border,” he said during a press conference on July 17. “This came as a big surprise to me. To be frank, when I first heard it, I thought ‘Well, this can’t be serious, they surely must be thinking of an exemption’” to Canada, he added. “I remain hopeful that logic will prevail.”
Following a visit to Washington, Holland said the rules had been relaxed somewhat for Can-
ada. Holland said he had received “very positive indications” that his request for a grace period of a couple of months may be approved but that he had not yet been given confirmation.
“Frankly, I just don’t think this is a good use of border officers’ time. There’s a lot of issues at the border. Whether my Maltese is another Maltese and having a border officer figure that out, I’ve said to [U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra] doesn’t make sense to me,” Holland said.
Blaine immigration attorney Len Saunders had been making the rounds of various Canadian media outlets who were seeking a local perspective on the issue. Given the fact that both Canada and the U.S. are free of rabies, Saunders scoffed at the need for the new rules. “It’s like the U.S. version of ArriveCAN, only for dogs,” he laughed.
Blaine school board to record, archive meeting audio
Following new state law requiring school boards to record and archive its public, regularly-scheduled meetings, the Blaine school board posted the audio from its July 22 meeting online for the first time.
Meeting audio will be available the following day on the district’s website, bit.ly/3WaB1fy, by clicking the “video” button on each meeting page. Video service has not been set up, and only audio recordings are available currently.
Superintendent Christopher Granger said the district will
soon have a livestreaming service so the public can view meetings as they happen, but said there are no plans to set up any virtual public comment portion for meetings. Those who wish to comment at school board meetings must still come to the school board room in person at 765 H Street. In the district’s proposed budget for the 2024-25 school year, $45,000 has been earmarked for video recording and a digital archiving system, but Granger told the board that the full budgeted amount would likely not be used.
Semiahmoo golf benefit raises $11,000 for Special Olympics
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s The Semiahmoo Ladies Invitation hosted 150 women who participated in a golf match that raised $11,000 for Special Olympics Bellingham at Semiahmoo Golf and Country Club on July 23. From l., Terry Watson, head coach for Special Olympics Baker 542 ride team; Cooper Howard, Special Olympics athlete; special education teacher Dominique Lantagne, and Special Olympics NW program manager Chad VanderPoel pose with the donation check. The event raised money for the organization in celebration of the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics.
Photo courtesy Semiahmoo Ladies Invitational
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2,364 in 2015.
“We’re not sure if we’re at the bottom of an enrollment decline,” Porter said. “If it does continue, we have to recognize that the larger classes of older students in older grades, as they graduate off, they’re being replaced by smaller kindergarten classes.”
With fewer students, fewer state dollars come into the dis trict’s general fund, and staff layoffs become inevitable. The district employed 162.43 FTE certificated employees in 202223, and the budget now has 136.3 FTE certificated employees for the 2024-25 school year.
Even with a kindergarten class budgeted at a conservative 105 students, and pandemic-era fed eral stimulus funds all dried up, the four-year outlook for the school district isn’t as dire as others in the state, Porter said. The district being able to main tain a positive fund balance by the fourth year of its forecast is a sign of good financial health, Porter said.
“Not seeing a negative number by year four of the forecast means were really much more balanced,” Porter said. “So congratulations, because not every district can say that.”
To view the proposed 2024-25 budget, visit bit.ly/3WaB1fy
Pirate daze
August 3, 2024 August 3, 2024
Lynden-based company builds Point Whitehorn tiny home
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A tiny home situated in Point Whitehorn is one of the newest builds for West Coast Homes, and the first in the Blaine and Birch Bay area.
Homeowner Symone Maruyama said she and her husband, Reo, had been looking for options
where Reo’s mother could stay for long visits when they found West Coast Homes. One of the company’s 400-square-foot tiny homes fit their needs: It had a living room, kitchen with full-sized appliances, bathroom and deck on the first floor, with an upstairs sleeping loft and attic. Symone Maruyama said the home had a clean and
Earn 4.77% APY* on a 7-month certificate of deposit (CD). Minimum $5,000 to open.
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modern look that could provide a peaceful space for her mother-inlaw to spend weeks at a time.
“It fit the bill,” she said.
West Coast Homes is the residential division of Lynden-based Faber Construction specializing in tiny homes, park models, accessory dwelling units and modular homes. The division formed
in 2011, and soon after Faber Construction was asked to build over 40 park models at Wildwood Lakefront Cottages on the south end of Lake Whatcom.
Raymond Faber, business development manager at Faber Construction, said the company saw it had a viable business model after creating the Wildwood homes. He added the smaller homes aligned with the company’s passion for affordable housing and provided an avenue for creativity.
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“It touches a lot of our core values,” Faber said.
The tiny homes and park models generally range from $120,000 to $200,000, and typically take about three to four months to build, with additional time needed for permitting.
The park models and tiny homes are similar and about the same size, Faber said, adding one of their biggest differences is they follow different building codes.
West Coast Homes offers two layouts for tiny homes and five layouts for park models, with more layouts in the works. While the footprint can’t be changed because of permitting, Faber said people can select most finishes, such as the cabinetry, countertops, paint colors, tile and siding.
For example, the Maruyamas chose the Bellevue tiny home model but opted out of a fireplace, changed the stove, added a water filter, and selected black finishes and whitewashed wood.
West Coast Homes uses material that it would use in a regular house, such as drywall, 24-gauge metal roofing or TPO roofing, and plenty of insulation. The company’s tiny homes are also built to the Washington State Energy Code.
“We don’t want to be cheap. We want to be good quality and we want it to last,” Faber said. “If I’m building my home with my name (See Tiny home, page 10)
Tiny homes are considered permanent dwellings and can be mortgaged, while park models are considered to be a recreational trailer.
RECENT HOUSE & LOT PRICES
Blaine, Birch Bay & Point Roberts
UPPER END HOUSES: $800,000 AND ABOVE:
2-story house with 2,434 S.F., 1,197 S.F. basement, 3 bedrooms, 5 baths, 369 S.F. built-in garage, 216 S.F. deck, built in 2000, 55ft waterfront; marine and territorial view, .26 acres land.
2-story house with 2,911 S.F., 1,114 S.F. basement, 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, 588 S.F. attached garage, 964 S.F. deck, built in 2012, waterfront; marine view, .52 acres land.
2-story house with 3,166 S.F., 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 440 S.F. built-in garage, built in 2023, .17 acres land.
2-story house with 3,701 S.F., 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, bonus room, attached garage, built in 2023; marine and territorial view, .31 acres land.
2-story house with 3,192 S.F., 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 1,764 S.F. deck, 2,419 S.F. patio, swimming pool, 271 S.F. storage, built in 2007, 1.48 acres land.
1-story house with 912 S.F. square feet, 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 368 S.F. attached garage, 360 S.F. patio, built in 1967, remodeled, 50 feet waterfront; marine view, .17 acres land.
1-story house with 2,094 S.F., 1,680 S.F. basement, 3 bedrooms, 4 baths, 869 S.F. attached garage, 601 S.F. patio, 601 S.F. balcony, built in 1999, waterfront; marine views, .49 acres land.
1-story house with 3,618 S.F., 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, built in 2024 plus 2,208 S.F. shop with 2-story apartment, 1 bed, 1 bath, built in 2009, 4.85 acres land.
1-story house with 1,942 S.F., 1942 S.F. basement, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 604 S.F. patio, 604 S.F. balcony, 865 S.F. attached garage, built in 2005; marine view, 30 acres land.built in 2005, .30 acres land.
COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES:
Golf course with 4,480 S.F. utility building and 784 S.F. mobile home, built in 1984, 81.17 acres land.
Restaurant with 11,736 S.F., 2,332 S.F. balcony, built in 1928, 960 S.F. store, built in 1967, 317’ tidelands, marine view, 7.00 acres land.
Office (Mixed use building) with 1,494 S.F., built in 1908; marine view, .14 acres land.
ing moved to areas in northwest Washington, especially on the islands, and Okanogan County in eastern Washington.
Symone Maruyama said she recommends people interested in adding a tiny home to their property look into permitting to figure out how much space they’re allowed before looking at houses.
“The team was so helpful with
getting us through the permitting process,” she said. West Coast Homes has a short survey for people who are interested in their services that includes questions about the timeline, budget, model and final location for their tiny home. For more information about West Coast Homes, visit westcoast-homes.com.
Looking at renovating your home? Here are estimated project timelines
Renovations help homeowners customize their homes to align with their needs and wants. Remodeling may be necessary to replace outdated fixtures and features, address mistakes previous homeowners may have made, or to make a home more functional.
Homeowners often find it beneficial to hire professional contractors when they have work to be done around the house to ensure the job gets done to code and to their satisfaction. Timelines for home remodeling projects vary depending on a number of variables, including the size of a crew as well as the scope of the project.
Once a project commences, the timeline can feel endless. The following are estimates of timelines for top remodeling projects to give homeowners an idea of how long their renovation projects may last, courtesy of Renofi, a company that provides a lend-
ing platform leveraged by credit unions nationwide to offer loans to consumers.
• Kitchen: There are a lot of moving parts to a kitchen renovation, involving the services of electricians, plumbers, structural experts, and even interior design professionals. Not to mention the needs of craftspeople who can make custom cabinetry and countertops. Kitchen remodels can take anywhere from six to 12 weeks.
• Bathroom: The process of a bathroom renovation typically involves demolishing the old bathroom, removing old fixtures and starting from the ground up. As with a kitchen remodel, bathroom jobs require the services of different professionals. That is why homeowners can expect three to 10 weeks for a bathroom, depending on the scope of the project.
• Finishing a basement: Finishing a basement can add valu-
able living space to a home. Establishing a home theater space or man cave may require installing framing, insulation, utilities, drywall, flooring, and any additional needs if the finished basement will have a bathroom or necessitate additional plumbing. A finished basement project can last one to two months. But the good news is that typically the rest of the house is livable while the work is being done, so residents will not be disrupted.
• Whole home remodel: Hogan Design & Construction says that a whole house remodeling project can take anywhere from 16 weeks to 24 weeks. More involved projects can take longer. Remodeling a home often involves a considerable investment of time and money. Knowing how long a homeowner will be inconvenienced by the work can help the household plan accordingly.
s West Coast Homes, the residential division of Lynden-based Faber Construction, specializes in luxury tiny homes, park models, accessory dwelling units and modular homes. Photo courtesy West Coast Homes
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF Whatcom In Re the Estate of Mary Etta Foster, Deceased. NO. 244-00621-37. PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS (RCW 11.40.030) JUDGE: Evan P. Jones
The personal representative named below has been appointed as personal representative of this estate. Any person having a claim against the decedent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to the personal representative or the personal representative’s attorney at the address stated below a copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the court in which the probate proceedings were commenced. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) Thirty days after the personal representative served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(1)(c); or (2) four months after the date of first publication of the notice. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim is forever barred, except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.40.051 and 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the decedent’s probate and nonprobate assets.
Date of First Publication: July 25, 2024
Personal Representative: Holly Neria 7478 N. Enterprise Road 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
No. 24-4-00644-37. NOTICE TO CREDITORS. Judge Robert E. Olson The Administrator named below has been appointed and has qualified as Administrator of this estate. Any person having a claim against the decedent must, before the time the
and
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: July 17, 2024 with Clerk of Court:
Date of First Publication: July 25, 2024
Name of Administrator: GEROLD DENNETT
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: July 17, 2024
AVERY ELDER LAW, P.S. STEVEN D. AVERY, WSBA #35262
Attorney for Administrator: GEROLD DENNETT www.averyelderlaw.com
SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR SKAGIT COUNTY. No. 24-4-00368-29. PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS (RCW 11.40.030) In the Matter of the Estate of Terrence S. DeValois, Deceased.
The personal representative named below has been appointed as personal representative of this estate. Any person having 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
probate and non-probate assets.
Date of First Publication: July 11, 2024 Administrator: Cecilia Masinas Attorney for Administrator: Daniel E. Pizarro, WSBA #47937 Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess PLLC 1200 East D Street Tacoma, WA 98421
Mihovilovich aka Jela Mihovilovich, Deceased. NO. 24-4-00599-37. 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: July 18, 2024
Personal Representative: Nick Joseph 3228 Cottonwood Ave., Unit A Bellingham, WA 98225
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
Ecology to hold water adjudication meeting in Birch Bay
The Washington Department of Ecology (DOE), in partnership with the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce, will hold an informational meeting regarding the adjudication of the Nooksack River that officially began on May 1.
The meeting is scheduled from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. on Thursday, August 1 at North Bay Community Church, 4895 Birch Bay-Lynden Road. The meeting is open to the public, but requires registration at bit.ly/4frlEbw.
Water rights adjudication is the legal process of a court determining who has the most senior right to a water source. The adjudication of the Nooksack has been in the works for years, with DOE expecting water rights claims from 30,000 unique water users including municipal governments, the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Indian Tribe, and any individual landowner who uses surface or groundwater outside of municipal services.
Those who use water through a municipal utility such as Blaine or Birch Bay Water and Sewer District will not need to make a claim, but are still invited to attend the meeting.
Water users who receive a legal summons from DOE will have one year to submit a claim form with supporting evidence in order to keep their water right.
Free dental clinic offered through BTC
Bellingham Technical College (BTC) is offering free dental work for volunteer patients throughout its summer session, running through August 27. BTC will open its fully operational dental clinic for exams, X-rays, cleanings, simple fillings and sealants completely free to eligible patients, according to a July 17 press release.
Appointments are available on Mondays and Fridays, with two time slots available at 8:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. The clinic is located at Building C on the BTC Campus, 3028 Lindbergh Avenue in Bellingham.
With dental students still learning and their work being overseen by licensed professionals, prospective patients should expect appointments to last upward of three hours. The clinic is not intended for emergency dental work, so those with acute dental pain should look to their primary dental facility.
Contact the clinic at dental@ btc.edu and indicate what days and times work best for you. For more information, visit btc.edu/ dentalclinic
Some things require a bit more time than is usual because the ability to condense into a limited number of words, the life of a woman who was so treasured, is no small feat.
On January 22, 2024 after years of fighting various health issues, Francis Sharon Rose Lappin Butschli passed away at her home in Birch Bay, WA. If there was any way that her departure could have been delayed, without a doubt, Fran would have kept fighting for many years to come. Even though her physical presence is no more, the obvious signs of her life live on in the kindness of her daughter Cristi, the independence of her son Patrick and the humor of her son Michael. Her example of commitment and love can still be seen sparkling in the eyes of her one love, husband Michael Butschli.
Fran was born in Vancouver, BC on January 4, 1944 to parents Samuel and Violet Lappin. Fran grew up in Port Coquitlam, BC with her brothers Barry, Sam and Danny. Fran graduated from Port Coquitlam High School and went to work for Empire Shipping in Vancouver.
When Fran was 21 years old, her friend Audrey orchestrated a gathering that would set the course for the rest of Fran’s life. Audrey told her beau, Jim Minor, to bring three friends to meet her girlfriends at the local coffee shop in Blaine! Audrey’s efforts found two of her friends meeting the men they would go on to marry. Fran met a handsome Air Force serviceman, Michael F. Butschli, and by the next year they were married on January 15,1966.
Fran and Mike lived in many different places starting out in Vancouver, until their son Michael was born in July 1967. The family then moved to Ferndale, WA until Mike Sr. was transferred to Biloxi, MS. Here, they welcomed their second son, Patrick in March of 1969. A change in careers had the family move to Gulfport, MS until Hurricane Camille destroyed their home. These were very difficult times and Fran needed to move to Milwaukee to stay with her husband’s parents while Mike Sr. sorted through the disaster left by the hurricane. She remained in Milwaukee until Mike’s work with the Bell Telephone Co. brought the family back to Washington State. In October of 1972, Fran gave birth to her beautiful daughter, Cristi-Lee.
While raising her children, Fran operated her own cleaning business with her friend Karen until she began working for the Federal Way School District. Her career started in the copy room until the end of her 20 years with the school district, as the coordinator of the career center for the high school. Fran retired in 1998 but then worked a while longer in the Ferndale School District after she moved to her home in Birch Bay.
Fran was absolutely dedicated to her children and their spouses, Michael Butschli (Julie), Patrick Butschli (Jessica) and Cristi Martin (Chase). Where she truly shined though, was as a grandma. Fran was very involved with her grandchildren and loved spending as much time as possible with them. Time together meant baking, playing at the beach or teaching them to sew. Holidays were very important to Fran and each Christmas her tree would be surrounded with piles of Christmas gifts she had been buying since January. Fran’s heart was big enough to not only love her eight grandchildren, but also included special “grandchildren of the heart” that we are blessed to count as family.
Nothing in this world was more important to Fran than time with her family. She loved her brothers and their families as deeply as her own children. Her nephews and their families were a significant part of her life and brought her immeasurable joy.
Fran was filled with love, humor and a genuine interest in the people she met. At times her interest would have her asking questions that most would shy away from, but this was exactly what made her endearing - once the shock wore off! She leaves behind some incredibly dear friends who she felt so blessed to have in her life.
Fran’s life will be celebrated on July 27, 2024 at her son Michael’s home in Blaine. A year ago, almost to the day, the family all came together to do an early celebration of Fran’s upcoming 80th birthday. The day was filled with everything, and almost everyone, that Fran cherished. This year we all plan to celebrate what we will forever cherish, the encompassing love and joyfulness of a great woman.
sheriff’s reports
July 13, 8:14 a.m.: Vandalism on Birch Bay Lynden Road.
July 13, 9:55 p.m.: Fireworks on Birch Bay Lynden Road.
July 14, 1:44 a.m.: Domestic –physical on Bay Ridge Drive.
July 14, 4:28 a.m.: Vehicle prowl cold call on Birch Bay Drive.
July 14, 3:04 p.m.: Counterfeit on Birch Bay Square Street.
July 14, 7:12 p.m.: Warrant arrest on Glendale Drive.
July 14, 9:19 p.m.: Child abuse cold call on Birch Bay Lynden Road.
July 15, 11:49 a.m.: Domestic order violence cold call on Moonglow Court.
July 15, 4:25 p.m.: Shots on Blaine Road.
July 15, 6:44 p.m.: Moving vehicle accident injury on Birch Point Road.
July 16, 1:58 a.m.: Burglary on Bay Road.
July 16, 9:18 a.m.: Vandalism cold call on Birch Bay Drive.
July 16, 9:20 a.m.: Vehicle theft on Birch Bay Drive.
July 16, 12:16 p.m.: Overdose on Birch Bay Drive.
July 16, 10:00 p.m.: Suicidal subject on Harborview Road.
July 17, 9:02 a.m.: Vehicle prowl cold call on Bay Road.
July 17, 3:09 p.m.: Suicidal subject on Cowichan Road.
July 17, 4:53 p.m.: Domestic order violence cold call on Bayshore Drive.
July 17, 6:50 p.m.: Theft cold call on Harborview Road.
July 17, 10:18 p.m.: Shots on Valley View Road.
July 18, 9:50 a.m.: Vehicle prowl cold call on Birch Bay Drive.
July 18, 6:39 p.m.: Traffic stop arrest on Bay Road.
July 19, 9:05 a.m.: Theft cold call on Bruce Road.
poLiCe reports
July 14, 2:24 a.m.: Domestic –physical on Birch Court.
July 14, 3:58 a.m.: Noise on H Street Road.
July 14, 12:53 p.m.: Domestic – physical on Birch Court.
July 14, 1:38 p.m.: Theft on Boblett Street.
July 14, 2:43 p.m.: Juvenile problem on 2nd Street.
July 14, 3:06 p.m.: Juvenile problem on Blaine Avenue.
July 15, 6:11 p.m.: Suspicious person on West 99th Street.
July 15, 8:55 p.m.: Domestic –physical on Leighton Street.
CrossWord
ACROSS
1. Average damage per system (abbr.)
5. Lustful woodland gods (Greek mythology)
11. Colombian Town
12. Sour
16. A way to stuff
17. Former AL MVP Vaughn 18. Carried or transported
19. Cannot even fathom
24. Hammer is one
25. A way to separate
26. Not moving 27. Women’s service organization (abbr.)
28. German river
29. Quantitative fact
30. A person’s head
31. Process that produces ammonia
33. French modernist painter
34. Too much noise
38. Agree to a demand
39. One a line at right angles to a ship’s length
40. Employees 43. Ribosomal ribonucleic acid
44. Component of hemoglobin
45. Quick and skillful in movement
49. Passing trend
50. Part of the eye
51. One who acclaims
53. Deadly amount (abbr.)
54. Taste property
56. Genus of mosquitoes
58. Blood type
59. A group of countries in special alliance
60. Institute legal proceedings against 63. Shade of a color
64. Spoke
65. Work units DOWN
1. Charge with a crime
2. Mended with yarn
3. North Atlantic flatfish
4. Boil at low temperature 5. Lapps of northern Scandinavia
6. Poisonous plant
7. Atomic #22 8. 36 inches 9. Monetary unit of Russia
10. Type of gin
13. An alternative 14. Alone 15. A way to ooze 20. Publicity 21. American firm 22. Jewish calendar month 23. Popular sandwich 27. Comedian Cook
29. The NFL’s big game (abbr.)
30. Political action committee 31. Make a low, steady sound
32. Legendary sportscaster Michaels
33. One thousand cubic feet (abbr.)
34. Designed to keep ears warm 35. One who scrapes
36. Tear into two or more pieces
37. Supervises flying
38. Flying arm of the U.S. military (abbr.)
40. District in Peru 41. One died leaving a will
42. Morning 44. The world of the dead
Coming up
Community Breakfast: Saturdays, 8–11 a.m., American Legion Post 86, 4580 Legion Drive. All-you-can-eat pancakes $5, kids 4 and under get free pancakes. Other breakfast items available for purchase. Hosted by G.O.A.T. Sandwiches. Info: 360/296-4204. Portion of proceeds benefits the American Legion.
The Kindness of Cedars: Thursday, July 25, 1–2 p.m., Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. Cedar trees play an important role in Coast Salish culture. Kids grades kindergarten–5th grade learn about how cedars are integral to our lives and collaborate to weave a cedar bark mat for each library. Materials for individual paper mats will be provided. Info: wcls.org.
Ferndale Pioneer Days: Friday, July 26, starting at 11 a.m. and Saturday, July 27, starting at 9 a.m., Pioneer Park, Ferndale. Kids activities, food and craft vendors, live music, dancing, beer garden, log cabin museums and more. Info: and schedule: whatcomoldsettlers.com.
July 15, 10:18 p.m.: Fight on Adelia Street.
July 16, 2:34 a.m.: Burglary on Bay Road.
July 16, 9:52 a.m.: Burglary on H Street.
July 18, 2:06 p.m.: Burglary on Hughes Avenue.
July 18, 10:19 p.m.: Assault –simple on Martin Street.
July 19, 1:24 a.m.: DUI on Martin Street.
July 19, 7:38 a.m.: Missing person on Harrison Avenue.
July 19, 6:38 p.m.: Burglary on E Street.
45. Widen
46. Drink containing medicine
47. Celebrating
48. Secret encounters
50. A type of tag
51. Halfback
52. Modern tech
54. Monetary unit
55. Resigned to one’s sleeping chamber
57. Execute or perform
61. “The Golden State”
62. “The Beehive State”
ANSWERS: THENORTHERNLIGHT.COM
tides
25-31 at Blaine. Not for navigation.
Native Plant Walk: Friday, July 26, 1 p.m., Birch Bay State Park wildlife theater. Learn the insights and benefits of native plants. Learn about the insects and birds that they support while taking a nice stroll on the trails in Birch Bay State Park. Info: bbbparkandrec.org.
Giant Insects of the Amazon and Asia: Friday, July 26, 3 p.m. Birch Bay State Park’s wildlife theater. Park rangers present real specimens of the largest bugs in the world. Bring a chair. Info: bbbparkandrec.org.
Free Bike Program Info Night: Friday, July 26, 5 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Discover new programs for kids including free bikes. Refreshments. Sponsored by Brilliant Planet. RSVP: tinyurl.com/brilliantplanetmeetandgreet.
The Wave En Blanc Fundraiser: Friday, July 26, 6–9 p.m., Blaine Boating Center, 235 Marine Drive. Live music by Michael Dayvid, food, drinks, silent auction and fundraising for the Blaine Arts Council gallery. Tickets and info: blaineartscouncil.org.
Blaine Art Festival: Saturday, July 27, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday, July 28, 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Blaine Marine Park. Enjoy a variety of different genres of artist displaying and selling their art, plus music and food trucks and beer garden. Info: blaineartscouncil.org.
Bees, the Keystone Pollinators: Saturday, July 27, 2 p.m., Birch Bay State Park’s bp Heron Center. Join local gardener/educator, Kelle Sunter with a hands-on, kid-friendly presentation about bees and wasps, their roles in our environment and how not to get stung! Live honey bees in a display case with beekeeper, Jon Moore. Bring a chair. Info: bbbparkandrec.org.
Finding Forest Treasures with Jane Billinghurst: Saturday, July 27, 1–2 p.m., Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. Jane Billinghurst specializes in photographing the small things – treasures you may overlook if you don’t get down on your knees to peer under logs for fungi or slime molds or hunch over rocky balds to gaze deep into moss and lichens. Discover some of the miniature wonders that fill our forests so you know what to look for on your next forest stroll. Co-sponsored by Whatcom Million Trees Project. Info: wcls.org.
Live Music at Birch Bay State Park: Saturday, July 27, 5 p.m., Birch Bay State Park’s bp Heron Center. Enjoy memorable country western and swing music from On the Loose. Bring a camp chair and picnic for a rockin’ good time. Info: bbbparkandrec.org.
Nooksack Area Water Adjudication Information Meeting: Thursday, August 1, 1:30–2:45 p.m., North Bay Community Church, 4895 Birch Bay Lynden Road. Free, informational event on the ongoing water adjudication of the Nooksack river, featuring presentations by the Washington Department of Ecology. Registration required at bit.ly/4frlEbw.
Tidepool Exploration: Friday, August 2, 10 a.m., meet at Birch Bay State Park’s bp Heron Center. Every day at the beach is a new discovery. Enjoy learning about the habitat at Birch Bay State Park with naturalists. Info bbbparkandrec.org.
Live Music at the Center: Friday, August 2, 5:30 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street, Jaded Lovers performs country and rock classics. Dancing and more. $5 suggested donation. Info: blaineseniorcenter.org.
Sand Sculpture Competition and Festivities: Saturday, August 3, 8 a.m.–4 p.m., Birch Bay Beach Park, 7930 Birch Bay Drive. Sand sculptures, live music, vendors, treasure hunt, poker run. Info: birchbaychamber.com.
Drayton Harbor Maritime Festival: Saturday, August 3, 11 a.m.–7 p.m. and Sunday, August 4, noon–4 p.m., Blaine Harbor. Art, craft and food vendors both days at Blaine Harbor Boating Center. Sunday features live music and pet contest. Info: blainechamber.com.
Weather
Precipitation: During the period of July 15 to 21, no precipitation was recorded. The 2024 yearto-date precipitation is 18.8 inches.
Temperature: High for the past week was 87°F on July 20 with a low of 55.8°F on July 16. Average high was 81.7°F and average low was 57.5°F.
Pirate Daze: Saturday, August 3,10 a.m.–2 p.m., Blaine Marine Park. Have a swashbuckling good time with kids games, crafts, scavenger hunt and Blaine Community Theater’s water show of Pirates of Penzance. Info: bbbparkandrec.org.
Backstage @ the Border Concert to benefit Loads of Love: Saturday, August 3, 7–9 p.m., 382 Boblett Street. Concert to fundraise for Loads of Love, a program that pays for community members’ laundromat costs Featuring Susan Mills, piano, The Masked Bandits (Peter – guitar, Kelley – vocals, Susan – guitar and vocals, April – vocals, Kirsten – violin).
Peace Arch Concert Series: Sunday, August 4, 2 p.m. Free, one-hour concert at Peace Arch Historical State Park, presented by Washington State Parks Folk and Traditional Arts Program. The concerts are free, but a Discover Pass is required for vehicle access to the park. Info: bit.ly/3WAxGI9.
Submissions to Coming Up should be sent to calendar@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.
Birch Bay a stop along Paddle to Puyallup
The Nooksack Indian Tribe greeted canoes landing at Birch Bay State Park for a stop along the Paddle to Puyallup Canoe Journey on Monday, July 22. The canoe landing was followed with a salmon dinner at bp Heron Center.
About 50 tribes and First Nations located in Washington, Alaska and B.C. were anticipated to participate in the canoe journey, with stops running from Squamish, B.C. to the Olympic
Peninsula and Vancouver Island. The canoe journey is an annual tradition for the tribes to travel their ancestral waterways. This year’s journey focuses on youth. Canoes are making their way to the traditional territory of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, where they will land July 31 and stay for a week of celebrations. View more photos at thenorthernlight.com
“We’ve had quite a few customers mention our ad in The Northern Light. I personally talked with 4 people in one day who said they saw our ad. Best response we’ve had from print and radio advertising. I’m very happy with the results of this ad campaign in The Northern Light.”
Geoff Broersma General Manager at Vista Materials Print
23,600 weekly readers in Blaine, Birch Bay and Semiahmoo. Largest circulation newspaper in Whatcom County.
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