Weekend lineup: Sand sculpture contest, Rollback Weekend and Drayton Harbor Maritime Festival
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A weekend full of sand sculpting, classic cars and pirates will be taking over Birch Bay and Blaine during summer events the first weekend of August.
Birch Bay Sand Sculpture Competition
The weekend will start with the 41st annual Sand Sculpture Competition at Birch Bay Beach Park, 7930 Birch Bay Drive, on Saturday, August 3. The Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce, which is putting on the event, is inviting sculptors to the shoreline of Birch Bay to show off their talents – whether that takes form as a castle, mermaid or anything in between.
On-site registration for the competition begins at 8 a.m., followed by judging at 12:30 p.m. and an awards ceremony around 2 p.m.
The festival will also have a vendor market, treasure hunt, live music, a beer garden, activities at the Birch Bay Vogt Library Express location and family-fun poker run.
Drayton Harbor Maritime Festival
Blaine’s annual Drayton Harbor Maritime Festival will bring back nautical-themed activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Blaine marina.
The Blaine Chamber of Commerce has planned a street fair, food and live music both days near the Blaine Harbor Boating Center at Gate 2, 235 Marine Drive.
The first day of Pirate Daze will have a pirate parade and costume contest.
Pirate Daze will have a slate of crafts and games from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Blaine Marine Park, across from the marina. Family activities include photos with mermaids, storytime, treasure hunts and Blaine Community Theater’s “Pirates of Penzance” water balloon performance. Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2, which is organizing Pirate Daze, will offer $1 hot dogs and chips.
On Sunday, Pirate Daze will have a car show from noon to 4 p.m. across from the boating center and a pet contest at 1 p.m.
Primary ballots due Tuesday, Aug. 6, page 4
Hearing on Blaine building height, page 6
Blaine festival highlights local artists
Two people arrested in east Blaine in connection to murder in Tennessee
Two people were arrested in east Blaine in connection to a murder in Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee on July 26 following a multi-agency law enforcement investigation.
Michael Amandeus Brooks, 27, was arrested on one count of first-degree murder and Kayla Lynn Brooks, 26, was arrested on one count of accessory after the fact. As of July 31, the pair were awaiting extradition in Whatcom County Jail.
The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) issued a warrant for the pair’s arrests on July 18. Bond was fixed at $75,000 for Michael Brooks and $5,000 for Kayla Brooks.
HCSO then contacted the Whatcom
County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) on July 26 for assistance in locating and arresting the two, who have ties to Whatcom County, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed in Whatcom County Superior Court.
Hamilton County detectives provided the WCSO with an address they believed to be the residence of Kayla Brooks’ mother, and department of transportation photos of a silver sedan with Tennessee plates connected to one of the suspects, court documents stated.
Using a drone, WCSO located the vehicle at a residence near Delta Line Road and West 95th Terrace in east Blaine.
s Blaine Arts Council opened its art festival with an evening fundraiser at the Blaine Harbor Boating Center on July 26. Guests wore white for the “en blanc” fundraiser as they raised money for the council’s new downtown art gallery. Over 20 local artists had their work featured at Blaine Marine Park and the gallery July 27-28. See more photos on page 10.
Photo by Ruth Lauman
Events ...
at the harbor center.
Birch Bay Rollback Weekend
Birch Bay’s 10th annual Rollback Weekend returns to Birch Bay Beach Park on Sunday, August 4.
The car show takes place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pre-registration is encouraged for the car show as space is limited, but on-site registration will begin at 6 a.m. before the show.
A vendor market, beer garden, live music and cornhole tournament with cash prizes (advanced registration required) will also be part of the festivities.
WTA shuttle
A Whatcom Transportation Authority shuttle will run between Birch Bay and Blaine on Saturday and Sunday to transport people between festivals. The bus will start at 8:30 a.m. at the Blaine Lighthouse Point Water Reclamation Facility, 272 Marine Drive, and make stops along WTA’s regular route before
ending at Birch Bay Beach Park. Stops will be on Peace Portal Drive, Alderson Road and Birch Bay Drive.
The shuttle will cost $1 for adults and $.50 for seniors, with free rides for youth under 18 years old and seniors over 75 years old. The bus will have its last stop of the day at 5 p.m. at the Blaine water facility.
For more information on the Sand Sculpture Competition, Rollback Weekend or WTA shuttle route, visit the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce website at birchbaychamber.com/events For information on the Drayton Harbor Maritime Festival and Pirate Daze, visit the Blaine By the Sea website at bit.ly/3LSs5GJ.
Community Character Sidewalk Stroll
Saturday, August 10, 4-5 pm Meet at Blaine Welcome Center 546 Peace Portal Dr. (Next to Starbucks)
Family-friendly event to show off your favorite character!
Info: blainerunnersgroup@yahoo.com
Saturday, Saturday, August 3, 2024 August 3, 2024 GAMES - PLAYS - COSTUME CONTEST STORIES - TREASURE Blaine Marine Park - 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
BBBPARKANDREC.ORG 360-656-6416
National Night Out comes to Birch Bay on August 6
National Night Out (NNO) will be held at Birch Bay Beach Park 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, August 6. NNO is an annual event put on across the U.S. with the goal of improving relationships between first responders and the community. Local first responders will be at the event to answer questions, take photos and show off equipment. Hot dogs will be available for the first 300 attendees.
The Birch Bay event is scheduled to have personnel from the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, Blaine Police Department, North Whatcom Fire and Rescue, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Border Patrol, Washington State Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, Washington State Parks, Nooksack Tribal Police and Phillips 66. The beach park is at 7930 Birch Bay Drive.
Murder ...
From page 1
Law enforcement then used surveillance to observe Michael and Kayla Brooks on the property. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant and the pair were arrested without incident around 6:15 p.m.
In addition to WCSO, the Whatcom County Gang and
Drug Task Force, Bellingham Police Department, Ferndale Police Department and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations helped with the arrest, according to a WCSO news release.
Michael Brooks and Kayla Brooks signed their waivers of extradition in Whatcom County Superior Court on July 29.
HCSO public relations manag-
er J. Matt Lea wrote in an email to The Northern Light that the murder occurred within the jurisdiction of Soddy-Daisy Police Department. Soddy-Daisy is a city of about 13,000 people, just north of Chattanooga and within Hamilton County.
Whatcom County Superior Court records show Michael Amandeus Brooks was sentenced in Whatcom County in 2016 for theft and criminal trespass.
Disagreement between maritime nonprofit and city stalls Plover ferry voyages
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A disagreement between Drayton Harbor Maritime (DHM) and the city of Blaine has delayed Plover voyages slated to begin after the passenger ferry’s two-year restoration was deemed complete in early July.
DHM founding director Richard Sturgill said the nonprofit, which has operated the Plover for over two decades, will not sign the operation and maintenance contract with the city of Blaine, which owns the boat, until issues are settled around reimbursement and liquidated damages fee for the restoration. In the meantime, DHM does not have the funds to operate the ferry, Sturgill said.
Blaine city manager Mike Harmon said the city is working to get the Plover running as soon as possible and is in the process of interviewing three candidates to captain the ferry. Harmon said it was unlikely the Plover would run for the Drayton Harbor Maritime Festival August 3-4, but hoped the ferry could operate by the second weekend of August.
The city is currently finding a dock on Semiahmoo Spit as DHM leases the dock the Plover has historically used, Harmon said.
Disagreement started in midMay when DHM, contracted by the city to conduct extensive repairs on the boat, overspent the amount in its repair contract and did not meet the completion deadline agreed upon by both parties. During that same time, DHM says it requested reimbursement for work within the contract that the city has not reimbursed.
After the U.S. Coast Guard discovered the need for extensive repairs in fall 2022, city council provided DHM with $30,000, which DHM went over by $17,000. The city repaid DHM for most of the
over-expenditure before soliciting bids to finish the project. DHM was the sole bidder and the city entered a $75,450 contract ($82,000 with sales tax) contract with the nonprofit to finish repairs by May 15. The contract also stated DHM needed to pay the city $100 of liquidated damages for each day the Plover wasn’t repaired after the May 15 deadline.
In total, the city of Blaine will have spent $130,000 on the Plover repairs.
DHM treasurer Merideth Goodman wrote in an email to The Northern Light that the city has only reimbursed up to $51,890 in its recent contract and the nonprofit has an outstanding $21,000 reimbursement request dated May 17 for work done within the contract. Goodman said she asked for accounting from the city on when or if the city would receive that reimbursement.
In conversations with city leaders, DHM has informally requested reimbursement for work done after the contract deadline but has not submitted a formal request for those additional funds, both DHM and the city said. Goodman said DHM doesn’t see a reason to request those additional funds until the reimbursement within the contract is resolved.
In late May, Sturgill has said DHM overspent $16,000 to pay crewmembers for the additional work. The U.S. Coast Guard approved the ferry’s out-of-water inspection on June 26 and in-water inspection on July 10.
Harmon said the city has paid all claims that DHM has submitted and that DHM has not submitted a final pay estimate. Liquidated damages would be calculated at that time, he said.
The city had a lump sum contract with DHM, meaning the city
gave the nonprofit a fixed amount of funding to complete the repairs.
Harmon previously said Blaine City Council would not vote on providing additional funding as DHM was contractually obligated to finish repairs.
Sturgill restored the passenger ferry in the mid-’90s that took workers from Blaine Harbor to the old Alaska Packers Association salmon cannery on Semiahmoo Spit. DHM was formed to help with the original restoration and then sold the ferry to the city for $1. The boat was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.
DHM has operated the ferry during the summers since its original restoration, transporting people on the same route. The fare was donation-based until a few years ago, when the city instated a roundtrip ticket price of $5 per adult, $1 for teenagers and free for children 12 years and younger.
“When Drayton Harbor Maritime bid on this boat, Drayton Harbor Maritime didn’t bid on it for a profit like a typical boatyard,” Sturgill previously said. “Our motive was to save the boat.”
In March, city council authorized the city manager to present DHM with the operation contract that would allow the nonprofit to request reimbursement for the ferry’s operations. A city memo stated city staff had researched alternatives for the Plover’s operation in 2024, but at the time the only viable option was to continue contracting DHM.
“Drayton Harbor Maritime desires to be the steward of the Plover and operate it as a tourist attraction,” Sturgill said.
s The Plover ferry leaves its dock at Blaine Harbor on July 12 during its first sailing since completing extensive repairs discovered in September 2022. Photo by Nolan Baker
The Northern L ght
The Northern Light is published weekly by Point Roberts Press Inc.
Locally owned and managed, the company also publishes the All Point Bulletin, covering Point Roberts, Mount Baker Experience, covering the Mt. Baker foothills area, Pacific Coast Weddings annual guide, and the summer recreation guide Waterside as well as maps and other publications. Point Roberts Press Inc. is a member of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association, Chambers of Commerce of Bellingham/ Whatcom County, Birch Bay, Blaine and Point Roberts and the Bellingham/ Whatcom County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors.
Letters Policy
The Northern Light welcomes letters to the editor. Please include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters are limited to 350 words and may be edited or rejected for reasons of legality, length and good taste. The letters to the editor column is primarily intended to allow readers to voice their opinions on local issues of general interest to local readers. A fresh viewpoint will increase the likelihood of publication. Thank-you letters are limited to five individuals or groups. Writers should avoid personal invective. Unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Requests for withholding names will be considered on an individual basis. Consumer complaints should be submitted directly to the business in question or the local chamber of commerce. Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published. Email letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com.
Publisher & Managing Editor Patrick Grubb publisher@pointrobertspress.com
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General Editorial Inquiries editor@pointrobertspress.com
Contributors In This Issue Doug Dahl, Erin Kelly, Pete Nelson
Next issue: Aug. 8 Ads due: Aug. 2
OpiniOn
Primary ballots due 8 p.m. Tuesday, August 6
s Whatcom County voters have just a few days left before their August primary ballots are due by 8 p.m. Tuesday, August 6. Whatcom County has over 20 ballot drop boxes, three of which are located at Blaine Public Library, the North Whatcom Fire and Rescue Birch Bay station and Custer Elementary School. The Whatcom County Auditor’s Office, at 311 Grand Avenue in Bellingham, can help people register to vote, update registration or vote until 8 p.m. Election Day. Ballots postmarked by August 6 will be accepted, though the auditor’s office cautions people to check the last collection time for their mailbox. As of July 30, the auditor’s office had received over 15,400 ballots. Voters can check ballot status at votewa.gov. For more information, visit whatcomcounty.us/elections.
Letters
The Editor:
I am writing to express my support for the North Whatcom Fire and Rescue levy lid lift. As a resident of the BayCrest development, I am acutely aware of the importance of fire safety in our densely populated neighborhood. In recent years, we have experienced two fires on Clamdigger Drive. Without the swift and effective response of our firefighters, these fires could have easily spread and not only caused substantial damage to our neighborhood, but also potentially resulted in serious injuries or loss of life.
The levy lid lift is a critical measure to ensure the continued safety of our community. By providing additional funding, we can ensure that our fire department has the resources it needs to respond to emergencies quickly and effectively. I urge you to vote in favor of this important issue.
Brittney L. Marrs-Smith Birch Bay
The Editor:
As a delegate to the Washington State Republican Convention, meeting Semi Bird for the first time, I knew little about him, but was immediately impressed by his warmth and openness to me as I asked some pointed and difficult questions. His answers were thoughtful and clear. No pat, career-politician answers – just straight talk. I appreciate that. Having heard him speak a couple of times prior, the first thing that struck me is his absolute dedication to our Constitution, and to our nation. Second, and most striking, is that he understands grace and forgiveness. He lives it.
I’ve met him a few times now and each time I am more convinced that Semi Bird is, by far, the best choice to lead Washington at the critical time.
Out beautiful state has become unafford-
able due to citizens being overtaxed, underserved and under-represented. Semi Bird has a solution for this. He will have a third-party audit of every state-run department. He will require every office to have a five-year strategic plan which includes achievable, measurable, time-specific goals. This will identify and eliminate wasteful and fraudulent use of taxpayer funds. Those monies can then be redirected to pay for programs that better serve the people of Washington.
Semi Bird is a constitutional, Christian conservative who believes in America-first, Washington-first, citizens-first governing. He remembers, reflects on and honors our heritage.
Republicans are the party of abolition, women’s rights, civil rights, and we are now becoming the party of parental rights as well.
Semi Bird understands that our children are not being protected, nor well-served. He understands that parents must be the decision makers for their children’s welfare, education and healthcare. He supports and will work for laws that protect parental rights.
This great country offers opportunities and freedoms which are uniquely American. Semi Bird wants to unify and lift up all people to their full potential.
For these reasons, and many others, I am enthusiastically voting for Semi Bird for Governor, and encouraging you, all my neighbors, to vote for him as well.
Christena Miller Birch Bay
The Editor:
The North Whatcom Fire and Rescue levy is up for a vote on August 6. I want to encourage you to vote “Yes.”
NWFR is asking voters for a $0.34 lid lift on the August primary election ballot, which
would reset the fire levy rate to $1.10 per $1,000 in assessed home value. The lid lift would cost the owner or a $500,000 home an additional $14.16 per month or $170 per year. For perspective, in 2006, voters approved bringing the rate up to $1.42. The levy lid lift will ensure our community’s emergency needs and response times continue to be met in a timely manner. It ensures our emergency services are properly staffed, which is what we want when we are having a medical crisis or fire disaster. It will provide up-to-date equipment, as our older equipment must be replaced due to age and normal wear and tear. The levy lid lift ensures our fire and emergency staff have a building in our community that is safe, functional and close to us, because as we all know, living in Birch Bay means we do not have many services that are just minutes away. Birch Bay is such a wonderful place to live. It would be harmful to our community and to the rest of the area North Whatcom Fire and Rescue serves if our services had to be cut over a few more dollars a year.
Thank you for considering, Dianne Marrs-Smith Birch Bay
The Editor:
In an article about dogs crossing the border (The Northern Light, July 25-31, 2024) it was stated “Given the fact that both Canada and the U.S. are free of rabies …” This is dangerous and completely incorrect. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rates countries by their rabies virus and lyssavirus (a rabies-variant (See Letters, next page)
Please send letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.
Photo by Grace McCarthy
Blaine Arts Council to start monthly downtown art walk
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Blaine Arts Council (BAC) is set to start a monthly downtown art walk on Friday, August 1.
The public is encouraged to start the First Friday Downtown Art Walk at the Blaine Art Gallery, 922 Peace Portal Drive, where BAC will introduce the artists whose work will be displayed in August.
The event will also serve as the grand opening of the art gallery and its gift shop following the July 4 soft opening. Appetizers will be served.
Deb Freeman, Kay Dee Powell, Marjie Miller, Ruby Starr, Scott Smith and Vaune Ainsworth will be the featured artists in August.
BAC president Margaret Owens said attendees can meander around downtown to enjoy the restaurants and shops. Participating businesses will hang BAC members’ art and be open late during the art walks.
BAC saw the art walks as a means to build Blaine as an arts community, Owens said.
“If we’re working together, the community wins,” she said. “I want to see downtown thrive and this is one of the ways we can do that. The more art we bring in, the more businesses will grow.”
Businesses participating this month include Peace Arch City Café and Bar, Drayton Harbor Oyster Company and L&L Bakery.
BAC is looking to grow the list of businesses. Businesses located within walking distance of downtown can email Owens at communications@blaineartscouncil.org
Owens said she was inspired to start an art walk in Blaine after seeing them done in other cities, such as Sacramento, California, where she participated, and Bellingham.
The art walk is the latest event from BAC, which just held its annual art festival July 26-28. Owens said BAC hopes to use its gallery to hold art classes, children’s book readings and other artistic endeavors in the future.
“We’re looking to create a community event,” Owens said of the art walk.
Rubber duck museum opens in Point Roberts
Neil and Krystal King, the owners of Kora’s Corner, unveiled (according to the Kings) the world’s first historical rubber duck museum in the back room of their store on July 4. Since the grand opening, the museum has rapidly attracted interest and has been featured in a number of publications spanning from Kenya to Colorado. “It’s been wild,” remarked Krystal, reflecting on the interest shown in the museum.
The museum contains a collection dating back to 1911, showcasing rubber ducks from across the globe. Originally made from hard rubber in the 1800s as chew toys, the first traditional water-friendly rubber ducks were produced in 1949. Among the museum’s prized possessions is one of Ernie’s ducks from Sesame Street, which popularized rubber ducks after their appearance in the 1970 song, “Rubber Duckie.”
“Ernie’s song brought rubber ducks into popularity, shaping them into the familiar form we recognize today,” said Neil.
The Kings have sold rubber ducks since they opened their shop in 2022. Over time, their collection grew, spurred by themed ducks for various holi-
Letters ...
From previous page
disease most common in bats) status and neither the United States nor Canada are rated rabies or lyssavirus free.
See bit.ly/4d6blIm for details from the CDC.
According to the CDC, approximately 4,000 cases of animal rabies are verified every year in the U.S., with more than 90 percent occurring in wildlife like bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes. However, not all rabies cases occur in wild animals. In Minnesota, for example, recent years have found cases in cows, calves, a llama, a dog and a kitten. All mammals can get rabies, but in Washington state bats are currently the only known source of rabies. Any potential human exposure
days. “We didn’t even realize that we had a rubber duck theme already,” explained Krystal, “We have been talking so long about doing an exhibit, and as we already had a few hundred rubber ducks, we decided to go for it.”
Most of the ducks were sourced from vintage toy auctions. When asked why rubber ducks, the couple replied, “Everyone loves rubber ducks. They create feelings of joy, childhood innocence, and nostalgia. There is a rubber duck for everyone. No matter what you like or what you do, there is a duck for you.”
Educational as well as entertaining, the museum explores topics such as duck derbies and the accidental dumping of 28,800 Friendly Floatees – yellow ducks, red beavers, blue turtles and green frogs – that were washed overboard into the Pacific Ocean in 1992. Seattle oceanographers Curtis Ebbesmeyer and James Ingraham began tracking their landfall and created valuable data on ocean currents based on where the floatees were found.
They first made landfall in Alaska and years later were found in pack ice in the Arctic Circle, along the eastern seaboard and across the Atlantic to Greenland
to a bat requires careful assessment because bat teeth are razor sharp and tiny, so a bite wound might not be noticed. Pets that have exposure to a bat should be evaluated by a veterinarian. There were two documented cases of rabies in bats in Washington state so far in 2024, 12 in 2023 and eight in 2022.
More importantly, there were five human deaths due to rabies in the United States in 2021 and three in 2022. If you are bitten by a domestic animal and cannot verify that they are rabies vaccinated, or bitten by any wild animal, please seek medical attention immediately. Rabies is almost 100 percent fatal and causes immense suffering prior to death. Visit bit.ly/46v2RYQ for more information.
Jennifer Plombon Blaine
and the United Kingdom.
Entrance to the museum is free, with rubber ducks available for purchase starting at $2, alongside themed merchandise like s Neil, Kora and Krystal King
T-shirts, mugs, stickers and signs.
The Kings plan to expand their collection of rubber ducks and related memorabilia. “This is just the beginning,” Krystal said.
s The Blaine Art Gallery at 922 Peace Portal Drive. File photo
with “rubber duckie.” Photo by Erin Kelly
Man arrested for breaking into former employee’s Blaine home and raping her
her hands during the assault, according to court documents.
The Blaine Police Department (BPD) arrested Darrell James Cochran, 48, after he was suspected of breaking into the house of a former employee and raping her on July 23.
Cochran was arrested on July 27 on charges of first-degree rape, first-degree burglary, unlawful imprisonment and fourth-degree assault. He was released two days later from Whatcom County Jail on a $50,000 appearance bond.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed in Whatcom County Superior Court, the woman told BPD she woke up around 6 p.m. on July 23 to discover Cochran on top of her.
Cochran held her down and forcibly raped her as she repeatedly told him no, and at one point, screamed for help. The victim attempted to get to her phone to call for help, but Cochran knocked the phone out of
The woman reported internal injuries and visible bruising on her arms and side to investigating officers, BPD Lieutenant Michael Munden wrote in an email to The Northern Light. The woman underwent a sexual assault nurse examination and her friend corroborated the report, according to court documents.Cochran was taken into police custody without incident July 27.
The woman told BPD she had last worked as an employee of Cochran’s several years ago, and that Cochran had been at the woman’s house earlier on the day of July 23, where he was asked to leave, court documents stated.
BPD is still investigating the case.
If you or someone you know is affected by domestic or sexual violence, the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services (DVSAS) 24-hour hotline is available at 360/715-1563 or 877/715-1563.
Brigid Collins Family Support Center, a Bellingham-based nonprofit working to end child abuse, can be reached at 360/734-4616 and brigidcollins.org.
Lummi Victims of Crime has a 24-hour helpline at 360/312-2015.
LOCAL
The National Domestic Violence Helpline operates a chat line at thehotline.org/help.
Intalco aluminum plant fined $5.25 million
B y n olan B a K er
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the now-shuttered Intalco, fining the company $5.25 million after years of alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act at its aluminum smelting facility in Ferndale.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the plant failed multiple clean air inspections between 2017 and 2020, releasing illegal amounts of hazardous pollutants such as carbonyl sulfide, hydrogen fluoride, polycyclic organic matter, mercury and heavy metals. Exposure to these hazardous materials can cause cancer and other serious health impacts, according to the EPA.
The EPA found “hundreds of instances” within the same timeframe
of the facility failing to comply with pollution monitoring, work practice standards, and recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
During one inspection in November 2019, EPA investigators identified “egregious” violations of the Clean Air Act, which prompted the agency to investigate further, where it discovered the litany of non-compliance issues.
Intalco’s parent company, the Pittsburgh-based Alcoa Corporation, began curtailing operations in March 2020 due to grim market outlooks. The facility permanently closed last year.
The DOJ and EPA investigation is a part of a federal effort to reduce air pollution in “overburdened” communities that take the brunt of hazardous air pollutants from industrial facilities, according to the EPA.
Ed Kowalski, assurance director for EPA’s Region 10 Office of Enforcement and Compliance, said that while the aluminum plant has been closed down, any future plant will undergo heavy federal scrutiny.
“While most of us breathe some level of air pollution, some communities have been exposed for decades to pollutants in the air, the water and on land,” Kowalski said. “EPA has prioritized the protection of these communities from facilities that violate laws meant to protect people from industrial pollution. While the Intalco facility is not currently operating, any new operation there should be aware that EPA will do everything it can to enforce environmental and public health laws to protect nearby Ferndale residents.”
Blaine Planning Commission schedules hearing on downtown building height
Blaine Planning Commission has planned a public hearing 6 p.m. Thursday, August 8 on a proposal that would allow developers to increase downtown building heights by 12 feet in the waterview subdistrict. The zoning text amendment would increase the building height limitation from 36 feet to 48 feet, with building appurtenances and recreational amenities allowed to exceed that limit. The impacted area is the west side of Peace Portal Drive, running south of F Street to
north of Clark Street.
The hearing will be held in Blaine City Council chambers at city hall, 435 Martin Street. People can submit written testimony regarding the hearing until 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 7. Three-minute public testimony will be accepted at the hearing. Comments can be emailed to CDScomments@cityofblaine. com with “height amendments” in the subject line, or mailed to Community Development Services Department, Attn: Alex Wenger, 435 Martin Street, Suite 3000, Blaine WA 98230.
The planning commission di-
rected CDS on its intent for the proposal, and staff is in the process of writing the proposal as of July 30, CDS director Alex Wenger wrote in an email. Proposal documents will be available at the CDS Department from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Conversations regarding an increase to building height limits have been held in city hall since 2022, when developers told city staff parking and building height restrictions need to change to improve their return on investment, especially on the west side of Peace Portal Drive.
s Design renderings show an example of what the west side of Peace Portal Drive in downtown Blaine could look like if the proposal to increase the building height by 12 feet is approved. Image courtesy city of Blaine
Vape shop opens on Peace Portal Drive
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A vape shop has opened its doors in downtown Blaine.
Vapester Smoke Shop opened its first U.S. location at 477 Peace Portal Drive, suite 103, on July 20. The store primarily sells vape products, including disposable vapes and smoke items, but also serves as a convenience store selling candy and non-alcoholic drinks. The store sells halal meat, which is processed and prepared in accordance to Islamic dietary laws.
The company’s website for the Blaine location will eventually offer same-day, local delivery for
convenience store items, store manager Shahzad Khan said.
The company has at least two locations in Vancouver, B.C., one on Commercial Drive and the other on Robson Street, according to its Canadian website.
Owner Jubair Khalid was inspired to open a store in Blaine after seeing few vape businesses, Khan said.
“Sometimes people who cross the border are looking for vapes,” Khan said.
Vapester Smoke Shop is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days per week. The store can be reached at 360/656-6775.
Road Rules: Speeding on Interstate 5
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Question: I recently drove from Blaine to Kelso and back on a weekend. Other than downtown Seattle, the average speed on I-5 was 80 mph in both lanes, and there were vehicles passing by me. Twice, a motorcycle blasted through weaving between cars at over 100 mph. I’ve not experienced this kind of freeway driving in Washington before. Is this commonplace now?
Answer: What does it say about our driving culture that the part of your question I find hardest to believe isn’t the 100 mph motorcycles; it’s that you drove almost the entire I-5 corridor in Washington and only had slow traffic in downtown Seattle. My experience has typically been traffic jams starting near Olympia and continuing to Smokey Point. However, we’re not here to talk about slow traffic.
Speed is a problem, no doubt. But is it always as bad as you described? I’m not discounting your experience, but with a data set of one it’s hard to know if that’s an outlier or the norm.
Fortunately, for this discussion, we have more sources. A recent speed observation survey by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission at over 200 locations across the state found that about three-quarters of drivers speed, at least a little bit. Of the drivers who were speeding, just over half of them were within five mph of the speed limit. About six percent of them were 16 or more mph over the speed limit. But none of those locations were on the freeway.
The Department of Transportation’s traffic count database includes vehicle speeds from many of its counting stations. To get an idea of typical I-5 speeds, I picked a location that generally has an open flow of traffic and looked at data for the month of June. Of the nearly one million cars tracked,
Vapester Smoke Shop opened at 477 Peace Portal Drive, suite 103, in downtown Blaine on July 20. The business, which has two locations in Vancouver, B.C., will sell convenience store items and offer same-day delivery on products.
44 percent of them were at or below the 70 mph speed limit. A third of them were no more than five mph above the speed limit. Less than one percent exceeded 85 mph. But that still works out to around 300 cars a day at excessively high rates of speed. On a long drive like you had, you’re bound to see some of them.
That’s the problem here. When we’re dealing with close to six million drivers in the state , a small percentage of high-risk drivers is still a lot. Speed increases both the likelihood and severity of a crash. And I’ll argue that it’s not just the drivers going 15 mph over the speed limit who are creating unnecessary risk. The relationship between speed and crashes is a power function; for every one percent increase in speed, there is a four percent increase in traffic fatalities. In Washington, about a third of all traffic fatalities include speed as a factor.
We’re also collectively driving 3.5 billion more miles per year than we did 10 years ago, while the available lane miles have slightly decreased. To offer a poor analogy, if I lived on 100 acres, I could play Nickelback as loud as I wanted, but since I live in a neighborhood I have to consider the musical tastes and sleep schedules of my neighbors. But the consequences of loud music and risky driving aren’t equivalent.
I’m stating the obvious. Speeding and other dangerous driving puts more people at risk when there are more people on the road. So how about this: Let’s expand our understanding of our neighborhood to include the roads we share with other drivers. And from that perspective, safe drivers make good neighbors.
Doug Dahl is a Blaine resident, manager with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission Region 11 and publishes TheWiseDrive.com.
Photo by Grace McCarthy
Active S eniors
Seniors can feel better with mindful meditation
B y P ete n elson
If we are lucky, getting older will happen.
Life moves fast. As a 60-year-old man, I am beginning to experience life changes happen as I get older. My body is not the same. The world around me seems to move fast and there are so many changes to, well, everything. My friends and family are getting older, and I have lost many dear to me. Time flies and frankly, the future often troubles me. Then I remembered, I am a senior center director. I am among the hundreds going through the same thing, at so many different levels. Not a day goes by that someone at the center doesn’t verbally remind me that I am a young pup and “they remember when they were 60.”
I am grateful for the reminder.
I also understand the quest to understand life and to continue to adapt and grow never ends because life never stops changing. It is more important than ever to slow things down; to stop and smell the roses.
My journey enables me to see the examples of how people embrace life as they age and how community members can do the same. Stress, depression and anxiety are issues for seniors, as is cognitive decline. Sleep, digestion and mood also fit into the equation. Creating healthier habits is not easy. One strategy is to become more mindful through awareness of the present, eliminating judgement and engaging in the moment.
Studies show the connection of physical and emotional well-being. Learning to live with gratitude of the past and acceptance of the future enables us to connect with the present. This is an exercise that everyone can practice, and it does not cost anything.
The mind is the greatest tool we have and needs exercise to bring out the best life has to offer. This, however, does not mean we have to push harder. Instead, we need to slow down and listen.
So how do we do this? I will be your guinea pig. Recently, the Blaine Senior Center started a free meditation class. I joined it. I needed it. Why? I sometimes feel stress. I occasionally don’t sleep well. I forget to eat properly. My body hurts and I forget to take care of myself.
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However, I want to always be mindful and thoughtful of myself and others. Is meditation conventional for me? No. Has meditation been amazing? Yes. Meditation is learning to breathe and releasing all the thoughts and feelings to just be and to remember true intentions. For me, it is to slow down and remember the peace life can give. It’s been amazing. I feel calmer
and more aware. I am able to slow down my thoughts and react with true intention. I fall asleep easier by mentally going to my place by the sea and by paying attention to the moment. I breathe easier.
I am learning to remove myself from situations or judgements by slowing down and being present. I am also in a practice mode that enables me to love myself. Meditation is a worldwide
practice. Many successful people have flourished from its benefits. Mediation and mindfulness have been shown to help with digestion, sleep, pain, depression, cognitive decline and much more. If you are looking for a way to feel and be better, join us for free mediation at the Blaine Senior Center 5 days a week at 8:30 a.m.
Pete Nelson is executive director of Blaine Senior Center.
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s Pete Nelson. File photo
s Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street.
File photo
Senior-friendly interior renovations
Home is where the heart is.
That sentiment may be especially true for seniors who have spent decades living in their homes. A lot of hard work goes into home ownership, and seniors who have lived in the same space for a while undoubtedly have countless memories within the walls of their homes.
A lifetime of experiences in a home can make it hard to leave, but many seniors experience diminished mobility as they age. Mobility issues can make it hard for seniors to traverse their homes, but aging homeowners can make various renovations to make a home more accessible.
• Revamp entryways and staircases. A 2020 study of 1,000 adults in the United Kingdom found that 28 percent of individuals age 65 and older who don’t exercise regularly struggle with activities like walking up stairs. The study, commissioned by Total Fitness, also found that 14 percent of men and women over 65 who regularly engage in moderate exercise still find it challenging to climb up and down a flight of stairs. Seniors facing similar challenges can install a ramp at their home’s entryway so they can comfortably go in and out. Inside, a chair lift can ensure seniors are not struggling to move from one floor to another.
• Raise the outlets throughout the home. They’re easily overlooked, but outlets, particularly those outside the kitchen, tend to be close to the floor. AARP notes that’s no accident, as outlets are generally placed at a height equal to the length of a hammer to save time with measuring when buildings are being constructed. Outlets close to the floor can be difficult for seniors with mobility issues to reach. Relocating the outlets a little higher off the floor is not an expensive renovation, but it can make a home more accessible for seniors who have difficulty bending down or getting down on one knee.
• Install door knob extensions. Verywell Health notes that nearly half of all people age 65 and older have arthritis or another
rheumatic condition. Arthritis can make it difficult for seniors to grip and turn door knobs. Door knob extensions can make it easier for seniors with arthritis to open the doors in their homes. Such extensions are roughly fiveinch levers that can be installed over an existing door knob, making it easier to grab and pull down. Extensions save seniors
the hassle of turning the knob, which some may find painful and almost impossible.
• Renovate the bathroom. Bathroom renovation projects can be costly, but seniors with mobility issues should know that bathrooms can pose a particularly dangerous threat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that roughly three million older adults are treated for fall injuries in emergency departments each year. A 2019 analysis published in The Journals of Gerontology noted that 22 percent of in-home falls resulted in a change in the person’s walking ability. Replacing a step-over shower with a zero-step alternative can make it easier for seniors with mobility issues to get in and out of the shower, thus reducing their risk for falls. Grab bars along shower walls and a chair inside the shower can make it easier to bathe and towel off safely.
Seniors with mobility issues can make their homes more accommodating through an assortment of simple, yet effective renovations.
File photo
File photo
Blaine Arts Council “en blanc” evening and art festival
lery. The council followed the evening with a festival at Blaine Marine Park with local artists selling their work, a beer garden, live music and food trucks. Art was also shown at the Blaine Art Gallery.
Photo by Ruth Lauman
Photo by Ruth Lauman
Photo by Ruth Lauman
Photo by Louise Mugar
Photo by Louise Mugar
Blaine Arts Council hosted an “en blanc” evening fundraiser showcasing 20 juried artists at Blaine Harbor Boating Center on July 26 to raise money for the council’s new downtown art gal-
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
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR WHATCOM COUNTY In re the Estate of: THOMAS JAMES WESTENDORF, Deceased. No. 24-4-00651-37. NOTICE TO CREDITORS. Judge Lee Grochmal
is
Any persons desiring to present their views to the
State Department of Ecology regarding this Application, or interested in Ecology’s action on this Application, may notify Ecology in writing no later than 30 days of the last date of publication of this notice. Ecology reviews public comments and considers whether discharges from this project would cause a measurable change in receiving water quality, and, if so, whether the project is necessary and in the overriding public interest according to Tier II anti-degradation requirements under WAC 173-201A-320.
Comments can be submitted to: ecyrewqianoi@ecy.wa.gov, or ATTN: Water Quality Program, Construction Stormwater Washington State Department of Ecology P.O. Box 47696 Olympia, WA 98504-7696
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
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: July 17, 2024 with Clerk of Court:
Date of First Publication: July 25, 2024
Name of Administrator: SHARON MOERKE
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 16, 2024
AVERY ELDER LAW, P.S. STEVEN D. AVERY, WSBA #35262
Attorney for Administrator SHARON MOERKE www.averyelderlaw.com
Court of Probate Proceedings Superior Court of Whatcom County and Cause Number: Cause No. 24-4-00621-37. IN
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR WHATCOM COUNTY In re the Estate of: NOLAN ALMA DENNETT, Deceased. No. 24-4-00644-37. NOTICE TO CREDITORS. Judge Robert E. Olson
copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the Clerk of 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 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 RCW 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the decedent’s probate and non-probate assets.
Date of first publication: August 1, 2023
Diana Bernadette Flello, PR Address for mailing or service: Diana Flello
c/o: Tanya L. Chevis 4550 Birch Bay Lynden Rd, #1103 Blaine, WA 98230
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:
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
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF WHATCOM In re the Estate of: ROGER ALLEN HERTEL, Deceased. Probate No. 24-4-00663-37. NOTICE TO CREDITORS. Assigned Judge: Robert E. Olson
The Co-Personal Representatives named below have 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 co-personal representatives or the personal representatives’ attorney at the address stated below a copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the Clerk of this Court. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) Thirty days after the personal representative served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(1) (c); or (2) four months after the date of first publication of the notice (twenty-four (24) months if notice is not published). If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim is forever barred, except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.40.051 and 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the decedent’s probate and nonprobate assets.
Date probate opened: July 19, 2024
Date Notice to Creditors filed: July 19, 2024
Date of first publication: July 25, 2024
Date creditor claim period closes: November 25, 2024
Attorney for the Estate: KEITH A. BODE, WSBA #7791 314 Fifth Street, P.O. Box 688 Lynden, WA 98264-0688
TEL (360) 354-5021
ELM Keith@Bode.net
Co-Personal Representatives: DENICE MARIE VELASQUEZ MARCELLA JEAN GILBERTSON
5429 Tsawwassen Loop
5070
room. Nestled among charming cottages, enjoy all Birch Bay has to offer. Matt Berry 360-389-0104
Rep. Larsen letter asks CDC to delay new travel regulations for dogs
U.S. Representative Rick Larsen, who represents Whatcom County in Washington’s 2nd Congressional District, sent a letter to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Mandy Cohen on July 30 to request the new rules for traveling with dogs into the U.S. be delayed. The new rules are scheduled to start Thursday, August 1. U.S. Senator Patty Murray and State Senator Sharon Shewmake, who represents northern Whatcom County in the 42nd legislative district, have also recently written similar letters. Larsen’s letter, in full, is below.
Dear Director Cohen: I write to express concern about CDC’s new rule regarding dogs being brought into the United States at border crossings with Canada. I share CDC’s goal of preventing the spread of rabies in the U.S., but I respectfully request CDC consider delaying implementation of the rule, which is currently set to take effect August 1, 2024. It is clear your agency needs more time to coordinate with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to reconcile the purpose of this rule with the unique needs of border communities. I particularly want to emphasize the outsized burden this rule will impose on the exclave community of Point Roberts, Washington, in my district.
Many of my constituents have voiced apprehension about how this new rule will impact their cross-border travel. People in these communities frequently travel to Canada and back for activities like visiting family and friends, health care appointments, outdoor recreation, shopping, tourism, and emergency services.
I appreciate CDC’s willingness to discuss these issues with me on July 17, 2024. Following that meeting, I was glad to see that CDC simplified the rule on July 22, 2024, by allowing Americans and their dogs to use a single CDC dog import form for up to six months of U.S.-Canada border crossings.
The simplified rule does not, however, assuage all my concerns about the burden it will place on my constituents. For instance, residents of Point Roberts lack veterinary services of their own and must cross into Canada for this reason alone. Although a veterinarian signature will not be required on the CDC form until April 1, 2025, I anticipate confusion among the public, given the new rule’s imminent implementation and the lack of public comment and education on the issue.
Therefore, I encourage you to
OBITUARIES
James (Stogie) Johnson
James (Stogie) Johnson, 92, of Blaine, WA passed away July 10, 2024, after a hard fought battle from complications due to a stroke. He was surrounded by his family. He was a son, brother, father, stepfather, papa, great-papa, uncle, great uncle and a good friend to many. He served in the US Navy Reserves and US Navy Seabees during the Korean War. He also worked for the US National Forest Service as a forest firefighter and civil engineer. When he retired, he moved to Blaine to be closer to his family and had been here for over 30 years. He loved his family, dogs, cigars and his many adventures. He always had a story to tell.
A military honors service will be held on August 4, 2024, at 2 p.m. at the Blaine American Legion Post 86. Immediately following the service there will be a Celebration of Life at Latitude 49 in Birch Bay at 3 p.m.
James is survived by his daughter Diane (Todd) Berge, stepsons Bruce (Rochelyn) Miller and Brian Miller, stepdaughter Suzanne (John) Dougan. Grandchildren: Kristi (Will) Freeman, Kelsey Berge, Andrew (Montha) Miller, Jennifer (Ben) Lund, Michael (Rebecca) Miller, Danny (Amy) Dougan, Derek Dougan, Daulton Dougan, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents Genevieve and Roger Healy, his adopted parents Mabel and Eberhart Johnson, brother Wesley Little, sister and brother-in-law Mary Louise and Donald Buster, stepson Rick Miller and his dogs Bridget, Frankie and Fred.
Special thanks goes out to Alex, Chris, Elvis, Esther, Kristian and Tyler for helping with his care. Also, the caring staff at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Hospital, Whatcom Hospice and Whatcom Cremation & Funeral.
Donations can be made to the US Forest Service Plant a tree program at https://plantatree.fs.usda.gov/.
Nicholas Patrick Webb
November 28,1956 – June 29, 2024
Nick was a man loved by everyone who knew him, always kind, compassionate, honest and true. He had so much more life to live, adventures planned, projects waiting to be built, parties with family and friends to arrange.
Born and raised in Seattle, he moved to Bellingham and then Blaine after his marriage to Sally. He was predeceased by his parents Art and Gerry and brother Dan.
Nick spent a few years as a young man in the Navy on aircraft carrier USS America. Later, he had a long career on the North Slope of Alaska in the oil industry as a respected team leader, His cancer diagnosis surprised us all and he fought valiantly for eight months, keeping his sense of humor until the end. He loved telling dad jokes to anyone who would listen, especially the lovely, good humored servers at the restaurants where we lunched every day who became his friends during his battle.
Nick leaves behind a legacy of love. His wife, best friend and soulmate of 22 years, Sally. His kids who he adored, Mike, Matt, Michaela, Jeff and Rachael. His siblings Linda, Diane, Kevin, Becky, Cathy and Ted and many nieces and nephews.
A very special thank you to the wonderful nurses and team at Whatcom Hospice, they helped us to be able to care for Nick at home until his passing.
Let’s remember Nick not with tears but with a toast to a man who loved life, loved his people fiercely and left an indelible mark on all of us.
Rest in peace Nick, may you forever sail on calm waters, grill the perfect steak and cheer on your Seahawks in the great beyond….
We love you…
consult with Whatcom County government, with border communities across Washington state, and with Americans in exclaves like Point Roberts. I firmly believe CDC can craft a rule that both lessens the risk of dogs with rabies entering the U.S. and affords relief to Ameri -
cans and their dogs who live in border communities.
Collaboration with relevant law enforcement agencies will also facilitate smooth implementation of any new rule. I encourage CDC to continue work -
(See Larsen, page 15)
sheriff’s repOrts
July 19, 8:12 p.m.: Welfare check on Birch Bay Drive.
July 19, 8:50 p.m.: Trespass on Morrison Avenue.
July 19, 5:41 p.m.: Domestic verbal on East Street.
July 20, 8:45 a.m.: Traffic stop arrest on Birch Bay Lynden Road.
July 20, 10:04 a.m.: Security check on Pacific Highway.
July 20, 3:33 p.m.: Juvenile problem cold call on Glendale Drive.
July 21, 3:33 a.m.: Suspicious person on Cedar Avenue.
July 21, 1:57 p.m.: Suspicious vehicle on Birch Bay Square Street.
July 21, 8:18 p.m.: Juvenile problem on Glendale Drive.
July 21, 11:23 p.m.: Suspicious circumstances on Gemini Street.
July 22, 12:37 a.m.: Suicidal subject on Harborview Road.
July 22, 1:26 a.m.: Suspicious vehicle on Blaine Road.
July 22, 8:47 a.m.: Trespass on Harborview Road.
July 22, 4:33 p.m.: Forgery cold call on Birch Bay Drive.
July 22, 6:54 p.m.: Neighborhood dispute on Moonlight Way.
July 23, 3:32 a.m.: DUI arrest on Birch Bay Lynden Road.
July 23, 7:29 a.m.: Suspicious circumstances on McGee Road.
July 23, 9:57 a.m.: Civil problem cold call on Ocean Cove Lane.
July 23, 2:52 p.m.: Trespass on Birch Bay Square Street.
July 23, 4:19 p.m.: Suspicious circumstances on Birch Bay Square Street.
July 23, 5:39 p.m.: Domestic physical on Rob Lee Drive.
July 23, 5:56 p.m.: Theft cold call on Skeena Way.
July 23, 7:22 p.m.: Traffic stop arrest on Blaine Road.
July 23, 7:49 p.m.: Suspicious person on Birch Bay Lynden Road.
July 23, 8:45 p.m.: Harassment on Birch Bay Drive.
July 23, 10:35 p.m.: Traffic stop arrest on Birch Bay Drive.
CrOssWOrd
ACROSS
1. Spiritual leaders
7. A solution
13. Fortified wine
14. Edible mollusk
16. Blood group
17. A way to compare 19. Gov’t lawyer
20. Actor Ciaran
22. Calendar month
23. Very willing
25. __ ex Machina
26. Satisfies
28. Type of berry
29. Distinctive practice
30. Popular pickup truck model
31. Dekagram
33. Naturally occurring solid material
34. Company officer
36. Villains
38. Cricket frogs
40. German founder of psychology
41. Endured
43. A female domestic
44. A situation you can be in
45. Cigarette (slang)
47. Fiber optic network (abbr.)
48. Belgian composer Walter 51. Employee stock ownership plan
53. Belonging to the bottom layer
55. Musical or vocal sound
56. Yankees’ great Judge
58. Dickens character 59. Beloved late sportscaster Craig 60. South Dakota 61. Exposing human vice or folly to ridicule 64. Atomic #79 65. Former Braves pitcher Julio 67. Humor 69. Shawl 70. Hospital unit DOWN 1. Animal disease 2. Commercial 3. Arts and crafts supplies 4. Containers 5. Investment vehicle
6. A way to greet in a friendly way
7. Bulged downward 8. “A Day Without” singer 9. Lay about 10. Intestinal 11. Negative 12. Caused to be loved 13. Prominent in Islamic eschatology 15. Sincere 18. Not in 21. Number above the line in a fraction
24. Bill Murray chased one 26. Pouch 27. Swedish krona 30. Start over 32. Wild white or yellow flower 35. Fourteen 37. Visual way of interacting with a computer (abbr.) 38. Up-to-date 39. Campaigns 42. Touch lightly 43. “Boardwalk Empire” actress Gretchen 46. Violent seizure of property 47. One who sup -
July 24, 10:02 a.m.: Mental health check on Surf Place.
July 24, 1:40 p.m.: Civil problem cold call on Beachcomber Drive.
July 24, 2:01 p.m.: Sex offender registration on Alder Street.
July 24, 5:15 p.m.: Mental health check on Birch Bay Drive.
July 24, 9:22 p.m.: Vandalism on Birch Bay Lynden Road.
July 25, 2:47 a.m.: Missing person cold call on Birch Terrace Lane.
July 25, 3:00 a.m.: Welfare check on California Trail.
July 25, 11:59 a.m.: Theft cold call on Clamdigger Drive.
July 25, 1:55 p.m.: Trespass on Birch Bay Square Street.
July 25, 2:33 p.m.: Hit and run cold call on Francis Lane.
July 25, 2:58 p.m.: Traffic stop arrest on Bay Road.
July 25, 4:34 p.m.: Neighborhood dispute cold call on Parkland Drive.
July 25, 5:56 p.m.: Domestic violence arrest on Alder Street.
ports the Pope
49. Malaise
50. Body fluid
52. Inauthentic person
54. Title of respect
55. Chilean city
57. Central Japanese city
59. Garment
62. Draw from 63. Automobile
66. The man
68. Top government lawyer
THENORTHERNLIGHT.COM
tides
August 1-7 at Blaine. Not for navigation.
Coming up
Blaine Chamber Breakfast Meeting: Thursday, August 1, 7:30–8:30 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Speaker: Blaine police chief Rodger Funk. Info: blainechamber.com.
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 and pet contest. Info: blainechamber.com.
Backstage @ the Border Benefit Concert: Saturday, August 3, 7–9 p.m., 382 Boblett Street. Featuring Susan Mills, piano, and The Masked Bandits (Peter, guitar; Kelley, vocals; Susan, guitar and vocals; April, vocals; Kristen, violin). Benefits Loads of Love, laundry program that pays for community members’ laundromat costs.
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.
Rollback Weekend Car Show: Sunday, August 4, 8 a.m.–4 p.m., Birch Bay Beach Park, 7930 Birch Bay Drive. Car show, live music by North Sound Soul, food trucks, vendors and cornhole tournament. Info: birchbaychamber.com.
National Night Out: Tuesday, August 6, 5–7 p.m., Birch Bay State Park’s bp Heron Center. Family friendly fun meeting local first responders, learning agency equipment and fun photo opportunities. Free hot dog, chips and water to the first 300 people. Info: birchbaychamber.com.
Senior Day in the Park: Wednesday, August 7, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Hovander Park, Ferndale. Lunch, presentations, exhibits, music, vendors. Bus rides available from the Blaine Senior Center (sign up required). Sponsored by the Whatcom Council on Aging and Whatcom County senior centers. Info: blaineseniorcenter.org.
Birds and Native Plant Walk: Friday, August 9, 10 a.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.
Whatcom Junior Grooves: Friday, August 9, 2 p.m., Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. Jazz drummer Jerry Steinhilber will lead young people (grades K-5) in an interactive program to learn about jazz and to try their hand at making some music of their own. Info: wcls.org. Live Music at Birch Bay State Park: Saturday, August 10, 3 p.m., Birch Bay State Park wildlife theater. The Bellingham Community Band, under the direction of Frank Kuhl, performs concert selections as well as light-hearted summer songs. Bring a chair. Info: bbbparkandrec.org.
Character Sidewalk Stroll: Saturday, August 10, 4–5 p.m., meet at the Blaine Welcome Center, 545 Peace Portal Drive. Just because its the middle of summer, doesn’t mean you can’t still dress in your favorite character costume! Join this free, family-friendly opportunity to show off your favorite character all with no judgment. Info: blainerunnersgroup@yahoo.com.
Ongoing
Blaine Food Bank: 500 C Street. Open Mondays 9 a.m.–noon, Wednesdays 5–7 p.m., and Fridays 9 a.m.–noon. Info:360/3326350 or Info@blainefoodbank.org.
The Bridge Food Bank: Fridays, 2 p.m.–4:30 p.m. The Bridge Community Hope Center, 7620 Birch Bay Drive. New registration required at thebridgehope.com or call 360/366-8763. Volunteers welcome.
CAP Clothing Bank: Mondays and Fridays, 9 a.m.–noon and Wednesdays, 5–7 p.m. 508 G Street. The Community Assistance Program clothing bank is now located in the basement of the CAP Center providing free clothing and linens. Donations accepted only during open hours or by special arrangement. Info: blainecap.org or 360/392-8484.
Weather
Precipitation: During the period of July 22 to July 28, no precipitation was recorded. The 2024 year-to-date precipitation is 18.85 inches.
Temperature: High for the past week was 77.5°F on July 27 with a low of 51.0°F on July 26. Average high was 75.8°F and average low was 54.1°F.
Meals on Wheels Frozen Meals: Thursdays 11:30 a.m.–noon, Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Adults 60+ pick up five frozen meals. Suggested donation $5 per meal or whatever is affordable. First come, first serve basis. Info: 360/332-8040.
Senior Community Meals: Monday–Friday, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Suggested donation of $5 per meal ($8.50 if under 60) or whatever is affordable. First come, first serve basis. Info: 360/332-8040.
The Bridge Clothing Bank Boutique: Open Wednesday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Donations accepted Wednesdays, 11 a.m.– 2 p.m. or by appointment. The Bridge Community Hope Center’s new location, 7620 Birch Bay Drive.
Alaska Packers Association Cannery Museum: Open Thursday–Sundays, 1–5 p.m., 9261 Semiahmoo Parkway. Free, donations welcome.
Courtesy Birch Bay Water & Sewer Dist.
City of Blaine hires new finance director
The city of Blaine recently hired Jennifer Spidle as finance director.
Spidle has 17 years of private and public accounting experience, most recently starting her own company, Spidle Office Solutions, in Custer in 2019.
Her work spans nonprofit accounting, homeowner association accounting, cash flow planning, auditing, water systems, tax preparation and internal controls and policies.
“I’m happy to be here and to bring my skill set to this position,” Spidle said. “I look forward to learning the nuances of government accounting, and
achieving the goals of the council and community members so we can continue to have a sense of pride, ownership and growth.”
Spidle has focused on managing the finances of homeowners associations (HOAs), and managed the Sudden Valley Community Association when it was the largest HOA in Washington state.
She likened large HOAs to small cities as they often have their own roads, utilities, parks, maintenance departments and recreational amenities.
Originally from Anacortes, Spidle earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Western Washington University in 2010 and shortly after became a certified public accountant.
Spidle said she saw working for a city as the next logical step in her career and liked that Blaine reminded her of her hometown.
Blaine City Council approved Spidle’s contract on July 8. Per the agreement, Spidle’s salary will start at $140,000 annually, with an increase to $147,000 slated January 1 if performance goals are met.
When she’s not working, Spidle said she enjoys spending time with her two children, listening to music and dancing.
ing closely with CBP as well as other federal and local agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Rules that give proper discretion to enforcement agencies help them satisfy unique local needs while still achieving the rule’s purpose.
For these reasons, I urge CDC to postpone implementation of the dog import rule. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Rick Larsen
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
DOORS 7:00PM | SHOW 8:00PM
s Jennifer Spidle. File photo
B y G race M c c arthy
Drayton Harbor Maritime Festival
Saturday & Sunday
SHUTTLE BUS
From Birch Bay Beach Park to Blaine Marine Park AUG. 3 & 4
August 3 - 4
SATURDAY, AUGUST 3
Kids’ Pirate Daze - Blaine Marine Park • 10 AM - 2 PM
Games • Walk-the-Plank • Mermaid Photo Ops
Pirate Parade & Costume Contest • Scavenger Hunt
Hot Dogs & Chips for $1 • Story Telling • Treasure Hunts
Batallion Water Battle
Blaine Community Theater Water Balloon Play & more!
To enjoy all the weekend festivities in both Birch Bay & Blaine, WTA is running a SHUTTLE BUS from Birch Bay Beach Park to Blaine Water Treatment Facility on Marine Drive.
RUNS SAT & SUN, AUG 3-4 - 8:30 AM - 5 PM
From Blaine on the half-hour. From Birch Bay on the hour.
MARITIME FESTIVAL - Blaine Harbor Boating Center Gate 2 • 10 AM - 5 PM
Street Fair • Food • Captain’s Quarters Tent
Live Music by the Devillies
SUNDAY, AUGUST 4
MARITIME FESTIVAL • CAR SHOW
ALL PAWS ON DECK PET CONTEST
Blaine Harbor Boating Center Gate 2 • 10 AM - 5 PM
