on administrative leave, page 3
Beach Cat Brewing to host ‘Catoberfest’ at Marine Park
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To celebrate the incoming autumn while also supporting the Blaine Food Bank, Beach Cat Brewing will host Catoberfest at the Blaine Marine Park amphitheater on Saturday, September 14. Tickets for the seaside festival are $25 and will go from 12 to 7 p.m. for VIP guests, and 1 to 7 p.m. for all other attendees, with all ticket proceeds benefitting the Blaine Food Bank. Catoberfest will feature live music from Dad Company, Paperhearts, and Michael Dayvid, along with a DJ, beer garden, games, silent auction and a costume contest.
Beach Cat Brewing co-owner Jake Gobeille wanted to celebrate the change of season with a classic Bavarian-style Oktoberfest while raising money for a crucial nonprofit. Gobeille said the food bank’s motto, “Turning hunger into hope,” resonated with him.
The date, September 14, is a special one for Gobeille. It’s the birthday of his best friend Bradley Hill, who committed suicide in November 2023. Gobeille said he wanted to make Hill’s birthday a celebration, and thinks the festival will be a great way to keep on remembering a dear friend, all while helping the community.
“All of the music and the event itself was to put something together to honor my friend’s memory,” Gobeille said. “His whole family will be there, so it’s a personal thing for me. That’s one of the reasons I did this, to highlight and show that the food bank needs our support and we need to be able to be there for our community.”
Taps from breweries Beach Cat, Anacortes, Barley Pop!, Distant West, Menace, Kulshan, Larrabee, El Sueñito, Bickersons and Bellingham Cider Company, and three local food trucks will all be available, with proceeds benefitting the Blaine Food Bank. VIPs will receive two free drink tickets, with tickets available for general admission for $4 per ticket,
(See Catoberfest, page 5)
Mural festival to bring international artists
A mural going up on the G Street Plaza is the first in a new mural festival slated to bring international artists to Blaine later this month.
OverAll Walls founder Margaret Owens said she hopes to create an annual mural festival in Blaine, which kicked off September 9 with artist Emily Ding, of Houston, painting sandpipers on the side of the Blaine Bouquets wall facing G Street Plaza.
“The fact that this teeny, tiny little town will have artists who do nothing but travel and paint is pretty incredible,” said Owens, who helped start the Wide Open Walls mural festival in Sacramento before moving to Blaine in 2022. Ding, who needed to start work early due to scheduling, is the first of three artists who will be painting murals and creating art installations during the last week of September. The other artists will be Tom Bob, a New York City artist who will create street art from mundane city
City council discusses next steps for Plover
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Blaine City Council held a September 9 study session on the Plover ferry’s repairs after a piece of the stern fell off and exposed rotting wood in late August.
City manager Mike Harmon told council during the meeting that the city hired Greg Berg to run the Plover on August 22. Berg, a former officer in the U.S. Coast Guard, previously worked in the Blaine public works department and now works for Cascade
Engineering Group which does contract work for the city.
The new Plover crew was conducting training on August 25 when a plate on the starboard side of the boat came off near Semiahmoo Pier, exposing rotted wood, Berg said.
Shortly after, the Coast Guard issued a nosail order for the vessel, which had just finished nearly two years of repair work earlier in the summer and was preparing to start rides for the remainder of the season.
Berg said he had hoped the repairs would
be minimal and allow the Plover to return to operations quickly, but a shipwright will need to look at the boards needing to be replaced.
“Originally we thought it was a few planks above the water line. You put the planks in, you hammer, man. You do whatever shipwrights do and you’re back operating,” Berg told council.
Berg said there were a few other spots they noticed once they took the Plover out of the
(See Plover, page 10)
objects; a British muralist who goes by the name My Dog Sighs; and local Tlingit artist Justin Ketah.
Ketah is expected to start painting a mural on the car wash by Blaine City Hall the weekend of Saturday, September 21. Bob is anticipated to create street art around Blaine Tuesday, September 24 and My Dog Sighs will paint the front wall of the Blaine Arts Gallery starting Wednesday, September 25. Ding may re-
(See Murals, page 2)
Photo
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Murals ...
From page 1
turn to Blaine during the last week of September to do additional work on the mural if needed, Owens said.
The artists’ work is expected to be finished by the end of September, Owens said.
Owens said she hopes the festival will enhance the arts and tourism in Blaine. She hopes, in part, this will be accomplished through the artists’ notoriety. Combined, the artists have over 375,000 followers on Instagram, with Bob having
over 247,000 followers (@TomBobNYC), My Dog Sighs having 92,100 followers (@mydogsighs) and Ding having 36,000 (@_emilyding).
The artists have also been featured in national news. The Guardian ran an article in August titled “Beyond Banksy: the other British street artists you should know” that featured My Dog Sighs, and BuzzFeed published an article in late July on Bob’s work titled “You have to see how this street artist turns pipes, curbs, and sewer grates into storybook works of art.”
Ding’s work has been featured in the Houston Chronicle, CBS
News and Axios.
OverAll Walls
Owens, who is also president of Blaine Arts Council, formed OverAll Walls as a nonprofit in January and is currently the sole manpower behind the organization. She hopes to change that, however, in growing the festival next year.
Owens said she wanted to create a festival in Blaine similar to the Wide Open Walls mural festival she helped form in Sacramento, California and ran through this year. The festival started in 2017, according to its website.
The idea for Wide Open Walls came from its founder David So-
bon wanting to brighten rundown areas. Owens began working for Sobon’s auctioneering business and the next year he wanted to start a mural business, she said.
Wide Open Walls has quickly covered Sacramento in artwork.
The festival has created over 600 mural projects, according to its website, many of which are in Sacramento schools. The festival has grown to include concerts, gallery shows, artist talks and more.
“My focus before I even moved here was, ‘How do I turn Blaine into an art destination with all kinds of incredible art that you might only see if you go to Van-
couver or Seattle?’” she said. “You don’t see something like this anywhere else, except mostly in bigger cities.”
Owens said she brought her idea to the city of Blaine, which she said gave her direction and was supportive of her project. Owens invited the artists and gave them an idea of what to paint based on conversations with city staff and building owners, but left creative freedom up to the artists. The murals are intended to remain after the festival.
“It will be interesting over the next few years to see the caliber of artists we’ll get in Blaine,” she said.
s Artist Emily Ding paints a mural with sandpipers on the side of the Blaine Bouquets building on G Street Plaza on September 11. Ding is one of four artists coming to Blaine this month to paint murals and create street art as part of the first OverAll Walls mural festival.
Photo by Grace McCarthy
Undersheriff put on administrative leave
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Whatcom County undersheriff Steve Harris was placed on paid administrative leave August 30 after an investigation of multiple human resources complaints began, according to a September 4 press release from sheriff Donnell “Tank” Tanksley.
Little information regarding the details of the complaints were made available by Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office
(WCSO), other than that complaints against Harris were sent to both Tanksley and the county human resources department. The investigation does not include criminal allegations and will be conducted by an independent investigator.
“The public holds government employees to a high level of conduct: we do, too,” Tanksley wrote in the statement. “At the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, integrity is a cornerstone value that helps ensure
Man transported to hospital after train incident
A 40-year-old Seattle man was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries after a pedestrian versus train incident in Blaine on September 8.
Blaine Police Department (BPD) and North Whatcom Fire and Rescue responded to the incident in the 100 block of Marine Drive at 4:38 p.m. September 8, according to a BPD Facebook post. Witnesses told police that the man intentionally stood on the tracks as the freight train approached.
“We hope the person recovers fully and gets the help they need,”
Blaine PD wrote. Call 911 if you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis or suicidal thoughts.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 988 or text HOME to 741741 for a crisis counselor.
The Whatcom County Triage Center crisis line is 800/584-3578.
The Washington Warm Line is 877/500-9276 and provides peer support for people living with mental illness 5-9 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
For more information about resources, visit namiwhatcom.org/crisis-resources.html.
we are serving all community members and WCSO staff fairly, equitably and consistent with our mission.”
Tanksley added in his statement that paid administrative leave does not mean the allegations against the employee are true, and is a routine, non-disciplinary practice during an investigation.
Welcome! • Free! • Info call: 360-319-3643 Lighthouse Baptist ChurCh 8373 Harborview Road, Birch Bay 360-303-2793 • birchbaybaptist.com Lighthouse Baptist Church Welcomes you to meetings with Evangelist Dan Knickerbocker
Don’t wait until the last minute! Book by 9/30/2024 to
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.
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Contributors In This Issue
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The Northern Light
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Tel: 360/332-1777
Vol XXX, No 14
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s Dozens gathered at Blaine Art Council’s art gallery at 922 Peace Portal Drive for the First Friday Downtown Art Walk on September 6. The event, which had live music and served oysters from Drayton Harbor Oyster Company, is the second art walk the council has organized. Downtown businesses stayed open later and displayed local artists’ work during the evening. The council plans to hold an art walk during the first Friday evening of each month.
Blaine Arts Council holds First Friday Art Walk OpiniOn Letters
The Editor:
Regarding a recent need for a presentation by the port, the entire Blaine City Council can easily be found all together in one place at one time at our council meetings. Like fish in a barrel. Very often if a local agency has a presentation for city council, staff simply adds that presentation into the pre-agenda that can happen in the time leading to the 6 p.m. official council meeting agenda (example: 4:30 p.m. before a meeting). This happens very often. The rest of the week, our council members have differing commitments, work and travel that makes it difficult to get the group together.
Port of Bellingham representatives spent weeks trying to reinvent the wheel by trying to find a way to get Blaine council members to meet on some other day and time than the one we all committed to: second and fourth Monday evenings. As far as I know, one council member is a much needed medical professional who works 12-hour shifts, others own businesses and
have various work out of town. As the old saying goes: It’s simpler for Muhammad to go to the mountain,than to try and get the mountain to come to Muhammad.
When the port staffer lamented that they couldn’t get RSVPs from many council members, I gave them the notso-secret formula: Get staff to put you on our pre-agenda, and we’ll all be there and give you our full attention. My friend and colleague Ken Bell (we served together on the Whatcom County Charter Review Commission) amusingly retorted to not invite me, in part as response to my years of publicly calling him out for his high absenteeism in his role of port commissioner. (I believe that he had been working part time in Antarctica, missing many port meetings.)
I hope this clarifies the issue.
Richard May, Blaine council member Blaine
The Editor:
OK, everyone has had their chance to
CiviC Meetings
Birch Bay Water and Sewer District: Second and fourth Thursdays, 4 p.m., district office, 7096 Point Whitehorn Road, Birch Bay. Info and Zoom meeting link: bbwsd.com.
Blaine City Council: Second and fourth Mondays, 6 p.m., Blaine City Council chambers, 435 Martin Street. Info: ci.blaine.wa.us.
Blaine Planning Commission: Second Thursday, 6 p.m., Blaine City Council chambers, 435 Martin Street. Info: bit.ly/3EwWiZi.
Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation: Meetings are second Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Info: bbbparkandrec.org.
point fingers and blame each other for the plight of the Plover. Letter writers and social media trolls have added their two cents about letting her rot on the spit, like that sad plywood boat out there now, a favorite for photographers. Maybe now we can put that all aside and get both sides to the table to figure out how to raise sufficient funds this time to meet our common interests: getting the Plover fully and properly repaired to U.S. Coast Guard standards and professionally operating again.
With the new keel, stem and many frames and planking already restored, the lion’s share of the cost of repair is (to use a bad pun) already sunk cost.If you need examples of how restoring a historic vessel in much worse shape than the (See Letters, next page)
Please send letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.
Blaine Public Works and Park Advisory Board: Second Thursday, 9:30 a.m., Blaine council chambers. Info: 360/332-8311, ext. 3330.
Blaine School Board: Fourth Monday, 7 p.m., Blaine school district boardroom, 770 Mitchell Avenue. Info: blainesd.org.
North Whatcom Fire and Rescue: Third Thursday, 10:30 a.m., Station 61 at 9408 Odell Road and via Zoom. Info: nwfrs.net.
BBWARM: Birch Bay Watershed and Aquatic Resources Management (BBWARM) District Advisory Committee meets quarterly in-person and on Zoom. Info: bbwarm.whatcomcounty.org.
Photo by Ruth Lauman
Birch Bay man arrested for child molestation
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A 60-year-old Birch Bay man was booked into Whatcom County Jail for two counts of first-degree child molestation on September 4. He was released the same day on a $50,000 bail bond.
Michael Stewart Nault, 60, was arrested after a child known to him reported he sexually assaulted them on three separate occasions in their sleep, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed in Whatcom County Superior Court. The child told a forensic interviewer one of the assaults occurred in March and another occurred August 15. A date was not provided in court documents for the other assault.
The child told the interviewer that Nault denied the assault in March and they had believed him. Screenshots of text messages in March and on August 15 showed the child messaging another adult that they needed to talk and didn’t want Nault around when they talked, according to court records.
Washington state law defines first-degree child molestation, a class A felony, as “when the person has, or knowingly causes
Letters ...
From previous page
Plover might be possible, see how westernflyer.org or sampsonboat.co.uk did it.
The city can start by waiving those ridiculous liquidated damages on Drayton Harbor Maritime, a nonprofit company with volunteer labor restoring an historic wooden boat, not a for-profit, hard money contractor doing repetitive standardized work. If they wanted that, they could have gone to a professional yard and paid maybe triple the cost. Or more.
Not only is the Plover part of Blaine’s historic maritime heritage, it is a platform of education and discovery, and maybe the only chance for some kid to ever be out on the water. For five bucks.
She’s one of a kind and an icon of Blaine, and deserves better.
Rick Beauregard
Blaine
The Editor:
As summer comes to an end, it would have been nice if The Northern Light had given more “light” to the strong efforts of Harpiar Gandhi and the Blaine Public Works Department this summer. They were seen all over Blaine working to improve the infrastructure and appearance of our community. Seems like I saw their trucks out there much more than any other city vehicles. Thank you!
City management however seems so focused on increasing building heights downtown for smalltime developer wannabes and selling off our community parking, that all else appears ignored.
Is there any code enforcement
another person under the age of eighteen to have, sexual contact with another who is less than twelve years old and the perpetrator is at least thirty-six months older than the victim.”
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) interviewed Nault on August 26. When interviewed, Nault told the WCSO detective there were about four separate times when the child had initiated sexual contact with him.
When asked by a WCSO detective, Nault said he didn’t believe the child was lying about the assaults, according to the APC. Nault said the child “truly believes
here? By whom? What about the single-family residence that has become a de facto office building? The city was informed of it in February, yet there’s still a “shingle” seen on the home giving the appearance of operating businesses. A long-time abandoned house burns down with prior complaints made of an open doorway. Was that cited? What did that fire cost the city? Was there an investigation? What’s happening with other vacant storefronts and homes?
The Plover had huge cost overruns. The city says it’s broke, why did it request such expenditures without audits first?
What about speed limits, crosswalks and stop signs becoming regularly disregarded without the previous levels of response? Such could increase revenues. Why do I still even bother warning visitors to beware when driving here? Why was a yellow “no parking” stripe painted on a curb corner in front of a property owned by a planning commissioner, yet not on any other corners where very much needed? Etc.
I don’t desire Big Brother here, but there is a growing sense of apathy, chaos and lawlessness happening in Blaine. Codes and laws are enacted to promote equity and equality, and to keep residents safe from injustice, injury, liability and loss.
How has Blaine been helped as the city backseats its codes and mandated business in its downtown development reverie? Allowing privilege and preference and ignoring code violations can result in variances and precedents and problems.
It’s time for Martin Street to start working like Yew Street.
Ray Leone Blaine
Catoberfest ...
From page 1
or $25 for seven tickets.
Gobeille said the event has already raised $8,000 from local business sponsorships, and is setting a goal of $25,000 after beer and food sales, silent auctions, and any other donations are tallied up.
“It was just this gut feeling of needing to do something for the city of Blaine and do something for the community,”
Gobeille said. “The food bank was an easy decision because of the vital services they provide to this community.”
September 12, 2024 9:30 AM – Public Works and Park Advisory Board Meeting 6:00 PM – Planning Commission Meeting
September 23, 2024 4:00 PM – Study Session: General Fund and Tourism Fund Budget Discussion 6:00 PM – City Council Meeting
it happened” after the detective asked him for more details.
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.
The National Domestic Violence Helpline operates a chat line at thehotline.org/help.
Corrections
In the September 5 issue of The Northern Light, an article titled “bp Cherry Point to receive $26.8 million for sustainable aviation fuel” incorrectly stated the grant money will help the refinery use the fuel. The refinery will produce the fuel.
In the September 5 issue an article titled “Judge blocks Healthy Children’s Fund repeal” incorrectly stated the Healthy Children’s Fund tax rate was 19 cents per $1,000 in assessed home value. The current tax rate is 16.75 cents per $1,000. We regret the errors.
The Blaine Food Bank feeds around 750 families per week, and has provided crucial nutrition to the northwest Whatcom community for decades.
For more information and to buy tickets to Catoberfest, visit bit.ly/3TjpbPp. To donate or volunteer to the Blaine Food Bank, visit blainefoodbank.org.
September 24, 2024 3:30 PM – Civil Service Commission Meeting
October 10, 2024 9:30 AM – Public Works and Park Advisory Board Meeting
October 14, 2024 6:00 PM – City Council Meeting
Contact information for staff and Councilmembers can be found on the City’s website.
Call (360) 332-8311 or visit our website www.cityofblaine.com
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
THE CITY OF BLAINE IS CURRENTLY SEEKING MEMBERS FOR THE FOLLOWING CITY COUNCIL VACANCY:
CITY COUNCIL VACANCY
PEOPLE LIVING IN WARD 1 – POSITION 2 ARE ELIGIBLE.
This is an excellent opportunity to serve your community. Regular City Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Mondays of every month. Attendance is also required at Study Sessions and Special Council meetings. Applications may be submitted online at https://www.ci.blaine.wa.us/327/City-Council”https://www. ci.blaine.wa.us/327/City-Council. Please contact the City Clerk’s Office for additional information at HYPERLINK “mailto:ClerkRecords@cityofblaine.com”ClerkRecords@ cityofblaine.com.
The applicant must be a citizen of the U.S. and the state of Washington, a registered voter of the city at the time of filing, and a resident of the city for at least one (1) year. This appointment will fill a vacancy until the November election in 2025.
Applications must be submitted by 4:30 PM Friday, September 20, 2024. The City Council is expected to interview applicants in October.
Here is a QR code to the City Council page where the ward map and application can be found:
File photo
spOrts
Football starts season with win, volleyball, soccer falter
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The first week of the fall sports season is in the books, and the results for the Blaine Borderites were a mixed bag.
Girls volleyball, under firstyear head coach Kjirstin Assink, dropped its first game of the new tenure, and girls soccer lost in a high scoring season opener against Oak Harbor. Football, however, had a great start to the season, coming out of the gates with a thorough win against Renton.
Girls Soccer
Going on the road to start a new season is not the advantageous start a team wants, and that was the case this week when the girls soccer team traveled to Whidbey Island to face Oak Harbor on Tuesday, September 10.
The Borderites were unable to stop Oak Harbor’s offense, losing 6-3 to drop to 0-1-0 on the young season. Last year, Oak Harbor was a tough opponent, finishing the season with an impressive 14-7-1 record.
The Borderites likely didn’t have much of a scouting report for Oak Harbor, a team that they haven’t played in the regular season since 2021.
Blaine won’t face Oak Harbor again this season, and will hope to bounce back with a home opener against 2A Northwest Conference (NWC) opponent Lakewood on Thursday, September 12 at 7 p.m. at Borderite Stadium.
Volleyball
The Blaine volleyball team also started its season on the road, traveling to face La Conner on Tuesday, September 10. The Borderites couldn’t get out of Skagit County with a win, losing to La Conner 3-1.
The Borderites lost a few key contributors to graduation last year, most notably outside hitter Teya Zaddack, who committed to play collegiate volleyball at Western Washington University. The Borderites finished the 2023 season with a 5-10 record.
Head coach Assink said that there are more athletes on this year’s team with collegiate aspirations and talent, and the team has a goal of reaching the postseason after a lengthy state tournament drought.
Blaine will have a chance to right the ship and earn Assink’s first win as varsity head coach at home against Lakewood on Thursday, September 12 at 7 p.m.
Football
Blaine football couldn’t have asked for a better start to the 2024 regular season with a decisive 42-20 win over Renton on Saturday, September 7 at Borderite Stadium.
The weekend day game provided a great atmosphere to the start of the season and turn the page on the 2023 season that saw the Borderites finish 3-7. The Borderites immediately gave the crowd something to cheer for by putting up 35 firsthalf points.
Blaine’s offense rarely needed to throw the ball, relying on senior running backs Jaiden Paez and Colby Shipp to run the ball right over Renton’s young and inexperienced defensive front.
Paez scored the first four touchdowns for Blaine, the first three coming on outside runs, and the fourth coming on a scoop-and-score touchdown on defense after a Renton fumble.
All told, Paez finished with
137 yards on eight rushes, Shipp had 84 yards on four rushes, and senior quarterback Colin Davis only threw the ball four times, completing just two passes for 20 yards while also rushing for a touchdow.
Throughout the offseason, head coach Andy Olson was getting his team in the weight room to get stronger, especially on the offensive and defensive lines. Those two position groups seemed to shine the brightest on Saturday, with the offensive line paving the way for the ground attack, and the defensive line constantly pestering and confounding Renton.
“I really like the fact that running backs were hitting the hole hard and just being physical,” Olson said. “We went out there blocking and playing through the whistle. I loved watching the big fellas 15 yards downfield still blocking.”
The Borderites didn’t allow a positive yard rushing until the second half, and all of Renton’s 20 points were scored against second-line substitutes playing in the second half.
Senior defensive end Zi Yu showed out especially, tallying 6.5 tackles, three sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. The senior defensive end opposite to Yu, captain Blake Koreski also showed why he’s one of the most consistent defenders in the conference with 5.5 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
check engine lights,
“I liked the physical energy, we were flying around,” Olson said. “We were doing the things that we can control well, and we put a lot on tape of things that we can go fix.”
The Borderites next game will truly be the first major test of the season when Blaine hosts Cedar Park Christian (1-0) on Friday, September 13 at 7 p.m. at Borderite Stadium. Stats provided by WhatcomPreps.com
s From top: Senior Jaiden Paez and junior Kai Kerwin celebrate a touchdown. Kerwin, l., jukes a Renton defender. Yu, l., and other Borderites celebrate a touchdown on September 7 against Renton.
Photos by Nolan Baker
s Senior defensive end Zi Yu, r., tackles a Renton High School quarterback during Blaine’s 42-20 win on September 7. Yu recorded 6.5 tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles.
Photo by Nolan Baker
Around Whatcom County ...
Western Solar energy expo
Western Solar is celebrating the grand opening of its new building with an energy expo called The Solar Shift 4-7 p.m. Friday, September 13 at 4326 Pacific Highway in Bellingham. The free event will have workshops on solar energy, experts available to answer questions, food and refreshments, lawn games, door prizes and music.
Representatives from Puget Sound Energy, Tesla, Sustainable Connections and other organizations will be at the event. Workshops include battery basics, building solar in new construction, the installation process with Western Solar and SPAN’s smart electrical panels. Attendees can also talk to modeling experts to see if their roofs are compatible for solar.
For more information, visit westernsolarinc.com/grand-opening.
Equestrian circus comes to Lynden Cavallo Equestrian Arts is bringing its Cirque Ma’Ceo show to Lynden with five show-stopping performances filled with exotic horses, acrobatics and horseback riding stunts.
Cirque Ma’Ceo features performers from Cirque Du Soleil and Ringling Bros. and Barnum
& Bailey, among other shows. The show will have nine horse breeds perform a variety of riding styles, from dressage to gypsy bareback.
The performances will be held under the big top at the Meridian Equestrian Center, 6764 Guide Meridian Road in Lynden. Shows start at 7 p.m. Friday, September 13; 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, September 14; and 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday, September 15.
Each show is about 90 minutes. Tickets are $35 for adults, $20 for children and $55-60 for VIP seats.
To purchase tickets or for more information, visit cirquemaceo. com or call 800/927-1539.
Whatcom County Farm Tour
Those who want to learn about how food is produced locally will have a chance during the upcoming Whatcom County Farm Tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, September 14.
Bellingham-based nonprofit Sustainable Connections is organizing the self-guided farm tour across 16 farms. The farms participating in the Blaine and Birch Bay area include Fair Cow’s Path Farm at 4186 Loomis Trail Road in Blaine, Five Elements Harvest at
9498 Stein Road in Custer, Widnor Farms at 1858 W. Badger Road in Custer, and Grace Harbor Farms and Steensma Creamery at 2347 Birch Bay-Lynden Road in Custer. The tour is free with a suggested donation of $10 per person or $20 per group. Registration for the farm tour can be done at bit. ly/3z5WGy2.
Semiahmoo Resort joins Wyndham Rewards Semiahmoo Resort, Golf and Spa joined Wyndham Rewards this summer, allowing guests to earn and use points at the resort. Reward points can be used at over 250 Wyndham properties across the world.
Semiahmoo Resort became a part of the Trademark Collection by Wyndham on June 19, the only Trademark Collection by Wyndham location in Washington state, according to a press release from Green Rubino, the resort’s public relations firm. The Trademark Collection by Wyndham is made up of 185 independent properties where the owners partner with Wyndham to increase visibility.
Columbia Hospitality will continue managing Semiahmoo Resort, which will keep its same character.
Upthegrove moves to November election after commissioner of public lands recount
The Washington Office of the Secretary of State has certified results for the commissioner of public lands race in the August 6 primary that shows Democrat Dave Upthegrove will move on to the November general election.
The September 4 certification follows a mandatory, statewide manual recount for the race after a razor-thin margin between Upthegrove and Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson. The recount showed Up -
thegrove led Pederson by a 49-count difference after the initial results showed 51 votes separating the candidates.
Upthegrove will face Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler in the November 5 general election.
Run with the Chums to start Whatcom Water Week
Celebrating the beginning of Whatcom Water Week, Whatcom Conservation District will hold the 12th annual Run with the Chums on Saturday, September 14. The free race will take place at bp Highlands, 6898 Point Whitehorn Road in Birch Bay. Check-in and registration begins at 8:30 a.m., followed by a kid’s smolt sprint starting at 9:45 a.m. The 5K will start at 10 a.m. and loop through fields at bp Highlands.
Whatcom Water Week, September 14-22, will highlight local water resources with events put on by local organizations around Whatcom County.
Whatcom Water Week activities near Blaine and Birch Bay include:
• Garden of the Salish Sea Curriculum will hold a family beach exploration 9-11:30 a.m. Sunday, September 15 at Birch Bay
State Park.
• Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association has a training for its citizen science program monitoring salmon from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, September 21 in Blaine.
• Bellingham-based nonprofit Wild Whatcom will host a walk in Blaine for people of color to build community from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, September 21.
• RE Sources will host a cleanup at Gulf Road Beach, 4601 Gulf Road, near bp Cherry Point Refinery 1-3 p.m. Saturday, September 21. Cleanup supplies and fresh bagels will be provided. Run with the Chums registration can be done online at bit. ly/4ggOz28. For more information on Whatcom Water Week events, visit whatcomwin.org/ water-week-events.
s Run with the Chums 2023.
Photo by Grace McCarthy
Health & Wellness
Unlocking the joy of health: The surprising benefits of enjoyable exercise
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Incorporating physical activity into your routine is vital for health, but it can sometimes seem daunting. Discovering enjoyable exercises, like energizing group fitness classes or peaceful walks in nature, can be transformative, significantly boosting your health and enriching your life.
The simplicity of walking Walking is a simple and accessible exercise with many health benefits. A brisk walk in your neighborhood or local park can improve physical and mental wellbeing. It easily fits into daily life as a morning stroll, lunchtime walk or evening jaunt. The natural beauty of Blaine and Birch Bay provides a perfect backdrop for walking. You might even set a goal to photograph the picturesque landscapes or vibrant flowers you encounter.
If you prefer a social setting, consider joining the weekly walking group at Blaine Public Library, held 1-2 p.m. every Wednesday. This group caters to all ages and fitness levels, offering a great opportunity to stay active and connect with others. If running is something you enjoy more, Beach Cat Brewing organizes a running group 6 p.m. every Thursday for a jog on the Birch Bay berm.
Finding community in group fitness classes
Group fitness classes offer more than physical benefits; they provide motivation and social connections. My journey began 12 years ago with Zumba when, as a new stay-at-home mom, I was looking
for a change. The class’s vibrant energy made working out feel enjoyable, and Zumba soon became a key part of my routine. This led me to join a gym, start weight training and make new friends. Now, as a Zumba instructor for 10 years, I’m thrilled to share this experience with my community.
People are more likely to stick with activities they enjoy, and this certainly applies to me with Zumba. Others might find joy in weightlifting, yoga or stretch classes. Our community is fortunate to have a wealth of group
fitness options. The Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 offers over 40 classes each week in Birch Bay and Blaine, including functional mobility, fitness bootcamps, barre, yoga, line dancing, and, of course, Zumba. The joy of recreational sports Recreational sports such as soccer, basketball, pickleball and badminton offer a fun way to stay active. Unlike competitive sports, they emphasize enjoyment over intensity, making them easier to integrate into your routine. Playing with friends or joining a local
league makes exercise feel more like a hobby. These sports also promote teamwork, coordination and a sense of accomplishment.
Outdoor courts for pickleball and basketball are available at Bay Horizon Park in Birch Bay, and the Birch Bay Activity Center provides drop-in times for indoor sports every week.
Making exercise a fun habit
The key to long-term fitness success is finding activities you genuinely enjoy. When exercise is fun, it becomes a rewarding part of your routine rather than
a chore. Whether you’re dancing at a Zumba class, taking a serene walk or playing a casual game of basketball, the benefits extend beyond physical health. Incorporating enjoyable exercises into your routine can lead to a better mood, increased energy and a greater sense of well-being. So, make your fitness journey a joyous one – discover activities that make you smile and watch how they transform your health and happiness.
After all, the best exercise is the one you look forward to doing.
New leadership at Stafholt
Stafholt Health and Rehabilitation of Cascadia has new leadership in its Blaine facility.
Leah Buress became the director of nursing on July 8 and Danielle St. Germain was appointed as the administrator of the rehabilitative and skilled nursing home on August 26.
St. Germain earned her bachelor’s degree in speech therapy from Western Washington University and master’s degree in business administration from Western Governors University. She was a social worker at Avamere St. Francis in Bellingham and Bellingham Healthcare before working as an administrator in Vancouver, Washington for the past two years.
Buress earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Connecticut and started her career in skilled nursing at Avamere St. Francis in Bellingham. She became a unit manager and then became director of nursing at Bellingham Healthcare. Most recently, Buress was regional nurse consultant for Avamere, where she oversaw seven facilities in northwest Washington.
Ryan Willis, ARNP
Ashley Harmon, ARNP
s Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 holds a barre class at the Birch Bay Activity Center.
Photo by Celine Mauger
s Danielle St. Germain, administrator.
s Leah Buress, nursing director.
Photos by Grace McCarthy
Health problems linked to mold exposure
Mold is a natural part of the environment and can be found growing just about anywhere that moisture and oxygen are present, advises the Environmental Protection Agency. Mold is a fungus that can be helpful because it breaks down dead organic matter. But mold growth indoors can prove problematic, not only to personal living spaces but to one’s health.
When mold grows outdoors in the fresh air, exposure to it can be minimal. However, mold growing indoors can cause concentrated conditions that adversely affect indoor air quality and overall health. The Rhode Island Department of Health says exposure to a large number of mold spores may cause symptoms associated with allergies, such as runny nose, watery eyes, headache, fatigue, and sneezing, among others. Exposure to certain molds, such as Stachybotrys and Aspergillus, can cause more serious illness because of the mycotoxins these molds produce. Aspergillosis is a
fungal lung infection with emerging antimicrobial resistance, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The World Health Organization, the National Academy of Medicine and the National Toxicology Program report that occupants of damp, moldy buildings have an increased risk of respiratory problems. Repeated exposure to mold can lead to asthma, which is a chronic airway disease characterized by inflammation, states the National Institutes of Health. Individuals can experience shortness of breath and airway obstruction from the overproduction of mucus.
Additional conditions also can be attributed to mold. For example, valley fever is linked to the fungus Coccidioides, which lives in soil in some areas of the southwestern United States. Mucormycosis is a severe but rare fungal infection caused by a group of molds known as mucormycetes, says the CDC. It affects the sinuses or the lungs of people with
weakened immune systems. Though some people who come in contact with mold will not develop any adverse symptoms, it is still best to address indoor mold problems promptly. These steps can help.
• Use dehumidifiers in damp areas, such as basements.
• Ventilate bathrooms, kitchens and laundry areas.
• Fix any leaks in pipes, walls or windows promptly.
• Use mold-resistant paint.
• Make sure that clothes dryers and exhaust fans vent to the outdoors rather than an attic or another room.
• Remove mold with mold-kill ing products. The CDC says mold can be cleaned from hard surfaces with soap and water or a bleach solution of no more than one cup of household bleach to one gal lon of water.
Mold is everywhere in the en vironment, but prevention of in door mold growth can help peo ple avoid respiratory issues and other health problems.
Low Sensory Sundays becomes monthly program at Whatcom Museum
The Whatcom Museum has started opening early one Sunday per month to provide a learning space for children with sensory processing needs.
During Low Sensory Sundays, the Family Interactive Gallery in the museum’s Lightcatcher building provides a quiet environment for children 12 years and under with sensory processing needs, such as those on the autism spectrum, according to a Whatcom Museum news release. The program is free.
For the program to be low sensory, lights and sounds are turned low and gloves, activity cue cards, timers and headphones are available, according to the news release. The tools are also available at the front desks of the Lightcatcher and Old City Hall buildings.
Low Sensory Sundays started in early 2020 and the museum began offering the program every other month. Recent funding from Hoagland Pharmacy brought the program to a monthly basis for free.
The program is 10-11:30 a.m. The next Low Sensory Sundays are October 13, November 10 and December 8. The program is held in the Lightcatcher building, located at 250 Flora Street in downtown Bellingham.
Dementia Support NW to open respite care center in Bellis Fair Mall
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Dementia Support Northwest will open a community hub in Bellis Fair Mall providing free, shortterm respite care for people with dementia and their caregivers.
The community hub will open in the former Lane Bryant storefront and is expected to open by the end of the year, Dementia Support Northwest executive director Judy Davis wrote in an email to The Northern Light
The community hub is envisioned to provide short-term respite for caregivers visiting the mall as well as a coffee counter to encourage socialization among patrons. The space will also have support groups, activities for people with dementia, resources and memory screening events, according to the website.
Dementia Support Northwest announced in a press release that
the community hub was funded by a $240,000 grant from the Alzheimer’s Association Center for Dementia Respite Innovation (CDRI). The Alzheimer’s Association created the CDRI in 2024 from a $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Through the grant, CDRI will provide online training and technical assistance to Dementia Support Northwest to support the program.
The Bellingham-based organization was one of 21 recipients chosen to receive a grant from 200 applicants in the U.S., according to the press release.
Previously known as Alzheimer Society of Washington, Dementia Support Northwest started in 1983. Its mission is to provide education on dementia and support caregivers in Whatcom and Skagit counties, according to its website.
File photo
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The local Good Ol’ Boys (GOB) social club in Blaine hosted a fundraiser golf tournament at Semiahmoo Golf and Country Club featuring weekly wagers, individual contributions and auctions, raising $50,090 for Blaine Food Bank.
Thomas Yang has been organizing GOB fundraisers since 2020, and has helped raise over $120,000 for the food bank through donations and wagers.
The fundraising record for the group before this past summer was $23,140 raised in 2023 – the donations this year have more than doubled that record.
“This year, more people stepped up,” Yang said of the explosion in funding. “The food bank’s needs have grown.”
The GOB group is comprised of roughly 35 active members who play golf multipole times a week, wagering small amounts on each hole with proceeds going to charities. The food bank, being run fully by volunteers, was an easy choice for Yang and the group.
The Blaine Food Bank provides free groceries, hygiene and baby products for roughly 3,000 families a month, according to director Sally Church.
The all-volunteer organization has been feeding the community for decades, but recent pandemic-era government support has dried up, meaning more families
are looking for food, less grants are being given to the food bank, and individual donations become more crucial.
“The amazing donation of $50,000 comes just when we need it most,” Church wrote in an email to The Northern Light For more information on how to donate to the Blaine Food Bank, visit blainefoodbank.org
Plover ...
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water that they wanted inspected. The Coast Guard was scheduled to inspect the boat’s exposed damages on September 11.
City manager Mike Harmon said he wanted council’s direction on the next steps for the Plover. If approved by council, city staff wanted to haul the boat from its current location at Sundance Yacht Sales and Marinas in Blaine Harbor to Bellingham for an assessment from King Fisher Craftsman. However, Harmon said the shipwright had indicated it wouldn’t be until February before the Plover could be assessed.
Berg said costs would be hard to estimate before the assessment, adding that a one-month repair would cost about $20,000. Harmon said later in the meeting that it would cost about $20,000 to fix the known rot, but there
was likely other rot in the keel and other areas.
Councilmember Sonia Hurt said she didn’t feel like council could make a decision until after the assessment.
Councilmember Mike Hill suggested the city reach out to a large corporation in Blaine like Starbucks or McDonald’s to see if it would fund the repairs in exchange for recognition. Harmon added the city could accept donations from anyone.
When asked by Hill for his thoughts, Harmon said he thought it would be a good plan to get the Plover to the shipwright in Bellingham and then for city council to make a decision based on the repair cost.
“Since I started, the most surprising thing was the community,” Berg said. “They’re absolutely in love with the boat. There are people with childhood memories who want their children to ride the boat. I didn’t know that.”
Blaine book club: “In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss”
“In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss” is author Amy Bloom’s recounting of her life with her husband, Brian, and how they faced his death together. After struggling with progressively declining mental acuity, Brian was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Confronted by this stark future, Brian chose to end his life on his own terms through assisted suicide.
“In Love” touches on how Amy and Brian fell in love late in life, found joy with each other, and, ultimately, looked at endof-life decisions together.
Many of us tend to steer clear of planning for end-of-life events; talking about death or life-changing medical conditions can feel almost taboo. We put off writing wills, making plans for long-term care and deciding on funeral arrangements until it’s too late for us to have a say.
As Brian’s memory quickly deteriorated, and Amy and Brian’s workarounds kept failing, Brain decided he’d rather actively choose his time of death than linger on in the care of others as his Alzheimer’s progressed.
Amy and Brian’s story is sweet and encouraging; thoughtful and moving. Endof-life decisions are personal and occasionally controversial.
Amy and Brian’s choices are not something all readers will
agree with – just as many of their friends and family members did not – but they are vitally important decisions for us to face and consider. “In Love” provides us with a real-life example to ponder and discuss.
“In Love” should appeal to readers of memoirs, stories about loss, grief and mourning, and those wanting to think more on end-of-life decisions. Visit wcls.org to find “In Love” and other similarly themed stories.
“In Love” is the September selection for the Books and Bites book group. Join Books and Bites at the Blaine Library at 1 p.m. Friday, September 20 for a time of community and lively conversation: wcls.libcal.com/ event/11374638
Jonathan Jakobitz is an avid reader and the branch manager of Blaine Public Library.
“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
23,600 weekly readers in Blaine, Birch Bay and Semiahmoo. Largest circulation newspaper in Whatcom County.
60,000+ views each month from Seattle to Bellingham.
B
s The Good Ol’ Boys present Blaine Food Bank director Sally Church with
Semiahmoo Golf and Country Club on August 30. Courtesy photo
s Jonathan Jakobitz.
All real estate/rentals advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 as amended, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertisement for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll-free at 1-800-877-0246.
5792 Salish Road
MLS #2286034 $389,900
Charming one-story
events along with a security gate. The park model looks new and is really a must-see, furniture at time of showing is to be included. Nice storage shed for tools. Gerry Allen 360-920-0563
Whatcom County Council confirms interim medical examiner
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Whatcom County Council unanimously confirmed Dr. Aldo Fusaro as interim Whatcom County medical examiner during council’s September 10 meeting.
County executive Satpal Sidhad recommended Fusaro for the position in a September 3 letter to county council. The Northwest Washington Medical Society and Sheriff Donnell Tanksley approved the appointment, as required in the Whatcom County Charter.
Fusaro’s confirmation will be effective September 11 and be a shortterm position as Whatcom County goes through the hiring process for a new medical examiner. Fusaro will be a county employee.
The county began searching for a new medical examiner in early August after the county concluded an independent investigation into the storage of two bodies that were improperly stored and severely decomposed in mid-May.
OBITUARIES
Joyce Becker Vanderpol
January 14, 1924 – September 8, 2024
Joyce Becker Vanderpol was born January 14, 1924 in KirkIand, WA to William and Gertrude (Rattenberry) Becker and passed peacefuIIy, Sunday, September 8, 2024.
Joyce was the third sibling of four, outlasting her brother Bill Becker, sister Doris LundvaII (Dori), her twin sister Renie HiII, and husband for 56 years, NichoIas VanderpoI. She is survived by sister-in-Iaw Patricia FoxIy, nephews Barry LundvaII and Gary Becker, and nieces Vicki Richardson and Gerrie SaII.
Joyce’s 10 decades were highIighted by successful careers in military administration, customs and immigration, and reaI estate that included stops in Southern CaIifornia, Guam, BeIIingham and for past four decades BIaine, WA. She earned a college degree in her sixties, became a reaI estate instructor to certify agents and was a 40 year owner/broker of her reaI estate brokerage and notary. Joyce participated in international (stateside and in Europe) tennis competitions in her sixties, seventies, eighties and until she was 97. Joyce was passionate about tennis, learning and supporting community and local charities. She was independent, positive, kind, giving, generous, caring.
Known as “feisty,” “amazing,” “smart,” “philanthropist,” Joyce was an inspiration to us all. In lieu of flowers Joyce, and in her memory, she would appreciate donations to Blaine local charities.
At Joyce’s request, no public services are planned. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Service.
The county has been in legal discussions with the former medical examiner, Dr. Allison Hunt, on transitioning from her contract with the county.
Fusaro has served as deputy medical examiner of the Montana State Medical Examiner’s Office since 2017 and previously served as associate medical examiner for King County from 2005 to 2017. He started
his career in the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office in Chicago from 1997 to 2005 after attending medical school at Des Moines University.
As he serves concurrently as deputy medical examiner in Montana, Fusaro will split his time between states, according to the letter. Local pathologists will perform autopsies when Fusaro is in Montana.
Bat tests positive for rabies in county
The first confirmed rabies case in Whatcom County this year has been found in a bat, health officials said.
Bats are the only mammal known to carry rabies in Washington state, though the rabies can be transmitted to other mammals such as raccoons or skunks. Between 3 and 10 percent of bats submitted to testing in Washington have rabies, according to the Whatcom County Health and
Community Services Department (WCHCS).
While almost always fatal once symptoms appear, rabies in humans is fully preventable with prompt medical care including a series of shots that contain the rabies vaccine, according to WCHCS.
WCHCS can determine if a bat may have bitten or scratched someone and if a bat should be tested for rabies.
WCHCS advises anyone bit-
ten or scratched by a bat should immediately clean the bite with soap and water, capture the bat if it is safe, contact their health care provider and call WCHCS at 360/778-6000.
For help capturing a bat, the Whatcom Humane Society’s animal control services can be reached at 360/733-2080.
For more information, visit the WCHCS website at whatcomcounty.us/3256/bats-rabies.
Golden Rule boat makes stop in Blaine
The Golden Rule boat docked in Blaine Harbor in late August during a tour to promote a nuclear-free world.
Veterans for Peace restored the Golden Rule, the first environmental peace ship that set sail in 1958 with the intent to stop nuclear weapons testing in the Marshall Islands. The boat is currently sailing through Washington state and B.C. with stops including Victoria, B.C., Vancouver, B.C. and Seattle.
In September 2022, it launched an 11,000 mile Great Loop voyage to promote the prohibition of nuclear weapons.
For more information on the boat and to track its sailing, visit vfpgoldenruleproject.org.
s The Golden Rule stopped in Blaine Harbor in late August.
Photo by Andy Peterson
sheriff’s repOrts
August 31, 9:30 a.m.: Drug/ weapon arrest on Birch Bay Drive.
September 1, 7:28 a.m.: Theft cold call on Morrison Avenue.
September 1, 11:55 a.m.: Hit and run on Birch Bay Square Street.
September 1, 1:21 p.m.: Burglary cold call on Birch Bay Drive.
September 1, 2:07 p.m.: Suicidal subject on Birch Bay Lynden Road.
September 1, 9:34 p.m.: Disorderly conduct on Birch Bay Drive.
September 1, 9:52 p.m.: Domestic order violence on McGee Road.
September 1, 10:16 p.m.: Burglary on Birch Bay Drive.
September 1, 10:53 p.m.: Attempted suicide on Bay Road.
September 2, 11:19 a.m.: Burglary cold call on Alderson Road.
September 3, 1:37 p.m.: Theft cold call on Nakat Way.
September 3, 8:44 p.m.: Assault simple on Creasey Road.
September 3, 9:04 p.m.: Assault with a weapon on Main Street.
September 4, 11:12 a.m.: Threat cold call on Camas Drive.
September 5, 3:18 p.m.: Unlawful possession of firearm arrest on H Street.
September 5, 6:24 p.m.: Theft cold call on Spooner
Creek Lane.
September 5, 10:10 p.m.: DUI on Lincoln Road.
September 5, 10:32 p.m.: Domestic physical on Tracy Place.
September 6, 11:37 a.m.: Runaway cold call on Tracy Place.
September 6, 11:40 a.m.: Domestic physical on Seashell Way.
pOLiCe repOrts
August 31, 10:07 a.m.: Trespass on Grant Avenue.
September 1, 12:00 a.m.: Disorderly conduct on Boblett Street.
September 1, 12:28 a.m.: Trespass on 3rd Street.
September 1, 9:19 a.m.: Animal problem on B Street.
September 1, 11:24 p.m.: Trespass on Boblett Street.
September 2, 12:36 a.m.: Domestic physical on E Street.
September 3, 10:39 a.m.: Disorderly conduct on 8th Street.
September 4, 8:12 a.m.: Tres-
CrOssWOrd
ACROSS
1. Wrest 5. Russian river 10. Grupo Montparnasse founder 12. One who quits prematurely 14. Related to the nature of being 16. Early multimedia 18. Indigenous Tibetan religion 19. Tease 20. J.M. __, Irish dramatist 22. Pounds per square inch 23. Surrendered 25. Notable Dallas Cowboy Leon 26. Dash 27. Man who behaves dishonorably
28. British Air Aces
30. Data executive
31. Spiritual leader 33. Flower cluster
35. Of the cheek
37. Tears down 38. Uncoordinated 40. Touches lightly 41. Soak
42. Founder of Babism
44. Not good
45. Inches per minute (abbr.)
48. Type of casino
game 50. Skills assessments for adults 52. Check 53. Gives a job 55. Fifth note of a major scale 56. Small, faint constellation 57. Thou 58. Reduce 63. Another recording 65. Removes for good 66. Jill and Catherine are two 67. Cruise DOWN
1. Greenwich Time 2. Metropolis 3. Complete 4. Scheduled 5. One who obeys 6. Resinlike substance secreted by certain lac insects 7. Days (Spanish) 8. Unsaturated hydrocarbon radical 9. Region of the U.S. (abbr.) 10. Tributary of the Alabama River 11. One who eliminates 13. Ballroom music 15. Officer in the
Book of Mormon 17. Denies 18. Barrels per day (abbr.)
21. Make vital 23. Former NFLer Newton 24. Kashmiri tribe 27. Indigenous S. American person 29. Capacitance unit
32. MLB great Scherzer 34. Taxi 35. Boggy 36. Artist’s workroom 39. Feline 40. Prosecutors 43. Freshwater perches 44. Young ladies 46. Whittles 47. Licensed for Wall Street 49. Type of gene 51. Express displeasure 54. Fly high 59. Norwegian krone
60. Investment account 61. Chinese surname 62. Language 64. By the way (abbr.)
Coming up
Winter Coat Drive: September 1–30. Donations of clean, good quality used or new winter coats, gloves, hats and socks for men, women and kids. Donation drop off locations: Blaine Library, IGA market, Pacific Building Center, Blaine Senior Center, Semiahmoo Resort, CAP clothing bank, Birch Bay Village recreation center, Windermere- Birch Bay Square, Semiahmoo Golf and Country Club.
Learning How to Learn: Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia and Other Educational Challenges: Thursday, September 12 and Monday, September 16, Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. Two free sessions on living, loving and learning about children who are non-typical students. Come to one or both sessions. Info: bbbparkandrec.org.
Vaccination Clinic: Friday, September 13, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Seasonal flu shots, Covid-19, pneumonia 65+, and RSV 60+. Please sign up in the senior center office. Insurance or cash required. Info: blaineseniorcenter.org.
pass on Peace Portal Drive.
September 4, 8:14 a.m.: Trouble with subject on Peace Portal Drive.
September 4, 9:49 a.m.: Theft on D Street.
September 4, 3:39 p.m.: Trespass on Peace Portal Drive.
September 4, 6:27 p.m.: Animal problem on D Street.
September 4, 8:57 p.m.: Domestic physical on C Street.
September 5, 1:38 p.m.: Runaway on E Street.
September 6, 9:00 p.m.: Liquor law violation on A Street.
tides
September 12-18 at Blaine. Not for navigation.
Whatcom Water Week Events: September 14–22. Run with the Chums 5K, cleanup events, guided and self-paced tours, photo contests, children’s story times and crafts, trivia and more. Info: whatcomwaterweeks.org.
12th Annual Run with the Chums: Saturday September 14, 10 a.m., bp highlands, 6898 Point Whitehorn Road. Kids’ Smolt Sprint obstacle course begins at 9:45 a.m. Free 5K run in celebration of healthy water, habitat and people. All speeds welcome. Registration: whatcomcd.org/run-with-the-chums.
Catoberfest Fundraiser: Saturday, September 14, noon–7 p.m., Blaine Marine Park. Live music by Dad Company, Paper Hearts and Michael Dayvid, games, food and beer garden, costume contest, silent auction. Must be 21+. Rain or shine. VIP tickets $50, general admission tickets $25. Tickets and info: beachcatbrewing.com. All proceeds benefit the Blaine Food Bank.
Big Bucks Bingo: Saturday, September 14, Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Over $275 in prizes. Games begin at 12:30 p.m. Eight games $15. Lunch at 11:30 a.m. for $8. Info: blaineseniorcenter.org.
Brigadoon Service Dogs Gala and Auction: Saturday, September 14, 5:30–9 p.m., Hotel Bellwether Ballroom, 1 Bellwether Way, Bellingham. A 1920s-themed event featuring a plated dinner, festive games, and live and silent auctions.Tickets: $90. Info and registration: brigadoondogs.ejoinme.org/tickets.
Garden of the Salish Sea Family Beach Day: Sunday, September 15, 9–11:30 a.m., meet at Birch Bay State Park’s bp Heron Center. Explore the intertidal zone with beach naturalists, identify different organisms using ID guides, help pick up and track marine debris. Registration, ID sheets and activities at linktr.ee/GSSCBeachWalk.
BHS Class of 2025 Fundraiser: Monday, September 16, Westside Pizza, 1733 H Street #200. Mention “BHS fundraiser” when ordering and 25 percent of sales will benefit the safe and sober grad night event.
Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce Luncheon: Thursday, September 19, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., Birch Bay State Park bp Heron Center. Speakers: Pam Brady of bp Cherry Point Refinery. Info and RSVP: birchbaychamber.com.
Blaine Book Club: Friday, September 20, 1 p.m., Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. September title: In Love: a Memoir of Love and Loss by Amy Bloom. Info: Kelly at 360/305-3637.
The King is Back: Friday, September 20, 5:30–7:30 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Join us for a fun filled evening with Elvis Impersonator Jeffrey “Elvis” Fullner. Limited seating, reservations required. $12. Info: blaineseniorcenter.org.
Down Syndrome Outreach’s Buddy Fest: Saturday, September 28, noon–3 p.m., Northwest Washington Fairgrounds, Lynden. Celebrate loved ones and community members with Down syndrome. Lunch, awareness walk and activities for all ages. Registration and info: classy.org/event/buddy-fest-2024/e593225.
Weather
Precipitation: During the period of September 2 to 8, no precipitation was recorded. The 2024 year-to-date precipitation is 22.8 inches.
Temperature: High for the past week was 82.4°F on September 5 with a low of 52.6°F on September 4. Average high was 77.6°F and average low was 56.5°F.
Courtesy Birch Bay Water & Sewer Dist.
Supper with the Superintendent: Monday, September 30, 6 p.m., Blaine High School black box theater (enter behind Borderite Stadium). The community is invited to a questions and answer meeting with Blaine school district superintendent Dr. Christopher Granger. Light meal provided. Info: blainesd.org.
Roots Family Enrichment Program: Monday nights, September 30–November 8, 6–8 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. For families facing challenging life circumstances and parents wanting to develop family-building skills including classes for both parents and children. Nursery provided for kids under four years of age. Sponsored by Rebound Families. Info and registration: reboundfamilies.org.
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.
Submissions to Coming Up should be sent to calendar@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.
Cross-border commemoration of 9/11
Photos by Nolan Baker
