October 15 - 21, 2015
FREE
Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS Athlete profile:
ISSUE
Ashley Quesada, page 7
Pet Care special section, page 8
Active seniors special section, pages 9-12
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
The Northern Light wins 21 awards
BBWARM starts construction on Seaview Drive By Steve Guntli Construction has begun on a stormwater improvement project in Birch Bay. On October 6, construction crews began work on the new drainage system on Seaview Drive in Birch Bay’s Cottonwood neighborhood. The project will replace failing pipes and culverts, improve ditches and replace old catch basins. These improvements will funnel stormwater to the bioswales on the corner of Seaview Drive and Maple Crest Avenue. Birch Bay Watershed and Aquatic Resources Management District (BBWARM) is funding the project. The Seaview drainage upgrade project has been in the works since 2013, after the completion of the Cottonwood neighborhood drainage improvement project. Project managers noticed stormwater was not being properly drained along Seaview Drive, leading to overflow that drained into the bluff above Birch Bay Drive. The upgrades will ensure storm runoff will be properly channeled to the bioswales, architectural elements that filter out pollutants and debris from stormwater before routing it into the bay. The project has been contracted to the Colacurcio Brothers of Blaine. Construction will take place Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Drivers should expect some minor delays along Seaview Drive, as well as the occasional short-term road closure. BBWARM estimates the project will be finished by early November.
s The Northern Light received a first place award for community service advertising on behalf of the Marine Park playground on October 9 at the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s annual convention. Lori Maxim, incoming WNPA president, presented the award to Louise Mugar, Molly Ernst and Ruth Lauman. Also at the luncheon, Governor Jay Inslee was presented with WNPA’s Freedom’s Light Award for the governor’s efforts to bring more transparency to state government. For the full list of awards turn to page 19.
Marine Park playground opening rescheduled By Steve Guntli The opening for the Marine Park Playground has been pushed back. The city had scheduled a ribbon cutting for the new playground on October 12, but was forced to delay due to landscaping concerns at the site. The park will now open on Monday, October 26 at 4 p.m. City officials were concerned about the hydroseeding at the site. Hydroseeding is
a technique used to sod grounds quickly. The city was concerned the hydroseeding had been sprayed too late and would not set in time, leaving the park too muddy to use. With the forecast calling for heavy rain October 12, the city decided it would be better to give the hydroseeding time to settle. In addition, the contractors experienced a number of setbacks, including a broken-down truck, which contributed to
Birch Bay man arrested for slitting brother’s throat A Birch Bay man was arrested for first-degree assault after allegedly slitting his brother’s throat. Nathaniel Ernest Keith Deal, 27, was arrested on October 11 at around 3:30 a.m. Whatcom County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call at the brother’s home in the 8200 block of Alder Way in Birch Bay. Deputies found Deal’s younger brother with a 4-inch cut along his throat. The victim was taken to PeaceHealth St.
Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham and has since been released. According to the sheriff’s office, Deal had blood on his shirt and his brother was bleeding from the neck when deputies arrived. Both men were heavily intoxicated and refusing to cooperate, with Deal threatening to release his pitbull on deputies if they attempted to arrest him. The dog eventually ran out of the house
and began acting aggressively, so deputies discharged a Taser at the dog, which ran back into the house. The victim had to be restrained before deputies could take him to the hospital. Both men claimed the victim had tripped and fallen on a nail, despite several witnesses hearing the younger brother repeatedly accuse Deal of slitting his throat. Deal posted bond and has been released awaiting trial.
the delay. “It was just one thing after another,” said deputy community planner Alex Wenger. “But we’ll be ready for sure by Thursday the 22nd, and hopefully we’ll have better weather on the day we open.” Wenger said the city plans to have all the vendors and entertainers scheduled for the October 12 opening return on October 26.
Online
thenorthernlight.com facebook.com/thenorthernlight
Inside
Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Coming Up . . . . . . . . . . 17 Tides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17