The Northern Light: May 16-22, 2024

May 16 - 22, 2024

IN THIS

CDC to put tight restrictions on dogs traveling across the border

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Barring some response from elected federal officials, the CDC will be implementing new rules about bringing dogs into the country by land, sea or air from anywhere in the world. This will include U.S. residents returning from travel to Canada and Mexico with their pooch in their car, boat or RV. It will also apply to non-U.S. citizens traveling to the U.S. to visit their cabins or for tourism.

Beginning August 1, bringing dogs into the U.S. will fall under new import rules that will require the dogs to be over 6 months old, be micro-chipped and carry a valid certificate showing the dog has been vaccinated for rabies, and have a completed CDC Dog Import Form. In lieu of a vaccination certificate, the owner must prove that the animal has been in a low- or no-risk country for six months before importation. No dogs under six months can enter the country.

Both Canada and Mexico are considered rabies-free by the CDC and have been for years. Previously, dogs under the age of six months were exempt from the requirement that they be inoculated for rabies (puppies can’t be given the vaccine before three months of age and it takes 28 days to reach full effectiveness).

According to the U.S. Federal Register, the “CDC removed the exemption for importers to import up to three dogs under six months of age at U.S. land borders if arriving from dog-maintained rabies virus variant (DMRVV)-free or DMRVV low-risk countries.”

The CDC originally proposed keeping that exemption to reduce the burden on U.S. travelers who frequently travel across the U.S.’s borders with Canada and Mexico, but removed it in order “to create a uniform standard for all dogs, ensure

Candidates running in 2024, page 5

Spring block party comes to Blaine, page 5 Borderite sports, pages 6 and 12

Northern lights make rare showing above

A Skagit County man who spent nearly two weeks in intensive care after being injured going down a faulty slide at Birch Bay Waterslides last August has sued the water park for negligence. The water park won’t be open this summer as its operating permit remains suspended following the serious injury.

A complaint for damages against Birch Bay Jun Yu Waterslides LLC was filed for the injury incident in Whatcom County Superior Court on May 9. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Larry Baker, who was 43 years old when injured, by his lawyers Kyle Drinnon and Stefanie Collins, of Driggs Bills and Day law firm in Seattle.

The complaint alleges that the company was negligent because it had the duty to provide safe and adequate maintenance of the water park; provide customers with warnings regarding unsafe areas; and have a system for inspecting unsafe conditions. Baker’s attorneys also accused the company of negligence for not having a policy for supervising employees and independent contractors to ensure they comply with local and state regulations and failure to inspect the premises for unsafe conditions once employees become aware of or should have become aware of unsafe conditions. They also alleged that the water park failed to comply with Washington

s A rare category 5 solar storm gave people in north Whatcom County the opportunity to view a colorful display of lights on May 10. The northern lights photographed from Point Roberts show hues of green and pink above Blaine Harbor.

Photo by Pat Grubb

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Doors open 30 min before show $15 GENERAL ADMISSION • UNDER 2 FREE Tickets available at the door or online BLAINE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 975 H Street, Blaine

CDC ...

U.S.-land borders are not overwhelmed with dog importations, and reduce the risk of importers fraudulently claiming that their dog has not been in DMRVV high-risk country.”

According to the CDC, “the social cost of the consequences associated with the importation of a single DMRVV-infected dog is estimated to be $270,000 (range: $210,000 to $510,000) for conducting public health investigations and administering rabies PEP to exposed persons.”

In a response to a comment made during the rule-making process that the owner of a dog is not “importing” a dog when they cross

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the border, the CDC said dogs are considered goods and should be treated as imports like any other goods. In fact, most of the reasons for these new rules appear intended toward the commercial importation of dogs and not individual pet owners. There is no indication that the CDC considered the plight of border communities across the country nor special cases such as Point Roberts, the NW Angle or Hyder, Alaska, each of which require residents and visitors to travel through Canada to access the rest of the U.S. In 2022, 60 percent of Canadian households have one or more goods that either bark or meow. In all, Canadians have 7.9 million dogs and that number is growing. How much of an actual problem is rabies? Well, if a human gets

bitten by an animal carrying the virus and doesn’t seek help before symptoms appear, it is almost always fatal. How common is it for people in the U.S. to get rabies? Not common at all. According to the CDC, in the 58-year stretch from 1960 to 2018, there were just 127 cases for an average of 2.1 cases per year. One-quarter of those cases came from dog bites during international travel and about 70 percent were from a bat bite.

Caitlynn Paradis is a certified public accountant who lives in Chilliwack, B.C. and travels to the U.S. a minimum of three times per month for shopping, veterinary visits and to attend dog shows. She wrote to mayors of cities along the border including Blaine, Sumas,

From page 1 (See CDC, page 3)

Created by Artistic Director Sabrina Gomez-Vannelli Works by Sabrina Gomez-Vannelli, Riley Witham & Valerie Goliff Art by Ashley Olason

Waterslides ...

page 1

Administrative Code’s operation and maintenance standards.

The complaint states Baker is entitled to compensation for his physical injuries. As a result of his injuries, the lawsuit states Baker has incurred medical expenses, which may continue, and has suffered physical pain and suffering. Baker was described in the lawsuit as having suffered loss of enjoyment of life, permanency of injury and economic loss.

Baker’s lawyers did not respond to request for comment. Birch Bay Waterslides manager Iain Buchanan also didn’t respond for a comment or to whether Birch Bay Waterslides had hired an attorney.

Birch Bay Waterslides shut down on August 25, 2023, a week before its scheduled closure, after Baker was seriously injured while going down the Hairpin slide. Baker’s legs went through a splash guard on the fourth turn, causing significant lacerations to both legs. Incident reports obtained by The Northern Light through a public records request described Baker’s left heel as being almost completely torn off and right leg, from the foot to knee, sliced to the muscle and bone.

Baker was flown from St. Joseph PeaceHealth Medical Center to intensive care at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, and was discharged nearly two weeks later on September 7.

Buchanan confirmed to The Northern Light that the park would not open this year. He said the park hopes to reopen in summer 2025.

Whatcom County Health and Community Services (WCHCS) fully suspended the park’s operating permit last September after it cited several code violations after the incident. WCHCS repeatedly requested maintenance and operation records from the water park to start the process of reinstating its operating permit. The water park submitted those records

CDC ...

From page 2

Lynden and Ferndale warning them of the upcoming rules.

“Is there anything that can be done?” she asked. “This is only going to harm the economy of those in border towns especially when most of them are still recov-

March 8, WCHCS spokesperson Marie Duckworth said.

WCHCS sent a compliance agreement to the water park April 12 outlining the code violations the water park needs to remedy and other requirements to reopen, such as having an engineer inspect exterior surfaces and fasteners on slides.

Once the water park has fulfilled all requirements, WCHCS will inspect the facility within two weeks of a proposed opening date to confirm all criteria have been met.

“We are getting too far into the season,” Buchanan said. “It became too difficult, if not impossible, to get everything done in a timely manner and it’s not something we wanted to rush.”

Buchanan said the company wants to take a step back this summer and look at a full refurbishment, which would likely include new slides and attractions. The project may be built in phases or the park may “see some things really go,” he said.

“We are a 40-year-old park and we actively celebrate that,” he said. “We’re really looking at this as a springboard into the future.”

Season ticket holders will be notified by email about refunds soon, Buchanan said, adding there are a lot of variables with refunds, such as when the tickets were purchased.

The website will have updates as they are available, Buchanan said.

WCHCS issued citations after the incident for the existence of an imminent hazard caused by the broken splash guard, failure to monitor and properly maintain recordkeeping, and failure to provide documentation of emergency response training.

“We wanted to make sure we had all of the information they had requested, located in different areas on different computers,” Buchanan said of the delay in submitting records. “We communicated with the health department along the way that we felt it was best, instead of piecemealing it, to put it all together and hand it to them in its entirety.”

ering from the border shutdowns during the pandemic.”

U.S. senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray and U.S. representative Rick Larsen were contacted by The Northern Light on May 14 seeking comment on the rules. Both senator offices responded they were looking into the issue; no response was received by press time from Larsen’s office.

LUMMI ISLAND ARTISTS’ Studio Tours 2024

Under the conditions to reopen, Birch Bay Waterslides is required to hire an engineer to inspect structural integrity throughout the park, including all fasteners holding slide decks and splash guards together, support structures, and the interior and exterior of the slides. WCHS also directed that an engineer pay special attention to previously repaired damage found immediately below the point of failure.

Birch Bay Waterslides is required to submit a self-inspection plan that would include a detailed inspection schedule, a list of items required to be inspected, and maintenance documentation. The water park must also fix its code violations.

The agreement sets out more stringent requirements than state regulations, which only requires water parks to submit maintenance and operation records to local health jurisdictions upon request. In the future, WCHCS will require Birch Bay Waterslides to submit a complete engineering report to the health department and Whatcom County Building Services before each season starts, as well as submit self-inspection and maintenance records to WCHCS.

Failure to comply could cause the water park’s permit to be temporarily suspended, according to the agreement.

Birch Bay Waterslides typically opens for weekends beginning around Memorial Day Weekend and then fully opens late June through Labor Day weekend.

“I would like to reassure the public that we are doing our best to come back bigger, better and greater in 2025, to our best ability,” Buchanan said.

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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The Northern Light

225 Marine Drive, Suite 200, Blaine, WA 98230

Tel: 360/332-1777

Vol XXIX, No 48

Circulation: 10,500 copies

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Next issue: May 23

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National Police Week was honored during the May 13 Blaine City Council meeting. Mayor Mary Lou Steward, r., read a proclamation for the week while police chief Rodger Funk remembered the three members of Blaine’s police force who lost their lives in the line of duty: former interim chief Michael Knapp, who died while working for Lynden Police Department in 2019; and assistant chief Larry Duronso and officer Douglas Krenz, who died in a plane crash in 1978. “There have been numerous police officers and agents who have served federal, state and local agencies who have lost their lives in Whatcom County,” Funk said.

Photo by Grace McCarthy

National Police Week recognized in Blaine Letters

The Editor:

I am writing again to commend you for your excellent coverage, this time the finessed departure of Jon Hutchings, the former Whatcom County public works director. All I know about this matter is what I read in the Cascade PBS article, which you published, but it is enough to suggest that there needs to be a major staff overhaul in the Whatcom County administrative office.

Hutchings sounds like an obnoxious slow learner who should have more than his hands slapped long ago. However, as dumb (and weird) as he seems from the Cascade PBS report, the cover up by the county office and the public funds that they spent on this matter in a surreptitious manner represent more sinister behavior. I think that they should resign, but I doubt they will. When the next election comes along, I’ll try to give them a hand.

Lloyd Kiff

Blaine

The Editor:

I am writing in response to a letter to the editor purporting to demonize Israel. To quote a differing description in a November 18 CBC article, “The fighting erupted when Hamas launched a series of attacks in southern Israel on October 7. The Israeli government now says some 1,200 people died in the sudden violence and 240 people were taken hostage.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CBS News in November, “Any civilian death is a tragedy and we shouldn’t have any,” blaming Hamas for putting people at risk.

I am reading a book right now called “Nomad.” It is written by a Somali Muslim woman, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, now living in the U.S. She describes what she was taught in Quran school. The chief enemy is the Jew.

“In those days, with every splash of water I cursed the Jews. I covered my body, spread a prayer mat, faced Mecca, and

asked Allah to protect me from the evil that is spread by the Jews. I hurried to our local mosque and joined the crowds in prayer. We lined up – in the women-only section – and followed the instructions of the male imam, who was invisible to us. We cried in unison ‘Amin’ to all his supplications to Allah, and when he called Allah to destroy all Jews, I also fervently said ‘Amin.’”

She has since renounced Islam. She has body guards because she has received death threats from Muslims. And yet, here on U.S. campuses this poison is spread by naïve American citizens. Hamas presents itself as a victim when it attacked and killed, raped and tortured peaceful Israeli citizens. I am glad to see the demonstrations on U.S. campuses ended. Xenophobia is never OK, but somehow students feel free to demonize peaceful citizens. I don’t get it.

Sue Weaver Birch Bay

The Editor:

It’s fawn season for black-tailed deer. Colliding with a deer or fawn is devastating for everyone: the driver and passengers, the deer or fawn, and bystanders traumatized by the suffering and wishing to help. Deer are particularly common along Semiahmoo Parkway, Semiahmoo Drive, and Drayton Harbor Road.

Deer are crepuscular (active at sunrise and sunset); their eyes are adapted to take in as much light as possible. When headlights strike their fully dilated eyes, deer can’t see, and freeze until their eyes adjust. They won’t move until they can see. During the day, fawns may be active and their mothers follow them as they scamper towards roads; focused on their fawns, they don’t notice traffic.

Preventing deer-vehicle collisions:

• Drive with lights on during dawn and dusk.

• Drive with high beams at night unless there are oncoming vehicles.

• Scan both sides of the road as you drive.

• Drive slowly at dawn and dusk so you

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.

can stop quickly.

• Slow down or stop (if safe) the moment you see deer near the road. Usually more deer are present if you see one. Activate your emergency flashers to alert other drivers. Don’t proceed until you’re certain no more deer are waiting to cross.

• Honk your horn when you see a deer. The noise may make them leave the road.

• If a deer/vehicle collision is inevitable, brake and continue braking until just before impact. Try not to swerve. At the last moment, remove your foot from the brake. This makes the front end of the car rise upon impact, meaning the deer is more likely to pass under the car rather than landing on the front and hitting the windshield and thus your face.

If you do have an accident with a deer on the road, move your car safely off the road, turn on your emergency flashers, safely check your passengers, and call 911 immediately. Do not go near the deer or attempt to move it. Injured animals can be dangerous.

Jennifer Plombon

Blaine

The Editor:

To the gentleman who was friends with Bruce and Marina Mosher and loved to sit and rock in their black antique Boston rocker, please contact 360/603-8802. Carol Mosher

Bellingham

Please send letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.

In the May 9 issue of The Northern Light, an article titled “Baseball, boys soccer bow out in district playoffs, softball wins big,” the photo of a tennis player misidentified the player. The player photographed was senior Abigail Schmidt. We regret the error. Correction

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.

Spring block party coming to downtown Blaine

B y G race M c c arthy

An all-day spring block party will fill the streets of downtown Blaine on Saturday, May 18.

Blaine Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event from noon to 8 p.m. The spring party will be family-friendly with a street fair of about 65 vendors, a beer garden, food trucks and live music. The event will have plenty of activities for children, including Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District’s “Picnic at the Playground” at Blaine Marine Park.

Picnic at the Playground will start slightly before the block party, at 11 a.m., and run until 2 p.m. With help from community organizations, the park event has planned free rugby clinics for K-12th grade, tugof-war, and crafts and games

geared for small children, and other youth activities (no registration needed). Shaved ice, hot dogs, chips and drinks will be available for purchase.

Parks and recreation will provide transportation between the park and downtown block party, where children can be entertained with bounce houses, face painting, cornhole, sidewalk chalk and other activities.

A beer garden featuring Beach Cat Brewing will be on G Street plaza, with all proceeds going toward the chamber.

The event, planned for Victoria Day Weekend, in hopes of attracting Canadians traveling south for the holiday. The block party replaces the oyster festival, which is scheduled for October.

The music set for the day will include DJ Michael, Michael

Candidates file to

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As election season nears, a slate of candidates has filed for offices to represent north Whatcom County residents.

Below is a list of some candidates who decided to run in the August 2024 primary election.

• 42nd Legislative District State Representative Position 1: Raymond Pelletti, a Republican from Blaine; Janet Melman, a Democrat from Bellingham; and incumbent Alicia Rule, a Democrat from Blaine.

• 42nd Legislative District State Representative Position 2: Incumbent Joe Timmons, a Democrat from Bellingham, and Kamal Bhachu, a Republican from Blaine.

• All four Whatcom County Superior Court judges: All incumbents are running unopposed. Robert E. Olson, Evan P. Jones, Lee Grochmal and David E. Freeman will be automatically elected and won’t appear on ballots.

• Court of Appeals, Division 1, District 3 Judge Position 1: Incumbent Cecily C. Hazelrigg will run unopposed.

• Public Utility District No. 1 Commissioner District 1: Eddy

Dayvid, Kickerville, Gladstone, Chris Cochran, Doug Allen and Friends, and Kendale Whitney Jazz. Music will be played at both plazas.

The festival will force the

closure of a few roads during the day. H Street, from Peace Portal Drive to 3rd Street, and Peace Portal Drive, from G to H streets, will be closed from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

run for public positions

Ury and Jeremiah J. Goggins.

• Public Utility District No. 1

Commissioner District 2: Austin Anderson, Dan Johnson and incumbent Atul Deshmane.

• Charter review commission

District 4 (three positions representing east Blaine, greater Lynden area and north of Bellingham): Russell N. Dzialo, Katherine Orlowski, Joe Elenbaas, Hannah Ordos, J. G. Sandy Phillips, Brad Kelly and Ryan Bowman.

• Charter review commission District 5 (three positions representing Blaine, Birch Bay, Ferndale, Point Roberts and Lummi Island, Custer west of I-5): Teresa N. Taylor, Rod Stump, Douglas Taylor, Jackie Dexter, Janice Holmes, Freddie Lane, Lindsey Graham Elenbaas, Charlene Waters, Colleen Goertz, Lisa M. Pantalia, Jon Mutchler and Andrew Hansen.

The Whatcom County charter is reviewed every 10 years by a commission made up of members serving one-year terms.

A number of candidates for Democratic and Republican precinct committee officer positions also filed locally.

In addition, state and federal positions will be on ballots. Those positions include U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Auditor, Attorney General, Commissioner of Public Lands, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Insurance Commissioner, Supreme Court Justice Position 2, Supreme Court Justice Position 8 and Supreme Court Justice Position 9.

Voting for the August 6 election begins July 17, when ballot drop boxes open, ballots are mailed to registered voters and the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office’s voting center opens. Washington residents can register to vote or update their voter registration with a new address at votewa.gov or by mail until July 29. The county auditor’s office will be open through Election Night to register or update voter registration.

The election is a top-two primary, meaning the two candidates with the most votes advance to the November general election, regardless of party.

For a full list of candidates, visit votewa.gov. For more infor-

mation about Whatcom County elections, contact the auditor’s office at 360/778-5102 or elections@co.whatcom.wa.us.

NOTICE OF FLUSHING

The City of Blaine Water Division started flushing the City's water distribution system. This is accomplished by opening hydrants along the system (starting at the well fields) to move fresh water throughout the distribution system.

The purpose of flushing the system is to remove any grit and debris in order to improve water quality through the distribution system.

During the city flushing program city water customers may experience a temporary low water pressure and/or cloudiness when flushing is going on. The cloudiness condition (caused by air) should be only temporary, and can be cleared by running a cold water tap for a few minutes to clean and flush your service line. If the condition continues for an extended period of time please contact the Blaine Public Works.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation. If you have any questions, feel free to call Public Works at (360) 332-8820, or visit www.cityofblaine.com for weekly area updates.

Blaine Public Works.

s A crowd gathers in downtown Blaine for OysterFest in May 2023.

Photo by Louise Mugar

Navarez, Griffin head to state, 22 head to track and field bi-districts

B y N ola N B aker

Track and Field

Blaine track and field competed well in the Northwest Conference 1A District Championships at Lynden Christian on May 8 and 10, with 22 athletes qualifying for the District 1/2 championships in Granite Falls.

This year’s track and field team has always been led by its sprinters and field team, and last week’s tournament was no different, with nine sprinters from the boys and girls teams qualifying for the tournament, and multiple pole vaulters, shot putters and jumpers also qualifying after stellar performances in Lynden.

Sophomore Dylan Johnson led all Blaine sprinters with a PR of 11.46 in the 100-meter finals, placing fourth overall. Johnson was followed close behind by Beckum Bleazard, Justin Minjarez and Jaiden Paez, all of whom will make up Blaine’s 100-meter, 200-meter and 4x100 meter relay team in Granite Falls.

Freshman Cheyenne Parker led the entire program by qualifying for four different races: the 100and 200-meter sprints and both the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. She came second in the 100-meter finals, posting a PR time of 12.67, and won the 200-meter finals with a PR of 26.05.

Junior AJ Anthony-Bennett also had a solid day of jumps, posting a PR in the long jump finals with a distance of 20 feet, 11.25 inches, which earned him second place.

The 1A District 1/2 track and field championships will be held in Granite Falls on Thursday, May 16 and Saturday, May 18.

All told, 12 athletes from the boys team and 10 athletes from the girls team will have a chance at state placement.

The top five individual placers in each event, and the top five relay teams will qualify for the state tournament at Zaepfel Stadium in Yakima starting Thursday, May 23. With 22 Borderites competing for a top-five finish in bi-districts, there’s a good chance for Blaine to send multiple athletes to the state tournament.

Boys Golf

Senior Uno Navarez and junior Ellis Griffin are headed to the 1A state tournament at Riverside Golf Club on May 21 after both shooting a stellar score of 85 at the 1A bi-district championship at North Bellingham Golf Course on May 14.

The Blaine boys golf team led the field with six golfers in the district tournament that began on May 9, but by the end of two days of fierce competition, the field of Borderite golfers was cut down to just Navarez and Griffin after 36 holes on a tough course with even tougher greens.

Freshman Peyton Bouma and senior Cameron Saunders didn’t make the cut for the state tournament, losing out by just a few strokes after slow starts to their bi-district round, head coach Rick Shockey said.

“Peyton [Bouma] and Cameron [Saunders] didn’t make it, they had a couple holes they struggled on,” Shockey said. “Take a couple holes away and replace them with average scores and they might have made it too.”

Bouma shot a 97 and Saunders shot a 95, both improving their game as the course progressed.

The same can be said for Navarez and Ellis, with Ellis starting the round at six over par after the first four holes, then going a solid seven over par over the remaining 14 holes to clinch a spot in the state tournament.

Shockey said Navarez and Griffin played very smart rounds that kept them within striking distance throughout all 36 holes.

“They’re playing to make sure they are in the middle of the pack so they can make the cut and play the next day,” Shockey said. “I’m pleased with the way they played and how smart they played. To be able to get their pars and bogeys, they knew the stakes and how to play that course.”

For Bouma, the standout freshman, Shockey said his expectations should be set higher next

(See Sports, page 12)

s From top, Dylan Johnson runs in the 200-meter preliminary race at Lynden Christian High School on May 8. Thora Engen prepares to make her drive at North Bellingham Golf Course on May 14 (photo by Eivind Engen). Abigail Schmidt returns a ball during the district semifinals against Meridian on May 8. Photos by Nolan Baker and Eivind Engen.

Youth Drama Camp: Our campers will prepare a performance of Midsummer Night's Dream, which they will showcase at Midsummer Night by the Bay on July 19. July 17-19, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., Birch Bay Activity Center, Outdoors, $45. 5-12y. Registration necessary.

BBBPRD2 is excited to partner with Birch Bay Village Golf Club to offer another Junior Golf Camp! June 24-28, $60. 8-16y. Registration necessary.

SPORTS, FITNESS AND SUMMER CAMPS!

Splash Day 2024! Get your swimsuits and sunscreen ready: Splash Day is back! Join us for a day of summer fun with inflatable sprinklers, delicious hot dogs, and snacks, beverages from Grounded in Life Coffee, and treats from the Sugar Shack ice cream truck. June 21, 12 to 2 p.m. 3rd and Martin, Blaine. Free. Sponsored by Jen Freeman & Leah Crews @ Windermere Real Estate.

Summer Play Days are back!

Play at the Park with your Park and Rec! Meet new friends, play and enjoy crafts. July 12 at Salishan Park, July 26 at Lincoln Park, August 16 at Lincoln Park, 1 to 3 p.m. Free. Registration not necessary.

Youth Rugby Clinics: Dive into the world

of rugby in a safe and relaxed atmosphere. Join us for an exciting opportunity to learn, grow, and have a blast in the gym and learn the ropes of this epic sport. June 1 (K-5th) and 15 (6th-12th), $25. K-12th. Registration necessary.

Youth Volleyball Clinics: Improve your

volleyball skills or learn the essentials of the game in our volleyball clinics led by Coach Melissa Gonzalez. August 24 (Girls 6th-12th) and 31 (coed K-5th), $25. Registration necessary.

Sat. 1: Youth Rugby Clinic

Sat. 1: Intro to Pickleball Starts

Sun. 2: Pickleball Workout

Fri. 7: Low Tide Excursion at Point Whitehorn

Sat. 8: Day at the Beach

Sat. 8: Tidepool Exploration

Sat. 8: Zumba® Instructor Training

Sun. 9: Pickleball Workout

Thu. 13: Hydrodipping Class

Fri. 14: Trip to Fairhaven and History Tour

Sat. 15: Hike to Horseshoe Bend Trail

Midsummer Night by the Bay: This new event will be an enchanting evening filled by captivating stories around campfire, games and crafts for the kids, a special performance of Midsummer Night's Dream by the talented children of the Park and Rec. and more. July 19, 6 to 9 p.m. Beach Park and Birch Bay Library, Free.

Pickleball Lessons: Curious about Pickleball, or already an avid player?

Join our Intro to Pickleball workshops to learn the fundamentals of the game or participate in Pickleball Workouts to improve your technique. This summer, we are even offering free classes for kids and families to enjoy together. Don't miss out on the fun and sign up today!

Intro to Pickleball: $40/3 sessions Workouts: $35/session Intro for Kids and Families: Free! Registration necessary.

Sun. 16: Pickleball Workout

Thu. 20: Acrylic Paint Class

Fri. 21: Splash Day

Sunset Yoga is back! Join us Friday Nights at Marine Park in Blaine (behind the orcas) for a free yoga class at 7:30 p.m. with breathtaking views of the sunset. Sponsored by Blaine Healing Arts Massage Therapy.

Fitness Bootcamps and Sessions: Our fitness bootcamps and sessions are designed to help you achieve your health and wellness goals. All levels. July 8 to August 2 and August 5 to 29. $26 for 4 weeks, 2 classes/week. Running Group: $13 for 4 weeks, 1 class/week. See our website for details. Registration necessary.

Exploring the chakras through Qigong, Acupressure and Sound Therapy: We invite you to join Maureen on a transformative journey through our Chakras (Energy Fields) where we will focus on creating balance through gentle movement, activating acupressure points, and experiencing the healing resonance of sound. This session is accessible for all levels of fitness. Come and explore the power of Chakra balancing with us! July 27, 2 to 3 p.m. Birch Bay Activity Center, outdoors. $8. Registration necessary.

Mon. 1: Rock Painting Starts Thu. 4: 4th of July Parade

Fri. 5: Tidepool Exploration

Fri. 21: Hike to Marine Park Fairhaven

Sat. 22: Tidepool Exploration

Sat. 22: Pickleball Coach Training

Sun. 23: Pickleball for Kids and Families

Mon. 24: Summer Camps Start Mon. 24: Jr. Golf Camp Starts

Mon. 24: Guided Landscape Painting Starts

Wed. 26: Still Life Drawing Starts

Wed. 26: Paint and Sip

Sat. 6: Tidepool Exploration

Sat. 6: Intro to Pickleball Starts Sun. 7: Pickleball Workout

Mon. 8: Self Portrait Class Starts Mon. 8: Cardio Fusion Bootcamp Starts Mon. 8: Strength Fundamentals Starts Tue. 9: Early Bird Bootcamp Starts

Tue. 9: Rise and Shine Session Starts

Thu. 11: Pottery Workshop for Kids Starts Fri. 12: Hike to Goose Rock

Register for all our activities at bbbparkandrec.org

Sat. 15: Color Crazy

Sat. 15: Youth Rugby Clinic

Thu. 27: Resin Epoxy Jewelry Sat. 29: Hike to Whistle Lake Sat. 29: Dutch Oven Cooking

Fri. 12: Little Tots Nature Walk Fri. 12: Summer Play Day

Ahoy Mateys! Pirate Daze is back with your Paaaarrrk and Rec! August 3, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Marine Park, Free.

ARTS, OUTDOORS, AND MORE!

Hydrodipping Class: Learn to create marbled designs on planter pots. June 13, 5 to 6 p.m., Birch Bay Activity Center, outdoors. $35. 6y+.

Acrylic Pouring: Get creative and make your own unique tile coasters! June 20, 5 to 6 p.m., Birch Bay Activity Center, outdoors. $35. 14y+.

Landscape Painting: Learn how to paint a landscape, such as a beach scene of Birch Bay. June 24+25, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., BP Heron Center at Birch Bay State Park. $35. 12y+.

Still Life Drawing: Take your still life drawings to the next level with advanced techniques. June 26, July 3 and 10, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Blaine Pavilion. $40. 12y+.

Rock Painting: Learn different techniques for painting on rocks with examples for inspiration. July 1 and 2, 5 to 6 p.m., Birch Bay Activity Center, outdoors. $30. 8y+. Join us for two Pottery Workshops: Kids 8-12 (and grown ups too!) will create animals using balloons and clay.

Self Portrait Painting: Create a self-portrait that captures your inner and outer self. July 8 and 9, 5 to 6 p.m., Birch Bay Activity Center, outdoors. $30. 12y+.

Paint and Sip: Join us for an evening of painting and fun with friends featuring our own seascape. June 26, 6 to 7 p.m., BP Heron Center at BB State Park. $35. 16y+.

Resin Epoxy: Learn how to make beautiful and unique resin jewelry! June 27, 5 to 6 p.m., Birch Bay Activity Center, outdoors. $35. 14y+.

July 11 and 18, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Birch Bay Activity Center, outdoors. $30. 8y+.

Teens and adults will learn how to make beautiful coil planters.

August 1 and 8, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Birch Bay Activity Center, outdoors. $35. 13y+.

Color Crazy: Tie-dye, rock art, and chalk art all in one exciting activity!

June 15, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Birch Bay Activity Center, outdoors. $8. 6-15y.

Registration is necessary for these activities: visit www.bbbparkandrec.org

Spice up your cooking game with our Dutch Oven Cooking class. Learn about the famous cast iron pot, from its rich history to proper care and use. June 29, 3 to 6 p.m., Birch Bay Activity Center, outdoors. $15. Registration necessary.

Take a Field Trip to Fairhaven for dinner and a history tour with the Good Times Girls! June 14, bus leaves at 3:30 p.m. from Birch Bay Activity Center. $25. (incl. bus ride and tour). Registration necessary.

Wed. 17: Youth Drama Camp Starts

Sun. 14: Pickleball Workout

Fri. 19: Tidepool Exploration

Fri. 19: Little Tots Nature Walk

Fri. 19: Midsummer Night by the Bay

Sun. 21: Low Tide Excursion at Point Whitehorn

Sun. 21 Pickleball Workout

Fri. 26: Hike to Sugarloaf

Fri. 26: Little Tots Nature Walk

Fri. 26: Summer Play Day

Fri. 26: Sunset Yoga

Sun. 28: Intro to Pickleball for Kids and Families

Thu. 1: Pottery Workshop Starts

Fri 2: Tidepool Exploration

Fri. 2: Little Tots Nature Walk

Fri. 2: Sunset Yoga

Sat. 3: Pirate Daze

Sun. 4: Intro to Pickleball Starts

Sun. 4: Pickleball Workout

Mon. 5: Blaine Evening Bootcamp Starts Mon. 5: Strength Fundamentals Starts

Tue. 6: Early Bird Bootcamp Starts

Tue. 6: Rise and Shine Session Starts

Fri. 9: Hike to Alger Alps

Fri. 9: Little Tots Nature Walk

Fri. 9: Sunset Yoga

Little Tots Nature Walks: Bring your littles to Lincoln Park for a Nature Scavenger Walk. Fridays from July 12 to August 16, 10 a.m. Free. All ages. Registration not necessary.

Low Tide Excursions: Join us for a guided walk to explore and photograph marine life during low tide. Our experienced guide will take you to the best spots to find tide pool creatures, providing you with a unique opportunity to capture these fascinating creatures through your lens. June 7 and July 21, Point Whitehorn, $5. Registration necessary.

Day at the Beach: Join Whatcom Conservation District, BBWARM, Friends of Birch Bay State park and BBBPRD2 for a Day at the Beach! This family-friendly day will feature low tide beach walks, refreshments, beach clean up, engaging kids activities, and educational sessions on the stewardship of Birch Bay. June 8, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Birch Bay State Park. Free.

Sun. 11: Pickleball Workout

Fri. 16: Little Tots Nature Walk Fri. 16: Summer Play Day Fri. 16: Sunset Yoga Sat. 17: Hike to Oyster Dome

Sun. 18: Pickleball Workout

Fri. 23: Hike to Heliotrope Ridge

Sat. 24: Volleyball Clinic

Sun. 25: Intro to Pickleball for Kids and Families

Sat. 31: Volleyball Clinic

Point your camera to access our website:

Find us on Facebook and Instagram: Search for bbbprd2

ONGOING FITNESS CLASSES and SPORTS

Sat. Jun. 1 Hunting Strategies with SARDIS

Jun. 8 Day at the Beach

Fri. Jun. 14:

Sat. Jun. 15: Music: “Devillies”

Jul. 6: SARDIS

Fri. Jul. 12:

Sat. Jul. 13: Falconer

Jul.

Sat. Aug. 10: Music: “Bellingham Community Band”

Sat. Aug. 17: Co-existing with Wildlife

at Wildlife Theater

at Wildlife Theater

at Wildlife Theater Fri. Aug. 23: Music: “Soul Duck”

Wave En Blanc and Art Festival: Join the Blaine Arts Council for a three day event (July 26-28) comprised of the En Blanc evening fundraiser, July 26 at the Blaine Boating Center, and the Art Festival, July 27 & 28 in Marine Park. More details at www.blaineartscouncil.org.

Bay State Park

Pickleball courts are located at the Birch Bay Activity Center. Outdoor courts are on a first come, first serve basis outside of drop-in hours, unless a reservation has been made. Outdoor Courts: free. Indoor: $3 drop-in.

Sports ...

From page 6

year after flirting with a state bid.

“[Bouma]’s got three more years to work on his game, I expect big things out of him next year,” Shockey said. “He knows what bi-districts is all about, so next year is all about state.”

The 1A state tournament will tee off at the Riverside Golf Club in Chehalis on Tuesday, May 21. For more information on how to attend, visit wiaa.com.

Girls golf

The Blaine girls golf season abruptly ended at the 1A bi-district championship at North Bellingham Golf Course on May 14 after Kijah Van Rijswijck, Ellie Tanjuaquio and Thora Engen all missed the cut to qualify for the state tournament.

Van Rijswijck led the three Borderites with a score of 109, with Tanjuaquio just behind her with a 110, and Engen just behind that with a 111.

The score to make the state tournament was a 101.

All three Borderites had solid seasons over a long spring, highlighted by a first-place team finish at Loomis Trail Golf Course on April 8, and multiple other top-three team finishes and top-ten individual rounds throughout the year.

The Borderites, who finished second in the seven-team Whatcom County Championships earlier in the season, just couldn’t put together a good round on a North Bellingham course that features tons of steep hills, bunkers and tough greens to execute putts.

All told, the Blaine girls golf team had a solid season with consistently good performances from Engen, Van Rijswijck and Tanjuaquio, but just couldn’t make that highest hurdle to qualify for the state tournament.

Girls Tennis

Blaine girls tennis teammates Sara Olinger-Stirrat and Abby Schmidt played against one another for a chance to place at the bi-district tournament after both beating their Meridian opponents in the district semifinals on May 9.

In the semi-final round on May 8, Schmidt won in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, and Olinger-Stirrat also won in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2.

In the unusual teammate versus teammate matchup, Olinger-Stirrat won in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, and will represent District 1 in the bi-district qualifiers starting this weekend at University Prep High School in Seattle.

“However, the teammates went and got ice cream to celebrate each other’s season success after,” Blaine athletic director Chas Kok wrote postgame. No hard feelings, it seems. Blaine doubles teammates Tori Taengdaen and Sabrina Boczek will also be traveling to University Prep for bi-district qualifiers.

Softball Blaine softball celebrated its

Senior Night with a convincing 12-0 win over Friday Harbor on May 10 at Pipeline Fields. It was the last regular season game for the Borderites, finishing the season with a 14-6 overall record (11-4 NWC) to place first in 1A conference standings.

Junior slugger Shaylie Daniels again led the way offensively, posting a three-hit game, with senior pitcher Emersyn Bakker also swinging the bat well, also tallying three hits with a team-leading four RBI. Sophomore Aaliyah Bowman also contributed on offense, scoring one run on a sacrifice fly, and going 2-2.

Bakker threw yet another gem on the mound, striking out 11 batters in five shutout innings, walking just one batter and allowing three hits.

As of May 13, Daniels is topten in the conference in batting average (.517), slugging percentage (.783), hits (31), and RBI (25 – also tied with Bakker).

Bakker continues to light up the league’s pitching leaderboards with a Northwest Conference-leading 1.58 ERA and 198 strikeouts, along with 14 wins (second in NWC) and 110.2 innings pitched (also second).

The Borderites now head into the 1A District 1 postseason tournament with the No. 2 seed after Mount Baker finished the year with a better overall record and a head-to-head win over Blaine.

The Borderites will face No. 3 seed Lynden Christian on Thursday, May 16 at 4 p.m. Blaine defeated Lynden Christian earlier in the season, 4-1 on April 20 in the only matchup between the two teams so far this year.

The double-elimination tournament will send just one team to the state tournament, and will be held on Thursday, May 16 and Saturday, May 18 at Janicki Fields in Sedro-Woolley.

Stats provided by WhatcomPreps.com

sports

s From top left: Senior Uno Navarez watches his put at North Bellingham Golf Course on May 14. Sara Olinger-Stirrat returns a serve against Merdian at Blaine High School on May 8. Owen Woodworth, c., races in the 800 meter preliminary at Lynden Christian High School on May 8. Peyton Bouma chips out of a sandtrap at North Bellingham Golf Course on May 14.

Photos by Nolan Baker

Blaine Planning Commission changes downtown parking recommendation

Blaine Planning Commission made revisions to its downtown residential parking recommendation for city council during its May 9 meeting and planned to hold a special meeting at 5 p.m. May 15 to vote on the changes.

The most significant change the commission made was deleting a section in the proposal asking for additional parking relief for developers on the west side of Peace Portal Drive in the downtown core. The original proposal had suggested developers in that area could opt for a 50 percent reduction in residential parking on top of overall reductions proposed throughout downtown.

Commissioners Don Kruse and Kevin Owens said they wanted to support residents who have been opposed to the parking reductions. Commissioner Jennifer Plombon said Blaine didn’t need

big development. Plombon, along with commissioner James Bring and chair Calvin Armerding, said waterfront properties were becoming a rarity and developers would eventually come without zoning changes.

The core of the proposal remains the same as it provides an opportunity for developers to reduce residential parking to .5 stalls for a studio, .75 stalls for a one-bedroom unit, one stall for two- and three-bedroom units, and .5 additional stalls for each bedroom over a three-bedroom unit.

If developers decided to use the minimum parking requirements, they would need to pay a fee to the city for downtown transportation improvements. City council would set the fee and could adjust it annually.

The previous proposal changed language to include that parking meters may be considered for downtown (the city of Blaine

has no immediate plans to install parking meters). If parking meters were installed in the future, the commission added that an annual residential parking pass would allow residents to more easily park downtown.

The new proposal states the city of Blaine will need to consider parking mitigation in the future and council should consider the cost of providing that mitigation when creating an inlieu parking fee.

Planning commissioners were in favor of the changes and appeared likely to approve them, but the special meeting was scheduled after press time. After the commission approves a parking proposal, it will go to Blaine City Council, which can take action on the proposal in several different ways, including voting without a public hearing or sending the proposal back to the commission.

Black bears now roaming north of Custer since sightings last year

Several Blaine residents have recently reported seeing a mother black bear and her offspring wandering around Giles Road, just north of Custer. The sightings come after a black bear and two cubs were seen around Blaine and Custer last year.

Three people living near Giles Road took to the social media app Nextdoor to report their recent black bear sightings within the past week. At least four reports include a mother black bear and two young bears on Delta Line Road; a mother bear and young bear, both tagged, outside of a home on Giles Road; and a mother bear in Giles Pond. One neighbor also told The Northern Light they had seen two young bears a couple of months ago in the area.

Becky Elder, a community outreach manager at Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), wrote in an email to The Northern Light that the department is aware of the bears traveling in the area. WDFW received one report, on May 10, of an adult female and a yearling, a young bear between the ages of one and two years old, on Forest Road in Blaine. The yearling is presumed to be last year’s offspring, Elder wrote.

Late last summer, a mother black bear and two cubs traveled from Maple Falls to Blaine and Custer, with about 30 reports marking their trail.

“We cannot confirm they are the same, but it is quite possible since they seem to have similar shaped and colored ear tags to the ones described from last year,” Elder wrote.

Elder previously said it’s not uncommon to see black bears in northwest Whatcom County, but it’s not a place where they’re frequently

observed. WDFW tried to set a few traps in 2023 to assess the bears.

WDFW didn’t track last year’s bears, which Elder said likely traveled into Canada, the North Cascades or a forested location away from homes. Bears that have a predictable food source such as garbage may emerge throughout the winter, but the department didn’t receive any reports of bears in the Blaine or Custer area then.

With only one report to WDFW, the department does not plan to set traps. However, Elder said if the bears remain in the area and continue relying on human food, then WDFW may attempt to trap the bears. Rehabilitation is only used for young bears as relocation is less successful when adult bears are habituated to non-natural food, Elder said.

“At present, since it was only one sighting and no negative human interactions have occurred, we are hopeful they continue to move on and do not focus on human attractants,” Elder wrote.

Bears will stay in one area as long as they can secure food, Elder wrote. People can deter bears from the area by securing non-natural food sources, such as garbage cans, bird feeders and pet food.

“Some people are tempted to feed bears or allow them to forage on their lawn or landscaping, thinking they are helping the bears.

This can be especially true when people see female bears (sows) with their young (cubs),” Elder wrote. “The truth is, wildlife don’t need our help, and feeding wildlife can cause more harm than good.”

Tips

WDFW recommends the following to avoid black bear-human interaction:

• Don’t feed bears or other wildlife.

• Keep garbage cans in a garage or building until collection day.

• Take down bird seed, suet and hummingbird feeders until late fall.

• Clean up fallen fruit or other attractants around your home.

• Remove pet food and feed pets inside.

• Clean barbecue grills after each use and store them inside.

• Cage and electric fence domestic fowl and livestock pens.

• Don’t store food in cars. Black bears remaining close to one area with residences or making attempts to get human food, should be reported to WDFW by calling 360/9022936, emailing wildcomm@ dfw.wa.gov, submitting an online report at bit.ly/3ysq4xv, or calling 911.

s A young black bear, pictured, and a mother bear visited a home near Giles Road in Blaine in early May. Courtesy photo

sheriff’s reports

May 3, 8:32 a.m.: Civil problem cold call on Bay Road.

May 3, 3:51 p.m.: Civil problem cold call on Comox Road.

May 4, 1:46 a.m.: Domestic –physical on Birch Bay Drive.

May 4, 10:27 a.m.: Domestic order violence cold call on Harborview Road.

May 4, 1:16 p.m.: Burglary cold call on Alderson Road.

May 4, 9:00 p.m.: Trespass on Gulf Road.

May 5, 11:30 a.m.: Domestic order violence cold call on Halibut Drive.

May 6, 12:42 a.m.: DUI arrest on Birch Bay Drive.

May 6, 11:22 a.m.: Burglary cold call on Birch Bay Lynden Road.

May 6, 11:37 a.m.: Neighborhood dispute on Harbor Court.

May 6, 5:54 p.m.: Hit and run cold call on Birch Bay Square Street.

May 6, 5:58 p.m.: Burglary cold call on McGee Road.

May 6, 7:48 p.m.: DUI arrest on Seafair Drive.

May 7, 12:41 p.m.: Overdose

on Holeman Avenue.

May 7, 8:04 p.m.: Domestic order violence cold call on Halibut Drive.

May 8, 12:22 a.m.: Domestic –physical on Boblett Road.

May 8, 11:48 p.m.: Neighborhood dispute on Birch Bay Drive.

May 8, 6:44 p.m.: Runaway on Kickerville Road.

May 9, 7:55 a.m.: Traffic stop arrest on Blaine Road.

May 9, 8:18 a.m.: Mental health check on Surf Place.

May 9, 12:40 p.m.: Traffic stop arrest on Bay Road.

May 9, 8:43 p.m.: Hot rod on Portal Way.

May 9, 10:29 p.m.: Runaway cold call on Waters Edge Way.

poLiCe reports

May 4, 1:28 a.m.: Burglary on Canvasback Road.

May 4, 10:52 a.m.: Sex crime (no rape) on Mitchell Avenue.

May 4, 4:05 p.m.: Death investigation on Boblett Street.

May 4, 6:11 p.m.: Missing person on Chickadee Way.

May 5, 1:11 a.m.: Suicidal subject on Bayview Avenue.

May 5, 7:13 p.m.: Runaway on Martin Street.

May 6, 12:57 p.m.: Runaway on 9th Street.

May 7, 4:19 p.m.: Harassment on Semiahmoo Parkway.

Crossword

ACROSS

1. Geological time 4. Ooze 9. A set of eight 14. Obstruction 15. Swiss mathematician 16. Philosophy 17. The night before 18. A timid person 20. Unifies 22. Gangs 23. Alternative name 24. Acumen 28. Cathode-ray tube 29. Tantalum 30. Soluble ribonucleic acid

31. Humiliate 33. Earthy pigment

37. Air Force

38. Adult males 39. Stiff untanned leather 41. Before 42. Atomic #18

43. Beer mug

44. Nostrils

46. Type of chef

49. Midway between north and east

50. They __

51. Splits

55. Walk in a timid manner

58. Preserved animal skin with hair

59. Popular donut shop item

60. You smear it on bagels

64. Don’t know when yet 65. Equal to 10 amperes

66. Synthetic acrylic fiber

67. One point south of due east 68. Of mixed ancestry

69. Home of the Pyramids

70. A way to change color DOWN

1. Excessive fluid accumulation in tissues

2. Untangle 3. One from the U.S. 4. Academic terms 5. San __ Obispo, in California 6. Not healthy 7. Self-assessment

questionnaire (abbr.) 8. Arugula genus 9. VIII 10. Makes a monarch 11. Tormentor 12. Commercials 13. Sprinkle 19. Make a mistake 21. Freshwater fishes 24. Vermont town 25. Man-made device

26. Entrap 27. Places to store important things 31. Accumulate 32. Greek mythological nymph 34. Gregory __, American dancer 35. Denotes past 36. Becoming popular again 40. Indicates position 41. Came before 45. An extra seed-covering 47. Cheerful 48. Deli sandwich staple 52. Skateboarders love them

Coming up

Kindergarten Registration Open: If your child will be five years old on or before August 31, 2024, register now at blainesd.org/o/ blaine-primary-school.

May Days at the Bridge: Wednesdays–Saturday though May, 11 a.m.–4 p.,m., the Bridge Community Hope Center Boutique, 7620 Birch Bay Drive. Info: thebridgehope.com.

Community Breakfast: Saturdays, 8–11 a.m., American Legion Post 86, 4580 Legion Drive. All-you-can-eat pancakes $5, kids 4 and under get free pancakes. Other breakfast items available for purchase. Hosted by G.O.A.T. Sandwiches. Info: 360/296-4204. Portion of proceeds benefits the American Legion.

Primary School Art Walk: Through May 30. Artwork from Blaine Primary School students displayed at various Blaine businesses.

May 8, 12:41 a.m.: Domestic –physical on Boblett Road.

May 8, 8:55 p.m.: Missing child on Garfield Avenue.

May 9, 8:44 a.m.: Hit and run on Alder Street.

May 9, 9:25 a.m.: Vandalism on H Street.

May 9, 1:01 p.m.: Burglary on Harrison Avenue.

May 10, 11:07 a.m.: Sex crime (no rape) on Mitchell Avenue.

May 10, 3:46 p.m.: Hit and run on E Street.

May 10, 5:24 p.m.: Theft on D Street.

53. Mandela’s party

54. Sierra lake

56. Nickname for Elizabeth

57. Remove from record

59. Employee stock ownership plan

60. Former NFLer Newton

61. Relative biological effectiveness (abbr.)

62. Work unit

63. Town in Cambridgeshire

ANSWERS: THENORTHERNLIGHT.COM

tides

16-22 at Blaine. Not for navigation.

Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce Luncheon: Thursday, May 16, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., Birch Bay Fire Station. 4581 Birch Bay-Lynden Road. Speaker: North Whatcom Fire Rescue chief Jason Van der Veen. RSVP: birchbaychamber.com.

Birch Bay Incorporation Association Quarterly Meeting: Thursday, May 16, 6 p.m., North Bay Community Church, 4895 Birch Bay-Lynden Road. Join in-person or on Zoom. County executive Satpal Sidhu and councilmember Ben Elenbaas will speak, committees will share progress, address questions and receive feedback. Open to the public. Info: www.incorporatebirchbay.com.

Peace Arch Community Chorale Concert: Thursday, May 16, 7 p.m., Blaine Performing Arts Center. Chorale performs with Blaine High School choirs and band. Donations accepted.

Blaine’s Spring Block Party: Saturday, May 18, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., Blaine G Street Plaza. Live music, street fair with over 50 vendors, beer garden, food trucks, bounce houses, corn hole, sidewalk chalk art, face painting. Info: blainechamber.com.

Picnic in the Playground: Saturday, May 18, 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Blaine Marine Park. Free outdoor play, games, and crafts for kids of all ages. Free mini rugby clinic. Food and Kona Ice available for purchase. Free shuttle to the Spring Block Party in downtown Blaine. Info: bbbparkandrec.org.

Beauty Lou and the Country Beast Performance: Saturday, May 18, 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., Blaine High School black box theater (behind Borderite Stadium). Blaine Elementary School and Primary school students perform a production through Missoula Children’s Theatre. Tickets $10 at the door. Info: blaineespto@gmail.com.

Live Music at Birch Bay State Park: Saturday, May 18, 3 p.m., Birch Bay State Park’s bp Heron Center. Enjoy memorable country western and swing music from On the Loose. Bring a camp chair and picnic for a rockin’ good time. Info: bbbparkandrec.org. Car Wash Fundraiser: Sunday, May 19, noon–4 p.m., next to Blaine Middle School gym, corner of Mitchell and H Street. Also selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts by the dozen and raffle tickets. Cash or Venmo. Proceeds benefit the Blaine Safe and Sober graduation night festivities.

Supper With the Superintendent: Monday, May 20, 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.

Giant insects of the Amazon and Asia: Friday, May 24, 3 p.m., Birch Bay State Park wildlife theater. Park rangers presentation with real specimens of the largest bugs in the world. Info: bbbparkandrec.org.

Clamming 101: Saturday, May 25, 1 p.m., Birch Bay State Park Heron Center. Learn shellfish regulations, how to dig for clams, clam species and methods of cleaning and cooking. Bring your shellfish license, shovel/trowel and a small bucket if you wish to keep clams. Led by Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation and Friends of Birch Bay State Park naturalists. Free. Info: bbbparkandrec.org.

Container Gardening: Wednesday, May 29, 5–7 p.m., Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. An “out of the ground and into the box” introduction to container gardening. We will start with the basics from choosing containers and the right plants to learning how to water them. Info: nwcore.org.

Live Music at Birch Bay State Park: Friday, May 31, 5 p.m., Birch Bay State Park’s bp Heron Center. Enjoy music from a group of five musicians performing classic pop, swing, blues and more. Great for all ages. Bring a camp chair and picnic. Info: bbbparkandrec.org.

Container Gardening: Saturday, June 1, 9–11 a.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. An “out of the ground and into the box” introduction to container gardening. We will start with the basics from choosing containers and the right plants to learning how to water them. Info: nwcore.org.

Birch Bay 5K Fun Run: Friday, May 31, 6 p.m. Leave from the Birch Bay Activity Center at 7511 Gemini Street and run to Beach Cat Brewing. $35, kids and pets run for free. Info and registration: bbbparkandrec.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. Delivery options available. Info:360/332-6350 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.

s Blaine artist Georgia Donovan has over 20 pieces of art on display at the Great Blue Heron restaurant at Semiahmoo Golf Club, including the painting titled, “Oh! Deer!” Available for purchase, her work will be on display through the end of May. Donovan’s art is also showcased at The Starfish Cafe at Semiahmoo Marina and Rooted by The Bay Coffee Shop in Birch Bay. For more of Donovan’s work, visit fineartamerica.com. Photo by Grace McCarthy

KMRE Radio to host fundraiser to expand into Blaine, Birch Bay

B y N ola N B aker

Bellingham-based community radio station KMRE will hold its first pledge drive from Friday, May 17 to Sunday, May 19. Funds donated from the community will go toward the station’s goal of expanding and improving signal to spread across Whatcom and Island counties, specifically into the Blaine and Birch Bay area.

KMRE started in 2005 in the basement of Bellingham’s SPARK Museum, and has grown into a community mainstay, relying on an army of volunteer reporters and producers to cover local issues throughout Whatcom County.

But as executive director Suzanne Blais explained, there’s only so much a radio station can do without a strong signal. And in a geographically isolated area

such as Whatcom County, signals that should in theory reach a certain audience often don’t.

“Radio itself is not an exact science, it’s a little bit of alchemy,” Blais said. “You’d think it’s engineering, but the geography of our area gets in the way. There are places that should be receiving us that aren’t, so we’re in tweaking, testing mode.”

Blais said the station hopes to expand its frequency – 88.3 FM on the dial – to reach tens of thousands of more people. But that takes funding.

That need for expansion, plus a desire to fund and properly pay its cadre of reporters and producers, led to KMRE starting its first on-air fundraising campaign.

For Blais, community-powered radio, just like print media, can be a way to lower barriers of understanding between groups in a politically and economically

diverse part of the country like northwest Washington.

“I see radio as a potential bridge. If folks start to utilize it, we’ll find our way back together again,” Blais said. “Not that we’ll agree on everything, but I think we can agree on the fact that we love this place and there are reasons for us to work together to try and maintain it.”

The fundraiser will be live on air from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. throughout the weekend, and the station will feature interviews with community leaders like Bellingham mayor Kim Lund, Mt. Baker Theatre executive director John Purdie, Community Boating Center executive director Bryan Rust and many other voices.

KMRE set its fundraising goal at $5,000, and has raised over $1,500 by press time. To donate to the station, visit KMRE.org

Veronica North headlines Wild Buffalo

B y G race M c c arthy

Birch Bay singer-songwriter

Veronica North will take center stage at Bellingham’s popular music venue, the Wild Buffalo, on Thursday, May 23.

The concert, only for those over 21 years old, will feature songs from North’s new EP, “dou-

ble bar line.” The six-song EP was released in March and is available on streaming services.

North, who is known for her lyrical candor, uses her latest songs to tell the story of leaving expectations behind and finding herself.

“I always write from a very personal and vulnerable place that helps me to connect better with my

inner-self,” North wrote in a statement. “I’m hopeful that this show will be an opportunity for listeners to engage and self-reflect in a similar way. It’s going to be special.”

Doors open 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Phoenix-based BADLANDS and local artists Ben William and Kacey Lind will open before North’s

“It’s not just that we want to expand and take over the world,” Blais joked. “It’s that we

headlining performance.

She’s a known musician to local venues, having performed at The Vault Wine Bar and Bistro, Home Farm and locales across Bellingham. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. To purchase tickets, visit bit.ly/3ysNrXN s

want to represent as much of the community,

s KMRE Radio’s “The Wandering ‘Hamster” news crew interviews a Bellingham police officer during “Downtown Sounds” music festival. Photo courtesy KMRE

Veronica North’s EP “double bar line.” The Birch Bay artist will perform at Wild Buffalo on Thursday, May 23. Courtesy photo

the honest-to-God broadcast area, as possible.”