Protection order upheld after city council speech, page 5 Incorporation feasibility study meeting, page 3
The Blaine school district board of directors swore in two new members and one returning board member during its regular meeting on December 9, marking a new era for the school district’s five-member governing body.
District 3 director Bob Feaster and District 5 director Chelsey Belarmino were sworn in by superintendent Dan Chaplik to begin their first meeting of their four-year terms that expire in December 2029. District 4 director Ryan Swinburnson was also sworn in after serving on the board since February 2024 when he was appointed to replace a resigning board member.
With the new board set, the body designated Swinburnson as board president, District 2 director Ben Lazarus as vice president, Belarmino as the legislative representative, and Feaster as the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association representative. All members were voted unanimously to their respective positions by the board.
Multiple school board members expressed interest in attending the upcoming Washington Association of School Administrators annual legislative conference on January 9 and 10. The conference is a chance for school district staff to learn about statewide issues prior to the 2026 state legislative session and to prepare for the debate over the impending 2027-29 biennial budget.
School board members also expressed a desire to attend Education Advocacy Day on January 29, where school district representatives travel to Olympia to rub shoulders with state legislators.
Feaster asked about inviting community advocacy groups to either the conference or “Hill Day” in Olympia as a way to show state lawmakers how dire the public education funding crisis has become.
Feaster mentioned inviting representatives from Fund Schools Now, the Blaine-based interest group working to bring back services that have been slowly whittled down by years of budget cuts.
Chaplik also mentioned bringing
Port commission expansion, page 5
Port of Bellingham: Behind Closed Doors, Part II: The Contractors
Further analysis reveals concentrated relationships and contracts priced to the penny.
The contractors
One contract was awarded at exactly $49,999.49.
That’s fifty-one cents below the $50,000 threshold at which state law requires the Port of Bellingham to document competitive solicitation for professional services. The contract, awarded to TranTech Engineering in 2018 for Waterfront Franchise Utilities work, then grew to $308,205 –more than six times its original value.
Two weeks ago, The Northern Light reported that 85 percent of Port professional services contracts lacked required pro-
curement documentation. This investigation examines who benefited from those patterns.
Further analysis of the Port’s contract database reveals that a small circle of consulting firms received the bulk of contract amendments. Between 2018 and 2024, contracts starting at $45,000 or more that grew by at least 50 percent totaled $8.2 million at signing. Through amendments, they reached $34.3 million – $26 million in additional work.
Four firms account for a disproportionate share: Anchor QEA, Landau Associates, Aspect Consulting, and CRETE Consulting. Each has multiple contracts that grew by hundreds or thousands of percent.
s Children are able to get in the holiday spirit by dropping off letters to Santa in front of the Blaine Visitor Information Center and Hill’s Chevron in downtown. Photo opportunities with the Abominable Snowman and Rudolph are available next to the mailbox. Also, read more about the Great Blaine Elf Hunt on page 15.
Photo by Louise Mugar
Birch Bay incorporation feasibility study results to be discussed December 17
The results from the Birch Bay incorporation feasibility study will be shared during a remote study session 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, December 17.
Consulting firms that the county hired to conduct the study, Community Attributes, Inc. and Maul, Foster and Alongi, will present their study findings, including the financial feasibility of incorporation and possible public services. The study only provides data and does not make a recommendation for incorporation. Registration for the meeting, which will be held on Zoom, is available at bit.ly/3Mtqafx. A draft feasibility study will be available on the county’s webpage for the project at bit.ly/3Yfl35c. The meeting will be recorded for those unable to attend.
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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.
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Vol XXXI, No 26
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B y M adely N J o N es
Semiahmoo Resort has announced that the resort’s largest restaurant, Packers Kitchen + Bar, will be open for private event reservations for the fall and winter seasons for the first time.
Packers closed for the season on September 29. This is the first year that Packers has closed seasonally, wrote Semiahmoo Resort general manager Mark Andrew.
Resort staff decided to temporarily close Packers during the restaurant’s slow season and plans to continue seasonal operations in the future. The restaurant previously closed for private events.
Packers will reopen spring of 2026, but has not yet announced an official reopen date.
While Packers is closed, Seaview Cafe will offer an all-day menu from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The menu for Seaview Cafe can be found at semiahmoo.com/dining-at-semiahmoo.
Packers Kitchen + Bar offers event rental OpiniOn Letters
The Editor:
The Northern Light holiday publishing schedule: The last issue of 2025 is the December 18 edition. The Northern Light offices will be closed December 22-26, and the next issue publishes January 1, with ads due Monday, December 29.
On behalf of the Blaine Food Bank, I want to extend a huge thanks to The Northern Light for running the matching funds campaign ads. Thanks to your support, and the incredible generosity of our community we have reached our $50,000 matching donation goal much sooner than expected!
We’re excited to share that we’re continuing to fundraise toward our stretch goal of $75,000 – and we’re well on our way.
Your generosity in sharing our message helps us provide essential food and hope to families who need it most. We truly value our partnership with The Northern Light and are so grateful for all that you provide for our community.
Lisa Dobbin
Blaine Food Bank director
Blaine
The Editor:
I am so grateful to be part of a community that cares for and shares with their neighbors. That is why CAP had another very successful Thanksgiving basket distribution. We want to say thank you to the many generous financial and product donors and to the faithful volunteers that make it happen.
We were able to give 220 dinner baskets to families and 145 ready-to-heat meals for singles and couples to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal.
A special thanks this year to IGA for its deli for preparing the ready-to-heat meals, to Mon-
te’s for preparing 20 hot dinners for local unhoused neighbors, and to The Christian Way Community Church for use of its space. And of course to North Whatcom Fire and Rescue for doing the heavy lifting.
This CAP program is a special tradition for our town. Not only do we join the nation in giving thanks to God for his provision, we assist you in bringing help, dignity and hope to some of your neighbors. We at CAP feel privileged to assist you.
Dan DeMent CAP board president Custer
The Editor:
Thank you for publishing your article and Letters to the Editor on the upcoming elections at the Blaine Senior Center (BSC). I have to offer some additional information.
I’m concerned that what was reported misrepresents past good works of three board members who resigned in 2024. Your article describes the meeting in September 2024 that called for a vote to remove Jim West, Christine Yung and Adele Berman from the board. I was at that meeting and it was very one-sided – not a fair discussion of concerns.
I’m currently the secretary of the BSC board of directors. I have organized and reviewed the board minutes from the past decade. Reading them all, I found that, in my opinion, West, Yung and Berman were acting responsibly in
CiviC Meetings
Blaine City Council: Second and fourth Mondays, 6 p.m., Blaine City Council chambers, 435 Martin Street. Town halls typically at 5:30 p.m. the first Monday meeting each month. Info: ci.blaine.wa.us.
Birch Bay Community Advisory Committee: Typically the last Thursday of each month, 6 p.m., Birch Bay Bible Community Church, 4460 Bay Road. Updated meeting info: bit.ly/3QmWVcX.
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 Planning Commission: Second Thursday, 6 p.m., Blaine City Council chambers, 435 Martin Street. Info: bit.ly/3EwWiZi.
Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation: Second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. Info: bbbparkandrec.org.
raising the concerns they did about the executive director.
While these concerns polarized the board and resulted in resignations and turmoil, I believe it’s wrong to leave the impression that any directors who resigned were not doing their jobs or acting in bad faith. To their credit, Yung and Berman remain active members and volunteers at the senior center. It shows their courage and character.
The strength of the senior center comes from members supporting one another. I hope that when disagreements arise in the future, our members will seek to learn and understand what is happening and not rush to judgment.
Glenn Briskin
Birch Bay
The Editor: I am constantly amazed at the number of people who do not turn on their vehicle lights at dawn, dusk, and on gray, rainy, foggy days. Most especially, those with gray or black cars, which blend in with the dark pavement. I can only assume that they are saving their headlights for a better purpose.
Richard Mollette
Custer
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.
Port of Bellingham: First and third Tuesday, 4 p.m., Port of Bellingham Harbor Center, 1801 Roeder Ave., Ste. 146, in Bellingham and via Zoom. Info: portofbellingham.com.
s Packers Kitchen + Bar.
Photo courtesy of Semiahmoo Resort
Judge denies request for protection order reconsideration surrounding city council speech
A Whatcom County District Court judge has denied Blaine resident David Brudvik’s motion to reconsider protection orders issued against him following statements he made at an October town hall meeting.
Judge Angela Anderson issued the four-page ruling December 5, finding that Brudvik’s remarks quoting a violent scene from the 1994 film “Pulp Fiction” constituted a “true threat” under Washington law rather than protected political speech.
Brudvik attended a city of Blaine town hall meeting on October 13 and named four members of a local water advocacy group whose members have filed public records requests and criticized city leadership. He concluded his remarks by quoting the fictional biblical passage recited by Samuel L. Jackson’s character in “Pulp Fiction” immediately before executing a man. The monologue concludes: “And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger, those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers.”
Two days later, Brudvik acknowledged making the statement on social media and repeated it.
Four members of the water advocacy group, who, the judge pointed out, were all private citizens, not elected officials, filed for protection orders.
At a November 4 hearing, video from the film’s violent scene was shown to illustrate the context of Brudvik’s quotation. Brudvik testified he had made the statement.
In denying the motion for reconsideration, Judge Anderson cited Washington case law defin-
ing a “true threat” as a statement that a reasonable person would interpret as a serious expression of intent to inflict bodily harm. The court found Brudvik “engaged in a knowing and willful course of conduct” that conveyed a message that he would “kill them in a manner like the actor did in the movie” if they did not cease their activities.
All four petitioners provided testimony that they suffered substantial emotional distress. According to the ruling, their supplemental statement indicated, “They all live in fear for their lives now.”
The petitioners had approached Blaine police in the days following Brudvik’s October 13 address to council; the police reports of those contacts had been forwarded to the county prosecutor’s office to determine if charges should be filed.
According to Blaine police chief Rodger Funk, the prosecutor’s office responded with a “Notice of No Action Decision for insufficient evidence and the interest of justice.”
The unnamed deputy prosecutor who made the decision commented there was “Insufficient evidence of knowingly threatening specific person to cause immediate bodily injury; and decline in the interest of justice because of difficulty distinguishing statement from protected, albeit belligerent, political speech.”
The protection orders and an accompanying order requiring Brudvik to surrender firearms remain in effect. He subsequently surrendered a concealed weapons permit, approximately 16 rifles (some AR & M4-style), shotguns, six handguns and a suppressor/silencer.
Brudvik’s gun rights had previously been revoked following his 2004 guilty plea to two fel-
Port commission moves forward on five-member expansion plan
large, that is what they desire.”
The Port of Bellingham held a special public hearing on Tuesday to discuss redistricting plans that will expand the commission from three to five members, a change approved by voters in the November general election.
The port will become the seventh in Washington state to have five commissioners, joining Tacoma, Seattle, Olympia, Edmonds, Orcas and Anacortes. Staff proposed drawing new district boundaries along existing Whatcom County Council lines, a plan that received broad support from commissioners and the public.
“I do want to say that I appreciate the districts being drawn along the county lines,” said Dan Tucker of the Working Waterfront Coalition. “From our membership, we have heard, by and
ony counts of drive-by shooting in Snohomish County. Court records show he was sentenced to 30 months in prison. His right to possess firearms was restored through a Whatcom County rehabilitation order in 2018.
Asked to comment on the judge’s decision, Brudvik replied in an email to The Northern Light, “Many people who know me on a personal level believe the judge’s decision to be a miscarriage of justice. They know I do not wish harm on anyone. I am a husband, father, business owner, and volunteer who cares deeply about the people of Blaine.”
The proposal includes a numbering adjustment required by state law. Because incumbent commissioners must remain in districts one, two and three, staff recommended swapping the numbers on county council districts three and five. Commissioner Bobby Briscoe, who resides in what is currently county District 5, would remain in port District 3 under this arrangement.
Briscoe asked why the port could not simply mirror the county numbers from the start.
Port attorney Holly Stafford explained that state statute requires incumbent commissioners to occupy districts one through three when expanding, leaving no flexibility.
“When the statute says ‘shall’ for redistricting, you shall follow it,”
(See Port, page 10)
Wrestlers podium in Stanwood, basketball sweeps Friday Harbor
Blaine athletes showed out in full force over the past week, with wrestlers standing atop podiums, bowlers setting personal records, and basketball sweeping aside its final non-conference opponents of the early season.
Girls Wrestling
Blaine girls wrestling had a great team performance at the Spartan Winter Wrestlefest tournament in Stanwood on Saturday, December 6.
Kiera O’Reilly took first place in the 105-pound division, defeating three wrestlers by fall. It was O’Reilly’s first tournament championship of the season.
Blaine’s Abigail Gonzalez and Julianne Whaley each placed fourth in their respective weight classes.
Gonzalez fought her way into the third place match with a pair of tough wins, but couldn’t defeat Sedro-Woolley’s Jailyn Serrano. Whaley won four out of five matches before finally falling in her third-place match against Lyden’s Yaretzi Gonzalez, who won via a 5-3 decision.
Rounding out the tournament for the Borderites’ varsity squad was Jasmine Delo-Santos, who earned a sixth place finish after two wins – one by fall in just 55 seconds, the other a 6-2 decision – in four matches.
It was another solid day on that mat for the Borderites, adding on to a good performance at a tournament in Mt. Baker on December 2, where the Borderites defeated Squalicum 36-18, but lost to Mt. Baker 48-30.
Blaine will travel to Anacortes for a Northwest Conference (NWC) duel against Meridian on Thursday, December 11 at 6 p.m.
Blaine will then travel to Everett for an all-day tournament on Saturday, December 13, with competitions starting at 10 a.m. Stats provided by TrackWrestling.com
Boys Wrestling Blaine boys wrestling had a stellar day at the Mariner Holiday Wrestling Tournament in Everett on December 6, with senior Cole Voight winning first place in the 120-pound division, winning by fall over Lincoln’s Samuel Zisman in 4:47.
Rhys Milligan made it to the final round of the 175-pound division, defeating Lincoln’s Olaf Barradas in the semi-final round by fall in 5:44.
Stats provided by TrackWrestling.com
Girls Bowling Girls bowling defeated Everett at Mt. Baker Lanes on December 9, winning 1377-1220.
Prior to that win, Blaine took on NWC rivals Ferndale on December 8, with Della Cochran bowling a personal-best score of 192. It was the second-highest individual game score ever for a Blaine bowler, just behind senior Ainslee Ellis’ record of 202 set at the start of this season.
Girls bowling will play just one more match before the New Year, facing Mt. Vernon at Riverside Lanes on Tuesday, December 16 at 3 p.m. Blaine’s next “home” game – at Mt. Baker Lanes in Ferndale – is scheduled for Tuesday, January 6 at 3:15 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Blaine girls basketball took care of nonconference opponent Friday Harbor on December 3, winning 40-18.
Senior forward Aaliyah Bowman led the team with a double-double, scoring a game-high 17 points and collecting 14 rebounds. Senior guard Brietta Sandell was lock-down on defense, nabbing 10 steals and scoring nine points.
Juniors Kate Koreski and Marcella Bring also contributed on offense, with Koreski scoring eight points, eight rebounds, six steals and three assists, and Bring scoring six points.
The Borderites held Friday Harbor to under five points in
(Continued on next page)
B y N ola N B aker
s Della Cochran holds a “192” sign after scoring a personal-best score on December 8 at Mt. Baker Lanes.
Photo courtesy Matt McAuley
(Continued from previous page) each of the final three quarters, logging the team’s best defensive performance through three games this season.
The win was the first of the year for the Borderites, improving the team’s record to 1-2 through the non-conference early season.
The NWC schedule tips off next, with Blaine hosting Bellingham on Wednesday, December 10 (after press time) before traveling to play Sehome on Saturday, December 13 at 1 p.m. The next home game will be against Meridian on Friday, December 19 at 5:40 p.m.
Stats provided by WhatcomPreps.com
Boys Basketball
The boys basketball team played a clutch fourth quarter against Friday Harbor on December 3, securing a victory in the final nonconference game of the regular season, winning 52-39.
Trailing by one point entering the fourth quarter, the Borderites outscored Friday Harbor 18-4 in the final period, securing a 2-1 record to start the season.
The Borderites shot exceptionally well from 3-point range, finishing the night with 11 made threes and shooting over 40 percent from beyond the arc.
Junior guard Dawson Dohner went 5-of-12 from 3-point range en route to a career-high 21 points.
Senior forward Landon Melton had 18 points, along with four rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Junior center Angus Dickson tallied three blocks, and senior guard Kai Kerwin collected five points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals.
The Borderites will start NWC play on the road against Bellingham on Wednesday, December 10 (after press time), then return to host Sehome on Saturday, December 13 at 7:15 p.m. Stats provided by WhatcomPreps.com
spOrts
FIFA World Cup schedule for Vancouver, Seattle announced
FIFA announced its slate of matches for next summer’s World Cup, taking place in dozens of cities across the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Specific details and tickets are now available for matches in Seattle, at Lumen Field, and in Vancouver, at B.C. Place.
With Blaine and Birch Bay nestled right between two cathedrals for soccer set to be booked through June and into July, local residents are preparing for the throngs of international supporters to be commuting between the two locations.
Broadcasting soccer matches from the west coast to a worldwide audience means plenty of games will be kicking off early in the day, in order to line up for primetime in the European television markets.
In Seattle, the first group stage match will take place on Monday, June 15 at noon, and feature a stellar matchup between Belgium and Egypt. That game will likely fea-
Christmas Worship Services
ture the largest collection of worldclass talent coming into Seattle, with both teams set to showcase legendary – if aging – superstars such as Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne.
Seattle’s next hosting duties will be for the hometown U.S. Men’s National Team, which will play Australia on Friday, June 19 at noon.
Qatar will play against the winner of the ongoing European qualifiers on Wednesday, June 24 at noon, and the final group stage match will be between Egypt and Iran on Friday, June 26 at 8 p.m.
A round-of-32 match is scheduled for Wednesday, July 1 at 1 p.m., and a round-of-16 match is scheduled for Monday, July 6 at 5 p.m.
If the team can advance, the U.S. Men’s National Team would play its round-of-16 match in Seattle on July 6, likely against Belgium, barring an upset.
Up the road, B.C. Place is set to host seven matches, spanning a slightly longer timeframe over the summer compared to Seattle.
The Canadian Men’s National
Team is guaranteed two group stage games in Vancouver. Australia versus a to-be-determined European qualifier will kick off the tournament in Vancouver on Saturday, June 13 at 9 p.m. On Thursday, June 18, Canada will take on Qatar at 2 p.m. New Zealand faces Egypt on Sunday, June 21 at 6 p.m.
The Canadian Men’s National Team will play again in Vancouver at noon on Wednesday, June 24 against Switzerland. The final group-stage game will be Belgium against New Zealand, Friday, June 26, 8 p.m.
A round-of-32 match is scheduled for Thursday, July 2 at 8 p.m., and a round-of-16 match will take place Tuesday, July 7 at 1 p.m. Tickets are still available through FIFA’s official marketplace, and the organization announced it would open its third phase of ticketing on Thursday, December 11 (after press time). For more information about tickets, pre-game celebrations, and local watch parties, visit bit.ly/4aK8Blj.
Winter and holiday safety: Simple ways to protect yourself
Nothing puts a dent in holiday plans like a trip to urgent care –especially if it means being laid up through the winter.
Follow these useful remind-
ers to help your family enjoy the chilly season and its many celebrations: Winter safety
• Dress in layers. Layering is important for staying warm and comfortable. If you feel too warm,
you can take the outer layer off.
• Take breaks. If you’re outside for long periods, take breaks to warm up. Being out in the cold can reduce your awareness and senses.
• Prevent frostbite and hypothermia. Keep your fingers and toes covered and warm to keep away from frostbite in freezing conditions. If you notice signs of mild hypothermia such as shivering, numbness or slurred speech, take immediate action to get warm.
• Stay hydrated. Even in cold weather, it’s easy to get dehydrated. Make sure to drink plenty of water.
• Warm up before exercising. Before any physical activity, warm up your muscles to prevent injuries.
• Beware of invisible ice. Light frost can be very slick. Step with caution to avoid falls. Be mindful of falling while walking your pets in winter weather.
• Wear the right shoes. Footwear with good traction will help steady you on slippery surfaces. If you can, stay indoors when it’s
icy. If you must go out, consider crampon-style slip-ons for improved traction. Prep for winter travel:
• Clear snow and ice from your windshields before you head out.
• Check your tires to ensure gripping traction.
• Carry “just-in-case” supplies such as cat litter (for traction), shelf-stable food, water, a flashlight, spare batteries and blankets. Holiday safety
Check your décor:
• If you put up a live Christmas tree, keep it watered. Secure it far from heat sources.
• Use stable surfaces: Decorate areas you can reach without climbing.
• Lighting safety: Wrap lights around railings or shrubs instead of rooflines.
• If you hang lights, replace strands with frayed wires. Be aware that some holiday plants are poisonous. Holly, mistletoe, amaryllis and poinsettias can be toxic to people and pets.
• If you light candles, snuff them
when you leave the room. Or try battery-powered candles instead. Watch food safety habits:
• Keep raw food separate from cooked food.
• Keep cold food cold and hot food hot.
• Wash hands frequently. Think about guest safety:
• Lock medications away from curious eyes and hands.
• Remove trip hazards such as cords and throw rugs. Keep towels handy to mop up spills or melted snow puddles.
Practice fireplace safety:
• Have your chimney checked or cleaned before using it.
• Set up a screen to keep sparks contained.
• Don’t burn wrapping paper. When burned, the chemicals in the paper stick to the inside of your chimney. That increases the danger of chimney fires.
Even when you’re cautious, accidents and illness still happen. If you or your loved ones need care unexpectedly, PeaceHealth offers urgent and emergency care.
How to stay healthy while traveling for the holiday season
The holiday season is always a busy time of year for the travel industry, and 2025 figures to be no exception. A November report from CNN indicated that the aviation analytics firm Cirium reported that passenger
booking on major airlines for Thanksgiving were up by two percent from a year earlier, when holiday travel reached a record high.
Traveling is indeed a key component of the holiday sea -
son for millions of people, and long lines at airports, crowded train stations and trains, and even heavily trafficked roadways are among the challenges
(See Travel, page 9)
Travel ...
From previous page
such individuals must navigate as they aim to spend time with loved ones between late November and the first week of January.
Finding ways to stay healthy while traveling is another challenge such individuals face. While that can be difficult, travelers can look to various strategies to stay healthy when taking to the rails, roads or friendly skies this holiday season.
• Take some creature comforts to ensure a good night’s rest. The Clayton Sleep Institute reports that as much as 80 percent of travelers report sleeping worse while traveling than they do at home. Jet lag, general weariness and unique sleeping environments can compromise travelers’ ability to get sufficient and quality rest while away from home.
When possible, taking some creature comforts along, such as the pillow you sleep on at home, can facilitate better rest on the road. That can promote a healthier holiday season, as the Mayo Clinic notes people who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to get sick after exposure to a virus, including the common cold.
• Do some homework on nutrition. Healthy food and the holiday season are not exactly
synonymous, and it’s easy to overindulge in unhealthy fare like baked goods when visiting loved ones between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. It’s also more difficult to eat healthy when traveling, regardless of the time of year. Some pre-travel homework can help travelers find restaurants that offer healthy fare on the road to their destination and locate restaurants with nutritious foods once they arrive. Travelers also can pack healthy snacks to enjoy during their travels.
• Stay somewhere you can exercise . Many hotels now feature on-site fitness facilities and/or swimming pools so guests can exercise during their stay. Travelers can book stays in these facilities rather than staying in hotels with no such offerings or in loved ones’ apartments. Some hotels may include access to a local fitness facility with each booking in lieu of an on-site exercise room. Travelers who want to stay healthy while on the road can take advantage of these offerings during their stay.
• Take something along to calm the stress. Even the most seasoned travelers can succumb to travel-related stress, especially during the busy holiday travel season. Take along an engaging book, a tablet pre-loaded with films and television shows, a smartphone with a full array of podcasts to listen to, or additional items that might help
you remain calm should a stressful situation arise during your travels. Stress can compromise the immune system,
so having a distraction during travel delays can help people get through their holiday travels in a healthy way.
Staying healthy when traveling during the holiday season can come down to some simple planning.
Roma Nagin, MD Zafir Khan, MD
Port ...
From page 5
she said, citing case law where a court invalidated a redistricting plan that deviated from statutory requirements.
The transition creates a complication: after redistricting, commissioner Michael Shepherd and outgoing commissioner Ken Bell will both reside in the same district. Commissioner-elect Carly James, who will succeed Bell, will also live there. State law requires the overlapping commissioners to draw lots to determine who represents which district.
That drawing will occur at the December 16 meeting, when commissioners will also formally adopt the redistricting resolution. Staff confirmed the process will involve a coin flip, with Shepherd calling the toss.
Local government watchdog John Servais, who has advocated for the expansion for decades, expressed satisfaction with the outcome.
“It’s a good day. It’s been 30some years trying to get here,” Servais told commissioners.
He also sought clarification that primary elections would remain district-only, with only the general election open to countywide voting. Staff confirmed this follows state law, and commissioner Bell moved to add explicit language to that effect in the final resolution.
The two new commissioner positions, districts four and five, will be filled in the 2026 election. In an unusual provision of state law, the winner who receives the most votes in those two races will serve a three-year term, while the other serves just one year. This staggered approach aligns future elections with the port’s existing odd-year cycle.
“It’s an imperfect process, and we’re all doing the best we can to fit the Port of Bellingham within that imperfect process,” the port attorney noted.
The commission will vote on the final redistricting plan December 16 at 4 p.m.
s Blaine Harbor.
Photo by Ruth Lauman
Behind closed doors ...
From page 1
Contracts Priced To The Penny
The TranTech contract at $49,999.49 is not the only one that landed just below a procurement threshold.
BergerABAM received a 2018 contract for Blaine Harbor bulkhead work at $49,974 – twenty-six dollars below the $50,000 threshold. It grew to $423,255, an increase of 747 percent.
Five contracts, all starting below $50,000, all growing to at least $134,000. The probability of multiple contracts landing within dollars of the threshold by chance is low. The TranTech
contract, priced to the penny at fifty-one cents below, strains coincidence.
The cleanup concentration Environmental remediation projects dominate the amendment totals.
Seven cleanup contracts account for just 21 percent of the high-growth contracts examined but 49 percent of amendment dollars – $12.76 million of the $26 million total.
Landau Associates holds four of these cleanup contracts, accounting for $5.6 million in
Top Amendment Recipients
Anchor QEA, LLC, a Seattle-based environmental consulting firm with more than 500 employees and a Bellingham office, has nine Port contracts that grew by 50 percent or more.
The firm’s Whatcom Waterway Phase 2 Cleanup contract, awarded in 2019 at $577,338, has grown to $5.77 million – an 899 percent increase. The Port’s own contract database, which state law requires to be maintained and publicly available, confirms the current value at $5,766,480.79.
An earlier contract for I&J Waterway investigation work started at $18,006 in 2009 and reached $615,987, growth of 3,321 percent.
Landau Associates, Inc., an employee-owned firm headquartered in Edmonds, also has nine contracts with 50 percent or greater growth.
Landau’s Sea K Fish Site Cleanup contract shows the highest growth rate of any recent Port contract: from $85,000 in 2019 to $1.72 million, an increase of
amendments. Anchor QEA holds two, totaling $4.7 million in amendments. CRETE Consulting’s single cleanup contract added $2.95 million.
Cleanup projects can legitimately encounter unforeseen contamination. Digging into polluted industrial sites may reveal problems that weren’t apparent during initial assessment. Scope changes may be unavoidable.
But the question remains: when a contract grows from $85,000 to $1.7 million, or from $577,000 to $5.77 million, should other qualified firms have an opportunity to compete for the expanded work?
The sponsors
Port contracting records identify staff members who “sponsor” contracts – initiating the procurement and guiding it through approval.
A small group of sponsors account for most contracts with threshold issues.
Greg Nicoll, a Port engineer, sponsored 17 contracts that appear in the analysis – 49 percent of the total.
Alec Strand sponsored five contracts. All five went to Reid Middleton. Combined value: $523,580. All involved Squalicum Harbor work.
Every contract Strand sponsored went to the same firm.
A splitting pattern
Maul Foster & Alongi, a Pacific Northwest consulting firm, received two contracts for similar economic development studies within three weeks of each other.
Brian Gouran sponsored a $157,000 contract for Brownfield Affordable Housing Inventory. Tyler Schroeder sponsored a $99,425 contract for Whatcom Industrial Lands Study.
Combined value: $256,425 –well above the $100,000 threshold for formal bidding.
Separated into two contracts with two sponsors: each below threshold.
What the data shows
The patterns documented here emerge from the Port’s own contract database – though that database itself raises questions. State law (RCW 53.08.440) requires the Port to maintain a “list of all contracts for public inspection.”
legitimate business relationships, institutional comfort with familiar vendors, or something else remains unclear.
State law imposes a specific requirement on large amendments. RCW 53.19.030 requires that amendments exceeding 50 percent of a contract’s original value be filed with the commission and made available for public inspection before work begins. Every contract examined in this analysis exceeded that threshold –many by hundreds or thousands of percent.
The Northern Light has submitted a public records request for procurement documentation on contracts with the highest amendment growth, including selection records, amendment justifications, evidence of competitive re-solicitation when contract values crossed procurement thresholds, and commission filings for amendments exceeding 50 percent of original contract value.
State response
The Washington State Auditor’s Office, responding to questions from The Northern Light, confirmed that its July finding of material weakness was limited to a single contract funded by federal grants.
“Because the federal single audit was scoped to review compliance with federal grant requirements for this specific project, we did not expand our work to other projects with different funding sources,” wrote Adam Wilson, assistant director of communications. The office also did not examine amendments that increased the Moffatt & Nichol contract from $906,006 to $3.33 million.
Asked whether the audit methodology was sufficient to identify systemic problems, Wilson noted that the office “will take [these concerns] into account when
planning our next audits.” That audit is scheduled to begin in spring 2026.
On executive sessions, Wilson said the Open Public Meetings Act “does not limit the frequency of executive sessions so long as the proper procedures are followed.” Whether the Port should hold fewer closed meetings, he wrote, “is for its elected commissioners to determine.”
Voters approved expanding the commission from three to five members, but that election won’t occur until November 2026, with new commissioners seated in January 2027. Until then, the current commission – with Carly James replacing Ken Bell – will oversee these contractor relationships.
On December 8, Michael Shepard announced his intention to run for the District 42 state senate seat being vacated by Sharon Shewmake. A three-term officeholder, Shewmake recently announced her intention not to run again. Shepard ran unopposed in the November general election and was re-elected to a four-year term as port commissioner.
1,927 percent. The firm’s Westman Marine Cleanup contract grew from $124,000 to $1.26 million. Its Central Waterfront Cleanup contract went from $499,700 to $2.79 million.
Aspect Consulting, a hydrogeology and environmental firm with more than 130 employees, has nine contracts meeting the criteria.
Aspect’s Chlor-Alkali remediation contract at GP West grew from $68,779 in 2022 to $1.39 million – 1,924 percent. An earlier phase of the same project started at $42,263 in 2021 and reached $676,444.
PND Engineers received a single contract in 2022 for Squalicum Harbor Inner Harbor Renovation that grew from $305,327 to $3.67 million – an increase of 1,104 percent, adding $3.37 million through amendments.
CRETE Consulting’s I&J Waterway Cleanup contract started at $699,934 in 2019 and reached $3.65 million, adding $2.95 million to the total.
The database the Port has posted on its website shows a last update of April 9, 2025 – eight months ago.
The same contractors appear repeatedly among high-growth contracts. Those contractors receive work that starts below competitive thresholds and grows dramatically. Some contracts are priced to within cents of those thresholds. Staff sponsors show consistent preferences for particular firms.
Whether these patterns reflect
According to the records of the court as are available on the date of the filing of this notice with the court, a cause number regarding Decedent has not been issued to any other notice agent and a personal representative of Decedent’s estate has not been appointed.
Any person having a claim against Decedent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.42.070 by serving on or mailing to the notice agent or the notice agent’s attorney at the address stated below a copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the court. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) Thirty (30) days after the notice agent served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.42.020(2) (c); or (2) four (4) months after the date of first publication of the notice. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim is forever barred, except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.42.050 and 11.42.060.
This bar is effective as to claims against both Decedent’s probate and non-probate assets.
Date of First Publication: December 4, 2025
The notice agent declares under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington on November 11, 2025, at Bellingham, Washington, that the foregoing is true and correct.
Notice Agent
BRENDA A. STURROCK
Attorney for Notice Agent
STEVEN D. AVERY, WSBA #35262 AVERY ELDER LAW, P.S. Mailing Address: 801 Samish Way, Ste. 202 Bellingham, WA 98229
Court of Notice Agent’s oath and declaration and cause number: Whatcom County Superior Court, cause number as per above
caption Non-Probate Notice to Creditors Avery Elder Law, P.S. 801 Samish Way, Ste. 202 Bellingham, WA 98229 (360) 325-2550 www.averyelderlaw.com
Photo: Louise Mugar
School ...
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Blaine student representatives to the conference as a way for students to express firsthand how budget cuts have affected their education.
“I think having our young people, their voice, as part of this process is important, my personal experience with it has been really good,” Chaplik said. “Its amazing what kids know and understand and what they can contribute when we elevate their voice and listen to their ideas, within guidelines of course. That is something I strongly recommend.”
Choir performs for school board
Before the swearing-in ceremony began, the Blaine High School chamber choir, directed by choir and CTE theater tech teacher Andy Marshall, serenaded the meeting with a flurry of classic Christmas carols.
The chamber choir is performing all across Whatcom County this holiday season, and will perform alongside the acclaimed Seattle-based a cappella singing group The Coats at the Performing Arts Center on December 14 at 4 p.m.
During a quiet moment in the choir’s rendition of “Silent Night,” Marshall took a moment to directly address the school board, showing off the benefits that a high quality fine arts program can have on the student body.
“I get to work with these kids every day, I get to see how hard they work at this artwork that we are creating for y’all,”
Marhsall said before asking performers to raise their hands if they had a job outside of school, performed in the BHS theater program, took care of younger siblings, or other major responsibilities that Blaine high schoolers have to juggle. “These folks work their butts off, and they are the good news that we get to spread about what’s going on at Blaine High School.”
Later on in the meeting, the board voted unanimously to approve the Blaine Chamber Choir’s request for a spring 2026 trip to Anaheim, California to visit Disneyland and record in a professional recording studio, perform live at California Adventure Park, and tour college campuses and choir programs around Los Angeles.
“One of the things we’ve said as a board is we want to promote our programs,” Swinburnson said after the vote. “This is an awesome [example].”
Board to meet in Birch Bay
Chaplik announced that the school board will meet for its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, March 23, 2026 in Birch Bay, with the meeting set to be held at North Bay Community Church, 4895 Birch Bay-Lynden Road.
The district has been making a concerted effort to reach out to families in the unincorporated community in recent years, and has been inching towards finalizing a plan to purchase property in Birch Bay for a future school.
“We want to make sure we’re including all of our citizens, students and parents that live in Birch Bay,” Chaplik said.
Blaine book review: “Solito”
B y J o N at H a N J ako B itz
What were you doing at 9 years of age? What were your daily concerns when you were in the fourth grade? At 9 years old, author and poet Javier Zamora traveled 3,000 miles – from El Salvador, through Guatemala and Mexico – to arrive in the U.S. and reunite with his parents.
“Solito” is Zamora’s harrowing memoir recounting this journey. Zamora was a typical 9-yearold; focused on school and his friends, loved and cared for by his aunt and his grandparents. Yet, he missed his parents deeply. He last saw his mother when he was 5, and his father left earlier than he could remember. His parents longed for their family to be together again.
“Solito” recounts their struggle for reunification: the varied attempts to find a path for Javier into the U.S., which ultimately led to his journey with a group of strangers guided by various “coyotes” by car, boat and foot. Javier faced peril at every checkpoint and roadside stop, fearing to speak even in the most innocuous situations because one’s regional dialect of Spanish might single one out as a migrant to be scrutinized.
The author’s ordeal was a loss of innocence – the end of his childhood – and Zamora’s writing conveys the accelerated maturation he experienced.
“Solito” is a story told from the perspective of a 9-year-old child. It is an impressive feat of writing in that it lacks the overt reflection and thought that adult Zamora should bring to the story. Rather, the narrative rests in the fear a child might feel when facing the unknown at every step. This gives the memoir weight and ten-
sion throughout, and the author’s use of occasional interspersed Spanish dialogue further enhances a feeling of foreignness and uncertainty in the reader.
While immigration is a politically fraught subject, “Solito” allows us to set aside preconceptions and witness a journey millions have experienced, albeit, in this case, through the eyes of a child.
“Solito” should appeal to readers of memoirs, biographies and anyone interested in a gripping and moving story of migration.
& PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY
Visit wcls.org to find “Solito” and other similarly themed stories.
“Solito” is the 2026 Whatcom Reads selection and the December selection for the Books & Bites book group.
Join Books & Bites at 1 p.m. Friday, December 19 at Blaine Public Library for a time of community and lively conversation. For more information, visit bit.
ly/3XsFxXS.
Jonathan Jakobitz is an avid reader and the branch manager of the Blaine Public Library.
s Members of the Blaine High School chamber choir sing Christmas carols to start the December 9 Blaine school board meeting. The chamber choir will perform with the Seattle-based a cappella vocal band The Coats at the Performing Arts Center on December 14 at 4 p.m.
Photos by Nolan Baker
s Newly-elected school board directors Bob Feaster, l., and Chelsey Belarmino were sworn in on December 9. Feaster and Belarmino, along with re-elected Ryan Swinburnson, will serve until December 2029.
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