Blaine Spring Block Party photos, page 5
Birch Bay library construction
to begin next month
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Over a decade of community effort will be realized when the Birch Bay Vogt Library Express breaks ground this June.
The Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) Board of Trustees approved a bid by Summit Construction on Tuesday that will renovate the old Vogt family homestead into Birch Bay’s first library. The Bellingham-based company was the lowest of the six bidders, at a little over $1.4 million.
WCLS Executive Director Christine Perkins said construction will start in early June and is expected to last about six months. The library at 7948 Birch Bay Drive should open to the public by the end of the year, she said.
Perkins sees the library as a place where Birch Bay residents and visitors can take advantage of the location’s waterfront views with their favorite book.
“It’s a feeling of gratitude that the library is moving forward,” Perkins said. “We’re excited for community members, not just in Birch Bay, but in the county. We think this will be a destination.”
The Birch Bay Bookmobile, currently open 3-7 p.m. Wednesday in the library parking lot, will be moved to another location in Birch Bay during construction, Perkins said.
Renovations will improve accessibility
(See Library, page 2)
Local flavor, national heat: Blaine’s Underground Owl scoops up awards
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Underground Owl Hot Sauce is on fire. That’s according to the New York City Hot Sauce Expo, which awarded the Blaine-based hot sauce makers third place for two of their spiciest bottles during the annual competition last month.
Co-owners Doug and Diane Cross said they’ve entered the contest for the past three years. After not reaping the success they wanted, the husband-and-wife duo added more heat, hoping to pack an unforgettable punch to the judges.
“We never understood how a judge could taste 50 sauces and actually know what that 50th sauce tastes like, or even five sauces,” Doug said. “We were wondering if the milder stuff we were sending in was getting passed over because the judges weren’t able to taste it.”
The pair earned third place for Diane’s
(See Heat, page 11)
Blaine golfers go to state, page 6
Foundation seeks public input on fund distribution, page 9
Flower baskets go up in downtown Blaine
Custer man found incompetent to stand trial for accountant’s murder
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A first-degree murder charge has been dismissed for a 61-year-old Custer man accused of killing Bellingham accountant Vaughn Hagen last August after forensic psychologists deemed him unfit to stand trial.
The defendant, Donald E. Malone, was civilly committed to Western State Hospital and could have the charge filed against him again, if released.
Judge Lee Grochmal made the ruling on May 14 in Whatcom County Superior Court after receiving a competency evaluation from the psychiatric
hospital that showed Malone lacked the ability to assist in his defense and would likely not regain that cognition.
The 18-page evaluation, signed by psychologist Andreana Augustus, found Malone understood the nature of
DeSimone hired as port executive director
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The Port of Bellingham has hired the first woman to serve as executive director in its 106-year history.
Port of Bellingham commissioners unanimously approved Tiffany DeSimone, who had served as interim director since June, to the position during their May 12 meeting.
DeSimone previously was director of maritime, where she oversaw the port’s harbors, shipping terminal, maritime center and security. She spent over a decade of her career climbing the port’s ranks.
“As Executive Director, my role is to carry out the Commission’s vision with
integrity, transparency, and a focus on results,” DeSimone wrote in a statement.
Port commissioner Carly James said during the meeting that DeSimone is the first woman hired as executive director since the port was established in 1920. James, who was elected last November, serves as the second female commissioner.
DeSimone takes on the role as the port focuses on large infrastructure projects at Blaine Harbor, the Bellingham Shipping terminal and the Bellingham International Airport.
A City of Blaine Public Works employee installs a pair of hanging flower baskets on Tuesday morning at G Street Plaza in downtown Blaine. Blaine High School’s horticulture program grew the flowers, which public works distributed this week. Read more on page 11.
Photo by Nolan Baker
(See Murder, page 3)
(See Executive director, page 2)
Week’s FLYERS DeWaard & Bode
Port of Bellingham confirms DeSimone as executive director
DeSimone’s employment agreement shows she will receive a $237,700 salary, along with a $600 monthly car allowance.
Commissioners appointed DeSimone to the acting director role last June after the abrupt firing of former director Rob Fix. The board didn’t
elaborate on their decision to the public, only saying the port was looking for “new opportunities” and a “new direction.”
The port hired CPS HR Consulting to find candidates last September and advertised the position in late January. DeSimone was selected from nearly 100 applicants, according to
the port.
The port’s three commissioners unanimously voted to extend an employment offer to DeSimone during their April 28 meeting. DeSimone will report to the commission, which will expand to five commissioners after the November general election.
Birch Bay Vogt Library Express construction to start in June
on the first floor, increase parking spaces and create public restrooms. A card reader will also be installed so patrons can access the library when staff isn’t on site.
lion library that was inspired by the Vogt home. The Washington State Legislature approved $2 million for the library, but supporters still needed $4 million.
•
•
The library will have a limited browsing collection, computers and a meeting area for book club discussions and story times. Its porch and front lawn overlook Birch Bay, where patrons can read and hold public events.
Creating a library for Whatcom County’s fourth largest community has been years in the making.
In February 2015, a group of library supporters first met to discuss funding a library, later forming as the Friends of the Birch Bay Library to raise money on behalf of WCLS. Birch Bay residents Gary and Cindy Lou Vogt offered to donate their family’s 1913 home the following year.
In 2018, architects unveiled plans for a modern $6.5 mil-
WCLS put out two ballot measures to create a Birch Bay taxing district for the remaining funds, but both measures failed to reach a 60% supermajority in November 2021 and February 2022. The measure was 26 votes shy of passing in February 2022.
Library supporters went back to the drawing board, and the WCLS downsized the plan to renovate the Vogt home into a 1,700-square-foot library. Whatcom County provided the remaining $315,000 to the library system in December 2023. The renovation was expected to be completed last year but ran into permitting challenges, Perkins said. WCLS will release more information on construction as it nears, she said.
Custer man found incompetent to stand trial for accountant’s murder
the proceedings, but that alone was insufficient if he could not support his public defenders.
CRIME
Malone was arrested on Aug. 7, 2025, after walking into the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office and allegedly confessing that he shot Hagen multiple times the day before. Hagen was the estate executor and former accountant for Malone’s mother.
On Aug. 6, Hagen approached Malone at Birch Bay Square and offered to help clean his garage, according to the charging documents.
Malone was living in his mother’s Custer home, which Hagen oversaw as executor. Hagen’s family previously said Hagen met with Malone to discuss selling the house, but Malone didn’t like what he was hearing and biked home.
Hagen arrived in a U-haul to the Custer home in the 3000 block of W. 75th Street a few minutes after Malone. The charging documents allege Malone retrieved a .22-caliber handgun, and without saying anything, shot Hagen at least five times outside.
Malone awoke the next morning surprised that police weren’t surrounding his home. He ate breakfast, rode a bus 14 miles to downtown Bellingham and reported the crime to the sheriff’s office, court records show.
EVALUATION
In the evaluation, Augustus opined that Malone displayed “prominent negative symptoms of schizophrenia” and had an unspecified neurocognitive disorder from a traumatic brain injury, among other diagnoses.
Augustus stated Malone showed active symptoms of psychosis, despite being committed to two 90-day periods of restoration. The evaluation cited recurring delusional beliefs of Malone’s that Mormons were influenc -
ing his life and legal case. At the end of the report, Augustus did not recommend more attempts to restore Malone’s competency.
Augustus expressed concern that Malone posed a high risk for reoffending dangerous behavior, and believed there was a strong possibility Malone would discontinue his medication out of the hospital.
The evaluation also showed forensic psychologists were concerned about Malone’s ability to live independently. If released from Western State Hospital, Augustus recommended Malone undergo an evaluation from a designated crisis responder.
HAGEN
Hagen’s loved ones previously described his death as
leaving an irreplaceable hole in the Blaine area and greater Whatcom County communities.
The 67-year-old accountant had retired a month earlier, handing down his business to his daughter. He purchased a 1950 red Ford truck to celebrate the next chapter of his life that he drove in Blaine’s Fourth of July parade.
Hagen’s family were early settlers in Blaine and Birch Bay, including his grandmother who founded the Free Church Unitarian in Blaine. He reared his children, Matthew and Sarah, in Bellingham, and was a long -
time president of the Sons of Norway. When he wasn’t working, he enjoyed watching sports and playing softball.
Hagen’s sister, Vernene Scheurer, previously told The
Northern Light that her brother was “a man of great integrity and generosity.”
“Someone who accepted all,” she said. “And had a strong sense of right and wrong.”
Bayside Improvements has six employees plus owners Annie Magner and Eric Larson.
We will be celebrating two years this October.
We are a professional cleaning company for commercial and residential properties.
After more than 20 years working in corporate America—and facing a layoff—I spent the summer of 2024 soul searching and enjoying a much-needed break from overwork. That pause gave me the space to reflect on what truly matters, and I realized how deeply my surrounding community energizes and supports me.
As I looked around, I noticed a growing need—not just for reliable cleaning services, but for genuine, honest, personal connection. That realization inspired me to start Bayside Improvements. Living in beautiful Birch Bay, I chose a name that reflects both my community and my mission: improving people’s lives, their spaces, and even
Bayside Improvements serves residents and business owners throughout the greater Whatcom County area. As our community’s needs have grown, we’ve grown to meet them, offering residential and commercial cleaning, move-in and move-out services, and home and property watch—so your space is cared for while you’re away.
When I, or a member of our team, visit your home or business, we’re not just there to clean. We’re there to bring care, positivity, and peace of mind—helping you feel lighter and more at ease.
Bayside Improvements is more than a cleaning service. We are your community.
Our goal for Bayside Improvements is to become a household name in our community for the outstanding work we do and the time we spend making a difference in people’s lives.
The Northern Light is published weekly by Daffodil Press, LLC.
About Daffodil Press
Daffodil Press is a locally owned, community-centered publishing company dedicated to strong local journalism and vibrant regional storytelling.
We proudly publish:
• The Northern Light
• All Point Bulletin (Point Roberts)
• La Conner Community News (La Conner)
• Mount Baker Experience (Mt. Baker foothills)
• Pacific Coast Weddings (annual guide)
• Waterside (summer recreation guide for coastal Northwest Washington)
Daffodil Press LLC is a member of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association and active in chambers of commerce throughout Whatcom County and coastal Northwest Washington.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors or publisher.
Letters to the Editor
We welcome thoughtful letters from our readers. Letters should address local issues of broad community interest and help foster informed civic dialogue.
Please include your name, address, email and daytime phone number for verification. Letters are limited to 150 words. We may edit for clarity, length, legality and standards of civility. We do not publish falsehoods or hate speech.
Unsigned letters will not be considered. We accept one letter per author every four weeks. Send letters to: letters@daffodilpress.net
Publisher Kari Mar kari@daffodilpress.net
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Creative Services
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New upgrades to Blaine Public Library
The Editor:
On behalf of the Blaine Winter Ride Ski Bus Program, we would like to sincerely thank Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 for its generous support of our school ski bus program.
The winter ride program gives middle and high school students the opportunity to travel to Mt. Baker for four Saturdays each March to learn skiing and snowboarding while building confidence, healthy habits and lifelong outdoor recreation skills.
With rising transportation and fuel costs, school programs like this can become difficult to sustain. The support from parks and recreation helps keep this opportunity accessible for local students and ensures more youth can experience the physical, social and emotional benefits of outdoor recreation.
We are grateful for the district’s continued investment in the well-being of students and families in our community.
Jodi Greene, Blaine School District winter ride ski bus coordinator
Blaine
The Editor:
The nicest thing happened to us last week that reminded us there are still thoughtful people around. Five from our office went to lunch at Paso Del Norte, and when it was time to pay the check, we were told that another couple had paid for us. What a nice surprise. Thank you!
Sandie Miller, Whatcom Law Group
Blaine
The Editor:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is
marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
– Theodore Rosevelt’s “Citizenship in a Republic” speech, April 23, 1910, in Paris
Ray Pelletti
Blaine
(Editor’s note: This letter is in response to an article titled “Whatcom County candidates file for August primary” published in the May 14 issue of The Northern Light. The article stated Pelletti ran unsuccessfully for state representative in 2024. Pelletti filed to run for Washington’s Second Congressional District in the Aug. 4 primary and later withdrew his candidacy.)
The Editor:
Thank you Kari Mar for your unbiased article that provided facts both supporting the city and questioning it. We’ve needed such a perspective in our newspaper. Be a voice for the community, and not one only hawking city agenda.
Thank you Richard May for giving us the word “innocuous.” The appropriate word to have used though was pernicious. It is not harmless but toxic how the city has silenced residents, lacked vision and ignored process, code, environmental concerns and the hearing examiner.
Thank you Glen Pentland for your letter calling the city on its desperation. Blaine needs dependability in
development, not desperation. As opposed to de-annexation of east Blaine, perhaps the city should have unincorporated. Be what we are — not a city but small town America.
Finally, I challenge Mr. Jansen as a sign of good faith with project approval, to build that beautiful clubhouse as pictured — first.
Ray Leone Blaine
The Editor: Gerrymandering is the intentional manipulation of electoral district boundaries to benefit one party over another. The conservative U.S. Supreme Court has manipulated the 1965 Voting Rights Act so that states may now create voting blocks that will include sufficient white voters to nullify the impact on elections by Black Americans and other minorities. However, there is one group that gerrymandering has no effect on and that’s women. They come in every color, race, religion, national background and they are everywhere.
Solution? Frightened Republicans are proposing that a voter’s last name must match their birth certificate. That would prevent as many as 70% of married women from voting if they changed their last name.
Wake up women, especially MAGA women. You’re about to lose your right to vote to an extremist patriarch national political party driven by Project 2025.
Farewell to Democracy and the Constitution.
What won’t they do to get elected?
Ron Snyder Blaine
Blaine Public Library is finishing the last touches on a renovation that partially closed the library at 613 3rd Street from late April through early May. Whatcom County Library System’s levy lid lift that voters passed last August funded the $65,000 construction project aimed to improve Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility and ergonomics at the circulation desk. New carpet and cabinetry was also installed.
Photo by Grace McCarthy
Blaine Spring Block Party features AAPI theme
The Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 hosted Blaine’s annual Spring Block Party on Saturday at the corner of Peace Portal Drive and H Street. The daylong festival took on a new theme this year: Celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The festival showcased cultural performances, including for hula and ukulele that brought performers from across the border. Parks and recreation also returned festival staples, including a vendors fair, youth lawn games and Border Town Pizza beer garden.
Training a dog can help dog owners ensure the safety and well-being of their furry friends and foster a stronger relationship between an owner and their pet. The professional trainers at the Texas-based Dog Alliance report it typically takes four to six months to teach basic obedience commands. But no two dogs are the same, and some may take to training more readily than others.
Other dogs may experience behavioral challenges that extend the length of time it takes to train the animal. The Dog Alliance also notes that additional variables unique to each dog, including age and breed, also can affect the time it takes to train a dog.
Photos by Ruth Lauman
Pair of Blaine golfers headed to state; baseball, softball bounced
B y N ola N B aker
Blaine golf was well represented at the 1A State Tournaments that started at Liberty Lake Golf Course on Tuesday.
Blaine boys golfers Peyton Bouma and Ryan Kloes earned state placements on Tuesday, May 12, while Meridian earned District Championship honors. Blaine soccer, baseball and softball did not fare as well, and their seasons ended over the past week of district playoffs.
BOYS GOLF
After two days of intense golfing, Blaine junior Peyton Bouma finished in fourth place on May 12 at the 1A District 1 Tournament at North Bellingham Golf Course. With the top-seven placement, Bouma earned a spot in the 1A State Tournament that teed off Tuesday in Eastern Washington.
Ryan Kloes finished tied for eighth place with Mount Baker’s Carter Hill, and traveled with the team as an alternate, meaning Kloes may have a chance to play if other golfers drop out. All told, Meridian sent three golfers to state, while Lynden Christian, Mount Baker and Blaine each sent a pair.
Results from day 1 of the 1A State Tournament show Bouma made the cut, shooting a score of 81 en route to a five-way tie for 20th place. Out of 60 golfers to open the first round, only the 30 best scores advance to the second and final round, which will conclude after press time on Wednesday.
Check thenorthernlight.com/ sports for an update on the results from the 1A State Golf Tournament.
SOFTBALL
Blaine softball had a roller coaster of a district tournament, winning the opening game against King’s Way Christian by a score of 13-10 on Friday, May 15, in Centralia before losing 10-0 to Northwest Conference rival Lynden Christian a few hours later.
After being dropped into the losers bracket, the Borderites stayed alive with a 6-5 win over La Center, finishing out a triple-header game schedule (that’s three games in one day) with a 2-1 record.
By the next morning on Saturday, the Borderites just couldn’t keep up with Nooksack Valley, which tacked 19 runs on Blaine for a final score of 19-6, ending the Borderites’ season.
The Borderites sprinted out to a 3-0 lead and kept the pressure on for the first half of the game, with a home run by eighth grader Leanna Sacknoff in the third inning and a two-RBI double from senior Aaliyah Bowman.
But Nooksack Valley exploded for 11 runs in the fifth inning, and Blaine couldn’t respond. The Borderites finished the season with a 14-9 record.
BASEBALL
Playing against King’s in a loser-out, winner-to-state matchup, Blaine’s bats went cold, and its season ended on the artificial turf field at Sehome High School on Saturday. Blaine lost 8-0.
The Borderites only recorded one hit, a single from junior Josh Cochran, as King’s
infield defense stayed sharp, while Blaine’s did not. The Borderites committed four fielding errors in the second inning, leading to five runs scored by the Knights.
Cochran pitched five innings on the mound, striking out five batters but getting tagged with the loss.
Blaine’s season ended with a 9-14 record, but this team should see a glut of returning seniors next season and underclassmen looking to break out.
BOYS SOCCER
Blaine boys soccer held a slim, 1-0 lead over conference rival
Lynden Christian at halftime in a high-stakes final match of the 1A District 1 Tournament on Saturday at Borderite Stadium. Thanks to Wade Lottimer burying a loose ball from a Dima Yuryev free kick, Blaine was in the driver’s seat heading into the second half.
With a win, the Borderites would advance to the 1A State tournament. Lose, and the season would end right there on the turf.
The Borderites lost to Lynden Christian in the opening round of the tournament on May 9 in a penalty shootout, then beat Nooksack Valley 2-1 on Wednesday, May 13, to stay alive. The
Borderites needed one more win, one more solid half of soccer, to punch their ticket and exact revenge on the cross-county rivals. It didn’t happen. Ten minutes into the second half, Lynden Christian tied the game at 1-1, and another goal 15 minutes after that put the visiting Lyncs ahead for good. In the final minutes, a third Lynden Christian goal would ice the game, ending Blaine’s season.
The Borderites finished the season with a suboptimal record, but can hold its head high knowing that the team gave its all in front of the home fans.
Blaine's Steller Schutt, l., watches on as King's players celebrate securing a spot in the 1A State Tournament on Saturday at Sehome High School.
Photo by Nolan Baker
Blaine third baseman Ashton Vezzetti reacts to a stolen base from King's during Blaine's 8-0 loss on Saturday.
Photo by Nolan Baker.
ADVICE FROM THE PROS
Q: Is summer a good time to buy a home in Blaine, Birch Bay, or Semiahmoo?
A: Summer can be an excellent time to buy in our local market. We’re seeing more inventory become available across Blaine, Birch Bay, and Semiahmoo, which gives buyers more choices and less pressure when making decisions. Many builders are also offering incentives right now, including seller credits, interest rate buy-down assistance, or upgraded features to help make monthly payments more manageable. In addition, some local lenders are providing creative financing options that can make homeownership more affordable for first-time buyers or those looking to move up. The key is working with a knowledgeable local agent who understands which builders and lenders are offering the strongest opportunities. In today’s market, strategy and local relationships can make a significant difference for buyers.
Brandi Coplen 360-201-3951 bcoplen@windermere.com www.brandicoplen.com
Q: How can I protect myself from rising fraud and phishing scams?
A: Fraud attempts are becoming more sophisticated, often appearing as emails from trusted sources such as banks, friends, or family and prompting you to click harmful links or download attachments. Approach any unexpected message with caution, verify the sender before taking action. When possible, access accounts and documents by typing in known, trusted websites or using secure client portals rather than embedded links.
At Skyline Advisors, we ask clients to share sensitive information exclusively through our secure portal and to enable limited account permissions when available. From a fiduciary standpoint, safeguarding your financial well-being is essential and consistent vigilance is one of the most effective ways to protect your accounts and support your long-term financial security.
Garys-Plumbing.com
Q: Why won’t my toilet stop running, and what can Gary’s Plumbing and Heating do?
A: A constantly running toilet often stems from a worn flapper, faulty fill valve, or misadjusted float. This wastes hundreds of gallons daily and inflates your water bill.
Gary’s Plumbing and Heating technicians arrive promptly, identify the exact cause, and fix it efficiently—usually with a simple replacement of the flapper or fill valve. We carry common parts on our trucks for same-day repairs. If the tank or internal components are damaged, we can replace the entire toilet quickly and cleanly. Stop wasting water and money. Contact Gary’s Plumbing and Heating for expert toilet repairs you can trust.
Q: With all this great sunshine, I was excited to get back on the water. I picked up my paddle after months off and now my shoulder aches after every session. Is this normal?
A: You’re not alone — shoulder pain is the #1 complaint we see every summer as kayakers and paddleboarders hit the water again. After a winter off, your rotator cuff muscles are deconditioned, leaving your shoulder joint vulnerable to strain with every stroke. The repetitive overhead and pulling motion of paddling accelerates that wear fast.
The good news? A few targeted warm-up moves before you launch can dramatically reduce your risk of injury and keep you on the water all season long. Don’t wait until the pain sidelines you.
Scan the QR code our FREE 5-Minute Paddle Warm-Up video — your shoulders will thank you.
Natalie Milligan, MPT, MS
Mary and Gary Gibb
Slattery The Personal Representative named below has been appointed and has qualified as Personal Representative of this estate. Any person having a claim against the decedent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to the Personal Representative or the Personal Representative’s attorney at the address stated below a copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the court in which the probated proceedings were commenced. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) thirty days after the Personal Representative served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(1)(c); or (2) four months after the date of first publication of the notice. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim is forever barred, except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.40.051 and 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the decedent’s probate and nonprobate assets.
Date of Filing of Notice to Creditors: April 27, 2026 with Clerk of Court: Date of First Publication: May 1, 2026
Name of Personal Representative: RICHARD L. JONES (AKA DICK JONES) Attorney for Personal Representatives: Steven D. Avery, WSBA #35262 Address for Mailing
or (2) four months after the date of first publication of the notice. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim is forever barred, except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.40.051 and 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the decedent’s probate and nonprobate assets.
Date of Filing of Notice to Creditors May 12, 2026 with Clerk of Court:
Date of First Publication: May 21, 2026
Name of Personal Representative: CINDY MAXWELL
Attorney for
Birch Bay berm fencing extended to protect native plants
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Crews have been busy installing a second round of wooden fencing to protect native vegetation that fight erosion along the Birch Bay berm this week.
The Whatcom County Public Works Department, Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office work crews and the Washington Conservation Corps were expected to add an extra layer of fencing Monday through Thursday across from Beach Cat Brew-
ing to just north of Harborview Road. Fencing was also planned near Cottonwood Drive, depending on time and materials.
The work adds to fencing installed last August in areas where the beach-facing side of plantings were not protected in popular areas of the beach.
“Continued community stewardship and awareness will play an important role in the long-term success of the berm restoration efforts,” said Mandy Feutz, communications specialist at Whatcom County
Public Works Department.
The 1.6-mile berm was proposed in 1975 to restore the shoreline and provide flood protection along the community’s thoroughfare, Birch Bay Drive. After years of planning and securing funding, the $8.7 million project was constructed four decades later between January 2020 and March 2021.
Native plants were added in 2021 to prevent erosion and restore habitat. The plants and a temporary orange fence cost the county about $640,000,
public works previously said.
Whatcom County’s permits to install the berm requires the county to monitor the plants and meet annual growth targets for 10 years. The county installed the wooden fencing last August after failing to meet the annual targets every year since construction, largely due to New Year’s and Fourth of July celebrations that bring thousands of people to the bay.
Public works initially planned to install fencing in three sep-
arate areas that would protect the plantings along the pedestrian path, but not the beach side of the plantings. But Feutz said vegetation loss concerns prompted the department to take a different approach.
“Based on current conditions, protecting the most heavily impacted areas is the most effective and efficient approach,” she said.
Feutz said public works found the fencing to be overall effective and visible signs of regrowth have been observed.
Blaine’s Market by the Sea to start May 23
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Blaine’s Market by the Sea will take over the G Street Plaza for another summer season starting May 23.
The market will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday through Sept. 26 at 601 Peace Portal Drive in downtown Blaine. The market is expected to have dozens of vendors that will sell everything from fabrics to woodworking, soaps, toys, plants and more.
Blaine Visitor Information Center volunteer Carroll Solomon said the Blaine Chamber
of Commerce, which hosts the market, will have live music on May 23 — something it hopes to have every week.
The market on May 30 will feature the Salishan Neighborhood Association’s annual plant sale.
“There’s always something I can’t live without,” said Solomon, an avid gardener. “They bring a large selection of perennials and vegetable starts.”
Market coordinators would like to have special events this season, such as a petting zoo, flea market and a day when children are encouraged to sell
goods, Solomon said. Dates for those markets will be published on blainebythesea.com.
The market will occur every Saturday, except when large events like the Fourth of July parade are scheduled.
Vendors are required to provide insurance and prepay for their space. Booth fees are $15 for chamber members, $20 for non-chamber members and $5 for nonprofits and children’s booths.
Prospective vendors and buskers may contact the chamber at 360-332-4544 and info@ blainechamber.com.
Whatcom Community Foundation
input in community fund distribution
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Whatcom Community Foundation has kicked off its WhatcomTogether initiative, which will give $10,000 each to Blaine and Birch Bay, and allow residents to decide how those funds can best serve their communities.
The Bellingham-based nonprofit launched WhatcomTogether as a yearlong project to celebrate its 30th anniversary. In total, $150,000 will be evenly distributed to 15 communities in the county, including Blaine, Birch Bay and Point Roberts.
“We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than to make ‘local’ philanthropy even closer to home for everyone who lives here,” wrote Mauri Ingram, CEO and president of Whatcom Community Foundation, in a statement.
The foundation began inviting the public to participate in the project on April 30. Whatcom County residents can visit whatcomtogether.org to find a map of each fund’s distribution area.
They will then be prompted to select three issues where the funding could best help their communities. Categories include arts, youth, civic engagement, environment, food security, equity, health, housing and economic opportunity.
Anyone who lives in the community may vote, regardless of whether they have giv-
en money to the foundation. People may also pledge money to their community’s fund to build it above $10,000.
The foundation plans to establish local advisory boards
that can make funding recommendations. Organizers have said they hope to create a lasting, flexible resource that creates stronger community ties.
Since 1996, the foundation has invested more than $86 million in Whatcom County. For more information, visit wcf@whatcomcf.org or call 360671-6463.
The Salishan Neighborhood will hold a plant sale at Blaine’s Market by the Sea on May 30 at G Street Plaza.
Photo by Kelle Rankin-Sunter
PoliCe rePorts
May 3, 2:26 p.m.: Fight on Yew Avenue.
May 3, 8:38 p.m.: Suspicious person on 4th Street.
May 3, 8:51 p.m.: Disorderly conduct on Martin Street.
May 3, 10:05 p.m.: Domestic physical on Shore Pine.
May 4, 7:22 a.m.: Vandalism on Oleander Loop.
May 4, 12:01 p.m.: Trespass on Peace Portal Drive.
May 4, 12:18 p.m.: Missing person on B Street.
May 4, 9:18 p.m.: Refer to humane society on Marine Drive.
May 4, 9:42 p.m.: Extra patrol on 3rd Street.
May 5, 3:58 a.m.: Suspicious vehicle on Yew Avenue.
May 5, 11:23 a.m.: Security check on Grant Avenue.
May 5, 1:04 a.m.: Assist a person on H Street.
May 6, 2:49 a.m.: Assist a person on H Street.
May 6, 7:31 a.m.: Parking problem on Leander Drive.
May 6, 11:09 a.m.: Traffic on C Street.
May 6, 11:46 a.m.: Drugs on H Street.
May 6, 2:48 p.m.: Juvenile problem on Peace Portal Drive.
May 6, 3:19 p.m.: Parking problem on Boblett Street.
May 6, 3:24 p.m.: Death investigation on Cedar Street.
May 6, 6:04 p.m.: Suspicious person on D Street.
May 7, 10:04 a.m.: Impound private on Marine Drive.
May 7, 11:38 a.m.: Fraud on H Street.
May 7, 9:33 p.m.: DUI on Boblett Street.
May 8, 1:14 a.m.: Domestic verbal on Garfield Avenue.
May 8, 10:54 p.m.: Fireworks on Semiahmoo Parkway.
May 10, 12:23 a.m.: Suspicious person on Cedar Street.
May 11, 9:10 a.m.: Vandalism on Peace Portal Drive.
May 11, 5:51 a.m.: Hit and run on Badger Road.
May 11, 12:08 p.m.: Domestic order violation on 3rd Street.
May 11, 12:51 p.m.: Sex crime (no rape) on 8th Street.
May 12, 10:32 a.m.: Neighborhood dispute on Harrison Avenue.
May 12, 10:44 a.m.: Domestic verbal on Leighton Street.
May 12, 2:21 p.m.: Fight on H Street.
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: Third Wednesday 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.
CrossWord
ACROSS 1. Government lawyers
4. The back of a person’s neck
8. Mild yellow Dutch cheese 10. In a less flashy way 11. Living room piece 12. Shepherd dog 13. A citizen of Iran
15. Moved slowly 16. Small finch 17. Previously 18. What a kid does on Halloween 21. Monetary unit
22. Using dry humor 23. Ocean 24. Greek goddess of the dawn
25. Not close 26. NHL legend
Bobby 27. A ballplayer would love to do this
34. Charity
35. City in Finland
36. Loomed over 37. Vaccine developer
38. Avoids capture 39. We all need it
40. Openwork fabrics
41. Get away 42. Something you might hit
43. Soviet Socialist Republic
DOWN
1. Abstain from 2. Admirer 3. Expedition to observe animals 4. Act that is legally void
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.
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.
character
31. Markings
32. Gets up
33. MLB lefty reliever A.J.
34. An assembly of witches
36. High energy lasers (abbr.)
5. WW2 combatants 6. A tool 7. Looked at 9. Showing wild excitement 10. Banknotes 12. Tired 14. Printers need it 15. Women’s patriotic group 17. When you anticipate getting somewhere 19. Functions 20. Breed of sheep 23. Mocking pieces 24. A major division of geological time 25. Andiron 26. Many not ands 27. Cuban city 28. He voiced “Olaf” 29. Criticize 30. “Thundercats”
Coming up
Community Dinner: 5 to 6:30 p.m., May 21, Blaine Community Center, 763 G Street. Open to everyone. Last community dinner before summer hiatus. Enjoy a delicious meal and connect with neighbors. Cost is by donation. Every contribution helps support future community meals and programs. Offered by Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2. Questions: 360-656-6416.
Summer Hike – Lake Whatcom: 9 a.m., May 22, bus departs from the Birch Bay Activity Center, 7511 Gemini Street. Bring your own lunch, snack and water. Cost is generally $5 to $10. Offered by Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2. Questions: 360-656-6416. Registration required at bbbparkandrec.org.
Hansel and Gretel Puppet Show: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., May 22, Blaine Public Library. Join for an original puppet show based on the beloved traditional tale from the Brothers Grimm, complete with breadcrumbs, candy houses, scary witches and a happy ending. Grades K-5. Info: wcls.org.
Memorial Day Ceremonies: 11 a.m., May 25, Bayview Ceremony in Bellingham. Following the ceremony, the Legion will host lunch at its facility at 1688 W. Bakerview at approximately 12:45 p.m. Presented by the Albert J. Hamilton Post 7. This is a public event. For more information, contact Post 7 Vice Commander Rick Sucee, ricksucee@gmail.com.
DSHS Mobile Office at the Library: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., May 27, Blaine Library. The Department of Social and Health Services Mobile Office is coming to Blaine Public Library. Info: wcls.org.
Blaine Senior Center Book Club: 1 to 2 p.m., May 28, Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. The book for May is “The Secret Book of Flora Lea” by Patti Callahan Henry.
Bellingham Shoestring Circus: May 29 through June 14, under the big top tent by Waterfront Pump Track in Bellingham. Tickets: shoestringcircus.com.
Day at the Beach: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 30, BP Heron Center, Birch Bay State Park. Sponsored by Birch Bay Watershed and Aquatic Resource Management District.
Two-Day ABC Course: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m, May 30 and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 31, Bellingham Yacht Club, Ward Room. Learn to boat with confidence. Cost: $60 per person. Register: boatingisfun.org.
History fair: K-5 REACH program community event: 6 to 7:30 p.m., June 1, Blaine Elementary School cafeteria. Families and the community will have the opportunity to walk through displays showcasing a person in history that students researched. Each student will be in front of their display to answer questions about their historic figure. About 68 students are participating.
Molt Search Workshop: 10 a.m. to noon, June 5, BP Heron Center and on the beach at Birch Bay State Park. Hosted by WSU Whatcom County Extension. Molt Search surveys can be done at any time on any shoreline where one has safe and legal access. Protocols and more information available at wsg.washington.edu/moltsearch. Reports are submitted using the free MyCoast app and submitted reports can be viewed online at mycoast.org/wa. More information and an online registration: wsg.washington.edu/crabteam/moltsearch or forms.gle/ CJmHESF8PgJfrPuq7.
tides
May 21 - 27 at Blaine. Not for navigation.
Weather
Precipitation: During the period of May 11 to 17, 0.3 inches of precipitation was recorded. The 2026 yearto-date precipitation record is 15 inches.
Temperature:
High for the past week was 76°F on May 12 with a low of 45.9°F on May 17. Average high was
and average low was
Blaine’s Comic Festival: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 13, Blaine Marine Park, 272 Marine Drive. A super hero fun run will take place from 11 a.m. To 1 p.m. Capes, comics and critical hits! A celebration of all things nerdy, fantastical or pop culture. Gaming tables, vendors, costume contests and more. Open to all and free to attend. Info and registration: bit. ly/4wwRNqH.
Ongoing
Blaine Primary School Art Walk: Month of May, each of 20 K–2 classrooms will have art displayed at businesses in Blaine, downtown (H Street and Peace Portal Drive) and the IGA shopping center.
Youth Peace Poetry Contest: Now through May 29. Kids ages 4–18 submit their work as poetry, song lyrics, personal reflections, or any form of writing that sparks their imagination. Youth are encouraged to share what peace means to them in ways that are authentic and inspiring to them. Info and submission forms: whatcomdrc.org/youth-peace-poetry-contest. Sponsored by Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center and Village Books.
Senior Community Meals: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Suggested donation of $6 per meal ($10 if under 60) or whatever is affordable. First-come, first-serve basis. Info: 360-332-8040.
Blaine Storytime: 10:30 to 11 a.m., Monday, Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. For ages 2-3. An open program that includes stories, rhymes and songs with opportunities for movement and interactive participation.
Blaine Food Bank: 9 a.m. to noon on Monday and Friday, 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, 500 C Street. Info: 360-332-6350 or info@blainefoodbank.org.
Lego Club: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. Design, build and share at this drop-in program for ages 4 and up. LEGO® bricks provided; you bring the creativity. What will you create? Info: wcls.org.
Off the Shelf: A Teen Hangout: 3 to 4 p.m., Wednesday, Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. Looking for a place to relax after school? Come hang out, play games, listen to music, be creative or just chill with friends.
Tech Help: 3 to 4 p.m, Tuesday and Thursday, Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. Drop in for one-on-one assistance from library staff. Info: wcls.org.
Submissions to Coming Up should be sent to calendar@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.
Courtesy Birch Bay Water & Sewer Dist.
Blaine High School students bring flower baskets back to downtown
B y N ola N B aker
Signs of spring have finally arrived in downtown Blaine, thanks to Blaine High School students, dedicated community members and a public works crew.
The City of Blaine Public Works Department installed 120 hanging flower baskets and 20 ground planters along a five-block stretch of Peace Portal Drive on Tuesday morning. The plants were nursed and potted in Blaine High School’s greenhouse, with help from the school’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Horticulture students.
The hanging flower baskets, a surefire sign of spring in downtown Blaine for years, stopped after 2024 due to city budget constraints and planned construction for the downtown revitalization project, which closed sections of Peace Portal Drive for the second half of 2025.
The project resulted in mul-
(Heat, continued from page 1)
tiple trees being cut down. That, combined with no flower baskets, left Blaine’s downtown core a bit barren.
On Feb. 9, Blaine City Council didn’t pass a resolution approving an estimated $24,000 purchase order for new flower baskets. It seemed that another spring would come and go without blooming flowers along Peace Portal Drive.
Sitting in the audience that evening was Drayton Harbor Oyster Co. (DHO) owner Steve Seymour, who also serves as an adviser for Blaine High School’s CTE program along with local gardener Kelle Rankin-Sunter.
“I’m stubborn,” Seymour said. “I didn’t make a big deal out of it. I just realized the city’s budget issues and I thought, maybe there’s a way we can do something for less money.”
The duo hoped that local businesses would want a more lush-looking downtown, and knew that CTE Horticulture
teacher Mackenzie Schneider would have a platoon of eager workers ready to bring hundreds of plant starters to life.
Schneider commended her horticulture program of around 55 students, all of whom helped to grow the baskets, and the collaborative approach the baskets helped inspire.
“It’s a great collaboration that we were able to do with the community and help beautify downtown,” Schneider said. “I’m really excited to see how we can keep building it out in the future.”
After procuring a donation of roughly 500 plant starters from Blaine’s Van Wingerden Greenhouses — worth around $1,500 retail, according to Seymour — and trading a DHO gift card for hanging baskets to a Lynden business owner, Seymour had the raw materials to get the students started.
Over the next three months, BHS students carefully tended to the budding flower baskets, and
Local flavor, national heat
Reaper Sun Day in the triple-X category and Reaper Salad in the Reaper category on April 25 in Brooklyn. The medals were part of the “Screaming Mi Mi Awards,” a sought-after title in the industry.
The Crosses have focused on submitting to the New York competition, which is considered one of the most prestigious among hot sauce fanatics in the country.
The hot sauces began shortly after their farm, Spotted Owl Farm, opened on Sweet Road in 2017. After the first year, Doug and his family made
hot sauce from peppers they hadn’t sold and repurposed them as Christmas gifts.
Doug was faced with high demand from friends and family, which inspired him to start selling the sauce in March of 2022. The line, Underground Owl Hot Sauce, quickly appeared in Whatcom County restaurants, including Semiahmoo Resort and The Vault Wine Bar and Bistro.
The sauces have since expanded from restaurant kitchens to shelves at Haggen grocery stores in Whatcom County and boutique grocers in north-
BLAINE PUBLIC WORKS
Announces Start of Circuit 11 Electrical Project
April 23, 2026
The City of Blaine Public Works Department announces the start of the Circuit 11 Electrical Project, a major infrastructure improvement effort beginning April 15, 2026, along Semiahmoo Parkway. Construction is expected to continue into the summer of 2026.
This project will replace aging electrical infrastructure serving the Semiahmoo area, improving system reliability for Blaine’s citizens. Work will occur primarily within the Semiahmoo Parkway corridor. Construction activity should be anticipated during working hours with minimal impacts on traffic. The Pathway may also be closed in the construction zone for pedestrian safety. Blaine Public Works will coordinate closely to minimize disruptions and maintain access for emergency services, residents, and businesses.
The city appreciates the community’s patience and cooperation during construction. Updates on traffic impacts and construction progress will be shared on the City of Blaine’s website.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Sincerely,
Blaine Public Works (360) 332-8820
public works hauled them off from the greenhouse to Blaine’s “Main Street” on Tuesday for display.
“I just want to see these kids excel,” Seymour said, adding that the oyster company has been a first job to many BHS students. “I guess I got a warm spot in my heart for these young people.”
The plan worked.
So well, that it caught the attention of Blaine Public Schools Foundation founder Traci Bowe. The registered nonprofit wants to keep this tradition alive, and keep Blaine CTE students at the heart of it all.
The foundation applied for T-Mobile’s Hometown Grant program, which has partnered with Main Street America since 2021 to award small towns and rural communities with up to $50,000.
Dubbed “Blaine Blooms,” Bowe and others gathered signatures of support from 36 downtown
west Washington. The Crosses also sell their hot sauce online, at spottedowlproduce.com, and year round at their Blaine farm stand, at 4371 Sweet Road.
Underground Owl has over a dozen organic hot sauces that range from mild to the winning sauces that have four Carolina Reaper peppers in each bottle. The two winners are Underground Owl’s newest sauces and are currently only available through the company.
“It shows us that we belong,” Doug said of the awards. “That we’ve been able to create sauces that are tasty and hot.”
businesses and letters of support from Van Wingerden Greenhouses, school district Superintendent Dan Chaplik and BHS Principal Beth Eide, Mayor Mary Lou Steward and Councilmember Jiggy Sorrell, and Blaine Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kristen Gomes.
If awarded, the $48,570 in grant funding — plus an estimated $50,000 in committed in-kind contributions — would sustain Blaine Blooms for years to come, according to the foundation’s proposal.
Winners of the T-Mobile Hometown Grant will be announced at the end of May, Bowe said.
“It feels really good to have so many people working together for a goal,” Bowe said.
“Really, I think it’s important that the high school students see their efforts downtown. It helps them take ownership of their city.”
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