March 19 - 25, 2015
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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
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Birch Bay Road Race next weekend, page 3
Blaine artists on display at Lynden Craft Show
Car care special section, page 8
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Pet care special section, page 9
Lean on me
By Steve Guntli The Lynden Craft and Antique Show is returning to the Northwest Washington Fair Expo Building this weekend, and several Blaine residents are getting in on the fun. The fair has been a community staple for 29 years. On average, the show draws about 4,000 visitors over its three days, and features more than 100 vendors selling homemade crafts and vintage furniture. “Our goal is to gather the most talented, creative vendors in the northwest,” said Judy Meixner, co-organizer for the event. “Shoppers love meeting the people who make the handcrafts and inspire them to refresh their own homes and gardens.” One Blaine resident is using the show to launch her new cookbook. Evelyn Hoefakker’s new book, “Such Great Recipes,” features more than 90 traditional recipes designed for people with busy schedules. Hoefakker got the idea for the book after teaching a cooking class at the Lynden Academy. “Several of my students came up to me and said I should put my recipes together in a book, so I just ran with it,” she said. “I’ve been cooking all my life. I love making people happy with food.” After the book’s craft show debut, “Such Great Recipes” will be available at KATZ! Coffee and Used Books in Lynden, and online at suchgreatrecipes.com. If the book does well, Hoefakker is hoping to expand into other bookstores throughout the county. In addition to Hoefakker, eight other Blaine locals will be selling their goods at the show: Cabin Antiques, Peggy Cook’s Whimsical Art, Wood-n-Stiches, Cottage Creations, Rustic Cottage Home and Garden Décor, The Flour Girl, Swanson Glass and Laura’s Creative Attic and Chocolates. The Lynden Craft and Antique Show will run from Thursday, March 19 to Saturday, March 21. The doors open at 10 a.m. all three days. The show closes at 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 5 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors 60 and older and free for children under 12. Parking is free, and the price of admission grants access for all three days of the show. For a full list of vendors, visit the show’s website at lyndencraftantiqueshow.com.
s Thunder the red-tailed hawk leans on Bethany Tegt for balance during Sardis Raptor Center’s Hunters of the Sky presentation, part of the Wings Over Water festival in Blaine and Birrch Bay on March 14. Thunder was rescued during a police raid several years ago. Her owners had cut off one of her wings to keep her from flying away and were keeping her in a cage. She is now a permanent resident of the Sardis Raptor Center. More photos, page 10.
Photo by Steve Guntli
U.S./Canada deal could alleviate border traffic By Steve Guntli The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Public Safety Canada have reached a new agreement that could reduce wait times at the border. On March 16, DHS secretary Jeh Johnson and Canadian public safety minister Steven Blaney signed a preclearance agreement that will expedite land, rail and sea travel through the border. The deal would allow U.S. and Canadian border agents to work in each other’s countries. This would allow agents to prescreen travelers at locations away
from the border, easing congestion at crossings. Under the new arrangement, agents would also be able to carry firearms in the neighboring country. The new arrangement is part of the U.S.-Canada Beyond the Border deal, signed by President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2011. Beyond the Border is intended to increase security on both sides of the border while making it easier for people and trade goods to pass between the countries. “Today is a major achievement that will produce significant benefits for the United States and Canada,” Johnson said. “This
Lummi ask for quick decision on GPT permit By Steve Guntli The Lummi Nation has provided the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) with more data, and is requesting quick action to deny the Gateway Pacific Terminal (GPT). In a letter to the USACE on March 5, Lummi chairman Tim Ballew II requested a swift denial on the GPT project. “As far as we’re concerned, there is no reason for the Corps to delay a decision on the Cherry Point terminal,” Ballew wrote. “The information we’ve provided clearly shows
that there is no way to mitigate impact to this sacred area. The terminal would permanently impede access to our treaty protected fishing areas. We look forward to a swift response from the Corps on this issue.” The Lummi Nation requested the USACE reject the GPT permit in early January. In February, the USACE requested the Lummi provide more information to better inform its decision. The Lummi Nation submitted the requested information, including harvesting processes and impacts for shellfish. SSA Marine, the developer behind the
GPT project, has reached out to the Lummi Nation several times to negotiate. So far, the Lummi have been adamant in their opposition to the terminal, which would ship more than 48 million tons of coal from Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota to Asia each year. SSA states the impact on tribal fishing grounds would be minimal, and the economic benefits of the facility would extend to the Lummi Nation. Patricia Graesser, a spokesperson for the (See GPT, page 2)
agreement will help facilitate the legitimate trade and travel that keeps our economy thriving as we maintain utmost vigilance to the security of our borders.” Preclearance measures are already in place in eight Canadian airports. Travelers can clear customs before they board a plane and skip the long checkpoints in U.S. airports. Beyond the Border has been delayed by some legal and technical problems. In 2012 both countries missed a deadline for a legal agreement that would allow law enforcement agents to operate inside the (See DHS, page 2)
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Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Coming Up . . . . . . . . . . 14 Tides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14