December 22 - 28, 2016
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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
A holiday message from The Northern Light, page 4
Blaine City Council contemplates a sales tax hike to pay for transportation projects
Blaine wrestlers bolster season record, page 6
Birch Bay events to ring in the New Year, page 8
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Frigid temperatures didn’t stop Blaine’s shell-ebration
B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e
(See Tax, page 5)
s Despite brisk temperatures as low as the mid-teens, oyster lovers gathered to celebrate the recent lift on shellfish harvesting restrictions on 810 acres of Drayton Harbor announced by the Washington State Department of Health in early December. The “shell-ebration” took place at Drayton Harbor Oyster Company on December 16. For more photos, see page 9. Photo by Kaylee Botting
Survey turns up new possibilities for Birch Bay library By Oliver Lazenby Whatcom County Library System’s (WCLS) recent survey on library use in Birch Bay drew a lot of responses and even turned up two new possibilities for a library location in Birch Bay. The library system conducted an online survey in November and December to gauge interest in a Birch Bay library branch. The number of positive responses
impressed WCLS board of trustees members, they said at a December 19 board meeting, and the board reaffirmed their support for staffing a library location at Birch Bay. “Well over 10 percent of the community responded to the survey, which is a great showing,” said Christine Perkins, WCLS executive director. Of the 994 respondents, 82 percent said a public library building is “necessary or
Blaine Food Bank exceeds December fundraising goal B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e The months-long campaign to raise $25,000 by mid-December has reached an end and folks at the Blaine Food Bank are all smiles. With help from private donors they’ve exceeded their goal by more than $3,000, and the money is still coming in. Staff kicked off the fundraiser in mid-October in the hopes of raising $25,000 to receive matching funds from an anonymous donor. The campaign ended on December
16 and raised more than $28,000. “We did awesome,” said Sally Church, a volunteer with the organization. “We met and exceeded our objective. We’re so very thankful to the citizens of Blaine. This community just really steps up to the plate.” The campaign remains one of the largest fundraising opportunities of the year, said Joan Smith, office assistant with the Blaine Food Bank. She expects the matching funds to come in just before the holidays.
The money will be used to pay for a year’s worth of eggs and milk from Lynden-based Edaleen Dairy. Smith said it may also be used to cover maintenance, likely on a freezer that just stopped working. Donations are always accepted in the form of cash or check, by mail to P.O. Box 472 or in person at 500 C Street in Blaine. Nonperishable foods are accepted on a regular basis. For more information about the Blaine Food Bank, call 360/332-6350.
desirable” in Birch Bay. Some of the rest said they don’t think a library building is “necessary,” but they would like to have one, Perkins said. The majority of respondents also said they would we willing to contribute money toward a library building. Some survey responders brought up possible locations for a library: one in a (See Library, page 5)
INSIDE
Blaine may be the next to join myriad cities throughout Washington with a special taxing district used solely to fund transportation projects for streets, sidewalks and trails. At a special meeting on December 5, city staff recommended the council move forward on a plan to form a Transportation Benefit District, which would allow for an increase in sales tax by up to .2 percent. The tax is estimated to generate $200,000 annually to fund transportation projects for 10 years. A simple majority of voters would have to approve the tax hike and city staff are hoping to see it on the ballot as early as the April 2017 special election. During the special meeting, Blaine City Council voted 7–0 to contract Liz Loomis Public Affairs to kick off public outreach efforts. “I’m not a fan of taxes, as probably most of you are not,” said Eric Davidson, a member of Blaine’s public works advisory committee. “I’m not a fan of more government in my pocket, but I really like this because this is monies that come directly to the city of Blaine, specifically directly to public works to work on my roads and your roads as well as our trails.” A city or county ordinance can form a Transportation Benefit District, and its boundaries can encompass all or portions of land within its jurisdiction. If established, the city council would maintain the role of the district’s board and would be responsible for approving transportation projects, among other things. Transportation districts can
Coming Up . . . . . 14 Classifieds . . . . . 12 Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Sports . . . . . . . . . . 6 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14
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34TH ANNUAL BIRCH BAY JAN. 1, 2017
POLAR BEAR PLUNGE Take the Plunge!
I-5 Exit 270 • West to Birch Bay Drive • Birch Bay Beach Park • 7854 Birch Bay Drive
* There are NO awards for length of time in the water. Swim at your own risk.
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10 AM Registration 11:30 AM CostJuumdgeing THE PLUNGE @ NOON
Prizes* given for: Best Group Costume, Best Individual Costume, Best Kid (12 & under) Costume, and Most Unique Costume Register online @ www.BirchBayChamber.com or at the Chamber VIC FREE TO TAKE THE PLUNGE!