January 19 - 25, 2017
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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
Blaine boys basketball loses to Anacortes, page 6
Business workshop to focus on boosting Blaine’s downtown
A look back at the Birch Bay berm project, page 7
High school construction trudges on, page 8
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Local effort to restore historic sailboat progresses
B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e
s Representatives from the US Coast Guard (USCG) inspect a 111-year-old sailboat formerly used at the Alaska Packers Association Diamond NN Cannery in Nanek, Alaska. Members of Drayton Harbor Maritime are hoping to restore the vessel to allow for the transport of small groups into the bay on educational tours. Pictured from l., Lt. JG Aaron Lee, Lt. Francis O’Brien, Lt. CWO-4 Steve Carlson and shipwright Steve Alaniz. Read more about the project on page 10.
Photo by Stefanie Donahue
BTAC awards grants to tourist-centric programs in Blaine B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e Twelve events, programs and organizations known to boost tourism in Blaine received thousands in grant funding per a recommendation issued by the Blaine Tourism Advisory Committee (BTAC) last month. BTAC began drafting a list of recommendations in August 2016 and received final approval from the Blaine City Council on December 12. A total of $91,000 was awarded through the annual grant program, which is funded through a citywide lodging tax.
The operation of the Historic Plover Ferry received $30,000; Blaine’s Old-Fashioned Fourth of July received $15,000; the Drayton Harbor Music Festival received $10,000; the Peace Arch outdoor sculpture exhibition received $7,500; the Wings Over Water Northwest Birding Festival received $6,000; the Hands Across the Border event received $5,000; Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism received $5,000; the International Arts and Music Festival at Peace Arch Park received $4,000; the Blaine Harbor Art Gallery received $2,500; the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce received $2,500 for a cooperative advertis-
Mark your calendar: City of Blaine announces lineup of public hearings Residents of Blaine are invited to weigh in on a series of issues facing the city at a host of public hearings scheduled into February. All meetings listed below take place at Blaine City Hall, located at 435 Martin Street, suite 4000. Here’s a tentative list of what’s on deck for the weeks to come: What: The establishment of a Transportation Benefit District in Blaine. When: Mondays, January 23 and February 13, 6 p.m.
The city of Blaine is gathering public input on a proposal to form a Transportation Benefit District. The district would effectively fund transportation projects for streets, sidewalks and trails through a .2 percent increase in the citywide sales tax. Blaine City Council has the authority to establish a district through an ordinance, however alterations to the existing sales tax require a simple majority of approval from voters.
If approved, Blaine’s sales tax would increase from 8.5 to 8.7 percent and generate an estimated $200,000 annually for transportation projects for a period of 10 years. Already, several cities throughout Washington leverage funding through a Transportation Benefit District, including Bellingham, Lynden and Ferndale. Public outreach efforts kicked off in December and will continue with two
ing program with Blaine; Drayton Harbor Days received $2,000; and the music for the International Arts and Music Festival at Peace Arch Park received $1,500. By law, the state of Washington requires recipients of the program to use the grant funding to promote tourism and overnight stays. Applicants must also have a proven ability to align with the goals of the Blaine Tourism and Marketing Development Plan. The city already uses funding from the tax for marketing, a tourism development and Blaine Visitor Center staff member and operating expenses. To learn more, visit bit.ly/2jVHLdn.
INSIDE
Have an idea to help boost activity in Blaine’s downtown? Join an open discussion with city staff and interested members of the public at an evening business workshop this month. Sponsored by the Blaine Chamber of Commerce, the third Blaine business workshop will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 25 at the Pizza Factory, located at 738 Peace Portal Drive. The workshop is intended to foster a public discussion about ways to attract interest in Blaine’s downtown. Early workshops focused on the need to improve signage and the topic will likely be revisited during the coming meeting, said Carroll Solomon from the Blaine Chamber of Commerce. The signs across the street from the Blaine Visitor Information Center, located at 728 Peace Portal Drive, only direct the public to restrooms – she’d prefer to see them direct people to the visitor’s center as well. “If we can get people into the visitor’s center, then we can get them into other businesses downtown,” she said. Staff representing the city of Blaine will be in attendance to answer questions and help guide the conversation. In the past, remarks made at the workshops have had an impact on city improvement efforts, particularly with signage, Solomon said. The event is free and open to s Signage in Blaine. the public, and all ideas are welcome. For those who can’t attend, comments can be sent to the Blaine Chamber of Commerce at vic@ cityofblaine.com. For more information call 360/332-6484. “No idea is a bad one,” Solomon said. “It’s open to everyone.”
Coming Up . . . . . 14 Classifieds . . . . . 11 Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Sports . . . . . . . . . . 6 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14
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