June 8 - 14, 2017
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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
Hands Across the Border kicks off June 11, page 3
Sewer extension spurs curiosity from property owners in east Blaine
Seven Blaine school district staff members retire, page 6
Young at Heart, page 9
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Blaine school district honors young artists
B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e
(See Utilities, page 3)
s Young artists in the Blaine school district were honored during Evening of the Arts at the Blaine Performing Arts Center on June 1. Lauren Kordas, r., received several awards, including first place for her senior display; second place for Portraiture/Charcoal and Pastel; first place for Painting; second place for Glazing; Juror’s Choice; Best of Show and Most Inspirational. See more on page 10. Photo by Louise Mugar
Birch Bay Beach Fest and Feast is all about fun in the sun B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e Folks from around the community are getting an early start on summer this year by launching the Birch Bay Beach Fest and Feast, an event catered to kicking back, eating well and basking in the toasty sun. Event hosts Friends of Birch Bay State Park welcome all ages to stop by on Saturday, June 10 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the BP Heron Center located at Birch Bay
State Park, 5105 Helweg Road. Birch Bay State Park offers over a mile of shoreline, tide pools and hiking trails to explore. Visitors can observe fish swimming in the bay below and birds of all varieties swooping through the sky overhead. Beginning at 11 a.m., guests will have the chance to participate in guided beach walks led by naturalists, peruse educational displays and join in on a variety of activities. Aside from sunscreen and
shades, guests are also encouraged to bring their favorite beach toys. From noon to 2 p.m. hungry sun chasers can enjoy chowder from Ivar’s, clams from Taylor Shellfish Farms and hotdogs courtesy of the Birch Bay Waterslides. Donations of $5 are encouraged and will be used to benefit Friends of Birch Bay State Park. Parking is free all day, so feel free to leave your Discovery Pass at home. To learn more, visit fobbsp.org.
INSIDE
The effort to install a 1,450-foot sewer line through Lincoln Park and along D Street is just steps away from completion, according to Blaine city staff. Just as they had intended, the project has piqued the interest of nearby property owners. In late February 2016, Blaine City Council voted to approve the sewer extension through Lincoln Park and along D Street in an effort to advance long-awaited development in east Blaine. Currently, three midsize to large development projects by the names Bridges Plat, East Maple Ridge and Grandis Pond sit stagnant in anticipation of proper utility infrastructure. In March, Colacurcio Brothers Construction Inc. took on the task for $250,645 and began digging through Lincoln Park and up through D Street. According to staff with the Blaine public works department, a 15-inch sewer line has been installed and tested. Crews are currently on standby awaiting proper weather to move forward with paving, planting and adding other amenities. Leading up to the project’s completion, likely in late June, city staff are aiming to pave the trail on the north entrance of Lincoln Park and converting a “flat spot in the dirt” into a small parking lot with two to three spaces, said assistant public works director Bill Bullock. Paving will require secondary approval from the Blaine City Council and funding would come from the parks budget, said Blaine public works director Ravyn Whitewolf. Depending on what the city council decides, “We will either pave the parking areas as planned, or do the trail in addition to parking areas,” she said. What sounds like an ordinary public works project to some is a valuable step forward to others, particularly those who are next in line to finance various utility extensions to east Blaine. A whopping 1,400 lots comprise Bridges Plat, East Maple Ridge and Grandis Pond and they’ve been sitting on the books
Coming Up . . . . . 14 Classifieds . . . . . 11 Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Sports . . . . . . . . . . 6 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14
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