June 15 - 21, 2017
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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
Birch Bay Waterslides joins The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson, page 6
IN THIS
ISSUE
Suspect arrested for kayak-powered burglary, page 16
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Repair or vacate – Droves attend Hands Across the Border at Peace Arch Park city issues orders B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e
(See Downtown, page 3)
s Hundreds attended the annual Hands Across the Border on June 11. The event was hosted by The International Peace Arch Association. This year’s event marked the 96th anniversary of the Peace Arch. See more on page 18.
Photo by Stefanie Donahue
Blaine City Council approves interlocal jail agreement B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e It’s been four years since a county task force called the need to replace the Whatcom County Jail “critical,” due to overcrowding and unsafe conditions. One failed sales tax measure later, the county has a new plan on the table, and cities from Blaine to Bellingham are being asked to help fund it. On June 12, Blaine City Council voted unanimously to approve an Interlocal Jail Facility Financing and Use Agreement
between Whatcom County and all cities within its jurisdiction. Lynden, Sumas and Ferndale city councils have also approved the agreement, said Blaine city manager Dave Wilbrecht. The agreement was approved by the Whatcom County Council on May 30 in a 4–3 vote, with Ken Mann, Barry Buchanan and Todd Donovan voting no. It allows the county to place a sales tax measure on the general election ballot to fund a new jail facility on LaBounty Road in Ferndale.
Local dog boutique hosts fundraiser for Puppy Rescue Mission B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e In an effort to improve the lives of veterans across the nation, owners of Birch Bay dog boutique Bow Wow & Woofs are hosting a fundraiser to support Puppy Rescue Mission, a charity dedicated to rescuing and re-homing stray dogs of war. Bow Wow & Woofs’ second annual Barbeque and Yappy Hour will take place from 2 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 17 at Peace Arch Park. All proceeds will go to the Puppy Rescue Mission.
Anna Cannan, a wife of an Afghanistan veteran, founded Puppy Rescue Mission in 2011 in an effort to reconnect service members with the dogs of war they bond with overseas. Military “battle buddies,” as the dogs are often called, help to improve life on the battlefield. Often, for service men and women, it’s hard to leave their partner behind. “The service members save these dogs from a short life filled with dog fighting and other abuse, and in return, these dogs fill an emotional need for a sense of home
and normalcy,” according to a statement released on behalf of the organization. “Simply put, these ‘battle buddies’ make our service members’ lives better while serving our country.” Bow Wow & Woofs owner Heather Campbell was first introduced to the organization in 2016, when a serviceman by the name of Eric visited the shop with his dogs, Kumar and Toast. According to Campbell, Eric met Kumar while he was (See Fundraiser, page 4)
If approved by county voters, the sales tax would increase by .2 percent and would be used to fund the project’s construction debt services. The new jail would house 440 inmates and include 36 medical and behavioral health facility beds, according to an early draft. Each city would retain a portion of the sales tax revenue to address public safety needs, including per diem expenses for city inmates, which in Blaine is currently paid (See Jail, page 5)
INSIDE
Owners of three downtown buildings have been given orders to repair as a result of the city’s recent mandate to demolish the former Costa Azul restaurant. In May, the city issued an order to demolish the building, located at 665 Peace Portal Drive, after finding it pest-ridden, structurally unsound and in decay. Since then, city staff say they’ve yet to hear from Seattle-based owner Guenter Mannhalt, who was required to submit a demolition permit application by June 4. Due to its dilapidated condition, the building, as well as neighboring Blaine Bouquets at 633 Peace Portal Drive, owned by Colette Cloutier, and 625 Peace Portal Drive, owned by Jacaranda Land Corporation, have been put on notice to repair or vacate. The orders were released by the city on June 9 and require all three owners to submit a detailed plan to repair their buildings in compliance with the 2015 International Existing Building Code. If the notices elicit no responses, the city will require the buildings be vacated. The notices involved all three buildings because they share structural support. To maintain compliance with the international building code, Mannhalt’s building must be disconnected from 625 Peace Portal Drive and 633 Peace Portal Drive, according to the order. “This building is dangerous and it is our professional opinion the entire building should not be occupied until adequate repairs are implemented under the review of a registered professional engineer,” read a report by Ashley & Vance Engineering Inc. in February 2017. In the event of an earthquake, their findings suggested “the possibility of the south and west walls pulling away, eventually collapsing and the foundation failing, leading to partial or full building collapse.” Leading up to the city’s orders, the owner of Blaine Bouquets submitted an engineering report for the property at 633 Peace Portal Drive. The report asserted that since it’s separate from Mannhalt’s property at 665 Peace Portal
Coming Up . . . . . 17 Classifieds . . . . . 14 Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Police . . . . . . . . . 17 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 17
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