July 6 - 12, 2017
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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
Beekeepers respond to summer swarms, page 5
Local golfer participates in U.S. Senior Open, page 6
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Blaine celebrates the Fourth of July, page 14-15
Drayton Harbor Spectacular lights shine over Blaine on the Fourth of July Music Festival to start July 9 B y A ly s s a E va n s
(See Music, page 3)
s A view of the Fourth of July fireworks show at Marine Park from Semiahmoo Resort.
City transfers land to Lummi Nation at signing ceremony B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e Last week, local officials and tribal members took part in a signing ceremony to finalize the transfer of about 2 acres of land from the city of Blaine to Lummi Nation. The ceremony took place in the morning on June 29 and marked the final step in a years-long process to transfer 80,354 square feet of land to Lummi Nation after human remains and Lummi artifacts were removed from the site of a con-
struction project on Semiahmoo spit in the late ’90s. “Today is not about any of the mistakes that have been made over the last 18 years, but rather the hard work and commitment to do our best and make things right,” read a statement from Lummi chairman Timothy Ballew II in The Bellingham Herald. “We only pray that we do right by the ancestors.” Last February, Blaine City Council voted unanimously to approve supplemental terms and conditions to a settle-
City event to feature talks on how to revitalize downtown Just as the city edges forward with its Strategic Economic Initiative, staff with the city of Blaine and the Blaine Chamber of Commerce are partnering to offer the public a chance to learn about ways to develop a thriving downtown district. The Downtown Development Open House is slated for Thursday, June 13 at the Pastime Bar & Eatery, located at 658 Peace Portal Drive and will focus on revitalizing Blaine’s downtown. Guests are invited to stop by at 5:30 p.m. for free
Photo by Walter Selden
appetizers and a no-host bar. The event will feature a presentation from executive director of the Mt. Vernon Downtown Association and Main Street Program, Ellen Gamson. Event sponsors hope the presentation will offer guests the chance to see how local residents and business owners can work together to transform downtown as a place to eat, shop and spend time with family and friends. In partnership with La Conner-based Beckwith Consulting, the city of Blaine is
working to develop a detailed plan for improving economic development prospects through a Strategic Economic Initiative. Once complete, the initiative is expected to produce a finance strategy for a variety of economic development projects in the city, such as improvements to trails, parks, sidewalks and public facilities. To learn more about the upcoming event, contact community development director Michael Jones at mjones@cityofblaine.com or 360/410-7871.
ment agreement with Lummi Nation; the milestone vote left only a few steps remaining before the final land transfer could take place. The agreement dates back to 2001 and was a result of a project to expand the city’s existing wastewater treatment facility on Semiahmoo spit. Crews from Golder Associates were contracted for the project and allegedly failed to notify Lummi Nation after digging and (See Lummi, page 2)
INSIDE
It’s time to break out your dancing shoes – the Drayton Harbor Music Festival is back in town. The Pacific Arts Association of Blaine is hosting the event from July 9 to 15 in Blaine. This will be the festival’s 16th year of bringing jazz to Blaine’s streets. During the festival, students age 12 to 19 will attend a music camp and learn from professional musicians. Both students and festival faculty will share their skills with the community at a series of public concerts. Students study jazz, vocals, a Capella, songwriting, rock, classical and contemporary music. “I know of no other small-town organization so removed from easy access to large urban areas that produces a seven-day camp and festival with a staff of first-class professional musicians,” said Kitty King, the association’s president. “Each year we rise to the challenge of raising funds and recruiting students in a small community.” Because the association has persevered, many students can apply for scholarships and community members can attend concerts for free, King said. Outdoor concerts will be held at noon Monday through Friday at the G Street Plaza. A variety of evening concerts will take place at 7 p.m. in the Blaine Performing Arts Center. Admission is by donation with the exception of the Tuesday and Thursday evening concerts, which cost $20. On Sunday, singer/songwriter Camille Bloom, jazz vocalist Greta Matassa and vocalist Amanda Taylor with the jazz group Groove for Thought will perform. Bassoonist Martin Kuuskmann and Jovinos Santo Neto, a pianist, flutist and composer, will perform at the Jansen Art Center in Lynden at 7:30 p.m. on Monday. Tickets are available at jansenartcenter.org. Festival faculty will perform on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday’s performers will consist of jazz faculty, while Wednesday
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