September 14 - 20, 2017
FREE
Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
Microsoft execs visit Peace Arch Park, page 4
Borderite football team loses to Meridian, page 6
September named “Senior Center Month,” page 8
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
The Vault Wine Cross-border ceremony marks 16th anniversary of 9/11 Bar and Event Space prepares for grand opening
(See Vault, page 3)
s First responders, dignitaries and citizens from the United States and Canada took part in a ceremony at Peace Arch Park on the 16th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. See more on page 10. Photo by Stefanie Donahue
Few days remain before Run with the Chums on September 16 As part of Whatcom Water Week, folks at the Whatcom County Public Works Department are inviting the public to kick off the watershed-education event with a fun run and walk through the forested plains of the BP Highlands. The fifth annual Run with the Chums 5K and kids 1K Smolt Sprint begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 16 at the highlands located at 4900 Brown Road in Blaine. The
free event is open for registration until the day of the race. The first 300 to sign up are eligible to receive a complimentary event T-shirt. Racers in the 1K can expect ribbons. “From mountains to sea, we all rely on clean, fresh water for drinking, productive farmland, healthy fisheries, outdoor recreation and safe shellfish harvesting. Let’s celebrate and get healthy in the process,” read a statement from Whatcom
Deadline extended to apply for a spot on the city council Residents of Blaine’s second ward still have the chance to apply for a position on the city council. Early last month, long-time public servant Dennis Olason announced his resignation from the council. Since then, the city has been on the search for a qualified candidate to take his place. During a regular meeting on September 11, Blaine City Council voted to extend the application deadline to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 20, citing a low response rate.
Blaine’s voting districts are comprised of three wards, each represented by two councilmembers and a seventh at-large member; each position serves a term of four years. Qualified candidates for Olason’s position reside in Blaine’s second ward, which includes all areas within city limits that lie south of H Street, excluding areas west of Peace Portal and north of Boblett Street. Applicants must be registered to vote and be a resident of the city for at least one year. Once appointed, the councilmember
will be asked to fulfill the remainder of Olason’s term, expiring December 31, 2019. All councilmembers must attend regular meetings on the second and fourth Mondays of the month. Attendance is also required at study sessions and special meetings. To apply, pick up an application at the administrative services department, located at 435 Martin Street, Suite 3000 or online at cityofblaine.com. Contact 360/332-8311 with questions. Interviews will be conducted on Monday, September 25.
County Public Works Department. Whatcom Water Week, continuing through September 23, informs the public about local water resources. Multiple organizations will come together to offer exhibitions, activities and prizes to the public. To register, visit chumsofterrellcreek.org. For questions, contact Aneka Sweeney at 360/526-2381 extension 103 or by email at asweeney@whatcomcd.org.
Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . 6 Classifieds . . . . . 11 Coming Up . . . . . 14 Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14
INSIDE
After months of work, the team at The Vault Wine Bar and Event Space is primed to celebrate their grand opening with the public in just a matter of days. All are welcome to sip beer or wine, sample food and meet the owners and staff at an open house from 5 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, September 20 at the space located at 277 G Street. The Vault staff will host a ribbon cutting ceremony to kick off the official open of the wine bar at 4 p.m. on Thursday, September 21. The Vault’s opening is another mark of change for the Blaine community. “Some folks are quick to forget that just a few years ago, we didn’t have Edaleen’s, the renovated Pastime Bar and Eatery or the Drayton Harbor Oyster Company,” said Blaine community development director Michael Jones. “Downtown’s changing in a really good way.” Longtime Blaine business owner Alan Finston purchased the building in an online auction in October 2016 with the hopes of expanding his existing business and opening an eatery and community venue. Operation hinged on the Blaine City Council, which was asked in early 2017 to consider a text amendment to the city’s zoning code to, in part, allow eating and drinking establishments and food trucks within the city’s Town Portal District, where The Vault is located. In February, the council approved the request and Finston, his wife Joni Finston and general manager Shanna Manning got to work. The Finstons own Whatcom Physical Therapy, which is located just across the street from The Vault at 250 G Street. About half of The Vault’s 5,300-square-foot space will be used to expand the facility to offer
TheNorthernLight.com TheNorthernLight
@TNLreporter
@PointRobertsPress