Dec. 21, 2017 - Jan. 3, 2018
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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
A message from The Northern Light, page 4
Photos from Blaine’s ‘Shellebration’, page 8
‘Shrek the Musical Jr.’ hits the big stage next month, page 19
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Ring in the New H Street ‘Shellebration’ draws a hungry crowd Year in Birch Bay B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e
(See Events, page 3)
s Drayton Harbor Oyster Company served up grilled and raw oysters and oyster stew to guests at the ‘Shellebration’ at H Street Plaza on December 15. The event celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Washington State Department of Health lifting recreational and commercial shellfish harvesting restrictions on 810 acres of Drayton Harbor. See photos on page 8-9. Photo by Chuck Kinzer
Mystery grocery chain expresses interest in Blaine property B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e Following a recent special city council meeting, Blaine city manager Dave Wilbrecht is posed to sign a letter of intent with a mid-size grocery retailer that’s interested in building a storefront in town.
During the meeting on December 18, the Blaine City Council listened to a presentation from John Quinn, vice president of IDS Real Estate Group, who stated his client, a mid-size grocery retailer, was interested in purchasing property to build a 15,000-20,000-square foot storefront and
Community grapples with youth mental health crisis By Oliver Lazenby In a 2016 survey, between 8.6 and 13.6 percent of Blaine students in grades 8, 10 and 12 reported they’d tried to kill themselves in the past year. Even more had considered suicide or made a plan to kill themselves. Statistics on youth suicide and depression have grown grimmer throughout the state in the last 10 years, but the 2016 Healthy Youth Survey results reveal that problems may be especially severe
in the Blaine school district. The Healthy Youth Survey is an anonymous survey given throughout Washington state to students in sixth, eighth, 10th and 12th grades every other year. Containing 252 questions, it covers a variety of behavioral topics including alcohol and drug use, family life, nutrition and mental health. Blaine students reported feeling anxious, depressed and considering suicide at rates higher than the county and state averages. In the survey, 26 percent of Blaine 10th
graders and 30 percent of 12th graders reported considering suicide in the past year. Twenty percent of 12th graders in the state reported considering suicide –10 percentage points fewer than in Blaine. Are the results accurate? The guidelines accompanying the Healthy Youth Survey’s results state that if less than 70 percent of a grade takes the survey, the results “may be represen(See School, page 5)
150 parking stalls at the former site of the Blaine Municipal Airport, also known as the Gateway Parcel. After the presentation, the city council entered executive session for about 15 (See Grocery, page 10)
INSIDE
Two of Birch Bay’s biggest annual events will start off the New Year with a bang. New Year’s Eve celebrants can light up the shoreline during the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce’s Ring of Fire and Hope event at 7 p.m. on Sunday, December 31. During the event, participants line the shores of Birch Bay and light hundreds of orange road flares to symbolize peace and hope for the coming year. Birch Bay chamber director Mike Kent has donated 600 flares, which will be available for pick-up at 5:30 p.m. the day of the event at the Birch Bay Visitor’s Center, 7900 Birch Bay Drive. Flares are also available for purchase at the Pacific Building Center, 2677 Bell Road. “It makes such a nice show,” said fellow Birch Bay chamber representative Wayne Diaz. The following day, Diaz expects the crowd to top last year’s gathering of 5,000 people who came out for the chamber’s annual Polar Bear Plunge, a local tradition that started in Birch Bay as a dare in 1982. Hosted across the globe on New Year’s Day, typically to raise money for charity, Polar Bear Plunges challenge participants to dash into open water, wearing a swimsuit or costume. In Birch Bay, participants will launch into the bay’s icy water at noon at 7900 Birch Bay Drive. There’s no cost to take the plunge, but registration is encouraged and can be completed in-person by 10 a.m. the day of the event or online at bit.ly/2kfZv5K. The chamber plans to hand out thousands of certificates and refreshments to each participant. Food vendors Trailer Hash and Something Cheesy will be on the scene to sell food and drinks throughout the day. Commemorative shirts and sweatshirts will also be for sale.
Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . 6 Classifieds . . . . . 15 Coming Up . . . . . 18 Police . . . . . . . . . 18 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 18
TheNorthernLight.com TheNorthernLight
35TH ANNUAL BIRCH BAY JAN. 1, 2018
@TNLreporter
@PointRobertsPress
10 AM Registration 11:30 AM CostJuumdgeing
POLAR BEAR PLUNGE THE PLUNGE @ NOON ! e g n lu P e h t e Tak I-5 Exit 270 • West to Birch Bay Drive • Birch Bay Beach Park • 7830 Birch Bay Drive
* There are NO awards for length of time in the water. Swim at your own risk.
Costume Contest! See website for details Register online @ www.BirchBayChamber.com or at the Chamber VIC FREE TO TAKE THE PLUNGE!