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March 29 - April 4, 2018

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IN THIS

ISSUE

Tennis team takes to new courts, page 6

Interim police chief discusses role, page 10

Band from Japan performs at Performing Arts Center, page 15

PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230

How the school Students, parents lead ‘March For Our Lives’ protest in Blaine levy would affect your tax bill Recent increase in education tax is from the state, not local By Oliver Lazenby

(See Taxes, page 5)

s ‘March For Our Lives’ participants gathered at Peace Arch Park on March 24. See photos on page 15.

B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e Joining hundreds of thousands of protestors in cities across the globe, approximately 75 people, including students, parents and teachers, took part in ‘March For Our Lives’ in Blaine on March 24 to protest mass shootings at U.S. schools and call on lawmakers to tighten gun restrictions. Created and led by students, ‘March For Our Lives’ drew hundreds of thousands of

people to Washington, D.C. and thousands more to 800 other connected protests. In Bellingham, roughly 3,000 people took part in the demonstration on Saturday. The protest followed the death of 17 individuals who were shot at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on February 14. Days after the shooting, students from the high school came together to organize ‘March For Our Lives’ in Washington, D.C.

City quells concerns about Lincoln Park disc golf course B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e Since announcing plans to install a disc golf course at Lincoln Park in February, the city has received some pushback. At a city council meeting on March 26, Blaine community planner Alex Wenger said the park and cemetery board had budgeted $25,000 to install an 18-hole disc golf course and make improvements to the 27-acre park’s lighting and asphalt trail. Wenger said the city expected to open the new course as early as this June.

Announcement of the new course spurred criticism from some residents who were concerned about the environmental impact, cost of the park, and the combination of flying discs and roaming dogs (Lincoln Park is one of two designated off-leash dog parks in Blaine). To quell concerns, Wenger made a brief presentation to the city council and stated that the park and cemetery board is in the process of developing a detailed maintenance plan for the course to detect any impacts from flying discs and ensure that

the park remains in good condition. “We are moving forward with construction of the disc golf course,” Wenger said to city council at the regular meeting on Monday. “We want to blend the planned future improvements in Lincoln Park, which is more than just disc golf.” Adding, “We’re continuing to review that.” Addressing another concern, Wenger said, the city is also planning to provide trash cans at Lincoln Park. He added, “I (See Disc golf, page 2)

In Blaine, tenth graders Aurora Edwards, 15, and Emma Breedlove, 16, helped organize the march. They were encouraged to do so by their school guidance counselor, Rick Vander Yacht. Edwards’ grandfather, Jeff Schamel, created signs to promote the local march and her dad, Robert Edwards, agreed to speak at the event in support. The city granted a parade permit and the (See March, page 15)

Sports . . . . . . . . . . 6 Classifieds . . . . . 11 Coming Up . . . . . 14 Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14

TheNorthernLight.com TheNorthernLight

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Property taxes for education just spiked, but the Blaine school district isn’t the main culprit. That’s the message district officials are hoping to spread in the weeks before the April 24 special election, when voters will decide on the school district’s proposed $12 million, six-year capital projects and technology levy that will go into effect in 2019. Property tax bills went up 11.8-13 percent this year, depending on if you live in Blaine, Birch Bay or Point Roberts. While some local taxes did go up, the biggest change was in state education taxes. The amount of money the state collects for schools from Whatcom County property owners jumped from $2.23 to $3.20 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2018, a $242.50 annual increase for a home valued at $250,000. State lawmakers passed the tax increase in 2017 to comply with the state Supreme Court’s McCleary decision, which found that the state wasn’t fully funding education. When the state disperses that money, it will go toward paying educators’ salaries, not toward fixing roofs, parking lots or grandstands – all things the Blaine school district would do with a new levy. Taxes for the Blaine school district did jump 30 cents to $2.80 per $1,000 in 2018, a bigger increase than any other local tax. A BP Cherry Point tax settlement caused that jump. BP paid a lump sum of more

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The Northern Light • March 29 - April 4, 2018

Disc golf ... From page 1

think the maintenance of this disc golf course will be extremely low.” Several members of the public came forward to comment on the project on Monday, including president of the Whatcom Disc Golf Club Ryan Klassen who said, “I’m here to express my excitement for the enhancement of Lincoln Park and the opportunity to put in a disc golf course.” The group has committed several hours to plan the layout of the course and remove debris and invasive plants such as ivy. City councilmembers Bonnie Onyon and Eric Davidson expressed their concern about potential impacts of the disc golf course on the environment and park users, but said they have faith

in the park and cemetery board to monitor it and make changes accordingly. “I think our parks board has done a fairly good job of thinking this through,” said city councilmember Alicia Rule. “This is new and when anything new comes in, I think there will be a period where we will have to monitor both the positive and negative effects,” said city councilmember Mary Lou Steward. “Make sure that safety is not an issue. Make sure that there are no problems with dogs, discs or whatever and just reassess it in a few months’ time to see how it works.”

s A preliminary design of the Lincoln Park disc golf course. The yellow lines represent the first nine holes of the course. Illustration courtesy of the city of Blaine

Sunday April 1st

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Special Easter Brunch by Christine Niemann Sunday, April 1 • 10 am - 3 pm

Salmon London Broil Ham Mac & Cheese

Omelette Bar Eggs Benedict with Ham, Crab Cake or Salmon

Waffles Chicken & Waffles Biscuits & Gravy

Desserts & More

Bottomless Mimosas $10 Adults $28.95 • Children 6-12 $11.95 Children under 6 Free • Reservations Recommended 7878 Birch Bay Drive • 360.746.8775

March 29 - April 4, 2018 • thenorthernlight.com

Blaine United Church of Christ Alleluia! He is Risen!

Please join Pastor Sandy Cheatham at the Blaine United Church of Christ (Congregational) for Holy Week and Easter Services.

Thurs., March 29 6 p.m. Fri., March 30 Sun., April 1 Sun., April 1

6 p.m. 9 a.m. 10:30 a.m.

Maundy Thursday Communion Service followed by simple soup supper Good Friday Service Pancake Breakfast Easter Service with Communion

We are an open and affirming church - welcoming all the people of God.

Christ Episcopal Church 382 Boblett St., Blaine, WA

Maundy Thursday - March 29th

6 pm Fellowship Meal 7 pm Maundy Thursday Liturgy with Holy Eucharist & Stripping of the Altar

Corner of Fourth & Clark • 332-6906

WORSHIP GUIDE

Zion Lutheran Church Pastor Becky Langholz

12 pm Good Friday Liturgy Stations of the Cross

Easter Day - April 1st 10 am Holy Eucharist

www.christchurchblaine.org

Good Friday Service 7 PM Easter Sunday Breakfast 8:30 AM

Easter Service 10 AM - CHRIST HAS RISEN! A caring country church north of Ferndale between Bay Road & Grandview Road

7215 Valley View Rd. • zionlutheranwhatcom.org • office.zion@gmail.com

Grace Lutheran Church

CUSTER UNITED

METHODIST CHURCH

2996 MAIN STREET STREE T T 2996 MAIN 2996 STREE CUSTER, (PO BOX WA 500) (PO BOX 500) CUSTER, WA (360) 366-5181 CUSTER, WA 98240 98240

(360)366-5181 custerumc.org (360)366-5181

Easter Worship Services

Holy Week Services

Good Friday - March 30th

Maundy Thursday: Thursday: Silent Dinner 6pm 6pm Maundy Silent Dinner March 29 Worship Worship 6:30pm 6:30pm Easter Worship: Worship: 10am 10am Easter Children’s Time: Time: 10:15am 10:15am with Children’s 10:00am with Easter Hunt Easter Egg Egg Hunt Brunch: 11 11 am am Brunch:

Holy Thursday March 29

Good Friday March 30 Stations of the Cross: 12:10 pm St. Anne, Blaine 5 pm St. Joachim, Lummi

Mass of the Lord’s Supper, followed by adoration. For all three communities: 7 pm St. Joseph, Ferndale

Liturgy of The Passion and Death of Our Lord: Stations of the Cross 7 pm St. Joseph, Ferndale

Holy Saturday March 31

Easter Sunday April 1

Vigil of Easter for all three communities: 8 pm St. Joseph, Ferndale

Mass of the Lord’s Resurrection: 8:30 am St. Joachim, Lummi 10 am St. Anne, Blaine 10:30 am St. Joseph, Ferndale

The NW Corner Catholic Community Please join us for our Holy Week liturgies!

St. Anne Church, H & 6th Streets, Blaine St. Joseph Church, 5781 Hendrickson Ave., Ferndale St. Joachim Church, Kwina & Lummi Shore Rd., Lummi

Everyone Welcome

Maundy Maundy Thursday Thursday March at 77 p.m. p.m. March 24 29 at Good Friday March at 7 p.m. Good30Friday

Good Friday, March 30

March 25Sunday at 7 p.m. Easter

7:30 - 8:30 pm • A hands on, reflective activity focusing on the work of the cross in addition to a time of communion.

Breakfast at 9 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt Festival Worship after worship service at 10:30 a.m.

Resurrection Sunday, April 1

Breakfast at 9 a.m. Festival Worship Easter Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

9 - 10:15 am • FREE Continental Breakfast 10:30 am - Noon • Worship Service

We invite you to share in the Holy Week & Easter Services

702 G Street Blaine 332-6589

blaine-grace-lutheran.org

902 Adelia Street • Blaine, WA 98230 360-332-8918 office@bcfcommunity.com www.bcfcommunity.com www.facebook.com/blainechristianfellowship

Easter Celebration Sunday, April 1

10 a.m. .............. Special Worship Service Noon ..............................Easter Egg Hunt

Water’s Edge meets Sundays at 10 a.m. Bay Horizon Park Activity Center (Gym) 7511 Gemini St. Birch Bay visit www.watersedgewa.com for more information

runchat Semiahmoo Easter BSeaside

Easter Egg Hunt

Join us Sunday, April 1, at Semiahmoo Resort for our annual Easter Sunday Brunch, complete with a delicious buffet, Easter egg hunt, and a visit from the Easter bunny. For more information or to make a reservation, call 360.318.2090.

Easter Egg Hunt on the Front Lawn - 9:30 a.m. $47 Adult

Buffet in the Ballroom - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

$18 Children (Ages 6-12)

Children 5 And Under Free

Sales Tax And Gratuity Not Included.

9565 Semiahmoo Parkway • Blaine www.semiahmoo.com

Appearance by the Easter Bunny!

The Northern Light • March 29 - April 4, 2018

The Northern L ght The Northern Light is published weekly by Point Roberts Press Inc. Locally owned and managed, the company also publishes the All Point Bulletin, covering Point Roberts, Mount Baker Experience, covering the Mt. Baker foothills area, and the summer recreation guide Waterside as well as maps and other publications. Point Roberts Press Inc. is a member of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association, Chambers of Commerce of Bellingham/ Whatcom County, Birch Bay, Blaine and Point Roberts and the Bellingham/Whatcom County Convention and Visitors Bureau. The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors. Letters Policy The Northern Light welcomes letters to the editor. Please include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters are limited to 350 words and may be edited or rejected for reasons of legality, length and good taste. Thank-you letters are limited to five individuals or groups. Writers should avoid personal invective. Unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Requests for withholding names will be considered on an individual basis. Consumer complaints should be submitted directly to the business in question or the local chamber of commerce. Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published. Email letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com.

The Northern Light office will be closed on Friday, March 30 in recognition of Good Friday.

Lighthouse fixed to property on Peace Portal Drive

Publisher & Managing Editor Patrick Grubb publisher@pointrobertspress.com Co-publisher & Advertising Director Louise Mugar lmugar@pointrobertspress.com Editor Stefanie Donahue stefanie@pointrobertspress.com Copy Editor Kara Spencer kara@pointrobertspress.com Reporter Oliver Lazenby oliver@pointrobertspress.com Creative Services Ruth Lauman, Doug De Visser production@pointrobertspress.com Office Manager Jeanie Luna info@pointrobertspress.com Advertising Sales Molly Ernst, Janet McCall Catherine Darkenwald sales@pointrobertspress.com General Editorial Inquiries editor@pointrobertspress.com Contributors In This Issue Janell Kortlever, Joey Winkler and Mike Andes The Northern Light 225 Marine Drive, Suite 200 Blaine, WA 98230 Tel: 360/332-1777 Vol XXIII, No 40 Circulation: 10,500 copies

Circulation Independently verified by:

Next issue: April 5 Ads due: Mar. 30

s Peace Portal Drive was lined with eager onlookers watching a lighthouse being mounted to a new downtown property. The lighthouse reaches 48 feet and was designed by Scott Meaker of Northwest Commercial Construction to emulate the former Blaine lighthouse. The property, called ‘Skye Hill Station,’ will soon be home to a new Starbucks location. Husband and wife team Mike and Skye Hill are behind the ambitious project, which is taking place next to the Chevron station they own, located at 568 Peace Portal Drive. Photos by Stefanie Donahue and Skye Hill

Prepare for a busy travel weekend at the border

Border crossing numbers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) February 2017

B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e

At the Peace Arch crossing, CBP reported: 163,147 passenger vehicles, 74,363 NEXUS vehicles and 121,401 NEXUS passengers. At the Pacific Highway crossing, CBP reported: 114,126 passenger vehicles, 272,687 total passengers, 26,515 trucks, 949 buses, 47,329 NEXUS vehicles and 75,316 NEXUS passengers.

Traffic volume is expected to peak at the border this weekend, said officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Good Friday – a statutory holiday in Canada – is this Friday, March 30. To expedite entry into the U.S. in the future, travelers should obtain a radio frequency identification (RFID)-enabled travel document, such as an enhanced driver’s license/enhanced identification card, a U.S. passport card or a trusted traveler program card (including= NEXUS, SENTRI, Global Entry or FAST/EXPRES), advises CBP. “To avoid delays, border crossers may want to use the nearby and less traveled

Sumas port of entry on state highway 9 (open seven days per week, 24 hours per day) or the Lynden port of entry on state highway 539 (open from 8 a.m. until midnight),” according to the press release. For individuals with an enhanced driver’s license, enhanced identification card or other RFID-enabled card, ‘Ready Lanes’ are open at the Peace Arch border crossing from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday through Friday; at the Lynden border crossing from noon to 4 p.m. on Monday through Friday; and at the Sumas border crossing from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For more information about border travel, visit cbp.gov.

Civic Meetings Birch Bay Water & Sewer District: Second and fourth Thursdays, 4:30 p.m., district offices, 7096 Point Whitehorn Road, Birch Bay. Info: bbwsd.com.

Birch Bay Watershed & Aquatic Resources Management District: Third Wednesday, 6 p.m., location varies. Info: bbwarm.whatcom county.org.

Blaine City Council: Second and fourth Mondays, 6 p.m., Blaine City Council chambers, 435 Martin Street. Info: ci.blaine.wa.us.

Blaine Park and Cemetery Board: Second Thursday, 4 p.m., Blaine City Council chambers, 435 Martin Street. Info: 360/332-8311, ext. 3330.

Blaine Planning Commission: Second and fourth Thursdays, 7 p.m., Blaine City Council chambers, 435 Martin Street. Info: blainepc@ cityofblaine.com. Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation: Second Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., Birch Bay Chamber Office, 7900 Birch Bay Drive, Birch Bay. Info: blainebirchbayparkandrec.org.

Blaine School Board: Fourth Monday, 7 p.m., Blaine school district offices. Info: blaine.wednet.edu. North Whatcom Fire & Rescue: Third Thursday, 1 p.m. Blaine Fire Station. Info: nwfrs.net.

March 29 - April 4, 2018 • thenorthernlight.com School-related property tax rate estimates in the Blaine School District 2016

2017

2018

2019

Construction bonds

1.083

0.855

0.955

0.945

M&O replacement levy

1.849

1.641

1.847

1.389

0.511

State school tax

2.307

2.234

3.200

2.900

Total

5.239

4.729

6.003

5.745

Local total

2.932

2.496

2.803

2.845

Capital projects and tech levy

Illustration by Oliver Lazenby

Winemaker’s Dinner with Blaine’s Own Amy Representing

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Taxes ... From page 1

than $4.6 million in back taxes to the county in 2017 after the two entities settled a property value dispute. That payment temporarily lowered everyone else’s share of the district’s M&O levy by 20 cents and construction bonds by 10 cents in 2017. The school-related tax spike is inconvenient for the Blaine school district’s effort to persuade voters to pass a new tax. “People who have seen their tax bill for 2018 are concerned about what a technology and capital levy will mean for their tax bill next year,” said district superintendent Ron Spanjer. “We would reinforce that we don’t control the state tax and unfortunately it doesn’t pay for these projects.” The district’s capital projects and technology levy would pay for projects throughout the district including a new grandstand at the high school and for purchasing property in Birch Bay for a future primary school. For more on what the levy would pay for, see last week’s issue of The Northern Light online. The levy’s property tax impact The Blaine school district has worked to keep the burden on taxpayers at a relatively constant level, Spanjer said. If the levy passes, it will tax property owners an extra 51 cents per $1,000 in value for six years, starting in 2019. However, the district’s

maintenance and operations levy will also drop by 46 cents at the same time. That means district property owners will see a total rise in 5 cents per $1,000 in assessed value if the levy passes, or $125 annually for a house valued at $250,000. If the levy doesn’t pass, property taxes related to the Blaine school district would drop 46 cents per $1,000 in assessed value. Last minute bill gives relief The amount that taxpayers pay the state for education – the biggest factor in this year’s property tax hike – could drop around 30 cents per $1,000 in value next year due to a bill that state legislators passed on the last day of the session. The bill is a one-time reduction for 2019. It’s unclear how much the state will collect for education after 2019. How does Blaine compare? Of the seven school districts in the county, Blaine collects the least from local taxpayers, according to the Whatcom County Assessor’s Office. Blaine School District voters this year pay $2.80 per $1,000. Here’s how that compares to other districts: Lynden – $3.83 Mount Baker – $4.26 Ferndale – $4.32 Bellingham – $4.55 Meridian – $4.68 Nooksack Valley – $5.86. All rates are per $1,000 of assessed home value.

Sunday, April 29 • 5-8 pm

4 Courses Paired With Wines $80

at Birch Bay

A Whale of an Easter Treat!

Open with Candy, Ice Cream & Easter Bunnies

Reservations Required • 360-392-0955

Open 2pm - 7pm thru March 31

Horse Wagon Rides

Sat., March 31 • 3-6pm

Easter Egg Hunt

Sat., March 31 • 4-6pm

W ine • Beer n orthWest F usion C uisine

360-371-2070

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CITY OF BLAINE Unless noted, all meetings are held at City Hall, 435 Martin Street, Suite 4000 and are open to the public.

Tuesday, April 3, 3 pm Blaine Economic Development Advisory Committee meeting Monday, April 9, 5 pm – Study Session 6 pm – Regular City Council meeting Tuesday, April 10, 8 am Blaine Tourism Advisory Committee meeting

Buds • Edibles • Waxes • Oils • Topicals

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Thursday, April 12, 10 am Public Works Advisory Committee meeting Location: PW 1200 Yew Ave Thursday, April 12, 4 pm Park and Cemetery Board

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You’ve come to the right place! 288 Martin St. Downtown Blaine (360) 332-7300 • (604) 256-1384 www.Fortiphi.com

Kids’ Easter Fun! Saturday, March 31 • 10am-noon

Easter Egg Hunt • Photo Booth • Cupcakes & Cookies • Prizes

Visit With The Easter Bunny! 456 C Street, Blaine 360-332-8733

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The Northern Light • March 29 - April 4, 2018

Sports By Oliver Lazenby

Tennis team takes to brand new courts With new courts, Blaine girls tennis teams are playing at home this season for the first time since 2016. Last year, the tennis program opted not to play home games because the courts were in such bad shape, said head coach John

Freal. He called them the worst courts in the Northwest Conference. The school resurfaced the courts in July 2017 as part of the high school addition. “I felt that there were enough cracks and dips in the courts that the possibility for injuries was

just more than I wanted,” Freal said. “The Blaine girls were used to it but the schools that we played, they didn’t know where all the cracks were.” New courts may have sparked interest in the program; 41 girls joined the team this year – 13 more than last year. Four matches into the season, Blaine is still looking for its first team win. Sydney Feenstra is leading the team in singles wins so far. “We are still pretty young as a team,” Freal said. “I think it’s going to take some time for players to develop and be as competitive as some of the other schools.” Blaine is in a tough conference. Bellingham won the 2A state tournament last year and Sehome and Anacortes – both Northwest Conference teams – also finished in the top 10 at state. Blaine plays at home at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 10 against Anacortes.

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s Maria Gobbato playing against Granite Falls on March 16. Photos by Janell Kortlever

MARCH Boy and Girl of the Month

Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County, Blaine Branch

Logan

Logan has been showing his best work at the club. He is always willing to help staff out around the Clubhouse. From helping set up the gym to sweeping up at the end of the day, Logan is there to help. He is also always chatting and cracking jokes that never fail to make us laugh. Thanks for making the club a better place! sponsored by

Locally Owned and Operated

Emily

Emily is constantly making sure she is doing her best at the club. She always follows the rules, and is great at kindly explaining to others what the rules are. We can always count on Emily to help us out. Emily never fails to bring a smile to the club and to all who get the chance to talk with her. Thank you for being great!

360-380-1800 2055 Vista Dr. Ferndale

s Blaine junior Aubrey Ortega playing on Blaine’s new tennis courts against Granite Falls on March 16.

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Blaine softball loses to Lynden

Don’t wait! Call 360 332-9534 for your appointment today!

s Blaine senior and ace pitcher Taylor Miller winds up to throw. The Borderites lost to Lynden Christian 19–8 on March 23. Photo by Janell Kortlever

March 29 - April 4, 2018 • thenorthernlight.com

Soccer optimistic after tying Anacortes The Blaine boys soccer team took a loss and a tie in the last week against two tough opponents. They now have a 2–2–2 record overall and a 1–1–1 record in conference games. Getting through those two tough games with a decent record intact bodes well for the Borderites. Their upcoming opponents could be a little easier, at least until they play Sedro-Woolley (4–1–1) on Thursday, April 12. “I think this week could be key for us,” Quesada said. “If we get through this with some wins we’ll continue on with a lot of energy.” On March 22, Blaine lost 9–1 to Sehome (4–1–1 overall) at Phillips 66 Soccer Park in Ferndale. Sehome got an early lead and never looked back. Senior Alieu Diaw scored Blaine’s lone goal on a penalty kick. Despite that blowout, Blaine played a competitive game against Anacortes, another team that’s at the top of the conference with a 4–0–2 overall record, at home on March 26. Both teams took good shots in the first half, but Anacortes scored the first goal. Blaine sophomore Miguel Magallon tied the game in the 57th minute after dribbling through Anacortes’s

defense and pitching a shot at a narrow angle past Sehome’s keeper. “I tell my kids to go play for a win every game, but if you can take a tie against the big teams, that’s a plus.” Quesada said. “I’m really proud how the guys played and came back from 1-0. They played with a lot of discipline and fought for every 50/50 ball.” So why did Monday’s game turn out so different from the 9–1 loss to Sehome? For one thing, despite being close in the standings, Sehome is a bit more experienced than Anacortes. Another factor is that Blaine played Anacortes at home. Blaine plays better on grass (they played Sehome on turf) and playing at home can be a bigger advantage when it’s pouring rain, as it was against Anacortes; the Borderites know the sloshy spots on their own field. Beyond that, Sehome’s early success in the game made a recovery difficult, Quesada said. Sehome scored two goals early on and Blaine just couldn’t recover. “They got down mentally. In any sport you have good days and bad days,” Quesada said. Blaine plays next against Nooksack at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 30, at home.

s Blaine sophomore Miguel Magallon (number 11) looks for an open teammate in the second half against Anacortes. Photos by Oliver Lazenby

$6 OFF ANY ORDER OF $30 OR MORE Dine in only. Not valid with any other offers. Exp. 4/12/2018

A T H L E T E OF THE H

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Dalton Mouw Senior • Track

Dalton won the 100m, 200m, 400m sprints in our first two league meets, and won the 200m in the prestigious Bedlington Invitational last Friday at Lynden.

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s Blaine senior Ethan Froneberger makes a run up the sideline.

In other sports news... Baseball Blaine varsity baseball lost to Nooksack 9–4 on March 21 and to Squalicum 6–0 on March 23. After the losses, their record is 2–4 overall. Blaine next plays Sedro-Woolley (4–2) at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 29. Softball Blaine girls varsity softball lost to Lynden Christian 19–8 on

Friday, March 23, at home. Next, they play away against Lynden Christian at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 29. Track Blaine track and field athletes competed at the Bedlington Twilight Invitational Tournament at Lynden on March 18. The boys came in 11th out of 16 teams and the girls finished 13th out of 15. Dalton Mouw won the 200 meters in 22.87 seconds. He also placed second in 400 meters and third in 100 meters. Blaine’s other top finishers were Porter Schmidt (second in shotput) and on the girls side, Rani Prasad (second in shotput).

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The Northern Light • March 29 - April 4, 2018

Home

Garden

A monthly special section in The Northern Light

What you should know about lawn care By Mike Andes

With spring’s arrival, many of us are encouraged to create a place in our gardens that would inspire outdoor living or raise the curb appeal of our homes. Here are a few of the common issues that homeowners encounter in Whatcom County when trying to achieve a lush, green lawn. The Northwest’s moist environment can wreak havoc on the lawn of your dreams. Garden menaces such as moss, weeds and thatch can take over your property and make it difficult for your visions to materialize. Fortunately, with a little knowledge and effort these problem areas can be overcome. Moss treatment – after serving thousands of local properties, we have found moss to be the arch nemesis of homeowners. Moss tends to run rampant in areas of

shade, poor drainage and compacted or acidic clay soil. Moss has a tendency to grow wherever grass is not thick and healthy. For that reason, it is important to treat your lawn with fertilizers with the right balance of nutrients. Next time you see a bag of fertilizer look at the set of three numbers. For example, 25-0-8 would indicate the levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, respectively. This nutrient profile is typical for broadleaf weed prevention fertilizers. You may also see iron of 10 percent which helps combat moss reproduction. For very shady areas, reseeding with shade tolerant grass seed will keep the lawn thick and reduce the ability of moss to spread. Another great way to keep moss away from your lawn is aerating. Core aeration – core aeration is

when lipstick-tube sized plugs of soil are removed from your lawn surface. This will allow improved air exchange between soil and atmosphere and enhance water uptake, to create a healthier root system for your grass. If you look in the core holes one to two weeks after aeration treatment, you will see dozens of little white roots hairs extending from the core perimeters ... those are little grass roots growing deeper, aided by the additional nutrient supply. Dandelions and broadleaf weeds – another aggressive enemy to having the lawn of your dreams is the dreaded variety of weeds. It is important to stop dandelions, clover and other broadleaf weeds early to stop them from multiplying in your grass. (Continued on next page)

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• Examine faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for any water on the outside of the pipe to check for surface leaks.

Home (Continued from previous page) Applying nitrogen-based fertilizers and keeping your lawn from going dormant in summer will keep pesky weeds from taking your lawn. De-Thatching – another element that will help you to achieve the lush healthy grass of your dreams is thorough dethatching. Thatch is an organic layer of dead and living shoots, stems and roots, which includes small pieces of dead grass. Usually this decomposing organic material is nutrient-rich and beneficial for the grass but if the turf produces debris faster than it can be broken down, this can weaken your lawn significantly and is important to take care of it by dethatching. Often a lawn that feels spongy is in need of dethatching. In doing this, you get rid of the physical barrier that is blocking sunlight and water from getting to the suffocated grass roots. Make your landscape low-maintenance – here are a few tips to reduce the amount of time and water it takes to maintain your lawn and landscaping. As previously mentioned, core aeration allows the grass roots to grow deeper and thus makes your lawn more drought-tolerant. Less water will be needed to keep it green during the summer. Having plants that require an endless balance of care can get irritating. Making the switch to low-maintenance plants can help with the stress of making sure your property looks tip-top shape. The Northwest offers a variety of beautiful, native, low-maintenance plants that can transform your garden. Examples of these plants include ferns, pompous grass, and our Washington state plant, rhododendrons. When it comes to water consumption, we all want that water bill to be as low as possible. There are ways of helping your garden and your check book this season by maximizing water savings. Rain catchment systems are a great alternative to the ever increasing water bill that we have to pay to accomplish the desire of our property. Rain catchment systems channel water from your roof and gutters and stores it in a reservoir. Consider refreshing your flower beds with a layer of landscape bark mulch or compost – doing so can reduce evaporation. Refreshing the beauty bark or compost in your gardens also serves as a way to combat weed growth and minimizes time required to pull weeds. If you are tired of watering, fertilizing, and mowing your lawn, you might want to consider xeriscaping. Xeriscaping, which became popular in drought afflicted areas, is a style of landscaping that requires very little watering or maintenance. If you are replacing your lawn with xeriscaping there are cost effective ways to make the change. Instead of excavating your existing turf, you can just cover the

lawn with road fabric, which is a water-permeable material that doesn’t allow vegetation to grow through. This in turn eliminates the cost of having to haul your excavated lawn off-site and allows you to spend money focused on the xeriscaping itself. There are creative and visually-appealing ways to install a low-maintenance landscape. Creating a dry riverbed with cobblestones is charming and has great curb appeal; a flagstone patio instead of a lawn might make your backyard more functional for activities and get-togethers. Mike Andes is the CEO and founder of Blaine-based Augusta Lawn Care. To learn more, visit augustalawncareservices.com.

&Garden

March 29 - April 4, 2018 • thenorthernlight.com

CONTINUED

The 411 on post-winter garden prep Lawns and gardens can bear the brunt of winter weather and are often in need of tender loving care by the time spring arrives. Here’s how to prepare your garden for the months ahead: Assess the damage – even if winter was mild, gardens might still have suffered some damage. Inspect garden beds and any fencing or barriers designed to keep wildlife from getting into the garden. Before planting, fix any damage that might have impacted plants over the winter. Clear debris – Remove fallen leaves, branches and even litter that blew about on windy winter days before planting season. Make sure to discard any debris to ensure they don’t come back. Turn the greenhouse into a clean house – Cleaning a greenhouse in advance of spring can help gardeners evict any overwintering pests that

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can threaten plant life once spring gardening season arrives. A thorough cleaning, which should include cleaning the inside of greenhouse glass and washing flower pots and plant trays also can prevent plant diseases from surviving into spring. Check for pests – speak with a local gardening professional to determine if there are any local pests to look out for and how to recognize and remove these pets from gardens. Pests may hibernate in the soil over the winter and such unwelcome visitors can make it difficult for gardens to thrive come spring and summer. Assess plant location – if plants, flowers or gardens have struggled in recent years or never grew especially vibrant, then gardeners may want to assess the location of their plant life before spring gardening season begins.

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The City of Blaine Water Division started flushing the City's water distribution system. This is accomplished by opening hydrants along the system (starting at the well fields) to move fresh water throughout the distribution system. The purpose of flushing the system is to remove any grit and debris in order to improve water quality through the distribution system. During the city flushing program city water customers may experience a temporary low water pressure and/or cloudiness when flushing is going on. The cloudiness condition (caused by air) should be only temporary, and can be cleared by running a cold water tap for a few minutes to clean and flush your service line. If the condition continues for an extended period of time please contact the Blaine Public Works. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. If you have any questions, feel free to call Public Works at 332-8820. Leroy Dougall, Blaine Public Works.

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The Northern Light • March 29 - April 4, 2018

Interim police chief outlines department changes, city closer to permanent hire B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e Despite the temporary nature of his position, interim police chief Michael Knapp is due to leave a lasting impression on the Blaine Police Department. With the city just weeks away from making a permanent hire, Knapp outlined the changes he’s made during his tenure. “I have found the community to be unusually welcoming and friendly,” Knapp said. “They enjoy a sense of community,

What happened to the police reports? Regular readers of The Northern Light have likely noticed the new form police reports have taken in recent months. Formerly formatted in descriptive, bite-sized summaries, weekly police reports now span just a few words in length and only contain the date, location and a brief descriptor. The change was initiated by Knapp, who says the reports were too time consuming to create. “It was very simple,” he said. “It’s a very time consuming process and we’re understaffed and that’s not an expenditure of personnel hours that we can afford [...] I know of no other department in this county that does it.” He added that the department is currently switching to a new records management system that will automatically produce reports in the same short-hand format.

which [I believe] is becoming increasingly rare in our country.” Knapp was appointed as interim chief of the police department last November, the day after long-time Blaine chief of police Mike Haslip retired. The position was posed to last about six months while the city looked for a permanent candidate. To move the search along, Blaine City Council voted on March 26 to hire Issaquah recruiting firm, Prothman Company, for assistance. The recruiting services will cost the city approximately $17,500. “To appoint the highest qualified permanent police chief, I determined the most effective method was to engage a professional recruiting consultant,” said city manager Dave Wilbrecht in a staff report to city council. “In the recent past, the city successfully used professional recruiters for the city manager in 2013, the public works director in 2012 and the finance director in 2010.” Wilbrecht approached Knapp with the job opportunity about one month prior to Haslip retiring last year, Knapp said. Intrigued, he came out of retirement to accept the offer. From 2005 to 2016, Knapp was the chief of police in Ferndale. Previously, he worked at other police departments in California. Knapp began his career as a special agent at the FBI in 1971 and finished as deputy chief of the bureau’s senior executive service in Washington, D.C. in 1997. He’s a former member of the California Bar Association and a U.S. Army veteran. “I think there are many benefits of having an interim manager in a department director position when the previous director has been in the position

for many years,” Wilbrecht said in an email. “Most importantly, they can get to know the department and help with the selection process for a new chief by making recommendations based on direct experience with the department which helps to identify the skills and background needed for the new chief.” During the interim, Knapp said he was asked by the city to conduct an analysis of the Blaine Police Department’s policies and practices. Making changes, he said, “goes hand in glove” per the requirements of the position. Restructuring From the start, restructuring the department – comprised of 11 commissioned officers and two full-time administrative staff – was a priority, Knapp said. He established a hierarchy between operational staff members, promoting a handful of existing patrol officers to either lieutenant or sergeant positions that are interim. “That means they last for two years and they will become permanent automatically,” Knapp said. “I didn’t want to deprive the new chief of his discretion in making appointments.” Ryan King was the first to receive a promotion in November following an exam and is now the department’s sole lieutenant. Two others will be appointed to sergeant positions soon, Knapp said. “The purpose was to give some organizational structure to this department,” he said. Under the new hierarchy, the department has two sergeants and one lieutenant in addition to patrol officers. Eventually, Knapp wants the city to approve funding for a third sergeant. In addition to restructuring, long-time employee Lisa Moeller resigned in February.

Community Chamber of Commerce

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s Michael Knapp. Dispatch Following a recommendation from Knapp, calls for police from Blaine will no longer be dispatched through a U.S. Border Patrol dispatch center in Blaine starting October 1. Instead, they’ll be dispatched through What-Comm 911, a dispatch center located in Bellingham. The city of Lynden will also switch to the new dispatch system soon, Knapp said. Currently, the U.S. Border Patrol dispatch center in Blaine provides free dispatch services to both cities. All 911 calls in Blaine and the rest of Whatcom County connect to What-Comm 911, where a dispatcher determines if a caller needs police, fire or medical assistance. Calls that require a police presence in Blaine, Lynden and Sumas are transferred to the U.S. Border Patrol dispatch center in Blaine. “That takes seconds,” Knapp said. “In an emergency, seconds count.” Moving forward, WhatComm 911 will facilitate the dispatch of law enforcement to Blaine. Knapp said the switch will cost the city approximately $60,000 to $70,000 per year.

Photo by Stefanie Donahue

Assessment In addition to his years of law enforcement experience, Wilbrecht said Knapp was a prime candidate for the interim position because of his knowledge of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. The association provides management consulting and other technical assistance to law enforcement agencies through its Loaned Executive Management Assistance Program (LEMAP). Under Knapp’s direction, the city paid $5,000 to receive the service. “It provides the guide post for change,” Knapp said about the LEMAP report. “It gives you some direction to prioritize your efforts and I’ve done this in every department I’ve been in.” As part of the program, law enforcement personnel from the Bellingham Police Department, Lake Stevens Police Department and Kent Police Department, among others, carefully reviewed the policies and practices of the Blaine Police Department based on documentation provided by Knapp. Consultants from the organization also spent two (See Police, page 13)

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March 29 - April 4, 2018 • thenorthernlight.com

NEXT ISSUE: April 5

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BAY CENTER Market hiring PT/FT morning and/or afternoon shift. Multitasking, stocker, deli and customer-oriented experience a plus. 21+ required, available on weekends. Pick up application at 8050 Harborview Road, Birch Bay. FT-MAINTENANCE ASST. Semiahmoo Resort Association is hiring. Duties include operating large equipment, landscaping and upkeep of common areas. CDL license required. Wage D.O.E. Health and retirement benefits included. Applications are available at semiahmooresortassociation.com or at 9001 Semiahmoo Pkwy. Blaine, WA. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for Natural Play Therapy/interaction with 16 year old boy with autism. No experience necessary. Call 360-778-2465, 360441-0908, or for program info go to naturalplaytherapy.com.

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CLASSIFIED MARKETPLACE call 360-332-1777

Public Notices Blaine School District #503 has a 2004 Honda Civic 4-DR up for surplus bid Approx 176,550 miles. Vin #2HGES16444H629442.

Vehicle is sold as is and can be seen at the Blaine School bus garage. Bidder can view car but cannot test drive. The car is in running condition. For more information, please contact our Transportation Office at: (360)332-0700. Sealed bids are due by 4pm on Thursday, April 13 at the Blaine School District Office, 765 H Street, Blaine, WA 98230.

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The Northern Light • March 29 - April 4, 2018

Real Estate

8045 Birch Bay Dr., Blaine, WA (360) 371-7252

Century21BayProperties.com 9751 Vista Terrace, Blaine • $332,000

SPECTACULAR HOME!

ONE-LEVEL LIVING! Spacious one-level rancher. in quiet neighborhood. Completely renovated & updated. Laminate flrs, 2 wood-burning stoves for efficient heating, newer roof & newer heating system. If you are looking for 4-BDs w/super large family room area, look no further!

Amy Bremer • (360) 961-0620 277 Whitetail Loop, Blaine • $415,000

OPEN SAT 12 - 3

BRAND NEW CONSTRUCTION! Welcome home to the first of 18 new homes to be built in Mountain Estates, Blaine’s newest neighborhood! Gas FP, engineered hardwood, custom cabinets, quartz countertops & SS appl. Easy access to Blaine schools & only minutes to I-5 and US/CDN border.

Jeremy Porter • (360) 306-1794 7806 Birch Bay Dr. #1111, Birch Bay • $225,000

TURNKEY BIRCH BAY CONDO!

BEACHFRONT BUILDING! Walkout ground-floor waterfront 2-BD, 1-BA, condo, unobstructed Birch Bay SW water view! Remodeled w/new carpets, flooring, windows, sliding patio door, water heater, DW, bathroom sink, toilet & vanity. Great rental home income... Turnkey with all furnishings!

Hugh Brawford

21 ACRES

Call Hugh to view ANYTIME! ICF PANELS Allergy Free!

8140 Kitamat Way - Birch Bay Village

$200,000

BRAND NEW, 3-BD, 2-BA on 11,932 SF lot, oversized finished garage. Great kitchen w/soft-close cabs, SS appls. Master w/recessed bed, great rm w/ fireplace & custom cabs. Enjoy moorage, golf, tennis, swimming, 24/7 security. R-52 wall installation and R-49 ceiling. ICF Construction.

ENERGY EFFICIENT

G 2610 WOBURN DIN N E P Bellingham • Barkley Area

$500,000

3-BD, 1-BA • New roof & paint.

Waterview Building Lot

$270,000

Natural gas heat, fenced back yard, covered patio. Great first home or rental.

BEACH ACCESS!

GUEMES ISLAND

Roberts amenities. Scenic sunsets w/ample entertaining space, functional floor plan & updates throughout. Kitchen, DR & LR downstairs w/3-BDs upstairs, & spacious 3-car attached garage, ample storage, RV parking & more!

Terry Conway • (360) 410-0503 331 Whitetail Loop, Blaine • $424,800

Ruth Skeete • (360) 358-5075 8084 Skeena Way, Birch Bay • $385,000

NEW CONSTRUCTION! Custom home in Blaine’s newest neighborhood, Mountain Estates. Open spacious & bright floorplan! Lots of extras. One level living with master on main. Custom Canyon Creek cabinets, beautiful quartz, vaulted ceilings, great gas FP, & lots of nice finishes. Get in and take a look today!

with timeless design-no expense spared! Shy of an acre, a private sanctuary offers 3,419 sq. ft & spectacular 139’ of waterfront w/extraordinary views! NW Asian design for refined living at its best! Chef’s kitchen, expansive great room, open floor plan & more.

Call or Text: Heather Taylor • (425) 785-5771

NEW LISTING!

BIRCH BAY GET-A-WAY!

SPACE IS LIMITED!

Ad deadline: April 27

CALL: 360-332-1777 OR EMAIL:

sales@thenorthernlight.com

Jairo “JB” Batres • (360) 306-9029 4733 Tidal Way #103I, Birch Bay • 304,900

PENDING!

WALK TO THE BEACH! The Tides at Birch Bay is a premier community of craftsman style cottage condos nestled on 11 acres of hillside above the bay. Beautiful private units over 1100 SF w/granite/quartz counters, rock gas FP, SS appl, 2-BD, 1.75-BA, bonus loft & office/den, large covered deck overlooking Birch Creek. Come & pick your unit now!

Tonia Thrift • (360) 595-3257

Rentals - Residential

Rentals - Rooms

DRAYTON HARBOR REALTY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Birch Bay Village

8201 Chilliwack Rd. Beautiful 3-BD, 2-BA custom home on nature pond. Soaring ceilings, grand vaulted entry. French doors to sunlit den/bdrm, SS appl, gourmet kitchen, slab granite, gas FP. Sunny patioEFFICIENT off formal dining area. Luxe masENERGY ter suite w/jetted tub, tile, slab granite & large walk-in closet. Artisan quality upgrades abound throughout. Golf, pool, marina.

Ron Kulman 360-303-1459

8112 Birch Bay Drive #19 Idlesse Condominium

$280,000

A hidden gem! Beach rights with private boat launch. Stand-alone condominium that feels like a house. Fenced outdoor pool and storage barn. Vaulted ceilings, gas FP, skylights, ceiling fan and good size loft area.

Brian Neal 360-319-4901 Rentals - Commercial

GET ON THE

Distributed to key visitor and high traffic locations in Whatcom and Skagit Counties, and British Columbia!

QUIET, PRIVATE SETTING ON BIRCH BAY VILLAGE POND! Enjoy views from deck overlooking pond, or from your private dock. Cozy w/wood burning stove, & new heat pump, A/C. Great flr plan w/laundry upstairs! 1490 SF, 3-BD, 1.75-BA. Amenities; golf course, marina, outdoor pool, tennis courts, picnic areas, playgrounds & miles of beaches to explore.

BIRCH BAY • CUSTER • SEMIAHMOO

www.CallHugh.com

Reserve your ad on the 2018-2019 Map!

PRICE REDUCTION!

Christy Imperio • (360) 201-4100 8361 Semiahmoo Dr., The Pointe on Semiahmoo $1,999,888 - WATERFRONT MASTERPIECE

NOW $45,000

MAP!

7806 Birch Bay Dr. #701, Birch Bay • $195,400

LISTED & PENDED IN 2 DAYS!

JACOBS LANDING. Besirable ground-floor corner unit at Jacobs Landing. 2-BD, 1-BA, laminate floors, many updates. Located close to clubhouse for those who enjoy the pool year-round; hot tub, tennis & other amenities. Easy wheelchair access from the parking lot to the condo. Short walk to restaurants and the BEACH.

$415,000

On Kickerville

at Headwaters On Terrell Creek. Zoned light industrial/residential. Owner terms available!

OPEN SAT 12 - 3

Carl W. R. Dufton • (360) 815-6637

Call Hugh -360.371.5800 28 years experience.

BEAUTIFUL POINT 1551 Ocean View Ln, Point Roberts • $465,000 IT TODAY! Beautiful, well-maintained home with plenROBERTS HOME! tyVIEW of space in premier location near private beach & Point

SEMIAHMOO CONDO 2-BD, 2-BA, Completely furnished. Located on 8thTee! $1800/ mo. 1-yr lease.

BLAINE

2-BD, 1-BA SENIOR CITIZEN PARK. Unrestricted Bay views, Remodeled. $895/mo. 3-BD, 2.5-BA HOME. 1430 Blaine Ave. W/D, DW quiet area, garage. $1350/mo.

HISTORIC HOME FURNISHED ROOM, NS, pet friendly $550/ mo. + deposit, references required, 360-332-3449.

N/S, N/P, OAC and deposits will apply. WE NEED PROPERTIES TO MANAGE,

FIND IT IN THE CLASSIFIEDS

360-332-3166

All estate/rentals advertising in this newspaper is subject to Allreal real estate/rentals advertisthe Housing Actisofsubject 1968 as amended, which makes ingFederal in thisFair newspaper ittoillegal advertiseFair anyHousing preference,Act limitation or discrimination the to Federal based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap of 1968 as amended, which makes it illegal familial status or naorigin, any or anpreference, intention to make any suchorpreference, totional advertise limitation dis- limitation or discrimination. This newspaper willrace, not knowingly accept any advertisement for real crimination based on color, religion, estate which is infamilial violationstatus of the law. readersoriare hereby informed that all sex, handicap, or Our national dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity gin, or an intention to make any such prefbasis. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll-free at 1-800-877-0246. erence, limitation or discrimination. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertisement for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll-free at 1-800-877-0246.

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FOR LEASE

Commercial Building

on Blaine Harbor Great location with spectacular marina & park views. 850 s.f. Reception area plus 3 offices. MUST SEE! $1000/mo. plus utilities

Contact Pat Grubb: 360-332-1777 pgrubb@mac.com

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March 29 - April 4, 2018 • thenorthernlight.com

Police ... From page 10

days in town prior to making their report. The draft report is on Knapp’s desk, awaiting review. “What they’re doing is giving you their opinion based on their experience and understanding of current and best practices [and] how you as a chief might implement recommended change,” Knapp said, adding, “It’s up to the chief whether he follows the recommendations or not.” Moving forward, Knapp will take a close look at the draft, make revisions and return it. He said the final LEMAP report will become available 30 days later. “With that report, his knowledge and experts in police chief recruiting, we will produce a very accurate job description,

job announcement and recruitment process for a new police chief with skills and background to implement the recommendations,” Wilbrecht said in an email. He added, “Job applicants will have a solid understanding of the department’s and city’s needs and expectations for the new chief. I’m confident we will be able to attract a very high quality list of applicants for the position and am looking forward to filling the position.” Search for a permanent chief The city released a request for proposals for recruitment services to hire a permanent police chief to oversee the department on February 7. Three firms returned proposals and Prothman Company was chosen due to its experience working with cities in Washington, according to a city staff report. “Prothman Company has been

working with Washington cities and counties on the recruitment of public sector executives since 2001,” read the report. “During that time, they have conducted more than 500 recruitment and interim placements.” Knapp worked with Prothman Company to recruit the Ferndale Police Department’s new police chief. A company representative will visit next week to begin the process. Knapp said the representative will talk with the police department, city council, chamber of commerce and business owners to learn what their expectations are for the chief. “I am sure he would find it useful to understand what the community expects,” Knapp said. “Once that process is done, the advertisement goes out nationwide.” After the candidates are narrowed down, local residents will likely get the chance to meet them at a public reception.

After many years of service, city clerk retires

OBITUARIES Anne Vitkay Beatty Fournier

July 3, 1928 – March 17, 2018 Anne Fournier passed peacefully in her sleep March 17, 2018, in Bothell WA at age 89. Anne Vitkay Beatty Fournier was born in Hranovnica Slovakia, to Paul and Mary Vitkay, before the family immigrated to Canada to settle in North Surrey BC. She spent most of her professional life as a bookkeeper and after retiring in Blaine, she volunteered at the Blaine visitor center and food bank. She was an active member of her community and a loving mother and grandmother. Anne was preceded in death by her sister Marie White, brothers Milan and Joseph Vitkay, and son Ronald Beatty of Surrey BC. She is survived by her daughters Terry Beatty Thomas (Russel) of Kirkland WA, Sherry Fournier Thompson (Brian) of Brier WA and granddaughter Alexandra Thomas of Tokyo Japan. Per Anne’s request there will be no funeral service. In lieu of flowers her family would appreciate a donation in Anne’s memory be made to your local food bank.

Christy Sanders

September 19, 1974 - March 16, 2018 Christy Sanders passed on Friday March 16 2018. She was smart and funny; she loved unconditionally, and she was our rock. She left us very suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 43. Christy was devoted to her family, and will be missed by her children; Shaylee Utter, Richard Sanders, Bethany Sanders, Kris Rusk, Angelique Rusk, Jaihlyne Sanders-Rusk and her many beloved pseudo kids. She will be missed by her partner in life Ralph Rusk, and all who knew her. She has been reunited with her parents and grandparents who she was predeceased by. There will be a memorial at Northwood Alliance Church Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 11 a.m. Please plant a tulip in her memory.

BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL s Long-time city employee Sheri Sanchez announced her plan to retire at the end of the month at a city council meeting on March 26. From 1996 to 2004, she was the city’s deputy finance director; up until her retirement, she was the city’s administrative services director and city clerk. Former deputy city clerk Sam Crawford will take her place, she said. Pictured: Blaine Police Department interim chief Michael Knapp, l., and Blaine mayor Bonnie Onyon, r., honor Sanchez for her years of service.