The Northern Light: October 17-23, 2019

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October 17 - 23, 2019

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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer

IN THIS

ISSUE

Statements from general election candidates, page 6

Concerns grow over invasive crabs, page 13

County council to consider golf cart ordinance, page 17

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

County council Lively debate at candidates forum in Birch Bay holds public hearing on Drayton Harbor no shooting zone By Jami Makan

(See Shooting, page 2)

s Candidates for Whatcom County, Port of Bellingham and Blaine school district positions attended an October 14 candidates forum at Birch Bay Bible Community Church, where moderator Terry Terry asked a series of questions, including some from the audience. Photo by Oliver Lazenby

Is your business prepared for a minimum wage increase? By Jami Makan A workshop will help local businesses prepare for the increase in the minimum wage that goes into effect on January 1. On January 1, the minimum wage in Washington state will increase from $12 to $13.50. This is pursuant to Initiative 1433, which was approved by Washington voters in the fall of 2016. Starting in 2021, minimum wage increases will be calculated by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries using a formula tied to the rate of inflation. The free workshop will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, October 22 at the Blaine

school district conference room, 765 H Street. It is presented by the city of Blaine, the Blaine Chamber of Commerce and Western Washington University’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC). At the workshop, Asche Rider, a certified business advisor from SBDC, will share ways to proactively plan for the wage increase. She will discuss various issues, including whether you should consider raising prices, and if so, when; whether every employee gets a raise or just those making minimum wage; steps you can take to control labor costs; how to prepare for conversations with employees; and communicating with customers.

City council candidates to appear at Semiahmoo forum By Jami Makan Some of the candidates running for Blaine City Council will appear at an upcoming forum sponsored by the Semiahmoo Resort Association (SRA). The homeowners’ association will host its forum on Tuesday, October 22 at 5 p.m. in the Palmer Room at the Semiahmoo Golf and Country Club, 8720 Semiahmoo Parkway. The event is being organized and moderated by community resident William

McNally, who said that so far, three candidates have accepted his invitation to attend the forum: ward 1, position 1 candidate Richard May; ward 2, position 3 candidate Garth Baldwin; and ward 3, position 5 candidate and current councilmember Mary Lou Steward, who is running unopposed. “It will be open to all interested members of the public, but it is primarily intended to give the residents of the Semiahmoo neighborhoods an opportunity to hear the candidates express their plans and priorities if they are elected to the Blaine

City Council,” said McNally. “The meeting will be moderated and the members of the audience will be encouraged to ask questions.” SRA will not be endorsing any of the candidates. However, the association has notified its residents of this event through its mailing list, and is encouraging them to vote in the upcoming election, which takes place on Tuesday, November 5. According to the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office, ballots were mailed out on October 16.

“We’re going to provide tools to each business that attends, and we’re also going to walk through some examples,” said Rider. “Every business is different.” Other topics to be discussed include increasing efficiencies, reducing waste and addressing pay compression, a situation that occurs when the pay difference between employee levels shrinks so that higher-level workers feel their pay advantage is no longer significant. There is no cost to attend the workshop, but space is limited and registration is recommended. Registration can be completed online at wsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/ events/99270784.

INSIDE

Whatcom County Council held a public hearing on October 8 regarding a proposed no shooting zone that the city of Blaine is seeking to establish in Drayton Harbor. About 25 people addressed county councilmembers during the hearing, giving varying perspectives on the city of Blaine’s request to amend section 9.32 of the Whatcom County Code, which enables the creation of no shooting zones in the county. There are currently more than 20 no shooting zones in Whatcom County. The city of Blaine is seeking the creation of a no shooting zone in Drayton Harbor in order to address some residents’ concerns about gunfire near homes and property. The gunfire occurs during the waterfowl hunting season, which typically starts in October and runs through late January. During the season, hunters on boats shoot at sea ducks using birdshot, which can be heard as early as sunrise by those who live near the harbor. Blaine mayor Bonnie Onyon spoke first, stating that hunting is currently allowed in the county’s portion of Drayton Harbor but not in the city’s portion of the harbor. She said that it’s difficult to police situations where hunters wander into the city limits inadvertently. She noted that the Blaine police department has received repeated calls about waterfowl hunters, and said that a ban would be appropriate given the “populated zone of housing around the harbor which is affected both with the shooting and the possible injury as well as the noise.” Blaine city councilmember Mary Lou Steward also spoke in favor of a ban, saying that she has worked on the issue for six years. “We’re dealing with water, and sound travels,” she said. “You have a circle of housing all around that area, so there is a considerable number of people there, plus guests at Semiahmoo Resort, who are affected by this shooting early in the mornings.”

Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Classifieds . . . . . 15 Coming Up . . . . . 18 Police . . . . . . . . . 18 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 18

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