June 24 - 30, 2021
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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
Golf cart zone in county council, page 2
The C Shop celebrates 50 years serving Birch Bay
Blaine residents suspected in firearm theft, page 7
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
First Asian giant hornet found this year, page 9
Summer fun for kids in Birch Bay
By Ian Haupt
(See C Shop, page 7)
s Birch Bay kicked off summer vacation for kids with a Kites for Kids day June 19 at the future Birch Bay Vogt Community Library. More photos on page 10. Photo courtesy Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce
U.S./Canada border closure extended until July 21 B y P a t G r u bb Despite unofficial reports that the U.S. intended to open its land borders with Canada and Mexico on June 22, that day came and went with no change to the status quo, the 458th day since the borders were closed on March 20, 2020. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officially posted its intention to extend the closure until July 21, approximately nine hours before the restriction was due to expire at midnight on June 21. The notice was subsequently published in the Federal Register on June 23. In doing so, DHS followed the lead of Canada which had announced its decision to extend the closure to non-essential traffic on June 18 with a tweet from Canadian public safety minister Bill Blair saying the prohibition against non-essen-
tial travel into Canada was being extended until July 21. In a June 20 tweet, the DHS noted positive developments in recent weeks and wrote it was “participating with other U.S. agencies in the White House’s expert working groups with Canada and Mexico to identify the conditions under which restrictions may be eased safely and sustainably.” Blaine immigration attorney Len Saunders pointed out that the Americans who were held during the Iranian hostage crisis were released on their 454th day of imprisonment, meaning the border closure is now longer than one of America’s most fraught and emotional international crises. “How ironic is that,” Saunders asked. “I’d be shocked if the border doesn’t open on June 22. Shocked,” Saunders had said on June 15 when asked for an update on the border. Saunders was the source of
Council accepts new bid on 665 Peace Portal Drive By Grace McCarthy Blaine City Council approved the purchase and sale agreement of a vacant downtown property to Bosporus Property Inc. during council’s June 14 meeting. Bosporus bid the $300,000 asking price for the building at 665 Peace Portal Drive. The city of Blaine spent $283,000 with expenses related to demolishing the derelict building between Tony’s Just A Bite and Blaine Bouquets in 2019. With no civic use for the property, the city determined
it surplus and put it on the market with local real estate agent Ron Freeman last July. City council approved a $325,000 offer from Nimbus Properties LLC last summer. Nimbus Properties LLC completed a feasibility assessment but rescinded the offer May 19. Blaine city manager Michael Jones had the property listed again. Along with the $300,000 asking price, in both 2020 and 2021, the city encouraged rapid development with two 6-percent rebates if the buyer quickly submitted a building permit
application and occupancy permit. Bosporus included the two 6-percent rebates to its offer. The first rebate will be awarded when Bosporus submits a building permit application for a zoning compliant mixed-use building within six months of the closing date and the second rebate will be awarded when the city building official issues a temporary of final occupancy permit, according to a memo to city council. (See Property, page 3)
the May 25 story in The Northern Light that the U.S. was preparing to open the border on June 22 on a unilateral basis, if necessary. That story related how he had been told by multiple local CBP officials that while there was no “official” directive, the Blaine sector had been told to get ready to open the gates on June 22. Since that time, there had been changes in traffic routing and a bevy of new officers being trained in the inspection booths. The ubiquitous and obligatory zapping of vehicles, drivers and passengers by the drive-through X-ray machine had also stopped with most vehicles directed to the nearest exit. In response to the border extension, New York congressman Brian Higgins had this to say: “There’s no other way to say it: an(See Border, page 6)
INSIDE
Patrick and Patricia Alesse opened The C Shop in 1971 with the motto, “There is only one substitute for experience, and that’s quality.” After half a century, they have both. Patrick and Patricia were working as teachers in Blaine during the ’70s. With a child on the way and Patricia looking to focus on raising the family, the Alesses realized they needed a summer income supplement to Patrick’s teaching job. After considering multiple jobs – fishing in Alaska and working customs at the border – that didn’t appeal to Patrick, they decided to open a business. Knowing Birch Bay was the ideal location, the real question came down to what they would sell. Patricia had always been interested in running a motel but they didn’t have the funds to buy a property fit for one. In the summer of 1970, they spent much of their vacation time on the Oregon coast. Looking at the small local businesses for ideas of their own, candy shops stood out. They were fascinated watching the candy made, and knew if they started their own, they would allow customers the same opportunity. After finding a room that had previously been a dance hall and restaurant at what is now Jacobs Landing condominiums, the Alesses began taking the candy store idea seriously and gathering equipment. They opened June 26, 1971, with a caramel corn pot, candy stove, candy pots – some dating back to the 19th century that they still use today – and a popcorn popper. Back then, nearly everything for sale started with a “c” and peanut brittle cost only 49 cents. Using high-quality ingredients and recipes from family, friends, other candy makers, a Betty Crocker cookbook and some of their own, the Alesses outdid other candy makers who said the quality of their product would suffer if they tried to make both
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