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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay
February 17 - 23, 2022
HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
New building coming to downtown, page 3
Blaine sports triumph, pages 6 and 7
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
WCSO deputies released from hospital, page 8
Antigen test soon an option for Canada travel By Grace McCarthy
s Westside Pizza opened its new Blaine location in the Cost Cutter plaza on February 16.
Westside Pizza opens in Cost Cutter plaza By Grace McCarthy A popular pizza joint has just opened its doors in Blaine. Westside Pizza opened its newest location adjacent to Cost Cutter, at 1733 H Street, on February 16. The 3,660-square-foot restaurant offers an arcade, flat-screen TVs and three dining rooms, some of which may be reserved for private parties, said Dusty Manderson, franchise owner of the Blaine location. Draft beer and wine are available to be paired with Westside’s signature pizzas, pastas and chicken wings.
“We’re really interested in getting involved in the community, whether it’s sponsoring teams, the school ordering personal pizzas for summer reading for kids,” Manderson said. “We just want to be part of jumping into Blaine and being part of their everyday activities.” The restaurant will be open to dine-in customers from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with the possibility of additional delivery hours after dining rooms close, the owner said. Online orders receive a 25-percent discount and there will be carry out specials.
Protesters block Pacific Highway crossing for three days, stalling truck traffic By Ian Haupt A convoy of truckers and supporters blocked the Pacific Highway border crossing for three days following weeks of continued Canadian protests against the government’s vaccine mandates and border restrictions. The nationwide protests have shut down the nation’s capital, closed multiple ports of entry along the U.S./Canada border and just this week
Photo by Grace McCarthy
had Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoke emergency orders. It was the first border demonstration on the West Coast tied to what’s being called the “Freedom Convoy” protests. The blockade stalled B.C.’s main point of entry for commercial truck traffic, either forcing transport companies to use the Sumas crossing or postpone deliveries for the day. In the evening of February 14, local
Surrey Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), assisted by a RCMP tactical team and surrounding area detachments, cleared protesters who had formed a blockade just north of the port of entry February 12 and remained demonstrating, according to a RCMP news release. Traffic crossings resumed as normal February 15. (See Protest, page 3)
Westside has locations in Bellingham, Lynden, Everson and Ferndale. Nationally, Westside Pizza offers its slices in nearly 40 locations across the west coast and Texas. Jeff Parks, Westside’s director of development, said the pizza franchise is set apart by its dough made in-house every day and other fresh ingredients. “We’re excited to come to Blaine and hope that everybody gives us a shot,” Parks said. “We’re going to work really, really hard to make sure everyone has great service and we hope everyone enjoys the addition to the community.”
INSIDE
Fully vaccinated travelers will soon have the option to show proof of a negative antigen test, instead of a PCR test, when entering Canada. Canadian government officials announced the changes will go into effect Monday, February 28. Since late December, vaccinated travelers have been required to show proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours in order enter Canada. Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) announced February 15 the government will allow people to take antigen tests, which are typically cheaper and provide quicker results than PCR tests, to enter the country. However, an antigen test must be taken the day before travel and be administered through a healthcare clinic, laboratory or telehealth. At-home antigen tests won’t be accepted, according to PHAC. Canada will still accept PCR tests taken within 72 hours of travel. Canadian officials said the relaxing of border regulations is a result of Covid-19 dropping in Canada as the omicron variant declines from its peak. “As provinces and territories adjust their public health measures, and as we transition away from the crisis phase, it is now time to move towards a more sustainable approach to long-term management of COVID-19,” PHAC officials wrote in the February 15 announcement. The Canadian government will also drop its recommendation to avoid nonessential travel that it put in place as the omicron variant began to spread through the U.S. and Canada. Unvaccinated children under 12 years old who travel with a vaccinated adult will no longer need to quarantine for 14 days. Unvaccinated Canadians will still need to take a Covid-19 test when arriving to Canada and then again on their eighth day in the country. They must also continue quarantining for 14 days after arrival. Most unvaccinated non-Canadian residents will continue to not be able to travel into the country unless they are exempt. Travelers are still required to use the ArriveCAN app to enter Canada.
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