February 8 - 14, 2024
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IN THIS
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Man arrested for racing on I-5, page 3
Developers to hold meeting on east Blaine manufactured home park
February 13 special election, page 4
Primary school hosts science night, page 5
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Rainbow ends at the Peace Arch
By Grace McCarthy
(See Meeting, page 3)
s A rainbow added a pop of color over the Peace Arch at the U.S./Canada border on February 1. Photo by Molly Ernst
Tokyo Monster Sushi opens in Birch Bay By Grace McCarthy Tokyo Monster Sushi opened in Birch Bay Square, bringing an expansive menu of Japanese and Asian cuisine. The restaurant held a soft opening February 1, and is expected to operate at full-service in the coming weeks. The restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, though owner Phillip Kim said those hours will shift earlier as the restaurant phases in breakfast, offering Starbucks coffee and Krispy Kreme donuts.
Tokyo Monster Sushi has a sushi bar, cocktail bar and stage where live jazz is anticipated Fridays through Sundays. The menu offerings are ample, with sushi rolls, nigiri, sashimi, Chinese wok and Korean specials, Vietnamese pho, ramen, teriyaki, yakisoba, fried rice, bento boxes, poke, steak, burger, Greek gyro, mozzarella sticks, oyster shooters and more. “You can taste just about all of the Asian food up here,” Kim said, adding that there are plenty of fish options. Kim said he selected the Birch Bay
Meet interim Blaine HS principal Beth Eide By Nolan Baker Newly appointed Blaine High School interim principal Beth Eide has lived in the world of education almost her entire life. Growing up in Montana, Eide would help set up her mother’s classroom where she taught special education. Her first experience educating on her own came when she volunteered at a summer program for students with disabilities. Following her mother’s footsteps, Eide became a special education teacher in
Montana before receiving a master’s degree from San Diego State University and teaching in the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District. Eide and her family – three boys, in college, middle school and elementary school – moved in 2016 to Washington where she earned her administrative certification from Western Washington University. Eide was then hired at the Blaine school district as dean of students for 6th-12th grade in 2021. Eide said that while every school has its
own unique qualities, she enjoys the closeness and sense of community when walking through the halls of Blaine High School. “Blaine feels comfortable to me,” Eide said. “I can walk through the courtyard and say hello to students, know their name, know what activities they are in that week, what assignments they are working on in English. … I’m invested in their wellbeing inside and outside of the school, and at a school this size, you (See Principal, page 10)
Square location because he wanted to bring more Asian food to Birch Bay. Kim previously owned a Tokyo Monster Sushi in Maple Valley, which he said he sold two years ago. He’s owned different sushi and teriyaki restaurants throughout the Puget Sound, including West Seattle, the University District, Kent, Federal Way and Auburn, he said. As for Kim’s menu favorites, he said the Monster, Godzilla, orange blossom, cherry blossom and rainbow rolls are (See Restaurant, page 2)
INSIDE
The developers of a proposed east Blaine manufactured home park have scheduled a meeting to inform the public on the project for 10 a.m. Tuesday, February 27 at the Blaine Boating Center, 235 Marine Drive. Developers Skip and Katie Jansen and Cascade Engineering Group will hold a community meeting on plans to construct 150 manufactured homes in East Harbor Hills, an upcoming neighborhood in east Blaine. East Harbor Hills is directly east of the Jansens’ other development, The Ridge at Harbor Hills, on the north side of H Street Road. The presentation, required for developers per Blaine Municipal Code, will inform residents living around the manufactured home park about the project and allow them to provide input. The 49-acre manufactured home park is planned to take up one-third of the total 144-acre East Harbor Hills property. Skip Jansen said the manufactured home park would be constructed first, and the remaining area of the subdivision would likely include multifamily and single-family homes. Residents would own their homes and attached garages, Skip Jansen said, but the manufactured home park would own and lease the land underneath the homes. The manufactured home park will cater to older adults who want to downsize, but the developers haven’t determined whether they want the area to be age-restricted. The development is proposed to have a clubhouse that could have an exercise room, kitchen, fireplace, common area and meeting rooms, with potentially pickleball courts, horseshoes and shuffleboards outside. “It’s designed for leisurely living,” Skip Jansen said. “It will be very well done.” The property is planned to have a buffer along H Street Road and the manufactured homes won’t be visible from the road. The development would have open spaces, trail
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The Northern Light • February 8 - 14, 2024
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s Tokyo Monster Sushi held a soft opening February 1. The Birch Bay Square restaurant has a sushi bar, cocktail bar and stage for live jazz. The extensive menu features sushi rolls, teriyaki, yakisoba, bento boxes, nigiri, Chinese wok, steak, burgers, gyros and more. Photos by Grace McCarthy
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the most popular. Tokyo Monster Sushi is located at 8152 Birch Bay Square, suite 202. The business can be reached at 360/526-5047.
February 8 - 14, 2024 • thenorthernlight.com
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Whatcom Racial Equity Commission accepting applicants, deadline February 29 Applications are now being accepted for the first group of people to serve on the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission. The deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. Thursday, February 29. The Whatcom Racial Equity Commission will serve as a countywide advisory board that makes recommendations on improving racial equity in the community. The new group of members will assist with starting the commission through
determining how it operates, electing leadership and focusing priorities. Applicants must be Whatcom County residents and meet requirements for the specific position in which they are applying. There are 15 of 19 appointed member positions open; positions for subject matter experts will open once the seated commission determines its areas of concern. The community member po-
sitions on the commission will be comprised of a student; someone caring for a student enrolled in a Whatcom County public school; an immigrant, migrant or refugee; a business owner, manager or independent contractor; and someone between the ages of 16 and 24. The commission will also have two people who do diversity, equity and inclusion work in educational institutions; two human service providers; one
racial equity advocate; one representative from a philanthropic organization; one faith leader; and one multilingual healthcare provider. An appointment committee will be tasked with choosing members, who will then be confirmed by Whatcom County Council and Bellingham City Council. Whatcom County Council voted in October 2022 to establish the commission, following county council’s adoption of a reso-
lution declaring racism a public health crisis in November 2020. Commission applications are available on the Chuckanut Health Foundation website, at bit.ly/49psKJx. Applications can be submitted to the foundation via email, or mailed to the foundation at P.O. Box 5641, Bellingham, WA, 98227. For more information or help on completing the application, contact wrec@chuckanuthealthfoundation.org or 360/671-3349.
State awards $85 million for electric vehicle charging stations, Birch Bay and Point Roberts included By Nolan Baker The Washington State Department of Commerce will award over $85 million in grants to expand access to electric vehicle charging stations, including two new stations coming to Birch Bay and Point Roberts. The two stations are part of an effort by the commerce department and governor Jay Inslee to fund construction of nearly 5,000 EV stations across the state, focusing on nonprofits, electric utilities, public agencies and tribal nations. The new stations in north Whatcom County will
be located at the site of the new Birch Bay Vogt Library Express and the Point Roberts Park and Recreation District 1 office. Christine Perkins, executive director of Whatcom County Library System (WCLS), oversaw the application for EV stations at the future Birch Bay library, and the North Fork Library in Kendall. Perkins said WCLS has yet to announce a date for when construction will begin, but that the charging stations are a great opportunity for libraries to offer even more to the public. “We’re really excited for the funding to allow us to install
these charging stations,” Perkins said. “Libraries are the perfect location for public electric charging stations, and we’re excited to include them in our libraries.” The main source of funding for the thousands of new EV stations is through the Washington State Electric Vehicle Charging Program, with other funding coming from the 2021 Climate Commitment Act, a cap-and-invest carbon reduction strategy with a goal of cutting the state’s greenhouse gas emissions 95 percent by 2050. The Climate Commitment Act went into effect January 2023, and has already generated
Blaine Police Department arrests man on suspicion of I-5 street racing By Grace McCarthy Blaine Police Department (BPD) booked a man into Whatcom County Jail after police observed him driving 125 mph in what appeared to be a street-racing incident on I-5 February 3. A BPD officer was conducting speed enforcement when the officer observed a BMW erratically change lanes and speed near exit 274 on southbound I-5 at 12:17 p.m. on February 3, BPD sergeant Tim Richardson wrote in an email to The Northern Light. The Blaine officer registered the BMW’s speed as going 125 mph in the 70 mph zone. The BMW appeared to be
Meeting ... From page 1
access, maintained landscaping and possibly water features. After the community meeting, the Jansens will review their project plans and submit a preliminary plat application and planned unit development to the city of Blaine, where the city’s hearing examiner will hold a public hearing, then provide a recommendation on final approval to Blaine City Council. As part of the application, the Jansens are required to submit a detailed site plan, architectural renderings and landscaping plan as well as
street racing a dark-colored station wagon that was following behind the BMW at the same speed, Richardson wrote. The BPD officer activated his lights and attempted to stop the two cars, but the station wagon exited I-5 at Birch Bay-Lynden Road and the BMW headed toward Ferndale. The Blaine officer stopped pursuing the BMW because of traffic in Ferndale. A Lummi Nation Tribal Police officer driving an unmarked police car found the BMW, which had distinctive aftermarket taillights, and followed the driver to a Ferndale business. Blaine police impounded the BMW after the traffic, stormwater and critical area studies for the city to review. If approved, constriction is anticipated to begin in fall 2024. The proposed East Harbor Hills manufactured home park has been at the center of contention in city politics for about 1.5 years as east Blaine residents fought an amendment to the city’s planned unit development code allowing large manufactured home parks in east Blaine. City council approved the text amendment 4-0 during its October 23, 2023 meeting. People may also submit comments in writing to Cascade Engineering Group, 119 Grand Ave., Suite D, Bellingham, WA, 98225.
suspect abandoned the vehicle. The suspect, who was the registered owner of the BMW, turned himself into the Ferndale Police Department. BPD arrested the man and booked him into jail around 4 p.m. February 3 on preliminary charges of reckless driving, racing and attempting to elude police. The man was released the next day on a $50,000 appearance bond, according to the jail booking data.
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over $2 billion in revenue from charging industries that produce over 25,000 metric tons of CO2 per year, according to the state Department of Ecology. The funding announced February 1 will build 4,710 Level 2 EV chargers with 5,362 individual plugs, and 271 direct current fast charges totaling 421 plugs. A level two charger typically charges a 300-mile range battery in about six to eight hours. Inslee said the state originally expected 50,000 EVs on the road by 2020. Washington drivers wildly outpaced that prediction, with roughly 125,000 EVs,
while charging infrastructure lagged behind. “One of the most important ways we can make electric vehicles an option for more people is by providing more charging stations. More and more Washingtonians are choosing to go electric, to the point we now have the second highest rate of EV adoption in the nation,” Inslee said. “Thanks to the Climate Commitment Act and other climate investments by the legislature, thousands more people will be able to choose clean electric cars that are healthier for children and for our planet.”
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The Northern Light • February 8 - 14, 2024
The Northern L ght February 13 special election approaches 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, Pacific Coast Weddings annual guide, 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. The letters to the editor column is primarily intended to allow readers to voice their opinions on local issues of general interest to local readers. A fresh viewpoint will increase the likelihood of publication. 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. Publisher & Managing Editor Patrick Grubb publisher@pointrobertspress.com Co-publisher & Advertising Director Louise Mugar lmugar@pointrobertspress.com Editor Grace McCarthy grace@pointrobertspress.com Reporter Nolan Baker nolan@pointrobertspress.com Creative Services Doug De Visser, Ruth Lauman production@pointrobertspress.com Office Manager Jeanie Luna info@pointrobertspress.com Advertising Sales Molly Ernst, Gary Lee sales@pointrobertspress.com General Editorial Inquiries editor@pointrobertspress.com Contributors In This Issue Doug Dahl Mary Murphy Cheryl Lovato Niles The Northern Light 225 Marine Drive, Suite 200, Blaine, WA 98230 Tel: 360/332-1777 Vol XXIX, No 34 Circulation: 10,500 copies
Circulation Independently verified by:
s The Whatcom County ballot drop box at Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street, on February 7. Whatcom County residents have until 8 p.m. Tuesday, February 13 to return their February special election ballots. The upcoming election will determine whether the Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 receives its levy renewal, and whether the Blaine school district receives its replacement levy and capital bond. The Whatcom County Auditor’s Office requests that voters who haven’t received
their ballots immediately call the election division at 360/778-5102. To register to vote or update voter registration, visit the auditor’s office, in the Whatcom County Courthouse. As of February 5, the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office had received about 27,160 ballots. Ballots need to be turned into ballot drop boxes by 8 p.m. February 13. The
nearest drop boxes are Blaine Public Library, the North Whatcom Fire and Rescue station in Birch Bay and Custer Elementary School. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by February 13 and voters should check the last collection time for the mailbox. For more information, visit whatcomcounty.us/elections. Voters can visit votewa.gov to track the status of their ballot.
Whatcom County leader takes position as director of economic development at Port of Bellingham The Port of Bellingham has hired Tyler Schroeder, deputy executive for Whatcom County, as the director of economic development for the port’s Regional Economic Partnership. Schroeder graduated from Western Washington University and has been a senior leader in Whatcom County government for nearly 15 years, according to a February 2 Port of Bellingham announcement. During his time with the county, Schroeder worked on economic development, including infrastructure investment, recruiting industries for job growth and small business support. “Tyler has in-depth knowledge of the resources necessary to advance a sustainable economy including land use, infrastructure, permitting, workforce development, housing, financing, educational programs and partnership opportunities,”
Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu wrote in a statement. The Regional Economic Partnership at the Port of Bellingham is funded by the port, city of Bellingham and Whatcom County. The organization aims to help local businesses grow, recruit new businesses and improve job opportunities in Whatcom County. The partnership program recently helped recruit Corvus Energy, a zero emission solutions company for the maritime industry, and Vicinity Motors, which opened a $22 million electric bus manufacturing facility in Ferndale, according to the announcement. Schroeder replaces Don Goldberg, who was hired for the position in January 2018 and resigned last October. Schroeder will remain Whatcom County deputy executive until May to help with the transition.
s Tyler Schroeder. Photo courtesy Port of Bellingham
“The Regional Economic Partnership has been a very successful model and I see tremendous opportunities to build on this strong foundation,” Schroeder wrote in a statement.
Civic Meetings Birch Bay Water & Sewer District: Second and fourth Thursdays, 4 p.m., district offices, 7096 Point Whitehorn Road, Birch Bay. Info and Zoom meeting link: bbwsd.com.
Next issue: Feb. 15 Ads due: Feb. 9
Photo by Grace McCarthy
Blaine City Council: Second and fourth Mondays, 6 p.m., Blaine City Council chambers, 435 Martin Street. Info: ci.blaine.wa.us. Blaine Planning Commission: Second Thursday, 6 p.m. Info: blainepc@ cityofblaine.com. Info for joining Zoom meetings: bit.ly/3EwWiZi. Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation: Meetings are second Tues-
day, 5:30 p.m., location varies. Info: bbbparkandrec.org. Blaine Park and Cemetery Board: Second Thursday, 9 a.m., council chambers and virtual meeting. Info: 360/332-8311, ext. 3330. Blaine School Board: Fourth Monday, 7 p.m., Blaine school district offices. Info: blainesd.org. North Whatcom Fire & Rescue: Third Thursday, 11 a.m., Station 61 at 9408 Odell Road and via Zoom. Info: nwfrs.net.
February 8 - 14, 2024 • thenorthernlight.com
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Blaine Primary School holds first family science night
CITY OF BLAINE February 8, 2024 9:00 AM – Public Works and Parks Advisory Board 6:00 PM – Planning Commission Meeting
s Blaine families of young students packed into the Blaine Primary School for the school’s first family science night on February 6. Stations were set up for students to look through microscopes, fly paper airplanes, conduct chemistry experiments and to make creations they could take home. “It was exciting to see these budding scientists interacting with science and showing their love of learning,” said Terre Shapiro, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) specialist at the school. Photo by Grace McCarthy
February 12, 2024 6:00 PM – City Council Meeting February 13, 2024 9:00 AM – Blaine Tourism Advisory Committee (BTAC) Retreat
Road Rules: Polite, but maybe not safe By Doug Dahl Question: I often ride my bike on a route that takes me across an arterial street. I have a stop sign and cross traffic does not. I’m good with waiting for a gap in traffic, but sometimes a car will stop to let me cross. This is polite, but should I go? I’m concerned it’s dangerous because it’s not a move other drivers expect. Answer: We should start with the law. That way you’ll know right up front that it’s not much help, at least if you’re riding within city limits. And to be clear, I’m talking about this specific situation. As you know if you read this column regularly, I feel strongly about the connection between traffic laws and safety. It sounds like you’re doing what the law requires of you: Stopping at the stop sign and yielding to any vehicle in, or approaching, the intersection that could “constitute an immediate hazard.” The next question is, what does the law require of the vehicle that doesn’t have a stop sign? Or put another way: Is it legal for a car that doesn’t have a stop sign to stop at an intersection to let you cross? Outside of city limits, the law states that “no person may stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or unattended, upon the roadway.” There are a few exceptions, in-
cluding avoiding hazards, following the direction of a police officer, disabled vehicles (if it’s impossible to move it), garbage truck drivers and bus drivers. I presume that this law exists because county roads often have higher speed limits, and you wouldn’t want to unexpectedly encounter a stopped car on a 50mph roadway. Within cities the law has a list of places drivers aren’t allowed to stop, but that list doesn’t include a driver stopping to allow a cyclist to cross the street. And if a driver does stop for you, you’re not violating the law by crossing. Probably. Here’s where it gets tricky. Let’s say you’re at the stop sign waiting for a break in traffic so you can cross the street. A car approaching from the left stops and waves for you to cross. You still have to yield to any traffic coming from the right, and those drivers might not have any plans to stop for you. Now you have a politeness standoff, like the “You go, no you go, guy” Pemco commercial. Even if you haven’t seen it, just from the title you know what it’s all about. To quote the commercial, “Politeness is nice ... but no one ever said it was efficient.” And I’ll add, it’s sometimes not safe. So do you reject the driver’s gesture and refuse to cross, or
do you accept and put yourself at risk from other drivers? Sure, there may be situations where there are no other vehicles and that driver’s kindness is easily accepted, but sometimes you’re going to have to choose between rejecting kindness and accepting a real bodily threat of harm. If I were a psychiatric researcher, I’d want to study what happens in our brains when people offer us a courtesy that we didn’t ask for and don’t want to accept.
February 19, 2024 City Offices Closed – Presidents Day
But I’m a traffic safety nerd, so I’ll offer this: I’m a big fan of kind driving, but not at the expense of getting where I’m going safely. The person offering to let you cross may not see the big picture. It’s up to you to decide when it’s safe for you to cross, and if you don’t believe it is, it’s okay to politely decline the offer. Doug Dahl is a manager with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, Region 11 and publishes TheWiseDrive.com.
February 26, 2024 6:00 PM – City Council Meeting February 27, 2024 3:30 PM – Civil Service Commission Meeting Contact information for staff and Councilmembers can be found on the City’s website. Call (360) 332-8311 or visit our website.
www.cityofblaine.com
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The Northern Light • February 8 - 14, 2024
Sports Wrestling to regionals, boys basketball bows out By Nolan Baker Boys Wrestling The Blaine boys wrestling team continues to have a strong season as it sends 13 wrestlers to the regional tournament at Vashon High School on Saturday, February 10. In total, 17 wrestlers qualified at last weekend’s sub-regional tournament, and 13 of those will take the ferry to Vashon for a chance to make a run in the Mat Classic XXXV in Tacoma starting Friday, February 16. The top three wrestlers from each of the seven weight classes will qualify for the state tournament, with the fourth-place finishers named as alternates. Head coach Tom Hinz expects a majority of Blaine’s wrestlers to make a credible run at the state championship in their respective weight classes. “We have a really good shot of sending 11 to 12 guys to state,” Hinz said. “We’re dominant. I think a lot of those guys have a chance of placing at state and we have a good core group of guys that are trying really hard.” If Blaine was hoping to build even more confidence heading into regionals with a chance at the Mat Classic, last weekend surely helped. Four Blaine boys won their weight classes, with six placing second on the podium, and one placing third. Sophomore Cole Voight (113), junior Daniel Johner (132), and seniors Cal Fitzgerald (144) and Victor Gervol (285) all finished at the top of the podium at subregionals. “Dominant,” as Hinz put it, indeed. Despite a couple of injuries that have nagged the team and kept it from wrestling at fullstrength this season, Hinz said this year’s team just kept battling and hitting milestones. “We have some really big studs on this team,” Hinz said. To round out a great tournament for the Borderites, Hinz was also named subregional Coach of the Year after leading Blaine to multiple podium finishes. But there’s still a few more mats to conquer. Boys Basketball A play-in game is as high stakes a moment you’ll see in high school basketball. Win, and continue on to face a formidable first-seed Lynden Christian (19-2, 13-2 Northwest Conference) team in the 1A District 1 semifinals. Lose, and the season is over. The Borderites (4-16, 2-13 NWC), matched up against Mount Baker (3-17, 1-14 NWC) for this play-in game on February 5. Mount Baker was one of the two conference opponents Blaine beat previously on the season, winning 62-44 on January 15. That game, four Borderites scored double-digit points, with senior Noah Tavis leading the way with 15. This playoff matchup against
the Mountaineers seemed like the opposite of that game. The Borderites couldn’t string together offensive possessions, and got in foul trouble throughout the game, losing 65-54, making their season come to an abrupt end. Four Mount Baker players scored double-digit points, and no Borderite recorded more than nine points on the night. The Borderites trailed by as little as three points at halftime, but just couldn’t get the clutch buckets needed in the final eight minutes to beat Mount Baker. It was a hard-fought year for the Borderites, made harder by an injury that took junior guard Josiah Weeda off the court for the back half of the season, severely limiting the Borderites’ options offensively. The Borderites had five seniors – Uno Nevarez, Justin Minjarez, Conner Dalry, Jesse Deming and Noah Tavis – play their final game at home in front of the home faithful. Those five seniors all scored in their final high school game, combining for 32 of Blaine’s 54 points. Cheer The Blaine competitive cheer team competed at the state tournament in Battle Ground on February 2 and 3, placing seventh in the 2B/1A/2A category. The 2023-24 season was just the second in team history, with the competitive cheer team’s inaugural season held last year. Girls Wrestling The Blaine girls wrestling team placed fourth in last weekend’s 1B/2B/1A/2A subregional tournament on February 3 at Squalicum High School. Blaine had seven girls competing on the mat; Lucy Dahl, Makenna Lausier and Claire Hume all earned second-place finishes in their respective weight classes, with Abby Marquez and Cheyenne RoseJimenez each placing fourth and Analicea Ordonez earning fifth. “I cannot express how immensely proud I am of these girls,” head coach Damon Higgins said. “Blood, sweat, sacrifice, and they do it all over again each week.” The Borderites hope to continue their journey to the state championship Mat Classic with the 1B/2B/1A/2A regional tournament at White River High School in Buckley on Saturday, February 10. Girls Basketball Girls basketball defeated Ferndale 47-43 on senior night, February 1, putting the team at an even .500 record heading into the 1A District 1 playoffs. The Borderites had to fend off the visiting Golden Eagles in the final few minutes after Ferndale tied the game at 43-43. The Borderites were able to shut out the visitors for the remainder of the game, and some clutch free throws earned a win in the Borderites’ final regular season game. Senior Jordyn Vezzetti scored
s Junior guard Landon Melton pulls up for a jump shot during the second quarter of Blaine’s play-in game against Mount Baker on February 5. Blaine lost 65-54, ending its season at 4-17. Photo by Nolan Baker
s The Blaine wrestling team had a stellar subregional tournament, with four wrestlers placing first in their respective weight classes. Blaine hopes to qualify for state on Saturday, February 10. Photo courtesy Tina Root
s The Blaine competitive cheear team went to state for the second time in its brief, two-year history, placing seventh February 2-3. Photo courtesy Jancy Knudsen 13, and Teia Dube added 10 along with 12 rebounds on the night. It was the final home game for four seniors: Vezzetti, Amelia Berkeley, Alia Ball and Deja Dube. With that win, the Borderites (10-10, 6-9 NWC) earned the three-seed in the five-team play-
off tournament, and were slated to face two-seed Lynden Christian (15-6, 12-3 NWC) before press time on Wednesday, February 7 at 7:30 p.m. The three-seed also means the Borderites avoided a play-in game, so win or lose, Blaine will
play again, either for the district championship, or the third place consolation game. Visit thenorthernlight.com/sports for updates on the Borderites’ playoff push. Stats provided by whatcomhoops.com.
February 8 - 14, 2024 • thenorthernlight.com
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Sports Boys basketball season cut short in loss to Mount Baker
s Blaine junior guard Jacob Dohner drives to the right of a Mount Baker defender in the s Blaine senior forward Noah Tavis looks on during a dead ball in the first half of Blaine’s first half of the play-in round of the 1A District 1 playoffs. Dohner scored five points on the 65-54 loss to Mount Baker on February 5. Mount Baker was scheduled to advance to the night. The Borderites would go on to lose, 65-54, ending their season in the first round of semifinal round of the 1A District 1 playoff, facing Lynden Christian on February 7. the postseason. Photo by Nolan Baker Photo by Nolan Baker
s Blaine junior guard Landon Melton eyes his shot before attempting a free throw in the second quarter of Blaine’s play-in game against Mount Baker. Melton tied Noah Tavis for a team-high nine points on the night. Photo by Nolan Baker
s Blaine senior guard Jesse Deming attempts a floater against a pair of Mount Baker defenders. Deming had eight points on the night, all of which came in the third quarter when the Borderites were desperately mounting a comeback attempt. Photo by Nolan Baker
Peace Arch Community Chorale concert
Tiguan
Atlas
s The Peace Arch Community Chorale put on its peace, love and joy concert at the Blaine Performing Arts Center on February 1. Photo by Deanna Marshall
8
The Northern Light • February 8 - 14, 2024
Health & Wellness Local choices in health, healing & fitness. February is American Heart Month. Here’s what to know about the impact of heart disease on women February is American Heart Month, highlighting the importance of heart health. Despite widespread recognition of the importance of a healthy heart, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death around the world. CVD includes coronary artery disease and other issues affecting the heart or blood vessels. Even though heart disease affects both men and women, it’s often mistakenly seen as a condition that mostly affects men. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that heart disease, namely coronary artery disease, is the leading cause of death for women and those assigned female at birth. It occurs when plaque develops in the walls of the arteries and slows down the flow of blood supply to the heart and other parts of the body. Women are particularly at risk because, after menopause, hormone changes like a reduction in the production of estrogen can cause higher risk of coronary heart disease, especially in smaller blood vessels. In addition to hormonal changes after menopause, the risk factors for heart disease in
women include: • Diabetes: Women with diabetes are more likely to develop heart disease than men with diabetes. There’s also an increased risk of silent heart attack since diabetes can change the way women perceive pain. • Mental health: Emotional stress and depression can affect women’s hearts more than men’s, as depression may compromise a woman’s ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle. • Smoking: Smoking is another risk factor for heart disease. • Inactivity: A sedentary lifestyle increases heart disease risk. • Inflammatory diseases: Individuals with arthritis, lupus and other inflammatory conditions may be at an elevated risk for heart disease. Learning about the warning signs of heart attack and stroke can help women stay on top of their health. Here’s what to look for, courtesy of goredforwomen.org. Heart attack • Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back. • Pain or discomfort in one or
File image
both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. • Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort. • Cold sweats, nausea or lightheadedness. • Chest pain or discomfort. Stroke
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• Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. • Sudden confusion or trouble communicating. • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause. Women mindful of the risk factors of heart disease as well as the symptoms of heart attack and stroke may be better positioned to protect their longterm heart health.
February 8 - 14, 2024 • thenorthernlight.com
Health & Wellness Local choices in health, healing & fitness. How nutrition needs change with age
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Healthy eating is important at any age and can set the course for a life of vitality and wellness. Sufficient nutrition can help prevent chronic illnesses and make sure that growing bodies develop properly. As one ages, various changes take place in the body, making healthy eating even more essential. According to Healthline, nutritional deficiencies can affect aging individuals, which can decrease quality of life and lead to poor health outcomes. Individuals should pay attention to their vitamin and mineral intake at various ages so they do not miss out on important nutrients. As a person ages, here are some approaches to consider. • Consume fewer calories: According to Connie Bales, PhD, RD, associate director of the Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center at Durham VA Medical Center, people need fewer calories every decade.
That’s because individuals are moving around less and have less muscle. This causes a decline in metabolic rate. • Include more nutrient-dense foods: Even though caloric needs go down with age, it’s important to pack as much nutrition into the calories a person does consume. That means finding nutrient-rich foods like whole grains, fruits, nuts, beans, vegetables, fish and lean cuts of meat. • Consume more lean protein: Muscle loss and loss of strength can develop as a person ages. Healthline says the average adult loses 3 to 8 percent of their muscle mass each decade after age 30. Eating more protein could help aging bodies maintain muscle. • Eat fortified cereals and grains: The ability to absorb vitamin B12 can decrease as one gets older and with the use of certain medicines. Many health professionals recommend patients get more vi-
tamin B12 by consuming foods enriched with this vitamin. Vitamin supplements may be needed in addition to food. • Drink more fluids: Health.com says sensation of thirst declines with age. Drinking water and other fluids becomes a priority to stay hydrated. It also helps with digestion. • Prioritize bone health: Osteoporosis is a concern for older adults, particularly women who have reached menopause. Osteoporosis occurs when bones become brittle and can break from only the slightest bump or fall, says the Mayo Clinic. Vitamin D and calcium help strengthen bones, and older adults may need more of these nutrients. Individuals should speak with their health care providers and nutritionists for further insight into their changing nutritional needs. Such professionals can help customize diets to address specific health concerns.
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The Northern Light • February 8 - 14, 2024
Blaine Arts and Jazz Fundraiser celebrates 27th year The Blaine Fine Arts Association hosted its 27th Arts and Jazz Fundraiser in Blaine Middle School February 3. The event, which featured student perfor-
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Principal ... From page 1
can actually follow through with that investment.” Eide’s passion for education has taken her around the country, and now she’s undertaking her biggest role, as interim principal of Blaine High School. Her first priority, she told The Northern Light, is to establish a strong connection between the school and the parents and guardians of Blaine’s students. Creating a parent advisory board, according to Eide, is the best way to foster a strong working relationship, and to better understand the needs of local students. One of the biggest challenges Eide hopes to tackle is rising absence rates. “The biggest challenge is always preparing students for the world outside of Blaine High School,” Eide said. “But my short-term goal this year is getting guardians and community members of Blaine back into the schools.” In just the first few weeks on the job, Eide has already urged local guardians to contact her if they would like to be included on the new advisory board, or just to discuss what is best for their students. For parents who are interested in the advisory board, email Eide at eeide@blainesd.org. “With a parents advisory group I can listen to what our own guardians have as their concerns and we can workshop
s Blaine High School interim principal Beth Eide. File photo solutions as a team,” Eide said. “I’m a parent of a college freshman, 6th grader and 3rd grader. So I have some understanding of what parenting in 2024 looks like, but my sample size is small. I need to hear from more people.” Heading a high school of hundreds of students is no small task, but for Eide, the passion for educating is clear. Eide said that seed of passion was planted back in Montana, helping her mother set up for another school year. “I always admired how each day of work, for her, wasn’t work,” Eide said. “I know that education is just where I’m supposed to be.”
February 8 - 14, 2024 • thenorthernlight.com
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IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF Whatcom In Re the Estate of Gregory Scott Honrud, Deceased. NO. 23-4-00840-37 Amended. PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS. (RCW 11.40.030) JUDGE: David E. Freeman The personal representative named below has been appointed as personal representative of this estate. Any person having a claim against the decedent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to the personal representative or the personal representative’s attorney at the address stated below a copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the court in which the probate proceedings were commenced. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) Thirty days after the personal representative served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(1)(c); or (2) four months after the date of first publication of the notice. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim is forever barred, except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.40.051 and 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the decedent’s probate and nonprobate assets. Date of First Publication: February 8, 2024 Personal Representative: Vonda K. Boxx 6301 Northwest Drive Ferndale, WA 98248 Attorney for the Personal Representative: Katti Esp 301 Prospect Street Bellingham, WA 98225 Address for Mailing or Service: Katti Esp 301 Prospect Street Bellingham, WA 98225 Court of Probate Proceedings Superior Court of Whatcom County and Cause Number: Cause No. 23-4-00840-37
Public Notices
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF WHATCOM In re the Matter and Estate of: JACK L. FLANCHER, Deceased. No. 234-01139-37. PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS. RCW 11.40.030 The Personal Representative named below has been appointed as Personal Representative of this estate. Any person having a claim against the decedent must, before the time the claim would be barred by any otherwise applicable statute of limitations, present the claim in the manner as provided in RCW 11.40.070 by serving on or mailing to the Personal Representative or the Personal Representative’s attorney at the address stated below a copy of the claim and filing the original of the claim with the court in which the probate proceedings were commenced. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) Thirty days after the Personal Representative served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(1)(c); or (2) four months after the date of first publication of the notice. If notice was not provided under RCW Chapters 11.40 or 11.42, the creditor must present the claim within twenty-four months after the decedent’s date of death. If the claim is not presented within this time frame, the claim is forever barred, except as otherwise provided in RCW 11.40.051 and 11.40.060. This bar is effective as to claims against both the decedent’s probate and non-probate assets. Notice of First Publication: Feb. 8, 2024 Personal Representative John F. Flancher, Presented by: Whatcom Law Group, P.S. Casie Rodenberger, WSBA #54348 Attorney for Personal Representative PO Box 1258 / 289 H Street Blaine, WA 98231-1258 (360) 332-7000; Fax: (360) 332-6677
NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING NOTICE For the proposed “East Harbor Hills” 150 unit Manufactured Home Residential Planned Unit Development and Binding Site Plan located: North of H Street Road and east of Harvey Road, in Blaine, WA Date: February 27, 2024 Time: 10:00 am Place: Blaine Boating Center, 235 Marine Dr #2, Blaine WA 98230 Dear Neighbor: East Harbor Hills, LLC will be hosting a community conference to introduce a project proposal to the City of Blaine to develop a 49acre parcel located north of H Street Road and east of Harvey Road, into a residential development consisting of 150 manufactured home sites. The purpose of this meeting is to inform neighboring property owners about the nature of the proposed project and to seek comments. Interested parties are invited to attend and provide input on the proposal. It is anticipated that upon approval of the project, construction would begin in the fall of 2024. We look forward to your attendance, and welcome any comments you may have either at the meeting, or by submitting them in writing to: Cascade Engineering Group, 119 Grand Ave, Suite D Bellingham, WA 98225.
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The Northern Light • February 8 - 14, 2024
Real Estate
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Hundreds rally in Olympia for affordable housing By Mary Murphy, W a s h i ng t o n State Journal
OBITUARIES
Robert E. Densmore “BOB – GRIZ” April 22, 1945 – January 29, 2024
Karen Leanne Armstrong
May 25,1964 – January 8, 2024
As budget negotiations begin in the Washington state legislature, calls for action on affordable housing and rent caps from the annual Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day are expected to ring in the ears of lawmakers. Hundreds of unhoused individuals, members of nonprofit organizations and advocacy groups gathered late last month to urge lawmakers to do something about the high cost of housing. Cheyonna Lewis, a single mother of three, sat on the steps of the Capitol with her youngest son in late January. Lewis was homelessness previously and is on the brink again. When one of her sons got in a car accident, the medical bills sent her family into a cycle of waiting instability. While her two oldest sons are now adults, she still struggles with the fear of having to “start all over again.” “Where is everyone gonna go? Everyone can’t be outside,” Lewis said. “Having to spend more than 50 percent of your income on housing is insane.” It is estimated Washington will need 1.1 million more homes in the next 20 years, and over half need to be affordable for residents at the lowest income levels, according to the Washington state Department of Commerce. Housing revenues set aside for Covid-19 relief in Washington are gone, and average rents have nearly doubled from $989 a year in 2012 to $1,866 a year in 2022. The current average rental rate is $1,763, according to Washington Low Income Housing Alliance. At the forefront of the housing agenda are three priorities: Rent stabilization, affordable homes and homelessness supplies. House Bill 2114, sponsored by state representative Emily Alvarado (D-Seattle) and Senate Bill 5961, sponsored by state representative Yasmin
Karen Leanne Armstrong (née Mozes) passed away on January 8, 2024 while surrounded by family and friends after a 15-year battle with cancer. Karen is now at peace and with the Lord. Karen was born in Pittsburg, CA on May 25,1964. She was a Blaine High School graduate, talented hair stylist, and devoted homemaker. Karen touched the lives of countless people with her talkative spirit and vibrant personality. Karen was an avid gardener, lover of nature, successful dragon boat rower in Okinawa, and superb Hungarian cabbage roll chef! She loved dogs, spending time on the beautiful beaches of California while stationed on Camp Pendleton, fitness and running, eating pumpkin pie, camping out on family property in Oroville, WA, and caring for the homeless. Karen is preceded in death by parents Lillian and Kalman Mozes of Blaine, WA. Karen is survived by siblings Kathy Mozes-Allen (Robert) of Casa Grande, AZ and Kalman Mozes (Sonya) of Custer, WA; children Braidon Olson (Holly) of Blaine, WA, Peiton Armstrong of Casa Grande, AZ and Priya Armstrong of San Diego, CA, and grandson Cameron Olson; as well as all of the lifelong friends that she truly considered to be her family. The family intends to spread her ashes at her favorite beach in California during a small Celebration of Life in the near future.
After a battle with cancer Bob passed away, surrounded by family and friends. Bob was born on April 22, 1945 to Robert Caesar Densmore and Bonnie Lee Graves, in Toledo, OR. Bob was raised in Roseburg, OR until he entered the Navy in 1962. He was then stationed in Boston, where he met the love of his life (Helen) on January 23, 1965 and they married just three weeks later on February 13, 1965. They lived in Boston until 1971, when they moved to Blaine, WA with four kids in tow. With Bob’s personality it didn’t take long for him, and his family to make friends and plant roots in the community. Bob began working as a fisherman for a few years, before he landed a steadier job at Intalco from 1974 until 2001. Before retiring Bob ran his own business called Bob’s Hauling. After retiring he just couldn’t sit still, so he decided to donate his time helping others and working at the Blaine Food Bank for several years. Bob is survived by his wife Helen of almost 59 years, son Robert (Kathy) Densmore, daughter Vicki (Jeff) Prather, daughter Kelly (Erik) Eddy and son James (Michelle) Densmore. He has 8 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Densmore, Bonnie (George) Forbes, sister Bobbie Somerville, sister Edna Counter and sister Jeanie (Johnny) Kilgore. There will be a celebration of life on Saturday, February 24, 1–4 p.m., at the Blaine Middle School cafeteria. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Blaine Food Bank or Eden Health Hospice in Bob Densmore’s name.
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The Northern Light • February 8 - 14, 2024
Coming up
Sheriff’s Reports January 30, 5:58 a.m.: Theft cold call on Surf Place. January 30, 2:54 p.m.: Domestic violence cold call on Treevue Road. January 30, 4:23 p.m.: Moving vehicle accident injury on Portal Way. January 30, 5:33 p.m.: Fugitive arrest on Pacific Highway. January 31, 9:36 a.m.: Mental health cold call on Harborview Road. January 31, 6:28 p.m.: Suicidal subject on Birch Bay Lynden Road. February 1, 5:45 a.m.: Moving vehicle accident on Birch Bay Lynden Road. February 1, 1:09 p.m.: Traffic stop arrest on Birch Bay-Lynden Road. February 1, 6:00 p.m.: Traffic problem on Birch Bay Square Street. February 1, 6:25 p.m.: Suicidal subject on Birch Bay Lynden Road. February 1, 7:30 p.m.: Music on Birch Bay Drive. February 2, 12:00 p.m.: Traffic problem on Charel Drive. February 2, 5:19 p.m.: Attempted suicide on Clamdigger Drive. February 2, 7:16 p.m.: Traffic stop arrest on Birch Bay-Lynden Road. February 2, 7:47 p.m.: Impound private cold call on Shintaffer Road. February 2, 8:23 p.m.: Music on
Birch Bay Drive. February 2, 11:13 p.m.: Fight on Birch Bay Drive. February 3, 1:10 a.m.: Security check on Gulf Road. February 3, 12:33 p.m.: Traffic pursuit on southbound I-5. February 3, 1:44 p.m.: Suspicious circumstances on Loomis Trail Road.
Police Reports January 27, 9:07 p.m.: DUI on 3rd Street. January 27, 9:19 p.m.: Runaway on Grant Avenue. January 27, 9:20 p.m.: Trespass on Grant Avenue. January 29, 1:10 p.m.: Hit and run on H Street. January 29, 3:23 p.m.: Theft on H Street. January 30, 5:26 p.m.: Trespass on 3rd Street. January 30, 11:54 p.m.: Suspicious person on Peace Portal Drive. January 31, 6:15 a.m.: Trespass on Grant Avenue. January 31, 3:15 p.m.: Vandalism on A Street.
Crossword ACROSS 1. One point south of due east 4. Coagulated blood 8. Fortifying ditch 10. Devotee of Hinduism 11. Trunk of a tree 12. Bank note 13. Capital of Guam 15. Study again 16. Covered with hoarfrost 17. Opening 18. Legendary Rolling Stone 21. Stray 22. Computer storing system 23. Signal 24. Pitching statistic 25. Human being 26. Malaysian isthmus 27. The “Blonde
February 4, 12:12 a.m.: Suspicious circumstances on Birch Bay Lynden Road. February 5, 12:04 a.m.: Suicidal subject on Seashell Way. February 5, 4:08 p.m.: Burglary on Drayton Harbor Road. February 5, 6:41 p.m.: Threat cold call on Holeman Avenue.
Bombshell” 34. A gland 35. Bluish greens 36. Endangered 37. Three-dimensional 38. In a way, precipitated 39. God associated with dissolution 40. Blemished 41. Flow or leak slowly 42. Disco legends The Bee __ 43. Midway between south and southeast DOWN 1. A way to board 2. Get down 3. Highly seasoned sausage 4. First day of month 5. Eurasian shrubs 6. The organ that
bears the ovules of a flower 7. Small lake 9. Belief 10. Sunrooms 12. Metric weight unit 14. Vasopressin 15. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! 17. One-time family room staple 19. Got back together 20. Anger 23. Sang merrily 24. Sea eagle 25. Military men 26. Kilo yard (abbr.) 27. Found in the sea 28. Protects from weather 29. Type of medicine 30. City along the Rhine 31. Animal disease
February 1, 8:41 a.m.: Harassment on 15th Street. February 1, 11:33 a.m.: Drugs on H Street. February 1, 11:46 a.m.: Trespass on 5th Street. February 1, 2:20 p.m.: Vandalism on A Street. February 1, 2:59 p.m.: Harassment on 15th Street. February 1, 6:36 p.m.: Trespass on D Street. February 2, 7:06 a.m.: Moving vehicle accident on Bell Road. February 2, 10:48 a.m.: Theft on H Street. February 2, 2:46 p.m.: Extra patrol on Boblett Street.
32. Martini ingredients 33. Get away 34. Lack of disunity 36. One-time European Commission officer ANSWERS: THENORTHERNLIGHT.COM
February 8-14 at Blaine. Not for navigation. 49° 0’ 0”N - 122° 46’ 0”W DATE
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Ron Miller on his new book “They Made the Movies”: Friday, February 9, 6 p.m., Village Books, 1200 11th Street, Bellingham. Blaine author Ron Miller discusses his private interviews with such legendary film directors as Alfred Hitchcock, Frank Capra, Billy Wilder, King Vidor and Robert Wise. Live Music at The Vault: Friday, February 9, 7 p.m., The Vault Wine Bar + Bistro, 277 G Street. Featuring: Free Harmony. Info: thevaultwine.com. Adult Prom: Saturday, February 10, 7–9:30 p.m., Blaine Pavilion, 635 8th Street. Adults 21+ enjoy live music, dancing, sweet treats and mocktails, and of course, a prom king and queen crowning ceremony. $25. Registration required at bbbparkandrec.org. Super Bowl Party at the Center: Sunday, February 11, 5:30 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Watch the big game on the big screens with snacks, wings and more. $8 for members, $10 all others. Info: blaineseniorcenter.org. Storytime at the Library: Tuesday, February 13, 10:30–11 a.m., Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. An open program for kids ages 2-6 that includes stories, rhymes, and songs with opportunities for movement and interactive participation. Info: wcls.org. Tech Help: Tuesday, February 13, 5–6 p.m., Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. Drop in for one-on-one assistance of your devices with library staff. Info: wcls.org. Blaine Chamber of Commerce Monthly Happy Hour: Thursday, February 15, 4–5:30 p.m., Smuggler’s Tunnel Speak Easy (below Gateway1890 Taphouse), 429 Peace Portal Drive. Join us for an excellent opportunity to relax, share ideas, and enjoy some mixed drinks. The event is free to attend, so bring your colleagues and friends along. Info: blainechamber.com. Garden Design 101: Thursdays, February 15–March 7, 5–7 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Expanded, 4-class session to discuss how to look at your yard as if you were a landscape designer. Especially important for placement of fruit bearing trees, bushes and vines. Considerations for placement of vegetable gardens. In this presentation, we will talk about your overall yard including hardscape assessments, materials use, integration with your home and/or views, sunlight observations, air flow and other major landscaping decisions. Info: nwcore.org. Birch Bay Incorporation Association Quarterly Meeting: Thursday, February 15, 6 p.m., CTK North Bay Church, 4895 Birch Bay-Lynden Road. Join in-person or on Zoom as committees will share progress, address questions and receive feedback. Open to the public. Info: www.incorporatebirchbay.com. Family Movie Night: Friday, February 16, 7:30 p.m., Birch Bay Activity Center, 7511 Gemini Street. Playing family friendly movies. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, grab some popcorn and watch the movie on the big screen. Free. Info: bbbparkandrec.org. Kombucha: Saturday, February 17, 10 a.m.–noon. Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. Known as “The Elixir of Life,” Kombucha origins remain shrouded in mystery. Some drink it for health, some for flavor. Learn more about this elixir at this fun, informative presentation. Flavor samples, demonstrations on how to make your own, and receive culture (SCOBY) to start brewing. Info: nwcore.org. Blaine Chamber Annual General Meeting: Monday, February 19, 5–7 p.m., Blaine Senior and Community Center, 763 G Street. Meet the 2024 chamber board, learn an overview of our plans for the year, and kick off a raffle fundraiser for our five major events. $35. Info and RSVP: blainechamber.com.
Tides HEIGHT
Tech Help: Thursday, February 8, 1–2 p.m., Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. Drop in for one-on-one assistance of your devices with library staff. Info: wcls.org.
HEIGHT
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Hearing Aids Without Losing an Arm and a Leg: Wednesday, February 21, 5–7 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. For people who have determined with their doctor’s input that their hearing loss is “normal” and not due to an illness, infection, or repairable defect. Learn about the different types of hearing aids, pricing, where and how to buy them, hearing aid maintenance, how to test your hearing, and other useful tips. Presented by local hearing aid user Heino Sunter, who will share his experiences and advice. Info: nwcore.org. Kindergarten Information Night: Thursday, February 22, 5–6 p.m., Blaine Primary School. If you have a child who will be five years old by August 31, join the kindergarten team for an informational evening. Childcare available. Kindergarten registration opens February 20. Info: blainesd.org. Live Music at Blaine Senior Center: Friday, February 23, 5:30–7:30 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Live music with On the Loose, a lively mix of rock, blues, western and country gems. $5 suggested donation. Info: blaineseniorcenter.org. Seed Starting and Sprouting: Saturday, February 24, 9–11 a.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. How many seeds? What type? When to start? When to transplant? We can help get you started on the answers. Talk will focus on tips and tricks for plants that can be grown in our climate. Info: nwcore.org.
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Winter Gardening and Sprouting: Wednesday, February 28, 5–7 p.m., Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. Starting with “how to get that craving for greens satisfied” by growing sprouts and moving on to simple hoop house construction and what can you grow with passive protection and get a jump on the growing season. What plants that can be “wintered over” in your garden/hoop house. Info: nwcore.org.
We 14 1:58 am 6.4
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Weather Precipitation: During the period of January 29 to February 4, 0.25 inches of precipitation was recorded. The 2024 year-to-date precipitation is 6.74 inches. Temperature: High for the past week was 59.7°F on January 29 with a low of 36.3°F on February 4. Average high was 56.1°F and low was 45.6°F. Courtesy Birch Bay Water & Sewer Dist.
Blaine Food Bank: 500 C Street. Open Mondays 9 a.m.–noon, Wednesdays 5–7 p.m., and Fridays 9 a.m.–noon. Delivery options available. Info: 360/332-6350 or blainefood@hotmail.com. The Bridge Food Bank: Fridays, 2–4:30 p.m. The Bridge Community Hope Center, 7620 Birch Bay Drive. New registration required at thebridgehope.com or call 360/366-8763. Volunteers welcome. CAP Clothing Bank: Mondays and Fridays, 9 a.m.–noon and Wednesdays, 5–7 p.m. 508 G Street. The Community Assistance Program clothing bank is located in the basement of the CAP Center providing free clothing and linens. Donations accepted only during open hours or by special arrangement. Info: blainecap.org or 360/392-8484. Meals on Wheels Frozen Meals: Thursdays 11:30 a.m.–noon, Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Adults 60+ pick up five frozen meals. Suggested donation $5 per meal or whatever is affordable. First come, first serve basis. Info: 360/332-8040. Senior Community Meals: Monday–Friday, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Suggested donation of $5 per meal ($8.50 if under 60) or whatever is affordable. First come, first serve basis. Info: 360/332-8040. Submissions to Coming Up should be sent to calendar@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.
February 8 - 14, 2024 • thenorthernlight.com
Semiahmoo resident takes on green gardening By Cheryl Lovato Niles Semiahmoo resident Danette Morse and her husband are recent transplants from Florida now living and gardening in a newly constructed neighborhood. Morse took the Washington State University Whatcom County Extension’s gardening green course in March 2023 to learn about sustainable landscaping in this new environment. WSU Extension followed up with Morse to learn how the classes have served her and how her landscaping project is going. The front of Morse’s property consists of a lawn and small garden area that conform to the homeowner association standards and the back abuts a conservation area that she plans to complement with mostly native plants. Her goal is to blend the HOA-compliant landscaping in the front with the native plant landscaping in the back, with a long-term goal of slowly shrinking the front lawn and expanding the perennial plantings. Morse was motivated by the success she had with native plants in Florida and appreciated that they required less maintenance, meaning less time in the hot Florida sun. While summer gardening tasks are much more enjoyable in the Pacific Northwest, her motivation to reduce the maintenance needs of her landscape remains the same. She and her husband like to travel, and she intends to cultivate a landscape that can survive their periodic absences. Morse says she likes to plant plants that are going to be healthy and happy because the environment suits them, and she has always “planted for critters.” She wants to avoid creating the negative impacts that pesticides and fertilizers can have on the environment and believes sustainability
Housing ... From page 13
Trudeau (D-Tacoma) proposed companion bills that could limit yearly rent increase to no more than 5 percent. Other protections in this bill include requiring a required sixmonth notice before rent increases. HB 2276, sponsored by state representative April Berg (D-Mill Creek) and SB 6191, sponsored by state senator Noel Frame (D-Seattle) create new real estate transfer taxes on properties that sell for more than $3.035 million. The bills direct revenues to funds that invest in affordable housing projects, such as the Washington Housing Trust Fund and the Affordable Housing for All Account. Trudeau and Alvarado also introduced SB 5988 and HB 2095, a set of bills that require companies whose gift cards went unspent to pay a portion of that revenue to the state. The Washington Low Income Housing Alliance says this gift card plan could generate $255 million. Paris Nelson, policy manager for Fourth Plan Forward in Vancouver, Washington, is the daughter of a South Korean
around water issues is important. Morse learned the importance of soil structure, and how to nourish healthy, living soil. She’s seen the benefits of using a wood chip mulch to nourish soil health firsthand. Last spring, she and her husband used a thick layer of wood chips to put an area of the landscape into a “holding pattern” while they considered what they wanted to do next. When they moved the wood chips aside, they could see the soil texture started to change. Another new experience for Morse was planting bare root plants. The Whatcom Conservation District’s annual plant sale offers native plants at affordable prices. Morse said she initially wasn’t confident “$35 worth of sticks” she and her husband purchased from the sale would turn into plants, but she’s happy to report that they have. Master Gardener Program volunteers, who work with Washington State University’s Whatcom County Extension to educate the public on gardening practices, are one of the resources Morse has taken advantage of on a couple of occasions, including when she recently asked them for advice on a shore pine that she transplanted. “The resources were amazing, and I really appreciated how they were organized,” she said. “It’s a wonderful service.” Morse started using an app to help her learn the Pacific Northwest plant palette. For now, she and her husband are focused on establishing the structure of their garden – those larger scale features such as trees, shrubs, or built structures that make up the “bones” of the landscape. “The most challenging thing is all the options for plants, and thinking down the road to their size at maturity,” she said. immigrant. She comes from a low-income household and was the first in her family to earn a high school diploma. Nelson once lived in her car, but now is in a position to advocate for more help for the unhoused. “I feel the pain because I felt the pain,” Nelson said. “About 25 percent of our community is spending two-thirds of their household income on rent alone.” Duana Johnson, a Colville Tribal member from Vancouver, a disabled veteran and a single mother of two who is living off of pensions, was given 51 days’ notice before her last rent increase. “By the time I pay just my rent I have $52 left,” Johnson said. “I can’t think about anything else unless I have rental stability.” Vicki Loveland, from Boise, Washington, was one of eight grandmothers who received rent raises of over $1,000 in a sixmonth period. “When I describe that to people, they say that’s criminal, and I will say, ‘That’s not against the law though,” Loveland said. The Washington State Journal is a nonprofit news website funded by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation. Learn more at wastatejournal.org.
s Semiahmoo resident Danette Morse (second from left) and other members of the Washington State University Whatcom County Extension’s spring 2023 gardening green course in Morse’s backyard. Photo courtesy Danette Morse
s Morse planted native landscaping throughout her Semiahmoo yard. Photo courtesy Danette Morse
Morse advises that gardens don’t have to look perfect all of the time, and it’s important for people to give themselves permission to make mistakes. For example, someone might be better served by replacing a plant that isn’t well adapted to the site conditions, rather than struggle year after year to keep it healthy. As for other people who are interested in adopting greener landscaping practices, Morse recommends, “Just do it. It’s fun. You
meet cool and interesting people. It seems harder at first but it’s like changing your diet – you say goodbye to old favorites but welcome new favorites. Over time you’ll come to appreciate the ease. It’s totally worth it.” Cheryl Lovato Niles is the water resources educator at Washington State University’s Whatcom County Extension and instructor for the gardening green course.
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WSU Extension to hold upcoming Birch Bay green gardening course Washington State University’s Whatcom County Extension will hold a gardening green class series at the BP Heron Center at Birch Bay State Park every Saturday morning, from February 24 through March 30. The gardening green course will teach participants about natural landscaping that improves soil health, saves water, reduces yard maintenance and relies less on fertilizer and pesticides, according to the WSU Whatcom County Extension’s website. The course will teach participants about finding the right plants for their yards, mulching, and watering and planting techniques. The green gardening class will run from 10 a.m. to noon each week, with two to four hours of homework per week. The course charges a $36 fee for a soil lab test that will analyze soil pH, nutrients, texture and organic matter in participants’ yards. In addition to the Birch Bay course, WSU Whatcom County Extension will hold a live, online series 5-7 p.m., Thursday evenings from March 7 through March 28 and on the afternoon of Saturday, March 30. The course will cost $36 for soil testing. WSU Whatcom County Extension has also scheduled an online course, without scheduled meetings, April 15-May 24. Participants will be given new materials each week and are expected to add to weekly group discussions. The course is $25, and limited fee waivers are available. For more information on the courses, visit bit.ly/3SMhCkB.
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com booked into What A Blaine man was egree suspicion of first-d County Jail on er 4. murder on Octob was arrest76, Sr., r Maha Wayne Harold WhatOctober 4 after deped around 4 p.m. ff’s Office (WCSO) com County Sheri t (BPD) Police Departmen uties and Blaine of a shooting at calls to nded officers respo the Maple Leaf Moin #12 t Stree 4612 East ble bile Home Park. affidavit of proba According to the was ed his neighbor cause, Mahar claim sing him but Mahar haras threatening and tives. specifics to detec was unable to give ified by WCSO as The victim, ident pro67, of Blaine, was ties Vincent Reames, the scene after depu nounced dead on ful. but were unsuccess attempted CPR, porch his un from Mahar fired a shotg own his on was standing at Reames, who to court records. ng property, according called 911 after heari Another neighbor ding 29-28 and saw Mahar “stan O r., during Blaine’s the shotgun blast WCS ver Justin Minjarez, holding a gun,” a Photo by Nolan Baker with senior recei on his front porch victim lying the ed fourth-quarter score notic , c., celebrates a release stated. “She his respage 7. back Colby Shipp ground in front of er 6. Read more on s Junior running face down on the Meridian on Octob if he had shot r over Maha win g Mr. homecomin idence. She asked d ‘Yeah.’” Reames. He replie ation O public inform According to WCS ff deputies had re, sheri officer Deb Slater separate neighborfour least at to es sponded third en Mahar and Ream 2023-04 hope a hood disputes betwe . None of the four connents of Proposition 2021 r. charm to green light nt since November nal accrisis relief cente time could be the resulted in crimi the curre tion of a 23-hour ally in capital exprevious disputes a replacement of in-person $8-10 million annu and $8 million in struction on Slater said. ker an • a s, B fund arrest N a also or l d o told B y N tivity jail tax woul r had reportedly diversion, penses for the new health jail. The and y ioral cing facilit behav finan The day prior, Maha a of landses for al task behavioral health programs. he was upset at the For the monument jail in Whatcom one-time expenr. try his other neighbor threathousing and re-en town ent cente for a new rent, and said he located in down tments to fund He construction will be asked to consid- treatm lord for increasing n in capital inves The current jail, s landlord’s girlfriend. the county court from • $6 millio kill County, voter ened to shoot the rt services. gham adjacent to county sales tax modate going to shoot and d recov- Bellin rt re-entry suppo er increasing the expan in-pa in 1983 to accom and sing fund also said he was tain built to haras nt was main to perce house, Reames was to booking data a • $4 million ams. 8.8 percent to 9 least progr rding at ng be Acco seen Reames because to housi tes. never ates rtive inma e estim 148 suppo said she had ty Sheriff’s Offic what the county t, with ery and rejected similar Coun tmen twice him. The neighbor com rs. inves have What s Maha ime the by on one-t County voter or harass the the jail is houswith 51.4 percent tted $39.5 milli Reames threaten annual operas of October 9, ing, Mahar admi measures, in 2015 $21 million in ly in (WCSO), Following the shoot had more than investments ballot (See Jail, page 10) ure, and more vocal detectives that he . Major capital rejecting the meas nt voting no. When in an interview with and claimed Reames ating costs perce 58.6 with es pro- 2017 mber 7, propowanted to kill Ream ” Mahar didn’t pro- include: $3 million from filled out by Nove dead. ruc- ballots are • $12 million (with “deserved to be . 14 3) in funding for const Coming Up . . . . posed sales tax) (See Homicide, page
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affidavit , according to the Whatjail ing erratically (APC) filed in 10, according to of probable cause bail as of October Court. County Superior data. com ing pass the to Ashbook 7, pted attem on March By Grace The motorcycle then a Around 5:30 p.m. on two-lane road and 33, was driving has been arrested Mazda on the ming N. Woodward, A Ferndale man in con- leigh daughter, 13, in Mazda’s lane as onco ular homicide Mazda with her - moved into the the motorcycle, accord2007 head e was a charges of vehic Blain Mazd nd-run crash on passenger seat. The , near the inter- traffic approached ents cited in the APC. the nection to a hit-a ar-old ss statem e Road that killed a 33-ye right to ed south on Blain Harbor Road, when ing to witne Road in March lly moved to the Drayton The Mazda initia ed section of Blaine woman. attempted to Patrol (WSP) book ’s motorcycle 3) Washington State (See Crash, page What- Gunderson a. Witnesses told WSP inerson, 22, into er- pass the Mazd the motorcycle was drivColby Jon Gund Gund 6. ber on Octo vestigators that com County Jail in lieu of $250,000 son was being held
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