FREE
Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay
July 30 - August 5, 2015
HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
Ballots due August 4, page 3
Man facing charges for 2011 Blaine shooting Steve “Silencer” Ibarra, 21, is facing attempted murder charges for a drive-by shooting in Blaine nearly four years ago. This week, Ibarra finished a three-year sentence in state prison for another shooting in Bellingham. He was transferred to Whatcom County Jail to face charges in a shooting from December 4, 2011 near the Golden Nut Factory on Odell Road. In 2011, Joe Anthony Guevara-Medina, then 20, was finishing up his shift at the Golden Nut factory when he found his tires were slashed. He called his mother for a ride. Shortly after he hung up the phone, a pickup truck drove around the corner. A passenger opened the door and fired a shot, striking Guevara-Medina in the chest. He survived his wound. Ibarra, a member of the Brown Pride Surenos gang, has been a long-time suspect in the shooting. Three men were convicted for the shooting in 2012, and though it was believed Ibarra was the gunman in the case, the prosecutor declined to file charges until his previous sentence had been served. Guevara-Medina, a member of the 18th Street gang, told police the two gangs had been fighting since a shooting at the Northwest Washington Fair a few months earlier. Ibarra was arrested in April 2012 and later found guilty of the attempted murder of another rival gang member in Bellingham. Prosecutor Dave MacEachran said he expects charges of attempted murder in the first degree will be filed against Ibarra this week.
Experience culture at Peace Arch State Park B y K at e ly n D o g g e t t The Peace Arch International Concert Series returns for its 10th year, providing the chance to experience a series of free, live music and dance performances from different cultures. This year’s series runs every Sunday from August 2 to 23 at 2 p.m. at Peace Arch State Park. The one-hour concerts celebrate the diverse, international cultures of the Pacific Northwest with music and dance. “This series provides an opportunity for Washingtonians to engage and learn about their cultural and artistic heritage,” said Debbie Fant, folk and traditional arts program coordinator for the Washington State Park and Recreation Commission. People enjoy attending the concerts because it’s a free, local way to experience cultural events that they otherwise (See Concerts, page 3)
Meet the Blaine School board candidates, page 6
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Memorial golf tournament for Borderite fan, page 10
End of a long journey
s Members of the G’ana’k’w Canoe Family land their canoes in Marine Park on July 24. The journey united members of the Lummi, Semiahmoo and Haida nations for a five-day voyage. The canoe family has made the journey each year for nearly a century, but this was the first time the trip ended in Blaine. See more photos on page 15, and online at thenorthernlight.com.
Photo by Ruth Lauman
Blaine and Birch Bay host festivals this weekend By Steve Guntli This weekend is a great time to be in Blaine and Birch Bay. On August 1 and 2, both areas will host activity-packed festivals for residents and tourists to enjoy. Drayton Harbor Days Blaine’s Drayton Harbor Days returns this weekend. The festival is chock-full of fun events that celebrate Blaine’s maritime spirit and rich seafaring history. Start Saturday with a run at the Run for the Border 5k. The race runs from Marine Park through Peace Arch State Park and back. Kids can participate in a 1-mile fun run around Marine Park. The race starts at 8:30 a.m. To register, visit letsmoveblaine.org. After the race, check out the vendors, games and entertainers along the boardwalk of Drayton Harbor. The Plover ferry will be running routes between Blaine Marina and Semiahmoo, and a collection of vintage steamships will sail into the harbor for an exhibition. Both kids and adults can enter a pirate-themed costume contest, with prizes from local restaurants and businesses.
At 1 p.m. on Saturday, don’t miss the Prestigious George Raft Race. Competitors with homemade rafts made of scrap material will vie for the trophy as they paddle through Drayton Harbor and try not to sink. For information and registration, visit draytonharbormaritime.org. On Saturday evening, visit Marine Park for a free evening screening of the 1985 film “The Goonies.” Return on Sunday for more fun on the boardwalk, including a costume contest for pets at 1 p.m. at the marina office. All pets are welcome to enter. For more information, visit blainechamber.com. Rollback Weekend The first-ever Rollback Weekend is a testament to Birch Bay’s history. The festival is a celebration of Birch Bay’s heyday in the ’50s and ’60s, when classic cars cruised Birch Bay Drive in droves. Rollback Weekend will take place along Birch Bay Drive all weekend long. Live bands will perform classic rock ‘n’ roll favorites from 1 to 6:30 p.m. both days, and KAFE 104.1 will broadcast the event live for three hours on Saturday. A vintage car show will bring in some
of the most beautiful cars from around the state to Birch Bay. Winners will take home one of 50 custom surfboard trophies. On Sunday, the festival will host a cruising car show from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Classic cars will coast slowly down Birch Bay Drive, while observers can vote for their favorites from one of several restaurants along the bay. For more information, visit birchbaychamber.com.
Online
thenorthernlight.com facebook.com/thenorthernlight
Inside Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Coming Up . . . . . . . . . . 14 Tides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14