April 17 - 23, 2025
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WA Senate passes resolution on Canada, page 3
Birch Bay sports officiating class, page 6
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Easter celebrations, pages 10 and 15
CASCADIA Rally held in support of cross-border neighbors International Women’s Film Festival kicks off By Nolan Baker
(See Film festival, page 8)
s Americans and Canadians met under the Peace Arch during the “Peace, Love and a Handshake” rally on April 12. The group has been meeting every weekend for nearly the past month to show support for their cross-border neighbors and in opposition to tariffs and talk about making Canada the 51st state. Photo by Jeff Smith
Blaine City Council: Multifamily zoning, Mott’s Hill development and the Plover By Grace McCarthy The latest news from the Blaine City Council meeting on April 14 included the city’s proposal to create multifamily zoning, approval of the Mott’s Hill Overlook housing development and the Plover’s scheduled sail to Blaine. Town hall The city of Blaine’s second town hall preceded the Blaine City Council meeting on April 14 with the public packing council chambers as the majority of speakers voiced opinions on the Blaine Senior Center’s upcoming contract and plans for Blaine Marine Park. The town halls occur 30 minutes before the regular council meeting on the first Monday of each month. Council approved the town halls as a way to receive community input while public comment remains
prohibited from council meetings. Six people spoke against the city’s proposal to have the Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 (BBBPRD2) take over Blaine Senior Center operations. BBBPRD2 chairman Sheli Moore was the lone supporter of the parks district taking the contract, saying it was the district’s goal to provide the same options of entertainment and meals for seniors. “Our goal is not to take away from what is there,” she said. City manager Mike Harmon previously said council was expected to vote on whether to give the operations contract to the senior center or parks district in April. Blaine residents Steve Seymour, Judy Dunster and Moore requested the city keep Blaine (See City, page 3)
INSIDE
CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival is set to kick off in downtown Bellingham, bringing world-class films from some of the most talented and cutting edge women in the industry to the upper corner of the Pacific Northwest. Since its inaugural festival in 2017, CASCADIA has showcased feature films, documentaries, short films, animation and experimental films from more than 280 women directors around the globe. Producer/director Yvonne Russo is this year’s honored guest, and will present the Pacific Northwest premiere of her new film “Viva, Verdi!” The film focuses on “life’s third act” in a unique retirement home in Milan, Italy housing elderly former opera singers and musicians who mentor young music students. Russo, who is a member of the Sicangu Lakota Tribal Nation, has acted, directed and produced in television and film for years, and will give a talk during “An Evening with Yvonne Russo” at 7 p.m. Friday, April 24 immediately following the film’s showing. CASCADIA executive director Cheryl Crooks said the film is a touching story about the power that art possesses. “The movie is so uplifting. It’s so inspiring,” Crooks said. “[Russo] is very story-oriented, very issue-oriented. She felt when she learned about this place, this was something that we in the States needed to know about.” The festival includes not only films, but also an art gallery featuring on-sale works from dozens of local women artists. The “Women Rising” gallery opened on April 4 at the Dakota Art Gallery, 1322 Cornwall Avenue in Bellingham, and will run until Saturday, May 24. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. “There’s something for everybody at this show,” Crooks said of the art gallery. “They’ll be supporting these women artists, and I think they’ll go back a few times because there’s just so much to take in.” With dozens of films to showcase from directors hailing from Finland to British Columbia, Crooks said the festival want-
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