The Northern Light: April 23-29, 2026

The city of Blaine secured $392,000 in state funds that will revitalize and add amenities to two small downtown parks with water views.

The Legislature approved the funding at the end of its session last month. The money will pay for two parklets on Peace Portal Drive, at the intersections of Clark and Martin streets.

The parks were originally in the city’s downtown revitalization project that was constructed last year but were removed at the last minute because of budget constraints.

“When the state gives us money, it’s our own tax money coming back,” Blaine City Councilor Richard May said during the last meeting. “I’d like to see more of this.”

Blaine City Manager Mike Harmon said no major changes are expected to the parklets’ designs, which Cascade Engineering Group created. The City Council approved the preliminary versions in February 2024.

The Martin Street parklet, between Chada Thai and Railway Cafe, is designed to have a timber stacks play area, lawn, seating and picnic tables. Road access that has unofficially been used between the two restaurants would close, city officials have said.

The Clark Street parklet is designed to have a swing set, shelter with picnic tables and barbecue grill, lawn, signage and additional plantings.

Construction is anticipated next spring, but Harmon said that timeline could change based on any funding parameters that the state sets. Construction should take no more than three months, he said, and significant road closures aren’t expected.

Blaine

Investigations open into BP Cherry Point explosion

B y G race M c c arthy

Little remains publicly known about an explosion at the BP Cherry Point refinery near Birch Bay that shook the community and sent three workers to the hospital on Saturday morning.

Representatives from BP and the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries said they’ve launched investigations into the incident.

Blaine and Birch Bay residents reported on social media that they heard a loud boom from BP just before 10:20 a.m. Saturday. The explosion shook the ground at Birch Bay State Park and Point Whitehorn, while it could be heard in Custer and on H Street in Blaine.

Cesar Rodriguez, U.S. media relations manager for BP, said three workers were transported to the hospital

and released by the evening.

PeaceHealth spokesperson Amy Drury said the workers were evaluated at St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham, but declined to comment on the general extent of their injuries or treatment.

Rodriguez said the incident was contained Saturday morning and did not

The Blaine School Board held a work session on Monday focusing on student behavior, discipline and how schools are tackling behavioral problems, featuring presentations from administrators from each of Blaine’s four schools.

School principals from primary to high school showed data on behavioral incidents from the 2024-25 and cur-

rent school year.

Two major aspects that stood out in the data was how the district has responded to more stringent closed campus and cell phone policies introduced in the 2025-26 school year.

Chris Bolt, dean of students at Blaine High School, presented to the five-member school board two years of behavior incident data. Bolt showed that non-attendance behavior has gone

up from 101 incidents in the 2024-25 school year to 228 incidents so far this school year.

One of the largest year over year increases in behavior incidents was cell phone use, which spiked from 10 reported incidents in 2024-25 to 92 through roughly eight months of the 2025-26 school year.

(School Board, continued from page 1)

Blaine School Board discusses student behavior following new cell phone policy

The spike can be explained by the new cell phone policy, which was enacted before the start of the current school year. Last year, incidents were not enforced nor tracked as scrupulously as they are currently, said BHS Principal Beth Eide.

On paper, that has made for a massive jump in reported incidents. But in the classroom, there have been multiple reports from teachers, parents and students of a more engaged student body. Even Superintendent Dan Chaplik noticed a difference.

“Ninety-two (incidents) looks like a big number,”

Chaplik said. “But the incidents among kids are not anything like it was. The rule in place is helping. When I’m on campus and we’re visiting classrooms, I don’t see (phones). It has improved remarkably.”

The board and administrators also discussed the district’s efforts to better enforce the closed campus policy.

Chaplik said the new enforcement has been so successful that one fast food restaurant across State Route 543 from campus has decided to close for lunch because they are no longer serving hungry students

data and the impacts of new cell phone and closed campus policy changes.

Photo by Nolan Baker

leaving campus.

“Not that that’s what we’re trying to do,” Chaplik said to some chuckles from the audience. “Our schools were serving them, and (students) need to be on campus eating lunch. It was a very unsafe practice.”

Across each of the four presentations, administrators touched on the importance of clear communication of the district’s expectations. All are

trying to teach their students acceptable behavior, get parents involved when there is bad behavior, and recognize students who show good behavior.

Blaine Middle School Principal Darren Benson said he and his administration make an effort to be early and greet students positively in hallways and every morning.

“That’s the best part of my day,” Benson said.

Blaine receives nearly $400K for two downtown parks

The parks were taken out of the downtown revitalization project last May, just before contractors were to break ground last summer.

change

with Disabilities Act upgrades, replacing trees buckling the sidewalks, new sidewalks and electrical work.

voiced concerns as fewer Canadian shoppers were hurting an already tight city budget. Removing the parklets was the latest iteration of a winding project journey filled with council delays and project cuts since the city solicited proposals in 2022.

Harmon said the addition of the parklets will create more areas for people to relax as the city works to bring more residents and customers to the downtown core.

The downtown revitalization project, which cost over $3 million, began last July and ended in December on the main stretch of Peace Portal Drive in downtown. The project evolved from including beautification projects, like the parklets, to mostly essential improvements, including Americans

“The parklets will preserve the water views for perpetuity,” Harmon said, “and provide an inviting place for residents and visitors to stop and enjoy Blaine, while being within walking distance of our downtown shops and restaurants.”

Motorcycle crash injures driver, closes lane of I-5 near Birch Bay

B y N ola N B aker

Saturday, a single-vehicle motorcycle crash on Interstate 5 near Birch Bay required the driver to be sent to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment.

The motorcyclist, Corey J. Berg, was in stable condition

when Washington State Patrol troopers arrived on the scene around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, WSP spokesperson Kelsey Harding said. Harborview representatives said on Wednesday that Berg is in “satisfactory” condition.

Berg was driving a 2015 Honda CRF250 motocross-style

(Explosion, continued from page 1)

bike when he crashed on southbound I-5, just north of the Loomis Trail Road overpass between exits 270 and 274, Harding said.

An investigation of the crash is ongoing, and Harding said reports detailing the crash have not been released to the public. WSP received an initial call

of the accident at 5:23 p.m., and first responders arrived at 5:30 p.m. The accident forced a lane of I-5 to temporarily close on Saturday as troopers and paramedics responded. By 7:56 p.m., the scene was cleared and normal traffic resumed.

Berg was transported to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical

Center in Bellingham, Harding said. He was then transferred to Harborview and remains in the hospital, according to Harborview representatives.

Questions about Berg's place of residence, age and when he was transferred to Harborview were not answered by press time.

Investigations open into BP Cherry Point explosion that sent three to hospital

pose a risk to the Birch Bay community.

“We increased air monitoring and continue to monitor,” Rodriguez said. “There have been no elevated levels of contaminants detected.”

Several people close to the incident wrote on social media that the explosion occurred in the hydrocracker unit. A hydrocracker unit uses hydrogen to convert heavy oils into lighter products, such as diesel, jet fuel and gasoline.

Rodriguez declined to verify when or where the explosion started.

“We are conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the incident,” he said in response.

The refinery was in the midst of turnaround, which is the temporary shutdown of units for inspection and maintenance that brings contractors from across the country.

The Northern Light has reached out to people who said they witnessed the explosion.

Rodriguez said the unit where the incident occurred

Drug Take

was not damaged. He declined to comment on whether the injured workers were BP employees or contractors and how many people were near the explosion.

The BP spokesperson said the company promptly notified relevant county, state and federal agencies about the incident, but did not answer which agencies those included.

Matt Ross, public affairs manager at the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, said the department launched an investigation into BP and two contractors, Spectrum and Intertek, on April 21.

Labor and Industries is limited on the information it can

share right now, Ross said, adding that the investigation would be made public once finished. The investigation could take up to six months, he said.

The Northwest Clean Air Agency (NWCAA) received a notification of the incident at 11:19 a.m. Saturday, said Tammy Dixon, the agency’s public records officer. Dixon said BP has not reported any potentially harmful emission releases to the agency, so there is nothing for it to inspect right now.

NWCAA will wait for a monthly report that BP sends the agency to determine whether it needs to look into anything further, she said.

“It’s too soon to do anything at this moment,” Dixon said. An incident report was made to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Response Center at 11:54 a.m. Saturday and sent to the Washington State Department of Ecology at 12:07 p.m. that same day, Ecology spokesperson Scarlet Tang said.

Back event organized in Birch Bay

The Birch Bay Vogt Library will participate in National Take Back Day on Saturday, April 25, allowing anyone to anonymously and safely dispose of unwanted and expired prescription medication. The DEA puts on the national event at thousands of locations across the country.

B y N ola N B aker

Those with unused or expired prescription medication will have a chance to safely and anonymously throw out their drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Birch Bay Vogt Library Express, 7948 Birch Bay Drive.

In partnership with the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, the library is participating in the nationwide Take Back Day that is organized by

the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Twice a year, thousands of people across the country dispose of their unused, unwanted or expired medications so they don’t get into the wrong hands.

During the last Take Back Day in October, the DEA collected 286 tons of prescription drugs from over 4,300 sites.

Over the course of 29 National Take Back Days, more than 20 million pounds of drugs have been responsibly

disposed — that’s over 10,000 tons out of bathroom medicine cabinets.

The Birch Bay library is one of two Whatcom County collection sites, with the other being Bellingham Police Department headquarters.

Ecology doesn’t have a regulatory role because the incident did not involve equipment the department regulates, Tang said.

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, which investigates major chemical incidents at refineries, did not respond to whether it was inspecting the explosion.

This is the second time in just over a year that refinery operations have puzzled Birch Bay residents. In March 2025,

the NWCAA received over 70 complaints of a strong odor coming from BP Cherry Point, which the agency attributed at the time to incomplete burning of hydrocarbon gases, likely from the flare not burning correctly. The gases came from the refinery’s coker unit, which was in the process of being shut down during turnaround last year.

Dixon said BP has since resolved the incident from March 2025.

NOTICE Water Main Flushing

The City of Blaine and Birch Bay Water and Sewer District started flushing the water distribution systems. This is accomplished by opening hydrants along the system (starting at the well fields) to move fresh water throughout the distribution system.

The purpose of flushing the system is to remove any grit and debris in order to improve water quality through the distribution system.

During the flushing process, water customers may experience a temporary low water pressure and/or cloudiness in the water. The cloudiness condition (caused by air) should be only temporary, and can be cleared by running a cold water tap for a few minutes to clean and flush your service line. If the condition continues for an extended period of time please contact the Blaine Public Works or Birch Bay Water and Sewer District.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation. If you have any questions, contact City of Blaine Public Works at 360-332-8820, Birch Bay Water and Sewer District at 360-371-7100 or visit www.cityofblaine.com or www.bbwsd.com for weekly area updates.

The Northern L ght

The Northern Light is published weekly by Daffodil Press, LLC.

About Daffodil Press

Daffodil Press is a locally owned, community-centered publishing company dedicated to strong local journalism and vibrant regional storytelling.

We proudly publish:

• The Northern Light

• All Point Bulletin (Point Roberts)

• La Conner Community News (La Conner)

• Mount Baker Experience (Mt. Baker foothills)

• Pacific Coast Weddings (annual guide)

• Waterside (summer recreation guide for coastal Northwest Washington)

Daffodil Press LLC is a member of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association and active in chambers of commerce throughout Whatcom County and coastal Northwest Washington.

The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors or publisher.

Letters to the Editor

We welcome thoughtful letters from our readers. Letters should address local issues of broad community interest and help foster informed civic dialogue. Please include your name, address, email and daytime phone number for verification. Letters are limited to 150 words. We may edit for clarity, length, legality and standards of civility. We do not publish falsehoods or hate speech. Unsigned letters will not be considered. We accept one letter per author every four weeks.

Send letters to: letters@daffodilpress.net

Publisher Kari Mar kari@daffodilpress.net

Managing Editor Kie Relyea kie@daffodilpress.net

Editor Grace McCarthy grace@daffodilpress.net

Reporter Nolan Baker nolan@daffodilpress.net

Creative Services

Doug De Visser doug@daffodilpress.net

Emma Storey emma@daffodilpress.net

Advertising Sales

Molly Ernst molly@daffodilpress.net

The Northern Light

229 Marine Drive

Blaine, WA 98230

Tel: 360/332-1777

Vol XXXI, No 44

Circulation: 11,000 copies

Circulation Independently verified by:

Blessing of the Fleet to honor lost fishers during 42nd memorial Opinion

B y G ary D u N ster

The commercial crab season is finished, which means it’s time to turn our attention to the 42nd annual Blessing of the Fleet, which will take place at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 3, at the Blaine Harbor Boating Center.

The tradition started in 1984 to honor fishers who’ve been lost at sea, going back to the early 1900s. That number is now 42.

When I reflect on those who we’ve lost, I think about how they left Blaine Harbor and never returned. I’m hopeful families will get closure and comfort during the Blessing of the Fleet.

The Fisherman’s Memorial Committee, along with the Port of Bellingham and the Blaine Chamber of Commerce, will host this event. Washington state and city of Blaine dignitaries are expected to attend.

Music will be provided by Bob Gray, Jeremy Birklid, Mike Dahl, Vivian Wheeler and Austin Hoeffner. The Marshall family will sing “Away from the Roll of the Sea.”

The clergy will lead a prayer for the fishers and their boats. As the names of the 42 fishers are read, a ship’s bell will ring and a flower will be placed in a wreath. After we honor the 42, we will remember fishers who have died at home since the last ceremony.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will then deliver the wreath to the Sound Star vessel, owned by local fisherman Jeff Markusen. He will place the wreath on the water to symbolize the end of the Blessing of the Fleet.

The Blaine community has been outstanding in supporting the ceremony since 1984. I extend an invitation to everyone on behalf of the memorial

Letters

committee to join us for the 42nd annual memorial. If the weather permits, we will be outside of the Blaine Harbor Boating Center, 235 Marine Drive. If not, we will gather inside. I look forward to seeing you there.

Gary Dunster is a Blaine resident and chair of the Fisherman’s Memorial Committee.

The Editor:

Bellingham is updating citywide speed limits, with plans in 2026 to transition to a 20 mph default on most non-arterial, residential and downtown streets, down from 25 mph.

The most effective way to encourage pedestrian traffic in Blaine’s renovated Peace Portal commercial corridor is to follow Bellingham’s lead and reduce the speed limit to 20 mph between Martin Street and the D Street roundabout.

Our lovely new park benches are great, but not with traffic speeding by at 25 mph or more. Casual observation reveals a hefty percentage of drivers seem to be exceeding the speed limit.

There are too many kids, too many families, too many crosswalks and too

many pedestrian-oriented businesses along our shiny new seaside promenade to allow 25 mph traffic to spoil “the vibe.”

We spent money to make our downtown core lovely. Let’s make it a lovely experience for pedestrians as well.

Ray Cushing Blaine

The Editor:

The Blaine Food Bank is a vital source to many in our community. The reality is that 1 in 5 people consider themselves food insecure, many of them seniors or children.

Stamp Out Hunger, a nationwide food drive in partnership with the U.S. Postal Service will return to Blaine on

Civic Meetings

Blaine City Council: Second and fourth Mondays, 6 p.m., Blaine City Council chambers, 435 Martin Street. Town halls typically at 5:30 p.m. the first Monday meeting each month. Info: ci.blaine.wa.us.

Birch Bay Community Advisory Committee: Third Wednesday of each month, 6 p.m., Birch Bay Bible Community Church, 4460 Bay Road. Updated meeting info: bit. ly/3QmWVcX.

Birch Bay Water and Sewer District: Second and fourth Thursdays, 4 p.m., district office, 7096 Point Whitehorn Road, Birch Bay. Info and Zoom meeting link: bbwsd.com.

Blaine Planning Commission: Second Thursday, 6 p.m., Blaine City Council chambers, 435 Martin Street. Info: bit. ly/3EwWiZi.

Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation: Second Tuesday

May 9. This is quite possibly the easiest way to support your community. All you have to do is simply leave non-perishable food by your mailbox, and the mail carriers will pick it up and deliver it for you.

So often it is easy to dismiss the needs around us, but we aren’t talking about people far from us; these are our neighbors and friends who need access to this vital resource. I urge you to mark the date on the calendar and pick up extra items on your next trip to the grocery store to prepare.

Faith Whaley Blaine

Please send letters to letters@daffodilpress.net no later than noon on Monday.

of each month at 6 p.m. Info: bbbparkandrec.org.

Blaine Public Works and Park Advisory Board: Second Thursday, 9:30 a.m., Blaine council chambers. Info: 360/3328311, ext. 3330.

Blaine School Board: Fourth Monday, 7 p.m., Blaine school district boardroom, 770 Mitchell Avenue. Info: blainesd.org. North Whatcom Fire and Rescue: Third Thursday, 10:30 a.m., Station 61 at 9408 Odell Road and via Zoom. Info: nwfrs.net. BBWARM: Birch Bay Watershed and Aquatic Resources Management (BBWARM) District Advisory Committee meets quarterly in-person and on Zoom. Info: bbwarm.whatcomcounty.org.

Port of Bellingham: First and third Tuesday, 4 p.m., Port of Bellingham Harbor Center, 1801 Roeder Ave., Ste. 146, in Bellingham and via Zoom. Info: portofbellingham.com.

BHS robotics, music production teams finish third in state

Two Blaine High School teams earned third place at the Washington State Technology Student Association Conference April 15-18 in Spokane. Blaine’s top finishers were the robotics team (Aiden Ernst and Andrew Baer) and the music production team (Wade Lottimer, Oscar Taylor, Austin Hoeffner and Jack Baldwin). In total, Blaine sent 13 students to compete against 2,400 students from across the state in various technology events, from drone challenges to technology problem-solving.

Blaine Public Library to undergo circulation desk, ADA upgrades

B

y G race M c c arthy

The Blaine Public Library building will be closed to the public for the next two weeks while it undergoes $65,000 renovations to improve its layout and Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility.

The closure will start Monday, April 27, and is expected to continue through Friday, May 8. The library will be completely closed April 2728 and then will offer limited doorside services for the remainder of the construction, according to a Tuesday notice from the Whatcom County Library System (WCLS).

The doorside services include pickups, printing and help with questions. A temporary book drop will also be set up.

WCLS is expected to update its website, wcls.org, and the Blaine Library Facebook page if there are changes to the construction timeline.

The upgrades will ensure ADA compliance at the checkout station, while circulation desk upgrades will improve ergonomics and storage. The

library will also receive new carpet and cabinetry.

The project is meant to be a temporary fix while library staff pulls together funds for a new building. Library supporters have long advocated for a replacement of the current library at 610 3rd St. — a renovation of the city’s former Public Works garage four decades ago.

In 2019, Friends of Blaine Library hired an architect to design a new library but the

halted plans and

funding became more limited.

In 2023, Bellingham affordable housing consultant Paul Schissler proposed two mixed-use buildings downtown that included a library, affordable condominiums and commercial space. Those plans stalled due to financial challenges as well as community partner Kulshan Community Land Trust’s focus on other projects.

WCLS’ levy lid lift that voters passed last August is funding the library upgrades.

BLAINE PUBLIC WORKS Announces Start of Circuit 11 Electrical Project April 23, 2026

The City of Blaine Public Works Department announces the start of the Circuit 11 Electrical Project, a major infrastructure improvement effort beginning April 15, 2026, along Semiahmoo Parkway. Construction is expected to continue into the summer of 2026.

This project will replace aging electrical infrastructure serving the Semiahmoo area, improving system reliability for Blaine’s citizens. Work will occur primarily within the Semiahmoo Parkway corridor. Construction activity should be anticipated during working hours with minimal impacts on traffic. The Pathway may also be closed in the construction zone for pedestrian safety. Blaine Public Works will coordinate closely to minimize disruptions and maintain access for emergency services, residents, and businesses.

The city appreciates the community’s patience and cooperation during construction. Updates on traffic impacts and construction progress will be shared on the City of Blaine’s website.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Sincerely, Blaine Public Works (360) 332-8820

Baseball wins despite not recording hit, softball

Koreski.

The Borderites were busy this past week, with softball going 2-2 in the first four games back from spring break, and baseball throwing a couple of gems to earn wins over a pair of conference teams.

SOFTBALL

After one of the longest spring breaks of any Borderite team, Blaine softball immediately shook the dust off with a 12-7 win over Nooksack Valley on April 16. The offense was led by senior Mesa Puls, who cranked three home runs in five plate appearances, driving in seven runs — enough to tie the Pioneers all by herself.

Together, the Borderites combined for 14 hits, with help from Aaliyah Broyan who hit her first career home run, and multi-hit performances from Courtney Roff, Aaliyah Bowman and Kate

On April 17, the Borderites lost 8-2 to 1A Northwest Conference rival Lynden Christian. On Saturday, Blaine ran head first into 3A Sedro-Woolley, which seems far and away to be the most talented team in the conference this year, and fell 24-0.

Sedro-Woolley is averaging over 20 runs scored per game and allowing less than half a run per game, both the best marks in the conference by a wide margin, leading the 3A juggernaut to a 12-2 overall record with a 8-0 conference record.

But the Borderites were able to bounce back at home on Tuesday, hosting fellow 1A NWC team Meridian. The Borderites jumped out to an early lead thanks to an 11-run first inning and never looked back.

Puls earned her third win as a pitcher this season thanks to a complete game, improving her record to 3-3. Roff caused a ton of trouble on the basepaths for

Meridian, going 5-for-5 with three stolen bases and three runs scored, and Nevaeh Zaddack popped her first home run at the varsity level.

Softball (6-5, 4-4 NWC) was expected to host Lynden at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Pipeline Fields (after press time) before traveling to face Mount Baker at noon Saturday.

Stats provided by whatcompreps. com and nwcathletics.com

BASEBALL

After emerging from spring break with a tough 11-10 walkoff

loss to Lynden Christian last week, the Borderites got back in the win column with a pair of low-scoring victories over Squalicum and Bellingham.

On the road against Squalicum on April 15, Blaine’s pitchers showed what they could do en route to a 2-1 victory. Starter Ashton Vezzetti went five innings allowing just two hits and one run while striking out nine batters. That allowed Aaron Garza — normally Blaine’s do-it-all infielder — to close out the final two innings in relief, striking out three batters and earning his second save of the season.

The next night against Bellingham at home, the Borderites produced an even more stellar pitching performance, winning 1-0. It was Blaine’s first shutout victory of the year.

The Borderites won despite not recording a single hit, an extremely rare feat that was only possible thanks to two batters being hit by a pitch and two being walked in the bottom of the third to score the game’s lone run. That was all Bellingham’s Tobias Lamb and Kai Nelson gave up — notching a combined no-hitter but still losing the game.

Josh Cochran earned his third win of the season, striking out nine batters and allowing just one hit in the complete game shutout.

Blaine went on to drop its next two games at home on Friday and Tuesday, losing 14-4 to Anacortes and 10-4 against Lakewood. The Borderites are currently 6-8 (5-7 NWC), putting the team in second place in 1A NWC.

Blaine was expected to travel to face Oak Harbor on Thursday and Ferndale on Friday before returning to Pipeline Fields for games against Sultan at 4:30 p.m. Monday and Sehome at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Stats provided by whatcompreps.com

by

Pets & Pet Care

Pet ownership requires taking steps to ensure the health and happiness of the companion animal. Ensuring that steps are taken to help a pet avoid illness is a priority that pet parents must take seriously. This includes being aware of diseases that have the potential to affect their animals.

A BITING HEALTH PROBLEM

The American Veterinary Medical Association says heartworm disease remains one of the most significant and growing medical threats to pets. While the illness once was localized to parts of the southern United States, heartworm disease now poses a threat to animals in many other regions as well. That’s due in part to the widespread territory of the insect responsible for spreading the heartworm parasite: the mosquito. Although the southeastern

U.S. and the Mississippi River Valley remain the areas with the highest concentrations of heartworm disease, the Companion Animal Parasite Council says veterinarians are now diagnosing heartworm at higher rates in northern states like Colorado, Montana and North Dakota.

Heartworm disease exists across Canada, too, particularly in warmer regions with high mosquito activity, according to Albert Animal Health Source.

WHAT IS HEARTWORM DISEASE?

Heartworm disease is a serious, potentially fatal bloodborne illness spread by mosquitoes that largely affects dogs. Cats, ferrets, wolves, foxes and other mammals also can get the disease. Heartworms can live in the heart, lungs and associated blood vessels. Heartworm disease can

cause lasting organ damage.

The American Heartworm Society says heartworms are foot-long worms that start off as microscopic larvae called microfilaria that circulate in the bloodstream. When a mosquito takes a blood meal, it can spread these worms to other animals. It takes about six months for the larvae to develop into adult heartworms. Once mature, heartworms can live five to seven years in dogs and two to three years in cats.

KEEPING PETS SAFE

The cost comparison between keeping a pet safe from heartworms and treating an active infection is significant. Most monthly preventives cost between $6 and $18 per month, according to PetMD. For a dog that tests positive, a full heartworm treatment protocol can typically cost around $1,500. Despite this, only about one-third of all dogs in the U.S. are on a consistent preventive, says the AHS.

Veterinary professionals recommend annual testing through bloodwork for both adult worms and the larvae to ensure that no gap infections have occurred. Furthermore, heartworm preventives should be used each and every month, as mosquito activity is no longer seasonal in many areas. Keeping pets safe requires taking steps to prevent heartworm infections. This is achieved through annual testing and monthly preventives.

Local Birding: harlequin duck

This is a duck of turbulent waters that flies inland to breed and raise its young on fast-moving mountain streams. The duck can be viewed from Semiahmoo Spit and the Jorgensen Pier at Blaine Harbor.

by Joe Meche

Department of Health issues shellfish harvest closure for all county beaches

B y N ola N B aker

The Washington State Department of Health issued a countywide closure for recreational harvest of molluscan shellfish on Friday, citing unsafe levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning biotoxin.

The biotoxin was detected in molluscan shellfish in multiple Whatcom County locations, according to a statement from Whatcom County Health and Community Services (WCHCS) published on Friday.

The harvest closure is for all Whatcom County beaches, including Point Roberts. Lummi Nation has also closed shellfish harvesting in Bellingham Bay, Birch Bay and Semiahmoo, according to its website.

Molluscan shellfish include clams, mussels, oysters and scallops, and the state health department said mussels usually contain the highest concentration of the paralytic toxin detected over the past week.

shellfish sold in restaurants and markets, such as Drayton Harbor Oyster Co., which are tested before distribution and are safe to eat.

WCHCS communications specialist Marie Junek said biotoxin conditions can change rapidly and are not uniform across all beaches in the county. She advised recreational shellfish harvesters to check the state shellfish closure website for regular

updates.

The shellfish closure map can be found at bit.ly/4tqeJWn. The DOH Biotoxin Hotline can also provide up to date information on shellfish closures, at 800562-5632.

Junek said the county has not received any reports of biotoxin poisoning and is responding to the state department of health’s closure.

Junek could not provide an estimate on when shellfish harvesting would reopen.

Paralytic shellfish poisoning biotoxin can cause severe illness and death.

Initial symptoms include numbness and tingling of lips and tongue, which can begin anywhere from minutes to hours after eating toxic shellfish. Death from paralytic shellfish poisoning can occur in less than 30 minutes, according to the WCHCS.

Aurelie Mininette Hurd

January 30, 1924 – November 24, 2025

Aurelie M. Hurd, longtime resident of Whatcom County in both Blaine and Bellingham, passed away at her home in Bellingham on November 24, 2025.

Aurelie was born January 30, 1924, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. She was just more than two months away from celebrating her 102nd birthday. Her father was George De Lamothe and mother was Lillian Foster. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother Bud, a ship’s pilot from Vancouver, B.C., and her sister Bam.

Well-travelled early in life, she spoke of even spending time with friends in Australia at two years old and remained in touch with that family throughout her life.

Aurelie was married twice, first to Arthur Nicholas (later divorced), who was the father of Her son Anthony Nicholas, who passed in 2013, and was a lifelong close friend with Jim and Bob. Aurelie was very close to Tony and his good friends.

Aurelie was later widowed to W. Gordon Hurd, who passed in 2014. Aurelie and Gordon were married in 1982 and were introduced by longtime good friends Kris and Peter, who shared many fun trips and time in Borrego Springs, CA, with the Hurds.

Kris later so accurately noted, “Aurelie’s gift was always supporting and giving to others.”

Aurelie’s closest remaining family include nephews Peter, Gregory, and Rodney, all of Canada, and their families, as well as cousins Heather, Robin, and others.

Other notable travels include trips to the United Kingdom, and quite notably at her 90th birthday a trip with good friend Cindy through the Panama Canal and also Alaskan cruises, and Cindy accompanied on a visit to good friend Pat in San Diego.

Aurelie remained close to many friends through visits and dinners at the Blaine Senior Center and was friends with Joyce Vanderpol of Blaine who also surpassed 100 years of life. They shared those notable birthdays. Lucille in Bellingham, neighbor Daphne in Blaine and Sylvia in Vancouver were other good friends.

Aurelie worked as an administrative assistant and secretary in education at all levels—elementary, and secondary, and at University of Washington. She was very proud of being capable of 100+ words per minute typing skill with her IBM Selectric.

Very special thanks to her very caring friends Isabel, Maria, and Jeanette, and previously Dona, for all their time well spent with Aurelie. While with Aurelie, they all assisted her with amazing love and care shown to any birds, but especially to her favorite patio-dwelling hummingbirds, never missing food, attention and protection from Aurelie.

Aurelie would love for any shared donations to her favorites, the Whatcom Humane Society, the Whatcom Hospice c/o PeaceHealth, or any charity for birds.

BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

Paralytic shellfish poisoning and other naturally occurring biotoxins cannot be destroyed by freezing or cooking, according to the county. The algae that contains the biotoxin cannot be seen and can only be detected through laboratory testing.

The closure does not affect

sheriff’s reports

April 13, 12:48 a.m.: Serve a warrant on Pacific Highway.

April 13, 12:01 p.m.: Mental health flag on Henley Street.

April 13, 9:04 p.m.: Theft cold call on Karber Road.

April 14, 1:17 a.m.: Traffic stop arrest on Valley View Road, Custer.

April 14, 4:02 a.m.: Suspicious vehicle on Birch Bay Lynden and Percie roads, Custer.

April 14, 12:11 p.m.: Motor vehicle accident arrest on Loomis Trail Road.

April 14, 2:31 p.m.: Shots on Birch Bay-Lynden Road, Custer.

April 14, 4:03 p.m.: DUI on Birch Bay Lynden Road, Custer.

April 15, 4:16 p.m.: Harassment cold call on West Road.

April 16, 8:33 a.m.: Theft cold call on Shintaffer Road.

April 16, 9:29 a.m.: Vandalism cold call on Bruce Road, Custer.

April 16, 12:22 p.m.: Burglary cold call on Portal Way.

April 16, 1:22 p.m.: Vandalism cold call on Halibut Drive.

April 17, 4:20 p.m.: Child abuse cold call on Zell Road, Custer.

April 17, 8:58 p.m.: Hit and run cold call on Birch Bay Square Street.

April 18, 12:15 a.m.: DUI arrest on Harborview Road.

April 18, 12:57 a.m.: Warrant arrest on Harborview Road.

April 18, 7:53 a.m.: Vehicle prowl

cold call on Cirque.

April 18, 10:27 a.m.: Suspicious circumstances cold call on Beach Rock Loop.

April 18, 1:25 p.m.: Theft cold call on Wooldridge Drive.

April 18, 9:11 p.m.: Theft cold call on Wooldridge Drive.

poliCe reports

April 5, 10:52 a.m.: Hit and run on Boblett Street.

April 5, 4:56 p.m.: Theft on Mary Avenue.

April 5, 7:08 p.m.: DUI on H Street.

April 6, 2:05 a.m.: Domestic physical on Mary Avenue.

April 6, 3:21 a.m.: Serve warrant on Mary Avenue.

April 6, 2:50 p.m.: Harassment on Shore Pine Place.

April 6, 11:58 p.m.: Warrant arrest on Peace Portal Drive.

April 8, 10:47 a.m.: Burglary on BOblett Street.

April 8, 12:51 p.m.: Sex offender

CrossWord

45. Photographers 48. Small, rich sponge cake

49. Clergy’s vestment

50. Expressed pleasure

55. Abba __, Israeli politician

56. Zero

57. Ancient Greek word for “earless” 59. Nigerian governmental area

60. Mild expression of surprise

61. Places to hang things

62. Keyboard key 63. Make a mistake 64. One-time president of Republic of Korea

DOWN

1. Bridge building degree 2. Expression of sorrow or pity

3. Large, stocky lizard

4. Romanian river 5. Communication 6. Stoats

7. Showcases 8. Bird of prey 9. King of Thebes

10. Cleaving tool 12. Large African antelope 14. Three are particularly notable 19. Meet one’s needs 23. C. European river 24. Dictator 25. Indicates how much out of 100 (abbr.)

26. The 17th letter of the Greek alphabet

27. Consume food

28. Woman (French) 29. Scrape a surface 34. Green vegetable 35. Pacific Standard Time

36. Capital of Brazilian city 37. Paddle 39. Cause to become insane 40. Drier and flakier

41. Mimic 42. ESPN personality Kimes

44. One who moves slowly

45. Secret political clique

46. Behind the stern of a ship

47. Supernatural force

registration on C Street.

April 8, 6:58 p.m.: Fraud on H Street.

April 9, 1:43 p.m.: Threat on Yew Avenue.

April 9, 2:59 p.m.: Civil problem on Harrison Avenue.

April 9, 3:14 p.m.: Suicidal subject on Martin Street.

April 9, 3:43 p.m.: Drugs on Peace Portal Drive.

April 9, 9:49 p.m.: Vehicle theft on Madison Avenue.

April 10, 6:51 p.m.: Domestic physical on H Street Road.

April 10, 6:54 p.m.: Missing child on Mt. Baker Highway.

48. Sanctuary 51. Swiss river 52. Grayish white 53. Engrave by coating 54. North Carolina university 58. Midway between south and southeast

Coming up

Salish Coast Walk: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., April 25, Start at the Blaine Community Center. Join us for a refreshing community walk along the beautiful Salish Coast in honor of Trails Day. Route: Blaine Community Center to Peace Arch State Park to L&L Bakery and back to the community center. Free and open to all ages and abilities. Wear comfortable clothes and dress for the weather. Information: bbbparkandrec.org.

Daughter’s Choice Dance: Waves and Wonder: 6:30 to 8 p.m., April 24, Birch Bay Activity Center, $8 per family. All ages. Elegant under the sea evening for girls and their special guest. Info: bbbparkandrec.org.

Drug Takeback: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., April 25, Birch Bay Vogt Library, 7948 Birch Bay Drive. Bring your unused or expired prescription medication for safe disposal. Sponsored by the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.

Severe Pruning: 10 a.m. to noon, April 25, Blaine Library. This presentation will focus on overgrown fruit trees and how to use a combination of pruning techniques to quickly get your trees into shape. Info: wcls.org.

Living Kidney Information Session: noon–2 p.m., April 26, Squalicum Boathouse, 2600 N. Harbor Loop Drive, Bellingham. Hear inspiring stories from local kidney donors, recipients and medical experts while learning how living kidney donation works. Info and registration: www.mtbakerfoundation.org.

Litter Cleanup: 10 a.m. to noon, April 25, Exit 274. The Salishan Neighborhood Association Adopt-A-Highway group is picking up litter on Exit 274. Space is limited, so RSVP at Liznben2024@ gmail.com.

Get Ready for Kindergarten Family Night: 5 to 6 p.m., April 30, Blaine Primary School. Building tour, classroom visit, pizza and more. RSVP here: bit.ly/4tE6C8F.

Cascadia International Women’s Film Festival: April 30 through May 3, Bellingham. Info: cascadiafilmfest.org.

“Legally Blonde” The Musical: 7 p.m., April 30–May 2 and May 7–9, and matinées at 2 p.m., May 2 and May 9, Blaine Performing Arts Center. Blaine High School students perform this funny musical based on the film. Recommended for ages 13+. General admission $12, students/military/seniors $10 at bit. ly/4cBEaNB

Beach explorations: Beach walks: 11:30 a.m., May 2, Birch Bay State Park, meet at BP Heron Center. Registration not required. Information: bbbparkandrec.org.

tides

April 24-30 at Blaine. Not for navigation.

Birch Bay Author Book Signing: Saturday, May 2, 4 p.m., The Way Café, 4823 Alderson Road. Local author Lee Connors introduces his book “I Am Paul” and companion workbook. The book explores the transformation of Saul to Paul and how the world was impacted forever.

Future Women in EMS and Fire: May 2 and 3, applications due by April 27. Free. Calling all Whatcom County women interested in a career in the fire service. Learn from women already working in the industry and get hands-on experience. This weekend is about building skills, gaining confidence and finding community. Application and more information: tinyurl. com/future-women-in-ems-fire.

Star Wars Day Community Stroll: 6 p.m., May 4, meet at the Blaine Welcome Center, 546 Peace Portal Drive. It’s that time of year again! Break out your favorite Star-Wars character costume and meet with like-minded people that love everything Star-Wars. All ages welcome. Family friendly free event!

Washington State Basic Boater Education Course: May 11–14, June 8–11, 6:30–8:30 p.m. Online course on Zoom is for anyone wishing to learn safe boating skills and qualify for a Boater Education Card. $15 registration plus $10 printed book. Sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Bellingham and San Juan Islands Flotilla. Reservations and questions: boatingsafetyWA@gmail.com.

Ongoing

Blaine Library Spring Art Exhibition: During library hours, April through June, Blaine Library. The Spring exhibit features a variety of artwork provided by talented local artist Mary Eilene Hamilton. Mary has shared a variety of her work including oil on canvas, oil on masonite and prismacolor. Her collection includes cubism, local landscapes, animals and people.

Weather

Precipitation: During the period of April 13-19, 0.8 inches of precipitation was recorded. The 2026 year-to-date precipitation record is 14.6 inches.

Temperature: High for the past week was 69.8°F on April 19 with a low of 33.9°F on April 16. Average high was 60.1°F and average low was 41.4°F.

Senior Community Meals: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Suggested donation of $6 per meal ($10 if under 60) or whatever is affordable. First come, first serve basis. Info: 360-332-8040.

Blaine Storytime: 10:30 to 11 a.m., Mondays, Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. For ages 2-3. An open program that includes stories, rhymes, and songs with opportunities for movement and interactive participation.

Blaine Food Bank: 9 a.m. to noon on Mondays and Fridays, 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, 500 C Street. Info: 360-332-6350 or Info@blainefoodbank.org.

Lego Club: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Blaine Library, 610 3rd Street. Design, build and share at this drop-in program for ages 4 and up. We provide the LEGO® bricks; you bring the creativity. What will you create? Info: wcls.org.

Cascadia International Women’s Film Festival returns for 10th year in Bellingham

B y G race M c c arthy

Cascadia International Women’s Film Festival is returning for its 10th year of celebrating women filmmakers from Bellingham to Hollywood and beyond.

The festival will be held April 30 – May 3 at various locations around downtown Bellingham before offering online screenings May 7 – 17.

Eight feature films and 22 short films will be featured, including the opening film “Tenor: My Name is Pati” following a Samoan man’s opera career and “Hijra,” Saudi Arabia’s Oscar entry that depicts women spanning multiple generations as they journey to Mecca.

Festival Executive Director and Co-Founder Cheryl Crooks said the nonprofit will bring people across the world to celebrate women’s contributions in film.

“Frankly, what we’ve accomplished in 10 years when you look at it is pretty astounding,” Crooks said. “When you make it to 10 years, it generally means you'll make it as a film festival.”

Former Bellingham resident Polly Miller started the festival, hoping to bring a women’s film festival to the area that was similar to Toronto’s Female Eye Film Festival where she served as president. Crooks, along with other dedicated volunteers, helped Miller lead that charge to build the festival into what it is today.

The idea was simple: Give a platform to women filmmakers, who are historically underrepresented, while building their professional network and showcasing local scenery that could inspire future films.

Statistics support the festival’s mission. The University of Southern California’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, which tracks representation of women in Hollywood, found that of the top 100 U.S. box office films in 2025, only 8.1% were directed by women. Not only that, but the number of women directors for

Photo courtesy of Chelsea Matter

top films in 2025 decreased from 13.4% in 2024 and remained about the same as 2008.

The festival has brought in well-known names in the film industry over the years, including “Twilight” director Catherine Hardwicke and Freida Lee Mock, an Academy- and Emmy Award-winning director known for “Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision” and “Anita: Speaking Truth to Power.”

This year’s honored guest is director Ondi Timoner, known for receiving the Sundance Grand Jury Award twice. Timoner, who has directed “Dig!” and “We Live in Public,” will give a presentation on making documentaries and screen her latest film, “All The Walls Came Down,” about the 2025 Los Angeles fires. The ticketed event starts at 7 p.m. at Mount Baker Theatre.

Bay Area producer Chelsea Matter will show a documentary at the festival for the first time, bringing the work she and director Dana Nachman created to Matter’s hometown of Bellingham.

Matter’s 2026 film, “The Second Life of Freddie Nole,” is a 21-minute documentary that follows the day of a formerly incarcerated man who picks up

people from prison without anyone to call. He gives them a cell phone, clothes and a warm meal.

Nearly all of the 80 people Freddie Nole has helped have remained out of prison, which Matter notes is a stark contrast from the national recidivism rate that’s above 65%.

“It’s about the power of second chances,” Matter said. “And how small acts of compassion can make a huge difference, which is something that we can all do.”

“The Second Life of Freddie Nole” will be shown during the short film program at 1 p.m. May 2 at the Pickford Film Center Bay Theatre. The film will then be shown at the Tribeca Film Festival in June.

The Bellingham festival will also include panel discussions, a script workshop and red car-

pet parties.

While the festival reaches its 10th year, Crooks has her eye on the festival’s future. And what that entails, she said, could include hosting a summer workshop with directors, building on its partnership with West-

ern Washington University and becoming an Academy Award qualifying film festival.

“We didn’t want to do a lookback for 10 years,” Crooks said. “We wanted to look forward.”

For more information and tickets, visit cascadiafilmfest.org.

Advertising in The Northern Light isn’t just about promoting your business; it’s about becoming a vital part of the Blaine, Birch Bay and Semiahmoo community. With over 23,000+ print readers every week, your message reaches the homes, families, and decision-makers you care about most.

When you advertise with us, you’re not just gaining visibility—you’re building relationships. Our readers trust The Northern Light for its commitment to local stories and businesses, meaning your ad will resonate with an audience that values shopping local, supporting local, and staying connected.