The Northern Light: January 29-February 4, 2026

plays Senior Night game, page 6 Laundromat reopens following fire, page 4

Trial starts for murder discovered

B y G race M c c arthy

The murder trial of a Bellingham woman alleged to have killed an Island County resident and dumped his body on Semiahmoo Spit in April 2021 began in Whatcom County Superior Court on January 26, setting in motion what will likely be a monthlong trial.

Lynda Clare Mercy, 67, of Bellingham, faces one count of second-degree murder for the death of Thomas Flood, a 67-yearold man from Langley, who was found shot to death.

Whatcom County chief criminal prosecutor Erik Sigmar and public defender Timothy Arnold made their opening arguments to the 12-person jury in the county courthouse on Monday morning, setting the scene for how they believed Flood’s death and the subsequent investigation unfolded.

Sigmar said people who knew Flood described him as a carpenter who kept to himself and was living out of his van near the Coupeville ferry terminal.

On the night of April 6, surveillance footage showed Mercy, who had just returned from Port Townsend, idling near the Coupeville ferry terminal. Sigmar said video footage showed Mercy getting into a ferry employee’s vehicle before being removed from the vehicle. She was then seen headed toward where Flood’s van was typically parked.

A partially crushed bullet casing was found near where Flood parked his van, Sigmar said, adding it was a .40-caliber casing that matched a gun registered to Mercy. Flood was shot twice, with both bullets passing through his body. Despite this, Sigmar said neither shot would have been fatal had Flood received medical care.

Early the next morning, on April 7, two teenage boys who were staying at Semiahmoo Resort discovered what looked like a pile of debris next to a trail near the Semiahmoo Park parking lot.

Blaine Police Department quickly turned the investigation over to the Whatcom

(See Trial, page 2)

requests federal flood relief, page 13

Science night gets a reaction out of Borderites

Blaine woman remembered for unwavering kindness following fatal I-5 crash

Momina Khan, a 22-year-old Blaine woman who was struck and killed by a driver on Interstate 5 in Ferndale January 20 is being remembered as altruistic by family and friends.

“She inspired others with her kindness,” Momina’s mother, Mamoona Khan, said. “She was very special. Everyone loved her.”

Momina was driving on southbound I-5 to take her friend, also 22, to a dentist appointment in Bellingham. She was driv-

ing a 2023 Tesla Model 3 just south of the Main Street exit when she and her friend were hit by 27-year-old Blaine resident Eduardo Nievesaponte, who had crossed over the median from northbound I-5 in a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado.

A 2024 Hyundai Tucson carrying three people, including an 8-year-old boy, that was traveling southbound then hit Nievesaponte’s truck.

The Hyundai’s passengers and Nievesaponte were uninjured. Momina’s friend was treated for an ankle injury and later

City council denies Avista environmental appeal

B y N ola N B aker

Blaine City Council denied a citizen activist group’s appeal for a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review of the planned Avista at Birch Point development in Semiahmoo during a special meeting held before council’s January 26 meeting.

The council’s 5-0 vote to deny a SEPA appeal came after a 90-minute, closed record hearing between Avista developer Wayne Schwandt; Geoffrey Baker, who leads Blaine Water Coalition, the activist

group that fought for the SEPA hearing; and the city of Blaine. Baker, who goes by the alias Otto Pointer, represented himself, while the other parties had attorneys.

The closed-record meeting allowed only pre-submitted evidence to be discussed, and allowed only parties to the SEPA appeal to speak for five-minute oral arguments and brief rebuttals.

The development in question is a planned subdivision that has promised up to 490 residential units offering single-family, townhomes and multifamily

units to be built over multiple phases. The property is located on the west side of Semiahmoo Parkway, neighboring the Semiahmoo Golf and Country Club and abutting Blaine city limits to the southwest, according to city and developer documents. The first phase of the project will be a 33.5-acre development with 79 residential lots and 1.9 acres of retail space, according to city documents.

The planning for Avista, previously

(See Avista, page 3)

released from St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham.

Momina, who was wearing a seatbelt, died on scene, according to Washington State Patrol (WSP).

WSP initially reported that neither drugs nor alcohol were suspected in the crash. However, state trooper Kelsey Harding said on January 27 that the cause was being “heavily investigated,” and use of drugs or alcohol had not been ruled out.

(See Khan, page 2)

From page 1

Born September 9, 2003 in Renton, Momina was the youngest in a family of five. She spent the first decade of her life in the southern suburb of Seattle with her mother Mamoona, father Shahid and two older brothers, Shah and Adil. She grew up

surrounded by family, including cousins she’d frequently see in Kent and Surrey, B.C.

Momina, her mother and Adil moved to Pakistan for two years when she was in middle school before settling in Whatcom County to be with her father and Shah. She graduated from Blaine High School in 2022, where she excelled academically and played basketball – a sport that came naturally as a young girl over 6 feet.

Momina took business classes at Whatcom Community College and had just been accepted to Central Washington University, where she was eager to start in the summer.

Momina planned to attend Central online so that she could be near her mother, something that was important to her, especially after her father had died a few years ago. Eventually, she wanted to become a business lawyer after being inspired by relatives who practiced law.

“I told her, ‘You can’t be a lawyer because you don’t lie,” Adil said.

Family members and friends said Momina tried to get the most out of life, always agreeing to an adventure and encouraging friends out of their comfort zones.

Momina’s sister-in-law, Muskan Ikram, said Momina became like a sister when she moved to the U.S. from Pakistan late last summer. The pair were always

together, getting boba, shopping at the mall and doing each other’s hair. Muskan credits Momina for helping her adjust to the U.S. by encouraging Muskan to talk to new people and have new experiences, like trying sushi for the first time.

In her spare time, Momina enjoyed reading, watching TV and cooking new recipes for her family that she’d find on TikTok. She was determined to find a solution to anything, even if she didn’t know the answer, family members said.

Above all else, Momina was known for her kindness toward others.

Neighbor Sue Szewczyk said Momina never hesitated to help if her family needed a cat sitter and refused to accept any payment. Momina would often create chalk art with neighbors’ children. When neighbor Jocelyn Au’s mother visited the U.S. from Malaysia for the first time last August, Momina volunteered to take Jocelyn’s mother sightseeing and prepared meals for her.

Momina was the person Shah’s dogs turned to for comfort. She cleaned for Adil when he was on work trips and took care of him after a motorcycle injury. When Momina’s friend was missing her mother recently, Momina brought that friend to her house so the friend could hug Momina’s mother.

“She was a really nice person,” Shah said. “She never judged

• Waxing 360-920-1674 • 4819 Alderson Road # 102, Birch Bay Laura Brudvik Licensed Esthetician serving Whatcom county

anyone on their race, color or gender.”

A funeral prayer was held on January 23 at the Islamic Center of Blaine. Family members said they were touched by the amount of support they have received from the community.

Trial ...

From page 1

County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators identified Flood by a pay stub found on his body and were able to ping his phone inside the van, which was parked at a church in Fairhaven. Sigmar said investigators discovered evidence of foul play and blood in the back of the van.

Investigators then tracked Flood’s phone data to see where the van traveled, which led them to surveillance footage of a woman at a Bellingham gas station, Sigmar said. The sheriff’s office requested the public’s help in identifying the woman, who Sigmar said several people identified as Mercy. One of Mercy’s friends called 911 to report that Mercy had given her a box with a gun and other objects in it, the prosecuting attorney added.

Cigarettes found in Flood’s van matched the ones Mercy had in her apartment. Sigmar said an expert witness would testify later that Mercy’s DNA was on the cigarettes in the van.

“The evidence will show Mr. Flood was shot in his van, where he slept. He was shot in his home,” Sigmar said. “The defendant took possession of his home, drove out to Semiahmoo, dumped Tom Flood out like trash on the side of the road.”

However, Arnold quickly made it clear to the jury that he did not believe the state had evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to convict Mercy, describing most of the evidence as circumstantial.

“This is a story of association, possibilities and assumptions,” Arnold said. “And assumptions do the heavy lifting in this case. Asso-

Mamoona asked that people do a good deed to carry on her daughter’s legacy.

“A lot of people were struck and hurt because of how nice of a person she was,” Shah said of his younger sister. “It hurts a bit more.”

ciation does not prove conduct.” Arnold said prosecutors did not have direct evidence on who pulled the trigger, when Flood was shot, where Flood died and what firearm was used. He added there were no witnesses to Flood being shot.

Detectives only requested surveillance footage of Mercy and the van near the Coupeville ferry terminal, but they could have asked for all of the video to create a better picture of the events leading up to Flood’s death, Arnold said. The footage was erased after 45 days.

Defense said the red stains in the van were only assumed to be blood because the stains were not tested to confirm if they were blood, nor if the blood belonged to Flood. The investigators did, however, test what they believed to be blood found on a jacket in Mercy’s apartment, which turned out to not be blood.

“That goes to show you, they could have tested things,” Arnold said. “They could have known things, and they did not do that. They filled a gap with a guess and an assumption.”

Following opening arguments, the first key witnesses of the trial were called to the stand, including the first people to find Flood and Mercy’s friend who was given the gun.

The affidavit of probable cause stated Mercy appeared in Blaine Municipal Court at 8 a.m. April 7, 2021.

Mercy has been held in Whatcom County Jail in lieu of a $1 million appearance bond since April 13, 2021, according to jail records.

At the time of Flood’s death, Blaine Police Department said it was the first homicide discovery within city limits in 39 years.

called Semiahmoo Highlands, was announced to the public in early 2022. Schwandt, who was also in charge of the Sea Smoke neighborhood in Semiahmoo, presented his plans in March 2022 to about 100 community members, many of whom were concerned about stormwater management after the November 2021 floods.

During the March 2022 presentation, Schwandt said he intended for the project to include development in unincorporated Whatcom County, according to previous reporting by The Northern Light Baker, speaking on behalf of Blaine Water Coalition, argued that Blaine city government did not properly investigate the subdivision’s environmental impact. He said the city did not do its due diligence in allowing adequate public comment, determining stormwater runoff and flood risks, and determining whether a Critical Aquifer Recharge Area (CARA) exists under the land, among other complaints.

The city argued the Blaine Water Coalition, as the SEPA appellant, held the burden of proof for its claims and did not do enough to convince the city council that a mistake was made in the initial planning and public participation of the Avista development.

“The claimed deficiencies in the process have either been adequately considered by the city in making the SEPA MDNS decision or are irrelevant, unrelated or legally incorrect statements that have no bearing on the city’s decision,” said Tim Schermetzler, the city’s attorney. “Community dissatisfaction with a project is not a basis for the council to deny a project.”

Schermetzler cited a January 5 recommendation from the city hearing examiner, Phil Olbrechts, that recommended council deny the SEPA appeal. Throughout the 58-page report, Olbrechts said the city was adequate in its stormwater, drainage, environmental and traffic planning to go forward with the development without fear of legal repercussions.

“The SEPA appellants, most notably Mr. Pointer, exerted a monumental effort in representing the concerns of the surrounding community,” Olbrechts wrote in the report. “They had to absorb thousands of pages of technical information within the

compressed timeframes of the appeal review process. Despite these efforts, they could not overcome the near bullet-proof permit record compiled by City planning staff and the Applicant.”

During rebuttals, Baker said the Blaine Water Coalition will continue to fight the planned development.

“We’re not finished yet,” Baker said. “There’s some significant deficiencies here. You’re voting on this. This is going to impact the lives of 1,300 homes south of us, our neighbors. These people are impacted, and you have to think about that on your conscience at some point.”

Baker also filed a public records lawsuit against the city last August that a Whatcom County Superior

Court judge found to incorrectly cite the law. The judge, Robert E. Olson, warned practicing the law in such a way could potentially be a criminal act and could result in Baker being sanctioned by the city.

Baker and the city later agreed to drop the lawsuit without prejudice, meaning the case could reopen in the future.

Council approved the preliminary plat application during

the special meeting. Schwandt now has 180 days to submit a planned unit development master plan to the city, incorporating 95 conditions set by the city hearing examiner.

How

The Northern L ght

The Northern Light is published weekly by Daffodil Press.

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. The newspaper 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.

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Editor Grace McCarthy grace@pointrobertspress.com

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Contributors In This Issue

Doug Dahl

Samantha Ferraro

Jake Goldstein-Street / WA State Standard Kelle Rankin-Sunter

The Northern Light 229 Marine Drive, Blaine, WA 98230

Tel: 360/332-1777

Vol XXXI, No 32

Circulation: 11,000 copies

The Washhouse opens following dryer fire OpiniOn

s No cause has been determined for the fire that occurred at The

uary 24, said

The Editor: Local news that’s trusted and accessible to everyone without paywall is essential to the health of a community. Salish Current was founded and operates with those principles serving local communities, and will work with other groups and stakeholders to support local news in The Northern Light’s community readership area.

Amy Nelson, Salish Current publisher and co-founder Bellingham

The Editor:

Dear good people of Blaine, Point Roberts, Semiahmoo and Birch Bay, I am impressed by the long history of news coverage serving your communities. In fact, I was not aware until recently of the newspaper legacy in your region of our state!

La Conner, where I have loved living

Letters

since 2007, also has a historical news presence with the longest continuous publication of a weekly newspaper in our state. That status could have changed at the end of 2024 were it not for a group of community members who came together, committed to keeping news alive in our small but mighty town and surrounding communities, including the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community.

That perseverance was met with vision, smarts, talent and drive by current publisher and editor-in-chief Kari Mar, who listened and heard how much we value our local, printed paper. Fast forward to early 2025, and we were seeing an email newsletter and website from La Conner Community News.

Then the first weekly issue began publishing in March!

I am excited for you all that The Northern Light will continue publish -

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: Typically the last Thursday 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 of each month at 6 p.m. Info: bbbparkandrec.org.

about 9:55 a.m.

ing so that you can continue to read local news that matters, about the people, services and happenings that you would (See Letters, next page)

Please send letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.

Corrections

The article titled “Protests in Blaine” in the January 22 issue of The Northern Light inaccurately included a photo of a student protest over ICE activity at Blaine High School. The photo was from a student protest in Blaine, Minnesota.

A photo caption in the photospread titled “December and New Year’s scenes around Blaine and Birch Bay” misstated Brent Greene’s position with Blaine Police Department. Greene is deputy chief.

We regret the errors.

Blaine Public Works and Park Advisory Board: Second Thursday, 9:30 a.m., Blaine council chambers. Info: 360/332-8311, 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.

Road Rules: The limits for drug-impaired driving

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Question: We have a limit for driving with alcohol in your system, and we have a limit for cannabis, but what about all the other drugs? Why don’t we have limits for them? How can an officer know when someone is too high to drive?

Answer: Right up front, I want to make something clear. Washington does not have a legal limit on how much alcohol you can drink and then drive. Yes, we have a 0.08 blood alcohol content (BAC) per se limit. But that doesn’t mean anyone below that number is sober. Per se is Latin for “by itself” and, in the context of impaired driving, means that driving with a BAC level of 0.08 or greater is sufficient, without any other evidence, to be guilty of “driving while under the influence.” You can be impaired below the per se limit; quite a bit below it. The effects of alcohol are apparent at 0.02 BAC, and a driver more than doubles their risk of a crash at 0.05 BAC. That’s why most industrialized nations (and Utah) have per se limits of 0.05 or lower.

I point all of this out be -

Letters ...

From previous page

not find covered elsewhere. We are excited to be working with you! Onward!

Susan Macek, board member of La Conner Community News La Conner

The Editor:

I am writing to say “Thank you” to Pat Grubb for all your years of wonderful, heartfelt, award-winning service at the helm of publishing and managing The Northern Light I have lived in Birch Bay for the past 22 years and had the privilege of meeting you many, many years ago. You were and have always been a person of integrity with such a positive, uplifting energy and a very honest, sincere and gentle approach. A bright light for others to follow. So, thank you, thank you again, and may you and your family be blessed with a wonderful, enjoyable, happily fulfilling life in whatever you choose to do going forward.

Cindy Kisska Birch Bay

The Editor: I met Rex Allison on an autumn day in Seattle, while relaxing on a bench in the arboretum. His easy manner of striking up a conversation, coupled with his genuinely curious array of questions, endeared and impressed me immediately.

In an era of instant gratification, of text messages, sound bites and video shorts, the manner in which this seasoned reporter drew stories, facts and feelings out of me, still impresses me.

cause in a recent survey nearly a quarter of Washington drivers believed (incorrectly) that they couldn’t be impaired below a 0.08 BAC. That’s also why an appropriate per se law matters. When people don’t understand the law, they’ll misinterpret a per se limit as a legal limit and may make risky driving decisions based on flawed information.

Regardless of a driver’s BAC limit, the law says a person is guilty of DUI if they drive “under the influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor, cannabis, or any drug,” or a combination of drugs and/or alcohol. Here’s a minimalist summary of our DUI law: If you consume a substance that affects your ability to drive, don’t drive. This includes alcohol, cannabis, illegal drugs and prescription medications. That also gets us to your actual question. If the standard for DUI is being “under the influence or affected” by a drug, it’s important for an officer to be able to recognize what drug impairment looks like. They can’t just tell the judge, “He looked high to me,” and expect it to fly in court. Instead, they need to rely on their training and experience

Nowadays Rex does the same with the bright, young caregivers who help him through the daily ordeals of Parkinson’s. He asks them all about their lives. And we all get to know precious details about one another.

In the days of waning newspapers, I wonder how much this skill is lost. So many talk and talk about themselves. Fewer bother to listen. Even fewer inquire for more.

Rex has worked on papers small and large throughout the state of Washington. Though his most cherished memories, and some of his most interesting stories, lay with the smaller neighborhood papers, one of which was the Westside Record Journal out of Ferndale in the ’80s.

In light of the recent save of The Northern Light, I celebrate my husband, the aging reporter, who still receives his daily newspaper at our doorstep and starts his day lost in its pages.

Teresa Verde Birch Bay

The Editor: Back in April 2025, I organized a U.S./Canada solidarity rally at Peace Arch Park with other activists from both sides of the border. In the process I contacted U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials to advise them of the event, in order to avoid any kerfuffle. As has always been my experience with our border security, I was rather formally assured by a supervisor that we were welcome to assert First Amendment rights and that he appreciated the heads up.

I was also counseled that attendees should enter and leave the park from the same access points, and that no interchange of material should take place (one

to identify specific characteristics of impairment, depending on the category of drug that a person has used.

For many officers in Washington that training is a class called Advanced Roadside Impaired Driver Enforcement (ARIDE). To condense 16 hours of training to a short (and incomplete) description, ARIDE trains officers on the seven categories of drugs, how each category affects the systems in the human body, and how to recognize indicators of impairment associated with each category.

For example, the central nervous system stimulants include cocaine and methamphetamine (illegal) as well as Adderall and Ritalin (legal when used as prescribed). Common indicators of use (from a list of nearly 20 indicators) include dilated pupils, slow reaction to light, elevated body temperature, tense muscles, euphoria and exaggerated reflexes. If you’re curious about the effects of different categories of drugs, you can find a chart at thewisedrive.com by searching on the website for “drug categories and their effects.”

We also have officers with more advanced training called

of my takeaways is that Peace Arch Park is diligently and appropriately surveilled); instructions I included in the promotional materials and reiterated in the welcoming remarks to the attendees. By all accounts, the event was meaningful to the participants, and there were no incidents that detracted from a peaceful affirmation of international goodwill and the merits of mutual collaboration.

Drug Recognition Experts (DREs). They’re able to administer in-depth evaluations to drivers impaired by drugs. When an ARIDE-trained officer recognizes a drug-impaired driver, they may call for a DRE to assist with the investigation. Bottom line: A trained officer can spot the indicators that someone is “too high to drive.” Doug Dahl is a Blaine resident, manager with the Washington Traffic Safety Commission Region 11 and publishes TheWiseDrive. com.

Now, nearly a year later, as a civilian, I’m clueless if the mission of our “border town” Customs and Border Protection agents has been corrupted by the Trump administration and Homeland Security’s abuse of fundamental civil and human rights. These agents perform a crucial role for our safety. They are our neighbors and friends as well as our protectors. I’d like to think that the busiest northern border crossing between the Pacific and Detroit, between two counties long wedded in redeeming values and mutual support, and the long-standing respectful and no BS professionalism and commitment to service to our nation and community of our CBP force, still protects us with with the integrity of their oath of office. If so, thanks.

Bob Edwardsen Birch Bay

February 10, 2026 9:00 AM – Public Works and Park Advisory Board Meeting

February 12, 2026 6:00 PM – Planning Commission Meeting

February 16, 2026 Offices Closed – Presidents Day

February 23, 2026 6:00 PM – City Council Meeting

“We are new residents to the Blaine area and of course newly readers to The Northern Light newspaper. We truly appreciate all the hard work and dedication that goes into your amazing newspaper. I personally look forward to receiving it in the mail. Keep up the good work!” - Jenifer Raman

“So glad The Northern Light newspaper is alive and well, and is under the oversight of another dedicated journalist.” - Susan Hagan

This week’s supporters:

Claire Gunn • Susan Hagan • Jenifer Raman • Lynda Wimbush

Vicky Reid • Joyce & Laura Dippold • Darla Buchmeier

Basketball falls to Lakewood on Senior Night

B y N ola N B aker

The winter sports season marches on, and playoff seeding is slowly coming into focus.

This past week, Blaine boys basketball struggled against Northwest Conference rivals, girls basketball couldn’t start a winning streak on the road, boys wrestling dropped a tough battle against rival Mt. Baker, and a few girls wrestlers made it deep in the Lady Knights Invitational tournament.

Boys basketball

Blaine boys basketball faced a tough trio of opponents over the past week, losing three games to extend the team’s losing streak to seven games.

On January 22, the Borderites headed on the road to face a high-powered Lynden team, losing 77-34.

The first-place 2A Northwest Conference team played like it, with Lynden holding Blaine to just two points through the first quarter. Blaine’s guards still had a productive night, with senior point guard Kai Kerwin finishing with eight points and six assists, and senior shooting guard Daniel Banks leading the team with nine points.

Against non-conference opponent Orcas Island on January 24, the Borderites took the game down to the wire. Despite falling to a 61-41 deficit to begin the fourth quarter, the Borderites sparked a comeback, outscoring Orcas Island 22-13 in the final period.

But it wasn’t enough, as the hosts did just enough to preserve the win. Three Borderites, senior forward Landon Melton, junior forward Peyton Bouma and Banks, each scored 10 points.

Hosting against Lakewood on Senior Night on January 27, Blaine couldn’t keep up with the

3-pointers from Lakewood.

Lakewood jumped out to a 19-4 lead after the end of the first quarter thanks to a few forced turnovers and plenty of made 3-pointers. By the end of the night, Lakewood forced 22 turnovers and made 12 attempts from beyond the 3-point arc.

The loss dropped Blaine to a 4-14 (2-10 NWC) record with three games remaining in the regular season schedule.

Blaine’s next game is scheduled for Thursday, January 29 at 7:15 p.m. (after press time) at Ferndale. The Borderites then travel to face Mt. Vernon on Monday, February 2 at 7:15 p.m.

Stats provided by whatcompreps.com

Girls basketball

Blaine girls basketball played just one game over the past week, a 6835 loss to Lakewood on January 27.

Despite strong offensive performances from junior forward Kate Koreski – team-high 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting – and senior forward Aaliyah Bowman – 10-point, 11-rebound double-double – the Borderites couldn’t hang with Lakewood after a lopsided second quarter.

The Borderites were pestering Lakewood in the first quarter, and headed into the second period with just a four-point deficit. But Lakewood went on a 22-4 run to end the first half, and Blaine couldn’t mount a second half comeback.

Freshman forward Hailey

Kruse had a solid performance, scoring seven points and collecting 10 rebounds. Senior guard Brietta Sandell nabbed three steals and junior guard Marcella Bring tallied four assists.

The loss dropped the Borderites to a 4-13 (1-8 NWC) record with just four games remaining in the regular season.

Blaine will play Thursday, January 29 at Ferndale, tipoff at 5:45 p.m. (after press time), then celebrate Senior Night with a Monday, February 2 home game against Mt. Vernon, tipoff at 6 p.m.

Stats provided by whatcompreps.com

Boys wrestling

Blaine boys wrestling travelled to face Northwest Conference ri-

vals Mt. Baker for a classic team duel on January 22, with the Borderites narrowly losing 46-34.

Cole Voigt earned a win over Henry Brown by a 14-2 major decision. Vinnie Saia followed that up with a win by fall over Elijah Knutsen in just 55 seconds.

Aidyn Hancock defeated Isaac DeKriek by fall in a time of 4:12, but that would be Blaine’s last individual win of the duel, with Mt. Baker winning the next six matchups.

Blaine would get six points in the final round thanks to a heavyweight forfeit against Avery Hicks, but Blaine ultimately couldn’t overcome the losses from the 144- to 215-pound divisions.

Blaine will compete in the King of the Valley tournament at Nooksack Valley on Saturday, January 31 at 10 a.m., facing off against Northwest Conference rivals Sehome and Nooksack Valley.

Results provided by trackwrestling.com

Girls wrestling

Blaine girls wrestling had a good day on the mat at the Lady Knights Invitational in Arlington on January 24.

While no Borderite earned an outright first place finish in their respective weight class, multiple Blaine athletes showed great effort.

Lyah Sandell won three consolation rounds after falling out of the fifth-place match. She beat two wrestlers by fall and one by forfeit.

Kiera O’Reilly made it to the semifinal round in her weight division, but lost by fall before forfeiting the third-place match. O’Reilly won three matches on the day: two by fall and one by major decision.

Taylor Estes earned a thirdplace finish in her weight class, defeating Borderite teammate Kieley Galloway by fall in 2:18.

Blaine will participate in the Lady Hawk Invitational on January 31 at Mountlake Terrace.

Results provided by trackwrestling.com

& Home Garden

In the Garden with Kelle: Time to start thinking about seeds

Every day I get my mail with excited anticipation that there will be another seed catalogue arriving. With beautiful pictures and a plethora of promises for better, bigger and more productive harvests, we are lured into trying “one more variety.” Yes, I know I already have 10 varieties of tomato seeds waiting to be planted in little trays.

I promise myself every year that I will nurture them faithfully until they can be transplanted out. Invariably, I start them too early or the tray is too close to the window (and the temperature dips to 20°F – the cold coming off the glass shocking those baby tomato plants into death throes almost instantly). However, none of my failures ever seem to deter the desire to browse those lovely catalogues and dream about how much better my garden would be if I had that curly purple red cabbage growing in it.

Take a really deep breath and a black marker. Circle every entry that sounds enticing. Now, open your seed storage area (I know you have one), and start reading the packages.

Each year, most of us proba-

bly plant fewer seeds than come in those lovely little envelopes. We save the leftovers, promising ourselves that we will use them next year.

If you haven’t taken the time to sort your seeds by type, do that this week. Make sure you separate your bush beans from your pole beans, your sweet peas from your snow peas, and so on. Then count how many packages of each one you have, and make a list.

If you can remember the strong performers, the ones that did really well in your garden, put a star by that variety. It makes sense to grow what has been successful, especially if you have a year-afteryear track record. Seeds do get old, which lowers their germination rate, but you will often get seeds to germinate from packets that are 10-20 years old. If you want a really successful germination, stick with fresher seeds.

Now that you have sorted all of your seed packets, determined exactly what you have and how old they may be, it’s time to decide what you want to plant in your garden. Make sure that you are able to meet the cultivation requirements (well-drained soil, plenty of sun, spacing, etc.).

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Garden ...

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It’s helpful to map your garden. Knowing where you planted seeds will prevent you from putting them in the same space again, which reduces pests and improves soil health.

Do you have room left? If so, open that seed catalog again, and go shopping. After all, you’ve already circled some exciting finds.

When shopping, keep in mind that any seed variety labeled as an F1 hybrid will not produce seeds “true” to the plant you purchased.

The F1 stands for first filial generation, which are seeds from the first generation of crossbreeding two plants with desirable characteristics. Plant breeders develop F1 hybrids to improve traits such as disease resistance, higher yields, uniform growth, appearance and flavor.

Unlike open-pollinated or heirloom seeds, the seeds from F1 hybrid plants will not reliably produce the same traits in the next generation, making seed saving ineffective. So, keep that in mind as you are making your selections. Another important thing to remember when making your selection is we have slow-to-warm soils and a very low heat index during our summers. Varieties that like hot weather are not great choices. Look for plants with shorter harvest times. For example, lots of corn varieties will be ready in 100 days, but you will probably find more success with varieties that ripen in 75-80 days.

Lastly, any seed that is whole will grow a plant that produces food. Think of what you’d find at the bulk bins at most grocery stores – beans, popcorn, flax, barley, etc. You may not know the seed’s characteristics, such as if it will have a short or long harvest, but you will be able to grow

something. It’s a fun experiment with your kids: Buy a 13-bean soup mix, and see what you get. The $1 you spend for a pound of seeds will be cost effective. Catalogues aren’t the only place to find seeds. There are a variety of seed swaps available that can be found online.

Blaine CORE (Blaine Community Orchards for Resources and Education) will be presenting classes on vegetable gardening. Upcoming classes include “Winter Soil and Jumpstarting your Garden” from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, February 28 at Blaine Public Library and “Weed Starting and Sprouting” 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 25 at the Blaine Community/Senior Center. Garden Design 101 will be a four-part series 5-7 p.m. every Thursday from February 12 to March 5 at the Blaine Community/Senior Center. The workshops are free, and everyone is welcome.

For more information on Blaine CORE classes, visit nwcore.org.

Kelle Rankin-Sunter is founder of Blaine CORE, which holds free home and gardening classes in Blaine. Rankin-Sunter can be reached at fruit@Blaine-CORE.com.

& Home Garden

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& Home Garden

Bellingham SeaFeast recipe: Brown-butter scallops over

B y S a M a N tha F erraro

Samantha Ferraro, founder of The Little Ferraro Kitchen, cooks up brown-butter scallops over creamy polenta as a way to bring warmth and local seafood to dinner plates this winter. The recipe is part of Bellingham SeaFeast’s Keep It Simple Seafood (KISS) recipes and cooking demonstrations. Scallops

• 5-6 wild scallops

• kosher salt

• ground black pepper

• 2 Tbsp. olive oil plus more for garnish

• 2 Tbsp. butter, divided

• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

• ¼ cup parsley, finely chopped plus more for garnish

• zest of ½ lemon

• juice of ½ lemon Polenta

• 3 ½ cups vegetable stock

• 1 cup polenta

• ½ cup milk

• 1 Tbsp. butter

• ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

• ½ tsp kosher salt

• ground black pepper

Bring vegetable stock to a boil. Once boiling, whisk in the polenta. Continue whisking until the polenta thickens, then turn off the heat.

Whisk in the milk, butter, parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper. Continue whisking until the butter has melted and the polenta is creamy. Once done, set aside. For the scallops, dry the scallops very well, and season with salt and pepper. Bring up a cast iron skillet to high heat and drizzle in olive oil

creamy polenta

and 1 Tbsp. of butter. Once melted, sear the scallops on each side until a deep golden crust forms, about 1-2 minutes per side, then set the scallops aside.

$420,000

$230,000

368 H Street, • Downtown Blaine

Many people will admit that home ownership tops their lists of long-term goals. Finding a home that is affordable may require moving into what many real estate agents bill as a “starter home.” But the arrival of a child, and then more children thereafter, could make a home that was perfectly functional for two or three feel too close for comfort.

Anyone who would like to raise a family in the future might want to consider certain factors when choosing a residence or designing living spaces. A home that can grow with life changes can truly be a forever home. The following strategies can expand space when a family grows.

• Declutter. It is important to go through belongings regularly and remove anything that is no longer needed. This can be the first step to free up physical space in a room or the home in general. Donate any items that still have utility.

• Reassess your existing storage. Look at different ways to maximize existing storage. Utilizing vertical space is one way to do so, so an investment in shelves, hooks and storage systems that maximize space in an upward di-

Lower the heat in the cast iron, and add another Tbsp. of butter and chopped garlic. Sauté the garlic for 30 seconds, then stir in a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, chopped fresh parsley, and stir to combine to make a pan sauce. When ready to serve, spread a generous layer of polenta at the bottom of a plate, and top with seared scallops and drizzle of brown butter pan sauce. Garnish with more chopped parsley and fresh lemon zest and serve.

Bellingham resident Samantha Ferraro is founder of the food blog, The Little Ferraro Kitchen. Her recipes have been featured in PBS Food, The Huffington Post, Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post, among others. Keep It Simple Seafood is a seafood cooking workshop in partnership with Bellingham SeaFeast and Bellingham Dockside Market. Workshops are held throughout the year in Bellingham and the recipes are available online. To view this recipe’s cooking video, visit bit.ly/4633hGE.

How growing families can create more space

rection can get items off the floor. Make use of storage under the stairs or in eaves. Loft beds with open space underneath are great for children’s rooms because they maximize floor area.

• Think about toy storage. Children love to play with toys, and once kids are in a home, toys will accumulate quite quickly. Have a plan for keeping toys neat and stowed away when not in use. Under-the-bed storage, toy armoires (that are secured to the wall) and furniture that can double as storage, such as storage ottomans, are ideal.

• Revamp a closet. Although closet space may be at a premium, particularly in older homes, a closet can be turned into a nook to hold a desk for a homework station or remote office space. Compact and organized, it’s easy to hide away when not in use by closing the door.

• Utilize room dividers. Open floor plans have been the norm for some time. But at some point as a family grows, privacy and multi-functional spaces may be needed. It can be costly to put up permanent walls, but bookcases or pieces of tall furniture can be

used as room dividers to cordon off areas as specific spaces, like a child’s play area.

• Convert a basement or garage. Garages and basements have a reputation for being catch-alls for storage boxes and holiday decorations. However, such rooms have plenty of potential as functional living spaces. Invest in transforming a garage or basement into a room that can grow with the family. At first it may be a play area for young kids. Afterwards, it can be a gaming or homework hangout. As children grow older, spaces can be converted to a family media room. Having this extra space can free up room in the rest of the house so people can enjoy alone time when they need it.

• Maximize outdoor space. A yard or another outdoor space can add valuable square footage to a home. A covered patio or deck can make the outdoor areas more usable throughout the year and zones can be created for family meals, play and relaxation. A family home will need more space as the years go on, and homeowners should keep that in mind when making renovations or choosing a property.

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF WHATCOM In re the Matter and Estate of: BRUNO A. MORAS Deceased. No. 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: Jan. 22, 2026

Personal Representative Cindy Maxwell, of Inslee, Maxwell & Associates

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

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHING-

TON IN AND FOR WHATCOM COUNTY

IN Re: THE ESTATE OF BRUCE STUART PFEIFFER AND DONNA PATRICIA PFEIFFER, Deceased. NO. 25-4-0094737. PROBATE NOTICE TO CREDITORS (RCW 11.40.070)

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR WHATCOM COUNTY In re the Estate of: RONALD EVERETT WATTAM, JR., Deceased. No. 25-4-00830-37. AMENDED NOTICE TO CREDITORS. Judge Evan P. Jones

The Administrator named below has been appointed and has qualified as Administrator 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 Administrator or the Administrator’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 probated proceedings were commenced. The claim must be presented within the later of: (1) thirty days after the Administrator 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 Filing of Notice to Creditors:

January 20, 2026 with Clerk of Court:

Date of First Publication: January 22, 2026

Name of Administrator: MARK HOVER

Attorney for Administrators: Steven D. Avery, WSBA #35262

Address for Mailing or Service: Avery Elder Law, P.S. 801 Samish Way, Ste. 202 Bellingham WA 98229

Telephone: (360) 325-2550

Email: steve@averyelderlaw.com

DATED: January 20, 2026

AVERY ELDER LAW, P.S. STEVEN D. AVERY, WSBA #35262

Attorney for Administrator MARK HOVER

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: January 29, 2026

Personal Representative: Richard Jansen 2273 Gardiner 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. 26-4-00051-37.

The co-Personal Representatives named below have been appointed and have qualified as co-Personal Representatives 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 (a) serving on or mailing to the co-Personal Representatives or the co-Personal Representatives’ attorney at the address stated below, a copy of the claim, and (b) filing of the original of the claim with the court in which the probate proceedings were commenced.

The claim must be presented with in the later of: (1) thirty (30) days after the co-Personal Representatives have served or mailed the notice to the creditor as provided under RCW 11.40.020(1)(c); or (2) four (4) months after the date of the first publication of the notice. If the claim is not presented with in 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.

DATE OF FILING WITH CLERK OF COURT: 01/21/2026

DATE OF FIRST PUBLICATION: 01/29/2026

co-Personal Representatives: Katherine E. Pfeiffer and Jeffrey B. Pfeiffer

Address for Service: 113 W. Chestnut St. Bellingham, WA 98225

Attorney For Katherine E. Pfeiffer as co-Personal Representative: Mark D. Nusz, WSBA #50905

COURT OF PROBATE PROCEEDING AND CAUSE NUMBER: WHATCOM COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT No. 25-4-00947-37

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF WHATCOM In re the Matter and Estate of: NICOLE-HELENE JONES, Deceased. No. 25-4-0126337. 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: Jan. 29, 2026

Personal Representative: Jacqueline Flaget, 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

WA leaders prepare for possibility of immigration crackdown

B y J ake

G ol DS tei N -S treet , W a S tate S ta ND ar D

Washington’s governor on January 26 painted a dire outlook of how clashes between federal immigration authorities and the state could unfold if a crackdown similar to the one in Minnesota hit here.

Governor Bob Ferguson said he could envision members of the National Guard acting as a buffer between immigration officers and protesters. Attorney General Nick Brown didn’t rule out the possibility of state or local authorities stepping in to enforce state law against federal agents.

And both Ferguson and Brown urged residents to monitor and record questionable immigration enforcement conduct.

After immigration agents in Minnesota shot and killed a man over the weekend, Ferguson issued a statement saying that the nation’s “descent into authoritarian rule continues” and calling on people to “defend your democracy while you still can.”

On January 26, he hosted a press conference alongside Brown at the Capitol to lay out the state’s preparations for the possibility of a ramped-up deployment of immigration agents in the state. It came two days after federal agents killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on January 24, escalating already high tensions over intensifying U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations across the country under the Trump administration.

“Our job, my job, attorney general’s job, all of our jobs here, is to make sure that we are doing everything we can to prepare for a worstcase scenario,” Ferguson said.

The first-term Democrat said ICE was “completely and totally out of control.”

The governor said he met January 25 with adjutant general Gent Welsh, who leads the state’s National Guard, to discuss related issues, but didn’t offer details. As of January 26, Ferguson said he had “no specific information” that an immigration crackdown in Washington is forthcoming.

Brown called the Trump administration a “little cabal of cruelty.”

“America is weaker because of the operations in Minnesota, and real people all across this country

are now traumatized, injured and dead because of this president’s fascist tendencies,” said Brown, also a Democrat and former federal prosecutor.

He acknowledged the state was on the cusp of messy territory when it comes to issues like state or local officers intervening in federal immigration operations.

“It’s obviously incredibly complicated when you’re talking about the division of authority between state law enforcement, local and the federal government,” Brown said. “As a general matter, state and local law enforcement do not have to simply watch or look away if the law is being violated.”

‘Everybody has a role’ Democrats around the country are slamming ICE over its conduct. And, following Pretti’s death, there’s a possibility that Senate Democrats will withhold needed votes on federal funding legislation, a move that could trigger a partial government shutdown. In the Washington state legislature, Democratic lawmakers are considering a slew of measures in response to the heightened immigration enforcement campaign. These include a ban on police face coverings, as many ICE agents have covered their

faces during operations, protections for immigrant workers from federal raids and guardrails for the use of automated license plate readers that authorities have used to track down immigrants.

Even some Republicans, who are generally wary of criticizing the president, are raising concerns.

A group of governors on January 25, including the Republican chief executive of Oklahoma who chairs the National Governors Association, called for a “reset” from the federal government on its immigration enforcement campaign.

U.S. representative Michael Baumgartner, a Republican from eastern Washington, called for congressional hearings into immigration enforcement after Pretti’s shooting, which he called “disturbing.”

Ferguson and Brown also emphasized the role the public has in “defending our democracy.”

“We have certain powers as attorney general or governors to do our part, but everybody has a role in our state right now,” Ferguson said. “And we’re going to need that to get through this.”

They said if Washington were faced with a broad ICE incursion, they would pursue legal avenues to stop it, as officials in Minnesota have. But state leaders here

can’t keep ICE out of the state, Ferguson noted. He and Brown encouraged residents to record interactions with federal agents.

Videos of the shootings of Pretti and Renee Good in Minnesota have captured the circumstances leading up to their deaths.

King County and the cities of Seattle and Shoreline, along with local elected officials in Bellingham and Tacoma, signed onto a legal brief last week arguing the Minneapolis crackdown is unconstitutional.

A federal judge is considering halting the 3,000-agent deployment in Minnesota.

Letter to Noem

Ferguson and Brown on January 26 sent a letter to U.S. Homeland Security Kristi Noem, whose agency oversees ICE, urging her to withdraw federal agents from Minnesota: “Now is the time to deescalate.”

They also took issue with an internal memo arguing ICE agents can enter people’s homes without a judicial warrant, despite vast legal precedent to the contrary.

“If ICE agents attempt any such unconstitutional measures in the state of Washington, we will do everything in our power to oppose it,” Ferguson and Brown wrote in their letter. “Our state will consider all legal options to

hold the U.S. Government and individual ICE agents accountable for violating Washingtonians’ constitutional rights.”

As of mid-October, federal immigration authorities had arrested nearly 2,000 people in Washington since Trump retook office, compared to about 800 over the same period under the Biden administration in 2024, according to figures from the Deportation Data Project. The data, which is the most recent available, showed the crackdown had intensified in late summer and early fall. Ferguson said he was set to meet with Washington’s other statewide elected officials “to ensure we are all coordinated and using our respective tools to protect Washingtonians.”

The governor also noted he recently hired a new senior adviser, David Kim, focused on immigrant and refugee issues. Sarah Peterson, the head of the state’s Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, will now join the governor’s cabinet meetings.

Washington State Standard is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Washington State Standard maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Bill Lucia for questions: info@ washingtonstatestandard.com.

WA governor asks Trump for $21M to help flood

Governor Bob Ferguson on January 21 requested the Trump administration approve a major disaster declaration to open up federal funding in response to the historic flooding that beset the state last month.

State officials will next await word from President Donald Trump, who has declined to approve such declarations in some cases, especially in Democrat-led states. Ferguson and Trump clashed on the state’s request related to the 2024 bomb cyclone. Trump previously approved a federal emergency declaration, allowing federal resources to help during the flooding in December. Ferguson requested the Federal Emergency Management Agency open up over $21 million in federal assistance to help individuals affected by the flooding. The money is meant to help flood victims repair their homes or help them find stable housing, but it won’t make them whole, the governor cautioned.

An ask for federal money for infrastructure repairs and work to prepare for future storms will come from the state before Wednesday, February 18, as it’s still unclear exactly how much damage was done.

The state Department of Transportation recently told lawmakers that the heavy flooding inflicted at least $40 million to $50 million of damage on the state’s highways. U.S. 2 was hit the hardest as the east-west crossing was closed for over two weeks along a nearly 50mile stretch between Skykomish and Leavenworth. The state has since reopened the highway on both sides of Stevens Pass for limited travel with temporary fixes. Permanent repairs will take months.

The record-breaking flooding left over 100,000 Washingtonians under evacuation orders and nearly 4,000 homes damaged, according to the governor. Almost 400 people needed to be rescued. One person died. Thirty-three rivers reached flood stage, and three broke records, though not quite to the catastrophic level some feared.

“This historic disaster is of such severity and magnitude that effective recovery exceeds the capability of the state and local governments in impacted areas, requiring supplemental federal assistance to recover from this disaster,” Ferguson wrote in his letter to Trump.

Ferguson expects the state’s congressional delegation and leaders of the Democratic and Republican caucuses in both chambers of the legislature to send letters supporting his request.

U.S. senator Patty Murray’s office said she was gathering signatures for a support letter to be sent January 22, and hoped the state’s Republican members of Congress, representatives Dan Newhouse and Michael Baumgartner, would sign it.

“I will continue doing everything I can to make sure that Washington state gets the federal

funding we need to recover from this disaster,” Murray said at an event January 20 at the King County Emergency Operations Center.

The full delegation, including Newhouse and Baumgartner, sent a letter in December urging the president to sign the initial emergency declaration.

The White House and FEMA didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment on Ferguson’s entreaty. The timeline for a decision from the president is unclear.

The state has provided nearly $1 million in state aid to roughly 2,600 households, according to the governor’s office.

The request for federal aid for individuals, which stretches over 100 pages, is focused on Chelan, Grays Harbor, King, Lewis, Pacific, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston and Whatcom counties, as well as 15 tribal nations.

If Trump approves Ferguson’s plea, the next step for residents will be applying for funding from FEMA. The approval would also allow homeowners, renters, business owners and nonprofits to apply for low-interest loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration.

“Federal assistance is needed to help Washington communities recover from December’s devastating floods,” senator Maria

Cantwell, a Democrat, said in a statement. “The Administration was quick to respond to our emergency request. I hope they will continue to be supportive as our families and small businesses work to build back.”

These types of disaster declarations have usually been bipartisan, but that has changed in Trump’s second term. Last year, the Trump administration twice denied without explanation Washington’s request for $34 million in the aftermath of the November 2024 bomb cyclone.

Washington State Standard is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Washington State Standard maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Bill Lucia for questions: info@ washingtonstatestandard.com.

sheriff’s repOrts

January 13, 10:00 a.m.: Runaway cold call on Cedar Way.

January 13, 11:03 a.m.: Death investigation on California Trail.

January 13, 4:00 p.m.: Fraud cold call on Sawgrass Way.

January 14, 9:26 p.m.: Death investigation on Morningside Drive.

January 15, 2:24 p.m.: Civil problem cold call on Salmon Creek Lane.

January 15, 3:23 p.m.: Sex offender registrations on Giles Road, Harborview Road and Sunset Drive.

January 16, 5:07 p.m.: Moving vehicle accident injury on Sunrise Road.

January 16, 5:35 p.m.: Warrant served on Pacific Highway. January 17, 1:19 a.m.: Civil problem cold call on Stein Road.

January 17, 9:24 a.m.: Domestic - physical on Andreason Place.

January 17, 10:57 a.m.: Domestic - physical cold call on Whitehorn Way.

January 17, 4:08 p.m.: Death investigation on Stein Road.

January 17, 8:53 p.m.: Suicidal subject on Quinault Road.

January 18, 1:44 a.m.: Domestic - physical on Harborview Road.

January 18, 1:18 p.m.: Moving vehicle accident injury on

Birch Bay Drive.

January 18, 5:30 p.m.: Vehicle theft cold call on Portal Way.

January 19, 8:02 p.m.: Moving vehicle accident injury on Portal Way.

For a complete list of WCSO reports, visit whatcomcounty.us/2120/Activity-Reports.

pOLiCe repOrts

January 11, 9:24 a.m.: Shots on 2nd Street.

January 12, 10:05 a.m.: Vehicle theft on H Street.

January 12, 8:03 p.m.: Threat on H Street.

January 13, 7:36 a.m.: Threat on H Street.

January 13, 6:47 p.m.: Vehicle theft on Clark Street.

January 14, 9:32 a.m.: Subject with weapon on Semiahmoo Parkway.

January 14, 4:11 p.m.: Theft on 4th Street.

January 14, 7:48 p.m.: As -

CrOssWOrd

ACROSS

1. Racket sport

pros 4. Make tea

8. City South of Moscow

10. Spanish bullfighting term

11. Egg-shaped 12. Could not remember 13. French modernist painter

15. Persons 16. Painful intestinal obstruction

17. Professions 18. Is up to the task

21. Wood or metal bolt

22. Tax collector

23. A way to save for the future

24. Georgia rockers

25. Midway between north and northeast

26. High schoolers’ test

27. Does not ac -

cept responsibility

34. One who prepares

35. Gout-indicative deposits

36. Place to play games

37. Book of Genesis character

38. Cleans oneself

39. Unloaded for money

40. Genus of flowering plants

41. Take a puff

42. Congressmen

43. God of battle in Scandinavian mythology DOWN

1. Type of bomb 2. South Pacific islands

3. Celestial body 4. Negotiates 5. Consider in a specified way 6. Type of group in organic chemistry

7. Buddhist monasteries

9. Inhabitant of Bering Sea island 10. Body part 12. Milestone birthday 14. Thyroid-stimulating hormone 15. More (Spanish) 17. Chicago ballplayer 19. Leaves a place 20. Cannot be found 23. One’s internal body parts 24. Tell on 25. North American peoples of southwest 26. Soviet Socialist Republic 27. Extract used for jams and jellies 28. Greek goddess of the dawn 29. Old English letter 30. A way to exaggerate 31. Get up and leave 32. “Boardwalk

Coming up

Puzzles & Pastries: Monday, February 2, 4–6 p.m., Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. Calling all puzzle fans! Spend time solving puzzles with others while enjoying delicious treats. This is a casual gathering at the library on the first and third Monday of the month. Info: wcls.org.

Blaine Teen Corps - Let’s Make Valentine’s: Tuesday, February 3, 3:15–4:45 p.m., Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. Seeking teens with a community spirit to help out with programming for kids. Help pass out supplies and assist in the making and the doing. Teens in grades 6-12 can register at wcls.org.

Blaine Let’s Make Valentines: Tuesday, February 3, 3:30–4:30 p.m., Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. Come to the library to make Valentine’s cards for all the loved ones in your life. Library staff have all the supplies; bring your creative spirit and open heart! For grades K-5. Info: wcls.org.

sault on H Street.

January 15, 10:56 a.m.: Theft on 12th Street.

January 15, 9:28 p.m.: DUI on Grant Avenue.

January 16, 10:41 a.m.: Sex crime (no rape) on 4th Street.

January 16, 11:13 p.m.: Domestic - physical on H Street.

January 16, 3:11 p.m.: Fight on 8th Street.

January 17, 2:00 p.m.: Sex offender on B Street.

For a complete list of BPD reports, visit Facebook.com/ BlainePoliceDepartmentWA.

Empire” character

33. More generous

34. Hanging cloth used as a blind

36. Ancient Greek sophist

ANSWERS: THENORTHERNLIGHT.COM

tides

January 29-February 4 at Blaine. Not for navigation.

Off the Shelf: A Teen Hangout: Wednesday, February 4, 3–4:30 p.m., Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. Looking for a place to relax after school? Come hang out, play games, listen to music, be creative or just chill with friends. No pressure, no plans – just a space for you to unwind. Info: wcls.org.

Orchids & Houseplants: Wednesday, February 4, 5:30–7:30 p.m., Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. Learn tips and tricks for getting orchids blooming again, and view an orchid division and repotting demonstration. Join and discuss general information for indoor plant care, especially during the winter months. This event includes a slide presentation and plant sale/swap. Bring a houseplant to trade. Presented by Blaine CORE. Info: nwcore.org.

Better Than BookTok: Thursday, February 5, 4–5 p.m. Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. Join every first Thursday for a themed bring-your-own-book club. Every month the theme is based on a book recommendation from BookTok. This month’s theme is “Death of the Author” by Nnedi Okorafor. The club meets in person with an option to participate virtually via Microsoft Teams. To attend virtually, register to receive the Teams link via email. No registeration required for in person. Info: wcls.org.

Garden Design 101: Thursdays, 5–7 p.m., Blaine Community/ Senior Center, 763 G Street. Join an expanded four-class series discussing how to look at your yard as if you were a landscape designer. Especially important for placement of fruit-bearing trees, bushes and vines, as well as considerations for placement of vegetable gardens. Guest instructor Cheryl Niles from WSU Extension Services will join. Info: nwcore.org.

‘80s Dance Party: Saturday, February 14, 7:30–9 p.m., Blaine Pavilion, 635 8th Street. Join a Valentine’s dance party, dress in your best ’80s style and dance the night away. 18+. Childcare available. $20/person. Tickets at eventbrite.com or at the door. Info: call/text 360/656-6416. Sponsored by Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2.

Ongoing

Blaine Food Bank: 500 C Street. Open Monday, 9 a.m.–noon, Wednesday, 5–7 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m.–noon. Info:360/332-6350 or Info@blainefoodbank.org.

The Bridge Food Bank: Friday, 2:30 p.m.–4 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: Monday and Friday, 9 a.m.–noon and Wednesday, 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.

Senior Community Meals: Monday–Friday, 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., 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.

The Bridge Clothing Bank Boutique: Open Wednesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Donations accepted Thursday and Saturday, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. or by appointment. The Bridge Community Hope Center, 7620 Birch Bay Drive. Info: thebridgehope.com.

Friends of Birch Bay Library: Meets second Monday, 6:30 p.m., Birch Bay Birch Bay Vogt Library site, 7968 Birch Bay Drive. Info: friendsofbirchbaylibrary.org.

Friends of Blaine Library: Meets third Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Blaine Public Library, 610 3rd Street. Find out the latest library news at this monthly FOBL Board of Directors meeting. All members and guests are welcome to attend. Info: blainelibraryfriends.org.

Weather

Precipitation: During the period of January 19 to 25, no precipitation was recorded. The 2026 yearto-date precipitation record is 3.1 inches.

Temperature: High for the past week was 52.5°F on January 20 with a low of 25.4°F on January 25. Average high was 47.8°F and average low was 29.5°F.

Alaska Packers Association Cannery Museum: Open Thursday–Sunday, 1–5 p.m., 9261 Semiahmoo Parkway. Free, donations welcome.

Blaine Senior Center Book Club: Last Thursday of the month, 1–2 p.m., Blaine Community/Senior Center, 763 G Street. Info: wcls.org.

Celebrate Recovery: Wednesday, Northwood Chapel, 580 C Street. Dinner by donation at 5:30 p.m. and 12-step program for hurts, habits and hangups at 6 p.m.

Blaine Arts Council: Meets second Thursday, 6:30 p.m., at Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Meeting is open to the public. The council promotes, cultivates and supports the arts to enrich the lives of the community through creativity with a variety of cultural events, education and shows. Info: blaineartscouncil.org.

Florida author searches for boy in Blaine who inspired book series

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On the Fourth of July in 2014, Joseph Mazerac walked with his two young sons down the dock at Semiahmoo Marina when an unfamiliar boy popped up from a docked boat, stuck his hand high in the air and waved at them with a grin spread across his face.

“He was dressed in all of his fishing gear,” Mazerac said. “He just looked like he belonged on a boat.”

Mazerac looked at his boys.

“Do you know who that was?” he asked. They didn’t.

“That’s Captain Kid,” Mazerac said.

Little did Mazerac know that Captain Kid would become a key character in the Florida author’s latest book series. Over a decade later, Mazerac is on his own ad-

venture to find the boy – now likely a young man – in hopes of dedicating the third book to him.

He made up stories for his children about Captain Kid’s adventures rescuing a mermaid and finding buried treasures. The trio continued on, headed for the shoreline.

After playing by the water for a bit, they decided to head back. To their surprise, Captain Kid, who Mazerac said seemed to be around the same age or slightly older than his boys, aged 6 and 7 at the time, popped up and waved again as they passed by. Mazerac said the boy was thin and had brown hair.

“That was all the interaction we had, but again, I just started making up these Captain Kid stories on the fly,” Mazerac said.

Mazerac and his family, who live in Florida, were in the middle of a cross-country road trip visiting his wife’s family in the Blaine area.

“That was the last time I ever saw him, but when I got back home, I was still thinking about Captain Kid,” Mazerac said.

That chance encounter sparked an idea for Mazerac’s first book, “Into the Attic of the World,” which became a series called the Castatine Chronicles.

In “Into the Attic of the World,” readers meet Captain Kid, who has come to this world looking for the missing Patch Fairy.

In Captain Kid’s world, the Patch Fairy leaves a merit badge under the pillows of children who have acted bravely or learned a new skill. Captain Kid sails in on his

homemade raft and enlists a group of friends on his search for the Patch Fairy in another dimension.

Two books in the series have been released, and a third is in the works, which Mazerac plans to release in early 2027.

Mazerac hopes to find the boy who inspired the series. Today, he would likely be about 17-20 years old.

“If we could find out who that kid was, that would be so neat,” Mazerac said. “I would certainly want to do a dedication or something like that in the third book, which I’m writing now, and send them some signed books.”

The Castatine Chronicles books are published through Sunbury Press Inc, an independent publisher in Pennsylvania. They are available for purchase at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and through Sunbury Press’ website,

sunburypress.com.

In addition to the Castatine Chronicles, Mazerac has written other books that are available on his website, josephmazerac.com.

“I want to tell him that story and to thank him for all that outgoingness and that charm that he had, and how bright his personality was,” Mazerac said.

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