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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay
June 12 - 18, 2025
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IN THIS
ISSUE
Burn ban starts June 15, page 3
County council to hold Blaine meeting, page 5
Scottish festival photos, page 15
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Birch Bay Kite A chapter closes for BHS class of 2025 Festival, Splash Days make seasonal return By Grace McCarthy
(See Events, page 3)
s Blaine High School class of 2025 seniors celebrate the end of their commencement ceremony by throwing their caps into the air on June 6 at the Borderite Stadium. See more graduation photos on page 7. Photo by Nolan Baker
Ttowa Sushi brings new dining option to Blaine By Grace McCarthy A new downtown Blaine restaurant dishing up everything from sushi to bento boxes is the latest venture for a family known for opening Asian fusion restaurants across Whatcom County. Ttowa Sushi, an Asian fusion restaurant serving an extensive menu that includes sushi, yakisoba and ramen, celebrated its grand opening on June 7 at 658 Peace Portal Drive in downtown Blaine. “Besides the Birch Bay Tokyo Monster Sushi, I think we’re the second largest
Asian restaurant in this area,” owner Justin Kim said. “We also have a large variety with around 100 items on the menu.” Kim, 30, said the restaurant is the latest in his family’s portfolio of Asian dining establishments they’ve opened in the past 20 years in Seattle and Whatcom County. His father, Yong Kim, and mother, Hyun Kang, founded and operate Oyiso Teriyaki in Ferndale and previously in Lynden, which has since become On Rice Thai Cuisine. They also opened Pho & Teriyaki in Sumas before it became Nori Sushi & Teriyaki and previously owned a restaurant at
Birch Bay Waterslides passes inspection By Grace McCarthy Birch Bay Waterslides has obtained permits needed to reopen the water park in time for its season opening on Saturday, June 14. Whatcom County Health and Community Services (WCHCS) confirmed in an emailed statement that the water park passed inspection and was issued several permits. Following an on-site inspection on June 6, WCHCS communications spe-
cialist Marie Junek said the health department issued permits for three tower slides, the Black Hole, children’s activity pool, River Ride, spa and kiddie pool. WCHCS did not issue permits for Hydro Cliff, which is currently being replaced, and the ramp slide, which will be either repaired or replaced in the future. These slides will be blocked off until passing inspection. The inspection comes after the water park made repairs identified by a licensed engineer and fiberglass experts.
The park has been closed since August 2023 after a patron was injured on a slide that has since been removed. Global Management Amusement Professionals, a California-based consulting company, entered a management partnership with the park. Water park management has overseen welding and structural upgrades as well as refurbishment and repainting of the slides. The park has also renovated the (See Water park, page 3)
the current location of Mi Rancho in Bellingham. Justin said his family keeps an eye out for location openings and learned from Tokyo Monster Sushi owner Phillip Kim last year that the owners of Peace Arch City Café in Blaine planned to close. The café closed March 30, and Justin purchased the building for $850,000 on April 2, according to data from the Whatcom County Assessor’s Office. Ttowa Sushi is Justin’s first as a restau(See Sushi, page 8)
INSIDE
School will soon be out, and there’s no shortage of activities for Blaine and Birch Bay families to start the first weekend of summer with Splash Days and the Birch Bay Kite Festival. Splash Days will turn downtown Blaine into a miniature water park on Friday, June 20, and then the Birch Bay Kite Festival will provide a weekend of entertainment at Birch Bay State Park on Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22. “It will be entertainment, activities and enjoying a day in Birch Bay,” said Danielle Gaughen, executive director of the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce, which is hosting the kite festival. Splash Days will make its cool return from noon to 2 p.m. at 3rd and Martin streets in downtown Blaine. Event hosts Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 (BBBPRD2) and the city of Blaine will stop traffic in the area as sprinklers, splash zones and food trucks move in. The June event will be the first of two Splash Days, with the second held on Friday, July 18. While the Birch Bay Kite Festival officially kicks off on June 21, an evening poker run will have participants biking and golf carting around Birch Bay in search for the perfect poker hand 5-7 p.m. June 20. Registration will open for the family-friendly poker run at birchbaychamber.com/pokerrun. Kites will fly high during the kite festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 21 and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 22 at Birch Bay State Park, 7290 Birch Bay Drive. On Saturday, BBBPRD2 will host youth activities and games from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) will hold a story time at 11 a.m. and noon, local musician Michael Dayvid will perform from noon to 2 p.m., a juggler will perform 1-3 p.m., and a big bubble show will be held 2-4 p.m. On Sunday, the WCLS will hold a sto-
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