May 7 - 13, 2026 IN THIS
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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay
WDFW rolls out mobile app for licenses, page 2
Blaine men arrested, page 3
Borderites head to playoffs, page 6
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Spring Block Blessing of the Fleet honors Blaine fishers Party to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month By Grace Mccarthy
(See AAPI, page 9)
The Fisherman’s Memorial Committee hosted the 42nd annual Blessing of the Fleet on Sunday at Blaine Harbor to pay tribute to local fishers who’ve died and bless the boats leaving for the upcoming fishing season. See more photos on page 5. Photo by Grace McCarthy
Birch Bay Waterslides announces closure for 2026 season By Grace Mccarthy
Birch Bay Waterslides will not reopen its water park this summer, according to park management. The water park posted a notice stating it will be closed for the 2026 season on its website and social media. No additional information was provided. The Northern Light reached out to park owner Qiyan (Max) Li for more information on why the decision was made and his plans for the 41-year-old water park, but had not heard back by press time.
The closure comes after a turbulent few years for the park that stem from a Skagit County man being seriously injured after his legs went through a panel on the Hairpin waterslide in August of 2023. The man was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he spent two weeks and underwent at least two surgeries in the intensive care unit. The man sued Birch Bay Waterslides for negligence in May of 2024 in Whatcom County Superior Court. The lawsuit is ongoing, with a jury trial scheduled for Aug. 26.
American Legion post raising money for wheelchair lift By NolaN Baker
Blaine’s American Legion Post 86 is looking to upgrade its accessibility for people with limited mobility, and is asking for the community’s help. The more than 50-year-old Legion Hall, at 4580 Legion Drive, has been a place for veterans and their families to socialize, unwind, build community, and even play a few friendly games of poker. As veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars age, organizers have seen it become more difficult for some
patrons to get to the hall’s second floor, which is accessed by a switchback-style ramp. Post commander Dennis Kaiser said that while the current ramps comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the climb can still be daunting for older veterans. Some, Kaiser said, have stopped coming to Post 86 because of the effort the ramp requires. “We’ve had older members coming in because they can still use the walker on the long ramp,” Kaiser said. “We’ve had others who say they don’t come in
anymore because it’s just too difficult to get to the second floor.” The solution? Constructing a lift that would allow anyone to access Post 86’s second floor, where most of the recreational and social activities are held. Talks about fundraising and permitting began nearly two years ago, but new lifts aren’t cheap, Kaiser said. With the price of a lift about $40,000, combined with construction costs, insurance and the necessary upkeep, (See Wheelchair lift, page 2)
The water park closed after the man’s injury at the end of the 2023 season. The park remained shuttered the following summer, as park management fulfilled reopening requirements from the Whatcom County Health and Community Services Department and planned a refurbishment. In fall of 2024, the water park announced it hired Global Management Amusement Professionals, a California-based water park consulting company, to oversee a five-year plan to
(See Waterslides, page 9)
INSIDE
Blaine’s Spring Block Party, set for Saturday, May 16, celebrates a new theme this year — Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 is hosting the event, which includes hula performances and a vendors fair, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the intersection of Peace Portal Drive and H Street. Entrance is free. Event coordinator Olea Mills said the parks district wanted to celebrate the diverse backgrounds that make up Blaine and saw May being Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month as a fitting occasion. “It was such a wonderful opportunity to highlight the different types of cultures we have here,” Mills said. About 3% of Blaine residents are Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, about 4% of residents are Asian, and over 13% of residents identify as being two or more races, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Aloha Cafe co-owner Drisana Horton, who is Filipino and Pacific Islander, helped the parks district with planning this year’s theme. “For us, it’s about sharing culture through food, music and connection,” Horton wrote in a statement. “And creating an experience where people can come together, learn something new, and feel a sense of belonging.” Hula and other cultural performances serve as the festival’s main entertainment, sharing traditional dance and storytelling. Hula Mokinoe, a hula school traveling from B.C., performs from 11 a.m. to noon on stage in front of H Street Plaza. Kanaka, a ukulele and dance trio, later takes the stage from 2 to 3 p.m. The festival has over 50 vendors signed up to sell everything from arts and crafts to woodworking, facepainting and authentic Hawaiian shave ice. A kid zone is planned to provide family friendly entertainment, including a
Coming Up . . . . 10 Classifieds . . . . . . 8 Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Sheriff . . . . . . . . 10 Sports . . . . . . . . . . 6 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 10
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