November 6 - 12, 2025
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Blaine man remembered for helping others, page 5
Track athletes to make run at state, page 6
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Veterans Day, pages 8-9
Rain couldn’t stop the Freeman’s 11th carnival Free and reduced meals in Blaine and Birch Bay By Nolan Baker
(See Meals, page 3)
s The Freeman Halloween Carnival had children lining C Street in Blaine for the family’s 11th event. See more photos on page 2. Photo by Louise Mugar
Election results signal big changes ahead for Blaine, Whatcom County By Grace McCarthy Preliminary November 4 election results are in, and with it are many big changes coming to Blaine and Whatcom County. The Blaine elections saw some of the most contentious races in recent years, with candidates battling for Blaine City Council as the city navigates balancing budget woes and shaping future development. Voters appeared to green light de-annexing the Grandis Pond property in east Blaine, which will determine where the city adds housing. The Port of Bellingham will also have major changes as voters approved expanding the commission from three to five members, bringing a handful of representatives to the port for the first time since 1920. The commission race for District 2 was also heated, with business owner Carly James narrowly ahead of incumbent Ken Bell. In addition to Blaine’s council and the port, local voters had the opportunity to shake up governing bodies, including Blaine school board and Whatcom County Council. Voters were also tasked with deciding 12 measures that were part of a decennial review of the county code from the Whatcom County Charter Review Commission
that will result in tighter oversight of the county. About 36 percent of Whatcom County voters submitted ballots. The Whatcom County Auditor’s Office estimated 11,700 of those returned ballots were still left to count. Below is the November 5 ballot count, the latest election results as of press time. For updated results ahead of the November 25 election certification, visit bit. ly/3LKIQa1. Blaine de-annexation With future development in mind, the city of Blaine introduced a ballot measure asking voters whether they would like to de-annex 573 acres of incorporated urban growth area (UGA) in east Blaine, most of which encompasses the Grandis Pond property. Early results show the measure, Proposition 2025-07, passed the 60 percent supermajority threshold needed with 65 percent of voters in support. City staff had planned on attempting to add unincorporated UGA near Semiahmoo and Birch Point, where it believes is one of the city’s only options for housing growth, but that plan may be in question as Whatcom County Council has recently indicated it is against the proposal. Blaine planning director Alex Wenger did not respond
to a request for comment immediately, but city staff has said it will discuss the UGA plan during its next council meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, November 10 at City Hall. Blaine planners have said Blaine is likely one of the first in the state to try de-annexing this much land. East Blaine has been slated to provide the majority of the city’s future housing stock since being annexed in the ’90s, but costly infrastructure has lagged the development for over (See Election, page 10)
INSIDE
Food assistance from the federal government is in limbo, and Blaine businesses and charities are stepping up to provide food for those in need. With the federal government shutdown now the longest in U.S. history, the Trump administration was ordered on October 31 to resume funding for food stamps through an emergency reserve. In court filings on November 3, the administration said it would send partial payments this month to the roughly 42 million Americans who receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). As of press time, much is still up in the air regarding the status of SNAP funding. Meanwhile, thousands of Whatcom County residents will be forced to go without the money to pay for groceries, not knowing exactly when government assistance will resume. According to state data from March 2025, 903,541 Washingtonians received SNAP benefits, representing 11.2 percent of the state’s population. More than 10 percent of Whatcom County, or 24,050 people, relied on SNAP benefits. With community members unsure of where their next meal may come, multiple charities, churches and businesses are offering help. Read on for information on where to find free and reduced food and meals as well as ways to donate. If you know of, or own, a Blaine or Birch Bay business or charity helping feed those in need and would like to be included, email editor@thenorthernlight.com. Blaine Food Bank 500 C Street 360/332-6350 The Blaine Food Bank is open for food distribution from 9 a.m. to noon Monday and Friday, and 5-7 p.m. Wednesday. The food bank has been operating in Blaine since 1972, and serves roughly 3,000 households per month, according to director Lisa Dobbin. If it is your first time visiting the food bank, the organization requires a new client form to be filled out which asks for the person’s name, birthday, address, phone number and names and birth years of the people in their household. The food bank does not ask for proof of name or address. Forms can also be downloaded online at blainefoodbank.org/get-food. The food bank can only accept food and monetary donations, and cannot accept clothing, household items or other nonfood goods. Donations are accepted daily from 9 a.m. to noon, or by appointment. To donate money, visit blainefoodbank.org/ donate. For information on how to volun-
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