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October 30 - November 5, 2025 Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
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Don’t forget to turn back clocks Nov. 2 2025
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Sheriff’s office proposes new location, page 3
Ballots due 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4, page 4
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Foundation brings pumpkin patch to district
45 AWARDS The Northern Light
See page 16
Man dies following Peace Arch incident By Grace McCarthy
(See Peace Arch, page 5)
s The new Blaine Public Schools Foundation organized an on-campus pumpkin patch on October 22 at Blaine Primary School. The foundation, which wants to create more educational opportunities for Blaine students, created the event after hearing that the school may not be able to visit a pumpkin patch due to limited volunteers. Each student decorated a pumpkin that was donated by CTK Food Share and Farm. The foundation held an online auction earlier this month that raised $20,000 for future opportunities. Photo by Louise Mugar
Chaplik’s contract extended for another 3 years By Nolan Baker The Blaine school board unanimously extended interim superintendent Dan Chaplik’s contract, which was set to end next summer, for another three years during its monthly meeting on October 27. The board also updated the district’s cell phone policy in the middle and high school and the district announced lunch returning to the high school in January.
Chaplik to stay as superintendent The school board extended Chaplik’s contract through the 2027-28 school year, with an option for the board to optout of the contract prior to the final year. The contract extension comes just a few months after Chaplik began his duties as interim superintendent on July 1. Chaplik replaced previous superintendent Dr. Christopher Granger. The board will discuss terms for the second and third years of the interim
Whatcom County Council disapproves of west Blaine urban growth area expansion By Grace McCarthy Whatcom County Council has signaled to the city of Blaine that it does not approve of the city’s proposal to expand its urban growth area (UGA) into west Blaine, should city voters approve de-annexing east Blaine. County council voted 6-1 to send a message to Blaine that it wasn’t in support of the city adding about 450 acres of unincorporated UGA in Birch Point and rural Semiahmoo. The dissenting voter, councilmember
Jon Scanlon, said he wanted the county to have negotiations with the city first, which he didn’t believe had occurred. “It’s a good idea for us to tell them, ‘This is not what we’re looking for. Don’t bring it back,’” Elenbaas said of the UGA proposal. Councilmembers voiced concerns surrounding stormwater runoff, keeping Blaine city limits more contiguous, and that city development could increase traffic on county roads which would require more county maintenance. Some councilors said they were
concerned the UGA could be seen as a “land grab” as Birch Bay tries to incorporate. Scanlon suggested Blaine consider adding UGA south of H Street or along I-5, while councilmember Tyler Byrd suggested Blaine look at more infill, or development within city limits. Councilmember Ben Elenbaas said he was open to future discussion, but he didn’t believe the plan currently helped Blaine or Birch Bay. Last fall, Blaine’s Community Develop(See Blaine, page 9)
superintendent’s contract in the spring of 2026. Chaplik has made a point to bring a new culture into the school district, one that seems to be noticed by the district directors. “Frankly, I don’t think healing the community happens in a year,” director Steve Galbraith said. “I think it takes Dan more than a year to get past some stuff, to implement systems which I (See School, page 10)
INSIDE
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently announced that a U.S. citizen died last month after being apprehended for driving the wrong way at the Peace Arch border crossing and running from officers. The man likely died due to a major artery blockage, according to CBP. CBP detailed the following account in an October 23 press release. An unnamed U.S. citizen was driving a white Mercedes Benz the wrong way on a southbound exit ramp at the Peace Arch border crossing in Blaine at 10:13 p.m. on September 20. The driver crashed into a curb, stopping in grass south of the primary lane booths, before running north toward the primary lanes. A Glock 26 handgun fell from his waist. Cocaine, marijuana, ketamine and a THC vape was later found on him. A CBP officer called 911, while other officers requested the man surrender. The man, who wasn’t complying, was taken into custody after falling. Officers handcuffed him in front of his body as well as put leg restraints on him. At 10:25 p.m., just over 10 minutes after the incident began, the officers moved the man, who they placed in a wheelchair, to a secondary area. At 10:30 p.m., the officers laid the man on his side atop of a mat in the secondary area. Officers tried to wake him and called 911 again after he didn’t respond. An of-
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