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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay
September 20 - 26, 2018
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Family Service Center provides Blaine loses to Lynden SeaFeast takes place more than school supplies, page 5 Christian 14–3, page 6 Sept. 21 to 22, page 15
Roots program Hundreds attend Run with the Chums in Birch Bay returns for third year in Blaine B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e
(See Roots, page 2)
s Over 250 people joined the sixth annual Run with the Chums at the BP Highlands on September 15. Hosted by the Whatcom Conservation District in conjunction with Whatcom Water Week, the event featured a 5K, Smolt Sprint 1K and educational activities. Photo courtesy of the Whatcom Conservation District
Volunteers hosting Peace Arch State Park fundraiser B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e An upcoming open house aims to raise money for a variety of improvement projects at Peace State Arch Park. It’s the first big fundraiser for the Peace Arch Foundation, which was formed to help advance preservation and beautification projects at the park that don’t receive funding from the state. “We’re focused on helping the park yearround,” member Carroll Solomon said.
The event will take place from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 22 at the park’s American Kitchen, located at 19 A Street in Blaine, and will feature a complimentary lunch and refreshments, 30-minute tours and prize drawings. Parking at all state parks is free that day, so leave your Discover Pass at home. “A lot of people in town kind of take the Peace Arch for granted,” Solomon said. “We would like people to come and rediscover the park.”
Bay Medical Clinic to remain open through March B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e Patients at Bay Medical Clinic in Blaine can rest easy – at least until March 31. This week, Dr. Marta Kazymyra confirmed that Mountlake Terrace-based insurance company Premera Blue Cross has committed to conducting a statewide search to recruit new providers at the clinic, located at 377 C Street in Blaine. She said new patients are still being accepted on a limited basis and that the clinic would remain open until March 31. The development comes after Kazymy-
ra told Blaine City Council on September 10 that she and husband Dr. David Allan planned to retire on December 28. The closure, she said, could result in the loss of medical care for an estimated 3,000 patients and jobs for six full-time staff members. Kazymyra and Allan, who opened the practice 38 years ago, spent the past year attempting to recruit new physicians, but to no avail. The cost to pay a professional recruiter was too costly, so financial support from a third party, whether it be the city or a private agency, was crucial. “Our funds were limited and our con-
Eat. Play. Explore. And eat some more!
tacts were somewhat limited,” Kazymyra said. “[Premera Blue Cross] has the ability to make things happen that we couldn’t. They have many connections throughout the state of Washington.” If a provider has yet to commit to working at Bay Medical Clinic by March 31, Kazymyra said she and her husband will consider staying longer but emphasized that they cannot stay at the clinic forever. “Many of those patients have been here with us from day one,” Kazymyra said. “It’s very difficult.”
Approximately six volunteer members comprise the Peace Arch Foundation committee and succeed in raising an estimated $2,000-$4,000 per year, Solomon said. Since the group was officially founded about three years ago, they’ve helped pay for flowers, equipment and building materials. Volunteers work directly with park staff to determine what projects to fund, Solomon said. Currently, they’ve got their eyes (See Park, page 3)
Letters . . . . . . . . . 4
INSIDE
A program that helps families who have suffered trauma from abuse, neglect or poverty, for example, will return to Blaine for its third year next month. Hosted by Bellingham-based nonprofit Rebound of Whatcom County, the Roots Family Enrichment Program is offered to families during the fall, winter and spring in Blaine, Bellingham and Nooksack. As part of the program, parents participate in a sequential enrichment course while children take part in activities with their peers. The fall quarter in Blaine lasts eight weeks and will be held on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Life Impact Church, 549 Cherry Street, from October 10 through December 5. The program is preceded by a free hot meal served at 6 p.m. Anyone can participate in Roots for free, but a $5 donation is suggested. Nursery care is provided to parents, if needed. “We’re so excited for Roots to start its third year in Blaine,” said Rebound program director and case manager Shelli Wood in a press release. “We have so much to look forward to this year, we are excited to see how this program grows.” At Roots, trained facilitators teach parents and children how to develop behavioral and social supports in order to achieve success. Parents have the opportunity to learn about financial literacy, healthy living and parenting, among other topics, while children can learn about making choices, dealing with family challenges and developing emotional and social skills. This year, facilitators will take a new approach to teaching at all Roots locations. “We are rolling out a new curriculum that fosters healthy relationships between families,” Wood said.
Sports . . . . . . . . . . 6 Classifieds . . . . . 11
Coming Up . . . . . 14
Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14
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