October 4 - 10, 2018
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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
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Register to vote by Blaine football loses to Tips for preventing First responders October 8, page 3 Bellingham 14–13, page 6 breast cancer, page 8 special, page 10
Birch Bay election forum set for Oct. 9
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Community celebrates the grand opening of Rawganique
B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e
s Cutting all-natural twine instead of synthetic ribbon, the community celebrated the grand opening of Rawganique on September 28. The business, located at 429 Peace Portal Drive in Blaine, sells organic, chemical-free clothing and household products as well as vegan food, coffee, pastries and ice cream. Its soft opening was on September 10. Pictured from l.: Blaine Chamber of Commerce secretary Carroll Solomon, Rawganique co-founders Quo Yong Fu and Qeanu Wallner, general manager Christy Lonquist, Blaine mayor Bonnie Onyon and city manager Michael Jones. Photo by Stefanie Donahue
Scarecrows to crop up at businesses in downtown Blaine B y S t e fa n i e D o n a h u e This month, residents and visitors will have the chance to vote on the best scarecrow window display at businesses throughout Blaine’s downtown core. Sponsored by the Blaine Chamber of Commerce, the contest calls on local businesses to get creative with corn stalks, hay bales, pumpkins, leaves and more to build a window display that features one
or more scarecrows. Decorations must be on display between Saturday, October 13 and removed by Saturday, November 10. Businesses that sponsor a scarecrow or window display will be featured on a special map produced by the Blaine Chamber of Commerce. The public will determine the winner of the contest by voting online at blainechamber.com or facebook.com/ blainechamber or in person at the Blaine
Lummi Nation buys Loomis Trail Golf Club Tribe plans to continue operating the golf course By Oliver Lazenby The Lummi Nation bought the Loomis Trail Golf Club and took ownership on October 1, according to a press release from the Lummi Nation. An ownership group that included Semiahmoo Resort, Golf and Spa sold the
180-acre, 18-hole golf course southeast of Blaine at 4342 Loomis Trail Road. The property includes a hotel and restaurant. Semiahmoo Resort ownership put the golf course on the market about a year ago. The Lummi Nation bought the property for $3.75 million, according to the Whatcom County Treasurer’s Office. Whatcom County appraised it at $6.3 million in 2017. In a September 26 letter to Semiahmoo Golf and Country Club members, Stuart Rolfe, president of Wright Hotels, a managing partner at Semiahmoo Resort, said
the Lummi Nation intends to run Loomis Trail Golf Club as a daily fee course. At press time, no one from the Lummi Nation was available to comment. Previously, Loomis Trail Golf Club was open to the public on even days of the month; odd days were members-only. A spokesperson for Semiahmoo Resort said Loomis Trail employees were “on-boarded by the Lummi Nation” during the ownership transition. The number of
Whatcom Artist First 2 weekends in October Studio Tour
Visitor Information Center, located at 546 Peace Portal Drive. Contest winners will get a prize. Last year, the first place winner was Touchstone Behavioral Health, the second place winner was Evergreen Cannabis and the third place winner was Blaine Healing Arts Massage Therapy. To learn more, contact the Blaine Chamber of Commerce at 360/332-6484 or vic@cityofblaine.com.
INSIDE
General election candidates are gearing up for a forum in Birch Bay next week. The forum will begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 9 at Birch Bay Bible Community Church, located at 4460 Bay Road. Moderator Terry Terry will pose a series of questions to candidates who are running for federal, state and local positions. Event co-organizer Kathy Berg said the following have agreed to participate: 1st Congressional District U.S. Representative candidate Jeffrey Beeler (Republican) – his opponent Suzan DelBene (Democrat-Incumbent) is due in Washington D.C. and cannot attend; 42nd Legislative District State Senator candidates Doug Ericksen (Republican-incumbent) and Pinky Vargas (Democrat); 42nd Legislative District State Representative, Position 1 candidates Justin Boneau (Democrat) and Luanne Van Werven (Republican-incumbent); 42nd Legislative District State Representative, Position 2 candidates Sharon Shewmake (Democrat) and Vincent Buys (Republican-incumbent); Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney candidates Eric Richey (Democrat) and James Erb (Democrat); Whatcom County Council At-Large, Position B candidates Carol Frazey and Mike Peetoom; and Public Utility District 1, Commissioner District 2 candidate Paul Kenner – his opponent Atul Deshmane is not attending. The public can submit questions to chairkathy@birchbayinfo.org or at the event. “We are looking for an informative, civil conversation about our community,” Berg said. “We are all in this together.” More election forums hosted by the League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom County are scheduled for October. Learn more: lwvbellinghamwhatcom.org.
(See Lummi, page 16)
Sports . . . . . . . . . . 6 Classifieds . . . . . 14
Tides . . . . . . . . . . 18
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Oct. 6,7 & 13,14
For more info: studiotour.net facebook.com/WhatcomArtistStudioTour
Coming Up . . . . . 18
Police . . . . . . . . . 18
A FREE SELF-GUIDED ART TOUR ✽
Letters . . . . . . . . . 4
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