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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay
May 23 - 29, 2019
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IN THIS
ISSUE
Kite festival happens this weekend, page 5
Donnell Tanksley appointed next police chief
List of 2019 candidates who have filed, page 7
Division chief Hollander retires from NWFR, page 10
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Relocated Drayton Harbor oyster bar reopens
By Jami Makan
(See Police, page 8)
s There was a line out the door at Drayton Harbor Oyster Company on May 18, when the oyster bar reopened at its new location at 685 Peace Portal Drive in downtown Blaine. The new space also features a presence by Ferndale-based Barlean’s Fishery operating under the name Kaisacole.
Photo by Louise Mugar
District moving fast on superintendent search By Oliver Lazenby The Blaine school district is moving fast on its superintendent search in hopes of hiring one by August 31. However, if that doesn’t work out, the district will hire an interim superintendent and continue searching. Current superintendent Ron Spanjer announced in April that he would retire at the end of August. The school district hired Omaha, Nebraska-based McPherson & Jacobson, a superintendent search firm that has placed
more than 750 superintendents and other school executives across the country. The school board hopes to have its criteria for a new superintendent refined by the end of the month in order to start advertising the position. At 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29, the school board is holding a community input meeting and seeking input through a survey on its website, blainesd.org. The superintendent search consultant will also hear from high school students and district staff at various meetings between now and May 29, said Tina Padilla,
Annual market returns with new name, location By Zoe Deal Blaine’s beloved summer market will return to downtown Blaine on Saturday, May 25 but with a new name and location. Blaine Farmers Market, formerly known as the Gardener’s Market, was renamed to appeal to a broader range of vendors and will move from H Street Plaza to G Street Plaza across from Starbucks and Hill’s Chevron. Every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. until October, vendors will set up tents
and haul in their goods. Buskers and nonprofits are welcome as well. One of the first signs of summer, the market brings a plethora of handmade and homegrown creations in support of local farmers, gardeners and craftspeople. North Whatcom County residents attend to purchase fresh produce and meet artisans from their own community. “I like the small community feel of it and that we’re attracting people downtown. That’s the goal on all fronts,” said Blaine city councilmember Jaime Arnett,
who got involved a few months ago. “The Blaine market has been around since 2009 with a goal to encourage the local economy and community participation.” Now, Arnett said, they just want to see the market grow. “It started as people who had leftover fruits and vegetables, but we want to expand it to include food trucks and buskers and artists,” Arnett said. Vendors this year include Blaine metal
district assistant to the superintendent. Following the May 29 community meeting, the board will hold a special meeting at 8 p.m. to formalize its priorities for a new superintendent. Timeline It’s late in the superintendent “hiring season,” board members said. Most superintendent contracts in Washington state run from July 1 to June 30, which could make it difficult to find a candidate who is currently a superintendent in another dis(See Search, page 10)
INSIDE
The city of Blaine has extended an offer of employment to Donnell Tanksley to serve as the city’s police chief. City manager Michael Jones announced the appointment on May 15. Jones said that he offered the position to Tanksley, “subject to a successful completion of a detailed background investigation as is typical for law enforcement hires.” In addition to the background investigation, Tanksley will undergo polygraph and psychological evaluations before a formal employment contract is presented to city council for consideration. A contract finalizing salary and other terms of employment is expected to be on the city council agenda for May 28. Tanksley has accepted the offer and is conditionally scheduled to begin his new role with the city of Blaine on June 24. Three finalists – Tanksley, Timothy Doney and James Miyashiro – were interviewed by a committee of city staff, officials and others on May 9. Four city councilmembers participated as well as The Prothman Company, the recruitment firm that has been overseeing the search for a new chief. Community organizations and law enforcement agencies also played a role in the process. Each finalist participated in three interviews on May 9. One interview was with the city manager, while the other interviews were before two panels that had seven members representing different perspectives from the community. On the evening prior to the May 9 interviews, the three finalists met with Blaine Police Department staff and each went on a tour of the city with a Blaine police officer. “I was really pleased with the caliber of the three candidates who we interviewed,” said Jones. “All were highly qualified, but chief Tanksley excelled in the interviews. His interview combined with his education, experience and references really put him over the top. It was a
Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . 6 Classifieds . . . . . 11 Coming Up . . . . . 14 Sheriff . . . . . . . . . 14 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14
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