October 3 - 9, 2019
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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
Hypnotherapist addresses misconceptions, page 7
Mobile dental program to visit schools, page 10
Bay Properties reopens as independent firm, page 15
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Opioid data: 47 million pain pills in Whatcom County from 2006-2012 By Oliver Lazenby
(See Opioids, page 2)
s On September 27, the Lummi Nation hosted a gathering of tribal leaders, environmental groups and faith organizations to encourage greater protection of the Salish Sea and its orca population. People, kayaks, canoes and boats gathered at the Jorgensen Pier at the end of Marine Drive in Blaine. The event featured speeches, singing, a water blessing and a unity circle.
Photo by Ruth Lauman
Rocktoberfest to feature pumpkins, live music and more By Jami Makan A fall festival in downtown Blaine will feature pumpkin painting, a cake walk, live music, food vendors and other family-friendly attractions. The second annual Rocktoberfest will take place on Saturday, October 5 from noon to 10 p.m. in the Pizza Factory parking lot, at the corner of H Street and Peace Portal Drive. “It helps Blaine tourism by extending the event season and creates an opportunity for youth to invite their families to come to a big community event that they can be a part of,” said Jesse Creydt, co-founder of the Healthy Youth Coalition, one of the sponsors. At noon, Soul Space Studio will be on site to help kids create their own artistic
pumpkins. Pumpkins and art supplies will be provided, while supplies last. There will also be a pumpkin carving demonstration by Bordertown Blades. At 1 p.m., there will be a cake walk featuring cakes donated by local businesses and community members. “Nothing brings a community together like a good, old-fashioned cake walk,” said Creydt. At 3 p.m., the Banner Bank Kids’ Money Hunt will allow kids to search through hay bales for dollar coins, 50-cent pieces, quarters, dimes, nickels and other treasures. “It will be an intense hunt through the hay for treasure,” said Creydt. Meanwhile, a full line up of music and entertainment will keep attendees entertained throughout the afternoon and evening. JP Falcon Grady will perform at noon with a special performance by Kelsey Cooper. KODJ
Trial delayed for candidate accused of obstruction By Jami Makan The trial of a Blaine City Council candidate accused of obstructing law enforcement officers has been pushed back. Steven Tojek, a border patrol agent who is currently running for the Blaine City Council ward 2 seat, is charged with obstructing Blaine police officers during a late-night traffic stop in 2017, after the officers impounded his vehicle, which was being driven 111 m.p.h. by an intoxicated driver before it was pulled over.
Tojek allegedly became angry and confrontational with the officers after they proceeded to impound his new Ford Mustang, in which he was the passenger. The confrontation allegedly delayed their investigation of the driver, who was later found guilty of reckless driving and driving under the influence. Tojek is facing a trial in Whatcom County District Court. According to the court’s website, his trial is now scheduled for Monday, November 4 at 9 a.m. Before the trial, a motion to dismiss the case will be heard on
Thursday, October 24 at 1:30 p.m. According to Tojek’s attorney, William Johnston, further delays are possible due to the backlog of cases that Whatcom County prosecutors are pursuing. “It’s a real bottleneck over there,” he said. In the August 6 primaries, the top two candidates for the Blaine City Council ward 2 seat were Garth Baldwin with 284 votes and Tojek with 72 votes. They will compete against each other for the ward 2 seat in the November general election, which takes place on Tuesday, November 5.
will perform with Mike Bohnson at 1 p.m. Silver City Band will perform at 2 p.m., Jeffrey Elvis at 3 p.m., the Inis School of Highland Dance at 3:45 p.m., Lynden Line Dancers at 4 p.m., Bilongo Quintet with Sabrina Gomez at 5 p.m. and Exit 266 at 7 p.m. Various food vendors will be on site, including Paso Del Norte and the Pizza Factory. There will also be hot dogs, kettle corn, pie and cider available. Adults can relax with a drink in the beer garden, which will feature beers brewed by Atwood Ales and Kulshan Brewing. Creydt encouraged members of the Blaine and Birch Bay communities to attend in large numbers. “It will be a family-friendly event to help promote Blaine tourism and turn out more of our local young families to our community event,” he said.
INSIDE
Nearly 47 million prescription opioids flowed into Whatcom County during a seven-year period starting in 2006, according to a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) database published by the Washington Post this summer. Drug companies supplied Whatcom County with 46.9 million hydrocodone and oxycodone pills from 2006 through 2012, enough for everyone in the county to have 34 pills a year. That fueled the opioid epidemic locally, which led to 115 overdose deaths in Whatcom County in those years alone. Nationally, the prescription opiate epidemic resulted in nearly 100,000 deaths during that time, according to the Washington Post. The Post released the data to media outlets across the country after going through a year-long legal battle to get it. The database tracks oxycodone and hydrocodone sent to pharmacies and medical providers throughout the county. The staggering numbers released by the Washington Post weren’t surprising to the Whatcom County Health Department, which monitors state records on the number of prescriptions and overdoses. Whatcom County’s syringe exchange program, which provides addicts with clean needles, saw a nearly four-fold increase from 2009 to 2017. Nationwide, many prescription opiate addicts switched to heroin as drugs got more expensive and regulated in the early 2010s. “We know unintended use rises when there is greater accessibility of a substance,” said Joe Fuller, program specialist at the county health department. The problem’s roots go back decades. Many health care professionals falsely believed opioids weren’t addictive because of a 1980 letter to the editor published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The letter, which referred to a survey of patients
Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . 6 Classifieds . . . . . 11 Coming Up . . . . . 14 Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14
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