September 17 - 23, 2020
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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
A ride-along with Blaine police, page 2
Local businesses receive Covid-19 grants, page 3
9/11 Ceremony at Peace Arch Park, page 16
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Peace Arch Park becomes pandemic wedding venue Despite USPS mailer, voters need not request mail-in ballots By Oliver Lazenby
s Amelia Vera, from Montreal, and Kyron Nakamitsu, from Maui, Hawaii, say their vows in front of local officiant Matthew Thuney at Peace Arch Park on September 12.
Photo by Ian Haupt
Park hosting 20 cross-border weddings a week By Ian Haupt and Kyra Planetz The coronavirus pandemic has canceled events large and small this summer, from the Tokyo Olympics to family reunions. Some may have thought this year’s wedding season was canceled too, especially for cross-border couples. But since the United States and Canada border closed on March 21, Peace Arch Park has become a popular wedding destination for cross-border couples from all over looking for a way to reunite. The Northern Light spoke with several
couples that married at the park, and they all shared similar stories. They all met online, through dating apps, live-streaming platforms, chat rooms and online forums. Each started their relationship hundreds of miles apart from each other. Many of them, as years passed, closed that distance down to less than an hour travel time and a border crossing. Others, soon after meeting in person, began talking about marriage. Some had plans to wed before the pandemic that were ruined. Others began making plans during the pandemic. Those living close enough to the border began meeting at 0 Avenue, across a ditch from
Outdoor burn ban and smoky skies over Blaine By Grace McCarthy All outdoor burning in unincorporated areas of Whatcom County is prohibited until further notice under a September 9 burn ban from the Whatcom County Fire Marshal’s Office. This includes yard debris, land-clearing and recreational fires. Propane and charcoal barbecues are allowed, along with propane fire pits without solid wood-burning material, according to the Whatcom County Fire Marshal’s
Office. Charcoal and ash need to be thrown away in a metal container and doused in water and placed a minimum of 10 feet from any buildings or trees for three days. Wood-burning fire pits are not allowed. Violations carry a minimum $250 fine. The Northwest Clean Air Agency (NWCAA) also called for a stage 2 air quality burn ban in Whatcom, Skagit and Island counties on September 9. The ban will last until further notice. “Once the air has cleared, we will re-
move the air quality burn ban,” NWCAA executive director Mark Buford in the press release. “But the fire safety burn bans will remain in place until fire officials determine that fire danger has passed.” On September 10, governor Jay Inslee issued a proclamation to give monetary assistance to people affected by the wildfires. The funds are provided through the Department of Social and Health (See Burn Ban page 6)
their loved one. Then they heard from friends, family members and social media groups, for couples separated by the pandemic, that Canadians were allowed into the U.S. side of Peace Arch Park, so they began meeting there. Some proposed at the park, and all were married there. It’s unclear how many cross-border couples have been married at the park this summer. Some Saturdays and Sundays see five weddings a day, sometimes more. Park ranger Rick Blank estimated that there have been about 20 weddings per week at the park this summer. Blank said the ma(See Weddings, page 7)
INSIDE
Whatcom County voters can disregard postcards from the U.S. Postal Service encouraging them to request a mail-in ballot at least 15 days before Election Day. Ballots will be automatically mailed to all registered voters on October 14. The USPS sent a mailer to all households intending to help people vote by mail. Some of the information is inaccurate in Washington and other states with all-mail elections. The mailer instructs voters to “Request your mail-in ballot (often called “absentee” ballot) at least 15 days before Election Day.” “Voters in Whatcom County do not need to request a ballot, as ballots are automatically mailed to all registered voters 20 days prior to Election Day,” said county auditor Diana Bradrick, in a press release. “There is no need to sign up or request to receive a mail-in ballot to vote in the upcoming election.” County election officials and the Washington Secretary of State office were not made aware of the mailer or its content, the county auditor’s office said in a statement. “By the time we learned of the mailer and reached out to the postal service, the mailers were already in the mail stream,” the statement said. Voters can check the status of their registration now at votewa.gov. Voters should contact the auditor’s office if they have not received a ballot by October 21. Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day or received in a ballot drop-box by 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 3. USPS recommends mailing at least a week before Election Day and voters are encouraged to check the last mailbox collection time in order to ensure their ballot will be postmarked in time, Bradrick said. The 2020 general election is Tuesday, November 3. Find more information on local elections at the auditor’s office, at co.whatcom.wa.us/auditor.
Historical Photo . . 4 Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Pets . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Classifieds . . . . . 11 Coming Up . . . . . 14 Police . . . . . . . . . 14
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