July 29 - August 4, 2021
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IN THIS
ISSUE
WSDA looking to set traps on properties, page 2
Council votes on Cherry Point, page 3
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
U.S. border patrol chief visits Blaine, page 7
Rollback Weekend takes over Birch Bay Blaine Community Theater to make dramatic return B y E m i l y F ee k
(See Theater, page 5)
s Rollback Weekend and the 38th annual sand sculpture competition were a success in Birch Bay last weekend. See more photos on Photo by Chuck Kinzer/CKimageart.com page 15.
Family Care Network to move forward on facility By Grace McCarthy Family Care Network (FCN) is getting the ball rolling on its Blaine location now that the property is purchased, but questions remain on the future medical facility’s timeline. After a few delays, FCN purchased the property from the city of Blaine on June 30. The purchase and sale agreement was signed in October 2019 but the closing date was delayed as FCN focused on operating its 15 other medical facilities in Whatcom and Skagit counties during the
pandemic. “We are excited to have acquired the land and we are looking forward to progressing through the next steps,” FCN president and CEO Dr. Rodney Anderson said. “If it weren’t for Covid-19, we would probably have a building built and be working there now.” Blaine City Council voted in January to amend the purchase and sale agreement to extend the feasibility period until May 28. Rodney said he deeply appreciated the support of the Blaine community and Blaine City Council for going above and
Unemployment claims return to pre-pandemic levels By Ian Haupt Since the beginning of the year, claims for unemployment insurance have trended down in Whatcom County and Washington state. But only until this summer, as the state’s economy reopens, have they returned to levels seen before the pandemic. Anneliese Vance-Sherman, Washington’s Employment Security Department (ESD) regional labor economist, said looking at continued unemployment benefits gives a better idea of the labor market recovery and
how many people are returning to work. According to ESD, Whatcom County has fewer than 8,000 people on continued unemployment benefits, while at the peak of the three-month pandemic-induced recession last year, the county had a total 22,880 people on unemployment benefits. A similar rebound has been seen statewide as well, Vance-Sherman said. “Whatcom County has been following the statewide pattern very closely,” she said. The state’s unemployment rate last month was 5.2 percent, according to the ESD’s
monthly labor market review. The county’s unemployment rate was 5.4 percent, when it was 11.5 percent a year before. Initial claims, which show the number of layoffs happening in the market, have dipped as well. During the week of July 11 to July 17, 122 initial claims were filed in the county and 191 were filed the week before. The second week in June was the only week to record fewer claims since February 2020. (See Claims, page 13)
beyond in providing FCN with extensions as it focused on the pandemic. Blaine city manager Michael Jones said the city is anxiously awaiting FCN’s construction of the facility. “This was a long process that was greatly complicated by the Covid-19 pandemic. I appreciate the perseverance of Family Care Network and city council for seeing this through,” Jones said. “It’s going to be a great addition and service for the community.” (See Clinic, page 3)
INSIDE
After a year of inactivity, the Blaine Community Theater (BCT) will return to the stage for their third “Pirates of Penzance” water balloon show. The water balloon show will be held at Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2’s Pirate Daze event Saturday, August 7. The show has no set time – instead, actors will perform the show three to four times between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. depending on when they can perform without interfering with other events. BCT will perform next to the playground at Blaine Marine Park. Pirate Daze runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Blaine Marine Park and the Birch Bay tide flats across from the Birch Bay Vogt Community Library location at 7968 Birch Bay Drive. BCT president and director Mikael McDonald described the show as the perfect event to return to the stage. While “Pirates of Penzance” is traditionally a three-hour opera, BCT will perform an abridged version with a run time of 25-30 minutes, McDonald said. BCT will sell water balloons for 25 cents each, five for a dollar or also sold by the bucket. Because the theater encourages the audience to throw water balloons at performers, there is little choreography and loose stage direction. What’s more important is being able to adapt, trust the other performers and have fun, McDonald said. “There’s a certain chaos element with a show like this that’s really fun and keeps you on your toes as a performer,” McDonald said. BCT vice president Dana Ruhl, who also plays a pirate, agreed the show is a blast for performers and audience alike, especially after the year of theatrical inactivity. “Everybody that was at our rehearsal Sunday evening was talking about how good it is to get back into it and get our feet wet,” Ruhl said. “No pun intended.”
Coming Up . . . . . 14 Classifieds . . . . . 11 Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14
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