September 9 - 15, 2021
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IN THIS
ISSUE
Former BHS student wins big with tuba, page 5
Borderite sports are back, page 7
Blaine featured in new novel, page 10
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Discover Birch Bay Days brings community fun Free financial literacy class offered in Blaine By Grace McCarthy
(See Financial classes, page 4)
s Birch Bay’s seaside festival offered another weekend of family fun September 3-5. The Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce hosted the fun-filled event, with help from Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 and Friends of Birch Bay Library. Attendees enjoyed activities such as a pancake breakfast, outdoor kid games and rubber duck derby. More photos on page 16. Photo by Chuck Kinzer/CKimageart.com
Blaine mailbox stores use creativity as they wait for the U.S. to open Canada border By Grace McCarthy Over a year-and-a-half after the U.S./ Canada border closure and Blaine mailbox stores wait patiently for the return of loyal Canadian customers, all while they’ve settled into an adapted business routine. Mail Boxes International owner Brant Baron said his parcel store has changed its business strategy to stay busy during the border closure. To deal with parcels yet to be picked up, the H Street business rented a 4,800-square-
foot warehouse in September 2020 that allowed it to store over 20,000 boxes awaiting cross-border customers. “We used up all of the creativity we had to maximize the space we had, which is what prompted renting the warehouse,” Baron said. Baron and other mailbox operators are mostly catering to Canadian companies that need products from the U.S. forwarded. Although business has been better, he emphasized his situation is not detrimental and he has leaned into his faith and fo-
Single-use plastic bags ban starts October 1 By Emily Feek Sales of single-use plastic bags will be banned in Washington state beginning on October 1 after governor Jay Inslee rescinded the proclamation delaying the original January 1, 2021 start date. The ban prohibits the sale of single-use plastic bags for grocery stores, restaurants, small vendors and retail businesses, according to a department of ecology (DOE) press release. Instead of using these bags, businesses can either sell customers bags
that are compliant with the ban or customers can bring reusable bags. Stores can sell paper bags or more durable plastic bags for eight cents. The eight-cent charge, mandated by law, is not a tax, but is kept by the merchant both to encourage customers to bring their own bags and to account for the increased cost of compliant bags. While the ban goes into effect on October 1, businesses can implement changes sooner, said Dave Bennett, DOE solid waste management program spokesperson.
“Nothing is preventing a business from charging a fee and using compliant bags right now,” Bennett said. “We encourage those businesses to do that and start making those changes now.” The bag ban is intended to cut down on pollution caused by plastic bags, which are difficult to recycle and can clog recycling sorting machines, according to the DOE. In addition to the ban, Inslee signed a new state law regarding plastics use and (See Plastic bags, page 4)
cused on what he can control. Todd Robinson, Security Mail Services manager, echoed Baron’s sentiments. The last year-and-a-half has been hard but with boxes stacked high around him, he said he’s in a much better place than he would have predicted. “When [the border] first closed down, I would have never anticipated being closed this long. I thought three months, maybe, tops,” Robinson said. “I’m pleased with (See Box stores, page 2)
INSIDE
If you struggle to balance a healthy budget, local nonprofits are here to help. Financial literacy nonprofit Whatcom Dream will offer six money management classes from Tuesday, September 28 until Tuesday, November 2 at the new Community Assistance Program (CAP) building, 508 G Street. Classes will be held 6:307:30 p.m. every Tuesday. Whatcom Dream is a nonprofit that started in Bellingham in 1999 to educate residents struggling with finances. The nonprofit’s founders realized the reason why their working low-income neighbors remained in poverty was because they didn’t know how to manage money properly, said Kevin Stray, a Whatcom Dream volunteer who will teach the Blaine classes this fall. “We think finances are an important slice of everyone’s life and if we can handle [money] well, we can make everyone’s lives better,” he said. The classes will teach budgeting, handling new and old debt, credit scores and history, achieving and maintaining financial stability, retirement planning and the psychology behind money. Stray, who has a business degree from St. Martin’s University, said he sees people struggle the most with debt, long-term planning and responsible spending. Financial classes are geared toward people earning low incomes, but Stray said all are welcome. Classes will be offered to about 20 people, but there’s not a set limit. Scheduling in advance is recommended, but attendees can also show up to the classes. “We hope a lot of people will be interested, come out, learn more about money and how to deal with it,” Stray said. “We’re always excited to put on another class in Blaine.” The program will offer free financial mentoring to people who finish the course. No childcare is available during the evening classes, so people will need to plan
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