Sept. 30 - Oct. 6, 2021
FREE
Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
November 2020 election lawsuit filed in county, page 7
Speaker stops school board meeting, page 10
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Fourth Asian giant hornet nest eradicated, page 15
WSDA eradicates fourth nest in east Blaine State grants open for border businesses
(See Grants, page 5)
s Washington State Department of Agriculture eradicated the fourth Asian giant hornet nest found in east Blaine on September 23. The nest contained 776 worker hornets and one queen, making it the second largest nest eradicated in the U.S.. Read more on page 15. Photo courtesy of WSDA
Woodberry gets the green light from city council By Grace McCarthy Blaine City Council unanimously voted to give final plat approval to Woodberry, a gated subdivision that will house 29 single-family homes just south of Fire Station 62 on Semiahmoo Parkway. With plat infrastructure over 80 percent complete, the city of Blaine’s community development services (CDS) and public works department recommended council give final approval during their September 27 meeting. Council voted 6-0, with councilmember Garth Baldwin absent.
“I think it’ll be a great fit for the Semiahmoo community,” said Brady Mayson, who Cascade Engineering Group hired to develop the subdivision. The 10-acre subdivision will have craftsman-style farm homes on lots averaging 9,000 square feet. Homeowners with dogs have the option to put a three-rail cedar fence around their property, Mayson said, which is a change from most Semiahmoo homes that aren’t allowed to have fencing. Mayson described the subdivision as “quaint” and “classic,” and said he hopes it will be similar to the Heronswood Com-
Officials plead Biden for help with Point Roberts B y P a t G r u bb In back to back appeals, both U.S. senator Patty Murray and governor Jay Inslee have asked President Joe Biden to personally intervene and allow the border in Point Roberts to be open to vaccinated Canadians. First up was Patty Murray who spoke on the senate floor September 23 and called on the Biden administration to open up the Point Roberts border to non-essential traffic. “I’m here on the Senate floor today to
make sure that President Biden and his administration understand me. At the very least, we need an emergency exemption from these restrictions for the Point Roberts community – and that exemption is long overdue,” Murray said. She continued, “I greatly appreciate the administration’s science-based approach to the Covid-19 pandemic – we have to follow the science and the evidence – and I’m proud we have taken Covid-19 extremely seriously from the very start in Washington state,” said Murray. “But I firmly believe that the evidence supports,
at least, a narrow and tailored exception to the Canadian border closure to allow for a reopening of the Point Roberts port of entry to Canadian travel. I have yet to be presented with a compelling reason why a border exemption for Point Roberts has not yet been provided. “I’ve spoken directly with DHS Secretary Mayorkas about this. With Jeff Zients, the White House coronavirus response coordinator and other top officials at the state department and White House as well, but (See Point Roberts, page 3)
munity he developed on Shintaffer Road. Next on Mayson’s agenda is to obtain building permits. With these, construction could start as soon as November. He expects Woodberry to be complete in the next two years. The subdivision will also have a trail, private roads and a stormwater facility maintained by the homeowner association, CDS director Stacie Pratschner said during the meeting. Mayson filed the application for final (See Woodberry, page 10)
Coming Up . . . . . 14 Classifieds . . . . . 11 Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Sports . . . . . . . . . . 6 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14
INSIDE
Blaine businesses may soon see some state relief, thanks to a new Washington State Department of Commerce grant program aimed at small businesses along the U.S./Canada border. Businesses have two weeks to apply for the grants starting Monday, October 4. “We appreciate the support of the governor and legislators in our many efforts to support communities disproportionately impacted by Covid-19,” department of commerce director Lisa Brown said in a statement. “While recovery is going well for some businesses, many continue to face daunting challenges. It’s very uneven at this point. A strong, equitable recovery requires us to focus on those who still face barriers to getting back on their feet.” The Border Business Relief Program is part of the Working Washington grant series the state started to help businesses with the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Up to $50,000 in grants will be given to businesses impacted by the border restrictions; have revenues less than $5 million in 2019; and are located in specific counties including Whatcom County, according to a department of commerce news release on the grants. Grants will be considered if businesses contain one or more of the following: • The business relies on a significant amount of in-person interaction with customers (i.e. stores or nail salons) • The business is located within 20 miles of the U.S./Canada border • Industries with the most amount of impact from the closure (i.e. retail, tourism, recreation and entertainment) • 2019 revenue • 2019-2020 loss of revenue and/or additional expenses to run business safely during the pandemic • Businesses in rural or low-income communities, and/or owned by a historically underserved population (i.e. veteran, minority, women or LGBTQ+) The department of commerce will also base grants on if the business has received a Working Washington grant before.
TheNorthernLight
@TNLreporter
@TheNorthernLightNews
TheNorthernLight.com
This Week’s FLYER
Rite Aid