March 24 - 30, 2022
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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
Zumbathon raises $5,700 for Ukraine, page 4
Whisper Lake housing gets ready to hit the Birch Bay market
Birch Bay Road Race slated April 2, page 5
Wings Over Water festival photos, pages 8-9
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
BHS technology student club goes to state
By Grace McCarthy
(See Whisper Lake, page 2)
s Blaine High School sent 19 technology student club members to the Washington Technology Student Association state conference in SeaTac March 16-19. In the competitive events, Blaine students took first in the drones competition and board game design, second in the project showcase and third in animatronics, prepared presentation and catapult. Photo by Mike Dahl
Blaine development skyrockets in 2022 A new Semiahmoo neighborhood, subdivision across from Cost Cutter and more By Grace McCarthy If 2022 has shaped up to be one thing, it’s a successful year in terms of development within the city of Blaine. So much so, in fact, that the city had reached six months of budgeted revenue from building permit fees by the end of February. Stacie Pratschner, community development director for the city of Blaine, attributed much of the success to the city
council and city manager for policy decisions such as code amendments that support growth. “We’re way ahead,” Blaine city manager Michael Jones said during the last city council meeting. “That goes to show we’re seeing a lot more development activity than we anticipated.” This means the city received $300,000 so far in building permit fees, half of the city’s budgeted permit fee revenue to go
It’s official: Canada announces it’s dropping Covid-19 test requirement for vaccinated travelers By Grace McCarthy The Canadian government announced that it will no longer require a Covid-19 test for fully vaccinated travelers entering the country starting Friday, April 1. Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) made the announcement March 17, a few days after speculation circulated in Canadian media that travelers would no longer need to show proof of a negative Covid-19 to enter the country. Until April 1, travel-
ers will still need a negative antigen test taken within 24 hours of travel or a negative molecular test taken within 72 hours of travel. Rules will not change for unvaccinated and partially-vaccinated travelers. Travelers are still required to submit their information in the ArriveCAN app before crossing the border; those who don’t may be asked to test on arrival and quarantine for 14 days. Travelers taking a cruise or plane need to submit their Ar-
riveCAN information within 72 hours of departure, according to PHAC. Fully vaccinated travelers won’t need a test at land, air or water ports of entry. Travelers who use ArriveCAN could still be selected for random testing when entering the country but they are not required to quarantine while awaiting results. “Adjustments to Canada’s border measures are made possible by a number of (See Tests, page 3)
into the 2022 general fund that supports city services such as police and parks. Anticipated construction is valued at nearly $5 million. “Let’s say we keep this pace and we have six times what we expected in this year, the general fund will have greater revenue and will give city council options for how they might budget for using that revenue (See Development, page 3)
INSIDE
Whisper Lake is expected to hit the market in the next couple of months and start construction on the first phase of the Birch Bay housing development by the end of the year. The 38-acre neighborhood, on Blaine Road just south of Alderson Road, will start with 36 lots in its first phase and eventually end with 145 homes total in nine phases. Whisper Lake will be a family-oriented neighborhood with homes between 1,300 and 4,000 square feet. Home prices will start at $400,000, said Whisper Lake developer Dwayne Engelsman. A design style is still being developed for the homes, Engelsman said, adding he is in discussion whether the neighborhood will offer lots, homes or both for sale. Amenities include a trail that will connect the neighborhood to Bay Horizon Park, playground and possibly a clubhouse. Construction on the entire housing development is expected to be complete by February 2026. Breaking ground will be a worthy celebration for Engelsman. Engelsman, a Vancouver developer, purchased the property in 1994 but the 2008 recession slowed him in his tracks. Development faced another hurdle in the mid-2010s as Engelsman struggled with the last major checklist item before starting construction – he needed to connect future homes to sewer and water. “I thought it was going to be a great place to develop and housing was needed,” he said. “I didn’t think it would take 25 years to develop.” Birch Bay Water and Sewer District’s (BBWSD) comprehensive plan had the project’s sewer lines traversing private properties and wetlands to go north to the BBWSD’s main line on Alderson Road. Engelsman bought easements from property owners reluctant to have sewer lines cross their property and paid more for having the sewer lines cross
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