HA
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ARTH DAY - AP
RIL 22
April 21 - 27, 2022
PP
FREE
Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
Blaine woman steals car, hits WCSO vehicle, page 4
New school district board member, page 6
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
The Blaine man seen in costume around town, page 8
Inaugural art Arts and jazz auction highlights student talent studio tour kicks off with gala on Friday, April 29 By Grace McCarthy
s Blaine Fine Arts Association hosted the 25th arts and jazz auction in the school district’s performing arts center on April 16. The event showcased gifted Blaine students while raising funds for scholarships and other needs for Blaine’s art, band, choir and theater arts departments. More photos, page 8. Photo by Molly Ernst
Blaine businesses get boost from relaxed border restrictions, still await normalcy By Grace McCarthy Blaine business owners say they’ve seen a slow, but positive, return to regular Canadian customers after the Canadian government loosened Covid-19 test requirements for vaccinated travelers crossing the border earlier this month. The Canadian government stopped requiring proof of a negative antigen test for fully vaccinated travelers to enter Canada on April 1. The first day of the dropped restrictions saw the highest number of passenger vehicles moving north and
southbound through Whatcom County ports of entry, at 15,693. Friday through Sunday of Easter weekend trailed closely behind, with 15,348 to 16,202 travelers per day, according to Cascade Gateway Data compiled by Whatcom Council of Governments. Traffic has increased since the restrictions were loosened. Prior to April 1, March 18 had the highest number of passenger vehicles traveling through Whatcom County so far this year, at 7,816. The Peace Arch border crossing in Blaine has seen the highest
City council considers local utility facility fees By Grace McCarthy Blaine City Council discussed changing the city’s code to allow council to create local utility facility fees when needed in the future. Builders would pay the fees to fund utility infrastructure expansions to support new development. City council unanimously voted 6-0, with councilmember Garth Baldwin absent, during its April 11 meeting to schedule a public hearing on the fees. The hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, April 25.
City staff brought the proposed ordinance, 22-2973, to council in anticipation of the city needing to make serious infrastructure updates for east and west Blaine in the coming years. Either the city, those developing properties or a combination of the two would pay for needed utility improvements. “This would enable city council to place the financial burden for large, utility projects on the local area they serve when council determines it’s appropriate to do so,” city manager Michael Jones said
during the meeting. He added the local fee, which would act similar to a connection fee, would be a supplement to financial tools such as local improvement districts and latecomer agreements. The local utility facility fee could be used for water, sewer and electric utilities, such as an electrical feeder line or a water system line. The local fees would be paid before connection. The local fees wouldn’t be used for (See Fees, page 3)
traffic volume of all ports of entry in the county and Pacific Highway crossing followed in second, according to Cascade Gateway Data. Brant Baron, owner of Mail Boxes International, said the Canadian government dropping the antigen test has been helpful to his parcel store reliant on Canadians. “It’s been a big help to our business,” he said. “Traffic in the store has improved fairly substantially, which we’re very grateful for.” (See Border, page 2)
INSIDE
Blaine Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural art studio tour is set to highlight Blaine and Birch Bay’s artists over three monthly events this spring and summer, starting with a semi-formal gala Friday, April 29. The free studio tour will take over Blaine and Birch Bay for three Saturdays on April 30, May 28 and June 25. “I’m excited to bring art back to Blaine,” event founder Kay Dee Powell said. “We have a plethora of different kinds of art and artists and a number of places where art can be seen in people’s studios and public venues.” Event organizers encourage the public and artists to dress up in classy attire for the April 29 gala to commence the studio tour 5-7 p.m. at Blaine Harbor Boating Center, 235 Marine Drive. The free opening event will allow members of the public to get to know the artists and their work while enjoying the marina. Hors d’oeuvres will be complimentary and tickets can be purchased to sip local drinks from GLM Wine Company and Atwood Ales. “It’s a classy evening showing,” Powell said of the gala. About 35 artists will participate in the April 30 tour, Powell said. Artists’ specialties range from abstract, jewelry, watercolor, photography, garden art and embroidery. Artists will display their art in studios and public venues from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the Saturday tours. Public locations include Atwood Ales, Blaine Boating Center, Blaine Welcome Center, GLM Winery, Living Pantry, Peace Arch State Park, Peace Arch Café, Semiahmoo Resort and The Vault Wine Bar. Brochures will be available with a QR code linking to maps, Powell said. “We have a great variety and it will be all over town in different venues,” she said. “Hopefully the weather will be nice and people will want to shop and see what we have to offer in this beautiful town.” For more information on artists and where they’ll be displaying their art, visit blainebythesea.com/arttour.
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