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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay
November 24 - 30, 2022
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IN THIS
ISSUE
Atwood introduces new brews, page 3
Holiday happenings, pages 8-9
Bereavement group coming to Blaine, page 5
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Dodd steps down from Blaine football, page 7
CAP volunteers prepare Thanksgiving baskets
Holiday Harbor Lights festival returns Dec. 3 By Grace McCarthy
(See Holiday, page 8)
s Community Assistance Program (CAP) volunteers sort bread rolls for the nonprofit’s Thanksgiving baskets on November 21. CAP planned to distribute over 200 baskets filled with traditional holiday fixings such as ham, cranberry sauce, stuffing mix and canned green beans behind Cost Cutter. From l.; Evelyne Hendricks, Barb VanSwearingen, Mary Ellen Rathe and Jackie Braverman. Photo by Grace McCarthy
Blaine sets priorities ahead of legislative session By Grace McCarthy The city of Blaine will be prioritizing sewer infrastructure, fiscal sustainability, local transportation maintenance, and affordable housing in the state’s 2023 legislative session. Blaine City Council approved its legislative agenda for the city’s lobbyists, staff and council to advocate for during its November 14 meeting. The following are the city’s legislative priorities, listed in the order they appear on the legislative agenda. Sewer infrastructure East Blaine sewer infrastructure has topped the city’s priority list for the past few years, as pressure mounts to build out east Blaine housing and extend the city’s sewer system. The city is asking the state for $2.5 million to extend the current sewer system to the up-
coming Grandis Pond neighborhood. Grandis Pond is expected to have 1,000 homes, multi-family units, apartments and commercial areas, but developers have been unable to build because of lacking infrastructure. The city plans to start a tax-increment financing (TIF) district next year to address east Blaine’s utility needs and will use state funds to match the district’s funds, according to the legislative agenda. Using TIF, the city could collect money from expected increases in property tax revenues from an east Blaine area – not the entire city – to pay for street, water and sewer construction. School district sewer extension The city is also supporting Blaine school district’s $1 million request to construct a (See City, page 3)
DEC 11
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Holiday lights wrapped around downtown trees highlight the impending return of Blaine’s winter festivities. Blaine’s annual Holiday Harbor Lights festival is making its grand return on Saturday, December 3. The festival will kick off at 9 a.m. with the Blaine Senior Center’s pancake breakfast. Pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, coffee and orange juice will be served at the center, 763 G Street, until 11 a.m. Breakfast plates are $7 for adults and $5 for kids under 6 years old. St. Anne’s Church will host a Christmas market and bake sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church, 604 H Street. The Christmas market will have crafts, baked goods and raffle prizes. It will also be open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, December 2. Blaine Library will hold its book sale in the Blaine Community Center pavilion, 635 8th Street. The book sale will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The holiday bazaar will run from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 648 Peace Portal Drive, between Peace Arch City Cafe and Jack Niemann’s Black Forest Steak House. The bazaar will have at least 25 vendors selling soaps, knit scarfs, jewelry, photography, custom dish towels and woodwork, said Sheila Wood, Blaine Chamber of Commerce executive director. Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2’s 10th annual Holiday Lights Obstacle Dash will start at 2 p.m. at Lincoln Park, 1800 H Street. Participants are encouraged to dress in their best holiday wear – whether that is a Christmas sweater or reindeer antlers – as they run or walk through the holiday-themed obstacle course. The obstacle dash costs $10 for adults, $5 for children 5-17 years old, $30 for a family of up to five people and is free for children under 5. Preregistration is available online at bbbparkandrec.org and registration will be open 12-1:30 p.m. at the obstacle course. Blaine High School and Blaine Middle School students will perform live music and carol 4-5 p.m., bringing holiday spirit
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ThisFLYERS Week’s
Rite Aid
Holiday Magic! James Ray, guest conductor
For ticket sales
BellinghamSymphony.org
Richard Hodges, narrator A narrated version of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas anchors this afternoon of seasonal delights.