FREE
Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay
March 16 - 22, 2023
HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
Fire at Blaine parcel store, page 6
Wings Over Water to bring birders to Blaine March 17-19
Birch Bay man charged with child rape, page 10
California Creek Estuary Park update, page 15
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Starfish Inc. building comes down at harbor
By Grace McCarthy
20th Annual
s A Boss Construction Inc. crew tears into the side of the Starfish Inc. building on the west end of Blaine Harbor on March 14. Demolition began March 13 and is expected to continue for the next week, port of Bellingham spokesperson Mike Hogan said. The building, which dates to at least 1953, was condemned last June after the structure and pier underneath it began deteriorating, with pieces of wood and concrete falling into the water below, Hogan said. Seafood wholesaler Starfish Inc. has owned the building since 2008 and owns a second building on the harbor where operations moved after the building was condemned. Photo by Richard Sturgill
City of Blaine anticipates using nearly $1 million in reserves for 2023 budget By Grace McCarthy The city of Blaine is budgeting for nearly a $1 million deficit, raising concerns about potential cuts if the budget is not balanced by next year. Blaine City Council approved the 2023 budget late last November to have an anticipated $950,000 deficit in its general fund. Inflation has required city staff salaries and wages to increase but the city’s revenue has not kept up pace, partially because of the U.S./Canada border closure, which has caused the budget to become unbalanced. The city doesn’t have the Covid-19 stimulus that helped it from dipping into its reserves previously. The city will pay for the anticipated $1
million deficit out of its nearly $4 million reserve, city finance director Daniel Heverling said. If the city continued at this pace, it would deplete all of its reserves by about 2026, he said. “I’m projecting for the next several years we’re going to be upside down for expenses outpacing revenues unless we find some source to bring in more revenues,” Heverling said. The biggest increase in expenses for the city are salaries and wages, which make up over 60 percent of the general fund, Heverling said. “We’re in a really tough scenario because inflation has gone up a lot, it’s like (See Budget, page 3)
INSIDE
The Wings Over Water Northwest Birding Festival will host an array of activities for the 20th annual event in Blaine, Birch Bay and Semiahmoo. The festival will run Friday, March 17 to Sunday, March 19. “This is an exciting time for me when it’s all coming together and all the pieces are fitting,” festival coordinator Debbie Harger said. “We’re getting such a great response from the community. Everything is going really well so we’re excited for it to take place.” A featured artist opening night reception will kick off the festival at 5 p.m. March 17 at the Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. Festival co-founder Maynard Axelson will give a presentation and this year’s featured artist, Laurel Mundy, will display her art, during the reception. The opening event will have a Mexican buffet and no-host bar. A birding expo will take over the Blaine Community Pavilion, which is next to the senior center, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 18. The expo will have expert speakers, vendors, wildlife exhibits, youth activities and presentations from Sardis Raptor Center. At 5 p.m., keynote speaker Mel Walters, a Puget Sound Energy scientist, will discuss how the company is trying to make operations safer for birds. A $12 breakfast will start the last day 9-11 a.m. March 19 at Blaine Senior Center. The festival will offer free youth activities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at BP Heron Center at Birch Bay State Park. Wild Whatcom and the Blaine Birch-Bay Park and Recreation District 2 will also host guided family bird walks at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday at the BP Heron Center. Parking at the state park will be free on Sunday. New this year, artist Melanie Jordan will show her bird fractal art at the opening reception, birding expo and family activities at the BP Heron Center. Jordan draws birds on natural objects such as shells, rocks and wood. The festival offers many activities that don’t require registration. Attendees who may not have registered in advance are welome. The Plover will not be running at this year’s event. For more information on the festival, visit wingsoverwaterbirdingfestival.com.
TheNorthernLight
Coming Up . . . . . 14 Classifieds . . . . . 11 Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Sports . . . . . . . . . . 6 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14
@TNLreporter
@TheNorthernLightNews
TheNorthernLight.com
ALL DAY BIRDING EXPO SATURDAY MARCH 18 • 10AM - 5PM Blaine Pavilion • 635 8th Street
FREE Family Fun For The Entire Family!
Kids’ Activities • Wildlife Exhibits/Cruises • Wildlife Speakers • Art-Craft Vendors & More!
Northwest Birding Festival
MARCH 17, 18 , 19
DETAILS PAGE 15