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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay
May 4 - 10, 2023
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BHS Disney choir fundraiser, page 2
Blessing of the Fleet set for May 7, page 3
Court cases, page 5
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Blaine sewer Band director honored at BHS spring concert construction has started, ongoing through summer By Grace McCarthy
(See Sewer, page 6)
s The Blaine High School band played its last concert of the year in the Performing Arts Center May 2. The special occasion was celebrated as band director Bob Gray’s last performance, as Gray will be retiring at the end of the school year after 42 years. Alumni joined the band to thank Gray for his dedication to students over the years. More on page 10. Photo by Ian Haupt
Kosa becomes first woman to serve as director of Whatcom County Public Works By Grace McCarthy Elizabeth Kosa recently stepped into her role as the first female director of Whatcom County Public Works. A Snohomish native, Kosa graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and served as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve for over a decade. She then became port engineer for Horizon Lines in Tacoma and then worked nearly a decade at Washington State Ferries, first as a senior port engineer and then chief of staff, where she oversaw 1,600 employees and a $450 million budget. In 2019, Kosa left the state ferries to become a special programs and asset manager at Whatcom County Public Works,
working her way to become assistant director and then interim director last November. Whatcom County Council approved county executive Satpal Sidhu’s appointment of Kosa in April. Her appointment means all county public works directors along I-5 from Snohomish to Whatcom are women. Kosa sat down with The Northern Light to discuss her experience in a male-dominated field and her biggest priorities for the next year. This interview was edited for brevity and clarity. How does it feel to be the first woman to serve as Whatcom County’s public works director? (See Kosa, page 10)
INSIDE
Blaine public works (BPW) has begun sewer construction near the Blaine school campus and senior center that will go on through the summer. The project, called the G Street Sewer Improvements, will upgrade dilapidated sewer lines and increase the system’s capacity in anticipation of population growth, according to BPW. The project started on May 1 and is anticipated to be worked on in sections through mid-August. “It’s going to be a win-win with everyone,” acting BPW director Gary McSpadden said. “It’s getting rid of some of the oldest pipe in town, decreasing stormwater intrusion and having better flows in the city.” The streets and their expected construction dates are: • May 1-5: G Street, from 5th Street to 6th Street • May 1 to June 19: The alley between G Street and F Street, from the street end to 5th Street, and 5th Street, from the alley to G Street • May 8-18: G Street, from 6th Street to 8th Street • May 22-24: G Street, from 8th Street to 9th Street • May 25 to June 7: 8th Street, from G Street to the alley between E and D streets • June 8-14: G Street behind Burger King, from the street end to 14th Street • June 15-26: A section of 11th Street and neighboring properties, between F and H streets • June 27 to July 11: 6th Street and property adjacent to 6th Street, from G to H streets • July 12-25: H Street, from 6th Street to Elm Avenue; Elm Avenue and an alley south of Elm Avenue •July 26 to August 17: Mitchell Avenue, from Blaine Elementary School, going through part of the Blaine Primary School campus, and ending south of the primary school on Boblett Street The construction timelines are subject to change. BPW asks that people try to avoid construction areas, practice patience, follow traffic signs and flaggers’ directions. The sewer construction is one of the city’s largest undertakings in recent years. Sewage overflowing into the
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