June 29 - July 5, 2023
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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
Ocean Bay owners open in Bellingham, page 3
Blaine’s Old-Fashioned Fourth of July expected to draw a crowd
Wrong-way crash victims improving, page 3
Birch Bay Kite Festival photos, page 10
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Splash Days provides summer entertainment
By Grace McCarthy
(See July 4, page 3)
s Temperatures reached 70 degrees in time for the first Splash Days of the summer on June 23. Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 and the city of Blaine put on the event, allowing families to have a fun afternoon with sprinklers, an ice cream truck and other activities. See more photos on page 9. Photo by Ian Haupt
Bell Road overpass project receives $9.5 million in funding for study, design phase By Ian Haupt and Grace McCarthy The city of Blaine was awarded $9.5 million to conduct a study and start the design process of its overpass project at the railroad crossing on Bell Road near its intersection with Peace Portal Drive. “This is a major win for the city of Blaine,” city manager Michael Harmon said during the June 26 council meeting. “For all of our partners who live west of the intersection, this is a major public safety improvement.” The funding comes from U.S. Senator Patty Murray’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program in which Washington state secured nearly $133 million in infra-
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structure funding, according to a June 22 press release from Murray’s office. The $9.5 million will pay for 30 percent of design for the overpass project and Dakota Creek bridge replacement, but will not make the project shovel-ready, Harmon said. It also includes funding for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance process and right-of-way acquisition. The city applied for the grant in February with the help of BNSF Railway. BNSF also provides a federally mandated 5 percent contribution to the cost of the project. Harmon said the total project cost is expected to be around $85 million. He thanked BNSF and city staff as well as the federal, state
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(See Bell Road, page 6)
t h of July Old-Fashioned
Celebration D o w n t o w n
INSIDE
Blaine’s largest festival of the year is bringing back fan favorites to celebrate the Fourth of July, including a parade, car show and fireworks show. Fourth of July will kick off in Blaine at 8 a.m. Tuesday, July 4 with a pancake breakfast at Blaine Senior Center, 763 G Street. The breakfast will serve pancakes, breakfast burritos, eggs, sausage, coffee and juice. The breakfast is $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and kids. The breakfast will have live music, decorations and food can be purchased to-go, senior center director Pete Nelson said. The Show-N-Shine Car Show will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 4th and Martin streets. The event is expected to attract over 200 vintage cars, lowriders and other vehicles. Check-in is 7-10 a.m., and judging and awards are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Blaine Public Library will hold its annual July 4 book sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the library, 610 3rd Street. The arts and crafts street fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the H Street and G Street plazas. The fair will have over 85 vendors selling woodworking, jewelry, soaps, pottery and other goods. A kids zone will have a bounce house, train ride and games from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. near H and 4th streets. The Fourth of July grand parade will take over Peace Portal Drive at noon. The parade route will go along Peace Portal Drive from Starbucks, on F Street, to Boblett Street. Last year’s parade attracted 14,000 people, said Jacquee Sovereign, Blaine Chamber of Commerce executive director. Sovereign recommended Blaine residents carpool, bike or walk into town because parking will be hard to find. Live music will be played on H Street 1:30-5:30 p.m. by the Jim Buk Tu and Jimmy Wright bands. Silver City Band will also play at the car show. Fireworks above Blaine Marine Park will end the festivities at 10:15 p.m. The historic Plover passenger ferry will not be running between Semiahmoo Spit and Blaine Harbor as it is still undergoing restoration repairs. Blaine Police Department and
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All-Day Family Fun! H 8AM to Dusk GRAND PARADE H LIVE MUSIC SEMIAHMOO RESORT SEASIDE BBQ CAR SHOW-N-SHINE H GREAT FOOD PANCAKE BREAKFAST s SEE STREET FAIR & MORE! Detail 6
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