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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay
March 7 - 13, 2024
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IN THIS
ISSUE
B.C. biofuel facility loses funding, page 3
Spring sports preview, page 10
Presidential primary on March 12, page 4
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Library, condominium project draws interest Sunday, March 10
Blaine school board seeks candidates By Nolan Baker
21st Annual
s Paul Schissler, spokesperson for the Blaine Partnership Project, presented the project’s proposal to construct two buildings at the current site of the Blaine library and skate park during a community presentation at Blaine Senior Center. One building would house 44 condominiums, while the other would have a new Blaine library, 27 affordable and market-rate condominiums, and commercial spaces envisioned to include a childcare facility. Kulshan Community Land Trust is leading the project, which is still in the preliminary stages, with partnership from the city of Blaine and Whatcom County Library System. See renderings on page 3. Photo by Grace McCarthy
Investigation into Birch Bay Waterslides injury hampered by missing inspection records State code only requires water parks to submit maintenance records upon request By Grace McCarthy A report into a slide malfunction at Birch Bay Waterslides that seriously injured a man while going down the Hairpin slide last August cites multiple instances of incomplete or missing maintenance records. Despite promoting season ticket sales, Birch Bay Waterslides has not provided information needed before its operating permit could be reactivated. Whatcom County Health and Community Services (WCHCS) revoked the permit in September after the company failed to provide inspection reports requested by WCHCS. The report noted that health investigators discovered missing and corroded fasteners where the slide failed and previously repaired damage immediately be-
low the point of failure. The incident raises questions regarding the oversight by state and local agencies given that state regulations only require water parks to submit maintenance and operations records when requested by county health departments. Birch Bay Waterslides general manager Iain Buchanan said the company had just received the WCHCS investigative report, which was completed February 29, and needed to review it further before commenting. Buchanan said he had requested a meeting with WCHCS to discuss what he believed were inaccuracies in the report. “We plan to continue working closely and collaboratively with the health (See Waterslides, page 6)
INSIDE
After resignations by Ryan Ford and Don Leu from the Blaine school board were officially accepted during the February 26 board meeting, the school district’s governing body is seeking replacements, with a submission deadline set for 4 p.m. Monday, March 11. Board districts 4 and 5 are now open for applications, and all prospective board members are required to be U.S. citizens, registered voters and reside within the geographical boundaries of each district. Letters of interest should be submitted by email to comments@blainesd.org or delivered to the district office at 765 H Street. District 4 is roughly east of Blaine Road and includes a large area of Birch Bay, including the Baycrest and Point Whitehorn neighborhoods. District 5 covers Semiahmoo, Selder and neighborhoods south of Dakota Creek. The three remaining school board directors, newly-appointed president Cliff Freeman (District 3), vice president Ben Lazarus (District 2), and longest-tenured member Erika Creydt (District 1), will decide who to appoint to the two vacant positions. District superintendent Christopher Granger said the first round of interviews is set for Friday, March 15. District policy requires the board to appoint new members 90 days after a resignation was officially accepted, but appointments are likely to be made well ahead of that deadline with an impending $2.5 million budget deficit that must be ratified by April. Any newly appointed members will serve until the next local election in November 2025, when they can then run for reelection. The current term of District 4 board member goes through the end of 2027, and the current term for District 5 runs through the end of 2025. For more information about serving on the Blaine school board, visit the Washington State School Directors Association website, at wssda.org, or contact the superintendent’s administrative assistant, Tina Padilla, at 360/332-0711.
Coming Up . . . . . 14 Classifieds . . 11, 12 Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Sports . . . . . . . . . 10 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14
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ALL DAY BIRDING EXPO SATURDAY MARCH 16 • 10AM - 5PM Blaine Pavilion • 635 8th Street
FREE Family Fun For The Entire Family!
Kids’ Activities • Wildlife Exhibits • Wildlife Speakers • Art-Craft Vendors & More!
Northwest Birding Festival
MARCH 15, 16, 17
DETAILS PAGE 16