July 4 - 10, 2024
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IN THIS
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Northern giant hornet monitoring starts, page 3
Namaste brings new cuisine to Blaine, page 5
Birch Bay resident’s ties to Black Dahlia, page 6
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Line of duty service held for NWFR firefighter Blaine Harbor Music Festival to return July 7-13 By Grace McCarthy
(See Festival, page 5)
s A procession of Whatcom County emergency vehicles led the way from Station 61 to the Blaine Performing Arts Center, where a line of duty memorial was held for North Whatcom Fire and Rescue firefighter Leslee Smith on June 29. Smith died at 69 years old in March of liver cancer caused by hazardous exposures while working as a firefighter. She was given full honors during the service. Photo by Grace McCarthy
Bellingham man arrested for attempting to lure children in Birch Bay By Nolan Baker A man was booked into Whatcom County Jail on five counts of luring after allegedly attempting to persuade multiple children into his car outside of The C Shop candy store in Birch Bay about 7:30 p.m. June 24. According to a Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) statement, 53-yearold Corey Lee Cardwell, of Bellingham, was arrested by WCSO deputies on June 25. Cardwell allegedly offered candy and toys to two young children at The C Shop. Cardwell was heard asking, “Do you guys never want to see your parents ever again,” according to WCSO. Cardwell allegedly then attempted to lure the two children by showing a Fris-
bee from the trunk of his car before the children’s parent told Cardwell to leave. Cardwell then went inside the store and sat next to three girls, asking, “Do you guys want money? I have money in the trunk,” according to the WCSO statement. The parent of the two children began calling 911, and Cardwell fled the scene toward Birch Bay State Park. The next day, WCSO deputies arrested Cardwell on five felony charges of luring. Cardwell denied allegations but showed detectives the Frisbee in his trunk. The parent and another witness identified him, according to WCSO. As of July 2, jail booking data showed Cardwell was still being held in lieu of a $150,000 bond or $15,000 cash.
INSIDE
Blaine Harbor Music Festival is back for its annual week of bringing music to the Blaine community, both through instructing the youth and daily performances. The festival will run Sunday, July 7 through Saturday, July 13, bringing musicians that include a Grammy winner and a professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston. “There’s a lot of warmth. Those who are involved in music in the Blaine community have really embraced these guys,” Marla Tuski said of the camp instructors. Tuski is co-president of Pacific Arts Association, the Blaine nonprofit that organizes the festival and camp. Musicians will teach classes to youth ages 12-20 during the six-day camp. A sampling of classes offered includes saxophone ensemble, songwriting, composition and music theory. This year’s faculty includes artistic director and saxophonist Nick Biello, Grammy winner and trumpeter Charlie Porter, Berklee professor and trumpeter Greg Hopkins, and singer/songwriter Camille Bloom of Luxembourg. Musicians will perform free weekday concerts at noon at G Street Plaza in downtown Blaine. The concert series will have the Mark Kelly Group on Monday, Greta Matassa on Tuesday, Nick Biello and Charlie Porter on Wednesday, Bob Storms, Rick Whitaker and the traditional jazz players on Thursday, and sus4 vocal ensemble on Friday. In addition to the G Street concert series, the performance schedule is as follows: • Sunday, July 7: Jazz performers Jerry Steinhilber Trio and Greta Matassa will give a performance at 7 p.m. at Blaine High School’s Black Box Theater, 1055 H Street. • Tuesday, July 9: Randy Halberstadt, Andy Marshall, David Joyner, Greg Hopkins and the camp’s jazz faculty all-stars will perform at 7 p.m. at Blaine Middle School’s Performing Arts Center, 975 H Street. • Wednesday, July 10: Returning for the second year, an evening concert will be held at G Street Plaza at 7 p.m. featuring Chris Woitach Group, Camille Bloom, David Marriott, Majid Khaliq and Jovino Santos Neto. Tables and chairs will be available
Coming Up . . . . . 14 Classifieds . . 11, 12 Letters . . . . . . . . . 4 Police . . . . . . . . . 14 Tides . . . . . . . . . . 14
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