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October 31 - November 6, 2024 Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
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Don’t forget to turn back clocks Nov. 3
Less than a week before Election Day, page 4
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Trick-or-Treat on the Berm, page 7
CAP Toy Store bp hosts student day at Cherry Point refinery registration, donations start By Grace McCarthy
(See Toy store, page 5)
s bp Cherry Point invited Whatcom County high school students to the refinery to learn about job opportunities on October 24. The community events continued the next day with an open house offering refinery tours to the public.
Photo courtesy of bp
Blaine City Council OKs legislative priorities By Grace McCarthy While 42nd Legislative District state representatives won’t be decided until November, Blaine City Council is already making its request to lawmakers – whoever they may be – for next year’s legislative session. During the October 28 city council meeting, council approved a list of 10 funding and policy priorities the city wants lawmakers to consider when they return to Olympia on January 13, including restoring Blaine Harbor, addressing train delays and focusing on affordable housing.
In its 2025 legislative agenda, the city is partnering with the Port of Bellingham to request funding to upgrade Blaine Harbor. This request comes as the port and city are working together to improve the wharf, deepen navigation channels and improve stormwater management systems, according to the legislative agenda. The city is prioritizing funding for the Bell Road Grade Separation Project in addition to what the state has already provided. Money from the state and federal governments as well as BNSF only covers 30 percent of the design. The project, which
Munden retires after 25 years with BPD By Grace McCarthy Blaine police lieutenant Michael Munden retired after serving 25 years in law enforcement for the city, the longest serving member of the current force, on October 30. “[Munden] has risen up the ladder as officer to sergeant to lieutenant to interim chief,” mayor Mary Lou Steward said during a recognition of Munden at the October 28 city council meeting. “He filled them all with distinction and honor, and
really helped to keep our city safe.” Munden graduated from the School of Police Staff and Command at Northwestern and started his career as a reserve police officer in Aguilar, Colorado in 1991. He then moved to his hometown of Raton, New Mexico with his wife and became an officer there in 1992. Wanting to move out of New Mexico, the couple flipped a coin on moving to Maine or Washington. Shortly after, 29-year-old Munden found Blaine when
he was driving up the I-5 corridor picking up applications in 1999. Munden created the police department’s former K-9 program, where he worked as a dog handler for 12 years. He also oversaw a reserve program, pushed to update radio equipment, reviewed policies and oversaw the administrative needs of the department. Munden’s contributions were recognized through his promotions, even(See Munden, page 15)
the city has been requesting funding on for years, would build an overpass above the Bell Road and Peace Portal Drive intersection to avoid vehicles from being delayed from trains moving slowly through U.S. Homeland Security’s Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System. The city is also asking the state to alleviate the city’s legal expenses incurred in the Nooksack River water adjudication. As for policy priorities, first on the city’s legislative agenda is a request to focus on (See Agenda, page 3)
INSIDE
As the holidays fast approach, the Community Assistance Program (CAP) is preparing for its annual Community Toy Store, with registration and donations beginning Friday, November 1. The toy store allows Blaine, Birch Bay and Point Roberts families living on limited incomes to purchase new toys for their children and gift cards for teens at an 80 percent discount, 5 percent more than previous years to help families burdened by inflation. Shoppers will be giving back to the community as all proceeds from the toy store go to The Bridge Community Hope Center emergency fund, Loads of Love’s bimonthly free laundry services and Blaine Food Bank. “It’s a way to help families in a dignified manner,” CAP volunteer Laura Vogee said. “It’s not a hand out, it’s a hand up.” Registrations Pre-registration for the toy store is required by Sunday, December 1 and walkins will not be accepted. The store will be open December 12-14 at Christian Way Community Church, next to Westside Pizza in the Blaine international shopping center. To be eligible, families must live within the Blaine school district boundaries, though the children don’t need to attend Blaine schools. The families must also qualify for free and reduced lunch and cannot be receiving any other gift assistance. Families may still be eligible on a case-bycase basis if their income doesn’t meet the requirements. Vouchers are available for families needing additional assistance. People can sign up for the program at blainecap.org or, if unable to register online, by calling 530/828-5195. Once applications are approved, families will be contacted by phone or email for their allotted time to shop and then will receive a referral postcard in the mail at the beginning of December that must be brought to the toy store. A shopper can purchase up to $15 in
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