November 28 - December 4, 2024
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Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay HHHECRWSSHHH Postal Customer
IN THIS
ISSUE
Birch Bay Incorporation Association elections, page 5
Night market and luminary walk added to holiday festival
Blaine school board roundup, page 7
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage PAID Permit NO. 87 Blaine, WA 98230
Moles funeral home exonerated, page 8
Holiday lights brighten downtown Blaine
By Grace McCarthy
(See Festival, page 5)
s Peace Portal Drive shined brightly the night of November 25 as Whatcom County Public Works Department and business owners finished hanging holiday lights around downtown Blaine. Enjoy holiday cheer during the festival on Saturday, November 30.
Photo by Louise Mugar
City of Blaine to remedy lead pipes in next decade By Grace McCarthy The city of Blaine is taking inventory of over 1,700 pipes made from unknown materials as part of a federal mandate requiring lead pipes to be replaced within the next decade. Blaine Public Works Department’s Steve Hrutfiord and Manroop Kaur presented the project to Blaine City Council during its November 25 meeting. “Our water does not have a high pH. It does not react to metals which was the case in Flint, Michigan,” said Hrut-
fiord, a water foreman. “They went from a higher pH water to a lower pH, and it started attacking the pipes. We don’t have that here.” The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has mandated all water systems in the U.S. remove lead from drinking water. To comply, Blaine public works was required to complete an initial lead service line inventory by October 16 in which staff reviewed records of service lines and their construction dates to the Whatcom County Tax Assessor’s database.
City council approves building height increase By Grace McCarthy In a 4-3 vote, Blaine City Council approved increasing building heights by one story on the west side of Peace Portal Drive in the downtown core during its November 25 meeting. The vote garnered opposition from councilmembers Richard May, Sonia Hurt and Eric Lewis, who also voted in opposition to the zoning change during council’s last meeting on November 12. The vote came before council again after it was tied
3-3 with councilmember Eric Davidson excused on November 12. Before the vote during the November 25 meeting, May introduced a motion to amend the zoning text to require the buildings to be transparent on the bottom floors. Senior planning official Mike Becht said it would take through January for the Community Development Services Department to determine if the amendment was consistent with the city’s design standards. City manager Mike Harmon added the amendment would also
need to go through a public hearing. Councilmember Rhyan Lopez said he would need to do more research on the amendment because he wasn’t sure if a transparent first floor would make construction more expensive. “If so, we’re just at square one,” he said. Council shot down May’s motion in a 3-4 vote with mayor Mary Lou Steward, Lopez, Mike Hill and Eric Davidson opposed. “I think we have to be reasonable. The (See Zoning, page 6)
Through the initial inventory, the city was able to identify 1,457 lines as not containing lead and 1,729 lines as unknown. “Unknown means further data research or field investigations are required to make a final determination,” said Kaur, a project manager. “Unknown category does not mean they are confirmed lead.” Public works has sent letters to (See Lead pipes, page 13)
INSIDE
A full day of holiday festivities is bringing back familiar traditions to downtown Blaine while also starting a new holiday market and luminary walk on Saturday, November 30. The newest addition to the Holiday Harbor Lights’ lineup is a fundraiser for the Blaine Harbor Music Festival, which will hold the night market and luminary walk from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Blaine Public Library. Blaine resident Talliah Hennig said she came up with the idea after over a decade of attending the Holiday Harbor Lights’ tree lighting with her family and feeling there wasn’t much to do after the lighting. When Blaine Harbor Music Festival organizers asked her to plan event fundraisers, she knew exactly what to do. “It’s very quaint that the whole community comes out, the lights come on, the music plays, but after that there’s really nothing,” Hennig said. “Everyone dissipates.” Inspired by European Christmas markets, there will be about 20 vendors selling quilts, pottery, candles and other crafted items. There will also be live music, crafts for children, and a tree lighting and tree falling contest. Those stopping by can also grab food and drink with available food trucks, hot cocoa, mulled wine, beer and a fire to roast s’mores. A luminary trail will twinkle with tea and Christmas lights from the library, along Cain Creek to the Que Onda building. Tickets for the market and luminary trail will cost $10 for general admission, $25 per family and $5 for drinks. Tickets can be purchased at the event or before the event at bit.ly/4hSZUXd. “I see this becoming a tradition,” Hennig said. As for Blaine holiday classics, Holiday Harbor Lights will kick off in the morning with the Friends of Blaine Library book
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