News in Brief

September 11 memorial to be held at city hall
American Legion posts 247 and 86 will be holding a memorial service to remember those lost on September 11, 2001 as well as those military and community officials who have died within the last year. The memorial program will include a rededication of the plaque that bears the names of those who served in World War I, special remembrances, a wreath laying, rifle squad salute and music by the Blaine school band. The memorial will begin at 6 p.m. in front of Blaine city hall at 344 H Street.

Next CWAC meeting set for September 15
The next Citizens Wastewater Advisory Committee (CWAC) meeting has been set for Monday, September 15. It was previously set for Wednesday, September 10. The meeting will be held at city hall from 5:30 to 9 p.m. CWAC is currently examining 13 possible alternatives and sites for Blaine�s wastewater treatment, and has already established community criteria and objectives related to the examination of these alternatives. For those interested in learning more about this issue, log online to www.cityofblaine.com.

School construction tours slated this week
The Blaine school district is inviting the public to tour the new and remodeled facilities. Three tours have been rescheduled with each lasting approximately one hour: Friday, September 5 at 10 a.m., Tuesday, September 9 at 5:30 p.m. and Wednesday, September 10 at 10 a.m. Those interested in the tour should call the Education Service Center at 332-5881 to make a reservation. The group will gather at 770 Mitchell Avenue and visit the capital improvements.

Demolition will likely be end of the month
The complete demolition of the Blaine Book Company will likely be at the end of the month, according to community development director Terry Galvin. The building has been fenced off, hazardous materials have been removed and the owners of the building have been in communication with several demolition companies and are in the process of reaching an agreement with one, Galvin said. Once the building is down, the owners may build a three-story residential/commercial structure; however, no plans have been finalized.
Another structure that will see some demolition work, but mostly clean-up, is at 565 Peace Portal Drive, owned by Terry Charles. Galvin said Charles will start clean-up this week and will level off the property, followed by the installation of fencing.

Blaine woman runs another world record
Blaine resident and runner Diane Palmason, 65, competed in the U.S. Masters National Track and Field Championships held in Eugene, Oregon last month and ran away with a new world record in the women�s 65 years and older 400 meters, with a time of 68.21. The previous record holder for this event was Carolyn Cappetta of Boston, with a time of 71:45, which Palmason already broke once in June at a Langley race, running 69.24. She also won the womens 65 years and older 800, running a new world record time of 2:41.81, beating the current record of 2:44.43 held by Jeanne Daprano of Atlanta.�
Palmason also ran in the Canadian Masters Track Championships, where she won the womens 65 years and older 100 meters in a Canadian world record time of 15.06.She now holds the Canadian records in the 100, 200, 400, 800, 1500 and the mile for the season, and the overall world records for the 400, 800, 1500 and the mile.

Employee honored for 25 years of service
Beverly Kittel was honored at last week�s city council meeting for her 25 years of service to the city of Blaine. Kittel began working part-time for Blaine in 1976 and became full-time on January 1, 1978. Over the years she has worked for community development, public works and fire. In addition to Kittel, police chief Mike Haslip and city clerk Shirley Thorsteinson are also 25-year employees.

City continues with fire annexation move
The Blaine city council is moving forward with fire annexation. The city council adopted a resolution two months ago stating their intent to annex to fire district 13. According to city manager Gary Tomsic, the city is currently putting information together required by the Whatcom County Boundary Review Board, whereupon a 45-day clock will be put on the review. Following that, a resolution will go to county council calling for an election. The election will not be held in November, Tomsic said, but rather in February of 2004.
Fire district 13 and the city of Blaine are currently in an interlocal agreement that began in 1999. The agreement essentially says that the district provides fire service to the city of Blaine for five years, and the city is now in its fourth year of the five-year contract. Prior to 1999, the city had been running its own fire department. The agreement states that �the district and the city recognize that a successful contractual relationship should be converted to a more permanent alliance as soon as possible. Therefore, no later than one year from the commencement date of the agreement, the district and the city will begin annexation discussions. Costs for all annexation work shall be jointly approved and shared equally by each party.�