News in Brief

Stafholt seeking sponsors for giving tree program
Stafholt Good Samaritan Center has received applications from over 100 families, approximately 350 children, and sponsors for about half of these children are needed. All monetary donations given to Stafholt are used to purchase gifts for children without sponsors. Each child receives two clothing items and one toy. If anyone would like to sponsor a child for Christmas, please contact Stafholt Good Samaritan Center at 332-8733.

Old flare discovered, authorities destroy it
The Whatcom County Sheriff�s Office responded to an unusual looking device on H Street, near Harvey Road earlier this week. Authorities deemed the device hazardous and with the help of Bellingham police department, destroyed it to avoid any possible injuries. It was not known how long the device had been there. It was discovered, however, to be an old flare.

Four Blaine gateway signs installed
�All the gateway signs are now installed,� said Terry Galvin, Blaine�s community development director at Monday�s city council meeting. �I think it�s fairly spectacular.� A total of four signs have been placed throughout the city: two at the junction of H Street and route 543, one at the crossing of Bell Road and Peace Portal Drive and another along northern Peace Portal Drive, across from the I-5 on-ramp. A sign committee was named early in the year by the city, and Dave Christensen of Christensen Design Management designed the signs. The Sign Post, formerly of Blaine and now of Bellingham, built the signs and also installed them. The city is next working on directional signage that will lead visitors in Blaine to the information center, city hall, library, parks and other areas.

Fire annexation election likely for February
With the 45-day review completed by the Boundary Review Board, the county council will take a vote on the issue of fire annexation and the city of Blaine on Tuesday, December 8. Should the council call for an election, it will likely go to ballot on Monday, February 3 � the same date the Blaine school district intends to place its maintenance and operation levy on the ballot. For more information, visit online at www.co.whatcom.wa.us.

Budget public hearing set for December 8
The public hearing concerning the 2004 city of Blaine budget will continue on Monday, December 8. No members of the public commented on the 2004 budget at Monday evening�s meeting. For more information, visit online at www.cityofblaine.com.

Trees encroaching into flight path to be cut
Property owners near the northern end of the airport whose trees encroach into the airport flight path have received notices that tree trimming will begin soon. �We alerted them we would be topping those trees in the next 30 days,� city manager Gary Tomsic said. �Most of those trees will be topped, not removed.� So far the city has not received any objections about the proposed work, Tomsic said. A meeting was held early last spring with 12 affected property owners to discuss the numerous encroaching trees and about half showed up.