Around the City

Power outage caused by wreck

A driver who fell asleep at the wheel while returning home from work was not cited after shearing off a utility pole that took out electrical power to much of Birch Bay early Tuesday morning.

Sergeant Steve Gatterman, of the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, said the driver was westbound on Birch Bay-Lynden Road between Kickerville and Blaine roads in a large American-made sedan at approximately 6 a.m. Tuesday when he fell asleep, drifted to the left across oncoming traffic and hit a power pole, then bounced back across the road ending up in the ditch on the north side of the road.
The driver’s name was not released as no citation was issued.

Piano student receives honors

Donald Yung, a 2006 graduate of Blaine high school who studies music with Richard Clark, passed a three-hour harmony test, and received first class honors with distinction upon passing his music history exam administered by the Royal Conservatory of Music last month.

Donald, now a student at the University of British Columbia, completed the conservatory’s terminal grade 10 requirements this summer.

Will work to travel to Japan

Blaine high school wind ensemble band will be out in force on Saturday, October 7, to raise money for their trip to Japan.

This “super Saturday band blitz” includes work parties pulling weeds, trimming bushes and helping homeowners with winterizing projects.
Students will also be selling the two-year Blaine, Birch Bay and Point Roberts calendar while promoting the Bellis Fair Evening of Giving scheduled for November 19.

By purchasing a $5 ticket, shoppers will be allowed into the mall after closing hours for a special two and a half hours of shopping, door prizes, discounts and other special events. To schedule yard work, call Dori at 371-5038.

Decorating the town

A group of downtown merchants are inviting Blaine businesses and residents to participate in a citywide scarecrow contest and food bank drive next week.

Christy Lonquist, owner of Northern Meadows gift and wine shop on Peace Portal Drive, said she and other business owners helped organize the event to decorate the town and help generate donations for the Blaine Food Bank during the upcoming holiday season.

Participants should register by October 13 as the committee will judge the entries on October 14. Individuals or groups are invited to use corn stalks, straw bales, pumpkins or any other props to create their own designs.

Lonquist added that the group is looking for individuals or community groups to donate their scarecrows to put on display downtown.

In addition, select Blaine businesses will post orange window signs advertising for food bank donations such as Northern Meadows, Sterling Savings Bank, Goff’s department store and Blaine Bouquet.
“It’s nice if we can drive around our town and see creativity everywhere and that we all got together and did something for the better of our town,” Lonquist said.

For more information, contact Lonquist at 332-4921 or Kim Shea, an employee at Sterling Savings Bank at 332-5565.