BRIEFS

By The Northern Light staff

Scarecrow deadline approaching

The deadline for the Blaine Chamber of Commerce scarecrow competition is October 6. Blaine businesses and residents are invited to create a scarecrow using such materials as corn stalks, straw bales and pumpkins, as well as any props necessary.

Decorations should be in place by October 18 and participants are encouraged to register at the Blaine Visitor Center so they are included in the scarecrow walk map.

The map will include merchant coupons and advertisements on the back for local businesses. Forms to be included in the map are available at the Blaine Visitor Center. Prizes will be awarded.
For more information, call 332-4544.

HOGS to visit Saturday

The Harley Owners Group will visit the Stafholt Good Samaritan Center on Saturday, September 27 to kick off the center’s annual Giving Tree fundraiser that connects gift donors to low income children and families.

Applications for the giving tree will be available at the Blaine Food Bank and the Blaine school district’s family service center by October. The center has also scheduled a fundraiser from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, November 22 at the Pastime Bar. Admission is $10 and music will be provided by Crystal Tricycle.

Local artists featured in county artist studio tour

Two local artists will be part of the Whatcom Artist Studio Tour beginning October 4.

Sharon Swanson, of Birch Bay, and Kathy McGee, of Ferndale, will be part of a collective of 54 artists working in nine different media who will be displaying their studios throughout Whatcom County.

The studios will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the first two weekends of October.

A free self-guided tour map is available at the Blaine Visitor Center or at www.studiotour.net.

Parks meeting scheduled

Blaine and Birch Bay residents who have a vision for the Northwest Park and Recreation District 2 are invited to attend a public meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 2 at Blaine elementary school.

The district’s steering committee is seeking input on a variety of topics such as land acquisition, trails, waterfront access and recreational programs. For more information, call 656-6416.

ConocoPhillips donates $5 million to hurricane effort

ConocoPhillips said it will contribute $5 million to provide assistance to those affected by Hurricane Ike. ConocoPhillips’ donation is being directed to the American Red Cross, the United Way, the Salvation Army and the Texas Disaster Relief Fund, established by Texas governor Rick Perry.

Boys and Girls Club schedules learning improvement days

The Blaine Boys & Girls Club has scheduled its learning improvement days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Early bird hours on learning improvement days are 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. The club will resume regular afternoon program hours of 2:30 to 7 p.m. during early release days. For more information, call 332-3008.