News | The Northern Light

D Street Shell station owners giving away milk and bread to help local families

Since about March 21, Sukhwant Singh Gill and his son Gury Gill have been giving away milk at their Shell gas station at 360 D Street in Blaine, and more recently they started giving out free bread … more

Oliver Lazenby | 4/1/20 07:04 PM

Inslee prohibits in-person city council meetings

Blaine residents who wish to personally attend the next city council meeting on April 13 will not be able to do so, after governor Jay Inslee suspended key provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act … more

Jami Makan | 4/1/20 07:01 PM

CARES Act gives quick relief to local businesses and the self-employed

The CARES Act recently passed by the U.S. Congress should benefit local businesses, independent contractors and the self-employed who have taken a hit from the coronavirus pandemic. The bill … more

Patrick Grubb | 4/1/20 06:59 PM

BPD, WCSO urge voluntary compliance with stay-home order

The Blaine Police Department (BPD) and Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) are urging local residents to voluntarily comply with governor Jay Inslee’s stay-home order to help curb the … more

Jami Makan | 4/1/20 06:56 PM

The Bridge begins new food distribution program in Birch Bay

Three weeks ago, volunteers at The Bridge Community Hope Center in Birch Bay started distributing free food to people in need. While they were planning to do it even before the current crisis hit, … more

Jami Makan | 4/1/20 06:55 PM

On-Board Marine Services plans to expand Blaine shipyard

After relocating in January from Bellingham to the old Walsh Marine site at Blaine Harbor, On-Board Marine Services has big plans for the future. The company, a one-stop shop servicing recreational … more

Jami Makan | 4/1/20 06:53 PM

Flags in council chambers offer snapshots of U.S. history

Star-spangled banners decorate the side wall of Blaine’s council chambers, with three framed American flags representing different eras of U.S. history. Below each flag is a brief note about … more

Grace McCarthy | 4/1/20 06:23 PM

Nature’s Path hiring up to 30 employees in Blaine

Organic breakfast foods company Nature’s Path is hiring at its Blaine facility. According to associate vice president of operations David Pickrell, the company is seeking to add about 20 to … more

Jami Makan | 4/1/20 06:20 PM

How COVID-19 is affecting local real estate

Like so many industries, the challenges arising from the coronavirus pandemic have caused those of us in real estate to be creative and innovative. The buyers who were in the market several weeks ago … more

Mike Kent | 4/1/20 06:18 PM

Blaine councilmembers, BBWSD suspend utility shut-offs and late fees

Blaine city councilmembers have temporarily suspended utility shut-offs and late fees for all of the city’s utility customers. Separately, the board of Birch Bay Water and Sewer District … more

Jami Makan | 4/1/20 06:16 PM

Unemployment insurance claims spike in Whatcom County

Initial claims applications for unemployment insurance soared in Whatcom County during the week of March 15 to 21, according to data released by Washington’s Employment Security Department … more

Jami Makan | 4/1/20 06:12 PM

11 Stafholt residents, two healthcare workers test positive for COVID-19

Good Samaritan Society – Stafholt in Blaine has 13 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, including 11 residents and two healthcare workers, a spokesperson for the Good Samaritan Society said … more

Oliver Lazenby | 4/1/20 01:43 PM

With 19 new COVID-19 cases identified, Whatcom County's total is 139

With 19 new cases of the new coronavirus identified in the past 24 hours, Whatcom County is now up to 139 total cases of COVID 19. more

3/31/20 08:13 PM

Four associated with Stafholt in Blaine test positive for COVID-19

Two residents and two medical professionals at Good Samaritan Society – Stafholt have tested positive for COVID-19, a Good Samaritan Society spokesperson said. The Blaine skilled nursing and … more

3/30/20 06:12 PM

Temporary restrictions at northern border go into effect

Restrictions on “non-essential” travel across the northern border went into effect on March 21, and will remain in place for at least 30 days, according to a joint statement from the U.S. … more

Jami Makan | 3/25/20 07:01 PM

Opinion: Trust one another and work together to survive, like they once did in Pumpville, Texas

By the time of which I write, there was no longer much reason for Pumpville, Texas to exist. The town had come into being in 1882, when the Southern Pacific railroad established a watering station … more

Kenneth Ely | 3/25/20 06:57 PM

Councilmembers affirm city manager’s emergency proclamation

At a special city council meeting on March 16, councilmembers voted unanimously to affirm a proclamation issued on March 13 by Blaine city manager Michael Jones declaring a local emergency related to … more

Jami Makan | 3/25/20 06:56 PM

Border restrictions force couple to visit with new grandson at Peace Arch

Blaine residents John and Sharon Andes recently visited with their new grandson in the Peace Arch park, following new border restrictions that prevented them from crossing into Canada, where the baby … more

Jami Makan | 3/25/20 06:54 PM

Local maritime organization restoring 114-year-old fishing boat

Slamming salmon onto the fishing boat was part of the job. It was the 1970s in Bristol Bay, Alaska and Richard Sturgill, then 31 years old, had recently decided to make a career of commercial … more

Grace McCarthy | 3/25/20 06:52 PM

Some Blaine residents to experience water shut-offs this weekend

Some Blaine residents will be without running water for several hours this weekend, when a city contractor will perform emergency repairs to a broken water main near the intersection of Bell Road and … more

Jami Makan | 3/25/20 06:48 PM