Locals welcomed 2012 with a bracing dip in Birch Bay during the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce’s annual Polar Bear Plunge, co-sponsored by Birch Bay Waterslides.

Dozens of Birch Bay residents turned out for the annual Ring of Fire and Hope on New Year's Eve, illuminating the bay with soft red glow of flares.

More than 3,000 food items were collected by Blaine Middle School students for the Blaine Food Bank. An Attitude of Gratitude assembly focused on world hunger capped off the event. All photos by Jeremy Schwartz

Local photographer David Riffle took the time to tour Blaine on behalf of The Northern Light and capture some examples of holiday decorations on local homes and businesses.

Despite the rain drizzling from the sky, this year's Blaine Holiday Harbor Lights celebration still enjoyed a respectable turnout.