2024 Year in Review: A look back at the year that was ... (July-December)

(This is the second of a two-part Year in Review. January-June was published in the previous issue of The Northern Light.)

July

• The Washington State Department of Agriculture asked Blaine and Birch Bay residents to monitor and report sightings of the northern giant hornet, also known as ‘murder hornets,’ starting July 1.

• Thousands of people descended to downtown Blaine for Blaine’s Old-Fashioned Fourth of July.

• Blaine Arts Council held a soft opening for its new gallery at 922 Peace Portal Drive.

• Volunteers picked up 10,640 pounds of trash along the Birch Bay shoreline during the annual July 5 cleanup.

• The city of Blaine hired Jennifer Spidle as finance director.

• North Whatcom Fire and Rescue chief Jason Van der Veen said Birch Bay Station 63 needed to be replaced due to a slate of problems including structural concerns on the training tower, an outdated building layout and the cost of maintaining an aging building. The levy lid lift in the August primary election would, in part, provide kick-starter funds for replacing the station.

• Blaine Harbor Music Festival brought a week of live music to Blaine with its music camp, free noon concerts, street fair and more.

• Kroger and Albertsons announced the store locations across the country it planned to sell if the two grocery giants merge, including six in Whatcom County.

• The latest Covid-19 variants “FLiRT” and LB.1 created a summer surge nationwide, though Covid-19 remained under control in northwest Washington.

• The U.S. Coast Guard passed the historic Plover ferry’s final inspection that approved it to transport passengers.

• Whatcom County announced a 90-day hiring freeze due to dwindling federal funds and a leveling out of tax revenue.

• Governor Jay Inslee appointed Jennifer E. Slattery to the Whatcom County Superior Court bench to fill a fifth position created in the state legislature earlier in the year made to assist with a backlog of cases.

• Relay racers passed the starting line of the Ragnar Road Northwest Passage Race at Peace Arch Historical State Park in Blaine before making their way to the finish line on south Whidbey Island.

• The Whatcom County Library System hosted Pride in the Park to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community at Blaine Marine Park.

• The Port of Bellingham let go of Bellingham International Airport’s aviation director Kip Turner without notice, citing financial reasons. The separation came as Southwest Airlines was about to stop flights out of the airport.

• Vapester Smoke Shop opened its first U.S. location on Peace Portal Drive in Blaine.

• The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the now-shuttered Intalco, fining the company $5.25 million after years of alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act at its aluminum smelting facility in Ferndale.

• Whatcom County Council approved up to $150,000 to fund a Birch Bay incorporation feasibility study that will provide more data, including costs, associated with the urban growth area becoming its own city.

• The Nooksack Indian Tribe welcomed canoes landing in Birch Bay for a stop along the Paddle to Puyallup Canoe Journey.

• Blaine Arts Council hosted an “en blanc” evening fundraiser at Blaine Harbor Boating Center that was followed the next day with an art festival at Blaine Marine Park.

• Brilliant Planet, a new, local nonprofit dedicated to helping kids get into nature, hosted its first community meet-and-greet event at the Blaine Senior Center.

• Days before new rules on traveling into the U.S. with dogs were scheduled to be implemented, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) relaxed the requirements. The newly revised rules require dogs to appear healthy upon arrival, be at least six months old and possess a microchip that can be detected with a universal scanner for identification. In addition, the dog must be accompanied by a CDC Dog Import Form.

• U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) sent a letter to CDC director Mandy Cohen on July 30 requesting the new rules for traveling with dogs into the U.S. be delayed. The new rules were scheduled to start August 1.

August

• Blaine Arts Council introduced a new monthly downtown art walk on August 1.

• The Washington State Department of Ecology answered questions on the upcoming Nooksack adjudication during an informational meeting at North Bay Community Church in Birch Bay.

• Birch Bay residents Drisana and John Horton opened Aloha Café in downtown Blaine. The café brought new options to downtown Blaine including mocha waffles and milk tea.

• The Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce held its 41st Sand Sculpture Competition and 10th Rollback Weekend car show.

• The Blaine Chamber of Commerce had a lineup of nautical-themed activities at Blaine Harbor for Drayton Harbor Maritime Festival. Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 hosted Pirate Daze that included Blaine Community Theater’s “Pirates of Penzance” water balloon performance.

• August primary ballots were turned in by 8 p.m. Election Day, with voters establishing which candidates would move on to the November general election.

• National Night Out, aimed to strengthen ties between law enforcement and the community, was held at Birch Bay Beach Park.

• Whatcom County and county medical examiner Dr. Allison Hunt were in legal discussions about ending Dr. Hunt’s contract following the receipt of a report by an outside attorney that found deficient practices in how the medical examiner’s office mishandled remains of two bodies in mid-May.

• Drayton Harbor Oyster Company opened a farm store and coffee corner at the front of its Blaine restaurant at 685 Peace Portal Drive.

• A 35-year-old Blaine man suspected of nine domestic violence offenses was arrested after a seven-hour standoff with law enforcement on Mitchell Avenue in Blaine.

• The Port of Bellingham unanimously approved spending nearly $100,000 on public relations to improve its public image after a year of public scrutiny.

• Blaine and Birch Bay residents had a rare sighting of the northern lights.

• Two former Blaine residents, Michael Amandeus Brooks and Kayla Lynn Brooks, suspected of being involved in a murder in Tennessee were extradited to Hamilton County after being arrested in east Blaine.

• A story from The Northern Light showed Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu appeared to violate the county charter by ignoring the advice of medical professionals during the 2021 hiring of former medical examiner Dr. Allison Hunt by not following the Northwest Washington Medical Society’s hiring recommendation as required by county code.

• A 20-year-old Bellingham man was charged with vehicular homicide following a crash on I-5 in Ferndale that killed motorcyclist Evan L. Hayes, 47 of Blaine, and injured four people, including the driver, during the early morning hours of August 16. The driver was suspected of being under the influence and was released from Whatcom County Jail the same day.

• The U.S. Coast Guard issued a no-sail order for the Plover ferry after a piece of the stern detached during training exercises, revealing rotting wood in the boat. The Plover was highly anticipated to start late season service following nearly two years of repairs and a contract dispute between Drayton Harbor Maritime (DHM) and the city of Blaine that delayed 2024 operations.

• DHM executive director Richard Sturgill retired after nearly three decades of service to the Plover. Sturgill founded DHM and led efforts to restore the Plover in the ’90s.

• Blaine school board unanimously approved the adoption of the 2024-25 budget during the August 26 meeting.

• The Office of the Washington State Auditor gave the city of Blaine a clean audit for January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2023.

• Peace Arch Education Foundation, a newly formed fundraising organization to support the Blaine school district, held its first community listening session before the school year started.

• Blaine police chief Rodger Funk presented officer Jordan Maphumulo and officer Bryan Beaulieu with a life-saving service award, and officer Travis Campbell with a chief’s commendation award during Blaine City Council.

• Blaine school district held its first day of school on August 28.

• The Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce hosted Derby Day with activities such as the crab derby and rubber duck derby to end summer on August 31.

September

• Debbie Vance had her first day as Semiahmoo Resort executive chef. Vance previously was executive chef at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa and executive chef at Hilton Knoxville.

• The Community Assistance Program began collecting coats for its annual winter coat drive.

• Whatcom County Superior Court ruled the ballot initiative to repeal the Healthy Children’s Fund, a voter-backed childcare and early development property tax, violated the state constitution and would not be on November ballots.

• It was announced bp Cherry Point would receive nearly $26.8 million to help the refinery produce sustainable aviation fuel for the first time.

• A story by The Northern Light showed the Port of Bellingham’s public relations contract that was authorized by port commissioners at their August 13 meeting appeared to skirt Washington laws requiring proof of competitive bidding.

• Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu announced he intended to appoint Dr. Aldo Fusaro as interim medical examiner while the county recruits a new examiner.

• Kelle Rankin-Sunter, founder of the nonprofit Blaine CORE, led efforts to turn Whatcom County Library System totes into Bookworm Bins as a fundraiser for Blaine Public Library.

• Joyce Vanderpol, the oldest real estate agent in Washington state and an active Blaine community member, died peacefully on September 8. She was 100.

• First responders, dignitaries, bikers and community members from the U.S. and Canada gathered at Peace Arch Park on the morning of September 11 in remembrance of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

• A petition asking the Port of Bellingham to bring a fuel pump to Blaine Harbor resurfaced conversations on fueling for boats moored in the harbor, which have relied on Semiahmoo Marina to power their boats for nearly a decade.

• Beach Cat Brewing hosted the first ‘Catoberfest,’ an Oktoberfest event at Blaine Marine Park to raise money for Blaine Food Bank.

• Whatcom Conservation District held its 12th annual Run with the Chums 5K race at bp Highlands. The race started Whatcom Water Week on the right foot for a celebration of local water resources.

• Family Care Network began construction on its Blaine medical facility during late summer. The clinic is expected to open fall 2025 if construction continues smoothly.

• North Whatcom Fire and Rescue commissioners began discussing the future of Station 62 in Semiahmoo, including relinquishing the property to the city of Blaine. The station hasn’t been staffed in decades and needs extensive renovations.

• The Port of Bellingham held a joint meeting with Blaine City Council at The Vault Wine Bar and Bistro. Port and city representatives as well as stakeholders discussed the Jorgensen Pier road and other infrastructure improvements, environmental cleanup in Blaine Harbor and ensuring the harbor was a working waterfront.

• Whatcom County Council’s investigative committee released its findings into how the county handled multiple sexual harassment complaints against former public works director Jon Hutchings. The committee recommended the county hire an outside consultant to continue the investigation and the county make code revisions for how it pays out harassment claims. It also showed employee distrust in county HR.

• OverAll Walls Mural Festival held its first festival in Blaine that brought well-known muralists from around the world: British artist My Dog Sighs, Houston-based artist Emily Ding and Ferndale artist Kaa Shaayi.

October

• People who wanted trusted traveler passes to cross the border began paying a higher application fee for most programs within the Trusted Traveler Programs, which increased for the first time in over 15 years on October 1.

• Blaine Oyster Fest and the Harbor Harvest Festival returned to downtown Blaine for a fall festival celebrating the local bounty.

• Blaine City Council appointed Eric Lewis to council. He’s a semi-retired electrician, member of Blaine Community Theater and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9474.

• Blaine Public Works Department announced the Plover was on track to be ready by summer 2025. Repair estimates were fewer than $20,000 and the boat was scheduled to be transported to Bellingham.

• Blaine Senior Center board president Jim West and treasurer Christine Yung resigned after being voted out of their positions in September. Director Pete Nelson later resigned in November.

• The U.S. General Services Administration announced it had awarded a $33.2 million grant to a Native-owned small business for the Pacific Highway port of entry’s design and construction of a significant upgrade and expansion.

• Blaine Food Bank honored middle school student Liam Luc for raising $835 for the food bank at the 2023 Holiday Market with 3D-printed toys.

• City of Blaine planning staff announced it was in the early stages of creating a proposal to de-annex the Grandis Pond property and add 460 acres of urban growth area (UGA) southwest of Semiahmoo, among other UGA changes, in its comprehensive plan update. This came as Grandis Pond’s land use entitlements are set to expire July 2025 following little progress on the property since it was sold in December 2023. Grandis Pond is considered the largest area slated for housing development in Whatcom County.

• bp Cherry Point invited Whatcom County high school students to the refinery to learn about job opportunities and hosted an open house for the public

• Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce’s Trick-or-Treat on the Berm brought about 3,000 people dressed in costumes to collect candy from local organizations on the berm.

• Christ the King Community Church started holding service in its downtown Blaine location, 674 Peace Portal Drive.

• Blaine City Council approved a list of 10 funding and policy priorities the city wants lawmakers to consider when they return to Olympia, including restoring Blaine Harbor, addressing train delays and focusing on affordable housing.

• Blaine police lieutenant Michael Munden retired after serving 25 years in law enforcement for the city, the longest serving member of the current force.

• Witches, skeletons and scarecrows gave out candy to trick-or-treaters during the Freeman family’s 10th annual Halloween carnival in Blaine.

November

• Whatcom County Sheriff Donnell Tanksley reinstated undersheriff Steve Harris on November 1 after Harris was put on leave August 30. Tanksley released a report on the independent investigation that showed morale problems at the sheriff’s office.

• The November 5 election was a landmark election making Donald Trump the next president of the U.S. as well as determined local races such as state representatives for the 42nd Legislative District.

• The Blaine High School Theater Arts Program held opening night for its rendition of Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest.”

• Dozens of people honored those who served in the military during a Veterans Day ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Blaine on November 11. VFW and American Legion organized the event.

• World War II veteran John Finn, 104, celebrated Veterans Day by hanging the U.S. flag from his home in Birch Bay Village, as he does every day.

• The Blaine Middle School Parent Teacher Student Organization held its holiday market at the Blaine High School cafeteria.

• Confirmed cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, were increasing across the state, including in Whatcom County, where at least 37 people had fallen ill by mid-November.

• The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced a $67 million salmon habitat restoration project that will uncover parts of Cain Creek in downtown Blaine and result in the demolition of two Peace Portal Drive buildings. The project, which has a 2030 completion date, is in response to a court ordering WSDOT to restore salmon habitats across the state.

• Courts across Washington state resumed online operations after a computer breach took down vital online operations for two weeks.

• For the second time in 10 months, the Blaine school district’s proposed $70 million general obligation bond failed to reach the required 60 percent supermajority threshold, forcing the district to consider solutions to various aging infrastructure.

• The Blaine Food Bank appointed Lisa Dobbin as its new director following Sally Church’s retirement.

• Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 announced the future California Creek Estuary Park would more than double in size after state representative Alicia Rule (D-Blaine) helped the district secure a $185,000 state grant. The additional 31 acres would likely be the last land purchase for the park, now 55 acres.

• Whatcom County Health and Community Services began monitoring bird flu outbreaks after a backyard flock in Whatcom County tested positive for the disease.

• The Blaine Chamber of Commerce held its annual general meeting at North Bay Community Church.

• The Washington State Funeral and Cemetery Board unanimously exonerated Moles Farewell Tributes and Crematory from any wrongdoing in bodies that were found mishandled in mid-May as they were under jurisdiction of the Whatcom County Medical Examiner’s Office.

• Birch Bay Incorporation Association held its annual general meeting and elected new members of its steering committee.

• In a 4-3 vote, Blaine City Council approved increasing building heights by one story on the west side of Peace Portal Drive in the downtown core. The vote came after months of discussion in Blaine Planning Commission.

• Community Assistance Program and North Whatcom Fire and Rescue volunteers delivered Thanksgiving baskets to Blaine, Birch Bay, Custer and Point Roberts residents.

December

• Holiday Harbor Lights rang in the holiday season with Christmas tree lighting, pictures with Santa, train and horse carriage rides. The Pacific Arts Association held a luminary walk and night market for the first time.

• Whatcom County Council approved the Birch Bay Advisory Committee on December 3 to create an official group for Birch Bay residents to bring their input to the county.

• The Community Assistance Program’s Blaine/Birch Bay Community Toy Store served 322 children from 125 families. North Whatcom County residents donated more than 1,500 toys and 95 gift cards.

• A carjacking that involved a machete near the Peace Arch border crossing in Blaine led to a nearly 40-mile pursuit on southbound I-5 ending near the Bow Hill rest area.

• U.S./Canada border traffic from Taylor Swift’s final three concerts of her “Eras” world tour in Vancouver, B.C. backed up traffic through downtown Blaine. The weekend of the concert had a daily average of just over 36,000 travelers, a roughly 180 percent increase from the same weekend in 2023.

• A Skagit County man who was severely injured on the Hairpin slide at Birch Bay Waterslides in August 2023 named Whatcom County, Safe Slide Restoration and Kingworks Consulting Engineers as new defendants in his lawsuit against Birch Bay Waterslides. This came as Birch Bay Waterslides announced it was going through various changes, including new management, and planned to reopen summer 2025.

• The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office returned in-person visits at Whatcom County Jail for the first time in nearly three years. Visits had stopped due to faulty jail elevators that caused safety concerns.

• The Blaine school board voted to extend superintendent Chris Granger’s contract for an additional year, through June 30, 2028, after a 3-2 vote.

• Mayor Mary Lou Steward recognized Sally and Bill Church for their dedication to the Blaine Food Bank, bringing the public to a standing ovation several times. The recognition followed Sally Church’s retirement as food bank director in November.

• Interim medical examiner Dr. Aldo Fusaro had his first day as the permanent medical examiner after Whatcom County Council unanimously confirmed him to the position.

• U.S. House Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) hosted a town hall in Ferndale.

• Old-fashioned Christmas caroling returned for its 23rd season at the Semiahmoo Resort after taking a hiatus during the pandemic.

• The city of Blaine invited the public to weigh in on two design concepts for a future Blaine Marine Park that included a pump track, pickleball courts, sand volleyball courts and restrooms.

• The long-awaited Cascade High-Speed Rail project received $49.7 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation to begin planning efforts. The high-speed train, still years away, would run up to 250 mph between the Pacific Northwest’s major cities.

• State and federal agriculture officials declared the ‘murder hornet,’ officially known as the northern giant hornet, eradicated in the U.S. after three years passed without finding any evidence of the invasive species.

• Birch Bay counted down to 2025 on New Year’s Eve by lighting flares along the Birch Bay shoreline during the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce’s Ring of Fire and Hope.