News in Brief

Boston Tea Party at Semiahmoo Resort
Costumed leaders of the Building Industry Association of Washington, (BIAW) aboard the chartered sailboat Shawmanee, will toss �tea� into the Semiahmoo Bay just offshore the Semiahmoo Resort in a reenactment of the Boston Tea Party. The �tea� will actually be large styrofoam cubes with words protesting taxes and regulations on Washington State businesses and punctuated by the roar of cannon and the sound of patriotic music. BIAW expects about 250 home builders from across the state to attend the reenactment. The 15th Alabama Infantry and Stanford�s Battery for the Washington Civil War Association (WCWA) will fire volleys of cannon and black powder rifles. WCWA members will be outfitted in revolutionary-era attire. BIAW says the reason for this tea party is to draw attention to the �critical issues that have made Washington state one of the least affordable states in the nation in which to own a home.� The event is free and takes place on June 26 at 7 p.m. on the bay.

Birch Bay Chamber gets $6,000 county grant
The Birch Bay chamber of commerce received a $6,000 grant from Whatcom County. The grant is a reimbursement for funds the chamber spent marketing the city, mainly to tourists. Part of the marketing funds were used to produce over 7,200 brochures promoting Birch Bay to tourists. The brochures are distributed to businesses along I-5 from Seatac to White Rock, B.C., and highlight seasonal Birch Bay events, the water park, and popular local restaurants. The chamber has also invested in bus-side billboards that highlight events such as the ducky derby and the polar bear swim.�We�re really trying to focus on rubber tire tourists who are willing to drive three to four hours,� Chamber president Nick Jerns said.

Woman found last month died of hypothermia
Results from autopsy and toxicology report revealed that Elaine Berry, a 35-year-old Bellingham woman found dead in her vehicle, died of hypothermia and had some medication drugs within her system. Berry was discovered the morning of Wednesday, April 30 in the sand-gravel pit area at the end of Allen and D streets. Officials believe she was there for about a day before she was found. by a border agent on patrol. Deputy Chief John Bates of the border patrol said the body had not been found sooner because agents are not on a specific schedule to patrol that specific area, and also noted that the placement of the vehicle was not in direct view.

Walking Wild: New video looks at county trails
A new video program is being released to Whatcom County residents and visitors. The program takes viewers up five trails in the county: Coleman Glacier, Gold Run Pass, Peak 5658, Skyline Divide, and Hannagan Peak, as it celebrates the life and lands through which the trails wind. The video is designed to encourage people to explore the wonders of Whatcom�s backcountry, and to do so safely. As beauty and danger are constant companions in the backcountry, a segment entitled �For Safety�s Sake� follows the journeys up the trails. �Safety� covers walking gear and three of the �great lies� of backcountry travel. Also included on the video is Feritas, a fanciful musical tribute to Pacific Northwest wildlife in the United States and Canada. All of the wildlife in this piece, except for the grizzly bears, was filmed in Whatcom County. The video, which runs approximately 54 minutes, is available by calling Karen Edmundson Bean at 360/599-1469 or emailing BrookFarm@earthlink.net.

Graduates honored with scholar/athlete award
Grant Sanders and Linsey Taylor, two recent graduates of Blaine high school, received the United States Army Reserves National Scholar/Athlete Award in May. These students share the honor with winners in high schools across the country. Each year the Army Reserve sponsors the program to recognize and honor top male and female high school scholars and athletes.

The Blender summer schedule available
The Blender is up and running throughout the summer and the first event in July will be participation in the Independence Day parade. Other July dates include: July 6, movie night at The Blender; July 11, rock climbing at Larrabee State Park; July 13, movie night; July 20, mid-summer outdoor concert; July 27, movie night; July 28, tournament Day. August events include: August 4, movie night; August 9, mountain bike trip; August 11, movie night; August 16, tournament day; August 18, movie night; August 25, end of summer celebration. In addition to these special events, The Blender will have open hours Tuesday through Saturday for skating, pool, ping-pong, basketball, air-hockey, and hanging out. The Blender will also be helping to further the educational opportunities of local youth by working with the high school on the senior project (community service opportunities) and the summer art project (mural painting).

Blaine, WRSS chambers to toast at the border
Members of the Blaine Chamber of Commerce and the White Rock-South Surrey Chamber of Commerce will have a toast at the border on July 1 to celebrate the independence of the two countries. Canada Day is celebrated on July 1 and Independence Day on July 4.