News | The Northern Light

Crews race to finish Blaine High School construction

By Oliver Lazenby On Tuesday, August 29 at the new portion of Blaine High School, construction crews and district staff hustled to get the building ready for the first day of school … more

8/30/17 07:36 PM

How the Grinch almost stole Christmas...

By Stefanie Donahue Not even a grinch could stop local volunteers from decking Blaine in holiday decor last week. On November 17, James Patrick Kelly, 51, … more

11/21/17 07:12 PM

Ragtime, boogie-woogie pianist Bob Milne set to perform in Blaine

By Stefanie Donahue Acclaimed pianist Bob Milne has entertained presidents, generals and dignitaries in the US and abroad and next month, he’ll play in Blaine for the third year in … more

2/21/18 07:16 PM

PSE electric bills to decrease

Puget Sound Energy (PSE) customers will receive lower rates on their electric bills starting this month, according to the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC). The changes … more

5/9/18 05:14 PM

Primary election ballots must be returned by August 7

Voters in Whatcom County have until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 7 to return their primary election ballots. More than 60 candidates are running for key federal, state and county … more

8/1/18 07:07 PM

In other sports news...

Volleyball loses but makes postseason Blaine varsity volleyball lost its final regular season match 3–0 to Burlington-Edison in an October 25 away game. The Borderites finished the … more

10/31/18 07:06 PM

Boys basketball splits a pair of away games

By Oliver Lazenby The Blaine varsity boys basketball team came out ahead in another close conference game on January 17, beating Mount Baker (6–11 overall) 67–64 at Mount Baker … more

1/23/19 06:11 PM

Whatcom Unified Command daily report, April 13

Whatcom Unified Command’s April 13 daily report showed 264 total confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Whatcom County and 23 deaths as a result from the respiratory illness. more

4/14/20 06:45 PM

First U.S. Asian giant hornet nest found in east Blaine

The Washington State Department of Agriculture located the first Asian giant hornet nest in the U.S. on October 22, a state agency spokesperson confirmed to The Northern Light. The nest was … more

By Grace McCarthy | 10/23/20 12:26 AM

Whatcom County Covid-19 vaccine and testing roundup

PeaceHealth PeaceHealth spokesperson Hilary Andrade said PeaceHealth still hasn’t received the number of vaccines its requested from the state. This week, the state notified PeaceHealth that … more

By Grace McCarthy | 3/10/21 08:31 PM

Truck smuggling $3.5 million in cocaine stopped crossing border from Whatcom County

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers stopped a truck last month crossing the U.S./Canada border from Whatcom County with an estimated $3.5 million worth of cocaine. According to a CBSA … more

By Ian Haupt | 4/21/21 07:58 PM

NWFR levy lid lift would help department add firefighters and replace equipment

North Whatcom Fire and Rescue (NWFR) will have its levy lid lift back on the ballot in the general election November 2 after failing in the primary election in August. If the lift lid passes, NWFR … more

By Ian Haupt | 9/15/21 06:54 PM

Surfers ride Birch Bay waves

Surfing in Birch Bay? Why not! Some brave souls took to the chilly water for some adventures this afternoon! more

10/29/21 06:31 PM

Whisper Lake housing gets ready to hit the Birch Bay market

Whisper Lake is expected to hit the market in the next couple of months and start construction on the first phase of the Birch Bay housing development by the end of the year. The 38-acre … more

By Grace McCarthy | 3/23/22 07:14 PM

Former public works director resigned after credit card purchase investigation, city records show

City of Blaine records show former public works director Bernard “Bernie” Ziemianek was asked to resign July 12 after allegedly using a city credit card to purchase over $4,000 of personal … more

By Grace McCarthy | 8/24/22 07:28 PM

Blaine auto broker pays $430,000 in settlement with U.S. Department of Justice

A Blaine auto broker will pay $430,000 to the U.S. Department of Justice as part of a lawsuit settling allegations that the company committed federal fraud by underreporting the value of vehicles it … more

By Grace McCarthy | 2/8/23 08:14 PM

Birch Bay auto detailers service north Whatcom County

It’s all in the details for a young Birch Bay couple who started an auto detailing business that cleans cars from north Whatcom County driveways. Isabela Visser, 25, and Trevor Visser, 26, … more

By Grace McCarthy | 3/29/23 07:38 PM

Letters to The Editor: August 17-23, 2023

The Editor: How Birch Bay’s registered voter residents get to decide on incorporation is important. In 2008 the feasibility study that’s often cited by the Political … more

8/16/23 06:32 PM

What does Veterans Day mean to you?

The Northern Light held a roundtable discussion with veterans at the Blaine Senior Center on what Veterans Day and being a veteran means to them. Below are their responses, edited for clarity … more

11/8/23 05:04 PM

City council without remote meetings after ‘Zoombombing’

The remote portion of Blaine City Council meetings has been suspended as a preventative measure after a ‘Zoombomber’ spouted racial slurs during its October 23 meeting. Mayor Mary … more

By Grace McCarthy | 12/6/23 05:03 PM