The Bellingham Herald from Bellingham, Washington • B1

WHATCOM The Bellingham Herald TheBellinghamHerald.com/localnews B1 Saturday March 1, 2008 Coast Guard rescues kayaker CALEB HEERINGA THE BELLINGHAM HERALD U.S. Coast Guard crews rescued a kayaker who tipped over in Chuckanut Bay Friday afternoon. Petty Officer Corey Bar- rett said a Coast Guard unit was patrolling the area when Shelia kayaking partner called 911 about 3 p.m. Crews arrived within 12 minutes. Weinsheimer was unable to get back into her kayak and was not wearing a dry suit.

She spent 20 to 30 min- utes in the water. Aid units were called to treat Weins- heimer for mild hypother- mia, but she was warmed up without being transported to the hospital. PUBLIC SAFETY Dairy Women offer 2 grants KIRA MILLAGE THE BELLINGHAM HERALD Whatcom County Dairy Women are offering two scholarships to college stu- dents who grew up around here. A $1,000 scholarship in memory of Mina Polinder is available to anyone who is a son or daughter of an active dues-paying member of Whatcom County Dairy Women or Whatcom County Dairy Federation, or is a current or past Whatcom County Dairy Ambassador or Alternate. A $500 scholarship in memory of Judy Scholten is available to anyone who fits the above criteria, or who is also an active dues-paying member of either organiza- tion themselves.

The recipient for the Mina Polinder scholarship must be a junior or senior enrolled at a four-year col- lege or university in the fall. For the Judy Scholten schol- arship, applicants must be a freshman or sophomore at a community college, techni- cal college, or four-year col- lege or university in fall 2008. Applications for both scholarships must be post- marked by March 15. Win- ners will be announced at the annual Dairy Ambas- sador Coronation and Ban- quet on March 28. For more information and applications, contact Cheryl DeHaan at 354-3128 or EDUCATION Class introduces health-care field KIRA MILLAGE THE BELLINGHAM HERALD High school sophomores and juniors who are inter- ested in applying for next school Health Care Services Program are invit- ed to an information meet- ing on Tuesday.

The class is open to stu- dents from all Whatcom County high schools and it gives students hands-on experiences in many aspects of the health-care field. The meeting will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at St. Com- munity Education Center, 3333 Squalicum Parkway. For more information, contact Linda Cowan at 752-8409.

EDUCATION Meeting about foster parenting MARY LANE GALLAGHER THE BELLINGHAM HERALD LYNDEN Bethany Christian Services will host an informational meeting Monday for people who want to learn more about becoming a foster parent. Topics will include the process of becoming licensed as a foster parent and the rewards of being a foster parent to children in need. The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday at New Life Fellowship, 810 E. Pole Road.

For more informa- tion, call Bethany Christian Services at 733-6042 or e- mail SOCIETY JARED PABEN THE BELLINGHAM HERALD BELLINGHAM A develop- er has applied to build an indus- trial project along Squalicum Parkway, as he vowed he would when city leaders last year rejected his residential-com- mercial proposal for the second time. The Squalicum Lofts indus- trial project, located on 7.5 acres southwest of Squalicum Creek Park, involves building about 129,000 square feet of office, retail, warehouse and storage space in four buildings. The Birchwood neighbor- hood site has been a past source of controversy. Landowner and developer Mike Allsop twice asked the City Council to consider rezon- ing the land from industrial to allow 150 housing units, 40,000 square feet of commercial space and underground park- ing. But twice, the council said no.

Last year, neighbors filled City Council Chambers, telling city leaders the project would- mesh with the neighbor- character, would harm a nearby salmon-bearing creek and lead to increased traffic. messed around with that for a couple of years until the neighborhoods decided they want any residential down next to the Allsop said Thursday. this is what the neighborhood want- ed, so this is what Neighbors have concerns about the industrial storm-water impacts on nearby Squalicum Creek but like the proposal better than the previ- ous one. intention to pave the thing over, it look like a great deal of commit- ment there to caring for the Columbia neigh- borhood resident Flip Breskin said. seems very sad to lose that human and wildlife green corridor through the north However, damaging as this looks like it might be, it look as bad as all those people, houses and traffic in terms of the impact on the creek and the she said.

According to materials pro- vided by the developer before the council rejected the propos- al last year, the residential proj- ect have less impact on these creeks than a light indus- trial project Project designers RMC Architects still intend to meet high environmentally friendly construction and design stan- dards for the light industrial project, Allsop said. Applications for several per- mits have been submitted, city planner Steve Sundin said. How the project, which does not need City Council approval, will manage storm water been decided, but planners would like to finish those per- mits by late May, he said. Allsop is required to provide trail access down the hillside separating it from Lafayette Street, around the buildings to the park, Sundin said. also required to plant trees on the hillside.

Allsop said he plans to build two buildings in the first phase, moving his companies, Allsop Inc. and Softride into the second building. The easy access to Interstate 5 and downtown make the spaces, which will be for sale and lease, attractive to busi- nesses, he said. Construction of the first phase of Squalicum Lofts is expected to begin in June and finish this fall, Allsop said. Reach Jared Paben at 715- 2289 or jared.paben@bellingham herald.com.

Applications for permits have been submitted Squalicum industrial project goes forward GROWTH JOSIE LIMING THE BELLINGHAM HERALD Sam Kennedy, 2, gets a hand while trying out a set of devil sticks after a magic show at the Lynden Public Library by magician and Lynden High School senior Jake Heller. Heller let the kids examine his magic props after he performed for them Friday. The event was a magic show and leap year birthday party combo, although no one in attendance was born on Feb. 29. BLOGGING: GO ONLINE FOR MORE ON THESE TOPICS THEBELLINGHAMHERALD.COM/BLOGS NOW AND THEN Fairhaven flag to fly later this month A flag-raising ceremony is planned later this month for a new flagpole in Fairhaven at 12th Street and Finnegan Way, in front of the Fairhaven Library.

For 25 years, an enormous flag dedicated to fallen veterans flew from a 110-foot-tall wooden flag- pole, but a November 2005 wind- storm toppled the pole. OPINION One conspiracy theory is reality The discussion the last two days on this blog about the proposed reconveyance of forest lands from the state Department of Natural Resources to Whatcom County has been fascinating. I hope people interested in this issue are stopping by to read not just the pros and cons of the pro- posal, but also the motivations. POLITICS Web site addresses A hat tip to spokesman Brian Sibley for taking the time to let us know here at the Politics Blog that Brooks Manufacturing now has a Web site up, BrooksResponds.com, addressing the issue. GET OUT BY KIE RELYEABY SAM TAYLOR sweat for the stunning scenery from Oyster Dome I find the words to describe how drop-dead gorgeous the view is from the top of Oyster Dome, or a clearing one mile into this hike for that matter.

This hike of about eight miles is strenuous at times, especially at the beginning and end. But keep going. be glad you did. BY DEAN KAHN BY SCOTT AYERS Spring Instant Coupon Sale Feb 28 March 17 $50 to $250 OFF COMMENT ON THE PROJECT What: The public can comment on the proposed industrial project along Squalicum Parkway, called Squalicum Lofts, which the developer intends to build after the City Council twice rejected a commer- cial-residential project. How: Comments can be sent to city planner Steve Sundin by calling 778- 8300 or e-mailing SEE PROJECT LAYOUT To see an rendering of what the light-industrial devel- opment along Squalicum Park- way would look like, see this story online at TheBellingham Herald.com.

SMILES APPEAR AFTER MAGIC SHOW AT LIBRARY LEAP YEAR EVENT FEATURES LYNDEN HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR JAKE HELLER JOHN STARK THE BELLINGHAM HERALD DEMING Chris Crutch- er, prolific author of fiction for teenagers, uses his pro- fessional experience with abused kids as raw material for his novels, and that can get him in trouble. you tell stories like that, going to ban Crutcher said Friday during a presentation to Mount Baker High School students. The American Library Association listed his 2005 novel among the 10 most challenged books for that year. His made the list in 2006. Parents have tried to get his books out of the classroom because they deal with racial and sexual issues, and their characters always skimp on four- letter words.

He told his young listen- ers that he copy any- one life verbatim, but the things he has learned from helping traumatized young people have helped to add realism to his work. hear one story, five stories, 50 stories, and some truths start to blast to the he said. Crutcher was inspired to write by his experiences with a little girl who had an African-Ameri- can father. The white mother later married a white man who treated his step- daughter with scorn and Books trouble some parents Author of teen fiction draws ideas from reality EDUCATION JARED PABEN THE BELLINGHAM HERALD A Spokane-based contractor that won a state project to widen Guide Meridian between Ten Mile Road and Lynden said its handling of a difficult bridge project over the Nooksack River may have given the com- pany an edge over competitors. Max J.

Kuney Co. of Spokane on Feb. 19 won the state Department of Transportation contract with its $53.99 million bid to widen the road and build roundabouts at Ten Mile, Wiser Lake, River and Pole roads. The company beat five con- tractors for the project, includ- ing No. 2 bidder Parsons RCI which offered to do the project for $54.72 million.

Wilder Construction, Scarsella Brothers and Imco General also bid on the project. The winning bid was a full $1.24 million below the estimate for the project, according to the DOT. Imco is widening Guide Meridian from Horton Road to Ten Mile Road, a project expected to be completed by the end of the year. bid for the project landed by Max J. Kuney Co.

was the highest of five, at $59.73 million. Max J. Kuney in Spokane company has winning bid on Guide widening Contractor specializes in bridges TRANSPORTATION SEE ROUNDABOUTS To see a photo gallery of images of intersections before roundabouts and what they would look like with them, see this story online at TheBelling hamHerald.com. The gallery also includes renderings of the new bridge over the Nooksack River. See GUIDE CONTRACT, B3 See CRUTCHER, B3.