Letters to the Editor

Community spirit
The Editor:
We would like to thank everyone in the community for all the concern, prayers and support we were given when Marc had his accident and while he was recuperating. It is difficult to let everyone know how much we appreciated everything; mere words are not enough to express how we feel. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Don, Kathy & Marc Hurd
Birch Bay

Bond election timely?
The Editor:
I don’t live in the Blaine school district but I am a Whatcom County resident. The question posed by Ackerman’s letter to the editor in the last issue of your paper is a very valid one. Should not all major financial issues be on the November general election ballot? I am not a lawyer so I cannot argue the technicalities of the law.
However, as an ordinary working man I would find it more practical to have these major issues all at one time a year. During the spring and summer I am very busy working while the weather is good and daylight hours are long. I am sure that this applies to fisherman, woodsmen, builders and people in the tourist industry.
Two other questions come to mind on this bond issue: Why are there no state funds in such a large construction project? Why has the BSD not built up a cash reserve account in preparation for the building
project?
I hope you have a big voter turnout.
Jerome Hawkins
Everson

The Editor:
The recent letter from Mr. Ackerman contained facts not related to the Blaine school district special election. It is certainly understandable if voters wondered what he was talking about and I encourage anyone with questions to contact the district at 332-5881.
As with Meridian, he joins with Mr. Goldsmith under the auspices of the Republican party to use local newspapers and voter mailing lists to distribute incorrect information and innuendo. The school children of Whatcom County deserve better than that.
It is true that the current economic environment is not ideal. It also is true that the bond will provide an important financial return to the community by increased employment and purchases from the local businesses. Further, it is true that the Blaine campus is not only a school facility, but also a community resource that affords use by residents and visitors of all ages and interests.
Fact: the district is committed to smaller class sizes which means we must have more classrooms to house increased enrollment. Fact: the bond provides funds to update and increase safety and security for our campus. Fact: the current low interest rates mean a cost of only 49 cents per $1,000, which translates to $4.92 per month for a home valued at $100,000, the lowest rate in Whatcom County.
Now is the time to vote your support for the future of our community – our children.
Pebble Griffin, chairman
Blaine School Board

Where you hang your hat
The Editor:
As someone who lives in a manufactured home in Birch Bay, I have been paying close attention to the ongoing debate in Blaine and find the planning commission’s decision unacceptable. Their blanket judgement of manufactured home owners is blatant snobbery and open prejudice against the disabled, the elderly, single parents and anyone else on a fixed budget or a lower income. Their inference that manufactured home owners are of lower standards and undeserving of a home with land in a good neighborhood is incorrect and highly offensive. How can you say that manufactured homes diminish value when home and property ownership increases value of life?
By the way, has the planning commission taken a good look at the town of Blaine itself? Have they noticed the empty stores, the damaged store fronts and buildings or the overgrown lots? How about the lovely black and white bookstore right smack in the middle of town? It seems to me that, with the planning commission’s ridiculously high opinion of themselves, they are Blaine’s own worst enemy.
As for my family and myself, we will spend our money here in Birch Bay or take it to Ferndale or Bellingham where the intolerance level is a little more respectable. I really feel sorry for the lower income residents of Blaine. If Birch Bay ever decides to incorporate, I will be the first on board. People here are nice, friendly and care about their neighbors regardless of the type of structure in which they “hang their hat.”
Maria Beebe
Birch Bay

Come one, come all!
The Editor:
Drayton Harbor Maritime (DHM) invites the entire community to the free premiere showing of “Sockeye and the Age of Sail,” a video documentary of the history of the Alaska Packers Association.
This special presentation will be held at the Blaine school district’s PAC auditorium on H Street, Friday, May 11. Doors will open at 7 p.m. The documentary begins at 7:30 p.m. Running time is approximately 40 minutes. If you are interested in maritime history or the salmon fishing industry and want some great entertainment, please come aboard and see this great chronicle of the APA.
There is much rare archival film footage of the great Star fleet. Rugged fishermen in wooden sailing boats hauling in their fish laden nets. The documentary presents interviews with several local old-timers, including fisherman Bert Isackson, APA machinist and ferry captain Art James, APA shipwright Bob Metiever, his wife Sylvia and others.
DHM owns the copyright to this video documentary. We were very pleased with the generous help from Bob Thorsteinson and all the contributions – too many to mention here. For those who may want to purchase a video we will have them for sale at the PAC Friday night. All proceeds from the sale of these videos will go to DHM effort.
Again, please turn out to see Sockeye and the Age of Sail, and tell a friend. You won’t be disappointed.
Richard Sturgill, DHM director
Blaine

Thanks for tourism trip...
The Editor:
In late April I attended a conference in Moses Lake, where I participated in workshops and seminars dealing with marketing and rural tourism, and enjoyed networking with representatives of other Washington cities. The city of Blaine very kindly sponsored the trip and I would like to thank the following businesses and organizations for their donations to the gift basket drawing: Ashley’s Attic, Goff’s Department Store, Grace Harbor Farms, Blackberry House Coffee Cafe, U.S./Canada Peace Anniversary Association, and a special thanks to Ruth Green of Little Red Caboose for the lovely stained glass Peace Arch. In addition, 400 Blaine brochures were distributed for use in visitor centers throughout the state.
Carroll Solomon
Blaine visitor center

Letters Policy
The Northern Light welcomes letters to the editor; however, the opinions expressed are not those of the editor. Letters must include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters must not exceed 350 words and may be edited or rejected for reasons of legality, length and good taste. Thank-you letters should be limited to 10 names. A fresh viewpoint on matters of general interest to local readers will increase the likelihood of publication. Writers should avoid personal invective. Unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Requests for withholding names will be considered on an individual basis. Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published.

Please send your letter to:
225 Marine Drive, Blaine, WA 98230 or fax 360/332-2777.
E-mail:editor@thenorthernlight.com

Letters Policy

The Northern Light welcomes letters to the editor; however, the opinions expressed are not those of the editor. Letters must include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters must not exceed 350 words and may be edited or rejected for reasons of legality, length and good taste. Thank you letters are limited to five individuals or groups. A fresh viewpoint on matters of general interest to local readers will increase the likelihood of publication. Writers should avoid personal invective. Unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Requests for withholding names will be considered on an individual basis. Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published.

Please email letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com