Letters to the Editor

Clean up after yourself
The Editor:
I’m writing to point out a couple of unknown facts about Blaine. We all know that Blaine is a beautiful town – on the surface. However, off the beaten track and in the undergrowth are signs of Blaine’s other side: the litter, cans, and bottles of people who don’t care.
The litter is one problem. It is everywhere in this town and it says two things. First, that there are too many people who are careless enough to drop, throw, or allow their trash to escape. Second, it says that there are too few people who care enough to pick anything up.
Worse than the litter are the cans and bottles from alcoholic beverages. I pick up cans for recycling and about 50 percent of them are beer cans. Nearly every glass bottle I find is from beer or hard liquor. This is a double problem. It’s evidence of people who won’t take responsibility for their trash and are tossing the empties out of their cars. People like this driving cars in our town is a scary situation.
What can we do about all this? First, you and I must take responsibility to prevent littering from swamping Blaine by putting trash where it belongs and securing trash container lids.
Second, get in the habit of carrying a plastic grocery bag with you when you’re out and about then pick up a little of the trash.
Third, I’d ask the police department to pay better attention to littering from vehicles (I do note the police blotter entry about littering this week) and driving under the influence.
Everyone can help make Blaine a thoroughly beautiful place to live.
Scott McBride
Blaine

Strange tales...
The Editor:
It ain’t only beneath the midnight sun where strange things happen.
I wrote a letter to Mr. Okin at the Seattle INS office, objecting to the attitude of and statements made by Ronald Hays.
I was bewildered to receive a reply from Seattle, not from Mr. Okin, but apparently from Robert Coleman. I had not written to him, as I had been advised he was and is in Washington, D.C.
The letter contained a glowing defense of Mr. Hays and gave a litany of his labors toward establishing NEXUS and “shielding us from the effects of the after 9/11 world.” Included was the following statement: “Mr. Hays did not have to address the Point Roberts community on June 8. He did not have to meet with the Point Roberts chamber on June 24. Indeed, he was advised by everyone not to go to Point Roberts because of the reputation the residents have.”
While the name Robert S. Coleman Jr., district director, is typed at the bottom of this letter, it is signed by Ronald Hays.
Can this be the same Ronald Hays who promised the residents of Point Roberts and Blaine they would have the first NEXUS cards?
The letter from Mr. Coleman states “Point Roberts as a community should thank him as the original implementation for NEXUS had it being installed at Point Roberts in September, 2002. Hays battled bureaucratic inertia to make it happen two months earlier.” Now, let’s see, would that be July?
PS Point Roberts never did belong to Canada.
Ruby Gibson White
Point Roberts

Setting the record staright
The Editor:
I usually do not subscribe to “washing one’s dirty laundry in public,” but upon reading the article, “Local Land on Auction Block” in the July 11 edition of your paper and feeling that I, as managing partner of Aerie at Semiahmoo LLC, was in essence being called a crook, I feel it imperative to defend myself against Mr. Ahern’s allegation that we had ceased construction on the condos and his allegation that upon obtaining construction funds from Washington Federal Savings, I had failed to apply those funds to construction expenses.
I challenge Mr. Ahern to provide one ounce of proof that the construction funds were inappropriately used. In addition, I challenge Mr. Ahern, whom I have never met and who has never requested to look at our accounting records, to face me and directly make these allegations. I first learned of these allegations in your newspaper.
Here are some facts rather than allegations.
We stopped construction at the foundation stage on two units because our verbal agreement with the bank was that we would not proceed beyond the foundation stage without their approval, which was not granted.
Last fall when we approached Washington Federal about extending our loans (fully expecting to pay additional fees for such extensions), they said they were not interested and intended to begin foreclosure proceedings. So much for long-standing banking relationships (42 years) when new management takes over.
Since beginning the Aerie in 1997, we have paid Washington Federal loan fees and interest totalling $574,316. All but two subcontractors and suppliers whom we contracted with have been paid in full; one is a $141.50 disputed bill, and the other is owed a partner in the project.
I am extremely proud that in over 40 years, I have built more than 4,000 homes in western Washington in which many families were raised and millions of dollars in equity created while never knowingly cheating anyone. My friends know that over the years I have donated many hours to my industry, various governmental entities, and charities. I wonder if Mr. Ahern has made comparable contributions to society.
In building and selling the seven condominiums at the Aerie, we have made the following contributions to the local economy: $2,539,672 to subcontractors and suppliers; $85,252 to the City of Blaine for permits, utility connection fees, etc.; $580,679 to the Semiahmoo Company to purchase the land; $132,462 to architects, engineers and other professionals; $182,687 in real estate commissions.
At the present time, the bank has foreclosed on our future development rights. The partners are owed $342,500 in contributions and loans to the partnership – so much for the often-accused “rich and greedy” developers.
Don Wick
Birch Bay

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