Letters to the Editor

The Editor:
Readers of The Northern Light should be encouraged to be active and to keep active in demanding that government be responsive and responsible in Whatcom County. The March 24 article about the proposed Homestead condos on Birch Bay Drive is such an example of what can be accomplished through citizen activism. I wish to point out that behind the scenes were many citizens who testified at the public hearings and wrote letters and e-mails regarding the Homestead project.
Knowledgeable comment that follows correct procedure, is persistent, and has a broad base of citizen input will bring results. And to Homestead, we all value and benefit from your cooperation with the community. We wish you success with your project. We hope your new condos in Birch Bay will be as attractive and beautiful as Homestead Farms is in your hometown of Lynden – worthy of front cover place in Birch Bay’s future chamber of commerce publications! Thank you.
Kelvin & Patti Barton
Birch Bay

The Editor:
Faith develops inner strength and moral character and should be primary in our society. People with values left of the political center should not shy away from faith or allow the radical conservatives now in power to define it as something rigid, exclusionary, and in their image. We must recognize faith’s primacy in this country and reclaim it to promote political values of a nurturing society and to fight the radical right’s values of divisiveness, domination and oppression.
While I fear the agenda of the radicals, I also fear for the children of a society where faith is not a core value. I am concerned that so many youth are consumed by pop culture with its frivolous values and needless pressures. I wish for our youth to be raised with a passion for service to their community and to the world, and to discover the mystique of life that comes with serving a higher purpose.
Faith is a primary value in America. If we are to reclaim just and fair power in this country, we must reclaim the meaning of faith using the values we hold dear. The values of the left are uplifted by a true and loving faith, not denied by it.
Jesse Salomon
Bellingham

The Editor:
The article in the March 31 edition of The Northern Light, regarding the amount of money the airport is receiving from the city for the cost of tree removal and other unnecessary expenditures, was very informative and of value for the citizens of Blaine. So many citizens are not aware of what it cost the city to maintain and operate the airport.
The airport budget for the year 2002 was $194,395. The year 2003, was $381,161. The year 2004, $217,965 and this year the city has budgeted $313,103. For the last four years, the total cost for the airport has been $1,106,624. The airport now owes the city $782,533. When this is added to the $1,106,624, budgeted and spent by the airport, the total comes to $1,889,157. And very soon, they will be back wanting the city to come up with more of our tax money.
$1,899,157 – for five airplanes. That comes to $377,831 for each airplane on the airport. What good comes to the citizen from all this wasted money? Almost 1,000 beautiful trees destroyed, and money that is now gone and cannot be used to improve our water supply, sewer problems or streets. All for five airplanes. Why? And when will it end?
These figures came from documents supplied by the city’s finance office.
Ray Wilkett
Blaine

The Editor:
Regarding Lt. Tim Vander Mey’s letter to the editor in The Northern Light edition of January 6 -12 2005, we appreciate being recognized and appreciate the sentiment that was given to us for the actions that where taken on New Year’s Eve. We can only hope that anyone else would have done as we did on that fateful night. 
Thank you for the recognition but it’s undeserved, we are grateful that we could have been there. We grieve for those who were lost and are thankful for those that we were able to help.                                                                                         
Robert Abbott
Seatac, WA

Blaine Planning & The Editor:
As we have just read The Northern Light report of last Thursday’s meeting regarding Sea Grass Cottages, we hastily send off our comments. I feel that a longer time should be allowed for public comments, as Trillium was allowed two weeks and the public only one; also the timing of the meeting during Easter week was rather unfortunate, as I’m sure many residents were away and unable to attend.
Due to time restraints, we will be short and emphatic – save the spit now. It is Blaine’s most precious resource and nature given gift, and must be preserved for future generations! Do not blow this never-to-be retrieved opportunity to make the right and courageous decision!
Gladys and Kelly Hagerty
Blaine & Orange, CA

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