Letters to the Editor

The Editor:
City government is managed like the Greyhound Bus Company. “Go Greyhound and leave the driving to us.”
If you weren’t aboard the bus Tuesday and Wednesday evening, you missed a trip. “Look around you,” asked driver Gary Tomsic and his backup, Terry Galvin. “Things are happening.”
Gary gave us boarding instructions. Don’t argue, be polite, don’t interrupt. David fled the scene and we were securely seated.
City management, like the bus company, solicits customer opinions; the passengers need to feel they’re valued. Debbie recorded all of them. Even mine. It seems our trip was related to something called the Growth Management Act and a thing called the Comprehensive Plan.
We were no sooner moving when Terry took over the wheel and it seemed the scene was suddenly galvanized. “I’m a canary in a coal mine,” he cried. “I’m getting nervous.” We passengers were spooked. “We are at a turning point,” he declared.
The bus screeched around a corner, causing us suddenly to lean leftward. “Now is the time to become involved,” he ordered. “Now is the time to take action!” What could we vulnerable passengers do? Take over the wheel? The safety of .05 percent of Blaine’s population was endangered!
Then, resigned to our fate, he seemed mysteriously calm and asked, “What do we want to be when we grow up?” and all of a sudden we were speeding 20 years down the pike.
I looked at my fellow passengers. I knew the median age of Blaine’s population was 35.8, and I think nearly every passenger was older. So I said to myself, “Why, most of us will be dead by then!”
So I suggested we might review the past 20 years in order better to assess the next 20. I knew the airport issue was up in the air that long, and I wondered if we’d spend the next 20 fussing over it. But I was under the impression that issues like the airport or the boardwalk were taboo, like joking about hijackers.
I could report more, but I’m approaching my 350-word limit.
Richard Clark
Blaine

The Editor:
Congratulations to everyone involved with the 2005 Blaine Jazz Festival.
The Pacific Arts Association should be proud of their efforts, what an outstanding success! The vision and hard work of a lot of wonderful people has created something quite remarkable in our community of Blaine.
To Sandy and Bruce Wolf, who have the best friends in the world, and to everyone connected with the PAA, thank you for believing.
To Bob Boule, thanks for the incredible amount of work you and your great camp counselors do to feed and house our young guests.
Thanks also to the businesses who are so very supportive with their wonderful donations. Kudos as well to the students for all of their hard work and a great final concert.
Of course, this event wouldn’t be possible without the support of the Blaine school district and superintendent, Dr. Mary Lynne Derrington.
Finally, thank you to Ted DeCorso and the amazing faculty of talented jazz artists for gracing us with their visit to Blaine. Hope to see you all again next year.
Dorita Gray
Blaine

 

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