Letters to the Editor

The Editor:
On Tuesday night, May 22, Blaine high school held its annual Recognition Night to recognize students who have succeeded through hard work and diligence. The Blaine community is a close-knit community that helps others when times are tough or booming. This was thoroughly self-evident at Recognition Night. Besides the annual teacher awards given out, there were roughly 70 scholarships presented to seniors who will be continuing their education through four-year colleges, two-year colleges, technical colleges, or private schools. 
We (the staff at Blaine high school) wish to express our sincere gratitude to the community for bestowing scholarships to students at Blaine high school. Scholarship donors are generous and caring people who unselfishly give to support the educational endeavors of students.
An education is one of the most immeasurable tools a person can carry with him/her throughout life. Because academic success is important to all students, the students at Blaine High School have worked hard to graduate. By awarding the scholarships all the donors have reduced the financial burden that will allow the students to focus more on the most important aspect of school, learning. Your generosity has and will inspire them to help others and give back to the community. We one day hope the recipients will be able to help others, as you have, to achieve their goals.
Again, our sincere gratitude goes to you, the community of Blaine for making these scholarships possible.
Your generous contribution to the future of a Blaine high school student is very much appreciated. Thank you once again for providing a scholarship and help towards an education to a Blaine high school student.
Rick Shockey
Career/College Counselor
Blaine high school

The Editor:
I spend lots of time in Blaine. It is my favorite place. I watch Blaine politics. The circus you call city hall is fun. I just heard Terry Galvin hired Tom Black from Ferndale with a big salary cut. Is Black going to stay? Does Blaine need another $62,000-plus on the payroll? City hall is bursting with people, where is Tom Black working? Does the city have to rent space somewhere for Tom Black? Why can’t Terry Galvin or his staff do the work? Weren’t they hired to do the work Tom Black is doing?
When our new high paid person worked in Ferndale he used a very high paid consultant a lot, Paul Koch. Koch is good and paid a lot. A whole lot.
Is Tom Black going to hire Koch to help him do his job? How much is Koch going to cost Blaine? How much have consultants cost Blaine last year? This year? Why can’t staff do the job?
When I don’t have enough money I make do. I tighten my belt. I suck air. I thought Blaine’s budget was tight. How can we afford Black’s salary, Black’s fringe benefits and how are we going to pay more consultants to do the work staff is supposed to do?
Let’s cut our expenses. Cut our bloat.
Tommie Mitchell
St. Louis, MO

The Editor:
On Sunday, June 3, I had a fall on the ramp at the Semiahmoo Marina. I would like to thank John Hollstein, Blake Scott, Murray Folk and Chris Foy from the medic and fire department on Birch Bay Lynden Road for their very quick response. Many thanks for your attentiveness, thoroughness and thoughtfulness.
I would also like to thank the Semiahmoo Marina staff as well as the two gentlemen who stayed with me the entire time. It was very much appreciated. I promise to do my sun tanning elsewhere in the future!
A big “thank you” to all of you.
Dianne Smith
Blaine

The Editor:
It was with mixed emotions that I read Jack Kintner’s story, “Blaine Sailor Wins National Championship” in last week’s issue of The Northern Light. My first feeling was of celebration for Mattie Farrar’s victory, followed by sadness for the many Blaine young people who will not have the opportunity to learn to sail on Drayton Harbor again this summer.
For the past two years, I have tried to loan my six three-meter Clancy sailboats and my sail instruction expertise to the children of Blaine schools and to establish a junior’s sailing program. Thanks to the efforts of the school staff, children were ready to go sailing.
People’s Bank provided a grant for equipment, the Blaine Marina gave the students a safe waterway to sail on and storage for the boats, West Marine provided life jackets, three certified instructors were lined up to teach the program, Drayton Harbor Maritime did fundraising for boat maintenance, and parents were looking forward to seeing the children sailing on Drayton Harbor.
So what went wrong? No liability insurance for the owner of the boats. According to the maritime insurance brokers, and risk managers, even though I am donating the boats and my services, I am considered the owner of a boat livery (which I am not) and therefore must have commercial insurance, which costs approximately $3000 a year.
It’s taken two years of intensive investigation, and now we finally understand that there will never be a recreational sailing program in Blaine for children without commercial liability insurance, even if no money crosses hands.
Can you imagine football, basketball, hockey, or baseball cancelled because of no liability insurance? Blaine is a maritime community with no young sailors competing on Drayton Harbor. Where would Mattie Farrar, our town’s national sailing champion be now, had her dad not taught her to sail? Sailing lets children take responsibility for their actions, and most of all it makes them the “captains of their own ship.” Isn’t that what we want for all of our children?
If you would like more information, please call Ron Snyder at 332-8082.
Ron Snyder
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