Letters to The Editor: August 15-21, 2024

Posted

The Editor:

During the August primary election, North Whatcom Fire and Rescue asked voters for a fire levy lid lift. While the outcome was not as we had hoped, we appreciate everyone who participated in the process. We understand this is a difficult economy, which has likely influenced voters.

The demand for and cost to provide emergency services is outpacing our revenue to provide them. Our community urgently requires more firefighters to adequately staff our fire stations. We need to replace aging apparatus, put another medical response unit into service, and reduce reliance on mutual aid from neighboring agencies, which can take longer to reach people during emergencies.

State law requires that we operate under a balanced budget. North Whatcom Fire and Rescue will continue to provide the highest level of service that our funding allows. Regrettably, that may mean some form of service level cuts. We are committed to keeping the public fully informed about any necessary service level adjustments and will actively seek input from our community so that together, we can shape the future of your fire district.

I welcome your questions at jvanderveen@nwfrs.com.

Jason Van Der Veen

NWFR fire chief

 

The Editor:

Just saw your article (“Free piano leads to historic Blaine music discovery” by Jon Mutchler, published August 8 in The Northern Light), quite a few records showed up:

She is Harriet Rogers, born circa 1861 in Illinois. Her parents were John and Elizabeth Rogers. They arrived in Washington circa 1887 with Harriet age 18 and three brothers. Harriet married Richard J. Owen circa 1899. They appear in the 1910 census for Blaine, living on Adelia Street with one daughter, Doris E., age four. Richard is from Wales and worked as a teamster. Harriet was a music teacher.

In 1920 they were living at 2128 Boblett Street. Richard was age 58 and working at a meat market. Harriet was age 49 and a music teacher. Doris was age 14. The Polk directory for 1916, page 397, lists “Richard and Harriet” associated with “Owen & Dahl” (Richard J. Owen & Ernest F. Dahl meats). Richard died in Blaine in 1928. Harriet died in 1953, age 83, in Bellingham.

Bruce Langley

Blaine

 

The Editor:

After seeing a picture of the neighborhood in this article (“Free piano leads to historic Blaine music discovery” by Jon Mutchler, published August 8 in The Northern Light), and the Barnes’ name mentioned, it all had some familiarity.

I consulted my brother Kelly Montfort and came up with the following. The Barnes person mentioned in the article may have been the Barnes who owned the home on the corner of 5th and F streets in Blaine.

It is a big three-story home and I think still standing. The relationship to Harriet Rogers Owen is not known but her name looks familiar. I have another person I will try to track down who used to live in this home, and will see if she has any information.

Katy Montfort

Blaine

 

The Editor:

Good morning good people of The Northern Light; I want to thank you for your excellent little local paper, for printing letters you may or may not agree with, for reporting on both difficult and joyous events in our community and for doing a great job for so many years. I especially appreciate the Health & Wellness section and have been enjoying the well-written book review section by Jonathan Jakobitz. Doug Dahl’s Road Rules is always fun and informative and most of us could use a refresher on this stuff or are learning about it for the first time.

When I think someone or something is done well, I believe in saying so. Bravo and thank you to The Northern Light staff and contributors.

Barbara Swansen

Blaine

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