Letters to the editor: December 15-21

The Editor:

My desire is to preserve the history and memories of Blaine, Birch Bay and Custer area. This will include digitally archiving old Blaine newspapers, personal historical pictures and items of interest. I am also asking people to contact me with their family stories and pictures from the past. I can be reached by phone at 739-1028, by e-mail at jimzellwa@aol.com or face-to-face on our city streets.

James Zell

Blaine

The Editor:

What is happening with The Northern Light (TNL)? Suddenly the publisher and managing editor is writing articles? Does it mean reporters do not want to work for TNL?

My recent letter commented on the publisher’s article citing his failing to obtain comments from the Homeland Security Border Patrol to include in his original article. The article concerned the admission to the U.S. for three or four drug-related issues. When TNL finally interviewed the Border Patrol it was apparent that they had legitimate reasons for their actions.

My letter mentioned that the bigger issue for our local communities is the terrible service being provided by the Blaine Post Office. This matter should be investigated by TNL as it is affecting hundreds or thousands of residents being “served” and not write long articles involving a handful of drug users.

TNL would better serve its readers by finding out how Birch Bay residents can have their own post office or have them serviced by Custer or Ferndale post offices which do an excellent job in dealing with its

customers.

Too bad Birch Bay is not incorporated as that might result in getting our own post office like smaller cities have (e.g. Custer, Everson).

Current problems seem to be with its publisher. In his 2015 year-end summary he included Birch Bay Steering Committee, which is no longer active. I sent him information proving my point and he ignored it and refused to confirm with two reliable sources I gave him and one told me he told the publisher before that the steering committee was inactive.

More recently I asked him to confirm the one letter per month policy and he refused to reply. My concern was that certain people (Paula and Sandy) may be allowed to circumvent this policy and I wanted clarification about a publication covering more than one month.

In a TNL article on a $50 reduction in taxes, the reporter failed to address the assessed valuation portion of computing taxes. Mine went up for 2017 by $10,000 so my $50 will be reduced or eliminated.

Mickey Masdeo

Birch Bay

The Editor:

Relative to this issue of how we are to recognize, and refer to, this coming holiday season.

Christmas is a holiday (derived from “holy day”) season that recognizes the birth of Jesus Christ. There is no question of that.

There is no question that Jesus Christ was an individual who functioned among us about 2,000 years ago – long after sound historical documentation had been established. His life was very well documented – more so than anyone’s.

His impact on the world for the past 2,000 years is unequaled.

Most of the world’s calendars are listed as follows, even recognizing years prior to Christ’s birth: BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini, or “In the year of our Lord,” in Latin).

• A number of world holidays are in recognition of Christ, or general Christian beliefs, such as:

• Pre-Lent festivals – Last pleasures prior to preparation of Christ’s Passion.

• Easter – Death of Christ.

• Halloween – Hollowed Eve, in recognition of All Saints and All Souls.

Regardless of whether you believe that Jesus Christ was/is deity, there’s no question that his impact on the world has been more significant than any individual.

Now if we find it satisfactory to recognize the lives of other great individuals with special days and periods, individually, and by name (could list hundreds, all with far less importance), why is it so problematic to recognize and celebrate the birthday of this most significant worldwide individual, regardless of whether you believe he had/has a link to deity?

December 25 is the day that the world recognizes that Jesus Christ was born, not necessarily the exact day he was born. Why not simply accept the very understandable worldwide recognition of a most special individual? And of course, for Christians, it means much more.

Hope you all have a blessed Christmas.

Peter Werner

Blaine