The Editor:
Blaine Senior Center is now open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The following activities are available for members: The library, gym and pool hall. Also available are mahjong, pinochle, crafts, bocce ball, stretch classes, ping-pong, gym, BUG (Blaine Ukulele Group) and many other games.
Please call Blaine Senior Center for days and times at 360/332-8040.
Vicki McCullough, on behalf of Blaine Senior Center Board of Directors
Blaine
The Editor:
A few weeks ago I saw an article in The Northern Light, asking for volunteers to help clean up Blaine – to remove overgrown brush and debris from around Blaine signs and local art.
Now I see a YouTube video of someone who did just that being sent an order telling him to quit doing just that and being threatened with legal action for doing so. What is up with our city?
A little background on myself: My wife and I moved here in November from Shoreline in King County to get away from the political BS and it seems it is just as bad here.
We ran into roadblocks every time we wanted to do something on our own property. We were told down there if we wanted to trim one of our trees, if it was over eight inches in diameter at eye level, we had to get an arborist report and approval, at our own expense, then a permit from the city to do the work.
We bought property here with no trees. By the time the ones we since planted get to that size we will be dead and gone for that to be an issue here. We hope.
I am a retired construction worker, contractor. My wife is a self-employed bookkeeper. We raised seven children and have eleven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. We just want to enjoy them and our remaining years. I use the skills God created me with to help others. I am slowly meeting my neighbors and helping them when I can.
When I saw the article I mentioned above, I thought I could do that and maybe get to know some people here. We want so much to be a part of this community but things like this just turn you off to getting involved.
I deep down hope that video wasn’t true. I don’t want Blaine to be a sewer like Seattle and King County. I want to again live in a city I can be a part of and be proud of.
John Hopf
Blaine
The Editor:
Our wonderful walking and running trail next to the Semiahmoo Parkway from the Horizon development to Semiahmoo built over 20 years ago has become dangerous to use due to rising cracks from tree roots.
Despite many complaints over many years from loyal runners and walkers, many with dogs, the city of Blaine has refused to take any action to make it safe.
As longtime walkers and runners, we need help from Blaine City Council to resolve this dangerous situation.
Don and Linda Clark
Birch Bay
The Editor:
I have had a chance to meet and interview the following candidates in person, and highly recommend these competent people running for local offices:
Kaylee Galloway for Whatcom County Council District 2 (South Bellingham/Fairhaven). Kaylee brings enthusiasm as well as her education (MA in policy studies from University of Washington-Bothell, BS from Western Washington University and experience working for legislators such as Suzan DelBene and Debra Lekanoff, among others).
Rebecca Lewis for Whatcom County Council District 3 (representing rural areas of east Whatcom County). Rebecca will speak up for improved internet access for all. Her experience as a teacher and union representative will serve her well as a councilor. Her impressive command of county council issues was evident in the recent candidate forum, which you can view at lwvbellinghamwhatcom.org.
Barry Buchanan for Whatcom County Council At-Large: Barry, incumbent, stands on his record of service, but his work is not done. Homelessness in Whatcom County in particular is a complicated issue that requires a steady and experienced hand in navigating the various stakeholders. We all want to end homelessness, but the devil is in the details. Let’s give Barry time to deal with it.
Kelly Krieger for Port of Bellingham District 2: Kelly promises to prioritize jobs and climate change mitigation in port projects. Her demonstrated leadership in the community gives me confidence she will be an effective commissioner with Bellingham values.
Kristina Michele Martens for Bellingham City Council At-Large: Kristina has emerged as an effective voice for our community, especially for those who are not yet represented on our city council. Let’s give her a chance in representing the entire community.
Please vote by August 4 and in the general election in November. Your voice and your vote count the most at the local level.
Nancy K. Sheng
Bellingham
The Editor:
In 1921, two Canadian researchers, Dr. Frederick Banting and medical student Charles Best discovered insulin with the help of professor John Macleod at the University of Toronto. They won Canada’s first Nobel Prize.
Their discovery, 100 years ago, changed the world forever – their research led to the isolation and purification of insulin and offered a life-saving treatment to people whose lives would have been cut short by diabetes. Insulin brought a miraculous change in life expectancy and quality of life for millions of people around the world, but it is not a cure.
The International Diabetes Federation estimates that more than 4 million people die each year from diabetes and that nearly half a billion people worldwide have diabetes. The CDC estimates that 34.2 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, or 10.5 percent of the population.
Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease, so as a nephrologist I encourage preventative steps and early diagnosis of diabetes to avoid serious complications such as heart disease and blindness, in addition to CKD.
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin, please take the CDC’s prediabetes risk test: cdc.gov/prediabetes/takethetest.
The sooner you know if you are prediabetic, the sooner you can take action to reverse it and prevent Type 2 diabetes.
If your results indicate you’re at risk, take appropriate action. Get your blood sugar checked as a first step and talk to your provider.
William E. Lombard, MD
Bellingham
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here