The Editor:
The Blaine Food Bank couldn’t be prouder to be the recipient of the funds raised in the launch of Blaine’s first annual Catoberfest! The event, sponsored by Beach Cat Brewery in Birch Bay and the Blaine Chamber of Commerce, brought hundreds of folks to beautiful Blaine Marine Park to celebrate the season in the true spirit of a Bavarian festival, and raised over $21,000 in support of the Blaine Food Bank’s effort to address hunger in our community.
The weather could not dampen the spirits of folks who enjoyed live music, a DJ, micro-brew and cider offerings from over a dozen different breweries across the Pacific Northwest, cornhole competitions, a costume contest, silent auction and, of course, great food options from local food trucks and vendors. It was truly amazing.
The success of this event was a result of the effort and generosity of so many individuals and businesses who offered their time and talent and went above and beyond to make Catoberfest a memorable and rewarding experience for all. It focused on and promoted the city of Blaine and helped us help individuals and families through the most challenging of times. Our community united on behalf of the Blaine Food Bank, just when we needed it most.
We thank everyone who donated, volunteered and participated in this uplifting and inspiring event for their generosity and kind hearts. The outpouring of support has brought us one step closer to changing the lives of friends and neighbors who struggle to keep themself and their families fed.
We thank you for caring.
Sally Church, on behalf of the entire Blaine Food Bank team
Blaine
The Editor:
Chief Van der Veen, your proposal to abandon North Whatcom Fire and Rescue Station 62 brings up issues. The levy increase failed partly due to negative tone and statements that seemed out of touch. Now Station 62 is also under threat just as new development is happening near it.
You are quoted, “I don’t see us staffing it in the foreseeable future.” Maybe, but why not at least retain and steward this valuable asset; and in a way that the kinds of damage recently revealed do not occur in the future?
With future development of Horizon and other projects, hundreds more homes are coming to the west side of the freeway/tracks. Derailment and fire or chemical spill of one of the mega-trains could put anything west of the tracks in jeopardy, but with access blocked. In an earthquake/tsunami event, the Semiahmoo peninsula would be cut off from I-5 by tsunami water covering Drayton Harbor Road and upper Blaine Road; possibly even Birch Bay Road, as in the Nooksack flood. In such cases a pre-staged Station 62, located on high ground, could potentially be critical for the thousands of peninsula residents.
Giving up this valuable land and building at this time would be a classic example of short-term thinking.
I am writing as a public safety advocate – but NWFR comments, including the one about “people in million-dollar homes” seem tone-deaf to the people and the current times.
I’ve lived here for some years and have never seen a plan about Station 62. An email inquiry about this very station sent during the levy discussions went unanswered.
The homeowners you singled out might want to remind you that higher cost homes also pay a lot more property taxes to support you and other public employees.
Perhaps you also were not aware that many Semiahmoo residents are retirees with late life priorities, which preclude them volunteering to help you and your staff?
How are “lack of amenities” at Station 62 an issue? How does that affect employee assignments anyway?
We are a pro-services, pro-first responder household, but look for more positive planning, content and fewer threats in the NWFR tone and messaging. Pointing to public assets which degraded while under the care of public employees is not effective at generating sympathy. Out here it feels like the standard playbook from many public entities: threats and insinuations whenever any funding increase is denied.
Tom Mintner
Blaine
The Editor:
As I write this I am not sure if I am more sad or angry. For a multitude of reasons, real and imagined, chaos has taken over the Blaine Senior Center. Once again it may be without a director. I have unfortunately seen over four-plus years several different directors unable to work with a board of directors.
Thankfully, the current director made the center into a dynamic, welcoming place to grow, learn, socialize and laugh. He created inclusive programs to enhance the life of every member via mental and physical programs. Those members who still work could now find the center open after 3 p.m. and on Saturdays.
There is seemingly no outside oversight, especially when a board has little to no communication with the general membership. It is hard to comprehend and understand why neither the city of Blaine nor Whatcom County, both of which contribute a healthy sum of monetary support, have no oversight or defined responsibilities to the membership.
Why is it difficult to understand that the current “kindness” mission and programs at the center have kept members out of hospitals and doctor’s offices as well as helping to erase the isolation of the senior population of the Blaine, Birch Bay community? Is it fair or democratic that a board of directors has the right to disrupt the lives of paid members without explanation? Why are the bylaws ambiguous and not clear about the will of the members? Why have there been no minutes or reports regarding the executive sessions?
Why was the vote of 196 to dismiss three members of the executive board ignored? Where were board members when a public meeting of the membership was being held to question some decisions made by the board? Why is the senior center not a partnership between the members, the director, the city, the county, and the board of directors? What part does the department of parks and recreation play in the operation of the center? How does the staff get paid when there is no director?
A tremendous resource to the community is once again in the throes of being disrupted. Personality conflicts and or power struggles should not be allowed to destroy what has been accomplished and what could be in the future.
Beth Tableman
Blaine
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