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Blender
center open
The Editor:
I have a few things regarding the Blender high school youth
center that I want to discuss.
First,
I want to let the town know that although we have been closed
for a while, once again we are ready to open for normal
operating hours. The problem has been that the heater was
broken throughout this last winter. The cost to fix this
problem was originally beyond our means.
However, we were fortunate and blessed to have come in contact
with Jerry Amundson of Amundson Heating. Jerry visited us
and gave us many suggestions on how best to fix our problem
in an economical way. We decided to use a couple of gas
furnaces that Jerry got us at wholesale price.
He then got us about $400 worth of ducting at no charge.
That would have been generous enough, but Mr. Amundson then
proceeded to donate a great deal of his time to help us
install the ducting and gas lines. When I thanked him for
his help, he said, “Hey, no problem, Blaine needs a place
like this and I am glad I can help.”
I tell the community about this because there are many heating/air
conditioning companies in Whatcom County. But it is locally
owned Amundson Heating that cared enough to help out our
youth to get us up and running again. This is the kind of
Blaine business person I want to support and I hope the
rest of our community feels the same way. Thank you, Jerry
Amundson. I would also like to point out that the cost of
fixing the heater was greatly relieved by a generous donation
from St. Anne Catholic Church and Gensco Wholesale of Bellingham.
Secondly, I believe in being up front and honest with the
community about things that occur at the Blender. On the
evening of Friday, March 21 we held the first semifinal
in our Last Band Standing series. This is a contest that
started with nine high school bands from Blaine, Ferndale,
and Bellingham to determine the best high school band in
Whatcom County. An incident occurred that got one youth
arrested for possession of alcohol. I would like to thank
and congratulate the Blaine police department on handling
this situation. The officer handled the situation in a manner
that did not embarrass anyone or affect the clean fun that
the rest of the students were having. In no way does the
Blender endorse or even stand idly by in allowing drugs
or alcohol in the activities of the center. We will continue
to make every effort to make sure that the Blender is a
clean and safe place for our youth to be, and will continue
to focus on providing positive options for our youth. Thank
you to the Blaine police department for your professional
assistance in working with the Blender.
On a positive note regarding this event, we had a great
turnout for this event and the crowd had a great time supporting
Mt. Baker’s One Less Problem, Blaine’s Lifetime Warranty,
and semifinal winner Mysterious Chocolate from Squalicum.
Our next semifinal event will be on Friday, April 25, and
will include Blaine’s Arcadian Legacy, Ferndale’s Bad News
Bears, and Squalicum’s This Side Down. For information on
this event, please use the contact information below.
Thirdly, it saddens me to know that just as our contest
had started on Friday evening our community lost Chris Walsh
due to the negligent driving and cowardly flight of an unknown
driver. Although I have never personally met Chris, some
of his friends that come to the Blender spoke very highly
of him and feel very saddened by the loss of their friend.
Our condolences go out to the family of Chris Walsh.
Finally, I would like to say thank you to the community
members who have joined our Blender team through financial
support and donated personal service time. Our continuing
influence depends on the support of the Blaine, Birch Bay
and Semiahmoo communities. If you would like to become a
part of our team with financial support or donating your
time and service, please feel free to contact me at 332-8461,
or you can reach me via email at klsmartin@msn.com. I look
forward to hearing from you. Ken Martin,
director,
The Blender Blaine
Thanks
to the Goff's
The Editor:
There is a warm and friendly feeling in the Goff’s store
that’s not found just anywhere. And whether just looking
around or purchasing goods, you knew you were treated fair.
Murray and Greg Goff have pleasing personalities, and carry
themselves with style. With their casual manner, great sense
of humor and their very friendly smiles.
The Goff family take time to talk to you, they are friendly
and polite. You are made to feel so welcome, you can happily
stay the night.
There are no grouches working at Goff’s Store, you can’t
help but feel at ease. You never feel rushed or pressured,
and it’s Goff’s great pleasure to please.
Kathryn Goff is a super lady with a great personality, charm
and grace. She is delightful, warm and friendly, and always
in good taste.
There are so many nice things to say about Jo Goff, she
really is a treasure. She is well liked by everyone. Just
to chat with her is a pleasure. Goff’s Department Store
must have a touch of magic that brings customers back once
more, or perhaps it’s that feeling of coming home again
when you step through that open door.
After 50 years I wish the Goff family much happiness and
success ahead, and of course wealth. But above all of the
ingredients, I extend to them much love and continuing good
health.
Burl Radtke
New Westminster, BC
No
clamoring needed
The Editor:
Mahmud Muhammad’s anti-war letter last week expressed concern
about backlash against Muslims by “people of ignorance.”
If he means people who fail to see the honest, peace-loving,
law-abiding, American-loving nature of Muslims, then, yes
I am among the millions.
Following 9/11 and all the prior terrorist violence committed
by Muslims, I had hoped to see Muslims clamoring to make
clear that the actions of these criminals did not speak
for the majority. No clamoring.
Mr. Muhammad’s anti-American drivel only serves to further
alienate his fellow Muslims. His time would be better spent
studying the values and principles that have made the United
States the most prosperous and most desirable place on earth.
Ted Roell
Blaine
War
morally justified
To the Editor:
I would like to respond to Mahmoud Muhammad’s letter regarding
opposition to military action in Iraq. I am a former resident
of Blaine and am now in my first year of college at New
York University. As a New York City resident, I have seen
firsthand the demonstrations for and against war in Iraq
in my city. After extensive observation, research, and writing
a thesis paper on this tragic issue, I am convinced that
we enter this war with moral, as well as legal. justification.
Muhammad’s letter stated “this war [on Iraq] will leave
thousands of innocent people dead, injured, and homeless
unnecessarily.” However, we’ve seen that 12 years of inaction
towards Saddam Hussein’s regime has already resulted in
the death, injury, displacement, or exile of thousands of
innocent Iraqi civilians.
Shall the United States, or the whole world for that matter,
sit idly by and continue to allow Saddam’s regime to shed
the blood of innocent Iraqi civilians and threaten the lives
of their neighbors, in the name of peace? Shall the United
States do nothing while we see the legitimacy of the United
Nations crumble before our very eyes for their hesitance
to enforce their own resolution?
As a member of the Protestant faith, I wholeheartedly agree
with my Muslim brothers and sisters that we have a duty
first to our Creator, to speak out against injustice, oppression,
hypocrisy, and tyranny. That is why I, and millions of Americans
from different backgrounds and beliefs, stand behind our
country and proclaim with a unified voice that we will not
turn a blind eye to the oppression of our brethren in Iraq,
nor will we tolerate any regime that threatens the safety
of American citizens or its own people.
My heart is grieving that diplomacy has failed, and we are
now engaged in this war. However, I am convinced that there
is a peace that can only be found at the end of war, and
I pray for a swift resolution so that we can work together
to usher in a new era of peace and liberty for all.
J. Micah Vitaliz
New York University
New York, NY
Public
Works 'fantastic'
The Editor:
My family and I want to thank everyone who came to my rescue
March 11 during which time our house was being flooded due
to a broken water main.
Everyone at Blaine city hall was so very helpful, as was
Farmers Insurance Group of Ferndale. But the Blaine public
works men were absolutely fantastic. They came, shut the
water main off and were so great in the way they took control
of the situation, right down to the clean-up and even kept
me in good humor throughout the whole ordeal. Thank you
everyone.
I also need to thank the men at Service Master in Bellingham
for their work. They did a very good job in drying the rooms
out and followed up with sanitizing all areas of concern.
It’s a great feeling to know there is such competent and
fast response to one in need. Thank you.
JoAnne and Phil Murphy
Blaine
Congrats
Goffs
The Editor:
My wife and I have been coming to Birch Bay for the last
40 years. We are now retired and during the summers specifically
we enjoy the beauty of Birch Bay and Blaine and spend a
lot of time outdoors and on the water. We have been customers
to many businesses during these last four decades and many
of these businesses have since closed or changed hands.
But there is one business, that we recently read about in
your paper, that we wish to comment on. It’s Goffs.
We want to congratulate them for being in business for 50
years. May they enjoy 50 more wonderful years of business.
Although my wife and I only stop in there maybe a few times
a year, we always know they will be there. Whether we need
cleaning or new socks or underwear, or a ball of yarn so
my wife can knit, the Goffs are there for business.
We very much appreciate having their business in town. We
like to support small family businesses and do not enjoy
spending our money in large corporate chains. Plus, Goff's
is so close to where we spend our time in the states.
If only all businesses were like the Goffs, what a wonderful
world this would be. Congratulations to the Goff family
for being in business for 50 years. If you’re ever having
a bad day, know there are many customers, past and present,
who appreciate you sticking with your store. Best of luck
and see you this summer.
Also, we find your newspaper very interesting. The articles
are informative for us folks on the other side of the border.
George and Dianne Dewitt
Squalicum, B.C.
Saddened,
fearful
The Editor:
I am a Canadian citizen living on the border with the U.S.
I was extremely saddened this evening when I had the misfortune
of viewing a Vancouver news broadcast with a story of a
Canadian woman and her children who were shopping in your
community this week. When she returned to her vehicle she
found a note from one of your citizens telling her that
she (Canadians) were no longer welcome in your country due
to the Canadian government’s position on the war in Iraq.
Of course, had this been the only story I have heard of
this nature I would simply write it off as another nut with
nothing better to do with his/her time than to scare women
and children, but unfortunately it is not.
I have never been treated with anything but respect when
I cross the border as I treat American visitors with respect
when they come to my community, but I must admit that I
am fearful of crossing the border south and probably won’t
be doing so for a while.
I have no ill will toward my American neighbors and my thoughts
and prayers are with all of the troops (including Canadian
ones in the Persian Gulf). I do though find it very ironic
that the two things that the United States of America says
it stands for, democracy and freedom, are two things that
aren’t being exhibited. Democracy went right out the window
when the United Nations didn’t agree with the Bush administrations
views, and freedom, well, I guess freedom of speech and
opinion is only when it agrees with yours. Maybe there should
be footnotes to your constitution. Stephanie Jeffery
Surrey, British Columbia
A
special teacher
The Editor:
Our community is suffering from the tragic loss of Christopher
Walsh.
I would like his family to know that my prayers are with
them and to all of those affected by this senseless tragedy.
Also, I would like to share with the community a very heartwarming
fact that people should be aware of. The kindness of one
special school teacher.
Jennifer Tachiyama is a math and science teacher at Blaine
middle school. On March 21 she was made aware of the tragedy
that had occurred. Jennifer’s concern for these students,
some of whom were her students, or just friends of Chris
Walsh’s, including my daughter Brynn, was immediately apparent.
Jennifer was a light in the darkness for these children
at such a horrible time.
She came to my house to be with these children. That afternoon
she gave them comfort and she gave them hugs. She listened
to them and cried with them. She helped them to focus on
projects to help them cope. She bought them food, and rented
a movie for them to watch. She helped them put up the posters
the kids made in honor of Chris. She helped me take them
to the vigil, and then some of them home.
During the week that followed, she took some students to
the viewing and the funeral, all the while grieving herself
and being a teacher. Jennifer has such a special rapport
with these kids. They can be themselves around her, as they
feel comfortable with her. They trust her and they love
her, as she loves them. She is more than a teacher to them,
she is also their friend. The Blaine school district has
many wonderful teachers and Jennifer Tachiyama is one of
them. Thank you Jennifer for everything. I would also like
to mention Yorky’s and the people who work there for their
kindness in letting us put up and maintain the memorial
for Christopher Walsh. Thank you.
Gretchen 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
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