The Editor:
Newsweek magazine recently listed “America’s Best High Schools” based upon objective criteria and formulated with relevant cross-tabs. Of the top 1,300 chosen for publication, 22 were schools in the state of Washington.
Of those 22 schools, the top five are in Bellevue. Two schools are in Whatcom County. In second place was Bellingham. In first place was our own Blaine high school.
We all know rich kids are smarter than poor kids. That’s why ritzy Bellevue took the top five. But Blaine is stuffed with poor kids. So how did we fare so well?
That’s a long story. It entailed years of preparation, back to the 1930s when then-superintendent Vernon McDonald came under fire for successfully arguing the need for a large chunk of city land dedicated to the Blaine school district.
Over the years, it proved to be needed, and Vern got it when the price was low. He died 16 years ago, but now we can thank him.
We’ve had outstanding administrators and educators ever since. Even during the years of World War II, we were fortunate to benefit from good teachers. Our school began to pump forth an unusually large proportion of students who became college and university graduates.
Nearly every school levy has passed since Vern was superintendent. This has contributed greatly to our success. Or consider the big-corporation contributions. The BP Cherry Point Refinery plays a vital role in our success.
Our district mastered the art of weathering storms. Periods of harsh criticism were endured without sinking the system.
I was once among those critics who felt too much attention was being given to athletics rather than academics. But I’ve changed. I too believe in athletics. Athletic minds.
Within recent years, athletic minds have been gaining popularity. And this, I believe, helped us make it into America’s top 1,300 schools.
Henceforth, I’m devoting my energy to our school. It’s our gem. I encourage our citizens generously to donate dollars for scholars in a show of appreciation, and an appropriate way to congratulate, honor and thank our students, teachers and administration.
Richard Clark
Blaine

The Editor:
That a depressed, frustrated young man went ‘postal’ at Virginia Tech is a tragedy, but it is, unfortunately, becoming too prevalent in our global society.
I believe we may see more assassins claim their “15 minutes” in response to a number of ongoing situations including, but not limited to, the government’s persistence in occupying Iraq, unresolved conditions in all Katrina-affected areas, the questionable appointments of President Bush’s unqualified friends to lucrative positions, the increasing discoveries of corruption with those who are serving in every level of government, excessive over-payment of corporate executives while wages of the workers remain at the bottom of the scale or are out-sourced entirely (benefiting only the shareholders). 
Millions of Americans lost retirement investments due to corporate greed/mismanagement, and now millions of Americans are losing their homes to the lack of oversight/protection in the mortgage industry.
America is becoming less the ‘land of the free and home of the brave’ and more of a divided country of nearly-indentured slaves to a government determined to support everyone in the world except Americans who are losing their jobs, their homes and constitutional protections. Why is it that our government finances the recovery of every country after a catastrophe but fails to help Americans recover from their losses? 
Where in the Constitution does it give the federal government the power to use our money for anything but the good of America? 
The range of contributions or granting of contracts has increased to include many activities that don’t benefit Americans in any way but simply enrich the friends of the White House.
Karl King
Birch Bay

The Editor:
A big thank you to all that helped with the Hands Across The Border event. The Peace Arch State Park staff, park ranger Jason Snow, sales staff, and I can’t do without my wife Janet, sister-in-law Ann Spooner and the rest of the crew Joanna, Ed, John, Megan, Carrol, Gina, Kalla, Ricky, Millie, and Christina.
Bob Hines
Blaine

The Editor:
We would like to send out a huge thank you to Ed at Tomko Bones and The Northern Light for taking such good care of keeping Rocky, our dog safe and helping him find his way back home.
Thank you for your kindness. You are greatly appreciated.
A & K Vinkes
Blaine

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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.

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