Letters to the Editor

Thanks for the vote
The Editor:
A heartfelt thank you to the voters of the Blaine school district for their continued support with passage of the recent bond issue.
In this period of economic uncertainty, it is a wonderful feeling to know our school kids have the support of our community to continue providing the necessary elements of education. Again, many thanks.
Barrie Hull, director
Blaine school board

A plea for decorum
The Editor:
While it’s nearly impossible to please everyone on every issue, the present Blaine council works very hard and labors over every decision with the good of all Blaine citizens foremost in mind. We are committed to progressive leadership for this community.
Name-calling and personal invectives against city leadership, especially in a newspaper forum, are demeaning to the whole community and only serve to sabotage efforts to put Blaine on a positive course.
We invite all to come to the neighborhood meetings council is hosting in June so we can have a face-to-face, two-sided dialogue, where we will listen and respect your opinions and ideas. We ask that you afford us the same courtesy. Understanding each other’s viewpoint is the first step in achieving a unified vision for Blaine’s future.
Bonnie Onyon, city council, Ward 1
Blaine

Urban hunters?
The Editor:
Recently a neighbor stopped by to inquire about her cat being trapped in a cage. She was rounding the neighborhood to see if anyone knew who had done this to her cat and why. Her cat disappeared over a month ago, just a few days before our cat did. The neighbor went on to tell us this story about how the cat ended up at the SSP Animal Control in Bellingham. The staff there told her a man had brought in her cat and said he would continue to trap these animals and next time he caught one he would kill it.
Well, our cat had disappeared shortly after hers. I was content in thinking that a coyote got our cat, but now I wonder if this man is deliberately baiting a trap with food and catching and killing these animals like he told animal control. Any animal will come to your property if you bait a trap with food. That isn’t fair and is no excuse to kill someone else’s pet, especially by enticing it with food.
Our neighbor had phoned several times to the SSP leaving her number with the description of her cat. No call ever came, but she didn’t give up and phoned again and the cat was there. She picked it up and the cat was very ill. It had been caged too long and not properly taken care of.
In our dealings with the SSP in the last few weeks, I can say they are not very compassionate or very friendly. The combination of that and a neighbor trapping animals makes it difficult wondering what happened to our cat. Harborview Road area is a very rural area when you get in the back yards of some of the homes here. There are thick woods and lots of playgrounds for animals, both pets and wild.
This area to me seemed very friendly, until our neighbor told us the story of her cat. Now I look at everyone that passes by wondering if it could be the person trapping and harming little animals because they stepped foot on his property? Did my cat get trapped next after our neighbor’s cat did and this man made good on his promise of killing the next one? I don’t know and don’t think I’ll ever know.
Pepper has not been found yet. I see signs on posts all over of cats or dogs missing and wonder if it is the coyotes or if it is someone who traps and kills them. I ask the public to be aware of this and if you see a cat cross your yard, don’t kill it, just shoo it away. They don’t realize that the yard is yours; they are just taking a short cut home.
If anyone has seen a little two-year-old black cat with white paws and a white spot on her chest that perks up when she hears the name Pep Pep, please respond or email missing cat72@hotmail.com.
Also if you are going away from home for a long period of time, don’t leave your dogs unattended outdoors in your fenced in yard. They miss you and they bark all day and all night, but because we love animals we put up with it and hope the owners come home soon.
Robbi Brooks
Blaine

Help local horse trainer
The Editor:
Bo Bishop, a local horse trainer, was kicked in the face on Sunday, May 6 at a horse clinic. She lost an eye, and having no insurance, medical bills are piling up quickly. To help defray medical costs, Whatcom County residents are helping with numerous fundraisers. The first of these fundraisers is a raffle with five high value items to be held on June 12.
On behalf of the Bo Bishop Fund, I would like to thank Gary DeZarn (chair), Jason, Jeremy, Jessica and Jonathon Einfeld, and Feinn, Kimberly, Teal, Tyne and Wyatt Rice-Narusch, all of the 4-H Discovery club. These 4-H members were willing to help make posters for raffle ticket sales on 24-hour notice.
I would also like to thank the people who helped sell raffle tickets on Saturday, May 19: Jason, Jeremy and Jessica Einfeld, Maria and Sophia Jackson, David Moreau, Stephanie Scott and Kerri and Mary Thomason. The day was very successful thanks to these willing volunteers!
Also, a huge thank you to the Blaine Cost Cutter which let us set up a booth at their store, also on short notice. Thank you so much!
If you would like to buy tickets or help with any of the fundraisers, contact Gary DeZarn at 384-3749.
Stephanie Hiner
Lynden

Young fan, old favorite
The Editor:
On Tuesday, March 20, Amelia Bedelia came to visit Blaine elementary school and Blaine primary school. She went to classes and read Amelia Bedelia books. Amelia Bedelia books are great! My favorite book was Amelia Bedelia Play Ball!
After she read all the books she went to the library in Blaine elementary school and got her picture with the librarian Glenn Tuski. You should read her books. They are funny and enjoyable!
Kyle Brian Lee Olason
Birch Bay

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

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 are limited to five individuals or groups. 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, fax 360/332-2777 or E-mail:editor@thenorthernlight.com