Letters to the Editor

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Thanks for support
The Editor:
We wish to thank the community and friends for the outpouring of love and thoughtfulness which was extended to our family, following the passing of our beloved Bettie Borden Bengert.
The lovely flower arrangements from Blaine Bouquets, the cards, phone calls, letters and the International Motel, which made arrangements for our out of town family, all mean so much to us.
The generosity shown by all of you demonstrates what a truly wonderful community we live in. Thank you from all of us: Bruce & Billie (Borden) Rowell, Dianna Borden, Bettie�s children: Gwen Bryce, Linda Stevens & Danny Bengert Jr. and their families.
Bruce and Billie Rowell
Blaine

Coat drive successful
The Editor:
The staff at the Blaine Family Service Center wants to thank Cost Cutter, Classic Cleaners and the Blaine community for their generous contributions.
Cost Cutter held a month long coat drive for us this past October. They promoted the donation of good condition coats and the people of our community once again came through beautifully. Cost Cutter collected dozens of coats and then handed them over to Classic Cleaners. Classic Cleaners graciously cleaned all of the donated coats for absolutely no charge.
At the Family Service Center, we now have plenty of coats of all sizes to distribute to families in need of them. What a wonderful collaborative effort! We are located above the middle school gym now, our phone number is 332-0740. If you are in need of coats, please drop by!
Larissa Dhanani
Blaine Family Service Center
Blaine

Unhappy with system
The Editor:
The Blaine school needs to learn how to teach students instead of analyzing every thing that they do. As well, wanting the students that can�t sit perfectly still on drugs.I thought that Blaine was a drug free environment that wants their students to succeed. I�ve been with the Blaine schools for 13 years and for the past two, it has been the worst.
My kids have been marked for personal reasons and so if either one of them even sneezes, they�re automatically pulled into the office and suspended. One of my kids was expelled for standing up for himself in class against three other students. The teacher let things go too far, then decided that after my son had a reaction to another student�s telling him that he was poor and didn�t belong there, that he should be dead. He was analyzed and was called a threat to the school and to society.
A few days later, I returned to get my son�s things to see students fighting in front of the restrooms. Of course, nothing was done. If Blaine has policies, they should be for all the students, not one there�s prejudice against. For an adult to tell a 10-year-old that he�s a nuisance and a threat to society, is just not right.
C. Currie
Blaine

Over $3,500 raised
The Editor:
I am awed and humbled by the generosity of our business community. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to them for giving so generously to our dessert social and auction. The event was a tremendous success and raised over $3,500. We could not have done it without the support of our local businesses. The ground breaking ceremony for the skate park was also held the same day with over 75 people attending. The support from the community energizes me with the enthusiasm I need to see this project through to completion. It is happening!
Thank you to all who donated items for the auction and to those that helped at the event.
Jon Landis
Blaine

Another example
The Editor:
Well, people of Blaine, here is just another example of why the city council needs to be hit in the head with a stupid stick.
Over five years ago, we were told that we could not send our sewage to Canada and now the council has wasted more money, which they will eventually come back to you for, when if they had listened to Frank Bresnan, Andy Anderson and me five years ago we would not be in the mess we are today.
There is an old saying, �Those who do not learn from their history, are doomed to repeat it.� Here is a prime example.
You figure that the people of California smartened up and got rid of the dummy running that state into the ground, and yet the people of this state and city have not seen that it is going to take all of the small businesses in Blaine to fold up before you finally realize that Zen is not going to save us? When are you going to realize that it is getting costly to remain loyal to Blaine?
Dave White
Blaine

Letter clarifications
The Editor:
I am writing in response to a letter from Lincoln Rutter that appeared in the November 13 issue of The Northern Light.
In his letter to the editor, Mr. Rutter makes several erroneous points. The first is that the city of Blaine did not collect capital improvement fees from Semiahmoo to pay their share of the wastewater treatment plant that was to be constructed on the Semiahmoo spit. In 1986, the city and Semiahmoo Company entered into an agreement whereby Semiahmoo Company would pay for their share of the new treatment plant in two ways. The first was by collecting system improvement fees and the second was by creating an L.I.D. (local improvement district).
The city did establish such a capital improvement fee, which has been collected and deposited in a segregated Semiahmoo sewer fund ever since the agreement was made. Some of the funds have been used to fund the Semiahmoo share of several sewer projects completed over the years. Other funds were used to pay for the engineering design for the treatment plant that was terminated in August, 2000. The account currently has approximately $450,000 which will be used to fund whatever solution we come up with to solve our wastewater treatment problems. It is of interest to note that the connection fees charged in Semiahmoo are higher than those fees charged in the remainder of Blaine.
Mr. Rutter correctly points out that Semiahmoo Company did not complete an L.I.D. On August 7, 1997 the city and Semiahmoo Company entered into an L.I.D. pre-formation and development agreement for the purpose of raising additional funds to help construct the plant. The L.I.D. was not formed because the plant was never constructed.
Mr. Rutter presents his view as to how the new sewer project will be funded. He incorrectly assumes that the entire project will be funded by issuing market rate revenue bond. The fact is that we will fund the project through a combination of grants and low-interest loans from state and federal agencies. Some of the loans will likely bear interest rates below two percent. The funding plan that is eventually enacted may include some market sewer revenue bond.
Finally, Mr. Rutter states that the citizens of Blaine will pay an additional $77 each month in sewer fees. This would bring the total sewer fee to around $117 per month. It is highly unlikely that the fees would be such an exorbitant amount. However, it is important for all customers to understand that the rates will have to be increased to pay for the project. At this point, we are not certain as to how much the monthly rate will be.
There are no easy answers to solving our wastewater treatment problems. If there were, we would have found them by now. All of the options are expensive and have other difficult issues to address. The city council and the citizens Wastewater Advisory Committee are doing their very best to find the alternatives that will meet our future needs and our financial capability.
Gary Tomsic
City Manager
Blaine

Thanks again
The Editor:
I want to thank my family, friends, and the Blaine voters for electing me to the position of school board director for the next four years. I would also like to extend my thanks to the Point Roberts Registered Voters� Association, and those who spoke on my behalf to friends. I will do my best to address and work on concerns you bring forward to the board. Finally, Betty Nunamaker has served the citizens of Blaine, the school staff, and students for 24 years. I would like to thank her for all the hard work and dedication throughout those years. She and the rest of the school board have made Blaine schools a great place for students to learn. She will be missed and I wish her the best of luck in the future. Todd Berge
Blaine

Almost 200 coats...
The Editor:
Blaine Cost Cutter and Blaine Family Service Center would like to thank the community for their generosity during our recent Coats for Kids drive. Thank you also to Classic Cleaners for donating their services to clean all the coats received. We received 196 coats and want to thank everyone for a very successful first year.
Blaine Cost Cutter
Blaine

Lodge gratitude
The Editor:
We wish to thank our local merchants for supplying gift certificates and space for our booth for the raffle. Also for everyone purchasing tickets.
The Deborah Rebekah Lodge #321, Blaine, with the proceeds presented a check for the $400 to the Herman Miller Farm 4-H Club October 30 to complete their building project.
There were six lucky winners - Jason Gorr, the candy bouquet from Blaine Bouquet; Amy Lindeman, a Goff�s gift certificate; Carol Talmadge, a Corkscrew Willow gift certificate; Elaine Murphy, a Blaine Bouquet gift certificate; Rick Todhunter, a Pacific Building Center gift certificate; and Ellen Wortendyke, a gourmet gift basket. The challenge was met.
Mary Onyon,
Treasurer Deborah Rebekah Lodge #321
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

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 email letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com