Letters to the Editor

Give us a break, will ya?
The Editor:
It�s been two months since me, my boyfriend & our cat moved to Blaine from Bellingham and during these months we�ve been stopped by either the Blaine police department/Border Patrol because they profiled us as border jumpers.
We can�t even walk our cat to the marina/park, do errands in Blaine, catch the bus to Bellingham for appointments or get grub/drinks at the eatery/bars without having to show our IDs. If we belong here legally; why do we have to take our U.S. passport and birth certificate along on our journey to these places? If they get lost who�ll replace them? They won�t pay me $65 for my passport or pay for a new birth certificate if that ever happens. Shoot, I know homeland security is trying to beef up because of what happened with 9/11 and all these terrorist incidents but dang! can�t a Filipino woman & a half American/Native American man get �round town without being picked on by these officers who, when I get all upset tell me to take my SSI/SSD meds. All we want is to live here (beats being homeless) in Blaine simply and quietly and not be seen as two pepper grains in a shaker full of salt. No matter what, Blaine�s our home and we will support the local fare. As we avidly read the happenings around the Peace Arch city, we thank the lady who told us to complain (which we�ve done lots of times) to the police and border patrol chiefs regarding our unwelcomed reception. God bless ya�ll & more power to your publication. Thank you.
M. Manseguiao & family
Blaine

Thanks for joining us
The Editor:
I wanted to thank everyone personally who has said no to the spa spot rezone. We have had overwhelming support from Birch Point, Semiahmoo and the outlying area residents. It is truly amazing how many kind and caring individuals there are in this community. One hundred percent of the residents on Semiahmoo Lane have said no to the rezone and a overwhelming majority of Birch Point and Semiahmoo residents have joined us to say no.
In November my husband and I got the unbelievable news that a group of investors wanted to rezone a 10-acre parcel of land 100 feet from our front door. I have three small children, six, and three and six months old and the rezone will impact my family greatly.
We chose to build in this area because we thought it would be a great place to raise a family. There should be some predictability to property owners in land use designations. I guess that is why spot rezones are illegal and why the planning commission voted seven to one against the rezone. We hope and pray council will vote no because this is clearly a spot rezone and is not wanted in the community.
Once again thanks to everyone who has joined our effort.
Cindy Reimer
Blaine

Leave them birches alone
The Editor:
At Birch Bay, Washington, the Board of U.S. Geographical Names made it such.
The cutting and clearing of birch trees should come before a board to prove their case. Birch trees are beautiful and were once used in Indian canoes. The birch trees should be sprayed and cared for.
Verrill Stalberg
Bellingham

Good work...
The Editor:
Just a short note to commend the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce on a well run meeting last Tuesday. Also to encourage others in the community to support our local chambers and the many excellent programs they are involved in. One such program they recently started encourages our youth to also get involved in our community. I also respected their allowing Ellen Shea to make her presentation on her vision for a secluded retreat on Birch Point. Ellen I thought did a very good job of not just telling us what her goals were, but also is obviously working very hard to satisfy the concerns of local citizens. I hope everyone can be satisfied so that more jobs and taxation can be brought into our community. We need more businesses willing to invest millions of dollars to improve the vibrancy of what we can offer in Birch Bay and Blaine.
Ray Maxon
Blaine

It's good Willy's dead
The Editor:
To Sheas or not to Sheas. That is the question.
To whether it is nobler to spot zone, or to leave well enough alone.
Alas, poor Blaine I knew thee well!
Saw sunset, watch fish, run and play free in ocean with no fences, or fecal compounds.
Wake up Blaine! Spend your money for long term solutions; not short term political positions.
Make trails, not parking lots. Build a water recycle system to put water back to California Creek so fish can spawn. Forever! Stop! Flushing our future down the drain.
Markus Gumley
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 email letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com