Letters to the Editor

The Editor:
I’ve sat still long enough and the comments made by our mayor have driven me to respond. Quote from Mr. Myers, “A community without a plan for an airport is not a good community.” Excuse me Mr. Mayor but why did you move here? I’ve lived here my whole life as did my father and mother and though I’ve been gone at times up north it was always a joy and a relief to come home to Blaine. Oh, by the way, the name means something to some of us. We love our town and our school and children and for you who don’t may I suggest you move to perhaps Sea Tac.
Leo Baldwin
Blaine

The Editor:
I would like to urge you to vote for Mary Kay Becker for State Court of Appeals. This race is on the primary ballot vote due on September 19.
Mary Kay Becker has decades of experience in making wise decisions related to legal issues in Whatcom County and Washington state, has been an attorney since the 1980s and a judge for the last 12 years. She also was a state legislator in the 1970s and a member of the Whatcom County Council.Mary Kay Becker believes in treating all people with fairness and respect and is fair and balanced in her judgments. Her colleagues have consistently chosen her for leadership positions and bar groups rate her as “Exceptionally Well Qualified.”
Wendy Walker
Blaine

The Editor:
The airport stench is all but gone. and Mr. Hill is bragging about his win against Bob Brunkow. I would like to know where Mr. Hill lives. Is the money that Blaine has to pay back for the airport going to come from his deep pockets?
Or rather, will those of us who live within the city limits have to pay it back? Does Mr. Hill or Mr. Bresnan live inside our fair city’s boundaries or are they safely outside the danger zone as it were?
It only seems fair being that they caused the stink that they clean it up. My father used Blaine airport for years and saw it in the beginning.
I believe it is only right that if the airport closes then the family who donated the land be given it back. It is only fair as it was donated to Blaine for an airport, not a truck stop, and is still considered wetlands in a good portion of it. So if it closes I vote for Blaine to hand over the bill for closing it to Mr. Hill and Mr. Bresnan to pay and let those of us taxpayers inside the city breathe free at last and give the land back to the family who donated it. Period. Then if they want to sell it so be it, or they can donate it to the school.
That sure sounds better than a truck stop or a motel. It would really make a nice site for a new high school or leave it alone. I do believe Mr. Hill and Mr. Bresnan need to think money for them to make and what they are costing others.
You never know – you might need a helicopter to take you out only to find out there is no safe place to pick you up.
So please think before it costs you your home because of the extra taxes it will cost people inside the city limits to pay back all that it can cost to close.
So please Mr. Hill quit braying like a donkey. They are not allowed inside the city limits after dark.
Polly Mason
Blaine

The Editor & The Blaine City Council:
Honestly, ladies and gentlemen, how is it that this happened again?
(Although at least you all had the courage to actually vote this time, rather than let the subject drop.)
Citing the still weak argument of “political overtones” and association with the non-political Pugwash Peace Conference, you are, in my opinion, being rather small minded and prejudiced against a lovely town that would make a positive sister city match.
Allow me to cite a sister city relationship, out of many other examples, that exemplifies the whole purpose of sister city status: since 1973, Seattle has had a sister city relationship with Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Back in 1973, Tashkent was located within borders of the then Soviet Union.
Remember that massive state? Remember that (politically speaking) it was a communist party-ruled dictatorship? And why was this not an obstacle for the good people of Seattle at the time?
Because the purpose of sister cities is to break down the obstacles of man-made borders and establish ties of goodwill.
Even now, in its transition to the independent state of Uzbekistan, Seattle has promoted peace and goodwill through exchanges of people diplomacy: chefs, teachers, school children, lawyers and physicians have all had heartfelt visits that have established life long friendships in Tashkent.
You should all be ashamed of yourselves. The true value of sister city-ship has obviously, and hopefully temporarily, been lost on you.
Rev. Elke Siller Macartney
LaConner

The Editor:
I did it! Three days of walking. Three days of friendships formed and stories shared. Their days of blisters and sore muscles. Three days of kindness. Three days of the world the way we wish it could be.
We made so many wonderful memories in those three days. It all began with opening ceremonies on Friday morning at Marymoor Park in Redmond.
As you passed through Redmond and Kirkland on day one, local businesses came out to welcome you.
On day two, you traveled through Kenmore and Bothell and enjoyed a couple of miles on the Burke Gilman Trail. On day three, you soaked in the beauty of Lake Washington and the Cascade Mountains.
Family friends and the local community came out by the hundreds for all three days to provide a distraction from the hills by cheering and passing out candy, popsicles, flowers and even kisses. The Hillcrest Bakery gave out thousands of heart-shaped sugar cookies.
The Parrot Heads of Puget Sound passed out their ever popular Gator-its. The Kiwanis handed out pink carnations.
The Warming Hut Hotties came out to support you and give out flower pins. The event definitely lived up to its reputation of being the “60-mile buffet” and the Seattle community once again showed their amazing support.
Our home away from home was Big Finn Hill Park where we spent Friday and Saturday night, and shared amazing stories of inspiration and courage.
It all came to an end with an emotional closing ceremony at the University of Washington under beautiful sunny skies as we were welcomed home by cheering family and friends.
I would like to thank everyone who stopped by my bake sale fundraiser at the Blaine Fourth of July and boardwalk festival, with a special thanks to my only business donation, F & V Able Electric, Inc.
Altogether I raised $2,657. The Seattle Walk raised $6,900,000. I walked 60 miles in 2005 and 2006 and signed up for another 60 miles in 2007.
If there is anyone out there who would like to make up a team from Blaine please contact me by October at wacalyorkies@wmconnect.com.
Michaela Fuller
Blaine

The Editor:
For the past few weeks, a group of boys calling themselves the “A Street” gang have harassed and verbally threatened to kill my son.
Then a couple of nights ago, he was dropping a friend off at home, they proceeded to damage his car with a baseball bat, along with throwing a glass bottle at him, missing and hitting his window.
What’s being done? Where’s the parents? Don’t they have a clue? If it were either one of my boys, Blaine would make sure I was well aware of the matter.
Carrie Merrifield
Blaine

The Editor:
Doug Ericksen is keeping in touch with our individual neighborhoods by showing up at meetings and scheduling gatherings to listen to our concerns and to keep us informed on special issues.
Representative Ericksen has an interest and progressive ideas on health care, run-away government spending and my big concern: sex predators.
Representative Ericksen is working with our farmers (the original environmentalists) by running bills to keep our farms working.
When I want information on our county or state issues, I call 360/920-6497 and representative Ericksen answers. Try it.
I am voting to re-elect our 42nd district representative Doug Ericksen.
Elinor King
Ferndale

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