A Letter to our Readers and Customers

Posted

This June will mark the 25th anniversary of publishing The Northern Light newspaper. A lot of water has gone under the bridge since that first issue shown above. We have been proud to bring news and useful information to the communities of Blaine, Birch Bay and Semiahmoo. We have attended countless meetings and events and covered city council, sports, fires, notable persons, schools and anything else that we thought would interest or be of concern to our readers.

We know that everyone is worried and concerned about the coronavirus pandemic and its effect on our health and economic security. Our staff intends to work tirelessly to bring you information that will help keep you as safe as possible. In light of this, we are reluctant to ask for your help but ask we must.

From the beginning, we have felt it important to our readers and our advertisers that we mail to every home in the 98230 zip code area. Using the U.S. Postal Service to distribute the newspaper is an expensive endeavor. Last year it cost over $150,000 to print and mail The Northern Light. Salaries, medical, retirement and other benefits cost far, far more than that. Up to now, it has been the advertisers who have paid these costs.

Given the coronavirus disaster, this business model is no longer tenable. Businesses are closing down and advertising is melting away. Our survival is in question.

Over the years, we have received much praise and appreciation from many readers for our coverage. While the timing may be horrible, we are forced to ask our readers to consider supporting The Northern Light for a suggested contribution of $24 a year. Other weeklies in the county charge around $35 for a subscription while the Bellingham Herald costs $192 a year. If you feel The Northern Light is valuable to you then please consider supporting us. If that’s too much, anything helps. We’d be happy to accept more, too.

It is a privilege to serve our community and we intend to do our best to keep on keeping on. In the meantime, please follow the advice of our medical authorities, practice social distancing, self-isolate and stay well.

To give your support, please visit https://www.thenorthernlight.com/supportus/. One final word …

Thanks!

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here


OUR PUBLICATIONS