Letters to the Editor: March 14-20

Posted

The Editor:

It has now been a little over a month since Allen Schubert abruptly and immediately resigned from his short lived position as Blaine Police Chief – to go back to a job he never actually left. Hm. Initially there were voices raised and letters written asking why someone who would act as such be given a $28,000 “severance pay” by city council. Severance pay? Sounds more like a gift from the city. So far the “no comment” response has been sustained by the council and city manager in response to those questioning, and the issue seemingly has evaporated into time. Wake up again, cash-strapped Blaine.

The law in Washington state says that a city is not allowed to gift. How am I aware of this law? Back in 2008 when I was ready to build my house, I went to city hall on a Friday afternoon to pay $16,500 for the necessary permits. On the very next Monday, the city council in trying to help Ken Imus revitalize our city, abolished fees for the same permits. Now I’d done absolutely nothing in regards to building in the weekend between my payment, and the council abolishing the fee part of the process. I immediately appealed to city council to waive and refund the fees. They declined my appeal based on the city attorney citing the law that a city is not allowed to gift. Such action by council was said to be considered gifting. Back then and to this day, I still feel the city owes me the $16,500 back, as it was a reasonable refund and not a gift, unlike the apparent situation with Mr. Schubert.

Do we taxpayers and citizens finally get answers, or should this letter be forwarded to the state Attorney General for further investigation of the city breaking state law?

Ray Leone

Blaine

The Editor:

The Semiahmoo Yacht Club (SYC) celebrates its 38th year with Commodore Laura Moore-Dempsey conducting the 2019 Executive Board of Director’s meeting at The Semiahmoo Marina.

The SYC serves as a center for boaters, providing them with new friends, activities and much more.

Semiahmoo Yacht Club has reciprocal agreements with other marinas and yacht clubs throughout the Northwest U.S. and Canada. These agreements can provide free or reduced rate moorage and access to the accommodations provided by them.

The SYC has a robust cruising schedule during boating season and a social program with numerous land activities throughout the year. Nauti-Fridays land events are hosted during the non-boating months at various venues in the area on both sides of the 49th parallel. Semiahmoo Yacht Club has taken its place in the community seriously as well.

Some of the local projects supported include the historic “Plover,” the restoration of a 110-year old sailing vessel, local food banks, Toys for Tots and The Blaine Boys and Girls Club. SYC has also helped support the Canadian Marine Parks Forever Society to enhance marine parks, and The SeaDoc Society whose work focuses on the health of marine wildlife and their ecosystems through science and education.

New commodore, Laura, expressed her appreciation to the previous board members and enthusiastically welcomes this year’s board to another fun-packed year.

Colleen Hardman

Blaine

The Editor:

I just read an article that claimed we can “stop” climate change. That is disturbing. Frightening, even. Maybe even more frightening than climate change deniers. Why? Because it is evidence that even people who know climate change is real, and caused by human activity, do not fully appreciate the problem facing humanity.

We are not going to “stop” global warming! The most we can hope for – the “best case” scenario – is to reduce carbon emissions to the point where we are no longer accelerating climate change. Our carbon emissions have been accumulating in the atmosphere for centuries. If mankind were to suddenly disappear from the face of the Earth, and there was never again a smokestack, automobile or even a campfire on the entire surface of the planet, the climate will keep on getting warmer for centuries to come before it finally starts to moderate. That is the pace of geologic time.

That is not to say we shouldn’t reduce our carbon emissions! There is still hope for the future if we can keep the greenhouse gases below the “tipping point” that leads to the runaway greenhouse effect. If we can do that, then there is still a chance that mankind will survive!

However, no matter what we do, it is already too late to “stop” global warming! Our children, and our children’s children’s children, are going to have to deal with a world where the coastlines are shrinking, crops are failing, pestilence and famine are widespread, and storms rage over the surface of the planet.

At this point in time, that is the best we can hope for. But if we act now, and quickly, there is still a chance that the planet will remain habitable in the long run. If we don’t act quickly enough ... well, the atmosphere of Venus is an example of the runaway greenhouse effect. It is 800° F on the surface of Venus.

Jeff Sterling

Birch Bay

The Editor:

In response to James Zell’s letter of March 7, Blaine does have a museum. It is located in Semiahmoo Park on the spit. The Alaska Packers Association (APA) Museum tells the story of fishing, fish traps, boat building, salmon canning and the labor of our community from 1878 to 1973. Semiahmoo Resort is built on the bones of the Alaska Packer Cannery. The Plover is a former APA work boat. It ferried workers to the cannery from Blaine.

Formerly a cannery bunkhouse, the museum honors the era of sailing ships and two-man gill netters, powered by wind and muscle. It also tells of our past and present fishing connections to Bristol Bay in Alaska. Salmon canneries were major employers in our Northwest seaside communities for 100 years. When the APA cannery closed, former cannery workers recorded the history on film and left a collection of artifacts. Soon we will have a refurbished “Iron Chink” on display.

The museum is dependent on volunteers to keep the doors open. Whatcom County Parks owns the building and exhibits but has no budget for museum employees. The 2019 season opens Friday, May 24 on Memorial Day weekend and will run three afternoons a week through September. But if we don’t get some new volunteers the future is uncertain. We are the only salmon cannery museum in the state. Last season we greeted 1,600+ visitors which demonstrates the need. If you enjoy visiting with people from all over the world, have an interest in our history and some spare time, you are qualified for a volunteer position.

Pre-season opening with Wings Over Water is Saturday, March 16, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, March 17, 1 to 5 p.m. Please visit and see what we offer.

Sunny Brown

APA Museum, Volunteer Coordinator

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