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Letters
The Northern Light is published weekly by Point Roberts Press Inc.
Locally owned and managed, the company also publishes the All Point Bulletin, covering Point Roberts, Mount Baker Experience, covering the Mt. Baker foothills area, Pacific Coast Weddings annual guide, and the summer recreation guide Waterside as well as maps and other publications. Point Roberts Press Inc. is a member of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association, Chambers of Commerce of Bellingham/ Whatcom County, Birch Bay, Blaine and Point Roberts and the Bellingham/ Whatcom County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
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The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors.
Letters Policy
The Northern Light welcomes letters to the editor. Please include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters are limited to 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. Writers should avoid personal invective. Unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Requests for withholding names will be considered on an individual basis. Consumer complaints should be submitted directly to the business in question or the local chamber of commerce. Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published. Email letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com.
Publisher & Managing Editor Patrick Grubb publisher@pointrobertspress.com
Co-publisher & Advertising Director Louise Mugar lmugar@pointrobertspress.com
Editor Grace McCarthy grace@pointrobertspress.com
Reporter Ian Haupt ian@pointrobertspress.com
Reporting Intern Georgia Costa prpintern@pointrobertspress.com
Creative Services Ruth Lauman, Doug De Visser production@pointrobertspress.com
Office Manager Jeanie Luna info@pointrobertspress.com
Advertising Sales Molly Ernst, Gary Lee sales@pointrobertspress.com
General Editorial Inquiries editor@pointrobertspress.com
The Northern Light 225 Marine Drive, Suite 200, Blaine, WA 98230 Tel: 360/332-1777 Vol XXVII, No 38 Circulation: 10,500 copies
Circulation Independently verified by:
Next issue: March 17 Ads due: March 11 City of Blaine hires new employees
s The city of Blaine recently hired new employees. From l.; Gary McSpadden, public works maintenance and operations manager; Kevin O’Neill, police officer; Sandeep Sandhu, utility billing; and Naomi Soulard, promoted to deputy city clerk. Courtesy photos
Letters
The Editor:
A statement made regarding the library proposition in last week’s issue read, “We need to follow the will of the voters …” I agree with that statement and wish it were that simple. However, the majority of the voters did vote “yes.” The requirement was for a supermajority of 60 percent. We got 59 percent and 53 percent, known as simple majorities. We will continue to work to improve our community and look forward to hearing constructive suggestions in the future.
Ruth Higgins
FOBBL board member
Birch Bay
The Editor:
I would like to add further information regarding the train noise issue in our area.
On occasions while walking my dog in the very early morning, I have endured the echoing of the many trains that traverse the area. Often the horn blasts repeat up to a dozen times.
Noise pollution has been proven to add to physical and mental stress. It is worsening with ever-expanding population and urban growth.
The train noise around Blaine is further amplified by having the railroad adjacent to the water.
We moved here recently from the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro area. For over a decade many suburbs of the Twin Cities have had noise ordinances passed to curtail the noise by trains in populated areas. The old railroad crossings were upgraded to ones that had improved visual warnings and signs stating they were “no horn” crossings. They are in effect 24 hours of the day.
Safety was not compromised.
The train noise ordinance rules were voted in by the cities and the railway crossing improvements were paid for by the railroads.
This is a lifestyle issue. I sincerely hope that the cities of Blaine, Ferndale and Bellingham will consider adopting the train noise ordinance rules that were successfully implemented when we lived in Minnesota.
Gabriel Komjathy
Blaine
The Editor:
Regarding Blaine’s old 1909 City Hall, it is rather sad to read in last week’s issue of The Northern Light that the city plans to tear down the building. There goes another piece of Blaine’s history! Too bad, since that building would have been great as a museum, it’s in the right location, plus it already has Blaine’s “turn of the century” theme. Or maybe that is gone too, judging by the new building design proposals for downtown.
Just think: Not too many years ago that building housed not only city hall, the fire and police departments, but also a tiny library. Now the fire department is on Odell Road (on property that had to be annexed to the city), city hall is tucked away on the third floor of the Banner Bank building, and the police station is crammed into the former post office.
Police chief Donnell Tanksley is right that a more centrally located police station between east Blaine and Semiahmoo would be ideal. Remember when the city had a chance to buy the old Geographic factory building (now “The Golden Nut Company”) on Odell Road for around $1.6 million, with enough room to house all three of the above city services, and with ample parking? Oh well, hindsight is great, and city hall decided to remain downtown.
Signed by an old Blaine resident with a long memory,
Elisabeth Angell
Blaine The Editor:
It was so good to read the news of The Northern Light being awarded the Blaine Chamber of Commerce’s Business of the Year Award, as well as see the photograph of the hardworking staff and also read the publisher’s note, and Bette Bach Fineman’s letter about the value and need for a local newspaper.
For over 20 years, I have looked forward every week to this newspaper, which provides details of all that is going on in the neighborhood. Pat Grubb and Louise Mugar do an outstanding job of professionally publishing our news and Grace McCarthy writes well and accurately, with a very small staff.
With the demise of so many local newspapers we are very, very fortunate to have The Northern Light and I very much appreciate the dedication and hard work needed to produce it every week. It has been particularly valuable during Covid-19 when many of our activities have been limited.
Congratulations and thank you all very much.
Trevor Hoskins
Blaine
The Editor:
Hearty congratulations on your honor as business of the year in Blaine! I would argue, regardless of the size of the press, they are not only the businesses of the year, but of every year. Particularly, the last several years would have been impossible without truth and clarity provided by the press. Well done!
Georgia Donovan
Blaine
Please send letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.
CiviC Meetings
Birch Bay Water & Sewer District: Second and fourth Thursdays, 4 p.m., district offices, 7096 Point Whitehorn Road, Birch Bay. Info and Zoom meeting link: bbwsd.com. Blaine City Council: Second and fourth Mondays, 6 p.m., Blaine City Council chambers, 435 Martin Street. Info and virtual meeting login: ci.blaine.wa.us. Blaine Planning Commission: Second and fourth Thursdays, 6 p.m. Info: blainepc@cityofblaine.com. Info for joining Zoom meetings: bit.ly/2CiMKnk. Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation: Second Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., location varies. Info: bbbparkandrec.org. Virtual meeting info: bbbparkandrec.org/board-meetings. Blaine Park and Cemetery Board: Second Thursday, 9 a.m., virtual meeting. Info: 360/332-8311, ext. 3330. Blaine School Board: Fourth Monday, 7 p.m., Blaine school district offices. Info and virtual meeting link: blainesd.org. North Whatcom Fire & Rescue: Third Thursday, 11 a.m., Station 61 at 9408 Odell Road and via Zoom. Info: nwfrs.net.
Strong contender for the Darwin Award
B y p at G ru BB
The ides of March came two weeks early for one misfortunate water recreationist who had to be rescued by the Canadian Coast Guard after he drifted out into Boundary Bay after dark on February 28. Residents on Elizabeth Drive in Point Roberts called 911 after hearing a man out on the water below calling for help.
The Point Roberts fire department dispatched to Bayview Drive and initiated Unified Command, which alerted U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Delta police and fire departments, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) and Whidbey naval air station. The latter dispatched a rescue helicopter, which was called back after the CCG hovercraft and CBP boat arrived on scene.
According to Point Roberts fire chief Christopher Carleton, fire personnel at first believed the individual was on or near the Maple Beach mile border marker but their thermal imagers were unable to detect any body heat. Three individuals, a woman and two males, had earlier self-dispatched from the Canadian side in personal watercraft to look for the man and returned with mild cases of hypothermia after he was rescued.
After performing a grid search, personnel aboard the hovercraft found the man adrift, floating in an inflatable chair, dressed in three layers of clothing with heavy construction boots on. He was brought aboard the vessel, stripped of his wet clothing in a hypothermic state. He showed no signs of intoxication and provided no details as to why he chose to go to sea in an inflatable chair. The Canadian male was transferred on shore to waiting Point Roberts EMTs where warming efforts continued; he was eventually transferred to a Delta ambulance. “It was very strange,” Carleton said. “We have no idea what possessed him to do what
s Canadian Coast Guard hovercraft and Point Roberts fire department personnel during rescue operations on March 1. Photo by Pat Grubb
he did.”
The following day, the fire department was called out once again for a water rescue after a kite surfer was unable to inflate his kite. The man ended up drifting ashore north of the border.
The average water temperature of Boundary Bay and Georgia Strait in February is around 44 degrees Fahrenheit (6.6° C.).
CITY OF BLAINE
Due to COVID-19 and the Governor’s Proclamation, meetings are now only open to the public telephonically. Information on how to listen to the meeting live will be on the City Council agenda which is located on the City’s website homepage under Your Government, City Council, City Council Agenda. Please check the agenda prior to each meeting as the call-in number or location may change.
Thursday, March 10 9:00am – Park and Cemetery Board Meeting 10:00am – Public Works Advisory Board Meeting 6:00pm – Planning Commission Meeting *CANCELLED*
Monday, March 14 5:15pm – Study Session: Review of the Lettered Streets Sewer Improvement 6:00pm – City Council Meeting
Tuesday, March 22 3:00pm – Civil Service Commission Meeting
Covid-19 in Whatcom County, by school district boundaries:
Thursday, March 24 6:00pm – Planning Commission Meeting
Recent two-week case rates, cumulative counts and vaccinations
Meridian
Vaccination: 68% Case rate: 89 New cases: 10
Nooksack Valley
Vaccination: 56% Case rate: 156 New cases: 16
Bellingham
Vaccination: 83% Case rate: 100 New cases: 104
Mount Baker
Vaccination: 50% Case rate: 49 New cases: 8
Contact information for staff and Councilmembers can be found on the City’s website. Call (360) 332-8311 or visit our website. www.cityofblaine.com
The Immigration Law Firm
• U.S. green cards / naturalization • U.S. green cards / naturalization • Work / investor visas • Inadmissibility waivers • Denied entry waivers • TN (NAFTA) work permits • Removal hearings • NEXUS appeals • U.S. Citizenship claims 360-332-7100 360-332-7100
www.blaineimmigration.com • 435 Martin St., Suite 2010 • Blaine, WA www.blaineimmigration.com • 435 Martin St., Suite 1010 • Blaine, WA Leonard D.M. Saunders, Attorney at Law Leonard D.M. Saunders, Attorney at Law
s The case rate is the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people over the past week. New
cases are the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the last week. Vaccination is the percentage of the population that has had at least one vaccine shot. Rates were updated February 26.
ALLEY AUTO INC
Salish Current to host forum on importance of local news on March 17
365 D Street • 360-332-7018 MON-FRI 8AM TO 5PM
Salish Current, a Bellingham-based online news organization, will host a forum on the importance of local news Thursday, March 17.
The event, “Trust2022: Why Independent Local News is Important to a Strong Democracy,” will be held 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 17 via Zoom. Feature speakers include Washington state attorney general Bob Ferguson, Margaret Sullivan, a Washington Post columnist and author of “Ghosting the news: Local Journalism and the Crisis of American Democracy;” and Pulitzer Prize journalist Hedrick Smith.
Salish Current is an online-only news source that started in 2020 and covers Whatcom, Skagit and San Juan counties. The event is sponsored in partnership with Village Books.
To register for the event, visit salish-current.org/trust2022.
Correction
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We’re small, but we have it all! In stock, same day or next day service! Your one-stop shop for all your automotive needs!
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“So glad you’re still publishing!” - Nancy Hobberlin “Congratulations on your recent award. Well deserved!” - Trevor Hoskins
Thank you for supporting local journalism.
You can also contribute online at thenorthernlight.com
In an article in the March 3 issue of The Northern Light titled “Blaine Library welcomes new branch manager Jonathan Jakobitz,” the university where Jakobitz earned his master’s degree was incorrect. He earned his degree from Kent State University. We regret the error. This week’s supporters: Melodie Finnson Rick Collier Marian and Jerry Betzer Michael Haslip Gabe Komjathy Trevor Hoskins Nancy Hobberlin Steve Agnew
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Boys Baseball
DATE OPPONENT TIME SITE 3/22 Bellingham Pipeline Fields 4:30 pm 3/24 Oak Harbor Oak Harbor HS 4:00 pm 3/26 Cedar Park Christian Pipeline Fields 12:30 pm 3/29 Lakewood Pipeline Fields 4:30 pm 3/31 Squalicum Squalicum HS 6:45 pm 4/2 Overlake Pipeline Fields 12:00 pm 4/2 Overlake Pipeline Fields 2:30 pm 4/4 Lynden Christian Pipeline Fields 4:30 pm 4/5 Nooksack Valley Nooksack Valley HS 4:30 pm 4/12 Sedro-Woolley Janicki Playfields 4:00 pm 4/13 Meridian Pipeline Fields 4:30 pm 4/15 Lynden Pipeline Fields 4:30 pm 4/19 Mount Baker Mount Baker HS 5:00 pm 4/20 Burlington-Edison Pipeline Fields 4:30 pm 4/22 Mount Vernon Sherman Anderson Field 4:00 pm 4/26 Anacortes Pipeline Fields 4:30 pm 4/28 Sehome Sehome HS 6:30 pm 5/2 Ferndale Pipeline Fields 4:30 pm
Girls Softball
DATE OPPONENT TIME SITE
3/19 Ferndale
Pipeline Fields 1:00 pm 3/22 Lynden Lynden HS 4:00 pm 3/25 Lynden Christian Pipeline Fields 4:00 pm 3/28 Nooksack Valley NV MS 4:30 pm 3/30 Sedro-Woolley Pipeline Fields 4:00 pm 4/2 TBA Alumni Game Pipeline Fields 2:00 pm 4/8 Warden Quincy HS 1:00 pm 4/8 Quincy Quincy HS 3:00 pm 4/14 Oak Harbor Pipeline Fields 4:00 pm 4/15 Lakewood Lakewood HS 4:30 pm 4/20 Squalicum (DH) Pipeline Fields 4:00 pm 4/22 Meridian Meridian HS 4:00 pm 4/25 Mount Baker Pipeline Fields 4:00 pm 4/27 Burlington-Edison BE HS 4:00 pm 4/29 Mount Vernon Pipeline Fields 4:00 pm 5/3 Anacortes MDD Field 6:00 pm 5/5 Sehome Pipeline Fields 4:00 pm 5/9 Ferndale Ferndale HS 4:00 pm
Girls Tennis
DATE OPPONENT TIME
SITE 3/15 Lakewood Home 4:00 pm 3/17 Oak Harbor Oak Harbor HS 4:00 pm 3/22 Lynden Home 4:00 pm 3/24 Sehome Home 4:00 pm 3/29 Anacortes Home 4:00 pm 3/31 Burlington-Edison Burlington-Edison HS 3:45 pm 4/12 Mount Vernon MountVernon HS 3:30 pm 4/14 Squalicum Home 4:00 pm 4/19 Bellingham Home 4:00 pm 4/21 Ferndale Ferndale HS 4:00 pm 4/26 Sedro-Woolley Home 4:00 pm 4/28 Lakewood Lakewood HS 4:00 pm 5/3 Oak Harbor Home 4:00 pm 5/5 Lynden Lynden MS 4:00 pm 5/10 Sehome Sehome HS 4:30 pm Girls Golf
DATE OPPONENT SITE TIME 3/15 Ana, Bell, Lyn, MB, Seh, Squal Swinomish GL 3:00 pm 3/24 B-E, LC, LW, MB, NV, Fern, Squal Semiahmoo GCC 3:00 pm 3/29 MV, Bell, LC, LW, MB, Mer, Ana Avalon GL 2:00 pm 4/11 S-W, Fern, Lyn, LW, NV, OH, Squal Avalon GL 3:00 pm 4/14 Whatcom Cnty Championships 9-Holes Sudden Valley GCC 3:00 pm 4/19 Squal, Ana, Fern, Lyn, MB, NV, Seh Sudden Valley GCC 3:00 pm 4/25 B-E, Bell, Lyn, Mer, MB, Seh, Squal Skagit GCC 3:00 pm 5/3 Lyn, B-E, Bell, MB, OH, Seh, S-W Homestead GC 3:00 pm 5/12 1A District Championship N. Bellingham GC TBD 5/17 1A Bi-District Golf Tournament N. Bellingham GC TBD
Boys Golf
DATE OPPONENT SITE
TIME 3/14 Mer, MB, LC, NV N. Bellingham GC 3:30 pm 3/17 B-E, Seh, LC, Lyn, MB, Bell, Squal Skagit GCC 2:00 pm 3/22 Bell, B-E, Fern, LW, MV, NV, Seh Sudden Valley GCC 3:00 pm 3/29 Lyn, Seh, LC, MB, Fern Semiahmoo GCC 2:00 pm 3/29 S-W, LW, Mer, MV, NV, Squal Whidbey GC 2:30 pm 3/31 Berger Solberg Invitational TBA 12:00 pm 4/19 B-E, LC, LW, MB, MV, NV, OH Semiahmoo GCC 3:00 pm 4/26 LC, Ana, Bell, LW, MV, OH, Lyn Homestead GC 3:00 pm 5/3 Fern, B-E, LC, Lyn, LW, Squal, S-W Loomis Trail GC 3:00 pm 5/12 1A District Championship N. Bellingham GC TBD 5/17 1A Bi-District Golf Tournament N. Bellingham GC TBD
Track & Field
DATE OPPONENT SITE TIME 3/17 Lynden Christian, Mount Baker, Nooksack Lynden Christian 4:00 pm 3/25 Bedlington Invitational Lynden HS 3:30 pm 3/30 Lynden, Ferndale Home 3:30 pm 4/1 Trojan Twilight Meridian HS 4:00 pm 4/21 Mount Vernon, Lynden Christian Mount Vernon HS 3:30 pm 4/28 Mount Baker, Sehome Home 3:30 pm 5/4 Meridian Meet Meridian HS 3:45 pm 5/11 1A District Meet - Day 1 Lynden Christian 4:00 pm 5/13 1A District Meet - Day 2 Lynden Christian 4:00 pm
Boys Soccer
DATE OPPONENT SITE
TIME 3/15 Lynden Bender Fields 4:00 pm 3/17 Lynden Christian Home 7:00 pm 3/21 Nooksack Valley NV Elementary 4:30 pm 3/23 Sedro-Woolley Home 7:00 pm 3/25 Bellingham Bellingham HS 7:00 pm 3/29 Oak Harbor Home 7:00 pm 3/31 Lakewood Lakewood HS 7:00 pm 4/12 Squalicum Home 7:00 pm 4/14 Meridian Meridian HS 4:30 pm 4/18 Mount Baker Home 7:00 pm 4/20 Burlington-Edison B-E HS 6:30 pm 4/22 Mount Vernon Home 7:00 pm 4/26 Anacortes Anacortes HS 7:00 pm 4/29 Sehome Home 7:00 pm 5/3 Ferndale Phillips 66 Park 4:00 pm
BOLD = Home Games Schedules subject to change. Check www.goborderites.com.
