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The Northern Light • March 24 - March 30, 2022
Opinion
The Northern L ght 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. 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.
Zumbathon raises $5,700 for Ukraine
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 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 Contributors In This Issue Melissa Santos / Crosscut.com
The Northern Light 225 Marine Drive, Suite 200, Blaine, WA 98230 Tel: 360/332-1777 Vol XXVII, No 40 Circulation: 10,500 copies
Circulation Independently verified by:
Next issue: March 31 Ads due: March 25
s Zumba instructor Celine Mauger hosted a Zumbathon to raise funds for Save the Children’s Ukraine emergency relief fund at Birch Bay Activity Center on March 19. Over 40 people attended the event and raised $5,700 between the Zumbathon, a silent auction and cash donations. Photos courtesy Celine Mauger
By Grace McCarthy The Birch Bay community raised $5,744 for Ukraine during a Zumbathon event at the Birch Bay Activity Center. Zumba instructors traveled from Oak Harbor to host the 90-minute Zumbathon March 19 at the Birch Bay Activity Center. All proceeds went to Save the Children’s Ukraine emergency relief fund and were matched by Nature’s Path. The event also had a silent auction with
items and gift certificates from local businesses such as Beach Cat Brewing and Drayton Harbor Oyster Company. Event organizer Celine Mauger said 40 people were in attendance and many more made donations. Determined to help, Mauger organized the event in a week. “I was looking at the news and seeing all of the children and their moms fleeing the war and I was crying. You want to help,” said Mauger, who has children of her own. “One thing I know how to do is do Zumba
Letters The Editor: I love the sound of a train’s whistle, especially when the engineer gets the signal correct – two medium, one short and one long. There is just nothing like that sound in the night. Before you ask, I live four blocks from the train track and spent over three years as a live aboard in the Blaine
and put on a Zumbathon.” Mauger said she was inspired by the community for its support. Zumba instructors donated their time, the BlaineBirch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 donated its space and the community donated more than double what Mauger was hoping. “It’s been an amazing response from the community and it’s been a team effort,” she said. “Everyone wants to do something to help.”
Correction
Marina, Gate 1 – G Dock. You can’t get much closer than that to the tracks. Sandie Miller Blaine Please send letters to letters@thenorthernlight.com no later than noon on Monday.
In an article in the March 17 issue of The Northern Light titled “Spanish, English and American explorers influence Birch Bay names,” an editing error wrongfully saidCaptain George Vancouver’s ship “Discovery” was Joseph Whidbey’s ship. We regret the error.
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-Birch Bay Park and Recreation: Second Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., location varies. Info: bbbparkandrec.org. Virtual meeting info: bbbparkandrec.org/board-meetings.
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 Park and Cemetery Board: Second Thursday, 9 a.m., virtual meeting. Info: 360/332-8311, ext. 3330.
Blaine Planning Commission: Second and fourth Thursdays, 6 p.m. Info: blainepc@cityofblaine.com. Info for joining Zoom meetings: bit.ly/2CiMKnk.
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.
