The Editor:
The Blaine Food Bank and our volunteers would like to give a big “Thank You” to both Blaine and Custer Post Office employees during the USPS’ annual “Stamp Out Hunger” campaign on Saturday, May 13. Equally important, we would like to thank the generous people in the Blaine, Birch Bay and Custer areas who took the time to select, bag and donate food for this cause.
And a special thank you to Dar Kruse for bringing all the notice slips from Bellingham for the postal workers. Between both post offices we received close to 4,000 lbs. of food.
No one individual knows when they will be hungry, when they will have a financial struggle or when they might have an emergency. Hunger is equal opportunity. Being generous to the food bank is also an equal opportunity. So please accept our gratitude.
Jerry Bladies
Blaine Food Bank
The Editor:
Alaska Packers Museum at Semiahmoo Park was open 65 days in 2016 and hosted 1396 visitors. Reviewing the guest book signatures, I thought you would like to see where they came from. Alaska, New Zealand, Indiana, Idaho, Ontario, Montana, Arizona, Texas, Illinois, California, Maine, Wyoming, Florida, Quebec, Missouri, Iowa, Sweden, Georgia, Louisiana, Utah, Colorado, Hawaii, New Mexico, Norway, Oregon, Kansas, Alberta, S. Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Saskatchewan, Oklahoma, Mexico, Washington D.C., Wisconsin, Nevada, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Austria, Brazil, Vietnam, Manitoba, Russia, Philippine islands and every corner of Washington state.
Birch Bay State Park, RV parks, time shares and hotels provide visitors and of course Semiahmoo Resort, which is part of the APA story. Some are visiting relatives while others arrive on a picnic. A round trip on the Plover and walk to the museum provides a full day of entertainment.
Many of the old Bristol Bay gillnetters were built at the Semiahmoo shipyard (near the water tower). 28' NN 79 is one of those and can be seen in the museum. Visitors ask, “How did you get it in here?” Come see us and find out.
In partnership with Drayton Harbor Maritime, donations to the museum support the restoration of NN 59, another Bristol Bay gillnetter. The word is out, neighbors and visitors are looking forward to a Drayton Harbor sailing experience when the job is complete. Donations to the restoration project may be made to: NN 59 Restoration, P.O. Box 369, Lynden, WA 98264, a nonprofit 501 C3 organization.
The museum shows pride in our history and the stories we share. Thanks to Whatcom County Parks for this wonderful space, the city of Blaine and The Northern Light for advertising and moral support. Particular thanks to the volunteers who keep it going.
Open May 26 and every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. through September.
Sunny Brown
Volunteer coordinator, APA Museum
The Editor:
I wanted to thank everyone who participated in the benefit for Casey Rector that was held at the Pastime Bar and Eatery on Saturday, May 20. Every bit helped and the family is very appreciated of everyone who came down and had a good time. Please keep them in your prayers.
Teresa Bannon
Blaine
The Editor:
It was disappointing to hear our governor gave Blaine the thumbs down on the I-5 project. He shows how uncaring he is about this end of Whatcom County.
This was the first Governor’s race I was able to vote in as an independent registered voter since I moved to Blaine and I believed I was making the correct choice in Governor Jay Inslee, but
boy, was I wrong.
First, state senator Doug Ericksen (R.-Ferndale) who has not been doing his job while running around for Trump, short-changed us last year by taking the money slated for this project and giving it to Ferndale and Lynden; now Inslee does this to us. I, for one, will never vote for him as Governor or whatever his higher office aspersions are. Obviously, neither one is to be trusted. Inslee said there wasn’t enough information on this project but there was the year before when Ericksen allocated the money to Ferndale.
Governor Jay Inslee and senator Doug Ericksen have clearly said and shown by their actions that they do not care about the residents in Blaine. The only way to show them our displeasure is via the voting mailbox. Governor and senator Ericksen, we have long memories.
Ted Metz
Blaine
The Editor:
A few years ago my partner and I fulfilled our dream of purchasing a condo in Birch Bay, our favorite place in the world. For the past 15 years, our lives have been limited as we cared for my elderly mother. I love my mother dearly but being a primary caregiver and holding a job can take its toll mentally, physically
and emotionally.
Often when my mother is sleeping Saturday mornings we travel from our home in New Westminster, B.C. to Birch Bay to feel the peace, calm and respite of the bay. We have always known how blessed we are to have a home on the bay, but a few weekends ago we came to appreciate the true extent of our blessing.
We had just finished our walk along the bay and had stopped in at the Shores to enjoy one of their great burgers before returning home. As we pulled onto Birch Bay Drive, a car crossed over the line and hit us head-on.
I was in shock and somehow staggered out of the car and fell onto the road. Almost immediately a remarkably kind young man (Josh) stepped up to help me. Then out of nowhere there was a nurse at my side checking my vitals and another incredibly thoughtful young woman offering to pray with me. Moments later the paramedics and sheriff’s deputy arrived. They were not only competent but understanding and empathetic as we struggled to deal with our injuries and the stress of the situation.
One of our neighbors (Debbie) from our complex just happened to be walking by and stayed with us throughout, offering her support and assistance. Finally, as we were leaving we received a call from our realtor and friend (Randy) who had already heard the news and called to express his concern and offer his help.
We were both very frightened and in a great deal of pain but felt so comforted, so safe and so at home with our good neighbors in Birch Bay. We would like to say a heartfelt thank you!
Cid and Lori Paiva
New Westminster, B.C.
The Editor:
I feel I live in a civilized society; that is what I tell myself. What I do not understand is why some of my neighbors, acquaintances and even some friends, many of whom call themselves Christians, are so cold and unforgiving to the have-nots. Some say, “I made it on my own, they can do it too.” Really?
Were you born white? In our very racist society that is definitely points in your favor. Were your parents loving and supportive? Another point for you. Many do not have parents like this.
Were you told you were loved, or told you were worthless, or you will never amount
to anything?
Kindness is supposed to start at home, but, point for you if you had a kind parent.
Were you given a chance to go to college, after first getting a good education in the school system? Another point.
If not college, were you encouraged to learn a trade that will provide for you and your family? Point for you.
Were you born with a healthy body and a good mind? Many points for you!
Did any member of your family, or another, molest you in your childhood/adolescence? Subtract points for this.
Were you bullied, with no intervention, at school/home/groups? Subtract points for this.
What I am saying is that life is a very uneven playing field. If you believe all children should be loved and wanted, then we should not pull support, kindness and yes, money, from those less fortunate. That is cruel.
To assume everyone has the same abilities, the same chances, the same loving family is unrealistic and very unfair. If we truly live in a civilized society, then we should care for those whose luck and chances in life have been so very different from our own. Remember please, it could just as easily have been you.
There is a Kathy Mattea song that expresses this well. She sings, “We are all just seeds in God’s hands, and where we land is fertile soil or sand.”
It is luck, and some of us are very, very lucky!
Alta Toler
Lynden
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