Editor,
Our son who has Type 1 diabetes was visiting from Portland for Thanksgiving weekend. On Thanksgiving day his insulin pump suddenly stopped working. He needs a steady supply of insulin to keep his blood sugar level and prevent ketoacidosis. He forgot to bring any “back-up” insulin.
We soon found that there were NO pharmacies in Bellingham open that day. Zero … none. I even called PeaceHealth St. Joseph, who said they could not provide pharmaceuticals without him being admitted to the ER (a pricey prospect for an out-of-network visitor). We spent the next four hours driving to a pharmacy in Canada and back while the turkey cooked at home.
There’s something wrong here. Surely with all the pharmacies we have in Bellingham, one could commit to staying open on holidays to avoid emergencies such as this. I recently found out St. Joseph had been informed in advance so that no one released there would go home without their medication in hand. I can only hope there were no medical emergencies even more serious than ours this past Thanksgiving in Whatcom County.
Steven Newmark
Bellingham
Editor,
Since the March 2020 border lockdown, Point Roberts has never recovered economically and, in fact, may never. Averaged out, individuals crossing our border have been reduced by a minimum of 25% fewer visits each and every month to date. Add to that a 30%-plus dollar exchange penalty and now a proposed border tax on goods and materials at 25%.
Those numbers add up to significant and crippling economic penalties. With 60% of our local employment generator being real estate and its related aspects like property sales, building construction, maintenance, renovation, lawn and garden, etc., it’s further economic doom in the making. This land ownership and use yields the most employment and best-paying jobs.
We therefore request the U.S. government to exempt Point Roberts from any and all increases in taxation of goods and services crossing our border. Further, we request the Canadian government to exempt us from any and all retaliatory measures otherwise applied to the U.S. if that 25% taxation measure should ever come to pass.
This should be done by both countries because of our absolute uniqueness in North America, and on a humanitarian basis. Failing that, consideration be given for us to be granted foreign aid like both federal governments treat other countries facing devastating hardships.
Brian Calder
Point Roberts
Editor,
As usual, Fred Likkel (Guest commentary, CDN, Jan. 1, 2025) makes excellent points about the challenges Whatcom farmers face. The issues he presents — high land prices, high labor costs, loss of infrastructure and access to legal water — are all important.
Fred says that “top of the list [of challenges] is water security.” But he omits any mention of what is likely the greatest challenge to farms (as well as the rest of us): the adverse effects of climate change on our water supply/demand imbalance. Climate change has already and will continue to reduce summer streamflows and increase water temperatures, both bad (even lethal) for salmon and other wildlife. At the same time, the hotter, drier summers that climate change causes increases the need for irrigation water, putting water supply and demand on a collision course.
Fred calls on our local leaders to act but offers no specifics on the water supply, storage and efficiency options that farmers favor.
Although several studies of storage and supply options have been conducted over the past two decades, we have never examined the pros and cons of improving water-use efficiency. And none of the options studied has yet been implemented.
It is long past time for our local Watershed Management Board to move beyond studies and implement projects that would reduce demand and increase supplies, especially in the summer. Such projects would benefit the environment, farms, businesses, factories and people.
Eric Hirst
Bellingham
Editor,
We have a responsibility to ensure that every student in Whatcom County receives the education they deserve.
Despite our ongoing efforts to provide a high-quality education for all students, school districts across the state, including ours, are encountering significant budget challenges.
Our state’s funding has not kept up with the increasing costs of education. Special Education, transportation and facilities maintenance expenses also continue to grow, further straining our budget. School districts have seen unexpected costs for mental health services, school safety and efforts to address learning loss.
As student needs and operational costs continue to rise, the percentage of the state’s general fund budget dedicated to K-12 education has significantly decreased over the past five years. This reduction has forced many districts to make difficult decisions, affecting staffing levels, essential programs and student support services.
To help us meet these challenges, we have each asked our local legislators to act in these ways:
- Adjust the state funding formula to better reflect the true costs of education, including adequate support for Special Education, transportation, and materials and supplies.
- Provide targeted funding to help continued pandemic recovery, including resources for mental health support, academic interventions and technology upgrades.
- Increase state funding to keep pace with inflation.
We appreciate your ongoing support and understanding as we navigate these financial challenges. To learn more, visit www.waschoolfunding.org.
Greg Baker, Bellingham Public Schools; Christopher Granger, Blaine School District; Kristi Dominguez, Ferndale Public Schools; David VanderYacht, Lynden School District; James Everett, Meridian School District; Nick Perigo, Mount Baker School District; Matt Galley, Nooksack Valley School District
Editor,
What, with Ron Judd’s incisive humor and commentary (can “The Hammer” please be brought back to its rightful place in the weekly print edition?), and the penetrative reporting on local issues by its amazing staff, it’s been a rewarding three years for us subscribers.
On top of that, we readers have been treated to the descriptions and photos found in Elliott Almond’s outdoor recreation feature — his rich prose adding a sense of quietude, balancing the cacophony often characteristic of the news and events a local paper is beholden to report on. In the Jan. 3 issue, Elliott’s piece on the Hoh rainforest in soggy December ranks right up there with Edward Abbey’s desert writings. And like Abbey, Elliott packs his descriptions with pertinent information. And career newspaperman that he is, doesn’t back away when controversy arises.
Looking forward to three more years — and beyond.
Paul Kenna
Bellingham
Editor,
Once again CDN has provided coverage of a local matter of great importance. Highlighting the history, success, and role of Dr. Marvin Wayne (CDN, Jan. 4, 2025) in assuring the current success of our county EMS was just pure bliss at a time when the present seems so bleak.
We have a personal stake in the life-saving existence of our county’s Emergency Medical Services, given that it has already saved one life in our family. We understand the absolute importance of highly trained personnel who are provided state-of-the-art equipment. Our own Fire District 16 is one such entity (and deserves your support: donations sent C/O Fire Chief Maleng, PO Box 37, Acme WA 98220).
Yes, saving a life is expensive. Sorry about that, however, that means we pony up and pay our property taxes. And we vote in support of the bonds providing the funds to train the personnel and buy that life-saving equipment.
I have never understood why such bonds don’t receive 100% support but perhaps it takes one heroic, coordinated, multi-district response to drive the point home. That was our experience and it might be yours the next time around. Give them the tools they need to work their magic.
Leaf Schumann
Deming
Editor,
I wish to juxtapose two stories from the Jan. 3 paper. The first (page A3) reports on the devastating fire at Ragfinery ignited by a “camper” in the alleyway who set a fire presumably to keep warm. The second story (page A9) explains why Bellingham can’t afford to open its shelters until the temperature drops to 32 degrees.
Perhaps, were the city to make its severe weather shelters more available, that fire and its significant damage to Ragfinery could have been avoided. “Penny wise; pound foolish?”
Tom Goetzl
Bellingham
Editor,
I am a one-person household with a really terrific garbage disposal and a yard that resembles the forest primeval. Am I going to have to pay for a [“FoodPlus”] container (CDN, Dec. 25, 2024) into which I will be putting so little material that I will only need it to go to the curb on an annual basis, if then?
I ask this because I did have the food service when there were two of us here, but now that there is just me, I noticed that the container was always empty, so I canceled the service.
While there is thinking going on about exceptions, perhaps some thought should be given to someone who doesn’t NEED to have the service in any way. Just sayin’.
Thank you for the attention.
Roby Blecker
Whatcom Falls
Letters to the Editor are published online Wednesdays; a selection is published in print Fridays. Send to letters@cascadiadaily.com by 10 a.m. Tuesdays. Rules: Maximum 250 words, be civil, have a point and make it clearly. Preference is given to letters about local subjects. CDN reserves the right to reject letters or edit for length, clarity, grammar and style, or removal of personal attacks or offensive content. Letters must include an address/phone number to verify the writer's identity (not for publication).
Guest writers: Bipartisan bill to boost local journalism also boosts democracy