The Editor:
In regards to your article about Fredy Martin Esteban; he was 20 years old when he was accused of raping a 5-year-old girl he was babysitting while her mom was at work. After describing what happened to her, her mom took her to be examined at the hospital. The police also arrived there, and afterwards immediately arrested Esteban on November 11, 2022. His bail was set at $200,000, but Esteban’s attorney wanted his bail reduced, so the court offered a cash alternative of $20,000. On January 21, 2023, his cash bail was paid and he walked out a free man.
His tentative trial date was set for March 20, 2023. He never showed up – disappeared into thin air. On August 5, after almost two years since his arrest, they found him in California. How many other children has he raped during the time he has been free? Harmful cases go before the judge who considers if the person is a “flight risk.” What judge decided Esteban wasn’t a flight risk? A 20 year old with strong evidence that he raped a 5-year-old little girl? What judge in his right mind would ever allow this guy to go free by even allowing any bail to be set at all?
Often the courts will not set bail for murder charges, even though the person hasn’t been found guilty or innocent yet. The same should be for child-rape cases.
My feeling is the judge is complicit in the crime. By letting Esteban out on bail, the judge has aided and abetted him by letting him go free. How many more children has he had time to rape?
Cindy Kisska
Birch Bay
The Editor:
In response to Gary Meader’s letter last week; thank you Gary for saying so well, what I wanted to say! This is the first time that my husband and I have ever watched an entire DNC or RNC. It left us with a hope we had not felt for our political system in a long time. I was an independent. I had already decided to never vote Republican again in 2016. I couldn’t believe Trump was elected as the candidate then, let alone now. The Republican party is not what it used to be.
Quoting Kamala Harris, from her interview on CNN 8/29/24.
“I’m talking about an era that started about a decade ago, where there is some suggestion, warped I believe it to be, that the measure of a leader is based on who you beat down, instead of where I believe most Americans are, which is to believe that the true measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you lift up. That’s what’s at stake as much as any other detail that we could discuss in this election.”
So yes Gary, I join you in voting for a positive future for America on November 5. I am thankful we have mail-in, secure voting in Washington. I have never felt there was a more important election than this one.
Laura Parce
Birch Bay
The Editor:
It’s truly baffling that someone would go out of their way to enter a Birch Bay business solely to complain about the presence of an information booth run by the Birch Bay Incorporation Association (BBIA) outside. This scenario, though it sounds absurd, unfortunately highlights where some individuals seem more interested in stifling dialogue than engaging in it.
A recent BBIA survey that was completed online by 639 Birch Bay residents (May 7– July 7, 2024) on the incorporation of Birch Bay, showed 43 percent wanted more information before they could decide. Having an information booth to provide resources so residents can form their own educated opinions just makes sense.
The BBIA’s mission is to explore the idea of Birch Bay becoming a city. This is not a clandestine operation or some covert attempt to force a particular agenda. It’s a public service, aimed at ensuring that residents are well-informed about an issue that could significantly impact our community. If someone disagrees with the concept of incorporation, that’s their prerogative, and they’re welcome to share their perspective. The booth is simply a conduit for information – nothing more. But to complain about the existence of an information booth? That’s not just ridiculous; it’s counterproductive.
Why, then, would someone feel compelled to disrupt an establishment to voice their disapproval of such an initiative? Perhaps it’s a misunderstanding of the booth’s purpose. Maybe it’s a knee-jerk reaction to the idea of change. Or worse, it might be an attempt to suppress the flow of information and prevent others from making their own informed decisions.
The beauty of living in a community like Birch Bay is that we have the freedom to discuss, debate, and deliberate on issues that affect us all. Shutting down or complaining about an information booth runs counter to the very principles of democracy and community engagement.
Let’s focus on encouraging open dialogue, not silencing it. After all, an informed community is a stronger, more resilient one. Complaints that seek to shut down information-sharing only undermine the process of making thoughtful, collective decisions for Birch Bay’s future.
Sharman Burnam
Birch Bay
The Editor:
I am writing this in an attempt to correct the record as to what actually happened to the historic Plover’s starboard stern on Sunday, August 25, as reported in the August 29 issue of The Northern Light newspaper. The article reported that a metal plate covering the Plover’s stern’s corner had “fell off” because of rot during required training.
The metal plate and subsequent structural damage to the vessel’s stern simply did not fall off but rather it was broken off due to operator error when the stern of the Plover experienced a collision with a solid object.
The city of Blaine’s new Plover captain was operating the ferry at the time and told an employee of the Port of Bellingham Blaine Harbor that Sunday there was an accident that caused the damage to the Plover’s stern. The captain showed the damaged stern to the prt employee. Indeed there was dry rot behind the metal plate but that wasn’t the reason for the damage or why the metal plate had fallen off.
Richard C. Sturgill
Former manager of the Plover
Blaine
The Editor:
$130,000 for repairs? But wait, isn’t the contract for more than just repairs? Also, please review the length of time the money was spent. This is a historic commercial vessel that must meet Coast Guard standards. Despite what some people might say, you don’t just buy a boat like the Plover. The Plover is a tourist attraction that draws people to our downtown and waterfront, helping our local economy grow.
The typical annual salary of the shipwright is $65,000; I am pretty sure the Plover was not a one-person job. If you are lucky, a U.S. Coast Guard-certified boat captain might be as little as $30,000 (per season). You still need a seasonal deckhand to help, which will run you at least $10,000 (per season). It would be a completely different story if these are considered union jobs.
While I don’t have the exact Plover story, this is an example of what happens to old wooden boats when they’re taken out of the water for repairs.
When an old wooden boat is removed from salt water and left exposed to the elements for two years, it deteriorates rapidly in both visible and hidden ways. As the wood dries, it shrinks, cracks, and splits, leaving seams and joints exposed. This drying process, combined with rain and temperature changes, creates conditions ripe for rot, often in places that are not immediately noticeable. Dry rot silently spreads within the wood, undermining the boat’s structure before any outward signs appear. Moisture trapped in shaded or enclosed areas encourages mold and mildew, accelerating decay.
The boat’s paint and varnish degrade under UV exposure, peeling away to reveal the vulnerable wood underneath. Without this protective layer, the wood darkens, weathers, and becomes increasingly susceptible to the elements. Metal parts, once preserved by salt water, corrode quickly in open air. Rust attacks fasteners and fittings, weakening them, while galvanized and brass components lose their protective coatings and begin to oxidize. Ropes, fabrics, and leather exposed to sun and rain stiffen, crack, and deteriorate, compromising the boat’s functionality and integrity.
Don Enos
Blaine
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here