Area has become dumping ground

Due to snow conditions in April, the annual Lake Cavanaugh Litter Pick-Up was rescheduled to Saturday, May 3. Forty Lake Cavanaugh residents donned their boots, hats and gloves and spent a cold and rainy morning picking up litter all around Lake Cavanaugh and the roads leading to the lake — including Deer Creek Road, Lake Cavanaugh Road and Granstrom Road — a total of 22 miles.

Litter around the lake was less this year, thanks to the many residents who make a habit of picking up litter whenever they are out on a walk. Unfortunately, the same can not be said for the other roads, which are not just littered but have become “dumping grounds” for garbage and used appliances and abandoned vehicles.

What can be done to correct this deplorable condition?

Barbara Busby
Lake Cavanaugh


Wolves in sheep’s clothing

I’ve lived in Skagit County for 30 years, married to a Bellingham native. We enjoy the natural beauty of the area and contribute to local groups seeking to preserve that.

I recently retired and while looking for worthy causes to champion, observed an alarming, insidious thread, appearing to run through many local groups touting “environmental” causes.

This thread is a network of people, omnipresent on the green scene, that belongs to many environmentally related groups in Whatcom and Skagit counties. These people earn their livings in the “eco-tourism” industry.

Eco-tourism, a rapidly growing industry, reaps financial benefit from planning, development and marketing of trails and associated facilities. Development is ideally funded through you, the taxpayer.

Then you’ll need subsequent eco-classes, tours and books about the “environment” surrounding those now busy trails.

Also consider garbage, sewage, medical and police. Who pays for services to sustain this industry? You will.

This industry is quieter than logging or construction, but is the end product of increased human traffic — for private profit — really in our environment’s “best interests”?

Many residents and service and community groups opposing the proposed Chuckanut Mountains Park District don’t think so.

If it were, wouldn’t trail contractors promote this capitalist activity up front, instead of subverting “environmental” groups to promote their goals?

Wolves in sheep’s clothing are working together, throughout our counties, to turn a profit from “alternative development” of your environment.

I know what a bear won’t do in the woods, if there are too many dogs there.

Ellen Cooley
Bow


MV library staff makes visit great

As a new resident to Mount Vernon, the public library has become an extension of my home. The staff is so helpful, kind and professional, and I want to acknowledge them publicly for that. This is a nice little gem in Mount Vernon. All libraries struggle for growth and development, but the staff makes the routine visits I make here for e-mail, movies and books so pleasant.

Thank you, Mount Vernon library staff members.

Pam Madison
Mount Vernon


Those seal killers are cowards

Everyone realizes there is a problem down on the Columbia River with the seals and the salmon. The government has been trying to mitigate the problem with trapping the seals and moving them to another area.

Then early this week, some coward killed six seals, which were trapped with the cage doors closed. Was the person or persons ashamed to pull a stunt like that in the daytime because they knew it was wrong?

Shame on you! I hope whoever knows any information regarding this horrendous act reports it to the authorities so justice can be done.

Cat McCabe
Mount Vernon


We are already well-fluoridated

What our county commissioners have not told us about fluoride: There are two sides to every story, but our commissioners failed to mention the negative side.

For those with access to the Internet, you might want to go to Google and type in two words: raisins fluoride. Raisins from California contain more fluoride than most other foods, and you will also find that juices, pop, canned fruits and vegetables, bottled water, baby food, etc., also contain high amounts of fluoride. Anything that is processed using fluoridated water contains fluoride, and crops that are irrigated with fluoridated water contain fluoride.

If you bathe or shower in fluoridated water, you will absorb fluoride just as you will if you sit in a hot tub. Our skin is like a sponge absorbing what we put on it. In other words, we are being well-fluoridated.

Another interesting fact that you might want to know: The fluoride that is added to public water supplies is not “natural fluoride” — it is a byproduct of phosphorus mining and the only toxic-waste product promoted as being beneficial to our health.

In the letter the county commissioners sent to the PUD, it claims that cavities are contagious, and a large number of us are at great health risk. Is there documented research to prove this? The fear factor was kicked up another notch at the end of the letter reminding PUD that it would be fined $250 a day if fluoride was not added to our public water supply by a certain date.

The county commissioners need to remember that 47 percent voted against fluoridation because we care about our health and our environment and that no information was provided about fluoride before the vote other than the propaganda provided by dental associations.

Rita Rolph
Sedro-Woolley


Mill has been there for longer

I find it very interesting how all these neighbors of the Bow Hill Mill take such exception to the mill’s operation. The mill has been there for about 30 years, well before these people moved into the neighborhood and purchased their homes. When they made the decision to live there, they knew full well of the mill and its operation.

If they lived next to one of our dairies or strawberry fields, I am sure they would complain about that also. It would set a very scary precedent for small businesses throughout our county if the county commissioners rule against the Bow Hill Mill.

Karla Stevens
Mount Vernon