Dear Watchers

Dear Watchers,

A couple comments on Alan Rhodes articles (July, page 8 and August, page 11) about free publications in Whatcom County.

1. Because Alan finds 41 free publications in our area, he concludes that free speech is alive and well in Bellingham. Alan confuses quantity with quality. Free speech in Bellingham has never been easy if one is going against the grain of local power. Speaking from experience going back over 30 years, free speech that has impact on local issues is harshly countered. The Watch itself has not had an easy time. Most publications don’t go near controversial issues.

2. His article suggests the Bellingham Business Journal scoops The Bellingham Herald at least once a month. Actually, the Journal scoops The Herald on at least 10 important business items every month. In my opinion, the Journal is the finest publication in Whatcom County when judging on the basis of their mission statement. The Journal effectively covers all business in the county in an objective manner—without pandering to advertisers.

One other point. The original article (in the July issue) on local free publications gave a very nice compliment to the Indy (Whatcom Independent). I want to return the compliment by pointing out that the Watch has been publishing over 13 years on a consistent basis with volunteers and only modest support from the business community. The Watch has been courageous in its publishing of environmental news. The Watch has made a difference and is an invaluable reference for local issues. I have been involved in small ways with the Watch since three determined women started it in 1992 and in my opinion it is a local treasure.

John Servis is publisher of the Whatcom Independent and the webmaster of NorthWest Citizen (http://www.nwcitizen.com.)

Dear Watchers:

Sunday, July 25, was a good day for America. Lance Armstrong had just won his sixth consecutive Tour de France. And the Lance Armstrong-Bellingham connection is John Rybeyk, botany professor, Huxley College, Western Washington University.

John and Lance both started their athletic careers as tri-athletes, who must be muscular thoughout their bodies. They competed against each other at that time. John went on to be a college professor; Lance became the best long distance bicycle racer ever.

Of course, Lance has his detractors. Some say he took performance-enhancing drugs, an accusation he emphatically denies. He has never tested positive. But he has one thing that none of the other Tour de France racers have. It is recovery from a severe case of cancer that wasted his muscles and caused a dramatic loss of weight. John says that made Lance a better bicycle racer. When he recovered he concentrated on becoming a bicycle racer by developing his leg muscles but not his upper body.