Have you ever enjoyed the beauty and splendor of the setting sun while taking a leisurely stroll outside of Packers restaurant as it sets below the azure-colored waters of the northwest Pacific?

Have you ever enjoyed one of the festive summertime barbeques held just outside of the rustic and resplendent Semiahmoo Hotel with family and friends of all ages?

My wife and I have on many occasions since moving to Whatcom County from crowded, congested and polluted Los Angeles in 2009. We also like to go there in the winter as well and we always take our out-of-town guests there to show off the beauty of our area.

Soon, it has been reported, the hotel will be closing its doors and when it does 200 employees will lose their jobs and the City of Blaine will lose its major source of tax revenue. In addition I think it will ultimately be replaced by unaffordable (to most in Whatcom County) condominiums and luxury homes.

I hope appropriate actions can and will take place by business and government leaders to prevent this loss instead of merely looking to the taxpayers to make up this shortfall. My family and I will sorely miss the Semiahmoo Resort Hotel and Spa, our leisurely walks on the beach and the magnificent sunsets but more importantly the 200 jobs and tax revenues must be saved.

Ralph L. Myers

Bellingham