LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Editor:
Last year on September 26, Whatcom County Council approved ordinance 2000-040, which allowed recreational vehicles to be placed and used on all vacant residential properties in Point Roberts. This ordinance was passed contrary to the positions of 44 percent of the Point Roberts registered voters who petitioned county council against turning Point Roberts into a giant RV park. On April 18, 2000, registered voters petitioned to maintain and enforce the existing law that limited RVs to RV parks and to existing residential homes (improved properties). Many registered voters presented arguments and rationale to the planning commission and the county council on numerous occasions as to why this legislation was wrong for Point Roberts and Whatcom County. The voters were ultimately betrayed.
Let us look at the voting record of those seeking to be elected to Whatcom County council positions.
• Council at Large: Marlene Dawson supported the voters and voted against the RV ordinance calling it wrong to downzone Point Roberts. She said the ordinance made the county the laughing stock of the state.
• District 1 – Position A: Ward Nelson voted for the RV ordinance.
•District 2 – Position A: Ron Roosma, a member of the “independent” planning commission participated in the creation of the RV ordinance that downzoned Point Roberts and the Foothills.
•District 3 – Position A: Bob Wiesen, a member of the “independent” planning commission participated in the creation of the RV ordinance that downzoned Point Roberts and the Foothills. At the June 27, 2000 WCC meeting, Bob Wiesen, a member of the planning commission, personally lobbied county council to pass the RV ordinance that he and the commission created.
Where else in the United States would legislation be passed that would legalize RVs to be interspersed amongst long existing residential homes. When I speak to friends in other states and in other counties in Washington they cannot believe it. The sad truth is that it happened to our own community – Point Roberts.
Bruno Moras
Point Roberts

The Editor:
The Dollars for Scholars book sale was an interesting event!
No sooner had we set up outside the community center then the rain began. While we scurried around trying to put the books under shelter, the cavalry arrived! Coming to the rescue was Margaret Moras with two large blue tarps and Joan Roberts marching down Gulf Road carrying a huge striped canopy. What a welcome sight!
It was laughingly remarked that our last raiser was a car wash – and this one was a book wash! After the rain stopped and everything was dried off the sale resumed.
Thanks go to the Friends of the Library, the Fishers, and Margaret Moras who donated books, and to John and Midge Horan who donated records.
Thanks go to Amos Heacock who surprised us by arriving with boxes and boxes of books to donate, to Margaret Moras who arranged everything, (some of it twice!), to Kyle Teutsch, who helped at both the beginning and end of the day, and to Jennifer Jackson and Dustin Massey, who helped to box books and clear the area at the close of the sale. Special thanks to John Fisher who worked the entire day, from set-up to take-down.
The weather may not have shined on us, but the Dollars for Scholars still made $150 for next spring’s scholarships. Thanks to all the people who bought books and records, who offered their support, and who refused to let the weather keep them home on a holiday weekend!
The Dollars for Scholars car wash was an outstanding success! Twelve fire fighters from fire district #5, and 20 students washed an interesting variety of vehicles. A Rolls Royce, a tractor, and a huge semi were washed along with the traditional cars, trucks and SUVs at the International Marketplace on July 28, thanks to Jay Lewis who gave permission to use the parking lot. Despite a gray, overcast day, there was a constant stream of vehicles in the line up.
Fire chief Mike Campbell, and DFS director Davea Fisher organized the successful event. More than $542 was raised for scholarships that will be awarded next spring. Thanks go out to firefighters Leslie Duke, Ryan Gerrard, Simon Grace, Brian Hog, Aaron Jackson, Nick Kiniski, Mac LaPorte, Richard McLellan, Ali Saccone, John Shields and Eric Worrall for their hard work. What enthusiasm! They were wonderful! Thanks also go out to Point Roberts students Gage, Garrett and Gavin Campbell, Chelsea Baker, Andrew Grubb, Carly Hubbard, Dustin Massey, Mary McBride, Hannah and Naomi Shucard, Kristy Sepulvado, Patrick Shields, Paula Sweatt, Neal Teutsch and Ryley White. What energy! They were awesome! It was aterrific to watch the firefighters and students working side-by-side for such a worthy cause.
In addition to Point Roberts students, Paula brought fellow college students Brandy Grace and Galen Morris from Bellingham to help, while Mary McBride brought her husband Doug and her mother Elinor Asdell to lend a hand. Neal Teutsch invited Brandon Buck and Tom Terrell, friends from Tsawwassen, to join in the fun. Thanks for all your help.
Last, but not least, special thanks go out to all the people who brought their vehicles to be washed. They were very generous with their donations, giving more than a price of a car wash! Some even going home to get a second car to wash. We are very grateful for your support.
If you were unable to attend the car wash, but wish to contribute, please send a tax-deductible contribution to Dollars for Scholars, P.O. Box 2168, Point Roberts, WA 98281.
Davea Fisher, vice-president
Dollars for Scholars
Point Roberts

The Editor & PR Water District Board of Directors:
First of all, I wish to say what a wonderful thing it is each year to return to Point Roberts and draw a tasty glass of fresh water out of our kitchen tap. Most places do not have this luxury and residents must buy bottled water to drink – for taste alone, to say nothing of health.
We appreciate very much the good work that you, the staff and all who have gone before have done to make this simple act possible.
Secondly, I would like to address the other end of the human condition from drinking water; the generation of sewage and its handling and disposal. Though we have been residents here only three years we have visited the Point for 35 years and have had many years of business experience associated with the sewer and byproducts industry including, but not limited to, selling Los Angeles municipal sewage sludge.
As residents and voters we are strongly opposed to a Point-wide sewage collection and disposal system paid for by all property owners one way or the other. All the reasons have been eloquently stated in many venues and do not need to be repeated here.
As a potential builder of a small commercial development we recently reviewed the systems that will collect, treat and dispose properly of the sewage generated by a 100 person capacity development. The cost of $25,000 is great; but this cost alone does not prevent a development. The many other costs of construction and financing are much more. Thus, a Point-wide system is not necessary to foment business development.
We are willing to have our tax dollars pay for the library’s, the park’s and school’s sewage handling and treatment. We are willing to have our possible green fees and the green fees of our friends pay for the sewage treatment at the golf course. We are willing to have our PO box rent pay for the sewage treatment at the Point Roberts post office. We are willing to pay a little more for a restaurant meal or a glass of beer to be sure the sewage systems of the commercial establishments are functioning well.
We are not willing to have our tax dollars, or an assessment on our property, pay for a sewer system that serves property developers – us or anyone else.
To us, with all the mini and micro systems now available and to be available in the near future, planning to build a comprehensive sewer system for Point Roberts in 2001 is similar to planning to build a comprehensive system of horse watering troughs and hitching posts some 80 or 90 years ago.
Please direct the granted study to cover all state-of-the-art methods of providing health and comfort to Point Roberts residents and property owners without burdening anyone with anyone else’s costs. Thank you.
Knick and Lyn Pyles
Point Roberts

The Editor:
While playing on the logs recently at Lighthouse Park, a teenager apparently hurt his neck or back quite seriously. In minutes the local fire department was on hand. I walked down from the parking lot to see what was going on.
The level of care and service that young fellow received at the scene was truly extraordinary. It was obvious the emergency personnel assumed there was a possibility of spinal injury, and were operating accordingly. I couldn’t believe the pain and effort taken to transfer the injured person from the ground to the waiting ambulance. His neck was kept bone straight and totally stationary throughout the whole procedure.
It became very clear these volunteer personnel were totally committed and very professional in the way they handled that potentially serious situation. Nick Kiniski and the others are to be commended. Point Roberts is in good hands.
Chris Hopkins
Delta, B.C.

The Editor:
On Saturday, August 11, the descendants of Sarah and Magnus Olson, Icelandic pioneers gathered to celebrate their heritage. The place was Lighthouse Park, appropriately chosen because Sarah was the lighthouse keeper for many years during the early 1900s.
Five of her seven children were represented. It was a time of getting re-acquainted and some met for the first time – especially the second and third generations.
Family photos and memories were shared as well as a wonderful salmon barbecue catered by Steve O’Neill, owner of the Lighthouse Cafe.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank Steve and his staff as well as Ben Van Buskirk and his Lighthouse Park staff for helping to make it an unforgettable day.
Joan Thorstenson-Linde
Point Roberts

The Editor:
I have enjoyed and despaired life at Point Roberts for the past 12 years since I first bought and moved into the historic Whalen store building at Maple Beach.
I so much enjoyed reading letters from residents about how they have made a life for themselves here. Thus as I set out to leave Point Roberts here is my list of the good and the bad:
1) Good – a wonderful vista to inspire one’s art and a fine building large enough to build and dry my giant inflatables.
2) Bad – upon arrival U.S. Customs decided that my fabric works were not art (although I was a well-known and successful artist in Canada for 20 years.) They confiscated my inflatable dome. I was fined for bringing undeclared fabric and thus have never had the privilege of a U.S. Pace sticker.
3) Good – a fine celebration of art and life with Rafael the glass and clay artist – who invites all of you to come to his 50th birthday party at Joe Blows in Vancouver, September 8.
4) Bad – a neighbor who not only pulled my kitchen plumbing out in March, claiming it’s his land, but whose automatic sprinkler system pounds my windows three times a day causing all kinds of water damage and enough mental anxiety to never want to come back!
5) Lily Point was placed on the national registry of historic places as a “spiritual site” by the work of Stephanie Ross, the Lummi elders and local environmentalists and as such continue to be a place we all can enjoy.
Finally a big thank you for sharing my celebratory art through the years. Remember the equinox times to balance a row of eggs the next one being September 22 and do keep in touch via email: evelyn@evelynroth.com.
Evelyn Roth
Point Roberts

The Editor:
Imagine what two Aussies thought when they saw a dining table, complete with cloth and a centerpiece of flowers, set amongst large, twisted logs on a beach. Add to this boats fishing nearby for salmon, ferries rushing to the islands, a setting golden sun, children fishing from a small jetty and locals relaxing on the logs with a coffee.
This was the setting for a wonderful meal last Tuesday at Lighthouse Park.
Chef Steve O’Neill prepared a spinach salad with homemade dressing. This was followed by fresh baked rolls and carrot and mango soup. The main course was thinly cut roast beef, garlic washed potatoes, and celery and onion bake. The desert was blueberries, cream and walnut slice.
Chef Steve, originally from Denver and a graduate of a Vancouver cooking school, had created a magnificent meal in a magnificent setting. All that was missing was a pod of Orcas that was present two nights earlier. The jumping salmon and porpoises were a pretty good substitute. Our Vancouver friends Phil and Margaret King from nearby Crystal Waters had given us yet another unforgettable experience. You folk of Point Roberts have an interesting coastline but you are missing out if you don’t take advantage of this unique dining experience at Lighthouse Park.
John and Jan Langrehr
South Australia

Letters Policy
The All Point Bulletin welcomes letters to the editor; however, the opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor. Letters must include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters must not exceed 450 words and may be edited or rejected for reasons of legality and good taste.

A fresh viewpoint on matters of general interest to local readers will increase the likelihood of publication. Writers should avoid personal invective. Unsigned letters will be not accepted for publication. Requests for withholding names will be considered on an individual basis.

Thank You letters should be limited to ten names.
Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published.

Please send your letter to: P.O. Box 1451, Point Roberts, WA 98281
or fax (360) 945-1613.
E-mail:editor@allpointbulletin.com

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