LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

And the government responds...

Dear Ms. White:
This is in response to your letter of June 22, 2002, concerning my then Assistant District Director for Inspections, Ronald Hays. In your letter you indicated that, in your opinion, Mr. Hays was “a perfect example of ‘The Peter Princople’ (sic)” and that you personally thought he had reached his level of incompetency several grades ago.
I must disabuse you of that notion. Mr. Hays had not yet reached that level on June 8. Since then, I’ve selected him as Acting Deputy District Director and today he is the Acting District Director.
From personal observation, I can assure you that there have been no more fervent champion of NEXUS than Mr. Hays. He has labored against great odds for almost three years to make this program happen in the Pacific Northwest and to commence enrollment as early as possible. Indeed, Point Roberts as a community should thank him as the original implementation schedule for NEXUS had it being installed at Point Roberts in September 2002. Mr. Hays battled bureaucratic inertia to make it happen two months earlier.
Mr. Hays did not have to address the community on June 8; he did not have to meet with the chamber on June 24. Indeed, he was advised by everyone not to go to Point Roberts because of the reputation the residents have. Nevertheless, he went to meet with the community. As you were at the meeting and you were one of the questioners, you know that the reception the community gave him demonstrated the accuracy of the advice he had been given. You should know that Mr. Hays personally requested additional staff for Point Roberts from this year’s enhancement positions and personally decided to send National Guard troops to the Point to assist - over the opposition of our Region and Headquarters. To whatever extent Point Roberts has been shielded from the impact of the post 9/11 world, you should thank Mr. Hays as well as all the other Immigration Inspectors who put their lives on the line every day for you and everyone else in this country; whether that sacrifice is appreciated or not.
Sincerely,
Robert S. Coleman, Jr.
District Director

(Editor’s Note: The July issue of the All Point Bulletin included a letter written by Ruby White to deputy district director Bob Okin of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. This is the reply she received. The letter was signed by Mr. Ron Hays in his role as acting district director while Robert Coleman was in Washington, D.C. Hays acknowledged that he wrote the letter on Coleman’s instructions.)

The Editor:
As a frequent visitor to both Blaine and Point Roberts, I must take issue with Ruby Gibson White’s recent letter. She lambasted local INS official Ron Hays for his observation that lengthy border lineups are here to stay unless Point Roberts is given “back to Canada.”
Hays is right on the money. Created because the border was drawn before the land was surveyed, Point Roberts is a logistical nightmare. Residents are cut off from the rest of the U.S. and end up using our territory as a corridor.
Canadian taxpayers such as myself are frustrated that we must pay to maintain customs and immigration enforcement at U.S. enclaves like Point Roberts, Minnesota’s Northwest Angle and Hyder, Alaska. When our own Medicare and education systems are facing cutbacks, we should not have to bear the costs of facilitating transit between pieces of a foreign country’s territory.
The common sense solution to the backlog at the Point Roberts border is to cede the territory to the only nation that can properly meet its needs. In one fell swoop, that would solve Point Roberts’ problems.
Eliminate the line, and you eliminate the lines.
Christopher McDonald
Spruce Grove, Alberta

The Editor:
It ain’t only beneath the midnight sun where strange things happen.
I wrote a letter to Mr. Okin at the Seattle INS office, objecting to the attitude of and statements made by Ronald Hays.
I was bewildered to receive a reply from Seattle, not from Mr. Okin, but apparently from Robert Coleman. I had not written to him, as I had been advised he was and is in D.C.
The letter contained a glowing defense of Mr. Hays and gave a litany of his labors toward establishing NEXUS and “shielding us from the effects of the after 9/11 world.” Included was the following statement: “Mr. Hays did not have to address the community on June 8. He did not have to meet with the chamber on June 24. Indeed, he was advised by everyone not to go to Point Roberts because of the reputation the residents have.”
While the name Robert S. Coleman Jr., district director, is typed at the bottom of this letter, it is signed by Ronald Hays.
Can this be the same Ronald Hays who promised the residents of Point Roberts and Blaine would have the first NEXUS cards?
The letter from Mr Coleman states “Point Roberts as a community should thank him as the original implementation for NEXUS had it being installed at Point Roberts in September, 2002. Hays battled bureaucratic inertia to make it happen two months earlier.” Now, let’s see, would that be July?
P.S. Point Roberts never did belong to Canada.
Ruby Gibson White
Point Roberts

The Editor:
I, a Canadian who has maintained a residence at Point Roberts for 50 years, am completely in accord with Mr. Ross Douglas’ (May/02 Bulletin) wish for a PACE lane or equivalent. I understand his frustration with border lineups. I do respect the lives of those who live permanently at Point Roberts. We Canadians also pay taxes in this community but do not get a vote. I believe we all accept this.
What I would like to know from Mr. Douglas is where are all the “lower priced products they seem willing to line up for?” Sometimes the difference in gas prices (Canada/US) is significant; the liquor store does have good bargains. But has he ever compared prices in the grocery stores with those in Canada? Bargains they ain’t!
Marguerite Sivertz
Salmon Arm, BC

The Editor:
Phew... The 4th Annual Point Roberts Garden Tour, which is raising funds towards our Lighthouse Project, is now complete. Last weekend, each garden with its own uniqueness helped to tempt 252 participants to take a day off and stop and “smell the roses” enjoying the day in Point Roberts. It is always a delight to see the hats and long dresses celebrating the occasion.
To those hard working garden owners who put so much effort into bringing their garden to its best before the tour “take the rest of the summer off,” you have earned it!
Eight of the 33 volunteer gate keepers, have already called to say what wonderful people they met on this year’s tour. I couldn’t agree with you more. Thank you to the retailers, especially Nielson’s Building Center and Bloomers and others who sold the tickets on our behalf. To all of those who have stepped up to the plate to help make this collective community effort, I sincerely thank you! We have helped others to discover what originally attracted most of us to the Point, its natural beauty. Mission accomplished!
And to those delightful girls who served us the tea and scones at the tea party, Holly Walker, Alyssa Johnston, Kiersten McMaster, Alissa Horn, Maryn Surrock, Ali Herold, Katie Battison, Jen Perry, Tina James and Danielle Werner, who exclaimed jumping up and down, “Can we do it again next year?”... You bet!
Thank you to those who give their encouragement and support, it certainly makes the task a lot lighter.
Terrie LaPorte
Point Roberts

The Editor:
A very big thank you to everyone who helped make the Fourth of July a big success and a lot of fun. Jenny Lynn Fraser for parade organization; Ginger Porter for the Kids Karnival; Ben VanBuskirk and his staff at Lighthouse Park; Jay and Waneta Scotti, Tom Fijal, Desiree Kleemann, Ron and Linda Hughes, Scott and Maureen Millar for helping in many ways. Sponsors Whidbey Telephone, Texaco, Whalen’s RV Park, Maple Meadow B&B, South Beach House, Pat and Louise Grubb, Bloomers, All Point Bulletin, Triple M Realty, Nielson’s Building Center, PRVFD, Sand Dollars, Mobile Sand Blasting and Point Roberts Golf Course & Country Club.
So many came together to create a terrific event. It was fabulous to watch the community enjoy a day of simple fun. Thank to all who made it happen.
Debbie and Arthur Wilkowski
Point Roberts

The Editor:
The Point Roberts Quilters are back at it, making blocks for two new projects: a series of boat quilts and a food bank quilt. Busy sewers here on the Point have been stockpiling double four-patch blocks for the bedsize quilt we hope to raffle off to raise funds for the food bank sometime next year. And we’ve made a flotilla of boats, in many sizes and types, to start us off on our boat project.
We welcome interest from one and all. Anyone who’d like to make a block to be included in the next Point Roberts quilt, can call Rose for free patterns and assistance at 945-1266. Beginners are welcome. The quilt group currently meets the second Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. Call for location.
Rose Momsen
Point Roberts

The Editor:
July 4th came and went with a bang at Lighthouse Park this year with another successful Kid’s Karnival sponsored by Dollars for Scholars. Again, this community supported our cause in many ways. Following are some of them:
We asked the community for donations of new or barely used stuffed toys and what a well-loved assortment we got to use for game prizes. Thank you to everyone who found such great toys in their cupboards.
We asked for cakes for our cake decorating contest and cakewalk and many kids were fortunate to receive spectacular accomplishments donated by the generous bakers of Point Roberts.
Congratulations to Lorene Graham and Bev Nielson for winning first prizes in the patriotic and original decorating events. Thanks to all bakers who supplied us with the fruits of their labor.
We asked for used glasses for the dime toss and were overwhelmed with the quantities of glasses we received for this popular game. Thanks to everyone who donated. All glasses were used!
Many people gave time to run the Kid’s Karnival, the majority being students themselves. (Perhaps at some future time, a successful DFS event will help fund scholarships for them!) They can all take pride in the accomplishments they achieved this year. Special thanks must go to Ginger Porter, a key organizer and tireless worker all day; her efforts produced the following long list of people who helped make the Kid’s Karnival the success it was: Sandy Fraser Bourks, Shawn Bourks, Dan Bourks, Laura Lynn Schmidt, Stephane Schmidt, Elyse Viner, Tyler Viner, Kristy Sepulvado, Kristen Sepulvado, Anthony Sepulvado, Brandon Sepulvado, Dusten Massey, Destiny Massey, Katherine Yorke, Daphine Yorke, Philip Yorke, Susan Borget, Barb Richardson, Pamela Oakley, Carolyn Robertson, Brandon Emmons, Robert Walsh, Amanda Parsons, Pearl Emmons, Wes Hubbard, Travis Porter, Andrew Grubb, Alex Grubb, Tyler Dillard, Sheila Fitzgerald, Rosie Fitzgerald, Tessa Fitzgerald, John Shepard, Nicole Roberts, Tiffany Oakley, Drew Porter, T.J. Bailey, Leila Marie Sourati and Ted Armitage. Thanks to all of you for your hard work.
Finally, I want to thank the kids who came to the Kid’s Karnival. Your eagerness to play the games made it fun for everyone and made the event a success. Hope to see you again next year!
Margaret Moras and Barb Bell
Point Roberts

The Editor:
Point Roberts, as we all know, is and always has been a very wonderful and caring community, proof positive being, we were awakened on Saturday morning, July 6, by a wonderful group of people (some very young) cleaning up our very untidy yard. Being, as we, are quite elderly, it was such a big surprise for us. It also happened to be our 62 anniversary.
Many thank yous to Waneta & Jay Scotti, who managed to get a group of volunteers together to cut our grass, weed-eat, pull weeds, and take truck loads of junk away.
Also, special thanks to Daryl & Bobbie, Valerie, John, Pam & Tiffany, Bob & Ginger, Drew & Tyler, Gary, Lori, Stephanie, Katya & Donnell.
Also to Connie & Debra from Bloomers who provided lovely plants for our garden pots.
Thanks also to Arthur for the loan of his garbage truck which Jay used to handle the refuse from our yard.
How wonderful to be treated so royally, your kind deeds are very much appreciated.
Ed & Kathy Aydon
Point Roberts

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 not be 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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