LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Editor:
A note of thanks to the young lady and her friend (golf course workers) that helped me transport my German Shepherd to the vet on July 6 after he was hit by a pick up truck. Although in the end I was forced to put Sargent to sleep I wish to say thank you for your kind help.
Jim Bromley
Tsawwassen

The Editor:
A few words as to voting protocol: Everyone who votes wants their vote to count, but procedure can be intimidating, especially if it’s been a while, or is the first time, or doesn’t seem user-friendly. Just inserting the ballot correctly can cause some anxiety. Poll workers are there to smooth the way, and are sworn to be impartial. Please don’t hesitate to ask for assistance.
Write-in candidates: At the very top of each ballot is a space for doing this, and instructions on what information to enter: The position the candidate is running for, his/her name, and the party (if applicable). Plenty of pens are available.
Sitting at the voting station you’ll find issues and candidates listed in a booklet. Consider those items written in stone, because the ballot counting machines are programmed to record responses only to these choices.
Crossing out names or writing in new ones won’t change what the computer records. Moreover, defacing the booklet just confuses the next voter at that station. Use the space at the top of the ballot for a write-in.
At this last election a voter did cross out two candidates names on the voting booklet. Because poll workers checked the station right away we were able to correct the entry so it read correctly. Ideally, a clean new page would have been inserted, but it would have had to come from Bellingham, and would have meant closing the voting station for a few hours.
As to the results: Though most of the voters filled in the write-in portion perfectly, one position had been filed for incorrectly by the write-in candidate. Votes for that candidates couldn’t be counted for that reason. The rest of the choices voted for on those write-in ballots were counted.
Last words: Write-in ballots are carefully set apart at the end of the election day, to be officially counted later at the courthouse. No part of them is counted before then. When, as in this case, over 100 write-ins occur, it’s hard to predict results from the ballots counted that night because the totals are so incomplete. All ballots received at the voting precinct on election day are sealed and taken to the courthouse to be counted officially.
Hoping everyone votes more easily in the next election.
Kristin Lomedico, poll inspector
Point Roberts

The Editor:
There are over 16,000 prisoners incarcerated in Washington state prisons. Of those, over 1,000 are Mexican nationals (illegal aliens) who have outstanding immigration deportation orders to be returned to their country of origin upon completion of their sentences. Few people are aware that an International Treaty on the Execution of Penal Sentences exist between Mexico and the U.S. The Washington state department of corrections (DOC) is aware of said treaty. However, DOC refuses to send illegal aliens back to their country of origin because sending them back conflicts with DOC’s interests, i.e., more prisoners, more violence, more prisons, more taxpayer money allocated for DOC.
Implementing the International Treaty on the Execution of Penal Sentences would mean that the over 1,000 illegal aliens presently incarcerated in state prisons would be sent back to their country of origin, not to be free, but to continue serving their lawfully imposed sentence as mandated by the treaty at a cost, however, to the Mexican government and not to Washington state taxpayers.
Enforcing the treaty would relieve overcrowding and make it feasible for authorities to supply the limited resources to create programs which will prevent those prisoners who will be released to the communities of the state from returning back to prison. Why Americanize illegal aliens who will be deported anyway? Send them back to their country of origin to serve their sentences. The main point in this issue is that those illegal aliens who are sent back to their country of origin will not go unpunished. The treaty directs that they must complete the entire portion of their sentences.
Taxpayers are no longer willing to provide for more prisons ... Or are they? Communities in the state no longer desire to have facilities housing violent sexual predators in their backyards ... Or are they? There is also a projected one billion dollar state budget deficit. One thousand illegal aliens at $35,000 per illegal per year amounts to a savings of $35 million a year. Why punish law-abiding taxpayers with reductions in social and health services, and college students with an increase in tuition cost. If you are a taxpayer and you have had enough, contact your legislator/senator and direct him/her to employ the existing International Treaty. Governor Gary Locke: 360/902-4111 or Attorney General office: 360/753-6200.
Donald E. Lambert
Walla Walla

The Editor:
Trinity Community Lutheran Church successfully hosted their 88th annual bazaar on November 10 and for the first time a progressive concert by many talented musicians. One couple who attended said, “We came for a half hour and stayed for three, the music was so wonderful.” Our sincere thanks and appreciation to the following who entertained all ages with their unforgettable music: Natasha Neufeld, soprano, accompanied by David Stalkaukus on piano; Esther Rosenthal, piano; Sylvia Schonberg, organist; Craig Jack, singer/songwriter.
Sincere thanks to church members and non-members who so generously donated time, talent and possessions that made our bazaar such a huge success. (The baking that just showed up.) Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! See you next year!
Marilyn Samis
Point Roberts

The Editor:
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of the people who voted for me in the recent election for the position of fire commissioner. (Running for election in Point Roberts is an interesting and remarkable experience!)
I would also like to thank the Point Roberts Firefighter’s Association for endorsing the current board and for joining us in the campaign. In addition, I would like to express my gratitude for all the warm wishes given to me personally.
Now we can get back to the business of maintaining, and improving, the standard of fire and medical service for the residents of the Point. One of our aims in the coming year is to establish a medical clinic two days a week at the Benson Road fire station.
I look forward to a term of office in which we stride forward and make a positive difference to life on the Point.
John Fisher
Point Roberts

Dear Editor:
The Point Roberts quilters group would like to thank everyone for purchasing the lighthouse quilt raffle tickets over this past summer and fall. We raised over $1,000 towards the lighthouse project with our quilts. A reminder: The winning tickets will be drawn at the school Christmas party at the community center on Wednesday, December 19 sometime after 7 p.m. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be present to win! We’ll call the lucky new quilt owners once we know who they are. It looks as if the quilting group will be taking a break for awhile, so we won’t be meeting on the second Monday until next year sometime. Anyone interested in quilting is always welcome at the Tsawwassen/Ladner Quilting Guild, called the Boundary Bay Quilters, which meets on the third Monday, at 6:30 p.m. at the Sacred Hearts Parish old gym on Arthur Drive in Ladner. For more information on other local sewing circles you can always stop by Rose’s House Quilting (next to Brewsters on Gulf Rd.) for a full update on quilt mania in our area.
Wishing everyone a fun-filled holiday season.
Rose Momsen (for the Point Roberts Quilters)
Point Roberts

The Editor:
Re: Fire District Campaign
The only dark aspect of the political posturings in last month’s All Point Bulletin was the suggestion that anyone who was not “on side” with the current fire district “perhaps would not have such a quick response to my next emergency call” (Letter to the Editor from Sue Johnson, November APB).
The same prospect was raised when the former part-time fire chief and board of commissioners were running the show. Back then, a few people in this community had the guts to put their concerns into writing and submit them to the Whatcom County Prosecutor. That put a quick end to the rumors about selective response from the fire department.
If Ms. Johnson and Rich Lloyd have any substantive evidence to back their allegations of “fear tactics” and selective response by the current fire district, I suggest they document them, in writing, to law enforcement so that appropriate action can be taken. If they are blowing smoke, they owe this community a written apology for raising the issue in the first place.
John Lesow
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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