LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Editor:
An issue that has been the concern of some parents in this community is over the turn-out bus. We were informed last school year that the younger children in Point Roberts were not allowed to ride this bus.
Through coordinated efforts between Todd Berge, Deb Cummings, principal of Blaine elementary school, the superintendent of the Blaine school district and myself, we now have a definitive answer to that question. The younger children are allowed to ride the turn-out bus as long as parents take the following steps. First and most important, the school district will not be responsible for your child between the time of the selected activity and the time the turnout bus runs; i.e., if enrichment courses let out at 4 p.m., and the turn-out bus does not run until 5 p.m., then the school is not responsible for your child between 4 and 5 p.m. The suggestion has been made to send them to the boys and girls club for that time period or make other arrangements. Second, the parent must call Ms. Cummings at the school to inform her that your child will be riding the turn-out bus so that she can make proper arrangements with the transportation department.
Ms. Cummings assures me that this option has been open to the students and parents of Point Roberts for a long time now.
Patrick Brady
Point Roberts

The Editor:
I want to thank my family, friends, and the Blaine voters for electing me to the position of school board director for the next four years. I would also like to extend my thanks to the Point Roberts Registered Voters’ Association, and those who spoke on my behalf to friends. I will do my best to address and work on concerns you bring forward to the board. Finally, Betty Nunamaker has served the citizens of Blaine, the school staff, and students for 24 years. I would like to thank her for all the hard work and dedication throughout those years. She and the rest of the school board have made Blaine schools a great place for students to learn. She will be missed and I wish her the best of luck in the future.
Todd Berge
Blaine

The Editor:
Thanks to our wonderful community for making the first town social an enormous success! The Dollars for Scholars raised more than $1,000 in scholarship money for Point Roberts kids! Everyone came and had a good time ­ even the staff who volunteered an hour of their time to work at the event. On the door: Galen and Janice Irwin, Sally Roberts and Armene Belless; selling drink tickets: Bud and Heidy Lawlor, Kelly and Joyce Kiniski; serving beverages: Paulette Ladner, Tom and Jackie Hollett, Nancy Yorke and Jeff Flaa, Wanetta and Jay Scotti.
Two of the many highlights of the evening were the music provided by Jerry and Kiera Ahern and the Win & Spin wheel manned by Jay Lewis, Bill Ladner, Don Frantz and Louise Mugar. Thanks to Erica Loreen, Johanna Hubbard, John Fisher, Kelly Kiniski and Leslie O’Neill who helped to set up the event. Thanks also to Maureen Hofstedt, Marilyn Samis and Armene Belless who helped to clear tables during the evening, and to Carly Hubbard, Tessa Cogman, Jessica and Kevin Teng who came the next morning to clean the hall.
Special appreciation to Bob Lemoignan, who lent us the wheel, to Armene who led the line-dancing, to Jim Madden and the bingo board who gave us the use of the hall, and to Jason DeHaan, the EMS firefighter required to attend, who donated his services to the Dollars for Scholars. What a wonderful evening we had! Laughing, talking, dancing and spinning the wheel to win prizes ­ it was good fun for a good cause. A heart-felt thank you to all who helped make the evening a success.
Davea Fisher
Friends of the Library
Point Roberts

The Editor:
The Economic Development Committee (EDC) was referred to in an article in your November issue.
Such organizations are not peculiar to Point Roberts, but are deeply imbedded in the history of the United States. The EDC’s purpose is to understand and contribute to the economic well being of Point Roberts.
Similar groups have existed long prior to the revolution. Between the colonies, there were “committees of correspondence” whose primary interest was in government. They studied and commented on the writings of Locke, Hume, Hobbes, Greek philosophers, etc. The result was the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. There are organizations today whose roots are pre-revolution. The Cato Institute gets its name from the Cato Letters written prior to the revolution (1720 - 1723). Today we have many organizations that are independent of government. To cite a few: The Brookings Institute - study government policy; The Cato Institute - advancement of civil society; Common Cause - promoting honest, open and accountable government; Council for the National Interest Foundation - foreign policy; National Rifle Association - the right to keep and bear arms; Civil Liberties Union - protection of civil rights; The Heron Society - the protection of the Point Roberts heron colony; The Sierra Club - environmental protection; and hundreds more Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) which perform useful functions is society. Understanding is the key to good decision making. Getting the facts, stating the problem must come before making a decision.
The EDC can get the facts, state the problem but it has no decision making power any more than the hundreds of NGOs that exist in the USA.
Syd Wallace
Point Roberts

The Editor:
Country Farm Garden is now entering its second year delivering fresh flowers to the people of Point Roberts. I wish to thank all of those who have supported me in my business by ordering flowers, especially those realtors who have continued to welcome the new home buyers with one of my bouquets.
Thank you.
Sandy Simundson
Point Roberts

The Editor:
I would like to thank the registered voters of this community who saw fit to write my name in on their ballots for the position of fire district commissioner. I understand that many others would have also voted for me, had they known that I was actually a candidate. It was a last minute decision made by both my family and me to be a write in candidate and as such, I did not register until Friday, October 31, just three days before the election. All things considered, I received 78 votes to my competitors 109. I owe many thanks to many people for getting the word out as quickly as they did. I won’t mention names, but you know who you are, but I do want to say thank you very much. I have already submitted my name for consideration by county council for one of the positions vacated by Don Frantz and Jesse Lofquist.
To all of the candidates, both official and write in, congratulations for having the fortitude to stand up and be counted. Whether you won or lost, you expressed yourselves by being involved in the process. If you feel strongly about your views, then continue to express yourselves and don’t forget there is another election in 2005, and there are bound to be seats on the local boards to contest.
David Gellatly
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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