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INSIDE
Year
in Review - 2003
P.R.
Taxpayers
by Michael
Rosser
Community
is defined as a group of people who work together, under the rule
of law, in order to gain benefits that an individual could not
obtain by working alone. For the Taxpayers’ Association, and this
community, it has been a productive year. This year Point Roberts
saw new laws created, new taxes approved, and a test of community
rights versus individual rights. The cost versus benefit of any
law, including tax laws, can be seen on an individual versus community
continuium. This year the Taxpayers’ Association chose to support
issues that we felt offered a net benefit to this community.
This summer,
the taxpayers’ board received a request for our support in expanding
the seniors lunch program at the community center. We received
the same request two years earlier. In both cases the board gave
unanimous support for expansion of the program. We thank the parks
board for putting the issue on the ballot, and to the voters for
passing the tax increase to fund the program.
Likewise,
the board heard a delegation from the pier committee requesting
support for the pier project and for a new tax to cover the cost
of future maintenance. Again, the board gave unanimous support.
At our annual
general meeting, our membership voted to pursue gaining public
access to Lily Point. The membership gave direction to the board
to pursue all options for purchase or acquisition by other means,
such as grants, bonds, conservancies, etc. Currently, less than
two percent of Washington’s coastline is publicly accessible.
As the largest available piece of shoreline in the state, conservation
of Lily Point is identified as a high conservation priority for
future generations.
As Point
Roberts’ most spectacular natural asset, preservation of Lily
Point as a public amenity will have a profoundly positive effect
on the future of this community.
This year,
Whatcom County revised Point Roberts zoning laws, and the taxpayers’
board was actively involved at every stage. While many people
would rather visit the dentist twice than attend a meeting on
zoning, most people know that zoning laws are one of the fundamentals
of community development. At the public hearing, we advocated
for a tree retention law that is fair, flexible, and enforceable.
We got some of what we asked for, but the issue of enforcement
remains a weak link.
The taxpayers’
board continues to advocate for public trails and non-motorized
transportation alternatives. Our application for grant funding
status has been accepted at the state level, and we continue to
lobby at the county level to reallocate our road tax surplus to
transportation alternatives. In the coming year, we will seek
a federal grant for technical assistance in developing a non-motorized
transportation plan. Nothing is going to happen overnight, but
there is every reason to be optimistic.
The community
can feel good about the strength it has gained this year. The
Point Roberts taxpayers’ board is proud of the role it has played
in helping the community realize its goals. In the coming year
we ask our membership for their continued support. The cost of
a membership is five bucks, ask yourself if the benefits are worth
the cost.
Dollars
for Scholars
by Davea
Fisher
2003 has
been an exciting and memorable year for the Point Roberts Dollars
for Scholars. We raised over $11,000 with our usual fund-raisers,
(a book and bake sale, a car wash and the Kid’s Carnival), plus
two new events, (Dixieland and Desserts, and a Cooks Pot Luck).
Perhaps most
notable, we took on an enormous challenge - publishing a community
cookbook! “The Point is Cooking” features recipes from more than
100 local cooks and includes recipes from every restaurant owner
on the Point. The book has been an extraordinary success!
Our awards
night this year saw scholarships given to six graduating high
school seniors, two ongoing college students, one adult returning
to college, and one college graduate. This year Blaine high school
had three valedictorians - and two of them were from Point Roberts!
It was a pleasure on Awards Night to salute Wes Hubbard and Neal
Teutsch for their outstanding achievement. To top this off, Wes
Hubbard, a member of the board of Dollars for Scholars, earned
the title of National Merit Scholar, an honor given to less than
one percent of all the nation’s graduating seniors. Certainly
the highlight of an already glorious year.
Point
Roberts Parks & Recreation
by Dave
Niles
It’s been
a busy year for your local Point Roberts parks board. A swing
set was purchased and set up at the community center next to the
children’s playground.
The Point
Roberts skatepark project proceeded in earnest and the construction
permits and insurance are now arranged. Funds raised by the Point
Roberts skatepark committee, a local action group headed by Helena
and Mark Furno, paid for the permits. The skatepark will be located
on Point Roberts parks property just east of the firehall. In
addition, your parks board approved a donation of $25,000 toward
the project. Presently, the scope of the skatepark will be determined
by a Tony Hawk Foundation grant applied for by the board in the
fall. We are expecting a decision the first part of the year.
Special thanks to Syd Wallace for preparing the scaled plan required
for the permit process.
Our yearly
three day per week summer program during the month of July was
again a hit under the direction of Jamie Tkachuk assisted by Neal
Teutsch, Carly Hubbard, Christina Hubbard and Heather Good.
To accommodate
our local Point Roberts seniors, an increase was added to our
operating levy this year to help fund a one-year trial period
for a second day similar to the current Wednesday program. The
levy passed successfully.
The calendar
this year was busier than ever and we are expecting even more
use in the coming year. Upgrades to our center included a new
PA system.
We welcome
aboard newly elected board member Linda Hughes. She will serve
with Shelley Damewood, Fred DeHaan, Bev Griffiths and chairperson
Irene Waters in the coming year.
I have thoroughly
enjoyed my five year stint serving with this board. While the
serious businesses of the Point Roberts parks district was being
conducted, a comraderie existed among the board members that made
the monthly meetings a joy to attend. I wish them continued success
in the new year.
Point
Roberts Registered Voters Ass’n
by Patrick
Brady
This year
the Point Roberts Registered Voters’ Association has been hard
at work looking at some new issues and revisiting some old issues.
First the negotiations between Whidbey Telephone Company and the
PRRVA are complete. The residents of Point Roberts can now breathe
a little easier when that monthly telephone bill comes in knowing
that the rates in the county have been reduced from $0.12 per
minute to $0.05 per minute.
The PRRVA
is making an effort to work with the United States postal service
with the goal being to do some form of reorganization or expansion
of the current facility to accommodate the long lines created
during high volume mailing times. Les Stewart from the USPS who
oversees the operation of the Point Roberts post office from Seattle
was scheduled to meet with members from the board of directors,
but unfortunately was unable to attend. A new meeting has not
been rescheduled by Mr. Stewart’s office.
NEXUS and
border line-ups is another issue that the PRRVA has been steadily
working at. Meetings have been ongoing with staff from Congressman
Rick Larsen’s office and representatives from Homeland Security.
Last, the
PRRVA launched its new website, www.pointrobertsvoters.com to
keep our membership better informed with the current issues at
hand.
The PRRVA
would like to take this opportunity to thanks its membership,
representatives from local, state, and federal government and
all the concerned residents of Point Roberts that come out and
help work on these vital issues. It truly shows what can happen
when we all work together.
Point
Roberts Library
By Kristin
Lomedico
Great news
for the armchair patron: Visit the library online anytime! Use
the barcode on your (free) library card and access excellent (and
free) databases not found without a price anywhere else: FACTS.com
and World almanac list history; Reference USA and ABI/INFORM Trade
research businesses; Health and Wellness Reference Center provides
medical info; Heritage Quest traces genealogy; there’s the Bellingham
Herald index; even car repair from the Automotive Repair Reference
Center (get that Pete?); and many useful sites to search for biographies,
literature, magazines and more. Very good news and three cheers
for the Friends of the Library and all the generous folk who helped
and enjoyed a night with the Brass Belles, the hometown picnic,
and the annual joke telling contest. At county library events
kids got to make valentines, halloween masks, edible blood, and
fake snot!
Of course
they “read up a storm” in the summer reading program. Lots of
teens read this summer and the few who wrote short reviews won
substantial prizes for their efforts, all donated by local and
county merchants and Friends of the Library. Preschoolers came
in pajamas on chilly Tuesday evenings to listen to stories told
by our fine local storytellers.
Good news
for everyone: An easier format at the library’s website, (www.wcls.org)
for patrons to make requests, renew items, and review personal
records; a new internet filtering system available at all county
branch libraries in 2004 to allow all patrons, and parents of
minors under 18 years to choose various levels of internet access;
and a new resource for preschool day care centers features theme
kits with books and activities, also available for home-schoolers.
At Point Roberts circulation stats were up three percent from
last year, and our library continues to get rave reviews from
satisfied “customers.”
Kinda bad
news because of overall budget constraints, no additional open
hours for Point Roberts anytime soon. However, our staff is proud
to serve you when we can: Tuesdays 4 8 p.m., Wednesdays 11 5
p.m., Saturday 10 4 p.m.
Future news:
Continuing events for kids, including winter and spring story
time nights and a February valentine program; Friends of the Library
sponsored events include Bye-Bye Winter Blues with the Brass Belles
and Saxifried on January 17, a tall tales contest in March, the
annual joke contest in July, and an autumn book sale.
Coming soon:
Automatic internet passes that monitor time logged on, thus ending
those nervous “just a minute””moments waiting for your turn at
the public internet station. And that’s free too.
Last word:
Come find videos, DVDs, CD-ROMs, books on tape and on CD, magazines,
and information, as well as books at the library. Happy New Year
and good reading, everyone!
Point
Roberts Seniors
By Armene
Belless
2003 was
a very big year for our senior center. We presently have 137 members
and we added many new activities and classes. Of course, the most
exciting thing that happened was when we received Point Roberts
parks district support enabling us to open on Fridays in 2004
and then the levy passed in November with excellent community
support. Our first day of Friday operation will be announced in
the All Point Bulletin as soon as Whatcom County parks/senior
services and the Point Roberts parks district work out the details.
We are anticipating adding Friday services sometime in the spring.
The senior
center sponsors the flu shot and blood screening clinic, annual
hearing tests, AARP safe-driving class, meals on wheels, bridge
club, and annual spring hobby fair and our traveling bocce teams.
Highlights of 2003 would have to include our photography, watercolor
painting and computer classes. (Check Senior’s Point every month
for new classes.)
We are presently
inviting people to join our kitchen band. If you can play a kazoo,
tambourine, bucket, maracas, washboard or a dinner bell, this
could be your chance for fame (and lots of fun entertaining at
nursing homes and schools). Only people willing to wear silly
hats and have lots of fun need apply! Come by the center and we
will “make you an offer you can’t refuse.”
We plan to
have several fund-raiser bake sales featuring our famous homemade
pies next spring and summer. Blackberry and strawberry-rhubarb
pies are our specialties. Watch for signs!
As the baby
boomers begin retiring, we expect to see even bigger numbers of
active retirees at our center. Our present membership ranges in
age from 55 to 90 and we averaged 50 lunches per Wednesday in
2003.
I am happy
to report that our center is renowned for its warmth, energy and
friendliness. All the members of our senior community, full-time
and part-time residents as well as visitors are always welcome
at the center.See
you there!
Don’t forget
Dial-A-Ride. A small bus services Point Roberts every second and
fourth Tuesday. It leaves the community center at 8:45 a.m., takes
riders to Bellis Fair in Bellingham or it will drop you at the
doctor’s office, etc. Stops are also made at a supermarket. Around
2 p.m., the bus heads back to the Point. Handicapped people may
be picked up at their home. You are required to make a reservation
by calling 360/384-DIAL. This service is available to people of
all ages at no cost.
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