LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Editor:
Environmentalist Republican is an oxymoron. An environmentalist is one who is dedicated to saving the environment, not to destroying it by exploiting it in the name of profit. A real estate mogul looked out over the forest now known as Muir Woods and proclaimed it ripe for “development,” to which the true environmentalist John Muir is reported to have replied: “It looks to me like it is already developed and God did a pretty good job of it.”
Doug Ericksen’s henchmen, the former Republican PCOs, claimed that I distorted the employment record of their candidate, when in fact, my information came directly from the horse’s mouth, as it were. I raised that issue at the candidates’ forum and Doug made no effort to rebut or deny my statement.
Candidates expenditures are a matter of public record and I’m sure that record indicates that the henchmen are again spreading misinformation in that Boyle was definitely outspent by the Republican candidate in 2002.
Of course, Republicans have a good record when it comes to lies: WMDs, al Quaeda connections, mission accomplished, tax cuts will create jobs, etc., etc., ad infinitum, ad nauseam.
And yes I am still mad as hell about the 2000 presidential selection when “activist judges” whom the Republicans seem to abhor when decisions are made in favor of civil rights advocates, made the decision to override “states’ rights,” (another Republican code word for restricting voting rights) to reject the Florida court’s ruling that the recount should continue. Do I smell hypocrisy? You bet I do! And that goes double for any self-styled environmentalist who uses the public street for his ashtray.
Ted Mohr
Point Roberts

The Editor:
The Point Roberts PTO would like to express their sincere thanks to Ann Christi, for her kind and considerate donation to our PTO organization in memory of the late Ellen Wilkowski.
Our organization has a long-standing tradition of providing fun events for children such as the Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Lighthouse Park, Field Day at Point Roberts primary school and Halloween party (all of which are an open invitation to siblings and pre-schoolers), as well as providing educational resources not otherwise available to our local classrooms. Ellen enjoyed visiting Point Roberts often, and was especially fond of attending the fun events for the children.
With the success of our various fund raisers and generous donations to the PTO, we have upheld these traditions and this year have already managed to provide extra classroom resources such as current event magazine subscriptions, kazoos to the musical department, and the establishment of a small fund for classroom “extras” – such as specialty arts and craft supplies.
Thank you, Ms. Christi, your gift is especially generous in memory of Ellen, and the funds will be used directly in sponsoring the special events that Ellen was so fond of attending.
On behalf of our entire organization and all of the children, thank you.
Linda Hughes, PTO president
Point Roberts

The Editor:
To read that some Wallace Avenue residents, right along the border, closest to that droning, whining, peace-piercing Point Roberts leaf vacuum aren’t bothered by it is a bit of a puzzler; however, the people cited are elderly and perhaps hard of hearing, or perhaps reluctant to admit they’re being bothered for fear their property values will drop.
And then there are the strange ways noise can travel: those closest to a noise aren’t always those who hear it or hear it the best – when Mt. St. Helen’s blew in 1980, people immediately north of it in Washington state didn’t hear the boom but we did: it ‘leaped’ right over them; people directly in front of train engines don’t always hear the engines nor their whistles as well as those farther away; and that peace-piercing drone from that Point Roberts leaf vacuum is more bothersome when my bedroom window is closed than when it’s open. A noise expert will confirm these oddities.
To read that the golf course manager claims that his leaf vacuum and its peace-piercing noise does not start early in the morning and claim too that it is not bothersome is blatant deny, deny, deny. That noise started quite regularly all summer just after sunrise and went on – and goes on – for most of the day.
Why? I’d suggest our city hall and our MLA and our MP go to bat for us; after all Point Roberts needs Delta and its swimming pools and its playing fields and its emergency fire and police services and its ambulances and its water and its roads and its freeway and its business and its doctors and its dentists and its veterinarians a billion times more than Delta needs Point Roberts.
Could you tell me where I can sign that petition?
Greg J. Edwards
Tsawwassen, B.C.

The Editor:
It would be a mistake for county executive Pete Kremen to assume that “there was sparse community interest” in the proposed Point Roberts Rural Advisory Committee (RAC) as reported in last month’s All Point Bulletin. Particularly when your newspaper reported in July that county planning staff had been “deluged with proposals from different groups and individuals aspiring to form the closest thing the Point will have to a government.”
Too bad the project got shelved. In our post-National Geographic climate, fueled by a real estate boom and a climbing 80 cent dollar, some form of credible community representation to the outside world might be worth a try.
Every legitimate Point Roberts business and community group was represented on the proposed RAC. Applicants were reviewed by the county executive and planning department over a three-month period and chosen based on their qualifications and the support of their member organizations. In addition to providing a broad base of representation, the group would have operated under Whatcom County business rules and compliance with the Washington State Open Meetings Act. That feature alone would have distinguished the group from the slipshod procedures of local boards.
Over the past year, Whatcom County Council has been courted and harangued by individuals and groups that troop down to Bellingham, purporting to speak for Point Roberts. In February, there was a pitch by development interests for taxpayer funds for a $4.5 million sewage treatment plant that most residents and taxpayers don’t want. In April, it was an attempt by the same interests to scuttle the current tree retention regulations that most residents would like to keep.
Any movement for change in Point Roberts has its critics, including our local op-ed rube, whose civic and personal history over the years is devoid of any significant accomplishment. But any positive change is going to come from those with the initiative to step forward, not from those whose lack of nerve limits them to submitting goofy letters to a monthly newspaper.
John Lesow
Point Roberts

The Editor:
It is refreshing to know that there is a small slice of Nirvana on this planet. With a world full of famine, pestilence, war and a megalomaniac President.
That there is a place that exists where the biggest problem is the matter of horse poop on a street.
The offending horse poop is mostly grass, after all, that washes away in the first rain. Thank you for a moment of sheer delight for the oh so earnest letter on this subject. You know who you are.
Stephen J. Carlyon
Point Roberts & Blaine

The Editor:
When you’re up that creek, its good to know there’s someone around to throw you a paddle.
I’d like to thank Dean McIntyre for giving me a tow a while back when my Laser was becalmed about a mile off Lighthouse Park.
The current was setting me in the direction of the ferry, and I’m grateful to Dean for helping me get back in.
A week ago, I was sailing in a good breeze off South Beach and when I was putting the boat back on the dolly, a wave broke in my cockpit, stoving in a loose inspection port causing the whole hull to fill with water which made it weigh about a thousand pounds. I had it halfway on the dolly and could not budge it. Wind driven waves were breaking in my cockpit.
I’d like to thank the Point Roberts volunteer fire department for coming down on the beach with a comealong and assisting me in winching the water-filled hull back up on the beach. Ditto for the man from the sheriff’s department who came down to assist. I repaired both the dolly and the holed boat and look forward to many more good days of sailing before the winter storms set in.
John Hammell
Point Roberts

The Editor:
Your last paper proved my previous points about law enforcement. Joe Citizen teenager allegedly smuggles approximately $14,000 in pot and gets more news coverage than Neil Armstrong’s moonwalk. Now comes Mr. Cory Whitfield with a million six in B.C. Bud and gets page nine.
I always give people the benefit of the doubt because I have no trust or respect for law enforcement, as they like to be called. This is not to say that they are all bad, because they are not. There are many honest people doing their jobs - like the one who nailed Mr. Whitfield, who admits that it was not his first time.
As a law enforcement person what was he doing working clubs where drugs are the soup du jour? He worked supposedly as a bouncer but is afraid of the bad men who he says were blackmailing him. This coward must have been a bouncer at a preschool. I have never seen a law enforcement type that didn’t turn into a sniveling wimp when caught. Like Baretta says, “Don’t do the crime, if you can’t do the time.” But I’m sure his lawyers will play the full deck from race card to space card.
There is a very simple solution to all of this - treat all law enforcement and government people, elected or employed, like they treat truckers. Mandatory drug testing federally legislated. As a matter of fact, I just had my latest one on October 14, commonly called the Whiz Quiz by drivers. No studying necessary, just a full bladder, a little bottle and everyone passes or fails as the case may be.
You would think that law enforcement would jump at the chance to lead by example, but think again. They have sued different jurisdictions that tried to implement these programs. Too bad, it sure weeds out the bad apples. Is it just my bad hearing, or is our esteemed prosecutor quiet on this one? Just wondering.
Ron Calder
Point Roberts

The Editor:
Have you been down to Alder Street?
If not, I think you should.
A lovely place for all to see
It’s “Mister Roger’s Neighborhood”
“It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood,”
We want you to remember,
Let’s keep it clean and always fresh
“So won’t you be my neighbor”
The children dance and play all day,
The folks are oh so swell.
But if you breathe the air around,
You’ll sense a farm-fresh smell
The picket fences line the street
Please come - but if you do,
Be careful where you place your feet
The horses have been there too.
The cats and dogs all play around
They welcome horses too
But if you choose to stay awhile
Watch out for number two.
Now boys and girls, let’s do our share
Let’s do us all a favor
We hope you’ll pick up after pets
And you can be our neighbor.
So listen all of you out there
Come visit us and sit
But if you bring your pets around
Be sure to bag the ____ .
Bert Remedios
Point Roberts

The Editor:
We would like to thank everyone for their help and support during our recent family medical emergency.
The Point Roberts sheriff’s office and fire department showed great care and compassion during this frightening time and we are very grateful.
A special thank you to our friends and neighbors for the phone calls, prayers, hugs and rides to the hospital.
Thank to all of the staff at St. Joseph Hospital for the exceptional care they gave to our child.
We are extremely thankful for all the wonderful people in our lives.
The Viner family
Point Roberts

The Editor:
A loud call out to parents, grandparents, and all child fans – the Point Robert library needs readers from November 2 to April for our story-telling program. Sign up for one day, two, or four. The program takes place on Tuesdays from 6:30 – 7 p.m. Sometimes we get eight - 10 kids, sometimes just one, but all the children will have the memory of being read to and discovering the library as a welcoming environment.
I can’t stress enough what an invaluable tool this is to give your children. The readers we already have signed up are incredibly enthusiastic and always make story-time a memory for the children. Songs, treats, games, puppets, all are encouraged. The program is advertised for three to seven year olds but younger and older children are welcome.
Side note: often while the kids are enjoying their time the library becomes a sort of happy hour for parents (without the martinis, of course, although we usually have some sort of chocolatey treat). It’s a great way to meet other parents, grandparents, and creative-minded folk.
Please support this program and let your children discover that we are so lucky in North America to have free access to wonderful books and events at libraries.
Our most recent upcoming event is the popular Grossology series hosted by the author of the Grossology series for children, Sylvia Branzei who lives in Point Roberts and travels around the world promoting fun science for children. The program is free! She will teach your kids science without them even realizing it!
Support your fantastic Point Roberts Library; volunteer, bring your children, read to your children, let them discover that a library is not just a place to go to when a book report is required.
Kiera Miller
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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