LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Editor:
Studies from prestigious medical journals including The Lancet indicate that electromagnetic smog emanating from cell phones and cell phone towers cause insomnia, decreased energy, depression, irritability, compromised adrenal function, impaired sperm mobility, cancer and death. Are these dangers truly “overblown” as Linda Hughes and Irene Waters of the parks board seem to think?A few decades ago, the notion that inhaling tobacco smoke could be dangerous was regarded as alarmist, unfounded, and almost superstitious.
Ads urged people to “reach for a cigarette instead of a sweet” and doctors routinely advised patients to take up smoking as a means of weight control. After all, the tobacco companies would surely never sell anything that was dangerous (being good corporate citizens) and the government would certainly never permit the sale of tobacco unless it was safe, right? A few generations later, lung cancer, emphysema and smoking-related heart disease are among the top causes of death and disability and smoking is universally recognized as deadly. Our earlier refusal to admit this is today seen as lunacy.
Meanwhile, Verizon is selling hundreds of thousands of cell phones – highly compact ultra-high-frequency transceivers with antennas that just happen to be situated directly above the ear when the device is in use.
These good corporate citizens wouldn’t do this unless they were sure the devices were safe, would they? Surely there are government agencies that regulate these devices to be sure they’re safe, right? Wrong. The safety of cell phones has not been demonstrated and, in fact, two industry-sponsored studies www.consumeraffairs.com/news/ cell_phone_cancer_link.htm have raised early but disturbing evidence tying the devices to brain cancer. The Federal Communications Commission regulates cell phone emissions but only from the standpoint of preventing interference to other users.
Lured by a proposed contract with Verizon that would net the parks board $1,000 or so per month, in a short sighted policy the parks board now seeks to bath the people of Point Roberts in a sea of harmful electromagnetic radiation emanating from a cell phone tower they intend to locate near Baker Field. Attempts are being made to placate us by telling us that there will be a “public hearing.” Yeah, but not here – in Bellingham before the county hearing examiner. Well I have news for the parks commissioners: the cell phone industry is self indemnifying which means that when the sewage hits the fan, everybody is going to get sued personally, including parks commissioners. I wouldn’t want my ass in that wringer. Fight back with the Point Roberts Alliance Against Electromagnetic Radiation to bring Milt Bowling of the Clean Energy Foundation www.cleanenergycanada.com/ to give a public lecture about the dangers of electromagnetic radiation.
John Hammell
Point Roberts

The Editor:
Americans are known worldwide for their sense of patriotism and pride in their country, and have shown it in one way by having wonderful and colorful parades from the largest of their cities, to the smallest of their towns.
What has happened to Point Roberts this year? The parade was very disappointing and drab and not up to American standards. Thank goodness for the Vancouver, B.C. police motorcycle routines.
Where are the school bands? (Or any bands?) Where are the clowns? Where are the floats? (Not just a line of old cars and trucks.) Why were the horses not decorated and the riders costumed? Even the fire truck did not have a flag or decoration on it and only one fireman tossing out one candy at a time.
The Point is going through a strong development stage. So many new residents, beautiful homes and family residences are being built, many older summer places are undergoing renovations.
The businesses, such as food markets, restaurants, real estate firms, building trades – to name a few– must be really happy. So why are they not putting some effort and donations into the one day of the year that they can thank their patrons. And make the Fourth of July parade and celebrations special for the people of the community and neighboring areas.
Come on members of the chamber of commerce – get your guys and girls of the businesses motivated. Where’s your civic pride?
D. Hadley
Point Roberts

The Editor:
This is an open letter to the middle-aged man driving the newer green and silver Subaru wagon with Washington plates who parked in the disabled persons parking space at the Point Roberts post office on Friday, June 30 at approximately 11:45 a.m.
You drove into the parking lot, which was barely half full, and, with a furtive glance around to see if anyone was watching, chose to park in the disabled parking space rather than utilizing any of the numerous other spaces that were available. I noticed that your vehicle had no handicapped tags or stickers in evidence, as required to utilize that space. I gave you the benefit of the doubt as you parked while I was entering the post office. As you left your vehicle to enter the building at the same time as me, I politely mentioned that you had parked in a disabled persons space, thinking that perhaps you didn’t see the markings. You barely slowed down as you rushed past me and stated, “I see that,” and headed for your mailbox. Sadly, your reaction that day spoke volumes as to your attitude.
The combination of your arrogance and ignorance was appalling. The following information is from the Washington State Department of Licensing website, which states: “You or your passenger must have and display a disabled person’s parking placard or license plate to park in these stalls. There is a $250 fine for parking in stalls without displaying the required placard or plate and for blocking the access aisle next to a space reserved for physically disabled persons.”
Perhaps you just don’t care – you believe your valuable time is more important than the accessibility of public buildings to those less fortunate than yourself. Do not assume that just because you are ‘only utilizing the space for a few minutes’ as you pick up your mail that it makes your actions any less serious. It does not.
You were last noticed driving into the Marketplace parking lot, possibly in search of another disabled parking space to use. I would hope that after reading this letter you will feel ashamed of your actions, and change your behavior in the future. For those of us who have relatives and friends who legitimately need these spaces I sincerely hope that will be the case.
P. Moore
Delta

The Editor:
We wanted to thank everyone who participated in the Fourth of July parade, whether by watching or walking or riding – especially those who organized it. It was our first Fourth of July living here on Point Roberts and we never expected a parade in so small a town. It was great!
Natasha Neufeld, choir director at Trinity Lutheran church was kind enough to invite our girls to walk in the parade dressed as Bible characters. After walking, my eight-year-old, who was dressed as Queen Esther, said, “This was the best Fourth of July ever!”
Thanks again.
Pam & Bob Passburg
Point Roberts

The Editor:
While shopping in Tsawwassen earlier in the month a flyer swooped about the car kicked up by a gust of wind, or maybe bad karma! A typewriten sheet folded long-way, it featured in 2-inch capital letters on one-half the cheery words “GO HOME.”
Hmmm, I thought, doesn’t sound like the Tsawwassen Chamber of Commerce to me. Flipping it over I espied the following message, all in capital letters, much of it bold, utterly verbatim as follows: “You are the most hated and feared people on earth. The USA is a rogue country with insane leaders. No country wants you as visitors or invaders. You are responsible for the crimes of your government. The torture and slaughter of innocents and the rape of the world is on your hands. Shame on you all. Bring home all your troops from everywhere. Clean up your cesspool of a country. And for God’s sake stay home.”
Of course, the writer did not sign their handiwork, no website to go to, no e-mail address, no moniker of any kind. All of which signals one core quality of the author: cowardice. Absolutely no courage.
Now I have no idea whether this was the work of one from normally tame Tsawwassen or from our laid-back cousins in Ladner or even for that matter an agent provocateur from the USA trying to stir up bad feelings between our countries. Wherever this person lives, no matter. Their message displays precisely the kind of wrath championed by Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda and Hamas et al toward the U.S. Equally so the wrath of Mr. Bush and his White House toward Hussein, bin Laden, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and others whose beliefs are anathema to western cultural hegemony. On a quality level there is nothing much if anything to distinguish the anger of the leafleteer from that of the political characters I mentioned. On an emotional level they’re all roughly the same. Haters.
Albeit an apology generally is worthless unless spontaneously issued by the offending party, allow me to nevertheless extend to anyone from Washington who may have received one of these offensive flyers my own personal sincere regrets that you should be confronted with such angry and abusive conduct simply for visiting us and mingling agreeably in our midst. Of this you can be sure. We are not all haters in this country. Come back and be our friends any time at all. You’re always welcome!
W. Baird Blackstone
Tsawwassen

The Editor:
We definitely do need a Verizon cellular tower in Point Roberts. I’m referring to the statements made by Mr. Hammell and Ms. Rosser during the AGM of the Point Roberts Taxpayers Association.
Why anyone would be against a U.S. cell tower is way beyond me.
The only people that would not welcome a Verizon cell tower are those with Canadian cell phones. When Verizon builds the tower all Canadian cell phones would be “roaming” in Point Roberts. Unless an individual has a U.S./Canadian plan this would cost Canadian cell phone customers roaming charges.
I’m a Verizon customer and look forward to having this tower built.
Jim Marshall
Point Roberts

The Editor:
On Sunday July 16, my friend Catherine MacDonald who owns a cottage in Point Roberts and I had the wonderful experience of doing the Point Roberts garden tour. The beautiful booklet map were great tools for getting around the point. To all the garden greeters and owners, thank you for a beautiful experience.
Elaine Fox and Catherine MacDonald
Point Roberts

The Editor
Some time ago, (two years?) when the whale washed up on the south beach of Point Roberts, I, along with many others who witnessed the event, was astounded by the size of the animal. I had never seen a beached whale before (other than in movie footage) and the sight was something I shall never forget. Recently, I was reflecting on the incident and afterwards felt compelled to write the following piece, Reflections on a Drowned Whale.
Dead though you are, I still may speak to you in awe, your thund’rous bulk beached on this shore. Whence came you? Which the sea that bore you? How many leagues flowed by you on your wave-washed journey? You, who traveled sunken plans of shell and bone, saw ribs of ships and shapes foregone; lie now blind in your death. Sea birds have taken your eyes.
E.J. Kettle
Delta, B.C.

The Editor:
I would like the opportunity to respond to internationally published journalist Barbara McClatchie Andrews. First, anyone who has a website is “internationally published,” and you are obviously not an investigative journalist, or you would have known the term “caveat emptor,” and checked out which utilities were available before you bought. I am not a deeply serious person like you, but could your motive have been to cash in on a hot market?
Your remark about the golf course shows your total ignorance of the facts, apropos it would be a waste of ink to try to educate someone like you. On your lawsuit – who are you going to sue? Certainly not the water board, they didn’t tell anyone water was no problem.
Perhaps whoever sold you the property said that, or the real estate agent who made derogatory remarks about the commissioners told you that. In any case, you would need some class to get some action and you haven’t shown any so far. I guess you’re a fiction journalist from some imaginary place in Mexico – it’s probably Casa Dementia, but in any case, Alice, I wish you happiness in Wonderland. Don’t forget to feed the dog.
Ron Calder
Point Roberts

The Editor:
We would like to let the voters of Point Roberts know that their registered voters association is organizing a Meet the Candidate night for Wednesday, September 27 at the community center. We will be contacting primary candidates for county, states and national office and we hope that some of the finalists will be able to come to Point Roberts on September 27 to address and hear from the voters.
Closer to election day, we hope to convene a second, similar forum involving candidates for our local Point Roberts boards and advocates and opponents of any ballot measures.
Campbell McClusky, president, Point
Roberts Registered Voters Association
Point Roberts

The Editor:
Thank you, thank you and thank you! Hardly seems to be enough to say for the absolutely overwhelming response we had for the Point Roberts seniors annual BBQ at Lighthouse Park on Wednesday, July 19.
The weather was one of those peek-a-boo days with the sun, but that didn’t dampen the happy glow that was on the faces of the more than 100 people who shared our salmon and chicken BBQ.
Our special thanks to our chef Ronnie Carruthers and our senior volunteers who worked very hard the day before the BBQ and on the day of the BBQ to achieve this success; especially Monika Zeilinger, Armene Belless, Curt Bush, Jim & Joan Linde, Bev Griffith, Pattie Rafferty, Henry Rosenthal, Florence Johnson, Martin Anderson, Ben and his staff at Lighthouse Park who set up the many tables, Steve O’Neill for his BBQ. We had a raffle and door prize donations from Kitty at the Blue Heron Gallery and Valerie Mayer’s beautiful prints, Ben for his game of Woof, baked goods from Caffe Capanna, gift certificates from Joan at Brewster’s and a walking stick that Jim Linde made. Thank you to our musicians, Tony and Irene Slater. All the wonderful gifts contributed to our success. Thank you to all our senior members and guests who attended.
Ruth Liukkonen, coordinator, Point
Roberts Seniors
Point Roberts

The Editor:
A special thank you to members of the Point Roberts Garden Club for organizing so perfectly well the eighth annual garden tour at the Point on Sunday July 16.
We participants enjoyed a lovely, first time tour of all the gardens of those participating on the Friday before the Sunday tour, ending with a wonderful reception and dinner at the home of Maggie and Doug Ritchie on Bayview Drive in Maple Beach. What a delicious treat enjoyed by all.
Maggie is president of the garden club and chair of the garden tour committee.
Folks are encouraged to join the garden club – membership is only $5. It meets on the first Saturday of each month at the community center at 9:30 a.m.
July 16 was truly a sunny, happy great day at the Point. Thanks to the garden club.
Dick & Effie Abrahmson, Gate 6
participants
Point Roberts

The Editor:
I read with interest your article on the proposal to purchase Lily Point for the community. I fully agree that this would be ideal since having an untouchable area of pristine forest would add a measure of security for those of us who like the rural and natural beauties of the Point. And my wife and I would certainly consider helping whether we’re buying by the square foot or by annual pledge.
However, I am concerned that this effort could become more controversial and difficult if secondary agendas become part of the process. I note that one of the new members of the committee states that he also wishes to block the installation of a cellular tower here on the Point and that another member agrees, citing privacy concerns over cell phone call records.
I personally would like to see a cell tower on the Point, if it can be sited in an inconspicuous area, like the landfill for example. There are many of us here who miss the convenience of being in touch when we’re on the Point. It seems silly that we can only use our phones by going into B.C. There are business people here as well that would likely benefit from being in touch. And, with the recent advent of cellular high-speed broadband access, this offers an alternative to the present cable and ADSL options.
As to health concerns, I feel the science is far from clear on the effects of wireless technology. Certainly a motivated person will be able to find studies that raise health concerns. However, an equally motivated person who disagrees will be able to find as many studies that counter those concerns. Furthermore, if individuals want to avoid such risks, they would be much better served not using the transmitter in the phone next to their ear where any emissions might be maximized, rather than trying to restrict the right of the rest of us to make appropriate decisions for ourselves. At what point do we decide enough is enough? Technically, if you are to believe that anti-cell tower folks, we should also ban the use of wireless computer networks in our homes and in hot spots like Caffe Capanna.
As to the security of phone records and national security interests, the horse has been long ago let out of that barn. Anyone with a credit card and internet access these days can purchase, illegally or not, anyone’s phone records. Whether Verizon released such records inappropriately has yet to be determined and should not play a part in this decision.
So, let’s let the Lily Point discussion be just that. Let’s band together and try to preserve this beautiful mini-park for our future generations. I’m all for it. But at the same time, allow the cellular phone tower issue to stand on its own, to prevail or fail, as determined by the majority of the residents here. I’m willing to stand by the will of the majority and I hope all opponents of the tower will be able to do likewise.
Leonard Hamm
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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