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LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR
The Editor:
I guess you have seen the latest thing in Point Roberts, called “put
your garbage on the road allowance,” and attach a “free” sign
to it. On Saturday, June 27, as I left my driveway, I observed
a white pick-up with Washington plates dump a load of rotten
lumber with nails sticking out, and attach a sign saying “free
firewood.” This is false advertising. You would need a
firebox with a 10-foot opening and more gasoline than the average
person could afford just to burn this rotted wood, but if successful,
you would be left with the nails – and with the price of
scrap metal you might make a buck.
I guess these cheap individuals think that the “free” sign
gets them out of a littering ticket. If so, this could be a boon
to the local garbage company with fuel prices they way they are.
Arthur should just dump loads on various corners and place a
sign saying, “free – used food.” Better still,
the Potty Wagon could do the same, with a “recycled food – free!” sign.
Think of all the money that could be saved and we wouldn’t
have to put up with that salt sea air smell that permeates the
Point anymore. In any case, I’m sure the brain trust in
the county will jump on this and create an ordinance that forces
you to put a “free” sticker on all the various and
sundry items you heave out, adding another onerous burden to
the freeloaders – damn government.
Ron Calder
Point Roberts
The Editor:
I am a journalist and property owner in Point Roberts, one of
the many who is anxiously awaiting a water connection, one
who was led to believe that a water problem didn’t exist
when I bought my land last summer.
Needless to say, I have been following developments, such as
they are, and I find myself deeply disturbed by what I have learned.
If it is, indeed, the intention of the water board to ration
the connections in such a fashion that a developer can get dozens
of connections at one draw while the rest of us get only one,
then this is not a just distribution. It doesn’t take a
doctorate in mathematics to figure out that the statistics favor
the developer, whose odds remain the same while – should
he win – the rest then have considerably diminished odds.
Certainly if this is the case – one supported apparently
by precedents – then I’ll be first in line to sue
you, and I’ll be doing my homework and rallying all the
rest to a class action suit.
What would be just would be that the connections each have a
corresponding lottery ticket; if the developer then gets all
he wants, fine, if not, he too can wait. And by the way, if I’m
not mistaken, it was favoring the developers – i.e. the
golf course – that got Point Roberts into this mess in
the first place. Apropos of this, my real estate agent commented
that the mismanagement of the elected representatives is not
their responsibility because they weren’t really qualified.
This suggests that one is not responsible for being irresponsible:
it was irresponsible for them to take up a task they couldn’t
handle.
I have looked to make the best of a bad situation, but I am disturbed
to learn that every reasonable alternative I look into is either
blocked by law or bureaucracy: no one seems to be able to give
me an answer to my questions concerning why I can’t build
a cistern and truck in water, for example, as they do in the
Gulf Islands, or simply collect rain water. So here I am paying
taxes on a property on which I can’t build, indeed, may
never be able to build if the authorities in control continue
to underwrite developers, and on which I can’t even camp.
Where is the justice in all this?
I am deeply suspicious of motives and connections here. I wrote
a letter to The All Point Bulletin, suggesting that the so-called “win-win” situation,
which would involve giving a substantial number of connections
to a developer who would build a cistern for the area was a little
like having the fox watch the hen house. They didn’t publish
it. I wonder if this one will be published. Meanwhile, as a journalist
whose work is published internationally (bmcaphoto.com), I won’t
find it hard to get the news out.
I am sure you are inundated by concerned property owners; however,
I would appreciate a response to this letter or at least an acknowledgement
of its receipt.
Barbara McClatchie Andrews
Yucatan, Mexico
The Editor:
I am writing this letter with a full heart, absolutely overwhelmed
at the kindness, in many cases hard work, and giving spirit
of the wonderful people who live here in Point Roberts. I just
had major surgery and our family wouldn’t have been able
to cope were it not for our many friends and fantastic neighbors.
I hope I haven’t forgotten anybody as I try to list the
people I must thank. Here goes:
Patti, June, Ron, Sue, Kris, Cam & Catherine, Manny & Christina,
Marg & Bill, Wendy & Mike, Heather, Fernie, Darlene & Al,
Julia, Lesley, Madeleine, Renee, the water office gang, Arthur,
Dean, Ruth, Alberto, my good friend and “ex,” Dale,
Pam at the school and the wonderful babysitting team of primary
school parents including Anita, Elaine, Tracy, Sandy and Suzanne.
Also my dear friend and cousin Al, who has been my “wheels” whilst
I can’t drive. Of course last but not least a huge thank
you to my family; Milton (temporary house-husband extraordinaire),
Stacy and Annie.
Thank you for the cards, inquires and best wishes, phone calls,
flowers, baked goods, dinners(!), chocolates and most of all
for your love and support. I feel truly blessed and appreciate
you all so much.
I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the staff
and friends of “the heart of our community;” Point
Roberts Primary, who passed the hat and raised money to help
us with our expenses following Stacy’s accident. He is
recovering very well and extends heartfelt thanks and appreciation.
A quick side note, Milt’s last letter to the paper about
Stacy’s accident was rushed to make the deadline. Dale
is Stacy’s Dad, not Milton, and our apologies to Dale for
not making that clear!
Sue Johnson
Point Roberts
The Editor:
Thanks to the generosity of the daughter of Elsa Piper, Trinity
Lutheran Church has a brand new six-foot Fandwich grand piano.
Elsa’s daughter and her husband (Nancy and Richard Pierce)
gave this gift in memory of her mother. Already the piano has
been enjoyed by the entire community as it has been used for
several concerts as well as church services. It is a special
blessing to have such a high quality piano in a small community
like Point Roberts. Several concerts are planned for the remainder
of the years, including a vocal concert by Tasha Neufeld, a
piano and violin concert featuring the Munro family, a piano
trio from Bellingham and a piano recital by Arthur Brown, a
well-known Bellingham artist.
Elsa Thorsteinson Piper was born on her parent’s farm on
Point Roberts in 1903. She grew up listening to the local church
choir practice and when she was older, participated in choirs
and church music. Her family enjoyed singing around the pump
organ in the parlor of their farm home. Always having a love
of music, she encouraged her daughters to study piano and Nancy
later graduated from Oberlin College and retired this year after
teaching public music school for 25 years.
Elsa always loved music and inspired others to sing and play
instruments, whether it was around a campfire on the beach, at
family reunions, or in church services. During her summer visits
to me (her niece) on the family farm, she often requested piano
music in the evenings, played by me or her daughter, Laurie Brown.
She loved the beautiful soprano voice of her niece, Joan Linde,
who often sang for family weddings, funerals and other occasions.
So it is especially appropriate that this wonderful gift should
be given to the community, which she loved so well, in her memory
and we wish to thank Nancy and her family for this amazing gift.
A memorial service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church for
Elsa at 2 p.m. on July 22, at which time friends and family will
gather from near and far to give thanks for her 102 years of
a life richly lived.
Sylvia Schonberg
Point Roberts
The Editor:
Last Friday evening sometime after 6 p.m. my black cat was hit
and killed at the corner of Mill Road and Shaw Crescent. I
want the person who hit my cat to know that he was a very loyal
cat, in fact, he was more than a cat, he was my close companion
and friend.
How thoughtless to hit and kill something and not even stop.
You must not be a very nice or caring person.
Thank God it wasn’t a child.
Sharon Munroe
Point Roberts
The Editor:
For all walkers, runners, gardeners, rowers, and people in Point
Roberts who have adopted a healthy lifestyle, have some fun
on a website.
The Point Roberts Public hospital district is joining with other
organizations in Washington to support the Healthiest State in
the nation campaign.
As such, you as individual community members can participate
at no cost by logging on your “miles” for any activity
or healthy changes you make or have in your life.
By logging onto the website www.whf.org and logging in as a individual
champion, you can set your goal and register your activities
and healthy changes and earn “miles.” This can also
be done indicating you are a resident of Point Roberts and earn
recognition for our community.
To learn about all the possibilities, take a look at the website
and register your miles to show just how all the folks in Point
Roberts are as healthy, if not healthier, than all the other
communities in the state.
Margery Biery
Hospital district superintendent
Point Roberts
The Editor:
Thanks to county planning director Hal Hart and parks superintendent
Mike McFarlane for taking time on a Father’s Day weekend
to travel to Point Roberts and attend the Taxpayers AGM.
Over the past year, county government has lavished extraordinary
time and taxpayer money on outreach programs for Point Roberts.
What has been the result of the three “community meetings” over
the past year? The only tangible evidence I can see is a four-way
stop at Mill and Johnson.
Every county official – Pete Kremen, county council members,
planning staff, public works, parks, a superior court judge,
etc, have been up to Point Roberts over the past year to offer
their ears – and county taxpayer resources – to address
the concerns of our “unique” community. Ditto for
our state legislators. Earlier this year, Dale Brandland, Kelli
Linville and Doug Ericksen attended a town meeting in Point Roberts
to hear community input.
All of five people showed up for that event, including Meg Olson,
who was there to record the event for your newspaper. This embarrassing
lack of interest sends a definite message to your state and county
officials. Point Roberts residents are either very happy with
the status quo or very lazy. Or both.
The indulgences of the county to cater to the whims of residents
are not going to last forever. There are many small communities
in Whatcom County that have real problems – crime, pollution,
illegal immigration, etc. Residents of these communities would
love to switch places with Point Roberts and trade our “problems” with
theirs.
For anyone truly interested in what is going on at the county
level, information is just a keystroke away. Anyone with a search
engine can access Whatcom County planning and find out about
permitting, code enforcement, who to contact, etc.
Not being informed is no longer an excuse for Point residents.
And if you really want to make a difference or champion a cause,
try attending a county council meeting. Get in your car and make
the 100-mile round trip to Bellingham if you are fired up about
a particular issue. County and state officials have been making
that trip to Point Roberts for the past year. Now it’s
your turn.
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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