LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Editor and Folks From Across The Border:
You are always welcome here in Point Roberts. I am a dual citizen who lives here full time.
This past week I filled my pick-up truck with boxes left on my street as if it were a dump. These were empty boxes from parcels picked up at one of the postal units, then thrown out on my street. I would never do that in your neighborhood or street. Please remember that you represent your country when you cross the border and besides littering carries a hefty fine. The postal units do have trash cans so please leave it there.
I would like to mention another topic: I was so frustrated that the county had not really done much this year on the mowing of easements and fixing of potholes, that I wrote to the county department on this. I got a fast response from Clayton Silves at the county. The next day they were here fixing a pothole on my street and then proceeded to fix the ones at the entrance of the post office.
What I learned is that the county does not know our needs unless we notify them. If we do notify them, they are quick to take care of our issues.
I asked Clayton if I were to drive around the Point and make a list of road problems or whatever other needs we have for keeping this community looking good and safe, would he fix the problems. He said yes and to send them to the county by either mail, telephone or email. I don’t really have so much time available to do that but as a community we can. This applies only to county roads and issues not private drives or issues.
You can contact the county at: Maintenance & Operations, 901 W. Smith Road, Bellingham, WA 98226. Telephone: 360/676-6759, E-mail: MO@co.whatcom.wa.us
Ellen Roth
Point Roberts

The Editor:
What has American tourism ambassador Patti “stay in Delta/stay home” Vopnford been smoking? Obviously, something a little stronger (albeit less deadly) than tobacco. We’ve all heard of having a bee in one’s bonnet; it seems Vopnford has an entire carton of smoldering Camels in hers!
And then there’s Vopnford’s twin sister, Sue “I’d probably be a rabid anti-smoking crusader” Johnson, who uses incredibly similar language: Patti says, “Oh, Lordy, Errol”; Sue says, “Oh, dear, Errol” both were very offended by my use of the word “piggish” (if the shoe fits) and, while Johnson suggests I have no credibility, Vopnford suggests I have no friends! Johnson can describe my “assertions” as “silly” and “utter nonsense” all she likes: Any and all litter clean-ups, where the various categories of litter are recorded, show that smoking-related litter (butts, cellophane wrappers, cigarette packages, matches, spent lighters, empty chewing tobacco cans, etc.) are, consistently, far and away, the leading form of litter! Still don’t believe me? Call the Ocean Conservancy, which sponsors the Great Canadian Shoreline Clean Up.
Society as a whole (governments, courts and the general public) just doesn’t get it when it comes to tobacco. Most people seem to believe that the tobacco industry is, at worst, harmless (just another business, trying to make a living [read, killing], selling a “legal” [read, lethal] product) ... at best, a good corporate citizen (via its sponsorship of sporting and cultural events, its ‘philanthropy,’ etc.)! Hello?
Contrary to one nicotine cartel-perpetuated myth, we are not anti-smokers (that term clearly suggesting that we dislike or hate smokers); we’re anti-tobacco activists. In terms of tobacco litter, we’re anti-ignorance. And, while the nicotine cartel is our primary target, we will continue to oppose those who believe they have some God-given right to use the world as their ashtray!
If you take all of the self-loathing (“I already stink, right?”), confusion, changing the subject, name-calling and other insults out of her August ’07 letter, there’s not much left. I made it abundantly clear in my letter (July ’07) that not all smokers are “piggish.” So how does Vopnford respond? After telling us what a careful, concerned and non-littering smoker she is, she makes reference to “we ‘piggish’ smokers.”
Until trying, in any small way, to make the world a better place becomes a crime Patti, I’ll continue to travel the globe, fighting the good anti-tobacco fight. We are now calling for the total eradication of the tobacco industry from the face of the planet ... and I challenge you, any other nicotine cartel puppet or anyone else, up to and including the president and CEO of Philip Morris (one of the biggest tobacco companies in the world) to give me just one good, valid reason as to why the cartel should be allowed to continue to exist.
As expected, the silence is deafening!
Errol E. Povah, president, Airspace
Action on Smoking and Health
Delta, B.C.

The Editor:
The Monday Meander was a resounding success! Thank you to all of the artists who gave their time to demonstrate; to those artists who donated artwork for the free drawing; to the volunteers who distributed the maps and ‘passports;’ and to the visitors who participated. You made the Monday Meander a positive experience for young and old alike. You reinforced the concept that Point Roberts is a community that supports the arts. Keep B.C. Day (the Monday after the Arts and Music Festival) open next year and come learn a new technique and try your hand at creating.
Heidi Baxter, Kitty Doyle, Rose Momsen,
and Judy Ross
Point Roberts

The Editor:
In last month’s All Point Bulletin, there were two letters to the editor that tweaked my interest. They were both in response to a letter in your July paper from Errol Povah. I had to go back and read what one man wrote, that would make two women not want to be in the same room as him. I thought I could learn something. God knows I would not want the same fate. Mr. Povah is the president of an association on smoking and health. In his letter to the editor, his comments, directed at smokers, calling a high percentage of them “piggish” litterbugs. Mr. Povah, you crossed the line using the piggish word but the main substance of your letter, that a high percentage of all smokers litter more than non-smokers is true.
I have written articles, reports and spoken on the subject of tobacco from the first smokers to its height in 1965 America. I have done market research on the seduction of nicotine, its role in Hollywood and experienced firsthand the death and bodily destruction of smoke drawn into our lungs and beyond. I would need all 28 plus pages of your paper to explain the reasons why people start and why some can never quit. It is a product that 98 percent of smokers start before they are adults. That is why the tobacco companies target children. They have known for years the connection between their products and the far corners of the mind. They spend millions on research in every aspect of human nature. They know your age, education level, annual income and your status in the community you live in. Looking in at the big picture, they will fight the war in the industrialized societies, but with most of their marketing dollars focused on the lesser-educated countries in the world.
Did I wander off the subject of why smokers litter more than their non-smoking counterparts do? Keep in mind what I am about to say is not directed to all smokers. Smokers on average have lower self-esteem, a lower post graduate education, earn a lower annual income and care less about their surroundings. Sorry, ladies, it’s true.
What I do have is a problem with people who write letters to the editor that have not done their homework and call people who have, lunatics. Mr. Povah’s hard work on his own time with no financial rewards may just be the reason your children, grandchildren or friend’s children never pick up such a disgusting habit. Point Roberts and other communities should welcome such a crusader.
Writing a letter to the editor, blaming Canadians for disposing of trash improperly around the community is weak. Do your homework; there are a higher percentage of Canadian plates in the Point and there is a segment of the population of Canadians with U.S. license plates. Get your facts straight before you get verbal diarrhea.
Rod Harman
West Vancouver, B.C. and Point Roberts
resident

The Editor:
During a recent weekend visit to our cabin in Point Roberts, I took some garbage to the trash/recycling site. I was appalled by the amount of recyclable items I saw in the dumpsters. There were cases of empty beer bottles, large pieces of cardboard, various kinds of plastic containers and metal objects as well as yard waste all in the same container. What has happened to caring for the environment and taking the responsibility to deposit items into the correct bins?
It is not Arthur’s job to oversee everyone who uses that facility but, obviously, many of those who do take their items there don’t care what happens to it. Do you expect someone else to sort out the items that you are too lazy to put into the appropriate container? Well, for the most part, it does not happen. Most of it goes into landfill.
Unfortunately, this is not a situation occurring only in Point Roberts, as many folks in Whatcom County don’t recycle all that they could. But I thought people in Point Roberts would take the extra effort because the community is so small. Even dogs don’t foul their own quarters. While it might be “out of sight, out of mind” to you, what we do with our refuse has an effect on the environment. Consumers who have no regard for their waste and cast off items have caused the damage to our air, our land and our oceans that is now wreaking havoc around the world. Do your part and help those whose job it is to handle your garbage.
It might take a few more minutes to separate items out into the right bins. Is anyone so busy they can’t do that?
Karl King
Birch Bay

Send us your border stories

Long line-ups, surly behavior, NEXUS cards being confiscated or not re-newed, it seems every gathering on the Point this summer features the problems of crossing the border as one of the main topics of conversation.

We’d be interested in learning about your experiences coming into the United States, good, bad or indifferent.

As well, what solutions would you offer to improve the situation? Are the agricultural rules appropriate for Point Roberts? Should there be a statute of limitations on prior misdeeds preventing NEXUS membership? Should there be an appeals board for NEXUS? Should NEXUS be dropped in favor of two lanes being open all of the time? Should there be a border ombudsman?

Please send us your stories and your suggestions to: publisher@allpointbulletin.com. Requests for confidentiality will be strictly observed.

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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