LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Editor:
A quote by Dan Bourks in the December 2007 issue of the All Point Bulletin has raised some concerns. In an interview he states that the three developers chosen to build the tank in return for a number of water hookups wanted 800 connections, leaving only 200 for the residents, as the tank will only serve 1,000.
Even if the 800 is reduced to 400 this is still troubling since it is shaping to be a lottery for the individual landowners to divide up the remaining meters after the developers have had their piece of the pie.
Here are a few timely quotes on the matter from the All Point Bulletin:
District attorney John Milne: “People similarly situated are entitled to equal treatment”August 2005;
The golf course requested 56 ERUs and Stanton 80 ERUs – March, 2006;
The engineers: Their analysis found that to serve the 3,270 connections needed if the point was at maximum build-out allowed under current zoning without a public sewer, the district needed three million gallons of peaking storage.
Bourks said their legal counsel was continuing to work with several local developers to help finance the proposed storage tank. June, 2007
John Milne: “If they want special treatment … then they need to make a commitment to the district”[ to build the tank]. August, 2007
From two developers requesting 136 connections (60 to come from this summer’s lottery), the number has grown to possibly 800 with the marina now onboard, which cannot achieve its long term objectives anyway without sewers. They could possibly hold their right to a water meter[s] for years while an individual who needs to build now would be left out. It seems that the original plan to service all existing 3,270 connections to achieve maximum build-out will fall by the wayside. Also lost is the directive by John Milne that all people are to be treated equally. If you are a developer, you can guarantee your water connections by contributing money to the new tank.
Let’s look at a new scenario: If there are 600 local individuals who wish for a connection and each contribute $5,000 to the new tank, then the $3 million is raised. Why not offer any individual the chance to pay $5,000 towards the tank and guarantee them a connection? How is this different from an agreement with the developers?
If John Milne’s concern for equal treatment for all is to be followed, then everybody must have the right to contribute to building the tank equally per water connection requested, or nobody contributes. Instead, a larger loan is floated for the tank and water main upgrades, and it is a lottery system for all.
Jack Burr
Tsawwassen

The Editor:
As we come to the end of 2007, the Point Roberts Garden Club would like to thank the many volunteers who helped with our 2007 beautification project along Tyee Road.
Margaret Moras, our beautification chair, after getting the approval of the property owners, contacted Whatcom Public Works Department to be sure the area we wanted to use would be feasible. Not only was it feasible but Paul Kelley, the vegetation crew leader of the road division for maintenance and operations and his supervisor Mary Green were willing to help us with it!
Whatcom County supplied us with fill dirt, topsoil, mulch, bluebells bulbs, wildflower seeds and the staff with heavy equipment to do all the big work. The garden club supplied the daffodil bulbs and with the help of the Wackie Walkers and other volunteers did all the planting and spreading of the mulch.
Without the help of Paul, Mary and their staff from Whatcom County, we would have had to wait a few more years to be able to do a project of this level.
Come spring and summer 2008 and many years to come when Tyee Road is in bloom with daffodils, bluebells and wildflowers, we will have Margaret Moras, her husband Bruno, Paul Kelley, Mary Green, their staff, the Wackie Walkers and our other planting volunteers to thank for the time and effort that was put into this endeavor. Wishing everyone a fabulous 2008 and happy gardening.
Jessica McVey, president
2007 Point Roberts Garden Club
Point Roberts

The Editor:
December 1 was a blustery day – snow and winds to scare the best of us. We were so pleased with the dedication of our friends and neighbors who braved the weather to come to the fair and then to the dinner. 
We have broken our record! With the help of incredible volunteers, supportive community businesses and talented crafters, we raised $3,016 for the food bank! This is a huge triumph and it will go a long way to help provide Christmas goodies as well as extra items (including toiletries and other necessities) throughout the year for families in need in Point Roberts.  
The caliber and range of gifts available for purchase was phenomenal. Over 25 crafters put their talents on display and invited the community to witness their crafting genius: Heather, Zara, Jeanette, Angela, Julie, Joyce, Monika, Davea, Karen P., Pamala, Jacynthe, Barbara, Dani, Karen S., Marsha, Tammy, Heidi, Jane, Esther, Sigrid, Laurie, Martin, Linda, Vicki, Joan, Peg and Deb. Community groups included: PAWS, Historical Society, Whatcom County Shoreline, Dollars for Scholars. 
The first annual ornament competition featured 21 entries from local children – and the competition was very hard to judge by our panel of crafting divas. First place went to Veronica Hughes, second Daphne Brett and third Jacqueline Jacobs. Prizes were donated by Toys & Tech in Tsawwassen. 
Support from the community was amazing – we received many amazing donations of items for the raffle and auction as well as services to help us pull it all together. 
The holiday dinner was a warm and cheery respite from the dreadful weather. The room looked fantastic – it was transformed with beautiful lights, linen tablecloths and beautiful centerpieces. A fantastic meal by the O’Neill team filled our bellies while music by Pancho and Sal with special guest Bill Simmons lifted our spirits and got us up dancing. We were blessed to have Sharon Munroe with us for dinner as one of the event founders. Her enthusiasm and support of this event are a testament to what makes this possible. 
A small but dedicated group of food bank volunteers make this event possible. Without them, we wouldn’t be looking forward to our 6th annual extravaganza! Our organizing committee consists of: Jeanette Meursing, logistics; Julie Iddon, tickets; Monika Zeilinger, logistics; Pattye McGill, donations; Peg Keenleyside, media liaison; Samantha Scholefield, coordinator.
Samantha Scholefield
Point Roberts

The Editor and the following: Point Roberts Taxpayers Association, Point Roberts Parks Board, Point Roberts Emergency Preparedness, Point Roberts Hospital District, Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce, Point Roberts Fire Dept., Point Roberts Senior Center, Point Roberts Water District, Point Roberts Registered Voters’ Association, Point Roberts Lutheran Church, Point Roberts Garden Club, Point Roberts Yacht Club:
Recognizing that Point Roberts is a diverse community and that its several and differing organizations each attempt to deal with community concerns that surface in their separate compartments, it has been suggested that a community council be considered.
Such a council might be composed of one representative from each of these above organizations to meet as the need arises to identify community problems and concerns, prioritize these concerns and when necessary represent these concerns to appropriate county, state or federal entities.
This council might be known as the Point Roberts Community Council. It would presumably designate officers and committees as needed within its number to pursue those concerns and to resolve those problems brought to its level by the various local organizations represented within it.
Such a body should not, and cannot, be formed without the widest possible community participation. The purpose to this letter is to invite organizational reps and community residents and property owners at large to attend an open meeting to consider formation of such a council or other representative body as may be desired. Thus this letter may be seen as an admission by some of us that a stronger collective representative body is needed for more timely and more responsive reaction – by whatever county, state or federal level – to specific organizational interests as well as to community-wide concerns.
This formative meeting of general consideration and discussion is proposed for Friday after senior lunch in the community/senior center at 1 p.m. Friday, January 18.
This initial meeting would be open-ended to facilitate the widest exchange of ideas. No specific outcome is presumed. If a disinterested person can be found, that person will be asked to chair this meeting. Respectfully submitted: Henry Rosenthal, Dick Williams, Pam Sheppard, Mary Miller, Mark Robins and Campbell McClusky. Respond to any of the above individuals directly or address whomever c/o prvoters@gmail.com.
Campbell McClusky
Point Roberts

The Editor:
Heartfelt thanks from PAWS [Point Roberts Animal Wellbeing Society] to all those who made our recent fundraiser such a successful event – you are terrific.  
Coreen Douglas of StreetCats, along with her team, who did the planning and ran the event, went above and beyond – no detail was overlooked. The atmosphere at South Beach House was electric - Max and Diane and their crew were incredible – as was the food! The variety and quality of the silent auction items donated was outstanding, with something for every taste, and the bidding was fast and furious. Eric Shandler’s wonderful music completed the evening.  Thanks to everyone’s amazing generosity $4,400 was raised to help the needy animals of Point Roberts; most of the funds go towards veterinary services for neutering and spaying, to keep our feral cat population under control.  
We can help you safely trap any wild cats and kittens on your property; after neutering adults are returned to where they are fed regularly, and kittens are adopted into carefully screened homes through the Tsaw-wassen Animal Hospital. Our sincere thanks go to Dr. Tina Germeinhardt and her dedicated staff for the medical care as well as the TLC given to the Point Roberts cats.  The donations that we are able to make cover only a small portion of the cost of the work they do for our animals, and we consider ourselves most fortunate that they have chosen to help us. 
We will be holding a variety of fundraisers in 2008, and hope you will join us – stay tuned.
Carol Fuegi, PAWS   
Point Roberts
The Editor:
My name is Jeff Worthy, and I am an English teacher at Blaine high school. In March, the Blaine school district will be putting two crucial measures before the voters; a capital projects bond and a maintenance and operations levy. Both of these measures are of vital importance to the continuing educations of Blaine students, and I would like to wholeheartedly endorse them, and ask all who read these words to do so as well.
When I first came to Blaine high school in the fall 1994, we had a little over 300 students. We are now pushing 750, and we are simply running out of space for them with the current facility. Whole classes have to be taught in rooms in the middle school as we do not have the space necessary to accommodate them. I have known what it is like to teach English Literature in a biology lab due to not having a classroom of my own. I have known what it is to not have an environment suited to the subject area assigned to you. Teaching is a remarkably rewarding profession and I could not imagine doing anything else; at the same time, it is a very challenging job, and to do it well and have our students be successful we need to provide the best possible learning environments for them.
The capital bond project will provide our students and teachers with the resources and space necessary to maximize their potentials. It will give us a facility to be proud of for decades to come, and provide our teachers and students with all they need to meet the challenges of life in the 21st century. Our children represent the future of our community and nation. We must lead by example, and show them through our approval of these measures that we value their educations - that we value and believe in them -and that we support their endeavors.
The maintenance and operations levy will supply the schools with the necessities of operation and allow us to continue to offer the programs that we do. I am proud to be a teacher at Blaine high school, and could not imagine working elsewhere. I have seen other schools in other communities, and I thank the powers that brought me here every day as I step into an environment where I know education is valued. We must show our students that we will continue to value their educations by voting in the affirmative for both of these measures. Please help me send them that message! Thank you.
Jeff Worthy
Blaine

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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