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.
You may submit your
letter online by using the Submit button on the upper right of every
page. Alternatively, please email: editor@allpointbulletin.com or
send to: P.O. Box 1451, Point Roberts, WA 98281 or fax (360) 945-1613.
The Editor:
The commissioners of the Point Roberts Park and Recreation District wish to express our appreciation to Shelley Damewood for her many years of service to the community as a member of the parks board, including as our chairperson for the past two and one half years.
Due to other pressing obligations, Shelley chose not to run for election to a new term in November 2009; but, with no candidates on the ballot for her position, she succumbed to our heartfelt request to stay on at least a bit longer, as is permitted in such cases. Shelley has now deemed it time to step down and has tendered her resignation. We thank her for all her hard work over the years and wish her the very best.
Shelley’s leadership has been key to several major recent accomplishments, including acquisition of the Julius fire hall and agreement by Puget Sound Energy to provide a backup generator at the community center.
In addition, we have begun to gradually address some much needed repairs to the community center, including carpets, wood trim, and roof. We have also begun planning with community members the creation of a community garden and a farmers market at the community center.
Shelley’s departure creates a vacancy that may be filled by appointment through December 31, 2011. We invite any local citizen who is interested in serving in this capacity to contact one of the commissioners in order to be considered for appointment to the parks board.
Mark Robbins, Linda Hughes, Bev
Griffiths, Marco Aurillio, commissioners
Point Roberts Park and Recreation
District #1
The Editor:
On a clear and lightly windy June 17, the folks of P.R.E.P came forth and presented the second annual evening of wonderful food at South Beach House and music by a local group. Well, the word local doesn’t describe the superb musical talents of Gil and Ellen and Craddock. They were amazing. They braved through the wind and coolness with musicality seldom heard on the Point.
We loved them and the dinner guests loved them. Many braved the cool wind to dance to the music. The evening was a success. In terms of raised funds, we were successful, for P.R.E.P. and the food bank. In terms of enjoyment, 114 folks had a grand old time (sold out second year in a row). Noisy, sure, but fun.
Of course Max prepared another delicious meal, that was to be expected. We must say that Karen Pollock, Linda and daughter Veronica Hughes, Simone Eremenco and of course Jacynthe Perich, the quintet of volunteers, outperformed beyond all of our expectations. Not only were they beautifully dressed and coiffed, they were beautiful themselves. We know we shouldn’t do an automobile comparison, but this quintet was like seeing a Bentley in operation. And that was something.
Our Canadian friends and especially Tsawwassen Order of Old Bastards’s gifted us with their presence. The silent auction, the raffles, almost all the gift tables were bare at the end of the evening.
A big thank you to all who donated items for auction. We had two door prizes, 275 meals in a five-gallon can (dehydrated, of course) and the ultimate prize, a four hour ride along in a Whatcom County K9 Sheriff unit. It was won by one of our delightful seniors and was arranged by deputy sheriff Brian Oswalt, a member of P.R.E.P. It was a terrific evening with wonderful friends who had two goals in mind. Enjoy ourselves and helping our neighbors.
Again, to repeat, P.R.E.P. is about neighbors helping neighbors. So, if you will, please join us at our meetings, the first Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m. at the community center.
Thank you so much to all those who attended, donated and helped! We all did it and we should all be proud! As a community, we were there for each other.
Andrew Breiteneder
P.R.E.P.
The Editor,
Point Roberts Conservation Society (PRCS) board members, Michael Rosser, Mark Robbins, Steven Wolff and Suzanne Rosser attended the community meeting sponsored by the Whatcom Planning and Development Services (PDS).
Along with our lawyer David Bricklin, we have conducted an intensive review of the SEPA reports and documents and PRCS has decided to file an appeal to the DNS for the Point Roberts Beach Club development project.
There are many discrepancies in the SEPA documents, many reports compiled from the 2007 Stanton Northwest project that are not updated. As our board member Jeff Butts, a contractor with 20 years’ experience building development projects, writes, “The reports and documents are so lacking in vital and important information that we don’t feel that a professional and intelligent decision can be made about the merits of this development. The staff at PDS and the Lily Point LLC are not meeting industry standards for scope and depth in preparing these documents for development.”
Jeff has sent a 22-page report to PDS on his findings. This is just one of many things we are doing in our oversight of this process to assure compliance with relevant county statutes and regulations.
PRCS is constructing a community page courtesy of the All Point Bulletin in their community section and we will notify the public when it is published.
We will have an e-mail subscriber list and will send out updates on the proceedings like Jeff’s 22-page report, letter to PDS and his letter to Governor Gregoire.
Lawyer costs, filing fees and document preparations are expensive and we ask the community to help us finance this effort, which is ultimately on behalf of the members of our community who value conscious, responsible development and environmental protection.
We welcome donations to PRCS, a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation, at P.O. Box 675, Point Roberts, WA 98281 or call me at 360/945-0418.
Suzanne Rosser, treasurer, PRCS
Point Roberts
The Editor:
Be careful what you wish for. If the opponents of the Point Roberts Beach Club development are successful in putting so many obstacles in way of the development that they decide not to precede, what is next? It is likely that it will be divided into a few estates sized lots and almost certainly would have no public access.
I have seen every effort to grow a community fail for the last 10 years, even getting sewer when we had the chance and the group sitting around me was up in arms about the $36 a month it would cost them. Well now, several of my Canadian neighbors can’t even come to their cottages because their septic failed the test and can’t afford the expensive systems they would need. Where is the foresight?
The proposed development has generous use of a trail along the bluff, beach trail access and bike path along APA Road. When I first arrived in 1999 I asked the owners if it would be OK for me to walk on their land and they generously granted me permission as well as many others even those that never asked.
What would you do if it were your land and you were paying those high taxes all these years and especially in these difficult economic times?
For me, it always comes down to one question, “How would I feel and want this handled if it belonged to me?” There seems to be more than a few people that need to really reflect on this question.
I wonder why your group doesn’t fight for beach rights for people just to be able to walk along the shore enjoying the ocean, sand, birds and views instead of being assaulted by signs as big and unsightly as possible warning of private property, keep out, no trespassing. Those are the people that live in Point Roberts that I am ashamed of.
My mom recently came to visit and that was the only thing she found unpleasant about Point Roberts. I had ocean front property in Hawaii and never would even consider something like that, law or no law.
Angelica Christi
Point Roberts
The Editor:
On May 29 a benefit yard sale was sponsored by Jackie McKenzie on behalf of our recently blinded Samoyed, Natasha. The response from the community was amazing! Over $1000 was raised toward her cataract surgery, thanks to the generosity of the community, both full and part-timers.
When trying to thank everyone, there is always the danger of innocent omission. However, Jackie McKenzie, Ron Knott, Vicki Fiore, John Lesow, Jerry White, Carol Woodman, Sheilah Oliver, Carol Fuegi, Susan Brownrigg and Pam Crawford really stepped up to the plate.
A special thanks to all the businesses that posted flyers and to those who patronized the sale. To anyone we overlooked, thank you so much as well!
Wendy and Mike Hendon
Point Roberts
The Editor:
I would like to express openly to Point Roberts citizens and other part time guests (such as myself) that I am very displeased with your open policy of burning and polluting the skies of your very beautiful area near the water. It truly is a shame!
You have one of the nicest marinas in the Northwest, an outstanding golf course, and are blessed to be surrounded on three sides with water. A very special area, indeed! And then you have the burning. I guess you refer to them as ‘burn piles.’
I am writing this letter to the editor after my fifth day of walking the Point, thus navigating through the myriad maze and endless barrage of smoke-filled neighborhoods. I’m currently short of breath, my eyes and lungs are burning, and my wife has just asked me to change my shirt for the second time, “Because it smells like you’ve been in a forest fire!”
While other local surrounding communities are environmentally aware, and have made great strides to ‘go green’ by adopting burn bans, and thus protecting its citizens and potential visitors/tourists, Point Roberts has made the decision to stay the path of indifference and neglect. And it shows!
Continuing on this current policy will most certainly reflect your ability to draw and retain precious tourist dollars in a downturned economy. Get my drift? This is a very serious issue and needs to be addressed by your local business and chamber members. The future prosperity of their businesses are at stake, as well as the health and welfare of the patrons you serve!
Jeff Anderson
Oro Valley, Arizona
The commissioners of the Point Roberts Park and Recreation District wish to express our appreciation to Shelley Damewood for her many years of service to the community as a member of the parks board, including as our chairperson for the past two and one half years.
Due to other pressing obligations, Shelley chose not to run for election to a new term in November 2009; but, with no candidates on the ballot for her position, she succumbed to our heartfelt request to stay on at least a bit longer, as is permitted in such cases. Shelley has now deemed it time to step down and has tendered her resignation. We thank her for all her hard work over the years and wish her the very best.
Shelley’s leadership has been key to several major recent accomplishments, including acquisition of the Julius fire hall and agreement by Puget Sound Energy to provide a backup generator at the community center.
In addition, we have begun to gradually address some much needed repairs to the community center, including carpets, wood trim, and roof. We have also begun planning with community members the creation of a community garden and a farmers market at the community center.
Shelley’s departure creates a vacancy that may be filled by appointment through December 31, 2011. We invite any local citizen who is interested in serving in this capacity to contact one of the commissioners in order to be considered for appointment to the parks board.
Mark Robbins, Linda Hughes, Bev
Griffiths, Marco Aurillio, commissioners
Point Roberts Park and Recreation
District #1
The Editor:
On a clear and lightly windy June 17, the folks of P.R.E.P came forth and presented the second annual evening of wonderful food at South Beach House and music by a local group. Well, the word local doesn’t describe the superb musical talents of Gil and Ellen and Craddock. They were amazing. They braved through the wind and coolness with musicality seldom heard on the Point.
We loved them and the dinner guests loved them. Many braved the cool wind to dance to the music. The evening was a success. In terms of raised funds, we were successful, for P.R.E.P. and the food bank. In terms of enjoyment, 114 folks had a grand old time (sold out second year in a row). Noisy, sure, but fun.
Of course Max prepared another delicious meal, that was to be expected. We must say that Karen Pollock, Linda and daughter Veronica Hughes, Simone Eremenco and of course Jacynthe Perich, the quintet of volunteers, outperformed beyond all of our expectations. Not only were they beautifully dressed and coiffed, they were beautiful themselves. We know we shouldn’t do an automobile comparison, but this quintet was like seeing a Bentley in operation. And that was something.
Our Canadian friends and especially Tsawwassen Order of Old Bastards’s gifted us with their presence. The silent auction, the raffles, almost all the gift tables were bare at the end of the evening.
A big thank you to all who donated items for auction. We had two door prizes, 275 meals in a five-gallon can (dehydrated, of course) and the ultimate prize, a four hour ride along in a Whatcom County K9 Sheriff unit. It was won by one of our delightful seniors and was arranged by deputy sheriff Brian Oswalt, a member of P.R.E.P. It was a terrific evening with wonderful friends who had two goals in mind. Enjoy ourselves and helping our neighbors.
Again, to repeat, P.R.E.P. is about neighbors helping neighbors. So, if you will, please join us at our meetings, the first Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m. at the community center.
Thank you so much to all those who attended, donated and helped! We all did it and we should all be proud! As a community, we were there for each other.
Andrew Breiteneder
P.R.E.P.
The Editor,
Point Roberts Conservation Society (PRCS) board members, Michael Rosser, Mark Robbins, Steven Wolff and Suzanne Rosser attended the community meeting sponsored by the Whatcom Planning and Development Services (PDS).
Along with our lawyer David Bricklin, we have conducted an intensive review of the SEPA reports and documents and PRCS has decided to file an appeal to the DNS for the Point Roberts Beach Club development project.
There are many discrepancies in the SEPA documents, many reports compiled from the 2007 Stanton Northwest project that are not updated. As our board member Jeff Butts, a contractor with 20 years’ experience building development projects, writes, “The reports and documents are so lacking in vital and important information that we don’t feel that a professional and intelligent decision can be made about the merits of this development. The staff at PDS and the Lily Point LLC are not meeting industry standards for scope and depth in preparing these documents for development.”
Jeff has sent a 22-page report to PDS on his findings. This is just one of many things we are doing in our oversight of this process to assure compliance with relevant county statutes and regulations.
PRCS is constructing a community page courtesy of the All Point Bulletin in their community section and we will notify the public when it is published.
We will have an e-mail subscriber list and will send out updates on the proceedings like Jeff’s 22-page report, letter to PDS and his letter to Governor Gregoire.
Lawyer costs, filing fees and document preparations are expensive and we ask the community to help us finance this effort, which is ultimately on behalf of the members of our community who value conscious, responsible development and environmental protection.
We welcome donations to PRCS, a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation, at P.O. Box 675, Point Roberts, WA 98281 or call me at 360/945-0418.
Suzanne Rosser, treasurer, PRCS
Point Roberts
The Editor:
Be careful what you wish for. If the opponents of the Point Roberts Beach Club development are successful in putting so many obstacles in way of the development that they decide not to precede, what is next? It is likely that it will be divided into a few estates sized lots and almost certainly would have no public access.
I have seen every effort to grow a community fail for the last 10 years, even getting sewer when we had the chance and the group sitting around me was up in arms about the $36 a month it would cost them. Well now, several of my Canadian neighbors can’t even come to their cottages because their septic failed the test and can’t afford the expensive systems they would need. Where is the foresight?
The proposed development has generous use of a trail along the bluff, beach trail access and bike path along APA Road. When I first arrived in 1999 I asked the owners if it would be OK for me to walk on their land and they generously granted me permission as well as many others even those that never asked.
What would you do if it were your land and you were paying those high taxes all these years and especially in these difficult economic times?
For me, it always comes down to one question, “How would I feel and want this handled if it belonged to me?” There seems to be more than a few people that need to really reflect on this question.
I wonder why your group doesn’t fight for beach rights for people just to be able to walk along the shore enjoying the ocean, sand, birds and views instead of being assaulted by signs as big and unsightly as possible warning of private property, keep out, no trespassing. Those are the people that live in Point Roberts that I am ashamed of.
My mom recently came to visit and that was the only thing she found unpleasant about Point Roberts. I had ocean front property in Hawaii and never would even consider something like that, law or no law.
Angelica Christi
Point Roberts
The Editor:
On May 29 a benefit yard sale was sponsored by Jackie McKenzie on behalf of our recently blinded Samoyed, Natasha. The response from the community was amazing! Over $1000 was raised toward her cataract surgery, thanks to the generosity of the community, both full and part-timers.
When trying to thank everyone, there is always the danger of innocent omission. However, Jackie McKenzie, Ron Knott, Vicki Fiore, John Lesow, Jerry White, Carol Woodman, Sheilah Oliver, Carol Fuegi, Susan Brownrigg and Pam Crawford really stepped up to the plate.
A special thanks to all the businesses that posted flyers and to those who patronized the sale. To anyone we overlooked, thank you so much as well!
Wendy and Mike Hendon
Point Roberts
The Editor:
I would like to express openly to Point Roberts citizens and other part time guests (such as myself) that I am very displeased with your open policy of burning and polluting the skies of your very beautiful area near the water. It truly is a shame!
You have one of the nicest marinas in the Northwest, an outstanding golf course, and are blessed to be surrounded on three sides with water. A very special area, indeed! And then you have the burning. I guess you refer to them as ‘burn piles.’
I am writing this letter to the editor after my fifth day of walking the Point, thus navigating through the myriad maze and endless barrage of smoke-filled neighborhoods. I’m currently short of breath, my eyes and lungs are burning, and my wife has just asked me to change my shirt for the second time, “Because it smells like you’ve been in a forest fire!”
While other local surrounding communities are environmentally aware, and have made great strides to ‘go green’ by adopting burn bans, and thus protecting its citizens and potential visitors/tourists, Point Roberts has made the decision to stay the path of indifference and neglect. And it shows!
Continuing on this current policy will most certainly reflect your ability to draw and retain precious tourist dollars in a downturned economy. Get my drift? This is a very serious issue and needs to be addressed by your local business and chamber members. The future prosperity of their businesses are at stake, as well as the health and welfare of the patrons you serve!
Jeff Anderson
Oro Valley, Arizona