The Ocean Star newspaper ...

Before there was the All Point Bulletin, the monthly newspaper of record for Point Roberts was the Ocean Star. Founded by two local mothers with no journalism experience, its inauguration in 1976 celebrated the nation’s bicentennial. It was a hilarious scene at the Lynden Tribune as these mothers panicked on publication day with their paste-and-stick layouts missing a headline, only to be found on the bottom of somebody’s shoe! It was worth the effort. The Point had been without a newspaper for several years, and the community backed the paper right away, including business leaders with their advertising dollars.

From those humble beginnings – this is the 45th anniversary of its initial issue – the Ocean Star carried on with new ownership for a decade, covering both hard news and local chatter during an era in Point Roberts where everybody knew everybody’s business. For a decade, the staff, as well as charming articles written by community members in an early example of crowdsourcing, chronicled births, deaths, anniversaries, vacations locals took and out-of-town visitors they entertained, Icelandic recipes and other now-delightful scuttlebutt.

The name Ocean Star is the English translation of the Icelandic word Haf stjarnan. Haf stjarnan was the name of the local literary society formed by Icelandic pioneers Helgi and Dagbjort Thorstenson, who also went on to create the Point’s first library.

The Ocean Star published issues for a decade and kept its readers informed during major campaigns for community infrastructure, including the monumental fight for water service, the creation of the marina and the expansion of more booths in both border crossing stations. Its tenure as the Point’s newspaper coincided with the peak years of throngs of Canadians coming to Point Roberts on Sundays to drink in our cavernous taverns (and the Breakers burning down), the expansion of gas stations from two pumps to dozens, the opening of the first supermarket and bank and how to cope with two operating (and a third proposed) adult businesses.

The Ocean Star’s last issue was April 1985, and it was immediately succeeded by the All Point Bulletin’s first issue the following month.

The Point Roberts History Center has back issues of the Ocean Star. Stop in on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for an informative and sometimes amusing glimpse into the Point’s past.