All Point Bulletin – November 2020 by Point Roberts Press

T h e C o m m u n i t y N e w s pa p e r November 2020

IN THIS

ISSUE

P o i n t R o b e rt s , W a s h i n g t o n

www.AllPointBulletin.com

Turn back your clocks when you go to bed on October 31.

Lower service levels requested, page 2

FREE

Six-word memoirs, page 8

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Point Roberts community is asked to aid transplant effort By Meg Olson Point Roberts fire chief Christopher Carleton and his wife Pamela are asking for help from the community after she suffered from liver failure in late September. “We don’t know what the future holds and we can use all the support and prayers people can give us,” Carleton said. After five weeks in the hospital, Pamela will be discharged soon and her condition managed as an outpatient while they work through the transplant process and wait for an available liver. The couple, whose five-year anniversary is coming up on November 6, will need to remain in the Seattle area so she can access critical medical care. Chief Carleton will be commuting back and forth to work after returning from a period of time off. Carleton said he was looking at transplant centers all over the country trying to get her the critical procedure as soon as possible, as other centers may be able to offer transplants in half the time than what average in the Seattle area. “I’m doing all I can to save my wife,” he said. “There are a lot of moving parts and it’s hard to put them all together.” In addition to medical costs not covered by insurance, there will be housing, travel and other associated costs on her road to recovery. As of October 29, 447 individuals or groups had donated over $75,000. To donate, please visit bit.ly/2Hz8Y7p.

s Pamela and Christopher Carleton.

All Point Bulletin

e PB

WEEKLY NEWS BULLETIN

s Observing social distancing mandates, the annual apple pressing festival still managed to produce gallons and gallons of fresh juice Photo by Annelle Norman on September 27. From l., Leigh Moorhouse, Tom Kelley and Rhiannon Allen press on.

WUTC approves drop in curbside pickup rates By Meg Olson The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) has approved a tariff revision that will result in a small drop in garbage rates in Point Roberts. The tariff revision comes out of the second of two compliance filings Freedom 2000 LLC, doing business as Cando Recycling and Disposal, was required to submit in the wake of Whatcom County’s adoption of an ordinance establishing mandatory garbage and recycling collection in 2018. The compliance filings were required to allow adequate analysis of revenue streams under the new system and ensure rates were equitable to both the company and consumers. The company’s first filing in 2019, based on six months of financial data, resulted in

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no change to rates, but WUTC analysts did note garbage rates might be too high while recycling rates were too low, regulatory analyst Greg Hammond told WUTC commissioners at their October 29 meeting. “This filing uses 12 months of data and would correct the discrepancy between garbage and recycling rates,” he said. In its August 27 compliance filing, based on a full year of financial data, Cando had proposed almost doubling monthly recycling rates from $5.28 to $9.14 for every-other-week pickup and decreasing baseline garbage pickup rates from $11.68 to $8.37. The proposed changes were based on a decrease in garbage disposal costs for the company and a revenue deficiency in their recycling operation. Overall, they would have represented a 56 cent per month increase to residential custom-

(See WUTC, page 3)

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Inside

Church ............................................. 13 Classifieds ......................................... 12 Coming Up ....................................... 13 Crossings ............................................ 6 Garden .............................................. 10 Obituaries ......................................... 14 Seniors, Library ............................... 13 Tides ................................................. 14

All Point Bulletin • November 2020

Revised service levels ordinance pushed back by Whatcom County Council B y P a t G r u bb Introduction of an ordinance that would reduce bi-weekly curbside pickup by half in Point Roberts was pushed back until it can be considered by Whatcom County Council’s Public Works and Health (PWH) committee on November 10. The committee is chaired by at-large member Carol Frazey. The ordinance had been a late addition

to council’s regular meeting agenda for October 27 and was put forth by Tyler Byrd, District 3 councilmember representing the Foothills district. The addition came after the Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee (PRCAC) wrote to council asking it to lower the service levels. PRCAC’s motion to do so was approved by a 3-1 vote with one absence. The item appeared as new business on PRCAC’s agenda for its regular meeting on

October 15 and received little, if any, public attention. PRCAC’s letter to council simply called for service levels to be cut and did not ask for any other changes to the program. It specifically requested that the current billing system be retained; however, under the ordinance proposed by Byrd, responsibility for billing would be given to Cando, the service provider. Byrd discussed the billing issue at the October 27 PWH committee meeting but gave no indication of the provenance of the idea. The All Point Bulletin has made an Open Public Records request seeking all correspondence to and from Byrd involving curbside pickup in Point Roberts. The billing issue received pushback by other councilmembers during the committee meeting who expressed doubt that Cando would be able to survive under the proposed scenario.

Byrd had cited an imbalance between what the company had collected in excise taxes from customers versus what was submitted to the county as the rationale but appeared taken aback when advised by county health department staffer Jeff Hegedus who reminded him that council last year changed the way that excise taxes were accessed for all garbage companies in the county. Saying Byrd’s statement was incorrect, he told committee members that the current collection system was “spot-on.” Councilmember Rud Browne questioned why the issue of service levels had come back to council. “I beg council not to get roped into this,” he said, attributing the controversy to a small number of people unhappy with the company. “If you look at the emails received by the company, 75 percent of them are hap(See Pickup, page 3)

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Pickup ... From page 2

py with the service and the 25 percent against are mostly Canadians,” he said. He pointed out that if those same people had a cabin in Whistler, they would have to pay year-round for the same service. Most of the objections to the system have come from people who believe one 32-gallon can every two weeks is excessive. According to figures supplied by Cando for the period January – September of this year, the vast majority of customers are using at least that number of cans. There are 102 customers who are signed up for weekly service. Of 512 regular mandated service customers, 488 households (or 95.3%) regularly put out two or more cans per month. Just 24 customers put out one can a month. Approximately 15 percent of mandated service customers have exceeded the maximum 26-can allotment this year and will be charged for additional cans until the end of 2020. Currently, one customer has used over 60 cans, two have used over 50, six have used over 40 and about a dozen have used 30 or more. The company estimates that dropping to one can a month would save those customers about $2 while the vast majority of customers would see an increase. It is likely that the company would be unable to still offer the flexibility of when cans could

WUTC ... From page 1

ers but a projected revenue decrease to the company of approximately $23,000. WUTC staff reviewed the company’s financial workbook and found “the proposed rates would result in excess revenue” and made corrections to payroll and depreciation expenses that “had been double counted.” The company agreed to a revision in the proposed rate change which would see an overall revenue decrease of $46,000 and a rate decrease to residential customers of 43 cents per month. On October 21 it filed revised tariff pages to that effect. In their review of the Cando compliance filing, WUTC staff also looked at the effects of COVID-19. They found that from March 2020, when the U.S./Canada border was closed to non-essential travel, until June, the amount of residential garbage being collected dropped 14 percent, while recycling dropped 13 percent. This had little impact on the company’s revenues as residential garbage customers are billed annually through the property tax rolls. Any significant decreases in revenue and expenses came from a drop in commercial pickups during that period. “Because a general rate case results in a true-up of revenues and expenses, any costs savings incurred by the company over this period would be passed back to customers in this rate filing,” WUTC staff wrote in their recommendation. Staff reported receiving 20 consumer comments after Cando notified their customers of the proposed rate increase on October 14, mostly questioning how a rate increase could be justified when the border was closed. “Rates are based on the company’s expenses, and the service levels set by Whatcom County,” staff wrote in their response. “Comments about service levels should be directed to the county.” During the October 29 meeting, commissioners heard from Allison Calder and Louise Cassidy who brought up the issue of solid waste tax dollars collected by the company that they believe were not remitted to the county and asked the commis-

be picked up under a one can per month system as it would introduce too much uncertaintly into the workflow. The apparent lack of notice by PRCAC and service levels sparked major controversy on the NextDoor social media platform. A large number of commenters questioned how representative the groups and members comprising the PRCAC were while others debated the adequacy of the proposed service levels. Suggestions that the motivation behind reducing service levels lay in a long-standing feud between Ken Calder and the recently-deceased owner of Cando, David Gellatly, were met with a pushback from Calder, his wife Alli, and sister Annette Madden. In turn, another sister, Beth, chimed in and wrote, “If you aren’t trying to hide something, why is it a surprise to the majority of our community? There is a small group well known as “the hateful eight” that have an issue with the ownership of Cando and that has got to stop. Try to work as a community and ask for public input in advance.” At its evening meeting, council delayed the introduction of the proposed ordinance until after it receives consideration by the PWH committee on November 10 following a rate review by WUTC on October 29. By so doing, it makes it very difficult to make changes for 2021. The earliest it could go to public hearing would be November 24.

sion to address the issue. Jeff Hegedus from the Whatcom County Health Department explained that previously the county had charged a flat rate per ton in solid waste excise tax to all county garbage haulers who then translated that into a percentage tax added to consumer bills since they could not weigh the actual garbage being picked up from each curbside account. The county moved to a percentage of invoice solid waste tax system in 2020. “We believe this is an old issue,” Hegedus said. Sally Brown, senior assistant attorney general and counsel to the commission said, “Taxation issues such as this should be brought up locally,” recommending the county or perhaps the state department of revenue, not the WUTC, would be the appropriate agencies to deal with the overassessment of the solid waste excise tax. Commissioners nevertheless encouraged parties to pursue a resolution that was equitable. “If there were more taxes collected from customers than was paid to the county, what happened to that money and what will happen to that money?” asked commissioner Jay Balasbas. “I would hope that the county will ensure the right amount of taxes were collected.”

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“This is not a good day,” said council clerk Dana Brown-Davis, who pointed out council is due to approve the county’s budget for 2021 as well as amendments to the Cherry Point area plan on that day, both subjects fraught with complexity and com-

peting interests. Should the issue of service levels and billing responsibility go into December, it would be too late to make changes to the tax roll for 2021, making it a moot issue for another year.

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All Point Bulletin • November 2020

All Point Bulletin The All Point Bulletin is published each month by Point Roberts Press Inc. Total circulation is 9,000 copies including home delivery in Point Roberts and Tsawwassen, subscriptions and distribution to retail establishments on the Point. The opinion expressed by contributors is their own and is offered for the general interest of our readers. Mail and classified ads should be addressed to:

All Point Bulletin P.O. Box 1451 Point Roberts WA USA 98281

Publisher & Managing Editor Patrick J. Grubb Associate Publisher & Advertising Manager Louise H. Mugar News & Features Editor Meg Olson Copy Editor Grace McCarthy Creative Services Ruth Lauman, Doug De Visser Advertising Sales Molly Ernst Contributors In This Issue Rhiannon Allen, Madeleine Anderson Nicole Armstrong, Gina Gaudet

Kris Lomedico Administrative Services Jeanie Luna Founding Editor Glennys Christie Business & Editorial Office Phone: 360/945-0413 Fax: 360/945-1613 Email: sales@allpointbulletin.com

Visit us online at:

www.allpointbulletin.com Printed in Canada • Vol. XXXVI, No. 7

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 10 names. Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published. Please email your letter to: letters@allpointbulletin.com P.O. Box 1451, Point Roberts, WA 98281

opinion

Letters To The Editor The Editor: Your article on Race Week is surprisingly flawed and one-sided. Shame on your reporting. You made it sound like Race Week was a large company that was trying to bilk the marina out of $45k, when in fact it is run by a local Pacific Northwest single mom of two who is doing this as her second job (she is the managing editor of Northwest Yachting) and makes just enough on Race Week to keep the ball rolling to the next year. She did not cancel Race Week and take the money, Covid-19 did and the money was spent on advertisement. Race Week is the last week-long regatta in the West Coast of the Americas. The marina and all the businesses and residents of Point Roberts should be honored to be selected to host such a prestigious, worldwide-recognized yachting event. Race Week has spent a lot of money on advertising. It has worked, Point Roberts is getting on the sailing map. I have personally heard from sailing friends from Quebec to Florida to Vancouver who now know where Point Roberts is. But alas, Point Roberts Marina is so shortsighted that they want to blame Schelleen Rathkopf for ‘canceling’ Race Week and shoot themselves and all Point Roberts residents in the foot. Race Week could have been our avenue out of the Covid-19 cold that we will surely have to endure for many years to come. It didn’t have to be that way. New owners of the marina (I hear it is for sale), if you are reading this, call Schelleen now and try and get it back. It is the best way to get the marina and Point Roberts on the yachting map, and might be your only hope of turning the marina around and possibly a cornerstone to the revitalization of the Point that we will desperately need. Imagine hundreds of yacht owners who have enough money to buy $100,000-plus boats to race just for fun coming and investing in Point Roberts. It is probably too late as every marina in the area is drooling about the prospect of getting race week now. David Jackson Point Roberts (Ed. Note: The reporting was based on an email from Schelleen Rathkopf and interview with acting marina manager Zihao Ding. There was no inference regarding bilking the marina; Mr. Jackson should re-read the article. Rathkopf has recently announced that Anacortes has been chosen as the next Race Week location.) The Editor: Now more than ever, we’re so grateful for our community that has funded, vol-

unteered, celebrated and advocated for Point Roberts Dollars for Scholars through the years. At a time when everything feels uncertain, we find comfort and encouragement knowing that you care about the higher education of the students of Point Roberts. Point Roberts Dollars for Scholars is a nonprofit foundation that supports academic success in our community. As part of Scholarship America’s national network of locally based, volunteer-driven Dollars for Scholars chapters, our mission is to mobilize our community on behalf of post-secondary education success for our students. While much of the world has stopped, Point Roberts Dollars for Scholars will not be placed on pause. Our 2021 fundraising campaign starts on November 1 and we’re asking you to help us continue our mission by becoming a donor, either as an individual or a business. As always, your generous sponsorship of scholarships is tax deductible. There are many ways to donate to Point Roberts Dollars for Scholars: • Umpqua Bank, donate to the Dollars for Scholars account (you can even drop off your loose coins) • Mail us a check: PRDFS P.O. Box 1354, Point Roberts, Washington 98281 • By credit card on our website: Pointroberts.dollarsforscholars.org – choose “Click to Donate” • Bill pay through any bank: Add Point Roberts Dollars for Scholars as a payee (P.O. Box 189, Point Roberts 98281) Did you know you can also support us by shopping on Amazon? Go to smile.amazon.com each time you shop. Make sure you search for “Scholarship America Inc Point Roberts” and select us as your chosen charitable organization. Amazon donates .05 percent of your purchase amounts to Point Roberts Dollars for Scholars. As we are volunteer-driven, every dollar donated is distributed to the students of our community. In June 2020, Point Robert Dollars for Scholars awarded scholarships totaling $20,400 to 17 students. Since our inception 24 years ago, we have awarded a total of over $200,000. You can view the updated donors list and recipients at pointroberts.dollarsforscholars.org

The Editor: I believe we need widespread implementation of frequent, rapid Covid-19 testing in this country. This is the best way to get us back to some semblance of normal. Here is a website spelling out the rationale and with links for you to contact Congress and your governor with letters asking for them to act on this. Please check it out and take action. Rapidtests.org. Bill Ciao DMD Bellingham The Editor: From now on, I vote only for Democrats. Democrats have supported almost every policy I favor. Republicans have historically opposed them. Some of these are social security, worker and consumer safety, environmental protection, fair labor standards, equal justice, fair wages and spending on infrastructure and public education. The list also includes universal access to affordable health care and unobstructed voting. The concept of “voting for the person” sounds commendable. However, based on party platforms and history, a Republican legislator or executive will work against my interests. Even if a particular Republican holds some positions consistent with mine, that Republican, if elected, gives power to that party. The Republican Party proclaims that every elected Republican is evidence of general public support for their policy objectives, many of which the majority of Americans oppose. So, go ahead and vote for Donald Trump who allowed payroll taxes from the last few months of this year be deferred until next year. He said he would ask the next Congress to end the deduction altogether. Referred to as the payroll tax, it is paying for our current monthly Social Security payments and pays for our medical bills under Medicare. “What the hell do you have to lose?” As Trump would say. Jim Thomson Blaine

Thank you for supporting local journalism. “Thanks for covering the happenings of ‘Little America.’” - George & Julie Iddon

Thank you to our latest contributors: Rhiannon Allen • Heather Beil • Kathy Ells • Roy Hubbard George & Julie Iddon • Bonnie MacDonald • Dustin Massey You can also contribute online at allpointbulletin.com

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under “About Us/Generous Partners.” We are all facing great challenges at this time, but we hope that you can find some peace knowing that the youth of Point Roberts can still focus on their educational goals because of your generosity. On behalf of the directors at Point Roberts Dollars for Scholars, thank you for being a part of our community. We wish you and your family health, safety and happiness and want you to know that, together, we can overcome all things. Fern Peltier, Point Roberts Dollars for Scholars Point Roberts

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November 2020 • allpointbulletin.com

Canada to trial rapid C-19 tests

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B y P a t G r u bb A pilot project will allow international travelers to avoid a 14-day mandatory quarantine upon arrival in Canada if they agree, and test negative, to a rapid Covid-19 test upon arrival and a second test within seven days. The story was first reported by The Toronto Star newspaper. The project will begin November 2 at Calgary International Airport and at the Coutts, Alberta/Sweet Grass, Montana land crossing. International flights into Canada are only permitted at Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal. According to a press release from the government of Alberta, travelers who participate will receive a Covid-19 test upon entry into Canada before proceeding into the required quarantine. Once the test comes back negative, they will then be allowed to leave their place of quarantine so long as they commit to getting a second test on day six or seven after arrival, at a community pharmacy participating in the pilot program. Participants will be closely monitored through daily symptoms checks. They will also be required to follow enhanced preventive health measures, such as wearing masks in public and avoiding visiting high-risk groups. Non-exempt participants will be required to remain in Alberta for the first 14 days, the period normally associated with a quarantine. They may also be issued tickets if they fail to respect the public health requirements of the pilot. Eligible candidates must be returning Canadian citizens, permanent residents or foreign nationals currently permitted entry into Canada and who have no symptoms. The border closure agreement was recently extended until November 21.

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Cand Corner Recycle Much? There are a LOT of different kinds of plastic in this world, and we want to recycle as much as possible, given the resources available to us at this time. Cando brings recycled plastics to a nearby facility outfitted to accept food and beverage containers marked with a #1, 2 or 5. These types of plastics are to be rinsed clean and collected in a separate recycling bin for curbside collection, not mixed with glass, tin or thin film plastics (bags). The three recycling designations are usually specific to foodsafe packaging, resulting in the opportunity to recycle these particular plastics for future food-safe packaging, and a variety of other uses. This includes milk jugs, water bottles, and clamshell food containers. Unfortunately, we are not yet able to recycle plastic tubs, black plastics or oil/antifreeze bottles.

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All Point Bulletin • November 2020

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If money talks, then there’s a whole lot of yakking going on in the 42nd district. As of October 19, the four candidates running for state representative district 42 seats have reported receiving $1,298,000 in donations in the hotly contested races. Leading the contributor pack is Democratic incumbent Sharon Shewmake with $390,875, followed by her Republican challenger Jennifer Sefzik with $330,672 in contributions. The two are running for the Position 2 seat. Republican incumbent Luanne Van Werven has raised $290,557 while her challenger Alicia Rule has pulled in $286,146. Figures shown are current as of October 19. Reported expenditures tell a slightly different story. Shewmake has spent $316,677 versus Sefzik’s $231,200, while Rule has spent $254,697 compared to Van Werven’s $224,379. Much of the money received by the candidates comes from party sources. For example, Shewmake has received over $204,000 from state and county Democratic campaign funds. She has also received money from a number of tribes as well as various union locals. She has spent the most money on mailers ($47,000) followed by Comcast TV ads ($41,570) and digital and radio ads with Cascade Radio and Praise 106.5 ($24,000). Polling has cost $8,250. The Washington state Public Disclosure Commission lists political donations by date, organization and amount of money given. Often, an organization will give more than one contribution. For example, the House Democratic Campaign Committee made two donations, one for $80,000 and another for $8,250. Of Shewmake’s top 25 donations, 12 came from just four state and county Democratic organizations. With the exception of two donations from the Whatcom County Democrats, the rest of the top 25 donations were made by groups, unions or individuals from outside district 42. The figures don’t necessarily reflect the local appeal of the candidates, of course. Not including the smallest contributions, the majority of contributions in numerical terms come from voters within district 42 for Shewmake and Sefzik alike. It helps to have friends, especially when you’ve got enemies. The Democratic group New Direction PAC has spent $114,011 in support of Shewmake’s campaign while the Republican third-party organization Evergreen Progress has spent $116,270 against it. Sefzik has also benefited from state and county Republican party sources, receiving $167,083 as of October 19. Sefzik has accused her opponent of being dependent upon donations from outside district 42; in her case, 92 percent of the top 25 donations came from outside the district for a total of $162,457 out of $176,083.

Like Shewmake, Sefzik has spent the most money on TV and video streaming ($78,668) followed by mailers and postage ($43,555). Top independent expenditures for and against Sefzik include the Democratic New Direction PAC, which has spent $147,935 against her while Evergreen Progress, the 42nd Legislative District Committee (GOP) and the NRA Political Victory Fund have spent $8,275 in support of her candidacy. Running third in the list of money getters is Republican incumbent Luanne Van Werven, who has received a total of $300,432 and has spent $256,559 so far. She has received $51,526 from state and county Republican party sources. With the exception of two individual donations from Bellingham and an in-kind contribution made by herself, the rest of the donors in the top 25 list have been made by corporations or business associations such as BP, Chevron, BNSF Railway, Puget Sound Energy and Amazon. Van Werven’s expenses mirror the other candidates in the district. She has spent $155,954 on TV, radio and cable advertising and $49,825 on printing and mailing election pieces. Outside groups have spent $93,099 against her (New Direction PAC) while friendly groups have spent $22,891 in support of her candidacy (Evergreen Progress, GOP and the NRA Political Victory Fund). Bringing up the rear in the money sweepstakes is Blaine’s Alicia Rule, who has raised $286,148 and spent $254,697. State and county Democratic groups have given Rule $141,524, or 49.4 percent of total contributions. Five of her top 25 contributors are from district 42 including herself, county executive Satpal Sidhu, IAFF Local 191, Lummi Business Council and the local Democratic committee. Rule has spent big on broadcast media with $100,000 alone going to Comcast for spots running October 7 through November 3. In all, $155,008 has been dedicated to advertising. A mother of three, Rule has also spent over $1,300 on childcare while she’s been out campaigning. The New Direction PAC has thrown $218,135 in support of Rule’s candidacy while Evergreen Progress has spent just $15,192 against her.

Crossings >>>

Traffic into Point Roberts for September 2020 (2019 figures following): Passenger vehicles – 13,509 (194,695); Commercial vehicles – 262 (2,106). Traffic into Point Roberts for August 2020 (2019 figures following): Passenger vehicles – 13,678 (245,892); Commercial vehicles – 316 (2,085).

November 2020 • allpointbulletin.com

County exec proposes 17 percent drop in expenses By Oliver Lazenby Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu released a proposed $451.6 million budget for 2021-2022 with a roughly 17 percent decrease in total expenditures from the county’s amended 2020 budget.

Due to a hiring freeze in March 2020 and other cost-saving measures, along with federal CARES Act funds, the county does not expect to make layoffs, Sidhu said in a message about the budget. The general fund, which funds most general services, including law enforce-

s The first hockey player from Point Roberts to be drafted into the NHL, Lukas Svejkovsky, was chosen on October 7 in the fourth round by the Pittsburgh Penguins as its third pick. He subsequently attended the U.S. U20 camp in Michigan to try out for the World Junior Team. Svejkovsky, who will turn 19 in November, weighs 165 lbs. and is known for his hockey sense and puck-handling abilities. He attended Delta Hockey Academy and played for the Wenatchee Wild (2017-18), Vancouver Giants (2018-19) and Medicine Hat Tigers (2019-20), where he scored 28 points in 34 games. He is the son of April and Jaroslav Svejkovsky of Point Roberts. His father was a first-round pick in 1996 by the Washington Capitals playing 113 NHL games from 1996 to 2000. Courtesy photo

Group wins important ruling against CBP on FOI request B y P a t G r u bb The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has won an important skirmish in its fight to obtain documents from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regarding the January 2020 crackdown travelers of Iranian backgrounds crossing into the U.S. at the Peace Arch port of entry. In an October 5 ruling, Judge Ricardo S. Martinez of the U.S. District Court Western District of Washington in Seattle ordered CBP to turn over documents that CAIR had sought in a January 8 Freedom of Information Act request but had either not received or were redacted to the point of uselessness. Following the January 3 killing of Iranian General Qassim Suleimani in a U.S. drone strike, CBP’s tactical analytical unit (TAU) Seattle Field Office issued a “high alert” stating “all persons (males and females) born after 1961 and born before 2001 with links (POB, travel, citizenship)” to Palestine, Lebanon or Iran were to be vetted with extra questioning on their entry to the U.S. from B.C. Consequently, numerous U.S. citizens and resident green card holders of Iranian heritage were detained and held for hours and subjected to enhanced questioning. On January 5, CAIR issued a press release that suggested that CBP had issued a directive calling for detaining Iranian-Americans; an assertion that was quickly denied by the CBP. In a national news break, The Northern Light published on January 29 the CBP directive issued on January 3 that called for the detentions and contradicted the statements previously made by the agency. (The Northern Light and writer Patrick Grubb were awarded 1st prize in the breaking news category in the Washington News Publisher Association’s 2020 Better Newspaper Awards that were

announced on October 9). Following CBP’s failure to respond to CAIR’s request within statutory time requirements (20 days), the organization filed suit on February 12. Two months later, CBP released four documents and withheld 124 pages that were later released with exemptions and redactions following the conclusion of an investigation. It then moved to have the action dismissed. CAIR objected, saying CBP had failed to produce all of the documents requested and had wrongly applied exemptions to the materials that it had supplied. The judge ruled against CBP’s motion and granted, in part, CAIR’s motion for summary judgement. Martinez ordered CBP to search the emails of Adele Fasano, then-Seattle Field Office (SFO) director of field operations, the SFO assistant director and Mark Morgan, acting CBP commissioner in Washington, D.C,. and others and to report on the progress of the search by October 12. The judge also ruled that CAIR had demonstrated that the public interest lies in the release of the names of assistant directors and port directors playing a key role in the implementation of the policy, which touches on the civil rights of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. Accordingly, the exemption cited by CBP should not apply to the names of those individuals. As well, changes to redactions must be accomplished within 30 days of the ruling and any other documents withheld must be turned over or the redactions removed unless another exemption is claimed. Since the controversy erupted in January, there has been a quiet turnover in management in the Seattle Field Office and the Blaine port of entry. Fasano has been transferred to planning and analysis in Washington, D.C. and was replaced by Brian Humphrey in the summer.

ment, public defense, health, parks, land use planning and building inspections, would get a 5.3 percent cut for 2021. The biggest cut in expenditures from the 2020 amended budget is in the “All Other Funds” category and much of that is due to a drop in the “Covid-19 Emergency Response” fund, which was funded by $13.1 million in CARES Act funds from the federal government for 2020. The budget would also cut about $10 million from the county road fund. The budget is based on the county’s fi-

nancial forecast, which predicts a decline in revenue driven mostly by a decline in sales tax collections. The budget does include several new expenses, such as $300,000 for child and family services, $500,000 for water settlement negotiations and $130,000 to establish a racial justice commission. The council will adopt a final 2021-2022 budget on Tuesday, November 24. Find more details on the county’s proposed budget and planning process at bit. ly/3m37voj.

s The Tsawwassen Boundary Bay Lions Club delivered a check for $2,000 to the Point Roberts Food Bank to help ease the hardship from the forced isolation of Point Roberts’ residents. Henry Rosenthal, director, makes weekly trips to Thrifty Foods and Save-OnFoods for supplies. The local Lions Club is only one of two clubs worldwide that serves communities in two countries. Above, from l.: Lions president Peter Thesiger, Henry Rosenthal, Lions donations manager Kim Carswell, Save-On-Foods manager Chris Robinson and Lions treasurer Harry Siempelkamp. Courtesy photo

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All Point Bulletin • November 2020

Apple Harvest Quilt Raffle

To benefit Point Roberts Circle of Care Stop in for a cup of coffee and cinnamon roll at the Shell Station to see and appreciate the beautiful, whimsical creation that the Point Roberts Quilters made for this year's fundraiser.

Tickets are $20 each.

There will be additional door prizes awarded. Schedule of in-person ticket sales to be announced on social media. Tickets also available by contacting us at PRcircleofcare@gmail.com or (360) 945-5222. Drawing on December 19, 2020 Point Roberts Circle of Care (a 501(c)3 non-profit)

Six Word Memoirs Recently, the All Point Bulletin asked readers to submit six-word memoirs describing their lives since the beginning of the pandemic. Here are some of their responses. Please continue to send in your memoirs to be published in upcoming issues of the newspaper. Spread Love: Don’t mask your feelings. Debra Ferguson, Point Roberts Worst time ever to declare bisexuality Pasha Marlowe, North Yarmouth, Maine A plague on all our houses. Amy Pokras, Oak Park, Illinois Lost my job. And my mother-in-law. Laura Sherret, St. Thomas, Ontario We’re never going to survive unless ... Renee Coe, Point Roberts

I wheeze, infected with pandemic loneliness. Jonathan Watson, Davao City, Philippines Trapped in paradise with loving friends. Linda Hughes, Point Roberts Big effort documenting Pyles family history. Lyn Pyles, Point Roberts Beach walks, banter, bonding and bullseyes. Tracy Armoogam, Point Roberts Oh Point Bob. We miss you. Tillamook Ice Cream. Miss you too. Friendly faces all. Really miss you. Have critters eaten up our cottage? Moss running away with the roof? The yardwork certainly off the rails. One place. One love. Two countries. Looking forward to being together again. Todd Romer, Vancouver, B.C.

I survived quarantine, with my ex. Laura Swan, Saturna, B.C. Winter will be a breeze, honey. Don Pinckston, Point Roberts He died. Now it doesn’t matter. Melissa Meyer, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Grateful planet earth working essential worker. Manny Tovim, Vancouver, B.C. Pigs fly past Equal Justice Symposium. Hope lost, world in death spiral. Margot Griffiths, Point Roberts Making the best of the situation Lola Vankirk, no address Discovery, awareness, contemplation, awakening, adaptation, life. M. Lynn Morenz, no address Different ways of showing we care Debbie Jo Johnson Earl, no address

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s Ever since the beginning of the pandemic, an unknown person has been placing bills ranging from $1 to $20 throughout the International Marketplace under various items. This $20 bill was found under a boxed salad and was marked with the message, “The U loves you!” and a sparkly sticker. Must make taking inventory a lot more interesting for staff. Fun fact: Adobe Photoshop will not allow users to adjust or manipulate images of banknotes. Who knew? Photo by Pat Grubb

We’re in this together VOTE Alicia Rule Currently serves on Blaine City Council. Co-Founded Blaine Downtown Alliance to help preserve and grow small businesses. Will push for help for restaurants, retail stores, and offices to create safe work environments, and for them to have the resources they need, like P-P-E.

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November 2020 • allpointbulletin.com I am lost. I am depressed. Karin Redcrow, no address

The virus came and we fled. Christopher Brough, Point Roberts

Thank God he is in control Kathy Workentin Richardson, no address

Life with a don’t know mind. Kathleen McInnes, Point Roberts

Rather weird in every crazy way! Lonnie Moore, no address

Live your life, I’ll live mine. Melissa Ridgely, Point Roberts

Trying to keep head above water! Angie Deming Czesak, no address

Bells Grove missing you so much. Susan Wood, Langley, B.C.

Lack of leadership makes me sad Rex Broward, no address

What the hell is going on? Fern Peltier, Point Roberts

Stress renders me bootless and pant-less. Maggie Maize, no address

Concerned Fear Hope Empathy Forgiveness Thankful. David Stumpo, Point Roberts

Movies, baking, knitting. Solitude is addictive. Nature blooms. Virus looms. Home alone. Pamala Sheppard, Point Roberts Covid-19 hijacked cherished PR grandkid time. Henk ter Keurs, Calgary Employment, housing, opportunity, another life chapter Theresa Coe, Point Roberts Pointless owning property in ghost town. Ron Grender, Coquitlam, B.C. I pay taxes let me in. Anonymous, Canada Point Roberts, so close yet unreachable. Carol Johnson, Surrey Deflect, defer, deny, disavow, disrupt, dissent. Spandex prevents wardrobe overhaul –inhale deeply. No sushi, no roast lamb, sigh. Madeleine Anderson, Point Roberts

Officers on both crossing are excellent. Rich Richardson, Point Roberts Keep Point Roberts negative (and wacky)! Tom (retired mailman), Point Roberts

Winter is coming By Meg Olson Winter is coming and the border is still closed to Canadian property owners. While many never opened their cabins at all this year, those who did are looking at how to get them ready for cold weather. “Quite a few people have called to have us shut their water down at the meter,” water district manager Dan Bourks told commissioners at their October 13 virtual meeting. “I’ve also seen a lot of people hiring someone to do work on their property, more than I would have thought.” Nielson’s Building Center maintains a list of service providers on its website at Nielsonsbuildingcenter.com/contractors. html for property owners looking to hire some help on this side of the line.

We’re your bank people. At Umpqua, we strive to be your bank people. In practical terms, that means if a local bank closes its doors or a new family moves into the community, we welcome you with open arms and help with the transition. We also know that small businesses, and careers have been disrupted by Covid-19, and we want you to know that the Point Roberts Umpqua Bank is open and ready to help meet your financial needs.

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All Point Bulletin • November 2020

e t i r e d r o B ort Rep

THE

Brought To You By

The Blaine School

Point Roberts Primary 2050 Benson Rd, P.O. Box 910 Point Roberts, WA 98281 945-ABCD (2223)

District

Dear Point Roberts Community, We are so excited to have Point Roberts Primary School open once again and to be welcoming your students to the building for learning. One of the most important things you can know about a return to school at this time is that we are asking students and staff to not come to the building if they are sick or feeling ill. Daily health screenings in Skyward Family Access are required for all students. If your student is ill please contact the school office as you would in previous years to report their absences from school. I would like to thank the community for its continued support in containing the virus and keeping one another safe. The best way we can keep Point Roberts Primary School open is for all of us to continue with these efforts; frequent hand washing, staying home when ill, six feet of distance and wearing masks when around others.

Dr. Christopher Granger Superintendent, Blaine School District

TEACHERS’S CORNER by Jessie Hettinga M.S.Ed.

October 12th was an exciting day in our school! It was the day we were able to welcome students back to the classroom for in-person learning. Seeing students get off the school bus and walk through our school doors again was a very special moment. The school walls had been bare from student art work, and the hallways quiet, since last March, so it is exciting to be decorating the school again. The kids have been busy collaboratively making fish and jellyfish to hang from our ceiling to decorate for this year's motto: We may all be different, but in this school we swim together. This year we are transforming our school with an underwater theme and will be studying the ocean as we integrate art and science in our lessons throughout the year. Families currently have the choice to return to in-person learning or remain in an online schooling format. Each morning we host a morning meeting, where our in-person and at-home learners start their learning day together. During this time it is important that all of our learners know how much we care about them and how they are a valued member of our classroom family, regardless of which method of learning they are choosing. Our goal at Point Roberts Primary has been, and continues to be, to offer support to families in our special community. We are so excited to share our learning adventures with you this school year! Thank you for your efforts as a community to stay healthy, so that our school children can have the choice to be back in the classroom. Nothing gives me greater joy than seeing that our little school in the woods again has children coming through its doors ready to learn!

Jessie Hettinga M.S. ED Intern Principal

Check out our district website! www.blainesd.org

s A row of shaggy mane ink cap mushrooms grows along the forest trail at the Cottages at Seabright Farm. Tasty when young, nasty when they begin to auto-digest.

Photo by Pat Grubb

In The Garden By Rhiannon Allen The garden column on the role of soil texture in growing healthy plants generated some interest, which leads me to a good holiday gift suggestion for gardeners. In fact, it’s a gift that can be used right away, without waiting for spring – a soil test kit. While I am an advocate of using professional soil tests for crops, a handy little home kit provides good information about your soil, teaches you some basics of soil chemistry, is much more accessible than the pages of chemical analysis yielded by a professional test, and is a great way to interest older children in chemistry or soil science. It’s sort of a friendly ‘better get to know your soil’ kit. I’m thinking of the Rapitest Soil Test Kit, produced by Luster Leaf Products. It’s available at most hardware stores and garden centers, as well as online. To use the kit to test four key chemical properties of soil, you place a specified small amount of soil and water (or soil solution) into each of four vials, add a chemical that reacts with a color change, and compare results to a color chart. Replacement capsules of chemicals can be direct-ordered from Luster Leaf by downloading an order form and mailing it in. That’s right – the good old USPS snail mail way. The first property the kit assesses is pH, an inverse measure of the concentration of free hydrogen ions in the soil. Why does that matter? Hydrogen ions combine with other elements to form acids. Plant roots cannot absorb minerals and nutriments unless they are dissolved, and acids dissolve these and make them available for absorption. Of course, too much acid, and the roots could be exposed to toxic levels. If there’s too alkalinity, then the plant will be malnourished. So the most important key for soil, after soil texture, is pH because everything else – including the absorption of the other nutriments tested – will depend on these two soil characteristics. For the pH part of the Rapitest, a few minutes after you add the chemical reagent to the appropriate amount of soil and water, the water will turn some shade between yellow (acid) and green (alkaline). The color is compared to a chart that yields the measured pH of the soil. A pH of 7 is considered neutral, lower numbers are acidic (sour, as in vinegar), and higher numbers are alkaline (base or sweet as in

baking soda, not candy). Generally, rainy climes have acidic soil because rain is naturally slightly acidic and also washes away some elements like calcium that make a soil alkaline, leaving a lot of free hydrogen ions knocking around. This is the case in Point Roberts, where most surface soils have a pH between 6 and 6.5 (acid to slightly acid). Fortunately, this is an ideal range for most plants, allowing them to absorb nutriments in the soil. But not all plants evolved in slightly acid soil like ours, and you might need to research the needs of plants you want to grow. We have no native lawn-type grasses like creeping red fescue because most evolved in grassland prairie soils that are more neutral. The same is true of members of the onion family. Our slightly acid topsoil is going to be mildly toxic to such plants. In order to have a lush lawn and great onion crops, then, you should move the pH of your soil toward a more neutral 7. The fastest way to do that is to add lime, which is why you often see packages of lime alongside grass seed in garden centers. Make sure that you follow directions and don’t overdo it. I once spilled baking soda on my lawn. It instantly killed the acid-loving moss in the lawn, but it also killed the grass. It took a lot of rain to return the soil to the neutral pH that grass loves. A slower but less finicky way is to add wood ashes to the compost you use for neutral-loving plants. Conversely, some ornamental shrubs like rhododendrons, fruit shrubs like blueberries, and several common crops grow best in a moderately acidic soil because they have specific needs for dissolved minerals that are more available in acidic soil. For these plants, you might need to acidify your soil. If you need immediate results, like we did for an ailing cucumber bed at the Benson Road Garden (aka co-op) this summer, Nielson’s Building Center can order you aluminum sulfate to add to the soil. A better but slower solution is to prepare your beds with generous amounts of coarse compost, which releases carbon dioxide as it decomposes, in turn forming a weak acid. Remember that healthy soil will have both the appropriate texture and pH before you even consider what fertilizers are needed … more on that some other time.

November 2020 • allpointbulletin.com

Church News By Gina Gaudet Last month, we lost a beloved pastor, patriarch and prophet with the passing of Ernie Loreen. He was larger than life; a big man with a big presence, a big voice and a big, big love for people. His smile was pretty close to perpetual and his joy in the Lord was contagious. When you pastor the “only church in town,” you become by default the pastor to the whole community. One didn’t have to show up on Sunday to be loved and cared for. Arriving on the Point in 1988 looking for a volunteer opportunity, I got involved in Tuesday School, the unique Point Roberts version of Christian education. Every Tuesday afternoon, the Blaine school bus would drop its load of children at the community center for stories, songs, crafts and projects. In the summer, I volunteered at vacation Bible school. The involvement of so many adults from the community in these projects was a testament to Ernie’s passion for the Gospel and his love of the work of pastoring in a unique rural community. I momentarily hesitated with the word “patriarch” in these times when the word has oppressive connotation. But when I met with the family gathered in Monument Park to honor a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, the word described a remarkable generational legacy. It’s a legacy of faith and Christian values, moral integrity and the blessing of a large, connected, supportive family. The family blesses not only the members of it, but the multiple communities each

of these children and grandchildren will impact over the years to come. In Ernie’s final moments, with his family gathered at his bed, each member of that family received a personal blessing and prayer from this beloved patriarch – even the unborn great-grandchild. Over the years, Ernie and I worshiped together, discussed Scripture and shared pastor stories. Some Sundays, we’d offer healing and blessing prayers after Communion, and it gave him such joy to perform this ministry. As his health limited his ability to be present, those limitations would not keep him away, or keep him from praying, singing and praising with characteristic gusto. A huge part of Ernie’s ministry involved work with peace, justice and equality issues. They would infiltrate sermons and bible studies. It was so important to keep these issues front and center for a little church in an isolated community. In this sense, Ernie was a prophet in the Biblical tradition: Not someone who foretells the future, but “forth-tells” the possibilities that follow from the decisions we make in the now. As I prepared the service for Ernie’s family, I came across a poem called “A Prayer for Our Nation” by Judy Chicago. It is too long for this space, but will be posted to the Trinity Community Lutheran Church website, bit.ly/35Lok0z. I hope you will take the time to read it. It resonated, and became the benediction for this local pastor, patriarch and prophet of ours, Ernie Loreen.

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The USDA has recognized Whidbey Telecom for its commitment to extending high-speed internet and awarded the company over half a million dollars to get started on a fiber project to serve residents on the Point. Kirk Pearson, state director for USDA rural development, presented the Washington Infrastructure Award of Excellence to Whidbey Telecom employees on October 22. “We are also the recipient of a ReConnect grant for a Point Roberts fiber project,” said Donna Hilty, Whidbey Telecom chief operating officer. “We will use the $596,000 ReConnect grant to start a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect underserved residents to high-speed broadband internet.” Hilty said the company will continue to apply for state and federal funding to build the project. “This is just the start. We know the Point Roberts community will be excited and we have a lot of work ahead of us,” Hilty said. “This will be a multi-phase, multi-year endeavor.” ❦ The Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce has a new slate of officers. These are Brian Calder, president; Louise Mugar, vice president; Patti Monaghan-Hacker, treasurer; Linda Hughes, secretary; and Tamra Hansen, director. Following the October 6 meeting, former president Dee Gough submitted a letter of resignation. The chamber has begun a membership drive. It “currently has 23 dues-paying members and growing,” Calder says. ❦ The Point Roberts Parks and Recreation District accepted a bid of $40,648.44 to

replace the septic system at the community center from Ken Calder Construction. Two other local companies submitted bids; Pacific Shore Contracting ($25,497.50) and Hank’s Backhoe ($30,271.50). Commissioner Stephen Falk, explaining why the district went with the highest bid, wrote, “We selected Ken because he had the most complete quote (including electrical, initial maintenance and landscaping), had explored working around the drainage system, had completed training on prevailing wages, and had a plan to work around the limited community center activities.”

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All Point Bulletin • November 2020

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Park Maintenance & Admin Worker We are seeking a reliable and punctual individual for a part-time position to complete the daily tasks that keep the Park and Recreation District operational. The qualified candidate will work closely with the Board of Commissioners to complete its administrative needs and maintenance requirements. Hourly pay rate shall be commensurate with experience. The job description and job applications are available on the Park District website, http:// prparkandrec.org/.

Please email questions to PRPR.jobs@gmail.com. Job applications must be received on or before November 3, 2020.

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Weekly, monthly or long-term leases 1459 Edwards Drive

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Enjoy the relaxed beach life and make a lifetime of memories in this Point Roberts home. Sit on the front porch with friends enjoying the water view and gorgeous sunsets. Private access to the beach is just out your front door. 3 BD/2 BA + den. The upstairs landing has a balcony where the spectacular view continues. Wood floors throughout the downstairs living areas and plenty of open area to entertain. Call: 346-610-5499

November 2020 • allpointbulletin.com

Sheriff’s Report Oct. 3, 11:46 a.m.: Assist citizen cold call on

Oct. 15, 3:22 p.m.: Serve papers, Gulf Road.

Ocean View Court.

Oct. 16, 11:42 a.m.: Assist citizen on Boundary

Oct. 5, 11:16 a.m.: Noise cold call on Province

Bay Road.

Road.

Oct. 16, 5:23 p.m.: Watch for on Gulf Road

Oct. 5, 11:40 a.m.: Welfare check cold call on

Oct. 17, 11:45 a.m.: Parking problem on Bay

Mill Road.

View Drive and Cedar Street.

Oct. 6, 10:34 a.m.: Serve papers on Gulf Road.

Oct. 17, 2:08 p.m.: Neighborhood dispute on

Oct. 6, 10:42 a.m.: Assist citizen cold call on

Rex Street and Jonna Drive.

Gulf Road.

Oct. 17, 2:36 p.m.: Welfare check cold call on

OctOct. 8, 11:52 a.m.: Assist citizen, Edwards

Mill Road.

Dr.

Oct. 18, 5:14 p.m.: Neighborhood dispute on

Oct. 10, 11:12 a.m.: Assist citizen on Seabright

Jonna Drive.

Loop.

Oct. 19, 4:17 p.m.: Harassment cold call on

Oct. 10, 11:29 a.m.: Request for law enforce-

Deer Road.

ment on Johnson Road.

Oct. 20, 1:39 p.m.: Assist citizen, Regina Way.

Oct. 10, 4:05 p.m.: Trouble with guest on Re-

Oct. 20, 5:38 p.m.: Neighborhood dispute cold

gina Way.

call on Deer Road.

Oct. 11, 8:13 p.m.: Trespass on Columbia Vista.

Oct. 21, 9:13 a.m.: Boating problem on South

Oct. 12, 9:09 a.m.: Welfare check on Mill and

Beach Road.

Austin roads.

Oct. 24, 10:32 a.m.: Suspicious vehicle cold

Oct. 14, 1:28 p.m.: Threat cold call, Gulf Road.

call on Boundary Bay Road.

Senior’s Point By Madeleine Anderson As most of you know, the community center is closed. However, the seniors’ lunch program is still in full swing, thanks to our volunteers and Chef Roger. These lunches are available to virtually anyone who wishes to partake. In our current situation, one does not have to be a senior. If you are younger than 60, we ask only that (if you can) donate $7 instead of the $5 recommended amount. If you are unable, unemployed or otherwise in need, there is a sliding scale. Give what you can.If more assistance, food-wise, is needed, contact the food bank, which operates on Wednesday mornings 8 a.m.- 10 a.m. in the hallway of the community center. If you wish to have a meal on a Wednesday and/or Friday, you must request one in advance. You can either contact: Chiron@ whidbey.com or phone the community center at 360/945-5474, leaving a clear message as to who you are and how many meals to be ordered. All lunches are subject to availability and on a first come, first served basis. Menus and other important information are posted weekly on PAWS and Point Interface. If you wish to be put on the lunch distribution list, contact chiron as above.

Library Picks K RIS L O M EDI C O Bestsellers: Twisted . . . . . . . . Steve Cavanagh American Traitor . . . . . Brad Taylor Old Country Music . . . . Kevin Barry All the Colors of the Night . . . . . . . . . . . Jayne Ann Krentz Movies: The Grey Fox . . . Richard Farnsworth Baby Teeth . . . . . . . . Essie Davis Abe . . . . . . . . . . . Noah Schnapp Archive . . . . . . . . . . Rhona Mitra Music: Bigger Love . . . . . . . . John Legend Bon Jovi 2020 . . . . . John Bon Jovi Brightest Blue . . . . . Ellie Goulding Folklore . . . . . . . . . Taylor Swift Teens: Above All Else . . . Dana Alison Levy Being Toffee . . . . . . Sarah Crossan The Bridge . . . . . . Bill Konigsberg Kids: When Life Gives You Mangos . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kereen Getten Come on In . . . . . . . . . . Various We’re Going on a Goon Hunt . M. Rex Hours: Tuesday 1-7 p.m. Wednesday & Saturday 10-5 p.m. Express Library: 6 am to 11 p.m. Curbside pickup during open hours wcls.org

Coming up ...

Scheduled Meetings/Ongoing Events Halloween at Nielson’s Building Center: Kids, stop by Nielson’s Building Center on Halloween, Saturday, October 31 until 3 p.m. and get a glow-in-the-dark necklace and a treat. Info: 360/945-3116. Auntie Pam’s Halloween: Saturday, October 31 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Visit Auntie Pam’s Country Store in your costume to receive Halloween treats. PR Amateur Radio Club: Monday, November 2 at 7 p.m., via Zoom. Email Michele Wallis at wb6f@pointroberts.net. PR Chamber of Commerce: Monday, November 2, 6 p.m. at Saltwater Café. Masks and social distancing applies. PR Park and Recreation: Monday, November 9 at 7 p.m., via Zoom. Info: prparkandrec.org. PR Hospital District: Tuesday, November 10 at 7 p.m., via Zoom. Info: pointrobertsclinic.com. PR Historical Society pop-up store: Saturday, November 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Guests are limited to four at a time. Masks and physical distancing required. Items will be listed on PAWS. Preorders can be picked up at the pop-up store. Preorders and other info: Contact historicalsociety@pointroberts.net or 360/9457747. Parks district writing class: The PR Park and Recreation District will offer its first online writing class on Sunday, November 15 from 1 to 3 p.m., via Zoom. Point Roberts writer Lisa Heidle will host the workshop focused on teaching how to find inspiration and hone creativity for projects. Email prparkdistrict@gmail.com with “Writing Workshop” in the subject. Info: bit.ly/3oOd7oK. PR Garden Club: No November meeting. Recycling and composting workshops: Washington State University Whatcom County Extension will host online classes every Thursday from October 22 to November 12, 6–8 p.m. Register: beth.chisholm@wsu.edu. Wackie Walkers: Tuesdays, 8 a.m., Lighthouse Park. Saturdays, 8 a.m., Lily Point. Check wackiewalkers. wordpress.com for Thursday location.

RECENT HOUSE & LOT PRICES

Blaine, Birch Bay & Point Roberts SEPTEMBER 2020 DESCRIPTION

LOCATION

SALE PRICE

HIGHER END HOUSES $500,000 AND ABOVE: 2-story house with 2,155 SF, 3 BD, 3 BA, 288 SF builtin garage, 401 SF balcony, 401 SF patio, 356 SF deck, built in 1992, .31 acres land; marine view.

7448 Birch Bay Drive, Blaine

$515,000

2-story house with 2,825 SF, 3 BD, 4 BA, 760 SF attached garage, 426 SF deck, built in 2014, 1.01 acres land.

5111 Heronswood Drive, Blaine

$760,000

5639 Whitehorn Way, Blaine

$625,000

1-and a half story house with 2,069 SF, 3 BD, 2 BA, 576 SF attached garage, 864 SF storage, 216 SF deck, built in 2003, remodeled in 2004, 1.04 acres land.

8989 Salmon Creek Lane, Blaine

$579,900

1-story house with 2,000 SF, 3 BD, 2 BA, 659 SF attached garage, 213 SF patio, built in 2000, .35 acres land.

8650 Great Horned Owl Lane, Blaine

$650,000

1-story house with 2,221 SF, 2 BD, 2 BA, 624 SF attached garage, built in 2000, .38 acres land.

8693 Great Horned Owl Lane, Blaine

$570,000

5161 Heronswood Drive, Blaine

$765,000

8745 Oertel Drive, Blaine

$2,350,000

Condo with 1,250 SF, 2 BD, 2 BA, built in 2013, waterfront; marine view.

#B306, Marin Condominiums, 9535 Semiahmoo Parkway, Blaine

$575,000

1-and a half story house with 2,708 SF, 3 BD, 3 BA, 572 SF attached garage, 256 SF patio, built in 1999, .38 acres land.

8971 Bald Eagle Drive, Blaine

$717,000

8385 Quail Run, Blaine

$675,000

5390 Night Heron Drive, Blaine

$1,518,800

8217 Chehalis Road, Blaine

$680,000

2-story house with 4,912 SF, 3 BD, 4 BA, 545 SF built-in garage, 912 SF patio, built in 2015, waterfront; marine and territorial views, 2.16 acres land.

6155 Semiahmoo Lane, Blaine

$2,150,000

1-story house with 2,262 SF, 3 BD, 2 BA, 1,044 SF attached garage, 136 SF deck, built in 1993, .37 acres land.

8691 Great Horned Owl Lane, Blaine

$700,000

1-story house with 1,110 SF, 1,000 SF basement, 3 BD, 1 BA, 250 SF patio, built in 1951, waterfront; marine views, .79 acres land.

9079 Shipyard Lane, Blaine

$620,000

8757 Wood Duck Way, Blaine

$869,900

1-and a half story house with 3,060 SF, 4 BD, 3 BA, 592 SF built-in garage, 672 SF attached garage, 406 SF patio, built in 2005, .34 acres land.

5566 Peregrine Way, Blaine

$680,000

1-story house with 2,708 SF, 2,937 SF basement, 3 BD, 4 BA, 416 SF balcony, 794 SF attached garage, 469 SFpatio, built in 2007, waterfront; marine view, .92 acres land.

9049 Shearwater Road, Blaine

$1,850,000

2-story house with 2,028 SF, 4 BD, 3 BA, 308 SF detached garage, 260 SF deck, built in 2014; waterfront, marine view .19 acres land.

8256 Birch Bay Drive, Blaine

$639,900

Split level house with 2,240 SF, 3 BD, 2 BA, 535 SF attached garage, 424 SF deck, built in 1988; marine view, .38 acres land (3 lots).

670 Highland Drive, Point Roberts

$575,000

1-story with 1,349 SF, 2 BD, 1 BA, 320 SF detached garage, 280 SF carport, 308 SF shop, 360 SF patio, built in 1960, remodeled in 2019, waterfront; marine view, .30 acres land.

6923 Holeman Avenue, Blaine

$899,900

8305 Semiahmoo Drive, Blaine

$175,000

Haida Way, Blaine

$280,000

.36 acres residential lot.

5343 Canvasback Road, Blaine

$158,000

.30 acres residential lot.

56230 Sanderling Way, Blaine

$159,900

2134 Benson Road, Point Roberts

$265,000

1-story house with 1,685 SF, 2 BD, 3 BA, 784 SF attached garage, 506 and 424 SF patios, 370 SF deck, built in 2008; marine view, .24 acres land.

1.0 story house with 2,270 SF, 4 BD, 3 BA, 1,031 SF attached garage, 432 SF deck, 238 sSF deck, built in 2016, 1.01 acres land. 1-story house with 2,623 SF, 2,607 SF basement, 3 BD, 4 BA, 954 SF attached garage, 318 SF storage, 750 SF patio, 750 SF balcony, built in 2007, waterfront; marine view, 3.00 acres land.

2-story house with 3,235 SF, 4 BD, 4 BA, 635 SF attached garage, 701 SF deck, 332 SF deck, built in 1992, .49 acres land. 1-story house with 2,300 SF, 1,192 SF basement, 5 BD, 4 BA, 851 SF attached garage, 732 SF deck, built in 1999, waterfront; marine and territorial view, .43 acres land. 1-story house 1,696 SF, 1,119 SF basement, 4 BD, 4 BA, 736 SF built-in garage, 184 SF balcony, 496 SF patio, built in 2003; territorial view, .26 acres land.

1-and a half story house with 2,716 SF, 3 BD, 3 BA, 943 SF attached garage, 394 SF deck, built in 2018; territorial view, .37 acres land.

LAND: 6.50 acres residential land. .18 acres residential lot, waterfront; marine view.

4.95 acres residential land.

All Point Bulletin • November 2020

Obituaries

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Ernie T. Loreen November 6, 1926 - October 4, 2020 Ernie Loreen was a leader by example, a steadfast advocate for social justice, a pillar of the community, and at his very core, an extraordinary family man.

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Born in Bellingham, he developed a love of farming early in his life. Before long, his chicken flock overtook the garage and his parents acquiesced and moved to the county so he could have more space to farm. While in college at Western Washington University, he met the love of his life, Lola Samuelson. Ernie and Lola were married in 1950 and thus began their incredible 70-year adventure together. Lola and Ernie’s work serving the church took them across the country, first to Lutheran Seminary in Rock Island, Illinois, where Ernie became a pastor, and then to Canada where he was called to lead the congregation at Augustana Lutheran in Vancouver. After almost eight years in Vancouver, he accepted a call to a two-church parish in Creston, B.C. All the while, Ernie and Lola raised their family of six children and fostered a welcoming community wherever they went. Eventually, they settled at Point Roberts on land given to them by Lola’s parents. The family finished building their beautiful homestead there in 1975. Ernie loved nothing more than spending time in his garden or with his farm animals, surrounded by family and friends. Ernie supported his family through a variety of jobs. You may remember seeing him in his earlier days working at Nielson’s lumber yard, pumping gas at Ben’s Store, as a baker, a farmer, a cemetery commissioner, a builder, or volunteering at the food bank. What may stand out brightest amidst all his roles was as pastor of Trinity Community Lutheran Church, where he welcomed all people with open arms and open doors. In this role, Ernie hosted a wide variety of events including Earth Day com-

288 Martin Street, Downtown Blaine (360) 332-7300 • (604) 256-1384 Fortiphi.com

memorations, as care of the Earth was particularly close to Ernie’s heart. No matter what he was doing, Ernie lived his life with kindness and love which he spread to everyone around him. Family and community were of the utmost importance to Ernie. He was always quick to lend a helping hand and did his best to support others in any way he could. Ernie and Lola’s home has always been a meeting place for family and friends. There they hosted many wonderful events over the years such as advent wreath making in the barn, soup suppers, ebelskivers for Shrove Tuesday and countless celebrations for family and friends, always with a plethora of food. Ernie’s love, support, and gratitude for his community remained unwavering; even during the tumult of 2020, he and Lola continued sharing joy and love with their community by waving from the end of their driveway to folks passing by. Ernie was the North Star of his family. He passed from this realm into the next on October 4 surrounded by his loving family with his beloved wife, Lola, by his side. Ernie went gracefully, courageously and lovingly, just as he lived his life. He will be greatly missed by his sweetheart, Lola, their six children, 10 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, a vast network of extended family and all those who knew him. His extraordinary presence and loving spirit will shine on us and guide us, encouraging us to be kind, welcoming and loving to one another, while also working for social justice, for in his own words, “we are all relatives.” If you feel moved to do so, please donate in Ernie’s honor to Trinity Community Lutheran Church or your favorite social justice organization. One of Ernie’s last wishes was to live long enough to vote in the upcoming election. Please honor Ernie by remembering to vote.

Anna Jane Mannering September 17, 1951 – October 2, 2020 It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Anna Mannering, who put up a strong unwavering two-year battle against pancreatic cancer. She was a spiritual, caring soul who brought such joy and light to everyone she interacted with. She will be dearly missed

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November 2020 • allpointbulletin.com by her friends, dog park patrons, neighbors and family. She peacefully passed on October 2 surrounded by sounds of the singing bowls, sisters Tina (Leo) and Sue, daughter Tammi (Doug Thompson), son Todd (Amber), grandson (Lincoln), and beloved dog, Emma. May there be joy in knowing she will be reunited with her husband, Mark, parents (Jean and Jim) and many others who have crossed over to the afterlife. A special thanks to her neighbors Tony and Kathy, Les and Kristy, Ron and Marsha, and others on the block for all the care and support over the last two years. A special thank you also to friends Pat and Barbara, the Cooks and Holburns, as well as Tammi and Doug for all their assistance with helping Anna during some of the challenging times, especially with restricted visitor access during the pandemic. Anna enjoyed long walks with her dog, swimming, meditation, a warm cup of tea, the beach and spending time in the garden. The family requests that in place of any flowers to please make a donation to the Delta Community Animal Shelter. A celebration of life will follow in the future once the borders reopen. We will miss you Anna but as you would say Aloha for now.

Sally Higgins Roberts April 3, 1930 - September 25, 2020 Sally Higgins Roberts passed away peacefully in her sleep at home in Point Roberts on September 25, 2020, with her son Lin at her side. Sally is survived by her three sons: Lee, Lin and Kit; her sister, Jane; three grandsons: Kyle, Neal and Bradley; her granddaughter, Nicole; two great grandchildren, nephews, nieces and daughters-in-laws. Sally was predeceased by her first husband, Bob Roberts (died 1980), David Ashton (died 2000) and her sister, Nancy. Born in Milton, Massachusetts, Sally summered at the family homestead in Eastham, Cape Cod. Sally was a 13th generation Higgins to reside on the homestead property since the family arrived in the U.S. on the second Mayflower in 1633. Sally continued to summer in Cape Cod until 2016 at the homestead down the path to her sister’s cottage. She grew up surrounded by art, literature, history and music, foundations for her lifetime career in teaching. Sally attended North Adams Teaching College, followed by a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin, and went on to teach for 40 years in Oklahoma, Minnesota and Delta, B.C. After retirement, Sally volunteered to teach art at the Point Roberts Primary School. Through her years of teaching, she impacted thousands of students and continued to correspond with many throughout her life. She kept treasures from her students and fondly shared stories from her days teaching. In 2017, her grade seven class of 1977 planned a 40-year class reunion specifically to honor her. In 1998, Sally and David moved to Point Roberts where she had woven her way into local folklore by being a founding member of the local walking group, the Wackie Walkers. The group became more than a walking group, it was an eclectic mix of 60-plus community members, providing

friendship and support. Sally hosted the group in her home every Tuesday for many years, gatherings that included a surprise wedding. She was genuinely touched when the Wackie Walkers showed up and sang to her on the Tuesday before she passed. Sally will be remembered for her genuine laugh, good humor, conversation and her love for all she knew. She was a great storyteller, always with a positive message of love. After talking to her the night before she passed, her grandson said, “She was at peace, as she had been as long as I knew her.” Sally’s wishes are to be buried at the family plot in Cape Cod, surrounded by a small family gathering. In lieu of flowers, Sally’s wish was for donations to be made to Point Roberts Dollars for Scholars. Sally will be forever missed but her spirit will continue with all who knew her.

November Tides Tides at Point Roberts

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PST Not For Navigation

49° 0’ 0”N - 122° 46’ 0”W

Date Time Height

Time Height

Su 1

6:25 am

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Mo 30

6:29 am

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3:58 pm

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-0.8

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LIC #Hanksbs02102

Dozers, Excavator, Backhoes and Dump Trucks

Call Jeff Peltier (360) 945-0754 www.hanksbackhoe.net

Email: hanksbackhoe@pointroberts.net

SERVING POINT ROBERTS SINCE 1967

20 OFF %

spend over $50 and receive 20% off your purchase with this coupon. Excludes sale items. In stock only, not to be included with any other offers. Expires November 30, 2020.

1140 56th Street Tsawwassen, B.C. 604-943-0141

www.homehardwaredelta.com

All Point Bulletin • November 2020 JamesJames H. James H.Julius, Julius, H.Broker* Julius, Broker* Designated Broker*

Notary Public

CELEBRATING

Maureen Stevens, Broker Notary Public * Successfully listing and selling

Point Roberts real estate since 1968 and selling E-Mail: prprty@Whidbey.com * Successfully listing YEARS E-Mail: prprty@Whidbey.com www.pointrobertswashington.com • www.pointrobertswashington.com Point Roberts real estateSELLING sincePOINT1968 ROBERTS

79 Tyee Drive Point Roberts, WA 98281

E/Mail: prr@pointroberts.com

Phone: 360/945-1115 Fax: 945-0804

REAL ESTATE • 1339 Gulf Road, P.O. Box 17 • Pt. Roberts, WA 98281 360/945-5555 360-945-5555 • Cell: E-Mail: prprty@Whidbey.com • 360-525-4706 www.pointrobertswashington.com *Member of NY State

1339 Gulf Road, P.O. Box 1 • Point Roberts, WA 98281

MLS Listing Service BEACH PROPERTIES Road, P.O. Box 17 • Pt. Roberts, WA 98281 360/945-5555 • 1339 Gulf

*LISTING & SELLING POINT ROBERTS REAL ESTATE SINCE 1968

“NOBODY KNOWS POINT ROBERTS LIKE POINT ROBERTS REALTY”

BEACH PROPERTIES

visit our website: www.pointroberts.com

UPDATED DAILY! View color photos, listings and complete information of all properties for sale.

FREEMAN BEACH 697 MARINE DR. 2 BR cottage at Freeman Beach. Beach rights. $219,900

FREEMAN BEACH

697 MARINE G! DR. N I 2 BR cottage at D Freeman Beach. Beach ENrights. $219,900

SOUTHSIDE WATERVIEW ACREAGE

This 1 ½ acre site is located on the sunny south slope with water and island views. Site is partial cleared and improved with a 4-bedroom septic system, water installed. This is one of the last larger building sites left on the south slope.

$498,000

THINKING OF BUYING OR SELLING? Point Roberts Realty is here to guide you through the real estate experience with prompt, professional and honest service for all your Real Estate needs. You can count on the highest standards of professionalism and ethical standards as our client’s needs always come first. If you’re serious about purchasing at the “Point” do yourself a favor and visit our office for a complete list of everything for sale in the area and also check out our website for general information, color photos, maps and full property search function.

COME TO THE POINT!

DIN

2117 ROOSEVELT.DRIVE Maple Beach 636 HIGHLAND 1920s cabin, 2 BR, wood-burning FP, Panoramic View of Islands. 3 BR, 2 blocks to beach. $169,000 2.5 BA. 2 large decks, hot tub, large garage & storage space. $420,000

2117 ROOSEVELT. Maple Beach 1920s cabin, 2 BR, wood-burning FP, 2 blocks to beach. $169,000 542 MCLAREN RD.

769 CLAIRE LANE 70’ South Facing Bluff247 Lot.BAYVIEW 3 BR, 3 DR. 3BR, 2BA waterfront home facing Next to Lily $595,000 Mt. BA. Baker. Crabtown. Point Marine Park.

1275 BROUGHTON LANE 2BR, 3BA beautiful west side home. $199,000. Adjoining lot $35,000.

1805 SHAW CRESCENT Completely remodeled! Everything first class and new.

$632,000

$227,000

247 BAYVIEW DR. ! W home facing 3BR, 2BA waterfront E Mt. Baker. N Crabtown. $595,000

1275 BROUGHTON LANE MAJOR PRICEwest REDUCTION! 2BR, 3BA beautiful side home. $199,000. Adjoining lot $35,000.

1845 JOHNSON. 75 x 200 DR. lot. #32 668 SOUTH BEACH RD. WESTSIDE BLUFF 1728 EDWARDS 2BR cottage plus 2 lots near beach. Furnished, private, excellent Panoramic sunsets. 3-BR, 1.5-BA, sunroom plus 410’ $200,000 condition. $115,000

private tidelands, heated pool.

$249,900

ED UC D RE

50‘x400’+/- lot.

$485,000

IN ND

1845 JOHNSON. 75 x 200 lot. 668 SOUTH BEACH RD. 2BR cottage plus 2 lots near beach. Furnished, private, excellent $200,000 condition. $115,000 1877 WASHINGTON 676 CLAIRE LANE 3BR, 2BA backs onto Lily Point

2 BR designer home. A must-see!

3BR cottage w/front and rear deck. EDWARDS LOT 27. Water 173 KENNEDY 1959 DRAKE CLAIRE LANE LOT 53 $299,000 Park.DR. Make an offer! Adjacent to Lily Point Park. & island views.$159,000 Beach rights. Double-wide Fixer-upper! Forested, some view, Sewer. WaterACREAGE: meter. 6.39 ACRES, on 70‘x119’ lot. next$299,000 to Lily Point. DESIRABLE EAST$99,000 SIDE, SUBDIVIDABLE Recent septic. Reduced to $170,000 $75,000

D CE U D RE

www.JuliusRealty.com

On the beach!

88 DERBY AVE. 2+BR Cottage. New septic tank soon. $225,000

EDWARDS DRIVE HOME 75’ level waterfront. 4-BD, 2.5-BA. Lots of amenities: Granite countertops, Brazilian hardwood throughout, master bath w/jetted tub and steam shower, double car garage. 1877 WASHINGTON

542 MCLAREN RD. 676 CLAIRE LANE 3BR, 2BA backs onto Lily Point 2 BR designer A must-see! 3BR cottage w/front and rear deck. MUST SEE!home. $889,000 Park. $299,000 Make an offer! Adjacent to Lily Point Park. $159,000 LOTS 4,5 & 6 MCKENZIE, adjacent 280 ELIZABETH DR. Cleared. 5 ACRES near golf course,

LOTS:ACREAGE: to golf6.39 course. SOLD! view. $85,000 cleared. $220,000 ACRES, DESIRABLEPeek-a-boo EAST SIDE, SUBDIVIDABLE $299,000

www.JuliusRealty.com View more listings at www.juliusrealty.com

1385 Gulf Road, Point Roberts

360-945-1011

www.pointroberts.us LD

SPACIOUS SOUTH FACING COTTAGE located at the end of quiet cul-de-sac. Backs onto 5 Acre parcel. $219,000

Here to help with all your your Real Estate needs.

THE THE NORTHWEST NORTHWEST TEAM TEAM Chris Hughes Michael Hughes Northwest Team Manager

Sales Manager

Cesilie Gile

IN ND

COTTAGE JUST A 10 MINUTE WALK to the sandy shores of Maple Beach. Located at the end of quiet Cul-de-sac. $149,000

LOVELY CRAFTSMAN STYLE RANCHER - 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with extra wide lot on quiet street. $349,000

SOUTH BEACH ORIGINAL - Solid cottage located just blocks from the beach in coveted Bells Grove. $189,000

Administration Administration

Contact the Northwest Team for all of your Real Estate needs!

360.980.8731

View our property and land listings online:

PRIVATE TREED LOT near golf course on dead end road - no traffic! $29,000

IN ND

WEST SIDE BEACH COTTAGE located less than a block to the subdivision’s private beach. $199,000

G PE

UNIQUE A-FRAME COTTAGE sits on approx. 3/4 acres of landscaped property backing onto the golf course. $279,000

thefirmrealestate.com

Paul

The Firm Real Estate Services | 838 Peace Portal Drive, Blaine, WA 98230 | info@thefirmrealestate.com | 360.980.8731

paulrusk@pointroberts.us

604/968-4006

Kristen

778/686-7625

IN ND

SOUTH BEACH COTTAGE with spacious covered porch set among the Arbutus Trees. $189,000

Hugh

604/910-5968

kristenrockrealestate@gmail.com hwilson@pointroberts.net

Greg

604/690-1468 gheppner@pointroberts.net