JULY 2015
IN THIS
ISSUE
www.AllPointBulletin.com
A new bevy of students graduate, page 13
There’s a new sheriff in town, page 22
ECRWSS PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 14
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Maple Beach water quality undergoes testing, page 23
Point Roberts, WA 98281 Postal Patron Local
Prospect of improved senior care increases By Meg Olson The Point Roberts Circle of Care (PRCC) has plugged into a web of regional agencies that is taking the group one step closer to providing home care and other services to seniors on the Point. On May 27, the group’s founders Annelle Norman, Dina Boykiw and Chris Cameron met with representatives from the Northwest Regional Council (NRC), the Whatcom Council on Aging (WCOA), the Chuckanut Health Foundation and Bellingham at Home. “The first order of business was to call attention to the 2010 census, which showed that a majority of Point Roberts residents are 50 years of age and over,” Norman said. “The results of the survey conducted in the community demonstrate that senior in-home care is a concern for many residents and is likely to become a serious issue with a shortage of qualified providers.” Washington state law requires that individuals who are paid to provide in-home care complete a 70-hour course and pass a certification examination. Norman said they learned a number of resources are available to help them provide services for seniors in the community. “We have their attention, their collaboration and their offer of enthusiastic support,” she said. Currently senior services in Point Roberts are limited to the senior (See Seniors, page 6)
A spectacular 4th on tap Couple offer to jump-start lighthouse project
s Joan Furniss, with daughter Katie, walks up the newly installed floating dock at Lighthouse Marine Park along with park ranger Ben VanBuskirk on a warm Saturday, June 20.
Photo by Pat Grubb
By Meg Olson Point Roberts’ Fourth of July celebration keeps getting bigger. From the pancake breakfast to the fireworks, it’s a packed day celebrating the nation’s independence. The Point Roberts Emergency Preparedness group will host the pancake breakfast starting at 7:30 a.m. at the Gulf Road community center and wrapping up at noon. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for kids, which buys you pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee or tea while helping support work to prepare the community in the event of a major emergency. Stay after you’ve eaten for Point Roberts parks and recreation district’s flag-raising ceremony to honor Independence day at 9:30 a.m. at the community center. Members of the Point Roberts Volunteer Firefighters association will take over (See 4th of July, page 5)
By Meg Olson Darrel and Dorothy Sutton are passionate about having a real lighthouse at Lighthouse Marine Park, and willing to back up their dream with their money. “We want to see that lighthouse built,” said Dorothy Sutton, a member of the Point Roberts Lighthouse Society. The society has raised approximately $20,000 so far, and has commissioned a conceptual design and blueprints to build the lighthouse. HB Hansen gave the society a rough estimate of approximately $500,000 to build it. With the community feeling donor fatigue after the vigorous library construction fund campaign, the Suttons have offered to put up the money. “Darrell and I will give it and if we get some of that back through future fundraising that would be nice, but we don’t want this to wait,” Sut-
ton said. The U.S. Coast Guard has agreed to have the light currently on a metal tower moved into the proposed lighthouse. Mark Robbins, treasurer and secretary for the society, said it is currently working with the county parks department under a draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) “... that basically says we’ll raise the funds and you’ll build it as a public works project.” County parks director Michael McFarlane said the department is currently consulting with their legal staff to see if a less cumbersome alternative – the society would build the structure and gift it to county parks – would be feasible. McFarlane was very cautious about the pace the project would take, and said when county parks commissioners were presented with the proposal for the project they came away with a lot of unanswered questions.
“They did not walk away with the idea this project was ready,” he said. “We don’t (See Lighthouse, page 7)
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Inside
Around the Point.............................. 18 Church ............................................. 17 Classifieds ......................................... 21 Coming Up ....................................... 16 Crossings ............................................ 9 Library, Seniors ............................... 11 Tides ................................................. 14