November 2015
IN THIS
ISSUE
www.AllPointBulletin.com
Man arrested for taking the wrong shortcut, page 2
Top dog says the Point is under new management
Local candidates answer questions, page 6
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Holiday Faire presents a new look, page 8
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By Meg Olson Local sheriff’s deputy Tom McCarthy and his supervisor, Sergeant Kevin Moyes, met with a small group of community members when the hot-button issue of issuing citations to owners of off-leash dogs was on the agenda for the Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee (PRCAC). Committee member John Lesow requested the item be on the agenda for the October 13 meeting. “Community sentiment is for less rigorous or predatory enforcement of the leash law,” Lesow said in support of his request. Lesow also asked that the committee move quickly on a proposal endorsed by a majority of Point Roberts Taxpayers Association members to designate a portion of Lighthouse Marine Park and Maple Beach as an official off-leash area. Moyes responded the law in Whatcom County requires that dogs be on a leash on public property, and the sheriff department’s role was to enforce that law. “We’re not selective in deciding what we’re going to do, though we do have discretion,” he said. Moyes said the recent uptick in enforcement of the leash law was in response to complaints. “Someone shouldn’t have to worry about going to a park that is a leashed area and dealing with off-leash dogs,” he said. However, when Lesow asked if any citations were issued in response to a specific complaint about a dog, McCarthy said they were not. “I just drive around,” he said. Moyes said that in the last three months deputies had issued 17 tickets for speeding, 16 stop sign violations and 11 dog-atlarge citations out of a total of 59 reports during that period. Asked why they hadn’t made a greater effort to educate the public that the leash law, which has not been enforced on the Point, was going to be strictly enforced (See Top dog, page 3)
s Scott Harris, center l., received a $1,000 prize for catching a 24-lb. spring salmon at the Point Roberts Marina Resort Fishing Derby on September 26. Marina representatives Theresa Coe, l. and Jacqui Everett, r., join event organizer Whitney McElroy in presenting the check. More photos and winners list on page 15.
Photo by Simon Shanke
Voters group hosts hopeful county candidates By Meg Olson The proposal to increase the sales tax to generate funds for a new jail in Whatcom County emerged as the top issue at the Point Roberts Registered Voters Association’s candidates’ forum, to the surprise and vexation of some in the audience who wanted to focus on local events. The 10 candidates on the stage for the October 8 event included: county executive candidates Jack Louws and Joy Gil-
filen; county council candidates Todd Donovan and Bruce Ayers (District 1), Satpal Sidhu and Kathy Kershner (District 2), and Barbara Brenner (District 3); Whatcom County Sheriff Bill Elfo and Port of Bellingham commissioner candidates Bobby Briscoe and Gary Jensen. Everyone but Gilfilen expressed strong support for the new jail. “I wouldn’t put my worst enemy in a place like that,” Brenner said of the old jail. Elfo, sheriff for 12 years, said he had
Tsawwassen Mills subject of chamber AGM talk By Meg Olson The Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting will feature guest speakers from across the border highlighting the changes coming to the Tsawwassen First Nation lands and surrounding area, and talk about how Point Roberts businesses can catch the wave. “You’ll be hearing about the progress of one of the new malls as well as how the business community is gearing up for the change,” said Delta Chamber of Com-
merce executive director Ian Tait, the featured speaker at the Thursday, November 5 meeting. He said he had reached out to Mark Fenwick, general manager of Tsawwassen Mills, who had agreed to speak as well. “You’re getting two speakers for the price of one!” Fenwick will talk about the schedule for the opening of Tsawwassen Mills, the largest of the two malls planned for the Tsawwassen First Nation lands, and which merchants are expected to be there. Tait said he would discuss the larger pic-
ture for development of retail, residential and industrial projects that are part of the Tsawwassen First Nation economic development plans, and how those plans can offer opportunities to other local businesses. “I think it’s a call for businesses to step up their game,” he said. Presentations made by key partners working with the Tsawwassen First Nation at an economic development update held in September 2014 are available on the (See AGM, page 11)
seen reports going back before he became sheriff that the jail was inadequate, inefficient and not meeting the needs of staff or inmates. “We have counselors whispering through a chow hatch in a door,” Elfo said. “The jail was designed for 128 and it’s held 321.” The top local issue was the proposed AM radio tower array, which recently lost (See Candidates, page 14)
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Inside
Church ............................................. 16 Classifieds ......................................... 17 Coming Up ....................................... 13 Crossings ............................................ 8 Obituary ........................................... 19 Opinion ............................................... 4 Seniors, Library ................................. 9 Tides ................................................. 16