March 2017
IN THIS
ISSUE
www.AllPointBulletin.com
Circle of Care offering scholarships, page 6
Flash bang complaints dominate character plan meeting
Aunty Pam takes on the big guy, page 7
ECRWSS PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 14
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Money still needed for new library, page 16
Point Roberts, WA 98281 Postal Patron Local
The eagle has landed ...
B y P a t G r u bb A town hall meeting held February 14 to discuss possible changes to the Point Roberts Character Plan (PRCP) was long on Sturm und Drang but short on informed opinion and decision-making. Local resident George Wright nailed the atmosphere when he said any time you get three people together in Point Roberts, “They’ll start arguing about the border or some other piss and moaning stuff.” That night at the Gulf Road community center, the people were pissing and moaning about the character plan. First enacted in 1994, the PRCP has been under review by a subcommittee of the Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee (PRCAC), members of which are appointed by the Whatcom County Executive to provide input into issues affecting Point Roberts. While much of the plan’s review involved minor technical changes, two potential changes remained to be determined and the town hall meeting was intended to allow the public to provide input on those and other aspects of the plan. While the original plan called for new commercial structures to be marine and/or “turn of the last century” in appearance, the draft plan would also allow building designs described as “West Coast Modern.” An example of that style would be the U.S. border station. The second potential change would impose the design standards on residential construction within those commercial areas subject to the character plan. Currently, the PRCP only applies to commercial structures in the general commercial zone on Tyee Drive and the resort commercial (See Character, page 2)
s Visitors to the Point at this time of year are often taken aback by the numerous eagles in the skies. Here a juvenile eagle surveys its surroundings. See story, page 8. Photo by Jeff Butts
Blaine school district faces tough budget challenge B y Oliver Lazenby and G r a c e S wa n so n , WN PA O ly m p i a N e w s B u r e a u The Blaine school district is beginning to plan its budget for the 2017-18 school year, a difficult job since the state’s budget will impact district revenue and likely won’t be passed until weeks before the next school year begins.
This legislative session, state legislators need to satisfy a mandate from the 2012 Washington State Supreme Court McCleary v. Washington decision, which declared the state wasn’t sufficiently funding basic education in accordance with its constitutional duty. The court ordered the state to put forth a plan to meet this obligation by 2018. If the state can provide more money to
(See Budget, page 6)
Traditional fiber arts return to springtime show By Meg Olson Fiber Fest is back, celebrating the Point’s long tradition of fiber and textile art. On Saturday, March 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the Gulf Road community center will be filled with artists sharing their expertise and selling their work. “All the demonstrations will have places for people to get up close to the fiber artist,” said organizer Jessica McVey. “Most will be offering hands-on learning.”
schools, districts won’t need to rely on their tax bases as much. So lawmakers also plan to reduce the amount of money local districts can levy. Starting in 2018, the amount the Blaine school district can levy could drop from 32.5 percent of its total budget to 28.5 percent, a $1.26 million reduction. Although a bill introduced this week could push the so-called “levy cliff”
Demonstrations will be going all day, including hand quilting, paper and fabric collage, needle felting, loom weaving, tapestry weaving, knitting, crochet, embroidery and three-dimensional textured “landscapey surfaces.” Some of the demonstrators will have items for sale and they will be joined by vendors selling knitted and sewn items. The Point Roberts Quilters will have a small quilt show featuring at least 20 quilts during the event as well as several quilts under construction. A “new to you” table
will offer quilters supplies and books. The quilters will auction off another of their all-original block puzzle-set quilts with a happy, summertime theme, to raise funds for the Circle of Care group. “Overall, this is a community fun and interactive event but there will be lots for sale too,” McVey said. Other groups are joining in the fun. The Friends of the Point Roberts Library will have a book sale, the Point Roberts Garden Club will host a seed exchange and Circle of Care will provide food for sale.
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Inside
Church ............................................. 16 Classifieds ......................................... 17 Coming Up ....................................... 14 Library Picks, Seniors ..................... 15 Obituaries ......................................... 15 Opinion ............................................... 4 Sheriffs ............................................. 18 Tides ................................................. 13