All Point Bulletin – May 2023

Board approves reduced school plan

For Blaine school administrators, Monday, April 24 ended pretty much the way it started with a student walk out. A large crowd of high school students, many dressed in red to support their teachers, walked out of school before classes began and marched to the school district’s administrative offices to protest planned cuts to educators and other district staff. They walked out again at the regular monthly school board meeting held later that night after the board voted 4-0 (with one abstention) to approve the administration’s plan (Resolution 2223-08 Reduced Education Program Plan for 2023-24).

The administration had proposed cuts to the educational program citing smaller than projected student enrollment for the 2023-24 school year as well as reduced income from state and federal funding sources. State law requires school districts planning to terminate certificated employees to give notice by May 15.

In July 2022, the district adopted a budget with a four-year forecast that would put it $14 million in the red by 2026. The forecast for the 2022-23 school year alone projected a deficit of nearly $5 million with expenditures set at $45.3 million and revenue expected to be $40.5 million. In that forecast, the district also expected a $6 million in the 2023-24 school year, if the no program adjustments were made.

Executive director of finance and operations Amber Porter told The Northern

(See School, page 6)

Fire district considers fiscal plan

B y P at G ru BB

“We will present this information in a factual, objective and open process.”

– Fire chief Christopher Carleton.

In an hour and half-long presentation by fire chief Christopher Carleton, district attorney Brian Snure and bond consultant Jim Nelson, fire commissioners and around 20 members of the public were briefed on the district’s deteriorating fiscal situation and the steps that would be required to place it on a sound financial basis.

Carleton first ran through the fire district’s draft Capital Facilities Plan (CFP)

which is an update to the CFP which can be found on the district’s website. From 2023–2036, the district has anticipated capital expenditures of approximately $4.2 million.

These expenditures include replacement of emergency vehicles, renovations to the fire hall and replacement of the hall’s parking lot, among other items. Given the district’s current income, the district could expect to incur a deficit of around $200,000 if capital expenditures are made as scheduled.

Carleton described how a community’s fire insurance rating is affected by the stan-

(See Fire, page 3)

s A fundraiser held at Trinity Church Hall on April 22 to benefit the Circle of Care featured wine, chocolate and the singing of Savilla Kress.

Photo by Louise Mugar

Students walk out. Twice.

Photo by Stephen Fowler

Fire ...

From page 1 dards attained by the local fire department. “I want to improve the district’s rating at 5 or even better,” he told commissioners.

Carleton provided a history of the district, saying that currently, there are only six local volunteers and two of them are older than 70. “Back in 1980, there were 40 local volunteers, it’s totally reversed now. Volunteers can’t drink or do drugs,” he said. At some point, the district will have to consider paying for part-time firefighters, he said.

The parking lot needs to be replaced due to the alligatoring of the surface and the wear and tear it causes to the fire apparatuses. Apparently, a proper base wasn’t installed when it was paved, most likely due to cost concerns.

The district is limited to 1 percent increases every year, which means it is failing to keep up with inflation. Carleton gave the example of Engine 5802 which was purchased for around $300,000 in 1991 and now costs $650,000. Lead times from placing orders ranges from 24-30 months.

Fire districts in Washington can levy up to $1.50 per $1,000 assessed value. Of the 12 fire districts in Whatcom County, only fire districts 4 (Van Wyck) and 18 (South Lake Whatcom) have lower tax rates at $0.625 and $0.652, respectively. Point Roberts fire levy is currently $0.693.

Five county districts levy in excess of

$1.00 per $1,000 and five are $0.80 or higher.

The Snure Law Office has been a longtime attorney for the fire district beginning with Clark Snure and now his son, Brian. The law firm specializes in fire district matters and Snure presented a number of options the district could pursue in seeking a more solid financial footing.

In order to raise the district’s levy above the 1 percent allowed annually, it would have to seek voter approval of levy lid lift of up to six years. To pass, a levy lift requires a simple majority (RCW) 84.55.050.) The district could seek a temporary levy lift for 1-6 years for a specific purpose eg. buy a new piece of apparatus in which case the levy would drop down to the former level once the time was up.

It could also ask for a permanent levy lift in which case the district would use the new levy as the basis for future 1 percent annual increase.

The district could also seek voter approval of a bond to pay wholly or partially for capital infrastructure. There are a number of ways the district could go about seeking excess bond money but in any case a bond measure requires 60 percent approval from a minimum 40 percent of the number of voters who participated in the last general election.

The district intends to hold public planning and educational sessions throughout the coming months. The board would have to approve a levy measure before August 1 to make it for the November election.

All Point Bulletin

The All Point Bulletin is published each month by Point Roberts Press Inc. and is delivered to homes and businesses in Point Roberts and Tsawwassen. The opinion expressed by contributors is their own and is offered for the general interest of our readers.

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Letters to the editor

The Editor and Senator Murray:

I hesitate contacting you as I know that there are many significant federal and state issues requiring your attention. However, you have proven to be such a strong advocate for Point Roberts in the past that once again, we are hoping you can help us with a critical, time-sensitive issue.

Point Roberts formerly enjoyed Immigration H2-B status that allowed our businesses to hire foreign workers. A similar Immigration rule – H2-A – currently in effect, allows for foreign agricultural workers to be employed in the USA. However, H2-B status was arbitrarily cancelled without reason or explanation.

already been thinned years prior to make space for a house that already had a beautiful ocean view.

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Printed in Canada • Vol. XXXVIII, No. 1

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 ten 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

Fax: 360/945-1613

Next issue: June 2023

Ads due: May 19

For many years under Immigration H2-B status, our businesses were able to employ noncitizens, i.e., Canadians, to work here in our service industries on a part-time basis during our busy seasons. This was critical to the health of our economy because of our geographical separation from mainland Washington State and our immediate proximity to Canada.

H2-B status needs to be reinstated immediately to facilitate our economic survival. We currently have businesses that have been struggling to survive since the 19-month (March 2020 to October 2021) border shutdown. They are currently operating under severely restricted hours because they lack staff. With a busy summer season approaching, our need for employees will continue to increase. We estimate that our businesses currently need 30 part-time employees and that will double to 60 within a month. Due to the loss of local workers who moved back to mainland Washington during the pandemic, we currently have no workforce for these positions, and no-one will travel the long distance from Blaine or Bellingham across two international borders for this work.

Because of our unique exclave status, H2-B worked well here for many years and resulted in no loss of jobs to U.S. residents. We respectfully request that for the sake of Point Roberts economic survival, the federal government reinstate Point Roberts’ H2-B Federal Immigration status immediately.

Brian Calder, president Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce

The Editor:

My husband and I moved here over two years ago. We consider it a privilege to enjoy lush rainforests and wildlife at our door, bald eagles nesting in front of our house, and the sun rising and setting over the ocean in the same day, all no more than eight minutes away with no traffic.

There seems to be two categories of people who seek to settle in PR. Those who move here for the peace, space, natural beauty, affordable house prices, privacy and safety. Then those who come in with dollar signs in their eyes, drooling over cheap real estate and a get rich scheme, ready to exploit the loose Whatcom County ordinances that are supposed to protect the trees and delicate habitats (spoiler alert: they don’t!). They plan to capitalize on the views, space and undeveloped land like they were the first with the idea to buy low, sell high. Graveyards of half-finished, half-empty developments, boarded-up businesses, and longtime PR residents tell a different story: that these types don’t last long here. But the scars they leave in their wake are permanent.

We recently witnessed the horrific demolition of approximately 40,000 square feet of healthy old forest. We were seeing/ hearing/feeling 90-foot trees crash behind our house, eliminating any privacy between us and the neighboring property. This carnage occurred on a lot that had

Before you start rolling your eyes at me, thinking, “it’s their property, their right,” I get that. Every lot here was once part of the forest, and I am not making a call to stop development. I’m talking about greed and selfishness, at the expense of nature, privacy, and a healthy relationship with your neighbors.

I could go on and on about the loss of habitats, how it’s nesting season for native songbirds (their little eggs, now broken and strewn across the ground), but I know I can’t impose my values on those who don’t share them. I also won’t blame those hired to clear lots. They are being paid to do a job.

Though I will ask an existential question of Point Roberts. Do we want to live in a highly subdivided, treeless suburb with oversized gaudy houses and unlimited ocean views (basically Tsawwassen without the amenities)? Or do we want to at least attempt to preserve the breathtaking beauty of this one-of-a-kind paradise, and consider construction that tastefully fits in with our natural rainforest landscape? Are we here for profit or pleasure?

To the guy in the McMansion on the hill: I hope all the cutting, burning, and displacement of wildlife was worth it. Enjoy the view!

Breeda Desmond

Point Roberts

The Editor:

Regarding the probable staff layoffs in Blaine school district’s 2023-24 school year: it would be a great loss to our community if drama teacher Olivia Theilemann was to be removed from the staff roster. She has brought creativity, enthusiasm, expertise, appropriately challenging theater education to our students, and is well deserving of employment at Blaine. If my voice counts for anything, I hope Dr. Granger and the school board carefully decides to keep our theater program healthy and active with Ms. Theilemann at the helm. After the heart-wrenching losses caused by Covid-19, especially in the arts (music, theater), let us not go backward; our children are thriving with Olivia.

I have spoken with many students currently involved in the production of

“Into the Woods” – April 13-16 and 2023 at the Performing Arts Center at Blaine High School (BHS); tickets available at the door – and they are extremely enthusiastic about “Miss T” (as they affectionately call her). They cite the camaraderie of the company, express admiration and appreciation for Ms. Theilemann, and are hopeful BHS will continue with a healthy theater curriculum under Miss T’s leadership.

“Order of employment” should not be the only reason the school board makes financial decisions. Keeping the arts alive in the Blaine school district is very important to the inspiration and well-being of our students.

Jeanne Halsey Blaine

The Editor:

The Bellingham City Council just passed an ordinance that added “the threat of jail” as a “tool” for making the city safer. They have now criminalized being houseless. Incarcerating people for addictions and homelessness is not a solution and it will make no one safer. I also learned that the city is seeking to add another four officers to the police force.

I cannot say how disappointed I am that the people elected by citizens of our city and county cannot find resources to find another way. Imagine being awakened from your sleep by a person hefting 50 pounds of lethal force and threatened with jail if you don’t get up off your bed. Incarceration is an easy way to solve a “problem” without solving it and actually making the “problem” worse.

If there are resources to take these actions, there are resources for other types of interventions.

• Hire four new mental health or social workers instead of hiring four new police officers.

• Consult with the folks running homeless shelters for another way forward.

• Build more transitional tiny home communities such as Gardenview.

• Provide a space for an encampment and staff it with trash bins, toilets and helpers.

• Invite those upset business owners to join a conversation about alternatives.

We can do better for those who are in great need because of homelessness or addiction, for our local businesses, and for the folks who shop in and walk the streets of Bellingham. We certainly do not need to increase the numbers of incarcerated folks because local business wants them out of sight.

Ronna Loerch Everson

Please send letters to editor@allpointbulletin.com

Margot Griffiths, M.Ed., C.L.C.

After 30 years experience at The University of British Columbia in the Office of Counseling Services, I am pleased to begin my Life Coaching practice in Point Roberts. Confidential appointments arranged by email or text. margot@pointroberts.net 206-604-1713 self-awareness personal development relationships recovery wellness transitions retirement life planning

Erickson Bros. Garage

Local automotive services: all repairs, tire mounting/balancing, oil changes, vehicle inspections, transmissions and more. Call the shop: 360-945-2807 or email ericksonbrothersgarage@gmail.com 1423 Gulf Road • Point Roberts

Tech On The Point

As people are arriving back to Point Roberts after a long winter, please keep these details in mind:

• Ensure that district employees have access to the water meter box. Customers are responsible for keeping the meter box free from brush, earth or other material/conditions external to the meter which interferes with normal meter reading.

• Please visit this website for more information on this: https://pointrobertswater.com/images/resolutions/500_series/ resolution_538.pdf

• Customers will receive notices via mail and or email about any clearing that needs to happen and will have two weeks to respond or do the work themselves before the district does.

• We prefer to access the meter from the road, and need a 5 foot radius around the box to read effectively.

• The district provides each customer one seasonal on/off service at no charge during normal business hours. We provide this service for your convenience and to ensure that liability for any damage to the meter stop does not fall on the homeowner. A separate shutoff valve on the customer side of the meter is always preferable so you can turn the water off and on as needed.

• Please call the office or email us directly with any questions or concerns: 360-945-4696 or PRWD@whidbey.com

School ...

From page 1

Light in an email that the district will reduce the deficit to $1.2 million with this reduced education plan.

“Also, if we find any more savings in our current fiscal year, we will preserve even more programs – and that will create a larger deficit,” Porter wrote. “The goal will be to use all our resources to preserve programs and still target a minimum fund balance of 6 percent at the end of 2023-24.”

Under the plan passed by the school board, a total of 65.2 positions would be eliminated, not all of which are full-time. Of this, 38.2 are teachers, paraeducators, educational support staff, librarians, etc. Another 27 positions would come from the district office, district-wide staff, athletics, food service, maintenance and operations and transportation. Hours for the two nurses would be cut the equivalent of 0.40 FTE (Full Time Equivalents).

Staff salaries make up 85 percent of the district’s budget, Porter said.

The evening school board meeting began in the former district office located behind the newer administration office on H and Mitchell streets. The room was filled beyond capacity with the crowd spilling out the foyer onto the lawn. After an audience member asked about the room’s legal capacity, board chair Dougal Thomas proposed that the meeting be adjourned and moved to the Performing Arts Center, which had previously been prepared for a large crowd.

During the public comment period, nearly a dozen speakers addressed the board asking them to reconsider the plan to cut staff. Susan St. Claire related her family’s long history with Blaine schools and said until recently she was proud of the school district.

“Although over-estimating school enrollment was not mismanagement, using the resultant over-funding with abandon was.” St. Claire said. “That over-funding never belonged to Blaine and common sense said it would have to go back to the state.”

Tiffany Udman, a 16-year teacher at Blaine Elementary School, told the board that the “Reductions in force proposed under Resolution 2223-08 will destroy trust and exacerbate the fear that has grown steadily under current leadership” and said the district’s ‘rainy day’ fund “far exceeds the legal minimum of 6 percent and what is considered fiscally responsible.”

Jodi Greene, one of two registered nurses, said the administration’s cut in nurses’ hours “would lead to an unsafe environment,” adding the Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s model suggest additional nurses’ hours are needed.

Citing financial data supplied by the school district, longtime Blaine teacher Dan Persse cast doubt on the budget assumptions behind the district’s plans to cut staff. Citing the district’s statements

that the McCleary decision resulted in a loss of levy income, Persse said the district had failed to tell the public that it had received $5.6 million in 2018 and that the district’s beginning general fund balance had grown $6.9 million since the decision was implemented. “Last year alone the district added $3.4 million to the reserve fund,” Persse said. He then compared what the district had projected for the last four years for the beginning balance with what the actual figures turned out to be.

“My point is the district either does not know how to forecast or is sending a different message to the community than what is factual,” he said. Persse asked the board to meet with the Blaine Education Association “to go over our financial analysis first so you can see how financially secure the district is.”

Later, during discussion of the resolution, Porter said the “district is not assured that we have adequate resources to cover our expenses” but added the district was not bound to these adjustments if there were positive changes, mentioning possible legislative developments.

“How do we become a district that serves 8.5 percent fewer students?” Porter asked the board. Referring to an earlier suggestion that the district move money from one fund to another, she said, “We aren’t actually allowed by state law to do that.”

Porter cited inflation and employee contracts coming due in 2024 as well as diminished enrollment as causes of concerns for budgeting. “At some point, we need to match up our expenses with our enrollment levels. We have legal obligations to notify our staff and that’s why we’re doing it in April. In a few months, we’ll have better information,” she said.

In response, board member Charles Gibson said, “We have to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.” Thomas added, “Obviously, the last thing I want to do is to lay off teachers, but we have fiscal responsibility as a board.” At that point, various members of the audience began heckling until Thomas warned them he would close the meeting if the interruptions continued.

Calling for the vote, four directors voted “aye,” with board member Erika Creydt abstaining, saying “one, the board hadn’t held a work session on the budget and, two, the board had been told the budget was in good shape until July and now we’re being told that it’s a crisis. My personal opinion is that we should just take more time.” Her remarks were met with a long burst of applause from the audience. “Just to be clear,” Thomas said in response to Creydt. “We don’t have work sessions on budgets, a work session is for learning. It was the desire of the board not to have one. What we talked about is, if anyone wanted to learn more, then we could.”

The resolution having passed, the audience then stood up and walked out.

The 2023-24 draft budget will be available to the public July 10. On July 24, the board will hold a public budget hearing before adopting it.

s Blaine high school students protesting outside the offices of the school district administration building on April 25.

Photo by Janell Kortlever

s With the crowd spilling onto the lawn outside the administration build, the school board meeting was adjourned and moved to the Performing Arts Center. Photo by Pat Grubb

Parks to seek public input

and to use that information to move forward.”

The Point Roberts Park and Recreation District is planning to release a survey to gather ideas and feedback from the public on park facilities and programs the district provides for residents. As well, parks commissioners would like to know new programs and facilities the public would like to see, if any. The survey is currently under development and will be released after the regular May parks board meeting, pending approval from commissioners.

The survey will be offered both digitally and on forms that will be available at the senior lunch and local businesses. The data will be collected for 4-6 weeks to ensure maximum participation.

Parks commissioner Michael Cressey is in charge of the survey. He said, “The survey is not intended to increase levies but rather to create a dialogue and get people talking about what they like and dislike, and what they want to see in the future. The goal is to see what the public wants

Cressy believes that the survey will be helpful in seeking grants and funding for the parks. He stated, “When you seek grants or money, it is nice to have a survey that basically shows that the community wants something when the community doesn’t have a local government. It justifies asking for money.”

Helping out is local resident Grace Wilkowski who was raised in Point Roberts and has a master’s degree in public health. She plans to pursue a doctorate in the same field. While her career focus is community health, she has experience in collecting data and understanding community needs. She has worked with drug prevention programs and previously conducted surveys for middle and high school-aged kids for Washington State. Wilkowski is helping to ensure there is no bias in the questions or in the method of collecting the data.

For more information, email prparkdistrict@gmail.com.

Candidate filing period coming up

Those people interested in running for public office will need to keep track of the upcoming filing period. The election office will be accepting applications on Monday, May 15 until Friday, May 19.

A fair number of elected positions in Point Roberts are up for election this year:

• Fire district #5, Position 2, currently held by Norm Katz, is up for a 6-year, short- and full-term.

• Water district 4, Position 2, currently held by Scott Hackleman, 6-year regular term.

• Cemetery District #8, Position 2, currently held by Dan Bourks, 6-year regular term.

• Point Roberts Park and Recreation District, Position 1, currently vacant after the resignation of Kathleen Pierce-Friedman, 4-year short and full term.

• Point Roberts Park and Recreation District, Position 2, currently held by Bill Zidel, 4-year short and full term.

• Point Roberts Park and Recreation District, Position 4, currently held by Mitch Friedman, 2-year unexpired term.

• Point Roberts Park and Recreation District, Position 5, currently held by Mike Cressy, 4-year regular term.

• Point Roberts Hospital District, Position 1, currently held by Noel Newbolt, is up for a 6-year, short and full term.

As well, there is a plethora of county seats up for election. All five Blaine school district seats are up for election as is Whatcom County Council Position 5, currently held by Ben Elenbaas, and Carol Frazey’s at large Position B seat. The assessor, auditor, sheriff and treasurer positions are also up for election. Finally, the Port of Bellingham, Commissioner District 3 (which represents Point Roberts) is up for a 4-year regular term. Bobby Briscoe currently warms that seat.

As well, August 1 is the deadline for taxing distrits to submit levy and bond measures to the county auditor in time to place them on the November ballot.

s Bill Knowles, r., the new maintenance employee of the parks district, planting dwarf cherry and apple trees donated by Tor, l., and Heidi Baxter to encourage food sustainability on the Point. The new orchard is behind the library.

Photo by Erin Kelly

The approach of May always puts us in the mind of mothering. Of course, there’s Mother’s Day with its accompanying gifts, acknowledgements and honors. And since May puts us in the middle of spring, we further acknowledge and honor our Mother Earth, Gaia, the mother of us all, as we plant seeds for a future harvest in our surroundings. So in recognition, here is a brief reflection on the seasons of seeds, seedlings, flowering and fruition. And parenting!

Most, if not all, of the plant queendom is brought to life within the underground womb of Mother Gaia. It seems that darkness is a required part of the nurturing; we mammals, like seedlings, gestate in the darkness of the human womb. And just as mammalian embryos show little outwardly of early growth, so we who till, plant and wait patiently for those first tiny sprouts of vegetation that prove Gaia’s maternity. As any gardener, horticulturalist, obstetrician or midwife will attest, optimum conditions engender optimum results. We honor these invisible and newly visible gestations with our utmost attention, care, and yes, prayer sometimes, as life itself pushes forth into full expression.

Emergence into visibility after extended waiting times is the beginning of something new once again. A new stage of nur-

turing, of mothering – if you will – is required. Now we pay attention to the surrounding environment in order to maintain optimum conditions for growth, flourishing and fruit-bearing. For the gardener, the effects of light and shade, water and drainage, protection from weather extremes and pest damage are projected and factored in with other environmental factors that will either promote or impede the stages of growth in the life of our “babies.”

Likewise, we pay attention to our home environment as our offspring begin to show awareness, interest, curiosity, and to develop mobility in pursuit of satisfying these needs. We balance curiosity, interest and exploration with safety and security, that our young ones may discover the world and bear creative fruits of their own with the confidence that safety engenders. For now, this feels like a good ending place, so I conclude this comparative essay, hoping I have provided some amusing and interesting perspective on gardening and parenting — they’re more similar than one might think! Also, Join us at Trinity Church on Mother’s Day Sunday for a unique time of reflection, meditation and music honoring motherhood in all its manifests. So, for the month of May, and always, happy mothering! Indoors and out!

in the Garden

B y r hiannon a ll E n

Chances are that you are reading this on Arbor Day (Friday, April 28), the American national day for honoring and planting trees. As you read this, Point Roberts Garden Club members are gifting a tree to each pupil in our primary school, after having visited them last week to give them a small lesson on the importance of trees to our environment and on how to care for them.

This day of observance and action seems especially important right now with a number of lots here having been clear cut. The Point Roberts of my memory was a more heavily forested peninsula than it is now. Over the extended history of Point Roberts there have been a number of times that trees have fallen to agricultural clearing, forest fires, blowdowns, and probably more that the Historical Society could fill in. The Garden Club recognizes that trees are important contributors to the beauty of Point Roberts and to the health of our climate and wanted to impart to its youngsters an interest in trees and some skills in nurturing them.

So, what did Garden Club members assemble to give to the pupils? We wanted a focus on native trees that are adapted to our climate and likely to thrive under the children’s attention. Most members dug up seedlings that were growing in the “wrong places.” Western red-cedar, Alaska yellow cedar, Douglas fir, and spruce were native “relocation” donations to the Arbor Day activities. Children will be taught to give these potential giants a planting place where they have room – lots of room – to grow unimpeded and not threaten any man-made structures as they reach toward the sky.

I donated an Arbutus menziesii (known by some as Pacific madrona) purchased from the Whatcom Conservation District. This can be a tricky tree to grow, so I wish the family that adopts it success. Arbutus need a sunny well-ventilated and -drained place so that they will grow undisturbed by human traffic and can drop their profuse leaf, bark and fruit litter where it won’t be minded. By time it reaches a foot tall and has been in place for about three years; it will thrive on neglect. As it matures, it will be a stunning tree.

Another member donated a Garry oaks. This is a tree whose range has become increasingly small and threatened. I’m not sure if Garry oaks ever grew wild in Point Roberts, but they still grow wild on the

southern end of Vancouver Island and in isolated stands in the lower Fraser Valley. I even remember my father taking me to see a stand of them in the south Langley area in British Columbia. Garry oaks grow slowly but steadily into stately trees and, in my experience, need no attention after their first year or two of summer water. Like the other trees I’ve mentioned, these are not small landscape trees and do best away from houses. They deserve a place on large lots that give them space to grow.

I wonder what other trees club members donated, and whether any of the Pacific crabapple that were part of our Whatcom Conservation District group order made it into the batch given to the children. Certainly, these are smaller trees and ones much appreciated by birds.

If you are thinking of trees for your own, possibly smaller lot there are lots of other options. Deciduous trees are thought to be better at carbon sequestration than evergreens, so they are ideal options. Our native dogwood, its cultivar “Eddie’s White Wonder,” and Japanese Kouza dogwood are great relatively small ornamental trees, as are Japanese maples and native vine maples. Fruit trees? Even better because their blossoms sustain native pollinators and you get to eat the products of their pollination. There are currently many dwarf and semi-dwarf varieties that make harvesting fruit easier. Just give all trees light, space, and air.

And on the topic of fruit trees, I would like to thank Tor and Heidi Baxter for donating semi-dwarf fruit trees to the Park and Recreation District. Maintenance person Bill Knowles has planted these behind our Library and promised to care for them. The gift was the result of a consultation that Park and Recreation chair Mitch Friedman solicited from the Garden Club about how to beautify the grounds upon which the community center stands. It’s just the Garden Club doing its little bit to make Point Roberts a better place.

And thinking of that, the club has partnered with Kora’s Corner Country Store to lead a couple of Saturday open workshops in May. Stop on by to join the fun and maybe get your hands dirty.

The Point Roberts Garden Club meets the last Tuesday of each month. However, summer meetings are usually held in members’ gardens rather than at the community center.

s Erin Kelly delivers native trees donated by the Garden Club to the primary school. Kelly presented a small talk on the role of trees in our ecology. Courtesy photo

Good food and good company

deners, and they work together Saturdays or Wednesdays from 9 a.m. – noon.

Benson Road Gardens, a collaborative gardening effort in town, has been attracting more attention recently as they search for four new members. Situated on a property owned by a Vancouver-based OB-GYN surgeon, the gardeners oversee the land, while the owner boards rescued horses on the back half of the property.

The Benson Road Gardens was formerly a co-op that sold vegetables to the community, but changed course to become a collaborative gardening effort about six years ago, and now the harvest is shared between members.

The group grows organically, without the use of pesticides or herbicides, using aged horse manure for compost. They try to grow crops that will overwinter in the greenhouse to provide fresh produce yearround. The garden currently has 32 raised beds, a large greenhouse, and a variety of fruit trees. The raised beds allow for better soil control, less bending down, and easier pest control. The group uses floating row covers to keep out bugs while letting in water and sun. Members enjoy fresh produce each week.

Community is very important to the gar-

To become a member, one must sign a release form and pay dues of $150-200 per year to cover seed, supplies, and water. Membership requires three hours of work a week. The group has eight long-term members, two new members, and is looking for four more members.

Isobel Brophy is the head organizer of the garden. She enjoys growing organically and the social aspect of sharing the produce. “I rarely buy any veggies. I eat out of the garden year-round and am grateful for the access to healthy food. I also enjoy the comradery and enjoy meeting and working with people who love to garden,” Brophy said.

Brophy and the gardeners strive to accommodate people of all ages and physical abilities.

“We are a sort of middle-aged group, so we do a lot of work around aging body parts. It doesn’t matter if you have bum knees or a bad back, we’ll find you a job that won’t use that part!”

If you are looking to start eating healthier and meet some new gardening friends, head over to the Benson Road Gardens on Saturday morning.

B y E rin K E lly

S Members hard at work preparing for a productive growing season.

Photos by Erin Kelly

Circle of Care holds AGM

Complete with headbands, bellbottoms, rock concert tee shirts and flowers in our hair, Earth Day in Point Roberts was full of music, wine, chocolate and fun. Circle of Care held its wine and chocolate tasting on April 22 at the Trinity Church Community Hall.

Savilla Kress led the crowd in songs from the ’70s as guests sipped on Washington state wines and compared the flavors of chocolates sourced from local chocolatiers who import sustainably grown cocoa. It was exciting to see so many unexpected guests – so many that we had to make a last-minute liquor run to accommodate everyone!

Circle of Care trustees and volunteers solicited gift certificates and merchandise from businesses both here in Point Roberts and from our neighbors to the north in B.C. We are grateful for contributions from so many generous businesses.

Special thanks to our wine sommelier, Joseph Siegel, for his expertise, knowledge and grace, guest MC, Carlo Bellinger, and musical performers, songbird Savilla Kress and her friend Kathy Heinrich who played percussion. You were all amazing and contributed greatly to the fun.

At the Circle of Care annual general meeting (AGM) on April 16, Circle of Care board members updated the crowd on progress of the last year and plans for the future. Dr. John Anwar, MD, a part-time Point Robert resident and medical director of St. Vincent de Paul’s Medical Clinic, was the keynote speaker.

President Galen Wood announced two goals for 2023 at the AGM. The first is to

raise funds for a container for our durable medical equipment and supplies. We have been renting storage space for the past seven years and need a larger space to accommodate our increasing donations from people like you. For this we will need a minimum of $5,000.

The second goal that was announced is to raise funds for the first adult family home and staff housing. Circle of Care has previously raised funds for the market feasibility study which is complete now. We also need a financial feasibility study as well as funds to retain the services of CPAs, legal experts and architects. For this goal, Circle of Care needs to raise $10,000. For more information, please contact Galen Wood at galen@point-alliance.com or by phone at 303/378-5393.

The annual report can be found, complete with Galen Wood’s comments and our year-end financial report can be found on the website at prcircleofcare.com

With the benefit of several new volunteer bus drivers, the Circle of Care wheelchair-accessible bus will soon be put back in weekly service on Thursdays to carry residents to appointments in Blaine and Bellingham as well as providing some occasional trips for social and cultural activities.

The next Circle of Care fundraiser will be held in July over the Canada Day/4th of July weekend, when local resident Nancy King’s son and renowned Hawaii musician, Scott Baird will give a concert at the Trinity Church sanctuary. Refreshments and a silent auction will be in the community hall. Watch the ePB and social media for dates, times and details on future fundraisers.

s Roger Gookstetter, l. and Stephen Falk won first and second prize, respectively, in the PREP Chili Cookoff on April 8. Photo by Erin Kelly

s The Easter Bunny joined the kids for an Easter egg hunt on April 9. Photo by Erin Kelly

around the point

The Breakwater Restaurant at the Point Roberts Marina has closed down permanently. According to the marina’s general manager Zihao Ding, an experienced restaurant operator will be taking over in the near future. Stay tuned for further details.

❦

The Point Roberts Registered Voters Association is back in business and is planning an annual general meeting for Thursday, June 1. Agenda items will include the election of officers and planning for a candidates night for this year’s general election in November. ❦

To celebrate long-time Blaine high school band teacher Bob Gray’s upcoming retirement, his last concert will feature

past students dusting off their instruments and joining in. The concert will be held Tuesday, May 2 at the Blaine school Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m.

❦

The Point Roberts Water District would like to advise customers that it is their responsibility to keep their water meters clear of vegetation and other obstructions. Failure to do so can lead to the district doing it for you at your cost.

❦

Point Roberts fire chief Christopher Carleton is asking drivers to be considerate in how they park on some of the Point’s narrower streets. The fire district has encountered situations where fire and emergency apparatus has been unable to access a home due to improperly parked cars.

s Despite chilly and wet weather, there was a good turnout for the Rabbit Ride held on April 8 at the Reef.

Photo by Erin Kelly

Got B.C. plates on your vehicle?

Borderite Report THE

This month we have been focusing on nature and recycling in honor of Earth Day. Our students made three different art projects using recycled materials; paper mache, magazine strip pictures and cherry blossoms. While visiting the library our students made a collaborative Earth with Rose which is on showcase at the library.

For science our students have each planted vegetable and flower seed starts they are taking care of. We are so excited to see our seeds sprouting to life! We also went on a nature walk in our amazing community trails surrounding Baker Field.

In May of 2022, B.C. stopped issuing annual validation stickers for vehicle licenses. There have been sporadic reports on social media that police in Washington have been ticketing B.C. drivers for having “expired tabs” and given $529 fines. This does not appear to be the case. Not according to Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Deb Slater. “While it is correct that B.C. has stopped issuing annual license tabs for B.C. – registered vehicles, vehicles with out-of-date tabs displayed are not being ticketed if the vehicle is currently registered. Washington law enforcement can run the license plate number to verify the expiration of the registration. We may ticket them if they are expired,” she said.

Doug Dahl, Target Zero manager for the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, says “I can’t imagine that’s happening a lot. The law (RCW 46.16A.160) says that registration requirements don’t apply to residents whose vehicles are properly registered in their state or country.”

Blaine Chief of Police Donnell “Tank” Tanksley also added his naysay to the idea of police ticketing “expired” tabs. “Regarding vehicles from another nation being ticketed for expired license plates, I am unaware of that activity in Washington state. Here in the city of Blaine, we would not issue a citation for an expired B.C. plate,” he said, adding, “Moreover, Blaine Police Department does not enforce Canadian law(s).”

So, there you have it. Another example of social media gone bad.

Blaine school district to receive some of $1.2 billion Juul Labs settlement

E-cigarette company Juul Labs will pay $1.2 billion to Blaine and 1,600 other school districts involved in a class-action lawsuit settlement for the company’s role in the youth vaping epidemic.

Blaine school board accepted a resolution in its March 27 regular meeting that instructs Blaine school district superintendent Christopher Granger to file documents necessary to receive claims from the vape company. The district joined a lawsuit led by Spokane-based law firm Stevens Clay, P.S. last March that sought to hold Juul and its biggest investor Altria Group, Inc. accountable for present and future costs school districts will incur for the prevention, intervention and education of nicotine use and addiction.

The $1.2 billion will be spread across 1,600 school districts and a few local municipalities through five different payments over the next four years, according to Garrett Williams, a Stevens Clay attorney handling the suit.

Granger said during the March 27 meeting that the amount the district will receive would be determined once all parties involved agree on the settlement.

“It’s a strong message that we know how much vaping is impacting the youth of, not just our community, but across the country, and how important it is that we respond to that when we can,” Granger said.

Juul is reportedly paying out a total of $1.7 billion after it settled a consolidation of more than 5,000 lawsuits in the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in December 2022. According to The Wall Street Journal, the 5,000 lawsuits have 10,000 plaintiffs, which include school districts, local governments and individuals, that claimed Juul’s e-cigarettes, or vapes, were more addictive than advertised.

Online registration will open March 6 for any new student to Point Roberts Primary who will be enrolling in Kindergarten for the 20232024 school year. Please visit our district website at Blainesd.org and click on the Parents and Students tab. Next click on the New Student Online Enrollment link to begin your registration form. If you have questions about our school please contact Jessie Hettinga at jhettinga@blainesd.org.

Check out our district website! www.blainesd.org

In September 2022, Juul agreed to pay $438.5 million to settle a multi-state investigation into the company aiming the marketing of its products to youth and misrepresenting those products nicotine content, although the company denied such claims, according to The New York Times.

The $1 billion settlement involves more cases that Juul will pay out but it does not put an end to claims against Altria, which owned a 35 percent stake in Juul.

In June 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered Juul to stop marketing and distributing its products in the U.S. to protect public health. However, the FDA later placed a temporary hold on its decision following a legal challenge from Juul. The FDA is conducting an additional review of the company’s products.

Jessie Hettinga M.S.Ed Principal - Point Roberts Primary

A special thank you to our Point Roberts Garden Club who gifted mostly native trees and felted animals to our students in honor of Arbor Day.

s Maeve Sullivan, 7-years-old was the first person to check out a birding backpack from the Point Roberts Library. She loved the binoculars the most and saw some great birds with them. Photo by Kris Lomedico

Whidbey Telecom updates PRCAC

lly

Martha Ford, marketing manager of Whidbey Telecom, presented an update on the progress of the fiber internet installation in Point Roberts during the Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee (PRCAC) meeting on April 20.

Ford expressed her excitement and said, “We’ve made amazing progress in getting the fiber project underway.” Fiber internet service is currently available in commercial areas on Tyee and Gulf, on Roosevelt by the border, and on Edwards by the marina.

So far in 2023, Whidbey has put over 18 miles of fiber into the ground and invested over $1.7 million.They have received two United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grants for underserved areas. The first grant, Reconnect 2, worth $600,000, serves the area on Edwards by the marina, and installation is projected to be completed by this spring.

The second grant, the USDA Community Connect grant for $1 million, serves the west side of the point from the marina north to Monument Park, and Whidbey

Need tech help?

Javid Nouripour, a second-year cyber security student at CDI College in Edmonton, has recently started his own business called Tech on the Point. He offers a range of technical services, including troubleshooting computers, setting up Wi-Fi, fixing home networks, fixing audio-visual equipment, and much more. He charges $60 per hour for his services and began servicing the community in December 2021.

Javid has gained experience in school and by helping friends and family with their computer problems. “I’ve always been tinkering with computers, and school has made me a lot better in certain more complex areas,” he said. He has worked with various clients in Point Roberts, including Cando Recycling, where he is currently overhauling their data storage system.

Javid’s expertise in cyber security has also enabled him to provide helpful tips to his clients. He advises them to be cautious of pop-up messages and to avoid clicking on any links or completing any actions if they are suspicious. He also recommends that people ensure their routers are of good quality to improve Wi-Fi connectivity and network speed.

Tech on the Point is a welcome addition to the Point Roberts community. With expertise in cyber security and technical skills, Nouripour can provide valuable services to clients and help them improve their home and business technology. Nouripour can be reached at techonthepoint@gmail.com.

aims to complete that area by the end of the summer.

Ford assured PRCAC that teams are working as diligently as possible, “It’s an amazing amount of fiber that they have put into the ground, and they’ve just been working like crazy to get it done.”

May Tides

$220,000

s Javid Nouripour. Courtesy photo

WES T ERN

Is our sheepskin rug still in the White House?

In one of the more consequential decisions in Point Roberts history, this month commemorates the 115th anniversary of President Theodore Roosevelt ending the federal government’s ownership of Point Roberts.When the Washington Treaty created Point Roberts as an exclave in 1846, the U.S. government established the Point as a military reservation. The military sta-

tus ended in 1884, but the federal government retained the land, preventing the homesteading common on the mainland at the time.

Despite it being federal land, there were no local federal officials stationed at Point Roberts. Over time people moved to the peninsula and squatted the land. They organized homesteads, cleared the land, built homes and barns. Businesses and a pier sprouted at the foot of Gulf Road.

Library piCks

K ri S lom E di C o

Bestsellers: The Covenant of Water

Abraham Verghese No Two Persons

The Half Moon

Erica Bauermeister

Mary Beth Keane

Dead Fall Brad Thor

Movies:

Jesus Revolution Joel Courtney

80 for Brady Rita Moreno

Maybe I Do Richard Gere

Cocaine Bear Ray Liotta

Music:

Folkcracy Rufus Wainwright

Gasms Smokey Robinson

Bell Bottom Country

Rites of Percussion

Lainey Wilson

Dave Lombardo

Teens:

Warrior Girl Unearthed

Angeline Boulley

The Night in Question

Kathleen Glasgow

Brighter than the SunDaniel Aleman

Kids:

The Girl Who Drank the Moon

Kelly Regan Barnhill

Hands Torrey Maldonado

The Bear & the Duck

Hours: Tuesdays 1–7 p.m.

May Angeli

Wednesdays and Saturdays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Express hours: Daily 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. wcls.org

Large canneries operated, offering jobs. Hanging over this activity was a fear of making too many investments with the future of Point Roberts’ federal status unresolved. Residents campaigned for the federal government to open the Point for legal homesteading.

In 1904, President Roosevelt sent special agent Ed Ellett to investigate the squatters of Point Roberts. Ellett thought he would encounter dangerous criminals, yet he was warmly greeted at the Gulf Road pier and escorted to everybody’s homestead so he could catalog the occupants, their professions and improvements made to the land.

Roosevelt decided the shoreline was too shallow for large ships and deemed it of no use for future military purposes. Ellett’s report convinced Roosevelt in May 1908 to end federal ownership of the Point and that the residents’ improvements were significant enough for the squatters to be deeded their homesteads, even though they had bought the land from previous squatters. If they had to pay the value of the property again, scraping together a down payment would have forced many off their land. Residents slaughtered the Point’s largest ram and tanned the hide into a luxurious sheepskin rug as a gift of thanks. Roosevelt wrote a note indicating he placed it in his bedroom in the White House. Perhaps 115 years later it’s still there.

The Point Roberts History Center has a database of the squatters listed in Ellett’s report, as well as local residents up through the 1950 census. Stop in on Saturdays for help with your genealogical research.

CrossinGs >>>

Traffic into Point Roberts March 2023, with figures for 2022 following:

Personal vehicles 52,100 (39,474); personal passengers 68,976 (51,230); pedestrians 641 (528); commercial 583 (350).

s The Point’s land squatters.

Photo courtesy of the Point Roberts Historical Society

s Whatcom County Health Department classes

Coming up ...

Scheduled Meetings/Ongoing Events

Dollars for Scholars Open Enrollment: Through Monday, May 15. Students must complete an online profile on pointroberts.dollarsforscholars.org.

Point Roberts Clinic Hours: Primary Care: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., appointment needed. Urgent Care can be accessed through telemedicine or at the clinic Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sundays 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Always call for an appointment before coming in, even for urgent care services. Hours subject to change. Flu shots available. Info: 360/945-2580.

PR Library Hours: Tuesdays 1-7 p.m., Wednesdays and Saturdays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Library express hours: 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. daily.

Point Roberts Walkers: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 8 a.m., coffee to follow at 9 a.m., Thursdays at the community center, Saturdays at Lily Point. Tuesdays location varies and can be found at prwalkers. wordpress.com.

PR Food Bank: Every Wednesday 9–10:30 a.m. at the Gulf Road Community Center. Info: prfoodbank.org. Seniors and More Lunches: Wednesdays and Fridays, dine-in or park and come inside the community center to pick up your lunches available from 11:45 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., PR community center. All ages welcome. More info: prseniors@whidbey.com or 360/945-5424.

The Commons: Saturday, April 29 from noon – 2:30 p.m., back room of the community center. Come get some free used books, talk to us about what you’re doing, reading, and watching. History Center is also open.

Bergamasca Concert: The Leaves be Greene: Sunday, April 30, 4 p.m., Trinity Church.

PR Amateur Radio Club: Monday, May 1, 7 p.m., via Zoom.

PR Beekeepers Association: Monday, May 1, 7–8:30 p.m., community center. Info: thelittlegoldenharp@ gmail.com.

PR Cast & Crew: Tuesday, May 2, 7–8:30 p.m., community center. Info: thelittlegoldenharp@gmail.com.

PR Emergency Preparedness: Tuesday, May 2, 7 p.m., community center/Zoom. Info: prepgroup17@gmail. com.

PR Park and Recreation: Monday, May 8, at 7 p.m., via Zoom. Info: prparkandrec.org.

PR Water District: Tuesday, May 9, 5 p.m., via Zoom.

PR Fire District 5: Wednesday, May 10, at 4 p.m., via Zoom. Info: WCFD5.com.

PR Hospital District: Wednesday, May 10, 7 p.m., via Zoom. Info: pointrobertsclinic.com.

PR Taxpayers Association: Thursday, May 11, 7 p.m., via Zoom. Link: bit.ly/3Lv7Yiy. Info: PRTA@pointroberts.net.

Your local small Market: Saturdays, May 13 and 27, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., PR community center, 1437 Gulf Road. Come out and shop locally!

PR Historical Society: Wednesday, May 17, 7 p.m., in the History Center.

PR Community Advisory Committee: Thursday, May 18, 7 p.m., via Zoom.

Celebration of the life of Henry M. Rosenthal: Sunday, May 21, 1 p.m., at the Point Roberts fire hall. There will be food and drinks served along with several musical performances. A slide show of photos of Henry will be projected inside the fire hall. Everyone is invited to come and share their experiences with Henry. Additional parking available at the community center, transportation to the fire hall will be provided by the Circle of Car shuttle bus.

Wildfire Risk Assessment Blitz: Tuesday, May 23, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Email Amanda at aknauf@whatcomcd. org to sign up.

PR Garden Club: Tuesday, May 30, 6:45 p.m. Member garden visits. Info: info@pointrobertsgardenclub.org.

Stars Above and Stars Below: Wednesday, May 31, 3:15–4:15 p.m., PR Library. Come to the library for crafts and activities that explore the universe and all of our places within it.

Point Roberts Kids Camp: Mondays through Fridays, July 10–28, morning session is 9 a.m. – noon, afternoon session is 1–4 p.m. Brought to you by the Point Roberts Park and Recreation District. Early registration coming soon. Info: prparkandrec.org.

History Center: Saturdays, 11 a.m.–3 p.m., History Center, Gulf Road community center.

Storytime: Wednesdays, 10:30–11 a.m., PR library. For ages 2-6. An open program that includes stories, rhymes and songs with opportunities for movement and interactive participation.

Craft and Game Night: Tuesdays from 5–7 p.m., Point Roberts Library. Bring a craft to work on or a board game to play.

Friday Community Market: Fridays, starting May 5, 4–7 p.m., west side of J dock at the Point Roberts Marina. Make it, grow it, bake it, take it (free table). A collection of local farmers and vendors. Come see what we have to offer.

Garden Talks at Kora’s Corner: Saturdays in May, noon, Kora’s Corner, 1480 Gulf Road. Presentations and workshops with rotating guest speakers. Make connections with other gardeners on the Point. Whatcom County Al-Anon: Online meetings available via Zoom and GoToMeeting. Info: whatcomafg.org.

on how to inspect septic tanks has proven to be popular this spring.

Photo by Bennett Blaustein

Announcements

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FIREWOOD FOR SALE! Half/Full Chords delivered, Different types of wood and sizes depending on availability. Onsite commercial burning services.

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Experienced and Professional customer service. SPECIALIZING IN: Duroid/Sloped, Torchdown/Flat and metal roof installs. Moss spraying and removal, roof, gutter cleaning, repairs.

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YARD MAINTENANCE Lawns • Pruning • Hedge/ shrub trimming • Gutters • Pressure Washing • 24 years experience. 360-945-1957.

Edmund Rudolph Acosta

December 25, 1942 – March 21, 2023

Edmund Rudolph Acosta died peacefully on March 21, 2023, at Good Samaritan Society - Stafholt in Blaine, with his wife Mary at his side. They were married for 48 years. He is survived by his children, Darin, Lita, and Grant; daughters-in-law Janis and Moira; grandchildren, Angela, Alex, Gabriela, and Mia; his siblings, sister Margot and brother Norm.

Ed began his career life in the defense industry as a draftsman for Honeywell and eventually worked his way up to a configurations manager for Hughes Aircraft before he retired. He also worked stints as a computer programmer after his formal retirement.

Ed was born in Los Angeles, California where he grew a passion for the Los Angeles Pacific Electric street cars at a very young age. He purchased kits of the street cars, studied the models, and built the model trains to perfection his entire life. His models included the many buildings, natural features, and trains of the historical Union Station.

Ed’s long time vision was to build his very own planned railroad layout depicting downtown Los Angeles and the surrounding area. The Los Angeles train layout building came to an end when he and Mary decided they wanted to move to Point Roberts from their longtime home in Redlands, California and there wasn’t enough space to bring all the required elements. They had discovered Point Roberts on a vacation to Canada and decided this was the perfect area for them to live post-retirement.

Ed also developed a lifelong love for classical music, especially enjoying Andres Segovia and Julian Bream, among other guitarists. Ed took up playing the guitar for his own personal enjoyment and passed his talent on to his children and grandchildren.

Another of Ed’s passions was cycling, both road and mountain biking. He helped form and name the Redland’s Water Bottle Transit Co bike club. One of this favorite rides was a 200-mile ride called the Grand Tour of Malibu, which he trained for and rode two different times. His training rides of 50 or 100 miles a day were effortless for him. When he moved to Point Roberts, he enjoyed riding the tandem bike with Bob Thiessen and other cyclists from across the border.

Ed will be remembered for his great sense of humor, love of life, and engagement with all the fun life had to offer. His memories live on. As was typical of his sense of humor, his grave marker will be imprinted with the pun, “An end to an E.R.A.” (Edmund Rudolph Acosta).

obituaries

and together began their family. The first to arrive was Stephen then Michael and they were later joined by son Art.

In 1980, they were recruited to come to Washington where they started their medical practice in Blaine. After 42 years in practice, they retired in 2020. Dr. Allan was passionate about family medicine and enjoyed every minute of it. His staff and patients became his extended family.

Dr. Allan was very athletic and excelled in many sports, including badminton (where he competed in the provincial championship), swimming, tennis, cycling, skiing, golf, and running. He enjoyed traveling, reading, watching sports, and current events. He always looked forward to spending time with family and friends, watching his sons compete in their various sports, and entertaining at the beach house aka “The Palace.”

Antonia Judith Levi

1947 - 2022

David Hugh Allan, MD

May 5, 1949 – March 30, 2023

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Dr. David Allan of Blaine, on a most fitting day, Doctors Day, March 30, 2023. He was a dedicated and wonderful clinician who was loved by so many patients and community members.

David was born May 5, 1949 in Vancouver, B.C. to Michael and Vivian Allan. The family moved to various cities in Canada, and in the end settled in Regina, Saskatchewan, where he completed his elementary and high school education.

He attended the University of Alberta earning a B.S. This was followed by a year at the University of Regina, where he obtained an honors degree and met his future wife Marta.

David and Marta were admitted to medical school in Saskatoon in 1972, graduating with the class of 1977, and then ventured to Flint, Michigan for their internship. After obtaining their Canadian and American board certifications, they began their first practice in Vanderhoof, B.C..

Doctors A and K, as best known by this community, were married October 6, 1979

MeMoriaL

Memorial Service for Henry Rosenthal

All are invited to a special celebration of the life of Henry M. Rosenthal at the Point Roberts fire hall at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 21. There will be food and drinks served along with several musical performances.

As well, a slide show of photos of Henry will be projected inside the fire hall. Everyone is invited to share their experiences with Henry. Additional parking available at the community center, transportation to the fire hall will be provided by the Circle of Care shuttle bus.

The family has added the following survivors of Henry M. Rosenthal who passed away on November 18, 2022:

Wife Esther S. Rosenthal, Point Roberts; Jodie Rosenthal, sister, Los Angeles; Jud Coffin, cousin, Vancouver; Trudy Cowan, cousin, Calgary; Zal and Dana Saper, cousins, Vancouver; and numerous cousins in Canada, U.S. and Israel. Relatives of Esther – daughter Deborah Mayhan Reoyo (Gabriel Reoyo), L.A; grandson Isaiah Mayhan Reoyo; son David E. Mayhan, L.A., friend Cindy McQuade, L.A.

Dr. Allan is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Dr. Marta Kazymyra; sons Stephen Allan, Michael Allan (longtime partner Magda Dermendziev), and Art Telles (Crystal); and special grandchildren, AJ and Trinity Telles. Dr. Allan will be greatly missed by his aunt Pamela Allan; mother-in-law, Elizabeth Kazymyra; three sisters, Sheila Cullen (Bob), Susan Perkins (Bert), and Rene Engels (Rich); in-laws, Nadia Dzioba (George) and Dmytro Kazymyra (Deborah); numerous other family members, and his many grateful and loyal patients.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Dr. Allan’s name are suggested to The Class of 1977 Medicine Bursary, and may be sent to the University of Saskatchewan, College of Medicine, Attn. Advancement, 4A20 Health Sciences Building, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5 or online https://donate.usask.ca/ online/advancement.php.

The community is invited to a celebration of Dr. David Allan’s life on Friday, May 5, 2023, at 4 p.m. at the Pioneer Pavilion Community Center, 2007 Cherry St., Ferndale, WA 98248.

To watch the live stream, please go to facebook.com/GilliesFuneralHomeAndCremationServices.

Antonia Judith Levi, formerly of Hawaii and a resident of Point Roberts, Washington, passed away on March 2, 2022. She graduated from University High School in Honolulu, Hawaii, and earned a PhD in Japanese history from Stanford University.

Antonia was an international lecturer and author whose specialty was anime, the contemporary art of Japanese animation. She studied at Tokyo University, and for many years taught Japanese history and popular culture at Amherst College, Whitman College, Portland State University, and Loyola Marymount University. In 1996, she authored “Samurai from Outer Space,” a well-received textbook chronicling Japanese animation; and co-authored “Introduction to Rubrics” in 2004, updated in 2012.

In her last few years, Toni lived in Point Roberts and wrote numerous short stories and poems published in B.C. Toni is survived by her brother Matt, sister-in-law Cheryl, nieces Morgan, Cianna and Alia, and her beloved cats. Toni will also be remembered for her friendship and witty banter by members of numerous writing and poetry circles, and a worldwide legion of friends gathered throughout her exuberant life.

s Ed Acosta.

s David Allan, MD.

s Toni Levi.

November 29, 1942 – February 17, 2023

Jim was born on November 29, 1942 in Wichita, Kansas and passed away at home February 17, 2023 in Point Roberts, listening to Jerry Jeff Walker with his wife by his side. Jim was predeceased by sister Nancy Kay, and mother and father Helen and Edward. Jim is survived by his wife Shivé, daughter Lisa, sister Marianne, brother Ed (Heather), step-children, step grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews.

obituaries

At the age of thirteen, the family moved to Golden, Colorado where he went to school and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. While in college he was an accomplished baseball and football player. After graduating, Jim settled on making the military his career and enlisted in the Marines. That was short lived when he was injured and received an honorable discharge.

With his passion for flying and airplanes he then turned to a career in aviation and joined United Airlines in January 1968 where he spent 35 years “Flying with the Blue Side Up.” He flew the 727, 737, 757, 767, and retired as captain on the Boeing 747-400 on November 29, 2002. His favorite of all time was the 727. When he wasn’t flying a plane, he would take every opportunity to fly his Cessna 195 tail dragger, which he rebuilt and was his pride and joy.

Retirement came at a cost to Jim’s health. He sold his airplane, took a hit to his pension when UAL claimed bankruptcy and at the age of 60, was no longer flying. One thing is for certain though, Jim was a gentleman – he had integrity, loyalty and hon-

Yacht Sales–Power and Sail Service

or. He was a proud, caring man and one heck of a friend. He was always there to help. One of his main missions after retirement was to give his mother the best life possible after his father passed away. He definitely accomplished that.

Jim and Shivé enjoyed their boat, which they were married on, and took road trips, especially to Montana to see his mother and sister. He also enjoyed taking trips with his brother Ed, whether fishing on the Kispiox River in B.C. or traveling abroad.

Jim and Shivé’s wish for him was to be cared for at home and spend his final days

looking out at the birds and watching football and golf on the big screen TV in the comfort of his own bed. For the last three and a half years of his life, Shivé, his wife and friend, was his sole caregiver until he passed away.

Per Jim’s request, there will be no memorial service. He will be interred with his mother and father in Glacier National Park, Montana.

If you wish to make a contribution, please make it to either Point Roberts Food Bank or Point Roberts Circle of Care. You may contact Shivé at 360/927-1921.

ther developed her talent as a concert pianist had she not soon married Norm, a civil engineer, which meant many traveling adventures around the world and moves (more than 20!) throughout Canada and the U.S.

Gillian was a creative soul. She applied her creativity most prominently to every aspect of home life and raising her five children, to her passion for gardening, and to her love of fashion.

A beautiful, elegant woman, she stood out in her artistic way of dressing. Gillian loved the beauty of the natural world, especially the springtime with all the new life bursting forth.

Gillian Rosemary Rita Tennock

March 16, 1938 – April 6, 2023

After many difficult months, Gillian Tennock passed away on April 6, 2023. She is survived by her husband of 60-plus years, Norman, her children and their spouses, Craig, Karen and Ivar, Julie and Chris, Ross and Mig, and Kevin and Kathleen, her grandchildren, Lindsay, Kelsey, Marlee, Sara, Amanda, Sophia, Liam, Ashton, and Maya, and her first great grandchild, baby Rae.

Gillian lived a fulsome life which began in Havant Hants, England. Many visits were made from afar to see her parents, sister, Julia, and nephews, Richard and Ian, some of whom still live there now. The Old Mill at Langston near her home remained one of her favorite places. She loved to walk along the sea and visit the pond filled with ducks and swans there.

Gillian began her young adult life as a model in London. She may also have fur-

She loved flowers, especially daffodils. She loved the birds and always put seed and suet out for them. She became known as “Grandma Duck” because so many ducks gathered to be fed by her each morning. Lambs, bunnies, birds, and flowers made her smile. Gillian readily shared her wealth of knowledge about growing food naturally, and the seeds and produce from her garden with everyone.

Gillian’s greatest love was her family. We will never forget the numerous caring gestures she expressed over time, such as creating a beautiful home to grow up in, cooking nurturing, healthy meals for everyone (including her most beloved dogs, Sadie and Skye!), fostering a connection to the natural world, and so much more. She will be dearly missed.

We would like to thank Point Roberts Circle of Care for their caring and kind support. We will be having a celebration of life at a future date in Point Roberts.

Captain James D. Marshall

s Gillian Tennock.

s Captain Jim Marshall.

s Holly Robinson has become the first Point Roberts resident to be appointed to the Whatcom County Library System’s Board of Trustees. Photo by Erin Kelly