Candidates have filed for election

B y P at G ru BB

Washington State Representative Alicia Rule (D-Blaine) has thrown her hat in the ring for Whatcom County Executive, challenging incumbent Satpal Sidhu and Whatcom County Council chair Barry Buchanan for the four-year, nonpartisan position. Also running are Misty Flowers, Dan Purdy and Sukwant Gill. Rule announced her bid on May 15, following Buchanan’s bid in late April. Sidhu publicly said he would run for a second term in January and filed on Monday, May 15.

Whatcom County Council District 5 commissioner Ben Elenbaas has company in the race as well. Blaine resident Jackie Dexter filed on May 16. Atul Deshmane, Jon Scanlon, Hannah Ordos and Jerry Burns filed for council at-large Position B. Blaine school board district 2 have Tana Perkins Reneau, Ben Lazarus and Dean Berkeley facing off in the August primary. Lazarus was a former owner of Westwind Marine Services in Point Roberts. Kimberley Akre and Erika Creydt, running for District 5, will battle in the November general election.

Blaine police chief Donnell “Tank” Tanksley will face undersheriff Doug Chadwick for county sheriff.

Other races aren’t as competitive. Port of Bellingham district #3 commissioner Bobbie Briscoe is running unopposed as is Point Roberts fire district commissioner Norm Katz, Point Roberts water district commissioner Scott Hackleman, Point Roberts hospital district commissioner Noel Newbolt and candidates for the Point Roberts Parks and Recreation District Alison Calder, Bill Zidel and Stephen Falk. Zidel and Calder are current appointees to the district while Falk is running for the seat currently held by parks chair Mitch Friedman who, along with Michael Cressy did not file for election.

Filing week closed at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 19.

LocaL stats >>>

Fire Incidents for April 2023

Total calls (38); EMS calls (8), resulting in the following transports: St. Josephs Hospital (1), County medic (1); Fire classification (11) resulting in outdoor burns – permit (5), outdoor burns – illegal (2), false alarm (3), water rescue (1); Public service (6).

Point Roberts health clinic numbers for April 2023 (2022 figures following)

Total 138 (116); office visit 95 (66); labs 4 (25); PT/INR 3 (0); telemedicine visit 15(12); Physical exams 5 (2); skin clinic 6 (7); B12 and flu shots 10 (4).

After three months of searching, the Whatcom Council on Aging (WCOA) found a new senior lunch cook, Rhonda Granger, who hails from New York State.

When she tired of shoveling snow, Granger made the decision to leave the east coast behind and embarked on a cross-country adventure in her 30-foot school bus.

Granger arrived in Point Roberts last July and quickly established herself as a valued member of the community. Starting as Roger Gookstetter’s volunteer helper in September, she found joy in washing dishes and assisting the former chef.

Although Granger is a freelance crop insurance adjuster by profession, her true passion lies in cooking. Growing up, Granger spent time helping her father at his truck stop restaurant in Michigan, cultivating her love for the culinary arts. She even worked as Calvin Klein’s personal chef for a brief period.

Now, as the new senior lunch cook, Granger plans to continue cooking the same types of meals that former cook,

Roger Gookstetter made.

Granger believes in community collaboration and welcomes suggestions for the senior lunch menu. To ensure everyone has a voice, a suggestion box has been placed in the community center.

Since Granger’s arrival, the kitchen has once again come alive with the aromas of freshly made meals. WCOA had temporarily suspended on-site meal preparation after Gookstetter’s departure in March, but now Granger is revitalizing the kitchen and bringing back the joy of communal dining.

Granger acknowledges the importance of volunteers in the success of the senior lunch program. While she already has a dedicated group of volunteers, she is always looking to expand her team. “We are always looking for helpers,” Granger said enthusiastically.

Senior lunch is available to all ages. For those who are employed, the cost is $8.50, and those who are unemployed can pay whatever they can afford.

Lunch is served at the community center on Gulf Road from 11:45 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays.