All Point Bulletin - May 2024 issue

Whatcom County officials paid $225,000 last November to settle claims that a former public works director sexually harassed a female employee for more than two years.

Jon Hutchings resigned in lieu of termination in October 2022, just one day before a third-party investigator interviewed three female employees who reported Hutchings had made sexual comments to them or touched them inappropriately while at work.

But county leaders never formally disciplined Hutchings or adjudicated the complaints. And they helped him get a new job, writing a favorable “letter of introduction.”

“It has been a pleasure working with Jon and I am very confident that he will serve your organization well,” the letter concludes, signed by county executive Satpal Sidhu and deputy executive Tyler Schroeder.

As part of the agreement of Hutchings’ departure, county leaders also agreed not to disclose information about his misconduct to future employers. Hutchings now runs the public works department for the city of Lynden. He did not respond to a request for an interview.

Lynden’s city code requires department heads to be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council. Mayor Scott Korthuis did not respond to multiple calls

Whatcom County Superior Court Judge Robert E. Olsen approved a settlement on April 19 between the two children of Murray Church and Gail Amundsen and three out of five defendants accused of negligence in the couple’s deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Amundsen, 61, and Church, 67, were found dead in their home on Thanksgiving Day evening in 2021. The two were asphyxiated when an improperly installed boiler blew off a vent fitting and released carbon monoxide into their newly constructed home.

The pair were discovered by family friends who were asked to check on them after their children had been unable to

make contact with them for several days.

Andgar Mechanical, Ferndale, general contractor Optimum Contracting and Shoreline Electrical Services, both of Point Roberts agreed to settle for $8 million in total. Andgar, who failed to convert the boiler to use propane fuel, will pay $6 million while Optimum and Shoreline will pay $1 million each.

Two other parties, Triangle Tube/Phase III Company, New Jersey and Whatcom County were not part of the settlement and the lawsuit against them will continue. Triangle Tube was the maker of the boiler while the county signed off on the occupancy permit of the couple’s newly constructed home even though contrary to state law, no carbon monoxide detectors

The

you, Point Roberts! Thank you for the beauty and abundance of your land, the forests, beaches, and gardens. Thank you to the fascinating, kind, and caring people who live here for your friendship and support.

I am blessed to have lived in this magical place for the past quarter century. I have loved being one of your community librarians. Thank you for the chance to work in such a beautiful library building. But life changes and we change with it.

This summer, George Wright and I will be moving to southeastern Virginia to live closer to family. My last day at the library will be Saturday, June 29. Thank you, Point Roberts, for all the wonderful memories I will carry forward.

Rose Momsen Point Roberts

The Editor:

The Point Roberts Historical Society would like to congratulate Trinity Lutheran Church for its designation on the Washington Heritage Register.

It’s fitting that the first site in Point Roberts to make the state heritage register is

one of just a few century-old buildings in the exclave.

We salute Trinity Lutheran Church for its role in the lives of generations of people on the Point, from Icelandic settlers to today’s residents.

Congratulations on being a constant presence in the lives of the community.

The Point Roberts Historical Society Board Point Roberts

The Editor:

If one doubts the power and reach of local, independent journalism, look no further than The Northern Light

On April 21, the Mount Baker Foundation (MBF) hosted a ‘Share Your Spare’ living kidney donation information lun-

cheon. A Blaine resident whose niece, living in Ohio, needs a kidney transplant read about the event in this publication. (April 11-17, Dr. William Lombard, “Make the Unfathomable a Reality: Eliminate the Kidney Transplant Waitlist”).

Previously in September 2023, Dr. Lombard’s “moonshot” essay to eliminate the kidney transplant waitlist in Whatcom County was featured in The Northern Light. That article, amazingly, caught the attention of Atul Agnihotri, founding CEO of the organization, Kidneys for Communities (bit.ly/3UvNZVz).

Agnihotri lives in Ohio and traveled to Whatcom County for the MBF event. He and the Blaine resident connected. Her niece’s chances of finding a match for a living kidney donor may have increased exponentially because of the serendipitous encounter.

Thank you to The Northern Light. You inform us. You unite us. Local journalism has the power to ignite us to action.

Micki Jackson

Bellingham (The Northern Light is a sister publication of the All Point Bulletin and published by Point Roberts Press, Inc.)

Historical Society congratulates the All Point Bulletin on its 39th anniversary

Congratulations to the All Point Bulletin (APB) on 39 years of serving our community. The articles in the APB serve as a critical resource to report the news in our exclave. From major incidents to everyday anecdotes, the APB serves as the matter of record.

Many of the research projects of the Point Roberts Historical Society rely on back issues of the APB, and the historical society has contributed news and articles to the APB throughout the years. This partnership helps to preserve the history of our community.

To help to share the APB’s 39th anniversary, the Point Roberts Historical Society looked into its archives and found our very first newsletter, Old News, from 2001. We would like to share an article by Shelley Damewood called “In The Beginning.”

Church News – Trinity music camp reunion concert

B y B ar B ara W ayland

It was a lovely warm Saturday evening and those of us attending the reunion concert were in for an amazing treat. Six young adults, who as children had been part of Trinity Church’s Music Camps over several years, put on a very special evening performing their own works. The expertise of their camp leaders, Tasha Neufeld and Caitlin Beaupré, shone through as each of the campers performed original compositions.

Julian Neufeld kicked things off with a set of raw and vulnerable songs about living in strange times and love in the midst and aftermath of turmoil, while on guitar. AmandaLyn Wayland followed with an autobiographical spoken piece about companionship, grief and the aging process.

Sinead Ocean came through next on ukulele (her cousin Julian backing her up) and took us on a journey through late night beach trips and the honey-sweet feeling of falling in love.

Veronica North’s lyrical prowess ricocheted through in beautiful musical glimpses of her life, balancing humor,

heartbreak, and hope. Jen March delivered a poem reinterpreting the familiar tale of walking on water. Finaly, Kiara Strijack brought everything full circle with two songs, one a compilation of scripture quotes she has been able to find strength and solace in, and one embodying the sunsoaked days of youth and new experiences one can only find at summer camp.

Due to the nature of the unbuffered wooden pews, Tantalizing Tasha took us on a journey up off of our sore seats and onto our feet to warm-up just like a real camper.

We started by picking our own alliterative nicknames and corresponding actions, a trick to help learn your fellow teammates’ names (mine was definitely Bar-B-Que-Lover Barb; cue my pantomiming flipping patties and pressing them back down to the grill with a sizzle). Then, we went “Down, Down, Baby,” down by the rollercoaster, incorporating every tired limb we had in an attempt to revitalize and get the blood flowing before we strapped back to finish the show.

As a closer, other former camp members returned up front with the performers to

sing snippets of their favorite songs from each of the plays featured throughout the years.

Lovely soprano harmonies were featured on an impactful message of a friendship where each person takes turns caring for the other. Hungry, carnivorous lions suddenly sprang out into a fun villain song, as we imagine them circling Daniel in their den.

And, of course, the cast had a great time chanting an important reminder to standup-for-what-is-right. Finally, Dietary Diva Dorothy had arranged a variety of desserts for performers and attendees alike.

Correction

In last month’s issue of the All Point Bulletin, the sponsorship of the 50th anniversary of the Point Roberts community center was incorrectly attributed. It was the Point Roberts Historical Society that sponsored the event.

Our Team is Ready!

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We offer scheduled appointments, walk-ins and tele-medicine. Lab draws and antibiotics on request.

Doctors are onsite Monday, Tuesday & Thursday, RN and telemedicine Wednesday & Friday.

Patients may also visit our Bellingham clinic with continuity of care 7 days a week.

Monday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

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Wednesday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Thursday 10 a.m.– 6 p.m. Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

POINT ROBERTS CLINIC OPEN 5 Days A WEEK

clean), one bin for mixed paper (no cardboard included), one for tin and aluminum cans (rinsed clean with labels removed), and a separate bin for rinsed clean plastic containers and milk jugs (not plastic bags). Flattening your plastic containers and tin cans is super helpful in saving space. Plastic bags should be collected into one bag and tied tight to about the size of a soccer ball. Just leave it with your trash can and we’ll collect it for recycling

• Cardboard needs to be broken down and flattened, and secured with tape or string into bundles no larger than 2-ft x 3-ft x 1-ft. Large boxes need to be cut down to size, and cardboard should be left beside the bins for collection. If cardboard is not prepared within these guidelines, or mixed with paper, it will not be collected.

• Recycling is good for the Earth and for all of us. Thank you for participating in this great endeavor to keep Point Roberts clean and healthy for generations to come. We are proud that our green waste gets transported to Skagit Soils for composting and that the remainder of our commodities (glass, tin/aluminum, wood, plastics and paper) are hauled by Cando into facilities in Canada for proper end-stage recycling.

As always, if you have any questions about recycling, trash collection, or self-haul, please check out our website, or call the office Monday through Friday, 10:30 am to 2:30 pm Reduce, Recycle, Reuse. We're all in this together. CLINIC HOURS:

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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

Payout ...

From page 1

and emails, and city administrator John Williams declined to say how much they knew about Hutchings’ past behavior when the city hired him, referring to it as a “personnel matter.”

Cascade PBS reached out to Sidhu, Schroeder, and current public works director Elizabeth Kosa, who served as assistant director before Hutchings resigned. None responded to interview requests for this story.

Whatcom County spokesperson Jed Holmes wrote in an email to Cascade PBS that the county is committed to investigating allegations of inappropriate workplace behavior, but officials did not respond to detailed questions about Hutchings’ departure.

“[D]ue to this commitment to providing a safe, fair and respectful work environment,” Holmes responded, “We are not going to grant your interview requests on the subject of your email.”

Multiple complaints

Internal records reveal that three different women reported Hutchings for repeatedly hugging them without their consent, touching a female employee’s thigh and asking a high-ranking manager to see pictures of her in a swimsuit.

One female employee, who we will call “Wendy,” first reported her discomfort with Hutchings in the fall of 2021. (Cascade PBS has granted the woman’s request for anonymity to protect her privacy as a victim of alleged sexual harassment.)

to bring her flowers and fresh eggs, and invites her to watch the moonrise. After inviting her for a walk on a Saturday, he adds, “This is not a date!”

“Just home from sailing,” Hutchings texted one Saturday at 6:52 p.m. “Starting fire, listening to Jack Johnson. What you doing?”

In an email to Cascade PBS relayed through her lawyer, Wendy wrote that she tried at first to be patient with Hutchings, but eventually he “took it way too far.”

“My family would question me whenever they would visit or I would visit them,” she wrote, “why does your boss text you all the time at all hours?”

She first reported Hutchings’ behavior to then-assistant director Elizabeth Kosa in September 2021, according to HR records. She also confronted Hutchings that same day, according to a log she provided to HR.

About one week later, Kosa organized a “facilitated counseling session” with Hutchings, Wendy and a person HR later referred to as a “coach.” Wendy was “very clear in telling Mr. Hutchings to stop communicating with her after hours [and] about his personal life,” according to Kosa’s account in a third-party investigation report.

Point Roberts | 360-945-0420

maureen@pointrobertscounseling.com

www.pointrobertscounseling.com

Whatcom County Fire District #5 Point Roberts Community Paramedic CARES Program

Providing non-emergency home medical care, education and referral services. For an appointment or more information, please contact Chief Christopher Carleton at 360-945-3473 or chief@wcfd5.com

The county’s initial response to her complaint was to organize a “facilitated counseling session” with her, Hutchings and a “coach.” Records show no further follow-up for nearly a year after her initial complaint, with human resources re-engaging only after a second employee came forward to report inappropriate comments and touching.

Text messages Wendy submitted to HR show Hutchings frequently contacted her on nights and weekends about personal topics, sharing family frustrations, inviting her on walks, commenting on her body and in one case telling her that he “like[s] feeling like the one who can take care of you.”

Wendy was hesitant to bring her concerns to HR after reporting her previous boss for harassment in 2014, according to a letter her lawyer sent to the county. Notes from a manager who interviewed Wendy noted she was “very skeptical” of HR due to how the previous complaint was handled and “will not be interviewed in a group setting with HR again.”

Internal records show Wendy told HR she had known Hutchings for 15 years and largely enjoyed working with him until 2020, when he began focusing unwelcome attention on her. Hutchings called her nicknames like “sweetie,” “sunshine,” “baby” and “momma.” He would hug her without asking, sometimes from behind, often enough that she put up a “no hugs” sign at her desk.

Wendy provided screenshots of 120 texts out of more than 200 she said Hutchings sent her over two years. A sample of texts circulated to senior county HR officials reveal largely one-sided conversations in which Hutchings expresses anguish over his family, seeks emotional support, offers

After the meeting, Hutchings began to treat Wendy differently at work, she told the investigator. He excluded her from important work and undermined her in front of colleagues, in one case criticizing her for wearing flip-flops. Three days after inviting her to the non-date walk, he yelled at her during a work meeting, saying “I’m done with you. I’m not talking to you anymore,” according to a log she submitted to HR. He then apologized and scheduled a meeting to discuss his feelings about her.

County email records appear to indicate that for nearly a full year following Wendy’s complaint, leadership took no further investigative or disciplinary action.

Then in early September 2022, as Hutchings cleaned out Covid-19 supplies from an operations office alongside a female worker, he held a thermometer up to her forehead to take her temperature and said, “You’re a hottie,” according to HR records. The worker later recalled to an investigator that Hutchings had put his hand on her thigh during a leadership training in 2016 or 2017.

The county brought in a third-party investigator to interview Wendy and the operations worker in late October 2022. The investigative report echoed what the female employees told Kosa and later HR. It also revealed Hutchings had allegedly told a third female colleague he would “need to see a photo of her underwater, in her swimsuit” after she shared plans for diving.

But unbeknownst to the women, Hutchings had already emailed Schroeder, the deputy executive, saying he would resign. Before the investigative report was delivered, Hutchings and senior county leaders had largely hammered out an agreement that would allow him to characterize his departure as a resignation and required the county to omit information about his misconduct when contacted by future employers.

By the time the investigative report came back, the county had already started drafting Hutchings a letter of recommendation. The investigator did not interview him.

‘Going on a long time’

(See Payout, page 7)

Payout ...

From page 6

Meeting minutes show Lynden City Council confirmed Hutchings as its public works director on May 15, 2023.

Mayor Korthuis did not respond to inquiries about Hutchings. It remains unclear how much the city of Lynden knew about Hutchings’ behavior when they hired him.

“It sickens and infuriates me how much he was not held accountable for his actions and how much he was protected,” Wendy wrote in an email. “In my opinion they clearly went out of their way on that agreement to hide everything, and to protect the abuser at the expense of the victim.”

Wendy noted that Whatcom County has updated its sexual harassment trainings since Hutchings’ departure and updated policies to require full investigations of all complaints, but said she needed years of therapy to deal with the “daily toll” of the abuse. The nonstop messages exhausted her physically and mentally, she wrote, to the point that she developed severe stomach pain leading to multiple emergency room trips.

Wendy’s attorney sent a letter to the county on October 24, 2023, accusing the county of violating federal and state laws against discrimination based on sex and re-

taliation against those who report it.

“It seems in this case that the county actually supported [Wendy’s] abuser,” the attorney wrote, “and certainly failed to take prompt and effective action to stop the discrimination.”

The letter alleges that despite agreeing not to contact her, Hutchings in April 2023 left a note in her mailbox that indicated an interest in re-engaging in a relationship with her. He also included a gift: a book on personal boundaries. Hutchings’ separation agreement with Whatcom County references a recent no-contact directive, although it does not say with whom.

The letter sought $400,000 and “prospective anti-sex discrimination corrective action as negotiated.” A settlement agreement shows the county ultimately paid $225,000.

Wendy had kept a log of her interactions with Hutchings, which she later submitted to HR. An HR representative annotated Wendy’s log in pencil, circling the date when Wendy first confronted Hutchings.

“I told him I was uncomfortable with his level of engaging me outside of work in personal matters (texting etc.) and that it was bordering on becoming super inappropriate,” Wendy wrote in that day’s entry.

The HR representative underlined the beginning of the next sentence.

“This has been going on a long time.”

Wrong turn leads to pot court case

B y P at G ru

A geographically challenged delivery truck driver may end up costing his company a pot of dough, or at least 333 pounds of gummies worth.

In May 2023, a driver working for Kelowna-based Seven Elks Shipping Inc. picked up five pallets of cannabis products in a five-ton truck from Port Coquitlam and Delta, B.C. He was supposed to deliver three pallets to We Grow B.C. in Creston, B.C. and the remainder to Westleaf Labs, L.P. in Calgary, Alberta.

Somehow, he ended up at the U.S. truck crossing in Blaine. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) spokesperson Jason Givens, “The driver said he was traveling domestically in Canada and was not seeking entry to the U.S. and had made a wrong turn, ending up at the CBP Pacific Highway Cargo Facility.”

Givens said the driver presented paperwork that verified the shipment was a commercial load of marijuana. CBP officers seized the marijuana, which had a total weight of nearly 875 pounds. (Ed. Note: CBP reported the weight of the marijuana at 875 pounds; however, the lawsuit claims 151,300 grams or 333 pounds).

The driver was allowed to return to Canada and the commercial truck was not seized.

On April 15, We Grow B.C. and Westleaf Labs sued Seven Elks in B.C. Supreme Court seeking compensation for the seized goods. Specifically, the plaintiffs are asking Seven Elks to return the $11,910.62 shipping fee that was paid in advance plus

May Services at 11:00am:

Apr. 28 Pastor Jean Barrington

Sunday

May 5th Pastor Gina Gaudet Sunday

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Jazz Vespers Service

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May 26th Pastor Jean Barrington Sunday

the value of the seized cannabis products which at retail would be worth $823,317. The wholesale cost of the product would be about $370,000.

According to the court claim, Seven Elks has acknowledged in writing that it was at fault in respect to the seizure but has failed to return the shipping charges or compensate the two companies for the loss of their products. Further, the companies assert that not only has the seizure meant the loss of revenue and profit from the products, they have also suffered reputational losses with their customers.

Lawsuit ...

From page 1

The April 19 hearing was held to determine the reasonableness of the settlement agreement. Under RCW 4.22.060, a judge must review proposed settlements to determine that the amount to be paid is reasonable and reviews nine factors in making that determination. Among these factors are the damages visited upon the plaintiffs, in this case, the premature deaths of their parents. The agreed upon damages fell within the range of recent wrongful death awards. Another factor is the defendants’ ability to pay and the risk and expense of continued litigation.

According to plaintiffs’ attorney David Brown of Brett McCandlis Brown & Conner, the agreed upon settlement was the maximum amount payable by the defendants’ insurance providers. Further litigation would likely not have resulted in a higher settlement.

Brown said pursuing the case against the three companies would have involved further substantial investigation and depositions. As it was, only Gary Orr of Shoreline Electric had been deposed prior to the settlement being agreed upon.

Brown said Orr maintained throughout that he had installed the proper CO detectors despite being presented with physical and technical evidence to the contrary.

Asked about reports that Optimum owner Eric Johnson and Orr had subsequently gone back to earlier projects to swap out smoke detector-only units for CO-capable units, Brown said while they had heard rumors, they didn’t pursue them as they would have had little evidentiary value at

s The exhaust vent blew off allowing carbon monoxide to build to a fatal concentration. Courtesy photo

trial.

“We would not have been able to introduce it into evidence,” he said. He added that Orr’s testimony “did not appear to be credible” and the fact that the parties agreed to settle soon thereafter lent support to that assessment.

Asked what was next, Brown said the lawsuit against Triangle Tube and Whatcom County would continue.

In Washington state, contingency fees typically run from 33-40 percent of settlement amounts, not including expenses.

Damage awards for wrongful deaths and personal injuries are not taxable in the U.S. or Canada.

(For a fuller understanding of the circumstances behind the tragic deaths of Church and Asmundsen, go to bit.ly/3xQqde4 and bit.ly/3w8xa9Q)

S Directed by Point Roberts residents Tony Barton and Tracy Neff, Finding Nemo Jr. is a charming musical adaptation for all ages based on the beloved 2003 Pixar film Finding Nemo. Delta Youth Theatre will be presenting the show at the Equinox Theatre at the South Delta Secondary School Friday, May 3 through Sunday, May 12. More info on showtimes and tickets can be found in Coming Up on page 14.

Neff said, “We are excited to be one of the first companies in the area to present this show, and in doing so, present a new challenge to some of our more experienced performers.”

Barton said, “For this show, we have been working with a Tsawwassen-native, Frances Henry, on creating large, hand-held puppets that actors must incorporate into their performance. It’s a challenge for us as directors as well.”

s The Easter Bunny gets ready to take a high five from one of many Easter egg hunters at the annual Baker Field Easter egg hunt on March 31. Photo by Louise Mugar

Courtesy photo

s Dr. John Anwar, r., introduced the team he proposes for operating the local health clinic. Screen grab from Zoom

Interesting times at hospital district

B y P at G ru BB

A presentation by Dr. John Anwar to Point Roberts hospital district board members at their regular April meeting held on Zoom led to some strong words being exchanged between him and the district’s current medical service provider, Dr. Sean Bozorgzad. Anwar had spoken at the board’s February meeting saying he was interested in offering his services as a service provider should the board decide to consider alternatives to the current arrangement.

At that meeting, Bozorgzad objected to chair Stephen Falk’s willingness to hear Anwar’s presentation, pointing out that by doing so, Falk was in contravention of the standard legal process hospital districts follow in Washington state when contracting for service providers. After asking if the board was dissatisfied with the service that his company SuperTrack Urgent Care was providing, he pointed out that the clinic had been operating with three MDs and a registered nurse when the contract only called for a nurse practitioner. In the April provider’s report, Bozorgzad told the board that they were in the process of hiring a second registered nurse in order to have full coverage during their days of operation and telemedicine on weekends. He added that the clinic was also expanding the list of medications that would be available to clinic patients.

“I’d like to start by introducing you to a wonderful team that we have been collaborating together,” Anwar said, kicking

off his presentation with a slide of photographs of him and three others, one of whom was Deb Shields. Shields is a longtime resident of Point Roberts, is trained as a physician’s assistant and, along with her husband John, had previously attempted to win the clinic contract the last time it was opened to bids. SuperTrack had been the operator and continued doing so after the commission voted 2-1 in favor of its continued operation.

Anwar praised Shields saying she understood patient needs in Point Roberts and understood family, geriatric and women’s medicine. The other two members were another physician’s assistant and a billing and insurance specialist. Anwar listed his credentials, saying he was licensed in Washington state, Arizona and Canada. He said he was experienced in transitional care dealing with patients very recently released from the hospital and not yet able to see their primary care provider. He stressed the importance of the local clinic in preventing the re-admission of patients to the hospital. “We do not want the patient to go back and forth crossing international borders,” he said.

Following his presentation, hospital district superintendent Barbara Wayland queried Anwar regarding his ad in the All Point Bulletin that says he can see patients 19 years and older only due to the fact that he is an internist. “Our clinic sees patients of all ages, including pediatric patients, so as an internist, how would you provide care for these young patients,” she asked.

(See Hospital, page 12)

s Rhiannon Allen, l., and Ramona Ramstead were just two of a bunch of people who turned up on April 20 for a cleanup of the Point Roberts cemetery. Photo by Bennett Blaustein

in the Garden

B y r hiannon a llen

Weeds … whether you are a flower gardener, vegetable grower or, yes, even a container gardener or not even a gardener at all ... you have to deal with them sooner or later.

My father had one way of dealing with at least one of them. He would pay us children a penny per dandelion flower. We would hold out our brownstained hands with offerings for his infamous dandelion wine. Two problems solved for him.

be the slightest bit surprised if the majority of time and energy that most gardeners expend is on weed control and removal. It makes you admire their tenacity – both the gardeners and the weeds.

Since weeds are a universal experience of gardeners, everyone will be interested in learning that the Point Roberts Garden Club’s April 30 program at 7 p.m. in the community center will be about weeds.

People say that a weed is just a plant in the wrong place. That is true to a certain extent, although I’d like to point out that sometimes the place is an entire continent or ecosystem, and not just your flower bed.

Some unwanted plants like cow parsnip (Heracleum maximum) are native to our area, but the vast majority of what we consider weeds are frankly colonial, either intentionally or accidentally introduced by gardeners of European descent. Some, like Himalayan blackberry (guess where that originated!) have become so well integrated into our ecosystems that we hardly ever give them second thought … unless they pop up uninvited in our gardens. There’s really no feasible way to eliminate them and our efforts focus on keeping them at bay from our cultivated properties.

Others, like invasive ivy, Giant Hogweed, and Japanese knotweed are frankly dangerous to persons, ecosystems, or infrastructure and should be targeted for eradication. Our community came together for a fun park and recreation district Scotch broom work party earlier this spring to wrench out this highly flammable Scottish import because it poses a significant wildfire hazard.

But most of what gardeners deal with are weeds that are just annoying. You know, the ones that have little or no benefit and go so far as to offend our aesthetic sensibilities. Common garden weeds here are red sorrel (Rhumex a., plus its cousins), shotweed (Cardamine hirsuta), and horsetail.

Common lawn examples are chickweed, ajuga, creeping buttercup, dandelion, and dead red-nettle. Although a couple of these like red sorrel and creeping buttercup are toxic to some animals and have resulted in at least one emergency veterinary visit here, their primary offence is popping up where you do not want them.

As members of a community historically responsible for the introduction of these pests, we gardeners are now dealing with the costs of their introduction. I would not

The speaker, Mark Turner, is a respected Bellingham-based botanical photographer and long-time active member of the Washington Native Plant Society. In Mark’s words to the garden club: “Maybe they just showed up in your garden, or you notice them as you walk your neighborhood or drive down the road. They’re the plants we call weeds, the ones we didn’t ask to join our gardens. But just because they’re weeds doesn’t mean they’re ugly. In fact, some of our weeds are quite beautiful. Come on a journey showcasing some of our most unwelcome plants and get a few tips on controlling them, too.”

Beautiful or not, if you need Mark’s assistance in identifying a plant, I suggest that you bring the whole plant and not just a part, since this aids identification.

Mark’s latest book, Weeds of the Pacific Northwest: 368 Unwanted Plants and How to Control Them, was released earlier this year by Oregon-based Timber Press. I recently finished reading this book and recommend it to all gardeners.

Mark identifies each weed as native or non-native. When information is known, he specifies whether a plant is edible, toxic or potentially medicinal. He also gives the best advice for controlling each weed. The book is easy to read and beautifully photographed. Timber Press has lavished a great deal of attention in printing a hefty but approachable book. And it is already a popular book. Whatcom County Library System at present has 17 holds on its four copies, and the Bellingham Library is waiting for its order to arrive. The popularity is well-justified. If you want a copy of his book now, I suggest that you purchase directly from him after his talk.

And now a good-bye of sorts. This is my last In the Garden column as a regular contributor. I have had fun writing this column since at least 2009, but it is time for a new voice.

In coming months, you will have the pleasure of reading the words of Victoria Smith, an experienced gardener and writer, wonderful garden club member, and all-round great person. Enjoy!

Hospital ...

From page 10

Anwar responded by saying that the physician assistants were independent practitioners who could treat pediatric patients. That assertion brought Bozorgzad into the conversation who said, “They are not independent, Dr. Anwar, they need a supervising physician. I have to speak because what you said was incorrect.”

Later, he raised Anwar’s hackles when he pointed out that Anwar had gone to medical school in the Barbados and asked if that was because he couldn’t get into medical schools in the U.S. and Canada. “This is absolutely not professional of you,” Anwar responded, adding, “This is totally unprofessional of you to label somebody who attended a foreign medical school as substandard.”

LocaL stats >>>

Fire Incidents for March 2024

Total calls Total calls (34); EMS calls (10), resulting in the following transports: Saint Joseph Hospital (1), Airlift Northwest (3); Fire classification (5) resulting in outdoor burn – permit (2), outdoor burn – illegal (1), smoke investigation (1), false alarm (1); public service (8); EMS CARES/ MIHC (11).

Point Roberts health clinic numbers for March 2024 (2023 figures following)

Total Total 119 (168); office visit 70 (112); labs 21 (6); PT/INR 3 (6); telemedicine visit 17 (22); Physical exams 0 (0); skin clinic 0 (9); B12 and flu shots 8 (13).

Following a suggestion by Elizabeth Mason that the discussion had gone off track, Bozorgzad related how SuperTrack had worked effectively with the fire district to run the Covid-19 testing and vaccination program. “We also do home visits. I have personally taken care of my hospice patients in Point Roberts. We are three MDs who come to Point Roberts and provide services here. If you haven’t heard this, Dr. Anwar, it’s true that many of our patients tell us that they have better access to care for appointments here at Point Roberts than they do in Bellingham.” Commissioner Noel Newbolt asked Anwar about his time commitment to Point Roberts who replied that he was currently commuting to work in Phoenix but hoped to move his family up to the Point. Anwar came close to finishing up his presentation but delved back into the foreign medical school imbroglio, complaining that Bozorgzad should not have raised the issue. A few minutes later, Wayland pointed out that there had been many people attend-

ing the Zoom meeting who had hoped to weigh in on the matter but couldn’t. She suggested that they should send their comments by email to the district.

Once again, Bozorgzad was critical of the approach taken by Falk regarding the contracting of services. “Stephen, I’d like to say one more time. This is the second time that you and this commission has undermined our ability to bring services to Point Roberts. This is the second time that you are going outside of normal contracting issues.”

“I have been interviewing doctors to add one more physician to our crew for Point Roberts. As you know, the Point Roberts contract was only for three physician assistants, and now you have three MDs. This kind of action just makes the whole contract unstable, and it puts pressure on us. So please, Stephen, take note of my objection to this path that you have taken,” he concluded.

The district’s next meeting will be held Wednesday, May 8 at 7 p.m. at the community center and via Zoom.

senior’s point

m enus for m ay

Wednesday, May 1: Soup, ham and cheese sandwich, chips and ice cream.

Friday, May 3: Chicken quesadilla, Mexican rice, refried beans, shredded lettuce and dessert.

Wednesday, May 8: Tuscan tuna salad plate, multi grain roll and dessert.

Friday, May 10: Herb roasted pork loin, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables and fruit cup.

Wednesday, May 15: Swedish meatballs, buttered noodles, green beans and dessert.

Friday, May 17: Southwest chicken breast on a bun, potato wedges, sweet corn, spinach salad and dessert.

Wednesday, May 22: Open face turkey sandwich with gravy, mashed potatoes, Nantucket-blend mixed vegetables and desert

Friday, May 24: Hobo hotpot, coleslaw and ice cream/sherbert.

Wednesday, May 29: Lentil curry, basmati rice, mixed vegetable and dessert.

Friday, May 31: BBQ pulled pork, baked beans, potato salad and peach crisp.

Lunches are served from the dining room at the community center 11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m. or until food runs out.

Dining in creates a warm atmosphere where everyone can visit with friends and neighbors. We have plates, bowls & saucers in addition to coffee, tea, cutlery & napkins ready for you. If you can’t or are too busy to eat in, we encourage you to bring a clean container for your food to go. If not, we will be happy to sell you one for $1. For people under 60 who are fully employed, the new lunch rate is $10.

The pool, snooker and table tennis tables are waiting as are cards, shuffleboard, chess, bridge, games, puzzles, and a piano for your pleasure.

If you have any questions about Seniors and More lunches, wish to request a vegetarian meal or have a dietary concern, please let us know in advance and we will try to accommodate. Contact: prseniors@whidbey.com or call the community center at 360/945-5424.

wood Way.

April 11, 12:33 p.m.: Suspicious circumstances

cold call on Weasel Run.

April 12, 9:49 a.m.: Suspicious circumstances

cold call on Weasel Run.

April 12, 1:08 p.m.: Assist agency on Rex Street.

April 12, 2:01 p.m.: Suspicious circumstances

cold call on Rex Street.

Burglary cold call on Rex Street.

April 5, 10:35 a.m.: Follow up on S Beach Road and Edwards Drive.

April 6, 11:36 a.m.: Assist citizen cold call on Rex Street.

April 6 12:08 p.m.: Vehicle abandoned cold call on

April 8, 12:41 p.m.: Alarm panic on Marine Drive.

April 10, 10:41 a.m.: Civil problem cold call on Cedar Park Drive.

April 11, 7:52 a.m.: Assist agency on Dog-

May

We 1 1:22 am 13.6 7:37 am 11.0 9:43 am 11.1 5:56 pm 3.7 Th 2 2:06 am 13.6 8:33 am 10.0 11:41 am 10.5 7:00 pm 4.4

Fr 3 2:42 am 13.8 9:13 am 8.6 1:37 pm 10.4 8:02 pm 5.3

Sa 4 3:12 am 13.9 9:51 am 7.0 3:21 pm 10.9 9:04 pm 6.3

Su 5 3:42 am 14.0 10:27 am 5.3 4:41 pm 11.8 10:04 pm 7.5

Mo 6 4:10 am 14.0 11:05 am 3.7 5:47

April 12, 4:31 p.m.: Suspicious vehicle on Claire Lane.

April 13, 3:39 p.m.: Suspicious circumstances

cold call on Elizabeth Drive.

April 14, 2:05 p.m.: Theft cold call on Diane Circle.

Library picks

kris lomedico

Bestsellers:

Table for Two Amor Towles

Calamity of Souls D. Baldacci

Just for the Summer A. Jimenez

James Percival Everett

Movies:

The Holdover Paul Giamatti

The Marsh King’s Daughter Caren Pistorius

Next Goal Wins Fass Bender

Indiana Jones & the Dial of Destiny Harrison Ford Music: Matteo Matteo Bocelli Evolution Sheryl Crowe

Flight Bare Naked Ladies

Is Me…Now Jennifer Lopez

Teens: The Prisoner’s Throne Holly Black

The Kill Factor Ben Oliver

Out of Our League Various

Kids:

Slugfest Gordon Korman

The War Night

Kimberley Brubaker Bradley

Dog vs. Strawberry Nelly Buchet

Hours: Tuesdays 1–7 p.m., Wednesdays and Saturdays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Express: 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. daily wcls.org

April 15, 9:42 a.m.: Suspicious circumstances on Diane Circle.

April 15, 9:01 p.m.: Suspicious person on Bay

April 15, 11:19 p.m.: Alarm audible on Ocean

April 17, 10:03 a.m.: Welfare check on Boundary Bay Road.

April 19, 2:46 a.m.: Security check on Tyee Drive. April 19, 6:36 p.m.: Hit and run cold call on

5441

1-story house with 2,252 SF, 3 BD, 2 BA, 1,116 SF attached

2-story house with 3,898 SF, 4 BD, 4 BA, 3-car builtin garage, built in 2023; marine and territorial view, .32acres land.

2-story house with 2,101 SF, 4 BD, 3 BA, 400 SF attached garage, 841 SF deck, built in 2005, .60 acres land.

1-story house with 2,812 SF, 3 BD, 3 BA, built in 1990, 336 SF carport, 784 SF detached garage (living area above), 864 SF shop (built 1999), 1,152 SF shop (built 2004), 778 SF deck, 301 SF patio, 4.86 acres land.

2-story house with 1,874 SF, 5 BD, 2 BA, 140 SF storage, built in 1942, 40 feet waterfront; marine and territorial view, .07 acres land.

2-story house with 2,678 SF, 5 BD, 3 baths, built in 2023; marine and territorial view, .32 acres land.

COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES:

Store with 4,608 SF, built in 1938, .25 acres land.

LAND:

.17 acres residential land, waterfront; marine and territorial view.

4.75 acres wooded residential land.

.45 acres residential lot; marine view.

e co -F riendly l awn a nd G arden c are

Over 15 years of experience in organic horticultural design, build and maintenance. Specializing in small lawns and gardens.

For inquiries text Andrew 360 220 3587

Point Roberts Self Storage

Large 10’x20’ units $200/mo

• Safe & Secure Metal Buildings

• Perfect for all your storage needs, Including cars, boats & motor cycles

481 GEORGIA WAY, POINT ROBERTS 360-945-1957 • 360-945-0791 604-760-8560

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Yacht Sales–Power and Sail Service

Import

Coming up ...

Scheduled Meetings/Ongoing Events

Whatcom Marine Mammal Stranding Network Volunteer Training: Saturday, April 27, 10 a.m. –noon, Ferndale. $20 for all needed supplies and materials. WMMSN needs trained volunteers in Point Roberts to respond to local marine mammals in need. Sign up: vsouze56@gmail.com.

The Commons: Saturday, April 27, from noon – 2:30 p.m., in the back room of the community center. We will have free used books, conversation, and a movie pick of the week! The Friends of the Point Roberts Library will be having its AGM in May, so if you are interested in knowing more about what the friends group is doing and think you might want to join, be sure to ask about that.

Circle of Care AGM: Sunday, April 28, 2–4 p.m., fire hall training room. Refreshments. Come attend the AGM and learn how Circle of Care has served our community and our plans for growth and expansion of services. Give us your thoughts about what is needed and get answers to your questions.

PR Cemetery District: Monday, April 29, 5 p.m., community center.

PR Garden Club: Tuesday, April 30, 7 p.m., community center. Mark Turner on Weeds of the Pacific Northwest.

Point Roberts Going Solar: Thursday, May 2, 7–8:30 p.m., community center. Point Roberts community – meet with us to discuss/brainstorm what a solar festival or other event might be for Point Roberts. Refreshments and light snacks provided.

Finding Nemo Jr.: Friday, May 3 through Sunday, May 12, Monday through Saturday shows at 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, 2 p.m. matinee. Equinox Theatre at South Delta Secondary School. Musical adaptation. Tickets: deltayouththeatre.com. Tickets are CAD $35-45. Discounts available for seniors, students, and groups. Use promo code ‘point bob’ for $5 discount.

Your Local Small Market: Saturdays, May 4, 18 and June 1, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., community center.

PR Amateur Radio Club: Monday, May 6, 7 p.m., via Zoom.

PR Beekeepers Association: Monday, May 6, 7–8:30 p.m., community center. Info: thelittlegoldenharp@gmail.com.

PREP information and education session: Tuesday, May 7, 7 p.m., community center. Free, all are invited, especially those who have never been to a PREP meeting! Be ready in an emergency and remain safe and nourished. If you need a ride, email prepgroup17@gmail.com. Refreshments and prize drawing. Info: prepgroup17@gmail.com.

Fire District No. 5: Wednesday, May 8, 4 p.m., fire hall and via Zoom. Info: WCFD5.com.

PR Hospital District: Wednesday, May 8, 7 p.m., via Zoom. Info: pointrobertsclinic.com.

PR Taxpayers Association: Thursday, May 9, 7 p.m., Zoom. PRTA@pointroberts.net. bit.ly/3OBb1rn.

Bergamasca Concert: À ce Joly Mois de May: Saturday, May 11, 3 p.m., Trinity Church. Free concert: donations appreciated. All proceeds benefit the Point Roberts Landmark Building Project.

Mother’s Day Jazz Vespers: Sunday, May 12, 4 p.m., Trinity Church. Come join us for music and inspiration!

PR Park and Recreation: Monday, May 13, at 7 p.m., via Zoom. Info: prparkandrec.org.

Friends of the Point Roberts Library meeting: Tuesday, May 14, 3 p.m., library meeting room. Info: foprl1@gmail.com.

PR Water District: Tuesday, May 14, 5 p.m., 2002 Benson Road. Info: pointrobertswater.com.

Historical Society: Wednesday, May 15, 7 p.m., in the History Center.

PR Community Advisory Committee: Thursday, May 16, 7 p.m., community center and via Zoom. Info: PRCAC.comment@gmail.com. Link: bit.ly/3S8GCB3.

Septic System Homeowners Training: Saturday, May 11 and August 17, 10 a.m. to noon. Registration open now. Free class. Link: bit.ly/WCHDHomeownerTraining2023.

PR Garden Club Garden Sale: Saturday, May 18, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 142 Burns Way. Plants, trees, gardening tools and gardening wisdom.

A Salmon’s Journey: Saturday, May 18, 3–4 p.m., Point Roberts Library. Celebrate the return of the Chinook salmon to the Nooksack River with a story, Shanyaak’utlaax/Salmon Boy, and crafts.

Veronica North Concert: Thursday, May 23, 8 p.m., Wild Buffalo House of Music, Bellingham. 21+. Presale tickets are $10 at wildbuffalo.net/#/events/103135. Tickets are $12 at the door. Originally from Point Roberts, singer/songwriter Veronica North takes listeners on a personal journey.

Friends of the Point Roberts Library AGM: Saturday, May 25, 4 p.m., library. Come find out what we have been doing and honor two long-serving board members leaving their positions. Refreshments. Info: FOPRL@gmail.com.

PR Cemetery District: Monday, May 27, 5 p.m., community center.

PR Garden Club: Tuesday, May 28, 6:45 p.m., Members garden visits. pointrobertsgardenclub.org.

Rose Momsen goodbye party: Saturday, June 8, at the library.

Ongoing Events and Hours

Point Roberts Dollars for Scholars Open Enrollment: Through Wednesday, May 15. The deadline is Sunday, June 30. Students must complete an online profile at pointroberts.dollarsforscholars.org.

Sound off: Tuesdays, 1:30 p.m., community center. Sound off on any issue that bothers you to whoever has assembled in the pool room. Your time is limited to 10 minutes, following which the audience will respond. More than one person may sound off, depending on the length of the feedback.

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.

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

PR Food Bank: Every Wednesday 8:30–10:30 a.m. at the community center. Info: prfoodbank.org

Preschool Storytime: Wednesdays through May 15, 10:30–11 a.m., Point Roberts Library.

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., community center. All ages welcome. More info: prseniors@whidbey.com or 360/945-5424.

Basic Tai Chi for seniors: Mondays and Fridays at 10:30 a.m., community center. With Shirley Cannon. No registration required. Wear comfortable clothing.

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

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.