September 2016
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Delta port expansion to hold impact meeting, page 8
Save our delta, cries B.C. MLA, page 8
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Madrona Yoga turns 10 years old, page 14
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Congresswoman Down to a watery grave, it goes... lends an ear to Point Roberts By Meg Olson U.S. Congresswoman Suzan DelBene visited Point Roberts and spent an hour updating local residents on her work in Washington, D.C. and getting feedback to take with her as she heads back to Washington, D.C. in September. “The focus this session will really be on keeping the government funded,” she said at the August 17 town hall meeting hosted by the Point Roberts Taxpayers Association. “We haven’t passed a budget this year. I don’t expect a lot of things to move before the election. This is unfortunately a very contentious election cycle and even things both sides agree on may not move.” DelBene congratulated the Point Roberts community for their successful efforts to stop a proposed radio tower project, which had been a focus of her last visit to the Point, and several audience members asked her to continue to support cross-border efforts. “We couldn’t have done it without the Canadians, both citizens and politicians,” said Arthur Reber, member of the Cross Border Coalition to Stop the Towers. He asked DelBene to work with British Columbia legislative assembly member Vicki Huntington to address issues of pollution and over-industrialization in Delta that will have impacts south of the border. DelBene said she participates in the Northern Border Coalition which “provides a forum for us to work together with our colleagues across the border.” When asked if there had been any investigation by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about the possible impacts that a proposed expansion of the Deltaport facility could have in Point Roberts and on the habitats that support the Pacific Flyway, DelBene said she would enquire and share that information with the community. Jim MacKay, Point Roberts Marina project coordinator, said the company was (See DelBene, page 10)
s After competing for three years in The Reef’s cardboard boat race, it was time to say goodbye to this boat to make room for a new one for next year’s race. From left, Devin Ogg, Darrell Cassidy and Melissa Meyer. Photo by Louise Cassidy
“Upgraded” Arts & Music Festival set to go By Meg Olson With new dates and a new location, organizers of the Point Roberts Arts and Music Festival expect to deliver a more polished event for the festival’s 21st year. “Partnering with the marina really lets us upgrade the event,” said vendor coordinator Gail Pueyo. The two days of music, art and dance will take place in the grassy area adjacent to the marina building on September 3 and
4 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. With two stages set up, “It will be an ongoing continuous live entertainment,” Pueyo said, rather than the audience needing to wait between acts. Performers offer a wide range of styles, from classical to alternative. Starting off with the Kelley ukulele group, Saturday’s highlights include Craig Jacks and the Jackalopes alternative country, the Los Gitanos flamenco dance troupe and jazz/pop standards with former Van-
U.S. border cracking down on past pot use B y P a t G r u bb Smoked pot? Not an American? You’d better think twice before you unburden your guilty conscience while talking to a U.S. border official. Ted Gilliat likes to come down to Point Roberts with his 4- and 6-year-old daughters to fly kites at Lighthouse Marine Park. He won’t be doing that anytime soon after undergoing over four hours of examination at the U.S. port of entry on August
21 – a harrowing experience that led to his permanent exclusion from the United States. His offense? He admitted to border personnel that he smokes marijuana. He’s not the only one recently banned from entering the States. According to Blaine immigration attorney Len Saunders, “I am aware of two exclusion incidents involving marijuana use, past and present, that happened in Point Roberts last week.” Gilliat, 46, grew up in Tsawwassen and
has crossed the border countless times from childhood on. In November 2005, he rode across the border on his bike and was discovered with 11 grams (less than 0.4 oz.) of marijuana in his backpack. He was not prosecuted or fined and was allowed to return home to Canada. In 2011, he applied to the Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Admissibility Review Office for advance permission to (See Pot, page 7)
couver Symphony trumpeter Ray Kirkham and friends. The Point Roberts Winds will start the lineup on Sunday, followed by Nashville recording artist Delaney Rose, the Eire Born Irish Dancers, Las Vegas-acclaimed Jeffrey Elvis and eclectic world/ folk songwriter Bocephus King. A new addition this year will be the festival’s talent search, which will run in slots (See Arts & Music, page 3)
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Church ............................................... 9 Classifieds ......................................... 21 Coming Up ....................................... 19 Crossings ............................................ 7 Opinion ............................................... 4 Seniors, Library ............................... 16 Tides ................................................. 16