February 2019
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Photos of the biggest windstorm in memory, page 6
ECRWSS PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 14
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Few hiccups with first big trash pickup, page 8
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Point Roberts, WA 98281 Postal Patron Local
Federal shutdown takes toll on local employees As the government shutdown drags into its fifth week, approximately 11,000 unpaid federal workers in Washington state are struggling to make ends meet. With no end in sight, local residents have reportedly been dropping off cookies and Starbucks gift cards at the Point Roberts port of entry, and groups in Whatcom County and elsewhere are stepping forward to lend a hand. Point Roberts Food Bank The local food bank has been working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection port director Brad Denson to help soften the blow for local federal employees and their families affected by the government shutdown. “Whatever he says they need, we will try and suppy,” said food bank director Henry Rosenthal. “They know we are all part of the same community and we’ll do whatever it takes.” Two weeks into the reduction in government services that saw some of the officers at the local port of entry go without a paycheck, Rosenthal said the food bank put together 350 pounds of canned and packaged food and took it to the border for management to distribute as they saw fit. Rosenthal said community members, such as golf course cook Roger Gookstedder, have been taking hot food over, like pizzas. “They’re getting lots of food,” Rosenthal said. Efforts to help pay for gas for those who work at the Point Roberts border and live on the mainland were stymied because the federal government prohibits any individual government employee from accepting more than $20 in gifts per year, Rosenthal said. Operation Shutdown Fun Several businesses in Whatcom County are offering free or reduced-fee activities to federal workers and their families. (See Shutdown, page 3)
s The tree canopy over APA Road was one of the most effected areas in Point Roberts during the wind storm that hit December 20. The highest reported wind gusts of 76 mph were taken just off of the Tsawwassen ferry terminal. Story, page 5. Photo by Pat Grubb
Park district appoints two new board members B y P a t G r u bb The Point Roberts parks board is back at full strength after two new commissioners were appointed at the commission’s regular meeting on January 14. The five-member board was short-staffed after the resignation of Linda Hughes and Sonya Lieu in December. A total of six candidates had expressed interest in serving on the board but just three of them, Raye Newmen, Holly Robin-
son and Chwynyn Vaughan, showed up at the meeting to tell the remaining commissioners, Bennett Blaustein, Stephen Falk and Arthur Reber, why they wanted the job. The other three had either dropped out beforehand or simply did not appear. Following short presentations by each of the candidates, the commission held an executive session and resumed business by first appointing Vaughan. The now four-member board went into executive session to discuss the fifth and last com-
PRCAC continues to whittle away at local zoning By
Meg Olson
The Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee (PRCAC) is heading into 2019 with a lot of new faces at the table. Following a December 18 townhall meeting where the community heard from four candidates seeking to fill the at-large position on the committee previously held by Keith Glading, Stephen Falk earned a solid majority of email votes and has been named to the committee by county execu-
tive Jack Louws. Linda Hughes, the other at-large member of the committee, has one year left in her term. Former PRCAC chair Jeff Christopher chose not to seek another term as the representative from the Point Roberts Taxpayers’ Association and the association has put forward Steve Wolf in his place. The Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce has put forward David Gellatly for another 2-year term on the committee.
Joel Lantz has stepped down as president of the Point Roberts Voters Association and the group’s PRCAC representative. He will be replaced by Tessa Pinkston, a lifelong Point Roberts resident and local realtor. The new committee members will all begin their terms at the regular PRCAC meeting on February 21 at the community center starting at 6 p.m. (See PRCAC, page 5)
missioner; following the resumption of regular business, Holly Robinson made the cut. All three hopefuls had earlier been encouraged by Blaustein to remain involved with the parks district even if they weren’t chosen as Blaustein does not intend to run for re-election this year. As is customary for January board meetings, officers were elected for 2019. Falk (See Parks, page 3)
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Inside
Church ............................................. 17 Classifieds ......................................... 16 Coming Up ....................................... 15 Crossings ............................................ 6 Obituary ........................................... 17 Opinion ............................................... 4 Seniors, Library ............................... 18 Tides ................................................. 18