June 2023
IN THIS
ISSUE
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Callout for grad photos and bios, page 4
Senior lunch returns in style, page 9
ECRWSS PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 14
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Time for summer fun in the parks, page 11
Point Roberts, WA 98281 Postal Patron Local
Border lineups The warm weather finally arrived ... on Victoria Day long weekend had drivers boiling over B y P a t G r u bb Ah, the Victoria Day long weekend. Traditionally, the first weekend of the year when summer residents come back to the Point, throw open their cabin’s windows to catch the breeze, heave a big sigh of relief, sit back to relax and say, “Oh, Point Roberts, we are glad to be back!” That’s not what they said this year. What a lot of them said would be unprintable in this newspaper because of what they had to go through to get to their cabins had them steaming and frustrated as they sat in a lineup for hours to get through the border. The All Point Bulletin reached out through social media to ask people about their experience crossing the border after hearing a number of complaints. Here is what some of them said (their names are withheld by request): “Thank you for asking for feedback. I am a Canadian and do not yet have NEXUS. The last four weekends have been terrible for border lineups heading into Point Roberts. May long weekend I decided to come later Friday evening when most Friday people would be across already. I arrived around 8:15 p.m. and the lineup was way down the hill. I didn’t get across until after 10 p.m. Aside from the obvious frustration, it’s causing serious harm to Point Roberts businesses.” “The line was just past the driveway to the last development on the right. Usually that would be about 40-45 minutes. I got there at 8:05-ish – I didn’t get to my house on Burns Way till almost 9:45. It makes no sense to me at all that they would have one lane open on the first busy weekend of the summer. It was the longest wait I’ve had since just after 9/11 and that is saying something!” “This weekend’s treatment of people on the U.S. side seemed completely different. It was the main dinner topic of all the families we know. From having trunks (See Border, page 3)
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s Unlike 2022 when the first hot day didn’t occur until June 27, this year the weather turned nice in mid-May. These two swimmers were down visiting their grandparents on the Victoria Day long weekend. Photo by Stephen Fowler
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There’s nothing free in life B y P a t G r u bb Whatever the fire commissioners end up deciding to do, the cost of providing fire and emergency medical services is going to end up costing local taxpayers plenty. The only question is how much and when. The commissioners of the Point Roberts fire district will hold two more special meetings on Tuesday, June 6, and Monday, June 12 before a regular meeting on Wednesday, June 14 to consider financing options to pay for its newly adopted Capital Facilities Plan (CFP). From 2023– 2036, the district has anticipated capital expenditures on new and upgraded infra-
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structure of approximately $4.2 million (bit.ly/3WtGpdi). These expenditures include replacement of fire 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 $4.2 million if capital expenditures are made as scheduled. At a special meeting held May 17, fire chief Christopher Carleton provided commissioners an overview of the various avenues open to the district to pay for expected upgrades and new equipment. (See Fire, page 6)
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Inside Classifieds ......................................... 16 Coming Up ....................................... 17 Library Picks..................................... 18 Obituaries ......................................... 14 Opinion ............................................... 4 Sheriffs ............................................. 18 Stats ................................................... 8 Tides ................................................. 18
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