What started as a quick trip to the International Marketplace on December 28 turned into a dramatic and heartwarming rescue for Point Roberts resident Elliott Smith, who had a house full of visiting family at the time and no idea his errand was about to save a life.
Standing in line at the deli, Smith overheard marina security officer Israel James taking an emergency call on speakerphone. A man was half a mile offshore, his engine dead, his boat taking on water, with only his dog for company. With holiday quiet blanketing the marina and no other boaters immediately available, Smith didn’t hesitate.
“I said, ‘I’ll go,’” he recalled. “It was Christmas time. There wasn’t anyone else around.”
Within minutes, Smith paid for his groceries, started his boat, and headed out while James coordinated with the Coast Guard from the dock. Using radio contact and location details, Smith navigated toward Lily Point, where the distressed vessel had been spotted about half a mile offshore.
When he arrived, the situation was dire. The boat was filling fast with water. The first passenger to jump aboard Smith’s boat was the dog, who, Smith said, “was really ready to come off.” Moments later, the boat owner followed, grabbing only a small bag of personal belongings. Smith also removed the fuel tanks to prevent pollution.
“Two or three minutes after we got them off, the boat just flipped,” he said. “Like the Titanic.”
The Coast Guard was still en route from Bellingham, nearly an hour away. Without Elliott’s quick response, the man and his dog would have been left in frigid winter waters, facing a dangerous swim in rough conditions.
“The timing was everything,” said James later. “That stranger in the deli saved lives.”
Smith downplays the hero label, but his
(See Rescue, page 7)
The contractors
One contract was awarded at exactly $49,999.49.
That’s fifty-one cents below the $50,000 threshold at which state law requires the Port of Bellingham to document competitive solicitation for professional services. The contract, awarded to TranTech Engineering in 2018 for Waterfront Franchise Utilities work, then grew to $308,205 –more than six times its original value.
In Part I, the All Point Bulletin reported that 85 percent of Port professional services contracts lacked required procurement documentation. This ongoing investigation examines who benefited from
those patterns.
Further analysis of the Port’s contract database reveals that a small circle of consulting firms received the bulk of contract amendments.
Between 2018 and 2024, contracts starting at $45,000 or more that grew by at least 50 percent totaled $8.2 million at signing. Through amendments, they reached $34.3 million – $26 million in additional work.
Four firms account for a disproportionate share: Anchor QEA, Landau Associates, Aspect Consulting, and CRETE Consulting. Each has multiple contracts that grew by hundreds or thousands of percent.
(See Part II, page 8)
WA leaders prepare for possibility of immigration crackdown
B y J a KE G old -
st E in - s tr EE t , W ashin Gton s tat E s tandard
Washington’s governor on January 26 painted a dire outlook of how clashes between federal immigration authorities and the state could unfold if a crackdown similar to the one in Minnesota hit here.
Governor Bob Ferguson said he could envision members of the National Guard acting as a buffer between immigration officers and protesters. Attorney General Nick Brown didn’t rule out the possibility of state or local authorities stepping in to enforce state law against federal agents.
And both Ferguson and Brown urged residents to monitor and record questionable immigration enforcement conduct.
After immigration agents in Minnesota shot and killed a man over the weekend, Ferguson issued a statement saying that the nation’s “descent into authoritarian rule continues” and calling on people to “defend your democracy while you still can.”
On January 26, he hosted a press conference alongside Brown at the Capitol to lay out the state’s preparations for the possibility of a ramped-up deployment of immigration agents in the state.It came two days after federal agents killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on January 24, escalating already high tensions over intensifying U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations across the country under the Trump administration.
“Our job, my job, attorney general’s job, all of our jobs here, is to make sure that we are doing everything we can to prepare for a worst-case scenario,” Ferguson said.
The first-term Democrat said ICE was “completely and totally out of control.”
The governor said he met January 25 with adjutant general Gent Welsh, who leads the state’s National Guard, to discuss related issues, but didn’t offer details. As of January 26, Ferguson said he had “no specific information” that an immigration crackdown in Washington is forthcoming.
Brown called the Trump administration a “little cabal of cruelty.”
“America is weaker because of the operations in Minnesota, and real people all across this country are now traumatized, injured and dead because of this president’s fascist tendencies,” said Brown, also a Democrat and former federal prosecutor.
He acknowledged the state was on the cusp of messy territory when it comes to issues like state or local officers intervening in federal immigration operations.
“It’s obviously incredibly complicated when you’re talking about the division of authority between state law enforcement, local and the federal government,” Brown said. “As a general matter, state and local law enforcement do not have to simply watch or look away if the law is being violated.”
‘Everybody has a role’ Democrats around the country are slamming ICE over its conduct. And, following Pretti’s death, there’s a possibility that Senate Democrats will withhold needed votes on federal funding legislation, a move that could trigger a partial government shutdown.In the Washington state legislature, Democratic lawmakers are considering a slew of measures in response to the heightened immigration enforcement campaign. These include a ban on police face coverings, as many ICE agents have covered their faces during operations, protections for immigrant workers from federal raids and guardrails for the use of automated license plate readers that authorities have used to track down immigrants.
Even some Republicans, who are generally wary of criticizing the president, are raising concerns.
A group of governors on January 25, including the Republican chief executive of Oklahoma who chairs the National Governors Association, called for a “reset” from the federal government on its immigration enforcement campaign.
And U.S. representative Michael Baumgartner, a Republican from eastern Washington, called for congressional hearings into immigration enforcement after Pretti’s shooting, which he called “disturbing.”
Ferguson and Brown also emphasized the role the public has in “defending our democracy.”
“We have certain powers as attorney general or governors to do our part, but everybody has a role in our state right now,” Ferguson said. “And we’re going to need that to get through this.”
They said if Washington were faced with a broad ICE incursion, they would pursue legal avenues to stop it, as officials in Minnesota have.But state leaders here can’t keep ICE out of the state, Ferguson noted. And he and Brown encouraged residents to record interactions with federal agents. Videos of the shootings of Pretti and Renee Good in Minnesota have captured the circumstances leading up to their deaths.
King County and the cities of Seattle and Shoreline, along with local elected officials in Bellingham and Tacoma, signed onto a legal brief last week arguing the Minneapolis crackdown is unconstitutional.
A federal judge is considering halting the 3,000-agent deployment in Minnesota.
Letter to Noem:
Ferguson and Brown on January 26 sent a letter to U.S. Homeland Security Kristi Noem, whose agency oversees ICE, urging her to withdraw federal agents from Minnesota: “Now is the time to deescalate.”
They also took issue with an internal memo arguing ICE agents can enter people’s homes without a judicial warrant, despite vast legal precedent to the contrary.
“If ICE agents attempt any such unconstitutional measures in the state of Washington, we will do everything in our power to oppose it,” Ferguson and Brown wrote in their letter. “Our state will consider all legal options to hold the U.S. Government and individual ICE agents accountable for violating Washingtonians’ constitutional rights.”
As of mid-October, federal immigration authorities had arrested nearly 2,000 people in Washington since Trump retook office, compared to about 800 over the same period under the Biden administration in 2024, according to figures from the Deportation Data Project. The data, which is the most recent available, showed the crackdown had intensified in late summer and early fall.Ferguson said he was set to meet with Washington’s other statewide elected officials “to ensure we are all coordinated and using our respective tools to protect Washingtonians.
The governor also noted he recently hired a new senior adviser, David Kim, focused on immigrant and refugee issues. And Sarah Peterson, the head of the state’s Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, will now join the governor’s cabinet meetings.
Washington State Standard is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Washington State Standard maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Bill Lucia for questions: info@washingtonstatestandard.com.
s The January 25 anti-ICE protest was held at the corner of Gulf Road and Tyee Drive
Photo by Erin Kelly
All Point Bulletin
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Printed in Canada • Vol. XL, No. 10
Letters Policy
The All Point Bulletin welcomes letters to the editor; however, the opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor. Letters must include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters must not exceed 450 words and may be edited or rejected for reasons of legality and good taste.
A fresh viewpoint on matters of general interest to local readers will increase the likelihood of publication. Writers should avoid personal invective. Unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Requests for withholding names will be considered on an individual basis.
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Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published.
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Next issue: March 2026
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A letter from the new publisher
Dear readers of the All Point Bulletin, I first read the All Point Bulletin 26 years ago, when I was a young reporter at The Bellingham Herald covering west Whatcom County – Point Roberts, Blaine, Birch Bay, Ferndale – and the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Indian Tribe. I read it every week and admired how deeply it covered community life in a way only a local weekly can.
This region has stayed with me. I still remember my first trip to Point Roberts, convinced I’d found heaven, and reporting on life at the border after 9/11, including the multiple-hour commutes for Point Roberts kids just to get to school. These are the kinds of stories that matter, and All Point Bulletin has always understood that.
I studied journalism at Western Washington University in the 1990s and never imagined I’d return to Point Roberts and Blaine not once, but twice: first as a reporter, and now as the steward of this newspa-
per. I’m honored to be here.
Over the years, I’ve worked in new media, technology and business consulting, including at The Seattle Times, Microsoft and Accenture. I returned to community journalism last year by launching La Conner Community News because I believe deeply in the value of local news, especially now, when so many communities are losing their local newspapers.
I have enormous respect for what Pat Grubb and Louise Mugar built over almost four decades here. Their work matters, and it endures.
My commitment is simple: to honor that legacy and work with this community to keep the All Point Bulletin strong – delivering local news for local people and supporting the businesses that make this region thrive.
I’m grateful to be here, and I look forward to the road ahead together.
The Editor & new Publisher:
Thank you for taking on the job of running our local paper. We know that many small local papers have folded in recent years leaving many communities devoid of local reporting. The loss of a local source for information and advocacy can have a detrimental effect on a community.
Having a local newspaper in a community is one element in the glue that helps define local identity. Keeping a local newspaper helps our community by providing a means for discourse on local issues, helps promote local activities, allows our local businesses and civic organizations a means of communicating with our residents and creates a historical archive of Point Roberts.
The basic precepts of reporting (Who, What, Why, Where, When and How) should always remain the key to success in having the All Point Bulletin continue to remain a vibrant participant in how we, as Point Roberts residents, see ourselves and how people from outside our community perceive us.
Welcome to our very unique community. We can be quirky at times, so we hope you can not only capture the news and information that we need but the also the humor and humanity of our daily lives.
Bennett Blaustein
Point Roberts
The Editor:
A twitch is a tool used by farriers and veterinarians when working with a horse as a substitute for a tranquilizer. A loop of rope, attached to a stick is put around the animal’s upper lip and twisted. It calms the horse and districts it from the pain it would otherwise experience. President Trump’s attacks on Venezuela has twitched the American people again.
Donald Trump, a convicted felon, and a man scared of what will be revealed in the Epstein papers, has just twitched American. He hopes we’ll all forget about his possible role in the Epstein scandal with his illegal takeover of Venezuela, the kidnapping of the Venezuelan president, the murder of foreign sailors in international waters, and the promise of huge profits from the theft of Venezuela’s oil reserves. His “drug-driven war” is his mask, and he hopes a sufficient distraction so that the American people will set aside the threat of criminal behavior that could lead to his third impeachment. He hopes the drug war twitch will cover the shame that the
Please send letters to editor@allpointbulletin.com
Epstein papers will undoubtedly bring his way.
We’ve seen this war twitch before when the distraction was the threat of “communists” in Vietnam and the prize was rubber, and once again in Iraq when the twitch was the search for nonexistent weapons of mass destruction after 9/11, and the prize was once again oil. Each time a standing president was covering domestic failings with a convenient war as the twitch to divert and mask his embarrassment.
Please America, wake up to the president’s latest scam (remember Canada, the 51st state). Surely we Americans are smarter than a horse with a twitch on its lip. Contact your congressman and senator and let them know you’re tired of this repeating insanity.
Ronald Snyder
Blaine
The Editor:
Dear good people of Point Roberts, Blaine, Semiahmoo and Birch Bay, I am impressed by the long history of news coverage serving your communities. In fact, I was not aware until recently of the newspaper legacy in your region of our state!
La Conner, where I have loved living since 2007, also has a historical news presence with the longest continuous publica-
tion of a weekly newspaper in our state. That status could have changed at the end of 2024 were it not for a group of community members who came together, committed to keeping news alive in our small but mighty town and surrounding communities, including the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community.
That perseverance was met with vision, smarts, talent and drive by current publisher and editor-in-chief Kari Mar, who listened and heard how much we value our local, printed paper. Fast forward to early 2025, and we were seeing an email newsletter and website from La Conner Community News.
Then the first weekly issue began publishing in March!
I am excited for you all that the All Point Bulletin and The Northern Light will continue publishing so that you can continue to read local news that matters, about the people, services and happenings that you would not find covered elsewhere. We are excited to be working with you! Onward!
Susan Macek, board member of La Conner Community News La Conner
The Editor:
Local news that’s trusted and accessible to everyone without paywall is essential to the health of a community. Salish Current was founded and operates with those principles serving local communities, and will work with other groups and stakeholders to support local news in the All Point Bulletin and The Northern Light’s community readership area.
Amy Nelson
Salish Current publisher/co-founder
Bellingham
– Kari Mar s Kari Mar.
s Lunchtime on the Maple Beach seawall.
Photo by Stephen Fowler
New faces, officers at parks dept
The Point Roberts Park and Recreation District held its monthly meeting on January 6 at the community center, where commissioner Mike Bell was sworn in and the board elected officers, naming Allison Calder as chair and Bronwyn Glor as vice chair, despite Glor’s absence. Her election was approved with the explanation that she would be notified afterward.
Because Glor vacated her previous seat when she moved into her current position, a commissioner vacancy remains open. Two candidates spoke during the meeting. Jason Foster described Point Roberts as “a magical place” and said he hoped to contribute “energy and ideas and creativity.” Roderick Jones said he put his name forward simply to help, adding, “Nothing serious like, hey, I have to have this or my life’s going to end… it’s more of, how can I help?”
After an executive session, the board nominated Jones to move forward as the preferred candidate for consideration at the March 3 meeting, though the chair emphasized this was not a final appointment and additional applicants are still welcome.
Interested residents and community members with questions for candidates are encouraged to attend the February and March meetings or email the district.
Much of the public comment centered on the new disc golf course being developed in the Baker Field trails. Kathleen McInnes objected to debris from blackberry removal being staged in the frog pond, calling it “critical habitat.” McInnes also questioned expanding the course, which currently contains four baskets, to nine baskets before knowing if it would be used, asking, “If it’s not going to be used, then why take more habitat?”
Local resident Breeda Desmond echoed
those concerns, saying debris should be addressed before baskets are installed and that “a pond is not a good staging area.”
Mary Edgley added that while habitat loss might be justified if the course is heavily used, “if it’s not going to be used, then why take more habitat?” Residents also cited past projects, including the deteriorated skate park, as examples of improvements that were built but not maintained.
Park staff responded that all work is being done by volunteers, that signage and rules will be installed once the course is completed, and that disc golf is considered a low-impact, “nature-friendly” activity because it weaves through existing landscape rather than requiring full clearing. They also said the district now has staff, a budget, and a maintenance structure that did not exist in earlier years.
Other business included discussion of rising operating costs, including a new $3,186 insurance rider for the EV chargers and propane bills that have doubled to about $1,200. Commissioners asked that doors not be propped open to reduce heating losses.
The administrative report highlighted several community successes. A holiday event raised $1,150 for the playground fund, and the Colton Foundation awarded a $3,750 grant for Baker Field improvements, including baseball equipment, benches and development of a horseshoe pit and picnic area. A clothing swap was announced, with leftover items to be donated to shelters and local charities.
The board also approved purchasing a new annual permit from the Whatcom County Health Department for about $350 plus fees. The permit allows up to 12 kitchen uses per year and enables full food preparation rather than only serving prepackaged items, expanding what can be offered at community events and reducing overall costs.
Point Roberts cemetery district ponders green burials
Photo by Erin Kelly B y E rin K E lly
The Point Roberts Cemetery District discussed green burials during its regular monthly meeting on January 26 at the community center on Gulf Road. Ten people attended, far more than usual. When Commissioner Pauli DeHaan arrived a few minutes late, she joked, “Am I in the right meeting?” Commissioner Stephen Falk noted that the 30-minute meeting was “the longest meeting we have on record.”
Much of the discussion centered on a proposal by Point Roberts resident Gina Ball, who brought in a prototype of a green burial liner. Unlike the current concrete grave liners, Ball’s model is made of untreated spruce wood and fully biodegradable materials. She explained that the prototype cost about $118 to build and is meant to mirror the size and structure of the cement liner currently used, but without concrete or toxic materials.
Ball described green burial as a process where the body is not embalmed, is placed in a biodegradable shroud or pine box, and laid into the earth without concrete or metal. A small layer of organic material such as hay or wood chips would be used, allowing the body and container to return naturally to the soil.
She told commissioners, “The whole point is that it won’t be there after some amount of time.”
Commissioners discussed the need to research Washington State regulations and to determine whether the cemetery’s soil conditions could safely support a fully green burial system. Concerns included ground stability, safety when digging future graves, and how long biodegradable
materials would take to break down. Ball asked that the idea be placed on a future agenda for formal consideration. The board agreed and made a motion to research green burial requirements, including state rules and how similar cemeteries handle them, before developing any policy. The motion passed, with commissioners saying the issue could be revisited in the coming months.
Commissioners also clarified eligibility rules for burial in Point Roberts. People must purchase a plot while they are living in Point Roberts in order to be buried there. Those who buy a plot and later move away remain eligible, but people who leave and later decide they want to be buried here cannot do so unless they already own a plot.
Burial costs were reviewed during the meeting. Standard burial plots measuring 9 by 10 feet or 10 by 10 feet cost $500, while smaller 8 by 10 feet plots cost $400. Cremation plots, which measure 2 by 2 feet, cost $150. The charge for a full burial is $2,000, which includes the concrete grave liner currently in use. Burial of cremated remains costs $100. These fees are separate from any charges made by funeral homes.
To reserve a plot, residents contact one of the cemetery commissioners, view available sites in person, and pay at the time of purchase. There are no annual maintenance fees.
No final decision on green burials was made. Falk said, “We need to make a policy on whether to accept green burials or not,” and the board agreed to continue researching the issue before taking formal action.
S The pond habitat called into concern at the parks department’s January meeting.
s Gina Ball brought a most unusual visual aid when she came to the cemetery district’s January meeting to pitch “green burials,” which replace cement grave liners with biodegradable untreated spruce wood.
Photo by Erin Kelly
s Tickets for PaddyFest 2026 are on sale now! Don’t miss The WhiskeyDicks (pictured above) and the Coming Up Threes. More info on page 11. Courtesy photo
Rescue ...
From page 1
actions speak loudly. After bringing the rescued pair safely back to the dock, he quietly returned to his day.
As if one rescue wasn’t enough, Smith was called into action again just weeks later. On January 18, he helped save an injured snow goose that had likely been attacked by an eagle. Because it was illegal to transport the bird into Canada by land, Smith took the goose by boat to Whatcom Humane Society. The bird is now recovering in rehabilitation.
Two rescues in less than a month highlight the quiet strength of a small coastal community where people show up for one another without hesitation. As James put it, “It’s a humble reminder of how much we rely on each other out on the water.”
or chief@wcfd5.com
s The distressed vessel on its way into the briny deep.
Photo by Elliott Smith
s Elliott Smith, the rescuer, pictured with his boat, Freya.
Courtesy photo
s The two rescue-ees safely back on the dock.
Photo by Elliott Smith
s A Canadian Blackhawk helicopter flying over the Point. Photo by Stephen Fowler
Behind closed doors, Part II
From page 1
Contracts Priced To The Penny
The TranTech contract at $49,999.49 is not the only one that landed just below a procurement threshold.
BergerABAM received a 2018 contract for Blaine Harbor bulkhead work at $49,974 – twenty-six dollars below the $50,000 threshold. It grew to $423,255, an increase of 747 percent.
Five contracts, all starting below $50,000, all growing to at least $134,000. The probability of multiple contracts landing within dollars of the threshold by chance is low. The TranTech contract, priced to the penny at fifty-one cents below, strains coincidence.
The cleanup concentration Environmental remediation projects dominate the amendment totals.
Seven cleanup contracts account for just 21 percent of the high-growth contracts examined but 49 percent of amendment dollars – $12.76 million of the $26 million
Landau Associates holds four of these cleanup contracts, accounting for $5.6 million in amendments. Anchor QEA holds two, totaling $4.7 million in amendments. CRETE Consulting’s single cleanup contract added $2.95 million.
Cleanup projects can legitimately encounter unforeseen contamination. Digging into polluted industrial sites may reveal problems that weren’t apparent during initial assessment. Scope changes may be unavoidable.
But the question remains: when a contract grows from $85,000 to $1.7 million, or from $577,000 to $5.77 million, should other qualified firms have an opportunity to compete for the expanded work?
The sponsors Port contracting records identify staff members who “sponsor” contracts – ini-
Top Amendment Recipients
Anchor QEA, LLC, a Seattle-based environmental consulting firm with more than 500 employees and a Bellingham office, has nine Port contracts that grew by 50 percent or more.
The firm’s Whatcom Waterway Phase 2 Cleanup contract, awarded in 2019 at $577,338, has grown to $5.77 million – an 899 percent increase. The Port’s own contract database, which state law requires to be maintained and publicly available, confirms the current value at $5,766,480.79. An earlier contract for I&J Waterway investigation work started at $18,006 in 2009 and reached $615,987, growth of 3,321 percent.
Landau Associates, Inc., an employee-owned firm headquartered in Edmonds, also has nine contracts with 50 percent or greater growth.
Landau’s Sea K Fish Site Cleanup contract shows the highest growth rate of any recent Port contract: from $85,000 in 2019 to $1.72 million, an increase of
tiating the procurement and guiding it through approval.
A small group of sponsors account for most contracts with threshold issues.
Greg Nicoll, a Port engineer, sponsored 17 contracts that appear in the analysis –49 percent of the total.
Alec Strand sponsored five contracts. All five went to Reid Middleton. Combined value: $523,580. All involved Squalicum Harbor work.
Every contract Strand sponsored went to the same firm.
A splitting pattern
Maul Foster & Alongi, a Pacific Northwest consulting firm, received two contracts for similar economic development studies within three weeks of each other.
Brian Gouran sponsored a $157,000 contract for Brownfield Affordable Housing Inventory. Tyler Schroeder sponsored a $99,425 contract for Whatcom Industrial Lands Study.
Combined value: $256,425 – well above the $100,000 threshold for formal bidding.
Separated into two contracts with two sponsors: each below threshold. What the data shows
The patterns documented here emerge from the Port’s own contract database – though that database itself raises questions. State law (RCW 53.08.440) requires the Port to maintain a “list of all contracts for public inspection.” The database the Port has posted on its website shows a last update of April 9, 2025 – eight months ago.
The same contractors appear repeatedly among high-growth contracts. Those contractors receive work that starts below competitive thresholds and grows dramatically. Some contracts are priced to within cents of those thresholds. Staff sponsors show consistent preferences for particular firms.
Whether these patterns reflect legitimate business relationships, institutional comfort with familiar vendors, or something else remains unclear.
State law imposes a specific requirement on large amendments. RCW 53.19.030 requires that amendments exceeding 50 percent of a contract’s original value be filed with the commission and made available for public inspection before work begins. Every contract examined in this analysis exceeded that threshold – many by hundreds or thousands of percent.
The All Point Bulletin has submitted a public records request for procurement documentation on contracts with the highest amendment growth, including selection records, amendment justifications, evidence of competitive re-solicitation when contract values crossed procurement thresholds, and commission filings
By
the Numbers
$26 million - Total amendments on contracts originally worth $8.2 million
for amendments exceeding 50 percent of original contract value.
State response
The Washington State Auditor’s Office, responding to questions from the All Point Bulletin, confirmed that its July finding of material weakness was limited to a single contract funded by federal grants.
“Because the federal single audit was scoped to review compliance with federal grant requirements for this specific project, we did not expand our work to other projects with different funding sources,” wrote Adam Wilson, assistant director of communications. The office also did not examine amendments that increased the Moffatt & Nichol contract from $906,006 to $3.33 million.
Asked whether the audit methodology was sufficient to identify systemic problems, Wilson noted that the office “will take [these concerns] into account when planning our next audits.” That audit is scheduled to begin in spring 2026.
On executive sessions, Wilson said the Open Public Meetings Act “does not limit the frequency of executive sessions so long as the proper procedures are followed.” Whether the Port should hold fewer closed meetings, he wrote, “is for its elected commissioners to determine.”
Voters approved expanding the commission from three to five members, but that election won’t occur until November 2026, with new commissioners seated in January 2027. Until then, the current commission – with Carly James having replaced Ken Bell – will oversee these contractor relationships.
In December, Michael Shepard announced his intention to run for the District 42 state senate seat being vacated by Sharon Shewmake. A three-term officeholder, Shewmake had announced her intention not to run again.
Shepard ran unopposed in the November general election and was re-elected to a four-year term as port commissioner.
1,927 percent.
The firm’s Westman Marine Cleanup contract grew from $124,000 to $1.26 million. Its Central Waterfront Cleanup contract went from $499,700 to $2.79 million.
Aspect Consulting, a hydrogeology and environmental firm with more than 130 employees, has nine contracts meeting the criteria.
Aspect’s Chlor-Alkali remediation contract at GP West grew from $68,779 in 2022 to $1.39 million – 1,924 percent. An earlier phase of the same project started at $42,263 in 2021 and reached $676,444.
PND Engineers received a single contract in 2022 for Squalicum Harbor Inner Harbor Renovation that grew from $305,327 to $3.67 million – an increase of 1,104 percent, adding $3.37 million through amendments.
CRETE Consulting’s I&J Waterway Cleanup contract started at $699,934 in 2019 and reached $3.65 million, adding $2.95 million to the total.
Top 5 Amendments By Dollar Value
Behind closed doors part III: Port
When the Port of Bellingham’s strategic project manager Alan Birdsall retires thisyear, who will train his replacement? Not Birdsall. Not other Port staff. According to Port documents, the job will fall to an outside consultant – for $329 per hour.
Port commissioners on December 16 authorized the Port’s legal counsel, CSD Attorneys at Law, to enter into a $219,456 contract with Anchor QEA. The Port does not contract directly with Anchor QEA for this work; CSD does, and the Port pays for it.
According to an authorizing memo written by CSD attorney Holly Stafford, the contract includes “additional funds” specifically “to facilitate the transfer of institutional knowledge from experienced Port staff to the new keeper(s) of this task.”
The arrangement raises a basic question of management competency: If the Port knows a key employee with specialized expertise is retiring, why isn’t that employee training their successor? Why pay an outside consultant to do it?
No discussion
Commissioners never asked that question. The Anchor QEA contract was buried at line 16 in a 19-item consent agenda and approved without discussion. No commissioner pulled the item for debate or asked why the Port was paying a consultant to train staff rather than having a retiring 30year employee do it.
Also approved without discussion was the reappointment of CSD Attorneys at Law as the Port’s general counsel at $360 per hour. It is unclear whether that rate applies to all CSD staff – partners, associates, and paralegals alike – or only to senior attorneys.
The Stafford memo had noted that the state auditor “has expressed a preference” for commissioner approval given the contract’s budget scope – suggesting prior auditor attention to the arrangement. Yet even with that flag, no commissioner sought clarification.
A self-perpetuating arrangement
The contract’s origins help explain why the training arrangement exists in the first place. According to the Stafford memo, consultant Mark Larsen has provided environmental legal support services since the mid-1990s – first as an employee of Retec, then at Anchor QEA. The Port’s own staff may have come and gone, but Larsen has remained the constant.
Now that continuity has become its own justification. Stafford argues that Larsen possesses “very specialized and particular knowledge” that would be “extremely expensive to locate, retain, and educate” in a replacement. Therefore, Stafford claims, competitive bidding requirements don’t apply.
The logic is circular: After apparently sole-sourcing work to one consultant for 29 years, the Port now argues it cannot seek competitive bids because only that consultant has the necessary knowledge. The institutional expertise that should reside within the Port instead resides with a contractor – who charges premium rates to share it.
What the contract covers
A review of Anchor QEA’s scope of work
reveals that much of the activity is administrative program management: generating monthly progress reports, maintaining SharePoint document indexes, updating Excel cost models, and tracking documents for insurance submissions.
These tasks are billed at rates reaching $329 per hour for senior staff – approaching what the Port pays its lawyers.
The contract’s two largest components – Fortitude insurance tracking and cost modeling support – account for $134,121 of the $179,456 base contract. These are the tasks where costs increased specifically because Port staff need to be trained.
Missing from port records
A review by the All Point Bulletin of the Port’s contract database found no record of the “Environmental Programs – Legal Management Support Services” contract. The database contains 15 other Anchor QEA contracts totaling nearly $24 million – all for site-specific environmental work. But the legal management support work does not appear.
The contract is processed through CSD rather than the Port’s standard procurement system, which may explain the gap. The Stafford memo acknowledges that state law under RCW 53.19 requires competitive procedures for personal service contracts, but claims an exemption for legal services might apply. It concedes this interpretation is “untested” in court.
The All Point Bulletin has filed a public records request seeking documentation of where this contract and other legal-related contracts are recorded, and how they comply with public transparency requirements.
Broader procurement patterns
The Port’s contract database shows only 12 sole-source contracts in recent years. Yet the Anchor QEA legal support arrangement – which has apparently continued without competitive bidding for nearly three decades – is not among them.
s Bobby Briscoe
s Carly James
s Michael Shepard
Fishing experiences tailored for neurodiverse families
B y E rin K E lly
Angling4Autism Society is a Canadian registered charity founded in 2022 by John Carinha, a longtime Point Roberts resident and aviation business owner. The organization provides free, all-inclusive fishing experiences for neurodiverse families, including those affected by autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, and related conditions.
The idea grew from Carinha’s experience raising his son, Brandon, who was diagnosed with autism at age two and a half. In 2016, Brandon was named a “champion child” by the Connect Autism Network and took part in a high-profile father-son fishing tournament in Haida Gwaii that raised nearly $1 million. Carinha was inspired to create similar opportunities for everyday families who would not otherwise have access to such experiences.
Angling4Autism now operates several programs. Its Family Fishing Experiences take six families at a time to resorts such as Mucha Bay on Vancouver Island and Eagle Lake, offering four days and three nights, with two full days of guided fishing. The society is also expanding its programming with a sturgeon fishing trip for eight families on the Fraser River in September.
From May to September, one of Carinha’s boats is based in Point Roberts, where the society runs four-hour dock-based fishing sessions on weekends. Families participate in salmon fishing, bottom fishing, crabbing, and prodding, depending on seasonal regulations. Each trip begins with a safety briefing, conservation education, and an overview of U.S. and Canadian fishing rules. “Point Roberts is the perfect launch point,” Carinha said. “It’s quiet, welcoming, and families can turn their fishing trip into a full day in the community.”
Programs are open to both Canadian and Washington-based families. At least one participant must be neurodiverse, and they may bring up to three additional family members or caregivers. Registration is done through an online lottery system, with priority given to families who lack boating or fishing opportunities. Multiday resort programs are reserved for firsttime participants to reach as many families as possible.
Carinha, who captains the boats himself, designs each outing to support sensory needs, including preparing children for engine noise and using music on board to create a calming environment.
Funding comes from corporate and individual sponsorships, an annual gala in March, a smaller gala in Victoria, silent auctions, and early financial support from Carinha’s aviation business. Recently achieving registered charity status has allowed the organization to apply for grants and offer tax benefits to sponsors.
The society promotes its mission through community outreach and media exposure, including exhibits at the Seattle Boat Show, where the Port of Seattle provides booth space. Its events are filmed by BC Outdoor Sports Fishing TV and broadcast on CHEK TV, with prior episodes also available on YouTube.
More information is available at angling4autism.com and on Instagram at @ angling4autism.
Question of the month: Where would you like to go on a Valentine’s date? B
y E rin K E lly
s Crabs were abundant on this Angling4Autism Society outing! Courtesy photos
s “We like going to RAPS cat sanctuary in Richmond.”
– Erin Kelly and Patrick Pritchard
s “We would love to travel to Tierra del Fuego in Chilean Patagonia and go on a cruise up the inlet through the Southern Andes. It is the most gorgeous part of the world.”
– John and Jane Engelhard
s “We like coming to Trinity Lutheran Church for music.”
– Dorothy and Martin Gurney
s“On Valentines I would go anywhere, as long as it is with you.”
– Michael and Angela Hlady
Coming up ...
Scheduled Meetings/Events
Mary Acosta Services: Friday, January 30, 11 a.m., Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ladner. Burial to follow at Point Roberts Cemetery. A reception will be held at 2 p.m. at The Pier. Point Roberts Pickleball Committee: Monday, February 2. Public meetings via zoom. Contact melanieosmack@gmail.com for the meeting link. First Monday of the month.
PR Amateur Radio Club: Monday, February 2, 7 p.m., at the community center.
PR Park and Recreation: Tuesday, February 3, at 7 p.m., community center & via Zoom. Info: prparkandrec.org. Link: bit.ly/3UCOvAU.
Blood Drive: Wednesday, February 4, 10 to 4 p.m., fire hall. Please follow the link to sign up to donate blood and help save lives. Link: bit.ly/4bpR5mS
PR Hospital District: Wednesday, February 4, 7 p.m., via Zoom. Info: bit.ly/3Kw9Ypt.
PR Water District: Monday, February 9, 5 p.m., 2002 Benson Road. Info: pointrobertswater. com.
Friends of the Point Roberts Library: Tuesday, February 10, 3 p.m. Library. Open board meeting to plan 2026 activities. If you have any ideas, please attend or let us know. foprl1@ gmail.com.
Fire District No. 5: Wednesday, February 11, 4 p.m., fire hall and via Zoom. Link: bit.ly/45YUv9U. Info: WCFD5.com.
Point Roberts Let’s Make Valentines: Wednesday, February 11, 3 to 4 p.m., library. Come to the library to make Valentine’s cards for all the loved ones in your life. We’ll have all the supplies you need; you bring your creative spirit and open heart! This event is for kids. Teen core volunteers needed. Info: wcls.org.
PR Taxpayers Association: Thursday, February 12, 7 p.m., via zoom. Info: PRTA@pointroberts.net. Link: bit.ly/3EWEysY. Topic: PRTA Meeting.
Point Roberts Book & Movie Discussion Group: Monday, February 16, 2 to 4 p.m., library. Info: wcls.org.
Secrets of Dying Well: Wednesday, February 18, 2 to 3 p.m., library. Join local end-of-life planning consultants for an open, honest conversation about what it means to die well – and live with intention. Info: wcls.org.
PR Community Advisory Committee: Thursday February 19, 7 p.m., community center and via Zoom. Zoom Link: bit.ly/3S8GCB3. Info: PRCAC.comment@gmail.com.
Cemetery District No. 8: Monday, February 23, 5 p.m., community center. Public welcome. Craig Romano Presents Urban Trails: Tuesday, February 24, 5:30 to 7 p.m., library. Discover the amazing array of trails within Metro Vancouver with award-winning guidebook author, Craig Romano. Info: wcls.org.
Point Roberts Garden Club: Tuesday, February 24, 7 p.m. community center. Victoria Smith on “Getting Ready to Garden: Things to Do (And Not to Do) Right Now. Info@pointrobertsgardenclub.org.
PR Book Club: Wednesday, February 25 6 p.m., PR Library. For this month’s title, call 360/945-6545. Info: wcls.org.
PaddyFest 2026: Saturday, March 7, Kiniski’s Reef. Featuring The Whiskeydicks and Coming Up Threes, a Portland-based Celtic party band. Tickets available at Nielson’s Building Center. General admission $40. Info: stringsandthingsmusicfestival.com. Ongoing Events and Hours
GoFundMe for Leigh Moorehouse: Point Robert’s own Leigh “Let me tell you what I really think” Moorehouse needs our help – diagnosed with occult breast cancer, she needs our prayers and financial help. Please help by going to bit.ly/49M8Ds4.
Point Roberts Dollars for Scholars: Enrollment now open. Students must complete an profile at pointroberts.dollarsforscholars.org. Send donations to Columbia Bank (Payee: Dollars for Scholars), pointroberts.dollarsforscholars.org, or by mail (PRDFS, P.O. Box 1354, Point Roberts).
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.
The Raven: Free. Tuesdays and Thursdays, rides to Bellingham and surrounding area. Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., stops anywhere on the Point. No service on state/federal holidays. Pick up for most Blaine school activities with ride back home. Homeschool families, contact us for field trips. Info: prtheraven.com. Book your ride: bit.ly/45PVJFP, call 360/788-9473 or email prtheraven@gmail.com.
Point Roberts Walkers: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 8 a.m., Saturdays at Lily Point. Tuesdays and Thursdays vary, and locations can be found at prwalkers.wordpress.com.
Point Roberts Storytime: Wednesdays, 10:30 to 11 a.m., library. Ages 2-6. Seniors and More Lunches: Wednesdays and Fridays, community center. Info: prseniors@ whidbey.com or 360/945-5424.
Alcoholics Anonymous: Thursdays, 6 p.m., Trinity Church, 1880 APA Road. Open meeting. Contact: 253/331-7560.
PR Food Bank: Fridays, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., community center. Info: prfoodbank.org.
The Commons: Saturdays, noon to 2:30 p.m., community center. Lots of free used books and conversations. Do come by!
Point Roberts Writing Club: Saturdays, 3 to 4 p.m., Point Roberts Library meeting room. History Center: Saturdays, 11 to 3 p.m., community center.
Point Roberts Eagles Club: Sundays, 1 to 3 p.m., community center. Parent attendance mandatory. Weekly educational activities for kids aged 5 to 11. Info: pointrobertseaglesclub@ gmail.com.
Point Roberts Clinic Hours: Primary care provider schedule: Dr. Lary: Thursdays, 9 to 5 p.m.; Dr. Sean: Mondays and Tuesdays, 9 to 5 p.m.; Doreen (RN): Thursdays, 9 to 3 p.m.; Sara (RN): Fridays, 9 to 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday hours vary with nurse availability. Appointment needed. Urgent care can be accessed through telemedicine or at the clinic Monday – Saturday 10 – 6 p.m., Sundays 10 – 4 p.m. Always call for an appointment before coming in, even for urgent care services. Info: 360/945-2580.
Yacht Sales–Power and Sail Service
in the Garden
B y V ictoria s mith
We’ve had some unseasonably warm days and a serious lack of rain and snow this winter, making us wonder if we’ll have an early spring. My daffodils started setting buds the first week in January, while my dahlias were finally killed by our first hard frost on January 21.
The December flooding in Whatcom and Skagit Counties was a reminder that our climate is changing in unpredictable ways: our winters are warmer and we get rain instead of snow. The Washington State Department of Ecology reminds us on their website that “we need to be better prepared to deal with both winter floods and summer drought – and that includes improving our ability to capture more of the precipitation we get, whether it comes as rain, sleet or snow.”
As we plan this year’s gardens, we need to be mindful of our water usage, and consider which plants are best suited to our changing local climate. I have a lot of experience with waterwise gardening, so this month I’d like to reintroduce myself to the Point Roberts community and to our new owner/publisher at the All Point Bulletin.
I’m a California native who grew up across the bay from San Francisco. I began my gardening journey pulling weeds with my grandmother, and I was rewarded with a small garden patch of my own when I was five. I proudly shared my radishes and pansies during kindergarten show and tell.
I’ve worn many hats since that time. I was an educator, an accountant, a business owner, a Cub Scout leader and a garden coach. My husband and I raised our kids in the hot Mediterranean climate of California’s San Joaquin Valley, where we grew food and flowers throughout the year. I wrote gardening curriculum for elementary school classrooms, volunteered on
community garden projects, and replaced 6,000 square feet of suburban lawn with drought resistant gardens.
We moved to Point Roberts in 2021. After decades of gardening in extreme heat, I was once again a beginner, starting from scratch. I had to adapt to the cool Pacific Northwest climate, a partially shaded lot, and a much shorter growing season. I had a lot to learn and enrolled in the WSU Whatcom County Master Gardener (WCMG) program around the time the border reopened. I received my Master Gardener certification in 2022 and served as the public education coordinator the following year.
Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who have completed a one to two year training and internship program through their local extension office covering a diverse set of topics, from the basics of gardening to integrated pest management, efficient watering systems, soil improvement, plant selection, climate change and more.
I do that in a variety of ways, including teaching classes here and on the mainland, volunteering with the Garden Buddies program in the Earthwise Gardens in Tsawwassen, volunteering at Seedy Saturday free seed exchanges and Ask A Master Gardener Tables at public events. I’m also available to answer gardening questions during Senior Lunch at the community center on Gulf Road, between noon and 1 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays.
To say I am smitten with gardening is a gross understatement. I’ve been gardening for more than 50 years.
Having said all that, let me assure you that anyone with the desire can grow a garden. You don’t need months or years of training, you learn as you go. You don’t
need a huge yard or fancy raised beds or perfect soil, and you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get started. You simply need to start where you are, with what you have, and a bit of guidance if you want or need it.
I’ll be teaching several classes in the next few weeks, and you’re invited. I’ll be speaking at the Point Roberts Garden Club meeting at the community center on Tuesday February 27 at 7 p.m. The topic will be Getting Ready to Garden: Things to Do (And Not to Do) Right Now. This class is for all levels of experience and will help you ease into the gardening year in a gentle way.
On Saturday March 14, I’ll be presenting the first of several classes sponsored by the Point Roberts Seniors Association. Our topic will be Seed Starting 101: Proven Tips For Success. You’ll learn about indoor and outdoor seed starting methods including direct sowing versus starting in trays or pots, supplies needed, how to care for your seeds and get them ready to transplant, and when to start each type of seed. I’ll also share online resources for planning your garden and creating a seed starting schedule that works for you. Look for more information on this class after Valentine’s Day.
Have a great February, and I’ll see you in the garden.
ChurCh news
In January, we celebrated the life of Martin Luther King Jr.
Jean Barrington preached this story recently: MLK received up to 40 threatening calls and messages a day, for days on end. After receiving a threatening late-night phone call, he wrote, “It seemed that all of my fears had come down on me at once. I had reached the saturation point. I was ready to give up. I tried to think of a way to move out of the picture without appearing a coward. I got to the point that I couldn’t take it any longer.
“With my head in my hands, I bowed over the kitchen table and prayed aloud. The words I spoke to God that midnight are still vivid in my memory: ‘Lord, I’m down here trying to do what’s right. I think I’m right. I am here taking a stand for what I believe is right. But Lord, I must confess that I’m weak now, I’m faltering. I’m losing my courage. Now, I am afraid. And I can’t let the people see me like this because if they see me weak and losing my courage, they will begin to get weak. I am at the end of my powers. I have nothing left.
“I’ve come to the point where I can’t face it alone.’” But then, he realized, “It seemed as though I could hear the quiet assurance of an inner voice saying: ‘Martin Luther, stand up for righteousness. Stand up for justice. Stand up for truth. And lo, I will be with you. Even until the end of the world.’”
MLK then says he experienced the presence of the divine as never before. “Almost at once my fears began to go, uncertainty disappeared.” MLK was ready to do what was needed. We would say, God can do with us what we cannot do of our own power! We need that connection with the divine. These are times that need that connection, that partnership with wisdom,
and
One of our Trinity members joined the gathering at noon at Gulf and Tyee, here on the Point one Sunday. She wrote, “I attended the ‘I Stand For’ gathering yesterday after worship. The mood was calm and upbeat, people waving and smiling at passers-by. No one is there to make trouble; everyone is there to stand up for other people in need. It’s a good, worthwhile gathering.” She felt touched by a caring sense of community, so typical of the Point where taking care of our neighbors has long been our practice.
“Sit not still, but act. Restore the time of truth. Follow the way of hope choosing justice and sharing.” “Love is the way.” (Maitreya’s Messages/Christ’s teachings) Consider showing up, participate peacefully. Wave and smile and be part of the changes needed. Resist the hate, by doing something, no matter how small, and support victims. Ideas will abound on the how. Choose one.
sheriff’s report
January 1, 11:20 a.m.: Welfare check on McLaren Road.
January 5, 8:43 a.m.: Motor vehicle accident non-blocking/ non-injury on Gulf Road.
January 5, 11:52 a.m.: Civil problem on APA Road.
January 5, 8:23 p.m.: Mental on Tyee Drive and Johnson Road.
January 8, 2:48 p.m.: Game law violation cold call on Tyee Drive.
January 8, 4:08 p.m.: Mental on Tyee Drive and Johnson Road.
January 8, 10:06 p.m.: Suspicious circumstances on Williams Road.
January 9, 8:14 a.m.: Assist agency on Simundson Drive.
January 9, 5:15 p.m.: Assist citizen on Periwinkle Lane.
January 10, 4:15 p.m.: Assist citizen cold call on Tyee Drive.
January 12, 9:01 p.m.: Watch for on Culp Court Road.
January 13, 7:28 p.m.: Civil cold call on Windsor Drive.
January 15, 7:28 a.m.: Assist citizen on Windsor Drive and Austin Road.
January 16, 6:28 p.m.: Harassment on Panorama Drive.
January 17, 2:43 a.m.: Refer to other agency on Marine Drive.
January 17, 17, 9:31 a.m.: Assist citizen cold call on Panorama Drive.
January 17, 10:55 a.m.: Serve papers on Panorama Drive.
January 17, 5:34 p.m.: Follow up on Windsor Drive.
CrossinGs >>>
Traffic into Point Roberts for November 2025 (2024 numbers following): Personal vehicles 39,514 (54,750); buses 8 (no data for 2024); Trucks 480 (573).
senior’s point
m E nus for f EB ruary
Wednesday, February 4: Butter chicken, basmati rice, spinach salad and dessert
Friday, February 6: Pork loin, mashed potatoes and gravy, peas and carrots and dessert
Wednesday, February 11: Reuben sandwich, sweet potato fries, salad and dessert
Friday, February 13: Crispy tofu bowl with rice and vegetables and dessert
Wednesday, February 18: Chinese New Year: Egg roll, shrimp chow Mein, fried rice and dessert
Friday, February 20: Chef’s Choice
Wednesday, February 25: Scalloped potatoes, grilled bratwurst, bean salad and dessert
Friday, February 27: Salmon teriyaki, rice, spinach and dessert
Lunches are served in the dining room at the community center from 11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m. or until food runs out. Contact prseniors@whidbey. com or 360/945-5424 for info.
Library piCks
K ris lom E dico
Bestsellers:
Solito Javier Zamora
Call Me Ishmaelle Xiaolu Guo
Dead Ringer Carlos Hauto
Before I Forget
Tory Henwood Hoen
Movies:
Icefall Joel Kinnaman
The Last Show Girl Pamela Anderson
Good Fortune Seth Rosen
Eleanor the Great June Squibb
Music:
The Art of Loving Olivia Dean Oceanside, Countryside Neil Young
Everybody Scream
Florence & the Machine
Child of God Frank Forrest Teens:
Dinged Tommy Greenwald
Persephone’s Curse Katrina Leno
Better in Black Cassandra Claire
Kids:
Hunger Winter Robb Currie
The Zombees
Popo the Xolo
Justin Colon
Paloma Angelina Lopez
Hours: Tuesdays 1-7 p.m., Wednesdays and Saturdays 10-5 p.m.
Total calls 33: EMS calls 15, resulting in the following transports: Airlift Northwest/LifeFlight 1, Saint Joseph Hospital 1, county medic 1; fire classification 2 resulting in false alarm 1, and structure 1; public service 13; EMS CARES/MIHC 3.
S A community center clothing swap gave attendees a chance to refresh their looks.
Photo by Erin Kelly
obituaries
Adam Edward Rozyskie
October 1, 1941 – December 27, 2025
Adam Edward Rozyskie, aged 84, of Point Roberts, Washington, passed away on December 27, 2025, in the loving arms of his wife, Frances. They had been married 29 years and enjoyed a wonderful life together. Adam was born in Conway, South Carolina, to Margaret Elaine Barrett and Chester Theodore Rozyskie, on October 1, 1941.
Upon high school graduation, Adam entered the army where he received an extensive education with the U.S. Army Intelligence Service. His training centered on electronic warfare and maintenance of warfare equipment, resulting in a degree in electrical engineering. He went on to earn an MBA from Penn State University. He also earned the nickname “Professor” from his family and colleagues, having received many awards for service to U.S. Security Agencies.
During Adam’s wide and impressive career he lived and worked in Guam, The United Kingdom, Germany, Turkey, Hawaii, Kwajalin, Korea, Virginia and Washington D.C.
He enjoyed traveling with Fran, reading, science fiction (he was a loyal “Trekkie”) and scuba diving. He was an avid sailor and for six years he and Fran lived on a 46-foot sloop rigged sailboat. His love of studying science, robotics and economics never waned. Adam was an introspective and intellectually curious man who, throughout his life, enjoyed the pursuit of learning. And he loved Sudoko.
Bruno Moras Poem
By Mary MacDonald
There was once a fellow named Bruno. Who was admired by many, you know!
Margaret was one, Who loved him a ton.
Because he was her true Romeo.
Bruno was the love of her life. Made her an honest woman by being his wife. Two birds of a feather.
So happy together.
Fabric cut from the same knife.
They built a big house.
This husband and spouse.
Their garden was great
Ripe tomatoes on their plate. No one left hungry … not even a mouse.
Bruno had a bright mind!
He always helped friends in a bind. He came to our aid.
Tools, truck or a spade.
Always a friend who was so kind.
Bruno was a disciplined man of habit. Known to many … including our rabbit. His temper was hot.
Geed news … a poor shot!
Able to eventually laugh at it.
It’s time to come to a close.
Put an end to this silly old prose.
We will miss our dear friend.
Who was loved to the end.
We all say thank you, Bruno … and a heartfelt adios!
Mary Louisa Prieto Acosta
Sept. 12, 1940 – December 27, 2025
Mary Louisa Prieto Acosta was born on September 12, 1940 to Chon Prieto and Jessie Lara. She passed away on December 27, 2025. Mary was the third of four children, including Fr. Frank Prieto, Mamie Conner and Robert Prieto. Mary was a loving soul to all, a generous heart, and a lively spirit.
Her early life was spent in Southern California where she met and married Edmund Rudolph Acosta. They were married on November 16, 1974. Mary continued to work for the Oneida company until the couple moved to Redlands. She then worked for the San Bernadino Housing
Bruno Moras
July 1, 1937 – November 26, 2025
Bruno was born July 1, 1937 in Port Alberni, B.C. He passed away November 20, 2025 in Ferndale, Washington. Bruno attended school in Nanaimo, B.C. and then graduated from University of British Columbia Vancouver with a degree in electrical engineering.
His first place of employment as an engineer was with Canadian General Electric in Ontario. After a few years he moved to Renton, Washington to work for Boeing Aircraft. He also worked at De Havilland Aircraft in Ontario.
It was there in Ontario that he met Margaret and subsequently they married. Soon after their wedding both he and Margaret retired and moved to Point Roberts and built their dream home.
In 2021, Margaret passed away. Two years later, Bruno moved to Ferndale to a supportive living facility.
Bruno was a man of vision; he completed many things that proved to be beneficial to mankind. He passed away on November 26, 2025.
Bruno was laid to rest at the Point Roberts Cemetery beside Margaret.
Bruno was predeceased by his parents, Regina and Ernesto, his sister Lilia, brother-in-law Thomas, and his great-niece Lynn. He is survived by his niece Dianne and his great-nieces Debbie and Tracy, his niece Sanara and her husband Alan, and great-nieces Kelli and Tami and his great-nephew Jon, his stepdaughter Martine and numerous other nieces and nephews.
Soar, Bruno, in your rocket with Margaret. Find those places that you talked about that are yet undiscovered.
Authority assisting underserved populations.
Mary and Ed shared many adventures together, but they especially loved the adventures they shared bike riding in Southern California. They founded the Redlands Water Bottle Transit Company in 1985, and the club continues today making community cycling fun for all. Separately, Mary also ran several marathons in semi-retirement, winning first place in her age division at age 65. In addition to her athletic endeavors, she enjoyed playing the flute and writing novels.
In 2001, Mary and Ed made a large life change and moved to Point Roberts. Shortly after the move to Washington, they also found a home in Honeymoon Bay, B.C. They joined the PR Wacky Walkers, assisted the lighthouse committee, volunteered at the library, gardened on Tyee Drive, made blackberry pies for many events, continued their biking journeys, and enjoyed life in the Pacific Northwest.
Gabriela and Mia Acosta (granddaughters) will always remember their Nana Mary and Tata Ed’s love and pride for their towns of Point Roberts and Honeymoon Bay. Mary loved her communities and the love came back when neighbors stopped by for a visit offering treats made especially for the family.
We remain inspired by her peaceful wisdom and medicinal humor. It has been our honor to have Mary in our lives. All who knew her will remember Mary’s graceful strength, strong faith, and grounded joy. Siempre en nuestra corazónes, we love
PRCAC invests TBD funds
At the January 15 meeting of the Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee (PRCAC), members voted to move forward with a new at-large candidate, approved investing district funds, and recognized a departing committee member.
Rhys-Thorvald Hansen was introduced as the remaining candidate for the open at-large seat. Hansen has been living in the Point since 2018 and is involved with the Makers Guild, the new art space through Resilient Point Roberts.
They described their background in food systems work and county collaboration, saying, “I’m hoping to bring my experience … to find more opportunities for positive partnership.”
On handling conflict, Hansen said, “People come engaged in public process because they really care,” adding, “Let’s start on where we do agree.”
The committee voted unanimously to ask the Whatcom County Executive’s Office to approve Hansen’s appointment.
PRCAC approved a motion to recommend investing the full $1.2 million balance of the Point Roberts Transportation Benefit District (TBD) fund. The fund comes from a per-gallon gas tax, much of it historically paid by Canadian visitors, and fluctuates with tourism and exchange rates.
Because the fund currently spends less than $10,000 a year, members agreed it should not sit idle. “Nothing worse than lazy money,” said voter’s association representative Allison Calder, “We actually make money on our money.”
Members also discussed raising the gas tax from one cent to two cents per gallon and clarified that any discussion would only be about placing the question on a ballot, not automatically increasing it.
The meeting marked Annelle Norman’s final session as the taxpayers’ representative after four years of service. She will be replaced by Jeff Christopher, who has pri-
you, Nana. There will be a service in her honor at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ladner on Friday, January 30 at 11 a.m., followed by a burial at the Point Roberts Cemetery. A reception will follow at 2 p.m. in Point Roberts at The Pier.
Blaine school board director enters state senate race
B y n olan B a KE r
Erika Creydt, Blaine school district’s longest-serving board member, is running for a seat in the Washington State Senate. Creydt, running as a Republican, announced her campaign for the 42nd Legislative District on January 17. She will look to replace Democrat Senator Sharon Shewmake, who announced in December that she would not seek reelection.
Port of Bellingham director Michael Shepard announced late last year he would run as a Democrat for the senate seat.
In a social media post announcing her campaign, Creydt said her work as a clinical psychologist helping children inspired her to run for office.
“I hear the quiet struggles that many families carry,” Creydt wrote. “I’ve sat with children who are hurting long before anyone notices, and with parents trying to navigate systems that weren’t built to support them. When a child’s mental health is ignored, their education suffers, and so does their future.”
Creydt is clinical director of TouchStone Counseling in Blaine and has a doctorate in clinical psychology from the Adler School in Chicago. She has worked in youth mental health for more than 20 years, according to her campaign announcement.
Creydt also mentioned heavy tax burdens affecting families throughout the state.
“We live in one of the highest-taxed states in the nation,” Creydt wrote. “When the system fails the people in our community, it hurts twice. First because so many families who have paid those taxes are themselves struggling to afford groceries, gas, and housing. Second, because the people that are supposed to be helped with those funds end up going without.”
Creydt has served on the Blaine school board since 2021, representing district 1 which includes downtown Blaine and Point Roberts. Her term is set to expire in December 2027. The 42nd Legislative District represents most of Whatcom County save for the southern half of Bellingham, Sudden Valley and parts of Acme. Prior to state redistricting efforts in 2020, the 42nd district had voted in favor of Republican candidate Doug Ericksen, who won three consecutive elections in 2010, 2014 and 2018. Prior to that, Republican Dale Brandland served the 42nd district from 2003 to 2011.
Shewmake was the first Democrat to hold the office in nearly two decades. The primary election is set for August 4 and the general election is November 3.
