September 2019
IN THIS
ISSUE
www.AllPointBulletin.com
DelBene townhall meeting a crowdpleaser, page 6
Seabright development under stress
Grand opening of the History Center, page 7
ECRWSS PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 14
FREE
Final touches on Title 20 taking place, page 8
Point Roberts, WA 98281 Postal Patron Local
The Point’s youngest firefighter?
By Meg Olson Point Roberts has an elephant in the room. The Cottages at Seabright Farm is in trouble, but with very few exceptions, no one wants to talk about it. Orca Shores LLC is behind on property taxes according to Whatcom County records and, as of July 29, two companies who have worked on the project have secured liens against properties owned by Orca Shores LLC at Seabright for work they allege they were not paid for. Landscaping and maintenance staff have been laid off and gardener George Wright says they have not been paid since June. Public access trails remain blocked by storm debris from last December and landscaping is becoming weedy or dying from lack of care. “From the ground level, this has been like watching a disaster in slow motion,” said Wright, the only one of a dozen people interviewed who would allow the All Point Bulletin to use their name when it comes to the development’s financial woes. However, they all agree that financial mismanagement has left investors and homeowners angry and looking for answers. There are seven property owners with homes built at Seabright and Wright said some of them met with representatives of Orca Shores LLC on August 21. “They are not happy,” Wright said. “There has been ineptitude and mismanagement of an enormous amount of money.” According to Whatcom County records, of the 59 lots that can be developed at Seabright, Orca Shores LLC owns 33. Owners of all lots are legally bound to pay fees for the maintenance of shared areas, such as the garden and pool, and public access areas such as the trails. Several sources who asked not to be named have pointed to Orca Shores not paying their share of those fees as the root of the current degradation of the property. In addition to Orca Shores being the (See Seabright, page 3
s Kids of all ages turned out for the Point Roberts fire department’s annual open house on August 10. More photos on page 15. Photo by Stefan Jones
Lack of dock throws wrench into Race Week plans By Meg Olson Race Week has committed to making Point Roberts its new home in 2020, but it might be the first and last year the Point will host the event if the lack of a dock at the Lighthouse Marine Park boat launch can’t be addressed. “A boat ramp needs a dock like Santa needs a sleigh,” said Schelleen Rathkopf, owner of Whidbey Island Race Week which, after 37 years in Oak Harbor an-
nounced this year it will move here in 2020 and become Point Roberts Race Week. “We chose Point Roberts specifically so we can run two circles: a big boat and a dinghy class. When we made the decision to come to Point Roberts the dock was there and it’s still there in satellite images. Without it, we can’t provide a dinghy racing experience as part of our event.” She added their kids sailing camp would also not be possible without the dock. While bigger boats, 40 feet and over,
Going to be crushing it at the Apple Harvest Festival B y A n n e l l e N o r ma n The third annual Apple Harvest Festival, sponsored by Point Roberts Circle of Care, takes place Saturday and Sunday, September 28 and 29. All are invited to join in this family-oriented, fun, informative and entertaining weekend. The weekend will include two days of good, old-fashioned apple cider pressing at the Point Roberts community center, a music concert with local musicians
Shaune Ann and The Fuez Band and a day of games and activities for families and children. Shaune Ann and The Fuez Band will perform on Saturday evening at the community center and there will be a wine and beer garden as well as a dance floor. General seating tickets are $35 and reserved seating tickets are $40. Both ticket options include two servings of wine, beer or soft drinks. Tickets are limited and can be purchased at Auntie Pam’s Country Store and
Nielson’s Building Center or by contacting Circle of Care directly. Circle of Care board of trustees president Chris Cameron has recruited bakers on both sides of the border to prepare frozen take-and-bake apple pies. Pies can be ordered in advance and cost $15 each. Local farmer and apple tree historian George Wright will present a lecture on the history and cultivation of local apple (See Apple, page 2)
will travel by water to the event, smaller boats will arrive by trailer and need to be put into the water at a boat ramp. Smaller boats need to set up their rigging on land and then launch, making the lifts at the marina unfeasible. Rathkopf said she has not been able to get county parks director Michael McFarlane to understand that launching small (See Race Week, page 3)
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Inside
Church ............................................. 11 Classifieds ......................................... 20 Coming Up ....................................... 21 Crossings .......................................... 19 Garden ................................................ 9 Opinion ............................................... 4 Seniors, sheriffs ............................... 18 Tides ................................................. 19