June 2020
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When will the border re-open? Page 7
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Zoning changes make the rounds, page 10
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Point Roberts, WA 98281 Postal Patron Local
Food bank could use a little help from its friends By Meg Olson With regional food banks changing their procedures in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Point Roberts Food Bank is relying on local donations to make sure their clients keep getting a healthy variety of food. “We are actually classified as a food pantry and we often have to use our own resources,” Point Roberts Food Bank volunteer Henry Rosenthal said. “The additional funds coming in do help.” One of his favorite examples of the community pitching in to support their programs is a patron of the senior lunches at the community center, now operating as a drivethrough on Wednesdays. “They came to pick up one of Roger’s wonderful five dollar lunches and in the container they are to leave the money in they also left a check for the food bank!” Rosenthal explained that Food Lifeline, the regional food bank they have relied for $1 a dozen eggs and 50-cent cans of tuna, has switched to providing “emergency boxes” only in response to the pandemic and changing health and safety guidelines. This means that, like any other Food Lifeline clients, the Point Roberts Food Bank can’t pick what they need but only receives a certain number of boxes of non-perishable items such as rice, mac and cheese, (See Food bank, page 5)
s Local paddlers, kayakers and canoeists have enjoyed close encounters with three gray whales feeding in Boundary Bay for the last few weeks or so. This screenshot was taken just before the whale went under Tom Fijal’s paddle board. The whales appeared to continue their migration northwards as there have been no sightings in the last week of May. Photo by Tom Fijal
Locally developed product offers Covid-19 protection By Meg Olson Technology that was initially developed in Point Roberts is set to play an important role in curbing the spread of coronavirus. Studies have confirmed the association between a continuously active antimicrobial coating developed by Allied BioScience and decreased microbial burden and healthcare-related infections in hospitals. A recent study by the University of Arizo-
na has confirmed that a modified version of the coating is effective against human coronavirus. “We can reduce the spread of these viruses by surfaces with this type of product,” University of Arizona microbiologist Frank Gerba, said on a recent episode of Good Morning America. The product is now being tested in hospitals and transit systems. Allied BioScience is currently headquar-
Latest scourge comes with a bad bite By Jami Makan As if the new coronavirus weren’t bad enough, another scourge from Asia is likely to affect some Whatcom County residents this year. After receiving reports of Asian giant hornets in the areas of Blaine and Bellingham earlier this year, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) now
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plans to track and trap this invasive species from Asia, which was not previously found in Washington state prior to December. WSDA received over 80 calls about Asian giant hornets following the publication of its initial report in December, although most of the sightings could not be positively identified without photographs. According to WSDA, invasive Asian giant hornets are typically almost an inch
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and a half long and are distinguished by their large yellow heads. They nest in the ground, and although they are typically not interested in humans, pets or large animals, they can inflict a painful sting if threatened or if their nest is disturbed. “Asian giant hornets do pose a threat to people because their venom is more toxic and they have more of it,” said WSDA
tered in Dallas, Texas but it got its start in a converted shed in a Point Roberts backyard. The company was founded by local residents Craig and Ingrida Grossman in 2008. “We moved to the Breakers in 2012 and we had offices and our labs there until (See Allied, page 3)
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Church ............................................. 13 Classifieds ......................................... 12 Coming Up ....................................... 10 Crossings .......................................... 14 Opinion ............................................... 4 Sheriffs ............................................. 14 Tides ................................................. 10
(See Asian hornets, page 3)
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