May 2021
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Vaccination rate climbing higher, page 8
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Fire chief ready to vaccinate Canadians By Meg Olson Point Roberts fire chief Christopher Carleton is approaching the Washington congressional delegation with a unique idea for cross-border collaboration – using Point Roberts as a vaccination site for Canadians. “There are thousands of Americans in the lower mainland of British Columbia who, if allowed, could be vaccinated here in Point Roberts,” Carleton wrote in an April 26 letter to congresswoman Suzan DelBene, senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, and state representative Sharon Shewmake. He also forwarded to a letter to the office of governor Jay Inslee. “This could be extended to Canadians as an international cooperative, helping an ally.” “Point Roberts is in a position, unlike many others, to offer this controlled extension of assistance due to our geographical isolation and secured border passages. As you know, Point Roberts does not provide open access to the rest of our country, but would allow more direct vaccination ability for our northern neighbors, while also supporting our local economy.” “Our nation’s issue now is beginning to shift toward having more vaccine available than we have candidates seeking to receive it. Canada, and our British Columbia neighbors in particular, are facing surges and emerging variants, problems which are greatly compounded by vaccine shortages.” Carleton suggested that excess vaccine could be distributed to B.C. residents using a system similar to the one that has allowed over 70 percent of the local pop(See Vaccinations, page 3)
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s Visiting by ferry, Whatcom Tourism executive director Sandy Ward, second from left, gives a thumb’s up after a day spent touring Point Roberts and talking to local business people and residents about ways to revitalize the local economy.
Photo by Louise Mugar
Tourism chief looking to help diversify economy B y P a t G r u bb Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism president and CEO Sandy Ward recently visited Point Roberts and she apparently liked what she saw: She’s rented a place to stay for the Fourth of July weekend for her and her family. Ward took the first ferry from Fairhaven on Friday, April 16 and spent the day touring the Point with chamber of commerce director Louise Mugar getting the lay of the land and meeting business owners and residents. She is looking at both short- and long-term ways to help the Point survive the pandemic-induced downturn and diversify its reliance on Canadian visitors. Asked why someone involved in the business of tourism would care about economic development, Ward said, “Tourism
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is development. We’re sort of a gateway drug. People first come to visit and they say to themselves, this would be a good place to bring their business.” She added that in 2019, tourists brought $550 million into the Whatcom County economy and directly and indirectly supported 7,400 jobs. Ward is involved in trying to stimulate visits to Point Roberts in the spring, summer and fall months and is working with the Port of Bellingham, the county and marinas on an advertising campaign aimed at bringing boaters to the Point, Blaine and Semiahmoo. Ward has also reached out to the Whatcom Transportation Authority in the hopes of setting up a circulator bus to pick up and drop off passengers throughout the
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Inside
Church ............................................. 13 Classifieds ......................................... 12 Coming Up ....................................... 13 Crossings .......................................... 11 Obituaries ......................................... 14 Opinion ............................................... 4 Sheriff’s ............................................ 11 Tides ................................................. 11