January 2023
IN THIS
ISSUE
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Proposition 5 squeaks to victory, page 3
Parks district to seek input; considers new community center
Keep flu etc at bay this winter, page 5
ECRWSS PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 14
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Water bills to increase in 2023, 2024, page 8
Point Roberts, WA 98281 Postal Patron Local
A beautiful night for a bike ride ...
By Erin Kelly The Point Roberts Park and Recreation District board is looking for public input on the direction the board should take as it considers possible new programs and infrastructure. Each board member has been appointed in the past year leaving the board with little institutional memory or knowledge. Before undertaking major or minor projects, members want to know the community’s opinion on if and how the district should grow and change. In its regular monthly board meeting on December 12 that lasted three hours, board members discussed the need for public input before making significant decisions involving taxpayer money. “We all got into this because we want to see a better community, and we’ve got to make sure that we’re representing the community,” said Michael Cressy. The board agreed to conduct an online survey to ask residents what they would like to see the district accomplish in the near- and long-term. One idea under discussion is to build a new community center at Baker Field on Benson Road. During the November district meeting, chair Mitch Friedman said, “It is clear that there is just not enough room [in the community center] for the growth the Point has had in the past few years. There is a lack of storage for the senior meals, food bank, PREP emergency shelter supplies, and park and rec supplies including kid’s camp. We are currently unable to feed the seniors in the dining room due to lack of space. We are often over-crowded during events and meetings. The kitchen septic system has been designated as a residential size and therefore unable to open the kitchen for community use.” The issue was placed on the December agenda for further discussion. Chair Mitch Friedman opened the discussion by seeking approval to pay a $850 fee to hold a pre-development meeting with the county (See Parks district, page 3)
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WEEKLY NEWS BULLETIN
s The first ever holiday night ride and tree lighting ceremony on December 5 was a big success with over 50 cyclists and others participating in the Point Roberts Taxpayer Association-sponsored event. Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus even showed up. Photo by Nic Lehoux
2022 year in
REVIEW
A Look Back at the Year That Just Was
By Erin Kelly Ahhh, 2022. Some good times, some bad times, some ok times. At last we were able to get out and see each other and cross the border reasonably easier. Compared to 2020 and 2021, it was a banner year, all things considered. Here then, is our annual year in review ... January • Due to concerns made by residents to the Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee in December 2021, county engineers made plans to evaluate and propose
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improvements to road drainage systems and to assess how the marina’s private drainage system might be affecting flooding of county roads by January 2022. • Park commissioners Mitch Friedman, Michael Cressy, Matt Wang, and Bill Zidel were sworn in. • Three Point Roberts businesses changed ownership. Lorne Nielson sold Nielson’s Building Center to Fred Pakzad after it had been in his family for nearly 60 years. Lynne and Snyder Vick, who owned the Shell station since 2004, sold it to Pinder and Robin Kallu of Kallu Enterprises. After 10 years of ownership, Pamala Sheppard sold Auntie Pam’s Country Store to Neil (See Year in Review, page 5)
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Church ............................................. 17 Classifieds ........................................ 16 Coming Up ....................................... 11 Crossings .......................................... 14 Obituary ........................................... 18 Opinion ............................................... 4 Sheriffs ............................................. 18 Tides ................................................. 17
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