Issuu

June 2024

IN THIS

ISSUE

www.AllPointBulletin.com

Rose and George are leaving, page 8

Patients express alarm over change

Update on broadband programs, page 9

ECRWSS PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 14

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Some people are busy bees, page 11

Point Roberts, WA 98281 Postal Patron Local

A night to remember ...

B y P a t G r u bb The prospect that there is a move afoot to switch providers at the Point Roberts health clinic from the current SuperTrack Urgent Care to another, seemingly less capable, operator has continued to spur concern amongst clinic patients since the district’s regular monthly meeting in May. According to superintendent Barbara Wayland, the hospital district has received 22 letters regarding the clinic, 18 of which were in support of SuperTrack. Of the four letters against, two of them involved hearsay or third-party criticism. Around three dozen people had showed up in person or by Zoom at the Point Roberts hospital district’s regular meeting at the community center on May 8, apparently fearful that two of the three commissioners wanted to replace SuperTrack Urgent Care, the current operators of the local health clinic on Benson Road. The concern was sparked by a posting on May 5 of an article on the Small Point Bulletin, an online blog owned by Vic and Shannon Riley. (The blog has no connection with the All Point Bulletin or the ePointBulletin.) Following a presentation by Dr. John Anwar offering his services as a potential replacement for SuperTrack at the board’s April board meeting, Vic Riley made an extensive Open Public Records (OPR) request to the hospital district. In it, he asked for copies of communications between board chair Stephen Falk and district superintendent Barbara Wayland involving meeting agendas, Dr. Anwar, fellow commissioner Sara Oggel, Deb Shields and her family (Shields, a physician’s assistant, has previously sought to operate the clinic and is part of Anwar’s recent proposal), and Virginia Lester (a nurse practitioner who used to work at the clinic). Riley made a similar request for all communications between those listed above and commissioner Sara Oggel as well as those with superintendent Barb Wayland. (Note: the All Point Bulletin subsequently made an OPR request for the materials supplied to the Rileys.) The result of Riley’s OPR request was a startling revelation of undisclosed meet(See Hospital, (24No) page 6) tjohnson;Seattle;Clean Air Comfort Systems;C33432;10x2-4c

s Perhaps the lunar eclipse of 2024 passed us by but the residents of Point Roberts got a skyshow to remember on the night of May 14. Photo by James Ewart

CDC implementing draconian rabies rules B y P a t G r u bb To the alarm of local dog owners, the CDC will be implementing new rules about bringing dogs into the U.S. by land, sea or air from anywhere in the world. This will include U.S. residents returning from travel to Canada and Mexico with their pooch in their car, boat or RV. It will also apply to non-U.S. citizens traveling to the U.S. to visit their cabins or for tourism. Beginning August 1, new import rules will require dogs to be over 6 months old, be micro-chipped and carry a valid certificate showing the dog has been vaccinated for rabies, and have a completed CDC Dog Import Form. No dogs under six months can enter the country. Both Canada and Mexico are considered

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rabies-free by the CDC and have been for years. Previously, dogs under the age of six months were exempt from the requirement that they be inoculated for rabies. The CDC originally proposed keeping that exemption to reduce the burden on U.S. travelers who frequently travel across the U.S.’s borders with Canada and Mexico, but removed it in order “to create a uniform standard for all dogs,” among other reasons. Amanda Wyma-Bradley of Senator Patti Murray’s office has been forwarding letters from concerned dog owners to the CDC, letting the agency know of the challenges the new rules impose on frequent border crossers. In a response to a comment made during

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Classifieds ......................................... 12 Coming Up ....................................... 12 Crossings .......................................... 13 Library Picks..................................... 10 Opinion ............................................... 4 Seniors ............................................. 10 Sheriff’s............................................. 10 Tides ................................................. 10

(See Dog rules, page 12)

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3/20/24 4:25 PM