A funny thing happened earlier this month. I was at the Park and Rec Board monthly meeting where they were discussing a current problem. Puget Sound Energy needed to have an enclosure with a container where they could store equipment they needed to have readily available in case of power outages. (We need them to have that, certainly.) They build such an enclosure and provided such a container on land that belongs to Park and Rec. After they built it, they agreed to plant some trees to do some screening of said enclosure.
That's good all round, right? But, there is no water faucet belonging to Park and Rec near the site of the three, newly planted trees. And the trees need to be watered regularly for the first year or so. What to do? Well, about 20 feet away from the Park and Rec site is the Fire District's main building. And the building has a hose bib. So maybe they could put a hose from the Fire District's hose bib to the trees? So, they decided to ask the Fire District whether that could be done.
Then later that week, I was at the Fire District meeting and the issue of the hose and the trees came up. There was considerable concern on the part of two of the Commissioners that Park and Rec was inappropriately (and perhaps illegally) expecting that the Fire District should pay for water for the Park and Rec's three trees. This was not thought to be acceptable. But then the Chairman pointed out that he had checked with the Water District's Dan Bourks and Bourks had offered to put a special meter on the Fire District's hose bib so that Park and Rec could use the water for its trees without the Fire District being charged for the water. And somehow, the Water District would arrange for the bill to be sent to Park and Rec. And that was the resolution that was approved.
But I was thinking...Park and Rec helped out Puget Sound Energy with a space because the community needs to have power outages promptly restored. PSE helped out the community by planting the trees. The Fire District helped out the community by letting their hose bib provide water for the trees. And the Water District helped out the community by installing a special hose bib meter. All this stuff was for the community.
Surely the simplest solution was for the fire district to allow a hose to be attached to its hose bib and for the water to just water the trees. But, somehow, this got translated into Park and Rec's trees and the Fire District's water bill. But all of it is for us. If we'd had an election, I'm guessing everybody would have voted to have the Fire District do that and skip the special meter installation, which may cost more than water does. But, instead we get a complex solution. Which is the way we live now, I guess.
Monday, May 26, 2014
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Everybody's Library
Apparently there is some confusion about public access to the Maple Beach Park, which is, I believe, owned by the Maple Beach Owners' Association. This is where the new Little Library has been erected. The Little Library is owned and operated by the Friends of the Point Roberts Library ( that's the group that is generally devoted to helping the library provide additional services as well as devoted to raising funds for a new library: anyone can join, and I urge you to do so if you care about the community's having a thriving library). And the Little Library is there for the use of anyone who comes by and wants to read one of the books in the library. You're Welcome, of course! And enjoy!
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Another Change
I am not sure that this constitutes a big change in P.R., not least because it's the second time it's happened in about the last 10 years, but it is the case that Sterling Bank is now Umpqua Bank (a name that reminds us that we are in Indian Country). In that connection, I am offered (and now offer to you) a group of youtube videos that were made to introduce us to Sterling Bank back when it took over Key Bank. They're an odd lot and seem only recently to have been posted to Youtube, perhaps by the advertising company to display their work.
They come to me by way of a new Point Roberts resident, newly retired, who has time (as one does at the beginning of retirement) to do things like roam around on the internet to see where Point Roberts is displayed. Here's the link to the Sterling commercial about the Fire Department back in the days when, it would appear though probably not correctly, that we had only 4 volunteer firemen as opposed to our current 50 or so. (You can get to the other 5 videos by clicking on the ad agency's name on the fire dept. video link.)
Thanks for turning these up, Bennett, and welcome to you and your wife to full-time life in Point Roberts.
They come to me by way of a new Point Roberts resident, newly retired, who has time (as one does at the beginning of retirement) to do things like roam around on the internet to see where Point Roberts is displayed. Here's the link to the Sterling commercial about the Fire Department back in the days when, it would appear though probably not correctly, that we had only 4 volunteer firemen as opposed to our current 50 or so. (You can get to the other 5 videos by clicking on the ad agency's name on the fire dept. video link.)
Thanks for turning these up, Bennett, and welcome to you and your wife to full-time life in Point Roberts.
Monday, May 12, 2014
Long Time, No See
Coming out from under in what looks sincerely like the spring. Well, It's the middle of May, so I should hope so. And there's various newses from Point Roberts:
1. The International Marketplace is driving us all crazy by moving everything around so now we have to ask somebody where to find most of the things we were planning to buy. I imagine it's good for store morale to do this kind of thing every so often, but old customers may be less enthusiastic. I like knowing where things are a lot more than I like asking where things are, although at the moment at least there's somebody to ask in pretty much every aisle since they are the ones doing the moving.
2. The International Marketplace is pleasing all of us residents with its new commitment to produce that looks very much like something that a shopper would be interested in buying and eating. It's an amazing difference. I remember a time a few years back when almost a quarter of the back section had nothing but carrots in a variety of package sizes. Cardones? Not only do they have them but they explain what you are to do with them. Great work Dean and Team!
3. The Cafe Cappana has opened under new management and Linda and Ron Hughes are doing a terrific job of bringing us a much spruced up environment and very nice food. We had lunch there yesterday (and your entitled to have breakfast all day) and were more than pleased with the quality of the food. And it's always good to see the Hughes family members, even when they are serving you your lunch. Go and try it out. The only downside (for us, but probably not for them) is that they close around 3, I think. And the baked goods sell out early in the day. Good luck on this new venture, Ron and Linda, Lake and Veronica!
4. The Post Office disappoints by having lines almost all the time and rarely more than one open window. And they still cannot find a way to provide customers (or are we patrons?) with a scale. If you have stamps (which you could buy at the grocery store, I believe) and a scale, you could sometimes avoid those lines. Why they want us being irritated in those lines is a mystery to me.
Otherwise, welcome to spring in Point Roberts!
1. The International Marketplace is driving us all crazy by moving everything around so now we have to ask somebody where to find most of the things we were planning to buy. I imagine it's good for store morale to do this kind of thing every so often, but old customers may be less enthusiastic. I like knowing where things are a lot more than I like asking where things are, although at the moment at least there's somebody to ask in pretty much every aisle since they are the ones doing the moving.
2. The International Marketplace is pleasing all of us residents with its new commitment to produce that looks very much like something that a shopper would be interested in buying and eating. It's an amazing difference. I remember a time a few years back when almost a quarter of the back section had nothing but carrots in a variety of package sizes. Cardones? Not only do they have them but they explain what you are to do with them. Great work Dean and Team!
3. The Cafe Cappana has opened under new management and Linda and Ron Hughes are doing a terrific job of bringing us a much spruced up environment and very nice food. We had lunch there yesterday (and your entitled to have breakfast all day) and were more than pleased with the quality of the food. And it's always good to see the Hughes family members, even when they are serving you your lunch. Go and try it out. The only downside (for us, but probably not for them) is that they close around 3, I think. And the baked goods sell out early in the day. Good luck on this new venture, Ron and Linda, Lake and Veronica!
4. The Post Office disappoints by having lines almost all the time and rarely more than one open window. And they still cannot find a way to provide customers (or are we patrons?) with a scale. If you have stamps (which you could buy at the grocery store, I believe) and a scale, you could sometimes avoid those lines. Why they want us being irritated in those lines is a mystery to me.
Otherwise, welcome to spring in Point Roberts!
Monday, April 14, 2014
Trader Joe's and the Point Roberts Post Office
I was looking at some internet nothingness the other day and what it in particular focused on were comments on the Bellingham Trader Joe's site. I like Trader Joe's, shopped there (but in Los Angeles) for decades. It's always crowded. That seems to be their business model: small stores, small parking lots, lots of items, lots of customers. It's rarely a solitary or contemplative shopping experience. But, I must admit that Bellingham's Trader Joe's has taken that business model to something of an extreme.
But I go there anyway: good prices, good quality. And then yesterday, I found myself reading these customer comments. But what was remarkable was the very high frequency of complaint about how many of the shoppers, how many of the parking lot users, were Canadians. I'm pretty impressed to think that vast numbers of Canadians drive down to Bellingham just to shop at Trader Joe's. But that's what the comments would lead you to think.
And then there was the one commenter who suggested that the very least Trader Joe's management could do was have special hours for Americans Only. Thus causing me to send out this congratulation to Point Roberts' residents: Although I have heard people here say that there should be special times or lines for large-volume commercial mailers at the post office (our own version of the Trader Joe's problem), I have NEVER heard anyone say that there should be special hours just for those of us who live here. What we mostly hear is that the post office management should provide more staff to handle the customers. And for that, the USPO could take some lessons from Bellingham's Trader Joe's. In that store, there are lots of check stands and they're pretty much all open all the time and the cheerful checkers get you through the line very quickly!
But I go there anyway: good prices, good quality. And then yesterday, I found myself reading these customer comments. But what was remarkable was the very high frequency of complaint about how many of the shoppers, how many of the parking lot users, were Canadians. I'm pretty impressed to think that vast numbers of Canadians drive down to Bellingham just to shop at Trader Joe's. But that's what the comments would lead you to think.
And then there was the one commenter who suggested that the very least Trader Joe's management could do was have special hours for Americans Only. Thus causing me to send out this congratulation to Point Roberts' residents: Although I have heard people here say that there should be special times or lines for large-volume commercial mailers at the post office (our own version of the Trader Joe's problem), I have NEVER heard anyone say that there should be special hours just for those of us who live here. What we mostly hear is that the post office management should provide more staff to handle the customers. And for that, the USPO could take some lessons from Bellingham's Trader Joe's. In that store, there are lots of check stands and they're pretty much all open all the time and the cheerful checkers get you through the line very quickly!
Friday, April 11, 2014
Many Events
The spring continues and local doings seem to increase in number each week. I made it to the Taxpayers Association meeting and to the Voters Annual General meeting this week, as well as to a very nice (private) fabric sale that will be open to the public as a yard sale on the 19th and 20th. Keep an eye out for it (it will be announced on Point Interface); gorgeous fabrics.
The Taxpayers were having a fairly routine meeting, just keeping up with whatever it is we are paying taxes for. Its Annual General Meeting is in August and they have invited Governor Inslee up to speak. Seems a long shot, but it would sure be nice to see him up here finding out what goes in what is in many ways the least of his responsibilities.
The Voters had County Executive Jack Louws up for their meeting. He told us that Whatcom County was in good shape both financially and psychologically. The latter insofar as people were working together well. They are building a new jail down there and that has demanded a lot of political and bureaucratic work, I conclude from the political blog about Bellingham that I occasionally read.
As to Point Roberts: well, the County is still hoping to get the dock in this year but doing so involves multiple jurisdictions (the State? the Feds?) and that part does not seem to be melding together at all, let along working smoothly. So, maybe a new dock this year, maybe not. Other than that, not much.
The attendees at the meeting had a lot of questions about communication between the County and the Point. Last time they were up here, a lot of discussion centered around whether the County would please post its notices in something in addition to the Bellingham Herald, which we don't get up here. For example, we suggested, send them as well to the All Point Bulletin and even Point-Interface. "Indeed, we will do that," said the Planning Department people. And, said Mr. Louws, "Indeed, they have said they will do that." But so far, it doesn't look like they in fact have done it.
It was pointed out by the visitors that information is routinely posted on the County Website and that 'we should have someone check that site routinely.' It was one of those moments when you suspect that the Whatcom people are ultimately totally unable to underestand what it's like to live somewhere where there is no institutional government, but instead only volunteers of varying commitment and abilities. I could easily imagine the County officials going back to their offices and noting to one another that they intended to get one of their people to look into and solve the problem of Point Roberts, whatever that might be at the moment. And, they have "people" on their payrolls that do their bidding and do it more or less competently. Here, however, not so much. "I'll get my people right on that website checking thing," I wanted to say. "Except that I don't have any people and I'm already pretty busy working on Library Fundraising. Maybe, instead, you could have one of YOUR people write up a summary each month and send it up to one of us to distribute." That we could manage.
The Taxpayers were having a fairly routine meeting, just keeping up with whatever it is we are paying taxes for. Its Annual General Meeting is in August and they have invited Governor Inslee up to speak. Seems a long shot, but it would sure be nice to see him up here finding out what goes in what is in many ways the least of his responsibilities.
The Voters had County Executive Jack Louws up for their meeting. He told us that Whatcom County was in good shape both financially and psychologically. The latter insofar as people were working together well. They are building a new jail down there and that has demanded a lot of political and bureaucratic work, I conclude from the political blog about Bellingham that I occasionally read.
As to Point Roberts: well, the County is still hoping to get the dock in this year but doing so involves multiple jurisdictions (the State? the Feds?) and that part does not seem to be melding together at all, let along working smoothly. So, maybe a new dock this year, maybe not. Other than that, not much.
The attendees at the meeting had a lot of questions about communication between the County and the Point. Last time they were up here, a lot of discussion centered around whether the County would please post its notices in something in addition to the Bellingham Herald, which we don't get up here. For example, we suggested, send them as well to the All Point Bulletin and even Point-Interface. "Indeed, we will do that," said the Planning Department people. And, said Mr. Louws, "Indeed, they have said they will do that." But so far, it doesn't look like they in fact have done it.
It was pointed out by the visitors that information is routinely posted on the County Website and that 'we should have someone check that site routinely.' It was one of those moments when you suspect that the Whatcom people are ultimately totally unable to underestand what it's like to live somewhere where there is no institutional government, but instead only volunteers of varying commitment and abilities. I could easily imagine the County officials going back to their offices and noting to one another that they intended to get one of their people to look into and solve the problem of Point Roberts, whatever that might be at the moment. And, they have "people" on their payrolls that do their bidding and do it more or less competently. Here, however, not so much. "I'll get my people right on that website checking thing," I wanted to say. "Except that I don't have any people and I'm already pretty busy working on Library Fundraising. Maybe, instead, you could have one of YOUR people write up a summary each month and send it up to one of us to distribute." That we could manage.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Last Day of Winter
What a spectacular final day of winter: blue skies, minimal wind. I dried the laundry outdoors on the line. I planted strawberries. Just an amazing winter day.
Maybe the first day of spring? Check with me later in the week. I have learned to be distrustful.
Maybe the first day of spring? Check with me later in the week. I have learned to be distrustful.
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