Sending on this good news from Arthur Reber:
Hear ye, hear ye ...
The RCO Grant was funded!
We wil have our dock/pier at Lighthouse Park restored.
The details are buried somewhere in the State and County documents (I'm trying to ferret them out) but here's what I know.
1. The grant is for $240,000.
2. The County is on record providing matching funds at 1 to 3 which means they will put in an additional $80,000.
3. The full $320,000 will be used to replace the wood pilings with steel ones and put in a new pier with the same footprint as the old one.
4. The project is slated to begin in late 2012 and be finished in February of 2013. .
I think we should all give our personal thanks to Mike McFarlane for his efforts in getting the grant and to County Council and Pete Kremen for their support in securing the additional funding.
Arthur Reber
Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
High Cost Zone
When you head south to cross the border into the U.S. at the Peace Arch crossing, there is a big billboard on the west side of the highway that says, " Now Entering High Cost Medical Zone: Use Caution.". That's where we are now, in the high cost zone that is the University of Washington Medical Center, and we are probably throwing caution to the winds and just using what needs to be used.
In any case, we are in Seattle and not likely to be writing much about Point
Roberts, except to say that when you live in Point Roberts and need some serious medical care, you have to go somewhere else. Sometimes that is Bellingham, and sometimes that is Seattle.
In any case, we are in Seattle and not likely to be writing much about Point
Roberts, except to say that when you live in Point Roberts and need some serious medical care, you have to go somewhere else. Sometimes that is Bellingham, and sometimes that is Seattle.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Good Day For Maple Trees
The message following, from a Whatcom County engineer, makes it sound as if the maple canopy is safe, at leat for the moment.
"to all who are concerned:
The Engineering Division will work with the plat applicant to accomplish their impact mitigation improvements to APA Road removing as few trees as possible, if any. The applicant has proposed the design below for APA Road. They are proposing the APA Road access be 'emergency only' and used for their sales office only. All plat traffic will use Pauls Road. Because of this change, the improvements to APA Roadway will be between South Beach Road and Pauls Road. APA Road will be improved from the existing 20-foot wide roadway with 3-foot gravel shoulders to 22-foot roadway with 4-foot gravel shoulders. This is a total widening of 4 feet. The applicant may use curbs, guardrails, turnouts, other methods, or a combination of methods to minimize clear zone and the removal of trees.
Engineering conditions of approval effecting APA Road are:
Off-site improvements to proportionally mitigate the traffic impacts of the development equate to 9,207 square feet of asphalt and 20,790 square feet of gravel shoulder. The result of this is widening of Paul's Road from plat access to APA Rd (widening a total of about 12 feet with asphalt and gravel shoulders) to a minimum of 22 feet wide asphalt with 4-foot gravel shoulders. APA Road shall be widening the same width from Paul's Road intersection to South Beach Road intersection (widening a total width of about 4 feet with asphalt and gravel).
The applicant may use curb and/or guardrail and/or another alternative to meet clear zone requirements while maintaining as many of the trees as feasible. Should any tree have to be taken down, the applicant shall replace it at a ratio of 3 native trees to one tree removed (maximum size commercially available).
All of the above may be reduced by the County Engineer through an approved traffic report modification.
Take Care,
Mary White
Engineering Division
Whatcom County
(360) 676-6730
"
"to all who are concerned:
The Engineering Division will work with the plat applicant to accomplish their impact mitigation improvements to APA Road removing as few trees as possible, if any. The applicant has proposed the design below for APA Road. They are proposing the APA Road access be 'emergency only' and used for their sales office only. All plat traffic will use Pauls Road. Because of this change, the improvements to APA Roadway will be between South Beach Road and Pauls Road. APA Road will be improved from the existing 20-foot wide roadway with 3-foot gravel shoulders to 22-foot roadway with 4-foot gravel shoulders. This is a total widening of 4 feet. The applicant may use curbs, guardrails, turnouts, other methods, or a combination of methods to minimize clear zone and the removal of trees.
Engineering conditions of approval effecting APA Road are:
Off-site improvements to proportionally mitigate the traffic impacts of the development equate to 9,207 square feet of asphalt and 20,790 square feet of gravel shoulder. The result of this is widening of Paul's Road from plat access to APA Rd (widening a total of about 12 feet with asphalt and gravel shoulders) to a minimum of 22 feet wide asphalt with 4-foot gravel shoulders. APA Road shall be widening the same width from Paul's Road intersection to South Beach Road intersection (widening a total width of about 4 feet with asphalt and gravel).
The applicant may use curb and/or guardrail and/or another alternative to meet clear zone requirements while maintaining as many of the trees as feasible. Should any tree have to be taken down, the applicant shall replace it at a ratio of 3 native trees to one tree removed (maximum size commercially available).
All of the above may be reduced by the County Engineer through an approved traffic report modification.
Take Care,
Mary White
Engineering Division
Whatcom County
(360) 676-6730
"
Monday, June 20, 2011
Buying Locally
Point Roberts this year has joined in the nationwide movement of buying food produced locally. In our case, Sagewood Farms (sagewoodfarms.org) has begun its operation on a relatively small scale (planning for 50-75 members in its first summer). It provides only produce; at least so far, they're not offering eggs or milk or lamb chops, and maybe never. But produce is a good start, even if it's only for part of the year.
We were a little slow signing up for it largely because I was not sure we could manage that much produce every week. But, I finally figured out that it was a good idea and on that basis alone, we ought to support it. And, of course, there was nothing stopping me from sharing this produce with others if it was too much for us. As it turned out, there was an every-other-week option as well as an every-week one, and every other week is great for us.
All last winter, I was complaining to Ed that I was tired of the very limited supply of vegetables that seemed to be on offer. The limits were largely that I was tired of six different ways of packaging carrots and iceberg lettuce and, well, I don't know exactly what the problem was. It just got harder and harder to buy any of it, other than broccoli, of which I am particularly fond. And now, I find, thanks to Sagewood that there are new vegetables in the world. Last delivery, we got Japanese sweet potatoes, which I had never known about; and this delivery, there were French radishes, which are much nicer than the little round red radishes which I wouldn't eat if it was just me and them on earth. Lovely greens, very nice mushrooms of various kinds, small packets of this and that. It's a little like Christmas when the shipment box arrives. So, it's not just a good idea: it's also attractive, very fresh and tasty produce, an education and a celebration.
If you are interested in joining, you can reach Tom, who makes it possible, here.
We were a little slow signing up for it largely because I was not sure we could manage that much produce every week. But, I finally figured out that it was a good idea and on that basis alone, we ought to support it. And, of course, there was nothing stopping me from sharing this produce with others if it was too much for us. As it turned out, there was an every-other-week option as well as an every-week one, and every other week is great for us.
All last winter, I was complaining to Ed that I was tired of the very limited supply of vegetables that seemed to be on offer. The limits were largely that I was tired of six different ways of packaging carrots and iceberg lettuce and, well, I don't know exactly what the problem was. It just got harder and harder to buy any of it, other than broccoli, of which I am particularly fond. And now, I find, thanks to Sagewood that there are new vegetables in the world. Last delivery, we got Japanese sweet potatoes, which I had never known about; and this delivery, there were French radishes, which are much nicer than the little round red radishes which I wouldn't eat if it was just me and them on earth. Lovely greens, very nice mushrooms of various kinds, small packets of this and that. It's a little like Christmas when the shipment box arrives. So, it's not just a good idea: it's also attractive, very fresh and tasty produce, an education and a celebration.
If you are interested in joining, you can reach Tom, who makes it possible, here.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Tentative Good News
There is a preliminary report that Whatcom County Planning is willing to forgo the widening of APA Road in connection with the Lily Point Beach Club. Perhaps they heard our concerted wail? News as it arrives.
And about Vancouver Rioting last night after the last hockey game? I fear that my assessment of the Canadian character will have to become more nuanced. But mostly I'm just shocked. I'm from Los Angeles, so the fact of riots doesn't surprise me, but over an irrelevant game? What will they do when it is something serious?
And about Vancouver Rioting last night after the last hockey game? I fear that my assessment of the Canadian character will have to become more nuanced. But mostly I'm just shocked. I'm from Los Angeles, so the fact of riots doesn't surprise me, but over an irrelevant game? What will they do when it is something serious?
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
The Community Continues to Be
Last night, the Community Advisory Committee (that's advisory to Whatcom County) met and went through its agenda. In some ways, the agenda is always the same, although the discussion may differ from time to time. That's because there's always some kind of development issue that is rubbing lots of people the wrong way; there is always some kind of border concern; there is always something to be said about what is to happen to the gas tax levy money.
The gas tax levy issue produced the news that there is to be installed a streetlight at Johnson and Tyee, and that the gas tax levy moneys will be used to pay the electric bill for that light. Also that some kind of beautification on Tyee, at the Community Events Sign corner, and at the end of Gulf Road might yet happen with those moneys. And, finally, that the shoulder of Benson from Tyee to South Beach will have its walking path restored in the near future, assuming we have a summer this year.
And then there's the other things, about which much vaguer things were said, so they shall remain unreported.
The petition to the state and the county about protecting the APA Maple Canopy is being signed by people near and far. So far, about 370 signators. We ought to be able to do better than that, but maybe we are yet a community of cranks. One well known local fellow refused to sign when I offered him an easy access to it at the Saturday Market because 'Maples don't inspire him.' And, I have to say, he doesn't inspire me, either.
The gas tax levy issue produced the news that there is to be installed a streetlight at Johnson and Tyee, and that the gas tax levy moneys will be used to pay the electric bill for that light. Also that some kind of beautification on Tyee, at the Community Events Sign corner, and at the end of Gulf Road might yet happen with those moneys. And, finally, that the shoulder of Benson from Tyee to South Beach will have its walking path restored in the near future, assuming we have a summer this year.
And then there's the other things, about which much vaguer things were said, so they shall remain unreported.
The petition to the state and the county about protecting the APA Maple Canopy is being signed by people near and far. So far, about 370 signators. We ought to be able to do better than that, but maybe we are yet a community of cranks. One well known local fellow refused to sign when I offered him an easy access to it at the Saturday Market because 'Maples don't inspire him.' And, I have to say, he doesn't inspire me, either.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Abandoned House Quilt Reception
On Wednesday, June 15th from 4 to 7 pm the Point Roberts Historical Society invites the public to visit the new, permanent display "Abandoned Houses of Point Roberts". These 18 beautiful quilts were designed and crafted by local fiber artist Judy Ross and she has generously donated them to the Historical Society and to the people on the Point. Please join us to appreciate the beauty, the artistic detailing and the homage to the rich history of our community.
Well, there's an advertisement for myself. I will be there with the quilts, as will members of the Historicsl Society, many of whom can provide more history about these houses than I can. Please come.
Well, there's an advertisement for myself. I will be there with the quilts, as will members of the Historicsl Society, many of whom can provide more history about these houses than I can. Please come.
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