CONTENTS
Confirmed Cases 116, Deaths 7
MakerSpace Donations Location & Times
Whatcom Unified Command Donations Location & Times
Revisiting Masks
Hospital Controversy
From Dr Ming Lin
From A Local Health Care Worker
Columbia Neighborhood
Bread Subscription With Local Pickup
Repost Request: Zoofari
Need Emergency Plumber
Rental Needed
Flip’s Pix For Music
Video Lag
Editor’s Corner: Yawning
CONFIRMED CASES 116 DEATHS 7
Whatcom county reports 116 positive tests as of Sunday noon. More Shuksan residents have died, and more nursing homes are now involved. Because there are so few tests available, we have no clear picture of how widespread the virus is in our community. The Whatcom County Health Department posts new numbers around noon daily. Check the Bellingham Herald for more details.
MAKERSPACE DONATIONS LOCATION
12 – 5, Mon -Friday: Someone will be available to receive donations at Bellingham Makerspace which is located at the Bellis Fair Mall. If you are in the parking lot and driving toward Dick’s Sporting Goods, there is a loading cu-lde-sac on the right. That’s where.
WHATCOM UNIFIED COMMAND DONATIONS LOCATION
4-6 pm Monday – Friday: You mentioned Friday that WUC is out by the airport. I just dropped off supplies to them today Saturday, and they are now behind the mattress place on Meridian, 4233 Guide Meridian. Because of the street barriers, if you are driving on the northbound side of The Guide, you have to turn left on Kellogg and turn around so that you are heading south. Then take the first right to go along the side of the mattress store towards back of building. Here is the contact info. [from Caryn Friedlander]
Rud Browne, Donations Branch Director, Whatcom Unified Command: 360-820-9494 WUC_Donations@co.whatcom.wa.us
REVISITING MASKS
It has been widely shared (including by me) that wearing masks in this pandemic isn’t a good idea. Of course people in the general public should not be wearing masks specifically made for healthcare workers, because supplies are so low. But apparently, we should be wearing something else – anything else. Why? Because even ones made from two t-shirts, work. Here is a link to an article from the Washington Post. I found it convincing. If you can’t get at it, email me at flip@columbianeighborhood.org and I will send you the text.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/03/28/masks-all-coronavirus/
On the other hand, my cousin Alex Breskin is an epidemiologist. I wrote him about masks, this morning. Here’s his reply: Transmission in closed spaces is way higher than open spaces. If you are maintaining your 6 foot distance from others when outside then a mask is not needed. It’s not going to hurt to cover your mouth and nose when indoors with others, but I haven’t seen any meaningful evidence that cotton fabric will help much.
HOSPITAL CONTROVERSY
DR MING LIN SPEAKS
I want to be sure that Dr Lin gets the first word:
“It has been obvious from my contact with the media that the story of my firing has distracted from my message of providing optimal safety for the healthcare staff.
I am touched at what people have been doing on my behalf.
But we are in a National Emergency of unprecedented times. PLEASE NO PETITIONS, NO PROTESTING , and please realize ANY NEGATIVE ACTION MAY HARM patients who need care from the hospital.
We need to channel our energy toward preparing for a potential pandemic. Wash your hands, keep your distance and put on a mask.
LETTER FROM A LOCAL NURSE
Many of you know that Dr. Ming Lin, a 17-year veteran emergency department physician at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, was fired for speaking out publicly pertaining to his concerns about the lack of proper safety protections and protocols for frontline doctors and nurses at our community’s only hospital, and what that means for their health and the health of patients and the greater community. Dr. Lin has been a physician for over 30 years. He worked at St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York City when 9/11 happened — he has experience in health and community crisis situations.
COVID-19 eclipses every other story in the news. The public is understandably desperate for accurate, honest, transparent information, clarity and guidance. That is why it is essential that PeaceHealth re-evaluate how they have (mis)handled their communications and preparedness to date. Some may say, this is not a time for recriminations. This isn’t about recriminations, it’s about reminding PeaceHealth — during this pandemic — that they must be honest, going forward. The truth will always emerge, so why not be transparent and sensibly proactive — and admit fault where needed? Admitting you haven’t done some things right is never easy, but it is a sign of strength and leadership.
I am a nurse and a former PeaceHealth employee, so I have some knowledge of the “culture of intimidation” that can occur within the organization; a fear of consequences if one points out short-falls or failings — ranging from embarrassment and isolation to low performance ratings, lost promotions, even firing, as happened to Dr. Lin.
Nurses at St. Joe’s have filed complaints with the Washington State Nurses Association pertaining to PeaceHealth’s actions and inaction. WSNA’s complaint was filed with the Washington state Department of Labor and Industries Division of Occupational Safety and Health over what they believe is the hospital’s failure to provide a safe work environment. Also, the American Academy of Emergency Medicine issued their position and statement on Dr. Lin’s firing. AAEM, stating in part,
“…It is an essential duty of a physician to advocate for the health of others. Dr. Lin, as a member of the medical staff, is entitled to full due process and a fair hearing from his peers on the medical staff. TeamHealth, a lay corporation owned by the private equity company the Blackstone Group, should not be the employer of Dr. Lin according to the laws of the state of Washington. Their hand in this termination is not only inexcusable but likely impermissible. We call on the WA state Attorney General and the State Board of Medicine to investigate this circumstance….”
https://www.aaem.org/resources/statements/position/firing-of-dr-ming-lin
A foundational principle of safety, that must be adhered to by all hospitals and health systems is, “If you see something, say something.” That’s precisely what Dr. Lin did.
I urge you to join me in support of Dr. Lin. Please contact Bev Mathew, local communications/PR for PeaceHealth, bmayhew@peacehealth.org. I don’t know if Dr. Lin would want to be reinstated, or not, but tell them their actions are not congruent with PeaceHealth’s mission statement. Their actions are detrimental to not only St. Joe’s frontline providers, but to patients, the community and our future. Be polite, but let them know, they are ethically obligated to tell us the truth and adequately support the dedicated staff at St. Joe’s.
Thank you, Rebecca Cutler, Broadway Street
COLUMBIA NEIGHBORHOOD
BREAD SUBSCRIPTION WITH LOCAL PICKUP
Local baker, Sophie Williams, owns Raven Breads and primarily sells to individuals through the Farmer’s Market. To continue operations during the stay-at-home situation, Raven Breads will be running an April Bread Subscription with local self-pickup location in Columbia Neighborhood (on our porch)! Her website does a much better job of describing her amazing bread and business. Check it out and sign up at https://squareup.com/store/raven-breads/ (signup deadline is today, 3.29) Best, Dan Stone
REPOST REQUEST: ZOOFARI
Could you please re-post the March 23 suggestion from Maureen Standish titled “Zoofari”? My neighbor talked to a family biking down our street today, and they had only seen six or so stuffed animals. I put mine in the house in my picture window, facing my neighbors’ big bear in their window. It will add interest to walks and rides through the neighborhoods. Thanks ~ Zip Jelino
Place a stuffed animal, statue of animal, or plastic animal somewhere in your front yard. Or draw an animal and tape it to a window. When families are walking or biking they can try and find as many animals as possible. You might use binoculars! [My Velveteen Rabbit is now in my front window! ~Fl!p]
NEED EMERGENCY PLUMBER
Can I get a shout-out for an emergency plumber? I’m at 2415 Williams St and my water is turned off, but that is not a viable long term solution. ~ Lynne Pendleton 360-738-2780 360-220-4075
RENTAL NEEDED
I absolutely vouch for how responsible & kind Anna is. She would be a wonderful tenant or housemate. ~ Oona Sherman
$850 (incl. utilities) Single musician/full time employed woman+dog seek housing by 6/1/2020
We have been living in a wonderful mother-in-law in the Puget neighborhood for the past couple of years, but due to our current economic crisis, the people I rent from lost their income and need to move into our rental property. I work full-time at a very successful and reputable cannabis grow called SubX, and feel confident that my job will remain secure. I am also a songwriter/performer/cellist, and play all around the PNW but mainly Bellingham and Seattle. This community is my home, and I am invested in staying here and making it a better place. Bluebelle is my sweet 8 year old pit bull, and we go on 2 or more walks/hikes every day. She is very well-behaved and I am in the habit of cleaning up all her poops right away! I am a non-smoker, neat, quiet, happy to help with yard work etc. Because I write music,I would prefer to live in my own space with a decent amount of privacy. I can move any time between May 1 and June 1. Thank you very much!! ~ Anna Arvin (360) 685-3634 anna.arvan@gmail.com
FLIP’S PIX FOR MUSIC
VIDEO LAG
Hello musician friends! If you see any video where people are singing or playing music all together with no lag issues-that is a separate recordings edited together. There are no online platforms without lag. It is not something wrong with your computer or your internet..it’s just impossible to not have lag for technical reasons that are really smart and convincing. I am being asked this many times a day. If there was an online platform without lag-we would all be using it! Just try calling your friend on the phone and sing a song at the same time..it also won’t sync up. So back to zooming and doing the best we can or have everyone record their parts and develop some mad editing skills. From Karla Mundy, choir director, Vancouver BC
[I have been getting helpful suggestions from other musicians, but haven’t been able to get any of them to feel like live jamming. If I’m wrong, and I’d love to be, please let me know.]
If you are experiencing major lag with Zoom or any platform like that it’s worth it to really make sure there are no other streaming devices in the house. For me, that has meant putting Other devices right on to airplane mode not just making sure any apps are closed. From Emily Villavicencio
EDITOR’S CORNER
YAWNING TO RELIEVE STRESS
Every creature that has a spine yawns. Every one. Not just dogs, cats & horses, but birds, fish, snakes… It’s a built-in repair circuit which triggers the parasympathetic nervous system, which calms everything down in your body. Particularly useful when your body is stressed, injured, ill, or when you’re scared or upset. Try for at least three minutes of non-stop yawns, including very gentle stretching, making little noises, gently rubbing anything that itches. If you’re doing it well, your eyes should water and you may get little strings of saliva between your teeth. If you’re doing it really well, your stomach may growl. Twenty to forty minutes of non-stop yawning can also decommission stage fright. Do it until just before you walk out on stage. These days I even yawn between songs when I’m onstage, and invite my audience to yawn with me. Enjoy!
Love/Fl!p