CONTENTS 5/6/2020
Small Family Gatherings Problem
Contact Tracing That Preserves Privacy
Medicare Scams
Mayo Clinic Updated Symptoms
STEM Carnival At WCC
Flour?
Mallard 6 Days A Week
Columbia Neighborhood
Apology
Kie The Cat Is Safely Home!
Trigger Warning: Cat Follow-Up (Not Bad News)
Xbox One Controller Needed
Friends Looking For A Rental House
Fl!p’s Pix
Sobering Future For Singers
Editor’s Corner
Blue Bottles? Welder?
White Flower Chives
“SMALL FAMILY GATHERINGS” PROBLEM
Lummi’s coronavirus cluster last week is ‘a wake-up call’ for all Whatcom residents. During a four-day stretch between Wednesday, April 29, and Saturday, May 1, the Lummi Public Health Department reported the number of Lummi community members who had tested positive for COVID-19 had nearly doubled — jumping from 22 to 40 cases. https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/coronavirus/article242512476.html
CONTACT TRACING THAT PRESERVES PRIVACY
This looks very hopeful!
https://ncase.me/contact-tracing/
MEDICARE SCAMS
Unfortunately, scammers are using the COVID-19 pandemic to try to steal your Medicare Number, personal information, and money. And they’re using robocalls, social media posts, and emails to do it. Remember, if anyone reaches out to get your Medicare Number or personal information in exchange for something, you can bet it’s a scam. Medicare.gov/fraud
MAYO CLINIC UPDATED SYMPTOMS
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/symptom-list-for-covid-19-expanded/ ~ Dave Lind, Lorraine Ellis Court
STEM CARNIVAL AT WCC
I invite everyone to participate in the virtual S.T.E.M. Carnival being put on next week by some of my colleagues at Whatcom Community College. It’s a fun and interesting kid-oriented event with STEM-related activities to do at home. (STEM= Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) See the poster on WCC’s events calendar: https://www.whatcom.edu/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/13088/117 ~ Leslie Clark, Walnut Street
FLOUR?
Like so many folks these days, I’ve started baking bread – quite a bit of it. And, of course, it’s getting harder to find flour. Most stores sell out almost as soon as they restock. I’ve looked online and prices are incredibly high. One place I found this morning is Fairhaven Mills in Burlington. They apparently still have whole wheat flour (white flour is sold out). A 25 lb bags sells for $22.50, pickup at their facility only. Also in Burlington is Cairnsprings Mill. They sell flour out of their facility in 50lb bags. Seems like an opportunity for several bakers to share one or two bags. I like the idea of buying directly from a local mill that uses only Washington State wheat. Does anyone else have leads? Would anyone like to share? ~ Steve Scott, <sscottreloan@gmail.com>
MALLARD 6 DAYS A WEEK
For pre-order only, at their website. Pick up 12 – 5.
https://www.mallardicecream.com/
COLUMBIA NEIGHBORHOOD
APOLOGY
I have gone back and retitled my last blog post about the poor cat as Trigger Warning. I am very sorry. I will keep this in mind in the future.
KIE THE CAT IS SAFELY HOME!
Yay!!!!
TRIGGER WARNING: CAT FOLLOW-UP (NOT BAD NEWS)
The Animal Control Officer reports that the cat from yesterday was taken by an animal predator, not a human one. I needed to check, and am relieved at the news. Still sad for the loss of a beloved pet, but no longer worried. I have not heard whether the black and white cat’s family has heard of their poor cat’s demise.
XBOX ONE CONTROLLER NEEDED
My son lost his controller and we can’t buy one from any store in town or on-line. If you have a working controller we offer money for it. ~ Rosemary Webb, Rosemarywebb1947@gmail.com, 715.505.6191
FRIENDS LOOKING FOR A RENTAL HOUSE
Good friends of mine are planning to relocate to Bellingham this summer. Please see their message for details:
Hello! We are a family of 3 looking for a 2-3 bedroom house with a fenced yard to rent. We are professionals in our 40’s, a Landscape Architect and a Psychotherapist. Our five-year-old son will be starting kindergarten this fall. We have a 13-year-old basset hound mix, who is very friendly, well-behaved, and calm. We are quiet, respectful, and responsible renters. You are welcome to contact our current landlord in Seattle, whom we have rented from for the past 14 years. We are hoping to move in on July 1 or August 1. We look forward to speaking with you! ~ Amy, Dave, Otis, and Bob (dog), amycware@gmail.com ~ Darrah Blanton, Williams St.
FL!P’S PIX
SOBERING FUTURE FOR SINGERS
The same science telling us it’s dangerous to sing together now is also what can help us find a way through this dark time.
EDITOR’S CORNER
BLUE BOTTLES? WELDER?
I would love to set up a bottle tree in my garden. If anybody has deep blue bottles they have no use for, I would welcome donations. (Or other deep bright colors, or even narrow-neck vases.) If anyone knows a welder who could make me a rebar “tree” to place them on, I’d love contact information. Love/Fl!p 360-671-4511
WHITE FLOWER CHIVES
I have some baby chives spreading from my very cool chive plant that has white flowers. I’m happy to share some starts. Let me know. Love/Fl!p 360-671-4511
Love/Fl!p 360-671-4511 flip@columbianeighborhood.org