CONTENTS 1/10/2021
Important Meeting Monday
Soup Brigade
Teamwork
Today’s Ingredients
Chili!
Sign Up Here
Covid-19 Virus Activity Very High
N95 Caution
Wild Whatcom
Cat Collar
Radio Free Fl!p: Here Comes That Rainbow Again
IMPORTANT MEETING
Monday, 1/11/21, at 3:00 p.m.
City & County elected officials are meeting together tomorrow afternoon to make plans to respond to local homelessness, and in specific to the encampment on the city hall lawn. Campers and volunteers are deeply worried that a Sweep will be ordered. That local citizens with nowhere to go will be driven “out of sight and out of mind.” I hope not! The public does not get to speak at this meeting, but if lots of people show up on zoom to witness, that could contribute to the best possible outcome for our most vulnerable citizens.
If you wish to have an impact on the decisions at this meeting, please email and phone beforehand, as soon as possible. It is important to be warm and respectful as you express concern. Thank you!
Mayor’s Office (360) 778-8100
mayorsoffice@cob.org
ccmail@cob.org
County Executive’s Office (360) 676-6717
ssidhu@co.whatcom.wa.us
council@co.whatcom.wa.us
SOUP BRIGADE
Teamwork: I hear from more and more volunteers who are teaming up with friends to share the cooking for fifty. I love that! Less work for each individual, and closer connections between us. I’d love to hear if you choose to do this.
Today’s Ingredients: At this point we have 8# carrots, 10# red potatoes, 20# rice, 10# lentils, four 4# bags of pasta w/ holes (Ziti, penne), four 5# sacks of shredded cheddar and one 5# sack of mozzarella. There’s a 2.5# sack of parmesan but somebody asked for it, and now I can’t figure out who. Please get in touch with me ASAP. There’s a big tub of curry paste. About 20# of onions. Eight dozen eggs. Three jars of chicken soup base. One #10 (3-quart) can of tomato sauce.
Chili! And today, a volunteer (in her mid-80s) offered to buy a couple cases of ready-made chili in the huge #10 cans. If you have wanted to help, but worry that “you can’t cook” – here’s an invitation to pick up the chili, heat it up, serve it into containers (we have them) with grated cheese on top (we have that), and deliver it! If you’re feeling brave I could hand you some onions to chop and put on top. We’ll have enough chili to do two meals.
Sign up here: This lets us space out our meals to avoid “feast or famine” – especially famine!
https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/nnmwke
COVID-19 VIRUS ACTIVITY HIGHER THAN EVER
Officials Urge Immediate Action: Since Dec. 30 cases have risen very rapidly, faster than ever before. There’s a high risk of the virus spreading even further as people return to work after the holidays. The Whatcom County Health Department advises immediate action to curb the rise in cases.
Twice as many cases were reported this week than last, and case counts in recent days far exceeded previously seen daily count records. The virus is more active in Whatcom County now than at any time in the past, including the spring of last year. The rise in cases is consistent across all age groups. After preliminary and ongoing review of case investigations, it appears that the majority of transmission continues to occur in households and at social gatherings.
Erika Lautenbach, director of the Whatcom County Health Department, said it’s imperative for Whatcom County residents to double-down on known preventive measures. These measures, Lautenbach said, include wearing a mask whenever around others who aren’t from the same household, avoiding gatherings, washing or sanitizing hands frequently, and staying home when experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or after spending any time around others with symptoms. Anyone experiencing symptoms such as a fever, cough or shortness of breath should get tested immediately and stay home from work or school. Now, perhaps more than ever, the actions you take today can save your life and the lives of others. Cancel your plans this weekend.
N95 MASK CAUTION
The Whatcom Health Department has told me, (as the Circle of Life Caregiver Cooperative representative) that N95 masks are only effective if properly professionally fitted. Otherwise, they recommend disposable surgical masks— which are more effective than an N95 mask that has not been fitted to the individual. There are places here in Bellingham that will do this fitting for you—contact the health department to find out where. This is very important info since N95 masks are really worthless to protect the wearer unless properly fitted to the individual wearing them. Thanks, Aurora Fox
WILD WHATCOM
Our 2021 winter season of weekday programs is now open! This session will be 8 weeks long, running February 8th-April 1st and rotate through our favorite local parks.
Neighborhood Nature, our after-school program, connects participants with the surrounding ecosystem through exploration, play, art, and nature activities one or more days per week! (Does not conflict with public school schedules)
Nature Lab uses an inquiry-based learning model that aligns with typical classroom learning standards. Learning is paired with nature games, free exploration, and quiet reflection time. Meets four days per week. Learn more and register on our website.
Financial assistance and free loaner gear (rain jackets, rain pants, boots, and more) available – don’t hesitate to reach out with questions!
CAT COLLAR
I found a turquoise cat collar with a bell on it in our yard – Victor street near Connecticut. It doesn’t belong to the usual suspect (you know who you are) but if someone else has a cat who is missing their collar, it is looped on our front railing to come and get it if you’d like. Or email – Miriam Schwartz pieface880@gmail.com.
RADIO FREE FL!P: HERE COMES THAT RAINBOW AGAIN
Kris Kristofferson 1982. Kristofferson was a Rhodes Scholar who was interested in the communication of complex ideas in compact packages. Here’s one of them, drawn from John Steinbeck’s novel, The Grapes Of Wrath. (Oops! Ran this song last summer. Decided it’s a great song, and we can all listen to a great song more than once.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej1I-IrHWCc
Love/Fl!p
360-671-4511 2518 Cherry Street flip@columbianeighborhood.org
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