CONTENTS 03/5/2021
Columbia Neighborhood
Reminder: Fl!p Flees
Project We Beam
Tire Slashing
Historic Elizabeth Park
The Big Fantastic Clothing Exchange
Chase Scam
Free Bee Friendly Plants
Rental Wanted
Homeless Outreach
Swifthaven Update
Memorial Cookie Follow-Up
Supplies Run
More Cooking Opportunities
Music
Radio Free Fl!p: Happy Birthday Ysaye
REMINDER: FL!P FLEES
Starting tomorrow evening, I am off duty to attend a Zoom workshop. I’m not just streaming; I’m an active participant. So please, if there are things you’ll need this weekend, let’s deal with them before dinnertime Friday. Or Sunday late afternoon, when I get “home.” Have a great weekend! Love/Fl!p
PROJECT WE BEAM
Friday, March 5, 6 PM to 8 PM
1318 Bay Street (parking lot on the corner of Bay Street & Champion St)
Please wear a mask and maintain social distancing at the event or considering joining virtually.
An interactive art installation for all ages! The hybrid virtual and socially-distanced event is open to the public and will be viewable on the north wall of the Pickford Film Center from 6 PM to 8 PM during Downtown First Friday. A collaborative project of two local nonprofits—From A Child’s Point of View and the Bellingham Youth Media Project—PROJECT WE BEAM was born of a desire to create space for children to engage adults in conversations about our shared planet. What if, suddenly, the children understood what the animals were saying? And the animals understood the children?
To learn more about Project We Beam, visit www.fromachildspointofview.org/project-we-beam.
Watch on Facebook or YouTube: To watch the live stream on Facebook, visit www.facebook.com/fromchildspointofview/live. To watch on YouTube, visit https://youtu.be/HR48vt7GnGk.
Not on social media? No problem! To register for the Project We Beam Zoom meeting, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/project-we-beam-tickets-142281115647
TIRE SLASHING
Slashed Prius Tires– happened sometime Wednesday night 3/3/21, 2300 block of Park Street (the block just north of Elizabeth Park), car was angle-parked in parking strip, both right tires, neat little 1 1/2″ slice in sidewall of each tire. Ours was the only car on block slashed, and my partner Cathy’s Subaru was angle-parked right next to mine. Ours was also the only Prius on the block. Subsequently I learned of at least four other Prius’s slashed this week in the neighborhood. ~ Drew Winsor
Utter and Washington Streets Last night, all four tires on our Prius were slashed (Washington St). The car was well lit at the time. Another car across the street on Utter Street had the same thing happen.
* My sister had a Subaru tire slashed in the 2200 block of Utter.
2500 block of West at Jefferson We had our car tires slashed last night. In speaking to Bellingham Police to report the vandalism, we were told that there has been a spate of incidents in our neighborhood of tire slashes and car window smashes. I asked for emphasis patrolling at night. Perhaps other neighbors had an incident and didn’t report or ask for additional patrols. It would be great if they reported the vandalism, received a case number, and asked for additional patrols. This is not a 5 dollar incident. We have to buy TWO new tires for the car. Ours is a Dodge Grand Caravan so not a hybrid or a foreign make. But the side we can’t see from the house.
More reported:
* 2400 block of Utter, in the alley between Utter and Walnut. I filed a police report.
* Very random-our car was parked right behind our neighbors & we didn’t get slashed but they did along with our neighbor on the corner of Utter & Washington –2200 block of Utter
* Oh my god, that explains my flat tire. Brand new tires too. Utter and Williams.
* Ours were slashed on the block of Williams between Eldridge and Madison.
* Went out this afternoon to run some errands only to find I had two flats. We are at the corner of Park and Monroe St. The car was in the driveway which is next to the alley.
* There may have been one more on the 2300 block of Park Street. Not sure if it’s a duplicate or not.
Everyone who experienced this should file a police report: https://cob.org/…/police-services/reporting/online-reports
And if there were so many last night, I hope someone’s family or friends see social media bragging and report. This cost- 2 new tires- is under our 500 deductible. There are so many who could not absorb this kind of emergency (and it’s not easy for those of us who can).
And a reminder that this is a crime against property, not bodies. We do not need to be frightened in our beds at night. Alert for behavior that might be vandalism, and ready to report it, yes, but not frightened for our personal safetly. Grumpy, maybe…
HISTORIC ELIZABETH PARK
Three totally cool historical articles about our home!
https://www.facebook.com/BellinghamHistory/photos/a.779508308795653/3780168965396224
https://www.facebook.com/BellinghamHistory/
THE BIG FANTASTIC CLOTHING EXCHANGE
March 20, 6 – 8 PM Drop-off
March 21, 2 – 6 PM browse & pickup
Free · 2330 Elm St.
Purge your closets! We are doing it again:) TWEENS/TEENS AND WOMENS CLOTHING WELCOMED! Please drop your Gently Used and Pre-Washed Items off from 6-8pm on Saturday March 20th and return to browse and take home lovely new items on Sunday from 2-6pm. We will be following ALL Wa State Phase 2 Guidelines. Masks are required when approaching the building. Special focus on Teens & Tweens clothing please!
CHASE SCAM
I also received a debit card from Chase and found out someone had stolen my identity when I called their fraud department. Someone opened an account in my name on 2/10/21. It’s closed now, and evidently there’s a lot of this going on right now as people try to take advantage of the money coming from the government. With the latest update on the blog, I wanted to add my name to the list of those affected in our neighborhood. It’s now officially rampant! ~ Mattie Wheeler. Utter St.
And I keep hearing about more. Check your junk mail, neighbors! ~ Fl!p
FREE BEE FRIENDLY PLANTS
Calling all gardeners! Are you looking forward to gardening and thinking about attracting more pollinators this year? The Whatcom County Noxious Weed Program has free seed packets of non-invasive, pollinator friendly, native plants! Ideal for small patches in your garden and replacing those pushy weeds you pull up. One packet covers 9 square feet. Pollinator packs of flower seeds. Some from other states have seeds that are noxious weeds in our area!! If you are in the market, how about FREE packs of seeds selected by experts specifically for our area? Email LBaldwin@co.whatcom.wa.us with your mailing address, and we‘ll send you some seeds. FREE! From Whatcom County Public Works ·
RENTAL WANTED
Hello Columbia neighbors! Amanda here, on Victor Street. I would love to find a place to rent in the neighborhood starting March 31/April 1, at least through August. Anywhere from a studio to three bedrooms. Thanks for your help to stay in the neighborhood! 617-694-3503 or ablaine@gmail.com Warmly, ~ Amanda Blaine
HOMELESS OUTREACH
SWIFTHAVEN UPDATE
They have hot showers! The city of Bellingham will arrive at 8: 30am to drop off one more new house. If anyone has some basic furniture like a small desk, small dresser, TV tray, or a set of those plastic drawers – for new people, let me know. Things are beginning to settle down a bit at last, which is wonderful!
MEMORIAL COOKIE FOLLOW-UP
Flip, when I shared the cookie gifting story of Linda and her brother with Moose last night, he played his harmonica inbetween each phrase I shared, and I sung the story to him. The connecting was enduring. Most likely he is back on Lummi tonight. He shared he had a place he could go to in the future.
All he had that night was a big cardboard box he was laying in, in the bushes. He appears to be kind and funny and possibly had had a few drinks… I asked him what was needed and he said just a blanket.
I brought him the ground pad , two Myler blankets , two handwarmers sets, protein bars and Linda’s cookie dough cookies.
He said the were delicious. I agreed and we both laughed out loud together.
He thanked me for the supplies and let me witness him nesting in for the night … I coached him on zipping his jacket up all the way , and pulling his hood up. We both were thankful the longer warmer days of spring had arrived. It was quite late, 10 pm… my older body needed rest and I had a long drive home to the county.
Earlier that day I had been visiting my neighbors at Swift Haven tiny village, who are delighted to be sheltered , enjoying painting their homes, and meeting with other neighbors who come by to offer support … as each of us had unique gifts … and unique needs. Gratitude for all who share their time in service, and all who sit to listen to a neighbor share their sacred life story.
SUPPLIES RUN
Thank you to all the people who offered to make the grocery run today. It seems like everywhere I look I find kindness. Thank you!!!
MORE COOKING OPPORTUNITIES
I’m ready to sign up more cooks, for dates starting this coming Tuesday. To sign up, email or text me, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can get free. We’ll figure out a date & time, and brainstorm what you might like to cook and what I might be able to contribute. I’ve even got an experienced Soup Brigade cook standing by to mentor you! flip@openaccess.org 360-671-4511.
MUSIC
RADIO FREE Fl!p: HAPPY BIRTHDAY YSAYE
Ht/t Anji Citron. This video is a shout out for Ysaye Maria Barnwell’s birthday. She was born February 28, 1946) is an American singer and composer. Barnwell was a member of the African American a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock from 1979 to 2013. In addition to writing many of the group’s songs, Barnwell has been commissioned to create music for dance, choral, film, and stage productions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4JRbRHz9t8
Love/Fl!p 360-671-4511 2518 Cherry Street flip@columbianeighborhood.org
If you’re willing to share your phone with me, personally, I would love that, and would not share it further without your express permission. Nor would I ever exploit it. You might put mine in your phone so if I were to phone you, you’d know it was me. I’d also suggest adding flip@openaccess.org to your contacts because that helps keep my emails from going to your junk mail.
If you want to ask me to post something, just email me. If it’s urgent, phone. If it’s a real emergency, call 911.