Category: Corona Virus

CONTENTS 1/30/2021
This Starfish
Real Life Reassurances
Coolers
Straw Bales
Relocated Campers
Soup Brigade
Needs List
Cool Donations
Facts With Context
Affordable Housing
Disappearing Fl!p
Current Shelters
No National Guard
Officer Assistance
Starfish & Upstream
Website Is back
Student Safe Space
Motel Mamas
Neighborhood Assn
B&O Impact
Conservation District Election
Orchard Spray And A New Roof
Rental Wanted
Radio Free Fl!p: Who Will Watch The Home Place?

THIS STARFISH

“While wandering a deserted beach at dawn, stagnant in my work, I saw a man in the distance bending and throwing as he walked the endless stretch toward me. As he came near, I could see that he was throwing starfish, abandoned on the sand by the tide, back into the sea. When he was close enough I asked him why he was working so hard at this strange task. He said that the sun would dry the starfish and they would die. I said to him that I thought he was foolish. There were thousands of starfish on miles and miles of beach. One man alone could never make a difference. He smiled as he picked up the next starfish. Hurling it far into the sea he said, “It makes a difference for this one.” I abandoned my writing and spent the morning throwing starfish.”  ― Loren Eiseley

I try to balance my life between “This Starfish” and heading upstream to see why the people we keep pulling out of the river have been falling in, as Bishop Desmond Tutu said.

REAL LIFE REASSURANCES

1. All progress comes through a series of failures. (From my big brother Joe.)

2. Anyone who believes in vast conspiracies has never tried to manage a multi-person project. (I think I got this from Rob Lopresti.)

3. Today’s solutions are often tomorrow’s problems. (Suzanne Carlson-Prandini, but she credits Howard Fuller, her boss at WCC Library.)

COOLERS

You all are AMAZING!!! We have a solid set of coolers that we can use as a lending library to deliver hot meals wherever they wind up needing to go. We’ve already started using them. It is so touching. I’m back at the Crossroads Of Kindness. Thank you!!!

STRAW BALES

Remember when you all donated for straw bales, and then things went sideways and we paused delivery? Now I’m so glad we did! We’re not yet sure when it might be time to try again. Things are so in flux right now.

So: if you want, I can return your donation.

Or: I can hold it till straw bales make sense somewhere

Or: I can spend it on other urgent needs as best I can figure

Zeke made me a database so I probably can figure out how much you donated for returns. Hoping you can let me know by the end of the week. Some checks made it clear that I could spend that donation as my best judgement dictated. After we paused the bales, I used the non-straw-bale-specific donations and bought mylar blankets, tarps, tents, 30 AA headlamps, see-through blue garbage bags for the laundry brigade…

…which reminds me; About 200 bags of laundry were rescued from the bulldozers. Does anyone want to help wash blankets & stuff, or donate towards costs? (Hmmm. I wonder if that means I need to buy another case of blue laundry bags.)

RELOCATED CAMPERS

Emergent needs at the relocated camp at Civic Field: Firewood. Cardboard. BOP has relocated the MealTrain, so it sounds like there is food, at least through Saturday. There are volunteers figuring out how many people are there. I’ve heard as many as 50 but it still seems to be a moving target. Some folks may leave since the parking lot surface slopes and there is no way to set tent stakes. It sounds like porta-potties have been delivered. Whew!

Volunteer outreach workers are sorting out where else campers wound up. We may need to help more than one site. There are also campers who scattered to the woods. And volunteers helped them move, so someone knows where they are, or at least where they were yesterday. We are trying to coordinate with those outreach workers. Get numbers and figure out how to send some hot food and other resources with the volunteers when they would be going anyway.

SOUP BRIGADE

We’ll want to make soup again soon. Right now we’re figuring out where and when and how much. If someone has time to make a SmartFood run for ingredients, let me know.

NEEDS LIST

These should be delivered directly to the Frank Geri ballfields:
Firewood
Cardboard – large pieces

These should be brought to our house:
Tarps 8×10 or larger (we got a great deal on a bunch from Wes at Hardware Sales. Maybe he’d sell us another big batch.)
Blankets – wool blend and dark colored poly, twin or smaller
Hat & Gloves, scarves and mufflers
Large sizes of men’s shoes. Waterproof helps, but anything is better than nothing.
    Men’s size 12 – easy on and off and able to bicycle in.
    Men’s size 13 – hard to find used.
    Woman’s size 10 – hard to find used.
Neck warmers that can be pulled up to cover face and nose
    Is there a group that could sew a bunch of these tubes in a hurry?
Ground pads (I can go back and dig for the link)
AA & AAA batteries
Tampons
Garbage bags, especially extra-large Contractor Weight bags.
Duck Tape – smaller rolls for volunteers to tuck in a rucksack.
Laundry Brigade

COOL DONATIONS

Folks have been donating amazing things:
Hand knit (and some handspun) wool hats, scarves & mittens
Fleece mufflers
160 pairs of hand warmers
Tents and more tents (bulldozed?)
Lots of ground pads (I’m so bummed so many were lost on Thursday)
A station wagon load of clear plastic tubs from a retiring school teacher
100 pairs of new wool socks!

  Let me talk about the socks a little: A friend contacted me about foot care. She’s a wound care nurse. She wanted to know who was taking care of campers’ feet. There is something called Trench Foot, like soldiers in the trenches got in World War One. (You don’t want to know. Argh! Argh! Argh! It’s really awful.) And it’s out there among campers who haven’t been able to dry out this winter My friend and another foot care nurse who’s already been working at this both said clean dry socks are critical for after wound care. Preferably a pair to put on and another to send along. So I called yet another friend who donated socks from Costco once before. Costco said they were almost out for the year. So my friend went and bought a huge box! And may go back for more. You are all welcome to join him. But they’ve got to be thick padded wool or poly hiking socks.

FACTS WITH CONTEXT

From Ed Wood from Birchwood

About two-thirds of the county’s homeless people last resided right here. I suspect there are people in Seattle, Everett, etc., who once resided here. Shipping them back and forth and dumping them would cost a lot, and not get them off the street.

After reading several comments about the makeup of our local homeless residents, I decided to refresh my memory by going to the annual census of homeless populations, The Point in Time census that has been conducted since 2008 (this year’s survey was made Thursday, and I have been told the results will be published in May, although last year’s is dated July). It can be found at https://www.oppco.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Whatcom-2020-homeless-count-report-_081920_UPDATED-FINAL.pdf

A few interesting numbers jump out. The homeless population decreased 16 percent over the time span of the surveys. I suspect the numbers will be somewhat higher this year. Thirty four percent of respondents (those choosing to participate) self-report having mental illness, 23 percent report a physical disability, 17 percent have a chronic illness, 14 percent abuse drugs or alcohol, and 9 percent have a developmental condition. The report notes “Due to the stigma of mental illness and substance abuse, these conditions are almost certainly under-reported.”

About two-thirds reported that their last fixed address was in Whatcom County and thirty-nine percent stated that they are homeless because of eviction/loss of housing (the report lists many reasons, however).

There is a lot to learn about our homeless population in this report. I strongly advise reading it – including the appendices.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

There are places where a full 20% or more of the housing is publicly owned. The state of Utah has eliminated 90% of chronic homelessness. Our government can and has built housing. They can hire locals to build it to boost employment. There is a small, low income apartment building right across the creek from my old house on Moore Street, with 16 one bedroom apartments. I drove past it a week or two ago. After over 25 years, it’s still in nice clean condition with a relaxed air about it. It was never a problem when I lived by it. I would like to see publicly owned, durable, high quality, low-income, well-managed mini-apartment buildings scattered through every neighborhood in town.

DISAPPEARING Fl!P

I’ve been keeping my mouth shut for days, for fear of setting off the powder keg with campers caught in the crossfire. I have relationships with people in all areas of this issue. I wish to preserve those relationships if I can. And I have people barking at me about being “political” for talking too much about the situation at City Hall, and others barking at me for being critical of the protesters’ violence, and some barking that I’m not sharing the City’s press releases so I’m not Fair and Balanced. And folks barking because I said the National Guard was here. (They were right, it wasn’t.) I figure everybody is upset in general and must feel some bit of hope in me. I finally just turned off the computer and went and made soup for Thursday night dinner for the refugees who evacuated to Civic Field. I had heard some of them hadn’t eaten all day.

The issues are complicated and varied. People have been politicized while the humanity of individuals (the homeless, citizens, city workers and police) have been questioned.

CURRENT SHELTERS

Homelessness is complex, and there is no one solution that will work for everyone. I have not been able to find it documented how many people are turned away from Base Camp & the Drop In Center, and why. Not to punish our providers. Of course they can’t handle every problem! But this is critical information with which to understand what the gaps are in our system, and the size of those gaps. Does anyone know if that data is being collected and if so, where it is available?

NO NATIONAL GUARD

Although I was told they were there by multiple sources, our sheriff says they were not there, and that it would have taken action by the governor to have them come. I believe this. US Border guards were there as well as police. Not sure about sheriff’s officers.

OFFICER ASSISTANCE

I had heard rumors that the protesters had been invited back and was shocked but not surprised when the City swept early. I was horrified that, although the publicity all said the officers were there to ASSIST the campers to gather their belongings, find transportation, and safely relocate, I have heard of only one occasion where any assistance was actually given, and that was on the part of one individual officer who permitted a volunteer with a trailer to bring it in closer so the volunteer could load faster and with less effort. I have heard of no lifting, carrying, listening kindly, making phone calls to seek resources or information. Nothing. If others have heard or seen instances of assistance I would appreciate hearing about them.

From an outreach volunteer:

Just an on-the-ground report from me- I went down to the sweep at 10a to try to help break down the food tent. I was there for about 2 hours.  I did not witness any police support for moving campers. There were lines of heavily armed police around the perimeter of the camp, including officers on the roofs of buildings- which I can only assume are snipers? Also, many bulldozers.  

The efforts to get the campers relocated appeared to be exclusively from volunteers and campers themselves. A line of protesters were holding the police line to try to ensure campers had adequate time to move their belongings. I do not believe the camp would have felt safe if the police entered anyway. The police told me they could not keep me safe if I crossed the line into the camp, even though I said I was there to help break down tents. Two homeless men have been arrested, as of now. I witnessed one of the arrests. There did not appear to be violence, only anger and assertiveness which makes sense. 

STARFISH, AND UPSTREAM

So, from where I sit and tap tap tap, I keep in mind This Starfish, and my heart is broken open by your kind response. And we need to keep looking upstream to understand the whole situation. And we’ll need to work together to solve it. And of course we can.

WEBSITE IS BACK

I bought the bottom tier, three year paid version of WordFence. My beloved emergency team of volunteer techies used it to scan and repair. They sat it’s safe now. They ask that if clicking on it ever takes you anywhere else, copy where it took you and send it to me. But they don’t expect any more of that.

It looks like it was a completely random attack.  I wrote asking for help to everyone I could think of that was a techie, and a team just assembled itself. One of my neighbors took the lead, with what seemed to actually be useful and accepted advice from my big brother, and folks I know from Guitar Camp. Thank you all for the rescue!

STUDENT SAFE SPACE

Fountain Community Church will be opening a safe place for middle school aged students. The hope will be to be open in the middle of February thru the end of the school year, Tuesday-Thursday, 2-4pm. FCC is working with the Health Department to make sure that safety protocols are followed. It will be a monitored space with internet access. it could be a great connect space for small groups, or just a place to go just for a change. If you have questions or concerns, please email Rick Qualls: rickq2000@yahoo.com.

MOTEL MAMAS

I called Lydia Place this past week about our support for the Motel Mama’s and learned a lot. If we donate useful items to some specific places, and tell them our donations are on behalf of Lydia Place, the organization is credited. They can then give vouchers to their clients, so clients can shop for free. Here’s what Lydia Place sent me:

Donate your new to gently used items to or on behalf of Lydia Place at our Donation Partnership locations by simply bringing up our name with your donation. Our clients receive regular vouchers to shop at these locations for the exact items they need and want, for free.

The Donation Partner Program is a vital resource for Lydia Place families as it allows us to to provide quicker access to a wider range we do not have the capacity to store or transport. More importantly, it gives our clients a sense of ownership and independence by giving them the option to choose items they want and need to make their new house a home. You can also go to the donation page of our website https://lydiaplace.org/support/

To donate Furniture, Building Supplies, Appliances & Household Items: 

Habitat for Humanity
1825 Cornwall Ave Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 778-2036 

Children’s & Maternity Items: 

Little Bugs Consignment
2400 Yew Street Bellingham, WA 98229
(360) 756-0507

OR 

Flip Kids & Maternity Consignment
1512 Ellis Street Bellingham, WA 98225
 (360) 671-0954

We currently do not have an active partnership for folks to donate used adult clothing and bedding items. 

If you have Lydia Place donation questions please contact our Community Outreach Coordinator, Joelle Parrs-Weinberg by calling 360.671.7663 x 2007 or by email at joellepw@lydiaplace.org.

COLUMBIA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSN. CALL FOR MEMBERS AND BOARD POSITIONS

Due to my personal health issues and work challenges due to COVID, I will be resigning from the CNA Board, effective with the election at our first meeting on Feb. 23. It’s a new year and typically at our first meeting we have our membership drive. This year requires us to do things differently. We are going to have an in-person CNA Membership Drive on Saturday, Feb. 20th, 10am-2pm at the Columbia Share Shack. If you would like to become a member, there are other ways to join. If you would like to be a member, please fill out this form at: https://tinyurl.com/cnamembershipform, which provides a place to share your interests and a variety of payment options in case you can’t make the in-person Membership Drive. In this form, you will also be able to express interest in becoming a board member!!! We will be sure to invite you to our next board meeting later this month, provided you filled out the form in the next week. Thank you for your interest in making our neighborhood a great place to live.

Please email columbianeighborhoodassociation@protonmail.com if you have any questions. Thank you, Jill MacIntyre Witt, CNA President
Walnut Street

[And thank you Jill for your many years of service to our neighborhood and community!]

B&O TAX IMPACT

Please spread the word that with city hall closed, business owners cannot turn in B&O tax in person. And there’s an error on the address to mail it to on the form. Do not mail it to Po box and zip code listed. Instead, mail it to 210 Lottie St, zip code 98225 ~Eileen Gribble

CONSERVATION DISTRICT ELECTION

The Whatcom County Conservation District dispenses grant money. It’s an important support for both farmers and the environment. Elections to the board that decides how the funds are spent are county-wide but oddly are not included in general elections. The only way to vote in the Conservation District election in March is to request a ballot by February 8. There will not be an opportunity to vote in person this year because of Covid-19. So: if you were feeling complacent about requesting a ballot because there’s always the in-person voting option, that door is closed. Please request your ballot now from  www.whatcomcd.org/board-elections

The ballots are due back by March 23.

ORCHARD SPRAY AND A NEW ROOF

To the Columbia Neighborhood: We are still battling winter moth and coddling moth in our orchard. Does anyone know someone who sprays orchards? Maybe someone who is even a little organic?  We’re also looking for someone who has experience with metal roofing and can put a metal roof on our Pergola. About 15x20ft. ~ Ahwren Ayers 360-312-1244

RENTAL WANTED

We are a 58 & 60 yrs old young couple. We have our own professional business in home renovation and holistic therapy. We are Looking for a home to rent in south bellingham to Lake Samish are preferably starting spring/early summer . we are neat, responsible, friendly and good communicators. We have no pets and do not smoke. We are outdoor enthusiasts along with holistic health and music. If need any carpentry work may be able to do as well. Looking for space thats spacious and light. Around 1000 plus SQ FT, 2-3 bedrooms, yard storage for outdoor gear and tools etc.  ~ Elizabeth Stanton 360 570-8653

WHO WILL WATCH THE HOME PLACE?

Written by Kate Long, sung by Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huj2zoz3oPg

Love/Fl!p 360-671-4511  flip@columbianeighborhood.org

If you’re willing to share your phone and address with me, personally, I would love that, and would not share it further without your express permission.

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.

CONTENTS 1/24/2021
Encampment
Base Camp
Soup Brigade
Today’s Ingredients
Bulk Recipes
Now What?
Stimulus Checks?
Conservation District Election
Garden Shout-Out
Bellingham Folk Festival
Radio Free Fl!p:  Peg And Awl

ENCAMPMENT

Very difficult news came out last night. After the riot on Friday, late that night at nearly 11 PM, there was more violence, this time involving a hatchet. No one was killed, but two people were injured. Police had no suspects as of last night. There was no demonstrable connection between the riot and the attack, except the decision to use violence. Those attacked were in a vehicle. The attackers were on foot. And it appears to have happened within a block of City Hall.

Just as kindness has been shown to be contagious, violence can spread. The riot was a bad situation, like a kegger that got way out of hand. Except at least some of the people who invited their out-of-town friends knew this was a very likely result. Young adults with great moral outrage.

I’m guessing the young adults who have been volunteering at the encampment for months could use a safe place to process what actually happened Friday, without being cornered into trying to defend their friends. It looks to me like the Collective folks are both highly principled, and rigid about it in ways that make it hard for them to work with others to find a viable path forward. Much like what has happened nationally.

I am deeply concerned that at least a few of them have been somehow sucked into believing that violence will be necessary to create change. That nothing will change without it. That violence is morally right. That is a very slippery slope. And they are inviting others to join them on it.

Our job is not to tear down the system but to build new ones that will stand as the old crumbles. Systems that are not based on greed. Where greed is not an acceptable basis for any decision at any level. We all carry greed, every one of us, so it doesn’t work to blame others for their greed as if we were morally above it  – but we don’t have to let greed run things.

The riot did not help anyone. It terrified the homeless folks caught in the middle, and may have sucked some of them into joining in, based on their own frustration with the situation. It scared neighbors who have been cooking, donating and writing letters in support. It hardened everyone’s opinions without helping people take in new information. It damaged relationships that will be needed to do the work of creating new options.

I believe, because of this commitment to violence, that we need to offer assistance to campers who would like to move away from the City Hall encampment. The idealism of the collective may land some homeless campers in jail. We need to find safer places for people to camp, since other viable options are not yet available. And then figure out how to support them in other spaces. If we stop bringing food, that will hurt the homeless people who have been relying on us. I’ll be listening and thinking about what to do next, but don’t yet have suggestions.

BASE CAMP

Base Camp helps a lot of people find shelter. It’s good that it’s here and we should support it. But notice that it’s half full and has been all winter. How that could that be? The City tried to contract with just one organization to provide all homeless sheltering, because that is easier, and the City has a lot on its plate. But as near as I can tell they never asked any homeless people what they thought. I got an earful last year when I was doing direct face to face volunteer outreach during the big snow. The Lighthouse Mission organization cannot serve everyone and it is naive for our elected officials to think so and then blame those who won’t or often can’t use them.

SOUP BRIGADE

From the Collective: Please bring meals to the entrance to Lottie Street on Grand Avenue, beside the courthouse. There are now signs to show you where. If you would like a volunteer to come grab donations at your car, honk! It may take a moment for someone to get over to you; we appreciate your patience. Please be as restrained as possible in your honking. Among the homeless folks are veterans with PTSD and other survivors of violence. Sudden loud noises are very hard on them.

TODAY’S INGREDIENTS

Whew boy, do we have ingredients! Potatoes, onions, carrots, celery, cheese, pasta, rice, lentils, split peas, and yesterday someone dropped off a bunch of cans of tomato sauces and pieces. I have more restaurant pans, soup pots, various individual containers and bakery bags. Please come cook it up! Sign up on the MealTrain for now. And contact me before going down.

https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/nnmwke

BULK RECIPES

Great recipes! We assume a 2 cup serving for the Soup Brigade, since we generally have one-dish meals, so you may need to double up, aiming for 6.25 gallons of food. These recipes tell you how many of what size pans, and how many pounds of various ingredients will be needed.

https://www.chef-menus.com/quantity_recipes_pasta_potatoes.html?fbclid=IwAR13bpYCA1NhiJXAa8btUcQjDYBOMSpERwSTljHUa-G2-WiXIZbLS8K6wa0

And here’s a food quantity chart as well:

https://www.chef-menus.com/food-quantity-chart.html

NOW WHAT?

This morning I think it might be helpful to focus on encouraging elected officials to sign a contract and spend the money right now to get more tiny homes being built while the details of where to put them and who to run them get ironed out. Officials would be able to announce the contract as evidence of following through on good intentions. I am vastly relieved that Seth & Satpal have a good relationship and can work together.

I believe it would be possible for them to order the next round or two of tiny homes on Monday and get the company working to build the houses while officials work out the details of where to put them and who to have run them. Then at least there wouldn’t be a lag waiting for the houses to arrive as there was for SwiftHaven. Meanwhile, warming shelters must be opened.

In other cities, homeless citizens have moved out of parks and roadsides when offered tiny home encampments. It’s not a long-term solution but right now it’s a fast and humane stop-gap measure while we create permanent housing that is actually affordable on a minimum wage job or social security check.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/the-story-of-one-ordinary-park-brings-new-hope-for-seattles-homelessness-emergency/

STIMULUS CHECKS?

I love that people are still sending me information on how people without an address might be able to access their stimulus payment.

https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/taxes/homeless-stimulus-checks/

CONSERVATION DISTRICT ELECTION

The Whatcom County Conservation District dispenses grant money. It’s an important support for both farmers and the environment. Elections to the board that decides how the funds are spent are county-wide but oddly are not included in general elections. The only way to vote in the Conservation District election in March is to request a ballot by February 8. There will not be an opportunity to vote in person this year because of Covid-19. So: if you were feeling complacent about requesting a ballot because there’s always the in-person voting option, that door is closed. Please request your ballot now from  www.whatcomcd.org/board-elections

The ballots are due back by March 23.

GARDEN SHOUT-OUT

Last summer I got some help from a nice gent who advertised his yard work and gardening experience on Nextdoor.  His name is Paul and he’s a good worker and very nice guy.  He has worked with Growing Veterans too!  I’m amplifying his message here; he just became unemployed and needs work.  Highly recommended.  Phone: 360-224-0735 or in case the first one gets shut off 360-358-3315.  Thanks! Margie Katz

BELLINGHAM FOLK FESTIVAL

Here’s Today (Last Day)  🤓 🎻

http://www.thebellinghamfolkfestival.com/schedule

Sunday all day: It’s dress like a tune day! Nail That Catfish to a Tree? King of the Fairies? Flowers of Edinburgh? Red Haired Boy? That one you wrote that actually has a perfect name for this that nobody else knows yet?
9am PST – BFF Base Camp is open for business, coffee, questions, breakfast chat, additional staring time
9:45am… PST – Workshops and sessions start and then continue
10am PST – Kids’ Hour! Hang out with the cool cats at the Pickle Palace and learn a tune with other kids
1:15pm PST – Choose your own adventure… Trad Zoomba (sturdy shoes recommended) or songs of connection sing-along with Fl!p Breskin!
3pm PST – Who’s in Your House? and tea time. Let’s meet your pets, roommates and houseplants 🙂
5pm PST – Last Raffle/Happy Hour
5:30pm – 6:30pm PST – Bruce Molsky + the Cayley Schmid Duo featuring Aaron Guest perform over at the Concert Hall, it can also be streamed live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/quarantinehappyhourmusic/

RADIO FREE FL!P:  PEG AND AWL

Bruce Molsky – This is who’s playing this evening at the folk fest! That’s just him on the recording, singing with his fiddle. It’s just beautiful!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsrTS0wSuIE

Love/Fl!p 360-671-4511  flip@columbianeighborhood.org

If you’re willing to share your phone and address with me, personally, I would love that, and would not share it further without your express permission.

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.

CONTENTS 1/23/2021

Encampment
   What Happened?
   Eviction?
   The Protesters
   Big Picture
   Soup Brigade
   What About Base Camp?
   Bulk Recipes
   Stimulus Checks For Homeless Folks
Found Camera Lens
Bellingham Folk Festival All Weekend!
Radio Free Fl!p: I Bid You Goodnight

WHAT HAPPENED?

Let me begin by saying I was not there. So everything I say tonight is hearsay. Except the parts I saw and heard on video. But here is my understanding as of tonight.

Word was posted on social media that the city was planning a Sweep of the homeless encampment at City Hall. Sweeps generally involve workers coming in and taking everything homeless folks are unable to carry away. The rules say that valuables must be held for 60 days, and there is phone number homeless folks can call to get their belongings back. But that assumes the homeless folks have access to a phone, and transportation to wherever their stuff got taken. And that objects important to them personally have not been classified as garbage and thrown away. As I heard one outreach worker say at a council meeting, “We give them tents, and you throw them away.” Representation on social media made it sound like a full Sweep.

There is a current legal prohibition against clearing occupied sites – Sweeps – during the pandemic. A year ago there were already 700 homeless individuals in the Whatcom homeless census. This year that homeless census will not happen due to Covid concerns. But I can’t imagine there are not many more now.

Friday morning a fairly small group of protesters showed up and took angry and provocative action.  They barricaded Lottie Street. They spray painted graffiti on City Hall. Long-term volunteers and local journalists got shoved, threatened, attacked and chased off site by protesters trying to keep from being filmed. There were attempts to destroy video equipment. A flag was torn down and defaced. City Hall was broken into. Chanting demanded the mayor come out. From the video I listened to, it would not have been at all safe for him to do so. Both City Hall and the library were evacuated. I haven’t been able to find anyone yet who witnessed any arrests. There may have been some, but I haven’t heard.

The protest was very loud, including banging on things and lots of yelling. Many of the homeless campers have PTSD and this was really hard on them.

At 9 PM barricades were still in place, but vehicles were gone. We don’t know if they’ll be back tomorrow. Comment from a long-time volunteer: I can tell you for sure all those folks in today’s videos are not sleeping outside on Lottie lawns.

None of our Soup Brigade cooks had any problem with delivery today despite the goings-on.

EVICTION?

The City did not intend to shut down the whole site – just shift the campers who were creating fire risk with candles too close to the bushes next to City Hall, and one who had placed their tent blocking an employee exit. The encampment is also very hard on the workers in surrounding buildings. The smoke from fires gets right into the buildings and employees with asthma have trouble breathing. All workers are afraid their building will catch fire. Our compassion should also be directed to public servants just trying to do their jobs and members of the public trying to conduct essential business in the courthouse, city hall and library. Workers and homeless campers’ needs are not in conflict. Everyone’s lives will be better when we have housing.

Outreach volunteers worked all Thursday night with individual campers, assisting them to move or prepare to move, or listening to them about their intention not to move in some cases.

It could have been helpful if rather than posting an eviction notice, the City & Fire Dept did one-on-one outreach to campers who were endangering others. They report that they did so, but I have not been able to confirm this with volunteers on the ground. I’d love to know.

Using legal language turns out to have been upsetting for a lot of people. A careful reading of the signs that were posted made it clear to me that it wasn’t a full sweep. But less legalese would have made it much clearer and less upsetting to many people.

THE PROTESTERS

Some people have their own little “heroic” movie script they are playing out.  And they want to use you as “extras.” (Comment from a friend)

They may just be generally pissed-off folks from elsewhere in the region, seeing an opportunity to be “righteously angry” without listening and learning, and without actually supporting the people they claim to be representing.

From a subscriber I have known for years, who is a person of color (very slightly edited for readability):

Around 2:30 some cars including a white Prius, a red Subaru and a grey SUV had blocked a lane of traffic near the Arch Of Reconciliation. There was group of young white people (more than half appeared to be women, but given their hostility I had no inclination to ask about pronouns) who were standing by the cars yelling at pedestrians for trying to read a sign that was part of their barricade. The groups we saw were all young people, all but one person was white, and they mostly appeared to be women.  Given that they used a white Prius and red Subaru to block traffic in jeans and a hot pink jacket, I’d be shocked if they were Proud Boys in disguise — though they do seem to share a similar sense of white entitlement and comfort yelling at people.

One of the protesters was caught on video saying they were from Seattle. An old friend who has been a local activist for decades went down to see if he recognized any of the protesters and he did not.

Protesters used umbrellas to block videos, and to threaten people. This tactic has been seen elsewhere around our region.

BIG PICTURE

I am heartbroken about the delays in getting our fellow citizens indoors and safe. At the same time, I am sympathetic to the fact that no elected officials, and no one else either, signed up to handle this pandemic when they ran for office. Local governments are not allowed to spend money they don’t have. Getting extra money is a long and involved process even when the need is urgent.

The City and County are legally required to sign contracts if they are handing resources to someone. And the principled and idealistic young folks running the food tent don’t believe in contracts or hierarchy. So negotiations between them are stuck.

At its core, government is what we do as a community that we are unable to do for ourselves as individuals – water, roads, fire, etc. A society which cannot or will not house its most vulnerable citizens has failed. We have not only failed locally, we have failed as a nation. I would expect FEMA to be able to help. Maybe the new administration will finally make some funds available.

HomesNOW.org has offered to create more managed tiny home villages. They have a record of success on the ground with SwiftHaven, Unity Village, and former villages like SafeHaven. They have their non-profit 501c3 status. It’s long past time for the City & County to sign with them and let them get to work.

I believe the most effective action we can take is for hundreds and thousands of us to write and phone local elected officials, being warmly supportive of them spending money, providing long-term land, signing contracts, and ordering tiny homes IMMEDIATELY so the company can get them built for delivery as soon as sites are prepared.

It doesn’t help to try to bully elected officials, or anyone else. If there are enough of us, the situation will shift. Gathering friends and speaking up clearly but calmly will create the safety net we need. Encourage your children to write too, to take action. Not to be frozen in fear. It will help them cope, and help us all.

None of us are safe till all of us are safe. When some people get abandoned, everyone knows in their heart of hearts that they could be next. This leaves us all frightened and isolated. And our children are watching.

City Hall’s street address is 210 Lottie Street, 98225.
mayorsoffice@cob.org
ccmail@cob.org

The Whatcom County Courthouse address is 311 Grand Avenue, 98225
ssidhu@co.whatcom.wa.us
council@co.whatcom.wa.us

SOUP BRIGADE

There has been much less interference with donations when cooks back up and park on Grand Street above the library lawn. If you are signed up to cook in the next few days, please stay in good touch with me about the changing situation, and also check with me before you go to take food down. I will check in with volunteers on the ground to see what the situation is and where they want to meet you. Today they were meeting cooks by the front doors of the library, safely away from the action. Sign up for the MealTrain, and then talk with me about ingredients, cooking pans & individual containers. I have stuff. So far no one has signed up for either breakfast or lunch today.

https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/nnmwke

WHAT ABOUT BASE CAMP?

Last year I first went to do homeless outreach at the beginning of the huge snow storm, with a pair of long-time volunteers. We took coats, gloves, hats, scarves, and hot food. And we pointed folks we met toward available shelters. I was shocked and horrified at the number of unsheltered folks who told me vehemently that they would freeze to death before they ever walked back in the door to the Mission. Feelings of humiliation seemed to be common among those folks. BaseCamp (and the other Mission shelters) seem to work well for many people, but are very definitely not for everyone. We need a range of solutions.

Clear evidence for this is the many campers who have chosen to stay in miserable conditions over Base Camp. Homeless folks tend to be pragmatic, so it’s probably a deliberate choice. City decision makers have been remarkably uncurious about this. It’s possible it was unworkable to create Base Camp by consulting with only providers and not also talking with the folks who refuse to use them.

Public meetings, especially now on Zoom, are not accessible to homeless folks, almost none of whom have phones or internet access. Making decisions about them as if they were a unit is convenient and efficient – unless it doesn’t work.

There is also a really weird lag here: Announcing the clearance of nearly a quarter of the camping space for a Friday, and announcing the re-opening of an emergency shelter for Sunday. With a snow storm predicted for Saturday. And freezing temperatures already tonight, with wind chill down into the low 20s. Now predicted to be followed by heavy rain Saturday night. Snow might actually be easier to stay warm in, if campers could get dry.

And now the City is encouraging those of us who have been providing support on the ground to stop, without providing viable support themselves. I hope we can continue to support our neighbors, and find ways to help them find long term homes again.

BULK RECIPES

A treasure!!!

https://www.chef-menus.com/food-quantity-chart.html

From Maggie Krostag in Skagit Valley: “I wish I could find a place to share recipes and quantities with people cooking for the  meal train. I know when I helped a friend prepare food, it would have been easier to know what kind of quantities to buy, collect and prepare.” Passed on by Deb Valentine. Thank you!

STIMULUS CHECKS FOR HOMELESS FOLKS

This is about the prior stimulus but the requirements are likely to be similar:

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2020/09/getting-stimulus-payments-homeless-communities

FOUND CAMERA LENS

Found in Lorraine Ellis Court Park, cover for Canon camera lens.
2710 Williams St.  I’ll tape to our front door. ~ Mary Gorsuch

BELLINGHAM FOLK FESTIVAL ALL WEEKEND!

January 22nd, 23rd and 24th

– Saturday all day: Wear a shirt, hoodie, hat, sticker, or something from a place that you’ve been, a band you love, or an event you attended. Oh the memories!
– Saturday 5pm: Hat party! What kind of hat? Wear that fancy one you never get a chance to take out of the house. Wear that reindeer antler headband you still haven’t put away. Can you get it on your head? It’s a hat.
8:30-9:15am PST – BFF Base Camp is open for business, coffee, questions, breakfast chat
9:15am-… PST – Workshops start and pretty much never end
12:00pm PST – 1:00pm PST – Màiri Chaimbeul + Adam and Lotta perform
over at the Concert Hall, it can also be streamed live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/quarantinehappyhourmusic/12:00pm -… PST – Workshops continue
5:00pm – 5:30pm PST – Hat Party Happy Hour! a.k.a. put something on your head time and have a bevie
5:30pm – 6:30pm PST – McKain Lakey + Sweater Weather perform over at the Concert Hall, it can also be streamed live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/quarantinehappyhourmusic/6:30pm – 10:00pm PST – More workshops, dance parties, AH! 👑
ALSO… If a room isn’t being used for something on the schedule, feel free to commandeer it.
http://www.thebellinghamfolkfestival.com/schedule
http://www.thebellinghamfolkfestival.com/

RADIO FREE FL!P: I BID YOU GOODNIGHT

Joseph Spence & the Pinder Family: Joseph Spence was a Bahamian guitarist and vocalist. Raymond Pinder was Spence’s brother-in-law and fellow vocalist. Folklorist Sam Charters was the first to record Spence on his own back porch in 1958 and an album was released on the Folkways label in 1959.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65jQXHIwy00

Love/Fl!p 360-671-4511  2518 Cherry Street flip@columbianeighborhood.org

If you’re willing to share your phone and address with me, personally, I would love that, and would not share it further without your express permission.

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.

CONTENTS 1/21/2021
C Against The Chill
Moral Injury
Eviction Notice? Don’t Panic
Shopping Run?
Soup Brigade: Today’s Ingredients
Batteries Needed
Underclothes Needed
Shopping Run?
Soup Brigade
Today’s Ingredients
Free Dishwasher
Stolen Bike
Radio Free Fl!p: Straw Against The Chill

STRAW AGAINST THE CHILL

Wow! Over 100 bales! I love you SO much!!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart….

The whole day was so busy I never even finished making breakfast till almost dinnertime. Is it possible this was the busiest day of my life.? (Well no, the 38 hours of labor with my firstborn were certainly busier!) Of course, who knows what tomorrow may bring…

I woke up at 6:25 to take Zeke in for a medical procedure (which went fine). There were already messages about straw bales waiting on my phone when I woke up, which was pretty exciting. And then they just kept coming, all day long. Emails and texts and facebook messages and phone calls. Knocks on the door. Envelopes through the mail slot. Cash, checks, Venmo, PayPal, promises to mail. It was SO moving, talking with everyone, hearing their concern and witnessing their generosity.

Many people donated enough for one bale. Some folks bought 10 or 20, or everything in between. I tried to enter it all in a spreadsheet as I went along but I got mixed up a few times. Zeke is helping sort it out right now. A bit before noon, I ran a quick total and panicked. I called the Farmer’s Co-op to see how many bales they had! Over a hundred. Enough. Dayenu!

Then I checked in with my contacts among the outreach volunteers to see how many bales they could actually use. All of them!!! But they needed tarps too, to make dry, windproof shelters that won’t blow down. So I started searching online, making phone calls, inquiring about local inventory and possible discounts. Both Hardware Sales and Harbor Freight found me some great deals.

At one point I was on hold with a store, and also on the phone with a donor, and someone knocked on the door. And someone else was waiting outside the gate!!! And everybody was patient with me. But by the time I went to try to enter the money, I had forgotten the name of the first person, who handed me cash. But I did get the cash entered at least. It’s a learning curve…

Braided in to my day with the straw bales was the usual parade of cooks for soup ingredients, inquiries, and pots & pans flowing in and out. And today, folks brought still more supplies for the Mamas in the Motel, including three different women who brought cash for them. Specifically cash, not gift cards, so each of the women could begin again to make her own choices after having been trapped in domestic violence. I dug out some really fancy envelopes for the cash from my desk. Presentation makes a difference. I get to assist you all as you wrap the world in kindness, one heart at a time.

I feel a little like the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, trying to conduct a tidal wave… And it’s thrilling! My job is to make the best and most effective use of every penny each of you gave. And to connect with outreach volunteers who will treasure every hand-knitted, hand-sewn, and sometimes even hand-spun hat and scarf. Wonderful Outreach volunteers who encourage the folks they meet to choose for themselves which hat, which scarf, which sweater, which coat. Who offer respect and dignity even in these appalling circumstances.

Ahwren took a first load of a dozen bales at around 3:00 PM today. Tomorrow she will go back for more. And more. And more. Load after load. More than 100 bales! Brett will help in the afternoon with his trailer. I had hoped we might raise funds for 50 bales, maybe. We will actually make lives dryer, warmer, safer for a substantial number of our neighbors trapped camping in the cold. So many tents have blown down in the wind and rain all these months. Straw bales don’t blow down. It’s not good enough, but I believe it may save some lives and buy time while we create alternative systems and get them up and running, to replace the old ones which are so clearly not working.

Some checks are in the mail, and I’m going to go ahead and spend the promised money. The other thing still needed is hands on the ground who can help build with the bales. The weather forecast is not only for snow, it’s for temperatures in the low 30s with wind chill into the 20s. And many campers are not in shape to build their own shelters. Medical bills are a common reason for homelessness.

So I’ve had my dinner of good leftover chicken soup. I’ve handed off the day’s clothing donations, plus some batteries, hats, and scarves. I was able to send along a bunch of headlamps that use AA batteries. Campers go through a lot of batteries on these long winter nights, and there are always requests for headlamps. The clear blue plastic laundry bags for wet blankets arrived today as well. This brings us one step closer to a Blanket Brigade. AND a kind subscriber offered to help coordinate the effort! So if you’re interested in washing and drying blankets, hold your horses just a little longer, and I’ll be able to tell you how to sign up.

So Everybody – Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making this amazing day happen. It was fun, exciting, overwhelming, and so very touching. THANK YOU!!!

I’m going to send out this update, go set up the morning eggs, feed the cat, and fall over! And sleep in till 8:30 tomorrow!
All my love/ Fl!p

MORAL INJURY

I would beg you all to write, or to write again, to our elected officials. I know they can’t spend money they don’t have, but it costs less in the long run to get people into simple housing than it does to pay for emergency room visits, motel rooms, and police response. And not caring for our most vulnerable citizens causes moral injury to our whole community. If we abandon others, each of us could be next to be abandoned, and we know that truth in our heart of hearts. It leaves us all more frightened and more isolated.

City Hall’s street address is 210 Lottie Street, 98225.
mayorsoffice@cob.org
ccmail@cob.org

The Whatcom County Courthouse address is 311 Grand Avenue, 98225
ssidhu@co.whatcom.wa.u
council@co.whatcom.wa.us

EVICTION NOTICE? DON’T PANIC

The City has posted an order to get the campers to respect a 25 foot buffer around City Hall to protect from fire hazards, and to get tents back off the pathways so workers can get in and out. It’s an adjustment, not an order to clear the whole encampment.

BATTERIES NEEDED:  D, AA, AAA

UNDERCLOTHES NEEDED:  Contact me for details.

SHOPPING RUN?

Is there someone who could do a morning shopping run for me to SmartFood (used to be Cash&Carry, on Ohio). I can pay for it all, and can send you a very detailed list including isle numbers. I had planned to arrange this for today, but today got away from me. I’m hoping to have supplies arrive here before 2 PM. 360-671-4511. Thank you!

SOUP BRIGADE

Meal Train is a little short on sign-ups. Can anyone fill in some missing meals? Grab a buddy and go for it!

https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/nnmwke

TODAY’S INGREDIENTS

Once the shopping run gets back, I will have lots more! Right now I still have pasta, rice, chicken soup base, 30# onions, 20 dozen eggs, and about a pound of shredded cheddar. After shopping we’ll add a bunch more cheese, lentils or split peas, carrots and celery, and another case each of cups and lids.

FREE DISHWASHER

Kirkland whirlpool energy saver Model: SUD5100
Good working order. All parts, minus supply line included.
Out front of 2212 Victor St.
360-223-7287
Rob Holmgren, Victor St.

STOLEN BIKE

Our housemate’s bike was stolen from our garage at 2425 Kulshan Street, sometime during the first two weeks of January. It is a black commuter bike, with “one less car” and “phish” stickers on the frame. There is a rear storage rack with an attached u-lock. There is a front suspension shock. He believes there is an old identification sticker under the lower frame, perhaps with the name Eric Johnson. It was originally a Specialized mountain bike, but the brand labels no longer exist, and it has been modified into a commuter bike. If you see a bike matching this description, please call my housemate, Leif (Eric Johnson), at 360-506-4989.
Thank you,
Becky Curtis
Kulshan St.

RADIO FREE Fl!P: STRAW AGAINST THE CHILL

My friend Bob Franke wrote a lovely song. It’s not from my own faith tradition, but it’s been running through my head all day. Songs have a way of doing that. This version sung by Kathy Mattea

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-VXxACc4U4

Love/Fl!p 360-671-4511  2518 Cherry Street flip@columbianeighborhood.org

If you’re willing to share your phone and address with me, personally, I would love that, and would not share it further without your express permission.

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.

CONTENTS 1/19/2021
Happy Inauguration Day
Neighborhood Assn Membership
Snow Forecast
Straw Bales Drive
Tarps, Tools & Hands
Soup Brigade
   Room On The Mealtrain
   Today’s Ingredients
Donations To Families
Warm Wool Caps
From An Outreach Volunteer
Lost And Found Dog
Witch Hazel
Email Improving
Bellingham Folk Festival!
Radio Free Flip: Heart Like A Wheel

HAPPY INAUGURATION DAY

The USA has had an unbroken tradition of the peaceful transfer of power since the beginning. May it continue!

COLUMBIA NEIGHBORHOOD ASSN. CALL FOR 2021 MEMBERS AND BOARD POSITIONS

Due to my personal health issues and work challenges due to COVID, I will be resigning from the CNA Board, effective with the election at our first meeting on Feb. 23. It’s a new year and typically at our first meeting we have our membership drive. This year requires us to do things differently. We are going to have an in-person CNA Membership Drive on Saturday, Feb. 20th, 10am-2pm at the Columbia Share Shack. If you would like to become a member, there are other ways to join. If you would like to be a member, please fill out this form at: https://tinyurl.com/cnamembershipform, which provides a place to share your interests and a variety of payment options in case you can’t make the in-person Membership Drive. In this form, you will also be able to express interest in becoming a board member!!! We will be sure to invite you to our next board meeting later this month, provided you filled out the form in the next week. Thank you for your interest in making our neighborhood a great place to live.

Please email  columbianeighborhoodassociation@protonmail.com if you have any questions.

Thank you,
Jill MacIntyre Witt
CNA President
Walnut Street
[And thank you Jill for your many years of service to our neighborhood and community!]

SNOW FORECAST

Cold weather is coming this weekend or even before. Campers and volunteers on the lawn at City Hall are doing all they can to fortify themselves. They need lots more tarps, pallets and straw bales. As yet our local government has offered no alternatives to get people inside. I am hoping the new administration will make FEMA and other disaster assistance available. But for now, it looks like it’s us, their fellow citizens.

STRAW BALES DRIVE

Wednesday Jan 20th at 3PM

Ahwren has a pickup truck she is bringing into town at 3pm, to Bellingham Farmers Coop on Meridian. She will buy straw bales to improve shelter at the encampment before the snow. You can help! Bales cost $10.89 each, including tax. Ahwren will load up bales and drive them to the City Hall Encampment. Contact me, Fl!p, before 2 PM if you’d like to donate so we know how many bales we can buy. Please call 360-671-4511 to let me know money is coming. You can drop off cash or checks, or use PayPal or Venmo to contribute. Thank you! ~ Ahwren Ayers 360-312-1244  HealingTherapiesConnection@gmail.com

TARPS, TOOLS & HANDS

Sounds like 8×10 or larger tarps are most needed, besides straw bales & pallets. On the ground, community members and neighbors living outside are focused on sheltering in place, preparing for future storms. We need more helping hands that know how to work safe outside. Bring tarps and some tools.

SOUP BRIGADE

ROOM ON THE MEAL-TRAIN

There’s room on the MealTrain sign-ups starting Thursday. I’ve got containers and ingredients if you will prepare them. I’ll coach you. I have recipes and pots. If you share making a meal with a couple friends it’s a lot less work, and you can phone or zoom when you panic, or even just for fun. We can still cook together. And feed hungry hearts and bodies.

https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/nnmwke

TODAY’S INGREDIENTS

4# carrots, (carrot cake anyone?),  2 heads of celery, 20# rice, 4# split peas, 8# lentils, three 4# bags of pasta (Ziti, penne), three 5# sacks and two 1# sacks of shredded cheddar. (Please come get the cheese!) Two loaves of bread – one is Texas toast. There’s a big tub of curry paste (wouldn’t that be great with lentils & onions?). About 60# of onions. 25 dozen eggs. Five jars of chicken soup base.

Sign up below to keep a steady flow of meals, and then come pick up soup pots,  restaurant pans, ingredients, bakery bags & individual containers from me. I’ll be glad to talk you through the process we’ve worked out.

https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/nnmwke

DONATIONS TO FAMILIES

“Please let whoever donated to the families with small children in a motel know that what they are investing in is so much more than these items! It builds faith that there are people on their side, people that follow through for Moms with young kids. The Opportunity Council gave them motel vouchers because they left domestic violence situations.”

…And they arrived with nothing. Kindness poured in and out our front door throughout today. And respect. New clothing. Personal care items. Diapers & wipes. Many of the donors were moms themselves. One donor told me she hadn’t gotten to do Christmas gifts with her family this year, and decided this was what she wanted to do with the money she hadn’t spent. Beautiful gift bags with hearts printed all over, filled with personal care items! Someone else left cash to buy them stuff, and instead we gave it to them directly so they could start exercising a little bit of control over their lives. The motel mothers could use some canned foods. They have a crock pot, microwave and mini fridge to work with. We can take donations of canned foods at our house. I think we may have gotten everything on their list today, but I’m not sure. I got a little confused a couple times. But it’s all been picked up and delivered. Thank you one and all!!!

WARM WOOL CAPS

Women keep bringing the most beautiful hand knitted hats and scarves to my door. Some even have hand-spun yarn. Thank you! Please keep knitting…

FROM AN OUTREACH VOLUNTEER

A big relief to get each being off the ground. More complicated then you can imagine, but less complicated then trying to survive living under nylon plastic with minimal sense of safety. Outreach volunteers continue to talk to who we meet, to ask if they want to get on a future village list. We are expecting the city to ask HomeNOW.org to do another village, unless BMAC is ready to do a no barrier shelter.

LOST AND FOUND DOG

I had almost simultaneous emails today, one from someone who lost a dog, and the other from someone who found one. Matching descriptions. Both included phone numbers. Sometimes things are really easy!

WITCH HAZEL

I got to show off my garden a bunch of times today in the lovely sunshine. It made me SO happy!!! You can still ask for a tour. I may be busy but I’m not too busy for something that brings me so much pleasure to share. Give me a shout to set up a time. The witch hazel is still blooming for a few more days and the camellia is just opening its first few buds….

EMAIL IMPROVING

I got great personal assistance from PogoZone today. We may have found a way around what appears to be a bug in Apple Mail. Conrad was really patient with me. I can at least read and write email again. Whew! And I may be able to clean up filing problems over the next while.

BELLINGHAM FOLK FESTIVAL!

January 22nd, 23rd and 24th

Here it comes! The schedule is now up. And I myself am on it, with Songs Of Connection. This promises to be a rollicking good time! The e-festival offers three days of inspiring workshops, performances, and jams for all ages and abilities. It’s a celebration of homemade music happening online and in your very own home. Don’t live in Bellingham? No problem! For the first time ever, attendance isn’t really restricted by your physical location.

Other benefits include but are not limited to:

• free parking!
• no lines!
• no uncomfortable chairs!
• the freedom to noodle!
• no audible coughing!
• using the bathroom whenever you want!
• your babies/cats/xylophones can come!
• no nasty glares for coming in late!

http://www.thebellinghamfolkfestival.com/schedule

http://www.thebellinghamfolkfestival.com/

RADIO FREE FLIP: HEART LIKE A WHEEL

Write by Anna  and performed by Anna & Kate McGarrigle. Kate died a decade ago, but in these days of the year. She was 63. What an amazing song! I’ve heard that death comes in three phases. The first is when your breath stops. The second is when the last person who knew you, face to face, dies. The last is when your songs and stories are no longer shared. Kate has a long way to go yet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Enc8KEzdYY

CONTENTS 1/19/2021
Email Still Unstable
Soup Brigade
   Need Mealtrain Sign-Ups
   Life At The Crossroads
   Today’s Ingredients
   Support For Families
   Straw Bales & Snow
C-19 Study
Comfort In, Dump Out
Mike Marker Obituary
Two Dads Story
Radio Free Fl!p: My Street

EMAIL UNSTABLE

Still struggling. Phone and text are best for now. Email is getting better but still unreliable. At this point the problem seems to be Apple Mail.

SOUP BRIGADE

NEED MEAL-TRAIN SIGN-UPS

Starting this Wednesday,MealTrain sign-ups are a little sparse. I’ve got containers and ingredients if you will prepare them. I’ll coach you. Grab some family members or buddies and let’s feed some cold, hungry neighbors!

https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/nnmwke

LIFE AT THE CROSSROADS

I said the other day that I am getting to stand at the Crossroads of Kindness. I see many people each day (safely masked, from the foot of our porch stairs for the most part) dropping off or picking up ingredients, pots & pans & containers. Boots & blankets & headlamps & hand warmers. The last couple days have been hat & scarf days. Several different knitters brought gorgeous, warm, hand-knitted wool hats and scarves. Beautiful enough for tears. Gratitude fills my life. And I get three visits a week from on-the-ground volunteers who take it all and carry it with love and respect, hand-to-hand and face-to-face, to the individuals who need it most.

Someone teased that if my neighbors didn’t know me so well, they’d think this was a drug house because of all the cars pulling up for a few minutes and driving off again.

TODAY’S INGREDIENTS

6# carrots, (carrot cake anyone?), 6# potatoes, 4 heads of celery, 15# rice, 10# lentils, three 4# bags of pasta (Ziti, penne), two 5# sack and three 2# sacks of shredded cheddar. (Please come get the cheese!) Two loaves of bread – one is Texas toast. There’s a big tub of curry paste (wouldn’t that be great with lentils & onions?). A jar of chili powder. About 12# of onions. 20 dozen eggs. Two jars of chicken soup base. Six huge cans of Chili, and cheese & onions to go with them, for those who would rather heat food than make it from scratch.

Sign up below to keep a steady flow of meals, and then come pick up soup pots,  restaurant pans, ingredients, bakery bags & individual containers from me. I’ll be glad to talk you through the process we’ve worked out.

https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/nnmwke

SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES

On-the-ground volunteers have four families in a motel together, in urgent need of the following items. If you can help, please contact me BEFORE you bring things here, so they don’t drown in duplicates in their very limited space. Hand-me-down clothing is welcome. Self-care & bath items should be new. If you’re going shopping for them, call me first. My email is still unreliable. 360-671-4511. My address is 2518 Cherry Street. Thank you! Let’s see if we can get this done today.

I was horrified to discover that there do not appear to be any agencies that help provide supplies in situations like this. A long-time out-reach worker told me that the pandemic has changed everything. Thrift stores used to help, when they were open. And when people in urgent need could get there. If there are programs I can’t find, please let me know.

* 2 pkgs of size 4 diapers
* 4T/5T pull-ups
* several pkgs of baby wipes.
* 18 mo-2T clothes  clothes.
* 2 sets of 4T clothing and  size 7 shoe, and size 5 diapers
* 5 yr old girl who wears 5T clothing  ,panties.
* children’s socks
* 4 family units worth of Bath items
*  Shirts XL, some sweats/joggers same size.
* hair  brushes
* 4 family units worth of self care items

STRAW BALES & SNOW

And pallets and tarps. With no place to go, and snow forecast, neighbors who have lost their homes and are tenting on the lawn at City Hall are trying to build sturdier shelters before the weekend. Straw bales make important insulation and wind barriers. Can you help? Might your church, or club, or association, or buddies, pool your resources together to get a bunch of bales delivered? Bob Franke wrote a song: Straw Against The Chill. It’s where we are now.

C-19 STUDY

Zeke and I joined this international study many months ago. It take me less than one minute a day to report in for both of us. It has been helpful to researchers studying this disease, and therefore helpful to us all. As of this evening, they need only 42 more Whatcom County residents to join, and they will be able to provide accurate daily COVID estimates. Can you help?

https://covid.joinzoe.com/us-2

COMFORT IN, DUMP OUT

And take turns! Here’s a new version of the Ring Theory Of Support, modified for the pandemic. This is very useful!

https://medium.com/@GeralynBMurray/ring-theory-pandemic-edition-comfort-in-dump-out-switch-ef402d7c2e94

MIKE MARKER OBITUARY

Mike lived in the next neighborhood over, but was a huge part of the local music community since the 1970s. I believe musicians impact us all, and Mike’s skill and passion definitely shaped my life, and through me, you.

R. Michael Marker, known to his many friends as Mike, left this world on January 15, 2021. He was a force of nature, and will be dearly missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and musical co-conspirators.

Mike was born in San Diego to Bob and Jean Marker in 1951. The family relocated to Spokane shortly afterwards, where Mike spent his childhood and young adult life. He cherished time with his grandparents on their farm in the Spokane Valley, growing up with a love of the outdoors and a strong inherited work ethic. Both his mother and grandfather sang and played music. When he was in high school, he saved up his own money for a banjo, and his mother paid for five lessons. Soon he was playing his first gigs at Shakey’s Pizza.

When Expo 74’ came to Spokane, he met Utah Phillips and Larry Hanks. Both became lifelong friends. He was also strongly influenced by his many mentors, including Malvina Reynolds, Pete Seeger, and Michael Cooney. He dedicated the better part of his life to social justice, believing in the power of music as a political and social tool. He toured extensively, also writing and performing songs for countless local protests and community events. 

Mike was an incredible performer and storyteller. Throughout his life he continued to improve upon his already impressive musicianship. He was constantly writing new songs and arranging old ones. His gigs at Mama Sunday’s (now the Underground Coffeehouse at WWU) were legendary, and his pajama concerts for the Roeder Home and Bellingham Public Library were beloved across generations. 

Mike was an integral part of the Bellingham musical community. He could often be found playing an impromptu gig at one of many local brew pubs or sitting in on a music circle (invited or not). He was a wealth of old songs, and was happy to share the history of all of them. For many years he was music partners with Larry Hanks, and in 2009 they recorded their studio album, The Truth for Certain. Later, Mike performed with his son Nakos under the moniker “Doc and Nak.” Mike was immensely proud of his son’s talent and skill, and it brought him great joy for them to share a stage. Most recently, during the pandemic, he was performing in virtual festivals as far-reaching as Australia. 

He is survived by Ceci, his wife of 37 years; his three children, Yonina, Nakos, and Miska; and his brother, Terry. 

Nakos has organized a comprehensive archive of Mike’s recordings. They will be available for free, as Mike firmly believed art should be. Contact Nakos at namarker@gmail.com

Due to the pandemic, there are no current plans for a memorial. A public wake will hopefully be held over the summer, as Mike deserves a party as legendary as he was.

cecilia.morales.2@gmail.com

FATHER’S DAY STORY

Mike wrote this, and sent it to me recently. You might like it too.

 https://thetyee.ca/Culture/2020/06/19/Two-Dads-Fathers-Day-Story.

RADIO FREE FL!P: MY STREET

Malvina Reynolds was one of Mike’s mentors, and he used to sing this song of hers. He and I were talking about it just a couple weeks ago. Our two lives have intersected since about 1973.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dl5A-QUcdAY

Love/Fl!p 360-671-4511  2518 Cherry Street flip@columbianeighborhood.org

If you’re willing to share your phone and address with me, personally, I would love that, and would not share it further without your express permission.

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.

CONTENTS 1/18/2021
Email Down
Soup Brigade
Cold Weather Camp Needs
Pallet Delivery?
Today’s Ingredients
Oven Baked Rice Recipe
SwiftHaven Requests
Waterproof Footwear
From An Outreach Volunteer
Hot Potato
Humane Society Event
Tutoring Available Via Zoom
Foster A Fish?
Radio Free Fl!p: Mike Marker

NO EMAIL

If I haven’t answered, that’s why. Email has been spotty or down for several days, and the website was down yesterday, so there was no Update. With luck I’ll manage to get this post out tonight. If you have something urgent, you might want to text or phone me: 360-671-4511. I’m dreaming of going to bed by midnight or so, though it’s usually more like 2 AM, and I try to sleep in till 8:15.

SOUP BRIGADE

Breakfast is needed for 30, early Tuesday morning. Can someone undertake this? I can hand you ingredients. For that matter, does anyone have time to make a run on SmartFood for me? A neighbor jumped in to make a missing breakfast for 50 on less than 24 hours notice yesterday. What a relief!

https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/nnmwke

COLD WEATHER CAMP NEEDS

Straw bales
Firewood
Pallets
Emergency Blankets
Plywood
Phillips screwdrivers
Nails
2x4s
Tarps
Power Tools
Padlocks
Sandbags

Preparing for the weather at Lottie 210 Camp.  Bring supplies & work is continous. Reach out directly if you’d like to come down to camp and do some hands on help!

PALLET DELIVERY?

If someone is willing to deliver them, we have a stack of pallets by our back gate. There are also some neighbors who have cardboard to donate if someone is able to come pick it up.

TODAY’S INGREDIENTS

10# carrots, (carrot cake anyone?), 3# potatoes, 2 heads of celery, 15# rice, 4# lentils, four 4# bags of pasta (Ziti, penne), one 5# sack and three 2# sacks of shredded cheddar. (Please come get the cheese!) Two loaves of bread – one is Texas toast.  There’s a big tub of curry paste (wouldn’t that be great with lentils & onions?). About 12# of onions. 7 dozen eggs. Two jars of chicken soup base. Six huge cans of Chili, and cheese & onions to go with them, for those who would rather heat food that make it from scratch. (Someone may have reserved the chili, but I can’t get at my email. Maybe text me if that was you?).

Sign up below to keep a steady flow of meals, and then come pick up soup pots,  restaurant pans, ingredients, bakery bags & individual containers from me. I’ll be glad to talk you through the process we’ve worked out.

https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/nnmwke

OVEN BAKED RICE RECIPE

I wrote my friend Chris, who is in charge of the kitchen at Guitar Camp, and asked for bulk recipes. He sent this, for a simple, quick way to make rice in the oven, baked in big restaurant steam table pans with lids. We have three of those pans and will get at least one more. The recipe has a place you can adjust numbers for how many you want to feed.

https://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/cook-rice-crowd-easy-oven-method/

SWIFTHAVEN REQUESTS

*Small folding TV tray type tables that can be folded and set aside.
*Regular donation of detergent for their brand-new laundry tent. Might someone volunteer to keep detergent flowing?
*Big wok
*Full length mirror
*One of the residents has a dog that needs a special diet. Is there someone who would take on providing special food? Pets are really important emotional support for many people undergoing homelessness.

WATERPROOF FOOTWEAR

From a nurse who has been volunteering at the City Hall Encampment: We’ve been doing the foot clinic and are always in need of larger size shoes that are somewhat waterproof. You can bring such shoes here. And of course, always more really thick, wool camping and hiking socks.

FROM AN OUTREACH VOLUNTEER

May we continue to listen to the voice and needs of each individual camping neighbor who is surviving daily with minimal resources.

May we encourage our mayor , executive , councils, staff, & faith leaders to reach out in person face to face,  and meet & listen to our neighbors living outside, hear them share their perspective and their needs.

Outreach witness: Citizen basic shelter hand built that look like short huts made of wooden pallets covered in plastic have been built on the lawns and are providing safer shelter then their past collapsed tents or their collapsed bodies on the sidewalk. Day by day those that reside on our collective fields & lawns continue to work together with neighbors to build what meetings have not accomplished. Swift Haven village will be full soon.

Winter is here, bring shelter to your neighbors: plastic tarps, straw bales, firewood, food. Bring them the electronic resources to communicate both ways with our local council meeting. Bring us a way for a nurse to do direct outreach to those who need wound care and medication. Pause distractions from the physical work happening now outside during the calm before our next storm.

HOT POTATO

It seemed easy to just print this exchange.
To Fl!p: “My neighbor made a suggestion about our 2 households coordinating for something for the meal train.  She suggested baked potatoes wrapped in foil with cheese and onions I think.  I  am not sure how quickly things are eaten and a baked potato sitting around for an hour might not be very appetizing.  What do you think of this idea?”
Fl!p to Food Tent: I know another neighbor has done Twice Baked Potatoes, where they are baked whole, and then the insides are scraped out and mixed with cheese etc and put back in. Would that work better? Would 50 potatoes go out fast enough to still be warm?From Food Tent: I think twice baked would work better :). We have a cooler that we’re storing food in so as long as they are well wrapped I’d say they have a shelf life of 2 hours.

HUMANE SOCIETY EVENT

We are looking for artists and creative people to make and/or decorate birdhouses for our online auction.  These decorative birdhouses can be any size and the medium of your choice.  Donations will be accepted until March 10, 2021.

The virtual birdhouse auction will take place March 21-31, 2021.  All proceeds from this event will benefit our Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. There are several ways you can help with this fundraiser:

1. Build and decorate a birdhouse to donate.
2. Build a birdhouse for others to decorate.
3. Volunteer to decorate donated birdhouses.
4. Purchase a birdhouse to donate (plain or pre-decorated!)

To sign up to make, decorate, or donate a birdhouse please contact Dana at events@whatcomhumane.org or 360-733-2080 x3014.
WHS birdhouse fundraiser

TUTORING AVAILABLE VIA ZOOM

Math: basic math, algebra, geometry, precalculus
Science: biology, chemistry
English
Spanish
General studies, study habits, time management
$15.00/hour

Hello! I am a junior at Bellingham High School and a part-time Running Start student at Whatcom Community College. I live in the Columbia neighborhood. I have experience teaching kids through 4-H, and I am offering tutoring for school subjects via Zoom or FaceTime. If you know a student who could use some extra support, either briefly or ongoing, please feel free to contact me! References available. My email address is Louisa2527@gmail.com

FOSTER A FISH?

Does anyone have interest in hobby saltwater fish or aquariums? A friend is about to leave to work remotely for a couple months, and two captive-bred clownfish and a feather duster need a temporary home (or possibly permanent to a good home). They’re healthy/disease-free and can come with a 20 gal aquarium set-up.  It’s more upkeep than a goldfish for sure, but they are quite charming.  If you are interested in testing the waters on a saltwater tank, this could be great, or if you have room in your tank for a few guests!  Email Phaedra if you are interested – boothp@wwu.edu

RADIO FREE FL!P: MIKE MARKER

For those of you who knew him, I am sorry to bear the news that Mike died this weekend of some kind of sudden, massive heart failure. He was riding his bike when he went down. Medics came very quickly but were unable to save him. He left behind an amazing body of music. Here is Mike’s 12-string guitar take on Deep River Blues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8b9GsEaLJk

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.

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.

IDES OF JANUARY

Alert: Lost Keys
Soup Brigade
Some Personal History
Radio Free Fl!p: Wolf’s Lullaby
Going to bed early tonight…

ALERT: LOST KEYS

Somewhere on a walk around 4 pm from W North to Elizabeth to Madison to Wiliams and back to North. Honda key fob and a bunch of other keys. Phone 360-306-1401 ~ Jodi Pilkey

SOUP BRIGADE

I still have pots, ingredients, containers and advice. I would love to assist you to cook hot food for our neighbors who have lost their homes.

SOME PERSONAL HISTORY

I wrote this just a year ago. I was just beginning to face the issue of homelessness here in Bellingham. This was before COVID, when there were more emergency shelters, staffed mostly by elder volunteers. We went out as the storm was coming in and the snow was just beginning to fall. I don’t think I will ever forget that night. I learned to take hot soup for folks as they were just leaving the warmth of the library and seeking a doorway’s shelter for the night. And now the library is closed. The emergency shelters are almost all closed. There are over 100 people without shelter camped on the City Hall lawn. And snow is predicted again, in about a week. I am heartbroken.

Here is what I wrote to some other friends last year on this day:

  I spent Sunday afternoon and evening out with a volunteer learning how to find homeless folks and warn them of the coming storm and let them know both the City and County were opening emergency shelters. And we handed out lots of coats, hats, gloves, socks, hand-warmers, blankets & food. I was pretty horrified to find out first hand that almost none of the homeless folks I talked with had heard a storm was coming! What good does it do to open shelters if there is no mechanism for getting the word out to the people who need them? No phones, no TV, newspapers, and clearly no one is talking with them, even when they hand over money. Wah!

I learned a lot. It was clear that my mentor, a woman a little younger than me who has been doing this work for years, is so concerned about individuals without shelter that she has little slack for how scary they can be. Enough to be careful and avoid some of them, but not enough to stop her from approaching individuals and groups. There was a young man who was pretty clearly disconnected from the world, voices in his head etc. She moved in as Mama and got him into a coat, gloves, hat, scarf etc, and got him turned around and headed directly towards the shelter pickup point. He seemed much calmer and more connected by the end of our visit. It was lovely.

  She did tell me that she almost never takes anyone into her car. Once in a while a disabled elderly woman who is familiar to her. We were seeking those elders yesterday. My mentor knew a lot of the hidden places homeless folks habitually take refuge in, and what time they are likely to arrive. I printed off lists of shelters, pick up points, and times, and handed them out along with clothing. My mentor was very glad to have me with her. Two women together are much safer than one. Her SUV is completely stuffed with supplies, but she could use lots and lots more supplies.

  I was pretty horrified that almost all of the people we spoke with avoided and were scared of the Lighthouse Mission, had awful stories, and thought they would freeze before they would go there. It was a relief to be able to tell them about other shelters. (This was a year ago when there were other shelters.) We tried to let them know they have a human right to be safe and have a place to rest; that it is not their fault they are without shelter.

  WARM GLOVES and thick mittens, new socks, warm hats, and taxi rides to shelters…. dry sleeping bags with water proof cover or at least a huge contractor-weight garbage bag to curl up inside with bedding to try to stay dry. …These are all desperately needed. Ten minutes waiting or walking in cold with no gloves is painful. Not “clothes in general’ because people on street don’t have closets or storage to keep things dry. Protein bars, beef sticks & jerky, easily pocketed, wrapped food, and hand warmers. Money to help volunteers get more of what’s needed. Deliver to Unity Village in Fairhaven at 206 McKenzie Ave in a waterproof container. We are also accepting donations at our house if you live nearby and know where we live. Check before you bring things to make sure we can use them. We have limited space at home. Thank you!      Love/Fl!p

RADIO FREE Fl!P: WOLF’S LULLABY

Cindy Kallet. Sometimes there are no words. Thank you Cindy. I am trying to go to bed early. In my warm house. How can I?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiYEo0cq7iY&list=PLuVviDccPmWoDjaNJr3JSbXXe23DslG3z&index=11

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.

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.

CONTENTS 1/14/2021
Soup Brigade
Laundry Help
City Hall Encampment Needs
Homeless Perspective
MLK Jr Human Rights Conference
Unapologetic
Donate A Baby Gate?
Victorian Rental
Bellingham Folk Festival
Radio Free Fl!p: Washington Blues

SOUP BRIGADE

I have been coordinating community grass-roots efforts to provide hot, nourishing food to the neighbors who have lost their homes and are camping on the city hall and library lawns for the last few months, hoping to draw public attention to their plight. Because of Covid, local Whatcom County refugees have no buildings they can go into to warm up and dry out. Many of them have been outside for months in drenching rain and blustery winds that blow their tents down.  So we try to warm them up from inside. You can pick up ingredients, big cooking pots, and helpful tips from me.

Today’s Ingredients: Some carrots, (carrot muffins anyone?) 15# rice, 4# lentils, three 4# bags of pasta (Ziti, penne), two 5# sacks and two 2# sacks of shredded cheddar. (Please come get the cheese!)  There’s a big tub of curry paste (wouldn’t that be great with lentils & onions?). About 8# of onions. Ten dozen eggs. Three jars of chicken soup base. Seven huge cans of Chili, and cheese & onions to go with them, for those who would rather heat food that make it from scratch. And individual containers for everything.

Sign up here to keep a steady flow of meals, and then come pick up soup pots,  ingredients & individual containers from me. I’ll be glad to talk you through the process.

https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/nnmwke

LAUNDRY HELP

They are still working on a new system so campers at City Hall can put one load of blankets a in blue plastic recycling bag from the supplies tent. If you want to help with cleaning and drying out blankets, food tent volunteers are likely to be able to point you to the pile. Anyone can pick up a bag or bags, launder and return to the donations tent. Clear plastic return bags are best, so it’s easy to see what’s in the bag, to make sure it doesn’t get mistaken for garbage (black bags).

CITY HALL ENCAMPMENT NEEDS

If you bring donations to our house at 2518 Cherry Street, we now have outreach volunteers come by three times a week to rescue us from the mountains of gifts. Thank you!

*Headlamps
*One back-up battery for an outreach volunteer’s phone
*Great big 90+ gallon black garbage bags – the ones they sell to line wheelie bin toters.
*See-through blue plastic Recycling bags for laundry. These need to be at least big enough to hold a couple blankets.
*Clear plastic bags big enough to hold a single blanket for returning clean laundry and keeping it dry while it awaits pickup and travels from the donations tent to the person who needs it.

HOMELESS PERSPECTIVE

This is not a comfortable thing to read, but I offer it anyway. We need to first listen well and in detail to anyone we would like to assist. That person knows the most about their own circumstances. When I first read this, I kept noticing all the details this woman has had to figure out and keep track of to survive. Her life is more complex than mine – and I thought I was busy! She offers a view of the structure of our local system, as seen from the bottom.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Bellingham/comments/kvkrfn/my_homelessness_perspective/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share

MLK JR HUMAN RIGHTS CONFERENCE

I wanted to plug this weekend’s MLK Jr Human Rights Conference, an annual event hosted by the Whatcom Human Rights Task Force and other community orgs, now virtual for 2021. There is still time to register and join the workshops. It kicks off Thursday evening 1/14 and continues into Saturday.Take care! ~ Elma Burnham  

https://whrtf.org/revdrking/2021-conference/2021-schedule/ 

UNAPOLOGETIC

CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival joins film festivals from across North America for an online screening of Ashley O’Shay’s 82-minute documentary, “Unapologetic” this Saturday, Jan. 16 for Martin Luther King weekend.

The film focuses on Janaé and Bella, two young activists who, after two police killings, challenge a Chicago administration complicit in state violence against its Black residents. Unapologetic is a deep look into the Movement for Black Lives, from the police murder of Rekia Boyd to the election of mayor Lori Lightfoot. Watch the trailer here. 

Buy your tickets here. Purchase your tickets in advance and watch the film anytime Friday, Jan 15 and Saturday, Jan. 16. One half of every ticket purchase goes back to CASCADIA!

A ‘live’ Q&A with Ashley O’Shay and the film’s subjects Janaé and Bella will take place for all ticket holders at 6:30 p.m. PDT. A Zoom link to the Q&A will appear in your ticket confirmation email.

DONATE A BABY GATE?

I am looking for one of those classic wood/wire mesh (plastic/wire mesh) baby gates that requires no installation for doorways. If you have a one of thes baby gates you no longer need and would like to donate, I would be happy to pick it up. The doorway I want to close off is about 31in wide. ~ Kaleigh Downing, Washington St, kaleighdowning@gmail.com

VICTORIAN RENTAL

Sweet Victorian, 2515 Jaeger St, Columbia neighborhood. Currently available.  3 bdrm, 2 ba, plus bonus room. 1800 sq ft. Built in early 1900’s. Completely updated including wiring, plumbing, insulation, furnace, water heater, thermopane windows, new roof, fresh paint inside/outside. Clean. Small fenced back yard. Off street parking. Close to Squalicum Park, easy access to I-5. No smoking/no pets. $2200 per month, first, last, deposit. Call/text Sally Hileman, 360-303-7141. 

BELLINGHAM FOLK FESTIVAL

January 22nd, 23rd and 24th, 2021

One of the most delightful local events I know, and virtual this year. I get to lead a sing-along session on Saturday and decided to lead it on songs of connection – to people, places, memories, and ourselves. (And do go look at the poster! It utterly cracks me up!!! Read the fine print.)

http://www.thebellinghamfolkfestival.com/read-this-first

RADIO FREE Fl!P: WASHINGTON BLUES

My beloved Elizabeth (Libba) Cotten plays an instrumental guitar piece she created when she lived in our nation’s capital. I thought we might all be able to use something deep, calm and loving about the heart of our nation at this challenging time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMJ73DKvYpY

Love/Fl!p 360-671-4511  2518 Cherry Street flip@columbianeighborhood.org

If you’re willing to share your phone and address with me, personally, I would love that, and would not share it further without your express permission.

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.

CONTENTS 1/14/2021
Soup Brigade
Needs List
Laundry Help
Swifthaven Needs
Flo Simon Speaks
Reassuring
Dead Birds At Feeders
Zoom Theatre
Piroshky Piroshky
Coty Hogue & Aaron Guest
Radio Free Fl!p: Arise Arise

SOUP BRIGADE

Today’s Ingredients: Some carrots, (carrot muffins anyone?) 20# rice, 4# lentils, three 4# bags of pasta (Ziti, penne), three 5# sacks and three 2# sacks of shredded cheddar. (Please come get the cheese!)  There’s a big tub of curry paste (wouldn’t that be great with lentils & onions?). About 15# of onions. Fifteen dozen eggs. Three jars of chicken soup base. Seven huge cans of Chili, and cheese & onions to go with them, for those who would rather heat food that make it from scratch.

Sign up here to keep a steady flow of meals, and then come pick up soup pots,  ingredients & individual containers from me. I’ll be glad to talk you through the process.

https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/nnmwke

NEEDS LIST

Headlamps, back-up phone batteries,  AA & AAA. Warm scarves, balaclavas, hats, gloves, thick wool socks, re-usable rain ponchos. Boots, sleeping bags, WOOL blankets, rain gear. At this point I can accept these here, at 2518 Cherry Street. It helps if you call first to let me know you’re coming: 360-671-4511. I’ve got several Zoom meetings to work around tomorrow. Thank you!

LAUNDRY HELP

My friend Shari has suggested that any camper at City Hall can put 1 load of blankets a in turquoise bag from the goods tent. Campers are invited to put in bags in a pile by the big tree by the food tent. Anyone can pick up a bag, launder and return to donations tent. Clear plastic bags are best, so it’s easy to see what’s in the bag.

SWIFTHAVEN NEEDS

Plywood – larger pieces to build a low pony wall around the kitchen tent. They are also working on building a laundry & shower facility, so if you are replacing appliances soon, they might be able to use some. Plus more plywood! SwiftHaven has a facebook page of their own, and it’s a good way to communicate. If you start your post with “@Paul Morse” he’ll get back to you, but not quickly because it’s hard to get a decent internet connection there. SwiftHaven – 1555 Puget Street, behind Civic Field.

FLO SIMON SPEAKS

Women of Color Speaker Series Registration –
Thursday January 21, 2021 12:00 – 1:30 PM

Go to the website below to register for the first of the YWCA four-part Women of Color Speaker Series: Race and Gender in Whatcom County! This presentation will feature Flo Simon, Interim Police Chief of the Bellingham Police Department. Chief Simon’s presentation will be on Thursday, January 21, from 12-1:30pm PDT.

https://www.ywcabellingham.org/2021-women-of-color-speaker-series-race-and-gender-in-whatcom-county/

REASSURING

I thought this information I got from Indivisible might help reassure our neighbors.  The march Protect the Vote that was rescheduled for Jan. 22 has been cancelled. They ask people to celebrate the inauguration and election victories at home or safely with neighbors following Covid guidelines. ~ Kathy Piscitello

DEAD BIRDS AT FEEDERS

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking the public to take down bird feeders, including hummingbird feeders due to the spread of salmonellosis.  Please try to avoid handling a sick or dead bird and bring in your cats if you find a sick or dead bird near your home. The request is in place until at least February.  WDFW would like you to report dead birds online at https://wdfw.gov/get-involved/report-observations.

Can you please post update and warn people to wear gloves when removing/cleaning feeders.  Thank you, as alway.  Carolyn Gray

http://www.chronline.com/news/wdfw-bird-feeders-blamed-for-deadly-salmonella-outbreak-among-wild-birds/article_a5af5512-546b-11eb-a33d-c7694ab26481.html

ZOOM THEATRE

Dear Columbia neighbors, thank you for your past support of my theatrical endeavors! I have a new play coming up which you will be able to watch in the comfort of your own living room, live-streamed over Zoom from the Sylvia Center for the Arts. Julian the Humble is based on the life and writings of 14th-century mystic Julian of Norwich, but was heavily inspired by our collective experience of quarantine and isolation over the past year. At the age of thirty, while deathly ill, Julian experienced a series of visions. She left the secular world behind and moved into a small cell outside a church, where she lived for many years, writing about her visions. While the life of an anchorite is hard for most of us to imagine, it’s fair to say that all of us have seen the physical boundaries of our world shrink over the past year. Much has been lost, but ultimately, Julian the Humble is about the forces that continue to bind us, through walls, space, and time. It is performed by Dawn Hunter and Lauren Brigolin, and directed by Sean Cook and Glenn Hergenhahn-Zhao. The show runs January 22, 23, 29, 30, and February 5, 6. Each performance will be live-streamed, not a recording. Virtual “tickets” are by donation. For details and tickets, please visit https://sylviacenterforthearts.org/event/julian-the-humble/2021-01-22/ Thank you for your support of the arts during these unprecedented times!  – Rosalind Reynolds, Park Street

PIROSHKY PIROSHKY

Sunday January 17 Pre-Order & Pop Up at Lummi Market, 4839 Rural Ave, Bellingham, WA 98226. Pick up and enjoy freshly baked Piroshky Piroshky as you pick up your Pre-Order!!! Pre-Order Cutoff At: 01/16/2021 2:00 PM Minimum pre-order: $35,

https://piroshky.store/

COTY HOGUE & AARON GUEST

Tomorrow night we will be bringing back the duo for the Fairhaven College Winter music series and the Folk Music Experience class, streaming here on Facebook at 7 PM PST! This time with better sound, better video, and hopefully no false starts!   Join us here at 7 PM PST:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/298533994557015

RADIO FREE FL!P: ARISE ARISE

Jean Rohe and even more friends. I got to host her here in a concert some years back. It’s nice to see she is still growing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay1iC1zt24A

Love/Fl!p 360-671-4511  2518 Cherry Street flip@columbianeighborhood.org

If you’re willing to share your phone and address with me, personally, I would love that, and would not share it further without your express permission.

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.