Found Phone; Risks; Masks; Covid Study; Storage; Cats; More; Song: My Fence & My Neighbor

CONTENTS 7/11/2020
Alert: Phound Phone
Visual Guide To Activity Risk
Mask Effectiveness Video
Community Covid Symptom Tracker
Storage Needed
Wild Whatcom
Keep Cats In At Night
Cats & Birds
Wire Fence / Trellis Panels
Help For Parents
Car Break In At Utter And W. Connecticut
Radio Free Fl!p: My Fence & My Neighbor

ALERT: PHOUND PHONE

I found a sprint smartphone at Squalicum park behind the baseball fields at 5:30 pm this evening. Please contact me to retrieve. Sarah – (425)681-9605
Sarah Grainger,  Victor Street

VISUAL GUIDE TO ACTIVITY RISK

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EcamMnnXYAAh7hT.jpg

Jessica Burchiel,  Henry St

MASK EFFECTIVENESS VIDEO

https://www.fau.edu/newsdesk/articles/efficacy-facemasks-coronavirus.php

COMMUNITY COVID SYMPTOM TRACKER

I signed up for this research project today. It will take 1 minute of my time per day. My friend and former Whatcom Public Health Officer Frank James invited me to join. It looks safe enough, and it really could be of value in the scientific study of this virus. So I invite you, too.

https://covid.joinzoe.com/us

STORAGE SPACE NEEDED

Do some of you remember when our neighbors donated needed supplies for people without housing during the winter storms and the later cold snap? I worked with a woman named Shari Lapof. Shari collects winter coats, gloves, hats, socks, sleeping bags, hand warmers and other critical supplies to distribute year round as needed. Shari is losing her free storage space soon and needs another place she can access. About size of single car garage, in Bham, with lights or electricity, enclosed and lock-able. Safe to to go alone. contact me, and I’ll put you in touch. I hope we can help her with this! Fl!p 360-671-4511

WILD WHATCOM

Virtual camps coming up the week of July 20th — stay connected with friends and neighbors and get outside while the weather is gorgeous! Campers can join Wild Whatcom’s experienced mentors in:

  • Skills “outings” to learn about birding, navigation, nature art, and/or native tree and plant ID. Each session includes two “outings” on Zoom with missions to complete outside with friends and family in between. Ends with a show and tell on Zoom to share what you learned!
  • Role Playing Games with a focus on nature, collaboration, and self reflection; four sessions in one week

Did you know that several Wild Whatcom staff and board members live in the Columbia neighborhood? We hope to see our neighbors outside this summer whether in Wild Whatcom camps or in our beautiful neighborhood parks!
Licia Sahagun 

KEEP CATS IN AT NIGHT

From Dallas Talkington, 2718 Eldridge Ave. From Dallas Talkington, 2718 Eldridge Ave.  – Sadly I found in my back yard this morning the remains of a grey cat. Probably a coyote. My own cats are now under lock down. Everyone please beware.

Animal Control has seen lots of evidence lately of coyotes, and raccoons. This is the season where young ones are being taught to hunt and cats are a prime target. Dallas is correct. about keeping your cats inside. Please do contact Animal Control if you find a deceased cat. 360-733-2080 x 3017  animalcontroldispatch@gmail.com

CATS & BIRDS

Any time I post about cats dying, I immediately get grumpy posts about cats and birds. Cats are absolutely Subsidized Predators, though feral cats are also an unsubsidized part of that equation. In my household, our cat Vortex is locked indoors from early dusk until late enough morning that there are lots of people up and about, to protect her from bigger predators. And she wears a BirdsBeSafe collar to protect the birds. Vortex is 10 years old. She has had her collar for probably 8 years. In that time, she has caught one bird, and when I looked I realized that the collar’s colors had faded over the years. I promptly replaced it and have had no more bird deaths. She used to be a skilled hunter.

The BirdsBeSafe collar cover was created by a couple of bird biologists who had a cat named George. George was a mighty hunter, which caused his bird loving humans considerable distress. At some point they remembered or discovered that songbirds see the colors red and yellow particularly well, and began to experiment with fabric patterns. Their collars are sewn with the most effective designs.  It’s a collar cover, not a whole collar.

It’s a good thing Vortex was inside the house the first time I put on her collar. She completely freaked out and hid under beds and couches for most of a week. (My brother considered the collar to be particularly great because it protected birds and humiliated the cat at the same time.) But over time, Vortex adjusted. She waits patiently while I buckle it on in the morning and again while I remove it as soon as she’s in for the night.

Traditionally, cats were permitted to adopt humans in return for providing Rodent Patrol. The collar does not interfere with this job.  Vortex, on the other hand, does not consider her personal duties to include squirrels or any other big-front-toothed critters. We have a garden full of birds, and the jays and crows spend a certain amount of their day harassing the cat, but Vortex has never been injured. A detente seems to have been reached.

Domestic cats that can’t kill birds limit the range of feral cats, which is also helpful.

None if this has any impact on whether your cat is pooping in your neighbors’ gardens. It’s a discussion you probably need to have with your neighbors. And you’ll need to find a way to make your own yard more attractive to your cat than your neighbor’s yard.

I just checked, and the BirdsBeSafe collar cover is available in town at the Wild Bird Chalet over on Ohio Street for $11 and tax. They do curbside pickup and are open Monday – Saturday 11 – 4. 360-734-0969. Let’s go save some birdies!

https://www.birdsbesafe.com/

CAR BREAK IN AT UTTER AND W. CONNECTICUT

Just FYI to let neighbors know my car was broken into last night. Didn’t discover it till around noon today. We will report to police. Nothing of value taken and no damage to car. Looks like a search for loose change. Huge thanks to neighbor Dan for finding the insurance/registration in the street and returning it to us…. bringing the break in to our attention! I thought my car was locked – not driving it very often these days — but it appears it was easy to get into, so maybe it wasn’t locked. We will be more careful.
Jack and Judy Shaughnessy,  Corner of Utter and W. Connecticut

WIRE FENCE / TRELLIS PANELS

Three heavy wire panels approx. 5’x8’  made of heavy gauge galvanized wire welded into 4” squares.  We’ve been using these as support for vines grown along a fence but they also make great fencing, or can be cut and used for any number of different projects.  This type of panel is typically sold in 16’ lengths for about $70.  I’m asking $10 per panel.  Call number below with questions or to arrange for pick-up.
Frank Haulgren
360-733-7945
Lafayette St.

HELP FOR PARENTS

Patty Wipfler was profoundly helpful to me during my active parenting years (my kids are like 50 now). These days she has a website, and it’s worth consulting. She’s got lots of helpful information about parenting during the pandemic.  https://www.handinhandparenting.org/blog/

RADIO FREE FL!P: MY FENCE AND MY NEIGHBOR

Cosy Sheridan w/ Charlie Koch – They have come to Guitar Camp for many years, and have played concerts here in town when they’ve traveled through. Cosy is an amazing writer. I thought of this song for my beloved neighborhood. I think a lot about how we can build community. It’s not always easy, but I think it’s always worth doing. How could we dream of changing others without also being willing to change ourselves?

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

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

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.

Chalk Wrap-Up & Thanks; Crashed Computer; More Concerts? Rentals; Song: Working On Wings To Fly

CONTENTS 7/8/2020
Massive Thanks!
Technical Issues
Traveling Chalk
More Concerts?
Chalk Review
Rental Available
Room To Rent
Radio Free Fl!p: Working On Wings To Fly

MASSIVE THANKS!

To Marla Bronstein and all her interviewees for Chalk Talks: Miriam Barnett, Tim Douglas, Seth Fleetwood, Frank James, Hannah Stone, Gene Knutson, Aaron Darraugh, Janet Lightner, & Peter Roberts, who also led the Eldridge Society in donating $300 towards our chalk!

To Jonny Kemp & Noah Willams, our tech gurus who created the map – a Herculean effort if ever there was one. And to Marc Pierson, who got the tech ball rolling.

To the Columbia Neighborhood Association for support, both financial and concrete. David Crook gathered locations for the all the Little Free Libraries, and came up with money for post cards as well. And Jill MacIntyre Witt who helped with the signs.

To Franklin Academy’s Heather Black, who created and posted signs around the neighborhood, and to the signage hosts as well.

To artists Na’channa Edelstein and to Alaya Rousseau for the rainbow chalk page banner design and the postcard art.

To Alan Weydart at Dakota Art and Brittany at Dollar Tree for supplying chalk. And the Food Coop for supplying paper bags to help with chalk distribution.

To Columbia Elementary, Immanuel Bible Church, & Franklin Academy for their willingness to host sidewalk-less chalkers.

To Barbara Sardarov who made an urgent chalk run.

To photographers Emery Pass, Mark Allyn & Kyle Pennell.

To Colleen Harper of the Ferndale Arts Commission, who found me the link to the bright chalk.

To Laura Ridenour, former event planner, who got me set up with a spreadsheet.

To my beloved Zeke for supporting me and feeding me and endless kindness.

And to every Chalker and Musician and Parader and Photographer who brought their creativity and courage and beauty to build and strengthen connections in this dear community!

Oh dear! Who have I forgotten! Sorry!!!

Love/Fl!p

TECHNICAL ISSUES

I had a great time doing the ChalkFest. Thank you all! New activities bring new challenges and new chances to learn. Both the map and my computer have been kinda crashed since Saturday evening. There may have been more photos than we could handle. So I’m taking a bit of a break with a lot of personal nap time till I can get my computer back up and running well again (any volunteers out there?). If there’s urgent news, I’ll find a way to get it out.

TRAVELING CHALK

I finally shared ChalkFestt on my personal facebook page, and with that plus the Herald article, it sounds like there may be other communities picking up our idea. I talked with an organizer in the small city of Liberty Lake this morning. Their Kiwanis club and parks & rec will fund and assist. There’s an area up in Cordata that is planning theirs for August 15. I’m so excited!

MORE CONCERTS?

There seems to be interest in more concerts this summer. I’d love to help that happen. Any suggestions? Musicians could send me a post (give me three days notice because this blog sometimes has technical issues) with an address, time and description. How’s that for starters?

CHALK REVIEW

From Scott Welker: To you and all our neighbors, what a wonderful event! Instead of our usual “ball of multi color string” all gathered at Elizabeth Park, this year’s 4th felt more like those “string and nail” geometric patterns. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/514958538627778047/  Every bit as lovely and communal! Also very friendly for those who wanted to take their time or go at their own time of day. (Bless the weather.) I would like to see a repeat. At some point. (First 4th we are safe to gather in park should be taken advantage of!) I particularly enjoyed the front porch concerts. Small audiences appropriately spaced. Amazing music! Many thanks to everyone!

RENTAL AVAILABLE AUGUST 1

Large daylight room (300 square feet) plus ¾ bath, shared laundry and kitchen in 1910 Columbia neighborhood house. Large side yard with small deck and raised gardens. Full-sized refrigerator included. Separate entrance with parking space off the alley. Unfurnished. $700/month.  First month’s rent plus $700 deposit. Single occupancy/No pets/No smoking.  Contact me at penny.chambers@gmail.com. ~ Penny Chambers, Victor Street

ROOM TO RENT $700

Therapist/Artist seeks other professional person to share 2 Bedroom Victorian bungalow in Columbia Neighborhood. Home has a nice yard, backyard deck with BBQ ideal for outdoor dinning. Excellent neighbors. Garage has plenty of storage.  Share internet and other low cost utilities. No pets.  Available in August. Month to Month.

Ideal candidate will be independent and securely employed working at their place of business, have good references and blend well with a conscious healthy lifestyle. Email your info and situation to ScottyLewis@me.com

RADIO FREE FL!P: WORKING ON WINGS TO FLY

Cindy Kallet  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htIFRjNoBOw

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

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.

Chalk Photo Glitches; A Bit More; Song: My Heart Knows The Way To Your Door

CONTENTS 7/6/2020
Chalk Photo Glitches
More Porch Concerts?
Baby Pool, High Chair Needed
How Could Anyone Ever Tell You? (Story)
Radio Free Fl!p: My Heart Knows The Way To Your Door

CHALK PHOTO GLITCHES

Thank you all for sending & uploading photos. You may or may not be able to view the uploaded ones yet. Get that empty-looking map up and then find something else to do for 5 minutes while the map ruminates. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn’t. I’ve been trying to get all the photos linked, with various success. Jonny will be back in town tomorrow and we’ll see what we can figure out. (He’s wonderful!)

I’ve been thrilled looking at all the sweet photos everyone has emailed. Unfortunately, the volume of attachments crashed my email, so I’ve had most of this day as an “email vacation” complete with a nap! PogoZone has me back up and running as of half an hour ago, though I could use some knowledgeable advice sorting out the rubble. I’m on Apple Mail, on a MacBook Pro from 2015 and an older iPhone, and I’ve been told I’m a “Digital Hoarder.”  So it’s not the neighborhood’s fault!

If this is the biggest glitch for a first-time event, I am content, and I bet you’ll find a way to be patient as well. As near as I can tell we stayed safe in the pandemic and still connected with each other, and I couldn’t be more delighted!

Zeke and I took the car out and tried to drive down every block so we could see all your chalk, for a couple hours each day, yesterday and today. Wow! Our neighborhood gets wiggly around the edges, doesn’t it? And BEAUTIFUL! I had seen enough photos that often I’d see someone’s chalk and go, “OH! I’ve seen a photo of that one!” Such joy, such delight, such creativity… I love you all madly!

MORE PORCH CONCERTS?

I realized that we can have lots of Porch Concerts this summer. You could just take your instruments out and play on your porch. (Check with your neighbors, but if you can live with their lawnmower, I bet they can live with your music, especially if it’s acoustic.) Or, send me a post at least two or three days beforehand and I’ll run it in an Update. I can’t promise folks will come, but they might. It sure was cool to have, at last count, 22 concerts happening Saturday afternoon!

BABY POOL, HIGH CHAIR NEEDED

Surprise!  Daughter and family coming up to Bellingham, to support in-laws.  I’d like to borrow a little baby pool for my 14-month-old grandson.  Hoping for something relatively portable.  Also, high chair or ideally high-chair table attachment.  I need them July 13-23.  Thanks.
Susan Witter, Williams St, 360-647-0310

SMART FOODS?

Used to be Cost Cutter. If anyone is going there in the next few days, I would love it if you’d shop for us too. 360-671-4511 flip@columbianeighborhood.org

HOW COULD ANYONE EVER TELL YOU?

A deeper background on the story Libby tells about the song she wrote.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m0FY88-wnQ

This is a story about how change really happened. I’m finding it really touching.

https://onbeing.org/programs/derek-black-and-matthew-stevenson-befriending-radical-disagreement/

RADIO FREE FL!P: MY HEART KNOWS THE WAY TO YOUR DOOR

Betsy Rose is an old friend I haven’t seen in decades, and this is a song she wrote over half our lifetimes ago.  And it’s still true for both of us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8DiZ8-YKDs

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

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.

Chalk Wrap-Up; DropBox Help? Lots More; Song: How Could Anyone Ever Tell You?

CONTENTS 7/5/2020
Chalk Wrap-Up Part One
    Herald Chalk Story
    Droneless
    Oh Dear…
Superglue?
Dropbox Assistance?
Little White Dog Is Safely Home
Lost Package Found!
Grout Work?
Radio Free Fl!p: How Could Anyone Ever Tell You?

CHALK WRAP-UP STAGE ONE

I LOVE all your glorious chalk!!! WOW! Such joy, creativity, engagement in the world. There were some pretty darned cool costumes too! And I loved how many of you stopped by.

Shall we do it again next year? Was this the First Annual?

I was fried last night, but have started loading/linking photos to the map today. I have no idea how to process the photos people texted and emailed to me, but hopefully I can find help to show me how. Or some volunteers to take over that part. Or maybe, if you are one of the people who emailed or texted me photos, might you try to upload them to the chalk page? I loved getting to see them! But I could use a hand getting them up online.

Here’s the link for posting. Once you’ve uploaded them, I still need to get in and link them to our map, so be patient.

https://columbianeighborhood.org/chalk/

The map doesn’t appear to run its best on all platforms. Or maybe it’s just too full! First, try waiting! My map appeared blank earlier, and I abandoned my computer and did a little bit of house cleaning after yesterday, came back, and there were photos! It was way easier to see the photos when I followed the instructions on the webpage to hide all the other layers. Look for the directions. Right now about 20 addresses show, but not yet the Park Street Peacock!

If you can’t get it to work, try a different browser and see if that helps. If it does, please let me know and I’ll spread the word.

Since it rained all week, and then cleared up yesterday, I spent all morning handing out chalk. Folks kept deciding to join in, and coming for chalk till about 1:30 in the afternoon. I was just thrilled!

And then all afternoon folks would call hoping I had “one more stick” of red, or blue, or green, or black and white. (I knew what that last had to be for.) I was touched that neighbors thought I personally cared about them and their artwork, and would want to help. And I did, and I could! It was really sweet to get to see what they were able to finish as I look at photos.

I still have a little chalk. Does anyone need just a bit more? Or a late-comer who would still like to chalk? I’ve got 3 sets left.

Zeke and I finally went out and walked around 10 or so blocks, about 8 PM. It’s the most we’ve been out since early March. I hadn’t even been to the end of our block! There were still lots of people out looking at chalk. They looked as tired as we felt. I suspect the streets will still be full today. No rain till Friday. The Herald is going to run a story so we may get more viewers from there. Turned out I didn’t need to worry about drawing crowds in such a big neighborhood. Except around the ice cream truck!

We couldn’t find the dragon! People kept telling us about the dragon. Does anyone know where it is? The peacock is at 2427 Park Street, and is well worth a visit! What else shouldn’t we miss?

I loved how my own chalk  project came out. But it isn’t easy to get a photo of it at 15 feet long! Still looks good this morning even though it got wet. You can’t see it from the street because of all my plantings between street and my chalk. Walk on the sidewalk if you want to see it. (Of course I did chalk! I wouldn’t ask you to do something I wouldn’t.) If some of you would like a garden tour, check with me to make an appointment. I was too busy to do more than a few yesterday.

HERALD CHALK STORY

https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article244006327.html  

DRONELESS

I learned that our neighborhood is within a No Fly zone for photo drones, around our airport. Oh well! It was a lovely thought!

OH DEAR… FROM EBERHARD

While it’s fresh on my and everybody else’s inner screen of the mind:

I want to thank you, the bubbling brook of pleasant, multi-aged neighbors springing forth from your local sources, meandering by foot and pedal through this neighborhood on a sun blessed day of sharing.

It was a joy enjoying you enjoying yourself – an exchange in the currency of the heart…

Yet, for kindling this opportunity and steaming us with steady pulls and pushes up this delightful “community hill” our respectful thanks and many humble hats shall go off to the mighty little engine in the red house with the green trim on Cherry Street.

In the name of the neighborhood I want to propose a toast from our collective front and back porches to the instigator of this :

Chalk it up , Fl!p !

Thank you so much !

Cheers !

Max Eberhard Eichner and household on Victor St.

[It’s me that should be thanking all of you! Who ever gets so many people adopting an idea and turning it into such a sweet reality, a dream come true? The little girl who lives deep in my heart says, THANK YOU! What a gift you’ve given me!  Love/Fl!p]

SUPERGLUE?

A little dab’l do you. Zeke’s got a split fingernail and our superglue definitely died long ago.

DROPBOX ASSISTANCE?

My dropbox is full, and so is my iCloud I think, and I would love help cleaning it out. I don’t want to pay $10 a month. All these photo transfers seem to demand dropbox or iCloud and both are demanding money. I’m a bit plotzed at the moment. I have an older MacBook Pro (2015). Any help out there?

LITTLE WHITE DOG IS SAFELY HOME

Fräulein is found and home. Thanks to so many neighbors. You work like a charm! Eberhard Eichner

LOST PACKAGE FOUND!

Yesterday’s lost package was just brought to me by a neighbor. It was delivered to them by mistake! ~ Laura Stone, Lynn Street

GROUT WORK?

We’re looking for someone who can remove and replace the grout in our kitchen tiles. It’s a larger space. Please contact if you know and can recommend anyone! Thanks- Bob and Debra Hicks on W. North  bobanddebrainskagit@hotmail.com

RADIO FREE FL!P: HOW COULD ANYONE EVER TELL YOU?

I brought Libby Roderick, who wrote this song, to Bellingham from Alaska to play a Roeder Home concert many years ago. Much to my surprise, we had to do the concert in two shifts! I hope she is still that loved and celebrated everywhere she goes. I’m going to include a second link, of her live in concert talking about some background around the song, in case you’re curious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m0FY88-wnQ

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

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

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.

Fourth Of July Chalk Festival Today! Details; How Fauci Handles Daily Life; More. Tune x 3: Stars And Stripes Forever

CONTENTS 7/4/2020
FOURTH OF JULY CHALK FESTIVAL
  I Still Have Chalk
  Safe Social Distance
  Be Part Of The Show!
  How To Find The Map
  Upload Photos
  Twenty Lawn-Certs!
  Other Cool Festival Stuff
     Ice Cream Truck
How Fauci & Others Handle Risk In Their Personal Lives
Lost Package
Radio Free Fl!p: Stars And Stripes Forever

I STILL HAVE CHALK

Join 170 neighbors! Sign up at columbianeighborhood.org/chalk/ if you can, and then call me at 360-671-4511 to let me know you’re coming. If the sign-up sheet has shifted over to photo uploading, you can sign up directly with me. I still have chalk sets here. I have chalk for you!

SAFE SOCIAL DISTANCE

This festival is specifically designed for the pandemic. Our chalk is widely spaced (40 feet). Everything is outdoors. We’re wearing masks. We’re using our own bathrooms. Stay safe – cover your nose and mouth and stay at least 6 feet away from anyone who doesn’t live in your house. Further apart if you’re going to be there a while. This especially applies if you’ve invited a few friends or family to join you. Groups that don’t live in the same house should be limited in size to 5 people. I really believe we can do this safely. And I want to see photos of all the cool masks!

BE PART OF THE SHOW!

Let’s have a party!!! Please consider dressing up in party clothes, or costumes, or even halloween outfits when you go out for a Chalk Walk (or bike) to view all the creativity. That way, we’re all part of the show instead of some of us just being spectators or consumers. But of course, wait till you’ve finished your chalk so you don’t wreck your clothes!

HOW TO FIND THE MAP

On your computer or smart phone, go to

columbianeighborhood.org/chalk/

and scroll down to the very bottom of the screen. You’ll be seeing the Key or Legend to the map. Now scroll back up just a little. There’s the map! Slide the map around with one finger. There are little plus and minus signs to zoom the map, or use two fingers pulling apart or back together. Wiggle the “hand” that hovers on a dot to turn it into a pointing finger, then click and the address will show up, along with a description if the household entered one.

UPLOAD PHOTOS

columbianeighborhood.org/chalk/

Sometime tomorrow this page will shift so you can upload photos to it, using a button. Once I’m done with my own chalk, I will start transferring your uploaded photos to the map so we can all see them. I want a virtual tour please! Share your chalk, and your chalkers, and the lawn-certs, and everything else that happens!

TWENTY LAWN-CERTS!

In no particular order. Look at the map… 170 households appear to have signed up for the festival. Wow! What if we threw a party and everyone came?

I’m not sure I found all of the musicians who signed up on the list, but here are at least TWENTY different groups playing music for us tomorrow!

Nobody’s going to play straight through for 3 hours, but what a wealth and a gift of music we have here in the neighborhood. I’m so glad it’s shining through! I wonder how many of them teach music. I can think of at least three more neighbors who teach, right off the top of my head. And they aren’t even on this list. I wonder who else we’re missing… Amazing!

2424 Park Street
Cabin Fever NW
Musical duo Cabin Fever NW (Tara Caldwell and Dianne Bochsler) will perform from 2 – 4pm, socially distanced from the front yard. Alternate Root magazine says “Imagine Simon and Garfunkel singing with the Carter Family’s devotion”. Original and traditional folk. www.cabinfevernw.com

2116 Williams Street
Trillium
Did you know it rains almost every Tuesday at 2:30 pm? Undaunted, we’ve been holding a few social distanced, outdoor practices! Beth Fuller, Laura Shelton and Lesley Rigg will be doing (and redoing) a set of 6 songs–a cappella–ranging from a 16th century madrigal to Traditional English Folk to the political/protest songs of Woody Guthrie and current folk artists Linda Allen and Artemisia.

2700 Victor St. #2
“Max” Eberhard Eichner
Ample spaced sets of several puppet theater displays of the Folktales and Fabled Fables by Puppeteer “Max” and Pappenspiel. Cartoon like blurbs will do some “telling” while you can spin the stories on your way … Extra special bonus: “Moments of fully masked and kept at arms length Puppet Walk-abouts will be happening to live music…

2720 Elm Street
We plan to decorate and designate the sidewalk in front of our house as the Dance Party Zone! We’ll be playing music from a PA speaker on our front porch and encouraging passers-by to dance-walk their way down the sidewalk through the “Dance Party Zone.”

2214 Williams Street
The Celtic Knots
Jason (handsome husband) and I will be attempting a colorful celtic knot pattern on the sidewalk, so I put the word out to some of my local ceilidh club friends, inviting them over to play some Irish Tunes with us. (Jas plays guitar, I play the penny whistle, most of our friends play fiddle.) Sounds like it might end up being a belated celebration of St. Patrick’s Day over here, in conjunction with Independence Day! Albeit at biologically appropriate distances. 🍀

1601 Broadway
Woodwind Trio
There will be “fun classical music for woodwind trio.” Details are Jennifer Weeks – oboe, Ken Bronstein – oboe, and Pat Nelson – bassoon, will be playing a variety of classical trios from 2:00 until we’re too tired to play anymore!

2132 Walnut Street
Acoustic guitar, alt Americana kinds of songs, family friendly and good for foot-tapping, like we might hear around a campfire. All covers..

2230 Utter Street
Chalk art and trombone music!

2415 Cherry Street
Come dance to some Kids-Bop while enjoying our sidewalk

2518 Cherry Street
Fl!p & Zeke: traditional and original folk. Possible garden tours. See the pterodactyl & the life-sized moss stag….

2510 Keesling Street
Old time fiddle tunes and classical cello

2618 Park Street
Singing folk songs on our front porch

2829 Lynn St
Chalk-Ulele
Pat and Gail MacDonald will do some familiar seasonal (summer) songs on ukulele between 3:00 and 4:00 in our driveway. (Birdhouse Studio)

2310 Williams Street
 CraigO’s Planet Groove will be playing in my yard from 2-5 ish depending on the weather.  Bringing our groove so that you can groove 🙂  Creative renderings inspired by the Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia Band, Kingfish, NRPS, New Orleans Second Line, Originals, and other groove-centric artists. https://craigosplanetgroove.com/

2618 Park
Thea Rosenburg and her family will be playing folk songs and hymns on our front porch at 4:00. We’ve got a passel of daughters, so this should be a fun sing-along for kids as well as adults. Come join us!

2939 Lynn
Lee Walkup driveway concert 3:30-5: Electric Piano – “Oldies but Goodies’ 30s to 60s.

2401 Lynn Street
The Random Orbit Sanders will be playing Americana tunes  from 1-3 on our porch. We play new music, old music, show tunes, banjo tunes, with a small amount of yodeling just because… yodeling. All acoustic: two guitars (or guitar and banjo), three voices and random tunes. We will be playing on our porch so it might be hard to see because of the fence, but we do better when no one is looking anyway!

2618 Park Street
Singing folk songs on our front porch

2404 Victor
My children are wonderful singers, one plays ukulele among other instruments. They are talented artists and painters as well.

1316 E. Maplewood
Americana music with singer/songwriter featuring covers and originals about family and this beautiful life. Long driveway but stop by and say hi!

OTHER COOL FESTIVAL  STUFF

Handmade Fabric Masks, produce, garden starts, soaps & lotions, pottery, turned wooden bowls, paintings, puppets, the Share Hut, the Share Shack, and Little Free Libraries are scattered through the neighborhood. Look for them as pink or gold dots on the map. And don’t forget the
ICE CREAM TRUCK
11:30 – 11:40 at Immanuel Church and
11:40 – 11:50 at Columbia School.

——

HOW FAUCI & OTHERS HANDLE RISK IN THEIR PERSONAL LIVES
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/how-fauci-5-other-health-specialists-deal-with-covid-19-risks-in-their-everyday-lives/2020/07/02/d4665ed6-b6fb-11ea-a510-55bf26485c93_story.html?fbclid=IwAR0yWcSOZ9hZCLaGk34DzJNfxlVbPVGyu7G1PvzUQmmSaLx0rDu5oAbZ8d4&pwapi_token

LOST PACKAGE

A package was marked by USPS as delivered to me, but it was not. I’m hoping it may have been misdelivered to someone! ~ Laura Stone, Lynn Street

RADIO FREE FL!P: STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER

Chet Atkins plays Guy Van Duser’s arrangement
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8BDYETDM5c

Bill Knopf on banjo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N12h6EfbcDk

Jake Shimabukuro on ukulele
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-rrWyRI0yE

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

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.

Chalk! Safety, Costumes, Getting Chalk, Ice Cream Truck, Chalk Talk, Post Photos, Lots More; Song: Bread & Roses

CONTENTS 7/3/2020
Chalk Festival Tomorrow!
    I Still Have Chalk!
    Dakota Art Chalk
    May I Be Your Audience?
    Sign Up!
    Dress Up!
    Tomorrow’s Schedule
    Post Photos
    Stay Safe This Holiday
    All The Chalk Talks!
Free Fill Dirt
Radio Free Fl!p: Bread And Roses

CHALK FESTIVAL TOMORROW!

Sign up here:
columbianeighborhood.org/chalk/
(Call me if you need help signing up: 360-671-4511)

I STILL HAVE CHALK!

Sign up at columbianeighborhood.org/chalk/ and then call me at 360-671-4511 to let me know you’re coming. I still have over 50 sets here. I have chalk for you!

DAKOTA ART CHALK

I’m running low (but not quite out) just of vivid colors. If I do run out, or if you want larger quantities, Dakota Art down on Cornwall still has lots of bright chalk. They’ve got the big $20 sets, but they also have some lovely $8 sets. They do curbside if you need that. They close at 5 PM today, and of course they are closed tomorrow for July 4th. (360) 676-8918

MAY I BE YOUR AUDIENCE?

If you’re kinda nervous about drawing with sidewalk chalk – I’ll be your audience! You can draw for me instead of “for the world.” For me the big thing is that we’re all doing something together and I’d love for you to be part of it. You can upload photos for me. I’d love to see!

SIGN UP!

Sometime tonight or tomorrow morning, Jonny will shift the website from sign-ups to uploads for your photos. So don’t wait for tomorrow to sign up! Signing up makes your house show up on the chalk map. Your name doesn’t show, though you can add it in the comments if you want. The more houses on your block sign up, the more likely neighbors are to wander down your street to see what you made. Neighbors can still sign up, and I have chalk for them.

DRESS UP!

We could play dress-up when we go out to Chalk Walk. How long has it been since you had an excuse to dress up? Fancy dress, cosplay or halloween costumes. You name it! Not required but welcome. As we wander, we can become part of the visual celebration.

But remember to wear clothes you’re willing to ruin while you play with chalk. Then go change to your party duds.

TOMORROW’S SCHEDULE

It looks like the weather tomorrow will be perfect! Dry and not too hot. Just a bit of a breeze, not windy.

Go out your front door and play with chalk. If you don’t have sidewalk in front of your house, We are invited to use the sidewalks (just the sidewalks) at three spaces, and I think there will be volunteers at 10 AM – at Columbia School (Walnut Street), Immanuel Bible Church (Lynn Street) and Franklin Academy (E Victor). If not, just space yourselves out as far apart as a house lot (40 feet) and play!

You can stop by our house for chalk. We’re at 2518 Cherry Street. It’s a red house with green trim. Call to say you’re coming: 360-671-4511.

10:00 – 2:00 Chalk!

11:30 Ice Cream Truck stops at Immanuel Bible Church

11:40 Ice Cream Truck stops at Columbia Elementary

(Times are approximate, visits are for around 10 minutes)

2:00 – 5:00 Chalk Walk! Go see what everyone else did. You might want to ride a bike because there are about 100 blocks in our neighborhood! Get some exercise. You can look at the chalk map on your phone to guide you.

columbianeighborhood.org/chalk/

POST PHOTOS

Take photos of your chalk and of the chalkers and whatever else is going on, like concerts and crafts. I would also love to see photos of your masks! Who’s got a cool mask to show off?

Go to columbianeighborhood.org/chalk/ tomorrow afternoon, and the button you used to sign up will instead let you upload photos. It will take a while for your photos to show up on the map because I’ve got to transfer them each, one by one, but I will. And it means I get to see all the glorious things happening tomorrow, without leaving home. And so can everyone else. We’ll leave the photos up so you can show your friends and family.

STAY SAFE THIS HOLIDAY

Wear masks, distance 6 – 8 feet, avoid crowds. Alcohol and crowds are particularly dangerous together. Unfortunately, so is singing together, one of my favorite activities. Ever looked at your breath on a frosty morning? Think about that vapor cloud. You can’t see it when it’s not cold. Wear your mask to protect others. Bring hand sanitizer wherever you go. We can keep each other safe!

ALL THE CHALK TALKS!

My most profound thanks to Marla Bronstein for creating this amazing series!

Chalk Fest 2020

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

Seth Fleetwood

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVh0HZo-z50&feature=youtu.be

Tim Douglas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yFY74e_DO4&t=18s

Flip Breskin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9mBgKv9AUE&t=1s

Miriam Barnett 

https://youtu.be/sToqZY12GYA

Hannah Stone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Kfwu6kkQpg

Gene Knutson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G76-IhoM_V4

Frank James

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp9OrqDJcsE

Aaron Darraugh

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

Janet Lightner

https://youtu.be/wAvcMDtGCdc

Peter Roberts

——

FREE FILL DIRT

Free Fill, Raised Bed- soil from our raspberry raised bed. You haul.  ~ Drew Winsor, ajwinsor@gmail.com

RADIO FREE FL!P: BREAD AND ROSES

Dawn Landes, Alana Amram & Abigail Chapin

I was worrying about the Chalk Festival earlier today. Is it right to spend resources on chalk, on creativity, when there are people going hungry? And then I remembered this song, and the tears came. I don’t think it’s either / or. I think it’s both! This song is associated with a textile worker’s strike for a living wage, in 1912.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbhiZKP6glg

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

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.

Concert Tonight: Sweet Goodbyes; Chalk: Talk with Fl!p, Safety, Masks, More Music; Covid; Lots more. Tune: Liberty Bell

CONTENTS 7/2/2020
Elizabeth Park Concert Tonight!
Chalk Festival This Saturday!
  Chalk Talk
  Festival Safety
  Coolest Masks!
  More Chalk Music
  Flower Stands?
  Mask Stands?
Holidays And Covid
July 4th Stand/Speak/Listen
Lost West Street Kitty Is Home!
Plant Starts For Sale
El Fin Del Mundo
House For Rent
Long Term Rental Sought
Radio Free Fl!p: Liberty Bell

ELIZABETH PARK CONCERT TONIGHT!
Thursday July 2nd @ 6pm

THE SWEET GOODBYES

Folk duo Amber Darland and Lisa Harmon have been performing individually throughout the Pacific Northwest for many years. In the spring of 2015, the two Bellingham based singer-songwriters discovered a kindred voice in each other and decided to launch the folk duo, The Sweet Goodbyes. This collaboration has revealed strength beyond the sum of its parts. With intricate melodies, weaving harmonies and lyrics that are both political and deeply personal, The Sweet Goodbyes offer their audiences a chance to witness something rare. Amber Darland and Lisa Harmon wear their hearts on their sleeves and together their voices blend flawlessly. You can’t help but feel good when you watch this duo perform live. The Sweet Goodbyes are full of charm and talent – sure to prick the ears and put a shiver up the spine. 

You won’t need to have Facebook to watch it there. If you do have a Facebook account, think about hosting your own “watch party.”

https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethParkSummerConcerts/

Or, you can listen to the livestream broadcast on KMRE-FM 102.3, every Thursday 6 – 8 PM from June 18 until August 20.

https://www.kmre.org/listen/

CHALK FESTIVAL THIS SATURDAY!

Fourth Of July
Chalk: 10 – 2
Chalk Walk & Pedal : 2 – 5
Music: Check individual listings
Chalk Sign-Up

columbianeighborhood.org/chalk/

  Sign up by Friday night in order to be on the map. On Saturday the map will shift over to become a place to load your photos.

  If you plan to chalk on the sidewalks around the schools and churches that have invited the neighborhood, sign up using the their addresses:

  Columbia Elementary School: 2508 Utter St, Bellingham, WA 98225

  Immanuel Bible Church: 2000 W North St, Bellingham, WA 98225

  Franklin Academy: 1509 E Victor Street, Bellingham, WA 98225

CHALK TALK

Chalk Fest 2020

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

Flip Breskin (you haven’t seen this one yet)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9mBgKv9AUE&t=1s

Miriam Barnett

https://youtu.be/sToqZY12GYA

FESTIVAL SAFETY

The last thing I want to do is make my neighborhood less safe! Whatcom County new Covid-19 cases climbed 55% in June according to today’s Bellingham Herald. I am feeling protective. I hope everyone will be an active host, wear their own mask properly, and help groups spread out from each other this weekend.

My original vision for a safe neighborhood activity was o have one household group per lot – so 40 foot spacing from group to group. Most building lots in Columbia are 40 feet wide by 100 feet deep. If you have a double lot, that would be 80×100. We should have plenty of safe space for chalking. I’m not too worried about folks chalking outside their own homes.

[Comment from Dr Frank James]

Household means that that group lives together everyday. So visiting grandparents or cousins, may be closely related but are not members of a household. Your children’s best friends are also not members of your household unless they actually live with you day to day. This is really important.

Risk equals distance times duration. Fifteen minutes at 6 feet, outdoors & masked, is not usually a problem unless someone near you is really sick. Long periods chalking at 6 feet could pose some risk. If people show up to chalk at the schools and the church, please keep household units together, side by side, and maintain a house lot distance to the next group. When a set of groups have finished, then the spaces in the buffer zones could be safely used by a later group. So far I haven’t seen but a few groups of people signing up for Columbia Elementary, so I think we’ll be fine.

Six foot spacing with masks is kinda pushing it at the Lawn-certs. Try for 8 feet or more between groups, with masks worn properly over noses as well as mouths, since folks are likely to stay and listen for longer than 15 minutes. We’ll be outdoors in beautiful weather, with a tiny bit of a breeze, so we should be fine, but please help to keep all our neighbors safe.

Thank you!

COOLEST MASKS!

Our Chalk Festival is a great place to show off your coolest masks! You’re invited to upload photos of you in your mask as well as your sidewalk chalk. Let’s do it, Columbia!

MORE CHALK MUSIC

CraigO’s Planet Groove, will be playing in my yard, 2310 Williams Street, from 2-5 ish depending on the weather. Bringing our groove so that you can groove 🙂  Creative renderings inspired by the Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia Band, Kingfish, NRPS, New Orleans Second Line, Originals, and other groove-centric artists. https://craigosplanetgroove.com/

2618 Park

Thea Rosenburg and her family will be playing folk songs and hymns on our front porch at 4:00. We’ve got a passel of daughters, so this should be a fun sing-along for kids as well as adults. Come join us!

2939 Lynn

Driveway concert 3:30-5: Electric Piano – “Oldies but Goodies’ 30’s to 60’s with Lee Walkup

FLOWER STANDS?

I haven’t been leaving home, so I don’t know if the flower stands are happening this year, or if it’s too early. If there are stands open, I would love to get them onto the Chalk Map in the “other” category.

MASK STANDS?

I am only aware of two people currently making masks in the neighborhood, on West Street and Kulshan. I will get both of them onto the Chalk Map. Please let me know if there are any more. What else am I missing?

HOLIDAYS AND COVID

Whatcom County Covid-19 numbers continue to rise. It’s a big holiday weekend coming up, and the biggest outbreaks have come from social events (parties). The health department has not found evidence of spread from the protests. It looks like masks really do help when pretty much everyone wears them (whew)! When deciding whether to attend a social gathering, Whatcom County Health Office Erika Lautenbach said health officials have starting using the following risk assessment for evaluation — “Is the social gathering worth quarantining for two weeks after? If not then it’s probably not worth going.” 

https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/coronavirus/article243933852.html?

JULY 4TH STAND/SPEAK/LISTEN

July 4th 2020, 4pm-10pm, StandSpeakListen(SSL) will host a black-led, community organized, public display of civil unrest starting at Bellingham’s City Hall. Through the arts, SSL invites the community to come together to hear and celebrate voices of color this Independence Day. We invite you to stand with us. We invite you to speak with us. We invite you to listen with us. Please be advised that if you are to come with a conscious mind, it must be a sober one. By standing with us as we promote community dialogue and action in response to racial and social injustices in Whatcom, Skagit, and beyond, YOU are agreeing to become part of the solution.

LOST WEST STREET KITTY IS HOME!

Grey kitty, Nebula, has been found and is safe home! Thanks to the many neighbors who watched for him and reported, and reached out to rescue him. Thank you for your concern and kindness, and for going out of your way to help!
Lindsay Knight
West Street (the house with the masks)

PLANT STARTS FOR SALE

Does your garden have an empty spot? Did a deer clean you out? You are in luck! My kiddos are selling garden starts to raise funds for walkie-talkie watches. Starts include Early Girl tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, and thyme. All lovingly raised by grandma. Prices range from $1-3. Contact free stand on porch with PayPal/Venmo options.

Gretchen Lee
2404 Victor St (Corner of Victor and Monroe)
Laureland1@yahoo.com 

EL FIN DEL MUNDO

Fiddlers Hank  Bradley and Cathie Whitesides with fine guitarist WB Reid are playing a live stream concert from 5:30 to 6pm at the Quarantine Happy Hour segment of Coviddle Tunes. Our band is “El Fin del Mundo” for a tune Hank wrote that we will play. Coviddle Tunes is in lieu of this fabulous summer event Fiddle Tunes, at which Hank and I were on faculty. In just a few weeks some very clever people including WB created a vast online platform for jam sessions, parties, workshops and concerts. Our concert will be archived so if you miss it you can hopefully catch it later on. We have been practicing every day, and it’s been fun. Arranging a trio with social distancing will be backyard chic and truly amazing. Just go to https://coviddletunes.org/ and then click on Schedule. Scroll down to Thursday Quarantine Happy Hour on the right side, and you’ll see El Fin del Mundo there. Click and that should get you in.  Love,  Cathie

HOUSE FOR RENT (rented)

2211 Henry Street
3 bedroom 21/2 bath two story house with single car garage.
New in 2003. $2900/month.
Vermont McAllister
360-319-5167

LONG TERM RENTAL SOUGHT

I am searching for a long term rental home in Bellingham. I have excellent references and credit and can afford up to $1400 a month. My major requirement is that this home has a strong connection to nature, perhaps in a serene woodsy setting or with a waterview, where I could practice tai chi out of doors or on my deck. I am open to a barter of services if the rental is over $1400 and can offer either instruction in T’ai Chi Ch’uan or my services as a high end personal chef. I am also a non-smoker, extremely reliable and am fastidious in my house keeping. I hope you have a beautiful place that is the right fit for me. I can be reached at 360-970-3371 or at goldentaichi@hotmail.com
Gene Golden

RADIO FREE FL!P: LIBERTY BELL

Muriel Anderson used to teach regularly at guitar camp. She really knows her way around a guitar neck! And she is one of the best known harp guitar players around. This is Muriel “at play” on a tune written by her grandfather’s band master: John Phillip Sousa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaWX3iCtTjw

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

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.

Chalk Talk, Social Distancing, Chalk-ulele; Tonight: Racial Justice Forum; The Sweet Goodbyes; Subdued Stringband; More; Song: Love At The Core

CONTENTS 7/1/2020
Chalk Talk
   Hannah Stone
   Gene Knutson
   Dr Frank James
Social Distancing For Chalk
Chalk-ulele
Tonight: Racial Justice Forum
Elizabeth Park Concert (Online)
    Tomorrow! The Sweet Goodbyes
Common Threads Farm
The Subdued Stringband Jamboree
Robert Sarazin Blake
Refrigerator Carton?
Radio Free Fl!p: Love At The Core

CHALK TALK

City Council Members

Hannah Stone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Kfwu6kkQpg

Gene Knutson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G76-IhoM_V4

Former Whatcom County Public Health Officer

Dr Frank James
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp9OrqDJcsE

SOCIAL DISTANCING FOR CHALK

I’ve still got plenty of chalk and am still hoping you will join us. Please reach out to your neighbors and invite them to join us too, this coming Saturday morning. We’ve got 130 households so far. There is lots to see, spread out all over. We have plenty of room for 1700 households to chalk all at once, in front of their own homes, or at the schools or church. But if people think of Chalk Fest as just a spectator sport, we could get a little crowded during the afternoon. The Chalk Walk is from 2 – 5 PM, though you might want to ride a bike because there are something like 100 blocks in our neighborhood. Please, if you see a crowd, head for another part of the neighborhood.  Please do wear a mask or shield any time you’re coming near other people. Bring and use hand sanitizer as well. The rain is supposed to end on Friday, leaving plenty of beautiful dry sidewalks for the Fourth Of July.

CHALK-ULELE

Pat and I will do some familiar seasonal (summer) songs on ukulele between 3:00 and 4:00 in our driveway. 2829 Lynn St. (Birdhouse Studio)

Gail MacDonald

TONIGHT: RACIAL JUSTICE FORUM

Wednesday, July 1st, 7 – 9 PM over Zoom

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89368508587#success

Hosted by the Bellingham Friends Meeting.
Look who is on the panel!

  • • County Executive Satpal Sidhu;
  • • Rosalinda Guillén of Community to Community;
  • • Bellingham Deputy Police Chief Flo Simon;
  • • Shirley Williams of White Swan Environmental and the Lummi Nation;
  • • Black entrepreneur Jonathan Randolph of Bellingham.

ELIZABETH PARK CONCERTS (ONLINE) TOMORROW!

Thursday July 2nd @ 6pm The Sweet Goodbyes

Folk duo Amber Darland and Lisa Harmon have been performing individually throughout the Pacific Northwest for many years. In the spring of 2015, the two Bellingham based singer-songwriters discovered a kindred voice in each other and decided to launch the folk duo, The Sweet Goodbyes. This collaboration has revealed strength beyond the sum of its parts. With intricate melodies, weaving harmonies and lyrics that are both political and deeply personal, The Sweet Goodbyes offer their audiences a chance to witness something rare. Amber Darland and Lisa Harmon wear their hearts on their sleeves and together their voices blend flawlessly. You can’t help but feel good when you watch this duo perform live. The Sweet Goodbyes are full of charm and talent – sure to prick the ears and put a shiver up the spine. 

You won’t need to have Facebook to watch it there. If you do have a Facebook account, think about hosting your own “watch party.”

https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethParkSummerConcerts/

Or, you can listen to the livestream broadcast on KMRE-FM 102.3, every Thursday 6 – 8 PM from June 18 until August 20.

https://www.kmre.org/listen/

COMMON THREADS FARM

By this time in a “normal” year, Common Threads Food Educators have typically started leading summer camps. In this unusual year, things couldn’t be more different! But here is what is still the same: your help is still needed in the garden, kids can still cook with us (online, rather than in person!), and Common Threads is still working hard to get fresh food to those who need it most. Your help is really needed in school gardens this year! If you have some spare time, please consider signing up to volunteer to take care of gardens during the summer months. If you don’t have time, consider donating to support these efforts instead.

Laura Plaut

THE SUBDUED STRINGBAND JAMBOREE

August 7th and 8th 

Livestreamed from Bellingham, WA to your backyard. All the info is Here

 The online merchandise store is open and orders received by today, July 1st, are guaranteed to reach you by August 1st.  Direct link to the merchandise page Here.

 ROBERT SARAZIN BLAKE
From The Kitchen Table Happy Hour
Every Thursday in July from 5 to 7 pm. Find the stream HERE.

REFRIGERATOR CARTON?

Has anyone got a spare carton? I’m looking for a big one that’s still intact, or at least uncrumpled. Fl!p 360-671-4511

RADIO FREE FL!P: LOVE AT THE CORE

Betsy Rose wrote this back in the 1970s. It still rings true for me. I’ve been thinking about how people reach across the chasms that sometimes divide us and I remembered this song.

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

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

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.

Chalk: Talk With Two Mayors; Opening Door; More Music; Safety; Being Neighbors; More; Tune: Carolina Chocolate Drops

CONTENTS 6/30/2020
Fourth Of July Chalk Festival
Chalk Talk: Seth Fleetwood! (& Tim Douglas)
Opening Doors With Chalk
More Music!
Offering Sidewalk Space
Celebrate Safely; Celebrate Small
Being Neighbors
Lost Cat Was In The House
House For Rent
Radio Free Fl!p: Carolina Chocolate Drops

FOURTH OF JULY CHALK FESTIVAL

10:00 – 2:00 Play with Chalk

2:00 – 5:00 Chalk Walk! (or bike? This is a big neighborhood!) Go see what everybody else did. Listen to some local music. See arts & crafts & puppets. It’s all on the map. Celebrate!

(11:30 – 11:50 – maybe take a little break for the ice cream truck visits, first at Immanuel Church and then at Columbia School.)

I will have free chalk available through July 3rd at our house. Sign up on the map (I’m happy to help), then call to arrange a time for pick-up. 360-671-4511.
2518 Cherry Street – red house with green trim.
Love/Fl!p

CHALK TALK: Seth Fleetwood!

CHALK TALK RERUN: Tim Douglas

Let’s do two mayors! I love these so much, I figure I’ll run a new one and rerun an old one till we run out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yFY74e_DO4&t=18s

OPENING DOORS WITH CHALK

I stumbled into an old memory this evening. When I was a kid, I knocked on the door of one of the girls who lived on my block. I was feeling lonely and was hoping she might want to play. There was another girl there. They opened the door, saw it was me, and slammed the door hard in my face. I remember how shattered I felt, mortified that I had even asked.

When I think about this chalk festival, I realize my dream has to do with opening doors wide. Maybe chalk can be a key. I know we can’t actually open the doors to our houses to invite each other in right now. But we can open our own doors to come out and play together safely distanced. We can cheer each other on. Our chalk designs can welcome each other in. We can go celebrate what everyone else has done. That’s what I want. I don’t care if what I make looks “cool” or if anyone else’s looks “cool” – I just want everybody to get to play and be welcome.

MORE MUSIC!

2401 Lynn Street THE RANDOM ORBIT SANDERS
The Random Orbit Sanders will be playing Americana tunes  from 1-3 on our porch. We play new music, old music, show tunes, banjo tunes, with a small amount of yodeling just because… yodeling. All acoustic: two guitars (or guitar and banjo), three voices and random tunes. We will be playing on our porch so it might be hard to see because of the fence, but we do better when no one is looking anyway!

2618 Park Street
Singing folk songs on our front porch

2404 Victor
My children are wonderful singers, one plays ukulele among other instruments. They are talented artists and painters as well.

OFFERING SIDEWALK SPACE

At this point we lots of people  have offered their sidewalk, and almost no one has asked to use it. You could do something yourself. You could call around to your friends and see if someone wants to come over and chalk. You could visit with your friend, safely masked and distanced while they decorate your sidewalk. If you know an artist, invite them. I heard from one person who just can’t get their body down on the sidewalk (or more likely, back up from it!). They plan to chalk on cardboard and take it out to the sidewalk. Someone was thinking about using their big board fence. Alumni from Columbia School are invited to come back and chalk there, even if they are now living far away. Pass the word! There are so many different ways of joining in…

CELEBRATE SAFELY; CELEBRATE SMALL

The Whatcom County Health Department encourages all county residents to celebrate responsibly this year.

A small celebration with no more than five friends outside of your household is a great way to enjoy the 4th of July this year. If you choose to gather with a small group of friends, follow guidelines to keep it safe:

    Stay outdoors.
    Wear a mask.
    Maintain physical distance.
    Avoid sharing food and drinks.
Avoid Birch Bay
Birch Bay has traditionally been a gathering point for festivities on the holiday. To support the health and safety of residents, please avoid visiting Birch Bay this weekend.

Hand Sanitizer & Fire:
The Herald warns: Anyone with sanitizer on their hands could get burns from fireworks, grills, camp fires or any open flames. Sanitizer bottles could also catch fire.

LOST CAT WAS IN THE HOUSE

Squash didn’t get squashed! He was hiding mysteriously inside the house somewhere, it seems. Very relieved over here. Thank you for being diligent! I heard neighbors outside calling for MY lost cat while I was putting my daughter to bed – that’s the epitome of community. Thank you all. ~ Laurel Larsen, Eldridge Ave

BEING NEIGHBORS

Someone tagged our neighbor’s garage with fluorescent-pink spray paint this morning, in the alley between the 2200 block of Williams and Utter streets.

Though I disagree with this neighbor (and agree with the pithy, two-word sentiment of the graffiti), I support diversity of opinion at every level of society, including my local community. His political views are on display on and around his own house and property – no one else’s – along with a large sign on his front porch that correctly defines bigotry as intolerance toward those who hold different opinions from oneself. The other signs are tough to walk by every day, and I understand the knee-jerk reaction of wanting to damage or otherwise undermine something offensive; but instead of defacing, sign-stealing, lashing out, let’s take a step back. Let’s not fight bigotry with bigotry. Let’s not take the bait. Let’s use the fire ignited by those signs to shine a greater light on our own values, and to forge a more eloquent response.

A quote from Mister Señor Love Daddy, from Spike Lee’s iconic film Do the RIght Thing: “My people, my people, what can I say, say what I can. I saw it but didn’t believe it, I didn’t believe what I saw. Are we gonna live together, together are we gonna live?”

…..

Just stopped over and introduced ourselves, and asked him if he knew about the graffiti on his garage in the alley. He thanked us, said he’d already reported it, and said he doesn’t want to paint over it yet. Instead, he’s looking forward to putting a plaque up next to it as a “monument to the stupidity of Biden supporters”. (He’s a sign maker by trade.) We had no response to that, but said we’d be happy to help him paint over it whenever he was ready to do so. He appreciated the offer.  ~ Lisa Holt, Williams Street

[Being neighbors can be a challenge. Behavior like Lisa’s gives me hope. Thank you! ~Love/Fl!p]

FOR RENT

$1700 / 2 Bedroom  ~900 SF –
2803 Walnut Street

Two bedroom, one bath house house with newer appliances, gas furnace, fenced back yard and shed near Elizabeth Park. Approx. 900 square feet.  Cat and or small dog ok. One year lease.  $1700 per month.  Tenant pays all utilities including water, sewer, electric and gas. Tenant also responsible for yard maintenance.
Home available July 1 2020.
Contact Linda James ljas90@msn.com.

RADIO FREE FL!P:  CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS

In honor of Fiddle Tunes this week: covviddle.org

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYtR0KgIzd0

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

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.

Chalk: Pick-Up; Bring Your Own; Chalk Music!; Lots More; Song: Your State’s Name Here

CONTENTS 6/29/2020
Chalk Pick-Up
Bring Your Own Chalk?
Chalk Music!
Kmre 102.3Fm Summer Fund Drive
Coviddle Tunes
Free Couch
Baby / Toddler Equipment
Radio Free Fl!p: Your State’s Name Here

CHALK PICK-UP

If you’ve signed up and asked for chalk (I still have plenty!) just phone me to set up a time, and come pick it up. If signing up is daunting, I’ll be glad to help you. We’re up to 109 households! And more musicians are adding all the time…

Fl!p Breskin   2518 Cherry – red house with green trim   360-671-4511

BRING YOUR OWN CHALK?

Regarding “Another Chalk Idea”- IMHO it is not a good idea to encourage the sharing of chalk among neighbors and/or strangers i.e. “chalk left in place for use by passersby”. As neighborly as this would be in different times, given our current situation it could potentially be dangerous. Be safe and have a good day. ~ Tony Cava

MUSICAL CHALK EVENTS

In no particular order! Look on the map. I’ll publish a list of other fun plans as well. If you want to add more, or modify your description, I can help! Call me at 360-671-4511. ~Fl!p

2424 Park Street CABIN FEVER NW
Musical duo Cabin Fever NW (Tara Caldwell and Dianne Bochsler) will perform from 2 – 4pm, socially distanced from the front yard. Alternate Root magazine says “Imagine Simon and Garfunkel singing with the Carter Family’s devotion”. Original and traditional folk. www.cabinfevernw.com

2116 Williams Street TRILLIUM
Did you know it rains almost every Tuesday at 2:30 pm? Undaunted, we’ve been holding a few social distanced, outdoor practices!  Beth Fuller, Laura Shelton and Lesley Rigg, AKA Trillium, will be doing (and redoing) a set of 6 songs–a cappella–ranging from a 16th century madrigal to Traditional English Folk to the political/protest songs of Woody Guthrie and Current folk artists Linda Allen and Artemisia.

2700 Victor St. #2 “Max” Eberhard Eichner
Ample spaced sets of several puppet theater displays of the Folktales and Fabled Fables by Puppeteer “Max” and Pappenspiel. Cartoon like blurbs will do some “telling” while you can spin the stories on your way …

Extra special bonus: “Moments of fully masked and kept at arms length Puppet Walk-abouts will be happening to live music…

2720 Elm Street  Dance Party Zone!
We plan to decorate and designate the sidewalk in front of our house as the Dance Party Zone! We’ll be playing music from a PA speaker on our front porch and encouraging passers-by to dance-walk their way down the sidewalk through the “Dance Party Zone.”

2214 Williams Street   The Celtic Knots
Jason (handsome husband) and I will be attempting a colorful celtic knot pattern on the sidewalk, so I put the word out to some of my local ceilidh club friends, inviting them over to play some Irish Tunes with us. (Jas plays guitar, I play the penny whistle, most of our friends play fiddle.) Sounds like it might end up being a belated celebration of St. Patrick’s Day over here, in conjunction with Independence Day! Albeit at biologically appropriate distances. 🍀

1601 Broadway   WOODWIND TRIO
There will be “fun classical music for woodwind trio.” Details are Jennifer Weeks – oboe, Ken Bronstein – oboe, and Pat Nelson – bassoon, will be playing a variety of classical trios from 2:00 until we’re too tired to play anymore!

2132 Walnut Street
Acoustic guitar, alt Americana kinds of songs, family friendly and good for foot-tapping, like we might hear around a campfire. All covers..

2230 Utter Street
Chalk art and trombone music!

2415 Cherry Street
Come dance to some Kids-Bop while enjoying our sidewalk

2518 Cherry Street  Fl!p & Zeke
Traditional and original folk

2510 Keesling Street
Old time fiddle tunes and classical cello

2618 Park Street
Singing folk songs on our front porch

KMRE 102.3FM SUMMER FUND DRIVE

Through July 1 at kmre.org  Local non-profit all-volunteer community radio station KMRE is holding a Summer Fund Drive to replace the old audio board. KMRE has been broadcasting in Bellingham for over 15 years. It became a separate non-profit 2 years ago and broadcasts local voices and stories as well as Americana/roots/blues/jazz music. Some of our recent programming includes Bellingham/Whatcom Corona Virus stories with John Stark, Margaret Bikman and others, the Elizabeth Park Concert Series, as well as reporting live from the BLM protest in downtown Bellingham. These are challenging times for everyone, but if you can, please keep local voices on the air and donate at kmre.org.   ~ Suzanne Blais

COVIDDLE TUNES

Festival Of American Fiddle Tunes is still running online all this week. Free (but do please donate). Very cool music, workshops, and more. coviddletunes.org

FREE COUCH

FREE. Available now. This well-loved couch. A leather two-seater. It’s got many more years to go. Kiddo friendly. All ages, really. Read a book, take a nap, watch a movie, munch popcorn, catch up with a friend. ~ Lisa Citron <lisacitron@mac.com>

BABY / TODDLER EQUIPMENT 

Red double Chariot (Cougar 2) for sale. Good condition, has many more years of life left. Comes with 2 harnesses, infant sling, rain cover, jogging wheel, and bike attachment. Email for photos/more info. rollfaster@gmail.com

Also for sale: with a Joovy Room2 portable play yard. This is like a pack n play but larger square (about 40 x 40″). Comes with 2 sheets, carrying case, and 2″ custom memory foam that can be added to mattress for more comfort. Email for photos/more info. rollfaster@gmail.com
Claire McPhee

RADIO FREE FL!P:  YOUR STATE’S NAME HERE

Lou & Peter Berryman used to come through every few years. I sing lots of their songs. This one just cracks me up every time. As the pavement finally warms up for summer bare feet, this song came to mind. There really is a song for everything… almost.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EX9p50MIexs

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

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.