Category: Neighborhood

CONTENTS 6/17/2020
Elizabeth Park First Concert!
Forum: Bellingham Police
Masks Work: Missouri Hair Salon
Juneteenth Events
    Library Webcast Tonight (Now!)
    Children Of The Civil Rights Film
Chalkaholic
Tootling Tutors
Lawnmowers For Social Action
Looking To Buy A Home
Music: Choir Of The Salish Sea

ELIZABETH PARK CONCERTS START THIS WEEK!
Thursdays, 6:00 – 8:00 PM, Free

The concerts are a mix of Live and pre-recorded performances and will be live-streamed on the Elizabeth Park Summer Concert Series Facebook page. 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/

This week’s band:  FREE HARMONY
Thursday, June 18,  6:00 – 8:00 PM Free
Classic folk-rock harmonies

FORUM: BELLINGHAM POLICE

June 24

In view of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody and other recent events, a racial justice working group of Bellingham Friends Meeting (Quakers) will host a public online forum 7-9 p.m. June 24.

Our diverse panelists will discuss their perspectives on police violence, and next steps we can take as a community to nurture racial justice in Bellingham and Whatcom County. The scope of the discussion will address both practices (such as how individual law enforcement officers deal with a specific incident) and our broader priorities and goals as a community.

The link to join this public forum on Zoom is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89368508587

The panelists are:

• • 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; and
• • Black entrepreneur Jonathan Randolph of Bellingham.

This panel brings together people with a wide variety of life experiences and professional expertise, which we hope will lead to a lively and collaborative exchange.

J Lee Cook from the Bellingham Friends Meeting will moderate the event, which will include presentations from each panelist, followed by discussion among the panelists, and then an opportunity for comments and questions from the audience to the panel.

Bellingham Quakers’ goal is to foster creative collaboration. We can find our way forward to transforming our society—starting right here at home.

MASKS WORK: MISSOURI HAIR SALON

Here is real-world evidence that masks work. Two hair-dressers in Missouri, who turned out to have COVID, exposed 140 customers over a week and a half’s time. Both hairdressers and every one of their customers wore masks. Plus another 200-300 customers who were in the shop, but not in those worker’s chairs. Testing has turned up no further cases. Having everyone wear masks for safety just got a big boost.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/06/17/masks-salons-missouri/

JUNETEENTH EVENTS

LIBRARY WEBCAST

Today, Wednesday June 17 at 7 PM (Now!)

Juneteenth: Ijeoma Oluo and Ahamefule Oluo in conversation sponsored by the King County Library System in a live webcast in celebration of Juneteenth, Black joy, liberation, and creativity.

A recorded version of this event will be available on the KCLS YouTube Channel and in our podcast feed for the show The Desk Set. The video and podcast show notes will feature captions and a transcript respectively.

https://www.crowdcast.io/e/juneteenth-ijeoma-oluo/register

CHILDREN OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS FILM

June 19th is Freedom Day, the day when, in 1865, the last of America’s enslaved were emancipated.  In recognition of this day and current events surrounding Black Lives Matter, CASCADIA is presenting a free, online screening of the documentary, “Children of the Civil Rights,’ directed by Julia Clifford. 

The documentary is the story of strength of a group of young kids who, for six years, went into restaurants and asked for service. It never got violent, it never made national news but these kids desegregated every restaurant in Oklahoma City except one before the 1964 Civil Rights Act was made into law. Children of the Civil Rights shares their six year odyssey to freedom.  Watch the trailer here.

The film is free of charge thanks to Clifford, now a CASCADIA Board Member. You may access the film online from Friday, June 19 through Sunday, June 22 by clicking this link and inserting the password:  civil1958  

Watch it whenever you’d like during the three days. Learn more about the film here. 

Four of the “children,” now adults, in the film join filmmaker Clifford in a recorded discussion available starting Friday, June 19th, on CASCADIA’s website and Facebook page. Tamika Lamison, program director of the Commercial Directors Diversity Program based in Los Angeles will lead the conversation.

Donations to Cascadia support the work of the festival to promote the stories women directors throughout the world tell through the media of film.

CHALKAHOLIC

Haggens just got in 18 boxes of colored chalk – 20 sticks to a box @ $3.99.  I have chalk here. Sign up at columbianeighborhood.org/chalk. Twenty households already have, and I am so grateful!

TOOTLING TUTORS

I have two beginners books on playing the recorder. One is the“ Usborne Book of easy recorder tunes” and the other is titled “Basic recorder lessons for soprano or tenor.“    If you want them or personally know anyone that would want them, please text  (360-920- 5518).Thank you. ~ Jana Williams, Walnut Street

LAWNMOWERS FOR SOCIAL ACTION

Well, we definitely have some interest in our small engine repair for social action initiative – thanks for providing the platform & spreading the word!  The boys have repaired 3 lawnmowers including my old one! I wish I hadn’t just bought a new one :). We would like to offer these back to the neighborhood – the 2 with bags $85 a piece and the mower without a bag $50. All proceeds going a positive social cause – we aren’t taking a dime and are even donating the cost of the parts for the repair(s). Best, ~ Isaac Blum on Elizabeth St

LOOKING TO BUY A HOME

I grew up in Bow, WA and after some time moving around, remain in love with the offerings of the PNW and Bellingham. I am ready to move from my Fairhaven condo into a house and  in my search, it feels like your neighborhood is a place in this awesome town I would love to call home for me and my silly, sassy mini-australian shepard.

I attended the University of Washington and have hung on to the 206 area code only for nostalgia’s sake. For 18 years I have directed the Chuckanut 50k. I am a professional ultra-distance trail runner, and a part of my creative career includes putting on this annual community event. In my personal training for these long distances, I love having access to beautiful trails that weave through this town and into the surrounding hills. In addition to coaching athletes, writing and public speaking, I am a member of the Recreation Northwest Board. I love the community here!

I am ideally looking for a 2 bedroom, 1-2 bath home with space for a little garden and lots of windows to let in the light/sun. I need a spot to park my travel companion, a 2014 Sprinter van. I love character in a home and am not afraid of projects, but ideally livable while working on the space. Bonuses are a porch to chat with neighbors, a fenced area for the pup, and bike access to town.  Krissy@krissymoehl.com

Krissy is a great asset to the local community! Please consider her if you are thinking about selling your home.  From Meg Lelonek, Victor Street

CHOIR OF THE SALISH SEA

Saturday, June 13, 2020, 7:00 PM Free

one-hour Big Rock Garden [Virtual] Concert: This specially-curated and professionally edited multi-media film will transport you along the garden path. As you turn a flower-draped corner, Swell, a curved aluminum sculpture, floats ahead of you between two majestic fir trees. Adam and Eve pose shamelessly among blooming rhododendrons. Unity, a monolithic granite figure, presides over a dappled glade.

Throughout your stroll, you unwind to recordings of powerful selections like “Glory” from the movie Selma, “The Prayer of the Children,” and Dirait-on,” a choir and audience favorite. Popular numbers include “Cool Water,” “Big Rock Candy Mountain,” and “Bring Me Little Water, Sylvie.”

Perhaps the most eagerly awaited song in the broadcast is a virtual choir of 60 voices called Whatcom Sings!, performing the Appalachian folk hymn “Bright Morning Stars.” Singers from throughout Whatcom County submitted videos of themselves singing from home.  Their voices were then layered with tracks by soloists Ibidunni Ojikutu, JP Falcon Grady, Andy Marshall and Thunderbirds Raised Her (aka The Jefferson Sisters) by local master filmmaker Mark Nichols.

Throughout your stroll, you unwind to recordings of powerful selections like “Glory” from the movie Selma, “The Prayer of the Children,” and Dirait-on,” a choir and audience favorite. Popular numbers include “Cool Water,” “Big Rock Candy Mountain,” and “Bring Me Little Water, Sylvie.”

Perhaps the most eagerly awaited song in the broadcast is a virtual choir of 60 voices called Whatcom Sings!, performing the Appalachian folk hymn “Bright Morning Stars.” Singers from throughout Whatcom County submitted videos of themselves singing from home.  Their voices were then layered with tracks by soloists Ibidunni Ojikutu, JP Falcon Grady, Andy Marshall and Thunderbirds Raised Her (aka The Jefferson Sisters) by local master filmmaker Mark Nichols.

sign in at 7pm on Saturday, June 13 for the livestream premiere of this community-building, multi-media event. After the first showing, the film will remain available on the web, to be watched and shared at your convenience.

https://www.facebook.com/choirofthesalishsea/

CONTENTS 6/16/2020
Chalk Registration!
KMRE Correction & Interview
Elizabeth Park Concerts Start This Week!
      Free Harmony
Restaurant Masks
Rose Petals?
Create Black Best-Sellers
Bed For Sale
Radio Free Fl!p: Rise Again

CHALK REGISTRATION!

Registration for our chalk festival is now open!!! Jonny Kemp says you can start filling in the form any time. (He’s been working really, really hard at this!) Pretty please, do go to the form and fill it in for me, so I can see if we’re going to need more chalk while there may still be time to get more. For now: first come, first serve on the free chalk. Here’s Fl!p HappyDancing around the living room in gratitude to Jonny. And here’s the link! Let’s GO neighbors!

columbianeighborhood.org/chalk

KMRE CORRECTION & INTERVIEW

I got the Call Letters wrong! KMRE 102.3 FM. Like “Museum of Radio”? There is an interview with Marla by Margaret Bikman, airing on KMRE this week. Here’s what Margaret had to say: This past week, I interviewed the hard-working introvert Marla Joy Simon Bronstein, who’ll share all she’s been up to the past few weeks, particularly the Elizabeth Park Summer Concert Series-Bellingham,WA. the Columbia Neighborhood, Bellingham, WA‘s Fourth of July Chalk Art Event, and Bellingham Theatre Guild, as well as Whatcom Arts Project. Our interview will be broadcast on KMRE 102.3 FM sometimes during the 6 p.m. hour today, Tuesday, June 16; and in the 4 p.m. hour on Wednesday, June, 17. Be sure to tune in!

ELIZABETH PARK CONCERTS START THIS WEEK!

Thursdays, 6:00 – 8:00 PM, Free

The concerts are a mix of Live and pre-recorded performances and will be live-streamed on the Elizabeth Park Summer Concert Series Facebook page. 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.”

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

This week’s band:

FREE HARMONY

Thursday, June 18,  6:00 – 8:00 PM Free

Classic folk-rock harmonies: Chuck Dingée and Sharon Mayson’s beautiful vocals are what make Free Harmony unique and a treat to listen to. They formed the duo in 2017 and have been busy entertaining people in the Northwest ever since.

A founding member of Bellingham’s popular classic rock band The Walrus, Chuck has been singing and playing in the area for over 40 years.  He has an eclectic repertoire of hundreds of songs from Gershwin to Beatles to Pink Floyd.

Having sung all her life, Sharon has an incredibly smooth voice and performs in local Northwest bands High Spirits and Pacific Twang.

Together they play an entertaining mix of songs ranging from the 60s to present, by artists like Simon & Garfunkel, The Beatles, Emmylou Harris, John Denver, Indigo Girls, The Police, Pink Floyd, Eagles, Bonnie Raitt, and many others. In March 2019, Free Harmony was opening act for the band America at the Tulalip and Legends Casinos in Washington state

https://freeharmonyband.com/home

RESTAURANT MASKS

If you enter a restaurant where not all workers are masked, please ask to speak to the manager if possible. You can certainly decide to go elsewhere for your own safety. Many if not most restaurants are now complying with the law and would love to serve you as safely as possible. And please, wear your own mask at any time you are interacting with workers. Caring for each other’s health goes both ways. Thanks!

ROSE PETALS?

I was wondering if anyone in the neighborhood has roses I could harvest from. I wanted to try my hand at rose jelly but will need some blooms. I’d be happy to pass on a jar in exchange.
Sarah Garrett- 2429 Spruce Street
415-676-1025

BLACK BEST-SELLERS?

Local author Clyde Ford wrote me, encouraging readers to purchase any two books by black authors from black-owned bookstores (they have a list here) and share your purchases on social media with the hashtags #BlackoutBestsellerlist and #Blackpublishingpower. If enough people participate, it could have a big impact on diversifying bestseller lists. (And could help us learn from new points of view…)

BED FOR SALE

Antique craftsman style oak bed frame. Well loved and cared for, full sized bed frame. Has welded frame with bolt-on side rails. Also comes with slats for use as platform or can be used with box spring as well. $100 obo. Bolts/hardware not included. Full sized minimally used mattress available for purchase separately if interested.   

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2576542602608939/

Deb Hampton   d.hampton1124@gmail.com

RADIO FREE FL!P: RISE AGAIN

This is a story about a song, and then the song. It’s a song which has carried me through some rough spots. May it carry you as well. Written and performed by the inimitable Canadian, Stan Rogers. (Thanks to neighbor Rod Pemble for the link.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT-aEcPgkuA

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.

CONTENTS 6/15/2020
Excitement Downtown Today
Elizabeth Park Virtual Summer Concerts
Marla Bronstein On Air Interview
Spike In Covid Cases
Chalk Talk: Miriam Barnett
Chalk Availability
Alternative Swim Lessons
Dinosaurs Needed?
Fl!p’s Pix For Music
    JP Falcon Grady
    Dana Lyons
    Stanley & Kip Greenthal
Radio Free Fl!p: How Can I Keep From Singing?

My email was down all day. It may take me a while to catch up. Sorry!

EXCITEMENT DOWNTOWN TODAY

Bellingham mayor speaks with March to Defund Police protesters in downtown Bellingham. This seems like pretty balanced coverage.

https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article243548642.html

ELIZABETH PARK VIRTUAL SUMMER CONCERTS

6:00 – 8:00 PM starting this Thursday evening, rain or shine, every Thursday, live streamed on KRME Radio 102.3 FM. Listen in your own home this year! Thanks to the Eldridge Society and Marla Bronstein!

MARLA BRONSTEIN ON AIR INTERVIEW

There is an interview with Marla by Margaret Bikman, airing on KRME this week. Here’s what Margaret had to say: “This past week, I interviewed the hard-working introvert Marla Joy Simon Bronstein, who’ll share all she’s been up to the past few weeks, particularly the Elizabeth Park Summer Concert Series-Bellingham,WA. the Columbia Neighborhood, Bellingham, WA‘s Fourth of July Chalk Art Event, and Bellingham Theatre Guild, as well as Whatcom Arts Project. Our interview will be broadcast on KMRE 102.3 FM sometimes during the 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. hours on Tuesday, June 16; and in the 4 p.m. hour on Wednesday, June, 17. Be sure to tune in!”

SPIKE IN COVID CASES

I think it’s important information to share that Whatcom County just reported the highest number of confirmed COVID cases since April 19th.  (Probably the increase from Memorial Day that was predicted.) Might be worth noting since we’ve had an increase in protests and neighborhood activity… maybe just play it safe and remember the extra hand washing/mask/isolation precautions.    It’s no fun… especially for families, but dang.  I don’t want to get back to phase one.

https://www.whatcomcounty.us/3427/COVID-19-Data-Dashboard

Kamarie Chapman, Walnut Street

[Newest information suggests mask worn properly by enough people and 6 feet of distance make a huge difference. Please wear your masks and keep your distance. We can protect each other.]

CHALK TALK: MIRIAM BARNETT

Marla Bronstein interviews Miriam Barnett for 2 or 3 minutes.  Miriam created and ran the old Allied Arts Chalk Festival downtown, many years ago. She now lives in Tacoma and runs the YWCA there. Way longer ago even than that, in the early 1960s, I was her babysitter in Seattle. We still adore each other, and I watch her leadership with awe and delight. And she still loves Bellingham, deep in her heart.

https://youtu.be/sToqZY12GYA

CHALK AVAILABILITY

I just found out that the Sehome Village Dollar Store has $1 chalk sets in! Here’s their phone:  (360) 392-2771. Launching Success on Prince St in Cordata 360-527-2641, and the Toy Garden (360)-714-8552 in Fairhaven also have chalk. Dakota Art 360-676-8918 on Cornwall downtown has the really good art chalk, and some less expensive smaller sets of bright chalk as well. If he sells out soon, he still has time to get more, and his supplier has it in stock. So pounce on it folks!

Today I spoke with Immanuel Bible Church on Lynn Street, and they found chalk to share. They have volunteers who will be at the church helping neighbors get settled, socially distanced, and they are making chalk available as well.

I have 150 or so sets of the pastel kid-style chalk here at the house. You can call me and come by for it. Just let me know you’re coming: 360-671-4511. These sets are free, donated by the Eldridge Society. (Yay!!!)  and some anonymous donors as well. The bright chalk I ordered won’t be in for another week or so. The bright stuff is somewhat smaller, so plan for a smaller “sidewalk canvas” if you’re going bright. All I ask is that you wait to use it till the Fourth Of July.

I will let everyone know as soon as our chalk website goes live. At that point, I would love it if everyone would sign up right away so I can make a guess as to how much more chalk we’re going to need if we can still get it.

ALTERNATIVE SWIM LESSONS

Are you looking for an alternative swim lesson option for your child (or you) this July & August?  Look no further.  We know from first-hand experience that Jason is a fabulous swim instructor!  He’s experienced, talented, trustworthy, reliable, joyful, and just plain fun!  Here’s a little more from Jason himself…

“Hi there, my name is Jason, I am a 3^rd year university student in Bellingham offering Private Swimming Lessons this summer between July and August. I have years of experience teaching kids and adults from every age group. All the lessons are done in my backyard in Whatcom Lake and we have various wet suit sizes in case anyone gets cold. Classes are taught either ‘1 on 1’ or ‘1 on 2’, 1 on 1 classes cost $25 and 1 on 2 classes cost $35. Each class is appx. 45 minutes. If interested please contact me at: Jason_aginsky@hotmail.com.” 

Anna Brim on Walnut Street

DINOSAURS NEEDED

Hi- My dad is turning 70 on July 2nd, but I’m on the east coast, and wont be able to see him for a while. I’m wondering if anyone would be willing to walk by his house (near Whatcom Community College) on his birthday dressed up like a dinosaur (open to other costumes)? I can pay $20 – all I ask is that you confirm what time you will walk by so I can ensure he is looking out the door for you.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Bellingham/comments/h8ybh5/iso_people_to_dress_up_like_dinosaurs/

FL!P’S PIX FOR MUSIC

1. JP Falcon Grady is on daily except Sunday at 4:30 and 8:30 https://www.facebook.com/jpfalcongrady

2. Dana Lyons will give a live performance next Sunday, June 28 – Orca Month Online Concerts and the Struggle for America’s Soul 

 June 28, 4:00 pn  You can watch June14th show also on his facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DanaLyons/

As the greater American family faces our history and tries to figure out how to do better, I am scheduled to sing a couple online concerts in to help save the endangered orcas as part of Orca Month.

3. Stanley Greenthal and wife Kip performing next Thursday Jun 18 at 7:45 Kip and I will be doing another “virtual” concert on Thursday, June 18th, from 7 PM to 7:45 PM, Pacific daylight time. The Balkan and Celtic music along with some original tunes concert is sponsored by the Lopez Island Library, and you can hear the concert on their Facebook page (Lopez Island Library home page)  Heartfelt extraordinary music:  http://www.stanleygreenthal.com/?fbclid=IwAR3jIkz7jbH2Jzni1iAIECVYoQ_C9GN66N-5wziO1f_clZhpBQIFbKzEi58

RADIO FREE FL!P: HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING

Bok Trickett Muir. Group singing is not a spectator sport. It’s a birthright that has been stolen from us. No one ever had to audition to sing along with We Shall Overcome.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dlbF-rcVzs

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.

CONTENTS 6/13/2020
This Thursday!!!!!
Revised Elizabeth Park Summer Concert Schedule
Senior Motor Parade
Chalk Update
Restaurant Masks Revisited
Found A Kitty?
Hornet Correction: Better News
Park Parking
Radio Free Fl!p: Libba Cotten

REVISED ELIZABETH PARK SUMMER CONCERT SCHEDULE

THIS THURSDAY!!!!!

Thanks to the partnership of The Eldridge Society for History and Preservation and Bellingham Parks and Recreation, as well as the support and friendship of VARVID and KMRE-FM 102.3, you can still watch or listen to the Elizabeth Park Summer Concert series this summer.

The concerts are a mix of Live and pre-recorded performances and will be live-streamed on the Elizabeth Park Summer Concert Series Facebook page. 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.”

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

Either way, turn up your speakers!!

There have been some changes to the schedule since I sent out the original lineup earlier this year. It’s been a long three months. Thanks for your understanding.

ELIZABETH PARK SUMMER 2020 LINEUP

DATE BAND GENRE       

06/18/20 Free Harmony
Classic folk-rock harmonies       

06/25/20 CraigO’s Planet Groove
Grateful Dead meets New Orleans Funk       

07/02/20 The Sweet Goodbyes
Folk/Pop      

07/09/20 High Mountain String Band
Bellingham Based Progressive Bluegrass Band   

7/16/20 Free Harmony Classic
folk-rock harmonies       

7/23/20 4TENS Band
Fun Classic Rock Party Music       

 07/30/20 Di Young/Fruit Cocktail
Sultry Jazz and Pop Ensemble/Eclectic     

08/06/20 Fossil Rock
50’s and 60’s  Hits 

08/13/20 bandZandt
The County’s Best Dance Band       

08/20/20 CraigO’s Planet Groove
Grateful Dead meets New Orleans Funk 

SENIOR MOTOR PARADE

Sincere thanks to Natalie and Chris Wermus for organizing today’s Graduation Parade. It was glorious!!! I got a little teary-eyed over it. What a lovely idea. And all those decorated vehicles really felt like a parade! Thank you everybody, and congratulations to all our graduates!!!

CHALK UPDATE

I have pastel children’s chalk to distribute now. The bright colors will arrive in about a week and a half. I’m happy to let people come pick up chalk early, but I beg you to save it for July 4th. We still have a shortage. And if you can get your own, that would be great! Dakota Art 360-676-8918 on Cornwall, Launching Success 360-527-2641, and the Toy Garden (360)-714-8552 in Fairhaven all have or recently had chalk.

RESTAURANT MASKS REVISITED

Just thought I’d add to the mentioning of restaurants and workers. Restaurant staff does earn minimum wage now, not a living wage for sure, so generous tips are always appreciated. The entire staff at the Hearthfire Grill are wearing masks and taking every precaution to keep everyone safe. ~ Cindi Nutter

I just wanted to quickly comment about the restaurant mask issue. I completely agree with your approach; legally restaurant workers are required to wear a mask and anyone who sees otherwise should ask to speak with the manager on duty. We are in this together and businesses that do not follow the rules put our economic reopening at risk along with people’s lives. I also wanted to point out that stating that  restaurant servers are making less than minimum wage is simply incorrect. Every official worker in the state earns at least $13.50 per hour. There is no server or tip wage in this state. ~ Chas Kubis, Lynn St

Thanks Cindi & Chas! I guess it’s been a long time since I waited tables. I’m glad the situation has improved. Does anyone know if agricultural workers count as “official workers?” I would hate to try to live on $13.50 an hour. Please, everybody, wear your mask when your server comes to your table, and tip generously. OK?  ~ Love/Fl!p

FOUND A KITTY?

Today on Nextdoor, someone posted a picture of a kitty and asked if anyone was missing it.  This may have been my daughter’s missing kitty and we freaked out because he’s been gone since October. They fed, held and photographed the kitty before letting it go. By the time we got there, he was gone and we were both in tears.
~Keri Clark, 3119 Meridian St

It’s a heartbreaking situation, since your kitty has been gone since October and there were no photos of him posted online to let your neighbors know he was a Missing Kitty. How could you have dreamed to keep reposting after so long?

A lost pet is likely to be thin or bedraggled, and appear distressed and often disoriented. My suggestion for neighbors is, if you find what may be a stray cat, every vet in town will check for a ID chip, for free. Even the 24 hour emergency pet clinic. That’s step #1. And for humans possessed by cats, get your pet chipped ASAP, and if you move or change phone numbers, make sure you update your contact information. There are so many tears this can avoid.

Beyond that, if you find a pet, check all the local lost pet posting spots, and post photos of your guest in all of them as well. Off the top of my head, I think first of Craigslist, Columbia Neighborhood Facebook page, NextDoor.com, and me. It really helps me if you post to one of the others first, with a photo, and send me a link to flip@columbianeighborhood.org. It helps if the subject line reads Lost or Found Cat (or dog, chicken, parakeet, bunny etc…Does anyone remember Romeo?).

On the other hand, I have certainly known, and even been possessed by, cats who kept multiple humans, just out of general friendliness, or perhaps to be sure there was always plenty of food available. So I would not imprison a guest who wasn’t in obvious distress, at least not if the weather was fine, beyond a trip to see if there was a chip. You could also make a collar out of  a strip of paper, and write your name and phone number on it, to help the cat’s other family (families?) know where their cat disappears to.

And then there are feral cats. Many of them have been trapped, neutered and released back into the wild. This keeps the feral population down. Such cats will have been “tipped” – the tip of one ear removed for identification from a distance. These  cats will keep their distance.

HORNET CORRECTION: BETTER NEWS

Along with many other Whatcom County residents (I’m sure), I’ve been reading up on the giant hornets. This article, along with other sources, confirm stings from these insects are extremely painful, but death from a sting is rare, unless someone is allergic or is stung dozens of times (not 3-4). I figured some of your readers might rest easy knowing 3-4 stings aren’t typically lethal.  ~ Janae Brewster https://www.google.com/amp/s/api.nationalgeographic.com/distribution/public/amp/animals/2020/05/why-asian-giant-hornets-have-painful-stings

PARK PARKING

Our parks department limited parking last month at many local parks to limit overcrowding. They also activated Parks Ambassadors to remind people to social distance. Even as the situation in our parks has eased a bit as we have learned more about the virus and transmission, enforcement of the local parking code, once ramped up, has remained stricter. Official rules that have rarely been enforced in the past are now being enforced. The city believes that rules, to be fair, must not be selectively applied. At least one resident who lives along Lorraine Ellis Park thinks the rules don’t fit everywhere and don’t always make sense. I’ll let him speak for himself:

I just talked with the Parks Department, and while it’s true that they are limiting parking at parks, that is not the case with Lorraine Ellis Park. They’ve decided that parking on the grass is illegal. And the funny thing is, well a dog does more damage & bicycles are not allowed on the grass per the Bellingham Municipal Code for the parks. Just wait until little Billy down the street gets a ticket. Same fine as a car. I just don’t think they can enforce part of the BMC and not pick & choose. ~ Dave Lind, Lorraine Ellis Court

RADIO FREE FL!P:  LIBBA (ELIZABETH) COTTEN

Oh, Babe It Ain’t No Lie

My beloved “guitar grandma.” – I first heard Libba play in 1968 and that one evening’s concert changed my whole life. Her music went in somewhere so deep that my heart filled up and spilled over into tears. She made it sound so simple (hah!) that I went home and turned off my radio and starting trying to figure out how she did it. You may have heard her song Freight Train. Pepter Paul and Mary recorded it. In the 1970s and 80s I used to host concerts here in Bellingham for Libba. She would come stay with me and she’d sit on the couch and play her tunes with me, the same tune for hours, up to speed and complete, while I tried to figure out what she was doing. Upside down and backwards. She took a standard guitar, tipped it over and played it left handed. I learned how to listen. And  as she shared, she modeled for me taking the time to love. Love takes time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhQLxGmU4QA

I’m going to see if I can post an old photo of the two of  us. Wish  me luck!

http://flipandzeke.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/libba-and-flip-2.jpg

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.

CONTENTS 6/12/2020
Loose Cat Alert
High School Senior Car Parade Tomorrow
Free Chalk!
Unmasked Workers
5 Rules To Live By
Good Help With Parenting
Baseline Temperatures
Hornets
Radio Free Fl!p: If You Say Yes

[This looks weird today, but I want to get it out. I’ll figure out what went wrong later…]

LOOSE CAT ALERT
Just started walking around Elizabeth Park and there is a white cat with orange patches that is Uber friendly. Has a collar but no tags. The tail is straight, and orange striped. Head is pretty orange. It is probably one of the most friendly cats ever met but maybe because it’s hungry. This is meeting any of the criteria for cats that have been reported missing lately? I live nearby and have never met this cat before. Jana Williams, Walnut Street 360-920-5518

HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR CAR PARADE
Tomorrow, Saturday, June 13th, between 12:15 -1:00, we will celebrate senior graduates of 2020 who went to Columbia Elementary as they are driven up and down the streets of Columbia Neighborhood.  Come out in your front yard and cheer them on! Graduates, meet Saturday at 12:00 at 2515 Kulshan St. in your decorated vehicle to line up.  Wear your cap and gown. 
Natalie and Chris Wermus
360-223-0801

FREE CHALK!!!
I just ordered 49 sets of really bright colored chalk. It will be here in plenty of time. And the Eldridge Society has donated $300 that they usually spend on the Fourth Of July Parade & Picnic to purchase chalk. So I can give lots of it away!!! Right now I have over 150 sets of pastel chalk, and have still more medium-bright chalk coming. You’ll be able to request the chalk you want/need. First come; first serve. With luck I’ll have enough. It’s still good to go buy your own locally too, but I’m feeling very relieved. Thank you to all the donors (the rest of them are anonymous)! It looks like the Chalk website and sign-up form may go live as soon as this coming Monday. I’ll shout it from the rooftops the minute it’s done. And a HUGE shout-out to neighbor Jonny Kemp for doing all the work on that!

UNMASKED WORKERS
I think we can probably handle the issue of restaurant workers without masks, as customers, by warmly but regretfully telling them why we are not staying to eat, how much we wish we could, and by calling to inquire about masks in advance so we can tell if we are safe to come. Customer pressure, especially if warmly stated, may be effective without setting up businesses to be Annoyed At The Government.
I would also say, please wear your own mask! Though you have to remove it while you eat, make sure you have it firmly in place any time the server is at your table. Your server is risking their life to serve you, for less than minimum wage. Their mask protects you. Your mask protects them. Please be rigorous! And tip well…

5 RULES TO LIVE BY
There’s no playbook for living through a pandemic, so we decided to create one. With some basic rules to guide you, everyone can lower risk and live a full life while we wait for the virus to get under control.
nytimes.com/2020/06/09/well/live/coronavirus-rules-pandemic-infection-prevention.html

GOOD HELP WITH PARENTING
So many of us are in the thick of parenting in a really challenging time. Do you know Patty Wipfler? She is more thoughtful about parents and families than anyone else I’ve ever known. She’s got a website: HandInHandParenting.com – and a book called Listen! that is helpful for relationships with anyone of any age. She got in up to the armpits with me and my boys back in the day. She lives in Palo Alto. She has created a wonderful resource for parents.
https://www.handinhandparenting.org/
Lots of recent posts about coronavirus & home schooling:c
handinhandparenting.org/blog/

BASELINE TEMPERATURES
Our Unity Care Geriatric RN specialistic strongly suggested we over 65 get our baseline temperature, usually 97.? since we’re seniors. I’m taking mine everyday for a bit to get mine. This helps if we have symptoms and need to go for checkup. Testing at 99 IS a raised temp for many seniors. She said many Med. Assistants don’t know this yet & poopoo 99 as no problem! So far mine is usually 97.5 or 7, sometimes 96.something. Wow-good to know! 

HORNETS
I hope nobody ever needs to know these things but it is good information. I was cruising a forum thread online, somebody mentioned that Giant Hornets are considered a delicacy by some people in Japan. Here is a reply from a resident of Japan. There is some useful information for us here, and ways to avoid them. 
“In Nagano prefecture (mountainous regions) mainly. Everywhere else they are considered a bloody nuisance. We got about 60-70 deaths annually – hikers who wander into close proximity of the nest unbeknown to them: 6mm stinger, twice as aggressive as regular hornets and packing more neurotoxin than your regular wasp….3-4 stings sends you into the shock. I get their scouts flying on to my balcony on occasion. 
Avoid black clothing if possible and if you see one try to keep yourself lower than its fly path – their field of vision is not aimed downwards.” ~ MIichael Longenecker

RADIO FREE FL!P: IF YOU SAY YES
I met Cindy Kallet through Gordon Bok. That’s her husband Grey Larsen with her. She is an astonishing instrumentalist and brave writer and explorer of her own soul.

CONTENTS 6/11/2020
Chalk Talk!
Immanuel Bible Church Parking Lot Safety
White Supremacist Flyers
Restaurant Worker Masks?
Safe Chalk Sharing
Black Lives Matter Rally Friday
Betsy Brown Md
Yesterday’s Big Picture Article: Link
Pointy Wheel?
Radio Free Fl!p: The Brandy Tree

CHALK TALK!

Here’s the first installment of Chalk Talk! Marla Bronstein has interviewed a bunch of local dignitaries and luminaries about our Fourth Of July Sidewalk Chalk Festival. Little snippets – maybe 2 minutes max. This all started when I called Miriam Barnett, who created and ran the downtown Bellingham chalk art festival for years. Miriam suggested I get local officials involved. She used to invite them to judge her festival. I didn’t want a competition, but I did like the idea of involving some local big names. So I phoned former mayor Tim Douglas, over on Williams Street, for advice. Tim told me to call Marla and see what she could cook up. If you don’t know Marla, you should! She runs the Elizabeth Park summer concert series on Thursday nights (rain or shine, online this year. I’ll print the schedule again tomorrow). Marla is a theatre maven: director, actor, comedienne. Fearless! Marla grabbed the idea and took off! She wrote a ton of people to invite them for a 2 minute video conversation about our chalk. She knows everyone! She ordered me and Zeke to learn a new piece of music for the background, so we did.  Here’s her first interview, with Tim Douglas, of course!

https://youtu.be/9yFY74e_DO4

IMMANUEL BIBLE CHURCH PARKING LOT

You may have noticed some equipment at Immanuel Bible Church this week. A contractor working on alley maintenance is dropping trailers, etc. in the gravel parking lot, which accounts for some of the equipment.  In addition, the large parking lot and drive-up ramp next to the main entrance are being repaired and repaved. Due to these projects, please ask your children to avoid the church’s large parking lot or ramp until the work is done. Once the projects are completed the riding will be smooth, but caution is always needed! Please advise your kids to watch out for cars and walk and ride safely!

Autumn Cole, for Immanuel Bible Church
360-733-0672 church office

WHITE SUPREMACIST FLYERS

There were a couple of incidents in May where people found Patriot Front recruitment flyers in a little free library in our neighborhood. It turns out there have been more around town, on campus and in other neighborhoods. Also, library books have been returned with the little flyers tucked between the pages. The flyers are a little bigger than a business card, and look like they’ve been photocopied on plain white letter paper. They say things like “It’s OK To Be White” with a website – fairly innocuous until you look into the background.

Yesterday a group of us, from Columbia Neighborhood ( board members and me) plus folks from the local Human Rights Task Force, met over Zoom with Bellingham Police Chief David Doll and officer Kat Dearborn to discuss this activity and what we could do about it. I found our meeting to be very helpful. I asked Officer Kat to send me a “what neighbors should do” post. She did. Here it is:

Regarding the flyers: For the most part people are not reporting these flyers to us. If we don’t have knowledge of when and where this is happening there is very little we can do, so please let us know!  I believe the easiest thing to do is to send me an email at kdearborn@cob.org with the following information: 1) When it was found 2) The time frame in which you think the flyer appeared (example: I know the flyer wasn’t there yesterday at 5pm and now it is today at 10am). 3) The address where it was found and where was it at that address?  Mailbox, Little Lending Library, hanging on a telephone poll would all be examples of this. 4) Ideally a photograph of the flyer so we can inspect it. If people don’t want to email me perhaps they could email you, Flip, and you can pass along the information? I don’t want to create more work for you but it might be another option to get us the information if folks don’t want to contact me directly. ~ Officer Kat

I will be completely happy to accept and pass along anything wanted or needed. Email me at flip@columbianeighborhood.org

https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article243306611.html

RESTAURANT WORKER MASKS?

A couple of our neighbors took a stroll to find dinner tonight, now that businesses are opening up. They visited quite a few restaurants and food trucks along Meridian & Northwest, but in every one there were workers preparing or serving food without wearing masks. Our neighbors finally gave up, bought groceries and went home to cook their own dinner. The food may be “to die for” but not to actually die for. I would expect that there will be a period of adjustment to the new rule requiring employees to wear masks. Me, I would suggest a warmly regretful tone, “Wah! I was so hoping for some of your lovely food, but I will go someplace where all the employees are wearing masks. I’m so sorry!” Love/Fl!p

SAFE CHALK SHARING

Regarding “sharing chalk among multiple households”- that’s likely not a good idea right now, unless people plan to set the chalk out in the sun for two or three days between uses by “multiple households”- not a likely scenario.
 ~ Tony Cava,

Hi Tony – I’ve been gifted with several tubs of 50+ pieces for the festival. My plan is to mask and glove, and then divide them into sets in paper lunch sacks for  individual distribution at least a week before. I think other households could do the same. But you’re correct, I’d better make that explicit! Love/Fl!p

BLACK LIVES MATTER RALLY FRIDAY

Tomorrow, Friday June 12, 2 – 6 PM at the corner of Bakerview and Arctic Ave (Costco corner and then on to the east).

I’ve heard from a lot of neighbors who are going. Here’s what I am aware of: Not in the street, not marching. Wear masks. Bring hand sanitizer. Bring signs. The organizers say they will be gathering to stand together but will not be marching. “We invite you to stand with us for as long as you are able at one of the busiest intersections in town. We know it is a busy street and we are expecting a lot of protesters. But we do not want to put any added risk on anyone who is willing to stand with us and we don’t want to impede traffic. We just want them to see us.” They want those who come to stay six feet apart and spread east along Bakerview for as far as needed. Drive past the end of the line, park safely, walk back and please stay safely on the sidewalks.

https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article243460876.html?

BETSY BROWN MD:

How To Not Spread Covid

Masking does work. And it also makes a difference of how much virus you get exposed to, which is why masking and being outdoors are key, as well as limiting time and washing your hands. These are the mantras for staying healthy for the next while.

I have spent most of my time talking about prevention, for good reason. The lockdown has made a huge difference. We are opening up again and there will be more infections. We are already hearing about upticks.

So, what do you do if you get infected or get exposed? Remember, most people do OK, some get sick and we can take better care of people now. But you also don’t want to spread it. My local health department has a great graphic about different scenarios of when to stop isolating at home after a COVID-19 infection. The bottom line is 3 days without fever AND 10 days since symptoms appeared AND other symptoms have improved. If you read the flyer, you can see different recommendations for different scenarios, including people with mild symptoms and household members. Exposed but non-infected household members are the tough ones, because they need to be isolated for 14 days AFTER their family member/roommate’s isolation period. And if anyone has to go out, they must wear a mask and keep it to only essential needs.

And remember, the guidelines about mask wearing have been all over the place. I was skeptical at first, too. Now we have more compelling data and the guidelines have become more clear. Just because you used to think masks were bad, but now you realize they help, does not make you a hypocrite if you start wearing one. You are allowed to change your mind. It means you can learn and are considerate of others. https://betsybrownmd.substack.com/

YESTERDAY’S BIG PICTURE ARTICLE LINK

[Sally Sheedy wrote me about a problem with yesterday’s link. Now I know more about how to share links, and you might like to, as well.Thanks Sally & Michael!]

I got an error 500 when I followed the link to Pandemic Big Picture article (linked to from your newsletter, below). When I cut off the tail end of the link, it worked:   https://www.bluezones.com/2020/06/covid-19-straight-answers-from-top-epidemiologist-who-predicted-the-pandemic/

(Generally, everything from the ‘?’ on is extraneous encoding, at least in part used to be able to record where the site visitor got the link from.)

My spouse (Michael Hobart) sent me a shareable link for the article, pasted here. I’m not sure how he was able to get into the article without the error I encountered, nor how he derived this different link after he was done reading it to share with me, but it didn’t work either. (He knows I get your newsletter but he wanted to make sure I read the article.)

https://shar.es/aHNHVG

This message was sent using ShareThis (https://www.sharethis.com)

I’m letting you know in case anyone else has the same issue accessing the article. ~ Sally Sheedy

POINTY WHEEL?

When I was a kid my Mom had a little wheel with points, made to transfer sewing patterns by poking little holes in the paper. Does anyone have one of those to spare? Or is anyone going to a fabric store soon? Fl!p 360-671-4511

RADIO FREE FL!P: THE BRANDY TREE

I think this was the first of Gordon Bok’s songs that I encountered, around 1971. I was immediately enchanted. Gordon is from Camden, on the coast of Maine, which is about as close to the Salish Sea in atmosphere as I think you can get without actually living here. My sister moved out to the coast of Maine when she needed to get away but couldn’t really bear to go.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKzDcE53iss

Gordon says, “I got most of this song from a small otter who used to hang out in the same woods I did, around Sherman’s Point, many years ago. Many folks have asked me about the name of the song: I was never sure of what that word was, (Bandy Tree, Bundy Tee?) nor do I think it matters. I’ve come to think of it as a place inside ourselves where, once we’ve been there, we know how to find it again.”

I go down to the brandy tree and take my nose and my tail with me / All for the world and the wind to see and never come back no more

 Down the meadowmarsh deep and wide, tumble the tangle by my side / All for the westing wind to run and slide in the summer rain

Sun come follow my happy way, wind come walk beside me / Moon on the mountain go with me, a wondrous way I know

I go down to the windy sea and call on the seal to play with me / Slide on the rock and dive in the bay and sleep on the ledge at night

But the seal don’t try to tell me how to fish in the windy blue / Seal’s been fishing for a thousand years and he knows that I have too

When the frog goes down to the mud to sleep and the lamprey hides in the boulders deep / I take my nose and my tail and go a hundred thousand hills

Sun come follow my happy way, wind come walk beside me / Moon on the mountain go with me, a wondrous way I know

 Some day down by the brandy tree I’ll hear the shepherd call for me / Call me to leave my happy ways and the shining world I know

Sun on the hill come go with me, my days have all been free / The pipes come laughing down the wind and that’s the way I go
That’s the way for me

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.

CONTENTS 6/10/2020
Please Get Chalk Soon
Toy Garden Chalk
Music Porch Offered
Pandemic Big Picture
Boxes?
20th Annual Subdued Stringband Jamboree
Radio Free Fl!p: Bright Morning Stars

PLEASE GET CHALK SOON

Let’s get our chalk while the local stores still have time to order more. Right now I have no idea whether 50 households will choose to play, or 500! Jonny is close to having the sign-up form ready to go. Once you can sign up, I hope you do, in droves! There’s a place on the form to say if you have chalk or need chalk. Once I can see that, I’ll know how much more to look for! You can start picking chalk up from me any time now, as long as you promise to save it to use at the festival. For the pros, Alan at Dakota Art still has almost 30 sets of the really vivid chalk left. The cheap chalk isn’t great, and the great chalk isn’t cheap, but he’s marked the price down for us. He’s limiting the fancy stuff to one to a customer for now.  Love/Fl!p

TOY GARDEN CHALK

A neighbor sent me another local chalk source!
Fairhaven Toy Garden
909 Harris Ave
(360)-714-8552

Here is a link to the sidewalk chalk:

https://www.fairhaventoygarden.com/buy/4645/jumbo-sidewalk-chalk 

We have 12 buckets left. (These could be shared with multiple households.)

Here is a link to the artist chalk:

https://www.fairhaventoygarden.com/buy/11348/blackboard-chalk

It is vibrant, but very soft, so not so suitable for rough surfaces, but if you had a smooth patch of sidewalk it might work.  We only have two left of this set.

On our website we offer curbside pickup.  Just choose ‘Pick up at store’ when checking out.

Our store is open from 10am to 7pm Mon-Sat and 10am to 6pm on Sundays.  We also have private shopping by appointment 9am-10am and 7pm-8pm Mon-Sat and 9am-10am and 6pm-7pm on Sundays for those that feel at risk.  Call 360-714-8552 to make an appointment.

Let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you! ~ Tina

MUSIC PORCH OFFERED

If there are a trio of acoustic musicians that need a covered porch to perform on, we’d like to offer up ours. ~ Rebecque and Charles Asher, West Street, RebecqueAsher@hotmail.com

PANDEMIC BIG PICTURE

I think this may be the most important thing I’m sending out today. I didn’t recognize the website, so I posted elsewhere first, and asked friends to vet this. Many of them did. This response was the best, from David Olson. David is a local doctor who is also a music buddy, and (for the musicians) the guy who sparked the Taylor Holden GS Mini guitars project. I have great confidence in him. I really like the article I link to here. Clear, good detail, I’d rather have facts to base my choices on, even if the situation isn’t what I would most like.

Dr. Michael Osterholm was one of my favorite professors in Medical School at the University of Minnesota. He has been one of the country’s best epidemiologists for decades. I have read everything he has written on Covid19, and he doesn’t shy away from hard truths. There is nothing about this that has been, or will be easy. He is right though – at this point, we must learn to live with it, rather than hope it will go away or expect that we can somehow beat it in a few months. Also, he is one of the few voices who recognizes that this is NOT the flu, and won’t necessarily have the same seasonal pattern that influenza exhibits. ~ Dr David Olson

https://www.bluezones.com/2020/06/covid-19-straight-answers-from-top-epidemiologist-who-predicted-the-pandemic/?utm_source=BLUE+ZONES+Newsletter&utm_campaign=b9d385df8c-JUNE-2020-1&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_9642311849-b9d385df8c-199414645&mc_cid=b9d385df8c&mc_eid=9c2569ea67

BOXES?

Looking for used cardboard boxes for a move.  Not for us, thankfully, but for my cousin.  If anyone has any used cardboard boxes they’d like to get rid of, please call or text me with address and I’ll pick them up, or send my cousin to pick them up.  

Thanks!!
Liz Chiz & Richard Metawi
Victor St.  310-600-5274

20TH ANNUAL SUBDUED STRINGBAND JAMBOREE

Online this year. It’s a glorious event.

https://stringbandjamboree.com/?fbclid=IwAR2fUTWoWs_hrqWVjsZQeA23P1KgCfdmEdN-rHaWPas_jECvSE-2Wpl7I8M

RADIO FREE FL!P: BRIGHT MORNING STARS

Whatcom County choirs put this together this week as a message of healing and reconciliation, on behalf of Whatcom Interfaith. The song is, “Bright Morning Stars” and you may recognize some of the musicians. I have warm memories of singing this song over many years with people I love dearly, usually after staying up singing together all night long.

https://youtu.be/i3HHy53V-P8

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.

CONTENTS 6/9/2020
High School Senior Car Parade
Wait For Testing: Correction
Elizabeth Station Re-Opens
Porchfest?
Tiny Onion
Black Lives Matter Signs
Seeking Handy-Person
Missing Easel Correction
Radio Free Fl!p: Requiem For Whatcom Creek

HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR CAR PARADE

This Saturday, June 13th, between 12:15 -1:00, we will celebrate senior graduates of 2020 who went to Columbia Elementary as they are driven up and down the streets of Columbia Neighborhood.  Come out in your front yard and cheer them on!

Graduates, meet Saturday at 12:00 at 2515 Kulshan St. in your decorated vehicle to line up.  Wear your cap and gown.
 ~ Natalie and Chris Wermus
360-223-0801

WAIT FOR TESTING: CORRECTION

My understanding of current recommendations is that today’s blog contained an inaccurate recommendation. The Covid-19 virus in a newly infected person can take an average of about a week to build up enough in the system to turn a test from negative to positive. So if you (as I did) went to Saturday’s demonstration and got infected (I hope not), my test results might show up falsely negative until next weekend. 

So people shouldn’t get tested “as soon as possible” after exposure, as the blog suggests. Relying on results from tests done too early can be dangerous, as they may result in a false sense of security. A person infected may think they are not, and may expose more of their contacts to infection until they actually get sick enough to be re-tested. 

So the current recommendation is that we should wait a week or so after exposure to get our Covid-19 test.

 ~ Hank Levine, MD

[And please both limit and keep track of your contacts between now and when you get your results. And wear your masks rigorously. They do seem to be working. Thank you all, and thank you Hank! ~Fl!p]

ELIZABETH STATION RE-OPENS

This is Patrick from Elizabeth Station on Holly Street. I wanted to clarify something for everyone about masks, direct from the Governor’s speech:

-all businesses are required to post signs asking customers to wear masks

-The business is not required to enforce mask usage, but they can at their own discretion.

-When working, all employees except those working alone are required to wear masks 

There has been a lot of confusion about this. Here we are going to require masks for shopping when we open starting this Saturday, as we feel this is the best for the community. It doesn’t hurt anyone to have to wear a mask, and we all can do better to protect those with deficient immune systems, and those caring for people with health issues too.

As a quick last note, we had announced we’d be opening for shopping this coming Friday, but out of respect (and be a part of) the Black Lives Matter strike this Friday, we are going to wait to open until Saturday.

Thanks  -Patrick McEvoy

PORCHFEST?

Every year, I see information about this event in Sanford, Florida, and think it could be a wonderful neighborhood event for Bellingham. Obviously, the style and vintage of certain neighborhoods would lend itself to a “Porchfest,” more than others.  This is the Porchfest where my sister lives and she sends me photos each year. Just thought I would put it out there to musicians….and caring community members!!

 ~ Marcia Robey
https://www.sanfordporchfest.org/

[I have friends in Oakland who tell me tiny porch concerts have been happening weekly there. I am hoping neighborhood musicians will sign up to share some acoustic music for our Chalk Festival. Or just sit on your porch and play a little any sunny day. I’ve got my gourd banjo almost ready to take out in public, but not quite yet… ~Fl!p]

TINY ONION

Tiny Onion Cooking School with Annalee Dunn is also live streaming free cooking classes for kids. It is a wonderful and enlightening little breather from the day to day anguish. Saturday Mornings are free. ~ Robin Wallbridge

https://www.tinyonioncookingschool.com/classes

BLACK LIVES MATTER SIGNS

We have 9 extra Black Lives Matter yard signs (plastic signs plus wire posts) to share if anyone would like one. We’ll leave them on our front porch (2427 Williams) for no-contact handoff. First come first served. They were $12/sign. Instead of reimbursing us, we’d ask that folks donate the cost of the sign to a relevant cause.  ~ ~  ~ Allison Pfeiffer  206-679-0339

SEEKING HANDY-PERSON

We are looking for a reliable handy-person for smaller fix -it work, repairs, etc. Know of anyone? Thanks!

 Steve and Michael Scott  sscottreloan@gmail.com

MISSING EASEL CORRECTION

Black easel was left at Little Squalicum Beach, not at the Port, on 7 June, with an oil painting. Please contact me on 360 223 5537 if you have it with you. Thank you, ~ Alaya Rousseau

RADIO FREE FL!P: REQUIEM FOR WHATCOM CREEK

On June 10, 1999, a gasoline pipeline operated by Olympic Pipeline Company exploded in Bellingham, Washington’s Whatcom Falls Park. The disaster started at 3:25 PM PDT when a gasoline pipeline ruptured due to various errors and malfunctions on the part of Olympic Pipeline and others. Wikipedia

I remember. Two young boys and a young man died. And I remember a radio announcer saying that there were people who would care about the boys, and then there were those who would only care about the trees lost. I was horrified that anyone would try to divide our community at such a time. So I wrote about it, with my guitar in hand. [There is something about money in the link. Not to worry. Just click on the song and I’ll sing to you.]

https://flipzeke.bandcamp.com/track/requiem-for-whatcom-falls

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

If you want to ask me to post something, just email me. If it’s urgent, phone.