Post date: Apr 10, 2020 11:18:42 PM
Neighbors Promoting Kindness During COVID-19 and Stay At Home Orders:
A Big Thank You to Neighbors That Are Helping Each Other Doing Kind Gestures Sharing Ideas with Homeschooling:
Here are some tips of sharing information with families that have school age children to make learning fun, enjoyable, and meaningful by one of our neighbors and educators in our community.
Heather Jackson had some great ideas to share. She suggested that parents, guardians, grandparents, and/or others that are homeschooling children to get a calendar planner or notebook to track all of their children’s studies and activities during the day. For example, write down activities such as bike riding, walks, dog walking, as this counts as PE activities. Don’t forget to add other practical life skills like keeping a check book, cooking, baking, and gardening because all of these involve math skills. Gardening and baking can even count as learning about the environment, science, and nutrition too. Keep in mind that learning opportunities don’t always happen in the classroom, but outside the classroom. Some recommended websites are listed:
Math Websites:
http://www.teachingtextbooks.com/
Excellent for students in Grades 2-5
Fabulous for students in Grades 6-8
Contact the wonderful staff at Launching Success Store in Bellingham for referrals and assistance with teaching tools and gift ideas. This store is a great resource for curriculum for all ages and grade levels.
COVID-19 Resources:
The World Health Organization has suggested that it is a good idea when talking about the virus to use the words “coronavirus” or COVID-19 when discussing the current pandemic. As we all know there are so many ways to learn and educate ourselves on daily news updates whether it be the news on the television, radio, or social media, etc. Gail Rea lives in our neighborhood and is a nurse educator and suggests to follow WHO and CDC for updated guidelines and recommendations for information.
Neighbors Helping Each Other:
Many neighbors have been helping each other with a variety of things and/or just meeting neighbors for the very first time in the last month. A good reminder is to be respectful of neighbors and communicate with kindness as we never know what neighbors are experiencing during this time or any other time in their daily lives.
The HOA Volunteer Committee and others in the neighborhood have done a variety of kind offerings including: Bringing meals to sick individuals and families, driving and helping neighbors to get groceries, picking up prescriptions, mailing packages, getting mail, lifting the spirits of neighbors that are alone, walking dogs, and sometimes just making someone’s day brighter by doing something extra special, or as simple as emailing or checking in on a neighbor to see how they are doing.
It is important to know that just a smile and hello can make some one’s day brighter too. Many of the neighbors have commented on how nice it has been to see and meet neighbors that they have not met before. Hillary Rockwell mentioned that it has been wonderful seeing so many new walkers daily. She has lived in Loomis Trail now for 14 years and has never seen so much action in the neighborhood. I have noticed too that interactions can be done with Social Distancing too, whether walking, bike riding, or visiting with a neighbor across the street. Let’s hope this continues even after the Stay At Home Order changes with continued positive friendly neighborhood interactions.
It is also important to know that some neighbors may be going through difficult times learning to adjust with a job loss and income/or business income loss, changes in personal routines, such as individuals learning how to homeschool children, couples now being in households all day together, or people not seeing their partners, parents, children, or grandkids and this is can be a big challenge during this time. Other active individuals now find that having to stay home creates stress missing social activities, some neighbors may also feel isolated being in their homes alone this long, some may be caring for sick family members, and others may be having emotional or financial problems as a result of this pandemic. So please be mindful of feelings that neighbors may share as then on the other hand some families have found this time to also be together more, eat meals together, and not be rushed in life. It is something everyone has different experiences with for sure.
Local Business and Restaurants:
Just a reminder, it is always good to support our local Blaine and Whatcom County restaurants for take-out food to help them stay in business.
Many businesses are doing their best to be open and many have had to reduce their staff, lay off workers, and worse yet close their business temporarily or forever. Please when purchasing items and groceries to try to support our local businesses as they might just be our neighbors too trying to survive during this time period.
When shopping or going places remember Social Distancing of 6 feet or more and it is also a volunteer option to wear a mask for individual safety too.
The Northern Light – Community Newspaper of Blaine and Birch Bay:
Every Thursday the Northern Light is placed in our mailboxes. It is a free newspaper and includes happenings and events locally, plus much more interesting news about the area we live in. While local businesses are struggling at this time, so is the Northern Light and they want to do their best to keep providing a quality publication that is useful, accurate, and timely in our community. In the meantime if you have not noticed in the newspaper if you read this publication they are asking for contributions to keep the paper alive. Please if you can support this newspaper with a $24 donation (or whatever) you can give. You can contribute online or mail in your donation to: The Northern Light, 225 Marine Drive, Suite 200, Blaine, WA. 98230. Please see the current issue for more details showing their appreciation to Donors and Advertisers so far. Several neighbors have already donated because they value reading about what is happening in our community.
Garbage Cans:
Another reminder, please on behalf of your neighbors keep garbage cans out of view. This means in your garage, on the side of your house (behind something out of sight) or in your back yard, or behind a covered fence for example. Please do not to leave them in front of your garage or even left on the street. Several neighbors would appreciate that everyone follow this reminder and if anyone needs help at any time having their garbage can moved after garbage pick-up day, please contact Judy Hamner and she will coordinate getting a neighbor to assist if necessary as we have neighbors willing to do this if someone is out of town.
Speed Limit is 15 mph:
With an increase in individual walkers, families walking, bicyclists riding their bikes, and dog walkers too, please SLOW DOWN when in the neighborhood and remember SAFETY MATTERS. With Social Distancing rules the roads and sidewalks are used heavily now for people to keep active.
Thanks to all the HOA Board Members, Aaron Rockwell, and Judy Hamner with Elite Management Company:
A shout out to the HOA volunteer board members for their ongoing working for the community. Also, to Aaron Rockwell who continues to post the newsletter to the HOA website and also for emailing our HOA members that subscribe. As a reminder, Judy Hamner does her best to make sure new homeowners get the updated information and she tries her best to make sure renters receive the information too.
Happy Easter to Those That Celebrate:
For some individuals and families that celebrate Easter, this year may be a little different due to COVID-19 and Stay At Home Orders making it difficult to have normal family gatherings. Keep in mind, to try and make the best of the day. The weather forecast for the next ten days looks wonderful with continued sunshine. So some neighbors will take a walk, log into their church services online, work in their yards, plant a vegetable garden, make a nice meal at home, go on a picnic, do a new fun family activity, and maybe remember to call their loved ones to say hello, face time, or Skype as a means to make the day special.
Neighbors can also touch base with each other by simply smiling and saying hello too. Many neighbors have been commenting on how much they love living in Loomis Trail and that is probably why homes continue to sell. In fact, one has was listed a week ago and sold within 24 hours of being listed. A shout out to Laura Howell too for making this happen so quickly by helping “sell” our neighborhood to the interested buyer.
I really appreciate that many neighbors voiced positive comments and have shared ideas for this newsletter. Keep the ideas and comments coming too.
Kathy Barnes
Newsletter Volunteer
barnesfern@comcast.net