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SEPTEMBER 2022


SEPTEMBER

2022

September 13 Cordata Neighborhood Community Meeting


Join your neighbors in the Cordata Presbyterian Church meeting room at 400 Meadowbrook Court at 7:00 pm. 


We have invited the City of Bellingham's new Chief of Police, Rebecca Mertzig. Please join us to meet her and hear about her priorities and plans for the City.


Cordata Block Party


Join your neighbors at a block party on September 11 from noon to 2pm at the Cordata Presbyterrian Church parking area--free hamburgers, veggie burgers, hotdogs, salads, water, and juice. Lots of games and fun for the whole family.


We hope to see you there.

North Bellingham Library Branch Update


The following message comes from Rebecca Judd, Bellingham Public Library Director in response to our efforts to see a library branch in our area:


The Bellingham Public Library is finishing up work on a Facilities Master plan. Thank you again to everyone who met with consultants from Godfey’s Associates in May to inform this tudy. Recommendations will be presented to City Council in September. The final report will be linked on the Library’s website later that month, and emailed to everyone who participated in a focus group. 

Horton Road Roundabout


A committee of Cordata residents as well as members of the Bellingham Arts Commission met to review almost 30 applications from artists all across the world for a chance to submit their vision for art at the center of the Horton/Cordata Parkway Roundabout. The group selected five finalists based on conversations and meetings with the community members to help define what we would like to see in this space. 


The next step is to review the five submissions before selecting the finalist. Keep tuned for these exciting developments.

The following information is provided by Greg Hope, Education and Outreach Coordinator for the City of Bellingham. Among the many hats that Greg wears, he coordinates the Map Your Neighborhood (MYN) program in Bellingham. The MYN program provides a structure for neighborhoods (or even blocks of homes within a neighborhood) to meet and discuss their preparedness for an emergency situation where the City and County services may not be able to respond in a timely manner.

 

Greg's office shares information about different kinds of emergencies. this month's issue is related to fires. Please view and share the video to learn more about how to prepare yourself and your family for this kind of emergency. You can view the video HERE

 

Greg will be attending the 9/11 Cordata Block Party announced at the top of this newsletter. He will be available to answer questions and share more information about MYN or other programs.


The following information is reprinted from the 7/17/22 issue of CascadiaDaily about the nonprofit organization called Blue Skies for Children. According to the article,

 

The nonprofit's mission is to “raise hope and self-esteem” for homeless, low-income and foster children in Whatcom and Skagit counties. Established in 1997, the nonprofit has offered a growing range of programs over its 25-year history. It also distributes shoes and socks, backpacks, and coats and hats to any low-income child who wants them. 

 

(Executive Director, Kim) Nakatani said one of her biggest goals is to broaden funding sources. Nakatani said the nonprofit’s budget is about 50% donations and 50% grants, but she’s working hard on applying for more grants. she’s also working hard to spread the word. “It’s been a pretty quiet little organization for a long time. And it’s done some great things, but so quietly. Now it’s time to make everybody aware of what we’re doing,” she said.  


Cordata Community Garden News




Do you have ripe produce you will not need? If so, every Tuesday in September and October, you can add it to the cooler in the garden shed located at 4770 Cordata Parkway. We will see that it is delivered to the Bellingham Food Bank.


This is your chance to share and to be sure our carefully grown excess produce is available to those who need it.

Julianna Park News



The Bellingham Parks department has scheduled another cleanup day for Julianna Park on October 1 from 9am to noon. If you haven't had a chance to join a parks work party, give it a try. It's fun to work with your neighbors as we plant trees and shrubs and help remove unwanted growth. The best part is pointing with pride at your work the next time you walk the trail.


You can get more information and register HERE


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In other Julianna Park news, Nicole Oliver, the COB Parks Director is visiting all the city neighborhood parks to meet with community members and hear our concerns and complemants on the parks in our neighborhoods. 


She has scheduled her visit to Julianna Park for September 9 from 3pm to 4pm. Please take a few minutes to meet and chat with Nicole about parks and trails in Cordata or any other areas in Bellingham.


It seems like everywhere we turn we are hearing more and more reports of crimes or attempted crimes in our neighborhoods. Recently a community member sent me a link to a source that reports on neighborhood statistics, including crime rates. Here is what was reported about Bellingham:

 

With a property crime rate of 47.68 per one thousand residents, Bellingham has one of the highest property crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. Your chance of becoming a victim of property crime is 1 in 21. This compares with the following:

 

Bellingham.    47.68/1000     1 in 21

 

Washington.    27.28/1000.    1 in 37

 

United States.   19/1000.     1 in 52

 

The source for this information is NeighborhoodScout. You can access the site HERE.

 

We all know that statistics don't tell the full story, but these data raise some serious concners, Therefore, we are very pleased that our new Chief of Police, Chief Rebecca Mertzig will be joining us in our community meeting on September 13 to talk more about this important subject. I hope you can join us.

Do you want to raise awareness of plastic pollution and its impact on the environment? Join the Plastic Matters community plastic litter pick up, from September 10-16th, to help reduce plastic pollution in Whatcom County. See www.bit.ly/plasticmatters to pledge to pick up plastics, sign up to volunteer, or just get more information.

 

Plastic Matters is organized by Whatcom Watersheds Information Network (WWIN) and Bellignham SeaFeast. We envision a Whatcom County that has clean and beautiful open spaces that are free of plastic litter, and where all recyclable materials make it to the right places to get reused. We want to raise awareness of plastic production and its impact on water and other natural resources. And most of all, we want to encourage this conservation year-round, beyond Water Week!

 

What: A plastic recycling awareness event where people get together to pick up plastic litter in locations of their choosing around Whatcom County. We want to bring together participants in our community to preserve and enhance our local habitat and water resources. Then, we’ll meet together at Zuanich Point Park and see who collected the most plastic (lots of fun prizes!) and then put the plastic into art installations that will be on display at SeaFeast on Saturday, September 17th. 

 

Why: Litter begets litter. Individuals are much more likely to litter into a littered environment. By contrast, a clean community discourages littering, including plastic litter which is the most harmful. We know that plastic chokes and entangles sea creatures. Chemicals added to plastics can be absorbed into the soil and affect humans and animals. Plastic debris, laced with chemicals and often ingested by marine animals, can injure or poison wildlife. Floating plastic waste, which can survive for thousands of years in water, serves as mini-transportation devices for invasive species, disrupting habitats. Plastic litter can break down into microplastics which are impacting on the population of zooplankton, a crucial part of the ocean food chain. The bottom line is we need to keep plastics out of our waterways and natural habitats. 

 

When: Plastic litter pick up from September 10th-16th, then drop off at Zuanich Park on Friday evening, Sept 16th, 2022 from 4:00-7:00pm.

 

Where: Plastic litter removal can be anywhere in Whatcom County. Plastic litter drop off is at Zuanich Park, where you can enter to win prizes!

 

Who: Individuals or groups can participate. Invite your friends from book club, girl scouts, sports, and more!

 

How: Sign up for the Plastic Matters pick-up by filling out this form. Then, grab your gear and your friends, choose a spot to beautify and bring the plastic litter you pick up to Zuanich Park! Please make sure to either sort trash and recyclables as you collect them or before you bring them to drop off - unsorted recycling will have to go in the trash  And don’t forget to take some before and after pictures (or just pics of your group) and tag #plasticmatters on social media!

 

What Can I Win?

Winners will be announced at SeaFeast on Saturday, September 17th (but you don't have to be present to win!). There will be prizes in the following categories, and we’ll announce prizes soon:

  • Most plastic litter collected by a team - by volume
  1. Youth team 
  2. Adult team 
  • Most plastic litter collected by an individual - by volume
  1. Youth 
  2. Adult 
  • Random drawing for a prize for a family (regardless of amount collected)


New Coffee Shop in Cordata


One of the owners, Adam Foy, of a new business soon to open in our neighborhood shared the following infromation:


Here is a brief story about Maple.Bar (the period is on purpose btw... its the name and the website/brand - .bar not .com. Hopefully not too cheeky )


Maple.Bar used to be a real estate office I was a part of. And when the managing broker decided to change locations, I just had a feeling I should keep the lease and turn the space into something like a coffee shop or wine bar. I live in the Cordata neighborhood, I go to church in the neighborhood, I work(ed) in the neighborhood... but every day I just knew that this community was desperate for less corporate "food" and more local expressions that they/we could call OURS. A place to support and build our unique community... not Fairhaven's, not Lynden's, and not another Starbucks, Olive Garden, or even Woods.


My goal in creating the space we are creating and the retro brand we are creating is to be the happiest, friendliest, most fun and inclusive experience we can think of... with really great drinks, fresh baked goods, and thoughtful on-brand expressions everywhere you look. 


We will have high quality coffee/espresso drinks in all the usual styles... with a few of our own signature flavors. We are also very excited to be a hub for custom energy drinks and the fun flavors and colors these iced drinks showcase. Then obviously donuts! Mostly maple bars and maple flavored items... but also a variety of other intriguing baked goods. 


The goal was to be open early September, but due to permit delays at the city and the health department... we are most likely going to open the doors right around when Whatcom CC starts class (20th of September).



Parts of Great Barrier Reef show highest coral cover seen in 36 years

Source: HERE


Is humanity doomed? Five ways the world is actually doing better – in data

Source: HERE


Quarter-Million Pounds of Plastic Cleared From Great Pacific Garbage Patch in Dutch Milestone

Source HERE


Positive environmental stories from August 2022

1.    Engineers are turning old wind turbines into gummy bears and nappies

2.    Rarest sea turtle on the planet hatches in Louisiana for the first time in 75 years

3.    France offers 4000 Euros to swap cars for ebikes and considers banning private jets

4.    EV plug-sharing is helping soothe the cost of living

5.    France becomes first European country to ban fossil fuel ads

6.    Scientists invbent cheap aluminium-sulphur alternative to lithium-ion batteries

7.    This tiny floating leaf could decarbonize some of the worlds's biggest polluters

8.    Ants could replace harmful pesticides and save the bees, scientists say

9.    Cheetahs are being reintroduced to India after 70 yers of estinction

10.  This paperbattery could curb the environmental impact of ingle-ue batteries.

Source: HERE

Be kind to each other. We need it now more than ever.
CNA Website
 
As a reminder, check out our new webpage. We will continue to send monthly newsletters, but the website provides a great deal more information such as the following pages:

Introducing the CNA
All About Cordata
CNA Newsletter
Events and News
Resources
Contact and Support

This is the community website, so we invite you to submit your HOA/COA or neighborhood news and events, photos that you'd like to submit that speak to our shared community, and any questions or comments you may have.

If you have a business that you'd like to promote, please feel free to send us text/images as well.

We hope you enjoy the website and find it useful.

And remember to use the "Send Us a Message" form on the Contact and Support page of our new webpage LINK HERE to send us your suggestions for speakers or topics for future community meetings as well as anything else you'd like to share.

We love to hear from our neighbors.
Curious about how US citizens are helping the citizens of Ukraine?


This is a LINK to a bank in Ukraine that is accepting donations for humanitarian aid to the citizens of Ukraine.

The following is a list of organizations that also provide direct relief to Ukraine.

(This one aims to help Ukraine pursue a democratic society that has civil rights for all.)


CHECK IT OUT!!

For an update on Phase 2 of Cordata Park, use the Engage Bellingham LINK.
Looking for alternatives
to calling 911?

Homeless Outreach Team: Weekdays 7am to 9:30pm 360-312-3717

Mobile Crisis Outreach Team: 24/7 –
1-800-584-3578

Report a crime not in progress without a suspect Bellingham Police – Weekdays: 360-778-8804

Report a crime not in progress with a suspect Bellingham Police – Weekdays: 360-676-6911

Dispute Resolution Center – Not a crisis line: Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – 360-676-0122
Looking for a place to donate clothes or other items other than "for profit" places? Here's a list that I found on NextDoor. Some of these may not still be accepting, so check it out before you go.

_________________________________
Report Non-Emergencies

If you see something that you feel needs to be brought to the attention of the City, e.g., graffiti, broken glass in a bike lane, vandalism, the City wold like you to use their SEE-CLICK-FIX site. You can get more information at SeeClickFix FAQ
We are now able to take CNA Membership fees/donations through Paypal. You may continue to use a check and mail to the address below.

CNA Membership
We \happily accept memberships fees/donations to the Cordata Neighborhood Association. Join either through the Paypal LINK or through regular mail at
CNA
PO Box 30061
Bellingham, WA 98228
All donations are tax deductible: ID# 17053217309029

The CNA is proud to support two other funds. Please consider supporting either or both by sending a check to the addresses below.

Donations to CNA Scholarship Fund
Whatcom Community College Foundation,
237 W Kellogg Road,
Bellingham, WA 98226-9912

Donations to a Children's Room in our Prospective Cordata Branch Library
Whatcom Community Foundation
Attn: Children's Library Fund
1500 Cornwall, #202
Bellingham, WA 98225


THANK YOU!
COMMUNITY RESOURCES

For the most up-to-date information on the virus, go to the Whatcom County Health Department Dashboarrd.

The COB publishes a lovely Playbook each year with outdoor activities for everyone.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors has a Facebook page as well as a Hotline: 360-778-2762.

Bellingham Food Bank website is providing food boxes.

The Nextdoor app or website to stay in touch with your immediate neighbors.
Common Sense Media has resources for parents and caregivers working with children at home.

The Bellingham Library online has resources for children and adults.

Support local businesses with the help of this website.

Questions, Comments, Suggestions for the City or County Representatives?



See you Sunday, September 11, Noon to 2pm for the Cordata Block Party and Tuesday, September 13 at 7pm at the Cordata Presbyterian Church for the 

CNA Community Meeting 

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