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APRIL 8 UPDATE
Newcastle Cares:
City, Aegis, YMCA team up to help citizens in need
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Aegis Gardens, the Coal Creek Family YMCA and the City of Newcastle are partnering to help citizens in need during this COVID-19 outbreak. We’re uniting to connect vulnerable Newcastle residents with resources and volunteers who want to help.
We are working together to assess the needs of vulnerable residents during this critical time. We’ll reach out to them, see how they’re doing, ask how we can help them, then mobilize support and resources. The YMCA is checking up on all of its senior members, while our partners at Aegis Gardens will focus on non-YMCA members of our community who reach out to them.
“During this critical time, it’s vital that we come together as a community to help our neighbors in need,” said Newcastle City Manager Rob Wyman. “We are so grateful for community partners like Aegis Gardens and the YMCA for stepping up to lend a hand.”
First, we need your help!
If you are a senior, or know of a senior family member or neighbor in the Newcastle community, who might need help with tasks such as grocery shopping, meal delivery or any other type of assistance, please submit their name and contact information to Aegis Gardens’ Alicia Campolito (
Alicia.Campolito@aegisliving.com
) or Cindy Leung (
Cindy.Leung@aegisliving.com
). You can also call Aegis Gardens at 425-970-6708 and ask to speak with Alicia or Cindy. Aegis Gardens can assist seniors with things such as grocery runs, meal drops and connect them with resources like therapists and support groups.
Once we have a better idea of how we can help our neighbors, if necessary, we’ll put out another call to our community, asking able volunteers to safely lend a hand where they can. We’ve already received a handful of messages from people who would like to help the community. If you’d like to join this effort, please email
christinac@newcastlewa.gov
and we’ll contact you when we have more information.
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The governor's "stay home, stay healthy" order requires you to stay home as much as possible and only go out for essential services. For instance: Go to work (if it's an essential employer). Go to the grocery store. Donate blood. Go home. Walk your dog. Just don’t go on vacation. Don’t take a trip to the beach. Don’t visit Grandma. Don’t play basketball with friends. Don’t have a neighborhood picnic. Don’t have kids over to play with your kids.
Every face-to-face interaction is an opportunity for the virus to spread and impact those most at risk. Staying home saves lives.
Do it for the health of yourselves, your families and your Newcastle neighbors! The more we all make decisions for the good of the community, the quicker we can get through this thing together.
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School Buildings Closed For Remainder of Year
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Gov. Inslee announced that schools will be prohibited from providing traditional, in-person instruction for the remainder of the school year. School buildings are closed, but learning will continue.
The three school districts serving Newcastle are implementing learning plans and offering community resources through it all. Click on your school district to learn more:
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Support for Small Businesses
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Calling all small businesses! Gov. Inslee announced additional steps to help mitigate economic impacts of COVID-19. The Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grant will provide up to $10,000 for small businesses under 10 employees. It can be used for rent, utility bills, supplies, inventory, or other operating expenses.
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Additionally, the City is partnering with the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce to help spotlight Newcastle businesses impacted by COVID-19. We will
soon be launching a one-stop website that features links to local, non-restaurant businesses and how the community can support them through the closures.
Here’s how Newcastle businesses can get on board:
Email
treasurer@newcastle-chamber.org
with the name of your business, your website link, a brief description of the services and/or products you currently offer during this “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” time period, your hours of operation, your contact information (phone and email), and explain how you will deliver your products/services (eg. by delivery, pick-up, gift cards, virtual services, etc).
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Metro Transit Implements Temporary Service Reductions
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King County Metro Transit has reduced service further due to the continued impacts of COVID-19. Your bus route may be running less often, during fewer hours, or canceled. Both of Newcastle’s routes (Route 114 and 240) are impacted. Route 114 has been fully cut, while Route 240 will see reduced hours and/or fewer trips. Click the button below for more information.
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The CDC now recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies).
REMEMBER: Staying apart from others is STILL our best protection against COVID-19
. The most important ways of preventing COVID-19 are frequent handwashing, avoiding touching your face, staying away from ill people, staying home and avoiding all non-essential activities and contact with others. Mask use does not replace the need to follow these important precautions to prevent illness.
Click the button below for the CDC's guide on making easy, DIY masks. We'd love to see your creations! Email pictures to
christinac@newcastlewa.gov
.
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Newcastle Virtual Community Art Showcase
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The COVID-19 outbreak is bringing our community together like never before. From art installations in neighborhood windows, to encouraging chalk scenes sprawled on local sidewalks, we can all use a bit of uplifting imagery in our lives right now.
That’s why the City of Newcastle and the volunteer Community Activities Commission are teaming up to host a virtual community art showcase. We’re asking you to get creative and show us artwork that reflects the theme
“Newcastle Cares.”
Think outside of the box and show us what the theme means to you!
This showcase is open to Newcastle residents of all ages. We’re seeking all forms of artwork! Show us your videoed dance choreography, short films, literature, poetry, music composition, photography or any visual arts (drawing, painting, etc.). The City will share the submissions on our website and social media accounts and recognize the artists during our summer events. Click the button below to learn more and submit your artwork!
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Newcastle City Hall Closure Extended
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In order to slow the spread of COVID-19 and adhere to public health directives for social distancing, Newcastle City Hall will be closed to the public through at least Monday, May 4. The date follows the extension of Gov. Inslee's Stay Home, Stay Healthy Order. During that time, Newcastle City Hall will be temporarily closed to in-person services and staff will be working from home. Staff will still be available by phone and email to provide assistance and answer questions during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
- In the event of an emergency, please dial 911. For non-emergency police services or inquiries, please call 206-296-3311.
- For general questions, call City Hall at 425-649-4444 and leave a message. City staff will be checking the line frequently throughout the day and will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.
- Report issues such as parks/trails concerns, problems involving storm drainage, streets, traffic signals and trees or other vegetation online using YourGov yourgov.cartegraph.com.
- If you’re looking to chat with a specific staff member, you can view our staff directory at newcastlewa.gov/contact. All staff members will be available by email and will get back to you as soon as possible.
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The Newcastle email newsletter is published before every City Council meeting. Learn more about the newsletter, see an archive of past newsletters and sign up to receive it at
newcastlewa.gov/newsletters
.
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