News from the Skagit County Democrats

Skagit County Democrats Action Newsletter for February 8, 2021

DEMOCRATIC EVENTS

1. NEW – Congratulations to Skagit County State Committee person Bennett Massey-Helber on his recent election to become 2nd Congressional District (CD) Representative to the Washington State Democratic Central Committee!
Each of the 10 CDs elect a State Committee person to represent our CD onto the WSDCC Executive Board to serve with WSDCC Elected officers. Big congrats to Bennett!

2. NEW – Results of the Jan 30 Washington State Democrats Reorganization

• WSD Chair – Tina Podlodowski
• WSD Vice Chair – David Green
• WSD Treasurer – Julie Johnson
• WSD Secretary – Rob Dolin
• CD1 Representative – Hillary Moralez
• CD2 Representative – Bennett Massey-Helber
• CD3 Representative – Angela Wilkinson
• CD4 Representative – Matt Tomaskin
• CD5 Representative – Danielle Garbe Reser
• CD6 Representative – Claire Roney
• CD7 Representative – Munya Chiro
• CD8 Representative – Alma Chacon
• CD9 Representative – Kristine Reeves
• CD10 Representative – Christi Keith

3. Fidalgo Democrats meet Tuesday, Feb 9, 7:00pm via Zoom
“’Redistricting Washington’ – The 2020 Census is complete. It’s time for redistricting. Don’t miss our Zoom meeting on Tuesday, February 9th at 7:00 p.m. when April Sims, the House Democratic Appointee to the Redistricting Commission, will explain how redistricting will affect us. In all 50 states, various bodies will re-draw state legislative districts. Washington has an independent Redistricting Commission. Find out what this means and how it impacts our area in Washington State. Barbara Cooper, Chair, 360-293-4123″

4. The Skagit Democrats Executive Board meets Saturday, Feb 13, 10:00am – 12:00pm via Zoom
Although only E-board members may vote, all PCOs and other members are welcome to attend and participate in our meetings. Connection information will be forthcoming.

5. NEW – The 40th Legislative District Democrats Executive Board meets Thursday, Feb 25, 5:00pm – 7:00pm via Zoom
Click Here for the Zoom link.

6. AnyTechQuestions Webpage
In addition to the AnyTechQuestions weekly Zoom support session (every Wednesday at 5:00pm – the Zoom link is available by emailing Tech@SkagitDemocrats.org), the webpage has information on Zoom tips and basics as well as tutorials on how to work with our Skagit Democrats Google Drive.

7. UPDATED – Skagit Democrats Fundraisers

• Political Collectibles for Purchase: These are the first of the political collectibles being offered for purchase. If you are interested in a listed item (or what else is available), please email staff (staff@skagitdemocrats.org); note the item of interest and include a phone number. Staff will contact you with information needed to proceed with the purchase (pay online or pay by cash or check at Headquarters at time of pick up by arrangement at the door). This is a fun project for staff. Provenance connected with some of the items has been very educational. Click Here for sample pictures.
• Coronavirus Face Mask Fundraiser: For a donation of $20 you will receive a hand-made face mask especially designed by an engineer/industrial designer at the request of the Medical Director of Pediatrics at Mission Hospital in California. The masks provide full coverage and are comfortable. Click Here or Here to see examples of the masks. If you would like to donate, Click Here.
• Greeting Card Fundraiser: Social distancing and staying safe makes it difficult for us to get out and look for cards to mark special occasions or just say hello. For a donation of $15.00 you will receive a box of 6 – 8 beautiful hand-made greeting cards. These are one-of-a-kind cards so no two boxes are the same and aren’t made to order. Let us choose your lovely card set. Pictured on the web site (Click Here or Here) are samples of the kinds of cards you will receive. If you would like to donate, Click Here. Under purpose on the donation, please indicate “Cards” and the number of boxes you want.

Thank you for your continued support of the Skagit Democrats.

8. NEW – Links of the Week
The Link of the Week provides in-depth pieces the Editor has found to be relevant, insightful, and thorough on important issues of the day.

• The Moment When Four Students Sat Down to Take a Stand
• Democrats might use ‘reconciliation’ to pass Biden’s pandemic relief package. What’s reconciliation?
• What is the Child Tax Credit? And how much of it is refundable?
• How Black Composers Shaped the Sound of American Classical Music

COMMUNITY EVENTS

1. NEW – Washington State Auditor’s Office (SAO) used a vendor that was hacked and personal information (including Social Security numbers and banking information) may have been exposed
Affected data included:

• Personal information of people who filed for unemployment claims from Jan. 1 to Dec. 10, 2020. This group includes many state employees, as well as people whose identity was used to file for claims fraudulently in early 2020. SAO auditors were reviewing all claims data as part of an audit of that fraud incident. This affects about 1.6 million people.
• Personal information of a smaller number of people, including data held by the Department of Children, Youth and Families
• Non-personal financial and other data from local governments and state agencies.

Click Here for more information.

2. NEW – Skagit County Marine Resources Committee Salish Sea Stewards Volunteer Training 2021, weekly Feb 23 – Jun 1, Tuesdays 1:00pm – 3:30pm
“Sign up by Feb 16 to receive 40 hours of free citizen science training from 1:00pm – 5:00pm Tuesdays from Feb 23 – June 1 with the Salish Sea Stewards. Via Zoom lectures and small-group, hands-on field exploration, participants will learn about the Salish Sea from local experts and find out about volunteer opportunities that will help them make a difference in their community. Attendees will need to pledge to return 40 hours of volunteer service during the course of the year.” Click Here for the 2021 program flyer.

3. NEW – Anacortes Winter Farmers Market, Saturday, Feb 13, 9:00am – 2:00pm, Depot Arts Center, 611 R Avenue, Anacortes
COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place.

4. Black History Month
February is National Black History Month. Below are some links about celebrating it this month.

• Smithsonian Magazine
• PBS Southern California
• History Channel
• Oprah Magazine
• Variety 
• National Today

5. Mount Vernon School District has two renewal levies on the Feb 9 ballot
Ballots should arrive this week. Click Here for more information.

6. The Anacortes Family Center‘s fundraiser, Dine & Shop Out to End Homelessness, will occur on Thursday, Feb 11
On this one day, participating restaurants and businesses all over Anacortes agree to donate a percentage of the day’s proceeds back to AFC. Board members, staff and volunteers will be outside each location selling raffle tickets and sharing AFC’s mission. Click Here for the listing of participating businesses.

7. Public comment being taken on regional transportation plan until Friday, Feb 25
Click Here for the Skagit Valley Herald article. Click Here to see the draft plan.

8. The League of Women Voters of Skagit County is offering presentations on Redistricting and the Planning Commission
“Washington League of Women Voters has made Redistricting a statewide League priority. First step in the process is helping citizens understand importance of this once in a decade opportunity to reshape our legislative district maps. Join us for one of our presentations of Redistricting 101 to learn why these maps matter!” Presenting the full content (one hour) is scheduled multiple times, in conjunction with our partners at LWV of Snohomish County — content is the same for each of the sessions below.    

• Thursday, Feb 18th, 10:00-11:00 AM (pre-register) – https://www.eventbrite.com/x/redistricting-101-snohomish-county-morning-tickets-135619107401
• Thurs Feb 18th, 6:30- 7:30 PM (pre-register)  Redistricting 101 – Snohomish County (Evening) – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/redistricting-101-snohomish-county-evening-registration-135620583817

Also, Skagit LWV Observer Corps is looking for people willing to attend virtual meetings of various Skagit government agencies: from School Board Meetings, to PUD and Planning Commission and more! A simple form will be used to record information from each meeting, and by sharing what goes on at these meetings, we help the community to understand what they do for us. An active Observer Corps lets government know the Skagit community expects transparency, and that members of the community care about the nuts and bolts workings of our governing agencies.

 9. ‘No More Bombs’ invites you to a conversation with local author Betsy Bell, “To Russia With Love”, Wednesday, Feb 17, 7:00pm – 8:00pm
“It is 1983, and the anti-war movement Target Seattle is preparing for a trip to Tashkent, Seattle’s Sister City…” Betsy Bell’s anti-war memoir, Open Borders: A personal story of love, loss and anti-war activism, recounts her efforts, along with many others, to end the Cold War nuclear weapon build up. Visit the ‘No More Bombs’ website for the Zoom link on February 16.

10. COVID-19 Vaccines
“Skagit County Public Health vaccine clinics held at the Skagit County Fairgrounds are now open to those eligible under Phases 1a and 1b-Tier 1 BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Vaccine is available based on current supply. Scheduling for appointments can now be done online via the PrepMod scheduling tool. Please check your eligibility using Phase Finder before attempting to schedule: https://form.findyourphasewa.org/210118771253954. To schedule an appointment, visit: https://prepmod.doh.wa.gov/.” Click Here for the Skagit County Public Health Department vaccine webpage.

11. Drive-through COVID-19 testing is Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10:00am TO 4:00pm and Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:00pm – 7:00pm, Skagit County Fairgrounds, South Gate Entrance, 501 Taylor Street, Mount Vernon
Use of the Drive-Thru testing site will be limited to those who live in or work in Skagit County. Those who do not live in or work in Skagit County should seek testing in their own communities or through their medical provider. If you have had a known or probable exposure to COVID-19, you cannot get tested right away. You must wait 8 days before being tested. COVID-19 has a relatively long incubation period, so being tested before 8 days has passed could result in a false negative. If you have questions about this, or any other questions related to COVID-19, please call Public Health at 360-416-1500. Skagit County Public Health is encouraging anyone who fits into the following guidelines to get tested:

• Those who are essential workers
• Anyone with any COVID-19 symptoms
• Anyone whose physician recommended they be tested
• Anyone who lives or works in a congregate setting
• Pregnant women
• Anyone who is a close contact or has a known exposure to COVID-19

Click Here for more information.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Listen to Speak Up! Speak Out! Radio
Listen to Speak Up! Speak Out! – a half hour weekly radio show committed to community, peace, justice, and non-violence issues. The show airs on Community Radio stations (times subject to change) – KSVR 91.7 FM (Skagit Valley College), Wednesdays 5:00pm, rebroadcast Sundays 8:00pm; KSVU 90.1 FM, Hamilton, Sundays 8:00pm and Thursdays 8:00am; KMRE 102.3 FM, Bellingham, Sundays 11:00am and Wednesdays 7:30am. Our shows are available online. Stream or download a show at http://speakupspeakoutradio.org/ anytime.

NEW – SUSO – Feb 10: Update on immigration matters. Part 2
Join host jim this week as we hear from Jorge Baron, Exec Director of Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP.org) along with Melissa Rubio, Senior Political Manager with WeAreOneAmerica, as they discuss the challenges and opportunities of the changing federal administration. We’ll hear about priorities and ways to take action with our communities, because the fight for immigrant rights isn’t over.

• https://www.nwirp.org
• https://weareoneamerica.org

PS: The SUSO show on March 10th will honor locate women as we celebrate International Women’s History Day (as we have done since we started in 2008) we are accepting audio honoring local women in Skagit & Whatcom. Please send that audio to drdksvr@gmail.com before March 1st – preferably via Dropbox or Google Drive.

PPS: Speak Up! Speak Out! will continue through our 15th anniversary, the first Wednesday in March. If others choose to join our (now small) team of hosts, we will consider continuing beyond that date.

3. Coffee ‘n Cards – on hiatus