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News from the Skagit County Democrats

Posted on November 29th, 2021

Skagit County Democrats Action Newsletter for November 29, 2021

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DEMOCRATIC EVENTS

1. NEW – The final results are in – congratulations to our Skagit Democrats endorsed and elected candidates

  • Melissa Beaton
  • Richard Brocksmith
  • Joe Burns
  • Iris Carias
  • Amanda Hubik
  • Juan Morales

2. NEW – The 40th Legislative District Democrats General Meeting is Sunday, Dec 5, 2:00pm – 5:00pm (check-in beginning at 1:30pm), via Zoom
Click Here for the agenda. Everyone planning to vote during the meeting must have access to an internet browser and reliable internet access on their phone, computer, or another device. If you need any kind of accommodation for the meeting, please email 40thdems@gmail.com to let us know. Earlier notice will allow us to make the meeting as accessible as possible despite our limitations in resources. As always, if you have any questions, please let us know by contacting us at 40thdems@gmail.com.

3. NEW – American Association of University Women (AAUW) Anacortes Branch hosts 40th Legislative District Representative Debra Lekanoff to present her “Report to the Constituents” on Thursday, Dec 9, 7:00pm via Zoom
Access to the Zoom link may be obtained at aauw.meeting@gmail.com.

4. NEW – The Skagit County Democrats Central Committee is scheduled to meet Saturday, Dec 11, 10:00am – 12:00pm, via Zoom
Further information regarding the meeting will be forthcoming.

5. NEW – Need for School Staff Appreciation
This has been written by one of our members who works by providing mental health services in our public schools.
 
“Let’s show our appreciation by dropping off, individually pre-packaged snacks, baskets, and/or individually signed cards of appreciation to the Skagit Democrats Office, 2021 East College Way, Suite 104, Mount Vernon. Our volunteers will collect snacks and arrange in baskets so that we can deliver them to Eleven Vexler who will distribute to our schools.

“I have been working in the schools most of my professional life. This past August I took a non-direct service job where one of the aspects of my job is school staff wellness. Well let me tell you, they are not well.

I visit 14 schools each month and the stories I hear are nothing like I’ve ever heard before. They are tired, depressed, alienated, frustrated, overwhelmed and challenged by their workload a 1,000 times over. The kids are extremely behind both academically and in social-emotional learning. School counselors and social workers are desperate for additional mental health services, but since we have a shortage of those too, there is not much to access. One could suggest they take care of themselves by calling in sick, but there is also a sub shortage. So, they cover for each other and miss their breaks. The transportation dept. is taxed by the lack of drivers. Even the kitchen is short staffed in some districts.”

 If you know a teacher, cook, bus driver, para-educator or school administrator who is currently working in the schools – lend a hand, bring them dinner or just ask them how they are doing. Businesses – bring snacks to the schools, residents – put up a thank you sign in your yard. Do what you can, because these people have super important jobs and we don’t want to lose them.”

6. NEW – Afghan Refugee Aid
“As colder weather approaches, there is a dire need for warm winter clothing for more than 4,000 Afghan refugee children at New Jersey’s Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. They escaped Afghanistan on U.S. cargo planes in August with only the clothes on their backs – and they need everyone’s help. They supported the U.S. military during the war and risked everything for our service members – it’s now time for us to step up for them.
 
Please help by either:

  • Donate online (https://gofund.me/fba4cd13) which will be used to deliver coats, jackets, and shoes directly to these children; or
  • Donate winter clothing and shoes. These can be dropped off at the Skagit County Democrats Office at: 2021 East College Way, Suite 104, Mount Vernon – Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 12:00pm – 4:00pm and Wednesday 10:00am to 4:00pm. Your coats, jackets and shoes will be picked up by Clyde Shavers who is leading this effort.”

7. Rent Donations Request and Downtown Mount Vernon Holiday Parade
“Fellow Democrats,

For our community’s health and safety, we cancelled the annual Gala in 2020 and 2021. Generous donors have traditionally given to our rent fund at the Gala. A year and a half ago we reached out to you to request your help in replenishing our depleted rent funds. You responded so generously that, along with the occasional rent support supplementing your membership dues, we’ve been able to meet our rent obligations up to and including November of this year.

Now, however, we are once again faced with a dwindling rent fund and the very real possibility of having to use money from the general fund to meet those same obligations. Doing so would reduce our options for supporting other priorities, such as candidate support, Get Out the Vote, and Community Outreach, which in turn would risk diminishing our effectiveness in the community.

We are optimistically looking ahead to next June in the hopes of being able to once again stage a live Gala, but in the meantime we have at least 7 months during which we need a minimum of $7,000 to fulfill the terms of our lease. Were it not for the good fortune of finding and moving into our new headquarters the amount needed would be at least $3000 more.

We welcome contributions in any amount either through our website (https://skagitdemocrats.org/) or by check to our address at 2021 East College Way, Suite 104, Mount Vernon, WA 98273. Your support is the mainstay of our party and the ability to make a positive difference in Skagit County.

For a Fun way to Get involved:
Skagit County Democrats will participate by participating in the Holiday parade, downtown Mount Vernon on December 5, from 5:00pm to 6:00pm. We will be requiring masks to be worn and observing social distancing. This is a family fun event, so bring your family. We will be handing our American flag out to kids along the parade route. Please use this link to sign up:
https://forms.gle/6nGSKH25t8baYC5j8

Thank you so much for your continued support of our party. Respectfully, Lynn Campbell, Chair, Skagit County Democrats”

Click Here to go directly to our ActBlue donation page.

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

COMMUNITY EVENTS

1. NEW – Planned Parenthood monthly rally, Saturday, Dec 4, 11:00am – 12:00pm, 1805 East Division Street, Mount Vernon

2. NEW – Holiday Activities by City

3. NEW – Skagit County Commissioners present Preliminary 2022 Budget
Click Here for more information.

4. Community to Community Development (C2C) is conducting Monday Vigils to call attention to a new secret detention facility ICE is building in Ferndale – noon every Monday, Pacific Highway & Admiral Way, Ferndale
From Indivisible Skagit, “We believe the public deserves to know that this prison is operating in plain sight in our community. The purpose of the Monday vigils is to bring awareness to the existence of the facility and to shut it down. We invite all those in the community who are concerned about the existence of a detention prison in our community to join us. If you have questions, email bentleybb65@hotmail.com. To download full background information on the detention center and Monday vigils click here.”

5. UPDATED – Flood recovery information from Skagit County

6. UPDATED – COVID-19 Information
Current Skagit County Information – The following is taken from the Skagit County COVID-19 Update of Nov 24

Local COVID-19 Case, Hospital & Vaccine Data

Skagit has a total of 12,642 cases; an increase of 285 new cases since last Wednesday. This is just over 100 cases less than last week’s update, which is great news! It would be great to continue to see this type of trend as we enter the holidays.

Hospitalizations are at 724 total (increased by 23 since Wednesday), and 127 deaths (increased by 1).

Skagit’s case and hospitalization rates are also decreasing, though they are still much higher than we’d like. Currently, we are at a case rate of 653.1 per 100k over the last 14 days and a hospitalization rate of 16.9 per 100k over the last seven days.

A total of 198,456 doses have been administered in Skagit County. We are now at 76.0% partially vaccinated amongst our population 12 years and older, and 70.0% fully vaccinated amongst Skagitonians 12 and older.

Fairgrounds Testing and Vaccination Site to Close After January 28, 2022

Public Health announced on Friday that the Fairgrounds will be winding down over the next two months, and will close permanently after Friday, January 28th. For the full press release, go to: https://bit.ly/3DMQsjI.

Some changes to note:

  • Today [Nov 24] is the final day for COVID-19 boosters at the Fairgrounds.
  • Antigen testing will continue to be offered until the site closes after January 28.
  • First and second doses of vaccine for people 12 years and older will also continue to be offered—no appointment required—through January 28. Third doses for certain immunocompromised individuals will also be available.
  • Beginning December 1, the Fairgrounds will be increasing the daily number of pediatric vaccine appointments for children 5-11 years old.

Pediatric Vaccines at the Fairgrounds

Pfizer COVID-19 Pediatric vaccines are available — by appointment only — for children 5-11 years old. To make an appointment for a pediatric vaccine, go to: https://prepmod.doh.wa.gov/. Search for “Skagit County Public Health” under Name of Location.

For more information about pediatric vaccine, go to: https://bit.ly/3Csp7BE.

Holiday Operational Changes at the Fairgrounds

As a reminder, the Skagit County Fairgrounds Testing and Vaccine Site will be closed on specific holidays during the months of November and December. The site will be closed on the following dates:

  • Friday, December 24th (Christmas Eve)
  • Friday, December 31st (New Year’s Day)

In lieu of these dates, the site will be open on the following days from 3pm to 7pm:

  • Wednesday, December 22nd
  • Wednesday, December 29th

For more information about the site, go to: www.skagitcounty.net/coronavirus or call (360) 416-1500.

Booster Updates

Booster doses of all three COVID-19 vaccine types are now available for everyone 18 and older. The expansion comes following recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices, and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup.

At least six months after receiving both doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine:

  • Adults age 50 and older, or those 18 and older living in a long-term care facility, should receive a booster dose, and
  • Those 18 through 49 may receive a booster dose.

Everyone 18 and older who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine should get a booster shot two months after getting vaccinated.

To find a booster vaccine, go to https://vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov/ or call the COVID-19 Information Hotline, dial 1-800-525-0127, then press #.

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