October 2020
The Cordata Neighborhood Newsletter
CORDATA PARK GRAND OPENING

The city celebrated the opening of Cordata Park on September 3 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Doing the honor of cutting the ribbon and providing some history of how Cordata Park came to be was our very own Julie Guy. You can watch the video to include the Mayor, Parks and Recreation staff, the park architect, and Julie in a YouTube video.

We would like to recognize Julie Guy's hard work and consistent advocacy for Cordata by purchasing a park bench in her honor to be placed in our new park. The City provides this option at a cost of $1500. Please consider making a donation by mailing a check to CNA, PO Box 30061, Bellingham 98229
Bev Jacobs, CNA Board Member has successfully spearheaded our efforts to raise funds for scholarships for the past four years. She provides some history to this effort below.

The Cordata Neighborhood Association scholarship started when one of our board members sad he had to drop out for health reasons. He was a student at Whatcom Community College, he had worked on our board for over two years, he designed our logo, he organized our by- laws and many other activities. We found out he was unable to pay tuition or buy food. Some of our members donated funds to help him out. This was the start of the Orca Food bank and the start of our idea for a scholarship fund from our neighborhood. He became student body president!

 We are the only neighborhood association to have this fund which consists of individuals within our group who donate annually. The first year we helped one student, the next year we helped three, the following year we helped five as we did this year.  We need to help others in our community to get an education and give us bragging rights for our efforts. 

Funds can be sent to :
Whatcom C0mmunity College Foundation,
237 W Kellogg Road,
Bellingham,WA. 98226-9912
Mark it to be counted for the Cordata Neighborhood fund This past year we raised $8450 from individual  donors. We are starting a new year so please help us out!
The Cordata Neighborhood Association Board extends a loud but overdue "shout out" in thanks to Jim Root, Home Depot manager for donating the supplies we needed to add a raised garden bed to our Cordata Community Garden.
Thanks to his generosity, we can now offer a garden bed for folks who need special accommodations.
EVERY VOTE COUNTS!
 
Be a voter – register/update address @ voteWA.gov
Voter guide with candidate information@ Vote411.org

Check in with your family, friends and neighbors about voting.

Fill out your ballot and put in a ballot box or mail box (no stamp required). Don't forget to sign the envelope!

The League of Women Voters has organized a series of election forums to help you get to know the candidates who ask for your vote and the opportunity to represent you. There are several options for watching the forums from your home. Select this link to see a schedule and Zoom access.

  • Each live Zoom Webinar will feature candidates responding to questions from the League 
  • All candidates have agreed to participate
  • Recorded programs will be available on the City of Bellingham YouTube Channel and rebroadcast on BTV 10 up until Election Day on November 3.
  • Links to recordings will be available on our website as they are released 
  • BTV 10 will broadcast the October 7, 8 and 10th forums live 
  • KGMI radio will broadcast audio recordings 
WE NEED YOUR OPINION

Please select this survey This link to give us your choices for future general meeting topics and speakers. it's easy, quick and very helpful. Thanks.
I saw this as a posting on Reddit and thought it made sense, so I thought I'd share.
Another bit of information I copied from a Reddit posting. I hope you also find it interesting.
Mark your Calendars


Our next general CNA Neighborhood Meeting is October 13 at 7pm. We are very excited to include Seth Fleetwood, Bellingham Mayor to talk to us about topics and issues facing our City. We are also including Chris Comeau, Transportation Planner for the COB and speakers from the DOT to share some news about current and on-going transportation projects. Like our September meeting, we will be using Zoom. The invite is below. Please join us.

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 894 9554 2046
Passcode: 271202
One tap mobile
(253)215-8782
Volunteers Still Needed: Common Threads' AmeriCorps Food Educators have been hard at work planting school gardens for production and volunteers make it possible for the bounty of the season to go to families in need and kids to return (one day soon, we hope) to robust gardens.

You may sign up for any school on their website. Two schools in the Cordata neighborhood in need of help include Cordata Elementary and Shuksan Middle School.
HOUSING WEEK!

We are all invited to the Whatcom Housing Week 2020 (October 12-16th). Whatcom Housing Alliance is a broad alliance of organizations all united to create an affordable, healthy, equitable, thriving, and inclusive community for everyone. Each year, we host Whatcom Housing Week to build awareness and support for innovative housing solutions.
 
Whatcom Housing Week 2020 will be a mix of virtual events and socially-distanced activities for housing enthusiasts and the broader community alike. As leaders in your neighborhood, we would love for you and others in your neighborhood association to join us for these events and activities.
 
In particular, we would like to highlight our Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt. The scavenger hunt is the perfect socially-distanced activity that will allow participants to get to know their neighborhood better. We are also launching a “This is Neighborhood” photo contest to demonstrate community pride and neighborliness.
 
To learn more about Whatcom Housing Week and to register, please visit: Whatcom Housing Week
For the most up-to-date information on the virus, go to the Center for Disease Control website.

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.

Get counted through Census online.

Support local businesses with the help of this website.

There are lots of videos on YouTube for sewing masks. But here's a DIY mask that doesn't require a sewing machine.
Stay Safe. We Hope to See You at the October Meeting.
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