Good afternoon,
At its September 22nd work session the Planning Commission completed
discussion of its recommendations regarding the Rural Element Update. The
Planning Commission recommendations on LAMIRD/zoning boundaries,
Comprehensive Plan amendments, and Title 20 (zoning code) amendments are
available on the County web site at
http://www.whatcomcounty.us/pds/plan/long/projects/lamird/proposed.jsp The
Planning Commission will reconsider one zoning code issue, setback
requirements for commercial and industrial lots, at its October 1 work
session, following its discussion on UGA update issues (the memorandum on
that issue is on the same web page). That meeting will begin at 6:30 pm in
County Council Chambers, 311 Grand Ave, Bellingham. The Planning Commission
will consider adopting its findings and conclusions, and making its formal
recommendation at its October 8 work session.

No date has been set for County Council consideration of the Rural Element
update. Because the Council will be working on UGA review issues at its
upcoming meetings, it is possible the Council may not consider the Rural
Element items until December 2009. PDS will notify this e-mail list when a
date has been set for County Council consideration.

Gary Davis, AICP
Senior Planner
Whatcom County

Whatcom County Weekly Influenza Report
2009 Pandemic H1N1 Influenza Season
Week 38, ending Saturday September 26, 2009

Summary:

Whatcom County
Influenza activity in Whatcom County has been stable, with ongoing reporting of hospitalized cases and of positive laboratory results in outpatients. School absenteeism has returned to baseline after a previous week of a couple of local schools reporting high absenteeism. No specific outbreaks were reported during the report week.

Washington State
DOH reported as of September 23, 2009:
· During April 19 through September 23, 2009, the Washington State Department of Health received reports of 181 hospitalized and 16 deceased persons confirmed to be infected with 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. An additional 4 individuals were hospitalized in week 37 with influenza infection for which the influenza type was unknown.
· Among sentinel providers in Washington, the proportion of patient visits for influenza-like illness has increased over the past two weeks.
· The influenza activity in Washington was classified as widespread. Influenza activity is currently elevated in over half of the regions in the state.
National
The CDC reported that for the week ending 9/19/09 (Week 37):
· 2,326 (23.9%) specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories and reported to CDC/Influenza Division were positive for influenza.
· 99% of all subtyped influenza A viruses being reported to CDC were 2009 influenza A (H1N1) viruses.
· The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was below the epidemic threshold.
· Three influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported and all three were associated with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection.
· The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was above the national baseline. Regions 2 through10 reported ILI above region-specific baseline levels; only Region 1 was below its’ region-specific baseline.
· Twenty-six states reported geographically widespread influenza activity, 11 states reported regional influenza activity, 12 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico reported local influenza activity, one state and Guam reported sporadic influenza activity, and the U.S. Virgin Islands did not report.

Influenza Hospitalizations and Deaths

Influenza cases (hospitalized and fatal) in Whatcom County, Week 38, September 20 to September 26:

Since 8/30/09, 5 hospitalizations and 0 deaths including 2 hospitalizations reported this report week.

All cases of hospitalized patients with positive laboratory tests for influenza are reportable, as are fatalities with laboratory evidence of influenza.

Pneumonia & Influenza Mortality

The proportion of deaths associated with influenza and pneumonia is a standard indirect indicator of influenza activity. The table includes counts of all death certificates filed in Whatcom County during the report week and those that list influenza or pneumonia as a cause of death or contributing factor.

Week 35 36 37 38
End date 9/5/09 9/12/09 9/19/09 9/26/09
Total Deaths 31 22 16 30
P&I Deaths 0 0 1 1
Percent of all deaths due to P&I 0% 0% 6% 3%

The CDC chart for Pneumonia and Influenza Mortality can viewed at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/

Outpatient Visits

Western Washington University Student Health Center is a CDC Sentinel Influenza Surveillance site and reports weekly the number of patients seen and number of those with influenza-like illness (ILI).

For Report Week 38, ending 9/26/09, WWU reported seeing 351 students, 5 with ILI.

Laboratory Data

The total number of influenza tests and the percentage positive for influenza is an indicator of influenza activity in the community. Respiratory Syncytial Virus testing provides an indicator of other causes of viral respiratory illness in the community.

PeaceHealth Laboratories - Bellingham

Week 35 36 37 38
End date 9/5/09 9/12/09 9/19/09 9/26/09
Influenza tests
Total n/a 67 46 62
% Positive A n/a 9 2.2 6.5
% Positive B n/a 0 0 0

RSV tests
Total n/a 5 2 9
% Positive n/a 0 0 0

School Absenteeism

School absenteeism is an indirect measure of influenza activity. Absenteeism increases during influenza season and during outbreaks, but may be due to causes other than influenza.

Bellingham School District reports daily absenteeism for all schools in the district to the health department. Eight other private and public sentinel schools within the county report absenteeism twice a week. All schools in the county are required to report to the health department when absenteeism exceeds 10%.

Bellingham School District Daily and Weekly Absenteeism

Day 9/21/09 9/22/09 9/23/09 9/24/09 9/25/09
% Absent 7.6 6.1 6.0 6.4 6.8

Week 38
End date 9/26/09
Average % Absent 6.6

Sentinel School Semiweekly Absenteeism (n=8)

Day 9/22/09 9/24/09
% Absent n/a 4.4

Elevated Absenteeism in Schools

Day 9/21/09 9/22/09 9/23/09 9/24/09 9/25/09
>10% absent 0 0 0 0 0
>20% absent 0 0 0 0 0
>30% absent 0 0 0 0 0

Links for other influenza weekly status reports

WA State Department of Health Weekly Influenza Updates
www.doh.wa.gov/EHSPHL/Epidemiology/CD/fluupdate.pdf

BC Centre for Disease Control Weekly H1N1 Alert
www.bccdc.ca/resourcematerials/newsandalerts/healthalerts/H1N1FluVirusHumanSwineFlu.htm

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Weekly Flu View
www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly

World Health Organization Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Situation Updates
www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/updates/en/index.html

For local information go to http://www.em.whatcomcounty.org

The City of Bellingham recently began streaming its government and educational television channel, BTV10, on the City website. BTV10 programming is now available 24/7 to anyone with a computer and high-speed internet access. On-line viewers will see exactly what Comcast cable customers would see on Channel 10, without the need for cable television service.

Bellingham Mayor Dan Pike said BTV10 is key to supporting City priorities of government transparency, involving people in decisions that affect them, and providing timely, accurate information about City programs and services.

“We are very pleased to announce this new service, allowing extensive access to government and educational programming on BTV10,” Mayor Dan Pike said. “People who do not have cable television service can now watch their City government in action, along with a host of other programs and announcements sponsored by public agencies.”

This new service joins the City’s online “video-on-demand” archives of past City Council meetings and other video-recorded special meetings and events. Access to past meeting materials is of particular interest to people researching topics discussed at Bellingham City Council meetings.

Pike said the improvements cost less than $1,500 while significantly expanding the reach of BTV10.

Bellingham TV Channel 10 (BTV10), operated by the City of Bellingham, provides information about the City of Bellingham and other public agencies to the greater Bellingham community through the delivery of quality television broadcast services. It is funded entirely from franchise fees that are dedicated by City ordinance to television services. BTV10 services include:

Videotaping and broadcasting meetings of the Bellingham City Council and other City meetings, events and programs
Broadcasting meetings of the Whatcom County Council
Broadcasting programs produced and sponsored by/for government, education or other public agencies
Live broadcasting of Channel 10 over the Internet
Video on demand of select BTV10 programming
On-line BTV10 program schedule

By WILLIAM YARDLEY

The former chairman of the Whatcom County Republican Party has created a political action committee he insists isn’t affiliated with the party or a new property rights group.

But at least one candidate the former GOP leader Chet Dow has taken aim at doesn’t believe him.

For more go to: http://blogs.bellinghamherald.com/politics/

From Whatcom Peace & Justice Center…

The Board of Directors of the Whatcom Peace & Justice Center is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2009 Howard Harris Lifetime Peacemaker Award.

Bill Distler and James Gillies are combat veterans of the Vietnam War who have turned their experiences of war into service for peace and justice for over 30 years. Their front-line efforts in the anti-war movement take a special sort of courage. Their personal battles with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder have not stopped them from being leaders for social change. Rather, these struggles have strengthened their drive and resolve to make a positive difference in the world. Their peace activism and tireless work on behalf of other veterans is extraordinary.

During the 1980s, Bill and James advocated for victims of the Central American wars. James raised money for generators for Nicaraguan hospitals. Bill spent time in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua working on peaceful projects. The two veterans met in 1990 while being interviewed for a film about Vietnam.

James was active in the Veterans Speakers Alliance in San Francisco during the 1980s when many vets’ services had been shut down by the government. He helped build an active support network at the grassroots level, working to prevent veterans from falling through the cracks. Once in Bellingham, James devoted his time to working at the local Vets Center helping vets through the maze of paperwork to get deserved health care and financial assistance. Later, he was instrumental in the founding of the Bellingham Veterans for Peace Cpl. Jonathan Santos Memorial Chapter 111.

Bill also helped get VFP 111 established. He and James have helped every year with Arlington Northwest, the memorial for fallen GI’s and Iraqi civilians on Memorial Day at Peace Arch Park. Bill is an avid reader and voracious researcher, and puts his information to good use in brilliant writing, submitting editorials and letters far and wide. His writing has appeared in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Tikkun Magazine, and The Bellingham Herald. In the last congressional election, Bill ran as a write-in candidate against Rick Larsen, effectively bringing vital progressive issues to the forefront of community dialogue. He regularly attends the historic Friday Afternoon Peace Vigil.

Bill and James have spoken in dozens of college and high school classrooms and assemblies, making regular visits to Mark Galvin’s classroom at Squalicum High School.

The award ceremony will take place at the Whatcom Peace & Justice Center’s 6th Annual International Day of Peace on Monday, September 21st, at First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Avenue, at 7:00 PM. It is an inspiring family event featuring Keynote Speaker Rev. John Dear, Musician Swil Kanim as Master of Ceremonies, The Kulshan Chorus, and a simultaneous Children’s Peace Art Program. It will be preceded by a half-mile peace march which gathers at Maritime Heritage Park at 6:15pm.

Honored guest John Dear, S.J., is an author and lifelong peacemaker recently nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Dear’s work for peace has taken him to Central America, the Middle East, Northern Ireland, the halls of Washington, DC, and the desert of New Mexico. His stories of solidarity with the oppressed and nonviolent civil disobedience are eloquent and inspiring.

The United Nations’ theme for this year’s celebration is “WMD: We Must Disarm!”

All are welcome to attend.

Bellingham ordered to pay more than $243,000 over Joe Martin field flap
SAM TAYLOR - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD 

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