In response
COVID-19 project
To the editor:
The anxiety and confusion around the start of this school year in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic have been a subject of discussion and debate among parents, teachers, school administrators and students since the end of the last school year. Experts agree that the absence of in-person schooling has many negative effects for children; at the same time, public health officials have concluded that the negative effects on individuals in the larger community, were schools to open prematurely, could be devastating.
One approach that could allow for schools to safely open in person is to make use of inexpensive daily home-based testing to keep students or staff infected with the coronavirus out of the schools. In an effort to make such a program of testing possible, a team of local individuals has started a project under the guidance of Harvard epidemiologist Dr. Michael Mina to obtain the home-based test kits and implement a pilot project to use them in the Bainbridge Island School District.
This project has attracted the interest of state and local public health officials, health care providers, and parents of school children, as well as BISD administrative staff.
The Bainbridge Island Paper Test Project is now seeking the funding to go forward with its plans, and invites all those interested to learn more. You can find more information and make your donation at the project’s GoFundMe page — www.gofund me.com/f/bi-paper-test-project
Dr. Blain Crandell,
Bainbridge Island
Value citizenship?
To the editor:
In years just prior to World War II many people around the world thought citizenship was worth their life. During WWII and after Pearl Harbor it was definitely worth their life. After that war prosperity made it very desirable.
During the years of the Korean and Vietnam wars it was somewhat diminished. After the fall of the Soviet Union it became very desirable again.
Now we have many people clamoring for entry. For some it is worth their life, for others because they were being paid to cause crisis. They all want citizenship. For half of our citizens it is still worth their life but for the other half it is worthless except for the votes insures.
Thus we have millions of illegal immigrants all over the country. Some are nice people, but many are dangerous criminals, many carry dangerous diseases and many are waving the flags of the nations that they are escaping from.
One thing they all have in common, they are in violation of the laws of our country and our Constitution. Some states have allowed Sanctuary Cities that protect violators from prosecution. The same half of our citizens that have caused or allowed, this situation are also in violation of the law and would grant citizenship for only a vote of approval.
In which half of the citizens are you? Is your citizenship worthless or does it still have some value?
Buz Whiteley,
Suquamish
Confusing Data?
To the editor:
In reference to your article, Health District confirms 9 new cases of COVID-19 in Kitsap, I found the cases per 100,000 numbers at the end of the article to be confusing or perhaps just wrong.
The population of Kitsap County is 271,473 as of 2019 which means we only have 2.71473 per 100,000 people.
So the 823 total should be divided by 2.71473 to give you the number per 100,000 and is 303.16.
So if that is the total per 100,000 for the entire county how can your article numbers make sense?
Neil Apfelbeck,
Poulsbo
Thank you
Thanks to The Traveler
To the editor:
I am writing on behalf of an organization working with our sister island of Ometepe in Nicaragua (Bainbridge Ometepe Sister Islands Association). It is with a heavy heart, that we and many others are adjusting to the news of the closing of The Traveler.
The retiring owners, Barbara Tolliver and Susan Taylor, took an interest in our work from the business’ beginning on Madison Avenue.
They’ve watched us grow, and we’ve watched them grow.
Since 1998, The Traveler has donated 5 percent of their December gross sales to help fund our library and textbook program for schools on Ometepe. The purchase of books began when we learned that many classes had only several textbooks for 40 or so students and few general reading books.
Thanks to Barbara’s and Susan’s generosity over 22 years, an estimated 5,000 books have been distributed to 43 schools. The store has hosted numerous gatherings highlighting our programs, including a display of photos taken by deaf students on Ometepe. In February 2014, we were pleased to have Barbara and Susan on our Library Delegation to Ometepe. They took part in the delivery of books to many of the schools and helped organize a new library space in one of the larger schools.
The Traveler’s mission of “fostering an understanding of other cultures” mirrors our organization’s vision: “We tend the relationships; the projects we do are secondary to the friendships we build”.
We wish Barbara and Susan the best. In addition, our thanks go to Pam Christiansen, who helped us with many store events, and to all the friendly staff for the many years of friendship and contributions to Bainbridge Island.
Susan Shaffer
