40 days. If you haven’t already, NOW is the time to prepare. Here are some tips:
Learn self defense. Arm yourself. Get a gas mask and a helmet. Cardio.
Stock up on non perishable food, water and a portable water filter, and first aid supplies.
Identify and secure alternative power sources (battery powered flashlights and lanterns, candles, camp fuel/propane, a solar powered phone charger, camp stove, a generator if you can).
Get a battery powered radio and begin collecting hand tools, paracord/rope, blankets and tarps.
Keep your gas tank full as possible at all times and fill a duffel bag with extra supplies to keep in the car.
Evaluate your home security and consider getting a door/window alarm, a porch/outside camera, and inspect the sturdiness of door frames and windows. Determine if you will need boards to cover windows or barricade doors and start collecting wood now (often found free or cheap on marketplace).
There are lots of good deals at Park St right now to stock up on food. Many of these items can be found cheaply on Amazon or some thrift stores.
Sit down and force yourself to walk through possible scenarios and formulate a plan on how you would realistically react, and plan accordingly, so you have already thought it over before it occurs.
Identify a small group of people who you have zero doubt that you can trust your life with. Discuss one another’s skills and vulnerabilities. Collaborate and strategize to keep your group safe.
Keep your eyes wide open and your ears to the ground. Pay critical attention to the news and double check sources, stories, and facts now more than ever.
Copied from a friend
P.S.: After you’ve mentally and physically prepared yourself:
Go for long walks in the woods as the leaves are changing colors.
Find your favorite music and play it as much and as often as you want. Dance like nobody’s watching.
Cuddle with a loved one. Reconnect with old friends. Take care of unfinished business.
Read a book. Not a Marxist book, or a political book. A fun book. Like science fiction, or romance, or a graphic novel.
Look up your favorite wholesome entertainment and keep it at the top of your streaming queue.
Cook your favorite meals.
Help organize and prepare your community but don’t spend a solitary second doing something you don’t need or want to do.
Kalamazoo Public School regular board meeting on Thursday, March 12 was shortly followed with breaking news of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s order. All -12 school buildings are closed for the next three week and will re-open, April 6.
Spring break for students in Kalamazoo and Portage will continue as originally planned April 6- April 10, extending the mandated closure.
Many schools including Lake Michigan Catholic Schools announced spring break will continue as scheduled from April 3 – 13. All activities and events at both buildings, including daycare programs, are suspended until further notice. Kalamazoo and Portage will stay on schedule with spring break, April 6-10.
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced the immediate closure of all Secretary of State branches statewide. Offices can only be accessible by appointment and limited reasons through April 5. Walk-ins will not be accepted and doors will be locked. The Home & Garden Expo has been cancelled as well as the St. Patrick’s Day Parade kicking off March 14.
Essential services will continue for Kalamazoo County offices but with limited staff beginning March 16 through April 5.
Kalamazoo Public Library and Portage District Libraries announced the doors will be shut from March 14 to April 5.
All public universities in Michigan have suspended in-person classes and switched to online learning including Western Michigan University. Classes will be online through April 3. Starting Monday, March, 16, Kalamazoo Valley Community College will shift to online coursework delivery..
Kalamazoo College has suspend in-person classes and using online classes for two weeks after spring break, March 17-March 26. Lake Michigan College announced campus will be closed for all face -to face classes from Monday, March 16, through Friday, March 20. Southwest Michigan College Dowagiac and Niles campuses will be suspended face- to -face classes and switch to online learning beginning Monday, March 16.
All ‘non-essential’ meetings for the City of kalamazoo have been cancelled. Including meetings planned to seek citizen input on a proposed ordinance to stop landlords from discriminating against prospective tenants. Senior Services of Southwest Michigan offices will close starting Monday, March 16. Home care and meals on wheels will still function as normal. The Kalamazoo County Jail does not have in-person visitation, only remote visitation by video.
kalamazoo Public Schools Board Trustees superintendent search is well underway and the Board will be preparing for the first round of candidates submitted by MASB, the search firm hired to scout perspective candidates for the district. All meetings are open to the public.
The Administration Building is located at 1220 Howard Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Special Board meeting of the Board of Trustees regarding the superintendent search
at 6:15 p.m. on the following dates and locations:
January 16, 2020 – West Main School Professional Development Center – Workshop for Trustees to prepare for video interviews
January 28, 2020 – Board Room, Administration Building – Board Workshop viewing of first round video interviews
February 5, 2020 – Board Room, Administration Building – Second Round Interviews
February 6, 2020 – Board Room, Administration Building – Second Round Interviews
February 18, 2020 – Board Room, Administration Building – Finalists interviews
February 19, 2020 – Board Room, Administration Building – Finalists interviews (possible board decision date)
February 25, 2020 – Board Room, Administration Building – alternate board decision date
Kalamazoo, Michigan – The Upton-Long Amendment will not address the major shortfalls of the Republican Plan to repeal the ACA. The latest plan still takes away health care from 24 million people while giving $600 billion in tax breaks to the wealthiest.
High-risk pools do not work to provide quality care for people with pre-existing conditions. Even so, $8 billion falls far short of what is needed to make high-risk pools minimally sustainable. The $8 billion reported increases represents a 6 percent increase in the $130 billion the bill already included for grants to states, funding states could use for high-risk pools. But experts have concluded that – even if all $130 billion were used for high-risk pools – that would still leave these pools underfunded by at least $200 billion (other experts have arrived at much higher estimates). Over 10 years, the $8 billion increase would be insufficient to fill the funding shortfall for Michigan, Missouri, Colorado, much less nationwide.
Rep. Upton came out as a “NO” on the repeal plan on Tuesday, but since cutting a deal with President Trump, he has returned to supporting a bill that will kick 24 million people off of their health care.
Learn self defense. Arm yourself. Get a gas mask and a helmet. Cardio.
Go for long walks in the woods as the leaves are changing colors.
