Happy Holidays North Bend! From your elected officials and all City staff, we wish you the safest and healthiest holiday season. We hope you can connect with family and friends – whether it be safely in-person or virtually – and share the spirit of the season. [Remember to click linked headlines where applicable to read full news releases.]
Representatives from the North Bend Downtown Foundation and Economic Development Commission took to North Bend streets Saturday night, December 12th to judge 27 participants in the City’s first ever holiday lighting contest: ‘Light up North Bend.’ 19 residences, 4 businesses and 4 neighborhoods entered this year’s contest. Judges were impressed with the turnout and community response to the inaugural lighting contest. The interactive online Light up North Bend Drive-thru Tour Map can be found HERE. The map also includes photos of the participants.
To help community members in need, there is also a Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank donation bin placed in front of Business division participant, Erika Laureano Designs, located on Main Street in downtown North Bend, for those doing the drive-thru light tour.
Support Local this Winter
Have holiday shopping left to finish? Consider doing it locally and support your North Bend businesses during this time of pandemic restrictions. Our businesses have made it easy to support local, following pandemic guidelines for in-person shopping, offering curbside pickup, gift certificates, outdoor dining, online ordering, delivery as well as outdoor and online fitness classes. These businesses have supported our community over the years and now it’s our turn to have their backs. #KeepitLocalNorthBend.
Snoqualmie Tribe Health Services now provides another local option for Behavioral Health Services, including outpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment. These services are available to Tribe members and to non-Native American Snoqualmie Valley community members.
On Tuesday, December 15th, a new, FREE COVID-19 testing location opened on the Eastside at Bellevue College. This is the first free, high-capacity COVID-19 test site on the Eastside. The site is free and open to anyone, regardless of insurance or immigration status. The test site is open Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. People are strongly encouraged, but not required, to register for a testing appointment. Visit http://www.ichs.com/free-covid-19-testing for scheduling and registration.
To celebrate the holidays safely, the City of North Bend has teamed up with the North Bend Downtown Foundation for a special Holly Days virtual celebration this holiday season - the Hometown Holly Days Countdown Calendar. This unique calendar is your one-stop location for information about local, virtual holiday events, fundraisers and activities to help you #KeepitLocalNorthBend and support local businesses and organization during the holidays. Just grab your calendar and let it inspire local exploration for dining, holiday shopping and entertainment throughout the 2020 holiday season.
On December 8, 2020 Governor Inslee announced a three-week extension of the state’s current COVID-19 restrictions. The restrictions limit restaurants to outdoor dining and takeout and close indoor operations of gyms, museums and movie theaters. In-person retail stores – including grocery stores - are limited to 25% capacity. The statewide restrictions will remain in place through January 4, 2021. [See full restriction list HERE]
Free Business Listing for North Bend and Unincorporated King County Organizations
Businesses and organizations understand the significance of having a presence online. Running a business is hard enough, and economic survival through the COVID-19 pandemic makes it that much harder. DiscoverNorthBend.com is an extension website that branches from and links to the NorthBendWA.gov website. The purpose of this site is provide information to visitors who want to explore beautiful North Bend, with a concentration on economic development and tourism. This week, staff created a North Bend business directory on DiscoverNorthBend.com, with the goal of supporting our local businesses and organizations. In this directory you will find the following information for each business listed: Business Name, Address, Phone Number, Website / social media link. Email Bre Keveren if your listing is incorrect, or not listed all. The DiscoverNorthBend.com listing is available for free to all North Bend and Unincorporated King County businesses and non-profit organizations.
New COVID-19 Exposure Tracker Tool
The Washington State Department of Health launched a new statewide COVID-19 exposure notification tool. WA Notify is a simple, anonymous exposure notification tool. By adding WA Notify to your smartphone, you will be alerted if you've spent time near another WA Notify user who later tests positive for COVID-19. WA Notify uses privacy-preserving technology jointly developed by Google and Apple and works without collecting or revealing any location or personal data. If you have an iPhone, you simply turn it on in settings. For android phones, you install an app.
Good COVID-19 Vaccine News
The Washington State Dept. of Health received its first shipment of a COVID-19 vaccine and began administering to healthcare workers. As of December 16 at midnight, providers in Washington state had reported giving a total of 1,159 COVID-19 vaccine doses to high-risk health workers. Vaccination began this week for Phase 1A groups, which include frontline health workers and long-term care residents and staff.
NEED MASKS? CITY HAS SUPPLY
If you or your business still needs masks, the City has an ample supply. Please email Erin Mitchell at emitchell@northbendwa.gov to schedule a pick up or delivery (business only).
Light up North Bend winner: The Gambill Home
