Give respect to our heroes of the marketplace
Our Union represents tens of thousands of workers in supermarkets and drug stores. We are keenly aware of the pressures our members are experiencing as they deal with panicked shoppers and struggle to restock shelves stripped bare of staples like water, soup, rice, cereal, diapers, baby formula and toilet paper.
These workers are heroes on the front lines, doing all they can to ensure we have access to food, medicine and essential goods.
To support them, we call on elected officials and the public to treat food and drug workers as first responders during this health crisis.
In addition, we are vigorously advocating for the safety of our members and the general public. These measures include:
• regular breaks so workers can properly clean their hands;
• hazard compensation;
• gloves and masks where necessary;
• first-day sick leave;
• shorter business hours to allow adequate store cleanings, restocking and resets.
We thank the public for showing our marketplace heroes the gratitude, kindness and patience they deserve. — Jacques Loveall, president of United Food and Commercial Workers 8-Golden State, a vice president of the UFCW International Union
Annual student bird art, nature writing contests on
In his recent My Word, Sal Steinberg offered tips for keeping home-from-school kids engaged with nature (“Engaging your kids in nature while they’re out of school,” Times-Standard, March 21, Page A4). I would like to add two specific instances where local schoolchildren can continue connecting to the natural world.
Although the Godwit Days festival scheduled for mid-April has been postponed until fall, the sponsors of two contests associated with it have decided to continue their events and extended the entry deadline until Monday, April 13.
First, the 17th annual student bird art contest, cosponsored by Friends of the Arcata Marsh and Redwood Region Audubon Society (RRAS), invites Humboldt County kids in grades K12 to submit a drawing of a bird species that has been seen locally. Entrants must follow instructions posted at www.rras. org (click on link in right column). The original rules have changed in three ways: 1) the new deadline for art receipt; 2) only mailed entries (to me) can be accepted because the Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center is closed for drop-offs; and 3) all entries must enclose a postagepaid return envelope.
Second, the 15th annual student nature writing contest, sponsored by RRAS, invites children in grades 4-12 in Humboldt or Del Norte County to submit an essay or poem about “What Nature Means to Me.”
Visit www.rras.org and click on the writing contest link for details.
A press release detailing how the contests will operate this year is posted on the RRAS homepage.
The sponsors hope that continuing these popular competitions will offer fun ways to help fill students’ time away from classrooms. — Sue Leskiw, contests organizer, McKinleyville
From near fair Trinidad, the bard of Westhaven
“Med-Doggerel”
Dear health providers, inform us please, Recalling wise Hippocrates, When ailing mortals stand in line —
Expecting therapy divine, For countless ailments, eyes to arse —
May we conclude, there’s too much farce?
In pondering anatomy, Which end invites misanthropy:
Impacted teeth, clogged entrails,
Is it heads or is it tails? Now Corona’s got us by the throat
And my doctor’s more remote. What happens next with all these ills,
Insurances scams and unpaid bills?
Skilled healers, all of you, We need you now, we surely do.
Please hang in there, it’s got to change:
Single-Payer’s within range!