BI briefs
Published 1:30 am Friday, October 1, 2021
Haunted Hayride
The annual Haunted Hayride will take place Oct. 19-21 at Battle Point Park.
Driving times are available between 6-9 p.m. Drive in your vehicle along the path of Battle Point Park and see illuminated by jack-o-lanterns, performances and displays.
Registration is required at www.biparks.org/ register Activity Code is 541011.
Emily Swift, BI parks community outreach director, said, “It is more important than ever that we find ways to safely come together and support one another.”
Pfizer shots
A Pfizer-only COVID-19 vaccination clinic will take place Oct. 2 at the Commodore Options Lower Gym.
Appointments are available at the Clinic Registration site at covidbi.timetap.com/#/. It will release morning appointments first and if there is additional demand there will be afternoon appointments.
The CDC and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup recommend the following individuals for Pfizer booster vaccinations: People 65 years and older, residents in long-term care settings, people aged 50-64 with certain underlying medical conditions, people 18-49 who are at high risk for severe COVID due to certain underlying medical conditions, people aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting.
If you are making an appointment for your booster dose, you must bring proof of your vaccination with you, and you must have received your second dose of Pfizer prior to April 2.
Individuals who received Moderna or Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) are not eligible.
The city is putting on the clinic, partnering with BI Fire Department, Bainbridge Prepares and the BI Community Pharmacy.
Trails map
A new Trails On Bainbridge Island map is available after being updated.
It includes:
• Several miles of newly added public trails, including Blakely Hill and the Sakai Park trails, which link to the larger network
• Trails are color-coded by class (ease of use), with a new designation for “rollable,” or wheelchair-friendly, trails
• New symbols show nearby food, retail and services
• A link to Kitsap Transit’s BI Ride on-demand shuttle program will help visiting ferry walk-ons reach remote trailheads (and get back to the ferry)
• QR codes link to downloadable, printable maps of individual trails
The map is produced by the BI Metro Park & Recreation District, with support from the BI Parks Foundation and a grant from the city. Maps are available at the BI Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center, City Hall, BI Recreation Center, Aquatic Center and the Parks Foundation office in the Marge Williams Center.
Several new public trails are set to be announced this fall, and work on the Sound To Olympics Trail Sakai Connector will soon link the STO in Winslow with Sakai Park. For details go to www.biparks.org, www.biparksfoundation.org
Resource fair
The Oktoberfest Resource Fair will take place October 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bainbridge Island Senior/Community Center.
The event helps people find what they need to know and make connections with people and organizations.
370 Brien Drive at Waterfront Park. Over 20 agencies, organizations and businesses of benefit to seniors and their families will be exhibiting. Special Oktoberfest refreshments from Bainbridge Brewing. COVID-19 protocols will be observed, with masks required, social distancing with indoor and outdoor tables and extra ventilation.
“The Bainbridge Island Senior/Community Center seeks to be the ‘go-to’ resource for information, wellness, lifelong learning, fun and friendships. This resource fair promises to bring together many of those elements at once,” said Reed Price, executive director.
Jogathon is on
The only fundraiser of the year for Wilkes Elementary School returns Oct. 1.
The fundraising goal is $65,000. Money raised provides opportunities and resources for Wilkes students and staff – from assemblies to teacher grants and much more.
The 4th Annual Jogathon will conclude Oct. 22. It will look different due to COVID-19 restrictions, but students will participate in a fun at-school celebration with classmates the week of Oct. 18 and have the opportunity to win prizes for participating in different challenges.
Students will bring home an information packet Friday. When the goal is reached each student will receive a free yearbook.
Questions? Email ptowilkes@gmail.com
Claims fall
During the week of Sept. 12-18, there were 4,850 initial regular unemployment claims, down 0.2% from the prior week.
Total claims filed by Washingtonians for all unemployment benefit categories numbered 112,948, down 55.4% from the prior week, primarily due to the expiration of federal pandemic benefit programs.
• Initial regular claims applications are 75% below weekly new claims applications for the same period last year.
• The four-week moving average for regular initial claims was 4,997, a decrease of 127 from the previous week. During the same time in 2019, it was 5,146.
• Decreases in layoffs in manufacturing & professional, scientific, and technical services contributed to a decrease of 10 regular initial claims over the previous week.
• In the week ending Sept. 18, the Employment Security Department paid out over $52 million for 53,687 individual claims. Since the COVID-19 crisis began in March 2020, ESD has paid more than $21.3 billion in benefits to over 1.19 million Washingtonians.
