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If the sun is shining as you read this, enjoy the blue sky while you have it: The wet and windy season is upon us, and it’s time to get your home ready for the onslaught. 

The Seattle area might not get the prolonged, extreme cold or blizzards experienced in other parts of the country, but we’re hardly free from weather danger — especially that which rain brings.  

Water risks

From a home-maintenance standpoint, water is this region’s biggest winter-weather worry, according to Amy Ecklund, owner of AmyWorks, a home remodeling and maintenance company based in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood. 

Ecklund says water can damage your home in myriad ways, such as overflowing your gutters, which can cause rotting in the roof area; saturating the soil around your home, which can lead to basement flooding; and freezing inside pipes, which can cause them to burst. 

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to keep all that moisture at bay. 

First and foremost: Clear out your gutters, which are crucial for proper drainage. “That’s a big one for our wet conditions here,” says Taylor Parrish, owner of Greenwood-based Best Coast Maintenance. 

Needles from our plentiful evergreen trees are big contributors to clogged gutters, Parrish says, along with leaves, branches and all manner of other detritus. 

Gutter cleaning — or any task that’s done on the roof or more than 6 feet off the ground — is something to consider hiring a professional to take care of. However, if your gutters are on the low side, you can climb a ladder to clean them yourself. Parrish recommends using an extendable pole, if necessary.

Another vital task is making sure the downspouts that descend from your gutters are clear and directing rainwater well away from your home’s foundation.

When downspouts don’t drain properly, “it backs up into those gutters,” says Ecklund. 

Furthermore, if downspouts deposit large amounts of water near your home’s foundation, the hydrostatic pressure can push water through the floor of your basement and lead to flooding. 

Check the bottom of the downspouts. Do they end next to your house, dumping rainwater near your foundation, or do they channel the water away? If it’s the former, you’ll want to help your downspouts direct the water elsewhere by installing splash blocks below your downspouts. These troughs will carry water away from your home, and installation can be done as a DIY project. 

“Ideally, if you can, you want to get the water 6 to 10 feet away” from the house, Parrish says, adding that directing water away is “the No. 1 thing to keep your basement from flooding.” 

It’s also worth inspecting the roof and taking care of any issues before the rains hit in earnest.

“Anytime you get a roof leak, it gets exponentially more expensive, really fast,” Parrish says.

A leaky roof can cause thousands of dollars’ worth of damage in a single night, he says, and if you discover a leak during a rainstorm, you might not be able to hire someone to take care of it for a day or two. 

“It’s so much more economical to take care of it before it’s a big issue,” Parrish says.

Brace for the cold

The Seattle area might not get as many big freezes as elsewhere, but it can still see runs of very chilly days. So it’s worth taking steps to keep yourself warm this winter. Start by getting your furnace inspected and, if need be, serviced. 

“It’s a great time to do that now,” Parrish says. “It you wait, you may not be able to get someone to come out that day.” 

If your furnace has a filter, it should be replaced regularly, which most homeowners can easily handle themselves, Ecklund says.

Help keep your pipes from freezing by placing foam insulators over any outdoor spigots. “It’s a simple $5 solution that you can do yourself,” Parrish says.

Making sure that your windows are properly caulked is another important task to keep your home warm and draft-free, Ecklund says. 

To find out whether you have any indoor drafts, Ecklund advises lighting a stick of incense on a day when there’s a bit of a breeze outside. Hold the incense stick in front of windows or other spots that could have a draft, and watch what happens to the smoke it gives off. If it goes straight up, all is well. If the smoke blows around, that’s an indication that you’ve got a draft.

“It’ll either be sucked out to the outside, or it’ll be blown back into the house. Any sort of movement with that smoke is going to show that you have a draft,” Ecklund says. 

Before the next windstorm, make sure to tie down or bring inside anything that might blow away. Ecklund says that things that are meant to be outside, such as a picnic table or barbecue, can probably stay there, but they should be covered securely. Bring in any cushions from your outdoor furniture, then cover the furniture itself. 

Parrish notes, though, that our soggy weather can lead to mildew and permanent staining on some objects left in the yard, such as umbrellas. “If they stay in the folded position all winter” — outside, “they’re just going to be all mildewy and gross” in the spring. 

Discourage critters

Make sure to store birdseed or any other edibles inside, Parrish says, to avoid encouraging rats and other critters to nosh on them or, even worse, to move in. 

“A rat only requires an opening the size of your thumb to get in,” Ecklund says.

Take a trip around your home to see whether there are any spots that rats (or other critters seeking shelter) might find inviting.

“Really take a look at the openings you have on your house,” Ecklund says. “Sometimes you have holes up along the eaves of the roof.”

Parrish advises to also pay close attention as well to spots close to the ground where rats could get in. If you find an opening, cover it with wire mesh and staple it in place. The goal is to make sure there are “no open holes that anything can crawl into,” he says.

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If you want to freak out a Joe Biden campaign insider, just use the word landslide. Sure, they’re willing to acknowledge that, with less than three weeks until Election Day, things look encouraging. Biden has maintained a lead in national polls since March, and lately the spread has widened into double digits. Polling averages for crucial battleground states—Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida, Wisconsin—show Biden ahead. Reach states—North Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Arizona, even Texas, for crying out loud—appear well within reach. Donald Trump’s campaign is running on cash fumes; Biden’s is setting fundraising records. Early-voting data is skewing Democratic. “At this point in 2016, among people who had never voted before, Democrats had a lead of 5.9 points. This year Democrats have an 11.3% advantage,” says Tom Bonier of TargetSmart, a political data analysis firm. “Infrequent voters? At this point in 2016, Democrats were up by 15—now it’s 20.3. That’s pretty telling in terms of where the intensity lies.”

Fine, fine, fine, the Biden people say, with an edge in their voices that goes beyond professional caution—and the cliché that “the only poll that counts is the one on Election Day.” That’s because their internal numbers show a tighter race. Trump isn’t winning, but things are too close to tamp down the nervousness among Biden campaign operatives, let alone for them to start dreaming of a landslide. “I’m still very anxious,” a person familiar with the campaign’s thinking says. “Michigan is going to be close. North Carolina is going to be close. Florida is going to be very close.”

Their top final-days worries are both rational and familiar: that the polls are undercounting “shy”—or downright hostile—Trump supporters. That the president, possibly with help from foreign actors, will spread some disinformation that is damaging even though it’s false. This was a significant concern even before Wednesday’s New York Post–Rudy Giuliani concoction, with emails purporting to show Biden had lied about not tailoring Ukrainian policy, as vice president, to benefit his son Hunter. The story, however, wasn’t just full of factual holes; it was aiming at a subject that simply hasn’t stuck to Biden with voters, particularly as a deadly pandemic continues to kill Americans and ravage the economy. This latest attempted distraction seems to be hitting the same dead end as the previous shiny objects—with some grim help from Trump himself. For months his campaign has tried to make this election about law and order, or Barack Obama, or the Supreme Court. Yet Trump, his wife, and their son, Barron, contracting COVID-19 dragged the conversation directly back to the playing field Biden wants to be on: the incumbent’s failure to get the virus under control.

Interestingly, one potentially problematic item has slid down the Biden camp’s list of fears, at least for now: polling place voter intimidation. Aside from some pro-Trump yelling and sign waving in Fairfax, Virginia, in mid-September, things have gone remarkably quietly so far. Perhaps the Proud Boys are saving a show of force until November 3. But at the moment the Biden campaign is more worried about hyperventilating media accounts of minor disruptions scaring off voters, and about winning court cases to ensure that enough polling places and drop boxes are available.

While no one in Bidenworld is projecting a landslide, or showing any sign of overconfidence, the candidate’s braintrust has been gaming out what to do if Biden is declared the winner, especially if it’s by a modest margin—and Trump refuses to accept the results. “Look, we may need the entire campaign operation to move to Pennsylvania to ensure that absentee ballots are counted,” a Biden adviser says. “That’s going to require money and manpower, and we’re making sure we have all of that.” Longtime Biden senior aide Ron Klain, plus campaign legal heads Dana Remus and Bob Bauer, are among the top staff thinking through the multiple court actions that might be necessary. But any such confrontation would also require the use of every political tool available. Biden’s team is placing considerable faith in his vaunted ability to reach across the partisan aisle. The Democrat’s campaign has been closely tracking public statements by Republicans about the need for a peaceful transition of power. If Trump loses yet digs in his heels, Biden and his emissaries would likely make quiet calls asking Republican senators to stand behind their words. “It is absolutely jarring and damning for the sitting president of the United States to say, ‘I may or may not go,’” the person familiar with the Biden campaign’s thinking says. “There are mechanisms to move him out if he won’t go. But I think it’s all talk. People who actually know the president, he is a man of immense pride. And he would never allow any photos of himself being physically removed from the White House. But I say that and then I think, Mmmm, this is Donald Trump—we don’t know what’s going to happen.”

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Avoid injury, shred harder and stay healthy this ski season

By Mira Brody EBS STAFF

BIG SKY – “This is an ACL tear that’s waiting to happen.” A phrase no skier or rider wants to hear. It’s an issue Lone Peak Physical Therapy’s Heidi Bowman DPT, CAFS, and Allie Poalino, DPT, are attempting to address before incident with their Ski Mobility and Stability clinics.

There are three elements Bowman says are crucial to preventing injuries, while staying nimble and active throughout the season: Take care of old injuries, aim for symmetry and train for the unexpected.

Caring for your old injuries and addressing your body’s weaknesses will prevent further harm once you hit the slopes. Bowman says a majority of the time athletes focus too much on their strengths. If you’re strong, you’re more likely to strength train, while if you’re flexible you might enjoy yoga more. While we thrive on our successes, she says cross training is absolutely essential.

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“Address old injuries,” Poalino said. “Because, so much of the time those old lingering things really have an effect on how you move going forward.”

This is where a couple visits to a physical therapist will help. LPPT provides “ski screens” as part of their clinic, in which they’ll identify where in your body needs extra training.

“We are movement experts and our job is to identify areas you need to address,” Bowman said. “Sometimes it is screening an old injury, sometimes it’s faulty movement patterns we can help correct before it leads to an injury.”

Screenings will usually result in two or three exercises for individuals to focus on, in order to address weaknesses and pay dividends in the long run.

Although there is no magic number regarding the range of motion an individual needs in each joint to avoid potential injury, you will be more prone to one if you don’t maintain a healthy level of symmetry. LPPT knows from experience—they work closely with seasoned ski patrollers and racers on ski movement exercises to aid in maintaining symmetrical strength.

“Generally we screen hip and thoracic motion, because ski turns require good movement at these joints,” Bowman said. “When these areas don’t move well, your knees and low back are more at risk for injury because they take up the slack and move extra.”

Bowman and Poalino also screen single leg strength, side to side with a timed split squat to measure control and endurance and determine if you favor one leg over the other, as many do. Although every routine is catered to the individual and they will sometimes recommend additional strength training—such as additional squat reps—on one leg as opposed to the other to even out that symmetry. They’ll also make good use of the 1080 Quantum resistance machine—often only found at private pro-athlete training facilities—to gauge a patient’s symmetry and mobility.

Finally, LPPT trains their athletes for the unexpected. Anyone who has skied for a few seasons knows that hitting unexpected terrain, an obstacle, or unintentionally overturning is a common occurrence on the hill, so training your body to react quickly and safely to those instances will prevent serious injuries. Bowman’s favorite piece of equipment for this is the BOSU ball, an inflated half-ball with a flat surface on one side, making it perfect for balance exercises.

“We are able to train for unpredictability, because skiing is so much of that,” Bowman said. “Where you are thrown into weird terrain and your body has to be like ‘I got this, I know how to do this.’”

Anterior cruciate ligament tears, most commonly known as ACL, are the most common ski injury they see at LPPT, and a painful, costly and time consuming one at that. When dealing with an injury, the most difficult thing is having have to tell an athlete that they can no longer do something they love. Instead, LPPT staff members focus on little goals as patients progress towards getting back on the mountain.

“We like to focus on the mini goals throughout that process,” Poalino said. “Say they’re not skiing this year, but they’re able to squat a certain amount of weight at the gym and they’re able to go on their favorite hike. Little things that, they enjoy that we can get them back to.”

Overall, people in Big Sky value their health and time outdoors—it’s a part of the area’s identity. Bowman and Poalino have seen many new inquiries in recent months as people have moved, staying permanently in the area.

“I think people are placing more focus on their health and their body just with everything going on,” Bowman said. “I think it’s a positive for the community for sure.”

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CLEVELAND, Ohio — Since the coronavirus pandemic began in March, Americans have largely been staying home — and ordering goods online. The U.S. Post Office and shipping companies like FedEx and UPS have been running at full-tilt ever since.

Now with holiday season approaching, delivery services are preparing for perhaps their busiest seasons ever by expanding services and hiring seasonal employees.

FedEx spokeswoman Jennifer Caccavo Cordeau says the company is preparing for a “The Shipathon,” heading into this unprecedented peak season.

“With the onset of COVID-19, we have been operating at peak levels since March, and there is no sign of slowing down,” Cordeau said.

FedEx has opened over 70,000 positions in key markets. It accelerated its seven-day residential delivery and made more investments in automated facilities.

UPS will hire more than 100,000 seasonal employees. Already, UPS spokesman Matthew O’Connor said, the company has been working at a holiday-peak level. was delivering to a volume similar to peak season last year. About 70% of deliveries have been to home, 20% higher than during regular life.

UPS has met the demand by expanding weekend operations and hiring an additional 39,000 full- and part-time employees. It’s also allowed additional time to make deliveries by modifying the regular service guarantee.

“The vast majority of our services continue with the same time commitments our customers have come to expect,” O’Connor said.

Related: Like Christmas in May: U.S. Post Office sees coronavirus-fueled surge in online shopping package deliveries

The U.S. Postal Service has been planning for the peak holiday season all year, says Naddia Dhalai, spokeswomanfor Northern Ohio District & Ohio Valley District. Seasonal workers will be hired as needed, and technology has been expanded to enhance package tracking throughout the USPS processing and transportation networks.

That’s coming on the heels of a busy election season, as the post office delivers ballot applications and ballots, and President Donald Trump has undermined trust in the institution.

So what’s a shopper to do?

FedEx is strongly encouraging people buying gifts online to shop online to shop and ship early.

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Inter-campus efforts

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Courtesy Photo by Bronwyn Woolman

Alpena Civic Theatre is getting ready to mount their first show of the season. On Jan. 14, 2021, “Sandy Toes and Salty Kisses,” will premiere. This is the third play written by Michael Parker that has been mounted on the Civic Theatre stage. These plays have been very popular and audiences roar with laughter. The first play, “Sex Please…We’re Sixty,” was directed by Chip Lavely and Scott Edgar. Edgar then directed “The Sensuous Senator,” and now, “Sandy Toes and Salty Kisses.” The playwright Michael Parker recently passed away and Edgar is planning to dedicate his show to Parker. Pictured in the photo are Director Scott Edgar, Assistant Director Ted Rockwell, and, adjusting the light, Jay Kettler who is the Civic’s sound and light engineer. Mark your calendar to attend “Sandy Toes and Salty Kisses” Jan. 14-24. Call the box office at 989-354-3624 for information on tickets.

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