Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘coronavirus’

“May you dance again, pain free”

Posted in In Memorium, tagged , , , , on March 28, 2020| 14 Comments »

Beatrice Cross (Photos courtesy Dawnelle Conlisk)

Beatrice Cross passed away Friday, March 27, 2020 at Careage of Whidbey in Coupeville.

The following is from her daughter-in-law, Dawnelle Conlisk:

 

As I lay here this morning thinking about what to say and share.

Coronavirus is real, it’s not a joke, it kills, it took my mother-in-law.

We are a part of the Island, seeing people say “Stay far away from anyone associated with Careage of Whidbey in any way,” is a very rude comment.

We should all be taking social distancing seriously from everyone.

On March 6th, 2020 my husband and I showed up at Careage to visit my mother-in-law after a run to Walmart to buy her four tubes of lipstick, some gum, hard candy, and a new shirt to surprise her.

We arrived to the door being locked and Careage protecting their residents early on.

But in that moment Careage wasn’t only protecting my mother-in-law, they also protected my husband and myself.

Unknown to any of us at that moment.

But it’s bigger than that, as I work in the Oncology clinic at WhidbeyHealth. They protected your friends and family too.

Beatrice Cross arrived to Careage of Whidbey on May 1, 2013.

She has been cared for with compassion for just short of seven years.

Her 75th birthday would have been in August.

Bea was known for her giggles and love of bingo.

She loved that the staff at Careage would bring her the articles printed out extra large of her grandson Danny Conlisk’s latest races.

Her pride even from the view from the nursing home was giant.

This past fall her granddaughter, MaryBeth Conlisk, joined the Air Force.

Every chance she got to catch a new photo or story of her, she took it.

She was so proud of her son, daughter, all six grandchildren.

Every person who would come into her room when I visited she would tell them over and over where I worked. I know she loved her own connection to this Island and the people.

Careage tested everyone.

She was one who came back positive but had no symptoms until Thursday night; Friday morning she woke up.

Around 10:30 AM the nurse went in to check on her and found her gone peacefully in her bed.

It was so fast!

The staff is selfless and still taking care of all the residents. Risking themselves with their giant hearts.

Instead of negative comment throwing we should be supporting these amazing angels.

They are family to the residents of Careage.

I was able to speak with a few of them on the phone and express that I am sorry for their loss too.

Bea was very happy and comfortable and part of their family too.

She didn’t die alone and afraid, because they showed up to work.

Please take this epidemic seriously. I can’t say it enough!

May you rest in peace Bea and be dancing again on the streets of gold, pain free.

Read Full Post »

Shortened games, shortened season?

Posted in Baseball, Boys Soccer, Girls Tennis, Softball, Track, tagged , , , , , on March 26, 2020| Leave a Comment »

If Coupeville track stars like Raven Vick (left) and Ja’Tarya Hoskins get the chance to compete this spring, they will face a shortened season. (Brian Vick photo)

If there is a spring high school sports season, teams can play shortened games in an effort to complete as much of the schedule as possible in a very short time.

That recommendation was offered Wednesday by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.

Currently, all schools in the state are shut down through April 24 on the orders of Governor Jay Inslee, as the fight to blunt the spread of coronavirus continues.

If students return to school at the end of the six-week shutdown, with the first classes April 27, they will have to put in 10 practices and then can begin games.

The WIAA previously announced it would offer a waiver, allowing schools to conduct 10 practices in five days time.

It also stated state championships will not be played later than Saturday, May 30, so as not to conflict with graduations in June.

That means if the six-week shutdown is lengthened at all, spring sports could be in jeopardy.

If Washington goes the route of states such as Kansas and cancels classes through the end of the 2019-2020 school year, there would definitely be no spring athletic season.

But, under a best-case scenario, with schools reopening April 27, games could begin as early as May 2.

The WIAA has directed each league and district to determine its own means of qualifying teams for the postseason, and has said it will allow teams which are not in the playoffs to continue regular season games through May 30.

While it’s highly-doubtful schools could play, say, an entire 20-game baseball season in four weeks time, shortened games and multiple contests on the same day will be allowed.

WIAA guidelines for each sport Coupeville High School plays:

 

Baseball:

*Pitch count, which is a daily limit and not a game limit, will still be enforced.

“Care should be taken to insure that pitchers are not exceeding their arm strength and conditioning during this shortened season,” the WIAA said. “Coaches have an obligation to take care of their pitchers.”

*Teams will be allowed to play shortened games, with five innings being a complete game.

*May 19 is the final day for teams to qualify for regionals, with state championships May 29-30.

 

Boys Soccer:

*Teams will be allowed to play shortened games, with one half of play constituting a complete game.

*May 19 is the final day for teams to qualify for state. The tourney will be played May 23, 26, 29, and 30.

 

Girls Tennis:

*Athletes will be allowed to play multiple matches in the same day, but can not exceed nine sets per day.

*May 24 is the final day for individuals to qualify for state.

 

Softball:

*Teams will be allowed to play shortened games, with five innings constituting a complete game.

*May 24 is the final day for teams to qualify for state.

 

Track and Field:

*If an athlete competes on their own at an invitational during the shut down, their marks don’t count toward automatic qualifying standards for state. These standards must be met during school-sponsored meets.

*Athletes will still be restricted to competing in a maximum of four events during school-sponsored meets.

*May 24 is the final day for qualifier meets, with the state meet set for May 28-30.

Read Full Post »

Coronavirus outbreak at Careage grows

Posted in coronavirus updates, tagged , , , , on March 25, 2020| Leave a Comment »

The Washington State Department of Health has confirmed 24 cases of COVID-19 at Careage of Whidbey in Coupeville.

Test results are pending for other residents and employees.

It’s the only known outbreak of the coronavirus associated with a long-term facility in Island County.

That raises the total number of confirmed cases in Island County, which includes Whidbey and Camano, to 54.

There has been one confirmed death – a woman in her 90’s with underlying health conditions, who passed away at home.

There are currently 2,469 confirmed cases in Washington state, with 123 deaths.

 

For more updates:

https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Health/Pages/COVID-19.aspx

Read Full Post »

Wolf grad ready to capture your big moment

Posted in Graduation, tagged , , , , on March 24, 2020| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Famer Valen Trujillo is available for all your grad photo needs. (Hunter Printz photo)

As we go through uncertain times, one Coupeville High School grad is stepping up to help those who intend to follow in her footsteps.

Hey Coupeville Fam!

My name is Valen Trujillo, I am a 2017 CHS grad and now I own my own photography business specializing in local and destination weddings, couples photos, and portraits!

I feel so bad for this year’s graduates.

I couldn’t image how it would have felt to have the thing I was looking forward to the most be cancelled.

So I decided to offer a SPECIAL DEAL for all 2020 grads (high school and college) to get grad photos done! (in your cap and gown too!!) 50% off!!

Here’s the info:

$150
45 minute session
30 minimum edited images
1-2 locations
up to 2 outfits
online gallery // printing rights

You’ll get these photos within a week of your session! You can print, post, and download all of the photos to have forever to remember this special time in your life!

This is for any grad – on Whidbey or off Whidbey!

If you are interested, email me at

valenleephotography@gmail.com

I am here for you all! 🙂 Stay safe and wash your hands!!

 

To see more of Valen’s work, pop over to:

https://www.valenleephoto.com/

Read Full Post »

“I will live my impossible dream”

Posted in Boys Soccer, Student Voices, tagged , , , , on March 24, 2020| Leave a Comment »

The coronavirus has delayed Chris Cernick’s senior soccer season, but he continues to work hard every day. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

With Washington state schools closed down for at least six weeks due to the spread of coronavirus, we’re offering all Coupeville students a chance to be heard and stay connected.

Chris Cernick is a senior at CHS who plays soccer and basketball.

 

All my life I always had dreams, but never anything that I stuck to until my 8th grade year.

It was an impossible dream I used to call it.

It was a dream that my heart and soul depended on.

You see I had never really been so deeply connected with one idea, one sport and one dream.

I started playing soccer my 8th grade year due to the help of my dad starting a coed rec team that still runs today.

My dad was my first ever coach and the one to really stir me towards my dream.

I remember the first day of practice he gave out soccer homework and I just laughed thinking if I hate school homework then why would I like soccer homework!

So I went on throughout that whole season not doing the homework and did not do as well as I would have liked to.

Well one day I got bored and decided to try the homework because I had nothing better to do.

To my surprise I enjoyed it and once I started I couldn’t stop.

This is the day I will remember for the rest of my life, this is the day I decided to take on my impossible dream.

After this day I started training every day for up to two hours a day till the end of my 8th grade year.

Then I decided to start watching videos on YouTube and watch soccer games, so I could learn from the masters.

In the summer I started training up to four hours a day and was starting to see huge improvement.

I went from 30 juggles with a soccer ball all the way to 100 by my freshman year, but I wasn’t quite at the varsity level yet.

I lacked game experience and fell under pressure every time I played.

Then my sophomore year came around and I was at 1,000 juggles and fairly confident with the ball, but not enough for varsity.

I played JV instead and scored two goals in one game and was one of the only players to score at all in the entire season, along with Jonathan Partida, who scored one as a defender.

That game was the first JV win in a long time and it was finally where I came out of my comfort zone a lot more.

It came at the end of the JV season and to my surprise Coach Nelson wanted me to move up for the playoffs.

I played a few minutes in each of the games and was just happy to get the game experience.

During the next summer I was determined to make varsity and I knew the only way I could do that is if I found some game experience.

So I started playing with adults in Oak Harbor who at the time were quite a challenge.

I would go every Tuesday and Wednesday of my junior year and still manage to practice about two to three hours a day.

My junior soccer season came and I finally had made that next step up by not just making the varsity team, but starting as well.

At the end of the season I had two goals, one assist, and a lot of fun.

After this season, I decided that the next step up would be college level soccer, and with this I knew I had to start making sacrifices.

I quit my job and stopped hanging out with my friends as much to devote all I had towards my dream.

I joined a select team in South Whidbey and met a very inspiring coach who had been a semi-pro.

I learned a lot of things during that short season and became a completely different player.

While doing this I was still putting in 2-4 hours a day and when I didn’t have practice I started putting in from 6-10 hours a day.

Fast forward to my senior season and I am ready to play college and just a completely different player all together.

If you saw me last year to now it is like a night and day difference. My confidence is at another level as for my skill, strength and speed.

Then the virus comes in and I think of it as just another obstacle in the way of my dream.

You see without sacrifices there can be no victory.

I see this sacrifice as just another opportunity to push me towards achieving my dream. I’m putting in the work and practicing eight hours a day over this brief obstacle that keeps me from my senior season.

My whole life I have had people tell me my dream is impossible and to get with the so-called program of life, but here I am now putting everything into this dream because I believe it is possible.

I may not be the best, but I guarantee, there is no one on this Island who puts in as much work as I do.

That’s the difference between a pro and a semi-pro.

In order to do something impossible, you have to do what others won’t.

Some people say I don’t have a life because all I do is practice, but in order to achieve greatness, you have to sacrifice who you are for who and what you will become.

Anybody who has told me my dreams are impossible have already given up on their own and these people who once had dreams are not living life, but are slaves to their own lives.

Soccer is my passion and it’s what gets me through my life, so I’m going to continue to take the impossible route then just settle for the easy comfortable route.

I will live my impossible dream.

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »