Kudos to Crecelius

I recently read your article about Eric Crecelius retiring from 43 years as a volunteer firefighter/EMT (“Volunteer calls it a career at 43 years,” Sequim Gazette, Feb. 12, page B-1).

Eric will be dearly missed. When I was seven months pregnant with my son, I stopped breathing! I was fighting to get air in or out. My then 9-year-old son called 9-1-1!

Eric was first at my door as we only lived down the way and I’d known both Eric and Jean form church — two of the nicest residents in Sequim.

I can’t describe my fear, mother of three (soon to be four), unable to breathe! It was absolutely wonderful to see a familiar face come quickly to my aid. I will always be grateful that Eric was on duty that night — professional and kind. I remember his compassion very well.

Fortunately I was rushed to the hospital by ambulance and all went well. I gave birth two months later … William is my Leap Year baby, born Feb. 29, 1996, in Port Angeles!

Thank you, Eric, for your service and to Jean for being so supportive. You will be missed.

Mary Jane Duncan

Sequim

Thanks for concert support, coverage

The Sequim City Band wishes to thank the enthusiastic audience who attended the “Celebration” concert on March 1 at the Port Angeles High School Center for the Performing Arts.

The Sequim City Band hosted Navy Band Northwest’s wind ensemble. Conductor Lt. Christopher Cornette expressed to the audience of about 700 people they should be proud of the “gem” of a performance hall with its excellent acoustics,and noted the appreciative audience was evidence of support for live music on the Olympic Peninsula.

This successful concert could only be achieved with generous support of several organizations helping spread the message to the public. Sequim Gazette editor/reporter Michael Dashiell described the concert and Navy Band Northwest’s mission with an in-depth article in the Feb. 26 edition. I personally heard from a few families that after reading the article they decided to have their children experience the live music performance of concert bands.

We also wish to acknowledge support from KSQM, Peninsula Daily News and KONP. In addition to numerous businesses where flyers were posted, the event was on numerous web-based community calendars (a great way to find the many events occurring throughout the year).

Navy Band Northwest was impressed with the warm welcome, and the Sequim City Band appreciates all the help making this a successful concert. The mission of Sequim City Band is to perform, preserve, and promote concert band music. We look forward to providing our outdoor concerts May through September with our “Concerts at The James.”

Vicky Blakelsey

Sequim

Forms of disruption

A recent 12-hour outage of Wave Broadband was a good reminder of how much we take for granted our use of the internet and our use of credit cards to transact business.

During that time, businesses dependent on Wave Broadband with the internet offline could only accept cash. I turned away from a local restaurant because of this. Many, including this writer, are cashless, preferring to use a credit card. Businesses depend on foot traffic or customers in seats if it is a restaurant.

Now think about what can happen in a similar way where local businesses and social gatherings are disrupted due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) with the threat of a pandemic spreading this disease to communities in America.

While President Trump tweets blame the media and Democrats for undue alarm and the crashing stock markets, our public health scientists are warning Americans to prepare for the COVID-19 to become a pandemic. So the question becomes, do you believe a President you can no longer trust to tell the truth or do you believe in science? When it comes to your health and the health of your family, the best bet is science.

Go to cdc.gov for the latest information on COVID-19. Protect yourself, your family and your community.

Roger Briggs

Sequim