They’ve got lots of useful articles on topics like a “Pandemic Flu Planning Checklist for Individuals and Families” and “Ten Things You Should Know About Pandemic Flu”.

It lists medical and health supplies that you should have at home:

• Prescribed medicines and supplies such as glucose meters and blood pressure monitoring equipment.
• Soap and water
• Alcohol based hand cleaner
• Medicines that lower fever and pain, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen
• Diarrhea remedy, such as Pepto Bismol or Kaopectate
• Throat lozenges
• Cough syrup containing Dextromethorphan
• Thermometers
• Vitamins
• Fluids with electrolytes, like Gatorade and Pedialyte.

Examples of Nonperishable Food

• Canned meats
• Canned beans, fruits, vegetables and soups.
• Protein or fruit bars
• Dry cereal or granola
• Dried fruit
• Peanut butter
• Nuts and trail mix
• Crackers
• Comfort food, including cookies, candy, instant coffee, tea bags
• Canned juices
• Bottled water
• Baby formula and baby food

Examples of Other Emergency Supplies

• Pet food, cat litter
• Disposable diapers
• Feminine supplies
• Flashlight
• Portable radio
• Batteries
• Manual can opener
• Plastic garbage bags
• Tissues and toilet paper
• Entertainment - games, crafts, books, movies, etc.
• Supplies for persons with special needs - the elderly or disabled
• Some extra cash

Know the symptoms of influenza, which may include:

• Sudden onset of illness
• Fever higher than 100.4 F
• Chills
• Cough
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Stuffy nose
• Muscle aches
• Feeling weakness and/or exhaustion
• Diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain

Ten Things You Should Know About Pandemic Flu

1. Pandemic flu is much more serious than seasonal flu.
2. A pandemic flu will be global.
3. The single best thing you can do to avoid getting any flu virus is to wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
4. A vaccination will not be available for several months after the flu virus is identified.
5. Pandemic flu and bird flu are not the same thing.
6. A pandemic may cause widespread social and economic disruption.
7. It may be difficult or impossible to work during a flu pandemic.
8. A pandemic could overwhelm the health care system.
9. We will need to pull together as communities during a pandemic.
10. There are simple steps you can take to prepare for a flu pandemic.

Here are seven of the various Farmers Markets that take place weekly in Seattle during the spring and summer season.

University District Farmers Market runs Saturdays from 9am-2pm, YEAR ROUND!

West Seattle Farmers Market runs Sundays from 10am-2pm, YEAR ROUND!

Broadway Farmers Market runs Sundays from 11am-3pm and opens May 1oth.

Columbia City Farmers Market runs Wednesdays from 3pm-7pm starting April 29th.

Phinney Farmers Market runs Fridays from 3pm-7pm starting May 29th.

Lake City Farmers Market runs Thursdays from 3pm-7pm starting June 4th.

Magnolia Farmers Market runs Saturdays from 10am-2pm starting May 23rd.

To find out more about these farmers markets check out www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org.

For even more farmers markets, check out the Puget Sound Fresh and WA State Farmers Market Association websites.

The Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, WA is hosting a Day Out With Thomas this July.

Tickets are $18 for ages 2 and up and advance purchase is recommended as tickets tend to sell out fast for this event.

July 10-12 and 17-19, 2009

“Take a 25 minute ride with a full size Thomas the Tank Engine.

Meet Sir Topham  Hatt.

Enjoy storytelling, live music, build with Lego Duplo bricks and much more!”

1010 Valley St., Seattle, WA.

“Our Cast Off! program allows visitors the chance to sail in classic boats.
The boats we use include: Admirable, a Bristol Bay Gillnetter, Amie, a Friendship sloop, Colleen Wagner, an Egret Sharpie, our long-boat Discovery, our New Haven Sharpie Betsy D, or a visiting classic.

Before and after your sail take a walk on the docks and discover the boats. Watch the volunteer crews rigging the boats. They’ll be happy to answer any question you might have, and you may even have a chance to help with the rigging!

We sail rain or shine, but wind conditions may keep us at the dock. Reservations are taken day-of-sail only at the CWB front desk. We do not accept phone reservations. This is a popular activity so please arrive early to reserve a spot on the boat.”

Saturday, May 9th, bring Mom and the whole family down to Cama Beach State Park on Camano Island from 10am to 4pm for an awesome day at the beach!

They will be offering FREE boat rides on classic wooden boats and on the historic schooner Adventuress!

Boat rides last 1-2 hours and the last boat sets sail at 3pm.

There will also be live music and toy boat building available onshore. Don’t miss this great Camano Island community event!

The online coupon code is SPRING10.

Happy shoe shopping!!

Image of Maria Cuc Jiatz, Guatemalan weaver from Washington State Historical Society website www.wshs.org.

This Saturday and Sunday, the Washington State Historical Society is presenting a weekend festival with live demonstrations from more than 20 artists in the Great Hall of Washington History at the History Museum. Visitors can view traditional folk arts traditions such as Chinese paper cutting, Japanese Kabuki dancing, Chinese knot tying, Yakama bead working and Latvian and Mexican embroidery. Artists will be performing demonstrations of their work with hands-on activities throughout the festival in the Grand Lobby.

This is your opportunity to enjoy performances, talk to master artists and learn more about these world folk arts traditions.

All activities are FREE with Museum admission.

Washington State History Museum

1911 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402

Festival runs April 18, 2009 from 10 am to 5 pm and April 19, 2009 from noon to 5 pm.

The following artists are scheduled to attend the Festival:
• Ampelio Mariscal, Mexican ornamental iron work artist, Brewster, WA
• Bhu Dayal and Jayendran Srinivasan, Indian deity dressers, Sammamish, WA
• Chong Heu, Hmong Needlework, Renton, WA
• Dennis Chastain, traditional chain saw artist, Forks, WA
• Elizabeth Leese, Norwegian rosmaling, Greenbank, WA
• Genoveva Castellanoz, traditional Mexican corona maker, Nyssa, OR
• Hai-Viet Hong, Vietnamese zither maker, Everett, WA
• Husniyea Kouttainay, Palestinian needlework, Edmonds, WA
• Maija Atvars, Latvian embroidery, Renton, WA
• Marie Bakke Bremner, Norwegian needleworker, Republic, WA
• Maria Cuc Jiatz, Guatemalan back strap weaver, Spokane, WA
• Maria Gomez, traditional Mexican embroidery/garment making, Tonasket, WA
• Mary Ohno, Japanese Kabuki dancer, Tacoma, WA
• Mike Skinner, traditional rawhide braiding, Kirkland, WA
• Nhia Yia Heu, Hmong basket maker, Renton, WA
• Nicolas Petrish, Croatian musician and instrument maker, Anacortes, WA
• Oleksandra Pryveda, Ukrainian egg decoration and wheat weaving, Seattle, WA
• Que Tran, Vietnamese paper cutting and folding artist, Seattle, WA
• Rosalind Wang, traditional Chinese knot tying/paper cutting, Vancouver, WA
• Valerie Calac, Yakama beadwork artist and basket maker, White Swan, WA
• Wilho Saari, Finnish musician, Naselle, WA

Bellevue Youth Theatre will be performing six different stories from Beatrix Potter’s classic collection of tales. Shows will be on Fridays/Saturdays at 7 pm and Sundays at 2 pm from April 17 - 26th, 2009. Tickets are $9.

To find out more check out www.cityofbellevue.org or call 425-452-7155.

May 4 - Issaquah Highlands at the Trailhead Vista walking trail entrance

May 5 - Snoqualmie Ridge in front of Bliss Medical Spa

“Attention Moms and Babies! Stroller Strides is coming to the Issaquah Highlands and Snoqualmie Ridge for its outdoor season! Join us for our Grand Opening Summer Classes on May 4th and 5th at 9:30 am. Whether you are a fitness buff or just getting started with an exercise routine, Stroller Strides is the class for you and your baby. This 1-hour stroller-based workout is designed to incorporate fitness for moms and fun for babies. Stroller Strides is a combination of cardiovascular and strength exercises to give you the best possible workout available to you while keeping your baby close by. Register for your first free class and get detailed class information by visiting www.strollerstrides.net/issaquahsnoqualmie or contact Tracy King at (800) 493-3413.

Don’t miss our Grand Opening classes for a chance to win great raffle prizes, receive special discount pricing for the summer, gifts from our sponsors and more. If you are not able to attend our Grand Openings on May 4th or 5th, please register online for your first free class at a time when you are able to come.

This Sunday, April 19, 2009, from 10 am to 6 pm, you can enjoy performances, exhibits, demonstrations, traditional costumes, martial arts, food and hand-on activities for kids of all ages. Oh yeah, and did I mention that this event is FREE!!

Find out more at www.seattlecenter.com