Bloomingdale/FishHawk
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May 2020 Volume 19 Issue 5 Ph: 657-2418
C E L E B R A T I N G
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Y E A R S
O F
P U B L I S H I N G
Middle School Science Club And FishHawk Siblings Use 3D Printers For Essential Masks
By Kate Quesada
Randall Middle School teacher Jonathon Bock (left) made 40 face shield masks and siblings Jake & Avery Judson, donated 350 ..Story on Page 13.
The S.T.E.M. Club at Randall Middle School may be on hold while students and teachers follow quarantine guidelines, but one of the school’s teachers put some of the club’s equipment to good use from home last month. Jonathon Bock, who runs the school’s 3D Printer Club, has made 40 face shields to donate to Brandon Regional Hospital and a local pediatric clinic with equipment used by students in the S.T.E.M. Club. “I was reading stories on news websites and tech blogs about people making shields and masks because of shortages in hospitals and clinics,” said Bock, who also teaches exploring technology, exploring production technology, exploring aerospace technology and exploring power and energy. “I had the school’s 3D printer home from school along with filament, and we often talk at school about service-learning projects. This was a way to demonstrate to students how service-learning could look in light of emerging and developing technologies.” Bock is able to create simple face shield masks designed to protect healthcare workers from bodily fluids,
including saliva and mucus. “They are designed so that the worker can also wear a face mask under it to help also mitigate the spread of pathogens,” he said. He estimates the cost of each mask to be less than two dollars, but when PPE items are in short supply, protection is priceless for the front line workers. It takes Bock 10 hours to produce two of the visors and he attaches an elastic band to each one that he prints. “Originally I was going to print out student awards and the teacher gifts designed by students,” he explained. “I felt that this was a more pressing need for the community and asked the S.T.E.M. Board if they would be willing to put the machine to use in this capacity. They agreed enthusiastically.” Bock feels fortunate that in these difficult times he has been able to do something to help. “I’d like to thank the STEM Board and Mrs. Mawhinney for the opportunity to serve the community this way,” he said. “I’d like to thank the numerous people that brought this story to me on several occasions and encouraged me to pursue this.”
C O M M U N I T Y
N E W S
Community Comes Together To Support A Local Little Girl Through Photos
By Libby Hopkins
They say “Every Josh Finstein picture tells a story,” is extremely thankand last month, when ful for all the help the world was in turhis family is receivmoil dealing with the ing during this very COVID-19 pandemic, challenging time. “I one photographer have been blown used pictures away by how to help a quickly an organilocal family zation like while telling Operation Lotus is many other able to mobilize stories. and create such a FishHawk widespread netresident Audra work of support Nicole wears many and love, that has hats. She’s a mom of been truly humthree, a business bling and amazcoach, photographer ing,” Josh Finstein and the host of the said, “I feel like I ‘Mompreneur could say ‘Thank Marketing Podcast.’ you’ a million times Nicole wanted to Local photographer Audra Nicole and local and it would never charity Operation Lotus joined forces do something to crebe enough.” recently to help local resident Alyza ate happiness and To have Audra Finstein after she recovered from surgery to have a brain tumor removed. give back to people Nicole do a Saferduring these stressful times. at-Home porch portrait, visit www.audranAfter messages from her friends icolephotography.com. To learn more about the growing trend of Safer-atabout Operation Lotus or to make a Home porch portraits, Nicole decided it donation for the Finstein family, search was the perfect way to use her skills. She for the group on Facebook. quickly made the decision to give half of the proceeds she made to a local charity. “I could give families an opportunity to come together and do something silly, fun or just get a cute family photo for a very affordable price; from a minimum of 6 feet away, of course,” Nicole said. Shortly after deciding to offer the pictures, Nicole heard about the Finstein family, Starling residents whose daughter, Alyza, had to have surgery to have a brain tumor removed. Operation Lotus, a nonprofit whose mission is to restore hope for people who have experienced a loss or tragedy, was collecting money to help the family. “It’s surreal. First, to be living through what I call a nightmare is just crazy, but having everyone from our community and Operation Lotus supporting us is just unbelievable,” Jayme Finstein said.
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