kmkat and her kneedles

Please help Colorado.

Smokey and I received this forwarded email from his cousin Gisele, who lives in Laramie, WY.

Pass along to your contacts, anyone who can donate something.  The first half is designated to animals, then lower half is assisting helicopters, firefighters, and shelters.  We have people coming into Wyoming looking for places to stay, they are in the mountains camping and filling up hotels, it is hard to find a room in Denver or Ft. Collins, so they are moving up here.  Laramie is only about 60 miles north of Ft. Collins, so Laramie and Cheyenne would be the next stop north.

 

Gisele

 

From: uwstaff-l@uwyo.edu [mailto:uwstaff-l@uwyo.edu] On Behalf Of Vicki Lynne Schuster
Sent: Friday, June 29, 2012 8:10 AM
To: uwstaff-l@uwyo.edu
Subject: UWstaff-l: More info For Fire Evacuees Update June 27

 

As you probably already know, Colorado is on fire. There are 3 Major fires right now. The shelters and rescues are overwhelmed and need money & supplies. This is the information we have compiled so far for all area affected. Please give what you can and if you cannot give then please share, the animals are counting on you:

FORT COLLINS FIRE

The High Park Fire in Fort Collins -  has burned 257 homes and 87K acres. 

Larimer Humane Society
http://www.larimerhumane.org/
fb http://www.fb.com/LarimerHumane

Donate online at https://www.larimerhumane.org/donate/online-donation
or mail checks to 5137 S. College Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80525. 

Society currently coordinating rescue of all animals in High Park Fire area, providing water to animals that have not been evacuated, reuniting owners and pets and sheltering evacuated animals: 970-226-3647, ext. 7.
Urgent Need: kitty litter

>>>>>

VCA Animal Hospital in both Fort Collins and Loveland are offering free boarding if pets of evacuees need a place for their furry friends to stay. They will also update evacuees' pets' vaccinations for free if need be. The Loveland location is open 24 hours a day (970) 278-0668. Call the Fort Collins location to find out their hours at (970) 204-4567
Urgent Need Towels and blankets 

>>>>>

The Moore Animal Hospital is also offering free boarding to evacuees.

2550 Stover Street 
Fort Collins, CO 80525
(970) 416-9101
Urgent Need: towels and blankets

>>>>>

Wolf, a wolf sanctuary near Fort Collins has had to be evacuated, and they desperately need monetary donations, please donate at:
http://www.wolfsanctuary.net/10-funding/10-01.htm#Donations

........................................................................................

FLAGSTAFF FIRE

Flagstaff Fire in Boulder, CO 
Just started yesterday, relatively small but could grow. 

Humane Society of Boulder Valley
http://www.boulderhumane.org/
fb http://www.fb.com/pages/Humane-Society-of-Boulder-Valley/84603385014

Cash Donations Needed: "Our greatest support needed at the shelter is for cash donations to support our operating expenses while we’re providing free services to our community members affected by this disaster."
Call them at (303) 442-4030

You may donate online at:
https://www.kintera.org/AutoGen/Simple/Donor.asp?ievent=317377&en=9hIQJZMwEcLOJUOwHeKMJQOwEcLUL5NAIfIRJ2PKKoK1LgL

or send your donation by mail or in person to:
2323 55th Street, Boulder, CO 80301.
Urgent Need: kitty litter, blankets & towels 

........................................................................................

COLORADO SPRINGS FIRE

Humane Society Pikes Peak Region 
http://www.hsppr.org/
fb http://www.fb.com/humanesocietypikespeakregion

Here is their latest status:
"We are so very appreciative of all the donated items we have received for the animals in our care. The outpouring of support from our community is phenomenal. At this time, we do not need any additional items, should our in-kind needs change we will let you know! Our greatest need is monetary donations to support our operations. (719) 473-1741, ext. 8723 

Donate online at https://www.hsppr.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=1015

Or by mail to:
Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region
610 Abbott Lane, Colorado Springs CO 80905

>>>>>

A Cut Above Pet Grooming 719.630.7387
They need Volunteers, who can stay overnight if need be.
Urgent Need: kennels, smaller litter boxes, blankets, Cat food (dry and wet) , Monetary donations

>>>>>

All Breed Rescue & Training 
719.264.6460
20 Mountview Lane, Suite B & C, Colorado Springs, CO 80907 

They are taking in evacuee animals, anything that doesn't go in a stall.
Urgent Need: Dog/Cat food, blankets, gas cards or grocery cards 

>>>>>

Other facilities that are ready to take in animals include:
These are other facilities ready to take in animals 
*Sunrise Kennels 719.661.7036
*Canine Design Salon 719.227.7220
*Cheyenne Mountain Animal Hospital 7193433.3840
*Lucky Dog 719.527.9663
*Bear Creek Vet 719-685-1177
*Dublin Animal Hospital 719-338-8935
*CATS Lucky Dog Boarding 719.527.9663
*Central Bark Dog Daycare 719.592.9300
*Canine Campus 719.448.9600
*A Paw Above Boarding Service 719.386.7291
*Northwest Animal Hospital 719.593.8582
*Camp Bow Wow 719.260.9247
*Sunrise Kennels 719.598.8348
*Aspen Meadows Pet Resort 719.282.6000
*Picasso's Pet Grooming- Security 719.392.4092
*Rocky Mountain Health Care Services (Can House
*People & Pets) 719.641.2747 & 719.201.0247
*Powers ER Animal 719.473.0482

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

WYOMING Fire

The owner of Faith Fire ranch in Lander Wyoming has posted this on her personal facebook.
If anyone in the Colorado area needs refuge for their livestock our place is open...pass it along and message me if interested. faithfireranch@gmail.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COLORADO 

Please pass this along on your personal/business/fun facebook pages, Google+ & Twitter pages, and blogs. - thank you 

 

**Note: This information changes rapidly. I am trying to keep the list as up-to-date as possible, but there is TONS of information to keep track of. If you find a place you'd like to donate to, items to donate, volunteering opportunities you like or shelters to go to.....PLEASE call or visit the website FIRST to make sure they are still in need, or have room. I have tried to list addresses, as well as phone #'s and websites where available. THANK YOU!  ** 

 

 

 

DONATIONS (ITEMS NEEDED & DROP OFF LOCATIONS) 

Go To: http://helpcoloradonow.org/ for a compressive list of ways to help. 

**** BEWARE OF SCAMS: People are getting calls from this number 505-750-0928 asking for donations for fire victims. They are claiming they are a legit organization. Also, the the caller id number 720-663-7994 is a scam... if you get a call to give a "modest" donation to the fire efforts - don't do it!!!! **** 

 

FIREFIGHTERS:  

 Drop items off at any Walgrees, any Red Cross,  & Care & Share drop of locations (listed below). 

Care and Share at 2605 Preamble Point in Colorado Springs is taking food and non-perishables, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. 100 Greenhorn Dr.Accepting and transporting all donations to Colorado Springs. 

Firefighters are asking for baby powder, cots & brand new knee-high socks. 

Peanut butter & jelly, canned meat, energy bars and pasta, spaghetti sauce, baby powder, Eye drops-NOT Visine, Lubricating drops ie. Artificial Tears, Baby Powder, chapstick, water, Gatorade, non-perishable food items, canned food 

beef jerky, NEW towels and washcloths, t-shirts all sizes, toiletries, sleeping bags, masks (including sleep masks), disposable ear plugs, individual & bulk sized saline bottles for eyes, nose, etc., Tubes of nasal gel, cloth napkins 4 handkerchiefs, pocket sized paper pads, pencils & little sharpeners, cases & cases of coconut water, BIOTENE gum & mouth rinses, bags of 100% cotton long socks. 

Please no ankle socks as they will be wearing them in their boots 

Some incident command posts will take donations of unopened bottled water and Gatorade only. Do not bring food and other items. 

Don't forget the volunteer firefighters who need donations to buy equipment, pay for gas, and some -- to rebuild their fire stations after they were burned down. Some of the volunteer firefighting groups to consider for your donations: 

Northeast Teller County Fire Protection District -http://www.netellerfire.org/   

Green Mountain Falls Chipita Park Fire Department:http://www.gmfcpfd.org/  

Boulder Rural Fire Department: http://www.brfd.org/   

Allenspark Fire Department: http://www.allensparkfire.com/homepage.html 

Glacier View Fire - http://www.glacierviewfiredept.com/  

Rist Canyon Fire - http://www.rcvfd.org/  

Poudre Canyon Fire - http://www.poudre-fire.org/

If you'd like to donate to the firefighters, the fund is active at this site for cash donations. http://www.ppcf.org/products/waldo-canyon-fire-fund

 

ITEM DONATIONS:

Items to Donate:

New batteries, New underwear and socks, Furniture, Water jugs, Chain saws

Furniture Other Needed Items: 

Basic home first aid supplies, Sunscreen, School supplies, Backpacks, Water bottles, Laundry baskets, Men's jeans, Coveralls and overalls, Work boots, Children and pant hangers, New and used sleeping bags, Clothing Racks, New sheets all sizes, New and used camping equipment, New pots and pans, Silverware, Paper cups and paper plates, Trash cans and trash bags, Outdoor tables and chairs, Outdoor storage, Gloves, Shovels, Tarps, Building supplies, Generators, Gift cards from area merchants, Personal hygiene items, Non-perishable foods - NOT HOME COOKED MEALS, Laundry and cleaning supplies, Mac & cheese, Soups, Stews, Ravioli, Cereal, 10# cans of fruits and veggies, NEW towels and washclothslotion, deodorant, shavers, shaving creme, toothpaste, diapers

Please NO used clothing

 

Safeway stores in Colorado Springs, Monument and Falcon are now collecting donations for fire relief. Customers have the option of rounding up their purchase price and donating the balance to the fire relief fund. Funds collected will go to American Red Cross and then dispersed to the Waldo Canyon Fire Relief.

 

Stapleton Fellowship Church at 8700 E. 21st Ave., is collecting supplies for the Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado to help folks in Colorado Springs suffering from the epic wildfire disaster. It's a convenient drop spot for people who live in Denver who want to donate material items like canned food, diapers, bottled water etc.

 

Cheyenne Mountain High School shelter was asking for ice, work gloves, welding gloves/high gloves to protect arms while taking care of animals, animal collars and leashes at the school at 1200 W. Cheyenne Rd. Volunteer veterinarians are also appreciated. Please call 719-444-7919 before you go to verify these items are still needed.

 

Rocky Mountain Healthcare Services  http://www.rmhcare.org/ .If you would like to donate items, they are in current need for towels, shampoo, soap and food, sheets, blankets, towels, air mattresses, cots.

 

The American Red Cross  is asking for donations to its Disaster Relief Fund. You can earmark those donations to a specific disaster. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters. To donate call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767). To contribute online go to http://www.redcross.org/. You can text a $10.00 donation by texting REDCROSS to 90999.

 

The Salvation Army is providing food, food boxes, clothing and other support to victims and first responders. The Salvation Army Corps Community Center in Fort Collins is providing clothing and food boxes to evacuees in need. The Salvation Army’s Loveland Service Extension Unit is at the Disaster Recovery Center providing gift cards to evacuees to enable them to purchase basic essentials.  Donations can be made online at http://www.imsalvationarmy.org/ or over the phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769). We ask that checks be made payable to "The Salvation Army" and clearly marked "disaster relief" or labeled with the name of the disaster response you are supporting (e.g. "Colorado Wild Fire"). Checks should be mailed to The Salvation Army, 1370 Pennsylvania Street, Denver, CO 80203

 

Goodwill is taking donations for evacuees and will distribute as needed. More info: http://www.discovermygoodwill.org/. 

Discover Goodwill Southern & Western Colorado - 3610 Dillon Dr. (Accepting Food Only) 

The Goodwill of Southern and Western Colorado is offering assistance to evacuees. They are accepting material donations and offering vouchers to those affected. Items including clothing, household goods and furniture are being accepted at all attended donation sites in Colorado Springs. Those requiring vouchers must visit the following retail centers 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.: 1070 Kelly Johnson Blvd.; 2007 S. Circle Dr.; and 2655 Waynoka Place. Voucher amounts will be determined by family size and how significantly one has been displaced. For those donating, please designate intended items specifically to Waldo Canyon Fire efforts. For more information call 867-1117 or go to discovermygoodwill.org.

The Pikes Peak Humane Society asks that you consider monetary donations at hsppr.org. They are in need of animal kennels. They could also use bottled water for staff and volunteers.

The Larimer Humane Society has been carrying for evacuated animals in Northern Colorado. They need monetary donations (www.larimerhumane.org/donate/ ), dry dog and cat food, and soft and hard dog treats.

The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region has secured a secondary site to care for animals evacuated by the Waldo Canyon Fire at Freedom Financial Event Center, 3650 N. Nevada Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO. They are currently in need of dog and cat crates & kennels of all sizes, blankets (no sheets), and towels, NO SHEETS PLEASE!. Please deliver items directly to the Freedom Financial Event Center. www.hsppr.org/waldocanyon

The Norris Penrose Equestrian Center at 1045 Lower Gold Camp Rd in Colorado Springs and The Ranch in Loveland need bales of grass hay for the evacuated horses and livestock.

Care and Share at 2605 Preamble Point in Colorado Springs is taking food and non-perishables, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. 100 Greenhorn Dr. Accepting and transporting all donations to Colorado Springs. Items requested by Care and Share are: Canned and boxed meals,-Macaroni and Cheese, Soups, Beef Stew, Ravioli, Cereal, #10 cans of fruits and vegetables, Personal Care products-NEW towels and washcloths-lotion-deodorant-shavers-shaving crème-tooth paste-diapers.

They are in IMMEDIATE need of BRAND NEW SOCKS for firefighters. They also need peanut butter & jelly, canned meat, energy bars and pasta, spaghetti sauce, & baby powder. Please no ankle socks as they will be wearing them in their boots..

Confluence Ministries

1400 Quitman St, Denver, CO, 9am-7pm

Cripple Creek High School The evacuation center has not received a supply truck yet. No food and supply truck again today. We need, lemonade, juice, paper products, food in general, and towels, washcloths, shampoo/conditioner, Chapstick, Lotion, Flashlights & AA batteries, Ice, First Aid Supplies, Blankets, Diapers, baby wipes, Paper Products, Hot meals for 160 people (Restaurant ONLY), To go containers (3 compartment),  Napkin/Plastic Utensil/Salt & Pepper (to go) combo. The Cripple Creek center is cooking for the divide shelter.

FT Carson: Please take any donated items to the HUB  building 1532 on the corner of Specker Avenue and Prussman Boulevard. Items needed: Water, Food, Personal Hygiene Items, First Aid Products, Blankets for the kennels, Large dog kennels, Pet food, Pet items, Bowls for pet food/water, Bottled water, Easy-open (pop-top) canned food, Canned and boxed meals, Nonperishable food items, New towels and washcloths, Ziploc bags (all sizes), Fans, Garbage bags, Sanitary wipes, Hand sanitizer, Diapers, Magazines and books. The Donation office is open 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.. For More information call 719-526-8747/8749.

Petersen AFB Commissary Taking donations FRI/SAT/SUN:  Soap/Toiletries, Baby Powder, Non-perishables like Boxed dinners, canned fruits and veggies.

South Metro Denver Chamber

2154 E. Commons Ave, Suite 342, Centennial, CO 80122, 8am-5pm Monday- Friday

The Springs Rescue Mission is opening their warehouse for Waldo Fire Relief. Needed items include Gatorade, blankets, food, clothing and household items. Collection hours are 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9-11:30 a.m. Saturday. Donated items will be dispersed to agencies directly engaged with those affected by the Waldo Canyon fire. For information call 719-632-1822 or go to mysrm.org.

Sloan's Lake Community Church

2796 Utica St (corner of 28th and Utica in Denver), Leave donations at East Entrance, from 9am-1pm.

Nourish Family Center

8200 Quebec St, A#12, Centennial, CO 80112, 303-741-2550

They can accept items between 10am-11:30 and 1pm-4pm tomorrow, Thursday June 28

Denver First Church of the Nazarene

3800 E Hampden Ave, Englewood CO 80113

Colorado Fire Relief: taking donations of toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs, shaving cream, disposable razors, soap, washcloths, gallon zip loc bags, baby powder, protein bars (non-melting), bottled water.  We are a drop-off location for Salvation Army. This will go to benefit firefighters and victims displaced by the Waldo Fire in Co Spgs.

For the High Park Fire, a donations center has been set up at the former Mervyn's space in Foothills Mall, 215 E. Foothills Parkway, Fort Collins, 80525. Open daily from 9am to 7pm, it is accepting batteries, new underwear and socks, furniture, water jugs, chain saws and other items. See the full list: http://www.helpcoloradonow.org/

Pikes Peak Community college is ALSO taking donations for the evacuees!!!! Hours: 8-5 at any of the campus life offices! (Downtown Studio Campus has the box OUTSIDE of the office door).

LOCAL BUSINESS' ACCEPTING DONATIONS TO DELIVER TO A CENTER FOR YOU (including Care & Share which delivers supplies to Firefighters):

South Side Bargain Mart (Bargain Mart) We are taking donations that Jim Krug is delivering for Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado up to Divide and the Woodland Park Area! We have set up donation boxes at South Side Bargain Mart (Bargain Mart) for anyone who would like to donate snacks, drinks, water for the fire fighters and evaccuees, we are taking them and driving them up there!!!

Loaf n jugs are now accepting donations to help the firefighters via Ced Cross

Dunkin Donuts on W Colorado AVE has a drop off box for donations

Louie's Pizza 

Due to the high amount of traffic and volume at Care & Share, people can drop off Food Donations & Supplies at all 5 Louie's Pizza Locations. 2771 Briargate Blvd., 4815 Barnes Rd., 5996 Stetson Hills Blvd., 1146 E. Fillmore, 333 N. Tejon #C.

The $4 Book Store 2515 airport rd. If it is easier for you to drop them here I go there everyday to drop off already!

The Mac Corner is accepting Donations For Care and Share...we will give a 10% discount on sales and service to anyone who brings a donation to Care and Share. The Mac Corner is located at 4188 Center Park Drive, CS CO 80916. (719)884-2801. http://www.themaccorner.com/

Jazy-Frei Plumbing & Heating We are accepting donations at our south location at 4250 Hancock Expressway. We will be taking a truck up to Care and Share everyday to deliver the donated goods for as long as the situation dictates. 392-3280.

Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce - 302 N. Santa Fe Ave* We will be transporting all donations to Care & Share, Inc.

Chefsugars is Collecting donation items that we will drop off to Care and Share each night AND giving 10% of sales to Red Cross at the end of the week! http://www.facebook.com/Chefsugars

Advanced Animal Care of Colorado https://www.facebook.com/AdvancedAnimalCareofColorado could use donations as well for the fires above Ft. Collins Colorado. There are a lot of evacuees.

Johnsons' kennels If you want to purchase dog food to be delivered to the Johnsons' kennels to help with the evacuated animals in their care, got to Petflow.com and use the Coupon Code BSTNSHOW. You will get $10 off your order of $59 or more and can have it sent directly to the kennels. Addresses for shipping food are located here: http://www.sunrise-woodmenpetcare.com/contactus.html

Estes Park Soaring Eagles Donations for victims and firefighters of the Woodland Heights Fire and the High Park Fire. Items being accepted include: basic home first aid supplies, sunscreen, diapers (adult and baby), wipes, silverware, paper cups and plates, trash bags, gloves, shovels, new tarps, personal hygiene items, non-perishable foods, new tube socks, gel Inserts for boots, boot laces, new packaged underwear, animal/pet food, small notepads, pens, laundry detergent and cleaning supplies, N-95 masks. Can be dropped off until Sunday, July 1, 2012 at the following locations:

·         Town Hall, 170 MacGregor Ave. (outside Administration, Room 150) 8a.m. – 5p.m., Monday-Friday.

·         The Fairgrounds at Stanley Park, 1209 Manford Ave. (outside the Ticket Booth). Daily, 7a.m.-7 p.m.

A donation center is open to those been directly affected by the High Park Fire (please bring written referral from American Red Cross or identification with proof of address). The center is also open to those dropping off donations. OPENING DAY: Thursday, June 21st at 9:00am

 

Helpful Community:

If anyone needs help or can supply help, post here: (https://www.facebook.com/groups/399483610098529/doc/399514993428724/) http://www.facebook.com/groups/399483610098529/

 

Material donations for Waldo, Flagstaff, High Park and other wildfires

·         Donate ONLY those things that are requested by officials and bring them to the official designated collection centers

·         Donated rooms in homes can NOT be accepted.

·         Items not needed may go to waste and get in the way of relief efforts

·         Meal donations from restaurants (no home cooked meals please) are needed for some local personnel and volunteers supporting response efforts (please note that Federal Incident Command can NOT accept ANY food offers).  If you are a restaurant and want to donate meals,click here  (http://www.aidmatrixnetwork.org/FEMA/PublicPortal/ListOfNeeds.aspx?PortalID=6), and then wait to be contacted (never bring food to a site unless it is requested).

·         Click here (http://www.aidmatrixnetwork.org/fema/States.aspx?ST=Colorado ) to list your donation and note in the 'Donor Comments' section the name of the fire you would like to give to. You will be contacted if your donation is needed.

 

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS: 

 To make a donation to the organization of your choice, please see below for a list of reputable agencies responding to wildfire disasters in Colorado.

Agencies Responding to Boulder Fire:

American Red Cross1-800 RED CROSS444 Sherman St.Denver, CO 80203(designate to the Boulder Fire)http://www.coloradoredcross.org/

Agencies Responding to Waldo Fire:

American Red Cross1-800 RED CROSS444 Sherman St.Denver, CO 80203(designate to the Waldo Fire)http://www.coloradoredcross.org/

The Salvation Army 303-866-92161370 Pennsylvania Ave.Denver, CO80132www.imsalvatoinarmy.org

Designate to Disaster Relief

Agencies Responding to High Park Fire:

American Red Cross 1-800 RED CROSS, 444 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203(designate to the Northern Colorado Chapter-High Park Fire) http://www.coloradoredcross.org/

The Salvation Army 303-866-92161370 Pennsylvania Ave.Denver, CO 80132 www.imsalvatoinarmy.org

Designate to Disaster Relief 

Larimer Humane Society5137 S. College Ave.Fort Collins, CO80525www.larimerhumane.org

Adventist Community Services LIFTwww.acslift.org Note in comments that donation is for High Park Fire 

Pikes Peak Chapter of the American Red Cross can be reached at 719-632-3563 or http://www.pparc.org/

The Pikes Peak Community Foundation has established a fund to support Waldo Canyon Firefighters. The fund will provide financial resources and support needs that may arise. Donations are being accepted online at http://www.ppcf.org/

Rist Canyon Volunteer Fire Department Donations can be mailed to: RCVFD-TreasurerPO Box 2

Bellvue, CO 80521  http://rcvfd.org/  

Glacier View Volunteer Fire Department Please send financial donations in the form of a check to: 1414 Green Mountain, Livermore CO 80536

Poudre Canyon Volunteer Fire Department Mail donations to:

Poudre Canyon Volunteer Fire Department

PO Box 364 LaPorte, CO 80535-0364

The local Canyon Utilities is helping by taking credit card donations over the phone, please dial (970) 881-2262.

The mGive Foundation:  Text HIGHPARK to 80108 to donate $10 for fire relief in northern Colorado through mgivefoundation.org  

 

 

VOLUNTEERING:

Peak Pet Food Pantry http://www.facebook.com/peakpetfoodpantry We could really use volunteers for our current distributions, unloading food and supplies as it comes in, and to man our office space if we find some.  719-217-9528

Penrose Equestrian Center If you're experienced working with large animals, call 719-520-7773. 

Volunteering for Waldo, FLAGSTAFF, High Park and other wildfires

·         DO NOT GO TO THE SCENE OF A DISASTER

·         The arrival of unexpected volunteers will interfere with response efforts 

·         STAY SAFE by volunteering with a reputable agency! 

·         Volunteers will be needed most during the recovery phase. Please be patient and WAIT until relief agencies can train you and use your help

·         Please Click here (http://www.aidmatrixnetwork.org/fema/States.aspx?ST=Colorado) to sign up to volunteer and list in the 'Comments' section the name of the fire you would like to give your time to. If a volunteer need is identified, you will be contacted by the agency that can utilize your skills.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS:

·         Larimer Cnty: For updated info, go to:  http://larimer.org/emergency/

·         R.J. Montgomery, New Hope Center - (719) 578-919

·         Shelters and Emergency Housing: Colorado http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=%2Fstates%2Fcolorado%2Fhomeless%2Fshelters

·         Boulder County emergency alerts can be ordered online:everbridge.net

·         ACS Community Lift (Adventist Community Services Disaster Response) http://www.acslift.org/index.html

·         ColoradoRedCross.org/donate  http://coloradoredcross.org/donate

·         Other Donation info: http://cbsdenver.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/springer-fire-update_6_20_2012_donation_information.docx

·         Wildfire Resources section http://denver.cbslocal.com/guide/wildfire-resources/

·         UCCS Students have been offered campus housing, contact: Ralph Giese 255-4327 rgiese@uccs.ed 

·         Shelter for Military Evacuees http://www.ftcarsonnow.com/?p=2698

·         ‎Pikes Peak Respite Services (719) 659-6344 (Always Open) is offering support/lodging for those in need. Staff may be available to help those who have children with special needs.

·         Northrop Grumman Emergency Information Line at (800) 995-4318 or visit: http://www.northropgrumman.com/emergency/

·         El Paso and Teller County emergency notifications Sign up at ElPasoTeller911.org 

·         Pikes Peak United Way Call 211 or their direct line, 719-955-0742. 

·         United Way Emergency Evacuation Registration To have your name added to the Emergency Evacuation Registry call 719-955-0742, Monday through Friday from 8a.m. to 5p.m. 

·         Joint Information Center Call for information about the Waldo Canyon Fire. (719) 520-7058 (720) 402-7935 (720) 237-9947 (720) 237-3417

·         The Independence Center can help connect you with resources if you are disabled. Call the center at 719-471-8181 or emailinfo@theindependencecenter.org

·         Unemployment Benefits For Those Impacted By Waldo Canyon Fire http://www.kktv.com/news/wildfires/headlines/Unemployment_Benefits_For_Those_Impacted_By_Waldo_Canyon_Fire_160664585.html

 

SHELTERS:

People who have been forced to evacuate can find out where Red Cross shelters are open by going to http://www.redcross.org/ or accessing the free Red Cross phone app. Both are refreshed with updated information every 30 minutes.

Helpful Community:

*** If you want to offer housing to High Park Fire (Ft Collins) victims who are still evacuated, visit this website: http://cohighparkfirehousing.org/

So many helpful people.... https://www.facebook.com/groups/399483610098529/doc/399514993428724/

Denver Families Willing To Take Fire Evacuees  Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/DenverFamiliesWillingToTakeFireEvacuees

http://waldofire.com/ - This site is a place of connection between evacuees of the Waldo Canyon Fire and people willing to provide housing and other assistance to the evacuees.

Spread love not fire - Resources for Colorado Fire Victims  This NEW facebook page, was just started with links to how to help.... http://www.facebook.com/helpcoloradofirevictims

Craig's List there are columns of people offering to host animals, livestock, pets, reptiles, birds, horses, dogs cats, even bees - use at your own RISK.

 

SHELTERS for People AND Animals:

All Pets Animal Hospital Evacuees in Boulder can take small animals to: 5290 Manhattan Circle, 303-499-5335

Rocky Mountain Health Care Services is able to house families displaced by evacuations and we are able to house all sorts of animals.... your animals get to stay with you 24-7... TONS of dog, cat, bird, and rodent food was donated to us as well... LOTS of volunteers to help out with anything... breakfast, lunch and dinner provided everyday and showers on site... 310 S. 14th Street, Colorado Springs, CO.

‎Colorodo House Rabbit Society will help anyone with rabbits. co-hrs@comcast.net, or on Twitter @ColoradoHRS or http://www.facebook.com/ColoradoHRS

CSU Pueblo is providing emergency housing assistance for our employees and Colorado Springs residents beginning tomorrow, June 28th at 7 a.m. until Thursday, July 5th at 4 p.m. There will be approximately 200 beds available in the Greenhorn Residence Hall. Employees needing assistance should call 719-250-0646 in order to reach the “CSU Pueblo Emergency Shelter Hotline.” As well, you may contact the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program for counseling services at 1-800-8154. $10 flat fee plus linens.

National Mill Dog Rescue, 5335 JD Johnson Rd 719-495-7679

All Breed Rescue & Training 20 Mount View Ln, Ste C 80907. We can take dogs, cats, critters, reptiles. Bring a photo ID, any meds or special food. We are staffed 24/7 through this crisis. Call us at 719-264-6460 or email usinfo.abrt@gmail.com. We are also on FB, as All Breed Rescue & Training

All Souls Universal Church is open for evacuees & small pets, 730 N Tejon719-633-7717

Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region has set up a second emergency small animal evacuation shelter at the Freedom Financial Services Expo Center at 3650 N. Nevada Avenue. This second site will help accommodate animals of evacuees in the new mandatory evacuation areas.The emergency pet shelter will only handle pets evacuated by the Waldo Canyon Fire. Anyone attempting to reclaim a lost pet, or drop off a stray animal should go to the permanent HSPPR shelter (610 Abbott Lane, just off 8th Street by the Wal-Mart).

T Humane Society can try to arrange help in rescuing any pets that could not be evacuated. Call 719-473-1741, don't pick any prompts it will go directly to customer service.

Evacuation Shelters under operation by the Red Cross are located at: 

Lewis Palmer High School (1300 Higby, Monument, CO) 

Cheyenne Mountain High School (1200 Cresta Road, Colorado Springs, CO) 

Southeast YMCA (2190 Jet Wing Drive, Colorado Springs, CO) 

Summit Elementary School, Divide, CO

Cache La Poudre Middle School in LaPorte for the High Park Fire

Cortez High School for the Weber Fire outside of Mancos.

Douglas County Fairgrounds in Castle Rock for Colorado Springs residents who choose to evacuate to the north. They can accommodate evacuees and large animals.

The YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region is opening its facilities to evacuees until further notice. Also open are day camps for children of evacuees, ages 5 to 12. Evacuees can enroll a child for as many days as they need, space permitting. The Briargate Y camps are full, but the others have openings. YMCA/PPR is also offering Waldo Canyon Fire evacuees use of all YMCA Family Centers and City-Owned, Y-Operated Aquatic and Recreation Facilities free access to showers and recreation with a driver's license and/or military I.D.

 

SecureCare Self-Storage is offering 30 days of free storage at all its Colorado Springs-area locations. Call 1-877-907-1649.

 

 

FINDING FAMILIES:

Register on Safe and Well

The Red Cross Safe and Well website is also available. People affected by the fires and flooding can access the site and let loved ones know where they are. There are several ways to register on Safe and Well, or search for a loved one. From a computer, visit redcross.org; from a smart phone, visit www.redcross.org/safeandwell or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)

Anyone who has been evacuated please fill out this form so that they can get a hold of you to let you know the statues of your home. http://www.springsgov.com/template/WaldoCanyonNotify.asp

MISC:

Poor Richard’s Restaurant in downtown Colorado Springs is offering complimentary pizza and fountain drinks for all evacuees and firefighters affected by the Waldo Canyon Fire. Evacuees and firefighters should simply inform the employee at the counter of their status to receive their free meal Tuesday or Wednesday evening, anytime after 4pm. Poor Richards is located at 324 ½ North Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 and is open for business until 9pm.

REI will give you a 20% discount if you come in to buy socks for the firefighters, just let them know it is a donation for Care and Share.

IKEA Centennial Starting June 29, Ikea is offering High Park Fire victims one-time discounts on kitchen and other home furnishings, up to $10,000, through December 31. Ikea will also pull the items and deliver them to the customer (Picking with Delivery). Offers are available to those who show proof of their loss with an official voucher provided by the American Red Cross Northern Colorado Chapter or Larimer County officials. Full details of the offer will be made available on the IKEA Centennial website by June 29.

 

Ten on Tuesday, the like-a-kid edition

Ten Ways To Feel Like A Kid Again.

1. Run through the sprinkler. Or walk, if running is beyond you these days.
2. Next time you are at the Dairy Queen, have a cone instead of a sundae. Nothing like a DQ cone in the summertime.
3. Play catch with someone. Outdoors. On the grass.
4. Ride your bike to the municipal pool or beach. Splash water -- gently! -- at a friend. Omit the obnoxious kid that always did the sneak-up-and-grab-the-boobs-from-behind. Jeez, I hated that kid. I should have kicked him in the nuts back in 1960.
5. Ride your bike everywhere.
6. Lie in the grass and look at the clouds. Imagine what they are. Make up stories about them.
7. Spend a whole day, preferably a weekday, reading a page-turner book. 
8. Lunch = a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on white bread, accompanied by a big glass of cold milk.
9. Catch fireflies in a jar. Put the jar on your nightstand when you go to bed. Optional: cry the next morning when they are dark and dead.
10. Sing silly songs with your kids/husband/wife/significant other/neighbors/people on the bus.

A drive-by post.

Avoiding gluten has produced amazing results. Yes, my hip feels a bit better, but the amazing part is that so do the rest of my joints, those aching joints for which I have been taking 800mg of ibuprofen twice a day for years and a few months ago had to up the dosage to three times a day. (Diagram THAT sentence, sucka.)

Apparently I have a gluten sensitivity. Let me tell you, no one was more surprised than I was at the results I am getting.  Yeah, I had read here and there about how gluten and wheat (and red meat and dairy and sugar and soda and pretty much everything tasty) was bad for us, but yowza, now I am a Gluten-Avoidance Convert. I'm not fanatical about it (fanaticism and 100% avoidance does not seem to be necessary for me, thank FSM); I have the occasional burger or sandwich, although I might only eat the bottom half of the bun. A frozen pizza last weekend, Kraft Mac 'n' Cheese once -- as long as I only consume minimal wheat/gluten with the occasional splurge I'm fine.

My thanks again to Chris, who sent me a lovely, detailed email of which brands of GF products she finds to be worthwhile and where to buy them in the Twin Cities*. Chris = hero.

Life is good.

Smokey's back surgery has been pushed back from June 25 to the third week of July. The VA hospital called last week to say that they had goofed on the scheduling, the surgeon who would operate... would not be in on June 25. WTF? So now everything is pushed back. Good thing I'm having some luck with the GF diet, or I'd be chewing nails by the time it is my turn for surgery.

* We were in Minneapolis on Saturday for a belated Mother's Day/Younger Son Birthday  and Father's Day/early Smokey birthday dinner at YS's apartment. Before we went we made a very productive stop at the Wedge Coop in Chris's neighborhood. Awesome selection of GF stuff throughout the store, not just a puny section like at my local supermarket. I stocked up, youbetcha.

 

Drama.

How to hypnotize a chicken.

This one is for Erika and Yarnhog.

You may not be familiar with Michael Perry. He is a local author from New Auburn, Wisconsin (population 485) now living on a farm in the Chippewas Valley near Eau Claire, Wisconsin. His first book was Population 485: Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time, which came out in 2002 when I was working part-time at our local library. That book was never on the shelf; it was always being requested by someone somewhere in n.w Wisconsin. Eventually I decided I needed to read it and found, much to my happy surprise, that Mr. Perry is a thoughtful writer. I recommend all his books. Read 'em in order and follow his life.

Reading.

During tax season I didn't read much, but I did listen to several audio books.

Before I went back to work I read a couple mystery novels by Kate Atkinson, One Good Turn and When Will There Be Good News? They are in the Jackson Brodies series and set in Scotland. The weird thing is that as I read that last one, I knew I had seen it on PBSMasterpiece Mystery. And I had, just didn't remember that the main character was Brodie. Atkinson is an excellent writer; the first book of hers that I read was Case Histories and was recommended on someone's blog. (Whoever you are -- Kym? CarrieK? -- thanks!)

First, I finished listening to all five books (so far) of A Song of Ice and Fire. Started that endeavor in September, finished in February. What a trip!

    

After that series, anything else was a bit of a let-down but I soldiered on. Cuz I am brave like that.

First came The Amulet of Samarkand, the first book in the Bartimaeus trilogy by Jonathan Stroud. Fun book, dry humor, magic and demons abounding. I didn't realize until after I finished, but it is a YA book; I think that speaks to the fact that it is an intelligent YA book ;-) I have the second book of the trilogy, The Golem's Eye, from the library but I'm having trouble ripping it to my iTunes -- disc 13 of 14 keeps locking up my computer. DRM? Perhaps...

(Which reminds me, I need to delete Amulet from iTunes. I don't *steal* audiobook contents, I *time-shift* it to when I want to listen.)

Next was Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian. I probably won't continue with the series. It was a good story but I know I missed a good three-quarters of it because at least that much was in 1800-ish nautical terminology. Learned a couple new words: there were specific sails called "royals" and "lateens". I have since used that second word in Boggle. Someone who is more conversant with maritime jargon than I would love this series.

I started The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett (#2 in his Discworld series) but somehow didn't get hooked into the story, so I put it aside and listened instead to Good Omens by him and Neil Gaiman. That one was a lot of fun.

I listened to Pavane by Keith Roberts, an alternate history set in late 20th-century Britain where the Roman Catholic church rules the world and has done so since Queen Elizabeth I was assassinated in 1588. There is no electricity, only steam power, and long distance communication is accomplished through a network of human-powered signal towers. Interesting concept, well-written.

Real history came back in Eric Roberts's In the Garden of the Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin, an account of the Dodd family, whose father was appointed ambassador to Berlin in 1933, only a few months after Hitler came to power. The intimate and detailed descriptions of Goehring and Goebbels are fascinating, as was the entire audiobook.

After tax season was over I continued to listen to audiobooks. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett was... awesome, the best book I have read/listened to in a long time. If you haven't read it, do so. My book group is going to read it in September, and I will read the analog version then.

Right now I am listening to A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous Fourteenth Century by Barbara Tuchman. I have wanted to read it since I saw her interviewed on the Dick Cavett show when the book came out in 1978, but I also knew that I probably would get bogged down and lose interest. Audiobook is the way to go in such a situation! I must confess I do not listen to every word, just drift along with the reader. I don't care about the specifics of which count married his daughter to which king's nephew, but I love getting a mental picture of what life was like then, both for the nobles and for the commoners.

Last week I downloaded the Kindle edition of Ann Shayne's book, Bowling Avenue to my iPad. When I started reading I thought it might be a little too much chick-lit style for my taste, but then I got hooked. Next thing I knew it was 2am and I was halfway through the book, loving the characters and the story and the setting. I can recommend that one unreservedly.

The haul.

 
 
 

Clockwise, from top left, posing happily with my rain gauge:

• Fingerlakes Soft Wool, worsted, 100% wool; 4 ounces, yardage unstated. Color is actually a heathery soft light brown, not gray as it appears here. Audrey had a pair of socks on on display made from these. The yarn blooms beautifully after washing and becomes very soft, and this will become a pair of bed socks for me. I have been planning to make some for two years, but the yarn I originally planned to use has gone MIA somewhere in my house. (from Fibre Functions)
  
  
• Patons Kroy sock yarn, 75/25 wool/nylon, destined to be another pair of socks for my feet. (Fibre Functions)
  
  
• Blackberry Hills Mohair Dream, 65/20/15 kid mohair/wool/nylon; 8 ounces, 625 yards. Yarn is 2-ply and seems to be DK to light worsted weight. Dreamy soft, it will become something for Younger Son's fiance Alex. Those are her colors.
  
  
• Adriafil Knitcol Trends worsted, superwash merino, self-striping; 3 skeins @ 137 yards each, to make the baby sweater pictured. I assume the yarn is from Plymouth because the pattern is from Plymouth Yarn Company, but that name does not appear on the yarn label. (Shelley's Yarn and Fiber Shoppe)
  
  
•  Malabrigo Silky Merino, 51/49 merino/silk; 50g, 150 yards. This will become a scarflette for me. I never wear purply-pink colors because they make my coloring look sallow, but the non-purple parts of the skein are peachy and olive. I think it will work with my skin tone. (Even if it doesn't I'll still wear the scarf. Srsly, Malabrigo? Merino and silk? Of course I will wear it.)
  
  
• Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille, 100% cotton; 2 50g skeins, 98 yards each. The washcloths in our bathroom are at least thirty years old. 'Nuf said.

I seem to have gone on a purely unintentional yellow/orange/brown kick on this yarn hop. Those are not normally my preferred colors, but what can I say? I loved each one for itself.

And now the non-yarn part of the haul, also my favorite part of the haul: a Laurel Burch bag.

I have a ton of tote bags that I use for knitting bags, but most of them flop over when I set them down. This one is stiff and will stand up nicely. Inside it has a zipper pocket and a pouchy pocket for a cell phone. Size is too small for an entire adult sweater and rather big for a pair of socks, but perfect for anything in between. Love!

Saturday.

This was the Saturday activity for my friend Colleen, the county librarian and fellow knitter, and I. She picked me up at 10 am and we were off.

First stop was Fibre Functions in rural Frederic, WI. (No website; link is to the Facebook page.) Audrey, the owner, is in my book group and in the alternate-Thursdays-knitting-group I attend when I can, and Colleen had taken a knitting class from her, so we were already acquainted. (Such is life in small towns.) But I had never been to her shop, which is housed in a small building behind her lakeside home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audrey had LOTS of yarn crammed into the tiny three-room building. We spent nearly an hour touching, squeezing, stroking, and drooling. (Wait, that sounded pornographic. Yarn, people, yarn!) After doing serious damage to Colleen's checking account and my credit card, we were on our way to the next stop....

...which was Blackberry Hills, the enterprise of Jerry and Loretta Pedersen. They have sheep and llamas and alpaca (and goats and cow and rabbits, oh my). I have seen and purchased Loretta's yarns and fiber at Yarnover and Shepherd's Harvest. The studio, in the walk-out basement of their home, has Loretta's spinning wheel(s) and loom(s) and lots of fiber. More damage to our respective checking account and credit card ensued. Happy damage, though.

[digression] The day before the event it occurred to me that the very last thing in the world I needed was more yarn. However, what was the point of going on a yarn shop hop if I didn't buy some yarn? So I resolved to buy something at each stop. Buy local, support local businesses, etc., etc. So I did. [/digression]

By this time it was noonish and we were hungry, so we headed to St Croix Falls to find some lunch. On the way we passed Chateau St Croix, a local winery that you have seen here before, where we noticed many tents on the grounds and lots of cars. We stopped to see what was happening, which turned out to be an art fair. We briefly walked through, but the food for sale did not tempt us, mainly because the outdoor temperature was quite possibly equal to the surface of the sun and we did not relish perching on a picnic bench in said sunshine to eat. So we left, but not before I bought a quarter pound of truffle cheese upon which to feast at bedtime.

And also not before I took my sole photo for the day.

Wine-themed ceramics. Click to embiggen so you can read the inscriptions.

Lunch was at Grecco's in a shady corner of their lovely outdoor deck (sort 0f) overlooking the St Croix river. Grilled salmon sandwich to die for for me, grilled chicken sandwich and a cup of carrot ginger soup (also to die for) for Colleen, and a glass of cold Sangria for each of us.

After lunch we headed across the river to Shelley's, site of my other knitting group and housed in a former bank. That is the former drive-up window at lower left in the first photo, and, no, Shelley does not sell drive-up yarn, sorry.

These photos are old and have been patiently waiting their turn on the blog.
Today is the day, guys!

I left Shelley's with yarn and a pattern for the cutest baby sweater EVAH (no, I don't know anyone who is having a baby, but they seem to crop up about once a year; this time I will be prepared) and the yarn to make it.

There were lots of knitters and shoppers in Shelley's small shop while we were there; it is just that sort of welcoming place where one feels the urge to hang around and chat and maybe sit and knit a few rows. I overheard a woman say to another shopper, "There are shops with yarn, and there are Yarn Shops [I could hear the bold and Caps in her voice]. This is a Yarn Shop." I totally agree.

Last stop was the St Croix Art Barn in Osceola, where Mrs. I was selling her inventory. Her shop had been located in a former church on Main Street, but she had recently closed it and is looking for a way to continue her business with lower overhead. I left there with a couple balls of cotton chenille to make the softest face cloths on the planet.

Tomorrow (or soon), photos of the haul.

* * * * *

Colleen and I had both been to Shelley's and the Art Barn many times, so we had no trouble finding them. But Fibre Function and Blackberry Hills were both out in the wood and unknown to us. The day before I came up with this: screen shots on my iPad of the Google Map to each place.

Sometimes I just amaze myself.

[light bulb moment]

A number of years ago I had an idea which, had I been able  to perfect it / patent it / sell it, could have brought in a tidy sum. I have since seen the thing, so I know it was possible. My idea was to, instead of simply mirroring the outside surface of sunglasses, put a see-through holographic image on the lens -- clever, huh? Images of eyeballs, national flags, insects -- the possibilities are endless.)

Today I had another one: make auto upholstery scratch-and-sniff, so that when the driver or passenger slides in, the upholstery releases a scent. Obviously. this would have to be an option, since some folks are sensitive to smells and/or the chemicals that produce them.

Smokey and I had a good time with this.

You could make the scent match the car's exterior paint:

• Yellow car = lemon-scented upholstery.
• Bright red car = strawberry-scented upholstery.
• Dark red car = black cherry-scented upholstery.
• Blue car = blueberry-scented upholstery.
• Black car = licorice-scented upholstery.

Or, for luxury cars, you could upgrade the scent, and give every color car wine-scented upholstery.

• Red car = cabernet sauvignon
• Pale beige car = champagne

Smokey thought that French car makers would go farther and have one of the wine scents; everyone knows the French have highly descriminating noses, right?  Citroens and Renaults and Peugeots would offer, besides the above-listed choices, chablis, chardonnay, chennin blanc, merlot, pinot grigio, pinot noir, sauvignon blanc, and sauterne. In Germany, all cars would offer scents of gewürtztraminer, liebfraumilch, and rieslingale. plus, of course, lager, pilsner, and stout.

All brown cars would smell of shit.

And to the French, all German cars would smell like that.

Eye (and ear) candy Friday.

Join me here for the ear candy part (totally safe for work,
no matter how crabby your cube mate is).

For sale to highest bidder. SOLD!

"Mid-sized Midwestern state with long history of progressive politics, bipartisan cooperation, and civil discourse. State considered key to sitting President's re-election strategy. No ethics required. Full benefit package, including fully funded legal defense fund. Ideal candidate will have photogenic face, willingness to abandon all integrity and kowtow to Big Money, including Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce and the Koch Brothers; membership in ALEC a plus. Apply at www. wisconsin.gov*."

* Hover to see the real url.

Today.

My thanks to Chris for sending this to me.

One more thing. No, two more things. Well, actually, three more things.

This was me at the rally yesterday. We librarians* stand with the teachers whose vocation was disparaged and attacked and made to seem the enemy by the incumbent.

* Even former part-time librarians currently employed as tax accountants.

* * * * *

From Amanda Palmer's latest email update on her fantastically successful Kickstarter-funded album:

... to review the people-who've called list:

rolling stone called, the new york times called, time magazine called, the new yorker called, the wall street journal called, billboard called, and the economist called.

they want their media back.

i might give it to them to borrow, but first i want a picture of 24,883** people holding my naked body aloft on the cover of LIFE.

then we'll talk. 

I LOLed at that, and it was too good not to share.

** The number of people who donated to the Kickstarter project.

* * * * *

What I did on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend:

Yes, that's right, I hung out with my new BFF, Brenda Dayne. She is on a teaching / knitting / family visit / whatever tour of North America and taught several classes at The Yarnery*** in St. Paul. I took her class on how to design and construct a top-down raglan ("Basic Top-Down Daglan (With a Difference)").

And before you ask, no, I did not knit that gray alpaca lace shawl myself. I won it and blogged about it here (scroll down).

*** If you follow the link to The Yarnery, do watch the slide show of drool-worthy yarns on their front page. 

Hope.

 

 

Today I shook the hand of ::fingers and toes crossed, hoping:: the next governor of Wisconsin. He is Tom Barrett, mayor of Milwaukee, the tall white-haired gentleman in the blue plaid shirt in the photos above. The last photo is of Senator Herb Kohl, senior senator from Wisconsin, who accompanied him on his swing through northwest Wisconsin today. I also shook Mrs. Barrett's hand -- that's her in the fourth photo.

Three days to go, and the Barrett campaign's internal polling shows the two candidates are within half a percentage point of each other. The incumbent being recalled has raised over $30 million (MILLION!), 80% of it from out-of-state; the challenger has raised $3 million. The incumbent is the only governor in the country with a legal defense fund and absolutely refuses to reveal who is funding it. 

Word in the crowd was that the incumbent will be indicted on Monday.

We can only hope. And vote.