Jimmy  Darts

SB Mowing

Pattie Gonia

Little Miss Flint

Kalina Silverman / @makebigtalk on Instagram

The Dogist

Samuel Weidenhofer

Patriotic Kenny Foundation

Peter Bond

That Good News Girl

Ben Saunders - Flawless Cleaning

Flavor Flav

Ask Uncle Jack

Amy Jandrisevits

FowlMouthFarmer

Tess Bohne

Latonja and Taylor Richardson

Officer Richard Craig

John Wolfe

Khloe

<div><b>"You're the only place I feel safe, Mom. I want to come home."</b>
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<div>Candace, our close friend, hears this from her special needs son often when he calls her from the hospital. 
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<div><br />
</div>
<div>What is happening now is she has been told by the powers that be in the system:


</div>


<div><br />


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<div>"If you don't have a suitable home by the October 20 for your son, we will be keeping him for a much longer and unknown period of time. "


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<div><br />

</div>

<div>Layton, her special needs son is in a forensic hospital and it would make you weep if you heard what they have put him through just this year.   They ignore his special needs and punish him often for not acting “normal”.   He is scared and we need your help bringing him home to help him heal from the trauma he has endured.  
</div>
<div><br />
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<div>We are helping a mother with limited means to get her son home to her.<br />
</div>


<div><br />


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<div>If you haven't clicked on the YouTube video yet, I highly recommend watching it. It's a video Candace made with her own lyrics and visuals. 
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<div>It's powerful. 
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<div>It reminds us of a world millions of families are navigating too.


</div>


<div><br />


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<div><span>Update!  </span>
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<div><span><br /></span>
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<div><span>We have some exciting news! WE FOUND CANDACE A HOME!!</span><br />
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<div><br />


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<div>It's a beautiful spot on shared land with a couple friends, surrounded by thousands of acres of national forest. Layton will have room to roam, nature all around him, and a community of people who care about him.


</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>The owner of the new place says we can pay in payments. 
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<div><br />


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<div>Now we just need to help Candace so she can keep it.  
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<div><br />


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<div>We're raising $3,333.  The bare minimum.  For rent and food. 
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<div>Though we hope to have a little extra money to fill the fridge with things Layton loves.  Comforts. 

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<div><br />


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<div><span>Even $10 or $25 helps”</span>
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<div><br />


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<div><span>Candace gets calls from Layton almost daily, her son who is in a Forensic Psychiatric Hospital, her son who is autistic and who we believe would have never ended up there had the system been trained to work WITH someone like him. Not against.</span>
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<div><br />


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<div>Layton is 31 years old now.
</div>
<div>He was diagnosed autistic at 2 or 3. He has often been misunderstood and was always "different." He would speak of world peace and run away to Indigenous Reservations to learn from elders who told his mother he was special, spiritual, shaman-like.  Even at 16 years old. 
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<div><span><br /></span>
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<div><span>Even as a child he would listen to John Lennon's "Imagine" over and over again.  At 9 years old he would speak of how we need to save the world, help each other and "make sure everyone has a home".</span>
</div>


<div><br />


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<div>Candace has always seen how special he is.


</div>


<div>I have seen videos of the two of them cracking up, making jokes. Him doing little dances just to make her laugh. They have a very special connection, and I hear ALL the time how much she misses him and wants him home.
</div>


<div><br />


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<div>What we're raising:


</div>


<div><br />


</div>


<div>Our goal is $3,333. That will cover the cost of the new place for them both, a couple of months of rental fees and some basic things to help Layton feel comfortable, safe and welcome and at his new home.


</div>
<div><br />
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<div>Like clothes,<span> socks, maybe a TV and his favorite comfort foods after all he has been through. </span>
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<div><br />


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<div>If 214 people gave just $25, we'd reach our goal!


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<div><br />


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<div>About Candace:


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<div><br />


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<div>She is the BEST place for Layton to be. She is the one who KNOWS what he needs. The one who has space to listen before trying to quiet what he's experiencing.  The best chance Layton has to feel safe in this world again. 
</div>


<div><br />


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<div>For nearly 30 years, Candace has worked in youth programs, homelessness outreach, mental health, corrections, Housing First, and family support, including starting a youth center from the ground up.


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<div><br />


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<div>This last year while Layton was in the hospital she published three books, created a free nine-week course for families, and is now helping build an app to support families navigating mental-health crises.


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<div><br />


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<div>She deserves this, and she NEVER would have asked for it herself. She is fiercely independent, which I guess you have to be when you're a single mom of two and one of your kids needs a tremendous amount of support. She's been doing everything she can with almost no money coming in, and she still never asked us for help.


</div>


<div><br />


</div>


<div>We had to step in and say,


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<div><br />


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<div>"Sis, you need a village now. Let us help you."


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<div><br />


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<div>This is us being that village.


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<div><br />


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<div>Can't give? Please share this. That helps too.


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<div>We are deeply grateful for any and all of it.


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<div><br />


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<div>We are praying that on October 20, Candace will be able to say to Layton,


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<div><br />


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<div><strong>“We got a home. You can come home now.”</strong>


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<div><br />


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<div><br />


</div>


<div><br />


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<div><br />


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<div>Further Reading if you choose:


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<div><br />


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<div>Below are a couple of her very heartfelt Facebook posts that got a lot of attention, especially from other mothers who know exactly what she is going through.


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<div><br />


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<div><strong>FB Post 1:</strong>


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<div><br />


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<div>“Yesterday morning, my son called me from the forensic psychiatric hospital.


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<div><br />


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<div>He told me they had given him until 3:00 p.m. to agree to an antipsychotic injection.


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<div><br />


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<div>He didn't want it.


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<div><br />


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<div>He told me it was harming him, that it makes his skin feel bad and gives him heart palpitations.


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<div><br />


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<div>He believes this medication could kill him. He is already on so many medications.


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<div><br />


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<div>And he asked me what he should do.


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<div><br />


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<div>He asked if I could help him.


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<div>"Please, Mom. I'm begging you to help me."


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<div><br />


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<div>I'm his mother and his legal guardian. I've already raised concerns about his medications and tried to advocate for changes, and they aren't changing it. They don't hear me, and I feel helpless to support him as the hospital overrides my authority.


</div>


<div><br />


</div>


<div>So what am I supposed to tell him?


</div>


<div><br />


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<div>I told him,


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<div>"I understand. It does feel wrong. You shouldn't have to take something you don't want in your body. I have tried to change this, but they don't listen to me either. But you're in the hospital, and if you don't comply, it's going to cause further problems for you. I know it feels wrong, but please don't fight them on this. When you get home, we can start making changes."


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<div><br />


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<div>And the moment I said it, it felt fucking wrong.


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<div><br />


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<div>Because how is it right to tell another human being to surrender to something they are telling you is harming them?


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<div><br />


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<div>How is it right for me, as his mother, to say:


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<div>I hear that you're scared.


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<div>I hear that you believe this is hurting your body.


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<div>I hear that you don't consent.


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<div>But please let them do it anyway, because I'm afraid of what will happen to you if you resist.


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<div><br />


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<div>That's not a choice.


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<div><br />


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<div>That's trying to choose between two things that both feel wrong.


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<div><br />


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<div>Later that afternoon, he refused.


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<div><br />


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<div>He was handcuffed and held down while the injection was forced on him. He fought, and now we are facing the possibility that what happened during that struggle could result in further legal consequences.


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<div><br />


</div>


<div>The very thing I was afraid would happen if he didn't comply happened.


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<div>And this is the part I cannot get past:


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<div><br />


</div>


<div>We can debate medication, involuntary treatment, capacity, risk, psychosis, and what hospitals are supposed to do when someone refuses treatment.


</div>


<div><br />


</div>


<div>But yesterday, I wasn't having an academic debate.


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<div><br />


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<div>I was a mother on the phone with her son, telling him to surrender his body to something he believed was harming him because I was afraid of what would be done to him if he said no.


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<div><br />


</div>


<div>It felt wrong when I said it.


</div>


<div><br />


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<div>And it feels wrong today.


</div>


<div><br />


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<div>I think we need to be willing to talk about that.


</div>


<div><br />


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<div>Because it's so much deeper than, "Just take your medication."


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<div><br />


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<div><br />


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<div><strong>FB Post 2:</strong>


</div>


<div><br />


</div>


<div>“I'm sitting here this morning missing my son and wondering how the hell we ended up here.


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<div><br />


</div>


<div>Sometimes I look back over the last 15 years and I honestly can't believe all of this even happened.


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<div><br />


</div>


<div>I think about how full of life and light he was, how funny he was, how much of himself there was in everything he did.


</div>


<div><br />


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<div>And then I think about him now, sitting in a forensic psychiatric hospital, angry and on more medication than I ever imagined one person could be taking.


</div>


<div><br />


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<div>And I miss him soooo much.


</div>


<div><br />


</div>


<div>I keep thinking about how differently things could have gone if there had been somewhere safe for him to land when things were falling apart.


</div>


<div><br />


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<div>Somewhere that understood extreme states and disability, where the response wasn't always more control, more force, more medication, more police, and more systems.


</div>


<div><br />


</div>


<div>I think about him trying to get away from staff who were trying to forcibly inject him, and how something that happened in the middle of that struggle eventually became part of a criminal process.


</div>


<div><br />


</div>


<div>I know these situations can be incredibly complicated and that other people can be affected too, but as his mom, I can't stop asking how someone who was already struggling so profoundly ended up being criminalized instead of having somewhere better to go.


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<div>He deserved so much better.


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<div><br />


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<div>Looking back now, I think that's one of the things I have the hardest time making peace with.


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<div><br />


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<div>There should have been somewhere safe for him, somewhere built on compassion, autonomy, and human dignity.


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<div><br />


</div>


<div>Maybe that's the grief underneath all of this for me this morning.


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<div>I can't change what has already happened to my son, no matter how many times I replay it and wish I could.


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<div><br />


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<div>But there needs to be another place for people like my son to land.


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<div>And I don't think I'm going to rest until we create it. ♥️”


</div>

Help Candace Bring Her Special Needs Son Home

<div> We Saved It… Now Let’s Grow It.
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<div><br />
</div>
<div>A few years ago, I came to this community with a heavy heart and a lot of hope. My bowling alley — a place filled with birthdays, league nights, first dates, family traditions, and late-night laughter — was fighting to stay alive.
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<div><br />
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<div>And you showed up.
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<div><br />
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<div>Because of you, the fundraiser reached its goal. Because of you, the doors stayed open. But more than that… together we rebuilt something special.
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<div><br />
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<div>Since that fundraiser, I’ve poured everything back into this place. I didn’t just maintain it — I worked hard to transform it.
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<div><br />
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<div>✔️ All 12 bowling lanes are fully up and running
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<div>✔️ Brand new golf simulators added
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<div>✔️ New arcade games installed
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<div>✔️ A brand new pool hall
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<div>✔️ Continued upgrades and improvements throughout the building
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<div>✔️ A stronger, cleaner, more exciting space for families and friends
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<div><br />
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<div>What you helped save is no longer surviving — it’s thriving.
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<div><br />
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<div>And now… I’m ready for the next chapter.
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<div><br />
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<div>Our area doesn’t have many local entertainment options. Families often have to travel far just to find something fun to do together. I truly believe this community deserves more — more activities, more experiences, and more reasons to stay local and create memories right here at home.
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<div><br />
</div>
<div>This new fundraiser isn’t about keeping the lights on.
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<div>It’s about turning the lights up even brighter.
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<div><br />
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<div>I have exciting expansion ideas and additional entertainment projects I’d love to see happen that would continue transforming the bowling alley. Every dollar raised will go directly back into improvements and additions that benefit this community.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>I’ll be honest — asking for support again wasn’t an easy decision. I went back and forth on whether I should even do this. But what gave me confidence is this:
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>You’ve already seen what happens when this community comes together.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>Your support helped rebuild something that means so much to so many people.
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<div><br />
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<div>Whether you choose to donate, share this page, or simply continue supporting the bowling alley by walking through the doors — please know how deeply grateful I am. This business may have my name on it, but it truly belongs to this community.
</div>
<div><br />
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<div>Thank you for believing in it once.
</div>
<div>Thank you for continuing to believe in it now.
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<div>And thank you for helping build what comes next. 
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<div><br />
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Help us support the growth of the Ellsworth bowling alley!

<div>I am raising funds to support a project documenting San Francisco’s gay culture and history. My goal is to conduct ongoing research and preserve the stories of those who lived in San Francisco during the 1960’s-1990’s and survived the AIDS crisis. HIV and AIDS claimed the lives of a large portion of our gay male population in the 1980’s and 1990’s, and with their passing, much of our history was lost. 
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<div> 
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<div> Your donations will help me gather, document, and share these important stories. Funds will be used for project supplies such as printing materials, website access, software subscriptions, webcam, lighting, microphones, and other tools needed to record, store, and edit information. By supporting this project, you are helping to ensure that the experiences and history of our community are preserved for future generations to learn, study, and understand. 
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<div> 
</div>
<div> I believe it’s essential to create an audiovisual and written archive of those who survived the AIDS crisis, so their stories are not forgotten. Your support means so much to me and to everyone whose history deserves to be remembered. Thank you for helping me make this project possible.  And thank you on behalf of all those who have shared their history with us!
</div>

Preserving San Francisco’s Gay History

<img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/27220572_1579045054156629_r.jpeg" alt="27220572_1579045054156629_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" />Laura Rubin 1966<br /><br />LAURA RUBIN, the photographer who photographed The Warhol Circle, continues to be  in terrible trouble right now, all alone with no support or income  and she needs our help.  She is suffering with acute Lupus and a heart condition. She has managed to raise her weight from a low of 93 pounds to  108  pounds because of our intervention  but is in desperate need of both medical and dental intervention.. Now  70, she finds herself seriously ill, unable to work,  isolated and living with the stress of being on the verge of being evicted from her apartment, every month. She lives  with  fear on a month to month basis. Return to USA is impossible both because of health condition and because there is no one and nothing here for her to return to even if the state of her health allowed for that. <br /><br />All of Laura's Available Go Fund Me PHOTOS HERE<br /><a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10VsRVaWA8Srl_KHjgLq8kriMHQUjyyE1?usp=sharing" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10VsRVaWA8Srl_KHjgLq8kriMHQUjyyE1?usp=sharing</a><br /><br />ANY AMOUNT HELPS! Laura needs help now!  So far we have not been able to raise enough money to pay for medical treatment, only for her most basic expenses. Like many pioneering artists, Laura does not qualify for Social Security. Laura has no  health insurance to treat her severe Lupus and other serious health problems. If you are familiar with Lupus, you know it is an auto immune condition that attacks a persons own cells and tissues and is a very painful.<br /><br />Laura waited a long time to reach out to me until her situation was  desperate.<br />She has been living in Mexico for 15 years, moving their originally to caretaker her elderly parents.  She is completely alone. She had already donated her negatives to The Warhol Museum when disaster struck and thru their generosity we have the capacity to make high resolution scans.<br /><br />We are trying to keep to keep a roof over her head, with money for food, utilities and basic medical help.  She lives in deep fear of losing her home. This is a critical situation for her survival and so she could stop feeling the terrible anxiety and start to relax she could heal and get  some of the desperate medical help she needs.<br /><br />Long before many photographers brought dignity and yes, glamour to queer and transsexual artists, Laura facilitated their expression through her photography. She allowed them to express to the world who they knew themselves to be.<br /><br />Proud and independent, Laura gave her negatives to the Andy Warhol Museum as a permanent gift, just before a flood devastated her master prints. With the aid and support of The Andy Warhol Museum, Laura has given me permission to print photos from high resolution scans of her negatives from her amazing archive held by The Warhol Museum as gifts and rewards for the help you give. <br /><br />Thank you for your patience. The prints have been made and sent to many donors. Printed by a reputable photographic printer on archival paper with a lot of attention to detail by my long time collaborator Steve Zehentner who is doing all this work, as I am, pro bono. These are not dashed off at Kinko's but are beautiful works of art that you will treasure.<br /><br />Laura is desperate for medicine, doctor visits etc<br /><br />You can get a high resolution prints of any of Laura's photos listed and linked below. These are very rare photos.<br /><br />$175 includes domestic postage<br />$225 includes international postage<br /><br />AVAILABLE SELECTION:<br />Candy Darling, Holly Woodlawn, Mario Montez, Francis Francine, Andrea “Whips” Feldman, Geraldine Smith, Tony Conrad and Beverly Grant, and myself, Penny Arcade. These are amazing photos that capture the spirit of the 1960's .<br /><br />All of Laura's Available Go Fund Me PHOTOS HERE<br /><a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10VsRVaWA8Srl_KHjgLq8kriMHQUjyyE1?usp=sharing" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10VsRVaWA8Srl_KHjgLq8kriMHQUjyyE1?usp=sharing</a><br /><br />Laura has exhibited with the Warhol Museum, International Photography Center, The Museum of The City of NY, Guggenheim, etc. She has been featured in numerous publications; “After Dark Magazine, “Soho Weekly News”, “Gay Power” and many more. Her street photos are in the New York Jewish Historical Society’s permanent collection.

Help Laura Survive....do for others!!

<div>Hi, this is Lois Weaver and Peggy Shaw, friends of Frank Mullaney and Neil Greenberg.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>You may know that our wonderful friend Frank died on February 23rd at Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC as a result of respiratory complications brought on by a targeted chemotherapy treatment for metastatic lung cancer. Frank’s cancer was originally diagnosed just a few months before, in July.
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<div><br />
</div>
<div>What you may not know is the saga that preceded Frank’s arrival at Lenox Hill.
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<div><br />
</div>
<div>At the beginning of January, Neil and Frank left NYC for Mexico for a much-needed break from work, from orchestrating retirement, and from moving apartments, all while Frank was undergoing chemotherapy. Just hours after arriving, though, Frank had a respiratory crisis – with a dangerously low blood oxygen saturation of 35% - and was brought by ground ambulance to a hospital in Cancun. Later that same day Frank had to be intubated and was put on a ventilator. Frank stayed in that hospital for three weeks, with Neil by his side day and night. The initial hope was that Frank could recover enough so he and Neil could return to NYC on a commercial flight, with the help of a portable oxygen generator. Frank did come off the ventilator for a few days and was starting to recover, but then had a setback and had to be intubated and put back on the ventilator again. It was clear then that the only way to get him home was via air ambulance. Neil spent hours negotiating with their medical insurance, air ambulance services in Mexico and in the US, and both Lenox Hill and the hospital in Cancun to make this happen. All this time Frank and Neil were alone in Mexico, and much of the time Frank was so heavily sedated he was unconscious. It’s hard to fathom how frightening and difficult this had to be for Neil, and of course for Frank. Neil finally found a way for them to return to NYC on January 28th via air ambulance, however it was NOT covered by medical insurance and had to be paid upfront.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>It’s so sad to lose such a wonderful human like Frank Mullaney. It’s also sad that we live in a time and a place where care comes at such a cost. Two exhausting and unsuccessful appeals to the insurance company later, we’re reaching out to those who knew and loved Frank, and love and want to support Neil, to help defray the cost of the med-flight, which was $56k. Neil shouldn’t have to bear the exorbitant cost of getting Frank home alongside the unbearable loss of his lovely Frank.
</div>
<div><br />
</div>
<div>This is, of course, a painful time for all of us who mourn Frank’s death. When Frank died at Lenox Hill on that snowy night in February, he was finally free of all the tubes and machinery. Neil was with him when he exhaled his last breath. In the days prior he had said, “I don’t want to be forgotten.” One way for us to honor Frank’s desire to be remembered is to continue to offer our support for Neil. Please help us help him and contribute what you can.
</div>
<div><br />
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<div><br />
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<div>(Photo of Frank by Rick Shupper)
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Help Neil Pay for the Air Ambulance that Brought Frank Home

<div>On March 30th, the Rutherford County Library Board terminated Luanne James from her position as director of the public library system.
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<div><br />
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<div>Luanne has dedicated nearly her entire adult life to public libraries, working tirelessly to expand free access to information, technology, and essential services for library patrons and local communities. She has 25 years of combined experience as a library director and grant writer, during which she secured approximately $6 million dollars in grant funding. These funds made it possible to create and expand public programs, improve computer access and connectivity, renovate and repair existing facilities, construct a new library building, and the purchase of a bookmobile and wheelchair accessible Sprinter van for community outreach.
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<div><br />
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<div>Please help Luanne during this time with a gift or donation. Funds raised will go directly toward supporting her family’s basic living expenses during this time.
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Help Luanne James in Her Time of Need

<div><strong>January 2026:</strong>
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<div>Hello dear friends and chosen family of Stephen and Rolfe 
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<div> 
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<div>The generosity, love, and support you’ve shown to help cover Stephen’s expenses has been truly incredible. It’s made a meaningful difference and lifted a tremendous weight during a very challenging time, and I am so grateful to each of you.
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<div><br />
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<div>As we roll into a new year, just… thank you. Wishing you all health, happiness, and many good moments ahead.
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<div><br />
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<div>I’ll keep this GoFundMe here and update it from time to time—please feel free to share it with anyone who may not have seen it yet or has not been made aware of Rolfe’s passing. Every share, message, and bit of support truly means the world.
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<div><br />
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<div>And don’t forget to reach out to Stephen — a text, call, visit, or kind word goes a long way. He’ll happily admit he’s a curmudgeon, but he’s <em>our curmudgeon</em>, and he feels the love.
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<div> 
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<div>xo, Pamela
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<div><br />
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<div><br />
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<div><strong>There's no place like home, as the story goes. The Husband, The Home, Boys Fort, a place created by Stephen and Rolfe, a magical place where every wall, corner, shelf, and cubby tells a story.</strong>
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<div><br />
</div>
<div><strong><em>From Stephen:</em></strong>
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<div>Rolfe left us peacefully, in his home that he loved at 8:30am surrounded by his husband, his dog Trick, and the close friends and animals that were his logical family.
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<div><br />
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<div>His passions were art, design, and performance. His greatest inspirations were Joseph Cornell, Joe Brainard, and David Byrne.
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<div>A lifelong non-smoker, it was lung cancer that took Rolfe from us.
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<div>In his memory, make the world more visually intriguing, be kind to animals, lift up the oppressed, treat others with kindness, fight fascism.
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<div>Hello and Happy Sunday,
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<div>I wanted to share an update on the GoFundMe I started for my dear friends Stephen and Rolfe.
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<div>Rolfe is facing a second battle with cancer and has come home under the care of hospice, surrounded by his husband Stephen and the terrors—<em>I mean terriers</em>… or did I?
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<div>So many people have stepped forward with monetary support, and it will make an enormous difference. But beyond that, the love has been palpable—felt from both near and far.
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<div>Earlier this year, Rolfe checked off a bucket list item: having a show in Portland. Donna, the former owner of <a href="https://guardinogallery.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Guardino Gallery</a>, helped make that dream a reality. The room was filled with friends and admirers of the artist who has come to be known as The Husband.
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<div>I recently brought them a few of the pieces from the show—works Rolfe wanted close by. Gail, who now runs the gallery, made an incredibly generous offer: for any pieces of Rolfe’s work that sell, she will take no commission. Every dollar will go directly to Rolfe, and of course to Stephen.
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<div><a href="https://guardinogallery.com/collections/richard-rolfe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Works by Richard 'Rolfe' at Guardino Gallery</strong></a>
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<div>It’s all just so lovely. And so are all of you.
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<div>With warm regard,
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<div>Pamela
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<div><strong>Original message:</strong>
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<div>To all of the friends of Stephen and Rolfe, Rolfe and Stephen ... two names that have become one; ubiquitous within this group of friends and loved ones they've welcomed in to their world over the years.
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<div>Richard “Rolfe,” our kind, dear friend, a quiet yet brilliant spark of creativity, is now entering hospice care after facing a second battle with cancer—a path no one should ever have to walk twice.
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<div>Rolfe and his husband, Stephen Rutledge, are two of the most gifted and generous artists you could ever meet: actors, makers, and storytellers whose home radiates warmth, wit, beauty, and a love of animals that seems to fill every corner. Rolfe’s recent art show was a testament to his immense talent and the tenderness with which he sees the world—each piece a reminder of the compassion, depth, and grace he shares so freely.
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<div>Both he and Stephen have bravely navigated their own cancer diagnoses in recent years, and while their resilience has been extraordinary, the financial strain has been overwhelming.
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<div>As they focus on comfort, love, and holding each other close in the warmth of the home they’ve built together, we hope to help lighten the burdens no family should have to carry alone.
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<div>Any support—whether through a donation or by sharing this page—will offer them stability, peace, and a heartfelt reminder of how cherished they truly are. Thank you for holding them in your hearts.
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<div>xo, Pamela
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In memory of Rolfe, in care of Stephen

<div><strong>WHAT’S HAPPENING:</strong>
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<div>Pattie Gonia is backpacking 100 miles in drag over 1 week to raise $1,000,000 for BIPOC + Queer 8 nonprofits &amp; orgs working to make the outdoors/environmental spaces a more equitable place.
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<div><strong>HOW IT WORKS:</strong>
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<li>You DONATE now, whatever you can. $5 $25 $100 Anything helps!
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<li>You GET STICKERS in return! We’ll send you a set of Pattie stickers as a thank you.
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<li>We see how much we can raise TOGETHER from now until Saturday, December 6th.
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<div><strong>TO GET YOUR STICKERS:</strong>
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<div>You will receive two emails after you make your donation:
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<div>1) a tax deductible donation receipt will be received immediately after donating
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<div>2) an email titled "A thank you note from Pattie" will be received within 4 hours after donating - <strong>please click on the form link in this message to give us your mailing address so we can send you stickers!</strong>
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<div><strong>FUNDRAISER RECIPIENTS:</strong>
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<div>Here are the non-profits we’re fundraising for! Donations raised will be divided and transferred from GoFundMe.org to the following eight organizations and projects:
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<div><strong>1. EASTERN SIERRA CONSERVATION CORP</strong> provides trail work opportunities for young adults from BIPOC, Queer and low income communities to experience wilderness and the outdoors by providing transformational experiences. <a href="https://www.easternsierracc.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="http://www.easternsierracc.org/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">http://www.easternsierracc.org/</a></a> IG @easternsierracc
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<div><strong>2. THE CHILDREN'S HOME PROJECT </strong>brings people and resources together to support and change the lives of children in Honduras, one of the countries hardest hit by climate change, including outdoor programming for their youth. <a href="https://www.tchproject.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.tchproject.org/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.tchproject.org/</a></a> @tchproject
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<div><strong>3. BRAVE TRAILS </strong>is a leadership summer camp by LGBTQ+ people for LGBTQ+ youth at sites across the nation including California, the North East and Atlanta. <a href="https://www.bravetrails.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.bravetrails.org/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.bravetrails.org/</a></a> @bravetrails
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<div><strong>4. QUEER OUTDOOR EXPEDITION SCHOLARSHIPS</strong> supports fully scholarshipped backcountry expeditions for queer people with a focus on those from marginalized socio-economic backgrounds. This program was created by, Pattie Gonia, with the support of Eastern Sierra Conservation Corp &amp; many of our brand partners.
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<div><strong>5. OUTDOORIST OATH </strong>educates people on how they can advocate for planet, inclusion and adventure through outdoor workshops and community offerings. <a href="https://www.outdooristoath.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.outdooristoath.org/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.outdooristoath.org/</a></a> @outdooristoath
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<div><strong>6. INTERSECTIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL FILM/MUSIC PROJECT</strong> funds a film/musical piece about an area of the climate crisis/solutions with indigenous voices, queer artists and Pattie Gonia herself. This project has and will continue to hire BIPOC + Queer creatives to bring the film to life. @pattiegonia
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<div><strong>7. CAMP KITAKI </strong>is a summer camp serving youth from across the midwest, especially lower income, Queer and BIPOC youth <a href="https://www.ymcacampkitaki.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.ymcacampkitaki.org/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.ymcacampkitaki.org/</a></a> @ymcacampkitaki
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<div><strong>8. VAMANOS OUTSIDE</strong> connects, engages &amp; inspires Latinx families &amp; youth into the outdoors for all of Central Oregon. <a href="https://vamonosoutside.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://vamonosoutside.org/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://vamonosoutside.org/</a></a> @vamonos_outside
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<div><strong>MORE ABOUT GOFUNDME: </strong>
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<div>You are safe here! Your donation is protected and we guarantee that it goes to the right place. You can read more about that <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/c/safety/gofundme-guarantee" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.
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<div><strong>YOUR DONATION IS TAX-DEDUCTIBLE:</strong>
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<div>You'll automatically receive two email receipts from GoFundMe after making a donation.
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<li><strong>The first email</strong> will provide a receipt that has the 501(c)(3) charity’s details that meet the IRS requirements for tax-deductibility. Be sure to save this one for your tax records.
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<li><strong>The second email</strong> will have the subject line <strong>A Thank You Note from Pattie</strong> - please click the form link to provide me with your sticker mailing address. <strong>Please allow 4 hours to receive my 'Thank You' email</strong>, and avoid reaching out directly for the link in the meantime. Thanks for your support!
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<div><strong>LEGALITIES:</strong>
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<div><em>GoFundMe.org is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 81-2279757) that works to swiftly mobilize donations for individuals and communities impacted by crises, natural disasters, and social inequalities. We accept tax-deductible donations from a global network of donors into funds created for a specific purpose. From these funds, we issue grants to individuals and nonprofits.</em>
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<div><em>Donations to this fund are tax-deductible to the extent permissible by U.S. law. Money will be given to verified charitable needs at the discretion of GoFundMe.org.</em>
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The $1M Dollar Backpacking Trip

<div>My name is Michael Fanone. On January 6th, 2021, I put my life on the line defending the Capitol from an armed mob.

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<div>Since then, I’ve dedicated myself to speaking out against the growing threats to our democracy, authoritarianism, and political violence.

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<div>Those threats are no longer abstract. President Trump has already sent National Guard troops into Los Angeles and Washington, DC—a dangerous escalation that puts communities directly in the crosshairs of authoritarian control.

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<div>And now, he’s preparing to send them into more cities like Chicago and Baltimore.

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<div>At the same time, political violence in America is on the rise. <strong>It’s more important than ever that survivors of that violence—like myself—can reach people where they live, before it’s too late.</strong>

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<div>My voice only matters if I can be there in person: standing with people, listening to them, and reminding them that they are not alone.

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<div>But here’s the truth: many of the communities that most need to hear my message cannot afford the cost of bringing me there.

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<div>That’s why I’m asking for your help.

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<div>This fund will make it possible. With your support, <strong>I will travel to places like Chicago and beyond—to meet people on the ground and confront these threats together.</strong>

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<div>Your contributions will cover expenses like travel, lodging, and the security necessary to keep me safe while on the road.

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<div>This isn’t about politics. It’s about showing up. Together, we can remind people across this country that democracy is worth fighting for.

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<div>Your donation ensures I can continue this work independently, reaching communities who would otherwise never hear my story or this message in person.

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<div>I’ve never backed down from a fight for our country—and I don’t intend to now.

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<div>How You Can Help:

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<div>• Donate whatever you can. Every contribution makes it possible for me to travel to the next city.

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<div>• Share this campaign with friends, family, and on social media.

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<div>• Stand with me in ensuring our democracy is defended where it matters most: on the ground, face to face, with the people living through it.

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<div>Thank you for helping me meet this moment.

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<div>— Michael Fanone

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Support Michael Fanone’s Defend Democracy Tour ‘26

<div>Outside of a Dog Books and Games has been a beloved part of the Vermillion community for three and a half years now. Unfortunately, the family who opened the store and has been putting life into it for that time is having to leave our community to stay safe from the recent anti-LGBTQIA2S+ legislation in our state. This has left the fate of the store up in the air with the Phelans having to find a new owner or face having to close.
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<div>My husband and I have put our hats in the ring to take over the store. We are a trans/nonbinary queer couple who have known the Phelans and seen all of the good the store has done and the advocacy work that the family themselves have done. We want to not only keep their store and their legacy alive but also show South Dakota in our own small way that trans people will continue to exist in this state, no matter what.
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<div>We are hoping to raise <strong>$25,000 in crowdfunding donations</strong> in order to come up with a competitive offer for the store. We are hoping to get $25,000-$50,000 in loans and are also putting $25,000 of our own money toward acquisition. We know that $25,000 is a lofty goal, but we believe in our community and the desire within it to keep this store open, and to keep trans people in the state of South Dakota. 
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Help a Trans Couple Preserve a Community Gem

<div>Sean's Fight against Medulloblastoma;



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<div>He has entered his 3rd year of fighting this Cancer. 


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<div>Taking a medication designed to prevent the cancer from developing in other parts of the body. And stopping any new growths. 


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<div>We do not know how long he will be taking this medication. The only determining factor is if the cancer does not develop. 


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<div>There are many more trips to hospital and clinics and physical therapy. Please support his fight. 


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<div>Reoccurring Medulloblastoma does not have a good prognosis especially in adults.



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<div>Please help and support his fight against this beast.



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<div>Approximately one year ago Sean was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma. I am going to try to describe his fight with this beast.



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<div>After diagnosis Sean was scheduled for surgery at the University of Miami. Dr Roberto Komotar was the surgeon that removed the tumor and after 6 days in ICU Sean was able to come home. That was a very difficult time for him, besides having the Craniotomy Sean had a cranial pressure tube inserted in his head to make sure that his brain and cerebellum was healing properly and no bleeders. This was the most difficult for Sean I believe. Because of the operation and coming down from anesthetic, this made Sean very disoriented and angry. He had episodes of outbursts and seizures for the first three days after surgery. (this is common for surgery of this kind). But every time this happened spinal fluid would start coming out the pressure tube which caused Sean great pain, and trying to calm him down to equalize pressure was sometimes difficult. At one point Sean had to be secured down to bed so as not to hurt himself. Sean made it through and was released to come home on the 8th day if I remember correctly. ( I was and still am by his side almost 24/7).



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<div>Once Sean was able to come we had to wait 10 days before his treatment schedule started. The plan of attack was 6 weeks of Proton therapy in combination of 5 individual doses of Vincristine Chemotherapy. The Proton therapy was all done at the University of Miami through the SCCC (Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center). This required travel from Boca Raton to Miami every single day of the week for 6 weeks, having weekends off.



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<div>The Proton therapy machine is a massive piece of equipment. The room Sean had to go into and be locked in was the best I can describe, walking into a 30x30 room surrounded by 8 foot thick concrete walls lined with lead and a door that appeared to be one that would be used for a nuclear attack. It was 4 foot thick lead and concrete on a roller system that sealed Sean by himself strapped down to a bed 1 inch thick and hard made out of a material that would let the protons through to achieve their target. Once locked in The treatment could be difficult, having to lay still for anywhere between 20 to 60 minutes while a large cylinder went around your head. Very similar to an MRI except 5 times as big at least. The technicians could direct beams of protons at infected areas in Seans cerebellum and spine that still showed areas of concern.



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<div>After 6 weeks of Proton Therapy Sean was ready to enter the second phase of treatment. Chemotherapy.



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<div>Sean’s Therapy Schedule was a 6 month journey of 3 different types of Chemo and continuous monitoring of body chemistry, physical therapy and hearing and optical monitoring.



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<div>The Chemotherapy schedule was the first week of each month we would drive to Miami., check into the hospital get Sean settled and start the IV. He had to have continuous IV fluids the entire time at the hospital. 8 hours before the first dose of Chemo (Cisplatin) followed by Vincristine then fluids each night was when chemo was administered. The second night was Cyclophosphamide and third was Cytoxan.



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<div>Sean did well the first cycle at first. We were released and went back home and all seemed ok. On the 8th day Sean had to receive another dose of Vincristine administered in Plantation Florida at the outpatient center located there. All was good at first and then all hell broke loose. Night after night of almost like clockwork every two to three hours



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<div>Sean was sick This went on for 2 weeks. The third week Sean was able to start keeping small amounts down but nothing heavy. As he ended the third week and entered the fourth week Sean started to need transfusions of blood and platelets. By the time his body started to recover he started the process again. The nausea got worse each cycle.



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<div>Besides the Chemo Sean was scheduled for three Spinal taps and 4 MRI’s during the chemo Cycle and after the cycles there was the final MRI before monitoring. All MRI’s and Spinal taps were looking great until. The last one.



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<div>The day everything changed April 1st this seems fitting God has played a joke on Sean. Sean had his final MRI or we thought before the monitoring phase. As we walked into the Doctor's office (Dr Gampell) I noticed three additional people in the room. My heart sank. I'm not sure if Sean noticed but I did. Dr Gampell told us both it was not good news. The MRI showed two small spots on his cerebellum that were suspect. Dr Gampell scheduled us to immediately talk to Dr Komotar that day and discuss options. Dr Komotar’s team informed us that the spots are too small for surgery and we needed to have another MRI in 4 weeks to determine growth or not. This was the longest 4 weeks.



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<div>April 23rd Sean had another MRI and then we waited. On Thursday of that week Dr Gampell’s office called and told us to be back on Monday to go over the results. I knew then something was not good. But keeping a happy face and not to bring Sean down I played it off. Monday came and we drove to Miami for the news. Myself and Sean walked into the office took vitals and sat and waited for Dr Gampell to enter. He came in greeted us and started to load MRI pictures on screen. Then the news. Recurring Medulloblastoma was the diagnosis. Options not many. We could try to enter a Clinical trail at 5 different hospitals spread across America basically all in phase one (basically a guinea pig) or stay at university and enter into a vigorous treatment of Metronomic and targeted Anti-Angiogenesis treatment. In short 5 different medications to include a Port designed to deliver another type of Chemo directly into Sean’s Cerebellum and starve the Cancer of oxygen and blast it with different Oral forms of Chemo to keep it from spreading.



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<div>Either way there is no 100% Survival rate from what i could determine is, Sean does nothing he could be gone within one year. I said Hell no. With the treatment There is not long term but 3-5 year survival is possible, with hopes of new treatments coming out each month each day things change.



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<div>This is ultimately Sean’s decision. As of today we/he is going to start treatment at the University of Miami and we will review every 6 months and reconsider options. Quality of life is our priority. I can not tell you how this tears me up inside even writing this. I am crying, knowing the Love of your life has been given this ultimatum at the age of 31.



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<div>Each day is a gift now every minute with him is a prized possession.



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<div>I am asking you to Help Sean, and help me help Sean With this battle Making our life a little easier by easing the financial burden that this beast has put upon him. I am his 24/7 caretaker which I would not trade for the world. The precious time we have together is a gift from God. Please help



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<div>#helpingsean, or #seanzahul



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Support Sean’s fight against Brain Cancer.

<div>My son and I met Betty today. She is a waitress at a local restaurant in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. She’s 81 years old and we think she deserves to retire. This is a GoFundMe to help her retire.

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Help 81-Year-Old Waitress Betty Retire

As many of you know, I do my best to run Rockit Ranch Rescue and Sanctuary, with a whole lot of help from our dear friends and donors.  I was forced to retire from the practice of law due to a series of severe equestrian injuries and  am now wholly dependent on Social Security and minimal income from legal work.  At Rockit Ranch, I care for 5 dogs, 14 cats, 2 horses, and Gringo, one very stubborn donkey.  One of the most precious additions to the family was a loving little dog named Squeezer, a pug who was found running down a busy street in a nearby town.  She was picked up by animal control and adopted by me about a year ago.  She immediately became a beloved member of our crazy family and has brought all of us so much joy.  On February 20, 2106, in a totally unexpected and unforeseen development, she was diagnosed with an extreme form of diabetes -- diabetes ketoacidosis -- one of the most extreme complications of diabetes mellitus that can be experienced.  She was hospitalized immediately, and the initial stay to stabilize her insulin levels, is estimated to cost almost $900.00.  We recently had to raise almost $5000 for the amputation of Trip's foreleg (an Aussie who was shot), and even the regular maintenance costs of the ranch and the animals are always more than I can manage on my own.  The hard truth is that emergencies like Trip's and Squeezer's simply cannot be met without your help.  Squeezer will require daily insulin injections, a special diabetic diet, daily ketosis testing, and a host of other costly care, and the only other option is euthanasia, which is out of the question.  Please know that this is not a case of keeping an elderly or incapacitated dog alive out of sentiment -- she is very young, vibrant, joyous, loving, extremely active over all 8 acres of the place, and, most of all, she deserves a fighting chance at a long life.  I hope you will help me give her that -- God knows, she has given me so much already.  This is a huge challenge, considering how many other animals I care for, who also need care that I cannot presently afford, but I am going to continue to do my best for all of them.  Thanks for being such wonderful friends.  Keeping on with gratitude,  Sally.

911:  Squeezer the Wonder Pug

<div>Hi there, I'm Michael Manley, a writer, musician and labor leader living in Las Vegas, Nevada. Many years ago, I wrote <em>The Picture Island</em> for my six nieces and nephews as a Christmas present. Now I'm self-publishing this novella so I can retain maximum creative control. This undertaking involves artwork, which of course means partnering with a professional artist, as well as design, social media marketing, and many other expenses to come. I'd like to invite you to support the launch of this novella, which will make a great gift for all readers aged 11 and up.
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<div>So what is <em>The Picture Island </em>anyway? Well a friend called it "Tim Burton meets Narnia," which is pretty accurate! Here's the story...
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<div><em>Deep in the snowy woods, four orphans of The Bunion Home for Extra Children discover a broken picture frame hidden in a stone garden. In another time across the sea, a boy is born with a decidedly pointy head whose fate is tied to two young sisters he meets at a seaside carnival. And on the cold sands of a cursed beach, a white buffalo pines for his lost treasure. All their separate journeys bring them to The Picture Island, and an epic battle with a Sea Witch for the island's--and their own--souls.</em>
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<div><strong>All support is welcome, and if you donate $100 or more, you will receive a signed first-edition hardcopy of this original work. Thanks for your interest and help!</strong>
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<div>Michael S. Manley is a professional French hornist, teacher and writer living in Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition to The Picture Island, Michael is the author of the plays float and Sept., and the co-author (book, lyrics) of the one-act musical Legacy of the Tiger Mother, with composer and author Angela Chan. In addition to fiction and dramatic writing, Michael has published many articles on labor and the arts for The International Musician. Michael performed the entire run of Disney’s The Lion King--Las Vegas, and spent his early career touring with the Broadway musicals Les Miserables and Miss Saigon, as well as touring many seasons with The New York City Opera National Company.
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Join Michael Manley's Epic Publishing Journey

<div>Matthew Sweet, our longtime inspiration and dear friend, suffered a debilitating stroke this past week in Toronto while in the early days of a national tour. He has been unexpectedly and tragically forced off the road and onto a long, uncertain path to recovery. We are asking for financial help in this difficult time from his family, friends, and fans. Without insurance or touring income, Matthew faces an enormous financial burden.
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<div>The doctors and hospital care in Toronto were instrumental in saving Matthew's life, but health care is not free for Americans in Canada. He must now be flown back to the States on an ambulance transport plane with medical staff on board, to a specialized rehabilitation center, where he will receive around-the-clock care and therapy for six weeks. He will then require months of treatment and rehabilitation that we hope will lead to a full recovery. Needless to say, the costs for all of this treatment will be overwhelming. We anticipate a total close to a quarter of a million dollars. Your thoughts, love, and support will mean the world to him. But please donate financially if you possibly can. Matthew will be forever grateful to you.
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<div>For those who do not know Matthew personally, you are probably familiar with his music. Matthew Sweet emerged from the 80's Athens, Georgia music scene and became a leading figure of the power pop revival in the 90's with the release of his album “Girlfriend” in 1991. The songs "Girlfriend" and "I've Been Waiting" became fan favorites. His next two records, “Altered Beast” (1993) and “100% Fun” (1995) included the popular songs, "Time Capsule" and "Sick of Myself."
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Support Matthew Sweet's Long Term  Stroke Recovery

<div>There are so many devastating losses in Western NC right now, it is hard to wrap our heads around it and know where to start to help. Our community faces a long uphill road to recovery, and there are so many people who need assistance. Part of what makes this community so vibrant and wonderful are the small businesses that provide us with unique and fun places to come together. And if you know Brandon and Davie, you know how much of their heart and soul went into creating their bar and coffee shop, DayTrip which just opened a little over a month ago. They spent countless months and so much blood, sweat and tears renovating the space and realizing their dream of creating a cozy and quirky place for friends and neighbors to come and feel welcome. And it was that place for a sweet brief time. But when Hurricane Helene hit Western N.C., DayTrip, along with so many other small businesses along the French Broad, was completely destroyed. As everyone is trying to navigate through the slow process of insurance claims, the bills are still coming due, and the employees have no income until they rebuild. Brandon and Davie used their life savings and took out a large business loan to get this dream of theirs started. In all, they put over $180,000 into this business and are now facing the daunting task of rebuilding from the ground up. They need to pay their business loans and other bills and, in typical Brandon and Davie fashion, their first concern was their employees. They really want to be able to provide their employees with some assistance during this extremely difficult time.
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<div>We all want to help in some way...this is one small way we can support our dear friends and amazing community. Even if you don't know Brandon and Davie, take my word for it, they are two of the best humans. So help if you are able. They love and appreciate all of you!
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<div>Follow DayTrip.Avl on Instagram to hear their story and see their photos...before and after.
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<div>*This GoFundMe Campaign was started by Meredith Sims, a friend of Brandon and Davie's. 100% of the funds collected will go to support them and their employees while they rebuild.
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Rebuild DayTrip: Support Brandon and Davie

<div>As many of you know, I do my best to run Rockit Ranch Rescue and Sanctuary with a whole lot of help from folks like you: our irreplaceable friends and donors. At Rockit Ranch, I care for 6 dogs, a varying number of cats, 3 horses, and Gringo aka Bedonkadonk, one very stubborn donkey, which are all I can handle in my current physical condition. I recently took in a young Irish Wolfhound under some concerning circumstances, and the things I was told about him have proved to be untrue. To summarize, Arklow needs a number of medical treatments and tests, which I will describe below, but initially, for my safety and the safety of the smaller dogs, he needs immediate training before he inadvertently injures me.
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<div>Arklow is a handful - a rambunctious over 100-pound puppy. He just wants to play, but he’s started roughhousing me when I take the other dogs out in the morning and at other times and recently knocked me down in the process of mauling me for fun - my greatest fear is falling because I can’t get up due to severe scoliosis - and it was terrifying even though he was not menacing in that sense of the word. I fell on my already bad knee and already broken shoulder and the impact gave me a vision migraine. My neighbor tried to help me get up, but it was really hard, and I am still in a lot of pain from the incident. There is more to say about his behavior but, to summarize, he must be sent out to be trained before he hurts one of us, and that is a costly undertaking. Despite this incident, he is sweet-natured and deserves to become a loving and trustworthy member of our family.
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<div>Arklow also has cryptorchidism - undescended testicles - and requires diagnostic testing so that he can be neutered. He suffers from a very unpleasant gastrointestinal disorder and requires additional diagnostic testing to determine the cause. He is on a very expensive prescription diet and several medications and supplements, which have not proved effective. So, it's a triage situation: first, he HAS to be trained before he hurts me and I am not physically capable of doing that myself. I am trying to raise the money to send him to a training facility for 4 weeks. Second, he needs testing to determine the nature of his cryptorchidism so he can be neutered. That's critical and may help somewhat with his antics. Then he needs the diagnostic testing so we can find the cause of his gastrointestinal issues. Finally, he has a large bursa that needs attention. In other words, it's A LOT, and I need your help badly. 
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<div>We have made it through an endless number of disasters with your help, and I am praying we make it through this one. Thank you so much,
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Arklow the Irish Wolfhound Chaos Agent

<div>Leslie Hugh Williams is a gentle giant who has cooked in the outer cape and supported our community through food and service for over 20 years. An immigrant of Jamaica, Leslie has worked in many of the great kitchens of Cape Cod and is known far and wide by his coworkers and customers as a great cook and a kind-hearted person. Enzo, Local 186, Spindler’s and Salty Market to name just a few- Leslie is of the first generation of Jamaican workers that helped make Truro and Provincetown what they are today. He is an essential member of his family and helps to support his wife and three kids who live here on Cape Cod. 
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<div>On October 21, Leslie went into the doctors with a bad cough, and they diagnosed him with stage IV lung cancer. He has had a pump put in his lungs and is currently exploring ways to get the treatment he needs. Unfortunately, Leslie is underinsured and like many Americans- does not easily get the medical care he deserves. His current insurance doesn't cover many of the critical items needed for his care including bottles for the pump on his lungs, rehab, a nurse to visit him at his home, and even some of the tests needed to further diagnose his cancer. Luckily, Outer- Cape Health and a network of Leslie’s’ allies believe we can do better and are working together to support Leslie to #stand up to cancer. 
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<div>Leslie's inability to work during this time is a huge strain on his family and we are looking to take away some of his economic pressures so that he can focus on healing. His friends at Salty Market and beyond are hoping that our larger Outer Cape family will rally together in support of our own and donate to Leslie. We ask for your help in any form you can, in whatever amount you can to honor Leslie for his hard work in our community bringing joy to so many people. 
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Help Leslie Fight Cancer

<div>Hi- many of you know Scott Coffey of Coffey Men. There was a terrible fire at the store and  it has been completely destroyed- all of the handmade merchandise, machines, computer, everything.
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<div> Scott never hesitates to help anyone in need and I am asking for some help for him - he is a big part of our community and I would love to get help to restore a rare store…hand made clothing made locally and as well as a social stop for many from all over.
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<div> Thank you for any help you can give ❤️
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Scott Coffey

<div>Hi, we would like you to join us in the charity we established to help our family in Hatay, Turkey. Bünyamin, who lost his sister in the earthquake, and Meryem, who is 8 months pregnant. Their home has been destroyed. We don't know what kind of organized aid there will be. Anything will help, thank you for your support.
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<div>Her şeyin yaratıcısı,
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<div>Toprağa sakinlik, Havaya yumuşaklık ver…
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<div>Enkaza kolay ulaşım, Altında kalanlara kuvvet ver.. Gözler yaşlı yüreklerimiz ağır.  Bize yakın olan Türkiye’ye gelin giden Meryeme ve kocası Bünyamin’e güç kuvvet ver. Depremde kız kardeşini kaybeden Bünyamin ve 8 aylık hamile olan Meryeme yardım amaçla kurduğumuz yardım koluna sizlerinde bize katılmanızı isteriz..   Hearts are heavy with deep sorrow.
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<div>We'll be wiring money directly to their Turkish bank account.
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<div>Please also consider giving to any of these worthy organizations:
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<div><a href="https://www.kizilay.org.tr/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Turkish Red Crescent</a>
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<div><a href="https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/turkey-earthquake-relief-fund/#menu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Giving</a>
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<div><a href="https://www.hi-us.org/emergencies-middle-east-earthquakes-claim-lives-bring-more-instability-region" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humanity &amp; Inclusion</a>
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<div>Much love and thanks ♥️
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<div>-Cengiz family
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Meryem and Bunyamin Bulanik earthquake relief

<div>Unforgettable Sunrise-  A symphony from Jacob Rock &amp; Rob Laufer
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<div>For most of his nineteen years, Jacob Rock, diagnosed with severe autism at age 3, has only been able to roughly verbalize the words “eat” and “yes.”  His crippling inability to communicate spawned years of violent, often bloody, and increasingly compulsive self-injury. 
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<div>In 2020, during pandemic-Zoom school, Jacob suddenly found his voice via a breakthrough in his long-practiced iPad typing.  One of the first full sentences Jacob typed was "I want to be called Jacob" (he had always been called "Jake" up to that point). Soon he began writing smart, compassionate poems, literate, concise movie reviews, and expressing fierce political idealism. Through his dad-held iPad, Jacob revealed an intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm far beyond anyone's wildest hopes or expectations.
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<div>And then, 12 months ago, a bombshell: the Brian Wilson/Bob Dylan-loving Jacob casually revealed that he had just finished composing a nearly 70-minute symphony in his head.
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<div>In the following weeks, Jacob typed out a detailed description of his musical vision and the intended emotional impact of each moment.  It was to be made up of 6 titled movements: 1) Tumultuous Desire, 2) Page Turner, 3) Brilliant Disguise, 4) Laughing In My Sleep, 5) Playing to Win, 6) Laughter in the Face of Sadness.  Jacob’s vision follows his journey from anger, pain, and chaos to exploding moments of joy, celebration, and bittersweet melancholy in the wake of his communication breakthrough. 
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<div>Jacob’s vision has found its perfect collaborator in the extremely talented family friend Rob Laufer. Following and interpreting Jacob’s notes, Rob has created a midi score to match the musical outline. About their work together, Jacob says: "I want to cry because it is so perfect. I love that Rob can read my mind."
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<div>With the midi-files of the music complete, the respected JoAnn Kane company is midway through the completion of the score and acclaimed conductor Daniel Lessler Newman <a href="https://www.danielnewmanlessler.com/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.danielnewmanlessler.com/</a> has been engaged to conduct a 50 plus piece ensemble from USC's Thornton School of Music<a href="https://music.usc.edu/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://music.usc.edu/</a>  for the October 2023 performance.  
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<div>All the pieces are coming together to bring this unique and amazing artistic creation to the audience that it so richly deserves.  We just need your help to fund the musicians!  
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<div> 1)Score creation: $35,000
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<div>2) Musicians for 4 rehearsals and the performance- $40,000+
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<div>Total cost: Approximately $100,000
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<div>Current Wild Honey Foundation Fund; $60.000
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<div>Total needed:  $40000 
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<div>The debut performance of Unforgettable Sunrise performance will be in support of the 501c3 non-profit Wild Honey Foundation’s Autism Music/Arts Initiative to support, enhance, and enable artistic creation in the non-verbal autism community through creative partnerships with Wild Honey artists.
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<div>LIVE PERFORMANCE DETAILS- Sunday, October 1st, 2023 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA  The show will be filmed and recorded as a proof-of-concept for future collaborations between Wild Honey Foundation musicians and artists and the non-verbal community. 
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<div>About the Wild Honey Foundation:
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<div>Since 1994, WILD HONEY FOUNDATION, a 501(c)(3), non-profit, has produced concerts, film screenings, online fundraisers, and live stream events to benefit autism treatment/research and members of the music community in need. Led by Paul Rock and David Jenkins, Wild Honey is a grassroots, volunteer organization dedicated to passing on the passion, creativity, and idealism found in rock, rhythm &amp; blues, folk, classical, and pop music to future generations through cultural events of all types. 
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<div>For more information on the Wild Honey Foundation: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/WIldhoneyfoundation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/WIldhoneyfoundation" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.facebook.com/groups/WIldhoneyfoundation</a></a>
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<div>You can make a difference by donating today to Wild Honey Foundation.
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<div>Produce concerts, screen movies, produce webcasts, and all types of events to benefit autism groups, musicians-in-need, and more.
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Jacob and Rob's "Unforgettable Sunrise" Fund

<div>On January 4, 2020, the Cockettes Are Golden: A 50th Anniversary Celebration premiered at the Victoria Theatre to much acclaim. We were set to do more shows to continue the celebration. All that was scrapped due to Covid.
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<div>We are now creating a new revue for Oasis SF in June called Cockettes Eternal Emmissions. We are currently in pre-production.   
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<div>We need to raise money for publicity, marketing, rehearsal space, wardrobe, an extra sound engineer, body mics, and more pay for a large cast and crew. 
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<div>The Cockettes were established on Dec 31, 1969 at the Palace Theater in a haze of sex, drugs, drag, genderbending, and glitter. They took drag and old Hollywood musicals and turned them inside out and upside down, attracting the attention of the American underground culture. The Cockette’s sprawling, kaleidoscopic pantheon of colorful personalities included icons like Hibiscus and Sylvester. Their midnight antics attracted drag superstar Divine, actress Mink Stole, and cult filmmaker John Waters. The Cockettes were ahead of their time, especially in the acceptance of gender fluidity, and they changed the face of drag forever. 
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<div>They are an essential part of queer San Francisco history.
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<div>People who donate will be thanked in the program and get a special Thank You gift when they attend the show. 
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<div>Photos from the 2020 show are by Gooch
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Raising Funds For a New Cockettes Show Next June

<p>Saroj is in a tough spot. She’s still grieving her husband. She is undergoing treatment for breast cancer. And the stress is really destroying her mental health. I’ve spent the last several weeks digging into her situation, and it hasn’t been easy to unwind. But I think we’ve figured out a path.
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<p>By the books— she is behind 24 months of rent. This is due to the disruption of her husband’s death, her own health crisis, and the pandemic. Her store is located on 2nd Avenue, which is a prime location. And with tax and utilities, the full arrears would be $200,000. But there is certainly cause for major concessions from her landlord.
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<p>But Saroj’s ‘landlord’ is not a landlord at all. Her storefront is owned by the Cooper Square Mutual Housing Association II. The MHA II is a collective that subsidizes low-income residents on the Lower East Side. This means that the rental income from Saroj’s storefront goes directly toward subsidizing the rent for low-income New Yorkers. MHA II is a lifeline to many people. And unfortunately the organization’s finances have also been badly hurt by the pandemic.
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<p>The board of MHA II is composed entirely of low-income tenants themselves. They have agreed to accept $130,000 to settle Saroj’s debts. In addition to this—they have agreed to allow Saroj to stay in the store rent free for another six months as she attempts to sell as much inventory as possible. After this time hopefully Saroj will be in a position to relocate to a more manageable location.
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<p><strong>The $130,000 from this fundraiser will not only eliminate Saroj’s debt, but it will also subsidize the rent of low-income New Yorkers.</strong> Any additional funds will go directly to Saroj, who is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer and has to pay 20% of the expenses out of her own pocket. She is worried about losing her house.
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<p>I know it’s a lot of context to absorb. But beneath all the numbers and accounting, <strong>the goal of this fundraiser is to get Saroj out of crisis so that she can focus on healing</strong>. The waters are rising all around her, and we want to get her to some dry ground. The one thing she has is a lot of inventory. So we are hopeful that with some breathing room, she will be able to reposition herself for the long term.<br /><strong><br />If you are in New York City, and would like some vintage handmade Indian clothing and fabric, please visit The Dress Shoppe at 83 2nd Avenue. <br /><br /><br /></strong>
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<p><br /><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/58649825_162698205668613_r.jpeg" alt="58649825_162698205668613_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" /><br />Hat tip to our team captain Durga.
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Let's Help Saroj

Since Keens Steakhouse closed its doors on March 15th, the Keens management team has heard concerning reports from our most vulnerable employees. These are our dishwashers, cleaners, food preparer, porters and service assistants, people who are raising families and have now lost their living wages. We have created this fund so that we can offer a lifeline to these furloughed employees who face unexpected financial stress as time passes. We cannot be sure about the timeline for the reopening of our restaurant. Meanwhile, many are struggling to pay for medicine, rent or even groceries. Some of our families are in desperate need of immediate financial aid. This fund allows us to offer them support in this time of extreme need during the pandemic.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Restaurant staffs often describe themselves as families, and we cannot abandon our friends and colleagues with whom we have worked shoulder-to-shoulder for many years. We want to be there for them—and your support would mean the world to us to assist dozens of people behind the scenes, people you probably never see when you visit our famous dining rooms. We are eternally grateful for any contribution because it will allow us to help the less-advantaged members of our team during this crisis.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Keens Steakhouse has endured since 1885. After the current crisis passes, we will be back to offer you our hospitality.

Keens Steakhouse Employee Emergency Fund

I’m 58, unemployed, and a Type 1 diabetic (I need insulin to live). I’m still looking for a full time job, but my part time gig is still pending and I need to pay my rent and my healthcare premium.<br /><br />Thanks for reading and thanks for giving. Kind thoughts and prayers are appreciated, too

Healthcare for Brian

The Warwick Public School System has an outstanding balance of $77,000 for unpaid school lunches.....let’s come together and pay it for the kids, so no one has to be singled out and embarrassed by being denied hot lunch.

Warwick Public School Lunch Balances

<img class="not-resizable" src="https://2dbdd5116ffa30a49aa8-c03f075f8191fb4e60e74b907071aee8.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/14675271_1474392051.0803_funddescription.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /><img class="not-resizable" src="https://2dbdd5116ffa30a49aa8-c03f075f8191fb4e60e74b907071aee8.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/14675271_1474392066.4474_funddescription.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /><br />In time of great social turbulence, profound illness, isolation and heartbreak in the gay community, John Michael Gray and Tim O'Connor created an extrodinary and heroic presence, by creating flamboyant works of fascinator haberdashery. The Hat Sisters joyously and generously entertained people from all walks of life with their unique and artisic fashion statement. They did not walk away from controversy. They walked towards acceptance, breaking down barriers of prejudice wherever they went. Just as they walked for us then, we will walk for them now.<br /><br />"Dearest Friends and Family, It is quite amazing to receive the daily love and support of so many as I continue my battle against cancer. I continue to believe in the medicine working within my body and the spiritual support of the extended Provincetown community. Thank you to my husband for his continued organizational skills, guidance, support and LOVE. xoxoxoxoxox" <br />-John Michael Gray<br /><br />The first Hat Sisters costume John Michael Gray created was simple, compared with what followed.<br /><br />For Provincetown’s Carnival in 1984, he decorated two baseball caps with feathers and painted the bills orange. To the backs he attached flowing white material that connected to cuffs he and his future husband, Tim O’Connor, wore on their wrists — a visual rendition of Prince’s song “When Doves Cry.”<br /><br /><br />And though over their years they also became known for dresses they wore as the Hat Sisters, that first time they augmented their headwear with naught but flip-flops and white Speedos. “We were much younger and much, much, much thinner,” O’Connor recalled with the laugh that has echoed through decades of their ever-changing designs.<br /><br />This summer, not long after retiring full time to Provincetown, Dr. Gray was diagnosed with lung cancer that metastasized. He was 66 when he died at home Sept. 24.<br /><br />Dividing 32 years between Provincetown and their former longtime home in the South End, the Hat Sisters became celebrated figures at parades, carnivals, and decades of charity gatherings, at which the allure of their presence helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for causes ranging from AIDS health care to cancer research.<br /><br />As the Hat Sisters, Dr. Gray and Tim O’Connor and took part in the Boston Twilight Martini Tour in 1999<br /><br />As the Hat Sisters, Dr. Gray and Tim O’Connor and took part in the Boston Twilight Martini Tour in 1999.<br /><br />“The Hat Sisters were always there for everybody, for any event of any kind. They would always be there with huge smiles and lots of love,” said Harry Collings, a prominent LGBT community activist.<br /><br />“To the community they were very special,” he added. “People just knew them from all the country — they were icons from Boston. You never knew what they were going to wear. It was always something magical and whimsical and always be appropriate for the event.”<br /><br /><br />By day, Dr. Gray was a longtime educator who was coordinator of fine arts for the Newton Public Schools from 1986 to 2008. He also served for decades as executive director of the New England Art Education Conference, was program co-director of the Globe’s Scholastic Art &amp; Writing Awards, and had been a board member of the Alliance for Young Artists &amp; Writers.<br /><br />“He stood out as someone who fought to keep art and music programs alive,” said Charlotte Brumit, a former music teacher in Newton’s schools. “He was so supportive of us and had this way of recognizing and honoring our unique talents. He always gave us the freedom to teach to our strengths and encouraged us to follow our creativities and our passions, and to really think outside the box.”<br /><br />When Dr. Gray arrived in Newton amid the burgeoning AIDS crisis, “so many public educators were still in the closet. All I can say about John Michael was that his closet had no doors,” said Pauline Joseph, a retired art teacher in the Newton schools.<br /><br />“He broke through a horrible wall and opened up an emotional space for so many people — not just for gay people to come out, but for straight people to come in and have a true relationship. In Newton, he led with incredible dignity and joy,” she said.<br /><br />Supervising arts for all of Newton’s schools meant that Dr. Gray and his husband attended concerts and art exhibitions continually, often three or more times a week. “He just loved to see his teachers succeed and see the students succeed,” O’Connor said. “Any level of success was fine with him. He was not a demanding human being, but what he expected was quality.”<br /><br />Born in Nashua, Dr. Gray grew up in Amherst, N.H., the middle of three siblings born to Vern Gray, who owned a business that made school furniture, and the former Phyllis Duff.<br /><br />Dr. Gray was a boarding student at Lawrence Academy in Groton and graduated in 1971 with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Cornell University. He received a master’s in elementary education from Tufts University two years later, was a humanities fellow at Stanford University, and graduated from Boston University in 1983 with a doctorate in curriculum and administration.<br /><br />‘He stood out as someone who fought to keep art and music programs alive.’<br /><br />Charlotte Brumit, former colleague <br />Quote Icon<br />His extensive education work before Newton included lecturing and teaching at Tufts and at Lesley and Emmanuel colleges, and serving as a senior consultant to the New Hampshire Department of Education. In 2011, the Massachusetts Art Education Association named him art educator of the year.<br /><br />Dr. Gray met Timothy J. O’Connor at a dinner party, where O’Connor mistakenly thought he was already involved with someone who turned out to be an old prep school friend. They proceeded to run into each other a few more times, including at the Eagle, a popular gay bar in the South End.<br /><br />“He comes over and says, ‘What’s going on, because I’d really like to know you, to have dinner,’ ” O’Connor said, and after resolving that Dr. Gray indeed wasn’t attached, “I said, ‘OK, let’s talk,’ and we’ve been talking since then — July 18, 1984.”<br /><br />“He was a rare human being. He was a kind soul,” said Dr. Gray’s husband.<br />“He was a rare human being. He was a kind soul,” said Dr. Gray’s husband.<br /><br />They married on their 20th anniversary, in 2004, in a daylong series of gatherings. They began in linen slacks and Hawaiian shirts (with no hats) for the ceremony, changed to white pants and white sparkly hats for a buffet, and switched to bridal gowns and different hats to cut the wedding cake in the evening. Among the guests were their longtime friends the late Mayor Thomas M. Menino, who died of cancer in 2014, and his wife, Angela.<br /><br />“John Michael Gray brought his unique spirit and joy to so many causes, events, and important milestones for our city,” she said in an e-mail. “His ability to bring people together, disarming them with his kindness and generosity, really helped drive the changes we saw for our LGBT community around inclusion, acceptance, and civil rights. While the Hat Sisters may have brought a whimsical fancy to any affair, it was their heart and soul that really helped shape our city. Tommy and I had such fond memories and I am truly sorry to know cancer has taken another great leader from our city.”<br /><br />Not long after Dr. Gray and his husband became a couple, they launched the Hat Sisters, whose hundreds of creations included hats depicting Boston’s City Hall and the Washington Monument. Dr. Gray was in Provincetown for Carnival, and O’Connor was still at work in Boston when he agreed by phone to make the trip down.<br /><br />“I said, ‘Well, there’s a lot of costume parties, so we need to have costumes,’ ” Dr. Gray recalled in a video interview with Tony Zampella. “He said, ‘I don’t have time, I’m working.’ I go, ‘I guess I could do something for you. What would you want?’ He said, ‘I’ll wear whatever you wear.’ So I started to make two of everything, and that’s how it started.”<br /><br />In addition to his husband, Dr. Gray leaves his sister, Martha Gray Eufemia of Wells, Maine.<br /><br />Family and friends will gather to celebrate Dr. Gray’s life at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 16 in Arlington Street Church, followed by a reception in Club Cafe in Boston.<br /><br />A few hats have been auctioned for charity over the years, but most are “memories and photographs,” O’Connor said. He and Dr. Gray often reused material from one set of hats in subsequent creations.<br /><br />“It’s the end of a journey for the Hat Sisters. There were always two, and never one,” O’Connor said.<br /><br />“He was a rare human being. He was a kind soul,” he added. “He was the yin to my yang, and I was very fortunate to be the one to spend as many years with him as we had together.”<br /><br />Services for John Michael Gray:<br />Provincetown:<br />October 11, 2016 1PM at St. Peter's Church<br />Boston:<br />October 16, 2016 1:30PM at Arlington Street Church<br /><br />Please join us and others in the community to help The Hat Sisters. Please make as generous of a contribution as you can afford and lets help relieve the financial stress of the medical expenses that they are facing.<br /><br />Please donate and share to help support The Hat Sisters! If they have put a smile on your face in the past 30 years, please help put smiles on theirs. <br /><br />Anything helps. <br />Thank you

Hat Sisters 

Our dear friend Joni Jensen was a victim of a devastating fire on November 14th. She lost everything including one of her dear cats, Winston. <br><br><img src="http://3b4efb995be6c5c64252-c03f075f8191fb4e60e74b907071aee8.r12.cf1.rackcdn.com/794208_1385501403.6567_multi.jpg" alt="" class="not-resizeable" width="100%"><br><b>R.I.P. Winston</b> We know you are on the Rainbow Bridge.<br><br><br>The fire was started by the homeowner's daughter carelessly flicking lit cigarettes out the window. The fire started right outside of Joni's apartment and destroyed everything. <br><br>Joni needs our help to get a fresh start, beginning with a place to live with her four surviving cats, Julian, Anya, Ronnie and Ian Alexander. She's uninsured with no savings. <br><br>So far over $3,000 out of the money raised so far has been used to pay for 
temporary housing. Joni will need an additional $2,000 to rent an apartment for one month (1st month rent + security) and moving expenses. <br><br>She also needs everything for the household:<br>Furniture<br>        Cutlery<br>        Pots &amp; Pans<br>        Dishes &amp; Glasses<br>Towels<br>        Sheets<br>        Comforter<br>        Pillows<br>Etc....<br><br>Also clothing and shoes, toiletries, makeup and other personal needs. Telephone credit would also be appreciated.<br><br> You can message me if you would like further information about sizes, mailing address, etc.<br><br>Together we can help.<br>Thank you.<br><br><br>Here is the article from the 11/21/2013 Hull Times (link doesn't work properly)  . Note that the article states that all of the cats were saved. Winston perished in the fire. Also, The Red Cross is <b>NOT</b> helping her find an apartment.<br><br><br>
<b>Hull Times
11/21/2013, Page 1</b><br>
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<b><br>
5 people, 5 cats displaced by A Street blaze</b><br>
<b><br>
<br>
By Allan Stein</b> <br>
<br>
Hull Fire officials said the careless disposal of a
cigarette set ablaze one of Hull's most whimsically adorned homesteads at 52
A St., displacing five residents and as many cats. <br>
<br>
Firefighters responded to the two-alarm fire that was
reported at 11:15 p.m. Nov. 14, after the blaze had traveled up through the
backyard walls of the two-story single-family house and forced the tenants to
leave. <br>
<br>
Fire Chief Robert Hollingshead said it appears someone had
tossed a lit cigarette onto the backyard mulch, which smoldered and then
caught fire. <br>
<br>
"The smoldering cigarette was able to ignite mulch and
extend under the siding to go undetected for several hours," Hull Fire Capt.
Kevin Breen said in the official incident report. <br>
<br>
Investigators later found several extinguished cigarette
butts that also had been discarded in the mulch. <br>
<br>
Fire victims stated they had noticed an odor of smoke
around 7 p.m., although the fire call arrived at the department four hours
later, Breen said. <br>
<br>
A rescue crew at the scene reported "heavy fire in the
walls and ceiling in the bathroom and kitchen area," he said. <br>
<br>
Firefighters knocked down the burning walls and had the
fire under control in about a half hour, Hollingshead said. He said efforts
to extinguish the blaze were <br>
<br>
Continued on page <b>5</b> <br>
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<br>
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<img id="_x0000_i1026" src="http://hulltimes.ma.newsmemory.com/newsmemvol2/massachusetts/hulltimes/20131121/1.pdf.0/img/Image_4.jpg" width="230" height="220"><br>
<b>Fire Chief Robert Hollingshead in the backyard at 52 A
Street. [Photo use courtesy of the Hull Fire Dept.]</b> <br>
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%">
<br>
<br>
<b><br>
A Street fire</b><br>
<b><br>
<br>
Continued from page 1</b> <br>
<br>
because of the antiquated "balloon-frame construction" of
the house and the resulting lack of fire steps in stud chases, which serve as
fire barriers between floors. <br>
<br>
"The fire traveled extremely fast throughout the structure
because of the construction," Hollingshead said. <br>
<br>
Homeowner Leo Barden and four other occupants evacuated the
burning house. Three went to area hospitals with minor injuries. <br>
<br>
A basement apartment tenant's five cats that lived in her
unit were unaccounted for at first. <br>
<br>
"We were a little concerned the night of the fire but all
five cats turned up the following day," the chief said. <br>
<br>
Barden has been renting out vacant rooms for rent this
year. "We presume there were boarders there," the fire chief said. <br>
<br>
Barden could not be reached for comment. <br>
<br>
Fire officials said the pre-1950s house is uninhabitable.
All that remains of the well-known local landmark are dozens of handcrafted
wood and ceramic lawn ornaments crowded into the front and back yard areas. <br>
<br>
Hollingshead said Barden was known for his craftsmanship,
creating pinwheels, Walt Disney characters, birdhouses, flowerpots,
scale-model houses, and various animal figures, including a grizzly bear and
life-sized stork. <br>
<br>
Barden's summer flowerbeds have drawn legions of admirers
through the years. <br>
<br>
A distinctive pink fence surrounded the homestead. <br>
<br>
"It's kind of a landmark. He has been doing that for years.
He always took pride in his work," Hollingshead said. The estimated repair
cost to the house is pegged at $150,000. <br>
<br>
"Damage to the home was extensive, with structural damage
to the home ceiling joist and rafter systems. Smoke and water damage was
extensive (and) exterior finishes of siding trim windows will require
replacement," Breen said. <br>
<br>
Firefighters from Hingham, Scituate, and Cohasset gave
mutual aid battling the fire. The Red Cross provided the victims with four
nights of hotel accommodations, as well as money for food and clothing, said
Ashley Studley, communications director for the American Red Cross of
Massachusetts in Cambridge. <br>
<br>
The agency is working to help each fire victim find new
living arrangements, Studley said. âˆž <br>
<br>
<img id="_x0000_i1028" src="http://hulltimes.ma.newsmemory.com/eebrowser/frame/check.7427/init/pics/none.gif" height="2"><br>
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Copyright © 2013 Hull Times 11/21/2013

Mark Kane

Mark Kane

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