Right after the 6,500-acre fire was contained, it became painfully clear that residents who still live in the burn area, are in danger of another imminent disaster: flash flooding and debris flows.  Geographically, the Town of Gold Hill is in a good position to support our downhill neighbors located in both Four Mile and Sunshine canyons.  Residents in these areas have been instructed to climb to safety during rain events.

Today, more than a year a half after the fire, our mountain communities are working towards creating a better preparedness plan. The protocol that we are currently developing outlines in detail how to support one another in the case of future disasters.

As part of this process, officials from every small town West of Boulder have formed an Inter Mountain Alliance organization, with the intention to design both individual and community preparedness plans. Our organization contacted Boulder County’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) requesting supplies to support a citizen-based response designed to work hand in hand with local emergency personnel. The goal of our initiative is to provide a warm safe place for residents as they regroup and gain information during a flood event.

As the mayor of Gold Hill, I am proud to say that our town received a 6×6 Tough Shed that will house the equipment necessary to create a temporary Safe Site.  The same initiative is in place in our neighboring communities of Ward and Sunshine.

In collaboration with our volunteer fire agencies, the Office of Emergency Management and local citizens, we are paving the way to mountain community preparedness!

Big thank you to the Boulder County Transportation Department for delivering the ToughShed.

Post Written by Amy E. Hardy

April 10, 2012  Contact: Jim Williams, 303-441-1260

More Boulder County seniors may be eligible for food, heating cost assistance

Eligibility expansions now in effect

Boulder County, Colo. – Boulder County seniors age 60 and older who may not have previously qualified for help with food and heating costs may now be eligible for assistance. Boulder County’s Department of Housing and Human Services is overseeing local expansions of both the Food Assistance and Low-income Energy Assistance Programs.

Theresa Kullen, eligibility program manager with the Community Assistance and Resource Services program at Boulder County Housing and Human Services, says the changes are welcome. “These expansions will help more low-income Boulder County seniors meet the rising costs of heating their homes and buying groceries,” she said. “We know the need is there, so our hope is to spread the word about these new opportunities.”

Food assistance is now available to seniors whose gross monthly income is less than $1,816 for an individual or $2,452 for a couple. Deductions from income can be made for mortgage, rent, and utility and medical expenses. The “asset test” is no longer used to determine eligibility for food assistance. This test previously made seniors ineligible for food assistance if the value of bank accounts, life insurance policies, or IRAs exceeded a certain amount. Qualification is now based only on income.

Approved applicants receive a debit card that can be used to buy produce, meat, dairy items, and boxed, frozen, and canned goods. The Food Assistance application is simple and short, and processing takes just two to three days. Seniors are encouraged to apply for this expansion now or find out more by contacting Shaula Lee at Boulder County Housing and Human Services at 303-678-6336 or slee@bouldercounty.org.

In addition, Boulder County residents age 60 and older who were previously ineligible for LEAP (the Low-income Energy Assistance Program) due to income limit reductions may now be able to get help with winter heating bills through the Senior Heat + program. This new program has gross monthly income limits of $1,670 for an individual or $2,246 for a couple.

The application deadline for Senior Heat + is April 30. Seniors who may be eligible should apply immediately or find out more by contacting Amy Armstrong at Boulder County Housing and Human Services at 303-678-6007 or aarmstrong@bouldercounty.org.

-BoulderCounty.org-

These classes are each 3 ½ hours long and the cost is $35 for a single class or $65 for both and are open to everyone. The American Heart Association Certification is good for 2 years.

Patti Anderson, LPN, the class instructor, has run SOS (www.sosinco.com) since 2006 and has taught safety to many people in the mountains and communities along the Front Range. As a lifelong resident of Colorado her knowledge of safety problems in diverse communities from the mountains to the flatlands helps her target her classes to the main safety issues found in any Colorado environment.

We would like to offer both classes on one day.  We are looking at Saturday, May 5th, 19th or 26th as possible options.  You can take one or both.

Please note that this Basic Life Support class is for professionals and therefore qualifies as a certification for GH health professionals or fire fighters that may need to have the certification.

If you are interested in either or both of these classes please let Amy Hardy know. Her email is ahardy105@yahoo.com

Their local shop provides some of the best cup cakes in Boulder, CO.

Please visit them at 641 S. Broadway Boulder, CO 80305 (next door to Neptune Mountaineering).

Their product is also available in these markets.

Please consider attending a gathering for people who lost their homes in the Fourmile and Lower North Fork fires. It’s taking place on Friday, April 13th, in beautiful Chautauqua Park, here in the foothills of Boulder. Chautauqua is generously donating the historic Community House for our gathering, and it’s a lovely, quiet place in which to meet.

When: Friday, April 13th, 2012

Time: 5:30 – 7:00 pm or whenever

Where: Chautauqua Community House in Chautauqua Park, 900 Baseline Rd, Boulder CO

Dinner Provided: Pizza and snacks, dessert and drinks

Agenda: Informal; time to meet and socialize with other fire survivors, catch up, get information, and support each other.

Food will be provided by Foothills United Way and the Boulder County Fourmile Fire Recovery Office. Invited guests include Kate Newman, Jeffco Lower North Fork Recovery Coordinator, Amy Hardy, Foothills United Way Fourmile Resource Recovery Coordinator and Garry Sanfaçon, Boulder County Fourmile Fire Recovery Manager.

This is a chance to meet other fire survivors, share stories, and enjoy a lovely Spring evening in Chautauqua Park. Please RSVP to gsanfacon@bouldercounty.org so we know how much food to provide.

To stay informed about upcoming participant merchants, please like our Boulder Mountain Resources Facebook page.

The order form can be found on the Conservation District website at www.longmontcd.org or www.bouldervalleycd.org.  You can also download the form here. They offer a 25% on the seedling trees only.  The planting supplies that they offer are at regular price.  When the landowner orders, they can make a note on the order form that they are in the Four Mile fire area and then deduct 25% from their seedling tree order.

They are having a tree planting and planning seminar on January 19 to help landowners decide which seedlings are best for their property and where would be the best to plant them. For more information:

Nancy McIntyre, District Manager
Boulder Valley & Longmont Conservation Districts
(303) 776-4034 x3

Come visit and support our Mountain communities. Shop locally and everyone important wins.

The Climb has an opportunity to win a $5,000 grant. The GOODmaker + Brookside Foods “Give Back” Challenge! The submission that gets the most votes will receive a $5,000 grant to implement their programs and services that give back to the community. Please support us and vote for The Climb! Voting ends Dec 9th. Please tell your friends! Thank you!