Hey Pearlington Fans,
The first and most important news is that Dos Gringos in Carbondale is hosting a benefit for the Pearlington Project on Saturday Feb. 17th from 7:30 until ?. For $15.00 at the door, you’ll get beads, gumbo and live jazz music by Acoustic Mayhem, Craig Curry's group who first contacted me about the benefit. Proceeds go to our project. Since this is notice, please spread the word. We’d like a big turn out. They will also have the best costume contest with a prize, and Nelson (Dos Gringos owner) promises great hurricanes.
I’m providing genuine alligator from Mississippi that Nelson's chef will prepare as a tasty treat. We don’t have a lot of it so come early for your sample.
Jeanne Ford Artaz joined us this morning (Sat) at Dos Gringos for an interview. She will be broadcasting the interview and promoting the concert starting tomorrow (sun) and through out the week to help us get the event advertised.
CRMS is nearly set for their trip and they will be leaving March 10th for Pearlington.
Denise Swanson's house is nearly framed in with the roof being put on this week. Camp Coastal is sponsoring that construction and we will pick up the finishing work later.
Yesterday, I spoke with the Hancock Co. bldg inspector and we discussed Sandra Merle's building permit. I have a meeting with him next Thursday afternoon, oh yea, I’m leaving for Pearlington again on Thursday. I’ll be working with John Livingston's crew and another group over the weekend from Linda Edwards to help on both theirs and our projects. We hope to get more done on several homes.
On Tuesday, I’ll be looking at some bedroom furniture being donated by Susan Beckerman of Aspen. As we move closer to completing homes, furniture will become important. We were approved and I have ordered a 17’ cargo trailer down in Mississippi. That will be an important tool for hauling furniture and materials in the future.
I met with Hilary and Susan Berdahl from Pitkin County. Susan is working on the Bush/Clinton grant.
Ron, Hilary, and I met a week earlier to go over planning for the March trip. It looks like we will have some good skilled help to compliment the CRMS group.
We are in the planning stages with the Mississippi Medical Reserve to hold an emergency disaster drill in Mississippi sometime in May. Designated volunteer groups who have been participating in the planning for a future emergency response will attend to further coordinate emergency response in the Pearlington area in the event of another storm.
I’ve spent the past couple of weeks on the phone coordinating our activities for the next few months. Now through May are shaping up to be very busy and my hope is that we will get a lot accomplished. Keep spreading the word, the project is alive and well and very much in need of assistance.
That’s it for now, attached are a few new pictures
Please plan to attend the FAT TUESDAY party at Dos Gringos on SATURDAY FEB 17- 7:30pm to whenever. I’m having beads sent straight from New Orleans to be handed out at the door…ya bedda be there!
Tom
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Update from Pearlington Project Coordinator, Tom Dalessandri
Greetings Pearlington Fans
This is day four back in Pearlington. As usual, there is just not enough time to get done all that I need to do while I'm here. The latest is as follows:
Thur. - Met with the Dawsey's, their cousin Jesse Woods is doing their electrical and he is doing a great job. Johnny, Evelyn and Holly are helping out pulling wire (as is JL). They finished the porch we were working on from the last trip and it looks great. Johnny's hand is healing, although he can't move a couple fingers (skill saw accident). We purchase some additional building materials and they are doing well. With plumbing help, the sheetrock will be ready to go up anytime. Thur. nite, I attended the bi-weekly recovery meeting in the mess tent. Laurie, Larry R. Glen Locklin, Joe Keyes, and several other group representatives were present updating everyone on their progress and communicating cooperative information. It was a good meeting and things are progressing.
Fri. - I met with the Salvation Army as I previously applied for an equipment grant and was approved. We now have some power tools and building supplies to help us carry out our job more efficently. As always they are great folks. They also informed me that they approved the Everett Cook grant for building materials.
Sat. - I attended the memorial service for Raymond Diaz. The turnout was very good and Tim Goodnow came down from Atlanta as well as Jennifer Johnson. Tim spoke of Raymond with great heart and the service was up beat as everyone spoke of Raymond's open heart and spirit. Laurie and I met to further discuss the developments for Denise Swanson, Everett Cook and the Earle family. Work has already begun on the foundation for Denise Swanson thanks to Laurie and Larry.
After the service Tim Goodnow and I met to coordinate our teams on continued work. We hope to continue our work together sharing resources and teams.
I met with Sandra Merle to further our discussion on her home. My utmost priority is to get Sandra's house framed up by the end of the March trip. In order to do this, we will need help and coordination. We are way behind on her home and I'm feeling very anxious to get back on track. She remains upbeat and positive in her belief in me/us that we can make this happen...and we can!
Sun - Laurie and I visited Sandra again and on Monday, Laurie and I will review all of Sandra's previous documentation in hopes of getting her a building permit. Laurie feels pretty good about this, as do I.
Tim asked me to visit Russell Barnhardt regarding a tree that needs to come down. We will need another team of tree cutters for a growing number of standing dead and dangerous trees. Ron and I have already briefly discussed this and we will see how this will work in the not too distant future.
I leave for home early Wed. morning. Things are progressing and hope is high as we move toward spring.
Thanks again for everyone's support.
Tom
This is day four back in Pearlington. As usual, there is just not enough time to get done all that I need to do while I'm here. The latest is as follows:
Thur. - Met with the Dawsey's, their cousin Jesse Woods is doing their electrical and he is doing a great job. Johnny, Evelyn and Holly are helping out pulling wire (as is JL). They finished the porch we were working on from the last trip and it looks great. Johnny's hand is healing, although he can't move a couple fingers (skill saw accident). We purchase some additional building materials and they are doing well. With plumbing help, the sheetrock will be ready to go up anytime. Thur. nite, I attended the bi-weekly recovery meeting in the mess tent. Laurie, Larry R. Glen Locklin, Joe Keyes, and several other group representatives were present updating everyone on their progress and communicating cooperative information. It was a good meeting and things are progressing.
Fri. - I met with the Salvation Army as I previously applied for an equipment grant and was approved. We now have some power tools and building supplies to help us carry out our job more efficently. As always they are great folks. They also informed me that they approved the Everett Cook grant for building materials.
Sat. - I attended the memorial service for Raymond Diaz. The turnout was very good and Tim Goodnow came down from Atlanta as well as Jennifer Johnson. Tim spoke of Raymond with great heart and the service was up beat as everyone spoke of Raymond's open heart and spirit. Laurie and I met to further discuss the developments for Denise Swanson, Everett Cook and the Earle family. Work has already begun on the foundation for Denise Swanson thanks to Laurie and Larry.
After the service Tim Goodnow and I met to coordinate our teams on continued work. We hope to continue our work together sharing resources and teams.
I met with Sandra Merle to further our discussion on her home. My utmost priority is to get Sandra's house framed up by the end of the March trip. In order to do this, we will need help and coordination. We are way behind on her home and I'm feeling very anxious to get back on track. She remains upbeat and positive in her belief in me/us that we can make this happen...and we can!
Sun - Laurie and I visited Sandra again and on Monday, Laurie and I will review all of Sandra's previous documentation in hopes of getting her a building permit. Laurie feels pretty good about this, as do I.
Tim asked me to visit Russell Barnhardt regarding a tree that needs to come down. We will need another team of tree cutters for a growing number of standing dead and dangerous trees. Ron and I have already briefly discussed this and we will see how this will work in the not too distant future.
I leave for home early Wed. morning. Things are progressing and hope is high as we move toward spring.
Thanks again for everyone's support.
Tom
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Update from Pearlington Project Coordinator, Tom Dalessandri
This has been a very busy two weeks for us and Pearlington. Probably as busy as it has been in six months.
There is a resurgence of interest and coordination in part out of necessity for groups to come together due to a lack of skilled labor and volunteers.
Here is the synopsis:
- Dawsey's Find electrician and complete electrical- Warren Tidwell is helping from Atlanta. Dawsey's have a friend who has committed to the work but hasn't showed up yet. Plumbing at the Dawsey's-trouble finding a plumber but Warren feels optimist that he can find a plumber easier than an electrician. Either way we will need to pay for this out of AmeriCares. Once done with these utilities, sheetrocking the entire house is next and hopefully we should be ready by March. They have all but finished their porch needing only to hang the shingles at this time. I'm not sure where they are on kitchen cabinets, appliances.
- Shirley Thompson We just need to get a small finishing crew in there for some minor electrical work and odd jobs then she is ready for flooring, cabinets, doors etc. Her place is really close and I think we could finish it rather quickly if we concentrated there for a few days.
- Sandra Merla Continues to be a concern for me because we are behind. I had hoped we would have framed in her home and reset the footings at this point but we haven't. A real focus needs to occur here to formulate a plan, get the materials and put a focused crew on catching up. Laurie Spaschak has referred me to the building inspector for Hancock Co. who she feels will be helpful.
- Everett Cook This was a big concern as an additional project but it is coming together nicely thanks to Laurie S, John Livingston, Rich Taylor, Jon White , and others. The SV grant has been resubmitted yesterday showing us as the sponsor and if materials arrive by this weekend Laurie has a crew ready to move. Following up will be Rich Taylor's crew in Feb. and us in March.
- Earl family They are related to the Cooks and need a new home ground up. Not sure what we will be doing here yet but Laurie is working on a Camp Coastal home.
- Denise Swanson family We've gotten her old house plans and I have spoken with Denise over the phone. Laurie plans on visiting her in detail to see where she stands. She may also be a candidate for Camp Coastal or the Walls of Hope .
- Diaz With Raymond's passing things will be on hold for period of time until Cindy can decide how she would like to proceed. I am continuous communication with Tim Goodnow on the Diaz family.
- Sam Bailey -- Progress is slow but the Santa Cruz group did a great job cleaning up debris and so there is some vision here. We will continue to work with Sam on his planning but much prep. work needs to be done before we begin reconstruction help. This one will take some time.
Others on the list for final touch up and detail work.
Debbie Sonnier
Lena Macullis
Ben & Sue Taylor
Jon & Nan Givens
Dennis & Ivy Watson
I was a bit overwhelmed earlier in the week, but things are coming together now with the help of our friends from all around the country. Special Thanks to the following;
Ben & Sue Taylor
Jon White-Canada
Eileen Powers-Canada
John Livingston
Rich Taylor
Tim Goodnow
Warren Tidwell
Laurie Spaschak
Gene Butterfield
Kim Purcell
Jerry Carey
And all the others who have helped put our plans into play this past couple of weeks. Alone we can move a mound - together we can move a mountain.
Tom
There is a resurgence of interest and coordination in part out of necessity for groups to come together due to a lack of skilled labor and volunteers.
Here is the synopsis:
- Dawsey's Find electrician and complete electrical- Warren Tidwell is helping from Atlanta. Dawsey's have a friend who has committed to the work but hasn't showed up yet. Plumbing at the Dawsey's-trouble finding a plumber but Warren feels optimist that he can find a plumber easier than an electrician. Either way we will need to pay for this out of AmeriCares. Once done with these utilities, sheetrocking the entire house is next and hopefully we should be ready by March. They have all but finished their porch needing only to hang the shingles at this time. I'm not sure where they are on kitchen cabinets, appliances.
- Shirley Thompson We just need to get a small finishing crew in there for some minor electrical work and odd jobs then she is ready for flooring, cabinets, doors etc. Her place is really close and I think we could finish it rather quickly if we concentrated there for a few days.
- Sandra Merla Continues to be a concern for me because we are behind. I had hoped we would have framed in her home and reset the footings at this point but we haven't. A real focus needs to occur here to formulate a plan, get the materials and put a focused crew on catching up. Laurie Spaschak has referred me to the building inspector for Hancock Co. who she feels will be helpful.
- Everett Cook This was a big concern as an additional project but it is coming together nicely thanks to Laurie S, John Livingston, Rich Taylor, Jon White , and others. The SV grant has been resubmitted yesterday showing us as the sponsor and if materials arrive by this weekend Laurie has a crew ready to move. Following up will be Rich Taylor's crew in Feb. and us in March.
- Earl family They are related to the Cooks and need a new home ground up. Not sure what we will be doing here yet but Laurie is working on a Camp Coastal home.
- Denise Swanson family We've gotten her old house plans and I have spoken with Denise over the phone. Laurie plans on visiting her in detail to see where she stands. She may also be a candidate for Camp Coastal or the Walls of Hope .
- Diaz With Raymond's passing things will be on hold for period of time until Cindy can decide how she would like to proceed. I am continuous communication with Tim Goodnow on the Diaz family.
- Sam Bailey -- Progress is slow but the Santa Cruz group did a great job cleaning up debris and so there is some vision here. We will continue to work with Sam on his planning but much prep. work needs to be done before we begin reconstruction help. This one will take some time.
Others on the list for final touch up and detail work.
Debbie Sonnier
Lena Macullis
Ben & Sue Taylor
Jon & Nan Givens
Dennis & Ivy Watson
I was a bit overwhelmed earlier in the week, but things are coming together now with the help of our friends from all around the country. Special Thanks to the following;
Ben & Sue Taylor
Jon White-Canada
Eileen Powers-Canada
John Livingston
Rich Taylor
Tim Goodnow
Warren Tidwell
Laurie Spaschak
Gene Butterfield
Kim Purcell
Jerry Carey
And all the others who have helped put our plans into play this past couple of weeks. Alone we can move a mound - together we can move a mountain.
Tom
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