Black Forest Residents Look for Hope in the Ashes

(Colorado Springs) The blaze is the worst Colorado residents have seen. Nearly 500 homes destroyed and 18,000 acres turned to dust. When the flames ignited last Tuesday from Black Forest, hundreds of families were evacuated with little more than the clothes on their back.

Now, a week later, residents are slowly being allowed beyond the barricades securing the area as firefighters are are putting out the last of the remaining embers of a monstrous fire. 

For Kathy Miller, she knows her family will have to start from scratch because she says, their entire property was burned to the ground.

We met just a few short miles from her home, near a military checkpoint guarding the area. Miller says she is surprised how far up Black Forest Road She is able to drive without seeing signs of the massive fire.

The scene is quite different from a week ago. It was just after 3 in the afternoon last Tuesday when Miller heard about a fire engulfing the area. She says her mother woke her from a nap and after conferring with her grandfather, they realized, the fire was coming their way and they had little time to get out.

Miller had just enough time to grab a few days worth of clothes, video games for her 7-year old son and a few family heirlooms. But it wasn’t enough time to pack everything before she, her son, a cousin, her father, grandfather and 6 dogs rallied into two vehicles and fled the scene.

“As we were driving out, we could see huge plumes of smoke and actually came straight down Black Forest Road, we never could see the flames,” Miller states. 

After seeing the news, shortly after, Miller knew her family left in the nick of time. The fire reached their house within 30 minutes after they fled.

“We know that the windmill is standing in the front yard, she tells me, “but that’s the only thing we know.” Miller is nervous about seeing the property, the thought of not knowing what to expect when her family is allowed back is “hardest part.”

The family home was a 5 acre property which included a long fenced area, a trailer, storage sheds, stacks of hay and of course the house itself.

“I got two paintings my grandma made that were hanging in my room,” Miller tells me, but those were the only heirlooms she was able to retrieve. She says one thing she will miss are the silver spoons hanging in the dining room and collection of dolls her late grandmother gave her every birthday growing up.

But Miller says her son is “handling it like a champ” and is hanging onto a positive attitude much more than she expected. “We’ve started getting stuff replaced and he’s getting a few toys,” She quips, “We were able to save one of his favorite video games, Skylander, he’s starting to get back to normal.” Miller realizes it may change when the boy sees the property completely gone.

But even with so much loss, Miller finds strength in the fact that everyone, including their 6 dogs made it out in time. She says there was a scare over the weekend when 4 of the dogs had run off, but with the help of the Humane Society and a tireless search, all the dogs were brought back to safety. There are many families however, who were not able to rescue their faithful family pets in time.  

FINDING FAMILY COMPANIONS

According to Gretchen Pressley, the Colorado Springs Humane Society Spokeswoman, “At all of our locations, we’ve taken in more than a thousand animals including horses, livestock, chickens, cats and dogs.”

When the fires first swept through Black Forest the Humane Society worked with law enforcement to retrieve animals whose owners called in having been forced to leave their companions behind. The Humane Society has nearly 20 rescue teams working with officials to find stray animals as well. Once the pets reach the facility, they are cared for by “trained staff and volunteers who make sure everyone is fed.”

Pressley says they’ve been working tirelessly to help animals who may have suffered injuries running through the fire, “We had a cat a couple of days ago who had come in and her whiskers were burned down and she had burns on her paws and she was just very singed overall.” But the vets were able to treat the cat’s burns and Pressley said the family was “overjoyed” to retrieve her as the cat escaped while they were packing to evacuate.

As the days go by, owners are able to match their lost ones with the Humane Society’s found animals and come to the facility to receive them.

Walking through the kennels, many of the dogs were retreated and appeared too scared to come close to the Humane Society staff, while others were barking and eager to get out after being in a closed space. Black Forest residents often own a substantial amount of land for pets to run and play. Naturally, Pressley notes, cats are a bit easier because they will eventually adapt to their surroundings.  

Pressley encourages the owners to always have a backup plan in case of a similar situation, but understanding it can be hard for the residents and so she says, they are continuing to do everything they can to rescue missing critters and treat them while they wait for their owners to come for them. 

While the public heavily relies on the Humane Society for immediate help there are still owners are still making attempts to go on to their property with police escorts in hopes to draw animals to food.

SURVEYING THE DAMAGE

The Millers are finally sifting through the remnants of their home and at her family’s first visit back to the property, Miller says the scene - “is devastated.” Walking through the ashes and soot, indeed the house had completely burned down. The two story home is now a pile of rubble and charred pieces. 

Where a piano once stood, only the strings are left, coins from a jar rusted and spilled on top of dust. Kathy Miller points out the kitchen and says, “this is where the back-door was and the refrigerator was here.” She surveys the scene still shocked at the pile of black the family home is now under. 

As we cross over the property, we notice glass from windows appears to be more melted than broken. Piles of metal singed but still standing, cars - discolored and rusted; and if they had tires, those too were circular strings of metal on the ground, the rubber melted off. Toy trucks and bikes burnt to a crisp and lying in the dirt, Miller says her son played with toys that had been in the family for a long time and now it’s gone. 

As if a scene from an apocalyptic movie, the Miller’s house and the aftermath the fire’s destruction is surreal and Miller says, she’s still taking it all in. She’s surprised their grill’s propane tanks and closet full of ammunition did not explode, but grateful for the small things, such as the few colorful coffee cups she discovered lying in the dust. And almost as if to prove it to herself she points out her grandfather’s windmill still standing. “My cousin was going to buy a new one, but then we saw on the news it was still there.” She says with a smile.

In fact, several yards around the windmill had not been touched and green grass still graced the bottom of the small stand. Against the burnt rubble of the Millers home, the Windmill gives them a small symbol of hope and remembrance of what they’ve been through. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

“We’re going to rebuild in the same location,” Miller says, “We’re going to have the same address, we’re going to have somebody come and professionally lay the foundation and our family is going to actually build the home ourselves.”

She says the home has been in the family for nearly 30 years and everyone in the family has lived in it at one time or another, so it’s important for them to rebuild it. Miller notes their insurance company, has “been amazing” and is even helping them rent out a home “until we get rebuilt enough to live out here again.” The house was “over-insured,” and she says her family more than enough to rebuild the inside and outside of a new home.

It’s a new beginning and sad ending for so many families. So, as the Black Forest checkpoints open and the Red Cross steps in with relief efforts, the residents return to where their homes once were to wade through their memories...in ashes.*

*View more of Ash's work at http://ashgallagher.com
*More photos to come

#OnTheRoad 2 Point 0 (P1)

Getting back into the groove of the life in the U.S. isn't all it's cracked up to be with gas expenses, car fixings and planning on the next stop. Plus living out of one's car doesn't always give way for regular schedule. Between sleep, finding healthy food, and working in free exercise on top of the journalist ventures of getting the story, the contacts, the pictures and pawning it off to a willing news organization..it's not a glorious ride. 

BUT along the way, there's the road trip and the moments when you breathe fresh air with the windows down, the wind in your hair, music by day and NPR or BBC radio by night, there's a world of fresh perspective and a few moments to catch the culture of America. 

So I made my first real stop in Memphis, TN and took time to visit a park on Riverside, near the Arkansas border. 

It was a picturesque little place, cruise boats coming in and downtown Memphis overlooking the park's bridges. But it was only a 20 minute stop and then on I went, heading for Kansas City, on my way to my first real destination, the raging Colorado Fires. 

 As I approached the night lights of downtown Kansas City, Missouri, the air was hot and sticky. I headed for an old-timey diner on the back side of the city and let my friend know I was on the way. We had known each other for some time, our friendship over the phone, on social media and by email in the last few years, as she lives smack dab in the middle of America. 

Nonetheless, I needed the a break from the road and a few greasy fries to boot, 10pm already, I had lasted longer than I thought I would coming from Memphis. 

I pulled into Chubby's, the red lights lured me in for a second rate meal and friendly staffers who were over the top enthusiastic hooked us up with a little nighttime breakfast and I munched on an egg and cheese sandwich. The pickles were questionable and the fries, obviously, doused in ol' fashioned Ketchup. We scarfed down the greasy eats and I grabbed my camera for a few photos around the diner. 

Inside, outside, juke box, checkered walls and dim lighting. For a couple of hours, we joked, laughed and even snuck a photo of the kitchen staff. But before long, it was getting late and I headed out again, to finish the last leg of the trip and make it to the Rocky Mountains.

Arriving at the base of Pikes Peak, I was already set on a mission, Kansas was far behind me and with 65 miles to go from the Colorado border, there were only two things I could muster through my mind, a long nap and what needed to be done to get the story in. 

Connections, social media and church-goers, I would have a long haul and hopefully get an opportunity to shoot photos in Black Forest, which I would find out would take nearly a week. But for the being, I was looking forward to a pit stop, mostly for the sake of exhaustion. Still to come was the ultimate destination: California Dreamin'.

Photo Montage: Faces of Levinsky Park

Caption: The men I met in Levinsky Park were men who had nowhere else to go. They sleep on the playground, they build support around each other and at the end of the day, they find reasons to smile. Luckily, they were willing to smile for me - they wanted to make certain I didn't forget. I never will. My afternoons in Levinsky were often filled with stories of men who's lives had been shattered, some had come from places where they were teachers, managers, business owners or engineers. But they told  me, where else could they go? Now they survive. They were kind and told me that I was one of so few that would stop and talk to them. I prayer for their continued safety

View the rest of the Photo-Gallery,* Living in Levinsky Park, at: http://www.dw.de/top-stories/world/s-1429

Article can be read at the following link about one man's survival from a Sinai Torture Camp.

(Full Article to Come).

Special Report: Body Found Near Hilton Beach Marina

(Tel Aviv) The body of an Eritrean boy was found in the Marina next to Hilton beach in Tel Aviv late this afternoon. The boy, "Abraham," has been swept away from waves and wind while swimming near rocks at the beach with his brother earlier in the day.

The drama unfolded around 12pm when the two boys went out to swim in the rough Mediterranean waters. The elder brother was heard screaming near the rocks on the north end of Hilton Beach. Local surfers, a jet skier, as well as a lifeguards in canoes made their way out to pull him to shore.

It would be nearly 30 minutes before maritime police approached the scene to begin looking for the drowning boy. A search and rescue helicopter joined the search sometime after 1-pm. Their search focused around the rocks near where the boy was taken by the current.

During the search, the brother, who is 24 years old, was brought to the steps of a local beach bar where he sat in the sand, mourning and crying over his lost brother. His tears drenched his face and he beat the sand with his fists, devastated over his lost brother.

He cried, "My brother was looking so forward to this day! He couldn't wait to come out to the beach and go into the sea! My brother was waiting for this day!"As time went on, his demeanor slumped lower into the sand and he wept harder.

Two Tel Aviv police officers stood by and watched without offering to help. Medics were not to be found and an ambulance did not arrive.

Locals and tourists who were enjoying the beach stepped in to comfort the young man, offering him water, a cool towel and words of encouragement. Several residents approached the police officers asking them to assist him and get him to a hospital, for which they refused. One official watched the young man, seemingly amused and denied a woman who appealed for his assistance, saying there was nothing he could do about the situation. 

After nearly 3 hours, another woman was ab

le to get in touch with social services who said they would come to help. 

Two more police officials came on the scene and threatened to arrest the Eritrean man if he did not come with them willingly. A woman, with her arms around the man, told the officials to wait until the social worker arrived.

Israeli locals and tourists were appalled at the comments made by police, sharing comments like, "This is shameful," and, "Why won't they do something?" or, "I can't believe they're just standing around!"

The search for the missing brother was called off just after 3pm, and the police took the Eritrean man to a local police station. The social worker never arrived.

Sailors in the marina found the drowned boy’s body, approximately 100 meters south of where the boy was initially swimming around 5-pm. It is unknown at this time what has happened to the mourning brother.

Boston to Jaffa Port: Running Against the Wave

I ran with Boston in mind. I needed to clear my head, but I felt a strong connection in the exercise. There was more pressing. The heavy physical exertion had a subtle solidarity. 

So as it started, and my shoes hit the pavement  - down the street - up and down the stairs, I thought about how their race turned into one for their lives. And 3 were lost. The people were brave. They faced terror with so much strength; Freedom wins again. We came together.

Now, as I turned the corner at the bottom of the stairs, my shoes landed on the dock, the Port at Jaffa. As I passed the boats, I closed my eyes for just a moment: nothing but the sound of the Sea reached my ears...and my soul.

I pushed my body, jumped over the dock benches and took a deep breath. The clouds sprinkled fresh rain, the waves rushed and lapped together - it was harmony, peace, perfection.

There was no music to listen to on this run, phone turned off and in my sleave, laptop left behind. The morning was dreary and the only people out were fisherman and restaurant staff. I broke a sweat and released daily stress, mental and physical tensions.

When I came to another set of stairs, leading down to the beach, I raced them up and down avoiding the thought of trying to be Rocky, and focused on the task of pushing myself as hard as I could, because my brothers and sisters did it only a day before - even in the face of an attack.

I climbed up a stone platform - looked over the Sea and bowed with a nod of Namaste. For the next 25 minutes, I formed, positioned myself and challenged the high sea to a duel. Fierce yoga versus the swallowing waves. A battle of soulful recognition and gracious acceptance. The waves showed me power and I showed them strength.

When I finished, I ran up the stairs, back down the dock, through the streets and finished satisfied.

Lost in the 'Promised Land'

Courtesy of Google Map & Pixlr App

Israel can do better than this, he said.

I'm broken today, my friends. I was saddened when I left a meeting with a contact.

I learned when Africans come to Israel, they have no where else to go. This is there last stop, the refugees flee hoping each place they go will be better and Israel, they are often stuck. They are not easily offered status and more often when they arrive, they are literally dumped on a sidewalk with nothing but the clothes on their back.

Government, society will not deal with them. If they are able to avoid detention and gain a place in the country, it is only won through the courts and only if the presiding judge is compassionate enough. Many of them have fled hostile countries, others trafficked into the country - all rejected - and it breeds deep racism from their Israeli counterparts, rejection and many of them turn to crime or end up in hopeless situations.

The organization here relies heavily on outside donations and cannot keep more than about 50 people in their shelter at any given time. They work with community leaders to help provide jobs, training, status, physical and mental healthcare for the refugees. But many of them, if the they can help with relocation and help them set up, it is not in Israel, the success is often found in international relocation.

The contact I spoke with said while he believes what he does is important, it is difficult. Having been a refugee, detained, participated in a hunger strike and opened the first NGO to assist with African refugees and focus on their needs; the challenges are complicated and frustrating. His eyes were sad. But he holds on, he must hope change can be made. Small steps at a time. He's passionate.

I left heavy - as I begin approaching the stories of people here who so desperately need to be heard, I don't know how much of a dent it will make, but like my new friend - I have to think; if one person's life can be improved in anyway by one story, then maybe humanity still exists in Western Backed Ideals. It's important. It's necessary humility.

Electricity Fizzing Flat

Dear Reader:

It is time again I tell you a story, and I must say, you’ve been painfully patient. If I could give you all a cookie, I would. Oreos, in fact.

Now, where was I? Oh yes, a story. 

Well you see, it all started the morning I was to leave a couch surfing couple and head on to a flat. Like any other morning without sleep, I sat up, awake and my hair in dishevel. The apartment manager sent a text, ‘Can you meet me at the flat now?’

I flew out of bed and avoided telling him what I really wanted to say, ‘Shut up, I’m going back to bed. It’s is too early.’

But I knew better and frankly, I wouldn’t have slept another minute. There was a Dog. And the Dog obviously made sure I never slept. Between midnight barks, knurling at his foot and frequent scratches in the corner – he would look me in the eye; he knew what he was doing. The moment I made it to my feet, exhausted and grumpy, he followed. The Dog headed for the door, blocked my way and barked as loud as possible. I skirted around trying to calm him down. It never worked. Hadn’t worked in days, why should I place any hope on a Sunday morning? I shouldn’t  - so I didn’t. I finally flung myself from the door, dragging my luggage and tripping forward onto the sidewalk, again.

Not a great start. But, enough. I headed in the direction to the rooftop flat and after a series of turns, getting lost, walking only four blocks away, I was exhausted. How did I talk myself into 3 bags on this trip? Really.

7-flights up, all the way to the top, old building, and no elevator – whew - I made it. After quick instructions and a mini tour; the guy finally handed me the key.

The first moment alone in days; I just wanted to lie on my back...on the bed. I dared not fall asleep; I knew how much I needed to get done, even on a Sunday. But just for a moment I enjoyed sheer silence. The rooftop-flat had one simple purpose: marveling over the city of Tel Aviv.

After a shower and a little organization, I decided to plug in my Mac and get started. Seemed simple enough, until I plugged into the outlet of a freshly turned on electrical signal and my right hand surged with sparks which shook my forearm and threw me back on the bed. A loud whispered squeal escaped my vocal chords. I had electrocuted myself and felt like a cartoon.

I sat on the edge of the bed, my hand visibly shaking and thought, ‘What the hell was that?!’

Slowly I got up, fumbled for a chair and climbed up to the electrical box to reset. I had also blown the fuse. Nice.

The rest of the day proved uneventful. Shocks and shakes through my arm lasted a few hours, I worked, I napped, I spoke to a friend, I took a walk. Nevertheless, the when sunset came, there was nothing more satisfying than to look out over the city and take it in. No thoughts or words, just Tel Aviv - for a moment, even if it never came again. 

Until Next Time, 

Yours Truly.