Babs
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Post by Babs on Jun 21, 2008 16:37:13 GMT -5
We bought two dehumidifiers three days ago and they were working just fine (brought the humidity down from 80 something to the 60 something range); however since Service Master came and installed their "big guns" (what I call their equipment) the humidity in our basement has dropped another 20 degrees.
Now we have two dehumidifiers (sorry for the misspelling of this word all along guys), two industrial fans and two box fans at our house....none of which is being used at this time. We did loan a dehumidifier to our next door neighbor so they could get their humidity down also.
I guess hiring Service Master was the right way for us to go as it is really helping a lot and we don't want to get mold upstairs in the regular part of the house. Bad enough to lose everything downstairs, surely don't want to get too much moisture up here. I know my husband is just thinking "smart" and looking ahead and I do trust his judgement in all of this.
If I can I will just pass along one little bit of advice to all of you who may know someone who was affected by this flood. If all you can do is call them or give them a kind word of encouragement, an email, or whatever, you will never know how much it is appreciated. I will never ever take a kind word or the smallest gesture of friendship lightly ever again. In the beginning just an offer of a bottle of cold water was a Godsend and when those two men in the big truck came along and got our debris the other day I gave them cokes and cold water to help them on their way. Their job is so thankless and so unending, I just felt they needed a little encouragement too. We all need a kind word, an offer of the loan of some piece of equipment (Richard many thanks for all your offers), whatever you can do, but please know that it will be appreciated. This is such a tremendous task that lies ahead...the rebuilding of our homes and our community....and thanks go out to all who are doing even the smallest of things to lift someone else's spirits.
Keep smiling and trust in the Lord.
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Margo CHS Class of 55
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Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind; it doesn't matter.
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Post by Margo CHS Class of 55 on Jun 24, 2008 0:11:20 GMT -5
Eastside Community Center will be delivering meals from 4:00 to 6:00pm the rest of this week, to Flood Victims, only. You may call them ( 376-7840)to request one for each member of your family, if we have not delivered to your neighborhood.[/color]
Also, on Tuesday and Wednesday nights we wll be serving a FREE SIT DOWN hot meal at the center.Doors open for this meal at 4:30 and meal is served from 5:00 pm until the food is gone. NO MEALS may be carried out. These meals are provided by Ecumenical Assembly Churches of Columbus,and are available to anyone in the Community.
Thursday the FREE sit down meal is at Salvation Army on the corner of Illinois and Gladstone. Doors open at 4:00 and meal is served at 4:30 pm.
Friday the Free Sit Down meal is served at First Presbyterian on the corner of 7th and Franklin. Enter through the Franklin st. doors, and go up ramp to the Gym.
ALL of the sit down meals are open to ANYONE. Just sign in as you enter each site.
Hope this helps all of the Flood Victims,and anyone else in the Columbus area, who cares to attend.
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Babs
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Posts: 589
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Post by Babs on Jun 24, 2008 10:01:25 GMT -5
Another update from Rocky Ford Crossing.
Just a few minutes ago the Service Master representative left our house, he removed the ten fans and two dehumidifiers from the house and went into all three crawl spaces. He sprayed the crawl spaces and the entire basement with an antibacterial spray that only people in the business of restoring/mitigating water can get hold of. He said our basement looks and smells great...which naturally bought a big smile to our faces. :-) They also do complete restoration of homes damaged by floods, etc. so we now have at least two sources of contact to help us decide what the next step will be in redoing our home. When he went into our crawl spaces, we were so relieved to hear that the plastic that is placed in them was almost completely dry. Only in one or two spaces in the largest did he find any standing water and he just dumped it off to the ground to dry out. The soil was hard and nothing growing....meaning no mold! :-) Yippee!!!
So I'd say things are definitely "looking up a little bit". Biggest job now is trying to dry out tax records and the garage floor is littered with some of that. We threw away one file cabinet this a.m. that is all rusted and nasty and there is one more that will likely have to be pitched as well. Still overall we know how very very lucky we were. Some others were not so lucky. Heard about a lady who was having a new roof put on, and her roof just had the plastic over it. That ripped, blew away, the water came in and her ceiling and roof fell into her home and then the flood waters came in the door, etc. Her whole house is ruined. See how much we have to be thankful for. We are blessed indeed.
Yesterday my next door neighbor returned dishes where I had taken food to her and her husband and as she slipped them inside my front door (we were in the basement with the Service Master guy and also our plumber) she also set down a vase with three lovely pink roses. Such thoughtfulness and such caring. It is heartwarming to see how this flood has drawn people into each others lives and in to caring for each other. :-)
Thats it for now, more as we progress.
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jdhinkle
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LITTLE HINK
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Post by jdhinkle on Jun 24, 2008 12:05:21 GMT -5
ITS INTERESTING TO HAVE THIS BOARD I WAS EMAILING SOME OLD FRIENDS ABOUT THE FLOOD PICTURES I TOLD THEM I WORKED THERE IN THE 70S ONE FRIEND SAID HIS DAD BUILT THE BANK THERE AND HE HELPED ANOTHER REMEMBERED THIS Ref. the bank...when it was first built everyone nicknamed it the "dead horse" bank because of the pillars on each corner looked like legs. If they had just built it upside down the water would have run under it... IN SPITE OF THE DISASTER IT REFRESHING TO HEAR FROM FRIENDS
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Margo CHS Class of 55
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Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind; it doesn't matter.
Posts: 376
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Post by Margo CHS Class of 55 on Jun 26, 2008 0:36:59 GMT -5
Eastside Community Center, 421 MC CLURE ROAD,376-7840 continues to prepare, fill, box, count, and pack hot meals for the flood victims. Today we packed over 600 meals with ham, baked beans, mixed fruit, a banana, and a cookie. Our menu depends on what we receive in donations. I continue to apply lables on the boxes,and fold napkins and wrap plasticware to go with the meal. Tasks I can do while seated. WE are always grateful to anyone or any business that donates items for our meals. We have also been blessed with some monetary donations to help buy items to fill in the menu. THANK YOU COLUMBUS, FOR BEING SO COMPASSIONATE TO YOUR FELLOWMAN. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The First Baptist Church Disaster Relief Team has been hard at work these last two weeks "muckin' and guttin' " members homes and other homes in the Columbus Community. We meet at the church each morning at 9:00am and work jobs are passed out. Our team is made up of "mature" adults and are always looking for younger volunteers to do the more physical tasks ...such as crawl spaces and basement drywall or insulation removal. If you would care to be my "Hands and Feet" as I am unable to do this, PLEASE show up at the church any morning Mon thru Sat. or call the church office 812-376-3321 to Volunteer for a specific task. If you are a former member that lives out of town or state,and would like to donate to our fund, please make a check payable to First Baptist Church Disaster Relief Fund. Mail to First Baptist Church 3300 Fairlawn Drive 47203.
THANK YOU SO MUCH for being a "surrogate" Good Samaritan for me. Slowly but surely WE ARE making progress. There is still a lot of hard work to do, as our Lord guides us each day.
We have been "Blessed....to be a blessing"
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Jun 30, 2008 16:35:59 GMT -5
I am hearing neighbors and friends are getting "grants" to repair their homes, and this makes me very happy. Today we got a packet in the mail but from the way I read it we are not qualified, so it does not appear we will get any help whatsoever. Just hope the insurance does come through a little bit, but if not we will survive. They sent us a packet to register for a "small business loan"! We are not a small business just a small homeowner but that is okay we will do our own thing. I know that a lot of people are much worse off than we are but we did hope for perhaps just a little "shot in the arm" with some help. It does not appear that will happen. We are not bitter, we know we are much more fortunate than so many others. I'm just glad that some who really need the help are getting it. I tried to call FEMA but the connection was not good and the second attempt was not any better, so I am going to call it a day and just forget the whole FEMA thing. This was my husbands first thought to begin with and as always he seems to be "on target". **************************************************** (Update on Tuesday at 7 p.m.) Okay typical of the Federal Government and the way it just naturally works, obviously the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing. We got a check in today's mail!! Explanation I got from FEMA(via email) just now was that any additional home repairs are referred to the Small Business Loan department. Just odd to me that none of my neighbors got this particular packet on a "loan". The check is not large, will no way fix our basement but it will cover a few repairs and that is great! :-) Its more than I expected and so I take back any negative comments I posted above about FEMA. Sure is odd to receive a check, no paper work prior to it but the note inside the check said "information to follow"...so guess we will find out just what we were paid for. I'm fairly sure it will be for the air conditioner repair, water heater and electrical service call on the GFI. Hang in there guys, don't give up and keep positive. I know its hard but its just one day at a time sort of like AA does. Hopefully this will all be over soon.
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Post by Ricky_Berkey on Jul 4, 2008 10:01:38 GMT -5
Babs,
Thanx so much for describing your honest struggles and emotions as you recover from your flood damage. One just never knows what the next day might bring. Your descriptions are so well written and really something worth saving. People in Columbus should be writing down their experiences as a legacy about this historic marker in our community's history. We will no longer be talking about that flood in 1913 but now 2008 sets a standard that I hope we will never see again.
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Jul 4, 2008 14:56:16 GMT -5
Hi Ricky, I appreciate your comments and glad you thought my posts were worthwhile. The struggle will be long and hard, and as the mayor said in today's paper it may take a couple of years for Columbus to fully recover. We are still not sure just how much we will redo in our basement. The joy has sort of gone out of even having a finished basement at this time and my husband feels he will never really be happy in "his den" ever again. I am going to leave that decision to him but rather hope in time he will change his mind and want to fix it up. Yes, we probably won't do as we did to begin with, we won't have the desire to purchase all new furniture, expensive carpeting and padding and make it just like the upstairs of our home. Perhaps in time, with some furniture we might purchase at auction it will once again be liveable and comfortable. For right now, we are just happy it is dry and fairly clean and doesn't smell like stagnant water. Heard of a house just behind us in Sycamore Bend, just a few yards from our house, that ended up with close to five feet of mud and debris in their basement. They had two egress windows break during the flood and what a mess that had to be. Thankfully our water was clear and mostly just ground water that got in thru the foundation or through the sump pump. Sometimes we fail to see it but there are small miracles happening all around us and we just have to be thankful for them. I saw on Marr Road, just South of our development, that the other day they totally raised a house. I didn't witness the tearing down but a neighbor said she drove by and the people who lived there were standing and watching. I do not know how they could stand that. Even some of the kind people who have sent me emails with pictures I know didn't stop to think how they might affect those of us involved so deeply. Just the other day I finally got the nerve to look at one that Linda had sent me about the flooding in Franklin. They really had it bad up there too. I was glad when I did open the pictures because then I sent them on to a friend who has an uncle living in Franklin. Time eventually does heal all wounds but one wonders as you are going through such an experience if time will move fast enough. It will soon be a month that the flood hit Columbus; we have no idea where the month has gone. All we know is we have worked our bodies till we almost dropped and long into the hours of the night. Each day we thank God for the friends and neighbors who have either called, emailed, stopped by, offered the use of tools or whatever some small offer of friendship. It is all appreciated so much. Keep smiling!
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Jul 7, 2008 20:31:19 GMT -5
Purchased two gallons of paint and the plan for later on this week, after scrubbing down the poured cement walls, is to paint the two storage rooms. One is the furnace/weight room and that is where we will most likely begin the painting. Don has stored the baseboards, he is hoping we can reuse, in the storage room under the stairwell so that will be the second painting area. Today we did some more mopping and cleaning and hopefully by the end of the week, we can say we have two rooms back in some kind of order. Once the painting is done, then we will sit back and decide if or when we will do more work and just what we will do next. We have some repair work to do on one of the curio cabinets as the decorative legs sort of fell apart from all the water. We have all the pieces so are hoping with some good wood glue and some borrowed clamps (thanks Richard) we can manage to save this curio for future use. We also have some work to do on a drum table that belonged to my grandmother as the wood split on it as well. Sure are learning some tricks on how to repair things and hopefully all of this will go right and these items can be saved.
It all just takes "time"!
**************************************************** Tuesday: 11:27 a.m. Update: The walls have now been scrubbed and I've gotten about half the tile and grout scrubbed as well. If we'd known something like this was going to happen think we'd have gone with tile on the entire floor downstairs. As it is we just did the "walkway" from the bottom of the stairs into the furnace room, so workmen would not need to walk on the carpet. The nice Berber carpet is long gone and the tile is still there. I asked Don why we hadn't given that some consideration at the time we finished the basement over seven years ago and he said it would've been quite expensive to tile the whole floor. Still since the tile is in tact (aside from the drywall junk all down in the grout) we'd have avoided all that tearing out of the carpet and padding and lugging up the stairs to the trash pile. Oh well, hindsight is always 20/20 as they say.
Walls are ready for paint and the tile grout is maybe about half way clean; still tons of work to get all that drywall dust and stuff out of the grout lines. I've cleaned it maybe three times already and as it dries I see there is still more work ahead for me. :-(
Nothing else on the agenda today but possibly attacking some of the drywall residue that is down in the cracks by the studs and framing. Slowly but surely the work goes on.
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Margo CHS Class of 55
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Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind; it doesn't matter.
Posts: 376
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Post by Margo CHS Class of 55 on Jul 11, 2008 0:09:06 GMT -5
Dave or Richard, I WAS Really tired last night, and I did not realize there were two folders about floods. I originally posted this under the past floods folder, and am moving it here tonight. I believe it fits here, more accurately. Will delete the original posting.
A Further update is posted below............
(Originally posted Wed. July 9th,2008 )
Dear Friends, I have been so tired each day, I have not felt like even posting. I did wish to bring you up to date on the incredible activity at Eastside Community Center.
Since the flood on June 8th, the FANTASTIC Volunteers have prepared, boxed, and delivered FREE meals to the flooded areas...Mon thru Sat. We started out with 60 meals that first day, and our highest total for one day reached 650 !!
Today,Wed. July 9th, a total of 550 boxes of meals were delivered to the flood victims. This is all due to so many wonderful people who have donated food and the supplies to box them, monetary donations to purchase items to cook, and those who fill the many boxes, count and box them by subdivisions, and the many drivers who deliver them.
I am playing just a small part in this, by applying labels to boxes, wrapping serving ware, and being a general " gopher " or whatever job comes my way.
It was a pleasure to see and talk to Bob Lane( former neighbor, and poster to this site) for just a little while for two days this week, as he helped fill boxes. Thanks, Bob, for being my hands and feet, as I can't stand for any length of time. The count delivered varies from day to day, depending on the amount of food we have, but never under 500 for quite a while now. I was told today that the Center will continue to do this, as long as there is a need, and the Donations and Volunteers are sufficient to accomplish this awesome task.
If you live locally,and wish to help, please call the Center 376-7840, ( after 9:00 am) and ask to speak to Lenore Hollowell, our MARVELOUS co-ordinator, or Priscilla Scalf, Director of the center.
For those of you out of town or state, and care to donate.. please make check out to Eastside Community Center and mail to 421 McClure Road, Columbus,IN 47201. I can assure you that ALL DONATIONS will be used in Columbus,for those in need.
ONE more request... we also serve FREE sit down Hot meals on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings,after all the flood victims meals are out the door.
The Center is in DIRE NEED of heavy duty folding chairs. We just do not have enough for everyone, and the annual budget is not sufficient to cover this expense.
If you know of a business, or organization that may care to donate some, we could use at least 20-30.However,even one or two would help.
Thanking God that I am blessed to live in a community with a HUGE "Good Samaritan" attitude. I have seen this so many, many times this past month !!! ************************** Update Thursday night, July 10th.... 535 meals went out the doors today.... I believe Eastside is the only non profit organization that is still doing this, as we see the need.
Eastside will deliver a meal on Friday evening between 4-6pm. Sat we will be delivering a lunch. If you are a flood victim, and have not had a meal delivered, please call the Center at 376-7840 before noon, if possible.
We will take Sunday off to rest and worship our Lord.
There is a hot meal site for a sit down meal every night of the week,at different locations in Columbus, including Sunday. This is available to anyone. YOU do not have to be a flood victim for these, you just have to be able to get there. Allof them are covenient to bus service. If you care to find out about the different locations, please call Eastside 376-7840, or First Call for Help 211.
Yes, Babs, we do receive thank you notes, and personal messages, as our drivers deliver the meals. One driver returned from Candleight Village yesterday, and shared her experience with a Senior who lives there. The Senior came out and gave our driver a big hug, and with tears in her eyes, she told her that without our meals,she would probably not have made it through this disaster. Not maybe so much the comfort from the food, but the realization that some one cared about her, and was checking on her every day to see if she needed anything. That says it all about Columbus, and the special people who live here.
As far as computers, I know a Christian gentleman from our church who is excellent in diagnosing problems, and if anyone can fix your computer, I would defintely reccomend him.
I'm not sure what the policy is on this site about a commercial reccomendation, so will send you a private message about Tom. I'm sure there are more than one computer company owners, that either reads or posts on this site, and would not wish to interfere with any other businesses.
Also, anyone still needing help with removal of heavy items or items in the basement that need carried upstairs, PLEASE call First Baptist Church at 376-3321 and request some help. Our Relief Team is on call for anyone needing assistance.
It's late once more, so will sign off for tonight.
God continues to bless Columbus with " Good Samaritans" willing and devoted to helping their neighbors.
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Jul 12, 2008 0:09:19 GMT -5
(Moving this post from the other flood folder to this one, so it makes sense to all as I was responding to Margo's post.) Margo, Thanks to all the many volunteers who have kept this program going for such a long time. Its hard to believe there are still so many people in need of a meal but its wonderful that the Eastside Community Center is continuing to do this for the city of Columbus and its residents. Makes one wonder how many people's lives have been impacted to the point of almost no return. "A Good Samaritin" attitude is indeed right on target and I'm proud to be a resident of our fine city. We still have a few items to get up to the curb for pickup and are hoping this weekend to get some assistance so the refrigerator can be hauled upstairs and outside and just found out today our downstairs computer is "kaput" so that will go out as well. Really don't think Don's stereo has much hope of a life but he is still hoping on that one. It is setting in the garage along with a tv that did not get in any water. The stereo was submerged for a long time so we are positive all the insides will be rusted and most likely not working.
And so our lives go on............................one day at a time!
Margo, don't you overdo it! Ya hear!
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Jul 12, 2008 0:23:50 GMT -5
Margo, I can understand that woman's reaction from Candlelight Village. Just one small act of kindness can bring anyone to tears at this time. Today I got a package from an Air Force friend of ours, who lives in New York. She sent me some lovely cotton crocheted cloths she had made "to mop up" she wrote on her short note and to let me know she was thinking of us. It brought tears to my eyes just to know she thought of us. It also made me smile as I know the cost of mailing was more than the yarn would've cost her to make them. Also another friend is on vacation in Minnesota and we had a phone call from her this evening to say "she was thinking of us". Aren't friends wonderful? Also I did call your friend Tom, but he was not in the store so I will call again. His helper gave me a quote on how much a video card would cost and the cost to install the same but we fear there may be more wrong inside the tower so are still thinking of what to do and how to handle that situation. Thanks for your help. We did get the two storage rooms painted (have I already posted that? If so, please forgive me.) and they look nice and clean. Hang in there everyone; we will get through this if we all pull together!
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Post by David Sechrest on Jul 12, 2008 21:11:25 GMT -5
Babs, Margo, and all:
Thank you so much for taking the time to record the trials and tribulations of, Babs, your ordeal, and Margo, the assistance from you and our community.
I can't say it any better than Ricky...
We WILL make it through...
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Babs
HCI Forum Board Member
Posts: 589
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Post by Babs on Jul 13, 2008 20:23:45 GMT -5
Thanks David, I just hope I have posted "too much" and bored anyone to tears. It has been an extremely emotional time for me and sometimes I do tend to get carried away. If I've said too much or you want me to change anything let me know.
I understand you are scraping the South side of your house in order to paint? If we get things just a little more under control here its possible we could come down and help you paint. Don and I are both pretty fair painters. (He is a bit messier than me but when you are painting outside, it doesn't matter too much. I noticed when we did the two storage rooms, I put down papers so I didn't make much of a mess on the floors, but at least in the beginning he didn't so there are quite a few paint stains on the concrete. Oh well, its only a storage room, so who cares!) Painting is one thing we neither one mind doing, so let me know when you are ready. Also I don't do "ladders" so I have to paint from ground level. :-(
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Post by columbusdrama on Jul 18, 2008 17:16:22 GMT -5
Hello to anyone... we are seeking anyone with photos to share to produce a DVD to raise money for the Heritage Fund Community Disaster Relief... if many of you didn't know we already have over 1600 photos people have shared located here www.columbusflood2008.com and we would love for anyone to visit and check out the photos we have. Yes I know remembrance is mispelled... this has been corrected... We would also love to have any stories you would like to share on the site, please email those and hi-res images to columbusind@gmail.com Any and all questions you could have either email me or check the site out... Thanks to all who have already help create our DVD. We would also like to invite anyone who has photos to share them with us so we can make our 3rd version DVD the best one yet.
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Post by columbusdrama on Jul 18, 2008 17:17:15 GMT -5
We talked with the Yes Cinema today they will host a viewing on July 28th at 7pm. This will be a free admission film, but we will be accepting donations for the viewing. All proceeds would be donated to the Heritage Fund Community Disaster Relief which keeps all money in Bartholomew County. We are currently in the process of making a 3rd Version of the DVD and will be showing the newest one at the Yes Cinema. We will also have the DVD’s on hand for anyone wanting to purchase one and the cost will be $20. We are in need of your photos if you have any of the flood that you would like to share please send them to columbusind@gmail.com . Make sure you put in who took the photos so we can recognize them. Keep in mind to only submit the photos you own and not someone else’s without their permission. We need several areas of photos… River Road The Lagoons Washington Street Lawton Street Weihmeyer Edition Everoad Park Marr Road – Housing Edition Taylor Road – Housing Editions South Mapleton and Pleasant Grove State Street Columbus East Better Quality Hospital Photos And any other areas not covered that could help create this DVD much better would be greatly appreciated. If you have a song suggestion to incorporate into the DVD please submit them to the above email. Please visit us online at www.columbusflood2008.com New location to purchase DVD’s – ViewPoint Book Store located at 548 Washington Street is generous to sell the DVD’s for us please visit their store not only for our DVD but for many other items.
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Rhonda
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Posts: 279
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Post by Rhonda on Jul 18, 2008 18:12:59 GMT -5
Would like Gail DeMoss to contact me. The current owner of the Flatrock home would like to be connected.
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Post by columbusdrama on Jul 18, 2008 18:17:28 GMT -5
Rhonda do you have any photos to share... ? for our DVD
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Rhonda
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Posts: 279
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Post by Rhonda on Jul 19, 2008 9:17:22 GMT -5
Yes. I didn't think I had very many, but just went through them again. Most of mine are early on in the flooding, and some are taken the next morning after the waters receded. How soon do you need/want them?
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Post by columbusdrama on Jul 19, 2008 17:16:21 GMT -5
We would like to have them soon, since the DVD will take a bit to create and then we have to start preparing for creating many DVD's to have onhand at the showing. Please email them to me or let me know so we can arrange to pick them up. If you have questions please call Lynn at 350 -4060 she is the photographer who has the full set. We would also love ot have any stories anyone may have to share so we can place them onto the site www.columbusflood2008.comWe are also working on creating a photo flip book in 2 styles hard cover and softcover... those are in the works so we are hoping to have 2 done by the showing at the YesCinema.
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