Methow
By Joanna Bastian
For the last two weeks I’ve been traipsing the countryside gathering stories that highlight the personal, economic and emotional impact this last summer has had on all of us. The stories will be shared in Trial by Fire, a magazine-style publication by the Methow Valley News that will arrive in mid-December. Everyone who lives here is a part of the story and is encouraged to share. Email editor@methowvalleynews.com if you would like to be a part of this project.
In the meantime, I wanted to share one personal story that hopped across my outdoor “desk” this weekend.
I literally stumbled across a snowshoe hare that recently moved into one of the many burnt-out stump holes in the hell behind my house.
The entire valley is hunkering down for winter. This snowshoe hare found a new home in the burn area. Some of us are in the midst of moving, some are rebuilding, and other projects will begin next spring. Everyone is preparing for winter.
Carlton Complex Assistance Network (CCAN) wants to help with the effort to winterize, repair, and rebuild. Based in Carlton, CCAN began last summer when Cloudbird Bonin set up an information center at the Carlton General Store during the fires. With the help of Michelle Mondot and Janie Lewis, CCAN initially worked to help residents with temporary housing and to find shelter for animals that could not stay with their owners.
CCAN soon expanded to meet needs not covered by other agencies. Today, CCAN is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, and is run solely on the volunteer efforts of Cloudbird, Michelle, Ronda Bradeen, Tamar Behl and Millar Baston.
Over the last two months CCAN has gathered tools and building supplies to help in the recovery and winterizing effort. The idea of a tool drive began when Ronda’s son, Bradeen Massey, arrived with a load of tools from the west side in the weeks after the fire. “He said to me, ‘Mom, the people who lost everything — they built everything. They need tools,’” Ronda recalled. The CCAN crew leapt into action with the realization that a tool in hand not only helps to rebuild what was lost, but also fills the emotional need to take control of a situation and repair, rebuild and restore.
Craig Lints built collection boxes and traveled all over the Northwest and Canada to coordinate pickup and delivery at hardware and lumber supply stores. Tools began arriving from different counties and Canada.
Many local businesses supported the effort, including Marson & Marson of Leavenworth, which sent three large lumber truckloads to CCAN in Carlton, the Pateros distribution center and the Omak area. Tim Marson, whose father and uncle started Marson & Marson, stated his reasons for strongly supporting the area: “In the early days of our company, a lot of loads went up the valley and it made a difference.” Now, Marson & Marson gets to make a difference by giving back to the community.
There are many tools and supplies available for distribution. There have also been donations of high-end tools (such as compressors and large electrical equipment) that CCAN is organizing into a tool lending library.
CCAN will arrange delivery of tools and will match up tools and materials with people who need them. To contact CCAN, call (509) 699-9429, or email Ronda at Ronda@CCANRelief.org or Tamar Behl at jtbehl@mac.com.
To support this project, check out a video produced by Scott Lyman and found here: http://vimeo.com/109750419. It would make a big difference if people would share the video on Facebook or other social media sites to spread the word. Donate to CCAN via the Internet or send donations to CCAN, P.O. Box 236, Carlton, WA 98814.
