COMMUNITY FORUM LETTERS

Jerky, firewood on the way

Walk into the showroom and you''ll first of all see a display of multi-fuel and wood burning stoves, all of which are live working examples. Enter the main display area and you''ll find fireplaces created from marble, wood, limestone, stone effect and much more.Primary concerns to me are: 1. Creek contamination from human waste, trash, and other chemicals. 2. Trash (visual, rodent attraction, disease spreading). 3. Clean water availability. 4. Burning firewood. Are live trees/ vegetation being cut? 5. Psychological stress on trail users.*Turn off space heaters before leaving a room or going to sleep, and supervise children and pets at all times when a portable space heater is in use.Showroom manager Joanne Chadwick said: "We prefer our customers to browse and relax. Buying a fire or fireplace is an important decision and something that will be in place for many years. Staff are on hand at all times to offer any help and advise that customers require enabling them to make the right choice to suit their individual needs.Opened in February this year, the Fireplace Superstore is staffed by people who have between them 80 to 100 years experience in the fireplace industry. A friendly welcome is guaranteed with no pushy salespeople, staff are there to give help if necessary.Fireplace Superstore also offers a bespoke fireplace design service to create individual styles for customers, offering a unique service from start to finish.*Never use portable electric generators, charcoal grills, camp stoves or similar devices inside your home, basement, garage or in any confined area.*Look for clues that home appliances may be malfunctioning or emitting toxic gas. Common indicators include decreased hot water supply, soot on appliances and vents, increased moisture inside windows and furnaces unable to heat properly.Designated campsA little means a lotSo, if you are a medical professional, consider giving time to this effort. The homeless are, for the most part, very appreciative of our efforts, easy to work with, and very pleased to have this option rather than going to the emergency rooms.Situated alongside the main Gelderd Road at Birstall (just two minutes from Ikea), the showroom is open seven days a week for visitors to browse the extensive showroom which includes gas, electric and multi-fuel burners, traditional and modern fireplaces and contemporary hole-in-the-wall fires which create a real style statement.*Install at least one carbon monoxide detector on every level of your home and near sleeping areas.I understand this is a growing problem directly related to the state of our economy right now, but there must be something we can do. I feel setting up a designated camping area within city limits could be a viable option.At the compound entrance could be a food, clothing shelter drop to provide the residents with their daily needs. The donation site could be managed by one of the non-profit organizations. By all means, there should be bulletin boards or a clearing center to help them enter programs to move out of the compound. There could be pick up sites for day workers, or for those looking to go to another part of the city."We use only quality manufactured products from trusted UK suppliers which is one of the main reasons behind our success. Many competitors prefer to use cheaper inferior products which are imported and which end up causing issues for homeowners because of poor quality and inconsistencies.'' Using the company's own fitting teams, the Fireplace Superstore offers a home service unrivalled across Yorkshire. The client list, which also includes satisfied customers from as far away as London, includes TV personalities and celebrities who are all delighted with the finished result.A formal shantytown*Have chimney, fireplace, wood stove and flue inspected before every heating season and cleaned if necessary.John and Sandy BaileyToilets, space and safetyPolicing of the community should be minimal. The homeless will move away form any place they are hassled. Police/homeless advocates could be available at the entrance to the facility, declining to enter unless there was a crime or invitation to solve a problem (no patrolling inside the fences).Carol ToothmanJoanne said: "We pride ourselves on offering a quality service at a very competitive price from the initial sale through to fitting and after sales. Given the wide range of products on display, you'll be spoilt for choice.'' Opening times at the Fireplace Superstore are Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 11am to 4pm. All displays are on one floor with easy access. Free car parking is available right outside.Colorado SpringsJohn, Christie, Ana, and Elsa HuberShantyville at the creek seems like a wonderful place to camp. Whenever I think about camping, that's the setting I think of. The campsites along the Front Range Trail are addressed here. Maybe we've gone a little overboard on providing all the open space and other amenities for the "elite" people in our community at the peril of the down-trodden. Surely we can do better. Where are all those "Christians" I keep hearing about, and their helping others mentality?As a 67-year-old, recently retired hospice nurse with 19-plus years with Pikes Peak Hospice, I needed to find another practice with "heart and soul" to volunteer with in order to feel that I had a meaningful link with my community. I was thrilled to discover the S.E.T. clinical opportunities available to those of us who have active licenses and want to remain connected. The "Homeless Clinic" sponsored by S.E.T. at the Soup Kitchen/Marian House on Bijou is staffed by volunteer physicians and nurses who volunteer at the clinic. We process as many as 15 or as few as eight, depending on the day, providing them with expert medical care (the doctors are often coming from the emergency rooms at the local hospitals or are, like me, recently retired). We also provide medication and some simple treatments at times to stabilize a condition. We also refer them to other clinics (Peak Vista Mission, Medical and others) if they need a more complete work-up.Woodland ParkSeveral years ago our church was doing some outreach to the homeless, and one of the items that was very popular and appreciated by them was jerky. My husband does a lot of hunting, and we have plenty of venison, some of which we make into jerky. It is very practical for the homeless since it doesn't spoil easily, is lightweight, and can provide a much-needed source of protein. Since my daughters and husband have all gotten elk this year, we plan to make an extra large batch of jerky soon and share it with the homeless. Additionally, we, like many other households, have a gas fireplace, and don't really need the firewood that is stacked by our house. We plan to take our extra firewood to a "tent city" and distribute it, or contact the Colorado Springs Police Department or Springs Rescue Mission to get ideas for how to distribute both the jerky and the firewood.I would be willing to volunteer time and donate money toward helping out.

At the compound entrance could be a food, clothing shelter drop to provide the residents with their daily needs. The donation site could be managed by one of the non-profit organizations. By all means, there should be bulletin boards or a clearing center to help them enter programs to move out of the compound. There could be pick up sites for day workers, or for those looking to go to another part of the city.