In
our first year, we donated 8,190 lbs. of food to PACC along with $4,042.76
in cash.
Our
second—and final year—amounted to 14,324.6 lbs. of food and $2,262.83
in cash.
Combined,
our Miles Neighborhood donated 22,514.6 lbs. of food and $6,305.59 in
cash.
That’s
a whopping 11.25 tons of food and a whole bunch of money.
Last
September, as we started our second year, we donated on average, for the first
4 weeks, an impressive 270.2 lbs. of food. At that time, I said if we can keep
up that momentum, we could donate close to 14,000 lbs. by the end of next year.
We make that mark and more.
Thank
you for being so generous. And I’d also like to thank the folks who included a
little personal note with their last donation.
Ed
Zapata wrote, “It is people like you that make me proud to live where I live.”
I
feel the same way about all of you. I, too, am proud to live where I live. We
are all proud of the Miles Neighborhood, aren’t we?
Others
like Joey and Bob Wilson, Richard Fimbres and Diane Castro had well-wishes,
too.
Again,
thanks for supporting me support PACC.
Back in the Truck for the last donation
This
week’s donation was 218.4 lbs. of pet food and $70.00 in three checks. In
addition, there were 7 pill bottles, a small dog collar, 8 rolls of doggy bags,
a treat dispenser, a tennis ball, a treat cannister, a water bottle, a pet
stroller, a steel bowl, 2 small coats, a bag of colorful plastic balls, a
retractable lead, a bag of diapers, a bag of training pads, 2 bottles of Pancre
meds, a double lead and 3 sheets.
Along
with his donation, Richard Fimbres, our neighbor and Ward 5 Councilmember,
included a note that stated, “I have received calls regarding Dog Poop…” and
“…parking in front of driveways.”
It’s
great when Richard asks for help in the neighborhood since I am always looking
for something challenging to do. He wants the Poop Deserter signs posted again.
But in the process of thinking about producing those signs, I thought of a more
positive approach.
Near
an offending site, I clothespin a doggy bag to a fence or a tree. Hopefully,
the Poop Deserter will see it and take advantage of the timely gift. The most
unusual aspect of this approach is the clothespin. It is only 1 inch in length.
(Just imagine the pink bag and the clothespin in the photo about two thirds
smaller.)
The
surprise may just turn the Poop Deserter into a thoughtful neighbor.
When
the site is particularly unpleasant, like the southwest corner of the Miles
School, I put up two or three bags. I know, if school were in session, those
cute clothespins would be gone in a second.
Also,
I know the Poop Deserter may pick up his or her mess and clothespin it right
back up on the fence, thinking it would be funny.
For
me, getting the poop in the bag is the trick and the reward.
If
it works, I’ll just keep replacing the doggy bag gifts.
This
may be the home owner’s car but it does illustrate a blocked driveway.
Basically,
the issue of a blocked driveway is one of confrontation, which folks really
hate. After some research I came up with an arm’s length approach.
First,
make up a No Parking sign. Include the phone number of the tow truck company
and the address where the driver can pick up his or her towed vehicle. You’ve
seen those signs, I’m sure.
With
sign in place, and another vehicle parks illegally, take the VIN number and
call the police. They will give you permission to call a tow truck.
If
your problem is immediate and you don’t have a sign, I again suggest you call
Barrett’s. They will go over what you need to know. Then call the police.
The
law has been broken for sure, but it is always wise to get your ducks in a row
before reacting. Actually, that’s for everything in life.
This
week’s donation was 67.0 lbs. of pet food and a $50.00 check. In addition,
there were 7 pill bottles.
While
waiting for Oscar to show up with the delivery cart at PACC today I noticed an
older woman walk up to the front entrance with a dog as cute as the one above
and two shopping bags filled with toys and dog stuff. She was a bit preoccupied
and did not take the shady seat I offered. The pup was very friendly and
interested in everything.
A
staffer wearing a full face shield that covered his neck, too, came up to me to
say Oscar was on his way. He then walked over to the lady with the dog and
started to talk quietly. His face shield had a large graphic of the Grim Reaper
on it which may have been more appropriate for Halloween, I’m thinking.
Their
conversation was muffled. I had a sense, but no idea what was really going on.
At the same time Oscar appeared, the staffer took the lead and walked the dog
inside the medical doors. Before moving to catch up with Oscar, I let the lady
walk in front of me and saw that she was beginning to cry and sniffle. I could
feel her anguish.
When
I caught up to Oscar and the cart I asked if the woman were turning in her dog.
I had been studying the pup for 10 minutes or so and if that were the case
I
will adopt the dog now. Of course, I needed the backstory first. Oscar radioed
his team and it turns out the dog is toy aggressive and even bit the woman’s
hand. She tried for a long time to retrain the dog but failed.
Turning in My Two-Week Notice
For
the past month or so I have been contemplating closing down Rescued Critters
Food Drive because collecting 50 lbs. a week is not much of a challenge. So
before Oscar arrived today I was seriously considering adopting another dog.
That woman’s dog was not a good match but I told Oscar to put me on his list
and as soon as he has a candidate, I will adopt.
As
you may have guessed, I don’t shy away from purposeful responsibility. It’s the
stuff that gets me going every day. I need physical activity and measurable
results. That’s how I got this old.
Lastly,
I have to say how much I appreciate all of your help over the past two years.
We donated tons and tons of food to PACC and we made a big difference.
August
30, 2020 will be my last collection Sunday. Then a few day later I will email
and drop off a printed report of all our donations.
Again, thanks for making the past two years lots
of meaningful fun.
This
week’s donation was 58.0 lbs. of pet food and a $50.00 check. In addition,
there was a roll of doggy bags, 5 pill bottles, dog boots, and puppy and dog
medicated shampoo.
Most
days I take 12th Street to get to Broadway, turning on Fremont for
just a moment. Last week I noticed some new graffiti on an electrical box next
to a building on Fremont. The art was so bad it forced me to stop. When I took
a photo, a man on the roof above gave me a thumbs up and pointed to the
building directly behind me and across the street. The whole wall was covered
with another no-idea mess.
Usually
Josie Zapata handles graffiti in the Miles Neighborhood but I though I’d give
it a try instead of passing this junk off to my friend.
Today
I noticed both the electrical box and the building wall were sporting a new
coat of paint.
Now
that was easy.
Saw
another large mess on the building at the intersection of Broadway and Vine.
Think I’ll send them a photo tomorrow.
In
1995, I lived near 22nd and Kolb and next to a very sweet neighbor
with 4 kids and a Dachshund who unfortunately ate a Colorado River Toad. Since
that day, I have been spooked every time I see a toad, yanking my pups out of
the way. That changed about a month ago when I met a very determined little Couch's spadefoot (Scaphiopus couchii)
toad. That white thing she is sitting on in the photo above is the digging
spadefoot. The web tells me that if there is little or no black in the skin
design she’s a she.
When
I first noticed the Big Eyed Greenie, she was sitting next to the truck tire.
My guys paid not attention but that made not difference to me. I scooped her up
and transported her to the next alley across Highland. But a week later she was
back staring up at me.
This
time I put her in the alley next to the Arroyo Chico Park entrance. That’s a
real long hop from my driveway.
Last
weekend she showed up again. My pups don’t care so I don’t care. I’m just going
to let her be … with lots of admiration for her tenacity. I did alert my
neighbors because they have two dogs. They were appreciative and they know the
dangers but they have a very tall slatted fence and will remain vigilant.
Never
had a toad as a friend before. Can’t say that any more.
InkJet printer ink is expensive, which
forces me to buy inexpensive printers. Have no need for high quality photo
printing so I like to spend no more than $35 - $40 for a printer. This is one
of those printers, a Canon Pixma Mg2522 for
$34.88.
When I bought the Purina pet
food Sunday at Walmart I also decided to pick up a replacement for my broken
printer.
Up and down a couple of
isles but no printers. Where did they go? I asked a clerk and he said, “Behind
you on the bottom shelf.” I turned and only saw a long empty shelf. “There are
none,” I said.
“There’s one way down on the
end, it costs $34.88.”
Pressed
up against the wall was the printer I was looking to buy. The only one left.
Ain’t
karma great!
This
week’s donation was 61.3 lbs. of pet food and $50.00 in two checks. In
addition, there were three pill bottles.
“In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, The
Department of Transportation and Mobility (DTM) piloted Tucson Slow Streets,
an initiative to reconfigure streets to support social distancing and encourage
physical activity. The Slow Streets program temporarily closes certain streets
to all but local traffic, giving Tucsonans more space to safely walk, bike, and
run.”
Click on the link to learn more about the
program.
On
top of the COVID-19 situation, the Miles Neighborhood has become a
Broadway Construction Project shortcut. Cars are slicing through our neighborhood
with little regard for STOP signs and speed limits.
So
in addition to their Slow Streets Program, TDOT is providing SLOW DOWN signs
(see below) to folks for posting next to their curb. It may or may not work,
but at least you are trying to do something about the speeders.
In
all the years I have been collecting donations in the Miles Neighborhood, $1.00
bills far outpaced $5s, $10s and $20s … by lots. Mostly 18 or more to two or
three of the others. Sunday, folks donated 5 $1.00 bills and 7 $5.00 bills. Ten
dollars in quarters pushed us over $50.00 and into the two big bags category.
Richard
Fimbres donated that big bag of Pedigree food and as I picked it up he saw me
struggling and helped get it into the truck. Why was I straining? Can handle 50
lbs. with some effort. Then I saw the problem. It was a 55 lb. bag … 5 lbs.
above my limit. Makes
a difference, you know.
This
week’s donation was 161.6 lbs. of pet food and $65.00 in three checks. In
addition, there was a bag of treats.
Our
numbers are climbing again, thanks for your generosity.
The
best and most interesting thing that happened this week was Christina, my
friend and neighbor, gave me a bobblehead statue of Dr. Fauci.
After
placing him on my desk, I thought back to my early days in schoolwhere I learned
about America and its governance. The system was too expansive for a
10-year-old to grasp but I thought about the great people in power. They were
the brightest and most thoughtful people on the planet who came together to do
the right thing.
To
my dismay, sixty-eight year later there are only a handful of folks who measure
up to my vision of caring leaders, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Frances
Perkins, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr., Barack Obama, Bill and Melinda Gates, John Lewis and now, Dr. Anthony
Fauci.
It
is apparent that leaders who take their responsibility seriously is just a
childish notion.
Order
you own Dr. Fauci bobblehead for $25.00 at Bobblehead.com
This
week’s donation was 84.5 lbs. of pet food and a $25.00 check. In addition,
there was an 8” Chew Tire and 5 pill bottles.
Our
new average donation is 107.3 lbs. of pet food. This is a third of what we used
to do. The upside is the cash donations are averaging around $50.00 which
allows us to purchase two 50 lb. bags of dog food. And there is always a little
cash left over to buy a small bag of cat food.
If
you have a choice between donating food or cash, opt for the cash because every
dollar buys two pounds of Purina Dog Food.
This
week’s donation was 114.8 lbs. of pet food and $60.00 in two checks. In
addition, there were 11 pill bottles, a Bark dog treat, four bags of dog treats
and a roll of medical tape.
Oscar,
the staffer who helps me deliver our donation each week to PACC did not have
any time to chit chat. They were overwhelmed with Run Away dogs spooked by the
fireworks. They even had to open up kennels that have been closed down for
months. The yelping was disheartening.
Fireworks
are interesting and beautiful to see splattered across the night sky. But do we
need the explosions to experience a cheap thrill? Dogs sure could do without
it. Maybe that’s something else we change as we evolve.
This
week’s donation was 99.8 lbs. of pet food and $30.00 in two checks. In
addition, there were 3 pill bottles, a dog collar, a squeaky toy and a box of
treats.
Our
final 2018 – 2019 donations to Pima Animal Care Center totaled 9,274.7 lbs.
of pet food. In addition, $4,220.63 was in cash.
Right
now we just ended our 2019-2020 third quarter and we donated 12,941.5 lbs..
And we still have another quarter to go.
We
accomplished this goal because we bought quality Purina pet food at 50 cents a
pound with the donated cash. This is 40 cents a pound better than the price
PACC pays for pet food. (Note: Dollars to Food calculation in the chart above
is based on PACC’s 90 cents per pound purchase price.)
And
our food is specifically used to take care of the pets of the homeless folks
here in Tucson.
The
average donation was 308.1 lbs. per week. But as you learned last week,
our major donor has decided to focus on other charities in town. This means our
average donation has dropped to 146.8 lbs. per week.
We
donate several checks to PACC weekly and they love that. The cash we get is
what is used to buy the food at Walmart on Sundays. We normally collect around
$50 in bills. We need $100 more to maintain our record-setting contributions.
If
you have any ideas on how we can find more participants, please let me know.
And thanks for being such generous neighbors. Couldn’t do it without you.
This
week’s donation was 121.6 lbs. of pet food and $60.00 in checks. In addition,
there were 4 pill bottles.
Mostly Carlton and Tre and
I traded nods the past few years while I walked by their home with my pups and
one of them was out in their front yard with their handsome husky who, by the
way, is really well trained.
I know this because one day
the front door opened and the husky bolted out and darted across the street to
where we were standing. Cody and Haley didn’t react and neither did Tre’s dog.
Just a lot of sniffing. Tre hurried across the street, quickly
picked up the large pup and carried him home.
Monday, June 8, Carlton
stopped his car on the street, rolled down the passenger window and asked me a
question. I heard the words chin up bar but my early morning brain hadn’t heard
those words together for over 40 years so I said, “excuse me?” He said the
phase three more time and I finally got it.
I was soon to learn that
Carlton, Tre and their roommate are medical students at the U of A. Carlton
likes to work out on a chin up bar which he frequently used at the Miles
School. The school is also designated as a neighborhood park.
He recently was told he
could not use the equipment any more. My reaction was, to quote, “I hate this
f***ing world.” You see, Carlton and Tre and the roommate are Black. I got mad
immediately. Carlton smiled like well, what’s new.
The next day I handed Tre a
letter because he’s the one who answered the doorbell. In it I stated that
Miles is a neighborhood park which was championed by the mother of my good
friend Bob Aguilar. Instead of going around and around with the school, we
(mostly Bob) are going to build you a chin up bar. It will be portable so you
can take it with you when you graduate or give it to someone.
Bob was so inspired
he built the chin up bar in three days. It’s 10 feet tall because Carlton is
tall and as a kid I loved chin up bars but hated when my feet touched or were
close to the ground.
That’s my friend Bob and he said he is “feeling pretty short at 6’4.”
Click on the above grainy video to see Carlton work out. He shows a whole lot of strength highlighted by the fact that he gets his head so far above the bar.
Opening Up
The moral to the story
After the chin up bar was
completed and we delivered it to Carlton’s home, I thanked Carlton for having
the courage to be open enough to approach me. That helped open me to a new way
of thinking.
I grew up peacefully. We
had childhood diseases, but polio in the 1950s was something else. For years,
my mother isolated the four boys from all summertime activities. So social
distancing is nothing new to me. That was a spooky time and the images of the
iron lung terrorized me. See for yourself.
From then until now, few
white folks have thought about what it is like to be apprehensive just walking
around. They and me, too, were peaceful. Now along comes the Corona Virus and
suddenly everything you do could lead to illness and death. So now when you are
out you look at everyone trying to avoid harm.
The Black Community lives
this way all their lives in America. You’ve heard the expressions: Driving,
walking, bird watching, barbecuing, running, painting your home while Black.
The New York Times just
published an in depth article on how white Americans are waking up to the fact
that the injustices and the inequities facing Black folks in our country is way
worse than they thought. They are starting to think hard about racism and are
doing hard stuff to make it better like facing their insensitive behaviors with
respect to other races.
Myself, I going to take
what makes me feel at peace and offer that to my neighbors, Black and White and
Brown and whomever. I love landscaping—since I have a terror of a weed
whacker—so I am cleaning up Carlton’s home. He’s a student who rents but is expected
to keep the property weed free, with no provided tools, of course. So now
Carlton will have the peace of a spiffed up home.
Read The New York Times
article and think about how you can wake up and share your peace. If NASCAR can
turn from the pinnacle of Confederate Flags and deep seeded racism to
incredibly racial sensitive in a matter of weeks, we can surely make living in
America really peaceful for all of us.
Our largest donor who
provided over 200 lbs. of dog and cat food each week has decided to support
other charitable groups. This means I need help to get the word out to Miles
neighbors who might be interested in donating to PACC weekly. Just let me know
if you have someone in mind and I will gladly make a presentation.
This week’s donation was
84.9 lbs. of pet food and $55.00 in checks. In addition, there was a dog toy, a
cat collar, a Bark treat bag, a dog lead, a large bag of doggy diapers, a face
mask, a dog collar and 4 pill bottles.
A
number of Sundays ago, I got a note attached to a donation asking me to drop
off my two feral cat traps when I had a chance. The following week I gave the
traps to Ralph and explained how those tricky contraptions work. Push this in,
pull this up and lift the whole door. Two times through and he got it.
Around
the beginning of June, I met Ralph’s daughter, Avalon at the door when she
handed me their donation. We spent a few smiling minutes discussing catching
feral cats and community service in general.
Last
Wednesday, Avalon texted me at around 8 am that she had captured a shy, year
old grey kitten and asked if I could take it to the Santa Cruz Vet Clinic.
Sure, that gave me plenty of time to make their 11 am drop off deadline. The
next day, I picked up the neutered kitten around 11 am and returned it to
Avalon. This one she wanted to tame and take care of personally.
Friday,
Avalon texted me again that she had trapped another feral cat that was also
about a year old. He was a little more to handle because he was spinning around
a lot, looking for a way out. This one was definitely going to be released to
her wild backyard after we got back from the vet.
When
Santa Cruz fixes feral cats they operate one day and return the neutered or
spayed cat the next day … all for FREE. I think this is more
humane treatment. I’ve had same day fix and release and I was not too fond of
that program. Of course, I kept the cat in the cage at my home for a day or two
after the operation to let the fuzz ball regroup. What’s great about Santa Cruz
is you can turn in a cat on Friday and pick it up Saturday morning even though
the clinic is closed. Love those guys!
On
Saturday, when I returned the cat in the photo above, Avalon and I had a few
minutes to chat. She told me folks in the neighborhood are already asking her
to trap their feral cats. And she is delighted to help since she is getting
quite proficient at TNR. (Trap, Neuter and Release)
If
you would like Avalon’s help to manage your feral cat problem, just let me know
and I’ll pass your contact information along to her.
This
week’s donation was 336.8 lbs. of pet food and a $25.00 check. In addition,
there was one Bark treat, 25 gal. zip lock bags and 4 pill bottles.
Masks Make People Stay Away from You ... and That's a Good Thing
Massimo Marchiori, an
Italian computer scientist and his team, strapped on a social distancing belt
that measured folks reactions to seeing other folks. They walked around malls
and other outdoor venues.
When
a mask was worn, people altered their course and doubled the distance between
other humans. If the mask were handmade and seemed a bit tattered, maybe a nose
poking through, they gave folks even more space. When no mask was worn, folks
often drifted to within one foot of a passing stranger.
Covid-19
cases are still on the rise in Arizona and there are still folks who contest
wearing a mask. Perhaps they are starved for love and affection and need to get
close to someone, anyone … infected or not.
Whether
you believe that masks are effective safeguards against virus infections or
not, masks keep folks away from you and that’s the best protection of all.
This
week’s donation was 287.7 lbs. of pet food and $60.00 in checks. In addition,
there was a half pack of disposable diapers and 5 pill bottles.
This
week’s donation was 390.9 lbs. of pet food and a $25.00 check. In addition,
there were 355 gal. and 45 qt. zip lock bags and 7 pill bottles.
SPECIAL NOTE: Brush and Bulky is coming to the Miles Neighborhood the week of June 29.2020.
Trim your trees and collect
those bulky items in you backyard. One week before the 29th, place
your “gifts to the dump” on your curb or in your alley. The idea is to
keep the neighborhood looking great until you can hear those huge garbage
trucks come rumbling down the street.
“Other than the constant looming threat of danger, it’s a beautiful day.”
My friend, Beth sent me this New Yorker Cartoon with a note, “A little desert chuckle.”
I
needed that … maybe you do, too.
This
week’s donation was 315.2 lbs. of pet food and $65.00 in three checks. In
addition, there was a Scooby and a Bark treat, 1 bag of Greenies, 1 dog
harness and 4 boxes of 80 gal. zip bags. Those
boxes hid on the passenger floor board during the photo shoot but once
discovered, they at least deserved an insert.
Since the first week of January, 2020 the world has had a direct effect on our pleasant little neighborhood and right now we are having a direct effect on the world.
Last
week Chase Bank presented #SHOW ME YOUR WALK, a Class of 2020 two-hour “commencement event featuring all-star speakers and
musical guests.” https://hbcustudent.chase.com/
Our neighbor and Council Member Richard
Fimbres wrote an op-ed on Sunday.
“In 2011, while we were
still in the Great Recession, … I brought forward a proposal to have the city
conduct its primary and general elections using an all vote-by-mail system, for
which my colleagues on the council approved.
The city’s vote-by-mail
election process has seen increased turnout across the city in each of the
wards. People can vote without fear and in the comfort of their own homes.
This
election system saves taxpayer money to the tune of $600,000 each election that
Wards 3, 5 and 6 are in an election cycle and $1 million each election cycle
for the mayor’s election and Wards 1, 2 and 4.
With
the city of Tucson election process, the results are counted and tabulated that
night, so we are not waiting an additional period of time for the final
results.”
To
go from 0 simulated infection to YUCK took 30 minutes. Wait until you see the
same stuff on his dinner guests. This is the reason the scientists are
imploring folks to take hand washing and social distancing very seriously.
“The video experiment, conducted by the public
broadcaster NHK Japan in conjunction with disease specialists, uses black light
and a fluorescent substance to simulate how quickly germs can be spread across
a variety of surfaces in environments such as restaurant buffets and cruise
ships.”
Tater
made quick work of her new toy while my neighbor and friend, Christina, stood
nearby delighted by her puppy’s aggressive antics. Enlarge to fully appreciate
the interspecies glee.
This
week’s donation was 254.8 lbs. of pet food and $55.00 in two checks. In
addition, there were 4 pill bottles and 1 bag of Blue treats.
Nearly
had to take an aerial shot to capture all the food we donated to PACC this
week. Our average cash collection is $143.95. Tallying all special event monies
Sunday like paying ahead before leaving on summer vacation, and a rather large
friend donation, we collected $291.35 which turned into 564 lbs. of dog and cat
food once I checked out of Walmart.
In
addition, we had $30 in two checks, 4 pill bottles, 2 boxes of qt. zip lock
bags and 1 box of gal. zip lock bags.
Terri,
my friend and neighbor on 12th Street, asked me to explain where all
of the cash goes. Each week she sees the food, the checks and the other stuff,
but she was wondering about the cash I collect. Terri donates dollars each and
every week and has for years.
“It’s
hidden in all those huge bags of Purina Dog and Cat food,” I said.
PACC
buys pet food at 90 cents per pound. In the beginning, I turned in all the
cash. Then I learned Walmart sells quality, brand name pet food for about 50
cents per pound. And since food volume is essential in pet rescue, I go
shopping at Walmart right after my rounds on Sunday.
On
average, we collect $143.95 in cash each week which translates to many, many 50
lbs. bags of dog food at $24.95 each (includes tax). The cost per pound, 49.9
cents. Cat food comes in 30 lb. bags and costs 59.9 per pound.
PACC
asks for more dog food than cat food because way more dogs than cats are in
need of rescue.
So
if you are in doubt of what to donate, cash, a Walmart gift card or basic
change will do. Your donation will be turned into food before the sun goes down
on Sunday.
Note
on the process side, Walmart’s self-checkout machines are perfect for
charities. They take change, bills, cards and there’s never an impatient
customer behind you.
This
week’s donation was 286.3 lbs. of pet food and one $50.00 check. In addition,
there were 3 pill bottles and a bag of Bully Bite treats.
One Can A Week ... Alive and Well
in New Jersey
In 2011, when Hannah Kaplan (pictured on the right) was 6-years-old, she and her dad, Ari, began their One Can A Week program. Amazingly, it is 9 years later and their program is still going strong.
If
you followed the link above, you saw a photo of Hannah’s record keeping acumen.
She was 8 then. Since persistence is one of the keys to a very productive life,
I can tell you that Hannah is going to be a most important person.
If
you followed the link above, you saw a photo of Hannah’s record keeping acumen.
She was 8 then. Since persistence is one of the keys to a very productive life,
I can tell you that Hannah is going to be a most important person.
