Posted on 08/26/2004 7:57:17 PM PDT by dukeman
PORT CHARLOTTE -- Most of the signs curse Hurricane Charley and defy his power. Others mock the storm, thank volunteers and salute everyone who survived it.
Then there are the strange hieroglyphics -- an orange box, a series of numbers -- that appear on inspected or condemned homes.
Finally, there are scores of hand-painted markers for storm services. On Peachland Boulevard, one sign advertised "Wench or Tractor."
The sign painter probably meant "winch," which would be a powerful tool rather than a sexy servant, but you never know.
Good tuna, bad storm
The harder an area was hit by the hurricane, the more graffiti there seems to be.
"Sorry, Charley."
"Charley: Good tuna, bad storm."
"Charley took a bite out of my ass."
Thieves were warned off many homes and businesses: "Looters will be shot." "You loot, we shoot." "We Got Gunz N' Stuff."
Dozens of entrepreneurs put up small signs for tree-clearing and roof-repairing services. Nearby are official-looking signs advising that "Contracting without a license is a felony."
Some neighborhood signs offer a political perspective.
"Don't rebuild Iraq. Rebuild us."
"How much did it cost for George Bush to come here? Bring cash."
Many homes still bear signs identifying them for insurance adjusters. "State farm." "AAA." "All State."
Dozens of bars, shops and restaurants are spray-painting themselves back in business: "Open." "We're Open." "Open for business."
One Port Charlotte resident congratulated his neighbors for weathering the storm. "We survived, and so did you!"
An auto shop in Charlotte Harbor has already crossed out an old sign saying "We'll be back."
Now there's a new sign.
"We are back!"
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is looking for donations of nonperishable food, water, building supplies, hygiene products, baby items and garbage bags. No clothing or furniture, please. Bring donations to 911 Central Ave., Sarasota. For more information, call 954-4673.
The Salvation Army is also seeking volunteers. Call (800) 996-2769.
To make a monetary donation, send a check payable to Salvation Army to P.O. Box 270848, Tampa, FL 33688, or go to the Web site www.salvationarmy.org and click on "donate now."
Food, baby supplies, workers
Harvest United Methodist Church will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today through Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon Friday through Sunday to accept supplies for people affected by Hurricane Charley. Needed are canned meats, water, juice, soft drinks, peanut butter, baby food, diapers, baby wipes, rice and canned black beans.
The church also seeks volunteers to help with temporary roof repairs in Arcadia. For more information, call 907-7333 or visit www.harvest-umc.org.
Medical professionals needed
Doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists are needed in shelters in Sarasota, Charlotte and perhaps in DeSoto counties. Licenses are required. To volunteer, call the Sarasota County Health Department employee resources number: 941-861-2717.
Credit card donations
Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice is accepting donations by credit card on its Web site: www.gulfcoastcf.org.
The donations are 100 percent tax deductible, and all will go to relief. For more information, call Erica Bacacio at 941-486-4608.
Project Hot Meal
The Herald-Tribune has teamed up with Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee to provide a hot, balanced meal to those people in Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda and Arcadia who can't get one because of the impact of Hurricane Charley. Contribute by sending a check made payable to Project Hot Meal/MOW, 811 23rd Ave. E., Bradenton, FL 34208. $25 will buy 5 meals; $50, 10 meals; $100, 20 meals; or you can send the amount you wish.
View the advertisement here: http://www.heraldtribune.com/assets/pdf/SH2040819.PDF
Disaster Relief Fund
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County has activated the Disaster Relief Fund to aid hurricane victims. Checks can be made out to Disaster Relief Fund and sent to The Community Foundation, P.O. Box 49587, Sarasota, FL 34230-6587. Gloria will take credit card authorizations at 941-955-3000, Ext. 7144.
Firefighters fund set up
Suncoast Firefighters and Paramedics Local 2546 and Sarasota Firefighters Benevolent Fund have set up a fund at the Sarasota Coastal Credit Union to benefit firefighters and paramedics affected by the hurricane. All donations are tax-deductible.
Contributions can be sent to Firefighter Relief Fund- Hurricane Charley, Account No. 73478-173 at Sarasota Firefighters Benevolent Fund, P.O. Box 147 Sarasota, FL 34236; or Suncoast Firefighters and Paramedics Local 2546, 740 Commerce Dr., Suite 1, Venice, FL 34292. For information, call 941-485-5193.
Jewish Federation
The Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Federation has created a fund to help victims of the hurricane. Donations may be sent to: Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Federation, Attn. Hurricane Charley Relief Fund, Klingenstein Jewish Center, 580 S. McIntosh Road, Sarasota, FL 34232.
For information, call 941-371-4546.
"How much did it cost for George Bush to come here? Bring cash."
Just another benefit of federal disaster relief - something happens were you live and you are now 'entitled' to free money from the rest of the country. Wonder where that is in the constitution. I must have missed that part.
I shouldn't pick on those who were hit with a natural disaster, but damn... one peeve of mine is people who misspell words on a freakin' sign. It's one thing to do so in private correspondence. We all make spelling mistakes now and again. It's another thing entirely when it's advertised for the world to see. Someone should write "Thanks, NEA!" underneath that sign. Sigh...
It can really be tough when you see someone misspell or mispronounce a word. I was speaking with my elderly in-laws earlier today about a criminal case in the news here locally, and they kept saying "flea bargain" when they meant "plea bargain!" It drove me nuts, but I didn't say anything.......No. 1 son-in-law.
I'm not dogging this sign guy. Too many folks were brought up to believe spelling wasn't a big deal, in the same way a lot of kids (myself included) went through school thinking "why do I need math?". Kids these days are simply relying on spell checkers to do the work for them. A mistake like "wench" versus "winch" is classic, because no spell checker yet made would catch that. But again, my peeve is when it's on a sign. If you can't spell, fine. No need to advertise it!
The wife of James Fennimore Cooper's wife contains a long inscription whose last line includes the word
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Flea bargain?
LOL, maybe they were co-mingling their thoughts on the case with the bargains they were hunting for earlier.
I just love old people.
Uh-oh! This is going to turn into a writing blooper thread. I just know it....
The wife had a wife and the first wife mentioned has an inscription ?
I'm so confused
And their daughter, my lovely wife, when she was speaking quickly used to say "obeast" when she meant "obese." We talked about it privately. I'm too smart to correct my wife about something like that in front of others. :-)
Ha...I grew up with a Cuban father, where "Y's" were prounounced as "J's."
"The New Jork Jankees."
There is/was no correcting this. It's still going on to this day.
SHHHH!!! A liberal judge will notice this and consider it a precedent for same sex marriage!! : )
"I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents."- James Madison
I was thinking of that quote as I posted but couldn't remember exactly what it was or who said it. Thank you!
Sorry, I think my brain's redundancy circuit was kicking in. The wife of James Fennimore Cooper (or, James Fennimore Cooper's wife).
bump
"something happens were you live and you are now 'entitled' to free money from the rest of the country."
I don't disagree with you, however look at the amount of money this and previous administrations have pissed away all over the planet.
In geometry class I always said "obese angle" instead of "obtuse angle". Amused the teacher to no end.
My mother-in-law is famous for saying "provert" when she means "pervert." Don't ask how the subject comes up.
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