Pianotech

  • 1.  fires in California

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-09-2017 15:57
    I'm worried about those of us living near the fire zones.

    Don Mannino?

    News, please?

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    Susan Kline
    Philomath, Oregon
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  • 2.  RE: fires in California

    Posted 12-09-2017 16:06
    Hi
    I just heard at least a hundred homes destroyed. Then Governor Moonbeam said Get use it. 
    I mean wow!
    -chris



    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: fires in California

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-09-2017 16:20
    Unfortunately there is nothing they can do about it. One fire fighter said it's like a hurricane...once it gets going you can't stop it. Add 50 mph winds...forget it. 

    I hope they were able to evacuate.

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: fires in California

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-09-2017 16:29
    80 mile per hour winds.

    Thanks for replying, Don. On the map you looked all too close to Ventura, but being in a settled urban area, away from the woods and ravines, would greatly lessen the danger.

    87 F in December. Is this really normal?

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    Susan Kline
    Philomath, Oregon
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: fires in California

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-09-2017 16:18

    Thanks for checking, Susan.  I don't know of anyone in immediate danger – although I haven't been in touch with any of the Santa Barbara chapter members yet, who would be much closer to the worst fire, called the Thomas fire.  Dennis Ashly would be the one closest, so I wrote to him but haven't heard back yet.  I would think he had to evacuate, as the fire has burned all around his town.

     

    Anyway, remember that the LA area is huge, with more than 18 million people over a large distance, so even very serious fires rarely impact a very high percentage of the people.  But those who live out in the hills the fires can be a huge threat!

     

    Most of the fires have been fought back and the news last night was very good for all but the big Thomas fire in Ventura County.   The wind and dry heat (87 degrees, 6% rh  today!) are a bit stronger again today, at least where I am down in Orange County. 

     

    Then again, there was snow in Houston and Atlanta yesterday!  Amazing.

     

    Don Mannino

     




    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: fires in California

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-09-2017 17:15
    Hello All,

    I'm a member of the Santa Barbara chapter. I spoke last with Evan Austin, who works with Dennis Ashly, on Wednesday night. As of then, they were going to try and stick it out, although Evan's family evaluated. Then Thursday happens, and Ojai was almost completely surrounded by flames. Haven't heard anything since, but I know Evan and Dennis. They're good guys who won't panic or be stupid. We'll be in touch, and hopefully I'll have some good news to report by the end of next week.

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    Benjamin Sanchez
    Professional Piano Services
    (805)315-8050
    www.professional-piano-services.com
    BenPianoPro@comcast.net
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: fires in California

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-09-2017 18:25
    If anyone has a report of PTG members who suffer loss from the wildfires, or other natural disasters, please remember that the PTG Foundation has a disaster relief fund that can provide some emergency aid.  Send information to Sandy in the PTG Home Office, or directly to the Foundation at contact@ptgf.org.  We depend on the RVP, chapter presidents, and individual members in an affected area to alert us to a need. Thanks.
    Claude Harding
    President, PTGF





    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: fires in California

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-10-2017 14:26
    I received the following email from Dennis Ashly, who as I mentioned earlier is in a community which was pretty well surrounded by the huge 'Thomas' fire in Ventura county?

      Hi Don,  everything is OK here in  Oak view. We were surrounded a couple of nights  when there was was voluntary evacuation order.  I stayed around with hoses hooked up and was watering down the eaves. There was quite a bit of concern as to whether I could get out of the valley because of the road closures.  Not much sleep two or three nights in a row,  The air in the valley not  breathable, I've kept things really closed up and able to work inside. Most of my appointments canceled due to the  evacuation . At least three of my customers lost everything. Things seem to have calmed down although there was an explosion of fire at Lake Casitas  last night and the emergency alerts  as well as the wall of fire I could see from my front door kept me awake most of the night again. The prevailing breeze at this point is moving out north and west so I think we're in the clear now. 

     Thanks for checking, talk to you later 

    Dennis Ashly


    So all is well, and the fires are gradually being brought under control.  This particular fire was huge, and is still not completely controlled, but has burned past most of these communities now.

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    Don Mannino RPT
    Kawai America Corporation
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: fires in California

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-10-2017 15:05
    I heard from David Andersen a few days ago on Facebook Messenger.  He is OK.

    I migrated from Los Angeles 41 years ago to Madison, Wisconsin.  Many people, both from California and Wisconsin wondered why I would leave such a paradise (or should it be, "pair of dice"?)  It's not what it it seems to be for people who live in a four season climate.  Southern California has its own four season climate:  Fires, floods, earthquake and smog.

    While it seems so beautiful for people who go there on vacations, I can remember when it hurt my lungs to take a deep breath.  It is now so overly populated.  People racing everywhere on freeways (except when there is a traffic jam).  High crime areas add to the natural dangers to make Southern California not be a place I would ever want to live again.

    It is also surprising the number of people I run into in Madison, Wisconsin who also used to live in California.  I am not the only one.

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    William Bremmer
    RPT
    Madison WI
    608-238-8400
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    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: fires in California

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-10-2017 22:17
    Thanks, Don.

    That certainly sounds bad enough, but thank heavens it wasn't even worse.

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    Susan Kline
    Philomath, Oregon
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    Original Message