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Subscribe to RSSThe Flying W Ranch Wranglers, a local band put out of work by the Waldo Canyon Wildfires, rehearsed with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic ahead of their July 4th benefit concert.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Waldo Canyon fire has been the most destructive in state history, but it has galvanized the community here in ways that are unprecedented too.
In just a few days, as emergency services ramped up and firefighters beat back the blaze that destroyed 346 homes and scorched 18,000 acres, some unlikely partners pulled together an extravaganza to celebrate the Fourth of July, and raise money to get victims back on their feet.
The Colorado Springs Philharmonic, originally scheduled to play at the Air Force Academy fireworks celebration—which was canceled -- will headline a concert in the 7,500-seat World Arena with the Flying W Wranglers, blue grass musicians who were left jobless after their usual venue, the Flying W Ranch, was destroyed in the fire.
A popular news anchor from the local NBC affiliate television station KOAA will emcee the event, The Community Rises, which will be produced by Rocky Mountain Public Television and streamed by all the local commercial television and radio stations while raising fire relief funds through a telethon.
Erik S. Lesser / EPA
Americans celebrate 236 years of independence with parades, fireworks, hot dogs and family fun.
The underwriters of the program are perhaps the most unlikely local partners of all: The alternative left-leaning weekly Colorado Springs Independent and Focus on the Family, a conservative Christian organization that has its international headquarters here.
"We’ve had fierce battles with Focus over the years," said John Weiss, publisher of the Independent. "But we needed to show we are a community united … and give people something to do on the Fourth of July since the fireworks are canceled."
Also appearing at the fundraiser are Isaac Slade of The Fray, Michael Martin Murphey and Flash Cadillac. Tickets for the event were distributed for free, and all proceeds from the telethon will go to a local victims’ assistance fund administered by United Way, said Weiss.
In a one-and-only rehearsal on Tuesday, Philharmonic cellist Camilla Bonzo said she was sight-reading her way through the music.
PBS producer and director Scott Jones said he had just finished cobbling together a crew that afternoon by borrowing staff from many of the local stations. Jones is responsible for producing and feeding the event via satellite to all the other broadcasters, a job he didn’t realize he was doing until Friday morning.
"We used to do big events like this once in a while," Jones says. "But we spent months preparing for them."
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So for once opposing sides can come together for the common good. Bravo and thank you Lord! Sure wish our government could follow their lead. Who knows, miracles still happen from time to time. Oh and, as always, if the mention of God's name offends you in any way, it's still a somewhat free country and you can feel free to kiss my .............. well anyway. Glad to see some cooperation for a change. Too bad it takes such a disaster.
Ditto!
How cool that people could pull together and do this for the community. I think this is the spirit our founding fathers were looking for!
Not surprising. This is Colorado, and this is just how we roll. :0) I'm proud of my state, though!
groups of people have been coming together and raising money for the fire assistance fund. And speaking of government...the guy who is running against Lamborn in CD5 ( Dave Anderson (I) ) stopped campaigning, hosted a happy hour gathering at a Manitou Springs B&B who lost all their summer wedding business, and raised over $700, in addition to $150 for All Breed Rescue. Now that is community!
Nice, very nice.
For those of us (most of us) who have NO earthly idea what sight-reading is, this should help clarify what the reporter was trying to convey, because she obviously falsely assumed we all understood obscure music terminology.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sight_reading
It is great that all these people get together to make the best of a bad thing. But keep the god thing out of it. Do you see this so called god doing anything??????