By Amber McIver-Traywick

The Surveyor

*** Berthoud Fire Protection District (BFPD) along with members of the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office Berthoud Squad have gone the extra mile to wish some local children a happy birthday during the stay-at-home order by organizing mini parades. With celebrations of any kind being downsized to households only and parties being canceled a little extra cheer can’t hurt. The men and women of the LSCO and BFPD have stepped up over the past few weeks to make these birthdays a little extra special and ones these children will never forget. A Facebook post on the BFPD’s page said, “We are getting a lot of requests for birthday firetruck drive-bys. So we’d like to ask that you please send future requests to our Public Information Officer at [email protected], so she can coordinate them. We ask that you please give us several days notice as we are still very busy with calls and training!”

***Berthoud business owner Chuck Angerman of Majestic Sky Web Hosting & Development has created a website berthoudhelpingberthoud.com that includes a business directory with information and links to businesses that are open, where you can purchase gift cards, local job openings and links to current COVID-19 information. Business owners can submit their information on the website to be included in the listings.

*** Colorado health officials are suggesting that the curve of COVID-19 has begun to flatten as fewer cases are being confirmed each day. Governor Jared Polis said on Tuesday during a tour of a field hospital under construction inside the Ranch event complex in Loveland that, “As we move towards reopening our economy, it’s likely that the incidents of the virus will increase again.” He continued by saying, “It’s decreasing now, which is great. But we can’t stay closed forever and it’s going to increase again and having this capacity in place is what gives us the confidence we need.”

***Colorado Health Emergency Line for Coronavirus – Colorado’s call line for general questions about COVID-19, provides answers in many languages including English, Spanish (Español), Mandarin (普通话) and more. To get general COVID-19 related information over the phone, call 1-877-462-2911. For national COVID-19 information, you can dial 211. This service offers general information on COVID-19 and the national resources that are available to individuals impacted by the pandemic.

***If you are struggling with mental health concerns you don’t have to go through it alone. For assistance contact The Colorado Crisis Services number at 1-844-493-8255 or text to talk at 38255.

***New Freedom Outreach Center in Berthoud is offering a 24-hour prayer line for community members. Call 970-344-5139 to receive prayer.

***Governor Polis issued an executive order March 20 for the state of Colorado that limits evictions, foreclosures and utilities disconnections across the state. The order also shifts funding to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment to improve and expedite services available to individuals applying for unemployment insurance. If you are concerned about your ability to pay rent because of COVID-19 continuously updated information and guidance is available under the eviction moratorium section at 211colorado.org.

***Sam’s Club is setting aside two hours each Sunday for first responders and health care workers to shop inside its stores without the required membership, the company announced on Twitter Monday. Starting Sunday, April 19, Sam’s Club will implement ‘Hero Hours,’ expanding its associate hours to include first responders and health care workers. The retail warehouse club says membership will not be required to shop during these hours and employees will be provided masks and will practice social distancing. ‘Hero Hours’ will run every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

***Do you know a bartender who needs help during this crisis? USBG National Charity Foundation has set up a bartender emergency assistance program that awards grant money to those who qualify. The application which has two major requirements which are that you or your spouse are a bartender and that you have experienced a catastrophic event or emergency hardship is available by visiting usbgfoundation.org/beap. You do not need to be a USBG member to apply for a philanthropic grant.

***If you happen to be a skier or snowboarder and are looking for yet another way to help make things better during the COVID-19 outbreak, look no further. There is a donation program that is perfect for the folks who are not able to hit the slopes right now but want to help. The website GogglesForDocs.com is collecting ski goggles for needy hospitals to fight COVID-19. Ski goggles can protect the eyes of essential personnel who are battling the disease on the front lines. Visit the website for instructions and more information about donating.