Desert Messenger

January 15, 2020 www.DesertMessenger.com 35 Read Desert MESSENGER ONLINE @ www.MyQuartzsite.com Great service project ideas for MLK Day Licensed & Insured BLM Approved! 27 Years Experience 27 Years Experience Miller RV Repair is BACK IN QUARTZSITE! 406-212-0155 READER'S OASIS BOOKS 690 E. Main - Quartzsite (one block east of Family Dollar) (SPM Wire) Martin Luther King Jr. Day, observed annually on the third Monday of January, is much more than a three-day weekend. It's an opportunity to honor Dr. King's legacy by participating in a service project that addresses social problems in your commu- nity. Here are a few project ideas to consider: • Boost job readiness: For many members of the community, simple barriers exist to securing a good job. You can help job-seekers tighten their applications by assist- ing with resume preparation and conducting practice interviews. For guidance, look to organiza- tions offering these services, such as Dress for Success, which helps women navigate gender-based biases in the world of work. This is also a good organization to give gently used professional attire a second life. • Narrow the literacy gap: There are currently 6.6 million U.S. chil- dren from birth through age 8 on track for reading failure, according to The Literacy Lab. Help narrow the achievement gap by volunteer- ing your time to an organization offering free tutoring to young people. • Combat loneliness: Loneli- ness is an epidemic for America's elderly population, and unfortu- nately many seniors don't receive frequent visits from friends and family, if at all. Combat isolation by visiting a senior center or nurs- ing facility and connecting with its residents. Arizona Department of Health Offi ce of Infectious Disease Services has released the 2017 and 2018 In- fectious Disease Outbreak Report. This comprehensive report uses data collected during investigations of outbreaks reported to and inves- tigated by public health. An outbreak is defi ned as an in- crease in cases of disease in time or place that is greater than expected. The public health response to out- breaks is a team effort, utilizing knowledge, skills, and input from epidemiologists, laboratorians, public health nurses, communica- ble disease investigators, sanitar- ians, and more. Outbreak detection, response, and reporting are key ac- tivities for public health response to infectious disease. This report includes summaries of outbreaks in health care insti- tutions, child care facilities and schools, and correctional facilities. Highlights from this report: • There was a decrease in the number of reported and confi rmed outbreaks that occurred during 2018. This decrease was most evi- dent within schools and child care facilities. • Substantial changes to com- municable disease rules went into effect on January 1, 2018. Despite the additional requirement to re- port respiratory disease outbreaks in health care institutions or cor- rectional facilities, reports for these types of outbreaks decreased in 2018. Infectious Disease Outbreak Report • For the fi rst time, this report distinguishes between outbreaks in assisted living facilities vs. nurs- ing care institutions. The burden of outbreaks is far greater in nursing care institutions than assisted living facilities. • Performance goals show that Ar- izona's outbreak response is strong in important areas, including ini- tiating an investigation within 24 hours and confi rming the etiology of outbreaks. The report also includes summa- ries of notable outbreaks from 2017 and 2018, including: • E. coli O157 in a Community on the Arizona-Utah border • E. coli O157 Linked to Romaine Lettuce • E. coli O157 Linked to Soynut Butter • Hepatitis A in Persons Experi- encing Homelessness (2017) • Respiratory Syncytial Virus in a Nursing Care Institution • Salmonella Montevideo Associ- ated with a Chicken Restaurant • Other Notable Multistate Food- borne Outbreaks Read more about infectious dis- ease outbreak investigation and management by visiting our web- site, https://azdhs.gov. Find out more about reporting outbreaks by contacting your local health de- partment. Quartzsite Community Thrift Store wants to let all folks know of our expansion. We are opening into the adjoining store! Come by for a look-see and a free hug. Located at 425 E. Main Street, we're open Thurs. Fri. Sat. 9am to 1pm. Community Thrift Store updates Quartzsite Senior Center 40 S. Moon Mountain Ave. Phone & Fax 927-928-6496 Like us on Facebook! QUILTERS Every Tuesday 8:30am – 3pm BINGO Every Wednesday & Satur- day Open 5pm. Early Bird 6:30pm Reg. Bingo 7pm DANCE Every Tuesday & Friday, 7- 9:30 pm ART GUILD Thursday 6pm POKER & GAMES Mondays & Thursdays 6pm FOOD HANDLERS CLASS Wednesday 12-19, 10am & 2pm CRAFT SHOW 3rd Friday 8am- 1pm YARD SALE 3rd Saturday 9am- noon WIC Every 3rd Thursday 10am- noon LUNCH Monday thru Friday Served at noon. We ask for donation of $3.50. Senior Moments RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER thank you! RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER thank you!

• Cover