Desert Messenger

32 www.DesertMessenger.com AROUND TOWN FROM PAGE 31 HORTICULTURE CLASS The La Paz County Cooperative Extension is putting a horticulture class together. For more information, contact Susan or Lyle at 928-669-9843. SYKHAWK UPDATE Due to illness, we will not be performing this season. Thank you for all your support and "God willin' and the creeks don't rise" we will be back better than ever next season! We miss you all! • • • • • • • BUYING Old Costume Jewelry Old Fountain Pens Silver & Gold Coins Sterling Silverware Gold Filled Jewelry Old Watches Gold & Silver Jewelry Any Condition • Gold Nuggets • Dental Gold Hi Ally Swap Meet ~ Front Row Main St., Quartzsite January 1, 2014 In Memoriam George Samuel Mattie better known as Sam The Flag Man, a longtime resident of La Crosse, WI and a 24 year flag vendor in Quartzsite, Arizona, passed away in his garden in La Crosse on April 24, 2013. He was born on March 16, 1928, to George and Isabel (Ward) Mattie. After graduating from Thompson, Ill. high school, he attended Armour Institute at the University of Chicago. On July 12, 1952, he married Marjorie Wolfe. Upon receiving a degree in tool and dye making, he opened his own tool and engineering shop in Des Plains, Ill., where he specialized in optical engineering. He held several patents on instruments used in the manufacturing of contact lenses. In 1962, he and his family moved to La Crosse where he started a new career in the boating business. He operated Holiday Marina and also managed the gas docks behind the Holiday Inn. It was during this first year of boating on the Mississippi that he earned his nickname, "Wing Dam Sam." He later moved his business location and added a bait shop. In 1972, he sold his shop and started a new enterprise, Mattie River Yachts. He built houseboats and commercial paddle-wheelers for clients all over the globe. Many of his boats can still be found in ports-of-call throughout the United States and South America. After retirement, he began spending winters in Quartzsite, Ariz. Never one to let his mind or body rest, he ran a vendor stand selling flagpoles and flags to the RV crowd. This is how he spent the last 24 years of his life. He could often be found at Silly Al's sipping what he called a Quartzsite Martini( a beer with an olive in it). Sam was always excited to come back to Quartzsite another season. He loved making a sale and talking to the customers. He was the first customer at The Bakery every George Samuel Mattie day and always turned on the lights. His flags can be seen flying from 100's of RV's across the desert. Sam was an avid gardener. He had both a vegetable and flower garden every year. He loved to fish and did so every chance he had. He also enjoyed cooking and often had people sample his soups. He had a head full of ideas that needed several lifetimes to fulfill. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was full of stories from his life. Quartzsite will never be the same. Please raise your glass in a toast to Sam The Flag Man. Cheers…. QUARTZSITE ROTARY'S 2ND ANNUAL BLACK & WHITE DINNER Quartzsite Radio KBUX 94.3 FM http://kbuxradio.com • Quartzsite's Favorite "CLASSIC HITS" • Local Information • Weather • 24 Hours Day / 7 Days Week! 928-927-5111 First locally-owned and operated music station in Quartzsite, Arizona. Proudly serving the communities of Quartzsite, Bouse, Brenda, Rainbow Acres, La Paz Valley and beyond, since 1988. Email: quartzsite_rotary@nethere.com Phone: 928-927-6111 "An Evening of Dinner and Friendship" at The Black Pearl Restaurant 7852 Riverside Dr., Parker, Arizona (Limited to 50 couples) February 15, 2014 Dress: Black & White, nice casual… okay 6:00 PM Meet & Greet (Cash Bar - gratis 'nibblies') 7:30 PM Dinner (Main Room) 9:00 PM (or so) Mingling, Raffle (Cash Bar) $50.00 Per Person - gratuities and tax INCLUDED Must RSVP and pay by Feb. 8th for final dinner count $17.00 tax ded. per ticket to benefit NHN and other programs EVERY person receives a Gift Bag along with one raffle ticket with our Thanks! Additional Raffle Tickets $5 each or 5 tickets for $20 RAFFLE: 32 in flat screen HDTV; a 10.1 inch ASUS Windows 8, 64GB Tablet; nice Jewelry Pieces, Local Businesses' Gift Certificates, many more! Le Menu 1st Course: Crisp Salad, Warm Bread 2nd Course / Entrée Choice of: 8 oz. Filet Mignon and 6 oz. Lobster Tail / Or Tropical Salmon with Mango Salsa Both Entrees served with Baked Potato and Vegetables du Jour 3rd Course / Dessert Choice of: Lush Key Lime Pie or Decadent Chocolate Cake Beverages / Coffee, Tea, Soda, Water included (Cash Bar Available) Quartzsite Rotary Club #27195 For Quartzsite Rotary's NHN (Neighbors Helping Neighbors and other Programs)

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