Desert Messenger

October 7, 2015 www.DesertMessenger.com 7 OPINION Opinions expressed in letters to the editor do not necessarily represent those of the Desert Messenger. letters to the editor Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com /DesertMessengerNews Follow on Twitter @DesertMessenger @QuartzsiteRain VFW Auxilliary plans membership meeting WHAT? A CRAFTERS TAX? Quartzsite artists, crafters and all other citizens of Quartzsite: It's time to get together and make yourselves known. Before the Town Council is a proposal to charge fees and tax to those folks who are NOT vendors but sell oc- casionally their handmade items such as quilts, jewelry, handbags paintings, etc. Specifically this tar- gets the 1st Saturday QIA Arts and Crafts participants and the Senior Center Arts and Crafts Fair and other similar events and fundrais- ers. Come on, Council Members! This bill will result in these events folding and will further diminish the good things that this town is known for. Who are the people who exhibit in these sales/fairs? many are single people who spend their time knitting, painting, working with rocks and it's a hobby for them. They produce something and pay for their hobby with what they've produced. They keep busy during the summer when there is little else to do and they feel a sense of fulfillment and worth by mak- ing these things. These items are beautiful, too. If you've ever been to these events, you'll agree that we have some very talented and gifted people in this town. Why cause this to cease? The other thing to consider is whether or not this will provide income for the Town? No! It will not! In fact it will cost more to create, administer and enforce. We don't need this hurtful, mean-spir- ited law. Finally, the folks targeted are NOT vendors in business. They do not set up booths to sell 3, 4, 5, or 6 months at a time. They do not sell their wares to derive a living income. For many it is something to keep them occupied that also gives them periodically a chance to socialize, and keeps them from resorting to something unhealthy. Please rock the boat! Please speak up! Please pass the word! This idea needs to be squashed. Contact as many Town Council Members as you can. Go before the council on Tuesday, Oct. 13th and speak your mind. Let's all show our support for Quartzsite's artists and crafters. Art Piper WE HAVE UNIQUE TOWN Thank you everyone who voted for me. I was most surprised and apprecia- tive. I personally know of hundreds of wonderful volunteers in Quartzsite. The diversity of knowledge shared is truly unbelievable. The caring and giving freely of their precious time and money is incredible. I'm so proud to have been named with such great volunteers here. We have a unique town! In 1980, a doctor mentioned to me at the Uni- versity of Arizona medical Center in Tucson that Quartzsite is Arizona's best kept secret; for we have fresh air, shunshine, water, a slower pace of life and the happiest volunteers. Every year the QIA Gem Show (Pow Wow) brings the world here. It's a wonderful show of displays worth millions; vendors and the guests that come here have no idea that everyone working are volunteers; and they too, are from around the world. You may purchase items, but the volunteers all give freely. Thank you again, Marilyn McFate Quartzsite FRIENDS OF FOOD BANK THANKS THRIFT STORE The Friends of the Quartzsite Food Bank would like to publicly acknowl- edge the receipt of $1000 from the Quartzsite Community Thrift Store. As most people of this community are aware, the Quartzsite Food Bank provides for our community's (Quartz- site's) hungry. The Quartzsite Com- munity Thrift Store supports us in our endeavor and greatly adds to our being VFW Auxilliary to hold a membership meeting Oct. 9th at 11:30am at the Post Dining Room Auxiliary Members, come join us in welcoming our new ladies and men to our organization. The lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m. It is a time to get better acquainted with each other and make our new members know how glad we are to have them become a part of our organization. Following the luncheon we will exchange ideas for fund raisers for our programs during the year. Installation of new members will also be part of the program of the afternoon. RSVP to President Jean Braa at 253-208-3022 (email Queen141@yahoo.com) or Secre- tary Verla Fish at 928-916-9643 (email ladhid@yahoo.com) if you will be able to attend. a success. We really appreciate this donation and would like to give each and every volunteer of that organiza- tion our sincere thanks. Frank Oulman, volunteer Quartzsite Food Bank and Friends of the Quartzsite Food Bank PROPERTY TAXES I am writing this letter because of concerns I have over property taxes in Quartzsite. I hate to say this but I have never had much concern over property tax in Quartzsite until the last three years. Even then I thought to my- self that the county was in trouble financially and I would pay my part along with everyone else. But recently I have had some things brought to my attention that is re- ally a shocker. First, Quartzsite is being taxed higher than anyone in the County. That's right. The County's financial burden is not shared equally. Sec- ondly, everyone here in Quartzsite is not treated equally and the same either. Everyone is treated differ- ently; nothing is uniform. I'm seri- ous. You can check it out yourself. Go to the County tax assessor's website and look for yourself. Find a piece of property similar to yours and do a comparison. That will open your eyes! Then go to your Quartzsite Supervisor from the Board of Supervisors and com- plain. Nothing will happen. I can guarantee it. Irwin is more concerned about other things and not Quartzsite and Clapperton could care less too. He can't wait to get out and wants nothing to do with QuartzsiteAfter you get done with those two indi- viduals, because you have to give them a chance to do their jobs as County Supervisors, go to DL Wil- son. Yes, I know he has nothing to do with Quartzsite but he doesn't care about politics (and believe me our tax problem is political) and cares about a fair deal. Maybe then we can see equalization across the whole County. Xavier & Terry Frausto Quartzsite

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