Desert Messenger

6 www.DesertMessenger.com November 16, 2016 DESERT MESSENGER Quartzsite's FREE Community Paper Proud to be a Quartzsite Licensed Business 928-916-4235 O� T��� - E���� T���! Founded by Walt Akin October 1, 2004 P�������� �� P���� R��� P��������� C�. P.O. Box 3185 Quartzsite, AZ 85359 P�������� ����� � ����� 1st & 3rd Wednesday Sept. thru May with Special Summer Editions June, July & August EDITOR/PUBLISHER Shanana "Rain" BearCat CONTRIBUTING JOURNALIST Joanne Winer GUEST COLUMNIST Jedidiah Free GUEST COLUMNIST Gypsy Jane Finley CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Starr BearCat NAME PLATE LETTERING Paul Winer www.DesertMessenger.com www.MyQuartzsite.com E-mail: Editor@DesertMessenger.com Copyright 2013 Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Desert Messenger. LIKE US on Facebook.com/ DesertMessengerNews FOLLOW US on Twitter @QuartzsiteRain By Shanana "Rain" BearCat LETTERS TO EDITOR POLICY Desert Messenger encourages letters from its readers. Letters should be no longer than 300 words, and may be edited for grammar, content and length. OPINIONS EXPRESSED HEREIN DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THOSE OF THE DESERT MESSENGER. We invite you to not only see a problem, but search for the solution to share with the community, keeping the benefit of all in mind. Letters considered libelous, in poor taste, on a personal issue, mean spirited or dominated by Scripture quotes will not be published. Third party letters will not be accepted. To avoid confusion over people with common or similar names, writers must provide a full name and indicate the name they are known by. Writers must provide a full street address and phone number. Rvers can provide the location of park/BLM land, etc. Street addresses will not be pub- lished. Phone numbers are for verification only and will not be printed. Mail letters to: Desert Messenger, P.O. Box 3185, Quartzsite, AZ 85359 or E-mail to Editor@DesertMessenger.com 928-916-4235 DEADLINE : WED. NOV. 30 TH for the dec. 7 th edition Desert Messenger News Email: editor@DesertMessenger.com 928-916-4235 www.DesertMessenger.com Neighborhood Watch to meet Thurs. DEC. 1 Residents of the Town of Quartzsite are invited to attend the next meet- ing of Neighborhood Watch at 6:00 PM, on THURSDAY, DEC. 1 ST , 2016, at the Quartzsite Community Center. Chief William Ponce said he looks forward to working with the resi- dents to create a safer community. Launched in 1972, Neighbor- hood Watch counts on citizens to organize themselves and work with law enforcement to keep a trained eye and ear on their communities, while demonstrating their pres- ence at all times of day and night. Sponsored by the National Sher- iffs' Association (NSA), the Nation- al Crime Prevention Council says, "Neighborhood watch is one of the oldest and most effective crime prevention programs in the coun- try, bringing citizens together with law enforcement to deter crime and make communities safer." For more information contact the Quartzsite Police Department at 928-927-4644. Just Rambling... Provided by Elmer London, Quartzsite and Desert Messenger I was first spanked into light of day, amid a flood. A doctor with no love of raging waters stayed home. A lady neighbor floated over on a barn door,wearing hip boots and foul weather gear. The doctor came days later. He failed to register my birth for five years. That's why I look only 84. If you've been reading my thoughts over the past 8 years, you know I attempt to turn current events into teaching moments- not so easy right now. This has been a very diffi cult week for many of my friends, who fear the future of this nation. Other friends don't understand that fear so they belittle them for their feelings. Many visitors may not realize that we have young people right here in our community that fear being a tar- get of hate because of their skin color or the status of their parents. I know teachers in other states dealing with students acting out in disrespect and hateful actions. But instead of talking about moving to Canada, I suggest we take a stand in our com- munity. This is a time to reach out to our neighbors and acknowledge their pain; offer to stand with them; and give them a hug! Think of this as a natural disas- ter: Who is most vulnerable? Whom should you check in with? Invite them to the Emergency Prepared- ness Expo on Dec. 3rd. Build the communication net- works for rapid response if someone is targeted for hate or excluded from society's benefi ts. Reach out and touch someone! Then turn these new relationships into opportuni- ties for cultural understanding and celebration. Quartzsite is known as quirky, so let's show the world how much we welcome everyone! Get together with people you know — your faith group, your political al- lies, your coffee buddies—and com- mit to make Quartzsite a "hate-free zone." Celebrate our differences and enjoy the journey! A Hopi Elder once said, "The time for the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves! Banish the word strug- gle from you attitude and your vo- cabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration." "We are the ones we've been waiting for." "Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. "'Thank you' is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding." ~ Alice Walker

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