Desert Messenger

6 www.DesertMessenger.com April 19, 2017 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 Letters considered libelous, in poor taste, on a personal issue, mean spirited or dominated by Scripture quotes will not be published.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 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 Just Rambling... Provided by Elmer London, Quartzsite and Desert Messenger DEADLINE : WED. APRIL 26 TH for the may 3 rd edition Desert Messenger News Email: editor@DesertMessenger.com 928-916-4235 www.DesertMessenger.com Neighborhood Watch to meet Thurs. MAY 4 Town of Quartzsite invites every- one to attend the next meeting of Neighborhood Watch at 6:00 PM, on THURSDAY, MAY 4, 2017, 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. "The power of peace lies within each of us." ~Willy Whitefeather, Cherokee Story Teller Well, here we are, going speedily into a warm summer. Missing those who are gone. Just a little bit. Still a few careless drivers, who seem too think I own this street. But isn't the wild life great? Rabbits, doves and their call. Squirrels standing as if they're directing traffic. If one could imagine a peaceful community, what form might it take? What is your idea of a peaceful community? According to one expert, Stephen Lewis, having excellent childcare, early childcare and development, being free of racism, treasuring books and reading, women's pro- grams, strong food banks confront- ing poverty, including the virtues of peace and decent human behaviour in schools, and a shared value of the environment, and a that makes it all possible. Doesn't that all sound great? Change, whether in our personal life or in the community, often creates confl ict. We humans, just naturally resist change. But sometimes confl ict is a necessity. If we could all stop taking things so personal, and drop our ex- pectations, there will be less confl ict in our lives. When we "cling" onto our old ways of thinking, we remain stagnant, and confl ict can occur. According to www.thefreedictionary. com, "cling" means: 1. To hold fast or adhere to something, as by grasping, sticking, embracing, or en- twining: clung to the rope to keep from falling; fabrics that cling to the body. 2. To remain close; resist separation: We clung together in the storm. 3. To remain emotionally attached; hold on: clinging to outdated customs. "We cling to our own point of view, as though everything depended on it. Yet our opinions have no permanence; like autumn and winter, they gradually pass away."~ Zhuangzi Confl icting ideas can be very im- portant to a community. Confl ict, however uncomfortable, moves us out of our comfort zone. How we re- spond as a growing community, will determine the future of our town. As the seasons change, do we "cling" to the way it used to be or move forward together with open minds and hearts?

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