Desert Messenger

September 19, 2012

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September 19, 2012 Perspectives Quirky Quartzsite's Contributed by Violet Kiss Times are a-changin' (Part 2) I left off last time talking about 'uni- ty'. I don't know about you, but I've been seeing some really nice things. I have had the nice opportunity of talk- ing, really talking to people around town having different points of view. This is a reaching out, clearing the air, getting to know and listen. By listen- ing and sharing I see others have dif- ferent views on many things, yet other items we share as the same. What does this all mean? A lot of headaches, lawsuits, accusations could have been avoided just by coming to- gether and talking. One side never said that the other didn't have merit, just that they went about it in a nega- tive and damaging way. The other side assumed others were blind, couldn't see the truth. Many just followed the law more closely and waited for better timing or had the opening they needed for lawful correction. So here we are, watching townspeo- ple crossing the aisle at the last Coun- cil Meeting talking to each other, lis- tening, not yelling. Friends who had friendships fracture because of this infi ghting are talking again. Now, there will always be a few who www.DesertMessenger.com Taft (on administrative leave) along with Al John- son, Rick Paterson, and the two Brannans, Martin and Janet. Later, Bar- bara Cowell joined them. I don't know about you, but having several town managers to- gether with Taft while she was on ad- ministrative leave does not look good and it appears quite unethical. Alex Taft was seen getting home at 1:20 the day before, and at 1:10 that day. Taft left fi rst and yelled to me walking to my car, "Miss Violet, I took an extra ½ hour from my vacation time." Cu- rious, what was she worried about? Why shout it to me? Possibly the same excuse Al used on Chief Jeff Gilbert's unauthorized fi ring? I've seen how brash Al Johnson treated others and that day was my lucky turn. I was in the car talking to my son and someone on my cellphone. Without looking at me, Al Johnson rudely spoke to me as he passed my car. Oh well. I believe in picking your battles, not still have to yell and attack. They're the ones we have to feel sorry for be- cause they just don't get it. No matter what happens, they will loudly dis- agree. I hope people will understand to agree that they will simply disagree at times. This is not a perfect world. We won't always agree on the same things. One thorn that grew into gigantic proportions has come to a head. It snuck up on us. We saw an alliance of some town de- partment heads starting with the Town Manager, who misused their so-called power. This was not power but a 'trust' bestowed on a few at the entire discre- tion of our Town Council who repre- sent every one of us. Obviously errors have been made and with the blind trust of the Council and many of us, Town management took advantage of the situation and covertly constructed their abuse. After a Rotary Lunch Meeting this week, I personally witnessed a round- table discussion going on between Alex little nagging things. We all want the same things in life. We want a clean, happy, safe, yes, 'quirky' Quartzsite. With all of its wonderful, colorful characters, unique settings and beau- tiful mountains as well as its desert winds, this is our town, all of ours. We are not going to alwyas agree on some items or people, but we do want it safe and sound. We all want corruption to disappear. We want transparency. I hope this "new page" keeps us to- gether better, open to discussions, stopping that which divides us. I hope people can stop rumors of whisper- ing secretively, who's seeing whom, who is friends with whom, who cares? The new Interim Town Manager, Laura Bruno, has shown us at meet- ings that she is professional, fair and well-spoken. No politics, listed priori- ties, and getting our Quirky "ship" on an even keel are her objectives and all sanctioned by our Common Council. Heads were nodding and people were clapping, all in unison, together. I received the same email recently from two people, which contained this song by George David Weiss: SEE PERSPECTIVES PAGE 19 665 W. Tyson, Quartzsite, Arizona • 928-927-5808 Page 17 After a week like yours, you need a church like ours! Changing Hearts.... Changing Lives... Through Worshiping God and Serving Others Cartoons @ 6:30 pm • Movie @ 7 pm Free refreshments • Sunday: Christian Education 9am Worship 10:30am Evening Worship 7pm • Monday: GREAT MOVIES! 2ND & 4TH JOIN US FOR FRIDAYS EVERYONE IS WELCOME! • Wednesday: Women's Bible Study - 10am Bible Study 7pm • Friday: 12 Steps to Freedom 11am Discipleship Class 9am /10:30 am Grow in your relationship with God Fire Station For free ride to Church call (928) 927-5808 Church FREE

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