Desert Messenger

September 20, 2023 www.DesertMessenger.com 31 January 7, 2009 See more Parade photos on page 16 Streets lined with crowds for the Hi Jolly Daze Parade It's Show Time in Quartzsite! DRIVE SAFELY! For the current Show Schedule, see page 29 Richard Oldham introduces New President of the Quartzsite Chamber of Commerce. See story on page 5 Newly elected Mayor Walt Akin, was Grand Marshal of the Hi Jolly Daze Parade By Angie Masales The weather held and the turn- out was wonderful the the 21 st Annual Hi Jolly Daze Parade. The theme was "Getting to Know You" and Businesses, Vendors, RV Parks, Civic or- ganizations and Individuals all took advantage of it. The imagination and hard work that went into putting the fl oats and groups together made it very diffi cult for our judges this year, to award only one entry per category a trophy. The following trophy winners were: The Best of Theme: Red Hat Run Abouts Most Creative: Tews Date Palm RV Park Comical & Amusing: Desert Gardens RV Park Best Commercial: Oasis Village featuring The Lemon Tree Nursery, Kathy's Headhunter Salon and Harris Tours Civic Organizations: Adult ~ La Paz Rodz & Ridez. Youth ~ Quartzsite Boy Scouts Individuals: Adults ~Mr & Mrs Kroger. Youth ~ Zackary Behrendt Auto ~ #17 Christian Properties- Sunrise Village Equestrian ~ Betty Hunter Realty Pet ~ La Paz Search & Rescue Dogs "Molly & Breeze" We'd like to thank the Quartzsite Police Depart- m e n t a n d t h e T o w n o f Quartzsite maintenance department for all of their a s s i s t a n c e c l o s i n g t h e roads for us. Thank you to Mr. & Mrs. Driver and Mr. & Mrs.Pearson for judging the parade en- tries, Jan Stivers, Connie Simpson and especially Donna Atkins for all of their help with the signing in of the fl oats. Thank you to Larry Masales, Martin Cole and Councilmember Bob Kelley for their assistance with the line up of the fl oats. Thank you to the new incoming President for the Chamber, Carlos Castro, owner of the Lemon Tree Nursery for MC-ing and Makon Noise for their band at the park. We, the Quartzsite Chamber of Commerce, could never get all of activities for this day done without partnering with The Tyson Wells Stage Museum and Historical Society and the Quartzsite Fire Department. The Chamber of Commerce handles the parade, the Historical Society handles all of the park activities, the raffl es & prizes, and prepares food, The Quartzsite Fire Department handles the BBQ at the Town Park after the parade. And, of course thank you to the resi- dents, visitors and friends who came out to enjoy all of our efforts on this day. Red Hat Run Abouts Best of Theme! J������ 7, 2009 D����� M�������� P��� 5 "Back when I was 66..." "...I bought myself a set of keyboards, and taught myself how to play." On Friday, January 2nd, The Quartz- site Chamber of Commerce announced a new slate of offi cers and directors, who were installed immediately; and a fresh perspective for the Chamber's mission – Community, Tourism and Growth. New Chamber President, Carlos Castro, took to the microphone at The Hi-Jolly Parade ceremonies to thank all in attendance, especially the Town, Council members and the police and fi re departments for the excellent ser- vices provided. Carlos introduced the new Mayor, Walt Akin, who also wel- comed and congratulated the crowd. Carlos told the crowd, "…since my arrival with Lemon Tree Nursery, I've been very impressed by the friendly townspeople of Quartzsite and the prospects this community has for growth and opportunities…. I look for- ward to meeting and "GETTING TO KNOW" (this year's theme for the Hi- Jolly parade) everyone and to bring a fresh perspective to the Quartzsite Chamber…" Fresh Perspective for The Quartzsite Chamber of Commerce The new offi cers are: President - Carlos Castro, Lemon Tree Nursery Vice President – Jennifer Brown, Palo Verde Café Secretary – P.J. Bettman, Designs by Dorothy Treasurer – Angie Masales, Quartzsite Chamber of Commerce Director – Jim McGovern, Oasis Resorts - New Southwest Development, LLC Director – Marilyn McFate, Nah-Pet-Sei, rocks, gems, & minerals. Director – vacated Director (Past President, Sandy McAllister) – vacated The fi rst business meeting of 2009 will be held on Monday, January 5th – 7:00 pm at The Senior Center and members and all interested citizens and visitors of Quartzsite are invited Larry Domorad, known around town as Lonesome Larry, is now 72 years old. For his 66 th birthday, he invested in a professional set of keyboards. He's a self-taught musician, playing only by ear, learning by listening to music over and over again. Larry's fi rst professional music job was in Meadview, Arizona. It was only seven years ago doctors told him to stay off his feet to keep the swelling down. To pass the time, he played his keyboards for 10-12 hours a day. At the time, he was also on oxygen, but Larry's fi rst visit to Quartzsite was in 1959. During the 1980's he and his family would drive to Quartzsite from California for vacations. "I've seen lots of changes over the years," he shared. Since moving to Arizona in 1990, he's tried his hand in vending, buying and selling, but his heart was moved by music. "I can't change my health, but I can change how I feel about it! I love to make people happy…it's so rewarding!" Lonesome Larry plays at Best Mexican Restaurant P��� 20 D����� M�������� J������ 7, 2009 WORLD-FAMOUS & ����������������������� - - Glassware - Vintage Linen - Collectibles - Dolls - Furniture - Antiques 315 E. Ironwood Quartzsite (next to the QIA) Vendor Spaces Available OPEN DAILY 9-4 BURT & BILLIE'S Local area and snowbird hams have several opportunities for fellowship: Informal Net. Daily. 8:30am. 145.500 down (Quartzsite Repeater) Monday through Friday, we meet at 9 a.m. at The Quartzsite Bakery, and at 2 p.m. at Burger King. Sundays, 9 a.m. at Burger King Radio controlled aircraft. Contact Bill Burke, N0JLT, at 218-343-6926. The weekly breakfast is Saturdays at 8 a.m. at Best Mexican Restaurant. The radio frequencies we use are 146.55 simplex and 145.500 - (Repeater) The major Amateur Radio event in Quartzsite is Quartzfest. Quartzfest 2009 will take place Janu- ary 18 - 24, 2009 at the Road Runner BLM area just south of Mile Marker 99. Full information can be found at www.quartzfest.org. Contacts: Elmer London, KC7BUC 928-927-6534 Cliff Haycock, KD4ZBP 919-412-4029 We are looking forward to seeing and/ or hearing you. 73 and 88. Amateur Radio Activities in Quartzsite Join us for the following events: Jan. 7, Membership Meeting 7pm Jan. 17, Coin Hunt, 1pm Jan. 23, Kids Gold Panning, 1pm, Quartzsite Library Jan. 30, GPS Instruction, 10am, Flat- foot Claim Feb. 4, Membership Meeting, 7pm Feb. 12, Kids Coin Hunt, 1pm Feb. 21, Coin Hunt, 1pm March 4, Membership Meeting, 7pm March 21, Coin Hunt, 1pm All meetings are held at JR's Club House, N. Central (Hwy. 95). All Hunts are held in the Quartzsite Town Park, entrance from Chandler St. For more information, check out the website: www.quartzsitemetaldetectingclub. com or call Linda at 928-927-7150. Quartzsite Metal Detector Club Museum Hours: Wed.-Sun. 10-4 161 W. Main (next to Silly Al's) Free Admission Donations Accepted FIELD TRIPS Second Wednesday of each month Classic Car Collection, Picture Rock, Los Posos, Old Yuma Road, Scott's Well, Imperial Date Farm & Imperial Dam, Quartzsite Mill Sites, Intaglios, Conner Field, Stone Cabin & Horse Tanks, Saihati Camel Farm You need to bring a brown bag lunch, water and chair. Sometimes a small fee will be charged to enter the various places. Please check with the Museum for time and meeting place. 928-927-5229 or www.quartzsitemuseum.com ACTIVITIES Arizona History Programs – co-spon- sored with the Quartzsite Library, Quilt Show with the Quilters Guild, Hi Jolly Days Parade & Meal, Highway Clean-up QUARTZSITE HISTORICAL SOCIETY Meetings fi rst Wednesday of the Tyson's Well Stage Station Museum "It all depends on how we look at things, and not how they are in themselves." -Carl Jung SPECIAL SECTION

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