Desert Messenger

42 www.DesertMessenger.com January 4, 2017 Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ DesertMessengerNews Follow on Twitter @DesertMessenger @QuartzsiteRain Art Guild Show Jan. 13, 14 Quartzsite Art Guild's Southwestern Roundup coming January 13 and 14. By Joanne Winer The Quartzsite Art Guild will be hold- ing their annual Southwestern Roundup at the Quartzsite Senior Citizens Center this year on January 13 and 14. The show has expanded over the years and now includes all kinds of fi ne arts as well as other mediums. The Art Guild has been in Quartzsite for over 15 years. This annual show gives the public a great way to see what these very talented artists are creat- ing. They will set up their art and show them off to prospective buyers and collec- tors, giving people who love art a chance to see what can be done. Some of the beau- tiful paintings have been made into cards, postcards, mugs etc. for people who don't have walls to hang paintings on! You will fi nd a huge array of local artists' works with desert scenes, land- scapes, all kinds of critters and much more at this great show. There is no admission, but there is a lot of fun and door prizes, raffl es and this year will have a new twist--a scavenger hunt with prizes!! The Guild uses the funds raised to help organizations in the community. They artists donate 10% of their sales from the show, and any other funds from the show. The Senior Center will also be having lunch available for those who wish to purchase some great food during the show. There will be give- aways. The scavenger hunt will be for those who wish to participate and will include items that can be found in the many pieces of artwork displayed. Several of the authors from the Au- thor's Fair at Reader's Oasis Books will also be included in the show again this year, so if you are looking for a great book for a gift or for yourself, you can fi nd that here too!! Please come out and look at all the fantastic art that our local artists have come up with for this year and have a great fun day meeting all the artists as well!! The show runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. For information call Oney Budge 208- 317-2315. The Art Guild meets the fi rst and third Thursday of each month at the Senior Center Next meeting is Jan- uary 5th starting at 6:00 P.M. Space still Available for the show. By Pamela Caskey I would like to sincerely thank all those who helped with the Third An- nual Soup and Chowder Festival and those who attended it. This year was the best year yet and I predict it will get bigger and better each year. This year having it at the QIA on the same day as the Operation Hero Comfort and the Christmas Parade was a good union and it will happen again in the future years also. In all we had 15 soups and chowders out to serve and one the 16th was missed by mistake. It was hiding in the end re- frigerator at the QIA and did not get dis- covered till the event was almost over. We served a over 300 people in around 2 ½ hours and had to turn some away because we ran out of soups and chow- ders. There were also a large variety of homemade desserts for folks to add one to their tray to complete the package. In the spring before the QIA closes, we will have a get-together to discuss next year's event and how we can make it bet- ter. It will be announced ahead of time and those who want to help next year are encouraged to attend. Each year we learn by our mistakes to make the next hear better. I am sure next year will bring a lot of new ideas into the event. To think that an event like this can be run totally by volunteers and donations is amazing on its own. Other than the $250 seed money from the Thrivent Action Team funds, it was all done on donations. Our community is wonder- Soup & Chowder thanks ful and this shows how we truly can get together for the good of all people. Last year we had one Restaurant partic- ipate. This year we had six, which is great to see the businesses taking part. They were (alphabetical order): Barbi's Place, Grub Stake Bar and Grill, Mountain Quail Café, Silly Al's, Times Three, and the Yacht Club. The individuals participating were Ester Angel, Sylvia Browning, Laurie Curran and Aletta Hanna, Pam Caskey, Jessika Gardner, Carole Johnson, Rich- ard Trusty, and the Road Runners Rock and Gem Club. Maybe next year we can get a few other clubs or groups in town to donate to the event. Or maybe even the Police Dept. of Fire Dept. The People's Choice award went to Sil- ly Al's with their Italian Wedding Soup. The Judges elected the following: First place: The Yacht Club with Boston Style Clam Chowder; Second Place to Rich- ard Trusty with a lentil Vegetable Soup, and Third Place was Barbi's Place with a Baked Chicken Pie Chowder. Unfortunately, due to some confusion the desserts were not judged this year. That will not happen again. Next year we have someone willing to organize and take charge of the judging. And we have others coming on board to help with various events happening to make things fl ow easier. There were over 60 items donated the raffl e and sales went well. Many thanks to all who donated. The entertainment on stage was great and many people ate in the main hall and enjoyed listening to the mu- sic while they ate. Many thanks to the Flute Circle, the LDS choir, and Jack and Virginia and friends for helping with the entertainment. Special recognition to the QIA and their volunteers who helped make this event happen. In all we raised $2,021 to be given to the Friends of Quartzsite Food Bank. I am sorry I cannot list all those who volunteered to help with this event. There is not enough paper to do it all. But my sincere thanks to all who did and you know who you are. An idea of something like this would never have happened if we did not have a commu- nity willing to support it and they did and continue to do so. Thank You all. Pamela Caskey The organizer and founder of the Annual Soup and Chowder Festival in Quartzsite

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