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8 www.DesertMessenger.com April 18, 2018 5 ways to celebrate Earth Day THRIFT STORE Benefitting the La Paz County Animal Shelter in Parker Supported by your generous donations! 455 E. Main St. Quartzsite Open Tues. thru Sat. 9-3 928-927-4223 585 N. Central Quartzsite Open Mon-Fri 8-5 928-927-8787 Johnny DelPino, Owner BEST AUTO RV & TRUCK REPAIR SERVICE YOU CAN DEPEND ON! Town of Quartzsite Parks & Recreation board will host Earth Day for kids, Friday, April 20th , 9am at the Park. Kids will learn the history of Earth Day, help plant cacti, & receive BPA Free Water Bottles donated by Quartzsite Chamber & Tourism & PNQ will distribute muli-use (StatePoint) April 22 is Earth Day, an annual opportunity to celebrate the natural world and get involved in short- and long-term efforts to protect the environment. Here are fi ve ways to celebrate. 1. Volunteer. Many neighborhoods and communities around the coun- try host volunteer clean-ups to honor Earth Day. Find one in your area or organize your own: gather some friends, some sturdy garbage bags and pairs of work gloves, and head out to a park or the shore of a local waterway for a clean-up. 2. Enjoy nature. Get outside and enjoy nature. Even if you aren't an ex- perienced hiker, there are plenty of tools to make getting outdoors easy, such as wearable tech, which can support your adventure. One option is Casio's ProTrek PRW3510Y-8, which has triple sensor technology, including a compass, thermometer, altimeter and barometer, allowing you to track your surroundings as you explore them. Featuring Tough Solar Power, it can be charged by sunlight or fl orescent light, making it an eco-friendly choice. 3. Plant a tree. Trees provide shade and food for people and a habi- tat for birds and other wildlife. What's more, they produce oxygen for people to inhale, as well as sequester CO2. Trees also reduce polluting runoff by intercepting water. In short, we need trees! Celebrate Earth Day by planting one. Each year, you can watch it mature and grow. 4. Reduce waste. The land and ocean have become saturated with plastics and other trash. Get into the habit of reducing waste by recy- cling and reusing items as much as possible. Take a look at the footprint you create with your plastic consumption and fi nd ways to improve your habits. Bring a reusable bag to the grocery store. Buying a drink? Don't use a straw. Getting takeout? Ask the restaurant to hold the plastic silverware. 5. Update your technologies. Outdated tech often contains harmful elements that can hurt the environment, such as lead paint or mercury. Check out newer models that meet international standards like The Minamata Convention on Mercury. For example, Casio Lampfree Pro- jectors combine a laser, a fl uorescent element and LED light to deliver a hybrid light source that lasts up to 20,000 hours while sustaining a high brightness. Because these projectors are mercury-free, it removes the need to replace hazardous and expensive bulbs. This Earth Day, celebrate a healthy planet with environmental stewardship at-home and in your community. MVD urges Arizonans to consider getting Voluntary Travel I.D. As 2020 deadline approaches, airports and TSA help spread the word PHOENIX – Arizonans who plan to use their driver license or ID card to get through security checkpoints at U.S. airports and other restricted, federally-controlled facilities should take action to get an Arizona Volun- tary Travel ID through the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division. The Transportation Security Administration will provide MVD informa- tional fl yers at its airport checkpoints in Flagstaff, Phoenix Mesa-Gate- way, Phoenix Sky Harbor, Tucson International and Yuma International. The fl yers advise passengers that starting Oct.1, 2020, standard creden- tials won't be accepted by the TSA. "Now is a great time to get a Voluntary Travel ID, because the federal deadline gets closer every day," said MVD Director Eric Jorgensen. "MVD is making this process simple. Customers can go to ServiceArizona. comand make an offi ce appointment. The website provides information about what documents that customers should bring with them to meet the REAL ID requirements for the Voluntary Travel ID. Appointments also help MVD offi ces run more effi ciently, helping to get customers out of line and safely on the road." The Voluntary Travel ID is an Arizona driver license or ID card that meets the additional identifi cation requirements of the federal REAL ID Act of 2005. Standard Arizona licenses or ID cards do not conform to the federal REAL ID requirements because of a state law that says those steps must be taken voluntarily by the license or card holder. The cost is $25 for renewals and fi rst-time issues. Per federal law, the credential is valid for eight years, in most cases. Customers whose pho- tos need to be updated in the near future may wish to get the Voluntary Travel ID. Forms of identifi cation required for a Voluntary Travel ID include one document such as a birth certifi cate or a passport that proves identity; one document that proves a Social Security number such as a Social Secu- rity card or W-2 form, and two documents such as utility bills or bank statements that prove Arizona residency. For a list of examples of identifi cation documents and for additional information, please visit the Voluntary Travel ID section of the ADOT website at azdot.gov/TravelID. New Travel ID

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