The 235th anniversary celebration of the U.S. Marine Corps will be held Nov. 6 at Mazatzal Hotel & Casino. Festivities begin with a social hour at 5 p.m. with dinner following at 6 p.m.
Guest speak this year will be Marshall Trimble, former Marine and official Arizona State Historian. He will speak at 7 p.m., along with the traditional cake cutting ceremony. Entertainment, including dancing, will begin at 8 p.m.
Cost is $35 per dinner, with a choice of prime rib or chicken oscar. All citizens are invited to attend.
For additional information and/or reservations call Lee Bumbalow at 468-1095 or Col. Bill Sahno at 472-6617.
Friday, September 3, 2010
ADOT: No holiday closures on state highways
PHOENIX – Drivers heading to the high country, the beach or elsewhere over the Labor Day weekend will not face any construction closures along state highways. That’s the word from the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).
No construction closures are scheduled for state highway projects, including improvement projects along Phoenix area freeways, over the three-day holiday weekend.
While no closures are scheduled, ADOT Director John Halikowski is urging travelers to be prepared in the event of an unscheduled closure.
“Those of us in the business of public safety have no control over where or when a crash might occur, or if a vehicle breaks down,” said Halikowski. “Drivers have to avoid all impairments, including alcohol or drugs, too little sleep or everyday distractions. That way, we lessen the chances of an unscheduled highway closure because of a crash.”
ADOT recommends travelers bring extra drinking water, snack foods and other supplies to help them stay cool in case they face an extended stop.
In 2009, seven people were killed in five fatal crashes on highways and local roads in Arizona over the Labor Day weekend.
ADOT joins with the State Department of Public Safety and Governor’s Office of Highway Safety in urging drivers to follow these safe driving rules.
Never Drink and Drive; Arrange for a Designated Driver if necessary
Check Your Vehicle, Including Tire Pressure, Before Traveling
Get a Good Night’s Rest Before Starting Out on a Trip
Buckle Up – That Includes You and Your Passengers
Follow Speed Limits; Don’t Follow Other Vehicles Too Closely
Use Caution in Existing Work Zones
Motorists also are asked to be extremely cautious about the continued fire danger this weekend. All it takes is a tossed cigarette or a hot vehicle pulling onto a highway shoulder to ignite dry brush. Despite monsoon rains, the danger of wildfires still exists across the state.
You can stay up to date on highway conditions prior to traveling by visiting the ADOT Travel Information site at www.az511.gov or by calling 5-1-1.
No construction closures are scheduled for state highway projects, including improvement projects along Phoenix area freeways, over the three-day holiday weekend.
While no closures are scheduled, ADOT Director John Halikowski is urging travelers to be prepared in the event of an unscheduled closure.
“Those of us in the business of public safety have no control over where or when a crash might occur, or if a vehicle breaks down,” said Halikowski. “Drivers have to avoid all impairments, including alcohol or drugs, too little sleep or everyday distractions. That way, we lessen the chances of an unscheduled highway closure because of a crash.”
ADOT recommends travelers bring extra drinking water, snack foods and other supplies to help them stay cool in case they face an extended stop.
In 2009, seven people were killed in five fatal crashes on highways and local roads in Arizona over the Labor Day weekend.
ADOT joins with the State Department of Public Safety and Governor’s Office of Highway Safety in urging drivers to follow these safe driving rules.
Never Drink and Drive; Arrange for a Designated Driver if necessary
Check Your Vehicle, Including Tire Pressure, Before Traveling
Get a Good Night’s Rest Before Starting Out on a Trip
Buckle Up – That Includes You and Your Passengers
Follow Speed Limits; Don’t Follow Other Vehicles Too Closely
Use Caution in Existing Work Zones
Motorists also are asked to be extremely cautious about the continued fire danger this weekend. All it takes is a tossed cigarette or a hot vehicle pulling onto a highway shoulder to ignite dry brush. Despite monsoon rains, the danger of wildfires still exists across the state.
You can stay up to date on highway conditions prior to traveling by visiting the ADOT Travel Information site at www.az511.gov or by calling 5-1-1.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Open air service will honor returning soldiers
This Sunday at 8:30 a.m. we will gather together to honor our soldiers returning from Afghanistan in a special Labor Day service at the Open Air Chapel in the Woods off Hwy 260 at Kohl's Ranch Rd.
Rev. Tom Gossett will preside,. Kathleen Kelly and Jim West will join them in music and prayer. All are welcome to attend this very special last service of the season.
Rev. Tom Gossett will preside,. Kathleen Kelly and Jim West will join them in music and prayer. All are welcome to attend this very special last service of the season.
First Friday features art party, root beer floats
Trouble in Paradise performs at Bootleg Alley
The First Friday block party on Main Street is this Friday, Sept. 3 from 5-8 p.m.
We're still awaiting details, but here's what we know so far:
Artists of the Rim Fine Art Gallery at 408 W. Main St. is celebrating its fourth anniversary with art, artists, live music and refreshments.
Right next door, The Humane Society Thrift Shop is holding a half price sale on all regular clothing. In addition, root beer floats will be served from 5-8 p.m.
With the cool evenings of September and only memories of the "dog days of summer," it's time for Bootleg Alley Antiques & Art to celebrate their fourth anniversary on Historic Main St. Chuck and Barbara Casey of "Trouble in Paradise" will entertain with light rock and blues.
Chef Gary Bedsworth will grill brats. Five dollars buys a brat from Charlie's Meats, chips, and a soda. All net proceeds go to the Humane Society of Central Arizona. Donations to the Humane Society can also be made at this event.
Scoops will be selling ice cream and coffee and the Soroptimists have Sees Chocolates for purchase. Voter registration will also be available on Bootleg Alley's porch from 5-8 p.m.
Watch for more First Friday details right here.
The First Friday block party on Main Street is this Friday, Sept. 3 from 5-8 p.m.
We're still awaiting details, but here's what we know so far:
Artists of the Rim Fine Art Gallery at 408 W. Main St. is celebrating its fourth anniversary with art, artists, live music and refreshments.
Right next door, The Humane Society Thrift Shop is holding a half price sale on all regular clothing. In addition, root beer floats will be served from 5-8 p.m.
With the cool evenings of September and only memories of the "dog days of summer," it's time for Bootleg Alley Antiques & Art to celebrate their fourth anniversary on Historic Main St. Chuck and Barbara Casey of "Trouble in Paradise" will entertain with light rock and blues.
Chef Gary Bedsworth will grill brats. Five dollars buys a brat from Charlie's Meats, chips, and a soda. All net proceeds go to the Humane Society of Central Arizona. Donations to the Humane Society can also be made at this event.
Scoops will be selling ice cream and coffee and the Soroptimists have Sees Chocolates for purchase. Voter registration will also be available on Bootleg Alley's porch from 5-8 p.m.
Watch for more First Friday details right here.
H1N1 flu down but definitely not out this season
U of A will offer drive-through flu vaccinations
A public information campaign at Arizona State University includes notices in bathrooms urging students, staff and faculty to wash hands.
By DAVID ROOKHUYZEN
Cronkite News Service
PHOENIX – A state health official says that the worst of H1N1 passed last flu season, but don’t put away the hand sanitizer just yet.
“We expect H1N1 to be back again this year because that’s what happens when we have pandemics,” said Dr. Karen Lewis, the medical director for the Arizona Immunization Program, part of the state Department of Health Services.
“But it tends to not have quite the severe impact because fewer total people are infected.”
The H1N1 strain of influenza caused 1,895 hospitalizations and 151 deaths in Arizona since April 2009, according to state records. Lewis estimates that one out of every 150 children had an influenza-like illness last flu season.
However, what impact H1N1 will have this year is hard to predict. Individual immunity, immunizations from last year and the mutating nature of influenza make it difficult to forecast, said Jeanene Fowler, a spokeswoman for the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.
“There are way too many factors to predict what the flu season will be like this year,” Fowler said.
Despite this, some health officials remain optimistic that H1N1 will not be as virulent as it was the previous year.
“I don’t anticipate seeing the same numbers as last year,” said Michelle McDonald, chief medical officer for the Pima County Health Department.
During the summer months health officials monitor the flu seasons in the southern hemisphere. Places such as Australia and New Zealand give some indication about the coming flu season.
“None of them had a terrifically bad flu season this year,” McDonald said.
Kimbal Babcock, clinical services manager for the Coconino County Health Department, also cited the cases of Australia and New Zealand as a good indication that this coming season will be milder.
“Unless something bizarre happens we will have a regular flu season,” Babcock said.
However, health officials say that the public should still be concerned about contracting influenza even if H1N1 is diminished this year.
“It’s always a bad year. Influenza season is always stressful for hospitals and doctors and ICUs,” Lewis said.
Health officials are pushing for everyone to be vaccinated against influenza this year. The vaccine now contains H1N1 along with other strains.
Other than vaccination, Lewis said thorough hand washing, keeping distance from the sick, staying home when sick and coughing into a sleeve rather than a hand will help stop the spread of the flu virus.
“Dodge the goobers,” Lewis said.
The state’s public universities are taking measures to ensure the health of students and faculty.
Dr. Allan Markus, director of Campus Health Services at Arizona State University, said that ASU will continue a public information campaign from last year to warn students and staff about influenza.
Students have been encouraged not only to wash hands and use sanitizer but to also miss class if they are sick. Teachers are to be accessible online for those who can’t attend classes.
Johnny Cruz, a spokesman for the University of Arizona, said the university will have on-campus vaccinations. This includes drive-through vaccinations, where anyone can receive a flu shot right in their car.
The university also has a scalable pandemic emergency response plan in place, available to view on the school’s website.
Influenza seasons in Arizona can start as early as September, builds going into the winter months and usually peaks in February.
Web Links:
_ Arizona Department of Health Services www.azdhs.gov
_ University of Arizona Pandemic Emergency Response Plan: cert.arizona.edu/pandemic_plan.html
Tips for avoiding the flu
The Arizona Department of Health Services offers these tips for avoiding the flu:
> Recognize the symptoms: Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headaches, vomiting and-or diarrhea are signs of the flu.
> Get immunized: The vaccine protects against H1N1 and the most common flu strains, H3N2 and influenza B.
> Wash your hands: Use soap and water, and wash thoroughly and often.
> Cover coughs and sneezes: Use tissues or your elbow or shoulder. Do not cough or sneeze into yours hands.
> Stay home: And stay home until at least 24 hours after symptoms are gone.
By DAVID ROOKHUYZEN
Cronkite News Service
PHOENIX – A state health official says that the worst of H1N1 passed last flu season, but don’t put away the hand sanitizer just yet.
“We expect H1N1 to be back again this year because that’s what happens when we have pandemics,” said Dr. Karen Lewis, the medical director for the Arizona Immunization Program, part of the state Department of Health Services.
“But it tends to not have quite the severe impact because fewer total people are infected.”
The H1N1 strain of influenza caused 1,895 hospitalizations and 151 deaths in Arizona since April 2009, according to state records. Lewis estimates that one out of every 150 children had an influenza-like illness last flu season.
However, what impact H1N1 will have this year is hard to predict. Individual immunity, immunizations from last year and the mutating nature of influenza make it difficult to forecast, said Jeanene Fowler, a spokeswoman for the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.
“There are way too many factors to predict what the flu season will be like this year,” Fowler said.
Despite this, some health officials remain optimistic that H1N1 will not be as virulent as it was the previous year.
“I don’t anticipate seeing the same numbers as last year,” said Michelle McDonald, chief medical officer for the Pima County Health Department.
During the summer months health officials monitor the flu seasons in the southern hemisphere. Places such as Australia and New Zealand give some indication about the coming flu season.
“None of them had a terrifically bad flu season this year,” McDonald said.
Kimbal Babcock, clinical services manager for the Coconino County Health Department, also cited the cases of Australia and New Zealand as a good indication that this coming season will be milder.
“Unless something bizarre happens we will have a regular flu season,” Babcock said.
However, health officials say that the public should still be concerned about contracting influenza even if H1N1 is diminished this year.
“It’s always a bad year. Influenza season is always stressful for hospitals and doctors and ICUs,” Lewis said.
Health officials are pushing for everyone to be vaccinated against influenza this year. The vaccine now contains H1N1 along with other strains.
Other than vaccination, Lewis said thorough hand washing, keeping distance from the sick, staying home when sick and coughing into a sleeve rather than a hand will help stop the spread of the flu virus.
“Dodge the goobers,” Lewis said.
The state’s public universities are taking measures to ensure the health of students and faculty.
Dr. Allan Markus, director of Campus Health Services at Arizona State University, said that ASU will continue a public information campaign from last year to warn students and staff about influenza.
Students have been encouraged not only to wash hands and use sanitizer but to also miss class if they are sick. Teachers are to be accessible online for those who can’t attend classes.
Johnny Cruz, a spokesman for the University of Arizona, said the university will have on-campus vaccinations. This includes drive-through vaccinations, where anyone can receive a flu shot right in their car.
The university also has a scalable pandemic emergency response plan in place, available to view on the school’s website.
Influenza seasons in Arizona can start as early as September, builds going into the winter months and usually peaks in February.
Web Links:
_ Arizona Department of Health Services www.azdhs.gov
_ University of Arizona Pandemic Emergency Response Plan: cert.arizona.edu/pandemic_plan.html
Tips for avoiding the flu
The Arizona Department of Health Services offers these tips for avoiding the flu:
> Recognize the symptoms: Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headaches, vomiting and-or diarrhea are signs of the flu.
> Get immunized: The vaccine protects against H1N1 and the most common flu strains, H3N2 and influenza B.
> Wash your hands: Use soap and water, and wash thoroughly and often.
> Cover coughs and sneezes: Use tissues or your elbow or shoulder. Do not cough or sneeze into yours hands.
> Stay home: And stay home until at least 24 hours after symptoms are gone.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Tea Party only 'outslothed' at polls by opponents
In my District, 850 people are registered to vote. Less than a hundred did so.
An elderly couple was turned away while I was there, because their voting place had changed. They left in a great huff and swore to just not vote - too much trouble. At least they made an effort, I suppose.
If a national election brings out 60 percent of eligible voters in the U.S. this is called a great turn-out. Even in Congress, many important bills get passed without the votes of all Congressmen.
You want to know what is REALLY wrong with America? It’s the fact that we are far removed from the process of government. “Of, By, and For” are iconic words in a speech.
We have been spoiled rotten by “The Good Life.” We are insulated from hard battles once fought to secure various rights and privileges.
Those who inherit them without being involved, however, have no respect or appreciation for them. Children of rich fathers only know the luxury provided for them. Rarely do they know or care how it came to be.
The Tea Party chants, “We have to take back our country!” You might ask, who is this “We?” Certainly not the majority of members who couldn’t be bothered to actually cast a vote. The worst kind of hypocrites. The ludicrous thing is, though, that some of their candidates actually won. The other side was even more slothful.
In the vast majority of other free countries around the world, it is common for 80 or 90 percent of the population to vote on national issues. Countries which have recently been freed from dictatorship, or other types of suppression, routinely vote in large numbers. They wait in long lines, sometimes in bad weather.
They vote because they can. It’s a priceless right - something of great value to cherish. It’s a unique thing, reasonably new in the history of the world. Something dear to hold tight and not relinquish, a great thing of value, not to be “dis-respected” (using today’s street jargon.)
Not here, though. It’s just not convenient, or we hate standing in line, or it takes away from something more physically or emotionally rewarding we want to do. Besides, being trained to only be concerned with the score, we don’t have an appreciation for the individual plays. We want the big house, but shun the bricklaying.
The right to vote is a miraculous entity all by itself. In claiming and exercising that right we should rejoice and celebrate one of the most dramatic improvements in the history of the world.
The right to cast a vote, expressing your own personal desire, represents an enormous shift in the formation of society. It represents a quantum leap in the affairs of men since the beginning of time. You get a “Say.” You are given the absolute freedom to make your own personal declaration.
Americans, in particular, can’t seem to separate that from “the score.” We have somehow come to inscribe the Vince Lombardi Principle on our set of holy tablets. Winning is the “only” thing.
Well, winning is a good thing, especially for the winners, but increasingly it has, indeed, become the “only” thing in American politics. How an outcome is formed is less and less held to a high standard.
America has begun to embrace pandering and propaganda in place of principled campaigning. Appealing to the lowest common denominator in society has proven to be quite effective in “winning.”
As each standard is lowered further and further, they then become the accepted base for the next round of blight. It is a slippery slope, and once it becomes commonly used, it becomes extremely difficult to return to higher ground.
The right and privilege to cast a vote, however, cannot be sullied in the hands of an appreciative, honorable and reflective individual. It is unassailable, even though many toss it aside like a bothersome chore, or worse, prostitute it as an exchange of favors.
It exists by itself, alone and potentially untouched by follies all around it. It has a unique resilience, the ability to always return to a golden opportunity. It exists regardless of the voter, It’s a brick in the big house of Liberty.
Do we not value ourselves enough to grasp an opportunity to make our mark in history? A small mark, to be sure, but our own mark, unforced and hopefully well informed.
Casting a vote is an anointment - inseparable, perhaps from its effect, but a pronouncement that all men are intended to be free. Holding aloft that principal is pretty important you would hope.
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