Columns

It was a puzzling phone call earlier this week; the lady was asking why more people will not be allowed to attend Prescott-area high school football games.

“Have a Happy Day!” Have you laid this admonition on anyone lately?

The proposed Stringfield Ranch annexation is providing a crystal-ball look into the future, one that has results I think few desire.

Two years ago, Arizona Eco Development’s proposed Granite Dells subdivision awakened a sleeping giant — the public — caught off guard by an unbelievably disastrous proposal. From widespread community concern arose our grassroots volunteer group, Save the Dells.

For much, if not all, of my adult life, I have avoided the annual fall campaign calling for everyone living under the sun to get a flu vaccine like the plague itself. No, I am not an anti-vaxxer, and no, I’m not denying the vaccine from entering my body because of a religious belief of some sort. Admittedly, I just never felt it was necessary.

This column will address some issues that are seldom contemplated today. Who gives generations names? Why?

In the weeks since the Prescott City Council and City Manager Michael Lamar announced their plans for the $5.1 million in CARES Act funds that the city has received through the state, there have been several letters to the editor suggesting that the funds could be better utilized meeting the current needs of citizens negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joe Vadala’s question was heartbreaking in every way imaginable.

I’ve worked during my life to develop a reliable vocabulary. Don’t know why, particularly, but it was kind of fun adding an obscure word to my verbal arsenal even if I rarely used it. I have at last reached a point in my tenure that I can understand most of what I hear but less and less of what I see on TV each night, but that’s another issue.

The story is told of Samuel Shapira, a distinguished rabbi who lived in the Polish village of Prochnik in the 1930s. Rabbi Shapira was in the habit of taking long walks into the countryside each morning. Throughout his life, the rabbi tried to be loving and compassionate. He made it a point to greet everyone he met with a kind “hello,” “good morning” or “good evening.”

Lots of people in politics and the media out here in California are blaming global warming for the 26 major wildfires that have killed at least 24, burned more than 3 million acres and destroyed thousands of homes. But let’s get real.

Relax. This is not a column on the efficacy of wearing masks. Who has the energy anymore?

When I first moved to Prescott, I was tempted to think I’d found a lovely, out-of-the-way corner of the world that larger problems couldn’t infiltrate.

San Francisco residents will vote on a measure in November to allow teenagers as young as 16 to vote in local elections.

Imagine you’re sitting there at home deciding who to vote for on your mail-in ballot, and you see State Senator District 1 has Karen Fann, R-Prescott, and “Gilbert” Carillo, D-Fort McDowell, as candidates.

Politicians shut down businesses because of COVID-19. But the rules don’t apply to everyone. In San Francisco, gyms were forced to close, but government gyms stayed open.

One of my favorite Jim Carrey movies of all time is “Liar Liar.”

“Devil or Angel, I can’t make up my mind which one you are,” so says the 1961 record release by Bobbie Vee. This is an appropriate title for some interesting information related to the colorful history of our area, namely the story of the “Ladies of Easy Virtue” of Olde West Prescott.

Arizona businesses continue to be affected by the economic impact of COVID-19. Particularly hard-hit are those individuals whose business is the ownership and management of rental homes throughout the state.

Friends around Prescott anticipate the election because we think things will suddenly change. Not as fast as we think. Following are reasons why it’s going to be a dangerous year. But since so much commentary, including my own, tends to be dark these days, I promise to try to find a lighter topic sometime before the election, news at all permitting.

As we are “everybody’s hometown,” Prescott Peacebuilders invites all of Prescott to join in commemorating the International Day of Peace, Sept. 21, established in 1981 by the United Nations to honor our aspirations toward a peaceful and sustainable world.

Am I in Hell, or just L.A.? The other day it was 121 degrees here. There’s so much smoke in the air from all the wildfires the sun looks like the moon. Everything’s closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In American law, criminal negligence is conduct in which a person ignores a known or obvious risk, or disregards the lives and safety of others.

Two constants: Citizens seemingly mean well, in calling for meaningful change. Government’s frontline, policing, is unable to meet expectations or gain satisfactory ratings in the communities they serve.

What were you doing the night of Saturday, March 19, 1977?