Three fundraising events this weekend

WILLIAMS – This weekend a fashion show will be held at the Sultana Theater beginning at 6pm on Saturday. Habitat for Humanity and KZBX radio will be holding fundraisers.

On Friday October 10, Amanda’s Beauty Box and 66 Boutique will host a Runway Fashion Show at the Sultana Theater on Route 66. The show starts at 6pm and the cost is $10. The show includes appetizers and champagne and fun things to try. There will be a raffle for prizes. A DJ will provide music after the show. The proceeds benefit Williams Meant to Rescue. You may obtain tickets by contacting Amanda 635-3092, Jill 480-241-6958, or Robynn 635-4726.

From 6:30 to 9 p.m., Williams Habitat for Humanity will hold its annual Fall Opry Night Friday night. Music will be provided by the Williams Opry Band at the rodeo barn located across from the hardware store at the corner of Rodeo and Airport roads. The cost for the event is $6 for adults and $3 for seniors and children. The event includes a cake walk, door prizes, raffles, and valuable auction items.

On Saturday October 11, KZBX 92.1 will be holding a yard sale to help finance the operation of the not-for-profit station. The sale will be held at the First Baptist Church parking lot at 629 W. Grant Avenue across the street from the Safeway parking lot. The event will run from 8am to 3pm. Donations for the event may be dropped off on Friday October 10 from noon to 5pm.

Two big events on Wednesday

supermoonWILLIAMS – This Wednesday, October 8 two events happen in Williams.

Sky and Telescope reports:

We’re approaching the second of four total lunar eclipses that come at half-year intervals in 2014 and 2015: a lunar-eclipse tetrad. All four can be seen from at least parts of North America.

You can wake up at about 1:15 a.m. to witness the total lunar eclipse. The penumbral eclipse begins about 1:17. During this phase, you will dark shadow move across the moon. The total eclipse, in which the moon changes color, begins about 2:18 with the maximum eclipse occurring at 3:55.
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At 7 p.m. the Community United Methodist Church on Sherman Avenue and Second Street in Williams will sponsor an inspirational concert by The Steel Magnolias of San Marcos, Texas.

Coconino Astronomical Society star party tomorrow

You will not see this.WILLIAMS – The monthly Star Party sponsored by the Coconino Astronomical Society will be held tomorrow. The star gazing event will run from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the natural area across the street from Rod’s Steak House and the Laundry. Telescopes will be set up for everyone to enjoy, but you are welcome to bring your own and/or binoculars. They recommend a folding chair or blanket, as well.

Rotary selling tickets for Western Auction drawing

rotary-04WILLIAMS – The Williams Rotary Club has begun selling raffle tickets for cash prizes to be drawn at their Western Auction in October. The Rotary Club holds this annual event to support youth scholarships.

Tickets for the raffle are $20 each and only 1000 will be sold. The prizes are as follows:

  1. $5000 main prize
  2. $1000 second prize
  3. $500 third prize

In addition five $100 prizes will be awarded. The drawing will be held at the Rotary Western Auction on October 25. Tickets can be purchased from any Rotary member.

Camp Civitan holds guessing game

gumballs-01You could receive a $25 gift certificate if you can guess the number of gum balls in this jar. The Camp Civitan Thrift Trading Company is holding the competition at their store at 129 W. Route 66 in Williams. The store is next door to the Grand Canyon Coffee and Cafe. The entry fee is only $1.

You might also check out the new and gently used products available at the store which helps fund Camp Civitan which provides camping opportunities and activities for special needs people.

 


Friends of Williams Aquatic Center hold party

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Mike shows off his incredible snow cone making capability.

Mike shows off his incredible snow cone making capability.

WILLIAMS – The action this weekend was not limited to the activities on Route 66. The Friends of the Williams Aquatic Center hosted a Back-to-school free swim with free pizza and snow cones.

The pool will now only operate on Friday and Saturday until the end of the season on August 30. On that day, the Friends of the Williams Aquatic Center will host one last bash. They will accept any volunteer help from the community.

Their next big event after that is a two-person scramble Golf Tournament at the Elephant Rocks Golf Course September 13. The cost is $80 per player. Hole sponsorships are available at three levels.

  • Bronze – $100 includes Bronze level signage at a hole and recognition on their sponsor board
  • Silver – $300 includes Silver level signage at a hole and recognition on sponsor board and two golf registrations
  • Gold – $500 includes Gold level signage at a hole and recognition on the sponsor board plus 4 free golf registrations.

Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the activities of the Friends of the Williams Aquatic Center, an Arizona 501(c)3 public charity organization.
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(Here is a secret saving tip that only we and anyone who read the flier knows about. Register before September 1 and receive $5 off per registration)

You can contact Kris Vasquez to register at 938-863-2467.

Massachusetts police claim exemption from accountablity because they are a private organization.

15c6042cda9b852935c1d4959afe5ba5MASSACHUSETTS – Police militarization has reached an all-time low in Massachusetts. Not only are they armored and armed as well as any military unit in Afghanistan, they apparently now are not held accountable for their actions. The ACLU of Massachusetts claims a weakness in the Massachusetts public record laws.

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Recent tweet by ALCUM

According to articles from the Boston Globe and Washington Post, various police forces are combining into groups called law enforcement councils, or LECs.

According to Boston.Com, the ACLU requested certain records concerning the police organizations:

As part of an effort to document regional policing operations, the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Massachusetts (“ACLUM”) requested documents concerning NEMLEC’s SWAT Team and RRT in July 2012. The request sought NEMLEC’s training materials, incident reports, deployment statistics, guidelines, procurement records, budgets, agreements with other agencies and documents relating to the structure of the SWAT team and RRT.

The North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council, or NEMLEC, refused on the grounds that they are a private, non-profit 501(c)3 group that is not required to produce records for the public.

The Washington Post article stated:

Let’s be clear. These agencies oversee police activities. They employ cops who carry guns, wear badges, collect paychecks provided by taxpayers and have the power to detain, arrest, injure and kill. They operate SWAT teams, which conduct raids on private residences. And yet they say that because they’ve incorporated, they’re immune to Massachusetts open records laws. The state’s residents aren’t permitted to know how often the SWAT teams are used, what they’re used for, what sort of training they get or who they’re primarily used against.

In the 2005 ruling of Gonzales v. Castle Rock, the Supreme Court ruled that police are not Constitutionally obligated to protect you even to enforce a restraining order.

A follow-up tweet by the ACLUM concerning the militarization of Mass. police.

A follow-up tweet by the ACLUM concerning the militarization of Mass. police.


SEE ALSO: Our Homes are Not Battlefields

Save Meant-to-Rescue shelter sited.

SMTR-140517WILLIAMS – The Save Meant-to-Rescue organization (Facebook) has been working to build a holding shelter and is closer to its goal. A site on Frank Way has been selected for the new shelter.

SMTR will lease the property from the city. The facility will hold rescued and found animals until the animals receive a home. The shelter will only release animals to homes with well-fenced in yards after the animals are spade or neutered. They may add chipping at a future date.

Robynn Eckel said that the shelter building is stalled currently due to the water restrictions. They also lack about 1/8 of the funds required so donations are still being gratefully accepted. Donations can be made at various locations in Williams such as Addicted to Route 66 Deals and the Camp Civitan Thrift Store. Donations can also be made through their web site.

eight-dogs-playing-cardsYou can help add their required piece of eight this Friday. You can change your luck and the life of a dog on Friday the 13th by attending the annual Casino Night fundraiser at the Sultana from 7 pm to 10 pm.

Entry is $20. For the cost of entry you receive $500 worth of chips to play black jack, craps, Texas Hold ‘Em and more. There will be live country entertainment by Half Hitch. You can participate in a silent auction for prizes such as jewelry and a helicopter ride for two over the Grand Canyon. At the end of the night you can buy raffle tickets with your chips for other prizes.

Save Meant-to-Rescue is a non-profit organization and, as such, will continue to need donations after the shelter is built. You will be able to participate in fund raising activities throughout the year, such as their golf tournament.

Memorial Day services in Williams

 WILLIAMS – The flags at the Williams Own Veterans memorial hung at half-staff as they held a Memorial Day service at the cemetery with ceremonial-songs and testimony and a 21-gun salute.

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Perico Avila, Williams American Legion Cordova Post #13.

The ceremony was conducted by Perico Avila, Chaplain of the American Legion Cordova Post #13. Father Kilian of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church conducted a prayer service.

Army veteran Mike Rioux gave a speech detailing his return to active duty at age 49 and combat service in Afghanistan. Debbie, Pamelia and Beverly sang in honor of those who lost their lives in battle.

The ceremony ended with the honor guard giving the traditional a 21-gun salute and Lu Carle played taps.

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Weather good for weekend events until Saturday

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Photo – City of Flagstaff web site.

FLAGSTAFF, WILLIAMS – The National Weather Service long-range forecast shows mostly clear skies with cool temperatures for the heavenly viewing at the Glassburn Natural area across from the laundry and Rod’s Steak House on Railroad avenue. Everyone is welcome to come and take a peek through the telescopes set up by the Coconino Astronomical Society. The viewing starts at 7:30 and will end around 9:30.

Saturday there is a 10% chance of showers, but that is after 11 pm. Plenty of time to take the Art Walk sponsored by The Gallery in the Grand Canyon Hotel in downtown Williams. The walk along route 66 will begin at 6 pm and end at 9. Contact Kris or Tom Williams 928-635-3006 for more information.

The riders of the Queencreek Junior Rodeo might find it a bit wet on Sunday with a 20% chance of showers, but Saturday should be fine for the two day event. Saturday and Sunday the gates open at 8 am at the Bob Dean Rodeo grounds across the street from the Old Trails hardware store on Rodeo Road. The Queencreek Junior Rodeo Association is dedicated to providing a family environment in which children can obtain and develop basic rodeo skills. For more information contact Kelly Martin 928-899-2943 or visit www.qcjra.org

The chance of rain in Flagstaff on Sunday is 10% higher. The big event in Flagstaff, however, is their 12th annual Soar into Spring Kite Festival on Saturday. The event is free and open to the public from 11 am to 3 pm. The event is held at Foxglenn Park, 4200 Butler Avenue in Flagstaff. Most events are free, but there is a $3 wristband for certain rides, laser tag and other events.

There is always Marvelous Marv’s Private Grand Canyon Tour and the Bearizona Wildlife drive through park.

The forests are still open so hiking is available, but NO SMOKING is allowed in the forest due to dry conditions. In fact no smoking is technically allowed (except inside vehicles) at the Buckskinner park reservoir which is still open for fishing.

Also do not forget Sunday is Mother’s day. There are plenty of presents right here in Williams to get her. The Briar Patch provides flowers and gifts and the Route 66 Boutique just opened next door. Treats and Treasures has an assortment of candies and gifts, including coins for coin collectors, and features homemade ice cream. The Grand Canyon Coffee and Cafe, which just received an award from the Arizona Highways, will be open Sunday for breakfast and lunch. Pine Country and Rod’s Steak House will be open for Mother’s Day and on the east end of town is Twisters and Goldie’s Route 66 Diner.