Chris Rolando:

Have you ever watched a tourist in our area? Oh sure, they may be driving 14 MPH in a 40 MPH zone, causing even the best of us to grind our teeth and wish for a hood mounted laser cannon… but have you ever REALLY watched them? Every night when I come home from work, the sun is setting in the West. The mountains to the East of the city actually turn… well, purple… just like the song we all sang in grade school. Of course this also reminds me that in grade school we also sang London Bridge is Falling Down, but I digress.

I am from New York. My wife and I moved out here twenty years ago. When we first arrived I could not get over the fact that I lived somewhere with Palm Trees! Oh sure, the next door neighbor told me they were not indigenous to this area but I didn’t care; neither was I! I just loved the sound of a palm tree in the wind.

When we arrived here 20 years ago, we went to Oatman and watched the gun fights. We drove the mountain road to Kingman, and then spent some time looking at the old buildings in the downtown area. We went to Williams, up to the Grand Canyon Railway and the Lodge. We tubed down the river in Parker among a mass of people in tubes and floppy hats. We went to the casinos and enjoyed the shows and the food. Somewhere along the line, as the two decades past, we stopped noticing the mountains. We no longer heard the sound of the wind in the palms. We have not driven the mountain roads or touched the train in the park in Kingman in longer than we can remember. We drive to work the same way every day and we miss things that are right in front of us.

As the visitors creep around at their reduced speed, it serves to remind us to take a look around and enjoy everything this area has to offer. Maybe it’s time to go walk in the sand at Rotary Park, or go across the lake at sunset to watch the windows in Havasu turn orange all at once. As for me… I think I’ll go get some carrots and head to Oatman. There are some burros there that I have not seen in quite a while.

by Mike Aldridge

I wrapped up my first college degree in a tightly knit military college where virtually every moment was structured, monitored and evaluated by a superior. New Mexico Military Institute was nicknamed the “West Point of the West” and was the only school that offered an R.O.T.C. commission in the United States Army in two years. Most of my classmates chose NMMI because they were not accepted upon their initial application to one of the four prestigious military academies. A successful stint at NMMI almost guaranteed your acceptance to West Point, The Naval Academy, The Air Force Academy or The Coast Guard Academy. I worked hard and managed to get through the rigorous process and graduate Phi Thetta Kappa.

As I left Roswell, New Mexico that May afternoon in 1990 with my degree in hand, I decided that I would take a deep breath and relax and contemplate my next move. Most of my other friends and classmates were gearing up for another 4 years of disciplined study in mathematics, science, history, language and military tactics. I had no future in these areas as I had fulfilled my end of the bargain with my Father, which was “You graduate from NMMI and I’ll send you to any college in the nation”.

My brother Andy was studying at the University of Arizona and my folks had invested in a home in Tucson close to the campus. I decided to enroll at the U of A because rent was cheap and I had some scholarship money to offset the financial burdens that many college students endure. However, a rocky relationship with a girlfriend found me on the steps of Arizona State University within weeks. It was too late to enroll and I would have to wait until the next semester began.

So I began my quest for a Justice Degree at Arizona State. I was immediately overwhelmed by the size and populous of the institution. I had one class with over 400 students in it. I was also frustrated, because I had to take certain courses over for no other reason except NMMI and ASU were not on the same page, when it came to the transfer of credits back then. I took an extra year to graduate, as I went to work for Senator John McCain on his 1992 Senatorial campaign, which was an education in itself. Two decades later, I would have never thought that Arizona State University would be opening a campus in my hometown of Lake Havasu City, nor would I be serving on their Alumni Board. Last month, Dr. Michael Crow was the Keynote Speaker at the ASU dinner held in Lake Havasu City. If you had the opportunity to attend, you realized that Dr. Crow is not just an academic; he is a visionary, with a very specific plan. If you attended ASU prior to Dr. Crow becoming President, you will realize how incredible ASU has become in terms of academic excellence, and why it’s one of the top ranked universities in the world in several areas of study. Specifically, Dr. Crow in no uncertain terms, summed up his commitment to the Lake Havasu City campus with the simple phrase, “We’re in!”

Recently, we had our installation dinner for the ASU Western Arizona Chapter Alumni Board. During the dinner, Interim President Jerry Clark reminded us of the new challenge that we have in the next couple of months which is to raise the necessary funds for the beautification of the new Lake Havasu campus. He made it clear that the immediate challenge of the Alumni Board is to meet our benchmark of raising a minimum of $75,000 to purchase trees and benches for the campus. During these tough economic times, it seems as if someone is knocking on the door every single day, asking us to support this cause or this charity. Like all charities or organizations, we must pick and choose which ones to support, as most of us are on a budget. With that said, it’s important that we think of the tremendous boost and benefit that a world class campus will bring to our community.

So I plead to you today to think not just about the immediate use of a donation to the tree program, which is to further develop the beauty and infrastructure of our new campus, but to think of it as a long-term investment in the very community that you call home, and the strengthening of our up and coming leaders of tomorrow. With as little as $150, you can have your name or loved one’s name placed on a plaque that will honor your commitment to our campus for a lifetime. If my brother, Dr. Andrew Aldridge, who went to U of A willing to write a check, it’s not because he’s no longer loyal to his Alma Matter. No, it’s much bigger than that. It’s because it’s an investment in his hometown that he grew up in, and his way of giving back to the community that he so dearly loves. Please join us in making what many of us thought was only a dream, become a reality, by purchasing a tree in you or your loved one’s name. The Time is Now and I thank you for your support.

• If you would like to donate to the Arizona State University Tree program, please make your check out to ASU Foundation/LHC Tree Program. You can drop your check off at Aldridge Insurance Services, 349 S. Lake Havasu Ave., Suite 104 in Lake Havasu City, or mail your check to: ASU Alumni Association, P.O. Box 873702, Tempe, AZ 85287-3702.

Lake Havasu’s Western Arizona Humane Society
by Charene Burdett

The Humane Society, which opened in 1954, is one of the largest, most effective organizations in the United States. And, one of its most successful sheltering companions is Lake Havasu’s Western Arizona Humane Society. There are many organizations out there; however, Western Arizona Humane Society (WAHS) is definitely making a difference in animal rescuing and animal population control. I had the pleasure of meeting up with Victoria Cowper, WAHS’s Executive Director and CEO of Wags to Riches, on the progress and benefits of this organization and how it affects our community.

For thirty years, WAHS has served Lake Havasu City. They work with companies like SNIP that spay and neuter cats and dogs for low income families and disabled persons. Taking the initiative and partnering up with big corporations like PETCO and PetSmart in adopting out healthy cats and dogs for our public—they truly are making a grand effort in saving lives. Moreover, WAHS makes it their mission in reaching out to the community by doing off-site adoptions. Last month, through Lake Havasu City’s Yogurt Time, seven happy and healthy dogs were adopted. With an 85% live release rate of dogs and cats combined; one can see this organization is making leaps and bounds.

Along with adoptions and off-site adoptions, Victoria Cowper and Chelsea Cappello work together building WAHS’s amazing website, www.westernarizonahumane.org, which makes it easy for potential clients to view pictures and read stories on each rescued animal. And, with the help of a phenomenal staff, clients are able to visit and get to know their new pets before they take them home. The WAHS contracts with BRAT (Behavioral Retention Adoption Training). Volunteers come in daily and play, train and work with animals on-site. In addition, WAHS is dedicated to educating our children through Critter Camp (on-site summer classes) which teaches children the values and responsibilities in animal care; and, Reading with Rover, at Starline Elementary, which teaches children confidence and literacy through reading to dogs. This newly renovated facility is open to you for personal or private reasons concerning your companion animal—if you have to surrender your dog or cat, healthy or sick, no animal is turned away.

There is a system of hierarchy which perpetuates the view as animals being a commodity or disposable. Mahatma Gandhi once spoke, “The greatness of society and its moral progress can be judged by the way it treats its animals.” And, who does this better than Lake Havasu’s Western Arizona Humane Society; who literally takes in the strays of our world and gives them a home. They clean up our mess and fight for animal welfare everyday by saving lives. For, when you choose to adopt and/or volunteer your time to Lake Havasu’s Western Arizona Humane Society, you are adding yourself to greatest of those who serve, “the underdog”.

As a person with a well grounded understanding of economics, it concerns me to read an economic story which is intentionally misleading or harmful to the future of our country. I believe this happens because much of the media is not well schooled in economics which makes them victims of politicians who foist erroneous liberal ideas. A perfect example is the local positive media coverage of the mandatory hike in the Arizona minimum wage. Superficially, politicians see this as a quick method to get votes of the young and the ignorant. However, with just five minutes of research, any journalist can find reams of evidence that hiking the minimum wage does severe damage to the same people the politicians pretend to help.

I recall one of the first actions of the newly elected Pelosi/Reid Congress in early 2007. They bragged about how their actions to raise the national minimum wage will help Americans secure a “living wage”, while others were trying to deny workers their “rights” to higher pay. The actual result? The unemployment rate among minority, uneducated, and young workers are now at record highs, with no end in sight. The new Congress intentionally ignored all the research on their desks which proved they were harming their own voters.

For example: From the Joint Economic Committee, US Congress 1996: “The voices clamoring for a minimum wage hike are getting ever louder. Proponents argue that the current wage level does not provide an adequate incentive for work. Also, they argue that an increase in the minimum wage will have only a very minor impact on jobs. These arguments are not grounded in fact. The impact of raising the minimum wage has been studied since its inception. All credible research has come to the same conclusion: raising the minimum wage hurts the poor. It takes away jobs, keeps people on welfare, and encourages high-school students to drop out. Policy makers should be clear on the consequence of higher minimum wages.

It is a political measure that plays to a misunderstanding of the impact of higher minimum wages. The future of the American economy depends on a correct understanding of the causes of prosperity. For too long, attempts to relieve poverty have been misguided. Raising the minimum wage is a wrong-headed solution that will deprive young, poor Americans of an opportunity to improve their economic situation.” This above Congressional report was from sources including the American Economic Review, National Bureau of Economic Research: Cambridge, MA, 1995.

For something even more recent and more local, this is from ASU, 2009: “[My students are] always surprised when I tell them that the minimum wage hurts them,” says Boyes, a W. P. Carey professor of economics who explores the minimum wage in class. “They always say something like, ‘Oh thank God for the minimum wage — I just wish it was $20-anhour so I could get more money.’ And I have to tell them, ‘No, if it was $20-an-hour, you wouldn’t have more money. Because you wouldn’t have a job.'”

Economists rarely agree on anything, Boyes said, but when it comes to the federal minimum wage, there is near-unanimous agreement that these wage floors stunt growth, hamper businesses’ ability to compete and, maybe most importantly, make it more difficult for low-wage, lows killed workers (most especially teenagers) to find entry-level jobs. Yet despite the fact that nearly all the evidence suggests that it is a drag on the economy and a burden on American workers, the minimum wage has survived in this country (and many other Western nations) for decades. The reason is simple, says Boyes: Politics.” Once again, if journalists genuinely worked to keep our politicians more honest, we’d all be better off.

We all know of the recent uproar over building the new skate park in the grass bowl at Rotary Park. That was put to a dead stop by the seniors in Lake Havasu once again trying to stop progress in turning our city into a thriving tourist community. I don’t understand what their problem is sometimes; this town has always been a popular tourist site! We at multiple points had MTV down here filming our channel because of how much fun people had and for some reason they could not handle it. It started with the regulating of the channel, and is now at stopping the skate park in Rotary Park and the dirt track out at Sara Park. When will they wake up and realize this town is going to blow up with or without them. The moving in of the college, the new bridge in Kingman going to Las Vegas, it is happening all around you. This economy is too hard right now for you to be holding back progress. I understand you are on fixed incomes, well some of us should be so lucky to get a guaranteed pay check! We need the money back in this town and that means to bring it here so quit fighting tooth and nail against it. I can’t believe I have to say this to people at you age but grow up!

– Anonymous Youth In Havasu

Chris Rolando: Every time you turn around there seems to be another reason to buy a gift. If you are like the majority of people out there, these gifts end up coming from China. Now no slight at all to China, or people who sell things manufactured there, but if you live along the River, aside from a lot of plasticware from Sterilite, there SEEMS to be darn few things made here thus, by default, our dollars head across the Pacific. But for a moment, lets open our eyes a bit wider and look around at what IS manufactured here. (If you are on any gift list of mine, stop reading here or you will spoil the surprise for 2012). What can you give as a gift that is from here? Here are just a few ideas and I hope you will add to the list:

• We all see the lake, but how many people ever get on it? You’d be surprised. A one day boat rental makes an incredible gift.
• How many people would not love to have someone else clean the windows on their house? Imagine how happy they would be when someone shows up to do just that.
• When was the last time your family had a portrait sitting? Amazing how fast things change, but a gift certificate for a new family portrait would make a great gift.
• A few tons of rock for the front or back yard? Seriously, who couldn’t use a few more rocks to spread around?
• There are so many great restaurants in this area. Wouldn’t anyone appreciate a gift certificate for a night out!
• Who does not like having their car cleaned or detailed for them? A gift certificate to a car wash or auto detailer makes a great gift.
• Know someone who likes to sit by the fire in their back yard? Ever thought of having some firewood delivered?

Wow, I guess there ARE a lot of things manufactured right here and available for all of to to choose from as gifts. Kinda gives a whole new angle to Shop local doesn’t it? Got more ideas for this
list? Leave em for everyone by going to Twounce.com!

My Dad always taught me that you could often judge a person’s character on how they reacted during difficult times. It’s no secret that this current economy has been the most challenging for many of us within our lifetime. Most of us who are self-employed find ourselves working twice as hard for a lot less money. Many people have had to let their homes go back to the banks and default on their financial obligations for no other reason than there is no business out there to sustain their households. Unemployment is hovering around 10% and if you factor in part-time jobs and the inability to find new work, the actual number is closer to 16%. Our government did a great job of bailing out banks and corporations at the taxpayer’s expense, but has done little to nothing in helping out the small business owner. With an impotent Congress and incompetent President, the consensus is that we’ll have to live through these times for at least another year to see what happens after the next election. For many, it’s simply a matter of hanging on. And just when you think things are really bad, you realize that despite tough economic times, we still live in Disneyland.

Last month, I was reminded of how fortunate we are when I made my annual trip to the dusty border town of San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico with the Lake Havasu High School’s Interact club and a handful of International Rotarians. The purpose of the trip was to feed and clothe over 800 men, women and children. Like most worthy causes in life, there’s generally one person behind the scenes who leads these efforts. In this case, it’s a man who I have come to admire and respect for his endless deeds of service to help those less fortunate. A man I have come to know as Bob Moreno.

I first met Bob at his annual Rotary Fish-Fry Fundraiser held at Shugrues’ about four years ago to raise money to help those less fortunate. I was amazed to find out how many tickets were sold at this event and the endless lines of people who gathered for a great meal and incredible cause. I also found out that the fish was personally caught by Bob Moreno and his wife Betty, in the northern Pacific, and prepared by Bob and a group of volunteers. In the little time that I observed Bob Moreno at my first fish-fry fundraiser, I knew that our paths had crossed for a reason and that I was going to get to know this man better.

Bob Moreno was born in Long Beach, California 72 years ago. His family moved to San Francisco where Bob began working in his family’s restaurant at the age of 7. Upon graduating high school, Bob joined the United States Marine Corps where he flew Huey helicopters in the Vietnam War. After the war, he became a successful businessman in many different trades.

Bob came from a tight-knit family and had the good fortune of being raised by two loving parents, who taught him their family heritage, culture and respective languages. He became multi-lingual which not only served him well in business, but in his tireless efforts to spread his humanitarianism across international borders.

Bob Moreno has had an amazing life and at the age of 72, you would think he would be slowing down. But with his vigor and zest, you quickly realize that he’s just beginning. Bob’s working life spans over 6 decades as he’s been a restaurateur, a U.S. Marine and combat veteran, Police Officer, International Flight Captain (767), Private Investigator, Outdoorsman, Civil Engineer, Developer, Counselor, Rotarian, Catholic Deacon, Husband and Father. But more importantly than his impressive resume is the love and generosity in which Bob has given back to his fellow human beings.Lake Havasu City is proud to call Bob one of their own and I’m proud to know that it’s people like Bob that make our world a better place.

A message from The Board of Directors and the CEO of the Western Arizona Humane Society

One of the greatest aspects of animal welfare is the compassion we see from our volunteer, staff and donors. There have been a multitude of conversations, allegations and opinions regarding the operating functions of the Western Arizona Humane Society (WAHS). Unfortunately, along with these issues, there is misinformation that is being disseminated as facts. WAHS Board of Directors and dedicated staff continue to provide compassionate exceptional care for the animals in our community. Thank you to the many supporters and donors that have met with us to clarify the issues and continue, through their spirit of generosity, provide necessary resources for our shelter guests.

Why don’t you just have a fundraiser and put in Air Conditioning in the kennels?

Our adoption kennels are over 30 years old, and the stray building over 20 years old. Neither of these facilities were designed to accommodate an HVAC system. How we provide air flow for health concerns is different for dogs, cats and humans. All of our cat areas have specialized air systems that provide specific criteria and reduce the possibility of cross contamination. Our dog kennels are indoor/outdoor kennels that provide air flow that minimizes potential group housing diseases. We also provide swamp cooling in the summer months, and the interior of kennels is approximately 30 degrees cooler than the outside temperature.  We have completed an extensive engineering evaluation from Design Learned, who are the experts in remediation of shelter facilities. The evaluation addresses many of the shortcomings of the existing facility compared to current design parameters for group housing. Based on these recommendations and evaluations we are actively in the design specification stage to determine actual costs and benefits to providing HVAC to both buildings.

What do you mean by “actual costs and benefits”?

For example, we are currently “maxed” on electric availability at our current 200 amp service. We would need to upgrade to a 600 amp/3 phase service to accommodate major renovations. Insulated kennel doors with flaps are $425 per unit and we would need 45 units. We also are working with Unisource to determine what the usage fees would be based on peak periods of demand. At the same time, we are analyzing what the return would be if we made such a major investment. How many degrees difference would we achieve by installing this system, and what extra precautions do we need to implement for overall animal health.

What do you do for the dogs in the winter when it is cold and windy?

Each kennel is designed with indoor/outdoor space. The outdoor space is protected with a 5 foot brick wall and wind screens on the chain link above that. Each dog gets fresh blankets daily (that’s why we appreciate all of the blanket donations), a raised platform bed, and sweaters and/or t-shirts for the short hair dogs more susceptible to winter temperatures. We do temperature reading 3 times a day, and our animal care technicians are with the animals from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm for observation. Although some dogs “shake” that is not always an indication of their being cold. Some small breeds, predominately Chi’s shake regardless of temperature.

These are just a few of issues that continue to come to light, although we have provided information, documentation and reports. (www. westernarizonahumane.org) We encourage you, as the public, if you have specific question, we will be happy to address your concerns. We are simply the caretakers and voice for those that can not speak for themselves.