Desert Messenger, Quartzsite, AZ
From the Publisher of Quartzsite's FREE Community Paper - Quartzsite news, events and entertainment published 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, Sept. thru May.
Thursday, June 24, 2021
Tuesday, November 3, 2020
La Paz County Unofficial General Election Results
November 3, 2020 As of 10:30 p.m.
ELECTION NIGHT SUMMARY
(Late Earlies and Provisional Ballots still need to be counted)
Registered voters: 10,909
Ballots cast 6,722
Voter turnout 61.62%
District 1 Supervisor
David Plunkett, (R): 1,426; 74.90 %
D.L. Wilson, write-in: 137; 7.20 %
Other write-ins: 341; 14.76 %
District 2 Supervisor
Duce Minor (R): 2,344; 98.03 %
Write-ins: 47; 1.97%
District 3 Supervisor
Holly Irwin (R): 1,301; 97%
Write-ins 32; 2.40%
County Sheriff
William Ponce, (R): 4,454; 68.70%
Felipe Rodriguez (D): 1,180; 18.20%
Mike Roth (I): 822; 12.68%
Write-Ins 27; 27; 0.42%
County Recorder
Richard Garcia, (R): 4,388; 68.22%
Mesena Tunnell-Gilbert, (D): 2,033; 31.61%
Write-Ins: 11; 0.17%
Town of Quartzsite Council Member
Karey Amon: 421; 49.47%
Dennis Vosper: 411; 48.30%
Write-Ins: 19; 2.23%
Board Member, Quartzsite School District (2 seats)
Michael Clowser White 461; 24.38%
Kathy Thevenin: 546; 28.87%
Kelly Simpson: 772; 40.82%
Pamela Keelin, Write-In: 23; 1.22%
Other write-ins: 89; 4.71%
Monday, June 24, 2019
Remembering Paul Winer, Quartzsite's Naked Bookseller
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Memorial for Paul Winer will be held
1:00 pm SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24th, 2019
at Quartzsite Improvement Association (QIA)
Published in Desert Messenger, May 15, 2019
By Mark Goldberg
In coming to Quartzsite as a visitor, I had stopped in and browsed at Reader’s Oasis Books on several occasions over the years. In 2007, we moved to Quartzsite, and I went to the store to find some books on Quartzsite history. I introduced myself to Paul Winer, and we struck up a conversation. My first impression (visual) was that he reminded me of the mummified “Tollund Man” I had seen in Denmark who was found in a peat bog, tanned and “preserved.” He had a wealth of information in his eclectic store; and, he was a wealth of local information. We struck up a conversation and became great friends over time. I attended many of his concerts and worked with him on banners, graphics and other projects. I was always amazed at his good health. Over the last year, Paul reluctantly made his first visit to a hospital in his entire life. It has been a downhill slide from there with health complications and red tape. Paul was not able to overcome the barrage of health issues which befell him and we have lost a community icon.
The Early Days
Paul Winer was born on December 9, 1943, to Jack and Celia Winer. His small stature, shyness, “lack of hunk appeal,” and being Jewish made him somewhat of a loner. He graduated from Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont; and was the Poet in Residence at Mark Hopkins College in Brattleboro, Vermont. He taught poetics and writing and was one of the youngest members of the Vermont Poetry Society. Paul owned and operated an 1875-style store, the “Vermont Stovepipe Press” where he published works of poetry, books, and more.
“When I was eleven-years old [1954], I saw Fats Domino [in Lynn, Massachusetts] in one of his legendary one-night stands. I decided then, that’s what I wanted to be – a piano thumper.”
The Birth of Sweet Pie
Paul was a self-taught musician. He wrote most of the music and lyrics he performed with titles like, “Hello Celia,” “Bulldog Boogie,” “Nothing Nowhere Blues,” and, “Please Remember Your Love For Me.” Paul’s first musical/theatrical performance was in a small bar in Vermont, where he convinced the owner to rent him a piano and let him perform. He wore a long tunic and started playing the piano. Mid-performance, he threw off the tunic and started playing naked. The owner got mad, threw him out, and shot at him. Paul called the police and they suggested that he leave town within 24 hours. He left town.
This was the start of Paul’s boogie-woogie and blues cabaret show, and career as “Sweet Pie.” The name was derived from, “Sweet: 1.- pleasure to the taste; 2. Pleasure to the mind or feelings; agreeable, gratifying.” “Pie: a dessert.” He played to over 1.5 million people throughout the east coast and Canada in the early days. Being the first male stripper to publicly perform, he met with much resistance regarding obscenity and local blue laws. Over the years, Paul was the subject of 68 lawsuits and a Federal precedent-setting case. He won all of the cases. The Federal court case was Winer v Vermont. It was about freedom of speech. In Paul’s words, “My case opened up the male exotic industry…I was the first.” “I never decided to be a nudist.” “My skin is hypersensitive, and I hate the feeling of clothing rubbing on my body.”
“Nudist is what people chose to call me. It wasn’t a choice; it was who I was…” “Naked is just the way I’m dressed.”
Joanne & Celia
Joanne was reeling from a past divorce, and her girlfriends decided to take her to a strip show on her birthday to lift her spirits. They went to the Sweet Pie show in Canada. Following the show, Paul joined the girls at their table and was smitten with Joanne. He sat on her lap and had a conversation. Joann later says that she looked past what he did for a living, and was impressed with his eloquence, poetry, and that he was a college graduate. They were married in 1984, and toured together in a 24-foot travel trailer. Joanne did not have success in getting pregnant, and had given up when they were “surprised” with the birth of their daughter, Celia on March 28, 1986.
Celia was born after only 23 ½ weeks, weighing only 1.25 pounds and 12” long. She was Canada’s smallest surviving baby in both birth weight and gestation. Celia grew, slowly, into a fine young girl, a straight-A student. She was artistic, and toured with the family. She was interested in everything; particularly animals and the environment. Celia was susceptible to colds and was getting to be of school age. Paul said, “I didn’t want my daughter growing up in a trailer behind hotels and next to dumpsters.”
Paul gave up performing to find a location with Joanne, suitable to Celia’s health conditions and providing school opportunities. They ended up in Quartzsite in 1991. With $35 dollars in their pocket and a small trailer, they started by learning “swapping” at The Main Event in a 10’ x 20’ tent, selling t-shirts, cards for truckers and RVers, and selling two boxes of Danielle Steele books given to him by his mother. It was a whole new learning experience in the school of hard knocks. Over a few years, they gained experience in bartering and selling books. Also, Paul’s mother and father would glean yard sales in the Phoenix Area and bring them boxes of books. After several ramshackle sites on Main Street, Horizon Community Bank offered them their first loan in Quartzsite, to construct a bookstore, Reader’s Oasis Books at 690 E. Main Street.
Although active at school and in the community, Celia passed away suddenly on October 25, 1994 from a viral heart infection. Paul and Joanne were devastated, but decided, “The town was so good to us; we stayed, because this is where people knew her.”
In October, 1995, Joanne and Paul received the blessings of the Town of Quartzsite and the Bureau of Land Management to construct Celia’s Rainbow Garden in Town Park off Plymouth Road, north of Town Hall, to commemorate Celia and her love of nature.
The Rebirth of the Blues
Having stopped performing in order to provide a home for Celia; Paul’s music career “slept.” Paul focused his attention to family and the bookstore. He was able to be comfortable in the bookstore saying, “The bookstore shelters a lifestyle. I can’t live in most places on an everyday basis.”
Paul’s life changed dramatically on August 10, 2010. Paul received a telephone call from a group which was staging a Salisbury Beach Reunion, his old stomping grounds in Massachusetts. They said they wanted him to perform his Sweet Pie Show, and they would provide airfare, hotel, transportation, and a piano if he would attend. Paul jumped at the opportunity - his dream of becoming a Fats Domino had always been present. Paul spent weeks re-learning all of his songs and practicing on the piano; his music having been mostly dormant for the past 20+ years. He boarded the airplane to the reunion…his first airplane ride. At the venue, he was greeted by hundreds of fans. The theme from Rocky, was playing as he entered to a 15-minute standing ovation. Paul said, “I was flying – never had my ‘self’ been so ‘rekindled.’ Paul’s musical career was reborn.
Upon returning to Quartzsite, Paul made big plans for performances, local and back east. After another jaunt back east, Paul decided that his home in Quartzsite was his best venue. On October 23, 2010, Paul was asked to perform at the “Nostalgics Car Club” special dinner and entertainment in Quechan Park, Blythe, CA. It was his first major local performance. He was joined by washtub bass player Ralph Martin, who played most concerts with Paul as his sidekick and accompanist.
Many local performances followed over the next 10 years, punctuated by Annual Fundraising Shows at the Quartzsite Improvement Association (QIA) where Paul typically played to sold-out crowds of his loyal fans. There were two particularly memorable shows at the QIA. The first was on January 12, 2011; “An Evening with Paul Winer and His Friends.” After his success back east, Paul assembled a group of his musical friends including: Ralph Martin, Jerry Mullins of “Barefoot and Boots,” and Sonja and Norm in a new group, “Skyhawk.” Paul and his friends played to an appreciative, sellout crowd of 760 people (admission was a $5 donation.) Anker Rasmussen, of QIA, noted, “The evening was the most successful single-evening musical event in the history of the QIA!”
At Paul’s request, I picked up Paul’s parents Jack and Celia in Phoenix, and brought them to the show. Paul and his father were estranged due to Paul’s lifestyle, for over thirty years. His father didn’t mind that he performed naked, or played ribald songs…as an act; but that, he should have a “normal lifestyle” after performing. They had somewhat reconciled following Celia’s passing; however, his father and mother had never seen Paul perform until that evening. Paul sang a special song to his father called, “I Love My Dad.” There wasn’t a “dry eye in the house.” It was a great evening for all.
The second memorable show was Paul’s last performance at QIA on February 16, 2019. Paul was in ill health, and made a superhuman effort to perform his songs and cajole with the audience. It was evident that he was in poor health; yet, his loyal fans were excited to see him perform, and rallied him to continue.
Epilog
Paul and Joanne have spent their entire time living in Quartzsite promoting the Town of Quartzsite, the Bookstore, Paul’s career, and Celia’s Rainbow Garden. People and media have come from all over the world to see, interview, or film “the Naked Bookstore Guy.” There are news articles and references about Paul and Reader’s Oasis Bookstore in hundreds of publications, television, novels, movies, DVDs, CDs, books, YouTube Videos (professional and amateur), Social Media and more. Joanne has volunteered thousands of hours at the Quartzsite Business Chamber of Commerce, the Quartzsite Community Thrift Store. She has consistently published articles on Paul and has been promoting the Town of Quartzsite in local and regional newspapers, Visitor Guides, and lots more. They both have spent countless hours selflessly donating their time and talents to raise funds for a wide variety of community causes. Most people have no idea that the team of Paul and Joanne have always been Quartzsite’s most consistent and effective promoters, pro bono.
Paul said in many interviews, “I wanted to be Fats Domino when I was a kid. I lived my dream as Sweet Pie for 25 years, and I’m going to live the rest of the dream – and that is to continue it for a lifetime until I die doin’ it on stage.”
Paul Winer, 1943-2019
[Editor’s Note: A memorial is being planned for 1:00 pm SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24th, 2019. A fundraiser has been set up at https://www.facebook.com/donate/378968652827266/608346602963370/.
A Memorial CD of the Paul’s final concert at QIA is now available for purchase at Reader's Oasis Bookstore. Folks are also encouraged to join the new Facebook Group called “Paul Winer Memorial.” Feel free to share your photos, memories, and ideas for a memorial project honoring the legacy of Paul Winer.]
Monday, January 7, 2019
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BLM KIOSK at La Posa North LTVA |
QUARTZSITE, AZ
CAMPING DURING GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
The government issued a partial shutdown on December 22, 2018. The BLM has approximately 9,260 employees and furloughed approximately 6,930 employees. According to BLM Contingency Plan published on their website: “Public lands will, in most cases, remain accessible to the public but most services will not be available during a shutdown. Some areas are accessible, however access may change without notice, and there may be no BLM-provided services.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdT6RBmHfEY
Saturday, October 13, 2018
Buck Connors Western Days Nov. 9-11, 2018
Time to Get your Yee Haw on!
Quartzsite, Arizona ~ November 9, 10, 11, 2018.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2018
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2018
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2018 VETERANS DAY
Friday, November 3, 2017
What you need to know about coyotes
It is generally not normal for coyotes to attack or pursue humans; it is a learned
response to human feeding
or indifference.
Are Coyotes Dangerous?
On rare occasions, human-fed coyotes have bitten people. Although naturally curious, coyotes are usually timid animals that run away if challenged. Coyotes can be a risk to people once they become comfortable around humans, usually as a result of feeding or indifference. When this occurs, coyotes lose their natural fear and learn to see humans, their yards and their pets as food sources and safe havens. You must aggressively discourage coyotes from feeling comfortable around you and your family by never intentionally feeding coyotes, eliminating attractants (food sources, including pet food) from your yard, using aggressive gestures toward coyotes when you see them, and encouraging your neighbors to do the same.
Coyotes are wild canines that are clever and opportunistic. They are well adapted to living in cities, suburbs, rural towns and agricultural areas. When developments are built in their habitat, coyotes are not permanently displaced. Some move on to other areas, but many simply adjust to their new environment. Coyotes can be seen at golf courses, parks, preserves and in many neighborhoods — maybe even yours!
Coyote Traits and Behaviors
• Coyotes live throughout Arizona and in every state except Hawaii. Their range has expanded with the human removal of their predators, such as the wolf. • They weigh 15-30 pounds. Females are slightly smaller than males. • Coyotes eat whatever is available, including seeds, dates and other fruit, dead animals, rodents, rabbits, garbage, pet food, house cats and small dogs. • They breed every year. They have two to 12 pups per litter, with an average of six. Pups are raised in a den. • Coyotes may be seen in groups, called packs, or alone. • Removing coyotes from one area generally results in other coyotes moving in from surrounding areas and breeding faster.
What Should I Do If a Coyote Approaches Me?
Remember, the human is dominant and must act that way. Here are some things to remember: • Never approach a coyote. • Show you are dominant by keeping eye contact with the animal. • Yell or make loud noises with whistles, blare music, or bang on pots and pans. • Encourage coyotes to leave by spraying with a hose, throwing sticks or rocks near them, or shaking a can filled with pennies or pebbles. • Don’t stimulate a coyote’s chase instinct by running. • Pick up small pets. • Protect small children so they won’t panic and run.
How Can I Keep My Pet Safe?
Pets most likely to be endangered by coyotes are typically off-leash or smaller than 25 pounds. Coyotes have taken cats and small dogs in the vicinity of their owners and occasionally right off the leash. Coyotes have also been reported to attack larger dogs when the coyotes are in groups, or after one or two have lured a dog away from its owner.
Here are suggestions for keeping your dog or cat safe:
• Supervise small pets at all times when outside. • Allow pets off-leash only in enclosed areas. If your dog is off-leash, be sure it has immediate recall response to prevent conflicts with coyotes and other wildlife. • Take steps to keep coyotes out of your yard • If you see a coyote when walking your dog, let the coyote know you are there. Either gather your dog in your arms or keep it as close to you as possible, while also using some of the deterrents described above. Move toward an area of human activity. • Keep cats indoors or in a secure outdoor enclosure to protect them from coyotes, other wildlife (owls, hawks, etc.) and also from cars, domestic dogs and disease
How Can I Discourage Coyotes from Entering My Backyard?
If there is a regular coyote food source in one yard on your block, then coyotes will be active throughout the neighborhood. All potential food sources must be removed to keep the coyotes from becoming dangerously comfortable around humans. An indifferent attitude toward a coyote in your yard has the same effect as feeding it. If a coyote is in your yard, you need to make the animal aware it is not welcome. Here are some things you can do: • Do not feed wildlife. • Store garbage inside or in wildlife-proof containers. • Place trash containers outside at the last possible time on day of pickup. • Feed pets inside or remove uneaten pet food between feedings. • Keep pets indoors or on a leash. When outside, keep pets in a secure enclosure with a roof or supervise at all times. • Supervise small children. • Trim back plants and bushes around the house to prevent hiding or resting places. • Install outdoor lighting. • Reduce a coyote’s ability to get over a fence or wall by building it at least 6 feet tall, burying the bottom a few inches underground, and installing barbed wire, electric wire, or a pipe that spins around a wire on the top.
You can also make a “coyote shaker,” which is a soft drink can filled with washers, pebbles or pennies, wrapped in foil and taped closed. Shake the can to scare away coyotes. The combination of the light reflecting on the foil, the noise and the aggressive gesture of shaking it provides several deterrents. • Spray coyotes with water from a garden hose or large squirt gun filled with diluted ammonia (10% ammonia and 90% water).
What About Rabies? Coyotes can be rabid. However, the Arizona Department of Health Service’s records show an extremely low occurrence of rabid coyotes in the state.
For more information on living with urban wildlife, see the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Living with Wildlife webpage at www.azgfd.gov/urbanwildlife or call the Department at: Flagstaff (928) 774-5045 Pinetop (928) 367-4281 Kingman (928) 692-7700 Tucson (520) 628-5376 Mesa (480) 981-9400 Yuma (928) 342-0091 Phoenix (602) 942-3000
Sunday, October 1, 2017
Quartzsite Camping
BLM Rules
1. Permit Requirements and Fees
2. Displaying the Permit
3. Permit Transfers
4. Permit Revocation
5. Unoccupied Camping Units
6. Parking
7. Removal of Wheels and Campers
8. Quiet Hours
9. Noise
10. Access
11. Structures and Landscaping
- a. Fixed fences, dog runs, storage units, windbreaks, and other such structures are prohibited. Temporary structures of these types must conform to posted policies.
- b. Do not alter the natural landscape by painting rocks or defacing or damaging any natural or archaeological feature.
12. Livestock
13. Pets
14. Cultural Resources
15. Trash
16. Dumping
17. Self-Contained Vehicles
- a. In Pilot Knob, Midland, Tamarisk, and Hot Springs LTVAs, you may camp only in self-contained camping units. The La Posa, Imperial Dam, and Mule Mountain LTVAs are restricted to self-contained camping units, except within 500 feet of a vault or rest room.
- b. Self-contained camping units must have a permanent, affixed waste water holding tank of 10-gallon minimum capacity. BLM does not consider port-a-potty systems, systems that utilize portable holding tanks, or permanent holding tanks of less than 10-gallon capacity, to be self-contained.
18. Campfires
19. Wood Collection
20. Speed Limit
21. Off-Highway Vehicle Use
22. Vehicle Use
23. Firearms
24. Vending Permits
25. Aircraft Use
26. Perimeter Camping
27. Hot Spring Spa and Day Use Area
28. Mule Mountain LTVA
29. Imperial Dam and La Posa LTVAs
30. La Posa LTVA
31. Posted Rules
32. Other Laws
33. Campsite Maintenance
34. Length of Stay
35. Penalties
Check out the Visitor Guide online at http://VisitQuartzsite.info