Category Archives: Local News

Hermitage No Kill Cat Shelter Celebrates 48 years

Posted by on September 7, 2013 Comments Off on Hermitage No Kill Cat Shelter Celebrates 48 years

hermitage_logo

Founded in 1965 by a Russian Orthodox Nun, Sister Seraphim made a deal with God. She would care for any animal He put in her path as long as He provided the means. The Hermitage was the first no-kill, no-cage cat sanctuary in Arizona. [1]

In 1969, the shelter moved to its current location at 5278 E. 21st Street in a quiet residential neighbourhood, located just off of 22nd and Magnolia (near Thoroughbred Nissan.) The shelter is home to about 200 cats, including some permanent residents with special needs such as GI issues, allergies, or timidity. Some of the adoptable candidates include cats with FIV, and diabetes.

catwalk

The shelter has undergone major renovations under the leadership of the new executive director, Joe Sprague. The shelter now includes a new adoption area, fresh paint, a modernized computer network infrastructure, air conditioning, and cat walks though out the shelter.

The Hermitage will be hosting movie nites at the shelter, The first movie: Mama Mia (a sing along) on Thursday, September 12 starting at 6:30 pm. The cost is $5.

movies_cats

Dates            Movie

September 12     Mama Mia Sing A Long
September 21     The Birds
October 3        Muppets (Original)
October 18       That Darn Cat
November 2       ***Special Horror Night Oldies
                 but scary Start at 7pm goes till Midnight*** $10.00
November 7       Grease
November 15      Sci Fi Night
January 9        Big Fish
January 24       Breakfast at Tiffany's
February 7       Hairspray Sing a Long
February 20      Little Shop of Horrors    
 
A pass for $25.00 is available to view 6 movies of your choice!

How long?

Posted by on January 7, 2013 Comments Off on How long?
© Nick Anderson / Houston Chronicle

© Nick Anderson / Houston Chronicle

Gun control is a lightning rod for divisive politics and rhetoric.

On the eve of the 2nd anniversary of the Tucson shootings on January 8, 2011, one thing is abundantly clear: nothing has changed. This time around: mass slayings in Colorado and Connecticut.

People are still free to exercise their civil liberties and own, hunt, and sport shoot. What is also clear is that guns are still ending up in the hands of wrong people.

The lessons proffered from the Tucson shootings, have steadfastly been rejected. A few months ago in July 2012, a lone gunman killed 12 people, and injured 58, at a theater in Aurora, Colorado.

Just a few weeks before Christmas, 26 people were killed at an elementary school, in Newtown, Connecticut.

The slaughter of the innocent continues.

Those that advocate gun ownership as a civil liberty, balked when their names were published in a local newspaper. Why? It is okay to own a gun, but NOT okay to exercise first amendment rights of Freedom of the Press to print public information. Why?

The assault weapons ban sunset in 2004 allowed the sale, use, and importation of high capacity gun magazine clips. Why? I am of the opinion that if a hunter needs more then 3 shots to kill an animal, I am not sure if a high capacity magazine will help. Or is that these high capacity magazines exist for another reason other then hunting. I wonder?

What is needed is a clear definition of what constitutes an assault weapon. Requiring assault style weapons like the AR-15, to be ONLY at a range, would be a start.

Gun buy backs are another contentious issues. On the 2nd anniversary, Tucson will offer a gun buy back programme. Anyone can turn in a gun, and receive a gift card. Gun control advocates hail this as an attempt to deal with some of the issues. National Rifle Association Members incessantly decry this attempt as somehow removing their civil liberty to gun ownership. Why?

Recently I walked into a local grocery store. In the space of 20 minutes, 3 people carrying guns walked into the same store. I left my shopping cart where it was, and quickly walked out of the store. Why is it necessary to carry a handgun into a grocery store?

Better access to mental health is also a tantamount issue. Why is it easier to purchase a gun, then to access mental health care? Lack of access to mental health was a factor in the Tucson and Colorado shootings. It is unknown at this time, if this is an issue in the Connecticut shootings.

They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” (Rev 6:20/NIV)

Mc Donald’s Sticking it to Seniors in the Soda Wars

Posted by on August 17, 2012 Comments Off on Mc Donald’s Sticking it to Seniors in the Soda Wars
Mc Donald's Senior Soda Receipt, June, 2012

Mc Donald's Senior Soda Receipt, June, 2012

 

Seniors Love Discounts

Who doesn’t like getting a discount? Many seniors are aware Mc Donald’s offers discounted coffee and sodas to people, 55 and older. I frequent a local Mc Donald’s near my home to help break up my day.

In June of 2012, I paid 61 cents for a senior drink. Exactly 2 months later, same store, the price is now 76 cents. Almost a 25% increase.

What happened in 2 months? America’s love affair with sugar, just caught up. Corn is used to make something called HFCS. High Fructose Corn Syrup.It is used a a cheap sugar substitute, and is in nearly everything you buy, from bread to yogurt. It is virtually in-escapable. American’s are about to learn about Food Inflation 101.

What is driving the price of corn?

Two things have fueled the price of corn to recent stratospheric levels. The drought has caused almost a 50% corn crop failure this year, in the United States. Millions of acres of rich productive soil, are now very reminiscent of The Grapes of Wrath dust bowl conditions of the 1930’s.

The other issue is ethanol. Certain municipalities demand the use of ethanol to reduce hydro-carbon emission. Ethanol laced gasoline, while reducing hydro-carbon emissions, translates to less miles per gallon. It does make you wonder, about the sanity of turning food into fuel?

Today, 2 months later, the price of that senior soda, is more expensive.

Mc Donald's Senior Soda Receipt, August, 2012

 

Why target seniors?

The cost of that discounted senior soda, is almost 25% higher today, then just 2 months ago. Yet the soda prices on Mc Donald’s Dollar menu, remains at $1 dollar.

Why should seniors be unfairly targeted to help pay for America’s obesity epidemic? Simple. The price for senior sodas are “off menu.” They are NOT visible on the menu board. What is not seen, can easily be manipulated. So while seniors may enjoy getting a discount, they now have to dig deeper for that same soda.

Me? I won’t pay that price. Water is still free, right?

The demise of the “Dollar Menu” is imminent. It will be nothing more then a fond memory to many, as the fast food industry struggles to right itself from the latest blow to the bottom line.

Tucson says Yes to Civility

Posted by on September 14, 2011 Comments Off on Tucson says Yes to Civility

Amidst a backdrop of monsoon weather today in Tucson, it would seem that is NOT the only thing storming in the Old Pueblo.

A handful of protesters gathered at the busy intersection of Campbell and Speedway, (near the University of Arizona’s University Medical Centre) to protest the Pima County Republican Party’s decision to raffle a Glock handgun, similar to what accused Tucson Shooter Jared Loughner used on January 8, 2011. Loughner’s is accused of killing 6 people and injuring 13 others that day, including 8th CD, U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D).

Tucson Ward 6 City Councilman Steve Kozachik (R)

A surprise to many, was Ward 6 Tucson Councilman Steve Kozachik (R). Kozachik, himself a Republican, came out in support of the rally. He is the other side of the Republican party that does NOT agree with the raffle.

Protester Susan Thorpe

I interviewed Susan Thorpe, one of the protesters and she had this to say: “Raffling off a Glock as a fund raiser? I mean what an outrageous act to do. Why would you raffle off a Glock? Why would you choose to promote violence?” Calls to the Republican Party Headquarters in Tucson, remain un-answered.

Dave Croteu (manager) and Mary De Champ, Tucson Green Party Mayoral Candidate

Green Party Tucson Mayoral Candidate Mary De Camp was also present at today’s rally and had this to say: “I think the Green Party should auction off a gun safe. I respect the right of other people to bear arms, though I am a pacifist myself….we do have non-violence as one of our 10 key values.”

It would seem that no one in the Pima County Republican Party wants to own this. There is much conjecture and speculation, why this was done. Councilman Kozachik said: “Why not raffle off an ipad?” The already splintered Republican party, heads into the Novemeber elections, in just a few short weeks.