Spring in San Juan: Sun, Snow, Rain, Wind, and Tourists!
News Affecting the West
~~ Broken Arm Slows Down Newsletter.On Feb. 18, while moving boxes, I missed the bottom step and fell, breaking my right arm, upper humerus. A week ago I finally healed enough that I could use my keyboard again, but I'm not back to normal. Hence the lack of a Bear Essentials newsletter for over a month. We are also in the process of selling our home, and moving to a smaller property, so things have been very hectic. There are things still happening in the county. Hope you are subscribing to the San Juan Record and staying informed. Other state and national news outlets may not have the "full" story.
~~ San Juan Record
~~Culture Displacement and Appropriation Impacts Bluff
~~ Catch up on the Canyon Zephyr
-- Mellor Willie Co-founder of 7 Gen Leaders Political Pac
~~ Catch up on Bill Keshlear's MONUMENTAL DIVIDE
~~ Blanding Continues to Pull Together in Crisis
Despite what outside sources may promote in the media, Blanding has for several years encouraged a cooperative approach to solving problems thanks to social media. For example, a few weeks ago, our visiting son and family, lost a little lamb. A Navajo worker on his way home happened to notice it, and seeing it had a collar, picked up the friendly little critter, and when he got home called the police.
About that same time our family noticed that Jacob was missing, and everyone joined in a search party to find the little lost lamb. I posted the info on several Facebook sites, and within minutes a neighbor let us know that the police had it. In less than an hour, the friendly wandering lamb was back home. That's how networking happens in Blanding. People keep track of their neighbors, and help out and even when you don't know them, you do the right thing. That's what this young man did.
Here is a list of local Facebook Groups which also help our community to function and help to unite all cultures, races, ages. Monticello has similar social media groups as well. Many are open to the general public, others require a request to join.
1. Both Blanding Calendar and Blanding Bulletin are set up to help notify citizens of events happening in the community.
2. Probably Blanding's 24/7 Yard Sale has united more people than any other site. You'll find yourself buying and selling to folks you never knew before and new connections and friendships are initiated. Just today (3/27/2020) this site sent out a notice that " Sara Lee and Packard Wholesale have donated about 700 loaves of bread, bagels and buns" They were gone in 2 hrs...so it pays to pay attention.
3. Good News Blanding has over 1000 members and is designed to promote those things of good report. There's too much negativity in the world and in some people brains, so the site is designed to combat that. Guidelines state: This Group is for sharing Good News happening in and around Blanding or accomplishments far and near of those with Blanding ties.
Post should be items that are timeless. Please DO NOT post items that should go on a calendar/ tryouts/ auditions/ADS, etc. It is not about memes, political views, or advertising, or debate and complaints.
This site is about being cheerleaders for good in the world and recognizing those events, people, and successes as we celebrate together.
4. One of the newest groups to emerge because of the Contra Virus impact, is Blanding Stone Soup. Just started a few weeks ago, there are already over 400 people committed to helping their neighbors. Started by a savvy social worker. The premise of the group is this:
"Stone soup is one of my favorite children's fables
It's about a village that was in the middle of a horrible famine. Everyone was hoarding and hiding the food that they had but it wasn't enough and they were all starving.
One day a man got a big pot and put it on a fire in the town square. He filled it with water and placed a stone from the river in it.
When he was asked what he was making he said stone soup and invited people to have some when it was ready.
One by one the villagers donated something they had hidden away that may make the soup even better. One had an onion, one a carrot, one a cabbage, one a piece of roast.... till the pot was completely full. They learned that by sharing what they had, they all had more and no one was hungry.
My sister had this great idea that got me thinking, none of us have everything but we all have something. Maybe you can babysit for someone who has to work, maybe you can pick up someone's groceries so an at risk person doesn't have to go in pubic or maybe you have extra goods that you aren't going to use or some knowledge that could help someone. This is the place to give as well as ask for help. This is a place for friends and neighbors to check in.
There are a few rules though:
No asking for money allowed. (as in "please pay my rent". Also this is not a selling group. You Can offer to pay for something that you are looking for and Trades are encouraged.)
No politics
No fighting
No judging
No spreading panic
No exceptions!
Jokes, songs, uplifting quotes or memes and all kinds of support and compassion are welcome and encouraged.
Please invite your local friends who should be here and who have the same spirit of community and pulling together.
Both the Edge of the Cedars Museum, and the Wilcox family at 300 W. 100 S. have Free libraries where you can pick up books to read. (There are also lots of books on our corner and other things that people have discarded, which are free for the taking. )
It's about a village that was in the middle of a horrible famine. Everyone was hoarding and hiding the food that they had but it wasn't enough and they were all starving.
One day a man got a big pot and put it on a fire in the town square. He filled it with water and placed a stone from the river in it.
When he was asked what he was making he said stone soup and invited people to have some when it was ready.
One by one the villagers donated something they had hidden away that may make the soup even better. One had an onion, one a carrot, one a cabbage, one a piece of roast.... till the pot was completely full. They learned that by sharing what they had, they all had more and no one was hungry.
My sister had this great idea that got me thinking, none of us have everything but we all have something. Maybe you can babysit for someone who has to work, maybe you can pick up someone's groceries so an at risk person doesn't have to go in pubic or maybe you have extra goods that you aren't going to use or some knowledge that could help someone. This is the place to give as well as ask for help. This is a place for friends and neighbors to check in.
There are a few rules though:
No asking for money allowed. (as in "please pay my rent". Also this is not a selling group. You Can offer to pay for something that you are looking for and Trades are encouraged.)
No politics
No fighting
No judging
No spreading panic
No exceptions!
Jokes, songs, uplifting quotes or memes and all kinds of support and compassion are welcome and encouraged.
Please invite your local friends who should be here and who have the same spirit of community and pulling together.
5. There are also lots of specialty groups and clubs in Blanding like the Blanding Book Group (which is self quarantined until further notice...however, a few have posted reviews of books on site. I'll focus on more of those next time.
Both the Edge of the Cedars Museum, and the Wilcox family at 300 W. 100 S. have Free libraries where you can pick up books to read. (There are also lots of books on our corner and other things that people have discarded, which are free for the taking. )~~ Leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Encourages all to Fast this Sunday With Offerings to Bless Others Worldwide.
~~ First Case of Covid- 19 in San Juan County confirmed 3/27/2020
~~ Corona Virus Cases on the Navajo Reservation
~~ Now is Not a Good Time For Tourists to Visit Bears Ears
Ironic that Josh Ewing is the source of this article.
