Covering all of Santa Cruz County, AZ

Opinion

The good, the bad and the ugly in Nogi

Tuesday, December 25, 2007 8:37 PM PST

Coscorrones y Abrazos

By Marcelino Varona Jr.

COSCORRONES to U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) chairman of the National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee. He has introduced HR 3287. The Tumacacori Highland Wilderness Act of 2007 creates a new wilderness area where a major illegal immigration traffic area and drug-smuggling pathway exists. Grijalva has also introduced HR 2593 "The Borderlands Conservation and Security Act of 2007." When you read the fine print, the purpose is to handcuff the Border Patrol on all federal lands, especially along a 150-mile stretch along the Arizona-Mexico border. The bill even blocks the building of a fence along the border. Now would be the time for our city and county governments to put their lobbyist/consultants to work to protect our borders.

ABRAZOS to all the good people of Nogales who will give the Gift of Life by registering as an organ donor. There are numerous individuals who are on a waiting list for organs such as a kidney, liver, pancreas, heart, and lungs. If you would like more information, go to www. AZDonorRegistry.org or call Donor Network of Arizona at 1(800) 94-DONOR. Make a Difference.

COSCORRONES to all of you who will not eat healthy during the holidays. A suggestion would be to "Power Up on Produce." According to Runners World magazine, these produce picks offer you a ton of performance-boosting and disease-fighting nutrients, along with very few calories: butternut squash, oranges, strawberries, red onion, bananas, leafy salad greens, frozen broccoli and cauliflower mix, cantaloupe, red skin potatoes, and frozen stir-fry vegetable pack. A combination of healthy food, exercise and an annual visit to your doctor will keep you on track to enjoy your family and friends.

ABRAZOS to the Desert Shadows Middle School Student Council for its leadership training where members are asked to "Pay It Forward." This means they are to perform an act of kindness and ask others to do the same so the kindness has a ripple effect for families, schools, and community. Council members practice the "flight of the geese," with an emphasis on the importance of helping each other. So if one member falls, they see it as their duty to help until he/she is ready to rejoin the flock. The students may not change the world, but they understand that a small act of kindness can go a long way.

COSCORRONES to all of you who have not contributed to the Arizona Extracurricular Tax Credit. These funds are used for extracurricular activities, field trips, and before and after school programs. NUSD Chief Financial Officer Karlita Soto indicates that the district has only collected approximately $11,000 for this year. Individual taxpayers can donate up to $200 to public schools, and married couples can donate a maximum of $400 if filing a joint tax return. Remember, Dec. 31 is the last day for giving.

ABRAZOS to all of our veterans. There are many young men and women who will not be able to share this holiday season with their families in defense of freedom and democracy. Our community has all of you in our thoughts and prayers. We especially want you to know that we support Chairman Gary W. Fredricks, of the Unified Arizona Veterans, letter to Gov. Janet Napolitano in which he states "Our specific concern is with any reductions that may be imposed upon the budget of the Arizona Department of Veteran's Services." There may be a shortfall in our state budget, but there will not be a shortfall in support of our veterans.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: "Don't forget to buckle up."