Marlborough Mesa

OCTOBER NEWS 2001

Nov 01, 2001

They Attacked America -They Attacked Me

by Julie Malmborg (Peralta)

September 11, 2001 is a day none of us will ever forget. Most of us were just waking up, ready to start a new day, when the horrible, horrible news started to break. I got a phone call from a friend in Seattle. She was scheduled to fly to Nashville later that morning and wanted to know if I would get on an airplane that day. ?“Why wouldn?’t I??” I asked. I soon found out why. During our conversation the second plane flew into the World Trade Center. Shortly thereafter, the third plane crashed, and then the fourth. Up until that point I had, what I considered to be, some major issues in my life. I didn?’t have enough outlets in my house, my hair was driving me crazy and I was considering getting it cut off, and, most importantly in my mind, my husband was having trouble picking up after himself. My thoughts quickly changed. I was just in the World Trade Center last summer. I was on the 107th floor eating one of the best dinners of my life at Windows On The World. Complete and utter disbelief began to set in. Was this all a dream? What was happening in America? How many more planes are going to be hijacked and crashed? My husband is an airline pilot. The majority of our friends are airline pilots. Terrorists are hijacking our airplanes and crashing them on our soil. No, I wouldn?’t get on an airplane today.

My husband has been saying for years that the security at airports is nothing more than a joke. I never thought much about it. I just assumed we were safe after going through security. After all, these people are trained, aren?’t they? It is their job to make sure nothing dangerous is taken beyond that point. Well on September 11, 2001 hijackers managed to crash four of our aircraft. They followed proper procedure prior to boarding the planes. They bought tickets, went through security, and got on the planes. As it turns out, they used knives and box openers as their weapons. Items that (up until that time) were perfectly legal to take through security and onto a plane. A passenger could take a knife on board as long as the blade was no more than four inches long. No security was breeched. They did what they were allowed to do. For that, thousands of people paid with their lives and our country paid with its heart.

My husband was home with us on the morning of September 11, 2001. A lot of our friends were out flying. One was over the middle of the Pacific Ocean flying home from Japan when they were put under the highest security/terrorist alert. They were told the United States had totally shut down all airspace and every airport. They weren?’t allowed to come home and they had very little information as to what was going on. After four days in Canada airports, the United States began to come alive again and they were able to fly back to Minneapolis.

Even though we were not ?“directly?” affected by what happened that day, we were. All of us were. Those evil people attacked America, our people and what we stand for. This tragic event has caused all of us to stop and think about what is really important in our lives. Does it matter that I don?’t have enough outlets in my house? Not really. As for my hair, I did get it cut. Something I have nothing but regret about. Does it matter? I suppose not. It will grow back. My husband still doesn?’t pick up after himself. Does that matter? Not anymore. My solution ?– leave it lying around and I will put it in the back of your truck.

What do we do now? We need to turn our thoughts to getting back to our lives. We need to remember all the innocent victims and their families. We need to continue to spend money and get our economy back on track. We need to get on airplanes and fly. We need to support the leaders of our country as they go after the people responsible. We need to remember we are Americans ?– we are strong. This tragic event may have shaken us, but it won?’t break us. It has been a wake up call. A much needed one. Most importantly, we need to pray. Pray for our leaders to make the right decisions, pray for the victims and their families and pray that God give us strength and wisdom in our daily lives ?– our lives that have been forever changed.



CLEAN SWEEP CONTAINERS

by Lolita and Bob Gates (Pampa)

The schedule for the Clean Sweep Containers is:

Debris must NOT extend above the top of any container!)

Schedule:
Oct. 1-4 Pecos, Portobello, 3000 Blk Spruce

Oct. 8-11 Plata, Mollera, 2900 Blk Spruce,
1100 Blk Obispo

Oct. 15-18 Olla, Emerson, Osage,
800 & 900 Blk Obispo

Oct. 22 -25 3100 Blk Spruce, 3100 Blk Wycliff,
Posada, Peralta, Pampa

ACCEPTABLE ITEMS: Wood, palm fronds, furniture, old toys, mattresses and box springs, tree branches, BBQ grills (no propane), general household items (no food waste).

UNACCEPTABLE ITEMS: Rock, dirt concrete, block, tile, construction materials, batteries, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, paint, tires, oil or any Hazardous Waste.

If you have any bulky items or appliances that need to be picked up, you can call the city at 480-644-2688 and they will schedule curbside pickup for a small fee.

If you are wondering WHY the dumpsters are never left over a weekend, it is because contractors and other neighborhoods begin misusing them.

Thanks for your cooperation,
Lolita and Bob
480-820-6909
904 W. Pampa Avenue
lolitagates@hotmail.com



1st SAFETY WALK IN MARLBOROUGH MESA

Obispo ?– Plata ?– Wycliff

This is a fresh new concept here - one that will "touch" each and every person ON these blocks. It is truly a "bringing-it-to-YOUR-home" type of an event. Thursday, Oct. 11 at 7 PM, residents on those streets will meet at the corner of Obispo and Emerson.

This is a ?“night walk?” to see how we are doing on preventing crime. A Police Department Representative will teach how to look at our property differently than we have before. Residents will distribute a flyer on those particular streets and everyone who lives there is being asked to go along on this walk.

If you cannot join in for the entire walk, go for a few homes around your own home to get the information the Police Department will be providing.

We will learn about how to guard against burglaries, have appropriate home and yard lighting and how to improve safety with landscaping as we walk down OUR street together.

If residents on other streets concerned about safety in our neighborhood would like to come and ?“check this out?” please join in.



SPIRIT OF MESA AWARDS

For those of you on email, you are already aware our neighborhood has won the ?“Neighborhood Excellence?” Award. Accepting the award on our behalf will be Ambassadors Becky Chvarak (Pampa) & Kevin Biesty (Peralta). In accepting this award, they will ask for ALL the residents of Marlborough to please stand ?– because this has been ALL of us working together that have earned it.

The conference will be on October 13, 2001 at 7:45 am-Noon at the Mesa Centennial Center, 201 N. Center St. This is FREE with a continental breakfast, awards and 4 diverse workshops (choose only 2). To register or find out more, please call 644-4067 or email: neighbor_info@ci.mesa.az.us before the conference. Seating is limited to 200 on a first-come basis.

NOW comes the HARD PART:

We will be receiving a monetary award between $200-300. The City would like us to spend this for the benefit of the entire neighborhood, whether it is for an activity or an improvement. They will be sending a ?“disposable?” camera for us to send back to them for promotional ideas in whatever event we should choose. PLEASE HELP! Ideas ARE NEEDED.

They have not indicated to me a time frame in which this is to be accomplished, but I am assuming that since the holidays are coming quickly, that it could be after those.



G.A.I.N. EVENT

?“Getting Arizona Involved in Neighborhoods?” will be held Saturday, October 20, 2001 from 5-9:00 pm. (Posada?’s will be 7:00-9:00 PM.) This was designed to encourage Neighborhood Watch programs and bring together communities for a common goal: to let criminals know that citizens are seriously UNITED in the fight against crime and drugs. This is a time to turn on your porch lights, go outside, and get to know your neighbors.

If you currently do not have a Neighborhood Watch on your street and would like to have those ?“Neighborhood Watch Signs?” installed on your street, why not begin now? Many other streets have done so. It takes only 2 functions per year and they can be anything you choose. You must have participation of 50% on just your block (i.e.900 blk.).

There will be some giveaways during your event. For instance if you will be having a party and McGruff happens to visit, he will have giveaways to make your party a success. To register for this event, call 644-3921 or 2300 by October 1.

The 1000-1100 block of Obispo had Rick and Ginger Richter as Block Leaders, but they have moved so the City is looking for their replacement. The signs are ALREADY up, as Rick and Ginger have taken care of this for years. This really takes so little of your time. Hopefully someone will come forth -- or even 2???



SANTA IS COMING TO THE PARK

by Michelle Kolar (Peralta)

As was mentioned in the last newsletter, Santa will be coming to the Park on the 15th of December for our 2nd Annual Marlborough Mesa Toy Drive. Last year was quite a success, yet we are striving for even participants as well as donations this year.

Santa will be in the park for a couple of hours ready to listen to Christmas Wishes & to Collect Toys for the Mesa Child Crisis Center. Something as simple as one toy can have such an impact on a child?’s Christmas. Once again, this is an opportunity to be reminding our Children how rewarding it is to GIVE, not just to receive.

There are already a handful of Santa?’s Helpers. Unwrapped toys will begin to be collected the 15th of November until Santa?’s visit in the Park December 15th from 10:00am to noon.

Please call 752.2044 if you are unable to make it to this event, as donations are welcome (or can be picked-up) at any time! We hope that you can help us in achieving this rewarding goal!



NOTES:

1.) With the holidays upon us, if you wish to include any special events for the Nov. or Dec. Newsletters, please get those to me early.
Deadline is the 20th of each of those months.

2.) WATCH for the Marlborough Directory

3.) Plan ahead ?– luminaries this year will be December 22. Seems we add a new street that joins in every year.

4.) I am getting a few returned emails, so if you have CHANGED your email, please don?’t forget to send it to: jnajones@cybertrails.com