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Show THE ZEPHYR JANFEB 90 PAGE 2 and I am rotten and so there aint nothing more to write about,book I wouldn t a glad of it, tackled It knowed what a trouble It was to make a If page two because Id and I aint agoing to no more. But I reckon 8 me and slvilize me and If cant of the rest, because Aunt Sally shes going to aaopt stand IL I been there before." Mark Twain Jim Stiles understand now, Mf. Twain. This Is the January Issues thats being assembled and printed In the two weeks before Christmas. And now, as prescribed and planned, the "staff and management" of The Canyon Country Zephyr (all 2 of a February Issue, but will us) are going to take a break. We wont be printing to embrace the 1990s. return In March, hopefully rejuvenated and ready Its and success The acceptance by the Zephyrs It has been quite a year. has been amazing and the across country community as well as canyon lovers ten was That 1988. Issues and 316 gratifying. It started as an Idea In November, and the and Involved It participation support of dozens has required pages ago. over 450 subscribers, and about 2000 and dozens of local businesses, writers, readers. The Zephyrs goal was to provide balanced Information to S.E. Utah and a forum for a variety of Ideas and philosophies. Its been partially successful, but a town as diverse as Moab needs a greater diversity of expressed thought I went to a Western Association of Land Users meeting the other night, not to write a story really, but to attempt to understand the concerns of those who oppose wilderness. There was a lot of anger and hostility, and a feeling that against overwhelming odds, their backs were against the walls. It sounded Just like a meeting of environmentalists. Equally Intransigent, fearful of the other. Nobody wants to communicate. There has been no real search for common ground. I Maybe there Js no common ground, but doubt IL Its there somewhere, and ultimately that Is what this paper Is all about If 1 ever start to drift from that premise, I hope someone will have the good sense to give me a swift kick. I Leonardo da Vinci was a great artist, Inventor and a genius. Sarah Bernhardt was a great actress. Alexander Hamilton was the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. What does this diverse group of people have in common? Their parents were not married when they were born. To use the antiquated vernacular, they are "Illegitimate. If they were born In Moab, and If their birthdays fell close to the first of the year, all of them would be disqualified from the First Baby Of The Year Contest, sponsored by almost two dozen Moab merchants. Each year, these sponsors award a variety of presents to the baby and the parents of the newborn. But the contest rules are explicit The fine print reads: "Vanning Baby must be legitimate." Why should the baby be penalized? Many of the gifts are directly for the newborn, such as a case of baby formula, savings accounts, a newborn outfit, baby It doesn't seem right to moccasins, disposable diapers and personalized me that the baby should be penalized for the action, right or wrong, of the parents. Im by no means trying to condone "Illicit. sex" or condemn the Institution of marriage. Broken homes and the strain and sfyess of single parent families are apparent to us all. The results are often tragic and heartbreaking. But doesn't a new mother without a husband already have an enormous responsibility to bear alone? On top of everything else, does she have to be told that her baby has been "disqualified?" Faced with raising the child alone, who needs at least some of these prizes more than she? I wish the their position and take another hard look sponsors could at the rules. If they dont want to award the prizes Intended strictly for the mother and father, that's their prerogative. But to deny the prizes Intended specifically for the baby Is unfair. If It happens again this year (It has occurred In the past) and the baby Is disqualified, The Zephyr and a group of local merchants Including: Pack Creek Ranch, Main SL Broiler, Moab Mercantile, Hogan Trading Co., Dave's Corner Market, Four Corners Design, Rim Cyclery, The Movies and Moab will match the prizes Intended for the baby. This Is the time of Community Co-- op year for compassion and generosity, not narrowmindedness. T-sh- irts. . re-eval- uate , There Just Isnt room to thank everyone who has made this first year so rewarding, but I would like to at least mention a few. Foremost Is production manager, Trish West Although our politics clash on a regular basis, and although I know Trish has wanted to strangle me for my "liberal environmentalist" viewpoint, this paper would be lost without her. She can even Interpret my longhand scrawl, Please the next time the laser printer which Is absolutely Incredible. But Trish acts up- - lust dont tell me. I know youll figure It out without me.. If youll remember, I dont even know how to type. Id also like to thank Louise Claus and John West for the use of the aforementioned laser printer. Willie Flocko, for the use of his EPSON Equity I, and for being the everloving big brother I never had or wanted, Marge Fleenor, who only mildly tortures me when I race In to the Printing Place at 8 a.m. on Monday morning and actually have the nerve to say: "Really, this Is the last piece of ad copy I need typeset," and pressman Larry Hauser of Cortez News, an artist and craftsman, who takes meticulous care In printing The Zephvr. You guys are great. . , 9 . t t As we approach the Winter Solstice, and Christmas and the New Year, It can be a very reflective and poignant time for many of us. The "Holiday Season" can be bittersweet But remember, the days will soon be getting longer; Spring comes early to Moab, and In a couple of months, warm days will return, and spirits will rise. Uke the song says: "Youve got to laugh a little Cry a little Before the clouds roll by a little. Im off on a little adventure next week: a train trip to the Siberian East, and then by plane and boat to someplace called Caye Caulker. Take care everybody. Ill see you next year. I know no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion. Thomas Jefferson THE CANYON COUNTRY ZEPHYR P.O.BOX 327 MOAB, UTAH 84532 (801)259-777- 3 JIM STILES, PUBLISHER Trish West production manager contributing writers Craig Bigler, Lance Christie, G.C.H.S. Students, Judy Prosser, John Sensenbrenner, Ken Sleight Jason Krause SUBSCRIBE NOW an annual subscription is only $12.00 The Canyon Country Zephyr is a monthly newspaper, published eleven times a year at Moab, Utah. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of its vendors, advertisers, or even at times of its publishers. : 1989 The Canyon Country Zephyr all rights reserved h. J- THE CANYON COUNTRY name ! address s r : .j- - ', - 44 I' r.r- P.O.BOX 327 - MOAB, UTAH 84532 yy - v |