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Show PAGE 3 THE ZEPHYRMARCH 1994 could turn it into "Don's Church." I might even show up from time to time. Whether they seriously consider my proposal is doubtful But I suspect that someday the Falkes will return to the canyons, and whether it's two years from now or ten, there are a lot of feel for the direction they are trying to move? Still it's important that they be asked the questions that are on peoples' minds. So, beginning with this issue, we will interview members of both councils at the same time, two from each governing body. In addition. I'd like to introduce the concept of "citizen interviewer of the month." I am sometimes critidzed for not asking the right questions or for being too easy or too hard on a particular elected official. As a result, I thought it might be a good idea to invite interested members of the community who have concerns of their own to partidpate in the interviews and ask their own questions. The first such dtizen interviewer is g of Rim Cydery and a Robin Groff, Moab resident Robin and I go a few rounds every month on one issue after another; now he has the opportunity to cover the areas that he thinks I've missed. If anyone out there would like to get into the melee, call me and let me know what your concerns are. life-lon- er Pastor Don Falke, of Pineland, Texas. He is shown here with his saved dog Teton. Hiding just off camera is his charming wife, Judy. A couple weeks later, driving down the Oregon and northern California coast for the first time in 10 years, I got a grim taste of the future. Extravagant second homes, weekend retreats for wealthy Portlanders and San Franciscans, fill what were once coastal meadows and pasturelands. Every small town now sports a McDonald's and a Burger King. I stopped at a small diner south of Bannon, Oregon called the Humbug Cafe.' The man businesses. behind die griddle said that franchise restaurants were killing small family-owne- d This time of year, he said, I could very well be the only customer he'd serve all day. Still bis breakfast could put an Egg McMuffin to shame. Farther south, I anticipated my return to a lonely, windswept place called Point Arena. At the end of a winding three mile ride road stands the Point Arena Lighthouse; I've spent a few afternoons and nights along fills craggy stretch of ocean over the years and never encountered another living soul But as I approached the junction with the did road, something was obviously wrong. The turnoff was marked by a duster of red buildings...the Point Arena RV Campground and Restaurant And a large sign said, "Don't miss the Print Arena Lighthouse Museum & Gift Shop. Tours of file Lighthouse Daily." Since my last visit the Coast Guard had sold the lighthouse and now it was "open to the public. As I followed the narrow road, another set of signs caught my eye: "NO TRESPASSING..VIOLATORS WILL BE PROSECUTED. Signs like that are a sign of something else...too many people. Sure enough, when I reached file little turnaround in the road that was once blocked by a Coast Guard fence, it had been replaced by a ticket booth. The turnaround was full of cars, tourists like myself to be sure, but people who would have probably never thought to stop had they not been seduced by the possibility of gift shops and guided tours. In the next few minutes, several more cars arrived, looking for a place to park. Soon the highway department will be in there with graders and dozers to create more adequate parking facilities and to widen the road. I doubt if I'll ever return to file Point Arena Lighthouse. Now back in my own hometown, a quick ride down Main Street reveals a lot of changes. Whether they're good or bad is in the eyes of the behrider. But it is definitely different And it will continue to change. This year, we really want to look at what's happening to Moab, at what the changes really mean to fids community. Who benefits from this kind of growth? Who pays for the impacts that this kind of growth creates? Just what would a Grand County population of 15,000 look like in physical terms? What kinds of planning and zoning restrictions could help control growth and would the citizens of this county tolerate such restrictions? And I would like your thoughts and ideas. We welcome your comments, even when they suggest you'd like to tar and feather us. Remember, no matter what happens to Moab, no matter how strongly we disagree with each other, no matter how hot the rhetoric becomes, we're all destined to be hydrocarbons in some future geological formation, perhaps our greatest contribution to the planet And I don't think anyone has ever been able to discern a liberal hydrocarbon from a conservative hydrocarbon. Time will take care of everything. Organized chaos. Never does that expression mean more to me than every February when, the newspaper. Even now, as I type these words a week or after this long hiatus, I try to rt so before Press Day, it seems unlikely, even unimaginable, that on March 1, each page will be cartoons drawn, and ad copy set I'm getting complete, stories written, photographs dizzy just thinking about it. The problem with these winter breaks is that I do not come back rejuvenated, recharged and feel tired and energized. I come back slowly, reluctantly, and without much enthusiasm. I real a that this is fact great way to "make a indolent. I would complain if it wasn't for the very living." My first task when I get bade in town is to sort through the mail that has accumulated for a month at the post office. It is mostly fuel for the fire, except for all the gjossy catalogues that fill my P.O. box (I've heard they don't bum well). There are a few hostile letters (see Feedback) The writers and advertisers seem and a couple of pleasant ones as well to welcome me home. I about as excited at the prospect of a new issue as am, but ultimately, we find the groove and move forward. On alternating months with the interviews, I am going to bring back a feature that we did a couple of years ago called "What Does Moab Want?" One Friday afternoon a month, I hope to be able to set up a table in front of City Market and randomly pose the Question of the Month to residents (and maybe a tourist or two) brave enough to express an opinion. The Question of the Month will be determined by the flow of events in Grand County and what seems to be on everyone's minds. For instance, I have heard a lot of speculation around town about Moab's recent rapid growth, and just how big we could become before we got too big. What is an optimum population for Moab? I know what I think; what do you think? What else? While we have had our share of outstanding letters to the Zephyr, sometimes I am appalled at the lack of response to certain stories and issues we have tadded in the paper. I cannot believe you are that indifferent to the events that are occurring around us. So I have decided to bribe you, the readership, in an attempt to stimulate letters to the Feedback page. Beginning this month. I'd like to introduce the Letter of the Month Award. From all the contributions to the Feedback column, file publisher will choose what he believes to be the best letter submitted during the last four weeks. The author of that letter will receive a one year subscription to the Zephyr. If you already have a subscription, we will extend it a year. The decision I make will, of course, be subjective, arbitrary, even whimsical and is not open to debate or appeal. However, you don't have to agree with me to win. In fad, I had every intention of awarding this month's Letter of the Month to Ms. Rose Fryer, who submitted one of the most negative and hostile letters this publication has ever received. The damn thing was on fire when I opened it. However, a late entry by Ray Mathis of McHenry, Illinois nipped Ms. Fryer on the final turn. If at any time, Mr. Mathis is unable to fullfill his duties as Letter of the Month Winner, would go to Rose. Letter writers who send me their contributions however, the spoils on a disk (Word Perfect 5.1) will also receive my undying gratitude and a promise to return the disk when we're done with it. Letters generally need to reach me by the 20th of file month . (so-calle- Mostly, this newspaper is a Work in Progress, and that's all it can be really, in a community that seems to put on a new face each morning But these are some of the ideas we've developed to keep pace with the changes. If you have ideas of your own. I'd like to hear from you. It's three o'dock on the 28th ...we go to press in less than 18 hours. And while I've been trying to tie up this issue's loose ends, I spent most of the morning staring at the dock and waiting for the phone to ring My buddy (and Zephyr Food Editor) Willie Flocko, known in some circles around town as Bill Benge, underwent bypass surgery at St. Mary's Hospital this morning I'm happy to report that he came through the operation fine and is in the recovery room. From all of your pis, Willie...get well quick. I'm looking forward to your food review of St. Mary's Fine Cuisine. THE NEW FLOCKO Subscribe to the Write to: re-sta- The Zephyr F.O. Box 327 Moab, UT 84532 One year (11 issues)...$15 Two years (22 issues)...$28 Three years (33 issues)...$40 half-tone- d, This year I plan a return to the regular interviews with the City and County Councils on a basis. The sheer size of both governing bodies poses a logistics problem when it comes to interviews...with such a wide range erf opinions on both councils, how do we get a real Name Address. Renewal New Subscription, m |