Tag Archives: Seligman (AZ)

Nuggets

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Posted by on in collaborating, Community, impediments, Inner Struggles, Personal Values, Service Activities, Social, Spiritual, Striving

March 16, 2024-

Smoke is smoke, fire is fire. An explosion in a small town, affecting two or three families, can implode an entire community. A General Alarm fire, on the street of a large city, can generate headlines, and bring onlookers, even politicians, making promises, which may or may not go over with those of the stakeholders, who were not asked of their views, on cost and benefit, of recovery efforts, to the greater good. All tragedy, all mishap, decimates body and soul, whether one is directly affected, or only connected in passing. To the former, it’s as if a life is shattered, though only for a time. To the latter, it’s like a pebble in a shoe, but not so easily shaken loose. “No man is an island”.

So, I got up early, and went to the small town of Seligman, a ninety-minute drive to the northwest, and helped with a smoke detector installation project. Our team encountered a heavy smoker, who had no such devices in his house. He now has four. He was chastened, and grateful.

Smoke is smoke, fire is fire.

All Places Matter

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Posted by on in children, collaborating, Community, Historical, Inspiration, Personal Values, Service Activities, Social, Striving

May 1, 2023- The curious students watched us from a short distance, as the Logistics Lead and I worked with their school’s Maintenance Chief, to assess its readiness as a Red Cross shelter, should the need arise, particularly in the event of an active fire season.

Seligman is a small community, known best to Route 66 aficionados, for its small stretch of motels and restaurants-especially the former burger and soft ice cream establishment: Snow Cap, which Juan Delgadillo opened in 1953. His brother, Angel, ran a barbershop in town, as well. Since Juan died, in 2004, his family has kept the restaurant open. Angel has now retired, but still may be seen around town. There are also colourful cafes like the Roadrunner, Road Kill Cafe, and West Side Lilo’s, a diner. The latter is my favourite of the lot.

Red Cross is definitely concerned with having a shelter here, in the northwest corner of Yavapai County, because of its distance from the more populated areas of Prescott, Chino Valley and Williams, to the east and Kingman, to the west. There are two First Nations reservations, Hualapai and Havasupai, not far to the west of Seligman, and their residents would depend on a reliable shelter, in the event of fire or flood. To our relief, the school appears to meet the major criteria for such a purpose-with any adjustments for disabled residents fairly easy to provide.

We are coming to the collective realization that all places matter, in this shrinking world. The Delgadillo brothers put Seligman on the map and we will do our best to maintain the community’s awareness of its value.