Kaz and I have known Ellie Brown for many years.  Through St. Helen Church,  the Oracle Community Center, Sun Life Clinic, the Oracle Fire Department, Deb Breen's Zumba class - the list goes on and on.  This knowing helps explain why we along with so many others supported her run for Copper Corridor Justice of the Peace.  We believe she will do a great job in a position that is of critical importance to our town.
  Oracle is a community of quiet successes.  Most never attract much public attention.  And so it goes.  Until a crisis breaks out or a key political decision focuses the spotlight on one or another problem or local institution.
  The position of justice of the peace is pivotal because so many of the trials and tribulations, the family disputes, the acts of desperation and addiction - not to mention outright criminality - find their way to our local courthouse.
  In Oracle and places like it a mix of broad community experience along with deep family roots and relationships is foundational to sound judicial decision making - which is exactly what we can expect from Ellie in the coming years. 
  Congratulations, Judge!

  Oracle is a pretty good little walking town.  Lots of folks are up and about early these days to beat the heat and enjoy the landscape.  Some are quite disciplined - daily, twice daily, couples, groups, even step counters racking up big numbers. 
  For myself it's beauty of place, the company, the encounters with friends and (sometimes new) neighbors that makes the walkabouts so gratifying.

  When you think about it, it's a whole lot safer to meet strangers on the road than walking up a driveway and banging on the front door.  In that case you might be greeted by a cold stare leveled behind cold steel.  That happened in our neighborhood to a woman who thought she was approaching the right house hosting a baby shower.  Wrong. The experience left her shaken, even traumatised.
  Speaking of being traumatised, how would you react to encountering someone who looks like this? 

  I freaked out until Kaz assured me it was just our next door neighbor walking while netted.