Community Thanksgiving Dinner

Monday, October 24, 2011

The City of Mesquite Leisure Services Department will be hosting its annual “Community Thanksgiving Dinner” on Wednesday, November 23 from Noon to 6:00 p.m. at the Mesquite Community and Senior Center located at 102 W. Old Mill Road.

The annual dinner is a free event open to everyone. It’s not just for the needy or unfortunate. This event ensures that all members of the community, regardless of income, have a meal to enjoy with others on the holiday; that no one in Mesquite is hungry or alone,” “It’s an excellent way to come together to celebrate the fact that we live in a great community” said Griseyda Belalcazar, City of Mesquite Programs Coordinator. Last year the dinner served over 2000 people along with 330 meals delivered to homebound seniors.

The dinner is only made possible through the generosity of individuals, businesses, groups and clubs. If you, your business, or organization is interested in contributing time, money or product, or you have additional questions please contact Griseyda (gbelalcazar@mesquitenv.gov) or Krissy Thornton (kthornton@mesquitenv.gov) at 346-5290.

Volunteers are needed in the preparing for the meal, cooking and assisting in the kitchen during the day of the event, serving, homebound meals (drivers), cleaning up, and in providing entertainment. Volunteers must register prior to the event, no walk-ins will be allowed.

For more information on this and other programs please contact the Mesquite Leisure Services Department at (702) 346-8732 or The Mesquite Community/Senior Center (702) 346-5290. Register for youth and adult programs online at: www.mesquitenv.gov or at the Administrative Offices located at 100 W. Old Mill Road.

The Desert Tortoise

Like many desert creatures, desert tortoises spend most of their lives "holed up." In spring and summer, they roam grazing on grasses and wildflowers, then head for their burrows when it gets too hot. In fall and winter, when it is cold and there is not much to eat, they stay burrowed in for six months or more at a time.

If you see a desert tortoise, you are seeing an endangered species. Please watch out for them on the roads. Tortoises live in washes and valleys where the soil is soft enough for them to burrow into, yet stable enough so they do not collapse. Remember, desert tortoises are protected under the Endangered Species Act and may not be handled or removed.

Golf in the Desert

The city of Mesquite combines calm, small-town flavour with big-city attractions and championship golf. The Palms and the Oasis Golf Clubs are only two of the half-dozen challenging courses in the area.

Golf Highlights in Mesquite

Golf built on the dramatic Virgin Foothills of Nevada makes for a unique landscape and golf setting.
Enjoy a spa treatment at the Spa at Casablanca or the Spa at the Oasis.
Mesquite serves as a gateway to the national parks of Southern Utah and Zion National Park, which is less than two hours away.

View more information about golf courses in Mesquite

The Speedy RoadRunner

Called paisano in Mexico, the roadrunner is a well-known desert resident that only superficially resembles its popular cartoon portrayal. The greater roadrunner has adapted to life on the run. Though it can fly well, it prefers to use its strong legs and X- shaped toes to run rapidly over the desert landscape. Active predators, roadrunners aggressively chase insects, lizards, snakes, small birds and mammals.

Tolerant of humans, they sometimes nest in protected eaves and garages when they are not building large stick nests in desert trees. Their vocalizations include bill clicking noises and a mournful cooing made during breeding seasons. They do not meep-meep.