Humor & Entertainment By now, you’ve probably seen that most of our beloved community events have been canceled. It’s such a bummer, but what’s been an even bigger bummer is seeing the people complain and talk badly about the organization or volunteers who put these events together, and the fact that they decided to cancel. Did you know the majority of our community events are planned, hosted, organized and run by volunteers, and that these events typically benefit nonprofit organizations? Crazy, right? These volunteers spend their own personal time away from their families and jobs to plan fun events for our community, which directly benefit these nonprofit organizations that are working hard to make our community better. So, yes, be sad you can’t attend, but please realize these nonprofit organizations rely heavily on these events to raise money for their programs, so I promise you, they’re way sadder than you are. Please also consider that these events don’t appear out of thin air, it takes months and months, sometimes even a year or more, to plan and organize a large, community-wide, successful event, and most of this planning should have begun, or was halted,
PONCA CITYʼS DOWNTOWN STREETS by Patrick Jordan
ACROSS 1. Crying droplet 5. Sheep's sounds 9. Slightly foggy 14. Rod between wheels 15. Recommend strongly 16. Famed trick shooter Oakley 17. Past the deadline 18. Lender's property claim 19. Calls a halt to 20. With "The," spinoff series of "Family Guy" (2 wds.) 23. Gain popularity on Twitter 24. Airport screening grp. 25. Thurs. follower 28. Scooby-___ (cartoon Great Dane) 30. More dignified 33. Pocket bread 37. Elegant keyboard instrument (2 wds.) 40. Gladiator's fighting place 42. Tavern order, at times 43. Coin in many an arcade 44. Cooling feature in a home (2 wds.) 47. Imitates Betsy Ross 48. Object with a distinct existence 49. Fall behind 51. The Little Mermaid's home 52. Mouse sighter's scream 55. Annual state and county events 59. Slightly reddish hair color (2 wds.) 64. Not as healthy-looking 66. Detest 67. Inspired thought 68. Performance with 6-Downs 69. "Can you ___ forgive me?"
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Ooze through a crack Mexican money Smaller amount Gets around like a bunny
DOWN 1. Bath powder source 2. Hold in high regard 3. Change for a better fit 4. Christopher of "Superman" fame 5. Sturdy, short-haired canine 6. Soprano's song 7. Insurance or real estate seller 8. Puts in the mail 9. Alan Alda series 10. "What's gotten ___ you?" 11. Particle in a blizzard 12. Good waitperson's reward 13. Word of agreement 21. Gridiron pass catcher 22. Hourglass particles 26. Order more issues 27. Wrinkle-removing appliances 29. Like a swallowable medicine 31. Make a choice 32. Life stories, for short 33. Walks the floor worriedly 34. "Fame" performer Cara 35. Squid's arms 36. One who votes "no" 38. Chicken ___ king (2 wds.) 39. Pioneering astronaut Armstrong 41. Gallery display 45. Agreements from sailors 46. Beams in attics 50. Talk excessively 53. Lucy's landlady in a classic sitcom 54. The ___ of Hearts (tart stealer in a nursery rhyme)
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when our state shut down. It’s not a decision that can be made a few weeks out whether to have the event or not. Not to mention, nonprofit organizations aren’t typically in a position to run the risk of hosting an event that has the potential to be negatively impacted by oh, let’s just say, a global pandemic, because then there’s a chance they could lose money on the event. There’s also the issue of “social responsibility” to consider. Organizations have a responsibility to their community to keep its citizens safe, and I’m going out on a limb here, but I’m betting they aren’t relying on their buddy from high school who works at the gas station and posts conspiracy theories on Facebook to get their information, they are looking at the recommendations of medical professionals. Some organizations will continue with their events, some will cancel. If you are super bummed about a particular event being canceled, consider donating to the nonprofit organization that hosts it, or volunteering your time to help plan the event next year, when they’re back and better than ever. Let’s all be sad together, but please, for the love of Dolly Parton, show some grace and compassion and kindness.
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Born in Dublin 101 Ranch contest, once Clean with a broom Hercules or Tarzan, for example Historical periods
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Sport ___ (rugged vehicles, briefly) Catches a few winks Cork-removing noise Chimp or gorilla
Crossword Answers on Page 44
September 2020
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