By VERNON ROBISON

The Progress


Abigail Nelson of Logandale stands next to the large cat tree that she won for having the Best Cat in Show at the “Saxon the Suffrage Cat Art Contest” last month. PHOTO COURTESY OF WHCC.
The Women’s History and Culture Center (WHCC) of Mesquite held its “Saxon the Suffrage Cat Art/Essay Contest” last month, inviting area kids to create and express views surrounding the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution giving women the right to vote.

“It was an effort to reach out to the kids and their families to complete a fun activity together, during different and trying times in our communities; and to compete for some great prizes,” said WHCC Board member and Secretary Carol Saldivar.

The Art contest had kids decorating and coloring artwork depicting the famous suffragist mascot Saxon the Suffrage Cat.

In April of 1916, suffragists Nell Richardson and Alice Burke started a cross-country road trip. Setting out from New York, these two women stopped in cities and towns across America to advocate for women’s suffrage. Along the way, the women adopted a cat that became their unofficial mascot. They named the cat Saxon after the maker of the bright yellow automobile they were driving. The cat became a symbol of the suffrage movement.

Local children were invited to come to the WHCC during the Mesquite Chamber of Commerce “Christmas in July” activities and create their own Saxon.


Charlie Baird of Mesquite stands next to her art entry in the WHCC “Saxon the Suffrage Cat Art Contest” last month. Charlie’s entry won the Best Cat award in the under 5 age division. PHOTO COURTESY OF WHCC.
“It was a creative and educational summer activity for our youth, giving them exposure to our Center and our many books targeted toward young readers,” said Saldivar.

The essay part of the contest gave kids an opportunity to do some independent research in the WHCC library and explore other forms of media offered at the center about the history of the Suffrage movement. Kids were then encouraged to write an essay about their findings.

Winners of the contests were awarded a variety of prizes which had been generously donated by businesses in Mesquite and St. George.

Abigail Nelson of Logandale won the award for Best Cat in the Show. The prize was a huge “cat tree.” Nelson was excited by this award because she has two cats at home to occupy it. Abigail also won the Best Cat Award for her age division: 10-18.

Dawson Sweetin of Mesquite won the Best Cat Award for the 5-10 age division. And Charlie Baird of Mesquite won the award for the ages 5 and under division.


Contest winners Holden Sweetin (left) and Dawson Sweetin (right) came to the WHCC with parents Courtney and Bob Sweetin to claimed their prizes. PHOTO COURTESY OF WHCC.
The prizes included some great gift certificates for the kids and their families.
“Now I can take my parents out to dinner!” Baird said.

Holden Sweetin of Mesquite won the Overall Best Essay award for his essay entitled “Mesquite Has Smart Women.”

Among Holden’s prizes were tickets to an activity venue which made him particularly excited. He said that he looked forward to going to the venue with his parents and his sister, Dawson, and some of his friends.

WHCC founder and President Jean Watkins was impressed by the effort that the local children had made on their entries and the beautiful results that these efforts yielded.

“It is our hope that these results will inspire kids in the Virgin and Moapa Valleys to pick up cats here next year, research information and submit their entries for next year’s contest,” Watkins said.



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By CATHERINE ELLERTON

Moapa Valley Progress


A large group of Mesquite residents gathered at City Hall last week for a re-enactment of Nevada’s ratification of the 19th Amendment, an event which took place a century ago on Feb. 7, 1920. PHOTO BY CATHERINE ELLERTON/Moapa Valley Progress.
Members and supporters of the Mesquite Women’s History and Culture Center (WHCC) and the general public came together on Friday, Feb. 7 at Mesquite City Hall to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Nevada’s ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution which gave women the right to vote.

During the celebratory event, the signing of the resolution of ratification; which took place 100 years earlier to the day on Feb. 7, 1920; was re-enacted in the main entry at City Hall. Mesquite Mayor Al Litman did the honors acting as as Governor Emmett D. Boyle who was the original signer.

Later Litman stated that he urged “young women to get a good education so you can stand toe to toe with men.”

Litman added that Mesquite has quite a few women represented in City government and staff positions.
The 19th amendment passed both Houses of Congress in 1919 and was sent to the states to be to be ratified. Thirty-six states had to ratify the amendment for it to become law. This was completed in August of 1920.

The amendment came to be after a long struggle by the women’s suffrage movement that lasted almost a century. The Wyoming Territory had granted women the right to vote in 1869 and had elected the first female governor. That year the National Women’s Suffrage Assoc. and the American Women’s Suffrage Assoc. were begun. In 1890, Colorado, Utah and Idaho had suffrage amendments passed in their State Constitutions. Nevada passed a state suffrage amendment in 1914.

Last week’s event in Mesquite was organized by WHCC president Jean Watkins and Secretary Carol Saldovar. Watkins stated that the MWCC is dedicated to empowering both women and men to accomplish great things.

This reenactment was a kick-off to a series of centennial year events being hosted by the WHCC this year. The events will aim to recognize and celebrate great women in history.

To find out more about these events and about the WHCC organization visit whccmesquitenv.org.


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By VERNON ROBISON

Moapa Valley Progress


Carol Saldivar (left) and Jean Watkins (right) show off the vast collection of books on notable women which are available at the Women’s History and Culture Center in Mesquite. PHOTO BY VERNON ROBISON/Moapa Valley Progress.
The Women’s History and Cultural Center (WHCC) in Mesquite has been a bustling and vibrant place ever since its opening a little over a year ago.

The center has kept a doors-wide-open policy to a variety of community organizations to hold meetings, seminars and support groups that may have never found the space to do so otherwise. Regular activities at the center include meditation classes, mental health wellness groups, crafting clubs, suicide prevention support groups, women’s health seminars, fitness classes and much more. The center even hosts the local Girls Scout Troop #27.

The WHCC sports a reading room offering more than 700 books dealing with great women in history. And a tea room, equipped with an informal kitchen facility is available for more intimate gatherings.

All of this activity, and partnership with local groups, is perfectly in line with the mission of the WHCC, according to Jean Watkins president of the WHCC six-member board.
“We welcome the whole community, both men, women and children,” said Watkins. “It is all about empowering people and opening people up to things that they never would have thought about otherwise.”

Watkins is the founder of the WHCC and is the visionary behind its creation. She is also no stranger to the idea of empowering oneself in difficult situations.

In the late 1960s, fresh out of college, Watkins became one of the first women to make the jump from the sercretarial pool to becoming an engineer at AT&T in San Francisco, California. It was quite a leap for the company’s culture at that time, Watkins said.

“In those days, engineering was exclusively a man’s field,” Watkins recalled. “Most of the culture was against having me there at all.”

Watkins tells the story of being sent to her initial engineer’s training at an AT&T training center in Kansas City. She was the only woman in the class.

It was far from a friendly situation. Watkins related that the instructor would openly talk about how women had little hope of success in the class because the mind of a mind was simple and not up to the challenge of real engineering work.

“Of course those comments were obviously directed right at me,” Watkins said. “And everyone in the class would laugh about it and think it was funny. It was a completely humiliating experience.”

Despite tremendous difficulties, Jean managed to excel in her career and eventually even gain allies among her male colleagues.
“I found that if you consistently did a good job at whatever project you were doing, the male coworkers would realize that they wanted you on their team and wanted to work with you,” Watkins said. “It was in their own self interest.”

Still it was a difficult envionment to deal with day in and day out, Watkins said. Over time it took its toll.

At one point, Watkins remembers being so discouraged that she went to her boss ready to throw in the towel. But her boss, who was quite supportive of her, encouraged Watkins to hang in there for a higher purpose.

“He told me that I was thinking like just one person,” Watkins recalls. “He said that I needed to start thinking like all the women that would come behind me. I was blazing a trail for them. I remember I was tremendously encouraged by that.”

Watkins went on to a long and successful career at AT&T.

That kind of higher motivation, though, was what inspired the creation of the WHCC, Watkins said. She remembers, as a resident of Mesquite, learning about the history of Women’s Suffrage in Nevada back in 2014. That year actually marked the centennial of a successful statewide campaign in 1914 to give women the vote in the state. Nevada ended up allowing the vote for women a full six years earlier than the ratification of the 19th amendment which gave women the vote nationwide in 1920.

“I was a little disappointed in 2014 that such a major event really didn’t get much recognition in town here,” Watkins said. “It was kind of no big deal. So I decided that we needed to establish an organization and a facility to get that kind of recognition.”

Since that time, the WHCC has organized events to recognize landmark events in history for women.

Perhaps most notable among these was a People’s Walk held last September to celebrate Nevada being the first state in the nation with a female majority in its State Legislature. This was accomplished in the 2018 election.

Watkins said that the WHCC is making big plans to celebrate the centennial of the 19th Amendment later this year.

Watkins is quick to recognize that all of the good brought by the WHCC has not come about because of her efforts alone. The real administrative force behind the center is co-visionary Carol Saldivar, Watkins said.
“This vision would never have come to fruition; it’d never happen; without Carol,” Watkins said.

Saldivar sits on the WHCC board and serves as its Secretary. She is also the Secretary of the Mesquite Veteran’s Center.

Saldivar is a pioneer woman in her own right, having worked in fields of employment that were predominantly male. She grew up in Michigan and later served four years in the U.S. Air Force at various places around the world. Part of that time was in South Korea.

Eventually, Saldivar returned to the states and settled in Salt Lake City, Utah where she worked for 22 years as Correctional Sergeant in the Salt Lake County Jail.

After retirement, Saldivar and her husband moved to Mesquite. They bought a home here in 2016. She has been volunteering in the community ever since.
“I love what I am doing now and I love the Mesquite community,” Saldivar said. “I have just loved what a giving community this is.”

The WHCC is located at 225 N. Willow Street in Mesquite. More information is available at whccnv.org


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By CAROL SUE SALDIVAR

Moapa Valley Progress


Young Savannah Orlando spends some time with Santa at the Kris Kringle’s “The Gift of Christmas” event held at the Mesquite Women’s History and Culture Center in Mesquite. PHOTO BY CAROL SUE SALDIVAR/Moapa Valley Progress.
The holiday spirit was in plentiful supply at a new family event held last week at the Women’s History Culture Center (WHCC) in Mesquite. Kris Kringle’s “The Gift of Christmas” was held on Saturday, Dec. 21 providing parents and children a number of activities, craft projects and a chance to spend some quality time with Mr. Kringle himself.

WHCC volunteers Chris Finnegan and Lisa Fahey had planned for this event well in advance to make this an event to remember. They started late in November by decorating the Women’s Center meeting room for a Christmas gathering.

Finnegan, who is also the President of the Greater Mesquite Arts Foundation, and Fahey, its Vice President, planned all kinds of fun things for kids to do. A few elves helped out. And, of course, even Santa and Mrs. Claus were in attendance.

Santa entertained attendees with some jolly Christmas selections played on his guitar for a holiday sing-along. Of course, for each child in attendance to let Santa know what their Christmas hopes are.

There was coloring and reading with the kids. Alex Bennett was with his mom, Jenny Bennett. He enjoyed hot chocolate and showed a wreath he had colored in a Christmas-themed coloring book. Then his Mom read him a story.

Next came the cookie baking. Dominick Ramirez said “I’m looking most forward to that! If I do good today, I get to bake them again at home for my family.”

Dominick’s sister, Carolina Ramirez said she was more looking forward to, “making a gingerbread house!”

Angel Aceituno worked long and hard on his gingerbread house, as did Savannah Orlando and the others. Savannah was voted the winner of the gingerbread house contest!

All the while, Christmas music and the smell of baking cookies filled the air. A colorful Christmas light show beamed across the ceiling of the WHCC. It was a festive Christmas celebration. It was a time for families and friends to come together and share some old and new traditions. Everything offered was free of charge, sponsored by the WHCC.

Tradition is a big part of why Finnegan wanted to organize this event. He loves to bake and loves all things Christmas. “I used to bake for a little place in Cedar City, Utah, called G.I. Joe’s,” Finnegan said. “We did a lot of stuff for veterans and the homeless. We had to close it down and I stopped baking for many years. I wanted to do something in the spirit of giving to others.”

Finnegan talked about keeping traditions alive. He fondly remembers his inspiration. “My grandmother kept most of our traditions alive every year,” he said. “I’m glad to have a place to share these traditions with others.”

Music, stories, cookies, gingerbread houses, Santa and Mrs. Claus and a little friendly competition for families. The kids all went away with gifts from Santa, everything they made, and hopefully some new fond memories of a great day with Kris Kringle and his helpers!


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By CAROL SALDIVAR

Moapa Valley Progress


Heidi Hadley describes how wind and grain size affect the layers at an outcropping in Mesquite as part of an educational science field trip last week sponsored by the Mesquite Women’s History and Culture Center. PHOTO BY CAROL SALDIVAR/Moapa Valley Progress.
A small group of curious area residents saw a side of Mesquite that tickled the science nerd in all of them.

On Saturday morning, Nov. 16, hydrogeologist, Heidi Hadley led a science field trip called, “Stratigraphy and Art” to three of Mesquite’s natural outcroppings. The group learned about the different layers, colors, composition, and creation of the soils exhibited there.

Stratigraphy is the study of rock layers. One can’t go anywhere in Mesquite without seeing some form of layered rock formations.

Hadley shared information with the enthusiastic group about how river systems developed much of the landscape in the Virgin Valley. She pointed out and described layers, erosion, sheer faces and slopes, fractures, and colors made up of different elements.

Hadley also talked about how the landscape changes), how the layers are formed and how weather affects this process.

For the “art” piece, she asked participants to draw what they saw in sketchbooks she provided. They were then asked to describe what they drew. Hadley focused on similarities and differences between the sites.

A one page handout with photos of the sites, described many geological words in a glossary on the back.
Hadley has spent over 30 years in the field of geological science and water resources. Her passion for sharing her knowledge was quickly apparent, and she made learning enjoyable for the group.

Hadley’s excitement was contagious! She savored a few surprises for students to notice, and told of the wonders of nature and science that created different surfaces in the sedimentary rock at the three sites visited.

“I learned some new things today,” said Grant Gunn, Hadley’s husband who was among the group. Gunn said that he is steadfast in support of his wife’s passions.

The next field trip, entitled “Down by the River,” will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7. Participants can meet at 10 am at the Women’s History and Culture Center, 225 N. Willow St. in Mesquite.


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By VERNON ROBISON

Moapa Valley Progress


The People’s Walk, led by Dennis Hangey playing the bagpipes flanked by two of the Mesquite Showgirls, makes its way down Mesquite Blvd in front of the City Hall Building in an event last week. PHOTO BY VERNON ROBISON/Moapa Valley Progress.
It was a day to celebrate the achievements of women; both in Mesquite and throughout the state. On Thursday, Sept. 26, a whole lineup of activities was planned by the Mesquite Women’s History and Cultural Center (WHCC) in coordination with the Mesquite Chamber of Commerce.

The festivities began with a People’s Walk to celebrate the advancement of women thoughout the state this year. About 40 people; including women, men and even a few pets; gathered at 9:00 am at the WHCC at 175 N. Willow in Mesquite. Attendees enjoyed a social hour with refreshments provided by the Mesquite Elks Lodge.

Then with Mesquite resident Dennis Hangey leading the procession playing the bagpipes, the entire group made a 1/3 mile march down Willow St. and then across Mesquite Blvd. to arrive at Mesquite City Hall. There in the grassy area in front of City Hall, the group held a brief rally which opened with a flag presentation ceremony by the Veteran’s Honor Guard.


A panel of four local women in business was featured at a special Chamber luncheon last week. Pictured l to r include Katie Eastman of Front Porch Flowers, Tracey Rodgers of Mesa View Home Care and Hospice, Katie Eastman of the Mesquite Desert Dogs and Frawnda LeCheminant of Danielle’s Chocolates and Popcorn. PHOTO BY VERNON ROBISON/Moapa Valley Progress.
WHCC president Jean Watkins spoke to the crowd telling them that the purpose of the People’s Walk was to celebrate an historic event in the country and in the state.

“The people of Nevada can be proud that, 99 years after the 19th Amendment, they were the first in the nation to break the barrier and elect the first female majority state legislature,” Watkins said. “They did what made sense and it is time for other states to follow our lead!”

Watkins emphasized that the fight for gender parity in government is not meant to be a fight about which gender is better.

“Rather it is about opening doors to a new diversity of talent,” she said. “Women bring a unique skillset and viewpoint to the table including the ability to work together in a more bi-partisan manner to address the problems of gridlock. And that is something that we all need.”

After the rally, many of those present joined the Chamber of Commerce for a special luncheon entitled “Women in Mesquite Mean Business” held at the Eureka resort.

This mid-day event featured a panel discussion with four successful women business leaders in Mesquite. These included Katie Eastman of the Front Porch Flower Shop, Frawnda DeCheminant of Danielle’s Chocolates and Popcorn, Kelly Doyle of the Mesquite Desert Dogs, and Tracey Rodgers of Mesa View Home Care and Hospice.

Moderating the discussion was Logandale resident and Moapa Valley Progress journalist Charlene Paul, who also owns her own business as a writer and inspiration speaker.
Katie Eastman was sitting in on the panel as a replacement for Front Porch owner Charlene Udall who had been called away suddenly to Colorado for the birth of a grandchild.

When asked how one should balance work and home life, Eastman joked, “You don’t!”
As an example, she talked about Udall simply having to be away from work responsibilities, including the luncheon panel, when her family needs called.

But Eastman did have some advice on the matter. “When you are at work, be at work; don’t worry about the challenges that are going on at home,” she said. “When you go home, be at home. Leave the worries of the business behind when you lock the shop door at night. That is very hard sometimes.”

Frawnda LeCheminant agreed that finding the right work/home balance is a major challenge. But it is essential to being a woman in business, she said.
LeCheminant explained that she had raised five children while, at times, spending as much as 120 hours per week in her business.

“There are times when different sides of the scale have to take priority,” she said. “Some days you just have to close up the shop and tend to family matters that are more important. Other days if my kids want to talk to me they have to come and work beside me in the shop. That has actually been a blessing for the entire family.”

Kelly Doyle was asked what was the key to successfully marketing a business in a community. She responded with three essentials: plan, prepare and execute.
“Coming up with a strong plan is so important!” Doyle said. “And the ability to evaluate and readjust your plan as you prepare to implement it is also big. Finally, once you have a good plan in place, execute your plan and stick to it. If you can’t execute the plan yourself, find someone who can.”

Tracey Rodgers was asked if there were challenges or mistakes that she would have avoided in her business ventures. She admitted that there had been many missteps along the way. But she had learned to embrace her failures as part of a learning process.
“The only way to learn is to put yourself out there and take the chances,” Rodgers said. “Some things you do well at, and others don’t turn out the way you’d like. But it is not a failure when you evaluate what to do differently the next time.”

Rodgers advised business-women to do the research to really know their proposed business.
“Get to know your market,” she said. “Be passionate about it. Once you know your passion, you know your power.”

The luncheon was planned by WHCC in coordination with the Chamber. The WHCC opened its doors in Mesquite on October 11, 2018. It is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 11 am to 3 pm or by appointment. More information is available at whccnv.org.

Major sponsors for the luncheon event included SafeNest of Nevada, the Paragon Group and the Body and Soul Group of Mesquite.


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A special ‘Girls in Aviation Day’ will be held on Saturday, October 5 and there is still a limited opportunity for local girls to attend.

The annual Girls in Aviation Day is held internationally The southern Nevada event is held at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. It is for girls age 8-17 years old.

The event offers a day of connecting with other girls and professional women who are excited about aviation, exploring opportunities in the aviation and aerospace industry and experiencing the high-flying fun that aviation offers.

The event gives hands on experience with a tour of an Allegiant Air Airbus 319 at McCarran Airport. Girls will also learn from Women in the U.S. Air Force and other armed forces. They will talk about the basics of aviation, how to file a flight plan and engage in other fun activities. Those who are Girl Scouts can earn their Aviation Fun patch at the event.

A special tour to the event for girls in both Virgin and Moapa Valleys is being coordinated and funded by the Women’s History and Culture Center (WHCC) in Mesquite.

Girls will meet at the WHCC at 225 N. Willow in Mesquite by 6:15 am on Saturday, Oct. 5. From there a Silver-Rider bus with one chaperone on board will take a total of 19 girls to McCarran Airport in Las Vegas. Two other chaperones will folow behind the bus for any incidental needs that may arise.

The Las Vegas event will take place from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. Girls will then be transported back to the WHCC in Mesquite.

Pick up after the event will be at approximately 1:45 pm at the WHCC.

All of the costs for the event have been covered by sponsors.

A limited number of seats on the WHCC bus from Mesquite are still available. Once those seats are filled, however, girls may still register to participate in the event if they can arrange their own transportation to the airport in Las Vegas.

For information about registering for this event, email whccmesquitenv@gmail.com. Time is short, so interested parties should inquire as soon as possible.


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