Talk of the Town: The high price of gas just might make you skinny

Gas prices. You can’t go anywhere these days without folks talking about the high cost of fueling their vehicles.

Everyone seems to be feeling the effects of the high price of oil.

People aren’t vacationing as much this summer because of it, according to radio personality John Tesh, who hosts pleanty of cruises. Airfares are rising. Food is pricier because of the fuel it takes to get the food to the grocery store shelves. Eating out has slacked off as more and more workers are brown-bagging it for lunch.

Ironically, the high price of oil may actually be helping us?

Time Magazine listed several ways that $4 a gallon prices can actually benefit us. For example:

High gas prices can mean shorter work weeks. Some companies, colleges, and governments are moving to a four-day work week to save their employees a little gas money, and to cut down on their own electric bills and maintenance costs.

Hmmm? You don’t believe 24-hours can make a difference? Take note: Brevard Community College in Cocoa, Fla. went to four-day weeks for the 2007 summer session and saved more than $250,000 in energy costs.

Over the year, sick leave fell 50 percent and turnover among the staff dropped 44 percent.

Another benefit: Less pollution. As people use less fuel due to the high cost, vehicle emissions should drop. Less pollution means clearer skies and longer, healthier lives. In fact, more than 2,000 lives have already been saved over the past year because of higher gas prices leading to less pollution, according to J. Paul Leigh, a health-economics professor at the University of California at Davis.

Another $4 a gallon gas bonus: Fewer traffic deaths. Every year, about 40,000 people die in traffic accidents in the U.S.

Higher gas prices may force many of us to slow down—since each five miles per hour you drive over 60 is like adding 10 cents to the cost of a gallon of gas. Plus, people are driving dramatically less. In fact, according to professors at Harvard Medical School, if gas remains at $4 a gallon for a year or more, we can expect as many as a thousand fewer fatalities a month.

Leaner Americans. When gas is expensive, people put on their walking shoes, grab their bikes, and eat out less. Let’s look on the bright side, folks, what extra money we don’t spend on gas just might cut work, save lives and make us a whole lot thinner!

Quail Creek residents gathered July 4th for a special patriotic event chaired by Joanne Chandler to celebrate a good old-fashioned Independence Day.

Ruth McDermott, Quail Creek resident and chair of the July 4th food and beverage committee, said the day was full of fun and plenty of food and included a golf cart parade and a car show.

Leading the parade was Ron Darrah, Quail Creek Property Owners Association board of directors president. Parade judges were Joyce Finkelstein, executive director Green Valley Community Coordinating Council and Sahuarita Mayor Lynne Skelton.

Winner of the “best decorated car” went to a Jeep owned by Roger and Brenda Kreitzerb, designed by Gail Phillips.

Mary Ellen Pruess received a prize for her very creative “how hot is it” parade entry.

The Green Valley/Sahuarita Scooter Club held its first ride and breakfast meeting on Saturday, June 21. In attendance were Mark Hendricks, Peter Caroline, Dave Danks, Jerry Stover, John Gieb, Dan Smith and Al Saterbak.

Their next ride will be on July 19. They will meet at 8 a.m. at Jerry Bob’s Family Restaurant, 1325 W. Duval Mine Road in the Safeway shopping center in Sahuarita, then ride on Mission Road to San Xavier del Bac Mission. All scooter riders are welcome. For further information, contact Dave Danks at 490-2781.

Let’s hear it for the Born Again Jocks Association, otherwise know as B.A.J.A. Sporting Club, or just BAJA. These sports-minded people do good things.

Just recently BAJA President Dave Erickson stopped by the Green Valley News office to fill us in on some of the terrific and charitable things the group has been up to.

Last month, BAJA made two double jackpot donations—a $576 check went to the local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and another $576 donation was presented to Los Ninos del Valle Preschool.

Dave said the money was raised at 50/50 raffles the BAJA members sponsored at various party gatherings throughout the year.

Dave also told me that, currently, BAJA membership stands at an estimated 450, both men and women.

The purpose of BAJA is to promote team sports, mainly softball and golf. Dave tells me they also enjoy bowling and other recreational activities. Their contributions to the community have been many, including umpiring for local Little League teams.

rford@gvnews.com | 547-9740