NEWS
OPINION Point-Counterpoint
Treat yourself to the Halloween spirit ROSE BAILLIE
H The Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Flagstaff hosts 20 acres of memorials, Oct. 16. Storey Welch | The Lumberjack
Flagstaff cemeteries to reach capacity by 2060 Higher burial rates have caused limited cemetery space
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AVA HINIKER
emeteries are rapidly filling up as a result of limited space and rising interment rates. Finite cemetery space has become common globally in the recent decade with cemeteries in London, Scotland and Australia expected to be full in the next 10 to 20 years. This trend has also been experienced locally, as Flagstaff cemeteries estimate they may reach capacity by 2060. Park supervisor and former cemetery
specialist Shawn Mullaney said the number of interments in Flagstaff Citizens Cemetery has been gradually increasing. “We probably averaged around 100 burials a year until about eight years ago when the numbers started climbing,” Mullaney said. “During COVID-19, we were doing about 200 burials a year which counted infants and cremains. As long as people keep coming to Flagstaff, the cemetery will probably fill up between 2050 and 2060.” Flagstaff Citizens Cemetery, operational since 1911, contains plots with varying availability based on ownership. Multiple sections are available for citizen purchase with specialized plots sectioned off for veterans. Additionally, several areas are
owned by the Flagstaff Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges with graves reserved for deceased members. Mullaney said these reservations, outside of city control, contribute to limited space. “Masonic Lodge has about 100 lodge members, but they have thousands of plots they’re never going to use,” Mullaney said. “You can’t get a hold of Odd Fellows anymore and they have a lot of spaces too. Now, veteran and citizen areas are about 70% full while Masonic and Odd Fellows areas are 30% full. Yet, the city can’t sell those.” Calvary Catholic Cemetery is one of many cemeteries privately owned by the Catholic Church. See CEMETERY on PAGE 3
National blood shortage affects Arizona TAYLOR SCHWARTZ-OLSON & DAISY JOHNSTON
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he United States is currently experiencing a national blood shortage. With hospitals requiring more blood than is being donated, blood drawing centers are
encouraging people to donate now.
Oct. 13 blood drive in Flagstaff Normally Vitalant, the company which supplies blood to 96% of Arizona hospitals, goes on “critical need” status over the summer. But in June, Vitalant announced a national critical blood shortage.
Jeanne Wiles gets her blood drawn at a blood drive hosted by Vitalant, at Fort Valley Shopping Center, Oct. 13. Jacob Handley | The Lumberjack
Increased demand for blood at hospitals is typical during summer as more people are traveling, getting into accidents and schools — a common location for blood drives — are out for vacation. Recently, however, summer tourism has been particularly high because of a boost in travel following COVID-19 shutdowns. On Oct. 13, Flagstaff Medical Center and Vitalant hosted their monthly blood drive at Fort Valley Shopping Center. Accommodated with snacks and ’80s music, patients getting their blood drawn said the process was painless. Lorrinda Allan has been working on and off as an account associate at Vitalant since 1991. This summer, she said, they drew only about 50% of what they needed. “It’s a double-edged sword,” Allan said. “This summer, I can tell you, the blood drives that I was on were just slow.” When Arizona hospitals are low on blood, they have to borrow from other states. If other states are low as well, there is no substitute for human blood. Despite already experiencing a shortage, Arizona blood centers have been lending blood to Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. “You’ll never know when your loved ones are going to need it, you never know when you might need it,” Allan said. Arizona is a high-usage state for blood, needing around 700 donations daily to address the needs of hospitals. As a result, blood donations tend to stay local, meaning the blood you donate may be used to treat someone in your close community.
See SHORTAGE on PAGE 4
alloween marks the start of the holiday season. One of the greatest aspects of Halloween and what makes it different from other holidays is how easy it is to celebrate. All you have to do is find a costume, hang out with friends and maybe eat some candy. There’s no large family gathering, no buying gifts or food to be made. The holidays can be a particularly stressful time of year for people. The pressures of being around family and making the season meaningful can be overwhelming for many. Many people feel the need to take time off from work, which can be difficult. Also, the majority of Americans spend a significant amount of money on gift giving and other holiday expenses. CNBC reported that holiday sales in 2021 hit an alltime high with a total expenditure of $886.7 billion in the United States. However, Halloween is a day to have fun and it doesn’t have to drag on for too long. Even if you don’t typically dress up or eat candy, recognizing the change of seasons is a great way to celebrate; the shift from fall to winter has always held historical significance. Learning the origins and traditions of Halloween can help us appreciate how the modern-day version of the holiday came to be. See SPIRIT on PAGE 6
Point-Counterpoint
Let's skip Halloween this season SAMANTHA LOGERWELL
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can’t wait till Nov. 1. Not to be a Halloween Scrooge, but there is nothing to celebrate when it comes to a wasteful holiday. Recently, people have started getting back into Halloween, everyone’s new favorite holiday. Halloween celebrations had a drop in popularity in 2020 due to the pandemic, but have rapidly increased since then. More than 70% of people in the United States celebrate Halloween. People can’t get enough of the holiday, as it can be a time to hang out with family or friends and do things like dress up or bake Halloweenthemed desserts. Halloween has been celebrated since the 1840s, and although it has had its ups and downs, people have never stopped since. Everyone seems to have a strong opinion about Halloween, but they don’t consider how meaningless it has become. Although the holiday has a history, no one seems to care enough about it or even discuss it. If Halloween’s origin and meaning were so important, it would be common knowledge. If I asked someone why it’s their favorite holiday, they would likely not know. See SKIP on PAGE 5