Keep Sedona Beautiful

Event Reminder!

You are invited to attend the Keep Sedona Beautiful 38^th Annual Awards of Excellence for 2009. The Awards of Excellence luncheon will be held on Sunday, February 14, at Los Abrigados Resort and Spa from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. Check-in will begin at 11:00 am. Popular Sedona entertainers Tom and Shondra will emcee the luncheon.  Tickets are $35 per person for Keep Sedona Beautiful members or $40 for non-members.  You can reserve a table for 10 for $325.  Call 282-4938 for reservations and information, or visit the KSB website at www.keepsedonabeautiful.org.

Each year since 1972 Keep Sedona Beautiful, a non-for profit organization dedicated to preserving the wonder of Sedona, has recognized individuals, businesses and organizations in the Greater Sedona area for architectural designs, landscaping, lighting, signage, conservation, and outstanding community service which contribute in a significant way to “Keeping Sedona Beautiful.”

This year, the following individuals, businesses, and organizations will be honored: the Oak Creek Canyon Task Force, Ciera Crawley, Rita Livingston, Jim Eaton, Beatrice Welles, Barbara Litrell, the Jordan Road Project, the Sedona Volunteer Park Rangers, the West Sedona Elementary School and the Big Park Community School.

The winner of the 3^rd Annual Keep Sedona Beautiful “Capture the Wonder” Photo Contest will also be recognized at the awards luncheon.

In conjunction with the award winning Keep Sedona Beautiful Speakers Series, acclaimed TV journalist and western lands activist, Larry Warren, will be featured at a free special event supporting the Sedona-Red Rock National Scenic Area (NSA). Co-sponsored by the Hilton Sedona Resort and Spa and the NSA Coalition, ALL are welcome to come, learn, be inspired and step up to do your part to save our red rock forest lands!

Article: Wandering the West, by Larry Warren

When: Wednesday, February 17th, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Where: The Hilton Sedona Resort and Spa, off SR 179 in the Village of Oak Creek
What: A terrific evening of inspiration, music, fun and energy, light snacks and a cash bar.

Special NSA event to feature acclaimed
TV journalist and western activist, Larry Warren

Download the event flyer

Larry Warren

A very special evening is planned for ALL current and future National Scenic Area (NSA) supporters from throughout the Greater Sedona area and the Verde Valley. Award-winning TV journalist, articulate reporter of the west, photographer, filmmaker, and author, Larry Warren, will speak at a Special NSA Event being held at the Sedona Hilton Resort & Spa on Wednesday, February 17th, 5:00 until 7:00 p.m.

Larry is a firm believer in preserving the west for economic as well as environmental reasons. He believes that it is both possible and essential, though often difficult, to preserve and protect our special places. In an article last fall (Wandering the West, Park City Record 10/09), he wrote about strong local opposition prior to the designation of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah, and how very different the opinions are today, 20 years later with solid economic benefits realized. If you watched the recent PBS series “National Parks” it pointed out the same initial local opposition to the special designations of the Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, and Capitol Reef National Parks, and how that all changed with the development of the present vital economies that have grown up around those areas after their special designations.

Our primary business in the Greater Sedona area is tourism and our product is our environment. Residents in this area purchased homes here for these same reasons. Tourism and the economies of nearby communities also depend on us. We all have a stake in maintaining our beautiful wide-open spaces, clean air, and dark skies. There is NO political bias in the NSA effort – this is entirely a bipartisan effort among conservatives, liberals, Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Libertarians, and others.

Preservation of the 160,000 acres currently protected by USFS Amendment 12 which surround us is vital to the long range economic well-being of the entire area and is not limited to one city or area. The Amendment 12 protection is fine as far as it goes but that protection can be lost merely through amendment of the Coconino National Forest Plan. The only way to permanently prohibit land trades is the NSA designation. Land trades may benefit a few realtors and developers, but only in the short term…and once even a small piece of it goes, precedent is set. Thereafter, as experience will show in many other attractive areas of the west, the character will change forever while the economy languishes, as what is unique and special is but a memory.

Larry Warren’s visit is being sponsored by the National Scenic Area (NSA) Coalition consisting of many community grass-roots organizations including Keep Sedona Beautiful, DORR (Democrats of the Red Rocks), Sierra Club (local and state), Big Park Regional Coordinating Council, Arizona Wilderness Coalition, Red Rock Rural Community Association and the Verde Valley Land Preservation Institute.

The NSA Coalition is united in believing that a NationalScenic Area designation for the National Forests surrounding us is the only way to protect these Red Rock lands permanently.

Our Congressional Representative, Ann Kirkpatrick, has publicly committed to preparing and introducing legislation for creation of the NSA, though opposition forces are at work to derail it.

Ann Kirkpatrick must have no doubt that support for the scenic designation is overwhelming!

Come, hear Larry Warren speak about why preservation is essential and how it is possible in the western landscape…and invite other organizations, friends and neighbors from the Greater Sedona and the Verde Valley too. This is an opportunity to learn, be inspired and join together to make a difference.

Let’s have a great turn-out for a great evening from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 17, 2010. All are invited, admission is free, soft drinks and light snacks will be served, a cash bar is available and surprise musical entertainment will set the tone. An RSVP is appreciated but not required to Jan or Wendy at 282.4938.

Many thanks to the Sedona Hilton Resort & Spa for co-sponsoring this important event. The Hilton is located at 90 Ridge Trail Drive, just off SR 179 in the Village of Oak Creek.

Together, we can be heard in Washington…that the NSA is the only way to insure that this land, unique in all of America, will be our legacy to future generations.

SEDONA MINUTE #4: The High Road

If you have a choice, will you take the high road? Will you see the long distance views? Will you get the big picture? It can be scarier up high.

Terri Marie

Most of us want to be safe as we go through life. But oh the glorious heights of life you’ll miss unless you take the high road. Be sure to take the high road in your character too. Refuse to stay down on the low road where the cowards are. There will always be critics of those daring to soar but oh what they are missing on the high road.

All this year, all this beautiful fresh new decade, remember what taking the high road can give us all. You will get the benefit of an amazingly glorious experience and those watching can choose to be inspired by your actions.

Take a Sedona Minute today and remember who you are!

Good News? AZ Corporation Commission Chair at KSB:
“Arizona’s Energy Future”

Kristin Mayes

Two years ago her message was dire. Now, back by popular demand and due to changing times, Kristin Mayes, Chairman of the powerful Arizona Corporation Commission, brings a new optimistic outlook on “Arizona’s Energy Future”. Keep Sedona Beautiful is honored to again present her as the featured speaker at this special January 20, 2010 Speakers Series event.

Kristin Mayes was appointed to the Arizona Corporation Commission in 2003 by Governor Janet Napolitano. She won election as a Republican to the post in 2004 and re-election in 2006. While at the Commission, Mayes has made renewable energy a priority, helping to author the state’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES), and has focused on energy efficiency, natural gas issues, and pipeline safety.

Prior to working at the Commission, she served as Napolitano’s Communications Director, was a political reporter for the Arizona Republic and a general assignment reporter for the Phoenix Gazette. She holds a law degree from Arizona State University, a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Arizona State University. Mayes was born and raised in Prescott, Arizona.

Renewables, energy efficiency and options will be among the topics discussed at the program with the opportunity for questions and answers following the presentation.

The Keep Sedona Beautiful Speakers Series is held at the historic Pushmataha Center, 360 Brewer Road in Sedona. The evening begins at 5:30 on Wednesday, January 20th with a wine and cheese welcome reception for the public. At 5:45 the program will commence, concluding at 7pm. Non-members $3.00, members are free.

Red Rock Sunset

With an EXTENDED January 15, 2010 deadline, this is the final call for submissions to KSB’s 3rd Annual “Capture The Wonder” photo contest. The first two annual contests garnered international attention drawing entries from as far away as Poland.  Contest submissions from the first two contests were used in the popular Scenic Sedona video  which has received over 5,000 views on youtube.com.

Photos will be professionally judged in two divisions: professional and amateur.  There are three divisions: Color, Black and white, and “Capture the Wonder at Night” focusing on the unique beauty of Sedona illuminated by the stars and moon. The competition is open to everyone except members of the Keep Sedona Beautiful Board, the contest committee, the judging panel or their families.

All images will be judged on creativity, technique and their relevance to the contest theme, “Capture the Wonder”.   Photos must have been taken on or after Jan. 1, 2008, and should be titled. The deadline for entries is January 15, 2010.  The winners of the contest will be announced in at the Annual Keep Sedona Beautiful Awards Luncheon.

Photos may  be submitted online at the Keep Sedona Beautiful website, or by e-mail in jpeg format to photocontest@keepsedonabeautiful.org.  Entries may also be submitted on CD or DVD.  Photos may be in color or black-and-white.

Complete contest rules and entry blanks are available on Keep Sedona Beautiful’s website www.keepsedonabeautiful.org or at the KSB Pushmataha Center, 360 Brewer Road, Sedona between 2:00 and 5:pm weekdays (phone 282-4938).  Deadline for submission is January 15, 2010.   Winning entries will be announced in late January and displayed in various Sedona locations and throughout the year on the KSB website.

Since its inception in 1972, KSB has been dedicated to “Preserving the Wonder” of Sedona. Their education and advocacy activities and goals range from land preservation to litter lifting. The aim of the contest is to “Capture the Wonder” of this Red Rock region. KSB President Steve DeVol notes ” What better way to “Preserve the Wonder’ than to capture it in a photograph.”  Locals and the rest of the world are encouraged to submit their personal images!

Next time you shop at Basha’s, please link your “Thank You Card” to Keep Sedona Beautiful’s Group ID Number 28711. When you do, Bashas’ will donate 1% of your grocery purchases to KSB.  More information on the Shop and Give program.

SEDONA MINUTE #3:

Terri Marie, KSB Guest Columnist and author of "Sedona Minutes"

Crowds – Choosing the Experience

Do crowds drive you nuts? Then stay away from Slide Rock Park on holidays and most weekends, or Oak Creek Canyon in its full fall splendor. Like it or not, sometimes we have to deal with crowds. Whether it is a busy road, a busy store, a busy airport or a busy phone line, how can we deal with those situations and not lose our cool?

Start with a new vision. Follow that up with a choice. If you can look at every other person as someone who sees life from a different angle and brings a different point of view, you can better adapt yourself to live more peacefully in the large diverse human family we are part of. In any crowd, some are filled with worry, some with peace, some with anticipation. They all have different agendas. Crowds can be loud but they are your given and constantly changing human family after all. It is your choice whether they will be annoying or fascinating. Be proud of them all. Accept them as they are. Change yourself. Be the best you. The rest will take care of itself.

Take a Sedona minute today to remember who you are.

It was an evening that left some of us stunned, some speechless, and all of us sincerely concerned. On Wednesday, October 28th the Sedona City Council, and the attending public, heard ADOT’s presentation for the 68 lighting alternatives for West 89A.  Nineteen citizens spoke to the alternatives, asking ADOT to please consider no lights as an alternative.  John Harper, Project Manager for the Continuous Roadway Lighting Project, stated that he was there to only talk about the various lighting alternatives. No lights was an alternative he would not recognize or address.

Shaeri Richards, a Sedona resident, asked Mr. Harper directly if no lights was an option. Here is her question and the answer she got:  http://www.keepsedonabeautiful.org/Shaeri.swf

Following Ms. Richards’ questions, Sedona City Councilman Cliff Hamilton commented on the inflexibility and other concerns her had. Here’s what he said: http://www.keepsedonabeautiful.org/CliffH.swf

On Wednesday November 5 from 4 pm to 7 pm, at the Sedona Public Library, ADOT will have an Open House for the public to view and ask questions about the 89A Lighting alternatives being offered. Again, ADOT is saying that the “no lights alternative” will not be discussed.

We think the best alternative — what the majority of people want — should be discussed. Plan to show up and voice your opinion and concern to ADOT and the world that Sedona citizens demand a voice in this issue!

There will be a public demonstration to protest ADOT’s planned continuous roadway lighting from 4 pm to 7 pm at the Sedona Public Library.  It is important for people show up en masse to send a message to ADOT and the world:  Sedona doesn’t want or need continuos roadway lighting on SR 89a in West Sedona.  Our city skyline, our local economy and starry night skies will be forever changed if this plan moves forward.

Be seen and be heard this Thursday, Nov. 5th,  from 4 pm to 7 pm at the Sedona Public Library on White Bear Road just off Dry Creek Road in West Sedona.

Now, more than ever, we need your support, encouragement and work in “Preserving the Wonder!”

Grape Expectations Revealed at KSB Speakers Series

What’s going on out there in our Verde Valley backyard? If you’ve driven the pretty, winding Page Springs Road lately, you’ve got the idea…we’ve got a real wine country in our paradise…and it’s serious.

It’s so serious that Yavapai College has now launched a Viticulture and Enology program, is planting a 40 acre vineyard and building a greenhouse and science lab at the Clarkdale campus, all of which will serve the local wine industry. But that’s not all. They’re doing it right, using the latest in energy efficient and sustainable technology, solar power, a reclaimed water system and dry land farming. And this is only the beginning of what is hoped to become a major economic force in the entire Verde Valley.

Keep Sedona Beautiful’s “Preserving the Wonder” Speakers Series will offer an inside look at the burgeoning wine industry in red rock country on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at the historic Pushmataha Center, 360 Brewer Road in Sedona. A welcome reception for the public will be held at 5 p.m. with the opportunity to taste our local wine, and the program will follow at 5:30, concluding by 7 p.m.

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