Keep Sedona Beautiful's Annual Awards

>> 2006 • 2005 • 2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001 • 2000 and prior

KSB is committed to preserving the wonder of our area: ensuring that the scenic beauty of Sedona should is protected, and that the built environment doesn't compete for attention with our natural surroundings, day or night. 

Each year, a special committee of KSB goes about a very difficult job selecting those to be honored from the nominees submitted.  The members of the selection committee work through many meetings and site visits to study the proposed recipients.  Please, get involved, use the form below to nominate an individual, business or organization you feel has contributed to keeping Sedona Beautiful.

Special attention is given to major improvements in existing buildings, including changes to lighting and signage that previously did not conform to these standards.  Innovations in environmentally sensitive building, native low-water-use landscaping, and elimination of non-conforming signs will be considered as well.  Community service awards are made for outstanding contributions by individuals, businesses, or organizations.  For more information or to purchase tickets, contact KSB at 282-4938.

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2005 Awards of Excellence Recipients:

 

View Photos from the 2005 Awards Ceremony

ARCHITECTURE:

ARROYO ROBLE building housing the Goldenstein Gallery in uptown Sedona - the new structure was designed to fit into

the existing architecture in the area and to blend in harmoniously with the southwest environment.

TAKASHI JAPANESE RESTAURANT in uptown Sedona on Jordan Road- for their extensive remodeling to include attractive details and structures - even including the most attractive trash bin enclosure in town!

LEGACY PLAZA off of Dry Creek Road in Sedona - a new commercial facility blending well with its environment in color and simple design.

SEDONA MAIN STREET PROGRAM  - for updating the Sedona Main Street District Design Guidelines to guide the enhancements, additions, renovations and development of buildings and public spaces within each character area of the Main Street District. 

LANDSCAPING:

SAINT JOHN VIANNEY CHURCH in Sedona for the landscaping and hardscaping surrounding the church providing peaceful public space with spectacular views of the red rocks.

BRIAR PATCH INN IN OAK CREEK CANYON for their preservation of so much of the natural landscaping.  Also open to public for breakfast and musical performances.

AVALON GARDENS, Upper Red Rock Loop Road, a 17-acre garden and ecofarm along Oak Creek for preservation of original buildings, development of organic fruit and vegetable gardens as well as organic livestock. No chemicals, pesticides, herbicides. Drop-off point for wood chips from APS where the chips are turned into mulch.  Year round tours and workshops on organic gardening and animal husbandry are offered. The gardens host annual Easter Day and Autumn Harvest celebrations and other events open to the public.

LIGHTING & SIGNAGE:

THE VIEWS INN SEDONA in the Village of Oak Creek - for a "dark sky friendly" sign that lights from within at night and which includes a design of the red rocks.  

HEARTLINE CAFE on 89A in Sedona - a new sign which is creative, fun, sophisticated.
 
DR. ROY DANIELS on Southwest Drive in Sedona - with a tasteful artistic sign for his dental practice.

REDS at Sedona Rouge Resort on 89A in Sedona - a creative and unobtrusive sign on the building.

LITTER LIFTER OF THE YEAR: Ruben Martinez

This year KSB establishes a new but long overdue special award to recognize the extraordinary efforts put forth regularly by our valiant corps of Litter Lifters.  Leading the pack for 2005 is Mr. Ruben Martinez, who since 1999 has been removing litter from our roadways, worked on the road warning signs, initiated and provided art work to produce the buttons and patches for Litter Lifter vests and helmets.  Picking up trash can be boring, but Ruben tries to put a face on the trash – imagining what the trash thrower looks like; what is the psychological profile of the trash thrower?  Wanna be an amateur psychologist?  Ruben says “Become a Litter Lifter”. KSB and all of Sedona appreciate what you and the other litter lifters contribute to really “keeping Sedona beautiful”.

ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR: The Sedona Women, “Dames Who Make a Difference”

Sedona Women was formed in 2000 through the vision of Helen Wolfe.  In five years membership has grown from 68 to approximately 250 women. Through monthly meetings and semi-annual trips, Sedona Women provides an opportunity for education.  In addition, committees take on community projects.  These projects have included the renovation of a safe house in Cottonwood for the Verde Valley Sanctuary, renovation of the community room at the Adult Community Center, and renovation of the Boys & Girls Club.  An ongoing task force spends countless hours cleaning and weeding at Sunset Park.  One committee cares for an elderly woman and renovated her house to be handicapped-accessible.  Another renovated and landscaped the historic Sedona Schnebly family gravesite.  The "Waterwise" committee monitors a wide variety of water issues and encourages conservation by providing signage for everything from nursery plants to drainage ditches. This year and last, the "Heart of Sedona" project was a catalyst for influencing developers to donate historical forest service buildings and land to the City of Sedona. Sixty-four people joined in to paint those buildings.  The effort has expanded into a long-range planning effort, encompassing the 40 acres now known as the "Heart of Sedona” district.  

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS:

• Jim Bishop, for raising community and environmental awareness through writing.
  

  Jim Bishop, an environmental stalwart, has spent his life raising public awareness with clear thinking, keen wit and exceptional writing.  Winning national journalism awards for his well-researched articles concerning serious ecological issues, his passion and written pleas for renewable energy and “environmental sanity” go back many decades.  Jim was Newsweek Magazine’s Washington Deputy Bureau Chief and first Environmental Editor, a White House speech writer and the author of "Epitaph of a Desert Anarchist – The Life and Legacy of Edward Abbey".  Actively involved in Sedona for 20 years, he continues to be an articulate “voice of reason” in local, state and national publications.

• Red Rock Scenic Byways Nomination Committee, a dedicated group of citizens from VOC who secured the 179 All America Highway designation
  

  The Red Rock Scenic Byways Nomination Committee is a grass-roots committee of nearly 30 Big Park volunteers.  Under the leadership of Chairman Bill Kusner, in an exhausting five-month period, eight committees constructed the complex nomination application following federal guidelines. The process proved to be a remarkable example of a community coming together for a common goal, the protection of our beautiful road for future generations. At a press conference in Washington D.C. on September 22, 2005 the Federal Highway Administration awarded Highway 179 its highest scenic designation in the country, that of “All-American Road”…the first in Arizona.

• R.G. Wyckoff, founder of the community-oriented monthly newspaper, the “Villager”
  
  The Village of Oak Creek grew dramatically over the last ten years, yet a sense of community remained lacking.  It wasn’t until the Village of Oak Creek Association found R.G. Wyckoff that a real community-oriented monthly newspaper, the “Villager” took off and took hold.  For more than two years his efforts as founder and editor have provided a forum for dozens of Village columnists and contributors writing about anything of specific interest to the Big Park community.  R.G. Wyckoff is a man long dedicated to building public trust and involvement.  Thanks to him and to the “Villager”, it is now happening with gusto in the Village of Oak Creek!
    
  
• Zona Fink served as President of the Big Park Regional Coordinating Council, currently as Chair of their Planning and Zoning Committee, a member of the Executive Team for Highway 179, a leader of the All American Road Committee, and an active participant in several regional economic and land-preservation councils.  Chances are that whatever important issue needs support, Zona Fink will be instrumentally involved.  When she has free time, she is an active fused glass artist, who also inspired the recent Annual Village Fine Art Show.
  
           
• Don Beard, President of the Big Park Regional Coordinating Council representing 16 homeowner associations and the Big Park Business Association in a powerful advisory capacity to county and state governing bodies.  Don is equally committed to Volunteers in Protection (VIPs), a program established by the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Department. 
    
  Don Beard has been called an “anchor” of the community for many years.  He is President of the Big Park Regional Coordinating Council representing 16 homeowner associations and the Big Park Business Association in a powerful advisory capacity to county and state governing bodies.  Don is equally committed to Volunteers in Protection (VIPs), a program established by the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Department.  Patrolling an average of 40-50 hours per week, he is the current Chair of all nine operational units.  In addition, as a past three-term Facilities Chairman at Church of the Red Rocks, Don  finds time to be master of the sound system for weddings, funerals and Sunday services.
    
  
• Jan Wind, for exemplary service as office manager of KSB
    
  KSB Office Manager Jan Wind is owed special acknowledgement for helping to bring KSB into the new millennium.  With her computer skills, she has created important communication links.  She handles inquiries with an informed and pleasant manner resulting in satisfied members. Jan is now building a long-overdue KSB media archive and has made herself responsible for preparing for meetings and maintaining the building in an attractive manner.  Thank you, Jan, for making the KSB experience efficient and enjoyable!

McGEE AWARD: Bill Pumphrey

The Norman McGee Award is the highest recognition that KSB can bestow on an individual who has demonstrated outstanding dedication and service to Keep Sedona Beautiful and to the community, above and beyond that which could be expected.

The criteria for the McGee Award specify that “Such services shall have continued over a sufficient number of years to make such attributes apparent”. This award is not given lightly or regularly – only when obviously and richly deserved.

Bill has been a member of KSB since 2000, serving as President the past three years.  During this time he worked with teams to achieve passage of Sedona’s and Yavapai County’s dark skies ordinances, a ban on wood burning fireplaces in Sedona, denial of a resident’s request to have a helicopter pad at a private residence in the Village, and the development of a covered load ordinance for Sedona which is now in effect. Under the leadership of Bill Pumphrey, KSB continues to be an effective organization leading the mission of keeping Sedona beautiful.
  
MacFARLANE AWARD: Bill Kusner
   
Two years ago we inaugurated a new KSB award, in honor of the late Eugene L. MacFarlane.  “Mac” was a President and Chairman of KSB, and established a record of achievement which may never be surpassed.  He developed many useful contacts with state and federal officials, and used these contacts in creative ways to further the goals of KSB in our community. It is in memory of “Mac” MacFarlane that we give this award, to recognize significant achievements by KSB members whose work with state and federal officials has resulted in legislation or other actions which further the goals of KSB.   This award is not given lightly, nor should it be considered an annual award.

Bill and his wife Justine have been members of KSB since they moved here almost ten years ago.  Bill served as Administrative VP in 1998 and then President of KSB from 1999 to 2002.  He has been effective on committees for many projects requiring effective liaison to gain support of county, state and federal officials.  His list of accomplishments is extensive:

• Charter member of the KSB Land Preservation Task Force which worked with the Trust for Public Lands to protect over 500 acres of inholdings in the National Forest (valued at over $18M)
• Formed the KSB Dark Skies committee and worked with them to pass Dark Skies ordinances for the City of Sedona and Yavapai County.
• Trustee of The Nature Conservancy representing the interests of the Verde Valley, and a member of their Conservation Committee.  
• Charter member of the KSB Special Designation committee that is working to form a National Scenic Area for the Greater Sedona Area.
• Chaired the Byways task force that successfully nominated a portion of 179 from Dry Beaver Creek Bridge to Back O'Beyond as an All-American Road.
• Member of the Big Park Regional Community Council Planning and Zoning Committee which provides input to Yavapai County on planned improvements in the Big Park area.

SPECIAL TRIBUTE: Wayne Iverson

2006 • 2005 • 2004 • 2003 • 2002 • 2001 • 2000 and prior

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Keep Sedona Beautiful promotes conservation of the greater Sedona area, and, by all practical means, seeks to preserve the unique natural environment and to enhance the quality of life for future generations. Make a donation to Keep Sedona Beautiful: