Keep Sedona Beautiful

The 2020

Awards of Excellence Ceremony 

was Held January 29, 2020

The KSB annual Awards of Excellence ceremony was held on Wednesday January 29, 2020 at the KSB Pushmataha Building, 360 Brewer Road.

We always value this event as an opportunity to honor businesses and individuals in our community who are making significant contributions to furthering the mission of KSB, which is to protect and preserve the unique scenic beauty and natural environment of this area.

This year, the following individuals and businesses were honored and a little bit about why they were chosen.

All photos used for the metal print awards were donated by photographer Mike Koopsen, Trails End Photography

The Awardees:

     

Sedona Beer Company, Sustainability

  • SBC is owned by Sedona natives Kali Gajewski and Mac Crawford
  • Local sourcing:  Their key ingredients from sourced from the Verde Valley, base malt grown by the Hauser family and malted by Sinagua Malt, a certified B-Corporation (or benefit corporation) created to provide a market solution for declining flows in rivers and streams
  • SBC reuses materials such as reusable and stackable beer barrels
  • SBC is conscious of water conservation and reuse: barley bought from Sinagua Malt replaced acres of corn which uses more water in the summer when the river levels are lowest.  SBC saved 500,000 gallons from being withdrawn from the Verde River last year;  SBC uses clear residual hot water to wash brewing vessels and the brewhouse after the beer is brewed
  • SBC is involved in community engagement: Kali is on the board of Sedona XYZ, Kali and Mac are active in supporting policy changes through the Western Rivers Brewing Council and NRDC’s Brewers for Clean Water Campaign.  SBC has signed on to the Straw Free Sedona program.

   

Local Juicery, Environmental Stewardship

  • The Local Juicery is owned by Summer and Mike Sander, native to Sedona.
  • They provide compostable and recyclable to-go products. All to-go packaging is either compostable or recyclable and a full-time employee conducts daily drop-off of recyclables to Sedona Recycle Center.
  • The Local Juicery is an ambassador of Straw Free Sedona program.  The shop sign states, “straws and lids on request.”  They provide paper or compostable straws only, no single-use plastic straws.
  • The Local Juicery believes in composting, materials are given to a local farmer who composts all the kitchen waste.
  • In 2020, they leased additional commercial space and are in the process of getting a commercial kitchen certified with a commercial sanitizer which will allow glass bottle recycling at The Local Juicery.  They will also open another plant centered café (Wildcraft Kitchen) to incorporate the above policies.

   

Sedona Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau, Sustainability

  • The SCCTB created and developed the Sedona Sustainable Tourism Plan.  One of the initiatives aimed at lessening light pollution and preserving our dark sky and another initiative advocates that the development of private/public lands is in alignment with sustainability goals.

   

Snap Fitness (Village of Oak Creek), Dark Sky Lighting

  • Steele Sacks, owner of Snap Fitness in the Village of Oak Creek, exceeded the Yavapai Outdoor Lighting Ordinance when it was brought to his attention that it obscured the night sky and bothered neighbors, he immediately agreed to turn off the outdoor lighted VOC Snap Fitness sign at 10pm.  Snap Fitness is open 24 hours and could stay lighted 24 hours according to the ordinance.

   

Michael Raney, Community Service

  • Co-owner of Over the Edge (bike sales and rentals) and co-founder of the Sedona Mountain Bike Fest.
  • Michael is a land steward, volunteer, and community advocate.
  • He is active in the following city of Sedona committees: Affordable Housing Assessment Work Group, Bike Skills Park Work Group (including donating money for the design, and continued work with Sedona Parks and Recreation to provide maintenance assistance)
  • Encourages recycling efforts at his business and at the MTB festival
  • Mike participates in trail maintenance as a volunteer.
  • Mike supports Sedona Trail Keepers, both his business and the MTB Fest are members.
  • Mike is a member of the board of the Sedona Red Rock Trail Fund used to raise money for trail maintenance and enhancement, and has helped to increase the amount raised every year.
  • Fund raising at the Mountain Bike Festival has resulted in over $25,000 for the Red Rock Trail Fund and the Verde Valley Cycling Coalition