RED ROCK NEWS, Sedona, Arizona Friday, February 19, 2010 - 3A
ROBERT
SECHRENGOST,
a Sedona resident
and frequent trail
hiker, finds small
heart-shaped stones
on his outings and
gives them to both
new and old friends.
Sechrengost started
this endeavor
approximately six
months ago and ever
since, the rocks have
been jumping out at
him. "They seem to find
me." Sechrengost said.
Michelle Bradley/
Larson Newspapers
Resident finds rock
'hearts' while hiking
Robert $echrengost
gathers stones to
share with others
By Lu Stitt
LARSON NEWSPAPERS
Robert Sechrengost likes to
give away his hearts.
They are not really his but
small stones in the shape of
hearts he finds as he hikes the
trails around Sedona. He hikes
nearly every day and picks them
up when he sees them, but only
the small ones he can put in his
pocket.
"They actually find me. Once
I started picking them up they
started appearing more often,"
Sechrengost said. "I give them
away to whoever it feels right to
give them to."
Being in the Arizona sunshine
is obviously something
Sechrengost does a lot proven by
the tan on his face and arms, and
his hiking shoes as he enjoyed
some breakfast at a West Sedona
restaurant.
However, the tan is not only
from being in Sedona the past
four years. He spent a lot of his
life outdoors. He worked for
Southwestern Bell Telephone
Co. for 31 years climbing poles.
Just shy of 50, he decided to
retire, much earlier than most.
"I'm very much into keeping
healthy and learning about nutri-
tion. I started in the 1990s about
eating right, wholistic medicine
and staying healthy. Hiking is
part of my routine," Sechrengost
said. He is tall and thin, and
walks with a youthful lift to his
step.
Sechrengost said he has
always thought and lived his life
outside of the box. In fact, he
does not agree with the box. It's
too confining for him.
"For instance there are natural
agents that can help heal but
mainstream medicine doesn't
acknowledge them," he said.
Another example, while most
people are calling 2010 the start
of a new decade, he thinks it is
actually ending the last one. It is
the 10th year. He even chooses
not to have a cell phone. He
doesn't see a need.
"What I've actually tried to
do especially since I retired is
roll with life. The only thing
I can do is change myself.
That way I just put out love
-- unconditional love -- to
everybody," Sechrengost said
and stretched out his arms.
"You just send it out and don't
expect anything back. That
takes away from it at least a
little."
Sometimes Sechrengost hikes
alone, other times he looks for
people on the trail especially in
Boynton Canyon to show them
the way to the ruins.
"It's peaceful and magical at
the ruins. Sometimes I'll play
my flute," he said.
He plays the American Indian
flute because he enjoys making
music and playing by ea.
"I play what feels right. Sitting
there among the red rocks
playing is spiritual. There's a
cave up off Coffee Pot [Drive]. I
went up there and played. It was
so magical," Sechrengost said
and closed his eyes as he smiled.
"I love to be out in nature and
soak up its energy. It clears my
mind."
He likes to hike Bear Mountain
particularly for the views which
change as a person ascends.
"It's spectacular up on Bear
Mountain and the view is
'different at different times of
year," he said.
Most of the heart-shaped
stones Sechrengost finds are red
rock but he has found volcanic
stones, grayish and whitish ones
and once in a while he finds a
piece of jasper.
"It depends on where you're at
what you see. It's all beautiful,"
he said.
He stated that he never takes
stones from wilderness or
protected areas, only what he
sees near the trail.
Lu Stltt can be reached at
282-7795, ext. 122, or e-mail
lu @ larsonnewspapers.com
H
t
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"The voice of Sedona and the Verde Valley for more than 45 years!"
282-5580 567-3341 634-8551
Students sought for state program
American Legion Post 135 and
Auxiliary Unit 25 are seeking
applicants for the coming 2010
Girls and Boys State program.
The program is open to juniors
who will complete their senior
year of high school. The week-
long course for the boys is held
at Northern Arizona University,
while the girls are i0structed at
the University of Tucson. Both
sessions will be held Sunday,
June 6, to Saturday, June 12.
The purpose of each program
is to emphasize the importance
of government in modern life
andis "a learning by doing
program." Basic qualifications
for applicants include leader-
ship, scholarship and commu-
nity service. Selection will be
based on character and potential
achievement such as excellence
in leadership, scholarship or
extracurricular activities.
Students should be American
citizens and have an interest in
government. They will partici-
pate in the electoral process and
have the opportunity to hold
public office, while meeting and
making friends with students
from all across Arizona. Each
program represents 176 high
schools in Arizona. The week-
long program will culminate
with the selection of two girls
and two boys to Girls and Boys
Nation. These individuals will
receive an all-expense paid trip
to the nation's capital.
For more information on
the programs or applications,
students at Sedona Red Rock
High School should contact
counselor Kathy Moore at
204-6738. All others should
contact Post 135 Boys State
Chairman Jim Strande no later
than Monday, March 15, at
649-3374. Girls should contact
Unit 25 Girls State Chairwoman
Jeri Strande at 649-3374 no
later than Monday, March 1.
We are excited to announce the expansion of our
award-winning laboratory health care services into
the Sedona community! Our new location provides
you with short wait times and high-quality service.
Please visit our web site, www.SonoraQuest.com,
where you can schedule Patient Service Center
appointments, pay your bill online, view our
contracted health plans, and more.
210 Sunset Dr., Suite C
P. 928.282.8562 - E 928.282.2517
Monday - Friday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Sonora Quest
Laboratories
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Now, more thanever, Sedona needs a proactive leader that does not represefit special interests. Ma or
Adams' voting record speaks for itself. He represents a balance between fiscal respon= Iy,
environmental stewardship and the quality of life for the residents of Sedona.
I Jla yor Adams is responsive to the public, educates himself on the issues and is guided by the principle of
vh tt is in the best interest for our community. He can see the big picture in problem solving and promotes
community involvement in our government.
The following people that have endorsed Mayor Adams represent a small portion of the government
leaders, buslness people, spiritual community, educators, environmentalists and other-community
members that encourage you to re-elect Mayor Rob Adamsl
Tom O'Halleran Peggy Sands David Webster Jim & Pare Pease
William & Patsy Brunner Sandra Brandvotd Dick & Jo Ellis Eric & Penelope Sandburg
Jesusita Villasenor Geoffrey Roth Donna Michasls Don & Kathy Nelms
Chris Seymour Lorraine Fexas Bstteanne Rutten Doug Blackwell
Janet Fagan Tom Rutten Nick LaBarbera Laura Maurer
Gayle Taylor Rio Robson David & Vivi Arnett Dee Durkee
Brent Bitz Julliette Colangelo Bill Holman Marlene Rayner
Carol Kelly Nancy Robb Dunst Trudi Slipher Robert Cotter
Rod Veach Carol Wirkus Karen James Eric Shrode
Jim & Jean Thomson Bill & Janet Sabina David & Julia Sterzing Tom & Sue Gould
Carol Scribner William Hassel Heather & Jim Molans Lawrence Decker
Fred Johnson Jim Myers SheldonBreitbart Donald Kelly
Mary Ann Mills Jim & Jan Tanis, Barbara Breitbart Stephen Devol
Jackie Ellis , Michael Dean William B. Robson Jerome Gatto
James Christiansen Phyllis & Paul Lindberg Jac Robson Mark Berliant
Mark Feldtkeller Annemarie Hunter Jean Capalbo Brent Maupin
Lee Congdon John Neville Cathi Bentley Hill Bob Brookshire
Helen Knoll Rosemary Mills Linda Nicholas Marjorie Miller
Joella Mahoney Ted Jones Edmund Baron Jessica Sierra
Linda Rose Robson Peter Baenziger Joe & Lynne Montedonico Oman Ken.
Toby Friedman Paul Tutnick Angela LeFevre Janice Johns
Jawn McKinley Gary & Laura Maurer Sue Bean Marjorie Haas
Aubrey Mills Bob & Jean Jorgensen Theresa Gatto Candace Copeland
Roger & Ruthie Parsons Donald Kelly Roger & Delores Kiel Bob Copeland
Drake Mitchell Carl & Susan Ritter Tom & Diana Oliphant Dick Holborow
Nancybelle Jones Judy Reddington Lenore Kerr Carl Frazier
Emma Carpino Gene Fenstermaoher Tyler Barrett Dan Mcllroy
