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4A- RED ROCK NEWS, Sedona, Arizona Wednesday, February 10, 2010
OPINION
[DITgR]AL
February not ideal
month for a race in
Northern Arizona
Winter may be mild in Sedona, but it still exists
and February is an unpredictable, often cold and
wet winter month.
Granted, we are in Arizona, but Northern
Arizona, not central or southern, so when plan-
ning outdoor events, organizers need to take that
into account.
Marathon runners narrowly escaped running in
winter weather conditions Saturday, Feb. 6, as a
storm swept into Sedona that night.
Rain fell heavily starting Saturday night and
residents and visitors woke up to snow on the
ground Sunday morning, Feb. 7. If the marathon
had been 24 hours later, it could been miserable
and dangerous for runners. Snow, slush and ice
covered city streets.
February is a good time for a marathon in
Phoenix or Tucson, not Sedona.
Fall lingers and spring comes early in Sedona,
but winter still makes its presence known with
most of its precipitation falling in January,
February and March. Weather during these
months like many others in the high desert
can change on a dime. Snowflakes do fall
from blue skies in Sedona.
Spring or fall much drier times in Northern
Arizona would be a safer and more enjoy-
able time of year for organizers to host what has
become one of Sedona's main attractions. During
those months, morning temperatures remain mild
and the threat of snow or cold rain diminishes.
A second perk for runners would be training
conditions. Obviously, you can'tAecide to run a
marathon or even a half-marathon one day and
do so the next. It takes months of dedication to
running neatly every day, which is hard to do
in the winter. Fewer daylight hours and colder
temperatures make outdoor training difficult and'
nearly impossible for those who come from up
north.
'A spring marathon date would give runners
more time to pound the pavement rather than the
treadmill before taking on Sedona's challenging
course.
Mother Nature did marathon organizers a favor
this year, but she may not be as generous in the
future.
Trista Steers
News Editor
The $edona RedRock News welcomes your viewpoints: Se~ let-
Red Rock News
P.O. Box 619 Sed rua, 86339
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WHERE'S
THE
HANDLE?
PRESCOTT
'10
| Sedona RED ROCK NEWS
to the Editor
for a number of years. In the past, she was
the director of the SedonaAdult Community
Center.
would break hearts VinceMonaci
As Peter and I drove from our house on Sedona
the Lower Red Rock Loop Road into town
on an unexpected errand, we took in the
spectacular full moon in the night sky. On We need facts, not
State Route 89A, most all of the shops and
businesses were closed for the evening, d
some Of their small signs illuminating a moreprop agan a
window or facade of the building. This is I was outraged after reading the publicity
the Sedona we love. pamphlet for the city of Sedona Primary and
I tried to imagine light poles standing tall Special Mail Ballot Election. The pamphlet
in periodic regularity along this corridor, should be an apolitical information guide.
and I felt my heart break a little. Yet the information about Proposition 400
These supposed guardians of our safety whether or not citizens should elect their
would be so out of place here. own mayor -- is completely biased. Nine
The natural response to entering the city people in seven letters write in favor of the
limits is to slow down. What is so hard about repeal of the direct election of the mayor.
that? We have seen how, when government They want us to disenfranchise ourselves of
works reactively, not proactively to events, the right to vote for our own mayor. They
it is usually with resplendent overkill, want us to give away our right and power
Once these light poles are up, destroying to the City Council, which has repeatedly
and replacing trees in the process, how can detnonstrated that it arrogantly ignores the
this be reversed when they prove to be an will of the people. Why would we be so
ugly, useless and expensive blunder, a slap stupid'as to listen to those nine people?
on the face of beauty? Once in, most likely Moreover, in the pamphlet there is only
they will never be taken down. one letter from one person who opposes the
Does natural beauty and quietude not
repeal of the direct election of the mayor.
count for anything anymore? If the answer If there are nine people for the repeal,
is no, we have truly lost our souls, there should be nine people against it. The
Andrea I-Iennessy pamphlet should be balanced to show some
Sedona objectivity. But it doesn't. Rather than be an
informative guide, the pamphlet is a back-
handed bit of electioneering that borders on
Monaci to retire political propaganda. Shame on you, city of
Sedona.
from the food bank Henry Twombly
Sedona
It is with mixed feelings that I will
be retiring as director of the Sedona
Community Food Bank, effective Friday,
Oct. 1. At the same time, I am pleased to Use a
little common
announce that Sylvia Strobel will be taking
over as director, sense d
In 1990, my wife. Betty, got involved urino[][
census
with the Sedona Community Food Bank. Sedonans should be alert to who is or
When she needed additional help she is not a bona fide census taker knocking
called on me. That's how it all started. In at the door. This is a ripe opportunity for
1999, I took over as director. Since then I home invasions; thus, one should check
have had the pleasure of working with a the credentials before inviting anyone in
great number of exceptional volunteers for tea.
without whom the food bank would not Remember the article in the Jan. 29 edition
have run as efficiently as it has. In addition, of the Sedona Red Rock News, "Thousands
I have been fortunate to have a board of of residents to help with 2010 census," states
directors that is capable, understands what that census forms will be mailed to homes so,
is needed and is willing to do what it takes if you normally receive mail at your home,
to get the job done. all the more reason to be wary of someone
I am confident that Sylvia Strobel will at your door.
make the transition to director of the Sedona I don't know what the census form ques-
Community Food Bank with ease. She has tions will be but, considering our current
been actively involved in her communities administration, don't believe for a second
that personal information collected by the
government will be held strictly confidential.
I would caution against providing personal
information such as annual income, political
party affiliation, religion and, certainly not
your Social Security number.*
Of course, the 10-year census establishes a
necessary and useful statistical data base for
many purposes but recognize that its primary
purpose is political districting and, secondly,
funding government services, according
to the population. Perhaps the state will be
able to open more than one rest stop on
Interstate 17 between Phoenix and Flagstaff.
Gall Sadler, a census partnership specialist
anyone know what that is? states that
the government is preparing to disperse
"nearly $480 billion" [to Arizona] based on
the results of the survey. Our federal govern-
ment is one huge pifiata -- give it a 'good
whack and billions and billions pour out.
Unfortunately, the billions are all in Chinese
yen today.
David Isquith
Sedona
Editor's note:
Census takers will not ask for any of this
information. To see the questions on the
U.Sl'Census for 2010, visit http://20t0.
census.gov/2010census/text/text- form.
php.
girl with
her Al ona report
Hello, my name is Vanessa Espmoza. I
am a fifth-grader at Napa Valley Language
Academy in Napa, Calif.
The reason I am writing to you is that
my class is doing state reports, and I have
chosen your magnificent state, Arizona.
I would really like it if you posted my
letter in your newspaper so that I can get all
the help I need for my report. What l need
from you or your readers are pamphlets,
postcards, souvenirs or anything else that
would be useful.
I will be writing about your state's agricul-
ture, history, economy, famous people, events,
historical figures and U.S. National Parks. I
will also be doing an oral report, poster and
Microsoft PowerPoint presentation.
Thank you for your support and help
in making me a great researcher of your
astounding state.
Mail information to: Napa Valley
Language Academy, c/o Mrs. Dearborn,
2700 Kilburn Ave Napa, CA 94558.
Vanessa Espinoza
Napa, Calif.
Where to Write
PRESIDENT OF THE U~. Phoenix, AZ 85016 U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
President Barack Obama Phone: (602) 952-2410 Contact Ann Kirkpatflck, Democrat
The White House Fax: (602) 952-8702 Washington, D.C. Office:
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Web site: mccain.senate.gov 1123 Longworth House Office
Washington, D.C. 20500 Bldg
Comments: 202-456-1111 Contact Sen. Jon Kyl, Republican District of Columbia 2051543301
Switchboard: 202-456-1414 Washington, D.C Office: Phone: (202) 225-2315
Fax: 202-456-2461 730 Hart Senate Office Bldg Fax: [202) 226-9739
U~. SENATE District of Columbia 20510-0304 Prescott Office:
Contact Sen. John McCaln, Phone: (202) 224-4521 240 S. Montezuma St. #101
Republican Fax: (202) 224-2207 Prescott. AZ 86303
Washington, D.C. Office: Phoenix Office: Phone: (928) 445-3434
241 Russell Senate Office Bldg 2200 East Camelback, Fax: [928) 445416.0
District of Columbia 205100303 Ste. 120 Web site: kirkpatrick'h use'g v
Phone: (202) 224-2235 Phoenix AZ 85016-1891
Fax: (202) 228-2862 Phone: (602) 840-1891 Contact Harry Mitchell, Republican
Phoenix Office: Fax: (602) 957-6838 1410 Longworth House Office Bldg.
5353 North 16th Street. Ste. 105 Web site: kyl.senate.gov Washington, D.C. 20515
~hone: (202) 225-2190
Fax: {202) 225-3263
Web site: mitchell.house.gov
Scottsdale Office:
7201 East Camelback Road,
Ste. 335
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Phone: (480) 946-2411
Fax: 1480) 946-2446
AZ GOVERNOR
Contact The Honorable Jan Brewer,
Republican
Governor of Arizona
1700 West Washington
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Phone: (602) 542-4331
Toll' Free: (800) 253-0883
Fax: {602) 542-1381