IOA - COTTONWOOD JOURNAL EXTRA, Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Verde Valley celebrates Irish heritage at St. Patrick's Parade
On a beautiful, warm, sunny
day in Sedona, families, locals
and visitors gathered along
Jordan Road to watch the 45th
annual St. Patrick's Parade on
March 14 and enjoy the St.
Patrick's Festival that followed.
The Sedona Fire District
kicked offthe parade to clear the
route, followed by the parade
grand marshals', honored with
gratitude for all they did to
manage the Slide Rock Fire:
ld. SFS District Ranger Nicole
Branton, of the Red Rock Ranger
District and Visitor Contact
Center; Sedona Police Chief
Raymond O. Cota; and Sedona
Fire Chief Kris Kazian.
Next came the Camp Verde
Cavalry Color Guard on horse-
back. They were followed by
additional dignitaries, including
Cottonwood Mayor Diane Joens,
Sedona Mayor Sandy Moriarty,
Vice Mayor Mark DiNunzio
and City Council members
Angela LeFevre, John Martinez
and Scott Jablow. Other parade
entrants included bagpipers,
bands, horses, dogs and a variety
of vehicles and walking troupes.
Many different organiza-
tions and individuals composed
much of the parade, showing
phenomenal enthusiasm with
their entries. Business entries
had a great opportunity to
promote their business and see
their patrons, friends and neigh-
bors along the parade route. All
were warmly received as each
was announced by Master of
Ceremonies John Conway and
viewed by the parade judges,
Steve Conrad, executive director
for the Boys & Girls Club of
Flagstaff; Glorice Pavey, assis-
tant director of Community
Events for Flagstaff Recreation
Services; and Darcie Flanders,
Jordan Reece/Larson Newspapers
CAMP VERDE CAVALRY members on horseback make their way down in the Fort Verde Days' Parade in 1958. Longtime participants in the
Jordan Road in Uptown Sedona at the start of the 45th annual St. Sedona St. Patrick's Parade, they traditionally march immediately
Patrick's Parade and Festival. The Camp Verde Cavalry is a volunteer behind the grand marshals, who this year were three officials in
unit of skilled horsemen and historical re-enactors who first performed charge of local efforts to battle the Slide Fire last summer.
special events coordinator for song was performed by Pipeand everyone enjoyed lunch and the community, coordinated by
Coconino County Parks and Major Michael Donelson andsweet treats from local Sedona Sedona Main Street Program,
Recreation. Bagpiper Martha Shideler, both businesses. Crowds of residents NAU Parks and Recreation
Immediately following the from Southwest Skye Pipes and and visitors alike enjoyed the Management Program and the
parade, the festival kicked off on Drums free entertainment and activi- Green Team event planning
Apple Avenue and in the parking Parade awards for outstanding ties on such a beautiful day in committee. The parade and
lots of Sedona Meditation entries were announced at the Sedona. festival are made possible by the
Center and 350 Jordan Road. festival. Families were busied by The Parade & Festival is a free generous financial support and
A festival opening ceremonial a wide variety of free activities, event for the community and by donated or discounted services
from many businesses and orga-
nizations plus the hard work of
the students and the volunteers.
45th annual Sedona St.
Patrick's Parade Award Winners
based on categories self-selected
by the parade entrants:
• St. Patrick's Award --
highest points for Irish theme
and musical combination:
Southwest Skye Pipes & Drums
• ShamrockAward -- highest
points for the best business
entry: Sedona Pines Resort
• Best Float Award: Two
Sisters with Pot of Gold
• Color Guard Award:
Northern Arizona Veterans
Military Color Guard
• Clown Award --•highest
total point for humorous entry:
Ditzy Glitzy and Hula Hoopsy
Clowns
• Drill Team Award: Flagstaff
Kennel Club K-9 Drill Team
• Equestrian Award: Rio
Verde Roverettes
• Outstanding Marching
Band Award: Chino Valley High
School Band
• Best Marching Unit Award:
NAU Parks & Recreation
• Best Musical Entry Award
-- highest points for musical
entry-bands, choirs, etc.:
SummitLIFE
• Unique Award: Northern
Arizona Celtic Heritage Society
• Best Vehicle Award: Sedona
Meditation Center
Winning entrants who did not
get their award at the festival are
asked to call Sedona Main Street
Program at 204-2390 to make
arrangements for picking up the
award.
Photos of each entry and all
the festivities are available on the
Sedona Main Street website; feel
free to send a copy of favorite
photos to friends and family.
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As in many areas of the U. S., the hunger Food Projects and has become an instrumental
epidemic in Arizona continues to cripple more component of the national Neighborhood Food
than 2 million working poor residents who live Project.
at or below the federal poverty guidelines. Over the last year, the Yavapai Food Neighbors
Arizona is ranked eighth nationally for food Project has provided food to 16 emergency food
insecurity and has the third-highest child-hunger providers across the county and supplied more
rate nationwide, surpassed only by New Mexico than 80 percent of the individual food items for
and Tennessee. According to Feeding America's weekend backpack programs and high school
2012 Map the Meal Gap Study, food insecurity youth pantries.
in Arizona affects of one out of five residents, In addition, the project has directly influenced
one out of three children and one out of seven the quality and variety Of food offered by the
seniors, emergency food providers,-irmludirlg organicS,".
As the demand for emergency food continues gluten free and other specialty itrih~ er~surin~:
to increase, organizations and programsfood justice for the hungry.
providing food to the hungry, such as food banks, "It's difficult to keep the canned goods
pantries and other emergencymeal services, are stocked during the spring and summer," said
struggling to keep enough food on the shelves to Amy Aossey, executive director of Yavapai Food
meet the needs. Council. "I've heard from all food banks that are
The peak food donation season for food banks receiving shelf-stable food from this project that
and other emergency food providers runs from they are seeing better quality food, an increase
September through December. in the quantities of food they can depend on and
During the off-season, most emergency food a reduction in the amount of donated food that is
providers are forced to purchase food from local or is close to expiration."
grocers and other sources. The success and proven system of the Yavapai
In August 2013, Yavapai Food Council intro- Food Neighbors Project has grabbed the atten-
duced the Yavapai Food Neighbors Project. tion of emergency food agencies and the
The community-based green-bag project has supporting organizations across Arizona.
attracted more than 1,500 local donors who Yavapai Food Council, a small, grass-roots
commit to purchase one or two extra shelf-stable nonprofit organization, will offer assistance
items during each trip to the grocer, in 2015 to Arizona emergency food providers
On the second Saturday of every other month, outside of Yavapai County in the imple-
donors place their bags at their front door before mentation and management of this effective
9 a.m. so neighborhood coordinators can collect program.
the bags and deliver them to one of four collec- Yavapai Food Council is 501(c)(3) nonprofit
tion sites. At the collection event, incoming food agency that supports those who feed the hungry.
is weighed, sorted and distributed to emergency YFC hopes to add many other rural Arizona
food providers in a three-hour time period on schools to the Food for Students National School
the collection day. Lhnch Program in the near future.
This innovative community proj ect has already To make a AZ Charitable Tax Credit Donation
produced more than 100,000 pounds ofcommu- to Yavapai Food Council or for more informa-
nity-donated food and approximately 250,000 tion, visit the Yavapai Food Council website or
meals. The Yavapai Food Neighbors Project mail a donation to Yavapai Food Council, 2020
was inspired by the Oregon NeighborhoodContractors Road, Ste. 6, Sedona, AZ 86336.
College invites public to explore campus
The Yavapai College Verde both new and ongoing courses, Several instructors will be
Valley campus invites the highlight options for financial conducting demonstrations or
community to "Explore YC," aid and explain campus resources delivering micro-lectures in the
a free event on Wednesday, that help students succeed.Community Room M-137 to
March 25, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. "You'll learn more about our give potential students a taste
The campus is located at 601 degrees, certificates and college of the YC experience. English
Black Hills Drive in Clarkdale. courses, plus our GED, OLLI, instructor Terence Pratt, who
Yavapai College faculty and Small Business Development,will be showcased at 3 p.m.,
staffwill be on hand to talk about and Community Education non- said, "This is your chance to
classes and degree programs, ' credit courses," said LindaEvans, see all the great classes you can
conduct demonstrations and the event coordinator. "We'll take at the Verde Valley campus
explain enrollment opportunities also have live music by chem- of Yavapai College and explore
for the upcoming summer and istry instructor and professional your options."
fall semesters, drummer Gino Romeo and freeCall 634-7501 for more
This free fair will showcase root beer floats and popcom." information.
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