More than a Festival in Sedona

by  sedona.biz editor

Sedona, AZ September 2, 2011 – Labor Day weekend. The end of summer. Kids back to school. Vacations melt into memories. Get ready for fall and winter. Some trees in Oak Creek Canyon are beginning to show their fall colors. The days are still hot, but the nights are getting cooler. The traditional Moonlight Madness Street Festival in Uptown Sedona tonight marks the official beginning of Fall in Sedona. And Fall is a special time in Sedona. Not only do we have the beautiful fall colors in the canyon but we have festival season. To mention a few at the risk of omitting some, we have Sedona Jazz on the Rocks (October 8), Celtic Harvest Festival Sedona (September 24), Sedona Book Festival (October 1), Sedona Airport Family Fun day (September 17), Fiesta Del Tlaquepaque (September10), Sedona Arts Festival (October 8 and 9), and Red Rock fantasy (November 17 – January 7).

The grand Daddy “Festival” will be on November 8. That’s the election date when the future of Sedona will be decided. Will Sedona retain its small character of a town nestled at the base of the Mogollon Rim or will she look like any other urban city in America with a lighted boulevard and expressway look.

Yes, the city was founded in 1988, and area became “civilized” a hundred years ago, and the red rocks were created over some many millions of years ago. What’s at stake is how the city will look and how the world will look at the city in the future. On February 22, 2011, the Sedona City Council voted to accept ownership of State Highway 89a, the main artery through Sedona, and to accept Arizona Department of Transportation ‘s (ADOT) offer of $15 million for highway maintenance and safety improvements. Referendum petitions were circulated after the vote and the measure was set for a vote November 8, 2011. Two options are up for vote: support the council’s vote (Yes on Prop 410) and move forward as planned, or reject the offer(no on prop 410) and ADOT will move forward immediately on the installation of 108 35’ tall lights on the two mile stretch in question. Installation of these lights means the highway will be then have continuous roadway lights the entire stretch of Highway 89a running through town. Gone will be the mature landscaping along the highway, and even more, gone will be the dark nighttime skies. The view of the Mogollon Rim along Highway 89a will filtered by 108 35 ‘ tall light poles. Proponents of the lights say the highway will be safer. Maybe at night however 85% of the crashes occur during daytime. Opponents say there are many other safety options available that are more in harmony with the beauty and character of Sedona. The residents will decide.

So yes, the future look of Sedona and the natural beauty is at stake at the November 8 festival. Admission is free. Payments begin in a year or two.

Stephen DeVol, Editor