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    Home » Sedona Tennis Makes Mental Health Coalition A Winner
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    Sedona Tennis Makes Mental Health Coalition A Winner

    January 12, 20151 Comment2 Mins Read
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    By Barbara Mayer

    Sedona AZ (January 12, 2015) – Bringing awareness of a national problem home to the streets of Sedona and the Verde Valley, a group of local sportsmen and sportswomen have become real champions for mental health awareness.

    After creating The Carol Baker Mixed Doubles Tournament last year, members of the Sedona Community Tennis Association (SCTA) have now donated tournament proceeds to the Mental Health Coalition Verde Valley. Tournament founders Alex Nebelsky and Mel Levine recently delivered the $1200 check to Coalition Facilitator Barbara Litrell and Christ Lutheran Church Mental Health Liaison Phil Billiam and other members of the Coalition.

    20150112_mhcvv

    According to Nebelsky, after searching to support a local group dedicated to promoting mental health awareness, the SCTA selected the Mental Health Coalition Verde Valley to receive tournament proceeds. SCTA member Mel Levine also cited the need for raising social consciousness about mental health issues and resources as well as reaching out to people on a local level.

    Accepting the donation for MHCVV, facilitator Barbara Litrell stated the group was formed in 2013 by a small group of residents and health professionals who participated in a community conversation about mental health issues in Arizona and locally. Since then, spearheaded by coalition member Rose Boerner, Director of NAMI Sedona and board chair of Spectrum Healthcare, the MHCVV has published a 32 page list of resources in the Verde Valley. In addition MHCVV has worked on mental health and criminal justice collaborations, and encouraged community members and first responders to participate in Mental Health First Aid classes offered by Spectrum Healthcare. The MHCVV also plans a broader mental health community conversation this year.

    “The Coalition believes the better informed our community is, the more we can help our neighbors obtain the services they require,” states Phil Billiam, Coalition member and liaison to the Christ Lutheran Church mental health task force, further stating, “Our volunteer group focuses on education, advocacy and community support services. The Coalition believes that the better informed our community is, the more we can help our neighbors obtain the services they require and speak with one voice to advocate for the needs of our local communities. We are very grateful to the SCTA for their donation which will help with our programs in 2015.”

    For further information on MHCVV call 928-282-4827 or www.mhcvv.org.

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    1 Comment

    1. Mike C. on January 19, 2015 2:12 pm

      In tennis, the term “LOVE” is used. And that seems a motivating factor – helping those in need. Helping our neighbors.

    Paid Political Ad Paid For by Samaire for Mayor
    Paid Political Ad for Samaire Armstrong
    Paid Political Announcement by Samaire For Mayor

     THE MOMENT IS UPON US

    Dear Sedona,

    The moment is upon us. The time for a united effort to shift the focus back to our community is now.

    The ability to thrive in our community, our environment, our workforce, and the tourist industry, is entirely possible because we have all the resources needed for success.

    Still, we need a council that isn’t afraid to ask the hard questions, that makes decisions based on data and facts, and through discussion, rather than moving and voting in group unison as they so regularly do.

    This is my home. I have been a part of the Sedona community for 28 years. I witnessed the road debacle, the lack of planning, the city circumventing the local businesses ability to thrive, while making choices to expand the local government and be in direct competition with private industry.

    I am a unique candidate because unlike the incumbents, I don’t believe the government should expand in size, nor in operations, nor would I attempt to micromanage every aspect of our community.

    City government should stay in its lane and allow the competitive market of local private industry to prosper. And it should defend our community from corporate takeover and infiltration of our town.

    I do not agree that we should sign onto International Building Codes and regulations by signing Sedona up to the ICC. It is imperative that we remain a sweet, rural community.

    Where are the arts? Where is this organic thriving element that we allege to be animated by. Where is our culture? Where is our community?

    The discord between the decision making process and the desires of the community have never been more clear. It has been nearly a decade in the making.

    It is time for a new era of energy to take charge. An energy that is reflective in the ability to succeed rather than be trapped in out of date consciousness.

    It has been a great honor meeting with each of you. I hear your concerns over the insane and out of control spending and I echo them. A budget of $105,000,000 in a town of 9700 residents is completely unacceptable. A parking structure (that looks like a shoe box) originally slated to cost 11 million, now projected to cost 18 million, is incomprehensible. Especially, considering there is no intention of charging for parking.

    For those who are concerned that I lack the political experience within our established system- that is precisely what Sedona needs… Not another politician, but instead a person who understands people, who listens to the voices within the community, and who will act in service on their behalf with accountability, for the highest good of Sedona. What I am not, will prove to be an asset as I navigate the entrenched bureaucracy with a fresh perspective. Business as usual, is over.

    Creative solutions require new energy.

    Every decision that is made by our local government, must contemplate Sedona first.

    • Does this decision benefit the residents?
    • Does this decision benefit the local businesses?
    • Does this decision actually help the environment?
    • Will this decision sustain benefit in the future, or will it bring more problems?

    What we have now is a city government that expands to 165 employees for 9700 residents. Palm Desert has 53,000 residents and 119 city employees. Majority of our city department heads are not even in town. I find this problematic.

    Efforts towards championing in and courting new solutions for our medical needs are imperative. We are losing our doctors. We must encourage competition with other facilities rather than be held hostage by NAH, who clearly have their own set of dysfunctions.

    We must remember that so many move to Sedona for its beauty, hiking, and small town charm. Bigger, faster, and more concrete does not, in broad strokes, fit the ethos of Sedona.

    The old world must remain strong here in balance, as that is what visitors want to experience. Too many have noted that Sedona has lost its edge and charm.

    As Mayor I will preserve the rural charm of our community, and push back against the urbanization that is planned for Sedona.

    As mayor I will make it a priority to create opportunities to support our youth.  After school healthy, enriching programs should be created for our kids, and available to the Sedona workforce regardless of residency and regardless of school they belong to.

    As Mayor, I will create an agenda to deliberately embody the consciousness of our collective needs here, allowing private industry to meet the needs of our community rather than bigger government.

    I hope to have your vote on Aug 2nd. I am excited and have the energy to take on this leadership role with new eyes, community perspective, and the thoughtful consciousness that reflects all ages of the human spectrum.

    Thank you deeply for your consideration.

    Sincerely,

    Samaire Armstrong

    Sedona elections
    Armstrong vs. Jablow: The Main Event
    Ready to Rumble

    By Tommy Acosta
    In the Blue Corner stands Scott Jablow and in the Red Corner of the ring stands Samaire Armstrong, ready to rumble to the bitter end in their fight to become the next Sedona mayor. Jablow weighs in with 1,137 primary election votes (36.13%) under his belt, having wielded his advantage as sitting Sedona City Council vice-mayor to his favor. He brings his years of serving in that capacity into the fray and waged a solid fight in his campaign to make it to the run-off. Armstrong, however withstood a blistering smear campaign from the other opposing candidates and their supporters to make it to the final bout with 967 votes under her belt (30.73%), an amazing feat for a political newcomer. Unfortunately, for the other two candidates, Kurt Gehlbach and sitting mayor Sandy Moriarty, neither put up enough of a fight to make it to the championship bout. Read more→
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