A Reflective Walk in the Garden
December 1, 2009
Greetings to all of you,
As I write this, I am anticipating Christmas and New Year’s, as well as Hanukkah, Al Hijra (Islamic New Year’s Day), Winter solstice, Kwanzaa (African American Cultural Celebration), Human Rights Day, Forefathers Day, and many more. As I walk in our gardens I recall all the significant moments of the past year while I simultaneously envision the hopeful future. Walk with me for a moment to give thanks and learn together how to approach the coming seasons.
December
December 1, 2009
This is the time of year when the weather reminds us why we live in Southern Arizona. Evenings are cold enough for a cozy fire while afternoons are warm enough for t-shirts. It is also the time of year when things slow down at the Agua Linda Farm and my family can take a breath and enjoy the fringe benefits of farm life. For my kids, and me this means horses.
The Arivaca Arts Council and More
December 1, 2009
No account of the history of Arivaca’s artists would be complete without the story of the Arivaca Arts Council, an organization whose impact on the community’s life cannot be overemphasized. Perhaps no other organization changed and improved more lives than it has. It started back in the mid 1980’s, when the educationally minded mothers of the town’s preschoolers got together to provide enrichment and learning opportunities. Those mothers included Kathy Sheldon, Wendy Dresang, and Glo Williams, all of whom now teach at Sopori Elementary School. At one of the Arivaca Days Celebrations the mothers had an arts and crafts booth for the kids. Along came Leonard Starkey, who was looking for groups to be potential recipients of Rural Arts grants, then newly available through the Tucson-Pima Arts Council. The preschoolers caught his eye, and from then it was all uphill. Kathy and the other interested parents, including Patti Lopez and Stacy Hoff, went to meetings in Tucson and decided to incorporate. They formed the Arivaca Arts Council, a non-profit whose first organizational meeting was held in 1985. Kathy was the first president, along with Stacy, Christina Swift and Sally Massey (Rucker). Their intent was to bring the arts to the community of Arivaca. Two of the first programs they sponsored were Carlos Nakai and the Arco Iris Flamenco Dancers. `
December 2009
December 1, 2009
