INSIDE THE DECEMBER 2023 ISSUE: Moonshot Campaigns to Bolster Startups, Communities p. 3 Findlay Auto Dealers Shelter People, Support Police Dogs p. 4, p. 16 Winter Sports Season has Begun p. 6
Julie Ammons Creates an Essence of Giving at her Kitchen p. 8 Wellness Expert Roberta Hughes Provides Self-Care Tips for the Holidays p. 10 Adam Harrington Offers Homebrew Starter Kit p. 15
Land Auction Sets Stage for Glassford Dells Regional Park R
epresentatives of the Town of Prescott Valley, the City of Prescott, and Yavapai County gathered on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at the Yavapai County Courthouse in Prescott for the long-awaited auction of nearly 2,300 acres of land on Glassford Hill between the two communities. The open space is planned for a regional park through an intergovernmental agreement with the two
municipalities and the county. Those attending the historic auction also included State Representative Selina Bliss, Senator Ken Bennett, Arizona State Land Deptartment Executive Deputy Commissioner Robyn Sahid and Arizona State Parks and Trails Director Robert Broscheid. At a reception following the auction, several dignitaries honored the work of former State Land Depart-
ment Commissioner Lisa Atkins and City of Prescott Recreation Director Joe Baynes for their dedicated support of the auction and the regional park concept. Since the late 1990s, Prescott Valley has been involved in efforts to protect Glassford Hill from private development. On Nov. 4, 1998, after a petition from the Town of Prescott Valley and City of Prescott, the
State Land Department designated a portion of the property as suitable for conservation purposes. On May 26, 2022, the Town of Prescott Valley entered into the Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of Prescott and Yavapai County for the ultimate purchase of approximately 3,500 acres of Arizona State Trust land. The parties have been working since that time to bring
Continued on page 34
Gearing Up for Outdoor Adventure REI opens in Prescott, supporting active lifestyles, environmental stewardship
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Sales Manager Jess Wesling makes the Prescott REI store opening official with the cutting of the ribbon. Photo by Kay Lyons
December 2023 | Issue 12 Volume 11
By Heidi Dahms Foster, QCBN
utdoor enthusiasts in the Quad Cities have a new shopping option in the REI Co-op in Prescott. Twenty-three climbing friends founded REI in 1938 when they wanted to find quality ice axes and other gear for their outdoor adventures. Today, the REI community has 23 million lifetime members, more than 16,000 employees and 181 locations in 41 states and the District of Columbia. The member-owned business has no shareholders; instead, supporting outdoor stewardship, sustainable business and an outdoor lifestyle. The new 25,000-square-foot store is in the Frontier Village Shopping Center. It offers a wide assortment of apparel and gear for camping, cycling, running, fitness, hiking, paddling and climbing, plus a full-service bike shop staffed by certified mechanics. Customers find the store deep, well-lighted and attractive. REI
Prescott has hired 50 local employees who Store Manager Jess Wesling says are eager to serve and share their knowledge. “Besides having trails five minutes in any direction, we already had 10,000 co-op members in the Quad Cities area,” said Wesling. “I can’t tell you how many people have come in and said they were happy they no longer have to drive to Flagstaff or Phoenix to visit an REI store.” The store’s popularity was underscored when 11,000 people visited during the three-day grand opening Nov. 3-5. While people do not have to be members to shop, most will want to pay the $30 one-time, lifetime fee for the benefits it offers, said Wesling. Membership includes discounts, ability to buy and trade used outdoor gear, free U.S. shipping and collections just for members, with no annual fees. “Not being publicly traded allows us to focus Continued on page 35
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