New Arizona policy choices report defines why sustainability matters for Arizona

[Source: ASU News] -- With Arizona’s population reaching 6 million people, and world population now exceeding 6.5 billion, nearly everyone is talking about sustainability. But the concept means many things to many people. In a new report, Morrison Institute for Public Policy and Arizona State University’s Global Institute of Sustainability (GIOS) open up the ideas contained in sustainability, defining the concept and then relating it to Arizona’s past, present, and future. The report, Sustainability for Arizona: The Issue of Our Age, gives decision-makers a clear understanding of the term and what it means to Arizona. As Morrison Institute Director Rob Melnick puts it, “Sustainability is about more than just being green. It’s about making policy choices that take the economy, society and the environment into account.”

The first report of its kind, Sustainability for Arizona is a primer on the subject as well as a targeted analysis for Arizona. In addition to thoughtful examinations of the state’s history, economy, environment, and society, Sustainability for Arizona presents the views of 24 leading policy thinkers in Arizona and across the country including Bruce Babbitt, former U.S. Secretary of State; Brad Casper, CEO of Dial Corporation; Allen Affeldt, owner of La Posada Hotel and Mayor of Winslow; and Mandy Roberts Metzger, Flagstaff-area rancher and president of Diablo Trust. With essays from civic leaders, ranchers, developers, educators, business leaders, scholars, and others, the topics span a range and include water resources, education, historic preservation, innovation, health care, green building, and urban planning to present unique perspectives on sustainability’s implications for Arizona. [Note: To read the full article, click here.]

Sedona's Hart Store achieves National Register of Historic Places listing

[Source: Sedona.biz] -- The City of Sedona’s Historic Preservation (HP) Commission is excited to announce that the Hart Store has been named to the National Register of Historic Places. This is only the second property in Sedona to be listed on the National Register. The first to be listed was the Walter and Ruth Jordan farmstead in Jordan Historical Park, home to the Sedona Heritage Museum. The state’s Historic Site Review Committee approved that the Hart Store, Sedona’s first store, be listed on the state register in July. They then forwarded their recommendation to the ‘Keeper’ in Washington D.C. The City HP Commission and the property owner were notified last week of this honor. The Hart Store is the oldest intact commercial building in Sedona.

Located at the intersection of Brewer and Ranger roads, the Hart Store was part of Sedona’s original commercial center. It was built for L.E. ‘Dad’ Hart in 1926. As Sedona’s first and only store in the 1920s-30s, Hart ran a general store and gas station. When public electricity came to town, the store was the first private building to hook-up after ‘Dad’ Hart helped get the line installed. After the main road was re-routed to today’s ‘Y’ in 1939, the store was remodeled into a duplex and was used for residential purposes until Annemarie Hunter and Jac Robson purchased and restored it. It is now a store again and home to the ‘Hummingbird House’ which features art, home decor and gifts. The historic Hart Store was designated a Sedona Historic Landmark in 2002 and Annemarie and Jac’s extensive repair and restoration was honored by KSB in 2003 with an award for ‘exemplary renovation and use of a historic property.’ [Note: To read the full article, click here.]

Florence has two Legacy Projects in state's centennial celebration

[Source: Bonnie Bariola, Florence Reminder] -- The "Rehabilitation of the Florence/Silver King Hotel" and the "Florence Memorial Cemetery Park" have been designated as official Arizona Centennial Legacy Projects by the Arizona Historical Advisory Commission (AHAC). In the fall of 2004, Governor Janet Napolitano, Senate President Ken Bennett and House Speaker Jake Flake jointly announced their preference for the Arizona Historical Advisory Commission to plan the state's centennial. Established by the legislature in 1976, the AHAC is the only statewide commission dedicated to Arizona history representing major state history and heritage institutions. As a result, the responsibility of planning for Arizona's centennial was added to AHAC's responsibility.

As chair of the AHAC, State Historic Preservation Officer Jim Garrison became chair of Arizona's Centennial Planning Committee. The Commission developed as its vision for the centennial "To ensure a lasting legacy for future generations by encouraging all Arizonans to reflect on our unique and authentic history, to experience the rich and diverse tapestry of our heritage, and to explore our promising future." The Commission's Centennial Mission is: Develop, encourage, and coordinate a statewide plan for Arizona's centennial in 2012 including:

• Advising the Legislature and state agencies on centennial history and heritage, arts, and culture
• Assisting the governor's countdown to the centennial to support school children learning about Arizona's history
• Recommending and funding activities and projects that will ensure lasting legacy accomplishments to commemorate the centennial

The two projects submitted by Florence were selected after careful review by the AHAC. Arizona Centennial Legacy Projects must 1) accurately portray a significant aspect of Arizona history; 2) be accessible to a large number of visitors/users; 3) demonstrate collaboration in the planning; 4) produce an enduring product that will live on after 2012; 5) include an educational component; and 6) include a plan for implementation. [Note: To read the full article, click here.]

UA looks at restoring historic 1906 Douglass house

[Source: Eric Swedlund, Daily Star] -- The Douglass House, a turn-of-the-century home once owned by the UA's first academic superstar, has long attracted the attention of preservationists on campus and is now an administration priority for restoration. "There is very significant and sincere interest in restoring the building," said Albert Tarcola, director of facilities management. "It's on my list as No. 1 to be restored." Finished in 1906, the Douglass House, also known as the Cannon/Douglass House, was the second building on the north side of Speedway, following the George E.P. Smith House, both of which are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The house was originally owned by William A. Cannon, a botanist who sold it to A.E. Douglass in 1913. Douglass lived in the house until 1923. Douglass was a Harvard astronomer in 1894 when Percival Lowell recruited him to scout the Arizona Territory for the best observatory site. Douglass worked as Lowell's chief assistant at the Lowell Observatory outside Flagstaff before arriving in Tucson in 1906 to join the UA faculty. At the UA he became known as the father of dendrochronology, the science of tree-ring dating, and was the founder of the Steward Observatory. Restoration will give the university a better public face and promote the university as a good steward of public resources, said R. Brooks Jeffery, preservation-studies coordinator and associate dean of the College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.

[Note: To read the full article, click here. Photo source: Greg Bryan, Daily Star.]

History Channel announces the launch of the Save Our History grant program

[Source: Stacy Goto] -- This year, The History Channel will again award grants of up to $10,000 to fund partnerships between history organizations and schools or youth groups on projects that teach students about their local history and actively engage them in its preservation. History museums, historical societies, preservation organizations, historic sites, libraries, archives, government agencies, and other historical organizations are all eligible to apply.

The History Channel is proud to support the preservation of local history across the country. To date, The History Channel has awarded over 1 million dollars to fund 109 preservation projects across the country. Click here to read descriptions of past Save Our History grant projects and to apply for a grant. The grant application will be posted in January 2008 and will be due Friday, June 6th, 2008. Funded projects can be implemented at any time during the 2008-2009 school year. Should you have any questions about the grant application or process, please email the Save Our History team.

Preservationists urged to submit session proposals for 2008 National Preservation Conference

The National Trust for Historic Preservation invite you to submit proposals for Education Sessions or Poster Presentations for the 2008 National Preservation Conference in Tulsa, OK. The deadline for proposals is Friday, January 11. The Trust is particularly interested in proposals dealing with the following focus areas:

• Green Building. Existing buildings contain embodied energy and other environmental advantages that are important in sustainable communities. What are models for combining green building and preservation? What potential synergies and issues should be addressed? How can both USGBC's LEED point system and preservation standards help realize these potentials?



• Recent Past and Modernism. Why are these resources important? What are the trends, challenges, and opportunities for attracting support for their preservation? What are successful community strategies and models to do this?



• Teardowns and McMansions in Older and Historic Neighborhoods. What are the pros and cons of teardowns? How does a neighborhood determine the vision for its future and craft and implement strategies to achieve that vision? What are the most effective models for neighborhood action when faced with teardowns?



• Urban Revitalization and Adaptive Use. What are the advantages and challenges of a preservation approach to urban revitalization? What strategies and models work best for mid-sized cities? For major urban areas?



• Rural Revitalization. How can preservation strategies gain broader support in rural economic development and farmland preservation programs? What innovative models involve using cultural heritage tourism to the economic benefit of rural areas?



• Historic House Museums. What current trends affect visitation at historic sites? What creative strategies can attract more visitors or identify alternative uses for historic sites?



• Historic Roads and Scenic Byways. What are we learning about ways to promote protection and continued use of historic roads like Route 66? What lessons can we learn from the growing support for scenic byways?

Submitting your proposal is easy and quick. Click here for Education Session and Poster Presentations. Questions? Contact Charlotte D. Bonini, PhD, Senior Education Planner for the Center for Preservation Leadership, by phone 202-588-6095 or email.

State preservationist to talk at the University of New Mexico

[Source: New Mexico Business Weekly] -- Katherine "Kak" Slick will discuss linking historic preservation with sustainability in a public presentation Nov. 30 in Albuquerque. Gov. Bill Richardson appointed Slick as the state historic preservation officer in 2003. With more than three decades of experience, Slick is considered one of the most accomplished historic preservationists in the country, said Chris Wilson, director of the historic preservation and regionalism program at New Mexico State University's School of Architecture and Planning. "She is a visionary who understands how the 40-year-old grassroots historic preservation movement is about the sustainability of the built environment and of our communities," Wilson said in a news release. Slick said that preservationism goes "hand-in-hand" with sustainable development. "For those of us involved in preservation, the idea of being sustainable goes well beyond 'greening' buildings," she said. "It is about being environmentally and culturally responsible, and recognizing the past as an integral part of the present so that communities continue to be viable." The presentation is free and open to the public. It begins at 5 p.m. at UNM's George Pearl Hall at the School of Architecture and Planning on the corner of Central Ave. and Cornell NE.

Camp Naco preservation continues forward march, makes APF's endangered list

[Source: Ted Morris, Herald/Review] -- Thousands of American troops swarmed here long ago, a response to border friction of a different era. A visible reminder of that turbulent 1911-1923 timeframe — the stucco-walled barracks and officers quarters of Camp Naco — has been placed on the Arizona Preservation Foundation’s 2007 Most Endangered Historic Places list. “All of the properties we have named are important historic landmarks in Arizona, but unfortunately are in grave danger of collapse, demolition, or destruction,” said Vince Murray, president of the Arizona Preservation Foundation board. “It is critical that residents and government officials act now to save these elements of their cultural heritage before it’s too late.” The foundation’s mission is to preserve Arizona’s historical, archaeological, architectural and cultural assets. “Compiled by preservation professionals and historians, the list identifies critically endangered cultural resources of major historical significance to the state,” says the foundation’s Web site.

The endangered-list designation is one of a series of positive developments this year as a broad-based community group has rallied to save the deteriorating buildings that once formed an American stronghold on the U.S.-Mexico border. The community was galvanized by an arson fire that gutted some of the noncommissioned officers quarters on May 21, 2006. Leaders from Huachuca City, Cochise College, University of Arizona South, Turquoise Valley Golf Course, Naco Fire Department and other community organizations formed the Camp Naco Arizona Preservation Committee, or CNAPC. In April, the Center for Desert Archeology in Tucson, led by Bill Doelle, sponsored CNAPC in securing a $17,500 grant from the Southwest Foundation for Education and Historic Preservation to initiate preservation work. In May, more than 50 volunteers participated in a cleanup day at the camp. Most of those helpers were students from Fort Huachuca’s Basic Officer Leadership Course.

In June, the town of Huachuca City was awarded an $80,169 Arizona Heritage Preservation Fund grant written by CNAPC. That grant would provide muscle for intial preservation steps: a building condition assessment, ongoing site cleanup and a nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. Perhaps most critical, the Heritage Preservation Fund grant provided about $17,800 toward 2,200 feet of security fencing that Stan’s Fence Co. of Whetstone will soon install around the historic site. The Huachuca City Town Council awarded the contract to Stan’s on Nov. 8. In October, “Initial asbestos abatement by Environmental Strategies Inc. of Tucson was completed around the two camp barracks quadrangles, clearing the way for the building condition assessment,” said local historian Debby Swartzwelder, a member of the Camp Naco Arizona Preservation Committee.

[Note: To read the full article, click here. Photo source: Ted Morris, Herald/Review.]

Yavapai Nation offers cultural tour of tribal lands

[Source: Lynn Ducey, Phoenix Business Journal] -- The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation is offering a cultural heritage tour through tribal lands. Called "The Yavapai Experience," the tour is being offered through one of the nation's commercial ventures, Fort McDowell Adventures. As part of the tour, a professional guide acts as a facilitator between guests and tribal members. Visitors gather around a campfire to hear stories about the tribe's ancient culture, history and heritage from tribal members who were born and raised on the ancestral land of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.

The tour also includes a guided one-mile nature trail walk that depicts how the Yavapai are connected to the Sonoran desert. Visitors can sample authentic Yavapai food with dishes including cabbage stew and fry bread, and the tour also includes a question-and-answer session to help visitors learn more about the nation. The Fort McDowell Yavapai is one of three Yavapai tribes in Arizona. The nation has lived in central Arizona for thousands of years and in 1903 was granted a 25,000-acre reservation 35 miles northeast of Phoenix. The tour is available for groups of four or more. Costs vary.

Scottsdale named a Preserve America community

[Source: City of Scottsdale] -- First Lady Laura Bush has notified Scottsdale that the city has been accepted as a Preserve America community, recognizing its historic preservation efforts. “President Bush and I applaud your achievement,” Mrs. Bush wrote in her notification letter. “As your community shares its story with residents and visitors, you set a great example for others.” Preserve America is an Administration initiative that encourages and supports community efforts to preserve and enjoy the nation’s cultural and natural heritage. The goals of the initiative include a greater shared knowledge about the nation’s past, strengthened regional identities and local pride, increased local participation in preserving the country’s cultural and natural heritage assets, and support for the economic vitality of our communities. Mrs. Bush is the honorary chair.

“This is an important designation for Scottsdale,” said Mayor Mary Manross. “It confirms the community’s commitment to honor our past and the special character that has made Scottsdale such a quality community.” Scottsdale was recognized for the city’s demonstrated commitment to historic preservation and support for heritage tourism activities through a partnership with the Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau. The designation also means Scottsdale is eligible to apply for funding for a range of projects, including tourism, promotion and preservation activities. [Note: To read the full letter from Mrs. Bush, click here.]

Park Service heritage areas catching on

[Source: Ben Evans, Associated Press] -- Every region of the country has its own piece of Americana that locals brag about to visitors. Increasingly, they are asking Congress to help spread the word through a little-known federal program that designates National Heritage Areas. After approving just two dozen such areas since the early 1980s, Congress adopted 10 last year. The House signed off on six more last month, and the wait list is growing. Illinois wants recognition for Abraham Lincoln's early stomping grounds; New York is bidding for the area around Niagara Falls (pictured). Alabama is pushing a region along the Tennessee River where the Tennessee Valley Authority was born and where "Father of the Blues" W.C. Handy first picked a guitar.

Yet for the first time, the program is facing resistance on Capitol Hill from budget hawks and property-rights advocates. The National Park Service has called for a freeze on new designations until lawmakers approve more formal guidelines for the program. "This is a relatively new model for conservation," said John Cosgrove, executive director of the Alliance of National Heritage Areas. "More and more community leaders want to apply it to their own regional stories." Modeled after European practices, heritage areas are billed as a cost-effective, locally driven alternative to government-managed historic sites. The government does not buy property, impose land restrictions or provide staff. In fact, the heritage program is expanding in part because little money is available for new publicly owned park facilities. Instead, grass-roots groups are encouraged to preserve geography and history within livable communities. A heritage designation comes with a federal grant of up to $1 million a year, to be matched with local money. The local groups have flexibility in managing the areas, and the 37 existing sites have taken various approaches since the first was named in 1984, designating a historic canal linking the Great Lakes and the Illinois River. [Note: To read the full article, click here.]

Fort Huachuca kicks-off holiday season with historical tour

[Source: Alicia Barrón, Fox 11 News] -- An Arizona military post will mark the beginning of the holiday season with an annual event. Residents of historic military homes at Fort Huachuca will allow visitors to tour their properties between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Sunday, December 2. The 17th annual Holiday Tour of Historic Homes provides community members the opportunity to tour the Fort Huachuca “Old Post” area, designated as a national landmark. According to a news release, the historic military homes remain as they were constructed over 100 years ago. The foundation for the houses was reportedly laid in 1883.

Also, each home on the tour is named after an individual credited with being instrumental in the development of Fort Huachuca and the Army. Participants will also have the opportunity to enjoy live music, hot drinks and baked goods. Backpacks, strollers, cameras and other recording equipment will not be permitted. Children under 10 years old are not allowed to attend the tour. This yearly event is organized by the Fort Huachuca Community Spouse’ Club with all proceeds benefiting their scholarship program. Tickets may be purchased in advance for $8 at the Fort Huachuca Museum or $10 the day of the event.

Arizona treasures are worth the journey

[Source: J.C. Martin, Daily Star] -- Some of the stunning beauty of Arizona is visible from major highways and national park drives — but many of the state's grandest scenic treasures are off the beaten track. A book called "The Back Roads" (Arizona Highways, $19.95), by Sam Negri, is a guide to some of the best slow-lane routes to splendid scenery. It features a rich array of photographs by some of the top contributors to Arizona Highways magazine. Some years ago, longtime Arizona journalist Negri, who is now an Arizona Daily Star editorial writer, put together a book for Arizona Highways called "Arizona: the Beauty of It All." "I drew on my personal experiences knocking around in obscure places," Negri says of that book, which divided the state into regions and described the natural and social characteristics of each of them.

"Back Roads," Negri says, goes a step farther. It's a guide to 40 trips covering the whole state. If you didn't know the Bureau of Land Management is in the hot tub business, Drive 2 in the "Southeastern Arizona" section — covering a route from Safford to Fort Bowie National Historic Site — offers a look. If you would like to explore the Navajo Reservation, Drives 1, 2 and 3 in the "East of Flagstaff" section will guide you. Working with Arizona Highways editor Bob Albano, Negri has written text and combined short pieces by a handful of veteran Highways writers — including Tucson freelancer Leo Banks — to provide useful and informative copy for this compilation of back-road journeys. Each of the 40 drives comes with a reassuring "Route Finder." The Route Finder gets you to your destination and home again. That, says Negri, was a part of Albano's job. In an e-mail, Albano notes that he "drove each route and prepared the Route Finders with field-gathered information and maps. . . . Veteran back-road drivers know that there is no map that is 100 percent accurate for all roads and sites, and maps vary on the details for any given road or site. "But I'm confident," Albano adds jokingly, "that nine out of 10 travelers will find their way home with these directions." A suggestion: Travelers may want to take their cameras along to record specific experiences because the photographs, while gorgeous, are somewhat generic. [Photo source: Daily Star.]

Arizona Humanities Council seeks new executive director

The Arizona Humanities Council (AHC), the Arizona affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, is seeking an Executive Director to begin in early March 2008. The successful Executive Director will be an innovative and experienced leader who can strategically develop and manage all aspects of the Council, and build community consensus and partnerships under the shared vision set by the 24-member Board of Directors. AHC presently has a staff of seven, and an annual budget of $980,000 funded in part by the federal government, State of Arizona, and private and corporate donors. AHC is not a state agency; founded in 1973 the organization is an independent, nonprofit 501 (c)(3) corporation.

AHC funds, directs, and supports public humanities programming throughout the state to promote public understanding and appreciation of the humanities. AHC awards grants to libraries, museums, and other nonprofits, and also directs its own activities such as the annual Arizona Book Festival, which attracts more than 8,000 people. The salary range for the Executive Director is $75,000 to $80,000, plus benefits. Additional information about AHC can be found on the web site.

Click here to download a PDF of a detailed description of the Executive Director duties and qualifications. Applicants wishing to be considered for the position must send a letter that outlines qualifications with resume or CV and contact information for three references to: Search Committee, The Ellis-Shackelford House, 1242 North Central Avenue, Phoenix AZ 85004-1887. First review of applications is December 10, and applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Route 66 sociologists awarded federal grant

[Source: CCSU Courier] -- In recognition of their outstanding field work, Drs. John Mitrano (right) and Bruce Day (left) of the Central Connecticut State University Department of Sociology have been awarded a grant from the U.S. National Park Service Route 66 Preservation Program. The sociologists, who have led four CCSU student trips along Route 66 in the past five years, are leading scholars and teachers of Route 66 -- that quintessential highway of American culture. Under the grant, CCSU will administer the development of a Route 66 Curriculum and Activity Educator’s Resource Guide. The state-by-state curriculum for Route 66 can be used in a variety of disciplines (i.e., history, sociology, archeology, geography, community studies, urban development, etc.). In addition, this curriculum will be designed for use in the classroom and in the field while traveling on Route 66.

“Each year we conduct this field study trip, we visit a combination of intriguing new sites and our old favorites,” states Dr. Mitrano. “We are constantly meeting new Route 66 enthusiasts, business proprietors, artists, preservationists, musicians, and authors along the way.” As part of the course, students conduct oral histories and interviews with such Route 66 individuals. To date, they have approximately 75 interviews tape recorded and are in the process of transcribing and indexing them. They will be made available for accessing by scholars and historians throughout the world. “A memorable moment is when we bring the students to spend the night in La Posada in Winslow, Arizona,” says Day. “This restored hotel was built to serve the earliest rail service into the American southwest and is a fascinating example of American history. Stepping into this building gives you the sense of turning back time.” [Note: To read the full article, click here. Photo source: CCSU Courier.]