Feb 05 Around Your Town: 02/05/12 - Sierra Vista Herald

A two-vehicle accident occurred just before 8 a.m. Saturday morning on Charleston Road near Colombo Avenue. According to Officer Nick Lamay with the Sierra Vista Police Department, a female driver of one of the vehicles was airlifted to Tucson for treatment. The cause of the accident is still under investigation, Lamay said, although drugs or alcohol are not suspected to be a factor at this time. (Mark Levy • Herald/Review)

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Sierra Vista United Methodist Church (SVUMC) will hold its 8th Annual Western Heritage on Feb. 5. This special Sunday recalls the bold men and women who built the Old West. All services will feature special music by the SVUMC Choir, the Sugartones, Thunder Mountain 4, Desert Song, The Cochise Chordsmen, and the Arthritis Brothers. The message will be in the unique form of a western drama, presented via old-time radio format. Wear western duds and plan to enjoy the open microphone between services, where you can read poems or tell western stories. Plan on staying for the Cowboy Steak Dinner, which follows the noon service. Tickets are $12 or $5 for hamburgers or hotdogs. Services are at 7:30, 9 and 10:30 a.m. The church is located at the corner of Buffalo Soldier Trail and St. Andrews Drive.  

Sylvia Rosenkrans is the featured artist for February at Huachuca Art Gallery at the Mall at Sierra Vista. A meet the artist reception will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Feb. 5 at the gallery. The Gallery is located near Dillard’s and is open Monday to Wednesday  from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. For details, call (520) 208-3661.

Peer to Peer PTSD (military service related) Support Group for Significant Others (AVVA 1020 Program) will meet from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 5 in the Mona Bishop Room at the library. This meeting is for spouses, family, and friends veterns and active duty military. Must be 18 to participate. Free child care will be offered. For details, contact Rose at 378-9330 or  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Bisbee’s well-known artist Judy Perry is enlisting help of individuals and groups to create a massive, colorful timeline of Bisbee’s art heritage accompanied by notebooks with photos, posters, programs and news articles about the various artists who did or do call Bisbee home. Timeline and art notebooks will be on display in the Copper Queen Library meeting room from Feb. 6 to Feb. 24 during regular library hours. For details, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The next Sierra Vista Woman’s Club meeting will be held on Feb. 7 at the Pueblo Del Sol Country Club. Meet and greet begins at 11 a.m. followed by lunch at 11:30. The speaker will be Carrie Gustavson, Director of the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum and Co-Chair of the Cochise County Arizona Centennial Committee. Women interested in membership should call Patricia Sechrest at 378-3456.

The Buena High School band program will present two concerts in February. The Buena Concert and Symphonic Band will perform Tuesday, Feb. 7 and the Honor Band will perform Thursday, Feb. 9. Both concerts are free to attend and begin at 7 p.m. at the Buena Performing Arts Center. In addition to its full concert program, the Honor Band will premier the school’s alma mater, recommissioned by Buena alum Daniel Leo Simpson, class of 1969.

The Greater Huachuca Area Democratic Club (GHADC) will hold its monthly meeting  at 6 p.m. on Feb. 7 at the Cochise County Democratic Office, 1010 E. Fry Blvd. This meeting will determine the club’s activities for this election year. This will also be a planning meeting in order to solidify our goals and objectives for 2012. For details, call Phil Micheau at 459-8728.

Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America, Cochise County Chapter 1020, will meet at 4 p.m. Feb. 7 in the Mona Bishop Room at the library. This meeting is open to all individuals including veterans of all eras. For details, contact Rose at 378-9330  or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Vietnam Veterans of America, Cochise County Chapter 1020, will meet at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 7 in the Mona Bishop Room at the library. This meeting is open to all Vietnam Era Veterans. New Members must bring a copy of their DD214. For details, contact Aaron at 378-9330 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The American Red Cross will host a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Center for Academic Success, 900 Carmelita Dr. To Schedule an appointment, call 439-3528. Walk-ins are also welcome.

The Sierra Vista Winter Visitors Program will continue at 9 a.m. Feb. 8 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 2145 S. Coronado Dr., with a presentation by Fry Fire Chief Bill Miller regarding the Monument Fire. For details, call Jim Behnke at 803-6810 or Ron Witt at 459-0929.

The Center for Lifelong Learning will present an African Film Festival Discussion with Anatole Balma, PhD, from 12:10 to 1 p.m. Feb. 8 in the Community Outreach Building, Room 702, on the Cochise College Sierra Vista Campus.  Balma researched language policy and culture in the Sub-Saharan Africa region for his doctoral research. More information about Lunch Lecture dates are published at www.cochise.edu/cll.

Sierra Vista Regional Health Center’s Wellness Depot will be presenting an informational talk on “Sugar Blues.” Jennifer Churella, CHHC and a nutrition counselo,r has designed this class to permanently change your relationship with sugar. You will leave this class understanding the causes of your sugar cravings and you’ll receive practical tools for dealing with them.This presentation will be held at 1 p.m.  Feb. 8 the Wellness Depot. For details, call 459-8210.

The Sierra Vista’s Parkinson’s Disease Support Group meets on the second Wednesday of each month in the Mona Bishop room of the Sierra Vista Public Library.  The next meeting is slated for 1:15 to 3 p.m. Feb. 8. For details, call 458-5870.

The Center for Lifelong Learning will present “From the River to the Peaks: Flowers and a Few Other Things” with Betsy Kunzer from 12:10 to 1 p.m. Feb. 8 in the Community Outreach Building, Room 702, on the Cochise College Sierra Vista Campus. The emphasis will be on flowers, but a lot of other things will creep in along the way. More information about Lunch Lecture dates are published at www.cochise.edu/cll.

Birders of all levels are invited to participate in upcoming bird walks sponsored by the Friends of the San Pedro River. The walks are scheduled for 8 a.m. Feb. 8 and 25 and depart from the San Pedro House, 9800 E. Hwy. 90. There is no charge for the walks, however, donations are accepted to support docent programs. For details, call 459-2555.

The next HASRA (Huachuca Area School Retiree’s Association) meeting will be held at 10:15 a.m. Feb. 9 in the Mona Bishop Room at the Sierra Vista library. Nancy Dever, retired special education teacher, will present a program on autism. She has had extensive training in working with autistic children and currently helps both parents and teachers of children with autism in Cochise County.  New retirees and retired school employees from any state are welcome to attend. For details, call Roger at 456-9114.

Relay For Life Teams will meet from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at Sierra Vista United Methodist Church, located at St. Andrews Drive & Buffalo Soldier Trail. Relay For Life is a life-changing event that helps our community celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. It’s a time to share, remember and celebrate. For details, contact Lori at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (520) 249-8514.

The Lincoln Day Dinner, hosted by the Cochise County Republican Committee, will be held at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Knights of Columbus Building. Attorney General Tom Horne will be the guest speaker.  Tickets are $45 per person. Reservations are required and can be made by calling Dick Haines at 458-8029 or by sending checks payable to “Cochise County Republican Committee” and mailing to CCRC, P.O. Box 615, Sierra Vista, AZ  85636.

VFW Post 9972 Ladies Auxiliary will host a Mexican dinner from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10 at the post, 549 Veterans Dr. Meal includes two beef tacos, rice and beans, salad and dessert. Cost is $8 and includes live entertainment until midnight. For details, call Reba at 236-5311.

CANTER (Cochise Area Network of Therapeutic Equestrian Resources) is holding a fund raising dinner dance, “Hearts and Horses,” on Feb. 11 at the Elks Lodge in Sierra Vista. The night out will include dinner, dancing and a silent auction. Music will be by Sally and Clayton. To buy your $40 ticket to support therapeutic riding for those with disabilities or to donate to the Silent Auction, please call Marcia at 459-4868.

The Mule Mountain Democrat Club will continue its membership drive at their meeting on Feb. 11 at the El Cobre Restaurant in Bisbee. A no-host breakfast will be available at 9:30 and the meeting will start at 10 a.m. Membership for the year is $10. The agenda will include a report of the state Democrat party meeting and plans for 2012.

A Mardi Gras dinner-dance with New Orleans-style food and a DJ will be held at 6:15 p.m. Feb. 11 and will be sponsored by Our Lady’s Auxiliary of Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church. Tickets at $18 will be available after weekend masses or by calling the church office at 378-2720. Tickets will not be sold at the door, as there’s limited seating. This fundraiser will benefit certain organizations around our community.

Sierra Vista United Methodist Church is again offering free citizenship classes to persons wanting to study for the interview and exam for U.S. Citizenship.  The ten-week series of classes will be offered on Saturdays from 1 to 3 p.m. in the church’s Fellowship Hall.  Registration is at 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 11 and classes begin that same day.  For details, call 366-5664, 378-7079 or 378-3352.  

The next Bisbee Wellness Initiative Complementary and Alternative Therapies Clinic will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 11 at St. John’s Episcopal Church Fellowship Hall, located at 19 Sowles Ave. in Old Bisbee.  For directions and more information email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.bisbeewellness.org.

The Sierra Vista Environmental Operations Park (EOP), also known as the waste water treatment plant, is open for bird walks each Sunday morning. The walks take about 2 hours and are led by docents from Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory (SABO), Huachuca Audubon Society (HAS) and the Friends of the San Pedro River (FSPR). The walks begin at 8 a.m. Feb. 11, 18 and 25 and depart from the viewing platform inside the EOP. The entrance is located on SR 90 between mileage markers 324 and 325 on the north side of the highway. For details, call 432-1388.

The Friends of the San Pedro River will conduct interpretive walks along the river at 9 a.m on Feb. 11,18, and 25. All walks depart from the San Pedro House, 9800 E Hwy. 90, Sierra Vista. The San Pedro River features 82 species of mammals, dozens of reptiles and amphibians and nearly 350 species of birds.  It is the last free flowing river in the Southwest. Dress appropriately for the weather, bring drinking water and use sun protection.  For details, call 459-2555.

The Huachuca Area Republican Women’s Club will meet for lunch on Feb. 14 at Pueblo del Sol Country Club. The deadline to RSVP is Feb. 12. Registration and social time begins at 10:30 a.m., followed by lunch and a program at 11 a.m. Featured speaker will be Bob Murphy, Chairman of the Sierra Vista Regional Hospital Center Foundation. He will present an overview of the many ways in which the Foundation supports our Hospital and their future endeavors. Also in attendance will be Eva Dickerson, the Hospital Foundation Manager. Luncheon cost is $15; walk-ins are welcome and will be charged $17.  For details or to RSVP, call Kathy at 459-0208. New members and guests are always welcome to attend.

Village Meadows Baptist Church is hosting Keith Longbotham, a country singer from Nashville, at 6 p.m. Feb. 12 at the church, 1407 El Camino Real. Keith’s credits include several recorded CD’s, appearances on local and national television, and personal appearances all over the country.  He has a unique blend of musical talent, humor, and sincerity. Performing with Keith are Chris Marion and T.J. Klay. Chris plays keyboard and writes gospel music and children’s musicals; one of his compositions has been nominated for a Dove award. T.J. Klay plays mandolin, guitar, and is one of the finest harmonica players in the country. This is a free concert. For details, call 458-4500.

The Thunder Mountain Running Club will host the 2012 Moson Road 10k on Feb. 12. Registration begins at 7:30 and the race begins at 8:30 a.m. at the entrance to Murry Springs along the  northern section of Moson Road, between Highway 90 and Charlseton Road. Cost is $8 for members and $10 for non-members. For details, call Jann Weiss at 249-4369. Note: Parking will not be allowed on BLM land.

The Cochise College Center for Lifelong Learning and Sierra Vista Art Department will host Zapotec rug weaver Alex Martinez of Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca, for a free presentation from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 13 in room 702 at Cochise College in Sierra Vista. Martinez is from a family of master weavers that have been part of a 100-year tradition of weaving rugs and tapestries of the highest quality, using ancient methods of carding and spinning wool used by their ancestors. Martinez will speak about the creative process of making the rugs, and he will have several rugs with him on display and available for purchase.

The Sierra Vista Community Coalition will host a meeting from noon to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Elks Lodge, 1 Elks Lane in Sierra Vista. Sally Riggs will present “Keys to Sustaining a Coalition: What the Research Tells Us.” Nicole Luciani will also offer a Suicide Prevention presentation. In attendance will be Cherry Creek Radio General Manager Randy Sueskind. For details, call Gwen at 458-5280.

The Parent Connection for Autism meets every second Tuesday of the month at the Oscar Yrun Community Center. The next meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 14. The Parent Connection for Autism is a social group for parents to talk to one another and teachers and hosts outside speakers to help support students with transition, social life and high school inclusion. For details, contact Laura Ellis at 255-0172.

The Sierra Vista Winter Visitors Program continues at 9 a.m. Feb. 15 with Duties of a Probation Officer presented by Jim Brt. The program is hosted by Immanuel Lutheran Church located at 2145 S. Coronado and is open to the public. Doors open at 8, coffee and donuts are served at 8:30 and the presentation begins at 9 a.m. and ends one hour later. For details, call Jim at 803-6810 or Ron at 459-0929.

The Southeastern Arizona Contractors Association will meet at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 15 at PDS Country Club. Supervisor Pat Call and County Engineer  Karen Riggs will talk about the recently awarded storm water recharge pilot project to Cochise County. They will also touch on potential longer term projects within the Upper San Pedro watershed. The public is invited to attend and lunch is $15 at the door.

Stephen Pike, concert keyboardist and inspirational speaker, will perform for Happy Achers, the Methodist seniors group, at a potluck gathering at 11:10 a.m. Feb. 16 in Fellowship Hall, Sierra Vista United Methodist Church. Stephen never learned how to read or write music, but 61 years later is still creating music with a unique approach. Everyone 50 years or over is welcome at Happy Achers. Please plan to arrive before 11:10 a.m. and enjoy a good meal, a great program and warm fellowship. The church is located on  St. Andrews Drive at Buffalo Soldier Trail. 

The 19th Annual High Desert Gardening & Landscaping Conference will be held Feb. 16 and 17 at the Windmere Hotel & Conference Center. The wonderful world of Southwest gardening has unique opportunities and challenges. The Conference benefits all gardeners, novice and seasoned, with 20 individual sessions focusing on gardening, food production, landscaping, native plants and environmental stewardship.  Fees:  2 Days $100, 1 Day $65 which includes breakfasts, lunches, and a closing reception on Friday, and many on-site vendors.  For details, call (520) 458-8278 (ext. 2141) or visit www.ag.arizona.edu/cochise/mg/.

The Cochise Chapter of the Arizona Native Plant Society will hold its next meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 16 at the old Sheriff’s Station conference room, 4001 Foothills Drive. Bob Hermann will present a program called “Wildflowers  of the Huachuca Mountains.” Meetings are always open to the public.

Coronado Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) will conduct its next meeting at 6 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 156 W. Kayetan. Social hour commences at 6 with dinner served at 6:30 p.m. The menu will be Cornish Game Hen. The invited guest speaker is MG Gregg C. Potter (tentative) Commanding General, USA Intelligence Center of Excellence and Fort Huachuca. Cost of the meal is $25.  Make check payable to Coronado Chapter, MOAA, and mail to Reservations, Coronado Chapter MOAA, PO Box 1685, Sierra Vista, AZ  85636. For details, call Dave Breen at 378-1763.

The Boys & Girls Club of Bisbee is assisting the Cochise County Humane Society by selling 2012 calendars with photos of local dogs for $10. Club hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. All proceeds support Cochise County Humane Society. The club will be selling them through February.  

The City of Sierra Vista Commission on Cultural Diversity is seeking participants for the 2012 Cultural Diversity Fair. Those interested in participating must register by Feb. 17. The fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 10 at Buena High School and will feature cultural exhibits, food, and entertainment from many countries around the world.  If you are interested in participating, call Chris Swan at 417-6980.

A Homeschool Classes Information Meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 17, March 9, and April 5.   Classical Conversations (CC) meets once a week for homeschool classes following a classical, Christian approach.  Those interested should RSVP to Melissa Bravenec at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (808) 352-6701 to get location information.

A rose bush pruning demonstration will be givenfrom 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 18 at the University of Arizona South rose garden, 1140 N. Colombo Ave. The demonstration will be given by Cochise County Master Gardeners. Bring your pruners to this free demonstration. For details, call 458-8278 (ext. 2141).

The Mountain Vista Golden K Kiwanis Club will be holding a used book sale on Feb. 18 and 19 and again on Feb. 25 and 26 at the Sierra Vista Mall during mall hours. Proceeds go to support children’s programs in our community.

The Sierra Vista Community Gardens will hold an open meeting at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 20 at Pantano Christian Church, 300 Wilcox Dr. The group will discuss the supplies needed for the raised beds project being conducted by the scouts. Meetings are held monthly on the third Monday of the month. All are invited.

The Air Force Association’s Cochise Chapter 107 will host it’s first quarter membership meeting at 5 p.m. Feb. 20 at Landmark Cafe. New Chapter member Bob Morton will be the guest speaker. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. and costs $15, which includes drink, tax, and tip. For more details and to RSVP, contact Gary at (520) 236-3335 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The Sierra Vista Symphony League presents the 5th Annual “Men Who Cook” event from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Windemere Hotel. Twenty celebrity Chefs will demonstrate their creative talents for attendees to sample along with a fine glass of wine. Tickets are $40.00 and are available at Ace Hardware, Dillard’s, Safeway and the Symphony Office at 458-5189. Only 200 tickets will be sold. For information about Sponsorship, please contact the Symphony Office. 

The 2012 Senior Softball season opens on March 4. For details on how to participate, attend a free Senior Softball barbecue at Veteran’s Park, Ramada #2, from noon to 4 p.m. on Feb 25. New players are welcomed to the league and will be placed on teams regardless of skill level. Men over 45 and women over 25 are eligible to play. League play takes place in Spring, from March through May, and in Fall, from September through November. All year long, however, voluntary practices are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Veteran’s Park softball field. 

Singing Wind Bookshop will host “Flora, Fauna and Foods of the Desert,” from 1 to 5 p.m. Feb. 26 at the bookstore.Included will be a native foods cooking demonstration by Carolyn Neithammer. Also in attendance will be  Javelina on her Doorstep author Lorna Kraemer, Harley Shaw & Mara Weisenberger (Twelve Hundred Miles by Horse and Burro), Janet Taylor (The Green Southwest Cookbook), and Fred Rose (Mountain Wildflowers of Southern Arizona). Take I-10 exit 304 (Ocotillo Rd) 2.4 miles north, then right on Singing Wind Road.  For details, call (520) 586-2425.

The Sierra Vista Winter Visitors Program continues at 9 a.m. Feb. 22 with a presentation regarding the duties of a probation officer. The program is hosted by Immanuel Lutheran Church located at 2145 S. Coronado and is open to the public. Doors open at 8, coffee and donuts are served at 8:30 and the presentation begins at 9 a.m. and ends one hour later. For details, call Jim at 803-6810 or Ron at 459-0929.

The Patterson Observatory and the Huachuca Astronomy Club invite you to a public viewing of the night sky at 6:30 p.m., weather permitting, on Feb. 23 at the observatory. Various star clusters, nebulae, galaxies and planets, including Jupiter and it’s brightest moons, will be on the list of things to see. Everyone is invited to this free event. The observatory is located at 1140 N. Colombo Dr., on the University of Arizona South campus, just east of Cochise College.

The SVRHC Auxiliary will host their annual Candlelight Ball fundraiser on March 3. Included in the program is a 50/50 raffle. Tickets are now on sale and the cost is $20 each. Payments accepted are cash, checks, or credit card. The drawing will take place during the Ball and you do not need to be present to win. You can purchase tickets at these locations: The SVRHC Auxiliary Gift Shop located near the hospital’s main Emergency entrance, the hospital’s Human Resources office, and the SVRHC Wellness Depot. For details, call (520) 417-3129.

The annual 1880s Historic Costume Ball will be held from 6:30 to 10 p.m. March 3 at St. David School on Highway 80 seven miles south of Benson. The ball raises funds for the restoration of the historic school building. A donation of $5/person, which includes cookies, lemonade and live music, is requested. For details, call Jerry at (520) 230-0047 or Judith at (520) 255-3217.