Sedona Chapel area

Sedona AZ (September 7, 2010) – Approximately 135 neighbors gathered in the south half of Bell Rock Drive on Sunday evening, September 5, 2010, to make new friends and chat with familiar ones for what many said they hoped would be the first annual Chapel Area street party.

The date was chosen to coincide with Sedona’s first-ever “Day in the Heart of Relationship,” the brain child of West Sedona resident Susan Henkels. Henkels’ vision is to deepen relationships one at a time by dedicating a day to remind us to appreciate one another, including our pets.

To emphasize the selflessness of appreciation, it was suggested residents bring non-monetary gifts to offer one another. Finding the right fit for a gift prompted conversations outside most people’s comfort zones, e.g. asking a stranger, “Would you like some apples?” It also facilitated learning a little more about one another, such as offering sweet basil to people and learning quite a few grow it in their own gardens! Other gifts that were seen passing around included recipes, plant cuttings, garden produce, children’s adhesive stickers and a puzzle demonstration that entertained like a magic trick!

In addition, people brought plates and plates of cookies, dozens of cupcakes, bags and bags of chips and bowls of dips as wells as watermelon, homemade lemonade and iced-tea, and bottled water. Music filled the street, a dozen children darted about and occasionally a dog or two barked as people strolled up and down to sample different goodies and see who else was there.

Sixty-three emergency information packets called “File of Life” were distributed, one per household, to store medical and contact information in a red magnetic sleeve on the outside of the refrigerator.

For those who missed out, a packet can be picked up at 115 Bell Rock Drive or 56 Lynx Drive until September 15 when the balance will be returned to the fire department. About 40 new subscribers will be added to the weekly email newsletter, Chapel Chimes. Unopened snacks were donated to the Sedona Food Bank.

“I was so impressed and inspired by last night and made some new neighborhood friends,” emailed Lucida Olson the next morning. “I hope you get lots of good press and that it encourages other neighborhoods to develop their own community.”

The event was organized by Chapel Chimes publisher Lin Ennis and Rabbi Alicia Magal, and co-sponsored by Jim & Phyllis Erick and Eric Horn. Many people contributed ideas, signage, traffic direction, food and volunteered to pull the event together. Thanks goes out to all, especially to those who attended and had such a good time they stayed talking in the street for an hour after dark!

Article submitted by Lin Ennis, SedonaEye.com contributing writer. 

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