“Wrap It At The Y West” has NOTHING to do with the Chamber of Commerce and NOTHING to do with the Sedona City Council.

The Verde Valley Sanctuary is a local Charity, which provides refuge for women and children fleeing domestic violence. The event currently running in Bashas Plaza is an annual fund raiser. Just about everything is generously donated, the premises, the paper and ribbon, and most of all the time of the volunteers, who wrap presents for free for those wishing to make a donation to the Verde Valley Sanctuary.

You would also the opportunity to buy items from the Twice Nice Gift Store. The money from that goes directly to support the Verde Valley Sanctuary.

Sadly this year there are a number of young children at the Sanctuary, so there is a Diaper Drive. Please feel free to drop something, any size, in at the venue.

So, ignore the petty Sedona politics. Drop in and have a present wrapped. No presents to wrap, then just drop in and make a donation. Perhaps drop some diapers by, or, if none of that appeals to you, then why not just pop your head in the door and thank the volunteers for their effort.

Goodwill to all.

What a great idea, how about all of us get out from behind our keyboards this holiday season and go help some charity in Sedona. It will make someone less fortunate feel loved and wanted. I was up at the tree lighting in Uptown and it felt so great to see those little kids faces light up when Santa showed up. Since my grand kids are so much older, I sort of forgot what those darling faces can look like at that age. Since I enjoyed the little kids so much, I’m going to give my time to meals on wheels for a few weeks and help out the “older” kids. To me, a smiling face is a smiling face.

Actually a little more $40,000 + but you will just say that is bull…. Because you have no a idea
ss

Novel concept you espouse but one making no sense at all. Not my job to pay for any outside audit as I already pay enough taxes. Don’t you get it? Neither the Regional Chamber, Lodging Council nor the City want a real audit……and that is scary to say the least! If they have nothing to hide then they can combine their monies and do the right thing.

@West Sedona Resident: Are you referencing “Funny” as being Jessica Williamson who got fired from City of Sedona?

@steve Segner: if you are correct on what the City pays its employees – than how come we are so short on police officers who leave here to get paid much better? Oh, Damn, I forgot! City pays for Regional Chamber, transforming the teen center at $20K/month over to a new entity, pays for almost every handout group asking for money……….and doesn’t pay our police enough to keep them here. Hummm How do you answer that one?

The lodging group has been raising rates with zero concept of attracting more than a night or two guest…that means repeat guest are not even considered….just your getting away with a rate scam and daily numbers.

And, yes, Mr segner just what do you pay your housekeepers?

You also said a small town payroll (for city) should be the same for a big city. What are you talking about? A small town has many less issues, etc, than a large city and there is NO connection at all! You said: “The city of Sedona Pays what it need to pay to get great people to come and work in. Sedona”. So why are we short of the needed cops?

@Peter – one can always wish for a Christmas Wish to come true! One can always wish for our “leaders” (?) to get real and transparent and discontinue their excessively close behavior and resistant to outside influence, other than those they have chosen….. which translates to their incestuous behavior. .

Specifically Ms. Daines states: “The City isn’t holding the lease for that facility. My understanding is that Verde Valley Sanctuary is the one who leased the space to use the present wrapping as a fundraiser for their non-profit. This is not part of Holiday Central or the City’s holiday events/activities.”

So, how about we give credit where credit is due? Here we have a very worthwhile cause, Verde Valley Sanctuary and, based on its own merit and creativity, is making a concerted effort to provide a public service which at the same time will assist in funding their non-profit.

Maybe it’s time to return to “old” Sedona methods and, when given the opportunity, encourage this type of charitable fund-raising versus the new trend of enlisting public funds at council meetings to be used for special interests.

Is it possible for support to be rallied to encourage more non-profits to create public participation in similar events? Just a thought.