NAU staff has dubbed the event set for Aug. 6 the Living Green Festival. It will take place in conjunction with Prescott Valley’s Creative Energy Fair, now entering its fourth year.

“It has always been the Creative Energy Fair,” said Kristi Jones, administrative specialist in the town’s Community Development Department. “From year to year we change the tag line,” which will be the Living Green Festival this year.

NAU and town officials also are inviting high school and college students to participate in NAU-Yavapai’s sustainable art challenge and for students and community members to take part in the urban farming challenge.

They are asking art challenge contestants to submit artwork created from found, recycled and/or reclaimed materials.

Entry forms are available at www.yavapai.nau.edu or from nauyavapaiblog.wordpress.com. Participants must submit a statement explaining their projects, how they created them, what materials they used and the costs. They may not spend more than $35 for materials.

Contestants may register their application forms via email (yavapai@nau.edu), fax (771-6117) or in person by July 25, and deliver their projects before 5 p.m. Aug. 1 or 2 at the NAU-Yavapai campus at 7351 E. Civic Circle. They must retrieve their projects by Aug. 9, three days after the event.

For the farming challenge, participants must plan, build and carry out an urban farming system that contributes to the area and includes a sustainable plan that allows others to carry it out.

The projects must be original, include a completed entry form (from the above web links) and be registered by July 25.

Their spending limit is $100, and they are encouraged to use recycled and reclaimed materials. The project proposal must mention the materials, how much they cost and where to find them.

Their projects need to be practical for a backyard or city environment. They need to be sensitive to area water needs, suitable for neighborhoods and compatible with homeowners’ association rules.

Entrants must explain how their projects contribute to the overall community, and how someone can duplicate the projects.

Project displays must be 40 by 70 inches or smaller. If entrants need more space, they need to document their projects and create a display using photos.

Participants must meet the same entry deadlines as those entering the sustainable art challenge.

Event organizers also are seeking vendors who would like to promote energy-saving or green businesses. For more information, call Ruth Mayday at 759-3058 or Jones at 759-3069 to arrange for displays at the Creative Energy Fair.

The events will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 6 on the Civic Center grounds.

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Domestic rainwater harvesting systems are relatively simple.  They usually use sloped ground or a roof gutter system to collect the falling rain into a storage container.  To project the amount of rainwater a system can harvest, simply multiply the yearly precipitation of the harvesting area times the collection spaces to result in a total yearly collection.  For purpose of the example we will assume that we are harvesting rain from a 2000 square foot roof.  The Prescott area averages about 20 inches of precipitation per year.  It is also assumed that you can collect 4/10 of a gallon of water from one inch of precipitation on one square foot of rooftop.  The formula is as follows.

Total Collection = (.4) X (20” rainfall per year) X (2000 square foot collection area)

Total Collection = 16,000 gallons

The water can then be stored in a variety of containers, from underground storage tanks to typical 55 gallon drums.  The dispersion systems used can also range from simple to complex.  For irrigation or livestock drinking sources, the water can be gravity fed through hoses into the proper troughs or locations that need to be watered.  For human consumption, the collected water will be run through a filtration system and then pumped into the homes plumbing system.  Often times the city water will be mixed with the rainwater into an underground storage tank before filtration to ensure that all of the water supplied to the house for domestic use is filtered and pure.

Rainwater harvesting systems can be a very effective solution for decreasing a water bill for a rural property owner and making a serious contribution towards conserving water for future generations. To find the system right for you, contact an expert in your area.  There are hundreds of resources online that can get you started in the right direction.

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The Prescott rodeo began to gain notoriety in 1933 with such celebrities as Andy Devine, Will Rogers, and Jimmy Winerton in attendance. Arizona senator Barry Goldwater was took part in many of the events in his early days.  In the mid-1930s, the rodeo was moved into its current location at the Yavapai County Fairgrounds, with funding from the federal government. In the 1940’s, a group of volunteers called the 20-30 club kept the rodeo going despite the temporary loss of many of its participants due to their involvement in WWII.  In 1979, Prescott Frontier Days was formed.  This group of hard working volunteers host the Prescott rodeo and make sure to uphold and continue the legacy of the USA’s oldest rodeo.

Today, the professional rodeo has become a multi-billion dollar industry spanning across 750 different venues in the United States.  People come from across the southwest come to Prescott to experience the beautiful cool weather and western charm that this northern Arizona real estate has to offer.  It is an event for all members of the family with a fine arts and crafts show, a parade, a kiddie parade, the exciting rodeo events and a remarkable fireworks display at the end of the evening.

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By the end of the evening, 2,400 people had come through the doors of the historic downtown theater for the holiday music – and for a glimpse of the restoration that was under way.

That response was just one indication of the interest that the massive $1.4 million restoration has generated in the community.

Since July 2009, the theater has been “dark” to make way for the project, which includes everything from a complete facelift of the interior to a restoration of the historic marquee at the entrance on Gurley Street.

This weekend, locals will have another opportunity to see the work-in-progress.

By Cindy Barks

The Daily Courier

Check out the details here:  http://www.elksoperahouse.com/

More interesting renovation information about the Elks Opera House in Prescott, AZ : http://www.elksoperahousefoundation.org/

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MTE’s network introduces traditional phone service for the first time and improves Internet speed, reliability and affordability over prior options. Previously, both were available through a satellite subscription service or local wireless broadband antenna system with varying connection quality and speed, depending on a home’s position in relation to the antenna. The new network overcomes the issues by rolling out fiber-optic cable directly to each ranch property.

The network currently offers download speeds of 1 megabyte per second (Mbps) and is projected to increase to nearly 5 Mbps by the end of 2009. At those speeds, it will rival or surpass the speed of most networks available in metropolitan areas, and it still has plenty of room to grow. MTE Regional Manager, Dennis Farrington, predicts that it could one day see speeds of “50 Mbps or more as broadband access becomes increasingly important to our lives.”

Fiber optic Internet and telephone service are an example of the state-of-the-art infrastructure elements that distinguish this Prescott Arizona property offering from all others. From gated entries and paved roads to underground electric and individual wells on each ranch estate, the 4,900-acre community was planned to preserve its pristine setting while offering owners every modern convenience. The developer, Peter Gooding of True West Companies, used his more than 20 years experience developing rural properties, including several similar ranch-style developments in Arizona, to create an environmentally sensitive, sustainable community of 120 ranch estates ranging from 36 to 51 acres each.

His experience is evident from the moment you enter the property. LV Ranch Estates’ paved roads wind around hills and groves of pinon and juniper trees, rather than over or through them, and its underground electric lines further preserve the area’s inherent beauty. LV Ranch Estates offers an authentic, unspoiled natural setting of lush meadows, rolling pinon and juniper covered hills, and rare groves of Arizona black walnuts.

And abundant vegetation can only mean one thing: plenty of water. LV Ranch Estates sits on an enormous aquifer. Each ranch estate’s newly drilled well produces more than enough water for multiple uses such as irrigating pastures and vineyards, and supplying water for a private swimming hole.

Even though Arizona Public Service Co. (APS) provides electricity to all parcels, residents may opt to go off the grid and generate their own power through solar panels and other alternative means. LV Ranch Estates enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine a year and APS will pay residents for the power they generate above their household requirements.

Keeping with the eco-friendly design principles, the entire community has been fenced using cedar posts and stays harvested from trees cleared during road construction. The four-strand “cowboy” fence is built to work with their area’s plentiful wildlife, which includes elk, deer, antelope and native javelina. Its lowest strand is not barbed to allow antelope to slip beneath unharmed, while elk and deer can easily leap over the top strand. The unobtrusive and authentic design maintains the natural aesthetic of the property and allows views of the beautiful surrounding Sullivan Buttes, Granite Mountain, and San Francisco Peaks.

At the entries, old-fashioned ranch fencing meets state-of-the-art electronic gates to keep the occasional wandering ranch animal in and unwanted visitors out. Wireless and keypad access allow owners to enjoy both convenient access and privacy. The new telephone system also permits easy linkage between home and gate to simplify access for visiting family members and friends.

Once inside the Arizona ranch land, LV Ranch Estates’ generous 36- to 51-acre sites allow enough room for the most ambitious plans, while common sense development standards assure landowners their investment’s value will endure for years. From off-grid, sustainable ranches to sophisticated equestrian estates, LV Ranch Estates’ spacious parcels offer ample room for creativity without concern for conflicting tastes and styles.

In spite of the current economic downturn, LV Ranch Estates are selling quickly, with only about seventeen remaining available. “I’ve been pleasantly surprised,” said Gooding. “Properties have been selling faster in these past four months than they ever have! People tell us we have a pretty irresistible combination of natural beauty, modern infrastructure, and land value. ”

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1. LV Ranch Estates Get Fiber Optic Phone and High-Speed Internet Service
2. Organic Fencebuilding Project Wraps Up at LV Ranch Estates

MTE, which operates five similar exchanges in Arizona, applied for permission to service the area in September of 2008. The plan positioned MTE as a utility provider, subject to regulation by both the ACC and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This type of structure guarantees local residents receive reliable and reasonably priced coverage. MTE then upped the ante by choosing to install fiber-optic cable instead of traditional copper wire, thereby delivering superior speed and reduced fire risk–both important considerations in rural communities.

Access to adequate telephone and Internet coverage can be a frustrating trade-off for rural homeowners. It’s a struggle residents outside of Prescott, Arizona have been dealing with for years and has made life awkward at times for vacationers and homeowners alike. Even though the Prescott AZ property developer of LV Ranch Estates, True West Companies, provided a community-wide wireless Internet and telephone service, a fiber-optic network offers owners an attractive and more reliable alternative.

While all area residents will receive coverage under the new plan, those looking to build in the area will see the most seamless integration. Dennis Farrington, MTE Southwest Operations Manager, points out that, “It’s easiest and least expensive to provide service during the construction phase when ditches are open,” adding, “Current homes will simply have to dig a new conduit trench as the cable is drawn to the house.”

With seventeen 36 to 52-acre ranch estates still available in the sprawling 4,900-acre development, integration will be almost effortless during the construction phase. The new service also provides an ideal solution for the developer, Peter Gooding Sr., who describes LV Ranch Estates as offering an “authentic rural experience without having to sacrifice any modern conveniences.”

“Telephone and Internet service is one of the top concerns of prospective LV Ranch Estates buyers,” said Gooding. “We provide water via a well on each parcel and underground electric service, so reliable communication was really the last piece of the puzzle. Now, thanks to MTE’s fiber optic network, owners can enjoy one of the most convenient features of urban living in an unspoiled rural setting of stunning natural beauty.”

Flexibility is another benefit of the plan. Residents can now choose between traditional phone services or voice-over-internet-protocol (VOIP) services, such as Vonage or other popular services.

VOIP is a huge aid to those with more than one home, because it allows them to use the same phone number at multiple locations. Rather than being tied-into a phone line, users access their line by logging into their VOIP provider via the Internet and attaching a compatible phone to their computer. It’s a great way to simplify communication issues between homes, and offers better call quality and reliability than cell phones in rural areas.

Gooding echoed a similar sentiment, admitting that he likes “The prospect of working from a place like LV Ranch Estates without anyone knowing I’m away from the office.” He continues, adding that the view of the street from his Scottsdale office “doesn’t quite compare to the 80 miles of views of the Williamson Valley.”

Currently, MTE’s broadband operates at a respectable speed of 1 megabyte per second (Mb/sec), with plans to increase it to 5mb/s by the end of 2009. When the upgrade is complete, users will experience download speeds similar to, if not faster than, what they currently see in cities and suburban areas. And, the installation of more than 10 miles of fiber optic cable allows for almost limitless expansion of the network speed without reinstallation. Farrington explained that MTE “designed the network under the assumption that it will likely support transfer rates of as much as 50mb/s in the not-too-distant future,” because, as he says, “We see broadband becoming the lifeline for rural communities like LV Ranch Estates in the next five to ten years.”

Midvale Telephone Exchange, Inc. (MTE) is an Idaho-based Local Exchange Carrier that operates in four states and serves more than 3,000 customers. The company has gained a reputation for taking telephone and Internet service to locations not previously covered by telephone or Internet service. LV Ranch Estates is the fifth Arizona development MTE will serve.

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1. LV Ranch Estates to Enjoy High-Quality Phone and Broadband Service

LV Ranch Estates, located outside of Prescott, Arizona, is an unconventional development that combines an unspoiled authentic ranch environment with the conveniences of contemporary suburban living. Modern amenities like fiber-optic phone and Internet service, underground electric, and paved roads with gated entries — coupled with common sense development guidelines — allow residents to retain the conveniences of home while living in a stunning natural setting. Whether buyers desire a true ranch – complete with barns and pastures – a private vineyard, or a secluded getaway with room to roam, the Northern Arizona Properties at LV Ranch Estates are big enough to accommodate the most ambitious of dreams.

The developer of LV Ranch Estates, Peter Gooding of True West Land & Ranches, LLC, saw the potential for the area from the outset. Having developed four similar rural communities in Arizona, Gooding was determined to make the most of the area’s natural beauty while solving some of the typical issues involved with ranch living. Phone and Internet access, often challenging in rural locations, are provided via fiber-optic landline service with speeds equivalent to those in cities and suburbs. Because the area is blessed with abundant groundwater, the developer drilled a new well for each ranch estate. These wells deliver more water than a single family could possibly use, including such intense uses as irrigating an orchard or filling a pond. Miles of electric lines, installed underground to preserve views, deliver power from the state’s largest utility provider, Arizona Public Service Company. And, residents are encouraged to explore off-the-grid alternatives such as solar that take advantage of the area’s 300-plus days of annual sunshine.

Four mild seasons, abundant water, and large acre parcels make LV Ranch Estates the ideal location for a sustainable ranch living. The ranch estates range from 36 and 51 acres, allowing ample room for robust gardens, barns and corrals, and grazing pastures. The development’s common-sense building standards also leave plenty of leeway for eco-friendly or traditional dwellings of reasonable shapes and sizes.

Prospective buyers found it hard to resist the combination of modern amenities and natural beauty in the first quarter of 2009.

“We’re thrilled with the response,” said Gooding. “We think LV Ranch Estates offers tremendous long-term value, especially at current prices, and our buyer’s clearly agreed.”

Of the 35 ranch estates in the current phase, 28 were available at beginning of 2009. Buyers snapped up 11 of those remaining estates between January and March. Contrary to the doom and gloom of today’s headlines, it appears buyers are simply waiting for the right opportunity to present itself.

Gooding says, “The typical LV Ranch Estates buyer is looking for genuine, long-term value. They’re smart and well informed; they see our uncertain economy and unstable financial markets, and most see inflation in our future. They want a stable investment that also offers a rewarding lifestyle. At LV Ranch Estates they recognize we offer the area’s best land value, unusually high development standards, and proximity to a great small town in Prescott. That’s a value proposition they’re excited about.”

L V Ranch Estates is a Prescott, Arizona real estate development of True West Land & Ranches, L.L.C., a True West Company.  For Contact options, click here.

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Owners of LV Ranch Estates – a 4,900-acre high-end gated community about 20 minutes from Prescott – who are curious about the high desert landscape, wildlife, or night sky can get a jump-start on their outdoor-oriented resolutions by taking advantage of opportunities to explore and expand their natural horizons while staying at home or heading to town.

In town, the Prescott Astronomy Club (www.prescottastronomyclub.org) allows lovers of the atmosphere to convene to discuss their sky-high interests and learn more about the big bowl of stars and vast space overhead. The club meets monthly and offers a Third Thursdays Lecture Series, as well as other timely events such as the lunar eclipse taking place on the evening of February 20.

At the Prescott Public Library (www.prescottlibrary.info), kids can take a walk on the wild side at the Nature Detectives Club. The curious crew meets monthly, and gatherings are free for ages 5 and up. During meetings, little shavers learn about creatures (February’s featured animal is the coyote), hear a story and make a craft.

Back at LV Ranch Estates, owners and their little ones can apply their newfound know-how by launching an independent study of the scenery found above and around their community – which provides the perfect backdrop for witnessing nature in action and observing the February 20 lunar eclipse. The upscale ranch development, set inside the Williamson Valley, delivers unparalleled access to the great outdoors thanks to adjacent expanses of state land, 1.25 million acres of Prescott National Forest, and its namesake working ranch, the 20,000-acre Las Vegas Ranch.

LV Ranch Estates, which was carved out of the 100-plus-year-old Las Vegas Ranch (which previously measured 25,000 acres), is composed of rolling meadows, lush pastures, gently rising ridges, and 36- to 51-acre homesteads (from the $400,000s). Built into the development are four mild seasons and sweeping views of the San Francisco Peaks to the north, Granite Mountain to the south, Sullivan Buttes to the east, and Prescott National Forest to the west, the latter being the ideal place for exploration on horseback, mountain bike, or foot.

Large-parcel homesteads are not the only distinguishing component of this community – there’s also the long-term value inherent in its master plan. “We are creating a unique community,” says LV Ranch Estates developer Peter Gooding, founder and president of True West Companies. “As other conventional master-planned developments grow and reach the edge of Williamson Valley, LV Ranch Estates will always stand out. That is because our sizable homesteads and the neighboring state and national lands, as well as Las Vegas Ranch, will remain primarily undeveloped.”

While nature and open space are the biggest draws of LV Ranch Estates, other must-mention assets include gated entrances, paved roads, underground utilities, high-speed Internet, and abundant groundwater – every homestead has its own well. Common sense design guidelines allow for many architectural possibilities; buyers have the freedom to determine their building envelope and the style of their estate, be it a cozy cottage or a Prescott, Arizona horse property for equine endeavors (so long as plans respect the landscape and the neighbors). Buyers also enjoy a limited right to divide their estates into three parcels.

Thanks to Prescott, AZ’s proximity, LV Ranch Estates owners enjoy convenient access to the town’s shopping, dining, entertainment, and recreational opportunities. They also have the option of making the one- or two-hour trek to Sedona and Phoenix, respectively. (There are also twice-daily flights from Prescott to Phoenix.) Of course, there’s also the option of staying put to relish the peace and privacy of LV Ranch Estates – or to venture out into the community’s seemingly endless backdrop.

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“It doesn’t matter where you drill out there, there’s water everywhere – and a lot of it,” says Owens, the owner of Prescott-based Drill-Tech, the company drilling the wells for each of the 120 ranch parcels in this 4,900-acre community.

Owens has been drilling wells for about 20 years, and he’s very familiar with the Arizona landscape and what lies beneath it. He estimates the average well depth in the Prescott area to be between 350 to 500 feet, that is, where there is water to be tapped. By contrast, just outside of town at LV Ranch Estates, in Williamson Valley – a catchall for the recharge from the surrounding mountains and Mint Creek – well depths are much shallower, measuring 100 to 300 feet deep and producing water at a robust 50-plus gallons per minute. These domestic wells take just a day or two to drill and case. And because the water table is shallow and the supply is abundant, Owens says irrigation is an option for future residents of this Prescott, Arizona real estate development who dream of doing a little farming or gardening.

Of the diverse jobs Drill-Tech takes on – some of which require around-the-clock attention for several weeks at a time – the wells at LV Ranch Estates are what Owens dubs “little fun holes.” “They’re quick,” he says.

Fun as the jobs may have been, the crew worked hard to minimize its impact on the land. Owens and LV Ranch Estates developer Peter Gooding studied and walked each parcel to determine the optimal placement of every well, envisioning and marking a pleasing, meandering driveway through each of these Arizona ranches for sale that would lead to the parcel’s best homesite. Drill-Tech then entered the property on that “driveway,” backing out later on the very same tracks. All of this careful planning was aimed to capitalize on what Owens calls the glory and beauty of LV Ranch Estates: “the size of the lots, the privacy.” “Where else are you going to find a 40-acre piece parcel that has tremendous ground water, paved roads, underground utilities and backs up against the national forest?” he asks. His answer: “Next to nowhere!”

LV Ranch Estates also boasts gated entrances, paved roads, underground utilities and high-speed Internet. Its ranch estates (priced from the $400,000s) measure a luxurious 36 to 51 acres each with limited rights to divide. The development is bordered by its namesake working ranch, the award-winning 20,000-acre Las Vegas Ranch, as well as state and national lands ideal for exploration on horseback, mountain bike or foot.

Thanks to proximity to charming Prescott, LV Ranch Estates offers the perfect blend of city and country amenities. Residents can head to town for shopping, dining, entertainment and recreational opportunities, or stay put on their estates to relish the peace and privacy.

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