Arizona Heritage Alliance

Lottery ticket sales increase across country

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[Source: Keith Matheny, USA TODAY] – Despite a struggling economy — or perhaps because of it — lottery ticket sales have surged across the USA. Financial records for 41 state lotteries that end their fiscal year in June show 28 had higher sales than the year before. Seventeen of those states set all-time sales records.Kate Sweeny, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of California-Riverside, said an uptick in lottery sales largely occurs when people feel a lack of control over events larger than themselves, such as the economy.

Jeff Anderson, head of the executive committee of the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries, which represents 52 lotteries in the USA and Canada, said sales growth most often reflects changes in lottery games.”In general, the play is inexpensive entertainment,” said Anderson, who is also director of the Idaho State Lottery. “I have not seen any empirical evidence that indicates in a down economy, people play more.” Yet that’s just what a 2004 Cornell University study found. “We see that lottery sales go up as the economy gets bad — but we don’t see people spending more on relatively inexpensive other forms of entertainment,” said Garrick Blalock, associate professor of economics at Cornell and a co-author of the study[to read the full article click here].

Community involvement keeps threatened Arizona parks open

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[Source: Mark Duncan, Enterprise Reporter, the Daily Courier] – A couple of years ago, the Arizona State Parks system found itself in a second-hand crisis, thanks to the general budgeting malaise that affected the whole of state government. With gargantuan deficits looming, the Legislature chose to “sweep” pretty much any and all available money from any and all “non-essential” departments, including the state parks department, which suddenly had some hard choices on its hands.

The directors there cut staffing and programs and looked for every possible way to make ends meet. In the end, though, they had to make a list they never thought they’d make – a list of parks that might have to close because they just couldn’t make ends meet on their own. On that list were Red Rocks State Park, one of four conservation parks statewide, and Fort Verde Historic State Park, one of the nine historic parks in the system.

Well, the folks of Sedona and Camp Verde weren’t going to let that happen in their towns. And it just so happened that Yavapai County Supervisor Chip Davis had stashed away some money from cable television franchise fees – money that was earmarked for parks and recreation activities. With the blessing of the other two supervisors, he pledged $30,000 per year to each of the two parks.

In Sedona, as the staff of state employees was cut in half, the community came alive in support of the park. In addition to the county money, the City of Sedona contributed $15,000 and the Sedona Community Foundation added $10,000, and a group called the Benefactors of Red Rock State Park came up with $145,000 in donations large and small, including $15,000 from a family foundation that paid for a part-time ranger to run the school program [to read the full article click here].

Nancy Burgess is the 2010 recipient of the Sharlot Hall Award.

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[Source: Mike Lange, Prescottenews.com] – Arizona native Nancy Burgess, whose decades-long historic preservation efforts have left an indelible mark on Prescott and the state, has been honored as the 2010 recipient of the Sharlot Hall Award for valuable contributions to the understanding and awareness of Arizona and its history. Sharlot Hall Museum Executive Director John Langellier presented the award to Burgess at the August 6th Western History Symposium dinner at the St.Michael Hotel in downtown Prescott.

Burgess, the retired Historic Preservation Specialist for the City ofPrescott, has had a life-long passion for the history of theGrand CanyonState. Since 1987 her work in historic preservation has included projects that provide protection, interpretation, education, rehabilitation and restoration of scores of significant and unique cultural resources inCentral Arizona. She played a major role in grants for several historic districts in the city, three walking tours and the creation of a handbook for owners of historic properties. Burgess also authored heritage preservation publications, produced a historic preservation ordinance, championed adaptive re-use of several properties including the magnificent Elks Opera House, worked diligently for the Citizens Cemetery, developed an impressive historic marker program, skillfully prepared numerous National Register nominations for the City of Prescott, the City of Sedona, the Federal Government, and for private property owners, and has been an important presence in statewide preservation. Her efforts paved the way forPrescottreceiving the prestigious designation of a Preserve America Community in 2005 and the following year joining the distinguished ranks of the National Trust’s Dozen Distinctive Designations. In addition, Burgess has found time to write books and articles on preservation while she and her husband have personally restored five National Register properties.

The annual Sharlot Hall Award originated in 1984 to recognize a livingArizonawoman as a counterpart to the Arizona Women’s Hall of Fame, which honors women posthumously. A committee reviews nominations from aroundArizona. Museum founder Sharlot Mabridth Hall (1870-1943) achieved fame as a poet, activist, politician, andArizona’s first territorial historian. As early as 1907, she saw the need to saveArizona’s history and planned to develop a museum. She began to collect both Native American andpioneer material. In 1909, Hall was appointed Territorial Historian and became the first woman to hold territorial office. In 1927, she began restoring the first Territorial Governor’s residence and offices and moved her extensive collection of artifacts and documents opening it as a museum in 1928. For the remainder of her life, she worked to preserveArizona’s historic past. Her diligent efforts inspired others to continue contributing to the preservation of earlyArizonaand American history.

Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Heritage grants program returns in 2011

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[Source: Gretchen Mominee, Phoenix Nature Examiner] – The Heritage Funds grant program is back this year after being on a one-year hiatus, according to the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s website.  During the time the grants were not being offered, the Game and Fish Department created an entirely revised application, eligibility, scoring and award notification process.  This year’s grant application deadline is September 30, 2011. For more information about applying for grants or for application forms, click here.  

An informational workshop for interested applicants will take place at Game and Fish’s Phoenix headquarters at 5000 W. Carefree Hwy on Monday, August 22. Participants may choose from two sessions, from 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. To R.S.V.P. for a workshop, call Heritage Grants Coordinator Robyn Beck at (623) 236-7530Workshops need at least three pre-registered attendees at each location to occur.

September 30, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. MST is the deadline for grant applications