Kayenta 50 Years
1976 – 2026
by Matt Marten
The new year kicks off 50 years since the seed was planted for our community. It was in 1976 when the first parcel of land was purchased for the area that would become Kayenta, at a time when Ivins was home to only about 400 residents, and St. George was a small city of around 10,000 people. The vision Terry Marten saw focused on preserving the land by creating a community that coexisted harmoniously within the natural desert landscape—a concept that was unconventional and, to many, just downright weird.
Kayenta began as an experiment blending thoughtful planning, business, community, and environmental awareness. Now, half a century later, its guiding principle of living gently on the earth is more relevant than ever.
Over the years, we have individuals from diverse backgrounds who have been attracted to Kayenta’s approach to development. What started as a seed has blossomed into a vibrant community. Kayenta’s residents are as varied as the landscape: artists, scientists, engineers, educators, medical professionals, truck drivers, therapists, caregivers, actors, musicians, and entrepreneurs all call it home.
As Kayenta continues to grow, the core values that have shaped it will remain central. These principles matter now more than ever. Our community is committed to focusing on future possibilities while maintaining an optimistic outlook toward a balanced community, a healthy environment, and growth that benefits everyone.
Throughout the year, we will emphasize our community’s distinctive contribution to regional development and demonstrate how Kayenta remains committed to providing thoughtful perspectives on issues impacting the desert southwest.
Just a reminder that our Winter Warm-up Open House is in 3 days.
We hope you RSVP’d so you can join in the fun. See you Saturday.
WHEN
January 3, 2026, 1- 4 pm
WHERE (NEW LOCATION)
Anniversary Home, 1238 W. Kaibito Way
From Kayenta Parkway, head east on Moenkopi Trail, then turn left onto Kaibito Way
We’ve been listing, marketing, and selling Kayenta properties for 35+ years. It’s what we do.
Our office is open 7-days a week to help with all your Kayenta real estate needs.
Your Kayenta Home and Properties Sales Team:
Jeff Sproul, Principal Broker
Steve McAllister & Naomi Doyle, Sales Agents
435-628-7234
A Thank You From the Heart!
As the Center for the Arts at Kayenta welcomes in the New Year and embraces the next half of our ’25-’26 season, we want to take time and thank our donors for their support and generosity during our end-of-year campaign, including those who shared their Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) with the Center. Such contributions make a huge difference and are one of the annual funding keystones that allow us to function and bring the professional artists and their crafts to the theater.
I also want to announce the availability of the Center’s first Annual Report (https://kayentaarts.org/annual-report/). We intend this to provide not only annual transparency but also provide understanding of this small non-profit and inspire investment toward placing the Center on a sustainable financial footing.
Lastly, January 2026 kicks off with First Friday on January 2, where we will have warming fire barrels to provide a cozy atmosphere for you to enjoy a background of live music while indulging in local food truck dining and local artisan-craft vendors, followed by another thought provoking presentation by DOCUTAH. Thank you to Ivins-Santa Clara Fire EMS for working with us to make this both fun and comfortable!
January continues with a Voyager Lecture, an evening of Jazz, the third installment of “Kayenta 100—Part III” (1990-2000), and concludes with Repertory Dance Theatre. Check out these events and get tickets at KayentaArts.org.
In closing, if you exercise your RMD early in the year, please consider the Center as a recipient!
Again, thank you for your generosity and support in 2025.
Best,
Laurel Bryant, Chair, Kayenta Arts Foundation
Every First Friday at Kayenta
Friday, January 2, 4 – 8 pm4-8 pm
Celebrate New Traditions during First Fridays at Kayenta, where art, music, and community come together. Explore handmade goods, meet local artisans (including a vendor offering intuitive card readings), and take in the creative energy of the Kayenta Arts Village. Stay for DOCUTAH’s “Best of Fest” film screening of Black Outside. Start your year right at Kayenta, and make First Fridays your new monthly tradition.
FREE • Live Music in the Courtyard
Monsoon Season, 4:00p-7:30p
Visit Make Space: 5:00p – 7:00p
Film Screening: 7:30p, $10
DOCUTAH Presents: Black Outside
Part of DOCUTAH’s Best of Fest at the Center for the Arts at Kayenta
DOCUTAH PRESENTS
Black Outside
Friday January 2, 2026 at 7:30pm
“That’s for White people.” A phrase that infuriated Gary Wilkerson, Jr. as a young, Black kid asking to do outdoorsy things, like camping. He wasn’t old enough to understand that it was a warning, passed down from generations of Black Americans who weren’t permitted to explore the outdoors for fear of being killed.
To confront this inherited fear, Gary resolves to conquer the Pacific Crest Trail, a grueling 2,600 mile thru-hike from Mexico to Canada that takes six months to complete. With the guidance and support of his ride-or-die, Mary, Gary sets off on the adventure of a lifetime.
VOYAGER LECTURE SERIES
AI Made Simple
with Scott Allen
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 7:30pm
Social Hour Begins at 6:30pm
Our Voyager Lecture Series continues in 2026 with this season’s theme: Venturing Into the Unknown. As artificial intelligence accelerates at an unprecedented pace, it’s reshaping possibilities in ways that once felt like science fiction. In this dynamic and accessible presentation, speaker Scott Allen breaks down how modern AI truly works—cutting through the hype to reveal its real capabilities and surprising impact on creativity, communication, and daily life. Through compelling examples and live demonstrations, you’ll gain a clear, grounded understanding of this rapidly evolving technology.
The Third Annual
St George Jazz All-Stars
Jazz and the Familiar
Saturday, January 17, 2025, 7:30pm
What would a concert feel like if music from across decades, genres, and generations were all filtered through the creative spirit of jazz? The St. George Jazz All Stars are ready to find out. This imaginative program explores iconic melodies from the worlds of classic songwriting, rock anthems, beloved TV and movie themes, timeless ballads, and even classical repertoire. Every selection is given new life through jazz interpretation and improvisation—turning familiar tunes into fresh discoveries.
Kayenta 100 Project: First Five Decades
Part III: Coffee & Culture, 1997-2006
Sunday, January 18, 2026, 3:00PM
This era saw a blossoming of culture in Kayenta—with the opening of local gathering spaces like Xetava Gardens Café and the arrival of public art, music, and galleries. We revisit the emergence of Kayenta as not just a place to live, but a place to exchange ideas and celebrate creativity. The Kayenta 100 Project is a living history initiative honoring the first five decades of the Kayenta community in southern Utah. From its bold beginnings in the 1970s to its emergence as a vibrant hub for culture, design, and desert living, this five-part series invites residents and visitors alike to reflect on the people, projects, and ideas that shaped Kayenta’s unique story.
Repertory Dance Theatre
MIGRATIONS
Friday, January 23, 2026 at 7:30pm | Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 3:00pm
As part of its 60th Anniversary Season, RDT brings MIGRATIONS to the Center for the Arts at Kayenta—an evening-length work by acclaimed choreographer Zvi Gotheiner with an original score by Scott Killian. Created in 2023, MIGRATIONS is a poetic and urgent meditation on movement, survival, and transformation in a rapidly changing world. Drawing inspiration from the instinctual journeys of migrating birds, the relentless pace of human displacement, and the accelerating loss of natural resources, MIGRATIONS explores the fragile intersection of nature and civilization.
Visit our website for information and tickets to all our amazing events.
We look forward to seeing you at the Center for the Arts in Kayenta.
Unique Experiences, Gastronomic Delights, Creative Businesses &
Exceptional Art.
Artist Chloe Duncan.
Gallery 873
Just a few days left to experience the beauty of the Gardens in dazzling color.
Open to the public and free of charge…whether it’s a stroll through the gardens or a quiet meditation at the Desert Rose Labyrinth and Sculpture Gardens, you will find it all at the Kayenta Desert Arboretum. Photos: Alan Holben
Kayenta Desert Arboretum – It’s Origin And History
New residents and visitors alike are drawn to Kayenta’s distinctive art village, centrally located and home to a performing arts center, an upscale restaurant and bar, and an array of boutique shops and artist studios. Just steps away, the adjoining arboretum and classical labyrinth elevate the experience, transforming a visit into something truly magical. From early December through mid-January, the arboretum becomes an enchanting evening fairyland, illuminated by festive holiday lights.
How did this unlikely feature become part of the village? The story reaches back nearly 30 years, when Kayenta resident Daniel Pettigrew believed that a place as special as Kayenta deserved a space that would draw people closer to Mother Earth. Daniel shared his vision with developer Terry Marten, who ultimately agreed to dedicate the land between the Village and Kayenta Parkway as an arboretum.
Over the course of two years (1998–99), Terry’s crews used small equipment to carve out a trail system, while Daniel hand-carried boulders—one by one—to line the paths. At the same time, Daniel collaborated with Terry on the development of a coffee shop within what was then only the earliest beginnings of the art village. Financed by the sale of his Kayenta home, Daniel completed the construction of Xetava—an accomplishment that is, in itself, the subject of another story.
With the basic groundwork in place, the next challenge was sustainability. Kayenta residents who were volunteering in the development of the village took on the arduous task of clearing, grubbing, and replanting the area with vegetation salvaged from nearby residential construction sites. Daniel’s concept was taking shape—but how could it endure?
Arboretum Volunteers in 2000. From left to right: Barbara Aikens, Cherie Stoddard, Paul Teixeria, Susan Carie, Jim Aikens
By 2000, the first board of directors was formed, including Mary Hatch, Cherie Stoddard, Susan Cary, Barbara Aikens, and founding president Paul Teixeira. In 2001, the organization was formally recognized as the Kayenta Desert Arboretum, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.
That same year, the arboretum held its first annual plant sale—a tradition that has continued through 2025.
In 2002, the organization launched its first major festival, Art in Kayenta, an annual event created to fund the installation of a drip irrigation system, pathway lighting, and a range of educational programs. Over time, production of Art in Kayenta was transferred to the Kayenta Village organization and is now managed by the Kayenta Arts Foundation.
In 2015–16, supported by grants from multiple sources, the arboretum volunteers undertook a major improvement and expansion project. This effort funded landscape enhancements, new signage, and—most significantly—the expansion across the Kayenta Parkway and Kwavasa Drive intersection to a new Joshua Tree area, and continuation of the pathway leading to the Desert Rose Labyrinth and Sculpture Garden.
Today the pathways are frequented daily visitors who enjoy the beauty of the desert landscape. Thanks to the dedication of dozens of volunteers who have supported its growth over the years, the arboretum remains a unique and deeply gratifying feature of Kayenta—a passage of peace and tranquility, and, just as Daniel envisioned, a lasting connection with Mother Earth.
Kayenta Community
The local perspective. Our businesses and residents news and events.
Community Spotlight
Janell Bassett, Editor
Alan Schiff: Winning again, with the help of friends and family
Everyone faces challenges in the race of life. For Alan Schiff, like many lifelong athletes, those included tough competitors, the hard work needed to stay in shape, and sometimes, unexpected health trials. Though he conquered many a mountain as an athlete, when he moved to Kayenta in 2019, it was friends and family who helped him conquer unexpected physical risks and basically saved his life.
Schiff, who grew up in New York state, moved to Colorado after high school where he embraced alpine and cross-country skiing as both a practitioner and purveyor of top ski, and later bike, equipment. A move to Salt Lake City in 2000 for a job that didn’t work out led him into real estate in his office at Snowbird, where great skiing days were so numerous “I skied nothing but deep-powder for the final decade of my alpine skiing career!”
In those years, Schiff raised his two daughters as a single dad, bringing them up in his athletic tradition. Both Hailey, now a commercial pilot, and Payton, a forecaster with the Northwest Avalanche Center, were excellent skiers and junior ski instructors, going on to professional competitions. Schiff recounts one of his proudest dad experiences was watching their success in tackling male dominated careers. Both girls also played lacrosse in high school and college with dad as coach; Schiff served as the Utah Girls Lacrosse Commissioner for nearly a decade.
Though he embraced the world of the Rockies as a younger man, Schiff found that “as I’ve aged, winter has had less appeal to me,” leading him to Kayenta, where he “loves, craves, and basks in the summer here!” However, he admits, by that time “I had ignored my health and fitness for some time, had ballooned to 240 pounds and was struggling with related health issues.” Though he still walked occasionally, and it was on one of those walks that he met Steven Cordray and his wife Carole Richard, an encounter which he credits with literally “saving my life.”
When Covid hit, he tackled a key issue, the fact that he “always ate junk.” With Steven and Carole’s support, he “completely eliminated fat, fried, sugar, processed, ad nauseam from my diet” and didn’t cheat “NOT ONCE” for 18 months, losing 80 pounds and successfully undergoing colon surgery for diverticulitis. When Covid ended he found himself “feeling pretty healthy, walking and swimming regularly, cycling intermittently, retired, single, with nothing but time on my hands. What’s next? Why not the gym?” He soon found John Yohman and his Elevate Studio here, “the next life-changing encounter for me.”
Although he’d been diagnosed with a low pulse, he felt healthy and strong and his cardiologist deemed him okay. One day after a bike ride in 2023 he put on a tea kettle and the next thing he remembered was waking up five days later in the hospital with both his daughters there. His trip to the hospital was precipitated by Carole and Steven coming over for a planned visit that evening only to find him unconscious on the floor, with the kettle still on. As he says, “they had already done much for my health, now they saved my house, and my life!” The results of his fall led to two weeks in the hospital, the addition of a pacemaker, and convalescence from the head injury he suffered in falling.
Since then, he’s worked hard to improve his health, with much success. He started going back to the pool, where he met another Kayenta couple, Kris and Rose Puszynski, who also became companions on his health journey. “Kris convinced me to join him at Summit gym, where he showed me the ropes, and we’ve been regulars ever since.”
At the gym, he began to dabble with the rowing machine. Next thing you know, he entered and won two Indoor Rowing silver medals at the Huntsman World Senior Games, which he found “a delight in all aspects.” Besides carrying the Indoor Rowing banner in the opening ceremonies, Schiff was chosen to model in their pro photo shoot for the Games marketing material. Who knows, he says, “My likeness might land on their headquarter walls someday!”
These days he plays tennis and pickleball, works out at Elevate and the Summit and hikes, preferring a 7 to 8 mile jaunt “right from my front door, reaching into many nooks and crannies of our beautiful Kayenta radius.”
Editors note. If you know someone that you think should be featured in our monthly Kayenta Connection under our NEW “Resident Spotlight” section please email the Kayenta Connection at kayentaconnection@rdicreative.com. Our intent is to focus on the incredible people living in our community– be they seasoned residents or new recruits.
January 2026 Ivins City Council Updates
Mike Scott, Council Member
A First Step Toward Better Sports Lighting in Ivins
At our December 18th meeting, the City Council approved changes to Ivins’ outdoor sports lighting standards based on more than a dozen changes I proposed to incorporate DarkSky International requirements for sports lighting in City parks. This is an important first step. While it does not immediately fix the glare issues at Unity Park, it establishes a clear, measurable, science-based framework for how those issues can and should be addressed.
DarkSky’s standards recognize that sports lighting needs to provide safe, high-quality illumination for play while also minimizing glare, spill, and light trespass into surrounding neighborhoods. By adopting these requirements, the City now has a roadmap for improving existing facilities and ensuring that future sports lighting is designed and operated more responsibly.
The next step: figuring out what a retrofit solution at Unity Park would cost and how it could be funded. That analysis has not been done yet, and no timeline is set. But with the standards now in place, we at least know what “better” looks like and can begin evaluating realistic options. This will take time, but it is progress—and an important move toward protecting both recreational use and Ivins’ dark skies.
Short-Term Rentals: a Difficult Vote
Also at our December 18th meeting, I voted to approve a 160-unit short-term rental development called Mojave Village just off Hwy 91. I do not believe short-term rentals are good for Ivins. In addition to practical challenges they create, they undermine the sense of community that defines this city. That’s why I have consistently voted against rezoning land to Resort Commercial (RC), which allows short-term rentals.
Since joining the City Council, I have voted against every RC rezoning proposal except one. The sole exception was approved only after I required a condition prohibiting short-term rentals on that property.
Last night’s vote was difficult because the underlying zoning decision was already made. It was rezoned RC in 2022, when I cast one of my lone “no” votes. Under Utah law, that zoning gives the owner the right to pursue short-term rentals on the site. At this stage, the City Council cannot legally prohibit that use outright.
But what we can do, and what I focused on, is require strong, enforceable conditions that meaningfully limit impacts. I proposed 37 conditions that were approved. These address management accountability, occupancy limits, parking enforcement, noise controls, trash handling, security, response times, records, inspections, and clear consequences if management fails. These are not symbolic measures. They provide the City with real enforcement tools and establish firm expectations for how short-term rentals must operate in Ivins.
I continue to believe short-term rentals are the wrong direction for Ivins, and I will continue to oppose rezoning additional land to allow them. But when the zoning already exists, the responsible course is to use the authority we do have to protect the community as strongly as possible. That is what this vote was about.
A Community Investment in Ivins’ Future
Ivins is about to take a major step forward in public safety, and it’s happening in a very Ivins way: through shared history, community effort, and extraordinary generosity.
The City is moving ahead with plans to remodel the Center Street Fire Station, a project expected to cost approximately $4 million. With design studies now underway, we hope to break ground within the next six months. Final decisions will depend on the results of these studies, but we believe that this remodel is both feasible and fiscally responsible.
This remodel will significantly expand and modernize the station, delivering everything an $8 million new fire station would provide and, in several respects, even more.
Rather than replacing the building, the City is choosing a smarter path: investing in the structure we already have, expanding its capacity, and ensuring it can serve Ivins well for decades to come.
Built by the Community, From the Very Beginning
Ivins’ fire station has always been a community-built effort. According to Emma Fife’s history of Ivins, The Santa Clara Bench – Ivins, Our Home beneath the Red Mountain, the first fire station was built in 1974 through volunteer labor. Residents contributed their time and skills with the understanding that, in return, the town would never shut off their water if they couldn’t pay.
It was a simple agreement rooted in trust, mutual support, and shared responsibility.
That same spirit carried forward in later years. In late 1986, the fire station had been expanded, once more with substantial volunteer involvement. Generations of Ivins residents quite literally built the station that continues to protect the community today. Now, nearly 40 years later, Ivins is preparing for the next chapter.
A Transformational Gift, Given in a Community Spirit
A central reason this project is now possible is a remarkable $2 million donation from Ivins resident Geoff Schmidt, made through his Geoffrey Schmidt Foundation.
Geoff’s contribution will likely cover half the total project cost and will be provided upfront at a groundbreaking ceremony before construction begins. This approach gives the City financial certainty, allows public funds to stretch further, and enables the City to earn interest on the funds until construction draws are made.
Just as importantly, Geoff has described his gift as seed money, intended to encourage matching contributions from the broader community and to strengthen the City’s ability to pursue state, federal, and public safety grant opportunities. Leveraging this gift to attract additional funding is a significant opportunity.
True to Ivins values, Geoff has suggested that the remodeled building be named the “Ivins Community Fire Station,” keeping the focus squarely on the community rather than on any individual. His gift is not about recognition; it’s about strengthening the place he calls home.
Staying true to Ivins tradition, Geoff has even offered to show up with his jackhammer and help with demolition. Not a joke. He has two of them. While the City will rely on licensed professionals for the remodel, his offer reflects exactly what this project is about: neighbors stepping up, pitching in, and taking pride in the community they’ve helped build.
Why the Remodel Is Needed Now
This project is not about extravagance. It’s about necessity and foresight. Ivins has ordered a new ladder truck to meet growing public safety needs, but the current fire station bays are not long enough to house it. The remodel will add two longer apparatus bays, improve internal layouts, and modernize the facility so our firefighters have a station that matches the level of service they provide every day.
The expanded station is also being designed with a long view in mind. Fire stations must be planned decades ahead, and the remodel will comfortably support the two Fire and EMS response teams that Ivins is expected to need as the community grows.
Equally important are safety and functionality improvements, including updated stairways, a contamination shower, a fire pole, and redesigned bays with rear ingress and front egress doors. These pull-through bays eliminate the need for backing apparatus into the station, improving safety for both firefighters and the public.
The result will be a safer, more functional station that supports our community’s needs for decades to come.
A Smarter Path Forward
Mayor Chris Hart played a key role in advancing a remodel concept that meets today’s public safety needs while planning responsibly for the future. Rather than pursuing a far more expensive replacement facility, he recommended a remodel strategy that will breathe new life into the existing station, extending its usefulness by 40 years or more.
Beyond the concept itself, Mayor Hart developed the initial layout showing how these goals could be achieved and, echoing the volunteer efforts that built both the original station and the expanded station, has offered to help shepherd the project through to completion.
The plan also allows the Police Department to gain additional space with an addition to the building, ensuring that Ivins’ public safety departments can grow and adapt together over time.
Honoring the Past While Building the Future
As part of the remodel, the City is exploring ways to honor both Ivins’ firefighting history and the community members who make this project possible. Ideas include:
- A donor commemorative wall recognizing community members who contribute toward the project, with sections reflecting different levels of giving.
- A historical plaque documenting the origins of the fire station and the volunteer efforts that built and expanded it over time.
These features would celebrate a tradition of community investment that spans generations.
Join the Tradition: Help Build the Next Chapter
While a significant portion of the remaining project cost will be covered through public safety impact fees from developers, those funds will not cover the full balance. Community support will play an important role in closing that gap and ensuring the project moves forward on a strong, sustainable footing.
In parallel, the City will actively pursue state, federal, and foundation grant opportunities, using Geoff’s donation as a powerful matching tool to help maximize every dollar invested in this project.
The City has hired an architectural and engineering team to complete a detailed study of costs, phasing, and timing. That work is expected to be completed in the next 45 days, at which point more information will be shared about next steps and opportunities for community participation.
Just as residents came together in 1974 and again in the 1980s, the City is inviting the community to help carry this tradition forward. This is an opportunity to be part of something lasting: to help build a safer Ivins, to honor those who came before us, and to leave a visible mark on a place that has always been built by the people it serves.
Let’s once again proudly say, “This is our station, built together, once again.”
Those interested in learning more about the renovation plans or ways to support the project are welcome to contact Ivins City Council member Mike Scott at mscott@ivinsutah.gov
Welcoming 2026
As we turn the calendar to a new year, I want to thank everyone who has been part of this journey with me. Serving Ivins has never felt like a solo effort. It has been shaped by conversations on the sidewalk, thoughtful emails, hard questions, and the steady engagement of people who care deeply about this community.
Your involvement, your patience, and your willingness to stay engaged even when issues are complex or opinions differ have made Ivins stronger. I’m grateful for the trust you place in me and for the many ways you show up for our city and for one another.
Looking ahead, I’m optimistic about what we can accomplish together in the coming year. Ivins is a place defined by its people, its landscape, and its shared sense of responsibility for what we build and protect.
I wish you a healthy, happy, and rewarding 2026, and I look forward to continuing our work together in the year ahead.
More City Information
I try to keep these articles relatively concise. Not doing too well at that. It’s frustrating because there’s so much to discuss. So, please email me at Mike@MikeScott4Ivins.com for more information about these and other Ivins issues. Also, please tell me what issues in Ivins matter to you. Visit my website at www.MikeScott4Ivins.com for regular updates and now you can also add your comments to my articles.
Located in beautiful Kayenta.
We offer small classes for students who have never explored the field of visual art, all the way through to highly experienced, professional artists who are looking to explore new mediums and methods.
See a few class options below:
Winter Oil Painting Studio: 7 Week Session
Jan 6, 13, 20, 27, Feb 3, 17, 24
Teacher:Matt Pectol
Time: 9 am – 12 pm
Join our Winter Oil Painting Studio and unleash your inner artist in a supportive and dynamic environment. Whether you’re looking to develop your skills or simply enjoy the therapeutic benefits of painting, this class is the perfect place to nurture your creativity.
Three-Day Workshop: Cactus Portraits
Jan 14, 21, 28
Teacher: Jenna Lineweaver
Time: 10 am – 1 pm
Celebrate the beauty and quiet magic of the desert in this immersive cactus portrait workshop. Inspired by the shapes, textures, and resilience of desert plants, students will create a vibrant 12” x 12” cactus portrait using oil paint with optional mixed media elements.
Pyrography Workshop: Burn, Create & Explore the Art of Wood burning
January 22
Teacher:Kaylee Fisher
Time: 12 pm – 2:30 pm
Discover the beauty of pyrography in this hands-on workshop taught by local wood burning artist Kaylee Fisher. Perfect for beginners and returning students alike, this class will guide you through the full process of creating expressive burned designs on both cork and wood.
Watercolor Journeys Workshop
January 30 & 31
Teacher: Susan McFarlane
Time: 9 am – 12 pm
Tradition meets experimentation in this playful, process-driven watercolor workshop. In Watercolor Journeys, students will explore how texture, movement, and spontaneity can transform the painting process into a true adventure. Through a multi-step approach—part printmaking, part painting, and part drawing—you’ll learn how to begin without a fixed outcome and gradually bring chaos into order.
Petite Feast Dinner Club
WELCOME 2026 DINNER
SUNDAY, JANUARY 25, 2026
~Reserve Your Seat at the Table~
January, the month of new beginnings, is here and so are wonderful winter treats often overlooked at the grocery. Produce from pineapple and oranges to multi-hued winter squash and potatoes united in this delightful menu. Please join us for a dinner that showcases the bounty of the season. Braised leeks and delicious seafood shine with an orange-hued saffron rouille in a celebratory main course, while a playful tropical take on pineapple panna cotta pairs with coconut for a decadent dessert that’s sure to please. We hope you’ll join us for this very special dinner that celebrates the New Year and the company of good friends and neighbors.
MENU
CRISPY CARNAROLI RICE BITES WITH
BROWN BUTTER SQUASH PURÉE, AGED PARMESAN, CHILI HONEY
SMOKED CITRUS SPRITZ WITH ORANGE, THYME, SALT
MISO BUTTER, PICKLED SCALLION, SOFT EGG, MICRO HERB TOAST
SMOKED PARSNIP AND YUKON GOLD POTATO CAKE
BACON CRISP, WITH PICKLED SHALLOT AND GREENS
MODERN BOUILLABAISSE WITH POACHED WHITE FISH, MUSSEL AND CLAM BROTH, FENNEL ASH AND SAFFRON AIOLI
CARAMELIZED PINEAPPLE AND COCONUT PANNA COTTA
TOASTED COCONUT CRUMBLE WITH BASIL OIL, AND LIME ZEST
PLUS A FEW EXTRA FANCY TREATS TO DELIGHT YOU!
To reserve your seat at the table please click on the link below
Petite Feast Dinner Club
DINNER LOCATION: PRIVATE HOME IN KAYENTA, UTAH
**The exact address and driving directions will be emailed 1 week prior to the event.
About Petite Feast Dinner Club: after 35 years as a restaurateur, caterer, chef and Food and Wine best new chef nominee, Victoria Topham is opening her kitchen to share her unique culinary skills and healthy cooking style with guests just like you. PF Dinner Club offers guests the opportunity to socialize with new friends around a shared table while enjoying deliciously upscale meals. Monthly dinners will feature an hors d’oeuvre hour followed by a multi course dinner where mingling with the chef in the kitchen is encouraged. ** Think – mash-up of a restaurant, dinner party and cooking class. And, she always has a few unplanned courses and surprises for her guests! Events are announced monthly through the website and pricing for each event varies. Victoria is happy to accommodate your special celebration requests and dietary preferences whenever possible. I hope to see you soon.
“Good morning Victoria. Thank you for a wonderful dinner. The company was just great. You are amazing! Sue and I pretty much waddled out of your house.”
– Sally
“It was an exceptional evening filled with exciting conversation,
Spectacular and yummy food, and most of all, dear friends!” – Rebekah Sorensen
“Delicious as always!” – Deborah F.
VIRTUAL DINNER PARTY #113
CHIPOTLE MARMALADE CHICKEN TACOS
As 2025 comes to a close and we head into 2026, I find myself reminiscing about all the fun we’ve shared through The Virtual Dinner Party. It all began with the onset of Covid in 2020, when our very first recipe was posted on Nextdoor on March 18th. Over the years, our VDP group has grown in number and together we’ve entered our kitchen and fearlessly sliced, diced, braised, and sautéed. We’ve shared successes, creative experiments, and even our epic missteps. (Does anyone recall my recipe for quick tamales or salmon burgers? They were classic duds!) But by dining together we’ve shared our time, our thoughts, and our lives with one another and happily, we’re still going strong.
Even after all this time, I am thrilled to see what a committed and skilled group of home chefs you are. When I look back at your posts, photos, and thoughtful questions, I’m delighted by your passion and dedication to cooking good food and sharing it with the people you love. Your enthusiasm proves, again and again, that the very best chef is the one standing right in your own kitchen.
So this month, let’s joyfully carry on and make a modern Mexican-style meal that takes the standard idea of Taco Tuesday to a whole new level. It’s a perfect recipe for a quick weeknight dinner or for a casual weekend get together with friends. Make it easy and serve everything family style in a build your own taco kind of affair. That way everyone can enjoy their creation just the way they like it.
If you have not joined the Virtual Dinner Party but would like to dine with us, please prepare this recipe – or any other – and share it with your family, friends and neighbors. It is our group’s firm belief that by preparing something good to eat and sharing it with those we love, we are participating in one of life’s greatest joys. The connection, community and good will that come from it fill us with joy, hope and gratitude. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do.
Thanks for coming to the party, and cook on! – Vic
VIRTUAL DINNER PARTY #113
CHIPOTLE MARMALADE CHICKEN TACOS
INGREDIENTS:
2 # boneless, skinless chicken breast cut in half horizontally
1 onion, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 T oregano
1 T cumin
3-4 chipotle en adobo, minced (or to taste)
1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 C chicken stock
¼ C orange marmalade
Juice of 1 orange
¼ c fresh cilantro, chopped
18 corn tortillas, warmed
Limes, sliced radish, pickled red onion, cilantro for serving
METHOD:
In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and cook until lightly browned and fragrant. Add garlic, oregano, cumin and minced chipotle and sauté briefly.
Add chicken breast, canned tomatoes and 1 C chicken stock to saucepan. Stir well and bring mixture up to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cover pot with a tight fitting lid. Simmer for 10-12 minutes or until chicken registers 165 degrees on an instant read thermometer. Transfer chicken to a large plate and allow to cool slightly. Using two forks, shred chicken into bite-size pieces. Set aside.
Stir marmalade into cooking liquid and allow to thicken until reduced by 1/3. Once reduced, add shredded chicken back to sauce and stir to coat evenly. Turn off heat and stir in juice of 1 orange and chopped cilantro. Adjust salt and pepper.
Place all taco bar elements on table so everyone can customize their own taco creations.
Serves 2-4 generously
435.656.0165
Xetava Cafe is locally owned, and unlike anywhere you’ve ever been. Designed to be a respite from the bustle of modern life, the building is nestled under the giant red cliffs of Ivins, surrounded by the Kayenta Art Village and Center for the Arts.
Hours of Operation
Monday – Friday, 11 am – 8 pm
Saturday & Sunday, 10 am – 8 pm
Saturday & Sunday Brunch, 10 am – 3 pm
435.656.0165
The menu at The Rusted Cactus provides unique dishes that capture the flavor of the season. Within the walls, the Lewis and MacKay families hope to create a dining experience with shared plates that will cultivate a love of food, friendship, and new flavors.
Hours of Operation
Monday – Saturday, 4 – 8 pm
Health, Fitness & Wellness
Kayenta’s locally run gyms, fitness classes, spas, group workouts, wellness activities, and mindful experiences.
“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.”
– Earl Nightingale
Elevate Fitness
Elevate’s Signature Class • E l e v a t e F i t
A fun, invigorating, and challenging class designed for the intermediate to advanced exerciser. (Beginners—let’s have a quick conversation before your first class.)
This indoor/outdoor class gets your heart pumping and your body strong, with a focus on functional fitness for the active Southern Utah lifestyle. Balance—an essential component of aging gracefully—is woven into every class.
You’ll never know what’s in store. Creativity is key to keeping things fresh, exciting, and never boring. One day you might be TRX-ing and using your own bodyweight; the next you’ll be lifting kettlebells, dumbbells, or barbells, pulling and pushing with resistance bands, hitting the treadmill, spinning, running, or speed-walking outdoors. Agility ladder training adds a fun twist and keeps things dynamic.
Although this is a group class, you’ll feel like you have your own personal trainer—with individualized attention, motivation, and challenge every step of the way.
About Owner John Yohman
John Yohman, former Head Trainer at The Biggest Loser Resort in Malibu, CA, brings his expertise to this boutique-style fitness and wellness studio. His unparalleled service, combined with top-tier training and coaching, is what makes Elevate Studio truly unique.
At Elevate, workouts are challenging—but fitness is fun. Inspiration, education, and transformation are the threads that weave together the fabric of the Elevate community. Every class and session is designed to empower you to move better, feel stronger, and live healthier.
Join the Elevate Tribe and take your life to the highest level of health, fitness, and well-being.
Private and semi-private training options are also available at Elevate Studio.
CURRENT CLASS OFFERINGS
ElevateFit / ElevateFITFusion
9:30 am, Mon, Wed, Fri
Elevate Yoga
4:00 pm Thur, 10 am Sat
Class size is limited and subject to change.
Please reserve yoga classes prior to the day of class via text: 435.632.1381
Elevate Studio • 435-632-1381
jyfitness@me.com
Be happy. Be healthy. Have a blast!
ELEVATE!
Pre-registration is required. Contact John before attending your first class.
Kayenta Home Yoga
Relax your shoulders. Unclench your jaw. Soften the space between your eyebrows.
This is a reminder to stop holding tension in your body.
2026 Schedule
Tuesday 9:30 – 10:45 Slow Flow Vinyasa
Class begins with a gentle floor warmup followed by standing poses, moving with breath and alignment. We finish with a cool down and Savasana.
This class includes fewer sun salutations and chaturangas than in Thursday’s Vigorous Vinyasa class.
Wednesday 9:30 – 10:45 Yin/Meditative Deep Stretch (Floor-based practice)
Wednesday 11:00 – 12:00 Chair Yoga
Thursday 9:30 – 10:45 Vigorous Vinyasa
Class begins with a gentle floor warmup, followed by sun salutations and standing poses, moving with breath and alignment toward a peak challenging pose. We finish with a cool down and Savasana.
Preregistration is required. Please call/text/email for more information
Karen Kushner (E-RYT 500)
978-621-0499
Find Your Joy Yoga
Find Your Joy Yoga
Tuesdays at 9:30 am
At John Yohmans’s Elevate Fitness Studio in Kayenta!
Classes are $15 • Punch cards are available for $75 (5 classes)
No sign-up is required!
Call/text: 435-862-7743
Javier’s Massage
Javier Guzman LMT/LMMT
Massage is medicine
for the body and mind
Hi, I’m Javier Guzman a licensed massage therapist who resides in the beautiful community of Kayenta. My handcrafted massages are designed for you whether you want relaxation, deep therapeutic, stress reducing, pain relieving, or just to improve overall health & well-being. Don’t delay your journey to a healthier you!
“I think he is a neighborhood treasure. He has a very nice casita where he works. I love his massage and he is a really nice, thoughtful, considerate, good guy.” ~ Christy Lueders
Call or text for an appointment:
Javier Guzman
206-271-6165
Kayenta Pickleball Group (KPG)
Does Pickleball Pique Your Interest?
If you have an interest in joining or have played very little to even not at all and would like to try it prior to paying dues, contact Denton Zubke by email at dbzubke@gmail.com or by phone or text at 701-570-4043. It’s a great way to meet other Kayenta residents and enjoy some fun and get some great exercise.
We’re planning on more organized events such as clinics, beginner classes, and round robins in 2023. Join us in learning to play. It’s fun the first day, infectious, and great for fitness. Please email Denton Zubke or Erin at the Kayenta office for more information.
Email DentonDesert Rose Labyrinth
The labyrinth is sacred ground, a place of rest and renewal.
The Desert Rose Labyrinth & Sculpture Garden is a community resource with the intention that all who walk the labyrinth will be blessed with peace, comfort, and open hearts. The Labyrinth is maintained and funded by Kayenta volunteers. Please be respectful and leave only footprints. For more information or to make group reservations, please contact:
Cheryl Collins
Email Cheryl
Beth Hopwood
Email Beth
Desert Rose Labyrinth
792 Kayenta Pkwy, Ivins UT
Trips and Trails
Kayenta Exploration Group
Monday, January 12, 2026
We will be going to the Atomic Testing Museum and the Shelby Heritage Center and Museum, Las Vegas.
We will have a late lunch or early dinner in Chinatown in Las Vegas.
Meet at the Kayenta Design Center at 9 am. Full-day trip, no dirt road.
For details, contact Charles Dillier at 435-656-1956
Community Advocates
Are you a Kayenta resident? Do you have a cause or passion that you are personally involved with in the St. George area?
If so, let your neighbors know right here.
DPI – Desert Preservation Initiative
Advocate: Chuck Warren
Moving forward with a new president and great enthusiasm for 2026
Transition is often challenging, yet it can also offer great opportunities. As a relatively young non-profit tackling a very large and challenging problem—the hazards of tamarisk in our communities—the Desert Preservation Initiative has faced and continues to face a variety of issues.
As anyone who works with a non-profit is well aware, these demands include communicating with and educating potential audiences, volunteers and relevant government agencies about both the organization’s needs and successes. DPI is beyond fortunate that as President and Founder Chuck Warren steps down, incoming President Deonne Knill brings 25 years of experience in engineering and environmental cleanup, not to mention great energy and enthusiasm, to her new role.
“Deonne is kind, thoughtful, and not full of herself,” says Warren. “She relates well and connects well. She is efficient and wastes no time. DPI couldn’t be in better hands.”
Knill’s extensive experience draws on both hands-on field work and project management. In the field, she worked in full body protective suits, goggles, and a respirator cleaning up properties that were impacted by legacy operations. Before the creation of environmental regulations, it was a common practice to dispose of used chemicals, such as degreasers and oils, directly on the ground. One of her projects included “removing old, corroded, buried steel drums that were full of mystery substances that covered almost every color of the rainbow and with flammability that required non-sparking tools and fully encapsulated suits.” As she says, “Those were some wild days of hot and dangerous work but ones that thrived on good communication and our focus on safety of our staff and the environment.”
Knill also worked in environmental compliance where she partnered with manufacturing companies to audit their operations for compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. In that period, she “spent a lot of time at airports, marine ports, paper printing operations, and steel fabrication, to name a few.”
While she believes that as a whole, people appreciate the need for clean air, soil, drinking water, and surface water, “What people do not understand is the science and complexity of cleaning up properties in a way that finds the balance between cost, efficiency, effectiveness, and safety.” To DPI, she brings direct experience in the negotiations between those responsible for cleanup activities and the governing agencies who approve and oversee them—negotiations that can be delicate.
In multiple ways, her experience is, she says, “a perfect fit” for her new role with DPI. The focus on health and safety she prioritized working in heavy industry translates directly to DPI’s field work. Beyond that, “I have experience working with multiple stakeholders to successfully complete projects. My overall passion for restoring the natural environment fits right in with this wonderful group of people and our community.”
Looking ahead, Knill wants to build on DPI’s success of “completing tamarisk removal on 30+ projects within our immediate community and our ongoing monitoring for re-growth alongside our restoration efforts.” Her immediate focus will be on building strength in the group’s outreach, education, and fundraising efforts.
Noting that “tamarisk removal is very labor intensive,” and that much of the work involves hauling out debris and bringing in water to support new native tree seedlings, Knill looks to obtain the tools to expand access to hard-to-reach areas. “It’d be great if we had a 4-wheeler to help with access,” she says. “And frankly, we need more volunteers who like hard work!”
Another goal is “to expand our relationships and work further into the Santa Clara River watershed area.” And in the fundraising arena, “We really need donors to help us expand our education, outreach, and buy equipment to support our work.”
But Knill is not content to look at just the immediate future. She also has set her sights beyond 2026, when she “sees us partnering with local engineering firms to bring in more expertise, membership, volunteers, and fundraising opportunities. I’d love to see us working with Native Plant Rescue of Southern Utah, Utah State Parks, BLM, and the tribal communities.”
When she isn’t volunteering with DPI, you’ll find her running and hiking the trails around St. George and working in her yard.
For more in-depth information on the people, progress and plans of the Desert Preservation Initiative, visit our newly launched website.
“Ivins Inspired” Volunteer Program
Advocate: Victoria Topham
Have you always wanted to get involved in our community but aren’t sure how? Good news – a small team of volunteers is working on creating a volunteer database, connecting interested residents like you to the amazing groups that help make Ivins such a great place.
Join us in shaping our vibrant community through volunteerism. Every contribution counts, whether you have an hour or a weekend to spare. Your involvement makes a difference in making Ivins even greater.
We invite you to play an active role in our community’s future. Whether you’re passionate about parks, local events, or public services, there’s a place for you in the Ivins Volunteer Program. Already volunteering? We need you in the database, too! Please fill out our form to help match your skills with those of organizations that need you. Filling out the form doesn’t commit you to any of these organizations or roles, but it does help us connect you with opportunities, and it gives volunteer groups/organizations a way to find you and reach out.
*The Ivins Inspired Volunteer Program is entirely a volunteer program not owned or operated by Ivins City in any manner.
Habitat for Humanity of Southwest Humanity
Advocate: Patrick Barickman
To learn more about our projects and mission please visit our website.
Habitat for Humanity of Southwest Utah
835 South Bluff Street, St. George, UT. 84770
INKAS – Ivins No Kill Animal Supporters
Advocate: Lois Hewitt
Ivins No-Kill Animal Supporters (INKAS) is a 501(c)3 organization and a Registered Utah Charity. It was founded in 2010 with the mission of providing support to Ivins Animal Shelter and Adoption Center, now the Santa Clara-Ivins Animal Shelter. In 2006 our shelter became the first no-kill municipal shelter in the state of Utah. Maintaining a no-kill shelter, as opposed to one that euthanizes animals after a set period of time, is more costly because the animal’s needs must be met at the shelter until they are reclaimed by their owners, adopted, or transferred to an animal rescue organization. Through a memorandum of understanding with Ivins City, INKAS provides support through veterinary care, specialty foods, and other needed supplies. Funds are raised through the sale of merchandise at various local events and through the donations of many generous animal lovers. You can help by designating INKAS as your charity on Amazon Smile or by donating on our website.
Santa Clara-Ivins Animal Shelter
Bailee Mabe, Shelter Manager
474 North 200 West, Ivins
435-628-1049
Hours by appointment:
Monday – Saturday, 8am – 3 pm
Ivins Night Sky Initiative
Advocate: Kai Reed
Ivins Night Sky launched on January 8th, 2019. We are a 100% volunteer, not-for-profit, citizen organization. We registered as a Utah nonprofit corporation in February 2019 and received 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the IRS in March.
Our mission is to improve, preserve, and protect the night sky over Ivins and our heritage of dark skies through environmentally responsible outdoor lighting, and to serve as a resource for City officials, residents, and businesses.
Let us know if this Initiative is important to you, if you are willing to get involved, and what else you think we should be doing to improve, preserve, and protect the night skies in Ivins.
Email Ivins Night Sky
Friends of Snow Canyon State Park
Advocates: Lori Capshaw
Events
EventsWe’d like to invite all Kayenta residents to join us in supporting Snow Canyon State Park. Our mission is to provide support to Snow Canyon State Park through various means. For more information and to join Friends please visit our website.
Nextdoor Kayenta
Advocate: Ray Borg
Nextdoor is a completely private online website environment for all of the Kayenta Nextdoor neighborhoods. Special thanks to Ray Borg for being our fearless leader.
Community and City Resources
Kayenta resident-owned services, Kayenta businesses, and Kayenta enrichment programs that benefit the Kayenta community and Ivins City
Naomi Doyle, Kayenta resident, Kayenta Homes & Properties Realtor, and owner of Cade&CO
Cade&Co is a unique company specializing in handmade leather baby shoes and leather-appliquéd cotton clothing. Our shoes feature a leather, slip-on shoe design recommended by pediatricians for babies and pre-walkers. The comfortable, ultra-soft, breathable leather keeps feet cool in summer and warm in winter. The natural suede sole helps protect against slipping.
Founded in 2003 by Kayenta Resident Naomi Doyle, a mother of two boys, Cade&Co develops products with original and creative designs. Our goal is to provide a high-quality, practical line of children’s shoes that parents, babies, and children can use and enjoy every day.
Cade&CO
Booties can be found in Datura Gallery, located in the Kayenta Art Villages, or on her website.
naomi@cadeandco.com • 435-901-1362
Located in the desert community of Kayenta Utah, the Crescent Moon Inn is the perfect place to get away from it all. The Inn is just a short walk or bike ride from the Kayenta Art Village, where locally-owned art galleries, the Sacred Space Day Spa and the Xetava Garden Cafe add to your unique experience.
For Reservations or Pricing call:
435-879-9076
Looking for a Hair Artist right here in Kayenta?….JENN Hair Artist embodies the artistic creativity and passion of the beauty industry. She thrives in creating natural, sexy cuts and color styles for men and women. She looks forward to pampering you.
924A Art Village Way, Ivins, UT 83455
801 637-0884 (call or text)
Good Medicine Intuitive Skin Care
Good Medicine Beauty Lab is a small women-owned company, that creates high-quality face and skincare products. The products are all hand-crafted in our Kayenta lab, from ethically sourced ingredients and wild desert botanicals.
• Unique face and body care products.
• Safe, natural, and locally sourced wild botanical ingredients
Stop by and test all our products, we will be open every day from 9-5!
Kayenta Art Village: 873 Coyote Gulch Ct. Suite C, walk towards the Center for the Arts & look for the bright purple door.
435-656-5240
Is your Home dated, and in desperate need of a complete makeover? I can completely update the look and feel of your home without costly remodeling. I can help with affordable solutions that will transform your space. You will have a home that is organized, more current, and looks beautiful.
Are you building a New Home and need the finishing Touches? I can help with all the decorative touches, from home furnishings to tile, paint & more!
Happy Up Your Home with Home Stylist Nancy Weezy Forman, Kayenta Resident
215.805.0035 WEEZY@NANCYWEEZYFORMAN.COM
Desert Dermatology and Surgery
We are committed to offering you superior dermatological care in a safe, comfortable, and modern environment. Our highly skilled team of Board-Certified providers specialize in Dermatology, Mohs Surgery, and Dermatopathology, ensuring you receive expert care tailored to your unique needs.
Kayenta resident Dr. Christian Anderson DO, PharmD, FAOCD-CAQ Mohs, FASMS, FAAD has been dedicated to healthcare since 1985. He looks forward to making a lasting impact on the health and well-being of his community while navigating today’s complex healthcare landscape with a patient-centered approach.
Desert Dermatology and Surgery
(directly across the street from Rocky Vista University)
272 E Center St Suite 102
Ivins UT 84738
435-288-1311 work • 435-274-2958 fax
Convenient healthcare with Script Your Health Telemedicine and Rosanne Calure, CRNP
Kayenta homeowner Rosanne Calure is a certified adult nurse practitioner with 30 years of clinical experience. She specializes in primary care, urgent care, weight loss, ADHD, and women’s and men’s health. She currently operates her telemedicine practice and is licensed in Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Massachusetts, and Virginia. Rosanne has a home in Kayenta and plans to make Kayenta her full-time residence early next year.
To learn more about Script Your Health and Rosanne Calure, CRNP, or if you have questions, call or text 888-507-4660. You can also visit her website link below for more information.
The mention or listing of specific Kayenta business and/or products or services herein is solely for informational purposes and does not imply endorsement by Kayenta Homes and Properties, Kayenta Development, or the Kayenta Connection, or our partners, nor discrimination against similar brands, products or services offered by Kayenta residents not mentioned.
Kayenta Committees
Board opportunities, landscaping, and ACC & HOA contact information.
Kayenta Desert Arboretum
The Kayenta Desert Arboretum is getting a new and beautiful look this spring. Over the last couple of months our faithful volunteers have been turning the arboretum in to an impressive Kayenta attraction including a variety of new desert plants, many new sculptures and upgraded landscaping. On your next visit to Xetava or the Center For the Arts be sure to take an extra few minutes to stroll through the pathways in the arboretum.
Your community arboretum was created, managed and improved by residents in Kayenta who consider it to be another special feature of the area we live in. If you want to see it grow we would love to welcome you in to our all volunteer organization. Just email or call Roger Head, rbhkayenta@gmail.com; 435-632-1814 for additional information.
Kayenta Landscaping Committee
If you love plants and gardening….
A phenomenal new resource is now available to guide you in creating your Kayenta landscaping, available on the Kayenta HOA website.
The Kayenta ACC Landscaping Committee has just released a new guide to plants currently suggested for use, listing plant characteristics such as typical height and width, growth rate and—perhaps most useful—whether the species is available at local nurseries.
There are links attached to each of the plant IDs and names which lead to images of the plants and in-depth information available online.
In addition, the guide specifies in what areas plants can be used, such as the natural area, the transitional area or in a courtyard. A “Notes” section includes other advice and things to know about a given plant.
This user-friendly Guide to Kayenta Plants is located in the ACC’s Landscaping Documents.
ACC & HOA Information
The Kayenta ACC meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month, 1:00 pm in the Theater for the Arts. A hard copy of the agenda is posted in the Kayenta Homes & Properties office the Thursday before the meeting.
Questions? Ellen Nathan
Phone: 435-652-8333
Email EllenShonto Point HOA Meetings
The Shonto HOA Board meets regularly during the year avoiding some summer months. All meetings are from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM on the third Wednesday of the month in the Theatre for the Arts, located in the Kayenta Art Village.
Taviawk HOA Board Meetings
The Board plans to meet on the Thursday after the ACC meeting (which is the 3rd Tuesday of each month) bi-monthly at 9:30 am at The Management Group (formerly, F1 Property Management)
The Kayenta Concept
The Kayenta Concept is a philosophy that has steered the development of our exceptional community since its inception. The standards that underlie that concept are enforced by the Architectural Control Committee (ACC), which serves both the Shonto Point and Taviawk HOAs. The pre-amble to the 2021 ACC Handbook lays out the basics of the architectural rules that have been followed to create the homes and land-scape we live in.
When your home was designed the Kayenta Concept was front and center. The ACC reviewed your design to evaluate whether it followed the rules, and the ACC monitored construction of your home through landscaping and occupation, again, reviewing adherence to design and construction standards. When you received your occupancy permit and construction deposit refund from the ACC, on-going compliance with the Kayenta Con-cept became the responsibility of your HOA Board of Directors. Your Board has the authority to perpetuate the Kayenta Concept into the future and gladly accepts that role.
The Kayenta Concept is worth reviewing to remind us that what we have here has only happened because of the rules Kayenta developer Terry Marten set up to own, build and live in Kayenta. His vision and the governing documents he developed to achieve and maintain that vision established the Kayenta HOAs and gave them the responsibility and authority to enforce the CC&Rs that underlie the beauty and value we all enjoy
Ivins City Dumpster Dates and Blucan Recycling Calendars
Ivins City Offices are open.
For Appointments with a specific department call:
Administration: 435-628-0606
Building: 435-634-9753
Parks or Cemetery: 435-634-7719
Public Works: 435-634-0689
Dispatch: 435-634-5730 or Animal Control: 435-628-1049
Ongoing Events and Activities
Weekly and monthly gatherings
Kayenta Book Lovers
Meetings the 2nd Monday of every month. For more details contact our bookclub
Submissions
Email submissions / changes to Kayenta Connection with “Kayenta Connection (month)” in the subject line. Our Kayenta Connection Newsletter updates the 1st of the Month. Please submit 6 days prior to the end of the month to be included.
The Kayenta Connection is a publication that is focused on the Kayenta Community (residents, visitors and other interested folks). Information and articles should appeal to our Kayenta readers and reflect the spirit of our community. The KC cannot be responsible for mistakes submitted by the contributor. We do not accept advertisements for services or events other than those provided by a Kayenta resident who is advertising their business/service to our community. The KC supports promotion of businesses located within the Kayenta Art Village.
The information submitted does not imply sponsorship or reflect the views and opinion of Kayenta Homes & Properties or Kayenta Development. Content not deemed appropriate for our readers will not be published. All information published in the KC is subject to editing.
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Sign up for the Kayenta Connection. We will send you monthly reminders when our next issue of the Kayenta Connection is ready to view online. Sign up to stay connected.
Download a printable pdf of our monthly Kayenta Connection here.
If you know someone who would like to read a “hard copy” version of the Kayenta Connection, we are now providing a downloadable PDF. It can be printed on any personal printer. It is a low-resolution file to keep the file size manageable. It is a conversion from an online version, so some font sizes may be small. Print a few test pages first. Please note that it will require at least 25 to 30 sheets of paper.