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
Kayenta Recreation Association Annual Membership
Pool season is here, and we’re ready to welcome you back!
The pool opened on April 15, and new key fobs will be activated then.
Dear Kayenta Recreation and Pickleball Members,
As we approach the start of a new season, this is a friendly reminder that it’s time to renew your Kayenta Recreation Association (KRA) membership for the upcoming term, running from April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027.
To renew your membership, please visit the accounting office to sign your updated membership agreement and receive your new key fob. Please remember to turn in your old key fob at that time. We are no longer mailing out the membership forms. For your convenience, we have provided links to download the forms below, so you can print and fill them out in advance. Office hours are:
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
If you live out of town, I’m happy to make the process easy—just fill out the attached membership agreement and either email it back or mail it along with your payment. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 435-628-7732 or by email at accounting@kayenta.net.
We look forward to another wonderful season and hope to see you soon!
Natalie Duran
Kayenta Accounting Office
932 B Art Village Way, Ivins, UT 84738
435-628-7732
Kayenta Native Arts Market
Friday, May 1, 2026, 4 pm – 8 pm
Saturday & Sunday, May 2-3, 2026, 10 am – 5 pm
FREE to attend!
Kayenta Arts Foundation is thrilled to host the 2026 Kayenta Native Arts Market, formerly known as Festival of the Americas. This exciting event will feature a wide range of traditional and contemporary Native American art, including jewelry, pottery, textiles, paintings, and sculptures from dozens of artists located throughout the Southwest.
Enjoy spectacular art, stunning desert vistas, food trucks, and an exciting lineup of indigenous performers throughout the weekend. This event is fun for the whole family, and offers an incredible opportunity to learn more about native cultures.
During the Native Arts Market, Kayenta Arts Foundation hosts fundraising events for the Shivwits Band of the Paiute Tribe of Southern Utah. By shopping at our silent auction, you are supporting their impactful scholarship fund.
First Fridays at Kayenta: Native Arts Market
Friday, May 1 • 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
We’re kicking off the Native Arts Market & Festival during First Fridays! Get a sneak peek of the vendors coming to this wonderful festival held in the Kayenta Arts Village.
DOCUTAH PRESENTS: Bring Them Home
Friday, May 1 • 7:30pm
Join us for another of DOCUTAH’s “Best of Fest” screenings during First Fridays at Kayenta. This film tells the story of a small group of Blackfoot people and their mission to establish the first wild buffalo herd on their ancestral territory since the species’ near-extinction a century ago, an act that would restore the land, re-enliven traditional culture and bring much needed healing to their community.
Kayenta Native Arts Market & Festival
Friday, May 1, 4pm – 8pm
Saturday & Sunday, May 2-3, 10am – 5pm
Kayenta Arts Foundation is thrilled to host the 2026 Kayenta Native Arts Market, formerly known as Festival of the Americas. This exciting event will feature a wide range of traditional and contemporary Native American art, including jewelry, pottery, textiles, paintings, and sculptures from dozens of artists located throughout the Southwest.
Kayenta 100 Part V: Kayenta Lifestyle & Arts, 2016–2026
Sunday, May 10 • 3:00pm
A celebration of the present moment and a vision for the future. From the expansion of the Kayenta Art Village to the rise of performing arts, culinary experiences, and wellness culture, this chapter explores how Kayenta has come to embody a unique and evolving desert lifestyle.
Kevin Mills & Drew Petersen: Tortured Bliss
Saturday, May 16 • 7:30pm
Cellist Kevin Mills and pianist Drew Peterson present an evening of powerful and transformative classical music for cello and piano, including Beethoven’s Sonata No. 2 in G Minor and Brahms’ Sonata No. 1 in E Minor.
Performance to be followed by a reception with the artists.
VOYAGER LECTURE SERIES: Train the Mind, Open the Heart
with the Mindfulness Center of Southern Utah
Tuesday, May 26
7:30pm – social hour begins at 6:30pm
Join us for an engaging exploration of mindfulness and its real-world impact. In this Voyager Lecture, experts from the Mindfulness Center of Southern Utah go beyond theory, revealing the clinical evidence behind mindfulness practices and how training the mind can unlock profound benefits for the heart.
Whether you’re curious about the science, seeking stress relief, or looking to deepen your well-being, this evening offers practical tools you can carry into everyday life.
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.
Kayenta Community
The local perspective. Our businesses and residents news and events.
In celebration of the 22nd anniversary of the Desert Rose Labyrinth
(built by Kayenta volunteers in 2004)
PLEASE JOIN US FOR
World Labyrinth Day • “Walk as One at 1”
Saturday, May 2nd at 12:45 pm
Every year on the first Saturday in May, thousands of people all around the globe participate in World Labyrinth Day as a moving meditation and celebration of the labyrinth experience. Many “Walk as One at 1” local time to create a rolling wave of peaceful energy passing from one time zone to the next. See last year’s video from around the world (including Kayenta) at worldlabyrinthday.org.
The Desert Rose Labyrinth is a hidden gem in our community, funded and maintained by local residents. If you’d like to help pull weeds or trim trees at the labyrinth, please email redrockmother@icloud.com.
Unique Experiences,
Gastronomic Delights,
Local Perspective,
Exceptional Art.
Metal Artist
Greg Gowen
featured at
Datura Gallery
KAYENTA ART VILLAGE | 800 COYOTE CULCH COURT | IVINS, UTAH 84738
435.673.6628 | 435.674.2306 | kayentaartvillage.com
Community Spotlight
Janell Bassett, Editor
Sara and Nathan Dupre—Embracing new directions
Both Nathan and Sara Dupre loved the energy and passions of life in New Orleans—a characteristic that has fueled their lives over the years. And they also share highly technical minds, a commitment to building a better community, and a simple love of the outdoors.
Nathan grew up in New Orleans, spending his formative years in the typical high school jobs (paper boy, bus boy, waiter) before earning a degree in Med Tech. But as he says, “My life meandered about for several years (they do call it the Big Easy).” He once tried building Geodesic Dome homes before going back to college for a degree in electrical engineering.
Sara, who lived on a lake in Western New York, “swam from sunrise to sunset, water skied, camped under incredible starry skies” and celebrated winter with “snow bank caves, flying saucers down hills, and blizzards that closed school—we loved that!” She joined the Navy hospital corps out of high school. After separating from the service, a trip to Mardi Gras led her to move south and work towards a nursing degree. Completing the degree after a return New York to deal with a family health crisis, she went back to New Orleans and met Nathan at a hospital where they both worked.
Nathan moved on to Seattle to work as a system engineer, testing software on Boeing aircraft, ending up as manager of the 787 Flight Controls laboratory, “a great experience.” Sara followed, working 28 years at Seattle Providence Hospital. They were married in the backyard of Nathan’s sister Patty and her husband, (now Ivins Councilman) Mike Scott.
Like many, Patty and Mike fell in love with southern Utah, buying a property on their first visit. As Nathan and Sara joined them for weekend vacations, trips to Kayenta prompted thoughts of “Wow! We could live here,” and as Nathan adds, “the rest is history.”
Once settled in Kayenta, Nathan and Sara quickly embraced a wide variety of new directions. Nathan started out on the Taviawk HOA board and drove the setup of a Nextdoor website. He joined the ACC for a few years, then became an acting manager for the Kayenta Community Garden. “Growing up as a city boy, it’s been fascinating to grow vegetables in the sandy desert,” he says. And brother-in-law Mike recruited him to join the Night Sky Initiative, where he put his technological background to work, along with friend Paul Andrews, to “establish an Ivins light baseline, using a spectrometer.”
Sara thought she’d work at the hospital “but soon got over that and joined INKAS (Ivins No Kill Animal Supporters), bringing them two beloved cats through a recent adoption. “What a wonderful, dedicated group!” she says of the INKAS volunteers. She is also a board member of the Desert Preservation Initiative, recruited by neighbor Chuck Warren, whom she first joined building trails through the Kayenta Wash. Her love of nature also led her to join the Kayenta Desert Arboretum and the Community Garden where she puts in “a lot of work for tomatoes, but you can’t top fresh organic vegetables,” she says.
In their “spare” time, both enjoy travel and new adventures, such as a recent trip to Jordan and Egypt, as well as “dressing up for Kayenta Art Center parties and galas.” Nathan loves collecting guitars and playing music in the KGB (Kayenta Garage Band), which he says, “has not made it out of the garage yet but we do enjoy jamming.” And Sara pursues yoga and riding her e-bike. The same passions and energy that animated their years in New Orleans is now fueled by the “Zion beauty in our backyard. Friends and family that visit are totally blown away. We know we are so fortunate to live here!”
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.
May 2026 Ivins City Council Updates
Mike Scott, Council Member
BudgetRx and the Elephant in the Room
Every year, right about now, we gather around the same uncomfortable reality: the budget. It’s the elephant in the room; not because anyone is ignoring it, but because it’s big, it’s complicated, and it has a habit of quietly consuming everything in sight. Public safety, roads, parks, water, staffing… all important, all competing, all wanting a seat at the table.
And then there’s the part no one loves: every dollar we spend in one place is a dollar we can’t spend somewhere else. There is no “miscellaneous magic fund.” Just choices. The budget is where all good ideas meet a limited checkbook.
What’s Changed This Year
Since we started this process, one thing has become clearer than ever: Over the past several years, Ivins has made a deliberate shift toward stronger, more professional public safety services. We moved from a largely volunteer fire model to full-time Fire/EMS staffing. At the same time, we’ve been strengthening a police department that had been operating very lean.
I support these decisions. They improve response times, reliability, and safety for our residents. But they also change the math. Public safety now makes up about 47% of our total budget, up from 39% eight years ago.
That doesn’t mean anything has gone wrong. It means we made a choice about what kind of city we want to be. But it does mean something important going forward: These are ongoing, structural costs. They don’t go away next year. They grow with staffing, training, equipment, and service expectations. That shift shows up clearly in this year’s budget.
The Budget Is Balanced… But Not Effortlessly
At a high level, the proposed budget is balanced. Revenues and expenses are close. But when you look a little closer, you see the tension. Overall expenses are up 3.6%. That’s even with an 18.5% increase in public safety costs, driven by adding personnel to improve response times and give us the ability to respond to two incidents at the same time.
Our Center Street Fire Station Remodel & Expansion
This brings us to one of the most important decisions currently in front of us: the remodel and expansion of the Center Street Fire Station.
This project wasn’t originally planned for the near term. However, a consultant study completed last fall made it clear that, with continued growth in Ivins and Santa Clara, our current facilities need a refresh to support the level of service our community needs.
We believe this project can be accommodated within our overall financial plan by delaying or reprioritizing some other capital projects. How much we will have to delay depends on how well we do with grants.
Mayor Smith will be presenting a “State of the City” update on May 7th from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at City Hall (85 N Main Street), which will include more information on the proposed fire station renovation and expansion. I encourage you to attend if you’re interested in learning more about this important project and how it fits into our broader plans for the city. (Refreshments will be served.)
What Residents Are Saying
One of the most valuable parts of this budget process for me personally has been hearing from residents. I appreciate the dozens of comments I’ve received and have looked at the budget through these ideas. The feedback I’ve received has been remarkably consistent:
- Prioritize public safety
- Maintain and improve roads and infrastructure
- Be careful and disciplined with spending
Those priorities don’t conflict… until they do. Because the budget is where they all compete with each other.
The Real Question We’re Facing
The question isn’t whether public safety is important. It is. The question is: How do we sustain a higher level of service over time without crowding out everything else?
That’s the balancing act. I believe we can balance these needs. But not without careful planning. That includes some tradeoffs, and hard conversations about priorities. That’s what is happening this budget season, which includes pushing off some capital projects into the future to make room for more urgent needs.
Why This Still Matters Right Now
And this brings us back to the most important point I’ve been making for the past few months: The best time to influence the budget is before the final public hearing on May 21st.
By the time we get to the public hearing, most of the major decisions will already be largely set. Not because anyone is ignoring input, but because the process naturally narrows options over time.
Right now, we still have flexibility. Right now, priorities can still shift. Right now, your input can still make a real difference.
What Would Help Most
You don’t need to read spreadsheets (unless you enjoy that sort of thing). What’s most helpful is hearing your perspective:
- What city services matter most to you?
- Where should we be cautious about spending?
- What are we missing?
- What problems should we be planning for now?
If you have thoughts, questions, or concerns, I’d like to hear them. You don’t have to figure this out alone. I’m happy to email you any budget-related information I have, walk you through the budget, explain how things are funded, or talk through any issue.
Because when residents speak up early, we make better decisions together.
We have been discussing the budget at every meeting for a couple of months now and will discuss it again at our May 7th City Council meeting. We will also adopt a tentative budget at that meeting that will go to a public hearing at the next meeting on May 21st.
But don’t wait until the 21st. Please email me now with your thoughts. The elephant isn’t going anywhere. The question is how we manage it… together.
More City Information
I try to keep these articles relatively concise. 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:
Figure Drawing from Live Models: 4-Week Session
May 4, 11, 18, 25
Teacher: Larry Gerber
Time: 10 am – 1 pm
This 4-week figure drawing course focuses on the power of gesture as the foundation of expressive figure work. Working from live models, students will learn how to capture movement, emotion, and energy while developing their own unique artistic voice.
Abstract Alcohol Ink for Beginners
May 6
Teacher: Leslie Wignall DeBry
Time: 10 am – 12 pm
Dive into the vibrant world of alcohol ink painting in this inspiring class designed for adults of all skill levels. Create a stunning, one-of-a-kind 12×12-inch masterpiece while learning techniques to master this dynamic medium.
Mystic Marbling: A Two-Day Hands-On Workshop
May 8 and 9
Teacher: Lynda Holman
Time: 11 am – 2 pm
Unlock the Magic of Water Marbling. Immerse yourself in the ancient, meditative art of marbling over two creative, joy-filled sessions. Whether you’re a curious beginner or an adventurous crafter, this hands-on workshop will guide you through classic marbling techniques and send you home with a gorgeous collection of your own marbled paper.
Wood-Burning & Watercolor: Desert Scene Mixed Media Workshop
May 14
Teacher: Kaylee Fisher
Time: 3 – 6 pm
In this 3-hour beginner-friendly mixed media class, students will create a desert landscape inspired by stained glass using wood-burning and watercolor.
MakeSpace Open Studio
Friday, May 1, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
A First Friday Event
Get a behind-the-scenes look at this hub of creativity.
Your Community. Your Classes. Your Space.
Information & Class Registration
And, while you are there, register your email to receive monthly updates on classes.
MAKESPACE | 918 ART VILLAGE WAY | IVINS, UTAH 84738
Petite Feast Dinner Club
PALETTE TO PLATE DINNER
SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2026
~Reserve Your Seat at the Table~
For this extraordinary evening, we invite you to embark on a culinary expedition where each course is inspired by a celebrated work of art. Immerse yourself in a meal, where every dish tells a new story. Colors, shapes, and flavors unfold in a one-of-a-kind journey through six fascinating masterpieces. Each painting will guide the diner through the meal and the journey we are on; each work of art showcasing a thoughtful interpretation of the course to follow. We are traveling together where each stop will awaken your senses and spark your curiosity. Reserve your seat and anticipate a culinary journey that will create memories that linger long after the last bite.
As part of this immersive journey, the menu will be presented as a handbound deck of miniature gallery cards, As each dish arrives, guests are invited to decipher which artwork corresponds to the plate before them, creating an intimate dialogue between visual and culinary art, where observation becomes part of the ritual of dining.
MENU
RESERVE YOUR SEAT AT THE TABLE FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE AND UNIQUE DINING EXPERIENCE WHERE ART AND CUISINE CONVERGE
Spring’s best offerings shine in this thoughtfully crafted, vegetable and seafood-focused menu
Limited seating available
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.
“Susan Dintner here to say I have never had food like yours in my life. It was wonderful and so was the company. We sat with so many interesting people. We would not have changed one thing about last night.” — Susan and Warren Dintner
“How creative this dinner was! It was absolutely fabulous in every way” — N. Campbell
VIRTUAL DINNER PARTY #117
QUINOA SALAD WITH GREEN BEANS AND GRAPE TOMATOES
May and its glorious weather have finally arrived in Kayenta, so for this month’s Virtual Dinner Party recipe, I thought we should lean into that warm-weather-eat-outside vibe and make this healthy quinoa salad. This is the kind of dish that comes together with just a handful of ingredients and a few minutes in the kitchen, but still delivers something fresh, colorful, and super tasty. It’s so easy and quick, it works just as well for a light lunch as it does alongside a crispy chicken breast or grilled salmon for a well-balanced weeknight dinner. I’ve used grape tomatoes and green beans here because they’re favorites in my kitchen, but please think of this recipe as a “use what you have” type situation. Swap in whatever vegetables you love but keep the ratio of veg to quinoa roughly the same so the flavors stay vibrant and balanced.
Cooking the quinoa is the most time-consuming part of making this dish. But here’s a tip: disregard the package cooking instructions. For convenience and consistently great results, I like to cook quinoa the same way I cook pasta. I boil it in plenty of salted water until it turns slightly translucent and you see that little interior curlicue germ unfurl. Once cooked (it should take about 15 minutes), drain and spread it on a paper towel lined sheet pan to cool and dry slightly before assembling the salad. The extra cooling step gives you quinoa that’s fluffy and tender, with just enough structure to hold up to the vegetables and dressing without becoming soggy or clumpy.
If you are unfamiliar with quinoa, it is not only delicious, it’s a nutritional powerhouse. While it is often considered a grain, it is technically a seed. It has an intriguing nutty flavor and a slightly chewy texture that holds up beautifully when paired with vegetables, proteins, and all kinds of dressings. It can be eaten hot or cold, and even folded into rice, beans, or potatoes to boost their nutrient profiles. As an added bonus, quinoa is a complete protein. That means it contains all the essential amino acids our bodies require. Combine that fact with its great taste, ease of preparation and endless versatility, and it’s a healthy win-win-win for almost any recipe you use it in, this one included!
If you’d like to serve this dish with a glass of wine alongside, Tim felt the dominant flavors of the salad would be nutty, herbal, acidic and slightly sweet. He recommends crisp, dry white wine with high acidity such as Sauvignon Blanc, Vermentino, or a dry Riesling or Rose. However, if you want to switch the dressing to a creamy dressing like blue cheese, he recommends a Chardonnay, or possibly Pinot Noir.
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
QUINOA SALAD WITH GREEN BEANS AND GRAPE TOMATOES
INGREDIENTS
3 C cooked quinoa
¼ C slivered red onion
1 C green beans, blanched
1 C grape tomatoes, halved
¼ C minced parsley
3 minced scallions
BASIL VINAIGRETTE
½ C corn oil
¼ c white wine vinegar
1 t each salt and coarse ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 t minced parsley
3 t minced basil
METHOD
Whisk together the ingredients for the vinaigrette and set aside. Cook the quinoa as you would pasta, taking care not to overcook. When tender, drain well and spread out on a rimmed baking sheet. Cool completely. Combine all other salad ingredients. Add with vinaigrette and adjust salt and pepper.
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.
“It’s Your Workout: Your Time. Your Body. Own It.”
– Anonymous
Elevate Fitness
NEW
Coming this Spring
Outdoor Yoga on Elephant Rock in Kayenta
Text John @ 435-632-1381 for more information.
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
Desert 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, May 18th, 2026
Ghost Towns of Hamlin & Lion’s Mouth Excursion
Join us for a full-day adventure to the ghost towns of Hamlin and an Anasazi birthing cave known as Lion’s Mouth, located north of Veyo.
This unique outing features:
- Historic ghost towns
- Ancestral Anasazi site
- Scenic desert landscapes
- Rugged backcountry exploration
Trip Details:
- Meet at the Kayenta Design Center at 10:00 AM
- Full-day excursion
- Approx. 20 miles on a dirt road
- Please bring your own lunch
For questions, please 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: Deonne Knill
Preserving the health and beauty of the natural habitat
Preserving the natural beauty of southern Utah—the intricate landscape woven by the flow of water, the stunning geological formations shaped by weather and time, the infinite forms and colors of plants native to the area—needs help. As nature is impacted by man, both intentionally and not, the survival of our local beauty needs monitoring and care.
Such considerations are among the driving motivations of the Desert Preservation Initiative (DPI), currently partnering with the Bureau of Land Management to remove the invasive tamarisk at the Anasazi Trailhead just off Highway 91 in Ivins. At this site where visitors can follow easy trails to see some of the most magnificent petroglyphs in the area, DPI volunteers are working to help restore the natural habitat.
”Our team is excited to give back in an area that is visited by so many people every day. We feel honored to work on these protected lands that hold so much history,” says DPI President Deonne Knill.
The opportunity to work with and through the BLM came about at a meeting between Knill, April Subashe, Director of Native Plant Rescue of Southern Utah, and Stephanie Taylor, a wildlife biologist with the St. George BLM office. Learning about DPI at that meeting, Taylor was “impressed with how motivated they are” about doing the hard physical work required.
Well aware of “how quickly tamarisk gets out of hand and chokes out native species,” Taylor became a proponent of the project and helped shepherd it through the various levels of review and approval needed for DPI to work on BLM land. Working as a volunteer crew, DPI provided the majority of the labor, with Taylor on site to review the process and make sure the land was not disturbed. “We worked together on the planning and logistics of our field-day efforts,” says Knill.
The Anasazi project involves about 16 tamarisks ranging in size from small, young bushes to clumps the size of a van and close to 20 feet tall. Clearing them involves cutting and treating the stumps with herbicide, then following up quarterly to monitor the site for potential regrowth, which demands a commitment by the DPI volunteer team for at least a year. But anything less will not, ultimately, make a difference. As DPI founder Chuck Warran notes, “No native plants can survive in intense tamarisk groves. Beyond the dangerous fuel loads in these areas waiting for a wildfire, few animal species live in tamarisk infestations, the primary one being wood rats.”
Knill points out that the way in which tamarisk drive out other species is very clear on the Anasazi site, where “you can see tamarisk growing within native mesquite trees. You can see the mesquite leaning away from the tamarisk, trying to escape the invasion. Our work will save these trees and allow them to recover.”
Ultimately, this kind of collaboration with the BLM can be important to future projects, as DPI increases its focus on the Santa Clara River drainage area, where the BLM plays a key role. Beyond the preservation of the historic artifacts and beautification of the Anasazi area, this project offers DPI volunteers opportunities “to make a concrete difference in the health and wellbeing of the desert, to reduce fire danger, to build community and to create new friendships,” says Chuck Warren.
If you’d like to learn more about DPI and its work, please email President Deonne Knill at deonne@desertpi.org or visit https://www.desertpi.org/
BLM wildlife biologist Stephanie Taylor reviews the project with DPI President Deonne Knill
Heading out to work on the Anasazi trailhead
Large cuts are hauled away for safe disposal
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.
Red Mountain Desert Preserve
Advocate: Patricia O’Rorke
New Shivwits Chairperson Seeks Local Residents’ Support
The Shivwits Band of Utah Paiutes has elected Philip Bushhead as the Band’s Chairperson, according to election results announced Friday, March 28. A member of Red Mountain Land Preservers, Mr. Bushhead seeks transparency and the right of the Shivwits members to vote on the terms proposed by private equity group Reef Capital Partners (“Reef”) to use the Shivwits’ land and water for a massive, 1,250-acre expansion of its Black Desert golf resort. He is asking local residents to help the Shivwits people defeat the legislation proposed by Reef to transfer jurisdiction over the Shivwits reservation to the State of Utah without a vote of the Shivwits members. For more information, please click the link below to download the full article and ways to help our Shivwits Neighbors.
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
MacKenzie Reid, Animal Control Supervisor
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 was launched in January, 2019 as a 100% volunteer, citizen-led organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the night sky over Ivins. We strive to keep our community updated about issues that threaten the integrity of our night sky and serve as a strong, unified voice for their long-term preservation and protection.
The night sky’s importance lies in its vital role for ecosystems, supporting wildlife with natural light/dark cycles, and for human well-being, offering inspiration, cultural heritage, mental health benefits (awe, purpose), and a connection to the universe, all while being threatened by increasing light pollution. It’s a natural resource for health, science, art, and a fundamental part of human history and our sense of place.
If you would like to be on our mailing list to stay informed, please email kaiallenreed@gmail.com.
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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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.