PRESIDENTS DAY WEEKEND
February 14th & 15th • 10am to 5pm each day.
Things are gearing up for the Kayenta February Art Festival.
Twenty-eight juried artists on hand to showcase their art! Jewelry, metalworks, photography, textiles, oil paintings, watercolors, wood, glass art, leather, and so much more! Enjoy live music and culinary delights from festival vendors and Kayenta’s two restaurants, Xetava and Rusted Cactus. The surrounding red rock adds to the magic of Kayenta! For more information and a list of our featured musicians, visit the link below. See you there!
Kayenta Art Village Studios and Galleries.
Unique Experiences, Gastronomic Delights, Creative Businesses &
Exceptional Art.
KAYENTA ART VILLAGE | 800 COYOTE CULCH COURT | IVINS, UTAH 84738
435.673.6628 | 435.674.2306 | kayentaartvillage.com
Thank you to all the many Kayenta residents who attended this year’s annual Kayenta Homes & Properties Holiday Party.
Jeff, Steve & Naomi especially enjoyed spending the afternoon out of the real estate office and catching up with our Kayenta neighbors. We have such a kind, wonderful, and creative community here in Kayenta; it is always a pleasure to hear the residents’ stories and their travels and artistic adventures.
Kayenta Homes & Properties was thrilled to host this year’s event at the newly completed Gulch Design “Anniversary House” in the new Moenkopi area of Kayenta. Over 200 people RSVP’ed for the event, which was catered by Kayenta’s own Petite Feast.
The home was built to celebrate Kayenta’s first 50 years, highlighting the incredible views of the Moenkopi area, which is located between Fire Lake and the Dry Wash area, off Old Highway 91 and Kayenta Parkway.
Kayenta Development will be offering five lots for sale by Spring. Each will have a pre-designed individual custom home plan by Gulch Design. Pricing and maps will be available soon.
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
On Saturday, March 14 at 6:00pm, we’ll roll out the red carpet and pop open the bottles of bubbly. This year’s theme embraces our fantastic star-gazing sky.
Like constellations in the night sky, art connects us across distance and difference — through shared stories, cultural traditions, creative vision, and acts of generosity. This gala honors the belief that when we gather, collaborate, and give, we become brighter together.
Dinner, Beverages, and Entertainment are all included.
Live Auction of Artwork by Greg Ragland, Premier Kayenta Fine Artist
PURCHASE OPTIONS
Single ticket – $150
Table (Six Seats) – $1,000
THIS IS OUR SIGNATURE FUNDRAISING EVENT
AND WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US AS WE SUPPORT THE ARTS IN KAYENTA
Check this link for information and ticket details.
I Can’t Believe it!
I’m blown away by February’s lineup with these guys performing at Center for the Arts at Kayenta! Through a grant from Chamber Music America, Alfredo Rodriguez & Pedrito Martinez have included Kayenta on their national tour and will be performing at the Center on February 7, following their performance at Kingsbury Hall in SLC. Each renowned in their own right, together “Their styles blend to create songs with aching lyricism, watercolor soundscapes that are driven by captivating mambo grooves.” —Jazztimes. Get your tickets HERE, they are selling fast!
February at the Center also features the production of the audience favorite from our 2024 Play Lab, “The Caregiver’s Guide” directed by our community’s own and beloved, Rob Goodman. And don’t forget First Friday on February 6th. Entertainment includes a reprise of Runaway Fire and a DOCUTAH film—Cigarette Surfboard.
Lastly, a note of thanks to all who attended our January events and performances. We nearly filled every seat for each performance. In addition to helping pay the rent, an appreciative — and full — audience helps keep us on the map as a performance destination for artists, and more importantly, the grant organizations that fund them!
Thank you for your membership and support. I hope to see you at the theater.
Best,
Laurel Bryant
Chair, Kayenta Arts Foundation
VOYAGER LECTURE SERIES
Mass Extinctions
with Jerry Harris
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 7:30pm
Social Hour Begins at 6:30pm
Earth’s history has been shaped by moments of profound loss—and remarkable renewal. In this Voyager Lecture, scientist Jerry Harris explores the story of mass extinctions over the past half-billion years, events that radically transformed life on our planet by erasing entire groups of organisms and opening the door for new forms of life to emerge. By uncovering the causes and consequences of these ancient upheavals, Harris reveals what the deep past can tell us about the challenges we face today—and what our future may hold if we fail to learn from it.
Every First Friday at Kayenta
Friday, February 6, 4 – 8 pm
Celebrate Southern Utah’s creative spirit every First Friday at Kayenta with art, live music, and community—plus a curated boutique market from Southern Utah Market featuring local art, handmade goods, and farmers market favorites. Meet regional artisans, stroll the galleries of the Kayenta Art Village, and enjoy DOCUTAH’s “Best of Fest” film series, along with free live music in the courtyard, food trucks, and more.
FREE • Live Music in the Courtyard
Runaway Fire, 4:00p-7:30p
Visit Make Space: 5:00p – 7:00p
Film Screening: 7:30p, $10
DOCUTAH Presents: Cigarette Surfboard
DOCUTAH PRESENTS
Cigarette Surfboard
Friday February 6, 2026 at 7:30pm
An impassioned surfer, Taylor Lane, creates a functional surfboard with 10,000 littered cigarette butts collected from California beaches. The Cigarette Surfboard becomes a platform to learn from professional surfers who are working to protect and restore the health of the ocean, and the symbol of a grassroots campaign to hold Big Tobacco accountable for their toxic, plastic waste. Surfing is the medium, but the message is universal.
ALFREDO RODRIGUEZ & PEDRITO MARTINEZ
Saturday, February 7, 2025, 7:30pm
Alfredo Rodríguez & Pedrito Martinez bring an electrifying conversation of rhythm, melody, and cultural heritage to the Center for the Arts at Kayenta. What begins as an intimate exchange between piano, percussion, and voice quickly erupts into a thrilling, improvisation-driven performance that blurs the lines between classical precision, Afro-Cuban tradition, and modern jazz.
Grammy-nominated pianist Alfredo Rodríguez, a Havana conservatory prodigy discovered by Quincy Jones, commands the keyboard with a style shaped as much by Bach and Stravinsky as by Cuban son and jazz. Percussionist and vocalist Pedrito Martinez, forged in the folkloric traditions of Old Havana’s streets, delivers visceral rhythms and soaring vocals rooted in Afro-Cuban spiritual and popular music. Each artist is a master in his own right; together, they form a rare and powerful musical dialogue.
The Caregiver’s Guide
by Jami Brandli
directed by Rob Goodman
February 19-21, and February 25-27 at 7:30pm
February 22 and 28 at 3:00pm
The Caregiver’s Guide is a poignant comedy about love, family, and the messiness of caring for one another. When a stand-up comedian returns home and reveals he’s inherited the early-onset Alzheimer’s gene from his late mother, his two sisters are forced to face their own fears about the future, their health, and how to care for someone who doesn’t want to be cared for. With humor, heart, and a touch of the supernatural, this play explores how one family leans on laughter, memory, and love to make it through life’s hardest turns. Uplifting, funny, and deeply human, The Caregiver’s Guide promises to move and entertain audiences.
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.
Functional fitness for adults over 50 years old
Gina and Willie
Kayenta resident Dr. Ginamarie Foglia will be making a presentation on functional fitness specifically designed for adults over 50 years old on February 11, 2026, at 5:30 pm. Part of the Mini-Medical School series offered by Utah Tech University’s Institute for Continued Learning (ICL), the presentation will take place in Dunford Auditorium in the Browning Building at Utah Tech.
Dr. Foglia will explore how functional fitness can improve health, maintain independence, and enhance quality of life as we age. Functional Fitness trains muscles to work together by simulating everyday movements for improved daily task performance. Exercises involve multiple joints to enhance strength, flexibility, and overall muscle coordination. Balance and coordination are emphasized to improve stability and body control in everyday activities.
The presentation is complimentary and does not require attendees to be registered with ICL.
Dr. Foglia, DO, MPH, FACP, has over 30 years of healthcare experience as an internationally known subject matter expert in infectious disease, internal medicine, public health, clinical trial research & development, medical education, and wellness. She is an Adjunct Professor at Rocky Vista University College of Medicine. Dr. Foglia is a certified personal/group fitness trainer and has completed several endurance and strength-training activities, including marathons, cycling tours, and the Ironman70 triathlon. More recently, she held the positions of Adventure Guide and Wellness Consultant at Red Mountain Resort.
Become one of the first owners of a Utah Dark Sky License Plate
Putting the Utah DarkSky license plate on your car will show your commitment to protecting our night sky. The design on the plate shows a Utah dark sky with the Big Dipper and includes Utah’s official state star: Dubhe, the star at the lip of the dipper.
Before the state will begin production of the special dark sky plates, Dark Sky Utah will need 500 people to commit to purchasing the plates. The cost for the Dark Sky plates is $47.50 which includes a yearly $25.00 donation to Dark Sky Utah which will be used to support night sky activities at Utah State Parks including Snow Canyon. You will not have to pay this amount until there are 500 signups and the plates go into production.
There are a few forms you need to complete in order to sign up. Get all the instructions here:
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 on issues that threaten the integrity of our night sky and to serve as a strong, unified voice for its long-term preservation and protection.
If you would like to be on our mailing list to stay informed, please email kaiallenreed@gmail.com.
Community Spotlight
Janell Bassett, Editor
Patti O’Rorke and Ted Asmus: Endless interests and energy to match
If you talk to Patti O’Rorke or Ted Asmus about their lives and interests, be prepared for a wide-ranging journey, covering topics from sailing and fly fishing to attending operas in France and Italy and dancing the tango in Argentina. They’ve traveled widely and been active in community affairs. And, having settled in their “forever home” in Kayenta, they have no intention of slowing down.
Both grew up in New Jersey, but life led them in different directions. An Air Force kid, Ted grew up in France, California, Illinois, and Hawaii before returning to the “mainland” to pursue his career as a music professor. Ted’s mother claimed that as soon as he was able to crawl and learned where the pots and pans were stored, he “spent hours banging on them.” That drive led to violin lessons, then percussion, and countless gigs with symphonies, rock bands, jazz groups, hula shows, even with Louis Armstrong, before he earned his Ph.D. and began his academic career.
As a professor of music education and dean at several leading schools of music, Ted published numerous scholarly articles on the importance of motivation in music education. He still advises parents to get their kids committed to playing an instrument through high school and to joining the marching band or orchestra when they start college—so they can begin those years with plenty of good friends.
Meantime, Patti attended law school at ASU, where she was the first female editor-in-chief of the Arizona State Law Journal. She joined a Phoenix law firm representing the Navajo Tribe, then honed her trial skills as an Assistant Attorney General for Arizona before moving to Salt Lake City, where her practice focused on trials and appeals of antitrust, intellectual property, commercial and constitutional issues.
Their paths converged on the back of a sailboat in the summer races on the Great Salt Lake. Before long, they were racing their own boat. A big Ute fan, Patti was delighted to learn that besides being a professor at the U, Ted was the band announcer known as “The Voice of the Marching Utes.” They were married on the North Shore of Oahu, where they had a second home for many years, and continued to enjoy sailing and other water sports for many years in Florida and Hawaii. In Miami, besides racing and cruising their own boat, they served on the Race Committee, judged regattas, and chaired parties and Commodore’s Balls for the Coral Reef Yacht Club.
Over the years, they have been active in their communities, with both serving on the Board of the Shonto Point HOA and Patti serving on the ACC and Dry Wash Study Group. After sitting on the boards of Utah’s major water district and numerous civic, charitable and professional organizations, Patti believes strongly in the power of collaboration. She says that “whether it’s a jury or an HOA board, when people with different backgrounds and points of view work together toward a consensus with mutual respect, the group is wiser and stronger than any individual member.”
These days, Ted ties his own flies for fishing and is involved in amateur radio and model trains. Patti enjoys the Kayenta Book Club, cooking, entertaining, water aerobics and travel. Each summer they visit Santa Fe, New Mexico, stopping at Native American pueblos, ancient ruins and fishing streams along the way. Ted says they have seen “some of the best operas,” and “since they like to be cutting edge, we have attended some very forgetful operas.”
Together, they also enjoy entertaining family, a group that includes daughter Sharon Richens, who founded the Richens Eye Clinic here in 2001. “When the family is home,” Ted says, “the dinner conversations are amazing.” With kids and grandkids including a physicist/renewable energy expert, a neuroelectrical engineer in AI, an electrical engineer designing robotics systems, and graduate students studying medicine, microfluidics, and pharmaceutical science, “It is not unusual for us to have to ask them for definitions of what they are talking about,” he adds. “We are blessed.”
Ted and Patti with family
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
Help Decide What Gets Done
Now is the most important time to speak up about city priorities. We’ve entered budget season. I know, that sounds boring. Maybe it just needs better marketing. Something like: “If you are experiencing chronic uncertainty about city spending, ask your councilmember if BudgeTrex is right for you.” Funny name aside, this is actually the stretch between February and May when we decide what gets fixed, funded, and built in Ivins next year and beyond.
Every line in the budget is a tradeoff. Money used in one place is money not used somewhere else. There is no “miscellaneous magic fund.” Just choices.
Over the next few months, staff and Council will work through department requests, long-term infrastructure needs, equipment replacement, public safety planning, and reserves for things most of us never think about until they fail. This is the slow, unglamorous work that keeps the city running smoothly and prevents big, expensive surprises later.
Here’s What Most People Don’t Realize
We will hold a formal public hearing once we come up with a proposed budget. That hearing is scheduled for May 21st. On paper, that sounds like the moment for residents to weigh in. In reality, that is almost the worst time.
By then, we’ve already been discussing the budget for months. We’ve reviewed proposals, adjusted numbers, debated priorities, and gradually shaped the final plan. By the time the public hearing arrives, most of the major decisions have already been made. Not because anyone is trying to ignore residents, but because that’s how the system is structured.
This official public hearing “input” moment comes at the end of the budget process, when flexibility is lowest. That leaves many residents feeling like their comments come after the train has left the station. Or that the City Council does not listen to their ideas and concerns.
The most meaningful time for public input is now and over the next few months, during the process, not at the final hearing. This is when ideas are still flexible; when priorities can still shift; when we can still step back and ask: Is this what the community wants most right now?
What Would Help Right Now
You don’t need to drive yourself crazy digging through spreadsheets. The most helpful thing to me is hearing your perspective on questions like:
What city services matter most to you?
What are we missing, or not doing a good enough job on?
Where should we be cautious about spending?
What problems do you see coming that we should plan for now?
We do best when our budget is shaped by engaged residents who pay attention, ask questions, and speak up respectfully. Budget season is when priorities are still flexible and ideas can still shape the outcome. By mid-May, most decisions are largely set. Right now is when your input can truly make a difference.
If you have thoughts, concerns, or questions, I want to hear from you (mike@MikeScott4Ivins.com). I’m happy to share background information, explain how things are funded, or walk through any issue you care about. You don’t have to figure it out alone — I’m glad to help. When residents speak up early, we make better decisions together.
Ribbon Cutting – ADA Swing Set at Unity Park
Please join us at Unity Park on February 7th at 11am as we celebrate something really special — the official ribbon cutting for our new ADA-accessible swing set. This project was identified and championed by the Ivins Youth Council, who saw a need and worked to make sure children of all abilities can play side by side. Because of their leadership and tremendous community support, Unity Park is now a more welcoming and inclusive place for families.
Please come and show your appreciation of these outstanding young leaders, enjoy a hot dog, and help us celebrate a project that reflects the very best of Ivins. I hope to see you there.
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:
Fearless Abstract Painting
February 7
Teacher: Samantha da Silva
Time: 9 am – 3 pm
Let go of fear and silence your inner critic in a supportive environment where exploration and fun take precedence. No prior experience is needed—just an open mind and a willingness to dive in. Discover the fearless artist within you. Join us and create something extraordinary!
Valentine’s Date Night: Pyrography Coasters
Feb 23
Teacher: Kaylee Fisher
Time: 4 – 6 pm
This relaxed, social workshop is all about slowing down, creating together, and enjoying the process. By the end of the evening, each pair will leave with a coordinated set of hand-burned cork coasters—perfect for home, gifting, or as a reminder of a meaningful night spent creating.
Pyrography Workshop: Burn, Create & Explore the Art of Wood burning
January 22
Teacher: Becky Ruley
Time: 2 pm – 5 pm
Unleash the surprises nature has to offer by harnessing the natural pigments found in plants, leaves, flowers, and other natural materials to transfer designs permanently to fabric. Applying heat and moisture will extract the natural intricate details, colors, and shapes of the leaves, and other botanical elements used.
4-week Series Class: Introduction to Watercolor for Beginners
February 4, 11, 18 & 25
Teacher: Michael Tabor
Time: 1 – 4 pm
Ease into the vibrant world of Watercolor Painting with our beginner-friendly course. Designed for those new to the medium, Michael will guide you through the fundamental techniques and concepts essential for creating successful Watercolor artworks.
MakeSpace Open Studio
Friday, February 6, 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
A VERY SPECIAL VALENTINE DINNER
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2026
~Reserve Your Seat at the Table~
This unique Valentine Dinner is a celebration of love in all its forms, so whether you come with a partner, friends, or on your own, everyone is welcome at the table. For this special meal we will go on a culinary expedition where each course will be presented with written prose alongside. The meal’s story will unfold through the lines of poetry. Each line of the menu will guide the diner through the meal and the journey we are on; each phrase showcasing a unique description of the course to follow. We are traveling together. Purchase your seat and ponder and dream of the stops we will be making along the way.
MENU
rose-colored skies slip into night and surrender to sparkling stars
as the earth whispers her ancient secrets with an airy breath
slender tapers drawn from languorous red soil offer ground in which we can take root
winter’s vibrant color flirts with unlikely partners enticing them to play
while a tender silky voice drifts over emerald fields hoping to find respite in the clouds
a gift, wrapped in golden paper, hides the crimson passions within
bare branches stretch high obscuring velvet shadows that mingle with winter’s frosty breath dreaming of spring and love’s warmth remembered
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.
“The menu was literally a poem. The meal was sheer poetry. A meal of fond memories.” — Brent Smith
“Fabulous. Creative. Artistic. Fun! Petite Feast Dinner Club is the best restaurant in Southern Utah.” — Cindy Smith
“A beautiful mélange of color, flavor, and creativity.” — Angela Drabont
VIRTUAL DINNER PARTY #114
SHEET PAN CHICKEN GYROS WITH SWEET POTATO FRIES
When I think of gyros (pronounced yee-roh), one defining characteristic comes to mind: juicy roasted meat with a deeply flavorful, crispy-browned exterior. Traditionally, that signature char comes from thinly sliced meat layered onto a vertical spit, fire-roasted, and shaved to order before being tucked into a warm, fluffy pita. It’s delicious, but a little impractical for home cooks. One workaround is using a smoking-hot skillet or grill to create that crisp crust, but that can be unpleasant for the home and kitchen. A better, far less fussy option is roasting the meat on a sheet pan in a very hot oven. The key caveat: you must preheat the pan before adding the meat.
Fortunately, this month’s recipe takes full advantage of that technique. In Greece, gyros are often served with potatoes tucked right into the pita, so I leaned into that tradition by slicing sweet potatoes into wedges and letting them start cooking on the sheet pan as the oven comes to temperature. After about 15 minutes, I added marinated chicken thighs. The hot pan and high heat produced a deeply caramelized, concentrated flavor remarkably close to traditional gyro meat. While everything roasted, I made a quick tzatziki with yogurt, cucumber, dill, and a little mayo to soften the yogurt’s tang. Crisp romaine and a simple cherry tomato-and-red onion salad kept things fresh.
To assemble, slather a warm pita with tzatziki, add the chicken, and add the tomato salad, but don’t forget to tuck in a few potato wedges. They’re a gyro game changer. Any extra potatoes are perfect on the side with more tzatziki for dipping.
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 goodwill 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 #114
SHEET PAN CHICKEN GYROS WITH SWEET POTATO FRIES
INGREDIENTS
CHICKEN
4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, sliced into thick ribbons
2 Tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 Tbsp red onion, finely chopped
Juice of ½ lemon
⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt
1 tsp each cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt
POTATOES
1 sweet potato, unpeeled and cut lengthwise into 1-inch wedges
Olive oil, salt and pepper
TZATZIKI
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 Tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped
1 tsp salt
¼ cup peeled and finely cucumber
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Tbsp mayonnaise
TOMATO SALAD
1 basket cherry tomatoes, halved
½ red onion, thinly sliced
WRAP
4 pita or flatbread wraps
Chopped parsley, for garnish, optional
METHOD
Pat chicken dry and add to a large bowl. Add olive oil, garlic, onion, lemon juice, yogurt, and all seasonings. Mix well and marinate at least 30 minutes (or overnight for deeper flavor). Refrigerate until ready to cook.
Preheat oven to 450°F.
Toss potatoes with 1½ T olive oil, salt, and pepper directly on the hot sheet pan. Arrange skin-side down on one half of the pan. Roast until they begin to soften, about 15 minutes.
Drain excess marinade from the chicken and arrange it on the empty side of the hot sheet pan. Roast until the chicken is cooked through and the potatoes are fully tender, about 18 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine all tzatziki ingredients in a bowl. Mix well and refrigerate until serving.
Prepare the tomato and red onion salad and chop the romaine. Refrigerate until serving.
To serve, spread tzatziki on warm pita, add chicken, tomato salad, romaine, and potato wedges. Garnish with parsley and serve warm, with extra tzatziki and potatoes on the side.
Serves 2 -4
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, February 23, 2026
We will be going to the Three Corners, west of Beaver Dam.
Meet at the Kayenta Design Center at 10 am. Half-day trip, 15 miles of dirt road. Bring lunch.
Any questions call 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
Short and simple, but no less important
Everyone benefits from tamarisk removal in Kayenta, which lowers fire risk and supports the growth, health, and diversity of our native desert environment. Thus, it is a great pleasure that newcomers Karen and Eric Twietmeyer approved tamarisk removal from their home, which is still under construction.
This simple small project, completed on one day with just 10 volunteer hours, is a reminder that not every tamarisk removal has to be complicated. At the same time, this project is indicative of the potentially problematic future that up front prevention takes out of the picture. On the Twietmeyer property, tamarisk was growing at the receiving end of two stormwater drainage pipes, so not only would it have grown, but also eventually spread its seeds downstream, causing problems for other homeowners and properties.
The Twietmeyers learned about the work of DPI from Aaron Martin, Project Initiation Coordinator, “who contacted us a few months after we purchased our property. He told us about DPI, sent us detailed information about the tamarisk on our lot, explained about the removal process, and facilitated Kayenta ACC approval,” Karen says. “We were very impressed with how thorough and helpful he was!”
Karen also reports that “having the tamarisk removed during construction is a big benefit for us because we are now able to see what the property looks like without it and plan for some appropriate desert restoration as part of our overall ‘new house’ landscaping effort.
“The Kayenta landscaping committee has already made some very helpful suggestions. We found the tamarisk to be unsightly, and it was crowding out beautiful native vegetation, so we were happy to have it removed as soon as possible. Now that it’s gone we can see that native vegetation, which will hopefully benefit from not having the tamarisk there ‘stealing’ so much water.
“We were very impressed with how considerate and responsive the DPI volunteers were,” Karen adds. “We sent detailed instructions just before the removal regarding access to the tamarisk, safeguarding of native plants, and disposal. The volunteers came exactly when they said they would and followed our instructions. And they were all super friendly. Such a positive experience. And the lot looks so much better now!”
It is extremely gratifying to DPI’s volunteers when new and incoming residents recognize the importance of the work we do in protecting Kayenta’s neighborhoods. Karen Twietmeyer stopped by while the DPI volunteers were at work and noted that when Eric joins her here in a year-plus he is interested in joining as a volunteer. Welcome to Kayenta Eric and Karen!
If you have questions about the dangers of tamarisk and other invasive species, read more on the Desert Preservation Initiative website at https://www.desertpi.org/ by calling our new phone number 435-574-9064 or sending us an email at admin@desertpi.org. We are looking for volunteers to join us in tamarisk removal, desert restoration efforts (tree planting anyone?), tamarisk regrowth monitoring, and fundraising.
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
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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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.