Links

by Blodwyn Smythe,
Local Invasion Reporter

SEDONA: Just last month, a Russian expedition descended in a pair of submersible vessels more than two miles under the ice cap in August and deposited a Russian flag on the seabed at the North Pole. The dive was a symbolic move to enhance the government’s disputed claim to nearly half of the floor of the Arctic Ocean and potential oil or other resources there.
"This isn’t the 15th century," Peter MacKay, Canada’s foreign minister, said on CTV television. "You can’t go around the world and just plant flags and say, 'We’re claiming this territory.' "
Tell that to the contingency from Cornville that recently descended upon Bell Rock, planting a Cornville flag and declaring the Village of Oak Creek to be an at large Cornville territory.
The Village of Oak Creek is the common name for Big Park, a census-designated place (CDP) in Yavapai County approximately 7 miles south of Sedona. Tourism and service to retirees and second-home owners are the basis for the local economy. Its location along Scenic Highway 179 and postal mailing address as Sedona has befuddled visitors for many years arriving from the south. Many Village businesses also use the Sedona name to increase their popularity among unsuspecting travelers, like Sedona Golf Resort.
Tired of Big Park residents and businesses reaping the benefits of being near Sedona, a small cadre of Cornville inhabitants, known to many as Cornvillians, planted a flag, much in the fashion of the Russian North Pole claim. "If villages near Sedona can call themselves Sedona, then so can we. People poke fun at us because we live in Cornville, a place no one has ever heard of until you mention that it is near Sedona," stated one of the Cornvillians. "If you measure the distance between the Sedona sewer plant and Page Springs, you'll find it ain't that much greater than the distance between Big Park and Sedona. Ergo, by declaring Big Park a territory of Cornville, we too will be able to call our businesses Sedona this and Sedona that without anybody giving us any grief."
A climber from Page Springs was seen saluting it while reciting from Kahlil Gibran's, The Prophet, "'A friend who is far away is sometimes much nearer than one who is at hand. Is not the mountain far more awe-inspiring and more clearly visible to one passing through the valley than to those who inhabit the mountain?' So then shall this mountain inspire us in Cornville to reap the benefits of Sedona and all its name can offer."
Taking their claim a step further, one of the Cornvillians said they would be willing to charge Sedona taxes and adopt most of the inordinate amount of rules and regulations governing Sedona businesses and residents since incorporating less than twenty years ago. "We stop at the use of street lights," he stated. "We choose to post signs warning motorists people in dark clothing are crossing the road where they are instead of where they should. We are also considering changing the name of Cornville Road to Sedona Road. I don't believe there is one yet. That way people would be more inclined to stop for a beer at the new Sedona Old Corral Bar or taste some Zinfandel from Sedona Winery."
After being leaked a copy of this story, one Sedona resident said he is prepared to take a lawsuit against Cornville to the highest court. After leaking what he said back to one of the Cornvillians, he said, "Bring it on. We consulted some of the highest people around the area before planting our flag. Besides, if he has a problem with us, I'm surprised that he hasn't taken any of the many Big Park businesses to task low these many years. What's good for the goose, I say."
When asked what his response would be to critics who think Cornvillians are just trying to capitalize on Sedona's name, he reminded me of Sedona Patio and Leather located in Scottsdale, the Kia Sedona and the newest planet, Sedna, though that one was a bit of a stretch.
While planting a flag on a mountain may not be legally binding, it does leave one to wonder what would happen if another country tried to drill for oil in the Arctic Ocean at the North Pole.
The final argument given for declaring Cornville the new Sedona was affordable housing. With Windsong Trailer Park being purchased, rumors are that the last group of laborers will be displaced and in need of housing. Cornville has plenty of land where the people who do all the work can live amongst themselves and not affect property values.

Above is a Juniper bush decorated for the holidays in December. The Forest Service recently outlawed the demonstration.