North Country Conservancy names photo contest winners

STAFF REPORT ~7/20/2011

The North Country Conservancy (NCC) recently named its winners in the 2011 Calendar Photo Contest.
Jean Gibson won the adult category, for those ages 18 and up, while Madison Holland took the youth category, for ages 13- 17.
The two winners were picked from nearly 60 submissions and will receive a framed copy of their photographs and a gift certificate.
Judges Kazu Okutomi and Mike Spinelli selected an additional 11 photos beyond the winners, which will be included in the NCC 2012 calendar.
The other photographers selected were Lynda Abare, Barbie Haverly, Mark Paulat, Nicole Paulat, Pat Radoccia, Bill Rehwalt, and Sam Wilson.
“More people this year seemed to be making photos instead of taking photos; they show purpose,” Okutomi said. “A camera is a tool to express a vision/feeling which can increase the joy of life.”
The calendar will cover December 2011 to December 2012. Anyone donating $5 or more to North Country Conservancy will receive a 2012 calendar when printed and as long as the supply lasts. Donations will be used for projects such as “Conceptual Preserve Planning Maps and Inventory”, “Environmental Studies Scholarship”, and “Educational Programs”. Donations can be given at NCC’s secure PayPal site (http://bit.ly/aty9co) or sending a check payable to NCC at 515 E. Carefree Highway, #638, Phoenix, AZ 85085.
Check out all the photos at daisymountain.org/resources/imagegallery/2011-calendar-photo-contest.html.
“These photos show the many values (property values, flora, fauna, geology, etc.) that we must preserve Daisy Mountain to retain our quality of life in the area,” Ann Hutchinson, the executive director of the North Country Conservancy said. “We give a huge thank you to everyone who entered.”
NCC is a volunteer, grass roots, community based non-profit that is the leader of efforts to preserve the natural landscape and wildlife habitat in the Daisy Mountain/Anthem/New River/Desert Hills/North Phoenix region. For information on the group go to daisymountain.org.