Meet ‘Lift’ author Rebecca O’Connor

September 23, 2009

Fascinating woman writes incredible story

CAVE CREEK – Rebecca K. O’Connor, a renowned speaker, professional trainer, conservationist, and 2008 Pushcart Prize finalist will make a personal appearance at Pages in Cave Creek on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 5 p.m. Her recently released book “Lift” is about falconry, interesting in itself, but as the framework for a great personal story.

Join Sandi and Will Pearson at Pages in welcoming her for a lively multimedia presentation “Winging It: Living a Life Shaped by Birds and Words,” including photos, videos and music to impart information about conservation efforts to keep raptors and waterfowl, and a hands-on demonstration with falconry equipment. Those fortunate to attend Rebecca’s Pages presentation will hear side stories not included in “Lift.”

“Lift” is a great read for anyone interested in what life lessons can be learned working with the most free of nature’s creatures, birds. Rebecca has woven into her story what working with Anakin, her Falcon, taught her about life in vignettes about her youth.

Rebecca is Director of Development for Ducks Unlimited, fundraising to support critical work that has a tremendous impact on the quality of life for everyone and everything that requires water.

She consults professionally as an animal trainer and behaviorist for institutions and individuals around the world.

Rebecca has written nine books including “Falcon’s Return,” a romance novel, several young adult reference books and a parrot owner guide, A Parrot for Life.

On Friday, Oct. 2 Rebecca will give a parrot presentation for Parrots of the Hills Bird Club. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at Faith Mountain Church, 11843 Desert Vista Drive, in Fountain Hills.

Rebecca’s website is www.rebeccakoconnor.com which links to both her parrot site and a falconry/conservation site.

Rebecca invites you to visit because, “it’s also a great place to follow the falconry season when it starts up and find out about wetlands conservation in the west (even in Arizona).”
For more information about Pages Bookstore vist their website at www.PagesNewAndRare.com.

Free ‘Carefree Passport’ is guide to Town Anniversary events

September 23, 2009

CAREFREE – If you plan to attend the Town of Carefree’s historic 25th anniversary celebration on Sat., Oct. 3, you’ll want to pick up your free “Carefree Passport.” The new full color, 16-page event booklet guides you through the town’s all-day anniversary festivities and each page represents a different historic location where the celebrations take place.
Events listed in the Passport are free. Featured stops include Sky Ranch Airport, a private facility which opens to the public for the day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. to present a vintage aircraft display; and the Carefree Marketplace (Bashas’ Center) where merchants will host an exotic car show featuring cars, music, concessions and more from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., all to commemorate the town’s incorporation in 1984.

Other Passport event stops include fire station tours, a new town hall preview, the famous sundial, and the Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center where the public can see live theater productions, adopt a pet or take a labyrinth walk.

Passports are available at the Carefree/Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce, Carefree Town Hall and at merchants throughout the community. Collect Passport stamps at each location and you’ll be entered in a drawing to win a host of prizes including a two-night stay at a local resort. For more information, visit www.Carefree.org.

The town of Carefree is located just minutes north of Scottsdale and Phoenix in the foothills of the Sonoran Desert. With a population of nearly 4,000, the community is known for it’s slightly cooler temperatures, quirky street names such as Easy Street, Languid Lane and Ho and Hum Roads, and its extreme mountain home architecture. For more information call
480-488-3686 or visit www.Carefree.org.