Health Wealth Raffle

Queen of the Sun, Saturdayacor

On Saturday, June 18, 2011, The Visionary Edge will present a sneak preview screening of Queen of the Sun by film director Taggart Siegel, who also directed the popular The Real Dirt on Farmer John, screened on the coast by the Visionary Edge.  The evening will include a talk by Montara beekeeper Catherine (Cat) Fraley.  Cat will also offer a honey tasting at the event. Bee-based products will be provided by Richard and Janet Baxter of Golden Harvest Beekeeping.  Richard is president of The Beekeepers Guild of San Mateo County. The Visionary Edge will also present this event on June 25, 2011 at The NeXus in Richmond.

Queen of The Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us? is an in-depth investigation to discover the causes and solutions behind Colony Collapse Disorder; a phenomenon where honeybees vanish from their hives, never to return. Queen of The Sun follows the voices and visions of beekeepers, philosophers, and scientists from around the world, all struggling for the survival of the bees. While other bee films focus exclusively on commercial beekeepers, Queen of The Sun emphasizes the biodynamic and organic communities who have differing opinions from many of the outspoken migratory commercial beekeepers and are often overlooked by the media despite their deep and profound insights into the long-term issues that have brought about the recent collapse.

Queen of The Sun reveals bees as a barometer of the health of the world. Bees fly millions of miles to keep the earth in bloom and have provided humans with honey, wax and pollination for our food for over 10,000 years. Through animation and illuminated imagery, Queen of The Sun uncovers how bees were highly revered by the Egyptians, Mayans and Greeks, but the bond between humans and bees, once a sacred partnership is now a complicated, profit-driven, industrial enterprise. Queen of The Sun draws from the insights of Rudolf Steiner an Austrian scientist who, in 1923, predicted that in 80 to 100 years, bees would disappear. Steiner said: “The mechanization of beekeeping and industrialization will eventually destroy beekeeping.” Gunther Hauk, a main character in the film and a protégé of Steiner’s, against all odds, begins to build the first bee sanctuary in the world. Surrounded by industrial agriculture, he is creating a 600-acre farm to help support the bees in crisis. Through his insights, we are launched into a journey around the world to uncover the compelling perspectives concerning the complex problems bees are facing such as malnutrition, pesticides, genetically modified crops, migratory beekeeping, parasites, pathogens and lack of genetic diversity from over queen breeding.  Seeking answers through unique and unusual beekeepers and scientists who have heart-felt respect for their bees we confront and address the harsh realities causing the bees to disappear.  Queen of The Sun finds practical solutions and discover the deep link between bees survival and our own.

Health & Wealth Raffle's Grand Prize Has the Views

“I couldn’t be more excited to feature this as a grand prize,” says Kathy Rice, Executive Director of the Health & Wealth Raffle. “It’s just minutes away from everything Downtown has to offer, and it’s right on the light rail. The penthouse features 180º views of absolute luxury. It’s a departure from what we have done in previous raffles, but it fit this project to a T.”

Valued at $1 million, the unit is decked to the nines at three bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths, with massive walk-in closets, top-of-the-line Viking appliances, walnut floors, Italian cabinetry, a walk-in master shower, a bar, an oversized kitchen island, temperature-controlled wine storage, a roomy loft-style office space and much more. And, of course, there are the views, courtesy of 24-foot floor-to-ceiling windows.

The unit comes fully furnished, allowing the winner to literally turn the key and enter a ready-made chic urban home that simply has no duplicate in Phoenix. Rice could not be happier with the buzz thus far for the grand prize, adding that it has brought a new group of buyers that previous raffles have not seen.

“I look for the type of prizes that will make someone say, ‘Wow,’” Rice explains. “It definitely is a ‘Wow.’ I can hardly wait to see who is going to be on the other end of that phone call when I tell them they are the winner of the grand prize. I have a feeling there will be a lot of tears involved.”

The grand prize winner may also elect to take $1 million in cash. In all, the raffle offers more than 4,300 prizes. All tickets cost $100 (or three for $250), and must be purchased in Arizona. The final raffle drawing is Thursday, September 30, with an entry cut-off at midnight on September 23. An early bird drawing offering a Lexus convertible and $14,000 cash or a seven-night Caribbean cruise and cash will take place on Thursday, September 9. Your Guide as you Explore Your Core

Whether it’s community news, food, shopping or sports, let the Downtown Phoenix Journal be your guide to an urban lifestyle. We offer a friendly, straightforward insider’s view of all things Downtown Phoenix. From world-class restaurants and museums to events to plan your day around, the Downtown Phoenix Journal is your guide as you Explore Your Core.