A publication of

The Town of Cave Creek

37622 N Cave Creek Rd.

Cave Creek, AZ

480-488-6600

Editor: Nina Spitzer

Contributors:

Deborah Hietpas

~

Click HERE for the Town of Cave Creek's official website.

Fire

Danger...

is

VERY HIGH

The Town of Cave Creek is at

VERY HIGH

fire danger

with

Stage 1 Fire Restrictions.

It's important to click the campfire image (above) for a detailed explanation of Stage I & 2 restrictions per Town code.

We love our desert home.

Let's protect it!

Spark Generating Work

CAUTION!

Take spark-generating preventative measures.

Have an active hose nearby.

Please.

Cave Creek Weather

Corner

December

Calendar

Corner

Dec 2 (10am - 3 pm): "For the Kids" - Kiwanis Christmas Event @ Lincon - Sanderson Pavilion, Carefree (Info HERE)

Dec 2 (10am): Desert Awareness Park Tour - Free (Info HERE)

Dec 2 (6pm): Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl (Info HERE)

Dec 4 (6pm): Council Meeting - Town Hall Council Chambers (Info HERE)

Dec 8-10 (10am -

9 pm): Western Holidays - Stagecoach Village (Info HERE)

Dec 13 (5:30 pm): Carefree*Cave Creek Chamber Monthly Mixer - (Info HERE)

Dec 16 (10 am -

4 pm): High Desert Market - Frontier Town (Info HERE)

Dec 17 (10 am -

4 pm): GCS Pop Up Farmer's Market - Frontier Town (Info HERE)

Dec 18 (6pm): Council Meeting - Town Hall Council Chambers (Info HERE)

Dec 21 (6 pm): Planning Commission Meeting - Town Hall Council Chambers (Info HERE)

Dec 25: Merry Christmas! - Town Hall Closed

Click HERE for the calendar and Zoom links on the Town site.

Cave Creek

Tourism Bureau

~

Hope Kids

Holiday

Toy Drive 2023

NOW

thru

Dec14

Bring in an unwrapped toy to the Cave Creek Tourism Bureau drop off location and make a kid smile for the holidays!

Are you an outgoing Cool Cat who loves Cave Creek?

~

Then volunteering at the Cave Creek Tourism Bureau could be just your thing. You can meet fun folks from all over the world, share your smile and coolness, and serve your community all at the same time.

Click HERE to inquire.

Kiwanis Corner

Doing it

for Kids

Who: Kiwanis of Carefree

What: Kiwanis Christmas Event “For the Kids”

When: Saturday, Dec 2^. (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Where: Sanderson Center, Carefree

How: This FREE event will feature Kiwanis' hourly giving away of bikes to kids of three different age groups. Kids and parents must be present to win!

And MORE: The event also includes puppies, games (prizes), face painting, carriage rides, FREE hot dogs, popcorn, cookies, hot chocolate, and of course, Santa Claus! Puppies will be provided by Puppy Love and will be available for adoption. 

Click HERE to contact Linda with questions or to help out.

Town News Corner

Short-Term Rentals

The Short-Term Rental Ordinance went into effect Monday, November 6th. If you have a STR, additional info and the Town of Cave Creek Short-Term Rental License Application registration form can be found HERE. To help expedite the process, you can send completed forms HERE.

Supporting Our Locals Corner

Local

Holiday Shopping

Holiday

Shoppers Remember...

Cave Creek shops are the BEST for a unique gift for that special someone. Local shops have items you can't find anywhere else!

Plus, shopping local is convenient and friendly, too.

What about a gift card to one of our fantastic local restaurants? Everyone loves a great meal out and it's the perfect way for showing someone they're appreciated.

We love our local shops, restaurants, and services. Let's be sure to support them.



SHOP LOCAL!

Guess It

Corner

A Mini-Golf Course in Our Town Core? What/Where Is This?

November's Answer:

Bravo...If you knew the riverboat mural is located on the back wall of Oregano's! Click HERE Click to see the mural again in our last newsletter.

A Time

for Royalty

The time for Cave Creek’s Rodeo Days’ Royalty Pageant is near. January 20 is the competition for 2024’s Queen and Teen Queen Lady-In-Waiting, with the official crowning at Cave Creek Rodeo Days, March 21-24 2024.

The competition is open to women 18 – 25 years of age and teens 13 – 17 years of age. Applicants will be capable horsewomen with a love of the western industry and professional rodeo, as well as a passion for building relationships and educating the public about Western lifestyle.

Applications are available NOW. Click HERE for more information or download the application by clicking HERE.  

A Day-in-the-Life Corner

Construction in Cave Creek

~

Always

Carefree*

Cave Creek Chamber Corner

2023-24 Guide

The Chamber of Commerce is very happy to release the new 2023-2024 community guide that showcases many local businesses, as well as information about our community. Shop local.

Click HERE to access the Desert Foothills Library's program listing called

Information Highways.

***

Supporting one another is what it's all about!

***

Banner

Photo Credit:

Pixabay

Discovery Map

2024

~

Cave Creek / Carefree /

N. Scottsdale

~

The deadline for Including your business on this popular map is January 7.

Contact Margie HERE for info or (480) 442-1553.

Merchant Marketing Corner

Shouting Out

Marketing Opps

Western Holidays:

It's NOT too late. Vendors, this holiday event will be at Stagecoach Village Dec 8-10 and is a perfect place to promote your business during the holiday season. For info, contact Stagecoach Village GM Patty at 480-876-6108.

~

Community Partners is a "One hand washes the other!" marketing opportunity where both local small businesses and local non-profits support one another. Check it out and get more info HERE!

~

Instagram: Dale Samar, of the Cave Creek Visitors Guide offers free promotion on The Cave Creek Visitor's Guide's Instagram account. contact Dale at 602-799-7335.

~

And don't forget: The Cave Creek Tourism Bureau is a free marketing opportunity for licensed Cave Creek businesses. Yes. It's a free service of the Town of Cave Creek. For info and sign-up form, go to the tourism bureau webpage by clicking HERE.

Safety Net Corner

If you find yourself lost while hiking, stranded in a broken-down car, or in any other emergency situation....Before your cell phone runs low or out of power, change the voicemail message to include the following information:

1.    Your situation (lost, injured, out-of-gas, broken-down)

2.    Approximate location

3.    Time/Date

Include any other pertinent information such as whether you’re staying where you are or going in search of help and, if so, in which direction.

Remember, if your cell phone dies or stops working, voicemail continues to work. Anyone calling or looking for you will hear the message and know how to best get help to you.

Safety First!

Always!!!

CodeRED is an emergency alert system. Cave Creek residents and business owners are encouraged to participate in order to receive electronic alerts in the event of an emergency.

Be Safe-Don't Be Sorry!

Click HERE to register now for direct alerts from the Town of Cave Creek in the event of a crisis.

Happiness is not so much

in having as in sharing,

We make a living by what we get,

but we make a life

by what we give.

~ Norman MacEwen

December

2023

Feature Corner

Harmony Hollow:

It’s the Right Thing to Do

By Nina Spitzer

In March of 2021, Lori and Steve Greenberg picked up pens and signed documents that would change their lives forever. Those signatures made them owners of Harmony Hollow Ranch, a 28-acre parcel of land abutting Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area. The Greenbergs knew only it was something they had to do, having no idea of what was in store for them.

Steve and Lori, who love hiking Jewel of the Creek and Spur Cross, assumed the entire area was preserved. When the property went up for sale, Steve became distressed by visions of developer bidding wars, high-end homes and paved roads destroying the beauty, peace, and serenity of the area.

Then, Steve had what he calls a “Voice of God Moment.” What he heard was, “You have to buy this place!” Businessman Steve and artist wife Lori had worked hard on a nest egg for retirement but buying real estate was never in those plans.

Steve went home after a tour of Harmony Hollow and said, “Honey, I think we need to buy this place. We need to save it.” He felt Lori was humoring him when she agreed to see it.

Initially, Steve's concern was about conserving the land from developers, thinking the house itself would be a tear-down because of its condition.

He took Lori to the property convinced she would see the house and absolutely hate it. He opened the door, let her in, then stood waiting for her reaction. Instead, she turned to him and said, “This is awesome.” She’d immediately fallen in love with the house the minute she set eyes on it.

While standing in the house Lori said, “This place needs to be restored to what it was.” Had the house reached out and embraced Lori or was it her inner artist embracing a vision? “I felt it,” said Lori of the house.

It turns out, the adjacent 8-acres of Stamp Mill property were also unpreserved, for sale, and could potentially become a developer's 2-home build site. Steve said, “Honey, we need to buy that, too.” Lori agreed. That additional purchase grew their preservation project to 36-acres.

Harmony Hollow Ranch was originally built in the early 1970’s as a foundry by bronze bell artist Jeff Cross. The beautiful, remote location attracted artists who became its early residents camping out in tents and trailers in its field.

In 1977, after Jeff 's untimely and mysterious death, the Cross family decided to rent Harmony Hollow. At that point, Jeff’s close artist friends chose to work together turning the structure into a house/studio without the aid of an architect or formal plans. For a span of 50 years, a small group of artists lived at Harmony Hollow and experienced the areas astounding beauty.

“The house was used as a studio for many artists over the years and hosted many art openings,” says Melissa Paxton, herself a resident of Harmony Hollow for twelve years and then for twenty years was instrumental in its conservation effort.



Today, the Greenberg’s dream is to restore the building and recapture the artistic spirit of its past. “It will be small and intimate,” says Steve.

Harmony Hollow is about the desert’s inspiration and beauty. To that end, the Greenberg’s design will have large windows making you feel “… outside, even when you’re inside,” especially because of the Arizona heat. The goal is enjoying views of the desert from everywhere in the house.

The kitchen and living room area will continue as kitchen and gathering space, and the second level will remain two small bedrooms for the Greenberg family and friends. The lower level will become a wide-open area for Lori’s studio and a place for creating and collaborating with artist friends. Decks will be added for gathering with friends when weather permits.

“We’re not talking about a giant building or a business,” Steve explains. The Greenbergs will maintain the house as a residential building. They also look forward to occasional partnering on local enrichment activities for desert awareness and education. They believe they're not owners of Harmony Hollow, but stewards of the land.

“I love that they [the community] can enjoy it with us, as it has meant so much to so many over the years.” says Lori.

Steve adds, “We like sharing this place with everybody so they can enjoy the desert, the building, art, and small community gatherings.”

The Cross family is thrilled at the Greenberg’s desire to restore and preserve its history.

“We’ve already started purchasing pieces from artists who lived here,” says Lori of stained glass by Scotty Bechtold and water colors by Melissa Paxton. Original house beams stamped with brands created by the original artists have been saved for use in the restoration. There’s even talk of areas with images, books, and other pertinent house and Harmony Hollow history.

As the restoration moves forward, it mushrooms into more cost, more work, more time and energy and more friendships than the Greenbergs ever imagined, and they love it. “…It just feels right,” says Steve.

What began as an act of preservation has become a selfless project of love for the Greenbergs. Since purchasing the property, Lori and Steve have met with hundreds of locals listening to their stories of area history, as well as their dreams for the property.

“When we bought this property, it just opened up a whole new world,” says Steve.

Work on the project continues with a March 2024 target for completion. “The house is proceeding really well. It’s exceeding all my expectations,” says Steve.

The Greenbergs have plans to turn portions of the property into conservation easements so the area can never be developed.

Thank you, Lori and Steve Greenberg, for including us in your hearts and dreams for Harmony Hollow.

Photo 1: Harmony Hollow Ranch as seen from the Stamp Mill property

(Photo Credit: Greenbergs)

Photo 2: Steve and Lori Greenberg in front of the Harmony Hollow house (Photo Credit: N. Spitzer)

Photo 3: A recent gathering of community friends at the stamp mill location overlooking Harmony Hollow (Photo Credit: Buck Columna)

Photo 4: Interior construction work (Photo Credit: Greenbergs)

Photo 5: Artist Scotty Bechtold's original stained glass view of the Harmony Hollow property will be inserted beside the front door of the house.

(Photo Credit: Greenbergs)

Photo 6: Resident artist brands on the interior beams

(Photo Credit: Greenbergs)

Photo 7: Steve and Lori at the Harmony Hollow Ranch front gate

(Photo Credit: N. Spitzer

Click HERE for Melissa Paxton's 2021 Cave Creek Corner article on the history of Harmony Harlow Ranch.

Mayor's Corner

Dear Cave Creek Residents and Merchants,

Carrie Dyrek has chosen to retire after 25 years of service to our community, 6 as town manager. Her love of Cave Creek is immense. She has been a key leader throughout her service as town clerk and as well as during her time as manager. She navigated economic busts, layoffs, two wildland fires and expansion of town utilities. Carrie deserves credit for solving the conflict with Phoenix over water service and turning that into a cooperative relationship that is the basis for the Phoenix Interconnect Project, which provides major reliability improvements.

Carrie has assembled a talented staff as legacy to her successor. Her guidance in establishing Town Fire and Emergency Service, completion of the trail system, and purchase of key land adjacent to Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area will benefit the town for decades.

Carrie’s final legacy is the seamless cooperation in bringing her (yet unidentified) successor on board. She’s proposed, and the Town gladly accepted, working with the new manager as needed. This will avoid any disruptive onboarding of the new town manager, as was experienced in the past.

The ideal resume for a town manager includes demonstrated management success, but also elements of legal, financial, economics, engineering, public safety, and negotiating skills. Managing results by Key Performance Indicators is essential. Interpersonal and facilitation skills are critical. These same skills and traits also define the ideal elected mayor and town council member.

Imagine a managerial job with 6,000 critics and seven unique bosses (the Town Council). It is not a job for the faint-hearted. I believe it’s important for the community to keep the job difficulty in mind when a particular issue triggers intervention in town government. Not many of us could do a job of this scope with its external complaints, suggestions, and huge responsibilities.

The process of choosing the new town manager is well underway. Carrie and Teresa Riza, deputy town manager/town clerk, have scheduled each review session, interview, negotiating period and hiring decision. The selection target date is early January, so the new manager has ownership in the upcoming budget. It forms a dominant element in town manager objectives and performance.

We have engaged an executive recruiter with proven and recent success hiring at this level. In addition to the exhaustive list of skills and traits, we’re focused on Arizona as the recruiting ground. We feel a candidate with knowledge of Arizona law, water issues, and personal contacts is crucial.

The recruiter will forward every resume to council members who will then choose finalists for interview. Once the top candidate or candidates emerge, a contract must be negotiated to set a salary as well as other contract provisions, if relocation or other special circumstances arise.

Portions of the process will be done privately, but in full compliance with the Open Meeting Law of Arizona. This is an important point. To obtain the best candidates, applicants must have assurances their interest does not trigger a negative reaction from their current employer. The final stage of the process will be at public town council meetings so the entire community can meet the candidates before a decision is made.

Mayor Bob Morris

Town of Cave Creek

CodeRED: Sign Up!

Town Manager's Corner

Dear Cave Creek Residents and Merchants,

Can you believe how quickly 2023 has flown by? The holiday season is already upon us, so we are sending a gentle reminder to all of our readers to take the extra time to make sure things are safe in and around your home. This can apply to activities such as cooking and using safe holiday decorations. While preparing meals be sure to pay special attention when deep frying food and cooking any hot items. When decorating for the holidays be careful not to overload your electrical circuits. Taking the extra time and precautions helps prevent burns and fires.

As you travel to complete your holiday shopping or when you’re driving to visit friends and family be especially aware of your surroundings. Most accidents happen closer to your home. Focusing on being a defensible driver pays in dividends. Be sure to keep your eyes on the road and not on your cellphone!

If something does happen, we encourage you to contact our local first responders for assistance. They prefer to respond earlier than later to any fire, medical or police emergencies.

On behalf of the Town Staff, we wish you and your families a safe, happy holiday season.

Regards,

Carrie A. Dyrek

Cave Creek Town Manager

The Marshal's Corner

Greeting from the Marshal,

Happy Holidays, my friends! I hope you’ve had an amazing Thanksgiving. This is the weather we so look forward to here in Arizona. We had the Cactus Classic Bike Race brought to us by the Desert Foothills Mountain Bike. Congratulations to Kaolin and his team on another amazing event. Kaolin’s attention to even the most intricate details has paid off once again…over 250 entrants with no injuries nor issues. Once again, Sergeant Goodman and I enjoyed directing traffic and helping out.

Folks as many of you know…speeding has become a problem in town. We’re pulling vehicles over driving 50 and 60 MPH in our clearly posted 30 MPH town core. Quite frankly, this is unacceptable. I’m certain you’re aware, we’ve increased enforcement of speeding and traffic laws in the town. Unfortunately, I’ve pulled many vehicles over with quite the mix of locals and others, speeding through our beautiful little town. Please SLOW DOWN and drive safely. You WILL get a citation if caught. The Town of Cave Creek has speed awareness signs and trailers throughout town…PAY ATTENTION, and also DON’T TEXT and DRIVE.

Recently, I was responding to a motorcycle accident, my lights and sirens were active as I drove through town. Unfortunately for me, a knucklehead pulled out in front of me at The Village Center on Cave Creek Road with less than three car lengths. Thank heavens I don’t drive aggressively and was on top of my game, because it was a near miss. When I pulled the motorist over (I was slightly angry), they apologized and had the audacity to tell me, “I saw you coming, I thought I could make it.” Seriously? As I was responding to an emergency, I couldn’t take time to write a citation…lucky individual.

Please exercise caution when driving. We’re seeing more and more emergencies in our town. We love our fire department, however folks, if I had been driving a fire truck or ambulance instead of my police vehicle, that would have been a 100% serious accident. Please, pay attention and yield to ALL Emergency Vehicles. Pull right and come to a complete stop for emergency vehicles.

This holiday season, personally, I am thankful for my daughter Ella and for being allowed the privilege of being YOUR Marshal. I Love Cave Creek and all that our community has to offer.

Have a Happy and Healthy Holidays.

Marshal Stein

Town of Cave Creek News Corner

Merchant/Council Meeting

On Thursday, Nov 16, Mayor Morris welcomed Cave Creek business owners and managers to a meeting at Cave Creek Council Chambers. Topics of discussion were traffic, parking, speeding, and pedestrian safety. Attendees expressed their concerns and opinions. Nina Spitzer, of the Cave Creek Tourism Bureau, was also on hand to share information about the return of the Cave Creek Concierge Tour on October 9, 2024. Mayor Bob plans on holding these meetings periodically as an opportunity for Cave Creek businesses to join together on topics of common interest.

Photo: Town of Cave Creek

Arizona Foothills 911 Corner

Search & Rescue Training

By Sunny Parker

Arizona Foothills 911 (AZF911), a non-profit organization, is delighted to announce the establishment of our formalized "Search and Rescue Team" under the capable leadership of Mr. Paul Diefenderfer, a seasoned professional with a wealth of prior experience.

Dedicated to addressing the critical issue of locating local lost or missing individuals on our trails, in Cave Creek and its neighboring areas, our search and rescue efforts will be comprehensive, employing a range of resources, including searchers on foot, equine support, ATVs, canines, and aerial drones. One of the team's notable strengths lies in their intimate familiarity with the local terrain, ensuring an effective and efficient response to emergencies.

In the near future, AZFH 911 will conduct multiple training sessions, with an emphasis on trail familiarity as a crucial component. Participants will not only acquire fundamental Search and Rescue (SAR) skills but will also undergo CPR training and other essential competencies. We extend an invitation to local individuals who are interested in contributing to this vital community service. While prior experience is valued, it is by no means a prerequisite. We seek physically fit individuals with a familiarity and appreciation for our Arizona environment.

There are also opportunities for those interested in support roles. To express your interest and join our team, please scan the QR code and sign up. Alternatively, please reach out to Sunny Parker by clicking HERE and join our FB page HERE. Your involvement will make a meaningful difference in our community's safety and well-being.

Be sure to check the Arizona Foothills 911 Facebook page for upcoming training dates.

Photo: Sunny Parker welcomes attendees to the first Search and Rescue (SAR) team meeting at the Holland Center on November 4. Awaiting his turn to speak is team leader Paul Diefenderfer.

Western Holidays Corner

Hitch Up Your Wagons

~ Western Holidays ~

Yeee Haw! Hitch up those wagons and head on to Stagecoach Village for the 2^nd Annual family friendly Western Holidays event!

The little ones will enjoy Saturday’s magic of “Kids Zone” from noon to 3pm. This will include something we seldom see in the desert – SNOW! Yes – Kids can frolic while real snow flurries fly around them. Kids can also expect a foam party and the bubble truck with a billion blowing bubbles, and face painting, too. Later in the day (4pm-9pm), kids can make ornaments and write letters to Santa. Best of all, Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus will be on hand for pictures and story-telling from 1pm to 7pm.

For the grown-ups, the holiday market will feature local artists, handcrafted holiday wares and other items perfect for the gift-giving season. The 3rd & Long Band will be playing in the gazebo Friday night 5 pm – 10 pm. Adults will also not want to miss the beer and wine garden. Oh, and Santa will make his appearances all weekend long, that means for grown-ups too!

And for everyone – Saturday night’s holiday balloon “Glow” (starting around 5pm) will be magical as will be the holiday tractor parades on Friday and Saturday nights.

Admission to this event is free thanks to title sponsors Sanderson Ford and Sanderson Lincoln’s Operation Santa Claus with a donation of an unwrapped kid’s toy. So, don your holiday spirit and head on down (or up) to Stagecoach Village for Western Holidays - this wonderful holiday season family event.

Event Hours

Friday, December 8, 2pm – 9pm

Saturday, December 9 10am – 9pm

Sunday, 10am – 4pm

Photo: Courtesy of Tech4Life

Cave Creek Tourism Bureau Corner

Cave Creek Tourism Bureau

~ A Few Announcements ~

A few things from your Cave Creek Tourism Bureau (CCTB):

HopeKids Holiday Toy Drive: We're thrilled to announce the tourism bureau is, once again, a drop off location for the HopeKids Annual Toy Drive organized by the City Sun Times. This year, our toy collection box has been decorated as snowgirl Holly Berry who eagerly accepts new, unwrapped toys for children. Stop in, say hello, and drop off a toy that will bring a smile to a child's face this holiday season. While there, feel free to take your holiday photo sitting on our beautiful Cave Creek Big Blue Chair

Cave Creek Concierge Tour 2024: The concierge tour, put on by the Town of Cave Creek and organized by our CCTB concierge tour committee, has changed its event date from January 9 to October 9. This 2024 season-opener event will inspire the Valley concierge community and its affiliates to send visitors on day-trips to beautiful Cave Creek. A win-win for visitors and local merchants, as well. The event will also include a free marketing opportunity for Cave Creek businesses through it's swag bag. Contact us HERE to be included.

CCTB Volunteer Opportunity: Your Cave Creek Tourism Bureau has volunteer shift openings for a couple of friendly individuals who would like to share their love of Cave Creek. The shifts are any easy two hours per week in our cheerful tourism bureau. What a great way to meet interesting folks from all over the world and perform an important community service as well! Contact us HERE to inquire.

Happy Holidays!

Top photo - Snowgirl Holly Berry

Bottom photo - HopeKids Toy Donation info

The Cave Creek Tourism Bureau is here for you!

New Biz Corner

Miguel Camarena Art Gallery



Hello, my name is Miguel Camarena. I'm a local artist and would like to welcome you to my brand-new second location in downtown Cave Creek, located at 6710 E Cave Creek Rd. Cave Creek. My original gallery/studio is still located at 6220 E Cave Creek Rd. Cave Creek. So now you can stop by both! My art galleries feature original paintings, both oils and acrylics, as well as high quality giclees prints on canvas of all sizes including custom sizes. You will find artwork ranging from southwest, contemporary to abstract. From my now famous Donkey Collection to my vibrant and colorful desert landscapes and scenes displaying Arizona in all of its beauty, you'll find a wide range of subject matter to choose from. Contact me HERE or call at (480) 595-2671.

~

Happenings Corner

Nov 4: Star Gazing Party

Over 600 attendees filled their eyes with stars and constellations at the 4th Annual Star Gazing Party organized by Cave Creek DARK SKY. President and event organizer, Bruce Arlen, welcomed the star-struck crowd and it was NASA Ambassador Astronomer, Mark Johnston, and President of the Phoenix Astronomical Society, Stuart Brackney, who put on the show. Once again, the audience was dazzled. Once again, we were reminded of how important it is to preserve our precious Cave Creek dark skies.

Photo: Mark Johnston courtesy of Cave Creek DARK SKY

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Nov 7: Spaghetti Dinner

Cave Creek Museum's executive director, Evelyn Johnson, welcomes 223 guests enjoying the museum's 10th Annual Spaghetti Dinner at Harold's Cave Creek Corral. Attendees bid on 47 silent auction items, and enjoyed their spaghetti to the music of the Kevin Causey band. The coveted raffle item of a weekend in Sedona was won by Marion Miller. Chair of the event, "Buck" Columna and his team, once again, did an amazing job organizing the event. Kudos!

~

Nov 10: Memory Garden Signage

Cave Creek Museum

On Friday, Nov 10, the Cave Creek Museum planted the official signage for its Veterans' Memory Garden. The front of the Museum will be transformed into six distinct areas dedicated to each military branch and a seventh exclusively for Cave Creek veterans. This project, designed by landscape designer Marc Viator, is a combined endeavor of the Cave Creek Museum staff, Board of Directors and Dream Team, American Legion Post 34, and the Black Mountain Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution. Master Gardener Marcia D’Alessandro will oversee the creation of each area’s individual garden. The estimated time of completion as March 2024. Click HERE for more info and ways you can help.

Photo Credit: Steve Greenberg

~

Nov 14: Harmony Hollow:

Meet the Makers

On November 14, owners of Harmony Hollow Steve and Lori Greenberg, invited the community to the Holland Center to meet some of Harmony Hollow’s historic makers, past and present. Those makers on hand to speak were Melissa Paxton, Scotty Bechtold, Sheila Kollasch, Patrick O’Grady, Judy Darbyshire, and Bill Payne. Richard Mocco’s (deceased) important work and contributions to Harmony Hollow’s history were also discussed. In addition, the Greenbergs shared updated details on this fascinating preservation.

Photo Credit: M. Paxton

~

Nov 18: Desert Discovery Day

On November 18, the Desert Foothills Land Trust hosted its 11th Annual Desert Discovery Days at Jewel of the Creek Preserve. Many community partners came together for a fun-filled day that began with rain but then greeted visitors with a spectacular rainbow. Attendees learned about the Sonoran Desert and its dwellers, past and present and also interacted with native wildlife. In the photo, Thomas McGuire does what he does best by sharing information about local geology.

Photo: Courtesy of Desert Foothills Land Trust

~

Nov 18: Looking Back

Dr. Debra Lay, executive director of the Desert Foothills Library, welcomed the audience to the Saturday presentation of the play Looking Back by local playwright Andrea Markowitz. The play was part of a collaborative project between the Desert Foothills Library, the Cave Creek Museum, and the Desert Foothills Theatre. Looking Back was inspired by the true story of 1950s Cave Creek Rancher Dick Engel and wife Evie and choices they faced in the small town of Cave Creek.

~

Nov 1&-19 & 24-26: Hidden in the Hills

Studio Tour

Beautiful weather and 164 artists welcomed art enthusiasts to the 27th annual Sonoran Arts League's Hidden in the Hills Studio Tour event. Lucy Dickens' studio #13 was one of 41 studios hosting the free event. Works in oil, acrylic, watercolor, metal, glass, jewelry, photography, wood, leather and a variety of other media were showcased at this year's event.