A publication of

The Town of Cave Creek

37622 N Cave Creek Rd.

Cave Creek, AZ

480-488-6600

Editor:

Nina Spitzer

Contributors:

Mayor Morris

&

Council Member

Royer

~

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

January

Corner

Jan 1: Happy New Year! - Town Hall CLOSED

Jan 1 (9:30am): Ray of Hope Hike for the Kids - Cave Creek Regional Park (Info HERE)

Jan 1 (6:00 pm): Town Council Meeting - CANCELLED

Jan 13 (5:30 pm): "Celebration of Excellence" @ Desert Foothills Library - A Carefree*Cave Creek Chamber event (Info HERE)

Jan 15: Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday - Town Hall CLOSED

Jan 16 (6:00 pm): Town Council Meeting - Cave Creek Town Council Chamber (Info HERE)

Jan 18 (6:00 pm): Planning Commission Mtg - Cave Creek Town Council Chamber (Info HERE)

Jan 26 & 27 (8am-3pm): American Legion Auxiliary Rummage Sale & More (Info HERE)

Jan 27 (9am-12noon): Shred-a-Thon Sponsored by Foothills Food Bank (Free event-Info HERE)

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

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.

Cave Creek Merchants

A reminder that the Cave Creek Concierge Tour 2024 has been moved from Jan 9 to Oct 9, 2024. We will be in touch on how you can promote your business through this event.

Royalty

Pageant Deadline Nears

January 6 is the deadline for the Creek’s Rodeo Days’ Royalty Pageant.

Then, January 20 is the actual competition for 2024’s Queen and Teen Queen Lady-In-Waiting. The official crowning will be 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 and to download the application.

American Legion

Post 34

Auxiliary Rummage Sale & More

(Jan 26 & 27)

This is the main fundraiser of the year! 100% of all proceeds will help veterans in need.

Donation Schedule

Saturdays

Jan 6, Jan 13, and Jan 20

Mondays

Jan 8 and Jan 15

Wednesdays Jan 10 and Jan 17

Donations are accepted from 10am - 2pm in the back parking lot of American Legion Post 34 (6272 E Cave Creek Rd in Cave Creek)

Shred-a-Thon

Jan 27 9am-12noon

(free event)

Location:

6061 E Hidden Valley Drive

Also Accepting:

electronics, books, used clothing, & housewares for the Goldmine Thrift Store & Desert Foothills Library

Click HERE for info

Guess It

Corner

Where in Cave Creek can you find this hungry school of fish?

December's Answer:

Nope. It's not a mini-golf course. If you guessed the roadside display at Carefree Floors. ..then, you got it! Click HERE Click to see the mural again in our last newsletter or stop by and say hello to Brian and Laurie.

A Day-in-the-Life Corner

Caelyn, of Old Glory Barbership, does a little cuttin' here and snippin' there...and, Steve's a lookin' good!

Carefree*

Cave Creek Chamber Corner

2023-24 Guide

A Wonderful Publication for Our Community Members

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.

Supporting Our Locals Corner

Happy New Year

Fellow Creekers:

Remember...

Cave Creek shops have the BEST, unique items for yourself and also your special someone. Local shops have cool items that can't be found anywhere else, not just during the holidays, but all year long!

Plus, shopping local is convenient and friendly, too.

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



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:

Kurt Kamka

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

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 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.

"Approach the New Year with resolve

to find the opportunities hidden

in each new day."

~ Michael Josephson

January

2024

Feature Corner

2023

Was A Very Good Year

By Cave Creek Mayor Bob Morris

and Vice Mayor Kathryn Royer

As 2023 ends, it’s appropriate for the Town of Cave Creek to report back to its residents, businesses and visitors on our successes and challenges. I’m proud to provide this summary of accomplishments as well as striking changes that will soon be taking place.

First and foremost, we need to say, “Goodbye and thank you,” to Carrie Dyrek, our talented and dedicated town manager, who will soon be retiring after 26 years of service—19 as Town Clerk and the last 7 as Town Manager. Carrie has been an integral part of our town’s leadership team which has taken us from barely surviving in 2009 to absolutely thriving in 2023. Cave Creek is safer, roads are better, open space was preserved, in fact, there is no area in the town where improvements haven’t been made under Carrie Dyrek’s guidance and leadership. We thank her profoundly.

Everything starts with our financial viability. We are fortunate to report that Cave Creek is in an excellent financial position with revenues exceeding expenses which allows us to move forward with essential projects throughout town.

In 2023, these projects include collaborating with our community with a ribbon cutting event for preserving 30.6 acres of open space abutting Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area. We held a groundbreaking ceremony for an innovative land-sharing agreement with the Foothills Food Bank. Significant infrastructure improvements have been completed at the Cave Creek Rodeo Grounds and 7 iconic businesses in Cave Creek have been recognized as Local Landmarks. 

With respect to our beloved Cave Creek town core, we’ve held 2 public engagement meetings and created a webpage for the Town Core Plan which is being updated after 10 years. Rehabilitation of our medians is underway, beginning with the transplant of native plants from other building sites around the town. We’re focusing on improving pedestrian pathways for increased safety, including installing flashing beacon lights for crosswalks and posting additional Sheriff’s patrols to help reduce the speed of drivers. We’ve met with town core merchants on two occasions to improve business relations and share ideas for improved parking and visitor engagement. 

In terms of public works, the damaged “Welcome” sign located in the entry to our town has been replaced, which is truly a welcome sight! Arroyo Road has been modified to serve as a safety exit for residents during emergencies. Much delayed but necessary road and curb improvements can now be seen taking place throughout town.   

It goes without saying that water is always at the top of the list of priorities. We’re making significant town core improvements that help us measure our data to determine water losses. We’re addressing ongoing odor issues at Stagecoach Village. While we’ve had significant staffing issues at the water treatment facility, we’ve managed to add and calibrate flow meters to improve the accounting of water losses for conservation purposes. The first design phase of an interconnection with Phoenix has been completed which ultimately will serve as a backup water supply in times of emergencies. Leaking service lines in our water distribution system have been completely replaced rather than patched. Our meter replacement program has begun for more accurate readings and early leak detection. Last but not least, we’ve been able to store one year’s worth of our precious Colorado River water supplies underground via the Central Arizona Project for future use.

As a result of the establishment of a Cave Creek Fire Department in 2021 in association with Daisy Mountain Fire Department, remodeling of the previous Cave Creek Fire Station is underway to provide additional space for fire trucks and a cleaner, safer environment for firefighters. This year, Cave Creek was the grateful recipient of a grant from Firehouse Subs for an emergency service vehicle to reach lost hikers in Spur Cross, among other purposes. 

The Town of Cave Creek staff and our fellow Council members are diligently working to serve the best interests of the town. We hope you agree we have employed successful financial, operational, and managerial strategies to meet and exceed the needs of our community. We thank you for your trust in our abilities and look forward to another successful year in 2024.  

~ Filling a Very Important Seat ~

Cave Creek Town Manager

* Understanding the Process *

By Mayor Bob Morris

The Cave Creek Town Council is heavily engaged in identifying, recruiting, and employing a new town manager. Some past town manager transitions have been long and confusing resulting in paralyzing effects. Remember, by law the town manager runs Cave Creek. Town Council, including the Mayor, set policy, set performance standards, and hire two positions: the town attorney and the town manager.

It is a violation of the Code of Conduct for Council members or the mayor to direct staff. We do direct the town manager on large policy issues and his/her overall performance on all aspects of governance.

A good way to think of this is the Council determines what and the staff determines how.

The Deputy Town Manager/Town Clerk, Teresa Riza, has managed the new manager recruitment process. Here is a bulleted outline of the steps. 

• Qualifications are determined. (Done)
• An executive recruiter is hired to develop, pre-interview and investigate candidates. (Done)
• Submitted resumes are reviewed and prioritized. (Done)
• Interviews are conducted by the entire Council with finalists announced .
• Contract is negotiated.
•  The chosen candidate and employment contract are presented at a public council meeting with an opportunity for public comment.
• Town Council publicly votes on the decision and employment contract for our new town manager.

Assuming we find the right person, this process will likely be concluded in January with the Town of Cave Creek welcoming in a new town manager.

Selecting a town manager is one of the most important and impactful decisions Council members perform. We are checking all the boxes to get this right and invite you to sit in on the process at our council meetings.

Town Manager's Corner

Dear Cave Creek Residents and Merchants,

The Town Council and Staff have been implementing measures to increase pedestrian and traffic safety in the Town Core. Here is an overview of a recent presentation to the Town Council that outlines the improvement projects currently underway in the Town Core to address illegal parking and improve safety for pedestrians.

The Town has begun installation of a curb along the roadway at the of Circle K. The second project on E. Cave Creek Road begins the first of the year where a curb will be installed between Vermeersch Road and Mountain View Pub. Curbing assists in preventing illegal parking on E. Cave Creek Road. The Town will improve pedestrian pathways along portions of north side of the road once the curb has been installed.

The town has completed the installation of the pathway along the south side of E. Cave Creek Road at Harold’s Corral. We cannot install curb on the south side of E. Cave Creek Road due to the drainage flow along the roadway.

There is a wide area between the pavement and the pathway at Harold’s Corral where we will install a barrier of rock filled cairn baskets and pipe rail. The barrier will assist with eliminating illegally parking and help direct pedestrians to cross at the designated crosswalks.

Jack Cartwright Pass will have curbing added between the roadway and the pedestrian walkway. Additional "No Parking" signs will be added to the fencing along the east side of that roadway.

Buffalo Chip recently purchased property that they are improving to create much needed additional parking. The Town will also add new parking spaces as part of the Viola Lane improvement project. Once these projects are completed an additional 185 total parking spaces will improve our overall parking situation in the east end of the Town Core.

We have also increased our traffic enforcement to make our streets safer. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and the Town Marshal’s Office have been focusing their traffic enforcement efforts throughout the Town Core as well as other specific areas of Town to address speeding and other traffic violations.

On behalf of the Town Staff, I wish you and your families a safe and Happy New Year!

Regards,

Carrie A. Dyrek

Cave Creek Town Manager

Mayor's Corner

Mayor Bob has co-authored our feature article

for the month of January.

The Marshal's Corner

Greeting from the Marshal,

Welcome to a new year! Year 2023 is behind us, and I have chosen to start off 2024 with a different type of message to all of you.

As you know, the Marshal’s Office has started a campaign to lower speeds driven in the town core. You many have also noticed (or experienced), we now stop many more people for speeding.

Stopping speeders has been quite interesting. I’ve chosen to enlighten those of you who actually read my article with some funny encounters I’ve experienced when I pull people over. I hope this makes you smile. Hopefully some of you will laugh while others will simply roll their eyes. Here are a few of the better excuses I have received for why people are speeding:

“I thought the speed limit was 50 through town,” “I am late for my yoga class (actually used twice in two days!),” “My dog has to go to the bathroom,” “I am late to meet the carpet shampoo guy and my wife will kill me if he leaves,” “I didn’t see the sign,” “I drive a sports car, I can barely keep my speed below 45,” “I am guilty as hell. Just get on with this and give me the ticket,” Perhaps I have saved the very best for last… “Aren’t you the same marshal who pulled me over last month?” 

Thank you to all of you who have reminded me of how fun and amusing being a small  town marshal can be. Please slow down and respect our speed limits. Do not text while driving!

Also, Cave Creek has experienced an increase in illegal dumping. We have found some construction dumping, but mostly landscaper dumping going on throughout town. Please use reputable people when you have work done at your home. Ask where they will be dumping the waste. Every time someone dumps illegally in our town, it’s all of our residents who then pay for the cleanup. If you see a vehicle loaded with debris pulling off into the desert…call it in. Snap a picture, hopefully with a license plate. If we work together and phone in suspicious activity, we can stop illegally dumping in our town.

I wish you all a very Happy New Year.

Marshal Stein

Fire Safety Corner

Lasting...Memories

Don't let your dazzling Christmas tree become this kind of lasting memory. You've enjoyed your beautiful live tree through the holiday season, and it may still be standing in your living room. If so, it's probably quite dry by now. Fir trees are extremely flammable, but even more so when their needles have dried out. The slightest spark can set them ablaze. Take a moment to click HERE and view an AZFoothills911 video on this topic and please keep you and your family safe.

The Holiday Season is Now Past: Please do not dispose of used live Christmas trees and wreaths in empty lots or in our desert. These trees are extremely flammable and can easily fuel a life-threatening wildland fire. Instead, please dispose of it/them to the Maricopa Transfer Station at 3955 E. Carefree Hwy (602-722-1908) for a small fee of $6 or at any of the Phoenix Parks (Click HERE) for free.

Town News Corner

Grants for Non-Profits Serving 

Cave Creek and Desert Foothills Area

By Council Member Kathryn Royer

Non-profit organizations serving the perimeters of Cave Creek and Desert Foothills will now be able to apply for grants from the Town of Cave Creek with more ease, speed, and transparency.

At its Monday, December 18, 2023 regular meeting, the Council voted unanimously to update and streamline the process of the Community Grants Program.

The Town provides financial support for non-profit, 501c(3) organizations to help protect the health, safety and welfare of its residents, and encourage arts, history, education, science, technology, humanities, preservation, heritage and culture of our community.

For the first time, a new 5-member Community Grants Committee comprised of one current Council member, two residents, one business leader and one senior staff member will review all applications based on stated eligibility criteria.

Recommendations for funding by the Grants committee will be forwarded to the Town Council for final approval.

Here’s the timetable for grants to be awarded in 2024:

• February 5: ​​ Applications released via the Town’s website and social media
• March 4:​​ Applications due back to Town Hall
• March 25​​: Community Grants Committee reviews and scores applications
• April 15:​​​ Council reviews and approves recommendations for grant awards

Since the Town derives much of its income from sales tax revenues, this funding will come directly from our residents and visitors to Cave Creek retailers. Thanks to all of you for supporting our Town Core merchants and businesses along the Carefree Highway Corridor. Our community will be an even better place because of it.

For those of you who may be interested in volunteering for the Community Grants Committee, please contact Deputy Town Manager Teresa Riza by clicking HERE.

A Lotta Bull in Cave Creek

"One minute you’re pulling a cake out from the oven…next minute, wrangling a neighbor’s loose bull," says a helpful neighbor who was part of the team convincing the vagabond bull off the street and back into his pen on a December afternoon.

That's Cave Creek for ya!

Cave Creek Tourism Bureau Corner

All of Us at the

Cave Creek Tourism Bureau

Wish All of YOU a Very

Happy New Year!

The Cave Creek Tourism Bureau is here for you!

HopeKids Thanks You

~

Thank you for supporting the

Hope Kids

Holiday Toy Drive 2023!

Because of your donations, 250 families of children with

life-threatening illnesses were able to share a joyous holiday with their kids.

Also BTW...

The Cave Creek Tourism Bureau's "Holly Berry Snowgirl" was the winner of the toy drive box decorating contest!

Thank you for your votes.

New Biz Corner

TeeBox

The TeeBox Indoor Golf Club is officially open for business with an 11 TrackMan golf simulators and an eager staff of food, beverage and golf professionals. They offer a full scratch kitchen and craft cocktail bar with a great selection of premium and ultra premium wines and an innovative Modern-American food menu. TeeBox welcomes the community to "Swing by so we can welcome you to the great indoors!"

Happenings Corner

December: Frontier Town

The beauty of Christmas at Frontier Town is captured by local photographer Tim Murphy.

~

Dec 2: "Kiwanis Christmas for the Kids"

On Saturday, Dec 2, Kiwanis of Carefree made 60 kids very happy with shiny, new bikes at their "Kiwanis Christmas for the Kids" event at the Sanderson Center, Carefree. Bike drawings occurred hourly to kids of three different age groups. The event also included games, face painting, rides, free hot dogs, popcorn, and hot chocolate...and, of course, a visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus!  Over 500 kids and their families attended the event.

Photo: Courtesy of Kiwanis of Carefree

~

Dec 8-10: Western Holidays

Stagecoach Village's 2nd Annual Western Holidays experienced another joyous success. The event included a hot air balloon glow, a foam party and face painting for the kids, live music, unique vendors, dancing, Mr. and Mrs. Santa and elves with miniature horses, too! Many thanks to title sponsors Sanderson Ford and Sanderson Lincoln’s Operation Santa Claus as well as the many attendees who brought food donations with them.

Photo Top: The Minis Making Memories Group - Elves Teri & Jeff - At ground level> Apache & Mike, Monkey & Mz Ellie, and Leslie & Cali

Photo Bottom: Mr. & Mrs. Claus (aka Vicki and Dave Jasperson)

~

Safety Corner

Helpful Safety Info

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.

Happy New Year

and

All the Best in 2024!

~END~