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Visitors Charmed by Arizona’s Christmas City

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Winter visitors and skiers will be pleased to hear that more seats are available on flights to Denver this Christmas season. Moreover, a new non-stop flight will be added between Prescott and Denver beginning March 5.

That doubles the number of Denver departures daily from Prescott Regional Airport (PRC).The additional flight will operate through June 2020.

Data released by the City of Prescott and the Arizona Office of Tourism reveal the Quad Cities area is becoming a favored destination among national and international visitors. Moderate climate, an abundance of recreational activities, accommodations and a variety of food and entertainment options have resulted in an increase in visitors.

That’s certainly true during the next few weeks, when “Arizona’s Christmas City” receives statewide and regional attention because of holiday events.

Not long ago, USA Today ranked Prescott as a “must-see” community in Arizona, especially during the Christmas season.

The “Christmas City” designation goes back to 1962, when then Governor Paul Fannin named Prescott as Christmas Town. In 1989, the late Governor Rose Mofford issued an official proclamation, calling it Arizona’s Christmas City.

 

Holiday Events Have Begun

One holiday event that has become famous internationally is the 27th annual Gingerbread Village in the lobby of the Prescott Resort. It opened Nov. 25, and will run through New Year’s Day. It is known as the largest gingerbread village in the world. The carefully crafted, often whimsical displays are created from not just gingerbread but also shredded wheat, crackers, gumdrops, mints, licorice and chocolate chips.

The popular Valley of Lights display in Prescott Valley began during theThanksgiving weekend and continues through Dec. 30.

Prescott Valley has a Festival of Lights and Parade beginning at 5 p.m., Dec. 6, around the Prescott Valley Civic Center.

With the theme “Ugly Sweater Christmas,” the Prescott Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring one of the state’s most popular parades at 1 p.m., Dec. 7. Entries will include bands and marchers from throughout Arizona.

That evening, thousands are expected around the courthouse plaza for the 65th annual Courthouse Lighting at 5 p.m. Earlier in November, the annual fundraiser at the Jersey Lilly Saloon raised more than $18,000 to help cover some of the costs of the estimated $85,000 it takes to string lights around the Courthouse.

That same evening, Sharlot Hall Museum is featuring Frontier Christmas exhibits.

On Dec. 8, those who enjoy traditional holiday and Christmas music can hear the Prescott Pops Symphony in a 3 p.m. concert at the Yavapai College Performing Arts Center.

Starting at 5:30 p.m., Dec. 13, the ever-popular Acker Night Showcase will feature more than 100 musicians performing throughout the greater downtown Prescott area.

At 6 p.m., Dec. 14, Chino Valley will turn on Christmas lights at Memory Park and feature Santa greeting children.

Those who enjoy the traditional “Nutcracker Suite” by Tchaikovsky can hear it at the Yavapai College Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m., Dec. 15.

Kids interested in decorating cookies are invited to the Dec. 18 Cookie Decorating event at 1:30 p.m. at the Prescott Public Library on Goodwin Street.

Those who enjoy dance music can hear a variety of groups at 7 p.m., Dec. 20, when the Yavapai College Jazz Band, the Roughriders and the Trailblazers, perform for a scholarship fundraiser at the concert hall.

For ringing in the New Year, Prescott offers the Whiskey Row New Year’s Eve Boot Drop. An illuminated giant cowboy boot will drop at 10 p.m. and again at midnight, with festivities from 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

For more information, visit-prescott.com/Christmas. QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

Rooney to Lead GiFTS

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Prescott Valley community leader and education activist Jodi Rooney has been elected interim president for the Gardner Family Teacher Scholarship Foundation (GiFTS). Rooney, a 13-year resident of Arizona and member of the GiFTS board of directors, replaces former president Robert St. Claire, who moved to Chicago for a career opportunity.

Rooney has been involved with educational organizations throughout her career. Most recently, Rooney worked with Yavapai College in helping to prepare an education blueprint to support transportation, housing and workforce. She had served on the Prescott Valley Town Council until her term expired last year.

Rooney and her husband, James “Casey” Rooney, moved in Arizona in 2006. She became an administrator for the Central Yavapai Metropolitan Planning Organization. She later accepted a professional leadership position at the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). She was the architect for the ADOT Education Encouragement Connection for Women program. That program was designed to assist women in their higher education ambitions and leadership goals.

The Metropolitan Phoenix Chapter of Women in Transportation honored Rooney with its “Woman of the Year Award” in January 2018.

“Knowing that Arizona faces a labor shortage, one area I can personally work on is supporting teachers,” she said. “We need teachers to prepare the future workforce. We have a serious teacher shortage in Arizona.”

GiFTS has granted more than $300,000 in scholarships to Yavapai County students in recent years. “We’ll give more than $25,000 to aspiring teachers in March, so I want to encourage persons who feel strongly about boosting Arizona’s teacher education and retention rate to help by contributing,” she said. QCBN

 

For more information, visit ycesa.com/gardner-techer-scholarship/

 

Kids treated at Shriners Children Hospital to Your Toys

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Watters Garden Center is happy to shine the light on the Shriners Children Medical Centers. SCMC was founded in 1952 to provide the highest quality care for children with orthopedic conditions, burn scars, cleft lip and palate, and other special health care needs. All while discovering ways to improve the quality of care of children and their families.

 

It’s a noble cause and Watters is collecting toys this season for the children who have to spend the holidays in a Shriner hospital. Bring a new toy for children ages newborn to 13 by Watters Garden Center before December 18, and we’ll make sure the children receive your gift. New art supplies, Legos, Play-Doh, trains, stamp kits, school supplies, and gift cards all make ideal gifts. No need to wrap a gift, Watters will take care of that for each kid individually.

 

A giving box is set up in Watters Garden Center to receive your donations. Buy a Christmas tree, poinsettia, greens, or wreath for yourself and consider a toy for kids in need. We accept cash donations on behalf of SCMC and will make sure the right age-appropriate gift is donated on your behalf.

 

Toys, gift cards, and cash for the Shriners Children Medical Centers are accepted through December 18 at Watters Garden Center, 1815 Iron Springs Road, Prescott AZ 86305. Buy a Watters Gift Card between now and then, and the monies go directly to the cause as well, now through December 18.

 

Watters Garden Center is a locally owned and operated garden center that specializes in providing avid gardeners and novices alike with the expertise and products to get things growing in the mountains of Arizona.

 

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Testing for Deadly Radon

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Certified radon inspectors Bill Branch, Drew Ramsey and John McCartney have joined forces to educate Northern Arizonans about the dangers of the invisible, radioactive gas.

Radon occurs naturally from the breakdown of uranium found in rocks, soil and sometimes well water. It can seep into homes through the foundation, cracks in the slab, sump pumps, plumbing pipes and crawl spaces. The inspectors say it is a serious and dangerous carcinogen.

“The campaign to educate the public has been slow, even though the Environmental Protection Agency, the World Health Organization, the American Cancer Society and many others have expressed the need for education and testing,” said Branch, a home inspector based in Flagstaff.

He says radon is a health risk with a simple solution. “We want to help.”

The three have created a non-profit Facebook page to help inform the community: Radon Professionals of Northern Arizona: FB.me/RPNAz. In addition, they recently delivered a presentation to the Northern Arizona Association of Realtors, which is now available on YouTube, “Radon Certification – Implications & Value.”

Branch and McCartney each own home inspection companies in Flagstaff. Ramsey is an environmental specialist and experienced radon professional. They are the only three people north of Phoenix qualified and certified to test for radon.

From tests he has conducted, Ramsey says about 30 percent of Flagstaff homes have measurable radon. In Prescott, that number is significantly higher because of the high amount of granite. Sedona seems to have the least amount in Northern Arizona.

“I am finding lots of housing [in Prescott] uses ground up granite for fill under the slab,” said Ramsey, who notes that the most challenging part of his job is finding ways to provide information to the community about the deadly gas.

The inspectors say radon is in every house in the world at various levels, but because it is invisible, odorless and tasteless, people are not concerned about it.

“Just because there is radon in the house doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy the house or be looking to move,” said McCartney, who recommends a radon test become part of the home inspection routine at the time of sale. “It should be added to the ‘staying healthy’ list along with: stop smoking, eat your greens, lower stress and be more active.”

The test takes 60 hours or two-and-a-half days and costs between $150 and $250. If levels are dangerously high, treatment can cost around $1,500. Sometimes, the fix is permanent; other times, the site requires follow up visits.

Do-it-yourself radon tests can be purchased at a local home store, but their accuracy cannot be guaranteed, McCartney says. “It can give you an idea, but I don’t recommend them because the results can be hit-or-miss due to improper test protocols and interpretations.”

“It doesn’t need to be scary,” said Branch. “Testing for radiation is fairly straightforward, but interpreting the results has serious implications. “There are people doing inspections who aren’t certified because Arizona doesn’t regulate it. We know how to interpret the results.”

Noting that an unqualified person might pronounce the home safe when it is not, or prescribe unneeded mitigation, Branch offers to review others’ inspection results for free for homebuyers and realtors. QCBN

By Patty McCormac, QCBN

For more information, Bill Branch with 121 PRO Inspections, Drew Ramsey with Architectural and Environmental Associates and John McCartney with Almost Home Inspection Services can be reached at bill@one2one.pro, drew@aeapower.com and john@ahomeis.com.

Town Hall to Discuss Verde Valley Land Use

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Rapid growth throughout the Verde Valley and the Red Rocks area has prompted a group of community leaders to plan an intense one-day Town Hall with the purpose of developing workable strategies for managing land use issues.

The full-day event is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 9, at the Beaver Creek School in Rimrock, just off I-17.

One of the town hall’s organizers, Sedona resident Donna Michaels, said land use matters and their implications are discussed daily in the Verde Valley. “The agriculture industry, resource managers for water, the various Chambers of Commerce, community leaders, transportation enterprises and many more have an earnest interest in future land use and growth.”

She explained a cross-section of invited participants will include community leaders, business owners, elected officials, developers, educators, residents and local government staff members.

In advance of the forum, participants will receive a background report that contains specific details about current land use, growth and expansion in the Verde Valley. “The report will give them a common base of knowledge for meaningful discussions,” said Michaels.

During open discussions, participants are expected to formulate specific goals and action plans, which then will be consolidated into a written report to be published and distributed throughout the region.

The forum is patterned after the format used by the Arizona Town Hall (ATH), a non-partisan, non-political organization that focuses on issues facing the state. Retired Arizona Court of Appeals Judge Patricia Norris will facilitate discussions. Norris is the current ATH chair.

Event coordinator Camille Cox said that following the Town Hall, outreach sessions will be conducted throughout the Verde Valley to share the results. Among locations for future sessions are Camp Verde, Cottonwood, Clarkdale-Jerome, Sedona and several unincorporated areas. Those include Village of Oak Creek, Cornville-Page Springs-Verde Santa Fe, Verde Villages, Lake Montezuma-Rimrock and the Yavapai Apache Nation.

Supporters for the event include the Verde Valley Land Preservation Institute, Sedona Village Partnership, Keep Sedona Beautiful and the Sedona Chamber of Commerce. QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

For more information, contact camille@onrampcomm.com.

Granite Dells Estates Grand Opening Attracts Hundreds

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“If we charged for the views, some people couldn’t afford these lots,” one real estate broker said while waving his hand in a sweeping arc toward the horizon. He was talking to several potential homebuyers during the grand opening kickoff event of Phase Two, Granite Dells Estates.

Granite Dells’ owner and founder Mike Fann, president of Fann Contracting, said he was pleased to see Phase Two begin. It was only four years ago that he opened Phase One on the 1,100-acre, multi-million dollar development during the summer of 2015. Since then, it has grown beyond his expectations.

Hundreds of interested buyers drove to the subdivision located just a few hundred yards south of the Granite Dells Parkway off Highway 89A on the northeast edge of Prescott. During the day-long event Sept. 14, they had a chance to tour all three neighborhoods: Sunset Ridge, a private gated community with 12 two-acre or larger lots for custom and semi-custom homes; The Peaks, which features 60 custom home sites of up to 1.4 acres; and The Vistas, that contain 83 custom lots, with views in virtually every direction.

All homes have access to the just-opened Granite Dells Clubhouse, located at 5520 Crown Rock Trail. The 4,500-square-foot contemporary design building features a full fitness center and state-of-the art gym equipped with sophisticated training equipment, said Kerry Hunt, the HOAMCO community association manager.

Hunt explained the clubhouse also has locker rooms with towel service, a heated outdoor Olympic-size swimming pool and spa (which will operate seasonally), two pickleball courts, an event lawn and a fire pit for gatherings.

All homes have underground utility infrastructure. City water, sewer and garbage collection, natural gas, electricity are all available. So is fiber optic service for cable TV and internet, telephone and other electronic communications systems.

A recently constructed nearby 3.25 million-gallon water tank serves not just the Granite Dells area but also adjacent land both north and south of Highway 89A.

Several Builders Represented On Site Interested homebuyers can choose from models available from Dorn Homes and Mandalay Homes. Both builders have model homes open and sales representatives on site in Phase Two.

Dorm Homes has five available floorplans starting in the high $300,000s. Dorn representatives say their homes are “Organic Home Plus” healthy and extremely energy efficient.

Mandalay Homes has four models open and six available floorplans starting in the mid$300,000s. The ION Series energy-efficient homes received a U.S. Department of Energy Housing Innovation Award. Additionally, among custom home builders are Carrington Homes, Stoddard Lifestyle Homes, Bella Construction and BSN Builders. All have representatives available to meet with interested buyers.

Anita Morgan-Reese, an administrative assistant with HOAMCO, has an office in the clubhouse. She and her assistant, Michelle Passmore, are available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week, to meet those interested.
They also can be reached at 928-350-8146.

Custom home sites also are available from the New Home Marketplace and its representatives at Realty Executives, 113 W. Goodwin Street in downtown Prescott. They can be reached at 928-308-2211.

Prioritizing Natural Environment and Open Space Fann, who has lived in Prescott more than 60 years, reemphasized what he said when he first purchased the land for future home development.

“We are intent on making the Dells a premier residential area that offers owners a healthy and environmentally sustainable lifestyle.” Fann said that housing developments will follow the natural contours of the terrain, and that dedicated open space is a priority. He noted that the platting of the community provided for almost 300 acres of open space.

Hiking trails and wildlife corridors will link to other trails along the historic Peavine Trail, which is near Watson Lake and the long-abandoned railroad bed. Other trails will tie into the popular Iron King Trail that heads east toward Prescott Valley.

Fann emphasized that he wanted Phase Two to fuse ecological and environmental features with attractive, practical and professionally designed and engineered homes that would make homeowners proud.

“The Dells will be a dream community located in a wondrous natural setting for nature lovers and discerning homeowners,” a Fann spokesperson said. QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

For more information, visit LifeAtTheDells.com.

Prescott Regional Water Summit Scheduled for November 14

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The City of Prescott and neighboring municipalities will participate in a water summit on Thursday, November 14 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Centennial Center at 1989 Wineglass Drive, near the Prescott Regional Airport. This will be a public meeting.

 

The City has invited representatives from the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR), Yavapai County, the Towns of Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, and Dewey-Humboldt.   Each municipality will be asked to provide a brief presentation about their current water resource management program and policy and to answer questions from the public.   ADWR will speak about the Prescott AMA, and will answer questions from the municipalities and the public.

 

For information about Prescott’s Water Policy, go to Prescott-az.gov.

 

Renovation to Begin at Prescott Regional Airport Terminal

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The contract to start the renovation and ground-clearing process prior to the construction of a new airport terminal has been approved. Demolition of some existing structures is scheduled to begin once approval is received from the Federal Aviation Administration, says Kristi Miller, airport management analyst for Prescott Regional Airport-Ernest A. Love Field.

Ironwood Construction (dba Catclaw Contractors) will demolish and remove hangars and shade structures inside the fence just north of the existing 1940s-era airport terminal. It is currently located at 6500 MacCurdy Lane in northeast Prescott just off Hwy 89. The Prescott City Council approved a $58,350 contract for that project.

The existing terminal will be replaced by a multi-million-dollar building and road system that has been in the planning stages for several months.

“With what promises to be a beautiful new 18,000-square-foot terminal, the future looks even brighter for the airport and the region,” said Prescott Mayor Greg Mengarelli.

Prescott Regional Airport Director Robin Sobotta and her team have worked with Fann Contracting, a local company, and Willmeng Construction, a Phoenix-based firm, to initiate construction.

The Fann and the Willmeng companies will collaborate in what they are calling a “vertical and horizontal construction process” with upward rising buildings and ground-level roads.

In addition to the new terminal, plans for some runway lengthening and expansion are under consideration to support airplane performance. Longer runways are needed to help aircraft deal with air density in summer heat. Hotter weather diminishes air density, thus making it necessary for aircraft to need long runways to gain lift.

Need for a new terminal became more apparent with record-breaking commercial air service to and from Prescott. As of Aug. 29, during the past year, the airport has seen an unprecedented passenger count of 53,614 passengers. This occurred after a year of service from United Express, operated by SkyWest Airlines.

Sobotta said the airline service provided by United Express/SkyWest Airlines has an average load factor of 77 percent. Currently, non-stop flights to and from Prescott are to Los Angeles or Denver.

She also said the airline had a non-cancellation rate – flights arriving and leaving on schedule – of 98.9%, an indicator of reliability for United Express.

She indicated the airline would be adding an additional 450 seats for holiday travel in the fall and additional spring flights are likely to be announced later this winter.

Estimated cost for the new terminal is close to $16.2 million. Sobotta said terminal design is 95 percent complete and should be finished in the next few weeks.

The City of Prescott already has a commitment of $1 million from the State of Arizona to go toward terminal cost. The City of Prescott also has made a commitment of $3.5 million.

The new terminal is expected to be in operation in late 2020. QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

Prescott Cheers for Charlie

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Not all 100 of the citizen soldiers of the Arizona National Guard Unit: “Charlie Company 158th Infantry Battalion” are Prescott residents, but they were welcomed back from Afghanistan like native sons at a recent ceremony.

These members, known as the “Bushmasters,” were honored by the community that turned out in force to thank them for their service on Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza.

Just before the ceremony, a lone dark cloud hovered over the city and set loose a deluge.

“It poured and people started running for their cars, but they all came back,” said Melissa Fousek of the mayor’s office who was one of the organizers.

Still, it proved it took more than a little rainstorm to keep hundreds of community members from honoring these young people.

Participants were encouraged to wear red, white and blue for the event, which began with a silent march around the courthouse by the company. Afterward, the soldiers were seated on the steps of the courthouse, where speakers praised them for their service.

Yavapai County Supervisor Craig Brown, a Vietnam veteran, said he and his brothers did not get a proper welcome when they returned from war, but that has changed.

“We want to tell them we love them and that we appreciate what they do for us,” he said before turning to applaud them, which caused the crowd to erupt into applause.

Prescott Mayor Greg Mengarelli, wearing a cowboy hat, reiterated that no matter where they come from, they are now officially Prescott residents.

“You are one of us,” he said.

“Yavapai County is proud to have these brave soldiers as part of our patriotic community,” said Yavapai County Supervisor Rowle Simmons.

The company’s commander Major General Michael McGuire challenged the rest of Arizona and the country to keep up with Charlie Company. “You can’t be asleep at the wheel,” he said.

Fousek said the city recognizes its veterans whenever it can. “Once word started getting out, people wanted to participate, asking what they could do to help. Prescott is a very patriotic city. We have a lot of veterans in the area and the city is very supportive of anything to do with soldiers.”

Charlie Company was founded in September 1865 as Arizona’s first volunteer infantry. It was drafted into federal service in 1917 to help in World War I efforts. The group adopted the name “Bushmasters,” from the venomous jungle pit vipers that members of the 158th Infantry Regiment battled during drills in Central America.

Continuing the city’s patriotic efforts, the Prescott High School Band, after a nationwide competition, was chosen to perform at this year’s remembrance ceremonies of the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, in Hawaii. The band is currently trying to raise enough money to make the trip. Those who would like to help are encouraged to call Rebeca Horninan at 919-923-3199. QCBN

By Patty McCormac, QCBN

 

Author Identifies Components of Thriving Communities

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In the book “Building a Vibrant Community: How Citizen Powered Change is Reshaping America,” author Quint Studer could be describing Prescott.

The Florida-based businessman and philanthropist points out that most small cities have great downtowns, unique small businesses and restaurants, a strong sense of community, many opportunities for civic engagement and events and festivals that bring the whole city together.

His book is a blueprint for communities to be a place where residents work, live, shop and play.

When he traveled as a hospital consultant, he began noticing the differences in cities.

“Some thrive. Some don’t. That is just the way it is,” he discovered.

But he began to notice that the cities that were on the edge had big box stores, or one big business like General Motors, which gives them a false sense of security. Take away one of these and you have a city with declining population that is a place where people don’t want to start a business and where youth go away to college and don’t come back, he says.

Studer lives in Pensacola, Florida, where there is a naval base and wonderful beaches for tourists. But he noticed that thriving cities have a number of attractions, not just one or two. City leaders make sure the environment is right for small businesses, and there’s a reason for people to go downtown.

As the founder of Studer Community Institute, Studer’s plan to revitalize cities worked in Pensacola. The city has seen a 25.9 percent growth in property values and has won several awards for its vibrant downtown.

Now, Studer travels the country speaking to community leaders about how the cities can reinvent themselves by encouraging citizen participation and downtown revitalization.

Prescott is on board with both of these and other elements Studer identifies as components of a thriving community, say residents.

“We have many events for the whole family, outdoor activities and all the things that make a small town go ‘round,” said Robert Coombs, visitor information manager for the Prescott Chamber of Commerce.

“There are many opportunities to volunteer and volunteers are the heart of the community,” he said. “They are the heart of the library, hospital, humane society and many other organizations.”

There are unique stores, and, as Coombs said, “When you walk into a business, you are usually talking to the owners.”

The Spice Traveler on Gurley Street, for example, offers dry rubs, spice blends, olive oil and beverages from acai green tea to something to take for symptoms of colds and flu.

“We have more than just spices,” said Glenda McCleary, owner of the shop where you will find her busily working and greeting customers. “We also sell kitchen items, gifts, furniture, specialty foods. All our spices are really fresh because we sell a lot of them so they don’t sit around. We sell a lot of tea, too.”

They opened the store in 2011 and the community has embraced it. She says her cold and flu tea mix actually works – her customers have told her so.

There are also charming and unique restaurants like the Barley Hound on Cortez Street. Dogs are not only welcome, they are encouraged to network.

Meanwhile, humans can enjoy duck fat fries or a juicy rib eye steak.

As for festivals, Prescott’s Christmas Festival is renowned, Coombs said. But there are many other year-round activities in the area featuring music, food and seasons.

In addition to “Building a Vibrant Community,” Studer has authored seven books. He also writes columns on community revitalization and small business leadership development. QCBN

By Patty McCormac, QCBN