Those who have spent any time in Arizona know the magic that can happen in the Sonoran Desert — the dappled light beneath a mesquite tree; the majestic flight or stealthy scurry of resident wildlife; the intoxicating desert perfume after a rain shower; the deep purple of a wide-open landscap…
In an online ceremony in November, the Arizona Association for Environmental Education recognized three individuals and four organizations or businesses who have made significant impacts and contributions to the environmental education field through innovative and inspiring practices. Among …
In April 2020, Arizona was under a “Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected” executive order issued by the governor. It was with this backdrop that we spoke with Patty Villeneuve, president and CEO of the Carefree Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce.
In a typical month, the Foothills Food Bank & Resource Center serves around 500 families between its Black Canyon City and Cave Creek locations. But 2020 has offered few typical months.
A former NCIS agent who creates beautiful copper and steel sculpture inspired by nature; a professional singer and former teacher who now expresses her creativity painting and drawing; and a martial arts expert who once worked as a doctor of Oriental medicine before becoming a mixed media ar…
While spring and summer have been challenging for everyone, the restaurant industry has been hit particularly hard. But as the temperatures begin to drop, along with coronavirus numbers, there is a cautious sense of optimism as fall approaches.
By Kathryn M. Miller Actors see the world in a different way. That is according to Terry Temple, managing director of Desert Foothills Theater (DFT) since December 2019. The heart of the theater, actors “march to the beat of a different drummer and they have a particular need, I have found, …
Back-to-school season is frequently a time of anxiety for students and parents alike, and that has never been truer than in 2020. While families are weighing their options for the upcoming school year, school administrators and staff have been working diligently behind the scenes to adjust t…
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, local students are leading the charge in the battle to slow the spread of the coronavirus and making a big difference in the community. Established in March by Cactus Shadows High School junior Angelique Cort, the AZ Mask Project focuses on harnessing t…
—By Sue Kern-Fleischer It’s been just a few weeks since Arizona reopened, lifting the “Stay at Home” restrictions put in place to help flatten the curve from COVID-19. And while Harold’s Cave Creek Corral’s dining room is open to patrons, the iconic restaurant is continuing a unique take-out…
Chamber steps up to reassure community By Kathryn M. Miller ~ National Small Business Week has been postponed. The U.S. Small Business Administration event, originally scheduled for May 3–9, is an annual celebration of entrepreneurship and innovation. Never has there been a greater time for …
By Kathryn M. Miller ~ As April begins, the world finds itself living in unprecedented times. In Arizona, schools have been temporarily closed, many businesses are closed or working at half-capacity, events have been postponed or canceled and Valley organizations and institutions — those tha…
Abrazo Health announced in early February that it is set to begin construction a new small-scale community hospital in Cave Creek near the intersection of Carefree Highway and Cave Creek Road. Expected to open in 2021, Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital is a new type of neighborhood hospital, someti…
By Karrie Porter Brace “Do not seek to dominate nature with your buildings, but cooperate with it to achieve a harmony similar to that of natural creations.” —Gerry Jones Carefree’s exciting architecture and sweeping vistas draw artists, designers, architects, visitors and residents who appr…
More than 5,000 original works of art from 155 juried fine artists will be showcased Jan. 17–19 at the Thunderbird Artists’ 27th Annual Winter Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival. The fine art festival will run along Ho Hum and Easy Streets in Downtown Carefree. A popular event for locals …
Volunteers and community partners help make it possible Imagine being able to live independently in one’s own home well into the golden years. It’s a dream for many, but the reality is that as people grow older, their needs become greater as resources begin to diminish. Activities like going…
Thunderbird Artists will bring its 26th Annual Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival to downtown Carefree Nov. 1–3. The event will consist of juried fine art, wine tasting, microbrews, festival food and live music. More than 150 award-winning fine artists from throughout the United States an…
The annual Hidden in the Hills Studio Tour & Sale (HITH), the signature event of the nonprofit Sonoran Arts League featuring 197 artists in 47 studios throughout the community, is slated for the last two weekends in November — Nov. 22–24, and Nov. 29 – Dec. 1. Select artists’ work is on …
As the Town of Cave Creek gears up for its season of events around town, CITYSunTimes, in conjunction with the Town, is hard at work on October’s 2019 Cave Creek Special Events Issue. This annual issue includes a calendar of events for the upcoming season, a special advertiser’s section and …
Halloween visits the Town of Carefree in the form of whimsical pumpkin carvings from master sculptor Ray Villafane and the Villafane Studios team (www.villafanestudios.com) for a fifth incredible year. The Enchanted Pumpkin Garden, a one-of-a-kind fall festival celebrating the magic of the s…
Join a growing and thriving community Studies show volunteering provides a boost to one’s self-confidence, self-esteem and overall life satisfaction. Doing good things for others in the community provides a natural sense of accomplishment, and a sense of pride and loyalty. Ask Carefree-based…
The Kiwanis Marketplace Thrift Store is approaching its five-year anniversary. Opening Aug. 14, 2014 with no paid staff, the store is now led by its general manager, Sandra Carrier, along with the help of a small staff and a committed group of nearly 80 active volunteers. The volunteers at t…
Scottsdale painter Sue Hunter’s mixed media collage painting, “All Tied Up,” featuring a rare scarlet ibis, will grace the cover of the 23rd Annual Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour artist directory. An ibis is a long-legged wading bird that inhabits wetlands, forests and plains. A sign…
Eric DeVore named 2019 Teacher of Year At the conclusion of the 2018–19 school year, Cave Creek Unified School District (CCUSD) celebrated great teaching with its annual Teacher of the Year celebration. Eric DeVore, a Spanish teacher at Sonoran Trails Middle School was named CCUSD Teacher of…
Event honors veterans interred at Cave Creek Cemetery Each Memorial Day, the country remembers those men and women who served and paid the ultimate sacrifice for the safety of the United States. In their honor, the Town of Carefree will host a Memorial Day Tribute Monday, May 27, at 8am in t…
Shopping center to open in 2020 By Kathryn M. Miller Members of the Cave Creek Town Council joined representatives from Kitchell Development Company and A. R. Mays Construction Thursday, April 4, for a groundbreaking at the new Cave Creek Crossing development. Located on the southwest corner…
Fundraising event to be held April 12–13 The Carefree sundial will be shining with talent as celebrity headliners, alumni who made it big, plus 30 student bands take the stage for two unforgettable evenings in April to raise money for the Cave Creek Unified Education Foundation. Rock the Dis…
The Town of Carefree is again holding its annual Carefree Desert Gardens Photo Contest, with submissions being accepted beginning Monday, April 1 in several location throughout the Town. Entries vie for the popular “Peoples’ Choice Award” as voted by the public, which will be presented in th…
‘Storytime’ events to be held throughout the month Carefree Mayor Les Peterson and Cave Creek Mayor Ernie Bunch signed a joint proclamation declaring Desert Foothills Library’s commitment to children’s literacy and promoting reading in our community in honor of Dr. Seuss’s Birthday. March 2 …
Whether you grew up on a ranch or moved here from a big city, you’ll love the excitement of Cave Creek Rodeo Days. Now in its 42nd year, with Sanderson Ford as the 2019 title sponsor, the rodeo performances will take place at Cave Creek Memorial Arena March 22–24 with three thrilling PRCA ro…
Matching grant gift to support youth and teen services Desert Foothills Library announced February as “I Love My Library Month.” The event was initiated in response to an anonymous matching grant gift to raise up to $15,000 to enhance youth and teen educational services and programs at the l…
In mid-January, Cactus Shadows High School (CSHS) Basketball head coach Zach Washut, who is a Cave Creek resident, shared that CSHS Falcons Boys Basketball is having a great season. The team was tied for first in the Region, No. 6 overall in the State, and headed to the State tournament. “We…
The Cave Creek Unified Education Foundation (CCUEF) is best known for its yearly showcasing of musical talent, Rock the District, which not only grows, presents and applauds our students’ musical talents, but raises much needed dollars for our classrooms. Last semester, CCUEF celebrated the …
After 37 years of producing award-winning, juried fine art and wine festivals, Thunderbird Artists is expanding to open its first fine art gallery, Thunderbird Artists Gallery, in Carefree Thursday, Dec. 6. The new gallery, located at 99 Easy Street, Suite 235, will showcase and sell the wor…
In commemoration of their service, the Town of Carefree is privileged to host its 10th annual Veterans Day Honor and Celebration Sunday, Nov. 11, from 3–5pm, in the Carefree Desert Gardens, 101 Easy Street, at the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion stage. This year’s celebration will reflect on the …
Join Desert Foothills Land Trust to discover the wonder and beauty of our Sonoran Desert home with a day of outdoor experiences and hands-on education at the Jewel of the Creek Preserve. Desert Discover Day takes place Saturday, Nov. 17, 10am–2pm. Follow a discovery map for a personal advent…
The outdoor, open-air setting of Stagecoach Village in historic Cave Creek will host more than 30 area restaurants, along with quality purveyors of craft beer, wine and spirits, to showcase the best that the town and the state has to offer. An annual celebration of local flavors, The Taste o…
Enjoy live carving demonstrations and magical Halloween festivities Halloween invades the Town of Carefree in the form of whimsical pumpkin carvings from master sculptor Ray Villafane and the Villafane Studios team for a fourth year. The Enchanted Pumpkin Garden, a free admission, one-of-a-k…
Information sessions begin Sept. 15 The nonprofit Sonoran Arts League is issuing a “Call for Student Artists” for the 22nd Annual Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour (HITH) taking place the last two weekends of November. Student artists in grades 6 through 12 from the Phoenix metropolitan…
Just outside of your front door By Kathryn M. Miller ~ In the Valley, we are blessed to be surrounded by wild desert spaces, and many of those spaces have been preserved for future generations. Whether simply protecting land from future development or developing it into parks and preserve sp…
They’re nestled in the hills of the North Valley, some off the beaten path, but many of them have received national acclaim for their original works of art. And, lucky for art collectors and those seeking original holiday gifts, 42 of them will open their art studios during the last two week…
Arts, sports, STEM and more Since 1974, Cave Creek Unified School District Education & Community Services (ECS) has offered inspiring, creative, engaging and educational workshops and classes in a wide variety of programs for all ages — and the legacy continues this summer. In the perfor…
The Town of Carefree opened the Kiwanis Splash Park for its third season April 1. Located in the Carefree Desert Gardens, the Kiwanis Club of Carefree donated the funds so that local families and their children could have a place to escape the heat while enjoying the beautiful surrounding vi…
The time has come to light up the desert sky at the Cave Creek Balloon Festival. Guests will enjoy great live bands, massive glowing balloons, a firework show and a celebration of a red, white and blue on Memorial Day weekend. The ninth annual event takes place 5:30–10pm Saturday, May 26, at…
The Town of Carefree, in the spirit of friendship and celebration, will hold its inaugural Community Block Party Saturday, April 7, from 3pm to 7pm. The Block Party will take place in Downtown Carefree along Easy Street and the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion. Carefree residents, Foothills neighb…
It is one of the biggest events taking place in the Town each year, and the Cave Creek Rodeo Days celebration rides into town this month. Cave Creek Rodeo Days is celebrating 41 years of preserving western heritage and promoting the sport of professional rodeo this month, with events taking …
Proceeds will support elderly independence services Area residents are invited to an evening of epicurean delights for a good cause, as the Foothills Caring Corps presents its 14th Annual Taste of Foothills Fundraiser, March 15. The Taste of Foothills Fundraiser helps support the Caring Corp…
By Kathryn M. Miller — Africa, Brazil, China, Madagascar, Peru, Vietnam — these are just a few of the far-flung locales that Wayne Helfand, president of Rare Earth Gallery in Cave Creek, explores to purvey for his gallery. It’s more than just a job for Helfand. It’s a life-long passion. “I w…
Fine Art & Wine Festival returns to Carefree Fine artists from around the globe will converge along Ho Hum and Easy Streets in Downtown Carefree January 19–21 for Thunderbird Artists’ 25th Annual Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival. The Carefree show features more than 150 renowned, …
Holiday celebration set to light up the town Area families, friends and neighbors are invited to join Cave Creek businesses for a fun-filled day of holiday activities at the Creeker Christmas event, scheduled for Saturday, December 9. Visitors will enjoy a “Wonderland of Snow,” which include…
Twenty-Three Days Of Seasonal Celebrations This year, the Town of Carefree is building upon the decade-long tradition of the Carefree Christmas Festival—and expanding the holiday season, while also furthering community and business involvement. Preserving the sense of community for locals wh…
