The Town of Clarkdale was among 10 local governments who have been recognized for their outstanding programmatic contributions to local government by ICMA, the International City/County Management Association. ICMA’s 2016 Annual Awards Program recipients will be officially honored at a Celebration of Service to the Profession, as part of the organization’s 102nd Annual Conference on September 28, 2016.   The Town of Clarkdale’s award will be officially presented to the Clarkdale Town Council during their meeting on Tuesday, October11, 2016 at 6:00 p.m.

The Town of Clarkdale received a Program Excellence Award in the Community Sustainability category for the demonstration of water sustainability in their Centennial Plaza project.  The award recognizes innovative local government programs or processes that creatively balance a community’s social, economic, environmental, and cultural needs.

According to Town Manager Gayle Mabery, “The Town of Clarkdale is very honored to receive this prestigious award from the International City/County Management Association.  This an award our whole community should celebrate!  Our Town Council set a vision for a sustainable community, our citizen’s endorsed that vision through the adoption of the Town’s 2012 General Plan, and our staff worked hard at every stage of this project: planning, construction, implementation and maintenance … to achieve not only an award-worthy result for Clarkdale, but a project that is a true demonstration of sustainability for our community.”

The ICMA Local Government Excellence Awards Program highlights creative contributions to professional local government management while demonstrating the difference that this kind of management makes to the quality of life in our communities. ICMA’s Program Excellence Awards are presented to local governments, their chief administrators, and others within the 10,000+ member organization in recognition of their innovative and successful programs.  This year, an independent, 21-member evaluation panel reviewed the eligible nominations.

“We congratulate the recipients of our 2016 Program Excellence Awards and the administrators and managers who lead them,” says ICMA Executive Director Bob O’Neill. “The communities and men and women recognized this year set the standard for innovation, effectiveness, and creativity. We thank them for their commitment to improving the lives of the constituents they serve every day.”

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Swimming Pool, Water Rides, Food and Music

Get Wet on the 4th of July & Eat a Hotdog
Check out YouTube!

Spend your 4th of July “day” with us and still have time to drive to your favorite fireworks show at night.  Enjoy lunch and music, a swimming pool and water slide fun all surrounded by the spectacular red rocks.  This event is free of charge (food not included).  The pool opens at 1 p.m. for free recreation swim and just outside the pool gate will be food for sale and fun water games and toys meant to help you beat the heat.  Food vendors include Senor Bob’s and kettle corn vendor.  Join in the first annual Hot Dog Eating Contest!  Contest begins at 2 p.m. but you need to register before the event at Senor Bob’s Hot Dogs.  Or join in the fun the day of in a less competitive watermelon eating contest.

All pool rules apply and a 375 person pool maximum will be enforced.  Maximum does not apply to activities outside the pool gate.

• Parking available in the West Sedona School parking lots.
• Water Slides, water toys, slip-n-slide.
• All non-swimmers must be accompanied by and adult in the pool.
• Eating contests at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.
• Alcohol and dogs are not permitted.

Enjoy the day on the cool grass as Prescott Celebrates the July 4th holiday. There are 12 amusement rides from giant water slides to a mechanical bull at the celebration. Selection of beers and margaritas from Hensley Beverage Distribution. Bands throughout the day. Regional and statewide food trucks will be present.

Fireworks at 9:00pm are shot from the parking garage rooftop. This allows mile high middle school to be the perfect viewing point.

Entry is $5.00 per person. Unlimited rides wristband $10.00

Tickets available on the day of the event only. Gates open at noon.

July 4th  |  Mile High Middle School

Fireworks  | 13 Inflatables  |  Live Bands
8 Food Trucks  |  Beer Garden  |  Mechanical Bull

Gates Open 12pm  |  Fireworks 9pm

Admission
Unlimited Inflatables Pass for Kids: $10
General Admission: $5

No coolers, no canopies,  no outside liquids, no outside food, no animals
Water bottle sealed and not opened are permitted.

Band Schedule
1pm  |  The Cross-Eyed Possums
3pm  |  KDMA
5pm  |  The Chuck Hall Band
7pm  |  The Cheektones

Food Vendors
Burgers Amore
Sally’s BBQ
Mini Donuts
Taste of New Mexico
Wild West Concessions
Cheesy Javelina
Greek Food Truck
Treatery
Safari Samosa

Activities & Games
43′ Over The Edge Water
27′ Dual Lane Tropical Water Slide
20′ Triple Lane Water Slide
19′ Wipe Out Water Slide
25′ Rock Wall 5 Climber
Mechanical Bull w/ American Ring
30′ Duel Lane Military Theme Obstacle Course
Caterpillar Obstacle Course for Kids
2&1 Jungle Bounce & Slide
Western Shooting Game
Water Tag Maze 35′ X 35′
5 Station Sports Carnival

Spend your 4th of July “day” with us and still have time to drive to your favorite fireworks show at night.  A patriotic themed laser light show will begin at the top of each hour (12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00p.m., and 3:00 p.m.) in the Performing Arts Center.   Each show is 25 minutes in duration.  Parking will be available at Red Rock High School.

• Four convenient Laser Show times at the top of every hour.   12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m.
• Arrive at least 15 minutes early to enter facility and be seated before show begins.
• Spectators will not be allowed in late.

The Sedona Parks and Recreation Department is pleased to offer this event to our community and we thank Diamond Resorts International for their generous donation that made this event possible.

Word is quickly spreading that Clarkdale’s local celebrity Bald Eagle couple, Clark and Dale, successfully hatched a baby eaglet in their nest near TAPCO on the Verde River @ Clarkdale.  In February, 2014, Clark and Dale gained local recognition when their nest was discovered in a tree at the boat launch site that the Town of Clarkdale was developing as a public river access point.

To help insure protection of the nest site, and increase the chances that Clark and Dale would successfully fledge an eaglet, the Town of Clarkdale and land owner Freeport McMoran, Inc. took action immediately, and relocated the public river access point to its new location at the Lower TAPCO RAP (3400 Sycamore Canyon Road).

Unfortunately, Clark and Dale’s 2014 egg did not hatch, nor did the egg they laid in a nearby nest in the 2015 season.  This year, after a tip from Verde Canyon Railroad employees, Nest Watch volunteers documented that Clark and Dale had moved their nest to another new location (near the Verde Canyon Railroad tracks) and a single egg was incubated at the end of January, 2016.

Employees on the Verde Canyon Railroad have continued to observe Clark and Dale alternating shifts on the nest throughout the first quarter of the year, and were the first to report a sighting of the hatched eaglet in early April, 2016!

April will be a sensitive period for the young hatchling, as it will be vulnerable to the elements.  Strong spring winds in Arizona have been known to blow nests out of trees, killing the young hatchlings in the process.  At 4 to 8 weeks (during May), the vulnerability gradually decreases.  The biggest risks during this time occur if nestlings miss feedings or leave the nest prematurely due to disruption.  The period after the nestlings reach 8 weeks old (in early June) is another very sensitive time.   The eaglet is gaining flight capability, but may not be quite ready to test its wings.  If flushed from the nest prematurely due to disruption, the eaglet can die.

While uncharacteristic human activity in the area of the nest could pose disruption, the fact that Clark and Dale chose to nest near the train tracks indicates their tolerance for the daily trips associated with the Verde Canyon Railroad, and those trips should pose no unusual disruption for Clark, Dale and their young nestling.  Passengers on the train will get the enviable opportunity to catch a glimpse of the young nestling as it continues to mature before leaving the nest.  Because other activity in the area could pose a risk to the eagles, the Verde Canyon Railroad has established a Flickr photo page dedicated to watching the progress of this new eaglet!  Those who can’t ride the train to see the baby will have the opportunity to enjoy the progress here.

We’re hoping to see our young eaglet not only survive, but thrive, and take to the air sometime in June.  As we continue to follow its progress, we’d like the public to weigh in to help name the young eaglet.  On-line voting for a name will begin April 11^th on the Town of Clarkdale website.

A birds-eye view of Downtown Prescott. Photo from the City of Prescott

In the center of Prescott’s picturesque downtown area is the historic tree-lined Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza, around which the town was designed and built.  Known as the “jewel” of downtown Prescott, the plaza is a majestic, man-made urban forest in the heart of a historic commercial district. For more than 140 years it has served as a gathering place for celebrations, commemorations, campaign kick-offs, concerts, movies, and festivals.

Yavapai County Courthouse in Downtown Prescott. Photo from the City of Prescott.

Adjoining the courthouse plaza are fine establishments including a large assortment of locally owned and operated bars, breweries, coffee shops, restaurants, art galleries and museums.  The main street in town, Montezuma Street, includes a one block historic area known as “Whiskey Row,” the town’s center of recreation during the early days of the wild west, when cowboys, miners, gamblers and brawlers reigned over the cluster of rustic saloons and put the “wild” in Wild West.

The Wild West will always be part of Downtown Prescott. Photo from the City of Prescott

The City of Prescott’s famous Whiskey Row. Photo from the City of Prescott

The City of Cottonwood, once a sleepy town which travelers passed through when visiting the nearby communities of Sedona and Jerome, is now a tourist destination. In the heart of Arizona, nestled in a green valley near the base of Mingus Mountain, Cottonwood, once one of the best-kept secrets in northern Arizona, is now a successful bustling destination.

One of the best-kept secrets in northern Arizona, Cottonwood is now a successful, bustling destination. Photo from the City of Cottonwood

Cottonwood was one of the few communities in northern Arizona where the commercial industry actually grew during the recent recession. That is directly attributed to a forward-thinking city council, a visionary city manager and economic development director who had what it took to get it done.

Downtown Cottonwood draws success from the local businesses.

Focusing on Old Town, city staff made it a goal to revitalize the area, with the first milestone being the wooing of entrepreneur Eric Jurisin, owner of the Old Town restaurants Nic’s Italian Steak & Crab House and the Tavern Grille. These two establishments gave Old Town the credibility needed to court other businesses. Cottonwood then opened a Business Assistance Center to help new budding small businesses with their needs. Seeing the potential of this diamond in the rough, local wineries began opening wine tasting rooms, and retail establishments followed. Soon after, neighboring Yavapai College’s Verde Campus took the plunge and incorporated a successful viticulture program into the curriculum.

The City of Cottonwood also recently went through an extensive rebranding process and is now known as the “Heart of Arizona Wine Country,” with a new logo and a renewed commitment to their community. Cottonwood also has an array of businesses, county offices, transit system, a major hospital and numerous medical facilities.

Local favorites, antique shops and wine tasting rooms draw visitors to the Main Street in Old Town Cottonwood.

A view from Cottonwood’s Main Street.

Cottonwood also opened a new Recreation and Aquatics Center, with state-of-the-art equipment, a dance studio, indoor leisure pool, community events hall, gymnasium, climbing wall, and electronic game room for the entire family. The facility attracts visitors from throughout the Verde Valley and is a quality of life attraction for those looking to relocate. In addition to this facility, the outdoor pool was also renovated and is now an AIA officially sanctioned venue for state swim meets.

Annual events such as the Old Town Main street Holiday Light Show, Walkin’ on Main, Chocolate Walk and the Tilted Earth Wine and Music Festival, plus the added attraction of Old Town Cottonwood with its historic feel along with wine tasting rooms, serving award-winning wines produced right here in the Verde Valley, now attracts thousands of visitors each year.

Cottonwood is a diverse, growing community nestled in the beautiful high desert of Arizona, inviting everyone to come and explore the many benefits Cottonwood and the Verde Valley have to offer.

Right up the road from the City of Cottonwood, sits the other gem of the Verde Valley: the town of Clarkdale.

The Town of Clarkdale, the place that makes sense, understands and fiercely protects its vibrant sense of history. Key to the revitalization in Clarkdale is the creative, passionate, and dedicated citizens, the leadership of the town council and staff, plus the property owners, both within the historic business and throughout the town, who believe in building a sustainable future on the foundation of the town’s history. Recognized as a registered historic district, Clarkdale is protective and proud of its history. With the two-acre town park in the center of the historic district, featuring a restored gazebo gracing the grounds, this park is home to the summer concert series in the park. The Town Hall Complex, itself a group of historic buildings features the first geothermal heated and cooled buildings in Arizona. In addition, many of the original homes are restored while retaining their historic charm.

In planning a sustainable future, the citizens overwhelmingly approved the updated Town General Plan in March 2012. Clarkdale’s citizens then completed the Sustainable Community and Economic Development Plan, a roadmap outlining the desired economic development directions for Clarkdale, with support from Arizona Public Service and town staff. The council set the plan into motion with its adoption in June 2013.

The commercial heart of Clarkdale, the first planned community in Arizona, has always been the historic business district along Main street. However, after the closing of the copper smelter in 1953, the town suffered from families moving away to find work. Now, Clarkdale is on an upswing.

The Arizona Copper Art Museum, located in the old Clarkdale High School building, showcases beauty, versatility and functionality of copper in all its forms.

Annually, 90,000 riders visit the Verde Canyon Railroad, enjoying the sights and sounds of the Verde River and its riparian areas. The award-winning Arizona Copper Art Museum opened in December 2013 and showcases the beauty, versatility and functionality of copper in all its forms. The new museum is located in the gloriously refurbished Clarkdale High School on the corner of Main and Ninth Streets; truly one-of-a-kind and a prime example of historic building revitalization.

Outside the Arizona Copper Art Museum, along Clarkdale’s Main Street.

Diagonally across the street from the museum is the charming Clarkdale Caboose and Gift Shop, offering fine pastries in the morning plus treasures created by local artists all tucked into the back of a restored train caboose. It’s not to be missed. Just up Main Street is the beautifully renovated 10-12 Lounge, so named because it open at 10 and closes at 12. There is always fun to be had there, especially on Saturdays and Sundays when live music and dancing fills the bar.

Main Street features local favorites like 10-12 Lounge, and Four Eight Wineworks. Local businesses are a destination for residents and tourists alike.

Just across the street is Four Eight Wineworks, with a nod to Arizona becoming the 48^th state. Not only is this the only winemaker’s incubator offering wine tasting of luscious, locally-made wines, but also the business calls the former bank building home. Tastefully updated with historic photographs on the walls updated with contemporary surprises delighting visitors, the teller windows ae wine display cases and the former safe is the merchandise room. Just up the street, the former pharmacy has been revitalized and now serves as professional offices. Underway is the renovation of the two-story building across the street from Town Park. Turning into a boutique hotel, the former miner’s apartments are under construction now and the former theater is coming back to life with the return of the box office on Main Street in the building once housing the Grand Theater.

The changing streetscape of Downtown Clarkdale. Photo from the Town of Clarkdale.

The streetscape is also coming back to life. Banners depicting various aspects of Clarkdale life line Main Street and signage with historic flare is under construction. The flag corps installs a river of flags down Main Street honoring military holidays throughout the year.

Clarkdale Town Hall. Photo from the Town of Clarkdale. 

All Clarkdale stories are nurtured and preserved under the watchful eye of the Clarkdale Historical Society and Museum located on ninth Street. The museum offers a glimpse into Clarkdale’s past and showcases treasured artifacts. For more information on your visit, stop in and chat with folks in any of the businesses, museums or Town Hall. All have Clarkdale stories to share.

The Verde River draws adventurers to Clarkdale and Cottonwood. Photo from the City of Cottonwood

Whether visitors are looking for a leisurely wine tasting, a journey through history, or an exploration of the natural destinations of the Verde River, state parks and national monuments of northern Arizona, the Verde Valley has become the top attraction. The revitalization of the Clarkdale and Cottonwood downtowns has put these communities on the map!

The  City of Cottonwood Police and Fire Departments personnel comprising the “Verde Valley Fallen Heroes Committee” presented a check for $10,030.00 to the 100 Club of Arizona on May 13. The 100 Club of Arizona is a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to the families of police officers and firefighters who are killed or injured in the line of duty, provides financial assistance to public safety agencies who need help purchasing safety equipment, provides the children and spouses of public safety personnel with scholarships for college and provides other financial help to public safety agencies.

The Verde Valley Fallen Heroes Committee raised these funds through the 3rd Annual Fallen Heroes Golf Tournament at Verde Santa Fe Golf Course held on Saturday, April 25, 2015. This year’s event was a huge success and participants not only played a round of golf, they also participated in a gun raffle, a general raffle with great prizes and a live auction with autographed items from all Arizona professional sports teams.

The tournament and auctions raised $9,454.00. After the event, Cottonwood City Manager, Doug Bartosh, donated $546.00 to make it an even $10,000.00, which the highest amount raised in the history of this event.

The Verde Valley Fallen Heroes Committee would like to recognize all the businesses and organizations who donated products and/or money to help make this event such a great success.

– Tournament Sponsors – City of Cottonwood, Canyon Distributing (Coors Light), Pawn Palace, Law Enforcement Creations, Larry Green Chevrolet and Laserlyte.

– Verde Santa Fe Golf Course – Provided the golf course, raffle items, lunch and a great service.

– Donation of the gun for the gun raffle – Pawn Palace and Law Enforcement Creations

– Hole Sponsors – Signs 928 (also donated all needed signs), Cage Free Grooming, Old Town Frame Company, Trophies Unlimited, Laserlyte, Law Enforcement Creations, Pawn Palace, Joe Mulcaire Construction, Bedrock Landscape and Materials, Canyon Distributing, The Embroidery Shop, Yellow Pages.

– Donation items – Laserlyte, Law Enforcement Creations, Red Rock Dental, Funhavers, Canyon Distributing, Arizona Diamondbacks, Out of Africa Wildlife Park, Black Cow Café, Vinnies Pizza, Scottsdale Gun Club, Tan-Tastics Tanning Salon, Old Town Frame Company, Canine Country Club, Doug Bartosh, Sedona-Verde Valley Firefighter Charities, Money in the Mail.

– Live Auction Items – Phoenix Coyotes, Phoenix Suns, Arizona Cardinals and Kurt Warner’s First Things First Foundation.

The members and organizers of the Verde Valley Fallen Heroes Committee include:

Kevin Murie, Cottonwood Police Department
Josh Fradette, Cottonwood Police Department
Gareth Braxton, Cottonwood Police Department
Jim Iacovacci, Cottonwood Police Department (Volunteer)
Brandon Wacker, Cottonwood Fire Department
Steve Trautman, Cottonwood Fire Department
Melissa Stearley, Accounting

For further information please contact the Cottonwood Fire Department at 928-634-2741

Sometimes you need to break away from the city to fully enjoy the seasons. Dewey-Humboldt’s Mortimer Family Farms allows visitors to do just this.

During the summer, Mortimer Family Farms holds the Sweet Corn Festival. The Corn Festival occurs every weekend in August.

About the festival via the Mortimer Family Farms website:

This festival will feature everything “CORN!” Come join us for the “a-MAIZE-ing” attractions, games, farm activities, barn dance, and much more! Admission is only $10.00 per person which includes entertainment for the entire family! Younger guests will enjoy the Pig Races, Farm Animal Petting Zoo, Buckaroo Pony Corner, Farm Slide, Corn Bath, Straw Maze, Barrel Train, Bounce Playhouse Farmland, and Barrel Train! Teen guests won’t want to miss the Bubble Run, Pig Races, Laser Tag, Roping Dummies, Obstacle Course, Water Rides, and Lawn Mower Races!

The whole family will relish Fresh Picked Sweet Corn, Vegetables, Antique Tractor Show, Hay Rides, Music, Barn Dance, Live Entertainment, Craft Vendors, and “a-MAIZE-ing” farm food set in the middle of our growing fields! Are you competitive? Test your skills with a Corn Eating competition, Corn Shucking competition, and Corn Toss with prizes being awarded!

The Mile High Tractor Club will be displaying antique tractors for all to enjoy! Watch as they compete for “Top Pull” every Saturday, seeing which Operator & Antique Tractor can pull the weighted sled the farthest.

Meet Farmer Buzz on a hayride tour of the farm with lots of stories and history about our area – he will even take you to the fields to pick your own Sweet Corn right off the stalk. Learn about agriculture, the history of Dewey-Humboldt, and watch a real Blacksmith create works of art in iron!

Join us for our Farm Dance, both Saturdays, in our 4 – 7 Barn. The dance is for all ages to enjoy and it is a MUST! Be ready for this Boot Scootin’ good time from 7:00 to 10:00 pm along with all festival attractions.

Farm Market Store and “My Grandma’s Kitchen” is open daily from 8-6 where you will find farm raised: Sweet Corn, Tomatoes, Peppers, Squash, Zucchini, Cucumbers, Herbs, Black Angus Beef, Chicken, Home baked Cookies, Pies, Cakes, Fudge, Sandwiches and more! Their baked goods utilize farm fresh ingredients, making everything from scratch – Just like Grandma always did! The recipes are family favorites and they are delicious.

The vegetables have arrived! The store and festival will be loaded with Sweet Corn, Tomatoes, Squash, Peppers and other Summer Vegetables grown on the Farm!

Mortimer Family Farms hosts events throughout the year. Keep connected with Mortimer Family Farms on Facebook and Twitter to learn about other upcoming events!