A very talented, award-winning photographer, Jody Miller, will be featured in an upcoming showcase at the Pony Expresso Cafe in Prescott.  She is widely published and has been featured at several local Prescott museums.  On Friday, December 12th from 6-9 pm, Jody’s work will be on display for Art Night at this cozy southwestern coffee house.  Art Night is a new monthly event at the Pony Expresso, the reception has been great!  This is the perfect time to enjoy some Prescott holiday cheer.

Jody specializes in Western photography including horses, cowboys and cowgirls. Her imagery often includes stunning horse portraits, Prescott Valley nature scenes, barrel racing and general details of Western ranch lifestyle in the Prescott Valley.  For a sample of Jody Miller’s spectacular photography, check out her website at: http://www.millersreflections.com

Jody will be donating 10% of her proceeds from the evening to Horses with H.E.A.R.T, Inc.  This organization was established to provide therapeutic horseback riding for special needs individuals with mental, physical, developmental and emotional disabilities.  Please join Jody in her passion for supporting this organization.

What: Art Night at The Pony Expresso Cafe
Where: 3101 North Robert Road (corner of Robert & Florentine)
When: 6-9 pm, Friday Dec 12th

Hope to see you there!

For more information about Prescott real estate please contact Tim Anderson or feel free to use our complimentary Prescott Area MLS Search.

We all have lots to give thanks for - this Thanksgiving Prescott Fine Homes wishes you a safe, happy and healthy holiday.  Relax and enjoy a peaceful day with family and friends!  Below please enjoy a few Thanksgiving safety tips courtesy of the Prescott Police Department:

Shopping Tips for Black Friday:

• Make sure to lock your car and keep valuables out of plain sight.
• Shop during daylight hours or bring a friend
• Do not wear expensive items
• Carry minimal cash and credit cards

Pet Tips:

• Make sure guests don’t feed family pets leftovers - turkey bones are not good for dogs
• Secure trash cans
• Keep chocolates out of reach

Turkey Safety:

• Thaw the turkey in the refrigerator, not on the counter
• Wash hands and utensils often
• Cook turkey until the meat thermometer reads 165 degrees
• Cook stuffing separately

Kitchen Tips:

• Keep knives out of the reach of children
• Have a fire extinguisher on hand
• Avoid wearing long sleeves
• Be sure to consistently monitor the stove and any candles you may have lit

Above all have fun and enjoy the day!  In case of emergencies the Prescott Police Department can be reached at: (928) 778-1444.

For more information about Prescott real estate please contact Tim Anderson or feel free to use our complimentary Prescott Area MLS Search.

October numbers for the Prescott airport were recently released.  The number of passengers flying out of Prescott was the highest its been since 2001.  1,034 paying passengers boarded commercial flights in October which is encouraging in light of the current US economic challenge.  The non-stop Horizon air connection to Los Angeles was the most popular with 747 passengers choosing this itinerary.  287 passengers patronized Great Lakes Airlines on a flight to either Phoenix or Ontario, CA.  Both of these airlines began service in early September after a summer with no commercial flights.  Prescott was left in the lurch earlier this year when Mesa Air Group pulled out of the airport. 

Prescott made a revenue guarantee to Horizon Air if the company doesn’t reach its projections.  Although October’s numbers didn’t meet the projection, the growth is encouraging.  The City hopes to be relieved of the differential payment in the next few months.  To get into the clear, Horizons numbers alone need to be around 1,100 passengers a month - this is very achievable. 

If the numbers hold steady, Prescott should reach its longtime goal of 10,000 passengers per year.  This would make the city eligible for $1 million a year in federal grant monies for the next five years. 

For more information about Prescott real estate please contact Tim Anderson or feel free to use our complimentary Prescott Area MLS Search.

Tomorrow from 9am to 4pm the Benson Family Nature Store at The Highlands Center for Natural History will be holding their annual open house and pre-holiday sale!  This year you’ll find many great gift ideas for your outdoor loving family members!  Nature-related items and gifts baskets abound.  Goodies include such items as: books, toys, games, t-shirts, jewelry, and outdoor products for star watchers, naturalists, animal trackers, bird lovers and more!

Local artisans will also be in attendance showcasing their unique products.  Participants include:

• Local children’s book author, Connie Johnson, will be signing books
• Blind Bob will be selling Native American hide pouches and other wares
• Jillian VanNess will have recycled gift wrapping and stationery products
• Local photographer and jewelry maker, Marilyn Campbell, will have many pieces for sale
• Metal Sculptor, Rick Hartner (Sitting Duck Studios), will have several original nature sculptures available

The kids will also have the chance to do some “secret shopping” for their parents and friends.  Items are priced anywhere from $.50 to $10 in this special section of the store and volunteers are available to lend a helping hand!  So come on over and join in the Prescott holiday fun!

Donations of canned or boxed food are also being accepted on premises for the Yavapai Food Bank, please bring something to place in the collection box!

What: Open House and Pre-Holiday Sale at the Highlands Center for Natural History
Where: 1437 Walker Road (3 miles South of Hwy 69)
When: Saturday, November 22nd
Time: 9am - 4pm

For more information about Prescott real estate please contact Tim Anderson or feel free to use our complimentary Prescott Area MLS Search.

Prescott Valley recently applied for a grant to help local homeowners take care of emergency home repairs. The demand for this service has grown with the tough economic times. In total Prescott Valley applied for $400,000 of Arizona grant monies - $150,000 of which will be slated to cover emergency home repairs. The balance of the $400,000 request would go to the housing rehabilitation program. From 2003 to 2006 36 local homes were rehabbed with similar Arizona state grant funds.

Grants will likely be awarded in late December so town applications would then be accepted in January. There is no guarantee that Prescott will get these monies. The competition for funds is tight as there is less money overall for the housing department to disburse. Emergency home repair money would be used to cover homes in need of immediate attention - dire health and safety issues such as a leaking roof or no heat. If the monies come through, Prescott Valley plans to award a maximum of $10,000 per household for emergency repairs and $24,900 for rehabilitation. Rehabilitation would conversely include such things as increased insulation or a new roof.

Prescott homeowners seeking funds must meet the town income guidelines. Guidelines to apply are as follows - households may not have combined incomes exceeding 80% of the median income level in Yavapai County. This number is currently $38,650.

Prescott Valley is committed to making Prescott one of the finest communities in Arizona. They are not yet ready to take applicants as they are waiting for approval. Please stay tuned for more updates!

For more information about Prescott real estate please contact Tim Anderson or feel free to use our complimentary Prescott Area MLS Search.

Prescott Tree Root Control
Wastewater collections recently completed a tree root control project in Prescott in many areas of the city. In total 79,210 linear feet of sewer lines were treated. The chemical root control agent will help to clear sewer line backups, prevent sanitary sewer overflows and other customer problems. The City of Prescott completed the project on time and within the original budget.

Turkey Day Trash Pickup?
The City of Prescott’s Sanitation Division will NOT pickup residential trash on Thanksgiving (November 27th) Day. If your service is on Thursday you should put out your trash on Friday morning by 7am. If your trash does not get picked up on Friday you should leave it out for Saturday service. The Prescott Sanitation Division will do their best to get all routes normally serviced on Thursday taken care of on Friday!

For more information about Prescott real estate please contact Tim Anderson or feel free to use our complimentary Prescott Area MLS Search.

The Arizona Department of Water Resources recently announced plans to increase the 100 year assured water supply in Prescott. This decision includes the approval of approximately 8,000 acre feet of groundwater from the Big Chino Water Ranch. Prescott and Prescott Valley mayors welcome the new dictate. Future plans slate the building of a new pipeline from the Big Chino Water Ranch to import water from the Big Chino sub-basin.

Prescott Mayor Jack Wilson is excited about moving toward a sustainable future and achieving a safe yield water supply. Prescott Valley’s major Harvey Skoog is in agreement suggesting this is the first step in ensuring that residents have water. The Arizona Department of Water Resources has a 30-day period for appeals. No changes will be final until this 30 day period has lapsed.

For more information about Prescott real estate please contact Tim Anderson or feel free to use our complimentary Prescott Area MLS Search.

Prescott Arizona recently made the list of best places to retire at TopRetirements.com. Each year Top Retirements compiles a list based on the 25 towns with the most visits to their website during a six month period (in this case May - Oct 08). This is a baby boomer popularity contest reflecting what people consider to be the best retirement towns right now. Everybody’s hometown, Prescott AZ, stole the number three spot out of the top 25 cities to retire in - bested only by Asheville NC and Sarasota FL. Arizona towns in fact dominated taking six of the top 25 spots:

Here is the list of Best 25 Places to Retire at Topretirements.com:

1. Asheville, NC
2. Sarasota, FL
3. Prescott, AZ
4. Paris, TN
5. Winston-Salem, NC
6. Athens, GA
7. Green Valley, AZ
8. San Diego, CA
9. Austin, TX
10. Phoenix, AZ
11. Halifax, Nova Scotia (CAN)
12. Charlottesville, VA
13. Fort Myers, FL
14. Venice, FL
15. Oxford, OH
16. Sedona, AZ
17. Gainesville, FL
18. Flagstaff, AZ
19. San Luis Obispo, CA
20. Old Saybrook, CT
21. San Antonio, TX
22. Mount Airy, NC
23. Beaufort, SC
24. Tucson, AZ
25. Crossville, TN

Prescott has consistently resided in the top 25 and is known for its warm, yet temperate climate and interesting setting. There are a variety of housing choices to meet retirement needs - active adult communities, gated golf communities, ranches, in town residences, and more. Prescott also offers many cultural opportunities including crafts fairs, antique shows and art shows. Not to mention the beautiful territory offers something for everyone when it comes to the outdoors - hiking, biking, golf, horseback riding, tennis - you name it. Prescott retirement options are endless!

For more information about Prescott real estate please contact Tim Anderson or feel free to use our complimentary Prescott Area MLS Search.

Get a jump on your holiday gift shopping with a visit to downtown Prescott. Just a quick 100-mile drive from Phoenix, Prescott offers a timeless small town feel that is perfect for a weekend visit packed with holiday fun. The downtown center offers an impressive collection of museums, shops and restaurants and making for a fun retreat.

The historic Hassayampa Inn is the perfect spot to enjoy your stay with a Victorian setting and hearty, yummy breakfasts that will keep you going all day! For antique lovers Prescott is a great spot, the downtown center offers a myriad of stores will lots of great loot. Some of the Prescott Stores you might visit include:

• Prairie Rose Boutique
• Aroma Works
• Tibet Gallery
• Van Gogh’s Ear
• Old Firehouse Plaza
• Delovely Apothecary
• The Raven
• Trinkets
• A’Loft
• Bella Home Furnishings

All offer something new and different with plenty of gifting opportunities. Shopping is not the only thing Prescott excels at - you’ll find lots of history here in our many Prescott museums. Sharlot Hall occupies the original site of the governor’s mansion and makes for a fun and educational family visit. The Phippen museum showcases the old west and offers dramatic views of the Arizona landscape. Most museums also have gift shops again perfect for holiday gifting.

The restaurants in town are also a must to check out after a day of serious shopping. You may visit some of the following local eateries:

• Murphy’s
• The Rose
• The Peacock Dining Room
• El Gato Azul
• Sweettart

All in all Prescott provides the perfect setting and amenties to make for a an excellent weekend shopping trip. Hope to see you here!

For more information about Prescott real estate please contact Tim Anderson or feel free to use our complimentary Prescott Area MLS Search.

Recently a public forum was held to discuss the future of Prescott High School.  In attendance were the Prescott United School District’s Board President, Dee Navaro, Superintendent Kevin Kapp and Dr. Andy Newton along with about 35 other community members.  On the docket was a discussion about possible future land sites if a new high school were to be built as well as school remodelling at the current site. 

A common concern from attendants seemed to be that the property near Pioneer Park was not acceptable due to the potential impact on the highly used Circle Trail.  Representatives from the Yavapai Trails and Saddle Club were on hand to voice their concerns about interfering with the enjoyment of Prescott recreation opportunities.  Others were concerned that preliminary plans do not use existing PHS resources. 

The group also discussed the possibility of touring other area schools that chose to remodel versus rebuild on a new lot to help generate new ideas.  Some of those in attendance agreed that it is possible to remain on the current site and rebuild however they were worried about the student experience if the school remained.  Those in favor of remodelling cited the following reasons: negative impact on Circle Trail, Traffic, distance, number of out of town students, tradition and nostalgia.

While some citizens feel this process is taking too long, others encouraged the board to take the time they need to make the right decisions.

For more information about Prescott real estate please contact Tim Anderson or feel free to use our complimentary Prescott Area MLS Search.