The Upper Park in Jerome is the place to be for the lighting of the town Christmas Tree. Photo by Ron Chilston.

JEROME, AZ - Once again, it is Christmas in Jerome and that means a night of luminarias, tree lighting, and hayrides. Festivities begin at 6:00PM with the merchants of Jerome setting out lovely luminarias and lighting the streets by the flickering of candles. At 7:00PM, join town residents in the upper park to turn the switch on a beautiful display of holiday cheer.

Throughout the evening, there will be hayrides. On this first Saturday of the month, Jerome Art Walk will also be in full swing, starting at 5:00PM, restaurants will be offering special treats and shops will be bustling with holiday shoppers.  Join the town of Jerome for the Annual Light up the Mountain Celebration on December 6th. For more information, contact Coleen at 649-3847.

Suzie Guerrero gets ready for the Jerome Chamber of Commerce Polar Express Party with her book and her cozy pajamas.  Photo by Ron Chilston Photography.

JEROME, AZ - The Polar Express has become a favorite Christmas tradition for more than 5 million readers. Join the Jerome Chamber of Commerce as they host a cozy holiday party where kids can participate in lots of fun activities, including writing a letter to Santa, making an ornament, hot chocolate, and a great cookie and a reading of the classic children's story.

Anyone with the book is welcome to bring it and read along. Pajamas are welcome. Tickets should be purchased in advance at Mooey Christmas or Gisele's Café and Bakery on Hull Avenue in Jerome or credit card sales by phone at 634-2604.

Only 175 tickets will be sold and must be purchased by November 30th. The event will be held at Spook Hall in Jerome - 260 Hull Avenue and begins at 6:00PM. Tickets are $5 per person.
 
And...who knows...there may be a surprise visit from Santa!

Local poets host four-team poetry slam

The art of competitive spoken word returns to the Verde Valley with the Old Town Shootout, a high-energy, high-stakes team poetry slam on Saturday, Dec. 13.

Starting at 7:30 p.m., three four-poet teams from Flagstaff, Tucson and Phoenix will face off with a local team at the Old Town Center for the Arts, 633 N. Fifth St., Cottonwood.

Your local team consists of three veteran slam poets from Sedona: Apollo Poetry, Christopher Fox Graham and Sean Mabe, and will be anchored by Prescott poet Dan Seaman, one of the most distinctive spoken word artists in all of northern Arizona.

Poets from around the Verde Valley will also break up the competition with featured performances between rounds.

This team poetry slam is part of a series of statewide competitions. Previous team slams have taken place in Phoenix and Flagstaff. Tucson holds its state slam on Nov. 22.

For tickets or more information about the Cottonwood poetry slam, call 928-634-0940. Tickets are $10.Additional ticket outlets include Green Carrot Café, Jerona Café and the Desert Dancer in Cottonwood; Golden Word Bookstore and Crystal Magic, in Sedona; The Worm bookstore in the Village of Oak Creek; and The Sage Post, in Jerome.

VERDE VALLEY -- If you are looking to reel in a great deal during these tough economic times, Arizona's 2008 general and urban fishing licenses are both on sale for half price during November and December, said Arizona Game and Fish Department officials.

"This is a sweet deal each year following Halloween," said Fisheries Chief Kirk Young. "With the winter trout stockings picking up steam, this is a terrific time to catch this half-price fishing deal."

The 2008 General Fishing License (Class A) is on sale in November and December for $11.75 for residents and $35.13 for nonresidents. The 2008 Class U (urban) Fishing License is on sale for $9.25 for residents and nonresidents alike.

Keep in mind that this coming week, the popular Lower Salt River below Saguaro Lake will be stocked with trout, as will Dead Horse Ranch State Park near Cottonwood, the Verde River between Camp Verde and Cottonwood, Fain and Lynx lakes near Prescott, plus Patagonia and Parker Canyon lakes in southern Arizona.

Saguaro Lake will be stocked with fesity rainbows the second week of November and Canyon Lake will be stocked the week of Nov. 17. As usual again this year, the ever-popular Tempe Town Lake will be stocked the Tuesday before Thanksgiving - come join us to welcome back the trout.

The urban lakes are currently being stocked with channel catfish and have recently been stocked with aggressive hybrid sunfish that are a ball to catch. The urban program lakes in the Valley of the Sun and the Tucson area will be stocked with trout the week of Nov. 10.

"With the unseasonably mild weather right now," Young said, "Anglers have a wide range for good fishing opportunities from bass, crappie and catfish in the larger desert impoundments to trout in the high country, plus the winter stocking program and the urban lakes. That's boat loads of fun for very little money."

TV Media Note: If you would like a stand-up at a local urban lake or one of the other lakes close to Phoenix, call Rory Aikens at (623) 236-7214.

COTTONWOOD, AZ - The monthly gathering of the Cottonwood Eclectic Discussion Group will meet in the Pine Shadows Clubhouse on Wednesday November 5, 2008. Pine Shadows is located at 2050 West Highway 89A. Cottonwood, AZ 86326. Turn into the community and go to the second stop sign. The clubhouse is on the right and you will find parking anywhere around the building and the other facilities in the complex.

We meet in the main room off the lobby in the center of the clubhouse building. Our program is the following:  Wednesday, November 5, 2008 Speaker:David Ponzetti: Spiritual Leader and Philosopher, and Drum Circle Leader Title:Universal Law-Money-Finances and How to Create Abundanceand a drum circle demonstration Lecture will be given by Mr. David Ponzetti, a great orator and public speaker, teacher of Philosophy and a Spiritual Leader. He has been in the public eye for many years and has positive results with his sharing of knowledge and his personal experience.

A Drum Circle demonstration will also be a part of this program. Dave has been doing Full Moon drum circles for the six years he has resided in Cottonwood, AZ. He also did drum circles back in the Illinois area where he once resided. Dave has over 16 years of experience working with Spirit in The Full Moon Drum Circles. Many positive results have been shared by the people that attended these circles. Dolores, Dave's wife, also drums in the circles. She too has had many positive experiences when drumming with Spirit. "During the drumming session devoted by a prayer for healing I heard a shrill whistling-singing sound travel around the ceiling." (DonEMitchell 2007)

Join us for an evening of magical possibilities. Q and A will follow. Our doors are open at 6:30 P.M. and the program will start promptly at 7:00 P.M. Please feel free to bring a treat or snack to share with the group. As usual, we will provide the coffee and tea. Also, bring a friend, as we are open to everyone and desire to have our group grow. There will be a donation requested of $5 per person to help cover the meeting costs and speaker. For further information about the Cottonwood Eclectic Discussion Group go to our website at www.cedg.org. If you need directions please call 928-649-0517 with your questions.