Thousands of years before homes and box stores dotted the Prescott Valley landscape, lava flowed from a volcano on what is now Glassford Hill, mammoths roamed and prehistoric people hunted abundant wildlife.

Local historian Jean Cross explores the depths of the area’s history in her new book, “Prescott Valley,” published by Arcadia Press as part of a heritage series that looks at people and towns across the country called “Images of America.”

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PRESCOTT - Chris Albers left the Bashas’ market in the Frontier Village Center Monday afternoon to load some groceries into her car.

That’s when the Cordes Junction resident found out that the store is on the Chandler-based supermarket chain’s list of looming closures.

“It’s like the home-town (grocery) store and now it’s going away,” she said. “My gosh, I’ve raised my kids on Bashas’ food.”

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Administrators at the three local school districts are trying to develop fiscal year 2009-10 budgets without word from the Arizona State Legislature on possible cuts in education financing.

School officials know that additional cuts are coming, they just do not know how deep.

Prescott Unified School District is preparing for a cut to its Maintenance and Operations budget of about $2.5 million.

The Humboldt Unified School District is planning for cuts ranging from $3.5 million to $4.5 million.

Chino Valley Unified School District is looking to cut $4.4 million from its budget.

Since 90 percent of M&O budgets are personnel costs, the districts must prepare for a reduction in force.

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PRESCOTT VALLEY - The members of the Chino Valley, Humboldt, Prescott and Mayer school district governing boards will meet in a joint session at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 1, in the Bradshaw Mountain High School East Band Room.

Yavapai County School Superintendent Tim Carter will serve as facilitator during the joint work session.

The school board members and administrators plan to discuss possible joint efforts between the districts for cost savings in the following areas: transportation services, English Language Learner services, special education services, food services, purchasing and grant applications.

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PRESCOTT - The heavy pedestrian and bicycle traffic at the Four-Points intersection in Prescott faces some stiff competition: more than 46,000 vehicles that use the corner every day.

Flanked as it is by an elementary school, a hospital, and a business, the intersection gets plenty of action from a variety of transportation modes.

But spend a little time standing at the corner, and it is readily apparent that walkers and cyclists are at a bit of a disadvantage.

Case in point: Pedestrians regularly trot part of the way to make it across the wide roadway during the traffic signal’s allotted “walk” time; and bicyclists often use the sidewalks, in the absence of bike lanes.

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The Prescott College Art Gallery in the Sam Hill Warehouse will feature work from the college’s first juried art exhibition April 3-17. Visiting artist Richard Notkin will discuss Art & War in a lecture at the gallery 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 1. Notkin also will conduct a community workshop, “Ceramic Sculpture and Teapots: A Plethora of Techniques and Inspirations,” 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 4-5.Cost is $150 per person. Call 776-5258, ext. 1 for more information.

The Phippen Museum celebrates its 25th anniversary with “Remembering George,” an exhibit paying tribute to George Phippen, with permanent collection pieces and selected works from private collectors by Phippen and other Cowboy Artists. The show runs through July 26. Call 778-1385 for more information.

The Center for Biological Diversity has teamed up with local photographers, poets and Prescott College senior Allison Trowbridge to deliver a mixed-media interpretive exhibit, “The Verde River: Green Heart of Arizona - Endangered Desert Jewel” at the Prescott Public Library through March 31. Call 277-9155 for more information.

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The April/May 2009 issue of American Cowboy Magazine lists Prescott as one of the Best 20 Places to Live in the West.

The magazine writes of Prescott, “Most of the downtown buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places, including Whiskey Row, once home to 40 saloons - including The Palace, frequented by Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday and Virgil Earp, among others.”

The magazine continues, “Prescott is home to the ‘World’s Oldest Rodeo,’ which dates back to 1888. Wild West traditions are celebrated at the Folk Arts Fair in June and the Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering in August. Great trail rides and campsites await nearby at Prescott National Forest.”

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The local showing of Lunafest, the fundraising film festival dedicated to promoting awareness about women’s issues, highlighting women filmmakers, and bringing women together in their communities, will take place for the third year at the Elks Opera House in Prescott, AZ on Friday, March 6th, 2009.This unique film festival will highlight women as leaders in society, illustrated through ten films by women filmmakers. The films range from animated shorts to fictional drama, and cover topics such as women’s health, body image, spirituality, relationships, cultural diversity, and breaking barriers.

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PRESCOTT

Karate Classes

The City of Prescott Parks and Recreation is offering a family-oriented karate class suitable for ages five and up, held 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday at Miller Valley School. Cost is $40 per month and uniforms are required (not included in the cost). Classes are ongoing month to month, allowing for advancement. Register at the Recreation office at 824 E. Gurley St.

Acker Trust Grant

The City of Prescott is now accepting grant applications from eligible non-profit organizations that promote “music and parks, especially for the children of Prescott,” for funding for fiscal year 2010 (July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2010). Application deadline is Feb. 27. Download an application from www.cityofprescott.net/services/parks/admin or pick one up at the Parks and Recreation office, 824 E. Gurley. Call 777-1552 for more information.

Yoga with Becky Lind

The City of Prescott is sponsoring yoga classes by certified instructor Becky Lind. All levels are invited to participate in this activity that is practiced to develop strength and flexibility, and to reduce stress. Classes are scheduled from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays through March at the Grace Sparkes Community Center, 824 E. Gurley. Cost is $20 for February and $35 for March. Call 777-1122 for more information.

Scrapbook Night

Learn new ways and creative ideas to organize pictures and mementoes. This workshop event is 6 to midnight Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Grace Sparkes Activity Center. Cost is $10 and includes a techniques handout and scrapbook supply giveaways. Participants should bring items such as photos, paper and stickers. Register at the activity center, 824 E. Gurley, or call 925-3801.

PRESCOTT VALLEY

Bark in the Park

Prescott Valley Parks and Recreation will hold this dog activity event 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at the Civic Center. Events include canine demonstrations in fly ball, herding, obedience, frisbee, freestyle, rescue, agility and clicker. For more information or to register, visit www.qccrfl.com or call 759-3090.

Acronastics

Prescott Valley Parks and Recreation is offering this program in tumbling, gymnastics, pyramids, strength and flexibility training with an emphasis in sports acrobatics for kids ages 8 and older, all levels. Sessions will be in the Glassford Hill Middle School gymnasium Mondays, 7 to 8 p.m. for beginners, 7:30 to 9 p.m. for intermediate and advanced, March 6 - 26. Cost is $20 for the four-class session. Register at the Grace Sparkes Community Center, 824 E. Gurley, or call 777-1122 for more information.

Hiking Beyond 50

The Prescott Valley Public Library and the Central Arizona Senior Association are offering a workshop for seniors by Ted Johnson, who has hiked the southwestern wilderness since 1975. The group explores age-appropriate destinations and discusses how to prepare, what to take, and what to do when an unexpected problem turns into an overnight ordeal. Hikes are scheduled the last Saturday of each month through April. The next hike is 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 28 and is a four-mile trek in the Agua Fria stream bed. Call 759-3090 for more information.

Youth Arts Month

The Town of Prescott Valley will collect and display works of art from artists in grades K through 12 in the Civic Center. Media on display will include drawings, paintings, sculptures, photography, watercolor, printmaking and more, from March 1 - 30. The celebration will culminate with the Family Arts Festival, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 28. Call 759-3123 for more information.

Sample of French

Prescott Valley Parks and Recreation is offering French language classes instructed by Nadia Clark. Clark will instruct a five-class session for beginners and an advanced class for ages 16 and older. The one-hour beginning-level class is 6 to 7 p.m. Thursdays at the Bradshaw Mountain High School west campus, room D206. The advanced class is offered the same dates from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. Dates for Session III are April 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30. Cost is $30. Register at the Parks and Recreation office, fourth floor, 7501 E. Civic Circle. Call 759-3090 for more information.

CHINO VALLEY

Free Tax Help

AARP sponsors free tax help at the Chino Valley Senior Center 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Tuesday through April 14. No appointment necessary.

Game Nights

Play poker, scrabble and other games or bring your own to the Recreation Activity Center, 1527 N. Rd. 1 E., 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Call 636-9780 for more information.

Square Dancing Lessons

Chino Valley Recreation is sponsoring square-dancing lessons 6 to 8 p.m. Fridays at the Recreation Activity Center, 1527 N. Rd. 1 E. Cost is $3 per person or $5 per couple. Call 636-9114 for more information.

Sculpt and Tone Class

Chino Valley offers this class at the Recreation Activity Center 9 to 10 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays beginning in March. Cost is $3 per class. Pre-registration is required. Call 636-0162 for more information.

Youth and Adult Dance Classes

The Academy of Performing Arts will present classes in jazz, hip-hop, ballet and creative movement 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Cost is $45 per class with a $25 registration fee. Call 636-2007 to register or visit www.apaprescott.com.

Like all Arizona cities, Prescott is being challenged by steep reductions in three major sources of revenue: sales tax, development fees, and payments from the State. Anticipating even less revenue in the next year, the City has effected additional employee layoffs, bringing total reductions to 9% of the labor force over the past 14 months through a combination of attrition, retirements, and in some areas, layoffs.City Manager, Steve Norwood terms the result “right-sizing”—instituting shifts in organization and methods to fit the times.  “We’ve gone through the City’s budget, line-item by line-item, department by department, identifying and eliminating both underperforming programs and those available elsewhere in the community.”

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