
Arizona native Michelle Conway returned to her home state in 2009 to take a position as the director of marketing for the Sedona Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau. She was appointed president and CEO of the organization in June 2022 after serving as an interim in those positions for three months.

After visiting Sedona for almost 20 years, Jennifer Perry and her family moved here permanently in 2003 and haven’t looked back.

Sir Alexander Fleming, the Nobel Prize winning scientist who discovered penicillin, once said “Penicillin cures, but wine makes people happy.” For Lauren and Johnathan Maldonado, making people happy through the enjoyment of fine wine is a way of life.

If you’ve spent any time in the Verde Valley, whether enjoying a wine tasting room in Old Town Cottonwood or attending an event at a local school, you’ve seen the work of Clarkdale architect Reynold “Rennie” Radoccia.

When Dee Jenkins was elected mayor of Camp Verde, there was no time to ease in to her new job. Both the city and the world were in the midst of enormous challenges, and Jenkins had to hit the ground running.

Kevin Adams is the kind of guy you’re just as likely to meet in the boardroom as out on the trail hiking or mountain biking. The retired U.S. Marine and Fortune 500 executive has immersed himself in the Sedona and Verde Valley communities through acts of service as well as activity.

After retiring from 30 years of service as a police officer for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Scott Jablow relocated to Sedona with his family in 2010.

Mark Tufte was originally enrolled in school to become a career counselor to help others find direction in their lives. But once he accepted a job as a bank teller while he was still attending school, his own life path changed in ways he never expected.

Tricia Lewis became the City of Cottonwood’s first director of Tourism and Economic Development just as the world was being hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. In spite of nearly everything coming to a stand-still, Lewis started a new job in a newly created position finding growth and success in the midst of the virus crisis.

Paula Woolsey was raised in a family whose members appreciated fine culinary and wine experiences and shared a spirit of entrepreneurship. Is it any wonder she has become an important contributor to the growth of the Verde Valley’s wine industry?

Singer-songwriter Damiyr Shuford began his music career by busking in the subways of New York City. After moving to Sedona three years ago, Shuford has established a monthly, donation-based community event, Heart & Soul, at The Hub in Sedona’s Posse Ground Park complex. The next session takes place on Feb. 24 beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the Clemenceau Heritage Museum in Cottonwood will host its annual Arts & Crafts American Style fair on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

For many, the holiday season marks a time of joy that includes celebrations with friends and family, spreading Christmas cheer and the giving and receiving of gifts.

The Camp Verde Christmas Bazaar and Parade of Lights will take place on Dec. 10 at the city’s Community Center and along Main Street.

“We really felt the community needed to have a discussion about healthcare in the Verde Valley, especially for seniors.”

The Oak Creek Brewery, located on Yavapai Drive in Sedona, hosted its first Local Artisan Craft Fair on November 12 and 13. Additional fairs are planned on weekends in November, weather permitting.

Robert W. Hall was a sophomore in high school when his cousin came home on leave from his deployment in Germany as a jet engine mechanic. He knew immediately he wanted to follow in his cousin’s footsteps and join the Air Force.

“3 June 67: Arrived at Bien Hoa AFB this morning at 0530. This completed our 22-hour flight. After filling out a few forms, we were transferred to the 90th Replacement Battalion located near Long Bien."

Cove Mesa Vineyard has opened its new tasting room in Cornville including a wide array of wines and a gourmet kitchen. The 3,400-square-foot tasting room offers an upscale atmosphere paired with an intimate and comfortable farmhouse vibe.

The Sedona International Film Festival (SIFF) celebrated Halloween at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre this year with its Hallo-weekend Film Festival. Classic spooky films “Young Frankenstein,” “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Psycho” were shown. The concession stand offered special Halloween themed treats and costumed ticket-takers welcomed movie goers.

Bound to evoke shrieks, screams, gasps and occasionally laughter is the Verde Canyon Railroad’s new fall attraction, the Fright Night haunted train. It’s a haunted house packed into stationary train cars, guaranteed to chill your spine just in time for Halloween.

The Rotary Club of the Verde Valley will hold its annual Duck Race fundraiser this year in person at Verde River Day. The Duck Race will be held at Dead Horse State Park on Sept. 24.

The 21st annual Thunder Valley Rally rolls into Old Town Cottonwood on Sept. 16-17. The area’s premier two-day biker event is complete with motorcycles, live music, contests, food and all around fun.

Verde River Growers in Cottonwood will host A Day in the Garden on Sept. 17 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. offering resources and information for gardening in the region.

Successful people in the Verde Valley come from all walks of life, but they all have certain traits in common. In our new series LEADERS & ENTREPRENEURS, we talk with those who have risen to prominence about what attributes work for them in their field. Today, we talk with restaurateur Brenda Clouston, who created a series of COLT Grill eateries.

The area’s premier two-day biker event is complete with motorcycles, live music, contests, food and all around fun. It is produced by the City of Cottonwood with the help of The Law Tigers and other local and regional business sponsors.

Celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, the National Parents and Teachers Association was founded in 1897 as the National Congress of Mothers by Alice McLellan Birney and Phoebe Apperson Hearst, mother of William Randolph Hearst, the magnate of Hearst Communications.

edona Beer Company celebrated its fourth anniversary the first weekend in August and will continue the festivities all month long with new beer and merchandise releases, locally sourced dishes and fundraisers for local charities.

It’s summertime, which means Farmers Markets are in full swing all over the Verde Valley. Here’s where you can find fresh local produce in your area and beyond.

Corn Fest has been an annual tradition in Camp Verde for 28 years. The festival, which takes place on July 16 from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m., customarily pays tribute to the Verde Valley’s famous sweet corn, grown at Hauser & Hauser Farms.

Nothing says summer like fresh corn on the cob and, for Verde Valley residents, that means a visit to Hauser & Hauser Farms since 1987.

Näthan Gangadean, known locally and musically as Saith, is celebrating the release of his new album at Club 89 inside 89 Steakhouse in Sedona on June 24 from 7 to 10 p.m.

June 3-5, Sedona Arts Center (SAC) will hold its first Tailgate Paint Out in the outdoor areas of the center. The event will host invited artists as well as community members interested in participating in or observing plein air style painting.

The first time I met John Soderberg, he was dressed in a red Santa suit with a pillow stuffed in the belly and his natural white hair and beard framing his gentle eyes under the Santa hat. Every kid waiting in line to receive a gift from him and tell him their most heartfelt wishes believed beyond a doubt he was the real thing. And, in his life, he has proven them right, with or without the Santa suit.

After suffering significant sun damage during a Grand Canyon trek, Anita Marcus began looking for ways to repair her skin. As she became familiar with laser technology, it sparked a passion.

Long-time Sedona resident Michele Braun has something extra special to celebrate this Mother’s Day. It’s also her 100th birthday.

The Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival takes place from April 21-24 at Dead Horse Ranch State Park. Festivities include field trips, a family day, guided birding activities and a BioBlitz for recording observations.

March 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the first Verde Valley Stand Down will take place at the Cottonwood Recreation Center and Garrison Park.

The Northern Arizona Blues Alliance has partnered with the Camp Verde Pecan & Wine Festival to present The Verde Valley Roots and Blues Fest. It will take place in Camp Verde on March 19 and 20 at the Camp Verde Pecan and Wine Festival located at 75 E. Hollamon St.

Premier Lab Solutions, out of Phoenix, entered into a partnership with Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) to provide free COVID-19 testing and vaccinations at the NAH Medical Centers in Cottonwood and Camp Verde as well as four other Northern Arizona locations.

Tammy Hamada of Cottonwood has started Who Bakes Cookies, a new home-based bakery offering delicious decorative cookies for sale.

World-renowned artist and actor Robert Shields, a resident of Clarkdale, recently joined The Hart of Arizona Art Gallery in Old Town Cottonwood. Gallery owner Viki Norris will host a meet and greet with Shields and other area artists at the gallery on Friday, Feb. 18 from 4 to 6 p.m.

When thinking about weddings, a lot of things may come to mind from exotic destinations to intimate family settings. Many wedding traditions seem timeless while others may come and go. And it’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the wedding industry with prevailing precautions about travel, vaccinations, available venues and gathering size.

For many Verde Valley musicians, the 2020 COVID-19 closure of bars and restaurants put their music careers on hold.

From staffing shortages to supply chain delays to rising food costs, the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the bar and restaurant industry across the United States. The Verde Valley has been no exception as some businesses struggle to stay alive and others adjust their way of serving the public with both temporary and permanent reforms.

The Verde Brewing Company, established in Camp Verde in 2013, moved to a new location about four years ago that allowed them to have an onsite brewery at their restaurant and bar location. That gave them the opportunity to expand their processing and their brand.

Say goodbye to 2021 and greet 2022 in style. Here’s a sampling of some of the events happening this New Year’s Eve…

The Verde Brewing Company, established in Camp Verde in 2013, moved to a new location about four years ago that allowed them to have an onsite brewery at their restaurant and bar location. That gave them the opportunity to expand their processing and their brand.