Greetings!
With the start of the legislative session the seven Chambers representing the East Valley Chamber of Commerce have begin our weekly Monday morning meeting reviewing all the new bills. This past Monday we discussed twenty-three bills. Six of these we opposed. Four we took no position on. Five we supported and the rest we are monitoring. Monitoring means that we believe changes or more information may be forthcoming.
Taking up most of our discussion was SB1143 and HB2522. Both bills are about tax conformity that could bring $130,000+ into the state general fund. One bill wants to refund the money to the people of Arizona. The other bill wants to keep the money in Arizona’s general fund to pay for one-time expenditures. Either way, this will be some great discussion around the water cooler.
I will keep you up to date throughout the session of information that impacts the business community.
Evening Mixer

50/50 cash prize and many chances to win!

Join your fellow Chamber Members for a monthly opportunity to network, socialize and win prizes! Always the second Wednesday of every month.

$5 for members; $15 for Non-members (non-members may attend twice before joining) Raffle Tickets only $1 each!

If you are interested in promoting your business or a discount or promotion your can bring a $30 item to raffle and get a a 30 second commercial about your business.
Desert Foothills Plumbing 25 years
Kiwanis club of Carefree 18 years
Bartlett Lake Marina 11 years
Dove valley golf course 11 years
Beckham Dental 10 years
Bryan's Black Mountain Barbeque 10 years
Network Wellness 8 years
Rubbish works 8 years
Cave Creek Candles & Gifts 7 years
Arizona Territorial Antiques 6 years
GM Hunt Builders & Remodelers 6 years
AAA Arizona 3 years
Carefree Church 2 years
Partners Dog Training 2 years
Vets Built Contracting 2 years
Tatum insurance 1 year
The City Creamy 1 year

Welcome to the Chamber of Commerce community! We look forward to seeing you at our events.

Dunn Edward Paints
Advanced Dentistry & Implant Center of Scottsdale
JG Voiceworks
It's Time to Let it Go
Ribbon Cutting - February 21 . Advanced Dentistry and Implant Center of Scottsdale
10031 East Dynamite Ste 200 
Scottsdale
THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR OUR MENTORING! Our conversations with you are confidential!
If you are considering starting another business, growing your business or improving the management of your business and want face to face mentoring then come to SCORE!. Our focus is assisting the small business owner in becoming more successful!

WE NOW ARE MENTORING IN THE CAREFREE/CAVE CREEK AREA on the third Wed. of every month from 1:30 P.M. to 4:30 P.M. at

We are a resource partner to your Chamber!
To make an appointment E-Mail greaterphoenix.score.org , or call John Buchholz at 602-618-5108 for an appointment. 
Employment Opportunities
Are you aware of all the many benefits membership offers? Are you taking full advantage of your benefits?

This months tip our Business Spotlight- Breakfast Sponsor

You can get your company in front of our 1800 newsletter followers, 2200 facebook followers, countless Chamber website visitors and Business Breakfast attendees for only$150 per month.
Your logo and link to website will be featured in every eblast prior to the breakfast (minimum of 4), a exclusive post on the Chamber's Facebook and Twitter page and exclusive, premium placement of business cards or brochures at every place setting. You will also have 10 minutes to speak before the program begins.

Analytic information provided.

Website Information: CarefreeCaveCreek.org has 765.000 + visitors annually. 70% of these visitors are from the greater Phoenix area. 3.2 million+ pages were viewed last year.

If you are interesting in being a Business Breakfast sponsor please call or email colleen@carefreecavecreek.org.
From the Cave Creek Museum
Kraig Nelson, historian
  Within the 2,922-acre Cave Creek Regional Park one will find the Clay Mine located on the Overton Trail (Overton is the name of Cave Creek’s first post office in 1880). The Park is located about 8.5 miles west of Cave Creek; 32 nd Street and the Carefree Highway. This mine made Lelaia Pearl Irish (pronounced La-lee-a) a wealthy woman. Lelaia’s initial search for gold in the early 1930s proved fruitless, but the ancient clay found in the mine proved to be white-gold on her 160-acre claim. The clay was ingeniously sold in a powder-form for $5 a pound. The “Perfect Mineral Drink” was endorsed by several physicians. It was called “Nature’s Own” and the name was copyrighted in 1937. Per Lelaia, the powder (made from kaolin clay) did “treat with startling results” the following: anemia, stomach troubles, ulcers, gastric conditions, kidney and blood disorders, rheumatism, arthritis, high blood pressure, dysentery, diabetes, and was very good for teeth. The prescription states, ”take a teaspoon of powder in a glass of water 4 times daily.” By the early 1960s Lelaia’s health failed, she abandoned her mine, and unfortunately, died soon after.
Community Events
Town of Carefree Business Breakfast
Thursday, Feb. 7 at 8:30 a.m.
Town Council Chambers, 33 Easy St.
The Town of Carefree cordially invites you to attend the 2019 Town Business Breakfast in the Town Council Chamber building, 33 Easy St. on Thursday, Feb. 7 at 8:30 a.m.
Members of Town Council and staff will be on-hand to field any questions or concerns from our Town business as we begin the new year, and also  to review with you the activity calendar for Spring 2019. A continental-style breakfast will be provided. 
Please RSVP your attendance before Monday, Feb. 4 to bethr@carefree.org .

It's February already and the weekend activity in Town has certainly picked up! As usual you'd be hard pressed to be bored in Cave Creek.

There is live music, hiking, bike riding, horseback riding, arts and craft shows, great food, and Rancho Manana golf course is in great shape. The Museum is always good and if you didn't know new exhibits are put up each year. It's worth the time to learn about our areas history. If you're into gardening it's time right now to take a look at the Maricopa County Planting Guide and get busy in the dirt! So much to do in our Great Community. If you're not aware Infinite Finds (the old Wild West Pawn Store site) has classes and activities that are a real boon to Cave Creek in addition to their Thrift Store.

On another note you're Town Council had a "retreat" on January 17th where Councilmembers were able to discuss their goals and objectives for the future. Topics were wide ranging from Lighting, noise, signs, Water, Sewer, Traffic, Law Enforcement, Parks. Of course our Staff isn't the largest so priorities will have to beset with the hottest items getting attention first.

On the National scene I really can't believe that, as a Nation, we're no closer to securing our border. There is a long and disappointing history on this issue. In 1987 Ronald Reagan agreed with Congress to allow 2.7 million illegal aliens to stay in this Country. What was supposed to follow was a barrier that would make infiltration more difficult. Didn't happen. Since the reason for Government is the Health, Safety, and Welfare of it's Citizens it is shameful that we're still not secure.The reasons for security are numerous and include illegal drugs, disease, economic issues, human traffickers. The societal costs are just too great to continue to ignore.

The environmental degradation in Southern Arizona is appalling. I've seen it with my own eyes but will not see it again. It's no longer safe to wander the hills near the border anymore.

 Come on people, set your differences aside and do your jobs!
Realty Reality
February 2019
Multiple Listing Service (ARMLS) data published January 2019
Kraig R. Nelson, Associate Broker
Carefree- Sold volume (dollar amount) was 69.92% lower; active listings [80] were 19.19% lower; and the median sold price [$473,500] was 32.35% lower, compared to one year ago. 
Average days on market were 78. 6 residential units closed escrow.
Cave Creek- Sold volume (dollar amount) was 15.99% higher; active listings [235] were 14.86% lower; and the median sold price [$454,500] was 8.30% higher, compared to one year ago. 
Average days on market were 113.   56 residential units closed escrow.
Scottsdale- Sold volume (dollar amount) was 9.77% lower; active listings [2,418] were 6.68% lower; and the median sold price [$486,000] was 11.08% higher, compared to one year ago.
Average days on market were 93.    569 residential units closed escrow.
Phoenix (city only) - Sold volume (dollar amount) was 3.01% lower; active listings [3,901] were 9.83% higher; and the median sold price [$245,000] was 6.57% higher, compared to one year ago.
Average days on market were 64.   1,,559 residential units closed escrow.

Kraig’s Comments-
·       Distressed sales (short sales and lender owned) represent 1.30% of the total sales volume.
·       There is a 3.23-month supply of residential inventory in the Phoenix Metro Area. Generally, a balanced market for buyers and sellers is about 6 months; however, all accurate statistics are neighborhood specific.
·       Total residential inventory is 3.40% higher [20,694 units] than one year ago.
·        Entire Phoenix Metro Area : median sold price is $262,000; 6.40% higher than one year ago . Average days on market were 68.
·       Average sold price compared to original list price is 96.50% in the Phoenix Metro Area. This means a home listed for $400,000 sells for about $386,000.
·       Production new-home “spec” (or speculation) count is 2,421; 324 more than 6 months ago. New-home subdivisions: 582: 8 more than six months ago. (from Ultimate New Homes Newsletter )
·        Total Phoenix Metro residential units sold and closed last month: 6,403 This is 9.40% lower than one year ago.
·        Total dollar amount for Phoenix Metro residential units sold and closed: $2,076,488,008. ( that’s 2 billion, 76 million - rounded for conversation). This is 3.50% higher than one year ago.
 
APS
City Sun Times
The Foothills Focus
Images Arizona
North Valley Magazine
Greater Phoenix Score
Tech 4 Life
748 Easy St., P.O. Box 734
Carefree, AZ 85377
480-488-3381