One Town, One Newspaper, One Heart
By Monica Callen and Sarah Sakha
Black Canyon City comes out to support its latest addition.
Good food, great music and even better company were the foundation of festivities last month celebrating the inception of a new journalism venture for Black Canyon City.
On Saturday, July 19, myriads of people from all over the Valley – Phoenix, Scottsdale, Flagstaff, Maricopa, Anthem, Surprise and undoubtedly Black Canyon City, BCC – gathered for the launch party of our hometown newspaper, the Black Canyon Bullet.
Set in the rustic locale of Chilleen’s on 17, the outdoor patio of the steak and BBQ restaurant was packed with people of all ages. The only thing bigger than the racks of ribs people were devouring were the smiles on their faces as they devoured the ribs. Enamored couples two-stepped the night away under a beautifully hued sky while listening to the wonderful crooning of a new local favorite , “America’s Got Talent”
celebrity Frank Dimitri, along with great hits by the amazing and versatile Raun Alosi of Sixty Degrees North. Even rambunctious toddlers busted a move or two out on the dance floor.
Dimitri turned out to be quite the hit, as attested to by locals. Charlotte Ezell of Black Canyon City remarked, “We love Frank! He is the highlight of the evening…It has been great to watch him come out of his shell.”
What was most striking about the evening though was the palpable sense of community. To some, Black Canyon City is just another small town—a stopping-off point between the mountain country up north and the Valley down below. But to others, it’s more than that. As resident Frank Cucitro, BCC Chamber Board Member and the evening’s entertaining Master of Ceremonies, said, “It’s a small town, but we’ve got a lot of people and a lot of big heart in this town.”
Support for the endeavor ran far wider than just Black Canyon City. Raun Alosi of Sixty Degrees North from Phoenix—who have played for decades with some of the music industry’s greatest artists—said he and the band got involved with this event to help bring a community together and to help support the launch of a new venture. “My guys and I said, ‘Let’s make it happen!”’ he recalled.
For those not swaying to the music on the dance floor, the tapping toes and clapping hands were evidence of the jovial time being shared by all, and many partygoers lingered late into the evening for the 50/50 Raffle and the generous discount card drawings from local merchants. Diane Busch of Black Canyon City shared the sentiment.
“Very much fun! It looks like most of the town turned out! And it was so good to see a gentleman’s dream come true after all these years,” she added, referring to Frank Dimitri. Christine Dantes, manager of the Black Canyon RV Resort, agreed. “Isn’t it wonderful that Frank has realized the recognition that he has deserved?”
This all began out of a love for community. Stacey Lane took her ardor for writing and brought it to Black Canyon City. With an outpouring of support from local businesses, fellow Chamber members, colleagues, friends and family, she not only launched this newspaper, but planned and orchestrated the special kickoff celebration.
Stacey’s daughter, Tatum Lane, attested to how great of an experience the evening was, and above all, how great it is that “she is doing everything that she loves in one.” Stacey Lane yearned to make known beyond the city’s borders just how singular the community is. And she has done exactly that. Visit; www.BlackCanyonBullet.com / Email – [email protected]
