Cave Creek Film & Arts Festival

CAVE CREEK - In March of 1944, Ed Fleischman was a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps stationed in Napes, Italy.

As Mount Vesuvius began to erupt March 18, he and two friends got into a vehicle and drove towards the volcano to get a closer look.

"It was something very impressive," said Fleischman, 92, who now lives in an assisted-living facility in Paradise Valley. "It looked like all hell was breaking loose."

More would follow. As the three servicemen drove back to camp, Germany was bombing the area. Fleischman had an uneasy feeling and stopped the car. Up ahead, they found a giant bomb crater had swallowed a car.

"We were almost numb with shock," he recalled. "We thought if there was a hell on Earth, this was it."

One of many in Cave Creek fest

Fleischman's tale is one of the literary works entered in this year's Cave Creek Film & Arts Festival that continues through July 19. This is the third year for the festival, and the second year categories in the arts have been added for youth and adults: original song, poetry, short story, visual art and photography. New this year is a category on choreography.

Top prizes are $1,500. In addition, Cave Creek artist Nancy Crozier has donated a $500 prize for the best Southwestern art in remembrance of her mother, Bobbi Tunstall, who died in April.

"She loved art," Crozier said. "I thought I'd start a tradition."

A category for children under 12 was dropped, said Judy Bruce, president of the festival.

"I'm a former teacher, and I didn't think kids should be competing for $1,500," she said.

Works on view through Aug. 1

Photography and artwork can be seen through Aug. 1 at the Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center. Poetry and short stories will be read by their authors July 13 at Hammerhead Jack's in Cave Creek. Films have already been screened but might be available soon at the Desert Foothills Library.

The festival culminates in the Coyote Awards Ceremony, which will be held at Harold's Cave Creek Corral. Admission is free, though a $10 donation is requested.

The number of entries tripled over last year, Bruce said.

"I think people are just hungry for art."

Fleischman is pleased that his story, Vesuvius, was accepted. He plans to drive in for the awards ceremony with others from the writing class at his assisted-living facility: Charlie Lynch, 82, and Larry Hayden, 87.

"I feel I wrote a pretty good article," Fleischman said.