GlobeMiamiTimes September 2023

Age Is Just a Number

Crossfit Legends Are Senior Superstars

If you’ve heard of Crossfit, you most likely associate it with a bunch of fitness-crazed twentyand thirty-somethings who drag themselves out of bed every morning to do a flurry of burpees, pull ups, and kettlebell swings.

So you may be shocked to discover there’s an equally fanatical group of local Crossfit practitioners who are 50 years older than these young whippersnappers. They’re called the Legends and they range in age from a frisky 71 to an ever-so-mature 87.

Make no mistake. None of these Legends

are ready to live out their days in a rocking chair with a hand-knit afghan spread across their knees. No, these elder athletes would rather work their tails off three times a week in the Crossfit Globe-Cobre Valley gym on Pine Street in Globe. Most of them never miss a day.

I recently watched an entire workout and I’d pit any one of these septuagenarians and octogenarians against most run-of-the-mill mid-lifers pushing 50.

On the day I was there, the day’s workout was written on a large whiteboard mounted on the wall: 3 sets each of 28 jumping jacks, 28

squats, and—wait for it—3 sets of 3 handstands.

Picture this: Here were 12 older adults born during the Truman administration (or earlier!) fully inverted with their straight legs braced against the gym walls. Amazing.

One of these elder athletes is Sandy Brewer, who is about to turn 84. Before she started Crossfit three and a half years ago, she had balance and mobility issues and had been victim to a few falls. “I couldn’t bend down, and if I got down, I couldn’t get back up,” she told me.

LEGENDS, Continued on page 18

Local Art Advocate Appointed to State Arts Council

by David Abbott

Anyone who has walked in Historic Downtown Globe recently, hiked the Stairizona Trail or—more recently—taken in the “M” on the hill to the east of the Miami High School football field has seen the influence of Globe native Regina Ortega-Leonardi.

The co-founder of I Art Globe and the new nonprofit Love Where You Live was recently appointed by Governor Katie Hobbs to be on the 15-member board of the Arizona Commission on the Arts, an agency of the State of Arizona.

Ortega-Leonadi joins three additional new members, one from Bisbee and two from Flagstaff, to put a rural spin on a state agency that Hobbs has taken steps to expand with small-town influence.

“I’m a small-town girl at heart, so I feel honored to be an Arts Commissioner for the state,” Ortega-Leonardi says. “I’m excited to bring a positive attitude and a special rural perspective. I believe this will help the Commission support the arts all across Arizona.”

With deep roots in Globe, she brings a wealth of experience in the wider world to try to bring beauty to overlooked corners of the community and create connections to the place she calls home.

The youngest of seven children, OrtegaLeonardi was fortunate to have parents— owners of what was once Frank’s Jewel Box on Broad Street—who encouraged her to follow her passions and artistic bent.

“I was always interested in art and it was something that my family and my parents nurtured,” Ortega-Leonardi says. “It always amazes me how my parents made it work, quite frankly. Having seven kids, they found our ‘one thing’ and helped feed it, which was nice.”

After graduating from Globe High School—she says she “bleeds orange and black”—Ortega-Leonardi followed in her siblings’ footsteps and headed to Tucson to attend the University of Arizona, earning a degree in electronic journalism.

ARTS COUNCIL, continued on page 14

story and photos by Kim Stone

Publisher

Linda Gross

Editor Patricia Sanders

Creative Designer

Jenifer Lee

Contributing Writers

David Abbott

Linda Gross

Patricia Sanders

Kim Stone

Contributing Photography

Linda Gross

Tory Satter

Kim Stone

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It’s refreshing to feel the cool air in the morning now, after struggling with summer temperatures that remained high even at night throughout July and August. Now, it’s a joy to be out in my yard in the early mornings and think about fall projects that lend themselves to being outside.

As I write this, Second Saturday in Miami is kicking off soon. This event, which happens “downtown/all day/every month,” continues to grow and attract both locals and visitors. If you haven’t checked out Miami on their Second Saturday, you’re missing out. Live entertainment, food throughout the day, and an open mic at 6 p.m. rounds out the day.

I was also struck this month by the serendipitous connections between the op-ed by Patricia Sanders (p. 4) and the profile on Regina Ortega-Leonardi, who recently was asked to join the Governor’s Arts Council (p. 1).

Sanders’ piece talks about leveraging that “one thing” that is your own. Regina points out that her parents were able to foster that one thing in each of their kids that helped them to grow.

As Patricia points out, it doesn’t matter so much what that thing is. Only that it will lead to satisfaction and rewards down the road, thanks to the dedication and loyalty you apply.

The same can be said of Stan and Janet Gibson (p. 8), whom we feature this month. Stan entered public service and served the City of Globe for over 50 years. His interest in the City’s future and his sense of mission never waned. Stan and Janet provide a shining example of dedication and the fruits that it bears over the long haul.

On a lighter note, with the cooler weather stirring an urge to explore, we bring you Darla’s list of unique stays at Airbnbs across the state. Darla reinvented her career several years ago to follow her passions for travel and wine. She’s now a certified wine specialist, a freelance journalist and an experienced traveler. You can find her at her blog, aboutwineandtravel.com.

She’s another who’s made their “one thing” pay off in the long run.

So here’s hoping you nurture the “one thing” in you and others.

To a satisfied life!

Enjoy,

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One Thing

by Patricia Sanders

Afriend of mine likes to quote from City Slickers, the movie from the 90s where three urban guys having midlife crises go on a cattle drive in Colorado and learn life lessons. At one point the grizzled old cowboy named Curly, played by Jack Palance, tells them the secret of happiness in life.

Holding up one finger, Curly says, “One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that and the rest don’t mean s—t.”

The three guys think Curly’s about to tell them what that “one thing” is. But when they ask, the old cowpuncher just smiles and says, “That’s what you have to find out.”

It takes a minute to realize what he’s saying—that you have to find out what that “one thing” is for yourself—your “one thing.” It’s not something in particular.

My friend quoted that line for years. I guess he was looking for his own “one thing.”

But I think Curly got it wrong.

Years ago, I went on a vacation where I’d planned everything down to the hour—not just where I would stay, but exactly what attractions I would visit and where I would eat every day. I was so afraid I would miss something, I treated it like a military maneuver.

In the middle of the trip, I was supposed to take a train and spend the second half of my trip in a different town. But the train workers were on strike, so the trains weren’t running, and there was no way for me to get to the other town. I spent the rest of my vacation in the same place I’d already been, and I was forced to throw out all my plans and just wing it.

Of course, that turned out to be the best part of the trip.

Without all the scheduling to follow, I relaxed and did things spontaneously. I explored the city more deeply and took time to meet people.

I learned it doesn’t really matter where you are. The world is full of interesting places and things to do. Just pick one and enjoy it.

As Americans we often celebrate our freedom to choose, but strangely, sometimes lack of choice can be more inspiring and helpful than having a menu to choose from.

Jane Friedman, who has carved out a niche for herself as a consultant helping writers negotiate the world of publishing, was asked what she’s most thankful for in her career. She said: “Lack of options.”

She explained: She grew up in a place that offered few options, but that made her learn to be resourceful.

She got only one offer for a college internship, but that was all she needed, and she made the most of it.

There was only one employment option in the city where she lived, but that forced her to learn to excel even where it was challenging and she wasn’t happy.

Later, limited opportunities in her field led her to become a freelancer and then an entrepreneur.

Throughout, Friedman rarely had the luxury of choice. Instead, she responded to the opportunities that were available, while always pursuing the kinds of work she enjoyed. This combination of flexibility and focus led her down a path that was rewarding, satisfying, and ultimately uniquely right for her.

“Bloom where you’re planted” has always seemed too limiting to me—I love to get out, explore, and learn different ways of living, in different places. After all, Dorothy Gale didn’t appreciate her home in Kansas until after she’d had her adventures in Oz.

And at times when you do have plenty to choose from, I say make the most of it—try a little of everything, find out what you like.

But the whole point of freedom is the ability to choose. If you never settle on something, thinking you’ll preserve your freedom that way, what’s the point?

Globe itself started out as a silver mining camp, after all. The name came from a ball of silver someone dug up, apparently. But the silver petered out and what really made Globe a thriving city—and still does—was the copper. No one chose between silver and copper. The copper was here, and so the miners dug it up.

So sooner or later you’re going to want to pick something, your own “one thing.” And it almost doesn’t matter what it is.

What does matter, and what will lead to satisfaction and rewards down the road, is the dedication, commitment, perseverance, and loyalty that you apply.

When you’re standing at a crossroads, don’t agonize too much over what to choose. Whatever you choose will be the right choice—when you make it your “one thing.” u

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When you’re standing at a crossroads, don’t agonize too much over what to choose. Whatever you choose will be the right choice— when you make it your “one thing.”

RURAL POLICY FORUM 2023 RECAP

The Rural Policy Forum is an annual signature event convening in rural and tribal communities. This event is organized by the state’s federally designated Rural Development Council and Local First of Arizona. This year’s event was held on August 2nd through August 4th in the Globe-Miami community and focused on capacity building, sharing best practices, and networking.

The three-day event brought a record number of participants for the event to our community beginning with a tour of the various projects and businesses in Globe-Miami on the first day. Here are the numbers: 340 participants, 54 presenters, 17 sponsors, 8 local food and beverage providers, 20 volunteers, 9 local venues plus entertainers, 15 counties represented, 45 plus tribal, municipal, county, state, and federal agencies, and 120 chamber of commerce, nonprofits, and colleges, businesses, and other organizations.

93% of the attendees turned in surveys and gave their visit to Globe-Miami a 4 plus rating. Some of the comments included friendly, talented, and helpful people that live here, wonderful food, amazed at the many projects that are going on, and I will return back to Globe and can’t wait to come back.

A huge thanks to the local steering committee that worked with Local First for several months to put on this event.

City of Globe – Mayor Al Gameros, Linda Oddonetto, Melissa Steele. Town of Miami – Mayor Angel Medina, Alexis Rivera, Christine Duarte. Globe-Miami Chamber of Commerce – Angel Ruiz. Bullion Plaza & Cultural Museum – Tom Foster.

ORDINANCE 886 PROPERTY TAX RATE

At the August 8th City Council meeting, Ordinance No. 886 was adopted for FY 2023-2024 adjusting the Property Tax Rate Adjustment in the amount of $1.2255 on each one hundred dollars of the assessed valuation. This is a decrease from last year’s property tax.

CONNIES BRIDGE

At the August 22nd Council meeting, our city Engineer, Luis Chavez gave an update on the status of the progress of Connie’s Bridge. There are many phases of this very important bridge project. One of the major phases is the testing of the concrete as it poured to assure that it is sound and meets all the mandatory requirements so that will pass inspection. On one of the tests, they found an issue with one of the shafts that are poured deep into the ground. Remediation began immediately to resolve the problem and is ongoing at the expense of the contractor. It is estimated that they are about two weeks out from the remediation process. As soon as that is complete and the concrete passes all the testing, they

will begin to go vertical with the bridge. Because of this remediation, there is an extended completion date of December of 2023.

ON CALL CONTRACTS

For the past couple of Council meetings, on call contracts have been discussed and approved in order to have a list of a various types of contractors that are available to help manage the many projects that are currently in progress and any future ones that will begin. The list consists of on call consulting services for Engineers, Survey Engineers, Civil Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Water Systems Specialists, Wastewater Treatment Plant Specialists, and Registered Contractors.

CITIZENS ACADEMY

Class #5 of the semiannual Citizen’s Academy is scheduled to begin on September 27th and end on November 8th. The academy is a seven-week course that is held every Wednesday from 6 pm to 8 pm. Official graduation will be held on November 14th at a scheduled Council meeting. The Citizen’s Academy has graduated 59 students since its beginning. In the process, participants have stepped up to volunteer and serve on various city committees after graduating from the course. These committees include the Planning and Zoning Commission, Library Committee, Board of Adjustments, and the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee. The participants learn about the structure and operations of all the departments within the City of Globe. All the participants are fed a meal that is prepared

Globe’s Dreamland Theater

by Patricia Sanders

The first decade of the 1900s were golden years in Globe: A copper boom between 1904 and 1906 brought increasing wealth, and the construction of Roosevelt Dam, which started in 1906 and continued to 1911, contributed further to the city’s prosperity. Railroad connections and better roads were fueling Globe’s economic growth, and by 1910 the city’s population had reached 7,000 - not far short of its current size.

With Globe growing and the wealth of its people increasing too, what did they do for fun? Records from the time in the Silver Belt newspaper show one thing they did was go to a place called Dreamland.

Dreamland was a theater and events venue that at that time boasted the largest auditorium in the state and, according to one report, “the finest ballroom floor in the largest building for entertainment purposes ever erected in the southwest.”

Located at the corner of Sutherland and Sycamore, Dreamland was built by the Globe Elks lodge No. 489 B.P.O.E. Its gala opening on October 13, 1906, was attended by 700 people, with the hall decorated in miles of red, white and blue bunting and a musical program from an orchestra brought in from California. The evening was heralded as the “most brilliant social function in the history of Globe.”

Over the years, Dreamland hosted political gatherings, public dances, square dances, vaudeville acts and minstrel shows, comic opera performances, plays, band concerts, talent shows, and masked balls. Dreamland employed a force of 11 men who would work all night the night before balls to polish the floor.

Guests could enjoy refreshments, including “crushed fruit, chocolate and nut sundaes,” at a stand called the White Onyx Fountain, which apparently was located next to a white onyx fountain inside the building.

The Dreamland also hosted sports events like wrestling matches and, once, a tug-of-war between miners from Copper Hill and “town boys” from Globe. Copper Hill won.

In December 1906, Captain John Holtum, “champion cannonball catcher of the world,” gave a series of performances at the Dreamland. At the other end of the intellectual spectrum, Professor D. V. Saffery lectured on phrenology, and the local public schools held their graduation exercises there.

The Dreamland was open for roller skating every afternoon and evening except Saturday. There were various events on skates, including skating competitions on which people wagered considerable sums, a masked skating carnival, and a popular event called “catching greased pig: ten catches on skates.”

by the department doing the presentation for the week. To apply, please contact Lisa Fletcher at Globe City Hall at 929-425-7146.

STATE OF THE CITY

The annual Mayor’s State of The City Address is scheduled for September 28th at 6pm at Veteran’s Park in front of City Hall. Plan to attend this informative event to learn more about the many projects that are currently in progress in our city and what is planned for the upcoming fiscal year as we move Globe forward. There will be entertainment and refreshments served for the event.

FIRST FRIDAYS

First Fridays have become a monthly signature event and continue to grow each month with more participation from downtown businesses, vendors, and cruisers. Our Economic Development team spends an enormous number of hours planning this event. This event is not only enjoyed by our local residents in the community, but by many more people who are now coming from out of town on this day with an average participation of approximately 9,000 people. Everyone is invited to participate in the downtown cruise that begins at 5:30 pm starting at the Active Adult Center. We invite the community to come downtown and support the participating businesses and enjoy live music, food trucks, vendors, and even an Historic Fire Truck shuttle ride. Anyone wishing to set up a vendor booth during any First Friday event may do so at no cost by contacting Linda Oddonetto or Melissa Steele at 425-7146.

In 1907 there was a demonstration of “death-defying acrobatic skating” where a trick skater skated through a “furnace of fire.” He also made a “slide for life” in which he skated down a 50-foot slope and then jumped over six chairs set in a row.

Admission for skating was 15 or 25 cents, including skate rental, depending on the event, and ladies skated free.

Unfortunately, the fun and games lasted only five years. Dreamland burned to the ground in 1911.

Globe Forward >>> A banner year in Globe leads up to State of the City Address by Mayor Al Gameros

by David Abbott

The state of the City of Globe is trending upward, and as Mayor Al Gameros prepares for his third-annual State of the City address later this month, visible signs of progress are appearing all around town.

“The momentum we are on continues to elevate our game to the next level,” Gameros says. “Our City Council has a unified vision for growth and expanding the economic base of our city and that is key to our success.”

From the revitalized Community Center pool, to planning for development in the northeast corridor, the City has maintained laser focus on its goals to make Globe more attractive and safe for its residents, businesses, and a destination spot for visitors.

Thanks to the addition of new administrative staff— including a Grants Manager tasked with identifying and pursuing external funding—as well as increasing capacity for vital departments such as Public Works, the City is completing long-term projects and putting “shovels in the ground” for new ones.

“We’ve been successful in bringing in private, State and Federal funding that have made the many projects we have going on possible,” Gameros says. “What we’re doing is elevating to the next level.”

Among the projects the City has completed within the past year are the $4.4 million Community Center Pool, paid for with funding from multiple partners and stakeholders, and the $1.5 million sewer extension to the Community Center, funded by a Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona (WIFA) grant.

Many of the City’s parks have also benefited from grants and local partnerships, including Veteran’s Park at City Hall and the Community Center playground, with more than $300,000 funded with the help of BHP and Community Development Block Grants through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Projects in progress include the $5 million replacement of Connie’s Bridge, thanks to a $3.4 million appropriation from the Arizona Department of Transportation, and the redevelopment of the Michaelson Building in Downtown Globe, for the purpose of a business incubator and coworkspace, through $750,000 in federal appropriation.

There are also several important infrastructure upgrades on the horizon, including the replacement of Cottonwood Bridge at a cost of $3.8 million as well as construction of a new sidewalk on Jesse Hayes Road, from Connie’s Bridge to the Gila County Community College campus.

The downtown sidewalk replacement project is in planning and will be completed in four phases, according to City Engineer Luis Chavez.

“We are in the process of preparing documents to put it out for bids, so it’s going to take time to go through the procurement process,” Chavez says. “But we know it is coming because we already have the funding.”

The sidewalk project is estimated to cost about $3.5 million through a state funding appropriation, and will be phased in from south to north as Connie’s Bridge construction is expected to continue through the end of 2023.

Chavez expects sidewalk construction to begin by the end of the year.

One of the crown jewels of local development is the replacement of Globe’s 100-plus-year-old fire department that has been in the works for the past two years.

The $13 million project is vital to the safety and modernization of the Globe Fire Department, and is an important improvement to the southern face of downtown Globe along Highway 60.

A benchmark has been achieved, though, as demolition of the existing buildings on the property has been scheduled for the end of 2023 as the project moves forward.

“The remediation has been done on those old structures and the next step will be demolition and the full design of the station,” says Globe Fire Chief Gary Robinson.

The new station will be funded in part through a 1% tax increase enacted by the City in 2022, and will include important safety features intended to protect the lives and health of Globe firefighters.

“The biggest thing is safety for our firefighters,” Robinson says. “The existing facility lacks a lot of the safety features designed into new fire facilities that deal primarily with contaminants in the air and on equipment.”

Infrastructure replacement and construction is not the only investment the City is making. Public services have also been given a big boost to provide quality of life improvements for citizens of the area.

Under the leadership of manager Leana McGill, Besh Ba Gowah has benefited from the upgrades happening around the Community Center to accommodate its nearly 15,000 annual visitors, and is actively pursuing funding to restore and preserve the pueblo structures, as well as update the interior of the museum.

The Active Adult Center, led by Tammy Guerin, recently completed a $46,000 refurbishment of its outdoor spaces, and coming is the development of an outdoor adult fitness park for the community to enjoy, through a community investment opportunity from BHP. The Center offers daily programs, a tool lending library, and distributes about 70,000 Meals on Wheels annually to local seniors.

The Globe Public Library has also been able to maintain and increase services through grants and with increased support from the City Council.

Recent mini grants have added health programs for youths and adults as well as improving the grounds of a facility that is small, but manages to get a lot of mileage out of limited resources.

Pandemic-era funding through the Arizona Librarians Enhancing Resilience in Rural Communities Initiative, a partnership between the Arizona Center for Rural Health and the Arizona Library Association, Advancing Health Equity, Addressing Disparities (AHEAD AZ) is intended to support rural libraries’ community efforts to “enhance local resilience, address inequities, and build community cohesion.”

“Their goal was to try to get services to the rural areas that don’t have as much access to these amenities such as Maricopa County,” says Library Director Rayel Starling. “The huge populations of Mesa, Tempe, and Phoenix have an abundance of services together as one huge urban center while you have all these little tiny communities throughout Arizona that have no funding.”

The $4,000 grant has helped create gardening programs for youths, as well as youth yoga and there is even a cooking class coming to bring families together over food.

“We’re reaching out more to the parents with this,” Starling says. “We’re going to do a cooking class for healthy eating that includes the whole family to help plan a menu with your kids so they have buy-in, so they’ll actually eat the food they help to make.”

All of the investment on infrastructure and services is intended to enrich the lives of our current residents and lay the groundwork for future growth the City is preparing to accommodate.

According to Gameros, “Globe Forward” is more than a catchphrase: It is a multi-faceted approach to governing and engaging the community to the benefit of the entire southern Gila County region that incorporates municipal policy, increased staffing levels, active lobbying on a state and national level as well as citizen involvement.

In addition to the infrastructure building boom, there has been a focus on making the community more visually appealing and inviting by cleaning up the frontage on Historic Highway 60, addressing neighborhood blight, and maintaining, updating and enforcing guidelines for homes and businesses.

Through partnerships with Gila County through GilaPROUD and internal efforts such as Globe Clean and Beautiful and efforts by the Community Development Department, blight is being addressed throughout the community.

“Beautification is at another level now,” Gameros says. “We’re addressing it not only on the main highway, but within our downtown historic area. Code enforcement is not only for beautification, but it’s also for the safety and protection of our citizens and businesses.”

But at the heart of “Globe Forward” is a working collaboration, an evolving partnership between local government and citizens that can be enhanced by a deeper understanding of the processes involved in municipal government.

Hence the City of Globe Citizen’s Academy.

Citizens’ Academy

The City of Globe is gearing up for its Fall 2023 Citizens’ Academy, taking place from Sept. 27 through Nov. 8.

The academy provides an opportunity for residents to gain a better understanding of City operations, services, and programs, as well as the role Council plays within the authority and legal restrictions in which it must operate.

The Academy consists of seven two-to-three hour classes taking place on consecutive Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m.

The classes will be hosted by a different member of Council each week, and participants will hear presentations from department directors and staff about the roles and challenges faced in the day-to-day functioning of the City.

State of the City, 2022. Courtesy Photo

Delightfully Different Places to Stay in Arizona

Whether you live in Arizona or not, it is a state worth exploring. From north to south, to in between, there is beauty to see and things to do. However, throughout your travels, comfortable lodging is key. So, I’ve compiled a list of my top 12 delightfully different places to stay.

The Salcido House, Tucson

The Salcido House is a 100-yearold historic brick home in the upand-coming Five Points area of the Santa Rosa Barrio District. The Airbnb serves as three separate units in one house, and each space is theme-decorated. So, you can rent the Saguaro Studio, The Groovy Getaway, the Vintage Room, or all. Even more, you are a three-minute drive from downtown Tucson.

The Yellow House, Williams

The Historic Yellow House, while renovated for modern comfort, maintains a 19th-century character. The house accommodates up to eight people and has a full kitchen, a spacious living area, and a quaint patio. Accordingly, there is plenty of room for cooking, sitting by the fireplace, or lounging outdoors. And for the active souls, there is lots of hiking nearby.

Lieutenant Ralph’s Hideaway, Alpine

Lieutenant Ralph’s Hideaway is a rustic getaway amidst the aspens of the T al Wi Wi area. The cabin is owned by the son of a WWII Navy lieutenant who enjoys nature. The hideaway sleeps six, is dog-friendly, and has a full kitchen and a barbeque grill on the large outside deck. Further, there are wonderful spots for hiking and fishing nearby.

Bocce Penthouse, Cottonwood

The luxurious 2-bedroom, 1-bath Bocce Penthouse sits atop the Pizzeria Bocce on Main Street. What’s more, the spa-like ambiance boasts plush bedding, a fireplace, a gourmet kitchen, and a rooftop patio. And steps away, there are plenty of dining options.

Villa Paradisio, Phoenix

A private villa behind the host’s home is a slice of paradise. The property was custom-designed by an apprentice of Frank Llyod Wright, Richard Caviness. Moreover, the beautiful grounds, recognized in Better Homes & Gardens, are heavenly, with greenery and trees surrounding the luxurious swimming pool. In addition, it is an excellent location as you are within a few miles of Arcadia and Old Town Scottsdale.

The Lazy Atom, Cave Creek

This adorable studio is where to stay after a long hike. A solo adventurer or couple will enjoy magnificent views and are within walking distance of many trails -- and you are only a few miles from town.

The decor is bright and cheerful, with a cowboy theme and a retro red fridge. Listen to the fountain and rejuvenate on the cute outdoor patio.

The Huts at Rhumb Line Vineyards and Lavender Farm, Willcox

Minutes from Arizona wineries, The Quonset Huts at Rhumb Line is a fantastic place to stay in Willcox Wine Country. While accommodations are limited to two main huts, each spot has a kitchen or kitchenette, a grill, and a patio. Moreover, on a clear night, you can see stars galore. However, it’s a wondrous spot to sit back and listen to the rain when it storms.

Tombstone Monument Ranch, Tombstone

A working cattle ranch, Tombstone Monument Guest Ranch is a horselover’s dream. The ranch emulates the town’s look, and each suite has a Western theme. Dinner and drinks are available in the Saloon or restaurant, and evening entertainment is on the weekends. Guided on-site activities include horseback riding, archery, UTV touring, and Westernstyle shooting.

The Cedar Hill Bungalow & The Cedar Hill Casita, Globe

Situated on a quiet neighborhood street in the old mining town of Globe, Cedar Hill is steps from downtown. The cozy bungalow has a private entrance and a full kitchen; it is a lovely spot to hang your hat. Even better, the newly built Casita is dog-friendly.

Nearby, enjoy the majestic landscapes or raft the Salt River. A must-stop from the Historic Old West Highway, Globe offers plenty of action in a sleepy town.

Aravaipa Farms, Winkelman

Aravaipa Farms Orchard and Inn is a retreat-style getaway offering mountainous views and the company of farm animals. Moreover, there is little cell service promoting relaxation. Hence, it is the perfect place to disconnect. Further, a swimming pool is on-premise, and hiking trails are within walking distance or a short drive. Although the staff brings a homemade dinner to your room, your stay is remote, so bring snacks and drinks.

Secret Garden Inn, Tubac

Tubac Secret Garden Inn is an artsy oasis of tranquility. Since there are five units on the property, I recommend choosing the White Sage Casita if you are solo. However, if traveling with friends, rent the whole compound. Whatever you do, soak up the serene grounds, meditation spots, and coy pond. In addition, less than a mile from the village of Tubac, you can get to art galleries, restaurants, shops, or Tubac Golf Resort on foot.

The Gadsden Hotel, Douglas

The ornate architecture and grandiose lobby make spending the night at the Gadsden Hotel a glorious experience. Upon opening for business in 1907, the hotel was a meeting spot for miners, cattlemen, ranchers, and businesspeople. Today, nostalgia is all-encompassing as the saidto-be haunted hotel transports you back in time.

photos and list by Darla Hoffmann

Bocce Penthouse, Cottonwood

The Huts at Rhumb Line Vineyards and Lavender Farm, Willcox

Long-Term Interest

by Patti Daley

Stanley Gibson was 19 and a sophomore in college when his father had a heart attack and died. It was 1949. Stan dropped his business courses at ASU and took over the family business – Gibson’s menswear store at 150 N. Broad Street in downtown Globe. He joined the Rotary Club.

“It was a good way to get acquainted with people downtown,” says Stan.

The move kicked off Stan’s 70+ years of service to the community of Globe. He’s a five-time mayor, four-time vice-mayor and 16-time city council member for Wards 2 and 3. These accolades are bronzed on a plaque at Round Mountain Park, to acknowledge Stan’s long-term vision and his efforts in blazing trails.

In various capacities Stan has served as chairman, treasurer, trustee, board member, and, believe it or not, cancan dancer. He was one of three guys who put the roof on the original bathhouse at the Community Center Park, and he watered the trees there by hand.

What motivates a man to that kind of commitment?

“Interest,” says Janet Gibson, Stan’s wife for 60 years. “Globe was the focus of his interest.”

Round Mountain Hiking Park

Stan has lived his whole life in Globe, except for 1954-56, when he served in the U.S. Army and was based in Seattle. He and Janet live in the Gibson family home that Stan grew up in. It’s been expanded in several directions since then (including below for a basement); even the address has changed. You can see Round Mountain from his backyard.

“As a kid, I hiked it constantly,” Stan says.

In 1970, Stan became chairman of the planning commission that formed to develop Round Mountain into a park. It took 30 years to get it started. The land was BLM landlocked – there was no way to access it.

“Once I closed the store (mid 1990s), I devoted quite a bit of time to Round Mountain,” he says, “because I enjoyed doing it.”

He worked in the afternoons, three times a week. He “moved a ton of rocks” and single-handedly built the Ridge Trail, which is a mile long. The completion of Round Mountain Park has been a pinnacle of his career in service.

“I probably was the catalyst behind it all those years. I kept it at the forefront. Whenever I could, I pushed for it,” says Stan. “But without Mr. Aguirre and Rick Powell, who worked hard on the trails, and Rick Powers, who mapped them… without hundreds of other people and the Rotary Club contributing to it, we wouldn’t have it.”

Stan hiked Round Mountain until age 85; today, at 94, walking out of the house is a challenge. Still, he’s concerned about the condition of the back trails of the 360+ acre park. He has visions of an amphitheater in the eastern rocks and a diorama of the park’s geological charm.

From Ruins to Recreation

This summer, residents and visitors to Globe’s Community Center Park drive a well-paved road and find ample parking and a newly renovated pool. Stan remembers a time, more than 50 years ago, when nothing was on that hill but what he calls “the real ruins” of Besh ba Gowah.

When the Maurel pool closed (across from DeMarco’s), Stan got involved with the efforts to develop a community pool. A corporation was formed, called Globe Community Center Inc., and for 25 years Stan served as treasurer. Harry Hagen donated the land. Ball fields were developed. When the corporation disbanded, the land was deeded back to the city. The effort required endless hours of hands-on work and many fundraisers. A big one was the Globe Follies, sonamed because a group of men (including Stan) dressed up in tutus and did the can-can.

“He would just barely come home from the store, gulp some dinner down, and then he was out working the Community Center, either watering trees, doing something out there,” Janet says. “At times I was a little tired of the whole place.”

On further reflection, she muses that their son Mark has fond memories of the pool.

“They’d go out on Sunday mornings,” she says. “They’d go swimming.”

Eight years ago, the pool was shut down due to leaks and excessive water usage.

“I wasn’t involved in the recent efforts on a new pool, but I think it’s great,” says Stan. “However, they tore down the bathhouse that I helped put the roof on,” he adds, with a laugh.

There’s a new bathhouse now. Water sprays onto a new splash pad by the new pool. On a mid-August morning, the hotshots play softball on the Hagen fields and elders stretch under the shade of the trees, now 40 feet tall.

Small Business Owner, Politician, and Conservationist

Gibson’s men’s store sold sweaters, suits, hats, and shoes and rented tuxedos. Stan never once in his life wore a tuxedo, but he worked every day in a suit and tie.

In 1960, he was sweeping his storefront sidewalk when Bill Hardt, then city councilmember and owner of the sporting goods business next door, told Stan he was running for mayor. He wanted Stan to run for his seat in Ward (District) 3.

Stan ran for the seat on City Council. He won. At age 31 he launched a political career that would eventually see him give 40 years of service to the City of Globe, a quarter of that time as mayor. When Stan began on City Council, the city limits to the west were where DeMarco’s restaurant is today.

“The City had little revenue coming in, and we were hard put for money. We started annexing to the west,” he says. “That made all the difference in the world to the finances of the City,”

Stan lost only one election for City Council, in 1998, after he voted to demolish a 100-year-old adobe building to expand City Hall.

“We wanted to tear it down to increase the footprint of City Hall,” he explains.

He voted to demolish the building. Some people thought that was wrong. It cost him the election.

Hiking Round Mountain Park with then Mayor, Fernando Shipley for the dedication ceremony. Circa 2008. Photo by LCGross

Claudia and John Armer were part of a committee and wordof-mouth campaign that led Stan Gibson to victory as a write-in candidate. “That is a rarity,” says the former Police Chief and Gila County Sheriff, John Armer. Courtesy Photo

LONG TERM INTEREST, continued from page 8

Two years later, Stan was voted back into the mayor’s office as a write-in candidate with the help of a committee that ran a word-of-mouth campaign in support of his vision and leadership.

“It’s too bad to tear down history,” Stan says, “but sometimes it has to go.”

Small Town Leader’s Wife

Janet Gibson has made tons of potato salad and cupcakes for countless fundraiser, and she still goes to Rotary. But she never felt obligated to perform social duties to support Stan’s career. Janet’s father was a mining engineer. Her mother was expected to throw parties and get involved with social activities, especially bridge.

“She memorized everything about the game,” Janet recalls, “Then they changed the game. She was in tears.”

Born and educated in Montana, Janet holds a BA and MA in History from the University of Montana in Missoula. She met the principal of Miami High while accompanying her father to an interview with Anaconda (parent company of Inspiration). He landed a post at the Christmas mine, and the principal mailed Janet a teaching contract.

“At that time, as a woman, you went into nursing or teaching,” Janet explains.

Janet rented her own apartment in Miami, and from 1956 to 1963, taught history at Miami High on Merritt Street, which had only recently been racially integrated.

“By the time I taught at Miami High School, the barrier had pretty much dropped,” Janet says. “But some of the seniors, they used to tell me about it, about some of their experiences.”

Janet took U of A courses over two summers to get Arizona credentials, and completed an Economics fellowship at Stanford in the summer of 1960. She met Stan at a party. A friend of Janet’s mother “played Cupid” and sat them at the same table.

“He was handsome and smart and very decent,” Janet says. “He had a good character.”

Janet Thomson and Stanley Gibson married on April 11, 1963, at the Presbyterian Church in Globe. Janet taught until the end of the school term and then left her profession to start a family. Mark was born in 1965. For five newlywed years, Stan and Janet lived above the store in what started as a three-bedroom apartment and grew. They owned the building; it was purchased by Stan’s father, Jesse M. Gibson, in 1932, in the depth of the Great Depression. Stan’s mother, Hazel Story, did alterations. Janet didn’t work at the store, until the last few years, in the afternoons, after she fixed Stan’s lunch.

“If anybody had told me when I was getting my degree in history that I’d be selling shoes and measuring people for tuxedos and doing things that I ended up doing, I never would have believed it.”

Big-Time Problems

“No one bothered us much at home,” says Janet. “If people were upset, they’d call him down at the store.”

One call that did come to the house and cause some commotion was from Governor Bruce Babbitt. There was an asbestos crisis in Globe and he was coming to the rescue!

It started with an abandoned asbestos mill near the junction of 70 and 77. Jack Neal owned the property adjacent and had turned it into a mobile home park. The mobile home park required its own sewage system, and when the state water quality inspector came out, he saw the old asbestos warehouse, prompting the state health department to test the toxicity of the site. Governor Babbitt, building environmental credentials, declared the place an emergency in 1980.

“We’ve had asbestos around here since 1914,” notes Stan.

The EPA came in with their moonsuits and machinery and buried the mobile homes at a cost of $10 million.

“It only affected those people, but it became national news when the Chicago Tribune printed an article about it with a skull and crossbones, telling folks to stay away from Globe.”

Law and Order

At one City Council meeting in the 1970s, Stan was presiding over a motion to fire the Police Chief. The mayor was out of town. The chief, Dale VanBuskirk, had allegedly engaged in behaviors not befitting his position, and the FBI came in to investigate. A number of citizens approved of the chief and his tactics. The city council and the police officers did not. Stan wanted to wait for the FBI report; his vote prevailed.

“It wasn’t a popular decision in the chamber,” Stan recalls. “When I tied up the motion, I could see all the policemen mouth ‘sh*t.’ I could hear it too.”

A month later, the FBI report concluded that the chief hadn’t followed protocol. The motion carried, and the chief was fired.

“The City brought in a man from St. Louis, completely removed from all of the infighting,” says Stan, “and he got the department on an even keel.”

Water & Sewage

“Water was the one thing I preached all the time I was in the council,” says Stan.

Water for the City of Globe doesn’t come from a river; it’s pumped out of the aquifer below the Cutter Basin, on the San Carlos reservation. Stan wants all residents to know this and to know that in the past 75 years the water level has gone down over 100 feet.

“There is no refilling occurring,” he says. “I estimate that at the current rate, we could be out of water in 30 to 40 years.”

Stan has traveled to Washington three times to talk to Congress. Between 1990 and 2000 he negotiated with the San Carlos tribe through the federal government to secure adjudication of the drainage area. He took his inspiration from a former president.

“Jimmy Carter said we should ‘negotiate, not litigate’ all these water issues in the west,” says Stan.

For details on Globe’s water source, read The Journey of Water in Globe, from Faucet to Drain, by Jenn Walker, on the Globe Miami Times website.

Sewage was another big project the City tackled in Stan’s era. Tanks installed in 1920 were way out of date. A sewage pond was developed where the sewer plant is today, but it was constantly out of compliance. The federal government came forward and agreed to finance a regional sewage plant to serve Miami, Central Heights, and Globe. Engineering and environmental hearings were held.

“The upshot of it was the regional sewer plant would be down where Miami Wash and Pinal Creek come together, right near Bixby ranch. Steve (Bixby) was opposed to it,” Stan recalls. In the end, the parties settled on the current location. Miami was left out of the final deal.

Library

“I grew up at the Old Dominion Library,” Stan recalls.

In 1938, Stan’s mother was the president of the Women’s Club, which ran the library. The Old Dominion Library was built in 1915 as a memorial to miners’ deaths in the Interloper Fire at the Old Dominion mine in 1906. Stan was vice-mayor of Globe when the library burned down in 1980. He served as chairman of a committee to look into what was needed.

“There was a lot of discussion,” recalls Stan. “Should we have a single library for Globe-Miami?”

The women’s group wanted a library in Globe, and they prevailed. After securing interim locations, the insurance money from the Old Dominion Library was used to buy the building that houses the Globe Public Library today.

Stan has recently contributed a load of looseleaf notebooks to the Historical Museum that document City activity between 1960 and 2008. The documents include a list of mayors and city council members, special appointments, and general plans for Globe.

Getting Big Things Done in a Small Town

“I think the City Council today is doing a good job, I really do,” says Stan. “There was a lot of infighting when I was there.”

Luis Aguirre served on the City Council with Stan in the years 1971 through 1988, and the two worked on projects together for years after that.

“We disagreed plenty,” says Stan. Janet laughs at his understatement. “Once Luis stood up in a meeting and said, ‘I’m going to sue you!’”

Stan was a by-the-books guy. Luis broke protocol.

“It did not affect us at all,” Janet pipes in. “When we ran into one another, we were always very sociable and had no problem at all. We just let that be separate. Stan ended up

with a fair amount of appreciation of Luis.”

According to Stan, if Globe hadn’t had Luis, we wouldn’t have the Besh ba Gowah museum, the botanical park, or the pond, ramadas, and visitors building at Round Mountain. While Stan was mayor, on September 2, 2002, he honored Luis by naming the theater room at Besh ba Gowah Aguirre Auditorium.

“He deserves an awful lot of credit,” Stan says with gravity. “He worked his tail off for the city, Luis did.”

Back in “their day,” the City Manager had less power, and the Rotary Club’s members included bank managers, doctors, and all kinds of professional people, including APS executives, the superintendent of schools, and the principal of the high school.

Perfect attendance was expected.

“They drilled that into me,” Stan says. “I had perfect attendance for 50 years.”

Janet was a member of the American Association of University Women and Delta Gamma Gamma, a sorority of teachers. For 58 years, she’s also belonged to the Tuesday Book Club. Rotary Club is now something Stan and Janet do together.

Younger folk, they both note, do things differently. They use social media more than social clubs to interact and move ideas into community action. But there is one thing that hasn’t changed.

“It is driven by individuals, with an interest,” Stan says. “There’s a whole new group doing the same thing Janet and I were doing in our thirties and forties. We had our time.” u

Stan has boxes of his files from over 5 decades in serving in office. His mind is still sharp and he has the paperwork to back up his memories. Together it is a treasure trove of Globe’s history.

Stan and Janet Gibson, with their good friend Dorothy Tippet (left) several years ago at an art opening held at the Center for the Arts. Photo by LCGross

Gibson talked about his early vision and the work he and others undertook to establish the park when the City dedicated it in his name in 2008.

Photo by LCGross

MIAMI HIGH SCHOOL MIAMI HIGH SCHOOL

GROWING TOGETHER UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP

By David Abbott

For the first time in nearly a decade a new principal is walking the halls of Miami High School, putting his mark on an institution with a long and storied history in the Copper Corridor.

Former assistant principal and athletic director Shawn Pietila took the reins at the beginning of the school year and is putting his own imprint on the institution as he maintains stability in the principal’s office.

His face is familiar throughout the campus that has been his workplace for the past five years, but the new position is definitely different for him.

Prior to his promotion, Pietila says his interactions with students mostly involved athletics or, as vice principal, doling out discipline to misbehaving students.

“In the past, unless a student were an athlete or sent to the office for a behavior consequence, my interactions with a student would have been minimal. I am excited to have an impact and influence on the entire student body,” Pietila says. “The cool thing is over the past four years, I spent a lot of time in the cafeteria with the junior high students specifically and got a chance to develop relationships with them. Now those seventh and eighth graders are juniors and seniors, so we’ve kind of grown up in the building together.”

While he intends to continue the school’s successful arc under the leadership of former principal Glen Lineberry, Pietila made it clear that he has his own ideas about leading the school.

Students and instructors began the 2023-24 school year with Vandal Week, featuring activities intended to give everyone a chance to get to know each other and to engender a sense of common purpose throughout the campus.

“We took students grades seven through twelve and split them up amongst all of our teachers, so there were students from all grade levels with a single teacher for the first few days of the school year,” Pietila says. “It allowed the upperclassmen to take leadership roles, model expected behaviors and teach general procedures, while also reinforcing a strong school spirit and culture.”

During Vandal Week, campus leaders also offered tours of the entire campus and used the opportunity to practice bus evacuations, fire drills and even teach the Vandal fight song during daily assemblies.

Additionally, there were contests to create posters about keeping the campus clean and an essay writing contest about “what it takes to be a Vandal.”

“It was an opportunity for teachers to connect with students who they normally wouldn’t have in their classrooms,” Pietila says. “It was also an opportunity for the junior high teachers to reconnect with some of the upperclassmen they had three or four years ago now that they’re entirely different creatures.”

Vandal Week addressed one of three goals Pietila has set for his first year as principal: maintaining continuity of successful systems already in place, increasing academic vigor, and renewing school spirit and pride.

Programs such as dual-enrollment, which allows students to earn college credits while taking high school classes, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) will remain to help give them a leg up in both academic and work situations they may encounter once they graduate.

As to academic rigor, MHS has instituted a new math curriculum and is taking a more collaborative approach to academics overall with the district-wide implementation of Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID).

AVID is an in-school academic support program for grades kindergarten through twelve. The purpose of the program is to prepare students for career and college readiness and success.

“We are beyond the adjustment period from being back in the building so now it’s time to really step up,” Pietila says. “We aim to continually raise the expectations for our students and equip them with the tools needed to be successful both in their time here at MJSHS as well as with the post secondary goals they wish to pursue.”

In order to accomplish his goals, Pietila is taking advantage of the academic pieces Lineberry put in place throughout the school.

Math instructor Sreevelmurugan Vamadevan—known throughout Miami High School as “Mr. M”—was recruited in 2018 after coming to Arizona from India in 2016. Mr. M sees a lot of potential in the new curriculum and is excited about the direction MHS is going.

“We are always searching for new ideas and looking for ways to engage the students with innovative ideas,” he says.

As to the difference in leadership styles between his former principal and the new one, Mr. M says that they are “two sides of the same coin,” and Pietila is a good fit going forward in the next phase of the school’s evolution.

“The transition from Glen’s experienced leadership to Shawn’s talented, results-oriented, research-oriented approach is an exciting and dynamic shift for the school,” he says. “He’s in a system that is ready to go. Instead of running the same bus through the same road, he’s actually trying to add new roads with a new driving style. That is quite exciting.”

Longtime teacher Rayla Mills has been with the Miami Unified School District for 22 years and says she’s not finished teaching yet. Her first nine years were devoted to the teaching of social studies, but she’s now a language arts teacher and has alternated between the high school and the intermediate school on the same campus.

Mills participated in the interview process that brought Pietila to the school as vice principal and applauds his willingness to take on a “thankless job.”

“I have enough time in the system that I could retire at any time, but I didn’t want to because I respect and admire Mr. Pietila so much and want to be part of the team that helps him be successful,” Mills says. “Glen Lineberry has done so many wonderful things for this school and implemented new programs, and the kids are thriving as a result of it. It’s just a beautiful thing to observe.”

She added that Pietila was part of a cohort that achieved an administrative leadership degree from ASU that was created by Lineberry to ensure continuity in leadership in the MUSD.

MHS students are excited about the changes as well as the stability in the organization.

Both Issac Shaffer and Ann Mary Terrence are in the journalism program and also participate in dual enrollment and AP classes offered at the school.

MIAMI HIGH SCHOOL, continued on page 13

Principal Shawn Pietila

Mrs. Mills

Mr. M

Maintaining continuity, increasing rigor, building a sense of school culture

Shaffer is a sophomore who has spent his entire school career in the MUSD system and is familiar with the administration through his journalistic efforts. He says there is a “noticeable difference” between Pietila’s and Lineberry’s leadership style and there is now more interaction between the administration and students.

“There’s a more positive vibe instead of the more bureaucratic and efficient system Mr. Lineberry had,” Shaffer says. “Vandal Week helped some of the students ease into high school, in particular the freshmen and junior high students. And I do feel that I have gotten closer to people outside of my grade.”

As to stability in the administration, Shaffer says that “having a new principal every year would be a bit of a nightmare, logistically with conflicting schedules and conflicting goals every year.

“I don’t think that would bode well for the overall long-term consistency of the programs and education system,” he says.

Terrence came to Miami from India at the age of nine and has been in the Miami school system since she has been in the U.S.

She’s involved in the culinary program through CTE, has taken several AP courses, and plans to go to the University of Arizona when she graduates. For her, the fact that students are familiar with Pietila since he has been around so long has eased the transition.

“It was weird at first, but I kind of got used to it,” Terrence says. “Things are different than before, but it’s easier than getting used to a new person.”

She also appreciates the spirit of Vandal Week and thinks it was a good start to the new school year and the beginning of Pietila’s tenure as principal.

“It’s pretty stable at this point and everything has settled down,” Terrence says. “Vandal Week was a good beginning to the school year, and a good transition. It made the school come together, and now we will be stronger.” u

Schedule of Events

Thursday, Sept. 28 (Tribute to Ranching)

10:00 – 11:00 Ranching in Gila County in 2023 – Frank Dalmolin

11:00 – 12:00 Molly Griffin and the Griffin Ranch – Linda Brost

1:00 –

Highland Cattle – Carol Ptak 2:00 –

Brands of Gila County – Kenneth Johnson

Friday, Sept. 29 (Tribute to Mining)

10:00 – 2:00 Kids’ Events – Priscilla Powell, Aimee Staten

10:00 – 2:00 Book Signing: “This Little Town Where We Mine Copper” Emma Horrocks

10:00 Bus Departs for Pinto Valley*

10:00 – 11:00 Carlota Copper Update – Patricia Robertson 11:00 –

Update – Bryan Seppala 1:00 –

Capstone Pinto Valley Update – Timothy Ralston 2:00

6:00 – 8:00

Fry – Music by Neto and Imagine

Saturday, Sept. 30 (Our Ethnic Heritage)

8:30 – 10:00 Western Apache Heritage – Thea Wilshire

10:00 –

12:00 –

Hispanic/African American Heritage – Christine Marin

Issac Shaffer

Ann Mary Terrence

MIAMI HIGH SCHOOL, continued from page 12

“We all graduated with degrees, which is pretty exceptional,” she says. “Coming from a rural background, it was a tribute to my parents. It’s a tip of the hat to them for all the little efforts that I’ve done in Globe and some larger initiatives I hope to take on with the Arts Commission.”

After spending nearly a decade working in the background of broadcast news, Ortega-Leonardi left the news business to raise her three children, Attilo Jr, 26; Isabella, 24 and Angelo, 16, in Hawaii.

She was facing something of a crisis career-wise prior to the move, as much of the bad news she was covering started to affect her outlook to the point where she jettisoned her television to avoid it.

Despite her love of writing, videography, graphics and production, Ortega-Leonardi shifted from the newsroom to promotions and public service, which suited her more than news.

“At some point, working in broadcast news just became kind of depressing, because what you end up seeing on newscasts is the edited versions,” OrtegaLeonardi says. “When you’re actually in the newsroom, you are seeing the more negative and darker side and that’s not me.”

About six years ago, Ortega-Leonardi returned to Globe from Hawaii and now splits her time between Globe and Oahu.

In the wake of the COVID shutdown, she teamed up with Thea Wilshire in a partnership that resulted in I Art Globe, a public art advocacy group dedicated to beautifying the Copper Corridor.

Wilshire came to Globe in 1998 on a “three-year plan” to work with the San Carlos Tribe.

“It’s 24 years later and not what I expected, but I’ve had a fantastic career so far,” Wilshire says. “The Apaches were extremely gracious to me, although it was a very challenging place to work. It really pushed me and my skills and stretched me in ways that I never would have guessed.”

Wilshire immediately became involved in local culture and eventually in 2008 was elected to Globe City Council, spending the last two years of her term as vice-mayor.

Her advocacy work resulted in the creation of the tool lending library at the Globe Active Adult Center and she spent more than two decades working with BHP to establish Old Dominion Mine Park, which is no longer open to the public.

It was during her stint on Council that Wilshire met Ortega-Leonardi when they both joined the Globe Arts Advisory Commission.

Once she left Council though, members of the commission began to walk away. Eventually, Wilshire and Ortega-Leonardi were the only members left, which left them in the unusual position that they were not able to meet casually without breaking Arizona’s open meeting laws.

They both felt compelled to step down at that point.

“I realized my passion is more in the area of social infrastructure,” Wilshire says. “That’s creating third places, where people can feel at home in a place that’s not their home or their work or school. The third place could be a coffee shop, could be a library, could be a park, could be a plaza.”

Wilshire then began working to create Globe’s dog park, and became involved in Globe arts once again.

But then the pandemic came along and threw traditional social mores into chaos.

“I found myself at home, worried, scared about defending against something I couldn’t see and it just took so much energy,” Wilshire says. “One day I just thought ‘I am so sick and tired of this. I hate defending against the unknown. I want to fight for what I believe in. I don’t want my energy to go into this black hole.’”

She woke up the next morning to an epiphany that public art was the answer.

“We had been looking at the role of art in community health, and all of that stuff started floating in my subconscious,” she says. “Public art was my response to the pandemic. Public art gives everything the pandemic took away: It gives physical health, emotional health, healthy aging, school achievement, economic vitality, connection to place, celebration of culture, everything that had been the worst parts of that pandemic.”

to organize and before long laid out a plan to complete 12 public art initiatives in 12 months.

“I started writing for funding, organizing people, empowering them to go forward and realized almost immediately that Regina was as important as I was in this and was as hardworking as I was. She blew me away,” Wilshire says.

The group wound up doing 32 projects and nine events, and right as Wilshire was ready to move on, they received their largest grant to the tune of $50,000.

Today, Wilshire estimates they have completed 62 projects and 13 art events, including art shows at the Cobre Valley Center for the Arts, public murals throughout the Copper Corridor and the artwork on local stairs that have been revitalized in the past year or so.

These stairs form the Stairizona Trail, a network of heritage stairways that I Art Globe has developed into a local attraction. The idea behind the Stairizona Trail was to give house-bound people an alternative to the surrounding national forests in the wake of the closure of Old Dominion Mine Park.

“We had this on our list, but it wasn’t low-hanging fruit,” Wilshire says. “But we desperately needed urban trails because people need outdoor places for their mental and physical health.”

Ortega-Leonardi has worked on several other projects, including the Rose Mofford float at this year’s Fiesta Bowl Parade, and she recently led a group of volunteers to refurbish the “M” on the Miami Unified School District campus.

The duo recently created a 501(c)3 nonprofit, dubbed Love Where You Live, that is intended to create a sense of fun and connection to Globe.

“It’s a placemaking focus, so that’s why it’s called Love Where You Live, moving from livable to lovable,” Wilshire says. “Events, social infrastructure, and places: Those things are needed.”

They intend to pursue Wilshire’s “whimsical Gila monsters” painted on walls and buildings throughout town and a project honoring lost pets with a rainbow bridge theme downtown.

I Art Globe will now exist under the umbrella of Love Where You Live, and was recently nominated for the 2023 Arizona Creative Excellence Awards in the Oonagh Award category that recognizes “excellence in arts and culture and outstanding contributions to the Arizona community.”

I Art Globe did not win, but OrtegaLeonardi will now have a bigger platform to advocate for the arts throughout the state, including rural communities.

“The one thing that I do love about our rural communities, regardless of if you’re trying to forget your past or flopping back and forth trying to figure out what you’re doing, or if you have a good foothold, is that folks want to help, they want to be part of something good,” Ortega-Leonardi says “That benefits everyone, so if you give them that opportunity in whatever way shape or form, people will jump on that bandwagon.”

Wilshire believes the Arizona Arts Commission made the right choice in her nonprofit partner and looks forward to seeing what will come of her tenure.

“Regina is talented enough socially and smart enough to advocate across these different worlds,” Wilshire says. “She really has rural at heart and we’re so fortunate.” u

GLOBE-MIAMI HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

PHOTOS BY TORY SATTER

Globe Varsity Football

Globe Varsity Volleyball

Miami Varsity Football

Sophomore Quarterback Jaeger Franco reads the defense before completing a pass to the outside.

Senior Running Back Trentin Goss fakes inside before running outside for a long touchdown run for the Tigers.

Junior Wide Receiver Ryan Szpotowski outruns the Fightin’ Knights defender on his way to a touchdown.

Senior Libero Emilee Satter digs a spike for the Tigers.

Senior Setter Cai Cooper sends a set to the outside.

Senior Hitter Myranda Patten hits the ball over the net against two blockers.

Quarterback Castaneda drops back for a pass for the Vandals. (Photo by Ayden Olvera)

Junior Quarterback Abram Castaneda runs the zone read offense with Senior Running Back Austin Rubin.

Junior Running Back Aiden Goss beats the Veritas Prep defense around the corner.

ALBERT MARTIN HETRICK, April 7, 1940 – August 31, 2023, age 83, passed away at CVRMC. Marty served 20 years in the US Navy and then moved to Globe to take the position of Director of Health Services for Gila County. He retired from the Gila County Health Services Department in 2002 after 25 years of service. (LM)

CLAUDE EDWARD DEATHERAGE, March 24, 1930 –August 30, 2023, age 93, of Globe, passed away at Heritage Health Care Center. Claude was a farmer and was originally from Pitcher, Oklahoma. (LM)

DORIS A. HAMMAN, October 20, 1926 – August 29, 2023, age 96, passed away in Globe. (BM)

HENRIETTA F. ALVAREZ, July 15, 1927 – August 29, 2023, age 96, passed away in Queen Creek. Henrietta taught elementary school in Miami and later in the Superior Public School District. (BM)

JIM MOORHEAD ELGAN, February 8, 1942 – August 28, 2023, age 80, of Miami, passed away at CVRMC. Jim worked for General Motors and later as an accident investigator. He was active in the community, serving on the hospital board and organizing charity car shows. (LM)

EDWARD JAMES KING, July 16, 1969 – August 27, 2023, age 54, of Mesa, passed away at Banner Heart Hospital in Mesa. He was originally from Globe. (LM)

TERRANCE CHARLES MCGRAW, May 27, 1947 –August 24, 2023, age 76, of Globe, passed away at his home. Terry was an analytical chemist for Inspiration Copper and Freeport McMoRan. He was originally from Deming, New Mexico. (LM)

BETTY RUTH HARMON, September 10, 1936 –August 23, 2023, age 86, passed away at her home. Betty worked at the Kearny Hospital in the records department, at Aravaipa College as a secretary, and later as a campground host with her husband, Charles. (BM)

MELVA KAY GUSTINA, November 9, 1972 – August 22, 2023, age 50, of San Carlos, passed away in Tempe. Melva worked at the cultural center in Whiteriver. (LM)

NATHAN DANIEL MAY, January 26, 1988 – August 18, 2023, age 25, of San Carlos, passed away. Nate worked for Geronimo Hot Shots and was trained to work with heavy equipment. He had a purple belt in tae kwon do. (LM)

GEORGE THEONE BIGGS, July 13, 1936 – August 17, 2023, age 87, passed away. George was a master carpenter and was originally from Farmington, New Mexico. (BM)

RAUL ENCIZO JR., May 8, 1953 – August 17, 2023, age 70, passed away. Raul started working for Inspiration Copper Company in 1971 and retired from Freeport-McMoRan in 2015. (BM)

ROBERT DALE HINTON, October 20, 1969 – August 17, 2023, age 53, passed away at Abrazo Central Campus in Phoenix. (LM)

RITA “QUATA” BON RIOS, January 8, 1945 – August 14, 2023, age 78, passed away. Quata was originally from Caborca, Sonora. (BM)

JACK ANTHONY MORENO, October 30, 1953 – August 14, 2023, age 69, of Miami, passed away at his home. Jack worked as a banker at Continental Bank and was a repo man for AZ Credit Bank. (LM)

ARLENE KAY FAST, August 12, 1945 – August 13, 2023, age 78, of San Carlos, passed away at San Carlos Apache Health Care in Peridot. (LM)

GARY MATTHEW SANCHEZ JR., August 10, 1995 –August 13, 2023, age 28, of San Carlos, passed away at his home. Gary was a seasonal firefighter for the BIA Forestry and was originally from Show Low. (LM)

LOUIS FODERA, February 19, 1928 – August 12, 2023, age 95, of Wheatfields, passed away at his home. Louis owned and operated the Monte Carlo Tavern in Claypool, Joe’s Place, and the Globe-Miami Speedway, along with his wife, Patsy. He retired from Gila County as a heavy equipment operator. (LM)

GLORIA YBARRA OGDEN, March 17, 1942 –August 11, 2023, age 81, of Superior, passed away in Tucson. (BM)

MELISA JUNE KAYSON, June 19, 1984 – August 11, 2023, age 39, of San Carlos, passed away at San Carlos Apache Health Care in Peridot. She worked as a certified nursing assistant. (LM)

THERON KENT HATCH, October 11, 1941 – August 8, 2023, age 81, of Globe, passed away. Theron worked in banking and real estate. He was originally from Snowflake. (LM)

TRINA MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ, March 10, 2004 –August 7, 2023, age 19, of Bylas, passed away in San Carlos. Trina worked for Amazon as a packager. (LM)

RICHARD LOVERNE SR., October 28, 1938 – August 4, 2023, age 84, of Seacrest, Florida, passed away. Richard worked as a nuclear engineer and was a Freemason and a tamburitza enthusiast. He was originally from Detroit. (LM)

BRYSON MELVIN, August 12, 2016 – August 3, 2023, age 6, passed away. (LM)

JON DAVID TROTTER, April 1, 1935 – August 2, 2023, age 88, passed away. He spent over 40 years in education as a coach, teacher and administrator. He was originally from Blairsburg, Iowa. (LM)

RETHEMA MAE JOHNSON-STARR, May 1, 1968 –August 2, 2023, age 55, of San Carlos, passed away at Tucson Medical Center. She worked as a baker. (LM)

MIKEAL LEE SMITH, October 23, 1949 – August 1, 2023, age 73, passed away. He was originally from Prescott. (LM)

YOLANDA MAE JONES, August 25, 1971 – August 1, 2023, age 51, of San Carlos, passed away at Banner Thunderbird Hospital in Glendale. She worked as a healthcare worker for San Carlos Public Health and was originally from San Francisco. (LM)

BRANDON MICHAEL SLIM, February 3, 1988 –August 1, 2023, age 35, of Peridot, passed away in Peridot. Brandon served in the US Army as an aircraft powerplant repairer and was part of the Combat Life Savers. He was born in Phoenix. (LM)

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“Citizens’ Academy is a really good thing, especially for people who think they don’t like government,” says Councilmember Fernando Shipley. “It really helps because they start to realize what constraints we have, and why we have to do things the way we do .”

Shipley, who has served on Council off and on since 2002, has seen many citizens come through the Academy with a new appreciation for local government, and often with an interest in participating more in the community.

“They may come in skeptical and upset or pretty sure that we’re just no good at doing anything, but by the time they get done, they see how we utilize our limited manpower,” Shipley says. “It helps build their confidence up enough to realize that what we do isn’t magic, it’s just people working together towards a goal. ”

Those who wish to participate in Citizens’ Academy must be at least 18 years old and have a desire to learn more about City government. Applications are available online at www.globeaz.gov and admittance will be first come, first serve.

Graduates must attend five of the seven class sessions, two qualifying City events, including one Council meeting and one other qualifying event, and attend the graduation in early 2024.

The Academy is open to residents of Globe and the surrounding communities of Gila County, the Town of Miami and San Carlos , and begins on Sept. 28.

For more information, contact Shelly Salazar at ssalazar@globeaz.gov, 928-200-8535 or 928-425-7146 ext. 206 or Lisa Fletcher at lfletcher@globeaz.gov 928-940-9207 or 928-425-7146 ext. 205.

In July, Council adopted a visionary $65 million budget, which represents a $23 million increase from 2022-2023 and contains $21 million in grant requests that have been the result of the groundwork the City has laid through relationships developed with state and federal agencies and private partners.

Through the establishment of the Economic and Community Development Department in 2018, under Director Linda Oddonetto, the City has maintained its focus on the future.

With an increasing budget and fiscal enhancements via grants and low-interest loans, the City has maintained its footing through annual updates to its 3-year Strategic Action Plan and there is a General Plan update in the works as well as a renewed Downtown Redevelopment Plan that will include improved downtown lighting and access to Wi-Fi as well as additional parking on an increasingly busy Broad Street.

While Globe has endured fire, floods and a worldwide pandemic, it has managed to find a key to unlock its potential and is becoming a model for rural Arizona communities wanting to break out of traditional economic models.

“The time that the City has taken to plan for these vital projects has paid off. You can walk down the street and see these improvements, which has really been impressive to behold,” Gameros says. “We have taken the time to listen to our residents, find out what is important to them and their families. As a community we have formed the vision for what we want our community to be now, and what we want for future generations.” u

CROSSFIT LEGENDS,

Continued from page 1

After three or four months of working out with the Legends, she could already feel the difference. “I began to notice strength, especially in lifting and getting up off the floor. Reaching up into the cupboards. Overall, I was feeling better.”

Now, with over three years of Crossfit training under her belt, she doesn’t fall any more. Not only that, she can deadlift an astonishing 127 pounds. She’s crushing it.

At 87, Dick Lewis is a tall, strapping guy and the oldest member of the class. But he’s also one of the most motivated. Rather than parking in front of the gym, he gets in some extra steps before and after every workout by parking in a lot about a hundred yards away.

Even with COPD and few other physical limitations, Dick shows up for every class and always finishes every workout. “I’m usually last because I’m slower, but I do them all.”

What keeps him coming back for more? “I know that if I don’t do it, I’m going to deteriorate. I gotta stay on top,” he says.

Endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, balance, mental toughness

Crossfit, by design, is scalable to an individual’s abilities, no matter their age or gender. Greg Glassman, the founder of Crossfit, is famous for saying, “ Your grandmother could—and should—be working out with us.”

Yes, but might grandma be too intimidated to join a regular Crossfit class full of people half her age with a much higher fitness level? Probably.

That’s why Coach Greg Walker created the Legends, a class specifically designed for men and women over 70. He was convinced he could help the over-70 crowd recover their youthful mobility and become fitter than they ever thought possible. After all, at 74 himself, Greg was living proof of what an aging body was capable of.

So in 2018, he created a Crossfit class that was safe, non-intimidating, and welcoming, and called it the Legends.

He uses the same workouts as the regular classes, but scales them down to 60-70% of a regular workout to meet the abilities of the individual members of the class. “Crossfit is infinitely scalable,” he says, “so

it doesn’t matter who you are or what kind of shape you’re in, you can do a workout. The methodology we use works.”

It took awhile for the new class to catch on. For the first year or so, there was only one student. Now the class is at capacity with seven women and five men, with more hopefuls on a waiting list.

MaryLou Ruesch was the inaugural student and continues Crossfit to this day. Now at 78, she tells me she can haul 50 pound bags of dog food or bird seed. “I couldn’t do any of those things before Crossfit,” she remembers.

Loss of balance is one of the most common afflictions as we get older, and everyone I spoke to said Crossfit has helped them become more stable on their feet.

“Balance is the most important thing for everybody,” Sandy Brewer told me. “I think improving balance is one of the biggest things about Crossfit.”

The new community pool. Courtesy Photo

Sandy Brewer says she looks at some of the workouts and says ‘No way, I can’t do that.” And then she finds a way to work through it…and just do it.

Dick Lewis. Even with COPD and few other physical limitations, Dick shows up for every class and always finishes every workout.

CROSSFIT LEGENDS,

Continued from page 18

Dick Lewis says Crossfit has really built his endurance. A long ride on his ATV used to knock him out for an entire day. But now, after a two-hour nap, he’s ready to go again.

Crossfit has a positive effect on self esteem and confidence, too. This is a common thread I heard shared by every class member I spoke to. “I don’t worry about things like I used to. It’s nice to know that I can take care of myself,” MaryLou Ruesch says.

One of the best parts about the workouts is that they’re often intense but they’re also short, usually 10 to 15 minutes. Take a few minutes afterwards to catch your breath, and you feel like you could do it all over again.

Crossfit helps develop a mental toughness that carries through into challenges in everyday life. It fosters an “if-I-can-do-this, I-can-do-anything” kind of attitude.

Sandy Brewer definitely agrees. “I come in and look at the exercise for the day and think,‘No way, I can’t do that.’ I have to get into a mental state and work through it.”

And then she adds, laughing, “I keep telling myself it’s almost over and I can go home.”

A mutually supportive atmosphere

One of the best things about any Crossfit class is the camaraderie. Sure, there’s plenty of competition between class members. Coach Greg sees it every day. “They are competitive. They want to beat each other.“

In the end, though, it’s the friendly, playful kind of competition that helps keep everyone “honest” and striving to get a little bit better every day.

Crossfit Legends

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday at 9:30 a m. Crossfit Globe-Cobre Valley

264 N. Pine St.

Contact: Greg Walker 520-405-1818

The Legends have evolved into a tight knit group. They genuinely like each other and support each other. When someone falters during a workout or needs a little extra push to get through it, everyone becomes a cheerleader to egg them on.

The day I was there, 87-year-old Dick Lewis was struggling through his last few squats in the workout. About seven members of the class rallied around him and did the last few squats with him to help get him to the finish line.

When Coach Greg saw this, he told me this camaraderie isn’t unique to the Legends. “I never tell them to do that. In every Crossfit gym I’ve ever seen, they do that. They will help that person along.”

Progress is the payoff

Greg Walker is more than just a coach for the Legends. At age 74, he’s one of their peers. Even though his personal fitness level is off the charts by comparison, he’s totally in touch with the group psyche of this over-70 crowd. He understands how they feel.

The big payoff for him is to see everyone in the class reach the potential they never knew their older bodies were capable of achieving. You can hear the passion well up in his throat when he describes the success stories.

“I have people who began this class who couldn’t get off the ground on their own,” he explains. “We showed them the technique and they got up the first day on their own.”

Now, everyone in the class has learned to run again, and everyone can hold a handstand against a wall. There couldn’t be a better example of this than Linda Wheeler. Before Crossfit, she had to crawl to a chair or couch to get herself off the floor. Now eight months later, I watched her complete 84 squats. She’s 82.

Greg says this is his most rewarding class in 15 years of coaching. “I go home and I’ve got goosebumps from seeing what these people are doing,” Greg tells me. “You see the changes everyday.”

Like any good coach, Greg is super adept at gauging the individual abilities

of each member of the class and tailoring the workouts accordingly. “I will never ask anyone to do something I don’t think they can do safely,” he explains. “If you listen and try, you’ll succeed.”

Maybe the best testimony of the benefits

of Legends Crossfit training comes from Dick Lewis, the oldest member of the class. “Greg never gives you something you can’t do. He works on your entire body, a different part of you at a time. And you recover quick. You feel good when you leave.” u

“We

Mary Lou Ruesch was Coach Walker’s first Legend and continues to do Crossfit three days a week with the rest of the Legends.

Deep squats, push ups and handstands are all part of a daily routine for Legends.

COVER PHOTO: The first year Coach Greg Walker first created the Legends Class there was only one student. Now the class is at capacity with more hopefuls on a waiting list.